Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  Yun Yi Yi intentionally approached Chu Fei Yang as she paid her courtesies, but to no avail. Chu Fei Yang did not even glance sideways, making Yun Yi Yi unable to extricate herself gracefully, and she eventually retreated behind the old madam with some trace of embarrassment.

  Su Qing's face went pale, seeing the fragile son in her arms, she could barely feel his extremely weak breathing. Su Qing suddenly felt the pain like a knife being twisted in her heart. This was her son, he had likely been harmed by this group of demons. Su Qing suddenly stood up, with one hand tightly hugging the child, the other hand pointed at Yun Qiang Meng and the rest of the people present as she roared, "It's you! It was you who fetched Xia mama back, making me feel ill at ease, causing me to have a difficult birth, then caused trouble to my son. Yun Qian Meng, you slut! You-"

  Before she could finish, her body, as if being kicked from behind, fell down and she was back to kneeling once again. The pain in her knees had spread through her body, but right then, Su Qing realized she had said something wrong. But since she had already spoken them for everyone to hear quite clearly, that even if Su Qing were to express great remorse right now, it would already be too late.

  "Feel ill at ease? Su yiniang, why would you be afraid of Xia mama? Could it be that you really had my brother drowned and was witnessed doing so by Xia mama? You were afraid that Xia mama would reveal all your wicked deeds, and consequently you were unable to eat or sleep after you learned that Xia mama had re-entered xiangfu? If you had not done it, why would you be so afraid? As matters stand, what else would you like to argue about? All of these means that you are getting what you deserve."

  Yun Qian Meng would never forgive Su Qing for this greatest sin that she had done, she allowed her no explanation and was quick to cut her off. Chu Fei Yang glanced at Yun Qian Meng, her eyes turning slightly red, but her words stayed sharp and keen, like a sword piercing straight at Su Qing. Yun Qian Meng must be really mad, or else, with her usual calm composure, nobody would have ever been aware of any change in her emotions.

  "What are you talking about young Yun xiaojie? Xia mama had originally been reported as a missing person. After so many years have passed, everyone thought that she was already dead. Now that she was suddenly being welcomed back to xiangfu, not only my pregnant sister would suffer from fright, even ordinary men who knew of this matter might also be scared. Yun xiaojie's words seemed like they're deliberately trying to falsely accuse other people, convicting my sister at your leisure." Su Yuan's voice sounded from the doorway as he walked into the guest hall wearing his official uniform and body covered in dust.

  Su Yuan had a vicious look as he rushed inside the hall, which made Yun Qian Meng laugh, she then coldly said, "Su daren, your sibling love runs quite deep. Having heard of Su yiniang's offense, Su daren was quick to rush over to save the show. But this matter concerns a human life, will you bend the law in order to favor your sister and not handle things justly, Su daren?"

  Su Yuan knew very well that Yun Qian Meng was sneering at him, so he immediately brought forth the tone he usually used to interrogate criminals, and he said aggressively, "Su yiniang is my younger sister, don't tell me that I have no right to ask her questions for my own interest? If I'm not qualified for that, neither are Fu Guo Gongfu and Chu xiangfu, yet laotaijun and Chu xiang are both present here. Xiaojie ought not to favor her own side while discriminating against your opponents. If word of this spreads, are you not afraid that people will say that you are bullying a yiniang in your own house?"

  Yun Qian Meng was well aware that Su Yuan was not soft of heart, and now, she acknowledged his ferocious attitude. But if hethought that this would make her surrender so easily, then he was gravely mistaken.

  However, Yun Qian Meng's expression remained calm, neither indignant nor fiery, as she stated in a clear voice, "Su daren, your words are without basis. Qian Meng didn't mean to say that Su daren is unwelcome here, yet Su daren was quick to show discontent. Could it be that you were afraid that your younger sister's scandal might get exposed in public, so you were quick to blow a fuse out of humiliation?"

  "You-" Having been pestered endlessly by Yun Qian Meng, Su Yuan's eyes exposed an ominous glint, before he could continue, he heard Yun Xuan Zhi's annoyed voice, "Since you are here, then sit down. Liu huwei, bring Wang mama and Xue'er over here."

  Yun Xuan Zhi originally planned to quietly handle this matter, but those present today were people of great influence and they simply had not allowed him enough time to handle the matter before they came over here one by one.

