Chapter 6. Our Dai Dai has such lofty ambitions...
Later, news of the emperor's activities at Minghu Palace reached the Empress and Consort Cen.
Empress Wu Ying was furious and deliberately smashed the items sent by the emperor, which was the limit of what she could do. As a result, she smashed many things, and the more she smashed, the more frustrated she became.
Li Jiajing's intervention was tantamount to the Crown Prince seeking a favor from His Majesty; a marriage alliance between the Second Prince and the Lin family would be entirely beneficial to the royal family. Yet His Majesty still refused. Moreover, the method was sharp, almost a blatant humiliation of the Empress.
Wu Ying came from a prominent military family and was pampered and spoiled growing up. Later, she entered the palace and became empress. She had never felt so stifled before.
"Song Qingwu".
The Empress, in front of a room full of servants, actually called out the Emperor's full name. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could tear him to pieces and drink his blood and bones. Seeing this, Li Fangting, the nanny who had served the Empress for half her life, said with a stern look, "Get out! Anyone who dares to speak nonsense will be executed."
"Yes, sir." The servants bowed their heads and withdrew from the hall. The more timid ones trembled violently, like branches in a hurricane.
Once the noise subsided and it was clear that no one else was around, Li Fangting hurried to the Empress's side, helped her around the mess, and found a chair to sit down. Then she prepared a cup of warm tea and placed it beside her, before gently comforting her, "Your Majesty, please calm down."
Empress: "How can I possibly calm down? Things have come to this, I wish I could..."
In that instant, the empress wanted the emperor dead. When she realized this thought, her heart skipped a beat and her heart began to race.
She was speechless, lost in thought.
Li Fangting thought this was just her dejection after her excitement, so she gave her some time to calm down before coaxing her, "This servant knows that Your Highness is angry, but at this critical juncture, we cannot afford to create any more discord with His Majesty."
Wu Ying remained silent for a long time before speaking, her emotions much calmer now that her fear had subsided.
"I understand."
After drinking a few sips of tea served by Li Fangting, she spoke again, "What should we do now?"
Song Yunlan had long harbored feelings for the Lin family's girl, making it incredibly difficult for him to abandon his desire to marry her. However, His Majesty's word was law, and he was accustomed to being domineering; he simply could not tolerate anyone challenging his decisions.
Li Fangting pondered for a moment in silence, then lowered her head and pressed her red lips to Wu Ying's ear, "It's definitely not going to work out with His Majesty, but we can..."
With the Luhua Festival approaching, there are many celebratory activities both in the imperial court and among the common people, offering plenty of room for celebration.
Consort Cen's bedroom, Anlu Palace
Cen Jingxi leaned against a tea table, reading a book, with a cup of tea beside her.
The tea we're drinking today is called "Unknown Spring." The tea soup is clear and bright, yet its aroma is rich and intense. Few people know its name, and because it's so niche, it was never included in the tribute tea. Zhuo Shuming and Cen Jingxi are very close friends, and Zhuo Shuming has long known that she loves tea. Whenever she gets a good one, she sends it to the palace, a tradition she has maintained for many years. This "Unknown Spring" is the one she sent to the palace some time ago.
Not far from the tea table, a eunuch was bowing slightly as he explained to her the various events that had occurred in Minghu Palace.
After he finished speaking, Cen Jingxi ordered a female official to reward him, and then escorted him out of Anlu Palace. Inside the main hall, only Cen Jingxi and her personal maid Qin Moru remained; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“Heh…” Suddenly, Cen Jingxi chuckled, breaking the tranquility.
Qin Moru asked softly, "What is Your Highness laughing at?"
Cen Jingxi: "Laughing at our Empress, who has been clueless about the situation for so many years."
Years ago, she poisoned the emperor's beloved woman; now she sends two veteran officials to "pressure" the emperor, trying to make him change his mind.
The emperor may have tolerated it the first time after weighing the pros and cons, but he wouldn't tolerate it a second or third time. With imperial power, how much disobedience can he tolerate?
"Li Jiajing, what a pity."
After careful consideration, Qin Mo replied, "The Empress's actions this time were within expectations. Putting aside the Second Prince's intentions, the Lin and Zhuo families are powerful and influential. Marrying Dai Dai would be equivalent to having two major backers at the same time. Which ambitious force wouldn't be tempted?"
Cen Jingxi: "Yes."
This also meant that she could not marry into the royal family. Once the Lin and Zhuo families entered the fray, the balance of power within the inner court would be disrupted.
The emperor would not allow it, and the concubines with princes would not tolerate other palaces taking such benefits. Although she had no intention of seizing the throne, the empress and the second prince had always disliked their Anlu Palace. If the second prince were to successfully ascend the throne in the future, her and Song Yunyan's fate was predictable. Therefore, when Zhuo Shuming pleaded with her, she agreed without hesitation for a moment.
