Chapter 31: Because I Once Had Expectations

“How could Your Majesty remember the exact hour of Xiao Qi’s birth?” Ji Yun was somewhat perplexed.

“Because, at that time, I hoped he would be a girl. The late emperor once said that if the Ji family ever had a daughter, she would surely become a model of womanhood for the realm. Had he been born a girl, he would have been my empress long ago.”

“Your Majesty jests. I am unworthy, unable to give birth to a daughter,” Ji Yun replied hurriedly.

“Enough. Since we're in the inner palace, I shall go over and visit him. You wait in the Imperial Study; I will have someone bring Master Ji Qi to you.”

“Your Majesty... perhaps it would be better to send someone to inform him and summon him to the Imperial Study instead.”

Ji Yin’s presence in the inner palace left him uneasy.

“What is there for the Imperial Preceptor to worry about? I have already said, ignorance is no crime.”

“Yes!” Ji Yun nodded quickly in response.

...

“Hua Ning, with so many fish in this pond, imagine how delicious it would be if we grilled them,” Ji Yin leaned against the railing, gazing at the densely packed fish in the pond.

The Ninth Princess handed her some fish feed.

“These are not for eating, they're bred for admiration,” she said.

Ji Yin took the feed and tossed it in. Instantly, the fish erupted into a frenzy, crashing together in a chaotic mass.

“If we keep raising them like this, the pond will soon be too small.”

“Then we'll dig it bigger,” the Ninth Princess continued to throw feed into the water.

She asked Ji Yin a series of questions and discovered that Ji Yin truly had been forced into a desperate situation by Chu Yu, and had awakened her abilities in a muddled haze. In all of Scarlet Feathers, everyone knew Ji Yin was a notorious wastrel, and if Ji Yin could awaken, so could she!

With this idea, Princess Bei Hua Ning’s heart brimmed with anticipation.

After spending half a day together, she felt that Ji Yin was not as infamous as the rumors claimed. On the contrary, she found her quite agreeable.

Ji Yin took more fish feed from Bei Hua Ning and suddenly flung it with all her strength toward the front.

The water instantly boiled with activity as the fish surged toward the feed, churning the pond into utter chaos.

“Ah! Ah! What’s happening to these fish? Have they gone mad?” A startled cry rang out from nearby.

“Your Highness, please step this way, be careful—the water from the pond might splash onto you.”

Ji Yin saw a woman dressed in extravagant finery being shielded by several palace maids as they scrambled to avoid the riotous splashes.

Bei Hua Ning’s smile froze when she saw the woman.

“Concubine Chu!”

Ji Yin found the scene amusing and couldn’t help but laugh.

...

“How dare you! You actually mock Concubine Chu!” A palace maid pointed at Ji Yin and reprimanded her.

Ji Yin was bewildered—was even laughter forbidden?

Chu Feng Lan quickly regained her dignified composure, straightened her attire, and looked toward Ji Yin.

“Who are you? How dare you trespass in the inner palace?”

“I am Ji Yin,” Ji Yin replied directly.

At the mention of the name, Chu Feng Lan nearly tore the brocade handkerchief in her grasp. She strode toward Ji Yin, her aura formidable.

Bei Hua Ning immediately stepped forward. “Concubine Chu, Ji Yin is my friend. I invited her to the palace; she did not trespass.”

Concubine Chu? Chu Yu... Ji Yin immediately understood the connection.

No wonder, upon seeing her, there was such animosity—she was from the Chu family.

“Guards! Seize this intruder who entered the inner palace without permission!” Chu Feng Lan ordered, giving not the slightest regard to the Ninth Princess.

The Ninth Princess quickly blocked Ji Yin, “You are not to lay a hand on her!”