From what Qin Yining could tell, Zhou Meng's mood had improved a great degree. Only then did she add sweetly, "Your Grace, I have wandered to a foreign land far away from my home and miss my hometown dearly.
“Of course I am delighted that Your Grace is kind enough to permit my people to visit me every day. However, I do not know anyone else in this palace, so it is a bit awkward to ask servants to do my bidding. Could Your Grace permit my people to stay here? I see that there are quite a few empty halls to spare, so it would require no extra effort to house them. I will also restrict their movements so that they cannot wander around your palace as they please."
Zhou Meng's eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly put down his tea.
"I should not refuse Miss Pang's wishes. However, the palace is the home of not only this prince’s wives and concubines, but also my sons and daughters as well. It would be rather inconvenient if outsiders were allowed inside."
At the sight of despondence and disappointment filling Qin Yining’s watery eyes, Zhou Meng immediately assumed that he had spoken too harshly and added, "How about this: I will allow them to visit everyday for four hours at a time, and I can also arrange servants to accompany you for walks. What do you think? I should mention that my daughters and wives all greatly admire the goddess and they are all gentle people. You will not feel lonely if they keep you company."
Qin Yining pursed her lips. "Very well. I ask that Your Grace not go back on his word. And about my cousin—he is only too concerned about me, so I ask that Your Grace set him free."
The sight of such a beauty furrowing her brows and pursing her lips was just too heart-wrenching—Zhou Meng practically wanted to immediately call for all of his most precious fruits and best-looking garments to cheer her up. Her wish was his command, and such a request wasn’t that unreasonable. They would all be family once she married him, anyway.
Thinking of this, Zhou Meng put on an air of generosity. "Though your cousin spoke quite out of turn and offended me, I will pursue the matter no more since Miss Pang has pleaded for leniency in his stead. Let him return to your people, then."
Only then did the hint of a smile grace Qin Yining's lips. "Many thanks to Your Grace."
Chapter 534.1: Currying Favor
Zhou Meng was entranced by Qin Yining’s beautiful features. When she gave thanks, her red lips had parted slightly and she’d looked away bashfully, simply too seductive a sight!
If only he could just marry her right then and there! Just thinking about obtaining her, blowing out the red candles, and tossing and turning all night beneath the bridal chamber curtains...
A hot current spread throughout his body and Zhou Meng crossed his legs, worried about exposing his indecency. “Is there anything else you aren’t accustomed to here? If you ever want something, just tell this prince directly.”
He then looked at Lu Heng, Uncle Alham, and the rest standing behind Qin Yining, his gaze benevolent like he was gazing upon charity cases. “Your clansmen may also make requests. I will arrange them according to my discretion.”
The particular mix of arrogance and condescension especially grated on the ear, but Qin Yining continued to remain calm and collected. “Your Grace’s prior arrangements were already more than enough. There is nothing we lack.”
“We’re all one big happy family here, so if there’s anything you want, don’t be afraid to name it. Don’t do yourself a misfavor, hmm?” Zhou Meng dragged the last word out and involuntarily leaned closer to her.
Qin Yining lowered her head, hiding the disgust in her eyes as she nodded.
It felt like his own heart was tickled by the long, silky locks sliding across her shoulders when she nodded. Zhou Meng ached to pull her into his embrace and pour his love onto her.
However, thoughts of his identity were still foremost in his mind. He shouldn’t act too hastily in front of outsiders. The oasis was his domain, and the Xiyue had vainly searched for a way out of the uninhabited area of the desert for over a hundred years with no results. Even if Qin Yining’s group wanted to leave, there’d be nowhere to go. They were all stuck here for a lifetime—he’d eventually get his beauty!
The days ahead were long!
Furthermore, the beauty had already warmed up a lot more to him compared to her chilly attitude when they’d first met. That was probably because she relaxed after seeing her people again, right?
A multitude of thoughts swirled around in Zhou Meng’s brain, but only a moment passed in reality. He sat back down and struck up an idle conversation with Qin Yining. They appeared to be chatting about random nonsense, but every sentence fished for information about her. He wanted to know why their group had entered the desert, why they had so many provisions with them, and how they’d passed through the no man’s land to find this place.
Qin Yining was vigilant in her replies, putting careful thought behind every word and skirting around actual answers every time. After nearly an hour of chatting, not only did Zhou Meng not receive a single piece of useful information, but instead revealed quite a bit about his family and the Xiyue. Furthermore, he was completely satisfied with Qin Yining’s answers, continuing to chat with increasing enthusiasm.
Qin Yining’s health still hadn’t made a full recovery. After a long round of battling wits, she grew exhausted and intentionally hinted she was tired.
Wanting to curry favour with the beauty and better their relationship, Zhou Meng couldn’t bear to let Qin Yining feel unwell. He immediately summoned an imperial physician to assess the goddess’ condition.
Qin Yining grew even more impatient when she saw that he still wouldn’t leave. Those listening behind them were annoyed as well, but everyone kept a firm grip on their emotions. Nobody dared to act impulsively.
While they were waiting for the imperial physician to arrive, a maid’s shout suddenly sounded outside. “Your Grace, the fourth princess consort is about to enter labor. The imperial physician says the situation is very dangerous and urges you to take a look.”
