Cai Qin was so terrified that her legs went soft. Her knees slowly dropped on the ground. Only now did it occur to her that she had gotten herself in big trouble. Cai Qin hurriedly prostrated. "This servant has just entered the palace and is ignorant of the rules. I have offended Esteemed Consort. I beg you to forgive me!"
How could Chiyun Ping let herself be dismissed with just a few sentences? She ordered her direct eunuch to haul Cai Qin to the courtyard for detailed questioning.
After taking a few slaps, Cai Qin was scared out of her wits. She didn"t dare to hide anything and explained from beginning to end how she had entered the palace, before banging her head on the ground begging for forgiveness. How could Chiyun Ping let her off, though? She wanted to use this as an excuse! Yan Feng doesn"t want to see me, does he? Then, this is just a perfect chance. I shall personally drag this lowly servant to see him.
Chiyun Ping got on the sedan chair, ordered her people to grab Cai Qin, and headed for Wan"an Palace.
Unlike what Chiyun Ping had expected, Yan Feng wasn"t in Wan"an Palace. The eunuch guarding the doors respectfully informed Chiyun Ping that the emperor often visited Qixiang Palace lately. Chiyun Ping was confused. Why would Yan Feng go to that deserted palace?
Chiyun Ping and her troop of people instantly changed directions towards Qixiang Palace. From a way away, she could already hear the sound of qin. She ordered her people to wait outside and had the maid-in-waiting escort her to the entrance.
Arriving outside the door, Chiyun Ping was instantly greeted with the sight of Yan Feng and a young girl sitting at the stone table in the courtyard. Yan Feng was absorbed in playing the qin, while the young girl held a music book and gave pointers on his playing. The two talked and laughed intimately. Oftentimes, Yan Feng would raise his head to look at the girl, his face full of smiles and his eyes gentle.
Something exploded in Chiyun Ping"s head as she was thunderstruck. She staggered, almost stumbling on the ground were it not for her maid supporting her. Chiyun Ping was extremely sad and at a loss. The scene that she dreaded the most had finally befallen her.
Hearing the sounds at the door, Yan Feng turned around. When he saw Chiyun Ping, he came out to welcome her despite feeling perturbed in his heart. "My beloved consort, you haven"t recovered. Why aren"t you recuperating in your palace and running here instead?" Seeing Chiyun Ping in such a weakened state, Yan Feng supported her into the courtyard, then ordered people to bring out a cushioned chair for her to lean back in.
Chiyun Ping didn"t let the negative feelings show on her face. She calmly asked Yan Feng, "Who is this lady? How come I haven"t seen her before?"
Smart and sensitive as she was, Murong Zhining instantly deducted Chiyun Ping"s ident.i.ty. Before Yan Feng could answer, she knelt to pay respect to Chiyun Ping. "Commoner Murong Zhining greets Esteemed Imperial n.o.ble Consort."
Chiyun Ping looked at her, startled. So this girl was the one in the story that lowly servant had just told her about.
Chiyun Ping ordered Cai Qin to be brought in. She wept as she complained of the wrongs she had suffered to Yan Feng. "Your Majesty, you"ve only given me the cold shoulder for a few days, and now the servants wouldn"t put me in their eyes anymore. This lowly maid barged into Minghui Palace and didn"t pay her respects when she saw me. I"ve brought her here to get a clear answer, are there still rules in this palace?"
Cai Qin prostrated on the ground. It was unknown where she got her courage from, but Cai Qin actually thought that Yan Feng would definitely protect her because she had done the great deed of reporting Murong Zhining. Cai Qin spoke with absolute confidence, "Your Majesty, I have been uninformed of outside news in Jinyue Palace, so I thought I could go out and ask about how you would punish that despicable servant Murong Zhining. But I never thought I"d go to the wrong place and offend Esteemed Imperial n.o.ble Consort. Jinyue Palace is too desolate. I beg of Your Majesty, please send me over to a more bustling place."
Initially, Yan Feng didn"t recognize Cai Qin at all. However, now that he had known of the root of this matter, he was furious. Yan Feng smacked the table, shouting, "You audacious, cunning servant! I haven"t come to find you, and you"ve actually delivered yourself to the door! Today, if you don"t explain clearly why you framed Murong Zhining, I shall not let you off lightly! Ridiculous, you even think my palace is a vegetable farm where you can go wherever you please?"
Chiyun Ping felt her heart turn cold. She came to ask Yan Feng to back her up, but all he thought about was upholding justice for another woman. Chiyun Ping could be certain now; Yan Feng had truly fallen for this girl, Murong Zhining.
Terrified, Cai Qin looked up at Yan Feng to observe his expression. This wasn"t playing out at all as she had imagined. She could see Murong Zhining here, not only free of punishment, but also permitted to stand in the presence of the emperor. Cai Qin didn"t know what had happened, but she could sense it; she was in big trouble!
