The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 117
Chapter 117
After kissing that soft, fragrant little face again and again, Nie Qinglin carried her back to Fengchu Palace.
She ordered Nanny Shan to clear out a room in Fengchu Palace specifically to serve as the young princess’s nursery and moved her along with her wet nurses into Fengchu Palace.
These past few days, the Grand Tutor was once again not returning to the palace very often.
It was said that the imperial court had been making major moves recently, seemingly intending to change course and lend support to the elders of another Xiongnu tribe, showing strong momentum toward abandoning Xiu Tuhong as a chess piece.
When the Grand Tutor prepared to take his evening meal, he saw his Guo’er dressed in a loose, apricot-yellow nightgown, her long hair draped behind her back, her tender pink face wearing a subtle smile as she watched the young princess lying in the cradle, scratching at a cloth tiger with her little hands.
The Grand Tutor was in no hurry to enter.
Instead, he quietly gazed at the beauty sitting by the cradle with a faint smile, her raven-black hair cascading across the crook of her arm, giving one the impulse to reach out and hold those smooth tresses.
If Guo’er became a mother, she would surely look just like this, gazing at his child with tender affection beneath the moonlight.
At this thought, he softly walked over, gently wrapping his arms around her soft, fragrant form from behind,”Guo’er, hurry up and bear this Marquis a child!”
Hearing his words, Nie Qinglin’s fingers paused slightly.
She turned around and said in a soft voice, “This little thing was only just coaxed to sleep. Would the Grand Tutor please step into the bedchamber first? This Princess will follow shortly.”
The Grand Tutor smiled, pecked her soft, fragrant cheek, and returned to the bedchamber.
Nie Qinglin tucked in little Jiarou’s quilt and slowly walked out as well.
She and the Grand Tutor had shared multiple spring nights, and every time, the Grand Tutor acted without any protection, pouring out his rain and dew in full.
Yet her lower abdomen remained flat, completely without activity.
She had heard that one of the Grand Tutor’s former concubines had once undergone an abortion, so it seemed that this quiet belly of hers was truly her own problem.
Recalling what Divine Physician Wei had once said about her having difficulty conceiving, Nie Qinglin could only offer a bitter smile.
If the Grand Tutor pinned his hopes entirely on her bearing a child, it would likely be climbing a tree to catch a fish.
Thinking of this, Nie Qinglin let out another soft sigh.
Wei Lenghou was unaware of Nie Qinglin’s inner thoughts.
Having been busy with the court for the past few days, he had naturally neglected his beauty.
Today, now that the thought of having a child had arisen, he naturally had to exert a bit more effort in bed.
Thinking of how his younger brother had gotten Empress Shen pregnant in a single stroke, the Grand Tutor’s heroic male pride felt somewhat stifled.
Now that their grand wedding was imminent, he needed to cultivate the fields much more.
He always felt that Guo’er was too young and had an unsettled mind for playfulness; if she had a child earlier, it would gather her focus, allow her to cast aside those harmful leisure books, and focus more on serving her husband and educating their child instead.
Seeing Guo’er walk over, he sat up from the bed with a trace of impatience, extending his arms to scoop her up and settle her onto the couch.
This young woman truly fit the saying about a “white tiger’s tightness.”
(T/N:hhmmmm… The phrase “white tiger’s tightness” refers to the belief in traditional Chinese erotic lore that women with this trait are exceptionally ‘tight’ during intimacy…cough..cough..hehe)
So long as the bed was cold for just a few days, one would have to valiantly pioneer the territory all over again.
That night, he rallied his spirits to thoroughly reorganize and tend to the tight rivers and mountains in sheer delight, feeling so refreshed and comfortable that he wished he could lie atop the beauty and never rise again.
For a time, delicate, panting gasps filled the inner chamber continuously, making the palace maids on night duty in the outer room blush and their hearts pound fiercely.
When the spring night’s intimacy subsided, Nie Qinglin leaned against the Grand Tutor’s robust chest and suddenly asked, “Divine Physician Wei said this Princess has difficulty conceiving. If I cannot bear a child for the Grand Tutor in the future, what should be done?”
