Chapter 93 Little Gray
Qingqing arched her eyebrows, "Your actions are too unconventional!"
No wonder he makes time to sit by the pond every day. This trick of sending messages through red leaves is something Wang Du could never have imagined.
"Fifty elite troops have arrived in Jiangzuo. How do you plan to infiltrate them next? You wouldn't be hiding this from me, would you?"
"Where would I hide it from you? The matter is not yet accomplished, how can I make any judgments?" Yan Dibai propped himself up with one hand, lazily glancing at her: "The governor's mansion is heavily guarded, and fifty men from the north have very different appearances. How could they possibly get in?"
"Then what should we do?"
“What Wang Du lacks is not soldiers, but generals who can train him to be as good as the Northern Iron Cavalry.” Yan Di’s phoenix eyes narrowed slyly. “I’ve heard that the Gu family, who surrendered to Wang Du early on, loves chrysanthemums and invites people to admire them every season. I can’t go out without his permission, but you need to go out and make arrangements for me.”
Matters between women should be viewed separately. This is an unwritten rule, and Wang Du has no right to interfere.
Qingqing instantly understood: "You mean you want the Gu family to take the initiative to find these people to offer gifts to Wang Du?"
Yan Dibai nodded her delicate chin. "You only need to casually mention to the women of the Gu family during casual conversation that a small group of remnants of the Helan tribe has been active on the trade route between Jiangzuo and the Northern Border recently."
"Helan tribe?"
"It is said that... they are descendants of a branch of the former troops of the Taizu Emperor. You may say that this group was wiped out by the false emperor Feng'an and fled south to this place. They are not many in number, about fifty people, but each of them is a skilled rider who grew up on horseback. They once defeated bandits several times their size and ensured the safety of the caravan. Now, everyone is searching for their whereabouts."
A glint flashed in Qingqing's eyes:
"Wang Du is suspicious. If he comes to us willingly, he will surely be seen as a spy. Only by letting him snatch food from the tiger's mouth will he realize that he has obtained a treasure!"
"Clever." Yan Dibai chuckled, unable to resist reaching out to pinch her cheek. "So, you, as Empress, must go forth with great pomp and circumstance. Make them all feel that I cannot do without you, and that I even confide in you about Wang Du's secrets."
Qingqing couldn't help but laugh, then realized what he meant and slapped his hand away, taking a step back: "Okay."
Sure enough, an invitation arrived the next day. Qingqing thought for a moment, then chose a turquoise brocade dress with gold trim that had been sent by the weaving bureau. She had Yan Dibai style her hair into a simple high bun, and then she went off with her back straight.
At the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, after exchanging greetings with the various noble ladies and admiring the chrysanthemums with Lady Gu, she took advantage of a moment of private conversation to sigh softly, seemingly unintentionally:
"The north is really not peaceful these days. His Majesty secretly told me yesterday that someone had spread a rumor that a group of warriors from the Helan tribe had been persecuted by the false emperor and had fled to the Jiangzuo region. They are truly first-rate riders, but unfortunately... I wonder which family will benefit from them in the end."
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth in alarm. "I was just talking nonsense, please don't take it to heart, Madam Gu!"
Lady Gu's eyes flickered slightly. She personally poured tea for her and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand."
-
Once the message was sent, it was like a stone thrown into still water, creating ripples that flowed beneath the surface.
As time went by, Li Si and his two companions were busy traveling, while Yan Dibai was brought along by Wang Du more and more frequently. From initially sitting and chatting together, they now played chess whenever they had free time, and even went on frequent autumn hunts.
When Wang Du casually inquired about Qingqing's background, Yan Dibai either made light of it or pushed her forward, casually making up stories to fit himself, thanking his "adoptive father" for his kindness.
After several rounds, Wang Du seemed finally satisfied with the completely subservient attitude of the two fallen emperors and empresses, and treated them with greater friendliness.
Qingqing then listened to a multitude of anecdotes about aristocratic families—
Two of Wang Du's other three sons were homosexual; Wang Shu was infatuated with Zhao Xu from a young age and declared that she would not marry anyone but him; Gu's son, after failing to win the heart of Wang's daughter, threatened to hang himself... Even the grudges and affections among the servants of the governor's mansion were as exciting as a storybook.
In addition, as she has gradually been allowed to move freely within the mansion these days, she has always been able to discover some strange rumors in the alleys and corners.
