Chapter 334: Deep Courtyard, Confused Partings

Da Zhou Imperial Palace, Bureau of Imperial Attire.

Once Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao finished the banquet, Jia Cong was led by an attendant to the Bureau of Imperial Attire to be measured for clothing.

The python robe bestowed by the Emperor is a mark of holy grace and glory, but since everyone's physique differs, it is impossible for all to conform to the standard measurements of the stored ceremonial robes.

For anyone with a distinct physique—too tall or too short, too fat or too thin—measurements must be taken for custom tailoring.

When wearing the Emperor's bestowed attire for court assemblies or grand ceremonies, one must wear it to manifest imperial grace; if the size does not fit, it would damage the dignity of the Imperial House.

However, the female officials and attendants of the Bureau of Imperial Attire had seen countless officials receiving bestowed robes, but one as young as Jia Cong was unheard of.

These people were accustomed to the winds and clouds of imperial favor and knew that anyone so remarkably different must have extraordinary qualities. Upon learning that the person being measured today was named Jia Cong, they became even more respectful.

They measured Jia Cong with meticulous care, then brought out a stored python robe for him to try on, recording the ill-fitting parts for alteration.

At this moment, a palace maid entered the Bureau of Imperial Attire. She was beautiful in appearance, graceful in bearing, and as delicate as an orchid; her demeanor was quite outstanding.

This was all because the status of the female historian Jia in the Fengzao Palace had been rising recently; it was said she had been rewarded by the Empress several times. Who could blame her when she had such a capable younger brother—the very youth before them?

Jia Cong saw Baoqin, dressed in palace attire and smiling sweetly. Although they hadn't met for nearly two years, she hadn't changed at all.

Along the way, Baoqin kept looking back at Jia Cong. She hadn't seen him for two years and felt he had changed a great deal; he had shed much of his childishness and gained a masculine air. He seemed even more triumphant than before...

Baoqin said, "After the Cong Sanye visited the Young Lady that time, she often spoke of you. You have entered the palace to see the Emperor several times, but the palace rules are strict, so you couldn't meet. The Young Lady misses her family very much."

Baoqin smiled at Jia Cong, took out a gleaming silver tablet, and said, "Official Chen, I am acting under the Empress's phoenix decree to invite Master Jia to the Fengzao Palace for an audience."

Baoqin's face flushed slightly as she said, "The palace is deep, and youth fades easily. In a few years, Cong Sanye won't say such things. But you have grown much taller, and your bearing is even better than before."

When this topic came up, both were taciturn, for this was a dead end, basically unsolvable.

Official Chen was all smiles: "Please go ahead, Master Jia. We have already taken your measurements. Your figure and bearing are top-tier. As long as we make minor adjustments to the stored robe, it will be ready in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense."

Jia Cong smiled and thanked Official Chen, which made the other party feel flattered, repeatedly saying there was no need for such formalities.

"I will have someone send it to the Fengzao Palace when it's ready, so Master Jia won't have to run back and forth."

When Official Chen heard this, she was also startled. This young man was truly favored—the Emperor bestowing robes on one side, the Empress summoning him on the other. No wonder the Jia female historian was rising in the palace.

When they grow old and withered, they are either sent back home or become low-ranking female officials like Official Chen, ending their lives in obscurity.

Yet, those who can truly receive imperial favor and attain a title are one in ten thousand; most just waste their youth away.

The female official of the Bureau of Imperial Attire held a rank, yet she was quite polite to Baoqin, a palace maid without rank.

Jia Cong laughed: "It has been a long time, Sister Baoqin, you are as graceful as ever."

Jia Cong saw that Baoqin was only seventeen or eighteen, a flower-like age in later generations, yet she could speak of youth fading easily, which made him feel slightly amused.

The female official of the Bureau of Imperial Attire recognized her and smiled: "So it is Miss Baoqin from the Fengzao Palace. What instructions do you have today?"

For noble clans to keep their imperial favor from fading, they always use various means, and sending their own noble daughters into the palace to serve is an important method.

There was also a slender, graceful woman, her pretty face flushed, her bright eyes examining him, her gaze revealing tenderness and concern. It was Yuanchun, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Once Baoqin led Jia Cong into the main hall of the Fengzao Palace, he saw Zhao Wang, Li Zhongmao, whom he had met that morning.

In the center, on the phoenix throne, sat a woman of grand bearing, over thirty years old, covered in pearls and jade, wearing a five-phoenix robe with a straight collar, wide lapels, and right-fastening.

The sunlight streaming into the room shone on the gold-woven patterns of the phoenix robe, reflecting a dazzling, brilliant light that could instantly captivate one's eyes.

Jia Cong naturally knew this was the current Empress, Empress Jingde. Without needing Baoqin's prompt, he stepped forward to perform the grand kowtow.

Empress Jingde was quite curious about this youth who had made a name for himself in the Divine Capital and examined him with interest.

Although she heard he was only in his prime, she saw he had grown tall and slender, like a jade tree or an orchid, his demeanor composed, his spirit grand, his appearance incomparably handsome, and his bearing transcendent.

Empress Jingde smiled: "Although this palace has always known that the Count of Weiyuan was triumphant in his youth, excelling in both civil and military arts, I had never seen you. Just now, Zhongmao praised you highly, and I was somewhat skeptical."

