Chapter 6: Hands-On
The cold snap in early spring was unexpectedly severe. In one night, the north wind grew fierce, and a drizzling snow began to fall. By dawn, the snow had piled up to a meter deep. Several main paths within the Imperial Palace were hurriedly cleared, while the rest had frozen over, making walking difficult, not to mention the biting cold.
As Xing Yu opened the main door of Qishun Building, the snow had submerged the eaves and porch, and the courtyard's flowers and plants were buried, only a few begonias peeked out like mushroom caps.
Xing Yu shivered. Inside Qishun Building, however, the charcoal fire was plentiful; more than a dozen warmers were kept burning day and night, creating a warmth as in spring. In the greenhouse hidden behind the dilapidated courtyard wall next to Qishun Building, peach blossoms, daffodils, and kaffir lilies bloomed vibrantly, untouched by the blizzard, filling the eyes with signs of spring.
Although the greenhouse looked unremarkable from the outside, and even surrounded by a very dilapidated wall, trees obscured the outline of the greenhouse. But the glazed tiles on the roof of the greenhouse had been brought from Nanyu, and a charcoal-burning flue under the ground meant that even in the harsh cold, the greenhouse could remain as warm as spring.
Fu Dong and Nian Xia had just overseen the maids moving charcoal into the greenhouse, then hauled back four baskets of Gold and Silver Carbon to Qishun Building. It looked as though these days of using charcoal fires would continue for a while.
Hong Chou was a palace maid of Bushou Palace, serving as a water-sweeping maid outside the double gates. At this moment, she walked along beside the one-foot thick snow in the Imperial Garden, her embroidered shoes long wet and cold, making her shiver uncontrollably.
"Hong Chou, it's such a cold day, why are you suffering out here?" Hong Chou looked up and saw from a distance Eunuch Yu in a tea-colored embroidered egret robe. Instinctively, she wanted to slip away, but Eunuch Yu had already called her name. Fearing future trouble, she could only respond.
"Eunuch Yu." On such a chilly day, the Empress suddenly got a whim to have newly blossomed flowers arranged in a vase; but the snowstorm had damaged the flowers in the Imperial Garden, such as peach and apricot blossoms, leaving not one intact branch. Today's tasks were supposed to be done by the maids who served Noble Consort Wen in the inner court. Yet, due to the extreme cold and the difficulty of the task, she ended up being the scapegoat.
Hong Chou bowed properly, mindful of Eunuch Yu Lihuai's poor reputation—she somewhat believed the recent rumors about him. Moreover, Eunuch Yu Lihuai had tried touching her several times, making Hong Chou very uncomfortable. Usually, she avoided him if possible.
"Hong Chou, it seems I haven't seen you around these days. Have you been bullied by the other senior maids like Xing Xiu and Yu Geng again?" Eunuch Yu Lihuai peered at the young maid before him. Her looks might not be outstanding, but something about her was incomparable—her skin was as white as snow, like a peeled tender egg.
"Eunuch Yu jests, they just wish to tutor me," Hong Chou said, lowering her head to avoid Eunuch Yu's scorching gaze. "You're busy, Eunuch; if I cannot find any flower branches today, I will be punished upon my return."