Путешествие безумки по династии Сун

Глава 24

Just as she learned Zi Ying's Shadow-Shifting Lightness Skill, she never considered him her master. Especially in the modern world, she had all sorts of masters and senior brothers. So, for her, the term "senior brother" was at most something she was somewhat familiar with compared to a random passerby.

This is probably just a difference in the times! As the saying goes, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so perhaps she shouldn't be too unconventional! Therefore, Leng Jie quickly adopted a submissive demeanor and said:

"I'm discussing this with my senior brother right now! Besides, how could I forget that I'm from Wuyou Valley! I know Wuyou Valley's rules by heart! Don't believe me? I'll recite them for my senior brother."

Upon hearing her gentle words, Qingfeng's anger subsided involuntarily. He thought to himself, there probably wasn't another senior brother as spineless as him in this world. However, he still had to maintain appearances, so he replied coldly:

"You won't tell me anything, is this what you call discussing things? Also, don't mention the rules to me. You know perfectly well whether you take them seriously or not."

"It won't work if you say it! Just tell me if you want to leave or not. Don't worry about anything else. At most, you just need to pack your own things."

Asking her to obediently act like a submissive junior brother from ancient times is something she simply can't do. See? She's already showing her true colors again!

Seeing that Qingfeng didn't answer, she said again, "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes. I have something to do now and need to go out for a bit. Take your time eating!" Before Qingfeng could react, she vanished in a flash.

In the imperial study, Xuanyuan's smile vanished after Qingfeng left. He had originally thought that by keeping Wuming, he could keep Qingfeng as well. But now it seemed he couldn't keep anyone. At this moment, he reverted to his usual cold and aloof demeanor as a monarch.

While reviewing memorials, he waited for Qingfeng and Wuming to come up with a solution that would satisfy both of them. However, even after the Empress Dowager sent someone to urge him to participate in the imperial concubine selection, he still hadn't seen Wuming or Qingfeng.

Forced by the emperor's authority, he had no choice but to attend the imperial concubine selection ceremony held at the Chuxiu Palace. However, he kept delaying the event, wishing it could continue indefinitely.

"Your Majesty, the time has come for you to go to the Chuxiu Palace to select your consorts. It seems the two young masters won't be coming," Eunuch Fu urged for the eighth time. "Wait for them a little longer," he added, "I believe they will have a good plan."

"But the Empress Dowager has already sent six groups of people to urge them," Eunuch Fu whispered a reminder.

With a loud "thud," Xuan Yuan Yunli slammed the memorial in his hand onto the table, stood up expressionlessly, and said impatiently, "Let's go!"

The emperor's selection of concubines was always presided over by the highest-ranking person in the harem. Currently, the highest-ranking persons in the harem are undoubtedly Empress Dowager Shui and Consort Shui. The foolish empress can be disregarded.

The imperial selection was merely a formality, as the emperor had already decided who to keep based on their family backgrounds. As long as she was from a certain family, even if she was pockmarked or had a painted face, he would keep her. It was the same principle he had to navigate his relationships with the foolish empress and Shui Rong'er. However, this time he was determined not to accept women like that again. If Wuming and the others couldn't come up with a perfect solution, then he would have no choice but to do something that would betray his friends.

When the Emperor arrived at the main hall of Chuxiu Palace, the Empress Dowager and Shui Rong'er were already waiting there. After exchanging greetings, the imperial concubine selection officially began. First, groups of ten young women stepped forward in unison to pay their respects to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Imperial Concubines, and then each performed one of their talents. They could choose one of their strengths: playing the zither, playing chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, or needlework.

However, upon first glimpse of the emperor's appearance, all the young women were so captivated by his stunning beauty that they were completely disoriented. The ensuing talent show was utterly a mess. Those playing the zither forgot the score, those playing chess forgot their pieces, those practicing calligraphy forgot to dip their brushes in ink, and the painters, while perhaps the most normal, painted figures instead of landscapes. The singers and dancers forgot their lyrics and missed steps. The needlework girls pricked their fingers repeatedly.

The Emperor's face remained unchanged, revealing no expression. The Empress Dowager's face was filled with disdain and contempt. Shui Rong'er, on the other hand, glared at him with a cold, angry expression, wishing she could devour every woman who coveted the Emperor alive.

