Chapter 41 - Liangdi
The Royal’s Cute Little Wife – C41 – Liangdi
Xie Zhen didn’t tell Xie Xun and she didn’t tell Xie Rong. Even if she did, it wouldn’t help. She spent a few days in the house, thinking, but she couldn’t think of a better way.
She thought that if she went to ask help of Duke Dingguo, he would definitely help them.
However, this was not a long-term plan, not to mention that there was the old lady standing in the middle of it. It would not be easy.
She remembered that she had accumulated a lot of precious jewelry and pearls in Qing Zhou. Some were gifted to her during the holidays by others, and some were given to her by Gao Xun on a whim. Anyway, most of them were useless. If she pawned them, she would get a lot of money.
With this thought, she immediately jumped off the bed and began to rummage through her things.
These things were scattered, and had not been tidied up since returning to the capital. It took Xie Zhen two hours to sort out a small box of jewellery.
Even though the box was small, the items inside were extremely valuable. A single Jade Beaded Golden Peacock hairpin with three pearls embedded in it was definitely worth a lot of money.
Xie Zhen did not wear them often, because they were too expensive. It’s better to be pawn them to support family.
She called Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan in. “Tomorrow you’ll take these things out to the street and find a pawnshop. Pawn them.”
Shuang Yu was confused. She opened the box and became surprise. “Why did the girl want to pawn these jewels?”
“You’ve never worn one. ”
She didn’t think much of it. These were only the tip of the iceberg. She still had a lot of them left in her trunk. Her top priority right now was to lighten up the burden on her family.
“It’s in the way here.”
Shuang Yu took out an emerald fish jade hairpin, feeling it was a little familiar, “Isn’t this a gift from the Gao Family’s young master for your twelfth birthday?”
Xie Zhen touched her cheek, and made a gesture of being quiet. Though she knew no one was going to be there, she still didn’t want to be heard. “Keep your voice down.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
In fact, she also felt a bit guilty. She heard that Gao Xun stole his mother’s private money in order to buy this hairpin and was then fiercely taught a lesson by Madam zhao.
Actually, she rather liked this hairpin as well, but the jade on it was so bright that it was almost green. With just a glance, she knew that she could sell it for a good price …
She struggled in her heart for a moment before silently taking the hairpin back. She then took out a jade lantern earrings. “Then I won’t pawn this. Don’t tell him.”
Shuang Yu chuckled. “Miss should still care about Young Master Gao in your heart.”
“He’s a good companion to me. Of course I care about him.”
Of course, she was well aware of Gao Xun’s thoughts, but she couldn’t respond to him. She could only treat him as a good friend.
After Shuang Yu left, she sat in her room for a while, bored, then took a new silk handkerchief and began to embroider.
Around evening, the two returned from the street with a sandalwood box in their arms. One of them followed behind the other and sneaked into the room.
When Xie Zhen saw this, she thought they had just returned from being thieves, but she suddenly asked, “What’s wrong with you guys?”
Shuang Yu came to her in two or three steps and pushed the box into her arms. “Open it, girl.”
Xie Zhen opened the box and opened her mouth when she looking in, stunned by a wad of silver notes inside.
She abruptly closed her eyes. “What I’ve given you, can it be worth so much money?”
Even if she didn’t have a strong sense of money, she knew that this amount was a bit too much.
Shuang Yu shook her head and replied in the end, “When we got to the pawnshop, a man wanted to buy all the jewels, and he offered her a price much higher than anywhere else.”
“He said that if you have anything you want to be in the future, you can just go and find him.”
Xie Zhen was quite surprised and didn’t believe that such a good thing could happen. “Who is it?”
“Why did he buy my jewelry?”
Shuang Yan replied, “I heard that it was bought for his wife.”
Xie Zhen got relieved, no longer imagining things, she happily held the box in her arms, “I want to give this money to father and mother!”
She was an impetuous person and could not wait any longer. She put on her embroidered shoes and ran to the main house.
She pushed open the door and happily called out, “Mother!”
Madam Leng, who was taking a nap while leaning against her make-up pillow, was awakened by her earth-shattering sound. She slowly sat up and pursed her temples. “Why are you so happy?”
