Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  And after all with Rong Yun He being a man, although he and Rong Gui Fei were real siblings, but after all there was distinction between man and woman, in addition to the members of the harem being all women, it will be inconvenient for Rong Yun He to frequently go in and out of the imperial palace, he was also more likely to be unable to relay all the things that Rong Gui Fei wanted to say to her.

  As for the other women of Rong family, perhaps Rong Gui Fei didn’t want to them to know some of the things, then she waited until she showed up at the feast of the Lantern Festival today at the palace.

  Not to mention, Rong Gui Fei was truly a cautious woman, but for a woman like her to reach such position, she must have been very cautious and solemn!

  Every move that she took it will affect the entire Rong family, with a little negligence, it will be very likely for the Rong family to suffer from the disasters!

  Just like Rong Xian Tai Fei who had devoted herself to the teachings of the Buddhism for so many years, just because of too much struggle inside the palace, because of a tiny bit of carelessness she had fallen into the traps of other people, as the matter of fact she spontaneously quit the fight inside the palace, with the quitting she had moved on with her life, throughout the years she had been defending her own world, as a result she became one of the few Tai Fei who had survived throughout the years.

  Not to admit, this was also a kind of wisdom, if such kind of life was to repeat on the life of a woman with a peerless talent like Rong Rong, that will be truly a great pity!

  “Furen, we have arrived at Rong Hua Gong!” With a jolting movement, the palanquin had stopped, the voice of that young eunuch resounded outside.

  Yun Qian Meng lifted up the curtains of the palanquin then glanced outside, being certain that the place was Rong Gui Fei’s Rong Hua Gong, she then walked out of the soft palanquin.

  “Pleased to meet you, Chu Furen!” A palace maid was already waiting at the gate of the palace, seeing the clothes of the palace maid being slightly different from the other palace maids, Yun Qian Meng knew that she must be a trusted person of Rong Gui Fei, she nodded her head at her, then followed behind her as they stepped inside of the splendorous and majestic palace.

  This was the very first time Yun Qian Meng had set her foot inside Rong Hua Gong, she was having the impression that this splendorous and majestic palace was seriously not corresponding to Rong Gui Fei’s distinctive elegant and attractive style, yet it had somewhat revealed to the people how much Yu Qian Di had favored Rong Gui Fei, behind something that looked so impressive, yet it concealed so many sorrowful days and nights, such kind of decoration, was perhaps Yu Qian Di’s way of reminding Rong Gui Fei to take note of her own family background!

  Secretly shaking her head, Yun Qian Meng was being led by the palace maid to the small reception pavilion in the side palace hall of Rong Hua Gong, seeing Rong Gui Fei was sitting upright in the seat of Gui Fei, in a serious expression as she was doing her embroidery.

  “Gui Fei Niang Niang, Your Highness!” Yun Qian Meng approached the center of the reception pavilion, with graceful movement she slightly lifted the corner of her skirt facing Rong Gui Fei as she slowly knelt down, her clear voice didn’t frighten Rong Gui Fei who was concentrating, yet it was also exactly reminding the other person involved of her arrival.

  Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s voice, Rong Gui Fei slowly lifted up her head, exposing her gorgeous beautiful face, she gently smiled, then handed over the embroidery works she was holding in her hands to her personal palace maid, then she stood up as she said in a neutral tone “Chu Furen, please stand up!”

  “Many thanks, Niang Niang!” Hearing Rong Gui Fei’s gentle voice, with thorough etiquette Yun Qian Meng stood up, yet she discovered that the palace feast was about to start soon, but Rong Gui Fei was still wearing her usual adornment.

  With the occasion today, it was compulsory for the Empress and Gui Fei to participate, but seeing there’s not much time left, Rong Gui Fei was still wearing her semi-old palace dress, without the cosmetics on her face, rolling up her hair at the back of her head in the usual way, although she looked beautiful, yet without the dignified look of the imperial household.

  “May I ask what was the reason Niang Niang had summoned me here today?” Glancing at Rong Gui Fei’s adornments, Yun Qian Meng immediately lowered down her eyes, refusing to make comments about the adornments of the person in front of her.

