Chapter 33: Grain in Ear (2)

Chapter 33: Grain in Ear (2)

Upon hearing this, the emperor was stunned, and those present in his presence were equally bewildered. The Echiri clan had generations of Uighur ancestry; when did they become Hui?

As they pondered, Yingming performed a deep bow and said, "If Your Majesty has no further instructions, your servant will take her leave." Without waiting for the emperor's response, she exited the leather tent with composure.

Behind her, the sound of objects shattering echoed. At that moment, Yingming's mind was numb, blanketed in a white haze, unable to process any thoughts. She figured that she had now thoroughly embarrassed herself before the emperor. As for what would happen next, she couldn't be bothered!

In his entire life, the emperor had never been subjected to such an insult. Initially, he didn't understand why she suddenly claimed to be Hui, or what it implied. He even thought perhaps she was confused, so befuddled by not getting her rice porridge that she had forgotten her own ancestors. Then, realization dawned on him - she chose Hui because they abstain from pork. She dared to call the ruler of the nation a pig!

The emperor's face turned ashen with anger. Standing there, he clenched his teeth, his legs trembled, and his body swayed. Only by gripping his fists and leaning on the desk could he prevent himself from collapsing back into his throne in rage.

"This damn wretch!" This was the most vulgar term the emperor had ever used, and he never imagined that one day he would be humiliated by a woman in such a manner. Her insults were devoid of profanity, yet their veiled ridicule was more humiliating than being directly cursed at.

The emperor's fury remained unvented, simmering beneath his darkened expression like a storm about to unleash, filling everyone present with dread.

If possible, His Majesty the Emperor must be contemplating murder at this moment. First, he would slay Qi Yingming for her insults, then execute Na Xin and Xue Shangzhang. One was her biological father, and the other her adoptive father; both had raised such a reckless daughter who dared to attempt His Majesty's life in the fourth watch of the night, and now defied him with her words. Xue Shangzhang had forcefully recommended her for the position, only for her to plot rebellion. Did she believe that with the Empress Dowager protecting her, she could act with impunity? If she were to provoke any harm to His Majesty, there would be no need for others to deal with her—the Empress Dowager would not spare her.

Little Fu had never witnessed His Majesty's wrath. In his memory, the Emperor always concealed his emotions behind a composed facade. There were times when the advisors' words had clearly enraged him, yet he could still dismiss them with a serene smile, demonstrating the magnanimity of a ruler.

This time, however, his tolerance had reached its limit. With just one command from His Majesty, Qi Yingming would lose her head.

Looking up, Little Fu ventured, "Your Majesty, Miss Ying has fled. Your servant will bring her back for Your Majesty to deal with accordingly."

The emperor's brows furrowed deeply, and he slowly shook his head. The Empress Dowager's "Power and Peace for All Nations" was with her. Initially, he was not concerned that she would use it—she didn't have the courage. But now, it was a different story. A person daring enough to commit such high treason could do anything.

Yingming was stammering as she walked, feeling temporarily relieved after her outburst but still somewhat fearful afterwards. Where they had initially parked the carriage, a small tent had already been set up. Songe stood at the entrance waiting for her. Upon seeing her, he said, "Manager De is indeed His Majesty's trusted aide; his arrangements are truly thoughtful. He said we can't sleep in the carriage at night because it's too cramped, and our legs won't be able to stretch out properly, which might cause our legs to bend unnaturally. He sent a servant to pitch this tent and even provided two thick felt mats. Later, we'll add a mattress and a bamboo mat on top, so there's no need to worry about catching a cold from the ground."

Yingming approached silently and, without a word, slipped into the tent.

Songe observed her exhaustion, guessing that she must have suffered another injustice. The thought of it was distressing. His Majesty treated her as if she were a thorn in his eye all the time, yet he still planned to elevate her to Empress. What would happen after that? Would they fight constantly as a couple? If that were the case, wouldn't it have been better to simply ignore the late Empress when he was displeased with her, sparing them both the trouble?

Songe took two steps forward and spoke in a measured tone, "My lord, we must not be narrow-minded. Think about it, back when we were in the estate, didn't we have to be cautious as well? Now that we have a more demanding master, let's face it head-on and deal with it. As we navigate through, we'll eventually overcome it."

Yingming shook her head, her thoughts jumbled and prospects uncertain. Unlike the former princess, the emperor was sharp-tongued and unpredictable. In their household, with three girls, the eldest had already married, leaving her next in line. Run He was a restless soul, intent on becoming a nun, and the princess had grown to dote on her, offering a semblance of a happy ending after her hardships. But this emperor was an enigma; his interests were unclear, and when idle, he seemed to take pleasure in making her life difficult, exploiting her vulnerability as a newcomer to the palace, allowing him to toy with her at will.

