novel
| ← Ch.281 | Ch.283 → |
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the faint light of the heavens, she seemed to see that man's figure again.
It was already deep into spring as the flowers fell like snow. That young man stood below a tree wearing his bright blue robe with a violet cloth belt. From afar, he casually asked aloud, "Aye! Which palace did you come from?"
Suddenly, the recollection was shattered. In her blurred vision, she could make out Wenyuan's worried face. Wenyuan's mouth was opening and closing profusely, but she could not make out what she was speaking.
She knew that she had probably fallen sick again. She was surrounded by others. There were some who were tugging on her limbs and shaking her anxiously. They shook her limbs so hard that she felt pain. Frowning, she was rather angry as she wanted to scold these people who did not seem to know how painful it was, yet she was unable to make any sounds. Even as she opened her mouth with all her strength, she seemed like a fish in the bottom of the ocean, unable to make any sound, much less breath.
Wenyuan was panicking as she snapped at the eunuch beside her, "Why did the Emperor not come? Have you gone to inform him?"
The young Eunuch's face was completely pale, and his voice was on the verge of crying as he knelt on the ground and replied, "This servant almost broke my legs running, and the message has been transmitted. Yet, Lady Cheng said that the Emperor is taking a nap. Whatever will wait until after he wakes."
"How ridiculous!" Wenyuan bellowed."How dare she? Is this something that she could afford to take responsibility for?"
Seeing how she was enraged, the whole room sank into silence as they knelt on the ground. Yet, at this moment, Nalan Hongye thought that Wenyuan was getting out of hand, daring to speak such words. If such words reached the ears of Lady Cheng, it would undoubtedly be another turbulent incident.
Since she was unable to speak, she decided to continue closing her eyes and relax, letting the people around her continue to run around like ants on a hot plate.
Deep down, she agreed that Lady Cheng was indeed going overboard. Just because Lady Cheng had already given birth to two sons and the fact that her family background was strong, she had started to become lawless in her actions. Her selfish moves would prove to be fatal for the empire. It seemed like once Nalan Hongye got better, she would need to pay particular attention to suppress this Lady, else the entire court would be negatively influenced by her.
Nalan sighed in fatigue as she entered her pitch black dreamland yet again.
Lady Cheng's original name was Cheng Rongrong, cousin to General Cheng Yuan. After the Great Yan Empire had designated Zhen Huang as the capital, some of the women of the noble families of Yan entered the harem. Due to General Cheng's influence in the court, along with her own beauty, she had risen through the ranks quickly. In addition, she had successfully given birth to two sons, instantly turning into one of the most influential women, second to only the Empress. She was originally an intelligent woman, yet her mind had been clouded by the privileges she had enjoyed.
It was only when dusk came did Yan Xun finally wake up. Due to the urgent military intelligence that had just arrived last night, Yan Xun had not had the chance to sleep at all last night. Even as he woke up now, he still felt groggy.
Lady Cheng knelt on the floor, a layer of thin yellow silk cape draped over her figure. Seductively, she served him tea and started informing him of various matters. Yan Xun listened on, although mostly disinterested. Suddenly, one single sentence floated into his ear. He was slightly stunned, as he looked straight at Lady Cheng and asked, "What did you say?"
Lady Cheng was slightly shocked inside, yet she tried her best to remain calm, and without changing her smiling face, she elaborated, "Around noon, the eunuch from Dongnan Palace came to inform that the Empress was not feeling well. Seeing how Your Majesty was sleeping so well, I did not dare to wake you up. I believe it was definitely due to a miscommunication. The Empress has been such a considerate person, and she has always struggled with health problems. If she had known, she might have scolded that servant, and would definitely not disturb the Emperor."
Sitting on the bed, Yan Xun did not speak. His gaze was so deep, devoid of any hints of his emotions.
Lady Cheng sniggered happily deep inside. She started to wash up for Yan Xun. Yet she had not expected that the moment Yan Xun put on his clothes properly he started to leave. Lady Cheng asked in a rush, "Would Your Majesty not stay to eat dinner?"
Yan Xun slowly turned around. The setting sun shone on his face, giving off a light golden glow. He quietly looked at Lady Cheng and did not show many emotions. Yet, it was enough to send shivers down other's back, freezing their flowing blood.
Lady Cheng immediately knelt down. The ending of Lady Yuan Shilan floated up in her memory, causing her to be so afraid she almost cried.
After an unknown duration, a maidservant walked up to her and whispered, "The Emperor has left."
She slowly lifted her head up, only to feel that her forehead was full of cold sweat. She had lost all strength and almost fell down. Shrieking, the maidservants supported her to the bed. She grasped her chest with her hand, as her face remained pale as ever, without speaking a single word. She knew very clearly that even though the Emperor had not said anything, she was so close to being killed just now.
The night started to turn dark as she started to contemplate. Finally, she heaved a sigh, and instructed the servants, "Give the guard 30 lashes, and prepare a huge present for the Empress tomorrow to apologize. Explain that the guard was being lazy and gave the wrong information."
The maidservant acknowledged this. Despite being scared, the maidservant dared not to question. Before long, the sound of the guard howling from the beating could be heard.
At the end of the day, being able to reach this position, she was definitely not a naive and innocent girl. She knew when to advance and when to retreat. Even if she could not help but be prideful, she knew how to tell it was too much. The warning today was enough for her to be jolted back to reality.
"Liu Xu, prepare the incense and the scriptures. Tomorrow, I will head to the temple to copy the religious scriptures in prayer of our Empire's prosperity."
"Understood, my lady."
This round of testing was enough.
Cheng Rongrong heaved a sigh as she touched the blanket that Yan Xun had just slept on, only to feel that it was completely cold.
