Both Ji Heng and Tianqi startled by Sheng Anhui rage voice.
Sheng Anhui cease his voice once more after Ji Heng raised his hand.
Tianqi open her eyes, looking at her hand holding attractive piece of cloth. Sea blue fabric with raised patterns embroidery with white silk flowers. This were produced from Song Jiang Fu,it cost several silver an inch. She insane to use this as handkerchief.
Looking at the fabric,her gazed slowly move upward. Her heart skipped a beat. In a mid-air a dragon mist by the white cloud above the blue sea waves. Counting her clumsy fingers is four instead of five. Unwilling to give up she continue to look upward,a glimpse at Ji Heng waist and notice his belt. Deep blue belt with striped pattern adorned with precious pearl in the middle buckle,not clear what is it.Perhaps she take too seriously.
Ji Heng notice this person eyesight,it seem the reality has finally dawned on her,from lower to upper all the way up trying to find out.
Now Ji Heng felt like he being flirt，yet the other is a eunuch. In his life he have a liberty to choose countless of people’s,for a while he felt awkward yet he keep remain calm,hand hide behind his back,looking down at her.
Finally Tianqi gazed across his chest,eyes looking up at his face,between dignified appearance and imperious manner a handsome man like light breeze and clear moon(霁月光风 broad mind,honest heart/ loyalty to the light). But now the dignified air entirely replace by the fragrance scent. He frowned and fixed her with a stare.
“Ah!!!”
Tianqi were so surprise,speechless shouted a voice followed by crawling after that flounder ,then quickly go to one side.
Ji Heng touched his face ,is it very scary.
Tianqi realize herself got into big trouble one after another. It seem like she using the Emperor’s clothed to wipe her nose?
“Oh my gosh!!!”
Apart from anything else,she turned around kneel in front of Ji Heng,desperately knock her head,forehead hit the floor board. Issued bang,bang,bang dull noise,reverberate inside the mourning hall,obviously quite weird.
This servant was disrespect your good self(驾 prefixed word denoting respect )before,please your Majesty have mercy ! your Majesty have mercy ! Tianqi was too nervous,knocking her head while talking at same time,her voice quivering can only repeated your Majesty have mercy. She felt this time really failure,not begging for anything but to be able to keep a life is to focus only this four words.
As a sit in Sheng Anhuai thought this kid really know to absolve himself,you have disrespect your good self before ma?simply it an insult to Emperor body !
His impression of Tianqi is very profound. As an internal court eunuch official, Sheng Anhui hold the seal of authority,he governing all eunuch in the Forbidden City.
Tianqi recall the past just before Song Zhaoyi,happen by chance she grasp Sheng Anhui an inevitable outcome,to gather information from that place, with frequent contact (一来二去 idiom one to two to go ) already pass as well acquainted.
Sheng Anhui and Tianqi teacher have a pretty good connection,he thought of Tianqi has a moral quality,mind was quick-witted and for several reason was ready to promote. Now looking at Tianqi with confusing. To offend the Emperor, he is also quite unexpected,it obviously that the Emperor your good self is unhappy,hence he did not dare to make a plead for Tianqi,quietly he stay in one side pretend transparent.
Ji Heng was moved by Tianqi kowtow for mercy sound and voice tone a little perturbed, ” You arise ”
All along Tianqi ear have been listening intently respond from Ji Heng,to heard him speak,she hastily stop ” Thank you your Majesty”. Told to stand up but she bowed respectfully on the floor waiting for the imperial edict.
Ji Heng recognized this eunuch recently followed at Song Zhaoyi side,know sweet talk apart from this there no others.
Oh, in addition good-looking. There is a good looking eunuch yet this person compare those much better looking,unlike others eunuch,eyes that’s clear,spirit,refine doesn’t resemble others eunuch.
Ji Heng thought drift far away while Tianqi bowed her head,he could not help but said loudly ” You lift up your head “.
Tianqi very obedient looked up ,then respectably said loudly ” at your imperial Majesty’s command “, although head up yet I not dare to look at Ji Heng, eyelids still drooping ,red and puffy from crying, both swollen eyelids appear in front of Ji Heng.
