Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  “Never, never! If you can come, then I’ll naturally be happy!” Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s charming words, Qu Fei Qing immediately widened her smile, her slightly narrowed eyes flashed brightly, as her cheeks slightly reddened; the vitality of a young lady in full display!

  Ji Shu Yu saw them both interact happily, her heart was also filled with delight. All three of them got onto separate sedan chairs and directly went to laotaijun’s Rui Lin Yuan!

  Earlier when Yun Qian Meng had just stepped out of the xiangfu, Gu laotaijun had already received the news and immediately ordered the servants in the room to prepare, making sure to properly welcome her young granddaughter that had never come to Fu Guo Gong Fu for so many years!

  As a result, when Yun Qian Meng was helped off the sedan chair by Mi mama, the spot before the main room of Rui Lin Yuan was filled with servants!

  When they saw this young miss who had yet to wear a veil alight, they immediately orderly bowed facing Yun Qian Meng, speaking in unison, “nubi greets sun xiaojie!”

  Yun Qian Meng saw the parade and understood that she was a part of Gu laotaijun’s heart. Then, noticing Ji Shu Yu and Qu Fei Qing were smiling from ear to ear, she said with calm confidence, “It’s been hard on everyone!”

  Everyone heard Yun Qian Meng’s response that was neither servile nor overbearing, and couldn’t help but feel some admiration towards this young miss grow in their hearts!

  “Has sun xiaojie arrived? laotaijun has been expecting this for a long time!” At this moment, a mama in her fifties walked out from the room. They only saw that her face was full of smiles, especially at Yun Qian Meng, her smiling eyes couldn’t help but release a radiance full of astonishment and praise. Immediately stepping forth, she said, “nubi Ning mama greets sun xiaojie, laotaijun invites you to go in!”

  Yun Qian Meng saw that although she was a servant, her expression was hiding a lofty and unyielding character; thus, she knew that she was the trusted aide of laotaijun, and immediately answered with a smile, “Sorry for troubling mama to lead the way!”

  The few of them just stepped into the main room when they heard an inquiring voice filled with dignity from inside, “Has Meng yatou arrived?”

  When Yun Qian Meng heard this, she immediately hurried her steps and passed through a few layers of the thick door curtains to arrive in the warm room. She only saw the main seat of the warm room was seating an old lady that was wearing a dark-red, buttoned jacket and an overcoat with sides that were gilded with gold. Seeing Yun Qian Meng enter, that old lady stood up emotionally from her rosewood chair, unexpectedly mumbling to herself, “Ruo Li……”

  Ning mama saw that Gu laotaijun was so single-mindedly staring at Yun Qian Meng, and also carefully examined Yun Qian Meng once again, praising, “sun xiaojie has really grown up to be natural and magnanimous, showing more and more of the graceful bearing of our er xiaojie from those days!”

  Yet Yun Qian Meng just strode forward to stop before Gu laotaijun, then heavily kneeled on the floor, tearfully speaking, “wai sunnü pays respects to wai zumu, wai sunnü is unfilial, zumu please punish!”

  Seeing Yun Qian Meng like this, Gu laotaijun’s eyes warmed, immediately raised her up. Seeing that she was just as Ning mama said, increasingly resembling her second daughter, Qu Ruo Li, her heart felt immense sadness, and, ignoring the difference in status, she pulled Yun Qian Meng into her embrace and wept, “My child, you’ve suffered! Why didn’t you come see zumu earlier?”

  The servants in the room that were looking at the situation couldn’t stop themselves from tearing up. The whole room was momentarily filled with just the soft noises of weeping……

  When Ji Shu Yu saw this, her eyes also filled up with tears, but she still kept her smile and walked forward to console Gu laotaijun, “laotaijun, today is a happy day, you shouldn’t shed tears!”

  And Qu Fei Qing also immediately stepped forward and hugged laotaijun coquettishly , naughtily saying, “zumu, now that Yun meimei has come, this granddaughter is no longer in your eyes!”

  Looking at Qu Fei Qing’s rascally appearance, Gu laotaijun suddenly turned her tears into laughter. Releasing Yun Qian Meng from her embrace, she pulled her over to sit together on the chair just now, and carefully examined Yun Qian Meng once more. Seeing that nowadays, her face was rosy, her complexion fabulous, she slightly released the worry in her heart. Only, her heart still felt some sorrow, “If Ruo Li was still alive, you wouldn’t have to face so many hardships! This time, the matter of Chen Wang breaking off the engagement, has really wronged you; yet there is still such a useless dad!”

