Drunken Beauty

  In the depths of dawn's chill, a few points of morning light began to unfurl, falling on the slightly withered branches and leaves in a bright patch, adding a hint of gentle elegance to the solemn winter days of the Forbidden City.

  Taking the opportunity to borrow from Yanxi Palace, Qingchen turned his head to look at Bailu Xue's fall, facing the sky and stretching out towards the high Jiuxiao, deeply inhaling this clear and cold air.

  But she turned around and suddenly fell into a pair of deep eyes. A few steps away, Ye Tian Ling was standing behind her at some point, staring at her without blinking, his sharp lips seeming to hold a hint of clear smile.

  Lost in his gaze, she was taken aback and lowered her eyes to avoid the brightness of his stare: "Fourth Brother."

  "Shall we go to Yanxi Palace?"

  "Hmm."

  Qing Chen walked slowly with him, Ye Tianling didn't speak, she also remained silent for a while before asking, "Can Ming Xie bring things to you?"

  Ye Tian Ling nodded and said: "I've seen him. Others are nothing, but there is one called Wei Ping, who was in the ninth brother's mansion a few years ago, seemed to have seen him before, he is the son of the ninth brother's wet nurse, but has not been seen for a long time."

  "King of the Void? This result is indeed unexpected," he asked, "Are you certain?"

  Ye Tian Ling Dao: "It shouldn't be wrong, I've already asked someone else to double-check."

  You lowered your head and thought for a while: "Either get the antidote or find a way to ask Luan Fei about the truth."

  Ye Tian's mouth slightly curled up, his eyes deep and distant: "There are more than one or two people in this palace who have a conscience, it doesn't matter who, I roughly know the number."

  You nodded, these things are naturally clearer to Ye Tianling than her. She suddenly remembered something: "Fourth brother, didn't Ming Yi say that you allocated 50,000 taels of silver to Mu Yuan Tang yesterday?"

  Yè Tiān Líng Dào: "Mm, aren't you trying to get him to administer medicine to cure the illness?"

  Your tranquil eyes slightly raised upwards, you turned your head and asked: "With such a large amount, aren't you heartbroken?"

  At night, Ling Xiang thought of the frequent disasters that had been happening recently, and slightly furrowed his brow, saying: "You have this heart, don't I? If a small amount of silver can buy peace in the capital, I would thank you."

  "You may thank Fourth Brother on behalf of the people of both lands first."

  Ye Tian Ling smiled faintly and the two of them walked in silence for a while, until his usual clear and cold voice sounded again beside her ear: "Haven't been sleeping well these past few days?"

  "Huh?"; You dusted off your head and saw the night sky's gaze fall on her face, with a hint of softness flashing at the bottom of her eyes that was hard to detect. She smiled: "What, do I look very bad? It's a bit of a mess, but I can still hold on. But this winter is really cold, I don't like cold days at all, it's so uncomfortable."

  "It's just the beginning of winter, and it won't be until the 3rd and 9th days that the water will freeze."

  You thought of the severe cold in deep winter and said reluctantly: "If there were only spring without winter, how good it would be."

  At night, Tian Ling saw her with a simple and yearning expression, and his heart had an indescribable emotion that slightly stirred. He lightly smiled and said: "Only after experiencing the bone-piercing cold of winter can one understand the warmth of spring."

  Every time you see him smile, your heart feels especially gentle, just like the arrival of spring after winter, making people feel nostalgic and joyful. Just as he was about to say something, the smile on his lips suddenly froze and disappeared without a trace. Following his gaze, by the Taiye Pool, Lian Fei stood quietly at the white jade railing, wearing a white fox fur cloak, her long hair soft and flowing, looking especially slender in the winter.

  Look at Yè Tiān Líng, who has stopped in his tracks, only a short distance ahead, yet the mother and son are as far apart as if they were separated by a vast chasm. She can't help but softly urge him: "Fourth Brother..." But unexpectedly, this startles Lián Fēi, who turns around from beside the Tai Ye Pond and sees Yè Tiān Líng. Her slender body visibly trembles, and the maid behind her hastily curtsies and says: "Greetings, Your Highness, Young Master."

  "Alright, I'll let it go," Ye Tianling replied faintly, with a slight bow. "Mother." His voice was tinged with an inexplicable sense of distance and estrangement, yet suppressed a complex emotion that made the listener's heart skip a beat.

