HLnovel Chapter 21 White Hair
Chapter 21 White Hair
Inside the inner palace, Emperor Pei Yuanling, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, sat upright like a pine tree, intently reviewing memorials at his desk. The faint candlelight flickered gently, casting a soft glow on his handsome profile, outlining a silhouette of light and shadow.
Suddenly, a series of light footsteps approached from afar, but Pei Yuanling seemed not to hear them, still staring intently at the memorial in front of him.
"Your Majesty, this concubine greets you." A soft, melodious voice broke the silence.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Pei Yuanling finally reacted, putting down his brush and slowly raising his head.
When his gaze fell on the woman, the brush in his hand paused involuntarily.
The young woman was dressed in a moon-white wide-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a jade belt inlaid with pearls tied around her waist. Her jet-black hair was styled in a high bun and secured with a white jade hairpin.
In the candlelight, her skin was as smooth and translucent as the finest mutton fat jade, and her eyes, like autumn water, were lowered, with long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her face.
Those familiar downcast eyes made Pei Yuanling feel somewhat dazed for a moment.
After a moment, he coughed lightly and said, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Chu Qingyin slowly rose, placed her hands folded in front of her, and stood quietly with her head bowed, waiting for the instructions of the person above her.
Seeing her so obedient and composed, Pei Yuanling remained silent for a moment before saying, "Come here and grind the ink for me."
Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback, then replied in a low voice, "Yes."
She walked slowly to the desk, pretending to be shy and lowering her head, carefully picking up the ink stick next to the inkstone.
She could feel Pei Yuanling's gaze following her every move. It seemed that he had summoned her here because he suspected more.
Calming herself down, Chu Qingyin calmly ground the ink. In the candlelight, her slender wrists appeared even whiter against the backdrop of the ink, and her movements were gentle and skillful, as if she were very adept at it.
"Have you done something like this before?" the emperor beside him suddenly asked.
Chu Qingyin's hand paused slightly, then resumed its normal rhythm, and she replied softly, "Your Majesty, I occasionally grind ink for my father at home."
Pei Yuanling gave a soft "hmm," but his gaze remained fixed on her.
In the stillness, the faint scent of ink in the air mingled with the subtle fragrance of orchids emanating from Chu Qingyin, inexplicably stirring the heart and soul.
When the ink was almost ground, Pei Yuanling said, "That's enough."
Chu Qingyin put down the ink stick in her hand and was about to step aside when she heard the man say in an ambiguous tone, "Raise your head."
Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered slightly, but she still obediently raised her head.
The moment her eyes met those of the man in front of her, she could clearly feel that his breathing had become heavier.
Those beautifully shaped phoenix eyes stared intently at her, a mixture of surprise, doubt, and a deeply hidden expectation.
Yin Yin, Yin Yin...
Pei Yuanling felt it was hard to breathe; it was too similar, so very similar.
For countless days and nights before, she stood by his desk, grinding ink and adding fragrance for him.
How can there be someone in this world who has seven parts of the appearance but nine parts of the eyes and demeanor?
"Your Majesty, is there something wrong with this concubine?" Chu Qingyin bit her lip, feigning shyness: "This concubine has just entered the palace and was summoned by Your Majesty in a hurry. I did not dress up properly. If there is anything wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, she was about to kneel down to apologize, but her hand was stopped.
"No need."
Pei Yuanling helped her up, feeling the delicate warmth of her palm against his skin, then quickly released her: "I just feel that you resemble an old friend."
Chu Qingyin feigned ignorance and asked softly, "What is Your Majesty referring to?"
Pei Yuanling didn't answer directly, but stared at the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows. "Is this painted on, or is it naturally occurring?"
During the daytime palace selection, she wore a bright red peony flower decoration between her eyebrows, which effectively concealed the cinnabar birthmark.
Chu Qingyin lowered her long eyelashes and said shyly, "This cinnabar mole on my forehead is natural."
intrinsic.
She had it, but the Imperial Concubine did not.
His forehead was smooth and white, like jade.
The emperor fell into deep thought again, and for a moment only the crackling of candlelight filled the room.
Chu Qingyin carefully glanced at the handsome face in front of her, the face she had once deeply loved. She noticed that a few strands of white hair had appeared at his temples. Suddenly, she remembered the rumors circulating outside that His Majesty had been so grief-stricken upon learning of the Consort's death that his hair had turned white overnight.
Is this white hair really caused by her?
Her thoughts were in a daze when suddenly the man spoke, "Do you know why I chose you?"
Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback, and replied softly, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and dare not presume to guess your intentions."
A very standard yet slick answer.
Emperor Pei Yuanling looked deeply at the woman in front of him and said slowly, "Because you look like the Consort who passed away in the first month of the lunar year, especially your eyes, which are very similar to hers."
Unexpectedly, he went straight to the point, causing Chu Qingyin's heart to skip a beat.
But she quickly maintained a calm expression, and said in a trembling voice, "I have heard that the Noble Consort is exceptionally beautiful and the most beautiful woman in the six palaces. I am but a lowly concubine who dared to enter the palace. How could I compare with the Noble Consort? Your Majesty's words are truly too kind to me."
Pei Yuanling glanced at her gently trembling dark eyelashes, a fleeting, unfathomable look in his eyes.
"You're smart; you know how to answer."
He reached out and lifted Chu Qingyin's chin, forcing her to look directly into his eyes. "But I want to know, what are you thinking right now?"
Feeling the man's sharp and burning gaze, Chu Qingyin suddenly broke out in a sweat.
Whether it's Lu Zhiheng outside the palace or Pei Yuanling inside, neither of these men are ordinary people; they are both incredibly difficult to fool.
Beneath her sleeve, her slender white fingers quietly tightened. Chu Qingyin bit her rosy lips, feigning shyness, and said, "This concubine... When I entered the palace, I didn't think of anything else but to serve Your Majesty well... This is what my father also instructed me to do."
Pei Yuanling narrowed his dark eyes, revealing a hint of unfathomable inquiry.
After a moment, he released her chin. "Your father taught you well."
Before Chu Qingyin could ponder this half-true, half-false statement, soft footsteps sounded outside the hall.
The head eunuch announced from outside, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready."
Pei Yuanling nodded: "Understood."
He put down the memorial in his hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and as he walked past Chu Qingyin, he simply said, "Follow me."
"Yes," she replied obediently, following closely behind the man.
Inside the side hall, candlelight flickered, casting a soft and warm glow. On the long banquet table, a dazzling array of delicacies were laid out, their aromas mingling and lingering in the air, tempting the mouth.
Pei Yuanling walked into the hall with a tall and steady figure, and sat down in the main seat. His innate majesty and nobility made the surrounding air seem to freeze for a moment.
As a concubine serving the emperor's meals, Chu Qingyin stood obediently beside him, her eyes lowered, her posture humble, ready at any time to offer the emperor the most delicate and thoughtful service.
Pei Yuanling originally wanted to see her reaction, but when he saw her standing by the table serving with a face similar to that of the Imperial Concubine, he felt a little uncomfortable even though he knew she was not the Imperial Concubine.
Well, I still can't remain indifferent to anything related to Yinyin.
Even if it's only a slight resemblance.
He sighed inwardly and said, "You should sit down too."
Chu Qingyin was slightly surprised, then looked terrified: "This, this won't do, I'm here to serve the meal..."
"Sit down when I tell you to."
Pei Yuanling raised his deep, dark eyes to look at her, a hint of unfathomable gloom in them: "Do you still intend to disobey the imperial decree?"