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

Chapitre 41

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: Where Can the Jade Face Remain Compared to the Cold Crow's Color Across the Vast Sky and Water? (Part Three)

Chapter word count: 4654 Update time: 08-12-21 16:24

Her jade-like face paled in comparison to the color of a crow in the cold (Part 3)

I gently supported Zisu and waited outside the Tianyu Palace for King Tianqing to return from court. With Eunuch Yang absent, the palace maids and eunuchs below were somewhat hesitant. Without King Tianqing's decree, they dared not invite me in without permission. They had also heard that I had recently gained favor because of my dance performance and were afraid of neglecting me. They ran in and out repeatedly to report, and then cautiously told me that I would have to wait a little longer.

The Tianyu Palace was a combined study and bedroom for the Tianqing King after court sessions, and it was connected to the Tianhe Palace, where morning court sessions were held. Without the Tianqing King's decree, even the Crown Prince had to announce his presence outside first. It is said that in the past, only Consort Duan could enter freely, and even the late Empress did not have this privilege.

Before long, Eunuch Yang hurried out and bowed to me, saying, "His Majesty invites the princess inside."

Zisu waited outside, and I followed Eunuch Yang inside. King Tianqing sat on a soft couch, one hand resting on a low table in front of him, the other casually placed at his side. His posture was relaxed, yet exuded a cold and domineering aura that commanded respect. He seemed to be another ambitious ruler; his ten years of power were likely more for future territorial expansion. In that case, Consort Shu's situation became understandable.

"Xiyue greets Father Emperor, may Father Emperor enjoy boundless blessings." Eunuch Yang quietly withdrew, and I bowed to Prince Tianqing in greeting.

"You've come at just the right time. Do you know how many people offered me advice this morning at court?" He casually picked up an exquisite dragon-shaped jade paperweight from the table and played with it, asking indifferently.

Again? It seems someone already advised against it when the imperial decree bestowed upon me the title of princess last time. Just last night they said I had the demeanor of an empress, and this morning someone is already advising against it. They're quite fast.

"Father, it's a family matter that you adopted Xiyue as your goddaughter, and it's a matter of state that you bestowed upon her the title of princess. But whether it's a family matter or a matter of state, isn't it ultimately up to you, Father? If Xiyue ever displeases you, you can simply demote her. Why bring such matters to court and annoy you?" Ambitious people, no matter how outwardly they may appear, are ultimately somewhat arrogant, or rather, proud and complacent.

"You demote someone so easily, don't you feel any resentment?" He placed the jade paperweight on the table, glanced at me who was still kneeling, and showed no intention of letting me get up.

"Father has given Xiyue an opportunity that the world envies. If that day ever comes, it is Xiyue's own fault for not cherishing it. If she has anyone to blame, she can only blame herself."

"You're quite interesting. Did you come to see me today for something?" He looked at me again before saying, "Get up and answer me."

I remained kneeling, took out the oath of alliance that I had the dragon fox prepare for me before the trip, which was hidden in my sleeve, raised my hands above my head, and said solemnly, "Being favored by Father Emperor, today Xiyue presents a gift to Father Emperor."

"Oh? Bring it here." It was as if he had expected me to do this, or as if he saw through me and realized that I was a weak woman who couldn't even kill a chicken, so he didn't guard against my mischief.

I stood up and respectfully handed the alliance document to King Tianqing. He took it, opened it, glanced at it, and then casually tossed it onto the low table. He squinted at me and said, "It seems that Fourth Brother underestimated you!"

"How could Xiyue's petty tricks possibly deceive Father Emperor?" I replied with a smile. King Tianqing, after the Fourth Prince confessed to you about me, how could you not thoroughly investigate my background? At least you were able to find out that I was from the Yunxiang Mansion, yet you still kept me in the palace, adopted me as your goddaughter and bestowed upon me the title of princess. While Tian Xilan was certainly a factor in this, wasn't it also due to your ambition to conquer the world?

"Is this the gift you've offered? Don't you know I've already agreed to an alliance with Wangyue?" He spread out the alliance document on the low table and glanced at it again, seemingly casually.

"Wangyue's strength should not be underestimated. Doesn't Father think that forming an alliance with Longyao now is the best choice? If the war is won, Father's gains will not only double, but even Ye Cang and Xiu Ruo will have to be wary of Tianqing's national strength." The alliance agreement not only stipulated that Wangyue would be divided among three, but also that if the alliance was successful and Wangyue was destroyed, Longyao would allow Tianqing to choose any three cities from the divided cities and offer them to Tianqing unconditionally. Combined with the original ten cities that could be divided, Tianqing's strength would be more than just replacing Wangyue as the third strongest country.

"Do you want me to break my promise?" A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, but a cold smile played on his lips.

