Chapter 68: Qingbi's Experience (Part 1)

  "Sister, you've suffered." Qing Sang wiped away the tears on Qing Bi's face and said sorrowfully.

  Qingbi also stretched out her hand to wipe away Qing Sang's tears, and the slightly rough palm made Qing Sang unable to help but grab Qingbi's hand.

  Only to see Qingbi's originally delicate and smooth small hands had become rough and swollen, like cracked carrots. Qing Sang looked at the fine lines on Qingbi's hands, as if they were carved into her heart, seeping with inexpressible pain and unforgettable gratitude.

  If it weren't for Qingbi sacrificing herself and marrying into this family, taking on all the suffering in my place, how could I be living a peaceful life now?

  Gently rubbing the fingers that had changed color on the Qingbi, tears fell drop by drop onto the hands of the two people.

  "Princess..." Qingbi felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to withdraw her own hand.

  "Sister, you still won't acknowledge me?" Qing Sang said sorrowfully.

  Qingbi's hand trembled, her eyes filled with tears as she stared at Qing Sang for a long time before softly calling out: "Sister."

  Qingsang choked back tears and smiled, and the two of them hugged each other and wept again for a long time.

  After a while, the two stopped crying and began talking about their experiences in Beirong.

  Qing Sang briefly told Qing Bi about her experience of becoming a princess and marrying into the Northern Rong, but she didn't tell Qing Bi that Fu Xi was a fake prince. It wasn't about trust, Qing Sang just wanted to protect Fu Xi, and it was better if fewer people knew about this matter. This was also a way to protect Qing Bi.

  Qingbi listened to Qing Sang's account and only then did he know that Qing Sang had also suffered a lot in the Mystic Dynasty, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

  "Does sister blame me?" Qing Sang asked.

  "What's wrong with you?" Qingbi retorted.

  "I was unable to enter the palace to avenge Qing Yu," said Qing Sang.

  Qingbi shook her head and said, "It's fate, I suppose. You've done your best. I know you liked the Seventh Prince, but back then...I shouldn't have 'forced' you to marry the Crown Prince."

  Qing Sang grasped Qing Bi's hand and said, "You didn't force me to do anything. We are a family and we should do something for the whole family, for Qing Yu, for Father and Mother. The Crown Prince is a very good person, unfortunately good people don't live long."

  "Father had no choice but to do so," Qingbi said with concern. "Sister, you mustn't hate him."

  "Big sister, you're worrying too much. How could I hate him? I know that cup of poisoned tea was something Father would have loved for him to drink. I'm well aware of Father's love for me, and this is also his way of trying to protect my life."

  Qingbi smiled and nodded slightly.

  Qing Sang asked about the situation after Qing Bi came to Bei Rong, and a hint of fear appeared on Qing Bi's face. He replied faintly, "What can be done here? Being a slave or servant is nothing to talk about."

  Qing Sang gazed at her for a moment, she knew that Qing Bi must have gone through a lot. Thinking of Chu Lianyu's words to her that Qing Bi was covered in injuries.

  Without warning, Qing Sang reached out and rolled up Qing Bi's sleeves. Qing Bi was startled and tried to pull his hand back, but Qing Sang held on tightly and wouldn't let go.

  There were purple and blue scars on his arm.

  Qing Sang looked at the green marks on her white arm, her heart tightened, and tears welled up. She suppressed her sorrow and anger, asking: "Did Jia Luo mistreat you?"

  She pulled down her sleeve to cover up the wound and turned her face away, whispering softly: "It's all over."

  "Are you one of the ears and eyes that Empress An inserted beside Luoke?" Qing Sang suddenly asked sternly.

  Qingbi turned back with a terrified look, and in just an instant, she didn't dare to look into Qing Sang's eyes again. She dodged her gaze and said, "Yes."

  Sorrow rose in Qing Sang's heart, he stretched out his arms to hug Qing Bi, stroking her hair, wanting to give her more warmth.

  That day in the Ji Luo Fu, Huo Ran's evaluation of Qing Bi still echoed in her ears. The usually proud Qing Bi was willing to be used by others and live under them, she must have suffered unknown hardships. To survive, two words that were so difficult to achieve, enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens was unavoidable.

  All the hardships Qingbi had endured in Beirong seemed to have vanished at this moment. She gritted her teeth and persevered, just for the sake of Qing Sang's farewell words that she must live on. Every time she couldn't hold on, she relied on this faith to support herself, barely clinging to life.

  "Tell me about Beirong?" Qingsang's gentle voice dissolved the knot in Qingbi's heart.

  Qingbi spoke of her experiences in Beirong with infinite bitterness.

