Aoyama

Chapter 378: Overwhelming water cannot be recovered
Who is that young female Taoist priest?

“I have met her. She is Zhu Baili, the daughter of Prince Jing.”

"is her?"

The officials' wives looked up at the stone steps.

Amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Empress gently took Bai Li's wrist and calmly walked down the steps, as if she were leading her own daughter.

On the stone steps, only Consort Xue remained, her face grim and sinister.

The Empress stopped in front of the concubines, who all bowed their heads, and together with the noble ladies and officials' wives behind them, they made way for her like a tide.

As the crowd parted, the dark cloud leaped back into the white carp's embrace. The Empress released her hand and teased, "How strange! This little thing is never this close to me. How come it takes you for a long time? Does it have a spirit and know that you are a person favored by heaven?"

The Empress's voice grew louder and louder, as if she were speaking not to Bai Li, but to everyone: "In that case, you should come to Kunning Palace more often in the future, so that Heaven may favor Kunning Palace more."

Bai Li, holding Wu Yun, nodded and bowed: "Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."

The Empress looked at the Director of the Imperial Palace Administration beside her and said calmly, "Director, is everything alright?"

The Imperial Palace Supervisor, whose face still bore the deep, bloody gash, hurriedly bowed and said, "If Your Majesty has given the word, then of course there is no problem."

The Empress smiled and said to Bai Li, "Let's go, come with me to pick mulberry leaves."

She walked through the concubines, officials' wives, and female Taoist priests with the white carp in her hand, her eyes never straying.

Zhu Lingyun stood in the crowd, silently watching Bai Li walk past her. She wanted to push through the crowd to get closer and remind Bai Li not to forget to take her with her, but Jie Fanwei was already guarding the edge of the crowd, like a wall, forcing her back with his eyes.

She tried to call out several times, but the palace maid shook the Empress's golden staff, the clattering sound reminding everyone to be quiet, so she could only swallow back the words "sister" that were on the tip of her tongue.

Bai Li didn't even glance at her.

Zhu Lingyun suddenly thought that if it were before, her sister would definitely have tried to take her along. She would have given her all the good food and sheltered her from the wind and rain.

If it weren't for Xuanzhen...

The Empress's procession proceeded first, followed by the concubines, then the noblewomen, and finally the nuns of Jingyang Palace. Zhu Lingyun could only follow at the very back of the procession, her gaze piercing through the gaps in the crowd to catch a glimpse of Bai Li's back.

Damage can't be undone.

Among the officials' wives, Qi Zhaoning suddenly fell silent. Qi Zhaoyun turned to look at her: "Why are you suddenly so sullen?"

Qi Zhaoning asked abruptly, "Is she the princess from the Four Dreams of Bianliang?"

Qi Zhaoyun said helplessly, "Princess Baili is Princess Baili, not some princess from the Four Dreams of Bianliang. Don't get too caught up in the drama."

Qi Zhaoning didn't speak. She stared at Bai Li walking towards her and then passing by.

Looking at the other person's clear face without any makeup, and recalling the straight back of the other person as they walked through the crowd and into the main hall, she murmured to herself, "No wonder the storyteller who met them wanted to write them into his story. If I were to write this story, I would also think they are a good match; they are the same kind of people at heart."

Qi Zhaoyun asked, puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

Qi Zhaoning turned to look at Qi Zhaoyun, her eyes filled with complex thoughts: "Sister, Chen Ji lied to me. His act of leading the princess's horse was not just a matter of courtesy as he claimed. There is affection between them. He didn't go to Tianbao Pavilion for me either. Did you see the wooden hairpin in Zhu Baili's hair? I guess Chen Ji went there for her, which is why he only bought a plain silver hairpin."

Qi Zhaoyun sighed: "Can you be so sure just because you've only met him once? What if you're wrong?"

Qi Zhaoning said firmly, "I can't be wrong, it must be so."

Qi Zhaoyun comforted her, "Even if it's true, as you think, that Princess Baili is already in Jingyang Palace and there's no possibility between them anymore, why should you care?"

Qi Zhaoning suddenly laughed: "Yes, so what if there is affection? From childhood to adulthood, there has never been anything I, Qi Zhaoning, have not been unable to obtain."

Qi Zhaoyun murmured, "What good is affection..."

Qi Zhaoning noticed that her sister was in low spirits and immediately asked curiously, "Sister, how are things going with Huang Que?"

Qi Zhaoyun said in a low voice, "Grandpa wanted him to marry into the family, but he refused."

Qi Zhaoning raised an eyebrow: "Why wouldn't he agree? Marrying into my Qi family wouldn't be a disgrace to him."

Qi Zhaoyun looked at the distant sky: "It's not his fault."

……

……

The Empress and Bai Li entered the mulberry garden. For some reason, Bai Li suddenly felt at ease beside her.

The Empress smiled and said, "Thank you for today. If it weren't for your divine favor, this mudslinging would definitely have been thrown on me."

