Chapter 57 The Pavilion Lost in Mist, the Moon Lost in the River (Part 1) "Your Majesty is so beautiful..."
As late spring draws to a close, the chill of summer has quietly arrived. On the old locust tree outside the walls of Qiwu Palace Garden, the cicadas begin their first song.
Nearly a month has passed since the new emperor ascended the throne, but the situation in the court and among the people is far from calm. Although the fighting in the north has temporarily ceased, undercurrents are surging; and the south is experiencing continuous rain, the worst in decades, with several rivers reaching critical water levels.
Chu Huaili was like a taut bowstring, spending his days and nights between the Xuanzheng Hall and the Privy Council. Since the day she was sent to Qiwu Palace, she had never seen his face again.
The warm pavilion became an exquisite isolated island.
The initially strict guards were gradually withdrawn, leaving only a few trusted guards arranged by Pei Hong to stand guard at a distance.
Ye Yixiang's daily life consisted of doing needlework and chatting with Wuluozhu and Chuntan in the warm pavilion, and occasionally taking a walk in the small garden attached to Qiwu Palace.
Although the garden was beautiful, every plant and tree exuded a meticulous, craftsman-like quality, and after a while, it became rather dull.
That morning, the sky was clear and blue, and sunlight streamed warmly through the gauze curtains, bathing the floor in its glow. After breakfast, the feeling of being imprisoned and suffocated grew stronger. Gazing at the dancing spots of light outside the window, Ye Yixiang suddenly had an idea.
"Chuntan, come with me for a walk along Qujiang Pool."
Chun Tan hesitated for a moment: "Miss, the sun outside is getting increasingly strong, and His Majesty has given instructions..."
"His Majesty only said not to leave the palace, not to confine me to the gardens. Qujiang Pool is within the palace grounds, so it's fine." Ye Yixiang's tone was calm, yet carried an unyielding resolve. She needed to breathe, even if it was just to see the wider expanse of water.
Chun Tan finally agreed and carefully prepared a sun hat and a round fan for her.
Qujiang Pool is located in the southeast corner of the palace gardens. It is formed by drawing fresh water, with a wide expanse of water and weeping willows and camphor trees planted along its banks. It is a rare secluded spot in the palace. Because it is not an official imperial garden, there are few palace staff on weekdays, making it even more tranquil.
The pond water was crystal clear, and groups of koi carp could be seen swaying their tails leisurely. In several sunny shallow bays, round lotus leaves, like emerald plates, had already floated on the surface of the water, dotted with pink and white flower buds.
Ye Yixiang strolled slowly along the water's edge, the light veil of her hat fluttering gently in the breeze, filtering out some of the sunlight.
Just as I was beginning to relax, a strange rustling sound, mixed with short, suppressed breaths, drifted intermittently from the depths of the rugged rockery and its crevices ahead. The sound, mingled with the clear murmur of the nearby flowing water, still penetrated my ears clearly and distinctly.
Ye Yixiang suddenly stopped walking and frowned.
Deep within the shadows of the artificial rockery, several wisteria vines clinging to the wall sway gently without wind, their delicate tips trembling and shaking off a few specks of afternoon dust.
Immediately afterward, a low male voice, with a distinctly foreign accent, rang out indistinctly. The words were fragmented by the actions, yet the undisguised intimacy in the voice could still be caught, like a shadow quietly creeping across the smooth stone surface: "Your Majesty is so beautiful... Is she really not a fox demon in disguise?"
Ye Yixiang abruptly stopped, and the color drained from her face beneath the veil.
That voice... it's Geshulin!
A short, startled gasp escaped her throat despite her best efforts to suppress it, like a frightened sparrow uttering half a sound only to be abruptly blocked by something, as if her lips and teeth were entangled, or as if she were struggling and giving in.
Immediately following was the rustling sound of clothing rubbing against the rough stone wall repeatedly, rapid and chaotic, occasionally interspersed with one or two extremely faint, crisp "ding" sounds of pearls and jade striking hard objects, which rang out sporadically and were quickly drowned out.
“...Khan…” A woman’s voice rang out, weak and faint, as if imbued with some indescribable soreness. The last syllable trembled involuntarily, drifting like a wisp of smoke in the wind. “You are really…too…” The rest of the words were muffled, turning into a broken breath, like a plea for mercy, yet also like an invitation.
