by Ning er
The carriage had just arrived within the vicinity of the xiangfu when a group of people suddenly rushed out the door. When the crowd saw that Yun Qian Meng was back, they immediately brought out the sedan. Yun Qian Meng looked up at the Rong Yun He who was on horseback, gave him a nod, took a seat on the sedan and was carried into the xiangfu.
Rong Yun He watched the doors of the xiangfu close before he raised his whip to urge the horse towards the way home.
The palace conducted a widespread search. The various fu outside had already heard about the news. Their courtyards utilized all the available servants to stand guard so as not to become that assassin’s hiding place.
So even though Yun Xuan Zhi had yet to come back from the palace, Liu Han Yu had arranged for imperial guards to patrol the courtyards in the fu to preserve the safety of the xiangfu.
She had been tired from the whole day’s activities. Mi mama had already prepared a hot bath while waiting for Yun Qian Meng’s return. She assisted her into the bath and to change her clothes.
Whether or not it was because of the recent stressful ordeal, Yun Qian Meng felt an ache in her lower abdomen. A hand grasped at her belly while the other clutched on the juniper xe6xa1xa7 wood bath tub as she slowly submerged. Heat rose in spirals in the room. Mi mama and Mu Chun standing by the door could not hear the movement of water.
Both of them worriedly knocked at the door, calling in hushed voices, “Xiaojie, do you need nubi to help you?”
Yun Qian Meng had accidentally fallen asleep in the tub. But when she heard the urgent calls from outside she immediately sat up in the tub. A scent of rose petals wafted up from the water. Yun Qian Meng looked down and extended a hand to brush away the rose petals floating on the surface of the water. When she saw the color of the water in the tub, her brows furrowed
“Come in!” She wiped off the moisture from her body, put on close-fitting robe, Yun Qian Meng put on a light summer outfit and walked to the screen.
Mu Chun and Mi mama heard her voice and immediately pushed the door open. But the room had a strange smell. Mu Chun helped Yun Qian Meng to sit before the mirror on the dressing table, drying her hair for her.
When Mi mama walked past the screen and saw the water in the tub, she made some of the pozi outside come in to move the tub away. Then she went to Yun Qian Meng and said concernedly, “Xiaojie today your body is indisposed, for the evening meal nubi will tell the kitchens to prepare light, non-greasy lily and lotus seed congee.
Yun Qian Meng only felt tired, even just after finishing her bath, she still felt really sleepy. She nodded to Mi mama, but please tell the kitchen to move faster.
Mi mama received the command and left Qi Luo Yuan. Not even half an incense stick later, evening had arrived.
Yun Qian Meng ate some of the summer vegetables paired with lily and lotus congee, then had Mi mama clear the dishes away. Afterwards, Mu Chun helped her to the bed. Perhaps because today she was travel-weary along with the excitement of the events after that made her tired. Once she was on the bed, not even half a cup of tea later she was deeply in the land of dreams.
At midnight Yun Qian Meng was awakened by a strong smell of blood. At first she thought it was coming from herself, but when she uncovered the sheets she realized it was just sweat and she could not detect the scent on her body. Now, Yun Qian Meng was on the alert. She quietly got down from the bed, her bright eyes used the moonlight to search her chamber.
After one pass, she could not find anything suspicious yet the lingering smell of blood was unmistakable. Yun Qian Meng looked to the direction of under her bed, her feet carefully and quietly stepped towards the back of the bed, with each step she sensed the smell of blood grow stronger.
“Enn…” At this time, from the back of the bed, came a male voice making a Yin sound. It made Yun Qian Meng’s heart panic, beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Her hands made a fist and flew through to her chest in a gesture of self-protection.
“If you want to come, then come!” The man had unexpectedly noticed being discovered and suddenly called out. Then Yun Qian Meng heard a small sound of falling and thought that the man must be trying to stand up but was too weak so he fell.
Now that the other party was aware of her wakefulness, Yun Qian Meng was no longer trembling in apprehension. Might as well walk to the back of the bed. She saw a man covered in blood leaning with his back against the bed, panting in raspy breaths. When he saw Yun Qian Meng appear he was not the slightest worried and only flashed her a bloody, cold smile in greeting.
