Chapter 86 The Eve of Mid-Autumn Festival
His palms gripped her waist tightly, the heat seeping through her clothes onto her skin. He was determined to give her an answer.
Qingqing tried to break free, but she couldn't easily push the person off as before. Only then did she realize something was wrong—the point of contact was a thin layer of firm muscle, no longer a skeleton.
Before Yan Dibai noticed, his body had become firm and strong, like bamboo shoots sprouting in spring.
Looking down at her face, it wasn't the usual sunken eyes and chubby cheeks. It had simply lost some of its androgynous refinement, revealing the subtle angles of youth. Even without makeup for a long time, her lush features were still captivating, vaguely overlapping with the beautiful and arrogant young emperor of last year.
But the boy back then was the same height as her, and he wouldn't have been sitting with one leg out like he is now. His shoulder line wouldn't have created a clear silhouette from the loose robe.
Her gaze inappropriately fell on his feet... even the brocade boots he was wearing seemed longer than she remembered.
The machine's brain clicked and clicked for a moment before it finally confirmed the fact.
He has grown up.
The days of a sickly boy who needed constant support are over; he has gradually grown into a young man.
And she... didn't even notice.
Yan Dibai had no time to probe her inner turmoil. Seeing that she only stared wide-eyed and remained silent, his temper flared up again, and he stubbornly demanded, "Speak!"
"You..." Qingqing's throat was dry, and her voice sounded strange. "Get up first."
"No!" He stubbornly moved even closer, his aura, a blend of youth and adolescence, enveloping her completely.
"Answer me first! Why won't you admit it?"
"I...didn't say I wouldn't admit it..."
She turned her head hastily, trying to avoid his burning gaze:
"I've never encountered anything like this before. You should at least give me some time to think... This is too rushed..."
"What's there to think about! This is my first time too!" Yan Dibai said disapprovingly, but seeing her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, his anxiety subsided somewhat.
He held her close, loosening his grip slightly.
"I have promised that I will take care of everything from now on. If it weren't for you... your stubborn insistence on carrying me out, I wouldn't have had the energy to worry about this damned empire. Since the empire is what you want, if you don't become empress, who will?"
This unreasonable logic left Qingqing speechless for a moment. She looked up at him with difficulty. The impact of the boy's face, so close to hers, was even stronger. His obsidian-like eyes, beneath his long lashes, clearly reflected her image, so focused that it made her heart tremble.
“It’s not these problems…” she quickly looked away, her voice very low, “It’s about responsibility…”
"I'll take responsibility; it has nothing to do with you!"
He interrupted her abruptly, and Qingqing couldn't think of a rebuttal in an instant. She got out of the car and swayed at the opportune moment.
The horse snorted, and someone outside said:
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, we have arrived at the governor's mansion."
The sound of voices was like a splash of cold water, startling the two people who were locked in a stalemate inside the car.
Yan Dibai's face darkened, and he glared coldly at the direction of the car door.
Qingqing's feverish mind calmed down considerably, and seizing the opportunity, she forcefully pushed the person away.
Caught off guard, Yan Dibai nearly stumbled and crashed onto the carriage floor. Before he could even utter the incredulous "Yang Liuqing," a painful groan suddenly rang out from outside. Yan Dibai had just kicked open the car door, only managing to catch a glimpse of her disappearing garments behind the screen wall. The old steward, who had been waiting there, was utterly bewildered.
Just as he was about to send someone to ask Imperial Attendant Yang what had happened, the young emperor, with a dark expression, disheveled hair, and his robes wide open, strode after him.
"Yangliuqing!"
Qingqing ran back to the inner room and slammed the door latch shut.
"Yang Liuqing!" Yan Dibai's angry voice rang out from outside the door, "Open the door for me!"
Qingqing didn't respond. She took a deep breath and splashed cold water on her face. She slid down against the door. The door behind her was slammed shut. She sat on the floor and slowly touched her palm.
The old butler had just stepped through the door when he saw this bizarre scene, and his brows immediately furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.
"Your Majesty, the governor has something to say."
Yan Di held his hand up, and through gritted teeth squeezed out a vicious sentence: "You just wait!"
The person is gone.
Qingqing suddenly covered her head.
-
Having read the message sent by carrier pigeon, Wang Du had a general idea of what had happened at the gathering.
When Yan Dibai was led to the waterside pavilion, most of the drunkenness on his face had dissipated, but he still looked listless and his restlessness was undeniable.
"Your Highness." He forced a bow, a gesture of greeting.
Wang Du greeted him with a broad smile:
"Your Majesty, did you enjoy today's gathering to the fullest?"
"Enjoy yourself?" Yan Dibai interrupted him abruptly, like a firecracker that had been lit. "Your Highness! Your good nephew Wang Ke and that Zhu Si have gone too far! They forced me to compose poems and shoot arrows, mocking me wantonly! They even set up a gambling game, and... they even demanded that if I lost, I would kneel down and call them father! How vicious!"
