Одинокий город закрыт - Глава 39
"Xi Lan, it seems you have a mother complex. Look at the people in these two paintings, their expressions are so similar, that's why you mistook me for your mother. Actually, we don't look alike at all. I won't blame you this time, but don't get it wrong next time. Let's just leave it at that, and don't draw me on this wall again." After saying that, I immediately ran towards the exit like a shot. That was close! Although the fox only told me to protect my life and didn't say I couldn't date guys, if I went back with Tian Xi Lan, that burden, or if I simply stayed in Tianqing Kingdom and didn't go back, that guy would definitely send a bunch of little black pigeons to find me and grind me to dust. 555, I'm so pitiful. It seems the fox has never confessed to me or anything, so why did I so willingly attach myself to him? This Phoenix Orchid Jade Pendant must be evil, affecting my IQ.
Ever since Tian Xilan and I confessed our secrets to each other, I've felt a bit strange. It might be a lingering effect of the mural. Anyway, I didn't leave the little white house from afternoon to evening, and Tian Xilan wisely didn't come looking for me. After leaving the secret world behind the flower wall, I honestly and sincerely told Tian Xilan some things about myself, such as that I am Yun Yue, who took my brother's place in the government. However, I didn't tell her that I was Lin Qianqian who transmigrated.
Now that everyone has been honest with each other, I glanced at the little black pigeon that had been waiting for my reply in my room all day, and finally felt relieved enough to pick up my pen and write back to the fox. Before, I was worried that if I replied, the little black pigeon would be caught red-handed by Tian Xilan as soon as it flew out of Zhilan Palace.
"Tianqing has allied with Wangyue, and Wangyue's envoy will return in three days. Don't worry about me, don't be impulsive or nervous, and whatever you do, don't come to Tianqing, it's too dangerous." I received a letter from Fox yesterday, saying he was coming to Tianqing. I hope this letter arrives before Fox sets off, but even if he's already on his way, Little Black Dove can find him, and he should receive my letter and understand my meaning. The time lag in communication here often makes me extremely frustrated, counting the days on my fingers. If Fox really comes to Tianqing and the Fourth Prince finds out, will that good-for-nothing emperor still have a chance of survival?
I sent the three maids away, then wrote a note and tied it to the little black pigeon's leg. After checking that no one was around, I let it go find the dragon fox.
Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: Where Can the Vast Sky and Waters Find a Jade Face That Cannot Compare to the Color of a Cold Crow (Part One)
Chapter word count: 3868 Update time: 08-12-21 16:23
Her jade-like face paled in comparison to the color of a crow in the cold (Part 1)
When I woke up this morning, I found that three more maids were running in and out to serve me. And the clothes they dressed me in were so strange: a long, flowing silver moon-colored dress that was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with wide sleeves, and the dress was embroidered with hundreds of flowers and peacocks below the knees. The belt was embroidered with a flying phoenix pattern. It was actually the attire of a princess!
Several people quickly tidied me up. Zisu helped me out of the small white house, where I was still racking my brains and couldn't figure it out. There were six eunuchs kneeling outside the house. Zisu and five other maids who had come out with her also knelt down beside them. A middle-aged eunuch who had been standing with his head bowed unfolded a scroll of imperial edict in his hand, read it aloud for a while, and then knelt down as well. Everyone shouted in unison, "Congratulations to Princess Xiyue! Congratulations to Princess Xiyue! May the princess live a thousand years!"
I stared blankly at the crowd kneeling and bowing on the ground, then turned my bewildered gaze to Tian Xilan standing not far away. Forgetting yesterday's embarrassment, I lifted my skirt and ran over, anxiously asking, "Xilan, what's going on? What Princess Xiyue? How come so many people have suddenly appeared in Zhilan Palace? What's wrong?"
"Today, despite everyone's objections, Father Emperor insisted on issuing an imperial decree to bestow upon you the title of Princess Xiyue." Xi Lan said this without any joy for me; on the contrary, her expression was somewhat somber.
