He Xiaoyan’s voice trembled a little. “Does Your Majesty truly wish to give this ring to this servant?”
Qi Yue was generous with her gifts; so long as she was happy, she was willing to give anything away.
Over the years, she had seen three kinds of people. The first would fearfully kneel on the ground and not dare accept such precious things. The second would be hopelessly greedy for wealth and receive them in wild delight. The third would remain calm and composed, already used to Qi Yue’s rewards.
Only close attendants like Aunt Jing and Aunt Yun would show the third kind of reaction.
Qi Yue thought the little maid before her was frightened and dared not accept. He Xiaoyan knelt down. “This servant will keep safe whatever Your Majesty bestows.”
Qi Yue curved her lips. “This Empress knows. Rise. Aunt Yun, give her a change of clothes and let her serve indoors. The rest can work in the courtyard.”
Aunt Yun said, “This servant understands.”
Although Zhengyang Palace was practically no different from a cold palace, not just any palace maid could remain there safely.
Before they were truly put to work, Aunt Yun would train them thoroughly.
The other three maids were all envious of He Xiaoyan, but before they could say anything resentful, Aunt Yun swept them with a stern glance. “In Zhengyang Palace, if you want to live, it is best to be proper and do your own work well. The thing Her Majesty hates most is people who are useless yet jealous of those stronger than themselves.”
Having been seen through by Aunt Yun, the other three maids no longer dared say anything.
Once one came to Zhengyang Palace, the last person one could offend was the great maid by the Empress’s side. On this point, the other three little maids still had some sense.
After Aunt Yun arranged quarters for them, when no one was around, He Xiaoyan took out an exquisite sachet from her sleeve. “Auntie, I made this myself. Inside are jasmine buds; placing it by the pillow at night helps one sleep.”
Aunt Yun did not take it at once. She looked at He Xiaoyan indifferently. “You should have heard about Her Majesty’s temperament. The rumors outside are half true and half false. You are a clever girl, so you should know what ought to be believed and what ought not.”
He Xiaoyan nodded and put on a flattering smile. “In the future, I hope Auntie will guide me often. The sachet contains only jasmine buds. They bloomed newly this year; this servant dried them in the sun and put them inside. If Auntie does not dislike it, please accept it.”
Only then did Aunt Yun finally take it.
After being trained by Aunt Yun for half a month, He Xiaoyan was finally allowed to serve close to Qi Yue.
Qi Yue usually woke late, often sleeping until nearly midday. He Xiaoyan followed the palace maid into Qi Yue’s sleeping chamber and softly called for Qi Yue to rise.
Qi Yue rolled over and stretched. Her slim waist, too delicate to grasp, tensed slightly. Then she lazily said, “Help this Empress up.”
Because she had just woken, Qi Yue’s voice carried a slight nasal tone and sounded especially sweet and childlike. He Xiaoyan helped her sit up. Then Qi Yue opened her eyes. “Who are you? Where is Aunt Yun?”
He Xiaoyan suppressed her disappointment and smiled. “This servant is He Xiaoyan, a newly arrived palace maid, specially assigned to serve Your Majesty.”
“He Xiaoyan…” Qi Yue thought for a moment. “You are the one who told the story about the snow child?”
“Your Majesty still remembers. This servant is both excited and frightened.” He Xiaoyan brought tea for Qi Yue to rinse her mouth and prepared a warm towel to wipe her face.
Qi Yue simply spread her arms and let He Xiaoyan serve her while changing clothes. When they reached the dressing mirror, Qi Yue said, “Which character is the ‘Yan’ in your name?”
“The ‘Yan’ of a great wild goose.”
“This Empress dislikes it. I shall bestow you another name. In front of this Empress, you shall be called Xunxue.”
He Xiaoyan also felt her own name was rather plain. Now that she had a new name bestowed by the Empress, although she did not know how to write it, it already sounded pleasing to the ear.
Xunxue said, “This servant likes it very much. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Qi Yue smiled faintly. The corners of her eyes lifted, and her lips were soft as petals. Xunxue merely looked at her and grew a little dazed.
