The Sovereign – Chapter 77

Volume Four: Opulent Splendor Like a Dream, Waters Flow East

Vinegar Overflowing

What kind of emotion is this? A sour feeling in the heart

This young noble is the son of Huo Yunqi, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court, and the younger brother of the Wise King’s concubine, named Huo Di. He is the darling of everyone, always looking down on others. Moreover, with his sister entering the Wise King’s Mansion and his father wielding great power in the court, deeply favored by the Emperor, he became even more domineering and tyrannical.

“The Qing King’s noble Nalan family? Could you be the family head, Nalan Qing?” Huo Di’s surprised tone carried a hint of fear, either impressed by her aura or because he had heard legends about her.

Even though he was proud and arrogant, Huo Di had heard of Nalan Qing despite his lack of achievements. It was said that she was adopted by the Nalan family’s second branch from a young age, often ridiculed by clan members for her unclear origins and not being of pure bloodline. At the age of fourteen, she was forced to marry the son of the Nalan family’s main branch. In less than a year, she took control of the main branch, then issued a divorce letter, ending her relationship with her husband, facing opposition from the entire family. Under pressure, she rebelled against the family and seized the position of family head. In the following years, the Nalan family’s businesses expanded further, spreading throughout the Qing Kingdom and even to the other three countries, with the family’s prestige steadily rising.

The Qing Kingdom was formerly known as Qin. Because the Emperor was infatuated with Nalan Qing, he specially changed the country’s name to Qing. Since then, Nalan Qing’s story has spread from the Qing Kingdom to the other three countries, becoming a legend. However, how much of the story and rumors are true or false remains unknown.

“Indeed, I am. My younger sister has just arrived in Jidu, and being young and inexperienced, I hope the young master won’t take offense,” Nalan Qing said, shedding her usual sharp demeanor and speaking politely to Huo Di.

“Forget it, forget it. Let’s go,” Huo Di waved his hand, wanting to quickly end the confrontation with her. After all, Nalan Qing came to Jidu this time as a national envoy, and offending her would mean offending the entire Qing Kingdom. Such a great crime was not something he could bear, Huo Di thought resentfully.

Before leaving, he took a deep look at Nalan Qing. Her ethereal, fairy-like grace truly made one linger and forget to return. His heart itched with desire, but he could only suppress it. He couldn’t help but think of Hong Yuan, the most beautiful woman in Qinghe, and sighed. The most beautiful women in this world were all so high above, seemingly untouchable like clouds.

The mother of the rescued child was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Nalan Qing, who only nodded slightly. However, she noticed Nalan Ling trying to sneak away stealthily. She lightly pushed her palm, using her inner force to create a gust of wind that knocked Nalan Ling to the ground.

“Ouch~” She cried out in surprise, raising her eyebrows and glaring at Nalan Qing, “Nalan Qing, don’t you know how to cherish the fairer sex?”

“You are an uncut jade that needs polishing,” Nalan Qing raised an eyebrow, then smiled gently, “I only used a fraction of my power. Your three-legged cat (figurative: superficial) martial arts skills shouldn’t be flaunted to cause trouble.”

“So, shouldn’t big sister teach me martial arts properly, to prevent my crude skills from embarrassing the Nalan family when I go out?” Nalan Ling patted the dust off her clothes and tucked her soft whip back into her waist.

“I don’t have time to teach you,” Nalan Qing said with a playful smile, raising her eyebrow as she walked forward. Nalan Ling hurriedly followed, her eyes darting around as she pretended to pitifully tug at Nalan Qing’s clothes, “Big sister~ Then… can you let Ling Changning teach me? Didn’t you say her martial arts are excellent, based on the Tiancang Pavilion’s heart method, combined with the strengths of various schools to form her own style?”

“Put away your clever tricks. This is Jidu territory, and Changning isn’t someone you can meet casually whenever you want,” Nalan Qing said in the manner of a family head. Although her words were reproachful, it was her unique way of showing affection.

