strictlysupreme Chapter 7 Draft
Chapter 7 Draft
Chu Qingyin sat alone in the room, her expression complex.
The news of the talent show made her feel both sad and ridiculous.
Chu Qingyin, at the age of fifteen, met Pei Yuanling and fell in love at first sight, vowing to marry no one but him.
At the age of sixteen, she entered the Eastern Palace as a concubine.
On their wedding night, with the red candles burning brightly, Pei Yuanling said apologetically, "Yinyin, I'm sorry you had to suffer like this. Once I ascend the throne, I will definitely make you my empress."
But three years later, when he ascended to the highest position, he still made Lady Wang his empress.
That night, he was supposed to stay at the Empress's Fengyi Palace, but instead, drunk, he came to her Lizheng Palace. He held her in his arms, murmuring her name over and over again, "Yinyin, you know, the only Empress I want to make is you. But Lady Wang is innocent and is the principal wife; the ministers won't support me in deposing her..."
She didn't want to talk to him anymore, but he was so affectionate, holding her face and promising, "Give me three more years. Once I stabilize the court and eliminate the power of the aristocratic families, I will definitely make you my empress."
"Yinyin, believe me, in this world, only you and I are the most suitable match."
The vows made on the mountain still echo in her ears, but the grass on Chu Qingyin's grave has already grown a whole crop.
And less than a month after she was poisoned to death on New Year's Eve, he couldn't wait to restart the talent show.
It's true that we only hear the laughter of the new, but never the weeping of the old.
“Pei Yuanling…”
Just as Chu Qingyin was lost in thought, her maid Xianglan came in carrying a tray. "Miss, your tea is here."
Chu Qingyin walked to the table and sat down, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found the tea to be fragrant and mellow, her favorite pre-rain Longjing tea.
In her past life in the palace, every time Yu Hang brought new tea to the palace, Pei Yuanling would set aside the best batch for her palace.
Perhaps in that man's eyes, it was nothing more than a snack to appease his cats and dogs, but she, at that time, was so infatuated with love that she treated it as some kind of treasure.
"Xianglan," Chu Qingyin put down her teacup, "Go and find out how the other girls reacted when the news of the talent show came out."
After a slight pause, she emphasized, "Especially the families of several important officials, such as the Li, Xu, and Chen families."
The emperor holds a grand selection of imperial concubines every three years; the last time such a selection was held was when Pei Yuanling ascended the throne.
On that occasion, as a Noble Consort, she should have sat on the throne with Empress Dowager Xu and Empress Wang, selecting those beautiful and tender young girls.
But at that time, relying on Pei Yuanling's favor, she was arrogant and didn't bother to look at those little vixens, so she didn't go.
This gave Empress Wang an opportunity to deliberately select young women who resembled her to vie for her favor.
Although this trick wasn't very effective, it really disgusted her.
Now that she thought about it, Chu Qingyin suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She put down her cup, walked quickly to the bronze mirror, and examined her face.
Her skin was like solidified cream, her breath like a delicate orchid, her cheeks flushed, and her eyebrows were like green jade. In particular, her round oval face and the shape of her eyebrows and eyes were very similar to those in her previous life.
Since Empress Wang had previously used "fake goods" to disgust her, now that she herself, the real deal disguised as a "fake," had arrived, perhaps she could use the enemy's own words against her and turn the tables on Empress Wang.
Just thinking about the scene at the talent show, where Pei Yuanling, Empress Wang, Consort Shu, and others would see her, made Chu Qingyin's rosy lips curl into a smile.
What to do? Suddenly I'm starting to look forward to it.
-
Meanwhile, deep within the palace.
The tranquil afternoon sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices into the magnificent Qin Zheng Hall.
The emperor, dressed in a dark robe with a dragon pattern, sat alone before his throne, a portrait prominently displayed on the table in front of him.
The woman in the painting, with her jade-like hair bun, bright and clear eyes, and cherry-like cheeks, was none other than the late Consort Chu Qingyin.
Pei Yuanling stared at the lifelike portrait for a long time before reaching out and gently stroking the face of the person in the painting.
