webnovelvip Chapter 3 Does my beloved concubine think I am a foolish ruler?
Chapter 3 Does my beloved concubine think I am a foolish ruler?
As night fell, the imperial city of Qin was shrouded in a hazy moonlight.
Fengyi Palace, the sleeping quarters of Consort Shu.
The hall was brightly lit, with twelve gilded palace lanterns hanging from the beams, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.
The walls were adorned with Suzhou embroidery landscape screens, and the floor was covered with Persian wool carpets, which were soft and silent to the touch.
On the east side, various jewels and ornaments gleam under the lamp on the rosewood carved dressing table, but the most eye-catching thing is the large dragon-patterned bed in the center.
Consort Shu sat in front of her dressing table, being helped to remove her makeup by two palace maids.
A face of unparalleled beauty was reflected in the bronze mirror.
Her real name was Su Wanqing. She came from a scholarly family in Jiangnan. Her father was Su Wenyuan, the Minister of Rites during the Qing Dynasty.
She entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection three years ago. Because of her good looks and talent, as well as her knowledge of music, poetry and painting, she was quickly promoted from a talented woman to a virtuous consort, becoming one of the four consorts.
At this moment, she had removed her elaborate palace makeup from the daytime and was only wearing a light pink silk nightgown, her long, black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.
The nightgown is made of light and soft material, which hugs the body and outlines a shapely figure, a slender waist, a full chest, and a long neck. Every curve is just right.
"Your Majesty, will His Majesty really come tonight?" Chun'er, the personal maid, asked cautiously as she combed her long hair.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Su Wanqing smiled faintly: "His Majesty said he would come tonight, and of course he will."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a palace maid's clear voice announced from outside the hall:
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Su Wanqing quickly got up to greet her.
She walked quickly to the entrance of the hall, and as soon as she stood still, Qin Mu's figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you." Su Wanqing bowed gracefully, her voice gentle and sweet.
Qin Mu walked up to her and reached out to help her up: "My dear consort, there's no need for such formalities."
Su Wanqing looked up and met Qin Mu's smiling eyes, which made her heart skip a beat.
Before she could speak, Qin Mu swept his arm around her and scooped her up in his arms.
"Your Majesty!" Su Wanqing exclaimed, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
Qin Mu laughed heartily, carried her into the hall, and the two palace maids tactfully bowed their heads and withdrew, gently closing the hall door behind them.
He placed Su Wanqing on the bed and sat down beside her.
Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed slightly. She straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and nestled into Qin Mu's arms like a docile cat.
Qin Mu had one arm around her shoulder and the other hand playing with a strand of her long hair, his posture languid and casual.
He suddenly spoke, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet, warm chamber: "My beloved concubine."
"Hmm?" Su Wanqing responded softly, raised her head, and looked at Qin Mu with her watery eyes.
The candlelight danced in her eyes, reflecting twinkling starlight.
Qin Mu looked at her, a casual smile on his lips: "I have a question for you."
"Your Majesty, please speak." Su Wanqing immediately straightened her expression, and although she was still nestled in his arms, her expression became serious.
"Do you think…" Qin Mu paused, picking up a strand of her hair and playing with it, "Am I a tyrannical ruler?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the warm pavilion seemed to freeze for a moment.
Su Wanqing's expression changed visibly.
She was stunned at first, then her eyes flashed with astonishment and panic, and finally turned into fear.
Almost instinctively, she tried to break free from Qin Mu's embrace and kneel down, but Qin Mu held her down.
"That's my answer." Qin Mu's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.
Su Wanqing took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She raised her eyes, looked directly at Qin Mu, and although her voice was still trembling slightly, it was unusually firm: "Your Majesty is certainly not a tyrant."
"Oh?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know that? I have been on the throne for three years, yet I have rarely attended court, and I have approved even fewer memorials. I spend my days playing with my concubines, which has drawn criticism from both the court and the public. Surely my beloved consort is aware of this?"
Su Wanqing bit her lip and said softly, "Your Majesty... I have heard a little about it."
"Then you're saying I'm not a tyrannical ruler?"
"Because what I see is different from what they see."
Su Wanqing's voice gradually calmed down, "What I have seen is that although Your Majesty rarely attends court, the administration of the Six Ministries has never been in disarray."
Although he rarely reviews memorials, he is fully aware of all matters of state, large and small. Furthermore, the current administration is efficient and transparent, and the cabinet's personnel appointments and handling of affairs are far more fair than in previous dynasties—all thanks to Your Majesty.
She paused, cautiously observing Qin Mu's expression: "Besides... although His Majesty's establishment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has caused officials to live in fear, corrupt officials have almost disappeared. If this is all the work of a foolish ruler, then is there any wise ruler left in the world?"
Qin Mu listened, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He never expected that this seemingly sycophantic concubine would have such insight.
"It seems my beloved consort is not only beautiful," Qin Mu chuckled, stroking her cheek with his fingers, "but also insightful."
Su Wanqing's cheeks flushed even more, and she said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I dare not presume to discuss state affairs, but... I am merely expressing what is in my heart."
Qin Mu looked down at her, his smile deepening: "If someone wanted to rebel, do you think they would succeed?"
This time, Su Wanqing's expression changed completely.
She broke free from Qin Mu's embrace, rolled off the bed, and knelt at Qin Mu's feet, her forehead almost touching the ground:
"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, and the people are devoted to you! It is a blessing for all the people of Qin to have such a wise ruler as Your Majesty! Anyone who dares to harbor rebellious thoughts will surely be punished by Heaven and will surely fail!"
Her voice trembled, and her slender shoulders shook slightly; she was clearly terrified.
Qin Mu watched her kneeling figure quietly. The thin fabric of her nightgown outlined the graceful curve of her back, which was faintly visible under the light.
After a moment, he chuckled softly and reached out to pull her back into his arms.
"I was merely asking casually, why is my beloved consort so tense?"
Su Wanqing nestled in his arms, her face still a little pale: "Your Majesty... such jokes are not allowed, they frighten me."
"Alright, alright, it was my fault." Qin Mu patted her back, as if comforting a frightened little animal.
He paused, then changed the subject: "Speaking of which, today Xu Longxiang, the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, came to the palace and presented a woman."
Su Wanqing stiffened slightly, then relaxed: "I've heard that they found a stunning beauty in the Northern Border."
"Yes, I hereby bestow upon her the title of Xue Cairen and place her in Yuxiu Palace."
Qin Mu casually stroked her shoulder. "Tomorrow, take her around the palace and teach her the rules. After all, she's a newcomer and doesn't know anything."
Su Wanqing paused for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it and nodded obediently:
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will certainly teach Consort Xue well so that she can quickly become familiar with the palace rules."
"My beloved consort is the most sensible." Qin Mu nodded with satisfaction, picking up a strand of her long hair with his fingers and twirling it around his fingertips.
His gaze fell on her face, her exquisite features almost unreal under the light.
Su Wanqing blushed under his gaze, lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes.
"Alright," Qin Mu suddenly picked her up and walked towards the bath on the west side of the hall. "Now it's our time. Come, come with me to take a bath."
"Your Majesty..." Su Wanqing shyly buried her face in his chest.
The flickering candlelight inside the hall cast the shadows of the two people onto the screen, creating a beautiful and enchanting scene.
......
Under the same moonlight, the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion in the northern border presented a somber and desolate scene.
The Prince's Mansion covers an area of 100 acres, with magnificent buildings and flying eaves and brackets that exude the grandeur of royalty.
But at this moment, inside the Zhenyue Hall, the deepest part of the Prince's Mansion, the atmosphere was so heavy that it was almost suffocating.