The Sovereign – Chapter 81

Volume Five: Remembering a Lifetime in the Sound of a Breaking Heart

Rising Suspicions

Is the tattoo really real?

Perhaps it was just an old scar, or maybe some other kind of body art. It couldn’t be such a coincidence. Qin Junlan gazed at Ling Yu, her hands slightly curled, nails lightly tapping the dragon throne, her heart suddenly filled with uncertainty.

Could there really be so many coincidences in this world?

Liu Qianxun hadn’t noticed Qin Junlan’s unusual behavior. Her mind was entirely focused on guessing Ling Yu’s intentions for entering the palace today. And why deliberately make things difficult for herself? Wasn’t she afraid of being exposed? She became somewhat distracted, her fingertips lightly plucking the guqin strings. Suddenly, a chill passed over her fingertips, and the guqin emitted a low, broken sound, abruptly ceasing as if out of control.

With the string broken and the music stopped, Liu Qianxun’s fingers instantly began to bleed. Everyone was startled. Ling Yu halted her movements, instinctively wanting to step forward but stopping herself – in this situation, she couldn’t do anything. Her first reaction was to approach, but reason made her stop her advancing steps. Meanwhile, Qin Junlan had already rushed from the dragon throne to Liu Qianxun’s side, picking up her bleeding fingers with a face full of concern, and without thinking, put her fingers in her mouth to suck the blood.

“Your Majesty~” Liu Qianxun’s face immediately flushed red, her hand trembling slightly, her eyes full of tender affection. There was only Qin Junlan’s beautiful figure in her sight. Qin Junlan, disregarding everything else, saw her bleeding and felt heartbroken, not caring about the occasion. At this moment, it seemed as if only the two of them existed in the world, unconcerned with state affairs, others, or even Ling Yu.

Ling Yu stood directly opposite them. As she watched the two gazing at each other with deep affection, the smile on her face became rigid, and every breath felt difficult. She felt as if she had completely become an outsider. Had Liu Qianxun given herself, body and soul, to Qin Junlan? At this thought, her expression turned cold, her emotions fluctuating a thousand times over. This visit to the palace was indeed not in vain, as she had seen many things clearly.

“Ahem~ Your Majesty~” Li Yue coughed lightly in embarrassment, wanting to remind her to mind the occasion. Qin Junlan finally reacted, realizing the impropriety, but in the moment her heart had stirred, how could she have thought of so much? She didn’t regret her actions, but naturally took Liu Qianxun’s hand and said to Yuan Xi, “Escort the Princess to have her wound bandaged.”

“Yes~”

“Excuse me~” Liu Qianxun bowed to everyone and left her seat first.

Qin Junlan watched her departing figure for a long time without speaking. Ling Yu did the same. The grand feast suddenly fell into silence, and a strange atmosphere spread. Finally, Ling Yu was the first to regain her composure, smiling lightly and saying, “Her Majesty the Empress rules the world with benevolence and virtue, and truly cares for the Princess with utmost protection, earning our admiration.” Looking at the Empress Dowager, her eyes were already red with anger.

This Empress was becoming more and more reckless, this was far too undignified! Liu Qianxun was indeed a red beauty that brings disaster. She must find a way to drive her out of the palace, or eliminate her. By all means, she couldn’t let her continue to wreak havoc in the imperial court.

“Our great nation of Ji has countless guqin masters, yet today my younger sister had to hurt herself to please everyone. I feel deeply ashamed and feel I have let her down. I wonder if the Crown Princess is satisfied now?” Qin Junlan’s face was full of displeasure, her words subtly blaming Ling Yu for deliberately making things difficult.

“Ling Yu is at fault. I shouldn’t have rashly desired to witness the Princess’s grace, causing her injury. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!” Ling Yu’s smile faded slightly, her words cautious, her manners impeccable, with just the right amount of provocation, yet knowing precisely when to withdraw.

“I suppose the Crown Princess is a person who enjoys the finer things in life. That dance of the 《Startled Swan》 left us all in awe.” Qin Junlan thought of how the two had danced and played music in such harmony, and felt a twinge of jealousy. She deliberately engaged in conversation with Ling Yu, actually intending to get closer to see the tattoo on her shoulder clearly.

However, Ling Yu’s clothes had completely covered her shoulders, and nothing could be seen. Could it be that she had just imagined it? But it had seemed so clear, it couldn’t possibly be an illusion caused by her suspicion.

“Today, Ling Yu has been discourteous and made a spectacle of herself~” Ling Yu quietly retreated to her own seat, and as she turned her gaze, she met Nalan Ling’s eyes, which had been fixed on her. She withdrew her gaze, returning to calmness, her thoughts unknown to others.

