We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 619: If You Can’t Get the First Bite of Meat, At Least Drink the Soup!

Han Jiu Palace, front courtyard.

Qin Siyao was playing shuttlecock with the palace maids.

Within the courtyard, the girlsʼ bright laughter rang out ceaselessly but before long, Qin Siyao noticed Laoyue and the others hurrying into Han Jiu Palace, their heads lowered.

Laoyue and the other maidsʼ palace robes were all somewhat torn, and faint scratches marked their cheeks and necks, their clothes coated with dust, as though they had been rolling about in the dirt.

Seeing her own maids in such a state, Qin Siyao found this rather strange, sensing that something must surely have happened.

Laoyue and the other maids, upon seeing their mistress, felt a jolt of alarm, quickly tugging at the torn collars of their robes, wanting to slip away by another path but Qin Siyao walked straight toward them.

In the end, they had no choice but to step forward, bowing to their mistress, saying in unison: ”This servant pays respects to my lady.”

”Mm.” Qin Siyao nodded, looking at these maids, asking with a smile, ”What happened to all of you? Did you get into a fight with someone, by any chance?”

”...”

Hearing their mistressʼs question, everyone lowered their heads even further, pressing their lips together.

”So it really was a fight with someone? Hmm?” Qin Siyao smiled. ”None of you saying a word, what exactly did you all do wrong?”

”We didnʼt do anything wrong at all.” One maid raised her head, saying, ”My lady, we didnʼt do anything shameful!”

”Thatʼs right, my lady, this has nothing to do with us. Itʼs entirely those people from Ning Xue Palace being far too overbearing!”

”Thatʼs right, my lady, we simply couldnʼt bear it any longer!”

”My lady has always treated us so well. We would never let anyone speak ill of Han Jiu Palace!”

The maids chimed in one after another, all appearing quite indignant.

Qin Siyao looked gently at her own personal attendant: ”Laoyue, why donʼt you tell me what exactly happened.”

”Yes... my lady.”

Laoyue bowed, biting her lip lightly, organizing her thoughts, then spoke slowly.

”Today, this servant led the girls to Spring Peach Garden to pick peach blossoms, and we happened to run into Xiao Chun and the others from Ning Xue Palace. While picking flowers, we got into a dispute with them.”

As she spoke, Laoyueʼs tone gradually took on a note of anger.

”Xiao Chun and the others said that His Majesty discusses everything with their own mistress, that the two of them are in perfect harmony, and now that Consort Xueʼs father has become Chancellor, and given how favored Consort Xue is, they went so far as to say their mistress would soon be named Empress, their every word dripping with contempt for our Han Jiu Palace.”

”We simply couldnʼt bear it any longer, and got into an argument with them, and then... and then it came to blows...”

By the end, Laoyue lowered her head, aware of her own fault, her expression turning sheepish.

”But rest assured, my lady, we didnʼt lose. Those maids from Ning Xue Palace couldnʼt beat us. We kept pulling their hair the whole time. They didnʼt come out unscathed either.” The youngest maid said, clenching her fists, her tone carrying a note of triumphant pride.

”Enough... enough of that...” Laoyue tugged at the young maid, quietly trying to stop her.

Whether they had won or lost, their group had, in the end, violated palace rules regardless.

”Honestly, you all...” Qin Siyao sighed, shaking her head. ”Laoyue, stay behind. The rest of you go bathe first, and change your clothes. Look at yourselves, covered head to toe in dirt. Iʼll deal with your punishment afterward.”

”Yes... my lady...” The maids pouted, but voiced no complaint, only bowing and walking away with lowered heads.

”This servant violated palace rules, and brought shame upon my ladyʼs reputation. I ask my ladyʼs punishment!”

Once the other maids had left, Laoyue knelt before Qin Siyao, asking for her judgment.

”So you do know youʼve violated palace rules?” Qin Siyao reached out, patting her head, then seated herself on the stone bench. ”Get up first. No need to kneel.”

”Yes, my lady.” Laoyue rose, stepping forward to pour her mistress a cup of tea.

”Once youʼre done here, go copy out the palace rules ten times, then take five strikes of the paddle yourself. The other maids will do the same. You may administer the strikes to each other, not too light, not too heavy either. In short, wrongdoing must be punished. Should this happen again, I wonʼt go easy on any of you. Understood?” Qin Siyao said slowly, taking a sip of tea.

”Yes, my lady, this servant accepts the punishment.” Laoyue nodded, though her eyes shifted, as though there were something more she wished to say, unsure how to begin.

”Youʼve served me for so many years now. Whatever you want to say, just say it. No need to hide anything from me.” Qin Siyao glanced at her flatly.

”Reporting to my lady.”

Laoyue hesitated a moment, glanced at her mistress, and finally resolved to speak.

”My lady, though those people at Ning Xue Palace, Xiao Chun and the others, are truly detestable, lately it does seem that Consort Xue has grown rather close to His Majesty. Shouldnʼt we perhaps take some action?”

