night.
Somewhat gentle.
Si Yanqing's fingers were also very gentle.
Mi Jia closed her eyes, not daring to look at herself reflected in Yan Qing's eyes, knowing that her cheeks must be stained with lust.
When Si Yanqing's fingers landed on Mi Jia's clothes, Mi Jia opened her eyes. Her flushed face didn't need any rouge; it was already intoxicatingly red.
“I’ll do it myself!” Mika’s voice was very low.
Si Yanqing chuckled softly, her voice tinged with affection. "On our wedding night, there's no reason for you to undress yourself."
Mija trembled slightly, her fingers gripping the embroidered quilt tightly to barely maintain her balance.
The red shirt has faded.
Her pure white undergarment looked incredibly innocent against the backdrop of a room full of red.
Si Yanqing was extremely satisfied.
Mika was overwhelmed with shame.
Si Yanqing smiled and lifted her chin. "Don't look down. Now it's your turn to look at me."
Mi Jia was forced to raise her head, looking at Yan Qing with a hint of resentment, and was once again amazed by her beauty.
When dressed as a woman, Yan Qing is an absolutely stunning beauty. When dressed as a man, she is a handsome and dashing young man.
She could be the most beautiful woman, or the most handsome man.
With a graceful gesture, Si Yanqing removed her hair ornaments and loosened her wide robes. She was dashing, unrestrained, and bold. Of all the men in the world, how many could compare to her?
If she doesn't ascend the throne, who else is worthy to marry her?
Mija was lost in thought.
Si Yanqing's brows were full of joy, joy that Mi Jia would be intoxicated by her magnificent beauty, and she wished that he would never wake up from this intoxication.
I can't explain why, but ever since we first met in the Dajing Palace that year, Mi Jia's image has been in my dreams and my soul. Even the moon in Dajing seems exceptionally round to me.
"My wife! Go to sleep!" Si Yanqing chuckled.
Mika's heart trembled.
Si Yan bent down and gently kissed Mi Jia's red lips, the taste was fragrant and sweet.
Mi Jia let out a soft moan, slowly leaning backward under the pressure. Si Yanqing covered her body and pulled her into his arms, only then realizing that this destiny was real.
...
The Empress's investiture ceremony took place the following day.
Phoenix seal, phoenix robe, phoenix crown.
Si Yanqing held Mi Jia's hand and led her step by step toward the Empress's throne.
Mi Jia's palms were slightly sweaty. She had managed the harem before and married as a phoenix, but becoming empress was a first for her.
Si Yanqing parted her red lips slightly. "Are you afraid?"
"Don't be afraid!"
Why are my palms so sweaty?
Mika turned her head away. "If you weren't holding it, you wouldn't be so sweaty."
The Empress was conferred a title, a cause for celebration with Heaven, and Si Yanqing granted a general amnesty.
Mi Jia understood that Si Yanqing wanted the whole world to remember that this was her kindness.
Back in the palace, she was a unique individual.
The maid smiled and chattered on about the news she had heard outside.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty treats you truly well. You don't know, the court officials thought His Majesty was only marrying you to vent his anger over being sent to a fake princess for a political marriage in the past. Originally, only the wedding ceremony was prepared, and there was no grand ceremony for the investiture of the Empress. It was only after His Majesty dismissed several high-ranking officials that the investiture ceremony was finally arranged."
"There were also a few court officials who originally wanted His Majesty to take a concubine, Feng Jun, and select several more concubines to continue the family line. But after His Majesty punished them, they stopped mentioning it."
"Now everyone in the court knows that His Majesty's feelings for the Empress are genuine. From now on, no matter how many people enter the palace, they will all be treated with the utmost respect."
Do you consider me superior?
Oh!
Mi Jia frowned slightly. After going around in circles, she still returned to the inner palace.
Her father, the emperor, had countless concubines, and her elder brother also had countless concubines. Only after her uncle, the Prince of Chu, ascended the throne did she have only one wife, the Princess of Chu. How many Princes of Chu are there in the world?
Yan Qing may remember and cherish the time she spent with the two of them in the past, but she may not remember it forever. When she grows up a bit more, she may fall in love with another man, and the two of them will be the true Empress and Phoenix Lord.
I was merely helping her temporarily manage the harem.
She gently scolded, "You mustn't say such things again. Be careful not to be arrogant or impatient. You are my maid; if you speak so recklessly, others will think I taught you to do so."
The maid lowered her head and dared not utter another word.
The palace servants all knew that although the princess was kind and gentle, she was no ordinary person to be able to manage the six palaces.
Mika began living a secluded life in the palace, rarely venturing out unless absolutely necessary.
Yan Qing's harem was very clean, so clean that she was the only one there. There was no need for welcoming or seeing off guests, or for morning and evening greetings, which saved her a lot of trouble.
But it's also quite boring.
Embroidery, playing the piano, writing, painting—there seem to be so many things to do, but doing too much of it can become tedious.
Si Yanqing is not in the harem.
She was suppressing the rebellion.
