Le charme d'une femme puissante se répand à travers le monde

Chapitre 33

I never intended to openly request an audience with King Tianqing as an envoy of the Dragon Yao Kingdom. The alliance I needed could only be formed in secret. Now, with Xi Lan's help, being able to stay in the palace is a great thing for me. As for whether he is genuinely helping me or just using me, that's not something I need to consider now.

I knew in my heart that after sneaking out of the Little White Palace yesterday and unexpectedly running into the Fourth Prince, my comfortable and peaceful life would be over. Actually, I didn't feel too guilty. Just like how the Seventh Princess eagerly came to see what was going on when she heard that Tian Xilan had brought a woman back to the palace, I was bound to meet the Fourth Prince sooner or later. If the scarred man had recognized that the one who saved me was the Sixth Prince from the start, the Fourth Prince would probably have taken the opportunity to come knocking on my door even more.

"Xi Lan, do you think this is okay?" I asked Tian Xi Lan, who was waiting outside, as I walked out of the room wearing a white long dress with a high waist and a casually tied bun, adorned with a jade and pearl hairpin and without any makeup.

The Seventh Princess sent someone to deliver a message, saying that Consort Shu and Consort Rong were admiring the flowers at the Imperial Garden's viewing platform. They mentioned that Xi Lan had been gone for over half a year and hadn't seen him since returning a few days ago, so they specially invited Xi Lan over and also instructed me to come along. Consort Shu? When Zhang De was discussing the situation in the Tianqing Kingdom, he specifically mentioned the Fourth Prince, saying that his mother was Princess Shuyi, the younger sister of the current Emperor of the Hanxing Kingdom. Could this be Consort Shu?

"It's alright, do as you please!" He was still dressed in white, smiling at me, seemingly indifferent to this visit.

Perhaps I revealed half of my identity to him, or perhaps it was because of our previous agreement that a tacit understanding had developed between Tian Xilan and me. Since he wasn't worried, why should I be too nervous?

Walking to Tian Xilan's right, I felt as if I were in a sea of flowers. The palace of Tianqing Kingdom was so different from the fox's little patch of land. Perhaps because it was sheltered by sacred mountains and nourished by sacred lakes, the land was exceptionally fertile. Even in the dead of winter, the palace was filled with vibrant flowers, like a paradise, breathtakingly beautiful. Tian Xilan patiently introduced everything to me, and I stared at him, my mind wandering: If it's this beautiful in winter, what will it be like in spring? If all this beauty could belong to me, how wonderful that would be!

Eunuchs and palace maids kept bowing to me along the way, but I didn't pay them any attention. My eyes kept darting left and right, and I was also silently memorizing my surroundings. Before long, we arrived at the observation deck.

The so-called viewing platform was a high point in the Imperial Garden. Climbing the steps, surrounded by flowers, one would find a jade table and chairs, with sheer curtains fluttering on three sides. Following Tian Xilan, I glanced at it out of the corner of my eye and saw a large group of people gathered there, all women. Except for two seated in the center, the rest were standing. This scene... what an ominous premonition!

"Your subject Xilan pays respects to Consort Shu and Consort Rong." As I approached, Tian Xilan pulled me down to kneel and bow.

The second of the legendary concubines of the Emperor of Tianqing Kingdom? Ha, this is the first time I've seen a concubine since I transmigrated here. Back in Longyao Kingdom, the Dragon Fox didn't have a single woman. Given his status as emperor, it's no wonder I mistook him for a homosexual. Countless thoughts flashed through my mind, but I respectfully said, "This humble woman, Yue Weimian, greets Consort Shu and Consort Rong. May Consort Shu and Consort Rong be blessed."

"Get up quickly, Xilan. You've been back for several days now, but you've been so busy that you've disappeared. If we hadn't called you here today, we don't know when you would have come to pay your respects." A gentle voice, soft as if it could melt water, rang out.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I had planned to pay my respects first thing tomorrow morning, but Your Majesty arrived early today. It was not my fault." Tian Xilan apologized with a smile, her tone as gentle as ever.

"Fine. So you're the girl Seventh Sister has been talking about since yesterday? Raise your head and let me see you."

"From yesterday to today? Judging from the Seventh Princess's attitude towards me yesterday, she must have said a lot of bad things about me." I sighed inwardly, slowly raised my head, and my expression was as gentle and respectful as could be, with a very faint smile on my lips.

