by Ning er
Moreover, early on, when Chu wang appeared before everybody his face looked grave. An malicious aura of killing intent seemed to be emanating from him. It made people feel astonished, since, ordinarily Chu wang pretended to be sick all time. He always conducted himself with his claws drawn in. It should not be this easy to break this demeanor!
He had whipped his horse to rush ahead so urgently. It seemed as if he went to let Yu Qian Di know, fearing that everything Chu wang had worked for would be for naught!
“By chance, bengong and Chu wang were idle, so we came to meimei’s place. What were meimei and Meng’r talking about just now?” The Empress Dowager’s smiling face looked at the people in the room one by one. Her eyes rested particularly on Chu wang and Chen laotaijun for half a prolonged moment then she retracted her gaze. There was a glimpse of coldness in her smile. If the people had heard it earlier they would have shuddered and prostrated themselves for forgiveness. But clearly the the opponents for now where Chu wang and Chen laotaijun. But both people acted as though nobody else was present. They casually brought their teacups to their lips and took a sip, as if the had not received the Empress Dowager’s warning eyes.
Rong Xian taifei already looked like she wanted to be cut off from the rest of the world. After facing the Empress Dowager’s questions concealed with daggers, she clutched the prayer beads in her hands and turned the beads fretfully. After a while she said articulated carefully, “The Empress Dowager’s words are a little funny. Yun xiaojie hadn’t been here for long. chenqie had only said few words to Yun xiaojie when Empress Dowager and Chu wang arrived. But, chenqiu sees Yun xiaojie and likes her, it’s rare to see such a thoroughly clever child.”
“Did not know that Yun xiaojie had gained taifei’s favor. It would be better for taifei to receive a yatou or adopted daughter, so as not to waste taifei’s affections on this child!” at this moment, Chu Nan Shan, who hadn’t spoken since he entered, said this with a smile.
In all of Xi Chu, only Chun Nan Shan could steal the opportunity to speak before the Empress Dowager in this way. Even if they people around had guts of steel they would not dare!
Chen laotaijun’s seniority was equivalent to Chu Nan Shan, even the Empress Dowager was younger than Chu Nan Shan by a generation. Add to that the fact that Chu Nan Shan’s family had been respected by three generations of kings. So although the ceremonial rank of the Empress Dowager was technically the most noble, considering all things, Chu Nan Shan’s rank was equivalent to hers.
So, even if she had been beaten to a reply by Chu Nan Shan, the Empress Dowager’s face showed no trace of anger. Instead she was full of smiles as she said, “Chu Wang’s proposal is very good. Meng’r has not had a mother since she was a child It’s heartbreaking tho think about! Just by chance, taifei has no children of own, would this not be the best of both worlds?”
When the Empress Dowager endorsed the idea, Rong Yun He’s face that had remained the same all year finally changed. Filled with anxiety, his eyes showed his intention of standing up but he was quickly stopped by a look from Chen laotaijun.
Then Chen laotaijun equally smiled and said, “Empress Dowager niangniang’s idea is good. But Yun xiaojie’s position is very honorable, she is also the Yun xiang’s di nu and Empress Dowager’s waisunu. Taifei is a simple person with no greed, afraid that she would not know how to pamper Yun xiaojie, and make Yun xiaojie feel wronged!”
Her speech for declining the offer was tactful and made the listeners feel pleased with the reply. It could be heard from her words that she was only thinking about Yun Qian Meng’s happiness. Even the Empress Dowager couldn’t use her power to press the issue further.
“Ha ha ha…” At this moment, Chu Nan Shan laughed brightly. He turned his head slightly to look at Chen laotaijun and smilingly said, “Laotaijun shouldn’t trouble herself with Meng yatou’s happiness. I have a good husband to pamper her! It would be best for laotaijun to acknowledge this good grandaughter and prepare this yatou’s dowry when the time comes for her to marry!”
But this time, the Empress dowager showed some displeasure at his words. It wasn’t clear if it was because Chun Nan Shan once again gained the upper hand by speaking first, or because of the hidden meaning in his speech.
Yun Qian Meng, whose head had been bowed from the start, was also very displeased!