Just as the imperial concubine selection was about to end, a palace maid appeared in a panic outside the hall. She was immediately stopped by the Empress Dowager's servants. The Emperor glanced at Eunuch Fu beside him, signaling him to go and find out what was going on. Eunuch Fu, receiving the Emperor's instruction, immediately went towards them.

A moment later, Eunuch Fu entered from outside the palace in astonishment and whispered a few words in the Emperor's ear.

The Emperor's expression changed drastically. He abruptly rose and rushed out of the palace towards his bedchamber in the Chuxiu Palace. The Empress Dowager and Consort Shui followed him out. Leaving behind a hall full of young women, the palace servants were stunned.

Having been transported to this ancient era for a month, Leng Jie's identity has changed several times: from a foolish empress to Wuming in Wuyou Valley, then to the eunuch Xiaomingzi, and now to Prince Ming. However, she has been constantly preoccupied with survival, except for that one night when she hypnotized Xiaochunzi to show her around the palace. She hasn't had time to properly explore or see the palace.

Today, she decided to take a high-profile half-day tour of Jinghe Palace. Of course, her main purpose wasn't sightseeing; her destination was naturally Chuxiu Palace, a place teeming with beautiful women.

Dressed in a crimson royal robe and with her hair tied up with jade ornaments, she certainly lived up to her reputation for being high-profile. Wherever she went, eunuchs and palace maids alike stopped in awe!

"What a handsome young man!"

"It's like it stepped out of a painting."

"Wow, look, he smiled at me!"

"He's just as good as the Emperor! It's a pity the Emperor's face is expressionless."

Who is he?

"He's wearing royal robes! He must be some prince!"

"Could it be that the Emperor just conferred the title of Prince Ming, a prince of a different surname, today?"

"How could that be? I've met Prince Ming before. He's pale and thin, not even a fraction as handsome as this gentleman."

Leng Jie greeted the palace maids who were whispering about her identity with a gentle smile, leaving them momentarily bewildered. Then, she slowly walked over and sweetly asked, "Greetings, ladies! Does anyone know how to get to Chuxiu Palace?"

"Young Prince, are you going to Chuxiu Palace? This servant will take you there."

“This servant knows as well.”

"This servant will take you there."

Thus, a handsome and refined young prince with striking eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth arrived at the entrance of the Chuxiu Palace's sleeping quarters, surrounded by a large group of palace maids.

"Why go to the bedchamber? All the young ladies have gone to the main hall. Isn't the young prince going to the main hall to watch the selection?"

"Why go to the main hall? I dislike playing with those delicate young ladies the most. They are pretentious and affected, and not fun at all. They are nothing like the palace maids, who are beautiful without being delicate and skillful! So, I prefer to play with the palace maids."

One sentence made all the palace maids blush like rouge and their hearts pound like drums.

"However, my elder brother has taken a liking to a young lady in the imperial concubine selection, so he asked me to inquire about her. Does any of my sisters know anyone in the Chuxiu Palace? We could go visit them and ask about that young lady while we're at it. What do you say?"

Several palace maids who had acquaintances in Chuxiu Palace immediately stepped forward. Then, this gentle and handsome young prince quickly became acquainted with the palace maids. From their chattering conversation, he soon learned that the most beautiful girl among the candidates was named Ye Ling'er, the granddaughter of General Ye Xunzhi of Fuguo. He heard that she was the least willing to participate in the selection because she already had a childhood sweetheart. He heard that she was the only daughter of the Ye family and therefore very favored. He heard that she had a strong personality and couldn't tolerate even the slightest injustice.

The handsome young man maintained a smiling and attentive demeanor, but a strange, indescribable glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, like the gaze of a cheetah that had suddenly found its prey.

The handsome young man took out a large bag of precious jewelry from his pocket and distributed it to the palace servants like it was nothing. Then, under the reluctant gazes of the palace women, he left the sleeping quarters of Chuxiu Palace.

Only after the handsome young man's figure had completely disappeared from everyone's sight did a palace servant come to his senses and ask:

"Which prince is he, anyway?"

"He's good-looking and has no airs at all. Anyone who marries someone like that must have accumulated good karma in their past life."

Leng Jie did not actually leave Chuxiu Palace; instead, she went to the main hall and hid in a large tree outside the hall to observe the situation.

The emperor had not yet arrived, and the imperial concubine selection had not officially begun. More than a hundred young women, dressed in their finest attire and with diverse appearances, stood in rows of ten outside the main hall to be considered for the selection.

