by La Mi Tu
“Wang said she is wangfei, then she is wangfei. Mister shouldn’t disagree!”
Ru Yi and Ji Xiang are twins of mixed sex. The two looked alike. When they are laughing, their eyes are like crescent moons. The only difference was that Ru Yi doesn’t have dimples.
They grabbed Jin Mo at both sides. The three people jumped over the fence and disappeared in front of everyone.
“Chase! Chase them faster!”
Duanmu Lei was sweating profusely because of anxiousness. Jin Mo appeared in Xi Qi, then what about Feng Cang? Where was he? Could it be that he also came to Xi Qi? But wasn’t the tournament of the four countries still a few months away? This year’s location is Bei Zhou, ah? Why did he come to Xi Qi? There haven’t been any signs, ah!
Duanmu Qing’s face color was also not much better. After the people went after Jin Mo, she called Murong Qi Qi alone in a room.
“Why didn’t you expose his identity before?”
Duanmu Qing looked at Murong Qi Qi sharply.
“Answering empress, the moment your subject’s daughter entered, your subject’s daughter had been seized by him. Your subject’s daughter doesn’t know martial arts. I have no means to fight him. Besides empress is here, your subject’s daughter was worried that he will do something bad to empress. That was why I didn’t expose him in the room.”
It didn’t look like Murong Qi Qi was lying. Duanmu Qing recalled the scene that had happened earlier. Indeed, it seemed like Murong Qi Qi had been pulled by Jin Mo the moment she had entered. It looked like an intimate act, but after reflecting on it, it did seem strange.
“Then how did you find out that he is Jin Mo?”
Duanmu Qing was not an idiot. Although Murong Qi Qi passed this round, but in her heart she still has many questions.
“Maybe empress doesn’t know, according to seniority, Lian gongzi 3 is Jin Mo’s little junior brother. That year when your subject’s daughter was living at Jing Xin An, your subject’s daughter passed some time with Lian gongzi. He has mentioned this senior brother to your subjec’s daughter. Lian gongzi is the disciple of the holy doctor. The two of them practiced under the holy doctor. It was just that Lian gongzi became an apprentice later. At that time, Jin Mo has already mastered the medical skills for many years. So, Jin Mo didn’t know the existence of this little junior brother.”
After hearing Murong Qi Qi’s explanation, Duanmu Qing seemed to understand the reason. But today’s matter made her very embarrassed. If they’ve killed Jin Mo then it’s alright, but now Jin Mo has escaped!
Although her being infertile was something that many people know, but after all, there’s no clear proof, so nobody said it on the surface, they also didn’t dare. If this thing was spread out by Jin Mo, with his medical skills, people would certainly believe it. By that time, it was not so simple with only facing a ‘not able to have children’, the saliva of the women from the harem would be able to drown her, not to mention Longze Yu who already didn’t have any feelings for her.
Thinking till here, Duanmu Qing began to hate Murong Qi Qi. If it wasn’t because she cut Duanmu Yi Yi’s tendons, Duanmu Qing will not have forced her to find Lian gongzi and would also not have been taken advantage by Bei Zhou’s Jin Mo.
Feeling Duanmu Qing’s hatred, Murong Qi Qi quickly took out a small box and raised it with both hands.
“What is it?”
Duanmu Qing didn’t take it. She only looked coldly at Murong Qi Qi’s hands. She didn’t expect that Murong Qi Qi with such ordinary looks will have a pair of such beautiful hands. White like jade. Smooth like silk without any flaws. It was like they have been finely carved out.
“Answering empress this is Lian gongzi’s ‘having children’ pill. Your subject daughter’s body is on the cool side, it’s the winter cold, so Lian gongzi aside from the Xue Fu pill also gave your subject’s daughter a ‘having children’ pill.”
Winter cold? Was it not the same thing that Jin Mo said that she had? It was very hard for people who have winter cold to get pregnant. Duanmu Qing’s mind moved. She took over the box and opened it. Inside, there was a pill as red as blood.
“Originally, your subject’s daughter wanted to save it and use it after the wedding, but……”
Murong Qi Qi’s voice choked.
