Chapter 84: Sand Part 3

She personally delivered the Coronation Robes to Thousand Autumns Hall. Seeing the doors tightly shut, her expression remained calm as she said softly, “Has Wei Lingci entered the palace?”

Zi Jin bowed her head and replied lowly, “Yes, she arrived not long ago. This servant will go in and announce you.”

Without waiting for the Wise Noble Consort’s response, Zi Jin turned and pushed open the doors. Wei Lingci immediately woke Xun Changqing, straightened her disheveled clothes, and stood by the couch watching her. She instructed Zi Jin to wait outside—the Wise Noble Consort wouldn’t barge into the inner chamber.

Xun Changqing felt like she had only just closed her eyes when she was woken. She squinted open a slit, rolled over, and muttered, “Go see for me. I don’t want to get up.”

“Don’t be petulant. The Consort is waiting outside. Don’t anger her.” Wei Lingci chuckled. Seeing she really wouldn’t rise, she sat sideways on the couch, pulled her up, and patted her head. “She’s waiting. She’s your mother now, so you should change how you address her. Why still call her Consort?”

“I’ll change it tomorrow, alright?” Xun Changqing leaned against her naturally, then suddenly remembered something. She tilted her head to look at the snowy skin on Wei Lingci’s chest, frowning in thought before innocently asking, “I think I bit you. Does it still hurt?”

As she spoke, a small hand reached toward Wei Lingci’s collarbone but was intercepted midway. Wei Lingci felt she had become a bit more innocent and laughed. “Stop fooling around. Go out and see first. We’ll talk about us later.”

“Then you can’t run tonight.” Satisfied with the promise, Xun Changqing obediently got off the couch, draped an outer robe over herself, and walked out ahead of Wei Lingci.

The hall was very quiet. The first thing she saw was the Female Emperor’s red Coronation Robes. Xun Changqing felt a sudden trepidation in her heart. “Why red?”

“If you don’t like it, change it later. This was set by the Condensing Origin Empress back then. She disliked yellow and chose red instead.” The Wise Noble Consort led her around it once, pointing to the exquisite embroidered mountains and rivers on the hem. “Though there are no dragons, it’s even more magnificent and splendid.”

Xun Changqing froze abruptly. She felt the Coronation Robes resembled wedding attire more, but the craftsmanship was meticulous, completed by numerous palace embroiderers. It was dazzling—even a single garment required such effort, a testament to the emperor’s vast resources and power.

She nodded. “Red it is then. Changqing has no objections. But it’s so late—thank you for making the trip personally.”

The Wise Noble Consort was just passing by; Thousand Autumns Hall lay on the path from Splendid Clarity Palace to Radiant Benevolence Palace. Worried the palace servants might not serve her well, she had come herself. Now seeing Xun Changqing had no issues, she mentioned other matters. “By rights, you should move to Splendid Clarity Palace in a few days. What do you think—willing to go? If not, I won’t touch the furnishings there.”

Splendid Clarity Palace was the sleeping palace of past rulers, but there was no rule mandating the new emperor move in. The Wise Noble Consort considered it reasonable; as a woman, the male-oriented furnishings might make a young girl uncomfortable.

“Then I won’t. Staying in Thousand Autumns Hall is fine. But Changle Palace needs major renovations. As lord of the Rear Palace, I’ll trouble you with that.” Xun Changqing’s gaze shifted from the Coronation Robes to Wei Lingci’s face, where she gave a gentle smile.

Wei Lingci lowered her head and said nothing. At this moment, she was merely a subject and had no right to interject between the Consort and the emperor.

Changle Palace was the Empress’s residence, separated from Splendid Clarity Palace by just a wall and a few from Thousand Autumns Hall. Near Thousand Autumns Hall, only Changle Palace might catch the new emperor’s eye.

The Wise Noble Consort nodded in agreement, instructed the servants a few words, and then led her people back to Radiant Benevolence Palace. Now as Empress Dowager, she should move to Ning’an Palace.

Xun Changqing watched the Wise Noble Consort’s figure disappear outside the hall, then dismissed the remaining servants. She joyfully ran to Wei Lingci, stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around her neck, pressed her whole body against her, and said delightedly, “Do you like Changle Palace? I know Shao Yun lived there before—you must dislike it. I’ll have it completely remade, guaranteed different from before. Or you decide how to change it—there’s still three years, plenty of time. Alright?”

Her voice was both joyful and anxious, fearing Wei Lingci’s refusal. The earlier bedside matters felt like a dream, leaving her insecure.

Wei Lingci smiled, thinking Changqing was cutest when childish. She touched her forehead to the other’s and laughed. “Have you thought it through? Can I alone stand against the myriad handsome youths outside?”