The Little Consort's
Eps. 54: Photographer of the Ancient Age
It had even been two months since the coronation of the Noble Empress. The political upheaval in the palace caused by the debate of the officials had begun to improve since Long Ji Man issued a decree of punishment for anyone who opposed and interfered in the affairs of the Grand Empress. The people who had talked about and used the name of the Grand Empress as a betting and gambling material also did not dare to do it again. They were truly afraid of the threat of punishment their king issued.
That day, when Long Ji Man issued his decree, Wang Tianshi destroyed the entire gambling house in the capital. Those caught gambling were then taken to the capital's Security Bureau. Most were imprisoned and sentenced to board blows, his family was down in status. Perpetrators of gross misconduct were taken to the Justice Department's Bureau of Investigation for trial.
While the person the king fought for instead lived a calm and relaxed life in Xingyue Palace. Long Ji Man followed Xiao Biqi's advice to release Li Anlan from his ethics and grammar lessons. Aunt Yang was repatriated to her hometown in the northern tip of Dongling Kingdom to rest herself, because Long Ji Man knew the palace master was not in good physical and mental health. If allowed to continue in the palace, Dongling Kingdom could lose the greatest teacher of ethics.
Li Anlan had plenty of free time, just as he had before he was appointed Grand Empress. Long Ji Man had not given him any tasks. The man always said that he would give the woman time to prepare and adjust to her new status. Li Anlan assumed that after these two months, he would completely lose his free time. So, as long as the task from Long Ji Man was not yet around, he used his time to relax and have a good day.
His solar cell phone charger can be used to charge his DSLR camera battery. Li Anlan only found out after he tried to connect his camera battery with the device, by placing it on a solar charger. Li Anlan was surprised as it turned out to be working. The camera is back. In this way, he can photograph anything he likes.
Early in the morning when Li Anlan had just opened his eyes, Xiao Biqi made a fuss by forcing his way inside Xingyue Palace. Xie Roulan who tried to endure it many times said that her mistress was still sleeping. However, the little eunuch kept on forcing until he saw for himself the truth.
“You, little eunuch. Why make a scene in my palace?” li Anlan asked half-consciously.
“Mistress Huang, I came to convey His Majesty's orders. His Majesty asked you to come to Hongwu Palace now.”
“Now?”
“True.”
“This second too?”
“True. No, after the mistress cleans herself.”
“Ah, can he not bother me for a day?”
“Sorry, Mistress. I don't know the answer.”
“Say. What does your king want?”
Xiao Biqi then came out without answering Li Anlan's question. The eunuch waited in the grounds of Xingyue Palace, under the peach tree whose flowers began to fall. Spring is at the end, summer is coming soon, then autumn and winter.
Still in a semi-conscious state, Li Anlan walked slowly into the bathtub. His eyes were still closed and very tight and difficult to open. As his feet reached in front of the tub, Li Anlan could not maintain his balance. The woman immediately fell into the water in a cold tub. Instantly, Li Anlan's eyes instantly opened as her skin came into contact with the cold water that penetrated into her nerves.
Realizing that he was plunged into the tub, Li Anlan snorted. He was also annoyed that Xiao Biqi had come too early so Xie Roulan had no time to provide warm water for him. In modern times, Li Anlan rarely uses warm water for bathing, because in his apartment, the hot water button in his shower is damaged and has not been repaired, until every time he takes a bath, he takes a bath, he always used cold water.
However, in this era, Xie Roulan always used warm water for bathing, so gradually Li Anlan began to get used to bathing with warm water. He knows it's not healthy, but what can it be. Li Anlan could not resist the kindness given by others.
Li Anlan immediately finished her bathing ritual. He could not linger because Xiao Biqi was waiting for him. After he finished, Li Anlan immediately changed clothes. Today, she used a cream-colored hanfu made from satin, a gift from Empress Dowager Han Yuemei for her coronation as the Noble Empress. Although they did not know each other, but it seemed that Empress Dowager Han Yuemei could not ignore the tradition regarding giving gifts to the women belonging to the king. That meant this was the first gift he had received since he came to this place.
Li Anlan and Xiao Biqi then went to Hongwu Palace. As the two crossed the Houchi Lake bridge, Li Anlan saw the reflection of his face on the surface of the water for a moment. I don't know why today his face felt so much firmer than usual. Perhaps, it was the effect caused by the cold water that he used to bathe earlier.
Li Anlan also looked around. The view from the top of Lake Houchi bridge is beautiful. The bright shining sun greeted the morning, feeling warm touching his skin. These are the best hours to sunbathe. The morning sun is great for bone health. If Long Ji Man had not called out to him, Li Anlan would have already been lying on the mat while enjoying the morning sunlight. It's a shame today that he had to miss it.
Xiao Biqi invited Li Anlan to go inside after the two reached the front porch of Hongwu Palace. Long Ji Man seemed to be sitting on his great chair while facing the enormous pile of documents, almost filling the entire part of his desk. He turned his head for a moment as he sensed Li Anlan's presence.
“Your Majesty, what is the need?” ask the woman without further ado.
“Today you're out palace.”
Hearing the word “out palace”, Li Anlan is not playing happy. The woman's face changed.
“To attend the family wedding of the State Counselor.”
Li Anlan's happy face turned sour. There is still the next sentence.
“I thought you gave me a task.”
“It was one of your duties.”
“Why don't you just go?”
“You don't see how many documents I have to check?”
