Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  Yun Qian Meng was shocked when she heard this, her grip of Qu Fei Qing's hands tightened. She immediately replied consolingly, "Biaojie, how can you think this way? Even though Hai wangfu looks rich and splendid on the surface, Hai wangfei has an obvious dislike of Hai junwang. If you marry him, she might also look at you with disfavor. Moreover, Hai Tian junzhu is not easy to deal with. In this moment of hardship, biaojie must not do something you will regret for a lifetime."

  Yun Qiang Meng tried her best to convince her as Hai Chen Xi and Qu Fei Qing were fundamentally different people.

  Hai Chen Xi was cunning, his shrewdness could not be inferior to Hai wang's. If Qu Fei Qing married him, she would not have good days ahead of her.

  But as Yun Qian Meng finished speaking, Qu Fei Qing knitted her brows and tears started to fall from her eyes. She pulled her hands from Yun Qian Meng's and wiped the tears gently, releasing the build up of sorrow. "Meng'er, how can I be ignorant of those matters? But this past month, there were many nights where mother and zumu have not slept. Every time they think of father's condition, zumu and mother lose their appetites. They can't even muster the strength to fight those legendary zombies that loot a burning house. Even though I'm a girl, I can't bear to see the people I care about being bullied by others. Rather than sitting and waiting for death, it would be best to find a way out. Uncle is complacent in the fact that he has an ally in Chen wangfu based on Qu Jing Qing entering the wangfu freely. If I marry into Hai wangfu, let's see who will have the last laugh."

  "All a pile of rubbish!" the exasperated voice of Gu laotaijun came from the doorway.

  She did not allow them time to greet her as she rushed forward to give Qu Fei Qing a slap on the face. The strength of the slap left a distinct mark on Qu Fei Qing's face.

  Yun Qian Meng became alarmed, she immediately begged for forgiveness as laotaijun prepared to slap Qu Fei Qing again. "Waizumu please calm down! Biaojie was only saying nonsense in a moment of worry. Waizumu please don't get angry. We're at jiujiu's bedside right now, you would not want to aggravate jiujiu's condition."

  When Yun Qian Meng brought up Qu Ling Ao, laotaijun put her hand down, looking with much affection towards her son on the bed. Her hands gripped her walking stick tightly as she said angrily to Qu Fei Qing, "Come here!"

  Gu laotaijun had brushed away the people trying to support her and quickly walked out of Qing Song Yuan.

  After being slapped by Gu laotaijun, Qu Fei Qing rubbed the spot in a daze. She smiled lightly to Yun Qian Meng before she followed laotaijun out of Qing Song Yuan.

  Yun Qian Meng could not feel at ease, so she sent Mu Chun to the kitchen to tell Ji Shu Yu what happened and she herself went after laotaijun.

  But the longer laotaijun walked the more labored her steps became. She stopped in front of Fu Guo Gongfu's ancestral hall.

  This ancestral hall was kept clean throughout the year and spirals of incense smoke wafted from within. Laotaijun raised her head to look at the black signboard with the words, "Qu Shi Ancenstral Hall" before she strode inside.

  When she saw Qu Fei Qing come in, Gu laotaijun shouted, "Fei Qing, kneel!"

  Qu Fei Qing numbly knelt on the mat, back straight as she faced the Qu Clan ancestors.

  Gu laotaijun observed Qu Fei Qing's unyielding expression and thought about the words she had heard. Even facing Qu Yan and Qu Fu had not angered her this much. She immediately rebuked, "Zumu will use the Qu clan ancestors to teach you a lesson. Remember this well, Fei Qing.

  "Even when Fu Guo Gongfu is in dire straits, we will not send the clan's daughter out to buy a moment of peace. You are Fu Guo Gongfu's da xiaojie, you've been by my side since you were a child, raised by my own hand. No matter how outstanding you may be, I will not allow the child I have raised to value herself so cheaply.

  "No matter how difficult the situation, you must not forget your identity as Fu Guo Gongfu's di xiaojie! You aren't like Qu Jing Qing and the other frivolous girls. Do you think that Qu Jing Qing freely entering Chen wangfu is something to be proud of? You must know, she is paying for it with her reputation. Even if she becomes Chen wang's cefei, what then? Even though her birth is good, because of her actions, she has lost the chance of becoming the zhengfei.