One of her imprisoned brothers sneaked out while she was away and was proclaimed king by a group of old-timers, now rivaling her.
Yan Qing personally took command and went to quell the rebellion.
This is where Xianyu and Dajing differ. Dajing values the idea that a son of a thousand pieces of gold should not sit under a dangerous roof, a gentleman should not venture into dangerous places, and a subject should share the burden of his father's military affairs. Your Majesty's personal expedition is a major event, requiring at least a year or several months of planning.
However, in Xianyu, it was quite common for the king to personally lead an expedition. If he did not go, it would damage his prestige and cause the people's hearts to be scattered.
Xianyu, just as Yan Qing said, is a case of the mighty winning the world.
The court officials also went to quell the rebellion. She thought that the palace would be peaceful and that she only needed to wait quietly for Yan Qing to return.
Unexpectedly, an assassin broke in.
The assassin dressed in black knelt at her feet and said in a deep voice, "Lin Yuan, a guard under Princess Jiahe, pays his respects to Princess Mijia."
Princess Jiahe?
Gu Wan'er?
Mi Jia's heart sank.
If we examine the conflict between Dajing and Xianyu closely, the root cause lies with Gu Wan'er.
On that day, in the Imperial Garden, Gu Wan'er, the eldest granddaughter of the Prince of Yong'an, met Si Junlin, the brother of Si Yanqing. Gu Wan'er, driven by vanity, used her name and called herself Princess Jiahe.
This led to Princess Jiahe's marriage to the Xianyu.
Gu Wan'er transformed into Princess Jiahe of the Great Jing Dynasty, while she, the dignified Princess Jiahe, became Princess Mijia.
Even after arriving in Xianyu, Gu Wan'er remained restless, befriending several princes at the same time, attracting many suitors. As a result, she was plotted against by the Princess of Chu, ruined, and imprisoned.
Are these people the guards trained by Gu Wan'er?
Yes!
Gu Wan'er has been imprisoned.
But the forces she left behind still exist, slowly lying low, perhaps dreaming of rising again one day?
Mi Jia suddenly became interested and asked, "What did you want to do by breaking into the palace?"
Lin Yuan bowed his head and said, "This servant used to serve Princess Jiahe. Although I was in Xianyu, my heart was with Dajing. Upon learning of the princess's marriage alliance, this servant came here specifically to kneel and pay homage. This servant is willing to serve the princess and await her orders."
Mika smiled.
She didn't believe it!
She didn't believe that Gu Wan'er's guards would obey her orders, and she didn't believe that Lin Yuan had gone through so much trouble to break in, risking being assassinated, just to serve her.
"Since you're here to pay your respects to me, you can do so openly and honestly. Why be so furtive?"
Lin Yuan prostrated himself even lower. "The Empress has deployed heavy guards around the palace. This servant has come to the palace countless times, but has been unable to enter. Left with no other choice, I had to trespass into the forbidden palace. This servant was born a citizen of Great Jing, and will die a ghost of Great Jing. Fearing for the princess's safety in the inner palace, I dared to enter. I have offended the princess, and beg for her forgiveness."
Are there heavy guards around here?
Mi Jia seemed to be deep in thought.
Was Yan Qing afraid that she would run away, or was she afraid that she would be in danger?
Mija couldn't explain it clearly.
She seemed somewhat agitated, a faint red line appearing between her brows. "What do you want? Speak!"
Lin Yuan remained silent.
A commotion broke out outside, and the guards arrived. Mija's maid was clearly panicked. If someone discovered that the man was in the princess's room, the princess would be doomed.
"Princess, I'll go and get those people out of there."
“No need!” Mi Jia said.
The maid's eyes widened in surprise. "Should we have Guard Lin hide first?"
Mi Jia shook her head, staring intently at Lin Yuan without saying a word.
A powerful aura permeated the room, and Lin Yuan was drenched in cold sweat. He had served Gu Wan'er before, but Gu Wan'er did not possess this kind of imposing presence; instead, she exuded a down-to-earth charm.
He vaguely understood that the Jiahe Palace Master was probably an imposter. It was a shame that so many of his brothers thought that Princess Jiahe had been framed and was a pawn in the political struggle, and were still plotting to avenge her.
A voice sounded at the door: "Your Majesty, I, Luo Tai, the head of the guards, pay my respects to Your Majesty. We report that assassins have been discovered in the palace, but have been stopped by the guards. We are currently searching for any remaining assassins. I humbly request Your Majesty to open the door so that I may confirm Your Majesty's safety."
The maid's face turned pale with nervousness, but seeing that Mi Jia remained calm, she felt that she could not disgrace her mistress, so she stood still with her eyes downcast and her mind at ease.
Mi Jia said, "You're telling me now, are you telling the princess of the Great Jing Dynasty that once I open the gates, I will be the Empress of Xianyu? Think carefully about who you want to tell this to."
Sweat dripped down his face, and Lin Yuan said dejectedly, "This servant and my brothers wish to return to Dajing. We humbly beg Your Highness's permission."