“Just now Jing wang has written a letter of breaking the engagement to your subject’s daughter. Your subject’s daughter will no longer be able to use it, so to present the Buddha with borrowed flowers, your subject’s daughter will give it to empress, hoping that empress will give birth to a crown prince soon!”
To present the Buddha with borrowed flowers: to win favor using someone else’s property.
“Jing wang has written a letter to break the engagement?”
Duanmu Qing has already heard of this matter, but she still showed a surprised look.
“How can he? Do you want bengong 4 to persuade him and let him take back the letter of breaking the engagement?”
“No need.”
Murong Qi Qi shook her head helplessly.
“Your subject’s daughter has self-knowledge. It’s your subject’s daughter who is not worthy for him. The sooner the marriage is dissolved, the better it will be for both of us. Your subject’s daughter doesn’t want to delay Jing wang’s future.”
Murong Qi Qi’s bleak expression fell into Duanmu Qing’s eyes. It let her hard heart have a trace of pity.
She also has heard some things about Murong Qi Qi and she also knew that just now, Longze Jing Tian wrote a blood letter in front of everyone without any mercy. It was clear that Longze Jing Tian hadn’t set Murong Qi Qi into his eyes. In the end, she is just a pitiful person!
Thinking about her own experience, Duanmu Qing’s tone became gentler: “Good child! You don’t need to be sad. In this world, there’s always a person who will belong to you. Bengong will accept this ‘having children’ pill. If it’s really effective, bengong will heavily thank you!”
Heavily thank? Murong Qi Qi was not so stupid to really believe Duanmu Qing’s words. Her biological sister Murong Xue Lian has bad relations with Duanmu Qing in the palace. If Duanmu Qing didn’t come to harm her, that is already good!
But even if she knew it clearly in her heart, Murong Qi Qi still showed an uneasy expression.
“Taking the burden from empress is something that your subject’s daughter should do. Empress saying that will make your subject’s daughter embarrassed. Your subject’s daughter wish that empress will give birth to a crown prince for my Xi Qi as soon as possible!”
* * *
Wang/wangye: the prince of first rank
Wangfei: main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
Gongzi: young master/ also used to refer a famous unmarried man
Bengong: this palace, I used by the females of the imperial family
Chapter 23: What Ungratefulness Is
* * *
Murong Qi Qi’s modesty made Duanmu Qing feel great joy. Especially the last ‘crown prince’ made Duanmu Qing feel really good. She stroked her belly as if she’ll immediately be able to conceive a boy and the moment he is born, he’ll inherit the empire.
“After bengong1 gives birth to the crown prince, the first one to reward is you!”
Not long after Duanmu Qing went back to Qing Luan Palace, Longze Yu came over. Duanmu Qing was very surprised at seeing Longze Yu. Could it be that he already knew of the matter with Jin Mo? She hadn’t thought of a good explanation yet! The emperor already didn’t love her. If he used that excuse and put the blame on Duanmu family for colluding with Bei Zhou, then what should she do? In just one moment, Duanmu Qing’s mind had already turned thousands times. Her palms had become wet because she was so tense.
“Empress, zhen2 has come today to tell you something.”
The thing that Duanmu Qing expected didn’t happen. Longze Yu changed his normal attitude and sat beside her. He put her hands into his palm. Such intimate action made Duanmu Qing startled. How long had it bee
n since they had such intimate action? One year, three years or has it been five years? Even Duanmu Qing herself didn’t remember anymore.
Longze Yu was unaware of the difference in Duanmu Qing. He was just still angry about the thing from a moment ago.
“Today, zhen received a marriage proposal from Bei Zhou. Wanyan Lie wants zhen to marry a princess over! You also know, our national forces simply can’t compete with that of Bei Zhou’s!”
“Wanyan Lie?”
It’s not what she thought, Duanmu Qing immediately felt relaxed. But the moment she thought about the princesses who were at a marriageable age, only her daughter Longze Yu Er was at a marriageable age, Duanmu Qing immediately panicked.
Looking at the frown on this man in front of her who has accompanied her for many years, Duanmu Qing spoke carefully: “Emperor, you are not thinking of marrying Yu Er over, right? But Wanyan Lie’s age, he could already be her father!”
“Empress, that’s not the case.”
