Chapter 13 Mei Xi (Thirteen) Daily Life
After Concubine Wan and Concubine Yan were taken away and settled by Chun, peace returned to the side hall.
Lin Jiaojiao leaned back on a low couch covered with thick thatch and soft new cloth and breathed a long sigh of relief. The previous confrontation, seemingly peaceful and uneventful, had in fact been exhausting and strenuous. However, the outcome had been quite satisfactory. The arrogance of the two girls, Wanyan, seemed to have been completely quelled by the "suppression" of her face.
[External entity (Wan Meiren) Emotional state: Dependent (Stable). External entity (Yan Meiren) Emotional state: Dependent (Dominant). Threat level: Low (Persistent).] The system analyzed calmly.
Now that her body had almost recovered, Lin Jiaojiao was no longer satisfied with being trapped in the side hall.
She began to truly walk in the royal court as the "Prince Concubine", not to exercise any great power, but more like a kind of... silent declaration, declaring her existence, declaring that she still has a status and... influence that cannot be ignored in this precarious royal court.
That morning, the sun was shining brightly. Lin Jiaojiao changed into a moon-white linen gown that Ku Ding had just sent her. It was made of boiling water and then starched to be extremely soft. The fabric fit her gradually recovering slender figure softly, outlining her smooth and graceful curves. Her long hair was not adorned with pearls or jade, but was loosely tied up with a bone hairpin that was polished to a smooth and round shape and had a small grain of warm white jade embedded on the top. A few strands of soft hair hung down at the side of her neck, swaying gently with her steps.
She did not dress up deliberately, and did not even put on any makeup, but her skin, which had just recovered from a serious illness, exuded a translucent, delicate luster like the finest white jade. In the morning light, it seemed to have its own soft light filter. Her beautiful eyes, as clear as the ice springs melted from the snow-capped mountains, reflected the blue sky. They were calm and transparent, with a purity that was untainted by dust.
When she was supported by Chun and slowly walked out of the side hall, the whole courtyard seemed to be lit up in an instant.
The palace servants and slaves they encountered along the way subconsciously paused in whatever they were doing. They bowed from a distance, their movements filled with unprecedented respect and... a kind of piety that almost held their breath? Their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the figure, yet they dared not stare directly at it for long, as if it were blasphemy.
When Lin Jiaojiao's eyes accidentally swept over them, they hurriedly lowered their heads, their hearts beating like drums, and their cheeks inexplicably hot.
[External Environment: Host influence (visual impact) continues to take effect. Individual (Palace Servant/Slave) Emotions: Awe → Stunned → Unconscious Desire to Protect (Peak).] The system reported in real time.
Lin Jiaojiao had long been accustomed to this or numb to it. She was calm and composed, walked leisurely, and had a clear goal. She decided to take a walk in the small garden near the side hall where the royal court held meetings. There were several cold-resistant plum trees there, and it was said that sporadic buds had opened in the past few days.
As soon as she reached the corridor of the side hall for meetings, she heard a deliberately suppressed discussion coming from inside. It was obvious that several ministers who stayed behind were "discussing politics".
"...The defeat at Mingtiao resulted in heavy casualties! The king is furious. What should we do if we stay behind?" An old voice sounded worried.
"Hmph! How should we deal with it? Of course we should speed up the collection of food and fodder and strengthen the city defense! Are we going to just sit and wait for the Shang army to attack us?" A rough voice retorted.
"Food? City defense? How easy is that? The king took away most of the elite troops, the treasury is empty, and people are in panic..." Another voice was helpless.
"If you ask me, the most urgent task is to stabilize the royal court, especially... that person." A slightly slick voice sounded, hinting, "That imperial concubine has been... quite popular lately! The 'injury treatment order' issued in the palace area has won over many people. Even that old fox Ku Ding obeys her orders! If she..."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a sudden and surprised gasp.
"hiss--!"
Lin Jiaojiao happened to walk to the corner of the corridor, and her figure unexpectedly appeared in the eyes of several ministers in the hall.
The sunlight poured down on her without reservation. Her moon-white gown seemed to be flowing with a halo. Her black hair was like clouds and her skin was whiter than snow. Her face in the morning light was as delicate as if it had been carved by a divine craftsman. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and it also carried a heart-wrenching sense of fragility and purity that was unique to someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
The hall fell into deathly silence in an instant.
