c51 (1/2)

Chapter 51: Imperial Concubine Qing

Qing Feng felt a chill in her spine and she secretly took a deep breath before speaking out, “Chenqie has someone to show to the Emperor.” Yan Hong Tian face was still gloomy but he still turned and walked into Qing Feng Hall.

“Go and bring the painting over.” Qing Feng hurried and explained to Fu Ling who was beside her and without stopping her steps, she followed Yan Hong Tian into the house. She knew that at this moment that he is not to be trifled with.

“Yes.” Fu Ling dare not delay and quickly took the framed painting and walked back in to the house. In the chambers, the Emperor sat on the highest seat and her Mistress stood at the side. Fu Ling naturally did not dare to look into the Imperial eyes but that force and imposing manner made her have breathing difficulties.

“Open it.”

Listening to Qing Feng, Fu Ling quickly open the painting up but because the entire painting was as tall as a person and more than one zhang (1 zhang = 10 feet/3.3 meter) wide, Fu Ling had a hard time holding it and Gao Jing had to come forward to hold on to one side of the painting and slowly unroll it in front of Yan Hong Tian.

“You drew it?” The deep voice questioned her but one would not be able to hear any joy or anger. Qing quietly observed Yan Hong Tian’s expressions as she softly reply, “En.”

Yan Hong Tian did not ask her about her words and his dark cold eyes continue to stare at the painting before him with an expressionless face.

When the painting was unrolled, Gao Jing could not help but look at it and be secretly amazed at it. He has long heard that the Qing family sisters were well versed in the Four Arts (zither, weiqi, calligraphy and painting) and Qing Feng’s calligraphy and painting was more difficult to get that a thousand gold bars. He believes that Qing Feng’s painting would indeed be of fine works or art but he guessed that for a female to paint, one would only paint flowers, birds, insects and fishes but did not think that what was shown would be a painting of vast and majestic peaks of lofty range of mountains. Between the misty clouds, the imposing peaks of the mountain range stretches to a thousand li (1 li = 500 meters), like the blue dragon in the sky and the lengendary dragon in the sea (that control the weather). Under the shades of the ink, the misty clouds around the mountain seems to drift out from the drawing paper. The free strokes of the brush and the casual placement of the ink and the majestic manner did not seem to have come out from a young female’s hands. Qing Feng indeed live up to her famous reputation. This piece of painting, the Emperor will indeed like.

Qing Feng was full of confidence with her paining that even though Yan Hong Tian was staring at it for a long time without saying a word, she was not nervous. She softly questioned, “What does the Emperor think?”

“Good.” Yan Hong Tian plainly threw out a word. Although there was not much praise spoken, his face apparently did ease up a bit.

Qing Feng thought about it before speaking, “Chenqie also like it a lot, especially the layers of miasma. The mountain are always there and how much can be seen depends of how much miasma is in one’s eye.” Qing Feng’s words were not light nor heavy and even though Yan Hong Tian’s expression did not change but Gao Jing’s heart worsen with the words.

“You feel that Zhen was bewitched by the miasma?” Yan Hong Tian was still appreciating the painting in front of him but the casual question revealed a cold chill. Qing Feng’s heart tightened but she did not intend to remain quiet, “Naturally the Emperor would not be bewitched by the little miasma but Chenqie is afraid that the rest of the mountain creatures would be bewitched by it and cannot see where the sky is.” Qing Feng knows that what she say today was practically like pulling the teeth from the tiger’s mouth but she still could not help but say it. Not because to help Chen Zhen to seek for forgiveness, not because to push the Empress aside but because she felt a trace of… Indignant.

“How about you, can you see clearly where is the sky?” Yan Hong Tian suddenly got up and his cold and deep eyes landed on her like a sword, piercing into her heart. He did not grabbed her hand or pinch her neck like in the past but Qing Feng felt like she was pinned down to the ground and could not move or speak.

“Your smarts better be used at the correct place.” The deep cold words were like both a warning and reminder. Until Yan Hong Tian leave the courtyard, Qing Feng could then recovered from her trance and her legs actually staggered. When their eyes met at the moment previously, she practically thought that she don’t know how to breathe.

Fu Ling quickly went forward to support Qing Feng. Her Mistress palm was full of sweat and her face was flushed red. Fu Ling urgently said, “Mistress, quickly sit down.”

After a long time trying to catching her breath, Qing Feng then softly replied, “I am all right.” The cold facial expression that Yan Hong Tian was portraying today made her heart palpitate faster than the other angrier moments. In the morning, he made one calm, in the afternoon, he made one disappointed and now he made one wonder and panic. She started to feel that she really did not understand this man.

*****

After that day, the Inner Palace was not calm but it was that Yan Hong Tian did not come over to Qing Feng Hall and no one came over to look for trouble which allowed Qing Feng to have a couple of peaceful days. Perhaps it was because she was pregnant, Qing Feng feel drowsy lately and it was almost the afternoon when she just woke up.

“Your Ladys.h.i.+p, your Ladys.h.i.+p!”

Qing Feng was eating the bird’s nest porridge that Fu Ling brought in when the sound of Lan-er’s joy flowed from outside the house before seeing Lan-er charming figure swiftly ran in. Seeing her breathless and flus.h.i.+ng, Qing Feng could not help but laugh, “Where does this sparrow come from to chirp so loudly early in the morning.”

Seeing that Qing Feng’s mood seems to be good, Lan-er let go of her nerves and smiled, “Lan-er is not a sparrow but a magpie (bird that represent spreading good news)! Specifically here to inform your Ladys.h.i.+p of the good news.”

Qing Feng lightly smiled and casually asked, “What made you this happy?”

