Chapter 323 Has His Majesty already chosen a consort? (4000 words)
The Imperial Garden of the Qin Dynasty.
We passed over the winding pebble path and the colorful sea of flowers.
Inside the central pavilion.
A young girl is sitting upright and dignified on a stone bench.
She wore a light pink long dress, the silk fabric shimmering with a pearly luster, the hem of which trailed lightly on the ground like wispy clouds.
The dress, tailored to her waist, accentuated her slender figure, revealing a graceful curve that extended downwards from her slim waistline and traced a perfect arc at her hips.
Her swan-like neck peeked out from the high collar, which was adorned with delicate lace, making her skin appear even whiter and more lustrous.
Beneath her crescent-shaped eyebrows, her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her eyes seemed to hold a pool of clear spring water as they moved. The natural blush at the corners of her eyes looked as if they had been dyed with the juice of peach blossoms in spring.
Her thick, dark hair was loosely tied into a cloud-like bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, revealing pearl earrings hanging from her small earlobes.
Sunlight swept across her alabaster skin, making even her slender fingers holding the embroidery needle appear translucent white, her nails gleaming with the pale pink luster of a seashell.
She looks different now than she did when she was a child, lively and adorable.
The girl was now sixteen years old, and had a distinct air of "a girl next door growing up".
When the girl finished the last stitch on the embroidery frame, she leaned down slightly, parted her cherry lips to reveal her pearly white teeth, and gently bit off the end of the thread.
"Sister Peanut, how do you think my embroidery is?"
The girl asked the maid beside her with her eyes crinkling.
The maid Peanut stepped forward, smiled, and praised, "Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent. You learn everything very quickly, and as long as you put your heart into it, you will excel at everything you learn."
"That's what I think too."
Qin Siyao said lightly.
"Sister Peanut, go and get the paintings and calligraphy from my room. Now I want to see how Mother and Father will find fault with me this time! And what excuses they will come up with!"
As she spoke, Qin Siyao pouted, looking rather resentful.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The maid, Peanut, smiled gently, entered the princess's room, brought out the calligraphy and paintings that the princess had devoted herself to creating this month, and then followed the princess to the imperial study.
Two and a half years ago, Qin Siyao secretly followed her second brother to the Iron Tiger Army camp, wanting to see her childhood sweetheart.
But as it turned out, Qin Siyao was discovered when she returned to the palace.
The second brother, Qin Siyuan, was confined for three days.
Qin Siyao had no way to go to the Iron Tiger Army camp anymore.
However, Qin Siyao did not give up. She continued to fight against her father and mother, and every day she thought of different ways to try to escape.
But each attempt ended in failure.
Finally, the King of Qin felt that this was not a solution, so he discussed it with the Queen.
First and foremost, we absolutely cannot let our daughter go to the Iron Tiger Army camp again.
When she was little, she could be willful, but now that she's grown up, it's not proper for a young girl to go looking for other people all the time, especially since that place is a military camp.
Secondly, the King of Qin felt he needed to give his daughter some hope, to provide her with a way to achieve her goal.
Otherwise, if his own daughter tries every means to run away, the King of Qin will find it difficult to deal with her.
So, in the end, the King of Qin and his daughter reached an agreement.
That means they must learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting every day, and reach the level of a "master" before the age of seventeen. If their daughter can do this, the King of Qin will allow her to go out and establish her own residence.
In the eyes of the King of Qin, his plan was perfect.
Because the King of Qin felt that his daughter was just a bit playful, and Xiao Mo was her first and only playmate of the same age, Si Yao naturally cared about him.
The arts of playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting can gradually temper this girl's temperament.
As she grows older, she will become more sensible and naturally understand the difference between men and women.
When that time comes, the girl will naturally stop thinking only about finding Xiao Mo.
They might even feel embarrassed about having always wanted to play with other boys when they were young.
However, the King of Qin did not expect that his daughter would be far more persistent than he had imagined.
It seems that going to play with Xiao Mo is not just about "going to play with Xiao Mo," but has become an obsession in her daughter's heart.
Therefore, Qin Siyao studied very hard. Moreover, Qin Siyao was very talented and learned everything very quickly. Her skills in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting became more and more refined, and she really had the style of a master.
Fortunately, the King and Queen of Qin were very picky and demanded that she obtain the approval of renowned scholars.
Qin Siyao even needs to cultivate until she reaches the Foundation Establishment stage.
Although Xiao Siyao is a little slow-witted, she's not stupid.
She knew perfectly well that her father and mother were deliberately making things difficult for her.