It was late summer, and the afternoon was hot and stuffy. Madam Leng was wearing thin clothes, and only a thin blouse made of leno covered her body, revealing her graceful figure.
Most of Xie Zhen looked like her, white and pretty, with long legs and thin waist and a full chest.
Speaking of which, it seemed to be a long time since Xie Zhen cried out for her chest pain.
She quickly walked in front of Madam Leng and took out the box, as if she was offering a treasure. “Mother, mother will give this to you.”
With that, she impatiently opened the box.
After Madam Leng saw what was inside, she wasn’t as surprised as she had expected. Instead, her expression turned serious. ” Little Lamb, where did you get this money from?”
Xie Zhen said the truth. “I’ve pawned some of my jewellery.”
She was afraid that Madam Leng would be angry, so she lowered her head and honestly said, “I accidentally overheard your conversation with father …”
“I want to help you. ”
Her voice trailed off as she nervously picked at the rose pattern on her dress. “I don’t need those jewels anyway.”
“If big brother wants to take a wife, I can take out all the jewelries.”
Madam Leng’s most successful way to educate the three children was to teach them how to love each other and how to be together.
No children of any family was as affectionate as they are.
Although there would occasionally be quarrels, it was only a small matter. After a while, it would return to normal.
Like now, for his brother’s sake, Xie Zhen can take out all the pretty jewellery.
After all, she had always been the most beautiful person since she was young.
Madam Leng’s heart was filled with hundreds of emotions. She took her into her arms. ” Little Lamb, take it easy. Your father is just unlucky for a while and won’t be always like this.”
“You don’t have to worry about your brother. ”
She blinked and replied with a slight “En”. “Then, will you accept this money?”
Madam Leng rubbed her head. “Take it back. If we really have no other choice, can you give it back to Mother?”
She grinned and said cheerfully, “OK!”
When she got back to her room, she put the sandalwood box at the bottom of the box.
No matter what, the mother did not refuse her, she still had the ability to help her parents.
A few days after that, Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan left the house several times.
The last time they met the man who had bought Xie Zhen’s jewellery, he said his wife liked it and asked if they had anything else to pawn.
When Xie Zhen knew it, she found out all the jewels she didn’t need. They were all first-class and exquisite, and she kept a few of her favorite things.
She put the money into the bottom of the box, and was surprised at the huge amount she had counted.
Shuang Yu added, “Girl, the man said his wife didn’t sleep well at night, and asked if you could do anything about it.”
Xie Zhen was vigilant, “Why did he ask me?”
Shuang Yu replied, “He saw this servant going to buy spice today. The spice has a sleeping aid component.”
She made a sound and pondered for a moment. After all, he had helped her quite a bit and he had a wife. There shouldn’t be any problems …
Thus, she took out the scented sachet hanging on her bed, and for safety reasons, she even picked off all the patterns on it and handed it to Shuang Yu, “Give him this, and let him hang it on the bed. His wife will probably sleep better.”
The spice inside was her own, and, like the scent on her handkerchief, it helped her sleep.
When she did not sleep well at night, she used this to help her sleep. It was very effective.
Shuang Yu agreed, and the next time they met, she handed it to him.
After a few times, they got a little bit familiar with each other.
That day, Shuang Yu reported to her, “My girl, the man said that his wife had slept soundly, using your incense, and he was very grateful to you.”
Xie Zhen sat on the couch by the window, smiling and blowing the wind. “That’s good, I have a lot here, and if his wife’s spice runs out, I’ll send him more next time.”
She never doubted that. After half a month, she sew the spice into the scented sachet. By making five or six, she had Shuang Yu sent them to the man.
A few days later, Shuang Yu told her with great gusto, “Girl, the man said his wife wanted to see you and thanked you in person.”
“He asks if you are free the day after tomorrow, they want to ask you to meet them at the Cuiying attic in the south of the city. ”
It was a hot summer day, so Xie Zhen liked to sit under the tree in the yard and catch a cold. The servant maids on both sides of her were blowing, so she leaned against the bed and dozed off. It was very comfortable.
Hearing Shuang Yu’s words, the sleepiness that had just accumulated vanished. She opened her misty eyes and asked, ” Cuiying attic?”