“Alright, this time I agree. But, Your Majesty, I don't know where your State Counselor's house is.”
“The bodyguards will take you.”
Even though it came out with a task, it was still better. The most important thing was that Li Anlan could exit the palace to breathe in some fresh air for a moment. It had been a long time since the attempted murder incident on the day of his return from the orphanage, Li Anlan had not stepped on the ground behind this great wall. Li Anlan almost died of boredom due to stress and boredom.
When everything was ready, the king's carriage accompanied by three bodyguards and one coachman came to pick up Li Anlan. At the outer gate of Hongwu Palace, Long Ji Man gave a special plaque of the Noble Empress that could be used to exit the palace without the king's permission. He also provided an invitation card from the Royal Advisory family if a time was needed.
“Remember, don't make a fuss or any trouble!”
“Good, my chatty king.”
The carriage then left Hongwu Palace, heading towards the exit gate of the palace. The gatekeepers stopped the carriage, but when they saw the king's coat of arms on the carriage and Li Anlan showed the Empress Royal plaque, the guards lowered their heads, and allowed Li Anlan's accompaniment through the gate.
Pretty troublesome, indeed. The gatekeepers are like building or office guards. Without the permission of a boss or company, one cannot go in and out carelessly.
The horse-drawn carriage drove back. The road that Li Anlan walked through was quite smooth because not many residents passed by. Maybe it's too early. Li Anlan calculated the travel time from Dongling Royal Palace to the residence of the State Counselor family with his mobile phone timer. He also brought a camera and a tripod that he had never taken out during his time in Dongling. After the task was completed, Li Anlan wanted to take a short walk around the city, then capture every moment with pictures and videos.
It was already noon time when Li Anlan arrived at the residence of the grand family of the State Counselor. From the sign on the gate of the residence, Li Anlan could tell that the family of this State Counsel was surnamed Yao. History records that the Yao family was the third major family after the Long and Han families to have great power and influence in the Dongling Kingdom.
The bride's motorcade arrived together with the royal entourage led by Li Anlan. Because so many people were present and crowding, Li Anlan was separated from her bodyguards. He poured into the residence with the bridal party, and mixed with them. The bodyguards who lost their master thought that Li Anlan had entered first. So, they waited outside the residence while guarding the carriage.
Li Anlan who was not wearing the official robe of the Noble Empress was pulled over by a middle-aged woman from the crowd. He was taken to the altar of the place of the ceremony, until his vision became clear. Li Anlan could see a couple of Yao family brides preparing to perform the wedding ceremony.
“Why did you pull me?” li Anlan asked the woman.
“Are you not a wedding attendant? Quickly, give this cloth to the bride!”
The woman who pulled Li Anlan's hand handed the wedding cloth in the form of bright red flowers, to be handed over to the two brides. Because he did not want to attract the attention of many people, Li Anlan then handed the cloth to the two brides. The two brides came forward, then performed a wedding ceremony led by the family elders.
Li Anlan was pulled back by another woman. This time, he was given a paper and a brush, then told to sit in a special place. Li Anlan was getting confused. Why did these people consider him a marriage attendant and tell him to do this without asking?
“You're a painter, right? Quick, capture their happy moments!”
“I?”
“What’s wrong with this confusing situation?” li Anlan shouted inwardly.
Li Anlan pushed the painting equipment in front of him to a fall. The atmosphere there was quite noisy until no one heard the sound of the falling object. It's been blown over, why not just dive. Li Anlan opened his backpack, then took his camera. He began to aim for all the rest of the wedding room, ranging from invited guests, wedding cloth, offering altar, food dishes, to a newly completed couple performing the ceremony.
“Wah, what is it? Why does the painting look so real?” ask someone beside Li Anlan. Apparently, the person saw the results of Li Anlan's camera shots without realizing it.
“Everything, look! This woman has a very good painting tool! The pictures look very real!” yell that guy. No doubt, everyone who was there immediately turned their attention to Li Anlan.
“Marriage officials, quickly capture the wedding moment of our sons and daughters!” exclaimed the Yao family elder.
“But, I'm not-”
“Quick, don't waste precious time!”
Inevitably Li Anlan obeyed him, he hoped that the people here would not let out all the curiosity to the point of making it difficult for him.
He set everyone's position until he could be caught on camera. After that, Li Anlan started aiming his camera. He also directed the men to pose in a variety of styles. Not playing with those guys. They felt this was the first time they had been beautifully painted on someone's wedding day. Li Anlan continued to photograph. He also asked the two brides to pose alone.
“Today I became a wedding photographer. Next time, I'll be the wedding organizer!” grumbled Li Anlan inwardly. His hand was holding the camera. The hot air caused by the many people here made his hands sweaty and slippery.
“The kingdom has arrived!” someone shouted from the front. Li Anlan turned his head, he saw Xiao Biqi coming along with some of his subordinates. Xiao Biqi was surprised to see Li Anlan who looked exhausted.
“What have you done to this woman?”
“Kasim Bi, what's up? Isn't that woman just a wedding attendant?” the Yao family elder asked back.
“Only a wedding attendant? How dare you! You don't know who he is?”
“What is this woman?”
“She is Lady Huang, Grand Empress Royal Highness King!”
Like being struck by lightning in broad daylight, the elders of the Yao family and everyone who was there instantly fell silent. They looked at each other for a moment.
“Pe...The Royal Empress?”
...***...