The Grand Tutor kept his eyes closed, casually patting her arm without much care,”There will always be one. Don’t overthink things.”
Shortly after speaking, he fell into a deep sleep ahead of her.
There will always be one.
As a man, the Grand Tutor indeed would not care about this.
As the future Supreme Sovereign of the nation, how could he possibly be without offspring? How could Nie Qinglin not know that the Grand Tutor’s feelings toward her at this moment were genuine? It was precisely because they were so genuine and heartfelt that she was moved to harbor wild hopes she shouldn’t have.
Yet sometimes world affairs were unpredictable; the beauty of the present made it difficult to ignore the heavy storm clouds up ahead…
The next day, Nie Qinglin left the palace to meet Lady Gu.
However, upon arriving at the post-house, she discovered that Lady Gu had already gone out, reportedly having gone to the Grand Tutor’s Manor.
Thinking that Lady Gu might suffer a bit of a shock, Nie Qinglin sat in the post-house and waited for a while.
Before long, a carriage drove up in a hurry and pulled to a stop in front of the post-house.
A woman with a face full of anger stepped down from the carriage.
It turned out that Lady Gu had been thinking of the soulmate who shared her taste in high-mountain stream tea ever since her journey to the capital.
Thus, she had prepared a thoughtful, lavish gift early in the morning to visit Third Concubine at the Grand Tutor’s Manor.
Who could have imagined that after waiting in the main hall of the Grand Tutor’s Manor, the person who came out was a total stranger she had never seen before?
Even with Lady Gu’s usual calm and dignified demeanor, she was left feeling somewhat shaken and uncertain.
Upon second thought, however, she began to understand: could it be that the person she met at the border pass that day was not the real Third Concubine, but rather the Grand Tutor’s courtesan paramour from a brothel? That sort of grand air and refined speech was likely that of a fallen noble lady forced into official prostitution, who had used the name of the manor’s Third Concubine out of fear of tarnishing the Grand Tutor’s reputation.
Lady Gu was also one to adapt to circumstances.
Hiding her astonishment, she promptly changed her tune, saying that because she had previously heard her husband, General Gu, mention that Third Concubine loved tea, she had brought over some rare, rich tea leaves, along with some local specialties from beyond the pass for the Grand Tutor.
The legitimate Third Concubine was polite enough, but hearing the names of the lavish gifts, her expression remained bland, carrying a timid, small-minded air.
After accepting the gifts, she remained silent, staring awkwardly back and forth with Lady Gu in utter embarrassment.
Thus, Lady Gu exchanged a few polite pleasantries and hurriedly took her leave.
Yet she had not expected that the moment she returned to the post-house, she would run into a minor official standing by the door looking out.
Seeing her step down from the carriage, he quickly came over and said, “Lady Gu, how are you only returning now? Princess Yong’an has been waiting for you for a long time!”
Hearing these words, Lady Gu’s heart—which had barely settled after the ordeal at the Grand Tutor’s Manor—began to beat violently once more.
As the wife of a frontier general, every word and action of hers had to take her husband’s future prospects into consideration.
Blinded by the friendship she had formed with that “Third Concubine,” she had rashly sought to pay a visit, completely overlooking that Princess Yong’an was the Grand Tutor’s future principal wife! Why would the Princess suddenly come to see her? Could it be that the Grand Tutor’s dissolute excursion taking a beautiful courtesan to Qinglong Pass had been discovered by the Princess, and she was coming to interrogate her?
Just as Lady Gu was filled with apprehension, she entered the hall without even seeing clearly who was seated inside, immediately bowing her head to pay her respects.
When she looked up, she felt as though every part of this capital city was full of treacherous waters and terrifying shocks! There sat that “Third Concubine,” dressed in splendid, luxurious robes with her hair styled in an exquisite updo, seated grandly upon a high chair.
This moment of stunned daze ruined her composure, causing her etiquette to fail to keep up in time.
Even though Lady Gu usually carried herself as an elegant and noble lady, her mouth could hardly stay shut at this moment, her eyes wide with shock and suspicion.
Fortunately, Nie Qinglin had an easygoing nature.
