The Sovereign – Chapter 82

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

Heart-Wrenching Pain

The truth was actually like this

Liu Qianxun stared at the pill in shock, unable to believe it. How could she not recognize this pill? It was used for disciples to carry out missions, usually given to those not under Ling Yu’s control. It also offered a chance at life, as it wouldn’t immediately be fatal upon consumption. However, one would need to take specially made pills long-term, and if an antidote wasn’t obtained within a year, death would occur due to the poison.

Ling Yu wanted her to poison Qin Junlan! Why? Was it to test her loyalty, or because she had discovered Liu Qianxun’s growing feelings for Qin Junlan? But the military treatise wasn’t finished yet, and she hadn’t obtained what she wanted most. Why act now?

No, this pill would allow one to live for at least a year after consumption. In a year’s time, Qin Junlan could complete the military treatise. The four-kingdom summit and the talk of a peaceful era were all false pretenses. Her true purpose was to investigate Qin Junlan’s situation and personally monitor Liu Qianxun. For this, she even managed to convince the other two kingdoms to come to court simultaneously, making everything seem so natural and logical.

What should she do? Once Ling Yu set her mind on killing, it was hard to change. The more she tried to protect, the more dangerous it would be for those around her. Liu Qianxun picked up the pill, holding it between her thumb and forefinger, hesitating. She applied a little force, crushing the pill into powder. She would never poison Qin Junlan! She would definitely find a way to resolve these issues.

“Her Majesty has arrived!” The eunuch’s announcement was heard. Liu Qianxun hurriedly put away the brocade box, then paused her actions. Ling Yu had given her the medicine so openly, with all the palace servants witnessing it. This matter surely couldn’t be hidden from Qin Junlan. If she deliberately hid it, wouldn’t it be like “hiding a deer and calling it a horse” (idiom meaning to do something obviously suspicious)?

Thinking of this, she took out the glass bottle from the brocade box, held it in her hand, and walked out of the sleeping chamber to welcome Qin Junlan’s arrival.

Qin Junlan had stayed up all night to finally complete the repair of the Muguang Yao Qin. She had been hesitant about personally delivering it, but after hearing that Ling Yu had come to Qixia Palace early in the morning, she decided to investigate in person.

“Welcoming Your Majesty, long live the Emperor, long live, long live!” Liu Qianxun bowed deeply. Qin Junlan stepped forward, took her hand, and opened her palm to find two fresh red string wounds on her fingertips. She asked with concern, “Does it hurt? It’s all my fault for being careless and allowing you to play for everyone.”

“I’m fine, I can’t feel any pain now. These small wounds will heal quickly. Your Majesty, please don’t worry.” Liu Qianxun’s lips maintained a faint smile. The former ice-cold demeanor, indifference, and coldness had completely disappeared when facing Qin Junlan.

“That’s good.” Qin Junlan turned and personally took the guqin from Yuan Xi’s hands. “Xun’er, I’m giving you this Muguang Yao Qin. The strings have all been replaced with nylon and golden silkworm silk, which won’t easily hurt your fingers.”

“Is this the thousand-year-old king of guqin, the Muguang Yao Qin?” Liu Qianxun received it lovingly, gently caressing the strings and body. Although it showed signs of age, it still retained its musical charm. She had heard about this ancient guqin from Liu Zhu years ago and had always wanted to see it in person. She never expected it to be hidden here in the Ji Imperial Palace.

“The guqin had been set aside for too long, and its strings had long since broken. Her Majesty stayed up all night to repair these strings for the Princess,” Yuan Xi said.

“Yuan Xi~” Qin Junlan glared at her lightly, indicating that she needn’t say more. She hadn’t intended for Liu Qianxun to know about all she had done.

Hearing this, Liu Qianxun quickly picked up Qin Junlan’s hands. Qin Junlan gently gripped, wanting to pull back.

“Let me see!” Liu Qianxun’s tone suddenly became domineering. Qin Junlan could only slowly release her grip. Her delicate ten fingers had several small cuts. Although not obvious, they made Liu Qianxun’s heart ache, knowing the pain of fingers connected to the heart.

Qin Junlan was truly foolish. She could pour all her love into one person, but Liu Qianxun couldn’t reciprocate. All she could do was protect her under Ling Yu’s pressing threats.

“I’m fine. I heard the Crown Princess came to see you this morning?” Qin Junlan withdrew her hand, clasping them behind her back. Her expression was a bit colder than usual. Liu Qianxun felt something strange about her attitude, as if she wasn’t as cheerful as usual.

