CH 37

Abandoned Empress 12

It’s no wonder the lady misunderstood. The hair bun on Xin Lan’s head is a married woman’s hairstyle, and Qu Zhi’an, a girl, is holding her hand. At first glance, it would appear that Xin Lan is Qu Zhi’an’s wife.

Qu Zhi’an was initially taken aback, her face slightly turning red. She vaguely responded and looked at Xin Lan. Seeing her lack of objection, she pulled her and sat down on a stool.

What reaction could Xin Lan have? Being mistaken, she didn’t show any signs of surprise. She sat openly in the chair, waiting for Qu Zhi’an to order two bowls of wonton soup.

As Qu Zhi’an settled down and saw Xin Lan’s calm demeanor, she didn’t know why she felt embarrassed. She inwardly despised herself, and after making arrangements with the lady, she waited for the wonton soup to be served.

Qu Zhi’an wasn’t mistaken; the wonton soup in this house was indeed delicious.

The aroma wafted to Xin Lan’s nostrils, prompting her to remove her veil.

The clear soup in the white porcelain bowl, with the wontons neatly packed, had thin skin and a generous filling. A sprinkle of chopped green onions on top made it visually appealing.

When the lady brought the wonton soup over, she saw Xin Lan’s face and was momentarily stunned. She praised Qu Zhi’an for being fortunate to marry such a beautiful and attractive lady.

Qu Zhi’an felt a surge of embarrassment from the lady’s comments, and she discreetly glanced at Xin Lan from the corner of her eye. With a composed demeanor, she expressed her gratitude.

Xin Lan smiled faintly without uttering a word. She resembled a demure and reserved young lady. Qu Zhi’an knew that she had no interest in speaking and focused on scooping up the wontons with a spoon.

After finishing their breakfast, it was already broad daylight.

The sunlight cast upon people, causing a slight sense of dryness.

Qu Zhi’an wiped off the thin sweat from her forehead and led Xin Lan towards the teahouse.

In this scorching summer, the interior of the teahouse provided some cool shade. Ordering a pot of cold tea and a few plates of refreshing pastries, they sat down there. Listening to the storyteller narrating interesting tales, the morning swiftly passed by.

As Xin Lan enjoyed the tea and pastries, she listened to the storyteller recounting tales of love, hatred, and conflicts, finding it quite captivating.

This life is indeed much more fulfilling than staying in the Cold Palace, or even when I was the Empress.

The storyteller today is narrating a romantic tale. Regardless of the era, people always enjoy stories where the characters have disparate backgrounds, whether it’s a wealthy young lady and a poor scholar in ancient times or a modern office worker and a domineering CEO.

Today, he is telling the story of a small performer from a theatrical troupe and the affair with the general in command.

The theatrical troupe performs and one day a little beggar secretly watches the actors perform. The kind-hearted performer takes pity on the beggar who has nothing to eat or wear and secretly provides assistance. However, the troupe leader discovers it and severely punishes the performer. Later, when the performer takes the stage again, a wealthy young man touches the performer’s hand, and the beggar goes into a frenzy, attacking him.

The audience below expresses sighs of sympathy, anticipating the beggar’s unfortunate fate. As expected, the storyteller continues, revealing that the beggar is beaten by the wealthy young man’s servant and thrown into the mountains where wild beasts and dogs reside. When the performer hears about this, they are unable to find the beggar anymore.

The little performer sneaked out, enduring fear as they walked along the mountain road, searching throughout the entire night, but couldn’t find the beggar.

The storyteller portrayed the image of the little performer exceptionally well, vividly depicting their frailty. It felt as if one could truly see the performer taking hesitant steps, stumbling and searching inch by inch in the mountains.

Xin Lan remained expressionless, sipping her cold tea and listening. There was neither sorrow nor joy on her face, as if nothing could move her.

Qu Zhi’an initially felt some sympathy in her heart, but as she observed Xin Lan’s demeanor, that sense of pity diminished.

“Lan’er, don’t you find this story touching?”

Qu Zhi’an mustered the courage to call out that address, and after saying it, she felt a sense of relief.

Upon hearing Qu Zhi’an’s address, Xin Lan merely raised an eyebrow and silently agreed.

“It is touching, but perhaps my heart has grown cold and indifferent over time, making me impervious to such emotions.”

This feeling is probably the result of the indifference that exists between the strong and the weak.

Xin Lan wasn’t completely unaffected; she simply sighed, realizing that if she were stronger, she wouldn’t have to suffer for a love like this.

It’s like someone born into a wealthy family who will never understand why people argue and break relationships over a few hundred dollars’ worth of things.

The metaphor may not be entirely fitting, but it is indeed true.

Xin Lan couldn’t see herself as a character in a play, so naturally, she wouldn’t be moved by it.

Qu Zhi’an wanted to refute Xin Lan’s claim of being cold-hearted, but at that moment, she couldn’t find the right words. However, deep down, she stubbornly believed that Xin Lan was actually warm-hearted.

Xin Lan always managed to provide her with a sense of tranquility, even when sitting there in silence.

Her demeanor is complex, neither calm nor aloof. If one were to find a word to describe it, it would probably be disdain.

Being in a position of superiority, she feels detached from worldly matters, yet she is not devoid of temperament. At times, she can be as vivid as an ink landscape painting.

Such thoughts may seem absurd, but they also feel true.

After spending the morning at the teahouse, Qu Zhi’an took Xin Lan to a well-reputed restaurant she had visited before. They ordered fine food and wine, enjoying their meal and having a small drink. As the sun became uncomfortably hot, Qu Zhi’an brought Xin Lan to the lakeside.

