Chapter 14

The next day, a gentle breeze accompanied the waning moon as dawn broke.

When Qi Yu woke up, she saw that it was getting light and subconsciously looked around.

As expected, Wu Shiyan did not leave. He did not have to attend court today, so he did not have to leave with the morning dew before dawn. She was also not disturbed and was able to sleep soundly until now.

A faint sense of satisfaction rose in Qi Yu's heart. The thought that such days would happen every day after she went to the Imperial Estate filled her with endless anticipation for leaving the palace this morning.

Perhaps sensing Qi Yu's gaze, Wu Shiyan opened his eyes, his eyes clear and bright, without the drowsiness of having slept all night.

As Qi Yu looked away, she thought to herself, "No wonder Wu Shiyan has so many enemies and is still doing well. He's just too vigilant."

Her gaze lingered on him for only a moment before she was noticed.

Qi Yu didn't lie there lazily as usual, but got up immediately.

Hearing the commotion inside the hall, the palace servants from Zhaoyang Palace and Wu Shiyan's side entered to attend to their respective masters.

Qi Yu, dressed in her nightgown, had her hair combed by a palace maid. After her hair was styled into a bun, she went to wash up and change her clothes.

She then sat in front of the bronze mirror in her dressing case, where palace maids applied her makeup and put on her hairpins.

As always, Qi Yu entrusted all these matters to the palace maids, only needing to sit still with her face slightly tilted back.

Wu Shiyan was much faster. While she was still waiting to apply lip rouge and draw her eyebrows, he was already standing tall and imposing in front of her, dressed in a long robe with wide sleeves.

Qi Yu looked at her with a puzzled expression.

His Majesty's sudden appearance here made the palace maid uneasy, and her hands became unsteady.

Seeing this, Wu Shiyan simply took the ink from the palace maid's hand, tentatively made a couple of strokes in the air, and then said to Qi Yu, "Don't move."

Qi Yu became wary after he caught the snail-shaped ink, and when she saw that he really intended to test it on her eyebrows, she immediately got angry.

She covered her brow and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, such a small matter can be done by the palace maids. Why do you need to do it yourself?"

Wu Shiyan, however, said, "I think drawing eyebrows is a very important matter."

Qi Yu felt that Wu Shiyan must want to embarrass her. He was probably still angry about what happened in court last night, so he came to harass her.

She doesn't even know how to draw eyebrows, so how could Wu Shiyan know?

Wu Shiyan stopped holding Luo Dai's hand in front of Qi Yu and said, "If you let me draw a few strokes, I can give you a bodyguard. How about Lin Qi from last time? Her lightness skill is top-notch."

Qi Yu hesitated before slowly lowering her hand.

Lin Qi genuinely wanted it; she was considerate and open with everything she knew.

In the unlikely event that she encounters danger outside the palace, and the guards and palace servants are of no use, Lin Qi can guarantee her safety.

Qi Yu pursed her lips and said, "I can only draw two strokes."

With just two strokes, the palace maid could probably fix it without needing to redo her face.

Wu Shiyan nodded, his gaze falling intently on Qi Yu's face, openly and carefully examining her, as if scrutinizing the placement of the brushstrokes.

Qi Yu's heart also tightened along with his.

When Wu Shiyan started drawing her eyebrows, Qi Yu had already forgotten their agreement to only draw two strokes, letting him gently draw them stroke by stroke.

Because Wu Shiyan seems to actually know how to draw eyebrows.

Qi Yu glanced at the bronze mirror out of the corner of her eye. The woman in the mirror, who was sitting sideways, had her eyebrows gradually arched, and with her clear, bright eyes, she had a picture-perfect face.

After Wu Shiyan finished drawing his eyebrows, he placed the snail-shaped ink on the table.

A palace maid stepped forward to apply fine lip rouge to Qi Yu.

Qi Yu noticed this and gradually felt relieved.