Longze Yu pulled Duanmu Qing in his embrace. His chin was against Duanmu Qing’s hair. His voice also became sad: “Wanyan Lie is asking marriage for Nan Lin wang 3 Feng Cang! I heard that Feng Cang’s body has always not been good. Wanyan Lie wants to let a princess marry over for the peace and tochongxi for Feng Cang……”
Chongxi: arrange a wedding for a very ill young man with the hope that the ’event of great joy’ will drive away his bad luck and hasten his recovery
“No!”
Hearing the words Nan Lin wang Feng Cang, Duanmu Qing’s heart went into her throat once again.
Connecting the matter of now and that of before, Duanmu Qing finally understood why today Jin Mo took such a big risk to go see her. Could it be that it was because she is the future mother-in-law of his master? So it was like that, ah! So it was like that, ah!
“Emperor, this cannot happen! In this world, who doesn’t know that Nan Lin wang has a violent personality, is cursed and caused the death of eight wives. Now Wanyan Lie wants our Yu Er to marry over, isn’t that pushing her into a pit of fire?!”
Just thinking about those rumors of Feng Cang, Duanmu Qing couldn’t help but shudder. Bloodthirsty, cold, without love……Making her daughter marry such a demon, even if she dies, she wouldn’t agree!
Duanmu Qing’s reaction was in the expectation of Longze Yu, but he couldn’t help it! Bei Zhou has strong soldiers and sturdy horses and Nan Lin wang Feng Cang commanded the army like a god. If he doesn’t agree and angered Bei Zhou, the consequences were simply unimaginably disastrous!
Strong soldiers and sturdy horses: a well-trained and powerful army.
“Empress, zhen also doesn’t want it to be like this. The war at Yandang Mountain of that year, Xi Qi lost 400,000 men. Although fifteen years had passed, our country had only just recovered our strength. We don’t have the ability to fight with the powerful Bei Zhou, ah……”
For the first time, Longze Yu felt failure. He was not a qualified father. Even if he knew that it’s a pit of fire, he still had to send over his own daughter, because he was incompetent and he couldn’t say no to Wanyan Lie’s proposal.
“Empress, zhen is sorry to you, sorry to Yu Er……”
“Don’t!”
A figure in yellow rushed in.
“Emperor father, empress mother, daughter doesn’t want to marry demon wang! Don’t want to marry him!”
“Yu Er……”
Seeing her daughter’s face full of tears, Duanmu Qing’s heart felt very painful. She immediately moved away from Longze Yu’s embrace and pulled Longze Yu Er into her embrace.
“Yu Er, empress mother won’t let you marry him! Won’t let you go chongxi for him!”
“Muddleheaded!”
Hearing Duanmu Qing’s muddleheaded words, Longze Yu opened his mouth to reprimand.
“Could it be that you want to let go of the citizens of Xi Qi country because of Yu Er?!”
“Emperor father, why is it daughter?”
After hearing Longze Yu’s words, Longze Yu Er, immediately stood up.
“Emperor father can bestow the title of princess on a daughter of an official and let her marry in the place of daughter! Weren’t there such examples in the past? Why must daughter marry over?! Bei Zhou only said they wanted a princess. They didn’t say it must be a princess from the royal bloodline!”
Longze Yu Er’s words made the original troubled heart of Longze Yu brighten up.
“That’s right, ah! It can be like that! How come zhen has forgotten?! It was zhen who panicked!”
After Longze Yu said that, Duanmu Qing was immediately aware that there’s a turning point. She must strike the iron while it’s hot and consolidate his ideas.
“Who should become princess?”
As Longze Yu was thinking about this problem, Duanmu Qing was also thinking about it. Searching through the four great families as well as officials with high posts; to find a suitable candidate was really not easy.
Suddenly in Duanmu Qing’s mind emerged a figure, Murong Qi Qi. After thinking it through, Duanmu Qing finally decided to push Murong Qi Qi as the ‘scapegoat’.
“Emperor, this subject consort has one candidate.”
Duanmu Qing waved at Longze Yu Er to let her excuse herself. She went to Longze Yu’s side and told him everything that had happened today, but she concealed the fact that Murong Qi Qi gave her a ‘having children’ pill.
“Jing Tian wrote a letter of breaking the engagement?”