"Victory is king, defeat is bandit; history only remembers the strong. When the world understands that this wasn't a betrayal by Father, but a strategic plan from the very beginning, who will dare to challenge Father's great talent and vision!" I carefully observed King Tianqing's expression. He was only focused on the alliance document, not on me. Though I couldn't see what was in his eyes, at least he was listening to me, and he must have been calculating in his mind. "The six kingdoms have always been on good terms, coexisting peacefully for hundreds of years. Now, Wangyue, relying on its strength, has bullied the weak and launched an unprovoked attack, which will surely be despised by the world. King Wangyue's wolfish ambitions are obvious. How could he stop his killing spree and territorial expansion just because Longyao has fallen? With the balance of the six kingdoms broken, when warlords emerge, Hanxing Tianqing, with its relatively weaker power, will be the first to fall. If Wangyue repeats its old tricks and allies with Ye Cangxiu, Longyao will serve as a cautionary tale for Hanxing Tianqing!"

"Wangyue is strong, while Tianqing is slightly weaker. How can Tianqing compare to Longyao in terms of sincerity in forming an alliance? If Tianqing were to ally with Wangyue this time, it would be a joint invasion, illegitimate and unjustified, fulfilling the ambitions of the Wangyue king but losing the hearts of the people. If Tianqing helps Longyao overcome this difficulty, it would be upholding justice and sharing hardship. As the saying goes, true friendship is revealed in times of trouble. Longyao will surely maintain a long-term alliance with Tianqing, becoming an unbreakable ally." He finally looked up at me, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. I quickly continued, "Although Xiyue was born in Longyao, she was favored by her father and made a princess of Tianqing. Regarding the alliance, if the previous appointment was made in a time of crisis, Xiyue is now genuinely acting in the best interests of Tianqing, considering everything from the perspective of Tianqing's interests. Compared to allying with Wangyue, annihilating..." "It would be better to preserve Longyao Kingdom than to destroy it and seize this opportunity to wipe out Wangyue Kingdom in one fell swoop. This would be more advantageous for our country. Longyao's strength is generally considered the weakest among the six kingdoms. Its existence not only poses no threat to Tianqing, but also attracts the greedy attention of the great powers, allowing Tianqing to remain in a relatively safe situation for a considerable period. Moreover, in my humble opinion, Father has already allied with Wangyue, and Hanxing is presumably the same. The King of Wangyue will have no suspicions. When the three armies unite, if Tianqing and Hanxing defect on the battlefield, with our prepared army, attacking their allied forces, we will surely be able to take them down effortlessly. At the same time, while Wangyue's military strength is at its weakest, the three kingdoms will each send large armies to attack from three directions, heading straight for the capital. We will surely be able to take down Wangyue Kingdom as we wish. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I believe Father will not easily miss it."

"You've thought of everything, but I've already made you a princess. The envoy from Wangyue Kingdom already knows you're from Longyao Kingdom. How can you guarantee he won't be suspicious?" His eyes held the sharpness and ruthlessness of an eagle searching for its prey, and his pupils were a deep brown, the result of being immersed in the mundane world for too long.

"When Xiyue was in trouble, she was fortunate to be helped by the Sixth Prince, who was traveling and enjoying himself. The Sixth Prince is kind-hearted and took pity on Xiyue's loneliness and helplessness. Seeing that Xiyue knew some singing, dancing, playing the zither, and chess, he brought her back to the palace. Although Xiyue's talents are not outstanding, fortunately, the songs she sings, the dances she dances, and the tunes she plays are all quite novel. She is also good at telling stories, sensible and well-behaved, and knows how to read people's expressions and make them happy. Father Emperor only cherishes Xiyue because of these qualities. He took Xiyue in as his goddaughter on a whim, just to make the palace more lively. How could it involve the affairs of the court?" I lowered my head and lowered my voice slightly. "Father Emperor always takes some time every day to ask Xiyue to sing a little tune and chat for a while to relieve her boredom. Even if the envoys of Wangyue Kingdom have some doubts now, after hearing these rumors, they will definitely have no more scruples!"

"Your meticulousness is no less than that of a man; I underestimated you!" He suddenly stood up and stood in front of me. He wasn't very tall, but it was the first time I had stood so close to him, and I could clearly feel the intimidating aura emanating from him. "But this matter is of great importance. How can I easily agree to it based on your few words?"

"Father is wise. He will weigh the alliance matters more thoroughly and consider them more comprehensively than Xiyue. Xiyue will also perform well to show her sincerity. I only ask one thing: if Father doesn't mind, could we keep this matter as a little secret between Father, Xilan, and Xiyue?" If I guessed correctly, King Tianqing was somewhat tempted. What he needed was to carefully consider the whole matter to ensure everything went smoothly. Also, he wanted to know how to take this opportunity to get me to work for him faithfully.

"A little secret between the three of you? Xi Lan knows about this too?" He gently repeated my words, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, and then agreed without hesitation, "Okay!"

It was definitely not my imagination; there was a hint of joy in his expression. Was it because of Xi Lan? Was it because he and Xi Lan had a new little secret after so many years, or because Xi Lan, who had always been indifferent to politics, had now been involved? It seems that among all the princes, Xi Lan has always been the most important.

As soon as I stepped out of the Tianyu Palace, I saw Zisu rushing up to me, taking my hand, and whispering, "Princess, the Crown Princess has sent someone to invite you over."

The Crown Princess? I heard she's been unwell lately and we haven't seen each other since. She's invited me over today; she must have heard about last night and is getting impatient. A few meters ahead, a maidservant was waiting. She seemed quite capable; upon seeing me, she quickly curtsied and gave a respectful greeting.

