boyutpedia Chapter 30 The Bracelet
Chapter 30 The Bracelet
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Chu Qingyin said in a low voice, her voice trembling slightly, "I'm alright."
Pei Yuanling lowered his eyes and saw the girl's face flushed with shyness, even her fair and slender neck was tinged with a charming blush.
His breathing became a little heavy, but he quickly came to his senses; she was not the imperial concubine.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a bracelet on the girl's snow-white wrist.
It was an exquisitely crafted gilded openwork bracelet, surrounded by precious gemstones, but the most eye-catching feature was a lotus flower pattern carved on the bracelet, so lifelike that it seemed to bloom from the jade.
Upon seeing the bracelet with a hidden clasp, Pei Yuanling's gaze instantly sharpened, and his voice became slightly hoarse: "Where did you get this bracelet?"
Chu Qingyin was startled, but she remained calm and replied softly, "Your Majesty, this bracelet was a gift from Consort Shu to me."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling frowned even more deeply. After his gaze lingered on the bracelet for a moment, he said calmly, "This bracelet is not suitable for you. Don't wear it anymore."
Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered slightly, but she feigned ignorance: "This concubine doesn't understand, is there something wrong with this bracelet?"
Looking into the girl's clear, mirror-like eyes, Pei Yuanling pondered for a moment and said, "Your skin is fair, so this color of bracelet is not suitable for you."
After a slight pause, he added, "I will reward you with an even better one. When you wear that one in the future, it will be easier for you to explain to Consort Shu if she asks."
How thoughtful!
Chu Qingyin inwardly grumbled, but on the surface she appeared flattered and immediately curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."
Pei Yuanling didn't say much, only gave a faint "hmm," and then bent down to pick up the little snowball at his feet.
The emperor, usually stern and unsmiling, gently stroked the kitten's head with his large, broad hand, and whispered coaxingly, "Little one, if you run off again, I won't give you any more fish."
Little Snowball was also very attached to Pei Yuanling, and lazily meowed in his arms, its crystal-clear eyes looking towards Chu Qingyin.
For some reason, Chu Qingyin sensed a hint of self-aggrandizement in the other's words.
He couldn't help but chuckle to himself; this clever little fellow had indeed done the job just now.
Just then, a eunuch hurried over, bowed, and reported: "Your Majesty, Chief Minister Lu has been waiting in the Imperial Study for quite some time."
Chu Qingyin's eyelids twitched involuntarily when she heard the name "Chief Minister Lu".
I never thought much of this man before, but now I feel like he's some kind of troublesome ghost, he seems to be everywhere.
"I understand."
Pei Yuanling nodded to the eunuch, then said to Chu Qingyin, "I still have official business to attend to, you may go back now."
Chu Qingyin snapped out of her daze and bowed respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
After Chu Qingyin left, Pei Yuanling did not linger in the Imperial Garden and turned to walk towards the Imperial Study.
**
Inside the Imperial Study, Lu Zhiheng waited quietly for Pei Yuanling's arrival.
His gaze swept across the palace and landed on the neatly stacked memorials on the desk.
These official documents record the empire's daily administration and the people's livelihood, and he, as a high-ranking official, was a key cog in this complex machine.
The footsteps approached, and Lu Zhiheng immediately stood up and respectfully bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanling walked in slowly and nodded slightly to Lu Zhiheng: "Rise."
He sat on the dragon throne, looking intently at Lu Zhiheng: "Tell me, how is the spring tax situation this time?"
Lu Zhiheng lowered his sleeves and replied in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, the overall spring tax harvest this year is good, slightly higher than last year. However, the harvest in the southwest region is poor due to years of drought. I suggest that some taxes be appropriately reduced..."
The incense sticks in the animal-shaped incense burner wafted upwards, and the handsome emperor and the aloof court officials sat facing each other, discussing state affairs.
After an unknown amount of time, a eunuch hurried over, carrying an exquisite sandalwood brocade box in his hands.
He knelt down respectfully: "Your Majesty, this is the bracelet that was found in the storeroom."
Pei Yuanling opened the brocade box and saw a crystal-clear jade bracelet inside. He examined it for a while and nodded: "This is it. Send it to Consort Qiao."
"Yes." The eunuch accepted the order and left.
Hearing this conversation from the side, Lu Zhiheng narrowed his dark eyes slightly, and then asked seemingly casually, "His Majesty seems to dote on this Consort Qiao?"
