vrcanaries Chapter 16 Who's Scheming Against Whom (1)
Chapter 16 Who's Scheming Against Whom (1)
As soon as they stepped through the palace gates, an elderly man dressed in eunuch's robes appeared before them. Upon closer inspection, the mother recognized him as none other than Eunuch Liu, a trusted confidant of the Empress! He quickly stepped forward, bowed to the mother, and said, "Madam Qin, Her Majesty the Empress invites you, your son, and daughter to the Phoenix Palace for a discussion." The mother hurriedly returned the bow, expressing her gratitude, and asked, "Please lead the way, Eunuch."
Eunuch Liu repeatedly said he didn't deserve such praise, humbly replying, "This is merely my duty." With that, he led our group towards the Empress's palace. Along the way, we received envious glances from passersby, but we paid no attention to their reactions and continued walking forward.
Qin Yaoyao knew that Liu Xiaoyu was probably furious at this moment. She couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking to herself, "Liu Xiaoyu, this is just the beginning. There's more to come that will make you suffer!" Thinking of this, the corners of Qin Yaoyao's mouth turned up slightly.
Behind her, Liu Xiaoyu stared intently at Qin Yaoyao's receding figure, her heart filled with resentment and jealousy. She gritted her teeth and thought to herself, "Hmph, Qin Yaoyao, don't be too happy! Don't be fooled by your current glory. After today, let's see if you'll still be able to smile!" Then, she followed the main group into the palace, heading towards the Imperial Garden, the location of the poetry competition.
Meanwhile, Qin Yaoyao and her group arrived at Fengluan Palace not long after. As soon as they stepped through the palace gates, Shen Ningxin led her two children to bow and pay their respects to the Empress. Seeing this, the Empress quickly intervened, feigning anger, saying, "Why are you being so distant with me, Sister Xin? Didn't we agree that you don't need to bow when no one else is around?" Shen Ningxin's mother smiled and chimed in, "But the children are here." The Empress then said, "What does it matter? We're all family." The Empress then pretended to be displeased, saying, "If Sister Xin continues to be so stubborn, I'll really get angry!" Shen Ningxin could only reply, "Alright, alright, everything will be as Your Majesty wishes."
So Qin Yaoyao and her brothers bowed to the Empress and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" The Empress quickly waved her hand, took Qin Yaoyao's hands in hers, and said softly with a warm smile, "There's no one else here, so don't be so formal. Back in the day, your mother and I were like sisters, our relationship was incredibly close! By seniority, you should all call me 'Aunt.'" As soon as she finished speaking, the Empress deliberately put on a stern face, seemingly somewhat displeased. Qin Yaoyao smiled slightly but didn't reply.
As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Princess Pingyang walked gracefully into the hall. With her elegant figure and beautiful face, she greeted the Empress with a standard courtly greeting as soon as she entered: "Greetings, Your Majesty!" The Empress smiled slightly, quickly rose to help Princess Pingyang up, and said kindly, "We're all family, why be so formal? Please sit down."
This Princess Pingyang was named He Yanjing, and she was Qin Yaoyao's third sister-in-law. After the two sides exchanged pleasantries, He Yanjing turned to the brothers Qin Yunqi and Qin Yunji and asked softly, "Would you two brothers like to go out for a walk and stretch your muscles?" Upon hearing this, the two nodded and replied, "Yes, Third Sister-in-law." Then they bowed to everyone and left first.
At this moment, only Qin Yaoyao, He Yanjing, and a few other palace maids and servants remained in the hall. Qin Yaoyao's gaze fell on He Yanjing, and she asked, "Third sister-in-law, has Brother Yanxi arrived?" Upon hearing this, He Yanjing's face showed a hint of doubt, and she asked in return, "Eh, didn't you ask him, little sister?" Qin Yaoyao gently shook her head and replied, "Of course I did ask."
He Yanjing became even more curious and pressed on, "So how did he respond?" Qin Yaoyao blinked and imitated He Yanxi's tone of voice, saying sweetly, "Sister Yao'er, is that poetry gathering a matchmaking event specifically for princes and princesses? So, does Sister Yao'er hope that I can go and participate as well?" After saying that, she smiled mischievously at He Yanjing.
