Chapter 95 [VIP]
Chapter Summary: Extra Chapter
"My lady, we've arrived." Hearing the voice outside the sedan chair, Xie Ying's heart leaped into her throat. This wasn't her first time entering the palace, but it was her first time as a concubine. After entering the palace today, she didn't know when she would be able to leave.
The raindrops outside fell on the sedan chair, their pattering sound irritating. Just as the sound subsided, a pair of slender hands reached in and lifted the curtain: "Please, my beauty."
Xie Ying lifted her skirt, bowed slightly, and went out. Several palace maids and eunuchs were waiting outside, all standing with their heads bowed. The one in the lead was an elderly nanny with a cold face, like a wooden sculpture, expressionless and emotionless.
"This servant greets Your Excellency." As Xie Ying came out, the people waiting outside all greeted her.
"Get up."
"yes."
The old woman stepped forward and said to Yu Jing, "We servants were all personally selected by His Majesty to serve the beauty."
With a single sentence, the situation was completely cleared up: they were all Qi Jin's men.
As Xie Ying had expected, Xie Ying bowed slightly to her and asked, "May I ask what your name is, Granny?"
"This servant is Li Hua."
"Granny Li," Xie Ying greeted her politely.
"My lady, you must be tired from your journey. Please follow us," said Granny Li, pointing to the corridor beside her. Xie Ying understood and followed them into the corridor.
When Xie Ying reached the palace gate, she paused and glanced at the words on the plaque above the gate.
Wanying Pavilion. It looks like a birdcage.
"My lady, please." Seeing Xie Ying stop in front of the palace gate, Li Mama spoke up.
Xie Ying followed Li Mama inside. Although the palace was not large, it was exquisitely decorated with pavilions, towers, carved beams and painted rafters, artificial mountains and flowing water. Looking at such a beautiful palace, Xie Ying felt no joy at all.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Granny Li explained the layout of Wanying Pavilion to Xie Ying and taught her many palace etiquette rules.
"Eunuch Xu."
Before Xie Ying could react to the commotion outside, Li Mama had already entered, followed by Xu Xinshu, the chief eunuch of Qi Jin.
"This servant greets Lady Xie," Xu Xinshu said, bowing to Xie Ying.
"You're too polite, Eunuch Xu." Xie Ying's heart sank when he saw Xu Xinshu and roughly guessed why he had come.
"This servant has come today to convey His Majesty's decree that His Majesty is staying at the beauty's place tonight."
"Thank you, Father-in-law," Xie Ying said to Xu Xinshu with a smile.
"You're too kind, my lady." Watching Xu Xinshu leave, Xie Ying felt a lump in her throat and couldn't breathe. She looked up at the sky. It was raining today, and the sky was already gloomy. Now, as evening approached, the sky had darkened considerably.
A while after Xu Xinshu left, Granny Li brought another nanny over and explained to Xie Ying many rules about serving the emperor in bed. Xie Ying listened somewhat absentmindedly.
"My beauty?" the nanny called softly, noticing Xie Ying's absent-mindedness.
Xie Ying snapped out of her daze and smiled somewhat embarrassedly at the nanny. The nanny didn't say anything more and continued talking to Xie Ying.
As night fell, Granny Li entered with a young palace maid: "My lady, it's time for your bath."
Xie Ying followed them to the hot spring. The old woman did not go in, but instead had a young palace maid serve her.
Xie Ying looked at the busy palace maid and felt a sense of kinship with her, so she took the initiative to ask, "What's your name?"
"My name is Dan'er," the young palace maid replied with a smile.
After bathing and changing her clothes, she learned that Qi Jin had already arrived. She walked step by step towards the main hall, and upon entering, she saw Qi Jin sitting in the main seat. He was languid and casual, yet exuded an air of oppression and nobility. After all, he was a prince; no matter how ruthless and cruel he was, he always presented a refined and humble demeanor to the outside world.
"Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty." Xie Ying took a deep breath and bowed to Qi Jin. She had originally intended to say "Your Majesty, I am your subject," but then realized the change in her status.
She had met Qi Jin before, more than once, but now, she was there as a concubine.
"Get up." Qi Jin sat down and looked Xie Ying up and down. He was wearing a crimson robe and looked dashing and spirited.
She was different from others, probably because she came from a military family. She possessed a visible resilience, unlike the soft and spineless women in the deep palace.
After dinner, Qi Jin dismissed everyone else, and Xie Ying sat nervously in front of the bookshelf. As Qi Jin slowly stood up and walked towards Xie Ying, her heart began to race.
Seeing Xie Ying's expression, Qi Jin found it amusing and reached out to take a book from the shelf. Xie Ying noticed Qi Jin's action and breathed a sigh of relief.
Qi Jin took the book and sat down, reading intently for a long time. Neither of them spoke, and Xie Ying's spirits gradually relaxed.
"Do you know how to serve people?" Qi Jin's slightly hoarse voice rang out in the hall. Xie Ying paused and turned to look at Qi Jin. Qi Jin did not raise his head, but simply looked quietly at the book in his hands.
"Just now... the nanny gave me some instructions." Xie Ying replied hesitantly. Before Xie Ying could finish speaking, Qi Jin had already put down the book, stood up, and gone to the bedside.
He stood in front of the bed, arms crossed, and looked at Xie Ying, saying, "Come here."
