EBE Chapter 519 Xie Jingxian: The Wuli Tribe
Chapter 519 Xie Jingxian: The Wuli Tribe
Was I a good student back then?
Her voice was soft and childlike, and her eyes were bright as she looked at her.
Qin Jiuwei was amused by her appearance and replied with a smile, "So well-behaved."
"You were very quiet in my belly, never making a fuss. After you were born, you didn't cry much either. You would fall asleep as soon as I held you and comforted you. You were a worry-free person."
Xie Yun smiled broadly upon hearing this.
Qin Jiuwei looked at Xie Jing, who hadn't said a word.
"Your coming-of-age ceremony is the day after tomorrow. I've had the invitation list sent to your study. Have you seen it?"
Xie Jing put down his chopsticks. "I've seen it. Mother's arrangements are very appropriate."
Qin Jiuwei nodded. "The coming-of-age ceremony is a big event. Although you don't care about these formalities, you still need to maintain the proper decorum."
"Don't worry, Mother, I understand."
-
The next day, Beijing.
In the late afternoon, the south gate of the capital was teeming with people.
A carriage covered in mountain vine patterns slowly entered the city. Before it had even come to a complete stop, the curtain was suddenly lifted from the inside.
The girl leaped down, lightly touching the carriage shaft with her feet, her figure as nimble as a raccoon.
It was a face that made you want to turn around.
She had fair skin and exquisite features, especially her eyes, which were like the clearest spring after a rain in the mountains, lively yet with a touch of cunning.
Her sideburns were braided with fine silver threads and adorned with tiny five-colored beads, which swayed gently with her movements, like the leaves of a forest being blown by a mountain breeze.
Li Sheng looked up at the tall city tower and the brothels and theaters on the street. Her eyes turned, and she was like a sparrow that had fallen into the bustling city. Everything was new and she wanted to peck at everything.
"Girl, wait a minute, there are too many people here—"
Before the old woman accompanying her could finish speaking, Li Sheng had already darted into the crowd, turned back and waved to her, "I know the way, let's meet at the post station later."
"I'll go check out the candied hawthorns in the capital first, to see if they're really as bright red as in the paintings!"
She squeezed past two men carrying loads, her movements as nimble as if she were walking on air, and as she ran, she didn't forget to turn back and say, "I'll buy two, and I'll save one big one for you too!"
The sounds of street vendors hawking their wares, the noise of vehicles, and her laughter mingled together.
But in a very short time, Li Sheng stopped in her tracks.
At the alley entrance, a thin, small mongrel dog was cowering in a corner, half of its body stained with blood, while several children were throwing stones at it.
"Hey!" She raised an eyebrow and stood in front of the children. "What are you doing?"
The children were taken aback, then ran away, frightened by her inexplicable aura.
She squatted down, broke off the remaining fruit from the candied hawthorn skewer, and held it to the dog's mouth.
"Don't be afraid, I'm not fierce."
The puppy sniffed timidly, then licked it.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling.
At the South Post Station in the capital, Granny Zheng saw the familiar figure and hurriedly came to greet her.
But when she saw the dirty little dog in Li Sheng's arms, her expression changed immediately.
"My little darling! Why did you bring a dog home! This thing is so dirty, what if it catches a disease?"
Li Sheng wrinkled her nose. "It's not dirty. I just washed it in the river by the city and wiped it several times with a damp cloth. It's very clean."
He then lifted the dog up slightly, as if to say, "Here is the evidence."
Granny Zheng looked like she was about to faint, stamping her feet anxiously. "My goodness, we're going to the palace to meet the Emperor this afternoon! Hurry, hurry, let's go inside and change our clothes!"
Qianqing Palace.
Gao Che leaned against the gold-lacquered soft couch, propping his face up with one hand and fiddling with the unfinished game on the jade chessboard with the other.
His expression was not like that of an emperor, but more like that of a young man chatting casually.
"This is the first time the Wuli people have taken the initiative to pay tribute. What do you think, sir?"
Xie Jing stood before the imperial desk, dressed in a dark blue embroidered bamboo robe, his expression gentle and calm.
“Wuli is located on the southwestern border, with mountains and forests everywhere, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Throughout history, no one has been willing to submit. Even during the reign of the late emperor, they could only barely manage to avoid war.”
"Now they are willing to come to Beijing on their own initiative..."
Before the words were finished, a clear and high-pitched voice suddenly came from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty, Li Sheng, the daughter of the chieftain of the Wuli tribe, has arrived outside the palace and requests an audience with Your Majesty."
"Xuan."
A moment later, the palace doors were slowly opened by a eunuch, and a figure steadily entered in the morning light.
The young girl, in the prime of her youth, wore a long shawl-like robe made of Southwest Yun brocade, paired with a moon-white pleated skirt, her hair tied up high and surrounded by silver ornaments.
"Li Sheng, daughter of the chieftain of the Wuli tribe, pays her respects to Your Majesty."
Her voice was clear and melodious, neither arrogant nor humble, and perfectly measured.
Gao Che waved his hand, "No need."
Xie Jing stood quietly to the side, his gaze fixed on the girl in the hall.
He observed and made his judgments discreetly.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, the girl turned her head.
Xie Jing paused slightly.
He hadn't expected her to look at him.
Their eyes met briefly in the air, and they remained silent.
She glanced at him, but only once before turning her head away.
Xie Jing's expression remained unchanged.
Evening at the post station.
After returning to the house, Li Sheng let out a long sigh of relief, as if a taut bowstring had suddenly been released.
Granny Zheng came forward, her eyes filled with worry, "How is it? Is everything going smoothly at the palace?"
Li Sheng looked up and smiled, "It went fairly smoothly, and I met the person."
"That's good. Once we've seen him, the rest will be fine—"
"Granny," Li Sheng suddenly interrupted her, glancing outside the courtyard, "Where's Dahei?"
Granny Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's in the back room. I had someone give it a bath this afternoon and fed it some minced meat and soup. It ate it happily."
Upon hearing this, Li Sheng's eyes curved into crescents, like a lamp lit up in the night wind of the mountains.
"You're always so thoughtful and efficient, I have to praise you."
Granny Zheng pretended to put on a stern face, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
"Miss, please don't praise me. If you do, who knows what you'll bring back tomorrow."
Li Sheng turned around with a smile.
Zheng Mama was her wet nurse. Her mother died early, so you could say that Zheng Mama was like a second mother to her.
Their tribe lived in the mountains and didn't have many rules. She and Granny Zheng didn't adhere to these rules either, and they always said whatever came to mind.
late at night.
Li Sheng sat on the soft blanket, holding the fluffy black dog in her arms.
Big Black nestled in her arms, its limbs limp, its tail occasionally wagging.
Its fur had been washed clean by Granny Zheng, revealing a pair of round eyes, and a rattan necklace she had made herself was hanging around its neck, the beads jingling.
"You can really eat! You ate half a bowl of that braised pork today."
Li Sheng muttered to herself, her fingers gently rubbing the underside of its neck, but her gaze drifted further away.
"It looks like it won't be easy to get close."
Big Black yawned.
"What do you think I should do?"
Li Sheng chuckled to himself, running his fingers through its fur.
A moment later, the smile in his eyes slowly faded.