Chapter 126 The Unloved Princess 1

As a child from a poor family, Lin Qinghuai studied hard day and night, and finally became the top scorer in the imperial examination at the age of sixteen.

It can be said that the spring breeze is so prosperous that the horse gallops, and all the flowers in Chang'an can be seen in one day.

The glory of the number one scholar soon faded. Lin Qinghuai, who had been silent in the Hanlin Academy for three years, quickly climbed up the court with his various merits. When he was nearly 24 years old, he had already been promoted to the position of Prime Minister.

As he grew older, the old emperor became more and more incompetent, and soon he became more and more powerful in the court. The younger Prime Minister Lin aroused the old emperor's vigilance.

It happened that Princess Lingqiao, who had just returned to the palace, fell in love with Lin Qinghuai at first sight. Since the prince consort of the Great Zhou Dynasty was not allowed to interfere in government affairs, the old emperor took advantage of the situation and designed a love affair between the two and then granted them a marriage, hoping to take the opportunity to dismiss Lin Qinghuai from his official position.

Lin Qinghuai understood the old emperor's thoughts perfectly. He abdicated power while ill, eliminating more than a dozen princes one by one. Finally, he launched a rebellion, overthrowing the entire Great Zhou regime and ascending the throne as emperor.

It was a hot summer day, and the scorching sun was scorching the earth. Apart from the emerald trees that were resistant to heat and cold, the carefully cared-for flowers and plants in the imperial garden also looked exhausted, with their emerald green leaves turning yellow and curling up slightly.

As His Majesty grows older, most of his princes have grown up, and the struggle for the throne has intensified. The harem is now much more peaceful than in previous years.

The weather was hot, and apart from the necessary daily greetings, the concubines did not like to go out. Most of them stayed in their own bedrooms, relying on ice distributed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to survive.

The concubines rarely went out, and the palace servants had less work to do, so they had more free time. It was very hot outside, so they gathered in groups of three or four in the shade to chat.

Serving the most distinguished nobles of the Great Zhou Dynasty, life in the palace is not easy. In addition to having to keep an eye on all directions when doing things, the palace servants also have to listen carefully and recognize people from all directions.

One must remember the titles and preferences of the masters in the palace, both big and small. After all, if one offends one of them carelessly, he or she may end up buried in the wilderness.

People who talk too much won't live long in the palace, but those who know nothing about anything can easily offend the nobles, so the leisure time exchanges among the palace servants become their opportunity to obtain information.

"Do you know? I heard that the prince from the West Palace is going back to the palace?"

The pink-robed palace attendant looked around and whispered softly to the palace attendants beside her.

Nishinomiya

Isn't that the cold palace?

Several palace attendants looked at each other in confusion. One who knew the situation whispered, "Are you talking about Her Royal Highness Princess Lingqiao of the Western Palace?"

The pink-robed palace attendant nodded affirmatively, and then whispered, "I heard it from Little Li from the Qinzheng Palace. It must be correct."

"Hasn't Princess Lingqiao been sent outside the palace to worship Buddha?" The confused palace attendant asked in confusion.

The West Palace was originally the palace of Princess Lingqiao's mother, Concubine Xiang. Concubine Xiang was charming and was favored as soon as she entered the palace. She gave birth to the only princess, Lingqiao.

Unfortunately, when Concubine Xiang became pregnant again, she was accused of having an affair. She and her adulterer were caught in bed by the emperor. In the end, she was sentenced to death along with the child, who was not sure whether it was the emperor's fetus or not. Her mother's family was also exterminated.

At that time, Princess Lingqiao was only five years old. Her mother had done something that brought shame to the emperor. Even though her eyebrows were similar to hers, the emperor did not like her and she was sent out of the palace.

There has never been an example of a princess in the palace being raised outside the palace. It was said to be for praying for the Great Zhou, but in fact it was no different from being imprisoned.

Judging from her age, Princess Lingqiao is already eighteen years old. Why was she called back to the palace at this time?

The palace people were puzzled, and the news soon spread. The concubines who were enjoying the coolness of ice to relieve the heat were also confused.

However, soon, except for a few concubines who had princesses, the other concubines quickly put this matter behind them.

After all, the more the emperor favors others, the less he favors his own daughter. Several concubines who had princesses took a quick look and quickly sent people to find out the news.

*

"Princess?"

A light male voice sounded in the silent study. The secret guard below held his breath, lowered his head, and did not look up.

Placing the folds he had finished reading casually on the right side of the desk, Lin Qinghuai placed his hands on the rosewood armrest, tapping it casually.

He was really good-looking, with his slender and powerful body outlined by his green robe and brocade belt, and his jade-white face like a crown of jade. He was the image of a refined and modest gentleman that was most loved by the ladies in the boudoir at that time.

He had already reached the first rank of officialdom before he was 24, and he had the appearance of a demon from exile. It was no wonder that even though Lin Qinghuai had no parents, after he came of age, he attracted countless matchmakers to come to his house, almost trampling down the door of Prime Minister Lin.

What does the old emperor want to do?

Lin Qinghuai, who was sensitive to the old emperor's fear of him, frowned thoughtfully, with a pensive look on his face.

Princess Lingqiao.

Eighteen years old...

It's time to get married...