Wu Shiyan only drew his eyebrows, presumably because he was itching to show off his skills, rather than for any other reason.

Otherwise, if he gave her Lin Qi for free, she would really think that Wu Shiyan had ulterior motives.

The luggage for the trip to the imperial estate had been prepared well in advance. Qi Yu brought several large carriages, half of the palace servants, cooks, and craftsmen from Zhaoyang Palace, along with the guards that Wu Shiyan assigned to her who only obeyed her orders.

The group marched through the palace road, exited the palace gates, and headed towards the imperial estate outside the capital.

As they passed through a street, the curtain of Qi Yu's carriage suddenly moved, and Pei Jiu inside the carriage cried out in surprise. The head guard of the procession abruptly drew his sword: "Your Highness, is something wrong?"

Qi Yu lifted the curtain, revealing most of the space inside the carriage: "It's nothing, it's just that His Majesty's men have arrived. Let's continue."

The guard sheathed his sword, clasped his hands in agreement, and indeed saw a slender but extremely tall woman in black clothes inside the carriage.

The woman bowed respectfully to the Imperial Concubine, who showed no sign of being threatened.

The guards lowered their guard and led the group out again.

Inside the carriage, Qi Yu said to Pei Jiu, "This is Lin Qi."

Aunt Jinrong was used to staying in Zhaoyang Palace, so she did not leave the palace with her.

Pei Jiu blushed. She had clearly heard His Majesty say that he was going to give the Empress a bodyguard that morning, but when the person actually arrived, she was startled.

Qi Yu then introduced Pei Jiu to Lin Qi: "She is my head palace maid and someone I trust."

Pei Jiu smiled at Lin Qi, who nodded indifferently.

Pei Jiu wasn't annoyed. Lin Qi was clearly that kind of person, and she didn't know how to flatter the master. Lin Qi's duty was to protect the empress, so why should she be hostile to her and compete with her?

An hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a village.

Someone had already opened the gate and was waiting there. After Qi Yu was helped down from the carriage by Pei Jiu, she first looked around.

This estate is not large in area. Although it cannot compare to the carved beams and painted rafters of the palace, it still has red gates and high walls. There are two stone lions in front of the gate, and the ground is paved with gray bricks and swept spotlessly clean.

The person in charge of the estate was also from the palace; she was a woman around thirty years old.

She said, "My name is Chen Yueniang. Your Highness can call me Yueniang. Your Highness must be tired from your journey. Would you like to rest for a while first, or would you like me to show you around the estate?"

Qi Yu had already rested in the carriage, and now her curiosity about the estate had taken over. She said, "I'm not tired. Just send a maid who is familiar with the estate to accompany me for a tour. Yue Niang, you can settle my people in."

Chen Yueniang agreed.

Chen Yueniang led Qi Yu into the manor and sent someone to call her daughter, whose nickname was Lanlan.

Lanlan was a clever little girl of eight or nine years old. She was not afraid of Qi Yu and, upon receiving the order, she and the others strolled around the house.

Qi Yu was with Pei Jiu, while Lin Qi hid in the shadows when she got off the carriage.

They walked through a winding corridor, and the scenery gradually came into view.

This place truly lives up to its imperial name. The scenery within the estate is primarily inspired by the gardens of southern China, with lush vegetation and craggy rocks everywhere you look, all exuding a natural charm.

A stream flows through the village, its waters gurgling and shimmering in the sunlight. Qi Yu even saw fish leaping up and swimming downstream.

Lanlan, lively and cheerful, said, "Your Highness, besides this stream, there is also a pond in the manor, where several beautiful koi carp are kept. Would Your Highness like to go and take a look?"

Qi Yu nodded.

They walked across the wooden bridge, through the archway, and stopped at a pavilion. In front of them was a large pond where koi carp were kept. The koi carp were very big, and when they flicked their tails, water was splashed against the outer wall of the pavilion.

Qi Yu fell in love with the fish in the pond at first sight; they were strong and agile, and look at their powerful tails.