”Action? What kind of action?” Qin Siyao asked, a note of curiosity in her eyes. ”Should I go pick a fight with Consort Xue myself, perhaps?”

”Of course not...”

Laoyue quickly shook her head.

”My lady, why not have the Qin Kingdomʼs Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry march out and simply annex the Zhou Kingdom instead?”

”The Zhou Kingdom is weak right now, while our Qin Kingdomʼs Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalryʼs morale is at its peak. Defeating the Zhou Kingdom would be effortless.”

”At that point, never mind you becoming Empress, my lady, we could even make His Majesty the Empress instead, if we wanted...”

”By then, this servant would love to see how that Xiao Chun still dares to act so arrogant!”

The more she spoke, the brighter Laoyueʼs eyes grew, already imagining in her mind how, once the Qin Kingdom absorbed the Zhou Kingdom, her own mistress would become ruler of both nations, and she herself would grind Xiao Chun beneath her heel.

”Flattening the entire Zhou Kingdom, you can even come up with such a plan? However did you get so clever?” Qin Siyao said. ”Should I also tie Consort Xue up in a room, and let her watch me and His Majesty enjoy every night together, utterly powerless to do anything about it?”

Qin Siyao laughed softly, showing no anger at all, only reaching out a finger to tap Laoyueʼs forehead.

”That... doesnʼt sound entirely unreasonable...” Laoyue blinked, feeling that it truly did seem possible.

”Go on, go on. Rather than dwelling on such useless fantasies, hurry along and accept your punishment.” Qin Siyao waved a hand. ”As for this fight with the Ning Xue Palace maids, Iʼll need to go explain it to His Majesty myself, or else heʼll think Iʼm simply jealous of her.”

”This servant truly never considered that. This servant deserves death ten thousand times over.” Hearing that her mistress would need to apologize to His Majesty on her behalf, Laoyueʼs face paled, and she knelt once more, genuinely never having imagined this would affect her own mistress.

”Itʼs fine, a small matter. Just listen to reason going forward. Go prepare the carriage. Iʼm going to see His Majesty.”

”Yes, my lady... this servant truly will never do such a thing again.” Laoyue bit her lip, withdrawing, filled with self-reproach.

”This girl, have I been too kind to her, I wonder.”

Watching Laoyueʼs retreating figure, Qin Siyao shook her head, feeling rather helpless.

”But still... Yan Ruxue, Empress?”

Qin Siyao smiled.

”Itʼs not quite that simple.”

…

Within the Dao Inquiry Platform, Xiao Mo continued practicing his sword.

Only, Xiao Mo now found himself considerably distracted, his mind occupied with thoughts of that eventual meeting with the Ten Thousand Swords Sect master.

Truth be told, Xiao Mo felt genuinely conflicted in his heart.

He both hoped that what had happened within the Book of a Hundred Lives was real, and yet also feared that it might truly be so.

After all, whatever he had done within that book, though he could not remember most of it clearly, he sensed, roughly, that it had not all been particularly good.

”Your Majesty...”

Just as Xiao Moʼs thoughts grew somewhat chaotic, a light, pleasant voice drifted in.

”Siyao, what brings you here?” Xiao Mo sheathed his sword, settling the spiritual energy within his body, smiling at Qin Siyao.

”Of course this concubine came to see Your Majesty. What, does Your Majesty not want this concubine to visit?” Qin Siyao pouted, her lovely eyes carrying a faint hint of wounded feeling, the kind that made one instantly feel guilty just looking at it.

”Of course not.” Xiao Mo smiled. ”Every time I see you, Siyao, my own mood improves considerably as well.”

”Really? Imperial Brother, donʼt lie to this concubine.” Qin Siyao stepped forward, taking out a handkerchief, gently wiping the sweat from Xiao Moʼs brow. ”This concubine noticed your swordsmanship seemed rather distracted just now, Imperial Brother. Is something troubling you?”

”Itʼs nothing much.” Xiao Mo shook his head flatly. ”Itʼs simply that thereʼs been quite a lot happening at court lately, though itʼs all manageable.”

”Imperial Brother, you must take care to rest properly. Nothing matters more than your own health.”

Qin Siyao said with concern, her eyes full of tenderness, standing so close to Xiao Mo that her rising chest nearly pressed against him.

”Oh, right, Your Majesty, this concubine came today not only to visit you, but thereʼs also a matter this concubine must apologize for, and ask Your Majestyʼs punishment for.” Qin Siyao blinked, her eyes carrying a note of apology.

”What could you possibly have done wrong, Siyao?” Xiao Mo asked with a smile.

To Xiao Moʼs mind, though Qin Siyaoʼs temperament was carefree and cheerful, even somewhat mischievous at times, in truth she understood palace protocol quite well, and always acted with proper discretion.

”Well... how should I put this to you, Imperial Brother...” Qin Siyao bit her lip lightly, speaking slowly. ”This concubine failed to properly manage her own maids. They got into a conflict with the maids from Ning Xue Palace, violating palace rules. I ask Imperial Brotherʼs judgment.”

