Qin Huaiyuan blinked again, then smiled. “We can’t just look at things that way. Just look at the trampress who was just sentenced to death. She was very noble as well. However, her days weren’t peaceful or filled with contentment because of that.”
Mu Jinghu thought for a moment and sighed. “I understand. Forget that then. Don’t worry, uncle. I’ll figure out a way to get word out.”
“Many thanks to you.”
“Not at all.” The gentleman grinned. “I might need to ask you for the food I’ll need for the trip though, uncle.”
“Of course, don’t worry. I’ll make sure all of that’s prepared.” Qin Huaiyuan had also become familiar with Mu Jinghu’s thrifty ways. He grinned despite himself. It’s rather nice to deal with someone so real.
Qin Yining had no idea that her father was sending word to Pang Xiao via the Mu Jinghu express. She’d already arrived in the palace, the carriage having taken her to the doors of the Jade Palace.
Zhan-mama helped her down from the carriage. They lifted their heads to see two other carriages with opulent, ruby brocade coverings slowly roll to a stop. Both had various mamas and palace servants lift the carriage curtains and help two magnificently dressed young girls down.
* * *
Chapter 231: An Atypical Selection (III)
Chapter 231: An Atypical Selection (III)
The girl in front boasted of a sylphlike figure and elegant features. She was wearing a baby-pink padded jacket with an intersecting collar, which was paired with downy-yellow pleated panel skirt.
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Her long locks were swept up high, held in place with a gold hairpin embedded with an intricately carved piece of jade. Pure gold tassels trailed at her sides, swaying with each gentle step she took and throwing bedazzling light that further heightened her demure composure.
Qin Yining had met the girl once before, when the trampress had made an outing to Mount Eternal Spring. The girl was Li Yanyan, daughter of the Duke of An.
She was followed by a petite little girl who looked like she’d be blown away in the wind. Tender skin and rosy cheeks provided the backdrop for a default look of shyness. She invited adoration like a kitten would. Simple makeup combined with the plain, cherry-red robes heightened her slender, pale neck. Her black, lustrous locks gleamed so brightly that even the white jade accessories in her hair were outdone.
Qin Yining had never met the second girl before and she couldn’t help but sigh with admiration. Now this is a treasure that I’d describe as a jade-like beauty! Compared to her, the Qin fourth miss felt that she was a crude brute!
Naturally she didn’t know about the various thoughts that ran through Li Yanyan and Gu Chang’s minds when they noted that Qin Yining’s plain clothes and hairstyle didn’t prevent her beauty from shining through.
Li Yanyan curtsied first. “Long time no see, younger sister Qin.”
“Elder sister Li.” Qin Yining returned the gesture.
“I heard about what’s happened with your family,” Li Yanyan sighed. “My condolences.”
“Thank you, sister.” The Qin fourth miss responded to the pleasantry with a slight smile.
“This is the eldest miss of the Gu family,” Li Yanyan introduced. “The ‘Chang’ character forms her name. Her grandfather is the imperial advisor Master Gu.”
“So it’s Miss Gu. My apologies for not greeting you earlier.” Qin Yining curtsied politely.
Gu Chang was startled by the attention. “Chang’er feels uneasy with how polite elder sister is being.” Her eyes landed on the palm-sized Riceball in Qin Yining’s arms. “Elder sister possesses innate grace and beauty. Even without dressing up, your face could set sail a thousand ships. After seeing you with an adorable bunny in hand, Chang’er feels unworthy of the ‘Chang’ character.” [2]
Qin Yining didn’t care for the exchange. “Your compliments are too much, Miss Gu. A name carries with it the well-wishes and hopes of our family elders. You are as beautiful as an immortal. How are you unworthy of the ‘Chang’ character?”
Li Yanyan smiled at this. She’d met Gu Chang a few times but the two weren’t close. Though Gu Chang presented a fragile exterior that inspired pity, she was an exceedingly haughty person. Li Yanyan disliked befriending this kind of person and was quite enjoying that Qin Yining had delivered a swift riposte.