A lotus picker sat in a pointed boat, maneuvering through the blooming lotus flowers. In her hands, she held lotus pods and skillfully weaved them into a beautiful hat using broad lotus leaves. The swaying, vibrant green became a refreshing sight in the midst of summer.

Qu Zhi’an rented a small boat and let Xin Lan sit in it. She paddled along the water, gliding into the depths of the lotus lake.

Looking up from the boat while lying down, one could only see an exceptionally blue sky, with soft white clouds leisurely drifting by, creating a serene atmosphere.

The clean lake water reflected the bright sky, occasionally accompanied by the distant chirping of birds. White water birds flew over the lake’s surface, causing small ripples.

Qu Zhi’an reached out and plucked a lotus pod, placing it in Xin Lan’s hand.

“Yan Yan, you really know how to enjoy. Judging by your proficient appearance, do you often come to this place?”

“I have only been here twice, but the first time left a lasting impression. This is truly a wonderful place. However, I don’t always have the leisure to come here. Today is a perfect opportunity to escape the summer heat.”

“I appreciate it.”

Xin Lan was never one to be stingy with her gratitude. She knew and appreciated the kindness others showed her.

“Yan Yan.”

Xin Lan watched the person sitting by the edge of the boat, playing with the cool lake water, and softly called out.

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to experience the feeling of wielding power and influence over the court?”

Qu Zhi’an’s body trembled at these words, but she didn’t lose her composure. She carefully pondered for a moment before giving her answer.

“I only wish to stand in a position where I can fully protect you and support any decision you make.”

The person saying these words felt extremely delighted in her heart. Xin Lan peeled a lotus seed and placed it near Qu Zhi’an’s lips.

With such a loyal friend, what more could a person ask for?

In the evening, Xin Lan returned to the palace.

Si Tong and Chun Yue had been unable to see Xin Lan all day, and they felt unsettled. When they saw Xin Lan return, a sense of relief washed over them.

They didn’t inquire about where their mistress had been; instead, one asked if she had eaten dinner, while the other went to pour cold tea.

“Mistress, the Empress came looking for you during the day. This servant informed her that you had a restless sleep yesterday and were currently resting, so she went back.”

“What did she come to find me for?”

“She didn’t mention the purpose, just said she will come again tomorrow.”

Xin Lan nodded, indicating her understanding.

If Xin Long came to find her, it was most likely regarding the Emperor and the Xin family’s affairs. Considering the current situation, it was probably the latter.

Coincidentally, there were some matters she needed to discuss with Lord Zuo, the father of the original owner of her body.

Once a woman is married, it is not easy for her to visit her family frequently, especially if she marries into the Imperial Palace. If she wants to come and visit, it is not easy unless she receives special favor and grace from the Emperor.

Clearly, the Emperor does not want Xin Long to have frequent meetings with her family. However, if she requests to see them under the pretext of missing her family, the Emperor cannot outright refuse.

Xin Long paced around in the palace. Being young, she couldn’t hide things in her heart. Today, her mother came to the palace and discussed some matters with her, causing her to feel anxious. However, she couldn’t reveal her worries in front of others, and it wasn’t appropriate to disturb her aunt while she was resting.

This matter was not urgent. Even if she was naive, she knew that the Xin family was declining. Even if she urgently told her aunt about this matter, what difference would it make?

Feeling disheartened, she sat down on a chair and decided to talk to her aunt tomorrow.

“Ming Xiang, am I useless? I can’t help with anything.”

“Mistress, please don’t belittle yourself like that. We do what we can and leave the rest to fate.”

Ming Xiang comforted softly, patting the back of her young mistress.

Xin Lan was unaware of her young niece’s current state of worry and frustration. Although she had just returned from outside the palace, she was not idle.

She had other matters to attend to, plans that she had set in motion early on.

The moon rose above the willow branches, and it was the time when the mansions and pavilions of Qin and Chu opened their doors to welcome guests.

Dong Huaixi changed into civilian clothes and walked along the road, feeling rather gloomy with a dark expression on his face.

Today, His Majesty had summoned him into the palace and severely reprimanded him, saying that an assassin had infiltrated last night without the Imperial Guards being aware.

Fortunately, the assassin wasn’t too formidable; they only inflicted a minor injury on him before hastily escaping, fearing they would attract attention.

Dong Huaixi immediately knelt down to apologize, but thankfully, the Emperor did not pursue the matter further. Instead, he instructed Dong Huaixi to strengthen the patrols in the surrounding area, emphasizing that it was not convenient to make a big fuss about it to avoid giving potential adversaries further opportunities for action.

He understood His Majesty’s concerns. If news of this incident were to spread, those who wished to bring him down would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to have him punished. It was His Majesty who personally promoted him to his current position, and he would never allow such a thing to happen.

Dong Huaixi felt both annoyed and ashamed. He strengthened the defenses and took on a new shift tonight, coming out to drink and alleviate his frustration.

He had a courtesan named Jieyu Hua in the Hongxiu Pavilion. Originally, he had intended to redeem her and bring her back home, but unfortunately, his family had a formidable matriarch. If he were to really bring her back, it would surely cause an uproar. He had no choice but to continue watching Jieyu Hua stay in that worldly place and visit her whenever he had the opportunity.

With these thoughts in mind, Dong Huaixi quickened his pace.

In the Hongxiu Pavilion, the scents of rouge, powder, and alcohol mingled together, creating an intoxicating aroma.

A mellifluous melody was plucked from the strings, intoxicating those who listened.

Xin Lan watched as the woman collected the silver and stood by the window.

“Thank you for your trouble, Miss.”

“Please rest assured.”