Tie Ci had recently recruited many informants, so news of what happened in the square reached her ears before Pingzong and her classmates even arrived.
She was currently waiting with Tie Yan and Consort Jing in Yuqiu Palace. This was her idea – to give her classmates and niece a homey reception. Besides thanking her classmates, she also wanted Pingzong to meet her parents and build some basic emotional bonds, then coax her into staying to protect Father Emperor and Mother Consort.
Pingzong was her secret weapon. Only with Pingzong around could she leave the palace with peace of mind after tearing off all pretense with the Xiao family.
Hearing about what happened earlier, Tie Yan looked worried: “My daughter, did you promise Qi Yuansi anything?”
“I promised he wouldn’t have to eat shit.”
Consort Jing: …Why did Your Highness become so crude after going out once?
“What about Rong Pu? Did you promise him anything?”
“I promised him that if he worked hard, he’d eventually reach the highest ministerial position.”
“What about romantic matters?”
“What does that have to do with me?” Tie Ci sighed. “I didn’t accept the Rong family even in those difficult times – how is it possible now?”
“What about that archery teacher?”
Tie Ci fell silent.
Behind her, Dan Shuang and Chi Xue both lowered their heads.
A father who knows his daughter, Tie Yan immediately understood. He straightened up, slightly excited: “So there really is such a person? What’s his name? What’s his background? How old is he? What does he look like? Is he worthy of my daughter?”
Tie Ci didn’t answer.
Worthy? Naturally he was very worthy.
Tie Yan saw her expression and thought he understood: “Poor background? In father’s opinion, since you don’t want a political marriage anyway, your husband’s background doesn’t matter. If his origins are too humble, we can have him acknowledged by some important minister as an adopted son to elevate his status. The key is that his character and appearance must be good – we can’t let my daughter be wronged.”
Consort Jing said delicately: “Your Majesty, it’s not quite like that. There are countless fine young men at court – why seek some unknown rustic person…”
If the in-laws came from the countryside without understanding propriety, the imperial family would become a laughingstock.
Tie Ci closed her tea bowl, interrupting her parents’ debate, and smiled faintly: “Father Emperor and Mother Consort are overthinking. That was merely a chance encounter. Besides, he’s from Liaodong.”
Upon hearing he was from Liaodong, Tie Yan immediately leaned back: “Then forget it.”
Tie Ci’s heart sank.
Though she no longer held hope, seeing Father Emperor’s attitude – dismissing someone merely for being from Liaodong – still made her heart ache.
Tie Yan said: “In that case, you should make a proper choice between the Rong family and Qi family.”
Tie Ci: “…What?”
“After all, it’s only these people. In terms of family background and loyalty, you should choose between these two. You must decide early, otherwise I fear the Rong and Qi families will become dissatisfied and even turn away from the imperial family.”
“…Father Emperor.”
“Hmm?”
“I think you’ve missed the most crucial point.”
“…Hmm?”
“I’m the father – they just need to serve father properly. What are they thinking!”
Tie Yan: “…”
…
Pingzong followed the young eunuch around countless palaces and corridors, her eyes dazzled and servants counted until dizzy. Her mental state progressed from initially thinking “Little aunt’s family is quite wealthy, with so many houses and servants,” to “Little aunt’s family is so rich, how can they have so many houses and servants!” to “Little aunt’s family is too wealthy, too many houses – I’m exhausted from walking, and there are more servants than ants!”
When the young eunuch said they’d arrived, she breathed a sigh of relief inwardly but said casually: “Not bad, a bit smaller than my family’s.”
The young eunuch suppressed his laughter and bowed: “Please, this way.”
They passed another large building, two flower halls, three or four corridors, stepped on thick carpets that covered their feet, crossed five or six moon gate openings. The servants lifting curtains were each more beautiful and respectful than the last, standing like vases throughout the long corridor. Under the young eunuch’s guidance, Pingzong numbly entered a flower-filled courtyard. Under vine trellises lay white marble stone floors with deep purple silk curtains hanging down. White stone tables were laden with fruits, and exquisite pastries of various shapes and colors were arranged. A handsome man and woman sat there, then a white-robed youth emerged from behind the curtains with a smile.
Pingzong was stunned.
The approaching youth reminded her of the most famous snow pearls of the South Sea – those extremely rare precious pearls from giant deep-sea shells, lustrous and pure white with flowing treasure light, showing rainbow colors under sunlight yet transparent as crystal under moonlight, both elegant and noble, capable of captivating souls at first glance.
When she’d met Tie Ci, Tie Ci had been wearing the face of a second-mate sailor. Though Pingzong knew she was female, being proud of her own beauty, she subconsciously assumed Tie Ci must be ugly.
Now seeing this beautiful youth approaching, she didn’t connect him with the sailor. Standing still and looking around: “Which family’s young man are you? I’m looking for someone.”
“Looking for your little aunt?”
Pingzong refused to acknowledge it: “Looking for a relative.”
“Besides me, your little aunt, you have no other relatives here.”
Pingzong: “!!!”
Tie Ci introduced Tie Yan and Consort Jing: “My parents. You should address them as… grandfather and grandmother?”
“No way!”
Tie Yan, Consort Jing, and Pingzong all objected simultaneously.
The former were shocked – where did such a big granddaughter suddenly pop out from? Wasn’t it said that a master had come who needed to be treated with courtesy? How did they end up becoming someone’s grandparents?
Consort Jing: …After going out for training, why does Your Highness like being everyone’s parent?