“This servant heard from the people from Zhen Yang Palace that the Imperial Edict on the confederation of the Imperial Concubine has already drawn out and it would be announced in the morning court today to confer you as Imperial Concubine Qing. The Imperial Household was busy preparing the things to bestow. Reckon that in a while, they will be here to announce the edict!”

The spoonful of food that Qing Feng picked up paused. These few days she has been thinking about it, Yan Hong Tian insisted in announcing in the Empress’s Palace about conferring the Imperial Concubine t.i.tle, first to balance the forces in the Inner Palace and the other was to give the Xin personnel behind the Empress some intimidation and embarra.s.sment. With such an action, Yan Hong Tian will definitely confer the Imperial Concubine on her. It was just that there were objections of her becoming an Imperial Concubine that day and she thought that this thing would drag till after the celebration. But it would have seemed that she has underestimated Yan Hong Tian. The corners of her lips raised as Qing Feng laughed, “This is truly a happy occasion. Fu Ling, reward this little sparrow bearing good news.”

“Thanking your Ladys.h.i.+p!” Lan-er was beaming with joy, not because of the reward but because her own mistress was currently favoured and was even conferred as a Imperial Concubine. If in the future, a prince was born, even the Empress would have to give in to her mistress. She would then be able to finally live with her head held high in the Palace.

“The Imperial Edict has arrived.” While there was still laughter at this end, there was a call and a furry of footsteps from outside the door. Lan-er excitedly went out to welcome them while Fu Ling supported Qing Feng out of the chambers.

In the main hall, w.a.n.g Xi Xin was standing outside waiting and when he saw Qing Feng coming out, he loudly exclaimed, “Qing Feng to receive the edict.”

Fu Ling supported Qing Feng to half knelt on the floor and w.a.n.g Li Xin quickly stood forward with the Imperial Edict and read, “According to the mandate of Heavens, the Emperor proclaim that Qing Feng has both morality and conduct and carry herself in a dignified, composed and magnanimous manners which is a role model for the Inner Palace. Pregnant with the Imperial heir, she would be bestowed as Imperial Concubine Qing and be one of the four leading Imperial Concubines. Bestow: fifty blots of brocade, fifty blots of thin silk, five hundred liang of Gold, four pairs of jaded Ruyi, four pair of jasper bangles, two sets of hairpins and buyaos, two mountian of precious red corals and ten servants. Decreed by the Emperor himself.”

One of the four leading Imperial Concubine? Imperial Concubine Shu has pa.s.sed, Imperial Concubine Hui was deposed and now it was only left with her newly conferred “Imperial Concubine Qing”. Yan Hong Tian actually place her target quite high. “Thanking the Emperor for the Imperial kindness.” After performing a bow, Qing Feng took the golden and dazzling edict and slowly got up. When she just got up, w.a.n.g Li Xin immediately went on his knees to give her a big bow and shouted out, “This servant greets your Ladys.h.i.+p Imperial Concubine Qing. Long live your Ladys.h.i.+p.” The ten over palace maids behind him also obediently knelt with their heads bowed and holding the trays filled with the different treasures that were bestowed, chanted, “Long live your Ladys.h.i.+p!”

“Long live your Ladys.h.i.+p!” All the palace maids and eunuch that were serving Qing Feng also chanted and in a short time all the servants in Qing Feng Hall knelt on the floor and chanting “Long live”. Qing Feng slightly frowned and lazily replied, “Everyone raise. Fu Ling, reward.”

“Yes.” Fu Ling pa.s.sed a big bag of money to Lan-er hands and motioned to her to hand it out to the servants and Lan-er happily took it over. All the new palace maids place the treasures in their hands down and quietly retreated.

When the last palace maid walk pa.s.s Fu Ling side and suddenly looked up towards her and winked. Fu Ling froze for a moment, she is… Lan Fang from the Laundry Bureau?

Everyone withdrew before w.a.n.g Li Xin came forward and said softly, “The Emperor said that he will come over for dinner tonight.”

Qing Feng looked at him and Fu Ling understood and took a stack of golden leaves from her waist and lightly stuffed into the hands of w.a.n.g Li Xin’s. He surprising replied, “This servant don’t dare. In the future when your Ladys.h.i.+p’s palace is lacking of anything, just send someone to tell this servant and this servant will definitely arrange it.” When Qing Feng just entered the Palace, he even said that she was a ugly monster. This time when he came over to announce the Imperial Edict, his heart was hanging. With her position at this moment, by just moving her fingers, she would be able to crush him. As long as her Ladys.h.i.+p does not create trouble for him, he would have already thank the G.o.ds with incense, he wouldn’t have dared to accept her rewards!

Qing Feng chuckled loudly and said, “In the future, Bengong would need to trouble Gongong in many areas.” Her laughter is very light but Qang Li Xin s.h.i.+vered. If he does not answer her, he would have truly offended her. After hesitated a moment, w.a.n.g Li Xin took the golden leaves from Fu Ling and respectfully replied, “Thanking your Ladys.h.i.+p for the reward.” Qing Feng did not say anything more and waved her hands before w.a.n.g Li Xin retreated.

The main hall was not small but how with the silk, satin, gold and jade filled it up. Qing Feng felt irritated when she saw the hall filled with treasures and walked to the side hall as she said, “Fu Ling, immediately order people to move the things away.”

“Yes.” Fu Ling waved a few palace maids over and with their quick feet and nimble hands, the treasures were all moved away. After being busy for a while, a few eunuch carried in the dishes into Qing Feng Hall and the one leading them was Xu Ji. When the usually overbearing Steward Xu saw Fu Ling, he actually greeted pleasingly and smiled, “Miss Fu Ling, this servant request to see Imperial Concubine Qing and seek your help to pa.s.s the message over.”

Knowing the type of narrow minded person he was, Fu Ling did not say anything but just nodded her head slightly indicating to let them wait as she turn into the house.