novelInkling Emerged in the Palace
| ← Ch.095 | Ch.097 → |
Hearing Magic Doctor Chang was about to leave, the inhabitants in the Qingyao Town gathered in the Ning Hai's courtyard early. They were Chang Xi's patients. They sent delicious local food specifically. You Qingcheng had never seen it before. Unlike the scheming and plotting that she got used to, the humanity in the town won You Qingcheng's favor.
Changxi felt relutant to leave the Qingyao Town, even those simple people. But things were unpredictable, and she had to leave. Ning Hai benefited the association with Magic Doctor Chang, his image becoming high. It seemed that the miser needed to be renamed.
People in the town felt very sorry for Ning's family. Obviously, it was aching that the house was burnt to ashes overnight. Chang Xi found it hard to refuse the villagers' gifts. Since they had already had a carriage, one more was hired because of villager's kindness. Ning Hai was rather happy and also reluctant to leave the villagers.
Ning's woman did not want to get off after sitting in the carriage. She wore a piece of new satin clothes that she had grabbed from the sea of fire, looking more lavish than ever. Her rough fingers touched the hem of her clothes and pulled out some threads on her satin clothes. The good satin clothes was destroyed by the callus on her hands. So Ning's woman rubbed her hands hard, hoping to rubbing off the callus. She did not stop until her palm turned red. Those villager women outside the carriage were sympathetic and jealous of her. However, it meant nothing to Ning's woman, because everything there would be the past. She put the curtain down with her pinky up, unwilling to see those poor and unambitious people any longer.
The carriage left slowly. Changxi raised the curtain and waved her hand to say goodbye to those kind people who once gave warmth to her. Since they parted today, no one knew when they would meet again. Ni Shang took care of her master and did not relax until You Qingcheng fell asleep. Ning Hai drove the carriage and said to himself from time to time. The horse seemed to know human's language— every time Ning Hai flipped the whip, the horse would gallop desperately. Worried that the jolt would displease the distinguished guest, he finally compromised with the horse, driving the carriage slowly. Along the way, the bell rang rhythmically. It had been deep into the night when they arrived in the capital. The city gate had been already closed at that time. The little officers who were guarding the gate looked at the carriage fiercely. What a shabby carriage! What a group of unruly people! What bumpkins they were! However, Ni Shang knew well of the city gate's rule, that is, money talked. She lifted up the curtain and threw out her palace token. An officer standing in front took the waist token and retreated tens of meters away at a mere glance at it. No one could expect that the Master was sitting in the shabby carriage. When the carriage drove away, the officer still could not understand what had happened.
"Leader Li, how can you allow the carriage to pass? Shouldn't we ask for some charge for wine?"
"Not so much nonsense! Don't you have eyes? They are from the Eastern Palace."
"Are you cheating me? That shabby carriage? From the Eastern Palace?"
"Little guy, the carriage is shabby, but the person inside is noble. Learn more in the future. Otherwise, you may lose you life."
"Thank you for reminding, Leader Li. I will keep it in mind."
Although it was midnight, many people came and went in the street. Ning Hai pulled the rein hard, and the horse stopped in front of an inn. Ni Shang woke up her master. You Qingcheng glanced at the window outside and got up, content with the swaying carriage. Changxi picked up the hem of her clothes and got off the carriage. It was the first time that Ning's woman had come to the capital. She appeared a bit timid when seeing the size of the inn. She took stepps to descend from the carriage cautiously. The waiter at the gate was so clever that he came up to lead the horse. The group of people entered the inn. Seeing guests coming in, the manager put down the abacus in his hands. Since the business was quite deserted, the manager was amazed that there would be some wealthy guests coming to the inn at midnight.
"Three superior guest rooms and some hot soup."
