Chapter 44 Good men are all stolen.
The air in the cold palace was chilly and filled with a depressing atmosphere.
Yi Guichun sat upright on a dilapidated wooden stool, his coarse cloth clothes faded from washing, but his little finger was still adorned with the long, gem-encrusted nail.
She was lifting her nail guards and struggling to sew up the holes in her clothes by pinching the needle between her index fingers.
The palace gate creaked open, and Yi Shuyao, accompanied by her personal maid and carrying an exquisite food box, walked in discreetly.
She glanced around at the dilapidated state of the Cold Palace, her brows furrowing slightly before she put on a gentle smile and walked toward Yi Guichun.
"Sister." Yi Shuyao curtsied softly.
Yi Guichun raised his eyelids, his jealous gaze sweeping over Yi Shuyao's pretty face, his eyes flashing with undisguised contempt.
She scoffed, as if she were mocking someone in the Yi residence, "Isn't this our newly appointed Consort Wen? How does it feel to be someone else's stand-in with this face?"
Yi Shuyao seemed not to hear. She gestured to the maid to open the food box, which contained several exquisite pastries.
"Sister is joking. Father misses you very much at home, so he specially asked me to find an opportunity to bring you some food."
Yi Shuyao personally placed the pastries one by one on the relatively clean stone table next to her. "Don't worry, sister. Father instructed me to find a way to get you out of this cold palace as soon as possible."
Yi Guichun's gaze fell on the long-missed exquisite pastries, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
During these days in the cold palace, even simple meals were hard to come by, let alone such refined things.
She suppressed the surging desire and maintained her composure in front of Yi Shuyao, reaching out to pick up a small piece of hibiscus pastry.
She slowly took a small bite, savoring the sweet flavor melting on her tongue.
After swallowing, Yi Guichun spoke coldly, in a commanding tone:
"At least you still have some conscience. Remember, be quick! Every second I stay in this godforsaken place makes me want to tear that wretched maid Narcissus to pieces!"
Mentioning the name Shui Xian, intense hatred blazed in Yi Guichun's eyes, and she almost crushed the pastry in her hand. "When I get out of here, the first person I'll kill is her!"
Yi Shuyao lowered her eyes and nodded obediently: "I have remembered your instructions, sister. I will do my best."
She glanced at the sky in the distance. "Sister, you can't stay here any longer, lest it cause gossip. Take care, elder sister."
After speaking, she curtsied again and turned to leave with her maid.
The heavy palace gates closed behind me, shutting out the decaying atmosphere of the cold palace.
Yi Shuyao's face was now only filled with cold indifference.
Beside her stood a maidservant she had brought from her home to the palace, who couldn't help but mutter a complaint:
"Your Highness, why are you being so polite to her? She's just a commoner now! She's the one begging you to find a way to get her out of here, yet she's putting on that arrogant air! Does she really think she's still Consort Qi?"
Yi Shuyao didn't stop walking, her voice calm: "She is the legitimate daughter, and I am an illegitimate daughter. My father told me to bring her out, so I must bring her out. This is the rule of the Yi family."
She paused, her gaze drifting to the indistinct eaves of Yongle Palace in the distance, a cold glint flashing in the depths of her eyes. "As for the narcissus..."
She snorted coldly, her voice laced with mockery: "A lowly servant born into a family, ha... does she even deserve to enjoy such extravagant wealth? Now that I, Yi Shuyao, have entered the palace, I will not let that lowly wretched have a single day of peace!"
Her mother taught her: all the good things in this world are stolen.
Don't know what's good? Then look at what others are holding tightly in their hands, especially men. Men in high positions of power are always surrounded by people guarding them.
Don't let those ridiculous morals hold you back; grab it, and it's yours!
Yi Shuyao deeply agrees with her mother's teachings.
They stole Narcissus's favor, and robbed her of the coveted wealth and luxury of Yongle Palace...
Just thinking about it gave her a twisted sense of pleasure.
......
Time passed day by day.
Emperor Zhaoheng gradually reduced the number of times he visited Yongle Palace. Apart from frequently visiting Consort Wen, he would occasionally flip through the green plaques of other concubines.
