When she got up to wash up the next morning, Mu Xiang came in with a smile, carrying a basin and a handkerchief, and told Ruan Yuyi that it was snowing outside.
She looked sideways at the window, the window paper was reflected brightly, and even the carvings on the window sill seemed a bit more vivid. She put on her coat casually, with her hair loose, put on her shoes, and pushed the door open.
The wind was blowing up, but it didn't feel as cold as yesterday.
The snow in front of her was barely standing, covering the trees and rocks with a thin layer, like a snow-white gauze. She walked to the atrium and stroked the thin snow on the leaves.
The leaves were covered with snow and were moist. She closed her palms, and within a short time, the little snow turned into snow water in her hands, making her palms cold and slippery.
"Miss!" Mu Xiang caught up with her cloak in her arms.
She shook off her cloak and wrapped Ruan Yuyi's whole body. Ruan Yuyi turned around, with a smile on her lips, "Go and call the wood spirit here. She is very playful, and she will definitely be happy to see her."
Mu Xiang was startled when she saw her real smile. She seemed to be infected, and then she smiled and said, "Yes, slave, I'll go right away."
Seeing Mu Xiang leave, she gathered up her cloak, held up a leaf, and pressed a mark on the thin snow with her fingertips.
This is the third snow she has seen in the capital.
Mu Xiang came back soon and shook her head, "That girl is still nestled in the quilt. She is so weak that she looks like she is not in good shape."
"Are you sick?" she asked warmly, "Let's ask an imperial physician to take a look at him."
Mu Xiang pursed her lips and said, "The slave also asked the same question. Her back was to the slave, so she took a break and then got up to serve, so it wouldn't be a hindrance."
There were no candles in the lower room during the day, and it was a little dark. Mu Ling huddled alone on the bunk, with a quilt that almost covered his head, and his voice was muffled and soft.
Ruan Yuyi frowned, with worry in her eyes, "I don't know when she learned medical skills. Ignore what she said, just go and get someone to see her."
The woody fragrance responded and the cooking was done.
After standing outside for a long time, she felt a little cold, so she went back to the house. After Muxiang made arrangements, he waited for her to finish washing, and put hot charcoal in the sleeve stove, and then the two of them went to Chonghua Palace.
Early in the morning, Concubine Shu sent someone to inform the meeting. She said she had obtained two bottles of fine winter tea and invited all the sisters in the palace to enjoy the snow and have tea. In fact, it was an excuse to gather everyone together in order to understand the current situation of each palace.
Once the person from Chonghua Palace opens his mouth, no one dares to neglect him.
Ruan Yuyi was walking on the road and happened to meet Xu Bin from the Yufu Palace. This Xu Bin had a cold temperament. When she saw her, she nodded lightly and was relatively speechless.
Just naturally, the two of them went together.
When they arrived at Taiji, there was no one in the main hall. The palace maids who had been standing there earlier came to greet them and led them to the backyard. Concubine Shu was already sitting at the stone table in the pavilion with another concubine.
A sharp female voice was heard in the distance, "Ruan Jieyu was on time today. It seems that she really improved her memory last time."
Li Meiren was dressed in gold embroidered palace clothes and glanced sideways at the door, "Why did Sister Xu come with her? Ruan Jieyu is the only favored mistress in our palace. Gold is precious. Don't let others touch it. You will suffer the consequences.
But we poor people."
She spoke in a measured tone, and at the end, she glanced at Concubine Shu to see if she was being favored by her.
Xu Bin knew that she was a talker, so she didn't even bother to pay her any attention, so she found her usual seat and sat down.
Ruan Yuyi slightly tightened her hands under her sleeves and stepped forward to greet Concubine Shu.
"Look, there are a lot of rules." Li Meiren covered her mouth and sneered.
Concubine Shu calmly put down the cup in her hand, first gave her a seat, and then looked at Li Meiren, "I see that Li Meiren's mouth is getting worse. If you can't control it in the future, I will control it for you."
Guan. Ruan Jieyu’s status is higher than yours, so it’s your turn to comment.”
The palace has always been very hierarchical. Even if you are only one rank short, you can still become the capital to climb over others and dominate others.
Li Meiren's face turned pale and she looked back at Concubine Shu in disbelief. She didn't know why Concubine Shu, who was looking for Ruan Yuyi before, came back to protect her now.
She gritted her teeth and said, "If the empress doesn't like it, I just don't say anything."
She originally thought that this matter would be settled, but Concubine Shu said again, "You made tea for Ruan Jieyu yourself, so you should apologize."
Li Meiren was not angry, so she couldn't keep her face down, so she sat still, as if she hadn't heard anything.
Nowadays, there are only a few people in the palace, and Ruan Yuyi originally didn't want everyone to make trouble. But seeing her making trouble like this, she didn't want to say anything for her.
Concubine Shu's face darkened, "Sister Li, did she hurt her leg or her ear?" Although she spoke calmly, it made people feel uncomfortable for no reason.
Only then did Li Meiren take action.
She stood up, took the teapot from the maid's hand, held the lid with one hand, and poured it into the cup, quickly but steadily. The water flow hit the porcelain cup, making a crisp sound.
Fortunately, it was collected in time and the water did not overflow. Li Meiren reluctantly bowed and said, "Please greet Jieyu."
Ruan Yuyi nodded, told her to sit back, and said warmly, "Li Mei knows tea." She had no intention of making things difficult for Li Mei, and she revealed the matter with a single word.
Ordinary ladies would not know how to pour tea, but it was quite clever. She herself was taught by her grandma. Li Mei was angry because she poured the tea in a hurry, but the amount of tea inside was just right.
Li Meiren's face softened a little, "My father once went to Ryukyu and learned about the tea ceremony there. Out of curiosity, I also learned a few things, and this -"
She suddenly paused, fearing that Concubine Shu would find her verbose again, and looked at Concubine Shu's face.
Seeing that Concubine Shu didn't say anything, she lowered her head and picked up the fruit to eat, she felt relieved and continued talking while she was interested.
During this time, people began to arrive one after another. The pavilion seemed slightly crowded, but it seemed as if the barriers were blurred, and everyone was getting closer to each other.
Because they were all rich and wealthy, the pavilion was filled with fragrant breezes. Outside the pavilion, snow continued to fall, and even the ground was covered with a layer of white.
After chatting for a few times, we somehow came up with the topic of the palace’s hot springs.
"In previous years, there were many concubines in the palace, but the late emperor only brought three or four concubines with him. This year, I don't know how to arrange it." Li Meiren not only talked nonsense, but also had many sources of news.
Most of the tea, fruit and snacks on the table were missing, and the palace servants were bringing in new ones to add to them.
Xu Bin was concentrating on drinking tea. When Concubine Shu saw her, she smiled and asked, "Does this tea of mine really deserve a compliment from Concubine Xu?" Concubine Xu used to be quiet, but Concubine Shu always liked to tease her into talking.
Xu Bin put down the tea cup and said with a calm expression, "It's indeed good. But no matter how we guess, Ruan Jieyu is indispensable for this trip to the hot spring. This is for sure."
Although she always looks as cold as a breeze, she is still in the palace, so it would be a lie to say she doesn't care about the favor at all.
Ruan Yuyi was eating cakes, and when she heard her name, the tips of her ears turned red.