However, Qin Siyao's stubborn nature had already taken hold.
In Qin Siyao's heart, the more difficult her father and mother made things for her, the more she was determined to do it!
And so, we've arrived at the present.
Soon, Qin Siyao arrived at the Imperial Study.
After Qin Siyao explained her purpose, the King of Qin summoned Empress Shi, then the famous musicians and painters from the palace, and finally the Prime Minister of the court—Prime Minister Li of Qin, who was once hailed as the Chess Saint.
As for calligraphy, it was naturally up to the Qin ruler himself to assess it.
The King of Qin made his way to the Sacred Heart Garden and had wine and food prepared, intending to conduct the assessment while enjoying the spring scenery and breeze.
In the Qin state, women reached adulthood at the age of sixteen.
If the King of Qin was not mistaken, this was the first time his daughter had come for an assessment since she came of age, and it had been a year since the last assessment.
For the past year, the King of Qin had believed that his daughter had long since given up on him.
To my surprise, my own daughter still remembered.
But it doesn't matter.
The King of Qin was also curious about what level Siyao had reached in the past year in terms of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and cultivation.
"Siyao, let Miss You listen to your zither playing first," the King of Qin said with a smile to his daughter.
"Yes." Qin Siyao nodded, then bowed to Miss You, who was known as the "Number One Qin Player in Qin," and said, "Please give me your guidance, Sister You."
Miss You smiled slightly: "I dare not presume to offer my guidance, Your Highness."
Qin Siyao gently swayed her skirt, sat down in front of the zither, and began to play the two famous pieces, "Yangchun" and "Baixue".
At first, Miss You only felt that the princess played the instrument with great skill, and that she must have practiced for a long time.
But as she listened, Miss You became more and more surprised.
This princess's musical skills have reached the level of a master.
The King of Qin was also stunned. He had not expected that Siyao had made such great progress in just one year.
The two songs ended.
By the time the King of Qin realized what was happening, he was already clapping and cheering.
"Miss You, how is Princess's musical skill?" the King of Qin asked.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness’s musical skills have reached the level of a master.” Miss You bowed and even added, “These are absolutely my heartfelt words, and there is no flattery in them.”
"Alright!" The King of Qin nodded. "Siyao, you've finished playing the zither, now bring out the calligraphy and paintings."
"yes."
Qin Siyao glanced at Peanut Sister.
Peanut understood and threw out the two scrolls.
The scroll unfurled in the air and then hovered motionless.
The scroll on the left is a painting—the painting depicts a courtyard as a backdrop, in which a little boy holds a spear, seemingly practicing martial arts.
The painting is lifelike and meticulous, with every stroke and ink being extremely delicate.
It's as if the child in the picture might burst out of the painting at any moment, holding a long spear.
The scroll on the right is a book with four large characters written on it: "Unparalleled Through the Ages".
Although the calligraphy has a delicate, feminine quality, it cannot conceal the innate majesty and domineering aura of the Qin royal family, making it a pleasure to look at.
Both his paintings and calligraphy are impeccable.
The final test will be Qin Siyao's chess skills.
The old prime minister personally played chess with Qin Siyao.
Qin Siyao naturally did not win against the old prime minister.
However, Qin Siyao's skillful moves amazed the old prime minister. In the end, the old prime minister won by five moves against Qin Siyao, which could hardly be considered a great victory.
After passing the tests in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Qin Siyao finally unlocked the realm.
Feeling the spiritual pressure emanating from his daughter, who was at the Foundation Establishment stage, the King of Qin felt both proud of her and somewhat sentimental.
Unexpected.
This girl has actually fulfilled all the conditions that she and her mother set back then.
The King of Qin also knew that his daughter had entered the Foundation Establishment stage through "fist techniques," because he had heard from her maids in the palace that she often tied her hair up and practiced fist techniques in the courtyard.
The King of Qin estimated that this was also influenced by Xiao Mo.
“Siyao, your father and mother told you before that if you could establish your foundation before the age of seventeen and reach the level of a master in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, then we would allow you to establish your own residence. And now you have done it.”
The King of Qin said with a smile.
"Drafting the decree."
Princess Siyao, gentle and graceful, intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, possessing a clear mind and a strategic vision.
I have observed that he is decisive in handling affairs and kind to his subordinates. Even though he is in the deep palace, he always has thoughts on governing the world.
Now, the request is granted, and the official residence and headquarters are established. The official is granted a golden book and jade seal, and the positions of chief secretary, commander, and other subordinates are permitted. The annual salary is 10,000 shi (a unit of grain), and the official rank is equal to that of a prince.
