by Ning er
After some time, Yun Yi Yi’s heart flared up with indignation. She could not help but compare her choice with Yun Qian Meng’s. She felt that the looks of the two yatou she picked were far superior, but in terms of reliability, Yun Qian Meng’s two yatou were more reliable. She suddenly changed her mind and was about to open her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Yun Qian Meng’s casual reply...
“Liu yiniang’s praise is misplaced! I am no expert at picking people. I only look at who is sincere and honest and chose them, that is all! Most important to me is a yatou’s loyalty. I would never trade my people for anyone else. Who is to know what even intentions such people can have? Yinniang what made you say that?”
Liu Han Yu naturally understood the meaning behind Yun Qian Meng’s words. She turned to look at Yun Yi Yi who just then had a covetous expression because she thought others had better things than her, then understood Yun Yi Yi’s thoughts.
But she was stopped by Yun Qian Meng’s words, even if Yun Yi Yi was thick skinned and impudent, she had to hold back the urge in her belly. She forced an smile and stood up and used the excuse of taking the yatou back with to make her departure.
Yun Qian Meng let the mama and yatou on the doorway assist Yun Yi Yi, her smiling eyes held some coldness.
Liu Han Yu saw that Yun Yi Yi had finally left and pulled out from her sleeves two slave contracts and handed it to Yun Qian Meng, saying with a smile “Nubi followed xiaojie’s instructions and especially left behind those two, Ying Xia and Yuan Dong. Nubi personally kept their slave contracts, please look them over xiaojie!”
Yu Qian Meng cooly picked up the slave contracts from Mu Chun’s hands and perused them before promptly returning it to her for safekeeping. Then she said “I’ve troubled yiniang! Take the price of these two yatou out of my monthly salary. Their salaries every month will also always be taken out of Qi Luo Yuan.”
Liu yiniang was astonished when she heard this. She knew that Yun Qian Meng did not want to give her any difficulties. But how could she do this to a master of the house. She immediately replied in a terrified voice “Da xiaojie, you are an master of this fu, cannot let you use your private money on yatou! Nubi will tell the accounting office to create a new hiring contract for these to yatou. Please don’t worry about this matter xiaojie!”
Yin Qian Meng saw Liu Han Yu courteousness and did not object, she nodded her head and smiled, that smile was the end of the business. Liu Han Yu feared that Yun Qian Meng would change her mind and quickly left.
“Xiaojie must want to be alone to watch the two yaotu!” There was finally nobody else around, so Mu Chun spoke.
Yun Qian Meng shook her head and commanded “Just observe how they do in everyday situations, don’t pay them too much mind!”
After a few days, Ying Xia and Yuan Dong’s performance was very good. Mi mama who had originally been against the two could not help but sing their praises in front of Yun Qian Meng!
A few days later, after breakfast, Liu Han Yu excitedly rushed towards Qil Luo Yuan. She saw Yun Qian Meng enjoying the cool air in her courtyard. After quickly performing her greetings she said “Da xiaojie, someone from the palace has come!”
Hearing this, Yun Qian Meng slowly rocked the circular fan, her brow perked up as she asked without enthusiasm, “Oh? Who is it?”
“It’s the palace’s Rong Xian taifei personal eunuch. He’s currently taking tea in the drawing room. Said that Rong Xian taifei is inviting da xiaojie into the palace for a call!” But Yun Qian Meng remained indifferent. Seeing this, Liu Han Yu’s heart grew calmer.
When she heard this bit of new at first she was astonished and thought that something had occurred that made the palace’s taifei unexpectedly send people out. But seeing Yun Qian Meng’s tranquil expression, Liu Han Yu recovered herself in the end, the empress dowager was da xiaojie’s maternal aunt, da xiaojie entering the palace was probably not a bad thing, this stabilized her feelings!
When Yun Qian Meng heard this she was also very surprised but she could hide it well. She had been to the palace numerous times to visit the Empress Dowager but Rong Xian taifei had never been present in those visits. The taifei was a total stranger to her. But now she beckoned her to go the palace at this time, what for?
“Besides asking for tea, that gong gong hasn’t said anything else?” She asked Liu Han Yu who had followed her into the bedroom. Mu Chun busily picked out appropriate clothes for her to change into.
