Drei Mandarinenten und eineinhalb

Kapitel 85

"Miss, you may not know this, but although Beifeng produces milk, it is only for nobles. We slaves have no right to use it at all."

"Ah!" Leng Jie had no idea that Beifeng had such bizarre hierarchical rules. Jinghe also had its own hierarchy, but at least there wouldn't be a rule that fishermen couldn't eat fish! Leng Jie involuntarily stopped what she was doing and asked in surprise:

"Then what will you eat? And what if you can't sell all the milk you produce?"

"We eat barley flour for two meals a day. Milk is meant to nourish calves! Why would we buy it? If nobles want to drink milk, they'll throw away the calf's hide."

The palace maid was equally surprised by Leng Jie's suggestion to buy milk.

Oh dear! So all that milk she drank every morning was stealing food from the little cowboy! She'd always assumed that since there were grasslands here, the food must be milk. Now it seems she'd made another preconceived mistake. It seems the livestock industry in Beifeng is far less developed than she imagined. No wonder their food tastes so bad. Suddenly, she looked up and bumped into the little palace maid, who looked hesitant and timid, staring at her. She couldn't help but ask:

"What? Can't I even treat you to a drink? If that's the case, then I won't make things difficult for you."

The young palace maid immediately shook her head and whispered:

"No, I wanted to ask you, Miss, if I could take this glass of milk back to my younger brother?"

"Give it to your younger brother? Is your younger brother also in the palace?" Leng Jie asked casually.

The young palace maid's eyes immediately reddened, and she replied sadly:

“My younger brother was originally the Imperial Preceptor’s apprentice, but three months ago, he developed the same ailment as the Empress. The Imperial Preceptor, fearing the Emperor would find out, sent him home. Since then, he has been unable to get out of bed. Therefore, I wish to bring this medicinal milk back for him to drink. I beg you, Miss, to grant my request!”

Alas! This old emperor has truly harmed both himself and others! Leng Jie couldn't help but shake her head and sigh.

"Alright, you're such a good sister. I'll be a good person this time!" Leng Jie said nonchalantly to the kneeling palace maid.

"Drink that glass of milk first! I'll bring you a pot of milk later that will be even more helpful for your brother's illness. I'll also give you a few doses of medicine. Give them to him when you get home, and if they work, come back and ask me for more. Anyway, your brother's illness is considered a work-related injury, so it's not unreasonable for him to receive some government assistance now."

Leng Jie's words were like heavenly music, and the little palace maid was so excited that she burst into tears of joy.

She was so moved by just a glass of milk, let alone now that she has unconditionally agreed to treat her brother, a commoner.

Leng Jie understood the young palace maid's feelings; she didn't want people to treat her like a goddess just because of a small favor. Furthermore, if those with ulterior motives were to find out that her brother had taken medicine reserved for the emperor and empress, it would likely bring even greater disaster to her family. Therefore, Leng Jie deliberately warned her coldly:

"You must remember this: I didn't give your brother medicine and milk out of pity. I only gave him medicine to test its effectiveness. In other words, he was just a guinea pig I specifically found to test the drugs when I was treating the Emperor and Empress. Do you understand?"

The cold, clear voice immediately pulled the excited palace maid back to reality. She knew perfectly well that this young lady's status was far higher than those high-ranking imperial physicians who only treated emperors and nobles. If the young lady was willing to feed her two younger brothers, even if they were guinea pigs, her family would treat her like a goddess! However, she also understood the implication in the young lady's words. She quickly replied:

"Yes! I understand. Miss gave me the medicinal herbs to take back to my younger brother to test their efficacy. It's not to treat his illness."

Leng Jie nodded in satisfaction and said, "Yes, it's good that you think that way. You can come and pick up the things for your brother before you leave the palace. I will have the First Prince issue you the token to allow him to leave."

As she spoke, Leng Jie had already filled her special thermos with the medicine prepared for the old emperor and his wife. She impatiently turned to the young palace maid who was still staring intently at the milk in her hand, reluctant to drink it:

"If you don't want to be kicked out of the palace by the Empress, you'd better drink this quickly and come back with me to report!"

