Chapter 94 – This Is Quite Nice

Chapter 94 - This Is Quite Nice

Qin Dacheng was sent to the mountains by the Qin family at a young age to learn arts, and he remained there for ten years. Upon his return, he had no close relationship with his Qin family members, except for his affection towards Concubine Qin. Due to some friction, Qin Dacheng was expelled from the ancestral home and established his own household, no longer identifying himself with the Qin family name. Thus, even Ye Jiangbai was unclear about his connection with Chang Nian. However, through Beitang Miao, Chang Nian got to know Qin Dacheng and discovered that she had such an uncle.

Chang Nian was very grateful to him. She tilted her head and looked at him, calling out again, "Uncle."

"Ai!" Qin Dacheng responded happily and couldn't help but clasp his wrists, "You've also had your fair share of troubles. Now that you've left the Duke's residence, don't go back. Although the Duke has his gentle moments, he has grand ambitions. He wants too much, who would dare to accompany him on his journey?"

Chang Nian lowered her eyes and nodded seriously, "I understand."

With loving eyes, Qin Dacheng stopped the carriage and watched her get down, unable to resist giving her advice, "If you encounter any more trouble, just come find Uncle."

"Alright." Chang Nian turned back, bowed to him, and then left.

The place where she alighted was near the Ministry of Revenue's official residence area. After only two steps, a servant holding an umbrella came to escort her, bowing and saying, "The officials are already waiting, Your Highness, please follow me."

Mustering up her energy, Chang Nian followed him to a side entrance of an official residence, which led straight to a tea room.

"Your Highness!" Feng Jingxian and several subordinates greeted her as they approached. Seeing her complexion, they quickly fetched a cushion, helped her sit in the main seat, and served her a hot cup of tea.

"No need to worry, why are you all so tense?" Chang Nian whispered softly. "I'm not so frail as to fall apart."

If only you knew how you look now, Feng Jingxian sighed with furrowed brows. "Your Highness, please take care of yourself."

Chang Nian nodded and coughed lightly before asking, "What urgent matter do we have?"

"The Emperor has already issued an edict to build a spring hunting palace on East Welcoming Mountain," Feng Jingxian said solemnly. "Preparing military funds has already strained the nation's resources. To burden the people and waste money at this crucial time is unwise. Many senior officials in court have already submitted memorials to advise against it, but His Majesty refuses to listen. As for the Duke..."

Pausing, Feng Jingxian's expression grew even more complicated. "The Duke has been ill for several days and hasn't shown any concern about this matter."

Chang Nian chuckled softly, his gaze distant. "He's not ignoring it due to illness. Even if he were well, he wouldn't bother himself with it."

This treacherous minister loved nothing more than accumulating wealth. For a project like building a palace, which promised ample opportunities for profit, he would at most lightly advise his father and then let him proceed. Once the palace was completed, half of the initial budget would likely end up in his pockets, funding more golden bricks and jade tiles for his own mansion.

"Faced with this situation, no one can persuade the Emperor," Feng Jingxian lamented repeatedly. "Though the Great Zhou is in a prosperous era, natural disasters and famines still occur. Disregarding the people's suffering and embarking on such grand construction projects will only fuel public resentment and claim countless lives."

Throughout history, building palaces had always led to many deaths from exhaustion and starvation. Yet, in the memorial reports, these tragedies were buried beneath praise, hidden from the Emperor's view.

"The Crown Prince and Third Prince have been secretly competing over the supervision of this palace construction in the imperial study for quite some time. Both princes seem eager to take on that role, while Your Highness has yet to enter the palace."

Chang Nian forced a bitter smile. "I've been confined to the Duke's residence these past few days; I haven't even set foot outside. How could I possibly enter the palace?"

"Faced with this situation, there's little we can do but watch," Feng Jingxian said, shaking her head helplessly. "In my humble opinion, Third Prince is more likely to come out on top."

The emperor had yet to fully forgive the Crown Prince for his misdeeds at the end of the previous year. Although Third Prince had also made mistakes, he was skilled in maintaining appearances and reading the emperor's mind, thus winning favor. From the emperor's words, it seemed that he leaned towards entrusting this matter more to Third Prince.

Chang Nian yawned, exhausted. "Let them fight for it. You and I just need to focus on our duties and avoid being bullied."

Seeing how tired she was, Feng Jingxian didn't press the matter further. She presented a few documents to Chang Nian before arranging a warm chamber for her to rest in.

No one knew what Seventh Princess had gone through; they only sensed that she was weary and needed a good sleep.

However, in an unfamiliar place, Chang Nian couldn't fall into a deep sleep. Her eyes closed, her mind in a daze, she tried but failed to fully slip into dreams.

After tossing and turning for an unknown amount of time, Hong Ti softly drew back the curtains and whispered, "Mistress, General Beitang is here."

Chang Nian's eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, just in time to hear the clinking of armor and swords outside the door. In a moment, Beitang Miao appeared in the doorway.

With a fuzzy mind, Chang Nian blinked at him, finding his figure indistinct. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch the outline of his shadow.

Beitang Miao strode in and gently lifted her from the bed, frowning as he asked, "What happened?"

Upon seeing her expression, he realized it was not the time to investigate further. Instead, he reached for the robe hanging nearby, wrapped it around her, and helped her up, saying sternly, "We'll talk about it when we get back."

Chang Nian suddenly felt a surge of tears welling up in her eyes.

She had so many grievances and anxieties, worries and fears that she couldn't share with Hong Ti or anyone else. Only in the presence of Beitang Miao did she dare to let her guard down, her little nose wrinkling and her eyes reddening.

"Big Brother," she called him softly, sounding like a forlorn kitten.

Beitang Miao's heart ached, and he gently patted her head. Without hesitation, he turned around, picked her up, and started walking out.

Chang Nian shifted slightly and hesitated, "This isn't proper."

If someone saw them, wouldn't they say that the Seventh Prince was behaving arrogantly, daring to have General Beitang carry him?

"Close your eyes and rest for a moment," Beitang Miao said without looking back. "Your eyes are full of bloodshot veins. If you keep going like this, you'll turn into a rabbit. Don't be afraid, no matter what lies ahead, I, your elder brother, will be here."

Her throat constricted with pain, preventing her from speaking. Chang Nian could only nod fiercely in response.

Beitang Miao's back was broad and solid. Closing her eyes, she experienced no jolts in her dreams; it was as if she had leaned against a mountain, gradually allowing her restless heart to settle.

Unable to find peace on the bed, she fell into a deep slumber on his back, even softly snoring.

Hong Ti explained apologetically in a low voice, "His Highness hasn't slept for a few days, that's why she's..."

"It's alright," Beitang Miao smiled. "This is quite nice."

A light drizzle fell that day. Hong Ti walked between them with an umbrella, thinking to herself that even if it was pleasant to hear His Highness snore, he couldn't simply bypass the carriage and carry her all the way back, especially with so many people on the road!

That was precisely what Beitang Miao intended to do, and did.

But he was, after all, a clever man. He didn't brazenly pass through the crowd but instead instructed a servant to purchase a few yards of black cloth from a passing silk shop to sew onto the edge of the umbrella.

In the annals of history, this might have been recorded as a tale of devoted love.

—If only the silk shop he patronized wasn't called Butterfly Flutter Pavilion.