by Ning er
The one being scolded was Hai wang’s youngest son Hai Chen Xi. His mother who had already passed away was Hai wang’s cefei Qin cefei. She was Hai wang’s most favorite fei. It’s just that she had died from an accident when Hai Chen Xi was five years old. But if it’s said to be an accident, how many people would believe it? The rivalry for favor in large families was phenomenal. It couldn’t be helped that some people would use a black hand and cause the accidental death of Qin cefei. And because of this special favor, although Qin cefei had already passed away for thirteen years, among the many children of Hai wang, the one he loves the most was Hai Chen Xi. Hai wangfei repeatedly requested Hai wang to discipline this arrogant little son but had been barged back. So Hai wangfei really disliked Hai Chen Xi. With every opportunity, she would reprimand him.
Hai Chen Xi seemed as though he was already accustomed to this attitude of Hai wangfei. He didn’t care for this superficial reprimanding. It’s just that the smile on his face emitted a little hate. He stared at the two well-dressed daughter and mother pair. In particular, when seeing that Hai wangfei maintained herself well after all these years, the words that came out of his mouth were contemptuous: “Thank wangfei niangniang for your care! It’s just that the clothes on my body are silver-white and there’s moiré printed on it. It can’t be considered as pure white. Asking wangfei niangniang to not be picky!”
After saying that, Hai Chen Xi didn’t look at the two anymore, sneered indifferently, turned and left. He made Hai wangfei so angry that the beads on the hairpin almost chattered. Her right hand pointed at his back but in the end, she didn’t say anything.
“Mufei, why stoop so low as him?! No matter how much love he got from fuwang, in the end he is just someone without a mother’s support. Such love won’t last for long!”
Hai Tian didn’t want to let Hai Chen Xi destroy her mood. So she pulled Hai wangfei’s hand down and soothed.
“Moreover, today is dage’s good day. Let’s just celebrate amongst ourselves. If you get angry with those who don’t have a mother, won’t it be a joke?! Now, he is just jealous about us!”
Hai wangfei listened to her daughter’s words of comfort and restored her lady-like posture. She raised her hand and stroked the gold buyao. Then, slightly worried, she said: “Tian er, your brother married the granddaughter of the crown prince’s tutor. You naturally can’t fall behind! If you marry well, the pressing stone in mufei’s heart can be considered to have half fallen down!”
Hearing Hai wangfei’s urging, Hai Tian smiled faintly. Her gaze then turned to Yun Qian Meng in the garden. She’s now talking with Qu Fei Qing. A murderous touch flashed into Hai Tian’s eyes. Then she smiled beautifully. That glamorous appearance was very charming. She escorted Hai wangfei to the table and said softly: “Daughter won’t disappoint mufei!”
At this time, it’s very busy in the garden. The misses who had arrived first didn’t expect that they would see Chen wang here.
Although Chen wang’s expression was like ice and he’s unconsciously giving pressure to people, his facial featured were cold as a dagger, he had angular facial lines and his eyes were deep and sharp. In particular, he was dressed in purple brocade robe which highlighted his noble status. It made the misses peek at him in secret.
Chen wang had suffered a soft nail1 at Yun Qian Meng’s hand. Although his heart was unwilling, but right now, he’s in Hai wangfu. He can’t let some people gain benefit from this. He looked coldly at Yun Qian Meng, turned and left ‘Sui Yi Yuan’, making those misses become disappointed. They stared the door of ‘Sui Yi Yuan ‘for quite a while. Then they reluctantly withdrew their eyes.
“Hai wangfu is really a good place for pregnant woman. Look at these plants and flowers. They must be the precious herbs from Yang Ming Mountain. Hai wangye really has a good eye and actually picked such a treasure ground!”
From the distance, other ladies were talking. It’s the first time that they had been invited to Hai wangfu. Not only are they shocked at the space of Hai wangfu, they were more attracted to the internal layout.
The one who’d opened her mouth just now was the granddaughter of the head of the imperial hospital Sun physician. She grew up in the physician family so naturally she had seen and heard a lot about medicine. With a mere glance at the flowers, she had recognized that they were extinct and precious herbs. As a woman who loves medicine, this was undoubtedly more exciting than getting gold and silver jewelry. She immediately shared her joy with the misses by her side.