  After all, she was already quite surrounded by all sorts of problems on hand, she was not interested to participate in the fight inside the palace, at least she wasn’t interested right now, so long as Yu Qian Di will not do anything harmful to Chu Fei Yang, she naturally wouldn’t risk herself by getting tangled up with the fights inside the palace, so as to avoid stirring up trouble.

  And during that time she had spoken to remind Rong Gui Fei, firstly because of her relationship with Rong Yun He, secondly, her uncle was being able to get rid of the poison in his body, also thanks to the Rong family, Yun Qian Meng wouldn’t easily forget such act of kindness.

  “Since I have nothing to do in particular, I’m inviting furen to come over and sit with me! Furen, please don’t blame me for being rude!” Rong Gui Fei’s face seemed relaxed, but when her personal palace maid brought over the palace dress that she was going to wear in a while for the feast, her eyes flickered grudgingly, afterwhich she nodded wearing an expressionless face, then she approached Yun Qian Meng, slowly spoke “Last time at the side palace hall of the imperial garden, I wanted to thank you furen for reminding me! Or else my days would not be long!”

  Although Yun Qian Meng was half drooping down her eyelids, but when her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Rong Gui Fei’s red palace dress, then the prominent grudging look on her expression, her heart felt quite affirmative on her previous suspicion, she spoke immediately in response to Rong Gui Fei’s words “Niang Niang don’t be too courteous, it was just a very slight effort of mine. But, for Niang Niang to pick some plum flowers during the cold weather, it may be assumed that the people in the palace had forgotten to inform Niang Niang that there were plenty of fragrant winter plum blossoms inside Rong Hua Gong”

  During the latter statement, Yun Qian Meng had spoken the words in whisper, although only Rong Gui Fei and her trusted servant were present in the reception pavilion, but the palace walls usually have ears, it will be better for them to be more careful.

  Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s reminder, Rong Gui Fei’s expression went stiff, sure enough she had overlooked these details.

  Her paternal aunt had informed her not to take part in the fight inside the palace, but with her quitting the fight, it didn’t mean that people will simply just let her get away with it!

  If wasn’t for Yun Qian Meng’s reminder during that day, perhaps someone had already obtained information that can be used against her.

  Thinking of this, Rong Gui Fei’s heart slightly trembled, with those inquiring eyes she looked at Yun Qian Meng, seeing this woman in front of her smiling charmingly, her half drooped down eyes seemed cautious and being wise and farsighted, although her looks weren’t absolutely devastatingly beautiful, but the self-confidence contained in her was the most attractive part of her, which was why Yun He fell in love with her.

  And Yun He’s sight was always accurate, Rong Gui Fei felt somewhat more comfortable towards Yun Qian Meng, then she carefully spoke “For the past few days, Chu Xiang had went to send off Princess He Shun for her peace treaty marriage according to imperial orders, the journey must have went on smoothly, right?”

  Under Yun Qian Meng’s influence, the current Rong Gui Fei also became even more cautious, based on her statement she only mentioned about Hai Tian, yet she refused to mention anything about the lives of other people involved.

  Having heard what was said, Yun Qian Meng slightly lifted her eyes, seeing Rong Gui Fei having a calm composure, as if she was just chatting about some domestic matters, then she knowingly smiled, then cleverly responded “Every
thing went on smoothly! My husband had personally sent off Princess He Shun to the borderland of Bei Qi, then peacefully parted with the emissaries of Bei Qi, it may be assumed that the peace between the two countries will be forever maintained!”

  Rong Gui Fei was earnestly listening to Yun Qian Meng’s response, her tensed up heart for almost more than half a month had eventually calmed down.

  “Niang Niang, it’s time!” Thing time, a palace maid of Rong Hua Gong walked inside, respectfully reminding Rong Gui Fei, but those bright eyes stared at Yun Qian Meng for a while, then quickly lowered down her head.

  Rong Gui Fei and Yun Qian Meng had both noticed that palace maid’s small movements, Rong Gui Fei smiled and said “Today I had truly delayed the furene’s time! If I had known earlier that Miss Qu was also inside the palace, I will certainly invite Miss Qu over to seek her advice on embroidery, for a long time I’ve had headaches because of the pattern of the stamen, I always wasn’t able to make the exact one that appeared in my mind!”

