A Beauty In Troubled Times

Chapter 67: The First Encounter in the Deep Palace (1)

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In the first year of Datong, the north was ready to make a move. Xiao Yi became busy again, spending almost the entire day in the palace and his study, with the lights in the room burning all night long.

Zhao Pei had to admire his physical strength and perseverance. Shui Niang felt sorry for him and said that Zhao Pei should be considerate of her husband. She hinted more than once that she should make soup for Xiao Yi. Zhao Pei had never learned cooking, and she explained with a bitter face that if she really cared about her husband, she should not make soup to poison him.

Shui Niang stopped without saying anything and said she wanted to teach Zhao Pei some crafts. So she asked her what she could do. After asking, she found out that besides playing the zither and reciting poems, she could also do needlework. Shui Niang then asked her to embroider something and give it to Xiao Yi.

Zhao Pei sat in the room for three days with her head held high, and finally embroidered a few lotus flowers. She was satisfied with them, and compared to before, they were much better. She happily showed them to Shui Niang, who stared at them for a long time, and stammered, "Princess, are you embroidering... an animal?"

Another blow! Zhao Pei gritted her teeth and decided that she had to learn needlework carefully to avoid making these people laugh.

That day, she sat around the stove and followed the maids and water maids to learn the most basic needlework techniques. Suddenly, someone from the palace brought a message saying that Princess Yongxing invited Zhao Pei to listen to some music.

She couldn't help but frown, thinking suspiciously: Princess Yongxing is in a good mood. Why would she be invited to listen to a song for no reason? Thinking of the chance encounter that night, a chill rose in her heart. Would she want to silence her... No matter how you look at it, there must be an ulterior motive. No matter how you look at it, it feels like a Hongmen Banquet.

Shui Niang saw her face turn pale and blue, as if she was going to be executed. She asked immediately, "What's wrong with you, Princess? Or should I go and tell the prince to go to the palace with you?"

Zhao Pei waved her hands quickly. It was better for fewer people to know about this. If Xiao Yi knew about it, who knows what trouble would happen. "No need, no need. The prince is very busy and has no time to take care of these things. I can go by myself."

After saying that, he called Ruhua and Ziye to come and wash up quickly, then got on the carriage waiting at the gate of the mansion.

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The maid leaned aside the curtain made of purple pearls from the East China Sea, and the melodious music immediately surrounded her.

It was the first time for Zhao Pei to come to Princess Yongxing's Le'an Palace. She took small steps so that she could see clearly. The palace was extremely luxurious, with gold carvings and jade. Exquisite antiques were placed randomly for playing. There was an idle white jade couch in the west corner of the room, which she thought was used for cooling off in the summer. She glanced at the cabinets and found that they were piled with treasures. Such ostentatious display was enough to show that Yongxing was very generous.

This is strange. Although the emperor loves Xiao Yuyao, it is not to this extent.

Zhao Pei showed no extra expression on her face and walked straight through the Moon Gate. A woman was sitting leisurely on a couch inside a blue gauze tent.

When she saw Zhao Pei, she sat up straight and said with a smile, "Seventh sister, you are here."

Zhao Pei sat down opposite her and smiled: "Zhao Pei is late, I hope you won't blame me, elder sister?"

"How could that be? It's so cold, I'm so happy that my seventh sister is here." Xiao Yuyao smiled, her eyes raised and a hint of amorous feelings appeared. Zhao Pei looked at the woman in the sky-blue dress with a smile, still talking to her. In her heart, she cursed her for being hypocritical. It was obviously she who insisted on inviting her, and now she was saying nice things.

Xiao Yuyao ordered someone to serve her hot mutton soup to drive away the cold. Zhao Pei had lived in Jiankang since she was a child, so she was not used to eating these. Moreover, the incident about "mutton" outside a few days ago had left a shadow on her. She took a few sips and put it down.

Xiao Yuyao pretended not to see it, and said to the musician playing the piano opposite: "Ji Jiang, come and play your best piece for the Seventh Princess."

Zhao Pei then noticed the musician who had been playing the piano. He was only eight or nine years old, and she thought he looked very familiar. Looking closely, he had eyebrows and eyes, and when he grew up, he would be a handsome man who would be popular among thousands of girls.