……………Quite unsightly.
Ji Heng thought himself was a bit foolish,hand behind his back and asked ” Why are you crying so sad ?”.
It’s here ! Tianqi aware of herself ,to be alive or die it all end here,she took a deep breath and let out a long sigh, her eyes conceal a layer of distress, ” Zhuzi unparalleled elegance (风华无双) which looked so certain death ( 香消玉殒),not to mention I as a servant to received such a kindness,even an ordinary person suddenly hear the news will also be sad. Moreover there also little prince, up and down all imperial palace who’s does not look forward little master face life experiences, whose to foreseen……..” Then lift up her sleeve wipe away her tears,steal a glance at Ji Heng facial expression and carry on to speak. Generous Zhuzi treat this lower class with sympathy same like as a parents of children like kindness ( 恩同父母 the benefit of others,favor big as parents). She went to this servant with concerned as it feel like lost father and mother.
Sheng Anhui as a sit in,he heard using unspoken criticisms words(腹诽), this kid really don’t give face! I like it ! (words to say very through这番话说) Her words put it, did not take this opportunity to express herself,how loyalty to Song Zhaoyi after her death, saying only that those poor people’s died,to evoke Emperor compassion, the death Zhuzi treat her more lenient,more kind…… Don’t you feel ashamed,the former person in the coffin that she fond of was this servant you wish to kill beforehand.
Ji Heng peer with eyes partly closed,watching this crying eunuch that turn into toad,really do not know about him,is it really sincere or really smart.
Tianqi finished,resume and knelt down to apologize.
Thinking back just now,this servant use his cloth to wipe his nose, Ji Heng immediately restraint but the expression look bad.
Bale bale(罢了罢了 be done with it/let it pass) your life is spared but the words of crime cannot be avoids.(死罪可免话罪难逃)
At the end Tianqi punishment was to assign as a watchman’s gong in the nightwatches branch for one month. The nightwatches branch was also a place for those serve as a penalty within the officer. Everyday in the evening have to walk to Xuanwun gate sign the sound as nightwatcher,assign to move around is not tired but there no water to fish around(没油水可捞 no addition money to make).
This punishment has been light,Tianqi rejoice to oneself. The Emperor is really motives of generosity and benevolence a crest as a ruler. There a reason for the punishment, Ji Heng still think the servant will be alone cry in the middle of the night . It seem that intention is really sincere.
Both parties that have impression on each others have occurred a little error.
The next day Tianqi at the government official to register herself for one month duties as a nightwatcher,than return back to thirteen division.
Thirteen division is the eunuch quarters that built right outside the Forbidden City. In the palace all the majority eunuch lived in thirteen division,only the night shift duty or eunuch often await for their owner are eligible to live at inner part of the Forbidden City .
Tianqi moved into Forbidden City not even a month have to move out again, it quite shameless pass through again and again. Her face already thick-skinned enough as she does not think it matter.
Tianqi return back to thirteen division,found a nest of her own,have not yet occupy,feel good very good. Three people share a room while the other two is not in. She return to her room cover with blanket fall asleep within a minute. Catch up sleep during the day,a hard time at night.
Woke up from a sleep,eyes open looking at the front door hanging the blue curtain sway a little while,a single round head stretch forward pass through the curtain side.
Tianqi: “………..”
Look like she forgotten again to fasten the entrance.
Tianqi sober up looking at the round head bare a toothy grin “Gou xiao zi !”
Tianqi hastily get down from the bed,invite him in while saying, ” Teacher what bring you here? You not there to stand by at Defei ma?”
“I come out for an errand just in time to visit you”.Tianqi assit the man sit down,quickly make tea . He said ” no need to busy yourself,i won’t be staying long,have a talk with me for a moment”.His name is Ding Zhi is Tianqi teacher,been followed him since she first enter the palace.
Ding Zhiyuan is the original name,later become eunuch,felt this name sound is quite ironic,no matter how far ambition is still a eunuch. So he simply change the name to Ding Zhi.