After hearing that Longze Jing Tian broke off the engagement with Murong Qi Qi, Longze Yu was somewhat surprised. In the surprise, he also understood the reason. He understood his son. He was such a proud and arrogant person, how could he accept a rubbish as wife?!
“It’s alright that he broke it! Murong Qi Qi’s reputation doesn’t seem that good. If we let her marry over, zhen is afraid that they will not accept……”
“Emperor, if it really cannot be helped, we can give her more dowry. Beside the mountain is high and the road is far, by the time the rumors here spread over to Bei Zhou, she had long married over. Whether she can or cannot survive the wedding night is still a question!”
Duanmu Qing took the initiative and held Longze Yu. Her voice was surprisingly gentle. Although her mouth was saying that but in her heart, she had another idea.
She was eager for Murong Qi Qi’s bad reputation to be spread far and wide and to let Fang Cang know the truth quickly, that Murong Qi Qi was just a woman to warm the bed. By that time, if Bei Zhou came to demand an explanation, then she could say that they all have been lied to by Murong family. By that time, she wanted to see how much longer Longze Yu could protect Murong family! If Murong family was ruined, she’d like to see how Murong Xue Lian, that bitch, coudl still show off in the palace!
After hearing Duanmu Qing, Longze Yu was in a good mood. Just now, the tough problems, which made him get a headache, has been solved so easily. Now Longze Yu had completely accepted Duanmu Qing’s suggestion.
“Qing er4, you really are zhen’s good empress, ah! Tonight, zhen will rest here!”
* * *
Bengong: this palace, I used by the females of the imperial family
Zhen: I, used by the emperor
Wang/wangye: the prince of first rank
Er: term of endearment
Chapter 24: Trouble Knocks on the Door
* * *
To some extent, it could be considered that Longze Yu’s behavior was like paying the debt of gratitude with the body. Hearing that Longze Yu would stay at Qing Luan Palace today, Duanmu Qing’s heart immediately jumped from happiness. The times she receives grace wasn’t much, so she needed to grab this chance! That’s right! She must take the ‘having children’ pill. Use all her effort to create a child!
Just one afternoon, the story of Murong household’s third miss being discarded by Longze Jing Tian circulated throughout the capital. She hadn’t even married, yet she received the ‘break off engagement letter’ and Jing wangye1 even use
d blood to write it. Murong Qi Qi once again became the ‘person of the year’.
“Miss, as of now, about you being discarded, there’s already ten different versions……”
Inside Cui Zhu yuan2, Su Mei’s mouth hadn’t stopped moving for one moment.
“The one that most people accept is that you and your lover Lian gongzi’s3 child is already two years old. You two were secretly meeting for a date at Duanmu household. The result was that Jing wang caught you two in bed. He was so angry that he vomited blood which sprayed on the wall. At last, he was so furious that he wrote the break engagement letter with his tears stained with blood.”
“Pu……”
Right at this moment, Murong Qi Qi was eating watermelon. A mouthful of watermelon seeds sprayed on Su Mei’s face. Bits and pieces like black moles.
“Cough, cough, Su Mei, sorry, ah!”
Murong Qi Qi wiped Su Mei’s face while laughing.
“I really didn’t expect such a big response. Now my name could be considered to be able to move the capital……”
When the news reached Lan Xiang yuan, Liu Yan Zhi and Murong Qing Lian were very happy.
“Qing er4, now the second one is ruined, the third one was also ruined. The most precious miss of our prime minister’s mansion is you! You have to work hard and catch a rich husband!”
“Mom……”
Murong Qing Lian stomped. Her cheeks had turned red.
“Daughter is still young!”
“What young, ah? You’re fifteen. You can already get married!”
Liu Yan Zhi hugged her precious daughter. She carefully looked at her. The more she looked, the more she felt that the treasure of her family was the most beautiful.
“Everybody loves young and talented people, but my daughter must marry the dragon among people. What is Longze Jing Tian? The problem of whether he can or cannot become the crown prince is still a question. Mom will tell you, you need to have an open mind. Don’t only focus on Xi Qi country. At the tournament of the four countries, there will be many princes and nobility. As long as you can participate at the tournament of the four countries, you will find the right one. Qing er, do you understand?!”
