Chương 61: Chapter 59

The hallway is quiet, and the soft scrape of the wheels on the floor barely breaks the silence as Lianhua advances with her soundless step, guiding my chair. I take the opportunity to ask "Lianhua, speaking of Xia, how is her cook's training going? I imagine you see her more than I do these days."

"It's going well", she replies without stopping, in that serene tone that seems incapable of being disturbed.

"But she complains that she signed up to be a cook's apprentice, not a kitchen helper's apprentice."

"Kitchen helper's apprentice?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow with interest.

"What do you mean, exactly?"

"Before becoming a cook's apprentice, Ling Xia needs to learn how every other position in the kitchen works", she tells me without varying her pace.

"So the first thing I told her was to learn what it's like to be a kitchen helper, which is why I asked the cooks to give her light tasks suited to her age, like scrubbing the smaller utensils, carrying bowls from one side to the other, reviewing the order of the spices, and watching to make sure the auxiliary stove doesn't go out. That sort of thing."

"So right now, the palace's great culinary hope is attempting to master the ancestral art of staring at a fire", I say as a chuckle escapes between my teeth.

"I'm not exaggerating", she replies with the same calm.

"Yesterday she got distracted while cleaning some bowls and the fire went out. She took it rather badly, and after bowing and apologizing, she took it much more seriously. At least she's disciplined."

"And stubborn, or at least that's what I have to assume from what you're telling me", I tell Lianhua, and I can't help but chuckle again at the mental image of Xia's expression on her first day, finding herself with a rag in her hand instead of a knife. But before I can keep asking about her misadventures, since I very much doubt they're working her to death, we arrive at the entrance to the courtyard where my mother usually paints. If Lianhua has brought me here, it means she's inside.

I hold my questions as Lianhua pushes my chair and we pass through the entrance to find that, sure enough, my mother is sitting with her back straight and her wrist hovering over the silk stretched across the table. Beside her, as always, Lingxi accompanies her in silence along with a pair of handmaidens. My mother looks up as I enter the courtyard, and the brush barely grazes the fabric before stopping.

"Wen, I wasn't expecting you today", she says with a faint surprise that doesn't quite veil the warmth in her eyes.

"Has something happened?"

"I wanted to ask you a few questions", I tell her with a smile. Her brow furrows for an instant, a crease of concern I know well from the number of times I've seen it.

"Is it something urgent?" she asks, her tone tinged with worry.

"No", I answer to reassure her.

"But they're things I'd rather get out of the way sooner so I can make plans in time." She sighs with relief upon hearing me and sets the brush aside "All right, what do you want to ask me?"

"The first thing is about my upcoming birthday celebration", I say, taking a deep breath.

"At court, the topic of the moment is still the Celestial Fragment of the Sands, and given the jewels Lianhua brought back from inside, I'd been thinking of commissioning an outfit and decorations inspired by the sculptures and reliefs found there, and while I'm at it, also including some exotic dishes I can pass off as recipes from the Fragment. In short, a themed celebration, and I wanted to know how you think an idea like that would be received at court."

My mother thinks it over for a few seconds before replying "Although the best moment for a celebration like that would have been the end of the year, there will still be some interest left a month from now. And since no one has done anything of the sort, novelty always extends the window for something like this."

"So you think it's a good idea?" I ask for confirmation.

"Yes, Wen, I think it's a good idea", she says with a nod, but then adds with a sharp look.

"Though, will you have enough funds? You spent a fortune on that Qi gathering formation you barely use." I ignore the barb and keep my composure.

"I still have plenty of funds. I barely have any expenses, and a celebration like this can't cost that much."

"If you're so sure, then go ahead", she says with a touch of amusement in her voice.

"Let nothing stop you from carrying it out." I shift slightly in my chair before continuing.

"Mother, the second question is about runes", I say.

"The Shangshu has denied my request to assign me a formation master. He says I haven't yet reached the minimum cultivation level for the court to approve it, and rather than keep pestering him, I want to ask you how finding a master on my own works. Is there an established procedure, or is it forbidden?"

"What's the rush to learn something you won't be able to use?" my mother asks, not harshly, but clearly intrigued by my eagerness to learn something that is useless to me.

