Return of the Swallow c1-644

by Edited by Deyna up to chapter ~100.

  “Silly girl, this is the perfect time for the emperor to win his subjects over through any means possible. Anyone who’s brought directly to the palace won’t fail the selection, not because of looks or virtue, but because of her background. Titles will be handed out according to what the emperor needs from her family.”

  Comprehension dawned on Qin Yining. The nation was a mess and the new emperor’s foundations shaky. Apart from Qin Huaiyuan and the Prince of Ning, the imperial majesty would also want to rope in the other officials. The fastest way to do so was through marriage.

  This made it apparent that the imperial harem was a microcosm of court. Whoever the emperor favored was a reflection of the political situation at that point in time.

  She’d once thought that marriage was something to be determined by her parents, that it didn’t matter who she married. But that notion had gotten weaker by the day after meeting Pang Xiao, to the point where she now felt that if she were to enter a loveless marriage, she’d rather not at all.

  Qin Yining knew that this was letting emotions sway her decisions, but she could compromise in all else but this. Ergo, she was even more opposed to joining the imperial harem now.

  So what if she was the empress? She’d spend the rest of her life with a man she had no feelings for and have to suffer a plethora of women caught between them. She’d also be inevitably caught up in politics, and all sorts of concerns, obligation, and resignation would follow then. She’d rather die an early death and enter the cycle of reincarnation instead — save herself some heartache.

  As these thoughts whirled through her mind, she arrived at the front yard with her father.

  Eunuch Lu, the emperor’s body servant, was waiting with a mama and numerous palace servants. Qin Yining was quite familiar with the mama — it was Zhan-mama, the one who’d taught her manners when she’d first return home.

  The Qin fourth miss greeted her acquaintance with a smile and a nod; the greeting was returned in kind.

  Wreathed in smiles, Lu-gonggong approached the father-daughter duo, first bowing to Qin Huaiyuan and then Qin Yining.

  “Greetings to Lu-gonggong.” Qin Yining bent her knee to return the gesture.

  “Aiyo! Miss Qin is being far too polite to this servant! This servant would never dare, never dare!” This one was to be the empress in ten days! Eunuch Lu would never dare throw his weight around in front of his future mistress!

  “What brings Grand Supervisor Lu here today?” Qin Huaiyuan asked knowingly.

  * * *

  Chapter 229: An Atypical Selection (I)

  Chapter 229: An Atypical Selection (I)

  Grand Supervisor Lu knew quite well that he couldn’t afford offend any of the Qins. Grand Preceptor Qin was the emperor’s most valued official and Miss Qin the emperor’s beloved girl. The palace servant put away his usual temper and bent even lower at the waist. He smiled fawningly. “In response to my lord, we’re here to escort Miss Qin into the palace for the selection.”

  “This early?” Qin Huaiyuan raised a quizzical brow, his voice as gentle as ever but somehow exerting a heavy atmosphere.

  Eunuch Lu smiled most apologetically. “It’s His Majesty’s wish. Apart from your noble daughter, Miss Li from the Duke of An’s household and Miss Sun from Master Gu’s household will also be entering the palace today.”

  “Do you mean the imperial strategist Master Gu?”

  “Indeed.”

  What was happening here was immediately apparent to Qin Huaiyuan. The Duke of An, Li Mian, was a general. Together with the late Duke of Ding, they’d been hailed as the ‘Double Heroes’ of Great Yan. Apart from the Prince of Ning, the representative general still serving at court could only be the Duke of An.

  Imperial strategist Gu Shixiong was deeply trusted by the previous emperor. The Gus themselves were a family with foundations of a hundred years old. Many of its descendants served at court as well. Now that the Caos had been wiped from the map and the cards of officials reshuffled, the Gus had one of the largest networks at court.

  Though Qin Huaiyuan was at another peak of his career, his family’s foundations were shallow and the clan’s descendants few. And even though he was a leader of the officials for civil subjects, he wasn’t their representative.

  The emperor must’ve chosen one civil and one martial family to balance each other out. As for Qin Yining, she was already a must-have in his heart, so he didn’t factor her in the balance at all.

