TICIEC Chapter 7.1

Everyone in Lingxue Pavilion was delighted when they heard this.

Except Ning Wanyin.

Her situation was different from that of Song Meiren.

Song’s father is an important official of the Emperor. He is worth winning over, but there are also concerns about the possibility of both sides being destroyed.

Therefore, Empress Dowager Xue treated Song Meiren with measured caution.

But Ning Wanyin had no backers.

If she is killed, the Emperor will not care, and the Ning family will not dare to intervene.

In the eyes of the two concubines of noble birth, she is just a mere count’s daughter, so they must have felt deeply humiliated for her to be asked to serve the Emperor before them.

Dealing with her would be ten times more ruthless than dealing with Song Meiren.

Is the Emperor singling her out for the bed?

No, he’s choosing her to die.

At this critical moment of life and death, Ning Wanyin’s cautious nature, which she had developed since childhood, allowed her to pretend to be very surprised without any mistakes. She happily rewarded the eunuch with silver, bathed, and changed her clothes according to the rules of serving the Emperor in bed.

She felt a sense of dignity, as if even if she were to die tomorrow, she would die in an orderly manner.

The hot mist curled up.

Ning Wanyin sat upright in the tub, her thoughts remarkably clear, searching for a way to save herself.

Pretend that her period has come?

She should have withdrawn her name immediately upon her period. Failure to report it is a dereliction of duty and will undoubtedly result in punishment. Furthermore, if she were found to have fabricated the facts, she would be guilty of deceiving the Emperor, punishable by death.

Inappropriate.

Pretending to be overjoyed and excited and accidentally breaking her leg?

She could endure some physical pain, but what if His Majesty still stayed?

Death would be inevitable.

Inappropriate.

After eliminating more than a dozen self-rescue plans that would inevitably lead to death, Ning Wanyin decided on three strategies: the best, the middle, and the worst.

The best strategy: surrender to the Emperor.

“Lian Rui, hang up the painting of ‘Cold Plum Blossoms’ that I brought into the palace in the most conspicuous place. Also, put out my exquisite chess pieces.” Ning Wanyin instructed.

Lian Rui obeyed the order and went to look for the things in the box.

Ning Wanyin looked at Dan Li again and said, “Choose your best hairdo and my best jewelry. I will dress up to receive the Emperor.”

“Yes!” Dan Li did not dare to be negligent.

…

The night deepened.

Wang Degui glanced at the time on the clepsydra, then at the Emperor who was reading memorials with his head down, hesitating again and again.

He had already reminded the Emperor half an hour ago.

But His Majesty ignored him and continued to review the memorials.

Seeing that the night was getting dark, Wang Degui knelt on the ground, trembling and kowtowing.

“Your Majesty, it’s getting late—”

Helian Qi glanced at him coldly, and Wang Degui immediately fell silent.

Helian Qi was in a very irritable mood…

Today, many memorials impeaching the Right Censor-in-Chief Song Gu appeared in the court.

It seemed to be high-sounding, but it was only because he favored Song Meiren first, which made the Xue and Cen families stand behind, thus losing face for the two great dukes’ mansions.

The drawbacks left by his ancestors had become so deep-rooted that they were difficult to reverse by his generation, and they had to be overcome before they could be rebuilt.

Helian Qi stood up.

Wang Degui hurriedly followed, hunched over, and shouted toward the door, “Prepare Your Majesty, Yonghe Palace!”

…

The moon was already setting in the west.

Helian Qi arrived at Yonghe Palace.

A large group of palace servants knelt in front of the main hall, led by two beautiful ladies.

He had no interest in looking and walked straight in.

When the Emperor entered Lingxue Pavilion, Wang Degui looked at Ning Wanyin and reminded her, “Why don’t you go in and serve His Majesty!”

“Yes.” Ning Wanyin stood up.

After Ning Wanyin and the palace servants entered the hall on the right, Tang Miaoling then stood up and returned to the left hall with her people.

She and Ning Wanyin lived in the same palace, so when the Emperor arrived, everyone in Yonghe Palace had to welcome him.

It was precisely because of such a good opportunity in her previous life that she had sought to intercept the Emperor’s favor…

But all she wants to do in this life is hide!

Emperor? Back off!

…

When Helian Qi entered Lingxue Pavilion, the first thing he saw was eight large water tanks.

Anyone who first saw the eight big vats would be drawn to them. They were arranged in a row, eight dark brown vats, leaning against the eaves, big and ugly.

At this time, the lotus had not been planted yet, so the water tank was bare, which made it even more unsightly.

Helian Qi walked through the flowerbed with an expressionless face. Just as he was about to step through the threshold, he couldn’t help but ask, “Who put up the water tank?”

What a taste?!

So ugly.

 

 

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