The Cuiying attic was one of the most famous teahouses in the capital. It was heard that the crown prince was resting here and complimenting the tea there, then it became famous for it.
Shuang Yu nodded. “His surname is Tao, and his wife is the Madam Ling.”
Xie Zhen didn’t know whether to go or not.
Since the other party’s wife was going as well, there shouldn’t be any gossips. She hesitated for a moment, and just happened to thank them for buying her jewelry. She nodded and said, “Tell them that I will be there.”
The day after tomorrow, in the morning, Xie Zhen had changed into a white silk robe and a yellow skirt, a light cardigan over his head, and a hairpin with a brocade on her head.
She brought along two servant maids and two servants. Before leaving, she told Madam Leng about it. Madam Leng was still worried, so she asked Xie Rong to accompany her.
When Xie Zhen got to Cuiying attic in the south town, she got out of the carriage. She wore a curtain hat and smiled at Xie Rong, saying, “Brother is waiting for me.”
On the horse, Xie Rong told her, “If there’s something you need help with, get the servant maids to inform me.”
She nodded and followed Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan inside.
Hearing that the Tao couple was in a private room on the second floor, they stopped at the door. Shuang Yu knocked twice, and a servant maid in a white dress opened the door and said to them, “My family’s young master and young madam are not here yet. Miss, please wait inside.”
She invited them in.
Behind the little screen of red sandalwood in the private room was a small piece of red paint. There were several plates of dim sum and a pot of tea on it. Xie Zhen sat down, and kept waiting after asking about their young madam.
In a short moment, the young servant maid in a white dress retreated, leaving only her and Shuang Yu and Shuang Yan in the room.
At first, Xie Zhen was waiting quietly. But after a while, she got a little worried as he still didn’t show up.
Waiting was the best way to see a person’s true appearance.
If he had a bad temper or was not patient, he would be fidgeting and stamping his feet.
But she was different.
Even if she was a little anxious from waiting, she would not ask the servant maids to urge them. Instead, she sat behind a table and poured herself a cup of tea, sipping it slowly.
When she had finished her tea, she took off her curtain hat, revealing an exquisite and flawless face. She rested her chin on her hands and looked around the room.
She was sitting closest to the door, a clever little girl.
Inside the private room, there were twelve screens embroidered with bamboo and green. The screens were made of translucent muslin, and the people behind could see the inside of the room, but the people inside could not see the decorations behind.
Yan Tao sat in a rosewood chair with a scented sachet she had personally embroidered on his waist. He put his hand in his mouth and smiled as he watched her every move.
Even her servant maids were getting impatient. They looked towards the door and asked, “Miss, do you want this servant to go ask …”
She thought for a moment. “Go on.”
Shuang Yu came back in a short time. She was a little bit sad. “She said the Tao couple were late on the road. I’m afraid it will take a while.”
Xie Zhen was afraid that Xie Rong would be impatient, so she let Shuang Yan go down and tell Xie Rong, “You tell brother I’m fine, but I won’t be back until a while later.”
Shuang Yan responded and walked out of the private room.
After another incense stick of time had passed, Xie Zhen got up and walked around the room to look at the furnishings.
She walked to the screen, and touched the pattern on it. Just as she was about to enter, the servant maid pushed open the door and said with a slightly apologetic tone, “I’m really sorry. My Young Master and Young Madam had an emergency at home, so I’m afraid they won’t be able to come as promised.”
Xie Zhen turned around, dazed for a moment, then quickly smiled magnanimously. “It’s fine, then we can only meet again another day.”
The servant maid sent them out. In order to show her guilt, she even packed a few snacks for her.
After they left, Yan Tao walked out from behind the screen.
He stood at the window and looked down at the coach of Xie Family, which Xie Zhen got into and soon disappeared from sight.
After a long time, he said, “I didn’t expect the Xie Family to hide such a beautiful young lady.”
Liang Kuan stood behind him, “What does Your Highness plan to do?”
Yan Tao smiled and looked away, “Take it slow. Don’t make her scared.”
He already knew who she was, so he wasn’t in a hurry.
He suddenly thought of something and asked, “What about the matter that I asked you to investigate last time?”