After saying this, Leng Jie picked up the medicine pot and walked out. Seeing this, the little palace maid quickly gulped down every last drop of milk. Then, as if still wanting more, she stuck out her tongue and licked the rim of the cup. Then she followed her out.

Leng Jie couldn't help but shake her head and smile. Just as she reached the door, she saw Zi Ying walking towards her. Leng Jie told Ying about her trip to the Empress's palace. Zi Ying wanted to follow, but Leng Jie silently stopped her. It was obvious that those two old foxes were deliberately trying to separate her from Qing Feng for questioning. Even if Ying went, he wouldn't be able to enter the Empress's palace. Why should she let Ying suffer their humiliation and have to endure their disdain? Thinking back to when Ying was in Jinghe, although he was also in the palace, he was not bound by any rules of etiquette.

When Leng Jie and the young palace maid Hongmei hurriedly arrived at the Empress's Fengyin Palace, Qiuju, another close palace maid of the Empress, was anxiously waiting at the palace gate. Upon seeing them, she immediately rushed forward and said urgently:

"My dear aunt! We've been waiting for you! The Empress is getting angry!"

Leng Jie glanced coldly at Qiu Ju, ignoring her words. She left Hong Mei to explain. Leng Jie hurried past her and entered the main hall of Fengyin Palace. From afar, she could see the Empress pacing anxiously inside. It seemed she was truly worried that she wouldn't come.

This is a message from the palace gate; the palace maid has already shouted.

"Miss Leng has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress immediately stopped her anxious steps. She then sat back in her phoenix chair, resuming her benevolent and noble demeanor, and quietly awaited Leng Jie's worship.

Leng Jie entered carrying the medicine, and with a smile on her face, she bowed to the Empress and said:

"The medicine is simmering on the stove, which caused the delay. I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, Auntie!"

"It's alright, it's alright. Xiao Jie, come and sit down with me." The Empress said generously, pointing to the seat next to her.

Leng Jie ignored her suggestion to sit down and instead carried the medicine pot to the table. She took the medicine out, handed it to the table, and said:

"Auntie, please drink this medicine quickly. Although you seem fine now, you can't be careless. This kind of poison has a very long incubation period. Even if you get rid of it completely like my senior brother, you will still need to take medicine for a long time."

Upon hearing this, the Empress trembled involuntarily! She quickly took the medicine bowl and drank it down without a word. Then she asked:

"What about the Emperor's medicine? Did you send it to him?"

Leng Jie was very satisfied with the effect. She shook her head without revealing her feelings and said:

"Xiaojie was worried that Auntie would be getting impatient, so she came to Fengyin Palace with the palace maid as soon as she was ready. But I brought the Emperor's medicine with me, so how about I deliver it to the Emperor now?"

"It's good that you're prepared. Have Qiuju deliver the medicine to the Emperor. You stay here today and chat with me about women's matters!" With that, the Empress, without waiting for a reply, rushed towards the door and gave the order.

"Qiuju, quickly take the medicine to the Emperor. Make sure you see him drink it before you return, understand?"

"Yes! This servant obeys!" Qiuju responded as she entered, taking the medicine pot from Leng Jie's hand.

Leng Jie unconsciously pursed her lips. She sneered inwardly: "Hmph, even if they take these medicines to the imperial physicians to analyze their ingredients, I'm prepared." To make her first plan seem more convincing, and more importantly, to vent the old emperor's anger at wanting to exploit them, she secretly halved the emperor and empress's dosage and removed two crucial medicinal ingredients.

She didn't mention this to Qingfeng or Ziying. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, but she felt it was unnecessary. After all, she hadn't said when the old emperor's illness would be cured, had she? Her words to the Empress earlier were meant to give her a warning, to prevent her from going too far, since her and the emperor's lives were still in Leng Jie's hands.

"Xiao Jie, come and sit down!" the Empress called out again.