How frugal Ning Hai was! Hearing the guest merely order hot soup, the manager could not help but jerk the corner of his mouth. How could the wealthy guests whom he had been waiting till night just order hot soup? But luckily, the wealthy guests also ordered three guest rooms, which was also profitable. The manager led Ning Hai to the second floor. Ni Shang and You Qingcheng lived in the guest room on the right, Changxi in the middle, and Ning Hai and his wife in the left. The moment Ning Hai entered the room, Ning's woman tugged Niing Hai's pocket and rummaged it again and again, but could not find any tael of silver. Ning's woman wanted to toss off Ning Hai's clothes, which made Ning Hai step back with fear. Faced with the vulgar woman, Ning Hai could not beat her but avoid her. However, Ning's woman still pestered him, even forcing Ning Hai to surrender the money hidden in his shoes to her. He resented and feared her, but could not do anything, because he did not even have two cents.
"Xian'er, who wanted to kill us last time?"
"Your Majesty, if you are not in the palace, who will benefit most?"
"Western Palace, of course."
"Your Majesty, since you have known it is the Western Palace, you should think of some counter measures. The Western Palace is more ambitious than you expect. You should get more benefits since the Majesty still has an affection of you."
"I just want to live well with the the Majesty."
"Your Majesty, the Majesty is not your husband alone. He is the man of all the women in the imperial harem."
"He is my husband. No one can take him away from me!"
"In my opinion, authority should be the final home for a woman. Love fades away as quickly as fleeting clouds."
"I love Di Qing and want to accompany him for good. Even if he turns cold shoulders to me, I will not blame him. Besides, my son will be the future king of the Qi Kingdom. What should I do with the authority?"
"The Western Palace will not allow you to have your wish. What's more, women in the palace are not so easy to handle. Why is the Queen dreaming in vain?"
"The Majesty says he only loves me, and loves me through his life... The king's words are to be taken seriously."
"If you believe the man's words, you are getting closer to your abolition."
"How dare you! I am the Queen of the Qi Kingdom, now and forever..."
Seeing You Qingcheng, Ni Shang seemed to see the person that she used to be. A woman's love was always innocent. Didn't she know that love could only be ranked last in terms of national interest?
"The Western Palace is always casting a greedy eye. Your Majesty, you cannot be too careful. There is no regret medicine anyway."
"You Qingmo, what can she do with me? A poor daughter of concubine!" You Qingcheng said with a distainful look. But she did not know it was a great taboo to underestimate the enemy. Ni Shang did worry about her Master. Any living person could be despised in the imperial harem.
"Tomorrow, make good arrangement for Magic Doctor Chang, and return to the palace as soon as possible. I don't know what is going on with the substitute."
After the discussion, the two fell asleep.
In the morning, someone made loud noise, and everybody was waken up. The manager told Chang Xi that Ning's woman's new clothes was bitten broken by mice, so she asked the manager to compensate it. Ning's woman acted up unreasonably on the ground, crying so loudly that other guests came round to see what had happened. Hearing the noise, Ni Shang came and saw the scene as well. The manager, afraid that she would affect the business, refunded half of room charge to her. Ning's woman clenched the small taels of silver, wiped her tears and picked herself up from the ground. Ning Hai felt embarrassed with his face turning red and black. How could the vulgar woman lose face in the capital? She dared to make a scene for the sake of not paying for the room charge, and even claim that mice were rampant. Ning Hai did fear his wife and decide that he would not take her out in the future. Otherwise, where could he put his face if they would encounter such things hereafter? Ning Hai and his wife had agreed to be the real citizens in the capital, but how could his wife act so rudely and shamelessly in a blink? Ning Hai felt regretted at that moment.
However, Ning's woman did not care it at all, and just wrapped the taels of silver she got again and again before hiding them in the arms. Seeing it, Ning Hai jerked the corner of his mouth again. Her satin clothes was stuffed into a bulge. Ning's woman pulled down the hem of her clothes and gave a smirk at Ning Hai. And the manager smiled apologetically beside. Not until they sent this Plague God away did the manager burst into rage that could break the door. He had never seen such an old vulgar, but had to admit his bad luck. But this woman should remeber that and never encounter him in the future.
