Shocking Mountain Moon

Chapter 46: In the Cloud Garden

What caught my eye was a pair of butterfly-shaped accessories. The texture looked like wood but not wood, and it was both simple and exquisite, with a unique sense of elegance.

Without having to smell it deliberately, a fragrance will float into your nose. This fragrance is just like its texture, mellow and refreshing, as if the summer heat is torn away by a breeze, making you feel relaxed and happy.

"This is called a fragrance pendant. It is said to be made from a variety of spices. Your sixth sister learned it from an old Taoist priest who traveled around. It is quite popular in the capital now, and it is sold in many incense shops..." the old lady said on the side.

Qiu He reached out and gently stroked the butterfly fragrance pendant: "Sixth sister is really a kind-hearted person."

The old lady curled her lips: "Stop praising her. She's just a country girl, she can't hear polite words, she's wild, she'll just go wherever there's fun..."

Qiu He listened quietly to her grandmother's nagging, and a tear suddenly fell.

She lowered her head, and the tear fell on her clothes, leaving almost no trace.

The old lady paused and glanced around nervously.

There were two palace maids standing in the small room. Fortunately, they were not in my sight, so I breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s not that you can’t be unrestrained in the palace, but a little beauty is not qualified to be unrestrained.

For example, Concubine Yu could call the wind and rain, but no one dared to say anything.

"Look, beauty, isn't this perfume pendant very special?" The old lady didn't ask Qiu He why she suddenly burst into tears.

What are you asking? This deep palace was not what the eldest maid wanted to come to. Several years have passed without any children or favor. There is no need to ask about the bitterness.

"Compared to the sachet, it has a different charm." Qiu He also calmed down and smiled at the old lady, "It's great that Sixth Sister is back. I still remember that when she was a child, she was as cute as a pink ball, but she was very strong and often beat Fu'er and the others until they cried..."

"There's such a thing? Grandmother has forgotten it..."

The time we spend together is always short. After the old lady left, the room immediately became deserted.

Qiu He stared at the pair of butterfly pendants that exuded a refreshing fragrance for a long time before she spoke: "Put them away properly."

"Aren't you going to wear it?" asked the maid.

"Put the things away, they might be useful later."

How could she wear it? Everyone in the palace knew that Concubine Yu liked butterflies, and she usually used butterfly patterns on her hairpins and dresses.

As soon as she saw the pair of butterfly incense pendants, she thought it would be something that Concubine Yu would like. She couldn't wear them. If she encountered difficulties in the future, she might be able to ask Concubine Yu for a way out.

The excitement outside the palace belongs to others, while the crisis inside the palace belongs to oneself. Qiu He raised her hand to press down the corners of her eyes, suppressing the surging hatred.

She hated her grandfather for using her to gain a future, hated her mother for not caring about the love between them, and hated her father for enjoying the benefits in silence.

What's even more annoying is that she has a bad fate. At the most suitable age, the emperor fills his harem and she is forced to break up with her lover.

It was clearly a marriage that the two families were happy to see, but they indulged in it, promoted it, and then ruined it. In the end, it was all over, leaving her alone in pain.

Qiu Heng had no idea about the love, hate, prosperity and decline in the palace. She had intentionally chosen the butterfly pendant as a birthday gift for her eldest sister.

She knew that the Imperial Concubine Yu, who could influence the emperor's mind, liked butterfly designs. If Miss Qiu was interested, the butterfly pendants would come in handy, and she would have a chance to hook up with Imperial Concubine Yu.

The time left for Daxia was too short. She was acting alone and could only sow as many seeds as possible and wait for one of them to bloom.

There was no movement from Yuan's house for the time being. Two days later, Qiu Heng received a letter from Feng Caixing, the second lady of Changchun Marquis' Mansion.

Feng Caixing invited her to participate in the activities of the Cuju Club.

There are many large and small Cuju clubs in Beijing. The Cuju club that Feng Caixing belongs to is called Yuantuan Club, which is the most influential Cuju club among the noble ladies. The president of the club is Princess Rongning of Prince Fu's Mansion.

The carriage from the Marquis of Changchun's Mansion went directly to the Earl of Yongqing's Mansion, and Feng Caixing picked up Qiu Heng and went to Yun Garden.

Yunyuan has opened up many venues for people to play Cuju. The garden is covered with green grass, tall trees, and even has a colorful tent to block the sun. For those who love Cuju, summer is the best time to play here.

"Sister is a little unhappy and doesn't like Cuju." Feng Caixing held Qiuheng's arm affectionately, "Princess Rongning knows that we are familiar with each other, and specifically asked me to take you with us."

Qiu Heng raised her eyebrows: "The princess knows me?"