As the three spoke, three mamas and a group of palace servants poured out of the Jade Hall.
The head mama was over forty and her body shape indicated the loftiness of her station. A smile beamed merrily out of a face that was like a white mantou. The other two behind her wore clothes of lower rank.
Zhan-mama murmured when she turned Qin Yining, “The one at the front is the emperor’s wet nurse, Jiao-mama. The other two are teaching mamas who cover palace rules and manners.”
Qin Yining nodded surreptitiously and brightened her expression when the palace servants drew near. “This little girl greets the various mamas.”
Li Yanyan and Gu Chang also made their curtsies, but the rotund Jiao-mama prevented Qin Yining from dipping her knees.
“This humble one wouldn’t dare accept the miss’ greeting.” Jiao-mama knelt in the grand gesture of greeting instead. “This humble one is née Jiao, here on imperial orders to serve the miss.”
The imperial wet nurse’s courtesy stunned everyone present. Those assembled here were all highly shrewd and observant folks. Who wouldn’t know what this represented?
The emperor had sent his own wet nurse to serve a girl that was to participate in the selection! Even with the irregularities in the nation’s current operations and the severely curtailed selection process, a selection for the imperial harem was still an important affair. The emperor’s actions were announcing his intentions to the entire world.
Li Yanyan’s gaze grew complex and Gu Chang lowered her eyes to bite her lip.
The other two mamas made their curtsies to the other two girls and took them to their assigned quarters in the Jade Hall.
Zhan-mama was only the escort. Her job done, she too curtsied and took her leave.
Who knew what the emperor was thinking in all of this? He’d actually given orders for Qin Yining to be put up in the main hall of the Jade Hall, while the other two were sent to the side hall.
Within the palace, Jiao-mama led two maids and eunuchs in solemn greetings to the Qin fourth miss.
“Us servants greet the miss.”
Qin Yining was cuddling her bunny as she sat in the head seat, receiving their deep bows. She went to personally help the mama up.
“Please don’t be so polite, mama.”
“Please don’t do that, miss. When we came here, the emperor told us that we must serve you well. He hasn’t personally arranged the servants or shown as much affection for anyone else, not even to his late mother. We can tell that His Majesty thinks only of you. The other two are here to just go through the motions and be assigned some position. But you, you’re the future empress.”
Jiao-mama swept a merry curtsey. “This servant congratulates the miss.”
She was followed by the other four servants. “Congratulations to the miss, felicitations to the miss.”
“I possess no virtue or talent to deserve this honor. Please don’t say that, mama.” Qin Yining asked them all to rise.
The imperial wet nurse pointed at the two maids. “This is Xingyu and Bixue. They used to be in charge of serving refreshments in the Hall of Moral Cultivation, the emperor’s quarters. His Majesty has purposefully sent them here to serve the miss.”
The two young girls quickly kowtowed. Jiao-mama then pointed at the two eunuchs who looked roughly thirteen years old. “This is Little Yang and Little Ning. They’re Lu-gonggong’s disciples. The emperor specially sent them to serve the miss as well.”
“These humble ones greet the miss.” Xingyu, Bixue, Little Yang, and Little Ning bowed in unison once more.
“That’s enough, you may all rise.” Qin Yining’s headache w
orsened with each sentence she heard. She didn’t know whether it was because of her irritation and distaste for the situation, or her worsening fever. All she knew was that she was extremely exasperated, but there was no point in making life difficult for servants. She could only settle for, “I’m tired and would like to rest.”
“Understood. The bedchamber has been made up and Lu-gonggong has gone to fetch an imperial physician. The physician can take a look at you soon, miss.” Xingyu and Bixue flanked Qin Yining as she entered the room. Jia-mama stayed behind to hand out tasks to the two young eunuchs.
Xingyu wanted to help Qin Yining out of her clothes, but upon further reflection, the Qin fourth miss felt that it would be a sign of impoliteness to be so casually dressed in the palace. She wasn’t at home; unplanned social calls were a very real possibility here.