  After hearing what she said Yun Qian Meng laughed and said “Niang Niang, your craftmanship was also very exquisite, perhaps if my cousin sees your work she will be amazed! I shall take my leave in advance now.”

  Seeing Yun Qian Meng had grasped her own thoughts, Rong Gui Fei nodded her head, afterwhich she told the palace maid who was waiting in the doorway of the reception pavilion “Please accompany Chu Furen to the doorway for me.”

  “Yes, Niang Niang!” That palace maid humbly responded, immediately lifting up the hanging screen in the door, she accompanied Yun Qian Meng as they stepped out of the side palace hall.

  “Xiaojie, do you want nubi to find a reason to send her out of Rong Hua Gong?” This time, Rong Gui Fei’s personal palace maid walked out from an internal room, carefully assisted Rong Gui Fei as they approached behind the screen in the internal room, helped her put on the palace dress, afterwhich assisted her to sit down in front of the dressing table, helped her take off the simple hair style, rolling up a complicated and dignified hair bun!

  “No need, just observe her for a period of time, and find out who she is working for!” Picking up a golden wing hairpin then handed it over to the palace maid behind her, Rong Gui Fei remarked indifferently.

  With a few exchange of words with Yun Qian Meng today, she had benefited from them, although her heart had skipped like water flow, yet she simply wouldn’t allow herself to die in tragic circumstances!

  Notes:

  Rong Rong refers to herself with the royal “I” (benguan) when speaking to Yun Qian Meng

  Yun Qian Meng refers to herself as chenqie when speaking to Rong Rong. Chenqie is what a lower rank female calls herself when speaking to a person of higher rank.

  Chapter 144: Part 2 Reminding Gui Fei that the Walls Have Ears | Chu Wang Fei

  The venue of today’s feast for the Lantern Festival was inside the palace, when Gu Lao Tai Jun and the others entered the majestic palace, a lot of well-bred young ladies and furens from the influential families were already gathered inside the palace hall, the voices of everyone chatting with each other, which had actually seemed harmonious and happy.

  Wearing the dress of the Xia Hou tribe, Xia Hou An Er immediately attracted everyone’s attention, those young ladies who had exerted their extreme efforts to adorn themselves, watched as Xia Hou An Er easily distinguished herself among the crowd, one by one they looked at Xia Hou An Er wearing their eye expressions filled with hostility.

  Qu Fei Qing pulled Xia Hou An Er closer, who seemed unable to stay idle, they passed through those jealous eyes, bringing her beside her own seat and let her sit down, she laughed and spoke “Pay no attention to them, they were just jealous of your prettiness!”

  Although Xia Hou An Er was active and adorable, but as the Princess of Xia Hou tribe, how could she be an embroidery pillow? Since the moment she appeared in the doorway of the main hall, she had already sensed those jealous glances from the crowd, particularly those unmarried young ladies, one by one their eyes seemed disgusted with her, this also made Xia Hou An Er felt utterly disgusted with these senseless feast, if she had known it earlier she would have gotten off from the carriage in midway, strolling around the long road would even make her feel entirely free from worry!

  (saying somebody is an emrboidery pillow is saying that on the outside they are beautiful, but on the inside they are talentless)

  And during this time, there was another person who had the same difficult situation as Xia Hou An Er, this person was wearing a long dress, on her face the pair of eyes were spinning around and around the entire palace hall, that figure who was sitting in the farthest corner of the hall seemed incompatible with the others, Han Xuan was completely different from the qianjin xiaojie beside her. She also refused to nod her head at those who were sitting beside her, after hearing those hypocritical greetings of the qianjin xiaojie, she had actually rolled her eyes secretly regardless of her own status, afterwhich her hands were placed on the table, her palms propped up her pinkish cheeks, her eyes looked sloppy as she was about to doze off to sleep.

  “We have two rare visitors today!” A well-bred young lady pointed at two different directions, whispering these words to a few young ladies beside her.

