Chapter 149 Even more powerful than the white moonlight is…
April, a month of blooming flowers, marks another year of peony season.
There was a peony garden in the Marquis's mansion. Under the careful care of the gardeners, peonies of all colors budded and bloomed in succession, forming a riot of color and creating the most fragrant and beautiful scenery in spring.
Yan Yi had overcome the discomfort of early pregnancy and was in much better spirits. Pei Jingyi finally "generously" allowed her to go out for a walk and get some fresh air.
Shen Lingyue accompanied her as they strolled slowly among the peonies, and when they got tired, they rested briefly in the nearby octagonal pavilion.
"Did you see another Shen Lingyue in your dream?"
Yan Yi, supporting her lower back, slowly sat down and continued the previous topic, "And then you went to Madam Zhao and confessed everything?"
"Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't be able to get over it in my own mind."
Shen Lingyue sighed, and before Yan Yi could comfort her, she had already cheered herself up, smiling as she said, "Fortunately, she didn't blame me, and she's even nicer to me than before."
Yan Yi tilted her head slightly to look at her, her eyes filled with a knowing and understanding look that seemed to say, "I knew it all along."
Having known each other for many years, she had long known that Xiaoyue had an exceptionally attractive quality, more like a little sun with its own light source, shining brightly in her field.
No one would wear their orphanhood on their face, and her friends around her could hardly detect it. They would even think that she must have grown up in a loving family and was a carefree little girl.
Those who love going out love to return, and those who love going out love to come back.
She generously gives her abundant and intense emotions, which is why she has won so much sincerity and affection.
But just as shadows are always behind the moon, people with rich emotions are also more easily burdened by external influences.
Trying to please everyone will make you very tired.
She could easily sever ties with the Zhou family because the Zhou family had never given anything to or had any feelings for the original owner of this body, which made her feel no longer attached to them.
But how will Little Moon respond to this profound love from her family?
Ever since Aunt Liu's scheme failed, Yan Yi had a premonition that she would do this sooner or later.
This is the brave Shen Lingyue she knows, who always faces every storm in life head-on and bravely overcomes it.
"Hey, Yan Yan, do you think the real Miss Zhou might have transmigrated to your side too?"
Shen Lingyue suddenly had a strange idea, then her face showed horror, "Then she'll have to teach your class... We're doomed!"
For Yan Yi, who has a specific major, PPTs are like gibberish to her; she understands nothing except for the punctuation.
In addition, Yan Yi has highly educated parents and comes from a scholarly family...
Shen Lingyue silently wiped away a tear for Zhou Yanyi.
Well, you have to admit that Shen Lingyue is lucky; at least she can still get by in her major.
With that person's classical Chinese proficiency, they might even get high marks in courses like literary history.
Shen Lingyue felt increasingly unbalanced the more she thought about it.
"She didn't have to deal with her awful family, didn't have to marry anyone she didn't want, had an apartment in a second-tier city left by my parents, and I even paid off her student loans... Ah! And there's a whole hard drive full of comics and novels I treasured, and a high-VIP membership account on XX website..."
Big Yellow Girl, you're so lucky! :)
Tremble, young girl, prepare to be amazed by the little things in this new world!
Shen Lingyue burst out laughing at her own imagination, slapping her thigh repeatedly.
Yan Yi was also affected by her, and her eyes involuntarily curved up as she followed her train of thought, "There's nothing we can do about it... Maybe my parents will take her to get a neurological checkup? If that doesn't work, she'll just have to switch to an easier major."
Life always has a way out. Whether it's her or Zhou Yanyi, they can always carve out their own path.
"That's right, a good life is created by our own hands." Shen Lingyue raised her arm and said, "Our goal is—"
Yan Yi: "...No cavities?"
Shen Lingyue puffed out her cheeks: "The princess has ascended to the throne!"
When she realized that Yan Yi was deliberately trying to make her happy, a feeling of tingling in her nose welled up instantly, making her feel soft and cuddly, like a puppy, and she rubbed against Yan Yi's arm for a long time.
"Waaaaah, why have I been crying so much lately... Yan Yan is the best!"
Then Qingchan and Shuangxu brought over a square wooden box. "Miss, this was made by the craftsmen in the manor according to the design you gave us. Do you think it's alright?"
The two placed the wooden box on a stone table to the side and filled it with a thick layer of fine sand.
Shen Lingyue picked up a Y-shaped wooden frame, tied a wooden pen to the bottom, held the two ends of the Y with both hands, and with her arms hanging in the air, manipulated the wooden pen to draw a circle on the sand table.
“…It’s a bit like pushing a millstone.” She turned to Yan Yi and complained, then tried to move her hands and use her arm strength to make the wooden pen write the character “moon” on the sand.
This kind of wrist movement requires a lot of strength, and she soon felt her arm muscles start to ache.
Yan Yi walked over, her eyes filled with worry, "Can you still hold on? Why don't we let the princess find another reliable candidate?"
"It's alright, this is my first time doing it, so it's inevitable that I'm not very skilled yet. I'll get used to it after a few more practice sessions."
