Return of the Swallow c1-644
Page 141
When Weichi Yan heard the response, he too realized he’d asked an idiotic question. The awkwardness washing over him only further worsened his mood. If he nodded now, Qin Yining would no longer be his.
He could only try to make one final appeal.
“The Soothsayer’s fortunes prescribed for Miss Qin haven’t been verified yet. If a little girl can protect the nation, then what do we need us men for? What do we need the soldiers on the front lines for? This is all sheer nonsense!”
“Your Majesty, what we should be discussing now isn’t whether or not the fortune is true, but that the citizens already deeply believe it is!” An old official stepped forward with a kowtow.
“The foolish people are ignorant, but are all of you ignorant as well? How can you parrot what others say?”
Someone in the Clearists’ camp spoke up. “Your Majesty, the people may be ignorant, but they can overturn a ship. Your subjects aren’t repeating hearsay, but are aware that we currently need someone like her to put the people at ease.”
“This subject agrees! Your Majesty has just taken the throne and if you move against public opinion now, you might lose the people’s heart!”
His hands balled into fists, Weichi Yan asked tightly, “What, Us marrying a girl will lose the people’s heart?”
“The key point is that these are the rumors outside. No matter if they’re true or not, the people think they are!”
Weichi Yan angrily shot to his feet. “Pang only says that he’s pausing the battles but didn’t say that they wouldn’t continue fighting if We don’t marry Miss Qin !”
“But the people think that they’ll be safe as long as Your Majesty doesn’t marry her!”
A vein throbbed painfully in Weichi Yan’s forehead, traces of remaining rationality once again preventing him from cursing. Such were his subjects! Foolish, selfish, and ludicrous!
So it turned out that sitting on this throne didn’t bring about freedom either! A short phrase of ‘the people’s will’ was enough to materialize chains that thoroughly held him down!
“We need to ponder further on this matter. Court is dismissed!” Having run out of patience, Weichi Yan flung down these words and left with a flourish of his sleeves.
The officials looked at each other, at a loss of what to do. Head shakes and sighs were exchanged before they too were on their way.
Qin Huaiyuan heaved a long sigh as he watched the emperor stalk off. Compared to Pang Xiao, Weichi Yan was far inferior when it came to plots and plans. The prince could quickly think of a countermove and execute on it, while the emperor only knew to be angry. This wasn’t an even playing field at all.
Helplessness descended when the marquis reflected on the two generations of rulers he’d served in his life. Whatever, forget it all. Let it go.
After court was adjourned, a stone-faced Weichi Yan made quick time to the Jade Hall. Lu-gonggong and a group of palace servants and guards trailed far behind, deathly afraid of being caught up in the emperor’s temper.
Pure Consort Lin, Weichi Yan’s concubine from when he was still the crown prince, was currently lecturing the three girls in the Jade Hall. Though the girls were technically here for the selection, everyone knew that the three were guaranteed a spot in the imperial harem and that Qin Yining would be the empress.
Consort Lin had loved and served Weichi Yan for many years. She’d given it her all, and it would be a fat lie to say that she expected nothing in return. She’d long since heard that the emperor was infatuated with Qin Yining. The Qin fourth miss was also a notable character amongst the noble daughters in the capital, so the consort had long since wanted to take her measure of the girl.
There were even rumors that the emperor had paid a visit the day that née Qin entered the palace. He’d completely ignored née Li and née Gu, paying attention only to née Qin.
Consort Lin bided her time for two days, but couldn’t restrain herself in the end. She’d happened to ‘pass by’ the Jade Hall today and came in for a look.
Née Li and née Gu were taking a stroll in the garden and chatting. They immediately came forward to make their greetings, but the one rumored to be empress remained arrogantly lying in bed. The consort waited a long while before she saw the girl.
“This seat knows that the Qins have beautiful descendants. Younger sister Qin is stunning alright, no wonder the emperor admires you wholeheartedly.”
