Chapter Sixteen: A Beauty Adds Fragrance
Night had fallen, but the candles in Yanying Hall were still lit. The noble young master Zhang Songzhi sighed, took a cup and saucer from a maid, and walked gracefully to the Empress's table: "Your Majesty, it's time to rest..."
Raising her eyes slightly from the pile of memorials, the Empress looked at the man in white robes, who seemed quite at ease. She gently extended her slender hand and said softly, "Alright, then help me up..." This time, the Empress used "I" instead of "朕" (the imperial "I").
Zhang Songzhi paused slightly, then bent down and gently helped the Empress up. The Empress leaned half of her body against Zhang Songzhi: "Why hasn't Jiulang gone to bed yet?"
Perhaps it was because the weather was nice during the day, but the Empress's makeup and hair were light and airy, and her thin gauze and satin made her look even more beautiful and graceful. Compared to when she sat high on the dragon throne, she looked less majestic and more charming, like a goddess emerging from Wushan and a poetic landscape painting.
By the candlelight, Zhang Songzhi's eyes sparkled with tender affection: "Jiulang is waiting for His Majesty. His Majesty is restless, how dare Jiulang sleep?"
Finding a comfortable position in Zhang Songzhi's arms, the Empress casually plucked a lock of the man's black hair from his chest and played with it in her hand, sighing, "For so many years, every time I heard Jiulang say he was waiting for me, I immediately thought of that line, 'From now on, the emperor will not hold court in the morning.' I'm really afraid that one day I will become a foolish ruler who is so infatuated with Jiulang's good looks that he neglects the affairs of the state..."
Upon hearing this, the man's large hand, which was supporting the Empress's arm, tightened suddenly, then slowly loosened. He couldn't see the Empress's expression at this moment, so he wasn't sure whether her words were sincere or not, but he had already made up his mind.
After a long pause, the man spoke: "Thank you for Your Majesty's favor. I fear both that I will become that 'beauty' and that I will not be able to become that 'beauty.' However, for Your Majesty's reputation, I am willing to die..."
The man's resounding words echoed in the silent Yan Ying Hall, like jade shattering in Kunlun. The Empress paused slightly, turning to look at him, her fingertips still entwined with a lock of his black hair: "Why do you say such things, Jiu Lang?" In that instant, upon hearing the words "to die," a slight pain suddenly welled up in the Empress's heart.
This time, without flinching or looking away, Zhang Songzhi gazed back at the Empress's deep, unfathomable eyes in the candlelight and declared resolutely, "Ninth Prince will always belong to Your Majesty. As long as it is for Your Majesty, I will do anything willingly..."
"Fool..." The Empress suddenly reached out and stopped the man from finishing his sentence.
Since entering the palace, Zhang Jiulang has enjoyed the emperor's favor for ten years. Although their relationship cannot compare to that of commoners, it has been ten years of unwavering devotion and exclusive affection. Even though many officials in the court have expressed their dissatisfaction, the empress has never taken another concubine or favored anyone else. Now, Zhang Songzhi is the only noble young man in the palace, surpassing even the empress in status.
Grasping the Empress's fingertips, Zhang Jiulang pulled the woman before him into his arms, leaning his head down and nestling against her: "Jiulang is naturally willing to accompany Your Majesty for the rest of your life. Then Your Majesty must be a wise ruler and not let those gossipy ministers talk about Jiulang..."
"Fine..." The Empress chuckled upon hearing this, cupping the man's cheeks and saying, "Then Ninth Prince, why don't you hurry up and add some fragrance to my sleeves? I haven't finished reviewing the memorials yet..."
"Yes, Jiulang obeys the decree." Zhang Jiulang grasped the Empress's hand again and carefully helped her up.
As night deepened, the Empress once again bent over her desk, reviewing her work. The man beside her, holding a fan in one hand and an inkstone in the other, diligently prepared the ink, swatting away mosquitoes and creating a breeze.