Shen Lingyue was full of confidence and comforted her, "We previously participated in the silkworm-raising ceremony with Princess Tong'an, so it is only natural for us to preside over the spirit writing ceremony for her now."
That's right, this is the solution Shen Lingyue came up with—using a Ouija board!
However, in ancient times, this ritual was called "Fuji".
Using the pretext of Empress Wei's "miraculous appearance," they publicly exposed Madam Chen's insidious scheme.
...
Every year in April and May, the palace servants who served in front of the emperor had to be extremely careful, for fear of angering the emperor and losing their lives.
Even Consort Gao wouldn't go to Emperor Qingxi's side to cause trouble at this time. As long as he didn't summon her, she would enjoy herself in her palace, reading storybooks and calculating her destiny, keeping a quiet and low profile.
But there are always a few ignorant newcomers who think that Consort Gao has lost favor and are scheming to take the opportunity to rise to power.
"Yesterday, Consort Song went to deliver some snacks to His Majesty, wearing a pink gauze dress embroidered with begonia patterns. He scolded her and kicked her out on the spot. I heard she cried all the way back."
Upon hearing the palace maid's report, Consort Gao casually turned a page of her storybook, shook her head, and said, "She's really unlucky. How dare she wear a dress with a begonia pattern in front of His Majesty at this time?"
The young palace maid was quite old, having only been in the palace for a few years. Her placement in Consort Gao's palace was purely due to her good fortune in horoscope.
She gently waved her silk fan and boldly asked, "Your Majesty, does His Majesty dislike crabapple blossoms?"
"It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I no longer have someone to admire the flowers with, so I'd rather never look at them again."
Consort Gao rested her chin on her hand, her expression languid, yet she could not hide her captivating charm.
Even though the palace maid had been serving her for a long time, she was still overwhelmed with a sense of awe every time she saw her stunning face.
She blurted out, "Is it not enough that Your Majesty, with your grace and beauty, desires to appreciate the flowers?"
"You're so sweet-talking." Consort Gao smiled and then shook her head gently. "No matter how good I am, I can't compare to her."
There is a profound saying in the latest storybook published by Langhuan Pavilion: "What is more powerful than the white moonlight is the white moonlight that has died."
Consort Gao wholeheartedly agreed.
Fortunately, she never intended to compete with Empress Wei.
Furthermore, if Empress Wei hadn't suddenly passed away, she wouldn't have had the chance to catch Emperor Qingxi's eye and rise to prominence.
Anyway, aren't all men like this? They're still thinking about their deceased sweethearts, but that doesn't stop them from being affectionate with other women. It's terrifying.
Every year around April or May, it is both the birthday of Empress Wei and the anniversary of her death.
Consort Gao was already used to it. She had to keep a low profile and be quiet these days, giving Emperor Qingxi enough space to miss his first wife. When he took the initiative to come to her, it would mean that she had recovered.
If she doesn't even have this much discernment, what kind of favored concubine is she?
Emperor Qingxi was heartbroken as he left, while she enjoyed the peace and quiet of being alone.
Soon it was time to announce the evening meal, but the palace servants brought in an extra food box than usual.
"Your Highness, this was sent in by Princess Tong'an. She said that the cook in her household has made a new dish of crabapple cakes and would like you to try them."
Consort Gao casually said, "Just leave it there. It'll be good to have something to eat if we get hungry tonight."
A palace maid took out a plate of four crabapple cakes from a food box and placed them on a black lacquered square table next to the chaise lounge.
In the dead of night, Consort Gao quietly got out of bed, brought the plate of begonia cakes into the tent, broke them open one by one to check them, and finally took out a note tightly wrapped in wax paper.
After she finished reading the note, she gave a meaningful smile.
interesting.
It seems a new storm is about to break out in the palace.
...
"Where's Tong'an? Why hasn't she entered the palace yet today?"
After Emperor Qingxi finished reviewing a memorial, he asked Chief Eunuch Huang the same question again.
Princess Tong'an hadn't been to the palace for several days. Without her help in sorting memorials and discussing state affairs, Emperor Qingxi belatedly felt a little uneasy.
Could it be that the two of them had a disagreement that day regarding the handling of a local government matter, and he got a little agitated and spoke a bit harshly, so Ah Ying got angry with him and refused to come?
Thinking this, Emperor Qingxi snorted unhappily, "She's a mother of two, why is she still throwing a tantrum like a little girl? She's not mature at all."
Do you understand what it means to remain calm even when Mount Tai collapses before you? What it means to have thunder in your heart but a calm face? What it means to be moved to action and to cultivate patience and perseverance to improve what you lack?
Forget it, he can't even do it himself, so why should he ask his daughter to?
Emperor Qingxi glanced at the jade paperweight beside him, which he had chipped at one corner, and touched his nose guiltily.
Well, a father shouldn't stoop to his children's level. Why not give her a way out?
He instructed Steward Huang: "Go to the Imperial Kitchen and pick out a few dishes that Tong'an likes to eat, and send them to her. Also, see what she's doing at home. Is the Prince Consort having another episode?"