By the time Yan Xun reached the Dongnan Palace, darkness had enveloped the lands. There were only a few torches lit in Dongnan Palace, as most of the imperial doctors had left. Seeing how he had come, the servants immediately knelt down. Just as they were about to announce his presence, he stopped them. He walked into a room full of prostrated maidservants that continued all the way to that cold doors.
She had already slept. Lying in those layers of silk, her face was so pale, as her hair was a mess. She looked so frail and weak.
Wenyuan was extremely happy. She began to lay out a pillow on the bed for him to sit. Yet, Yan Xun pulled a chair over and sat right facing Nalan Hongye. The servants had all left, leaving only the two of them. He sat there quietly while she slept deeply.
It seemed that he had never seen her like this before. In his memory, Nalan Hongye had always been dressed impeccably, with just enough make-up and accessories. She would always be smiling, exuding the aura of royalty. She was never so weak, so wrecked, so frail like now. She had really slimmed down. Looking at her now, it was rather difficult for him to connect that she was that Princess of Song.
Time was indeed the quietest assassin. With just a blink of an eye, so many years had passed. He did not say anything and left after a while of sitting. Yet, this moment of quiet sitting was enough to turn the mood jubilant. Wenyuan ecstatically ran up and down at the outer place, settling all kinds of issues. That was because as the Emperor left, he said that he would return the next day.
Just as the gates to the Dongnan Palace closed, Nalan Hongye opened her eyes. She was so thin, and her eyes were sunken in. Yet her gaze was always so sharp and calm, filled with the intelligence that was honed from all these years.
That chair was still by her bed, empty. There was a carving of two dragons on the chair, coiling around.
It has been so many years. Nalan Hongye, have you ever felt regret?
In the weak candlelight, she asked herself.
Finally, she smiled weakly as she closed her eyes.
Life in the palace went on as usual, as the weather started to get colder and the usage of the fireplaces started to become ubiquitous. Yet, Nalan Hongye's condition did not turn any better. Almost half of the imperial doctors had took up residence within the Dongnan Palace to look over the Empress.
On this day it was another school day. Yushu brought along Yong'er to visit Nalan Hongye, bringing along some supplements along. Sitting in the warm bedroom, they chatted with Nalan Hongye.
After some small talk, and seeing that Nalan Hongye was rather tired, Yushu was just about to bid farewell as she suddenly asked, "Tomorrow is the anniversay of King Xuan's death, right?" / update by
Yushu was slightly taken aback. For some reason, she was suddenly put on alert, as she quietly replied, "Yes."
Nalan Hongye nodded, as Wenyuan presented a small box. Nalan Hongye calmly said, "Your husband was a great man, having contributed greatly to the society. I am not in the best shape, so I would be impossible for me to go anywhere. Please help me to bring my wishes over."
The warm bedroom suddenly felt a tinge of coldness. Starting from Yushu's finger, the coldness trickled to her finger tips. Stiffly she received the box while biting her lower lips, before bowing her head down in reverence, "This servant thanks Your Highness on behalf of my deceased husband."
Nalan Hongye shook her head, and was just about to speak when servants entered from the outside. Whispering to Wenyuan, even Wenyuan was taken aback as she turned to look at Nalan Hongye.
Yushu immediately informed her of their departure. Seeing that, Nalan Hongye did not attempt to hold them back either.
The sun was so bright, and Yushu's palms were completely wet. With all her strength, she clenched on her shirt. It was as though she was trying to grip some thoughts to death.
Suddenly, a group of eunuchs rushed to the west side, distracting Yushu who casually asked her servants, "What happened? What are those people doing?"
The maidservant had lived in the palace for a long time, and with her social abilities she walked over and asked about the incident. As she returned, her face was too in a panic as she said, "Lady, Lady Yuan of the West Cold Palace commited suicide."
"Lady Yuan?" Yushu was stunned, as she asked in surprise.
The maidservant licked her lips and said, "She was originally Lady Chu."
"Yuan Shilan?" It was Yushu's turn to be astonished.
Lady Chu, her original name was Yuan Shilan, and was the most legendary lady in the short history of the Great Yan Empire.
She was initially just a clothes washing girl. Once she committed a mistake was about to be sent for eternal imprisonment, yet she knew some basic martial arts. She injured the old maidservant who was watching over her at night and escaped the jail. As she ran away, she had no way to run, and crashed into the Emperor's carriage. After being hurt by an arrow, she smashed her head on a palace gate, rather dying than to be captured.
She was then successfully revived. The Emperor liked her attitude, and quickly promoted her. In half a year, she was the only love of the Emperor, and was eventually titled Lady Chu. This had undoubtedly raised doubts in the court, but the Emperor did not care at all.
Yet three months ago in a rainy night, there was a huge turbulence. Lady Chu was suddenly demoted. In three days, she was demoted to no better than how she was initially.
No one knew what happened that night. Rumors had it that Lady Chu argued with the Emperor, and in her rage she destroyed her own face, turning herself into a hideous mess. Seeing that, the Emperor was enraged.
As the other ladies spoke of this, they were naturally caustic. Firstly due to her popularity with the emperor, she was particularly prideful and had not talked much to the other ladies. In addition, traditionally the ladies had always been entertaining the Emperor by their looks. Ruining her looks herself was something unthinkable and would not win anyone's pity.
"Lady? Lady?" The maidservant was rather scared as she asked a few times.
After snapping back to reality Yushu immediately instructed, "Let us head out of palace."
After exiting from two gates, the carriage slowly inched forward as it was accompanied by the crows. A wave of cold wind swept up the veils, as several black feathers fell. Waving, fluttering, these feathers landed in this lonesome palace.
| ← Ch. 281 | Ch. 283 → |