flstandardbreds Chapter 346 Tryst
Chapter 346 Tryst
The voices of Concubine Tang and Emperor Tianqi rang out at the same time. Their faces were darker than the other, and their anger was evident on their faces.
"Today is the Queen's birthday, why are you making trouble here? Go down quickly and reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors!" Emperor Tianqi shouted harshly.
"The Emperor has ordered you to stay at home, why don't you leave immediately!"
After Concubine Tang pointed at Luo Xiaoran and said this proudly, she realized that everyone in the hall was looking at her as if she were a clown.
Her little face turned pale instantly. Needless to say, she already understood that the one being scolded... was her!
The heat spread rapidly on her cheeks, and the intense shame and anger were beyond words. Concubine Tang trembled all over, trying her best to suppress the anger in her heart.
"…I, your concubine, take my leave."
Concubine Tang was driven out of the palace in front of all the concubines and royal family members in the palace by Emperor Tianqi, and was also punished with house arrest. It was such a loss of face!
Luo Xiaoran, who had just been competing with Concubine Tang, became the focus of everyone's attention after Concubine Tang left.
In order to protect Luo Xiaoran, Emperor Tianqi scolded Concubine Tang, who was born in an aristocratic family. This really makes people think deeply~~
"The wine from the Qianqiu Festival banquet is so delicious, I'm afraid Concubine Tang is drunk. Your Majesty, please don't waste the wine. Qingyi toasts to you!"
Chen Lingyi was a woman, but she got along well with both the royal family and the aristocratic families, so people often gave her some face, which created her image of being a "good smoother".
Emperor Tianqi glanced at Chen Lingyi with a smile, but finally picked up the golden cup with one hand to give face to his imperial sister.
After finishing the wine, Zhu Yan behind her filled the golden cup again, and Chen Lingyi picked it up again.
"This cup of wine is for Miss Luo who has come from afar. I consider Miss Luo a guest, so I am giving her red coral as a token of my welcome.
I didn't expect such a commotion to happen on the Queen's birthday. Tracing back to the source, it was my fault."
At this time, the palace servant serving Luo Xiaoran took the initiative to step forward and poured Luo Xiaoran a full glass of wine. Wei An stretched out his hand to stop him, but it seemed... there was no reason.
Luo Xiaoran also gave her a look that said "don't act rashly", so Wei An had to withdraw his hand awkwardly, staring at the glass of wine nervously.
The wine in the glass was swaying, and Luo Xiaoran couldn't tell whether the wine had been tampered with.
On the way to Kyoto, Luo Xiaoran had many subordinates, while Chen Lingyi had few available people around her, so Luo Xiaoran had the advantage.
She had her secret guards watch Chen Lingyi's every move in advance, so she was able to foresee in advance Chen Lingyi poisoning her chopsticks and the assassination attempt by the assassin in the Qingzhou Palace.
However, after entering the palace, a place full of people and eyes, Luo Xiaoran's advantage on the way back to Beijing no longer existed.
As for Chen Lingyi, the world-famous princess, the secret guards around Luo Xiaoran were simply unable to keep a close eye on her.
Just as Chen Ji once told Luo Xiaoran, Chen Lingyi sometimes appeared in the palace, and sometimes stayed indoors in the Princess's Mansion. When she went out, she was followed by dozens of guards, making it difficult to approach and monitor her.
Therefore, Luo Xiaoran, who was in the palace, was unable to foresee the opportunities ahead. All she could do for now was to act cautiously and seize opportunities.
Clearly, now is the time to act according to circumstances.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Luo Xiaoran raised a full glass of wine, looked at Chen Lingyi from a distance, trying to find some clues from Chen Lingyi's face.
Unfortunately, there was no clue on Chen Lingyi's face.
"Thank you for Princess Qingyi's kindness. I will drink first as a sign of respect."
After saying that, Luo Xiaoran raised her sleeve to cover her face and poured all the wine into her other sleeve, without even staining the wall of the cup.
The sleeves of Luo Xiaoran's palace dress were wide, more than enough to hold a small glass of wine.
Seeing Luo Xiaoran drinking the wine so readily, Chen Lingyi followed suit.
Luo Xiaoran has a refreshing temperament yet a bit mysterious, while Chen Lingyi has a noble bearing yet a bit charming. These two beauties, who give people completely different feelings, drink from each other in the magnificent hall. It is really a beautiful sight.
At this time, Lin Yuanfang was guarding beside Emperor Tianqi. This beautiful scene made him feel an indescribable excitement.
I really didn't expect that this country girl from the northern border is not only eloquent, but also has an appearance and temperament that can rival Chen Lingyi.
He secretly sighed in his heart, and thinking of the agreement with Chen Lingyi, Lin Yuanfang's depressed mood all night suddenly felt a little happy.