Everyone couldn't help but chuckle when they saw Qin Yaoyao imitating He Yanxi. He Yanjing asked curiously, "So, little sister, how did you answer?" Qin Yaoyao sighed helplessly and replied, "I could only say I was just casually inquiring." Third Sister-in-law then said, "So you still don't know if Ninth Brother will come?" Qin Yaoyao nodded slightly in agreement. However, Princess Pingyang herself knew nothing about it, having spent these past few days accompanying the little girl Chaoyang. "Oh, I see," Princess Pingyang comforted her, "In that case, you little girl, go play by yourself first. I'll chat with Mother and Sister-in-law for a while longer." "Oh, okay," Qin Yaoyao replied obediently. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving everyone with a lonely silhouette. Watching her walk further and further away, everyone couldn't help but exchange smiles.
At this moment, the Empress jokingly said, "Every time I see Pingyang, I can't help but think that I can no longer call her 'elder sister,' but this way, it can be considered a double blessing!" Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this. After the laughter subsided, the Empress turned to her third sister-in-law and asked, "Did you just come from Zhaoyang's side?" The third sister-in-law gave an affirmative answer. Then the Empress asked with concern, "How is Zhaoyang doing now?" The third sister-in-law said with a worried look, "She's still the same as always, she can't muster any interest in anything, and she's always depressed. After some subtle probing, I finally managed to get the truth out of her—it turns out that the person she admires is Yunqi!" The Empress turned to her mother and jokingly said with a smile, "It really is your fourth son!" Her mother smiled slightly upon hearing this and then asked, "Does the princess know that the fourth son has arrived?"
Third Sister-in-law gently shook her head and replied, "Mother, I didn't tell Fifth Sister about this. I was thinking of giving her a surprise." The Empress glanced at the sky outside, estimated the time, and then said, "It's getting late. Let's go to the Imperial Garden together." Mother and Third Sister-in-law nodded in agreement, and the group headed towards the Imperial Garden.
On the other side, after Qin Yunqi and Qin Yunji left the Empress's residence, Qin Yunji couldn't help but ask, "Fourth Brother, it's still early. Should we head to the Imperial Garden immediately?" Qin Yunqi pondered to himself that this was, after all, the inner palace, and it was best to be cautious and not wander around aimlessly. Moreover, his mind was currently filled with the image of Princess Zhaoyang, and he was somewhat absent-minded. He wondered if Princess Zhaoyang knew that he had also come to participate in this poetry gathering, and how she would react when they met later. Would she harbor feelings for him as everyone said? But if not, wouldn't that be offending the princess? Thinking of this, Qin Yunqi became increasingly conflicted and troubled.
Qin Yunji, who was standing nearby, took in his fourth brother's expression and became very curious. He reached out and gently nudged Qin Yunqi's shoulder, asking, "Fourth brother, what are you thinking about? Why are you so engrossed? Could it be that, as I suspect, you're missing Princess Zhaoyang?" Before he could finish speaking, Qin Yunqi snapped out of his reverie and, having overheard his brother's nonsensical words, became furious. He scolded, "You're already this old, how can you still speak so recklessly and without restraint? If those with ulterior motives hear this and spread it around, wouldn't it damage the princess's reputation?" Upon hearing this, Qin Yunji quickly covered his mouth with his hand and nervously looked around. Only after confirming that no one else was present did he relax slightly. Then he scratched his head and said apologetically, "Hehe, Fourth Brother is right. I will definitely pay more attention in the future and not talk nonsense anymore."
"So where should we go next?" Just as the two brothers were pondering this, Lan Feng, the guard beside He Yanxi, strode over and went straight to his elder brother's side. After bowing, he said, "Young masters, our master is currently waiting for your arrival at the Moon Gazing Pavilion. Please follow me." Seeing Lan Feng arrive, the fifth brother's face lit up with joy, and he praised with a smile, "Ziyuan, your arrival is perfectly timed, like a timely rain. Quickly lead the way, little Lan Feng."
