Chapter 11

Si Yunqin sighed and then drank another cup of tea.

“Yunqin, is there something you came for?” Grand Consort Xi asked, not pressing her further on matters of the court.

Si Yunqin finally remembered why she had come. “You mentioned the other day that the Imperial Physician advised you to exercise more? I’ve brought something with me. How about I teach you now? You don’t need to walk too much—just half an hour or an hour of practice in your own palace each day will do.” Si Yunqin smiled.

Grand Consort Xi couldn’t help but smile at her thoughtfulness. “Yunqin, you’re very considerate.”

“Shall we go, then?” Si Yunqin’s eyes curved slightly, and she didn’t dwell too much on what had just happened.

She had learned this technique from a Daoist priest while staying at a temple, and now she taught it in a proper, methodical manner. For the next half month, Si Yunqin led the imperial consorts in practicing Tai Chi daily. If she had a speaker, she might just have taught them square dancing.

Of course, that was only a fantasy. Speakers were out of the question, and even if they existed, which consort would follow her in those movements? Square dancing could never match the elegance of a long-sleeved dance.

Meanwhile, thanks to her few words, Shen Yanxin felt much more at ease. Starting with the Zhao Clan, she slowly coaxed the aristocratic clans into donating relief supplies.

She also appointed several officials to manage the flood disaster. Now the refugees had been settled, and the floodwaters were gradually receding. But after a flood, plagues often ran rampant, so she could not afford to relax.

Shen Yanxin had punished many people this time, creating a tense atmosphere throughout the court. The officials in charge dared not slack off.

Various prefectures and counties also borrowed many physicians to send to the disaster zones, each performing their duties, preventing the aftermath of the flood from escalating further.

Reports of successes kept arriving on Shen Yanxin’s desk, lifting her spirits considerably.

In addition, the army led by Si Yan had successfully repelled a probing attack from a small southern kingdom, and Si Yunqin’s second brother had earned military merit, which made her even happier.

At this moment, in a remote palace within the harem, a woman dressed in a light blue gown simply pinned up her hair with a hairpin. A maid was grinding ink beside her. Her facial features were unlike those of women from the Central Plains or the southern river towns—she possessed a bold yet delicate beauty that seemed almost otherworldly, even surpassing Si Yunqin’s looks.

“The Empress Dowager is truly formidable. She made those aristocratic clans willingly donate supplies for disaster relief,” the maid said admiringly. Then she added, “My Lady, you were right to say that the Empress Dowager would handle things properly and that there wouldn’t be too great a disturbance.”

Xi Fengyu put down her brush and handed the paper to the maid. “Alright, that’s the update for today.” She stretched and laughed. “Someone once said that to open a window, sometimes you have to advocate for tearing down the roof. The Empress Dowager’s move was brilliant.”

The maid didn’t understand, but Xi Fengyu didn’t elaborate. She simply told her to take what she had written and have it copied into a booklet.

This was her only pastime in the deep palace.

Recently, she had heard many stories about the Little Empress. Xi Fengyu sighed softly. She knew the other woman was just like her, and she had even wanted to get to know her after learning that Si Yunqin had entered the palace.

But, how to put it? Even knowing that the other woman came from the same era thousands of years later, she still had her worries.

She feared that Si Yunqin might have fully assimilated into this society, that they might no longer share much common ground, and that even if they met, it would only add to their melancholy.

But after listening to the stories Si Yunqin had told, Xi Fengyu felt that perhaps her concerns were unfounded—that Si Yunqin had not been assimilated or had her thinking constrained.

However, she herself was merely an unfavored consort taken in by the Late Emperor just before his death. Getting to know the current manager of the harem was still somewhat difficult.

After all, Si Yunqin would never come to the palace where they lived.

Xi Fengyu sneered and consoled herself: “If fate wills it, we will meet.”

Si Yunqin taught many of the imperial consorts that set of boxing techniques—combining hardness and softness, it was very effective for loosening the joints and muscles.

