by Ning er
After following the direction Lan gugu gestured to, Qu Fei Qing glanced at Le Yao, who then assisted her to walk in front of Lan gugu, blocking off the screen from Lan gugu's sight. Qu Fei Qing's delicate hands lightly caressed the soft palace satin that contained new patterns; afterwhich with a smile, she said: "Many thanks for the Empress Dowager's gifts. I naturally love them. I have troubled gugu for personally coming here to deliver these. I heard that the Empress Dowager has gone to Pu Guo Temple, how come you didn't accompany her?"
After the gifts were accepted, Lan gugu smiled and replied, "The Empress Dowager has returned to the palace an hour ago, but she had me come to Fu Guo Gongfu to give these to you."
Lan gugu suddenly leaned closer to Qu Fei Qing. Keeping her voice low, she said: "The Empress Dowager went to Pu Guo Temple to light incense. On one hand, she was praying for blessings for Western Chu. While on the other, she sought your fortune, eldest xiaojie."
"My fortune? I was already born into an influential family, and have also received the Empress Dowager's love; my fortune is already quite superb. Why would the Empress Dowager still bother to do that for me?" They seemed like words of compliment, yet when Yun Qian Meng heard it, it only sounded like some insipid mockery.
Lan gugu did not know what was happening in Qu Fei Qing's mind, so she naturally would not be able to hear the resentment in the words. Therefore, she enthusiastically smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager wanted nubi to relay this message to the xiaojie: Xiaojie's fate is fabulous. These palace satins were especially allocated to the Empress Dowager by the Emperor. Xiaojie need only focus your heart on embroidery and you will definitely be able to achieve the best results.'
"The hour is getting late, so nubi shall hurry back before the palace gates close. Xiaojie you must rest well, nubi shall leave now."
Lan gugu instructed a palace maid to put everything down. Facing Qu Fei Qing, she paid her courtesies again, then left Ting Yu Xuan. When Le Yao returned to the inner room after sending Lan gugu off, Yun Qian Meng stepped out from behind the screen.
"Meng'er, you see the Empress Dowager's intentions?" Looking at satins piled up on the table like a mountain, Qu Fei Qing frowned and complained. "Having nothing better to do, she would go as far as Pu Guo Temple to seek some inscribed stick for my marriage, really!"
Yun Qian Meng held a brightly colored piece of satin, her fingers gently sliding over its smooth surface as her thoughts guessed at Lan gugu's word. In an instant, the expression slightly transformed, and her eyes looked over the satins on the table once again. They were mostly red colored, giving birth to a lot of assumptions in Yun Qian Meng's mind.
"Cousin, these kinds of colors seemed like they are only qualified for the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Imperial Consort's use." Yun Qian Meng prudently said, pointing at a red satin with dark flower patterns,.
Qu Fei Qing's lips suddenly opened; her eyes had an incredulous expression. After a long while, she slowly asked, "What you mean to say is that the Empress Dowager has intended for me to enter the palace?"
Seeing Qu Fei Qing comprehend her thoughts, Yun Qian Meng retracted her hand and nodded seriously. "Perhaps the Empress Dowager is thinking of it. Currently, among the four most influential families, the Rong family has already sent their daughter to become an imperial consort. The Ruan family's daughter is already the Empress, while the Yuan family is continuously enticing influential families within the imperial court. Only the Qu family hasn't done anything. Last time, when cousin was framed, if anyone inside the palace had been able to help, perhaps he wouldn't have needed to take that trip to the prisons of the Ministry of Justice. I believe the Empress Dowager might have already sensed that the balance between the four influential families has somehow broken, so she urgently needs you to enter the palace."
"Humph! For the sake of the Qu family? Perhaps only for saving her own position! Now that the imperial concubines inside the palace are from different factions, the Empress Dowager probably thinks that she will not be able to control them. For the fear that the mutual affection of mother and child between the Emperor and her were to fade away, she urgently looks for someone to help strengthen her position." Qu Fei Qing said mockingly. Although she was unsophisticated, after living in such a family from young, how could she not understand the Empress Dowager's thoughts?
