Chapter 99: Beimang Part 1
Beimang was located in the suburbs of Luoyang, boasting beautiful scenery stretching for over a hundred li.
Although Zhao Yiyi had been here many times, this was her first time going to appreciate the plum blossoms.
Actually, that patch of plum trees wasn’t particularly special. It was just that they were older, taller, and denser, and they happened to grow halfway up the mountain. Viewed from a distance, they looked like a cluster of rosy clouds.
Naturally, there were such magnificent sights elsewhere; everyone came here specifically to get out of the city and relax.
“I haven’t climbed a mountain in a long time; I’m not used to it, and my legs are very sore.” Zhao Yiyi frowned slightly, took a sip of green plum wine, and reached out to catch a falling plum petal. “You don’t need to worry about my father’s affairs. All the documents are complete; nothing can go wrong.”
Qin Yanyin played with a sprig of plum blossoms in her hand, smiling. “Oh my, what is Your Highness saying? It’s just a document. We’ve seen the signatures on it, so how could we not believe it?”
As she spoke, she pulled the purple-skirted girl beside her and raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing dazing out here?”
The girl’s face flushed red. She immediately lowered her head and curtsied, saying gently, “Greetings, Your Highness the Empress.”
Zhao Yiyi glanced at Qin Yanyin and laughed, “Alright, Wen-yin isn’t much older than Duanduan. Why are you being so fierce?”
Qin Yanyin turned her body, glanced around, and couldn’t help asking, “Where is Your Highness’s little follower? Why haven’t I seen her today?”
Since childhood, Zhao Duanduan had liked following behind Zhao Yiyi. She wanted to go wherever Yiyi went, and Yiyi had to bring her along even when going out with friends.
At first, Zhao Yiyi disliked it very much and even scolded her several times. However, every time she saw that teary-eyed look, her heart would soften, and she would coldly allow her to follow.
Later on, she actually slowly got used to it.
Therefore, those who had played together since childhood privately called Zhao Duanduan her follower.
“She went out with the eldest daughter of the He family. I haven’t seen her since early this morning.” Zhao Yiyi’s voice was indifferent. Watching everyone playing pitch-pot not far away, she also casually picked up a bamboo arrow and tossed it gently forward.
Quite unfortunately, it landed outside the lacquered pot.
The people present fell silent, holding their breath and standing there stiffly, afraid to speak for a moment.
It was Zhao Yiyi who smiled, rubbing her wrist. “It’s been a long time since I played pitch-pot; my skills have become rusty.”
A beauty with her hair in a falling-horse bun smiled. “It’s because Your Highness is standing too far away. Wait until I bring this lacquered pot closer; how could Your Highness miss then?”
“No need. I just did it on a whim. You all go ahead and play.” Zhao Yiyi waved her hand, signaling that she didn’t need such treatment.
For a time, Qin Wen-yin also walked away to play with the others.
Mountain winds blew in gusts; flower rain fell like a waterfall.
Qin Yanyin leaned in closer, a rather profound smile hanging on her face. “Just now, when I received Your Highness getting off the carriage, why did it look like there was someone else inside?”
The hand with which Zhao Yiyi was toying with her cup paused. She then glanced sideways at her and said softly, “You saw wrong.”
Qin Yanyin naturally refused to believe her. With her elbow resting on the back of the grand armchair, she lowered her voice even further. “Really? But I vaguely glimpsed someone supporting Your Highness out of the carriage.”
Zhao Yiyi had originally planned to ride in her own carriage. Her horsemanship had been improving recently, so riding a horse over would have been a good idea too.
But Gu Zhen had insisted on getting into the carriage with her and escorting her to the foot of Beimang Mountain.
Worried about being seen by others, she hadn’t dared to move too much when getting off, only daring to carefully hide that person inside the carriage compartment. Unexpectedly, Qin Yanyin still noticed the clues.