“Miss Sun is absolutely right! But what really rare is; the construction of Hai wangfu on this unique Yang Ming Mountain can still comply with the eight divinatory trigrams of the Book of Changes! This is really rare! Just don’t know who Hai wangye gave the task to that he can build such a magnificent building. If my father was here, he would certainly want to learn a thing or two from this person!”
The one who’d opened her mouth at this time was the minister of work’s daughter. At this time, she’s looking around the building with sparkling eyes like an expert.
After being pointed out by these two misses, the other misses and gongzi felt that this Hai wangfu was full of surprises. In addition to the wide sea covering the outside of the palace, there must be more hidden secrets here.
Yun Qian Meng and Qu Fei Qing listened to their discussion, their brows frowning without a trace. In particular when Qu Fei Qing looked at Qu Zhang Qing, unwillingness flashed over face. While everyone was discussing all the things of Hai wangfu to their fullest, from the entrance of ‘Sui Yi Yuan’ walked in Rong Yun He with his head full of white hairs. His gaze swept coldly over the garden. When he saw Yun Qian Meng, his eyes paused for a bit. Then he seated himself at the most remote table.
The people saw that Rong Yun He had also been invited, the ladies became scared like flowers that had lost their colors and the gongzis got the feeling that they needed to protect the flowers.
One by one, they stood up and squeezed away to the tables that were furthest from Rong Yun He. For a time, everyone was fighting for seats. The scene was very spectacular. And when this scene fell into the eyes of Yun Qian Meng and the two others, a touch of sneer emerged.
These gongzis are the future of Xi Chu, but their ignorance can be seen. And those ladies who were the breeding for the next generation only had such courage. She’s afraid that some very short-sighted people would be born from them.
After watching how they treated Rong Yun He as though he’s some sort of demon and their pale panicked faces, Yun Qian Meng immediately lost the interest to look at them. She turned and looked at Rong Yun He who was sitting alone at the table. He was surprised to find her looking at him, so she smiled and gave him a nod.
Qu Zhang Qing and Qu Fei Qing saw Yun Qian Meng acting like that so they looked at Rong Yun He, full of doubt. They saw that this gongzi from the legitimate ling of Rong family, despite his white hairs, had a calm posture. He didn’t show any anger at the way everyone excluded him. Compared to those ladies and gongzis who judge people by the book, presumably he has a better moral character.
It’s just that in contrast to Qu Zhang Qing’’s concern about human virtues, Qu Fei Qing was concerned about something else. She leaned closer to Yun Qian Meng and put her lips next to Yun Qian Meng’s ear. With a voice that only the two of them could hear, she said: “Aside from the fact that this Rong gongzi has a head full of white hairs, he really is an elegant and handsome man! Don’t know what my Meng er meimei is thinking?”
Yun Qian Meng laughed at Qu Fei Qing’s gossipy expression. She looked at Qu Fei Qing with a raised eyebrow. She is surprised to find Qu Zhang Qing looking at her with a serious expression. She couldn’t help but sigh and changed the subject: “Biaojie, don’t make fun of Meng er! Rong gongzi is a modest gongzi. We gossiping like this really isn’t respectful! But at this moment, Meng er is really curious about Hai wang’s fifth son. Don’t know whether in biaojie’s heart, there’s also curiosity.”
Qu Fei Qing had f
inally forgotten about the matter of Hai wangfu proposing marriage. At this time, hearing Yun Qian Meng talk about it, her originally mischievous expression disappeared. Her hands kept turning around the fan. A hint of concern crossed her brows. With pinched lips, she whispered: “With one glance at Hai Tian, you’ll know how her family is like.”
After that remark, Yun Qian Meng and Qu Zhang Qing both muffled a laugh. It seemed that Qu Fei Qing’s impression of Hai Tian was very bad. With one person, she knocked over the whole boat. She classified Hai wangfu’s people to only one kind.
But after looking at how Hai wangfu’s people presented today, a family full of secrets, it really doesn’t suit simple Qu Fei Qing.