"Greetings, Princess. Your servant, Han Dan Gong Hua Luo, is here on the orders of the Crown Princess to invite you to Han Dan Palace for a chat."

"Zisu, go and fetch the Mind-Nourishing Dew and the Radiant Rouge that Father Emperor bestowed upon you a few days ago, and deliver them to the Lotus Palace. Also, tell the Sixth Prince that I will be returning later." After saying this, I followed Hualuo and slowly walked towards the Lotus Palace.

"Xiyue greets Your Majesty. I haven't come to pay my respects for so many days. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me for not knowing the proper etiquette." After I finished bowing, I stood up and looked at the person in front of me. She had a dignified and beautiful face, a pair of naturally beautiful eyes, a face like a lotus calyx, and lips like cherries. She was very elegant, but her pale complexion could not be hidden even by rouge.

"Sister, don't be so formal. You were granted permission by Father to be exempt from these rules. You live in Zhilan Palace, so I don't see you often. I've heard about your beauty and am very curious, so I invited you here today. Please sit down." Hualuo helped her up, and she tried to take my hand affectionately, but her steps were a little unsteady.

I hurried forward, first helping her to sit down, then finding a place to sit myself, and said gently, "Your Majesty, you are not feeling well, so please don't stand on ceremony."

"If you don't mind, little sister, please call me elder sister." She waved her hand lightly at Hua Luo, who served tea and quietly withdrew before she spoke softly.

To be honest, I didn't dislike the Crown Princess when I first met her. On the contrary, I even felt a little fond of such a gentle and delicate beauty. However, due to my own concerns, I dared not let my guard down. Now that she was so eager to get closer to me, my vigilance only increased.

“Xiyue wouldn’t dare. Xiyue comes from a poor family and was only able to stay in the palace because of her father’s favor. She doesn’t know the rules and is not as well-behaved as those who grew up in a proper family in the palace. If she were to be so ungrateful, wouldn’t she become a laughing stock?”

In the 21st century, there wouldn't be so many distinctions between "sister-in-law" and "elder sister." But in this different time and space, and in the imperial palace, given what happened last night, a sister-in-law can only be a sister-in-law. If I were to call her "elder sister," I'm afraid those with ulterior motives would overhear and cause a lot of trouble.

“Sister, you are too modest. Living in Zhilan Palace, you are the most noble woman in the entire palace.” Her voice was gentle, but her expression was somewhat forlorn, and the smile on her face seemed unfocused. I paused mid-sentence, about to ask a question, when unexpectedly she knelt before me. Startled, I quickly rose and stepped aside, going to her side to help her up. She grabbed my hand, her face deathly pale, but her eyes fixed on me with unwavering resolve. There were no tears, but her voice was filled with deep sorrow as she said, “To be honest, sister, I am nearing the end of my life. I have taken the liberty of inviting you here today because I have a request. I hope you will have pity on Hao’er, who is young and helpless, and take care of him for me. My only wish before I pass away is that Hao’er can grow up safely and healthily.”

"Sister-in-law, why do you say such unlucky things? Get up quickly." I tried to help her up, but she remained kneeling, and I couldn't lift her up for a moment.

"Little sister, let me finish what I have to say." She gripped my hand tightly, her knuckles turning white, but my hand didn't feel much pain. I was shocked and felt an urge to escape. I didn't want to hear her tell me stories that I shouldn't have to hear. All I could think about was that Xilan would hear Zisu's message and come quickly.

“My sister is a smart woman. She must understand the rights and wrongs of this harem, and that the women in the harem don’t simply live for themselves.” Her expression was dignified, but her gaze drifted to an unknown place, as if lost in memories. Suddenly, a strange light flashed in her eyes, illuminating her entire being, making her breathtakingly beautiful. But it only lasted for a moment before the light disappeared, returning to that pale and somewhat dim image. “For me, I no longer need to bear the heavy burden of the family, nor do I need to live a life of careful precautions and calculations. I can go wherever I please and follow my heart. Death is the true liberation for me. Except for Hao’er, I can’t let him go.”

I was speechless for a moment, gazing at the elegant and graceful woman before me. This magnificent palace, and the coveted title of Crown Princess that women all over the world yearn for—did she also feel that all of this was a golden cage binding her heart, blocking out the sunlight, and imprisoning her freedom? I couldn't help but take a closer look at the person before me. Surely, she had many stories and secrets in her heart, stories and secrets about what happened under the sky outside this palace.

"Your Majesty, you are worried about your child. Your Majesty and the Crown Prince will take good care of him. You don't need to worry. Just relax and focus on taking care of your health."

"Sister, are you still going to play dumb in front of your elder sister?" She smiled sadly and continued, "His Highness may not even be able to protect himself then, how can he care about Hao'er? Sister, you live in Zhilan Palace and are deeply loved by Father. No matter who inherits Father's throne in the future, you will be the one to enter the Empress's Palace..."

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: Where Can We Find the Vastness of Heaven and Water? If Only Life Were Like Our First Meeting (Part One)