Two elegantly dressed women sat in the center, each on a jade stool covered with a thin blanket. The one on the left had her hair styled in a high bun, adorned with a jade butterfly hairpin and a golden phoenix hair ornament. She had arched eyebrows, crimson lips, and wore a lotus-colored jacket over a long, lotus-red brocade robe embroidered with silver plum blossoms, exuding an air of dignified grace. The one on the right had her hair styled in an elaborate, flower-patterned bun, adorned with numerous pearl hairpins. She wore a honey-colored long robe, had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and cherry lips. Even seated, she possessed a graceful, gentle charm. The one who had spoken earlier must have been the one on the right; she must be Consort Rong. Surrounding the two women were, besides the Seventh Princess I knew, seven or eight other young women. One of them had slender shoulders and a narrow waist, a tall and elegant figure, and strikingly beautiful features that made her unforgettable. The other was quite young, petite and innocent. Both of them were dressed similarly to the Seventh Princess, with flowing sleeves and floor-length skirts that were narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. One was dressed in lilac purple, and the other in apricot yellow; they must also be princesses. The remaining five or six women, though also beautiful, appeared to be close maids based on their attire.

"You are quite good-looking, no wonder Xi Lan brought you back to the palace." Consort Rong's voice was still gentle, but the smile on her face was somewhat cold, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes as she looked at me. "However, since you have already followed Xi Lan, you must be single-minded and not think about anything else."

What? You've gone with Xi Lan?

"Your Majesty, Miss Yue is Xi Lan's friend, not as Your Majesty thinks," Tian Xi Lan replied with a bow and a smile, clarifying the truth.

I finally understand. So everyone thinks I'm Tian Xilan's mistress! I have no official title or background, and they don't find fault with me, which is rare. But what does "single-minded and not having any other thoughts" mean?

“Xi Lan, Xin Rong came to me early this morning begging me to give Miss Yue to him. I naturally gave him a stern scolding and put an end to his thoughts. I don’t know what has possessed him. You two brothers have always been close. Don’t let a woman ruin your relationship. If your father finds out, who knows how angry he will be!” Consort Shu, sitting on the left, finally spoke. Her voice was as dignified and melodious as she was.

Xinrong? Could it be the Fourth Prince? I knew it! That resilient guy wouldn't let me live in peace. But his wishful thinking was clearly wrong. The palace is overflowing with women, and women are also the least valuable. Even a princess, no matter how noble, is merely a bargaining chip for political marriages. How could the royal family tolerate two princes fighting over a woman? But what if he already knew this outcome when he begged me? I sneered inwardly. Fourth Prince, are you trying to push me into the limelight in such an unpleasant way?

"Yes, Xilan will follow Your Majesty's teachings."

“Sister, Xi Lan is not young anymore. Han Yi and Xin Rong, didn’t they all get married early? How can someone of this age still be traveling around all day without a stable life? Sister, you have always treated Xi Lan as your own daughter. Why don’t you take the initiative to ask the Emperor to arrange a wedding for him? Although this girl is not from an official family, she is quite pretty and charming. I think Xi Lan truly likes her, which is why he brought her back to the palace. Whether she becomes a concubine or a secondary consort, it is up to Xi Lan. Now that he has a family, if Consort Duan knew in the afterlife, she would be able to smile in peace.” Consort Rong affectionately took Consort Shu’s hand, her smile as gentle as her voice. But as she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, making her indescribably pitiful and moving.

Good heavens, are they talking about me? Are they going to casually decide my marriage fate in just a few words? Although I'm technically a 26-year-old woman, my body is only 18; it doesn't even seem fully developed yet. A concubine? A secondary consort? How can they insult me like this?

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: Where Does the Vast Sky and Water Lead? The Mountain Rain Is Coming, the Wind Fills the Tower (Part Two)

Chapter word count: 4377 Update time: 08-12-21 16:22

A storm is brewing (Part Two)

"Your Majesty, I know my status is lowly and I am unworthy of the Sixth Prince. Therefore, I humbly beg you to rescind your decree!" I knelt on the ground, my words earnest and my attitude respectful. I knew such an offense was unwise, but if I continued to play dumb at this moment, I would truly be dragged into the bridal chamber amidst the clamor of gongs and drums. I don't want that, I'd rather die than do it.