Shen Yanxin finally had some free time today. She had come to the Palace of Grand Consort Yuande, intending to have tea with her. The age gap between them wasn’t as large as with Grand Consort Xi or Grand Consort Shu, and they had been close even when the Late Emperor was alive.

But unexpectedly, as she entered the palace gate, she saw Si Yunqin leading a group of consorts in practicing swordplay.

Shen Yanxin paused at the entrance, wondering if she had walked into some strange scene.

Si Yunqin was also startled to see Shen Yanxin. She quickly sheathed her sword and bowed. “Your Subject, the Empress, pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

The others hastily followed suit in bowing.

Shen Yanxin told them to rise. Si Yunqin stood at the front. Shen Yanxin looked at her today—she was gallant and spirited, dressed in a red and white fitted martial outfit. She didn’t look like an empress deep in the palace, but more like a wandering swordsman roaming the martial world.

“What is the Empress doing?” Shen Yanxin asked curiously.

Si Yunqin coughed lightly. “Well, strengthening the body. The elder sisters don’t have much activity in the palace. Sitting or lying down for too long can cause minor ailments. Before entering the palace, I learned a set of boxing techniques from a Daoist priest, and I thought it might suit the elder sisters.”

“Elder sisters?” Shen Yanxin stepped into the hall. “You’re quite free with your terms.”

These were all consorts of the Late Emperor, yet she called them “sisters” so sweetly.

Si Yunqin looked embarrassed but was quick to admit fault. “Your Subject knows her mistake. I was discourteous.”

Shen Yanxin glanced at her. “In that case, I might as well take a look. Continue, Empress. I spend long hours at my desk—would this method be useful?”

Si Yunqin thought it over. How would she know? So she shook her head. “Your Subject is not entirely sure of that. I merely learned a set of boxing techniques from the Daoist priest, who said it benefits the body. I am not an Imperial Physician.”

Seeing her play dumb again, Shen Yanxin waved her hand, signaling for her to continue.

Si Yunqin felt a bit awkward, but she didn’t dare disobey when the Empress Dowager told her to continue.

Only Grand Consort Yuande walked over to Shen Yanxin and sat down across from her. “Why has the Empress Dowager come today?”

“Stealing a half day of leisure. I wanted to come and have tea with you, sister,” Shen Yanxin said with a smile.

Grand Consort Yuande sat and watched Si Yunqin teaching. “I must say, this boxing technique is quite useful. After practicing these past days, my body has become much more limber, and the aches in my back and waist have eased.”

“Is that so?” Shen Yanxin raised her eyes to look at Si Yunqin. “The Empress has learned many things.”

Grand Consort Yuande couldn’t quite discern Shen Yanxin’s attitude toward Si Yunqin, but she felt there was no malice. After a moment of thought, she said, “Yunqin is the daughter of the Grand Minister. It’s not strange that she knows some fist and foot techniques from a young age.”

“What she knows isn’t just this, is it?” Shen Yanxin chuckled.

Grand Consort Yuande also curled her lips slightly. “She is indeed an interesting one.”

“Sister seems to like our Little Empress quite a bit?” Shen Yanxin leaned in and asked softly.

“Yunqin is endearing. Once you spend more time with her, you’ll like her too,” Grand Consort Yuande said with a smile.

Over there, Si Yunqin finished leading everyone through a full set of boxing techniques. She obediently withdrew her hands and stood before Grand Consort Yuande and Shen Yanxin. “Since the Empress Dowager and the Grand Consort have matters to discuss, Your Subject will take her leave.”

“There are no matters—just idle wandering. Since the Empress is here, why not stay and have some tea with us?” Shen Yanxin said with a smile.

Si Yunqin wanted to refuse but couldn’t think of a good reason. Soon, the other consorts dispersed, leaving only the three of them.

When she said “brew tea,” she meant exactly that. They paired it with some pastries. Shen Yanxin didn’t talk about political affairs like she had with Grand Consort Xi that day; she only chatted about daily life.

