Chapter 77 "Ah Ying, be my queen."...
Chi Ying pursed her lips and helplessly called out, "Husband."
When Yan Xuecui heard this address again after half a year, an indescribable joy slowly surged in her chest.
“However…” she pondered for a moment, but still insisted, “In the future, if there are court officials, noblewomen, palace maids, eunuchs, or imperial relatives present, I will still address you as Your Majesty.”
Yan Xue couldn't resist her attitude. She was shy and easily embarrassed, and he certainly wouldn't make things difficult for her in front of outsiders, so he agreed.
“And…” Chi Ying paused for a moment.
Yan Xuecui asked, "Anything else?"
Chi Ying said softly, "You know I'm very stupid and can never figure out what you're thinking. If one day... you don't want to hear me call you 'husband' anymore, you're tired of me, tired of this title... tell me in advance and let me come back here."
Yan Xue's lips tightened, and by the end, the last trace of a smile in her eyes had vanished completely.
Chi Ying noticed the grip on her waist tighten suddenly, and a sense of unease crept in her heart. She quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "I know it's a downer to say this now, but I'm just saying... After all, no one can predict what will happen in the future..."
In the past, she had even faked her own identity, so she never thought that he would have concubines or secondary wives in the future. But now that he has ascended the throne, he is considering the country, the nation, and the future of his descendants. It is impossible for him to leave the six palaces empty for her alone. There is no such precedent in history.
To be honest, she was subconsciously a little afraid of returning to Beijing.
Amidst the infighting in the harem, the princes constantly vie for power. Consort Zhuang, gentle and kind, is murdered. Prince Ding, exceptionally talented, is also not spared. Consort Zhuang, of humble origin, lacks the ability to rule the empire. Even with his protection, she would likely find it difficult to establish herself in the harem.
Moreover, she also had a secret selfish motive: she was unwilling to share her husband with others and to use cunning means to win the emperor's favor.
But it was common for emperors to have three palaces and six courtyards; even her father, the Earl of Changyuan, had a large number of wives and concubines. How could she possibly dream of having them all to herself?
I never dared to think about it before, but now, as I ponder it carefully, a dense, aching pain rises in my heart.
Yan Xuecui remained silent for a long time, her sharply defined features taking on a cold and sharp quality in the dark night.
After a long pause, he gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Okay, I'll consider what you've said."
Chi Ying could clearly feel that his voice was extremely deep. They remained silent, with only a stiff and cold atmosphere.
Fortunately, at that moment, Aunt Xue heard the sound of horses' hooves and hurriedly ran out to see what was happening. Sure enough, it was His Majesty returning with his daughter.
She bowed in greeting, but Yan Xuecui simply said, "No need for such formalities," and then dismounted, reaching out to help Chi Ying down from her horse.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere between the two, Aunt Xue was at a loss for what to do. She forced a smile and asked, "Would Your Majesty like to come inside and sit down?"
Chi Ying thought he was going to leave in anger, but to her surprise, he readily agreed, "Thank you for your trouble, Mother-in-law. It just so happens that A-Ying and I haven't eaten yet."
He actually wanted to stay for dinner.
Aunt Xue was also a little surprised, but she immediately welcomed him in, saying, "Your Majesty, please come in and sit down. We have some vegetables at home."
She didn't know when Chi Ying would return, but she prepared the meal as usual. However, since Emperor Jing'an was coming in person, she had to add a few more dishes.
Chi Ying lowered her head and walked into the house, with Yan Xue Cui following behind her.
Now that he could see, Chi Ying felt that intense, sharp gaze constantly fixed on her, creating a heavy sense of oppression that made it hard to breathe.
Once inside, she didn't look up at him, but turned and went into the kitchen to help.
She was a good cook and quick in her work, so Aunt Xue couldn't refuse and had to let her stay in the kitchen while she went out to entertain the guests.
She had never seen such a person in her entire life. He was tall and imposing, and his presence alone made the spacious main room seem much cramped.
Aunt Xue poured a cup of tea, hesitated for a long time before offering it, "We don't have any good tea at home, but this lotus seed and lily bulb tea has a calming effect. I'm sorry to trouble Your Majesty..."
Yan Xuecui calmly reached out and took it, "Mother-in-law, there's no need to be so polite. Aying used to drink this tea often, so I don't mind."