"Get up, everyone." I turned to the crowd and took the imperial edict from the middle-aged eunuch. I bowed slightly and said, "Go ahead and do what you need to do."
"This servant congratulates the princess and the sixth prince." The middle-aged eunuch curtsied again. "If the princess needs anything, please do not hesitate to give the order to this old servant."
"Thank you for making this trip in person, Eunuch Yang." Tian Xilan nodded slightly, and I followed suit and curtsied as well. This middle-aged eunuch was none other than Eunuch Yang, the chief eunuch serving Prince Tianqing!
Everyone quietly withdrew. I pulled Tian Xilan to the flower trellis in the small garden, looked around to make sure no one was there, and then asked softly, "Xilan, how could this happen? Why would the Emperor do this? How did I become a princess after just one night's sleep?"
"Weimian, I am now your sixth brother, and Father has bestowed upon you the name Tian Xiyue. From now on, you will be Princess Xiyue of Tianqing Kingdom." I guess my cautious appearance just now was a bit ridiculous. When Xi Lan said this, he finally regained his usual gentleness and smile. His eyes were clear and bright, and he did not blush or feel embarrassed because of what happened yesterday.
"The Emperor really adopted me as his goddaughter?" I thought he would adopt me as his sister, in which case the Fourth Prince would have to call me aunt. Tian Xiyue, he even changed my name for me. You know how many names I've had since I transmigrated? It wasn't easy for me. I'm dizzy just thinking about it.
"Is Wei Mian happy?"
I thought for a moment, shook my head, and then whispered mysteriously, "I have a bad feeling."
Old Man Yun, who was supposed to be my biological father, fell from the sky and is already like this. Now, a godfather who pops up on the ground isn't kind or friendly either. What kind of world is this? It seems I can forget about experiencing fatherly love in this alternate dimension.
"Oh? Why do I have this ominous feeling?"
"Don't you feel the same way?" I rolled my eyes at him. When I ran over to ask him earlier, his expression wasn't one of happiness or anything like that. "Does Xilan know why the Emperor did this?"
I just felt this couldn't be a good thing. The Heavenly Azure King's actions definitely weren't out of liking or admiration for me or any other good reason. Remembering his calculating and dangerous gaze several times, his actions—elevating me, an ordinary woman from the Dragon Radiance Kingdom, to the status of a princess—there must be some conspiracy. But what could that conspiracy be? That's something I can't know for the moment. Since entering the palace, the person most closely involved has been Tian Xilan. Could the Heavenly Azure King be doing this because of Xilan?
"Father must have a reason for doing this, but I'm not sure of the reason right now."
I carefully observed Tian Xilan's expression and eyes to make sure he wasn't hiding anything before asking, "Xilan, if one day you find out that it was your father who harmed me, will you still help me?"
If it were the Fourth Prince who harmed me, I would have some confidence. But if it were the Azure Prince who plotted against me, I wouldn't be so sure.
“Weimian, you live in Zhilan Palace. Anyone could harm you, but neither my father nor I would,” he said with absolute certainty.
I secretly rolled my eyes at him. Since he said that, I couldn't keep bringing up the issue. But I had a gut feeling that I was being set up, and that was absolutely true.
Tian Xilan is right about one thing. I thought that after I was made a princess, a whole bunch of relatives and friends would line up to congratulate me, and I was worried sick. But I didn't see a single person, though I received a lot of gifts. The ban on Zhilan Palace really hasn't been lifted yet. Unless I leave, it seems that besides Tian Xilan and Prince Tianqing, the only people who can enter are the six new maids and six eunuchs.