She can feed the fish here later, and because there are many green plants in the estate, there is a cool breeze, so it is not hot at all.

Lanlan said, "The manor has been under renovation for the past two weeks. Originally, there was no pond here, let alone koi. But in just a few days, we have everything."

"I also heard that several horses have been sent to the estate, and there are even horse breeders and trainers. Fortunately, the estate is backed by a mountain, which is very spacious, and the horses can run there."

Pei Jiu exclaimed in surprise, "His Majesty has never said any of this."

No need to think about it, His Majesty arranged all of this so that the Empress would be comfortable.

Qi Yu asked Lanlan, "What else is on the estate?"

Lanlan said, "There are also some that grow in the ground and some that hang on the trees. Mother said that when the distinguished guests come, they might want to pick them themselves, so she decided to leave many on the trees and pick out the best ones to put on a plate to entertain the distinguished guests."

Her eyes shone brightly: "Your Highness is the noble person my mother spoke of, isn't she?"

Qi Yu patted Lanlan's fluffy head: "I really will be staying here for a while."

They walked further back, passing through a garden and bamboo grove, and the land in front of them opened up. Apart from a small plot of land set aside for vegetables, the rest of the flat land was planted with grains.

Fruit trees such as pear, jujube, peach, and pomegranate are planted on short, less flat slopes.

Along the wall, a wooden frame was erected, and grapevines climbed on it.

Qi Yu liked it more and more as she looked at it. Of course, she also saw the horses on the estate. They were all glossy and smooth, arranged from shortest to tallest, and all were first-class gentlemen.

Each one was a fine steed, naturally different from the horses they used to pull their carts.

Under the guidance of the horse breeder, Qi Yu fed each horse grass.

They also obediently lowered their heads and ate.

Finally, Lanlan took Qiyu to the stream to wash their hands. Seeing that the empress in the palace did not find this behavior unseemly, but instead took the initiative to splash in the stream, she suggested, "If Your Majesty does not mind, this servant can also take Your Majesty up the mountain to dig for mushrooms."

Qi Yu looked at her: "Up the mountain?"

The nobleman's gaze fell on her, and Lanlan couldn't help but blush slightly: "It's just the back mountain, not dangerous at all. Several paths have already been made by walking around it, but I know where the mushrooms are, even though no one else has found them."

Qi Yu looked at her with shining eyes, solemnly placed her hand on Lanlan's shoulder, and said earnestly, "I will hire you for ten taels a month. If I have a good time, I will also receive a reward."

Lanlan was so excited she almost jumped for joy. The lady from the palace was not only friendly, but she also specifically asked to hire her.

She was just a child, and some of the things she did were not even noticed by her mother, but in the eyes of the nobleman, they were worth ten taels of silver!

Qi Yu covered her mouth sleepily. On the estate, she was not bound by the rules and etiquette of the palace, and she was as lazy as a cat.

She smiled at Lanlan and said, "The yard should be tidied up now, let's go back."

Lanlan tried to appear composed and led Qi Yu toward the residence.

Qi Yu lives in the main courtyard, above which are the words "Wild Geese Return". The scenery inside is even better than what we just saw. There is a shallow lake with a large number of pink lotus flowers, about a third of which are in bloom, and the lush greenery is very welcoming.

Once back in her room, she found herself surrounded by familiar objects, requiring no adjustment whatsoever.

Qi Yu took out the money box and counted out ten taels: "I will give you your monthly allowance first. You should pay more attention to me."

Lanlan was initially worried that the noble lady might forget things, but now she had no more worries. Even though the noble lady now referred to herself as "this palace," in her heart she was still the best person in the world!

She nodded repeatedly.

After giving her the silver, Qi Yu waved for Lanlan to leave.

Palace servants served tea in an orderly fashion and wiped Qi Yu's sweat. She propped her head up and looked out through the open window lattice to see the lotus pond outside.

A note from the author:

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