Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality - Chapter 326 - 287: Mujiu Is Willing to Give Her All to Help Brother Your Majesty
“Her dark brows were like spring mountains tinged with green, her eyes like autumn waters rippling.”
This seemed the most fitting description.
The outer corners of her eyes were tinged with a natural blush, like a begonia in the afternoon sun. Her nose was slender and elegant, her crimson lips like budding cherries, the bow of her lip full as if holding a drop of morning dew.
Under the glow of the palace lanterns, her snow-white skin shone with the warm luster of jade. The ruby drop earrings hanging from her lobes swayed gently against her alabaster neck as she nodded her head.
TSK.
Seeing this Princess Qingyang, Yan Shanao clicked his tongue to himself on the other side of the hall.
’Putting everything else aside, just in terms of looks, this Princess Qingyang is definitely not inferior to Ruxue.’
The young woman walked directly before Xiao Mo and curtsied. “Qin Mujiu of the Qin Kingdom pays her respects to Your Majesty.”
“Princess Qingyang, you’ve arrived at the banquet even later than I,” Xiao Mo said with a smile.
Qin Mujiu’s clear and pleasant voice echoed through the great hall. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Mujiu has long heard of your esteemed nation’s talented lady of the Yan Clan. As soon as I arrived in the Imperial City, I wanted to meet with Elder Sister Ruxue. We had such a pleasant conversation that I lost track of time. I ask for Your Majesty’s punishment!”
“Hahaha, so that’s how it is. There’s no need for punishment. Since when has a host ever punished a guest?” Xiao Mo laughed heartily. “On the contrary, it is I who have disturbed the Princess and Miss Yan’s elegant gathering. I should be the one to drink a few cups as punishment.”
“Since Your Majesty has said so…” Qin Siyao lifted her head, her eyes curving into crescents as she spoke playfully, “Then however many cups Your Majesty drinks, Mujiu will drink just as many with you.”
Hearing Qin Siyao’s words, Xiao Mo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, “Excellent, excellent. In that case, Princess, you must indeed drink a few cups with me. Princess Qingyang, please, take your seat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Qin Siyao nodded and curtsied, taking the first seat on the left, no more than ten feet away from Xiao Mo.
The banquet began, and maids brought out the dishes and wine one after another.
Qin Siyao’s tardiness, far from giving the Zhou Kingdom an impression of arrogance, actually closed the distance between her and Xiao Mo, thanks to her playful words.
However, her mention of “meeting with Yan Ruxue” started the officials of the Zhou Kingdom muttering amongst themselves.
After all, who didn’t know that the Sovereign of Qin wanted to marry his own sister to their Majesty?
But His Majesty was about to marry the talented lady of the Yan Clan.
Now that these two had met, what could they possibly have talked about?
Could they have been trying to assert dominance over each other?
“The Eldest Princess of Qin meeting with my Zhou Kingdom’s number one talented lady—I am quite curious what the two of you discussed,” Xiao Mo asked with a smile.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Mujiu and Elder Sister Ruxue didn’t talk about much. We just discussed some poetry and songs, and I asked Elder Sister Ruxue about some of the Zhou Kingdom’s etiquette,” Qin Siyao replied with a light, pleasant tone. “After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Mujiu can’t be ignorant of the rules, or else people will gossip.”
As she spoke, Qin Siyao sighed softly, her eyes filled with sincere admiration as she said emotionally:
“But Elder Sister Ruxue’s talent truly left Mujiu in awe. And she’s as beautiful as a celestial fairy, with an extraordinary temperament. After meeting Elder Sister Ruxue, Mujiu couldn’t help but wonder how such a perfect woman could exist in this world.”
“…”
Listening to Qin Siyao’s words, everyone was, for a moment, at a loss.
’What is going on?’
’Aren’t the two of them supposed to be rivals?’
’After all, the Zhou Kingdom can only have one Empress.’
’And yet now, Qin Siyao is praising Yan Ruxue? It even feels like she’s willingly conceding defeat, wanting Yan Ruxue to be the primary wife while she takes a secondary role?’
Xiao Mo was also stunned, unable to figure out for a moment just what this Eldest Princess of Qin was thinking.
In reality, however, Xiao Mo knew that even if this Princess Qingyang truly wanted to take a secondary role, it would be impossible.
’Because the Sovereign of Qin would never agree.’
But he had to admit.
At first, Xiao Mo had thought that Princess Qingyang might be a headstrong, shrewish, and even somewhat domineering woman.
