The Consequences Of Accidentally Flirting With A Paranoid Empress (Transmigration Into A Book) - Chapter 4

Because of differences in terrain and climate, the various kingdoms all had different cultures, and their customs and ways of life were even more worlds apart.

Da Yue was located among gobi deserts and oases. Its territory mainly consisted of vast wastelands and scattered patches of green. Rainfall was scarce all year round, the temperature difference between day and night was great, and wind and sand often filled the sky. Most of its buildings were made from massive stones and earthen walls, giving them a rough, wild style.

Spring and autumn were Da Yue’s liveliest seasons for interacting with the other kingdoms. Summer and winter, however, were rather cold and quiet, because no person or animal could endure crossing the terrifying desert through extreme heat or bitter cold.

Each kingdom had currencies of different shapes and values. Of course, gold and silver remained unchanged treasures—hard currency.

Da Yue’s currency was shaped like a shell. It was cast from copper, with writing engraved on it, light and convenient to carry.

Aside from that, among the various kingdoms, there were also knife-shaped coins, as well as round coins with round holes and round coins with square holes. Their shapes were all sorts of strange varieties, and their weights differed too.

As the pages turned, He Xiu read until her head felt swollen. She felt as if she were taking a mathematics and economics class. The currency conversions between countries were simply a tangled mess.

On top of that, He Xiu also had to learn the completely different writing systems of Da Yue and Da Liang. The same character could have two entirely different ways of being written. The collision between abstract and concrete was probably nothing more than this. It could practically be called bilingual education.

The summer sun was scorching. Outside the room, the courtyard ground was completely barren, without even a blade of grass. Even the ants on the ground seemed to have activated speed mode as they ran frighteningly fast.

Da Yue’s living environment really was harsh and difficult.

He Xiu poured out a little tea to raise the tiny ants, then stood up and stretched her muscles and bones. Her gaze turned toward the window to ease the fatigue in her eyes.

At present, He Xiu lived in a small courtyard attached to the east wing of the Zhuo residence. Apart from studying literature and etiquette, she practiced calligraphy and memorized books. She was as busy as a little spinning top turning on its own.

As for the beautiful older sister, she was even busier every day. Not only did she often host guests in the front courtyard, but she also went out to attend gatherings. Most of the time, she was occupied with business matters, leaving early and returning late.

If this went on, He Xiu felt that the beautiful older sister might forget her existence. Then how was she supposed to work for her and pay off her debt?

After all, He Xiu did not want to just eat for free and do nothing, so she decided to go out and brush up her presence.

The glow of sunset faded from the horizon. At dusk, the heat waves had not diminished and still carried surging warmth. A carriage passed through the main gate and through one corridor after another, accompanied by groups of servants and maids.

The jade pieces hanging in front of the carriage knocked against each other, producing a clear, pleasant sound. Zhuo Mingke bent down and stepped out of the carriage, then walked into the long corridor.

There, she saw a slim figure holding an umbrella beneath the bright, clear sky. That person was hopping around and entertaining herself, which was rather puzzling.

He Xiu noticed that some maids were laughing. She paused in her jumping, turned her head, and saw that the beautiful older sister had returned. She folded up the umbrella she had been using for sun protection, walked over with a bright smile, and asked, “Sister, do you still have anything to leave the residence for tonight?”

“No. Do you need something?”

“Actually, I was just thinking that I haven’t seen Sister in a long time, so why don’t we have dinner together?”

Zhuo Mingke’s gaze fell on the girl’s bright eyes. They were clear and translucent, reflecting only herself. She did not quite understand He Xiu’s intention, but she nodded and cooperated. “All right. But I have just returned to the residence, and the weather is hot. I need to freshen up first, so it may not be very quick.”

He Xiu followed beside her as they walked. Her gaze immediately fell on the smoky-purple jade lotus earrings by the beautiful older sister’s ears. They were misty and warm in color. She obediently replied, “No problem. I can wait for Sister.”

The main building in the east courtyard was very large, with winding corridors. Or rather, the entire Zhuo residence was too large, like a garden estate.

When He Xiu first entered the residence, she had been filled with shock. Even now, she had not completely digested it.

Back when she studied, she had felt that Granny Liu’s amazement in the Grand View Garden was a little exaggerated. Now, He Xiu deeply understood how she felt.