Qi Yue tapped Xunxue’s forehead with a finger. “Stunned already? Comb this Empress’s hair.”
Xunxue gave an “oh” and quickly picked up the ivory comb. She had almost never combed anyone’s hair before, but Aunt Yun had taught her how to style the Empress’s hair.
Qi Yue’s hair quality was excellent. From root to tip it was all ink-black, and when held in the hand, it was faintly cool. Xunxue carefully combed through Qi Yue’s long hair, then gathered it up into a ling-snake bun.
One jeweled ornament after another lay in the treasure box, dazzling Xunxue’s eyes. She smiled. “Your Majesty, which ornament would you like?”
Qi Yue casually pointed at a jade hairpin. “This one will do.”
Xunxue inserted the jade hairpin, its head carved into the shape of peach blossoms, into Qi Yue’s hair. In the mirror, Qi Yue wore no powder or rouge, yet still made it impossible for one to look away.
Xunxue smiled. “Your Majesty is exceedingly beautiful.”
Qi Yue took Xunxue’s hand and rose. After using breakfast, she had nothing else to do, so she reclined sideways on the couch with a hand warmer in her arms. “Tell this Empress a story.”
Xunxue had no choice but to stand to the side and, with a smile, tell her a story.
Halfway through, Qi Yue propped her chin on her hand and closed her eyes, and actually fell asleep.
Xunxue could not help her curiosity and leaned closer to look. Qi Yue’s eyelashes were very long, long and curled, and from brows to eyes to nose to lips, every feature was exquisite—so exquisite it did not seem real, as though it had been carved from snow by a pair of clever hands.
The Empress was truly too beautiful. Xunxue’s heart trembled. She raised a hand, wanting to brush Qi Yue’s long eyelashes aside.
Before she could do so, the hem of her trailing skirt was stepped on. Someone covered Xunxue’s mouth and pulled her backward.
The entire process produced not the slightest sound.
Xunxue’s face went deathly pale. Aunt Yun released her, her expression ugly to the extreme. Aunt Yun moved her lips without making a sound, yet Xunxue could still read them clearly: “Come out!”
Xunxue lowered her head and followed Aunt Yun outside.
Once they were outside, Aunt Yun said, “He Xiaoyan, you are truly very bold! That is the Empress. Is the Empress’s phoenix body something you may touch so casually?”
“I…” After stammering for a long while, Xunxue said, “Aunt Yun, the Empress gave me a new name. From now on, please call me Xunxue.”
Aunt Yun gave Xunxue a fierce glare, then went inside.
The room was comfortably warm. Even while Qi Yue slept, she had nothing covering her.
Aunt Yun placed a blanket over Qi Yue.
At night, when no one was around, Xunxue climbed over the wall alone and secretly slipped out. Her figure moved swiftly, and soon she had reached Hanyuan Hall.
A tall, upright figure stood by the window. Merely looking at his back gave one an impression of solemn dignity and authority.
Xunxue knelt on one knee. “Your Majesty.”
No heated floor had been lit in the hall. The cold was so severe water would have frozen into ice. Li Yi wore only a thin robe, yet seemed oblivious to the chill. He said, “How is the Empress?”
Xunxue was Li Yi’s eye in Zhengyang Palace. The Empress was the mother of the nation; her position was highly significant, and Li Yi did not want a daughter of the Qi family sitting in that seat. Yet he had once promised Empress Dowager Qi and sworn that he would never depose the Empress.
Not depose the Empress did not mean he would not kill her.
Xunxue lowered her eyes. “This servant has only just arrived at Zhengyang Palace and did not have much chance to come into contact with Her Majesty. On first meeting, I only felt that the Empress had a somewhat solitary and cold temperament, but she is a very kind-hearted person.”
Kind-hearted?
Li Yi did not think so. He did not believe that Qi Yue, brought up by Empress Dowager Qi herself, could be truly kind-hearted.