The Perilous Palace Dream - Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Nie Qinglin had originally intended to discuss serious matters with the Grand Tutor, but what she saw and heard quickly turned far from proper.
The Grand Tutor had been maintaining his indestructible, disciplined composure for several days, fearing that the delicate young lady would flinch or say “no.”
He leaned close, pressing her lips with an intensity that was almost overwhelming, moving with precision and swiftness.
This time, however, he was doubly cautious, treating her soft, fragrant body as if it were fragile and made of paper.
One wrong move, and the rare closeness they shared could be lost.
Dragon pearl was no match for such a relentless and experienced figure.
Pinned beneath the Grand Tutor, after a period of close, intimate contact, her limbs relaxed, and she lay on the soft couch, bathed in sunlight from the slanted windows.
She felt as though she were completely exposed, delicate and tender, her face glowing under the warm midday light.
The fine fuzz that had been shaved off during her early childhood had now grown back softly, making her look even more youthful and innocent, like a juicy peach still soft with fuzz, plump and sweet, almost too perfect to touch.
Such a rare treasure, once recovered, inspired deep affection.
Yet after some time, the Grand Tutor finally pulled back slightly.
Her hair, once tied neatly, now fell loose, cascading like a black satin waterfall over the bright cushions, with a few pins having slipped down.
Her skin, warmed by sunlight, shimmered faintly.
Even with a brief pause, his inner desire remained strong.
Beauty, whether in moonlight or daylight, was captivating.
The sight of her flawless form in the sunlight made it impossible to look away.
Despite the intensity he felt, he restrained himself completely.
Seeing that she was only slightly breathless and not upset, he relaxed slightly, holding her gently in his arms and whispering affectionate names.
Nie Qinglin, shy and embarrassed, buried her face in the blankets.
Outside, An Qiao’er had been sent to wait at the courtyard gate.
She could hear nothing from inside, and the long wait felt endless.
Eventually, she heard the Grand Tutor summon hot water for a bath.
She and the servants carried it inside and filled it, but the princess remained hidden behind the screen, shielding the bed entirely.
Once the bath was ready, the Grand Tutor dismissed all attendants.
An Qiao’er waited nervously at the gate, uneasy at how far things had gone between her young master and the Grand Tutor.
Thinking of the stern, untouchable man so close to the delicate princess made her shiver.
She worried for the young lady, imagining how she might endure his overwhelming presence.
Inside, the Grand Tutor helped the tired Nie Qinglin into the bath and joined her.
The warm water enveloped them, allowing a quiet moment to speak.
“Grand Tutor, since you are busy with matters at the border, would it not be better if I returned to the capital first?” Nie Qinglin asked softly, her voice still hoarse.
The Grand Tutor frowned slightly.
“The journey is long. Without me by your side, it would not be safe. You must wait a little longer. We will return together.”
He spoke decisively, rarely using questions.
Nie Qinglin said nothing more, quietly wiping her neck with a damp cloth.
Her lowered gaze, half-hidden behind long lashes, made it impossible for him to guess her thoughts.
A quiet unease stirred in his heart.
Then he remembered a point of serious concern.
He drew her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Guo’er, you may not fully understand what it means to love someone, and I will not force you. But there is one thing… in your heart, there should only be your elder brother from the Wei family. Think of how to protect the brother-sister bond and you absolutely must not think of any other wild man besides your brother Wei. Otherwise….” his tone grew faintly dangerous, “Don’t blame your brother Wei for turning on you and chopping off that presumptuous fellow!”
Nie Qinglin remained silent, listening to his words.
The water rippled softly around them, sunlight streaming in and filling the room with quiet warmth.
These half-hearted words were full of flaws, leaving one speechless and unsure how to argue.
Nie Qinglin puffed her cheeks slightly and said, “What kind of elder brother are you, hoping your little sister will remain alone…”
Before she could finish, Princess Yong’an realized she had misspoken and quickly stopped.
The Grand Tutor, however, gave a mischievous smile, thinking to himself that the princess was complaining about having been left in a state of temporary solitude.
He decided that the affection missed over the past few days must now be fully made up for.
With that, he stirred the water in the bath, causing waves to ripple across the tub and almost tipping it over.
After splashing about and filling the study with water waves, he finally lifted the completely relaxed young lady out.
He wiped her down carefully, wrapped her snugly in a small blanket from the couch, and only then put on his own clothes and carried her back to the bedroom.
No one in the General’s mansion knew the true identity of the princess.
They had assumed she was the third madam of the Wei household who had accompanied the army.
The few maidservants and attendants standing at the door, seeing the two of them behaving in such a playful manner, were impressed by the Grand Tutor’s charm and could not help but feel a touch of envy toward the young lady in his arms.
