Chapter 8 Mingxiu's Concern
After Fu Mingyi left, Xiao Qing saw that the sun was shining brightly outside, so she moved a chair outside and placed it in a sunny spot. Then she sat there, clearing her mind and not moving at all.
He Xiu hesitated for a long time before finally walking over slowly and saying softly, "Your Majesty?"
Xiao Qing didn't turn around, but waved his hand at her and said, "I want to be alone for a while. If you have something to do, then do it. If you don't, then rest for a bit."
After saying this, Xiao Qing began to stare blankly.
For so long, she seemed to have no time or opportunity to sit quietly, look around, and think.
It was warm spring, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and the birds sang sweetly. Her gaze followed a kingfisher spreading its wings and soaring into the sky, and as she followed it, her thoughts drifted away.
The Nanding Palace, also known as the Nanhua Palace, covers an area of approximately four square kilometers and was built during the reign of the third emperor of the Great Xiao Dynasty. Although it cannot compare to the scale and grandeur of the Yongxiao Palace in Ping'an City, the northern capital, it was still a place that considerable effort was put into its construction at the time.
Later, during the Anping era, the fourth emperor of the Great Xiao Dynasty renovated the palace, and to cater to Emperor Anping's tastes, the style became extremely luxurious.
However, Emperor Tianhe later disliked this exquisite architecture that emphasized the Jiangnan style. Moreover, the country was plagued by internal and external troubles during the Tianhe era, and Emperor Tianhe had no interest in making a southern tour for leisure. As a result, the Nanhua Palace gradually fell into disrepair.
As a southern imperial palace, the Nanhua Palace was not laid out in a regular and symmetrical manner like the Yongxiao Palace. Instead, it was built with halls, pavilions, and towers in the style of a large garden within the palace. Its exquisite layout and elegant style made it arguably the best in the world in the Great Xiao Dynasty.
Nanhua Palace is roughly divided into four areas. Entering from the main gate of Nanhua Palace and passing through the long palace road, the first place you will arrive at is Taihua Palace, where the emperor discussed state affairs. It contains Qinzheng Hall, Baohua Hall, and other buildings.
Further on, the area is divided into east and west sections. Chengde Palace in the northeast was the emperor's resting and sleeping quarters, while Zixia Palace and Zhaixing Palace in the northwest were the residences of the empresses and concubines. Yunguang Lake separates the east and west sides, with a Feihong Bridge spanning the lake for convenient transportation.
Xiao Qing now lives in Chengde Palace.
Because of Xiao Qing, Fu Mingyi conducted a cleanup of Chengde Palace on the first day he entered the Nanhua Palace. He personally guarded outside Xiao Qing's bedroom and observed for another day before arranging the remaining thirty-odd people to stay on the perimeter, preventing them from easily approaching Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing looked into the distance. The palace gardens were beautiful, and the palace servants, in twos and threes, were doing their duties and not getting close.
If it weren't for the great misfortune she suffered before, and the huge accusation she's now being pinned on her head, this kind of life would truly be a peaceful and tranquil existence.
She couldn't help but sigh.
Tomorrow she'll be meeting with her ministers at the Hall of Diligent Governance, and they'll be discussing grand topics like changing the reign title and establishing new systems—things that sound incredibly sophisticated to her…
She needs to think carefully about how to behave.
He Xiu did not leave. She saw the emperor sitting there, his shoulders slumped, his eyes lifeless, clearly looking very troubled, and her initial resistance seemed to soften a little.
Xiao Qing herself didn't know that her current appearance actually had a great advantage.
Although she is ten years old this year, she is physically weak and malnourished since birth, so she is a head shorter than a normal ten-year-old child. Moreover, she has a small face and fair complexion, which makes her eyes look big, and they always seem to have a watery glint in them. When she occasionally shows a look of emotion, she is especially endearing.
Even Fu Mingyi, though he felt that this was not the countenance of an emperor, took extra care of him in his daily life despite his suspicions and wariness.
Fu Mingyi also found it strange: they clearly had the same appearance, so why couldn't he feel such pity for the real Xiao Qing?
If Fu Mingyi is like this, then He Xiu, who is only thirteen years old this year, would be even less likely to be truly heartless towards Xiao Qing.
She didn't understand the dark and sordid things between adults. She was just being held and cried by her grandfather for a long time, but then he sent her to the palace to serve the young emperor. This kind of thing was really not something to be happy about.
She put aside these chaotic thoughts and leaned closer to Xiao Qing, whispering, "Is Your Majesty worried about the matters at the Hall of Diligent Governance tomorrow?"
Xiao Qing looked at her in surprise, thinking to herself, "Isn't this child a wooden doll?"
So he nodded.
He Xiu bowed slightly, her voice even gentler. "Your Majesty need not worry, the Grand Tutor will not truly abandon us."
Xiao Qing raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
“I heard from my grandfather that the Grand Tutor is a very capable person. When the late emperor entrusted his son to the emperor, the first person he personally went to invite was the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor had no official position or post, but after the late emperor's death, he was able to support His Majesty in the court for two years... So he certainly won't abandon His Majesty at this time.”
Xiao Qing began to find He Xiu somewhat interesting.
"You've been to school?"
Seeing the young emperor speaking to her so kindly, He Xiu's heartbeat slowed, and her courage grew a little stronger.
She nodded. "I've read some. But lately I've been reading medical books. My grandfather wanted to retire and return to his hometown, so I thought I'd go with him to be a traveling doctor, or open a clinic."
Xiao Qing began to be more interested in He Xiu's affairs than in the affairs of the Diligent Governance Hall.
Do you know why the Grand Tutor sent you here?
He Xiu nodded again, "This was a decision made by the Grand Tutor and my grandfather together. My grandfather said that the Grand Tutor has also had a tough time."
"What's so difficult about it?"
He Xiu thought for a moment, seemingly unable to express himself, so he frowned in distress, and after thinking for a long time, he said, "I heard that since the Grand Tutor arrived in Nanding City, he has not slept in bed. When he is extremely tired, he just sits and takes a nap. If he had no difficulties, who would torture himself like this?"
Xiao Qing looked at her speechlessly, thinking that what she said was indeed true.
However, it must have been tough for her, as she had her head hanging by a thread almost every day!
Xiao Qing suddenly felt disheartened, so he turned his head away, not wanting to say anything more.
He Xiu knew the conversation was over. And the young emperor seemed even more upset…
She felt a little guilty. Had she failed to comfort him and instead made things worse?
She remembered something else.
"The Grand Tutor said that after He Xiu enters the palace, he cannot talk to others about his relationship with his grandfather, nor can he be called He Xiu anymore. Please, Your Majesty, bestow a name upon him."
Xiao Qing paused for a moment, then asked, "What name do you want to be called?"
He Xiu thought for a moment, then boldly asked, "Is Mingxiu okay?"
Xiao Qing nodded, "Then let's call it that." After thinking for a moment, she added, "There's a type of jade called Xiuyu. 'Mountains are made of Xiuyu,' how about using that name?"
He Xiu nodded and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing this name upon me. Mingxiu obeys your decree."
Looking at her obedient posture with her head bowed, Xiao Qing thought about what fate awaited this little girl they had sent to the palace should anything happen to him...
She turned her head, having made up her mind.
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