Chapter 8, light beauty person

A long time later, Tian Qi revised this account, keeping the amount unchanged, but changing "to hit the board" to "to kneel and scrub the washboard"

Tianqi lamented incessantly

The palace is so large that as she wandered around, she unexpectedly got lost

Sheng Anhuai silently raised two middle fingers at Tian Qi in his heart

In the inner court, Tian Qi may not be said to be doing exceptionally well, but she is certainly not doing poorly either. At this moment, having lost such a significant person, she truly feels utterly ashamed. No matter how thick-skinned she is, she cannot bear it; with her head lowered, she wishes she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

Tian Qi had just been wandering around and lost her way. Seeing that this place was enjoyable, she lingered a bit longer. Of course, she did not dare to tell the truth, so she displayed her sycophantic spirit and replied, "Your Majesty, this humble servant saw the flowers blooming beautifully here and wanted to pick a few branches to bring back for your appreciation. I did not expect you to come in person. I was momentarily surprised and missed the opportunity to greet you. Please forgive this humble servant, Your Majesty"

Dancing for you from dawn till dusk

Watching her kneel and plead for mercy, Ji Heng felt a great sense of satisfaction in his heart

The air is fresh and humid, and the world, washed by the spring rain, is full of vitality

Tian Qi felt that her misfortune had not yet come to an end. What difference did it make to be in the presence of the Emperor? What good was it to serve the Emperor? She had gained no benefits and instead had incurred the Emperor's displeasure, leaving her uncertain about how the Emperor would deal with her next

Tian Qi did not know what she had done wrong to anger the Emperor, but in any case, he was angry now. Thus, she obediently allowed herself to be lifted, striving to turn herself into a mere rag. With her head lowered, she stammered, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty"

"Why is it you again?" Ji Heng said helplessly through gritted teeth, "Why is it always you!"

Sheng Anhuai felt that there would probably be another young master in the harem. With such beautiful singing, the person should also be quite good-looking. What is rare is the current atmosphere, which is simply wonderful

A thin layer of petals lies on the ground, resembling countless stars from a distance. They are battered by wind and rain, their fragrance dissipating and their beauty fading, prematurely surrendering to the earth, awaiting their inevitable return to dust.

Due to her fear that the wind would blow away the flowers on her head, Tian Qi walked along the way with trepidation. Later, Ji Heng permitted her to sit in his carriage

Ji Heng set down Tian Qi. Although the previous remarks were simple, they were quite insightful. To recognize flowers is akin to recognizing people; one must not be deceived by appearances, but rather observe their true nature. Was the eunuch's earlier statement specifically about flowers, or was it a metaphor for people?

At this moment, a melody resonated from deep within the apricot grove. The voice was clear and soft, imbued with a sense of purity and innocence. The tune was low and melancholic, and as Ji Heng listened, an inexplicable feeling of melancholy surged within his heart

This should be a folk song, lacking in literary elegance, yet the emotions are straightforward and intense. Ji Heng listened somewhat in a daze, his footsteps unconsciously following the sound of the song.

Only you and I are true confidants

The eunuch wore a blue official robe, and at that moment, he was playing with a branch of apricot blossoms in his hand, walking with his head down while singing. The apricot branch turned in his hand, and he cruelly tore off the petals one by one, casually throwing them on the ground.

"Let a few more petals fall; our master-servant bond in this life comes to an end here." Ji Heng's expression was one of a smile that was not quite a smile.

At this moment, even the sun is being considerate, suddenly emerging from behind the clouds, casting a faint light that sweeps across this sea of flowers, adding a layer of softness to the scene before us

Ji Heng surprisingly remained silent, lowering his head to meet Tian Qi's gaze. This eunuch was excessively vain, even wearing a flower on his crown. Most annoyingly, he was handsome, and the flower made him look even better.

Tian Qi halted his steps and looked up to discover them

I was originally a girl of the apricot blossoms

Tian Qi's legs went weak, and she had to kneel, but halfway down, she was lifted up by Ji Heng, who grabbed her by the back of her collar. She had a small frame, was slender, and weighed little, so Ji Heng hardly exerted any effort to lift her off the ground.

"How did you end up here?" Ji Heng asked

There is a slope nearby, covered with apricot trees. Ever since the Tang poet Du Mu wrote, "I ask where the wine house is, the shepherd boy points to Apricot Blossom Village from afar," many Apricot Blossom Villages have sprung up in the world. Within this temporary palace, a special area has also been designated as "Apricot Blossom Village." Although there are almost no people in the village, the apricot blossoms bloom and fall year after year, falling and blooming again.

By this point, Ji Heng's anger had almost dissipated.

Ji Heng thought the same way

Tian Qi huddled in the corner of the cart, motionless, with a face full of gloom

The petals of the apricot blossoms are white with a hint of pale pink, not as vibrant as peach blossoms, nor as flawless as pear blossoms, yet they possess a kind of delicate shyness reminiscent of a modest beauty. The apricot trees are in full bloom, standing gracefully on this quiet and solitary hillside, bursting forth with their brief yet beautiful lives.

The eunuch remained immersed in his own world, oblivious to their presence. As he walked straight ahead, nearly colliding into Ji Heng's embrace, Sheng Anhuai had no choice but to call out to him, "Tian Qi!"