As the two of them walked, He Xiu smelled the faint scent of sandalwood. Her gaze clearly saw a thin sheen of sweat seeping from the beautiful older sister’s jade-white face, causing a few strands of ink-black hair to cling neatly to the side of her face. They were like drawn lines of ink, as if outlining clusters of flowers within a dense, cold mist. At first glance, she was bright and moving. But upon closer inspection, she also seemed somewhat cool and distant, like flowers seen through fog—an indescribable beauty.

Feng Sanniang, who was following behind them, secretly raised her brows. She only felt that this brat’s eyes were about to fall out. How could Miss Zhuo agree to bring him into her private chambers?

Before long, the two entered the main hall of the east courtyard. Seeing the beautiful older sister go into the inner room to bathe and change clothes, He Xiu blinked her eyes and felt a little regretful.

Beautiful things could never be admired enough.

But when He Xiu met Feng Sanniang’s fierce, murderous gaze, she immediately felt a wave of lingering fear. She was genuinely worried that the woman might kill her with her eyes!

Seeing this, He Xiu did not dare say or ask anything. Awkwardly, she turned her head and looked at the furnishings in the hall, feeling a little surprised.

She had originally thought that the beautiful older sister’s residence would be refined and feminine, perhaps filled with many flowers and plants.

But as He Xiu looked at the meditation cushion in the main seat and the solemn, dignified mural of a deity on the wall, she suddenly felt as if she had stepped into a religious place.

Speaking of which, the beautiful older sister did have a bracelet she never parted with. Usually, people who believed in religion had such habits.

However, in He Xiu’s impression, it was mostly elderly grandmothers who believed in religion and prayed for peace. The beautiful older sister was so pretty and rich. Surely there were no worldly possessions she could not obtain, right?

As her thoughts wandered, He Xiu carefully studied the lifelike Daoist mural. Although she did not understand the mythological system, she could tell it depicted a female deity.

First, she ruled out Guanyin, because the female deity was not holding a purification vase.

As for anything more than that, He Xiu’s neck grew sore, and she still could not figure out any clues, so she could only give up.

“Are you interested in Daoist images?” A clear, gentle voice slowly sounded behind her, like an orchid blooming in an empty valley.

“No, I was just curious which beautiful female deity this mural of Sister’s is.” He Xiu turned her head to explain. Her gaze landed on the beautiful older sister, now dressed in a moon-white robe. Her figure was graceful, slender, and tall, like a luminous cold moon, breathtakingly stunning.

Because of that, He Xiu did not even notice that she had accidentally voiced her inner thoughts, causing the topic to clearly change flavor.

There probably was no one who would like hearing the deity they worshiped being described so disrespectfully.

Zhuo Mingke looked at the ignorant young girl and answered very calmly, “This is Golden Mother Yuanjun. She maintains the order of heaven and earth and controls life, death, and reincarnation.”

As she spoke, Zhuo Mingke took a seat and raised a hand in signal. The maids served the evening meal, tea, and other dishes.

“If you put it that way, isn’t she very powerful?” He Xiu was not seated at the same table as the beautiful older sister, because in this era, people were accustomed to eating at separate tables.

“Mm. You don’t know her?” Zhuo Mingke asked, slightly surprised as she drank her tea.

He Xiu replied a little embarrassedly, “I’ve only heard of Guanyin and Taishang Laojun. I don’t really understand the rest.”

Those two deities were mythological figures He Xiu had only remembered because she had watched Journey to the West. After all, in modern society, aside from religious places, preaching was generally not allowed.

When ordinary people burned incense and worshiped the Buddha, they were usually praying to the God of Wealth. Their purpose was extremely clear. They would not think about all sorts of unnecessary things.

“The Taishang Laojun you speak of is the Taiqing Daode Tianzun among the Three Pure Ones worshiped in Daoist temples. As for Guanyin, I suppose that refers to the Bodhisattva in Buddhist temples. This Golden Mother Yuanjun also has a more common title: Queen Mother of the West.”

“Queen Mother of the West! That one sounds familiar!”

But this was still the first time He Xiu had heard Guanyin’s full name. She had to admit, the beautiful older sister’s knowledge was truly broad, and even the way she spoke sounded wonderful.

With her eyes practically sparkling like stars, He Xiu asked again, “Sister, that bracelet you hold—are you Buddhist or Daoist?”

