by Ning er
Except when those smiling eyes scanned over Yun Qian Meng’s calm and confident demeanor Chu Fei Yang couldn’t help but be surprised. Yun Qian Meng was staring straight back at him, measuring him from head to toe…
He quickly replaced his surprise with a smile before personally opening the portiere to allow the Dowager Empress into the hall.
Although Chu Fei Yang’s actions irritated the Dowager Empress, she could do nothing but follow him as the eunuch had already reported their arrival.
“Empress Mother, why did you personally come?” Yu Gan Di was incredibly respectful towards the Dowager Empress and stood up to greet her.
When Chen Wang, who was standing on the side saw Yun Qian Meng, the disgust in his eyes suddenly flared up.
This time, Yun Qian Meng’s eyes did not redden from his hostility and she simply followed the Dowager Empress into the hall.
As they walked in, the thick smell of blood washed over them and their sights naturally rested on the red long pan column. Even though somebody had cleaned it up, there was still blood splattered on the floor around it. Even the incense couldn’t completely cover the smell.
And that Chen Wang with his cold face…when Yun Qian Meng saw how much he detested her, she too began to feel angry.
To Chen Wang, the human life must seem like nothing. Although she didn’t agree with the previous Yun Qian Meng’s actions and found her cowardly nature disdainful she accepted that she was only a pitiful young girl who had grown up without a mother in a hostile environment.
Yun Qian Meng greeted the Emperor along with everyone else and simply stood to one side, completely ignoring Chen Wang.
“I am here for Meng ya tou’s situation of course! Chen Wang, Meng ya tou is Xiang Fu’s di nv and she is ai jia’s niece. What are you not satisfied with?” (basically, Yun Qian Meng is the legitimate daughter of the Yun family and also my niece, how could you not be satisfied)
After seeing Chen Wang’s icy face, the Dowager Empress began to angrily interrogate Chen Wang.
The Dowager Empress’ words caused Yun Qian Meng to frown but she pretended to be infatuated with Chen Wang and began to murmur, “Wang Ye…”
Her behavior made the frost in Chen Wang’s eyes to completely creep up and he said without any mercy, “Ben wang has already said, I will never wed you in this life, pack up your wild wishes!”
“Is Wang Ye serious?” Yun Qian Meng asked calmly.
“Most definitely!” although he didn’t understand why Yun Qian Meng was changing faces so quickly, he replied without any hesitation as soon as he thought of her weak appearance.
“Then we can do whatever Chen Wang wishes to!”
Right after Chen Wang’s words hit the floor; Yun Qian Meng opened her mouth and said those few words. Her cold voice stunned everyone in the hall.
Even though the injuries on Yun Qian Meng’s head robbed away some of her beauty, her confidence and her neither haughty nor humble expression was something no one had ever seen before. What made them even more stupefied was that the current Yun Qian Meng looked as if she had been completely reborn and she now let off a stunning aura.
“What makes you think that ben wang would fall for your act?” The sound of Chen Wang’s mocking laughter and insult broke the peace. (He’s assuming that she’s pretending she’s doesn’t like him anymore so he’ll be interested in her)
Yun Qian Meng simply laughed in reply before bowing down in front of the Emperor, “will the Emperor please give an edict and break off the engagement between Chen Wang and I.”
Not a single person thought that Yun Qian Meng was being serious about breaking off the engagement; all of them had thought that she was only saying what she had said because she was angry but now that she was personally asking for an edict…
“Meng’Er, do not speak nonsense! Ai jia will take responsibility for you, how could you decide on something as important as this on your own?”
The Dowager Empress was the first to speak. She looked at Yun Qian Meng as if warning her and pressed down on her shoulder with a hand, indirectly telling her to shut her mouth.
“Meng’Er thanks the Dowager Empress for her consideration. However, Chen Wang does not care for me so why must I force him to do something he is unwilling to do? Even if Meng’Er marries Chen Wang we will never achieve true happiness. Since the Dowager Empress cares for Meng’Er I believe that the Dowager Empress is also unwilling to see Meng’Er unhappy.”
Yun Qian Meng pretended she did not feel the messages the Dowager Empress was trying to send to her and instead made it impossible for the Dowager Empress to immediately retaliate.
