Chapter 44: Missing “If I can win without drawing the bow, then it doesn’t count…
After firing the arrow, the emperor still held his bow, his figure gathered together, maintaining this perfect balance. The autumn air that blanketed the mountains seemed to pass by, unable to shake the growing passion between the two.
It was not until the servant came over with the lacquer tray that the emperor put a rhinoceros horn ring on it onto Qingzan's finger and put the wrist guard on her.
These things seemed to be tailor-made for her, with every size being just right. It was obvious that they were not prepared on a whim.
Qingzan didn't ask any more questions, but just picked up another arrow and imitated the feeling of drawing the bow and arrow just now.
She was much stronger than an ordinary palace concubine. The pulling force required for this bow was beyond the reach of a small light bow, but Qingzan only had to struggle a little and still managed to pull the bow smoothly.
However, he did not shoot the arrow for a long time.
The emperor commented, "You hold back until the right moment arrives, but if you hold back for too long, you'll only end up wasting your own energy."
He came over again and corrected her posture, looking serious, but he was lingering on her and igniting her.
Qingzan couldn't even tell whether he did it intentionally or unintentionally.
Waiting for the gust of wind on the platform to pass, she stared at the target for so long that her eyes became a little dry. She casually asked, "Could this 'Qiu Shui' be the same as the Qiu Shui in the longing for autumn water?"
Unexpectedly, the emperor covered his mouth with his fists and actually laughed: "Hmm, it's just like the autumn water that looks through the clear autumn water."
The deliberately emphasized word "Ying" and the undisguised joking meaning in it made Qingzan's face flush and the strength in his hands completely disappeared.
After asking the emperor for advice on the key points, he just said that he wanted to practice on his own and asked the person to go aside.
"Your Majesty, if you're here, I'll get nervous and make mistakes."
The reason is quite good.
Xiao Fang deeply experienced what it means to kill the donkey after it has done its work.
…
In the next few days, Xiao Fang was in Qingyan Palace, and the words he heard most were:
"Noble Ying hunted a rabbit."
"Lady Ying caught a sparrow."
"The nobleman shot a fawn, but the deer was only scratched and escaped."
It was hard for the palace servants to run around, and the reports they received were all trivial battle records.
Xu Delu glanced at His Majesty several times and saw that his expression was calm, but there was still a slight curling of the corners of his lips that was hard to detect.
He couldn't help but wonder, could it be that he had lost his love for love and therefore didn't understand the feeling?
Xiao Fang thought, this is right, he wants her to be gentle and obedient, but also lively and unrestrained.
What's the point of having a wooden beauty who has lost herself by your side?
Since she has chosen to bloom in his palm, she must bloom brilliantly and powerfully.
Qingzan really enjoyed hunting.
It feels really good to have the bow and arrow in your own hands.
He came out of the woods at dusk and picked a wild cardamom with fruit and took it with him.
The fruit is about the size of a thumb, and is piled up on the stem, arranged like a string of beads, fresh and lovely.
Just like the person.
She was riding a horse, so there was no reason for her to let Doukou follow behind her, so she asked someone to wait outside early in the morning.
When she came out, she saw the little maid who was looking at her eagerly. Qingzan waved the fruit in her hand at people, but heard someone behind her calling her: "Lady Ying!"
This voice is not familiar.
When I turned around, I saw that it was Ying Cairen.
"Should be a talented person."
Fortunately, that little impression was enough.
Qingzan reined in the horse unskillfully.
The horse chosen by the emperor for her was docile in nature, and she learned very quickly. In just three days, she had mastered some basic riding skills. However, her skills were still relatively new, and there was still a long way to go before she could become proficient in archery and horse riding.
Ying Cairen saw that her technique of reining in the horse was immature and clumsy, and her body was shaking and tilting, but her expression changed slightly.
I had heard before that this noble lady Ying was so greedy and reckless as soon as she learned archery that she was eager to try it out. In the first two days, she didn't dare to ride her horse into the woods and chased the prey on foot.
She couldn't...lose to someone like this.
She rode forward and said with determination, "Could I find a place to talk with you, my lord?"
Although Qing Zan didn't know what she was going to say, she was still willing to listen. Once she heard it, she could see what she was up to.
She readily agreed: "Okay."
He turned around and asked Doukou to lead the horse back first.
Ying Cairen looked in the direction where Doukou left as if he wanted to say something, his lips trembled, but in the end he said nothing.
The two people chose a gentle slope as a place to talk.
Qingzan's riding outfit today is a white with narrow sleeves, paired with a goose yellow and light green skirt.
Ying Cairen had always known that Lady Ying was a little older than herself, but when she saw her up close today, she realized that age was very vague on a person's face, and she couldn't even call her sister.
God has gifted her with a beautiful bone structure.
Ying Cairen gritted his teeth and said with all his dignity: "Sir, I have something to ask of you."
