Chapter 266

The steward of the Jingshi Hall sent the nannies from Shuqing Pool over to help Qingfeng wash and dress. Having waited for nearly half an hour, the nannies had long since grown impatient. Fuling looked at the door that had been tightly shut all afternoon, then looked at the worried Xia Yin beside her, and finally nodded, replying, "I understand. You go and prepare first."

Fuling walked to the door and knocked lightly. Just as she was about to speak, Qingfeng's sharp yet sorrowful eyes suddenly flashed before her, and the words already on her lips were swallowed back down. She could neither enter nor retreat. Fuling stood frozen before the door for a long time until a low moan came from the inner room: "Come in."

At the hour of lighting the lamps.

As night fell, palace lanterns were lit in every palace, and the passing palace maids and eunuchs all carried lanterns. Beside a small path behind the Jingshi Hall, a woman dressed as a palace maid not only carried no lantern but deliberately hid herself in the shadows of the trees. In the hazy night, one could barely tell anyone was there without a close look.

A person came running from afar along the path. Wu'er took a step back, squinting to look. Only after seeing the figure and appearance of the person approaching did she step forward and ask in a low voice, "Did you find out?"

The little eunuch looked left and right, and only after confirming there was no one around did he whisper, "Replying to Elder Sister, the Emperor has personally designated Concubine Qing to attend to him tonight. At this moment, he is still having dinner with the Western Empress Dowager at Xixia Palace."

Wu'er lowered her head in thought for a moment before asking again, "Concubine Qing attending to him—was it decided by flipping a tablet?"

"No, I heard that the Emperor happened to meet Concubine Qing in the garden at noon, so he decided to stay at Qingfeng Palace tonight."

A chance meeting? A trace of disbelief flashed in Wu'er's eyes. How could they have a chance meeting in the garden at high noon? This Qingfeng really had some tricks up her sleeve; she had even figured out the Emperor's route. The Madam's guess was indeed correct; Qingfeng truly could not be underestimated.

Wu'er took a small bag from her sleeve and stuffed it into the little eunuch's hand, whispering, "Alright, you go back first. Be sharper in the future. If there is any movement at Qingfeng Palace, you must tell me."

Secretly weighing the bag, the little eunuch smiled fawningly, "Elder Sister, rest assured. My heart is entirely with Consort De."

Wu'er waved her hand and replied, "That's enough, hurry off."

The little eunuch tucked the small money bag into his chest, lowered his hat, and ran back nimbly. After the eunuch had gone far away, Wu'er walked in another direction.

Before a polished bronze mirror sat a woman in white. Her plain white clothes set off her ink-black hair, making it look bright and enchanting. The woman impatiently stopped the hands busy applying powder in front of her and said coldly, "Enough. It will be the same no matter how much you cover it."

Qingfeng felt a sense of pride and relief in her heart. Those two scars could not be covered by any amount of powder, just as the pain of losing her parents could never be filled.

Fuling obediently put down the rouge and powder. In truth, Qingfeng's skin was excellent—as fair as frost and snow—and it was already crystalline and translucent without needing any powder. Today, she did not coil her hair; the few strands hanging down covered half of the scars, making her look much softer and more beautiful. Fuling sighed in admiration, thinking, "So this is what a beauty is like." Her willow-leaf brows were arched without being drawn, her eyes were like lacquer and vast as the sea, and her body was like a swaying willow with jade bones and icy skin. If that face had not been ruined, what an peerless beauty she would have been?

Fuling picked up the rouge and lightly touched her diamond-shaped lips. A smear of crimson immediately made this cold, delicate face look bright and vivid. Fuling couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly beautiful."

She was indeed beautiful. The charming and enchanting woman in the bronze mirror was like a delicate flower in full bloom in spring, waiting to be plucked. Staring at her own alluring self in the mirror, she felt such hatred. Why! Why did she have to make herself look like this to please Yan Hongtian! Why!

She raised her hand and fiercely wiped the rouge from her lips, leaving a trail of red at the corner of her mouth. Qingfeng seemed unsatisfied; she suddenly grabbed the comb and rouge from the table and smashed them against the mirror. The once-bright bronze mirror was immediately covered in bright red powder. Only when the dented mirror could no longer reflect her beautiful face did Qingfeng stop.

The madness in Qingfeng's eyes terrified Fuling. Gently patting Qingfeng's back to help her catch her breath, Fuling urged, "Master, you must not get angry. Your wounds have not fully healed."

Wounds? She would rather die now...

Leaning in Fuling's arms and looking at her own distorted face full of madness in the mirror, Qingfeng's heart suddenly twinged with pain. What was wrong with her? Hadn't she already decided? For the sake of her beloved sisters, the people closest to her in this world, she had to endure no matter what. As long as she could trade her own state for their lifetime of peace, what did it matter what she became? Painfully closing her eyes, Qingfeng said with a trembling voice, "Fuling... help me apply makeup one more time." Her pride and dignity would all be crushed and torn apart this night, so why care about her appearance?

"Yes." Fuling picked up a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the residual red from the corner of Qingfeng's mouth. She felt heartache for this thin and stubborn woman; life in the palace had only just begun.

