The First Empress - Chapter 70

Chapter 70 What the Jade Box Chronicle Said
It was blazing cold.

After Linglong had that dream, she tossed and turned for a long time and couldn’t sleep. She wanted to put on her clothes and sit up. She was afraid that she would disturb Huiqi’s sleep, so she could only silently close her eyes and meditate.

It was very easy to arrive at the 4th watch. Since the Emperor Taizu, the Emperor of the Dali Dynasty had always been diligent and loving. He had probably been up in less than the 5th watch. Thus, as usual, Huiqi got up. Linglong quickly helped Huiqi put on her clothes. She tied the Lion Phoenix Belt around Huiqi’s waist while her fingers trembled non-stop.

“Normally, you are asleep, so I will leave. Today, you are awakened from your shock. After dawn, go to Lord Yu from the Ministry of Rites and let Lord Yu have a look at the Jade Box. Although the Sage does not say anything strange about chaotic spirits, you can still give it a try if the sword moves in the wrong direction.” As Huiqi spoke, he put on his crown and looked left and right in front of the mercury mirror to see that he was leaving with Nan Zhu.

“This concubine respectfully sends His Majesty off–”

Linglong knelt down and watched as Huiqi’s back gradually faded away. Only then did Linglong regain her senses and fell asleep after lying on the bed for a while.

One night without a dream, the next day with daylight, Linglong dressed up, first went to the Ministry of Rites to ask for the Jade Box.

After arriving at the Kunde Palace, he sent a message outside the Kunde Palace and waited at the corner door behind him.

Ji Zhuhua also woke up early today. The magpies on the branches were noisy and noisy, so she was in a good mood. Outside, the legendary Bu Jieyu was waiting. Ji Zhuhua shook the last Golden Step and asked, “Did you say anything this morning?”

Perrin replied, “I didn’t say anything about the Empress’ words, but it seems to be very anxious.”

Ji Zhuhua also understood the meaning of solidarity. Seeing that he was already dressed, he nodded and said, “Have Jieyu wait for me in the main hall. I will come over immediately.”

Linglong didn’t dare to disobey. She hurriedly went into the main hall. The fragrance of the wooden pillars here caused Linglong’s heart to quieten down a lot. Ji Zhuhua walked forward in a burst of fragrance. Pei Lan held Ji Zhuhua in his hand. Ji Zhuhua sat upright on the throne like a statue.

Linglong had been here many times, but not once had she come with a request, or rather, with a straightforward purpose. Naturally, she was uneasy in her heart and didn’t dare to say anything.

“This concubine greets the Empress. Your Highness is blessed.” After this one greeting, he lowered his head.

Ji Zhuhua nodded slightly. “Sister Jieyu got up early. Why did she come here so early in the morning?”

Linglong raised her head, and Ji Zhuhua was shocked, “What happened to your eyes?”

Linglong’s black eyes were like a wheel, and her eyes were swollen like two peaches. “What’s going on?” Ji Zhuhua couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

Linglong quickly put on a sorrowful face. “This concubine has been dreaming about Concubine Heshu for days. Concubine Heshu’s soul is still there. Every time she stirs up trouble in this concubine’s palace, this concubine is extremely scared.”

As he spoke, he began to cry, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

Ji Zhuhua waved his hand and said, “Give me a seat.”

Linglong sat down and looked at Ji Zhu Hua, “Your Highness, Your Highness knows the most about things in the palace. How can such a thing be done?”

The initiative was handed over to Ji Zhuhua. Ji Zhuhua handed the handkerchief to Pei Lan and said, “Did you go to the Ministry of Rites?”

Linglong took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes while nodding. “This concubine has just gone to the Ministry of Rites. Lord Yu is helping this concubine search for the Jade Box. This concubine is terrified, so she came to ask for the Empress’ opinion.”