Xie Ying walked up to Qi Jin, bowed slightly, and reached out to untie Qi Jin's belt. Qi Jin did not turn to the side; he was tall and imposing, so Xie Ying had to wrap her arms around him to untie the belt at the back of his waist.
She was so close that Qi Jin didn't need to look down to smell the faint floral scent emanating from her. He couldn't tell what kind of flower it was, but it was light, pleasant, and even made him feel restless.
"Ah." Xie Ying was carried to the couch by Qi Jin, caught off guard, so she let out a short gasp. Qi Jin's belt had just been untied by her, and his outer robe was loose. Xie Ying looked at Qi Jin, feeling a little scared, her heart pounding.
It was an undeniable fact that Qi Jin was handsome. Seeing him so close for the first time, her breath hit her cheek.
When the cold lips touched hers, Xie Ying was still stunned, a wave of sorrow rising inexplicably in her heart. In truth, the moment the imperial decree was issued, her fate was already foreseeable.
Qi Jin seemed to like her very much and often visited her Wanying Pavilion. As the weather gradually warmed up, Xie Ying seemed to have gotten used to life in Wanying Pavilion. It was just getting up early to pay her respects to the high-ranking concubines, listening to their sarcastic remarks, then returning to the palace for a short nap, before getting up to do some needlework or read some leisurely books.
As night approached, Qi Jin would come to Wan Ying Pavilion. Sometimes he would bring a stack of official documents. After dinner, he would sit at the table and quietly review them for a while before going to bed with her. He liked to hold her while sleeping, but Xie Ying didn't. Whenever she rested her head on Qi Jin's arm, Xie Ying couldn't sleep soundly.
"My lady, Eunuch Xu has arrived." Xie Ying was drinking tea when she heard Dan'er's voice and, as usual, let Xu Xinshu in.
"This servant greets Lady Xie." Xu Xinshu entered and bowed to her in greeting.
"You're too kind, Eunuch Xu," Xie Ying nodded softly in response.
"It's the Dragon Boat Festival today, so His Majesty won't be coming over tonight." Hearing this, Xie Ying felt a surge of joy, thinking that Qi Jin was going to accompany the Empress. Unexpectedly, Xu Xinshu continued, "His Majesty summoned the Beauty to the main hall."
"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Eunuch Xu." Xie Ying smiled, but there was a strange sadness in her eyes.
When she arrived at the main hall, she happened to run into a group of officials from the Imperial Academy who were coming out of the hall. Upon seeing Xie Ying, they all bowed to her and greeted her, saying, "Your humble servant greets Lady Xie."
"My lords, please rise," Xie Ying said. Before she finished speaking, Qi Jin had already appeared at the palace gate.
"Your Majesty." Hearing the commotion, the officials turned around and bowed to Qi Jin.
It was May, a time when the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, with the evenings being the most comfortable. The air was neither too hot nor too cold, and a gentle breeze blew. Xie Ying wore a light, soft sunset-colored dress, the delicate hue of which accentuated her flawless skin and beautiful features.
"Go down," Qi Jin said, narrowing his eyes. The officials all responded and withdrew.
"Your Majesty." After the others left, Xie Ying bowed to Qi Jin. Before Qi Jin could respond, her hands, which were resting on her waist, were covered by two hands. Qi Jin took her hands and led her down the corridor. Although Xie Ying was puzzled, she didn't ask any further questions.
She and Qi Jin boarded the sedan chair, which moved slowly, swaying gently. The Empress had given a long address today, and she hadn't had a chance to rest. Now, she felt a little drowsy. When Qi Jin looked up, Xie Ying's eyelids were drooping slightly; though somewhat unseemly, it was strangely endearing. Qi Jin stared at her, lost in thought.
When the sedan chair stopped, Xie Ying suddenly came to her senses, glanced down at Qi Jin, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, we've arrived." Xu Xinshu's voice came from outside. Then the curtain was lifted, and Xie Ying and Qi Jin went down together.
When Xie Ying realized where she was, she was somewhat surprised and turned to look at Qi Jin in disbelief: "Your Majesty?"
At the training ground, Xie Ying wondered why Qi Jin had brought her there.
"I once heard Xie Xuan say that his elder sister can also practice swordsmanship, and I'd like to see it." Qi Jin looked at Xie Ying with a smile.
He had actually seen her once before. It was a sweltering summer day, and he had skipped his tutor's class to go to the training ground. There he saw a woman practicing swordsmanship. Although she was wearing a silk skirt, her movements were clean and swift. He had seen many talented, beautiful, and skilled women, but he had never seen anyone like Xie Ying.
He later learned that she was Xie Xuan's older sister, and her name was Xie Ying.
Xie Ying was stunned for a long time after hearing Qi Jin's words, and then said, "Your Majesty, my skills are not good enough."
Qi Jin didn't respond, only staring intently at her. Xie Ying paused, then replied, "Okay."
After Xie Ying responded, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, please allow me to change my clothes."
"No need to change, just wear this."
Taking the sword from the servant, Xie Ying stepped back a little, tested its feel, and then wielded it with practiced ease. The satin ribbons of the sea and sky wrapped around the unsharpened blade, giving it an air of sacred inviolability.
She wasn't originally in his plans, but he wanted her to be included.
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