The moon rose above the treetops, and the cold moonlight spilled onto the blooming peony petals, making the delicate flowers look somewhat pale. They were just as beautiful as they were during the day, only displaying a different kind of charm. Lan'er rested her chin on her hands, sitting on the steps of the veranda, looking at the pitch-black palace path outside the hall, and murmured, "Elder Sister Xia Yin, it's past the Hour of the Bo (9-11 PM). The Emperor won't come tonight, will he?" It was already this late; if he were coming, he would have come long ago. Actually, it would be better if the Emperor didn't come. Qingfeng had driven away the nannies sent by the Jingshi Hall, leaving only Fuling inside to serve her, and she was acting all strange. If the Emperor really came, there was no telling what kind of trouble might erupt.

Xia Yin gave Lan'er a light glare and said in a low voice, "You, you speak without thinking. Be careful not to bring trouble upon yourself."

Glancing sideways at the tightly closed door, Lan'er pouted, her face full of disapproval. At this moment, a shrill announcement sounded outside the hall.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The Emperor had really come! Lan'er stuck out her tongue and hurriedly stood up to kneel and salute. Lan'er curled her lips toward the inner room but refused to make a sound. Xia Yin shook her head helplessly and said toward the room in a low voice, "Madam, the Emperor has arrived."

The room remained quiet, and Qingfeng did not come out to receive him. Lan'er and Xia Yin looked at each other, not knowing what to do, while at this moment, Yan Hongtian's tall and upright figure was already striding in from outside the hall.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

Lan'er kept her head lowered. Those bright yellow boots suddenly stopped on the steps and did not move forward. Lan'er felt a tightness in her chest and quietly looked up. She saw that the Emperor's handsome face was expressionless, his slightly narrowed black eyes coldly staring at the tightly closed door. That kingly aura that commanded awe without anger terrified Lan'er, and she hurriedly lowered her head. The Emperor had arrived, yet Qingfeng did not come out to receive him, not even opening the door. The Emperor was likely furious!

Lan'er was terrified, and Xia Yin was restless, yet that door, which had been tightly shut all day, opened at this very moment...

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The shrill announcement sounded outside the courtyard, and Fuling could feel Qingfeng's body stiffen significantly. She frowned, took a deep breath, and walked out of the inner chamber. Her steps were heavy, and she stood before the door for a long time, yet she refused to open it.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live." Before long, the sound of palace maids paying their respects also rose in the courtyard. Fuling stepped forward to open the door, but was stopped by Qingfeng. Fuling looked at Qingfeng with worry; the Emperor was already outside the door, and not receiving him would mean bearing the crime of disrespect!

"I will do it myself." Her low voice trembled slightly. Qingfeng reached out and gripped the door bolt tightly, the veins faintly appearing on her slender, fair fingers. Taking another deep breath, Qingfeng pushed open the heavy wooden door with force.

Outside the door, Yan Hongtian, dressed in black robes and fine attire, stood on the steps. The moment the door opened, his sharp, eagle-like black eyes locked tightly onto her. Qingfeng still held her head high, struggling to meet his cold gaze, but only she knew that her heart was trembling. At this moment, she was afraid.

Yan Hongtian narrowed his black eyes slightly, sizing up this woman who dared to block him outside the door. Her long, dark hair hung loosely behind her, blown into a mess by the night wind. Her plain white long gown wrapped her tightly, giving her a bit more coldness and arrogance than the thin red dress from last time. Her crimson lips were the only bright color on her entire body, so red they could almost drip blood.

Although the door was open, Qingfeng did not even salute. Dressed in pale, plain clothes, she stared at Yan Hongtian. Everyone broke into a cold sweat, holding their breath in anticipation. Yan Hongtian suddenly raised the corner of his mouth in an inscrutable smile. Without blaming Qingfeng for the crime of disrespect, he strode into the room.

Yan Hongtian said nothing. Qingfeng did not know whether to heave a sigh of relief or if her heart was being pulled even higher. It was only when Yan Hongtian's tall figure brushed past her side and his single hand circled her slender waist that Qingfeng was startled back to her senses. Yan Hongtian's black eyes swept over Fuling behind Qingfeng. Fuling felt a chill run through her entire body and dared not linger, hurriedly retreating. The moment she closed the door, her heart was still pounding. She began to admire Qingfeng; that sharp kingly aura made one dare not look directly at him, let alone meet his gaze.

Inside the room, only two people staring coldly at each other and a room full of red candles remained.

Yan Hongtian lightly pinched Qingfeng's chin with one hand, lifting her face. Under the flickering candlelight, her tender skin was delicate enough to break, her crimson lips were moist and full, and her slightly raised, bright eyes shone with uneasy light because of his proximity. Yan Hongtian laughed in a low voice, "Dressed up properly, you can still be considered a beauty."

His large hand slid through her smooth, dark hair. Yan Hongtian's eyes shone with a teasing light as he asked, "Where did you hide the knife this time?"

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and the summer clothes could not block each other's body heat at all. Qingfeng pressed her palm against Yan Hongtian's chest, the scorching temperature making her panic. Turning her head to the side, Qingfeng did not look at him, nor did she want to hear him speak, only hoping that this night would pass quickly. Unfortunately, Yan Hongtian would absolutely never let anyone ignore his presence. Qingfeng's waist suddenly tightened, so tightly it could almost strangle her, and Yan Hongtian's disgusting, cold words also rang in her ears: "Qingfeng, I didn't expect you to have a time when you would play the mute."

She had clearly told herself not to argue with him anymore and that she must endure everything, but as soon as she saw his overbearing and conceited appearance, Qingfeng could not help but mock him: "Since you know I can't assassinate you again, why bother saying useless things? If I still wanted to kill you now, I wouldn't be so foolish as to use a knife."

(End of chapter)