Declining the offer to help her change, Qin Yining laid down on the reclining couch next to the window. She put the docile Riceball on her stomach and lightly caressed its head with her uninjured hand.
Bixue brought over a light blanket for her mistress. Whether out of weakness or true fatigue, Qin Yining’s caresses began to slow and she drifted off into bleary-eyed sleep.
An unknown amount of time had passed when she suddenly felt the gaze of a wild animal fixated on her!
Instincts honed thanks to many years in the mountains weren’t discarded that easily. Her eyes snapped open, bringing into view a large face looming over her.
Alarmed, Qin Yining forgot her injury and shoved the newcomer aside with her right hand. A man was thrust onto the ground and her wound split open. She gasped as pain chased away her drowsiness; blood seeped through the pale blue fabric of her shoulder.
Lu-gonggong helped up a fallen emperor as the guards behind the imperial majesty roared, “How dare you!”
Weichi Yan was slightly bedraggled, but the color drained from his face in fright when he saw the blood on Qin Yining’s shoulder. He whipped his head back to yell, “How dare you!”
* * *
The Chang character is also the name of a mythical goddess living on the moon with many adorable bunnies around her. She is said to hold the secret of immortality.
Chapter 232: The Emperor’s Sentiments
Chapter 232: The Emperor’s Sentiments
“Are you alright, Yi’er?” Weichi Yan took a seat next to Qin Yining and looked at her pale face worriedly. “It’s all Our fault, We scared you.”
Distaste bubbled up from every inch of the girl’s pores. She frowned at the ground and avoided the man, kneeling to kowtow to her liege. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”
The beauty was pale as a ghost with blood blossoming on her shoulder. Her previously moderately plump, egg-shaped face was now a sharp oval shape. She was thin to begin with, and being sick added further hints of fragility to her. Weichi Yan’s heart melted at the mere sight of her. How could he possibly bear to let her kneel?
“Do get up. There’s no need to stand on ceremony with Us. You’re injured.” The emperor bent down from his seated position to lift Qin Yining up.
The girl adroitly scooted back on her knees and grit her teeth against the pain, kowtowing, “Etiquette must not be ignored. Ten thousand years of health and fortune to Your Majesty!”
The reclining couch wasn’t that high, but Weichi Yan was unable to reach her even after bending down. He rose to raise her up, responding with pure tenderness, “I already said you don’t need to be so polite. Go and lie down.” He steered her towards the formal bed ensconced in a wooden frame. [1. One of these bad boys. ]
Qin Yining knit her forehead together tightly and ducked away from his hands. She paused. “Riceball, come here.”
The snowy ball crouched next to the couch pushed off its stumpy legs and twitched its butt over to Qin Yining’s feet. The bunny actually struck a sitting posture, catching the hem of the girl’s skirt with two forepaws.
“Is this your pet?” Weichi Yan bent down to pick up the palm-sized rabbit and brought it up to his eyes. Its fur was snow-white apart from a black circle around its left eye. Its ears drooped, framing chubby cheeks that was perfectly suited to an equally chubby body. A red square of knots hung around its neck, presenting an adorable sight.
“Like owner, like pet. You’re so exquisite, and so is your little bunny.” He held Riceball in one hand and took Qin Yining’s left hand with the other. “Come now, lie down.”
The girl yanked her hand away once again and sat down on the side of the bed, taking Riceball from the emperor and placing it on the jade-green brocade coverings.
However, Weichi Yan wasn’t angered in the slightest. He stood smilingly off to the side, admiring a long cherished piece of art that he’d finally obtained.
Jiao-mama, Xingyu, Bixue, and the young eunuchs hastily retreated to the outer hall. Their master’s ardent fervor couldn’t be contained, but Miss Qin remained perfectly indifferent. The servants couldn’t bear the sight they’d just witnessed.
Hadn’t the beloved human candle of their prior emperor received the same treatment? Would the son follow in his father’s footsteps? Was Great Yan about to welcome another sharp and formidable empress?
