After the Cold Food Festival, Sui resumed her studies and returned to the Hongwen Institute as usual.
At noon, after seeing the child off, Yun Wan turned and retraced her steps home.
Spring was a season of frequent rain. Just yesterday, the sun had shone brightly, but by morning, the sky had turned overcast, stiflingly hot with no sunlight in sight.
After walking for a short while, Yun Wan was already covered in a light sheen of sweat. Beads of perspiration dotted her forehead, and the collar of her dress darkened slightly where it clung to the nape of her neck. Her jade-like skin flushed a delicate pink, making her glow like a blooming peach blossom, radiant as pearls and gems.
She took out a handkerchief to dab her temples when a sudden gust of wind sent a shiver down her spine. Looking up, she saw the sky churning ominously, dark clouds gathering in a way that made her chest feel tight.
Yue Ya exclaimed, "Madam, it looks like heavy rain is coming. Should we hurry back?"
Yun Wan agreed and quickened her pace.
The weather shifted abruptly. The moment they stepped into the courtyard, fat raindrops began pelting down, the downpour growing heavier by the second.
Servants in Cuiwei Courtyard rushed about, carrying indoors any items that had yet to be put away.
Inside, Yue Ya fetched a dry cloth to wipe Yun Wan down, muttering, "The weather changes so fast. Good thing we returned quickly, or we’d have been drenched."
Yun Wan adjusted her collar, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she instructed, "Fetch me a change of clothes."
The sticky sensation of sweat, especially along her back where her undergarments clung uncomfortably to her skin, made her eager to change.
Yue Ya swiftly retrieved fresh clothes from the vermilion-carved cabinet and helped Yun Wan change behind the folding screen.
The clothes, lightly scented from incense steaming, were dry and comfortable, carrying a faint fragrance. Once dressed, Yun Wan finally felt at ease.
Her expression softened as she listened to the rain tapping against the window. "The weather keeps shifting between hot and cold. You should change too, so you don’t catch a chill."
Sudden temperature changes made it easy for illness to take hold, and a careless misstep could lead to a cold.
Yue Ya smiled. "Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll be careful."
She bent to gather Yun Wan’s discarded clothes, folding them neatly before taking them away to be laundered.
She marveled inwardly—was Madam perhaps a flower spirit reborn? Most people’s sweat-soaked clothes carried an unpleasant odor, but Yun Wan was different. Even after perspiring, her garments carried a strange, captivating fragrance.
Strangely, Yun Wan herself couldn’t smell it and often thought the maids were teasing her.
Outside, a fierce gale howled, causing the persimmon tree in the courtyard to creak and shed a carpet of leaves.
Yun Wan’s eyes filled with concern. "Later, check if the spices drying outside the incense room have been brought in. And the two potted plants under the eaves."
"Don’t worry, Madam. This morning, when I saw the sky turning, I had them moved inside already," Yue Ya replied as she carried the clothes out.
Just as she stepped out, she nearly collided with Yue'e, who had come looking for Yun Wan.
"Madam!"
Yue'e closed her oil-paper umbrella, shaking off the water droplets before hurrying in, slightly out of breath.
"What is it?" Yun Wan asked, sitting down with a cup of warm tea and taking a slow sip.
Yue'e spoke urgently, "Just now, while closing the windows, I noticed a large chest outside the incense room. But I don’t recall our courtyard having such a thing."
Yun Wan paused, turning to Yue'e with a puzzled look. "A chest? What’s inside?"
Yue'e replied, "I opened it and saw what looked like spices. Worried they’d get wet in the rain, I had it moved into the incense room. Could Madam Hu have sent it?"
But she didn’t remember anyone from Yunxiang Pavilion visiting recently. Yue'e found it odd.
Yun Wan wasn’t sure either. Setting down her cup, she stood. "Let’s go take a look."
Inside the incense room, a two-foot-long black lacquered chest stood out against the floor. The wood appeared to be sandalwood, intricately carved with floral and avian motifs, embellished with mother-of-pearl and gemstone inlays—exquisite craftsmanship.
Just the chest alone was clearly valuable, far from the plain peachwood boxes Madam Hu usually used for deliveries.
Yun Wan’s confusion deepened.
The chest wasn’t locked, only secured with a simple latch. She bent to open it.
As Yue'e had said, rows of incense boxes greeted her, their fragrances weaving through the air.
Yun Wan opened one and froze.
Inside was borneol—a rare incense she had long desired but struggled to acquire.
The other boxes contained equally precious and rare fragrances: golden amber, phoenix marrow, tea mist, moon scale, and more.
At the bottom of the chest, she even found five crystal vials of rosewater!
Yun Wan’s breath caught.
Rosewater, a product of Dashi Country, was distilled from roses and stored in crystal vials. Its rich, penetrating fragrance lingered endlessly.
As a foreign tribute item, it was exceedingly scarce. Rumors claimed a single drop was worth a hundred pieces of gold—such was its rarity.
Yun Wan had once tried replicating it, but the roses of Great Qi, while abundant, lacked the intensity of their foreign counterparts, leaving the scent wanting.
Even noblewomen in the palace struggled to obtain a single vial, yet here she held five!
This couldn’t possibly be Madam Hu’s doing.
A thought flashed through her mind. She searched the chest again and finally found a slip of paper tucked in a hidden compartment.
Written on it:
"A gift from Seventh Master. Madam Lu may accept it without concern."
Yue'e, seeing her staring blankly at the note, asked curiously, "Madam, what does it say?"
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Yun Wan hastily tucked the note into the pouch at her waist and shook her head lightly. "Nothing. It was indeed sent by Madam Hu. Put these away properly so they don’t get damp."
"As for these vials of rosewater..." She hesitated before continuing, "Take them to my room."
Yue'e gaped at the crystal vials. "This—this is the legendary rosewater? The kind worth a fortune?"
Yun Wan nodded with a smile. "If you like, take one to share with Yue Ya and the others."
Yue'e immediately waved her hands. "No, no! This is too precious! How could we take advantage of Madam’s generosity?"
Such luxuries were beyond their station—just seeing them was a privilege.
Yun Wan chuckled. "The ‘fortune’ is just an exaggeration. Besides, I can’t use it all myself. Consider it a treat."
Though rosewater was exquisite, Yun Wan rarely used heavy fragrances, as they interfered with her sense of smell when blending incense. She preferred staying fresh and unadorned.
Seeing her insistence and knowing their mistress’s generosity, Yue'e beamed. "Then this humble servant thanks Madam! Who’d have thought I’d ever get to use such a treasure in my lifetime!"
Many nobles couldn’t even afford this rarity, yet here she was, a lowly maid, blessed to try it first.
