Chapter 51 Accompanying the Teacher Overnight as a Gift
The fatigue of her period lasted for five days. She stayed in the Phoenix Palace at night, and the Taiji Palace, which was originally prepared for the emperor, was empty for five days.
As soon as court ended, regardless of the weather or the amount of official business, Emperor Qianyuan would go to Fengyi Palace on time.
He walked ahead, his dragon robe fluttering, his eyes filled with a fervent longing to see Wen Miao; behind him, Xu Sheng commanded a group of eunuchs, who carried memorials, writing brushes, books, desks, chairs, and lampstands, moving house with great fanfare and grandeur.
On the first day, Wen Miao thought it was just a fluke and didn't pay much attention to it.
Wen Miao thought that if he behaved like this the next day, he might not do it again, so she still didn't pay attention.
The third day was the same. Wen Miao looked at the Empress again and again, hesitant to speak. Finally, Emperor Qian Yuan pretended to notice the Empress's expression and then asked her naturally if she had any other plans.
Wen Miao remained silent for a moment. Perhaps seeing how busy and troublesome their daily activities were, she suggested that they could also set aside a space for His Majesty to work in the Phoenix Palace.
Before he finished speaking, Emperor Qianyuan immediately clapped his hands and smiled, saying that he and the Empress were of one mind.
So from that day on, a small corner for the emperor's office was set aside within the vast Fengyi Palace.
It wasn't as spacious as the Taiji Palace, nor as professional as the Wenyuan Hall, but this limited office space was Emperor Qian Yuan's favorite. Without any screens to conceal it, he could see his empress sometimes sitting on the chaise longue reading a book, sometimes standing in front of the table pruning flowers, and sometimes falling asleep early on the chaise longue, making his heart melt.
The change of office location made it even more reasonable for Emperor Qianyuan to stay in Fengyi Palace in the evening. After he finished reviewing the memorials, the sky outside the palace was getting dark. He pretended to be in trouble and said to Wen Miao with some guilt, "It's all my fault. I forgot the time when I started reviewing the memorials. I didn't realize that it was already this late when I looked up."
Wen Miao didn't want to talk.
According to her observation, Emperor Qianyuan would glance at her at least a dozen times in an hour while reviewing memorials, and she happened to be sitting by the window trying on embroidering a hair ribbon, with the bright sky right behind her. How could the emperor not see her? He probably didn't even want to look at her!
If Wen Miao didn't respond, Xu Sheng, who had long since cultivated himself into a shrewd individual, would immediately speak up, mentioning the approaching evening and the chill of autumn, as well as concerns about His Majesty's health and the possibility of catching a cold. Finally, he would glance at Wen Miao with worry and humbly ask a question:
"How about Your Highness allows me to stay overnight?"
At this time, Emperor Qianyuan would speak up, wanting to show his value, "The Empress has been experiencing lower back pain and cold hands and feet lately. If I stay overnight, I can warm your bed and massage your back, saving you the trouble of calling the imperial physician and maids."
Between the two of them, the question of whether or not the emperor or empress should stay overnight seems to have been completely reversed—it's not that the empress is going to great lengths to beg the emperor to stay overnight, but rather that the current emperor is finding ways to make it possible for himself to stay openly in the empress's palace.
Although the emperor could make decisions about the empress, Emperor Qian Yuan was unwilling to let Wen Miao feel pressured in these matters, which made things particularly difficult for him.
Wen Miao found it both helpless and amusing, and in the end could only nod and agree to Emperor Qian Yuan's "request" to stay overnight.
Such things always happen, once they happen, they happen again, and once they happen again, they happen a third time. After all, Emperor Qian Yuan was always good at taking advantage of situations.
So, during Wen Miao's entire menstrual period, a new large quilt was placed on the bed in Fengyi Palace, and an extra pillow was placed there permanently. The bedding, which was originally only soaked with the warm fragrance of Wen Miao's body, gradually became tinged with another kind of clear and cool sandalwood fragrance, like a cold spring breaking through rocks.
—That belongs to Emperor Qian Yuan, Ji Huan.
The two flavors blend and merge together, as if they would never be separated.
Even after Wen Miao's period ended, Emperor Qian Yuan didn't mention moving her bed out of Fengyi Palace. Only on the day Wen Miao felt better, he pressed himself against her, kissing her wet eyelashes and crimson lips repeatedly, and said in a hoarse voice:
"If I ever anger the Empress in the future, she may banish me from this Phoenix Palace. I will then come to apologize every day. When you have calmed down, you may allow me to step into the palace again, shall we?"