Zhuo Mingke looked at the young girl and slowly revealed the string of beads wrapped around her palm. They shone with a moist jade-like luster. Her lacquer-dark eyes reflected a dim light as she said calmly, “This bracelet is not a Buddhist prayer bead string. It is a Daoist flowing-bead bracelet made from bodhi seeds. The Queen Mother of the West is also one of Daoism’s celestial deities. But I only follow my mother in making offerings and paying respects. It can hardly be called belief.”

Zhuo Mingke did not believe in things that truly existed in this world, much less something so empty and elusive. Her pale fingertips gently rubbed the bead string, making a soft tapping sound.

“So that’s how it is.” When He Xiu heard this, she sighed in relief. Fortunately, the beautiful older sister was not religious. Otherwise, tonight’s dinner would have been vegetarian.

Before long, the maids served the meal. He Xiu ate the tender stewed meat, practically turning into a curious baby as she asked question after question. “Right, I’ve been studying Da Yue’s culture and customs recently, and I’m a little curious. Why is the currency of Da Yue, which is deep in the desert, cast into the shape of shells? It doesn’t border the sea.”

Zhuo Mingke did not quite understand the young girl’s wildly imaginative mind. Her gaze met those glittering eyes, and after a moment of thought, she said, “Legend has it that in ancient times, before Pangu separated heaven and earth, Da Yue was located in a vast expanse of water whose end could not be seen. The earliest currency used by people was shells. With the passage of time and the transformation of seas into mulberry fields, everything underwent enormous change.”

Human beings seemed so insignificant in this world, like grains of sand in the ocean, so easily submerged and erased. It really was meaningless. Zhuo Mingke’s fingertips tightened around the bodhi beads until they faintly turned white.

He Xiu listened with her mouth slightly open, amazed, yet she also found it reasonable. The power of time could change all unimaginable existences. Her gaze fell on the beautiful older sister, only to see her lovely face illuminated by candlelight, her expression somewhat difficult to discern.

Over these past days, He Xiu could be considered to have gained some understanding of the beautiful older sister. When dealing with people and matters, she had always been tolerant. She often wore a smile on her face, warm and gentle, calm and unhurried.

Gentle, kind, friendly—she treated everyone equally, without even the slightest bit of a wealthy young lady’s bad temper. She was practically perfect.

But the beautiful older sister at this moment had her eyes lowered. Her long lashes cast shadows beneath them, and there was not much expression on her jade-white face. She looked like an uninhabited stretch of sea far from the coastline, utterly still and dead, without wind or waves.

“What is it?” Zhuo Mingke sensed her gaze and met the young girl’s bright black eyes directly, easing the agitation and impatience in her own mind.

“I just think that in such a big world, being able to meet Sister is really lucky. So we should drink to that!” He Xiu did not understand the beautiful older sister’s inexplicable mood just now, and it was not good to ask. So she thought she should make her happy. At once, she picked up her egg-drop soup and drank it all in one go.

Zhuo Mingke quietly watched the young girl drink an entire large bowl of egg-drop soup. It was a little foolish. She laughed softly and said, “I have only ever heard of replacing wine with tea. I have never seen someone toast like you.”

Seeing a faint smile appear in the beautiful older sister’s clear eyes, He Xiu grinned foolishly. “Hehe, I think egg-drop soup tastes better than wine. It’s healthier too.”

“You seem like you don’t have any foods you dislike.”

“That’s right. Only by not being picky can you have a strong body.”

After saying this, He Xiu gnawed on the fresh and delicious ribs, feeling so intoxicated by the taste that she nearly lost herself. The cooks in the beautiful older sister’s household were truly skilled!

Zhuo Mingke watched the young girl eat with such relish and took a small sip of egg-drop soup herself, thinking that she could not truly have come just to eat dinner with her, right?

If the Da Liang hostage prince did not cherish her time, win over forces, and strive for an early opportunity to return to the dynasty…

Then when the next new emperor ascended the throne after the struggle for Da Liang’s crown prince position, she would become an abandoned chess piece. Her life or death would surely be uncertain.

Thinking this, Zhuo Mingke felt that she should find some danger for the young girl. She could not let her live too comfortably.

At this moment, He Xiu, who had originally been absorbed in the delicious food, suddenly shivered sharply.

She thought to herself, Could that auntie be launching a long-distance attack again?