  “I know the lady wearing the different type of clothes was the princess of the Xia Hou tribe, Xia Hou An Er, but who is the other one? Why haven’t we seen her before! And yet judging by her looks, she seemed to be just like a common woman, having lack of manners and behaving rudely, such kind of person, who had invited her to enter the palace? This had lowered down our status!” A few people looked following the direction that the young lady was pointing to, then they saw Xia Hou An Er sitting upright on her seat looking indifferent, while the other lady was about to lean on the table to sleep!

  “I don’t care what kind of person she is, sitting on the farthest corner of the hall, I presume her family wasn’t that powerful. But on the contrary that princess of Xia Hou tribe, her appearance was actually quite competitive with Rong Gui Fei! But, the luckiest person is still Miss Qu, having Chu Xiang as the husband of her cousin, now that she has an additional princess cousin around with her, I suppose Miss Qu will be able to find an ideal husband this year!” Another noble young lady who had a slightly prominent mean appearance slowly remarked, those sneering eyes suddenly turned towards Qu Jing Qing, her eyes seemed to be mocking.

  The Miss Qu that she was referring was exactly Qu Jing Qing, unfortunately now that Qu Yan had already adhered himself to Chen Wang, even if Yun Qian Meng married Chu Fei Yang, Qu Yan didn’t seem to be able to reap any benefit from Yun Qian Meng, such kind of evident mockery made Qu Jing Qing’s face turned gloomy, then she sneered as she retorted back “At least my family name is Qu, as compared to those who said grapes were sour while they can’t eat them, I’m a hundred times more powerful than them!”

  After speaking, Qu Jing Qing didn’t look back at that noble young lady, then she directly proceeded towards her own seat.

  But passing through by Qu Fei Qing, Qu Jing Qing slowed down her footsteps, stamped her feet as she stood in front of Qu Fei Qing and Xia Hou An Er’s table, sneered as she said “Younger sister, you are truly remarkable, now that you have even claimed your connections with the princess, apparently my younger sister will be able to find an ideal husband this year!”

  Hearing Qu Jing Qing’s words, Qu Fei Qing who was cracking jokes with Xia Hou An Er slightly lifted up her head, seeing her eyes contained the hate out of jealousy, she indifferently laughed and said “Older sister, are you being jealous of your younger sister’s luck? But too bad, I am not like you, sister, who was always thinking about finding her own ideal husband among those noble young man inside the capital all day long, please do not try to pressure your own delightment by comparing yourself to other people!”

  “You!” With her thoughts being pointed out, Qu Jing Qing’s eyes immediately turned furious, although she seemed still look pretty being shamed into anger, but the vicious look
s in her eyes had distorted her natural beauty, causing Qu Jing Qing’s face to become extremely malevolent, exposing her disgraceful behavior in front of the people.

  “Elder Sister Fei, is this the daughter born from the younger brother of your maternal uncle who was born from a concubine? How can someone like her talk to you like that, wouldn’t it be just be making a negative effect on your status?” Although the Xia Hou tribe had already entered the capital twenty-three years ago since the grand wedding of Xia Hou Ying, but this didn’t mean that the Xia Hou tribe wasn’t even concerned about all the affairs inside the capital.

  As the princess of Xia Hou tribe, Xia Hou An Er was being educated about these things, evidently she had known everything about these influential families of the capital, seeing this Qu Jing Qing who was born of a concubine behaving insolently like this, she spoke these words to criticize her.

  “An Er doesn’t know but this housefly is quite annoying, we shouldn’t even mention her status, why do we still care about her reputation?” Qu Fei Qing lifted up the teacup, enjoying to see Qu Jing Qing’s darkened face, as she spoke in a simple smile.

  “I have completely lost my appetite, obviously there were plenty of delicious food right in front of us, yet unexpectedly a housefly came around, causing us unable to have a decent meal, which was truly disgusting! Elder Sister Fei, I will go out to take a breath of fresh air, I will soon come back when that house fly flew away!” After speaking, Xia Hou An Er quickly stood up, secretly glared at Qu Jing Qing, then smiled at Qu Fei Qing, before the other person involved could make any further remarks, she quickly walked outside of the palace hall.

  As compared to the cozy warm palace hall inside, outside of the palace it appeared to be abnormally cold, but all kinds of fragrance of cosmetics had surrounded inside the palace, causing the headache sniffing at those, but on the contrary the fresh air outside seemed to relax one’s mind.