Wen Miao was knocked unconscious, her lips barely able to form a word, yet in a few moments of disorientation, she felt as if Emperor Qian Yuan was talking about some possible "future".
The chill of autumn intensified after that.
The letter that had been sent to Chen Wanqiu had already reached Qu County in Qingzhou. On a clear autumn day with a gentle breeze and bright sunshine, Chen Wanqiu embarked on her journey home.
On the day she left the capital, Wen Miao, wearing a veil, stepped down from the unassuming carriage and saw her off at the Zheliu Pavilion on the outskirts of the capital.
To some extent, Chen Wanqiu was the first person Wen Miao took the initiative to help. It was also because of Chen Wanqiu that Wen Miao had plans for the future. Therefore, she always had some different feelings towards this girl.
"This time when you go home, you will be able to reunite with your family."
Wen Miao lifted half of the veil on her hat and looked at Chen Wanqiu with a warm, blessing-filled smile.
Chen Wanqiu stared blankly at the beautiful and plump empress until the horses neighed not far away. She blushed and came back to her senses. Suddenly, she took a step back and wanted to kneel down to give Wen Miao a grand salute.
She knew very well that without the Empress, she would not have the freedom and peace she had today.
"Don't--"
Wen Miao smiled and took the other person's arm again, just like when they first met. She seemed to have no airs of an empress and was extremely kind.
She said gently to Chen Wanqiu, "There's no need for that."
It's very light, yet inexplicably powerful.
Chen Wanqiu paused, her eyes reddening as she revealed a smile—a smile she hadn't shown in a long time, a smile as open, unrestrained, and sunny as she had in Qu County, Qingzhou, a wide grin revealing her teeth, not elegant but full of vitality.
She stopped herself from kneeling and, imitating the county coroner, clasped her hands in a fist salute to Wen Miao, saying, "Your Majesty, thank you."
On a sunny morning, the carriage was traveling towards Qu County in Qingzhou. Even after the carriage had been traveling for quite some time, Chen Wanqiu was still peeking half her head out of the window, gazing at the figure of the Empress in the distance.
After the smoke and dust had billowed up and everything behind her was no longer visible, she exhaled a breath of stale air. Just as she leaned back on the couch, she touched something soft.
Chen Wanqiu pulled out a small bundle from behind the soft pillow. Just as she was wondering what was going on, she untied it and found several silver notes and a note with neat handwriting and subtle strokes: "May you have a safe journey."
She held the small bundle tightly to her chest, remaining silent for a long time before murmuring, "Thank you... thank you..."
...
After watching Chen Wanqiu's carriage completely depart, Wen Miao also boarded her carriage. She did not immediately return to the palace, but instead went to a restaurant in the capital under the guard of her attendants.
Wearing a veiled hat and a dark blue long dress with wide sleeves, the dark color did not make her look serious or old-fashioned, but instead accentuated her graceful figure and fair and delicate skin.
When Wen Miao went upstairs, she only led Shi Cui and Wan Bi. After she entered the private room on the second floor, she saw Li Qing, who had arrived earlier.
This was the first time the two friends had met since Wen Miao's wedding. They had a lot to say to each other, and before the tea and snacks were even served, they started chatting away, their faces beaming with smiles and showing no sign of awkwardness.
Even the usually aloof Li Qing curled his lips into a smile as he carefully examined Wen Miao, saying with a hint of amusement, "Your Majesty has finally decided to release the Empress?"
Wen Miao smiled shyly and explained, "He never restricted me from leaving the palace; he just found the time today."
Perhaps due to her experiences with love after marriage, Wen Miao possessed a more alluring and mature charm. Even Li Qing, who was familiar with her, felt his face flush with her every smile and frown.
She used to disdain beauty, thinking it was all external and fleeting. But now, looking at her friend, she suddenly realized that being beautiful does have its advantages—it's not only pleasing to the eye, but also a feast for the eyes.
Wen Miao and Li Qing huddled together and chatted about many things. Sometimes Li Qing was curious about what the palace was like, and sometimes Wen Miao shared the food made in the imperial kitchen.