Nalan Qing always wore a faint smile, drinking alone under the moon, watching the changing fortunes of the night banquet with amusement, calmly observing as all others became intoxicated, yet she became increasingly sober as she drank. When feelings run deep, they become uncontrollable; when love reaches its extreme, it becomes endless torment. Those who live against their hearts are countless, those burdened with cages are many.

Only she was like a wisp of wind in the world, roaming freely, unafraid of the powerful, not coveting power, not seeking from others, not stingy with emotions. In this world, who truly held Nalan Qing’s heart remained unknown.

The song and dance flourished, the imperial garden was a scene of prosperity, ruler and ministers in harmony, diplomatic relations superficially cordial. Fireworks rose into the sky, heightening the atmosphere of the banquet. Everyone was in high spirits, toasting to this peaceful and prosperous era. But who could know that this seemingly peaceful alliance meeting was just the calm before the storm? The four countries each harbored their own ambitions and had their own purposes. The struggle beneath the peace was just beginning; this was nothing more than a “Hongmen Banquet” (a historical reference to a famous banquet that was actually a trap) between nations.

Ever since seeing the tattoo-like pattern on Ling Yu’s shoulder, Qin Junlan had lost interest, tired of dealing with this hypocritical exchange of toasts. As midnight approached and the crowd was still engrossed, gathering in twos and threes for conversation, Qin Junlan took her leave first.

Returning to the imperial study, she didn’t go to check on Liu Qianxun. She knew Yuan Xi would take good care of everything, so she set her mind at ease. What occupied her thoughts was another matter. Was it really just her eyes playing tricks on her? Impossible. Such a clear pattern couldn’t have been a mistake.

“Li Yue~” Qin Junlan, troubled in her heart, frowned and asked, “When the Crown Princess was sword dancing earlier, did you notice the faint tattoo on her shoulder?”

“Well….” Li Yue hesitated to speak.

“If you saw it, say you saw it. If you didn’t see it, say you didn’t. Why are you hemming and hawing? I don’t believe it, could my eyes really be failing me?”

“When this servant saw Your Majesty’s expression become grave, I followed Your Majesty’s gaze and indeed seemed to see something resembling a tattoo. But it could also have been an old scar, or perhaps a special garment~” Li Yue, fearing that Qin Junlan might groundlessly suspect Liu Qianxun, and also afraid that she might worry herself unnecessarily, tried to analyze objectively, thinking it best to find a way to dispel the unease in her heart.

“Bring me brush and ink~” Qin Junlan’s imperial suspicion was not unfounded. When she couldn’t discern something clearly, she would find a way to investigate thoroughly. Before the truth was revealed, she would always maintain a skeptical attitude.

Li Yue laid out the paper and ground the ink for her. Qin Junlan held the brush, hesitating for a moment. No matter how much she didn’t want to suspect, she still couldn’t ignore the potentially hidden truth. She closed her eyes slightly, and the shape of Liu Qianxun’s iris tattoo floated in her mind. She put brush to paper, sketching out the iris pattern she had seen.

She examined it carefully, especially the lines at the edges of the petals, which were right at the collar line. Liu Qianxun’s tattoo was on the right, Ling Yu’s on the left – would the shape change? Qin Junlan turned the drawing around to observe it from another angle. Looking from the edge of the petals, there was only one thin, long line, which did indeed bear some resemblance to what she had seen.

“Li Yue, is there any way to ascertain the truth?”

“This….” Li Yue became troubled. “The tattoo is on the shoulder. Unless one is changing clothes or bathing, it would be difficult to see.”

“Peeping is indeed not the behavior of a gentleman.” Qin Junlan rested her forehead in her hand, her brows tightly furrowed. She wanted proof, she needed to prove that this wasn’t true. Even if Ling Yu really had a tattoo on her shoulder, it would just be a similar outline, it couldn’t be an iris.

But what if it was real… Qin Junlan dared not think further.

“Your Majesty, the Muguang Yao Qin has been brought.” Yuan Xi, following Qin Junlan’s orders, had retrieved this thousand-year-old guqin from the treasury. Although its strings were broken and its glory faded, its luster remained, and the remaining two strings could still produce a sound that echoed through the ages.

After the night banquet ended, Qin Junlan had ordered this priceless, rare treasure to be brought. This Muguang Yao Qin, which had been passed down through millennia, Qin Junlan wanted to repair personally and gift to her.

