Double Queens GL - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?” Liu Yan asked. She truly felt she didn’t have the face to ask the Eastern Empress for a loan. Although she knew her mistress didn’t care about worldly “face,” it was still incredibly awkward.

“I agree. It’s not quite right,” Yu Zheng added. “We’ll just be looked down upon. Let’s forget it.”

“I’ll definitely return them,” Liu Hening insisted. Having finally found a legitimate excuse to see Huachao, she was loath to let it slip away.

“It’s not about returning them; it’s just that we shouldn’t,” Liu Yan pressed. Her mistress might not care about appearances, but as the staff of the Central Palace, they still had some pride to maintain.

“Yan, why shouldn’t I?” Liu Hening looked at her with those incredibly clear, innocent eyes. What Liu Yan cared about, she didn’t; why was it “wrong”? It wasn’t as if she were doing something bad.

Liu Yan couldn’t withstand that gaze. She sighed—they feared embarrassment, but her mistress lived in a state of mind where such worldly trifles didn’t stick. Her heart was dust-free and invulnerable.

“Fine, as long as you’re happy,” Liu Yan finally yielded. But I am definitely not going along this time, she thought. (Though, of course, she eventually did).

…

The next day, Liu Hening put on the new clothes Ye Guichen had custom-ordered for her and set off happily for the Eastern Palace. Despite her protests, Liu Yan followed, as did the ever-diligent Yu Zheng.

“Your Majesty, the Empress of the Central Palace is here again,” Ye Meng announced. With other maids present, she no longer called her “Miss.”

“Again?” Ye Guichen felt her brow furrow instinctively.

“I shall go out to receive her,” Ye Guichen said. In rank, Liu Hening was higher; it was only proper, however reluctant she felt.

As Ye Guichen stepped out, she was greeted by the sight of Liu Hening, whose eyes lit up instantly. Ye Guichen had to admit those eyes were more luminous and spirited than anyone else’s—they seemed to speak on their own.

Ye Guichen was dressed lightly in a red gown with broad sleeves, cinched by a black belt embroidered with gold thread. She looked glamorous yet dignified, her slender waist emphasizing her grace. Even after seeing so many beauties in the palace, Liu Hening still felt Huachao was the most beautiful. She found it hard to look away.

“Huachao, you look truly lovely,” Liu Hening said, not holding back her praise.

“The palace never lacks for beauties, and Hening is a great beauty as well,” Ye Guichen replied with perfunctory politeness. In truth, she knew her own beauty was unmatched in the capital. She took after her mother and her aunt, the late Empress Wenxian. Her aunt had once told her that while beauty is fleeting and replaceable, the soul is not. Ye Guichen’s only regret was that she felt she lacked her aunt’s unique spiritual spark; she felt she was a mere copy who had nearly been replaced.

“Huachao’s beauty is not merely in her face,” Liu Hening added with a smile.

“Oh? Then where is it?” Ye Guichen asked casually, expecting the usual praise for her “virtuous temperament.”

“Do you believe that ‘appearance is born from the heart’? I believe your heart is as beautiful as your face,” Liu Hening said earnestly.

Ye Guichen offered a thin smile, inwardly scoffing. And what of the ‘scorpion-hearted’ beauties? People’s hearts are rarely written on their faces.

“You don’t believe me?” Liu Hening noticed her skepticism. “I’ve had a gift since I was a child; my intuition about people is very accurate. I liked you the moment I saw you because I felt you were good.”

Ye Guichen looked into those clear eyes. They didn’t look like they were lying. “I am honored by your misplaced affection,” she said humbly.

She wraps her true emotions so tightly in layers of politeness that I can’t even peel them back, Liu Hening thought.

Noticing the chill in the air, Ye Meng brought a cloak for Ye Guichen.

“It is cold. Let us go inside,” Ye Guichen said. “Hening, your rank is above mine. Next time, feel free to enter the hall directly without waiting outside.”