  The maple tree that once blazed with fire had withered, its remaining leaves fluttering. Liang Fei's pale lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing, only raising her hand and silently passing by Ye Ling's side with her maid.

  You wanted to keep her, but couldn't speak up, and watched as Lotus Consort's figure disappeared into the distance.

  She turned around to look at Ye Tianling, seeing him standing in the same place, staring blankly at the Taiyi Pond, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed. Qing Chen called out: "Fourth Brother!" Ye Tianling suddenly came back to himself and looked towards her.

  "Ah"; "Oh no"; With one cry, she grabbed his hand and pulled him around: "I'm going to worry you to death, hurry up!"

  Ye Tianling was pulled back by her and walked a few steps before turning around to grab her, saying in a low voice: "Don't make trouble."

  Even if you are a person who is not anxious or flustered, you can't surpass him. Pulling him didn't work, so she stomped her foot and said: "Is it that hard to go to the Lotus Pool Palace? You're really something else, haven't you seen the way she looks at you, how much suffering and hardship is in her eyes?"

  Ye Tianling's eyes suddenly fluctuated, and he tightened his grip on Qingchen's hand. Qingchen winced in pain and furrowed her brow. Ye Tianling loosened his grip slightly but didn't let go of her.

  Your slender fingers grasped mine, and a dry, warm breath came from the palm of your hand. Suddenly, this rugged winter day seemed to soften a lot, and it quietly bloomed with warmth. I looked up and saw the clear ripples gradually rising in your eyes, which had blown away some of the previous oppression. Her shadow was reflected in the deep pool of water, and as the whirlpool at the bottom of the abyss stirred, a strange feeling rose, leaving her speechless, staring blankly at him.

  Ye Tian Ling grasped her hand tightly, then slowly let go. Qing Chen circled around to his back and pushed him: "Go! Is it more difficult than attacking a city or seizing land? You're usually so swift and decisive, how can you be dragging your feet now? Hurry up, if you don't go to Lianchi Palace, I won't let you go to Yanxi Palace to see the Empress Dowager!"

  Ye Tian Ling had always been decisive, and everyone in front of him could only nod silently and obey. When was he ever forced to do something and couldn't help but frown and turn back? Qing Chen smiled at him: "Shouldn't it be me who's frowning instead? It's really a case of the swift meeting the slow, I've always thought myself to be calm and composed, but now I'm the one who's conceding defeat." Seeing Ye Tian Ling walking forward on his own, he withdrew his hand and said: "That's right, what's there to fear?"

  Ye Tian Ling Dao: "It's not fear, just don't know what to say."

  "You're thinking too much! Even if you don't say anything, just sitting with her is fine."

  The night sky was silent, and Qingchen said again: "You've been resentful for over twenty years, isn't that enough? Can't you forgive her even now?"

  The night sky was quiet and sighed: "It's not that I resent her, but if we continue to drift apart, it might be for the better."

  You were taken aback for a moment, and then you understood his thoughts. The mother and son had chosen the same method, wanting to protect each other from getting involved in the inevitable struggle that would come one day. She said: "She is your mother, if something happens, she can't escape the consequences. In other words, are you willing for her to distance herself from you for your protection, or do you want her to treat you like a normal person? You should also know how she wants you to treat her."

  This answer made Ye Tianling understand even more the kindness of Lotus Concubine. As they arrived at the entrance of Lianchi Palace, Qingchen said: "I won't accompany you inside." After seeing Ye Tianling enter the gate of Lianchi Palace, he finally felt relieved and left.

  At night, Ling Li stood in the courtyard, gazing at the serene and simple Lotus Pool Palace. The garden originally had a pool of lush and precious lotus flowers, but now they were all withered and defeated, leaving only dry branches stretching far into the smoky blue sky.

  The surroundings were quiet and desolate, as if there was no vitality at all.

  For many years, I have never set foot in the Lotus Pool Palace, yet everything here is strangely familiar. I often inadvertently pay attention to others' comments about the Lotus Pool Palace, and over these twenty-odd years, the image of this palace has long been settled in my heart.

  He slowly walked inside, Lian Fei didn't like crowds, and this place was indeed too quiet. After a while, he met a palace maid who served Lian Fei. The maid saw Ye Tian Ling and was shocked, even forgetting to bow: "Fourth... Fourth Prince..."