But on this occasion, as Yingming savored the moment, she sensed a thrill of exhilaration, emerging from the depths of her anxiety! She was a little happy, nervously awaiting the arrival of the imperial attendants to take her away, while holding Songe's hand to convey her last wishes. "If I die unjustly, don't panic. Find a way to escape along the journey, or you'll never leave the palace once you enter."

Songe was stunned by her words. "Mistress, why are you talking about life and death?"

"I insulted the Emperor, and he didn't react immediately. I expect he'll behead me soon. But I have no regrets. My only regret is that my insults were too subtle and didn't satisfy my anger. Anyway, it's done. Death isn't a big deal." She smiled, recalling the Emperor's expression when she scolded him, feeling even more pleased. "What a relief!"

Songe's vision darkened. "You insulted him? How could you do that? He's the Emperor!"

She shrugged nonchalantly, adjusting her clothing. "I was angry then and didn't think much about it. Later, I considered the consequences. Dying doesn't bother me, but I'm afraid it would bring trouble to my family. However, with our family's generations of service, surely they wouldn't punish everyone just for my careless words, right?"

Who could predict such things? After the initial thrill came the pain. Yingming held her head in worry, while Songe stood at the tent entrance like a vigilant crane and deer at the Cining Palace, awaiting the Emperor's reaction and the arrival of those who would take her mistress' life.

But they waited a long time, until their eyes grew heavy, and still no one came. Forget it, she thought. Death can wait; let's sleep first. So, she laid her clothes under her pillow and slept until the sounds of carriages and horses outside roused her. She quickly touched the back of her neck—nothing happened. Heaven had spared her another night.

"Actually, the Emperor isn't that bad," Songe said. "Look, you've insulted him, yet he hasn't punished you. What a broad-minded man."

Yingming didn't agree. There was no rush for a gentleman to seek revenge; there would be plenty of time. Now was the time of the Empress's grand funeral procession, not suitable for bloodshed. Once this was over, the situation might change.

Regardless, each day alive counted. She didn't bear any heavy burdens, and continued to observe the scenery outside. At first, there were still houses when they left the city, but later, human settlements became scarce. The next day, they hardly saw any villages, only endless fields and mountains. They encountered the Beisha River and followed its source upstream, heading steadily northward.

The cavalcade stretched out before them, and in the distance, the emperor's golden palanquin grandly occupied most of the imperial road. Evening arrived once more, with a crimson sun hanging on the horizon, casting a fiery glow across the sky. Distant applause could be heard, and the emperor ordered the camp to be set up. In no time, the attendants raised yellow curtains, forming a large circle around the imperial litter.

The encampment was quickly established, and while oxhide tents were being erected, the emperor summoned several military ministers who accompanied him. These officials, with plumes adorning their hair, respectfully bowed before the imperial litter, reminding Yingming of her father, Noble Lord Na, who, despite his high status at home, still humbly submitted before the emperor – such was fate.

On the other side, Songe couldn't shake off the thought of the suspended guillotine blade. She sought out Little Fu, not expecting to extract any secrets but to gauge the reactions of those serving in the emperor's presence. Eunuchs were astute, with senses sharper than dogs; any hint of unrest would not escape them.

"Ah, Shuida..." Songe leaned against a tent, softly greeting Little Fu as he passed by.

Upon recognizing her, Little Fu handed his tray to a nearby junior eunuch and approached her with his hands in his sleeves. "Miss Songe, did your mistress send you over?"

Songe replied negatively. "Our mistress has been in a daze since yesterday and refuses to speak. I suspect something might have happened, so I came to inquire of Shuida, to have some understanding."

Little Fu dismissed her concerns with a slight smile. "Most likely, she's just worn out from the journey and doesn't feel like talking."

"Then... nothing untoward has occurred, has it?"

Little Fu shook his head again. "No, everything is fine."

This left Songe perplexed. Was it really possible that the emperor's scolding could be swept under the rug so easily? If he were truly so forgiving, he wouldn't need to subtly needle her mistress every now and then.

"Oh..." Songe mumbled, "Alright then. Thank you, Shuida."

Little Fu nodded and, just before leaving, kindly reminded, "Out here in the wilderness with so many people, it's not like being in the palace. You must be attentive and stay vigilant at night, watch out for snakes and insects."

Songe hummed in response and turned back to their small tent.

"Milady," she said to Yingming, "I think His Majesty might still not understand what you scolded him for. Otherwise, why would Little Fu still be smiling? She'd have snapped at us by now!"

Songe's thoughts were indeed simple. If she truly believed that, she was underestimating the emperor. Yingming didn't bother explaining anything to her. The only thing on her mind was the pot of stew that was supposed to be returned but had disappeared. She longed for something warm to drink; since yesterday, she felt like she was on the verge of collapsing. If this continued, she wouldn't need the emperor to kill her – she'd wither away on her own.

