Palace Inside and Out (Part 2)

Though Virtuous Consort had come from the original work, the title felt far too awkward. From now on, she would be called Consort De.

The lingering glow of the setting sun filtered through the doors and windows of the warm pavilion, creeping across the bluestone floor until it barely reached the imperial desk—then suddenly dissolved into scattered remnants of red.

At the same time, eight eunuchs entered the warm pavilion without a sound, each carrying two Tallow Candles as thick as a child's arm, and lit every candleholder one by one.

By the time seven of them bowed and withdrew from the warm pavilion, the last blush of red on the floor had vanished without a trace.

Seeing that one eunuch had remained behind alone, Qiu Shi'an immediately stepped forward, cocking his head and offering his ear.

The young eunuch leaned in and whispered a few words. Qiu Shi'an nodded, then waved a hand to dismiss him as well.

When he returned to the left side of the imperial desk, Qiu Shi'an did not hurry to speak. He merely attended respectfully to the brushes and ink.

Only after Emperor Guangde had reviewed more than a dozen memorials and stretched his weary limbs did Qiu Shi'an report at the proper moment, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong visited Imperial Concubine this afternoon. She remained there for roughly half an hour before returning."

Emperor Guangde seemed not to have heard him. After stretching, he resumed reviewing the remaining memorials.

About another half hour passed before he rose from behind the imperial desk and casually ordered, "Prepare my carriage. We are going to Jade Rhythm Courtyard."

Jade Rhythm Courtyard was Jia Yuanchun's residence. On one hand, she had an elegant fondness for the zither, hence the phrase "golden sounds and jade rhythms"; on the other,