It was as if they wanted to reach through the paper and touch the woman's long-lost warmth.
"Voice..."
Pei Yuanling's dark eyes were filled with gloom as he murmured, "Why, why did you have to be so foolish as to choose to commit suicide by poison rather than wait for me?"
He knew that the eldest daughter of the Chu family had always been proud and willful.
From the first time he saw her as a boy, she wore a bright pomegranate dress and rode a horse, shining into his heart like a radiant sun.
Yet this proud Chu Qingyin was willing to become a concubine in order to marry him…
Even though she was tricked by Wang into losing her first child, she only leaned on his shoulder and silently shed tears, without blaming him.
"Liulang, I like you, I like you the most."
With tears in her eyes, she hugged him and asked, "We'll have children in the future, won't we?"
He looked into her tearful eyes, hugged her back, and promised her, "Yes, it will happen, it definitely will."
"Yinyin, we will have many, many children in the future, and I will make sure they grow up safely."
There was something he didn't say aloud, but in his heart, only his and her child was what he truly desired.
But these unspoken words will never have a chance to be said again.
Just as Pei Yuanling was staring at the portrait of the Imperial Concubine, feeling sad and heartbroken, footsteps sounded outside the palace.
Pei Yuanling snapped out of his daze, quickly put away the portrait, and resumed his usual dignified demeanor.
“Your Majesty,” the gray-robed eunuch said respectfully, “Lord Lu Zhiheng requests an audience.”
Pei Yuanling frowned slightly, but still nodded and said, "Summon him in."
Before long, Lu Zhiheng strode into the imperial study and bowed to Pei Yuanling: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanling waved his hand: "No need for formalities. My dear minister, is there something important you wish to see me about?"
Lu Zhiheng straightened up, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the corner of the portrait that had just been put away on the desk, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
He knew why that Miss Qiao looked familiar.
His face shape and eyebrows were about 50% similar to those of the recently deceased Consort Chu.
Consort Chu was more charming and radiant, while Miss Qiao was more elegant and gentle.
“Minister Lu?” Pei Yuanling narrowed his dark eyes.
Lu Zhiheng suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly lowered his head, saying, "Your Majesty, I have come to report on the preparations for the imperial concubine selection."
Pei Yuanling nodded, signaling him to continue.
Lu Zhiheng gave a detailed report on the arrangements for the talent show, but Pei Yuanling was clearly distracted.
His thoughts were still on the portrait he had just seen, and he wasn't particularly interested in the upcoming talent show.
Lu Zhiheng noticed the emperor's absent-mindedness, guessing that he was still thinking of the deceased Consort Chu.
That Miss Qiao is sixteen this year, and by right, she should also be among the candidates for the imperial concubine selection…
Normally, Lu Zhiheng might have mentioned it, but for some reason today, when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly didn't want to mention the woman who resembled the Imperial Concubine in front of the Emperor.
His thin lips moved slightly, and he lowered his eyes, continuing his report in a calm tone.
After the report was finished, Pei Yuanling waved his hand listlessly, "Alright, I know."
"I am very confident in entrusting the selection to you. Just go ahead and do it."
Lu Zhiheng nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly not disappoint you."
After giving a few more brief instructions, Pei Yuanling gestured for Lu Zhiheng to leave.
He took out the portrait again and stared intently at the person in it.
"Yinyin..." Pei Yuanling murmured softly, "The court officials are all urging me to select a concubine. If you are watching from heaven, would you blame me?"
Surely she will, after all, she's such a jealous little thing.
In the imperial study, the emperor stared motionlessly at the portrait. The gradually dimming sunlight fell upon him, adding an inexplicable sense of desolation to this young and handsome emperor.
Outside the Golden Palace, Lu Zhiheng gazed at the pale clouds on the horizon and inexplicably recalled the bright, sparkling eyes that had looked at him in the teahouse that morning.
Could she be selected for the imperial concubine selection?
Probably not, considering that not long ago he was threatening to die over a poor scholar.
No, why would I care about this for no reason?
Lu Zhiheng frowned, shook his head slightly, and stopped thinking about these irrelevant people and things.