The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Nie Qinglin froze for a moment, instinctively thinking she must’ve brushed against something dirty.
But Wei Lenghou’s gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s.
With just one glance, he saw unmistakable traces of blood.
He couldn’t hide the joy on his face.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a thin blanket from the carriage and wrapped it around her lower half, then carried her straight back to Fengchu Palace.
“Why did the Grand Tutor do this?” she asked, puzzled.
The Grand Tutor lowered his head, the corners of his thin lips curling upward to reveal his pristine teeth.
“My little Guo’er has grown up.”
It didn’t take long for Nie Qinglin to learn what was going on from Nanny Shan.
Unlike the openly joyous Grand Tutor, the words “monthly flow” didn’t bring her any sense of ease.
The Imperial Kitchen delivered ginger syrup made with old ginger and freshly pressed red sugarcane juice, with red dates that Nie Qinglin loved.
Nanny Shan had already prepared dozens of strips of white cotton cloth—brand new, boiled in hot water and sun-dried to absorb the sun’s warmth.
They were sprinkled with fine plant ash from lavender, specially reserved for the royal household, emitting a faint and elegant fragrance.
Half-reclining on the couch, Nie Qinglin pressed a small hand-warmer against her stomach, hazily thinking: So this is how troublesome it is to be a girl. If Imperial Consort Mother had really given birth to me as a boy, how carefree that would’ve been…
Apparently, the bitterness in her eyes didn’t affect the Grand Tutor one bit.
After Nanny Shan helped her change clothes, Wei Lenghou strode in and affectionately pulled her into his arms, planting a kiss on her cheek.
With the cotton cloth beneath her, Nie Qinglin felt utterly uncomfortable, instinctively resisting his closeness and squirming in his arms.
Lately, the Grand Tutor’s thoughts had been influenced by romance stories and grown more delicate.
Surprisingly, he seemed to understand the melancholy and confusion of a girl’s first period and didn’t insist further.
He gently set her aside.
“It didn’t come sooner, but waited until you went to the dock and caught the cold sea wind. Your body already carries a chill. I’ll have Nanny Shan prepare some more hot soup for you.”
Nie Qinglin buried her face in the pillow and mumbled, “It’s already hot enough. Drinking hot soup will make me sweat like crazy, I’ll die from the heat. The Grand Tutor doesn’t know how this feels. It’s easy for you to say. If only I were a boy…”
The Grand Tutor narrowed his eyes, suddenly recalling his own confusion back when he mistook his feelings for affection toward a young boy.
How could dragon pearl know, that bitter, tangled feeling back then was no less than the sorrow of a girl’s first bloom… He let out a long, gloomy breath.
After sharing a moment of awkward intimacy with the princess, he left Fengchu Palace.
But he had barely taken a few steps when he saw thick smoke billowing from a far corner of the palace—a raging fire.
The Grand Tutor’s eyes widened slightly as he barked at the stunned Eunuch Ruan beside him, “Quick, send someone to check what’s going on!”
In the sweltering heat of summer, a strange fire broke out in the remotest corner of the palace, the secluded Cold Palace Courtyard.
Its exterior was heavily guarded but inside loosely managed, and as long as their contact with the outside world was cut off, the guards rarely cared how those inside lived.
This fire started suddenly, with flames shooting toward the heavens.
Although every palace gate had bronze water tanks filled year-round for such emergencies, this fire had clearly been doused with oil or some other accelerant.
The flames surged out of control immediately.
The area was remote and ill-equipped and several buckets of water barely made a dent.
It was a brutal blaze.
Not a single royal consort or concubine imprisoned in that courtyard survived—clean sweep, all dead.
The incident sent shockwaves through court and common folk alike.
Rumors ran wild, claiming that Wei Lenghou was seizing the throne and wiping out the imperial Nie bloodline.
But Nie Qinglin knew deep down, that this couldn’t have been Wei Lenghou’s doing.
He was too proud a man.
Even during a palace coup, he’d barged in openly through the main gates, facing the late emperor squarely as he laid out every accusation word by word before striking with his blade.
That was the harshness and precision forged on the battlefield.
He killed, but never tormented.
But to set fire to a courtyard filled with women and children, including underage princes, letting them scream helplessly as they suffocated in smoke?
Wei Lenghou wouldn’t use nor stoop to such base methods.
Though the flames had been extinguished, the acrid smell of charred remains still lingered through the palace grounds.
