by Ning er
With that, Yun Qian Meng's attentively watched for the expression Hai Tian would be unable to hide quickly enough.
Seeing that her beautiful face was completely pale, unfortunately she did not have time to change her reaction. For a moment, it was very awkward that it destroyed Hai Tian's beauty.
“It's just that chennu is very curious, regarding this kind of beauty, is xiangye not willing to accept it?" Yun Qian Meng continued asking Hai Tian but was now directing the attention to Chu Fei Yang.
After all, if not for him, Hai Tian would not have targeted her.
Speaking of femme fatales, Chu Fei Yang at this moment could also be awarded this title, as even her own family's' Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yi Yi very much admired him and immediately wished they could marry into Chu xiangfu. It caused her no end of trouble.
How could Chu Fei Yang not think of Yun Qian Meng when she had flashed through his mind so many times. But hearing Yun Qian Meng ask such a question, and see Hai Tian stand between them made Chu Fei Yang's heart unhappy, so he coldly said, "Junzhu is a blue-blooded noble, while benxiang is only a military man, how could there be any way to gain status through me? Yun xiaojie is very much not seeking to make benxiang happy. In all actuality, today, benxiang did save Yun xiaojie. Does Yun xiaojie not have anything to say?”
This fox's tail was wagging! Instead of defending himself, Chu Fei Yang instead went for an attack with both eyes glistening to watch attentively at Yun Qian Meng.
Chu Fei Yang's rejection of Hai Tian caused embarrassment to bloom all across her face.
She had not anticipated that Chu Fei Yang went so far as to degrade his status to a military man in public only for the purpose to rejecting her.
And to add her hate, a matter regarding Yun Qian Meng that was of no relation to the conversation was brought. When she heard what Chu Fei Yang had asked, she gnashed her teeth so hard and hidden in her sleeves both of her hands were clenched tightly into fists.
Snap.
The tiny sound could barely be heard, but the smile on Yun Qian Meng lips grew deeper. It seemed that Hai Tian junzhu was very annoyed to the point that she forcibly snapped a beautifully polished nail.
In her good mood, with generosity, Yun Qian Meng sincerely said to Chu Fei Yang, "Chennu thanks xiangye for the kindness of saving my life.”
After that, without waiting for a reply, she stood up to leave while perking her head up with a smile at Chu Fei Yang.
This rarely seen attitude gave Chu Fei Yang pause as he stared blankly after her, but he was not satisfied with Yun Qian Meng's manner of saying thank you so half-heartedly, so he slyly opened his mouth, "Granpa loves your cooking, Yun xiaojie. If you really wanted to repay your debt of gratitude, come to Chu wangfu to make a simple home-style meal when you have spare time. Won't Yun xiaojie accept this proposal?”
After hearing Chu Fei Yang's words, strained expressions appeared on the two people near him. For a while now, Hai Tian's eyes had been full of hatred. In order not to lose herself in front of Chu Fei Yang, she had no choice but to brace herself.
On the other side, Jiang Mu Chen's hands tightened around the reins until his knuckles were bone white. In his heart he was nervously staring at Yun Qian Meng, waiting for her to answer.
Yun Qian Meng was aware of Hai Tian's expression, but also felt very annoyed with Chu Fei Yang's request. Though Chu Fei Yang mentioned Chu wang's interest and he did not say Chu xiangfu, even if Yun Qian Meng went to Chu wangfu, would that not that not invite the same criticism to her going to Chen wangfu? With a hint of warning in her smile she said, "For wangye to be fond of chennu's skills is naturally an honor for chennu. In this very small matter, chennu will do exactly as you bid.”
As her voice dropped, Chen wang's body suddenly froze, and Hai Tian eyes frosted over.
Jiang Mu Chen looked at Yun Qian Meng as if very agreeably. Recalling how she had properly and politely declined his offer, he sneered, "Yun xiaojie is quite biased. You are willing to go to Chu wangfu, but not Chen wangfu.”
"Chen wang seems to be acting like a spoiled child, to even go as far as to say that Yun xiaojie is biased." Chu Fei Yang immediately tauted with a cold snort.
Jiang Mu Chen sat immediately sat straight up on his horse, eyes burning straight at Chu Fei Yang's back, wishing he could drill a hole in his body.
