Chapter 40 Daji (VII) Offering a Daughter
The court officials' plan to find a beauty "comparable to Daji" did not go smoothly.
Su Daji's peerless beauty, like the bright moon in the sky, was no match for any ordinary woman. Just when everyone was at their wit's end, an unexpected opportunity arose.
Jiuhou, one of the Three Dukes, was a man of quick wit. Seeing that Emperor Xin was indulging in wine and women and obeying Su Daji's words, and hearing that someone in the court wanted to offer him favor, he became interested.
He had a daughter in his family named Kui Ji, who was only 28 years old. Her appearance was not as stunningly beautiful as Su Daji, but rather had a breathtaking wild beauty. Her skin was a healthy wheat color, her eyebrows were like swords, and her eyes were deep and bright, like an untamed wild horse, with an unruly light.
Her long, thick black hair curled like seaweed, her figure was upright and agile, full of vigorous vitality. Jiu Hou believed that such an exotic beauty might arouse the king's sense of novelty.
At a grand palace night banquet, Jiu Hou took the opportunity to act. He did not offer his daughter directly, but winked at Mei Bo, an inconspicuous courtier beside him, and nodded slightly.
Mei Bo received the message, his eyes shifting as he thought of a good way to phrase it. He stood up and toasted Emperor Xin, "Your Majesty! Today's grand banquet, with all the ministers gathered joyfully, is truly a blessing for the Shang Dynasty. I've heard that the Ninth Marquis has a daughter named Kui Ji, who has learned exotic songs and dances since childhood. Her appearance... is quite pleasing to the eye. I wonder if Your Majesty would be interested in summoning her to perform a dance to liven up the occasion?"
Emperor Xin was flirting with several of his concubines. Upon hearing this, he looked up, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "Oh? Exotic song and dance? The daughter of the Ninth Marquis? Great! Tell her!"
Soon, Kui Ji was led into the hall, and as soon as she appeared, she attracted everyone's attention.
She was wearing a colorful, sequined exotic dance dress, revealing her tight wheat-colored waist and slender arms. Her appearance was indeed very different from that of the women in the Central Plains. Her facial features were three-dimensional and deep, and her eyes were bright and bold, like a burning flame, with a primitive, unconcealed wild charm.
She did not lower her head like other dancers, but raised her head slightly, and her eyes swept over everyone in the hall, finally landing on Emperor Xin. There was a hint of scrutiny and... a subtle alienation in her eyes?
A strong interest instantly burst out in Emperor Xin's eyes. This wild and untamed beauty was completely different from the docile concubines in his harem. It was like a fresh breeze blowing into his senses that had been numbed by luxury.
"Good! It's really unique!" Emperor Xin applauded, "Dance! Let me see what you can do!"
Kui Ji didn't say much. As the drum beats sounded, she danced like a burning flame. Her dance was wild and unrestrained, full of power. Every turn and jump was filled with the rhythm of life, like a wild horse galloping freely on the grassland. Her eyes were bright and fiery, as if she was burning herself.
Emperor Xin was mesmerized by the performance, his eyes filled with a strong possessive desire. After the dance, he laughed and waved: "Good! Well done! Come here, come to me!"
Kui Ji stopped dancing, breathing slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her wheat-colored skin, adding a bit of wild temptation.
She walked to the front of Emperor Xin's throne and did not kneel shyly like other women. She just bowed slightly and said in a clear voice with a hint of foreign accent: "Kuiji greets the king."
Emperor Xin stretched out his hand, wanting to pull her into his arms, but Kui Ji subconsciously took a half step back, her body slightly tensed, and a hint of resistance flashed in her eyes. It's not that she didn't know the palace rules, but she was free and unrestrained by nature, and she instinctively felt repulsed by Emperor Xin's aggressive gaze and actions.
Emperor Xin was already unhappy, and seeing Si Yu's attitude made him even more annoyed. He patiently gave her wine and a banquet.
During the banquet, he spoke frivolously and behaved in a wild manner, trying to get close to her. However, Si Yu kept her head down and her body stiff. She reacted coldly to Emperor Xin's teasing and hints, and even showed a hint of disgust.
Sensing her disgust, the smile on Emperor Xin's face froze instantly, and a wave of offended anger instantly surged in his heart. He was the Son of Heaven, how could he have been rejected in public like this?!