The consorts who hadn’t been assigned to the Cold Palace secretly counted their blessings.
Some had close ties with the dead and wished to offer mourning rites, but feared gossip and could only cry in silence under their covers late at night.
Their hearts were filled with unease, afraid that the traitor Wei might target the rest of the late emperor’s kin.
Nie Qinglin hadn’t slept well for two nights, listless every morning.
And now she was under house arrest and not permitted to leave the palace or even roam its gardens.
Guards had been increased, and dozens more copper water vats had been brought in, completely ruining the palace’s original elegant atmosphere.
Sitting by the window, Nie Qinglin looked out at the rows of water vats, they looked just like a vinegar brewery.
But she had no energy to be annoyed.
Instead, her mind spun with countless thoughts: The mastermind behind this… such cruelty. Sacrificing dozens of imperial lives just to blacken Wei Lenghou’s name. Even if he truly had plans to ascend immediately, he’d now have to halt everything.
Because while Wei Lenghou didn’t care for trifles or the records of history, he couldn’t ignore the murmurs of the people under heaven.
And what good would that dragon throne be if it wobbled beneath him?
Feeling stifled and her stomach uncomfortable, Nie Qinglin suddenly thought of her cat, Fluffball, still in the sleeping quarters.
Back when she returned to the palace as a girl, the Grand Tutor, worried it would draw attention, forbade her from bringing the cat back.
But seeing her so restless and bored these days, and having mentioned the cat several times, he finally gave in.
Using the excuse that the Emperor no longer wanted it, he had Eunuch Ruan bring the cat to her.
The clever maid helping her with her hair saw the cat’s fur was dirty and quickly fetched water to bathe it.
She brushed its long fur smooth and neat with a small comb before handing it to the princess.
Nie Qinglin took Fluffball in her arms and at once noticed how finely the cat had been groomed.
Around its neck hung a warm jade pendant, the very same one Ge Qingyuan had once shown her at the Nishang Pavilion.
The maid named Xiu’er cast a quick glance toward the outer chamber, where Nanny Shan was busy, and whispered, “The time is ripe. Lord Ge will arrange for Your Highness to escape the palace. Please be ready…”
Had this happened a while back, the chance to leave the palace would’ve thrilled her beyond words.
Nie Qinglin gently stroked the cat’s fur.
A faint fragrance wafted from its body, yet she couldn’t shake off the stench of scorched corpses that seemed to linger in her nostrils.
Lord Ge was indeed capable and his reach extended even to her side.
Finally, she slowly lifted her head and looked at the always-smiling little maid.
“Xiu’er’s hands are skillful indeed. But this pendant on the cat’s neck is more a burden than decoration. Let’s remove it.”
With that, she undid the collar and tossed the jade pendant back at Xiu’er, neither too lightly nor too heavily.
Xiu’er was slightly stunned, looking at Nie Qinglin in alarm.
Her rejection had been clear and completely unexpected.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
Nie Qinglin said coldly, “Leave now. I won’t be needing you for the time being. Have Nanny Shan assign you to the outer court.”
Without a clear reason, she couldn’t just send the girl back to the eunuch quarters and that would be a death sentence.
Nie Qinglin sighed.
Born into the royal family, she had never developed the heart to treat others as expendable.
It was a vital skill beyond the Six Arts—one she’d never managed to learn…
Seeing Nanny Shan approaching the inner chamber, Xiu’er bit her lip, clutched the jade tightly, and slowly walked out.
Nie Qinglin hugged Fluffball and walked over to the desk.
After dealing with Lord Ge for some time, she always felt a strange familiarity with him, but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Until that gathering at Nishang Pavilion and especially when he grabbed her so forcefully, she had an epiphany.
Ge Qingyuan, that seemingly gentle and steady young man… his eyes, filled with ambition and desire, were just like those of the one who sat high upon the dragon throne.
Back then, had she inadvertently helped some kind of man? When she had lived deep in the inner palace, it was enough just to maintain her own integrity.
But now, Nie Qinglin finally came to a realization, that the terrifying nature of being caught in the vortex of power.
Truly, to pull a single hair is to move the whole body.
An unintentional act could trigger consequences no one could foresee.
Whether or not that courtyard fire had anything to do with this Lord Ge, who was determined to restore the rightful rule of the Nie clan.