Zhou Meng’s face changed and he paid close attention to Qin Yining’s expression, not knowing whether to sigh with relief or disappointment when the goddess didn’t appear angry or jealous.
“Send for the imperial physician if there’s a problem. There’s no point in coming to me. What would a prince know about delivering a baby?”
“Giving birth is a tremendous event for a woman. Isn’t the fourth princess consort your wife?” Qin Yining frowned, the connotations clear.
She was faulting Zhou Meng for being heartless. His own woman was about to enter labor, yet here he was, dallying around with a new fancy. Even when the imperial physician said the situation was dangerous, he still didn’t care enough for a look.
Zhou Meng naturally picked up on the remonstration and hastened to explain, not wanting Qin Yining to get the wrong impression that he didn’t care about his women.
“It’s also because I’m very busy and have to meet with a lot of chancellors later. With that being said, beau-Miss Pang, I shall make a visit since you say so. I will send the imperial physician later to you as well. You must make sure to take your medicine and rest properly. This prince will come visit you when there’s time, mm?”
Qin Yining had long had enough. Good gods, you’re finally leaving! I don’t think I could’ve refrained from getting violent if you’d stayed any longer!
“Our respectful farewells to Your Grace,” she curtsied. Lu Heng and Alham also took the lead in a salute.
Zhou Meng looked back with every step, reluctance dogging his heels as he left.
When he was far away, Qin Yining could finally release a sigh of relief. There were still Xiyue maids in the hall, so they couldn’t talk freely. However, she could also feel everybody heave similar sighs of relief as well. She called over the maid who had helped her bathe earlier. “Is the forth princess the prince’s imperial consort?”
The maid trembled in fear when she heard the question. The prince evidently wanted to mar
ry the goddess. What would they do if the goddess heard the truth, grew jealous, and refused to marry him? Would the goddess just leave with all the food?
Chapter 534.2: Currying Favor
When her thoughts traveled here, the maid fell to her knees on the floor.
“Goddess, please don’t be angry. The goddess only descended to Xiyue after a hundred years of praying. The prince didn’t know the goddess would arrive, so to prevent the tribe from dying out, he had no choice but to wed and take concubines. If the prince had known earlier that the goddess would arrive, he definitely would’ve waited for you!”
Qin Yining was dumbstruck by her reply, torn between laughter and tears.
It seemed that the Xiyue tribe deeply revered their religion, sacred texts, and goddess. Compared to that lecherous prince, ordinary Xiyue likely grew up with the belief that a goddess would descend from the skies with food, and thus believed it without doubt.
So from this, it was clear that this oasis really needed crop seeds!
Qin Yining frowned and pretended to sigh worriedly. “You may rise. What is your name?”
“In response to the goddess, this servant is called Biyu.”
“Mhmm. There’s no need to be so nervous, I won’t do anything. Since I’ve come to Xiyue, I won’t leave so easily or rashly take the supplies away. I just want to understand the situation here and I hope you can tell me more.”
Biyu grew even more nervous when she heard that. Saying that she wouldn’t leave so easily or rashly take the supplies away meant that there was no guarantee she wouldn’t! They had to serve the goddess well and make her want to stay!
“Goddess, this servant will explain everything.” Biyu bobbed her head rapidly. “There is the first princess consort, second princess consort, third princess consort, and fourth princess consort by His Grace’s side. The fourth consort was just granted her title last year.
“There are also thirty-seven concubines, some newly bestowed. Some of them are old concubines who have given birth to young masters and misses. So far, the prince has yet to sire a crown prince.” That meant if Qin Yining married the prince and bore a son, her son would be the crown prince.
It appears that competition to become a concubine or princess consort was actually quite fierce in Xiyue?
The characters used for their titles, apart from how there were four princess consorts, all seemed to have been taken from Northern Ji. Whether it was princess consort, concubine, crown prince, master, or miss, they were all terms of address from when Northern Ji was split up between the various princes.
So the people here must hail from Northern Ji. It was likely that for some reason, one of the old princes had to flee and ended up bringing his people here.
While Qin Yining asked further questions, a shout suddenly sounded outside.
“Imperial Physician Wang has arrived.”
“Cousin, you should let the imperial physician look over you,” Lu Heng interjected. “You must take care of your health.”
Qin Yining nodded with a smile before taking a seat on the heated brick bed. Lu Heng, Uncle Alham, and the rest naturally clustered around her.
Imperial Physician Wang looked around fifty years old, walking with a slight slouch that made his back appear hunched over. His face was covered in wrinkles, making him appear like a pitiful old man crushed by grief.
After going through all of the courtesies, he carefully took Qin Yining’s pulse. “The goddess’ cold is much better now. However, your body is still weak and needs to be carefully nursed with tonics.”
Biyu and another maid, Xinyu, hurriedly asked what medicine Qin Yining needed. She took advantage of the distraction to wink a few times at her people.
Lu Heng couldn’t help but nod with a smile. Under the imperial physician’s care, the best medicines, and the best treatment, her health would surely improve. This was an immensely reassuring development.
