This was the first time Leng Qing had ever cursed at someone, the first time she had ever spoken so much. All they could say to Miss Zi Xue was, "We admire you."
As Xiao Qingqing scolded me, my head drooped lower and lower, looking like I was being bullied. He didn't help me at all. He lay on his side, leaning slightly against the cushion behind him, propping his head up with one hand, a faint smile on his lips, watching our farce with amusement.
"No, I watched the ants because I'd never seen them before and found them interesting. It was also a good way to train your perseverance. I saved that woman because I couldn't stand it. Look how pitiful that girl was! You guys were playing the hero and you're blaming me. I threw stones because you wouldn't talk to me, so I had to vent my frustration. You're all fine now, aren't you? But wow, it was really accurate! I just wanted to try it out, and it actually hit her! It's amazing! Now I want to watch the embroidered ball throwing because you're all lonely old folks, and it makes me feel so lonely. I want to find you wives. Ah, don't glare at me. I know that woman isn't as beautiful as Xiao Wu, but she's still pretty. You can make do with her. I even talked to Xiao Wu, but she wouldn't have it. She always looks at me with those murderous eyes, which scares me. Ah, look, that's the look in her eyes, it's terrifying, isn't it?" I counted the things I'd done, explaining them one by one on my fingers.
Leng Tian looked at the talkative young lady in front of him, who then glanced at them with a magnanimous look that seemed to say, "How about that? I've been so good to you, haven't I?" Leng Qing looked like she was about to vomit blood. What a menace!
Seeing her smug look, Leng Qing gritted her teeth and said, "Well, thank you so much!"
"Don't mention it, we're like family," I said, waving my hand sheepishly.
Perhaps unable to bear the torture I was inflicting on his men, Jue finally freed them from my grasp, uttering, "Alright, how much longer?"
Leng Tian clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Master, we were delayed for a while due to Miss Zixue's interesting affairs, but it's not too late to go now; we'll arrive in about a month."
With an extremely weary wave of his hand, Jue then closed his eyes to rest.
After that incident, I became much more well-behaved, and a month later, we arrived safely in the capital of the Star Kingdom—Huadu.
Chapter Nineteen
Before even entering the city, I could hear the commotion and bustle emanating from within. My excitement surged again; I was eager to see what it was like.
With a heart full of excitement, I gently lifted a corner of the curtain, enough to see the outside world, but from the outside, I couldn't see myself.
Upon arriving here, the checkpoint was even more strictly guarded than the cities I had passed through before. Guards constantly patrolled outside the city gates, and everyone entering had to be searched. The carriage moved slowly until it finally reached the city gate. Perhaps most of those coming here were high-ranking officials and nobles, because the guards didn't shout at them like they would elsewhere. Leng Tian took out a token and placed it in front of the guard. Then, the guard looked into the carriage in surprise. Leng Tian pulled his gaze away, and the guard hurriedly ran to the only man dressed differently from them. I think that must be their leader! I sized him up. The man had a dark brown complexion, probably from years of standing guard outside in the sun. He had a pair of bright eyes staring at us. He gave me the impression of a big, strong man. Hearing the guard's words, he ran over, bowed respectfully, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice to the carriage, "We were unaware of Young Master Jue's arrival. We are sorry for not welcoming you properly." I was watching with great interest when Jue pulled my hand off the curtain and started playing with it. "It's alright. We are also here on the Emperor's orders," Leng Tian said politely, helping her up when there was no movement inside.
During this time, because I was being held in Jue's arms and couldn't see outside, I could only hear what was happening. I was a little sulky and ignored Jue. Jue's long eyelashes fluttered for a moment, and he said in a clear voice, "Don't be angry, be careful."
My starry eyes narrowed slightly, and I smiled sweetly. "I know." I know that coming to the capital is not like coming to the Ghost Manor; it's not a place where I can act recklessly. But what is Jue's identity? I saw that the head guard was so terrified, as if it were as important as his own life. Why didn't Jue answer, and why wasn't that man angry? Moreover, Jue's identity is such that the Emperor himself invited him. It seems that what I've set my sights on is not just a sugar daddy, but perhaps someone of extraordinary status.
