Ouchi
It was the morning two days after parting with her father. Taishi Zheng clung to Cui Zhijun, but her mind wandered hundreds of miles away. She figured her father and Yuanzi and the others must be arriving in Xingren Prefecture by now, and it was time for her to make some moves.
But Qiao Zheng absentmindedly tried to get up from Cui Zhijun's side, but was grabbed by the person next to her and pressed onto the bed. Cui Zhijun pinched her twice in front of her.
Zheng called out urgently, "Cui Erlang, you're up so early, what are you doing——"
"Xiao Zheng, I should ask you what you're doing." Cui Zhijun wasn't about to let go. He reached out and ruffled Zheng's hair. When he spoke again, there was a hint of resentment in his voice. "These past few days, you've summoned me whenever you wanted, and dismissed me whenever you wanted. I'm willing to do this, but you're being a little too cold and callous towards me."
Restless hands teasing every inch.
Cui Zhijun actually wanted to seek favor and attention from Taishi Zheng.
Zheng watched his hand dig its way under her nightgown, followed by a slight gasp. She knew she had indeed been less attentive to Cui Zhijun lately, and her husband was irritated with her.
So, Zheng didn't shy away. Instead, she raised her hand and grabbed the curtain, pretending to be charming. "...There are reasons for this. My husband is magnanimous. Please... bear with me."
"This morning... whatever you want."
When the atmosphere reached this point, the couple looked at each other with increasingly confused eyes.
Cui Zhijun said, "Lie down!" and rolled him over. Zheng groggily buried her face in the pillow, feeling the breath of the person behind her on her back. Until, a muffled groaning brought them both to the ground. Zheng grabbed Cui Zhijun's hand, placed it on her stomach, and fell asleep quietly.
But when I woke up again, the hands that had warmed me had disappeared.
Cui Zhijun went to work. Zheng grabbed the pajamas scattered beside the bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.
She has important things to do.
-
Walking out of the Yinzhu Yatang, passing by a small, unused room across the street, Taishi Zheng was inexplicably hit by a stone thrown from inside. Covering her head, Zheng just asked, "Who is it?", but she saw a few inches of green dress peeking out from behind the half-open door.
Zheng dared to step forward, but before she could stick her head out, she was pulled in by someone behind the door.
What's going on? Zheng thought, "There's a thief in the Bo's house in broad daylight!" Who would have thought that when she looked up after entering the house, she was surprised to find it was, "Chun'er?"
Zheng found it incredible. She asked, "Why are you here? Did Second Aunt let you out?"
Cui Jianchun, however, looked flustered. He glanced around to make sure no one was following him, then immediately cut to the chase. "Didn't my cousin ask me to gain Mother's trust? I sincerely repented in front of Mother, and she agreed to let me go out, but she always has someone watching over me, preventing me from interacting with anyone. She's probably still wary of me, not trusting me, but also afraid to offend me. Today, I finally found a chance to hide here, just to tell you, my cousin. Last night, when I passed by Mother's room, I discovered that Liu Yugeng had actually sent a direct engagement letter..."
"Cousin, what do you think we should do?"
Cui Jianchun was deeply worried. Although she was free again, she could not do anything. She was extremely anxious and helpless.
Unexpectedly, when Zheng heard this, she sneered and said, "That's very good."
She thought to herself that Liu Yugeng and Chu Fanghua were truly arrogant. Bao Nian had just left Bianjing, and now he felt his divorce was a sure thing, waiting for someone to send a letter so he could marry into the second wife's family and the Chu family immediately.
Bah, how shameless.
Zheng cursed inwardly. But Liu Yugeng's actions played right into her hands. Zheng had wanted Cui Jianchun to gain her trust so she could keep a close eye on Chu Fanghua's movements. Wasn't this evidence now being delivered right to her door?
However, Cui Jianchun had no idea what Taishi Zheng was up to.
She asked Tai Shi Zheng, "What do you mean, cousin? Do you have an idea? How is Bao Nian doing? Is there anything wrong?"
Zheng shook her head and tried to comfort Cui Jianchun, "Everything is fine with Bao Nian, don't worry. Listen to your cousin's wife and continue to act calmly with your second aunt. Keep an eye on her every move. Wait until the sixth day of the New Year to find a way to get the engagement letter. I'll meet you outside the uncle's mansion. Let's go to Kaifeng Prefecture together to seek an explanation. In the meantime, take care of yourself."