“Yes, she said she felt responsible for my injury and brought some Fuyugao, an external wound medicine from the Yu Kingdom.” As she spoke, she took out the glass bottle. Qin Junlan merely glanced at it lightly, saying, “The Crown Princess is quite thoughtful.”

“I’m also flattered by her favor.”

“Is that so…” Qin Junlan looked at Liu Qianxun suspiciously. This woman, whom she often couldn’t see through, had thoughts too deep to guess. What exactly was that tattoo? If it really was an iris, wouldn’t that mean Liu Qianxun and Ling Yu…

“Does Your Majesty have something on your mind?” Liu Qianxun felt that Qin Junlan was preoccupied today, and her attitude towards her had cooled somewhat. Could it be that she had noticed something? But she had been so careful, not even making eye contact with Ling Yu. She shouldn’t have noticed anything.

Since seeing the tattoo, Qin Junlan’s heart had been constantly clenched, occasionally feeling a pang of sourness. Liu Qianxun was too suspicious. From their first meeting until now, she had considered many possibilities, but never thought that she might have some relationship with such an important figure from the Yu Kingdom. But now it seemed her identity must be extraordinary.

“It’s nothing. I’ve been busy with diplomatic affairs lately and need to meet with envoys from the three kingdoms separately. I’ll go back now.” Qin Junlan’s words sounded somewhat weak, making Liu Qianxun feel suddenly panicked. She couldn’t see clearly into Qin Junlan’s heart and didn’t know if she was suspecting anything.

“Your Majesty, will you come keep me company tonight?” Liu Qianxun lightly pulled at her sleeve, asking for her company for the first time. She had never been so soft before, putting aside her pride and self-esteem, just wanting to be with her.

“I’ll try my best~” Qin Junlan smiled faintly and turned to leave, her heart aching slightly. How she wished everything was just her overthinking. But since that glance, whenever she saw Liu Qianxun, her heart felt uneasy.

“Something’s not right with Her Majesty~” Ye Ming stepped forward, helping Liu Qianxun hold the guqin, puzzled.

“She must have learned something, or discovered some clue from Ling Yu to be like this.” Liu Qianxun lightly touched her chest, feeling her heartbeat inexplicably quicken. It was caused by nervousness and worry. She tightly gripped her collar, panic sweeping over her.

“Tower Master, don’t worry too much. The Empress has always been suspicious. Perhaps she’s just tired from repairing the guqin for you last night.” Ye Ming had never seen Liu Qianxun so soft and helpless before, and suddenly didn’t know what to do. She could share in missions, but couldn’t soothe her inner turmoil. She only hoped that Liu Qianxun could soon break free from the pain of being torn between two sides.

“Ye Ming, if the Sect Leader ordered you to kill the little princess, what would you do?”

“What?” Ye Ming was terrified, her face turning ashen, her heart trembling.

“Don’t be nervous, I’m just saying if. The Sect Leader hasn’t given such an order.” Liu Qianxun patted her shoulder lightly, telling her to relax.

Ye Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief, her suspended heart finally settling down. Why couldn’t the Tower Master use a different way to make comparisons? She thought for a moment and answered, “If such a day really came, Ye Ming could only beg the Tower Master for help. If the Sect Leader issued a Shura kill order, no one would escape death, no matter who it was~”

“Beg me? I can barely protect myself…” Liu Qianxun’s eyes dimmed, the usually bright light seeming to slowly extinguish.

She felt as if she had been caught in a fierce storm, dark clouds looming over her. She was suppressed, unable to find any way out, lost in the vast expanse of land.

Walking out of Qixia Palace, Qin Junlan sighed softly. With no heart to review memorials, her steps unconsciously led her to the Iris Garden. She dismissed her attendants and sat alone in the garden pavilion, staring at a patch of brocade, lost in thought.

She plucked an iris and held it in her palm. What a beautiful flower, low-key yet noble, blooming freely between heaven and earth. Even if only carved on a shoulder, it was still alluringly beautiful. Red iris, red yan… was the most beautiful woman in Qinghe. Who exactly was Liu Qianxun? Qin Junlan leaned against a round pillar in the courtyard. The Iris Garden was as silent as falling leaves, when suddenly she heard footsteps of varying speeds.

“It should be here.” The voice sounded like a child’s, but had lost its childishness. Nalan Ling, known for her ability to identify flowers by their scent, had heard while in the Imperial Garden that there was a beautiful garden in the palace specially built on the Empress’s orders. She walked here together with Nalan Qing.

