c32 (1/2)
Chapter 32: Endure Silently
The light green paper umbrella and the two lean figure was the same as before but their pace is no longer light. When it was near shens.h.i.+ (modern timing: 3 – 5 pm), there were many more people that were coming and going from palaces. Even though their head was bowed down, they could not help but to steal a look at the female from Hao Yue, who was conferred as a Concubine in one month. After seeing the scar clearly on Qing Feng’s face, they all gasped and hang their heads lower.
The reactions of the people in palace were seen by Fu Ling, one did not need to have an acute sense of observation to see the glimpse of contempt and the slight astonishment and mockery in their eyes. Fu Ling slightly turn her head to look at Qing Feng. Throughout the entire thing, she was staring ahead, without releasing her pursed lips, like she did not feel everyone’s attention but her pace quicken.
Recovering her line of sight, Fu Ling followed Qing Feng back to Qing Feng Hall without a word. The two of them just entered the place when Lan-er joyfully came out and smilingly said, “Congratulations to your Ladys.h.i.+p, just now Wu Gonggong from the Jings.h.i.+Fang came by to convey a message, the Emperor tonight…”
“Get out.”
Cold words interrupted Lan-er chattering. Qing Feng’s expression was cold and dark, Lan-er stood stiffly, unsure what did she do wrongly. There are numerous beauties in the Palace, when they heard that the Emperor will require their attending, they would be filled with joy but the mistresses she serve is just too temperamental.
Lan-er looked at Fu Ling, who was standing behind Qing Feng, for help but Fu Ling only shook her head gently. Lan-er was still in a daze when Qing Feng suddenly snapped, “Get out!”
Lan-er started trembling under Qing Feng’s cold stares and cried out a “Yes” before quickly retureating. Qing Feng open the many layers of curtain and walked into the inner chambers. Seeing the slender yet proud and aloof figure, Qing Feng hesitated for a moment and did not follow. She gently closed the door and headed out of the hall.
The blazing sun s.h.i.+ne through the half open wooden windows, that were carved with flowers, down onto the beautiful silhouette. The faint smell of peonies filled the room and with the occasional breeze, it should be a pleasant summer afternoon but the shrouded figure, that was standing in front of the window, did not felt the warmth of summer and trembled slightly.
Qing Feng folded her arms and tightly wrap her body. Even so, she could not suppress the rising chill from her heart and the accompanying fear and nausea that was devouring her. Attending at the bedchamber! During the first time when she heard those words, she was excited because it means that she can be close to Yan Hong Tian, she can kill her enemy with her hands but now… She cannot do that. Her Eldest Sister and Youngest Sister is still alive and they are still living in Qiong Yue. If she a.s.sa.s.sinate Yan Hong Tian, they will die. In the ruin temple, she has nearly killed them once, she will not do harm upon them the second time. Thus the words “attending at the bedchamber” is like a cold snake wrapped around her neck that was choking her.
Qing Feng’s narrowed eyes were staring at the blue sky outside the window. The dazzling bright sight sting her eyes as a tear fell from her eye silently, the slender fingers dug deep into her flesh.
Father, Mother, what should this daughter do, to submit to humiliation and obediently let others trample oneself? She do not want to be resigned… Really don’t want to take it!
As the sun gradually set in the West, Lan-er was holding the scissors and was triming the peonies without looking, showing a face full of gloom. Perhaps it was due to the scare that Qing Feng gave in the afternoon, Lan-er did not go near to Qing Feng’s room. Xia Yin walk to Fu Ling’s side and whispered, “Fu Ling, the hour is late, if her Ladys.h.i.+p does not start to prepare it would be too late. At that time when the Emperor start to blame, us getting punished is a small thing but her Ladys.h.i.+p will also be convicted.” Attending to Emperor’s bedchamber was a major event in the Inner Palace. Her Ladys.h.i.+p needs to bathe, groom, immerse in fragrance… If anything is neglected which lead to the Emperor being unhappy, everyone will need to suffer.
Jings.h.i.+Fang’s steward has sent the mamas from ShuQingChi to help Qing Feng to groom. After waiting for half a s.h.i.+chen (1 s.h.i.+chen = 2 hours), the mamas were already very impatient. Fu Ling look at the doors, that are closed for the entire afternoon, then look at worried looking Xia Yin and finally nodded with a reply, “I understand, you can go and prepare.”
Fu Ling walked to the front of the door and gently knocked. Just as she was about to open her mouth, Qing Feng’s sharp but sorrowful eyes flashed over made her swallow what she wanted to say. Fu Ling cannot go in or retreat and could only stand stiffly in front of the doors before a voice called out from the room, “Come in.”
*****
At the time to light up the lamps
As night falls, all the palaces started to light up the lanterns and the palace maids and eunuchs also started to carry lanterns around. At the small trail behind the Jings.h.i.+Fang, a female dressed as a palace maid did not carry a lantern and deliberately hid herself under the shadow of the tree. With the dark and hazy night, it doesn’t look like there was anyone there.
There came a person running from far on the trial. Wu-er took a step back and squinted to see the person’s stature and face before going forward and whispered, “Did you inquire into it?”
The eunuch look left and right and determined that there was no one around before replying very softly, “Replying older sister, tonight the Emperor has appointed Concubine Qing to attend at the bedchamber. At this moment he is at the Xi Xia Hall accompanying the West Empress Dowager for dinner.”
Wu-er thought for a while before asking, “Concubine Qing attending at the bedchambers was decided through the flipping of tablet?”
“No, I heard that during noon the Emperor had a chance encounter with Concubine Qing at the gardens and decided to spend the night at Qing Feng Hall.”
A chance encounter? A look of disbelief crossed Wu-er eyes. How can there be a chance encounter happen in the hot mid afternoon in the gardens? This Qing Feng indeed have some skills, she even found out about the Emperor’s path. Her Ladys.h.i.+p did not guess wrongly, Qing Feng should not be underestimated.
Wu-er pulled out a small pouch from her sleeve and place it on the hands of the eunuch, whispering, “All right, you can go back first. Be quick-witted in the future. If there are any movements in Qing Feng Hall, you should tell me everything.”