PQE Chapter 9

Fu Chen wasn’t visiting Fuxi Palace for the first time, yet he showed no curiosity.

He kept his gaze straight ahead, not even glancing at Mo Hua beside him.

Mo Hua observed Fu Chen along the way. This rule-abiding little eunuch, with his nervous demeanor, easily garnered goodwill. People liked those who wore their emotions on their sleeves, such individuals were easy to read and get along with. “Don’t be nervous. Our lady is known for her kindness. Just relax.”

Over the past month, they had met several times. Mo Hua had a good impression of this polite and discerning eunuch. The palace was never short of ambitious individuals or smooth talkers, but it was rare to find someone who climbed the ranks in a way that made others comfortable. Mo Hua found this little eunuch pleasing to the eye.

Fu Chen seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, perfectly embodying the role of a naive eunuch suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

His cheeks were flushed, and though he was timid, he tried to remain calm. “Miss Mo Hua, do you know why the lady wants to see me? I’m afraid I might offend her due to my ignorance of the rules.”

“Actually, I don’t know either,” she admitted. Although Consort De was kind, her kindness wasn’t a reason for them to overstep boundaries. “I haven’t heard the lady mention anything.”

Fu Chen discreetly imprinted Mo Hua’s expressions in his mind. Her puzzled eyes and subtle expressions indicated she truly didn’t know. This was a professional habit, he had encountered various patients, some adept at hiding their true feelings, requiring him to capture fleeting micro-expressions.

At the palace gate, they encountered An Zhonghai, the chief eunuch known as Master Hai, who had once pleaded for Chen Zuoren and others.

“Oh, a new face. Is Fuxi Palace getting a new member?” With the triennial selection approaching, Master Hai was here to discuss matters with Consort De. He had just left the palace gate when he met Mo Hua and Fu Chen. Consort De preferred quiet, and since the time when Emperor Jin Cheng was still a prince, her courtyard hadn’t added any new servants. Hence, Master Hai’s question.

“Not at all. The lady noticed this little eunuch’s skill in making kou dan and asked me to bring him to see if he truly has the talent.”

Master Hai, recalling that Consort De had just been washing her kou dan, smiled. “Then hurry in, don’t delay the lady’s time.”

“Greetings, Master Hai.” Fu Chen greeted him only after they finished speaking.

Master Hai didn’t respond, just smiled and left.

Fu Chen waited outside the palace gate for Consort De’s message. At that moment, a striking figure approached along the palace path.

The young man wasn’t wearing a prince’s robe but a blue brocade robe. His features were delicate, his skin like porcelain, and a serene smile graced his face. Anyone who met his gaze felt a sense of peace. He seemed to exude a holy aura, as if he was favored by the heavens. He was the third prince, Shao Anlin, born to Consort De. 

Frail since birth, he was once predicted not to live past twelve. The emperor, deeply fond of him, sent him to a temple until he was twelve, after which he studied under the imperial master. He had an extraordinary aura and was a popular candidate for the next imperial master. He was also one of the few princes not yet betrothed, making him a sought-after ally among the other princes.

Humans are complex beings. Even with a background in psychology, Fu Chen couldn’t read many people. For those who seemed perfect like saints, Fu Chen was particularly cautious, making himself appear like any other eunuch awed by the third prince’s demeanor. When the prince approached, Fu Chen hurriedly knelt, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Throughout, the third prince didn’t spare Fu Chen a glance, walking past him as greetings echoed around.

About a quarter of an hour later, the third prince left Consort De’s quarters, and Fu Chen was summoned inside.

The air was thick with the scent of flowers, refreshing and soothing. Several palace maids surrounded Consort De, washing her hands and handing her towels.

Consort De’s slender hands stroked the cat in her lap, her jade-like fingers weaving through its white fur. Just by looking at her hands, one couldn’t tell she was over thirty. The cat, Consort De’s beloved pet, meowed upon seeing Fu Chen. It was said that cats could see spirits, and Fu Chen amused himself with the thought that it might see through his otherworldly soul.

Fu Chen didn’t look at Consort De, who sat at the head, keeping his head bowed. “Greetings, my lady.”

“Rise. Do you know how to make kou dan?” Consort De’s voice was gentle and elegant.

Recalling Mo Hua’s words at the palace gate, Fu Chen calmly replied, “Yes, I do.”

“Oh? If you’re pretending, I will punish you.” Her tone remained light and graceful, exuding a noble and serene demeanor, making one marvel that only such a person could have a son like the third prince.

“Please allow me to demonstrate, my lady.” He respectfully replied, not noticing Mo Hua’s approving glance.

It was almost certain that if he had said no, he would have been dragged out for deceit. The palace valued adaptability.

