Double Queens GL - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Encounter in the Plum Orchard

The Emperor had long since prepared a palace and a retinue of servants for Liu Henning. Upon entering the palace gates, Liu He escorted her and her maid directly to the Changqing Hall to settle in. He ordered the staff to serve them with the utmost care while dispatching a messenger to inform Yang Zhao, who was currently discussing state affairs with his ministers in the front hall.

Despite the biting cold outside, the charcoal fires within the hall were roaring, making the space comfortably warm. After a cup of warm wine to dispel the chill, the mistress and her servant finally felt a sense of relief.

“Miss, are we to stay here forever?” Liu Yan asked. Her mistress’s entire family was back in Jiangdu; from now on, they would only have each other to rely on in this sprawling palace. The thought made Liu Yan’s voice heavy with sadness.

“Accept what comes with a peaceful mind,” Liu Henning replied. Though she hadn’t wanted to come, she had a remarkably resilient temperament. She took things as they were and could find contentment in any circumstance.

Seeing her mistress’s calm, Liu Yan quickly wiped away her own gloom. She had grown up with Liu Henning and knew her nature—she lived like a “living Bodhisattva,” unburdened by worry or anger. Even if the sky were to fall, she would likely face it with serenity. Liu Yan felt her own sentimentality was perhaps just “worrying about the heavens falling” (unnecessary anxiety).

“The snow has stopped. Let’s go for a walk and familiarize ourselves with the surroundings,” Liu Henning suggested, hoping it would ease Liu Yan’s unease.

“Alright,” Liu Yan agreed. She felt a bit stifled by the rows of palace maids and eunuchs standing by, waiting to serve them with such stiff formality.

“Where would you like to go?” asked Yu Zheng, the female official in charge of the hall, as she stepped forward. Rumors had already swept the palace: this Lady Liu was the Emperor’s true love, and he intended to depose the current Empress for her. No one dared to be negligent.

“Liu Yan and I will just wander. You may come along, but the others should stay,” Liu Henning said. She didn’t want to get lost, so she figured taking a local guide was wise.

“As you wish,” Yu Zheng replied, following them out.

“What is your name?” Liu Henning asked as they walked.

“I am Wanshi (Female Official) Yu Zheng,” she replied.

“Yu Zheng… there’s a strength in that name. You must be an upright person with a bit of a temper,” Liu Henning said with a smile.

Yu Zheng was stunned. This new mistress was incredibly perceptive. Yu Zheng was indeed known for her rigid integrity, which had offended many in the palace. She hadn’t understood why the Emperor had assigned her—someone with a difficult reputation—to serve a woman who might become the next Empress. She remembered the Emperor saying, “Your new mistress is lenient with servants; just serve her with all your heart.” Looking at Liu Henning now, Yu Zheng began to understand—this woman might actually tolerate her personality.

“Yu Zheng will do her duty to the best of her ability,” the official said seriously.

“No need to be so stiff. You’ll see once we’ve spent more time together,” Liu Henning said, her laughter sounding genuinely warm.

…

The “Flower Goddess” and the “Little Guanyin”

As they passed a garden, a cold, refreshing fragrance wafted through the air. Liu Henning followed the scent and discovered a vast plum orchard.

“What place is this?” she asked.

“Empress Wenxian loved plum blossoms. Emperor Wen built this orchard specifically for her and even planted some of these trees with his own hands,” Yu Zheng explained.

“A truly devoted man,” Liu Henning remarked. The legendary love between the late Emperor and Empress was known to all; despite her being childless, his favor never wavered.

Entering the orchard, Liu Henning froze at the sight before her. A breathtakingly beautiful young woman stood under a plum tree, snapping off a branch. The movement shook the snow from the boughs, creating a scene so ethereal it felt like a dream. To Liu Henning, the entire orchard of blossoms paled in comparison to the woman’s beauty.

“Is that… a Flower Goddess?” Liu Henning whispered, as if afraid to startle a celestial being.

Despite her soft voice, the woman heard her and turned around, looking slightly flustered.

Ye Guichen had come here to soothe her troubled mind. This orchard, a monument to her aunt’s happiness, now only filled her with a sense of “things remain, but people have changed.” Years ago, Yang Zhao had also planted a plum tree for her in a moment of whimsy, leading her to believe he cared. Now, seeing that tree in full bloom felt like a cruel joke. Though she had promised not to fight, she couldn’t help but feel resentment. In a fit of pique, she had snapped a branch, only to be caught in the act. She felt exposed, as if her inner turmoil had been laid bare for a stranger to see.

When Ye Guichen saw Liu Henning, she knew immediately who she was. This was the woman who would replace her. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful—Ye Guichen actually thought herself more classically beautiful—but the stranger possessed a unique “spirit.” There was a sense of freedom and nonchalance in her eyes that no other woman possessed. To her shock, the stranger was smiling at her with a look that was soft, almost… indulgent.

Ye Guichen felt the situation was absurd. She must not know who I am, she thought, otherwise, she wouldn’t smile at me like that.

Liu Henning, on the other hand, was entranced. She had thought the woman’s profile was stunning, but her full face was beyond words. To think such beauty exists in this world, she thought, her heart lifting in genuine delight.

Feeling vulnerable and embarrassed, Ye Guichen quickly looked away. She didn’t want anyone, especially Liu Henning, to see her snapping branches in a moment of bitterness. It felt pathetic. Acting as if she hadn’t recognized the guest, she turned and left through another gate.

“Who was she?” Liu Henning asked Yu Zheng once the woman had vanished.

“She is…” Yu Zheng hesitated, unsure how to introduce an Empress who was about to be deposed.

“Hmm?”

“The current Empress,” Yu Zheng replied truthfully.

“Ye Guichen? Huachao? So she really is the Flower Goddess…” Liu Henning murmured to herself.

“Miss, what did you say?” Liu Yan asked.

“I asked… with such a beautiful and virtuous Empress, what more could Junshen possibly want?”

“Naturally, it’s because you have qualities worth pining for as well, Miss,” Liu Yan replied loyally.

“It must be that Junshen is simply fickle,” Liu Henning noted. “No matter how many beautiful flowers are in the garden, he never thinks it’s enough to add one more.”

Yu Zheng was shocked by the new mistress’s boldness, though she secretly agreed. Most men with power were exactly the same.

“Miss, your father told you to watch your words in the palace! You can’t be as carefree as you were at home,” Liu Yan whispered.

“Junshen won’t mind me talking about him behind his back,” Liu Henning laughed, clearly not taking the warning to heart.