The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Nie Qinglin turned her head with a faint smile, sizing up the stern-faced matron before her, confirming that the woman wasn’t joking.
“Nanny Shan, that’s too much. Just a simple shoulder rub will do…” she replied with a chuckle.
Yet Nanny Shan acted as though she hadn’t heard, directing the palace maids to spread a cloth over the imperial bed before lowering her head and saying, “Your Majesty, before entering the palace, this servant trained in martial arts and spent her days chopping firewood in the mountains, doing rough labor. My hands lack refinement. Please disrobe and lie down on the imperial bed yourself. If this servant were to assist you, I fear I might injure Your Majesty…”
This time, Nie Qinglin could only force a bitter smile.
How could she not see that this palace maid was no ordinary servant? She had never heard of any palace employing such an imposing nanny, whose demeanor and actions bore no resemblance to those of someone raised within the palace walls.
Since Nanny Shan had already laid out the harsh truth upfront, persisting in defiance would only invite suffering.
Nie Qinglin had never been one to endure bitterness.
Thus, she obediently undressed and lay down on the imperial bed.
Fortunately, the process wasn’t as humiliating as she had imagined.
After a fragrant medicinal oil was applied, a steaming cloth was draped over her exposed skin.
The heat intensified the oil’s aroma, seeping into her flesh with an indescribable tingling sensation.
Nanny Shan then retrieved a small jade roller, heated in hot water, and with practiced skill, began stimulating the acupoints around Nie Qinglin’s chest.
Just as Nie Qinglin was beginning to relax, the roller suddenly pressed down with unexpected pain.
She struggled to sit up but was firmly pinned down by another palace maid at her side.
“Your Majesty must not move. This area has been tightly bound for too long, and the blood flow is obstructed. This is only the first session—bear with it a little. After daily treatments, it will improve!”
A fine layer of sweat broke out on Nie Qinglin’s forehead.
Hearing that she would have to endure this ordeal daily, she felt utterly drained, pressed firmly into the bed as she whimpered softly.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the “torture” ceased.
Though usually easygoing, Nie Qinglin had been raised as a prince—when had she ever been manhandled like this by a group of palace maids and nannies?
She sat up abruptly, swatting away the hot towel a maid was about to use to wipe her down.
Caught off guard, the maid stumbled back, knocking over a basin of scalding water that drenched both her and another maid.
Though the two maids were badly scalded, they only let out incoherent cries—their tongues had been severed at the root.
Nie Qinglin shuddered, realizing with a start that these maids were mute.
Nanny Shan stood and said calmly, “If Your Majesty is displeased, vent your anger on this servant. But these maids are illiterate, mute, and uncouth—there’s no need for Your Majesty to lower yourself to their level.”
With that, she summoned eunuchs to drag the two maids out for a face-slapping punishment.
By now, Nie Qinglin had regained her composure.
She quickly stopped the eunuchs and offered the maids an apologetic smile.
“This was My fault. Go and tend to your burns. We wish to rest alone.”
Yet even after the nannies and maids withdrew, the crisp sound of slaps and muffled wails echoed outside the bedchamber…
Sleep was impossible for Nie Qinglin.
After tossing and turning for hours, she finally let out a long sigh toward the towering canopy of the imperial bed.
—
Recently, the imperial capital of Great Wei had been bustling with activity.
Just days earlier, several burly Xiongnu men had been stripped naked and abandoned on an official road near the city gates, drawing raucous laughter from passersby.
Even the women in carriages couldn’t resist lifting their curtains to catch a glimpse of the “authentic northern scenery.”
Their leader, a thick-skinned and handsome man, rose from the ground and assessed his sorry state.
Realizing that Wei Lenghou had no intention of provoking a border war at this time and had instead chosen this underhanded method to humiliate him, he burst into laughter.
Facing the capital’s direction, he shouted, “Wei Lenghou, we’ll meet again!”
With that, he led his band of fierce warriors to hijack a merchant’s carriage, stealing horses and silver before galloping away.
No sooner had the northerners departed than envoys from the southern frontier arrived—a region that had long ceased diplomatic relations with Great Wei.
They presented three rare white peacocks as a state gift to the emperor.
With the emperor absent for so long and the recent assassination attempt on Yanzi Road, the court officials had grown increasingly uneasy.
Now that the southern frontier had sent envoys, it was imperative for the emperor to make an appearance.
After ten days of house arrest, Nie Qinglin finally stood before a bronze mirror, donning the long-unworn dragon robes.
But the robes were now far too large, just as they had been when she first ascended the throne.
Worse, beneath the loose fabric, there was no binding cloth—only a soft undergarment covered her chest.
Nie Qinglin found this attire highly improper, but with Nanny Shan unyielding, she had no choice but to proceed to court in this manner.
Upon stepping into the golden hall, she noticed significant changes in the decor.
The dragon throne had been elevated, the ministers stood farther away, and a sheer beaded curtain now hung before the throne, making the emperor’s visage as elusive as “flowers in the mist.”
