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Chapter 43 Do you still want your image?
A problem occurred after the Xiongnu came to Great Liang. Crown prince Situ Yaohua took this opportunity to trample his second little brother. Prime minister Lin and the imperial tutor ignored the threats of the Xiongnu for the benefit of the crown prince and let emperor Jinghui gift the enemy money and food. Some other small voices in the court were suppressed, so that they couldn’t cause a storm. This was the current situation of the entire court.
Lin Qing looked for a long time at the eighth prince in front of him, but he didn’t say a word. The little servants next to the eighth prince were so frightened that they didn’t even dare to breath loudly.
Eighth prince Situ Yuxuan was ten-year-old this year. He was white -skinned and chubby. Although, he was clever and quick-witted, but he didn’t like to study. He was most interested in food. Because his power was weak and his young age, he wasn’t involved in the struggle for the throne.
Lin Qing looked at eighth prince who seemed to be like a god of wealth that came out of a painting and said, “Why is Your Highness so panicked? Did something terrible happened?”
Eighth prince composed himself and then looked at Lin Qing. There haven’t been many times that Situ Yuxuan saw Lin Qing. He knew about Lin Qing mostly from rumors.
It was said that this person was vicious and merciless and no blood could be seen when he kills people. He framed loyal officials and disrupted the laws and disciplines of the imperial court. He was a wicked and evil person.
Seeing him closer today, he didn’t seem as scary as the rumors. He was tall and thin with a handsome effeminate face. Although, he appeared a bit cold, but he didn’t seem to have evil intent towards him (SYX).
Hence, Situ Yuxuan said, “I came to pay my respect to emperor father, but consort mother said that I shouldn’t disturb emperor father too much. I couldn’t think of a way to not disturb him, so, I panicked a bit and fell down accidentally.”
While speaking, he looked at Lin Qing uncomfortably. Lin Qing chuckled slightly and didn’t know what to say.
Sure enough, as long as it was a child from the imperial household, no matter how old he/she is, he/she would be more or less contaminated with the imperial habits and liked to hide their thoughts in their heart. The one in front of him looked simple but was the same.
Although, Situ Yuxuan’s mother, consort Hui, was not as powerful as the empress and the consort of Morality (3rd prince mother), but she was tactful. With the help of her wisdom, she also got favored. Although, it couldn’t bring Situ Yuxuan actual benefits, but through some other ways, she was able to make eighth prince more favored. See, eighth prince came to pay his respect to his emperor father at noon.
Lin Qing smiled at eighth prince and said, “His Majesty is in a very good mood today. If eighth Highness go in now, His Majesty would certainly not blame you. However, eighth prince must remember to not delay His Majesty for too long. His Majesty also has to rest.”
Eighth prince felt strange that Lin Qing kindly reminded him. Although, this person looked like a bad person, but he didn’t harm him. Situ Yuxuan who didn’t understand didn’t think too much. After he thanked Lin Qing, he walked into the inner hall.
Lin Qing froze for a moment, then chuckled a few times and said, “An interesting one.” He also left after that.
—
At Qiansui’s residence, Zhao Zimu felt boring sleeping under the tree for a long time. After she called Lin Er, Ling Er appeared in front of her fast and looked at her with watery eyes like a puppy.
Zhao Zimu was stunned and felt that something was weird. She frowned and asked, “What’s the matter with my little pampered girl? Why do you look unhappy? Who bullied you? Tell miss, miss will get justice for you.”
She touched Ling Er’s head to express comfort.
Who would’ve thought that Ling Er said pitifully “Miss, don’t you want Ling Er anymore?”
Zhao Zimu was dumbstruck. She frowned more and said, “Why do you say that? When did your miss, I, say that I don’t want you anymore? Could it be that Ling Er has someone you fancy and prepared to let your miss marry you off? Then, Ling Er, aren’t you too cruel?”
Seeing that Zhao Zimu was more unreliable the more she spoke, Ling Er quickly interrupted her, “Miss, don’t talk anymore. Ling Er only felt that miss doesn’t like Ling Er anymore and hence treated me like that.”
“Don’t like you? Why do you feel like that?” Zhao Zimu was puzzled. She felt that she had always treated this girl quite well. Why did she feel that she doesn’t like her anymore?
Ling Er pouted and said, “Recently, miss hasn’t let Ling Er kept you company. Could it be that it is not because you don’t like Ling Er?”
Zhao Zimu, “…” Can I take you to a brothel? Can I let you keep me company when I went to take liberties with Lin Qing? Can I let you be at my side when I went to do shameful things? So, I truly don’t dislike you…
Zhao Zimu stroked Ling Er’s head and said a bit awkward, “Your miss was really busy recently and it was inconvenient to bring you. I truly don’t dislike you.”
Ling Er’s eyes became more resentful. That resentful and aggrieved expression made Zhao Zimu’s hair stand up. She hurriedly laughed and said, “Ling Er, why do I feel that something is wrong in the residence recently?”
“What’s wrong?” Ling Er put away her resentful and aggrieved expression and asked puzzled.
“Isn’t the residence too quiet lately? Recently, Lord Qiansui returned to the residence almost every day, but why haven’t I seen one beauty appear?”
Ling Er looked at her a bit strangely, but she didn’t say anything.
Zhao Zimu said to herself, “Hong Yu and Qianqian had been given to the third prince. It is normal that the residence didn’t have Qianqian’s pipa sound, but what about beauty Li? I remember that I haven’t hear her zither for a long time. Speaking about it, beauty Li’s zither was still very much liked by Lord Qiansui.”
pipa“Do you really think so?” Ling Er asked her strangely.