"It's just a bracelet," Pei Yuanling glanced at Lu Zhiheng indifferently. "I have always been fair to the concubines in the harem."
Lu Zhiheng paused for a moment, then lowered his eyes and said, "I have heard rumors in the palace that this Consort Qiao is very similar to the late Imperial Concubine. I wonder if this is true?"
"These palace rumors are nothing but idle chatter from bored people."
Pei Yuanling interrupted Lu Zhiheng, his voice carrying a hint of coldness that was barely perceptible: "Minister Lu, you should focus on state affairs and refrain from interfering in matters of the harem."
Lu Zhiheng knew that Consort Chu was the emperor's most sensitive and untouchable weakness.
Moreover, the downfall of the Duke of Chu's mansion was all due to a memorial he submitted, so it was indeed inappropriate for him to mention it.
But for some reason, when I heard that the bracelet was to be sent to Consort Qiao, I felt a strange unease in my chest.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Zhiheng raised his sleeve towards the emperor and said in a low voice, "I misspoke, Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
Pei Yuanling waved his hand, indicating that the topic should be put aside, and continued to discuss the details of the spring tax with his trusted ministers.
About an hour later, after the conversation ended, Lu Zhiheng respectfully took his leave.
It was already dusk, with the afterglow of the setting sun spreading across the sky. The tall, upright man stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the magnificent palace before him from the high steps, as if some kind of emotion was surging within him.
He knew that was his ambition.
This palace, this world, should have belonged to him.
Even the person sitting on the dragon throne in the Zichen Palace should be him.
Unfortunately……
Thinking of the raging fire twenty years ago, and the blood-soaked Eastern Palace mansion, Lu Zhiheng's heart suddenly ached twice.
His long fingers clenched tightly beneath his sleeves. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his handsome, deep-set face regaining its usual cool and aloof expression.
As he descended the layers of white marble steps, he couldn't help but glance in the direction of the inner palace.
That person should have received the bracelet by now, right?
At the same moment, Chu Qingyin stood in the courtyard of Diecui Pavilion, gazing at the palace bathed in the enchanting glow of the sunset, her thoughts swirling.
Just then, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Xianglan hurriedly pushed open the door and entered, her face beaming with excitement.
Chu Qingyin turned around, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised: "What makes you so excited?"
Xianglan smiled and said, "His Majesty sent someone to deliver something to Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's eyes flashed with surprise, not expecting Pei Yuanling to fulfill his promise so quickly.
However, she quickly regained her composure and said calmly, "I understand, I'll be right there."
Xianglan excitedly responded and left, while Chu Qingyin straightened her clothes and stepped into the main room.
The eunuch in red robes entered carrying a brocade box and bowed respectfully: "By order of His Majesty, I bestow upon Consort Qiao a jade bracelet."
Chu Qingyin smiled and accepted the brocade box: "Thank you for your gracious gift, Your Majesty."
He then ordered Qiuzhu to take the reward money and send it to the eunuch.
After the eunuch left, Chu Qingyin slowly opened the exquisite brocade box.
A crystal-clear jade bracelet lay quietly on a bright red brocade. Under the candlelight, the jade bracelet, with its excellent color, shone with a soft and delicate luster.
Upon seeing this, the palace maids of Diecui Pavilion offered their congratulations all at once: "Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining the Emperor's favor!" "Your Highness is truly blessed!" "This jade bracelet is so beautiful; it perfectly complements Your Highness's temperament!"
Chu Qingyin listened to the palace servants' flattery without any inner turmoil. But when her slender white fingers touched the jade bracelet, a very subtle ripple appeared on her heart.
Pei Yuanling is a man who never acts without a reason. Obviously, the reason he suddenly sent her the bracelet was because he probably realized that there was something fishy about the bracelet that Consort Shu gave him.
But he didn't say it directly; instead, he gave her a new bracelet.
He was protecting her.
But is this protection because he loves this face so much that he extends that love to everything related to it, or... does he show the same tenderness to other women?
Chu Qingyin held the bracelet and pondered for a long time until Xianglan called her, which brought her back to her senses and made her realize that she had fallen into the entanglements of love and romance again.
It shouldn't have been done, it really shouldn't have been done.
She wasn't doing this for romantic reasons, but to find out the truth and rescue her brother.
Thinking of her brother, who was still in the dark and damp prison of the Ministry of Justice, Chu Qingyin put the bracelet on her wrist, secretly reminding herself not to lose sight of her original intentions.