Ever since he became the commander of the Imperial Guard, he had to follow behind Emperor Tianqi whenever the royal family held major celebrations or palace banquets. After all, the Imperial Guard was the emperor's personal guard.
But he is the eldest son of the Lin family, how can he be asked to do these things personally?
If it wasn't for the purpose of better monitoring Emperor Tianqi and hanging out with Chen Lingyi, he wouldn't have lowered himself to become the commander of the Imperial Guard!
Halfway through the palace banquet, Chen Lingyi left on the pretext of sobering up. Not long after, Lin Yuanfang also left on the pretext of inspecting outside the palace.
As he watched Lin Yuanfang walking away, veins bulged on the back of Emperor Tianqi's hand as he held the golden cup.
……
Wenxing Pavilion is a place in the imperial palace dedicated to storing books. It is divided into three floors: upper, middle and lower. It is one of the few secluded places in the palace.
When Lin Yuanfang arrived, Chen Lingyi was already half-undressed and drinking alone.
There was only a candle lit in front of her. Under the dim yellow light, her arms and shoulders were exposed, and her beautiful face was several times more charming than in the daytime.
Lin Yuanfang's breathing immediately became rapid.
"You're here?" Chen Lingyi could hear Lin Yuanfang's footsteps.
"Of course I will keep your appointment." Lin Yuanfang said.
"I thought you would be afraid of this special day and would not dare to come~~"
Chen Lingyi drank another cup, half in anger and half in provocation.
Lin Yuanfang laughed loudly, not afraid of disturbing others at all.
He stepped forward and hugged Chen Lingyi in his arms. The porcelain cup in her jade fingers fell and shattered, which further stimulated Lin Yuanfang's interest.
He took a deep breath of the fragrance of Chen Lingyi's hair. This was a habitual action he did every time he had a private meeting with Chen Lingyi.
"If Princess Qingyi invites you, I, Lin Yuanfang, will accompany you no matter when or where!"
After saying that, he was about to untie Chen Lingyi's belt, but Chen Lingyi held his hand.
"During the banquet, your eyes lingered on Luo Xiaoran several times. Why, are you also interested in my future imperial aunt?"
Chen Lingyi's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Lin Yuanfang's head. His originally infatuated eyes suddenly became clear, but soon softened again, and he even tightened his arms around Chen Lingyi.
"Jealous?
I love beautiful women, you know that!
Your face makes so many women jealous, and it makes me love you so much!
I'm just a little surprised that this country girl, after dressing up, can be considered a rival to you.
However, you are a demon who confuses the world, and she is a snow lotus that is not stained by dust. You are completely different..."
The words that Lin Yuanfang had not yet finished speaking were like a heavy slap in the face, hitting Chen Lingyi in the face when she was completely off guard.
"boom!"
Lin Yuanfang, who inhaled the drug in Chen Lingyi's hair, fell to the ground. Chen Lingyi looked at the unconscious Lin Yuanfang in disbelief, and her charming face suddenly became hideous.
"How can that bitch Luo Xiaoran be compared with me? Lin Yuanfang, are you blind?
You are implying that I have a dirty body, but you say that Luo Xiaoran is a sacred and inviolable snow lotus. This is really ridiculous!
I originally just wanted you to destroy that bitch's innocence, but now, I have changed my mind!"
……
There was singing and dancing in the palace. Although Luo Xiaoran was hungry, she was still influenced by literature and art, so this trip was not in vain.
Apart from having to endure the inquiring glances cast at her from time to time by the people in the palace, Luo Xiaoran was relatively satisfied with her trip to the Qianqiu Festival palace banquet.
After the palace banquet, Luo Xiaoran and Wei An, the hungry master and servant, rushed to Fukang Palace at the fastest speed in their lives.
Xiao Xingzi is now the chief eunuch of Fukang Palace. When he saw Luo Xiaoran coming back, he hurried over to greet her.
"Miss Luo, you're back!"
He grinned. Luo Xiaoran had asked Wei An to get medicine from the Imperial Hospital early on, so the slap mark on Xiao Xingzi's face from Chen Lingyi disappeared in a few days.
"Xiao Xingzi, will you be on guard tonight?"
"It's a slave."
"You don't have to stay in the porch, go back to your room and sleep!"
"This... Miss Luo, this is against the rules."
"It's okay. As long as I don't tell anyone, no one will know."
"Miss Shelo!"
After Xiao Xingzi left, Luo Xiaoran and Wei An entered the bedroom. After the door was closed, Jia Er appeared from nowhere.
"Princess, the owner behind Quan Ya Pavilion has been found. It's the mistress of the Tang family."
"Quan Ya Pavilion? Isn't that a brothel?"
