The First Empress - Chapter 40

Chapter 40 Night Night Tent Lamp
Huiqi walked into the snow, a world of glass. He felt that the air was much fresher. It was already midnight, and two moments after the Reform Movement, Huiqi seemed to have heard the sound of a copper leak, dripping.

Eunuch Lu and a few of the junior supervisors lit bright yellow silk lamps in front of them as they headed towards Qianhe Palace.

Suddenly, Huiqi paused and stood in the snow. His feet were pacing on the ground. “Which concubine’s palace is that?”

Because it was night, Huiqi had forgotten his position. In a place where he couldn’t see clearly, there was still a wind lamp hanging in the wind at the entrance of the palace. This lamp was hanging impartially outside the palace gate. It was too far away for Huiqi to see clearly.

“Your Majesty, that’s the Cloud Phoenix Palace of Qixia Palace.”

“Go there–” Hui Qi stamped his feet and walked ahead. The juniors hurriedly ran to the front. “Your Majesty, take care of your feet. The road to the snow is slippery.”

Hui Qi didn’t listen to these seemingly considerate words at all.

When he arrived at Qixia Palace, Hui Qi shook his cloak. This year’s snow particles were very big. As he stomped his feet, the junior inspector had already knocked on the door.

Because Sheng and Qin’er were in the inner hall at night, there was naturally a little girl that they did not know.

“Who is it? They actually came to visit in the middle of the night.”

“Mouthwatering in this world, open your eyes and take a look. It’s Yours Truly coming.” Eunuch Lu cursed as he pushed open the vermilion-painted carved door. The maidservant had never seen such a formation before. She was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, trembling. The snow on the ground had already been buried on the maidservant’s calf.

Hearing the noise outside, Qin’er hurriedly came out to take a look. What she saw was such a scene. She couldn’t help but be secretly speechless. She waved her hand to another maidservant to pass on the message to Linglong while walking in front of her to greet her.

“Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Master is inside! Your Majesty, go inside!” As she spoke, she glanced at the little girl. Bu Linglong had already taught the people in her palace to be gentle, respectful, and thrifty. There was no need to be afraid of things. This little girl was good. She almost offended the Emperor in this manner.

Eunuch Lu couldn’t bear it anymore. He glanced at him and said, “Go down. Next time, when the Emperor comes over, you should also pay attention to him. Don’t be foolish.”

Only then did Hui Qi arrive at the Cloud Phoenix Hall. Linglong had already put on her clothes. The carriage was about to be cleaned up. Before she could finish, Hui Qi had already stepped into the Cloud Phoenix Hall.

It was snowy outside, and the room was full of spring. Linglong hurriedly saluted, and Hui Qi held Linglong’s hand.

“You don’t have to wear makeup in the middle of the night. I’ve often heard that half-makeup beauties are extraordinary. You’re naturally beautiful. Don’t let those fans make you look ugly.”

Linglong hurriedly wiped the rouge off her face. It was indeed much more beautiful.

“Why did the Emperor come to the Concubine Palace in the middle of the night? It’s very late. After drinking this cup of tea, the Emperor should rest and be tired.”

“Alright,” Hui Qi took the teacup and sipped it while asking, “Did you hang the lanterns outside?”

“All the lamp oil is vegetable oil. This concubine let the small kitchen save money every day. After many years, there will be a long light.” Linglong was afraid that the Emperor would say that she was arrogant and extravagant, so she talked about this matter. It was just a matter of seeking truth from facts. There was nothing the Emperor could do to punish her. After all, she was at the ninth level of the Heavenly Heart Realm, so she could not lie in front of the Emperor.

A smile flashed across Huiqi’s lips. She did not ask herself why she came in the middle of the night, so Huiqi smiled. Linglong held Huiqi’s hand and said, “The tea is finished. Your Majesty, go to bed early.”

“You are considerate. I am very relieved.” As Huiqi spoke, he got under the quilt and thought of the silk lamp. “What’s the reason for that lamp?” He asked.

“There is no special intention. I just want to make it easier for the people in the palaces to move at night. Even the Emperor sometimes passes by my door. This is also my good fortune.” Linglong leaned her head against Huiqi and said softly.

Hui Qi tilted his head and gently held her cherry lips. He stretched out his hand and took off the complicated clothes. His finger stopped at the red butterfly birthmark on his right chest. “I like it here the most. I didn’t expect that there would be such a birthmark.”

As she spoke, she kissed her collarbone. Linglong felt her entire body tremble and her eyes slightly closed. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty …”

“I can enjoy myself. Didn’t you say that?” Hui Qi stretched out his hand as he spoke …

The next day, the Emperor woke up early. Linglong sat up lazily, just like a dream mirror. Did this person ever appear, or when did he leave? Every time, he came and went in a hurry.

She got up disappointedly. Li Sheng and Qin’er walked over with smiles all over their eyes. Linglong’s face was flushed red. “What are you laughing at?”

“There’s nothing else to laugh at. It’s just that the lamp has become a matchmaker.” Sheng Qiao smiled and walked to her bedside. Linglong asked, “When did the Emperor leave?”

“I just left.”

“Last night” Linglong shook her head as if she couldn’t remember what happened last night.

Qin’er said straightforwardly. She nodded and said, “Last night, the Emperor let Lan Zhaoyuan sleep with him. Who knows what happened to invite the Emperor’s dragon face to be furious? So, she came to the Empress Master’s place and heard outsiders say that it was probably because of a plea for mercy.” Qin’er tilted her head.

As Linglong stood up, she was slightly dissatisfied. “Even if there is such a thing as catching wind and shadows, it’s not something we should talk about. Don’t say it like this in the future. It’s good that everyone knows it.”

