Chapter 286 Determination, to Marry into the Family!
Yuan Chiyu walked slowly toward Shui Xiu. Today he was not wearing full armor, but only a neat military officer's uniform, which made his broad shoulders and narrow waist appear even more imposing.
"Water Beauty".
He walked to her side, his voice much calmer than usual, "You've heard about what happened in court today, haven't you?"
Shui Xiu nodded, gazing at the deep night outside the corridor: "Sister and the Emperor... have had a very difficult time."
When she said "elder sister," her tone was slightly more forceful, but when she mentioned the Emperor, her tone softened slightly. It was unclear whether this was due to reverence for the Emperor's authority or something else...
"Um."
Yuan Chiyu responded, remained silent for a moment, then turned his head, his gaze appearing exceptionally deep and resolute in the moonlight.
"Shui Xiu, I don't understand those romantic notions, nor do I know how to say pretty words."
Shui Xiu seemed to suddenly realize something and turned to look at him.
Under the moonlight, she met a pair of eyes more beautiful than the moonlight itself.
Yuan Chiyu paused, then confessed his feelings, word by word.
"You serve the Empress at home... I guard the frontier. You wish to establish a girls' school; I admire your courage and am willing to protect you even on your journey to the highest heavens..."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice low, carrying a solemn promise: "You... are you willing to give me this opportunity?"
Several days have passed since the two last met at the Flower Festival.
Shui Xiu raised her head and looked into his eyes, which were filled with sincerity and determination.
In the moonlight, she could clearly see his slightly reddened earlobes.
She felt her cheeks getting hot.
She didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.
Then, she took out a plain silk handkerchief from her sleeve, with a cluster of tall green bamboo embroidered on one corner, and silently placed it into Yuan Chiyu's large, calloused hand.
"Swords and blades have no eyes..."
Her voice was soft, with barely concealed concern, "You... be careful."
Yuan Chiyu was stunned at first, then a surge of joy welled up in his heart. He tightly gripped the handkerchief that still carried her body heat and faint fragrance, nodded heavily, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"As for the matter of marrying into the family, I have already explained it to my mother..."
Yuan Chiyu knew the rules of Shui Xiu's family, and he had made thorough preparations before coming to Shui Xiu to express his feelings.
Shui Xiu didn't expect Yuan Chiyu's topic to suddenly veer off to that point, and this time the blush on her face had spread down her neck to her face.
She turned and left before he could finish speaking.
"It's too early to say these things..."
The night breeze carried her soft, reproachful voice, and Yuan Chiyu's strange emotions, which had been fluctuating over the past few months, were soothed in that moment.
He smiled slightly and quickly caught up with Shui Xiu's pace.
The distance between the two was just right, maintaining the proper distance between unmarried men and women.
Together we travel.
——
The banquet ended, and the commotion subsided.
Emperor Zhaoheng held Shuixian's hand tightly as they walked side by side on the palace path leading back to Lihe Palace.
The night breeze was slightly cool, but he felt incredibly refreshed.
"Xian'er".
He turned his head to look at her; her face was serene and beautiful in the moonlight.
"I have already swept away those noisy voices for you."
Shui Xian didn't know why Emperor Zhaoheng would suddenly say that. What she was thinking wasn't entirely sweetness and trust.
How much of Emperor Zhaoheng's decision to prevent aristocratic families from interfering in the imperial harem selection was for her sake, and how much was to hinder the aristocratic families?
Shui Xian thought that perhaps even Emperor Zhaoheng himself hadn't quite figured it out.
However, what Narcissus needs is his inability to distinguish between them.
She hoped to stand shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Zhaoheng on the opposite side of the aristocratic families, so that she could use Emperor Zhaoheng's help to support more people from humble backgrounds to rise in society.
Shui Xian smiled gently at Emperor Zhaoheng, "Your Majesty, I will always be by your side."
At that moment, she had no idea that Emperor Zhaoheng was planning much more than just stopping the election.
——
Emperor Zhaoheng held Shuixian's hand and led her back to Lihe Palace.
The hall was brightly lit with candles, the light was warm, and the faint scent of styrax in the air made people unconsciously relax the moment they stepped in.
After a great victory and some wine, Emperor Zhaoheng felt refreshed and looked at his beautiful wife, Narcissus, beside him.
Emperor Zhaoheng's heart was filled with a mixture of love and an indescribable surge of emotion, almost overflowing.
He dismissed the palace servants, and after everyone had left, only the two of them remained in the hall.
He embraced Narcissus and sat down on the soft couch by the window, his fingertips gently brushing the stray strands of hair that fell across her cheek, his gaze deep and solemn like never before.
Originally, Emperor Zhaoheng did not want to talk about that matter, but under the influence of alcohol, his mind was stirred and he could not help but want to tell Shui Xian the secret that had been buried in his heart for a long time:
"Xian'er, I..."
However, at this crucial moment, a slightly hesitant report came from outside the hall:
"Your Majesty, the Second Miss... Miss Shuixiu requests an audience, saying she has something she wishes to discuss with Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhaoheng swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He frowned almost imperceptibly, a sense of irritation at being interrupted rising in his heart.