My godfather, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, issued an imperial decree bestowing upon me the title of princess, but then disappeared without a trace. There was no talk of a grand investiture ceremony or any ancestral worship ritual. This shows how hesitant, conflicted, and unwilling he was when issuing the decree. Tonight, another little black dove flew in. Judging by the timing, it's probably the first dove to find me since I arrived at the Tianqing Kingdom's palace. I told Fox about my reply from the palace. Fox probably learned from Night Wind's report that I, having regained my female identity, had left the organization and gone to the palace alone. Night Wind couldn't contact me, so he was a little shaken. His writing was different from usual: Don't reveal your identity, absolutely do not act recklessly, try to speak and move as little as possible, absolutely no drinking, find a way to contact the secret agent, and leave the palace safely. It's as if I'm a troublemaker, and he knows me so well, yet he didn't reveal his own whereabouts at all, making me happy for nothing. Fox, if you knew I'm now Princess Xiyue of the Tianqing Kingdom, I wonder if your handsome fox face would turn blue with anger?
Waking up early the next morning, as the maids helped me wash and dress, I thought about the Fourth Prince's double celebration banquet the following evening. After the banquet, the envoy from Wangyue Kingdom would return home with the alliance agreement. I hoped to run into Yefeng Xiaobai today. Perhaps I could use this opportunity to discuss the matter of guards with Xilan, and it would be best to have Yefeng by my side.
Stepping out of the little white house, I was surprised to find Tianqing Wang sitting on a wooden bench in the garden, staring blankly at the flower stand.
"This humble woman... Xiyue greets Father Emperor." I almost forgot, I'm his goddaughter now. How awful! This is the first time I've seen him since I was made a princess yesterday.
"Sit down." He didn't look at me, his eyes casually sweeping over every blade of grass and tree in the garden, yet I could clearly sense a touch of warmth in his eyes, different from his usual coldness. He must have loved Xi Lan's mother very much. He wanted to make her empress while she was alive, and after her death, he forbade anyone else to set foot in Zhilan Palace. This place was like a sacred ground that the three of them didn't want others to touch. So what am I now? Does he really intend to treat me like his own daughter, cherishing me like a precious treasure? Pshaw, dream on!
I didn't speak, and he didn't speak either; we remained silent for a while.
“That night, I had already retired for the night when Lan’er came to me, begging me to release you. How many years has it been since he last spoke to me on his own initiative?” He continued speaking to himself, ignoring me. His calm expression, however, made me feel somewhat uneasy. “This is the second time Lan’er has begged me.”
I listened calmly, my eyes fixed on the beautifully blooming iris flowers to one side, without saying a word.
"Aren't you curious about who Lan'er asked me for help the first time?" He finally looked at me, giving me a slightly curious look.
"It's for his mother, Consort Duan," I replied softly.
"Then do you know what this is about?"
"Xiyue doesn't know," I replied, bowing my head. I really didn't want to guess, nor did I want to know these secrets. The more I knew, the harder it would be to escape later. I didn't want that. I was going to leave Tianqing Kingdom eventually.
"You're a smart man, how could you not guess?" A smile appeared on his lips, but it was a cold smile.
"Is it because of Consort Duan's sudden death?" I sighed inwardly. I was afraid I couldn't avoid it. Even if I didn't say it, he would force me to listen.
"Haha, you are indeed clever." He laughed twice, and his gaze suddenly became incredibly sharp, as if he could devour me. "It seems I didn't misjudge you. I hope you won't disappoint me."
After saying that, he got up and left Zhilan Palace.
Calming down and reflecting on Tianqing King's words today, combined with Ye Feng's investigation, Xi Lan's self-confession, and the treatment I've received these past two days, the whole incident gradually became clear. Tianqing King's schemes and conspiracies were clearly aimed at Xi Lan, and I was merely a pawn in his game. Tianqing King would never want to harm Xi Lan, so what was his conspiracy? The answer was already in my heart; I'd like to see what happens at tomorrow's banquet!
It seems I'm just not cut out for those corrupt places. Sigh, all I can do is sigh.
I just sat there like a dazed person until Tian Xilan sat down opposite me and greeted me, which snapped me out of my reverie.