Before long, the group arrived at the Moon-Gazing Pavilion, which was a short distance from the Imperial Garden. Although the pavilion was somewhat remote, its towering structure offered a panoramic view of the entire Imperial Garden. Upon entering, the two brothers immediately spotted He Yanxi, dressed in a black robe, standing with his back to the gate, his hands clasped behind his back, intently gazing into the distance. The fourth brother, not daring to be negligent, quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness!" Hearing the greeting, He Yanxi slowly turned around, smiling as he replied, "Fourth Brother Yun, we are so familiar with each other, there's no need for such formalities. Please, have a seat."
After everyone had taken their seats, the Fifth Prince, He Mingfeng, arrived gracefully. His brothers quickly rose and bowed again, but He Mingfeng stopped them, laughing heartily, "Since you are all friends of the Ninth Prince, you are naturally my close friends as well. There's no need to be so formal in the future." Then, he looked directly at He Yanxi, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said with a hint of mockery, "Oh ho! Little Prince, didn't you say you weren't coming? Why have you come uninvited?" However, He Yanxi didn't even lift an eyelid, simply replying indifferently, "Hmm? Do you have some complaints about this?"
Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince immediately turned pale with fright, trembling all over. He quickly waved his hands and said with a forced smile, "How dare I! Your presence, Uncle, is an honor to the entire poetry gathering! I am overjoyed and would never have any objections!"
Upon seeing this, He Yanxi frowned slightly and let out a puzzled "hmm." Immediately afterward, he heard the Fifth Prince continue his obsequious tone, "If it weren't for your presence, Uncle, this poetry gathering would have been utterly bland and uninteresting!"
Fifth Brother glared at the Fifth Prince, a hint of mockery in his eyes, and asked, "Your Highness, are you also here for a blind date?" The Fifth Prince immediately bristled, retorting, "Fifth Brother Qin, are you asking for trouble?! I'm just here to join in the fun. Are you saying Yun Ji, you're the one who's really here for a blind date?" Hearing this, Fifth Brother flew into a rage, roaring, "He Mingfeng, are you deliberately trying to pick a fight with me?"
Upon seeing this, the Fifth Prince couldn't help but burst into laughter. The Fifth Brother glared fiercely at the laughing Fifth Prince, his anger blazing, and threatened through gritted teeth, "Dare to laugh again, and believe me, I'll knock your teeth out!"
Just then, Fourth Brother Qin Yunqi quickly reached out and pulled back his impulsive Fifth Brother, gently reprimanding him, "How could you speak so rudely to the Fifth Prince?" He Mingfeng was stunned to see his Fourth Brother reprimanding his Fifth Brother in public. He was about to retort when He Yanxi suddenly interjected, "Fourth Brother Yun, don't blame him. That's how they usually get along. There's no need to pay attention to his nonsense." The Fifth Prince echoed, "That's right. We're all good friends. Why be so formal? It just makes us seem awkward and distant." Hearing this, Fourth Brother nodded slightly in agreement.
When Qin Yaoyao left Fengluan Palace, her brothers had already left long ago, but she didn't rush to catch up with them. Instead, she headed straight for the Imperial Garden. As soon as she entered the garden, she spotted a figure standing not far away—it was her close friend Cheng Ying.
In her previous life, Cheng Ying had repeatedly warned Qin Yaoyao that Liu Xiaoyu was not a kind person and advised her not to get too close to her, and to always be wary of her. However, Qin Yaoyao at the time mistakenly thought that Cheng Ying was just jealous of her making new friends, and harbored narrow-minded thoughts, so she gradually distanced herself from this friend who truly cared about her.
Looking back now, Qin Yaoyao can't help but laugh at her own ignorance. It turns out that those who genuinely cared for her could easily see through Liu Xiaoyu's ulterior motives; only she herself was kept in the dark, completely unaware.
In her past life, it was during this poetry competition that Liu Xiaoyu and He Mingwen secretly conspired to frame her, attempting to defile her and then use the opportunity to request the emperor to grant them a marriage. Not only that, they also framed Cheng Ying for drugging her, causing a rift between them. Ultimately, when the Qin family faced misfortune, Cheng Ying, in an attempt to save them, was brutally tortured and killed by those instigated by He Mingwen and Liu Xiaoyu.
Having been reborn in this life, Qin Yaoyao is determined to protect Cheng Ying and never let the tragedy repeat itself.
