Mu Yuchengs Abkommen

Kapitel 47

"I don't know why, but this year, laughter and joy have often come from Luoshuang Palace. There are songs, dances, zithers, and flutes playing. It has suddenly transformed from a cold and desolate place into a paradise on earth. Although we servants have not been inside, we all speculate about how beautiful it is. We often go there to eavesdrop on their music and then compose our own versions, which are loved by everyone in the palace."

Sima Rui's eyes shimmered: "Then, my musicians, could you sing that song for me again?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

The musicians stepped back, sat down, and then the music began to play slowly.

A curtain of longing, an empty pillow for sleep

Leaning against the window, gazing at the moon, tears streamed down my face.

I ask from afar, where does the sorrow of a beautiful woman lie?

Words cannot express the myriad sorrows.

I wish to invite the bright moon to convey my longing.

Tears fall on the distant horizon, love's journey is long.

Where are the heroes now?

But then I saw flowers scattering all over the sky.

Memories of the past, tender and lingering

True feelings and love accompany each other

The winds of change turned into lamentations

My dream is shattered, I'm gone forever.

Love threads broken, flowers scattered.

A lifetime of love turned into regret

Heartache and resentment, dreams broken

A melody of fireworks fades into separation.

A curtain of longing, an empty pillow in sleep

Leaning against the window, gazing at the moon, tears streamed down my face.

I ask from afar, where does the sorrow of a beautiful woman lie?

Words cannot express the myriad sorrows.

I wish to invite the bright moon to convey my longing.

Tears shed for love at the ends of the earth

The road is long, and I wonder where the heroes are now.

But then I saw flowers scattering all over the sky.

A melody of fireworks fades into separation.

..."

Like the melodious murmur of a mountain stream, like the ethereal sounds of nature on earth, like the soft, lingering sigh of a beautiful woman at night… and also a hidden, unspoken sorrow and a grief as deep as water…

Before the song had even ended, Sima Rui had already risen impatiently: "Let's move to Luoshuang Palace."

Volume 3, Chapter 90: Favored Again

When you secretly lament that the profusion of flowers blooming layer upon layer, yet this flourishing spring cannot last, perhaps another spring is already approaching. A beautiful, romantic atmosphere pervades the air; time flies by so easily, leaving us behind; cherries ripen red, plantains turn green.

A thousand flowers in intertwined branches evoke the sorrow of longing.

Calmly and serenely leaning against the high tower, I watch the hustle and bustle of the world with a smile. The world is vast and boundless, and only this person remains, wandering alone.

A thin layer of pink lichen covered the roadside, with petals scattered all over it. From a distance, it looked almost unreal. Sima Rui almost dared not take a step, lest he disturb its beauty.

Before him lay a riot of colors: countless red roses, pink peonies, blue crabapples, white magnolias, golden cosmos… a breathtaking spectacle of vibrant hues. He had only visited this place at night that day, and hadn't noticed such beauty, nor had he seen the entire Frostfall Palace. Sima Rui's expression darkened slightly, a mixture of disbelief and complex, incomprehensible emotion on his face.

It seems there are too many incredible and impossible things about her, just like that person.

A woman dressed in a white, form-fitting long dress, topped with a strange white hat, her chest slightly exposed, adorned with layers of Rococo lace and embellished with tortoiseshell and shimmering beads, her skirt swaying like lotus leaves in the wind, creating ripples on a pond of emerald green lotus leaves. She danced on the small, simple stage, her smile clear and bright as she twirled, her toes leaping and playing a beautiful melody. Her white skirt billowed, lifting a delicate white flower, more beautiful than any other in the garden. It was a side of her he had never seen before, joyful and innocent like a child. Sima Rui began to suspect he had stumbled into a fairyland, and the woman dancing on the stage was that little fairy secretly enjoying herself.

At that moment, for some reason, this great emperor felt something was wrong. Sima Rui raised his hand and touched his chest, where it was trembling inexplicably. He was having trouble breathing. What was happening? What was wrong with him? What a strange feeling! It must be because he was too surprised, because he had never seen such a miraculous sight before, that he was not used to it. Yes, it must be because he was not used to it!

Today is a rare sunny day. It's been a long time since I've performed for the ladies. I'm free today, and I don't want to waste this beautiful spring weather. The flower seeds planted in the garden last autumn have already sprouted eagerly this spring.

I picked out my favorite white lotus-petal long dress from the wardrobe, embroidered with lotus blossoms. As usual, Suda sat on the floor to accompany me; her music was so beautiful, almost alive, with a serene and distant quality.

She was playing "Tears of a Beauty," a song we composed long ago, a song I learned in modern times. I've always loved this song that speaks of the sorrow of beautiful women. But after coming here, I realized it's even more fitting to describe the lonely beauties of the imperial harem—lonely and sorrowful, heartless and ill-fated—the most tragic sigh of this dynasty, the deepest wound.

Just as I was having a great time, the ladies who had been sitting quietly watching the performance suddenly screamed and scattered in panic. I stopped, stunned, and looked at the chaotic scene before me. In the distance, I saw a handsome and dignified man standing quietly opposite the flower bushes, observing everything in front of him. His gaze was cold and deep, and his golden robe made his tall and slender figure stand out even more. His temperament was as noble and unapproachable as the orchids in the courtyard.