Fortunately, someone later delivered some Su-style meat and bird's nest. At that moment, she cared about nothing else. She mixed the bird's nest with steamed buns, and surprisingly, it tasted quite good.

She slept soundly that night, more deeply than ever before. By the time all the tents in the yellow-curtained city were packed up the next day, their small tent still stood proudly.

In the end, it was San Qing who came over and spoke through the curtain, "Miss, it's time to wake up. We're setting off, and the emperor is waiting for you."

After a while, the person emerged from the tent, probably feeling embarrassed for oversleeping. With a mourning headdress on her head, she quickly climbed into the carriage.

Yingming, leaning against the carriage wall, was still groggy. As the carriage swayed, so did her head. She slapped her forehead. "What's wrong with me today?"

Songe was also confused. "This servant thinks that we might have been drugged."

It was a correct assumption, and Yingming agreed with it. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world! She pinched her clothes and found the seal of All Nations' Peace and Prosperity missing. She sighed. "Songe, how come your sewing skills haven't improved at all? You let someone take the seal so easily."

That seal was temporarily lent to her by the Grand Empress Dowager for her safety. It was a precious item left behind by Emperor Yingzong as his only remembrance. It held great significance to the Grand Empress Dowager. If she lost it and couldn't return it to the Grand Empress Dowager after returning to the palace, there would be no need for the emperor to scheme against her—someone else would tear her apart.

The wheels of the carriage rolled over the imperial road, producing a rustling sound whenever they hit stones. The emperor leaned against a cushion with one hand holding a book and the other holding the seal between his fingers. All Nations' Peace and Prosperity... He had seen this seal once many years ago. It was so long ago that he could no longer remember the details, but he knew that despite its grand name, it was just an idle seal carved by Emperor Yingzong himself. The jade turtle handle had a slightly deeper incision on one side; Emperor Yingzong's eyesight had been failing at that time, which was why the seal's appearance was slightly marred.

The emperor stroked the seal gently, feeling a little smug. This satisfaction was even more pleasing to him than suppressing the undercurrents in court. Why? Perhaps because the opponents on the court were all old foes, lacking novelty. But this new opponent was someone he could harm with childish pranks. He had to carefully tease her, as using too much force might result in her destruction. Thus, the emperor enjoyed her surprise, fear, and even tears. Seeing her cry, he felt a mix of guilt and joyous pride. He couldn't explain why, but he simply wanted to bully her, finding ways to do so while still showing mercy.

He imagined her crying in panic now, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face. If not for the ongoing royal procession, he would have summoned her to the front of the carriage to see her desperate attempt to maintain composure. However, he needed to remain calm. Whoever revealed their hand first would lose, and the emperor was an expert in this game, never losing to anyone.

In fact, having such a small toy to alleviate the boredom of his monotonous life as an emperor was quite interesting. The emperor always had patience for amusing opponents. Even though she had spoken harshly the previous night, he hadn't used his authority to punish her, which was the greatest respect he could show to an opponent. Now, he waited for her to come begging for mercy. As long as she cried and returned the seal, he wouldn't mind. It wouldn't be wise to provoke the Grand Empress Dowager into wrath and risk her life.

However, the emperor waited for her to seek him out from the early morning until they entered Gonghua City, but she didn't show up.

Gonghua City had been an imperial palace since the previous dynasty. Later, for the convenience of visiting the tombs, it was transformed into a temporary resting place for emperors and empresses. The city was vast, guarded by troops, with the Gonghua City garrison stationed there. When the emperor's carriage entered through the city gates, the imperial road was lined with kneeling officials, including the grand ministers and those from the Office of Military Matters who had arrived earlier.

With a loud slapping sound of their horse-hoof sleeves, Na Xin bowed to welcome the emperor before approaching and bending low. "Your Majesty has had a tiring journey. This servant has arranged everything for Your Majesty's stay. The funeral procession, the imperial seals, and all necessary items for the late Empress's spirit are prepared. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

The emperor nodded, surrounded by his officials, and entered the Fujing Gate. As he looked back, he couldn't spot Yingming anywhere.

Yingming, aware that her father was in charge of the temporary royal residence, felt a sense of reassurance. With someone she knew nearby, regardless of whether they could offer support, her courage swelled. Gonghua City served as a palace retreat, and its rules were far less stringent than those of the Forbidden City. After settling into her quarters, she found time to leisurely stroll around, marveling at the city's antiquity and the grandeur of the distant mountains.

As dusk approached, the setting sun's rays barely illuminated one corner of the watchtower, casting a sharp contrast between light and shadow on the opposing wall. Yingming walked along the dim line, glancing up inadvertently. There, standing in a golden halo, was a man. He had seen her too, a faint smile playing on his lips. That smile seemed to be crafted from gold leaf, floating like a lily pad on water.