Nie Qinglin’s instincts screamed at her: this man might be even more terrifying than the Grand Tutor…
Just as Nie Qinglin was mulling over how to discreetly send that little palace maid away from her quarters, she unexpectedly received an invitation.
The Prince Yonghe, who had been traveling for some time, had finally returned to his manor, and his fiftieth birthday banquet was imminent.
Since the Princess Consort’s birthday was only a few days apart from his, they decided to celebrate together, showing that although husband and wife had been apart for long years, their affection remained as deep as ever.
Invitations were thus sent to the nobles and their families across the capital to attend the celebration at the prince’s manor.
Had it been anyone else, holding a banquet during such a period would’ve seemed inappropriate.
But Prince Yonghe had always been a wild and uninhibited man since youth.
Though years apart in age, he shared a kindred temperament with Wei Lenghou.
Since his mentor was holding a banquet, Wei Lenghou naturally had to show his respect.
At first, he thought not to bring the princess out of the palace, but on second thought, since he’d be accompanying her himself, no mishap would likely occur so it might be a good chance for her to get some fresh air.
On the day of the birthday celebration, Nie Qinglin, having dressed and prepared, boarded the carriage.
But just as she did, she saw the Grand Tutor galloping on horseback toward the palace gate.
Lifting the carriage curtain slightly, she looked toward the Grand Tutor.
He smiled at her, dismounted in one fluid motion, and strode swiftly up into the carriage.
Another few days had passed in a flurry of affairs, leaving him no time to visit this little mistress of Fengchu Palace.
Seeing her now was like a reunion after years of longing.
Once in the carriage, he planted a heavy kiss on her smooth forehead and said, “I heard from Nanny Shan that the princess’s body has already recovered?”
Nie Qinglin flushed with embarrassment at the question and replied softly, “I thought the Grand Tutor had something important to ask; why do you start with such a private matter of a young lady? Nanny Shan knows better than I do. If she said so, then so be it.”
Yet inwardly, she grumbled: What on earth did that Nanny Shan eat yesterday? She was vomiting and having diarrhea all morning, couldn’t even make it to the outing, and yet she still had the time to report my menses to the Grand Tutor—how dutiful indeed!
The Grand Tutor sensed her displeasure but merely smiled.
“After the banquet tonight, don’t return to the palace. Would the princess be willing to come home with me instead?”
Though phrased as a question, Nie Qinglin clearly knew he had no intention of asking for her opinion.
Her heart sank slightly.
She understood all too well that the Grand Tutor’s invitation to stay the night at his residence was no longer the playful jest it once had been.
The Grand Tutor reached out a long finger and gently lifted her downcast face.
Then, from his robes, he took out a silver chain.
Hanging from the chain was a jade Guanyin pendant, its surface slightly cracked, but carefully repaired and bound with fine golden thread.
“This jade pendant is a family heirloom from my mother. Back then, before I left for the frontier, she personally put it on me. On the battlefield, it even blocked a deadly arrow for me. Now, I place it on the princess, hoping it will protect you too, that even in the darkest hour, you will find peace and safety.”
This was another romantic gesture learned from those storybooks.
It turns out that before a man and woman truly come together, exchanging tokens was essential to win a lady’s heart.
Poor scholars, unable to offer gold or silver, would give heirlooms like folding fans and the like.
But in this case, it actually highlighted the Grand Tutor’s disadvantage: his household was too wealthy, overflowing with treasures. It was hard to find one that truly expressed his feelings. After much thought, this was the only one that could bear the weight of such meaning.
Nie Qinglin hadn’t expected the item to have such a story and looked up at him in slight surprise.
“Originally, I had planned to issue a decree in a few days, formally betrothing the princess to me. But the Xiongnu envoy has suddenly proposed marriage and is still in the capital. To announce our wedding now would be tantamount to tearing ties with the Xiongnu. So we must wait a while longer. But I’m a man with little patience and I simply can’t wait that long. I only hope the princess does not doubt my sincerity. Before leaving, I’ve already ordered Steward Liu to prepare red candles and wedding lanterns at my outer residence. We must at least bow to Heaven and Earth before I share a bridal chamber with you…”
Seeing the little one before him widen her eyes in shock, the Grand Tutor could bear it no longer and once more leaned in to kiss her, capturing those tender lips.
What he didn’t tell Nie Qinglin was that he would be departing for the southern border at dawn.
