Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  But to no avail. The yatou had been transferred over by Yun Xuan Zhi from elsewhere to serve Su Qing. When she arrived at Feng He Yuan, she did not see any other people around aside from Liu huwei's men. She was the wrong person to ask as, aside from softly weeping, the yatou no longer dared to approach Su Qing for the fear of being killed the moment Su Qing was unhappy.

  Su Qing knew that her body was weak, and yet, seeing the idiot who only wept in front of her, she could not restrain her annoyance. Feeling fidgety, she waved her hand and impatiently said, "Get lost!"

  As if receiving amnesty, the yatou hurriedly tidied up the shattered bowl, then quickly ran out of the inner room with her head lowered.

  After Yun Xuan Zhi left the Feng He Yuan, he immediately proceeded to Qi Luo Yuan.

  Standing outside Qi Luo Yuan's garden, he could see some illumination from the loft. Yun Xuan Zhi let the mama standing guard at the garden notify those inside, and soon after, he proceeded upstairs.

  Inside Yun Qian Meng's chambers, Yun Qian Meng was holding a scroll, quietly reading. Yun Xuan Zhi concealed the anger in his heart before he said, "It's very late now, why don't you get some rest, Meng'er?"

  Yun Qian Meng had already expected that Yun Xuan Zhi would come to see her, so she laid down the scroll in her hand as she stood up to pay her courtesies, "Daughter greets father."

  With her being refined and courteous, Yun Xuan Zhi could not muster any anger in his heart. he just nodded and sat down, gesturing for Yun Qian Meng to sit beside him, he then bluntly asked, "Where is Xia mama?"

  Yun Qian Meng saw the anxiety in Yun Xuan Zhi's heart, causing her lips to twitch as she unhurriedly replied, "Just now, the injury in Xia mama's leg acted up. The pain was unbearable, so I had someone take her to see Nie taiyi."

  Yun Xuan Zhi sneered and said coldly, "What good timing for the wound in her leg to act up! Just in time, right when I come to find her, she had escaped to Nie taiyi's residence. Doesn't she know that the Nie fu and Fu Guo Gongfu are long time friends?"

  Yun Xuan Zhi had a serious expression as his gaze had gone completely cold when he glanced daggers at Yun Qian Meng.

  Although Yun Qian Meng's expression was just the same as ever, the faint smile on her face gradually dissipated throughout Yun Xuan Zhi's interrogation. With only her calm expression, nobody would be able to determine the fluctuations of her internal emotions.

  Following Yun Xuan Zhi's words, she asked him back, "Father, are you worried that Xia mama might tell Nie taiyi everything about the matter regarding mother and brother?"

  Yun Xuan Zhi did not know how to respond to her mentioning things so openly. Out of embarrassment, he voiced out, "These are xiangfu's matters after all. Your father doesn't want anybody else to know about it."

  Afterwhich, Yun Xuan Zhi only stared at Yun Qian Meng, seemingly awaiting her assurance.

  A smile bloomed on Yun Qian Meng mouth as then she slowly said, "You worry too much, father. Xia mama had already rigidly held onto this secret for more than ten years now. If she had not coincidentally seen father, then this secret, would have followed Xia mama to her grave. But if you do not wish for others to know, it might be too late. There were too many people around today, father. You may be able to handle those yatou in the fu, but the old madam and Shang Guan mama are people you cannot influence. If the information has already been leaked, I'm afraid it will be beyond your capabilities to suppress it, father. Furthermore, mother is the second daughter of Fu Guo Gongfu, wai zumu and jiujiu have the right to know. Even if we wanted to cover up the truth, how unfair would it be for mother and brother, who both died and left behind some resentment?"

  Yun Qian Meng's emotions had been stirred. Under the flickering light of the candle, Yun Xuan Zhi felt that his own daughter had transformed quite a lot recently. The corners of her eyes now glistened with unshed tears. Now after being rebuked by Yun Qian Meng like that, Yun Xuan Zhi was at a loss of words for a long moment, and he had no idea what to say.

  Yun Qian Meng lifted a hand and used a handkerchief to wipe at the corners of her eyes, then she continued, "Father only saw Su yiniang's painful birth today, yet you never saw my mother's grief after seeing her own son being drowned right before her own eyes. Meng'er knows that father still has doubts and fear that you might accuse Su yiniang wrongly. But your daughter is not worried about having to take part in a confrontation. Real justice can be found in the will of the people, the evil ones will never win over the righteous. I believe you will find the truth in the end, father." Finished speaking, Yun Qian Meng's hand on the table had involuntarily clenched into a fist, she seemed to be very anger yet she had nowhere to vent it.