"You!" Consort Rong pointed at me, but before she could finish speaking, she saw Xi Lan kneeling down beside me and was stunned into silence.

“Your Highness, although Xilan has feelings for Miss Yue, Miss Yue has not yet accepted Xilan, and Xilan does not want to force her. Xilan believes that one day Miss Yue will open her heart to accept her son, and at that time, I will trouble Your Highness to preside over the marriage. I hope Your Highness will grant my request. Miss Yue is not familiar with the rules of the palace, and Your Highness is magnanimous in for her offense just now. Please forgive her.”

Xi Lan? I stared blankly at the person next to me. This kid, his acting is so realistic, plus his handsome appearance, if he were born in our backyard, an Oscar would be a piece of cake!

"Sister, since Xilan pleaded for her, let's let it go this time. As for their matter, you know Xilan's temper; you can't force him. Just let him have his way." Consort Shu's gaze swept over me, then looked at the person beside me and said gently, "She'll be yours sooner or later. She should learn the rules of the palace properly. Find a nanny to teach her, so she won't make mistakes later. Not everyone in this palace is as kind and easy to talk to as Consort Rong."

Xi Lan pulled me along to express our gratitude, then helped me to my feet and introduced me to the women who had been surrounding Consort Shu and Consort Rong. My earlier guess was correct: besides the Seventh Princess Ying Li, the tall, slender woman was the Third Princess Jin Yu, the younger one was the Eighth Princess Zi Luo, and the other five were her personal maids Bao Lian, Yu Fu, Su Jing, Bi E, and Lan Fang. I bowed to them one by one, and they in turn bowed to Xi Lan beside me; it was quite a flurry of activity.

"Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother!" the Seventh Princess called out cheerfully to the man climbing the steps.

Fourth Brother? Tian Xinrong? I was instantly petrified.

"Your subject pays respects to your mother and Consort Rong." After the Fourth Prince finished his greetings, he stood up, and everyone else hurriedly followed suit.

"I didn't expect Sixth Brother and Miss Yue to be here too!" Although Tian Xinrong was speaking to Xi Lan, her eyes were fixed on me without any politeness.

I gave him a forced smile and glanced at Tian Xilan with expectant eyes. He smiled slightly at me, then turned to the Fourth Prince and said, "Yes, but I was just about to leave."

After saying that, she pulled me along and walked straight to Consort Shu and Consort Rong. She gave a slight bow and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, I have to take my leave now. I will pay my respects to you another day."

"I've only just arrived, and Sixth Brother is already in a hurry to leave. Even if he has something to do, it's time for a meal now. It's rare for everyone to be here today, so why don't we have a meal together with Mother and make it more lively?" Before the two imperial consorts could speak, the Fourth Prince stepped forward to persuade him to stay.

Fourth Prince, you probably didn't realize I was Yunfeng, did you? I just went to beg your mother this morning and got scolded. Now you're trying to cause trouble again? What wicked scheme are you so eager to hatch?

"Fourth Brother, let's do it another day. I really have something to take care of today." Tian Xilan said with a calm and good-natured smile.

"Mother, tomorrow evening Father will be hosting a banquet for the envoys from Wangyue Kingdom. Why not invite Miss Yue to attend as well? Miss Yue is exceptionally talented. If she can perform a song tomorrow evening and leave a good impression on Father, he will surely not make things difficult for Sixth Brother and Miss Yue in the future. What do you think, Mother?"

Good heavens, for a son to ask his mother for permission so politely and respectfully, even a stepmother would probably disagree, let alone her biological mother.

Sure enough, after a moment's thought, Consort Shu nodded approvingly to her son, then looked at Tian Xilan and said, "Very well, I'll make the decision. Xilan, you can attend the banquet tomorrow night with Miss Yue."

Consort Rong looked me up and down a few times, probably still not forgiving me for my earlier offense, and said with a forced smile, "Miss Yue, go back and prepare well. This outfit is not in accordance with the rules for tomorrow night. Xi Lan, you keep an eye on things and make sure there are no mistakes that might anger your father."

Xi Lan and I thanked her and accepted the order, then withdrew.

I walked beside Tian Xilan, muttering to myself, "Xilan, how did things turn out like this? Can I pretend to be sick and not go tomorrow night?"