  Yun Qian Meng saw that Gu laotaijun was criticizing the current prime minister in public just for her, and knew that laotaijun was truly sincere to her, so she spread her smile and gently said, “Don’t be angry, zumu! Meng’er has zumu, jiumu, and biaojie’s love, is already blessed. zumu, please don’t worry about Meng’er!”

  As she spoke, Mi mama presented the earlier prepared snow ginseng, deferentially saying, “laotaijun, this was prepared by xiaojie, wishing that laotaijun’s happiness will be as immense as the East Sea and that you live as long as the Zhongnan Mountains!”

  laotaijun saw that Yun Qian Meng was now unexpectedly so thoughtful and considerate, her style of conversation was generous and appropriate, a satisfied expression floated in her eyes, but still feigned anger and retorted, “Silly child, zumu doesn’t lack in anything! You bring it back to use for yourself, if not enough, then send someone to inform your jiumu. Our Fu Guo Gong Fu’s sun xiaojie, is supposed to be a pearl in the palm!”

  Yun Qian Meng knew that laotaijun was sincerely rejecting her gifts, but this was also her true feelings of filial piety, so she gently smiled and said, “These years, zumu has been broken-hearted because of this granddaughter; just treat this as an act of piety by this granddaughter, I beg zumu not to reject it!”

  laotaijun saw that she was resolute, and was also gratified with how educated and well-balanced today’s Yun Qian Meng was, so she smiled and let Ning mama accept the snow ginseng. One big family, after Qu Ruo Li had passed away for ten years, finally had the opportunity to sit down and reminisce, they all momentarily forgot about the passing of time; until everyone noticed that laotaijun was beginning to grow weary, Yun Qian Meng just finally reluctantly said her farewells to laotaijun……

  Stepping out of Rui Lin Yuan, Ji Shu Yu sent away the unwilling to leave Qu Fei Qing, then brought Yun Qian Meng to her own courtyard. When only the two of them were left in the room, she finally asked, “Meng’er coming here at this time, should not just be to visit laotaijun, right?”

  Yun Qian Meng saw that Ji Shu Yu might seem delicate, but had unusually good insight, so she didn’t beat around the bush, and recounted everything that had happened yesterday in detail before she asked, “jiumu, Meng’er doesn’t have anyone to rely on in the xiangfu, and can only seek aid from Fu Guo Gong Fu!”

  Ji Shu Yu didn’t expect that the situation in the xiangfu had already undergone changes, after pondering in her heart, and noticing that Yun Qian Meng’s eyes concealed a farsighted wisdom that could not be overlooked, she smiled and replied, “Good girl, you must have thought of a plan! Tell me, is there anything you need that jiumu can help with?”

  Being told this by Ji Shu Yu, Yun Qian Meng coquettishly hugged her left arm, then smoothly leaned towards Ji Shu Yu’s ear, and detailed the plan she had already thought up in a low voice……

  Chapter 36: Going to Su city to receive grandmother | Chu Wang Fei

  哥哥 gege – big brother

  On the third day, everyone in the xiangfu was, under Yun Xuan Zhi’s lead, sending off Yun Qian Meng and her sisters at the great entrance……

  “da xiaojie, nubi has prepared three carriages, one for each xiaojie. This way, the seating will also be more spacious!” Liu yiniang, after instructing each of the mama to move all of the necessary daily implements onto the carriages, smiled towards Yun Qian Meng and reported!

  “Liu yiniang is
really treating us like outsiders too much! The three xiaojie are blood-related sisters, what harm is there in sitting together in the same carriage? Even better, they can improve their sisterly relationship! Isn’t that right, da xiaojie?” But Su Qing who was being helped over by others swept her smiling eyes to glance at Yun Ruo Xue, before she spoke warm-heartedly!

  Yun Ruo Xue saw the cue given by Su Qing and stepped forth enthusiastically. Happily pulling Yun Qian Meng and Yun Yan’s arms, she said with a tender smile, “yiniang is right, we, three sisters, have always had a good relationship. Naturally, we should ride on the same carriage!”

