TICIEC Chapter 28.2

But the Emperor showed no appreciation for the other painting, only disappointment and frustration with Ning Wanyin.

Because this was the painting he had taught her.

Regardless of who is competing with Ning Wanyin in painting, once the Emperor has taken the teacher’s side, the only result will be the difference between the paintings of one’s own people and those of outsiders.

No matter how well an outsider paints, what does it have to do with him?

A surge of anger rose within him. Knowing full well that Ning Wanyin’s painting was poor, they still deliberately competed—wasn’t this using his precious student as a stepping stone?

Ning Wanyin was clearly forced into this.

Ridiculous.

His concubine wouldn’t be bullied like this.

“Get out of here!” Helian Qi said impatiently, pointing at Ning Ziyin.

Ning Ziyin’s face turned deathly pale, and she hurriedly knelt on the ground, “Your Majesty, this humble woman doesn’t know where she has offended Your Majesty…”

“Your painting is ugly! Get out!” Helian Qi roared in fury, his face terrifyingly grim.

Ning Ziyin’s legs went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. It was the first time she had ever witnessed the wrath of an emperor. She was stunned, and her mind went blank. She was completely unable to react.

Wang Degui quickly led several eunuchs forward and dragged Ning Ziyin out.

They dared not keep her in their sight.

Ning Wanyin knelt down and begged for forgiveness, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It was my fault for making improper arrangements…”

“You want me to take your cousin into the palace? Do you think I haven’t given you enough favor?” Helian Qi asked impatiently.

Ning Wanyin bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and remained silent.

Lian Rui glanced furtively at Ning Wanyin, and with the unspoken understanding between master and servant developed over many years, immediately knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, please understand! My Master was forced… The Old Madam immediately berated and scolded my Master after she came, insisting that she should listen to Cen Jieyu. My Master refused, so she forced my Master’s cousin to be offered to you…”

Lian Rui was responsible for complaining, while Ning Wanyin was responsible for looking down with tears in her eyes, appearing pitiful.

The irritation in Helian Qi’s eyes dissipated.

The Ning family still wanted to rely on the Cen family; how laughable.

But the young woman before him…

She was serving the Emperor; how could the Emperor allow her to suffer such humiliation?

“Get up.” Helian Qi said, extending his hand to Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin hesitated, not daring to offer her hand, and whispered, “This concubine is incompetent…”

“It’s not that you’re incompetent, but as a daughter of the Ning family, you’re bound by constraints. If this old woman were to say even a single word that you’ve become favored and disrespectful to your grandmother, tomorrow, even more accusations of filial impiety would be leveled against you.”

Helian Qi looked at her, a pang of pity rising in his heart.

Helian Qi is not a soft-hearted or kind person.

As a cold-blooded emperor, he has little compassion.

Only those who empathize are easily moved.

He, too, is burdened by the concept of filial piety, which makes him feel constrained. All the officials in the court are watching him closely; if he were an unfilial and wicked person, the throne would not be his.

It was precisely because they shared the same plight that he felt such deep pity.

Ning Wanyin looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes, which she had been holding back, streaming down her face as she spoke.

“Your Majesty, I don’t want to send my cousin to the palace. I don’t like her…”

Helian Qi helped her up, his tone unusually gentle and kind: “I will not let her enter the palace, nor will I let you be bullied.”

“Your Majesty, you are so good to me…” Ning Wanyin buried her face in Helian Qi’s arms with tears in her eyes, her hands tightly hugging his waist.

Helian Qi gently stroked her hair to comfort her. He hadn’t done anything, yet this young woman was so easily satisfied.

Ning Wanyin was always well-behaved and sensible in front of him, so this rare display of genuine emotion made him feel that the relationship between the two of them was closer than before.

Helian Qi carried Ning Wanyin to the bath.

Lian Rui and Wang Degui wisely withdrew quietly.

She belatedly realized that if her master hadn’t requested a painting, Ning Ziyin’s ambition to gain favor by stepping on her master wouldn’t have been so open.

How then could they make Ning Ziyin seem even more despicable, the grandmother more despicable, and the young lady more wronged?

Miss, you are truly brilliant.

 

 

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