Cai Qin didn"t dare to slander Murong Zhining like she had before. She could smell the fury in Yan Feng"s voice. She knew clearly that if she didn"t admit her crimes, she"d be doomed for eternity!
Cai Qin instantly displayed her special talent for survival - see the wind and set the helm . Sniveling uncontrollably, she crawled to hug Murong Zhining"s leg. "Zhining, you are a great person and I"m but a petty one, so please, forget my offenses. I was wrong to believe in the rumors those dirty errand boys spread. Since we had all suffered back in the Zhuang Estate, I beg you, please ask His Majesty to forgive my sins!" Then, like a chicken pecking rice, she repeatedly banged her head on the ground towards Yan Feng.
Unable to look at this any longer, Yan Feng glanced over at Murong Zhining. "Since this concerns you, how do you want to punish her?"
Murong Zhining bent her knees and bowed in respect. "She only believed in false rumors. Besides, Your Majesty"s keen eyes have pierced through her lies. Since this hasn"t caused me any serious suffering, please forgive her this time!"
Yan Feng bellowed at the peak of rage, "This lowly slave"s lies nearly took your life, and yet you"re pleading for her? If she is not getting taught a lesson, I"m afraid she will continue to harm others in the future. Men, come! Drag this lowly slave out for thirty zhangs and expel her from the palace!"
Chiyun Ping"s body involuntarily shuddered, but she didn"t know whether it was because of grief or fear. Shouldn"t she be the main character? She had sought Yan Feng so he would set things right for herself, not to demand justice for some unrelated person. Not to mention, chances were high that this person would become her mortal enemy in the future. From beginning to end, all Yan Feng had cared about was the wrongs that Murong Zhining had suffered. He had completely ignored Chiyun Ping"s grief and feelings. It finally dawned on Chiyun Ping that, in the eyes of her true love, she was no longer, because they were filled with nothing but that girl called Murong Zhining.
Chiyun Ping laughed out loud from the depths of her sorrow. On her beautiful face, two streaks of tears glistened. She, the imperial n.o.ble consort dressed in luxurious clothes, wearing a golden hairpin decorated with green jades, had been completely defeated by a lowly girl of unknown origin in a maid outfit.
Chiyun Ping spoke then, her voice dreary yet plaintive, "Hold on. This lowly maid Cai Qin had offended me earlier. I ask of Your Majesty to let me handle her!"
Yan Feng glanced at the consort whose beautiful face was stained with tears. Only now did he realized that he had completely forgotten about her when he had decided on this matter.
Yan Feng felt a pang of guilt. "My beloved consort, ever since Empress pa.s.sed on, you"ve been the one in charge of the harem. It"s most suitable to let you handle this servant. Let"s do as you said."
Chiyun Ping expressed her grat.i.tude. Then, she ordered people to take Cai Qin back to Minghui Palace. She wanted to vent her seething resentment on Cai Qin.
In Minghui Palace, the sound of wooden flanks. .h.i.tting the flesh echoed one after another. That along with Cai Qin"s begging in a hoa.r.s.e voice made people"s scalp tingle.
After the punishment, the eunuchs dragged Cai Qin over to Chiyun Ping. With an ashen face and a twisted expression from the pain, Cai Qin pleaded in a weak voice, "I"m begging you, Esteemed Consort, please let me off! I will risk my life to go through fire and boiling water for you!"
Chiyun Ping stared at her with blazing contempt. "Many are willing to go through fire and boiling water for me. Just who do you think you are?"
Cai Qin once again utilized that silver tongue of hers, "I can see that Esteemed Consort doesn"t like that despicable maid Murong Zhining either. She is our common enemy! I can work together with you to deal with her!"
Chiyun Ping snorted scornfully. "Those who offend me will never end well. You think I need your help just to deal with a servant?"
Cai Qin didn"t give up. "Esteemed Consort is the master of the Imperial Harem, of course you don"t need my help. But if you want to touch that despicable maid, His Majesty definitely will protect her; he might even decry you for it. I can help you come up with some good plans."
Chiyun Ping wanted exactly those words from Cai Qin. In fact, her intention was to teach Cai Qin a lesson so that this maid would vow to be a dedicated servant at her disposal.
In the Imperial Study, on the desk was a pile of checked reports. Yan Feng stood up and stretched his body. Then, he walked to the throne and sat down, sipping his tea as he casually flipped through a book on the art of managing a nation composed by wise scholars of the past generations. However, his mind couldn"t calm down to read it, his face fickle and impatient.
His eunuch-in-waiting Qi Shangming respectfully bowed and said, "Your Majesty has been restless lately. Perhaps… because of Miss Murong?"
Yan Feng impatiently glared at him. "You nosy servant. Stop sticking your nose in my business!"
