Jinyi Spring

Upon hearing this, everyone except Shui Chuchen filed out. The Crown Prince and Shangguan Ruyu walked at the back, glanced back at Shui Chuchen, and then turned and left.

The palace doors closed, leaving only the father and daughter in the vast Taiji Hall.

Emperor Jianzhang beckoned, and Shui Chuchen walked to his side.

He then said, "Please take a seat."

A eunuch brought over a brocade stool and placed it under the dragon throne.

Shui Chuchen curtsied in thanks before sitting down.

Emperor Jianzhang's voice softened, "I know that Yong'an still harbors resentment towards me."

Shui Chuchen shook her head. "Your subject has no complaints. It's just that," she raised her head, her eyes filled with tears again, "that I miss my mother. I've thought of her for so many days, but I still don't know what she looks like."

Those words brought tears to Emperor Jianzhang's eyes.

He sighed softly, "I'll have an artist paint a portrait of her for you another day."

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Emperor Jianzhang then said, "I've heard that Yong'an has excellent medical skills. He opened his own clinic and can perform acupuncture. He's revered as a 'miracle doctor.' You're the one who saved Xiao Wu."

Shui Chuchen lowered her head slightly, "Father, you flatter me."

He nodded in satisfaction, a rare hint of approval in his eyes. "Indeed, my princess possesses great ability and ambition. The Great Yan Dynasty does not discriminate based on a woman's abilities; Empress Shengde and Princess Changning are both outstanding women who have made great contributions to the founding and protection of the Great Yan empire. However, since you are already a princess, you will still need to spend most of your time in the palace..."

He paused briefly, his gaze darkening as if he were carefully choosing his words.

"You'll be seventeen next year. Besides observing mourning for your mother and serving the Empress Dowager, you'll also need to spend more time preparing for your marriage and learning palace etiquette. I'll allow you to continue running that clinic outside the palace. If you're interested, you can leave the palace one day a month on the fifth to visit the clinic. What do you say?"

"As for your assistants, I will reward them handsomely. I will also have the Imperial Medical Academy send several imperial physicians to the clinic on a rotating basis, so that they can keep things running when you are not here."

Visiting the clinic only three days a month is far too little. Her former freedom is gone forever. But compared to being completely confined within these red walls and golden tiles, the Emperor has already shown her extraordinary mercy.

As for the imperial physicians taking turns to see patients at the clinic, they had to be senior imperial physicians who could handle things independently. Not only that, but some other people were also required to work as doctors at the clinic.

Today was her first meeting with the Emperor, and Shui Chuchen obediently nodded in agreement. Once they were more familiar with each other, she would fight for some more rights.

Emperor Jianzhang's tone softened further, "I know you're used to being carefree among the common people and are not used to suddenly entering the palace. But the royal family has its own rules. As the eldest princess, your every word and action is being watched, so you must be careful with your words and deeds."

"I have already wronged you for sixteen years and do not want you to suffer any more grievances—but I also cannot allow the court officials to say that I am too indulgent. You have your own palace servants, and if there are any suitable ones outside the palace, you may bring them in; I will not stop you. If you have any requests or difficulties, you may report to me and the Empress Dowager, or you may tell He Quan."

Upon hearing this, He Quan, the eunuch behind the emperor, quickly bowed to Shui Chuchen.

Shui Chuchen said gratefully, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace. Your subject will certainly abide by the palace rules and not cause Your Majesty any trouble. However..."

She paused, her eyes slightly reddening. "My younger brother, Buji, has been my only family, and we've never been apart. I miss him."

Emperor Jianzhang said, "I have heard Ruyu and Minister Ming mention him. He is a good child, and the Feng family has been kind to you. I will not sever the bond between you and your brother. He is still young. If you are willing, you may bring him to live in the palace."

Shui Chuchen shook his head. "He grew up in the countryside and is used to being wild. I want him to stay at his uncle's house. When I miss him, I can summon him to the palace to see me. That would be enough."

Emperor Jianzhang nodded and said no more. He glanced at the deep night outside the palace and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, it's getting late. He Quan, take Yong'an to the princess's quarters."

He Quan bowed and agreed.

He was the Grand Eunuch, the most powerful eunuch by the Emperor's side. He usually assisted the Emperor in handling state affairs; the fact that he was sent to deliver a princess today reveals the Emperor's deep intentions.

Shui Chuchen stood up, glanced at the man with a complicated expression behind the dragon desk, and then turned and followed Eunuch He out of the Taiji Hall.

Just as she reached the door, a eunuch hurriedly entered the room, his voice barely audible.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has suddenly fallen ill with a heart ailment."

"Prepare the carriage, proceed to Cining Palace." Emperor Jianzhang's voice suddenly tightened.

Shui Chuchen paused, and she and Grandpa He quickly turned to the side and stood with their heads bowed against the wall.

Emperor Jianzhang strode past her.

She watched the departing figure and sneered inwardly, thinking how conveniently Empress Dowager Xue had fallen ill.

The Empress Dowager knew about those things, and the Emperor couldn't possibly be unaware. But he still had to act as a filial son and maintain the Empress Dowager's dignity.

Once the Emperor had boarded the carriage, Eunuch He said softly, "Your Highness, please."

Shui Chuchen stepped out the door.

Outside the palace, the night wind brushed her face, carrying the chill of deep winter. She tightened her cloak and looked up at the deep night—the moon was mostly obscured by clouds, revealing only a thin crescent, like her mood at that moment, uncertain, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

Peony emerged from a side room and hurriedly greeted her, "Miss!"

Eunuch He whispered a reminder from the side, "How dare you! You should address her as Your Highness."