Weichi Yan couldn’t care less what other people thought. He’d carried a torch for Qin Yining for the longest time. When she’d been sent to participate in the peace talks, he’d charged over with great anxiety to express his feelings. But she’d thrust his hand aside and hectored him for not understanding the rules and for behaving inappropriately. He’d been quite saddened then and gone back to have a right royal fight with the Prince of Ning. But later on, he understood why Qin Yining had rejected him.
She hadn’t had a choice given her identity then. His royal father would’ve grown suspicious if she’d dared express any closeness with him. At that time, he’d hoped to one day stand at the peak of authority and not have to take anything else into consideration.
And now he’d finally done it! Thousands of girls in the world were willing to give themselves to him, but he only wanted the one in front of him.
Weichi Yan grew even more proud of himself and enthusiastic; he turned that energy into further tenderness towards Qin Yining.
“Yi’er, hurry and lie down. The imperial physicians will be here soon. I’ve already given orders to Jiao-mama to must nurse you back to health during this time and return what’s been lost from your body.”
The room was spinning in front of Qin Yining’s eyes. She forced herself to alertness, but a buzz filled her ears when she heard Weichi Yan’s words. Get out if you want me to rest!
She wanted to throw the man out, but sadly he was the emperor. She’d give others something to criticize her with if she went overboard with her actions.
“Your Majesty should go about your business. Don’t delay them because of spending time here.”
“There’s always more work to do. You’re my business at the moment.” Weichi Yan took a seat next to the prone girl and ran an index finger lightly across cheeks that were flushed with fever. “Look at you, don’t be shy. The road ahead for us is long.”
Her face must be red from shyness.
An explosion boomed in Qin Yining’s mind and she almost fainted from anger. She finally flung the emperor’s hand away, having reached the limits of her tolerance. “Your Majesty, please show some respect!”
Weichi Yan started, a look of bafflement meeting the girl’s almond-shaped, limpid eyes — even more watery than usual from the fever. He asked, aggrieved, “Yi’er, you’ll be my empress soon, why are you still…”
“You’re an educated man, Your Majesty, not some bandit carrying a woman off the road and making her his wife. I have no feelings for you whatsoever and feel only admiration for your knowledge. Why are you forcing something on me against my will?”
Weichi Yan froze.
Qin Yining rose and knelt in front of the bed, speaking solemnly, “Your Majesty, this subject respects your position and admires your depth of learning, but this subj
ect bears no feelings for you.”
The four imperial physicians that’d rushed back with Lu-gonggong were scared witless when they heard this outside the hall. Screeching to a halt, they looked at each other, color draining from their faces. As a unified whole, they retreated wisely.
Please. The imperial majesty himself rejected by a little girl? If such a scene was witnessed by people who shouldn’t know about it such as they, they’d all lose their heads!
Weichi Yan lowered his head to look at Qin Yining, emotion roiling in his eyes. Shock gave way to understanding, then to fury. He bent down to grasp the girl’s chin, forcing her to look up at him and roared at her, “You don’t like me?! Then tell me, who do you like? Hmm? Pang?!”
The two were so close to each other that Qin Yining could smell the ambergris wafting from the man and see his orbs burning with anger. She knew that she couldn’t speak of relationships with an emperor. But if she didn’t play on this fact now, she would have even less of a right to reject him. If she didn’t make a big deal over emotions, then her refusal would be defiance an imperial decree.
“Your Majesty, no matter who I like, I have no feelings for you.”
Weichi Yan clenched his hand even more tightly. Her skin was smooth and tender beneath his fingertips; he wanted to devour her where they stood!
Whether out of anger or desire, a fire had been lit in Weichi Yan. He wanted to teach this ungrateful girl a good lesson!
All thoughts flew out of his mind and he stared at Qin Yining’s bloodless lips. His eyes darkening, he bent down to kiss her roughly.
Scared witless, the girl hastily shifted her head to avoid the kiss. Weichi Yan didn’t let up even when she fell down. He pounced on top of her and though his kiss didn’t land on her lips, they grazed her cheeks to connect with the nape of her neck.
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