CENTIE Chapter 74

Xiao Jingduo did not answer but instead asked, “What day is it today?”

“May 24th.” Qiu Ju, puzzled, answered honestly.

“May… it should still be in time.”

“What?”

“Nothing, just an old acquaintance.” Xiao Jingduo was unwilling to say more and instead asked, “How is the screen progressing?”

“It’s more than halfway done. It should be finished in a few days.”

“Excellent.” Xiao Jingduo was delighted; it was progressing faster than he had expected. He said, “Once you finish the round fans, use the remaining days to help Miss Chen.”

“I understand.”

Just as Qiu Ju had predicted, by the end of May, Chen Ci and the others had completed the first screen and started on the second. Whether by coincidence or fate, the artwork Xiao Jingduo had designed for Hebei Province ended up back in his own hands.

Because of this, Xiao Jingduo specifically instructed, “This one must not be done carelessly. If necessary, leave it unfinished rather than ruin it.”

The painting Xiao Jingduo had created did not use much ink, but its aura was grand and imposing. Capturing such an intense atmosphere in embroidery was an enormous challenge.

After seeing the original painting, Qiu JU and the others exclaimed in awe, “How are we supposed to embroider this?”

In the painting, different shades of ink created layers and depth, but embroidery threads only came in a single shade of black. How could they replicate such complexity?

Seeing the painting, none of them dared to start. Finally, after frowning and studying it for a long time, Chen Ci took the initiative: “You embroider the inscription and the city walls. Let me try the soldiers.”

Thanks to Chen Ci’s exceptional embroidery skills, the work took nearly a month. When she finally finished, Xiao Jingduo, the original artist, looked at the screen and sincerely praised, “Exquisite craftsmanship—flawless and perfect!”

The screen depicted a magnificent battle scene: a vast wilderness under a murky sky, with a squad of black-armored cavalry charging from the horizon. The leader, clad in armor, sat tall and commanding. Behind him, a crimson banner flapped fiercely in the wind, and the bold character “Xuan” seemed to break free from the fabric, almost leaping into the viewer’s eyes.

Though the painting had few colors, primarily black, the different shades of black created depth and distinction, using ink washes to outline each figure. Xiao Jingduo had worried about whether it could be translated into embroidery, but now he saw that his concerns had been unnecessary.

Even though the embroidery thread only came in one shade of black, when combined with dark green and deep brown, it surprisingly achieved multiple layers of depth.

Xiao Jingduo sincerely admired the women’s skill: “Very good, even better than I imagined.”

Hearing his affirmation, the young women in the room burst into delighted laughter. Because of their skillful handiwork, they had not wasted much material, and there was a surplus of silk left over. Qiu Ju asked, “My lord, what should we do with the extra materials?”

“The governor sent these to you as a gift, so they are yours to keep.”

The young women gasped in surprise. “Does that mean we don’t have to return them? They belong to us now?”

Xiao Jingduo smiled and nodded. “Yes. You are the ones who made this possible. Once the double-sided embroidery reaches Chang’an, you will be rewarded even more handsomely.”

“Wow!” This time, the women couldn’t be bothered to admire the completed screen; they all rushed toward the silk in excitement. This was genuine silk from Chengdu Prefecture, rare and nearly impossible to buy even with a fortune. Now, with so much left over and given freely to them, even if they divided it among themselves, there would be enough for each of them to make an entire set of clothing.

As the women chattered excitedly about fabrics and new clothes, Xiao Jingduo lost interest. With the departure date fast approaching, he took the finished screens and left.

The Longevity Festival was drawing near. Factoring in time for mounting and transport, they didn’t have much time left. Xiao Jingduo personally led a group to deliver the embroidered screens to Chengdu Prefecture. When the governor saw the two finished pieces, he couldn’t help but praise them:

“This piece on Hebei Province is outstanding—not only are the figures vivid, but even the artistic conception is fully realized. You truly have talented people under you.”

