The Fushou Palace had an empty main hall. Outside the hall stood two rows of eunuchs and court ladies respectfully, waiting to be dispatched. In the hall, eight gilt pillars propped up the entire beam. The quietness made even a needle falling on the ground sounded harsh. Only occasionally, the sound of chess playing was heard. As the last chess piece fell on the white jade chessboard, the black pieces surrounded the white ones and checkmated.
Queen Mother, who used the black chess, leaned back. Her eyes were full of carefreeness even though she knew that the palace maids and eunuchs outside had been changed to Sima Ray's people to monitor her words and deeds.
"Sister, you have lost again." Queen Mother took a sip of tea and looked at Old Madam of Prince Ning's Mansion, who was sitting cross-legged on the woolen cushion in front of her. "On chess, you have never beaten me. Your heart is too big, too aggressive, which is why I lose to you every time I hunt. I
Although dressed like a servant, Leng Changxi still showed a kind of majesty that specially belonged to a royal descendant because of his handsome face, persistency and dignity."Grandma, I'm sorry for making you worry about me." Leng Changxi stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Old Madam. Then, he turned to Queen Mother, who stared at him all the time, and said, "Your Highness, thank you for your care."It was reflected from her eyes that Queen Mother was moved. Leng Changxi nominally was Prince Ning's exalted son, but actually, he was her grandson, which was to say, he was her most beloved daughter's child.Queen Mother nodded and showed no expression. However, she was really emotional inside and couldn't calm down.Leng Changxi turned back and took a look at Sima Han who didn't look as dull as he was in the palace just now but smart and firm."I knew it was you who sent the message." Sima Han nodded and said
Sima Ray's tone was scary. There were screams from Meng Hua, General Meng, who was tortured into the non-human form with his hamstrings cut off. Qin Yunuan walked near and smiled suddenly. She said to Sima Ray, "Do you think that I follow you to come in without any preparation to get out?"To her surprise, Sima Ray grinned, "Qin Yunuan, you're so arrogant and confident. That's why I like you so much.""Is it?" Qin Yunuan walked towards him slowly. There was a kind of enchantment in her eyes like a charming spell, which had never appeared before. Even the man with the strongest will would be lost in it for a moment. "Do you like it, then?"While speaking, Qin Yunuan poured quicklime that had been hidden in her hands upon Sima Ray's eyes and drew back quickly."Leng Shuang." With Qin Yunuan's order, a purple figure popped up like a ghost. She waved her soft sword like a silver snake. Apart from the darkness in the tunnel, Sima Ray co
Even though Qin Yunuan was the one who took the initiative to call Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunzhuang dared not to approach her. To Qin Yunzhuang, Qin Yunuan was no longer the concubine’s daughter in the Grand Commandant’s Mansion. She knew clearly that Qin Yunuan’s capability was far stronger than herself.Qin Yunzhuang looked at Qin Yunuan timidly. She didn’t say a word but merely stared at her.“If elder sister has nothing else to say, I’m leaving now.”“Wait, third sister.” Qin Yunzhuang finally boosted her courage and stopped Qin Yunuan. By that time, Leng Changxi had left cleverly, leaving the two sisters with a complicated relationship on the grand stairs.Qin Yunuan smiled, looking at Qin Yunzhuang, who wanted to talk but didn’t.“Third sister,” Qin Yunzhuang said timidly, “I helped you this time, but father…”“What?” Qin Yunuan sneered, “I’ve told you from the very beginning that father is on the same s
Though Leng Shuang was very confused, Qin Yunuan had no more time to explain it to her in such a short time. If they were late, there would be another grand general missing in Qi.In the meanwhile, Sima Ray was taken by Leng Wu secretly into custody in a secret room temporarily under the closest surveillance in the Imperial Clan Court."Go in." Leng Wu glimpsed at Sima Ray coldly with a poker face."You recover so quickly." Sima Ray looked at the injured arm of Leng Wu with defiant eyes, but Leng Wu did not respond. Sima Ray smiled coldly and then raised his head to look at the three lights in the room through the window from outside. He said suddenly, "What a pity! There will be another grand general missing in Qi within half an hour."At dusk, Qin Yunuan had returned to the courtyard. For the safety of Qin Yunuan, Leng Changxi did not let her out anymore. He deployed Leng Shuang and two of the most careful master-hands among the
Qin Yunuan cast a glance at the flattering look on Tang's face, and then looked down slowly and continued her work. She was preparing a painting of cranes for Prince Ning's birthday. The whole painting was of seven-foot-long and three-foot-wide, which was very majestic and graceful.“Those two pieces of information from you is of no use to me," Qin Yunuan did not look at her, "First, Prince Ray has been taken into custody. So, even if he had some inglorious dealings with Shangguan Yee, it had all passed. As for the second thing that you've told me, the coming of Mrs. Sun is suppressing to you but fine with me, whether she is to be the legal wife or consort. After all, I am Infanta Ping with the fifth-grade rank conferred by Queen Mother. No new brides would threaten me.""Surely enough. It would not affect you, Third Young Madam. But...""But you are not reconciled?" Qin Yunuan glanced at Tang. She could see through her thoughts at once. "You t
Leng Shuang thought seriously and said, "Three years ago, I competed with her one-on-one, and I won three moves. But I'm not sure now.""Three moves was enough to win a fight." Qin Yunuan pulled up her loose hair bun and looked at the plum tree with white flowers like the snow outside infatuatedly. It seemed that it was about to snow in this weather.Two days after, heavy, feather-like snow fell. It was a rare perishing winter in Qi. Two news came from the palace, one was that Prince Ray couldn't bear to see the country suffering from the disaster, and he stepped up to go to the Imperial Mausoleum and offer incense to the ancestors. Secondly, Shangguan Yuan was named Duke of Dingguo after Princess Jinhe got married."It's shameless of him to sell a daughter for the title." Xi'er was holding the last silk thread for Qin Yunuan. They were about to finish the embroidery of a crane about to be completed but couldn't find a suitable color for the ey
It was the eighth day of the second lunar month. There was still the coldness of snow in the early spring. Cotton-like edelweiss huddled together on the branches, like a group of joyful, naughty children climbing up the trees, not willing to come down.The feast was ready. Old Madam, who hadn't been out of the Lotus Fragrance Courtyard for a long time, arrived extremely early today. When the red glow from the sun just incarnadined the western sky, the seats of the feast were mostly taken."Old Madam, people of the Sun Family have arrived," Yuanyang beside Old Madam whispered to her. Old Madam and Qin Yunuan exchanged a glance when the servant at the entrance reported the guests.People all looked askance at the newcomers. Immediately the two madams of the Sun Family walking in gracefully from the corner gate became the center of attention.There was something special about the Sun Family. All men in the family were short-lived. Eve
Leng Changxi thought the reason why Qin Yunuan agreed to dance was that she learned this before. But he was stunned when she started to rise and dance gracefully.Following the music, she waved the long sleeves made of white silk, making them into soft snakes some time and wintersweet blossoms the other time. Her light dance steps enchanted people, and they couldn't move their eyes away.All guests were immersed in it and didn't realize this until the music stopped."This piece of Serenade Of Peaceful Joy sounds not good. Let me play another song." Sun Baozhen suddenly stopped playing, and there was sweat on her forehead."If so, please pardon me not to dance the second time." Qin Yunuan rolled up sleeves and said calmly. "I said before that I only dance once." Although noticing that Sun Baozhen looked angry, Qin Yunuan didn't care and left the banquet after curtsying to Old Madam and Madam Sun to get changed.Qin Yunu