Princess Qike had sent a secret message, her brother’s army had suddenly acquired a batch of powerful weapons, each one deadly.
Her allied tribes had suffered heavy losses.
The Grand Tutor knew that if he couldn’t stabilize the hearts of the southern tribes in time, and let the Southern King dominate alone, then all their efforts would collapse into ruin.
It seemed… the whereabouts of those fine iron ingots were finally uncovered.
The southern situation was too complex for messages via pigeon.
He had to go and oversee the deployment personally.
But with this departure, he didn’t know when he’d return.
Unable to keep her by his side, all he could do was spend one tender night with her and then leave her with a parting kiss as she slept…
The Yonghe Prince’s manor was extraordinarily grand.
On either side of the mighty stone lions stood fifty stone posts, each carved with a watchful eye.
In the capital, architecture had strict specifications—being under the emperor’s gaze, one could not overstep the rites.
This many dismounting stones wasn’t something an ordinary prince’s residence was allowed to have.
The guests all dismounted from horses and carriages before entering the manor.
As she stepped out of the carriage, Nie Qinglin caught sight of the palace maid Xiu’er, who was placing the dismount stool.
Only then did she realize that this girl actually came along today? Suppressing her displeasure, she still entered the manor with her attending maids.
The Grand Tutor and the princess arrived a bit late, one in front and one behind.
As the two of them entered the banquet hall, everyone turned to look.
The Grand Tutor stepped in first.
He wore a long robe of thin white silk, a broad belt cinching his straight waist, with a gauzy robe of light grey draped over it.
Summer garments were light and thin, but this only emphasized his tall and powerful physique.
Though his features were delicate as a painting, with a high nose bridge and slightly curved lips, and he held a jade-handled folding fan, the air of a seasoned general still seeped through his relaxed demeanor.
At the threshold of the hall, he did not rush in, but paused and slightly bowed his head, patiently waiting for the princess behind him.
Most of the guests present had never had the chance to truly see this princess, who resembled the emperor so much.
Now, with no barrier of courtly stairs, they could fully observe her regal bearing.
The young princess wore a pale goose-yellow strapless gauze dress, with a light shawl of the same color.
Her palace hairstyle was as simple as ever, the hairpin’s design elegant and understated, revealing her smooth forehead.
Nie Qinglin had taken the lesson from Hanxiang Temple to heart, there were many eyes today, and since the fire at the other courtyard, the Grand Tutor had been under constant scrutiny.
She was always tactful, and given the recent tragedy in the palace, even though the Grand Tutor had forcibly suppressed the news, everyone acted as though nothing had happened but the ones who died were still her kin.
How could she wear bright makeup and lavish attire? Yet because her style was so fresh and clean, she stood out sharply among the crowd of painted and perfumed ladies.
Like a summer breeze drifting into the banquet hall, she instantly drew every gaze.
As the Grand Tutor bent slightly at the waist and reached out to guide the princess to her seat among the female guests, those watching could only think: these two—one man, one woman—truly too stunning to behold. A dragon among men, and a phoenix among women…
Only after escorting the princess to her seat did the Grand Tutor return to greet Prince Yonghe, who was chatting with the guests.
When he drew closer, he suddenly realized that his long-unseen mentor had grown much thinner. The once-burly figure now looked like a bamboo pole hanging inside a cloth sack, swaying unsteadily.
“May Your Highness be blessed like the Eastern Sea , it has been many days, is all well?” the Grand Tutor said with a faint smile.
Prince Yonghe also smiled in return and offered a respectful bow, then invited the Grand Tutor to the seat of honor.
Soon, the banquet began.
Goblets clinked and laughter rang out and it was a lively occasion.
Though the women and men were seated in separate halls, only a curtain divided them.
Through the beaded veil, Nie Qinglin immediately spotted Ge Qingyuan at a wine table not far away.
He sat there, smiling as he drank and conversed with the other officials at his table, yet his eyes quietly drifted toward her, carrying a hint of coldness.
It seemed Xiu’er had already conveyed her message to Ge Qingyuan?
The royal family branch of the Nie clan in the side manor had been struck by calamity.
No doubt everyone believed it was the doing of Wei Lenghou.
At such a moment, Lord Ge had reached out like a life-saving reed to a drowning man.
Logically speaking, the little emperor, terrified and scattered from the fire, should have clung tightly and leapt at the chance to flee the palace.
But she had firmly refused.