Still, during the brief moment the emperor entered, the officials caught a glimpse of the imperial countenance and sighed in relief—Wei Lenghou had not yet usurped the throne.
Nie Qinglin stole a glance at the coiling dragon chair.
The Grand Tutor, absent for so long, had grown even more handsome—his sharp brows and straight nose accentuating his imposing stature as he sat upright, exuding authority without anger.
His black and gold court robe stretched taut over his chest, its contours no doubt sculpted by Nanny Shan’s skilled hands.
Truly mesmerizing!
Soon, Eunuch Ruan announced the arrival of the southern envoy.
Amidst the tinkling of silver bells, the envoy stepped into the hall, adorned in gleaming ornaments and a blue tie-dyed dress.
“Envoy of the Southern Frontier, Princess Qi Ke, pays homage to the Emperor of Great Wei!”
A seductive voice filled the hall, and silence fell.
The ministers gaped in unison at the envoy.
Though rumors spoke of the southern frontier’s exotic customs, none had expected their envoy to be a woman—a stunningly beautiful one at that.
The Grand Tutor, however, remained impassive, as if privy to intelligence that had prepared him for this female envoy.
“Princess Qi Ke has traveled far. There is no need for formalities. Someone, prepare a seat for Her Highness.”
The heavily made-up princess, far from appearing vulgar, smiled graciously and shook her head.
“Thank you, Grand Tutor, but there’s no need. Mao Man!”
With a flirtatious glance, she nodded to a burly man beside her.
The man immediately prostrated himself on the floor, and the princess, lifting her skirt, crossed her slender legs—adorned with silver anklets—and seated herself gracefully on his back.
The well-read ministers of Great Wei were stunned.
Never had they imagined that a princess of the southern frontier would wear a dress slit so high, shamelessly displaying her pale, shimmering legs in such a solemn setting…
The younger officials felt their blood rush southward, minds teeming with fantasies, while the older, more upright ones felt theirs surge upward, trembling with fury.
Finally, the recently reinstated Grand Secretary Wu could no longer hold back.
“Outrageous! As an envoy of the southern frontier, how dare you appear in our court dressed so indecently? And to use a man as a chair, mimicking the grotesque spectacle of King Jie of Xia treating humans as cattle—do you hold Great Wei in such contempt?”
Princess Qi Ke smirked arrogantly.
“Qi Ke is the eldest princess of the Miao King of the southern frontier. This is our sacred pleated attire, every stitch sewn by the most revered matrons of our tribe, imbued with the blessings of our people. Where is the impropriety?”
“As a daughter of the southern frontier, I abide by our customs. Unwed maidens may not sit on chairs belonging to outsiders, lest it be mistaken for a betrothal… Could it be that this lord’s anger stems from my refusal of the Grand Tutor’s kindness? Are you subtly suggesting I marry him?”
With that, she cast a sultry glance toward the Grand Tutor on the coiling dragon chair.
Grand Secretary Wu choked on his words, his beard quivering with rage.
The Grand Tutor, unfazed, replied coolly, “The southern frontier’s customs differ from ours. As our guest, the princess should not be forced to conform to Great Wei’s traditions. This marquis will ensure her accommodations are arranged with care. Any shortcomings, I hope the princess will forgive.”
The princess smiled again, her admiration for the ethereally handsome Grand Tutor undisguised.
Once the courtly dispute subsided, it was time to present the state gifts.
In the imperial garden, three snow-white peacocks had been released from their cages, strolling across a net-enclosed lawn.
The exotic birds were pure white, their feathers unblemished, shimmering like satin in the sunlight, their eyes a pale gold.
As the crowd approached, they suddenly fanned their magnificent tails, unfolding like clouds of enchantment descending upon the mortal realm.
The spectators were spellbound.
Nie Qinglin, seated on a palanquin veiled in gauze, did not disembark.
Though the curtains obscured her, her elevated position afforded her a clear view of the peacocks’ display.
Yet what captivated her more than the preening birds was the beautiful southern princess, who was staring intently at her with a gaze sharp as needles, sending a shiver down her spine…
—
After the southern envoy’s reception concluded without incident, Nie Qinglin expected the Grand Tutor to escort her back to her chambers.
Instead, he summoned her to the study to resume her “unfinished” imperial education.
Upon entering, the Grand Tutor—who had yet to speak to her—finally looked up, dismissed the attendants with a wave, and gestured to the inner chamber.
“Your Majesty may rest inside for a while.”
Nie Qinglin obediently stepped into the inner room, where she spotted a stack of books on the couch—likely provided for her amusement.
Picking one up, she nearly laughed aloud.
This thick volume of ‘Admonitions for Women’ was far more ‘entertaining’ than any romantic fiction.
“Chastity, tranquility, diligence, and shame—these are the virtues of a woman. Speaking with care and restraint is her speech; dressing neatly and maintaining cleanliness is her appearance; weaving diligently, avoiding frivolity, and preparing delicacies for guests are her skills. A woman who embodies virtue, speech, appearance, and skill will never breach propriety…”
After reading these lines, Nie Qinglin concluded that she must be sorely lacking in virtue.