The concubines, screaming and running away, were still calling out in astonishment, "Your Majesty, it's Your Majesty—" Their screams of fear were accompanied by sobs, and they all trembled and hid in corners.

My heart sank. How did he get here? But I quickly calmed down and smiled gently, saying, "Ladies, that concludes today's performance. Whoever returns to their palace the fastest will receive a cake personally made by Xiaoying tonight as a reward, along with an extra new outfit." Those who had been screaming in fear timidly peeked out from the corner, their faces still filled with trepidation. Seeing my gentle and encouraging smile, they slowly walked out and ran towards their palace like children. Their favorite thing was always the cakes Xiaoying made.

Su Da glanced indifferently at the emperor who had entered today. She hadn't seen him for a long time, and his arrival today truly surprised her. For so many years, this emperor, rumored to be gentle, was actually chillingly cold. He had never set foot in Luoshuang Palace, because for him, no woman was worth his lingering affection. In fact, none of the seemingly favored women held any particular allure for him. Such a cold man, she truly felt no love or longing for; her heart already belonged to someone else. Judging from his appearance today, he must have come here because of Wei Ying.

But the special features of the firefly are not limited to these.

I frowned, puzzled, looking at the person who had inexplicably appeared here. Then I looked at his clothes—they were truly inappropriate: a white, fitted dress with a long, pleated skirt, a completely modern style. I hadn't expected anyone else to be here. He also wore a wide-brimmed European-style hat, and his long hair, usually styled in a bun, was now loose and slightly curled at his waist. Oh no! Did his appearance mean my peaceful life was about to be destroyed again?

Before I could even settle down to greet him, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me. Before I could react, a long trench coat was suddenly wrapped around my entire body, and then I was lifted up by a strong, long arm. After a jolt, I suddenly realized that I was being carried on someone's shoulder, suspended in the air, shaking violently with every step.

I wanted to scream, but being upside down felt like my insides were going to come out. I was so uncomfortable I could hardly breathe, let alone speak.

The person who carried me the whole way remained silent, only striding forward. I could only suppress my nausea and keep quiet.

We finally arrived at our destination. I thought I was going to be thrown heavily to the ground again, but the person above me in the trench coat suddenly sighed softly and gently placed me on the soft bed, as if worried that I would fall.

Once I was free, I quickly pulled off the trench coat that was covering my eyes, then shrank back, my eyes wary and my expression indignant as I glared at the culprit who had kidnapped me.

He looked at me, remaining silent for a long time, then slowly approached me in an ambiguous manner.

"What do you want? Do you intend to force yourself on me, taking pleasure in bullying a weak woman like me?" I was furious. I knew my eyes were blazing with anger. My words were dripping with sarcasm.

Instead of getting angry, he laughed: "What, is the kitten finally going to show its claws?" He looked at me with deep eyes, and I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I seemed to see some emotion welling up in his gaze. Was I just imagining things?

I continued to retreat, watching him warily, like a hedgehog covered in weapons.

He suddenly smiled warmly, not minding my obvious resistance. On the contrary, he moved closer to me, and just as I was about to resist, he suddenly hugged me tightly.

I struggled fiercely: "What are you doing?!" I used all my fists and feet.

He chuckled softly in my ear, "Don't worry, I just want to hug you, I won't do anything else. I'm not that indiscriminate, I have no interest in women who don't ask for my consent."

I snorted dismissively in his arms, but my guard had lowered a little. If he dared to make any other move, I swear, I wouldn't be fooled this time; I would make him regret it.

This peace and tranquility did not last long.

"I pardon you. How about you move into my palace and live with me?" he suddenly said in an extremely deep voice.

"No?!" I was startled and reflexively retorted. After noticing his stiff body, I stammered, "It took me a long time to manage Luoshuang Palace. Everything is fine now, and I'm used to living here. Besides, I also have to take care of those ladies."

Thinking back to that novel and unique place, although it could not compare to the magnificence of the Qitian Palace, it was unique in its own way and was unparalleled in the Jin Dynasty, which made people linger.

Thinking of those women in the Cold Palace, dressed neatly, with rosy complexions, and even smiling, he wondered: "Are you taking care of them to atone for my sins?"

I was startled and looked up at him. His expression was anything but joking, and his intense gaze seemed to pierce right through me. I quickly turned my head away… my eyes darting around, and I said awkwardly, “Your Majesty, have you forgotten? I was one of those women too. Taking care of them is my duty. I never thought of leaving that place, so naturally I must take good care of them and ensure we have a good life for the rest of our lives. Besides, isn’t there a saying, ‘We are all fellow sufferers, why should we need to have known each other before?’”

Aren't you sad?

"What?" I turned to look at him, and quickly understood what he meant. He was asking if I was sad about being banished to the Cold Palace. I said calmly, "It is my lack of fortune not to receive the Emperor's favor. I cannot blame Heaven or anyone else."