"When Dai Dai gets married, I will definitely add some dowry for her. Nanny, you can handle this yourself."
After a brief pause, she added, "Put my white jade hairpin with kingfisher feathers and tourmaline inside, according to the highest standards in the palace."
This white jade hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and tourmaline is a rare tribute item, bestowed by the emperor himself, and of extraordinary value.
However, Qin Moru didn't offer a single word of advice. The Lin family's eldest daughter, the future Madam Ji, was someone with whom all powerful figures couldn't afford to ignore, especially since the Empress and Madam Lin had a very close personal relationship.
After finishing their business, the conversation naturally turned to the Fourth Prince, Song Yunyan.
Of the emperor's four sons, Song Yunyan was the wildest; calling him a spirited horse wouldn't be an exaggeration. He was still unmarried and lived in the palace, yet it was extremely difficult to see him there. Even his mother, Consort Cen, had to inquire carefully to ascertain his whereabouts.
The same is true now.
Qin Moru replied, "I left the palace before dawn today, saying I was going to Zhangxi with Lin Dalang to find a reclusive weapons master."
Cen Jingxi: "..."
After a moment, she chuckled softly and briefly, "I wonder when I'll have made any progress?"
Qin Moru: "Perhaps this would be better?"
Emperors are tyrannical and suspicious; the farther away from the throne, the safer one is.
Cen Jingxi paused for a few moments after hearing this, then smiled and said, "What Granny says is true. I hope our Yan'er can continue to live such a carefree and happy life."
Rewinding to an hour or two earlier, Song Yunyan arrived outside the Lin residence accompanied by four guards. Normally, he wouldn't have brought any guards. But Granny Qin had said that he wouldn't be allowed to leave the palace without them.
Don't let Qin Mama's gentle appearance and dimples fool you; she's shrewd and ruthless. What she says, she means what she says. And she has the power to do so—a favorite of the Imperial Concubine, who wouldn't give her some respect?
Even as the imperial concubine's own son, he couldn't defy her.
Of course, this unavoidable reason contained a degree of respect. She had accompanied her mother for many years, taking care of him as he grew up; to him and his mother, Granny Qin was family.
The guard knocked on the door, and Song Yunyan entered the Lin residence without any trouble, where he met his old friend Lin Qingyu. At that time, Lin Qingyu was having breakfast in the dining hall, with his two younger sisters beside him.
"Fog."
“Dai Dai”.
With no elders present in the dining hall, Song Yunyan, relaxed, clamored as he headed towards the two Lin sisters. A moment later, he settled into the empty seat next to Lin Qingdai.
"Wuwu, are you feeling better?"
Lin Qingwu smiled at him, "I'm much better, thank you for your concern, Fourth Prince."
Song Yunyan: "Oh dear, there are no outsiders here, call him Fourth Brother."
Lin Qingyu continued, "Is it because no one calls you 'brother' in the palace that you've become depressed and want to come to my house to experience what it's like to be a brother?"
Song Yunyan glanced at him in the direction of the voice, her eyes filled with disdain, "How can you talk like that? I'm emphasizing Wuwu and Daidai."
After finishing her tirade, she even found herself an accomplice, "Isn't that right, Dai Dai?"
Lin Qingdai chuckled softly, "Fourth Brother is right."
Of the emperor's four sons, Lin Qingdai's favorite was Song Yunyan.
First, they had the most contact and the deepest friendship; second, Song Yunyan was bright, righteous, and knew how to have fun, and anyone who met him would eventually be drawn into his warmth.
Upon hearing this, Song Yunyan smiled and said, "Lin Qingyu, learn more from Dai Dai."
“We’re all human, but Dai Dai can talk, while you can only bark like a dog.”
“Song Yunyan, you…”
Seeing that her two older brothers were about to start arguing again, Lin Qingwu quickly said to Song Yunyan, "Fourth brother, have you had breakfast yet? Have some with us. Today we have your favorite meatball and tofu soup."
This meatball and tofu soup is not considered a delicacy even among ordinary people, but Song Yunyan likes it, especially the one made by the chef of the Lin family. He always felt that the tofu made by the Lin family was different from that of other places.
For the sake of his two younger sisters, Song Yunyan decided to back down and not argue with Lin Qingyu.
He replied, "Okay."
The maids of the Lin family reacted quickly; after he responded, a set of clean and elegant tableware was placed in front of him.
After the meal, Lin Qingyu looked at his two younger sisters and said, "I'm leaving now. I'll bring you some local specialties from Zhangxi to try when I come back."
Zhangxi is only half a day's journey from the capital, but it is a remote place with no outstanding scenery except for steep mountains and dense forests. Few high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital would make a special trip there.
Song Yunyan: "Then Fourth Brother will buy you hairpins and rouge."