She did not know why Rong Xian taifei had invited her over. It took her a while, but now that she heard this bit of speech, and with Rong Yun He’s attitude just now, she finally understood!
In the past few days in Xi Chu, when she was clashing with yiniang she was clashing with more and more enemies. She did not have the luxury to plan for her own marriage!
In this current atmosphere, her marriage had now become today’s itinerary. If they liked her it was fine, or if they hated her that was also fine, xiangfu’s di nu, Empress Dowager’s waisunnu, could make ambitious, politicking people take notice of her.
Luckily there was the incident of her cancelled engagement with Chen wang that made the people who put importance on reputation step back, or else there would be more of these inconveniences.
The Empress Dowager’s words earlier were hinting that she did not want to be associated with the Rong family by marriage. So Yun Qian Meng was puzzled as to why she approved of the idea of her becoming the adopted daughter of Rong Xiang taifei.
The Empress Dowager clearly did not want any relations with the Rong family, so why would she let the taifei take her in as an adopted daughter? Could it be that she was changing her mind about having connections with the Rong family? What was the Empress Dowager planning? Why did she feel that she was being guarded against some danger?
Yun Qian Meng pondered over how she could decline the Empress Dowager’s proposal. But then Rong Xian taifei slowly rose and said with a mild smile, “Since it is the Empress Dowager’s and Wang ye’s good idea, chenqie will naturally comply.”
At these words, Rong Yun He’s face showed despair. His blanched lips trembled but his expression was filled resolve. His eyes momentarily turned towards Yun Qian Meng, and discovered that she was looking with astonishment at Rong Xiang taifei.
“Since it is like this, bengong will go to the emperor to discuss this matter. Meimei receives Meng’r, then Meng’r naturally must have a jun zhu title to match her meimei as a mu fei! Wangye, let’s go together to seek and audience with the emperor. It would be good to go together to get Meng’r a title.” Now that the situation was resolved, the Empress Dowager rose from her seat. But Yun Qian Meng nonchalantly spoke up, “Meng’r will also go with you! There will be more opportunities to become intimate with Rong Xian taifei in the future.”
Yun Qian Meng performed her farewell salutations to Rong Xian taifei and Chen laotaijun. Then she followed the Empress Dowager and Chu wang out of the main hall.
At this moment, the main hall was deathly silent. Rong Yun He stood up with ice-cold eyes, forgetting to perform his farewells. He turned around, his body radiating with coldness, and stepped out of the main hall.
Rong Rong’s heart could not relax. She hurriedly bade her farewells to Rong Xian taifei and went after him!
“Yun He!” In the peaceful imperial flower gardens she turned the corner to chase after Rong Yun He. She pulled on her younger brother who would not turn his head to face her. She said in a low voice, “Today you were afraid gugu would humiliate Yun xiaojie so you came to help her. Why should you now be so serious?”
But Rong Rong’s placating did not make Rong Yun He turn his head. He only replied in a determined voice, “Jiejie, why can’t I be serious?”
Hearing this, Rong Rong’s body shuddered. The hand clutching Rong Yu He’s sleeve suddenly slackened. Her eyes watched blankly as her younger brother rush out of the palace.
When Chu wang had left the taifei’s palace he stopped walking and smilinlgy said, “Laochen suddenly feels unwell. Cannot go together with you to meet with the emperor!”
The Empress Dowager turned
her head, and saw the Chu Nan Shan’s rosy face. She replied coldly, “Is wangye destroying the bridge after crossing the river?”
Chu Nan Shan was undaunted “Wasn’t the Empress Dowager seeking to acheive her own goals?”“
Saying this, Chu Nan Shan did not spare a look at the Empress Dowager’s face which turning ugly. He casually walked over to Yun Qian Meng and said, “Yatou arrived through a horse carriage right? Yeye feels out of sorts, and can only freeload on yatou’s carriage!”
The Empress Dowager saw that after Chu Nan Shan was leaving now that the situation was resolved. At this moment she did wish to see Yun Qian Meng, she waved her hand, “Meng’r has been out for half a day, the weather is hot, you should return to the xiangfu.”
Yun Qian Meng bowed to the Empress Dowager in farewell and went back to the palace gates together with Chu wang.