They can recruit virtuous and capable officials to consult on important political matters; they can prepare carriages and flags, and use red banners.
We hope that you will be wise and discerning, respect Heaven and love the people, let the brilliance of your palace illuminate the mountains and rivers, and let the virtue of your golden branch nourish the common people.
The proclamation was issued both domestically and internationally, so that everyone would be informed.
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Qin Siyao happily bowed.
Once I establish my own residence, I will no longer be subject to any restrictions or restrictions.
However, when Prime Minister Li and others heard the contents of the imperial edict, they couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised.
"His annual salary was ten thousand shi (a unit of grain), and he was granted the same rank as a prince."
They could even "select virtuous and capable individuals to consult on important political matters."
If it weren't for the fact that the princess was a woman, they would have thought it was going to be a three-way struggle for the throne.
However, on the other hand...
His Majesty truly loves this daughter.
"Thank you, Father Emperor," Qin Siyao said with a happy bow.
"This is what you deserve." The King of Qin smiled. "Alright, you may go and get some rest. I need to return to my study to handle state affairs."
"Your daughter respectfully sees off your father, the Emperor."
"Your Majesty, we respectfully see you off."
Everyone bowed and saw the King of Qin off.
After bidding farewell to Prime Minister Li and the others, Qin Siyao and her maid Peanut boarded a carriage and returned to her palace.
"Congratulations, Your Highness. Once Your Highness establishes your own residence, there will be no restrictions. You can live either outside or inside the palace."
Peanut offered his congratulations.
Peanut has witnessed all the efforts Her Highness has made over the years.
Since reaching an agreement with His Majesty and the Empress, Princess has hardly rested at all. She is either practicing music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or practicing the boxing techniques that Xiao Mo taught her.
And Her Highness actually reached the Foundation Establishment Realm smoothly.
To be honest, Peanut had never seen Princess with such high talent.
"Hmph hmph hmph." Qin Siyao proudly raised her chin. "There's nothing I can't do if I want to."
"Does Your Highness still want to go find Xiao Mo?" Peanut asked.
"Of course, I'm definitely going to go find him, otherwise all the suffering I've endured over the past two and a half years would have been for nothing."
The girl said it as a matter of course.
Although the little girl from back then has grown into a graceful young woman.
However, in some ways, the girl seemed to have remained unchanged from beginning to end.
“But Your Highness, girls change a lot as they grow up, and men do too,” Peanut said slowly. “Young Master Xiao has grown into a man now, and you haven’t seen each other for two and a half years. What if Young Master Xiao is no longer the same as the one Your Highness knew when he was a child? What if Young Master Xiao doesn’t even recognize Your Highness?”
No, it won't.
I am Siyao, and he is Xiao Mo.
No matter how many years pass, he will still be Xiao Mo.
I will never forget him.
He will always remember me.
Qin Siyao smiled gently, her eyes crinkling.
"I said it~"
"Your Majesty, wouldn't it be inappropriate to allow Siyao to establish her own residence at this time?"
In the imperial study, Empress Shi asked the King of Qin a question.
I know what you're worried about.
The King of Qin smiled.
"Now that Siyao has come of age, it is normal for her to establish her own residence. As for going to find Xiao Mo, that is even more impossible. The Iron Tiger Army is not a place that she, as a princess, can enter."
Besides, even if she joined the Iron Tiger Army, Xiao Mo would be gone.
"Is Xiao Mo not in the military camp?" Empress Shi asked.
"He has gone to war." The King of Qin smiled and said, "It will be two years at the shortest, seven or eight years at the longest, or even longer. Siyao and Xiao Mo have not seen each other for so long. In a few more years, they may have forgotten each other."
Empress Shi nodded, agreeing with His Majesty's statement. After all, how many childhood playmates don't drift apart as they grow up?
The beauty of childhood will forever remain only in our memories.
"However, Your Majesty, now that Siyao has come of age, shouldn't we arrange a marriage for her?" Empress Shi asked again. "I've heard that the Imperial Censor's son is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and the second son of the Xiao family is also unmarried. I've heard that he is exceptionally brave."
"Let's not talk about this again."
Before Empress Shi could finish speaking, the King of Qin interrupted her.
Empress Shi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately understood His Majesty's meaning: "Does Your Majesty already have a chosen consort in mind?"
Hehehe
The King of Qin stroked his beard and smiled.
"It all depends on whether he proves himself or not."
(End of this chapter)
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