That day, as she passed by the artificial hill and pavilions, a few whispered words suddenly froze her in her tracks on the flat bridge.
"Have you heard that today His Majesty, feeling sorry for the governor suffering from hemorrhoids, personally pulled down his pants and sucked out the hemorrhoids for him?"
"Alas! That's intestinal poison! Even father and son wouldn't be this bad!"
The maids whispered among themselves as they walked away. Qingqing stood alone on the flat bridge, her eyes wide, momentarily forgetting to move.
Didn't Yan Dibai go hunting with Wang Du early this morning?
What?! What's this about sucking hemorrhoids?! She was about to chase after the person to get an explanation when Zhao Xu came from the other side of the bridge. "Your Majesty?"
Zhao Xu was transferred back to Yangzhou and went in and out of the governor's mansion almost every day. The two had already met before because of the incident at Cangqian, and they had run into each other from time to time these days, so they were even more familiar with each other's faces.
As the weather grew colder, Zhao Xu wore a layered crimson robe, a typical attire for a military general.
“Military Advisor Zhao,” Qingqing had to stop, “didn’t you go hunting with the Prefect today?”
"I'm very busy," Zhao Xu said succinctly. "Does Your Majesty have something on your mind?"
Over these days of interaction, Zhao Xu's impression of this empress, who came from humble beginnings yet possessed not a trace of arrogance, gradually improved. He was willing to exchange a few words with her.
Qingqing gave an awkward laugh, "It's nothing. I was just passing by and saw a few withered lotus leaves in the pond, so I took a look."
In truth, Qingqing had never been comfortable with the title of "Empress," but public opinion was overwhelming, so she let it be. Empress it is then... anyway, it's only a temporary position.
Zhao Xu's gaze swept across the withered lake surface, his cold and stern brows twitching slightly: "Your Majesty, do not believe the servants' nonsense. His Majesty and the governor are close, not as incompetent as the rumors suggest. The governor's mansion has no shortage of good doctors."
He paused, then said in a low voice, "I also have no homosexual tendencies."
Qingqing's ears immediately burned: "Military Advisor Zhao heard it too? This...this is such an outrageous rumor!"
"It's my duty." Zhao Xu nodded slightly, then, thinking of the dozens of upright-looking men waiting at the drill ground, he didn't linger. "The Lantern Festival is just over two months away. Officials from various prefectures will be arriving soon, and with so many people around, rumors will be rampant. It's good that Your Highness is aware of this."
He was usually a man of few words, but now he spoke a few more, a rare display of concern. Qingqing was slightly taken aback, and sincerely said, "Thank you, Military Advisor Zhao."
Qingqing pulled her clothes tighter, deciding to go back to Yunshui Courtyard to turn the quilts that were drying in the sun, and ask Yan Dibai about them when he returned. But then a clear female voice came from behind her:
"Empress Yang".
Qingqing turned around and saw Wang Shu and Cui Shenxiu approaching together. She exchanged a knowing smile with Cui Shenxiu, then her gaze fell on Wang Shu, whose expression was displeased.
"Has Lady Shu invited Seventeenth Sister to the mansion to play again?"
Wang Shu raised her chin slightly: "Shenxiu came to find me. Your Majesty, what a refined taste you have."
Cui Shenxiu smiled and looked at Qingqing: "I think I just saw Military Advisor Zhao talking to Her Majesty."
Wang Shu's expression immediately tightened. Qingqing understood and quickly explained:
"I was just about to return to Yunshui Courtyard when I overheard some absurd talk about His Majesty and the governor. Coincidentally, Military Advisor Zhao happened to be passing by, so I asked him about it."
"What did you say?" Wang Shu blurted out, then forced herself to speak. "I meant that Zhao Xu is very busy..."
Qingqing blushed and said, "It's nothing more than saying that... His Majesty the Governor bathed in the hot springs with him, went hunting together, and His Majesty personally served him medicine."
Upon hearing this, Wang Shu relaxed, but then felt somewhat embarrassed: "Father only wanted His Majesty to enjoy himself. Your Majesty, please don't listen to the servants' nonsense."
They both smiled.
A breeze swept through the hall, and the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before.
Wang Shu's gaze lingered on Qingqing's face for a moment, and she suddenly realized that Qingqing's tranquil nature, so different from that of the young emperor, made her truly impossible to dislike. Her tone unconsciously softened by three points:
"Doesn't Your Highness find it boring to be alone all the time?"