Only then did Chen Wang realize that he had been calculated by the girl. Right now, he clearly saw the calm in her eyes. There was no more infatuation and love for him in there and this made him feel displeased with the current situation. Only a few moments ago she was willing to kill herself for him but why does she not care at all now?
“Yun Qian Meng, you…” Chen Wang had just started speaking but was immediately cut off by the man beside him.
“Emperor, since both Chen Wang and Miss Yun are willing to break off the engagement then the Emperor should accept and save the world from another unhappy couple,” the silent Chu Fei Yang opened his mouth unexpectedly, instantly drawing a hateful look from Chen Wang.
How could a simple Prime Minister trifle in a Wang’s marriage? However, this engagement was something he originally did not want; if he wanted to keep Yun Qian Meng now then he may as well be slapping himself in the face.
Just as Chen Wang had his brows furrowed, Yun Qian Meng opened her mouth once again, “Will the Emperor and Dowager Empress please look upon Meng’Er’s mother’s early death and allow for Meng’Er to make this decision for herself.”
Seeing Yun Qian Meng’s determination, the Emperor exchanged a look with the Dowager Empress pondered for a moment before regretfully saying, “If it is like this then let it so be it.”
Basically, Chu Fei Yang was making fun of Yun Qian Meng in the beginning. He clearly knows of what happened in the Jin Luan Dian but thought of the events as amusing.
Yun Qian Meng makes Chen Wang reiterate his dislike for her and his intention to break off the engagement so she could personally ask the Emperor for an edict in case Chen Wang changes her mind.
The Dowager Empress doesn’t want Yun Qian Meng to break off the engagement as she wants Yun Qian Meng to marry Chen Wang is because it would increase her own standing and power within the Imperial Palace.
Chapter 4: Exercise authority on getting off the horse | Chu Wang Fei
Pai – sort of like a medallion showing that you are part of a particular family. The ‘jin pai’ (i.e. gold pai) is something possessed by all important members of the Imperial Family and represents the imperial power itself. So for example, if Yun Qian Meng present the ‘jin pai’, it’s like the Dowager Empress is present at the scene herself.
Shu Nv – the ‘illegitimate daughter’; her mother isn’t the legal wife of the husband
Shu born – born ‘illegitimately’
The Emperor sighs as he looks at Chen Wang and the nonchalant Yun Qian Meng who stands beside him before agreeing to their request.
He then dismisses the Dowager Empress and Yun Qian Meng from the hall in order to continue with official business. Whilst the Dowager Empress is dissatisfied with her niece breaking off the engagement without consulting her first, she is unable to protest or say anything else since the Emperor had already given out his edict and leaves as he has asked.
However, right before they exist the Jin Luan Dian, the Dowager Empress pauses in front of Chu Fei Yang where she glares at him for a few moments. Chu Fei Yang simply smiles at her, disregarding her threatening aura and instead turns his attention towards Yun Qian Meng who blatantly ignores him.
“Dowager Empress, chen still has some business and must leave first,” right after leaving the hall, Chen Wang excuses himself, but not before staring at Yun Qian Meng
and trying to see through her façade.
Just as the Dowager Empress is about to lecture Yun Qian Meng about the events which had occurred within the hall, Yun Qian Meng speaks out and asks, “Dowager Empress, could you please give me face and let Qiu Lian go?”
With that simple request, the Dowager Empress has no choice but to redirect her anger at Yun Xuan Zhi as she believes that Yun Qian Meng is asking for the maidservant’s forgiveness because she’s afraid of her father. Worried about her niece’s welfare, she hands her gold pai to Bing’Er, telling her to use it in case Yun Qian Meng ever finds herself in a tight situation.
At this point, Su Qin and her daughter, Yun Ruo Xue, are waiting gleefully at home. Both of them believe that after being rejected within the Imperial Palace, Yun Qian Meng will become the butt of everybody’s jokes. Although they aren’t quite sure whether or not Yun Qian Meng is still alive, they know that it won’t matter since ther’s no way Yun Qian Meng will ever be able to marry a decent man again.
Instead of seeing their home sedan, they see the Dowager Empress’ sedan pull up outside of the front door instead. Yun Ruo Xue rushes towards to door as she sees her elder sister being helped out.