Displeased, Qi Shangming pouted. "I thought I could help you come up with some ideas, but it looks like Your Majesty doesn"t need it!"
Yan Feng ignored him, his eyes fixed on the book. A while later, he threw the book aside and sighed, "Aii! Old Qi, tell me, why is Miss Murong so different from other people? How are her guts so big? How come she dares to say things that others would never dare say to me?"
Qi Shangming deliberately put on an act. "I don"t dare to shoot my mouth off, or Your Majesty might just get mad at me later!"
Yan Feng squinted his eyes at the eunuch, "Get your head over here!"
Qi Shangming rolled his eyes and expressionlessly craned his head towards Yan Feng. Yan Feng smacked the head with the book.
Qi Shangming had served Yan Feng for many years. Due to his acute intelligence, his exceptional ability for understanding the emperor"s idea, as well as his attentiveness and efficiency, the eunuch was greatly appreciated by Yan Feng. Even though Qi Shangming was only a servant, Yan Feng would ask for and listen to his opinion in various matters. In private, the duo of master and servant were very casual in conversations despite the nature of their relationship.
Yan Feng pretended to be angry. "When I don"t want you to talk, you shoot your mouth off. When I want you to talk, you deliberately keep your mouth shut. Maybe it"s because I haven"t lectured you in a long time?! Hurry and tell me your view on this."
Qi Shangming rolled his eyes again. In a slow pace, he said, "Your Majesty fancies Miss Murong, we servants can all see this. How about, Your Majesty can just grant her a consort t.i.tle. This way, Your Majesty won"t be beside yourself whenever she is not in your sight."
Yan Feng knitted his brows and muttered, "Have I been that obvious? Even the servants could see it?"
Qi Shangming mumbled, "It"s not like I"m blind."
Yan Feng threw the book at Qi Shangming"s head, furious. "You flunkey, your gut is growing bigger and bigger these days. You"re actually bullying your master now!"
Then, the duo were both silent.
After a long silence, Yan Feng was the first to lose patience. He shook his head. "I don"t think directly granting a t.i.tle is sensible. If Miss Murong doesn"t want to accept it, what should I do then?"
Qi Shangming chuckled. "My, oh, my… Is the sun rising in the West today? Your Majesty actually has a time when you"re afraid? Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven; all the women in this world would be honored to serve by your side. Miss Murong is an intelligent girl, how can she not accept? I even think that she"d be more than overjoyed."
Yan Feng repeatedly shook his head. "You don"t understand Miss Murong. If she was like the other girls, I might not like her this much! Aii, I"m afraid that if I do something unwanted, she will ignore me forever."
Qi Shangming covered his mouth for fear that he would laugh out loud and anger Yan Feng. In his perception, Yan Feng had never been this shy. He tried his best to fight the urge to laugh. "Your Majesty, since when have you become so indecisive? I thought that with your personality, if she doesn"t comply, you would have people carry her here and do the… that?"
Yan Feng reached out his hand, pretended he wanted to smack Qi Shangming"s head. Qi Shangming panickedly hugged his head and fled to the side. After what seemed like half a day, Yan Feng quietly said, "I can"t… The beauty can"t be treated irreverently. I want to slowly work it out!"
Standing behind Yan Feng, Qi Shangming rolled his eyes at him.
Qixiang Palace. Murong Zhining and Cai Sang sat at the stone table in the yard, chatting as they embroidered handkerchiefs. Cai Sang worriedly said, "From what I"ve seen the past several days, His Majesty hasn"t looked as angry as before. How about we mention leaving the palace to him again? Aii! His Majesty must be reluctant to let you leave the palace. What should we do?"
Murong Zhining patted her embroidery frame. "His Majesty looks cold, but he"s actually like a little child. There isn"t many people in the palace who can talk to him, so he only temporarily finds me novel. Let"s mention our wish to leave when he"s in a good mood someday. If we seem anxious about it, I"m afraid he"d turn against us."
Cai Sang pouted her cute lips. "Do you like His Majesty too and don"t want to leave anymore? You are too simple-minded and honest. If you remain here, how will you be able to outfight those concubines?"
Murong Zhining pinched her face. "Nonsense! What do you know? I only want to see more sheet music that I haven"t seen before. You don"t know how hard it is to come across these outside. Moreover, I still want to play "Sonorous" for a bit longer, because I won"t be able to see it again after we leave. I promise you, I"ll definitely take you out of this place, okay?"
Cai Sang happily nodded. "Mhm."
Murong Zhining stopped sewing and took out a little sack in her chest. Inside the sack, a piece of phoenix tree leaf sculpted from green jade quietly lay next to a rusty yellow, bloodstained sheet of paper. These two objects were Murong Zhining"s treasures. In her heart, they were more important than even her own life.