Nalan Ling, just twelve years old, is the youngest daughter of the Nalan family’s main branch. Intelligent and unconventional, although born into nobility, she dislikes tedious etiquette. From a young age, she has loved wielding swords and enjoys Nalan Qing’s nonconformist personality. Though they are called sisters, they have no blood relation, but Nalan Ling always likes to stick close to Nalan Qing, pestering her to teach martial arts and experience the various aspects of life together.

“Alright, alright, I promised to listen to you on this trip, and I’ll keep my word!” Nalan Ling appeared outwardly obedient, but in her heart, she was still plotting how to find Ling Yu. Her purpose for coming on this trip was to see Ling Yu again, and as soon as they arrived in Jidu, she had been trying every way to find her, but Nalan Qing paid no attention to her efforts.

“In a few days, we’ll be entering the palace. You should behave yourself. There are plenty of stories and dramas in this Ji Imperial Palace,” Nalan Qing looked at the distant imperial city, her pupils slightly contracting, a meaningful smile appearing at the corner of her lips.

The carriage arrived at the palace before dusk. Liu Qianxun returned to the loquat forest not long before walking out with Yun Jin. Chen Qing didn’t notice anything unusual, and she also asked Yun Jin not to mention that she had left the loquat forest. Although Yun Jin was suspicious, she still agreed to keep it a secret. Too many unanswered questions remained in her heart, just like her mother’s story. She wasn’t accustomed to asking questions and had no curiosity, so she didn’t bother with those unsolvable matters.

When she returned to Qixia Palace, dusk had already pressed down on the distant glazed tile roofs, and the imperial palace was as empty and quiet as ever. As soon as Liu Qianxun stepped into the front garden, she noticed a new decoration in the courtyard. Potted plants of various sizes were arranged tastefully, with iris flowers in full bloom. Seeing these flowers warmed Liu Qianxun’s heart, reminding her of the Iris Garden and suddenly making her miss Qin Junlan.

It had only been half a day since she left the palace, yet somehow she felt a sense of longing. Usually in the palace, Qin Junlan was often busy and out of sight, but perhaps because this was where she grew up and lived, filled with her presence everywhere, it felt familiar. The palace was no longer strange to her, nor was it cold-hearted. She used to be very resistant to entering the palace, but now she had a sense of belonging.

Strangely, the palace was empty today, not even Mu Jin was in sight. In the vast courtyard, there was only one gardener tending to the various iris flowers. She walked up and said to the person, “Please trouble yourself to send two pots to the Imperial Study for the Emperor.”

“Princess, what color would you like to send to the Emperor?” A familiar voice sounded, and Liu Qianxun looked up in surprise. The person turned slightly, and it was actually Qin Junlan.

She was wearing a plain green robe, her hair simply tied up, with bright and clear eyes that were distinctly black and white, looking at Liu Qianxun with a deep smile.

“Yan’er?” Liu Qianxun clearly hadn’t expected Qin Junlan to be waiting for her here, let alone personally tending to the iris flowers.

“The iris garden is in full bloom. I thought that Qixia Palace had all kinds of flowers except for irises, so I learned from the gardener how to transplant them into pots. Look, I did all these myself. Is Xun’er satisfied?”

“You are the Emperor, how can you waste time doing these things?” Liu Qianxun took her hand, brushing off the dust on her body. This was not at all like an emperor’s behavior. If the Empress Dowager and court officials knew that Qin Junlan had become a gardener for her, who knows what kind of words they would use to criticize her.

“How can it be a waste of time to make Xun’er happy? This is as important as state affairs. Besides, I only came after finishing reviewing the memorials,” Qin Junlan had told herself that no matter how busy she was, she must come to see her, to accompany her.

Because she would always miss her, always unconsciously smile when thinking of her being safe by her side, it made her feel at ease.