Unlike Cui Shenxiu, with whom she would occasionally chat, Wang Shu had always looked down on her and Yan Dibai. Not only had she never visited Yunshui Courtyard, but she also never took the initiative to befriend them. This was the first time Wang Shu had spoken to her in an almost equal tone. Qingqing was surprised and truthfully replied:
"It was the same back in the palace. When His Majesty returned, he would always talk to me, so it wasn't hard to bear."
The natural intimacy in those words reminded Wang Shu of Zhao Xu's cold face, and she felt a surge of annoyance again.
Cui Shenxiu intervened gently at the right moment: "Shuniang is worried about Your Highness. On the Lantern Festival, people from all walks of life gather in Yangzhou, and there are many people and things going on in the mansion. Your Highness is of noble status and always moves around alone. What if you are bumped into by some ignorant people?"
“Seventeenth Sister is right.” Qingqing readily agreed and gave Wang Shu a way out. “I was just about to go back to prepare a calming tea for His Majesty. After the Lantern Festival, Military Advisor Zhao will probably be able to relax more at home.”
These words were soothing, and Wang Shu's expression finally brightened: "The treasury has just received some new autumn chrysanthemums and wolfberries, which I will send to Your Highness later."
"Thank you very much, Madam Shun."
Qingqing looked very grateful. This was the first time the three of them had said goodbye amicably.
As the person walked away, Wang Shu gazed at Qingqing's retreating figure and said softly, "Now that I see it, she really is as you said, a remarkable person. It's a pity about her background."
Choi Sin-soo just smiled.
Wang Shu pulled her behind the artificial hill: "I didn't have time to apologize last time. That persimmon-red dress was meant to complement you, but her makeup skills were so superb... Shenxiu, are you really giving up?"
"The Empress's position rightfully belongs to Empress Yang. How can there be any talk of fighting for it?" Cui Shenxiu's expression remained calm and composed.
Wang Shu took it as her indifference and sighed, "Very well. Yesterday I heard that Uncle Cui Xun sent a letter saying he would come to the banquet on the Lantern Festival. I haven't seen him for seven years. He is doing this for your marriage, which shows how much he values you. Once you marry into the Wang family, we can be together again."
Wang Shuxin looked forward to the future with joy, and Cui Shenxiu smiled gently with her, but slowly withdrew his hand.
"This matter is still undecided. My relationship with Young Master Wang Miao is... rather shallow."
Wang Shu didn't take it seriously, thinking she just didn't want to make a scene and give people something to gossip about, so she took her hand and led her for a walk elsewhere. Sure enough, they ended up at the Leaving Garden.
After circling around and discussing what to wear and what to do on the Lantern Festival, the gate to the garden creaked open.
A young man in a flowing red robe carried a gray dog with still-furred fur and strode off toward the opposite direction of Yunshui Courtyard.
Wang Shudun thought, "It's only been a few days, but that young emperor seems like a completely different person." She called out to a servant beside her, "Didn't Father take him hunting?"
"Reporting to Madam, he left before dawn this morning, but his old illness flared up, and he returned shortly afterward."
The servant spoke succinctly, but Wang Shu understood perfectly.
This old ailment is nothing but hemorrhoids! My father developed this wretched condition from sitting for long periods while handling official business. These days, in order to show off his power, he took people hunting everywhere, and the excessive riding of horses caused it to flare up.
This illness is too undignified," Wang Shu said in a low voice, "You didn't even inform Father when he returned?"
The servant was also embarrassed: "His Majesty gave up the deer he was about to get and personally rode his horse to carry the governor back. The governor forbade anyone to tell anyone."
"Could it really be hemorrhoid stimulation..." Wang Shu felt a chill run down her spine and waved her hand, "I'll go in and check on Father. Shenxiu—"
Cui Shenxiu coldly stared at the young man's already somewhat spirited back, then suddenly turned around and smiled faintly: "I'll be waiting for you in the outer courtyard."
-
Qingqing carried the turned-over quilt back into the room. Sunlight streamed through the window, warming the quilt with a cozy glow.
She sat on the edge of the tatami mat, gently tapping the ground with a bamboo pole, instantly filling the sunlight with fine white dust.
Familiar footsteps approached from outside the window, light and steady. Qingqing composed herself and had just stood up when Yan Dibai pushed open the door and entered.