Among the many candidates queuing for the imperial concubine selection, one girl stood out remarkably, a beauty of fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate eyebrows and large, bright eyes. Her face was like a lotus blossom, her skin as smooth as jade. A light blue gauze dress accentuated her exquisite figure, making her even more radiant. Her slightly shy expression lacked the nervousness and anticipation of the other candidates, instead revealing a sense of helplessness and indignation. It must be her! Leng Jie recognized her at a glance—the girl named Ye Ling'er that the palace maids had been talking about.

Leng Jie kept observing her target prey from the tree, waiting for the right opportunity.

A moment later, the Emperor entered the hall accompanied by Eunuch Fu. Then, batches of young women entered the hall.

Then came deafening music and wailing songs emanating from inside. The young women, looking utterly dejected, emerged from the hall, glancing back repeatedly. Instead of returning to their quarters to await news, none of them left.

Of course, Ye Ling'er was an exception. It seemed she was the only one who hadn't left her soul behind in the main hall; after she came out, she hurriedly headed towards the back hall. Leng Jie sighed inwardly! Truly, heaven was on my side! She then used her Shadow Shifting Technique to give chase.

As soon as Xuanyuan stepped into the palace where the young ladies-in-waiting lived, he was greeted by a scene of palace maids, eunuchs, and guards lying on the floor. Then he heard a girl's panicked scream coming from a side room.

"Ah! Help!"

Then came the nameless, rascal-like voice:

"Stop yelling! No one will come even if you yell until you're hoarse. Do you think you can compete with my senior brother for the Emperor just because you have a bit of looks? That's wishful thinking! Let me tell you, the Emperor only has my senior brother in his heart. He won't be interested in any other woman. If you obediently submit to me, I will petition the Emperor to grant you a marriage. Think about it, being my queen is much better than being a queen in name only! And I will definitely treat you well."

"Ah! No!" Then came the sound of clothes tearing.

The Empress Dowager and Shui Rong'er, along with many other women already selected, arrived shortly after. They overheard Wuming saying, "The Emperor only has my senior brother in his heart; he will never be interested in any other woman..."

The rumors were true! The Emperor and Hu Qingfeng really were in that kind of relationship! The Empress Dowager stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the Emperor, trying to read something from his face. Shui Rong'er fainted on the spot. The other young ladies-in-waiting were completely at a loss.

Veins bulged on Xuanyuan's forehead as he leaped to the doorway of the room and struck the thick mahogany door with a palm strike. With a loud "crack!", the door collapsed, and Xuanyuan rushed inside, stepping over it.

Wuming was seen clinging to a half-naked girl, desperately tugging at her skirt. After hearing a thud, he paused, then rose in astonishment to look at the emperor who had burst through the door. The embarrassed head of the household asked:

"Did His Majesty arrive so quickly?"

The girl, now free, jumped out of bed in terror, crouching against the wall with her arms tightly wrapped around herself, trembling all over, her eyes staring blankly at the floor, clearly terrified. Xuanyuan ignored Wuming, walked past him to the girl's side, and took a blanket from the bed, draping it over her. Then he turned and gave Wuming a cold, icy glare, his gaze suddenly flashing.

"If you are not Nameless, then who are you?"

"Yes, starting this morning, I am no longer called Wuming. Didn't His Majesty bestow upon me the imperial surname?"

"Your subject is now called Xuanyuan Wuming," he replied calmly.

Xuanyuan stared intently at Wuming in disbelief, carefully examining him from his eyebrows and eyes. After comparing, he found that apart from his skin tone, his other features seemed unchanged. "Are you really Wuming?"

Leng Jie shrugged and said, "It's the real deal."

"What were you doing just now? Do you know how much trouble you've caused?" Xuanyuan roared angrily.

"Your Majesty, is this the prince you appointed? Look at him! He's only been here for a day, and he dares to commit such heinous acts. What will happen if this continues? How can such a beast be worthy of bearing the surname of the Xuanyuan clan! This animal should be immediately dragged to the Meridian Gate and beheaded as a warning to others. And that Hu Qingfeng, he's also a bewitching monster who has corrupted the emperor! Guards, arrest them all!"

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, several guards entered, ready to arrest her. Leng Jie showed no sign of resistance, but slowly took out a gleaming gold plaque from her bosom and asked calmly:

"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager should recognize this, right?"

As for the gold medal, everyone here, except for that girl still trembling in the corner, recognizes her.

