by Ning er
But Chu wang did as if he didn’t hear Chu Fei Yang’s sarcasm. The smiling eyes immediately looked at Yun Qian Meng. Seeing this little girl closely, she is more elegant and refined. The wisdom breathing from that body let Chu wang be endlessly satisfied. He pulled Qu Ling Ao who was between them and stooped beside Yun Qian Meng. He whispered: “Yatou, are you betrothed?”
Since coming to the ancient times, Yun Qian Meng hasn’t seen such a straightforward person. Although this Chu wang has a noble identity, but he is approachable. In particular that pair of smiling eyes didn’t have any schemes in them. So she smiled: “Answering wangye’s question, I don’t.”
Chu wangye seemed very satisfied with Yun Qian Meng’s answer. He nodded and said three times ‘good’. Then he pulled Qu Ling Ao who has been pushed aside, forward. He asked seriously: “Houye, the door of my wangfu isn’t low, right?”
Originally, Qu Ling Ao thought that Chu wang was just casually asking, but now seeing that his eyes is really serious and earnest, his heart made a thump sound. Thinking that Chu wang has passed sixty years and Meng er just got the hairpin (15 years), his heart is calling bad. He was looking for words to refuse, but Yun Xuan Zhi words came from behind: “Wangfu’s door, even my xiangfu’s door is far behind. Wangye is too modest!”
Hearing that Chu wang didn’t answer. Chu Fei Yang frowned. And Chen wang was looking with complex eyes at Yun Qian Meng.
For a time, everyone went silent because of Yun Xuan Zhi’s words.
Comment:
Is ironic, how YXZ will arrive at the exact moment that YRX is in trouble and he didn’t arrive when YQM was arguing for so long. Besides, he didn’t even hesitate to give YQM away to a sixty year old man. How can a father be like that?
To avoid misunderstanding, Chu wang isn’t asking for himself. He is asking for CFY. In the next chapters, he’ll fight with the Lao Tai Juns for YQM and he thinks CFY is being too passive making him frustrated.
1. 妾(qiè): I, used by a wife.
2. 下官 (Xià guān): I, used by an official lower than the one he is speaking to.
3. 本 (běn):I, ben is added in front of the title of someone with a high rank.
4. 本官(běn guān): I, this official.
5. 老爷(lǎoyé): master, lord. Also used to call the husband.
6. 丫头(yātou): Form of endearment to call a girl.
Chapter 61: Chicken Won't Always Lose to Rice | Chu Wang Fei
From now on Emperor Yu Qian is Yu Qian Di.
Everyone followed Chu wang and Qu Ling Ao. They didn’t use a sedan and entered Lao Tai Jun’s Rui Lin yuan. Just when Qu Ling Ao was about to guide Chu wang inside, Chu wang suddenly slowed his pace. The straight back just now, is now a little bend. And while he is walking, he coughed a few times. With a slightly weak voice, he slowly said to Qu Ling Ao: “I’m already old and useless. Walking a few steps and is already panting like this. Really not as good as you youngsters, ah.”
Qu Ling Ao’s heart felt that it’s funny seeing Chu wang like this. But on the surface, he was still treating him respectfully. He followed Chu wang’s words and said: “Wangye is old, but healthy and strong. In the past, wangye and our ancestors fought alongside each other. Your name is spread far and wide. We, the younger ones also admire wangye extremely. Without wangye fighting in bloody wars, where will the younger generation have a stable life?”
Chu wang saw that Qu Ling Ao is speaking so sincere and pleasing to the ears, nodded in satisfaction. But he didn’t change his weak expression and coughed a few times. Then he pointed at the yuan and said: “Let’s enter quickly. Don’t let the emperor and Lao Tai Jun wait too long.”
Qu Ling Ao immediately nodded and personally escorted Chu wang to inside. Although the rest of the people have entered the yuan, but because they haven’t been summoned yet to enter the main room, they stayed outside.
Chu wang’s cough has long entered the main room. The people inside are waiting for his arrival. Yu Qian Di also already ordered people to prepare a soft seat.
“Laochen1…hai hai…laochen greets the emperor…hai hai…”
The moment, he entered the main room, Chu wang hastily bowed to Yu Qian Di. It’s just that his cough is worse than just now. A sentence needed to be said several times before it’s finished. Within the sentence the gasps are very heavy, like he couldn’t breath.
