Chapter 210 Going with the Flow
As the eunuch announced the arrival, Emperor Jingping strode in.
"Your Majesty," Consort Yu greeted him.
Qiu Heng bowed and said, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty."
Emperor Jingping naturally grasped Consort Yu's hand and looked at the kneeling girl: "Princess Suiyun is still here."
"yes."
"Get up."
Qiu Heng silently got up.
With a smile on her lips, Consort Yu pulled Emperor Jingping inside, saying as they walked, "Today, the county magistrate of Suiyun taught me a fragrance recipe. I found it quite interesting, so I studied it for a while."
"Oh, what smells like that?" Emperor Jingping asked with great interest.
"The body powder smells so good, it's really fragrant." Consort Yu smiled gently. "Princess Suiyun changed the formula, and I like the scent even more."
"Is that so? Let me see."
Consort Yu gestured to the palace maids to bring up the freshly made perfume powder.
The incense powder has been sifted and placed in a sky-blue incense jar painted with plum blossoms.
Emperor Jingping took a light sniff and nodded: "The fragrance is crisp and refreshing, very suitable for my beloved concubine. If it is left to linger for a while, the scent will become even more mellow..."
Consort Yu smiled gently: "Your Majesty is much more knowledgeable, unlike me who has been studying for so long and is still confused."
Emperor Jingping laughed loudly: "The art of incense is profound and requires accumulation over time. My beloved concubine, please don't be impatient."
"Why has Your Majesty come at this time?" Consort Yu casually changed the subject.
Emperor Jingping seemed to have forgotten that Qiu Heng was present, and his smile vanished: "Being with those people, it's either the civil unrest that's being suppressed and then the other way around, or the frequent actions of Northern Qi, or the many arrangements for the princess's marriage to Xi Jiang... It gives me a headache. It's much more peaceful here with my beloved consort."
Consort Yu slightly curved her lips, revealing a curious expression: "Princess, you must have a lot of preparations to make for your marriage to Xijiang?"
Emperor Jingping nodded: "The dowry of gold, silver, valuables, craftsmen, and servants must all be discussed and decided."
"Then Princess Rongning—oh, Princess Rongning, didn't you cry or make a fuss?" Consort Yu asked with a smile.
"No, not at all. Like her father, Rong Ning is a man of great integrity, just like her father, and she has relieved me of my immediate worries."
“In that case, we can’t let Princess Rongning suffer.”
"That's natural."
"Have the bridesmaids for Princess Rongning been chosen yet?"
Qiu Heng, who had been treated as invisible, had a sudden thought when she heard Consort Yu's words.
"Not yet." Emperor Jingping raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have ordered the Imperial Clan Court to compile a list of eligible female members of the imperial clan, and we will consider it further later."
"Your Majesty, I think there is one person who is very suitable."
"Oh, who is it?"
Consort Yu's eyes flickered as she glanced at Qiu Heng.
Emperor Jingping was taken aback: "Princess Suiyun?"
Consort Yu chuckled softly.
She was beautiful, with eyes like autumn water and eyebrows like distant mountains, and a faint smile between her brows added to her charm. Yet, her voice was even more captivating than her appearance, like the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms, intoxicating all who heard it.
"Your Majesty, do you remember that Princess Suiyun and Princess Rongning have quite a connection? Last autumn during the hunt, Princess Suiyun lured away a black bear and saved Princess Rongning's life."
"How could I forget that?"
“In Princess Rongning’s heart, Princess Suiyun is definitely a trustworthy person. Princess Rongning is marrying into a foreign land for the Great Xia. Even if she is willing, she will inevitably feel uneasy and fearful. She needs a trustworthy sister by her side.”
Emperor Jingping nodded.
"And Princess Suiyun—" Consort Yu smiled at Qiu Heng, "Princess Suiyun dared to lure away a black bear alone and sneak into the Prime Minister's study at night. She has both courage and agility. When dealing with the Western Jiang barbarians, she will not tarnish the prestige of our Great Xia. Does Your Majesty agree?"