  "A zhengfei must not only have a good family background, she must also have good morality and conduct. Moreover, if zumu wanted to be connected to Hai wangfu by marriage, the first time Hai wangfei came through our doors, zumu would have already set the marriage in stone.

  "Why should a girl like you say such things? If you went through with it, when your father wakes up and once your brother returns, they will not be grateful for your sacrifice, they will only feel regret! Child, do you understand zumu?"

  After Gu laotaijun finished, Qu Fei Qing did not make a sound. The obstinacy in her posture had been slowly whittled away by Gu laotaijun's reprimand. What remained was only the anguish and hurt of a little girl.

  Yun Qian Meng quietly stepped forward and knelt beside Qu Fei Qing, pulling the trembling Qu Fei Qing's into her arms. She spoke in hushed tones to Gu laotaijun, "Waizumu's words are enlightening. Meng'er and biaojie will remember it. Not only in this lifetime, but even after the rebirth of heavenly kings. But please do not blame biaojie, she was only confused by worry. Biaojie is usually very proper, she would never do such an unethical thing. Please forgive biaojie, waizumu."

  Laotaijun was touched by the sisterly affection between Yun Qian Meng and Qu Fei Qing. But her eyes remained stern as she looked at Qu Fei Qing, she wanted her to admit her mistake with her own mouth before she is forgiven.

  After Qu Fei Qing had endured the rebuke, she had been released from all the pressure that bottled up in her heart. Her mood became much calmer. When she saw Gu laotaijun waiting for her to speak, she immediately knocked her head three times before the memorial tablet of her ancestors. Her face solemn as she said, "Sunnu knows her mistake and will not speak such nonsense again. I will accept zumu's punishment."

  Gu laotaijun saw her finally coming back to reality and nodded her head pleased. "Stay here in front of the ancestors for a day and a half. Meng'er, come with me!"

  "Yes!" Seeing that Yun Qiang Meng still intended to ask Gu laotaijun for forgiveness, Qu Fei Qing pulled Yun Qian Meng and shook her head firmly. Then, she knelt respectfully with a steadfast expression on her face.

  Yun Qian Meng saw her resolution and was certain that laotaijun was able to make Qu Fei Qing see reason, so she slightly relaxed. She instructed the surrounding yatou and pozi to watch over her then lent her arm to Gu laotaijun as they left the ancestral hall.

  Ji Shu Yu, informed of what happened, had been standing at the entrance of the ancestral hall. When she heard her daughter's dangerous idea, she immediately broke into a cold sweat.

  She could not help blaming herself, having been busy with matters in the fu and her husband's condition, she neglected to look after Fei Qing.

  Fortunately, laotaijun had scolded Qu Fei Qing into reason, easing her worries.

  But after Gu laotaijun left, Ji Shu Yu did not enter the ancestral hall to be with her daughter, instead she took her yatou with her and left the ancestral hall.

  As the sweltering month passed, Emperor Yu Qian had sent people out for half a month before they received news of Qu Zhang Qing .

  When Gu laotaijun received the news, she felt as if a heavy stone had lifted from her heart.

  After two days, additional news came from the palace. Qu Zhang Qing had been injured at the border and was returning to the capital by carriage.

  Fu Guo Gongfu struggled to free itself of dark clouds but this piece of news only pulled them deeper.

  As the day of his return approached, Gu laotaijun and Ji Shu Yu felt more and more anxious, not knowing how serious Qu Zhang Qing's injury was.

  The day Yun Qian Meng was told would be the day of Qu Zhang Qing's arrival, she left the xiangfu early to be with laotaijun and the others.

  But from the morning until noon, then noon until
dusk, there was still no sign of Ma huwei coming back with Qu Zhang Qing.

  Everybody felt uneasy, just as they were questioning the accuracy of the news, a voice came from the door. "An Imperial Decree has arrived."

  A palace eunuch was holding the yellow parchment that contained the decree. He separated himself from his party and entered Fu Guo Gongfu. After kneeling before laotaijun and the others, he read out the decree in a sharp voice, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees. Fu Guo Gongfu's eldest grandson, Assistant Minister Qu Zhang Qing of the Ministry of War, has been discovered bringing letters of the enemy. On this day, he is removed from his post as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War. The Three Division Trial will be held. The people of Fu Guo Gongfu are not permitted to leave nor are they allowed visitors. That is all.