Yun Qian Meng was about to open her mouth to comfort Qu Fei Qing when she saw that from the entrance walked in a noble gongzi. Looking more intently, she saw it was Su fu’s Su Cheng Yan. Today, he had come alone. Presumably Su Qian Yue, after the incidents of falling into water and her maid getting caught in a tryst with a man, had no more face to come out to see people.
The arrival of that Su Cheng Yang didn’t cause much waves. Although Su Cheng Yan can be considered a handsome youth, but compared to the statuses of Chen wang and the always alone Rong Yong He, he didn’t have anything special. In particular, his features weren’t really that impressive.
At the attitude of others, he put an expression of ‘I don’t care’. It’s just that when his eyes fell on Yun Qian Meng, he walked straight at a quick pace to Yun Qian Meng. That wind like pace made everyone present feel the great wave of anger.
Yun Qian Meng rocked the fan in her right hand and looked with indifferent eyes when he sat down opposite of her at the table.
“You’re able to sit here at ease!”
Su Cheng Yan saw Yun Qian Meng’s leisurely appearance and thought of his meimei at home, whose face was full of tears every day and anger rose in his heart. He gritted his teeth and growled that sentence.
After Yun Qian Meng heard those words, the hand rolling the fan slightly stilled. Then row after row, she folded the fan. She said softly: “Should not have a heart to harm people! Su gongzi should ask what your mei did. When words get sour, adding words is useless (she means no matter how she explain he won’t believe her). Asking Su gongzi to please sit elsewhere.”
Su Cheng Yan didn’t think that Yun Qian Meng would not give him face. She obviously saw him sit and still she’s driving him away. And at this time, those misses and gongzis were staring at this side with an expression of wanting to see a good spectacle. If he withdrew at this time, he feared that Su family wouldn’t need to mix any longer with the young aristocratic circle of Jingdu.
Thinking like that, Su Cheng Yan slightly narrowed his eyes and glared dangerously at Yun Qian Meng. He said mockingly: “Those words should be left to miss Yun yourself! Shouldn’t have a heart to harm others. Doesn’t miss Yun think that those words coming from your mouth are very sarcastic?”
Qu Fei Qing saw that Su Cheng Yan really had no shame. Not only did he not want to go away, he went as far as to taunt Yun Qian Meng. She’s eager to justify. She wanted to get up and open her mouth, but under the table, Yun Qian Meng grabbed her hand. She saw that there wasn’t any anger on Yun Qian Meng’s face, but she’s actually looking at Su Cheng Yan with a smiling face. With one move, she removed the golden tassels from the fan and slowly said: “I just should not not have a heart to guard against people! If Su gongzi think that this is wrong, then go back and ask miss Su what she has done. And Su gongzi having such anger now, isn’t this showing that you don’t really have the demeanor of a gongzi from a great family?”
Originally, Qu Zhang Qing wanted to ‘ask’ Su Cheng Yan to leave, but after seeing that Yun Qian Meng responding properly, his eyes showed a smile. He left it to her.
Really, after Su Cheng Yan listened to Yun Qian Meng’s rhetorical question, he couldn’t curse and also couldn’t not curse. He’s actually somewhat worried that his move just now had lost the demeanor of a good family’s gongzi. He sat in the same place, glaring with anger at Yun Qian Meng, but didn’t open his mouth again.
Just then, outside ‘Sui Yi Yuan’ came the voice of the head mama: “Hai wangfei has arrived! Tian junzhu has arrived!”
Everyone stood up and silently looked at the two women with high statuses walk in.
At this moment, the normally proud Hai Tian was walking well-behaved behind a middle-aged beautiful woman. The similarity between the two was about forty to fifty percent. Presumably, this was Hai wang’s first wife Hai wangfei.
This Hai wangfei looked really young. Simply because she’s pampered and coupled with the fresh air of Yang Ming mountain, it made this Hai wangfei look like she’s only in her early thirties. And because a banquet was being held today, Hai wangfei was dressed in red. In her hair was a gold phoenix hairpin. The beads on her earrings swing with her steps, but they didn’t make any sound. It can be seen that even though this Hai wangfei didn’t appear much in front of people, she is someone who puts great emphasis on etiquettes!
Watching her posture and light walking, you can see where Hai Tian’s cleverness and capableness came from.
