bookcurios Chapter 209 Camellia 2
Chapter 209 Camellia 2
When I arrived at Natural Painting, Feng Ruozhao was already waiting at the door!
Climbing up the Langyin Pavilion and looking west, the Back Lake and the Western Hills were right before her eyes. An Lingrong exclaimed, "Sister Jingfei, the scenery here is quite nice!"
Feng Ruozhao pointed to Wufu Hall and said, "That's a field of white magnolias over there. It's a pity that the blooming season has passed. If we had come in the spring, the fragrance would have been so enchanting that we couldn't open our eyes!"
Zhen Huan stood at the window, gazing at the Western Hills, and said, "The view from here is vast; the sunset must be absolutely beautiful."
"Sister Wan is right!" Feng Ruozhao said with a smile, "The weather is nice today. If you have nothing to do, why not watch the sunset before going back?"
"it is good!"
After enjoying the scenery, palace maids served them tea and snacks, and then the four of them sat down to talk.
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang took out the prepared gifts and gave them to Concubine Jing: "Congratulations, sister, on your promotion."
"Thank you, sisters!" Feng Ruozhao took it with a smile.
After they presented their gifts, they turned to look at An Lingrong.
An Lingrong pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and said, "Sister Jingfei, this is for you!"
Shen Meizhuang smiled and joked, "You can tell that the gift Rong'er gave you is a handkerchief without even looking at it."
"Sister, the handkerchief I gave you this time is not ordinary!"
Feng Ruozhao took it and looked at it carefully. It was a moon-white handkerchief embroidered with a vibrant pink camellia and a poem below:
It was rainy and windy in March in the East Garden, and the peaches and plums were scattered all over the ground.
Only the camellia is more durable, and there are a few red branches in the green bush.
For three days straight, the east garden was windy and rainy. The blossoms of the peach and plum trees were beaten to the ground by the rain and then blown away without a trace. Only the camellias could withstand the wind and rain, and a few red flowers bloomed among the green leaves.
This poem is very consistent with Concubine Jing's character and temperament.
"So beautiful!" Feng Ruozhao carefully touched the round and plump petals, as if he could smell the fragrance emanating from the flower.
"Sister Jingfei, look at the back!"
Feng Ruozhao turned the handkerchief over and found a camellia with a different color and posture. Even the color of the thread used in the poem was different.
"This is?"
"Double-sided embroidery with different colors."
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang went to see curiously: "You can also embroider different colors, why haven't I seen you embroider before!"
An Lingrong explained, "This is not easy to embroider. The corresponding parts on the front and back are the same, but the stitching and colors are different. I worked on this flower for several days and finally finished it. I am eager to send it to Sister Jingfei."
"I like this!" Feng Ruozhao said with a smile. It seemed that Shen Meiyu and Zhen Huan didn't have it, so he was the first one to get this double-sided different-color embroidery.
"I want it too, Chrysanthemum."
"I want it too, Begonia."
And you even asked for it directly? How shameless!
"it is good!"
After saying this, Feng Ruozhao waved his hand, and Hanzhu, who was standing beside him, walked forward and placed an exquisite box on the table in front of them.
Feng Ruozhao opened it and found something given to her by Nian Shilan.
An Lingrong, filled with curiosity, moved forward to take a look. When she saw what was inside the box, she jumped up in surprise, her eyes wide open, sparkling with excitement. She couldn't help but shout, "Hey, so many banknotes, Sister Jingfei, so you're the richest person in the palace!"
"Could you please keep your voice down?" Seeing her money-obsessed look, Shen Meizhuang quickly reached out to grab her, forcing her back to her seat before asking, "Sister, where did you get so much money?"
Feng Ruozhao did not answer, but handed a letter in the box to them.
Zhen Huan took it and opened it. After glancing at the back, she looked puzzled and raised her head to look at Concubine Jing and asked, "Concubine Hua?"
Feng Ruozhao nodded, "Concubine Duan sent it here! I haven't figured out what to do with it yet!"
The four of them were silent.
After a long while, Feng Ruozhao finally sighed and said, "I've always thought I hated her to the core. Now that she's really gone, I've just realized that I don't feel as happy and joyful as I expected..."
"She and I entered the palace on the same day. She was of higher birth than I, and I was the daughter of her family. She was lively and outgoing, and although she could be a bit overbearing at times, her straightforwardness made her seem genuine and endearing. Over time, I gradually understood her temperament and character. Whenever she found beautiful jewelry or clothing, she would share some with me, and we got along quite well."
The three of them remained silent, waiting quietly for Concubine Jing to continue.
"Later, she became pregnant. She was very happy and treated me even better. The prince often visited her and took great care of her. I also benefited a lot from it. That was our happiest time. Until..."
Feng Ruozhao's thoughts drifted, and he seemed to be lost in memories. "After her miscarriage, she seemed like a different person. Her temper became even more violent and often yelled at me over trivial matters. I endured it silently. It wasn't until Cao Qinmo entered the mansion that she began to become cruel, mean, jealous, and unscrupulous. Now that I think about it, she is completely different from when she first entered the mansion. Alas, if that child could be born, she might not be the way she is now!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks, leaving behind faint traces of tear marks, like marks carved by time. Feng Ruozhao raised his slightly trembling hand and wiped away the tears. With a bitter smile, he placed his hand on the box and murmured, "It's a pity there are no ifs. I don't hate you... I just feel sorry for you!"
After saying this, everyone's eyes fell on the box.
This was the "I'm sorry" that Nian Shilan didn't have time to say.
For a moment, the room fell into silence, with only the faint sound of breathing echoing softly in the air.
I do not know how long it has been.
Feng Ruozhao came to his senses, took a sip of water, and calmed his chaotic mind. He said, "I know that after you entered the palace, she did many things to hurt you. I'll keep this letter. As for these banknotes, I will give them to you on her behalf to reduce her sins. If there is an afterlife, I hope she will have a better life."
After saying that, he pushed the box in front of the three people.
After hearing what Concubine Jing said, the three of them looked at each other and shook their heads.
It is true that Nian Shilan hurt them, and it is also true that they fought back mercilessly. Now that she is dead, all the grudges and hatreds of the past will be gone with the wind!
"We have settled our grievances with her. Since these things are given to you by her, you should accept them. She will rest in peace on her way to the underworld!" Zhen Huan said solemnly.
Seeing the serious expressions of Zhen Huan and others, Feng Ruozhao nodded slowly and said no more.
The atmosphere in the hall was a little stagnant for a moment.