Leng Jie sat down beside her as she wished. She said directly:

"Your Majesty, please feel free to give your orders. Xiao Jie will obey without hesitation!"

"Haha, I knew you were a sensible and good child!" the Empress said with a beaming smile. After a pause, she added with a touch of emotion:

"Xiao Jie! Don't we women just want to be with a responsible man? But Feng'er left the palace at a young age and has been unenthusiastic about politics since he returned. Although his father wants to cultivate him, he just won't cooperate, which makes his father very angry. I'm also very worried about him! Now that he has me and his father protecting him, he can live so freely."

"I dare not imagine what will become of him after we are gone. Therefore, I would like to ask you to persuade him to accept his father's arrangements. Only after he becomes the crown prince can he gradually accumulate power. Only then will he be able to rival his younger brother, won't he?"

“Yes! Your Majesty is absolutely right! But my senior brother is always a man of his word, he doesn’t even listen to you. How could he possibly listen to his junior sister?” Leng Jie agreed with the Empress’s words while also expressing her own stance.

The Empress took Leng Jie's hand affectionately and said, "I have seen the affection between you and Feng'er. I believe that as long as you can encourage him to fulfill the responsibilities of a prince, he will definitely accept it."

"Isn't Your Highness giving Xiao Jie too much credit? Xiao Jie wouldn't dare to have such a great influence! Although Senior Brother treats Xiao Jie well, Xiao Jie should also keep to her duty as a junior sister, shouldn't she?" Leng Jie replied calmly.

Seeing Leng Jie's repeated refusals, the Empress began to feel a little embarrassed. She withdrew her hand from Leng Jie's, picked up the tea beside her, and sighed softly. She said in a cold voice:

"I know you don't want to share your husband. But as a member of the royal family, how can you focus on only one woman? Even if Feng'er weren't the crown prince, he couldn't possibly marry only you. With your status, you were only fit to be Feng'er's concubine. Now that the Emperor has made an exception and made you the crown prince's principal wife, you should be content!"

Finally, she couldn't keep up the act anymore? She just couldn't stand this woman, who was clearly a selfish and self-serving mortal, always pretending to be charitable to deceive people. Especially since she dared to deceive her feelings for half a month. If she didn't get her revenge now, with interest, she wouldn't be Leng Jie. Leng Jie sneered inwardly. Then, she put on a trembling, fearful expression and replied:

"Xiao Jie knows that her status in this palace is not worthy of her senior brother, but when we were in Wuyou Valley, we loved each other and there was no difference in rank or status. Therefore, Xiao Jie thinks it would be better for her senior brother not to become the crown prince and to return to Wuyou Valley with her."

With a "smash!", the Empress, enraged by Leng Jie's words, threw her teacup away. She then abruptly stood up, pointed at Leng Jie's nose, and angrily rebuked her:

"You! You short-sighted woman! I trusted you so much, and you harbored such intentions. You, you get back to Jinghe right now!"

"Yes! Xiao Jie, this is Jing He!" Leng Jie replied. She then turned to leave.

The Empress's face turned green with rage. She and the Emperor weren't even fully cured of their drugs yet; how could she possibly let her go? She cried out in a trembling voice:

"Wait! What do you want? Speak! As long as it's not related to state affairs, I can agree to anything you ask for."

"Is that so? Doesn't Your Majesty know very well what Xiao Jie wants?" Leng Jie replied calmly.

Although the Empress was seething with hatred, she had to suppress her anger for the time being to achieve her goals. She adopted a calm demeanor and gently advised:

"Given Feng'er's feelings for you, even if he marries Consort Ping, he will still treat you well. Look at the Emperor; although he has many concubines, doesn't he only have me, his principal wife, in his heart?"

Furthermore, you must understand that Feng'er's marriage to Dosley was arranged when he was a child. Moreover, Dosley's father is the current prime minister. If Feng'er were to break off the engagement, he would lose a crucial political supporter. In that case, even if he wanted to become the crown prince, his position would be precarious.

Think about it, if Feng'er is oppressed by his emperor, wouldn't you, as his concubine, suffer the same fate? So, I'm begging you, please don't add to the trouble. Go back and try to persuade him."