"Don't be angry, cousin. Anyhow, we just need to wait until the imperial examinations have ended and for the plague to be contained. The Emperor will then have the mind to think over matters inside the harem. We just need to think of some countermeasures to handle matters in the meantime." Yun Qian Meng thoroughly comforted Qu Fei Qing while gripping her hand.
Yet unexpectedly, though their conversation had been in low voices, it had been overheard by someone outside…
Chapter 115: Part 1 The Emperor is Seriously Ill, Spring Exam is Held Ahead of Time | Chu Wang Fei
“Xiaojie, a while ago Qu gongzi stood outside of Ting Yu Xuan for a little while, but he left without going inside.” Xi Lin said in a low voice beside her as Yun Qian Meng was ascending the horse carriage to leave Fu Guo Gongfu.
“Cousin? How long was he there?” As she was climbing over to the small seat she paused and cast a sidelong glance at Xi Lin; no wonder there had been no sound of activity outside, as it turned out, it was because Qu Zhang Qing had been present.
If it had been someone else, her secret protector would have taken action.
“Qu gongzi arrived at Ting Yu Xuan a little while after Lan gugu took her leave.” Xi Lin conscientiously relayed to Yun Qian Meng. Qu gongzi had previously been positioned under xiangye; so when xiangye left, he was given instructions not to guard against this person, so he had not taken any action.
“Thanks a lot, I got it.” Nodding at Xi Lin with a smile, Yun Qian Meng pulled Mu Chun along to settle inside the carriage.
Yun Qian Meng allowed Mu Chun to take off all her hair ornaments, while she took out a beautiful handkerchief to wipe off the makeup from her face. Her mind was busy thinking about how much information Qu Zhang Qing had heard at Ting Yu Xuan, and what necessary steps he would take because of it.
“Xiaojie, let nubi fix your hair.” Mu Chun said in a low voice as she fished out a wooden comb from her tiny embroidered pouch after putting away the hair ornaments used by Hou fu’s yatou.
Yun Qian Meng slightly nodded, and immediately, with swift movements, Mu Chun combed Yun Qian Meng’s dangling black hair.
From the color of the sky, the time was already far from early. Yun Qian Meng slowly lifted the carriage curtain with one hand, finding travellers on the road bustling with activity while each and every large fu had their gates tightly shut. Aside from the servants guarding the doorway, there was no other trace of noise and excitement.
A burst of evenly treading footsteps echoed. Yun Qian Meng’s eyes slowly shifted and saw a line of military troops passing the horse carriage. Their expressionless faces told of their patrolling in regards to the plague.
When the people in the streets saw the military troops, they stepped aside to make way for the fear of being mistaken as outsiders who had just recently entered the city. Aside from the sound of the wheels rolling on the limestone road, only the footsteps of the armed men treading along could be heard while all others were too quiet which made a peculiar atmosphere.
As they came close to the xiangfu, the horse carriage stopped by the northwest side corner gate. Yun Qian Meng had already changed into her usual house clothes before stepping out from the horse carriage. She nodded at Xin Lin, then led Mu Chun as they carefully entered the gate.
The remaining time spent for the autumn exam seemed to pass by smoothly. When the exam finally ended, each candidate from the capital was being welcomed home by their respective families, while those from foreign lands were being escorted to their guest house by the city military. The seemingly normal scene gave off a strange air as even Yun Xuan Zhi, who should now be a little free after the autumn exam ended, seemed to be bus
y once again.
“Xi Lin, have wangye and Chu xiang arrived in Luo City already?” By her count, more than ten days had already passed. Yun Qian Meng’s heart felt a bit worried wondering whether or not Chu Fei Yang and Chu wang had already reached Luo City safely.
Xi Lin stood in the hallway wearing his sturdy black uniform. Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s inquiry from where he was stationed outside, he replied in a lowered voice, “Xiaojie, based on the estimated time if they went at a normal speed, I’m afraid xiangye and wangye will have yet to enter the city. The two of them would have already reached Luo City’s territory but five days ago, wangye and xiangye suffered an attack from bandits halfway through, so they’re a bit delayed.”
Yun Qian Meng’s brows slightly wrinkled inadvertently. Tightening her grasp on the brush, she quickly asked, voice full of concern, “Bandits? How is that so? Did wangye and xiangye get hurt? Where are they now? Why didn’t you tell me about this important incident earlier?”