  Since this matter needed to be dealt with immediately, yet the outcome would eventually be handed over to these people, Yun Xuan Zhi bluntly commanded Liu huwei to bring over the people concerned in order to avoid the assumption that Yun xiangfu was a place where one could come and go as they pleased.

  Yun Xuan Zhi coldly glanced at Su Yuan, ire inevitably rose up from his heart. Although Su Yuan's position was lower than his, ever since he claimed connection with Chen wang, his power became even greater than his own. Now he had so brashly rushed inside the xiangfu, apparently, regarding himself as some important person. Even if Yun Xuan Zhi wanted to side with Su Qing, with the presence of this kind of brother, the pity he felt for Su Qing had slowly drifted the longer this went.

  Soon after, Wang mama in worn-out clothes was being dragged inside the guest hall by two guards, her face was deathly pale, while Yun Ruo Xue, with a lifeless expression, was helped inside by two yatou.

  "Wang mama, are you aware of your crime?" before waiting for any other person to interfere, Yun Xuan Zhi took the initiative to question her first.

  With such an assured question, Su Qing's face went rigid as she incredulously looked at Yun Xuan Zhi, and spoke while she was weeping, "Xiangye, you are so cruel to try to obtain a confession from Wang mama under torture. Are you not afraid that you might settle the case unjustly? Up until now, I still do not know what happened. I only know that my child's arm was snapped off, don't you feel pity for your own child? Why did you put your hands on my people? Aren't you afraid that I might get disappointed in you?"

  Presented with Su Qing's resistance, everyone watching had a look of disgust. But when Yun Ruo Xue heard 'arm snapped off', she crazily screeched and her body doubled back as if she wanted to keep herself as far away as possible from Su Qing and the child, then she yelled fanatically, "I didn't do it on purpose! I didn't do it on purpose! I only wanted him to come out faster! Who would have thought that his arm would break off just like that! Aah!"

  For a while, only Yun Ruo Xue's miserable shrieking could be heard inside the guest hall.

  Once Su Qing heard her daughter's words of confession with her own ears, her body suddenly went soft and she collapsed onto the ground. Wang mama was frightened and immediately took the child from Su Qing's arms to hand over to the wet nurse, then she supported Su Qing up and cried out, "Yiniang, yiniang, what happened? Don't scare me!"

  Su Yuan immediately handed over a cup of tea, allowing Wang mama to help her drink a mouthful.

  Su Qing turned around with unexpected strength and jumped off the ground as she suddenly dashed towards Yun Ruo Xue. Grabbed Yun Ruo Xue's arm, she raised her palm, aiming at Yun Ruo Xue's face as she ferociously slapped her more than ten times as she scolded, "You can just die! Why did you harm your own brother? He is just a child, how can you do such thing? Why did I give birth to a brute like you?!"

  Yun Ruo Xue seemed to have woken up after being hit so viciously. She suddenly knelt down before Su Qing and cried bitterly, "Mother, it's not my fault, I really didn't do it on purpose! I had my good intentions, I wouldn't cause any trouble to my young brother. Mother, you must believe me, oh, you must believe me!"

  Eventually, Yun Ruo Xue could only sob quietly, but Su Qing's gaze was too frightening, like two sharp daggers peeling the flesh off of Yun Ruo Xue's body, bringing great fear to Yun Ruo Xue's heart.

  "Alright, have you finished venting out all your anger?" Yun Xuan Z
hi felt that he had lost so much face, so he no longer allowed Su Qing to see Yun Ruo Xue as he commanded Liu huwei to take Yun Ruo Xue back. Afterwhich, the two remaining women were again compelled to kneel down onto the ground.

  "Wang mama, in the presence of all people here, repeat what you told us last night without missing a word." Yun Xuan Zhi did not feel like looking at Su Qing, so he addressed Wang mama instead.

  Instantly Su Qing regained her senses, since her heart knew that there were still matters waiting to be resolved. Seeing Wang mama sadly glance at her, Su Qing's heart tensed abruptly.

