Chapter 452: She Knows Wangxin? Now This Is Interesting |
Walking through Ning Xue Palace, Ning Wei looked left and right.
Ning Xue Palace was far larger than Ning Wei had imagined.
Beneath her feet was a narrow path paved with small stones.
The pale gray pebbles were packed tightly together, and walking on them produced only a very soft, faint crunching sound.
On both sides of the path grew a number of flowers and plants, some tall and some short, a few of them in bloom with tiny blossoms in soft, muted colors.
Several decorative rock formations were scattered throughout various corners of the courtyard, their surfaces laced with moss, which made it clear they had been there for quite some years.
A small cat emerged from behind one of the rock formations and trotted after a white butterfly, stopping and starting. When the butterfly flew a little higher, the cat reared up on its hind legs to reach for it, and when it could not quite manage, it did not fuss, but simply changed direction and kept following.
Further in, a small pond came into view.
The water was not particularly deep, and the stones at the bottom were visible. Several red and white fish drifted slowly through the water.
Ning Wei had always been very curious about the inner palaces of mortal dynasties.
She had read a fair number of novels written by storytellers, and had heard that in the inner palace, women would stop at nothing to compete for the emperor's favor. There were even those who, in their desire to win his affection, would harm their own children and then pin the blame on a rival consort.
So in Ning Wei's mind, the inner palace ought to be an extremely oppressive place, and the residences of the noble consorts ought to be cold and cheerless but Ning Wei found that this inner palace seemed quite different from what she had imagined.
The palace maids of Ning Xue Palace were chatting and laughing among themselves, their expressions perfectly at ease, and the entire palace carried a lively, spirited atmosphere, rather like a garden full of singing birds.
It was only when they passed Xiao Chun that they composed themselves, gave a bow, and greeted her with, "Elder Sister Xiao Chun."
Ning Wei also came to realize that this palace maid named Xiao Chun who had brought her to Ning Xue Palace held a fairly high standing within it.
She was likely the one who managed the affairs of Ning Xue Palace on Noble Consort Xue's behalf on a day-to-day basis, and her nature was probably rather strict.
Otherwise, the palace maids would not be quite so wary around Xiao Chun.
"This is our Ning Xue Palace." Xiao Chun said with pride and satisfaction. "This courtyard, I have heard, was personally decided upon by His Majesty. The layout was designed after some elements of the Yan residence, all so that our mistress could feel more at home."
"His Majesty treats our mistress so well." Ning Wei went along with what Xiao Chun said, and in truth that was genuinely what she felt.
"Yes, yes, His Majesty is truly wonderful to our mistress."
Xiao Chun nodded eagerly, but quickly pursed her lips.
"His Majesty and our mistress were perfectly suited to each other from the start, and yet who could have expected a princess from the Qin Kingdom to come barging in out of nowhere?"
As she spoke, Xiao Chun let out a few indignant huffs.
"If it were not for that Qin Kingdom princess, our mistress would already be Empress by now."
"But it does not matter! As long as our mistress gives birth to a prince before Noble Consort Mu of Han Jiu Palace does, our mistress will still become Empress!"
"Mm, mm, I think exactly the same thing."
Listening to Xiao Chun say all of this, Ning Wei felt her own heart growing unexpectedly excited, even experiencing a sense of shared glory with Noble Consort Xue.
This felt right to Ning Wei.
This was the kind of favor-competing that the books had described.
The contest for the position of Empress ought to be exactly like this.
"Enough of that, let us hurry. Just ahead is the little courtyard where our mistress likes to read." Xiao Chun urged her along.
"Mm."
Ning Wei followed Xiao Chun and quickened her pace.
Before long, Ning Wei arrived at a courtyard within Ning Xue Palace.
The courtyard was filled with all manner of blooming flowers and at the center of the courtyard, a young woman sat holding a book, turning its pages gently.
The moment Ning Wei laid eyes on this noble consort of the Zhou Kingdom, she could not look away.
The young woman sitting there looked like a fine-line court painting of a beauty, the ink just barely dry.
Her moon-white palace gown shimmered faintly in the sunlight, silver thread woven into it forming the outlines of plum branches in bloom.
Where her collar folded over, a length of neck was visible, as smooth and lustrous as jade, yet tinged with the faintest warmth of color, as though even the lightest touch might leave a mark.
Her skirt spread across the stone bench in layered folds like gathered clouds, and at her waist a matching palace sash hung down, from which a piece of pale green jade swayed without the slightest movement.
Noble Consort Xue's head tilted slightly downward as she read, revealing just one side of her face in profile.
Her brows were like faint distant mountains, naturally dark without the aid of any cosmetic brush. Her lashes lay low over her eyes like two butterfly wings at rest, trembling ever so slightly now and then, as though she had come across something particularly interesting in the text.
Below that, the young woman's nose was slender and refined, and her lips were a natural, soft cherry, holding a gentle moistness even without any rouge.
One hand cradled the book, while the other rested lightly on her knee, fingertips slightly upturned, still carrying the lingering grace of having just turned a page.
In Ning Wei's eyes, Elder Sister Wangxin and Elder Sister Yunwei were already beautiful beyond compare but this Noble Consort Xue before her seemed to have reached right into Ning Wei's heart.
"My lady, this is younger sister Ning Wei. She was sent by the Master to the palace to serve you." Xiao Chun stepped before Yan Ruxue and gave a bow.
Ning Wei also quickly bowed in greeting. "Your servant pays her respects to Noble Consort Xue."
"No need for such formality. Rise."
Yan Ruxue set down the book in her hand and lifted her eyes to look at the two of them.
As she sat up straight and raised her head, the front of her palace gown appeared all the more full, the snow-white silk drawn into a generous curve that covered the book on her lap, along with the pair of embroidered lotus shoes on her feet.
"Thank you, my lady."
Ning Wei stood up and stole another glance at this strikingly beautiful noble consort.
She could hardly imagine that an immortal-like figure such as this could be nothing more than a consort in a small kingdom.
The ruler of the Zhou Kingdom truly had extraordinary luck.
"You were sent in by the Yan residence?" Yan Ruxue asked with a smile.
"Yes, my lady."
Ning Wei explained nervously.
"Your servant had been looking for work in the capital, and because your servant had previously come to know the Venerable Wangxin, the Venerable Wangxin wrote a letter of introduction to Minister Yan on your servant's behalf. It is through that letter that your servant was able to enter the palace and serve you."
"Is that so? That is quite nice then."
Yan Ruxue gave a nod and smiled gently.
"I have heard the Venerable Wangxin's name before. Since you know the Venerable Wangxin, and the Venerable Wangxin recommended you to enter the palace, it speaks well of your character."
"Starting today, work diligently here in the palace. There are no particular strict rules in my palace, so there is no need for you to feel overly constrained."
"Yes, my lady!" Ning Wei replied with a bow of her head.
"Very well. Xiao Chun, take Ning Wei with you. You will be responsible for guiding her going forward." Yan Ruxue instructed Xiao Chun.
"Yes, my lady."
Xiao Chun gave a bow and led Ning Wei away.
Watching Ning Wei's slender figure gradually receding into the distance, the corner of Yan Ruxue's lips curved ever so slightly upward.
"A Nascent Soul realm cultivator, and one who is familiar with that Wangxin from the Western Region?"
"Now this is interesting."