“You are the assassin?” When she discovered such a person in her own chamber, Yun Qian Meng’s expression fell. Everyday Mi mama had Qi Luo Yuan supervised her chamber so thoroughly that not even a drop of water could leak out, how did this person sneak in? First it was Chu Fei Yang, now it was this assassin!
Yun Qian Meng did not guess wrong. This was the very assassin from the palace and he had made the trip with her. Afterwards he had snuck into xiangfu and then hide in her room.
When she looked at this person who was causing her inconvenience, Yun Qian Meng was not in the mood to figure out how he managed to hide in the carriage. She could only think about how to throw him out.
Than man read Yun Qian Meng’s thoughts and said in a fierce and cold voice, “Hmph, timid girl! Don’t worry, I don’t particularly fancy this place of yours enough that I would stay here.”
Yun Qian Meng saw that he was badly wounded, and that he had ridden her carriage to escape the palace. He had been injured by a longsword, it was a unexpected that he was still alive. Of course Yun Qian Meng was itching to get him out of her sight. She said in a cold voice, “Then please leave. Do not trouble me here any longer!”
The man saw that Yun Qian Meng was not scared by his words, but on the contrary engaging him in sarcastic repartee. For a moment he forgot the grave wounds on his person. “You…”
But he did not have a lot of strength left, so when he opened his mouth to say this one word it aggravated the wound on his chest. Like a deflated balloon he fell back against the bed.
“If you can’t move, then I will help you.” Yun Qian Meng could not bare to look at this person. He clearly needed another’s help but his face still held a scowl, as if people owed him something. Did it not occur to him that he who was being a huge inconvenience.
The man’s breaths were short. With raspy breaths and weak strength he reclined on the bed. His murderous eyes glared at Yun Qian Meng. He hated that he could not unnerve the girl in front of him. He had lost too much blood and his face was as white as paper. His whole body could not exert even the smallest bit of energy. He could only glare angrily at Yun Qian Meng, watching for what she would do next.
The moon shifted west. The cold light penetrated the windows, illuminating the room. Yun Qian Meng was now able to make out the man’s appearance. While he was wearing the common outfit of a man from Xi Chu, but his eyes were deep set, his brow bone rather high, the bridge of his nose was very straight, his build was tall and thin. He did not at all look like a person from Xi Chu.
The man also used the moonlight to get a better look at Yun Qian Meng. He saw that the young lady in front of him had a pretty face, eyes shining like the stars but with a faint hint of wisdom and coolheadedness that was hard to ignore. Her chestnut lips were pretty but were conspicuously pale. Those irritating words that were just spoken probably came from this small mouth. For a while the man continued to appraise Yun Qian Meng’s mood, but with one look at Yun Qian Meng’s lips, his eyes alighted with evil intent.
Yun Qian Meng could guess why the man was staring at her lips, and smiled faintly, then said these provoking words, “Would you rather be towed out or pulled out?”
When that man heard Yun Qian Meng’s heartless words, he was riled up. If he were not afraid of aggravating his wound again, he would long ago have brought out his knife to attack Yun Qian Meng.
While both of them were in the middle of their confrontation, Mu Chun’s voi
ce sounded from behind the door. “Xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng momentarily disregarded the man and ran towards the door. She yawned then asked, “What is it?”
Mu Chun realized that Yun Qian Meng was awake then she said, “Xiaojie, Chen Wang is now going from house to house searching for that assassin! Only one more house is left before the xiangfu. Captain Liu told nubi to get xiaojie dressed to avoid those soldiers seeing too much.”
Yun Qian Meng heart suddenly rose up her chest, suddenly needing Yun Xuan Zhi’s whereabouts. “Chen wang? Where’s father?”
“Xiangye hasn’t returned yet! Xiaojie, do you need nubi to help you dress?” Mu Chun looked at the lights in the distance, her heart felt very anxious.
Yun Qian Meng could feel a drop of cold sweat on her nose and immediately gave Mu Chun her orders. “There’s no need. Tell Captain Liu to increase the guards around the fu. Nobody may enter without my permission!” She retreated from the door to approach the man and glared at him with angry eyes. She said through clenched teeth, “Are you going to leave or are you going to wait to get caught?”
The man then changed his fierce expression from a moment ago, and lowered his brows and replied earnestly. “I just realized that his place is very comfortable!”