"I know." Feng Caixing raised her lips, looking very excited. "Ah Heng, have you forgotten your great power during the Dragon Boat Festival? Princess Rongning was not there that day, and she kept you in mind after hearing about it. She told me a long time ago that she would meet you if she had the chance..."

Qiu Heng listened with a smile, picturing the appearance of Princess Rongning in her mind.

This princess, who loved Cuju very much, has been written about a lot in books. She is a pitiful, lamentable and respectable woman.

Yuan Chenghai caused chaos in the southeast, and Northern Qi was ready to make a move. Daxia proposed an alliance with Xijiang, who not only demanded a large amount of wealth, but also wanted the princess of Daxia to marry the king of Xijiang as his concubine.

Daxia had no princess of marriageable age, and the women of the royal family were all in danger. Prince Fu took the initiative to offer to help Emperor Jingping share his worries. His daughter, Princess Rongning, was conferred the title of Princess and married to Xi Jiang.

But later, Xi Jiang broke the promise, and the reason was even more ridiculous, saying that Princess Rongning was not the emperor's daughter. Princess Rongning was furious and tried to assassinate King Xi Jiang but failed, and died tragically in a foreign country.

The carriage kept moving forward, and with the creaking of the wheels, we arrived at Yunyuan. A group of girls were playing Cuju under the colorful tent, and in the wider area, men were chasing and running, playing a Cuju game.

"Princess, this is Miss Qiu Liu."

Qiu Heng bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess."

"No need to be polite." Princess Rongning had a pair of bright eyes that looked full of life. "I heard that Miss Qiu Liu is a Cuju expert. Would you like to try?"

"Okay." Qiu Heng agreed generously.

Princess Rongning raised her toes and the ball flew towards Qiuheng.

Qiu Heng raised her foot and caught it steadily. After bouncing the ball a few times, she made a diagonal move and the ball flew high. Amid exclamations, the ball fell and landed steadily on her foot again.

There are two types of Cuju at present. One is a competition between two teams, with the winner determined by the number of goals scored. The other is fancy Cuju, which has many tricks, high kicks and is more entertaining.

Everyone present loved to play, and when Qiu Heng showed off her skills, her level was immediately known.

Even the racing team that was taking a break not far away noticed this place.

"Who is that young lady from? She's an expert!"

"Hey, isn't that Miss Qiu Liu? Cui Er, is that right?"

"Miss Qiu Liu? The Miss Qiu Liu who saved Master Ling?"

"Yes, it's her! Cui Er, why don't you say anything?"

Cui Er, who was patted on the shoulder by his companion, came back to his senses and said coldly: "So what?"

"I'm curious. A little girl can save the prince's son. Aren't you curious?"

“It’s a bit strange indeed.”

Someone else said, "In fact, it was not called saving Ling Shizi. It was said that he pushed Ling Shizi away and fell into the hands of the spies."

"Tsk, this is sacrificing oneself to save others."

A strange laugh sounded: "Saving Prince Ling, that's not surprising."

"Ha ha ha ha--"

Amidst the laughter, Cui Er threw the ball into the middle of the field with all his strength: "Let the game begin!"

Under the colorful tent, after some discussion, Princess Rongning made an invitation: "Miss Qiu Liu, are you interested in joining our Yuantuan Club?"

"It's my honor to join the society. Thank you for your kindness, Princess." Qiu Heng did not refuse.

The book records that the imperial envoy Xue Han was executed for killing Prince Fu. After getting to know the real Xue Han, she was really curious about the reason.

Prince Fu took the initiative to share the king's worries and sacrificed his beloved daughter, so he had a good reputation after his death.

After becoming a member, the other ladies became more friendly towards Qiu Heng and asked about Xiang Pei with a smile.

Qiu Heng showed the perfume pendant she was wearing to the other girls.

"After seeing Miss Qiuliu's perfume pendant, I realized that what I was thinking about at home was just a pile of mud."

"The ones I bought are not good either. The ones sold in the incense shops look good at first glance, but they are too rough when you look closely..."

"Not only that, the perfume I just bought has already cracked, and it's expensive..."

As they were talking, someone suggested, "Miss Qiuliu, how about we exchange gifts to celebrate our acquaintance?"

"You are quite clever. Miss Qiuliu is wearing such a perfume pendant!"

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "I just made some incense pendants. I'll send them to my sisters later."

"Yeah!"

……

As Cui Er was competing, he couldn't help but glance towards the colorful tent. He saw the girl, as bright as the autumn moon, surrounded by a group of noble ladies, and his heart sank.

Is it because Prince Ling Yun of Kang County rejected his proposal?
Cui Er was thinking about these things and didn't notice a ball flying towards him.

"Cui Er——"

Before the person who spoke finished his words, the ball hit Cui Er on the head.

With his head buzzing, Cui Er became furious in his heart: Damn it, I must get to the bottom of this today!
(End of this chapter)