Hai Tian smiled mockingly and was quick to ridicule, "Yun xiaojie is girl from a wealthy family. It is crude to do to that kind of lowly work. How can a well-bred young lady from a prestigious family do that for no reason and stain her own reputation? What's more, this behavior of going to Chu wangfu is really inappropriate. Isn't staying in your chambers the proper conduct of a xiaojie?”
In actual fact, in her heart and mind she extremely hated Yun Xiaojie who was so blessed with good fortune that Chu Fei Yang unexpectedly allowed her to go to Chu wangfu.
Since Chu wangfei had died ten years ago, Chu wangfu had closed its doors and declined all visitors. They ordinarily did not receive any guests, but Yun Qian Meng could easily go, how would that not attract jealousy?
"Junzhu is correct, but Chu wangye has only married one Chu wangfei throughout his life. After she died ten years ago, he did not marry again so chennu naturally believes that wangye considers his moral values as precious, so I have no misgivings. Moreover, in the end, Qian Meng is not afraid of being judged. Actually, trying to hide it would make it more conspicuous. The more one tries to hide something, the more one will be unable to hide it, which is quite funny." From Hai Tian's words, one could see that Hai Tian yearned to go to Chu wangfu. Unfortunately, she as could not get close to Chu Fei Yang, what way was there for her to enter Chu wangfu that was more heavily guarded than the palace?
Before Hai Tian could get in another attack, horse hooves from afar came through, only to cause Chen wang's brow to tense and wrinkle up, while Chu Fei Yang, without restraint, silently laughed.
The horse came to a stop in front of their group. The person riding on horseback immediately jumped off from the horse and advanced towards Jiang Mu Chen before they respectfully got down on one knee. "This humble servant is here to see wangye.”
"What is it?" Jiang Mu Chen sounded very cold the look in his eyes were full of austerity but fear in his heart, having already guessed this man's purpose.
"Wangye, taifei had heard of Hai Tian junzhu's misfortune. It is already very late and Hai wangfu is very distant. Taifei invites junzhu to stay the night at Chen wangfu to rest." The man quickly explained his purpose and immediately stood up after. Searching for Hai Tian, he bent to bow, "This humble servant is here to see junzhu.”
Hai Tian eyes flashed a look of panic and immediately looked to Chu Fei Yang, but only to see him smiling. Her mood suddenly took a dive...
Chapter 89: That Night | Chu Wang Fei
After a moment, Hai Tian had calmed her mind, then with a cold complexion she said, "Many thanks to taifei's good intentions, but ben junzhu is a proper xiaojie, according to the etiquette, how can I spend the night in another fu? Would that not be inviting people to criticize? Anyway, ben junzhu thanks taifei again for her good intentions!”
That being said, Hai Tian actually moved slightly sideways and unexpectedly pulled Yun Qian Meng's hand. "Ben junzhu and Yun xiaojie have some similarities. Yun xiaojie plays the guqin well, enough for ben junzhu to be very curious of Yun xiaojie's everyday life. Today, the sky is already dark, would it be possible to stay one night at Yun xiangfu?”
Yun Qian Meng lowered her head as she looked at Hai Tian who had enthusiastically grabbed onto her hands, deliberately exposing the gesture in front of everybody's eyes.
Hai Tian's round and rich golden-purple rose painted nails were so dazzling and noble, they even seemed to contain the overwhelming potential to put pressure on people.
Looking at her own slender hands that had no addition of anything, they were fair and clear of anything. It may be assumed that Hai Tian was intentionally doing so to let Chu Fei Yang draw up a compari
son between the two of them and make him unequivocally more fond of her.
Her mouth held a trace of the estranged smile opposite Hai Tian's show of enthusiasm, Yun Qian Meng lifted up a smile and without any trace of fear in her eyes, as she politely declined, "Junzhu coming to Yun xiangfu in person is an honor to the xiangfu. However, xiangfu has many people at this time, I am afraid that it will offend junzhu. I request that junzhu look for another place to stay.”