"The sixth day..."
Why did it have to be the sixth day? Could they really stop their mother and the Chu family?
Probably only Taishi Zheng knows all this.
If there was no news from Xingren Prefecture on the sixth day, suspicion would surely rise in Bianjing. Therefore, this was the deadline for their counterattack. Regardless of whether Bao Nian and the others could arrive on time as planned, they had to first arrive at Kaifeng Prefecture and sound the drum.
Cui Jianchun was confused and had no idea what to do.
But she stopped asking. All mysteries would be solved after the dust settled. All she had to do now was trust Tai Shi Zheng, the vine that was pulling them upwards and escaping. She replied, "Okay, cousin. I'll remember that. I'll be careful."
Zheng hummed, turned around and looked at the dawn outside, saying goodbye to the people around her: "We can't stay here for long, Chun'er, let's say goodbye now. Before we go to Kaifeng Prefecture, I have one last thing to do - only after this is done can we be safe."
Cui Jianchun subconsciously asked, "Where is my cousin going?"
Zheng replied, "I'm going to meet someone very important."
-
In front of the desk in Zhaiyu Pavilion, memorials handed in by the six ministries piled up like a mountain.
Si Kou Jue, draped in a thin outer garment, had been sitting there since he got out of bed at dawn. The spring air was chilly, and the wind rustled the beaded curtains, causing Si Kou Jue to cough softly. The palace maids, startled, looked up, each one brimming with melancholy.
They were worried about Madam Shuyi's cold, and wondered why it hadn't healed yet. How could she possibly recover if she continued to suffer like this?
While she was thinking, Jin Dianbu led several eunuchs into the room. As soon as she stepped through the door, he scolded the palace maids, "How could you leave the door so wide open? My lady has not recovered from the cold yet. If she catches a cold again, who among you can bear the blame?"
Jin Dianbu hadn't finished speaking.
Si Kou Jue's hoarse voice came from inside. She gathered her coat and said, "I was bored, so I asked them to open the door."
Jin Dianbu glanced back at Si Kou Jue, then turned around and whispered to the people around him to close the door.
Jin Dianbu came to the table and looked at Si Kou Jue, who was buried under the pile of memorials. She felt distressed. She picked up the medicine bowl from the eunuch and handed it to him, muttering to herself, "My dear, are you up so early again? You said these memorials are just trivial matters all day long. When will they be finished? How can they be more important than your health? Since you are up, why don't you call us to dress you? You are sitting here with a coat on, and you are afraid of catching a cold. My dear, when will you take care of yourself more?"
Si Kou Jue turned his gaze away from the medicine bowl in Jin Dianbu's hand and stared at the visiting cards piled up on the eunuch's tray.
She asked, "Are these all invitations for the audience that will be held in the palace today?"
Jin Dianbu glanced back and said yes, but she didn't intend to ask anyone to pass the visiting card. Jin Dianbu advised, "My lady, since you are in such a state, please don't have these officials' families come to see you today. Rest well and recuperate, which is the most important thing."
Si Kou Jue was stubborn. Checking the visiting cards every day seemed to have become a habit for her. She seemed to be waiting for something, so she didn't want to miss any of them. "Bao Si, put the medicine down and let it cool down. I'll take a look at the visiting cards first."
The servant cannot defeat the master.
Jin Dianbu had finished his words and sighed, helplessly setting the medicine bowl aside. He then raised his hand to pick up the visiting card and said, "I have one more thing to say. Please don't forget that the Medical Officers' Office will send someone to treat you today. Don't be so busy as you were the other day and leave them alone for a long time."
"I know, give it to me quickly." Si Kou Jue stretched out his hand and asked for the visiting card.
Jin Dianbu then presented the visiting card.
When she saw the visiting cards filled with unfamiliar names, she suddenly saw the familiar name that Si Kou Jue was worried about. She immediately lowered her voice and said, "This girl, she finally decided to come to see me..."
A faint scent of incense ignited in the hall's censer. The fragrance lingered around the golden roof. The exquisiteness of the Jade Pavilion lay in the beams and walls, each meticulously carved. Jin Dianbu dismissed the attendants and glanced back, catching sight of long-lost hope and joy in Sikou Jue's eyes.