Knowing when to stop is Leng Jie's consistent style. She feigned deep thought, and after a long pause, suddenly realized something and said:

“Auntie’s advice is absolutely right. As the saying goes, a wife should follow her husband’s lead! Xiao Jie certainly can’t hold her senior brother back. Don’t worry, Xiao Jie will go back and persuade her senior brother to prioritize national affairs.”

After saying this, she rose to bid farewell to the Empress and returned home. The Empress had achieved her goal and naturally would not keep her any longer.

Leng Jie left the Empress's Phoenix Palace in high spirits. Humming a little tune, she strolled leisurely towards Qingfeng Palace, admiring the snowy scenery. As she reached a corner of a long corridor, a dashing young man with a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes, dressed in a glossy black mink coat, suddenly appeared before her. He asked with a loud laugh:

"Hehe! Miss Leng, what good news has happened? Why are you so happy?"

This must be the infamous Second Prince! Seeing is believing, indeed! He's much better looking than the villain Leng Jie had imagined. However, his naturally alluring eyes give him a dissolute air that's instantly repulsive.

Leng Jie gave him a silly smile and replied innocently:

"The Emperor is going to make my senior brother the Crown Prince! Of course I'm happy! But who are you?"

Chapter 116 Coldly Meeting the Woman

Leng Jie gave him a silly smile and replied innocently:

"The Emperor is going to make my senior brother the Crown Prince! Of course I'm happy! But who are you?"

His peach-blossom eyes narrowed into slits, the previously alluring and seductive gaze instantly transforming into a dangerous and violent one. His roguish smile vanished, his face darkening abruptly. However, this expression only lasted a moment, before he reverted to his previous suave demeanor. He spoke in a teasing tone:

"Heh! You've been a guest at my house for half a month now, haven't you? And you still don't recognize me, the host?"

"Oh! You're my senior brother's half-brother!" Leng Jie said as if suddenly realizing something. Then, she deliberately pouted and looked him up and down carefully with a sidelong glance.

The second prince, feeling smug under Leng Jie's gaze, said rather narcissistically:

"Don't you think I'm much more handsome than your blockhead senior brother? You're looking at me so closely, could it be that you've taken a fancy to me? Although your status is not worthy of me, I can consider taking you as a concubine since you're quite beautiful, and I'll guarantee you endless riches and honors."

As he spoke, he reached out his "wandering hand" to try and lift Leng Jie's chin. Leng Jie subtly dodged it without making a sound.

Leng Jie had only intended to play a trick on him, making him suspicious. That way, when he received the message, he would be more convinced. But she hadn't expected this guy to flirt with her. Since that was the case, she couldn't be blamed. She was going to get all the grievances Qingfeng had suffered at his hands from him in one go.

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Leng Jie's cold, clear eyes before she fixed her gaze on his captivating eyes. She smiled gently at him. The man opposite her was immediately mesmerized, his eyes fixed on her. After a few more moments of eye contact, he was completely immersed in the dream Leng Jie had woven for him.

Just then, she saw the emperor approaching from afar, surrounded by Qingfeng and a group of ministers. Leng Jie involuntarily raised her eyebrows, revealing a radiant smile. She slowly guided him, saying:

"Is the Second Prince feeling hot and burning with desire right now?"

The man with the peach blossom charm nodded immediately and mechanically replied:

"Yes, it's so hot!"

"Then you'd better take off your clothes quickly!" Leng Jie said seriously, suppressing a laugh.

"Yes!" Peach Blossom Man replied, and immediately began to peel off his skin layer by layer in a great hurry.

Leng Jie then said to him:

"If someone asks you what you're doing, just answer that you're burning with desire and need to release it."

"I'm burning with desire, I need to release it!" he replied mechanically.

Leng Jie smiled with satisfaction and retreated to the other end of the corridor. Just then, a group of palace maids carrying things walked over from the other side. Leng Jie quickly found a secluded spot where she could see the whole scene and waited quietly for the show to begin.