"How did this end up with you?" The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor in astonishment. He actually entrusted this token, which was as powerful as if the Emperor himself were present, to a mere boy who hadn't even grown up yet? That was a token that could command the entire Imperial Guard in the capital.

"Can this thing be exchanged for my and my senior brother's lives? It should be more than enough! Plus this woman named Ye Ling'er. How about it? As for that prince, I'll give him all back." Leng Jie negotiated with the Empress Dowager without changing her expression. She had initially thought this was just a get-out-of-jail-free card that could save her from death once.

Later, while browsing through ancient texts, she discovered that this was actually a warrant for deploying the imperial guards. She was quite touched by the emperor's trust in her!

Xuanyuan now understood; this was his true purpose. He was willing to commit such a heinous act, even at the cost of his senior brother's and his own reputation, simply to leave the palace. He had initially thought Wuming was young and easily fooled, but now he realized Wuming was far more ruthless than Qingfeng. Now that he had made the matter public, even if Xuanyuan wanted to keep them, he couldn't. Xuanyuan commanded the guards:

"All of you, stand back! If word of what happened today gets out, kill without mercy!" The last three words weighed as heavy as a thousand pieces of gold.

Chapter Sixty-One: Creating Something from Nothing

The following day, earth-shattering news shook Jinghe. Prince Ming, who had recently been granted the title of a prince of a different surname, had been assassinated while saving the emperor, dying young! The emperor decreed a national day of mourning.

From that moment on, Prince Ming disappeared from this world. He should now be called the youngest non-royal prince of the Jinghe Dynasty, or rather, the shortest-lived non-royal prince.

Rumor has it that Prince Ming's senior brother, Physician Hu, was heartbroken and took the prince's ashes with him from Qingfeng Residence to return to Wuyou Valley in Tianmu Mountain to apologize to their master.

The capital city, which had been bustling and joyous the day before due to the emperor's selection of consorts, was suddenly transformed overnight. All the red lanterns were replaced with plain white paper lanterns. The national mourning cast a somber, gray hue over everything.

A cold wind howled, and dark clouds obscured the sun. Thunder rumbled, and rain poured down.

On the empty cobblestone street, a horse-drawn carriage sped past in the rain. Occasionally, complaints could be heard coming from inside.

"Senior brother, what kind of weather is this?! It's already the beginning of winter, why is it still thundering and raining?" Having finally escaped that cage, she was about to leave without even seeing what the capital city looked like because of this heavy rain. Leng Jie grew angrier and angrier, grumbling incessantly. Shouldn't she at least have seen the prosperous scenery of an ancient capital?

"Didn't you hear what those people were saying? It's like God is crying out for justice for the untimely death of Prince Ming!" Qingfeng teased with a smile.

"That's right, that's right. The handsome and refined Prince Ming died for his country after only one day as a prince. Even God couldn't bear it! This rare winter thunder must be to strike down those who harmed the prince," a delicate female voice chimed in.

"Sister Ling'er is talking nonsense! My young master is such a good person, how could he be struck by lightning!" The little girl's childish voice caused bursts of laughter.

"Haha...hehe..."

"Haha, Qing'er, you're getting cuter and cuter. I love you to death." With that, a sweet kiss landed on Qing'er's rosy cheeks.

The laughter stopped abruptly. Apart from the culprit who still had a smile on his face, the other three people in the car froze.

The young master kissed her? The young master said he loved her? Qing'er couldn't believe it. Her mouth was agape in astonishment, and her big, round eyes stared blankly at the young master who had successfully stolen her kiss.

It turned out that the nameless young master had asked her to play a part in leaving the palace, risking the death penalty for such a heinous crime. He even gave up being a prince just for Qing'er! Qing'er is so lucky! If only my senior brother could treat me like that! Ye Ling'er, who was already experiencing the first stirrings of love, shyly turned her head away, unable to bear watching such a sensual scene.

Qingfeng stared at the nonchalant Wuming in astonishment and anger. Did he really think he was a man? He'd just escaped a marriage crisis, and now she was already getting herself into another mess. And doing something so indecent in public. Yesterday she said it was just an act with Ye Ling'er, but according to Xuanyuan's description, she and Ye Ling'er seemed to have been in shock for a long time. She wasn't acting at all! She was clearly acting like a scoundrel, a notorious womanizer. Now he was starting to wonder if she was even a woman.