Today, Hai Tian is wearing a rose-red long dress. On the skirt, there’s hundreds of butterflies embroidered with golden threads. When Hai Tian walked, it reminded everyone of a fairy. It immediately attracted the desires of the gongzis and the anger and envy of the misses.
“Greetings to Hai wangfei, to Hai Tian junzhu!”
After Hai wangfei sat on the main seat, everyone great in unison.
Hai wangfei gave a dignified smile, raised her right hand and said with a gentle voice: “Gongzis and misses don’t have to be cautious. Just treat here as the garden in your home! Today, because of shizi’s good day, we’ll make use of the opportunity to put everyone together to connect our feelings!”
Although the words were being said like that, but in this Hai wangfu which held military power, who would dare to be presumptuous?
Everyone waited until Hai wangfei finished, then they respectfully replied: “Yes!”
Unexpectedly, just after Hai wangfei sat well, from outside of ‘Sui Yi Yuan’ came the housekeeper’s voice: “Hai wangye has arrived! Chen wangye has arrived! Chu xiang has arrived!”
Everyone stood up again. Hai wangfei stood up from the master seat and walked to the left seat which was slightly smaller. Then she looked, full of smiles, at the people who came in.
It’s just that nobody imagined Hai wangye sitting in a wheelchair and being pushed in by a gongzi. Following closely were Jiang Mu Chen in a qinwang’s clothing and Chu Fei Yang in a black robe.
After Hai wangfei saw the one pushing Hai wang, her smile paused. After a moment, it returned to the normal expression. She led everyone and first greeted: “Greetings to wangye!”
“Greetings to Hai wangye! Greetings to Chen wangye! Greetings to Chu xiang!”
“Everyone doesn’t need to be so respectful, all can stand up!”
Everyone straightened up and then stared discreetly at this Hai wangye who’s rarely seen in public.
He looked about forty or fifty years old, but his body exuded a cold aura. His features were good. Compared to the gongzis, he had more of a favor of a middle aged man. It’s just that nobody would have thought that the famous Hai wang was now sitting in a wheelchair. For a moment, everyone couldn’t help but look at each other. Presumably, their hearts were full of questions.
Hai wang being a general, his voice had a faint taste of elegance. Presumably, these years of living in the mountains and between water, he must have specialized in literature and calligraphy.
Have to say, the Hai wang of today really was a surprise. She thought that Hai wang who lived in a place comparable to the palace must be someone arrogant and despotic. But seeing him today, it’s entirely a different story!
Hai wang seemed to have already known the expressions of everyone and what they were guessing. He smiled and let the young gongzi push him towards Hai wa
ngfei. Then he smiled: “Today, making use of my grandchild’s birth, I let everyone come here. Gongzis and misses should not be so rigid!”
Saying that, Hai wang gave the housekeeper beside him a nod. That housekeeper immediately left ‘Sui Yi Yuan’.
“Wangye, you coming out like this, be cautious of the wind. Otherwise, your feet will get sick again!”
Hai wangfei saw that Hai wang’s mood was pretty good and seeing that it’s windy, she said that slightly concerned.
Hai wang only waved his hand at her and said in a rare good mood: “I didn’t bother with the matters of the court for so many years. The sons and daughters of my colleagues from the court have already grown so much. Today the banquet is held at our home, naturally I need to come out and meet with them and also to grow feelings between us! Chen Xi, don’t you think so?”
Hai wang turned his head to look at the young man behind him. That man only hooked up his lips and smiled. With a slight smile on his mouth, he looked at Hai wangfei. Then he said: “Today, the scenery is very good. Fuwang should come out and move around a bit! Otherwise passing the days bored in the study, diseases will come out!”
Hai wang’s family were having a nice chat, but they allowed all the other people to hear their conversation. And Qu Fei Qing, after hearing Hai wang call that young man’s name, slightly changed her expression.
Qu Zhang Qing naturally knew what his sister was thinking. Seeing that they were far from Hai wang, he whispered: “Originally, I heard Lao Tai Jun mentioning that the previous emperor was generous to Hai wang because Hai wang became injured in battle when he saved the previous emperor. That’s why the previous emperor let people found Yang Ming Mountain so Hai wang can live comfortably till an old age. These past few years, Hai wang lived like an idle wangye. Although he collected his annual salary from the court, he never actually went to court.”