  That had given rise to a blind spot. The Duke of An was a general, but Qin Huaiyuan and Gu Shixiong were in the civil subjects camp.

  In times of war, the emperor should be promoting large numbers of generals to raise troop morale, and not take the age-old path of valuing civil over martial.

  Qin Huaiyuan shook his head with resignation. He would offer his advice in any other matter, but since this matter had to do with the Qins, any other opinions would result in imperial paranoia.

  “You know as well, Lu-gonggong, that we just weathered a tremendous disaster a few days ago. Just look at the houses behind us.” The marquis pointed behind him with a smile and a sigh. “To be honest, my daughter was wounded by the assassins as well. She’s burning with fever even now and I can’t bear to let her leave home.”

  From the eunuch’s perspective, he could indeed see the many burnt and ruined buildings in the complex. It was also no secret that a good number of Qin clan members had died. Besides, off to the side, the fourth miss looked sickly and was only standing upright thanks to her maids supporting her.

  It really was a bit over-the-top to have her move into the palace right now.

  But when he’d left, the empire had reminded him again and again that just anyone could be sent to welcome the other two girls; the eunuch had to personally go to the Qins and have Qin Yining brought into the palace immediately.

  A conflicted expression filled the eunuch’s face. “You’re very right, Grand Preceptor. It’s just that I daren’t disobey an imperial decree. But don’t worry, the emperor’s told me in confidence that the selection is just a formality. The other two girls are just a show of imperial favor for two veteran officials. They’ll be given some concubine title. Only the miss of your house is his true love.”

  Lu-gonggong looked up with a fawning smile at this point, but was greeted with two utterly bland expressions from the Qin father and daughter. Their genteel, elegant demeanors stopped his next ingratiating words in their tracks. These two have identical reactions when it comes to both favor and humiliation. The old fox has raised a young fox alright!

  He was even more careful with what he said. “The emperor won’t mistreat Miss Qin, and I know that Zhan-mama and the young miss are already acquainted with each other. The palace will assign fine people to take care of the miss.”

  Qin Huaiyuan frowned with unwillingness when he saw the unnatural flush of his daughter’s cheeks and her bloodless lips. He wanted to continue fighting for some more time at home for her, but Qin Yining walked up to tug on her father’s sleeve.

  In the emperor’s eyes, any further protestation wouldn’t be doting on a daughter, but growing arrogance from a showing of imperial favor.

  “Don’t worry, father. I’m sure that Lu-gonggong has arranged for everything properly. There are imperial physicians in the palace who can also look after me as well.” She turned to the eunuch and smiled politely. “Please excuse us, gonggong. I’m my father’s only child and you also know that it hasn’t been long since I’ve returned home. Now that I’m injured, my father is even more concerned about me.”

  “Aiyo, of course this servant understands. It’s deeply touching that milord cares so much for his family.” Eunuch Lu nodded repeatedly. As expected of someone who the emperor thinks can be empress. Her looks are excellent, her wits sharp, and her style mature.

  Qin Huaiyuan could tell that things were set in stone and that no further wiggle room was possible. “Alright then, please wait a moment. My daughter will bid farewell to the f
amily and pack her belongings.”

  Awkwardness crossed the eunuch’s face again. This actually wasn’t an unreasonable request. The marquis’ sole daughter was leaving the family and naturally had to bid farewell to her female relations. It was also commonplace that she bring some of her necessities.

  It was just, the emperor had given him repeated reminders when he left that, “It doesn’t matter if the others want to do all that, but everything should be as simple as possible for Miss Qin. Everything can be settled later as long as she enters the palace first!”

  It was obvious that the emperor was deathly afraid of any further unexpected changes.

  The eunuch could only speak on with dogged persistence. “The emperor has spoken. Only Miss Qin needs to enter the palace. After all, everything is ready in the palace and your family can visit anytime, no?”

  Flames of anger licked at Qin Huaiyuan’s heart. The emperor was being too crassly impatient. Had he forgotten all of his manners after being made emperor? This was an uncouth, lowly display!