“These are the gold and nylon threads that this servant found. Your Majesty, please be careful with your hands. The strings used for tuning are sharp and can easily cut your hands.”

“I understand, don’t worry. Xun’er’s hand being injured by the guqin string was my fault. She loves to play the guqin, I should have given her this guqin earlier, then she wouldn’t have been hurt today.” Qin Junlan changed into simple attire and personally began repairing the strings.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you going to see the Princess?” Li Yue hesitantly asked, feeling that Qin Junlan was troubled but not knowing how to alleviate her master’s worries. Qin Junlan remained silent, focusing intently on gently pulling the strings, immersing herself in the task.

Li Yue sighed helplessly, while Yuan Xi looked at Li Yue in confusion. Li Yue waved her hand, pulling Yuan Xi aside, “Is there any way to see someone’s shoulder?”

“Apart from bathing and changing clothes, there’s no other way, right? We can’t just strip someone’s clothes off, or splash them with water. Why are you asking this, Sister Yue?” Yuan Xi asked, puzzled.

“It’s nothing, nothing~~” Li Yue pondered, turning to look at Qin Junlan’s figure busily working by lamplight, and sighed lightly again.

Even a great empress cannot overcome the hurdles of love.

Qin Junlan stayed awake all night, working on repairing the ancient guqin until dawn broke. She devoted herself wholeheartedly, her thoughts only of Liu Qianxun. Even though her fingers were cut by the strings, she paid no heed. On one hand, she deeply cherished and loved her; on the other, she still harbored doubts about everything. Contradictions and questions constantly lingered in her heart.

Liu Qianxun had thought that after the grand feast, Qin Junlan would come to see her, but after waiting all night, she never appeared. She sat in the viewing pavilion, also unable to sleep, pacing back and forth until daybreak, but still didn’t see her. The two shallow wounds on her fingertips were nothing to her; what worried her most now was Ling Yu’s unfathomable depths.

Turning to look, she could faintly see the pavilion of the Yu Garden. Liu Qianxun’s thoughts were in turmoil; recently, her eyelids would twitch inexplicably, and she would suddenly feel anxious.

As the morning light broke, an esteemed guest arrived at the gates of Qixia Palace. The palace maids hurriedly reported, and Mu Jin, upon hearing the news, rushed to find Liu Qianxun, “Sect Leader… no, the Crown Princess has arrived.”

“Her?” Liu Qianxun’s heart jolted. She looked down from the pavilion and indeed saw Ling Yu’s figure.

She’s really bold, not only freely roaming the Ji Imperial Palace but daring to come see me openly, Liu Qianxun thought as she went down to receive her.

“I didn’t know the Crown Princess was gracing Qixia Palace with her presence. Please forgive my failure to welcome you from afar.” Liu Qianxun responded calmly, curtsying to Ling Yu according to palace etiquette.

Ling Yu stood with her hands behind her back, followed by two maids carrying a brocade box. She looked at Liu Qianxun with a smile in her eyes, picked up the brocade box, and handed it to her, saying, “I feel uneasy about causing the Princess’s injury. I’ve specially brought the holy medicine for external wounds from the Yu Kingdom. I hope the Princess will accept it.”

“The Crown Princess is too kind. It’s just a small wound, already of no consequence, and there’s no need for medicine.” Liu Qianxun refused to accept Ling Yu’s gift. Ling Yu lightly pursed her lips, stepped forward slightly, and looked deeply into her eyes. There was a heaviness in her gaze that was hard to suppress, yet she still wore a smile. “I think the Princess will find use for this.” She raised the brocade box again, holding it before her eyes.

Liu Qianxun looked at it for a moment, slowly reaching out her hand. Ling Yu placed the brocade box in her hand, smiling lightly, “The Princess should… take good care of it. I’ll take my leave now~” With that, she turned and left.

“Respectfully seeing off the Crown Princess~” Liu Qianxun gripped the brocade box tightly. Was it finally time for an action mission?

The wooden box was exquisitely crafted, with orderly carved patterns. Liu Qianxun stared at it, lost in thought, not daring to open it for a long time. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened the brocade box. Inside was a transparent glass bottle. She opened it and passed it under her nose, confirming it was indeed the fragrant ointment from the Yu Kingdom, a miraculous medicine for external wounds. She took out the glass bottle and lightly tapped the bottom of the brocade box, producing a hollow sound. She pressed hard, and the bottom revealed a hidden compartment containing a tiny red pill.

Liu Qianxun picked up the small pill with trembling hands. After examining it, she suddenly understood everything. She looked at this seemingly ordinary pill in horror, gasping and collapsing into the chair.

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