Reunion
The weather was fine that day, and Zhang Yunyao was in a rare mood to take a walk in the garden. This period could be described as a series of happy events for her.
One incident occurred a couple of days ago when Wei Changsong, in an attempt to curry favor with the Prince Cheng's household, gave away his favored concubine, Consort Liu, to a guest visiting the Prince Cheng's residence. Consort Liu was a show-off; every time she received a reward from the master, she would dress extravagantly and flaunt it before him. Unfortunately, a concubine is still a concubine, and a childless concubine is always at risk of being sold off. She thought that by relying on Wei Changsong, she could live comfortably in the household, but she never expected that it was Wei Changsong himself who gave her away as a favor.
The second thing is that Wei Changsong has received an imperial decree to be transferred to the position of Commissioner of the Grand Canal in Liangjiang, which is a very lucrative post. In recent years, the income from her shops in the capital has been decreasing, and only her shops in Jiangnan are doing well. Now she can take advantage of Wei Changsong's new position to develop them in Jiangnan.
Zhang Yunyao gently waved her fan and slowly walked to a clump of peonies. Several early-blooming Luoyang Red and Er Qiao varieties were already in bloom. The large flowers shimmered like silk in the sunlight, and a few butterflies fluttered their light wings as they hovered among the peonies.
"Wang Mama, go get me a pair of scissors. I want to cut these peonies to make a flower arrangement."
Wei Qiao happened to be passing by the large garden when he finished his shift, and he and Zhang Yunyao met eyes from afar. He walked up to Zhang Yunyao and greeted her, saying, "Mother, you seem to be enjoying the flowers here today."
Looking at Wei Qiao, who was dressed in a bright red official robe and exuded confidence, Zhang Yunyao felt a mix of emotions. If only her Kang'er were still alive. Her Kang'er was the best son in the world. Wei Qiao was Zhang Yunyi's son, and they would never truly be close. Fortunately, he didn't know the real cause of his mother's death. If he did, Zhang Yunyao feared he would find some excuse to take revenge on her.
Zhang Yunyao's expression was grim. Wei Qiao asked, "What is Mother thinking?"
"Oh, I'm about to go south with my master to take up my post. Take good care of yourself in the capital," Zhang Yunyao said. "Your aunt's birthday is coming soon, so as her son, you should remember to burn some paper money for her."
As soon as Zhang Yunyao uttered the words, she regretted them. She had never mentioned Zhang Yunyi in front of Wei Qiao before, but for some reason, she kept thinking about her today.
Wei Qiao sneered upon hearing this, "Does Mother still remember my mother?"
“We are sisters with the same father, how could I not remember? Your mother and I were the closest when we were young,” Zhang Yunyao said awkwardly.
The best of friends is to use despicable means to turn each other into their husbands' concubines. Zhang Yunyao can say this so openly in front of him, which shows that she has never reflected on her actions.
"Do you still remember my mother's death?" Wei Qiao asked coldly, staring into her evasive eyes.
Zhang Yunyao saw a deep-seated hatred in Wei Qiao's dark eyes. Did he already know that she was behind what happened back then? Zhang Yunyao dared not think about it. Under the bright sun, she suddenly felt a chill run through her body, and she turned her head away, refusing to meet Wei Qiao's gaze.
Wei Qiao found her guilty look amusing and continued walking past her towards Xuesong Hall, but deliberately stopped when he brushed past Zhang Yunyao. "My mother appeared to me in a dream and said that she was too lonely in the underworld, and she wanted to take the person who harmed her to keep her company. Does Mother know who caused my mother to jump into the well back then? Tell her that the one who will take her life is coming soon."
Zhang Yunyao felt a chill run down her spine. Wei Qiao had known all along. He had been pretending to be oblivious, and now that he was powerful enough, he dared to warn her. If she had known this earlier, she should have sent Wei Qiao to the underworld to join his mother.
When Granny Wang came over with the scissors, she saw that Zhang Yunyao looked dazed and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Madam?"
Zhang Yunyao shook her head without speaking, but her body felt weak and she uncontrollably collapsed onto Granny Wang.
April passed in the blink of an eye, and Xichun was doing fairly well in the Yuanhe Palace. Two more palace maids, Bixin and Qingxiang, entered the palace. Both were exceptionally beautiful and very sensible. Yan Zhongyou's attention immediately fell entirely on them, and he neglected Xichun considerably. Xichun was happy to have some peace and quiet and secretly rejoiced that the Emperor had forgotten about her. During these days, Xichun also saw Wei Qiao several times in the Yuanhe Palace. He was the Emperor's favorite minister and would come to the Imperial Study to pay his respects every few days. Apart from polite greetings, the two did not exchange any other words, as if they had never met before.
On the fifth day of the fourth month, a grand banquet was held in Taicheng Hall to celebrate the victorious return of Prince Yan Zhongxing of Jin. The Emperor went to Taicheng Hall to host a banquet for the officials, and there was nothing to do in Yuanhe Hall, so Peilan told Xichun to finish her shift early and go back to rest.
Back at her lodgings, Xichun took out her sewing kit and began to sew again. She had intended to make herself an undergarment, but as soon as she picked up the scissors, her hands involuntarily cut the fabric into the shape of socks. Xichun had to admit that no matter how cold her expression was when she met him, her feelings for him had never faded. Even knowing that he had played a part in sending her to the palace, she still loved him. Feelings were truly beyond her control.
Xi Chun sewed the socks stitch by stitch. Ever since she entered the palace, she had spent her spare time doing needlework. Now her needlework skills had improved a lot, and the flowers she embroidered were pleasing to the eye.