"To say it like that, is Yun xiaojie not welcoming ben junzhu? You are not giving Hai wangfu any face, Yun xiaojie is only looking for a good way to decline." Hai Tian was using the opportunity to elevate her standing, so she had softly spoken the threat at Yun Qian Meng's ear.
Yun Qian Meng slightly raised her eyebrows, eyes filled with an extremely cold smile and voice equally cold that was loud enough for everyone to hear, "Junzhu intends to use her authority to pressure people? Junzhu needs to think clearly. This authority you use to pressure others with, you are also using it to pressure chennu's shoulders.”
Yun Qian Meng's words made Hai Tian suddenly tense. A dangerous glint flashed in her gaze as her snake-like eyes stared intensely at Yun Qian Meng. A sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth as she smiled, "It appears that Yun xiaojie's illustriousness is quite great. It now looks as if the person who likes to overpower others is not you, but me instead. Previously, ben junzhu admired Yun xiaojie indifference, but today Yun xiaojie has really let me down. I'm afraid that your peaceful face actually has the inner desire of thirsting for more power.”
After saying that, Hai Tian straightened up, eyes sweeping towards Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen, a surge of anger went straight to her head. Just now all men were blind that such a profane woman like Yun Qian Meng was extremely favored.
At this moment, a white horse came rushing through the long road, on it was an eunuch in striking dark blue robes.
The eunuch was hurriedly searching all sides until he came upon Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen, and immediately urged the horse rapidly to them. He did not even wait for the horse to completely stop before he urgently dismounted. In the presence of the two Imperial Court Officials, he humbly perform the courtesies and kowtowed. Then, in a shrill voice, "Nucai greets wangye and Chu xiang.”
"It's already late, the Palace has long since locked up, how did gonggong leave?" Chu Fei Yang asked the question despite already knowing the answer as his eyes purposely glanced at Jiang Mu Chen on horseback.
Jiang Mu Chen himself was aware of Chu Fei Yang watching this good show, thus he had to restrain from glaring towards Chu Fei Yang and simply watched attentively at the eunuch to wait for him to say something.
"The Emperor already heard that something had happened to the capital, he asks that wangye and Chu xiang immediately go to the Palace. The Emperor is currently at Yang Xin Hall waiting for the two of you." The eunuch had first taken a deep gulps of air to even out his laboured breathing before he opened his mouth to talk.
"Got it. Go back first to report, benwang will immediately return to the Palace." Jiang Mu Chen once more glanced at Yun Qian Meng, then instructed the imperial guard, "Go back and report to taifei, tell her to rest early and not to worry too much.”
The eunuch immediately got up on horseback to do as Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen commanded and report that they would be going to the Palace for debriefing.
Chu Fei Yang looked at Yun Qian Meng's appearance and saw that she was capable of dealing with Hai Tian, so his heart was slightly reassured. He still gave a meaningful glance to Jiao Da who was nearby. Seeing that Jiao Da understood what he was silently asking, he got up on horseback, and he left for the Palace together with Chen wang.
"Chu xiang right now is actually still concerned about a woman. I'm afraid that in the presence of the Emperor, Chu xiang will be unable to explain why the Northern Qi's Tenth Prince was staying at Chu wangfu." Chen wang, not used to seeing Chu Fei Yang treating Yun Qian Meng as such, so he was purposely mocking him and rejoicing in the other's misfortune.
Chen wang's words were also very malicious, as he said that the Tenth Prince was “staying” in Chu wangfu rather than being imprisoned.
The word “staying” made people's imagination run wild, as it would look to the suspicious chancellors that Chu wang had the intention of cooperating with the foreign country.
As he whipped his horse's body, Chu Fei Yang's smile changed. At this moment, he and Chen wang both had cold expressions. In the face of his opponent's provocation, he did not intend to lag behind. “Wangye was quite late in deploying the guards to save and protect people, perhaps you might also have need to possess some caution. Today's fatalities number so many xiaojie and gongzi, due to wangye's slow coming. I don't want to be the one to inform the capitals noble clans and families that their lives are not within the Emperor's control, but rather in Chen wang's grasp. I'm afraid that wangye already knew for a long time now that the Tenth Prince was in the Chu wangfu, but you followed after benxiang into the forest, perhaps to force benxiang to bring out the Tenth Prince out of Chu wangfu much earlier than intended. Wangye's astute and circumspect planning is really admirable to benxiang, but maybe once in front of the Emperor, wangye would find it very difficult to give some plausible explanation. Perhaps the Emperor would be gravely angry and seize wangye's authority over the guards, would wangye still be so arrogant?”
