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Chapter 21: Requesting an Audience with the Empress
“Empress, Zong wangye requests an audience.”
wangye: Imperial Prince of the First Rank (Imperial Princess in this case)
Qianhe Liyou had just retired from morning court and was currently resting in the Imperial study when Feng Ying came to report. Feng Ying had informed her that although this Princess was an Imperial Princess of the First Rank, she had no real power and did not participate in morning court, and could only request an audience outside the Imperial study.
“Approved.” She didn’t need to guess as to what purpose the Princess had come to see her for, but she was curious as to how this woman would persuade her.
Thinking of this, Qianhe Liyou’s eyes pulsed with a cold touch of bloodthirst. As a person with a strong desire for complete control and exclusivity, she absolutely could not allow other people to covet her own belongings. This, of course, included “people”.
“Greetings to the Empress, may the Empress live for thousands of years.”
“What matter do you have with zhen?” Qianhe Liyou asked directly, not wanting to waste time.
“Hehe, this, Empress, this Imperial sister hasn’t greeted the Empress for some days. Isn’t this just going to the palace to pay respects to the Empress…”
“Then no matter?” After taking a sip of the tea made by Yun guiren, she found that the tea had a faint medicinal fragrance and the flavor was very palatable. When she spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Yun Tailing, the guiren standing on the side.
Guifei: Imperial Consort of the highest rank and is below the Empress (King Consort in this book)
Guiren: Noble Consort below Guifei and Empress (King Consort in this book)
Zhen: refers to ‘I’ or ‘me’, is only exclusively used by the Emperor (Empress in this book) to refer to themselves
“Well, this Imperial sister has but a small request..” Qianhe Zongya trailed off, carefully observing the Empress’ expression, only to find that the Empress had no expression and no doubts, her expression wooden. Continuing with a little embarrassment she said: “Empress, in order to repay Qing Ning’s life-saving grace, Your Majesty conferred her with the title of guifei. According to the palace attendants, you don’t like Qin Ning very much, and you don’t favor him….You see, this Imperial sister is very fond of Qin Ning. Empress, can Your Majesty give Qin Ning to this Imperial sister? This Imperial sister promises that she will treat him well and will not disappoint the Empress’ benevolence!”
In the current dynasty, it was very common to give one’s husband-in-law, consorts, concubine and male pets to other people. The Empress had indeed rewarded her male servants she had favored before to others. This was why Qianhe Zongya dared to make such a bold request.
After hearing what she had already predicted, Qianhe Liyou was not stunned by the Imperial Princess of Zong’s request, but the Yun Tailing waiting on the side glanced at Qianhe Liyou, clearly astounded by this turn of developments.
“Go summon Ning guifei.” She wanted to see how this man would react.
After waiting for a period of time, Qin Ning arrived, and with a glance, he seemed to understand the entire situation.
“This consort greets the Empress.” Qin Ning remained cold and cold, his demeanor and bearing determined.
“En…Princess Zong, please repeat what you just said, and let zhen’s consort listen to it.” Qianhe Liyou ordered Qianhe Zongya, her words entrenched in deeper meaning.
Qianhe Zongya didn’t think too deeply. Since Qin Ning had entered the Imperial study, her eyes had not so much left Qin Ning and her eyes only saw him.
“Ning’ er, I have already told the Empress, to let her Majesty give you to me. I truly am fond of you, I have already told you that. Ning’er, please agree with me?”
-er is an affectionate term of endearment that people usually call to their lovers, children, family etc
After hearing Qianhe Zonya’s words, Qin Ning incredulously looked at Qianhe Liyou with a bewildered depression, and asking in a questioning tone: “The Empress, did your Majesty really agree to Imperial Princess Zong’s request?” How could this be, the Empress had promised him before!
“If you want, zhen can consider it!” She never said anything from start to finish, and even this sentence had many reservations.
“I refuse!” Qin Ning was obviously put into a bad mood and had forgotten to refer to himself as ‘this consort’ and had simply rejected it right away. Qianhe Zongya had ceaselessly pursued and entangled with him. He wanted to stay far away from her, how could he agree!