Ji Zhu Hua’s inviolable eyebrows twitched as he coldly said, “Is Concubine Heshu not idle after her death? Really, but don’t be afraid. Aren’t you afraid of dying even when she’s alive?” At this point, Ji Zhuhua’s tone was a little low. There were many things like this in the harem.

Linglong immediately knelt down, “But it’s good to rely on the empress to make the decision for me. I’m really too scared, I’m scared!”

“Get up!” Ji Zhuhua waved his hand. Pei Lan had already helped Linglong up. His sly eyes rolled. After a while, he slightly rubbed his temples and said, “Normally, these things would be done at Baohua Temple for incense. I don’t know what the Emperor said, but don’t worry. This palace will give you the Emperor’s advice.”

Only then did Linglong stand up. She wiped away the tears on her face while sobbing. She looked extremely pitiful, and her charming appearance made people want to be pitiful when they saw her. Hearing Linglong describe Concubine Heshu’s disheveled hair, Ji Zhuhua’s heart beat slightly. He was the one who had caused this woman’s early death.

“Your Highness, you have never seen He Shufei’s appearance. Her hair is as long as her fingernails …” Linglong exaggeratedly described He Shufei’s evil appearance. Ji Zhuhua slightly tilted his eyes, “There’s a lot of yin energy in the harem. Don’t be afraid anymore. I’ll ask Lord Yu, what do you say in the Jade Box?”

This way, Zhu Qing had already arrived at the Ministry of Rites.

Lord Yu and Zhu Qingyi arrived at Kunde Palace one after another. As Lord Yu greeted An, he said, “I’ve flipped through the Jade Box Chronicle regarding Jieyu. It says that I want to go to the temple in the southeast to worship Buddha. This is not the same as the southeast …” Lord Yu has already started reading the message. Ji Zhuhua waved his hand, “Whoever asks you to drop your bag, just tell me what to do.”

Linglong didn’t say a word and just listened quietly.

Lord Yu swept his gaze over Linglong and revealed a tacit smile. “Well, there’s the Imperial Court’s Imperial Temple in the southeast, and the Baohua Temple in Baohua Alley. Do you remember, Your Highness?”

Hearing this, Ji Zhuhua nodded. “Not only Baohua Temple, even the Seven Treasures Pastries in Baohua Alley are still fresh in my memory. Lord Yu, go down first. I will report this matter to the Emperor.”

Lord Yu hurriedly retreated and walked out. Qin’er was waiting at the entrance of Kun De Palace. When Lord Yu reached the depths of the willow shade, Qin’er sent over a golden ingot. “This was awarded by the Empress. This matter is over. Do you remember?”

Lord Yu took the golden ingot and put it in his sleeve. He stuck his beard on his sleeve and said, “That’s right! That’s right!”

Ji Zhuhua seemed to have thought of something and said, “Since the Jade Box Chronicle says so, this palace will immediately play it to the Emperor and complete your thoughts.”

Linglong nodded, then stopped sobbing. She looked at Ji Zhuhua and asked, “Will the Emperor agree?”

Ji Zhuhua smiled faintly. “It naturally depends on who says it. This palace will naturally ask the Emperor to agree to it. The Bodhisattvas in the Baohua Temple have always been very effective. After you go there, you can enjoy the incense.” At this point, Ji Zhuhua’s gaze moved forward. “This palace vaguely remembers that the spring rolls and the hundred kinds of red pastries are not bad. If you arrive outside the palace, don’t forget to bring back some pastries for this palace.”

Linglong hurriedly nodded her head. She was roughly seventy percent sure of the situation. It was just a little cake, so it didn’t matter.

Linglong looked at Ji Zhuhua and suddenly felt that Ji Zhuhua had a strange smile on his face. It was as if a stone had fallen into the middle of the lake. The ripples were fleeting and unfathomable.

Ji Zhuhua smiled and said, “This palace will return to the Emperor for you. Just wait.”