The ministers who were talking loudly and worriedly just now seemed to be under a spell. Their eyes were wide open, their mouths were slightly open, and they stared straight at the figure at the door, forgetting even to breathe.
The minister who had just hinted that Lin Jiaojiao was "in the limelight" dropped the bamboo slips in his hand to the ground with a "click" without noticing it. He only felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, and his mind went blank. The only thing left was the overwhelming visual impact brought by that face.
Lin Jiaojiao didn't seem to notice anything unusual in the hall. She just tilted her head slightly and swept her gaze calmly across the hall. Her clear eyes were like the moon reflected in a cold pond, with a kind of purity that seemed to be ignorant of worldly affairs, and seemed to contain a calmness that seemed to see through everything.
Just by being swept by this gaze, several ministers felt as if they were struck by an invisible electric current. They shuddered all over, suddenly regaining their senses, hurriedly stood up, and frantically adjusted their clothes. Their faces were instantly filled with respectful and even slightly flattering smiles, and they rushed to bow and salute:
"Your Highness...your Highness and I pay our respects to the Empress!"
"May the Empress Yuan live forever!"
"We didn't know the Princess was coming. We are so rude! So rude!"
That attitude was even more respectful than when facing Xia Jie, especially the minister who had just said that Lin Jiaojiao was "in the limelight". At this moment, sweat broke out on his forehead and he wanted to bury his head in the ground, for fear that his previous criticism would be seen by those clear eyes.
Lin Jiaojiao nodded slightly, her voice clear and soft, like jade beads falling on a plate. "My Lords, please excuse me. I am merely passing through, admiring the plum blossoms in the garden. I have no intention of interrupting your political discussions." Her gaze fell on the fallen bamboo slips, and the corners of her lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile that was enough to eclipse the heavens and the earth. "My Lords, your slips have fallen."
The minister woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly bent down to pick it up. His movements were so clumsy that he almost fell down, causing his colleagues next to him to want to laugh but not dare to, and their faces turned red from holding back their laughter.
"Thank you all for your hard work for the country." Lin Jiaojiao's voice was filled with just the right amount of concern. "The king will be in charge of the battles on the front lines. We, in the rear, should carefully fulfill our duties and not distract the king."
Her words were gentle, yet they carried an invisible power. Several ministers nodded repeatedly like chicks pecking at rice: "Princess Yuan, what you said is absolutely right! We will remember this! Remember this!"
"I won't disturb you anymore." Lin Jiaojiao nodded slightly, and supported by You Chun, she continued to walk slowly towards the small garden. She walked calmly, her skirt lifted slightly, leaving behind a beautiful back that made people unable to recover for a long time.
It was not until her figure disappeared at the end of the corridor that a suppressed, long sigh was heard in the hall.
"Oh my God... Princess Yuan... this... this..." The rude minister held it in for a long time before uttering, "It's... too beautiful!" He scratched his head, and a suspicious blush appeared on his dark face.
"It's more than just beautiful!" The slick minister wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still in shock, "It's simply... a goddess descending to the earth! When she glanced at me just now, my heart... almost jumped out! No wonder... no wonder that old guy Kuding..." He didn't dare to finish the second half of the sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
"Ahem!" The oldest minister cleared his throat, trying to maintain his seriousness. "The Princess Yuan is kind-hearted and compassionate to the palace ladies. She is a blessing to the royal court! We... should follow the Princess Yuan as an example, devote ourselves to the royal affairs, and stabilize the rear!" He spoke high-sounding words, but his eyes couldn't help but glance in the direction where Lin Jiaojiao left, and his old face flushed slightly.
[External Individual (Minister A) Emotions: Shock → Amazement → Awe (Peak). External Individual (Minister B) Emotions: Shock → Amazement → Shame (Fear). External Individual (Minister C) Emotions: Shock → Amazement → Desire to Protect (Increasing). Threat Level: Extremely Low (Collective Submission).] The system accurately marked this.
Lin Jiaojiao strolled through the small garden. Several old plum trees, twisted and tangled, had indeed opened a few scattered pink and white buds, trembling in the cold wind and exuding a delicate fragrance. She paused to admire them, her expression serene. Chun chirped beside her, remarking on the ministers' embarrassment, her face brimming with pride.