Wei An interrupted curiously. Quan Ya Pavilion is quite famous in Kyoto, so even she knows this place.
"The flood a year ago caused a large number of victims to pour into Kyoto, and some beautiful women were abducted into Quan Ya Pavilion.
Because they are disaster victims, most of these women have no relatives around them or have lost their household registration information, and their whereabouts are difficult to find after entering Quanyage.
In addition, the mistress of the Tang family also allowed her servants to lend money at high interest rates, forcing many people to sell their children to pay off their debts.
Jia Er continued to talk about the information he found, and then returned to the darkness.
Without Luo Xiaoran's active call, he would not come out easily.
The reason she took the initiative to come out this time was because Luo Xiaoran had instructed her early in the morning to tell her immediately if there was any news from Dongfang Post Station and Xurixuan.
The Eastern Caravan and its Eastern Post Station and Xurixuan are all Chen Ji's properties. They can not only make money for him, but also help him to get information.
The money earned can be used as military pay. After all, the imperial court would withhold the Northern Border Army's pay from time to time. If Chen Ji didn't find a way to get money and supplies, he would not be able to support 200,000 Northern Border Army for so many years.
As for getting information, that is the most important thing.
Especially Xurixuan, which not only has branches in major cities in Daliang, but also in some county towns. It is Chen Ji's most important spy dark network.
Before Luo Xiaoran came to Kyoto, Chen Ji handed over the Kyoto branches of Xurixuan and Dongfeng Station to her.
The first two tasks that Luo Xiaoran gave to these guards were to investigate Chen Lingyi's whereabouts outside the palace and to find out the news about Quan Ya Pavilion.
"It's the Tang family again!" Luo Xiaoran frowned tightly.
"The Tang family is a money-grubber with a brothel and loan sharking money. It must be a piece of cake to collect such a precious jade ruyi!"
"Princess, the Tang family is plundering the people's wealth!
Our soldiers in the northern border have to find ways to get their food and wages. The Tang family not only enjoys a comfortable life in the capital, but also oppresses the people. It is really abominable!"
Wei An's face was filled with indignation. Although she knew the character of these aristocratic families, she knew that something bad was not good when she heard about them, so she couldn't help but get angry.
"Wei An, you are right! Not only is it abominable, but it is also unfair.
All the money has been plundered by these wealthy families, and some of the common people can't even guarantee basic food and clothing. It's so sad!
If this continues, Daliang will be in chaos!"
A faint ironic smile appeared on Luo Xiaoran's lips. The high and mighty ruling class never understood the truth that "the king is the boat and the people are the water. The water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it."
The state should establish a fair distribution system to ensure that everyone can obtain corresponding material rewards according to their labor contributions, and avoid excessive concentration or extreme inequality of wealth and opportunities.
However, a social state of unequal distribution is possible in modern times, not to mention the feudal dynasty she is in now.
Wei An didn't expect that Luo Xiaoran would say the rebellious words "Daliang will be in chaos" in front of her. This was a manifestation of complete trust in her. She was happy!
“My brother also said something similar, but he didn’t let me tell anyone.
Princess, don't talk about it outside. If someone with bad intentions hears it, it will become a handle against you."
"I know~~ Xiao Wei'an!" Luo Xiaoran pinched Wei'an's face, "Hurry up and get the food we saved. We've been hungry all night, so hurry up and fill our stomachs."
There was no small kitchen in Fukang Palace, so all three meals a day had to be prepared in the imperial kitchen. To be honest, this feeling of relying on others for meals made Luo Xiaoran feel a little insecure...
Today was the Qianqiu Festival palace banquet, and Luo Xiaoran had planned not to touch anything at the table, so she kept some of the food that was sent from the imperial kitchen yesterday, waiting to eat it after the palace banquet was over.
The weather is getting colder day by day. If you keep the food in a cool place for a day, it won't go bad.
Before eating, Luo Xiaoran wanted to try the food, even though she had already tested it for poison yesterday.
But now the moon is high in the sky and the birds are returning to their nests, so it might be difficult to catch one to test the poison.
Thinking of this, Wei An stammered:
"Princess, Jia Er has been guarding the bedroom. No one has touched the food. Can we eat without worry?"
Right!
Luo Xiaoran also wondered if she was being too cautious. After all, palace servants like Xiao Xingzi were not allowed to enter the bedroom where she lived.
When she is not in the bedroom, Jia Er will guard here for her, so those who want to harm her should not find a chance to do so.
Then - let’s enjoy it!
Luo Xiaoran and Wei An were really hungry, and they ate yesterday's leftovers with gusto.
After eating and drinking, of course the next step is to have a good sleep!
The long and grand Qianqiu Festival has finally passed.
Chen Ji, when can you arrive in Kyoto?
This was Luo Xiaoran’s last thought before she fell asleep.