She said nothing.
Si Kou Jue suddenly said to him, "Bao Si, go get someone to help me dress up."
-
At the beginning of the Si month, go east from Chengtian Gate, pass Xuanyou Gate, and go to the Da Nei.
Taishi Zheng's journey was smooth, likely thanks to Sikou Jue's instructions. As the road stretched on, the wind blew under her feet. Zheng gazed upon the vast palaces, just as they had been in the past. The only difference was that now there was a lone figure sitting in the High Palace, and the silence of Kunning Palace was as cold as frost.
And she had long since shed her childishness and had been away from here for many years.
Walking along the long corridor towards the Jade Pavilion, Taishi Zheng happened to meet a senior palace maid who unexpectedly recognized her. The maid hesitated at first, then stepped forward and gently called out, "Young Highness, you are Young Highness—"
This sentence brought the time back ten years, and Zheng seemed to be walking on the way back to Kunning Hall after school from Zishan Hall.
He probably stopped and walked again, and was caught red-handed by the palace servants sent by the saint to look for him.
Zheng narrowed her eyes and smiled. Although she had no recollection of the person before her, or the year and month in which palace she had served as a servant, she still responded to her call cordially as before, "After so many years, I didn't expect that someone in this palace would still recognize me. Thank you, Ma'am."
The palace maid also laughed and said how could she forget the little girl in the Saint's Palace.
In the old days, when people met, there would be plenty of small talk, but Taishi Zheng had important matters to attend to, and the person she wanted to see was probably already eagerly waiting. She couldn't stay any longer, so she said goodbye at the foot of the palace wall.
The palace maid waved to him.
From the Shouning Years of the previous emperor, I crossed paths with Taishi Zheng and returned to the present Yuanliang. The two of us went our separate ways, not knowing if we would ever meet again in this life...
-
Later, when she came across Jin Dianbu outside Zhaiyu Pavilion, Zheng could no longer suppress the joy in her heart.
She smiled and called out, "Golden Book."
When he saw the elegant face behind Jin Dianbu, he suddenly stopped.
Zheng imagined countless reunions, but when the moment arrived, she hesitated. It was still the familiar face in her memory, the same gentle gaze. The cumbersome palace dress and heavy pearl hairpins couldn't suppress Si Kou Jue's dignity.
Zheng's longing turned into tears. She stood not far away, gazing at him, and silently said in her heart...
Eldest sister.
Si Kou Jue seemed to have sensed her hesitation and waved at the gate, "Xiao Zheng, come quickly."
So, as the sound of the little zither landing, Zheng ran quickly, running towards the person she had missed for so long but dared not disturb easily. Standing in front of Si Kou Jue, Zheng wanted to call her "Big Sister" as brightly as before, but restrained herself in the face of the etiquette of respect and inferiority.
She bowed and said, "Your Highness greets Madam Shuyi."
Si Kou Jue sneered. She grabbed Tai Shi Zheng's arm as she was about to bow and said, "Tai Shi Zheng, are you going to treat me like this too? Don't bow."
Zheng stood there in a daze. She seemed to see the shadow of the saint of that time in Si Kou Jue.
She shook hands with Si Kou Jue, and Zheng no longer imitated them, being respectful. She finally smiled, and like before, she went to Si Kou Jue, "Okay, Sister Jue. Xiao Zheng, as you say~"
Si Kou Jue said bluntly: "You, you, you really haven't changed at all."
The two of them walked into the pavilion arm in arm. As soon as Zheng entered the room, she could smell a medicinal scent that even incense couldn't cover. Zheng asked, "Why does this room smell like medicine? Sister Jue, are you sick?"
Jin Dianbu followed behind and was about to speak up when Si Kou Jue found an excuse to send him out. "Bao Si, take the others out. I want to catch up with Xiao Zheng. I don't want anyone to disturb me. If there's anything, I'll call you."
Shuyi gave instructions, and Jin Dianbu didn't say much. She looked back at the cold medicine placed next to the many memorials, lowered her eyes and left.
This medicine...
It's probably hard for her to swallow it today.
Everyone left. Si Kou Jue took Tai Shi Zheng to the couch and sat down. Perhaps it was Tai Shi Zheng's arrival that made Si Kou Jue happy. She looked much better than she had earlier.