They hadn’t yet neared the palace gates when a dark reddish purple figure with the robes of a palace official approached. It was Chu Fei Yang. He saw Yun Qian Meng and Chu wang making their way to leave the palace. Chu Fei Yang leisurely greeted them, his eyes catching Chu wang hinting at him repeatedly. Chu Fei Yang smiled and said, “I have troubled yeye. The carriage has been prepared, please yeye, go up and rest.”
This was against Chu wang’s plans, he was about to protest but his grandson was earnestly staring at the small yatou beside him. He face formed a smile as he discreetly walked towards the carriage...
The following is a note left by the author after this chapter:
Today’s chapter took a long time to write. Took almost two days. Because I’m conflicted in my heart. Ay! My heart does not feel well. Don’t know if my readers will advice or comments!
Chapter 77: Part 2: The palace on fire, an assassin visits | Chu Wang Fei
“It’s Su daren!” Outside the carriage stood Su Yuan, wearing the sapphire blue robe of a second rank official. He had brought the Vice Minister of Justice and other people and were all waiting outside. With overcast eyes he watched her disembark the carriage.
“Wu daren, weichen, acting on imperial orders, will arrest the assassin and bring him in for questioning. Asking Wu daren to bring in the assassin to the Ministry of Justice when you find him.” Su Yuan was not paying any attention to Yun Qian Meng, he was looking at the nearby Wu daren, speaking in a clear voice.
The curtain fell before Yun Qian Meng’s eyes, she could sense that there was a feeling of waving a chicken feather as a token of authority. Su Yuan must have known all along that she would be in the palace today. Spontaneously recommending himself to the Emperor Yu Qian to make the arrest, it was this type of poor situation!
Even if nothing suspicious was found in the carriage she was riding, Su Yuan could cook something up.
Out of the corner of her eyes she cast a glance at Su Yuan, a cold smile emerged from the corner of his lips.
Yun Qian Meng turned to Wu daren to speak. “Asking Wu daren to personally inspect chennu’s carriage. After all, Su daren’s younger sister is Yun xiangfu’s Su yiniang. If Su daren inspected the carriage, chennu is afraid there will be some unfairness to it.”
The other women who had their carriages inspected turned to Yun Qian Meng when they heard this. Their eyes shot glares of loathing at Su Yuan. Contrary to the good expressions he expected when he took the initiative to ask Wu daren to let him inspect Yun Qian Meng.
Su Yuan completely did not think that Yun Qian Meng would reverse the situation and have the incorruptible Wu daren inspect the carriage.
This was Wu daren’s duty. Of course he had no reason to stop or refuse. Especially because they had been spoiled by Yun Qian Meng, those daughters of government officials each looked at him with a critical eye. It made Su Yuan angry in his heart. He shot an angry look at Yun Qian Meng. But because there were many people around, he held his tongue.
When Wu daren heard Yun Qian Meng’s request, and found her reason fair and sensible, he told his deputy some words in a low voice and advanced towards Yun Qian Meng’s carriage.
“Yun xiaojie, pardon me.” Wu daren’s face was square, with thick eyebrows framing his eyes that were bright and full of expression. His body was tall and formidable, a look that was intimidating. But in his eyes there were faint threads of a quiet and noble heart. It made Yun Qian Meng realize that he was not like Su Yuan, this lowly ranked person.
She smiled lightly and said, “Wu daren, please.” Following which she brought Mu Chun with her to step aside. Rong Yun He had long since gotten off his horse and he went to stand behind Yun Qian Meng, providing her with silent support.
Wu daren brought a subordinate with him into the carriage. The two people carefully inspected the inside of the carriage. Soon they exited with blank expressions. While waiting for them to come out, two more imperial guards climbed onto the roof of the carriage to inspect it, while another crawled underneath it, raising his head to inspect the bottom of the carriage. After a while, they returned to stand behind Wu daren.
When he saw the men withdraw, Su Yuan immediately asked. “Wu daren, is there nothing peculiar inside Yun Qian Meng’s carriage?”
But his words made Rong Yun He’s brows crease. From his cold eyes, flashed an extreme look of loathing at Su Yuan who was currying favor with Wu daren.