Yun Qian Meng’s interrogation was already enough reproach for him, thus Xi Lin’s eyes flickered grudgingly. He had been instructed by xiangye to not divulge the incident to Yun xiaojie, but with her prudent and meticulous mind, even if he made no mention of it, from the distance the party had already travelled, she would be able to guess that something had gone wrong. There was no way for him to be able to explain everything away properly, so he thought it would be better for him to be honest and confess.
“Don’t worry xiaojie, xiangye and wangye will be safe and sound. Those bandits were merely homeless common people from Luo City. Because of hunger, they started to rob travellers that crossed the area. Xiangye and wangye already had people find some place for them.” Concealing all other details, Xi Lin chose to tell Yun Qian Meng the incident in the most trivial way.
“While on their journey, did they meet with assassins?” Unexpectedly, Yun Qian Meng already thought to this point, causing Xi Lin to tensed up.
“Why do you ask, xiaojie?” Being chased by assassins simply could not be avoided. Wangye maintained a low profile all year round and Chu wangfu was too well protected, effectively blocking off people who harbored malicious intentions. Consequently these people would not simply let this rare opportunity slip by.
Xi Lin thought that, as a well-bred young lady, Yun Qian Meng would only worry about the safety of wangye and xiangye. As long as she knew that the two of them arrived at Luo City safe and sound, she would be at ease.
Yet unexpectedly, Yun Qian Meng’s thoughts were quite deep and profound. Xi Lin, who was usually capable of facing sudden and unexpected situations, became frightened and was now sweating from head to toe.
But recalling xiangye’s warning, Xi Lin replied with gritted teeth, “Xiaojie, you are thinking too much. Everything is alright with wangye and xiangye.”
After the hesitation before Xi Lin responded, Yun Qian Meng’s mind came to a different conclusion.
There were quite a lot of people in Western Chu who wanted to take the lives of Chu Fei Yang and Chu wang. But now that the two were evidently siding with her, those who were originally aiming at her temporarily shifted their target, intending to eliminate Chu wang and Chu Fei Yang first .
Apparently, someone wanted to undertake evil plots by taking advantage of the epidemic. What she ought to do now though was to worry about her own safety. At least, when the time comes, she would not be dragging Chu Fei Yang behind.
She clenched the writing brush in her hands once more. Yun Qian Meng then continued to practice her writing brush with single-hearted devotion to the sounds of the rain pattering outside.
Ten days passed and the scores of the autumn exam were finally posted at the doorway of Gong Yuan; numerous exam candidates personally went to check the list.
“The first-placed candidate is… Han Che? Who is this person? How come I’ve never heard of him before?” People squeezed themselves to the front of the rather small announcement board to carefully search for their own names. An exam candidate who had already found his name started to recite the names on the list at his leisure. But compared to the other familiar names, this first-placed candidate, Han Che, was really unfamiliar.
“Judging by his name, he doesn’t seem to be a nobleman from the distinguished families of the capital. Could it be that the first-placed candidate this time is somebody from the low-income class?” Another candidate who was accompanying the aristocratic exam candidate frowned. Inwardly, he was really upset. If he was right, then all the noblemen in the capital would certainly lose face.
Those who had been under the guidance of the Emperor were surprisingly nothing compared to a unknown lad from some out-of-the-way place. The great teachers that the noblemen had invited were surely all of the finest literary scholars of Western Chu, yet they were all outdone by this unknown youngster. These thoughts alone had successfully ruined their mood.
“Could this person be the exam candidate who clashed with Yun Yi Heng and his brother?” Another exam candidate who was more quick witted recalled the face of that particular exam candidate, then he thought loudly, “That exam candidate had quite a lofty and unyielding character. After being able to attain such an achievement, it was indeed not too strange at all.”
But somehow his pertinent words had caused all the other noblemen to stare at him, included among these were Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie who were standing outside the crowd.
Yun Yi Heng was coldly staring at the name of the person who had occupied first-place, and a faint rage started to bubbling in his eyes.