“I wouldn’t want to disturb you if you were doing something important,” Liu Hening replied.

“Nothing is more important than you,” Ye Guichen lied smoothly.

Liu Hening mused that being the “Empress of the Central Palace” did have perks. If she weren’t, Huachao would never say such sweet (albeit fake) things to her. She found it quite pleasant. Since she dislikes me so much, Liu Hening thought, I’ll just have to pick the honey out from among the thorns. Perhaps if she says it enough, it will become true?

“Is that true, Huachao?” Liu Hening leaned in and took Ye Guichen’s arm. She had wanted to hold her hand because her own were cold and she remembered Huachao’s being warm, but she settled for the arm to be less intrusive.

Ye Guichen stiffened. No one usually dared to be so touchy-feely with her. She didn’t know what was “wrong” with Liu Hening, but as the “virtuous” Empress, she couldn’t just shove her off without causing a scandal.

…

Inside Changle Hall, Liu Yan helped Liu Hening remove her outer coat, revealing the new dress. Ye Guichen noticed it immediately. At least she knows how to show some appreciation on the surface, she thought. The dress suited Liu Hening perfectly—simple, elegant, yet imperial.

“The Winter Solstice banquet is in two days, and things are quite busy,” Ye Guichen said, hoping to nudge her to leave soon. “Did you have a specific reason for visiting today?”

“I have to attend the banquet too, right?”

“You are the Empress of the Central Palace; of course you cannot be absent.”

“Well… as you know, I gave away all my decent jewelry a few days ago. Currently, I have nothing suitable to wear…”

“No matter. I will have the palace craftsmen work through the night to create a set for you,” Ye Guichen offered immediately.

“No, that wouldn’t be right. The Emperor already gave me plenty; it’s my fault I gave them away. To ask for more now would burden the craftsmen, and I couldn’t bear that.”

“Then what do you mean?”

“Could you… lend me some of yours?” Liu Hening asked with a bright smile. Behind her, Liu Yan and Yu Zheng looked away, wishing they were anywhere else.

Ye Guichen froze. She gave hers away, refused new ones, and now wants to borrow mine? Does this woman truly have no shame?

Ye Meng looked like she wanted to roll her eyes into the back of her head.

“Why borrow? If you don’t mind that they’ve been worn, I can simply give you some,” Ye Guichen said, her generosity acting as a shield for her annoyance.

“No, just a loan. I’ll return them immediately after,” Liu Hening insisted. If I borrow, I have to return them—which means another reason to see her!

“I should give them as a meeting gift,” Ye Guichen countered. She didn’t want a “return” visit, nor did she want to wear anything Liu Hening had used.

“A loan is a loan. I’m not usually this polite; if I really wanted them, I’d take the gift,” Liu Hening teased.

Ye Guichen led them into the inner chamber. It was the first time Liu Hening had seen it—the room was scented with agarwood and decorated with refined simplicity.

“A-Meng, open all the jewelry boxes,” Ye Guichen commanded.

As the boxes were opened, the room filled with the glitter of priceless gems. Liu Hening, Liu Yan, and Yu Zheng were stunned. They had never seen such a collection.

“Hening, choose whatever you like,” Ye Guichen said grandly.

“I don’t know much about jewelry or what suits a banquet,” Liu Hening said. “Yu Zheng, you pick a couple of pieces for me.”

Yu Zheng carefully selected a gold hairpin and an ornate ruyi necklace.

“Is that enough?” Ye Guichen asked.

“It’s plenty. Any more and it wouldn’t be me,” Liu Hening said.

Once the boxes were closed and they returned to the outer hall, Ye Guichen began her dismissal. “Now that the jewelry is chosen, if there is nothing else…”

“Huachao,” Liu Hening interrupted, looking around the hall. “Where is the Guanyin portrait that was hanging here last time?”

Ye Guichen went quiet. She really is tactless. If it’s not hanging, it’s because I didn’t want it there. Does she really need to ask?