Seeing Zhao Pei staring at him, Xiao Yuyao smiled and said, "Seventh sister, don't underestimate him. He is proficient in poetry, songs, music, chess, calligraphy and painting. I'm sure you saw him dancing with a sword that day. This child is a man of both literary and martial arts."

Zhao Pei smiled and said, "That's amazing. It turns out that she is the dancer who performed that day. I was wondering why she looked so familiar."

"What song would you like to listen to, Princess?" Ji Jijiang asked, his voice a little childish but polite.

Xiao Yuyao glanced sideways and thought for a moment: "Let's play "Drunkenness". Ji Jijiang nodded, raised his wrist slightly, and a line of clear music flowed out. Xiao Yuyao smiled again and said: "I remember that once my seventh sister played "Drunkenness" and I don't know how many people's hearts were moved."

“No way…” Zhao Pei felt a little embarrassed.

"Seventh sister, don't be so modest. In fact, I already knew..." He stopped talking halfway through, as if he suddenly remembered something. He turned around, took out a brocade box from the small box beside the couch and handed it to Zhao Pei. He looked at her deeply and smiled, "Seventh sister, this is for you."

Zhao Pei tilted her head, opened the box, and suddenly froze.

A pearl earring. It was the one she had lost that day. Zhao Pei regained her composure immediately, and raised her eyes and smiled with all her might.

Xiao Yuyao said meaningfully: "This is from Seventh Sister, right?"

"That's right." Zhao Pei closed the lid and said with a faint smile, "Thank you, big sister."

Xiao Yuyao looked at her deeply and waved her hand: "Ji Jiang, you go down first." Ji Jijiang said nothing and left with the piano in his arms.

There were only two people in the room, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Zhao Pei had been waiting for her to speak, but she didn't listen to her words. The incense burner was burning, and the rising smoke was like a white silk wrapped around her neck, tightening little by little, sucking away the air around her.

"Let's be frank." Xiao Yuyao raised her little finger and drew a circle on the table. "I found this at the west gate of the side hall. At that time..."

"Don't worry, Pepe hasn't told anyone and doesn't plan to tell anyone. This secret will rot in Pepe's stomach. You don't have to worry." If she speaks frankly, then I have to speak even frankly.

Xiao Yuyao looked at her frank expression and was slightly stunned. Suddenly she smiled and said, "Seventh sister." After a while she continued, "I know that Seventh sister is a reasonable person. She will weigh the pros and cons. But as a sister, I can't keep my composure."

Zhao Pei smiled but did not answer. She held the thin porcelain bowl and took a sip of the fragrant tea. Then Xiao Yuyao added with a worried tone: "This way, you don't have to worry about your sister and your sixth brother..."

Zhao Pei expected that she would make a fuss about this matter, so she pretended to be surprised and frightened, stared at Xiao Yuyao with wide eyes, and stammered: "Sister, how could you..."

Xiao Yuyao smiled and said, "A beautiful lady with unparalleled talent like Seventh Sister will naturally be admired by many people. It is natural for Sixth Brother to fall in love with Seventh Sister."

Zhao Pei met her piercing gaze, and the two spoke in silence for a long time before she slowly said, "Don't worry, big sister. Pei Pei won't reveal a word."

Xiao Yuyao looked deeply into her determined eyes, and then he was truly relieved. He smiled and asked Ji Jijiang to come in to listen to the music. Zhao Pei breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that in this trade-off of interests, only if she had a handle in her hand would she feel at ease.

Zhao Pei recalled the play she had performed with Xiao Lun that night. Although it was a desperate move, it was the only way. Xiao Lun's brain worked much faster than hers.

If Zhao Pei was not careful, or Xiao Yuyao did not trust her, she might be secretly killed somewhere in the deep palace, and there are countless stories to announce to the public. Although I have not experienced this myself, I have seen many stories in books.

I felt like I had escaped a disaster and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She looked at Xiao Yuyao, who was smiling as if nothing had happened. Suddenly she felt a little flustered. Was she really going to spend her whole life like this, taking every step carefully? (To be continued)