She smiled and patted the back of Taishi Zheng's hand. "They are just minor ailments. Don't worry. Xiao Zheng, it's been a few years since we last met. Are you doing well now? Are you getting along well in the Bo's Mansion? How is Cui Jia's Erlang? Is he still caring towards you?"
Zhengdang hadn't seen her for a long time, but the strange feeling was quickly dispelled by the warmth of the past.
Zheng clung to Sikou Jue and said, "Don't worry, Sister Jue. Everything is fine with me. I'm married to a man I really like. So, everything is going well for me. But Sister Jue, you're busy with palace affairs all day long. You must take good care of yourself."
"Okay, I will."
Si Kou Jue could tell from Tai Shi Zheng's words and expression that she was now living a stable and happy life, and he felt at ease. But after the greetings, could Si Kou Jue not guess what Tai Shi Zheng was thinking?
She came here on purpose to ask for something.
There was no need to hide anything between Sikou Jue and Taishi Zheng, so she asked in a deep voice, "For all these years, you've been able to resist coming to see me. And now, you've chosen to send a letter to the palace. Tell me, little Zheng, what exactly do you want from me? Whatever it is, tell me. Sister Jue will support you as always."
Over the years, Si Kou Jue has never blamed Tai Shi Zheng.
She had always understood why she hadn't come. She knew Taishi Zheng was avoiding Qi Liyuan for her own sake. She was afraid that he would always be obsessed with the past.
Zheng felt that if she couldn't see him, she wouldn't have to miss him anymore.
But Zheng didn't know that Si Kou Jue never cared about any of this. To her, becoming a concubine had nothing to do with love, and she didn't care whether the emperor favored her or not. All Si Kou Jue wanted to do was to do her best to assist the emperor and ensure the long-term peace and stability of Yuan Liang.
But the premise of all this is power. So she has to fight for the queen.
Zheng sat up and smiled.
Although she lost her mother at birth, she gained more kindness during this journey. This was true for the saints, Si Kou Jue, Tai Shi Zheng Jiang, Cui Zhijun, Qi Jia Mi and others, and everyone in the Cui family's eldest branch.
She felt extremely lucky, so when she saw Bao Nian and Cui Jianchun isolated and helpless, she wanted to pass on these good thoughts.
Zheng lowered her eyes and spoke to Sikou Jue, "I can't hide anything from you, Sister Jue. I do have something to ask of you, and this matter concerns the Chu family. I think the queen election is imminent, so I need to tell you about this matter and let Sister Jue make the decision for me. But before that, I want to tell you a story."
"The Chu family..." Si Kou Jue's expression became serious.
After the imperial examinations, the Chu family recruited many newly minted scholars and took the opportunity to widely publicize the fact that the Empress Dowager, originally from a commoner background, could better understand the hardships faced by students from humble backgrounds. This image earned the Chu family considerable favor within the court and the capital of Bianjing.
On the contrary, they had the potential to overwhelm aristocratic families like the Sikou family, but how could the Sikou family's foundation be shaken so easily? Moreover, Sikou Jue would never allow a fool like Chu Qiyu to take the power of the imperial palace. However, if there was any news about the Chu family, Sikou Jue would definitely be eager to hear about it.
Tai Shi Zheng knew this, so she chose to enter the palace to provide them with an insurance against the Chu family.
Si Kou Jue picked up the cup of water on the table and responded to Tai Shi Zheng's words.
"Okay, tell me about it."
Sikou Jue spoke up, and Zheng began to tell her about Bao Nian's arrival in Beijing, slowly unfolding from there until the present day, when Liu Yugeng had divorced his wife and remarried after his betrayal. Zheng wanted Sikou Jue to sympathize with Bao Nian's predicament, and after she finished speaking, Sikou Jue fell silent.
The person in front of me must have said too many curses against Liu Yugeng.
Si Kou Jue was currently considering how to use this incident to deal with the Chu family. Since they were using a false image to win favor, he would use the truth to expose their hypocritical mask. Having lost the support of the people, the Chu family would no longer be qualified to confront them.
Si Kou Jue knew Tai Shi Zheng well. Without a plan or a purpose, she would never rashly speak to her.
