Chapter 19: Canonization "People live in this world, like dust blown by the wind." ...
By the time Qingzan reacted, she had already been pressed onto the couch, her pink dress had been slightly opened, and the knot of the tie around her neck had been loosened, leaving it hanging like a decoration on the couch, providing no protection at all.
The emperor's hand, which was in charge of killing, today only pursued the round and fragrant hill of the human world, lingering, kneading, and showing the utmost tenderness.
Qingzan had just trembled and turned her head away when the emperor used his palm to press the tip of her chin back. Her rosy face, now a little more lively than in recent days, was now filled with shame and anger.
Xiao Fang chuckled hoarsely and asked her, "Am I really that unsightly?"
"No..." Qingzan opened her mouth and realized that her voice was trembling.
Xiao Fang seemed to have noticed it, and insisted that she speak: "Don't you want to go to the Qianqiu Banquet? Or do you not want to be canonized?"
He didn't allow her to remain silent and took away the curled fingers she was trying to bite.
"Um?"
Qing Zan suppressed her trembling and said, "Your Majesty, don't you know... that this servant is very anxious, anxious to stand by your Majesty openly and honestly... How could you not miss it?"
Xiao Fang nudged her nose as if rewarding her: "That's quite nice."
Then he put his forehead against hers and asked, "So you don't want to go to the banquet?"
"The Empress Dowager's Thousandth Birthday is a feast rarely seen. I... naturally want to attend."
However, no matter how hard she tried to hold it back, a long and lingering "hmm" sound still escaped from her.
Xiao Fang was just about to find someone's hand and gently hold it when Xu Delu's voice rang out from outside the door at an inopportune moment: "Your Majesty, the time is almost up—"
Xu Delu also knew that speaking out at this time would spoil the mood, but if he did not remind him and delayed His Majesty's banquet, it would be his dereliction of duty later.
Xiao Fang paused after being disturbed by the noise, but he didn't answer the person outside. He simply said to Qing Zan, "Starting tomorrow, I will fast for three days to prepare for the summer solstice sacrifice."
Before the sacrifice, everyone from the emperor who presided over the sacrifice to the royal family members, ladies of honor, and civil and military officials led by the emperor had to rest and fast.
Qing Zan understood what was meant, bit her lip and asked hesitantly: "But if I'm late later..."
Xiao Fang said calmly, "Then I'll have to trouble you to hurry up."
How fast can she be?
Before Qingzan could think about it carefully, he suddenly took her hand and guided her all the way there.
So hot.
Of course Xu Delu didn't have the courage to push the door open. He was so anxious that he had walked back and forth along the side hall countless times.
Qingzan also estimated that the time for the banquet was approaching, and she still had to get dressed and put on makeup, but the man showed no sign of finishing.
She could only look up, shyly showing her charming eyebrows and eyes, and touch the person's lips without hesitation to help.
The emperor accepted it with a smile, and then returned the gift to others, which lasted longer and was more profound.
*
According to the rules, only those above the main seat could ride in the sedan chair, but Xiao Fang was not so rude as to delay the other person's journey and then ignore him. So Qing Zan hid in the emperor's carriage and attended the banquet together.
When she was about to reach the Linde Palace, she suddenly stopped the carriage, lifted the side curtain and looked carefully. Seeing that there were not many pedestrians nearby, she was about to get off.
Xiao Fang knew what she was up to, and deliberately waited until she had gotten most of her body out before grabbing her wrist, preventing her from getting out easily. "So, why didn't you want to attend the banquet just now?"
Qingzan's hands were still sore and weak, and she had no strength to resist. She could only say, "I'm afraid of a conflict with the Queen."
"I'm afraid of being bullied by her, and I'm also afraid that others will talk about me and bring shame to Your Majesty."
Xiao Fang looked at her, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment, he let go of her hand and smiled faintly: "I understand."
The Linde Hall has three halls: front, middle and back. Ministers would feast and present gifts in the front hall, with the emperor in charge. The ladies of the court would drink and have fun in the back hall, enjoying songs and dances with the empress dowager, and feast and have fun together.