Inside the hall, the incense burner was relit, and the wisps of sandalwood fragrance lingered in the air. Indeed, it was a scene of green-clad figures holding inkstones, urging students to write, and red-sleeved figures adding fragrance to accompany their reading.
Gorge.
After a day and night of arduous travel, the large group finally arrived at the gorge mouth before the massive breach of the riverbank. The rain outside the carriage was gradually subsiding, and Mu Lian lifted the rain curtain on the carriage with her slender hand to look towards the gorge mouth.
The river meanders through the Tongling Gorge, its banks bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun. Sheer cliffs line both sides, forming a ten-mile-long canyon where mountains and water intertwine, a truly magnificent and perilous sight. On a clear, sunny day, the sheer cliffs rise thousands of feet, peaks rising one after another, lush and verdant, with branches and leaves growing wildly, occasionally punctuated by the calls of birds and beasts—a truly picturesque landscape. But now, due to the rainy season, the many wonders are shrouded in a misty veil, indistinct, leaving only the majestic stupas standing tall, adding to their sacredness and mystery amidst the torrential rain.
"It is said that this pagoda is a memorial pagoda of Tibetan Buddhism, built in odd numbers and in stages, symbolizing the elimination of troubles and disasters, and praying for peace and happiness..." Suddenly, a man's clear voice rang out from behind him.
Mu Lian turned around and saw Ye Tanhua also gazing out the window. Today, the man wore a light blue outer robe with brocade-embroidered bamboo leaves on the cuffs. The dampness rising from the misty rain dampened his forehead and eyebrows, forming fine, dense water droplets that further accentuated his refined and handsome appearance, making him seem like an immortal.
Mu Lian's fingertips twitched inexplicably, as if a feather had gently brushed against her heart, making her feel itchy and tingly.
"Lord Ye is indeed learned and knowledgeable. I admire you, I admire you..." Meng Yuan said, just in time to express Mu Lian's thoughts.
Ye Yuqing slowly turned around, each movement flowing smoothly and gracefully. In that instant, she caught the woman's gaze. Though it was only for a fleeting moment, Ye Yuqing had keenly noticed it. It seemed to have worked well; this posture, this glance—Ye Yuqing had rehearsed in her mind countless times. Now, her deliberate actions were proving quite effective.
"Thank you, Headmaster Mu..." Ye Yuqing nodded and smiled in response, without revealing Meng Yuan's identity, but her gaze seemed to linger on the woman.
The carriage was filled with the warm glow of incense. The man smiled gently, his eyes sparkling with a comforting warmth. Mu Lian's fingers tightened involuntarily.
Not far ahead, several large ships came into view. Although the ships were not large, they looked quite sturdy. They were originally transporting goods along the canal, and if they could leave before the flood season, everyone could rest easy. At this time, there were already boatmen and guards on board. After Mu Lian and the others had settled down, they headed towards the large ships one by one.
As Mu Lian alighted from the carriage, she glanced back at Ye Xun's smoky blue robes and instructed him outside, "Move the carriage closer, lest the rain soak Lord Ye's clothes..."
Huh? Ye Xun was taken aback when he heard this, but after realizing what he meant, he quickly nodded: "Thank you for reminding me."
Ye Xun initially thought, "Isn't this person just a servant? How dare he order me around?" However, seeing out of the corner of his eye that his master seemed quite pleased, Ye Xun readily complied. Although Ye Xun's mind hadn't become any sharper over the years, out of respect and love for his master, he would obey his master's every wish.
The carriage curtain fell, dimming the light inside once more. Through the gap in the curtain at the window, Ye Yuqing watched the woman's departing figure, a smile playing on her lips. Who said that the dignified Chief Justice Mu of the Court of Judicial Review was ruthless, vindictive, and cold-blooded?
Ye Tanhua felt that it was probably just hearsay and not to be believed.
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