"Even if I can't use it yet, I can still learn the theory so I'll already have it under my belt for when I can put that knowledge to use", I reply without hesitation.

"And in my condition, every accumulated advantage is welcome. Besides, I want to learn as much as I can, for the reasons I told you about in the city of Xi'an regarding the runes." I say this last part while glancing out of the corner of my eye at the handmaidens in the courtyard, and my mother, following the shift of my gaze, sighs and lets the air carry away some of the tension.

"Very well", she says after a moment.

"In principle, there's no rule preventing you from seeking a master outside the court, so there are only two limitations. The first is that you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket, and second, you'll have to convince the Shangshu to let him into the Imperial Palace, which is complicated even if it's just to teach the Zhāohuán."

"So the real difficulty is…" I say to my mother, already picturing it.

"Requesting permission to leave", she finishes the sentence for me.

"With everything that entails given your age and your condition. Security, escort, and itineraries, especially after what happened. Don't expect things here to be as lax as they were in the city of Xi'an." I let out a long sigh, because I can see, with perfect clarity, the commotion that will ensue the moment I submit the request. Even so, I nod.

"I'll try, even if only to hear the refusal with its arguments laid out so I can note them down and start dismantling them one by one", I tell my mother.

"That's clever", my mother says, and then tilts her head slightly to ask me with a tone of obvious curiosity "Why exactly do you want to learn formations?"

"For their practical applications", I say without thinking too much.

"From the little I've been able to read about them, they're incredibly useful, not to mention what happened at the Celestial Fragment."

"You're right about that, Wen. They are very useful and serve many purposes", she tells me with the shadow of a smile.

"However, have you noticed that your enthusiasm has a flaw?" I frown at my mother's question and ask, intrigued "What flaw?"

"That when you're able to create formations, to inscribe them you'll have to draw them on the ground", she replies in a tone caught between amusement and exasperation. The courtyard fills with a tense silence as the handmaidens lower their eyes uncomfortably, and after a moment I bring my hands to my face and, after letting out a groan of embarrassment, let them drop slowly.

"I hadn't thought of that", I say in a mortified tone.

"I truly hadn't considered that aspect."

"I figured as much", my mother tells me gently.

"That's why I'm telling you now, before you waste weeks on a pursuit that's impractical for you. And my advice, if you choose to take it, is that if you do go ahead with the idea of finding a master, you look for one in talismans." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Why talismans and not enchantments?" I ask my mother, curious.

"Because, from what I understand, enchantments are physically demanding, especially when working on certain materials", she tells me in a serious tone.

"Talismans, on the other hand, as far as I know only require a steady hand, good penmanship, and the ability to draw well. I can vouch for two of those requirements as your painting instructor. And as for the third, penmanship, if your calligraphy teacher hasn't complained, you can't be doing too badly."

I fall silent for a moment as I can see a path opening before me, a future where I picture myself surrounded by talismans like an onmyōji, where for every problem I can solve it by hurling a ton of talismans as though I were some discount version of Abe no Seimei.

"Thank you for the advice", I say to my mother as I emerge from my fantasies a moment later.

"I'll consider it, though first I want to get all the birthday business out of the way. Once the whole ordeal is over, I'll tell you what I've decided, so it doesn't catch you off guard."

"I appreciate that", she says, and her voice returns to its usual warm tone as she adds.

"And remember, whatever you decide, I will always support you."

"Thank you, Mother", I say with sincerity.

"And now I'll let you finish the painting I interrupted when I arrived."

"You know your interruptions never bother me, Wen", she says, and yet her hand is already on the brush, ready to pick it up the moment I leave the courtyard. I smile at the sight, but simply say "Lianhua, take me to my study."

Lianhua takes hold of my chair and wheels me out of the courtyard in silence as I begin to think not only about how to plan my upcoming birthday celebration, but also about how to approach my request to the Shangshu for permission to leave the Imperial Palace, and how to make sure this petition covers recurring outings rather than just a one-time occasion.