Only the women of the highest nobility could attend the banquet. If they were not first-rank imperial consorts, they were the wives and daughters of princes and earls. The Empress and Consort Hui sat down on the left and right of the Empress Dowager. The Empress then realized that her mother, the wife of the Marquis of Yongning, had not come.
In the past two years, the Yongning Marquis' Mansion received invitations during the palace's New Year holidays. When my mother came to the palace before, she also said that she had already prepared a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, but why was she not invited today?
The Queen immediately looked at Concubine Hui on the opposite side with anger.
Concubine Hui had been extremely courteous and cautious in her words and actions today, not wanting to anger the Empress. Having assumed her new position, she had to be careful and attentive, not allowing herself to be caught in the slightest detail.
But at this moment, the Queen's gaze made it difficult for her to ignore it.
Concubine Hui easily thought of the name of the wife of Marquis Yongning that had been crossed out by the emperor.
It was never her alone who could decide who should attend the banquet.
But the queen will definitely not bear a grudge against the emperor, she will only put the blame on herself.
Perhaps it was because no woman in the harem could settle accounts with the emperor openly. If they hated the emperor, there would never be any results and they would only bring suffering upon themselves.
It turns out that as soon as people enter the palace, the fighting begins, regardless of whether they fight or not.
Concubine Hui raised her hand and called over the maid, asking her to share a bowl of the lychee meat in front of her with Concubine Zhao: "Lychees are rare, she doesn't have any."
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's send a bowl over to Consort Yuan as well."
Xiang Su was fine when she shared the first bowl, but now she was anxious, "Your Majesty, you've lost everything! Concubine Yuan is fine, but the talented lady has tasted all kinds of good things outside the palace. Even if you are devoted to her, why do you have to put yourself in a difficult position?"
Concubine Hui smiled helplessly: "Stop talking too much, go quickly."
Qingzan, who had to wait for the imperial decree to be issued before she could become a true imperial lady, could not officially take her seat yet and could only stay in the side room next to the palace. However, there were fruits and snacks prepared for her, so the time did not seem too long and boring.
Dong'er sat with her, picking out some delicious cakes and fruits and giving them to her from time to time.
Dong'er remembered something and asked, "Miss, do you know which palace His Majesty is going to assign you to? Are you going to leave after you are canonized? Why doesn't His Majesty keep you for a few more days?"
Qingzan nodded: "It's not appropriate for Suoying to move yet. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to look after her for a few days. Once everything is settled, I'll take her away."
At first, she also thought that the emperor would let her stay for a few more days, and then move to the palace when she returned from Hanliang Palace. It would be easier and less troublesome.
But the emperor told her that although it would not make much sense to keep one more person in the Taiji Palace, she must have her own place so that she could act like a master.
Later, Qingzan remembered that since she entered the Marquis' Mansion, she no longer had a "place of her own".
But even if she had a place to live and a palace, she was still nothing more than a rootless algae floating on the water. No part of the imperial city would ever truly belong to her.
The repertoire outside has changed several times, from konghou to guqin.
Dong'er tilted her head and listened for a while: "What kind of song is this? It's really nice."
Qingzan didn't know either, and just looked at each other in confusion.
Unexpectedly, a female voice sounded behind him, generously teaching: "This is 'Xie Lu Xing'. Scales and shells revere the dragon, beasts revere the unicorn, I gallop along my path, flowing algae shed their fragrance."
When he turned around, he saw a charming and elegant woman walking in from the side door that was not connected to the main hall.
She added, "Originally, this poem was written by Cao Zhi, and people have now set it to music. It encourages people to achieve great things and cherish the passing years. It's normal that you haven't heard it."
Dong'er recognized the person and stood up quickly: "Xun——"
Xun Huan tapped his lips with his finger: "Shh."
Xun Huan looked at Qingzan.
Dong'er then turned to introduce the others, "This is your Majesty's Concubine Ying."
Xun Huan chuckled, "When did the Emperor have Concubine Ying in his palace? You're kidding me, Dong'er."
