This time, Zhu Xiu Li was finally dressed properly when he got out.
He was a complete chatterbox. As soon as he got out he said: “Elder sister, let me tell you, elder cousin resides just opposite me!” His face was full of adoration.
“Moreover, elder cousin is such a good person.”
“……” Zhu Yi looked at this child with a complicated expression. Since she has come in, Zhu Xiu Li has mentioned this elder cousin of his already 3 times. She didn’t know that Zhu Xiu Li could claim family connection with him just like this. But the main point was whether the other person was willing to be his elder cousin?
Zhu Xiu Li came to her and pulled her: “Go. Let’s go find elder brother to play with him.”
Zhu Yi didn’t saw Xie Ying a moment ago. However, for a moment, she has imagined him dressed in an attire similar to that of the previous crown prince’s.
Abruptly, her cheeks reddened. She solemnly said, ‘Don’t always bother shizi[1]. You will delay other people doing their businesses.”
“I won’t. Elder cousin said that lately he’s quite free. Hurry up!”
Zhu Xiu Li dragged Zhu Yi resolutely, intending to find Xie Ying. When the siblings reached veranda, they saw an unfamiliar palace maid suddenly coming out from the opposite direction. Behind the palace maid stood Xie Ying’s attendant Shen Xing Liu with a face full of impatience.
Zhu Xiu Li laughed mischievously, “Since elder cousin started to reside in Xiuyun residence, it frequently happens that the palace maids accidentally go to a wrong place.” His words did not lack contempt.
The unintentional words of her younger brother made Zhu Yi’s feet halt. Zhu Xiu Li did not know yet that his elder sister was going to do the same thing. It caused Zhu Yi to feel ashamed and wronged inside.
She has clearly pursued Xie Ying in the past, so why was it so difficult to take this step now? Zhu Yi thought carefully and finally understood the difference. In the past, it was pure fondness, but now she was seeking the other person’s power. She would naturally have the feeling of selling herself.
“Elder sister, what’s the matter with you? Are you not feeling well?” Zhu Xiu Li asked her with head leaned to the side.
“No.” Zhu Yi said: “A Li, elder sister will come to see you next time. I just recalled I have some matters to attend.”
She did not even care that Zhu Xiu Li was calling loudly at her in the back. Zhu Yi, along with her palace maid, left just like that. Zhu Xiu Li turned dumbstruck to Xie Ying who has unbeknownst when came out: “Hehe, elder cousin, women have just so many matters, right?”
——
Using the pretext of copying the sacred scriptures for Empress Dowager, Zhu Yi has stayed in her quarters for ten consecutive days, except for when she had several times made a quick visit to Zhu Xiu Li. It went on until Emperor has announced that she had to go to the imperial study.
I don’t understand. So she is a princess and lives inside the palace? So who is that heir apparent? Are they blood-related??
When Zhu Yi entered the study, she immediately saw two men who were sitting opposite each other at the table.
The elder one attired in bright yellow dragon robe and carrying an amiable expression was precisely the current son of Heaven.
The younger one that was dressed in a dark purple brocade robe decorated with panchi dragon[2] entangled in the cloud and had his long hair held up by a jade hairpin was Xie Ying.
Zhu Yi went forward and curtsied: “Father-emperor.”
“Xi Zhen came.” Emperor rose up with a smile. He pointed at the jade chessboard on the table and said: “Zhen[3] and Shou Xu were working out on the Jiu Mu Pu[4] endgame, but he is always keeping quiet to hide his weakness, making Zhen unable to enjoy the game to the full. Come, play with him two games in Zhen’s stead.”
Zhu Yi blinked. Her chess skill was mediocre. She fared very poorly when compared to Emperor. Let her play against Xie Ying? However, on the outward, she said: “Yes.”
There was immediately a eunuch who set up another seat for Emperor. Xie Ying stood up and waited for Emperor to sit down before both he and Zhu Yi sat down.
Jiu Mu Pu chess game accords with the method of arranging the troops. Zhu Yi was very cautious when placing the piece. After ten something pieces had fallen, her brows furrowed. The black piece grasped in her fair bamboo shoot like fingertips halted. When her fingers unconsciously curled around it, it just even more accentuated how soft and adorable was her hand.
All this time, Xie Ying was watching the hand that was hung on the midair.
Emperor suddenly began to give Zhu Yi directions. One ought to stay silent when playing chess, her father-emperor has always paid attention to this. What was going on today? Zhu Yi was nervous, having a feeling that something was about to happen.