Consort Lin was just in her twenties. She had a voluptuous body and a coy tone when she spoke. She wore a silver and red arrowed sleeve cotton jacket, the kind where the sleeves could be cinched to keep them out of the way. A rose-red ruffled hem skirt was finished off with a downy-yellow chiffon wrap around the shoulders. The consort waved her round fan and reached out with slender fingers protected by three inch long nail guards.
Qin Yining frowned with discomfort when the consort gripped her chin, but she didn’t evade the touch. She knelt primly, “Your Highness is as beautiful as a flower. How would this subject dare be complimented by you?”
“Indeed, you wouldn’t dare.” Consort Lin waved her fan with a chuckle. “You don’t dare accept compliments, but you dare lie in bed and make me wait for your greeting.”
Qin Yining kowtowed. “Please forgive me, Consort Lin. This subject is ill and awoke this morning with a fever. I stayed in bed a bit longer due to not feeling well and immediately rose when we heard of your visit. I didn’t dare offend you with a disheveled appearance and so cleaned up a little, which caused my tardiness. Please forgive me for my lateness.”
“Mm. Younger sister’s voice is so pleasing. Speak some more. You sound like a bird chirping.” Consort Lin concealed her smile behind her fan.
Qin Yining sighed. Such was her treatment before she’d officially entered the palace. How could anyone bear to stay in such a place?
“Please forgive me, Your Highness.” She could only continue to admit her fault.
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Chapter 238: Resignation (II)
Chapter 238: Resignation (II)
Consort Lin looked down at the girl kneeling in front of her, barely able to conceal the jealousy in her eyes.
She’s seduced the emperor so much that he only thinks of her! This is why the emperor’s ignoring all the years I’ve served him and making her empress instead!
The consort knew that her background was inferior, but so what?! That wasn’t a reason for her to back down! When it came to depth of feeling and understanding of the emperor, who could boast of those more than her?
“What fault does younger sister Qin have? Oh don’t speak of such things, like I’m being mean to you.” Consort Lin paced back and forth, waving her fan slightly instead of letting the girl rise. “I hear that you grew up in the mountains? Have you ever read a book?”
Qin Yining opened her mouth, but elected to remain silent. The consort didn’t really want to hear her answer anyways. She just wanted to insult the girl.
Indeed, Consort Lin continued without a pause. “Our emperor is widely learned and well read. He started writing poems when he was seven and had beautiful calligraphy at eight. If you don’t have some thoughts rattling around in your brain, it might be difficult to serve the emperor properly.”
Standing off to the side with her hands and head down, a cold smirk blossomed on Gu Chang’s lips.
Li Yanyan however, frowned. “Consort Lin speaks very truly, but a woman is virtuous when she does not flaunt her skills. Serving the emperor isn’t taking the scholar examinations. Nothing else matters as long as the emperor likes younger sister Qin.”
“Younger sister Li has quite a silver tongue.” Consort Lin sniffed disdainfully. “It looks like the Duke of Anguo has a strong friendship with Grand Preceptor Qin.”
Li Yanyan smiled faintly in return. “In response to Your Highness, it’s true that I am good friends with younger sister Qin.”
“It’s rare to see such a deep bond of sisterhood.
But younger sister Li speaks truly. A wild brat from the woods can’t even read that many words, to say nothing of manners and rules. I suppose it’s enough that she’s passably pretty and won’t mar the beauty of the palace.”
Li Yanyan seethed with these words and she frowned ferociously down at the ground. However, Qin Yining interjected before the other girl founds the words to respond with.
“The honorable Pure Consort speaks truly. This subject is crude and indeed unworthy of serving the emperor. But His Majesty is highly knowledgeable — how would he be so shallow as to only judge a woman by her looks? Please be careful of your words, Your Highness, and refrain from conjectures about the emperor’s thoughts.”
Making wild conjectures about the emperor was a highly punishable label that offended Consort Lin more than anything Li Yanyan had said.