Filled with doubt, I looked up at Jue. His handsome face was like jade, his skin as smooth as snow, swaying gently in the breeze. His delicate skin was so smooth it seemed like it could be broken with a touch. Beneath his elegant nose, his lips shimmered like cherry blossoms, and his hair cascaded down to his waist like a black waterfall. His cold, icy eyes, seemingly piercing through the world, were focused on his book. Perhaps my gaze was too intense, for he looked down at me and gave me a bewitching smile.
"Pfft!" I covered my nose, it was unbearable! With such a stunningly handsome man next to me, I'd bleed to death! Xiao Wu put down her needlework, took out a handkerchief, pulled my hand down, and carefully examined the blood flowing from my nose, gently wiping it away. Jue frowned, then suddenly seemed to remember something, smiled slightly, and continued reading.
The carriage continued on its way, the sounds of buying and selling, shouting, and bargaining filling the streets; in the taverns, waiters darted back and forth carrying food and wine, and the sounds of drinking games, laughter, and clinking glasses could be heard from time to time; occasionally, children could be seen laughing and making noise together, all of which showed the prosperity of this capital city.
We stopped at an inn. Jue got up and got out of the carriage, and Xiaowu helped me down as well. Just as I was about to put my foot down, a pair of hands appeared before my eyes. I blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then placed my other hand on it. Before me stood a grand inn, with a signboard bearing the four characters "Yingyue Inn" hanging high. Large peach wood pillars stood on either side, adorned with lanterns and decorations, giving it an imposing appearance. The main gate was divided into two sections; one seemed to be for high-ranking officials and nobles, and was significantly larger than the other for ordinary people. This revealed the deep-rooted feudalistic mentality. We stood before the larger gate, and no one dared approach us—or rather, we were guarded by soldiers sent by that burly man.
The big man was clearly surprised when he saw me get off the carriage. His expression was exactly the same as when Leng Tian and the others first saw me.
Leng Tian coughed twice to draw his attention back to me. He scratched his head sheepishly and asked, "And who is this?"
"Madam," I was about to answer when Jue suddenly blurted out this, and the burly man froze again, as did I. What madam? What was Jue talking about? But this time I recovered quickly and hurriedly extended a hand and bowed slightly, saying, "Young Master Jue, please, Madam." We stepped inside.
Only the burly man remained at the doorway, muttering, "Wasn't it said that Young Master Jue disliked women?"
Ignoring my expression, Jue pulled me inside. Only then did I see the layout clearly. The hall had over a dozen tables, which should have been packed, but now there were only a handful. A few people could be seen in the corners. I glanced at them. To the left sat a man alone, imposing and handsome. His eyes shone like cold stars, and his eyebrows were thick and dark. His broad chest exuded an aura of invincibility; he was not someone to be trifled with. To the left stood two guards beside a gentle, refined man. I studied him closely; "handsome man" was an understatement. He was nearly seven feet tall, slender, dressed in snow-white robes, his long hair simply tied back. He smiled and chatted, like a refined gentleman in white, exceptionally elegant and cheerful. However, his gentleness gave off a dark feeling. Was it just my imagination? They didn't look at each other, as if they were the only ones there.
Our arrival broke the atmosphere. They all looked in our direction. They didn't find it strange to see Jue, but when they saw me standing next to Jue, they were all dumbfounded, as if they had seen a ghost. The big man earlier was like that, and now the people here were like that too. Why, am I that rare next to Jue?
They got up and walked towards us. The refined man spoke first, "Greetings, Young Master Jue." The cold man clasped his hands in a perfunctory greeting.
With a soft "hmm," he led us upstairs, his eyes fixed on us as if trying to see right through us, making me feel like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
The waiter led us to a room, which was as luxurious as a presidential suite in a five-star hotel. It's been over a month since we left Ghost Village, and everyone was exhausted. We'd encountered many assassins along the way, just like a chase scene in a movie, but thankfully Leng Tian and his group managed to fend them off. Their martial arts skills seemed impressive. After washing up, I lay down on the bed and fell asleep. I shared a room with Jue; we'd slept together since the first time. I didn't know why Jue wanted to sleep with me, but we just slept together.
Chapter Twenty
As the rooster crowed, my eyelashes fluttered slightly, and I slowly opened my eyes, still sleepy. I looked to my side, but there was no one there. I touched the bed; it was slightly cool. It seemed Jue had woken up quite early. I was a little dazed, staring at the top of the bed. Why was Jue up so early? My mind went blank, and I yawned before drifting back to sleep.