”A conflict?” Xiao Mo grew even more puzzled.

”Yes.” Qin Siyao nodded. ”Everyone in the palace believes that Ning Xue Palace and Han Jiu Palace are vying for favor, and there have been recent rumors that Sister Ruxue will soon be named Empress of Great Zhou. This concubineʼs maids couldnʼt bear it, and an argument broke out, and, well, hair got pulled and clothes got torn.”

”...” Xiao Mo found himself momentarily at a loss for words, genuinely uncertain what to say about these harem matters.

”Honestly, this concubine has been rather worried.”

Qin Siyao lowered her head, a note of unease in her eyes.

”This concubine isnʼt worried that Sister Ruxue might become Empress. This concubine worries that Sister Ruxue might think this concubine is competing with her for favor, and that it might affect the relationship between us, disrupting harmony within the harem, causing Your Majesty needless worry and distraction. That would truly be a grave fault on this concubineʼs part.”

”Siyao, enough of this. As for the position of Empress, surely neither of you would think much of it anyway...” Looking at the sweet, delicate consort before him, Xiao Mo found himself, for a moment, unsure whether she spoke sincerely or not.

Both of these women were cultivators of unfathomably deep cultivation level.

Their coming to the Great Zhou palace was, surely, in pursuit of something else entirely.

Becoming his consorts was merely a performance yet, somehow, over these past year or two, Siyao seemed to have grown rather too absorbed in her role.

”Who said we wouldnʼt think much of it? Though this concubine, like Sister Ruxue, did come to the palace with another purpose in mind, Siyaoʼs feelings for Imperial Brother are genuine nonetheless.”

Qin Siyao reached out, taking hold of Xiao Moʼs large hand.

”This time, this concubine failed to properly manage her own household, and asks Imperial Brotherʼs punishment, or else this concubineʼs heart truly wonʼt be at ease.”

”And how does my consort wish to be punished, I wonder?” Xiao Mo asked with a helpless smile.

”Your Majesty may punish this concubine however you wish.” With these words, Qin Siyao turned, her back to Xiao Mo, bending forward slightly, her palace robe clinging to her figure, tracing the perfect curve of her waist and hips. ”Or perhaps Imperial Brother could give this concubine a few strokes of the paddle, hmm?”

”That... letʼs leave it at that. Just donʼt let it happen again.” Xiao Mo shook his head, withdrawing his gaze, paying no mind to Qin Siyaoʼs provocation.

Until he had fully sorted out what exactly Qin Siyao and Yan Ruxue were truly searching for within the palace, and what their real identities were, he felt he still needed to maintain a certain distance.

”Hmph... Imperial Brother really is no fun at all. I genuinely wanted Imperial Brother to punish me.”

Qin Siyao pouted, her expression showing a note of disappointment.

”Since Imperial Brother is so oblivious, this concubine suddenly feels that what that girl Laoyue said makes a fair bit of sense after all.”

”What did Laoyue say?” Xiao Mo asked.

”Laoyue said... rather than competing for favor here, why not have Great Qinʼs Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry simply carry Imperial Brother away? Then this concubine could enjoy every night together with Your Majesty.”

With these words, Qin Siyao tilted her head back, her large, luminous eyes blinking as she gazed at Xiao Mo.

”Imperial Brother, would you be willing to let this concubine steal you away?”

Qin Siyaoʼs fingers traced circles across Xiao Moʼs chest.

”If Imperial Brother is willing, given this concubineʼs cultivation level, taking the Qin Kingdom and handing it over to Imperial Brother wouldnʼt be impossible at all, you know.”

…

The palaceʼs southern garden.

Because this had, for generations, been where the Zhou Kingdomʼs disgraced consorts were confined, it had always been extraordinarily quiet and now, with the Great Zhou palace holding only two consorts, this cold palace stood entirely empty, its silence all the more pronounced.

Sili stole away to this place, drawing a mechanical bird from her storage bracelet.

This mechanical bird was a creation of the Mohist school, inscribed with formation arrays, capable of slipping silently through the palace, delivering messages to the outside world.

After a long hesitation, Sili finally decided to bring out the letter she had already written.

The paper held only a single short line: ”Young masterʼs reincarnation found, is the Zhou Kingdomʼs emperor. Sect master, come at once.”

Placing the letter within the mechanical birdʼs belly, the bird beat its wings, flying out from the palace.

Sili had originally planned to have a taste of young master herself first, before informing Yu Yunwei but now, matters had spiraled entirely beyond her own expectations.

Two Ascension realm cultivators appearing within the Zhou Kingdomʼs harem was, in itself, utterly outrageous and now even the Lord of the Four Seas intended to visit the Zhou Kingdom.

There had to be something hidden behind all of this!

For now, she could only hope that once Yunwei received her letter, the Ten Thousand Dao Sect would act swiftly.

Even if she herself couldnʼt get the first bite of meat, at least she ought to get some soup out of it!