  After the decree was announced, before the customary kowtow could be enacted, Gu laotaijun fainted.

  Chapter 82: Part 1: Three Division Trial, Chu xiang saves the day | Chu Wang Fei

  “Mother!” “Zumu!” “Wai zumu!” “Laotaijun!”

  When the people of Fu Guo Gong Fu saw their staunch and cool-headed laotaijun suddenly collapse they exclaimed in succession, equally unable to deal with the Imperial Decree. One by one they rushed forth to carefully support Gu laotaijun.

  Gu laotaijun's personal mama carefully held her body up as a hand massaged a pulse point, but was not able to wake Gu laotaijun. It caused a panic for all the people present, the yatou and pozi ran of to fetch Xiao Nie dafu and bring over a sedan.

  Ji Shu Yu's heart trembled at the sight of her mother-in-law's state, but she still managed to maintain a stable appearance in front of everybody. Her face remained steady and she personally helped laotaijun onto the sedan, then she ordered the mama to watch over her well. She personally knelt down to receive the royal decree.

  “We thank the Emperor's for his kindness!” Ji Shu Yu brought Qu Fei Qing and Yun Qian Meng with her to kowtow, then stood up. She held the imperial edict in her hands, despite her calm expression, she kept thinking about the state of the fu so her heart was extremely chaotic. Various problems mixing together, even a person of her caliber in managing the fu could not help showing her worry in her eyes.

  The eunuch saw the great changes in Fu Guo Gong Fu, along with the male masters of the fu not present, he sighed and thought about the fickleness of life before he said placatingly, “Hou furen please relax! If the young master really didn't do any of this, the Emperor will declare his innocence.”

  Ji Shu Yu's face was still pale but she nodded, then said slowly, “I appreciate gonggong's kindness for bringing news of my son. Not only do I have loyalty and patriotism towards Xi Chu, my heart believes in the Emperor, as does the whole of Fu Guo Gong Fu. No treason would arise form here—may the Emperor reign for all eternity—I naturally believe that the Emperor will declare Qu Zhang Qing's innocence.”

  “That is natural!” When the eunuch heard Ji Shu Yu being strong-willed he nodded his head, then turned around to leave.

  As Yun Qian Meng was listening to the proceedings her brows were knitted and her bright eyes were lowered. When she lifted her head she calmly looked at the departing eunuch and said urgently, “Gonggong, please halt.”

  Hearing Yun Qian Meng's voice, the eunuch slowly came to a stop, face calm as he turned around. He saw that it was the xiang fu's da xiaojie that spoke up, and his expression slowly became gentler as he asked, “What is it, Yun xiaojie?”

  Yun Qian Meng took a small step forward, her slightly narrowed eyes looked at the palace eunuch who had been with Emperor Yu Qian for many years, and asked calmly, “How did the Empress Dowager take the news? And what is the Emperor's take on the matter?”

  At Yun Qian Meng's words, not only the eunuch, but Ji Shu Yu and Qu Fei Qing looked at her in alarm. But it was only for a moment. The question was, after all, only trying to find out how the Emperor felt about the situation.

  And based on his treatment of the Empress Dowager, one would be able to know his position on the matter.

  This chief eunuch saw Yun xiang's da xiaojie being unexpectedly calm, even finding the holes in today's sudden turn of events. He was originally not too interested in this whole affair but now he gestured for the lesser eunuchs to take three steps back, then he said in a low volume only to the three people in front of him, “When nucai left the palace, the Emperor sent eunuchs to the Flying Phoenix Palace, telling the Empress Dowager to remain there today and rest. He had not made mention of other things.”

  This was alarming. Even though the Emperor did not strictly order the Empress Dowager to remain in the Flying Phoenix Palace, this action showed that even the Empress Dowager was under suspicion. Asking for the Empress Dowager's help now would be futile.

  “If there is nothing else, Yun xiaojie, nucai will return to the palace.” Yun Qian Meng did not pursue any more questioning. Now that Fu Guo Gong Fu was a hot potato, the eunuch did not want to be implicated along with them, and thought better of staying too long. He bowed to the three of them and turned to leave through the gates of Fu Guo Gong Fu along with his attendants.