He had intended to have a complete talk with Xian'er tonight and give her complete peace of mind, but he was unexpectedly interrupted by Shui Xiu.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng also knew that Shuixiu, who should have left the palace after the banquet, must have come to visit Lihe Palace for some important matter.
Emperor Zhaoheng quickly suppressed his emotions and regained his usual composure.
He swallowed back what he wanted to say to Narcissus, revealing nothing on the surface, but he tightened his grip on Narcissus's hand slightly.
Shui Xian was unaware of Emperor Zhaoheng's sudden change in expression and his unfinished words.
She was just a little surprised that her younger sister was entering the palace so late.
Shui Xian looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng and said softly, "Your Majesty, Xiu'er has come so late, she must have something important to discuss. Your Majesty..."
"It's alright."
Emperor Zhaoheng released her hand, stood up, and spoke gently, as if nothing had happened. "You sisters haven't had a proper conversation in a long time. I'll go see Yongning."
He acted extremely naturally and considerately, giving the sisters complete space.
Shui Xian was grateful and escorted him to the palace gate. After watching him enter the side hall, Shui Xian had Ting Lu bring Shui Xiu in and guard the door to the inner room.
Led by Tinglu, Shuixiu walked in.
Her face still had a blush that hadn't completely faded, and her eyes were bright, yet she also seemed a little shy and uneasy.
"elder sister."
She called out and sat down next to Narcissus.
Narcissus held her younger sister's hand, smiling as she looked her over: "It's so late, what's making you so anxious?"
Shui Xiu's face turned even redder. She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting her sash, her voice barely audible: "He...he just told me his feelings. It's...Yuan Chiyu...Young Marquis."
Looking at her younger sister, Shui Xian couldn't help but recall how Shui Xiu used to follow behind her so shyly and innocently.
Since she entered the palace, including her previous life, she had not seen her younger sister show such girlish behavior for a long time.
"oh?"
Seeing Shui Xiu's budding romantic feelings, Shui Xian had already anticipated something, but she still asked softly, "So what do you think?"
Shui Xiu did not answer directly; she raised her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
“Sister, I…I don’t know. I remember you said you didn’t want me to marry into a powerful family, afraid I’d be mistreated, and I was also afraid of causing you trouble. I didn’t want to disappoint you…”
So that's what my sister was worried about.
Narcissus felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She reached out and pulled Shuixiu into her arms, gently patting her back, just like when they were children.
“Silly girl,” Narcissus’s voice was gentle yet firm, “I’m sending you to study so you can understand reason, not to control you or decide your life for you.”
Like a mother, the eldest sister was incredibly gentle at this moment.
"On the contrary, your sister hopes that you can have the ability and right to judge right and wrong and decide your own future. Your sister does not want you to repeat the mistakes we made in the past because of ignorance."
She paused, looking intently into Shui Xiu's eyes: "Now, tell your sister, putting aside family background and power, and just considering Yuan Chiyu as a person, do you truly like him?"
Under the encouraging and understanding gaze of the narcissus, Shuixiu finally let down her guard. She nodded gently, her voice soft but clear.
"Hmm...he...he can be annoying at times, and he speaks very bluntly, but...he's sincere towards me. He said he'd protect me so I can do what I want, including becoming a lady-in-waiting..."
Seeing the genuine shyness and sweetness on her younger sister's face, Narcissus smiled with relief.
Although, from the very beginning, she never had any freedom regarding who she wanted to love or who she was able to love.
However, seeing that Shui Xiu was able to spend her life with the person she loved under her help and protection, a hint of joy for her sister appeared in Shui Xian's eyes.
She reached out and gently stroked Shui Xiu's hair, her eyes filled with emotion and pride.
"Xiuer, you've grown up."
Narcissus's tone carried a sigh of the passage of time, "When my sister insisted that you study and learn to read, my parents didn't quite understand at first. They thought that a woman's virtue lay in her lack of talent, and that it was a luxury that we, as women born into slavery, shouldn't have. But in the end, they felt sorry for us and let my sister be stubborn."
"At that time, my sister just wanted to make sure that you could read and understand the principles of life, so that no matter what your fate might be, you could at least see the path ahead and not be easily deceived or manipulated by others."
"Sister never dared to imagine that my Xiuer could be so accomplished today... Not only can she assist in managing the girls' school and handle matters in an orderly manner, but she can also speak eloquently at the Flower Festival with her talent and knowledge, winning the Emperor's praise. Now... she has found a good man who truly loves her and treats her with sincerity."
Narcissus's voice choked slightly, tears of joy and pride welling up: "Sister is so proud of you, truly."
Hearing her sister's words and recalling the past, Shui Xiu could no longer hold back her tears.
She suddenly threw herself into Narcissus's arms, hugging her sister tightly, and sobbed, "Sister... if it weren't for you... I... I might have been given away long ago, living a muddled life... how could I be where I am today... Sister, it's all because of you..."
The two sisters embraced, tears streaming down their faces.
Under the warm candlelight of Reiwa Palace, the sisters nestled together inside were illuminated.
Deep within the palace walls, yet fortunate to find each other...
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