Lin Qingyu thought to herself: In this desolate wilderness, where can I find hairpins and rouge?
However, she did not say anything to him directly.
As for the fourth prince, we should always give him some face.
Lin Qingdai smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, brothers."
After finishing their conversation, Lin Qingyu and Song Yunyan didn't linger and turned to leave.
"Brother." A soft female voice called out at this moment. It was Lin Qingwu calling them.
Lin Qingyu turned to look at her, "What's wrong?"
Lin Qingwu's face flushed slightly, looking a little shy.
After a few moments' hesitation, she finally spoke, "Brother, I've heard there's a Flower Creek Temple in Zhangxi..."
She wanted to go to the Taoist temple to pray for her sister's safety and also ask a master to see if her marriage with Yu-ge would encounter any problems. In the end, she was frightened by the turmoil of the past few days.
Lin Qingyu looked at her younger sister, secretly hesitating.
If we're only talking about feelings, he would definitely agree without hesitation. The argument a few days ago must have affected her mood; going out for a walk to clear her head is a good thing.
However, Zhangxi is located in a remote area, and the road conditions along the way are not very good, so he has to be wary of the dangers.
After thinking it over, he was about to refuse when Song Yunyan suddenly waved his hand and tapped his arm.
Lin Qingyu glared at him, "What are you doing now?"
Song Yunyan: "Take my two younger sisters with me. With you and me here, plus the guards from the Lin family and the palace I brought, how could we not protect my two younger sisters?"
Lin Qingyu frowned slightly: "Dai Dai didn't say she was going."
Song Yunyan responded casually, "Oh."
After answering, he looked at Lin Qingdai and asked, "Dai Dai, do you want to go?"
Lin Qingdai was amused by Song Yunyan's reaction. She also wanted to fulfill her sister's wish, "Yes, I do. I've heard that Zhangxi has many rare herbs. I'd like to go and see them."
At the end of her sentence, she turned to Lin Qingyu with a bright smile: "Brother, is it alright?"
Lin Qingyu was defeated by this sentence.
With His Majesty's bestowal of marriage upon Qingwu and Su Si in court that day, Dai Dai's marriage to Lingdong is now a foregone conclusion and will soon be put on the agenda. Her time at home is running out.
Lingdong is far from the capital, and she is in poor health, so she will likely have few opportunities to return home in the future. Therefore, how could we not spoil her more?
After informing their parents, Lin Qingyu and the other three left home.
Butler Xiao had prepared a carriage, understated on the outside but spacious inside, with snacks, storybooks, and other things to relieve boredom neatly arranged. While considering safety, he couldn't bear to see his precious daughter suffer even the slightest bit.
As Song Yunyan helped his two younger sisters onto the carriage, he glanced inside and remarked, "Tsk, there's a new volume of 'The Heroes of Xun Kingdom'?"
"Lin Qingyu, I also want to ride in a carriage."
The two sisters burst out laughing upon hearing this.
Lin Qingyu glanced at Song Yunyan with disdain once again, "This carriage is too small to accommodate you, the fourth prince of the current dynasty."
"I've already read this one; I'll tell you about it on the way."
After making a ruckus, the four of them set off for Zhangxi Town.
Lin Qingyu, Song Yunyan, and a group of guards rode away on horseback, while the two sisters, Lin Qingwu and Lin Qingdai, sat comfortably inside the carriage. Each leaned against one side, separated by a small table. On the table were their favorite and familiar trinkets.
After a moment of silence, Lin Qingwu, who had been tormented by guilt for several days, spoke softly: "Dai Dai, this time it is your older sister who has wronged you."
Lingdong is the poorest part of Xun Kingdom. Furthermore, due to the existence of Dongshao Kingdom, Xun Kingdom has been plagued by constant warfare since its founding. No matter how you look at it, it's not a place where Daidai can live a peaceful life.
Then there's Ji Yujing, who in his early twenties wielded considerable military power and operated independently outside the local military and political system, effectively becoming the "King of Lingdong." His rise to power was a journey from nothing to the pinnacle, demonstrating his ruthlessness and cunning.
She had no idea how he viewed the marriage between Lin Ji and his sister, or how he would treat her.
As sisters, Lin Qingdai understood Lin Qingwu's feelings perfectly, and a warmth spread through her heart.
A slender, white hand reached out and gently grasped Lin Qingwu's hand, looking at her with tender eyes, "Sister, don't worry, Dai Dai is doing this willingly."
Lin Qingwu didn't believe this.
There are so many handsome young men in the capital, many of whom admire Daiyu, including even the Second Prince. If she had a choice, why would she want to go to Lingdong?
Her thoughts were in turmoil, each strand of them ripping at Lin Qingwu's heart, leaving her speechless.