"How dare you!" Emperor Xin slammed the table, causing wine to splash everywhere. His face was ashen, and his eyes burned with violent fire. "Bitch! I have bestowed upon you my favor, and you dare to be so ungrateful?! You despise me?!"
Kui Ji bit her lips stubbornly and remained silent. She just turned her head slightly to avoid Di Xin's gaze that seemed to want to devour her. Her rebellious look only added fuel to the fire!
"Good! Very good!" Emperor Xin laughed in anger, his voice as cold as ice. "Come here! Drag this ignorant slave away! Chop her off! Send her head back to Lord Jiu! Let him see what a good daughter he has raised!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Jiu Hou was so frightened that he fell to his knees and kowtowed repeatedly. "My daughter was ignorant! Wild and unruly, she offended Your Majesty and deserves death! But... I beg Your Majesty to spare her life for the sake of my loyalty!"
"Loyalty?!" Emperor Xin sneered. "You offer such a rebellious daughter, and you still dare to claim loyalty?! You are a poor parent, and you deserve death. Come! Capture Jiu Hou and execute him by mincing him into pieces!"
Mincing her into pieces?! The hall was instantly filled with deathly silence, and all the ministers were terrified. Marquis E could no longer contain himself, and abruptly stood up, his hair and beard standing on end. "Your Majesty! This cannot be done! Kuijing is young and ignorant, and while Marquis Jiu's offering of my daughter was inappropriate, it does not warrant death! Let alone being minced into pieces?! Such a cruel punishment would harm the harmony of heaven and lose the hearts of the people. Please revoke your order!"
"Marquis E! Are you planning a rebellion too?!" Emperor Xin was like a lit powder keg, his eyes red. "I have made up my mind! Anyone who dares to dissuade me will be punished with the same crime! Drag them all away! Drag them all away!"
The guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, and were about to drag away Kui Ji, Jiu Hou and E Hou.
Outside the palace, Xibo Chang witnessed this scene and was extremely anxious. He knew very well that Emperor Xin was tyrannical and there was no room for maneuver at this moment. In desperation, an idea flashed in his mind - Concubine Su, only she might be able to persuade the furious Emperor Xin.
Xibo Chang turned around without hesitation and ran towards the Zhaixing Pavilion.
In the Zhaixing Pavilion, Lin Jiaojiao was having her daily "information exchange" with Ling. She had never liked Emperor Xin's banquets, but fortunately Emperor Xin was very obedient to her and would not force her if she didn't like it. He was even a little afraid that someone would snoop on his treasures.
"Emergency: Unusual events at court: Emperor Xin is furious.
Targets: Jiuhou's daughter Kui Ji (resisting Emperor Xin), Jiuhou (jointly involved), Ehou (forced remonstration).
Threat Level: High (Execution).
Special event: Xibochang is rushing to Zhaixing Pavilion for help and is expected to arrive in two minutes.
Suggestion: accept the help and intervene." Zero's voice was filled with rare urgency.
[Jiu Hou? Kui Ji? E Hou?] Lin Jiaojiao was startled. Although she didn't know much about Emperor Xin's ministers, she knew their importance. Although she didn't like Jiu Hou's behavior of offering his daughter to flatter the emperor, she knew that Kui Ji was innocent and E Hou was a rare loyal minister. She immediately stood up and prepared.
Sure enough, less than two minutes later, a hurried report came from a female servant outside the hall: "Lady Su! Xibo Chang wishes to see you. It's extremely urgent!"
"Please come in!" Lin Jiaojiao said immediately.
Xibo Chang walked quickly into the hall, breathing heavily, his face solemn and anxious. "Concubine Su! Excuse me for interrupting. This is an urgent matter. The King is furious at the resistance of Jiuhou's daughter, Kuiji. He wants to kill Kuiji and Jiuhou, and even implicate Ehou, who strongly advised against it. If these three are killed, the court will be shaken and chaos may ensue. Although I despise Jiuhou's actions, Kuiji is innocent and Ehou is loyal! I implore you, please consider the innocent lives involved and lend a hand to persuade the King to remonstrate!"
Xibo Chang's words were clear and sincere, pointing out the pros and cons without any empty words. The look he gave Lin Jiaojiao was filled with a hint of scrutiny and... an imperceptible expectation.