Wang Du's face immediately contorted with rage: "Outrageous! That little beast Wang Ke dares to be so rebellious! Your Majesty, rest assured, I will have him bound and brought here for Your Majesty to decide his fate!"
It would have been better if he hadn't expressed his opinion. Once he did, Yan Dibai grabbed his sleeve and recounted in detail how Wang Ke, Zhu Si, and the others had pressed him step by step and verbally humiliated him, embellishing the story while making no mention of how he had pretended to be weak while actually dominating the battlefield.
Wang Du initially listened, but gradually grew impatient. He had important matters to discuss with Zhao Xu and didn't have time to listen to this brat's endless complaints.
He smiled and interrupted, "Your Majesty has been wronged. Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and I will bring Wang Ke here so that he can kowtow to Your Majesty and beg for forgiveness in front of all the officials. Would Your Majesty be satisfied then?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Dibai's eyes darted around, and his arrogant demeanor suddenly vanished. He lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, and when he looked up again, tears were silently welling up in his eyes, threatening to fall but not falling. He seemed extremely ashamed to be seen, stubbornly turning his face away.
Wang Du's eyes narrowed slightly—what tricks is this brat up to now?
But Yan Dibai only let out a long sigh.
That one breath seemed to express all the sorrow of the past sixteen years.
“The governor…is far superior to my own father.”
Wang Du was taken aback: "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"
The boy stood up unsteadily.
"In my sixteen years of life, I have never been treated with such sincerity and patience. My father despises me and takes pleasure in teasing and tormenting me. Prime Minister Lin abandoned me, hating that I was useless, and scolded me in his memorials every day. The palace servants even regarded me as a demon. Apart from Qingniang, no one pities me or loves me."
He muttered to himself, his shoulders collapsing without him noticing.
"That's enough. Thank you, Lord Wang."
These few words brought back memories of when Wang Du first met him years ago.
The young child sat quietly in a corner, and the Chengde Emperor mocked him for being blind. Amidst the laughter of the entire hall, the child drew his knife and slashed his robe, blood staining his chest.
At that time, his children were playing freely in the Imperial Garden. A crown prince, yet his life was not even as good as that of a concubine's son in the harem of a powerful family.
A faint pang of sadness unexpectedly swept over my heart.
By the time Wang Du realized what was happening, he had already left the park.
Zhao Xu stepped out of the secret room and saw Wang Du standing there, holding his forehead with a complicated expression. He couldn't help but ask, "My lord?"
Wang Du clicked his tongue in surprise, both amused and exasperated: "That rascal! I almost fell for his trick!"
He then realized that the real purpose of his accusation was to establish a private empress and intimidate powerful families—he had been fooled by this fellow's emotional performance.
“This scoundrel is cunning and manipulative!” Wang Du waved his hand, but his tone was not very angry. “Fine, Wang Ke and the Zhu family brat have gone too far today. He must think that I instructed them behind the scenes to deliberately suppress him.”
Zhao Xu: "Sir, are you going to let him off the hook?"
Wang Du stroked his beard: "The other person is right in front of me, so what's the point of talking about letting him go? However, this scoundrel is more cunning than I expected. He bows to me on the surface, but he must be holding a grudge in his heart. We must show more sincerity at this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet."
After speaking, she called to the steward at the door: "I heard that the clothes they wore today were sent by Shu'er?"
"The lady has sent someone to the embroidery workshop to give the order. This move is also intended as a show of force. The young emperor is unruly and needs to be brought to his senses."
Wang Du couldn't help but chuckle: "Does she really hate the young emperor that much?"
"Enough, enough. I don't really expect her to sit on the Empress's throne anyway. As for that Imperial Attendant Yang, what did you think of him today?"
Wang Shu, who was eavesdropping outside the door, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon hearing this, the old butler's face turned grave:
"In my opinion, they are not well-behaved. I was ordered to wait at the gate, but I did not expect to inadvertently disturb their daytime debauchery. The young emperor's face was cold and stern, his ears slightly red. Yang Yushi's hair was slightly loose, and his cheeks were also flushed. The two of them ran away one after the other, chasing each other and flirting. This is not only licentious and immoral, but also a thorn in the side of my Lady Wang. If Lady Shu really becomes empress, with her intolerant nature, wouldn't she die of resentment?"
Wang Du glanced meaningfully at the departing figure outside: "Is Shu'er asking you to subtly hint at it again?"
The old steward hurriedly said, "This old servant wouldn't dare! This old servant witnessed it with his own eyes and spoke from the heart!"
"You old codger!" Wang Du laughed and waved the old steward away, then said to Zhao Xu, "Come on, let's go to the treasury."