“He didn’t say anything else. But nubi saw that he appeared very anxious. So I hastily came to inform da xiaojie!”
“If that is the case, have Butler Zhao wait on that gong gong. After I get ready I will go see him!” Yun Qian Meng put down her fan and pointed at a light blue outfit embroidered with butterflies and nodded to Mu Chun. When Liu han Yu left she began to change into the dress.
“Xiaojie, why don’t we let Butler Zhao inform xiangye, so as to avoid…” The remaining words, Mu Chun couldn’t dare say!
Yun Qian Meng pulled out the jade hairpin on her head and replied indifferently, “Hou Gong is the living area of women. We don’t need to inform father, water from afar cannot quench fire (urgent need, a slow remedy does not address the current emergency), when the time comes we should be adapt to the situation (be pragmatic)! If there is a chance, you should go to the Empress Dowager’s palace to inform her of what has happened.”
“Yes!”
In under a quarter of an hour, Yun Qian Meng entered the drawing room. When she saw the gong gong she unnecessarily performed salutations, respectfully saying “Yun fu Yun Qian Meng greets gong gong, gong gong was kept waiting for so long!”
When the gong gong saw Yun Qian Meng a flash of admiration flitted across his eyes. The xiangfu’s qian jin was different from the rumors circulating about her. Her natural and unrestrained manner made people feel captivated. Her face had a cool and prudent expression that made the palace’s old man regard her with a new level of respect. He put down the tea cup in hands and stood up with a smile “It was no trouble, Yun xiaojie. Taifei niangniang really wants to meet with you. Please allow nucai to take xiaojie into the palace.”
After hearing this, Yun Qian Meng bowed slightly, then followed that gong gong to the palace’s carriage.
The bumpy road did not allow a person to fall asleep, add to that the hot weather, it added to the feeling of making people jittery. The considerate Mu Chun pulled out a water pouch she thought to bring with her at the last minute, and poured a cup of the iced pickled plum juice she had prepared earlier and carried it over to Yun Qian Meng to dispel some of the summer heat. Yun Qian Meng saw that she was already getting sticky from moving about so busily, she made her and Shu’r and Bing’r drink some glasses too. In spite of their suffering they enjoyed the drive and time flew past quickly.
When the carriage entered the palace gates, the sound of fast horse hooves came. Yun Qian Meng opened the curtain a little bit, but only felt a stream of wind momentarily rush by. Those horse hooves came from behind her carriage and overtook them and continued on ahead of them. Yun Qian Meng only caught a glimpse of the rider’s violet sleeves…
Just like the last time she was here, half a day had passed when they finally arrived. Yun Qian Meng had just dismounted from the sedan. When the gong gong turned his head she quickly flashed a look at Shu’r and Bing’r then immediately brought Mu Chun with her to follow the gong gong up into the palace’s exquisite Jiu Qu corridor!
They hadn’t gotten far yet they saw a girl wearing a light yellow dress!
“Who is it?” When she saw people nearing, the maid beside the girl called out in a stern voice!
The following is a note the author left at the end of the chapter:
Darling fans, have you found the hint from this chapter?
Haha, it’s not hard to figure out!
If you guess and leave a message, the first to guess correctly will receive XXXXXX, get a move on!
Chapter 76: Part 1: Forced to adopt a daughter | Chu W
ang Fei
"Nucai greets Rong zhuzi!” When they heard the palace maid berate them, the eunuch bent his body to bow respectfully to the figure in the yellow dress.
Yun Qian Meng heard him call the girl Rong zhuzi. Seeing person in front of them was just a young woman, she quickly realized that this girl must be Rong Yun He’s older sister. She immediately pulled Mu Chun down with her to bow, “Yun xiangfu Qian Meng greets Rong zhuzi!”
When she heard Yun Qian Meng’s greeting, the girl slowly turned around. A pair of unsympathetic, cold eyes cast a glance at the bowed head of Yun Qian Meng. She saw the pool of blue skirt spilling onto the floor as Yun Qian Meng bent her knees to perform her greeting. The skirt was made with multicolored threads and embroidered with butterflies. As it swayed, the butterflies on the fabric appeared to be real, vividly flying about the skirt. The formerly apathetic eyes flashed with admiration, “Everybody rise! Cao gong gong, where are you going?”