It was rumored that the Grand Tutor had already formed an attachment with Princess Yong’an, and once her mourning period ended, he would formally bring her into his household.
The third madam brought by the Grand Tutor had been seen in the courtyard before.
Her figure, skin, and features were exceptionally refined, and her movements suggested she had not come from a humble family.
With such extraordinary beauty, it was no wonder she could captivate the powerful Wei Lenghou.
She would surely become a high-ranking consort in the palace one day.
This left the yet-to-be-officially-entered princess in a difficult position, and no one knew whether she could truly win over the flirtatious and worldly Grand Tutor.
Once they entered the bedroom, the princess rested for a short while before sitting at the dressing table to brush her hair and touch up her makeup.
The Grand Tutor did not allow An Qiao’er to enter.
He insisted on helping the young lady with her delicate eyebrows himself.
Although his hand was a little stiff, the Grand Tutor had a solid foundation in painting, and he was able to fill in her naturally curved brows in a way that looked good in the bronze mirror.
After putting down the eyebrow brush, the Grand Tutor looked at his own work with satisfaction.
Then, seemingly casually, he asked, “Zhang Shiyu has awakened. Princess, are you not going to see him?”
Nie Qinglin paused, holding her makeup brush, and said, “The Grand Tutor’s physician must be excellent. I have already heard from Qiao’er that Physician Zhang’s injuries have recovered well. I will not go.”
Hearing this, the Grand Tutor stood behind her, twirling the small brush in his hand.
He looked at the young lady in the mirror and said, “He saved the princess multiple times this time. That is merit enough. I will not mind it.”
If it were not for the Grand Tutor’s close attention, Nie Qinglin would have smiled wryly.
Earlier, the same man had been gritting his teeth, reminding his little sister to guard her heart, and now he was pretending to be generous.
Yet looking at the hand holding the eyebrow brush tightly, it was clear he did not care as little as his words suggested.
The Grand Tutor never mentioned the incident in Ge Qingyuan’s tent, yet treated Zhang Shiyu as if he were a formidable enemy.
Perhaps the Grand Tutor believed she would not love Ge Qingyuan, but that she might secretly hold Zhang Shiyu in her heart.
This inverted logic and calculation left her confused, and for a moment, she could not discern the depth of the Grand Tutor’s feelings.
Nie Qinglin lightly applied a thin layer of rouge to her face and said slowly, “He already has a family, and his injury was to a crucial part of his back. It would not be convenient for me to visit him, but I had already promised to reward Qiao’er and her husband with a thousand taels of gold. I just… accidentally spoke too freely. I forgot that Fengchu Palace has always been frugal, so…”
From the Grand Tutor’s perspective, money could solve almost anything.
Guo’er’s immediate refusal to visit, though perhaps motivated by her own caution, also showed that in her eyes, Physician Zhang was already a thing of the past.
Even though he had risked his life to save her, in her eyes he was merely the husband of her servant.
Nie Qinglin’s attitude greatly pleased the Grand Tutor.
He smiled and said, “Do not worry about this. Soon I will arrange for General Gu at Qinglong Pass to prepare the promised reward. It would not do for the princess to speak empty words and have a servant think she cannot keep her promises.”
Seeing the Grand Tutor’s expression soften, Nie Qinglin spoke slowly again.
“Looking at Qiao’er’s child, with such delicate skin and tender features, it is truly adorable. When she grows up, she will certainly be a refined young lady like her mother. But the borderlands are harsh and dry. Yesterday, I saw several children of the servants, all with cheeks reddened and chapped by the cold northern wind. There is none of the tender beauty of a child raised in gentler surroundings. This is not a place suitable for raising such lovely children. If the Grand Tutor truly wishes to reward Qiao’er and her husband, it would be better to allow them to return to the inner regions, where they may raise more healthy and beautiful children.”
The Grand Tutor bent his tall, straight posture, extended a long finger, and dipped it lightly into the red from the rouge dish.
He touched her well-shaped lips gently and said, “What the princess says is approved by me.”
After their morning of playful mischief, the Grand Tutor finally left the General’s mansion in the afternoon on official business.
An Qiao’er returned inside and saw that the princess’s makeup was exquisite, but her hair was in disarray.
She quickly stepped forward, helping the princess sit upright.
Using a comb dampened with water, she smoothed the long hair and reapplied osmanthus hair oil to style it into a neat updo.
The hair was twisted back over the head, slightly lifted, not hanging down, perfectly complementing Nie Qinglin’s lively youthful charm.
“Truly it is Qiao’er’s skill. Those in the palace cannot create the same subtle elegance that your hands achieve,” said the princess.