As they talked, the conversation circled back to Si Yunqin’s boxing techniques. At first, she had only intended to teach Grand Consort Xi, but after Grand Consort Xi recommended it to Grand Consort Shu, and after Grand Consort Yuande happened to see it and asked to be taught, gradually all the palace consorts started learning. They all said that after practicing, they felt more energetic and slept better at night.

When Si Yunqin heard this, she didn’t know if they were exaggerating or not. She herself didn’t feel much of an effect.

After all, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and maintained the habit of sword practice daily. This one set of boxing techniques was nothing compared to the amount of exercise she got during her morning routine.

But for the consorts, who rarely moved much during the day, it might still be quite useful. She wasn’t sure, because although she had learned many things in this life, she had never studied medicine.

“Why doesn’t the Empress teach me another day?” Shen Yanxin said with a smile.

Si Yunqin could tell that Shen Yanxin knew martial arts. Would someone who practiced martial arts be interested in such a flashy, superficial boxing set?

“The Empress Dowager is joking. Your martial arts are far above Your Subject’s,” Si Yunqin said, not particularly eager to teach her.

Shen Yanxin raised an eyebrow slightly. “You have good eyes.”

Si Yunqin thought to herself that she wasn’t blind. People who practiced martial arts looked very different from those who didn’t. Shen Yanxin’s footsteps were lighter than average, her posture was different, and even the way she used her hands could be judged.

Of course, the main reason was that her father had told her that before entering the palace, Shen Yanxin had lived in the bitter cold lands of the Northwest.

The Shen family, like the Si family, were military families who had followed the Founding Emperor in his rise. The Shen family was enfeoffed as the King of Zhenxi, guarding the Northwestern border pass of Zhao.

So, Shen Yanxin also came from a military family. Si Yunqin didn’t believe she didn’t know any martial arts.

Shen Yanxin looked at the sword Si Yunqin had placed beside her. She picked it up and drew the blade. “Why isn’t it sharpened?”

“It’s used within the palace. It’s not appropriate to have it sharpened,” Si Yunqin replied. She understood these rules well. The swords and blades she used in her palace were all unsharpened. As for a spear, she didn’t dare hope for one, and bows and arrows were out of the question—not because the training ground was too small, but simply because she couldn’t get her hands on them.

Also, she was afraid that someone with malicious intent might use these items to frame her, and then she would be truly unable to defend herself.

Shen Yanxin twirled a sword flower. “The Empress is very thorough in her considerations.”

She then pointed the tip of the sword at Si Yunqin’s chin. “It has been a long time since I’ve exercised. With leisure today, I wonder if the Empress would be willing to spar with me?”

Si Yunqin was dumbfounded. The Empress Dowager wanted to duel with her?

“This…” Si Yunqin was reluctant. How could she enjoy fighting the Empress Dowager? She wouldn’t dare to win even if she could.

“Unwilling?” Shen Yanxin squinted slightly.

Si Yunqin stood up, and under her gaze, she finally bowed in acquiescence. “Your Subject would be honored.”

Shen Yanxin didn’t see any honor in her expression. Reluctance she could plainly see.

“The Late Emperor set up a training ground in the palace. Let’s go there—it has a full array of weapons, and the space is more open.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Si Yunqin replied respectfully. She had no right to refuse.

Shen Yanxin went to change her clothes and told Si Yunqin to go ahead. Grand Consort Yuande also followed, ready to watch the excitement.

When Si Yunqin arrived at the training ground and saw the dazzling array of weapons, she immediately felt that coming here was a loss.

She took down the lightest bow from the rack. Si Yunqin was not very old and hadn’t deliberately trained her arm strength much, so this was the only bow she could draw. However, her elder sister and brothers had never lost in archery contests.

It had been a long time since she had touched a bow and arrow. Si Yunqin’s hands itched. She nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and released.

Fortunately, her aim had not deteriorated. She couldn’t guarantee hitting the bullseye every time, but nine out of ten arrows hit the target.

“Excellent archery skill.”

Just as Si Yunqin was getting into it, she suddenly heard Shen Yanxin’s voice. Her hand twitched, and one arrow went wide.