"Seeing you now, I know it is indeed true. The Grand Lady of your house is truly blessed, and Yuanchun has a good brother."

"It is rare for you siblings to meet, so I will say no more. Yuanchun, you may take your brother aside to talk."

It was not the first time Jia Cong had been praised by a woman for his looks, so he was already indifferent. He and Yuanchun solemnly thanked the Empress for her grace.

Following Yuanchun and Baoqin out of the main hall, they walked windingly for a while and went to a female historian's office courtyard near the Fengzao Palace, which was empty and deserted.

If Jia Cong were not still a minor and receiving special grace from the Empress, he would not normally be able to come to this place.

Once the two sat down in the courtyard, Yuanchun smiled and examined him carefully, saying, "Brother Cong, since we met in the palace that time, it has been two years."

"Brother, you have grown much taller; you have truly grown into a man. Sister often hears news of you in the palace and truly feels honored."

"With several poems, you made a name for yourself in Jiangnan, not only winning the title of Jieyuan but also performing great deeds in Liaodong."

"Such youthful ability is something Sister had never heard of before. It is a great fortune for the Jia family to produce such a fine descendant."

"If Brother Cong had been born a few years earlier, perhaps the family wouldn't have needed to let Sister enter the palace..."

When Jia Cong heard Yuanchun say this, there was an indescribable regret in her tone, but this was something he couldn't console her about.

He deliberately picked out some interesting anecdotes about the sisters at home to talk about.

The atmosphere between the siblings finally became relaxed. Jia Cong also mentioned that after he established his own household, he had brought Yingchun into the mansion, and even spoke a bit about the complications of Yingchun's marriage.

A look of longing appeared in Yuanchun's eyes. She had been in the palace for eight years; wasn't the life Jia Cong described exactly what she longed for most?

Sisters staying together all day, with a capable brother to support and shield them from the wind and rain. Unfortunately, such a life was ultimately just a fantasy for her; she could only think about it, but couldn't take it seriously.

Baoqin came over to change the tea. Seeing the siblings still chatting enthusiastically, she smiled and sat aside to listen quietly.

Yuanchun and Baoqin had been together for ten years, their relationship like sisters. Baoqin was the person she trusted most, so naturally, she didn't avoid her in anything.

For Baoqin, this was probably her only chance to hear about life outside the palace.

Yuanchun asked about Baoyu's recent situation and couldn't help but sigh, saying, "I taught Baoyu to read and write since he was a child. He has natural talent, but he has a temperament that enjoys wealth and comfort and is unwilling to be restrained."

"His head is full of bizarre ideas; I fear he is not material for the eight-legged essay examinations. Brother Cong, on the other hand, has been tempered since childhood and is instead able to focus his mind and achieve success."

She pondered slightly before saying, "Brother Cong, did you meet Zhao Wang for the first time today?"

Before Jia Cong could answer, Yuanchun said to Baoqin, "Baoqin, go and refill the pot and brew a pot of new tea for Brother Cong."

Baoqin's eyes flickered when she heard this. She had followed Yuanchun for ten years, so naturally, she was already in tune with her Young Lady's heart. She knew her Young Lady wanted to say some private words to the Cong Sanye. The deep palace is unpredictable; one must always be cautious.

Baoqin carried an iron kettle, filled it with prepared spring water, went out of the courtyard gate, closed it tightly, and burned water on the clay stove at the entrance, while she sat on the steps to wait.

In the courtyard, Jia Cong said that it was indeed his first time meeting Zhao Wang and briefly mentioned Zhao Wang gifting him a sword and asking for calligraphy today.

Yuanchun said, "Although the Emperor has four sons, only Zhao Wang is the eldest son. Both inside and outside the court, everyone says he is the one to inherit the dragon throne. His status is noble and special."

"Among the sisters in the family, I am the eldest, so I know many past events of our ancestors."

"Back then, Grandfather did not join the dragon throne, nor did he rebel. Although he lost imperial favor, he warded off great disaster and kept the Rongguo line continuing. Imperial succession has always been unpredictable. Brother Cong, you are a talent of this age; you must be even more cautious."

Yuanchun only said these few sentences and then stopped. After all, here and now, such a topic was too risky; it was enough to just touch upon it.

If she didn't admire and feel a connection with this outstanding brother, and view him as the future of the Jia family, she would have held back these taboo words.

The two siblings tacitly turned the topic back to interesting family anecdotes.

Jia Cong was already somewhat surprised in his heart. It wasn't that he didn't see that Zhao Wang had the intention to win him over, and with Zhao Wang's special status, getting close to him could easily lead to accusations or even bury dangers.

What he didn't expect was that Yuanchun, a woman in the boudoir, could see the mystery in it just by the exchange of glances between the Empress and Zhao Wang in the main hall, as well as their attitude toward the siblings.

She could point out the crux of the matter; this kind of keenness and strategy was already very extraordinary.

However, thinking about it, it wasn't too strange. With the experience of the Jia family as a noble clan for half a lifetime, the Grand Lady must know that the palace is the most dangerous place in the world.

If Yuanchun were a woman of mediocre intelligence, the Grand Lady could not have sent her into the palace to serve the Imperial House and seek wealth.

Because, for a foolish woman to enter the palace, most of the time, she doesn't win wealth, but disaster.

At this moment, Jia Cong suddenly heard voices outside the gate.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 335 =====