Dingzhi is now imperial workshops(御用监 for use of an emperor,serving as a tool) small supervision of rank four,only one step away from eunuch.
“Eunuch” commonly know as eunuch in the palace is an official reputation, to achieve eunuch position is be the head of main four rank.
Inside officer there were twenty-four yamen commander,each have different rank and responsibilities but also frequently doing errand for Empress and imperial concubine,assign for duty like run around,back n forth for them,after that at imperial concubine side there will be generous reward. Naturally not all zhuzi is rich,those without any upper people to pursue can only be assigned by the official supervisor in charge.
Tianqi and Dingzhi both able to take double duty even more like Sheng Anhui,alone can take two task simultaneity.
Dingzhi now served Defei. Defei is two-year older than the Emperor,appearances is not outstanding,as the age was older therefore change to virtuous line,although is childless. The Emperor still remember her every two month he will be there to go for a stroll.
Tianqi call out the minor eunuch to carry in a pot of hot water,brew the tea and serve to Dingzhi.
Dingzhi lift the tea lid cover with a single look at light green jade hot tea. Cool and refreshing seep through like a bowl of transparent emerald. Cluster tea leaves float smoothly have been soaked unfolding a leaf blade,full rich of green as fresh.
He took a deep breath and closed eyes,he could feel the fragrances at once full of vigour. “Lushan Cloud” Dingzhi opened his eyes ” This is good! Kid you really rake a gold,anything is good will not fall. Which in turn is from where did you get this?”
Tianqi scratch her head and laugh ” if not the dead of Zhaoyi zhuzi bestow reward, I know this Hello. I plan early to give you however Zhaoyi zhuzi happen to meet with a mishap for a short while i already forget.
Dingzhi lift the tea lid lightly circular the tea bowl gently blow the vapor still immersed the mist tea,its bring the refreshing pleasing feeling, casually replied ” it seem you at the place there get along quite well”.
“Good is good,it’s pity good times don’t last.” Tianqi replied in short time.
Dingzhi heard,put down his tea bowl advice her and said “I say,you don’t be discouraged ,this one already die there also the next one ne? Inside the imperial harem they will always have ambitions after the palace,kid you will come in time got future as long as you ride on a good ship stand firm,there will always be the light of the day.”
Tianqi shook her head ” my good teacher,you do not know,I take what boat which turn the boat.” saying while showing three finger ” already three frankly speaking I already downhearted.”
Dingzhi think back a moment,indeed, immediately he felt bad for Tianqi and quickly began to give her a stupid suggestion. ” Why not you go fortune-telling? Imperial kitchen Laoliu seem like know how to calculate,you go have a try?”
“Don’t bring it up. I been there before,he told me my character are too strong can constraints the owner desires.”(太硬克主)
“Then what’s to be done?” Dingzhi also worry for his disciple ” is there any method to break?”
“No worry ” Tianqi shook her head ” actually that Loaliu also not reliable,he says my destiny is to be Niangniang(娘娘)”.
After Dingzhi listened he laughed ” this chap still really dare to speak nonsense. If the palace maid is you,perhaps outward apperance you suitable be young zhuzi .” Speaking of palace maid, Dingzhi topic begin to change to a crooked path. Which palace maid is pretty,who’s palace maid is good with works very familiar(如数家珍).
Tianqi listening until head scalp feel numb,she quickly tell Dingzhi about her yesterday encounter with the Emperor ,was punished as nightwatcher.
Dingzhi was astonished and asked ” how did that happen?”
Tianqi explain what happened yesterday,Dingzhi said skip that wipe nose part continue the part saying you did not notice the Emperor visit while you were crying.
Dingzhi again act toward with sympathize and comforted her for a moment,after that have to go.Tianqi take that tea bag,pack into half and give it to Dingzhi,teacher took it with a smiling face turn into one big daisy.
After send teacher off, Tianqi cannot sleep in the afternoon,stay up in bed for half a day,have early dinner,go for work at nightwatcher branch.\n