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墨書 Inktalez
“Jian Cheng, what do you think? Is there any news from home?”
Li Jian Cheng frowned as he took a small sip from his teacup. It was salty, and the teapot was filled with scallions, ginger, Sichuan pepper, jujubes, cinnamon, orange peel, and mint, resembling a pot of mixed porridge.
Still not used to it, Li Jian Cheng forced himself to swallow and replied, “You all know what my family is like now; there’s nothing particularly noteworthy. I don’t know much about the princes either.”
Dou Dan comforted him, saying, “In families like ours, ups and downs are quite normal. As long as we keep our titles safe and wait for the right moment.”
This was also why they were willing to attend the banquet. The Li Family had indeed fallen somewhat from grace, but Li Jian Cheng was still the legitimate heir of the Duke's Residence and the future Duke of Tang. Who knew if the new emperor would promote the Li Family once he ascended the throne?
The political landscape was merely about suppressing the strong and supporting the weak to maintain balance.
“Indeed. Back then, His Majesty was suppressed by Yuwen Hu for eight years, yet now he sits atop the throne with unparalleled authority.”
Yuan Shibin lowered his gaze and said, “Such topics are taboo; let’s not discuss them.”
The Yang Family's World had not gained its status through honorable means, so they were quite displeased with court officials discussing such matters.
The group chatted and laughed until midnight before returning to their rooms to rest. Although there were no pressing matters for the next day, it was important to maintain appearances as decorations; being seen with sleepy eyes by His Majesty would not be well-received.
The bedroom was tidy and comfortable, with a hollow fire wall radiating warmth. A maid quietly informed him, “This bed was personally arranged by the lady for Lord.”
Li Jian Cheng smiled without speaking. Those who came to Cangxia Tower for a banquet were either rich or noble; it was likely that aside from singing and dancing, the lady had also spent considerable time making beds.
Of course, the ladies of Cangxia Tower were not like those from Pingkang Square; they offered charm and gentle allure rather than mere physical pleasures. With Prince Guangping backing them up, no one dared to go too far.
In the Cangxia Tower, the atmosphere was thick with the presence of high-ranking officials and their discussions of court matters. A skilled companion who could entertain and converse was far more valuable than a mere plaything.
After reflecting on his actions and words from earlier that day, Li Jian Cheng lay down to rest, knowing he would need to rise in a few hours to enter the palace.
...
Inside Yong'an Palace, Dugu Qialo's face was ashen. Kneeling before her were two court ladies, gritting their teeth as they spoke, "Your Highness, we would never dare to deceive you in the slightest."
With a crash, all the vessels and books before the Queen were swept to the ground. The court ladies buried their heads to the floor, too afraid to make a sound.
Dugu Qialo muttered to herself, "Impossible. Narayana would never treat me this way. We have faced hardships together to reach this point; he wouldn't do this to me. He wouldn't!"
"It must be you who dares to sow discord between us. Bring her here!"
No one moved, which was an answer in itself. This made Dugu Qialo shiver involuntarily, and her rationality began to return as she stared blankly at the flickering candlelight in the palace lanterns. Her vision darkened slightly.
Reaching out for support, she touched her cheek as if recalling something. Instead of the youthful softness she remembered, her fingers brushed against shallow wrinkles. She had never been unattractive, but time had taken its toll.
"Go capture her and temporarily detain her in the Imperial Garden!"
After a chorus of affirmations, everyone rushed out eagerly, leaving the Queen alone.
Dugu Qialo slowly descended from the wooden couch. Her legs felt weak, barely able to support her weight. It seemed that just moments ago, she had been reminded that she was now an old woman.
What do I have left to be proud of in this life?
The Eldest Son is unfilial, enamored by beauty and estranged from the Consort Crown Prince he personally selected for him. The Three Sons live extravagantly and have already been stripped of their official positions, now kept in the estate like pets. The Fourth Son is brave yet foolish, and despite his ambition, he may one day be killed by his brothers.
The Eldest Daughter is the Former Empress, deeply resenting that she took her husband’s Nation from her. The other daughters fear my strictness and have never been close to me. Even my support, the Loyal Husband, has taken a liking to another woman after I have grown old and lost my looks—a Young and Beautiful Woman.
...
Morning Court does not happen every day, but the guards still have to arrive early. After a hurried wash-up, they quickly had a bowl of Millet Porridge, which was actually Meat Porridge made with Yellow Millet.
They exited the East Market, circled around Chongren Square, and entered the palace through Jingfeng Gate. Upon entering, something felt off; everything was too serious and meticulous.
Dugu Kaiyuan and Yang Jishan went to inquire among acquaintances one after another but returned with solemn expressions shortly after. Yuan Shibin pointed upwards, and Yang Jishan nodded.
Everyone fell silent as they first led Li Jian Cheng to receive a full set of Gorgeous Armor and a Waist Blade from the Bodyguard of the Thousand Cattle before quickly rushing to the Eternal Alley Palace Gate to hand over their shift to several Meritorious Descendants.
It was evident that they breathed a sigh of relief; they merely exchanged hurried greetings with the new Li Jian Cheng and arranged to drink together in a few days before hastily escaping the palace.
Yang Jishan muttered under his breath, "This shouldn't be happening. If the Empress knew, she would have known long ago. Given the nature of those servants in the palace, it should take some time before this gets out. We should pray that His Majesty changes his mind and deals with that Court Lady himself or at least report it when it can no longer be hidden."
"I was planning to feign illness after my shift today to avoid things for a few days, but now this is just perfect timing."
Li Jian Cheng curiously took the Qian Niu Dao from Dugu Kaiyuan's hand; it was a short blade with various gemstones embedded in its sheath. When drawn, its blade gleamed coldly, with patterns resembling dragon scales etched upon it.
Li Jian Cheng was engrossed in what he saw. If it were a usual day, Yang Jishan might have teased him a bit, after all, when they first started their positions, they were both quite curious about the Emperor's ceremonial sword.
"It's just a sharp decorative knife, nothing much to look at, Jian Cheng. If I were you, I'd take advantage of the fact that His Majesty hasn't noticed you yet and quickly slip back home. At this time, no one would likely remember you."
Yang Jishan meant well, and Li Jian Cheng understood. He returned the knife with a smile and said, "His Majesty saw me yesterday and even rewarded me with a Turkic Steed. It wouldn't be wise to slip away now."
Dou Dan interjected, "It's better not to be too clever. If they forget you now, they'll remember later, and that will be enough trouble for Jian Cheng. This matter might not even involve us."
"Ah."
The group settled into the guard room. As sixth-rank military officials, they were only there to keep an eye on the city gate; during quiet times, they could rest inside the Guard Room.
While the others were worried about getting involved, Li Jian Cheng felt anxious about whether he would have an opportunity to perform today. If not, he would need to find a way to create one himself, but that might come off as insincere and wouldn't guarantee him the leverage he desired.
Fortunately, their worries didn't last long. A eunuch from the Emperor's side burst in and called out, "His Majesty commands the Lords to take someone to Yeting Prison and bring Wei Chi Niangzi before him."
Dou Dan replied sternly, "The Imperial Garden belongs to the harem. As external officials, we shouldn't enter. According to protocol, it should be handled by an inner attendant or a female official."
Yuan Shibin slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "What audacity! Are you pretending to convey His Majesty's orders while pushing your own duties onto us? A mere eunuch dares to bully us noble relatives!"
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