Sure enough. Emperor sighed softly: “Shou Xu came here early on to resign from his post so he could return to Weizhou. Zhen feels truly sad about this news.”
Zhu Yi’s hand halted in the midair. Xie Ying was going to leave so soon? However, vassal kings were all Emperor’s in their own territory. Xie Ying’s life in Weizhou must be easy and free. Compared to the capital where he was restrained, he naturally would want to leave as soon as possible.
Emperor added: “It’s so rare for Shou Xu to come back to the capital. It would be better for you to stay. You helped your father manage Weizhou very well. Zhen hopes you will discuss a lot with the crown prince. Empress also has been talking about how she wanted you to spend more time with her. Moreover, in half a year, each of the vassals will have an audience. You will still have to return back to the capital. It will save you the long and exhausting journey.”
It was so quiet inside the room that one would be even able to hear a needle falling. Zhu Yi’s heart accelerated. Emperor’s words were reasonable. He kept blowing on Xie Ying’s trumpet, playing the family card, but essentially he just didn’t want to let Xie Ying return back to Weizhou. Although it could not be considered making the other one hostage, at least it would serve as a warning to Xie clan.
However, Xie Ying was arrogant and proud. He has been crafty for the most parts. Based on Xie clan’s current position in the army, how would he so easily submit? She assumed that he would come up with a satisfactory reason to refuse.
Zhu Yi couldn’t help herself and peered at him, wanting to see his expression at the moment.
Xie Ying easily discovered Zhu Yi’s little movement. He did not make an excuse, instead, he complied very naturally: “Your Majesty is absolutely right. It’s your subject who hasn’t thought thoroughly. This subject obeys to your Majesty’s decree.”
The Emperor’s furrowed brows slowly unraveled. When Xie Ying was silent, he had around him a mountain like imposing presence making him practically forget that he was facing a junior who was in his early twenties. He knew well that this child was going to be this country’s pillar as well as the biggest threat.
Just as Zhu Yi has returned back from Emperor’s study with a disarrayed mind, noble consort Tong has sent people for her.
——–
Noble consort Tong had all the people retreat. It was the first time she did not tell Zhu Yi to sit down. She did not even look at Zhu Yi, only playing with her newly dyed nails.
After a while, she said: “Xi Zhen, I heard that recently you’ve been visiting A Li, yet you haven’t even once stepped into Xie Ying’s quarters.”
When Zhu Yi heard it, she knew that someone at Zhu Xiu Li’s side was monitoring her movements.
She spoke out the words she had prepared beforehand: “Mother-consort, shizi didn’t give daughter an oppor….”
Noble consort Tong interrupted her with a cold laugh: “So you’ve learnt how to agree with me on the outside but opposing me in secret.”
Zhu Yi’s smile faded. Noble consort Tong said: “You think that only lowly women would rely on their face to attract men, don’t you? Even you are thinking that your mother-consort, me, is using outward beauty to win other’s favor, that I am beneath Empress.” The fact that noble consort Tong used her beauty to gain favor was an open secret in the palace. In the private, emperor even gave her “Taohua Niang (peach blossom lady)” endearment.
Zhu Yi hurriedly said: “How could daughter think of mother-consort like that? Mother-consort is the person daughter respects the most. If it was not for mother-consort, how could I and seventh brother grow up safe and sound?”
Noble consort Tong laughed: “You know how to speak prettily.” She waved her hand, “Retreat. I’m tired.”
Zhu Yi stood there unmoving. Noble consort Tong told her two more times to retreat for her to finally turn around.
“I’m truly disappointed.” Noble consort Tong suddenly spoke out these few words making Zhu Yi’s body stiffen.
Subsequently, she heard noble consort Tong’s sighs: “I put a sweat to raise a daughter, but it seems to be all for naught. Everything has to be done by me alone. What’s more, I also have to act like a bad person. It serves her just right to be the only precious one.”
She stopped for a while, “Right, she will soon be able to marry off and become a princess consort. Not like me who has to bear the harsh treatment of the principal wife. Everything was alright as long as she was living well. Who would care whether I and A Li were alive or dead in this palace? I’m indeed silly. I thought that she would know how to be grateful yet she cares only about herself. Some people don’t have to come here anymore. Just consider not having such mother as me and brother like A Li.”
Noble consort Tong talked very slowly. Word after word. They were sharp like a razor. The hands that fell by Zhu Yi’s sides were trembling heavily. When there was no more sound coming from behind her, she quickly left.