He was still wearing his light red riding and archery uniform, which made his complexion appear even whiter and brighter, and there were still traces of sweat on his relaxed brows.
Yan Dibai shoved the whimpering gray dog in his hand into Qingqing's arms.
She held the unexpected little life in her arms, stunned: "You're back already? Did the hunt not go well?"
Yan Dibai didn't answer. He walked to the table, poured himself a cup of cold tea, drank it all in one gulp, and then scoffed:
“That old scoundrel Wang Du saw a white deer in the forest today and insisted on shooting it down himself to show off.”
He paused, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "The horse was going too fast, jolting Chen Ji so much that he couldn't sit still and fell headlong. He made a huge fool of himself. I had no choice but to abandon the deer and personally ride the horse to carry him back."
The biting sarcasm in those words was the Yan Dibai she knew. Qingqing couldn't help but smile, a sense of relief washing over her as she recalled the vulgar rumors she'd heard during the day.
Qingqing gently lifted the restless little thing in her arms, frantically searching for unwanted bedding, saying:
"Everyone outside is saying that you two have a deep father-son bond. They even say you sucked someone's hemorrhoids."
Yan Di's pale face darkened:
"Anyone who spreads rumors, I will cut out their tongue!"
Qingqing couldn't help but smile: "Military Advisor Zhao even went out of his way to dispel the rumors for me, saying that the governor's mansion has no shortage of good doctors, so you don't have to suffer this injustice."
Yan Di gritted his teeth and said coolly, "Is that so? He's quite the gentleman."
Qingqing was overjoyed: "Never mind, is Wang Du alright?"
“It won’t die.” Yan Dibai walked up to her, looked down at the little creature licking its lips wrapped in the blanket, “but this thing was startled by the horse’s hooves and darted out of the grass, almost getting shot through by my arrow.”
He reached out and poked the dog's nose with his finger, the movement somewhat stiff, but the coldness from before was gone.
"You idiot, you can't even dodge."
"It was just born." Qingqing fed the dog with the leftover goat milk from the morning, and after it finished eating and rolled over to sleep, she softened her voice and looked up at Yan Dibai, saying, "Let's keep it."
Her gaze was so clear and bright that the lingering anger in the young man's heart vanished instantly. Yan Dibai hummed in agreement.
It was originally meant to help her relieve boredom.
Qingqing was delighted. She had wanted to have a pet for a long time. She said seriously, "We need to give it a name. Have you chosen one yet?"
Yan Dibai snorted: "You raised it, so naturally you can take it."
Qingqing disagreed: "You brought it back, so of course you have a responsibility."
"It's blackish-gray, so we call it Black Hair. Gray Hair is fine too."
As soon as he finished speaking, the girl glared at him: "That's too perfunctory."
“…Crushing the mountain.” Yan Dibai remained silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly.
"Fierce and frosty as autumn frost. It possesses the power to shatter mountains, and is exceptionally domineering," Yan Dibai added with an air of importance.
Qingqing: "".
He pondered deeply: "...That's called the Red Crow. It's an auspicious sign of destiny, with reddish-brown fur like flames and a voice that shakes the forests and fields."
Qingqing sighed, "Let's call him Little Gray."
Yan Dibai frowned: "Why?" This was a name he had carefully considered, citing classical texts.
“If it grows too big, I’m afraid it won’t have much good fortune.” Qingqing lifted the puppy up and gently stroked it. “It’s good enough for it to be an ordinary, happy puppy.”
Yan Dibai remained silent. "Not bad either."
He untied the dog-hair-covered rag, "Wang Du missed the message, so we don't need to go looking for Cui Xun ourselves. He'll come to see us on his own."
Qingqing paused for a moment, then walked over and scanned Yan Dibai from head to toe.
"Did he discover our movements?"
Li Si and his team have obtained some scattered fragments, but the samples are few, and new fragments of the murals are still on their way.
"I don't know. But it's not a big deal."
The fifty men from the Helan tribe have successfully infiltrated the group. Otherwise, Zhao Xu, who always follows Wang Du closely, would not have been absent today.
Thinking that Zhao Xu had spoken with him privately upon his arrival, Yan Dibai was almost certain that Zhao Xu had gone to test the Helan tribe's volley shooting skills and was coming to report back to Wang Du.
Then, the bamboo leaf communication method that had been agreed upon with Yifu could come in handy.