After Ning's woman had made a scene, no one had the mood to hang round the capital. Ning Hai had been to the capital several times and quite familiar with the capital. The group of people looked for storefront for Changxi. To live in the capital for a long time, taels of silver were indispensable. It was unreasonable that Magic Doctor Chang raised the whole family. So Ning Hai wanted to open a snack bar to lighten the financial burden. After some selection and comparision, he chose the storefront in the eastern part of the capital. Ni Shang paid for the rent hurriedly.
The family settled down finally. Ning Hai was full of hope to his new home. To make Magic Doctor Chang live more comfortable, he even used the money in his secret purse. This time, Ning's woman did not pester him, instead, helped him to clean up the house. Ning Hai was in a good mood, thinking that his wife finally became clear-headed. In fact, he did not know what his wife was plotting. Ning's woman treated Changxi well merely because of Changxi's high medical skills. After all, how could Ning's woman do the business of losing money? As long as Changxi was there, Ning's woman would get numerous taels of silver in the future, so Ning's woman did not care that too much. When everything was settled down, You Qingcheng set out to return the palace. There was not a trace of rumors at all in the palace since she had been left there for many days. It seemed that her substitute did a good job.
The two said goodbye to Ning Hai and hurried to the Qi Palace. Ning's woman was envious, wondering when she could take a look around the palace.
(Author thought according to Ning's woman's behavior, she could not come out of the palace as soon as she entered it, because there were countless precious treasures in the palace. What would happen if she satified her greed at the cost of her life?)
The two jumped over the palace wall and remained cautious all the way. The imperial harem was a place where people were treated ruthlessly and cruelly. It would be unpredictably awful if they were discovered. The Queen of the Qi Kingdom dared to play outside the palace. The Majesty would reproach her violently for sure. You Qingcheng was fully aware how terrible it would be, so she would not ask for trouble. When they arrived at the Eastern Palace, Ni Shang removed the look on the fake Queen. That little servant knelt down hurriedly in front of her Master.
Her substitute was flirting with Di Qing. The Qingshou Palace was filled with romantic atmosphere. Jingyu became delirious with joy, not knowing that the real Queen had come back. In these few days, Di Qing stayed there with the so-called You Qingcheng.
Because of the Heavenly Book, Di Qing followed Chidi to rush around and igored You Qingcheng. So he felt guilty for the Queen. But in these days, Di Qing was more energetic, feeling that the Queen was unusual somewhere but could not tell where. However, Di Qing preferred the Queen at present, who was as innocent as a child. She was so simple and harmless that her twinclkes and smiles drew Di Qing's attention. He felt that he loved what You Qingcheng were now more, but he did not know that she was just a substitute and that the real You Qingcheng had just returned to the palace.
"Has there anything unusual in the palace these days?"
Hearing no response from the people kneeling down, You Qingcheng was seething with anger. She had just left the palace for a few days, and the palace servants dared to disobey her. But she did not know that many things were out of control these days, and that her husband was finding solace from another woman. Besides, her servant had got something good from the substitute and began turning against her. As a matter of fact, the palace was a ruthless and greedy place. A servant today could be a master and enemy the other day, such as You Qingcheng's substitute. All the changes happened in a blink. The routine in the palace was to trample all the enemies underfoot. Whosoever showed mercy would get nothing but a dead ending. You Qingcheng understood the rule well, but she could not be that cold-blooded and cruel. Even though she knew that her younger sister plotted to kill her, she was unwilling to strike a vicious blow to her sister. This was why You Qingcheng was in a inferior position. As a bystander, Ni Shang saw everything with her eyes, thinking that the Queen was unfit for the life in the palace. In the place where the big fish ate up the small ones, acridity was the only means to live on. Even if You Qingcheng once worked with Di Qing to plot Lin Xiaosa, she just learned something superficial. To be in an invulnerable position in the palace, You Qingcheng needed to know how to rely on influences and powers. As a Queen, her position was too high to touch. If she could not be supported by some influences, she would be isolated without doubt. But the Western Palace was totally different, which was developing its influence secretly. And it would compete with the Eastern Palace when it became stronger.
| ← Ch. 095 | Ch. 097 → |