The light fabric of the outfit brushes my shoulders without discomfort, while the crossed straps and the short skirt that leave my arms free make me look like a girl from ancient Egypt, though I doubt anyone here would know what that is. The jewels from the Celestial Fragment of the Sands that I'm wearing are understated, a wide collar of lapis lazuli and gold, bracelets with scarab reliefs, and crescent-moon earrings.

Lianhua pushes me with calm steadiness along the park path, while Xia walks at our side, also dressed for the occasion. Her outfit is more modest, but the gold-thread embroidery along the edges of her handmaiden's attire gives her a festive air that contrasts with the expression of wonder she can't seem to wipe from her face, since this is the first time we've let her leave the Pavilion since we arrived at the Imperial Palace.

As soon as we round one of the palace walls, the park reveals itself with mock columns and sculptures evoking gods no one here would recognize, with animal profiles, solar discs, and pharaonic crowns, all set on painted wooden pedestals made to look like stone, and around them, small dunes of sand to represent the desert.

The tables, those perfectly normal and dressed in gauze, dot the open ground laden with exotic dishes the court has never seen, namely pizzas and hamburgers, accompanied by more conventional fare for the less adventurous. All of it supplemented by various recreational activities which, for lack of budget, are entirely board games retrieved from the Pavilion's storeroom, Othello and Draughts from my last birthday. And at the center, my pride and joy.

A scale model of the Celestial Fragment of the Sands on a custom-built table crafted by the Imperial Palace's artisans. And the part that consumed the lion's share of my budget. Though it was worth it, since I plan to give it to my father once all of this is over, and when I asked my mother whether that would be a good idea, she approved without reservation.

"It was worth it", I say as I take in the result, though the murmur brings back the bitter memory of the process, and the cost.

"Although the nightmare of putting it all together…"

"An expensive lesson", Lianhua says upon hearing me, and I'm not sure whether she means the money or the morale.

"Extremely expensive", I say without hesitation. And my thoughts fill in the rest of the confession, because in the end my mother was right and I didn't have enough funds, which meant I had to borrow money from her, to be repaid in comfortable installments. And that wasn't the only one thing.

Another was that between me, Lianhua, and Xia, we couldn't handle it all, and since the Pavilion's handmaidens were all under my mother's charge, we had to ask her to lend us several so we could carry out multiple tasks at the same time. And the crowning touch was that in the end I realized I had no idea whom to invite to the celebration, which meant I had to go back to my mother yet again to ask for the guest list from our last party so I could draft the invitations for this one.

But as I reflect on our mistakes, we approach the seat of honor, a low platform with enough room for the chair. Around us, several handmaidens are putting the finishing touches on the area, straightening tablecloths, arranging dishes, and tying ribbons, while in the background a group of musicians begins tuning their instruments. A shame their music can't be Egyptian-themed as well.

"This is where you'll be during the celebration", Lianhua tells me.

"From here you'll see everyone coming and going. Xia, listen."

"I'm listening", Xia says, straightening up as though about to pass a military inspection.

"The only thing you have to do is follow the Zhāohuán's orders", Lianhua tells her firmly.

"Don't speak unless spoken to, and if someone addresses you, bow as you reply with respect and step aside. Nearly everyone here will be nobility."

"Don't worry", Xia says very seriously.

"I'll keep quiet, I'll only do what Wen tells me, and I'll be extremely respectful to everyone."

"Extremely", I repeat, giving her a wink.

"And now, Lianhua, go and make sure everything is in order. I'll stay here and make sure nothing happens to Xia."

"Yes, Zhāohuán Wen", she says, bowing just enough before heading off to check that everything at the celebration is where it should be, and I'm left alone with Xia.

"So?" I ask Xia with a smile.

"How goes your glorious career as a kitchen helper?"

"Uuuugh!" she protests, crossing her arms.

"When you asked me if I wanted to be a cook and I said yes, I didn't sign up to spend every day scrubbing pots and watching cauldrons of boiling water! I haven't so much as touched a decent wooden spoon since I started!" A chuckle escapes me.

"Relax, Xia. This is only temporary", I tell her.

"But brace yourself, because if I know Lianhua, before she lets you become a proper cook she's going to put you through a few months as a server. Or whatever comes next in the kitchen hierarchy."