Lin Jiaojiao took a deep breath and nodded. "Please stand up, Lord Xibo. I'm aware of this matter... Please wait a moment, Lord. I'll be there right away!"
After tidying up her messy hair in the mirror, she no longer hesitated and, under Zero's "real-time navigation", hurried towards the banquet hall with her slave girl, followed closely by Xibo Chang.
In the banquet hall, the atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified lead. The guards had already pinned the ashen-faced Jiu Hou, the stubborn Kui Ji, and the grief-stricken E Hou to the ground. Emperor Xin's face was ashen, and his chest was heaving violently, and it was obvious that he was still furious.
“Your Majesty—!”
A clear and anxious female voice sounded, like jade beads falling on a plate, instantly breaking the silence.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lin Jiaojiao, the beautiful lady from Zhaixing Pavilion, walking quickly into the hall, surrounded by female slaves. She was dressed in a simple and elegant moon-white gown. Amid the luxurious and noisy atmosphere of the hall, she was as cool and bright as the moonlight, and as pure and flawless as the first snow. Her appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention.
Stunning!
This was the only thought in the minds of all those who saw Su Daji's true appearance for the first time.
Even the unruly and wild Kui Ji had a flash of disbelief and shock in her eyes the moment she saw Lin Jiaojiao. She was proud of her beauty and wildness, but in front of the woman in front of her, she was like a firefly under the scorching sun.
That beauty, which was extremely pure, extremely fragile, and yet carried a sense of sacredness that could not be desecrated, instantly dimmed the wild pride in her heart. She even forgot her fear and just stared blankly.
Marquis Jiu, Marquis E, and even all the court officials in the hall were stunned by this sudden beauty and forgot to breathe for a moment. When Emperor Xin saw Lin Jiaojiao, the brutality in his eyes was instantly replaced by astonishment and a hint of obsession, and his anger unconsciously dissipated a little.
"My beloved? Why are you here?" Emperor Xin's voice softened unconsciously.
"I heard that the king was furious, and I'm worried, so I came to visit him." Lin Jiaojiao walked to Emperor Xin's side, her eyes sweeping over the three people on the ground. She paused for a moment on Kui Ji's unruly yet shocking face, a hint of "reluctance" and "regret" flickering in her eyes. "Your Majesty...what is this...?"
"Hmph!" Emperor Xin pointed at Kui Ji angrily. "This lowly slave! I granted her my favor, yet she dared to look down on me. Lord Jiu is a poor parent! Lord E still dares to make excuses! They all deserve death!"
Lin Jiaojiao quickly calculated in her mind and looked at Kui Ji. Although the woman was frightened, there was still a hint of stubbornness and indomitable spirit in her eyes. She felt a little moved.
"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Lin Jiaojiao gently pulled Di Xin's arm, her voice filled with soothing magic. "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, majestic and imposing. Why bother getting angry with an ignorant little woman? If you get sick from anger, I... I'll be heartbroken..."
Her words were filled with complete dependence and concern, which calmed Emperor Xin's anger a little.
Lin Jiaojiao continued, her voice gentle but guiding, "I think this Miss Kuiji has a rather stubborn temper and doesn't understand your Majesty's good intentions, but... Your Majesty, think about it. She's a girl who's been secluded in the inner chambers, suddenly confronted with your majesty, so it's understandable that she's terrified and uneasy, and her behavior is out of control. This just goes to show how awe-inspiring your majesty is!"
She cleverly interpreted Kui Ji's resistance as "inappropriate behavior" out of "reverence for the majesty of heaven", which not only saved Emperor Xin's face but also exonerated Kui Ji.
Emperor Xin frowned slightly, as if he felt there was some truth in it.
Lin Jiaojiao changed the subject, her voice tinged with a hint of rebuke, but her gaze turned towards Lord Jiu. "But... Lord Jiu, you are too careless! How noble is the king? You offer this... wild and unruly beauty without properly training her beforehand? Aren't you deliberately trying to cause trouble for the king? The king's divine power is as great as a prison, how could he tolerate such an offense? What if... what if the king is injured, what will happen then?"
"However... although I don't understand state affairs, I do know that Lord Jiu Hou offered his daughter out of loyalty, hoping to please the king. Lord E Hou's outspokenness and courage in making a remonstration are even more of a loyal act.
