Chapter 94: Building a Warm Pavilion for Her

“Wanyin——” Helian Qi called out to her.

Ning Wanyin remained in her bowing posture, as if enduring all the grievances, she lowered her head and said with tears, “Your Majesty has commanded.”

Helian Qi rose from the dragon throne and walked straight to her, reaching out to help her up, “Wanyin, I understand your grievances…”

“Your Majesty has already dealt with her for me, I don’t feel wronged. It’s just that I can only manage to live peacefully with her, please, Your Majesty, don’t force me to accept her apology.” Ning Wanyin looked up at the man in front of her, her eyes filled with tears, they fell one after another.

This wasn’t the first time Helian Qi had seen a woman cry, nor was it the first time he had seen Ning Wanyin cry.

But he didn’t want to see her cry at this moment.

“I won’t force you. You don’t have to pay attention to her, just do whatever makes you happy.” Helian Qi looked down at her and comforted her, “In the future, if you want to throw it away, just throw it away, don’t think too much. It’s not a big deal, you don’t have to consider me all the time.”

Ning Wanyin looked at Helian Qi with tears in her eyes, three parts resentment and three parts joy, “If Your Majesty treats me poorly, I naturally won’t be so dedicated. But you are so kind to me, how can I let you down?”

Every word she said touched his heart.

How could he be kind to her? Yet, she was devoted to him, going through fire and water for him, willingly, without regret.

He wanted to be even better to her.

Helian Qi didn’t let Ning Wanyin go back, he kept her by his side to help with the writing, and she stayed in Qianxin Palace that night.

The next day, Ning Wanyin returned to Lingsxue Pavilion.

Early in the morning, Wang Degui led a group of eunuchs from the Imperial Palace to pay their respects.

“This servant greets Ning Jiejue! Congratulations, Ning Jiejue! His Majesty has ordered a warm pavilion to be built in Lingsxue Pavilion.” Wang Degui’s face was full of surprise, he congratulated her.

The capital was located in the north, and the winters were harsh.

Therefore, the main halls in the palace had warm pavilions, heated by underground fire, smokeless and dust-free, warm as spring.

But the side halls naturally didn’t have them.

Concubines with lower ranks could only use charcoal braziers for warmth.

This was a privilege reserved for concubines with higher ranks, those above the rank of Bin.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he had never done anything so out of line!

He had never favored a concubine so much.

“Your Majesty is kind, your concubine is deeply grateful!” Ning Wanyin was slightly startled, she quickly recalled that this didn’t violate the rules, then she bowed and thanked him.

The palace rules only stated that concubines with lower ranks could not live in the main hall.

It didn’t say that they couldn’t build a warm pavilion in the side hall. Perhaps the ancestors, when they were making the palace rules, hadn’t thought that they would encounter an emperor who was so fond of building palaces for his concubines.

It was true, if the emperor truly wanted to be good to you, no matter what your rank, he could make you live well!

“Ning Jiejue, winter will be here next month, His Majesty is truly thinking of you all the time, this is truly a unique favor!” Wang Degui flattered. He couldn’t remember how many times he had said “unique”, but His Majesty was truly unique in his kindness towards Ning Jiejue!

He dug a lotus pond for her in the summer, and built a warm pavilion for her in the winter.

In the court and the harem, who wouldn’t be amazed by this most favored concubine, her imperial favor was extraordinary.

“Your concubine will go to Qianxin Palace to thank him later.” Ning Wanyin said sincerely.

She was quite happy with the warm pavilion, the emperor was still as generous as ever.

Winter was approaching.

Who wouldn’t want a warm room?

Soon, there were more Ru kiln vases, Shu embroidery screens, pearwood chairs, etc.

Boxes upon boxes of furnishings were carried into Lingsxue Pavilion.

These were all gifts from the emperor.

Ordinary Jieyus didn’t have warm pavilions, so naturally, they didn’t have the furnishings for them.

The furnishings gifted by the emperor were all the best, when they were all laid out, they were even more magnificent than the warm pavilions in the palaces of ordinary concubines.

As usual, Ning Wanyin rewarded the servants of Lingsxue Pavilion and the eunuchs who came to work.

Lingsxue Pavilion was bustling with activity early in the morning.

…

Yonghe Palace was bustling with activity on one side, while the other side was cold and quiet.

Song Qingzhi listened to the commotion next door and asked Xiao Dongzi, “What happened in Lingsxue Pavilion?”

Shi’er had been punished with twenty lashes and was resting in the room, now only Xiao Dongzi was left to serve her.

“I heard that His Majesty has bestowed a favor, he’s going to build a warm pavilion for Ning Jiejue…” Xiao Dongzi replied.

Song Qingzhi was so angry that she coughed several times, “His Majesty is truly… cough… exceptionally kind to her…”

“Mistress, calm down, you’re not well, the imperial physician said you shouldn’t get angry…” Xiao Dongzi deliberately persuaded, “His Majesty often comes to Yonghe Palace, this is a good thing for you… you’ll have more opportunities in the future…”

“Heh, do I have to rely on Ning Wanyin to have opportunities?” Song Qingzhi was even angrier.

Although everyone could see that she was living in Yonghe Palace, she was taking advantage of Ning Wanyin’s favor to get a piece of the pie…

But Song Qingzhi could do this, but she didn’t want to hear others say it about her.

Song Qingzhi looked towards the next door, her eyes cold.

Ning Wanyin, you just wait.

Your glory won’t last long.

…

Three days later.

Helian Qi was about to go to court.

As he stepped out of the door of Yonghe Palace.

Song Qingzhi hurriedly knelt in front of him, bowing and paying her respects, “Your concubine greets His Majesty, may His Majesty be well!”

“Rise.” Helian Qi waved his hand.

He didn’t throw back the gift Song Qingzhi had sent, he didn’t want to make a fuss about it.

After all, she was the daughter of his important official, he would spare her life.

But he wouldn’t favor such a foolish and vicious person again.

“Your concubine has something to report—” Song Qingzhi said urgently.

Helian Qi frowned, “What is it?”

“Your concubine wants to report that Ning Wanyin is having an affair with my brother!” Song Qingzhi clenched her fist hidden in her sleeve, she spoke every word clearly.

Helian Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief, he looked at her incredulously, “What are you saying?”

“A few days ago, your concubine was unwell, my brother wrote me a letter and sent me some things.” Song Qingzhi hesitated for a moment, but she became more and more determined, “In the letter, my brother scolded me and told me to give Ning Jiejue the inkstone he sent as a gift, as an apology.”

“Your concubine knows she was wrong, I’m very regretful, I think my brother’s words make sense, so I chose some precious things, along with the inkstone, and gave them to Ning Jiejue!”

“But I didn’t expect that in the past two days, I accidentally discovered that Ning Jiejue often holds my brother’s inkstone and cries, she also recites love poems about missing her lover… I realized something was wrong.”

“I hesitated for a long time, I couldn’t hide it for my brother’s sake. What if it confuses the royal bloodline in the future, your concubine would be ashamed to face His Majesty!”

What she meant was that she was worried that her brother and Ning Wanyin would have a child… so for the sake of His Majesty, she had to report her own brother.

“This is my brother’s letter, please, Your Majesty, take a look.” Song Qingzhi took out the letter she had prepared and handed it to Helian Qi.

Shi’er, who was kneeling beside her, also said, “Ning Jiejue is shameless, she’s actually secretly having an affair with her lover behind His Majesty’s back! This servant also heard it, Ning Jiejue’s words were very explicit, very obscene, they were unbearable to listen to…”