As the emperor bestowed his favor upon all, the narcissus's birthday arrived.
Emperor Zhaoheng is currently reluctant to stay overnight at Yongle Palace due to Shuixian's pregnancy, but this does not mean that Shuixian has fallen out of favor.
He intended to hold a grand celebration to show his favor.
However, after learning about the various entanglements between Yongle Palace and the late Emperor's Consort and Consort Wen, Shui Xian had already become wary.
A lavish celebration? It might not only fail to please the emperor, but could also evoke memories of the late imperial concubine's extravagant lifestyle.
"emperor."
In the warm pavilion of Yongle Palace, Narcissus nestled in the emperor's arms, her voice soft and understanding.
"It is merely a minor birthday celebration for me. I dare not trouble the people or waste resources, much less disturb the imperial court and the inner palace. Moreover, the imperial physician has said that I need to rest quietly now."
"How about... we simply hold a family banquet at Yongle Palace, inviting a few close sisters to get together and chat? That would be perfect. As long as Your Majesty is with me, I will be content."
Her understanding and kindness warmed Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
Compared to the domineering imperial concubine of the past, Shui Xian's understanding nature is all the more precious.
He held her close with affection and kissed her cherry lips: "Xian'er is always so considerate. Alright, whatever you say. I will definitely stay with you."
On his birthday, Yongle Palace was not decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Only some seasonal flowers were placed in the courtyard, and the interior of the palace was decorated in a warm and elegant manner.
However, apart from the Empress who claimed to be ill and did not attend, almost all the prominent concubines in the harem were present.
Consort Li, Consort Wan, Consort De... even the newly promoted Consort Wen was prominently listed.
In this inner palace, no one dared to underestimate Consort Jin, who was pregnant with the emperor's child and enjoyed the emperor's favor.
Shui Xian was dressed in an elegant yet luxurious palace gown. In her hair, she wore only a single hairpin, a lustrous white jade hairpin newly bestowed by Emperor Zhaoheng, which complemented the jade bracelet of the same color on her wrist. Her understated demeanor perfectly reflected the bearing of a concubine.
She sat upright in the main seat, side by side with Emperor Zhaoheng, who was dressed in a bright yellow robe. The two were very affectionate, whispering and laughing softly from time to time, which made Consort Li, who was sitting next to her, frequently look up and reveal her jealousy.
The banquet was halfway through, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
At this moment, Wen Changzai and Yi Shuyao stood up from their seats and bowed to the Emperor and Consort.
She was dressed with extra care today, wearing an elegant light blue palace dress with sparse bamboo leaves embroidered on the hem, and only a single jade bamboo hairpin in her hair, making her look pure and refined.
"Your Highness, I offer my congratulations on your birthday. Your Highness is of noble health and is carrying the Emperor's child. I fear that worldly gifts would disturb your peace. I am unworthy, but I would like to offer you a pipa performance as a token of my appreciation and wish you good health and longevity."
Her voice was soft, and her demeanor was humble.
Narcissus smiled and nodded: "Consort Wen is very kind. I am all ears."
Yi Shuyao accepted the pipa offered by the palace maid and plucked the strings with her slender fingers.
A mournful and poignant melody, "Xiangzhu Yuan," flowed from her fingertips.
This music… Narcissus’s eyes narrowed slightly.
According to the information that Yinzhu had gathered, Consort Wen's favorite flower was green bamboo. It was said that she once attracted Emperor Zhaoheng to stop and listen with a pipa performance.
Yi Shuyao really put in a lot of effort to become the perfect stand-in.
Sure enough, the Emperor Zhaoheng, sitting at the head of the table, stiffened almost imperceptibly the moment the zither music began.
His fingers tightened around the wine glass, his gaze falling on Yi Shuyao's profile as she lowered her eyes to play the zither, his expression gradually becoming distant.
Emperor Zhaoheng seemed to have returned to the past.
He rowed alone on the lake in the Imperial Garden, and from the depths of the bamboo grove on the shore, the mournful and lingering sound of a pipa once drifted out.