She sat down opposite Qingzan and took a look at her attire. She saw that she did look like a concubine. She couldn't help but ask, "Are you really Lady Ying?"
The melody happened to loop back from its high pitch to a sparse, clear and sad part. Qing Zan chuckled and wondered, "People living in this world are like dust blown by the wind?"
Xun Huan was quite surprised: "Even now that we've come this far, you actually know something."
"My name is Xun Huan. What's your name?"
There was a pause. Finally, Qingzan slowly shook her head and said, "Just treat me as Lady Ying."
Xun Huan was unhappy: "Don't you have a name? Today Ying Meiren is you, tomorrow Ying Meiren can be someone else."
Qing Zan then used the other person's words to block him out: "Then at least, isn't Lady Ying someone else right now?"
Xun Huan leaned closer to look at her, his eyes half tilted, his face full of charm: "You are quite interesting."
After Xie Lu Qu, the sound of the pipa began to play outside. Xun Huan recognized the sound and stood up immediately: "This is a good song, very suitable."
She walked to the door near the main hall and gestured to the palace servants waiting at the door.
Soon, the palace servants dimmed several of the candles on the four walls of the rear hall of Linde Hall. Then, in the center of the hall, palace servants filed in, carrying new lanterns. Amidst the vibrant lights, a woman danced gracefully and twirled around.
It was Xun Huan.
The one playing the pipa beside her was Ying Cairen, one of the new concubines. She had finally waited for her turn to perform, but suddenly this happened, and Ying Cairen was scared.
But she soon discovered that the woman who was dancing around her and humming a tune was actually following the rhythm she played. She regained some of her composure and devoted herself again to the pipa music she had prepared for more than a month.
When the song ended, Xun Huan held a dazzling and elegant peony lantern to the side of her face, struck a beautiful pose, and offered a blessing: "May the Empress Dowager live a thousand years of eternal youth and live forever like pine and crane. Huan'er is inspired to perform today. Please don't despise me, Empress Dowager."
The Queen Mother smiled delightedly, "Your dance is a delight for both a beautiful woman and a charming lady. How could I possibly dislike it? But as for the talented lady beside you, have you ever asked her opinion before you dared to dance with her?"
Ying Cairen, hearing the Empress Dowager suddenly call upon her, stepped out of the dark corner, hidden from the candlelight. "My talent is limited, and I was just nervous. Without this dance, my song would have been dull and inadequate to express my humble congratulations on the Empress Dowager's birthday. Now that I have this... young lady's kindness and help, I am filled with gratitude and joy."
The Queen Mother praised: "Good, she is a smart one."
Then he said to Xun Huan affectionately, "Come sit here with me. I was not expecting you at the banquet today, and I was ready to blame your aunt afterward. I never thought you had a surprise for me. You are truly the most clever one."
Anyone could see that the Queen Mother loved her very much.
During the banquet, Consort Yuan calmly glanced from the Xun family daughter at the top seat to Consort Yang, who sat relatively close to her, then glanced at Consort Hui and Consort Zhao. Suddenly, she asked the maid, "Do you think that when people get along with each other, are those who rely on nepotism easier to get close to each other, or do those who come later, if they are capable, get the upper hand?"
The maid vaguely understood what she was implying, but dared not answer. She only said, "How could this be understood by this servant?"
After an unknown amount of time, the dishes had finished, the wine and soup were half cold, and the singing and dancing had faded, a eunuch came into the side room of the palace and informed Qingzan that she could prepare to go out to receive the order.
Qingzan stood up and stood behind the door, waiting to go out only when the imperial decree was announced.
Without expecting it and without realizing it, my waist was once again embraced by a pair of warm and strong arms.
The emperor's breath, as cold as frosted pine and green bamboo, and the warmth that seemed to penetrate into her skin, enveloped her together.
Qingzan didn't even need to look back.
It's clear that we haven't been separated for long.
What's more, the burning feeling of being held by him in the past few days has become too familiar.
Xiao Fang rested his chin on her shoulder and chuckled, "I just ran into Xun Huan outside, and she told me that my Concubine Ying is quite stingy."
