Chapter 301: A Wonderful Flutter (3)

Fuling finished combing her hair and applying her makeup. Qingfeng calculated the time; the morning court session would be ending soon. "There should be an imperial decree issued during today's morning court."

Fuling nodded in understanding. Qingfeng smiled slightly; sometimes, there was no need to speak, for Fuling already knew what she was thinking. With Fuling's company, life was finally becoming bearable.

Fuling went out. Qingfeng felt quite stifled alone in the room, so she walked into the courtyard to bask in the sun. Lan'er hurried up to her and smiled, "Your Ladyship, you've risen very early today."

Qingfeng smiled brightly and said, "Lan'er, I've recently taken a liking to jasmine green tea. I hear that the best tea in the entire palace is with Xiao Yu. Go and ask her for some."

"Yes." Lan'er replied and ran off in a hurry. Sister Xiao's tea wasn't something just anyone could get, but fortunately, her relationship with Sister Xiao was quite good.

Qingfeng cast a casual glance at the neatly trimmed autumn begonias in the flowerbed. Her expression suddenly turned cold, and she shouted, "Who trimmed these flowers?"

Hearing the Lady's reprimand, the palace maids in the courtyard knelt in a panic: "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger." Two young maids looked timidly at Lanzhi, who was kneeling by the flowerbed. Qingfeng raised her eyes to look at her and asked coldly, "Did you trim them?"

Lanzhi shrank back, her mind racing through a hundred thoughts before she replied in a low voice, "I... I trimmed them according to the way Sister Lan'er instructed. It must be that this servant failed to grasp Sister Lan'er's meaning and ruined them. I beg Your Ladyship's forgiveness."

Truly a clever girl, clearing herself of responsibility before bravely admitting her dereliction of duty. Qingfeng's lips curled slightly, and she changed the subject, "Did I say they were ruined? They are trimmed quite well. Reward Lan'er properly later."

Just as Lanzhi let out a sigh of relief, Qingfeng asked, "What is your name?"

Lanzhi hurriedly replied, "This servant is Lanzhi." The Lady was asking for her name—did she not remember her? It was better if she didn't.

Without needing to look, she could guess what the girl was thinking. Qingfeng smiled, "How about I give you a new name?" Although it sounded like a question, Qingfeng didn't intend to ask for her opinion. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Let's call you Ruyi."

Lanzhi kowtowed while replying, "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for the name. This servant will certainly strive to ensure Your Ladyship is satisfied and content (ruyi)." Lanzhi secretly warned herself: from this moment on, she was Ruyi; the former Lanzhi was dead. For the sake of her younger brother and herself, she had to climb higher.

Qingfeng was startled; she had just said the name offhandedly, but this girl was indeed quite clever. Qingfeng was in a good mood and smiled, "Good. Help me inside."

"Yes." Her heart was cheering and leaping; the master's room was a place where low-ranking servants could not enter at will, except for the personal maids. Today, she had finally stepped inside.

Helping Qingfeng to the recliner by the window, Qingfeng looked out the window, her hand resting on the wooden chair, her index finger tapping rhythmically. She then asked, "You've been in the palace for many years, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why you are still just a small palace maid?"

Ruyi hesitated for a moment before replying, "I didn't follow the right master."

"Then do you know what kind of person I want?"

Ruyi swallowed nervously. She knew that every seemingly casual question had to be answered seriously; if it didn't meet the master's wishes, she would lose a good opportunity. Qingfeng was not in a hurry, letting her think slowly. After a long while, Ruyi replied in a low voice, "Someone who serves the master with all their heart and strength."

Qingfeng glanced at her indifferently. Ruyi's heart pounded—had she said the wrong thing? Her brows furrowed tightly, and she said cautiously, "Someone who is careful, prudent, and knows their place."

Qingfeng remained silent, her finger still tapping rhythmically. The *dong-dong* sound seemed to strike at her heart. Ruyi's forehead was covered in a fine sweat. What kind of person did the master really want? After much deliberation, she suddenly thought of something and blurted out, "Someone who is loyal and unwavering."

The *dong-dong* sound finally stopped. Qingfeng revealed a faint smile, "From now on, you will serve in the room."

"Yes." Ruyi stood quietly by Qingfeng's side. Only then did she feel that she was drenched in a cold sweat. Today's Qingfeng was completely different from when she first entered the palace. Back then, she was arrogant and cold, like a sharp blade—whoever touched her would be pricked. Now, she was like a cold pool, bottomless and deep enough to drown someone.

"Master." When Fuling returned, she happened to see Ruyi standing obediently by Qingfeng's side with her head slightly lowered. As if she had already guessed it, Fuling's expression remained as usual. Meeting Fuling's cold gaze, Ruyi felt a trace of nervousness.

"You may withdraw."

Ruyi bowed to Qingfeng, and as she passed Fuling, she bowed slightly again before slowly withdrawing.

Fuling walked to Qingfeng's side. Qingfeng took her hand and made her sit on the recliner. Sitting with the master always made Fuling feel a bit awkward, so she simply squatted beside Qingfeng and whispered, "During today's morning court, the Emperor announced two things. First, the rebels in the Northwest colluded with Liaoyue to frame Prime Minister Lou Xiyan, but it was ultimately uncovered by Dan Yulan of the Criminal Justice Official's office. The rebels' treacherous plot failed, and the Golden Case has now been settled. Second... the Western Empress Dowager will reside permanently at the Imperial Mausoleum to guard the spirits and pray for the ancestors of the Yan clan."