  Yun Xuan Zhi looked at his daughter and could not help but sigh, "Apparently, Meng'er's heart still harbors deep hate."

  "Hate? I only hate myself for not being a man, I couldn't even avenge my brother with my own hands. I only hate myself for being a woman; my hands can't lift and my shoulders can't carry. Not only seeking revenge for the sake of my relatives, but even during any ordinary day, I still need to watch out for yiniang just to be able to preserve my life."

  Yun Xuan Zhi's exclamation was replaced with Yun Qian Meng's hatred towards herself. After she let it all out, Yun Qian Meng shut her mouth and did not attempt to speak further. The anger in her had also completely dissipated, as if she did not have such an intense conversation with Yun Xuan Zhi only moments ago.

  Yun Xuan Zhi stared at Yun Qian Meng who remained silent and he suddenly recalled that his daughter was no longer alone. Two people now stood behind her: Chu Nan Shan and Chu Fei Yang. Yun Xuan Zhi was startled but immediately eased a bit and asked, "Meng'er, if it was truly as Xia mama says, then how would you like Father to punish Su yiniang?"

  Yun Qian Meng only shook her head indifferently, but eventually uttered, "Su yiniang is father's concubine. When it comes to punishment, it must be decided by father. But if she really did kill people as easily as scything grass, then naturally we must hand her over to the authorities for interrogation. And yet the Minister of Justice is Su yiniang's brother, so there's no need for me to mention what is inherently wrong with that, father surely understands. Moreover, if father were to personally hand Su yiniang over to the authorities, it would be hard to guarantee that she would not talk nonsense. But I presume that it would be better if father personally interrogates Su yiniang, Or maybe sending her over to Fu Guo Gongfu would be better."

  Yun Qian Meng's words bore both logic and threat. If Yun Xuan Zhi was reluctant in punishing Su Qing, or if her brother, Su Yuan, bent the law in his sister favor, neither option would give Fu Guo Gongfu justification. If this matter did not obtain any closure, then it might eventually anger Gu laotaijun and she might do it her own way. Perhaps by then, Yun Xuan Zhi might also lose his reputation.

  It would be better for Yun Xuan Zhi to personally handle the matter. Not only to provide favorable result for all parties involved, but also to put an end to this matter before it could spread. In the end, this was indeed the most appropriate method.

  As for Su Qing, this method might be the most cruel one. Being personally interrogated by a beloved in the main hall, perhaps Su Qing's affections for Yun Xuan Zhi would subsequently vanish by then.

  Yun Xuan Zhi had already thought of what Yun Qian Meng had said just now, but he had never expected that his daughter, who never stepped out of her courtyard, would have such insight. He could not help but begin establishing preventive measures against Yun Qian Meng in his heart.

  Yun Qian Meng paid no notice of the defensive look on Yun Xuan Zhi's face. After all, even without today's argument, Yun Xuan Zhi had never felt at ease in front of her.

  At this moment, father and daughter no longer had anything more to say to each other, so the two of them sat quietly for a long while. Yun Xuan Zhi eventually stood up, told Yun Qian Meng to take proper rest, then turned around and left Qi Luo Yuan.

  "Xiaojie, you must prepare for asleep now. Look at the time, your eyes are already red." A
s soon as Yun Xuan Zhi left, Mu Chun helped Yun Qian Meng up. Seeing the slightly red eyes, her own grew dark and she felt pity.

  Yet Yun Qian Meng only shook her head and said, "It's fine."

  If she had slept earlier, more likely than not, Yun Xuan Zhi might have thought that she had wrongly accused Su Qing this time around. It was better to calmly confront it, so that when the time came that Yun Xuan Zhi's heart was having doubts, crossing that threshold would not be as difficult.

  "You must rest a bit earlier. Tomorrow morning, we shall enjoy a show." Yun Qian Meng believed that based on Nie taiyi and laotaijun's friendship, laotaijun would already know about today's incident already. And as for Shang Guan mama, she might have already told Chu Fei Yang everything she heard of today.

  She could not help the cold smile that rose from the corners her mouth. Su Qing's days of ease would be coming to an end. The delay of her revenge was not because Yun Qian Meng thought Su Qing was undeserving of it, but only because the timing was not yet ripe. This time, the time was right, a good time for war, and she would love to see just how Su Qing would argue.