A light chuckle, tinged with satisfaction and control, followed: "Your Majesty... didn't say that just now..." His words trailed off, "Your Majesty said... there's a 'good place' here..."
"This place...is extremely secluded..." The woman's words were fragmented, barely managing to form a few phrases, "In the afternoon...nobody's around..."
Beside the artificial hill, a pond of water lilies was in full bloom. The originally calm and still water surface, for some reason, began to ripple in circles, which grew larger and larger, disturbing the reflections of clouds and sky in it.
Several lotus leaves near the artificial hill trembled gently without any wind, and water droplets rolled off their edges and splashed into the pond.
"Be careful...be careful..." The woman's voice suddenly rose for a moment, filled with genuine panic, but was then forcibly suppressed, turning into a gasp of pain, "...clothes...I'm afraid..."
"What are you afraid of... tear it up... I'll give you something even better..."
Ye Yixiang stood frozen in place, her fingertips icy cold, a chill running from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.
Having just ascended to the throne, Geshu Lin did not first resolve the internal troubles of the Northern Barbarians, but instead engaged in this despicable act by the Qujiang Pool within the palace!
"Your Majesty!" Chun Tan also heard the unbearable sounds and instantly understood what had happened. Her face paled with fright, and she hurriedly stepped forward, supporting Ye Yixiang's trembling arm. Her voice was extremely low and filled with panic, "We..."
Ye Yixiang suppressed her horror and nausea, made a quick decision, and whispered, "That way, quickly!"
She was referring to another path that branched off into the dense forest by the water, a path that seemed to be rarely used.
The two, master and servant, practically ran as they hastily turned onto the path. The fallen leaves were slippery underfoot, and their skirts were constantly caught on the sprawling branches. Neither of them cared about fixing themselves; they only wanted to get away from that suffocating place of trouble as quickly as possible.
The path twists and turns, leading deeper and deeper into the lake, eventually reaching a wooden platform that extends into the bay. At the end of the platform is an exquisite pavilion half-suspended over the water, with the words "Zhaoshui Pavilion" inscribed on its plaque.
The pavilion is surrounded by water on three sides, with only the side where they came connected by a short corridor. At this moment, several layers of plain white gauze curtains are hanging around the pavilion to block the scorching sun and mosquitoes from the west. They are being blown by the lake breeze, half-hidden and half-revealed.
This place was deep in the bay, exceptionally secluded, and quite a distance from the concave bank behind the reeds. The lewd sounds and whispers were no longer clearly audible. Ye Yixiang leaned against the pavilion pillar, slightly panting, still shaken.
Chun-Tan was also quite frightened and kept looking back to check the situation.
Just as the tension eased slightly, a crisp sound came from inside the Zhaoshui Pavilion: the bottom of a porcelain cup hitting the stone table.
Someone's there!
Ye Yixiang shuddered and instinctively tightened her grip on Chun Tan's hand. Could it be... another pair of illicit lovers?
Through the gauze curtain fluttering in the wind, one could see a simple wine pot and two white jade cups set on a stone table in the pavilion. A person, with their back to the entrance, leaned against the railing gazing at the pond, turned around upon hearing the sound.
Their eyes met, and both of them were taken aback.
"Miss Ye?"
The man was dressed in a moon-white silk robe with cloud patterns, and a blue silk sash around his waist. He had a handsome face and exquisite features; it was none other than Xiao Mo.
Perhaps slightly tipsy, his usually gentle and refined face was flushed with a faint blush, and his eyes were not as clear and restrained as usual, but rather held a hint of hazy surprise.
"It's you." Xiao Mo was clearly not expected to meet her here. He was stunned for a moment before standing up, cupping his hands in greeting. His voice was a few degrees lower and hoarse than usual due to the alcohol, "I have been impolite."
Ye Yixiang quickly concealed her surprise: "I didn't know Prime Minister Xiao was here. I was being presumptuous." She glanced quickly outside the pavilion; the pair of mandarin ducks seemed unaware of her. Relieved, she prepared to take her leave, "I've disturbed Prime Minister Xiao's enjoyment, I'll take my leave now..."
