bookcurios Chapter 17 Yin Yin?
Chapter 17 Yin Yin?
On this bright and sunny day, spring was in full bloom. The palace had already made preparations for the imperial selection. The magnificent hall was resplendent with gold and jade, and adorned with auspicious symbols of dragons and phoenixes.
Emperor Pei Yuanling, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on the supreme and majestic dragon throne. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes exuded an aura of authority without anger. His gaze was as deep and cold as a cold pool.
The Queen Mother, dressed in magnificent robes, sat gracefully to one side, with her niece, the Empress, beside her.
Empress Wang's makeup was exquisite, her demeanor dignified, and she wore a faint smile, but her eyes would occasionally glance at the Emperor.
The other concubines were also arranged neatly according to their rank, some with their heads bowed and eyes downcast, others stealing glances. Each person's expression was different, yet the tense and solemn atmosphere permeating the air was consistent.
"Announce the selection of the young ladies for this imperial concubine selection—" With the eunuch's high-pitched yet drawn-out voice, the palace selection officially began.
One by one, the young ladies, like flowers blooming in spring, gracefully stepped forward and knelt before the emperor and empress at the head of the table, performing the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
After getting up, he carefully answered the seemingly simple but actually cryptic questions posed by the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
However, from beginning to end, the emperor's handsome face remained as cold as frost, indifferent as water, making it difficult for anyone to discern the slightest emotional fluctuation in his heart.
The young women racked their brains to show their best side, but very few could truly arouse the emperor's interest. In the end, they could only leave dejectedly with faces full of disappointment and frustration.
Just when everyone thought the palace selection would end uneventfully, it was finally Chu Qingyin's turn.
As she gracefully stepped forward, the entire hall seemed to fall silent, and everyone's gaze involuntarily focused on her.
"Qiao Qingyin, daughter of the Minister of War, is sixteen years old and a native of the capital."
When the eunuch read out the name, everyone in the hall was even more astonished.
Outsiders might not know, but the emperor, empress, and high-ranking concubines present all knew the name of the deceased imperial concubine, which was Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin could feel the gazes from all around her, but her heart remained calm. She simply followed the etiquette and gracefully bowed: "Your subject, Qiao Qingyin, greets Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress."
The sound was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream flowing gently, or like the melodious warbling of an oriole in a deep valley.
Pei Yuanling also stared intently at the woman below him, dressed in a smoky purple brocade. Her hair was styled in a high bun, and her figure was alluring, like a peony blooming in the spring breeze, with unparalleled beauty that captivated the heart.
For a moment, the emperor's gaze deepened, and his hand gripping the armrest of the dragon throne tightened unconsciously, so much so that the veins on his arm bulged slightly.
After a long pause, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "Ms. Qiao, raise your head."
Upon hearing the emperor's command, Chu Qingyin slowly raised her head, her gaze calm and undisturbed.
At that very moment, Pei Yuanling's expression froze completely, as if frozen in time.
His eyes widened as he stared incredulously at Chu Qingyin's face.
That face, those eyes, and the way he looked when he raised his eyes—everything was so familiar, so familiar that his heart clenched instantly, and his breathing became rapid.
"Yinyin?" Pei Yuanling couldn't help but exclaim.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the entire palace fell into a deathly silence.
Standing at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, the emperor gazed intently at the woman before him, as if afraid she would disappear, and called out again, "Yinyin?"
This time, the Empress Dowager and the Empress also changed their expressions, and the other concubines whispered among themselves.
One is Chu Qingyin, and the other is Qiao Qingyin; both are "yinyin" (meaning "sound").
Chu Qingyin feigned shyness, blushing as she asked, "How did Your Majesty know that my nickname is Yinyin?"
Pei Yuanling remained silent, staring intently at the beautiful, flushed face before him. His gaze swept over the peony flower ornament on her forehead, a hint of doubt flashing in his dark eyes.
The next moment, he suddenly stood up, quickly walked down the steps, and came to Chu Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin was startled when he approached, and instinctively knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty..."
Before she could even kneel, her elbows were firmly supported by the man's broad and powerful hands.
"Raise your head," Pei Yuanling commanded, his voice hoarse with urgency.
Chu Qingyin took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and calmly met the emperor's gaze.
Pei Yuanling carefully examined the excessively young and delicate face in front of him.
Not her.
It's not his voice.
Although at first glance she looks about 70% like her, upon closer inspection, there is still a hint of girlish innocence in her eyes and brows, and her cheeks still have a touch of delicate baby fat.
She was more like a concubine before she was married.
People cannot be brought back to life, and time cannot be reversed; he was attached to appearances.
Pei Yuanling's eyes dimmed.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager, seated on the throne, also spoke up: "Your Majesty, this Miss Qiao does indeed look remarkably similar to the late Consort. However, it is not surprising that people can resemble each other."
The Empress chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty. Although they look alike, they are, after all, two different people."
Pei Yuanling let out a long breath, trying to calm himself down. He turned around, walked back to the dragon throne, and sat down again.
"Qiao Qingyin," Pei Yuanling's voice regained its authority, "I ask you, are you willing to stay in the palace?"
Upon hearing this question, everyone in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.
It was always the emperor who selected the women; the women never had a say in whether they wanted to or not.
Chu Qingyin also found Pei Yuanling's question strange, but she still pretended to be shy and happy, glancing at the man above her with a smile in her eyes. Then she obediently lowered her fair neck and said softly, "Your Majesty, I am willing to stay in the palace to share your burdens."
Pei Yuanling's mind was in turmoil as he recalled her alluring glance from earlier.
Back then, when he was an unfavored prince, he asked the beautiful and talented daughter of the Duke of Chu if she would be his concubine. She looked at him with the same joy and shyness and said, "I am willing, Sixth Prince. As long as I can be with you, it doesn't matter whether I am your principal wife or not."
He made a vow in his heart that when he had power in the future, he would do everything he could to treat her well and give her the best of everything in the world.
Unfortunately, before he could gain enough power to overthrow the powerful families and the Wang clan, his Yinyin died in the cold palace.
She was such a beautiful and proud person, yet she took poison and died bleeding from all seven orifices. She must have been utterly disappointed in him...
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Empress Wang called out twice.
Pei Yuanling snapped out of his reverie and looked at Empress Wang's dignified and gentle face. His expression turned slightly cold, but only for a moment before he turned his gaze back to the graceful and beautiful figure of His Highness.
"Since you are willing, I will bestow upon you the rank of a fifth-grade concubine."