Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn

Chapter 136

She glanced at the clothes on the tray and said, "Are you going to wear all of these? Wouldn't you be dying of heat?"

Zi Nuo chuckled lightly: "There has never been a saintess, nor a saintess's dress. It's just that the Imperial Household Department prepared a few extra sets for you to choose from, sister."

I stood up and picked up the clothes one by one to examine them. They were all exquisitely beautiful, dazzling to the eye. Even if I didn't have to wear them all, I would still have to wear several layers, with countless ties, making it quite complicated.

She frowned and said, "Can't you make something lighter and cooler? Don't you know that I hate the heat the most?"

"I just brought it here for my sister to see. If she doesn't like it, she can have it remade. As for what kind of clothes she likes, she can tell her sister herself." After saying this, Zi Nuo waved for the palace maids to leave. Watching the gorgeous clothes gradually disappear from my sight, I felt a pang of regret. It would have been better if the weather were a little cooler.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 118

Chapter word count: 3327 Update time: 09-09-13 12:34

To my shame, I, an independent young woman of the 21st century, was tricked and coaxed by the Golden Sparrow King into living a life of luxury befitting a high-class noble in feudal society, where everything was done for me. What's even more tragic is that I wasn't ashamed at all; on the contrary, I gradually began to enjoy it. The initial discomfort was long forgotten. From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, I had five or six people around me helping me with almost everything. Even if I glanced at a dish while eating, someone would immediately put it in my bowl. Such a life... is indeed not something everyone can live.

Having taken on the title of the Imperial Preceptor's female disciple, she naturally had to report to the Imperial Preceptor every day. Then she would talk about everything she knew about modern society, including commerce and economy, culture and education, welfare policies, military and diplomacy, etc. She racked her brains and regretted that she hadn't studied politics well back then, otherwise she wouldn't be so vague and incoherent now.

Fortunately, no matter what, the Grand Preceptor listened attentively, taking notes bit by bit, and then handed them over to King Jinque. King Jinque then went through a long process, assigning the tasks to Zi Nuo and the Ministers of State, who formed special task forces. These task forces, based on the actual situation of Jinque Kingdom, formulated numerous development plans suitable for the kingdom. These new policies were then implemented with great fanfare, transforming Jinque Kingdom from top to bottom, gradually making it the most powerful nation on the Kunpeng Continent and a true hegemon. Of course, that's a story for later.

The current situation is that I tell the Grand Preceptor something every day, and then I have nothing to do afterward, while Zi Nuo, who is actually responsible for carrying it out, is so busy that he's nowhere to be seen. I feel incredibly guilty. The Golden Sparrow King is truly heartless; he brought back a regent prince and treats him like a free laborer, while he himself enjoys a leisurely life. I despise him. It seems Zi Nuo's father isn't much better!

Zinuo is busy, but I still have Ganlin, Xiaowan, and Chuchen. Thinking of Zinuo, and the unique way I raised her, I couldn't help but set my sights on Chuchen. The sense of accomplishment from nurturing someone talented would be incredibly appealing. So, three-year-old Chuchen became my next target. Wasn't Zinuo also "poisoned" by me when she was just over three? However, Chuchen doesn't have Zinuo's natural advantages; I wonder how well she'll fare.

In the garden, Chu Chen was squatting on the ground, poking at the mud with a stick. Xiao Wan stood watching beside him, followed by two palace maids. Gan Lin broke off a branch and, at my request, began to gesture leisurely in the open space. There was nothing I could do; aside from listening to stories, Chu Chen showed absolutely no interest in anything else I told him. I had to let Gan Lin tempt him a little, to see if he preferred martial arts to literature. After all, he couldn't be completely uneducated, could he? I even considered doing what the ancients did—having a baby choose their first birthday present—to see what he actually liked.

Gan Lin danced quite beautifully to the side, even with a tree branch in his hand, he still looked elegant and graceful. Unfortunately, Chu Chen didn't seem to care at all. He called Gan Lin "Uncle" and continued to focus on his mud. Could it be that this child wants to be a geologist?

Gan Lin smiled, tossed aside the branch, and considered it a good way to stretch his muscles. The two squatted down beside Chu Chen, wanting to see what was so attractive about the mud. Upon closer inspection, they realized that Chu Chen wasn't playing with mud at all, but with two purplish-brown earthworms. They watched as he poked and prodded the two poor earthworms with a stick, straightening them up as soon as they curled up, leaving them barely alive.

How can this be? How can you not know how to love animals? You lack compassion.

Before Chu Chen's ambitions could be discerned, the day of the rites to the sage arrived.