“Jie Jie,” she calls out loudly, “what happened to you? Perhaps you did not go to the palace to eat and drink and have fun? After all, how could you end up like this if you did go for those purposes?”
A crowd forms outside of the estate and Yun Qian Meng slowly turns around to face Yun Ruo Xue with a smile, “and since when did Xiang Fu’s Shu Nv have the right to directly talk to me without greeting me first? Perhaps this is what concubine Su has been teaching her daughter all this time? My sister dares make a scene right outside our front door, does she not care for Father’s political appearance?”
Su Qin is stunned for a moment by Yun Qian Meng’s comeback and listens as the crowd points at both her and her daughter.
Yun Ruo Xue wants to retaliate but gets scared when she sees the dark look Yun Qian Meng has in her eyes; but when her eyes fall on the Dowager Empress’ sedan she can’t help but rebut, “did Jie Jie damage her head when she hit the pillar? Or maybe it is because Jie Jie suddenly has the Dowager Empress’ support that you believe you can treat all those who are shu born like this? Ruo Xue completely understands, Jie Jie looks down upon us but Jie Jie, everybody has already heard of today’s events. How can Jie Jie still have the face to return home? Are you not afraid of ruining Xiang Fu’s appearance?”
Su Qin also walks forward to help her daughter, “yes, why is the eldest Miss angry? It was Chen Wang who broke off the engagement; it has nothing to do with us so there’s no need for you to get angry at those who have done nothing wrong. Perhaps you see us as weak? People who are easy to bully?”
“Shut your mouth!” Yun Xuan Zhi, who had just arrived outside the door, gets angry at the mother and daughter when he hears the things they are calling out in broad daylight in front of the common people who had all gathered to watch the show.
Seeing Yun Xuan Zhi approach, Yun Qian Meng starts tearing up and begins to cry.
“Father, Meng’Er understands, Meng’Er does not have a mother to protect her and within the vast Xiang Fu, the concubine does not take Meng’Er seriously and looks down upon me. They all want to kick me out of Xiang Fu! Father, if this mansion has no place for Meng’Er then Meng’Er will go to the Dowager Empress’ palace, at least the Dowager Empress still has room for Meng’Er.”
Su Qin and Yun Ruo Xue are startled by the things that come out of Yun Qian Meng’s mouth and upon hearing Yun Qian Meng bring out the Dowager Empress name, Yun Xuan Zhi gets angry at Su Qin and says before his concubine can defend himself, “Concubine Su, you, as a woman of the family, have exited the house without my permission. Thus, you are to be confined for ten days. As for Yun Ruo Xue who has disrespected her elder sister, you are to be confined for half a month!”
Chapter 5: How come, furen? | Chu Wang Fei
Qi Luo Yuan – the name of Yun Qian Meng’s quarters
“Daddy! Y-you, you are actually helping her!” Yun Ruo Xue’s eyes reddened the moment she heard she was under house arrest and pointed a finger at her sister’s face.
Yun Qian Meng only looked at the finger and called, “Eunuch Qu!”
“Yes!”
“Did you take a good look at today’s events?” she asked before her father could say a word.
“Yes young mistress, I will report everything back to the Dowager Empress,” Eunuch Qu served the Dowager Empress, it was no surprise he knew what Yun Qian Meng was planning. Besides, even if Yun Qian Meng didn’t have the Dowager Empress supporting her in the shadows he still would have reported everything regardless – under what circumstances did a child of a concubine possess the right to insult and point her finger at the legitimate daughter of the Estate? Such behaviour was disgraceful and made him look at Yun Xuan Zhi with disapproval.
“Then I will thank Eunuch Qu,” Yun Qian Meng moved to the side and bowed slightly, showing him respect, “It is getting late and the Dowager Empress will require her people. I will not keep you any longer.”
“Yes, I understand,” and with that, the eunuch and his entourage made their way back to the palace.
Once the crowd had thinned out Yun Qian Meng turned to her father, “I’m feeing tired,” she said politely, “and I will go back to my quarters first.”