  Qin Yining was worried that the scene would become awkward if her father erupted. She offered a smile. “The emperor speaks truly. Then I’ll have to be a bother and follow the gonggong into the palace. I do have two bodyservants…”

  “His Majesty means that although the maids in the manor are good, they don’t understand the rules of the palace. He will naturally arrange the best of servants for the miss in the palace.” You can’t bring any of your servants with you.

  Now it was Jiyun and Bingtang’s turn to become panicky with anger. And what the hell is this?

  The miss couldn’t bid farewell to her grandmother and mother, she wasn’t allowed any luggage, and couldn’t even bring her trusted maids! Could she not even change her clothing?! She was going into the palace all alone like this!

  Just what do they think our miss is?!

  A slow fury was also burning in Qin Yining and her smile faded. “Are these the emperor’s orders? My maids do lack knowledge of palace rules, so I suppose I could do without them, but I’m injured. You should at least let me bring my medicine.”

  Sweat beaded Lu-gonggong’s forehead. This was the future empress! Sir Qin was the future imperial father-in-law!

  Forget it, forget it. The details don’t matter as long as I can bring her back. He was just a eunuch; he wanted to keep his head! “Of course, but please keep an eye on the time.”

  Warmth returned to Qin Yining’s expression and she turned to Jiyun and Bingtang. “Go fetch my medicines and daily necessities. Ah yes, pack my books as well. Bring Riceball with you too. I’m afraid it’ll be boring in the palace.”

  “Yes. Then your clothes, miss?”

  “We probably don’t have time for that. You can send them into the palace later.” The girl turned to Lu-gonggong with a smile. “Please allow the deliveries to go on through then.”

  The eunuch sweated profusely. “Yes, yes of course!”

  * * *

  Chapter 230: An Atypical Selection (II)

  Chapter 230: An Atypical Selection (II)

  Lu-gonggong understood that if he expressed a single iota more of unwillingness, he’d be thoroughly offending the future empress. And truly, if the emperor hadn’t made such specific demands, the eunuch wouldn’t have wanted to make the situation so sticky.

  Therefore, he was the epitome of patience when waiting for the two maids to return. He didn’t dare express any impatience at all.

  Not long after, Jiyun and Bingtang returned with the old dowager, née Sun, and the second madame. Qin Huaiyuan had gone to his daughter as soon as he returned, so the rest of the family didn’t know what was going on outside the complex.

  Apart from packing a few things, the maids had taken advantage of this timing to pass word onto the old dowager.

  The new emperor had ascended the throne and one of their girls was entering the palace! Such wonderful news elicited happy tears from the old dowager. The Qins had suffered so much lately and had a complete death of good news.

  Now that Qin Huaiyuan had been restored to his positions and Qin Yining was headed for the palace with great imperial favor, the family could finally heave a sigh of relief.

  “My daughter, are you going to the selection now?” Née Sun frowned. “This seems much too rushed.”

  Her daughter would most likely be chosen if she entered the palace. It’d be hard to visit home in the future.

  “We just need to follow the emperor’s decree.” Qin Yining looked smilingly at Lu-gonggong and made her curtsey to the old dowager, second madame, and née Sun. “Old Dowager, mother, second aunt, things are happening quickly with no time for explanation. The emperor wants Lu-gonggong to return quickly. I can’t drag my heels and miss the auspicious time. That will make things difficult for the gonggong.”

  The Qin fourth miss being so considerate made the eunuch’s face burn hotly.

  Née Sun walked up to offer a large red envelope. “Thank you for making the trip on such a hot day. This is for your refreshment and just a small token of our respect. Please do accept it.”

  “Not at all, madame. You’re being much too polite.” The eunuch preened at the words but didn’t dare indulge in self-congratulation for too long. He quickly bowed. These were the family of the future empress! He couldn’t afford to give short shrift to them at all.

  Qin Yining cradled Riceball with her uninjured arm, offering a smile after Bingtang placed her items on the carriage “Lu-gonggong, shall we be on our way?”

  The eunuch nodded, immensely relieved. “Let’s!”