Even if she were to reclaim her identity as a woman, she fell far short of these standards.
The Grand Tutor, despite his busy schedule, had meticulously marked key passages in vermilion ink, as though annotating a memorial.
One heavily circled section stood out: “A husband may remarry, but a wife must never take a second husband, for the husband is heaven itself. Heaven cannot be escaped, nor the husband abandoned. Those who defy the gods will be punished; those who breach propriety will be scorned by their husbands…”
The message was clear: “A chaste woman does not serve two husbands.” While men could take multiple wives as they pleased, women were bound to their “heaven” for life. No matter how jealous or resentful, a wife must never leave her husband—lest he discipline her for her impropriety.
What a marvelous book!
Nie Qinglin mused.
I wonder which lovelorn, jilted woman penned this?
In all her years as a prince, she had never encountered such meticulous, airtight logic.
A regrettable oversight indeed…
Her focus soon waned, and she drifted off to sleep.
When warmth suddenly enveloped her, she opened her eyes to find the Grand Tutor lying beside her, his official duties completed.
Before she could react, a warm kiss landed on her eyelids.
Panicked, Nie Qinglin whispered, “Grand Tutor, you mustn’t! If you keep this up, We have to cut off the eyelids to uphold feminine virtue!”
The Grand Tutor saw through her act immediately.
Pinching her delicate earlobe, he snorted coldly.
“If reading Admonitions for Women has inspired such lofty resolve in Your Majesty, your cleverness is truly unparalleled. It will save this subject much effort in the future.”
Seeing that the Grand Tutor was in a rare good mood, Nie Qinglin softened further, nestling into his arms as she asked quietly, “Grand Tutor, are you still angry with Me?”
Weary from reviewing memorials, the Grand Tutor found comfort in holding the delicate figure beside him.
At her whispered question, he merely hummed in response.
Nie Qinglin, confused, pressed on. “So… you’re not angry anymore?”
“Hmm…”
“Then why punish me like this? Why have Nanny Shan knead me every day… there…?” she finally stammered.
The Grand Tutor cracked an eye open.
“Does Your Majesty dislike it?”
The little emperor bit her lip petulantly.
“They’re already small—why knead them? Nanny Shan claims it’ll affect breastfeeding later… Clearly, she wasn’t trained in the palace. Even if We were to… have them… who breastfeeds their own children? Grand Tutor, may We have Qiao’er back?”
Nie Qinglin wasn’t wrong—imperial consorts and noblewomen all employed wet nurses.
Even high-ranking officials’ wives seldom nursed their own children.
To her, this ordeal was pure torment with no purpose.
But her true aim was to reclaim her loyal maid, Qiao’er.
Wei Lenghou’s phoenix eyes narrowed slyly.
“Your Majesty doubts whether you’ll have them? Are you questioning this subject’s capabilities? Once Your Majesty’s health is restored, this subject will spare no effort, serving Your Majesty day and night to ensure no emptiness lingers in the imperial bed, no imbalance in yin and yang… As for the milk—if the child won’t drink it, does your husband not thirst?”
The vulgar words were swallowed by a fierce kiss, transmitted through tangled tongues.
Nie Qinglin’s cheeks burned.
This treacherous minister’s depravity knew no bounds.
After some time entangled on the couch, the Grand Tutor’s arousal flared anew.
He yearned to guide her delicate hands as he had in the tent at the horse grounds—back when he’d mistaken her for a boy.
Back then, he’d assumed their dalliance was merely a mimicry of male intimacy.
He’d even considered reciprocating to pleasure the little emperor, but Nie Qinglin had stubbornly refused to let him touch her.
At the time, though deeply infatuated, the thought of handling a boy’s parts had unsettled him, so he’d relented.
Little did he know the cunning little emperor had been deceiving him all along.
The memory reignited his fury, and he tightened his grip on her jade-like hands, refusing to let go…
By the time Nie Qinglin was finally released from the study, her sleeves were damp, her chest aching beneath the soft undergarment.
That shameless Grand Tutor! To imitate an infant… The thought made her legs weaken.
As she was escorted back to her chambers, she spotted a figure kneeling at the palace gates.
Squinting, she recognized her long-lost maid, An Qiao’er!
“Your Majesty…”
Qiao’er’s voice trembled, tears streaming before she could finish.
“This servant deserve to die! I was careless, and it caused trouble for Your Majesty…”
Nie Qinglin quickly helped her up.
Looking at her hand wrapped in bandages, she knew without asking what hardships the loyal servant had endured during these days.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Nanny Shan standing beside several mute servants with expressionless faces.
She smiled faintly and patted Qiao’er’s hand, saying, “This isn’t your fault. Since the Grand Tutor let you go, he doesn’t hold it against you. Quickly wipe away your tears. Let me tell you some interesting stories from these past days.”
After entering the inner room, and seeing that there was no one around, An Qiao’er finally spoke through her tears, saying, “Your Majesty, please find a way to save Physician Zhang!”
H
Depraved Delulu! It is hilarious reading his mental gymnastics. Thank you for the updates. I hope you feel better.