“Daddy…” Yun Ruo Xue sidled up to Yun Xuan Zhi the second Yun Qian Meng left with her maidservants, already beginning to slander Yun Qian Meng’s name.
“Xue’Er,” but before she could begin, she was immediately pulled back by her mother, “don’t be rude. Your father made the right decision.”
Yun Qian Meng had won today’s battle and there was no doubt that Su Qing was even further away from her goal of becoming the official wife now that the eunuch was going to inform the Dowager Empress about today’s events not to mention the crowd of commoners who were still pointing and whispering about her and her daughter. It was clear that Yun Xuan Zhi did what he did to help them both get out of this situation.
But there was one thing she still didn’t understand, how come Yun Qian Meng came back from the palace an entirely different person? She didn’t even leave for that long…
“Young miss, I’m afraid that the Master’s decision to place Concubine Su and her daughter under house arrest was for their benefit,” Shui’Er piped up as the three of them made their way through the gardens towards Yun Qian Meng’s quarters.
Yun Qian Meng only laughed. If Shui’Er could figure out what her father was doing then how could she not? It was evident that Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue had heard what had happened in the palace and had come out of the estate which the sole purpose to humiliate her. Nonetheless, they could plan and try to calculate her all they want, there was still no way they would guess that the Yun Qian Meng they once knew of had already disappeared.
“Dong!” The sound of a wooden bucket hitting the ground stopped them in their steps and before any of them could react, a figure a thrown itself in front of Yun Qian Meng, “Oh! Miss! Young Mistress! What happened? Why are you all bloody?”
Yun Qian Meng looked down to see a girl around fourteen or fifteen clutching her arm. It was Mu Chun, a maidservant her mother had given her when she was still alive but taken away by Su Qing so she could replace Yun Qian Meng’s maidservants with her own people. Instead, Mu Chun was transferred so she could slave away and cut wood all day, a job even the men had trouble with. The job hadn’t treated her way, the girl’s face was waxen, her hair withered and yellowing and her clothes full of patches.
Yun Qian Meng smiled faintly, “I’m okay,” she reassured the girl, “but you, you’ve thinned out again.”
Yun Qian Meng’s smile completely stopped Mu Chun’s tears, since when was the young miss so optimistic?
“I’m fine,” she said before realising she might get in trouble for loitering and quickly headed back to pick up the wooden bucket.
“Hold it,”
Yun Qian Meng ordered, “Shui’Er, go and tell the housekeeper that from now on, Mu Chun will be serving me. There will be no need for her to return to the woodcutter’s quarters,” and with that, she turned and continued on walking to her own quarters.
Qi Luo Yuan…
This was a yuan zi located in the north-western corner of the Estate, it had fallen into disrepair with weeds creeping up all over the place and old rooms which were falling apart. The path from the entrance to the main rooms were muddy and grass had covered up the majority of the footpaths. If it wasn’t for Mu Chun who routinely did her best to maintain the place then she wouldn’t even be able to make it to her room.
“Miss, I’m so sorry-” Mu Chun was about to explain the state of the courtyard before being cut off by Yun Qian Meng.
“There’s no need to be sorry. We will wait for the housekeeper to come and sort this out for us, all of you can help me get changed first,” then she turned to Shui’Er, “go to my father’s study and ask him to come here once the housekeeper has arrived.”
“Yes!”
But one seriously had to compliment the housekeeper. Yun Qian Meng had waited over half an hour before she heard the footsteps of the retainers approaching her quarters…
“This servant greets the young mistress!” The housekeeper was careful to treat Yun Qian Meng carefully after witnessing today’s events but he still raised his head a little bit to shoot a glare at Mu Chun.
“Why is the housekeeper visiting my Qi Luo Yuan?” Yun Qian Meng asked, slowly lifting the tea set in front of her and taking a sip of water.
“This servant heard that the young miss wanted Mu Chun to serve her, however this maidservant was moved by the Mistress so I think it may not be a good idea…”
Yun Qian Meng simply lowered the cup and smiled at the housekeeper, “Mistress? Hmm, perhaps the housekeeper is talking about Concubine Su? See, this is something I simply don’t understand, why are all the servants in the Estate calling a mere concubine the mistress of the Estate? The legitimate wife of the Prime Minister?”