Seeing Lady Gu’s appearance, she roughly guessed that an oafish mistake had occurred at the Grand Tutor’s Manor.
Given Lady Gu’s personality, for her to personally bring gifts to visit a concubine of maidservant origin meant she truly considered her a soulmate.
Feeling a bit guilty toward this “kindred spirit,” Nie Qinglin offered a light smile and said, “Due to inconveniences during our previous chance meeting, this Princess naturally concealed my identity. I hope Lady Gu can forgive me.”
Now Lady Gu finally understood everything completely.
She hastily performed a full formal bow once more, begging the Princess for forgiveness regarding her previous lack of propriety.
Nie Qinglin signaled Nanny Shan to help Lady Gu up, saying, “There are no outsiders here, so we can speak openly. Back at Qinglong Pass, I received much care from Lady Gu, and now you have escorted Jiarou back to the capital all the way, taking on great hardship. This Princess ought to be grateful to you.”
Lady Gu repeatedly said she dared not accept such praise.
Only after thanking the Princess for granting her a seat did she sit down.
Her husband was a favored general of the Grand Tutor’s faction, so she naturally knew of the faint rumors in the capital.
Thinking that this smiling, charming Princess might very well be the Emperor who sat high upon the imperial throne, she could not help but sigh secretly in her heart: Previously, while stationed at the border, I thought the Grand Tutor marrying Princess Yong’an was merely a strategic move to rise to power—a marriage of convenience. But now, recalling that time at Qinglong Pass when the usually cold-faced Grand Tutor doted on this Princess with such exceptional favor, it seems to be far more a matter of romantic passion! Looking at this Princess’s demeanor and way of doing things, it is no wonder she can tame the Great Wei’s demonic flood dragon. Her approachable and grand demeanor would win people’s hearts from the bottom of their souls even without the backdrop of royal birth.
It was just a pity about the previous misunderstanding—the meticulously prepared finest tea had been given away to the Grand Tutor’s Manor for nothing, handed over to that vulgar concubine.
It was truly a tragic waste of precious things.
Nie Qinglin did not know that Lady Gu was currently feeling pained over those tea leaves.
After exchanging pleasantries, she asked the main question behind her visit, “Lady Gu is stationed at the border, so you naturally know more than those in the capital. Do you happen to know which side consort betrayed Xiu Tuhong?”
Lady Gu let out a sigh and said, “It was that Consort Nulan who previously stayed at the Grand Tutor’s Manor. Seeing her domineering manner back then, one could tell she was not an easy person to get along with. Who would have thought she could commit such an act as selling out her own husband? She likely knew it would be difficult for her to conceive in the future and harbored resentment in her heart, leading her to do such a foolish thing. I heard that after committing this deed, Consort Nulan returned to her father’s tribe, intending to remarry that newly favored minister of the Xiongnu Chanyu—that traitor Ge Qingyuan.”
Nie Qinglin’s mind shifted slightly, her brows furrowing before relaxing once more.
She spoke softly, “In truth, this Princess also has an unpresumptuous request in coming here today. I hope that after Lady Gu returns, you can send someone to request a few items of my sister’s personal clothing from Xiu Tuhong. Eighth Imperial Sister led a turbulent life; a cenotaph must be built in her homeland to comfort her soul in heaven. Furthermore, I hope Lady Gu can arrange a religious ceremony by the river where the incident occurred, chanting prayers for three full days to transcend her departed soul. Ordinarily, giving orders down the line would suffice, but this Princess always worries that others might not act meticulously enough and miss details. Lady Gu handles matters with steady composure, so this Princess feels at ease coming in person to entrust this to you.”
Hearing this, Lady Gu naturally agreed to every detail, promising to execute it with utmost care.
Nie Qinglin smiled, paused for a moment, and continued,”Additionally, this Princess must entrust General Gu with one more matter. The Grand Tutor is busy with state affairs, so it is naturally improper for this Princess to disturb him. Yet while state affairs are beyond me, family matters cannot be ignored. Every debt has its debtor; if the perpetrator who harmed my sister cannot be brought to justice, how can Eighth Imperial Sister rest in peace?”