“You do too much for me.”

Liu Qianxun nodded slightly, thinking: Let me do something for you too.

But what could she do? She couldn’t even manage not to deceive, let alone having already done things to hurt her. If one day she knew everything, what kind of harm would she suffer, what would her reaction be? Liu Qianxun didn’t dare to think about it.

Ling Yu’s entry into the palace always made her feel uneasy, as if something big was about to happen. If they withdrew without finding the whereabouts of the 《Military Strategy Treatise》, wouldn’t that mean she would have to leave the palace soon? Ling Yu would stay in the palace for at most a few dozen days, just ten days. Did that mean she would really have to leave this place in ten days? No, it was too short. She had to get the military book, she must find this book.

If the military book wasn’t finished, she could stay for a longer time. Strange, why did she want to stay here? She was here to carry out a mission, why was she so attached? Was it merely because of her addiction to Qin Junlan’s gentleness?

“Xun’er, I only wish for you to be happy,” Qin Junlan gently stroked her shoulder, looking at her with deep affection. Liu Qianxun guiltily turned her face away, wanting to avoid her burning gaze.

“The irises are in full bloom. Why don’t we send a few pots to Sister Jin’er’s Qin Garden as well?” Liu Qianxun remembered Yun Jin and knew her feelings, always hoping that in this palace, the person who should be treated kindly should be Yun Jin.

“Xun’er, you care for Jin’er almost more than me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Qin Junlan pretended to be displeased, always feeling that Liu Qianxun’s attitude towards Yun Jin was too intimate, seemingly familiar and affectionate as if it were innate, yet everything looked so natural.

“Your Majesty’s heart can accommodate all matters under heaven, how could you be jealous of such a small thing?” Liu Qianxun said with a hint of a smile, lowering her head to examine the flourishing irises, wanting to pick out the two best pots to send.

“Now that you’ve said it, if I don’t agree, wouldn’t I appear petty?” Qin Junlan surveyed the flowers and picked out two pots of blue irises, saying with a smile, “Jin’er is elegant and graceful, low-key yet noble, composed and generous without losing her status. Only blue can match her temperament, not overly enchanting, but blooming with understated splendor.”

Liu Qianxun glanced at her. She was really enthusiastic when praising Yun Jin, her interest high. It was she who suggested sending flowers to Yun Jin, but now seeing Qin Junlan more eager than herself, she felt somewhat displeased in her heart.

“Sister Jin’er is a worthy consort of her generation, naturally possessing innate grace,” Liu Qianxun said sourly, but Qin Junlan truly thought she was praising Yun Jin and didn’t sense her unusual mood. She just naturally picked up the flowers and said, “Shall we go deliver them together?”

She hadn’t thought of delivering them personally, but Qin Junlan was truly enthusiastic. Shouldn’t she spend some time alone with her since she just returned to the palace? Liu Qianxun suddenly felt a surge of emotion, but didn’t understand why. She could only nod.

The scenery at Qin Garden was beautiful. Yun Jin was accompanying Guo’er in reading. Since Guo’er was crowned as a prince, Qin Junlan had been personally nurturing him, listing what books he should read each day. Although he was young, he already knew tens of thousands of characters and could easily read historical books. However, being young, there were still things he didn’t understand, and Qin Junlan would explain them to him. To help Guo’er concentrate on his studies, Yun Jin also accompanied him in learning about governance principles. She knew that Qin Junlan would definitely make important use of Guo’er in the future, so she wanted to fulfill her wishes and help nurture Guo’er together.

“Consort, the Emperor and the Princess have come to deliver flowers to you,” Huairou came with a smiling face. Yun Jin smiled faintly, put down the book in her hand, and went forward to greet them.

Qin Garden was small but exquisite, unlike the clear layout of the palace. However, the small courtyard had not been maintained for a long time, and there were always stones stumbling in the winding paths. Every time Yun Jin saw Qin Junlan, her heart would stir, just like the protruding strange stone under her feet that she failed to notice at this moment.