  After Yun Xuan Zhi stepped out of the Qi Luo Yuan, he called out for Liu huwei, and asked in a low voice, "What's her condition?"

  Liu huwei glanced at the dissipating candle lights inside Qi Luo Yuan and replied in a similarly low voice, "Beizhi has already used torture, but her mouth is too tight and she still refuses to confess. I'm afraid that she might commit suicide by biting off her tongue, so I had to assign someone to watch her."

  Yun Xuan Zhi laughed coldly. "If she really didn't do it then we needn't have resorted to torture to obtain a confession. This means she had really done something and knows that if she confesses, her master will certainly die."

  "Then what does xiangye mean to do?" Liu huwei watched Yun Xuan Zhi with concern when he had suddenly let out a cold laugh.

  "Let's go and pay her a visit!" Yun Xuan Zhi turned around and headed towards the direction of an abandoned courtyard.

  Chapter 107: Part 2: Su Qing's Fallout | Chu Wang Fei

  Early next morning, after Yun Qian Meng had freshened up, Mu Chun came inside with quick steps and a serious expression.

  "Why are you so panicky? What's the matter?" Mu Chun had been following Yun Qian Meng for so long, yet she was still her usual impatient self. For a moment Mi mama's head ached as she shook it in exasperation.

  "Xiaojie! Laotaijun, Hou furen, and Chu xiang have all arrived together." Mu Chun immediately announced the news she had just received.

  Yun Qian Meng and Mi mama exchanged a look and smiled. Apparently, there had been no need for her to exert too much effort in the battle they were about to face today.

  "You little wench, you are quite caught up on the news. But doesn't Chu xiang need to attend the morning assembly held at the Imperial Court?" Mi mama laughed as she spoke, stretching out her hands to pat Mu Chun's head and teasing her.

  Mu Chun pouted, stroking the spot on her head that was patted then said, "I asked around. Chu xiang had announced that he would take his leave today. Besides, Chu xiang will soon become xiaojie's husband. It's only natural that we exert some efforts to pay attention to the son-in-law's whereabouts on behalf of xiaojie."

  Yun Qian Meng could not help but chuckling softly. If Chu Fei Yang had not purposefully made his whereabouts known to others, perhaps even Emperor Yu Qian would not be able to glean his next move. Now though, Mu Chun was utterly proud of her own efforts.

  However, Mu Chun was quite loyal, so how could she not appreciate her thoughtfulness? Yun Qian Meng picked the biggest honey peach from the fruit basket on the table then placed it in Mu Chun's hands, then as if humoring a child, she said, "This is your reward, take it and eat it."

  Mu Chun's brows creased all of a sudden after seeing her xiaojie flash her with the prettiest smile. She immediately lowered her voice and mumbled, "Xiaojie, I'm not a child anymore."

  Sounds of talking and laughter echoed from the room.

  The gentle sound of footsteps then came from the doorway, along with the voice of a mama, "Eldest xiaojie, xiangye requested you to proceed to the guest hall."

  Yun Qian Meng collected herself, and Mi mama responded on her behalf, "Yes, xiaojie will go there immediately."

  The occupants of the room then stood up and they simultaneously proceeded to the guest hall.

  When Yun Qian Meng entered the guest hall, where Su Qing was already being forcibly pressed down and kneeling at the center of the hall. Gu laotaijun and the old madam were both sitting in the head seats, while Yun Xuan Zhi and Chu Fei Yang were seated to the left and right respectively, and Ji Shu Yu stood behind Gu laotaijun. When Yun Qian Meng came in, she received a loving glance from them.

  Yun Qian Meng's cold gaze swept through everyone's faces until finally landing on Chu Fei Yang. The look in his eyes made her feel more reassured and Yun Qian Meng responded with a gaze that conveyed everything was alright.

  "Yun Qian Meng greets elders, and Chu xiang." She went over and sincerely paid her courtesies.

  Laotaijun's angry face somewhat lightened up a bit upon Yun Qian Meng's arrival, as she immediately said, "Quickly, come over here, my child."