Mi Jia took a sip of her tea and said calmly, "Open the door!"
"yes!"
The maid stepped forward and opened the door.
The dark mass of people seemed to be surrounding the house. When Luo Tai, the head of the guards, saw Lin Yuan lying on the ground, a chill ran down his spine.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us! We will immediately apprehend this traitor."
Several people quickly subdued Lin Yuan, and a sense of despair rose in Lin Yuan's heart. Princess Mi Jia and the heartless Princess Jia He seemed to be no different.
Mika whispered, "Wait!"
Everyone stopped and listened to the instructions.
Mija asked Rote, "Where are you taking him?"
"This scoundrel led his men to trespass into the Forbidden City. I will imprison him and execute him on a chosen day."
"who is he?"
Luo Tai hesitated for a moment, a knowing glint in his eyes, but he mumbled, "This subject does not know!"
"Oh!" Mi Jia lowered her eyes slightly. The harem of Xian Yu and the harem of Da Jing were indeed different. This guard knew this, but he just wouldn't say it.
This is exactly what it means to deceive the emperor and mislead the ruler.
If she were in Dajing, she would naturally have a way to punish such a minister, but in Xianyu, she has to endure it.
"The head of the guards, Luo Tai, showed disrespect to the Empress and was given thirty strokes of the cane, demoted to a stable boy in the Imperial Stables."
A loud and authoritative female voice came from behind, and everyone consciously made way for her.
Yan Qing, dressed in armor, walked in surrounded by a group of generals and ministers. Her steps were swift, but her movements seemed to reveal a hint of worry.
The crowd knelt and bowed in respect.
Luo Tai's mouth was full of bitterness, and he knelt down as if frozen in place. He knew he was wrong. Before, His Majesty said that he would obey the Empress's orders in everything, but he secretly thought that the Empress was from the Great Jing Dynasty and held her in contempt. That's why he outwardly complied but inwardly disobeyed, which led to today's disaster.
Yan Qing stopped in front of Mi Jia. Although her armor was shiny, it smelled of blood.
Mi Jia slowly bowed, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome your triumphant return..."
She had only spoken half a sentence when someone helped her up. Yan Qing pulled her up and drew her tightly into his arms.
"I've said it before, in the palace, you are no different from me."
Mika: "..."
The courtiers remained motionless, but that did not prevent them from expressing their emotions.
Mi Jia thought to herself that she was probably destined to never be known as a troublemaker.
Yan Qing's gaze swept over Lin Yuan, a flash of murderous intent crossing her eyes.
Lin Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. As a man, he understood men's possessiveness very well, but this possessiveness was even stronger when it was manifested in Yan Qing.
He knew perfectly well that the Empress was blaming him for trespassing into the princess's palace.
Does she see the princess as her personal possession?
He knelt down with a thud, without saying a word.
Yan Qing snorted coldly and said to Mi Jia, "You handle things here."
Mika smiled.
Yan Qing is standing up for herself and slapping others in the face. Since that's the case, she won't refuse.
She glanced around and said softly, "Who is he?"
Luo Tai hurriedly stepped forward, seeing this as his only chance to redeem himself. He quickly said, "Your Majesty, they were originally guards who impersonated Princess Jiahe. After Princess Jiahe's identity was revealed, these guards had nowhere to go and are now commoners of the Xianyu..."
"Untouchables?"
Mi Jia didn't know if the common people of Xianyu were the same as those of Dajing. The common people of Dajing couldn't enter officialdom, couldn't study, and couldn't do business. They had no other way to survive except by selling themselves into slavery. He wondered what it was like here.
Yan Qing remained silent, glancing around to see who dared to ignore Mi Jia's question.
Wherever the emperor's gaze fell, everyone seemed to be scorched.
Luo Tai hurriedly said, "The common people are lowly beings, only fit to do things that merchants, artisans, scholars, and farmers are unwilling to do, such as carrying corpses, digging graves, and shoveling excrement..."
I see!
Mi Jia finally understood why Lin Yuan had risked his life to come to the palace to see her.
Gu Wan'er was once incredibly powerful in Da Jing, and these guards enjoyed wealth and luxury with her. Now that Gu Wan'er has fallen from power, they are helpless and alone in Xian Yu. It seems that they have no other way to survive except to rely on him. The people of Xian Yu will only treat them as slaves. Only he remembers that it was the people of Da Jing who gave them a way to live.
Lin Yuan's face was filled with sorrow. "This servant knows I am utterly culpable, and begs the princess to save the rest of the Da Jing people; they are all heroes."
Mi Jia sighed silently and looked at Yan Qing.
Yan Qing glanced sideways with her phoenix eyes, exuding unparalleled charisma. Mi Jia felt a burning sensation in her heart from Yan Qing's breathtaking beauty.
She turned around and said softly, "Take them back to Dajing! As for the rest of you who came to Xianyu with me, if any of you wish to return, you may do so as well. I will write to His Majesty and the Empress to make proper arrangements for you."
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