  When Qingbi and the other nine 'girls' arrived at Beijun, the first five 'girls' who came only saw one name, in the Jialuo government, without a name or a share, with a status almost as low as that of a slave. The rest do not know where they went, nor whether they are dead or alive. Qingbi is considered outstanding among these ten people, so she was favored by Huorou and placed in the Jialuo government. Another one who was favored by Huorou was the most beautiful among the ten who came this time, named Yanyan, the daughter of the Minister of War's small 'girl', and was placed in the Da Fei government.

  The remaining seven 'girls' were given to Ha Ke Ha, Hei Er and other generals.

  That night, Qingbi's chastity was taken away by Huorong.

  Since she had come, Qingbi had expected such an encounter. She wasn't one who hadn't thought of dying to clear her name, but she also remembered Qing Sang's firm words to her to beg for life and live a good life.

  At first, Huo Ran was quite good to her and gave her a decent name on the second day. Although Jia Luo always spoke coldly to her, he had never made any excessive moves.

  It was like this for three days. On the fourth day, Huo Rou started to favor Yan Meng and promoted her two ranks within seven days, making her a lady. Moreover, he spent every night in Yan Meng's room for a month, and Yan Meng's favor surpassed Jiao Luo, becoming the most favored 'woman' of Beirong.

  Qingbi never thought of competing for favor, and Yanmeng's favor actually saved her a lot of trouble. As long as she didn't have to face Huorong, Qingbi felt that anything was fine.

  Xiaoluo couldn't tolerate the favoritism shown to Yumeng, and in that month when Huorou was nowhere to be seen, Qingbi heard Xiaoluo causing trouble every night in the mansion. The servants were all on edge, afraid of making a mistake and suffering physical punishment. Even Qingbi, who lived in the mansion with Quzhēn Fūrén, couldn't avoid being terrified.

  Another month passed, and Yan Meng was indeed pregnant. Her status and value skyrocketed overnight, and the news that Huo Rong wanted to make Yan Meng his consort spread like wildfire throughout the Northern Rong court.

  This is very unfavorable for Jialuo, and it's also a great threat to the Mendi tribe, Jialuo's maternal family. Therefore, Aga and others strongly opposed it, raising the issue of bloodline. However, this proposal offended the Yan tribe because many people in the Yan tribe had intermarried with the Xuanren, including the mother of Empress Guliya. As a result, the two tribes began a war of words, arguing for several days until they temporarily stopped due to Huojing's anger. But secretly, the two tribes were already irreconcilable.

  Yan Meng, living in the Grand Consort's palace, naturally brought many benefits to the Grand Consort due to her favor. Adding to that, the silent struggle between Mo Di and Zhen's clan became her shield, so in the early days, Yan Meng didn't get into any trouble.

  One day, a mysterious woman named Xīn Qí was found in the carefree place and brought before Huǒ Róng.

  Huorou interrogated Xinqi about her purpose for going there, but Xinqi only said she had wandered there unintentionally. Huorou didn't believe her and used torture, Xinqi couldn't withstand the torture and finally confessed that she was looking for one of the five "girls" from the previous batch named Lixiang.

  Huǒ Róng asked her how she knew where Lí Xiāng was and why she wanted to find Lí Xiāng.

  Xin Qi said that she met Li Xiang in the capital of Xuan Chao, but this time when she came to Bei Rong, she didn't see her. She asked the only beauty from Bei Rong who was sent by the previous batch at the Jiaoluo Mansion, and only then did she know that Li Xiang was at the Xiao Yao Suo, so she went to look for her.

  Xin Qi's words were flawless, but who would have thought that Li Xiang had been wrapped around by a long-riding colonel named Yu Ti in the carefree pavilion for a long time. When Xin Qi found Li Xiang and was caught, he was also present, so he was brought along too. As soon as Xin Qi's words fell, he proposed that Li Xiang and others were the "female" children of the common people used by the Emperor of the Mystic Dynasty to flatter the King of Rong, while Xin Qi and others were the real young ladies of the aristocratic families. By reason, the two identities were vastly different, how could they know each other?

  Bei Yu mentioned this, Huo Zhen's suspicions were aroused, so he separated the two and asked each of them about their family background. The answers from both people didn't match at all.

  Huorong coldly smiled and asked Xinqi again why she went to find Lixiang, Xinqi insisted that it was because they had met before and would look for each other, and not being familiar with Lixiang's family background was also because they had only met once.

  For this reason, Huo Yan was so angry that he sentenced both of them to severe punishment.

  Xin Qi was tortured to the point of being left with only one breath, but still insisted on what she had said before.

  Li Xiang couldn't hold on and finally confessed that she was a spy sent by the Mystic Dynasty, with the intention of getting close to Huo Rong. Unexpectedly, she didn't get favored by King Rong, but instead was sent to the Xianyao House and became an official courtesan. Li Xiang could only wait for an opportunity, waiting for another chance.

  These days are busy during the day and often overtime at night, so updates are a bit late, sorry to all readers, I bow my head in apology!