Qin’er naturally understood that Master was doing it for her own good, so she nodded and said, “It’s this servant’s fault.”

Early in the morning, there were people who were happy and worried. This was how fair the world was.

In Changle Palace, Lan Sou Yu had been waving her face all morning. All kinds of pastries were scattered all over the room. The little maidservant was busy tidying up the mess as she sighed slightly.

“What’s going on? It’s not even as fat as Qiu Gao’s horse. Is little sister in there?” Before the people of Concubine Heshu could make a sound, they had already flown into the room through the clouds like silk. Lan Shuyu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and walked out. “Is elder sister here yet?”

“What exactly is going on? Look at you. You’re crying now.” Concubine Heshu showed the kindness that an elder should have. As he spoke, he extended his hand to wipe away Lan Sou Yu’s tears.

Lan Sou Yu sneered repeatedly and did not dodge Concubine Heshu’s hand. “Sister, are you asking me this knowingly? It has already been spread throughout the He Palace. There is no place for my sister’s face to be placed, let alone anything else. Anyone who tells me what is wrong is someone else. Is Sister here to tease my sister?” Saying this, he felt even more dissatisfied. He walked through the crowd of chickens and dogs and fiercely sat on a chair.

How could Concubine Heshu know? Everything in the Closing Palace had been spread. He had originally come to curry favor with the news early in the morning, but he didn’t expect that he would encounter such an unbearable matter. He was also secretly shocked. He didn’t know what had happened, and his expression couldn’t help but be anxious. “What exactly is going on? What’s worth it? Let’s see how angry you are!”

“Sister really doesn’t know?”

“I don’t know!”

“Sister, this is because of sister. Does sister know now?” Lan Sou Yu said discontentedly. After she finished speaking, she no longer looked at Concubine Heshu, just like Concubine Heshu was a venomous snake and ferocious beast.

He Shufei looked sideways and clenched her teeth. “For my sake, is this a joke?”

“Are you joking?” Lan Shuyu’s tears rolled down her cheeks again. She looked into Concubine Heshu’s eyes and said, “Sister, are you kidding me? If it weren’t for your kind words last night, I probably wouldn’t have let the Emperor leave in the middle of the night. Fortunately, not only did I lose my dignity, but I also made the He Palace sisters talk about my sister. This is a disaster to the fish in the pond.” After saying that, Lan Sou Yu sneered.

He Shufei tightened her grip on her handkerchief, “So, the Emperor didn’t spend the night here last night?”

“Overnight?” Lan Shuyu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. “What do you think, sister? When the Emperor heard your sister talking about your sister, his expression was very bad. He said that I was a disaster. He immediately dressed up and went into Bu Linglong’s Yunluan Palace. Sister, do you know?”

Concubine Heshu’s hand secretly exerted force, and then he threw the handkerchief on the table. “Good Bu Linglong, this bitch Bengong won’t provoke her. She is very good at fox charm. When she falls into this palace’s hands, this palace will naturally have to torture her properly before she can vent her hatred.”

“When it comes to Bu Linglong, does elder sister really think that she can’t get it wrong?” In the blink of an eye, Lan Sou Yu no longer cried. She was completely different from before. She leaned closer to Concubine Heshu’s ear and said something. Concubine Heshu suddenly stood up. “Alright, it’s still my sister who is meticulous. Big sister will pay attention to it.”

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lan Sou Yu and sighed slightly, “This is all because of sister. Sister is here to apologize to sister.”

Lan Sou Yu didn’t seem to care at all, “Sister, what are you saying? What apologies do you and I have? Sister really knows how to be humble. If Sister really wants to thank Sister, then do as Sister says.”

“Of course it’s good. This method is indeed good. It won’t cost you anything. Sister, just wait. This Bu Linglong will definitely fall into our hands.” As he spoke, Concubine Heshu stood up and patted his butt as he walked outside.

A contemptuous smile appeared at the corner of Lan Sou Yu’s mouth. She called over to Shaling and said, “Clean it up. This palace is going to the Empress’ place today.”

× ×

Deep into the night, Hui Qi held the green-headed token and hesitated. “Lan Zhaoyuan has a fierce temper and needs to think about it in private. Li Chongyuan went there the day before yesterday …” He stopped on Bu Linglong’s token and nodded. “It’s still Cloud Phoenix Palace. Long-haired Wan Junxin, I think this Jieyu is not bad. She is my flower of interpretation.”

In the evening, Eunuch Lu had already trotted all the way to the Cloud Phoenix Hall and quickly spread the news.

After today’s lecture, no one showed a surprised tone or expression. They quietly listened to Eunuch Lu’s words. Only then did they arrive at the inner hall to inform Bu Linglong. Her heart was like a thunderous drum, but her face was still indifferent. She grabbed a handful of golden leaves and rewarded Eunuch Lu and the little girl kneeling in the snow last night.

“This is good. Don’t let others feel that you have lost your dignity. Let’s go down.” Linglong waved her hand and the little girl went.

At night, Huiqi had already arrived at Bu Linglong’s Yunluan Palace. It could be seen that Huiqi was in a good mood today. Linglong smiled and said, “Your Majesty is overjoyed today. Let me guess what exactly makes Your Majesty so happy.”

“Come and guess. I have a clear distinction between rewards and punishments. If my guess is wrong, there will be corresponding punishments and rewards if I guess correctly.” Huiqi tilted his head to look at Linglong.

Linglong thought and said, “The stone that the Emperor has been pressing down on has finally fallen to the ground. This matter is neither big nor small, but the impact is really great, isn’t it?” Linglong purposely said that she couldn’t be ambiguous. She didn’t expect that Huiqi would suddenly hold Linglong’s hand, and a cold and fierce light would burst out from her eyes. “How did you know?”