Chapter 0027: Concealing Talent

Chapter 0027: Concealing Talent

"Write down the lyrics you sang that day," He Jinli pointed to the table.

Yun Li understood.

She knew such exquisite lyrics would not go unnoticed by the emperor. She never intended to claim them as her own; what's not hers is not hers.

As for whether the emperor believes it or not, that's up to him.

She picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write.

She wrote in small, neat script, and the handwriting was not bad at all.

In those days, every well-bred young lady was taught from a young age, so unless someone was inherently foolish, their handwriting was unlikely to be too unsightly.

However, Yun Li's handwriting, compared to the noble consort's, was indeed inferior.

This was a fact, but although not as good, Yun Li's writing possessed a certain carefree charm.

The young emperor, perhaps a natural-born ruler, was not a polymath.

He only felt that, although Yun Li and the noble consort were sisters from the same family, their handwriting gave off completely different impressions.

Yet, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what the difference was.

In time, he would surely understand.

Returning to the present, after Yun Li finished writing, someone took it to dry.

After reviewing it, He Jinli smiled, "With such talent, why has my consort only now let me know of it?"

"Your Majesty, I possess no such talent. This poem comes from an ancient book I read in my childhood, its year of publication unknown. There was such a poem from an unknown time. I found it so beautiful, I copied it then. I was young and didn’t fully understand it. Unfortunately, the book was borrowed and lost. Only this poem remains," Yun Li explained.

"Oh? Does my consort not remember which book it was?" He Jinli was skeptical.

"I don’t remember, but I recall the book described a dynasty called 'Tang Dynasty'. I wonder, Your Majesty, familiar as you are with history, have you heard of it? The book portrayed the Tang Dynasty as a prosperous and thriving era, flourishing with cultural splendor, attracting nations far and wide. I longed for it. If such a dynasty existed, the author of this poem must have hailed from there," Yun Li said with a smile.

He Jinli shook his head, "My knowledge is insufficient. I wasn’t aware of such a dynasty."

"If it doesn’t exist, perhaps it was someone’s dream, inspiring them to write this book and poem," Yun Li speculated.

He Jinli hummed in response.

He wasn’t particularly concerned, but found the woman before him quite intriguing.

He admitted that at first, he was simply struck by her beauty — her face, her figure, and her overall elegance.

She was a woman of peerless beauty.

Later, he found her conversation intriguing, realizing she wasn't just a woman of mere beauty.

Today, listening to her speak eloquently, he acknowledged that she was not without talent. Perhaps she had been modest about her abilities.

Indeed, this was to be expected, as the Qi family has always been a family of scholars and poets. The Noble Consort had read extensively.

Qi Baolin, as a legitimate daughter, would certainly be more than just a decorative figure, even though the current head of the Qi family was not her father.

She was not just a pretty face; in fact, her vision and understanding likely rivaled that of the Noble Consort.

After all, when Qi Qingluan first entered the Crown Prince's residence, He Lianjing's interactions with her were not as infrequent as they are now.

Back then, the daughters of the Qi family were renowned for their virtue, and He Lianjing, being younger, had a period of close intimacy with her.

But, alas.

He Lianjing gradually lost his fondness for Qi Qingluan’s... strictness? Or rather, her excessive propriety.

A woman can be talented, but she shouldn't always make a show of her talents.

Compared to the Noble Consort, Qi Baolin was evidently much smarter.

Displaying one's talents at the right moment is what truly garners appreciation and affection.

"Your Majesty?" Yunli called out.

He Lianjing looked down at her: "I've been thinking, it's time to bestow a title upon you."

Yunli blinked, "But, Sister Hua doesn't have one yet."

He Lianjing...

Was rendered speechless for the first time in his life.

She takes back her thought; this woman wasn't exactly hiding her talents, but rather was too clever. He didn't mind that she could see his feelings for Qi Baolin. He just found her to be unexpectedly quirky.

He reached out and pinched her nose, "Does my consort dare to speak out of turn?"

"I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty. Please don't be angry; you don’t look as good when you’re angry," Yunli playfully clung to the Emperor's robe.

And so, the matter of bestowing a title was dropped by both of them.

Yunli felt that being a Baolin or having an additional title made no real difference.

The Emperor also admitted that his earlier suggestion was just a whim.

It wasn't that Yunli couldn't be granted a title, but currently, whether she had one or not didn't make much difference.

In the vast harem, most women were actually of little concern to the Emperor.

But since Yunli was from the Qi family, there was always a sense of familial affection.

Especially now, when he no longer favored the Noble Consort.

Both had their own thoughts, yet outwardly they appeared quite harmonious.

After finishing his composition, He Lianjing reviewed it and then instructed someone to put it away.

"What is your maiden name, my consort?" He Lianjing asked.

"Yunli," she replied.

"It's quite different from your sister’s," He Lianjing could never forget the Noble Consort's name.

Though nowadays, he no longer called her by it.

"Like clouds ethereal and glass crystal clear, it is indeed a beautiful name," He Jinli remarked.

"It's quite a coincidence. When I was a child, I came across a line in a book, 'All beautiful things in this world are fragile, like clouds that easily disperse and glass that easily breaks.' What do you think, Your Majesty?" Yun Li tilted her head.

"That's not a good phrase to remember. Forget it. A person like my consort is surely destined for great fortune," He Jinli pinched her chin.

"Borrowing Your Majesty's auspicious words, if you say I am destined for great fortune, then surely I am," Yun Li smiled.

"Your Majesty."

A eunuch called from outside.

"Come in," He Jinli said.

"Your Majesty," the person who entered was Song Dechang, a senior eunuch in the Zhengyang Palace, second only to Meng Chang.

"What is it?" He Jinli asked.

"This…" Song Dechang glanced at Yun Li.

Yun Li understood, "Your Majesty, I'll go check on the evening meal. I'm a bit hungry."

"Yes, go ahead," He Jinli nodded.

After she left, Song Dechang reported, "Your Majesty, regarding the investigation into Miaoyun's family, there are no significant leads yet. However, a few years ago, right after Your Majesty ascended the throne, her brother married a woman from Lin'nan."

Lin'nan, the Empress's maternal home.

"Also, in the Imperial Medical Bureau, the main suspect is Physician Wu, who has started to be interrogated. He once received aid from the Qi family."

He Jinli hummed and waved his hand, "Continue the investigation, make sure it's thorough."

"Yes, I dare not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations," Song Dechang agreed and then withdrew.

When Yun Li returned, she indeed began discussing the meal with the emperor.

After a while, the emperor asked, "Aren't you curious about what we were discussing just now?"

"Your Majesty handles important affairs; of course, I'm curious. But I shouldn't know everything," Yun Li said with a smile.

"There's nothing that can't be shared. It's just about Hua Baolin and Consort De. Would my consort like to know?" He Jinli asked.

"I don’t wish to know. I would be frightened if I did," Yun Li said, looking so aggrieved that it made the Emperor feel as if he had indeed done something wrong.