By 9 PM, a pair of finely stitched socks had taken shape in Xichun's hands. Looking at the silk socks in her hands, Xichun imagined Wei Qiao wearing them, a happy smile spreading across her face. But then she thought, she had no idea what size Wei Qiao's feet were, how could the socks she made possibly suit his taste? Besides, given their current relationship, she had no reason to give him another pair of socks.
After a long pause, Xichun finally picked up the scissors and cut the sewn stockings inch by inch along the seam.
After tidying up her sewing basket, Xichun washed up and went to bed. By midnight, she was fast asleep.
Bang bang bang—
A sudden, loud knocking at the door in the quiet of the night startled Xichun awake. No thief would knock so openly in the Yuanhe Palace; Xichun feared something urgent had happened and hurriedly put on her outer garment to open the door.
Outside the door, a drunken Yan Zhongyou leaned weakly against the wall. Today was the day Prince Yan Zhongxing of Jin returned home. The entire court praised his great contributions to the Zhou Dynasty, and even the emperor himself had to repeatedly praise Yan Zhongxing against his will, bestowing upon him countless treasures. Seeing the officials' flattery and praise of Yan Zhongxing, he felt jealous. In all his years as emperor, he had never seen his ministers flatter him like this; their respect for him was only superficial, and he had always been able to see it.
After the banquet in Taicheng Hall ended, Yan Zhongyou asked Michide to warm him a pot of rose honey wine. While drinking, he looked at the portrait of Fei Xueyi he had painted years ago. After finishing the pot, he left Michide and came alone to the East Annex Hall to find Xichun. He longed to see her; seeing her young face was like seeing Fei Xueyi again. It was as if his Xueyi was still by his side.
When Xichun opened the door and saw Yan Zhongyou, she was startled. Smelling the strong smell of alcohol on him, she knew that he must be drunk to have come to her bedroom.
Yan Zhongyou smiled at Xichun, who turned away from him and tried to go to Yuanhe Hall to call for help. Yan Zhongyou grabbed her hand and dragged her to her bed.
"Don't go, I will treat you well, I will give you whatever you want."
Xi Chun was startled by Yan Zhongyou's actions. This scene reminded her of what Wei Changsong had tried to do to her at the Wei residence. Yan Zhongyou's hands touched Xi Chun's face, and then he reached out to tear at her clothes.
"Your Majesty, no, no..." Xichun cried out in fear, but Yan Zhongyou seemed not to hear her and continued to tug at Xichun's clothes.
Xi Chun saw the longing in his eyes, but she felt only fear. She had never wanted to be the emperor's woman, nor did she want to be an empress. She didn't like the emperor at all.
The instant Yan Zhongyou's hand touched Xichun's neck, Xichun used all her strength to push Yan Zhongyou aside. Ignoring the fact that she had lost a shoe, she ran out of the room and headed outside.
Panicked and disoriented in the darkness, Xi Chun just wanted to find a safe place to hide. She hadn't walked more than a few steps from the east wing when she encountered the Dragon Feather Guards on night patrol. Afraid they would see her disheveled state, she quickly ran in the opposite direction from the guards.
Before I could run two steps, I suddenly bumped into a warm chest.
"Ah..." Xichun screamed in fright.
"Who's there?" Upon hearing the noise, the Dragon Feather Guards in the patrol team turned around quickly, their hands on their sword hilts, and hurried towards Xichun.
Xi Chun tried to run away in fear, but the person in front of her held her down tightly.
“It’s me. Everything’s fine here. You can continue your patrol,” the man said in a deep voice.
"Yes." The Dragon Feather Guards accepted the order and turned back to continue their patrol.
Xichun recognized the voice. She looked up at him, only his silhouette visible in the darkness. She held back her tears and reached out to pry his large hand off her waist. She didn't want to meet him in this disheveled state.
"Let me go," Xichun whispered and shouted at him.
Wei Qiao heard the sob in her voice and, without a word, pulled her into his arms. Xi Chun was held in his embrace again, but her feelings were no longer the sweetness of that day. She harbored resentment towards him; she was angry that Wei Qiao had sent her to the palace, angry that he had ignored her confession, and now he was pretending to care about her.
She grabbed his collar tightly and said angrily, "Wei Qiao, where are you taking me? Put me down."
Wei Qiao didn't speak, but carried her and hurried along. After a while, he took Xi Chun back to his duty room in the Yuanhe Hall. The duty rooms of the Dragon Feather Guards in the Yuanhe Hall were not far from the East Annex Hall, just a few rooms in the building next to the main tea room of the Yuanhe Hall, and his room was in a secluded corner of the building.
Once inside, Wei Qiao put Xi Chun down. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were in disarray, and even one of her embroidered shoes was missing. Wei Qiao didn't need to think too much to know what she had just been through.
Xi Chun looked up at Wei Qiao, and he clearly saw pity and affection in his eyes. Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Xi Chun reached out and hugged his chest, burying her face in his arms and sobbing uncontrollably.
This was the first time Wei Qiao had seen Xi Chun so vulnerable. Usually, even when she was afraid of him, she would still keep a certain distance from him. But today, she had shed her tough exterior in front of him and was completely attached to him.
The tears of the woman in his arms soaked his clothes, and they soaked his heart as well. He regretted it; he shouldn't have dragged her into this. Wei Qiao reached out and gently patted her back.
After crying for a while, Xi Chun felt much better. She looked up at Wei Qiao, whose chin was covered with stubble, but whose eyes were still as deep and bright as ever.
Noticing Xichun's gaze, Wei Qiao also lowered his eyes to look at her. Her thick eyelashes were still covered with wet tears, and her face was flushed with excitement.
"Xichun..." Wei Qiao was about to call her, but before he could even speak, a pair of lips sealed his mouth.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