“You flatter me, Governor.”

After exchanging polite pleasantries, they gradually moved on to the main topic. The governor’s expression turned troubled.

“In August, envoys from all over are gathering in Chang’an to offer birthday tributes. Although we have put great effort into these screens, without the right connections, it will be difficult to make an impression.”

Xiao Jingduo paused before speaking slowly, “Perhaps I can point you toward an opportunity.”

“Oh? Please elaborate.”

“Her Highness, Princess Qianning.”

The governor hesitated, then asked in disbelief, “You know Princess Qianning?”

She was the eldest legitimate princess, the cherished daughter (and grand-daughter) of two emperors. Countless people sought her favor, yet now Xiao Jingduo was saying that he might have a way to reach her?

Why hadn’t he mentioned this earlier?

Xiao Jingduo didn’t explain much, only offering a brief response: “I had a few encounters with Her Highness when she was still a county princess.”

The governor paced a few steps before making up his mind. “There’s no guarantee this will work, but it’s better than having no plan at all. We might as well give it a try.”

The escort for the birthday tributes was about to depart. The centerpiece of the tribute was ten enormous embroidered screens, along with Shu brocade, Nanzhao jade artifacts, gold and silver sculptures, and more. However, without a doubt, the screens were the most important items to safeguard during the journey.

It goes without saying that the governor repeatedly emphasized their importance before departure. The day before setting out, Xiao Jingduo sought out the tribute escort officer and solemnly handed him a sandalwood box.

“What is this?”

“When you deliver the greeting card to Princess Qianning, please present this box along with it. Just say it is Xiao Jingduo’s early birthday tribute to Her Highness.”

The officer in charge of the tribute escort knew that Xiao Jingduo had claimed to be acquainted with Princess Qianning and might try to gain her favor. Xiao Jingduo had even written a personal letter, which was to be delivered alongside Jian’nan Province’s tribute.

However, with a new emperor on the throne, power had shifted in Chang’an. Many once-reliable connections had been severed, and in these turbulent times, countless people were vying for the favor of the emperor’s most beloved princess. She likely received an overwhelming number of greeting cards daily.

The tribute officer seriously doubted whether Xiao Jingduo’s message would ever reach her—let alone a large box like this.

But since the box wasn’t bulky, it was no trouble to carry. So he didn’t refuse outright and simply said, “I can take it for you, but let’s be clear—I can’t guarantee it will reach the princess.”

Xiao Jingduo smiled. “Of course.”

Under the watchful eyes of Xiao Jingduo and the governor, the escort team for the birthday tribute creaked into motion. Carrying the hopes and expectations of officials at all levels in Jian’nan Dao, they wound their way slowly through the Qinling Mountains, heading toward Chang’an.

As expected, they arrived in Chang’an in August. The city was still scorching hot, and envoys from various regions flooded in. Among them were emissaries from foreign vassal states, their deep-set eyes and high noses marking them as outsiders who had traveled across mountains and rivers just to attend the Longevity Banquet celebrating the new emperor of this great nation.

The envoys from Jian’nan cautiously sent someone to deliver their greeting card to Princess Qianning’s residence, but upon seeing the endless stream of people gathered at the mansion’s entrance, their hopes immediately dwindled.

“Chief Minister, what should we do now?”

“No matter. The governor also wrote letters to other prime ministers. Let’s try elsewhere.”

“Should we still submit the greeting card to the princess?”

The Chief Minister hesitated, stroking his chin in thought before finally deciding, “Do it. We’ve come this far—it won’t hurt to try.”

Before a princess was officially married, she typically lived within the imperial palace and was not granted a title. Instead, she was addressed by her birth order—Third Princess, Fourth Princess, and so on. Usually, a princess received a formal title when she came of age or got married. However, there were exceptions. If a princess was particularly favored—so much so that the emperor was willing to ignore tradition—she could be granted a title at a young age and even receive an estate of her own. Such was the case with Princess Qianning.