She has always been a person who is willing to work hard, otherwise she would not have spent so much time preparing the pipa before the swing banquet.
It's a pity that I don't have the opportunity or ability to amaze everyone and make them unforgettable.
This autumn hunt must not be missed again.
"They say this competition is a chance for those of us of lower rank to rise to the top, and none of the ladies have any intention of competing." Seeing Qingzan's attentive expression, Ying Cairen slowly began to speak, "I know that with your celestial beauty, you'll never lack for opportunities, but I'm different. I'm a humble person, and I've only been in the palace for half a year. I'm afraid Your Majesty doesn't even remember who I am."
Praising others and belittling oneself in order to make the other party feel comfortable and happy, or perhaps to show some mercy, these basic means of begging others are not new in the palace.
But when he thought of the humble background of the woman in front of him, Ying Cairen couldn't help feeling unhappy about his own servility.
The sorrow and pain on her face became more palpable. "If we compete fairly, I'm not afraid. But everyone says... I want to ask you, sir. Can you give me some fairness?"
In fact, it was not "everyone said it", but Concubine Yuan reminded her these two days that it was rumored that Concubine Ying's riding and archery were all taught by His Majesty personally. I am afraid that the people who judge the results at that time will be biased because of this, but Concubine Ying would not involve her friends who were thinking about her.
Qing Zan was very curious: "Why did the talented person think of asking me for help?"
Ying Cairen didn't expect Qingzan to ask this. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "I thought that you, the noble one, were kind-hearted and gentle to others."
Kind-hearted, gentle and easy to talk to.
Qing Zan smiled slightly. "If I were Ming Zhaoyi or Zhen Jieyu today, would the talented people still dare to ask for fairness? Aren't they kind?"
Ying Cairen's face immediately turned red as if paint had been splashed all over it.
Knowing that this matter was unlikely to succeed, she no longer concealed her annoyance. "If Your Excellency disagrees, then so be it. Why put such a accusation on me? I really don't think it makes sense for Your Excellency to give up such an easy advantage for me. If Your Excellency were to rise any higher, you would be a concubine. I blame myself for believing what others say and thinking that Your Excellency is a compassionate person."
Qingzan found it funny.
Why should we give up hard-earned benefits when we show compassion to others? If we were in the other person's shoes, would Ying Shi help her?
There is no fairness in this palace. Even for the justice she wants, she has to calculate and beg for it at all costs.
But now, a person she had only met by chance asked her to return fairness.
It's simply because she is still a weak person and can be asked for.
Qingzan's smile turned cold. "Since you just said you were begging me, what are you going to give me in exchange?"
When Ying Cairen heard this, he thought there was still room for mediation, and immediately softened his sharp edge. He hurriedly racked his brains to think of something that could impress Qingzan, but there was only constant confusion on his face.
After a while, he said, "I..."
Qingzan walked to the gentle slope, and the frosty white sunset fell on her body, but it was not very warm.
She mercilessly pointed out: "Could it be that Cairen has never even considered what he will have to pay?"
"I..." Ying Cairen immediately realized what it meant to bring embarrassment upon oneself.
But she just wanted a chance to be seen by His Majesty. Is that wrong?
No.
Ying Cairen walked closer and asked sternly, "Your Excellency is luckier than all of us. Even if you can't even draw a bow, you might still be able to surpass all of us who have tried a thousand times. But if it's not yours, and you take all the benefits, don't you feel guilty?"
Qing Zan smiled slowly, making her graceful and elegant figure look strangely charming. "If you can win without drawing the bow, how can it not be considered a skill?"
As for having a guilty conscience, how many people can be free from having a guilty conscience when they are busy and busy with things?
Ying Cairen's face suddenly turned pale. Perhaps what Yuan Xianshi said was right. If she was not cruel, others would treat her cruelly. This Ying Guiren was nothing more than a selfish, hypocritical person.
But her horse wasn't there, and the things she had prepared were useless...
Ying Cairen's palm under his sleeve suddenly felt restless and hot, and he was sweating profusely.
But the road ahead was just a gentle slope. Even if she pushed someone down, they probably wouldn't be seriously injured...
Why is it just a gentle slope!
Qingzan turned around and saw that the man was at one moment vicious and at another moment dazed, so she waved the cardamom branch in her hand at her twice and said, "Talented Ying?"
Ying Cairen suddenly came back to his senses, but this time he became even more confused, not knowing why he had come up with such worse and worse thoughts.
"Since I can't reach an agreement with Lady Ying, I'm sorry I can't stay with you any longer." She hurriedly lowered her head to cover up something.
Feeling both ashamed and disgusted, he turned and left after saying this.
Qingzan didn't keep anyone.
She glanced at the gently undulating grassy slopes behind her. The mountains were covered with light clouds, and the grass beneath them was of different shades, thick and thin, as if it were painted with ink.
He gently broke off a piece of fruit in his hand.
