“Sister, I, I really don't know what to say...”

Let me know if you'd like me to translate anything else!

In the eyes of my elders, I was a child prodigy, a top scholar who entered the Imperial Academy before the age of twenty.

“But who could have imagined, even in the capital city, I'm just a drop in the ocean now, can't even afford a big courtyard…”

Da An lowered his gaze, the muscles on his face twitching slightly. Guilt, touched, self-blame, gratitude, these emotions intertwined in his chest, and finally, all transformed into warmth and gratitude.

"Don't underestimate the young and poor. At your tender age, you are already capable of achieving this, which is a source of pride for all of us."

Yang Ruqing placed her hand on Dayan's shoulder and affectionately said,

Tai'an raised his eyes and looked at Yang Ruqing, saying: "Sister, this money for buying a house, consider it as me borrowing from you. When I get the chance, I will return it with interest..."

Yang Ruqing deliberately pulled down her face, cutting him off and saying, "Silly brother, don't forget what our relationship is!"

“We are siblings, born from the same mother. We are like this to you now, and in the future, if Xia An has any difficulties, sister will be there for her just the same.”

"As your elder sister, it's only natural for me to do these things for both of you."

"Well, it's getting late. Let's all get some rest. I'm tired too." Yang Ruqing said.

Please provide me with the text you want me to translate. ?

Dā'ān nodded and, for now, each went back to their rooms to rest.

It was night, in the palace.

In the imperial study, Emperor Qi lay half-reclined on a soft couch, wearing a robe embroidered with golden dragons and holding a book in his hand.

The book remained unopened. Qi Huang's eyes were half-closed, listening to the person beside him.

The fierce tiger and bear-like demeanor from two years ago is long gone.

At this moment, his temples were tinged with white hair, his eyelids drooped slackly, and his entire face showed the signs of old age and weakness. He listened while gently rubbing his temples with his hand.

A young woman in a luxurious palace attire, with soft and delicate features, stood there respectfully, reporting things softly.

"Your Majesty, regarding the selection of a consort, this is approximately the situation. Currently, fifty young women have been housed in Shangxiu Palace."

"I have arranged for several experienced and highly respected court ladies to begin her instruction,"

When the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives on the ninth day of September next month, have them perform dances in front of the palace. Then, from among them, select twenty outstanding dancers for further training and selection. I will definitely choose a princess consort who pleases the Crown Prince's heart.

After she finished speaking, Qi Huang slowly opened his eyes.

Though old and frail, the Emperor's eyes still held a sharpness that made it impossible to look directly at them.

Let me know if you'd like to translate anything else!

"The wife of the sixth son is not just a royal daughter-in-law, but also the future Empress Dowager of the great Qi country. She is second only to the emperor, above all others, a model mother and ruler. One must be extremely careful with her." Emperor Qi instructed calmly.

The woman before him bowed her head deeply. "Though my ability to manage this palace is not even a tenth of my sister's, I will do my utmost to fulfill my duty and safeguard the royal honor and lineage."

She bowed, her azure court gown rippling like water around her. Her graceful curves undulated upwards, catching the Emperor Qi's gaze and holding it on the sliver of her neck, as beautiful and elegant as a swan.

The East Sea sapphire earrings she wore adorned her ears, shimmering against her porcelain skin. They made her appear youthful, beautiful, and full of vitality.

Qi Huang narrowed his eyes, a hint of intoxication in them.

He seemed to be intoxicated by the woman before him, yet through her, he gazed at another. Please note that the original content inside the <<< >>>tags was empty.

“Your elder sister once managed the imperial harem for me, and I was quite satisfied. It’s a pity that she had a short lifespan.” The Qi Emperor said in a deep voice.

"At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet on the ninth day of September, what dance will we perform?" he asked.

The little Empress Xiao of Han raised her head and said, "Your Majesty, it's the Flying Swallow Dance."

Let me know if you have other text you'd like translated!

Flying swallow dance?

The Qi Emperor's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but think back many years ago when he was still a prince. That year, during the selection of concubines, he had also fallen for the woman who led the dance at first glance.

At that time, she was dancing the Flying Swallow Dance, which she had created herself.

At first glance, she captured his heart. Later, he married her, and afterward, he ascended the throne and made her empress.

After his ascension to the throne, the emperor and empress lived in harmony, supporting each other like a well-tuned pair of qin. Their relationship became a beautiful story widely circulated at the time.

But later, with the influx of various forces, in order to balance power and strengthen the imperial bloodline, he took many concubines, and there were thousands of beauties in the palace.

Although she was still revered as empress, the affection between them had clearly diminished.

But when she passed away, he fell ill too. For three days, he refused to eat anything and only managed to survive on two bowls of ginseng bird’s nest soup. The empress position remained vacant as well.

It was only after a drought and famine struck He Lanzhou that he managed to recover...

"The Flying Swallow Dance is quite good. It was a dance created by your elder sister, and I also became acquainted with her because of the Flying Swallow Dance back then." The Qi Emperor said lightly. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Queen Xiao Han listened respectfully, her eyes lowered and deferential, a gentle and polite smile on her face. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated! ?

“This folktale, Your Majesty, I often heard from my elders when I was a child,” said Empress Xiao Han.

They said that elder sister and her brother-in-law were a love story, back then I was quite envious of elder sister, she could have such a perfect match for a husband, so honorable…

Everybody likes to hear good words, and even emperors who are wise about the world are no exception.

Qi Huang's face lit up with a few smiles, and he said to Xiao Han Empress: "Don't be envious, this fate has now fallen upon both of us."

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude…”

"Haha, don't be so surprised. Your sister has passed away, and now you are the Empress. Take good care of the harem for me and find a reliable crown princess for the sixth prince. That is your greatest achievement!" said the Qi Emperor.

Queen Xiao Han once again bowed deeply, "Your servant will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's order and select a virtuous and capable daughter-in-law for you!"

The Qi Emperor nodded slightly, then waved his hand.

"I am tired, you may retire now. Come to visit me again at the Fenghuang Temple another day." he said.

Empress Xiao Han kowtowed again and retreated from the imperial study.

On the way back to Fengzao Palace by palanquin, one had to pass through the Imperial Garden.

Queen Xiao Han sat there, leaning back with one hand supporting her temples, pondering the matter.

Suddenly, there was a splashing sound from that direction. Empress Xiaohan's body jolted violently, nearly falling from the palanquin.

"My Lady, are you alright?"

Two maids-in-waiting hurried over to support her. One of them scolded the two eunuchs who were carrying the palanquin: "How do you walk? You made the Empress fall! Ten heads wouldn't be enough to chop off!"

The two eunuchs were terrified and quickly knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

However, Little Han Empress had no time to attend to the two terrified eunuchs. She simply raised her head and looked towards the direction from which the voice had come.

As it turned out, the imperial palanquin was passing by that lotus pond in the Imperial Garden at this very moment...

A lotus pond?

The little empress's eyes narrowed suddenly, and her body trembled slightly involuntarily.

A genius in one second: m.