This girl is so clever...
"Xiao Zheng, you've come here today, so I'm sure you've already made up your mind. Tell me straight away, what are your plans?" Si Kou Jue asked. Zheng spoke without hesitation, "I intend to have the Emperor sit in Kaifeng Prefecture and personally review this matter. Only the Emperor can stand up to the Chu family and remain unaffected."
"Then Xiao Zheng, you should go directly to the emperor." Si Kou Jue said jokingly. Zheng smiled slightly, "Sister Jue, you and I both understand. We have known each other for many years, and the emperor has always listened to you the most."
Si Kou Jue understood tacitly, and a smile rose silently on the corner of her mouth. "Okay, I agree to this matter. However, I have a condition——"
Zheng was puzzled. "What conditions?"
Si Kou Jue smiled and replied, "After this is done, please come to the palace more often. I want to see you often. If you and Cui Erlang have children in the future, please bring them to me often."
"Um!"
This condition was easy to negotiate, and Zheng was willing to accept it without thinking.
But who knew that Zheng was still noisily leaning towards Si Kou Jue when a familiar voice suddenly rang out from outside the window, "Why are you all waiting outside? Did my beloved drink the medicine today? Do you look better? Have the doctors come to see me? What do you say?"
My beloved concubine? So intimate! When did the name change?
Zheng's curious head instantly popped out, only to see Qi Liyuan's barrage of questions outside the window, making the palace maid anxious. Seeing the maid's hesitation, he simply waved his sleeve, pushed the door open, and walked straight in. Qi Liyuan didn't even wait for the Golden Book to remind him, and he shouted into the room, "My beloved concubine, my beloved concubine, are you there?"
Qi Liyuan called out to him so intimately. Zheng stared at Si Koujue in the inner room with ill intentions, "You two?"
Si Kou Jue, however, had a heartless look on his face and remained indifferent.
She recalled that some time ago, she had spent a night of debauchery with Qi Liyuan, but that was just to complete a task given to her by the Sikou family. Who would have known that since that day, Qi Liyuan seemed to be attached to her, and would come to her Jade Pavilion whenever he had nothing to do.
This made Si Kou Jue extremely regretful.
Qi Liyuan walked into the inner room, and the moment before, he was acting like a concubine, but the next second, when he saw Taishi Zheng, he immediately coughed twice in a serious manner, "Ai... cough cough, Jia Shuyi, why is Zheng here too--"
Zheng quickly stood up and saluted, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Qi Liyuan stole a glance at Taishi Zheng in front of Si Kou Jue, not daring to act too intimately. "No need for formalities. Zheng, did you also hear that she's sick? Come and see her?"
Zheng turned to look at Si Kou Jue, who shook his head slightly without saying anything. Zheng then replied, "Yes, I came to see Madam Shuyi. I happened to be finishing my visit when the emperor arrived. I won't bother you any more, and it's time to go."
As they spoke, Qi Liyuan quietly sat down beside Si Kou Jue. He carefully noticed the medicine hidden in the folder. Qi Liyuan touched the medicine while listening absentmindedly to Tai Shi Zheng's words. At the same time, he whispered to Si Kou Jue, "How come you don't use this medicine at all? It's cold. I need someone to heat it up while I watch you drink it. Otherwise, how long will it take for this illness to heal?"
Zheng smiled foolishly with relief when she saw this. She really didn't expect that one day Qi Liyuan would be controlled like this.
Si Kou Jue didn't respond to Qi Liyuan's words. She hid in an empty space nearby and said to Tai Shi Zheng, "Xiao Zheng, since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer given the situation today. I'll take care of what I promised you. Please take your time on your way home."
Zheng responded, "Okay."
Qi Liyuan was still upset about Si Kou Jue not using the medicine. Si Kou Jue couldn't help but raise his hand and nudged the person next to him, but she said in a tone that sounded like an order: "My lord, I'm not feeling well. Please go and see Xiao Zheng off for me."
“Ah…ah?”
Qi Liyuan kept avoiding Taishi Zheng's gaze for a long time, fearing that he would embarrass Si Kou Jue.
When he reacted, he actually stood up obediently after receiving Si Kou Jue's instructions and replied, "Okay, then I'll go see Zheng off. But before I come back, you must finish the medicine -"
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