In that somber moment, an unspoken understanding passed between Qin Ling and her mother, etched into their weary gazes. The weight of the matter pressed heavily upon them, and it revolved around a singular name – Jing Tian.
A few months prior to this trying day, Qin Ling had heard whispers of the mountaintop temple's divine reputation, where fervent prayers were believed to be met with answers. Moved by a desire to safeguard her family's well-being and beseech the heavens for her own health, she embarked on a journey to Mount Yue. Accompanying her were her faithful maid, Hu Yi, and a retinue of loyal servants, all crammed within the confines of a carriage.
As the scenery outside rolled by, Qin Ling, driven by a nagging curiosity, queried her servants about the cause of their solemn demeanor. The driver hesitated momentarily, then confessed that they had encountered a bloodied and battered soul on the road.
This revelation stirred a deep concern within Qin Ling's heart, compelling her to exit the carriage. It was the first time she had ever laid eyes upon someone so grievously wounded, and the sight filled her with a mixture of fear and compassion. Though her servants moved to intervene, her determined gesture silenced their protests, conveying her insistence on approaching the injured stranger.
With a stick she plucked from the earth, Qin Ling gingerly prodded the wounded stranger. Anxiety gnawed at the hearts of her accompanying servants, beads of sweat forming on their brows. Qin Ling, as the eldest daughter of the right prime minister, was not to be harmed or endangered; any injury to her could result in severe punishment, even execution.
One of her devoted servants ventured closer to both Qin Ling and the mysterious man, poised to shield their Miss should the need arise. They watched with bated breath as Qin Ling, finding no response from the injured traveler, requested another servant to assess his condition. Kneeling down, the servant carefully examined the stranger's shallow breath, confirming his tenuous grasp on life.
Upon hearing this, Qin Ling promptly issued an order for the man to be transported to the temple with them. Hu Yi, her loyal maid, voiced an immediate concern, her words weighed by the specter of potential scandal. "Miss," she urged, "your reputation may be tarnished if anyone were to spot a man in your carriage."
Upon hearing Hu Yi's concerns, Qin Ling offered her perspective. "Yiyi, every life holds value, and there's no need for him to join us inside the carriage. He can sit up front with the driver, and we are only five minutes away from the temple."
The injured man was carefully placed near the driver's seat, and they resumed their journey to the temple. Fortunately, he clung to life during the brief ride. Once they reached the temple, a servant hurried inside to seek the assistance of a resident monk for the injured stranger.
After the man had received treatment and his wounds were properly dressed, he was provided accommodation in a guest room within the temple's confines.
By the time Qin Ling arrived at the temple, evening had descended. She made the decision to stay there for the night, and a room was arranged for her comfort.
The following morning, Qin Ling awoke with the first rays of the sun. She readied herself and ventured out to offer her prayers. While walking, a servant approached her and delivered some news. "Miss," the servant began, "the injured man from yesterday has regained consciousness."
"I see," Qin Ling acknowledged before continuing her journey to the temple to offer her morning prayers.
Little did Qin Ling anticipate that this man would not only discover her true identity but also orchestrate accidental encounters. However, the tables turned when he laid bare his feelings. She turned him down after discovering he was none other than Jing Tian, the illegitimate son of the left prime minister. Her rejection wasn't a matter of status; it was to shield her family from any accusations of rebellion.
While the emperor possessed wisdom and typically made informed judgments, one could never predict when his stance might shift.
Yet, trouble had a way of arriving unannounced.
On a day like any other, while accompanying her father on an outing, fate once again intertwined their paths. Jing Tian, seemingly undeterred, approached them with an intent to reach her father. Prime Minister Qin's furrowed brow revealed his recognition of the man. Though their exchange was brief and words were few, Marquis Hui, an ardent loyalist to the emperor, bore witness to this encounter and rushed to report it to the imperial court.
Within the court's confines, everyone had been privy to the tumult stirred by the left prime minister regarding the disaster that had befallen the southernmost reaches of the empire. When relief funds and provisions were dispatched to aid those in the affected region, it was the left prime minister's covert attempts to conscript survivors between the ages of 15 and 30 into his burgeoning army that raised suspicions, albeit with scarce evidence. Nevertheless, these actions cast a long shadow of potential rebellion.
In the royal court, an uneasy silence surrounded this issue, and the emperor maintained an enigmatic stance. The crown prince, Feng Li, had forged his path in the army, commanding a formidable force that stood unwaveringly loyal. This bolstered the emperor's confidence, providing a reassuring buffer.
However, the situation took a stark turn when Prime Minister Qin became entangled in the affair. The calm waters swiftly transformed into treacherous rapids, threatening to engulf him and his entire family. The shadow of rebellion, once a distant murmur, now loomed ominously over them, casting doubt upon their very loyalty.
In this tumultuous time, the Qin family stood at the precipice of a grave crisis, their fate entwined with the swirling tides of political intrigue.
In the quiet of the pavilion, with only the delicate sound of rustling leaves and the fragrance of blossoms wafting through the air, Madam Qin's voice carried the weight of a mother's concern. She motioned for the maids to withdraw, leaving mother and daughter alone, their hearts heavy with the gravity of their predicament.
Tenderly, Madam Qin held Qin Ling's hand, her eyes betraying the anxiety she sought to mask. "Ling Ling," she began, her voice laden with reluctant truth, "there are but two paths before us now. One, to uncover irrefutable evidence of the left prime minister's rebellion, a perilous journey indeed. Or two, to offer one of our own to the crown prince in marriage."
The unspoken tension in the household was palpable. Qin Ling knew that her father's concubines harbored ambitions, willing to employ any stratagem to ascend in her father's favor. With four daughters, including herself, and her father's concubines ever scheming, the stakes were dire. Although her father was a man of honor, the concubines plotted relentlessly to secure their futures. It was a somber reality they could not ignore.
In the intricate dance of their family's history, the concubines had swiftly presented their offerings, producing children in rapid succession. The result was one boy and two girls, born in quick succession, but alas, they were mere concubine's progeny, relegated to the periphery of family affairs.
A year later, Madam Qin blessed the family with a son, Qin Jing, a child of legitimacy and hope. A ray of pride for their father, he carried the expectations of an heir. Another year unfurled, and Qin Ling entered the world, sharing her birth year with a child from a different concubine, a mere month her junior. A testament to the ever-present competition among the concubines and their progeny.
Madam Qin's grip on her daughter's hand tightened as she delivered her guidance with a solemn tone. "Ling Ling," she imparted, her voice carrying the weight of their future, "while your father tirelessly seeks the elusive shreds of evidence, you must ensure the crown prince doesn't harbor any ill will towards you. You needn't curry his favor, but always show respect. In two days' time, a banquet awaits at the palace, and you shall attend alongside your father and me."
Qin Ling nodded in agreement, her eyes cast downwards in a gesture of understanding and compliance.