His eyes held a smile, thinking that having her by his side would be quite amusing. He stared at her for a while, then casually said, "So, from today onwards, what blessing will I bestow upon you, a lifetime of favor? Do you want it?"

Volume 3, Chapter 91: Depression

The entire palace glowed with a soft white light. Inside, pavilions, waterside terraces, artificial hills, fountains, and a large lake were magnificent and grand, exuding an imperial aura. The round lake shimmered in the distance, and a gentle breeze would ripple it, sending sprays of water flying into the air—a truly beautiful sight.

The palace was lavishly decorated, every corner vibrant with bright colors—scarf red, black, blue, and green. It was the imperial splendor, showcasing their wealth and prosperity.

As I walked back, my thoughts were in turmoil, my mind a jumbled mess, as if a dense bundle of threads was binding my nerves. I couldn't think straight, my thoughts were all jumbled up.

My mind was still a jumbled mess of thoughts, replaying what he had said to me.

His eyes held a smile as he casually said, "So, from this day forward, what blessing will I bestow upon you, a lifetime of favor? Do you want it?"

I was shocked, staring blankly at him, trying to find a trace of mockery in his expression, but I failed. His expression was sincere, so sincere that I felt like I was in a dream. Only in a dream would I dare to indulge myself in thinking he would treat me like this. My trembling lips finally managed to squeeze out a few incoherent words: "You, you, are you crazy?" I forgot he was the emperor, forgot the gap between us, forgot he had a group of women who were equally favored by him, forgot An Jin, forgot my two-faced self. For the first time, I began to yearn for something I never dared to dream of in that tiny crack he had breached. My feelings were already few, but unknowingly, the high walls I had built had been inadvertently breached by him, and he had invaded that small crack. My feelings, like the inverted grains of sand, were slowly being filled.

What surprised me even more was that he held me quietly the whole time without making any other move, but then suddenly blurted out, "That little palace maid whom Li Jiu admired was you, wasn't she?"

I remained silent. He had already confirmed it, so why did he need to verify it with me? Seeing my silence, he simply took it as tacit agreement.

Finally, he sighed softly: "Xie Weiying, what kind of woman are you? How much are you still hiding from me?"

I could only stand there, frozen, my mind blank, unable to recall anything.

He didn't force me to stay in his palace. I don't know why, why he's been acting so strangely lately. Did I do something to arouse his suspicion? No, I've been staying in Luoshuang Palace the whole time, I haven't gone anywhere. Besides, I haven't even visited Li Jiu. Because there are a lot of things to deal with since I came back, and my feelings for Sima Rui are becoming increasingly complicated, I need to calm down and think things through.

As soon as I reached the entrance of Frostfall Palace, a small figure ran out from inside and jumped directly into my arms.

I jolted, and before I could regain my balance, the child in my arms called out in a clear voice, "Mom, where have you been? Every time I come to see you, Sister Su Da says you're sick and can't see guests. Are you feeling better? Shao Shao misses you so much."

As he spoke, he nuzzled his head affectionately against my chest. Seeing his coquettish manner, I chuckled and said, "What's wrong? You already miss me after just a few days?"

"Mmm, mmm." He nestled in my arms and nodded vigorously.

I ruffled his hair, a smile in my eyes, and took his hand. "Let's go inside and talk." As we walked, I said, "Tell me honestly, do you miss me, or do you miss what I did?"

He blushed with embarrassment, and seeing my expression darken, he said ingratiatingly, "I want both."

"Hmph, brat, all you know is sweet talk."

Suddenly, the person next to me coughed softly a few times. I turned my head and saw that his smiling face was slightly pale, as if he was not feeling well. I was slightly taken aback and put my hand on his forehead. Hmm, why is it a little hot?

"Are you feeling unwell? Why do you have a fever?" I asked worriedly.

He smiled slightly, his thin lips a little dry: "It's nothing, Mom, I probably caught a chill while sleeping last night."

"Really?" I asked with concern. "Remember to have the imperial physician examine you when you get back. If you don't treat a small illness, it will turn into a serious one. Come on, Mom will make you something delicious." I said with heartache.

He leaned closer affectionately: "I knew Mom loved Shao Shao the most." Whenever he was sick, his mother never noticed; he was the one who discovered it and sought out the imperial physician. Or he would just tough it out on his own for minor ailments. Because in this palace, he dared not trust anyone. He didn't know if those imperial physicians might kill him with a single prescription. He was afraid. But, for some reason, since meeting her, everything seemed different. Looking at her warm, worried smile, Sima Shao was somewhat stunned. So beautiful.

Tianqi Hall.

"How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

"I'm incompetent and can't find the person behind it all. But I've discovered that the publication of that picture book was all done through Jun Jin, organized and published by his affiliated publishing house. They not only published this picture book about the swaying blue-robed woman, but also works by famous poets and calligraphers, such as Wang Xizhi and Tao Yuanming. Their books are circulating all over the country. It's said that because of this, those poets and writers receive generous compensation from Jun Jin, ensuring their livelihood and creative work. They've also discovered many talented writers," Chen Wen said with great difficulty.

"Publishing house? Author?" Sima Rui raised an eyebrow, puzzled.