Hearing the praise, Qiao’er’s heart warmed.
She suddenly remembered how Physician Zhang had asked repeatedly about the princess yesterday.
Holding a hairpin in her hand, she hesitated slightly. “Although Physician Zhang’s condition has improved, he still worries for the princess’s safety. Should I… carry a message to him?”
Speaking of this made Qiao’er’s tongue feel bitter.
The child she bore had been the illegitimate offspring of the wayward Wu Kui.
Yet Physician Zhang had always treated the child as his own, never showing the slightest bias, caring even more than Qiao’er herself.
When forced by the Grand Tutor’s authority, Zhang Shiyu had married her in ceremony, but their relationship had remained pure.
She had even admitted she could not act as a formal wife and offered to serve as a concubine, yet he had politely refused.
At first she had not understood, but over time it became clear whose heart Zhang Shiyu truly harbored.
Yet that person was like a cloud in the sky, unattainable by ordinary mortals. Moreover, a fierce, monstrous flood dragon guarded the path, making it completely impossible.
Yet Physician Zhang was stubborn in his devotion.
Though he understood reason, his heart remained fixed.
Upon encountering the princess again, his first words after waking from his injury and losing his voice were, “Where is the princess? Is she safe?”
Hearing this, Qiao’er had spent a night in tears.
The next day, with swollen eyes, she asked the princess whether she would go see the physician.
The princess, however, took a cloth dipped in cooling ointment and carefully applied it to Qiao’er’s eyes, saying, “It is enough that he has awakened. Seeing your concern, your eyes like jujubes, I am reassured that you have cared for him. You and your husband have suffered so much on his account, and you must be properly rewarded. He is Qiao’er’s husband. Why should I go visit him myself? You were only worried.”
Her words were beyond dispute, yet Qiao’er felt the princess’s smiling eyes seemed to see through everything.
She felt a surge of shame and, unexpectedly, a touch of jealousy toward her own young master.
She did not bring up the matter again.
Yet she could not resist Physician Zhang’s repeated inquiries, as he had come once again to ask if she had any messages for him.
She had never told the princess about her daughter’s origins.
The past events that had compromised her reputation were something she intended to keep to herself forever.
Zhang Shiyu was honest and reliable, and for the sake of protecting her reputation, he would never reveal it on his own.
Nevertheless, this left Qiao’er with a strong sense of guilt toward Zhang Shiyu, yet she hoped the princess would say something kind to soothe Zhang Shiyu’s heartache.
After finishing with the mirror to her satisfaction, the princess picked up her words and said, “If there is anything to tell him, it is only to hope that he treats my Qiao’er well and raises several healthy children. The Grand Tutor may have observed the devotion of you two and suggested that you return to the inner regions. The promised reward is generous, so you need not worry about the future. Seeing you live peacefully and harmoniously is all I wish for. There is nothing further to instruct you on.”
With that, she settled comfortably in her rocking chair and began reading a casual book.
Qiao’er could not quite define her own feelings, but she relaxed.
She had previously worried that during their time in Huaxi Village, the princess, still young, might have developed feelings for the gentle and considerate Physician Zhang.
If that had been the case, it would have been a doomed attachment.
But it seemed that, like before, the princess had not held any special regard for Zhang Shiyu because of that experience.
After taking the laundry outside, Nie Qinglin sat with her book in hand but did not turn the pages for a long time.
She thought of the day when Zhang Shiyu had rushed over, covered in blood, and felt as if traces of warmth from his body remained on her own cheeks.
Her heart ached slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She had once thought her fate was to die young, yet she had accumulated countless emotional debts.
She had once wished that the Grand Tutor would be her brother in another life, so that she could serve him devotedly.
But for Physician Zhang, she only hoped that in another life they could be ordinary rural spouses, living quietly together.
She had longed for someone to love her with Zhang Shiyu’s sincere devotion, yet she now realized that to bear such deep affection also required the blessing of fortune.
Since this life had not yet ended, she resolved to cut off her emotional ties to avoid burdening the young man for the rest of his days.
With a long sigh, a fallen petal slipped from the pages of her book.
Deprived of its vitality, only a faint color remained, quietly bearing witness to its former bloom.
After the battle with the Moerha tribe, Chanyu Xiu Tulie, though not openly at odds with Prince Xiu Tuhong, had some unspoken understanding with him, maintaining the appearance of harmonious ruler and minister.
Xiu Tuhong, having been cooled by Xiu Tulie’s resolute heart, once past that mental barrier, even found that opposing the Xiongnu Chanyu seemed not so terrible.
Yet his beloved princess was still pregnant and not yet due.
Fearing that the Chanyu might act unexpectedly, he secretly made an agreement with the Grand Tutor.