Inside the treasury, the cold light reflected off the iron armor.
Wang Du stroked the newly arrived refined iron, his face beaming with undisguised satisfaction. Zhao Xu was also excited:
"The Cui family's batch of ore is indeed of excellent quality, just as you said. Your cavalry is just around the corner."
“It will take time to build up,” Wang Du said, his gaze lingering on the cold iron, “but the foundation is already solid. By next spring, an elite force will be formed.”
He changed the subject and looked at Zhao Xu, "You spent five years in Cangqian, honing your skills in the mundane affairs of the city. I'm sorry to have wronged you."
Zhao Xu clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Serving you, sir, I dare not complain of being wronged."
Wang Duxu helped him up, saying meaningfully, "Once the cavalry is fully trained, you will be appointed as its commander. Only then will your Zhao family's military lineage be truly honored."
Zhao Xu's body trembled.
It's neither the Wang family nor the Cui family?
Was it him?
It should be noted that the Cui family's ability to remain powerful in Jiangzuo was due to the Wang family. Cui Shenxiu, who was on good terms with Lady Wang, seized the opportunity to establish Huichuntang and Xichuntang in Shangjing and Jiangzuo respectively. Utilizing the connections and resources of the Cui family in both locations, she forcefully opened up trade routes from Jizhou southward. This not only secured her foothold within the Cui family and provided her with an enormous dowry, but also secretly supplied Wang Du and other collaborating families with scarce ores and medicinal herbs from Jiangzuo.
The two families had been on the same boat for twenty years, their interests intertwined. The Cui family devoted itself to helping the Wang family achieve independence, while the Wang family reciprocated with honors and conveniences second only to the Wang family.
Logically, such an important position should have fallen into the hands of the Cui family, even if it was to avoid suspicion of favoritism by not appointing members of the Wang clan, in order to maintain balance. Yet now, this important task has been entrusted to him.
That day, things were truly about to change.
Zhao Xu suddenly knelt on one knee: "Xu, I would gladly die for you!"
Wang Du patted his shoulder, as if suddenly remembering something, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Speaking of which, Shu'er mentioned to me the other day that Zhao Canjun is working too hard guarding Cangqian. She wants to learn martial arts to stay fit, but she needs a teacher. Why don't you go to the back garden and teach her now?"
Zhao Xu's resolute face tightened instantly, and he said in a deep voice:
"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, young lady... I am unworthy of such praise."
He quickly steered the conversation back to business, "Sir, you have grand plans in hand, powerful warships on the water, iron cavalry on land, and the rightful name of the dynasty in your grasp. Great achievements are within your grasp!"
Seeing his reaction, Wang Du said no more, but a knowing smile flashed in his eyes.
After seeing Zhao Xu off, before he could even have a sip of tea, the steward hurriedly returned.
The Cui family, a prominent family, sent twelve loads of gifts as an apology. The steward opened them and saw that they were all extremely luxurious fabrics, gold and silver jewelry, and dozens of ginseng roots that were three hundred years old.
"This Cui family's seventeenth daughter is very good at dealing with people. Shu'er grew up with her, but she hasn't learned a thing or two from her."
The steward was speechless: "It's not Cui Shiqi Niang. It's that one from Xiangdong Garden... Cui Xun, Xun Lang."
"Him?" Wang Du smiled enigmatically. "When did he actually leave his Peach Blossom Spring? Could this gathering be something he intended for Cui Shenxiu to organize?"
Wang Du's expression was intriguing.
“We can’t afford to lose to him. Go into the treasury and fill twenty-four carts, then send them over. I’d like to see what this hermit is up to.”
-
When Yan Dibai returned to Yunshui Courtyard, dusk had already fallen.
The courtyard was empty, and the room that belonged to Yang Liuqing remained locked and silent.
A gentle evening breeze caressed his face, the effects of the alcohol wore off, and reason returned. Yan Dibai stared at the door and took a deep breath.
He seems to have... messed things up.
Yang Liuqing had never avoided him like this before.
Was it just because he pressed him with the question, "Why won't you admit it?"
Anger surged within him. He paced restlessly around the yard a few times—the clothes that had been hanging out to dry had already been taken down, the cups and saucers on the table were neatly arranged, and even the wooden bucket in the corner had been scrubbed clean and stacked together.
She cleaned up every trace of daily life.
An unprecedented emptiness gripped him. Yan Dibai suddenly felt panic.
His thin lips parted and closed several times, but in the end, he succumbed to the fear of being ignored by her. Before the sunset faded, Yan Dibai knocked on the door.
"Yang Liuqing... I'm back."
Inside the door, there was a long, unsettling silence. It was as if the person inside was no longer there, or perhaps simply didn't want to respond.