Yes, it must be because his sickly eldest son-in-law is having some kind of aches and pains again, which is why Ah Ying has abandoned her old father and doesn't care about him at all...
Emperor Qingxi was filled with jealousy over his son-in-law until Chief Steward Huang rushed back, looking worried.
"Your Majesty, Princess Tong'an is ill and has been bedridden for several days. I had to beg and plead before I finally managed to get the Prince Consort to let him in for a quick look. Her Highness's face was deathly pale, and she looked so weak..."
Is Ah Ying sick?
That shouldn't be the case. She's always been strong and healthy since she was little, as robust as a little rhinoceros, and has never given him any trouble.
Emperor Qingxi stood up anxiously, "Has the imperial physician been summoned? Why hasn't anyone come to tell me?"
...You've been so busy remembering the Empress lately, who would dare to offend you?
Chief Steward Huang muttered to himself, bowing even deeper, "His Highness kept it from you because he didn't want you to worry. This servant inquired, and the imperial physician said that His Highness was restless, which led to the invasion of external evils, causing him to be filled with anxiety and fear..."
Emperor Qingxi interrupted impatiently, "It's the same old rhetoric again. Quickly prepare the carriage, I'm leaving the palace."
He rushed to Princess Tong'an's residence, where Wei Shao had already received advance notice and was standing at the gate to welcome the emperor.
"Greetings, Father Emperor."
Emperor Qingxi had no time for pleasantries. He forcefully pulled Wei Shao, who was kneeling halfway up, to his feet and strode inside, saying, "Enough nonsense. What's the use of coming to fetch me when you're not guarding A-Ying?"
Wei Shao: ...
It's like a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law; no matter how he looks at him, he's wrong.
However, judging from Emperor Qingxi's anxious and agitated state, it is clear that Princess Tong'an's status in his heart has gradually risen and become increasingly important.
Wei Shao felt somewhat relieved, but put on an anxious expression, saying, "It's all my fault for not taking good care of Your Highness."
"You are indeed wrong." Emperor Qingxi grew increasingly anxious as he walked, his anger inevitably rising as he berated Wei Shao: "Over the years, it's A-Ying who has taken care of you more. What other imperial son-in-law acts like you..."
Before he could finish speaking, out of the corner of his eye, Emperor Qingxi caught a glimpse of Wei Shao's lowered head and contemplated demeanor, vaguely resembling the features of his aunt. Emperor Qingxi was instantly speechless.
He sighed deeply and suddenly didn't want to talk anymore. The father-in-law and son-in-law quickened their pace in silence and arrived at Princess Tong'an's room.
"Ah Ying, I've come to see you. Can you hear me?"
Emperor Qingxi approached the bedside and called out a few times in a low voice.
Princess Tong'an slowly opened her eyes. Her pale cheeks were so thin they were almost sunken in, and two slanted marks were visible through the dim curtains.
She stared intently at Emperor Qingxi and softly called out, "Father."
This long-awaited call immediately reminded Emperor Qingxi of his daughter's childhood appearance, and he unconsciously changed his form of address, "Hey, Father has come to see you. Why are you suddenly so sick? Are you still angry with Father?"
Seeing his daughter lying there listlessly, Emperor Qingxi didn't want to argue with her anymore and conceded, saying, "Actually, after thinking about it, I think your method is better..."
Princess Tong'an grabbed his hand, interrupting Emperor Qingxi's incessant arguments, and frowned as if she were aggrieved.
"My daughter has been dreaming about her mother for the past few days. She just stands there looking at her daughter without saying a word, as if she has suffered a great injustice and has no one to confide in..."
Emperor Qingxi's eyes widened instantly. "Sheyin appeared to you in a dream? Then why didn't she come to see me?"
Sixteen years have passed, and she still can't forgive herself?
Princess Tong'an's prepared speech, which she had been working on for several days, was completely thwarted by the tears welling up in Emperor Qingxi's eyes.
The father and daughter embraced and wept bitterly.
After a long while, Princess Tong'an patted Emperor Qingxi on the back and, forcing herself to be cheerful, comforted him: "Father, please accept my condolences. If Mother were alive, she would not want to see you so grief-stricken..."
Emperor Qingxi felt even more upset and shouted out in a fit of pique.
"Then why didn't she come to me in my dream to persuade me herself? Don't speak up for her. Your mother is just like the Wei family, she has a stubborn streak. If only she had been willing to humble herself and lower her head to me back then..."
Emperor Qingxi blew his nose hard, lost in his memories, rambling on and on.
Princess Tong'an could only coax and persuade Emperor Qingxi until his emotions calmed down a bit before she found an opportunity to speak: "This year, I would like to hold a grand memorial service for my mother in Fengxian Hall to express my grief. If she really has unspeakable grievances, perhaps she can issue some decree in consideration of our devout service?"
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Author's Note: (Behind-the-scenes interview) How did His Highness manage to fake his illness so convincingly?
Princess Tong'an: (Takes a bite of steamed bun and a bite of meat) It's very simple. (Cheers) Just go hungry for a few days.
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