Ning Huaixiu whispered, "Sister Shen, it’s stifling here. Let take you out for a walk!"
Shen Juhua was eager to leave these annoying young ladies. Hearing Ning Huaixiu’s suggestion, it hit the spot, and she said loudly, "Good, it’s noisy here, like a swarm of flies, maddening. I’ve been wanting to go for a walk, let’s go!"
The two of them greeted Fei’er and left the Purple Bamboo Courtyard to explore the garden behind.
Though it was winter, the garden behind had a long winding artificial lake. The lakeside was planted with various plum blossoms, which had blood by now, reflecting in the lake water, looking exceptionally beautiful, like a wonderland.
An island stood in the lake with an octagonal viewing pavilion built high on it. The pavilion was hidden among rocky woods, partially visible, with red roofs and green fences in the distance.
"Co, let’s sit in the pavilion for a while to avoid listening to their noise!"
Ning Huaixiu took Juhua’s hand and headed along the little bridge towards the pavilion on the lake.
Climbing the island and entering the pavilion, they found it unexpectedly unique. Due to it being winter and cold, the pavilion was surprisingly fitted with glass, becoming a warm pavilion. Though small, it was exceptionally clean and comfortable, with charcoal burning and incense inside. Through the glass walls, one could view the scenery outside.
This pavilion was located at the highest point of Duke Li Guo Mansion. Sitting inside, one could take in all the nearby sights.
Juhua sat in the pavilion, saying dejectedly, "Had I known, I wouldn’t have co to spare you, Sister Ning, from being ridiculed alongside ."
Ning Huaixiu said, "You girl, saying this to your sister seems distant. If you hadn’t co, not only would Lady Bai not see your sincerity, but we also wouldn’t have seen such a good-looking view!"
Saying this, she pulled Juhua to her feet to admire the scenery around the pavilion.
The sights at Duke Li Guo Mansion were naturally splendid. Juhua looked for a while, feeling relaxed and happy, even forgetting the incident she was just upset about. Unable to help herself, she exclaid, "So beautiful, even prettier than the palace!"
Ning Huaixiu said, "This is nothing. You don’t know that the back garden in the mansion is even more beautiful. There’s a fake mountain inside, built with Taihu stones. That fake mountain is modeled after Tianlun Mountain between Great Jin and Liaodan, just scaled down hundreds of tis. People who’ve been to Tianlun Mountain say it is lifelike, even the caves on the mountain are identical. After the al, I’ll take you to see it. Since you were born and raised in the north, you must be familiar with Tianlun Mountain!"
With Ning Huaixiu’s words, Juhua was imdiately stirred with nostalgia for her holand. She nodded and said, "Good, I definitely want to see it later!"
...
At Sishi, the Empress Dowager’s luojia arrived. The wonfolk from Duke Li Guo’s Mansion and female guests who ca to celebrate the age gathered outside to welco the arrival, and Juhua and Ning Huaixiu were also notified and followed everyone outside to welco Cai Wei.
Today, Cai Wei wore a five-colored wide-sleeved phoenix robe woven with golden peacock feathers, without the heavy phoenix crown on her head, only adorned with a phoenix hairpin encrusted with diamonds. In the sunlight, the phoenix hairpin glittered brilliantly, overshadowing all the other won.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, long life to the empress for a thousand years!"
Everyone bowed down, including Ning Huaixiu, who coldly smiled in her heart, "Empress Dowager, you may revel in triumph now, for it is your last ti holding the airs of an empress in this lifeti. Two hours later, you will vanish from this world completely, and everything will revert to how it was in the past life, following its destiny..."
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