The title of "Princess of Golden Branches and Jade Leaves" rolled on the tip of his tongue. Lin Qinghuai, who was good at guessing people's hearts, narrowed his eyes slightly, and thought of the old emperor's hints about his idea of getting married...

The force of his fingertips tapping on the armrest had stopped. Lin Qinghuai didn't know what he was thinking about. He narrowed his eyes and a hint of gloom passed across his face.

*

The weather in June is as changeable as a child's face. Yesterday the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear, but in the blink of an eye, dark clouds began to gather and heavy rain was about to fall.

The whole sky was dark, and the wind mixed with raindrops blew in through the wooden window. The woman stood by the window, staring blankly out, as if she was in a trance, not knowing what she was thinking about.

"Your Highness, why are you standing by the window?"

An urgent voice sounded, and the maid in green clothes no longer cared about hierarchy. She hurried forward to close the window, took the white towel and carefully wiped Nan Qiao's face.

Her face, stained with rain, was as pure and unparalleled as a lotus emerging from the water, her skin was as white as porcelain and delicate as cream. The white handkerchief was not as soft as silk, and even though the maid had tried to be as careful as possible, she still inevitably left red marks on her white jade-like cheeks.

Jintang stared blankly at the red marks on the face so close to him, his expression dazed, and his eyes gradually turned red.

"I'm fine, Jintang, you don't need to be so nervous." A faint smile appeared on the woman's face, as elusive as the ethereal clouds.

"How can you be alright? Your Highness is weak, and it's windy and rainy outside. What if you catch a cold? It's best not to get close to the window."

The little maid pursed her lips, her eyes still red. She threw the rough towel in her hand aside with some resentment, and then used her hands to wipe the water droplets off her prince's forehead.

The woman let her wipe it, still smiling faintly. Maybe it was because she had stayed in the temple for too long, but she had acquired some Buddha nature. When she looked up and smiled, there was a tranquility that was beyond the mundane world.

"I just felt the room was a little stuffy, so I opened a window. I won't open it again."

The ice basin in the corner of the room has completely melted. Temple practice emphasizes purity and seclusion. Even if it is very hot, the monks in the temple will not use such expensive things as ice basins.

This basin of ice was bought for the princess from the town below the mountain by the temple abbots who saved up a few coins every day. They only used one basin a day, and when it was used up, it was gone.

Jintang hummed in frustration. The room in the temple was so narrow that it was naturally hot and stuffy. Fortunately, it was raining outside, which took away some of the heat.

Otherwise, even with her fanning her all night, Her Royal Highness would probably not be able to sleep in bed.

His pitying gaze fell on the slightly sweaty woman. Jintang thought to himself that the rain wouldn't last long and it would soon get hot. Then the princess would probably not be able to sleep well at night.

She had saved a few coins from her embroidery work over the past few months, so why not buy some ice for His Highness first? However, she didn't have much money, and what would happen if His Highness caught a cold when the season changed?

Jintang's mind was filled with mixed feelings.

Knock knock knock.

There was a knock on the wooden door.

The young maid in green, who was lost in thought, came to her senses and felt a little confused. At this hour, the monks in the temple should still be doing their homework. Who would come to look for her princess?

Despite his doubts, Jintang still stood up and opened the door...

The maid in green went out and the wooden door was closed again.

There was no sound coming from outside the house. Nan Qiao's brows were calm. He held a scroll of scriptures in his jade-white hands and began to read it carefully.

There were no other books in the temple, and the only things she could use for entertainment were scriptures. Even though they were obscure and difficult to understand, she still read them with great interest.

A light-colored dress outlines her slender, willow-like figure. A beautiful woman with her black hair tied up lightly sits on the couch, holding a scroll in her bare hands. She lowers her eyes to read, her slender eyelashes drooping. Her slightly lowered head highlights her long, white neck...

The window was not closed tightly, light came in through the gap, and the dust of the world floated under the light and shadow.

A jade-like beauty sat at the end of the light, casting an inscrutable, ethereal aura on even the small, dimly lit room...

The young maid in green excitedly opened the door, and the next moment she was bewitched by the beautiful scenery before her...

Jintang's cheeks flushed with excitement. She stared at the beauty in the depths of light and shadow with burning eyes, with devout obsession in her eyes. She walked towards the jade Buddha in her heart step by step like a pilgrim.

"Jintang, what happened?"

Nan Qiao was suddenly awakened by the sound of a maid in green pushing the door. She looked up at her, with a hint of doubt in her clear eyes.

His Highness's question brought Jintang back to his senses. Recalling everything he had just seen outside the temple, the maid in green blushed and looked at her own Highness with shining eyes!

"Your Highness! It's a good thing, it's a good thing!"

"Someone has come from the palace to announce the decree. Your Highness can return to the palace now! You can go home now!"

The excited maid in green almost cried for joy. Her already red eyes deepened even more as she looked at the princess whom she had been guarding for more than ten years with tears in her eyes.

Even with the care of the abbot and many monks, thirteen years of worshipping Buddha under the green lamp was still too hard for a young woman.

Now, her Highness has finally made it and can finally return to the palace!

Startled by the sudden news, Nan Qiao's hand holding the scripture loosened suddenly and he was rarely stunned.

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