Aunt Xue thought to herself that His Majesty seemed to be quite different from what she had imagined.
Fearing he would blame his daughter, Aunt Xue hesitated for a moment, but still mustered her courage and said, "Your Majesty, A-Ying had no choice in the past, and was also burdened by my injuries and illnesses. She has suffered a lot over the years. She is by no means the kind of person who covets wealth and status. This time, she was forced to leave the capital. Please don't blame her..."
Yan Xue lowered her eyes: "I know, I've never blamed her."
Aunt Xue smiled and said, "A-Ying always speaks highly of you in front of me."
Yan Xuecui's tightly clenched lips finally relaxed slightly. "Is that so? What did she say?"
Aunt Xue said, "She said you were exceptionally handsome and treated her very well, even rewarding her with precious jewels and jewelry, and taking her to stroll around the lake with lanterns. Later, on the way out of the capital, she thought of you every day, and even dreamed of you... But we are of lowly status and have little say, and many things are beyond our control. She didn't want to be separated from you..."
She sighed and said, "No matter how hard things have been for us all these years, she has always only shared good news and never bad. I've rarely seen her cry, but that night when we left the city, she cried uncontrollably. I've never seen her like that before..."
Yan Xuecui remained silent for a long time this time.
The sounds of chopping vegetables and sizzling oil came from the kitchen. After finishing her tea, Yan Xuecui asked gently, "May I take a look around?"
Aunt Xue quickly said, "Your Majesty, please make yourself at home."
He couldn't help but sigh. Although His Majesty was the Son of Heaven, his words and actions were truly polite and considerate. In the past, even the stewards around Madam Yin in the Chi family were used to bullying others and being arrogant, never showing any respect to them.
Yan Xuecui looked around the house and then walked around the courtyard.
In just a few days, she had meticulously transformed this small courtyard into a home. Flowers and vegetables were planted in the garden, several strips of newly cured bacon hung under the eaves, and mugwort and flower petals were drying on a bamboo sieve, presumably for making qingtuan (green rice dumplings) and shortbread.
She always managed to make even the most barren days vibrant and warm, and even in the cracks of rocks, she could make vibrant flowers bloom.
As for him, although he seemed to be in control of everything, he was still affected by her every move. Even if she left him, she could live a good life. Although she still had him in her heart, she would also feel a sense of loss. But over the years, even the most unforgettable people will gradually fade away.
For him, her departure was like being torn apart, a heart-wrenching pain. He knew his limits; if he couldn't find her again, or heard any bad news about her, he would probably really go crazy.
Yan Xuecui came to her bedroom again.
A simple dressing mirror and wardrobe; not many clothes, but neatly folded; fluffy and soft printed quilts; and the scent of sun-dried buckwheat hulls on the pillows.
His gaze swept over the pillow, then suddenly stopped. He reached out and picked up the familiar silver hairpin inlaid with jade and begonia blossoms.
It was given to her back when they were at the hot spring resort. Later, when he saw the object at Shuyuzhai, he was reminded of her and realized that she hadn't taken any of the many treasures he had given her with her, except for this hairpin, which he couldn't find anywhere. It turned out that she had kept it with her.
Yan Xue stroked the crabapple blossom on the hairpin, recalling her radiant smile when he chose this hairpin for her that day, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.
Chi Ying knocked on the door after preparing the meal. Seeing the silver hairpin in his hand, she remained silent for a moment before softly saying, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."
The three of them sat down around the square table and ate their meal in unusual quiet.
Aunt Xue never imagined that one day she would be able to sit at the same table as the Emperor. She was afraid of behaving inappropriately and offending him, so she even made the sound of her chopsticks touching her bowl extremely softly.
Chi Ying kept her head down, staring at her bowl.
He could already see, so he naturally didn't need her to serve the food.
After dinner, Yan Xuecui pondered for a moment and said to Aunt Xue, "It's a rare opportunity to come to Jiangnan. Let Aying show you around these few days. I will send people to protect your safety."
Aunt Xue hurriedly thanked him, and seeing that he was about to leave, she quickly called to her daughter, "Aying, see His Majesty off."
Chi Ying nodded silently and followed him to the courtyard gate.
Yan Xuecui turned around and said, "Ten days from now, we will set off back to the capital."