"Miss, Miss"
In my dream, I seemed to hear Xiao Wu's voice. The voice grew clearer and clearer. I suddenly opened my eyes and stared in disbelief at the beautiful face before me. Xiao Wu, seeing that I was frightened, pulled me away from her and helped me up, calling out, "Miss, Miss."
Still shaken, I turned slightly to look at Xiao Wu beside me, tears streaming down my face as I accused her of her "crime": "Xiao Wu, you scared me! You know that? If I hadn't snapped out of it, you would have scared me into a complete idiot!"
Xiao Wu didn't say anything, but brought the basin of water to me. I looked at her and felt very confused, but I still washed and dressed properly. After I was done, Xiao Wu took me to the bronze mirror and dressed me up. From the moment Jue asked Xiao Wu to change my clothes, Jue made Xiao Wu my personal maid. I felt that it was unfair to Xiao Wu, so I mentioned it to Jue. I remember that Xiao Wu's expression was a little complicated at the time, but it cleared up soon after. She was more attentive to me than before. I saw that Xiao Wu did not refuse, so I did not ask Jue to take back the order. I just asked Xiao Wu not to call me Miss, but to call me Zi Xue. But she just wouldn't listen. She was as hard as a rock. I was helpless when I encountered her.
After thinking it over for a while, I looked up at the bronze mirror and was so surprised that I stood up. In the mirror, I saw Xiao Wu raising her eyebrows, as if she was scolding me for my behavior.
I turned to Xiaowu and asked, "What's going on? Why are you dressed like this?" I tried to take the gold hairpin off my head, but Xiaowu stopped me, forcefully pressing me back into the chair and tidying up my disheveled hair. "Miss," she said, "you and your master are attending a royal banquet tonight. It's an invitation from the Emperor to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."
I racked my brains, but I couldn't figure it out. I asked anxiously, "Then what is my status? A maid? But how could a maid dress so elegantly? A younger sister? But everyone knows there are no younger sisters! Could it be..." I seemed to realize something and turned pale with shock.
After Xiaowu tidied me up, she turned me around and looked at me helplessly, "Miss, what are you thinking about now?"
"No, does it mean you don't want me to be his mother?" As soon as I said this, Xiao Wu stumbled, then looked at me slowly and thoughtfully, saying, "Miss, the master wants you to be his wife."
"See? I told you he mistook me for..." I widened my eyes and stammered, "What, Madam?"
While I was making a big fuss, Xiao Wu had already gone back.
Jue pushed open the door and froze. Before him, Xue'er, dressed by Xuanwu, was in no way inferior to the beautiful women outside. Lightly powdered, with delicate features, arched eyebrows, clear, sparkling eyes, and a touch of rosy lips, she adjusted her hair, her delicate face slightly bowed. Her brows furrowed slightly, her lips pouting gently; she possessed a noble yet understated elegance, a captivating charm that was nonetheless endearing. This outfit embodied a beauty unlike any other woman. Perhaps, as Guiyao had said, 'he had struck gold.'
Hearing the door open, I looked up and saw Jue. He was tall and elegant, dressed in a deep purple that matched my figure. His hair was jet black, which I knew was the effect of the beauty pill, but it was different from his silver hair, giving him a unique kind of handsomeness. His long and beautiful fingers were as white as a woman's, and his captivating starry eyes were cold yet stunning. Jue always made my eyes light up. No matter what he wore, he always gave people a different feeling.
Staring at me like that, I blushed and lowered my head, fidgeting with the hem of my clothes. The amazement in my eyes intensified, making me appear even more alluring.
"Let's go," Jue said, coming up to me and embracing me as we slowly walked outside. On the way, I met the two men I had seen yesterday, and their eyes showed no less amazement than Jue's.
"Good morning, Miss," the refined-looking man greeted me with a smile, while the cold-looking one merely nodded. Seeing their actions, I politely nodded back to them.
He pulled me into the carriage with obvious displeasure.
Once in the carriage, Jue kept a sour face, and I was a little at a loss, wondering what I had done to upset him.
"Jue, what's wrong? Don't be angry," I asked cautiously.
Jue turned to look at me and said seriously, "I don't want others to see you that way."
Hearing his words, my heart started pounding, my cheeks flushed, and I didn't know where to put my hands. I quietly looked up and saw that Jue was still looking at me intently. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of my chest. Oh, Jue, really, why did you say that? I'm so shy.
