The group quickly arrived at the Southern Mountain Palace. It was Leng Jiu’s first visit, and she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to explore, taking Grand Tutor Lu with her. This royal villa, while splendid like the imperial palace, lacked the oppressive atmosphere. Surrounded by mountains and greenery, it felt more comfortable than the imperial palace.
People serving along the way hurriedly bowed when they saw her. Some didn’t recognize her and assumed she was just one of Dragon Yei’s consorts, addressing her as “Niang Niang” (lady). Leng Jiu didn’t mind and waved for them to leave.
Royal villas naturally included gardens. Leng Jiu didn’t care much about other things, but she strangely loved these places full of blooming flowers. She found them soothing. If she felt displeased, after ruthlessly destroying the flowers, her mood would improve. Although she loved flowers, she wasn’t one to cherish them. Her actions were spontaneous, seemingly without anything worth caring about.
Not long after entering the garden, she encountered several ministers coming towards her. Initially not fond of meeting these ministers, the one leading them now caught her attention with his crescent-white attire. Leng Jiu raised her eyebrows in a seemingly appreciative manner and smiled intriguingly. Wasn’t he the one she had molested in the carriage that day? Although she knew he was handsome, he looked even more stunning now.
Dressed in white like snow, with a high jade crown and composed steps, his sleeves danced in the wind. Despite his extraordinary beauty, there was a kind of rigidness and formality that emitted an air of unapproachability. This made those around him keep their distance, and it seemed he didn’t have much popularity. However, his appearance made people curious, as if they wanted to peel off his cold mask to see if there was a rigid heart inside.
When Grand Tutor Lu noticed Leng Jiu’s gaze, even though it was inappropriate for the empress dowager to stare at a minister, he didn’t dare to advise her, let alone reprimand her. He merely provided an explanation, “The one in white is Higher Minister Gong Yuwei. He was taught by the late emperor’s teacher. A year ago, he was ordered to handle flood and plague relief, earning praise from the people. Later, he eradicated several notorious bandit nests in the west, winning even more public acclaim. Although he might lack personal charm, his merits are outstanding. The emperor has long wanted to promote him, but it wasn’t until this year that the imperial decree was issued. Despite a three-rank promotion, his great achievements, along with his exceptional talents, made everyone acknowledge him. He entered the palace for official duties not long ago, and the empress dowager probably hasn’t met him yet.”
“I didn’t expect him to be this capable!” Since ancient times, those who reached such high positions at a young age were rare. Moreover, he held the esteemed position of a higher minister. However, what Leng Jiu cared most about was whether he would recognize her. Most likely, he would, as she hadn’t disguised herself that day. Although there was a difference between her appearance that day and when she had makeup on, with careful observation, it was still possible to recognize her. She wondered if he could remember her face clearly from that day.
“Your Highness! They are coming this way!”
Leng Jiu glanced and turned to another path, saying, “I don’t want to see them. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Avoiding the courtiers, Leng Jiu encountered a group of beautifully dressed young ladies. It couldn’t be said that they bumped into her; she stood behind the flowers as they walked past her. The group was lively, laughing and playing. Among them, a woman in rosy red stood in the middle, giving off the impression that everyone followed her lead. She was exceptionally beautiful, yet there was no hint of arrogance on her face. She appeared modest and courteous, speaking and behaving with elegance. Clearly, she wasn’t an ordinary young lady.
Leng Jiu plucked a peony, absentmindedly pulling off the petals and tossing them into the nearby pond. She casually asked, “Do noble young ladies also participate in the hunt?”
“Of course! Every year, aside from ministers, young princes, and sons of noble families, there are also young ladies participating. Anyone can join the hunt! The lady in the middle just now is Miss Hua Yuxuan from the Duke of Virtue’s residence. I wonder if Your Highness remembers her?”
“I don’t remember. What’s special about her?”
“She is the designated empress. She will participate in the selection this time, but it’s just a formality. The decree for her title was left by the late emperor long ago. After the selection, there will be a grand ceremony for her coronation!”
“Empress?” Leng Jiu plucked the last petal and smiled mysteriously. “Indeed, she has the demeanor of an empress!”