Although he couldn't see the person, the music seemed to carry the scent of Consort Wen, accompanying him through those lonely times...
The song ended, its lingering melody still echoing.
Emperor Zhaoheng seemed to awaken from a long reverie. He looked down at Yi Shuyao, who stood respectfully with her head bowed. Her face, which resembled that of an old friend, appeared so sorrowful and moving at this moment.
It was as if time had been traversed, bringing back to his eyes that regret he could never make up for.
“Good…” Emperor Zhaoheng looked deeply at Yi Shuyao, “This music… is very good. Feng Shunxiang, go and fetch the Green Ripples Pipa from the storeroom and bestow it upon Consort Wen.”
That's...that's the pipa that Consort Wen used when she was alive!
Upon hearing this reward, Consort Li's eyes were practically blazing with jealousy, while Consort Wan lowered her gaze to conceal her complex emotions.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt that Yi Shuyao in front of him was as if Heaven had taken pity on him and returned the person he owed so much to him in another way, giving him a chance to make up for his regrets.
Shui Xian took in Emperor Zhaoheng's reaction, but still wore a polite smile, as if she didn't care at all about this special reward.
She even said gently, "Consort Wen's zither skills are superb. The Emperor's gift of a zither is well-deserved."
Just then, a bright and beautiful figure stepped forward; it was none other than Tuoba Changzai.
Her outfit today was carefully suggested by Narcissus; she wore a bright red palace dress with gold flecks, fiery and vibrant, which made her wheat-colored skin look healthy and radiant.
Her hair was styled into a flamboyant high bun, adorned with brightly colored ropes and tiny gold bells, conforming to palace rules while retaining a distinctive exotic flair. She was like a burning flame, full of vibrant vitality.
"This humble servant, Tuoba Yue, congratulates Consort Jin on her birthday!"
Tuoba Changzai said loudly, "Your Majesty has no shortage of gold, silver, and jewels, and I am not skilled in poetry and songs. I would like to offer Your Majesty a prayer dance from my Tuoba tribe to pray for the safety of mother and child. May Your Majesty and the imperial heir be safe and well, and enjoy both happiness and longevity!"
Emperor Zhaoheng's thoughts were pulled back to reality by this energetic voice.
He looked at Tuoba Changzai, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.
After entering the palace, this Tuoba Consort seemed to have never really looked at her closely.
Her attire today not only maintains the dignity of a royal concubine but also perfectly showcases her unique exotic charm, making her a truly eye-catching sight.
"Approved." Emperor Zhaoheng nodded, his tone inevitably carrying an expectation.
The drums began, their rhythm brisk and powerful.
Tuoba Changzai danced to the music, her dance moves unlike the gentle and graceful ones commonly seen in the palace; instead, they were full of wildness and tension.
She was humming an ancient prayer song from the Tuoba tribe, her voice clear and melodious, carrying the vastness of the grasslands.
The vibrant life force and blessings for new life contained in the dance dispelled the sorrow brought by "Xiangzhu Yuan" like warm sunshine.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze was firmly drawn to it.
He watched the figure dancing like a raging fire, felt the vibrant energy emanating from it, and then looked at the gentle, smiling narcissus beside him, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
Emperor Zhaoheng involuntarily reached out and gently placed his palm on Shui Xian's slightly protruding belly, as if feeling the little life inside.
After the dance, Tuoba Changzai, slightly out of breath and with a healthy blush on her cheeks, bowed to the Emperor and Consort once more.
Shui Xian spoke at the opportune moment, her voice gentle: "Tuoba Changzai's performance is a rare gesture, and its meaning is even more auspicious. On this joyous day, it is perfectly fitting to pray for the dragon's offspring."
Although Narcissus didn't say it explicitly, everyone present was shrewd and quickly grasped the meaning behind her words.
The day was so joyous that Wen Changzai's mournful and lingering rendition of "Xiangzhu Yuan" seemed out of place, even... inappropriate!
Wen Changzai's face suddenly turned pale, his knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground!
......
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