Yun Qian Meng felt very angry. But now there were footsteps of soldiers outside. Throwing the man out of the xiangfu was now out of the question. She could only look around, then gained a decisive look in her eyes.
The man saw that Yun Qian Meng’s expression had changed. He suddenly felt very alarmed. She did not wait for him to put his guard up, Yun Qian Meng pulled him up by the arm, and dragged him out.
“This is our xiaojie’s courtyard! How dare you enter!” At the gates of Qi Luo Yuan, Mu Chun had brought all the yatou of the courtyard. A group of pozi stood outside. They would not let any of the soldiers in.
“Pa!” At this moment, from the back of the group of soldiers came without warning Su Yuan gave Mu Chun a slap on the face. He pointed at Mu Chun’s bleeding nose, “What are you doing! You dare to disobey an imperial edict? Chen Wang personally came himself to lead this search. You are just a lowly servant yet you dare block Chen Wang’s path? I see that you are acting on a particular person’s orders! If you will not get out of the way, careful or benguan will drive a sword through you to make you understand!”
Saying this, Su Yuan let out a “chou” and brandished a sword from his side. When those yatou and pozi who were only used to ordinary household affairs saw the brandished weapon, one after another they were struck with fright and ran away.
In the whole Qi Luo Yuan, only Mu Chun, Mi mama, Ying Xia and Yuan Dong also still faced the swords of the soldiers.
“Since it is his excellency Chen Wang, that decreed this, what does it have to do with Su daren? This is still Yun xiangfu, dare Su daren come here to parade around his power?” Yuan Dong, who was standing before the crowd, said this in a steady voice as she swept a cold glance at the sword.
Su Yuan was well acquainted with Yun Qian Meng’s sharp tongue. Who knew that her yatou would also be this difficult, making Su Yuan lose face in front of many people. Flying into a rage from the humiliation, he raised his sword arm, suddenly advancing towards Yuan Dong’s head.
Unexpectedly, Yuan Dong’s figure nimbly stepped aside, dodging the killing blow with ease. She watched Su Yuan coldly from where she stood.
An extremely icy voice came from from the loft. “Su daren is a powerful official. Chen Wang, his excellency, has not given orders, yet you dare to stand in my courtyard to murder my people. If I make a report to the Emperor that Su daren came to repay personal grudges using his office, Su daren’s careers will be at an end.” The crowd looked and saw Yun Qian Meng bathed in moonlight as she descended. Her elegant appearance held no trace of vulgarity as she looked at Su Yuan with cold eyes.
Chapter 78: Part 1: Chen wang is beaten, venting anger in the brothel | Chu Wang Fei
“Yun Qian Meng, you paint blood on my face! When did benguan abuse his office for personal grudges? Chen wang, his excellency, is on imperial orders to search the capital; every household, without exception. Benguan is only obeying the decree. Once the assassin is caught, he will be immediately brought in for questioning. With your standing as an official’s daughter, you continue to be uncooperative as you block and slander benguan. Could it be that we will find some hidden secret in Yun xiaojie’s room?” Su Yuan’s eyes were cold, his eyes venting anger at an innocent, his body emitted a killing intent, scaring the yatou and pozi that edged backwards. They only relaxed once they were standing behind Yun Qian Meng’s back.
Yun Qian Meng’s face still held a cold smile, a mocking look in her eyes. Seeing Su Yuan throw his weight around in her own courtyard angered her to no end. This time, however, she could not risk being provoked into a rage. Unexpectedly she smiled a cold smile, showing that she was not like the other xiaojie of the other fu who were scared of the soldiers. Apart from the old women in the other fu who had the ability to not be afraid of the situation, this daughter of the xiangfu was the first to not be afraid of Su daren!
“Su daren speaks very well. With not a single shred of evidence, saying this in front of a large crowd. How can the work of a Minister of Justice be so arbitrary? Moreover, the imperial edict called for Chen wang, his excellency. Su daren is only here to assist Chen wang, his excellency. Daring to ask his excellency, in your capacity as an official, why did you come here with sword in hand at xiangfu’s courtyard? Taking advantage of when Yun xiang isn’t in the fu, you come to bully weak females? Su daren is also like this in the government office? I wish to see. In the other wangfu, how did Su daren show off his military sway there?” Yun Qian Meng’s voice was abruptly cold, her questions followed on after the other like pearls on a string.