Since she was the fifth girl in the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, why did she pawn her jewellery?
Did she not live well in the mansion?
Yan Tao specifically asked Liang Kuan to investigate this matter.
Liang Kuan replied, “Xie Liqing returned to capital at the end of last year to state his position, but was not used by His Majesty. He has been staying at home for the past few months.”
Add to that the awkwardness of his position in Xie Family, and their life doesn’t seem to be going well. ”
Yan Tao asked, “Why isn’t he being reused?”
“What kind of official position did he previously hold in the Qing Zhou?”
Liang Kuan said, “Prefect of Qing Zhou”
“He was extremely capable. He managed Qing Zhou well and it was becoming more and more prosperous.”
“However, when governor Lin impeached his relationship with the Turks when he was the prefect of Qing Zhou , His Majesty was not at ease and temporarily left him at home to check on the situation. After a period of time, he would make plans.”
So that was the reason. Yan Tao thought of something, “What Lin Rui said is true?”
Liang Kuan shook his head. “Your subordinate asked someone to investigate. Xie Liqing and Mister Lin had a feud in Qing Zhou. As for whether his words were true or false …”
“Still need to check.”
Lin Rui was narrow-minded and easily held a grudge, but he was also a pain in the ass and knew how to please the people above. It was probably because of that flowery mouth that made the Emperor Yuan Hui believe his words.
Xie Liqing was an honest man, so he naturally couldn’t win against him.
Yan Tao knew the reason, so he wiped the dust on the windowsill and slowly said, “Pay attention to Lin Rui’s actions, and find a chance to grab onto his weakness …”
“As for Xie Liqing, he’s a talented man. It’d be better if we didn’t bury him. ”
Recently, the border had been in trouble once more. Western Yi had used fifty thousand men to attack the two cities of Wu Qiang. General of Agile Cavalry Zhong Kai had been defending the city for dozens of days. Gradually, they had begun to break it down.
Emperor Yuan Hui also sent thirty thousand soldiers to support him. He ordered Yan Yu to escort the grain out a day ahead of schedule. This matter had happened so suddenly that even Yan Yu was caught off guard.
Emperor Yuan Hui was trying to train him, but at the same time, he wanted him to help Zhong Kai. After he won the battle, he would definitely grant him any request.
Yan Yu had no choice but to leave the city overnight and head to the border thousands of miles away.
Before he left, he didn’t even have time to go to the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion to say goodbye to Xie Zhen.
The street they walked was two streets away from Duke Dingguo’s Mansion and he rode past, taking only a glance in that direction.
Xie Zhen was still asleep, but she didn’t hear the clang of the cavalry or the sound of the gates opening.
Only when she woke up did she hear that thirty thousand soldiers and horses had left the capital.
The days flowed by like water, during which time she was invited to the crown prince’s residence several times.
Of course, she wasn’t the only one.
Once the Crown Prince was there, and when she saw him from a distance, she did not even remember what he looked like.
The other girls, on the other hand, were greatly moved. They were so excited that they could not calm themselves down for a long time.
Crown Prince said a few words to the Crown Princess and then left. For some reason, Xie Zhen always felt that he smelled quite familiar.
Sometimes, there would also be Princess He Yi, so she would sit with Ling Xiangyun.
Yan Yao’an liked the scent on her, even pestering her to teach her how to mix spices. Unfortunately, the timing and location were inconvenient, so in the end, she had no choice but to give up.
One day, Princess He Yi went to Palace Zhaoyang to pay respects to Empress Wang, and she happened to see Yan Tao was there.
Empress Wang is weak and sickly, often entangled in sickbed, the body is very weak.
Even so, she was dressed with dignity and elegance, appearing calm and collected. Her pale lips only added a hint of weakness to her expression.
She was forty years old, and even if she kept herself in good shape, there were faint lines at the corners of her eyes, and her smile was more pronounced.
Today, she looked better, and her face was redder than before.
Yan Yao’an was talking to her from below when Yan Tao arrived.
Empress Wang pulled out a smile and asked him to sit down, “Why are you the only one here today?”
Yan Tao took the initiative to bow, lifting his robe and sitting down. He smiled and said, “Xiang Wu is not feeling well, so I let her stay at home to recuperate, so as to avoid letting you have her illness.”