This time she was extra careful and chose a place that was neither covered nor dangerous. Even if Ying Cairen did something extreme, she could always call for help.
However, Ying Cairen had no grudge against her in the past, and judging from her performance at the Qianqiu Banquet, she was not like Zhao Cairen, who was noisy and domineering. Why would he suddenly target her?
Qingzan seemed to see a pushing hand in the haze, which she had ignored before.
*
Qingzan returned to Mixue Pavilion and took Songzan out for a walk. When Songzan saw her, he became agitated and kept barking. After she tricked him back, she ignored him.
After returning, I heard that the emperor went to Concubine Hui today.
Qingzan actually began to feel uncomfortable.
But then she remembered what the emperor had told her: whenever he interacted with Concubine Hui, it was always like interacting with close ministers and subordinates, and they mostly talked about official matters.
Whether it was a close minister or the Emperor's concubine, she should have gotten used to it... Qingzan tried her best not to think about it, nor did she take Ying Cairen's affairs to heart. Even when she occasionally thought of it, she still asked Doukou, "Have you heard that Ying Cairen has done anything unusual these days besides his hard work in hunting?"
She has been hunting these days and has not seen many people, so the news is also quite delayed.
Doukou didn't know about Qingzan's conversation with Ying Cairen, so she just looked at her blankly: "How about I go and ask?"
Doukou went around among the palace maids and soon found out the truth. She came back panting and told Qingzan, "It was said that Mo Ming and Consort Yuan were getting closer."
Qingzan was still standing in the same place, in front of the railing of the corridor, looking at the autumn scenery halfway up the mountain, and did not move for a long time.
After a moment of deep thought, she nodded to indicate that she understood. "You don't have to serve me anymore today. Go and rest."
However, Doukou noticed that her master was quite strange today.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally took the liberty of standing shoulder to shoulder with his master in front of the railing, their bodies aligned in a straight line. "Master, what's wrong?"
Just now she went back to the house and saw that her master had placed the cardamom fruit in a porcelain vase and placed it in front of the window of her house.
No one had ever given her such a gift.
Qingzan was surprised for a moment, then she gently leaned on Doukou's shoulder and said, "How could she expect others to hand fairness to her so easily? Don't you think she's funny?"
Doukou was confused: "Who are you talking about, Ying Cairen?"
At this moment, a young palace maid, holding a trembling gauze lantern, emerged from the winding mountain road in a hurry, "Oh no! Oh no! Lady Ying is missing!"
Qingzan pulled her cloak closer and felt a chill running down her spine.
What a coincidence… ?
The guards searched everywhere, and the hunting palace, which was about to rest, was forced to open its sleepy eyes. The lights on the mountain were as bright as clouds and rainbows, reflecting the windows of the people who could not sleep.
Not long after, Qingzan was also called to Huifei's Chonghua Palace.
There were already quite a few people sitting in the hall, even Ming Zhaoyi had come.
The emperor sat at the highest seat in the hall, with no one sitting beside him. Concubine Hui sat a little further away, with Concubine Zhen next to her and Concubine Ming opposite her. Apart from these, all the other concubines stood.
Also kneeling in front of the hall were two palace maids who served Ying Cairen and a chief guard.
When they saw her coming, all kinds of colors appeared in their eyes, giving people a strange feeling, just like a night walker passing through a hilltop where foxes and rats lie in wait, with scrutinizing eyes everywhere.
Qingzan walked into the hall calmly, but saw several open volumes and wet inkstone on a long table in front of the screen.
It was as if the meeting was interrupted by this incident and had to be interrupted before it could be cleaned up.
But if Ying Cairen had just disappeared, they should have searched for him with all their might, and there was no need to mobilize so many people. Unless the person had already been found, or it was certain that he could not be found.
Qingzan recalled the time when she parted with Ying Cairen and estimated that almost two hours had passed.
Concubine Hui looked at Qingzan with a hint of worry: "Noble Lady Ying is here."
Where the emperor favors, there are always turmoil. Although Concubine Hui wanted to remain fair, she was also worried that if people didn't understand the situation, it would be disadvantageous for her to defend herself. So she said to one of the palace servants, "Repeat what you just said to Concubine Ying."
Qingzan was about to stand at the end of the palace concubines, and she was not qualified to sit on either side, so there was no need to worry about the order of standing.
Moreover, what Concubine Hui said seemed to be related to her.
As her skirt moved, the emperor unexpectedly waved to her.
Everyone in the room looked at each other in shock. Could it be that because of Concubine Ying's status it was difficult to arrange a seat, so His Majesty wanted someone to sit with him?
This would be fine on normal days, but today——
Could it be that they misunderstood Your Majesty's intention? This is really not in line with Your Majesty's usual style.
But the emperor said calmly, "Come."
"Come here."
The palace maid, who had just finished preparing a speech and was about to speak, suddenly opened her eyes wide in shock. How could she dare to say anything...
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