  The fourth miss merrily took her leave of her female relations and boarded the carriage under the caring eyes of her family. Lu-gonggong followed behind with Zhan-mama, the other palace maids and eunuchs. The carriage exited the main doors and trundled on its way.

  The old dowager grasped Qin Huaiyuan’s hand, still unable to process. “Meng’er, am I dreaming? Has granddaughter Yi gone to become an honored lady in the palace?”

  The second madame piped in before Qin Huaiyuan had a chance to respond. “This is wonderful!”

  Though it was a good thing, the family’s joy wasn’t as strong as it might have been in times gone by.

  True, it was good for the family if one of their own was a beloved imperial concubine, and the most obvious connection was that this would benefit the unmarried girls at home. But there was only the concubine-born eighth miss of the third branch and an unrelated Qin Huining at home now.

  So although this was a pleasant surprise, the mood turned morose once more when thoughts settled down.

  The second madame felt even more regretful that this was how things had turned out. Though the sixth and seventh miss were concubine-born, the two girls called her mother as well. Two charming, pretty girls were gone, just like that. They truly hadn’t enjoyed good fortune. Otherwise, their futures would be unlimited now with an imperial relation.

  Various thoughts churned in everyone’s minds. Only Qin Huaiyuan and née Sun were genuinely concerned about Qin Yining’s safety.

  “My lord, the palace is an exceedingly complicated place. Even I’m all turned around when I make a trip, to say nothing of a little girl like daughter Yi. It’s a place where you’re plunged into the abyss with the slightest misstep. Daughter Yi is still young, and she’s injured. Her complexion looked very out of sorts when she left just now. This is honestly very worrying.”

  And how would Qin Huaiyuan be any less anxious? But some things were better off kept between the two of them. There was no point in voicing them and having the entire family brood over this as well.

  He voiced a few words of comfort to his wife and escorted the old dowager and others back to the Garden of Loving Piety. The manor was still in tatters. All of the unmarried girls still remained in the Venerable Study Hall, while everyone else resided in the Garden of Loving Piety.

  After soothing the old dowager, Qin Huaiyuan asked servants to bring Mu Jinghu over.

  The man had been he
sitating all during this time whether he should enter the palace as well to ensure Qin Yining’s safety. But that eunuch earlier hadn’t allowed her to bring even her maids. How would a whole man like him make it in? He received Qin Huaiyuan’s summons just when caught in the throes of indecision.

  “Uncle.” Mu Jinghu greeted the marquis with the same friendly, yet polite attitude as ever. He wasn’t more respectful because Qin Huaiyuan had regained his positions, and made the bow of a junior greeting a family senior.

  After this period of observation, the marquis understood that Mu Jinghu wasn’t someone with complex twists and turns to his mind. He’d first treated Mu Jinghu’s presumptuous closeness with suspicion, but now understood that the gentleman was simply honest to a fault.

  Mu Jinghu was more like a naive child with little understanding of the ways of the world. It must be because of a close friendship with Pang Xiao that Mu Jinghu respected Qin Huaiyuan as Pang Xiao’s father-in-law.

  So when Qin Huaiyuan spoke with Mu Jinghu, he put aside his usual demure style and cut straight to the chase. “Sir Mu, let me be frank. The emperor likes daughter Yi. He wants to make her the empress. As subjects, we can’t defy an imperial decree. Men from the palace came just now and I could only let them take my daughter. You know as well that her injuries are not yet healed. She’s lost so much blood and is still extremely weak…”

  “If Miss Qin becomes the empress, then that fox loses his wife!” Mu Jinghu’s eyes went wide with franticness.

  The marquis blinked, taken aback by the style of the response. “I can’t do anything now. It’s easy to leave the capital, but not so easy to come back in. My identity is also quite sensitive, and I’m sure there are many pairs of eyes staring at me now that I’ve been restored to my former positions. I don’t dare send anyone to Xihua, so I’d like to ask if you have a way to contact the little prince and let him know what’s going on?”

  “It’s very easy for me to get a message to Xihua with no one being the wiser, but uncle, don’t you want Miss Qin to be the empress? She’ll be so much more noble as the empress than a princess consort.”