After they finished talking, Li Qing asked about the recent demotion of the Princess Consort of Rui to commoner status and her execution by hanging. Wen Miao then explained the whole story that had come to light because of her encounter with Chen Wanqiu.
The two looked at each other with emotion. After finishing their meal, Li Qing suddenly said, "Miao Niang, do you still remember what you asked me before?"
"A Christmas tree, a white dress, and that strange-looking building?"
"Yes, that's exactly it."
Li Qing's face turned serious. She said, "I have searched through all the books in my house, but I have not found any such content. I also asked the female teachers who teach in other households, but they still know nothing about it... They said that these things that I have never seen or heard of before are definitely not from the Great Chu. They are not even mentioned in those strange tales."
Upon hearing this, Wen Miao sighed softly, "That was probably just something I had in a wild dream. I can rest assured now."
Li Qing: "What are you worried about?"
Wen Miao smiled, her eyes showing no worries, only a relaxed acceptance, and joked, "Don't worry, these unprecedented things are not in my lost memories."
Upon hearing this, the two burst into laughter. After eating a few more pastries, just before Wen Miao was about to go to the Xie residence again, she suddenly looked at Li Qing: "Qingniang, I want to do something, but I'm not sure how far I can go..."
Before she could finish speaking, Li Qing countered, "But you want to do it, don't you?"
Wen Miao paused, "...Yes."
She gained the title of Empress because of Emperor Qian Yuan, and because Chen Wanqiu realized that she possessed far more power than that, a strange emotion gradually swelled in her heart, transforming into another kind of ambition over time.
Li Qing said, "Since you want to do it, then do it. Now, in the entire Great Chu, what is there that can stump our Empress?"
With His Majesty's absolute power and centralized imperial authority, Wen Miao, protected by His Majesty, can practically roam freely throughout the entire Great Chu territory.
Wen Miao smiled, "That's true..."
Now, she realized once again that what Emperor Qian Yuan had given her was indeed special and rare—
That is the power that everyone dreams of, yet can never attain.
It is a position that others can hardly reach even if they try their hardest.
...
During this trip out of the palace, Wen Miao did everything she had previously kept in mind—sending Chen Wanqiu off from the capital, having dinner, tea, and chatting with Li Qing, and visiting her maternal grandfather and Meng Jun at the Xie residence.
After a long time, Xie Jingxuan still looked the same as before, with a kind face. When he saw Wen Miao, he first asked about her recent health and then asked if she was adapting well to staying in the palace.
Xie Mengjun, who had grown a bit taller, clung to Wen Miao's arm affectionately, saying that she really, really, really missed her aunt!
Wen Miao stayed at the Xie residence for half a day. She played chess with Xie Jingxuan, a game she wasn't very good at, and braided some flower ropes with Xie Mengjun. Before she could leave, she saw that the sky outside was tinged with a heavy gray, as if there were signs of a change in the weather.
Xie Jingxuan squinted, stroking his beard with his hand. "Looks like it's going to rain again today."
Xie Mengjun sat on the soft couch, propping her chin up with her hand, and unconsciously pouted. "Rain is no good. My skirt gets soaked as soon as I walk, all dirty and ugly! It's also so cold, and I can't go out to play. I can only stay indoors reading and writing. It's so boring!"
Wen Miao chuckled: "Isn't the last sentence the key point?"
"I'm still a child!" Xie Mengjun said matter-of-factly. "I haven't had enough fun yet!"
Everyone in the room burst out laughing.
One autumn rain brings one chill.
After the start of autumn this year, the capital city experienced a lot of rain, which knocked the orange-yellow leaves off the branches. Within a few days, the treetops and branches were all bare, while the streets were piled with fallen leaves, creating a desolate scene.
Wen Miao initially thought it was just a light rain, but after half an incense stick's time, the rain not only showed no signs of decreasing, but instead became heavier and denser, as if it wanted to pour out all the rain that had been accumulating for a year in this autumn.
Just then, a young servant from the Xie family came running from the front hall with an umbrella. His voice was slightly muffled by the rain, but it was still loud enough for the people inside to hear.
He said His Majesty has arrived.
Splash!
Wen Miao subconsciously stood up, her sleeve brushing against the open books on the table, the pages rustling, almost blending with the rain to form a melody under the overcast sky.
"Is His Majesty here to pick up my aunt?" Xie Mengjun asked, tilting her head.