Princess Qianning was not yet betrothed. By custom, she should not have been granted a residence of her own. Moreover, since the former emperor had passed away in March, the new emperor was allowed to observe only one month of mourning due to urgent state affairs. But Qianning, as a granddaughter of the late emperor, had to follow the full mourning period of one year. This meant that she was not expected to marry anytime soon, and there was no immediate need for a princess’s residence. Granting her one now seemed premature.

However, the new emperor was particularly protective of his daughter. When he saw that the finest estate in the western part of the city had been vacated, he immediately allocated it to Rong Ke—Qianning’s given name—fearing that someone else might claim it first. Thus, Princess Qianning was granted her own residence far earlier than usual. Though she did not actually live there, the estate was fully staffed and operational. The doorkeepers were responsible for collecting greeting cards, which were then delivered to the palace each evening.

That day, when the Yonghe Palace staff received the greeting cards from outside the palace, they followed protocol and passed them along to Rong Ke. The attendants from the princess’s residence carefully placed the cards into a lacquered box, which was then sent through the side gate of the palace. From there, a palace eunuch respectfully handed it over to Xia Lan.

“Lady Xia, here are today’s greeting cards. How is Her Highness today?”

“Thank you. Her Highness is doing well.”

Xia Lan accepted the box, nodding with a polite and graceful smile. As a ranked lady-in-waiting in Yonghe Palace, she was highly regarded by Princess Qianning. In the palace, no one dared to offend her lightly, and even in the Empress’s presence, she held considerable influence. Because of this, even though the eunuch who delivered the cards was more senior in tenure, he did not dare to act superior.

The eunuch wanted to continue the conversation, hoping to curry favor with Xia Lan so that she might put in a good word for him with the princess. If he could leverage this connection to transfer to Yonghe Palace, it would be a great opportunity.

Xia Lan listened with a polite, ever-composed smile. Suddenly, a flurry of movement erupted behind her—palace attendants scurried about, whispering hurriedly to one another:

“Her Highness has returned!”

Xia Lan immediately straightened up, hastily excused herself with a quick “Forgive me”, and hurried to the palace entrance.

“Your Highness.”

On both sides, palace maids lowered themselves in greeting. A young girl, draped in flowing silk, walked gracefully past them. Her expression was calm, her delicate features resembling a painted masterpiece.

Noticing that Xia Lan had come out slightly later than usual, she casually asked, “Who were you speaking with just now?”

“It was the eunuch delivering the greeting cards from your residence. I was just speaking with him, which caused a slight delay.”

“Alright, bring the greeting cards in.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Rong Ke then led her palace maids into the main hall to change clothes, while Xia Lan remained outside, holding the box of letters. She waited until she heard the summons from within before lowering her head and stepping inside quickly.

Rong Ke had already taken off her heavy ceremonial palace attire and changed into a light, wide-sleeved dress more suitable for comfort. She was now reclining casually on the couch, flipping through a book absentmindedly.

Even though Xia Lan had seen this scene many times, she still found it breathtaking. Rong Ke was already thirteen years old now—taller, and her features had become even more stunning. The Rong family was known for its beauty. The Elder Princesses were all tall and slender with strikingly elegant looks, and even the Emperor and the late Emperor were famously handsome, often outshining the concubines in the palace.

As a child, Rong Ke had been adorable, making people want to pinch her cheeks whenever they saw her. Now that she was older, the once snowball-like little princess was beginning to reveal the graceful beauty of a young lady.

She had always worn reds and purples, vibrant colors that enhanced her already striking appearance. Xia Lan had once believed that such a dazzling beauty was best suited for bold and flamboyant colors, as they complemented her magnificence. But now, during her mourning period, Rong Ke could only wear muted tones, and Xia Lan realized how utterly wrong she had been.