  As she said this, Yun Ruo Xue turned to instruct Wang mama who was beside her, “mama, quickly go and move my luggage onto jiejie’s carriage, so that we won’t delay the time for our departure!”

  When Yun Xuan Zhi heard her, his already smiling eyes glowed brighter with an approving look, and he generously commended her in front of everyone, “It still is Xue’er that is obedient!”

  After Liu yiniang heard this, although the smile on her face remained, her heart became extremely unhappy. Especially after seeing Su Qing and her daughter’s one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn today, her already worrying heart had become even more anxious!

  Yun Qian Meng watched as everyone in front of her echoed after each other to put up a display of the harmonious nature of their inner courtyard for the populace, then saw Wang mama command a few yatou to stuff the cloth-wrapped bundles they were holding into her own carriage; her eyes flashing with a hint of a cold smile. But, she gently said, “Please wait! Father, since the first carriage will be ridden by the three of us, we shouldn’t fill it with too much stuff! nü’er sees that er mei has quite a lot of luggage, so why don’t we leave the second carriage to er mei, and let the elderly mama take the third carriage?”

  Su Qing saw that the critical juncture of her plan was once again being broken by Yun Qian Meng, and secretly gritted her ivory teeth. But she assumed a concerned expression once more, “da xiaojie, there is important jewelry in those; so it’s still more appropriate to keep them close to the body! Besides, how can we let Xue’er keep an entire carriage to herself?”

  As Yun Qian Meng saw that she was unwilling to let the matter drop, a cold chill floated onto her smiling eyes, and her tone turned slightly severe, as she said, “Does Su yiniang not feel at ease with the people father has arranged? When we are away from home, we shouldn’t flaunt ourselves excessively! Moreover, father is an honest, uncorrupted official. What reason is there for er mei to bring such a large amount of precious jewelry?”

  Yun Qian Meng knew that Yun Xuan Zhi cared deeply about his government reputation, so her words never strayed from that topic!

  Sure enough, when Yun Xuan Zhi heard Yun Qian Meng call attention to these matters, the words he originally planned to say in Su Qing’s favor were swallowed back into his stomach. Instead, he stiffened his expression to lecture the originally self-satisfied Yun Ruo Xue, “When away from home, everyone must listen to da xiaojie’s commands! Especially Ruo Xue, don’t always act like a child. When you step out of the entrance of the xiangfu, your every word and action represents the family principles and upbringing of our xiangfu, you must definitely not get into trouble!”

  Yun Ruo Xue hadn’t expected that Yun Qian Meng, with just a few sentences, could borrow Yun Xuan Zhi’s mouth to reprimand her, and immediately felt anger bubbling up in her heart!

  But she managed to recall Su Qing’s instructions from yesterday, and forcibly kept her fury under control, then lowered her head to bow towards Yun Xuan Zhi, deferentially answering, “Yes!”

  Still, the unwillingness in her eyes that she was unable to wipe away even at the end, had fallen into Yun Qian Meng’s eyes……

  Soon after, the three of them bid their farewells to Yun Xuan Zhi, then they each, with the aid of their respective yatou, climbed into their carriages, and the party set off towards Su city in a grandiose fashion……

  Su Qing slightly narrowed her eyes and looked as the carriage gradually got further away, while the hands in her sleeves had already formed fists!

  This Yun Qian Meng really wasn’t simple! Not only did she manage to keep Xue’er’s luggage placed on its own carriage, she also managed to keep Wang mama that she had specially sent over under a close watch!

  Only, if she thought that this was enough to evade everything, she was gravely mistaken!

  In this journey, there would be unimaginable surprises in store for her……

  “Butler Zhao, why did da xiaojie go to Fu Guo gongfu yesterday?” After Yun Xuan Zhi had rushed to attend morning court, Su Qing called butler Zhao over on his own for questioning!

  “It was reported that she specially went to visit Gu laotaijun, and nothing else!” Butler Zhao looked around for a moment and saw that there was nobody around them, before he leaned closer and replied quietly!

  Hearing his answer, Su Qing nodded with slight relief, but had already cautiously instructed, “Go to Su family and tell my er ge, his actions must be ruthless; cut the weeds and eliminate the roots!”

