TFSRITA Chapter 69

However, they were small palace servants, afraid to say or do anything.

Yan Qing felt a pang of sympathy, but when she glanced at Ji Yecheng, she noticed his gaze was fixed on her. His dark eyes appeared somewhat eerie and complex, causing her to quickly look away, not daring to meet his eyes. With a defiant tone, she instructed, “You all just keep stirring. Stop when the salt has dissolved.”

“Yes,” replied the two eunuchs responsible for stirring the pond water, continuing their task.

Ji Yecheng spoke in a deep voice, “Are you satisfied?”

Yan Qing smiled at him, and just as his eyes brightened slightly, she said, “Not satisfied. The seawater is ready, but what about the creatures in the sea?” She took two steps closer, looking at Ji Yecheng, and asked, “When can I have creatures that can live in this salty water?”

“Are you provoking me again?” Ji Yecheng thought she was being willful, venting her displeasure. But seeing her difficult demand, he finally understood.

She was indeed provoking him, but this provocation was different from before. Previously, she merely irritated him until he couldn’t help but act against her. Now, she seemed to want him to retreat in the face of difficulty.

Did she still hold onto the fantasy of leaving the palace?

Yan Qing’s eyes sparkled, her clear and bright gaze resembling crystal gems. The light in her eyes made her delicate features resemble a finely crafted doll, though her voice was too rough and hoarse.

As she spoke, she slightly tilted her face up to look at him, her expression earnest and stubborn: “Yes, I am provoking you. If you don’t want me to leave, then how can you not even meet my demands? Just because you’re the Emperor?”

The corners of Ji Yecheng’s lips curled slightly, his handsome face growing colder yet also revealing a hint of self-satisfaction and affection: “Rest assured, Consort, I can fulfill that.” He then turned to Jiang Wende and ordered, “Go find Head Instructor Lin.”

The seaside was far from Chang’an, so he needed someone capable of handling this.

Jiang Wende nodded but this time didn’t go alone; he turned and spoke to a small eunuch.

Ji Yecheng didn’t concern himself with the details; as long as the task was completed, that was enough.

When Yan Qing saw him agree, she felt a twinge of guilt but, thinking of her plan, gritted her teeth and turned away with a cold smile. The chilly autumn wind made her shiver, causing her long eyelashes to tremble unnaturally, yet she maintained her bravado, saying, “If one dies, I don’t want the others either.”

The man behind her seemed to sense her inner conflict. He stepped forward, wrapped her in his embrace, and just as she was about to resist, he whispered in her ear, “I’ve said before, I will meet all your demands!”

Yan Qing, in this lifetime, only he could fulfill all her wishes.

Even the one she liked, Song Yu, could only flee to the Northern Wilderness, too afraid to meet her.

Yan Qing gave a sarcastic smile. The warmth and breadth of the chest behind her held no appeal; she pushed away his arm at her waist and walked forward without looking back.

She left the man behind, watching her retreating figure with a stoic expression.

“Your Majesty?” Jiang Wende whispered.

Ji Yecheng frowned and said solemnly, “Have the fox fur from my private collection made into garments and sent over; it’s getting cold.” After speaking, he left in another direction. Recently, due to the turmoil in the court, there had been many matters to handle, and he had rarely taken such personal care.

“Yes.” Jiang Wende thought he shouldn’t have fantasized about Ji Yecheng being angry at the consort.

Oh, poor Your Majesty!

…

Meanwhile, the small eunuchs carrying various fish and shrimp looked confused as they stared at Jiang Wende. “Master Jiang, what should we do with this?”

Jiang Wende clutched his chest and said, “What else can we do? Take them to the Imperial Kitchen.”

“Okay!” The small eunuchs hurried off.

Jiang Wende glanced over at Ji Yecheng and then at the consort, ultimately deciding to head towards her.

He jogged to catch up, calling, “Your Highness, wait!”

Upon hearing the commotion, Yan Qing gradually stopped and saw the chubby eunuch panting slightly. “Your Highness, I must say something. If I don’t, I’ll feel uncomfortable keeping it to myself.”

Yan Qing’s heart raced again, and she took a small step back as if she guessed what he was going to say.

She had been so wasteful, and her demands were so unreasonable; she should be getting scolded.

Her intertwined fingers tightened as she silently awaited the impending reprimand.

But the eunuch’s slightly sharp voice said, “Your Highness, I’m not here to blame you. I know you have a good heart, but I don’t understand why you seem to be going against His Majesty. However, Your Highness, have you considered what His Majesty has sacrificed behind these demands?”

“I don’t know,” Yan Qing replied softly, unable to look at Jiang Wende.

As a person from the modern world, she hadn’t thought as deeply as an ancient eunuch. His words served as a reminder, and Yan Qing suddenly felt a twinge of regret about her earlier demands.

As she grappled with her feelings, Jiang Wende continued, “The items His Majesty sent earlier cost the lives of ten or more sweat-blood horses, and over twenty people worked tirelessly day and night from all over the country just to deliver this fish to you. Your Highness, even if you want to make things difficult for His Majesty, could you perhaps consider a different approach?”

After saying this, Jiang Wende knelt down, saying, “Your Highness, I’ve said my piece; if you wish to punish me, please do so.”

He hadn’t known either; he just happened to see a memorial that had fallen when he picked it up.

Many living in the palace were unaware of the circumstances outside, a result of the isolation of information in ancient times.

Jiang Wende had already felt some resentment toward Yan Qing for repeatedly putting His Majesty in difficult situations, and with this matter, he finally couldn’t hold back when faced with even more unreasonable demands.

Naturally, Yan Qing wouldn’t punish him. Instead, she was grateful for his reminder. As soon as he finished speaking, she said, “Thank you for informing me, Master Jiang. Please tell His Majesty that my earlier demands no longer stand, and do not send anyone for seafood.”