Yan Hongtian did not mention the Empress Dowager's private correspondence with the Prince of Liaoyue, which served to preserve Yang Zhilan's dignity. Without the Empress Dowager's protection, the Yang family had no real power.

"And Lou Xiyan?" She heard from her sister that he had fallen ill in prison; she didn't know how he was now.

"Prime Minister Lou returned to his mansion last night. The Emperor granted him two days of rest at home, so he did not attend court today."

It was good that he had returned to his mansion. The heart that Qingfeng had been holding for two days finally settled. Just as she thought about sleeping on the bed for a while, a sharp, shrill cry came from outside the courtyard: "The Emperor has arrived."

It had only just been the end of the morning court. Yan Hongtian coming here at such a time gave Qingfeng a bad premonition. Fuling helped Qingfeng up from the recliner, and Yan Hongtian had already entered the room.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live." Fuling knelt to pay her respects. Yan Hongtian only gave a light *en* and walked to Qingfeng, saying, "I am taking you somewhere."

His usually cold voice carried a hint of a smile; he seemed to be in a very good mood. Qingfeng asked curiously, "Where to?"

Yan Hongtian did not answer her. The two left Qingfeng Palace, and he brought her onto a carriage. The carriage traveled for quite a long time. Outside, the bustling sounds of a market gradually arose. Yan Hongtian was taking her out of the palace? Qingfeng's heart pounded. This was Qingfeng's first time leaving the palace. She could vaguely guess where he was taking her, but she didn't dare to keep thinking about it, fearing that if she guessed wrong, her disappointment would only add to her sorrow. Qingfeng looked at Yan Hongtian; his cold eyes were slightly closed, as if he were resting, but Qingfeng knew he wasn't resting at all—he just didn't want her to ask.

Caught between anticipation and the fear of disappointment, the carriage finally stopped. Just as it steadied, Yan Hongtian opened his eyes and jumped off gracefully. Just as Qingfeng lifted the curtain, she saw Yan Hongtian waiting to the side. Before she could react, Yan Hongtian held her hand with one hand and supported her waist with the other, bringing her down from the carriage with a gentle pull. His expression was as usual, but Qingfeng blushed, simply because their carriage had stopped right in front of a mansion. There were five or six servants at the entrance, and one of them had even brought over a round stool for dismounting, which was clearly no longer needed...

Struggling to stand straight from Yan Hongtian's embrace, Qingfeng looked up at the plaque above the mansion gate and saw, as she had hoped, the three characters "Prime Minister's Mansion." The servants who had been waiting at the gate led the way. Because Qingfeng was pregnant and also wanted to get a good look at the place where her sister would live in the future, they walked very slowly. Yan Hongtian was indeed in a very good mood today and accompanied her as they walked slowly.

As the two walked and looked around, they had just approached the flower hall when they heard Dan Yulan's puzzled voice from inside, "Are there any other distinguished guests coming?"

Yan Hongtian smiled, "Do I count as a distinguished guest?"

The three people inside heard the voice and immediately stood up to welcome them, kneeling halfway to pay their respects: "Greetings, Your Majesty, Consort Qing."

With a joyful smile on his face, Yan Hongtian waved his hand and laughed, "Rise. Since today is a family banquet for the Prime Minister, we can dispense with these tedious formalities."

"Yes."

Qingfeng looked at Lou Xiyan; apart from his slightly poor complexion, he seemed quite spirited. Her gaze swept across the spacious main hall, but she did not find Zhuo Qing's shadow. Qingfeng asked naturally, "Brother-in-law, where is my sister?"

Brother-in-law?! Yan Hongtian raised his eyebrows slightly. This "brother-in-law" was called quite affectionately. She seemed to have forgotten her own status. If she called Lou Xiyan brother-in-law, then what should he call Lou Xiyan?

Lou Xiyan was also startled, then smiled and replied, "She and Qing Mo are in the room."

Mo'er was there too! The eagerness on Qingfeng's face was undisguised. Lou Xiyan said to a servant nearby, "Someone, escort Consort Qing to Lanyue Lou."

"Yes."

Qingfeng gave Lou Xiyan a grateful smile and immediately followed the servant toward the backyard.

After Qingfeng left, only a few men remained in the main hall, and the atmosphere became more relaxed and comfortable.

A faint fragrance of wine drifted through the room. After sniffing it, Yan Hongtian frowned in dissatisfaction, then waved his hand lightly. Several men dressed as guards walked in from outside, carrying seven or eight jars of wine. Yan Hongtian laughed loudly, "Today is a joyous day. I have specially brought aged Xifeng wine. We shall not return until we are drunk tonight."

Aged Xifeng? Su Ling's eyes lit up, looking eager to try. Lou Xiyan and Dan Yulan, however, had their expressions stiffen; they looked at each other and could only smile bitterly. Aged Xifeng was indeed a rare and excellent wine, but it was so famous largely because of its potency. Someone without a high tolerance could be knocked out for a whole night after just one cup, let alone those full jars of wine. Tonight, it would be impossible not to get drunk.

Qingfeng followed the servant deeper into the mansion. Turning past a small path, they arrived in front of a courtyard. Qingfeng sighed inwardly; this could no longer be simply called a small courtyard. The exquisite little wooden building faced a large pond. Although it couldn't compare to the lotus pond in the palace, as a landscape within a courtyard, it was impressive enough.

Qingfeng was still marveling when she heard the servant say softly outside the door: "Madam, Consort Qing has arrived."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 302 =====