Jue chuckled, but it was the first time I'd ever seen Jue so happy. There was no forced joy, just pure happiness.
I chuckled and looked outside. We were heading to the palace. A few traces of sorrow crossed my brow. That place was where women flocked in ancient times, unaware that it was a cage. How many women had given their hearts there? How many women had aged and never received the emperor's favor? Even with so many examples, women, for the sake of power, influence, and love, ended up living lonely lives.
Suddenly, I felt warmth in my hand. I turned around and saw Jue holding my hand, giving me a sense of reassurance. Who cares? If those women in the harem dare to make things difficult for me, I won't let them get away with it. Do you think I, a beautiful young woman from the 21st century, am afraid of you? I've seen enough harem battles in TV dramas. I'm not afraid of not being able to handle you. Acting with Jue will definitely not escape his eyes. However, as for you, I'm not entirely confident, but I'm not a pushover either.
I squeezed Jue's hand back, my eyes shining with confidence. Seeing that I was no longer afraid, Jue picked up his book again and started reading.
"Hey, what are you looking at? Why are you always reading?" I noticed his book, grabbed a piece of pastry, squeezed next to him, and glanced at it. I almost spat it out.
"No," he said, closing his eyes.
"Unbelievable! How could you look at erotic pictures? There are beautiful women right here for you to see, and you refuse them, instead you look at that stuff!" I angrily tore the book up and threw it out the window.
There was absolutely no explanation; he just sat there quietly. "If Jue were to open his eyes now, I would definitely see the cunning in them."
"You damned Xiao Yao, you stinky Xiao Yao, I curse you to choke to death while drinking water, fall to your death while walking, choke to death while eating, and have children without penises..."
Elsewhere, Gui Yao was sneezing incessantly and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Have you caught a cold?"
"My lord, we have arrived at the palace."
Chapter Twenty-One
Jue and I booked a carriage together, and before us lay the Xing Kingdom's imperial palace. The outer pillars of the palace were square, with dragon heads spouting water at the base of the balusters. The roof was covered with yellow glazed tiles edged in green. The palace pillars were round, connected by a carved dragon, its head protruding beyond the eaves and its tail extending into the palace. Practicality and decoration were perfectly combined, enhancing the palace's imperial grandeur. A long staircase led to the Changhe Hall, flanked by stone lions, their eyes piercing and their presence imposing. So this was the imperial palace; it must be no less magnificent than the Forbidden City.
An old eunuch walked up to me and asked how I knew. Isn't that obvious? In the palace, apart from the emperor, who is male, everyone else is either a eunuch or a transvestite. He asked why not a prince. Of course, look how gracefully he walks, with a cane that looks like an old man's beard.
"This must be Young Master Jue. This servant has come to lead you on His Majesty's orders." The eunuch bowed respectfully, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. He was even more surprised, but after all, he had lived in the palace for many years and knew what it meant to be in control.
Jue let go of my hand, glanced back at me, and I knew what she meant: "Xue'er, be good and don't be naughty. This is the palace. You can't come with me. Be careful." She then looked at Xiao Wu, who nodded, and turned to leave.
"Xiao Shunzi, take Madam Jue to Yihe Palace and serve her carefully," the old eunuch said sternly to the young eunuch.
"Yes, this servant understands," the young eunuch replied, bowing his head.
"Madam, please come this way," the young eunuch directed.
I knew that in the palace, one had to learn to conceal oneself, so I remembered the way women walked in palace dramas and imitated it, following a young eunuch. Xiao Wu behind me found it a bit unbelievable, but considering that her mistress was extraordinary, she was no longer surprised and her eyes showed admiration. But I didn't see it from the front, otherwise I would have definitely shouted loudly, as if I had seen a miracle.
The eunuch led me down a wide, winding corridor with protruding roofs that jutted upwards. The palace rooms, high and low, were connected like hooks, their eaves facing each other as if in a struggle. I stopped at one point and glanced around. It seemed to resemble the Imperial Garden, with a hundred flowers blooming and vying for attention, no less vibrant than the power struggles among the concubines in the palace. It seemed this place was not just a birdcage, but also a 'place of death'.
As I was spinning around until I was almost dizzy, the young eunuch stopped and spoke to another young eunuch standing at the door. Perhaps because of the distance, I couldn't hear him. In the brief moment they spoke, I glanced around and looked up to see three large, gleaming golden characters: "Changhe Palace." The exterior was simple and neat, yet imposing. I was surprised; whose palace was this? I turned back and whispered to Xiaowu, "Whose palace is this?"