Chi Ying softly replied, "Okay."
Yan Xuecui: "If you like this courtyard, you can keep it. If you have the opportunity to visit Jiangnan again in the future, you can stay here for a while."
Chi Ying swallowed the sour taste in her throat and replied with an "Mmm".
Yan Xuecui said no more, turned around and leaped onto her horse.
Chi Ying stood still, silently watching his figure gradually disappear into the distance until it completely blended into the night.
Aunt Xue came out and sighed softly, "I didn't expect that after only settling in for a few days, I would have to go back to the capital again."
Seeing her daughter's gloomy expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you unhappy? Did His Majesty say something?"
Chi Ying shook her head. "It's not his problem."
It was her own fault; perhaps she made things too difficult for him, saying those discouraging things even when things were getting intimate.
And the way she said it made it seem as if she threatened him to leave the palace and go south from the capital if he fell out of favor. Even as the empress, she couldn't be so willful.
She stood in the wind for a while, gazing at the cold moon in the sky, her eyes slightly moist.
Just as he was about to turn around and go back into the house, the sound of horses' hooves returned.
Chi Ying turned around in surprise. In the darkness of the night, a figure galloped towards her on horseback, shattering the moonlight on the ground. The man's handsome face became clearer and clearer until he tightened the reins in front of her.
The lanterns on the eaves swayed in the wind, casting light and shadow on her fair, jade-like face.
Yan Xuecui looked down and saw the redness in her eyes that she couldn't hide. Suppressing the dull pain in her heart, she said in a low voice, "Come with me."
Chi Ying stood frozen in place, staring at him in a daze.
Aunt Xue, smiling, urged, "Hurry up and go with His Majesty."
Chi Ying clenched her fingers, finally nodded to Aunt Xue, then reached out and took his outstretched palm, using the leverage to flip herself onto the horse.
Yan Xuecui embraced her from behind, but instead of heading straight back to Danyuan, he let the horse run freely for a while. The horse's hooves trod on the bluestone road and passed through the bustling streets. The two rode side by side at a leisurely pace, looking at the inns and restaurants on both sides of the street and the shimmering lake under the stone bridge.
"Ah Ying," he whispered in her ear, "if you hadn't married me, what would you most want to do?"
Chi Ying hadn't expected him to ask this so suddenly. She looked at the bustling crowd on the street, pondered for a moment, and said, "Open a shop, brew wine, do embroidery, or make pastries or rouge. In short, be an ordinary person in this world who lives a peaceful and happy life, stealing moments of leisure from his busy schedule."
Yan Xuecui was silent for a moment before saying, "And what after you marry me?"
“Then let’s add one more thing to what we already have,” Chi Ying said softly, “I want to be with you forever.”
Yan Xue's heart trembled slightly, rippling with emotion.
Chi Ying pursed her lips and said, "I've said before that I will always love my husband, until he no longer loves me. You've already treated me so well, even in the future..."
“There is no such thing as ‘even if’,” Yan Xuecui interrupted.
He tightened the reins, stopped the horse under an old tree at the end of the alley, and then reached out to lift the person off the horse.
"Ah Ying, I know what you're worried about."
He cupped her face in his hands, making her look at him directly. "You said you're stupid and can't figure out what I'm thinking, so let me tell you clearly now, you are my wife, and having you alone is enough for me in this life."
Chi Ying stared at him blankly, her heart trembling. "But..."
"There are no 'buts'."
Yan Xuecui said, "No one stipulates that an emperor must have three palaces and six courtyards to shower his favor. I have only ever had you by my side, and it will be the same in the future."
He brushed away the tears on her cheek with his fingertips and whispered, "There are no palace rules, and no need to be hypocritical with others. We are the same as before and we will be the same in the future. Do whatever you want, and I will take care of you."
With so many emotions bottled up inside, she decided to just say it all outright to avoid any more guessing. She was sullen, and he was filled with resentment.
"I will take care of everything after I return to Beijing."
He lowered his eyes and looked at her earnestly: "Ah Ying, be my queen."
The clamor of voices subsided into silence at that moment, and the lights spread across the long street, scattering countless starlight in the girl's eyes, which also clearly reflected her lover's face.
After a long silence, she heard herself whisper, "Okay."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Xiao Cui: I can't hold back any more words [melts]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
