Chapter 40: Will You Kiss Me? Part 1

For a moment, Yan Zhi’an was speechless. Was that what she meant?

The child had grown up. She said one thing, and the child could rebut her with countless arguments. She began to miss the little thing who had just come back, when she said one and it was one, and the little thing didn’t dare rebut a single word.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Xunqi studied her mother’s expression. “Was I wrong? If Emperor Hui had no ambition, how could he have usurped the throne? Did Emperor Ming have the talent to be emperor?”

Yan Zhi’an explained, “When I first entered the court, Emperor Ming was still alive. I met him a few times. As for whether he had the talent to be emperor, I can’t say. But during his reign, he issued several edicts. Judging from those edicts, he was not a foolish ruler. As for Emperor Ming, I was already by Her Majesty’s side at that time. He was in no way inferior to Emperor Hui.”

Xunqi asked, “You mean, both of them had the talent to be emperor and could have held the throne steadily, but they both lost their lives because of a woman, right?”

Yan Zhi’an was silent, giving her a sharp look. Xunqi pouted. “That’s what you mean.”

“I’m telling you not to focus on love, and you’re telling me the fault wasn’t Her Majesty’s. Is that the same thing?” Yan Zhi’an was helpless. The imperial family was prone to sentimentality. Emperors Ming and Hui were the cautionary tales. She just hoped Xunqi wouldn’t follow their path.

Xunqi puffed out her chest, but her voice gradually lowered. She still said to her mother, “I’m not going to be emperor. Isn’t it wrong of you to use that example with me?”

“Go to bed.” Yan Zhi’an was speechless. Explaining these principles to her was like playing the zither for a cow.

Yan Zhi’an poked the little cow’s head. “I don’t object to who you like. You can like three, or even five. But don’t lose your reason for one person. Understand?”

“Understood.” Xunqi found it strange. Didn’t everyone say that being devoted to one person was best? Why did she expect her to like three or five?

Wasn’t that being a heartless woman?

Why was she advocating for that?

Xunqi turned to look at her mother’s back, finding it hard to accept her mother’s words for a moment.

When she was lying on the inner side of the bed, she couldn’t help but ask again. “Mother, why do you think one can’t be devoted to one person?”

“You’re not an ordinary woman of the inner courtyard. Why do you need to be devoted to one person?” Yan Zhi’an’s tone was indifferent. “Do you think being devoted to one person is a blessing? If it’s mutual love, and every day and night is with that person, then fine. But what if it’s unrequited love? If this flower doesn’t bloom for you, go find the flower that blooms for you.”

“No.” Xunqi still wanted to argue. She turned over, squeezed closer to the other, and stared at her profile. The skin there was like congealed fat, like white jade, making her heart tremble.

Seeming to realize this was wrong, Xunqi quickly averted her gaze, her heart pounding like thunder. She didn’t understand and covered her heart.

While she was hesitating, Yan Zhi’an also looked at her. She turned on her side, her hand pillowing her arm, her posture casual. Xunqi looked over, her gaze sweeping across her chest. Her clothes were slightly open, revealing a patch of snow-white skin. She was so startled she didn’t know how to move.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t know her thoughts. She said seriously, “I’m not telling you to be a flirt. I’m telling you to protect yourself. Being devoted to one person is naturally a good thing. But if you truly can’t have it, then for yourself, it’s a bad thing.”

She lowered her head. Xunqi lowered her head too. She reached out and patted her. “What are you thinking about?”

“Going to sleep.” Xunqi slowly burrowed into the quilt. Once inside, her cheeks flushed hot, and her breathing became heavy.

She was already avoiding it. Yan Zhi’an, unaware, patted her head again. “Go to sleep.”

That pat made Xunqi’s heart pound like a drum. Unwilling to give up, she poked her head out and took a glance. The other had indeed closed her eyes. From her angle, she could just see the Left Prime Minister’s profile, as always, as cold as ever.

Her heart slowly settled. She stared straight at her until her eyes grew sore.

She was also very panicked, not knowing when the Left Prime Minister would drive her away. Then she would become a little beggar again.

The brocade curtain hung low, sealing the two in a small world, isolating them from the outside world, from others, as if only the two of them remained in heaven and earth.

Xunqi was stirred. She couldn’t help but lean over, quietly extending her hand into the other’s quilt. After much deliberation, she held that slender hand.

The moment she held it, she felt its softness and a different kind of warmth. At this moment, she was very satisfied.

She wanted to hold it for a long, long time, until her hair turned white.

Xunqi really did hold it for a long time, until she fell asleep without letting go.

Yan Zhi’an woke up in the middle of the night. Her hand was being held. She moved slightly, and a soft moan came from inside the bed curtain. She stopped moving and let Xunqi hold her hand.

It was cold before the frost and cold after the snow. These few days of melting snow were especially cold. Xunqi got up early to ride her horse. Yan Zhi’an was worried and instructed, “You can take a carriage.”

“They all ride horses. If I take a carriage, they’ll secretly laugh at me for being delicate.” Xunqi stuffed a piece of flatbread into her mouth and chewed. “My body is in great shape. I’ve been wearing thick clothes these past two years. When I was with the Madwoman, I ran all over the mountains in unlined clothing and wasn’t cold.”

After taking a bite, she got up and left.

Looking at the snowy scene outside, Yan Zhi’an felt a biting cold wind. She felt lazy all over. Holding her hand warmer, she had the idea of asking for leave today.

She dawdled for a moment, then summoned Wuqing. “Why don’t you go to the Ministry of Personnel and ask for leave for me?”