Lin Qingdai gently and slowly stroked her hand: "Sister, actually I really hate being locked up at home."
This was the first time Lin Qingwu had heard the word "dislike" from her younger sister. Dai Dai was gentle and had been taken care of very well since childhood; everything that came near her was something she cherished.
Aside from the endless supply of herbal medicine.
No one likes herbal medicine, and she thought Dai Dai was no exception. But the little girl was very well-behaved; she never caused any trouble taking her medicine and never showed any dislike for it.
Therefore, it was quite rare for her to seriously say "dislike" right now, and Lin Qingwu was stunned.
Seeing her sister like this, Lin Qingdai's gentle eyes sparkled with a smile.
"Many times, I sat in the flower hall, looking through the half-open window at the blue sky reflecting the bright sun, and all I could think about was..."
If she could, she would love to explore Xunyang on foot, experiencing its customs, enjoying its cuisine and beautiful clothes, leaving her mark on this magnificent land. However, her wish was destined to remain unfulfilled due to many factors. Leaving the capital for Lingdong was, in a sense, a way of fulfilling her own desires.
She hid her feelings for Ji and Jing in that instant.
Lin Qingwu quietly observed her, as if trying to ascertain the truth of her sister's words.
After examining her, she was certain that her sister wasn't faking it.
At least for now, she really wants to leave the capital and see the world.
Lin Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help saying to Lin Qingdai, "Dai Dai, Lingdong..."
Lin Qingdai's smile was gentle, like the first breeze of spring in the capital: "Sister, don't you always praise Daidai for being intelligent? Why don't you believe that Daidai can protect herself?"
After a moment of surprise, Lin Qingwu reached out with her slender white fingers and gently poked the center of her forehead.
Looking at the faint red glow, she said, "No matter how intelligent you are, being far from home will always make your parents and siblings worry about you."
“Dai Dai, you are not only our parents’ treasure, but also our sister’s. This time…”
Her worry for her younger sister shattered Lin Qingwu's haughty elegance, and the bright tears in her eyes were now hidden behind a misty haze.
"Because my sister cherishes Dai Dai as a treasure, Dai Dai also wants my sister to marry her beloved husband and have a smooth life."
“I’m not afraid of Lingdong or Jiyujing. Not only that, I will turn barren land into prosperity. Once things are settled there, I will definitely invite my sister and brother Yu to visit Lingdong.”
Lin Qingwu adored her spirited younger sister. She couldn't help but chuckle, then teased, "Our Dai Dai has such lofty ambitions."
How do you plan to transform barrenness into prosperity?
What Ji and Jing couldn't accomplish over the years is no easy feat.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingdai's slender white fingertips lightly brushed against the pattern on her sleeve, exuding a noble yet languid air, "I have something that Ji Yujing doesn't have."
"Oh? What is it? Tell me, older sister."
"I have money, rare seeds, and a business mind."
The Lin family has been wealthy for a century, standing at the pinnacle of Xun Kingdom. How could they not have some real skills? Perhaps because their reputation for "benevolence and gentleness" is so deeply ingrained, the Lin family's abilities are often overlooked by the public.
At this point, Lin Qingwu's guilt had almost completely dissipated.
"If you want to do it, just do it. If you don't have enough money, your sister will make it up to you."
"Thank you, elder sister."
Lin Qingwu's attention then shifted elsewhere, and she picked up the latest volume of "Heroes of Xun Kingdom" from the small table.
"Where is the progress?"
Lin Qingwu had always known her younger sister enjoyed reading this collection of stories, but until this moment, she hadn't considered that her sister's fondness stemmed from Ji Yujing. Upon hearing this, Lin Qingdai's hand, hidden in her sleeve, twitched slightly. "It mentions the thirty-second year of Zhaoshun..."
Many things happened that year, but what impressed Lin Qingdai most was Ji Yujing's confrontation with Xuanzhi, the crown prince of Dongshao Kingdom, outside Jingning City. The two peerless prodigies clashed in full view of everyone, displaying their full range of skills. A gust of wind rose, whipping up a curtain of dust that was dazzling to the eye.
That day, Ji Yujing wore gray clothes. Lin Qingdai had never seen or touched those gray clothes, but through the scenes in the storybook, she guessed that they came from Xingqing Town in the southeast corner.
Those living there are mostly the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled; they are not necessarily all locals.
Anyone who meets one of the criteria of "elderly, weak, sick, or disabled" and passes the verification process can settle here and work for Ji and Jing's Ningdong Army. Having a stable job to earn three meals a day and a place to live is already a great blessing for these poor people.
Ji Yujing is protecting Lingdong and its people in his own way.
"Ji and Jing".
Lost in thought, Lin Qingdai silently called his name, and just like when she used to bite into the candy he gave her, her lips and teeth were instantly filled with sweetness.
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