As the sky slowly darkened, an imperial bodyguard summoned Biyu to pass on a message. “The prince said to invite the goddess’ people back to rest.”
Qin Yining frowned with reluctance.
“Are you afraid of spending the night here?” Uncle Alham asked softly.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. Everything is still under discussion, so I’ll be safe here. You all should go back, the tribespeople will be uneasy in the evening.” Qin Yining smiled at Lu Heng again. “Cousin, you should go back and rest as well.”
Lu Heng understood Qin Yining’s intentions. She wanted him to take strict control of the tribe when he returned and take note of their surroundings to form a precise plan.
It was a good thing they could now meet everyday and exchange information to plot out countermeasures. Separating now would make it convenient to scout the situation outside the palace.
Apart from fear of Zhou Meng harming Qin Yining, everything else coincided with Lu Heng’s intentions. Although he was worried, in their current situation, Lu Heng’s group had no choice but to leave.
Qin Yining told Biyu to send them off while she took medicine with Xinyu’s help.
When the sky was mostly dark, oil lamps flared to life in the palace halls. Biyu and Xinyu carried dinner over from the kitchens. A soft, thick bean porridge made up the staple of the meal, accompanied by a few pickled dishes for appetizers and a dark green apple as dessert.
Beans were a common sight in the north. She was in the imperial palace and the Xiyue prince wanted to curry favor with her, so he definitely would’ve ordered the servants to treat her well. Despite all that, the food they served were the same beans seen in a commoner’s meal, without anything like rice or flatbread. It was clear that they were truly lacking in foodstuff.
Biyu and Xinyu watched Qin Yining stared at the beans without picking up her chopsticks and grew a little nervous.
The wagons the goddess brought along had held rice, maize, and even wheat. Although most of it was beans as well, with the goddess’s identity, she probably wasn’t used to eating beans or liked the food item either.
Chapter 535: The Princess Consorts
Qin Yining heaved a sigh when she noted the nervous glances the two snuck at her. She didn’t want to make things difficult for them; they had just been following orders.
Furthermore, she’d never been much picky about food. Without food, how would one stay healthy? Eating was the important thing, whatever it was didn’t matter.
After Qin Yining ate her fill and rinsed her mouth, she gave orders for an outside stroll, but a gaggle of women called upon her as soon as instructions were given.
“...we are princess consorts and naturally have the right to meet the goddess! What, is the goddess so ugly that she can’t be seen?”
“That’s right, so hurry up and get out of the way or I’ll have the prince cut off your heads!” Their delicate voices could be compared to the birdsong of orioles and swallows, if it weren’t for how domineering their words were. Their voices actually sounded exceptionally pleasant to the ear if one ignored their content.
Biyu was a bit worried as she reported lowly, “Goddess, the consorts are here.”
Qin Yining rubbed the center of her forehead before getting up and moving to the outer hall, taking the center seat. “Have them enter then.”
Biyu nodded and was about to greet them when the women sashayed into the hall with snooty airs.
A woman of about thirty years old led the group. A tall and ample figure, she bore clear-cut features set in a long face and square jaw. Hair swept up in a high bun, it was held in place by a pair of gold, ruby-encrusted tasseled hairpins. Peonies bloomed on her outer coat while safflowers on her skirt hearkened to the rubies in her hair. They glittered a little too brightly from the lamps within the hall.
Behind her were two ladies in the fullest blossom of their beauty at roughly twenty-four. The taller one had a more slender body, while the other possessed an average height. Both were dressed in a riot of color and adorned with shimmering jewels. Although thei
r robes were crafted from finest cotton rather than silk, their high status was clear enough from the elegance and designs visible on their clothing.
Biyu whispered in Qin Yining’s ear. “Goddess, the one wearing the peony embroidered coat and wrap-around skirt is the senior princess consort, the one in the blue skirt is the second princess consort, and the third princess consort is the one in floral.”
Qin Yining nodded slightly to acknowledge her words before raising a brow, watching the three princesses and their maids enter.
The three consorts and their maids stopped in their tracks as soon as they saw Qin Yining, their gazes tapering off in a daze.
As the saying went, a beauty under a light looked better the longer one stared.
Under the lamps’ orange glow, the inky locks of the red-clad Qin Yining appeared even more raven black and her skin glowed with the powder of freshly fallen snow. The most stunning were her exquisite features and noble temperament. Even if she just sat there and looked at them silently, she inspired a reverence that was not to be imposed upon.
Only after a long while did the third princess finally cough, breaking the room’s silence.
“Aiya, so it turns out the goddess is such a beauty! No wonder His Grace bestowed upon her the best palace and even visits her twice in one day.”
Qin Yining kept her brow upraised and continued to remain silent. It would appear that these consorts didn’t have a strict upbringing. Despite their status, the way they spoke sounded more like harlots fighting in the market.
Seeing how the goddess refused to speak, the second princess adjusted her light blue cloak. “The third consort’s words are a bit excessive. Since the goddess has descended from the heavens to bring us provisions just like the sacred texts predicted, she is also bound to be His Grace’s official consort. Such are the sacred texts’ decree, so how would our lord disobey?”
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