Peony was taken aback, then quickly corrected herself, "Your Highness."

Shui Chuchen nodded and, with the help of a palace maid, stepped onto the carriage.

Several eunuchs and palace maids, carrying lanterns, escorted the imperial carriage slowly out of the imperial study and into the night of the deep palace. She lifted a corner of the carriage curtain; the cold moonlight shone on the red walls and golden tiles, shimmering with a faint glow. The shadows of withered tree branches cast mottled patterns on the palace walls.

The eunuchs and palace maids on either side bowed respectfully, their heads lowered, as solemn as a row of lifeless clay figures. Unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar place, even the wind felt unfamiliar.

She lowered the carriage curtain, leaned back in her seat, and closed her eyes.

She finally stepped into this golden cage.

Shui Chuchen sighed deeply. They say the gates of a noble family are as deep as the sea, but the imperial palace is as deep as a vast ocean.

The carriage stopped in front of the princess's residence.

He Quan bowed and said, "Please excuse Your Highness to stay in the eastern part of the Princess's Residence for now. Once the Renshou Palace is repaired, you can move there."

Shui Chuchen helped Shaoyao down from the carriage.

The Princess Residence was not an isolated courtyard, but a group of independent courtyards, exclusively for unmarried princesses to live in.

The entire complex is divided into three sections: east, central, and west. Each section has a two-courtyard layout, with a main gate, front courtyard, main hall, back courtyard, sleeping quarters, east and west wing rooms, and rear building.

The courtyards are separated by high walls but connected by moon gates, ensuring both independence and convenient access. Behind them lies a large garden with a small, clear pond, now frozen over. In summer, when the lotus flowers bloom, the pond is filled with fragrance.

The central section was the most spacious and was originally reserved for the most distinguished princess. The eastern section was next in size, and the western section was next in size.

The second princess, Shui Raofu, being older and confident in her mother's favor, preemptively occupied the central section. The third princess, Shui Raohua, whose mother held a lower rank, resided in the western section.

Now that Princess Yong'an has arrived, even though her status is higher than that of the Second Princess, she can only stay in the East Wing.

If another princess turns twelve and these women are still unmarried, they will have to squeeze in and live together in a group.

A dozen or so palace servants knelt outside the door to greet them, their heads bowed and eyes lowered, and there was not a sound.

Logically, the second and third princesses should have stood at the gate to welcome their elder sister's return. However, the second princess hated this suddenly appearing elder sister and, being willful and domineering, refused to come. She also prevented the third princess from coming.

Shui Chuchen, led by He Quan, passed through the main gate on the east side, went around a blue brick screen wall, and suddenly the view opened up before them.

The front courtyard is square, with three main halls in the center, featuring vermilion doors and windows, and palace lanterns hanging under the eaves. This is where guests are received.

There are three rooms each in the east and west wing rooms, which serve as storerooms and servants' quarters.

Passing through the main hall, you'll find a hanging flower gate, and stepping over the threshold leads to the backyard.

The backyard is slightly smaller than the front yard and is more secluded.

To the north are five sleeping quarters with carved lattice windows and light blue Korean paper pasted on the window lattices.

In front of the hall stand two crabapple trees, their branches bare, casting sparse shadows in the moonlight.

There is a side room on each of the east and west sides, which is used as a tea room and a washroom.

Behind the sleeping quarters, there was a row of rear rooms, which served as living quarters for the palace attendants.

He Quan led Shui Chuchen around to look at the various places, explaining as they went.

"Your Highness, this is your bedchamber. The east wing room can be used as a resting room, and the west wing room and the west room can be used as a study. If there is anything you are not satisfied with, please give your orders, and I will have it changed immediately."

Shui Chuchen looked around. There were huanghuali wood tables and chairs, vases from the imperial kiln, and a meticulous flower-and-bird painting hanging on the wall. The room was separated by layers of curtains, and a faint fragrance of incense wafted through the air.

She smiled gently and said, "This place is very nice, thank you for your trouble, Eunuch He."

"Don't dare."

This princess not only enjoyed the emperor's favor, but her elder brother was also the crown prince. Even the emperor's chief eunuch, Eunuch He, dared not show the slightest disrespect to Shui Chuchen.

He then summoned the palace servants assigned to Shui Chuchen to kowtow. Tang Jian, Granny Li, four palace maids, and six eunuchs greeted them one by one.

Tang Jian, in his twenties, was a sixth-rank official and the chief eunuch of the Eastern Route.

He Quan whispered in his ear, "Be sure to put in your best effort and serve this princess well."

Tang Jian hurriedly whispered, "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch He."

Granny Li, a seventh-rank official, was the princess's governess and head nanny.

Caiju, a rank of eighth grade, was the princess's personal maid.

Everyone else is either a ninth-rank official or has no rank.

Shui Chuchen dared not let her guard down while serving these people personally.

He Quan then asked, "How many of the maids and servants that Your Highness has in the countryside do you plan to bring to the palace? This will allow me to register them and arrange their monthly allowances."

Shui Chuchen pondered for a moment and said, "I will bring three maids and two nannies with me. They are Banxia, ​​Shaoyao, Duruo, Aunt Wang, and Aunt Wu. Banxia has been with me since I was a child, and Shaoyao will serve me personally. There is also Nanny Wang. Although she will be working at the clinic for a long time, she has served me since I was a child, so she can also be considered my nanny."

She spoke in a flat tone, giving He Quan a brief, indifferent glance. Aunt Wang, Banxia, ​​and Shaoyao deserved some recognition. Du Ruo was kept by her side for future convenience in teaching her Yin Shen Needle Technique; Aunt Wu was to manage her small kitchen. (End of Chapter)