Seeing the smile in Qin Yanyin’s eyes that could barely be concealed, she anxiously tried to cover Yanyin’s mouth, annoyed. “You just have good eyes; you see everything. Say one more word, I dare you!”
Because of her embarrassment and annoyance, both her cheeks, and even the tips of her ears, turned red, covered in a layer of deep crimson.
Even in the snowy winter fields, she felt scorching hot.
Qin Yanyin laughed and dodged, looking at her askance. “What’s the big deal? Why are you so agitated, Your Highness? Early this morning, wasn’t it my husband who sent me here too?”
She leaned in closer again and whispered, “Speaking of my husband, I don’t see him doing anything all day. I asked him to send me here, and he complained it was cold outside. The accumulated snow on the road hasn’t melted, and some small paths are muddy and difficult to traverse. Coming all the way here was indeed no easy task.”
Zhao Yiyi lowered her eyes halfway, glancing at the unmelted snow on the ground, and remained silent for a long time.
Those luxurious jewels and clothes were important, yet also unimportant.
Important because they couldn’t be easily obtained and were indispensable things; unimportant because even if they were gifted to someone, they could be given away casually.
This was also why, in the past, when Gu Zhen gave her jewelry, although she was happy, she wasn’t truly joyful. Those kinds of things—he could give them to her, but he could also turn around and give them to someone else.
But she didn’t lack them.
What was rare had always been the human heart.
“This wine tastes a bit bland.” Zhao Yiyi set the white jade cup aside and picked up another pot of ‘Ten Provinces Spring’ to pour.
Qin Yanyin hurriedly stopped her, saying busily, “Hey, ‘Ten Provinces Spring’ has a strong kick. If you get drunk, it doesn’t matter much to you, but I’m afraid His Majesty will settle the score with me later.”
Zhao Yiyi deftly dodged and frowned. “It’s just a small half-cup; it doesn’t matter.”
Looking at the bottom of the cup and seeing there really was only a small half-cup, Qin Yanyin opened her mouth but didn’t stop her again, only staring at her constantly. “Then it’s agreed, just a small half-cup.”
Having known each other for so many years, how could she not know what the Empress’s life in the palace used to be like? In this world, if a husband didn’t like someone, no matter how noble her status, her life would be extremely difficult. The only difference was in how it was difficult.
Yet as wives of subjects, they could only watch. Aside from occasionally keeping her company and talking, they were powerless.
Now seeing His Majesty treat her like this, and faintly hearing rumors that on the day of the palace fire, His Majesty was seriously injured protecting the Empress…
The palace naturally wouldn’t let such words spread, but given His Majesty’s diligence, his uncharacteristic absence from court for several days and various other measures seemed to confirm this rumor.
Qin Yanyin thought of the Marquis of Huaian and Madam Xu. As future in-laws, the Qin and Zhao families knew a thing or two about each other’s affairs, if not everything.
Especially that messy business of the Zhao family; how could their family not know?
Madam Xu had been arrogant until now relying on the principle that officials don’t investigate unless citizens sue. And since the Empress and the others were her children in name, they naturally couldn’t sue their mother. The Grand Princess of Runan might slap Madam Xu a few times, but she didn’t have the leisure to manage a lawsuit.
Now that the Marquis of Huaian and Madam Xu were both imprisoned, and Madam Xu died within two months while the Xu family also suffered, it was hard to say that His Majesty wasn’t backing this from behind.
“No, you aren’t allowed to pour more. We agreed.” Seeing her about to pour another cup, Qin Yanyin got anxious and snatched the wine pot directly from her hand.
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips and didn’t reach out again.
She intended to get up and walk around, but suddenly several figures walked up from the foot of the mountain, their faces gradually becoming clear.
The girl in the lead saw her and ran over directly, da-da-da, with a smile on her face. “Older Sister!”
Hearing this address, Qin Yanyin was surprised. She didn’t expect that even after the Princess of Jiangdu was recognized back into the royal family, she would still address the Empress like before.
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