  In response to her words, Yun Qian Meng approached Gu laotaijun, who immediately held Yun Qian Meng's slightly cold hands. Eyes filled with wrath, Gu laotaijun shot a glare at Su Qing kneeling at the center of the hall and angrily said, "Su yiniang, aren't you also a mother? When you look at Meng'er, does it remind you of my daughter's son, who you had drowned? You really have the heart of a serpent. What has my daughter done to you, as well as my grandson who had yet to see the world with his own eyes? That you would go so far as to commit this hideous crime, do you think that our Fu Guo Gongfu has neither men nor power? Where did you get the courage to dare murder furen and the gongzi of xiangfu?"

  After a whole night of mulling it over, Su Qing appeared more calm compared to her previous hysterical conversation with Yun Xuan Zhi. Although the delivery had consumed most of her vitality and her face was still pale, she held no fear in her heart when faced with Gu laotaijun's strict interrogation and only coldly retorted, "Laotaijun, I know you don't like me, but furen and the shaoye's deaths had nothing to do with me. Please do not shove the basin full of shit onto my head. Besides, this is Yun xiangfu, not Fu Guo Gongfu. If you wish to interrogate me, xiangye would be the rightful candidate to interrogate. Please just stand aside and just listen, laotaijun."

  Su Qing then lowered her head and refused to talk any further. Gu laotaijun had not expected that this kind of ruffian still existed in this world. This woman had already made a mistake, yet she did not even have the conscience to repent, making Gu laotaijun's face beetroot red with fury.

  Yun Qian Meng gently patted Gu laotaijun's hand comfortingly, afterwhich, she turned around and stared at Su Qing, laughed and said, "Su yiniang, you are quite arrogant. Even father has to treat wai zumu with respect, where are your manners as a yiniang? You even offended your superiors by speaking rudely in front of them. Could it be that you are still relying on the fact that you had given birth to a son? Have you seen the child already? You wouldn't have been so calm and composed otherwise."

  Su Qing suddenly lifted her head, a malicious gaze shot from her eyes, but when she saw the cold smile on Yun Qian Meng's mouth, Su Qing immediately composed herself, then indifferently retorted, "Xiaojie, what are you saying? Being able to give birth to a son for xiangye already makes me fortunate. The child is protected by xiangye's blessing so I believe he must be a healthy boy."

  Before she even finished speaking, the old madam had already pointed a finger at her and cursed, "Su yiniang, that good daughter of yours had already ruined the life of my grandson. And as a yiniang, you even boast shamelessly in this place. Are you planning to make our Yun fu lose all our reputation?"

  Although Su Qing's expression remained calm, after hearing her son repeatedly mentioned this way, her heart became inevitably anxious and feared that something might ha
ve happened to the child. She looked at Yun Xuan Zhi with eyes full of tears and persistently pleaded, "Xiangye, nubi has carried this child since the tenth month then gave birth to him, please let me see him at once!"

  Yun Xuan Zhi originally had no plans to bring out the new born child. After all, he was uncertain whether a disabled child would be able to grow up normally, so he really had no inclination to show the child off to the public. When he was just about to reject the request, he heard the old madam ordered, "Bring the child over here."

  Yun Xuan Zhi's face sank, he shot a hateful look at the old madam but the wet nurse had already brought the child in. It was already too late for him to stop it so he only watched as Su Qing snatched the child from the wet nurse's arms, then tightly hold him in her arms. Immediately, she loosen the swaddling clothes and inspected the child…

  "This…" Glancing at the child's sewn shoulder, Su Qing's mind went blank. For a moment, she did not know how to react and only stared at Yun Xuan Zhi with lifeless eyes as the sound of old madam's cold laugh echoed in her ears, "What a good thing your daughter has done—forcibly breaking off the child's arm. Su yiniang, it should have been enough for you alone to have a wicked heart, but to my surprise, you even brought up my granddaughter to be like this. How can she get married in the future? What gongzi would be willing to marry this kind of woman?

  As the old madam spoke, she secretly stole a glance at Chu Fei Yang. He showed no signs of displeasure, so she herself suddenly felt at ease and looked at Su Qing much more complacently.

  When Su Qing heard the old madam's words, her eyes shot a malicious glance at the old madam with narrowed her eyes, then said in a cold voice, "Old madam, you never really liked me, so I wouldn't dare believe your words. My Xue'er is kindhearted, she would never do such a thing!"

  "Oh dear, it's not important whether the sister did it or not, what's important is the younger brother's arm is already disabled! Yiniang, the child that you delivered with great trouble has become like this, how pitiful." Yun Yi Yi walked in from the backyard and spoke very much like she was rejoicing in other people's misfortune.