“There are indeed few young ladies as brave and resourceful as Princess Suiyun.”
“Who says otherwise?” Consort Yu gently stroked the porcelain jar containing the fragrant powder. “She is brave and resourceful, a county princess, and has a relationship with Princess Rongning. I think Princess Suiyun is the most suitable candidate. Of course, it still depends on Princess Suiyun’s opinion. I’m just saying.”
Emperor Jingping felt that Consort Yu's words made a lot of sense, but seeing the girl's surprised expression, he felt somewhat embarrassed.
The bride should be a member of the imperial family; according to his idea, one could be chosen from a distant branch. Qiu Heng had no relation to the royal family, so this made his bestowal of a reward seem rather unfair.
"What does Princess Suiyun think?" Emperor Jingping asked, then added, "Don't be afraid of my wrath. If you are unwilling, I will never force you."
Consort Yu gave Emperor Jingping a deep look.
Since she entered the palace, the Emperor has almost never gone against her wishes; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she holds absolute power in the harem. And now, the Emperor has actually given Qiu Liu a choice.
Consort Yu turned to look at Qiu Heng and raised an eyebrow.
This girl is really a bit wicked.
So what will she choose?
Looking at the girl with her eyes lowered, Consort Yu waited with great interest.
Qiu Heng truly hadn't expected Consort Yu to make such a suggestion.
Yesterday, she was still lamenting that Princess Rongning was destined to follow the fate recorded in history, and wondering what she could do.
Today, she became the one who escorted Princess Rongning to her wedding.
The journey from the capital of Great Xia to the capital of Xijiang is long and arduous, involving traversing mountains and rivers. Not to mention the hardships along the way, once they arrive in Xijiang, they will face vastly different climates and customs, as well as various unknown dangers. The bride's promise to return to Great Xia is far from easy.
Consort Yu kept her here for so long today, wasn't it so that she would have to make a choice in front of Emperor Jingping?
If she agrees, she will be sent far away to Xijiang, where her fate is uncertain; if she doesn't agree, Emperor Jingping says he won't force her, but he can't be completely without resentment. If Consort Yu continues to make provocative remarks, the little appreciation she has gained from the emperor for saving the princess and eliminating the treacherous minister will be gone.
Qiu Heng recalled the first time she entered the palace and met Emperor Jingping. Whether or not she could enter the palace's incense pavilion was entirely up to Consort Yu.
If Consort Yu was merely capricious and enjoyed tormenting people, that would be one thing. But if she could find a way to stop coming to the palace and avoid being around Consort Yu, Consort Yu would forget to target her.
But if Consort Yu is a spy intent on taking her life, hiding is useless. And without the Emperor's favor, how can a mere noblewoman from a minor noble family escape Consort Yu's open and covert attacks?
Perhaps the only option is to do as I told Xue Han: kill the fifth thief and flee far away.
But this was a last resort; she still wanted to use her legitimate identity as Miss Qiu Liu to do more.
After a brief silence, Qiu Heng slightly raised her eyes: "Although I am far inferior to Princess Rongning in terms of righteousness, I am still willing to send her off to marriage to alleviate her homesickness."
Emperor Jingping thought Qiu Heng would definitely refuse, but to his surprise, she agreed. After a slight astonishment, he laughed loudly: "Good, as expected of the Princess of Suiyun personally appointed by me!"
Qiu Heng maintained a calm and composed demeanor on the surface, but chuckled inwardly.
Plans are subject to change. Since Consort Yu has pushed her onto the road to Xijiang, she might as well go with the flow and try to assassinate the King of Xijiang together with Princess Rongning!
“Princess Suiyun is sensible and considerate of the overall situation; she deserves a reward.”
Qiu Heng's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Another reward?
(End of this chapter)
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