“Ning’er, don’t be so stubborn. Benwang has already said that this place is not suitable for you, why are you so reluctant to agree to this Imperial princess?” Qianhe Zonya was angered by Qin Ning’s stubbornness. Just what was so good about the palace? The Empress was a tyrant, and thus, she couldn’t believe that Qin Ning was willing to stay here.
benwang: how the Princes (Princess) of the First Rank refer to themselves, similar to ‘zhen’ that the Emperor (Empress) uses.
“It’s not up to you to determine whether it is suitable for me or not! Empress, this consort will never agree to leave with others, please remember what your Majesty promised this consort. Please don’t break your Majesty’s promise!”
“Empress, Ning’er is just so stubborn. This Imperial sister is extremely fond of Ning’er, please grant this wish of mine!”
Qin Ning and Qianhe Zongya both fixed their eyes onto the Empress, their gaze firm. Both were not ordinary people. Their own words and inventions could determine the fate of many people, but their own fate was controlled by the will of others. In the hands of…
“Qing Ning, you really do not want to leave with her?” For these people, the Imperial palace was indeed not a good place. If you thought about it in another way, he wouldn’t choose to stay here, but he would also not choose to leave this place. Even if this woman truly liked Qin Ning, who knew how long this kind of sincerity would last. He wasn’t so foolish as to entrust his life to others.
“Truly!” From the very beginning when he had chosen to enter the Imperial palace as a member of the Empress’ harem, he had already decided to die in this palace. The palace may have not been a suitable place for others to live in, but the Empress had an agreement with him. While the Empress had been sightseeing outside of the palace, he had foiled an assassination attempt against the Empress’ life. The Empress had promised to confer a guifei title as repayment for his life-saving grace and stated that he would not force him to do anything he didn’t like to do. After he entered the palace, the Empress had kept her promise. He practiced his swordsmanship and read books on the weekdays, occasionally playing his flute and painting. His life had been very peaceful, so much so that he had almost forgotten his bad memories. The forced marriage bestowed upon him by his family, his parent’s coercion, that disgusting woman, but all of this was in the past. He never regretted his choice and never once entertained the thought of leaving.
“Empress!” Qianhe Zongya was extremely unwilling, anxiously giving Qianhe Liyou a look!
“You, shut up! Qianhe Zongya, you actually think of yourself as something, just what do you think zhen’s man is? You say want and you expect it, have you put zhen in your eyes?” Qianhe Liyou had been suppressing the bubbling anger within her for quite a while, but it finally overflowed and rushed out. Whether it was due to her stubbornness or her possessiveness, she would not allow anyone to meddle with what belongs to her!
“Empress, please calm your Majesty’s anger. This Imperial Sister doesn’t know…this Imperial Sister…” Qianhe Zongya had been stunned, dazed from the Empress’ anger. She quickly knelt on the ground and kept begging for mercy.
“Zhen warns you, the words you have spoken to zhen today, zhen can indeed treat as if they were never spoken. But, do not let zhen have another chance to listen to it. Next time, I will not give you another chance. Moreover, this man is zhen’s and belongs to me. If zhen learns that someone is thinking of my man, then don’t blame me for being rude!” Qianhe Liyou’s stormy tone made everyone at present feel petrified from fear and even their breathing had nearly come to a standstill, no one daring to make a little extra bit of noise.
“And you, since you are zhen’s man, no matter in name or because of some agreement, do not do things that make zhen feel unpleasant.  ‘Chastity’, you don’t need zhen to teach you how to write this word right?” She knew that this man was innocent and hadn’t done anything outrageous, but it did not mean she wouldn’t blame the man for this matter. There would be no punishment, but the verbal warning was absolutely necessary!
Qin Ning’s face had been stony and cold since he had entered, even when the Empress had chastised Imperial Princess Zong, his facial expression had only shown a bit of surprise. However, the last few words of the Empress really made him feel a little embarrassed, and his vibrant and vigorous complexion instantly turned pale….