"Can't you tell her to just make me a cook's apprentice?" she asks, pleading in a very small voice while glancing around to make sure Lianhua isn't nearby.

"I'm terribly sorry", I say with feigned solemnity.

"But I have no intention of interfering with whatever training Lianhua has planned. But if it's any consolation, tomorrow you can start cultivating." Xia's eyes fly wide open and her frustration vanishes like smoke in the wind.

"Really?! It's about time!" she says, then catches herself before she can shout.

"I was tired of practicing the same thing every day without being able to do anything more."

"I can imagine", I say, and I'm about to explain what we'll be doing tomorrow when I see the first guests, among them my mother and Lingxi, arriving at the celebration.

"We'll talk when we get back to the Pavilion", I tell her quickly.

"For now, it's time to attend to the festivities." Xia nods firmly, positions herself behind my chair, and stands at attention with a solemn expression. The music begins to play and everyone organizes into lines for the reception, along with the small surprise the guests receive when they discover that at this birthday it is not my mother receiving them, but Lianhua, in my name. It's a small change, but the gesture carries weight and people seem to weigh it.

I watch how Lianhua exchanges bows, how she guides with a barely raised hand, and how she leads each guest toward me with the same ease with which she organizes the handmaidens.

"Happy birthday, Zhāohuán Wen", says a lady with a mother-of-pearl fan whom I don't remember.

"Your attire is… unusual. It bears a strong resemblance to what the statues are wearing."

"Happy birthday", says a heavyset gentleman who I do recall seeing at previous birthdays.

"Is that necklace from the Fragment? It has such an ancient luster." One after another, the guests file past with their greetings, congratulations, studied admiration, compliments with an edge, and veiled questions. After that, many, practically all of them, drift away to see my mother and speak with her, though that was to be expected.

"Fewer people than at the birthdays before my exile", I say to Lianhua when she comes over to check on me during a free moment.

"It seems my fall from grace still weighs when it comes to accepting the invitations I sent."

"So it seems, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says, and she leans forward to set a cup of tea and a few slices of pizza on a small table she's brought.

"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. Sending Xia would be too risky."

"Thank you, Lianhua", I say, though I notice that behind me Xia doesn't seem to agree, despite saying nothing. The afternoon wears on and the light gilds the decorations, making the sculptures look more ancient through the sheer effect of the sun. I pick up a slice of pizza and take a bite as I watch a group of children laughing at the sculptures, inventing names for gods no one in this world would recognize. A while later, Lianhua returns to my side with a slightly surprised expression.

"Zhāohuán Wen", she says quietly.

"Several people have asked me whether they could obtain the recipe for the pizza." I smile with self-satisfaction at the dish's success.

"Tell them they must submit a formal written request", I say.

"And that we'll respond when we see fit."

"Understood", she says, and slips away without a sound. The sun begins to sink and the celebration finally starts to draw to a close without incident, and I'm grateful that Jiangjun Han Xin doesn't show up with some strange gift or a wild Emperor to upend the festivities, though I have to admit my father has really only come to one of my birthdays.

"Thank you for your presence", I say again and again as I bid farewell to the last guests.

"I appreciate your coming."

"It was a distinctive evening", some of them tell me, though the word distinctive holds a spectrum of meanings I'd rather not know, at least not right now. When the park finally empties of guests, I deflate, sprawling in my chair from the exhaustion of having to be perfect at every moment.

"Lianhua", I say, turning my head slightly to look at her.

"As soon as you drop me off at the Pavilion, come back and make sure the scale model is packed and stored in perfect condition for the use we want to put it to later."

"Don't worry", Lianhua tells me with the conviction she always carries.

"I'll see to it personally."

"Thank you", I tell her. We head back while, as the Egyptians would say, Ra ventures into the Duat and night begins. We finally reach my room, and Lianhua, before I can repeat the instruction, is already inclining her head in farewell.

"I'm going to see to the scale model", she says.

"I won't be long."

"It doesn't matter how long you take", I tell her in return.

"Just make sure it isn't damaged." Lianhua nods in understanding and leaves the room, so I turn to Xia.

"Help me with the jewels", I tell her.

"And with the outfit. And while you're at it, let's talk about what we need to do tomorrow."