Yun Yi Jie’s carefree eyes had been carefully sweeping through the list. After spotting his name, that was actually last on the list, his face exposed a smile and his heart could not help but rejoice. At this level, he was not really qualified, but fortunately, with his uncle’s support, everything was going well.
But the words from the other exam candidates made Yun Yi Jie’s good mood vanish like smoke in thin air. Slightly narrowing his eyes, he stared at the words ‘Han Che’ and the face of the exam candidate they had had an encounter with appeared in his mind. Yun Yi Jie coldly snorted and said to his older brother, “Big brother, why should you care about those exam candidates’ comments? There’s no lack of people among them who flunked the exam, they must be jealous of us and are taking the opportunity to drive a wedge between us. They are waiting for us to get Han Che in trouble, then we might get disqualified from the exam, and it will only fulfill what they wished-for. Besides, in my opinion, that Han Che is at most, just a poor scholar, what good does his unyielding manner do for him, will he use the silver to buy a position or buy food? Even if he is the top scorer, without a background, he will be send away to the border towns to be a seventh-rank minor government official. There’s really no need to worry about him, brother.”
Yun Yi Heng was well aware that although his younger brother’s words were somehow prejudiced, there was still truth in them. But thinking back about the incident, Yun Yi Heng simply could not just let it go. With a dark expression, while gnashing his teeth, he said, “I will certainly not let him become the top scorer of this imperial examination.”
He turned around and left Gong Yuan. Yun Yi Jie also immediately collected himself, then quickly followed after Yun Yi Heng.
“Look at that pair of brothers, they seem so full of themselves. That Yun Yi Heng seemed clever, and isn’t like an idiot, yet he only got second place. He really lost a lot of face this time.” The discussions started when the others saw the Yun brothers leave. Compared to their lowered voices a while ago, they appeared to be much bolder now.
“Humph, in my opinion, Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie’s ranks are overstated. Don’t you know that Yun Yi Jie frequently visits the brothels? How could he be able to focus his mind to studies? It is very likely that with his strong family background, he has someone assisting him.” An exam candidate who failed the exam spoke maliciously as he ferociously stared at Yun Yi Jie’s back.
People began to shift their heads around, sear
ching for the source of the voice, only to discover that the person speaking was actually an exam candidate who was closest to Yun Yi Jie. The two of them had common interests; they similarly hated studying, but now Yun Yi Jie was among th top, while he had not received anything—no wonder he was so envious.
Still, his words were quite reasonable.
The secondary examiner for the autumn exam had been the Minister of Justice, Su Yuan. Was Su Yuan’s younger sister not Yun xiang’s most doted yiniang? With that kind of relationship, it was naturally easy for them to manipulate things.
When Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie were about get on their horsebacks, they saw Han Che in a sky blue cotton robe approaching Gong Yuan.
“Oh, if it isn’t the newly announced first-placed candidate; Han gongzi. Looking at your outfit, isn’t that the same one that you wore twenty days ago when we took the exam? Why, is your family experiencing a difficult situation so you can’t even afford a new set of clothes? Let me take a sniff at it... it actually smells sour; you probably haven’t bathed for several days already!” At Yun Yi Jie’s meaningful glance, the servant beside him readily blocked Han Che’s way, afterwhich he unhurriedly stepped forward to jeer at him.
Han Che glanced sideways and saw Yun Yi Jie was approaching in his bright clothes, harboring malicious intentions. At first, he refused to get tangled with this person, but to no avail. A dog was already blocking his way, so he could only stamp his feet lightly. With his eyes like the stars and face like still waters, he stared at the approaching Yun Yi Jie as he spoke in a calm voice, “I didn’t expect myself to be so fortunate as to have the chance to meet you two gentlemen again on the announcement day. But I wonder if you could watch your servant, so as to avoid him wandering off everywhere and scaring other people.”
Although Han Che referred to the boy as the servant, his choice of words after that was as if he were referring to a watchdog. When the servant heard them, anger spread across his face, which made him wanted to hurriedly throw curses his way, yet Yun Yi Jie butted in, “Han the top scorer, are you jealous? Your family is too poor that you can’t even afford to hire a servant. No wonder you have to study as if your life depended on it for the sake of high position and great wealth in the future.”