Just as Qin Yaoyao was lost in thought, Cheng Ying, who was not far away, noticed what was happening. She recognized Qin Yaoyao at a glance, and waved to her happily, shouting, "Yaoyao! Over here, look over here!" Hearing the voice, Qin Yaoyao snapped out of her daze and hurriedly ran towards Cheng Ying.
Upon approaching, Qin Yaoyao could not hide her excitement. She hugged Cheng Ying's arm tightly and refused to let go, murmuring, "Sister Cheng, you're finally back. I missed you so much..." Before she could finish speaking, Qin Yaoyao began to sob softly, her voice becoming somewhat choked.
As the only daughter in the general's mansion, Cheng Ying was showered with love and affection from a young age. She received unwavering care from her parents and the devoted attention of her two older brothers. She had always longed for a younger sister, but her mother suffered a fatal complications during childbirth, and her father subsequently vowed never to have more children. Perhaps it was this regret that, when Cheng Ying met Qin Yaoyao, her deepest yearning for family was greatly fulfilled. Therefore, she treated Qin Yaoyao with the utmost tenderness and love, as if she were her own sister.
He looked around and, seeing that no one was around, breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Ying leaned close to Qin Yaoyao's ear and whispered, "Now that he has saved you, why don't you take advantage of this life-saving grace and marry him in the name of repaying him?"
Qin Yaoyao's eyes widened as she glanced at Cheng Ying, then sighed helplessly, "Do you think I don't want to? Things aren't that simple."
Cheng Ying was completely confused and let out a puzzled "hmm". Qin Yaoyao continued to explain, "I don't even know if he likes me or not. If he likes me too, that's fine, but if he's not interested in me at all, wouldn't what I'm doing cause him trouble? How am I supposed to associate with my brother in the future?"
Cheng Ying thought Qin Yaoyao's words made a lot of sense, so she nodded and suggested, "That's true. You can go ask him and just ask him for an answer."
Qin Yaoyao sighed and shook her head, muttering to herself, "Sigh... let's talk about it later!"
As if suddenly remembering something, Qin Yaoyao frowned and said seriously to Cheng Ying, "Last time, Liu Xiaoyu and He Mingwen tried to harm me, but they failed. Knowing their personalities, they certainly won't let it go and will definitely take this opportunity to frame me again." Cheng Ying was furious upon hearing this and replied angrily, "This is absolutely outrageous! What should we do? Should we inform Her Majesty the Empress about this?"
Qin Yaoyao shook her head, indicating that there was no need to alarm the Empress, as she already had a clever plan to deal with them. She reassured Cheng Ying not to worry and invited her to watch the show together. Then, Qin Yaoyao instructed Cheng Ying to stay in the Imperial Garden that day and not to go out, lest she be ambushed. Cheng Ying readily agreed, saying she would follow her instructions.
Finally, Cheng Ying replied confidently, "Okay, little sister, I'll wait here for good news and look forward to your wonderful performance." The two looked at each other, their eyes shining with determination and confidence.
After speaking, the two walked side by side to their seats. However, they were unaware that their every word and action had been observed by He Yanxi, who stood atop the Moon Gazing Pavilion. He took in every move Qin Yaoyao made, his gaze fixed intently on her.
At this precise moment, the timing was perfect. Qin Yaoyao and Cheng Ying had just taken their seats when Princess Zhaoyang arrived. Accompanying them were the Third Prince He Mingwen, the Fourth Prince He Minglin, the Eldest Princess He Mingning, the Second Princess He Mingyan, and the Third Princess He Mingxuan. Everyone greeted each other with respect. Not long after, the Empress, accompanied by her mother and third sister-in-law, also appeared at the venue, and everyone rose to pay their respects again. Once everyone was seated, the grand poetry gathering finally began.
Liu Xiaoyu stared wide-eyed at Qin Yaoyao, a slight smile playing on her lips, her gaze unwavering as she looked directly at the Empress. She stood up and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, this kind of performance is utterly boring. Why not try a unique one-on-one contest? That would surely add a lot of fun!"
The third sister-in-law, sitting beside her, chimed in, "That's right, just as my sister says, this makes the competition much more interesting! Your Majesty, in my opinion, this method is excellent." The Empress turned her gaze to her mother and asked softly, "Then, Pingyang, what do you think should be done?"