Spring Scenery At The Imperial Palace 帝台春色 by 乔燕 Qiao Yan (HE)

*Disclaimer: They are not actually cousins.

In the third year of Changping, the Empress Dowager brought back a girl from outside the palace, naming her as her niece and the emperor’s cousin.

This cousin was exceptionally beautiful, captivating the entire nation. The young gentlemen of the capital were all eager to marry her. Various gifts flow like a river, sent to the palace.

One day, the emperor went to the Cining Palace. Observing his beautiful cousin sitting on the pavilion, flipping through portraits of young men from the capital, the emperor approached her and asked in a low voice, ‘Which one catches your eye? I shall decide for you.’

The beauty trembled slightly, about to rise, but the emperor chuckled, “Cousin, no need to be polite.”

From then on, everyone knew that this cousin was the apple of the emperor’s eye.

***

The young lady of the Prime Minister’s Mansion has always been predicted to be the future empress since she was young, but unfortunately the emperor has shown no interest in her.

Upon hearing about the emperor’s beloved cousin, she decided to win his favor through her. Xie Yan (the cousin) truly spoke to the emperor on her behalf.

After Xie Yan brought up the matter of choosing the empress, the young emperor, with lips curved in a smile, absent-mindedly caressed the green jade cup in his hand.

Just as Xie Yan finished asking for his opinion, he nonchalantly drawled, ‘Regarding the Empress… Why don’t I choose cousin?’

Xie Yan: ‘…No, she won’t do.

#I treat you as my cousin, you want me to be the queen#
#Why is it so difficult to be a good cousin#

(Credit : Whispering Ink)

[Ebook][Eng Translation]