The next day early in the morning, Miang Feng took out a piece of pink coral pipa hairpin inlaid with a gold ornament from the sandalwood jewel box and inserted it into Zhu Yi’s single spiral coil hairstyle[5]: “Did princess not sleep well yesterday?”
Even without Mian Feng’s mention, Zhu Yi has also glimpsed the faint shadow under the eyes of the person in the mirror. Her skin was pure as snow, any flaw on it seemed particularly obvious.
Zhu Yi observed herself in the mirror carefully. Her hairline was not like Xie Yin’s neatly cut, she had a widow’s peak. It also wasn’t like Zhu Chuo’s which was round and distinct. Actually, that line was pretty in its round shape but fine baby hair grew there. They were soft and slightly curled, never able to grow long. The fortune-telling book she had read said that her kind of hairline meant her affinity with parents was shallow.
————
When Xie Ying saw Zhu Yi appear alone outside his door, he was slightly surprised.
“Shizi.” Zhu Yi raised her hand to neaten the hair behind her ear: “Can you let me in to have a talk with you?” Xie Ying knew that Zhu Yi only made such movement when she was nervous. He leaned his body to the side to let Zhu Yi go in first: “Please come in, your Highness.”
Since Zhu Yi has already come, she won’t act shy. Arriving to the room where there were only two of them, Zhu Yi looked at Xie Ying’s shoulder and said, “On that night when shizi had sent me back to Yuewang pavilion, my earring has dropped. Unbeknownst, if shizi had picked it up? “
Zhu Yi was clever since she was little. She has skillfully probed with her words. If a woman’s earring dropped, why would the man pick it up? If he picked it up why would he keep it secretly? Obviously, he must have been interested in the maiden. If Xie Ying replied that he has picked it up then it meant that he was willing to respond to her feelings. If Xie Ying replied he hadn’t seen it, she also won’t lose her face.
Xie Ying’s lips slowly curled up, yet his eyes were dark and unfathomable. Just before, Zhu Yi deliberately kept a distance from him, treating him cooly. So quickly her attitude has changed. It seemed that noble consort Tong was impatient on pressuring her.
In the end, she still has taken an interest in the things in his hands.
“Wait, your Highness.” Xie Ying’s voice was deep and unhurried. An unprecedented dangerous feeling was induced in Zhu Yi.
He fixed his gaze on her: “If I said that I didn’t pick up your earring, do you plan to save the question and half a year later continue to ask it Ruan Yu and others?” Ruan Yu was the name of the king of Yongnan.
Zhu Yi’s face immediately paled: “I don’t understand what shizi means.” She turned and left.
How could Xie Ying allow Zhu Yi to go? He easily blocked her between himself and the bookshelf. His gaze looked from above[6] at her, sweeping from Zhu Yi’s face to the hollow in her collarbone and then continuing down to that place. His eyes skimmed over there.
Xie Ying was indeed born with a picturesquely handsome appearance. His black pupils were as black as night pond. Whenever these eyes lightly cast a glance at a maiden it would incite them to fly into the fire like a moth[7]. Otherwise, Zhu Yi wouldn’t have been so enthralled by him at that time. Fortunately, he didn’t like to look around and most of the time he was very cold.
As a result, when Xie Ying looked at her like that, she blanked for a moment: “What are you looking at!? Step aside!”
Xie Ying sneered and indeed has stepped aside: “Your Highness can’t even bear to be looked at, yet still learn like others to provoke men?”
Zhu Yi was infuriated, embarrassed and anxious. A fire has momentarily engulfed her heart, rendering her speechless.
Xie Ying pulled Zhu Yi, who has stepped away, back. His voice finally became softer: “How come you only know to run? What would you do if you now went away? If noble consort Tong did not find a satisfactory candidate, she will force you again.”
Zhu Yi hasn’t thought of running again. She now knew that if she told Xie Ying to let her go he will do so, but as soon as she started to run he would carry her back like carrying a chicken. Therefore, she could only ask: “So, have you picked up my earring?”
Xie Ying stared at Zhu Yi’s face that that was looking to the right and left just not at him, and slowly said: “Since your Highness has asked, how can I let you down?”
[1] Shizi is a title of the heir apparent to the prince
[2] Panchi dragon was a hornless Chinese mythological dragon (link)
[3] Zhen is the way emperor uses to address himself before others
[4] Jiu Mu Pu is a strategy? (not sure as I didn’t find any information about it)
[5] Single spiral coil hairstyle (单螺髻) – (link)
[6] To look from above is a Chinese phrase meaning to live high and look down; fig. arrogance based on one’s social position
[7] To fly into the fire like a moth is an idiom meaning fatal attraction
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