Chapter 720

Empress Dowager Jiang's phoenix palanquin descended at the main gate of Qixin Palace. A little eunuch came to the carriage, bowed low and knelt. Two palace maids stood on either side of the palanquin, helping Empress Dowager Jiang out of it. The palanquin had already been temporarily laid with a red carpet upon reaching Qixin Palace. Empress Dowager Jiang's foot landed on the solid ground, and Eunuch Dong stepped forward to replace a palace maid, supporting her right arm, and said respectfully: "Empress Dowager, this is Qixin Palace."

Empress Dowager Jiang narrowed her eyes and looked, then said softly: "Today's sunlight is really harsh."

Eunuch Dong shouted in his thin, high voice: "Where is the canopy?"

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled: "No need, basking in the sun occasionally is quite pleasant."

Huo Shengnan and Hu Xiaotian stepped forward side by side before Empress Dowager Jiang, bowed and paid respects: "We greet Empress Dowager, wishing you myriad blessings and peace!"

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Please all rise quickly."

Thank you, Empress Dowager!

Hu Xiaotian saw Empress Dowager Jiang's smile bright as sunshine, and guessed she did not know her son was ill; otherwise she surely could not have smiled.

Huo Shengnan stepped forward to support Empress Dowager Jiang, while Hu Xiaotian stood aside to guide the way.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "I haven't been to Qixin Palace for a while. Sir Hu, are you still accustomed to living here?"

Hu Xiaotian respectfully replied: "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your care; otherwise I could only stay at an inn outside, and I might not even have enough for the return fare."

Empress Dowager Jiang was amused by him and chuckled: "You little rascal, you really know how to amuse people, Hu Xiaotian—I heard you became sworn brothers with Shengjing; is that true?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Indeed, and it was General Huo who helped bear witness."

Huo Shengnan glared at him; she had always looked down on Prince Yan Xue Shengjing's character, so she would not help them bear witness, but she did not deny it, and said softly: "Empress Dowager, they became sworn brothers right here in Qixin Palace."

Empress Dowager Jiang laughed: "Since you and Shengjing are sworn brothers, we are not outsiders either; Xiaotian, from now on you shall be like my own son."

Hu Xiaotian was truly astonished—did this not mean he should call her foster mother? Actually, when ordinary people become sworn brothers, the parents of those brothers naturally become one's own parents. By rights, calling her foster mother would be appropriate, but Xue Shengjing's status is different; his birth mother is the Empress Dowager of Da Yong, and if he were to call her foster mother, it would effectively establish a relationship with the Da Yong imperial clan.

Huo Shengnan, however, did not think so. Empress Dowager Jiang's adopted son is only one—her foster father, Weichi Chong. Now letting Hu Xiaotian call her mother as well would put him on the same generation as Weichi Chong; being of the same generation would actually make him senior to her by a generation, so wouldn't she have to call Hu Xiaotian 'uncle'?

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Empress Dowager, I dare not."

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "What is there to dare? Isn't your courage quite great?"

Hu Xiaotian always sensed there was more behind the Empress Dowager's words. He smiled, changed the subject: "Empress Dowager, I will go call the princess out."

Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head: "No need, let's go have some tea. Huang Ying, you two go see Princess Anping first—don't frighten her. Tell her a few rules of the Da Yong imperial palace, then escort her here." The Huang Ying she referred to is a palace midwife, specially tasked with examining consorts and maids; she accompanied Empress Dowager Jiang this time. The purpose was to verify whether Princess Anping's body was intact.

Hu Xiaotian naturally understood this procedure; wanting to marry into the imperial palace is certainly not easy, with layer after layer of scrutiny. He is like a delivery from afar, and now they have arrived at the inspection stage—if the goods are received but the quality does not meet standards, they will certainly be returned.

Don't be fooled by Empress Dowager Jiang's kind eyes and benevolent brows; the fact that she has risen to this position proves she is no ordinary person. Although she has long handed over harem affairs, and now the Da Yong harem is managed by the empress, at crucial moments the dowager still speaks up—for instance, in this case of Consort Dong's actions against the Dakang envoy, if Empress Dowager Jiang did not intervene, one knows not how far she would have caused a scene.

Huo Shengnan led the two palace midwives to the rear garden, while Hu Xiaotian accompanied Empress Dowager Jiang to Ningxin Pavilion for tea.

Empress Dowager Jiang lifted the blue-and-white porcelain teacup, took a sip, gazed at the flowerbed beside her, and sighed for no reason.

Hu Xiaotian carefully asked: "Empress Dowager, why are you sighing? Did something displease you?"

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of my children. Yesterday I wanted to summon them to Cien Garden to keep me company for a meal, but everyone said they were busy. The Emperor is occupied with state affairs, the second son said he felt unwell, and my daughter said she had to attend some banquet. In their eyes, I no longer matter."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help laughing. Even as Empress Dowager, she worries about these trivial family matters. In fact, Xue Shengkang and Xue Lingjun were indeed busy yesterday; as for Xue Shengkang, having just undergone circumcision not long ago, he might genuinely feel uncomfortable. Hu Xiaotian said: "The Emperor and they are people engaged in great affairs, so they naturally cannot spare much time to keep you company. However, I've heard that both the Emperor and Prince Yan are benevolent and filial; Empress Dowager, you should be more understanding of them."