That Cao gong gong was Rong Xian taifei’s personal eunuch. He was proud of this lady of the Rong family that had just been installed in the harem. This da xiaojie was even going to be named imperial consort soon. A smile formed on his face as he made his reply, “To answer Rong zhuzi, taifei invited xiaojie to the palace!”
Rong xiaojie cast a glance at Cao gong gong as she articulated her reply, “By chance, I am also going to see gugu. Gong gong should go ahead and inform gugu that I will take Yun xiaojie with me and that we will go together.”
A flash of astonishment appeared beneath Yun Qian Meng’s hooded lids. She was puzzled by Rong da xiaojie’s words. But she did not immediately speak, after all, the company of Rong xiaojie was preferable to Rong Xian taifei, whose reason for calling her over was still a mystery. Perhaps she would be able to gain some information from her.
When Cao gong gong hear Rong xiaojie’s command he suddenly lifted his head. His face had an awkward expression as he looked at Rong xiaojie. He said in a placating voice, “Rong zhuzi, taifei has been waiting for half a day, how can I let her wait longer? Please allow nucai to bring Yun xiaojie to her.”
Rong xiaojie had a faint smile on her face and, in a manner of lightly brushing other people away, said “Then you must go now. I will take responsibility for this and explain to gugu myself.”
Cao gong gong could see that the best thing to do was to follow her way. Now that there was an iciness to her tone and that she was the taifei’s niece, he thought that the taifei wouldn’t blame him very much. He bowed his head in assent, then turned to Yun Qian Meng to bid farewell, “Xiaojie, nucai will now return to taifei niangniang’s palace!”
Yun Qian Meng bent her knee in a bow to return the farewell, saying meekly, “I troubled gong gong!”
The people left behind trailed the retreating figure of the eunuch as he departed. Rong xiaojie then turned around, her eyes once again looking at the imperial flower gardens, a hundred flowers abloom. For a moment, the world was suddenly quiet.
Mu Chun was a bundle of nerves. She looked with curiosity at Rong xiaojie. It was an amazing discovery. This person who came from the same parents as Ron Yun He had a head of fine black hair. At this moment she could not see the front of her face, but from her profile alone at once could see that this Rong xiaojie’s beauty was a great beauty capable of causing the downfall of city and state. She had a pair of thick and slender eyebrows, a straight and delicate nose that only a few people had, captivating red cloves of lips, and snowy white skin with the luster of mother’s milk. But this Rong xiaojie radiated an air of coldness, as if everything in the palace had nothing to do with her. She did not even look at the xiaojie she had just asked to remain with her. She stood as if there was nobody else in the vicinity, wallowing in her own world!
Yun Qian Meng did not feel indignant at this treatment. Instead, she respectfully walked over and positioned herself behind Rong xiaojie, joining her reverie in admiring the flowers. Her calm bearing made Rong xiaojie’s maid raise her eyebrows in surprise.
“Yun xiaojie, first, follow me to my temporary palace. There are some gifts there that I wish to bring to taifei.” Rong xiaojie had turned around at this time, her eyes and voice were full of coldness.
Yun Qian Meng bowed and made soft sound of assent.
When the palace maid saw that her zhuzi intended to return, she expertly stepped forward to support her. The two people walked in front, followed by Yun Qian Meng and Mu Chun behind, as they walked through the Nine Bend Corridor, towards the direction of the secluded palace.
Yun Qian Meng saw the splendid mansion ahead of them. She knew that while this Rong xiaojie had yet to be conferred the title of imperial consort, her treatment in the palace was already as if she were the imperial consort. Apparently Yu Qian Di was still an expert at keeping up appearances. Not because he was using Rong Xian taifei was he treating her poorly.
“Yun xiaojie wait here and have some tea. I will be right back.” Rong xiaojie said politely when they arrived at a large hall in the palace. After she said this a maid appeared with a pot of hot tea. It seemed as if they were expecting company.
Then, Rong xiaojie left the hall with her personal maid and went into a side chamber.