Yu Qian Di saw that Chu wang is quivering and wants to bow to him, immediately came down from his seat and personally helped Chu wang straighten up. He sincerely said: “Chu wang doesn’t need to be like this. When the previous emperor was still alive, he permitted you to not do the bow ceremony. How can when you come to zhen2 here, you’re bowing? Moreover, seeing Chu wang coughing like this now, is there any discomfort with the body? Do you need for zhen to call the imperial physician for you?”
Chu wang has been held by Yu Qian Di and couldn’t bow. But the bow ceremony between a higher one and a lower one is indispensable. So he shook his head and continued to kneel down and finished the bow ceremony. Then he let Qu Ling Ao help him stand up. Full of emotions, he said: “Thank…emperor for your care. Laochen…laochen is getting old…in the past I was injured in the war…although it’s spring now…but the air is still chill….all these illnesses came with the winter…they are already old troubles…shouldn’t have bothered the emperor for remembering them.”
While talking, Chu wang began to cough again. He lifted his trembling left hand and took a silk gray handkerchief from his right sleeve. He looked somewhat sorry at the crowd, covered his mouth and began to severely cough.
“Is wangye really alright? Aijia3 still thinks we should send someone to get the imperial physician to check the pulse. With that bengong4 and the emperor can also rest assured. After all, Chu wang made major contributions to Xi Chu. How can we let a hero have an illness and not cure it?”
The empress dowager saw that Chu wang coughed till his face was red, she said that with a worried voice.
It will be good if she didn’t say anything. Once, she spoke, Chu wang stood up from the soft seat. With trembling hands, shaking white beard, he said: “Laochen thanks the empress dowager for your kindness…it’s just…they are some normal illnesses…they don’t matter…don’t need to trouble the imperial physician.”
While talking, Chu wang looked at the one whose birthday it is today, Gu Lao Tai Jun. He said congratulating: “Old meimei, ah…we haven’t seen each other for quite a while…today is your good day…I, this old gege has come to ask for a cup of wine…asking meimei to not take offense, ah.”
How could Lao Tai Jun take offense? Although at this birthday, she saw some people whom she didn’t like, but Chen Lao Tai Jun and Chu wang’s appearance made Gu Lao Tai Jun extremely happy. Thinking about how Fu Guo Gong Fu fought together with the previous emperor to establish this country and also has a sort of friendship with Chu wang. However, after that thing happened, Chu wang no longer bothered with the political affairs and concentrated on being an idle wangye. He closed all his doors and didn’t receive guests, which made him alienate from the other great families in Jingdu. Today, he came to celebrate her birthday, Lao Tai Jun naturally felt very joyful. Seeing that Chu wang is being bothered by old ilnesses, Lao Tai Jun also felt a little sad. Remembering all the brothers and sister with whom she went through thick and thin are now gradually becoming less and less. How can she not feel emotional?
“Old gege, ah. Today, even with such a body, you came to celebrate with meimei. I couldn’t be happier. We didn’t see each other for so many years, you actually still remember meimei’s birthday. You really do care about the past feelings and friendship. But you still have to pay attention to your own body. Don’t be brave and delay the healing time, ah!”
Lao Tai Jun got emotional for a moment. Just listening to her voice, the concern for Chu wang is real.
Jiang Lao Tai Jun who was also present also nodded and advised: “What Lao Tai Jun said is right. Wangye should let the imperial physician check you
r pulse. You’re our Xi Chu’s hero, ah. With you here, those ambitious foreigners will feel fear and it can also let our emperor sit back and relax a bit.”
Jiang Lao Tai Jun’s words are really justified. Pointing out Chu wang’s contributions to Xi Chu, but also letting Chu wang understand that the emperor is at ease with him and also at the same time reminding Chu wang that he must not have a second heart.
But her words only got Chu wang to cough more severely. At this moment his right hand is covering his chest. He looked like he is really in pain.
Qu Ling Ao seeing that, immediately took the tea from the maid and personally delivered it to Chu wang. The other hand is stroking Chu wang’s back to let him breathe more comfortably.
Chu wang drank a few gulps with difficulty. He waved at Qu Ling Ao to let him stop and to let him walk away. He took a breath before saying: “Emperor also saw, this broken body of laochen, even if I want to serve the country, I’m afraid that I don’t have that chance anymore. I also don’t know how many suns, I’ll see. But this matter really lets me be a ridicule in front of emperor and empress dowager.”