As he spoke, he looked to the other side and called out to his sixth sister. He then continued to speak to Empress Wang, “Imperial Mother looks alright today.”
Empress Wang said, “Yao An accompanied me for a while before I felt more spirited.”
She didn’t forget to take care of Ling Xiangwu’s body, and told him to take care of her properly.
He said, “Mother, don’t worry. The doctor has already seen it. It’s just an ordinary cold, so it’s fine.”
The empress replied, “That’s good.”
Mother and son sat together, saying nothing but caring things.
Empress Wang thought about the recent upheaval at the border, Empress Wang couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “How’s the war over there? Did His Majesty call you over to take a look?”
He shook his head. “With Sixth Brother there, there should be no need for me to go over.”
A few days ago, reports had traveled from the border, saying Western Yi was caught off guard by the thirty thousands soldiers. Immediately, they gave up on attacking the city and decided to retreat ten kilometers.
Of course, Western Yi would never give up so easily. They had set up camp ten miles outside the city and discussed strategies to fight back.
Each of Yan Yu and Zhong Kai was defending a city. It was said that Western Yi had been defeated.
It wouldn’t take long for them to get back.
While they were talking, Yan Yao’an sniffed and asked curiously, “I seem to smell a familiar scent …”
Hearing this, Empress Wang smiled and ordered someone to bring out the incense burner. “Are you talking about this?”
She shook her head and sniffed again. “It’s not that, it’s…”
“It’s a very special lotus scent. Kind of scent only could been smelled on Ah Zhen.”
Empress Wang said, “Oh, who is this Ah Zhen?”
“The Empress doesn’t know, Ah Zhen is the the fifth girl of the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, her spice is very special, it can help people to sleep, but it also smells extremely good,” Yan Yao’an explained solemnly, stood up and looked around, then walked over to Yan Tao, “It seems to come from here …”
She stopped and looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief.
When she smelled it again, the scent was indeed coming from his body.
This time, even the empress’s eyes were attracted over, and their expressions were full of meaning. Yan Tao smiled and took out the perfume bag from his waist, “Is this it?”
Yan Yao’an received it, nodding her head incessantly. “That’s it.”
Empress Wang called out to him with a smile in her eyes, “Tell your mother, what is going on?”
Yan Tao did not plan to say it so early. After all, that girl was not even 15 yet, so he could slowly wait for her until she was at her fifteenth birthday.
This time, he couldn’t hide it even if he wanted to, so he could only say: “I has a light sleep, mother knows.”
“Once, when I picked up her handkerchief at the Duke Dingguo’s Mansion, I found that the scent of it made me sleep soundly. After that, I found her and made her sew a few scented sachet for me to wear everyday. ”
Before Empress Wang had even opened her mouth to speak, Yan Yao’an had already opened her eyes wide in surprise. “Big Brother Crown Prince, your …”
“Your sachet was from Ah Zhen?”
He said, “That’s right.”
Empress Wang understood that her son’s heart was probably moved by the girl, and he was reluctant to speak, but he was hiding it in his heart.
“You’re going to wear her sachet all the time?”
The empress asked.
Yan Tao shook his head. At this point, he could only be honest and say, “If mother agrees, I want her to be my liangdi.”
Xie Liqing was born from a concubine, so Xie Zhen was a bit difficult for him to be the concubine. He could first call her his liangdi and then slowly invite her to be his concubine in the future.
The Crown Prince had been married for many years, and there was only a Crown Princess and a few concubines in the palace. Empress Wang wanted to marry Xie Zhen as his liangdi, so the Empress did not object, “You have to tell your father about this. If he agrees, he will be able to give you an imperial decree in a few days.”
The meaning behind her words was, speak to the emperor yourself, she had no objections.
Yan Tao let out a sigh of relief, stood up and knelt down, “Thank you for your help, mother.”
Since things had already been settled, Yan Yao’an was left dumbfounded by what she saw.
She was on good terms with Xie Zhen, so how come she didn’t know that she had embroidered a sachet for the crown prince…
No, she’d have to ask Xie Zhen next time she saw her!