Wen Miao paused, stroked the little girl's head, and said uncertainly, "...Or perhaps you have something important to discuss with your maternal grandfather?"
As they spoke, the two, one big and one small, looked at Xie Jingxuan, who stood calmly to the side, still holding a book of poems in his hand.
Xie Mengjun, feigning maturity, asked in a serious tone, "Great-grandfather, what do you think?"
Xie Jingxuan laughed several times, "My great-grandfather and Mengjun had the same idea."
Just as the old man and the young man had guessed, Emperor Qianyuan, who was reviewing memorials alone in the Wenyuan Hall, heard the sound of rain and had the idea of going to fetch Wen Miao—he had glimpsed many such scenes in his dreams.
In the damp, rainy weather, a goddess dressed in a long skirt stood beneath a wondrous, high-hanging structure, while the tall and imposing Cui Xu walked out of the rain, holding an umbrella.
Such a scene had played out many times in Emperor Qianyuan's dreams. He was overwhelmed by all kinds of jealousy. Now that the opportunity was presented to him, the emperor was like a pack of wolves smelling meat. He wanted to recreate their rainy memories with Wen Miao without stopping for a moment.
Like wild beasts, once they have their prey, they will lick and rub it incessantly, using every means to leave their mark on it.
So, in the corridor separating the front and back halls of the Xie residence, when Xie Jingxuan and Xie Mengjun escorted Wen Miao into the corridor, not far ahead stood the tall and broad-shouldered Emperor Qianyuan, with Xu Sheng beside him, his face full of wrinkles from smiling, holding an oil-paper umbrella in his hand.
Emperor Qianyuan excused the Xie family from the formalities, trying his best to appear gentle and kind, but he still found it difficult to devote much attention to others when Wen Miao was present.
He simply said, "I have come to take the Empress home."
……Home?
Wen Miao was slightly taken aback, then smiled and replied, "Okay."
She turned and said goodbye to her maternal grandfather and Mengjun before taking a few steps forward to stand before Emperor Qianyuan.
The corridor was still dry, but the carriages outside the corridor leading to the Xie residence were still being rained on. Emperor Qianyuan was worried that Wen Miao's embroidered shoes would catch a cold from stepping on the puddles, and he was also worried that she would get her dress dirty. This morning when she was washing up, he had heard Shi Cui and Wan Bi whisper that this was a dress that the Empress liked very much.
Therefore, out of concern, Emperor Qianyuan simply picked up Wen Miao and carried her around the waist.
Wen Miao was caught off guard and paused for a moment.
Xie Mengjun, who had been watching everything from behind, let out a small "ah," and was immediately turned away. Xie Jingxuan, who coughed lightly, reached out and covered his eyes.
Wen Miao belatedly realized what was happening, her ears and cheeks already flushed red. She simply huddled like a quail, burying her head to the side in Emperor Qian Yuan's dry, warm chest.
Emperor Qianyuan let out a soft laugh from his chest.
Across the corridor, he looked at Xie Jingxuan, and like a grandson-in-law meeting an elder, he nodded slightly and said, "I'll take the Empress back to the palace first."
Xu Sheng cleverly opened his umbrella to shield himself from the rain above, and carefully watched as the Emperor, carrying the Empress, walked down the steps, through the rain, and headed towards the carriage.
Along that stretch of road, Emperor Qianyuan suddenly looked down at Wen Miao and whispered, "I have imagined this scene many times."
"……Now?"
Emperor Qianyuan: "Yes."
Wen Miao asked, "Why?"
Was it because of the rain, or because I was holding her in my arms?
"...It's probably because of an obsession."
Emperor Qian Yuan chuckled softly, and in his heart, he answered the question again with the true answer—it was because of jealousy.
The sky was a hazy, gray expanse, soaked by rain, and the carriage headed towards the palace in the distance.
After returning to the palace, Wen Miao had some ideas about what she wanted to do, but she was not the type to act impulsively or act on a whim. Therefore, she preferred to make a record of her thoughts before making any promises or taking any action.
In addition to the small corner where Emperor Qianyuan worked in Fengyi Palace, a small couch was also set up there. Compared to the neat desk and chair, Wen Miao preferred to sit on the soft couch, resting her elbows on the small table to write and draw.
At first, she only had ideas, but the specific details were not yet formed, and she couldn't help but feel a bit lost and helpless, just like a student taking an exam for the first time.