Qing Zan barely managed to stand steady in his arms, and immediately understood what was going on. He said she was being stingy by not wanting to reveal her name.
She didn't refute: "Well... why is Your Majesty here?"
Xiao Fang answered her first: "I drank too much, so I came out to sober up. I thought of you, so I came here."
Then he said without a beginning or an end: "I told her."
Qingzan briefly pondered the matter, realizing that the emperor had probably told Xun Huan her name. This wasn't a big deal, except that she hadn't always known if her mother had given her the name, or if it was simply a name bestowed upon her by the Duan family as a servant. That was why she hadn't spoken directly to anyone.
He left home and lost his mother at the age of three. He was so young that he didn't even know his last name, his first name, or where he came from. He couldn't even respond politely when others introduced themselves.
There is no way to be stingy.
Outside, the Queen Mother could be heard telling the concubines that she had an order to be announced. Xiao Fang's hand gently patted the woman's waist. "Go, I'll watch over you."
But just as Qingzan was about to leave, he suddenly pulled her into his arms, letting her fall back into his embrace and holding her tightly.
He whispered in her ear and was intimate and passionate.
"Your Majesty?" Qing Zan felt both numb and itchy, and it was impossible to hide.
Finally, Xiao Fang seemed to be drunk, but certainly a little tipsy. He breathed softly into the man's ear and said in a deep voice, "You owe me even more. You are burdened by the debt, my dear."
Only then did he finally let go.
Qingzan didn't understand what he said.
Until the young eunuch in the palace said in his distinctive high-pitched voice: "There is a daughter of the Cheng family, of outstanding virtue, gentle and prudent, and well-mannered... It is a great honor for the palace of Maoyan to have her canonized as a sixth-rank beauty, given the name 'Ying', and granted residence in the Baoyuyou Pavilion of Chengluan Palace."
Cheng's daughter...?!
Why is she a daughter of the Cheng family?
Qingzan felt as if she had heard it somewhere before, yet it was strange and unfamiliar. She was so stunned that she forgot to accept the order.
If she had not heard that the title was indeed Ying Meiren, she would not even be sure that this decree was for her.
She was stunned for an unknown amount of time before she suddenly realized that the decree mentioned the name of Cheng's daughter, not the name "Qingzan", and what it meant.
She was skeptical, surprised, then excited and passionate.
My heart almost jumped out.
Cheng...is that her mother's surname?
At this moment, all the concubines in the room were looking at him, many of them seemed to be in disbelief.
Naturally, they also thought that this was the palace maid that His Majesty had taken away from Fengzao Palace that day. After all, this matter was now widely spread and one of the main topics of conversation in the palace. But they never imagined that she would be given the title of Beauty.
Hasn’t it always been the case that palace maids have to start as imperial concubines when they are canonized?
Amidst the chaotic and surprised discussions, the eunuchs urged him again and again, and Qingzan finally came to his senses. He bowed down and kowtowed, suppressing his throbbing heart as he respectfully accepted the imperial edict.
When he stood up, he couldn't help but look back at the side door hidden on the side of the hall.
No one was seen.
Before tonight, she never dared to imagine or hope that she could find herself before losing herself in the fighting in the deep palace.
After the emperor finished his business, he left and returned to the front hall.
In the palace, most of the nobles and dukes had already gone home with their crowns tilted, after a hearty banquet, making the majestic palace seem a little deserted.
In just these two days, the truth that had been buried deep in the mud for more than a decade for the Duan family was dug out piece by piece by the emperor's secret guards after spending several decades.
However, the complexity of the root system beneath the soil is far more than just concealing the origin of a concubine's daughter.
I’m afraid there’s more to check.
When the emperor thought of the secrets of the Duan family presented by the secret guards, his eyes, reflected in the ripples of a bottle of residual wine, suddenly became deeper and more cruel.
He originally thought that since the Duan family had planned to send her into the palace, the Queen would not really kill her. She had someone to rely on, so she dared to sacrifice herself.
So later he calmly asked someone what she would do if he had not gone to Fengzao Palace that day.
She didn't answer at that time, but Xiao Fang knew now.
She will die.
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