Seeing Chu Fei Yang's horse indistinctly surpassing his own horse's speed, Chen wang immediately lashed his own so that he could surpass Chu Fei Yang's horse, just to sneer, "What basis does Chu xiang words have? Benwang had imperial orders to maintain the capital's safety, naturally I do not have any selfish motives. For Chu xiang to say this much to start rumors and create trouble, what are your intentions? Could it be that you wish to trap benwang unjustly to hide your dirty secrets?”
When Chu Fei Yang's horse saw that another horse had passed it, suddenly, it did not need Chu Fei Yang to urge it. Instead, it let itself loose and started on hoofing as if its life depended on it to run forward. In a blink of an eye it was able to exceed Chen wang's horse by have its body's length.
Chu Fei Yang leisurely sat on top, letting his warhorse work hard to not fall short. His eyes floated up into a smile as he immediately responded to the dark expression on Chen wang's face. "Even if wangye has meticulously calculated everything, there can still be some complications. Surely wangye, with your your tight defenses, had not anticipated that the Northern Qi's Crown Prince to not only rescue the Tenth Prince but also escape from the capital with his men. Wangye must be extremely annoyed right now. If benwang ever has need of the Northern Qi's Crown Prince in the future, you would need more help than what you currently possess. Especially after today as wangye has offended the Crown Prince. Since both sides have already incurred hatred, cooperation in the future would be a very difficult thing.”
Chu Fei Yang remarks caused Chen wang to immediately glare and with gnashing teeth he said, "Chu Fei Yang, you schemed against benwang. You deliberately caught the Tenth Prince and accurately calculated benwang's timing. You made use of the knowledge that benwang would not let them slip away to incite hostilities between Northern Qi's Crown Prince and I.”
Chen wang's eyes were no longer ice-cold, replaced by bright anger, he resisted drawing out the sword at his waist and have a decisive battle with Chu Fei Yang.
Chu Fei Yang still had a noncommittal smile and half a moment later, he started to talk, "How could benxiang have calculated all of it? It is just a coincidence and nothing more. Do you think you have such great luck? Tonight, a few foreigners escaped, wangye better think carefully how to explain this to the Emperor. Think very carefully, we must understand and explain this matter clearly before we bring it to the Emperor so that he will be able to believe in what anyone says.”
Chen wang's only response to Chu Fei Yang was to urge his horse with his whip, carrying on the chillness as they rushed forward.
Chu Fei Yang's horse immediately wanted to catch up but Chu
Fei Yang comfortingly stroked its glossy mane and softly whispered, "What's the rush? Walk slowly, do not rush to death's door.”
The horse was actually very obedient and slowed its pace. It ran toward the palace gates at a trot.
At the river bank, Jiao Da, having received a look from Chu Fei Yang, guarded Yun Qian Meng from afar.
Yun Qian Meng gave the courtesies to Hai Tian, before immediately turning to Mu Chun who was assisting her to board the family carriage. But when she tried to leave Hai Tian tightened her grip on the hand she still held and those pointed fingernails deeply embedded themselves into Yun Qian Meng's delicate palm. With the burst of pain, the nails left behind very deep marks. Presumably, it did not seem as if she hated Yun Qian Meng, only Hai Tian was afraid that she could not catch her eye.
"Yun Qian Meng, you absolutely want to compete with me?" Hai Tian stepped forward as she spoke darkly.
As Yun Qian Meng's hand suffered the pain, her heart raged. Her right hand that was concealed in her sleave immediately shot out. In Hai Tian surprise, she lost her grip and their hands were now separated. Leaving no trace except for the slight pull, Yun Qian Meng had stabbed Hai Tian's palm using the the end of her gold hairpin, though it seemed as if Hai Tian's hand was only pushed off.
Hai Tian stumbled backward and almost fell onto the ground because of Yun Qian Meng's trick, so her eyes filled with cold frost as she said, "Chennu will take her leave.”