But, contrary to her cold manner of speaking,Yun Qian Meng’s face was calm like a water, making people unable to see even a hint of billowing waves.
Su Yuan already knew that Yun Qian Meng had a tongue like a reed, so this time he was able to reign in his anger. He only looked towards the loft behind Yun Qian Meng with gloomy and cold eyes, “Yun xiaojie, there is no need to waste everybody’s time! If you are truly innocent, then you will allow us to go inside and conduct a search. When the time comes, the truth will be made plain to all.”
Saying this, Su Yuan raised his right hand to signal the soldiers behind him to raise their lanterns and begin charging into Qi Luo Yuan.
“Stay where you are!” Yun Qian Meng called out in a loud voice. She suddenly took a step forward, her eyes narrowed on Su Yuan, that vile, ambitious, and pretentious person made her sick.
The soldiers were intimidated by Yun Qian Meng’s imposing manner. They looked at each other in dismay. They didn’t know whether to charge into Qi Luo Yuan or stand where they were.
After all, earlier in the other fu, they only looked briefly into the courtyards of the other xiaojie. They did not all enter or disturb them.
Now though, Su daren had strictly commanded them to enter the xiangfu’s da xiaojie’s chambers. If the xiangye or Fu Guo Gongfu were to somehow catch wind of this, the blame would be laid on them.
In the end, the soldiers took Yun Qian Meng’s command as an excuse to stop. They waited at the sidelines to see what these people would decide to do next.
Su Yuan saw that at this moment, Yun Qian Meng was callous, even in an earthquake she would remain calm. Inside he was already flying in a rage out of humiliation. He stomped on the foot of a soldier who happened to be standing beside him and hatefully cursed him. “You useless thing, afraid of a yatou with no strength to truss a chicken. Does benguan have to teach you how to follow orders? If the assassin were to get away, do not even expect to keep your head, your entire clan will also die with you!”
The soldier that was kicked by Su Yuan stumbled. He lost his balance and started to fall forward, about to crash into Yun Qian Meng in front of him. Yuan Dong, who had been standing behind Yun Qian Me
ng, suddenly appeared like lightning. She extend both hands and made contact lightly with the soldier’s body, then lightly twisted her wrists, turning the soldier’s body around. Then his body switched direction, hurtling towards Su Yuan.
When Su Yuan saw this he immediately sidestepped. The soldier continued to fall and fell face first onto the ground. He looked to be a in a sorry state. The pozi and yatou of Qi Luo Yan could not help a few stolen smiles.
The red-faced soldier got up and saw Su Yuan glaring at him fiercely. His heart tightened but he bowed his head and fell back to his position among the ranks.
Yun Qian Meng was fed up with Su Yuan continuing to rely on Chen wang’s influence. It was the fox exploiting the tiger’s mouth. Her voice became icier. “If Su daren wants to scold his subordinates, it need not happen in my Qi Luo Yuan. I also don’t have idle time to watch you flaunt your prestige. If there is nothing else, then please leave!”
“Why is Yun xiaojie in a hurry? Benguan still hasn’t finished his mission. How can the soldiers rashly withdraw? Still asking Yun xiaojie to please step aside. Cease pushing around and blaming people!” Saying this, Su Yuan grabbed the lantern of the soldier beside him and started to force his way into the crowd of people to enter Qi Luo Yuan’s loft.
Although the yatou and pozi were afraid of the imperial guards, this concerned their xiaojie’s reputation. After all, everybody eventually died. It would be best to save their xiaojie’s reputation, even if they died, they believed that xiangye would treat their families well.
With this thought, a dozen or more yatou defended Yun Qian Meng. Those who had little care for their lives rushed to the front. They shoved and jostled the imperial soldiers. The scene became chaotic. The loud voices of the cursing yatou and the deep voices of the scolding soldiers mixed. The commotion caused the imperial soldiers from the other courtyards to rush towards Qi Luo Yuan. Even Captain Liu, who was conducting operations not far way, came. He saw his own house’s xiaojie being bullied so he pulled out his sword and rushed to the front, separating Su Yuan’s people.