Empress Dowager Jiang nodded, a faint bitter smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, and said: "I understand all the principles, but sometimes my heart still can't let go. Xiaotian, do you think I, this old woman, am being too fussy?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "How could it be? Empress Dowager, your heart is kind and benevolent, approachable, setting the standard for mothers of the realm. Every time I speak with you, I feel as if basking in spring breeze. To speak boldly, I feel especially close to you, like chatting with my mother..." Saying this, his eye sockets turned red; he turned his face away, appearing moved by the scene, but in fact this fellow was just putting on an act.

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Missing your mother?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Since leaving in the first month, I hadn't realized it was already early March. When I departed, it was bitterly cold; now it's warm with blooming flowers. By the time I return to Kangdu, it will probably be the start of summer. Xiaotian suddenly recalled that, when I left Kangdu, my mother rose early to see me off at the roadside, but a warrior shoved her to the ground. At that moment, I even had the thought of killing that warrior." Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but recall the scene of his mother seeing him off that day; his heart felt sore, tears glistening in his tiger eyes. Although there was an element of performance, he had fully immersed himself in the role.

Empress Dowager Jiang sighed and said: "If even one of my three children were as filial as you, I would be content."

Hu Xiaotian turned his head, wiped the corner of his eyes with his sleeve, and said: "What status do I have to dare compare myself with Your Majesty and the others? They are people engaged in great affairs. As the saying goes, loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled; for the sake of state affairs, they toil and exhaust their energies, so it's inevitable to neglect some other matters."

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Sometimes I have even thought that if we were just an ordinary commoner family, I could see my children every day. But I also understand that one cannot be too selfish; since we govern the world, we must seek blessings for the people. The Emperor doing so is correct; in fact, amidst his busyness, he has not forgotten me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If Empress Dowager wishes to see the Emperor, you can often stay in the palace."

Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head; even in the palace, it's still the same.

At this moment, Huo Shengnan and the two midwives had returned. The two midwives wore pleased expressions; one came to Empress Dowager Jiang's side, whispering a few words in her ear. Hu Xiaotian leaned in to listen; although the voice was faint, he heard it clearly. Indeed, the two midwives were extremely satisfied with the results of the physical examination.

Thinking of Xi Yan's alluring yet pure appearance, Hu Xiaotian felt an inexplicable heat rise in his chest. He didn't know what kind of pleasure it would be to indulge in licentious acts with this girl, and he immediately realized he was having wicked thoughts. This Demoness Xi Yan is not easy to serve; compared to her, even Xu Mitian is harder to deal with. Xu Mitian is resolute in cultivating martial arts, aiming to achieve a Ten Thousand Poison Spiritual Body as his ultimate goal; for that goal he would spare no expense, his methods are vicious but his character is not complicated. Yet Xi Yan gives Hu Xiaotian an inscrutable feeling. As the Holy Maiden of the Wuxian Sect, she so protects the Li clan of Xichuan. If she harbors affection for him, she nonetheless does things that defy reason; if she feels no affection, after knowing him for so long, looking back, she has never truly done anything to ruin him to death.

After a while, Xi Yan arrived at Ningxin Pavilion accompanied by two palace maids. Judging by her appearance, she is presently disguised as a purple cuckoo; in terms of looks, the purple cuckoo is no great beauty, merely of above-average appearance. However, Xi Yan's demeanor undoubtedly surpasses that of the purple cuckoon by several folds; even with such looks, the grace naturally emanating from her gestures already makes one feel entranced and spiritually swayed.

Xi Yan, appearing as an infinitely bashful maiden, entered Ningxin Pavilion, paid her respects to Empress Dowager Jiang, and spoke in a voice like an oriole emerging from the valley: "Greetings, Empress Dowager, I am Xiyue; I wish you myriad blessings and peace!"

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled at Xi Yan, her expression pleasant, and said: "Please rise!" Then she glanced at Eunuch Dong and said: "Grant her a seat!"

After Xi Yan took her seat, she lowered her head, graceful and demure; from her bearing one could detect no trace of willfulness or deceit. Hu Xiaotian secretly admired her acting skills.

Empress Dowager Jiang's first impression of Xi Yan was that there was nothing bad about her, nor anything particularly outstanding. Having once overseen the inner palace, she was accustomed to seeing its beauties; beauties capable of toppling cities and states were commonplace. Compared to them, Xi Yan's looks were certainly not stunning, yet this young lady possessed an innate noble and graceful demeanor that ordinary girls lack, for she is of imperial descent. Empress Dowager Jiang said: "Xiyue, in a few days you will formally marry into our Xue family, becoming the daughter-in-law of our Xue household; since we are now one family, there is no need for ceremony."

Yes!

Empress Dowager Jiang said: "I heard you came from Kangdu, encountering many risks and setbacks along the way, and lost much of your dowry. Therefore I consulted with the Empress, and had the Needlework Bureau rush-make several sets of wedding garments according to your measurements; I brought them along today for you to try on and see if they fit."

Xi Yan said: "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your concern; please also convey my thanks to the Empress for her solicitude."

Due to a slip of the pen by Zhangyu, Xiyue was mistakenly written as Xi Yan; although just a name, the meaning is entirely different. Thanks to all brothers and sisters for pointing this out; Zhangyu has already corrected it in the text, will strengthen proofreading to avoid such mix-ups, and please continue to cast recommendation votes to encourage Zhangyu to improve! (To be continued~^~)