But as it turned out, the impression she gave him now was that of a gentle and harmless little white rabbit—even a bit of a naive, sweet girl…
He had to admit, though, that Princess Qingyang’s lively and playful demeanor at the banquet made Xiao Mo feel quite comfortable.
The thought even involuntarily crossed Xiao Mo’s mind: ’If she were the Empress, I could probably control her more easily, and she wouldn’t cause trouble for me.’
But very quickly, his reason calmed him down.
’You can’t judge a person completely based on a single meeting.’
’Who knows if this Princess Qingyang has another side to her.’
An hour later, as the welcome banquet was about to end and Xiao Mo was preparing to leave, Princess Qingyang stood up and looked at him expectantly.
“Your Majesty,” she said, “I’ve heard that within the Imperial Palace there is a garden called the Firefly Garden, built by the founding ancestor of the Zhou Kingdom for his Empress. They say that at night, hundreds and thousands of fireflies dance in the air, making it feel like you’re standing in the Milky Way. Would Mujiu be fortunate enough to have a look?”
“Why not? I happen to be free. You can come along with me.”
Xiao Mo didn’t mind this small request.
“Thank you, Brother Your Majesty…” Hearing Xiao Mo agree, Qin Siyao curtsied and exclaimed happily.
When Xiao Mo heard the three words “Brother Your Majesty,” he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, feeling a shiver run through his body.
No wonder he’d heard that the Sovereign of Qin doted on his younger sister, granting her almost any request.
With a personality like that, it was impossible not to like her.
Given this “mutual willingness” on both sides.
Naturally, neither the envoys from the Qin Kingdom nor the officials of the Zhou Kingdom were in a position to say anything.
Besides, Princess Qingyang would very likely be moving into the rear palace soon anyway. What was visiting a garden in the rear palace in advance?
Xiao Mo ordered his procession and brought Princess Qingyang to the entrance of the Firefly Garden.
Wei Xun tactfully waited outside as Xiao Mo walked in with Qin Siyao.
It was now past the middle of the Hour of the Dog. The moment the two of them stepped into the Firefly Garden, their eyes instantly lit up.
Hundreds and thousands of fireflies danced in the courtyard, like stars scattered across the mortal world, echoing the countless stars in the night sky above.
Standing in the courtyard was like being in a celestial wonderland.
“It’s so beautiful…” Qin Mujiu’s eyes shimmered as she exclaimed in awe beside Xiao Mo.
“It is quite pretty.”
Xiao Mo nodded.
In truth, despite being in the Imperial Palace for so long, Xiao Mo had never been to this place, mainly because he wasn’t interested in this sort of thing.
But now, Xiao Mo felt that perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to visit once in a while in his leisure time.
Especially watching this lively young woman holding the hem of her skirt as she weaved through the flowers, as if dancing with the fireflies, was a particularly pleasing sight.
“Thank you, Brother Your Majesty, for accompanying Mujiu.”
After playing in the Firefly Garden for a while, Qin Siyao ran up to Xiao Mo and curtsied.
“You’re too kind, Princess,” Xiao Mo smiled faintly. “Seeing you so happy has brightened my own mood considerably.”
“Was Brother Your Majesty in a bad mood before?” Qin Siyao asked, tilting her head. At some point, the three words “Brother Your Majesty” had started to roll off her tongue with increasing ease.
“You could say that,” Xiao Mo smiled. “It’s only human to have worries.”
“Then are Brother Your Majesty’s worries because of Yan Shanao and Empress Dowager Yan?” Qin Siyao said softly, her beautiful eyes glancing around warily, as if afraid of being overheard.
“…”
Hearing Qin Siyao’s words, Xiao Mo didn’t answer, merely watching her quietly.
“Brother Your Majesty doesn’t need to be so guarded with Mujiu.”
Qin Siyao took a step forward, looking at Xiao Mo with a harmless, innocent expression.
“The Royal Families of the Qin and Zhou Kingdoms have long had diplomatic ties. Now that Brother Your Majesty is constrained by powerful ministers and the Empress Dowager, my Qin Kingdom should naturally help.
Mujiu knows that Brother Your Majesty doesn’t trust Mujiu yet.
After all, this is the first time Mujiu and Brother Your Majesty have met.
But my father, the late emperor, always told Mujiu that if there was a chance, Mujiu must fulfill the marriage agreement set down by our ancestors.
Moreover, my elder brother is also very sympathetic to Brother Your Majesty’s plight.
So…”
Qin Siyao reached out, nervously yet bravely pinching Xiao Mo’s sleeve.
“If Brother Your Majesty is willing to believe in Mujiu, Mujiu is willing to give her all to help you…”