Sheng Anhuai: Shameless! Extremely shameless!

He gazed at Tian Qi with profound meaning, causing Tian Qi to feel a wave of tension. He quickly cupped the bare flower branch with both hands and presented it to Ji Heng, saying, "Your Majesty, please accept this."

Ji Heng gladly accepted this shameless flower branch, and he tapped it against Tian Qi's forehead, asking, "Do you like wearing flowers?"

How many matters have been witnessed in the world

"Your Majesty, in my next life, I will still serve you as a servant." Tian Qi, with tears in her eyes, did not forget to flatter. Her appearance resembled a moving flower basket; with a bit of powder on her face, she could directly take the stage to play the role of a clown.

Sheng Anhuai shouted sternly, "Kneel down!"

Naturally, Tianqi did not dare to admit it, so he fabricated a story, saying, "Your Majesty may not know this, but I tore off the petals to leave the stamen. The stamen is the heart of the flower. While the petals are indeed beautiful and enchanting, the fragrance of the flower emanates from the stamen. Petals can easily captivate the eye, but the fragrance of the stamen cannot deceive anyone. Therefore, to determine whether a flower is good or not, one need not look at the petals, but only at the stamen. To appreciate a flower, one must appreciate its heart." Therefore, to determine whether a flower is good or not, one need not look at the petals, but only at the stamen. To appreciate a flower, one must appreciate its heart.

Returning to the palace, Ji Heng deliberately took Tian Qi for a stroll for a while. Many people witnessed Tian Qi's miraculous appearance

Counting to the end, three flowers were missing. Before Tian Qi could wait for Ji Heng to speak, he took the initiative to embrace his leg and weep bitterly, "Your Majesty, it does not matter if I die, but I cannot bear to part with you. Please allow me to serve you for a few more years..."

The master and servant moved forward in a sneaky manner, and finally, the singing grew closer. After turning past a tree of apricot blossoms, they would be able to see the light beauty.

Ji Heng looked at her twisted expression, and his mood finally eased considerably

Sheng Anhuai secretly gave Tian Qi the middle finger in his heart. Flattery also requires talent; nonsense comes easily to him. It seems this young man is exceptionally gifted and is teachable.

May all lovers in the world be united

Thus, this punishment was recorded in a bookkeeping manner. In the original words of Ji Heng, it was said, "Wait until an integer is accumulated before executing it, to avoid carrying out the punishment twice"

In my dreams, I compose poetry with you as my companion

Ji Heng: "... ..."

After Ji Heng finished his bath, he discovered that the rain had stopped, the clouds were dispersing, and the sun had not yet risen

Because it can kill in one strike

She felt somewhat disheartened and left the bathhouse to wander around the vicinity of the palace, not in a hurry to find the organization, as the emperor certainly would not want to see her for the time being

Ji Heng became interested in sightseeing, so he was not in a hurry to return

Tian Qi had long forgotten that he had pinned a flower on his hat, "Ah???"

However good-looking he may be, he is still a eunuch

Ji Heng unconsciously lightened his footsteps, walking over with eager anticipation

Such a poignant moment deserves a light beauty to have a chance encounter with our Emperor. One blooms perfectly, while the other cherishes the flower; the two engage in flirtation, creating a beautiful tale.

One day, we will become a couple

Ji Heng lamented incessantly

At this time of year, the apricot blossoms are in full bloom, and with the gentle drizzle beginning to fall, it is indeed a perfect occasion for flower viewing. Thus, Ji Heng took only Sheng Anhuai with him and went to the apricot blossom slope, strolling amidst a sea of pink mist.

The disparity between the visuals and the sound was too great, and in that moment, he felt a profound sense of disconnection

The Emperor's face was just inches away, and Tian Qi was so shocked that he momentarily forgot to react, staring blankly at him while holding onto the apricot branch.

Ji Heng suddenly found this young eunuch to be somewhat interesting. While there are indeed shrewd eunuchs, those who possess true insight are rare. This person is not particularly shrewd and occasionally acts foolishly, yet he possesses a rare kind of understanding. Just this quality alone makes him a hundred times better than those fools.

Then wear more of them, said Ji Heng as he took off her hat

Then, he saw a eunuch

Ji Heng shifted his gaze downward, resting it on the flower branch in Tian Qi's hand. The petals on the branch had been nearly plucked off by her, leaving only a few scattered remnants. He was so angry that he laughed, "With it looking this bare, how do you expect me to appreciate it? You must want to enjoy it for yourself first, right?"

I was originally a girl of the apricot blossoms

Upon returning to the Qianqing Palace, Ji Heng indeed instructed Tian Qi to pick the apricot blossoms, and he counted them meticulously. Tian Qi was so anxious that she rolled her eyes, as she always felt that this was not something the Emperor should be doing

On that day, Tian Qi returned to the palace with a head full of apricot blossoms. In total, there were twenty-five flowers. The Emperor stated that upon returning to the palace, he would conduct an inspection, and not a single flower could be missing. If one flower was missing, the punishment would be ten strokes of the rod, and for five or more flowers, there would be a buy five, get one free offer