Under the pretext that the princess’s position in pregnancy was unstable and she needed to be sent to the Central Plains for treatment, he sent her along with several of his wives and concubines to Qinglong Pass.
Nie Qinglin had not seen Eighth Princess for a long time.
Hearing from the Grand Tutor that she was coming filled her with joy.
She hurriedly instructed that a section of her courtyard be prepared for her sister’s stay.
When the eight carriages arrived from outside the pass and stopped before the General’s mansion, Nie Qinglin, supported by Qiao’er, waited at the gate.
When she saw her sister descend, her delicate face looked fuller due to pregnancy.
Her once slender waist now appeared round as if filled with air, though the loose Xiongnu robes concealed her figure.
Because the princess’s abduction was highly sensitive, it was kept entirely secret.
Even Qiao’er referred to Nie Qinglin publicly as the third madam of the Wei household.
Princess Shaoyang had a general understanding of her sister’s experiences.
Seeing her sister’s red-rimmed eyes, she did not exclaim aloud but, following proper etiquette, asked, “Since our separation in the capital, how has the third madam fared?”
Nie Qinglin also followed proper protocol, paying respects to the Xiongnu princess, and replied, “All is well. Only that I think of your highness so much that even in dreams we laugh and talk together.”
The two sisters met, but with so many people around, they could not hold hands and speak freely.
A subtle excitement fluttered in their hearts, barely restrained.
At that moment, a carriage behind them stopped, and a woman dressed in luxurious clothing, supported by a Xiongnu maid, stepped down gracefully and approached the sibling.
Princess Shaoyang, seeing her approach, slightly withdrew her smile and lowered her beautiful eyes, speaking softly, “Third Madam, this is Prince Xiu Tuhong’s secondary consort, the second princess of the Gelifan tribe of the Xiongnu, Lady Nulan.”
Nie Qinglin looked carefully at her.
This secondary consort had a different appearance from the Eighth Princess, carrying the elegance of a northern beauty.
Her eyebrows were thick, her eyes large, and her figure exceptionally tall.
Yet even at a glance, one could not fail to notice her rounded belly, which appeared even more pronounced than the Eighth Princess’s.
Seeing her sister’s puzzled look, Princess Shaoyang maintained a composed smile and whispered, “Lady Nulan became pregnant a month before I did. Her expected delivery is next month.”
Nie Qinglin concealed her reaction, but inwardly she drew a sharp breath.
This well-born secondary consort was pregnant before her sister.
Xiongnu customs were crude, and children were valued without distinction of rank.
Could it be that Prince Xiu Tuhong’s legitimate heir would be born to this consort, who did not look particularly familiar?
Nie Qinglin could not help but scrutinize Lady Nulan carefully.
She had arrived in Han territory without the slightest hint of shyness.
Though she had heard that this woman was the favored concubine of the Wei-established marquis, she also knew that this madam had humble origins.
She had been a maid in the household and had gained her status as a concubine only through her service.
Nulan felt a touch of disdain, yet Nie Qinglin acknowledged her with a graceful nod and, ahead of Princess Shaoyang, adjusted her posture and walked toward the general’s residence with elegance.
Her presence carried the air of authority, as if she were the true mistress of the place.
Nie Qinglin carefully escorted her sister into the residence, using the excuse of catching up on old times to bring her into her own room.
She seated Princess Shaoyang on the bed before asking, “Didn’t you say earlier that the prince only had a few concubines and no longer paid attention to them after receiving you?”
Princess Shaoyang, without shedding tears, replied quietly, “Lady Nulan was originally presented by the Gelifan tribe. She had already earned the prince’s favor. When the prince went to the Central Plains to escort me, he did not know she was pregnant. He only learned after returning. Later, the prince said that once, when he had been drunk, he stayed the night in her quarters to avoid the smell of alcohol. Perhaps that is when the pregnancy occurred. Since she became pregnant, she was naturally granted the title of secondary consort.”
Nie Qinglin nodded without comment.
The Xiongnu valued many children, even more than the Wei, and for a prince to have two wives pregnant at the same time was a cause for celebration.
No one would consider the feelings of a young woman married into a foreign tribe.
From her detached perspective, Lady Nulan was not the kind of delicate, tearful woman her Eighth Sister was who could be controlled by sentiment alone.
The rivalries among women in the Wei inner palace were something the two sisters had witnessed since childhood.
Transplanted to the Xiongnu royal court, it was the same play, only in different clothing.
At this moment, Nie Qinglin quietly hoped that Prince Xiu Tuhong would not pursue his affections further.
Otherwise, she feared that her delicate Eighth Sister, blessed with little fortune, might not be able to withstand it.