Yan Dibai has been moving freely around the mansion lately, and has touched almost all the bamboo clumps growing near the bed.
Qingqing nodded: "That's fine then. Wait, Yan Dibai, have you... grown taller again?"
She had to tilt her head slightly to see his full figure. In just over a month, he seemed to have grown taller, and the wrists of his newly made riding and archery uniform were now showing a gap.
Yan Dibai lowered his eyelids to look at her, a smug smile playing on his lips.
“I’m in my prime, naturally growing stronger every day. But you,” he reached out, his fingertips brushing her hair, gesturing to his chin, “why haven’t you improved?”
His fingertips were warm, the sensation fleeting. Qingqing instinctively shrank back, slapping his hand away in annoyance: "I'm a woman, I'm past my prime."
"Really?" Yan Dibai teased her intentionally. "I seem to remember that the women in the palace also change as they get older."
His gaze seemed to sweep across her front, and Qingqing's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and anger. She raised her foot and kicked him in the shin: "You—you can't say anything nice!"
She didn't use much force, but Yan Dibai hissed in response, "Well done, Yang Liuqing, you're incredibly audacious to call me a dog?"
He pretended to bend over and rub his legs, his shoulders shrugging, and he laughed heartily. His laughter was full of youthful vigor, clear and pleasant to the ear.
Qingqing looked at him and smiled, then muttered softly after a while:
"……Neuropathy."
"Alright, go back to your master bedroom! You're covered in sweat and smell awful!" she said, pushing him towards the door.
Yan Dibai's expression changed.
Ever since their inexplicable argument and subsequent reconciliation, Yan Dibai would immediately head to the side room whenever he returned home. Although Qingqing didn't complain much about this, she would always send him back to her own room as soon as any hint of intimacy arose.
Yan Dibai's face remained impassive, but he was inwardly frustrated. The weather was already quite cold, and although the master bedroom was piled high with gold, silver, and jewels, it felt excessively empty with only him there. It was nowhere near as comfortable as when he shared a room with someone at the inn. The longer he stayed, the less Yan Dibai liked it.
Qingqing pushed it twice, but couldn't move it. She had no choice but to urge it verbally, "It's getting dark."
The sun sets early, and a cold wind is already blowing. In the past, Yan Dibai would have already returned to his room by now, no matter how much he delayed.
Yan Dibai glanced at her with a deep look, then looked away: "...Cold."
"If it gets cold, add another pot of charcoal. I'll just give you my little heater too."
"..." Yan Dibai shut up.
She had no choice but to grab his arm instead: "Did you hear me?"
He took a deep breath, looked into her eyes again, and mumbled a "Okay" from his nose before leaving.
The sky darkened further. Qingqing closed the door, too lazy to brave the cold wind, ate some pastries and dried fruit, washed up, and patted Xiaohui's head before turning off the light.
I had just gotten into bed when there was a sudden knock on the door.
Qingqing frowned and saw that Yan Di's white face was covered with a few patches of mottled black ash. He grabbed a quilt and rushed into the room.
She was stunned: "What are you doing?"
"The weather was dry, there was too much charcoal, and I accidentally burned the tatami mat." He pretended to look around, then openly threw the quilt onto the green tatami mat.
Touching her ribs through the thin layer of her inner garment, Yan Dibai sat on the couch, looking at her with a sense of injustice and self-righteousness: "When the wind blows, the place where my bones are fractured feels cold and painful."
All of Qingqing's attempts to get rid of people were ended by this last sentence.
"Does it still hurt?"
"It won't hurt when it's warm."
Helpless, she hesitated for a long time before finally shifting her blanket to the side, "...just this once."
A glint of triumph flashed in Yan Dibai's eyes. He quickly lay down beside her and pulled the covers up, leaving only his dark eyes exposed.
The candle went out. In the darkness, the two people's breathing could be clearly heard. Little Grey purred contentedly from its nest at the foot of the bed.
The bed was neither too big nor too small, with enough space between the two people to be about half a body apart.
Qingqing thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but the two of them snuggled together and it was actually quite warm. She quickly drifted off to sleep.
Almost the instant her breathing became long and even, Yan Dibai opened her eyes and quietly rolled over to the inside.
The two quilts touched, and he pressed himself tightly against her, burying his face in her hair with obvious pleasure.
Before we knew it, New Year's Day had arrived.
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