After the long journey to the southeastern side of Da Xian, then following the road from the foot of the mountain, they finally reached the top of the Thousand Miles Mountain where the Qian Gu Villa was constructed.
By this time, hundreds of decorative carriage arrived one after the other at the top of the mountain.
The sun was setting behind the mountain. The glowing sunset blinded the seer with multi-shade of both red and orange.
The Empress raised her curtain. As the ray of light glared at her, her phoenix eyes slit a bit more. Despite the sudden blindness, she peered into the surrounding.
The moment her foot touched the ground, she was greeted with thousands of falling leaves. As it was the middle to late autumn, the maple trees were done shading their color and her fiery silhouette blended along their now red leaves.
The Villa"s steward came out of the entrance to personally welcome both the emperor and his empress, and their honor guest.
The area that belongs to Qian Gu Villa were enormous after it"s reconstruction. It was the only construction allowed in the Thousand Miles Mountain and it could accommodate both the imperial family and all the n.o.ble clans.
Not including the different pavilions, side gardens and the front courtyard where the banquets were held, the main part of the villa was further separated into two courtyards. The Hei courtyard was for the n.o.ble clans and the Hong courtyard was for the emperial clan.
The two courtyards were further divided into smaller courtyards.
In the Hei courtyard, each smaller courtyard had three open s.p.a.ce. It could fully accommodate a whole family.
The Hong courtyard was even bigger for its smaller courtyard have sub-courtyards. And just like the inner palace that have different palaces inside, the smaller courtyards have sub-courtyards which have their own gardens instead of just a single room.
When Wei Yi Yi thought of a villa, the thing that came into mind is those private luxury residences. But not this grand scaled building with an expansive landscape that"s aking to a whole freaking wealthy village!
The ancient era is kind of scary on their own. Just like how modern people built domes just for concerts, these people build this whole place just for hunting accommodation!
Wei Yi Yi eyes darted along her new environment. Although distracted, she was not afraid for Jiang Yu was setting the pace in front. And at her back, the consorts were obedient enough to follow quietly.
"There"s a lot of corners here to discover!"
The steward escorted them into the Luminous Courtyard. The emperor and his consorts will be staying at this place for the whole duration of the autumn hunt.
While doing the preparation, the empress had already a.s.signed the dwelling places for the other ladies. As Wei Yi Yi could not care enough for segregation of statuses, all the ladies arranged to stay at all sub-courtyards available. Even Su Mei Fan whose rank is only that of an Imperial Concubine and supposed to be a.s.signed at a side courtyard at most is given her own sub-courtyard.
Wei Yi Yi didn"t see anything wrong with this. They have enough courtyards for the few people they have. Why must she take note of their size and make it difficult for herself?
Luckily for Wei Yi Yi, no one was petty enough to make a fuss about her lazy arrangement. Even Jiang Yu simply smiled at her after knowing.
Once they finally arrived at the Luminous Courtyard, the emperor no longer holds them after they perform their excuses.
The central courtyard belongs to the emperor. As for the consorts, they moved to their own courtyards pre-a.s.signed to them by the Empress.
As Wei Yi Yi use the sun as her alarm clock, she took one of the courtyards at the eastern side. When she entered thru the moon gate, the servants following her started to busy themselves with unpacking.
Tang Mei, like a good first ranked servant, took hold of the command chain. Wei Yi Yi simply sat on the front yard and looked at everyone running in circles.
After the long journey, there was nothing else to do but to take rest and settle down. As for tomorrow, there"s only a banquet at night but people are free to do anything for all the rest of their free time.
No, who was she joking? The empress will have a viewing party with the furens at noon!
Who the h.e.l.l is free? Of course, everyone except her!
"Empress," Tang Mei returned with a pot of tea after giving away all the task. "Please rest inside. This servant already sent someone to heat the water for your bath. I"ll call you to refreshen yourself once it is ready."
Wei Yi Yi patted the s.p.a.ce next to her. Tang Mei hesitates for a second but sat next to her helplessly in the end. "Let us stay here for a while. I really like the cold breeze in autumn. Once it starts snowing, it"ll be too cold for me to enjoy."
Also, her tea tastes the best when served hot in the windy season.
The two sat for a while without talking. The Empress seems ready to drift into her dreamland at any moment.
"Empress," Tang Mei called out solemnly.
"I"m not daydreaming yet," Wei Yi Yi rea.s.sured her.
The empress discreetly lowered her head until she"s leaning into Tang Mei. With her eyelid half open, she yawned and stretched her arms. Tang Mei said, "At least make it believable."
Still, Tang Mei fixed her posture so that Wei Yi Yi could be more comfortable.
"This might be too late, your majesty. But I have been meaning to ask, why did you take the others when you clearly can decline?"
That way, it"ll be just the empress and the emperor together. And the empress wouldn"t need to worry of any scheme that the consorts might cook.
"Because I promised him."
"The Empress is truly devoted to his majesty."
"En," Wei Yi Yi answered almost immediately.
Tang Mei could only feel grievance for her mistress silently.
The servant silently engraved into her heart, she must further guide and support the Empress. Tang Mei will double her efforts so that the empress won"t lose the little favor she finally gained after all these years of chasing after the emperor.
But who knew that... in Wei Yi Yi"s heart, her feelings and "Wei Yi Yi"s" are two different things. She didn"t fully inherit her memories, let along her feelings. And even if she did and acknowledge those feelings, it doesn"t mean she would live to follow another person"s wishes and regrets.
"Wei Yi Yi" loved Jiang Yu. She clearly knows that. But Wei Yi Yi has yet to even fall in love with anyone.
"I bet my romance flags were all shot by my "brothers" and burn to ashes."
And "Wei Yi Yi" is dead. While she"s the one alive.
Despite herself knowing this, for the people who knew past, Wei Yi Yi will always be that pitiful woman who lost all her dignity by loving a man.