Scharlachroter Regen überflutet die Stadt

Kapitel 24

“It’s a death trap.” I repeated myself, my voice lingering in the hall. Everyone stared at me in astonishment. There was nothing wrong with the answer itself, but rather… A woman who can be well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, is a woman who is well-versed in military strategy and proficient in military books, especially a woman from the royal family. No one knows whether this is a great blessing or a curse.

At that moment, I even regretted it a little; I shouldn't have been so...showing off.

I grew up in Nalan Manor, where I absorbed the strengths of various schools of thought from childhood, including military strategy, swordplay, and knife skills. After my maternal grandfather passed away, I took over as the leader of the martial arts alliance at the age of twelve. Although I was protected by Nangong Xiang for more than three years, I fought dozens of bloody battles, big and small. I can be considered to have survived the sword fights, bloodshed, and arrow splatter and come to where I am today.

"Seventh daughter-in-law... do you think this attack on Liao should be an attack on the moat, the city, the strategic stronghold... or..."

I paused slightly. "Does Your Majesty wish to listen to a woman's crude and vulgar opinions?"

"Go on," the emperor nodded emphatically.

I gasped. "Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy."

The emperor narrowed his eyes, a smile spreading across his lips. "Truly worthy of being the beloved daughter of the invincible Prince of Huainan."

After saying that, he looked at the Empress beside him and said, "Yue Ran... the women of your Rong family are a blessing to the royal family."

My aunt, the Empress, gave me a slight nod with an approving smile, but it held a deeper meaning.

I looked again at the handsome face beside the hall, still calm and composed, but with a faint smile as he looked at the luminous cup in his hand.

I calmed myself down and looked up to see my sister giving me an encouraging smile.

Chapter Twenty-One: Deciphering the Emperor's Intentions

As I walked out of the main hall, my fourth sister-in-law grabbed me and said, “You’re really amazing. You’re proficient in everything that women don’t usually do, but you’re completely clueless about the traditional Chinese embroidery. I don’t know what to say about you.”

"Are you confident about tomorrow's embroidery competition?" Sixth Sister-in-law looked at me worriedly.

I sighed, gently clenching my fists, which were covered with countless needle marks, both new and old, from months of arduous practice. My heart was pounding with anxiety.

As I was thinking this, my sister-in-law pulled me to the door where the embroidery was being distributed.

Qin Lanruo, still dressed in white, stood before the crowd, speaking calmly and methodically, "The final test is embroidery... His Majesty has said that we will attend the sacrificial ceremony in ten days, and these colorful silk handkerchiefs will be used during the ceremony. Each princess will be given a colorful silk handkerchief, and the task is to choose a corner of the handkerchief and embroider the object that His Majesty desires."

As soon as Qin Lanruo finished speaking, several of her sisters-in-law began to complain.

“It has to be used in sacrifices. And it has to meet the emperor’s and the people’s wishes… Who can fathom this?” Third Sister-in-law was the first to protest. But she also chose a brocade handkerchief with gold trim.

The Crown Princess smiled gracefully, took the handkerchief, and turned to enter her room with her palace attendants. Following her, the princesses, in twos and threes, also returned to their rooms, painstakingly trying to decipher the Emperor's intentions.

I know that even if I am fortunate enough to please the Emperor in this round, my shoddy cooking skills will never meet his approval.

Just then, Qin Lanruo walked up to me and handed me a handkerchief. "Your Majesty, you haven't received it yet."

I smiled and took it. Qin Lanruo suddenly said, "Today in the palace, Your Majesty really broadened Lanruo's horizons."

"It's just nonsense."

Qin Lanruo shook her head, raised her eyes and stared at me, "The Emperor said you are a blessing to the royal family, but if you ask me... you are also a blessing to the Prince. Only the Prince is worthy of you in this world."

"If you saw what I embroidered, you would definitely regret praising me like that."

Qin Lanruo covered her mouth and chuckled, "I've seen Your Highness's embroidery by chance in the embroidery workshop before... it really isn't very exquisite..."

"You're being kind with your words; to be honest, it's downright disgusting."

Qin Lanruo looked at me with good intentions, "My mother has poor eyesight and often sews clothes at night. Because of her poor eyesight, she rarely looks at the clothes. I was always very curious about this, so I asked her. She said that whether it is embroidery or sewing, it does not rely on the dexterity of the hands, but on the heart... a heart that hopes that the owner of the clothes will be filled with joy when he sees them."

"Heart?"

"Yes, Your Highness, please try. Place the needle on your fingertip, visualize the embroidery in your mind, and count each stitch in your mind as you think about it..."

"I will definitely try. Thank you, Lanruo."

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's help last time. This small token of my gratitude is nothing."

I looked at her with a friendly smile. In the gentle breeze, her smile was as beautiful as pear blossoms in March, captivating my heart.

"The Emperor's intentions, his intentions..." I drank tea bowl by bowl, watching my fourth and sixth sisters-in-law skillfully threading needles.

“I guess it’s… a peach.” Sixth Sister-in-law quickly put down her needle. “It’s the Empress Dowager’s birthday. This time, during the ancestral worship ceremony, the Emperor will also celebrate the birthday of his mother in the afterlife.”

My fourth sister-in-law glanced at me amidst her busy work. "Don't even think about it. With your skills, it would be a miracle if you could finish embroidering it before dawn. Just embroider something casually. No matter how we compare, we can't compare to Princess Qin's intelligence and virtue. The crown is naturally hers. I say, why don't you start with a stitch first? After I finish embroidering this magpie, I'll fix a few stitches for you so you won't embarrass yourself in front of others tomorrow."

I reluctantly picked up the handkerchief, but when I glanced at the sky, I realized it was already late and I was immediately overcome with sleepiness. I was just thinking of taking a nap when my fourth sister-in-law woke me up and practically kicked me out the door, telling me to take a few breaths of cool air to refresh myself.

I stretched my arms under the moonlight, inhaled the moon's essence, and enjoyed the hazy moonlight with boundless pleasure.

"You really have plenty of free time, huh?" a cold voice rang out.

I quickly turned around and saw Lu Li leaning against the back of the corridor. "Have you not started working yet, or have you finished?"

"What do you think?" I walked over to the veranda next to him and sat down. "You know the answer to that question."

"I knew it." He smiled faintly and took out something shiny from his pocket. "That's why it was delivered immediately."

"What is this?" I took it and realized it was fluorescent thread. "Is this the legendary fluorescent thread made of gold and silver?"

“Such precious things can only be used on the Emperor’s dragon robe, not this,” Lu Li said calmly. “This is made by soaking ordinary silk threads in a solution of fluorescent powder.”

How did you figure that out?

“A friend from the past…taught me this.”

"What use is it to me?" I frowned unconsciously.

Lu Li smiled, "The moon is hazy and the starlight is dim tonight, so tomorrow will definitely not be a sunny day. The fluorescent light has been a great help, and it might even help you get through it."

I sighed. "You know my skills; I'm afraid this thread would be a waste if I gave it to you."