Linglong nodded her head, “If I really go to my concubine’s heart disease, I would rather eat a long lent and pray to the harem and the previous dynasty.”

“Poor thing, alright, I will naturally tell you. Just wait for the good news. Go to the palace to take stock and bring a few guards.” Ji Zhuhua said as he looked at Linglong. Linglong felt that her pair of eyes were like the rainstorm pear blossoms in the sky, piercing through her body all of a sudden.

Linglong knelt down and retreated.

Preparations have already begun on this side. It should only take three to five hours for him to leave the palace. After all, he is a pink beauty in the harem, and he cannot forget to return in the outside world. In addition, the most important thing must not be forgotten. We must send the things we need to send to Minister Lan’s mansion.

He placed the folded envelope in his personal jacket and hung the jade pendant on his waist before sitting in the room and waiting.

In the afternoon, news of Ji Zhuhua’s arrival had already arrived. It was Huang Quan and Eunuch Lu who had come together. Eunuch Lu read out Huiqi’s imperial edict loudly. The imperial edict had already stated that it would take two days for Linglong to go to Baohua Temple to burn incense and Buddha.

It was a day longer than Linglong had expected.

As Linglong thanked him, she received the imperial edict. She could go outside tomorrow. There was not much joy in Linglong’s heart. After staying in the inner courtyard for so long, he was like a canary, completely isolated from the rest of the world.

“The Emperor instructed Concubine Jieyu not to divulge Xingzang outside. After that, he should come back early. Your Highness, remember this. Don’t forget it carefully.” Eunuch Lu reminded Wan Wan and nodded his head exquisitely.

Two days, it was too late to go home, because there were too many things to do. It would be great if she could go home. Thinking of her father, whose face was covered in frost, and her mother, whose hair had already turned white, Linglong felt a slight pain in her heart.

Although his father was a small Imperial Academy imperial edict, he had high hopes for himself. Linglong still remembered what his father had said to him, “It’s good not to ask for information. As long as you can protect the entire family, it’s good. Don’t let the Bu Clan suffer a tragic loss of life.” Father had lived his entire life with a brush. He knew the dangers in the officialdom and the harem, so he naturally had to inculcate them.

Qin’er packed up some new ingenuity and asked, “Master, can we go to the Bu Manor this time? It’s been six years since we’ve seen the boss and the matriarch, even though it’s not far from here.” Qin’er sighed slightly.

Linglong nodded. “Let’s go to the Bu Manor when we’re done. It’s been six years since I’ve seen my father and mother. I really miss my brother.” Her words aroused a kind of homesickness in Linglong, and she couldn’t help but cry slightly. Her father’s words of instruction were still in her ears. Linglong had neither contributed nor worked hard these past few years. It was as if she had disappeared.

This was good, at least to protect everyone in the family from the political turmoil.

The servant girl and coachman that Linglong was about to take away had all made a list. The Emperor said that they could not be too extravagant or reveal their personal possessions. Linglong naturally chose to bring as few people as possible. There were only twenty to thirty people on the left, so there was no need to make a scene like this. Even if the carriage was flaunting the market, no one would know who was sitting in it.

Half the night, Linglong was already exhausted. Thinking that she was leaving the palace tomorrow, Linglong was unsure how happy she was. His heart was beating fiercely. He was really more timid in the countryside. He almost couldn’t sleep. It had been a long time since he left the palace. He had to finish those things this time. He couldn’t delay.

Just as Linglong was about to go to bed, Zhu Qing suddenly came over. “Is Your Highness asleep? The Empress asked this servant to send a message. If Your Highness is not asleep, please go to Kun De Palace. Your Highness has something to say.”

“Did the Empress say something?” Linglong asked.

“Well, this servant doesn’t know. After the Empress goes over, she will naturally understand.” As he spoke, he retreated. Linglong’s heart was beating wildly. It had already spread to her. This time, there was no reason not to go. She could only tidy up and go to Kun De Palace.