  No one thought he would come here, and even Ye Tianling himself didn't think so. He looked at the palace maid quietly for a while, and asked faintly: "Where is Her Majesty?"

  The palace maid came back to her senses, feeling flustered and embarrassed under Ye Tianling's gaze. She hastily bowed her head and said: "Your Majesty is in the bedroom, I'll go inform her immediately."

  "It doesn't matter." "The night sky stopped her," "You go down."

  "It is...". The palace maid retreated cautiously, and Ye Tianling stood still for a moment before heading towards the Lian Fei's bedroom. Just like the previous palace maid, Ying'er, who had been by Lian Fei's side at Taiye Pool, was surprised to see Ye Tianling, but she reacted much faster and immediately curtsied: "Greetings, Fourth Prince..."

  Ye Tianling gently raised her hand to interrupt her, looking at the faint figure in the bedroom, and the sound of the guqin was quietly transmitted. Unlike He Qingshen's clear and elegant guqin sound, this string sound was low and weeping, with a hint of unspoken sorrow. The person playing the guqin seemed to have endless melancholy, all poured out faintly on the seven-stringed zither.

  "Can the queen mother be inside?" He listened intently for a moment and asked.

  "Her Highness is playing the zither, Your Highness may enter." She had followed Lotus Consort for many years and deeply understood her thoughts. Hurriedly, she lifted the quiet, hanging beaded curtain to let Ye Tianling in, while she herself tactfully stayed behind.

  In the depths of the bedroom, the golden beast eight-angle warmer was unable to dispel the chill of winter, and even more unable to conceal the loneliness in the tangled strings.

  Lotus Concubine slowed down her needlework upon hearing the footsteps behind her, and said in a soft voice: "Ying'er, didn't I tell you not to disturb me? Let me be quiet for a while?"

  Behind her, there was no one responding. In the quietness, Lotus Consort heard a clear and cold voice slowly saying: "Your son greets you, Mother Consort."

  The strings suddenly became dissonant, and a note rose high that was utterly discordant with the peaceful atmosphere. The Lotus Consort turned around in shock, seeing Ye Tian standing not far behind her, within arm's reach.

  The faint scent of sandalwood wafted gently, as if cut off and then continued again, lingering around the mother and child, as if a layer of fog had obscured everything.

  Lotus Concubine trembled as she stretched out her hand, a surge of blood and energy rising in her chest, and suddenly covered her mouth with silk to stifle a cough.

  Yè Tiān Líng furrowed his brow, seeing Lián Fēi coughing laboriously. He wanted to go forward and support her, but it was as if something was holding him back, unable to stretch out his hand. He only said: "On a cold winter day, is the Empress Dowager's asthma acting up again?" Lián Fēi's body was delicate and weak, often falling ill in autumn and winter, which Yè Tiān Líng had known for a long time.

  Lotus Consort slightly calmed down, turned her body and looked out the window: "You don't focus on your official duties, what are you doing here?"

  Ye Tian Ling faintly said: "Morning affairs are not complicated for me."

  Lotus Consort said: "You've just returned to Tiandu and already taken on the task of governing Beijiang, with so many matters waiting to be attended to, how can it not be complicated?"

  Ye Tian's lips suddenly and lightly curled up at the corners, and the coldness on his face dissipated a little: "The Empress Dowager never leaves the palace, yet she knows that I have to deal with these things."

  Lotus Concubine hesitated for a moment, how could she not know? As a mother, when was her son's every move not on her mind? Sometimes, it was just Ying'er who heard some gossip from other palace maids and told her about it, which was enough to comfort her. He had finally grown up as she had hoped, excellent and outstanding, what more could she wish for? She hardened her heart and said: "I'm tired, you can go back now."

  Ye Tian's expression turned solemn as he stepped forward and stood before Lotus Empress, his voice low: "Mother, how much longer do you plan to deceive me?"

  Lotus Consort exclaimed: "You... what did you say? What do you know?"

  Ye Tian Ling slowly said: "I am no longer the ignorant child I was back then, Mother Empress, why must you still work so hard to deceive me? What should be known is already known, Father Emperor, Heavenly Emperor, I understand everything."

  Lotus Concubine stared at Ye Tianling's cold and clear eyes, the unwavering determination, calmness and deeply hidden madness inside were like a lake that had been still for thousands of years suddenly bursting forth, overwhelming everything. She grabbed Ye Tianling: "Don't you dare speak nonsense!"