How could that not have soured his expression? No doubt he believed she had surrendered under the Grand Tutor’s tyranny, and was now willingly helping the tiger commit evil?
Nie Qinglin quietly averted her gaze and sipped her wine slowly.
The entertainment after the banquet was also festive and the prince had invited several opera troupes to perform.
But the Grand Tutor’s heart had already flown back to the side manor.
Just as he was about to rise and take his leave, he saw the princess appearing slightly drunk, being supported by a maid as Lin Miaosheng led her into the inner chambers to rest.
So he sat back down, thinking to himself that it wouldn’t be too late to leave once dragon pearl sobered up.
But as one incense stick burned down, the princess still hadn’t reappeared.
Wei Lenghou began to feel that something was off.
Without caring about the separation between men and women, he strode directly toward the old Princess Consort and said, “Before leaving the palace, His Majesty gave explicit orders that the Princess not return too late. Might I trouble the Princess Consort to summon her?”
Just as he was speaking, he caught sight of the princess already being helped out of the hall by a maid, seemingly heading for the carriage.
Though he only saw her from behind, that pale yellow dress was unmistakable.
The Grand Tutor thought: How much did she drink? She’s leaving without even bidding farewell?
Anger and irritation surged in his chest.
After bidding the prince goodbye, he followed her out.
The princess had already gotten into the carriage.
With so many people coming and going in front of the prince’s residence, it wasn’t convenient to get in as well.
The Grand Tutor mounted his horse and followed slowly in front of the carriage.
One ahead, one behind and they arrived at his private estate.
Steward Liu was already waiting at the gates.
Upon seeing the Grand Tutor arrive, he ordered the gates opened.
Inside, the residence was brightly lit and festively decorated.
The Grand Tutor smiled faintly, dismounted, and prepared to carry the princess from the carriage.
She seemed to be asleep, her head gently drooping against the wall of the carriage.
He chuckled lightly and reached in to lift her.
But the moment he touched her, something felt off and not soft enough, not light enough.
His gaze turned icy as he reached out and lifted her face…
This was no princess in his arms, it was the still-unconscious Lin Miaosheng!
The Grand Tutor flung her back into the carriage, then seized the maid who had supported the “princess” earlier.
He shouted in a cold, sharp voice, “Wretched bit*h! Where is the princess?!”
That delicate, pretty face of Xiu’er suddenly twisted into a venomous grin.
“The princess couldn’t bear to be manipulated by a treacherous dog like you. She had long prepared her plan. Now she is free and has gone to find her true love. Filthy bastard! You actually thought someone like you, born low and base, could lay a finger on the princess?”
With that, she burst into mocking laughter.
Wei Lenghou’s face turned to frost.
He drew a blade from a nearby guard and roared, “Speak! Where did she go?!”
Xiu’er only smiled at the blade against her neck, then suddenly stopped laughing.
She bit down on the poison hidden in her mouth.
After a few spasms, she was dead.
Wei Lenghou glared at the lifeless body of the maid, then looked up again at the joyous red decorations in the courtyard.
His cold, sharp features were slowly soaked in crimson rage.
With a furious roar, he brought the blade down, chopping off the damned maid’s head in one stroke.
Kicking the corpse aside, he shouted:
“Seal the city gates! Return to the prince’s manor and search thoroughly! The princess must be found!”
As troops began to swarm through the streets of the capital, occupying road after road, Nie Qinglin was slowly regaining sensation in the midst of a drifting, dizzy stupor.
She felt a large, slightly cold hand moving along her neck…
She slowly opened her eyes and saw Ge Qingyuan half-lying beside her, his deep-set eyes tinged with a touch of wickedness.
That large hand was boldly fondling the snowy skin revealed at her chest.
Nie Qinglin jolted awake and struggled to push his hand away.
She opened her eyes wide, looked around, and realized this wasn’t the prince’s manor at all.
She asked, “Where is this? And why is Lord Ge behaving so wantonly?”
Ge Qingyuan brought his fingers to his nose and gently inhaled the lingering scent of the beauty.
“We’re aboard a boat, Princess. As promised, this humble official has helped Your Highness escape the villain Wei. But I wonder, will the Princess show gratitude and reward me with a night of warmth beneath the peony curtains and delight upon the pillow?”
H
Oh No!! Bad bad Ge! Poor Dragon Pearl! Praying to the potato for more chapters. Thank you for all the updates!