Bai Li bowed her head slightly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so polite. This is what I should do."

The Empress asked curiously, "Just now, how did you throw out the Yin and Yang nine times?"

Bai Li carefully explained, "After moving into Jingyang Palace, a fairy appeared to me in a dream. Just now, I saw the Empress in danger, so I dared to give it a try."

The Empress observed her expression and knew she was lying, but she didn't care.

Who in this world doesn't have secrets?
The Empress laughed and said, "You are quite brave, not even putting the Jie Fan Guards in your eyes, and you dare to walk straight into the main hall. What if you were stopped? What if you were accused of disrespect? Sister Xue may regret it now. She has planned everything today, but she did not plan for you, a mere nun from Jingyang Palace."

The white carp remained silent.

She wasn't as brave as others thought. She only knew that someone who had come here in a small boat must have gone through great storms and suffered a lot.

Then she should do something too.

The Empress stood under a mulberry tree, looking up at the sunlight filtering through the leaves onto her face: "When I saw you climbing the stone steps today, I felt a little dazed, as if it were the first time I met your father at Zhengyang Gate more than twenty years ago."

The white carp was taken aback.

The Empress spoke of a close relationship with her father, Prince Jing, a relationship that had never been mentioned before.

Hearing this from behind, Yuan Jin immediately handed over a golden hook and reminded her, "Your Highness, it's time to pick mulberries."

The Empress ignored her and sighed to herself, "You two don't actually look alike, and your personalities are different, but just now I felt a little dazed."

Yuan Jin's expression changed, and he turned around to dismiss the palace maids: "Go pick mulberry leaves over there. Don't come over without my permission."

The Empress continued, "That year, when he returned from suppressing the rebellion in the south, a group of us girls waited at Zhengyang Gate. I remember I wore a white hairpin that day; I was at my most beautiful. But in the blink of an eye, he's gone, and even I am getting old."

Bai Li didn't speak, because these words weren't actually meant for her.

The Empress stroked the mulberry tree: "Look, there is a character 'Jing' on this tree. I secretly carved it when I was a child and didn't know any better. Now the bark is all blurred. When I was fifteen, I came to the Silkworm Goddess Altar with my mother to pick mulberry leaves. I came every year. Back then, I watched others worship the Silkworm God. Now it's my turn. Every year, the Silkworm Goddess Altar is the same, but the people who come to pick mulberry leaves are different."

At this point, the Empress gently stroked Bai Li's cheek: "How pitiful. How could they be so heartless as to throw you into a place like Jingyang Palace? Those 'big men' only care about the country and its people, about ideals and ambitions. They're always sacrificing this or that. They don't know how to love others, or even themselves."

Bai Li lowered her eyes. The Empress smiled softly and said, "Don't worry, I will take care of you from now on. I'm afraid I can't exonerate your father, but it's not difficult to spare you some suffering. From now on, we can keep each other company in the deep palace. Kunning Palace is not far from Jingyang Palace."

Bai Li said in a low voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

At this moment, Lin Chaoqing strode over, but was stopped by Yuan Jin at a distance of more than ten steps: "What is it? Speak."

Lin Chaoqing bowed and clasped his hands: "Your Majesty, the person who died from poisoning at the First Silkworm Altar was incompetent and failed to discover the clues sooner..."

The Empress was unconcerned and said slowly, "Lord Lin, there's no need to be alarmed. How could someone who dares to do this not have made such preparations? They must have been meticulously prepared before taking action. Relax, I didn't expect you to actually find any incriminating evidence against me."

Lin Chaoqing said solemnly, "This humble servant is ashamed. This humble servant will imprison the others and will not release them again."

The Empress smiled and said, "Why bother? They're all just pawns with no choice in the matter. I don't want to commit unnecessary killings, so let's release them all."

Lin Chaoqing said firmly, "Your Majesty, you can't. Even if you wanted to spare their lives, the Grand Chancellor and Lord Wu Xiu would not agree."

The Empress replied listlessly, "Since my decision doesn't count, then we'll do it your way."

Lin Chaoqing was taken aback: "Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

The Empress waved her sleeves and said, "You may leave."

After Lin Chaoqing walked away, she smiled and said to Bai Li, "You see, even the Empress has many helpless situations. Not only me, but His Majesty is the same."

Bai Li said softly, "The Crown Prince is already the heir apparent, so why is Consort Xue in such a hurry to harm you?"

The Empress smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear: "You've been living in Jingyang Palace all day and don't know that the Crown Prince's situation isn't very good right now. Sister Xue must be a little anxious. It just so happens that His Majesty is now distant from me, so she wants to take this opportunity to get rid of the Crown Prince's only rival."

The Empress said casually, "But she ultimately failed to understand His Majesty's intentions. His Majesty has long suffered from the maternal relatives. The more His Majesty distances himself from me, the less hope the Crown Prince has."

The white carp listened and learned silently.