Pingzong – Mother lied to me!
Tie Ci smiled without speaking.
She hadn’t revealed the imperial identity from the start, fearing that someone like Pingzong with a free-spirited background might naturally resist the imperial family. She thought to first tempt her with wealth and luxury. After all, this was someone to be won over – the generational titles and forms of address were just jokes.
She smiled: “When elders meet someone for the first time, they give meeting gifts.”
Pingzong thought of her pocket with only a few copper coins left, not knowing where her return travel funds would come from.
Feeling awkward and anxious, cold air emerged from the left side of her head while blue smoke curled up from the right side.
Tie Yan and Consort Jing stared wide-eyed.
Tie Ci: “…”
Oh no, this one hasn’t successfully integrated her ice and fire divine arts yet?
Not daring to tease her niece further, she had to smile: “We’re family – use whatever form of address you like, just treat us as elders… This is Pingzong, Chi Pingzong. I once received kindness from her mother and promised to look after her.”
She changed Pingzong’s surname without asking, but Pingzong had no reaction – her mind was still troubled by the addressing issue. She absolutely couldn’t bring herself to call them anything, but she did want such wealthy relatives.
Having been emperor for many years, Tie Yan glanced at Pingzong with snow falling on one side and fire rising on the other, then put on a loving smile and pulled out a string of aged Kynam agarwood beads with a nine-eyed dzi bead from his sleeve to give to Pingzong.
Kynam agarwood was already precious, not to mention with a nine-eyed dzi bead – this string of prayer beads was priceless. But Tie Ci frowned, thinking it was like casting pearls before swine.
Indeed, Pingzong looked at the grayish, unremarkable string that obviously wasn’t valuable and was quite disappointed, casually stuffing it in her pocket.
The cherry blossom shukulaite pearl string that Consort Jing perfunctorily gave, however, was bright and beautiful, winning her favor. She immediately put it happily around her neck.
Having received gifts without calling anyone by name, Pingzong awkwardly sat down, planning to eat a bite and leave.
After one bite, she forgot about leaving entirely.
Everything was delicious, but before she could eat much of anything, it was removed because there were more pastries and fruits waiting to be served. Serving maids flowed like water, with a table of fruits, a table of pastries, a table of soups, a table of porridge, a table of hot dishes, a table of cold dishes…
After being surrounded by delicious food, Tie Ci clapped her hands and palace servants flowed in like water presenting silks and satins: “Little aunt wants to make new clothes for her niece.”
After the silks and satins came a row of palace maids, each holding large boxes inlaid with gold and jade. When opened, they sparkled with treasure light – all complete sets of jewelry: pearls, jade, gemstones, gold. When Tie Ci ordered jewelry selection, she absolutely refused anything low-key and expensive. Her only requirement was sparkle – the more sparkly the better.
“Little aunt wants to add jewelry for her niece.”
After the jewelry came another row of palace maids, this time with trays holding exquisitely crafted delicate weapons, each one flowing with brilliance, clear as autumn water: “Little aunt wants to give her niece the best toys.”
The pastry in Pingzong’s mouth fell out.
Though she lived like a princess on Ghost Island, Gui Haisheng was naturally stingy, ordinary islanders lived ordinary lives, and cut off from the world, she truly hadn’t seen many fine things. Poverty had limited her imagination – she couldn’t withstand the devastation of imperial wealth. Her bottom, which she had wanted to lift, became dead weight glued to the bench from then on.
Before long, the imperial family’s new little princess wore three pearl garments, carried an Abyss Iron sword, wore enough treasure crowns, walking ornaments, golden hairpins and pearl flowers to cause cervical problems, and faced three tables of delicacies from land and sea, constantly nodding: “Fine. Good. No problem. I’ll watch people for you, guard the house for you.”
Tie Ci asked: “How is little aunt’s home? Do you like it? Stay and live here from now on.”
Pingzong put down her pork knuckle, wiped her mouth, glanced over: “Not bad, a bit worse than my home, but barely livable.”
Only then did she remember to ask Tie Ci: “What does your family do? You seem about as impressive as my father – are you also an island chief? Do you also have big ships that can go to sea freely?”
A stifled “pfft” of laughter.
Yang Yixiu and others had arrived.
They were all shocked by the human jewelry rack.
Surprise flashed in Rong Pu’s eyes – he hadn’t expected Tie Ci would receive guests in such a relatively private environment with a family banquet style. This was extremely high courtesy.
He led everyone in bowing to the Emperor, Consort Jing, and Tie Ci.
“Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, Your Highness.”
The chicken leg in Pingzong’s mouth fell into the flowers.
After a long moment, she murmured: “Is this a theatrical performance?”
Little Bug beside her covered his sleeves and smiled with narrowed eyes: “For the young lady’s information, our master’s family doesn’t rule islands – they rule this entire realm. Ships are naturally available, probably eight or ten thousand of them, but they can’t be used for pleasure trips to sea, only for warfare.”
Pingzong: “…”
Angelina Cherry Snow Feather Han Ling Blood Beautiful Demon Charm Antalya Wounded Dream Fragrant Charm Heather Rose Tear Glass Dance Elegant Lei Yue Ai Ya Pingzong – tears of regret fell beautifully like ice pearls from her left face, while blazing demonic flames emerged from her right hand. After flowing beautifully seven or eight times between ice snow and flames, she suddenly turned around and shouted forcefully at Tie Yan and Consort Jing: “Grandfather! Grandmother!”
“…”