  Ye Tianling grasped her hand: "I'm not talking nonsense!" For the first time in so many years, the mother and son faced each other directly, and Lotus Concubine's hand trembled slightly in Ye Tianling's grasp.

  Ye Tian Ling looked at Lotus Empress's face, which had been shrouded in sorrow for days. For years, the countless grievances, hatred, pain and injuries were not as strong as blood being thicker than water. In front of his mother, he knelt down solemnly: "Your son is unfilial, causing Mother Empress to suffer."

  A line of clear tears burst forth from her eyes as Lotus Consort trembled with a quivering voice: "My...my child..."

  Ye Tian Ling supported Lotus Empress: "From today on, I will no longer cause Your Majesty any heartache."

  Her gaze was distant, looking over the shoulder of Ye Tianling at the deep and serene Lotus Pool Palace. It seemed as if she were speaking to Ye Tianling, yet also to herself: "Many years have passed since the former emperor attacked my tribe, the Rouran. We couldn't withstand it and suffered a great defeat at Riyue City. After surrendering, my father, Khan, presented me to the Heavenly Dynasty. The Rouran was destroyed, and I spent seven years by the former emperor's side. My people said that he had launched the war because of my beauty, and they cursed me as a calamitous beauty who brought misfortune. Until the former emperor passed away, I thought I could retreat to Qianmiao Temple to live out my days in quiet contemplation. But on the first day of Emperor Tian's reign, he summoned me into the palace to serve him. It was then that I discovered I was pregnant with you. The emperor built Lotus Pool Palace and conferred upon me the title of imperial consort, but I suffered the scorn of all people - losing my tribe, losing my virtue, and even unable to properly raise my own son. If not for my concern for you, I would have long since abandoned this world." Her voice was distant, as if it came from the heavens, faintly carried on the wind, dispersing in all directions, with only scattered, lingering sounds remaining.

  During the reign of Emperor Wu, there was a large-scale campaign against the Northern Rouran tribe. The Rouran tribe was defeated and surrendered at Yiguo City, after which it never recovered and was eventually destroyed by the Turks.

  Lotus Consort was originally the daughter of Yujiulü Khagan, the Khan of Rouran. From a young age, she was renowned for her beauty in the northern steppes, and even in the Central Plains, there were rumors about her extraordinary appearance. After that battle, Lotus Consort was brought back to Tian Dou, and Emperor Wu treated her with extreme favor, leading to popular rumors that Emperor Wu had attacked Rouran just for her sake.

  A thousand troops move for the sake of a beauty, bearing the infamy of destroying their own clan. Also because they served two emperors, they were ostracized by court officials and palace ladies. What's the use even if they conquered the country?

  Ye Tian's eyes flashed with a cold, harsh light as he said, "Don't worry, Mother Empress. Since they want to spout nonsense, I'll take this world and present it to you myself. What destruction of the clan, what loss of virtue? I'll make sure no one dares to speak ill of you again."

  Lotus Concubine trembled and hastily shook her head: "Don't say anything, don't do anything, Ling'er, you don't know..."

  "Mother, my mind is made up," Ye Tianling said resolutely. Lotus Concubine looked at Ye Tianling's tall and straight figure, she had to raise her head to look at him, the sharpness in his eyes made her suddenly unable to say another word.

  Before my eyes, he is no longer the infant waiting to be fed in his swaddling clothes, but a general galloping across the borders, sweeping away all obstacles; a prince who brings peace and stability to the imperial court, a hero who dominates the world, and no one can stop him.

  Lotus Concubine gazed quietly at Ye Tianling for a moment, then suddenly revealed a faint smile at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes slowly wandered away again, as if she had left this world, yet still carried countless sneers. Ye Tianling's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he looked at Lotus Concubine's expression, and a hint of worry floated up in his heart. He said: "I may not be able to come visit Mother Concubine often, but I will make sure that Dust has time to come keep you company and chat with you. This palace is too quiet."

  "Who is it?" Lotus Concubine asked softly, "Is that the girl from the Feng family?"

  Ye Tian nodded. Lotus Consort said: "How can you be so close to her?"

  "It's fate."

  Lotus Concubine smiled lightly and said: "What a lovely woman, it's a pity she's from the Feng family."

  Yè Tiān Líng also smiled slightly: "She's just a humble dust after all."