He stood outside the door, the cold wind chilling his skin. Yan Dibai's patience was wearing thin. He clenched his fist, wanting to find a knife to smash the door open and demand to know why she had suddenly severed ties with him. A slight noise from inside the room stopped his impending attack. Yan Dibai's eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed again.
It wasn't that the door was opened, but rather that something was gently placed on the low table beside the door.
Then, Qingqing's familiar voice, which at this moment was devoid of any emotion, came flatly through the door:
"Chicken porridge is warming in the small stove on the stove, and there are two vegetarian pies in the steamer. Your Majesty has drunk wine today, so please have something light... and rest early."
She still refused to see him, but that was a concession.
Yan Dibai stared at the door, as if trying to see through it. He pursed his lips, all the surging questions, the unwilling roars, and even the clumsy surrenders churning and colliding in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into a cold snort.
He didn't touch the food, nor did he knock on the door again.
He stood silently and stubbornly before her door, letting the cold night dew soak his shoulders. As darkness fell, Yan Dibai turned away without looking back, carrying his anger and frustration with him.
The footsteps faded into the distance until they disappeared.
Inside, Qingqing listened to his footsteps, and her heart felt like it had been twisted by something. She couldn't tell if it was relief or... something else.
The moon hung high in the sky, and that night, the two people in Yunshui Courtyard tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
There was also a sense of quiet in the east of the city.
The aroma of medicine and ink mingled, lingering in the air.
Cui Xun leaned against the couch covered with a thick fox fur coat, his face pale as if he hadn't seen the sun in a long time. Only his eyes were surprisingly sharp, and they were now fixed on Cui Shenxiu, who stood quietly in front of the couch.
"Shenxiu," his voice was a little hoarse, "what have you thought about what I've told you?"
Choi Shin-soo held the slightly cooled medicine cup, his eyes lowered, his posture still impeccably dignified.
“Uncle, His Majesty is indeed extraordinary, possessing both the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix. However, His Majesty and Imperial Attendant Yang have shared many hardships and have embraced each other in public, openly declaring her as his first wife. Shenxiu… has no intention of getting involved in this controversy, nor does he wish to do anything that would lower his status by taking away someone else’s love.”
"Foolish!" Cui Xun suddenly coughed violently, his face flushed an abnormal red, which startled Cui An, who rushed over to pat his back and soothe him.
He caught his breath, his gaze growing even more intense and piercing. "What deep affection in adversity? It's nothing more than mutual support in times of trouble! That Yang woman, born a mere maid, is crude and ignorant. How could she possibly be the empress? How could she possibly help His Majesty restore the empire?! You are the pearl that my Cui family has painstakingly nurtured. In terms of talent, appearance, virtue, and skill, you surpass her a thousandfold. You are gentle, considerate, and understanding. Given time, how could you not win his heart?"
He looked at Choi Shin-soo's profile and said with resentment:
"If it weren't for Wang Du's obstruction back then... you would have been by his side long ago! How could a mere maid have gotten the first prize!"
Cui Shenxiu raised his eyes and looked at his uncle, who was lying on the bed, breathing heavily with excitement. The Cui family's handsome young man, who was once as refined and talented as a gentle breeze and the bright moon in his memory, had now been worn down by years of illness and was now emaciated.
Now, because of the young emperor, he has repeatedly done outrageous things.
She paused for a moment, then said, "Cui Yan is still missing... We received word from the north that Uncle is still searching for him?"
As expected, Cui Xun disliked furrowed brows.
“I’ve said it before: a cripple born of a maid is dead and that’s it. Father, since you have nothing better to do, why don’t you think about how to break free from Wang Du’s control and help His Majesty regain the throne? Then you’ll have no trouble having four generations of high-ranking officials.”
Cui Shenxiu then agreed.
The eldest son of his uncle was raised in the countryside since childhood, and even the Cui family didn't know much about him. Cui Shenxiu had never met this person and had no feelings for him.
I've only heard that he's well-behaved and inherited his uncle's intelligence, possessing a photographic memory. However, the prince he was raised as a backup often bullied him, and perhaps because he was bullied too much, he killed someone, stole a horse, and fled. There's been no news of him for four or five years.
When the head of the family came to inquire, it was mostly about urging the sixth son, Cui Xun, to have no heir.
"My lady, let me take over."
Cui Shenxiu bowed silently, handed the medicine cup to Cui An, and quietly left the dormitory.
The moonlight shines brightly outside.
Tomorrow night, we will see a full, round moon.
She looked up and saw what was clearly a young man and woman talking nonchalantly behind the carriage, suspended in the night sky.
One lowered their face, the other raised it. One frowned, the other relaxed their brows.
Intimacy and naturalness.
She had worked tirelessly, rising from an unloved orphan girl from a collateral branch to where she is today, yet she had never experienced such ease and ordinariness.
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