Yu Qian Di saw that he is so humble, immediately called Liu eunuch. He said: “Go take out that two wild ginseng from Zhang Bai Mountain that the tribute has send last year, from the warehouse and send it to Chu wangfu to let Chu wang nurse his body.
Chu wang heard that, his face immediately showed that he is moved. He didn’t care that the emperor and empress dowager are trying to stop him, he stood up and bowed.
The empress dowager saw that Chu wang is so punctilious and also saw that his cough really is not light, so she changed the subject and also to let him rest for a moment. She looked at Qu Ling Ao and asked: “Second brother, didn’t we ask you to bring Meng er in? Has she arrived?”
Qu Ling Ao was so focused on serving Chu wang, that he inadvertently neglected Yun Qian Meng for a moment. At this time, the empress dowager asked, so he smiled: “Chen wang, Chu xiang and Yun Qian Meng are all waiting outside. Emperor, empress dowager, should they be summoned together?”
Emperor Yu Qian looked at the empress dowager once. The empress dowager smiled faintly at him. He said: “Let them all come in. Today is a family feast. There aren’t that many rules and also let the people be more relaxed. Don’t put the etiquettes of normal day so high.”
Qu Ling Ao heard the emperor saying that, he respectfully bowed and went out. Not long after, the few people followed him inside.
Although, Yu Qian Di say that they should relax a bit, but who would really dare to relax a bit? What if this is seen by a person with schemes? In the future if someone made something out of it, wouldn’t that be self defeating?
The few people approached and respectfully bowed. Then they stand next to their family according to their status.
Chen wang went to Ling Lao Tai Jun’s side. Naturally, Yun Qian Meng has been pulled by Gu Lao Tai Jun to her side to sit down. Yun Xuan Zhi stood alone at one side. Chu Fei Yang went to stand next to Chu wang.
Yu Qian Di saw that Chu Fei Yang arrived, he inevitable nagged: “Chu aiqing5, you should take good care of Chu wang normally. Zhen saw Chu wang’s body like that, really let zhen not be at ease.”
Chu Fei Yang looked down at Chu wang who was coughing nonstop. In the half closed eyes, flashed at trace of frustration. He stretched his large hand and patted Chu wang’s back with great strength. He said with concern: “Today, yeye6 must’ve caught the cold. If the body is really not well, in the future it’s better to not leave Chu wangfu.”
Originally, Chu wang’s face was already red. At this moment being patted so hard by Chu Fei Yang, I’m afraid that blood will come out of that old face.
Seeing that his own grandchild wanted to make it difficult for him, he immediately raised his head to look at Chu Fei Yang. From the corner where no one will see, he glared at Chu Fei Yang, but his mouth is full of appreciation: “Sun er7 doesn’t need to worry about yeye’s body. You should just lessen the burden for the emperor and serve him loyally. That will be yeye’s blessing. As for yeye, the person is already old; the bones are of course not as good as in the past. Breathing in fresh air is the way to longevity, ah.”
The words just left, Chu Nan Shan only felt that the strength on his back increased. The pat almost lets his entire body flew forward. In his heart, he is cursing Chu Fei Yang for not knowing how to respect the old.
Qu Ling Ao who was at a side, saw all of this. Although, he felt is funny how this pair of grandfather and grandchild got along with each other, but he also doesn’t have the heart to let Chu Nan Shan being bullied by Chu Fei Yang. So, he went forward and said softly: “Let the maid serve wangye. Chu xiang, please sit down.”
Chu Fei Yang also looked with satisfaction at Chu wang who at this time is coughing so much that he couldn’t speak. He let go of his hand and sat on a seat next to Chu Nan Shan.
Until this moment, did the empress dowager has the space to ask Yun Qian Meng: “What happened on the front yard just now? I heard Qu eunuch report that a lady from an official family has fallen into water. And that minister of justice suspects that you did it. He even has witness and evidence. Meng er, bengong saw you growing up, of course bengong believes you. But if you really did it, then bengong will not tolerate it. If someone wronged you, bengong and emperor will help you.”
