Chapter 44 - The Wealthy Wife
Ni Qing may not know about the etiquette, but she well aware of the position of the palace. She is trying to find the correct way to the outer area of the Palace where there was a palace to the famous consort from Jin Yu royal grandfather. However, during the previous emperor, Jin Yu's father changes the rule for the consort and concubine to reside in the inner palace.
"Where is the Palace of royal consort Du?" Ni Qing is asking Jin Yu.
"I have to ask you about your cheek. Is it still hurt?" Jin Yu is caressing her cheek. Ni Qing holds his hand on her cheek and looks at him.
"Not anymore… Motherlove to sister Lang always more than her love to me and Ni Sheng. I got used to her treatment since I was a child. However, I always shield my mother back before she passes away. After my mother died, Lin Yue and Ni Sheng shielded me from my mother," Ni Qing is explaining to her husband.
"You have me now. You can rely on me and use me to your advantage. Promise me that you can not get hurt and cry in the future. You are my wife and if someone slaps you, it will slap me also," Jin Yu told her with his gentle voice and pull her closer to his chest.
"I want to stay in old consort chu palace. I will clean it up and build it with my own money," Ni Qing stop him and drop the bomb.
"No… it is so far away from my palace. You are not getting her old palace and the palace looks like it will crumble down soon," Jin Yu rejects her idea straight away.
"Okay then cancel the idea of me entering the palace…" Ni Qing has to get that palace that is in the outside ring of the palace. It will be easy for her to go in and out of the palace as she wishes. If she stays inside this wall, then it will be suffocating for her.
"DO you have a lot of money to start with the building?" Jin Yu is asking her.
"Do you actually look down on me? My wage from you is well enough and My tea house include my boutique actually can make me the wealthiest woman in this era," Ni Qing is telling him.
"You are having all this business like a girl. How much more you have in your sleeve?"
"I have few lands outside the capital and a summer house in the mountain and a winter house with the natural hot bath. So, I will be well enough even I am not getting married," Ni Qing is trying to remember all her assets.
"Wow… I got a jackpot… did Lin Yue know all of this? And can I abdicate and become a house husband?" Jin Yu is looking at her with amusement.
"Yes… He knows all of my assets and it separate from all of his assets. I still can do everything I do even after our marriage. Why should you abdicate?" Ni Qing is looking at him.
"Whoaaaaa… I can not believe Lin Yue is actually letting you loose like that. Is he ready to become a chucklehead?" Jin Yu looks at her.
"Are you giving me the palace, or I live outside the palace? I Can purchase it straight away. Ah, I can not because I still not yet married and I have to live inside my parent house," Ni Qing is trying to stir her husband mind.
"DO you think that I am stupid to not know about your main goal? You want me to give you my royal grandmother palace before she moves into the empress palace," Jin Yu is flicking her forehead.
"Stop flick my head. It is hurting me. So, you will agree for me to stay in the late consort Chu palace in the southern area of the Palace," Ni Qing is rubbing her forehead. Eunuch Wang and Xiao Nie are smiling to see their master and miss interaction in the back of them.
"I will take care of the renovation myself. You have to stay inside my chamber when the Palace is not ready for our house, and it will be my present for you like your husband," Jin Yu pinches her nose.
"Do you tend to hurt me? My back and waist are still hurting from yesterday and my cheek hurt from my mother. Now, you hurt my forehead and nose. Why I have to be with people who like to torture me?" Ni Qing pretends to weep in front of everyone and Jin Yu cannot resist her flirting technique.
"I am sorry my princess… do you want me to get a new title for an emperor who forgets their subject and people for spending time only in the bed?" Jin Yu is bending his body to face her.
"Okay… Okay…. I let you off… I have to go back to the empress palace and brace myself from my parent scolding," Ni Qing is standing up and fix her mourning cloth.
"Do you want me to be with you?"
"Your highness, Prime minister is waiting for you in your study. The courier also brings the news from the border," The eunuch is reporting to the emperor.
"It's fine… you go become the almighty emperor while I will become the good daughter of lord Ni," Ni Qing is giving him a pecked kiss on his cheek before doing a curtsy and leave him in the garden. Jin Yu is walking in another direction toward his study in the centre of the palace. He told Zhang to follow Ni Qing from far away and protect her at all costs. No one can touch a strain of hair of her.
In the corner, concubine Gu is lurking and eavesdropping on the emperor with a new girl. This is the first time; she saw the emperor with a girl and even pacifying it. She cannot clearly hear about their conversation but for sure he is falling for her. He even hugged her inside his arm when he always at arm's length with all the women.
She got angry to witness such affection between her husband with someone else. She is from a reputable family and his father is one of the lords. She ends up as the concubine of the emperor. she is only live as a concubine without any status and the best part of it. Her own husband never comes and visit her. They are only meeting when there is ceremonial or other important events inside the palace. The emperor never flipped her name tag or if she got flipped then the late empress will do the same thing. She actually tightens the grasp into the rose and the blood start to drip from her hand. Her maid is worried and drags her back to her palace.
In another corner, there is a concubine song who can not express her emotion to see such affection from the man. She enters the harem to save her parent from the corruption case, and eventually fall in love with her husband. He's aloof and handsome expression toward everyone moves her heart after all the time. However, she feels her heart pierce through with hundred of a needle because of the scene. She turns her back toward her own palace before venting it toward her maid. She is really angry because of the new girl.
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In the mourning hall, everyone is coming and go within the hour. Madame Ni is getting paler by the minute. She still cannot accept the reality of her daughter died. She still buried in her sorrow to think about her beautiful daughter who dies at a young age.
This afternoon, they are going to bury her in the Colosseum complex for the royal consort and her tablet will be stored in the monastery hall with the other late royal consort. Meanwhile, Jin Yu is keeping his side only for Ni Qing. He wants to be with her when death comes.
Ni Qing is arriving with Xiao Nie into her sister palace when the eunuchs and lady maids are ready to send the empress to the last place for resting. She can see no concubines come to pay respect and send her sister away. She will remember it and make their life to suffer bit by bit.
Ni Sheng is holding her weak mother side to the carriage with his father. He is riding his horse in front of the carriage. Ni Qing is confused when she doesn't want to be inside her parent carriage for the whole journey.
Suddenly, the gold dragon carriage comes from the back with the emperor sign on it. Zhang is sitting in the front with the coachman. He stops to help his new missus to the carriage. Ni Qing cannot believe that Jin Yu is sending his flashy carriage and his personal security.