  Wang mama respectfully faced Su Qing as she knocked her head on the ground three times, then she knelt down and slowly said, "Xiangye, back when furen gave birth, it was indeed twins of mixed sexes. But at that time yiniang, was also pregnant, consequently she was not allowed inside the delivery room. All the arrangements were done under my command. I was the one who directed the midwives to do everything, even drowning the little gongzi. Yiniang knew nothing about it, as I handled everything myself. Xiangye, please do not listen to Xia mama's words and harbor suspicions towards yiniang. That Xia mama was the wet nurse of the deceased furen, naturally she would side with furen. Of course she would say some hurtful words towards yiniang, please see it clearly, xiangye! Today, laotaijun and Chu xiang are here to bear witness. What I've said is all true, and none of it is false! Please think upon it, xiangye!"

  After speaking, Wang mama's eyes looked straight at the red pillar outside the guest hall, and Chu Fei Yang suddenly became alert, yet it had unexpectedly been Wang mama's way of creating a diversion. When everyone thought that she was planning to knock her head against the pillar to demonstrate her sincere convictions, she unexpectedly committed suicide by biting off her tongue. Before she died, she kept her eyes open and fresh blood slowly flowed out of the corner of her mouth as she collapsed beside Su Qing.

  Su Qing could not help the shaking of her body as she looked helplessly at her wet nurse committing suicide in order to save her. A flame of anger suddenly ignited within her heart, and she suddenly rushed at Yun Qian Meng, "You slut! It's all because you brought Xia mama inside xiangfu! You must pay for my son and my Wang mama's lives, you little slut!"

  Su Qing's mind and heart were now brimming with the flames of fury, she very much had the desire to kill Yun Qian Meng right at that moment.

  But Chu Fei Yang had already been prepared, shielding Yun Qian Meng, as Xi Lin who had been guarding outside the hall quickly approached Su Qing from behind. With a chopping motion, he made a blow to the back of Su Qing's head and her eyes rolled as she passed out.

  "Su fu's upbringing is quite amazing. A yiniang would actually shout and quarrel with a future wangfei. Such disrespectful conduct. Even if Su daren went to his new master today, perhaps it will only draw out your time of reproach." Chu Fei Yang's eyes and expression were ice-cold, causing Su Yuan, who had been about to get angry, to immediately swallow the words that he had prepared to say. With a dark expression, he remained seated.

  "It is indeed my family's misfortune that, to my surprise, such a vicious thing really existed!" the old madam looked towards similarly serious Gu laotaijun as she cursed and pointed her finger at Su Qing lying on the ground.

  Yun Xuan Zhi then said out of extreme impatience, "Since mother, you are so capable of raising a child, then, I will entrust Su yiniang's child to you, mother."

  Upon hearing these words, the old madam immediately refused, "Why? The child's yiniang is still alive, why would I have to discipline the child? Besides, there are many yiniang inside the fu who are still childless. You can just hand him over to one of them to foster."

  The old madam seemed to have had enough of today's excitement, after she had been demonstrating her authority these past few days, giving out orders but refusing to do anything herself. But after witnessing Su Yuan's wield his official power so formidable, Yun Qian Meng indifferently said, "Grandma, you raised two brothers and one sister to become remarkable young people. I believe that if younger brother were to be under your guidance, he will certainly become someone worthy of respect."

  "But this child's life seems…" the old madam was about to say that the child was not long for this world, but upon seeing Yun Xuan Zhi's dark expression, she swallowed her words into her stomach.

  Su Yuan was beginning to see how bad this old woman actually was as he spoke, "Yun xiang, if you feel that nobody will be able to take care of the child inside xiangfu, I will welcome Xue'er and the boy in Su fu. Although Su fu isn't as vast and grand as xiangfu, we have enough to spare for bringing up two children ."

  Yun Xuan Zhi only coldly snorted at that and said, "He is a child of Yun fu, why do we need other people to bring up the child? Su daren, if you don't have any other concerns, please leave."

  Yun Xuan Zhi then had Liu huwei drag out Wang mama's dead body, as well as let a few yatou carry Su Qing to the rear courtyard. He himself faced Gu laotaijun and said, "Laotaijun, the truth of the matter has been revealed. The murderer of Ruo Li and the child has already committed suicide to escape punishment. Please do not concern yourself with this matter anymore so that Ruo Li being will be able to rest in peace under the ground."