Yun Qian Meng heard the empress dowager mentioning this, immediately got up and went in the middle of the room. She kneeled down in front of the people who are sitting in the highest seats. With a voice full of grievances but stubborn, she said: “Emperor, empress dowager, please see clearly. Chennu8 has analyzed the whole matter for that Su daren just now, but that Su daren and Su furen has wronged chennu. What’s more, they let that daughter of the vice minister of justice insult chennu’s mother! Empress dowager, emperor, chennu has been wronged and can’t wallow this matter. Not to mention that my own mother has been insulted in public. Asking empress dowager and emperor to deal with this matter fairly and give chennu and my mother an answer.
While saying, Yun Qian Meng knocked her head three times on the floor at the empress dowager and emperor Yu Qian.
The people in the room heard those words from Yun Qian Meng, they all looked at her. At this moment, her eyes are red. They contained tears that are stubbornly refusing to fall down. They circled in her eyes. At this time, her lips trembled. It is visible how great of injustice, she has received, making the people watching feel bad.
After Gu Lao Tai Jun and Qu Ling Ao heard Yun Qian Meng’s report, their expressions turned colder. The two people looked coldly at Yun Xuan Zhi.
“Miss Yun should forgive and forget. Just now in the front yard, that Su daren also clarified that it has been entirely a misunderstanding. Why is Miss Yun aggressively forcing people?”
At this time, Jiang Mu Chen, who has been silent, opened his mouth to speak for Su Yuan. And at the same time that he spoke, he looked at Chu Fei Yang, who was sitting opposite of him. That pair of cold eyes is full of provocations.
Chu Fei Yang received the declaration of war from the other party, but didn’t rush to go at war. Instead, he put all his focus on Yun Qian Meng. The smiling eyes are full of expectations.
At this time, Hai Tian who was also inside the main room, saw Jiang Mu Chen making things difficult for Yun Qian Meng. She frowned without being seen. Then seeing that Chu Fei Yang is looking at Yun Qian Meng, her heart tasted more badly. That pair of eyes shot fires like swords at Yun Qian Meng. Really scary.
Yun Qian Meng naturally felt the different kind of gazes on her, waiting for her to make a fool of herself. And Chen wang who is blindly forcing her, is making her heart full of anger. She felt more injustice for the deceased Yun Qian Meng.
The tears in her eyes faded instantly. Her eyes looked coldly at Chen wang’s cold eyes. With a really cold voice, she said: “Wangye was also present just now. Didn’t wangye see the Su couple forcing chennu with every step? Wangye also knows that little girl is coward and timid. I will c
ertainly not take the initiative to start something. But this is chennu’s bottom line. They shouldn’t joke with chennu’s family. Mother died after giving birth to chennu. Do you know how honorable mother is in chennu’s heart? Without mother exchanging a life for a life, where would there be the chance for chennu to survive? If today, mother is still alive, chennu will certainly have a mother to protect chennu. Why would I then be injured by words? Why would I suffere the abuse and ridicule from people? How can chennu tolerate others humiliating my already deceased mother in public? Even if I need to give up my life, chennu will not let mother’s reputation suffer. Wangye has always been mighty in Xi Chu, why is it that you are so unfair on this matter?”
Those words of Yun Qian Meng are really daring. Moreover, today, Han Guo Gong Fu’s Lin Lao Tai Jun is also present. She is actually pointing at Chen wang’s nose and questioning him, making that Lin Lao Tai Jun’s eyes turn darker. Her expression is as dark as it can be. That pair of eyes glared at Yun Qian Meng with strength. But Yun Qian Meng isn’t afraid. Even if her words get into this mess, others will only say that she is eager to protect her mother. Who would blame this child who since little didn’t have a mother but still has her mother in her heart?
While talking like that, everything is Chen wang’s fault. Even that Rong fu’s Chen Lao Tai Jun couldn’t help but say: “Pity this child’s filial piety. Unfortunately Qu family’s second Miss didn’t see Miss Yun grow up, otherwise, she would certainly be very happy.”
Chen Lao Tai Jun is an extremely intelligent person. What words to say, what words not to say, what words when to say, in her heart it’s very clear.
At this point she said those words, immediately let the empress dowager, Gu Lao Tai Jun, Qu Ling Ao and Yun Xuan Zhi’s expressions change colors.
Need to know, that her words just now, when mentioning Qu Ruo Li, she used ‘Qu family’s second Miss’ and not ‘Yun furen’.