  That day, the sun was shining brightly, and the carriage set off from the capital, gradually leaving behind all the hustle and bustle……

  Yun Qian Meng had come to West Chu country for so long, but had yet to experience the sights and smells of this country, so she raised her white hands to pull up an edge of the curtains. While her gaze was appreciating the scenery outside, she was still keeping an eye over the actions of Yun Ruo Xue who sat beside her!

  “jiejie, please have some tea!” At this moment, a boiling hot cup of tea suddenly appeared before Yun Qian Meng’s face, and the owner of that voice was Yun Ruo Xue!

  Yun Qian Meng stared at the cup poking in front of her, as her eyes flashed with a cold light……

  “er jie, watch out!” Yet at this moment, the carriage was suddenly jolted, and the hot tea, with the tilting of the carriage, splashed towards Yun Ruo Xue’s flower-like face! But Yun Yan suddenly leapt over, and used her own sleeves to block the steaming tea for Yun Ruo Xue……

  Yun Ruo Xue did not expect this turn of events. Just a little bit closer, her face would have been destroyed by that cup of tea. Her face paled momentarily, while she had already thrown the teacup to a corner!

  Yun Qian Meng immediately reached out to grab Yun Yan, and helped her stabilize her falling body. Then, she pulled up her sleeves, only to find that her spotlessly white skin had been shockingly scalded, and immediately scolded towards the outside of the carriage, “What’s going on?”

  The carriage gently slowed down as the guard captain rode over on his horse and spoke through the curtains, “Answering da xiaojie, there was a big pit on the road. Sorry for startling!”

  Hearing this, Yun Qian Meng’s brows slightly furrowed. She didn’t think that something would have happened just as soon as they had left the capital. It seemed that Su Qing had really prepared quite a good show just for her!

  After telling them to continue onwards, she called Mi mama and Mu Chun over from the back. She let Mi mama help a dazed Yun Ruo Xue over to the second carriage, while leaving behind Mu Chun to open the medical kit, and personally helped Yun Yan apply medicine. Only, when she saw the huge, red scald, Yun Qian Meng said reproachfully, “You can’t be so reckless in the future! Look at this fair and fine skin, yiniang’s heart would break if she saw this!”

  But Yun Yan only smiled bashfully, and replied in embarrassment, “Just now, I saw er jie do something to the tea, but really couldn’t think about what to do! Luckily the carriage just happened to jolt!”

  Finishing, Yun Yan’s cheeks blushed slightly as she stuck out her tiny tongue……

  Yun Qian Meng understood her good intentions, having already noticed Yun Ruo Xue’s small tricks from the start. Even if Yun Yan hadn’t thrown herself over, she would still have ways make sure that the tea was poured into the ground!

  Still, Yun Yan’s play had just given her a good opportunity to drive Yun Ru
o Xue out of the carriage!

  As she shot a glance at the fallen teacup, without needing an examination by an imperial physician, Yun Qian Meng could also guess just what kind of drug Yun Ruo Xue had tried to give her. Even so, the time was not ripe, as she still lacked a powerful witness!

  After this little incident, the servants on guard paid even more attention to the safety of the road. Thus, the whole journey to the first resting stop passed uneventfully……

  However, as these young women alighted from their carriages and prepared to enter the tavern, directly walking over from inside was a wildly joyful Yuan Qing Zhou……

  Chapter 37: Catching the rapist in bed | Chu Wang Fei

  舅舅 jiujiu – maternal uncle

  孙少爷 sun shaoye – grandson, young master; the sun is pronounced like soon, but with a short oo sound

  采花贼 cai hua zei – a flower thief, otherwise known as a rapist

  The three of them had already put on their muslin veils when they stepped off the carriage. Yuan Qing Zhou had walked out happily, but because of the veils, he could not tell which one was the person he had been daydreaming about. His expression immediately sank as he wanted to step forth and tear off the three sisters’ veils, but the xiangfu’s guards had all stepped forward to block Yuan Qing Zhou’s path……

  “Miss Yun, it’s me! I’m Yuan Qing Zhou, do you still remember me?” Yuan Qing Zhou hadn’t brought too many guards with him this time. Seeing that there were many servants from the xiangfu, he also didn’t dare to cause too much trouble, and could only stand in place and call out!