TICIEC Chapter 7.2

“I had them placed there to plant lotus flowers.” Ning Wanyin replied softly.

“The greenhouse said the lotus seeds are being nurtured and haven’t been delivered yet. When Your Majesty comes in the summer, you’ll see a full vat of lotus flowers.”

When he heard that, Helian Qi glanced at her, and his eyes lit up instantly.

The woman was wearing a light pink corseted dress, with gorgeous makeup, revealing a somewhat enchanting and charming style. Her hair was styled in an elaborate bun, and she wore a red pomegranate headpiece, looking exceptionally gorgeous.

Her eyes were like stars, her beauty as bright as peaches and plums.

Just a quick glance and he could tell that the woman had made careful preparations to meet him.

Although he had already gotten used to it, it was always more pleasing to the eye when one paid attention than when one didn’t.

He didn’t pay much attention during the palace selection.

Only today did he realize that she was a beauty.

“Do you like lotus flowers?” Helian Qi asked casually.

Ning Wanyin lowered her eyes and said, “I prefer lotus pods. Lotus seeds are sweet and delicious, and they taste wonderful. They also symbolize fertility and good fortune. A wonderful, auspicious meaning!”

Helian Qi’s foot nearly missed the threshold…

Turning around to look at Ning Wanyin’s expression, there was something strange about it.

The other concubines would say that lotuses are noble and pure.

But she is so good.

Lotus seeds are delicious, and they also mean fertility and good fortune?

She is quite down-to-earth.

Ning Wanyin lowered her eyebrows and let him look at her quietly, looking very well-behaved.

Helian Qi’s gaze paused briefly on her face before he continued into the house.

Entering the hall, the first thing that caught his eye was a painting hanging on the wall.

A plum blossom, shimmering in the frost, stood proudly in the snow. It was strikingly familiar.

How could this not be familiar?

This was an imitation of his ‘Cold Plum Blossoms’.

When Helian Qi was a prince, he did not hold an official position in the court. Instead, he devoted himself to poetry and literature, particularly painting and chess. He was a renowned talent in the capital.

One of his paintings, ‘Cold Plum Blossoms’, was included in the ‘Dayan Painting Collection’ published by the imperial court and had been imitated by countless artists.

But this was the first time he had seen something so ugly being hung openly in the house.

“Do you like painting?” Helian Qi frowned slightly.

Ning Wanyin replied in a gentle voice, “Yes, I studied hard at home.”

“Then you are a poor student.” Helian Qi said, his words characteristically harsh.

Ning Wanyin nodded in agreement, neither angry nor annoyed.

“Mother also said that I don’t have the talent for painting, but this is what Your Majesty likes, so I hope to learn a little. If Your Majesty doesn’t like it, I will not learn it in the future.”

Helian Qi was stunned.

It was normal for the concubines to please him, so he was not surprised by this answer.

With a casual glance, he saw a black and white chess game on the coffee table.

“You still like chess? Whatever I like, you like?” Helian Qi raised his eyebrows slightly.

What the superior likes, the subordinates will surely follow.

But this woman’s explicit display of affection was truly a bit too superficial.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me!”

Ning Wanyin bowed, lowering her eyes slightly, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked pitiful and said the words she had prepared three years ago.

“Your Majesty, I am deeply pleased. I know that the six palaces are full of flowers, and my humble figure and appearance are not worth mentioning. I only dare to use external things and my humble skills to win Your Majesty’s attention.”

The room was filled with silence.

Wang Degui was stunned. He had heard many concubines’ sweet words in the palace, but Ning Guiren, spoken solely to gain Your Majesty’s attention, was truly pitiful.

Love that is humble to the point of moving those who hear it.

Ning Wanyin did not pin her hopes of survival on the Emperor’s pity.

Convincing him of her feelings was only the first step. She used ‘pity’ to narrow the distance between her and the Emperor, but the next step was the key.

“I am stupid, but I have a sincere heart and am willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty. I will do whatever Your Majesty likes. It has been like this in the past, and it will be like this in the future.”

Ning Wanyin slowly finished the second half of the sentence, raised her eyes, and looked at Helian Qi, sincerely and earnestly.

She is willing to be the sword in His Majesty’s hand and the chess piece in his palm.

Let the Emperor know that she is more useful alive than dead.

Helian Qi’s eyes, as calm as a lake, rippled slightly. For the first time, he took a serious look at the young woman before him…

Declaring her loyalty to him?

Tsk, that’s interesting.

 

 

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