Rong Ke had fair skin, strikingly dark eyes and brows, and delicate features. Wearing pale colors only made the contrast more dramatic—stunningly so. In red, she was dazzling; in white, she was ethereal. Xia Lan marveled at the sight—a true beauty could make any color look exquisite.

Hearing Xia Lan’s approaching footsteps, Rong Ke didn’t even glance up. Instead, she simply extended her hand toward her.

Xia Lan knelt a short distance away, unfastened the latch, lifted the wooden lid, and presented the neatly stacked greeting cards.

Rong Ke picked up the first card and began skimming through them swiftly. Every day, she received an overwhelming number of letters. Normally, servants would sort through them first, passing along only the most important ones. But Rong Ke did not allow anyone to make such decisions on her behalf. She insisted on seeing every single card personally.

At first, Xia Lan thought today’s letters contained no significant figures. But to her surprise, halfway through, Rong Ke suddenly paused. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on one envelope before deftly breaking the wax seal.

Xia Lan was puzzled—this was a letter from Jian’nan Province. The princess had never had any dealings with Jian’nan before. Why was she singling out this letter?

“So, it really is him.” Rong Ke chuckled softly, folding the letter neatly and placing it back into its envelope.

“Besides this greeting card, was there any other message sent in?”

“Yes,” Xia Lan replied. “Jian’nan Province’s Chief Minister mentioned that they had painstakingly crafted a screen as a tribute for His Majesty’s Longevity Banquet and wished to invite Your Highness to inscribe a dedication on it.”

“A screen?” Rong Ke mused, finding it amusing. “It’s a well-thought-out gift, but nothing particularly remarkable. Why would he go out of his way to send a personal message about it? Never mind—I’ll leave the palace tomorrow to take a look.”

Xia Lan almost thought she had misheard. “Your Highness, how could we trouble you to leave the palace in person? Wouldn’t it be better to send the servants to inspect it and report back to you?”

“That won’t be necessary. I was planning to visit the Princess’ residence anyway—I haven’t had a proper look at it since its completion,” Rong Ke said. “Send word out. Tell the people from Jian’nan Province to deliver the tribute to the Princess’ residence tomorrow. I want to see for myself what kind of screen is worth such a grand effort.”

“Understood.”

Meanwhile, the delegation from Jian’nan Province had been running around Chang’an all day and finally had a moment to rest. Sitting in the official courier station, they wore troubled expressions as they discussed their predicament.

“Chief Minister, we’ve already sent greeting cards to several chancellors. Do you think we’ll get any response?”

“How should I know?” The Chief Minister shook his head anxiously. “Forget it, let’s just wait and see.”

“Do you think we have any chance with the Princess?”

The Chief Minister had no hope whatsoever. “I doubt it. Didn’t you see the line of people waiting outside the Princess Qianning’s residence today? I wouldn’t be surprised if our greeting card never even reaches her and gets discarded by the attendants instead.”

“But didn’t Magistrate Xiao say he had a way?”

The Chief Minister shook his head. “Empty words. The situation in Chang’an has changed. There are far too many people trying to pull strings. Even the Prefect’s personally written letter was ignored, let alone Magistrate Xiao’s.”

“Sigh…” Everyone let out a long, weary sigh.

Just as they were wallowing in frustration, someone suddenly shouted from outside:

“Chief Minister, come out quickly!”

The Chief Minister jolted in shock, clutching his chest to steady himself. “What’s all this fuss about? What happened?” he asked irritably.

“Her Highness, the Princess Qianning, has sent someone! She says we are to deliver the tribute to the Princess’ residence tomorrow!”

 

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T/N: I’m so sorry for the delayed update. I’m swamped with assignments as it’s the end of the semester + I’ve had a lot of work. The next update will probably be in about 2-3 weeks when the semester is finished. Thank you for your patience.

I edit each chapter to make sure terms and titles remain consistent, but I’m human, and I can overlook something. If you see a mistake, please let me know.

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