  But laotaijun was not someone who was easily fooled. She had wanted to see Yun Xuan Zhi punishing Su Qing today, but he had found himself a sacrificial lamb. Gu laotaijun's grew seriously grave as she said, "Is that so? Then how do you plan to punish Su yiniang, Yun xiang? For Wang mama to be able to have the guts to murder her master, don't tell me that Su yiniang is not responsible for that? Or it could be you who is avoiding the responsibility."

  Yun Xuan Zhi's brows immediately wrinkled, and after a long moment, he came to a firm resolution as he said, "Please do not worry, laotaijun, I will certainly bring justice to Ruo Li's death."

  Afterwhich, he turned around and left the guest hall.

  Laotaijun and her people had witnessed a huge farce today, so her mood was extremely dour now. Every time she was reminded of her daughter and the grandchild she had not even seen, laotaijun seemed to age ten years.

  Sensing the dark atmosphere that settled in xiangfu, laotaijun climbed into the horse carriage with Ji Shu Yu's support. But before Ji Shu Yu climbed in herself, she pulled Yun Qian Meng close and gently said, "Meng'er, sometimes, you can't blame laotaijun, she has moments wherein it is difficult for her to make decisions."

  After that, Ji Shu Yu stepped inside the horse carriage, leaving Yun Qian Meng to ponder over the statement.

  When she was collecting her thoughts, she felt warmth on her shoulders and saw Chu Fei Yang drape a silk brocade cloak over her shoulders. Holding a horsewhip in his hand, it seemed that he was about to leave xiangfu.

  "Go in now, the wind outside is quite strong." Glancing up at the almost noontime sun, Chu Fei Yang pulled up his war horse, afterwhich he flew up onto the horseback and quickly rushed towards the Imperial Palace.

  At this time, Feng He Yuan was already far from its usual scene. In only a day's time, the yatou and pozi of Feng He Yuan had already been dismissed elsewhere, and only Liu huwei's men stayed behind to stand guard.

  Yun Xuan Zhi was now holding a bowl of congee in his hands as he slowly entered the inner room.

  On the bed, Su Qing was awake, but turned a blind eye at Yun Xuan Zhi's arrival.

  "You've been tired, you must be hungry, eat some congee to warm your body." Yun Xuan Zhi attend to himself as he sat down by the bed. Personally scooping a spoonful of fragrant rice congee, he brought it to the corner of Su Qing's mouth.

  "Was Wang mama's death not enough? Now, you won't even allow me to slip by?" Su Qing suddenly said.

  Chapter 108: Part 1: Fei Qing's Worry, Meng and Rong Engage in Business | Chu Wang Fei

  Yun Xuan Zhi paused in handing the congee over, then he smiled and said, "Qing'er, what are you talking about? This is just normal congee."

  Looking at Yun Xuan Zhi's expression, Su Qing suddenly laughed, a desolate and sorrowful laugh. She then
coldly said, "It's been so many years already, do you think I still don't know you? Today, the reason you let Wang mama admit all the crimes was just to prevent inciting my brother's temper while still giving Fu Guo Gongfu an explanation. Yun Xuan Zhi, you planned it so meticulously. You used Wang mama's loyalty to me and now you're using my trust. You are the one who won the battle. It was a waste for me to give up so many things for you all these years. Even then, in your heart, I still can't compare to honors and glories! Are you really heartless or am I just too dumb?"

  While speaking, Su Qing cried. Tears of sorrow trailed down her cheeks, but her eyes stared at Yun Xuan Zhi with hatred, as if wanting to remember his face forever in her mind. Even in the next lifetime, she would never forget the face she had memorized deeply because of hatred.

  The smile on Yun Xuan Zhi's face slowly faded, leaving him with a gloomy expression. He retracted the hand that was feeding congee to Su Qing and placed the bowl on the table beside the bed, then coldly voiced out, "You don't trust me? Do you know how bad I felt? Even though you killed my child, did I even say anything bad to you? If I hadn't let Wang mama take the responsibility, do you think you'll be able to stay alive? When have you ever understood my intention for you? And now you're accusing me of turning on you? For all these years, although you are not the furen of xiangfu in name, inside the fu, has there been any difference between you and a legal wife? Even Meng'er needs to live under your will. Qing'er, have you no conscience?"

  Yun Xuan Zhi's words were cold and towards the end, Su Qing's expression became even more somber and ghastly pale from anger. If she did not love him so deeply, she would not be this infuriated.