At this moment, even if he didn’t know, he had to act like he did. Fortunately, the process wasn’t difficult; the key was to mix the petals’ color evenly.

Kou dan, often made from the petals of the thousand-layer red flower, was also known as thousand-layer red, and in modern times, it was called nail polish. This trend of dyeing nails started in the early Jin Dynasty and quickly spread from the palace to the outside world, with countless women imitating it. 

Women loved beauty and used it to showcase their status. The steps in this era were similar to what Fu Chen had read in books. He was grateful for his photographic memory. He bowed and placed the bright red petals on the table into a ceramic mortar, using a tool to crush them. His long, fair fingers created a striking contrast against the red petals, exuding a captivating allure.

Consort De watched as the little eunuch added alum to the mortar, grinding the petal mixture with even force. It was a meticulous task; too much force would make the color too dark, too little wouldn’t soak through. Maintaining consistent pressure required great patience and focus. Fu Chen soaked silk sheets in the petal mixture, waiting for them to be fully saturated.

Throughout the process, the palace maids around Consort De were astonished. They hadn’t expected the little eunuch to not only know how but also to perform like an expert. Even the palace maids specializing in kou dan didn’t have Fu Chen’s fluidity and grace.

In his youth, Fu Chen had loved the art of tea, an art that shared similarities with this task. The elegance and steadiness in his movements made them pleasing to the eye. Just by watching, one could tell he was skilled.

“Please raise your hand, my lady.” Seeing Consort De extend her well-maintained hand, Fu Chen knew he had been acknowledged. Throughout history, pretending to be more capable than one required a certain foundation. “I have overstepped the bounds.”

“No matter, take a seat.” Consort De placed one hand on the table, the other stroking her cat.

“Thank you, my lady.” Fu Chen sat down, carefully holding Consort De’s cool hand, and began to apply the color to her nails.

The cat, with its icy blue eyes, seemed curious about Fu Chen. It stood up from Consort De’s lap and nestled into Fu Chen’s arms.

Fu Chen didn’t dare move, letting the cat roll around on his clothes. The palace maids around Consort De chuckled at the sight.

“This little one is usually so aloof, yet it seems to like you,” Consort De remarked as Fu Chen finished the kou dan and stood respectfully to the side.

Fu Chen broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly expressing his humility.

Consort De smiled warmly, handing the cat to Mo Zhu, a palace maid similar to Mo Hua.

Consort De gracefully waved her hand, and all the palace maids bowed and left.

The air still carried the lingering floral scent, but Fu Chen felt inexplicably anxious. Only he and Consort De remained in the room.

Of course, the area was cleared of people, ensuring that any conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

“Sit,” Consort De said, her warm smile hinting at something Fu Chen couldn’t quite discern.

This was Consort De’s domain. Fu Chen knew the earlier display was for outsiders; now came the real purpose of his visit. He thanked her and sat down again.

“Are you wondering why I had Mo Hua bring you food boxes?” Consort De’s smile was as radiant as a flower, her voice growing softer.

Her tone and pitch changed, indicating she was weighing something, hesitating.

“Your servant is foolish. Please enlighten me, my lady.” Fu Chen thought to himself that the food boxes were indeed Consort De’s orders, but he couldn’t fathom why.

If she simply needed someone, it would have been easy for someone of her status to instruct her attendants to have the Internal Affairs Office assign someone. As Master Hai had mentioned earlier, the palace staff changed every few months, with each palace regularly selecting new servants for the masters. There was no need for a palace maid to repeatedly curry favor. In simple terms, a little eunuch wasn’t worth such effort from a master.

“What do you think it is?” Consort De nodded at the eunuch’s polite response, seemingly making a decision.

“I dare not speculate on your intentions, my lady,” Fu Chen said, keeping his head lowered.

In the palace, servants were not allowed to look directly at their masters unless permitted.

Suddenly, those delicate hands covered Fu Chen’s clenched fists on his knees. His heart skipped a beat, feeling as if a snake had slithered up, its cold skin pressed against his. For the first time, he looked up in shock, directly at Consort De.

Consort De smiled sweetly, not reprimanding Fu Chen for his rudeness. That smile, on her elegant face, had an unexpected allure, different from her usual demeanor. No one would have imagined this was the dignified and graceful Consort De. Her red lips parted slightly, “I need someone close to me. What do you think?”

Consort De didn’t even use “this palace” to refer to herself, looking at Fu Chen with a half-smile, making the meaning of her words unmistakably clear.

She had taken a liking to him—not for his abilities or character, but for his youthful appearance!

Of all the possibilities he had considered, this was the most unlikely.