A huge sense of confusion arose in her mind, and she pursed her lips, looking unhappy.
Yu Zhi noticed her unhappiness, bent down to comfort her, her voice trembling, "W-what's wrong... Xi Xi?"
Wei Pingxi blinked her eyelashes lightly, liking her intermittent speech. So in the end, Yu Zhi looked at her speechless and affectionately rubbed her face against her, making soft "mmm" sounds.
It turned into a weak sob.
Over time, Wei Pingxi was able to discern what her cries meant.
Take this moment for example, Zhizhi is telling her that she likes him.
She likes what she likes.
The fourth young lady turned the beauty over.
A sleepless night at Liulan Courtyard.
Lord Wei stood outside the courtyard gate, looking up at the red lantern hanging high above.
The red lanterns were of a very ordinary design, which suggests that the lady was also in a very ordinary mood.
Li Le led him inside.
The servants all left Liulan Courtyard.
In the dimly lit room, Wei Hanqing stood outside the door and called out softly, "Madam."
Madam Wei ignored him and, as she often did, knelt before the scroll of beauties.
All she gave him was her back.
Wei Hanqing gazed longingly at the figure's back, but the candlelight was dim, with only the light shining in front of the painting.
Yan Qing gazed humbly at the person in the painting, fantasizing about making love with that person time and time again. The word "A-Si" escaped her lips, and the Marquis of Yiyang was immersed in the favor she bestowed upon him.
She was his goddess, yet his goddess gazed longingly at her king, willingly becoming a wanton woman before him.
Little did they know that the king already had a goddess in his heart.
Wei Hanqing stared blankly at the person in the painting, and slowly a murderous intent rose within him.
The murderous intent had barely arisen when a flash of candlelight revealed the smile on the lips of the person in the painting, and he immediately trembled with fear—he was terrified by his own fantasy.
Cold sweat seeped from my back.
Its former glory is gone.
Yan Qing's dream came to an abrupt end. After putting on her gauze dress, she said coldly, "Useless."
Marquis Yiyang smiled bitterly—compared to the wise and refined Holy Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, who isn't a good-for-nothing?
Does he know how you feel?
With her back to him, Madam Wei, once dressed, exuded an air of detached elegance: "He doesn't know."
"Since you don't know, why not let him know? With your abilities and looks, why worry about not being able to stay by your side?"
"Always by your side?" Yan Qing scoffed. "Tell me, between me and my elder sister, who is superior in ability and appearance?"
Wei Hanqing sat on a round wooden stool. On New Year's Eve, he wanted to talk to his wife a little more, even if the topic was something he didn't like.
But the lady liked it.
He didn't want to lie to her, so after a moment's thought, he said truthfully, "You each have your own merits. But I think you're better."
Why am I good?
"You have a more worldly flavor."
The taste of the mortal world.
Yan Qing paused in her hand movements as she twirled the prayer beads: "Why do you think I worship Buddha?"
"You are sincere."
"Sincerity?" She said expressionlessly, "That's lying. I worship Buddha for two reasons: inner peace and transcending worldly concerns."
If the goal is to transcend worldly concerns, then it becomes a great irony that after years of worshipping Buddha, one is still filled with worldly desires.
The two Yan sisters were once inseparable. At that time, the older sister doted on her the most. The older sister was born with an ethereal beauty, a rare and extraordinary charm that the younger sister could never attain.
Not only did she envy him, but Ah Si also liked him.
She lost out in this mortal world, to the point that His Majesty saw no other woman but his elder sister.
They were even stingy in bestowing upon someone a concubine's title.
For that one person, she gave up her harem and gave no hope to anyone else.
"You may leave."
Yan Qing continued reciting Buddhist scriptures.
Lord Wei left reluctantly.
Half an hour later, she stared at the person in the painting, mesmerized.
...
After coaxing the Empress to sleep, Ji Ying went alone to the music room in Gan Ning Palace.
The shadow guard appeared silently and knelt down.
"The person has been found?"
"Found it. It's in Jiuliu Hutong in the capital. More than ten years have passed and its appearance has changed a lot. It has a limp and is disfigured. It must have escaped during the chaos in the palace after delivering the Empress's baby."
"Don't alert her. Keep an eye on her and spread the word about her. See who comes looking for her and who wants to kill her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
Fushou Palace.
The vast Fushou Palace was quiet and peaceful.
The Empress Dowager was displeased after several attempts by palace servants to invite the eldest princess to the palace. Because of her displeasure, Princess Jiaorong even skipped the family banquet hosted by the Emperor and Empress.
"Grandmother, don't worry, Aunt will understand one day."
"That's enough." Empress Dowager Yan cheered up.
Ji Qingyao arranged the cushions for her and asked her how she was feeling.
"You shouldn't have come. Have you forgotten what I told you? You should treat them like family, otherwise a fake will always remain a fake."
"But the Empress Dowager is in a bad mood, and Yao'er was raised by the Empress Dowager..."
Yan Hui smiled dismissively, unsure whether she was laughing at her naivety or at her for pretending to be stupid in front of her.
She sighed, "If you say so, then so be it. To think that at my age, on joyous occasions, you're the only one by my side... it's true..."
It was also desolate.
Ji Qingyao gently comforted her, but inwardly she thought: You are alive and well for the New Year, while the Liu family, such a great clan, has been wiped out. It is better to be alive and miserable than to be dead and reduced to ashes. No wonder Ji Yunzhang refused to come.
"The walnut is still blaming me..."
Princess Jiaorong said softly, "My royal aunt is unwilling to come, most likely because she is bewitched by that blind woman."
"Jinghe Willow..."
Both the big and the small ones are all alluring.
Yan Hui sneered, "If it weren't for reconciling with He Su, how could that woman have come to the capital unscathed?"
"The royal grandmother is kind."
"I was indeed merciful, but my momentary mercy allowed the Liu family to escape..."
Speaking of this, she recalled an old story from many years ago: "Speaking of those who slipped through the net, I do think of one person."
"Grandma, who are you?"
"A midwife."
Ji Qingyao was suddenly startled: "It's the Empress Dowager..."
"Um."
Is that person still alive?
"There has been no news of him for many years; he must be dead."
Should it be?
Empress Dowager Yan lifted her eyelids: "What, are you scared?"
"Grandson is afraid that old woman will ruin Grandmother's plans."
Yan Hui laughed at her for being stubborn and inexperienced: "I'm afraid, I'm afraid too."
I fear I won't live to see Ji Ying suffer a fate worse than death.
"How are your preparations going with Yan Qing?"
“That woman is a madwoman. She doesn’t treat her grandson like her own flesh and blood at all. But don’t worry, Grandmother, if it doesn’t work here, we can always try with Marquis Yiyang.”
If Mom is crazy, then Dad can't be a crazy person who doesn't care whether his daughter lives or dies, right?
"Time is running out."
"Yes, grandson will take care of it as soon as possible."
"You must gain the trust of the Marquis of Yiyang and his family, so that they may become a dagger aimed at Ji Ying. On the day the Emperor and Empress die, I will use the fact that the Crown Prince is not of royal blood to push you to the throne. At that time, you will become the first female emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty."
"Thank you for your kind words, Grandmother!"
"It's too late, let's rest."
"Grandson takes his leave."
After leaving Fushou Palace, Ji Qingyao's excitement gradually faded. As she strolled along the palace path, her thoughts were clouded and unclear.
proclaim oneself emperor?
Who doesn't want to be emperor?