Wuqing looked at her master in shock. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s too cold. I don’t want to move. Anyway, I have no important matters at hand.” Yan Zhi’an closed her eyes leisurely. “On days like this, one should brew tea and enjoy the snow in a warm pavilion. Why bother going out?”

Wuqing’s mouth twitched. “The Young Mistress still has to go on patrol today. She doesn’t even feel cold.”

The Young Mistress is running around outside in the freezing cold, and you’re inside. How is it cold for you?

Sure enough, when it snows, the master’s innate laziness comes out to cause trouble.

“Then I’ll go.” Wuqing said with difficulty, having to ask one more time. “Are you sure there’s nothing important?”

“No.” Yan Zhi’an insisted. The most important thing in her hands was ‘Princess Zhaohui’ in Jiangnan. She had sent people to protect her. Everything else wasn’t important. Her Majesty would handle it herself.

She waved her hand at Wuqing. “Go, go. I’m going back to sleep. If any guests come, say I’m sick.”

Wuqing wore an expression of utter despair. She bowed and retreated, then turned and strode away.

Yan Zhi’an covered her mouth and yawned. Last night, Xunqi had kept her awake after midnight. Tonight, she’d kick her back to her own room. When had she developed the habit of holding someone’s hand while sleeping?

She went back to bed for a nap.

At noon, the Imperial Physician-in-Chief of the Imperial Medical Academy arrived, sent by imperial decree to take the Left Prime Minister’s pulse.

Yan Zhi’an woke up. Upon hearing this, she waved her hand again. “Tell her to go back. Say I’m much better. I have a physician in my residence.”

Wuqing went to see the guest off again. After seeing off the Imperial Physician-in-Chief, the Princess Consort of Ji arrived. This one was a rare guest. Yan Zhi’an lay on the couch and thought. Wuqing reminded her, “Prince Ji still has an unmarried son.”

“Oh, my head hurts. It really hurts. Go tell her I have a headache and can’t get up.” Yan Zhi’an started to act, holding her forehead, deliberately shouting that her head hurt. After shouting, she lay down. “Go, go. If you’re too late, the Young Mistress will be back.”

Xunqi’s temper was such that she would dare to throw the Princess Consort of Ji out. When a family has a daughter, a hundred families come to court her. Have they thought about the parents’ feelings?

After the New Year, Xunqi would be sixteen. There would definitely be more marriage proposals.

Wuqing went to see the guest off. Just as she stepped out, the worst thing happened: she saw the Young Mistress galloping back.

The Princess Consort of Ji had been about to leave. Seeing a group of riders galloping back from afar, they approached in the space of two breaths. She stopped. The rider dismounted, tossed the horsewhip to an attendant, and strode over.

Xunqi didn’t know the Princess Consort of Ji, and the Princess Consort of Ji was also seeing Xunqi for the first time. The two sized each other up. Wuqing then explained, “Princess Consort, this is our Young Mistress.”

“Xunqi greets the Princess Consort.” Xunqi bowed first. Seeing the situation, she understood and said, “Wuqing, see the Princess Consort out.”

With that, she strode inside.

The Princess Consort of Ji still looked after her, her gaze burning. The girl was not only beautiful, but also had an extraordinary bearing. More importantly, she was the Deputy Commander of the Patrol Battalion. Smart people knew that Yan Zhi’an had sent her there with the Patrol Battalion in mind. How long Zhao Fu could stay depended on Yan Zhi’an’s ability.

If she married her into the family, her family would have five thousand soldiers in the capital. The Princess Consort of Ji was very tempted. She said cheerfully to Wuqing, “No need to see me off. It’s freezing cold. I’ll be going.”

Wuqing didn’t dare be negligent. She personally helped the Princess Consort onto her horse and watched the carriage and horses go far into the distance. She immediately went back to report to the Head of the Family. “The Young Mistress is back. She happened to run into the Princess Consort at the gate. The Princess Consort’s eyes were glued to her.”

“If they’re glued, poke them out. It’s wishful thinking to have designs on Xunqi. Let Xunqi find an opportunity to beat up her son. Then the whole family will behave.” Yan Zhi’an felt inexplicably disgusted. “What she wants to marry isn’t Xunqi, but the Patrol Battalion and the Yan family. However, this reminds me. It’s time for Zhao Fu to leave.”

After the New Year, let Zhao Fu go to a local military command. Being the boss of his own domain would definitely be more enjoyable than being in the capital.

Yan Zhi’an waved her hand. Wuqing retreated. Xunqi happened to arrive. She had come home to change and now came running over. “Is the Head of the Family unwell?”

Wuqing pouted. “It’s too cold. She doesn’t want to go. Don’t tell anyone.”

“Can she do that?” Xunqi was shocked. The Left Prime Minister wasn’t as diligent as she seemed. She could also be lazy, and openly so.

Wuqing was amused by her. She joked, “The Head of the Family just has nothing important to do lately.”

Xunqi nodded, smiled at Wuqing, and said, “Alright, I understand.”

Wuqing retreated. Xunqi stepped onto the carpet and walked in. She poked her head in for a look. Yan Zhi’an was lying on her side on the couch, her clothes thin, her skin lustrous.

Xunqi was stunned for a moment. Her feet couldn’t move.

“Xunqi?” Yan Zhi’an sat up, glanced outside, and calmly straightened her clothes.

Xunqi couldn’t hide anymore. She walked in slowly. “I’m back. I ran into the Princess Consort of Ji at the gate. Why did she come?”

“One, to visit the sick. Two, to test the waters. The New Year is coming. After the New Year, you’ll be sixteen. Everyone is watching you. Next time, beat up her son. Then she won’t dare.”