The Empress patted her head: "Why bother learning such boring things? Let's go back to the palace."

Bai Li asked in confusion, "Your Majesty hasn't picked mulberry leaves yet."

The Empress said mischievously, "I'm tired of performing, so I won't perform this year. I don't have the power to reduce taxes or allow the people to rest and recuperate. Are you suggesting that this year's poor harvest should all be blamed on me?"

The white carp was taken aback.

The Empress pulled Bai Li away and said, "Don't worry, everyone thinks I should be furious right now. Even if I take a break, they won't dare say anything."

……

……

Noon.

Chen Ji stood before the gate of the Altar of the First Silkworm, stroking the plain silver hairpin hidden in the gap of his arm armor, waiting silently.

He had previously heard a commotion coming from the Temple of the Silkworm, and then saw the Jie Fanwei escorting more than thirty eunuchs from the Temple of the Silkworm away, and also carrying away a corpse covered with a white cloth.

What happened? Is someone plotting a rebellion, or deliberately disrupting the ceremony?
He relieved her of her troubles and kept her mouth shut.

Just then, the clattering sound of the Queen's Golden Feast grew louder as it approached, and the sacrificial ceremony, which was originally scheduled to end at Shenshi (3-5 PM), was brought to an early close.

Chen Ji retreated to the side of the road and watched the Empress walk out of the gate and get into the phoenix carriage in front of the gate.

Along with the phoenix palanquin, there were also white carp and dark clouds.

Chen Ji watched their backs as they got into the carriage, pondering for a long time but still unable to figure it out. How could the Empress and Bai Li have become so intimate in just one morning?
Suddenly, the dark cloud let out a meow.

The traces first wrinkled up, then smoothed out again; it's good that nothing's wrong.

But now that Bai Li is by the Empress's side, how can I give her the silver hairpin? I'm afraid I can only wait until later.

While they were pondering, the palace maids lowered the curtains and veils around the phoenix palanquin to block outsiders from peeping, and the procession slowly moved forward.

Just as Chen Ji was about to mount his horse to escort him, he heard someone call out from behind: "Chen Ji!"

He turned around helplessly: "Miss Qi."

Qi Zhaoning approached with a smile: "We've known each other for so long, why won't you call me Zhaoning?"

Chen Ji cupped his hands in greeting: "Does Miss Qi have any instructions for me?"

Qi Zhaoning held out her hand: "Give it to me."

Chen Ji was stunned: "What?"

Qi Zhaoning held her hand up to him, blinked, and said, "My sister and I saw your carriage at Tianbao Pavilion the other day, so what are you pretending for?"

He shook his head: "Miss Qi, I apologize. I only went to Tianbao Pavilion that day to check on my own property and did not buy anything."

However, at this moment, Qi Zhenzhuo suddenly touched Chen Ji's arm armor: "Master, don't be so reserved. I've seen you touching that hairpin all the way here."

Chen Ji grabbed Qi Zhenzhuo's wrist with his backhand and calmly looked into his eyes.

Qi Zhenzhuo said awkwardly, "Isn't that hairpin hidden in your arm guard? The girl has already asked you for it, Master, why are you still being so reserved?"

He genuinely believed the hairpin was for Qi Zhaoning, so he didn't understand why Chen Ji's expression had changed.

From afar, Li Xuan called out loudly, "Chen Ji, Qi Zhenzhuo, quickly mount your horses and escort the Empress back to the palace."

Chen Ji turned to leave, but Qi Zhaoning suddenly said, "Your coachman told me the other day that you went to Tianbao Pavilion to pick out a gift for me today. Hurry up and give it to me."

Chen Ji suddenly realized that when he went to Tianbao Pavilion that day, the Qi sisters had talked with Si Cao Gui, and the excuse he used to fool Si Cao Gui had been taken seriously by the other party.

Qi Zhaoning teased, "What, is your coachman lying to me again? If so, I'm going to confront him!"

After much deliberation, Chen Ji finally pulled the plain silver hairpin from the gap in his arm guard: "I did indeed buy a hairpin for Miss Qi, but seeing all the jeweled ornaments worn by the wives of officials in the capital today, this plain silver hairpin is really not presentable. Miss Qi, why don't I wait until I go to Tianbao Pavilion to exchange it for a better one, and send it to the Qi residence tomorrow..."

Qi Zhaoning interrupted him and took the plain silver hairpin from his hand: "It's okay, I like everything you give me."

Just as Chen Ji was about to say something more, Li Xuan urged again, "Hurry, the procession is about to go far away!"

He took a deep breath, turned around, and mounted his horse.

Qi Zhaoning looked down at the plain silver hairpin in her hand, her thumb pressing hard on the eight characters "年年岁岁" and "岁岁年年" carved by the craftsman.

She clutched the hairpin in her hand, looking up at Chen Ji's departing figure on horseback, the hairpin drawing blood from her palm.

(End of this chapter)