“Jiejie!” A voice called out from the room. Rong Yun He who had been waiting in the room for a while. Now that his sister had finally returned, he immediately got up from his seat.
He was different from his reclusive manner of ordinary days. Rong Rong saw that Rong Yun He looked anxious. Especially since he unconsciously get up, it made Rong Rong become aware that her own didi was not heartless, it’s just that right now nobody could be kept in his heart.
Rong Rong felt some concern as she regarded this severely agitated person in front of her. She feared that her younger brother was going to do something crazy.
“Jiejie, were you able to bring her?” Rong Yun He asked worriedly. He had seen her straight-faced expression and felt his heart about to burst out of his chest.
Rong Rong couldn’t bare to see him so anxious. She promptly replied, “Luckily, you came in time, otherwise Cao gong gong would have brought her to gugu already!”
Rong Yun He heard his most trusted sister say this, and the worry in his eyes slowly dissipated as his expression turned into one of relief!
Seeing Rong Yun He so worked up today, Rong Rong’s cold face was replaced with a warm smile. She extended a hand and pulled up her younger brother, scolding him with feigned anger, “You’re an adult now but you still act like a child! This is jiejie’s palace, can’t you show a happy face!”
Rong Yun He Rong xiaojie’s rebuke, and answered in a low voice, “Thank you, jiejie!” It wasn’t clear whether he was thanking her for her words or for something else.
Rong Rong had already regained her cold smile, and saw that Rong Yun He understood. She asked without ceremony the most important question, “I already intercepted this person for you, what do you plan on doing now?”
After she asked this, Rong xiaojie’s expression turned into a graveness rarely seen on her face. But Rong Yun He was not the least bit bothered. He replied in a slow but steady manner, “I will now see what gugu means by this!”
Hearing this, Rong Rong’s delicate brows wrinkled as she looked at Rong Yun He with a slight disapproval. Her eyes strayed towards the direction of the main hall as she recalled how she had just deliberately stood in silence in the imperial gardens. Other noble ladies would have found that silent treatment unbearable. But this Yun Qian Meng had stood calmly smiling from start to finish. Her calm and steady bearing had made Rong Rong gain a whole new level of respect for her. It was no wonder that Rong Yun He began to be pay her such attention. He even sent two educated, superb yaotu to the xiangfu.
But if gugu were to find about this, it was unknown if it will good news or bad news for Yun xiaojie!
Based on Yun He’s expression and attitude one could tell that if gugu wanted to treat Yun xiaojie this way, he would never allow it!
Regarding what Rong Rong said, Rong X
ian taifei and Rong Yun He were blood relatives. For her, both the palm and the back of the hand are made of flesh (she valued both equally). If a wedge were to be driven between them, she would be the one who would suffer.
Since she was very young Rong Xian taifei had treated her very well. Aside from Chen laotaijun and her own mother, Rong Rong considered Rong Xian taifei to be her second mother.
She was only older than her Yun He didi by a few years, but she loved him dearly like he was a son to her. Because Yun He had white hair he did not receive his father’s love. So every since they were children Rong Rong had spared no effort to take care of him.
These two people were people she loved very dearly. If she were to pick one she loved more, she would not be able to choose!
“Yun He, gugu has lived in the palace for many years. You must know that it’s because of her that the Rong family enjoys a generation of peace.” She urged in a voice full of worry as she pulled him so that he was now standing beside her.
At these words, Rong Yun He’s hands tightened into fists before slowly relaxing open again. Her brothers soft reply came to her ears, “Jiejie, was sacrificing gugu’s life not enough? Why did you have to be sent here too? The Rong family has sons, why do we send the daughters to preserve the peace of the family? If jiejie meant to comfort didi with these words, then it was futile.”
Rong Rong heard the determination in his voice and inwardly sighed. Ordinarily, this younger brother did not care about anything, but towards people he cherished he had an indescribable determination.
So let it be, she had doted on him for so many years why not dote on him some more. But there were still some matters she had to make clear to Yun He, “Yun He, gugu has loved us and doted on us for so many years. I’m sure she isn’t against us on purpose for her any selfish reason! When we arrive in front of gugu, you cannot let your emotions get the better of you and break gugu’s heart!”