"Wait a moment." Xiao Mo spoke up to stop her, his gaze falling on her cheeks, slightly flushed from her hurried pace, and the hint of panic that she couldn't completely hide in her clear eyes. "This place is secluded, why are you in such a hurry, Miss Ye?"
His tone was gentle, filled with natural concern, and he showed no blame or displeasure at her sudden appearance.
Ye Yixiang was momentarily speechless, unable to directly admit that she was trying to avoid the adulterous couple. She composed herself and found an excuse: "I was just taking a stroll and found this pavilion quiet and secluded, intending to rest here, but I didn't expect Prime Minister Xiao to be here."
Xiao Mo nodded slightly, not delving into the matter, and gestured to the side: "In that case, if you don't mind, please come inside and sit for a while. It's by the water here, so it's quite cool." He paused, then sighed self-deprecatingly, "I was feeling down today and wanted to have a few drinks alone before taking a boat trip on the lake, but unfortunately, my small boat has been delayed, so I'm sorry to have troubled you."
His tone was calm, but Ye Yixiang keenly caught the loneliness hidden beneath his gentle demeanor. Was it the heavy pressure of court affairs, the thorny floods in Jiangnan, or the hidden worries of unrest on the border? Or... some other private concerns that were not to be shared with outsiders?
She couldn't help but recall the rumors circulating among the palace servants recently. It was said that the new emperor's ability to quickly stabilize the court was not only due to his own ruthless methods, but also inseparable from the strong support of several powerful families.
The Xiao family, represented by Minister Xiao Zhenfu, took a clear stance and exerted considerable effort. Xiao Mo, as the eldest son of the Xiao family, was already a standout among young talents. By chance, with his exceptional talent and clear mind, he was promoted to Prime Minister, breaking with convention.
This youngest prime minister in history possessed an elegant demeanor and composed bearing. Standing in the court, he was like a solitary pine tree, his every move exuding the refined elegance cultivated by a century-old family. Yet, when dealing with years of accumulated affairs, intricate web of interests, or sudden crises, he displayed a sharpness and decisiveness quite different from his outward appearance, displaying seasoned skill and leaving no room for error.
Such a person should be full of vigor and high spirits, so why is he facing the cold waters of Qujiang River alone, with a layer of melancholy between his brows that even the effects of wine cannot completely dispel?
"Prime Minister Xiao has worked hard for the country, so he must take care of his health." Ye Yixiang said politely, but did not move her feet, still maintaining the posture of leaving at any time. "I suppose Princess Zhaoning will arrive later, so I will not disturb her any longer."
Her mention of Zhao Ning was a reasonable assumption. Xiao Mo's words of protection and promise to Zhao Ning outside the meditation room that day were still ringing in her ears.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Xiao Mo simply looked at her quietly. His dark eyes, which always held a rational brilliance, appeared exceptionally deep now, thanks to the influence of alcohol, as if they could draw people in.
A breeze swept by, ruffling a few strands of hair on his forehead and carrying with it a faint scent of alcohol mixed with a clean, scholarly fragrance. It wasn't unpleasant; rather, it had a subtle, almost tangible, allure.
He suddenly took a small step forward, not too close, but enough for Ye Yixiang to clearly feel the oppressive weight of his height.
“If I were to say,” he began slowly, each word seemingly having been swirled and ground between his lips a thousand times before finally breaking free, “that I am not the princess here today?”
Ye Yixiang suddenly looked up, her gaze meeting his eyes once more, which were so dark they seemed to melt away into an unyielding darkness. Beneath that darkness lay a faint light, desperately suppressed yet burning with intensity.
"Prime Minister Xiao..." she heard her own voice was a little dry, "...are you a little drunk?"
Xiao Mo didn't answer immediately, but just stared at her silently. His gaze was so focused and heavy, as if it carried a tremendous force, making her almost want to escape from this suffocating little place.
In her panic, her gaze instinctively drifted downwards, trying to avoid his burning stare, but inadvertently fell on a pouch tied to his waist.
The purse is made of extremely precious sky-blue brocade with dark patterns. The edges are secured with delicate meander patterns by the same color silk thread. The embroidery is exquisite, but the edges are slightly worn and white, indicating that it is a beloved old item that has been worn for many years.
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