Just then, a deliberately light sound of footsteps was heard.
Lin Jiaojiao turned around and saw Beauty Wan and Beauty Yan coming together. They were obviously dressed up carefully, wearing bright brocade robes, with complicated buns and gold hairpins and jade ornaments. They also put powder and rouge on their faces, trying hard to show the charm of tribal beauties.
However, when they saw Lin Jiaojiao standing under the plum tree, wearing plain clothes and black hair, without any makeup but as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, the luster on their faces instantly dimmed. That carefully crafted beauty seemed so deliberate and... vulgar in front of Lin Jiaojiao's natural and pure beauty.
A hint of unwillingness flashed across Lady Wan's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by more complex emotions. Lady Yan was simply stunned, her mouth slightly open, her eyes fixed, with undisguised amazement and... obsession?
"Sister Yuanfei!" Concubine Yan was the first to react. Her voice was sweet and intimate, which she herself did not realize. She trotted forward like a happy little bird, "Sister, are you here to appreciate the plum blossoms too? The flowers are so beautiful! But... they are still not as beautiful as you!" As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at Lin Jiaojiao with bright eyes, with the dependence and flattery of a little animal.
Lady Wan slowed down her pace and came over, trying to keep a calm expression on her face, but her eyes were involuntarily glued to Lin Jiaojiao. She felt a little uncomfortable looking at Lady Yan's "useless" appearance, but... when she got closer to Lin Jiaojiao and smelled the faint, clear and clean scent from her, like the first clear day after snow, the discomfort in her heart strangely dissipated, leaving only an impulse... to get closer?
"Sister Yuanfei." Lady Wan's voice softened a lot, with a hint of imperceptible closeness. "Sister, you are fine. It's windy outside, be careful not to catch a cold." As she spoke, she subconsciously took off the luxurious fox fur cloak on her body and wanted to put it on Lin Jiaojiao.
Lin Jiaojiao was slightly startled, then smiled. That smile was like ice and snow just beginning to melt, instantly dazzling Wanyan and the other two girls. "Thank you, Sister Wan, for your kindness. I'm not cold, you can put on some clothes." She pointed at the thin brocade on Miss Wan's body, "It's you who are wearing so little. Don't catch a cold."
Her tone was gentle, full of sisterly concern. Lady Wan's hand holding the cloak froze in mid-air. Looking at Lin Jiaojiao's gentle smile, her heart inexplicably warmed, and her cheeks also felt slightly hot. She withdrew her hand somewhat embarrassedly and replied softly, "Hmm..."
Lady Yan came right up to Lin Jiaojiao, like a clingy kitten, pointing at the plum blossoms on the branches and chattering away, but her eyes kept glancing involuntarily at Lin Jiaojiao's profile, with undisguised fondness and... attachment?
[External Individual (Yan Meiren) Intimacy: Significantly Increased (Physical Contact Tendency). External Individual (Wan Meiren) Intimacy: Increased (Caring Acceptance).] The system silently recorded.
Lin Jiaojiao looked at the two beauties around her who had transformed from "thorns" to "little fans". She felt a little funny and helpless. This face... was really a walking hormone absorber. She let the beautiful Yan hold her arm, listened to her chattering about interesting things in the Minshan tribe, and occasionally responded with a few words.
Although Miss Wan didn't talk much, she followed quietly beside them, her eyes always on Lin Jiaojiao. Her expression was complicated, with some residual envy, but more of a kind of peace after being comforted and...unconscious following.
The warm sunlight shines on the three of them, and the fragrance of plum blossoms is faint.
This picture of "sisterly love" became another proof of Concubine Yuan's "boundless charm" and "dominance of the harem" in the eyes of the palace people in the distance. Lin Jiaojiao, in this unexpected "group favorite" atmosphere, temporarily forgot the dark clouds on the front line and enjoyed this rare quiet time with a little refreshment.
Host Emotion: Calm → Pleasure (Slight). Environmental Atmosphere: Harmonious (Micro-group Pampering). Threat Level: Extremely Low. Emotion Simulation Unit: …receiving emotional fluctuations of "affection," "dependence," and "peace"…redundant data increasing…operating smoothly…] The system's voice carried a strange, almost satisfying sense of calm.
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