A knot of irritation in her throat, the consort sniffed disdainfully. “The daughter of Wise Pan An is uncommon alright. Your glib tongue isn’t something that just anyone can possess. Is this how you bespelled the emperor?”
“The emperor is wise and noble, how would he be bespelled with just a few words? Or is His Majesty someone that muddleheaded in Your Highness’ eyes?”
“How! How dare you! Servants, slap her!” Consort Lin was beet red with anger and called loudly for her eunuchs to punish the girl.
Jiao-mama hastily ran in front of Qin Yining when she saw the situation take a turn for the worse. She smiled placatingly. “Please quell your anger, Your Highness. No matter how angry you might be, it isn’t the thing to do to punish the selection girls in the Jade Hall, no? The emperor is sure to be angry if he finds out. What will Your Highness do then?”
“Please stay out of my business when I’m teaching the selection girls a lesson, Jiao-mama.” Consort Lin relaxed her tone slightly, not daring to really offend the emperor’s wet nurse, but not softening her attitude one iota either. She glared viciously at her confidante.
The eunuch stepped forward and drew his hand back for a resounding slap.
How would Qin Yining possibly allow herself to suffer like this? Ideas and consequences whirred through her mind as she grabbed the eunuch’s wrist, forcing him to stop right by her cheek.
The eunuch cried out with surprise and pain. Qin Yining had her fingers locked tightly around his pulse and was steadily applying even more pressure. He’d never met someone who would return his blows when being punished. Afflicted by twin sensations, he looked back piteously at Consort Lin.
It would’ve been better had he not turned back. When he did, he thumped down to both knees in fright.
“Your, Your Majesty…”
Everyone had been gathered around Qin Yining with their backs to the doors of the hall. They hadn't noticed when the emperor had arrived at all, and didn’t know how long he’d been standing there watching. Qin Yining’s line of sight had been blocked by the crowd, so she hadn’t an inkling either.
Consort Lin’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Weichi Yan’s black expression, his hands behind back. She’d heard that the emperor liked née Qin very much so, but I’ve served by his side for so many years. I won’t lose out to a newcomer no matter what!
Having reassured herself, Consort Lin prettily lowered herself to the ground. “This consort greets Your Majesty.”
“These subjects greet Your Majesty.” Li Yanyan and Gu Chang curtsied as well.
A ripple of bowing and curtsying palace servants fanned outwards. All of them hunkered in on themselves, immensely worried that they’d be caught up in the wake of imperial anger.
The furrows between Weichi Yan’s brows grew even deeper, lending a few imposing touches to his refined, genteel appearance.
He strode up and took Qin Yining’s uninjured left arm, helping her rise. Then, in front of everyone’s disbelieving eyes, he bent down to dust off the hem of her skirt.
The Qin fourth miss compressed her lips and took a step backwards, but Weichi Yan refused to let her get away and followed her closely, still holding onto her arm. He turned back to Consort Lin.
“Why are you here?”
Having yet to receive the imperial command to rise, the consort didn’t dare move and responded to the ground with a smile. “In response to Your Majesty, I was out for a walk today and happened to pass by Jade Hall. I decided to pay a visit to the younger sisters soon to join us.”
“What has she done wrong that you would have the servants hit her?”
The consort hastily responded, “She has no grasp of manners and was slow to greet this subject. I just wanted to teach her the rules.”
“Teach her the rules? By insulting her as well as her father, one of Our beloved subjects and Our teacher? Who gave you the courage to do so?!”
Color drained from the consort’s face and she kowtowed in abject fear. “Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I was just…”
“You. Slap yourself thirty times and confine yourself to your residence for reflection afterwards. You are not to set a single foot outside without Our decree. Do you understand?”
Stunned, Consort Lin raised her head and looked dumbly at Weichi Yan. “Your Majesty!” This would cause her to have absolutely no standing in the palace from now on!
She looked pleadingly at Li Yanyan and Gu Chang beside her, but the two were so terrified by imperial anger that they didn’t dare make a peep.