“What doesn’t Qing Kingdom have? Yet you’re fascinated by things in the Ji Imperial Palace.” The speaker was Nalan Qing. Her voice was melodious with a hint of unrestrained charm, making it hard to forget once heard.

“I’m also interested in things from the Yu Kingdom, but you won’t take me there.” Nalan Ling lightly pursed her lips. Seeing Nalan Qing squinting at her with a smile, she raised her hand to stop her, “I know what you’re going to say, ‘Get it with your own abilities’, right?”

“Good that you know. If you want to go to the Yu Kingdom, go by yourself. I don’t want to accompany you on such a long journey.” Nalan Qing raised an eyebrow. She had always adopted a free-range approach to educating Nalan Ling, never forcing her to study, never demanding she learn martial arts, and never stopping her from being infatuated with Ling Yu.

Nalan Qing had always advocated that if you want something, get it with your own abilities. Just like herself, having thoughts and actions that didn’t conform to the world, after being repeatedly obstructed by her family, she could only seize the position of family head. With her lofty status and deterrent power, she made those who opposed her shut up.

“Yes, yes, yes, Elder Sister is right. Ling’er has learned her lesson~” A smile flashed across Nalan Ling’s lips, but her peripheral vision unintentionally caught sight of the irises. She excitedly ran forward to admire them, “Wow, I can’t believe there are so many colors of irises here.”

“This is the national flower of the Yu Kingdom. I didn’t expect it to grow so beautifully in the Ji Imperial Palace~” Nalan Qing also marveled. The soil and climate of Ji Kingdom differ from Yu Kingdom, so this specially built Iris Garden must have required great effort and careful nurturing, showing the dedication put into it.

“Elder Sister, look at the red ones here. They look exactly like the tattoo I saw on Changning’s shoulder last time!”

“Ling’er!” Nalan Qing wanted to stop Nalan Ling’s unintentional words, but it was too late. From the moment they entered the garden, she had sensed someone was here. Through the gaps in the trees and flowers, she saw Qin Junlan sitting in the pavilion. She had intended to leave quietly with Nalan Ling after viewing the flowers, but who knew this girl would mention the tattoo.

“Hm? Did I… say something wrong?” Seeing Nalan Qing’s rare serious expression, Nalan Ling suddenly felt uneasy. But thinking carefully, she didn’t seem to have said anything wrong. Perhaps it was because she mentioned Ling Yu’s shoulder tattoo.

She covered her mouth, remembering the saying “walls have ears”. Mentioning a close relationship with Ling Yu in the Ji Imperial Palace might lead people to think Qing Kingdom and Yu Kingdom were in cahoots, which wouldn’t be good. The twelve-year-old Nalan Ling, with her typically unconventional thinking, wasn’t concerned about issues between nations, but worried about causing trouble for Ling Yu.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Qin Junlan had heard every word she said clearly, but she walked down from the pavilion without showing any emotion.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress~” Nalan Qing calmly bowed, maintaining her usual calm demeanor, accompanied by an unrestrained elegance.

“Her Majesty the Empress?” Nalan Ling hadn’t sensed anyone in the garden, truly showing her low level of martial arts. She hurriedly bowed.

“I was just passing through. No need for formalities. I won’t disturb Clan Leader Nalan and Miss Nalan’s flower viewing.” Qin Junlan’s face was expressionless, calmly walking away.

“Ling’er, do you know that sometimes disaster comes from one’s own mouth?” Nalan Qing squinted at Qin Junlan’s lonely retreating figure, sensing a pitiful loneliness and a suppressed pain. Even though she was so good at disguising her emotions, Nalan Qing could still feel her trembling heart.

“Elder Sister, I was wrong…” Although Nalan Ling didn’t know exactly what had happened, she could judge from Nalan Qing’s expression that what she had just said must have been inappropriate. Otherwise, why would the Empress’s expression be so strange, clearly with angry and shocked eyes, yet able to maintain a calm face?

“It’s alright. Next time you’ll understand to speak cautiously and not comment recklessly on matters. Besides… this was an inevitable outcome. It’s just a few days earlier, what difference does it make…” Nalan Qing suddenly smiled, gracefully turning around to leave the Iris Garden. “In a couple of days, we’ll leave this place. I have no interest in the turmoil of the Ji Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Ling’er has no interest either.” She was only interested in Ling Yu.

Everything seemed very calm, yet also as unreal as a dream.

Was she dreaming? Qin Junlan didn’t know how she had returned to Fengluan Palace. She only knew that her mind was blank, and when she stumbled into the imperial study, she found that her nails had somehow dug into her flesh, wearing her palm until it bled.

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