Before dawn, I was dragged out of bed by the head palace maid Ruosheng and pulled into the bath to be thoroughly washed. Then, smelling fragrant, I was dressed in a white dress that Zinuo had sent over, which resembled a wedding gown. My hair was not combed up, but I wore a purple crystal crown that Zinuo had given me on my head. Looking in the mirror, I looked a bit like Snow White from a fairy tale, of course, disregarding my appearance.

After getting ready, Zinuo arrived in a formal suit. A golden peacock, lifelike against the white satin, and a pure gold crown made him appear as exquisite as an angel. This child is getting more and more remarkable as he grows up, and with such a noble status, I wonder what expressions the girls who have seen him have. Compared to Shen Zexuan's breathtaking beauty, Zinuo seems more untouchable and unapproachable.

As Zinuo approached, I felt a little pressured, a little inferior, and a little resentful, so I took a small step back. But then I heard Zinuo say, "It really looks good this way." Of course it does. Don't you think about it? What girl in our generation didn't dream of a beautiful white wedding dress? Since we don't have the chance to wear a wedding dress for our wedding here, it's not bad to wear it at some other ceremony and get a taste of it.

I live with Zinuo in Xiyang Palace. Since I woke up, no one has asked me to move out. I don't have any problems. Zinuo, Ganlin, and I live close by. If I move out, I don't know where I would move to, and I don't know if this unprecedented saintess will move out of this palace.

Urged on by Zi Nuo, I finally left the gate of Xiyang Palace. Gan Lin followed me the whole time; now, he is my nominal personal bodyguard.

After paying their respects to the Golden Sparrow King, Zi Nuo went with the Golden Sparrow King and other members of the royal family to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. I, on the other hand, accompanied the Imperial Preceptor Ren Xu and his true successor Shao Yuan out of the palace to offer sacrifices to Heaven at Sparrow Screen Mountain outside the city. Upon our return, the two groups met up and then had to join the people in celebration in the square outside the palace. Fortunately, they didn't ask me to do anything real; it was just a formality, otherwise I would have been exhausted.

The carriage was drawn by two white horses, open-topped with only a sunshade overhead. Shao Yuan and I were both seated in the carriage, while the Imperial Preceptor Renxu stood in another carriage, holding a scepter. Gan Lin rode his horse beside my carriage.

The main street of Hanyue City was wide and clean, without a speck of dust. It must have been washed early in the morning because of the special occasion. I had heard Shen Haoyu say that Hanyue City was beautiful when we were fleeing through Jinque Kingdom, but seeing it in this state today, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

There aren't many people on either side of the street yet; they must all be waiting for the grand event later.

Once outside the city, although the roads weren't as smooth and paved as those inside, they were still quite wide and stable, and the procession moved much faster than inside the city. Shao Yuan was very silent. I had dealt with him a few times before, and it was mostly me talking while he listened. I wasn't even sure if he was actually listening. In this kind of situation, he was even less likely to speak.

The entire procession was quiet and solemn, with only the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels. I turned to look at Gan Lin, who smiled slightly at me. I grinned back, then sighed. But this environment was much better than being in prison; at least there were people around.

We finally arrived at the foot of Queping Mountain. From a distance, the mountain looked like a fan open, indeed resembling a peacock spreading its tail feathers. No wonder the Golden Sparrow Kingdom designated this mountain as a place for offering sacrifices to Heaven.

The path up the mountain was entirely made of bluestone steps, reportedly a total of three thousand steps. My legs were trembling after only two hundred steps—that's the height of a six or seven-story building! Normally, this wouldn't have been so difficult, but after waking from the poisoning, many things had changed. That night, on a whim, I wanted to pull Zinuo up a tree to enjoy the breeze and watch the stars. After jumping around for a while, I found myself still in the same spot, with no internal energy left. I realized I had lost my martial arts skills. Although my martial arts were never particularly good to begin with, without my lightness skill, it was like a bird without wings; I would never be as free again. Seeing my appearance, Zinuo looked even more sorrowful than I was, forcing me to comfort him instead: "Being able to escape with your life from the Soul-Severing Pill, the price was worth it." Zinuo's expression didn't improve; instead, it became even more desperate. After uttering a broken "Sister," he fell silent. Much later, I realized that I had been overlooking the fact that they had only suppressed the poison of the Soul-Severing Pill, not cured it. Therefore, my life remained precarious and uncertain.

Looking up at the seemingly endless stone steps, Imperial Preceptor Renxu and Shao Yuan continued their brisk pace, and the group of people following behind them appeared to know the area well, with none of them showing any signs of difficulty. Shaking his head, he thought to himself, "I really am quite incompetent right now."

Gan Lin reached out her hand for me to lean on, but after a few steps, she couldn't take it anymore. The problem was her legs!

