Palace Intrigue?: I Make the Emperor Cry by Rewinding Time!-Chapter 144 - 124: The Letter
Xie Zhixing finished laughing and asked her, "Do you want to become a mistress?"
"It is a capital offense for a palace maid to climb onto the Dragon Bed. I dare not recommend myself as a concubine, but in my heart, I greatly admire the Emperor."
Yan Yun carefully considered her wording and answered cautiously.
Her prudence satisfied him considerably, and he said, "There are many concubines in the harem. If you stay in the palace, you can no longer live the life of an ordinary woman. If you behave yourself for a few years and leave when you reach the appropriate age, you can still find a husband and marry. You should think it over."
Yan Yun did not expect such an important figure to consider her perspective and allow her to choose.
When she had just sneaked a glance, she hadn’t even fully remembered the Emperor’s appearance, only that he had beautiful features. Even when speaking gently, such a handsome and complete man has an unshakable sense of distance, like a Bodhisattva in a temple; one can only kneel with clasped hands a few meters away. Approaching rashly, not only would you be blinded by incense smoke, but you might also be beaten away by eighteen copper men.
No one in the Xie Family is ugly, and the Emperor’s features are said to resemble those of the Grand Empress Dowager. However, the similar features on him do not bewitch anyone; facing ministers and memorials daily, he exudes a kind of detached solemnity, as if covered in gold lacquer. It is hard to develop affection for him, only a respectful admiration from afar.
Yan Yun feared the Emperor. She actually did not want to climb the social ladder. After entering the palace, although the Empress followed her family’s instructions and placed her in Qiankun Palace, she was summoned to Jianzhang Palace to be tormented, warned not to harbor improper thoughts that could ruin her future. Being forgotten afterward even relieved her. Now that she was remembered and buried in Qiankun Palace, she felt a mix of panic and a bit of humiliation.
How can someone be bullied like this?
But the Empress can do just that.
In front of the Empress, she was a plaything; in front of the Emperor, she was even less than an ant.
She was extremely frightened, but the Emperor’s gentle attitude gave her another kind of hope:
"I do not wish to leave the palace to marry, I want to stay and serve the Emperor."
After Yan Yun solemnly said this, she heard him ask, "You are well-made; do you not want to find a husband and live a normal life? I seldom visit the harem, and some Attendant Ladies who missed the selection are just decorations in the palace. Do you want to become one of them?"
Strictly speaking, a palace maid is also the Emperor’s woman.
Although palace maids are permitted to leave the palace and marry when they reach a certain age, it is not customary for "backup concubines" to think about going out to marry and have children. However, facing the Emperor, how dare she deceive even half a word!
"The Emperor treats the concubines well, their lives are not difficult, and besides, I have an unspeakable secret and do not wish to leave the palace."
Yan Yun pressed her tongue against her teeth, using the sharp pain to force herself to calm down.
"I won’t ask about your secret, but you will have to work for me in the future."
Xie Zhixing got up. He was tall, and a shadow cast over her, making Yan Yun’s heart tremble.
In the end, no matter how amiable the Emperor, his intention was to use her. But it didn’t matter; being of use to the master meant having a path to life, and working for the Emperor had its merit. There was nothing to fear, and Yan Yun developed a boldness to control her own fate:
"Being favored by the Emperor, I would not disappoint the Emperor, even at the cost of my life."
He called Ying Lu in: "Prepare for her to serve tonight."
Cheng Shou, the Chief Eunuch who escorted Yan Yun to the Imperial Court, was stunned to hear this news.
He truly did not expect this girl to achieve this!
Based on Cheng Shou’s understanding of the Emperor, he never saw palace maids as women he could sleep with.
This was truly unprecedented.
The task was accomplished, but Cheng Shou had mixed feelings—did he not know the Empress’s temperament? It was she who sent the girl, yet the Emperor accepted her easily; the first to be blamed upon returning would be him.
...
On the other side, Yun Jiao was feeling quite pleased, looking at the chessboard showing a great victory.
Concubine Li couldn’t understand: "How could I not beat you?"
"My chess prowess is superior."
Yun Jiao snorted with a laugh.
She realized that Concubine Li was a poor player as well because as long as she rolled back slightly at critical moments, she could win. But against Lady, she had to reload her game with effort to win, making the difference clear.
Yun Jiao’s chess philosophy summed up in one line—
When the situation looks bad, reload, better to lose style than the game.
Concubine Li raised her hand to cover her face, unable to accept the fact that she lost a chess game to Yun Jiao: "For things needing brains, I can’t surpass you, that’s too hurtful."
Yun Jiao: "..."
Has Sister Concubine Li taken to such high-level insults?
The two were about to start another game when someone from Zichen Palace arrived outside.
The eunuch was somewhat unfamiliar and handed her a piece of Mirror Cast Moulded Gold Paper: "Concubine Xi, I am Qing Que. The Emperor specifically ordered me to announce my name when delivering the letter... This name is also a new gift from the Emperor, and furthermore, Lady does not need to perform the grand ceremony for receiving an imperial decree, just quietly accept and quietly read it."
The blue bird, in history and across cultures, symbolizes a messenger, often associated with happiness.
Yun Jiao thought to herself, the Emperor is really noticeable. He had to inform her even about renaming a eunuch: "Understood."
She tucked the letter into her bosom, ready to send the man off.
Qing Que became anxious: "Lady, what about the reply?"
"Did the Emperor say he wanted a reply immediately?" Yun Jiao retorted.
"The Emperor didn’t say, but won’t Lady open it to take a look?" Qing Que cleverly replied, "Lady doesn’t need to avoid reading from eunuchs, our hearts are firmly with the Emperor."
Having come to this point, Yun Jiao could only open it and take a look.
Anyone who has seen the Emperor’s reviewed memorials knows he is a very verbose man in his letters, and he writes in beautiful handwriting. The content of the letter stated that he would elevate a palace maid tonight, but he wouldn’t touch her, assuring her no concerns. Once this storm is over, he would personally explain to her... the latter half expressed his longing using classical Chinese, citing classics, too long for Yun Jiao to bother with, some parts she didn’t even understand.
She glanced through it up and down, "Read."
Qing Que remained standing there, eagerly awaiting.
Yun Jiao asked, "Aren’t you going back?"
"Waiting for Lady’s response, so Lady doesn’t have to send someone else on another errand."
Still requiring a reply!
"Then wait here for a bit, I have to go to the study. Xue Ya, prepare the ink for me."
Since writing to the Emperor, Xue Ya was very excited; she ground the ink so much it could swallow the brush.
Yun Jiao made a bold stroke—
"Read!"
Qing Que didn’t know how to read; seeing Concubine Xi quickly hand him the reply, he was stunned, and hastily said, "I can wait a little longer, Lady, don’t rush."
"Not rushing, just take it back, a short letter speaks volumes."
Qing Que believed it, and with great care, took the letter back to the Imperial Court.
Xie Zhixing put down the memorial he was reading, eagerly opening it...
Only to find the contents didn’t take long enough to require setting aside his work to read.