Your Majesty has always been clear about rewards and punishments, and magnanimous. If you do this because of this incident... wouldn't that make the people of the world think that you are... too harsh? What if... what if you scare the other princes and they no longer dare to offer you good things in the future? I... I still want to see more new and interesting things..."
Jiu Hou was so frightened that his face turned pale. He kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I deserve to die. I was not thoughtful enough. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me! I beg Lady Su to forgive me!"
Emperor Xin listened to Lin Jiaojiao's words and felt that everything made sense. Her words once again hit Emperor Xin's soft spot.
The anger on Emperor Xin's face gradually dissipated, replaced by a kind of hesitation and...satisfaction of being pleased. He looked at Lin Jiaojiao's dependent eyes, listened to her soft words, and the violence in his heart receded like a tide.
"My beloved..." Emperor Xin pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, "Forget it! For my beloved, I will spare their lives today!"
Seeing that Emperor Xin's expression had eased slightly, Lin Jiaojiao continued, her voice tinged with cunning and coquettishness, "Your Majesty... Look, this beauty is so wild, it would be a shame to kill her. Why not... hand her over to me?"
"Leave it to you?" Emperor Xin was stunned.
"Yes!" Lin Jiaojiao's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I've never met such an interesting person. I'll take her over and give her a good 'training'. Let her know her place and understand the consequences of offending the king. Then... when she's completely obedient, I'll let her apologize to the king. Wouldn't that be even better? It would also show that you, the king, are... magnanimous and use both kindness and power!"
Her words not only satisfied Emperor Xin's vanity, but also gave him a way out and satisfied his sense of novelty. More importantly, she took the initiative to ask for people, making Emperor Xin feel that she was "venting his anger" and "sharing his worries."
Emperor Xin looked into Lin Jiaojiao's clear eyes, filled with anticipation and cunning, and the anger in his heart completely dissipated, replaced by a sense of satisfaction at being pleased. He laughed heartily, "Okay! Okay! As you say, my beloved, I'll leave this wild girl in your care. Take good care of her for me."
He then looked at Jiu Hou, his face darkening. "Jiu Hou! Your offering of beauty was inappropriate and nearly caused a disaster! I appreciate your years of hard work and will spare your death penalty! But you are no longer worthy of the position of the Three Dukes! Effective immediately, you are dismissed from your position as the Three Dukes, and you must reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. Get out!"
Jiu Hou was as if he had been pardoned. Although he lost his high position, he saved his life. He kowtowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing me! Thank you, Lady Su!"
Emperor Xin looked at Marquis E again and snorted coldly, "Marquis E! You are making unreasonable arguments and offending me, but considering you are still loyal, I will deduct one year's salary! Withdraw!"
Marquis E looked at Lin Jiaojiao deeply, his eyes complicated, and finally bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Your Majesty! I...will take my leave!"
The guard let go of Kui Ji. Kui Ji stood there, her body trembling slightly. She looked at Lin Jiaojiao with complicated eyes, which showed relief for surviving the disaster, but also confusion.
The guards took the three away. Emperor Xin looked at Lin Jiaojiao, his eyes filled with pride and doting: "My beloved concubine really has won my heart. With just a few words, she has relieved my worries!"
Lin Jiaojiao snuggled up to him, revealing a dependent smile. "I just don't want Your Majesty to get angry over trivial matters and get hurt. Your Majesty has a broad mind and is magnanimous. That's what I admire most!"
Emperor Xin laughed heartily and was in a good mood.
Outside the hall, Xibo Chang looked at the three people who were brought out, and then looked at Lin Jiaojiao who was snuggling beside Emperor Xin in the hall. His eyes were deep and complicated. This beautiful lady Su... was more... complicated than he had imagined. He bowed from a distance in the direction of Lin Jiaojiao, then turned and left.
Lin Jiaojiao comforted Di Xin and drank a few more cups with him. After talking for a while, she finally had the chance to leave. Kui Ji was pressed against the door and waited. Looking at her unruly eyes, Lin Jiaojiao smiled slightly, her voice gentle but with unquestionable strength: "Come with me."
Kui Ji bit her lip, finally lowered her head, and silently followed Lin Jiaojiao out of the noisy banquet hall.
As soon as Lin Jiaojiao left, everyone who had been paying attention to her couldn't help but get distracted. Many people even muttered, "Oh my God, this beautiful lady Su is truly as beautiful as a goddess. I don't know when I'll have the chance to see her again."
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