“Mm? Could it be wrong? Didn’t you also say that beauty Li’s zither skills were one of a kind in Liang capital? I remember that at that time, you were intoxicated and moved emotionally when listening to it. I even gave a newly brocade from Lin, Lord Qiansui to beauty Li. At that time, she was overjoyed and played another song for me.”
Ling Er sighed quietly and said, “Right, at that time you also praised beauty Li for being a national grace and divine fragrance and one smile from her could overturn a state. But what you don’t know is that beauty Li had been sent away the day before yesterday. It was said that she was given to a sir from the Ministry of Justice.”
National grace, divine fragrance: outstanding beauty
“Lord Qiansui was willing?” Zhao Zimu raised an eyebrow. Why did he send such a beauty away? In the future, when she was idle and bored, where would she find someone who played the zither so well?
“How was he not willing?” Ling Er said faintly, “Also beauty Wang who is proficient in painting, beauty Liu who was skilled in chess, beauty Si who was good at embroidery and etc. had all been sent away by Lord Qiansui. In a spur of the moment, he gave many beauties to the princes or sirs. Those who wasn’t sent out had been put together on a newly established courtyard, leaving the beauties alone there. They were also not allowed to come out at will. It was as if he was waiting for them all to also be sent away.”
“Sent, all, all away?” Zhao Zimu was in a bit of disbelief. Qiansui’s residence was already very boring. Without these alluring beauties, it would be too boring.
“Yes,” Ling Er answered positively, but what she didn’t tell Zhao Zimu was that all the beauties that she liked, had showed interest to and often visited had all been sent away from the residence. The remaining beauties were those who she had never been in contact with or she had never dealt with. Speaking of this, it was weird and not easy to mention.
“Miss, were you with Lord Qiansui these days?” Ling Er asked hesitantly.
“What’s the matter?” Zhao Zimu looked at her calmly and smiled.
“Nothing…” Forget it¸ Ling Er thought. With miss’s temperament, it was impossible for her to do things she didn’t like. Since miss was not unhappy, there was nothing to worry about.
Ling Er who had thought it through suddenly seemed a bit more courageous. She deliberately smiled mysteriously at her miss and said, “If there is no urgent matter, it is better for miss to deal less with those beauties of Qiansui’s residence.”
“Why? They are all so beautiful that they could overturn a state. Just looking at them would let people feel happiness.”
“…Is it that you like everyone who is beautiful?”
“Liking beauties is human nature.”
“Then, am I beautiful?”
A gloomy voice sounded with a hint of coldness.
“You, of…of…”
Zhao Zimu lost her voice. Only now did she discover that the owner of the voice was not Ling Er. Ling Er had long been keeping quiet out of fear and tried her best to shrink herself into an unremarkable corner.
Lin Qing was standing at the door of the small courtyard at this time. His expression was like a thunderstorm in July and August. It was hard to imagine how Lin Qing’s distinct and effeminate face would become fierce like a thunder god. The subordinates behind Lin Qing seemed like winter, frozen and shaking a bit…
Zhao Zimu suddenly felt that her throat was a bit dry. Looking at the gloomy Lin Qing who was walking towards her, she felt a bit guilty for no reason. She looked reproachful at Ling Er. Ling Er shoved herself more thoroughly into a corner…
Miss, you should shoulder the trouble that you stirred…Also, Lord Qiansui, Ling Er is not beautiful at all. Quickly retrieve your gaze that was like it was looking at the enemy!
Xiao Lianzi quickly moved a chair for Lord Qiansui to let him sit next to Zhao Zimu. Zhao Zimu who was lying down couldn’t continue anymore…
But when she wanted to get up, she was pressed on the red sandalwood bed that had been specially made for her to let her nap more comfortably.
Lord Qiansui put his head on one hand, his long black hair fell on her body. He lowered his head and smiled, but his eyes were like looking at a prisoner in the prison.
Lord, don’t smile anymore. It’s quite horrifying. Also, where are you putting your hand?
Embarrassment flashed across Zhao Zimu’s face. Immediately, she tried to learn the expression that Ling Er would put when she pretended to be obedient. She tried hard to widen her eyes and tried to make her eyes appear watery and pitiful. Unfortunately, her eyes had too much of heroic spirit and were insufficient round. Her expression was obviously unsatisfactory.
The corner of Lord Qiansui’s eyes twitched. He didn’t retrieve his hand. He continued to smile at her with an expression that was a smile yet not a smile and said, “Tell me, is this Qiansui beautiful?”
“…Beautiful.”
Lord Qiansui, don’t grit your teeth. Also, if you want people to praise you, it’s better to use handsome, confident, distinguish, elegant and other of such adjectives. There was really no need to argue with those women about being beautiful or not…
Then, what about comparing me with those women of the residence?”
“…How could they be compared with you? Lord Qiansui is like the stars in the sky, shining brightly. They are like the mud on the ground, covered in dust and are tacky. There was simply no comparison between the two. Lord Qiansui’s magnificence is unmatched by anybody.”
Zhao Zimu tried her best to overflow the person in front of her with compliments. She hasn’t done such a thing in her past nor present life. It was a bit difficult…
The guards, bodyguards and servants standing behind the two were already dumbstruck. They looked blankly at the emptiness in front of them. Xiao Lianzi was like a dazed person with a perplexed expression. He felt that the wise, brilliant, sinister, cunning and ruthless image of Lord Qiansui was gradually crumbling and he was trying hard to let it not crumble…
This must be appearances! Lord Qiansui was not such an immature person! All the subordinates persuaded themselves silently and firmly in their hearts…
However, it wasn’t finished yet. Lord Qiansui suddenly asked, “Then, am I more beautiful than everyone?”
Zhao Zimu, “…” All the subordinates, “…” They felt that something majestic had collapsed suddenly in their hearts and shattered into dregs.
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