Yun Qian Meng heard the meaning behind Su Yuan’s words. When he said this, even if there was nothing strange inside Yun Qian Meng’s carriage, these words dropped in front of the bystanders, it would already change the situation.
But Wu daren acted like he did not hear Su Yuan’s words. Instead he looked at Yun Qian Meng, in a low voice he asked, “Why is there a faint smell of blood in Yun xiaojie’s carriage?”
When she heard Wu daren ask this, Mu Chun who was standing behind Yun Qian Meng suddenly tensed up, as if her heart were being grasped by somebody, if they weren’t careful they could be squeezed to ruin. In her terror Mu Chun could not speak a word. She could only look anxiously at Yun Qian Meng in front of her.
Yun Qian Meng raised an eyebrow in confusion, then her face blushed red. She shyly lowered her head and said in a voice that only a few people could hear, “Daren must know that all women inevitably have a bodies that are at times unwell. Today was hot, and my body is indisposed so I did not wish to go out. But taifei, in her magnanimous hospitality, had sent an invitation. I could only hurriedly leave, and did not even think to bring an incense pouch, and is now becoming a laughingstock to daren!”
Wu daren found that Yun Qian Meng’s explanation was believable. And considered how Yun Qian Meng had acted just a moment ago, if she had any other alternatives she probably not be saying this in public. In his heart he somewhat believed her.
Add to that that just a moment ago it was Yun Qian Meng who allowed him to personally inspect the carriage. If an assassin was hidden in that carriage, Yun Qian Meng would not be so bold as to let him proceed with the inspection. He also had the exterior inspected carefully. Aside from the faint smell of blood, indeed nothing else was peculiar. He believed Yun Qian Meng was innocent.
“Since it is like this, please enter the carriage now, Yun xiaojie!” Seeing that his inspection yielded nothing, Wu daren let them go.
As Yun Qian Meng made to climb into the carriage, the voice of Su Yuan came from behind, “Yun xiaojie’s body is indisposed. Let’s please ask the doctor to come examine her, so all of us can feel assured.”
Yun Qian Meng turned around, a hand on the carriage door. The corner of her mouth held a faint smile, her eyes were full of coldness, “If Su xiaojie were here now, would Su daren act this way? Moreover, the palace doctor is for the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s use. How can you let a lesser chennu use him? It was also said that today, Su daren’s words are considered as an imperial edict. In a few words can you now call out the imperial physician?”
Su Yuan did not expect Yun Qian Meng to be this brazen. Actually speaking rudely to him in front of so many people. What was worse was Yun Qian Meng’s words were accusing him of a pun
ishable crime, each word was a threat to his life!
The intensely loyal Wu daren was now looking at him suspiciously.
No longer able to deal with Yun Qian Meng, Su Yuan dropped to his knees and kowtowed in the direction of the the Emperor’s dwelling place. Knocking his head and declaring his loyalty to the Emperor at the same time.
Yun Qian Meng looked at him with cold eyes, and sat down in the carriage with Mu Chun’s arm supporting her.
Once the curtains were drawn down, Mu Chun’s whole person suddenly collapsed as if paralyzed inside the carriage. After the calamity they had experienced, she had gained a new lease on life, her eyes were glistening with tears.
Yun Qian Meng saw her being this way, her own heart had also loosened up.
Luckily, she had won her gamble. She had pinched people’s hearts by allowing Wu daren to inspect her carriage and made him believe that she allowed it because she had a clear conscience. Also relying on the fact that the carriage was personally inspected by him, if he detected anything, he would not make any assumptions without gathering enough evidence.
The difficulties were now over, she had won this time by a narrow margin.
Not counting Mu Chun, this yatou who had never experienced such an exciting event before, she who had been through a rain of bullets as a criminal investigator, her heart couldn’t help feeling nervous.
After all, in these ancient times, if the blood had been found in her carriage, caught red handed, no matter what eloquent words she gave, when that time comes a hundred words would not help!
Now that she thought about it, Yun Qian Meng noticed that the hands in her sleeves had balled into tight fists. With some effort she released them and she noticed that her hands were damp with cold sweat. Even the clothes on her back were soaked, not knowing if it was because of the hot weather or because of the strained atmosphere from their ordeal that the sweat seeped through.
