The sky stretched boundlessly. The setting sun lingered on the horizon, smudging a dazzling red cloud across the firmament.
Yan Qingshu had just finished copying a calligraphy model. When Xiaoluzi was about to go and order the evening meal, Li Dahai quietly came with his men again.
"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered this servant to secretly take you there."
"Please take a moment to dress up. The sedan chair is already waiting outside." Li Dahai said respectfully with a smile on his face.
How could Zhuyao dare to delay? She quickly led Yan Qingshu behind the beaded curtain to wash up and change into the clothes that His Majesty had just sent today.
These clothes had been carefully scented with peach fragrance in the afternoon. A gentle breeze carried a faint fruity aroma, refreshing and pleasant.
"Your Highness, since His Majesty is taking you out of the palace today, I won't do a high - coiled hairstyle for you. It would look odd if this dress were paired with a married woman's coiffure."
Standing behind her, Zhuyao frowned slightly. The style of the clothes sent by His Majesty was what an unmarried young lady in the capital would wear.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Yan Qingshu also thought it was a bit strange. So she asked Zhuyao to undo the snake - like coiffure on her head and change it into a half - loose hairstyle for a young girl, with two strands of black hair hanging in front.
"Now it finally looks right." Yan Qingshu smoothed her hair and a smile bloomed on her lips.
Zhuyao put on the set of jewelry that Li Dahai had sent today.
"Your Highness, His Majesty dotes on you so much. This servant is really happy for you." Zhuyao picked up the jade hairpin with a butterfly pattern and gently inserted it diagonally into her coiffure, then adorned her temples with some delicate velvet flowers.
The loose hair at the back was held down with a white jade tassel ornament, making her look like a young and charming maiden in the boudoir.
The smile on Yan Qingshu's lips remained, but her heart had already sunk slightly. All that she had now was obtained through her painstaking efforts to gain the emperor's favor.
They all said that the situation in the palace could change in an instant. While His Majesty still doted on her, she had to strive to climb higher. Once she reached a high position, even if the favor faded, she could still live well.
"Your Highness is really beautiful." Zhuyao tied the mutton - fat jade pendant around the jade - patterned belt on her slender waist.
After finishing dressing up, just as Yan Qingshu was about to lift the beaded curtain and walk out of the main hall, she saw Shihua standing outside the main hall with a hesitant look on her face.
"Your Highness... this servant."
Shihua hesitated and finally lowered her head.
"What is it?" Yan Qingshu asked.
"Your Highness, this servant heard that Longjing Pavilion in the capital is the best medical center. This servant hopes that Your Highness can save my mother."
Shihua knelt down with a thud. Her eyes were red and her voice was muffled.
"This servant has lived in poverty since childhood. My father passed away early. It has been extremely difficult for my mother to raise me and my younger siblings. Now she is suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and her life is in danger. If Your Highness has any use for this servant here with the Virtuous Concubine, please feel free to order this servant. This servant swears with my life to be loyal to Your Highness and will never betray you."
After saying that, Shihua kowtowed deeply and didn't get up for a long time.
Yan Qingshu lowered her eyes. Shihua's back was thin but extremely straight.
"Okay, I promise you."
"Zhuyao, remember her home address."
After saying that, Yan Qingshu left first.
With red eyes, Yan Qingshu raised her hand to wipe away the tears in her eyes. Her mother's life was in the hands of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, while Shihua's mother's life was in her own hands.
Behind the Guanghan Palace, an unremarkable sedan chair was parked there. Li Dahai was waiting beside it. When he saw her coming out, he opened the sedan - chair curtain with a beaming smile.
From afar, he had seen Miss Yan, radiant in the setting sun.
She was truly breathtakingly beautiful.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is already waiting for you in the Qianyuan Palace."
Yan Qingshu nodded with a smile, lifted her skirt and got into the sedan chair.
Zhuyao also lifted her skirt and trotted over to follow beside the sedan chair.
"Your Highness, this servant has already asked clearly." Zhuyao whispered as she leaned against the window.
The sedan - chair curtain was gently fluttered by the wind. Along with the wind came a soft "Got it" from inside the sedan chair.
Inside the sedan chair, Yan Qingshu stroked the rough - textured jade pendant with some slight flaws on its surface, a faint smile on her lips.
She pressed the jade pendant against her forehead and said tenderly,
"Mother, I miss you so much..."
Hearing this faint voice outside, Zhuyao couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in her nose.
There were so many pitiful people in the world.
The sedan - chair bearers avoided the main palace road and took a small path to the back of the Qianyuan Palace.
At this moment, the setting sun was leaving a fiery red cloud on the horizon.
When Yan Qingshu got out of the sedan chair, Di Yunjian was waiting for her in the back - courtyard of the palace. Hearing the noise, he turned his head.
He stopped in his tracks and stared at her blankly.
Yan Qingshu had a half - loose hairstyle with a simple coiffure. Exquisite jewelry was dotted among her black hair.
A gentle breeze blew across her, lifting her soft clothes and black hair, which swirled gently in the air. The fiery red glow of the setting sun fell on her.
She was bathed in a dazzling radiance, making it hard for people to look away.
A smile bloomed on Yan Qingshu's delicate and beautiful face. She lifted her skirt and trotted over coyly to pay her respects.
"Greetings to Your Majesty!"
Di Yunjian came to his senses and helped her up. The smile on his lips deepened involuntarily.
"I knew this dress would suit you. It matches you perfectly."
Di Yunjian praised sincerely. When he saw this style of clothes, he thought it would be suitable for Yan Qingshu.
Sure enough, she looked like a fairy descending from the sky when she put it on.
Yan Qingshu touched the pinkish - white silk shawl on her arm and blushed shyly. Leaning against his strong arm wrapped in fine - textured clothes, she whispered tenderly.
Di Yunjian leaned slightly to listen to her gentle words. His nose was filled with the faint peach fragrance on her body. Her warm breath brushed against his ear, sweet and fragrant.
She was like a peach in March.
Just like herself, a gentle squeeze could make the juice flow.
Di Yunjian felt a tickle in his heart and swallowed hard.
He reached out and gently pinched her face.
This girl was as timid as a rabbit at times, but when she was bold, she dared to say all sorts of bold things to him.
"A young lady should be more bashful when saying such things." Di Yunjian coughed lightly.
Yan Qingshu wrinkled her nose playfully, grabbed his arm and shook it gently, acting coquettishly.
Di Yunjian had changed his clothes. His robe was all black with golden threads coiling around auspicious clouds, outlining a delicate pattern.
He was tall and imposing, with his strong waist tightly bound by a belt.
His black hair was neatly tied up with a jade crown, and he held an ivory and jade - inlaid emerald folding fan in his hand.
His face was as fair as jade, his eyebrows were handsome, and he was so outstanding that there was no one else like him in the world.
He was a handsome and unrestrained gentleman.
Di Yunjian led her along a small path and finally arrived at the horse - ranch.
The horse - ranch was bathed in the fiery red afterglow.
When the young eunuch saw them coming, he quickly untied the reins and led a horse over.
"Your Majesty, where are we going?" Yan Qingshu looked up at him.
"I'm taking you out of the palace to have some fun today." Di Yunjian said as he mounted the horse neatly.
Then he reached out his hand to her.
Yan Qingshu bit her lip and hesitated before putting her hand out. She was a bit scared.
She had never ridden a horse before.
As soon as her hand touched his, she felt her body lighten. When she came to her senses, she was firmly held in the emperor's arms.