Emperor Qian Yuan, however, was used to handling such matters and would sit opposite Wen Miao at the small table, guiding her like a teacher.
His voice was deep and gentle, and he was very patient with Wen Miao. He would not tell Wen Miao what to do directly, but would ask her questions in return, starting from a vague general framework and gradually filling in the details.
It wasn't until late autumn, when the plan for improving the slave system was finally completed and took shape in Wen Miao's hands as early winter approached and winter arrived in the capital.
The world has already taken shape in a short period of time. Wen Miao cannot change the social hierarchy and the distinction between the rich and the poor that have existed here for thousands of years, but she wants to do her best to ensure that the people at the bottom of this society have more security.
Although she didn't know how far this could go or whether it would succeed, Wen Miao suddenly had different expectations for the days to come.
...
On the day all the content was written, Wen Miao held the paper in her arms and placed it on the emperor's desk, standing there gracefully.
Today she wore an apricot-colored wide-sleeved robe, paired with a bright pomegranate-colored skirt. Since she was in the Phoenix Palace, she only loosely inserted a jade hairpin in her hair, with a few strands of black hair falling down her temples. She looked languid and natural, with her eyes full of stars lowered. She stood in front of the table, looking at Emperor Qian Yuan with a hint of expectation.
Emperor Qianyuan's previously calm mind, which was able to review the memorials, was instantly disturbed, turning into a pool of spring water. Ripples spread across the surface, reflecting the image of Wen Miao.
He put down his pen, picked up the paper on the table with one hand, and naturally took Wen Miao's sleeve with the other, pulling her into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her waist and, with a slight pull, made Wen Miao sit on his lap.
With the warm fragrance in his arms, Emperor Qianyuan rested his chin on Wen Miao's shoulder and carefully examined the few pieces of paper.
Even from the fact that he could only glimpse Wen Miao's deeds through dreams, he was already aware of her meticulous attention to detail. Now, on these few small pages, some improvements to the system and regulations are written down—
Abuse and killing of slaves are prohibited; although slaves are dependent on their masters, masters are prohibited from arbitrarily disposing of their lives, and some slaves can gain their freedom after serving a certain number of years; relevant institutions will be established to manage slave affairs; death contracts will be completely abolished, leaving only living contracts, etc.
During the previous dynasty, death contracts were relatively common, but the founding emperor of the Great Chu had issued decrees to release slaves many times. Later, when Emperor Qian Yuan ascended the throne, he also released slaves once. Therefore, in the territory of the Great Chu today, there are few death contracts and many living contracts. However, there are still some people like the Zhao family who change living to dead and force good people into lowly status.
Clearly, their behavior needs to be restrained by stricter and more detailed laws, and those in power need to set the tone for this matter.
These matters may be difficult for ordinary people, but for the mother of the nation, there are plenty of people in the capital who would do it for her.
After a few moments of silence, Emperor Qianyuan suddenly chuckled softly.
He said—
"Congratulations, my Empress is about to embark on her training today."
"I wonder if I might ask the Empress for a... token of gratitude to my teacher?"
The written regulations for the slave system were carefully placed on the desk, pressed down with a small jade seal. Wen Miao's pomegranate skirt was spread out wide under her sleeves, and then spun halfway in mid-air, like scattered petals, before being gathered by an arm, accompanied by a soft, delicate gasp.
The curtains in Fengyi Palace were completely drawn, and the light gauze cast shadows that reflected two intertwined figures. As the candles in the palace burned down, only a few warm glows remained.
Wen Miao was being relentlessly pursued by Emperor Qian Yuan. Although the palace was slightly chilly in winter, she was covered in a fine sweat, her face flushed, her hair flowing, and her starry eyes were moist and affectionate. The emperor kissed away all her sobs and whimpers.
Even after she fell into a deep sleep, her eyelashes were still covered with a layer of misty moisture, and the corners of her eyes were wet and red. Her lips were swollen. The sight made Emperor Qian Yuan's heart burn with desire, but he suppressed his restlessness and only lowered his head to kiss Wen Miao's eyebrows, eyes, and nose again before lying down completely and embracing her.
In the dim light of the bed curtains, he whispered "Goodnight" to the already sleeping Wen Miao.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Your Majesty: Dedicated to competing with men, women, the old, and the young (the number one in indiscriminate competition).
Wen Miao: ...Can you even win the bid?
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