“Be careful!” Qin Junlan rushed forward in one step and caught Yun Jin, who had stumbled. Yun Jin lost her balance and fell into Qin Junlan’s arms, who held her waist. Her face immediately turned as red as a peach blossom.

Liu Qianxun’s heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, somewhat painful. Qin Junlan’s posture of holding Yun Jin was extremely ambiguous. Perhaps to others, it might just look like sisters supporting each other, but Liu Qianxun knew that Yun Jin liked her. Even though it was a silent and enduring love, such intimacy still made her feel uncomfortable in various ways.

“Is this Qin Garden even habitable?” Qin Junlan frowned. It was her first time stepping into this Qin Garden, and she never imagined it would be so old and neglected.

“It’s not a problem, thank you for your concern, Imperial Sister,” Yun Jin stood up, her eyes unconsciously glancing towards Liu Qianxun.

“Huairou, transmit my imperial edict. Order the Internal Affairs Department to immediately send people to repair Qin Garden. If the Consort accidentally falls and gets injured, I will punish you all for dereliction of duty!” Qin Junlan immediately issued an imperial edict. With the emperor’s order given, Huairou naturally obeyed, and secretly felt fortunate for her mistress. Indeed, one’s own people are still the closest; the Emperor truly cares for the Consort.

“Now that the flowers have been delivered, Xun’er will take her leave,” Liu Qianxun said without a word, suddenly feeling like an outsider. She immediately turned around and quickly left, carrying an inexplicable sour mood.

Qin Junlan was utterly confused, but Yun Jin understood clearly. She must be jealous. When you like someone, you never want them to have any physical contact with anyone else. It’s a pity that the Emperor, wise in all other matters, could be so clumsy in matters of the heart. She smiled bitterly, realizing that she could only ever remain in this position, watching her happiness from afar.

Returning to Qixia Palace, Liu Qianxun was in low spirits. She was usually quiet, but today she had no interest at all, her mind filled with images of Qin Junlan holding Yun Jin.

“Tower Master, when will the Sect Leader enter the palace?”

“Sister, do you think Ghost Eye will expose himself?”

Ye Ming and Mu Jin asked one after another, but they didn’t realize she was completely out of sorts, her mind in a fog, not hearing what the two had said.

“Tower Master~?” Ye Ming waved her hand in front of her face a few times. Only then did Liu Qianxun come back to her senses, asking confusedly, “What? What did you say?”

“Tower Master, why are you so absent-minded? Did something happen?” Ye Ming had never seen Liu Qianxun so distracted before and immediately found it strange.

Liu Qianxun just shook her head listlessly. Seeing that she didn’t want to talk, Ye Ming tactfully stopped asking.

As night fell, the palace returned to its tranquility. Qin Junlan issued a verbal order summoning Liu Qianxun to the Phoenix Rest Pool for an audience. The Phoenix Rest Pool was a place of seclusion for the royal family, a sacred bathing ground for Qin Junlan’s use. Apart from Yuan Xi and Li Yue who attended to her, no one else had ever been allowed to enter this place.

Liu Qianxun was the first person to be summoned there.

The Phoenix Rest Pool was built with glazed bricks and tiles. The square clear pool was inlaid with four golden phoenixes, with warm water cascading from their mouths, forming a circulation with the spring water in the pool to maintain a constant temperature. There were steps on the east side of the square pool, descending gradually, allowing one to soak in the hot spring.

Thin mist surrounded the area, red candles burned gently, and the Phoenix Rest Pool was quiet except for the sound of flowing water. Qin Junlan had already shed her clothes and was naked in the pool. The water’s ripples tinted her brows, and her long eyelashes were like dancing sprites. With her eyes slightly closed, she sensed someone approaching and smiled, “Xun’er has arrived~”

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