“Remain kneeling here when you slap yourself. Go on then!” Weichi Yan added.
Ashen-faced, the consort looked to Qin Yining for help in the end. We’re all going to be neighbors in the future and need to coexist together. The girl would help her save some face so life could go on, right?
But the Qin fourth miss didn’t say anything, just looked at the consort calmly.
Consort Lin took off her pure gold nail guards and biting her lips, tears brimming in her eyes, she gave herself a self-pitying, dainty little slap.
“That was too light.” Weichi Yan remarked coldly.
Consort Lin set aside all thoughts of finding a way out of this. She closed her eyes, grit her teeth, and put her weight into slaps from both hands. The blows rang out clearly and her cheeks very quickly reddened.
Thirty slaps passed by quickly. At the end of them, Consort Lin was disheveled, her hairpins falling out and tears streaking her face. She touched her forehead to the ground in a grand gesture of obeisance and walked backwards with her back hunched. It would be more accurate to say that she fled Jade Hall, as if having no more dignity to face anyone with.
Weichi Yan pulled on Qin Yining’s hand. “Come with Us. We have questions to ask of you.”
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Chapter 239: Resignation (III)
Chapter 239: Resignation (III)
Weichi Yan set a fast pace and used a great deal of force on Qin Yining. Her wrist was chafed and reddened by the pressure, but the girl didn’t frown at the discomfort. She followed the emperor closely into the main hall.
Li Yanyan and Gu Chang heaved sighs of relief as their servants helped them up. Both cast complicated looks at Weichi Yan and Qin Yining’s departing figures.
With how much the emperor doted on née Qin, would there be any place for them when they entered the palace?
Eunuch Lu followed his master inside, taking up position in the outer hall. Jiao-mama quickly had Little Ning and Little Yang close the doors and retreat to a position far away.
Li Yanyan and Gu Chang also returned to their side wings, not daring to eavesdrop on imperial conversation.
Back in the main hall, Weichi Yan thrust his arm forward fiercely after entering the inner chamber, throwing Qin Yining onto the bed.
“Why do you treat me like this?!”
Someone else filled this girl’s heart, not him!
Weichi Yan knew that Qin Yining was a highly intelligent girl, and that her maternal grandmother was the alliance head of Azure Justice.
Though the rebel organization had announced its disbandment, it was surely doable for Qin Yining to find anyone she needed in order to disseminate rumors. She must be colluding with Pang Zhixi and leveraging the people’s voice to make him let her go!
He’d fumed so badly on the way here that he wanted to choke her to death!
And yet when he actually saw her being bullied, his gut reaction was to stick up for her. Even Weichi Yan started despising himself.
“Why do you treat me like this?!” The emperor dropped all royal pronouns and screamed furiously. “Can you feel not a sliver of my feelings for you?!”
Judging from this display, Qin Yining understood that Pang Xiao had succeeded. She clutched her injured shoulder, aching from the exertions, and slowly knelt down primly.
“Please quell your anger, Your Majesty.”
“How can I quell my anger when you’ve done something like this?!” Eyes shot through with red, Weichi Yan hauled her up by her left arm again. He caged her in, grinding his teeth as he glared into her eyes. “Do you hate me that much? Is Pang that good? How is he better than me? Tell me!”
The two were nearly nose-tip to nose-tip. The musk of an unfamiliar man threw Qin Yining greatly off-kilter. She twisted to get out of his grasp, but Weichi Yan refused to let go.
“Your Majesty, this subject has never toyed with your affections. This subject feels no love for you at all.”
“So you colluded with an enemy commander to lay out this trap for me!”
“I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?! I’ll have the heads of your entire clan for this!”
“If you don’t believe me, Your Majesty, you can investigate everything possible. I didn’t even bring my maids into the palace. There’s nothing I could’ve done even if I’d wanted to. Evidence must be laid out if Your Majesty wishes to pronounce me guilty, or will you imitate the emperor emeritus in turning white to black?”