Xiao Wu whispered "Empress Dowager" in my ear.
"Then I should bow to him, right?" I recalled what I had seen in TV dramas before, and a bead of sweat dripped down my forehead. I was so embarrassed. I had to kneel to heaven, kneel to earth, and kneel to my parents in between. It was really humiliating to have to kneel to a stranger.
"No need, Miss, your status only requires a nod," Xiao Wu said with disdain, glancing towards Changhe Palace.
It seems that Jue has a very high status, otherwise why would he only nod when he met the Empress Dowager? But that's good, it saves me from kneeling here, otherwise I would get dizzy!
Xiao Shunzi turned to look at me, and said humbly, "Madam, this is all I can take you this far. From now on, Eunuch Li will lead the way." After saying that, he knelt down and bowed to me, keeping his back bent and not daring to look at me, and slowly backed away.
"Madam, please come with me," Little Li said as he stepped forward, but he dared not look me in the eye. Perhaps this was the ancient system of hierarchy.
The moment I stepped into Changhe Hall, Little Li next to me shouted, "Lady Jue has arrived!" which startled me so much that I almost pulled my foot back.
At first glance, I saw an elderly woman sitting upright at the head of the table, dressed in a light blue palace robe with a wide collar and flowing sleeves. Her hair was styled in a simple, elegant updo, with long, dark hair cascading down her shoulders, adorned with a jade hairpin and a jade belt. A subtle fragrance lingered in the air, and her eyes were like bright pearls. She was a beautiful woman, though the years had etched their marks on her face, they did not detract from her beauty. Her sharp eyes looked at me, their depth revealing a profound cunning. Those who could sit in this position were usually not simple men. I didn't pay much attention to her gaze; at least compared to Jue, her eyes seemed much warmer. Below her sat many beautiful women, presumably concubines or wives and mistresses of high-ranking officials. I noticed one woman with clear eyes and couldn't help but feel a pang of scorn. Even the most innocent woman, once she entered the palace, would become corrupted with time. This was the tragedy of women in the harem. Clearly, my appearance shocked these people. As soon as I entered, all their eyes turned to me, making me feel uncomfortable. Even so, I didn't want to give them anything to talk about, so I stepped forward, nodded slightly, and bowed, saying, "Zixue greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be well." Actually, this gesture was already giving her a lot of face, because Xiaowu said that just nodding was enough, but I felt that it was better to be polite.
Perhaps my behavior was too arrogant, or perhaps my words lacked any flattery, but the people below began to discuss: "Look, she didn't kneel," "Doesn't she know who she is? She just acted like that in front of the Empress Dowager," "She's doomed." The murmurs swirled. I looked up at the Empress Dowager; there was a hint of anger in her eyes, but she seemed to be suppressing her emotions. It seemed my identity was indeed extraordinary; otherwise, why hadn't she erupted on the spot?
The Empress Dowager did something that surprised everyone, but which I thought was nothing special. She stepped forward, helped me up, and led me to her seat, making me sit down beside her. Covering her mouth, she smiled charmingly and said, "Look, look, how beautiful Lady Jue is!"
Those below echoed the Empress Dowager's words.
"Look at what the Empress Dowager is saying. Zixue is no match for the Empress Dowager. When I saw the Empress Dowager, I thought she was my elder sister." I chuckled too. You can act, but can't I? Since you're an elder, I'll give you some face and let Arno flatter you a bit.
The Empress Dowager was visibly pleased to hear, "What a sweet talker!"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has moved to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Please, Your Majesty, move to the Hall of Supreme Harmony." At this moment, Xiao Lizi came in to announce.
"Alright, everyone, follow me." The Empress Dowager stood up. I thought I should help her, but Xiao Wu pulled me back and whispered in my ear, "No need, Miss, let me help you."
I was very surprised. I never expected to receive such treatment at the palace. It seems I made the right choice.
I walked parallel to the Empress Dowager. Xiao Wu was leading the way, and I did exactly what she did. The concubines behind me kept staring at me, making me feel like they were going to pierce through me. The Empress Dowager got angry again, but didn't say anything in between. It seems that in her entire life, no one has ever been so disrespectful to her!