Somewhat hesitantly called out "Imperial Preceptor," Renxu glanced back at me, then at the crowd, and shook his head knowingly. How could he make an exception in front of everyone, especially on such an important occasion? There's truly no such thing as a free lunch; even being a pampered saintess comes at a price.

Renxu was still somewhat willful, and ordered Shaoyuan to stop. He and Ganlin then carried me to the top of the mountain, one on each side. As soon as we reached the top, Shaoyuan immediately let go and went to Renxu's side. I immediately slumped to one side, and Ganlin quickly caught me and led me to a large blue stone to sit and rest.

Various bronze ritual vessels had already been set up on the altar at the mountaintop. Many of them had been seen in the Astrology Pavilion, while others were unfamiliar. Banners were planted all around, and in the very center of the altar was a large bronze cauldron. Above the cauldron was a gleaming golden peacock, the size of a real bird, holding a radiant pearl in its beak.

After setting up the incense table, when the time came, Renxu held up his scepter and mumbled something in front of the table. Shaoyuan assisted him with a devout expression. I stood respectfully to the side with my hands at my sides, feeling drowsy from the smoke. Ganlin stood carefully beside me, afraid that I might fall asleep by accident so that he could catch me and avoid embarrassing me.

The lengthy sacrificial ceremony finally concluded, and everyone descended the mountain to return to the palace. Going downhill was much more comfortable than going up; a gentle breeze caressed their faces, and they were more inclined to enjoy the scenery. Looking down at the distant Hanyue City, it resembled a bright moon lying on the banks of the Wuchun River, the white palace gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. Today, the entire Hanyue City was brightly decorated, and even from this distance, the ubiquitous festive colors could be faintly seen.

The Kingdom of Jinque was indeed prosperous.

Back at the palace, Renxu took Shaoyuan to handle other trivial matters, while Ganlin and I returned to Xiyang Palace to rest, waiting for the hour of You (5-7 PM) to arrive before joining Zinuo and the others at the square for the grand event.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 119

Chapter word count: 3520 Update time: 09-09-14 11:19

Around dusk, Ruosheng woke me up, and after another round of washing and dressing, I was taken to Zinuo's bedroom. Together with Zinuo and Ganlin, we rode in a carriage to the square outside the palace gate.

The usually deserted square was unusually crowded today. Colorful balls adorned the surrounding white marble railings. A stage had been erected in the center of the square, with several seats arranged below. Many palace maids, eunuchs, and guards in their finest attire moved about among them. On the other side of the stage was another high platform, carpeted in red, reserved for members of the royal family and high-ranking officials. Officials of lower rank could only sit with the common people below the stage. These common people were elected from various regions, somewhat like representatives to the National People's Congress, but each person only had this opportunity once in their life. The citizens of Hanyue City could choose their own spots to watch, but the city's security was extremely tight that day; it was uncertain whether the people in the city would still have the interest.

Approaching the platform, it was almost entirely filled with people, except for the main seat and the two side seats, which were empty. The fourth seat on the right was occupied by Princess Luoli and a young man in fine clothes. Princess Luoli appeared somewhat plump, reportedly six or seven months pregnant, while the man was the youngest Minister of the Golden Sparrow Kingdom and the consort Princess Luoli had chosen for herself. Compared to before, Princess Luoli now possessed even more allure and feminine charm, making her increasingly unattainable for others.

The beautiful young woman below Princess Luoli must be Princess Luoyan, the youngest daughter of King Jinque. She is also a beauty, but she pales in comparison to Princess Luoli. The woman beside Princess Luoyan is a special guest from the Jinque Kingdom, from the Youjing Dynasty. She is Princess Ziling, who was sent to the Jinque Kingdom by the late Emperor Kang.

These were the only women on the platform. The Golden Sparrow King's consorts, except for the Queen, did not appear before the public. Before we could even finish looking at everyone on the platform, Zi Nuo had already led me up. Everyone on the platform rose and bowed to Zi Nuo. Zi Nuo, with a faint smile, casually waved for everyone to sit. Walking to the right, Zi Nuo gracefully sat down, flanked by Princes Luo Chen and Luo Hua. Gan Lin and I went to the left. The Imperial Preceptor hadn't arrived yet. Normally, Shao Yuan and I should have followed behind him, but we had to wait for him here.

As I settled into my seat, I vaguely sensed many eyes on me. Although the Golden Sparrow King had issued the decree, I hadn't officially met anyone yet, so their curiosity was understandable. However, listening to their whispers below, I became somewhat uneasy.

What is her relationship with the regent prince?

"Both of them are acting a bit strange..."

"I heard from the palace servants that the regent's hair turned white because of her."