in2ebook Chapter 218: Good or bad, we'll comment on it another day.
Chapter 218: Good or bad, we'll comment on it another day.
The afternoon was sweltering, and Qin Yizhen disliked going out even more. After waking up from her nap, she put on a thin shirt and embroidered a piece of fabric in her dormitory.
She promised Cheng Yan she would make him two sachets, and she didn't just say it without actually doing it.
However, she was not very good at embroidery. It was already quite good if she could pick up a needle and embroider a few stitches. Therefore, she had no choice in the pattern and chose the water lily, which could be embroidered in just a few stitches.
The dormitory room wasn't big. With the windows closed and a bowl of ice placed inside, a gentle coolness permeated the room, keeping the summer heat out.
As Qin Yizhen embroidered, she looked at it from left to right and was not very satisfied. So she asked Lü Qiao, who was standing next to her, "Do you think this will do? Or should we let the embroiderer finish it? I'll just do a couple of stitches as a token gesture."
“Princess, please don’t.” Lü Qiao quickly shook her head. “What the Marquis wants is not a sachet, but one made by the princess herself. If it’s made by someone else, it won’t be meaningful.”
That makes sense, but Qin Yizhen also had concerns: "Won't people laugh at him for wearing such a sloppy sachet?"
Green Qiao disagreed with this: "Who is making fun of us? Who would dare to make fun of us? A sachet made by the princess herself is a blessing that others can only dream of. Once they know this, they will all envy the loving relationship between the Marquis and the princess."
Qin Yizhen thought it made sense, but was also a little embarrassed: "What you said is also true..."
"Master Hou."
Qin Yizhen heard the sound of maids bowing outside. She was slightly surprised, opened the window and saw Cheng Yan walking through the courtyard towards the main courtyard. She quickly put down the cloth in her hand and walked towards the door.
As soon as Cheng Yan stepped into the main hall, he saw his wife coming out of the bedroom in a light dress. He couldn't help but frown and pulled her back to the bedroom, saying, "What are you doing out here? Don't you feel hot?"
Qin Yizhen took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead, but asked him, "Why are you back now? Did something happen?"
She remembered that he went to work today and left wearing his official uniform, but now he had changed into a light blue round-necked robe. Thinking of this, Qin Yizhen leaned closer and sniffed his scent, then frowned.
Cheng Yan laughed at her: "Don't you have the charm of other women?"
Qin Yizhen scoffed, "Where have you been? Why do you smell so strange?"
Cheng Yan pinched her cheek and said to her, "I went to the Chengen Marquis's residence with your mother to see Zhang Shi and the Chengen Marquis off to the Western Paradise. Quickly change your clothes, your mother is coming."
Qin Yizhen was first shocked by the news that 'Zhang Shi and Marquis Chengen had been sent to the Western Paradise,' and then she was stunned by the second piece of news: 'Mother Empress has arrived?'
"Yes." Cheng Yan reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then leaned down and kissed her earlobe. "Change your clothes. You can only show this to me."
It was too hot, so Qin Yizhen didn't even like to leave her dormitory, and she was dressed lightly. When she heard him say that, her face turned red, and she quickly pushed him to wash up: "You should go wash up too, you smell bad."
After saying that, she called for Green Bridge to have water delivered to the bathroom.
Cheng Yan didn't make things difficult for her. He kissed her hand, then went to get a change of clothes and went to the bathroom.
After Cheng Yan took a bath, Qin Yizhen changed her clothes and styled her hair. The two then went to the Chunhe Courtyard next door together.
At that time, Empress Dowager Cheng was sitting in the room reading a book. A maid stood beside her, gently fanning a basin of ice to send a cool breeze to her.
She was dressed in a blue robe, calm and quiet, like a green mountain and a pine tree.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The two stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Get up and sit down." Empress Dowager Cheng looked up at Qin Yizhen. Today, she had changed into a lilac-colored dress. Her beauty, which was like that of a peony or hibiscus, had diminished slightly, but she looked even more elegant and noble.
It looks good no matter how you look at it.
Qin Yizhen sat down obediently with Cheng Yan, and then asked Empress Dowager Cheng, "I heard from the Marquis that the Marquis of Chengen has left?"
"Yes." Empress Dowager Cheng nodded. "I personally sent him to the Western Paradise, so that he and Zhang can still be a pair of lovebirds in the afterlife. If any rumors or gossip spread, you don't need to take them to heart."
"Just remember that Zhang only knew that the Zhang family members were ordered to commit suicide, and died in grief. Marquis Chengen and she were deeply in love, so he took poison and followed her in death."
Qin Yizhen nodded, indicating that she understood: "Mother, I am no longer the same person I used to be. I will certainly not take those rumors to heart. Please rest assured."
"That's good." Empress Dowager Cheng nodded. "It's better for you two to live a good life than anything else. As for these rumors, even if they exist, they will dissipate in a few days. There's no need to pay too much attention to them."
"When I first came to power, countless people cursed me, saying that I was a hen crowing at dawn. But as long as power is in my hands, I am not afraid of what others say. Whether it is good or bad for me to sit in this position, we can comment on it another day."
“You will also go to pay your respects on the anniversary of your mother’s death in a few days.”
"Yes." Qin Yizhen had already discussed this matter with Cheng Yan, so she readily agreed. "Your subject has also asked the cook to prepare some fresh pastries, which will be taken to the offering ceremony later."
"It's good that you're taking it to heart." Empress Dowager Cheng was very satisfied with this. "Being in the palace presents me with many inconveniences, so I will need the two of you to take care of the matters of worship in the future."
"Yes."
Empress Dowager Cheng only stayed with Marquis Pingxi for an hour, probably just to remind Qin Yizhen not to pay attention to the rumors. After having dinner together, they prepared to return to the palace.
Cheng Yan wanted to send her back to the palace, but she refused.
"I have people with me, so I don't need you. Now that you're back, spend more time with your wife."
The two had no choice but to escort her to the door and watch her get into the carriage and leave.
After the carriage had gone far away and disappeared around the corner, Qin Yizhen sighed: "Actually, the Empress Dowager is the one who has suffered the most."
Cheng Yan, she, Emperor Jing'an, and Princess Huizhen all grew up under the protection of Empress Dowager Cheng. She was strong throughout her life, as if nothing in the world could defeat her, but she lost the most and suffered the most in her life.
Cheng Yan held Qin Yizhen's hand and led her back: "Aren't we still here with her? When you have free time, go to the palace to spend more time with her. Also, I have something to tell you."
"what's up?"
"Once His Majesty assumes full power, and she doesn't wish to remain in the palace, how about we bring her over?"
"Okay." Qin Yizhen immediately agreed. To Cheng Yan, Empress Dowager Cheng was like an elder sister and a mother, while to her, she was a foster mother. But in her heart, she was no different from her biological mother.
She also enjoys spending time with her family.
"I've had Chunhe Courtyard renovated and tidied up. If Mother comes again, she can stay here. Mother likes fish, so we need to dig a small pond, bring in fresh water, and raise a few koi..."