  “Mother! He is being framed, gege wouldn't do such a thing. Our Qu Clan has been loyal for many generations, how can the Emperor be suspicious of us?” Qu Fei Qing had experienced many things these past few days, she was no longer the pure and carefree girl from before. This version, with her steadfastness and calmness, surprised everybody.

  But Qu Zhang Qing was injured and imprisoned, laotaijun fainted, her own father was on the brink of death. Qu Fei Qing was suffering greatly, her voice had been low when she spoke as she watched the retreating backs of the palace eunuchs.

  But her question was also what Ji Shu Yu wanted to know very much.

  Emperor Yu Qian had ordered that the people of Fu Guo Gong Fu were not allowed to leave. Even if they wanted to hear of news they would not be able to.

  “Fei'er, never ever doubt the Emperor's decisions, especially now when Fu Guo Gong Fu is in dire straits. You cannot shoot your mouth off. If other people were to hear, everybody in Fu Guo Gong Fu would be put to death and not be allowed a proper burial, understand?” After the servants closed the gates of Fu Guo Gong Fu, Ji Shu Yu immediately berated her.

  Ji Shu Yu was being uncharacteristically strict with her, so Qu Fei Qing perceived that she had spoken out of turn. She immediately nodded and did not say more.

  “Jiumu, let's all go check up on wai zumu. This matter was a heavy blow for wai zumu.” Yun Qian Meng whispered to Ji Shu Yu as the courtyard was still full of servants.

  Ji Shu Yun nodded slightly then led them into Rui Lin Yuan.

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  At this moment the yatou and pozi of Rui Lin Yuan were gathered in the courtyard. The three of them stepped into the inner room and saw several taiyi treating laotaijun with moxibustion. The faces of the pozi and yatou had been full of worry, when they saw Ji Shu Yu and company enter, they finally let out a breath of relief, as if they found a pillar on which to lean on.

  Seeing her mother-in-law's face full of needles, Ji Shu Yu stepped to the bedside and asked with worry, “How is mother?”

  A taiyi stood up and bowed to Ji Shu Yu with hands in front of him then replied, “Hou furen, laotaijun had received the shock so suddenly, along with the fact that she is old, her body could not bear it. I am treating her to steady her state of mind, when she wakes up, we'll give her herbal tea to strengthen her.”

  Ji Shu Yu nodded to the taiyi. Her eyes full of worry as she looked at Gu laotaijun on the bed. She was slightly glad that the taiyi were not present for the reading of the Imperial Decree, else with the current situation, Xiao Nie dafu alone would not be able to attend to everybody.

  “Hou furen, laotaijun is awake.”

  Ji Shu Yu, Qu Fei Qing, and Yun Qiang Meng stepped forward. They saw the taiyi pull out the needles from laotaijun's face as they entered. Kneeling in front of the bed, they looking at laotaijun tensely. Qu
Fei Qing spoke in an agonized voice, “Zumu, you've awaken!”

  Gu laotaijun looked around her bed discovering the room full of people. She remembered what happened and her heart fell. She looked coldly at the mama standing at the end of the bed, commanding her and the taiyi to leave the room. When only the four of them were left inside, Gu laotaijun then said resolutely, “Fu Guo Gong Fu would never commit treason. This matter is a deliberate framing.”

  Gu laotaijun's expression was cold and her tone unflinching. Yun Qian Meng knew Fu Guo Gong Fu to be deeply loyal, and she pondered the issue in her heart, fully aware of the conspiracy. The events happened so suddenly and caught everybody off guard, going so far as to make Emperor Yu Qian create an Imperial Decree declaring houfu treasonous. It was such a grave crime, who would be able to bear it?

  Even if Qu Zhang Qing's innocence was proven, in the eyes of the people, Fu Guo Gong Fu already set a precedent for treason, positions in the court would become impossible to attain.

  The one who set the trap had been very meticulous, normal people would not be able to compare.

  She was aware of the relationship between Emperor Yu Qian and Fu Guo Gong Fu. He ordinarily had utmost confidence in Fu Guo Gong Fu.

  With even the Empress Dowager put under house arrest, it was frightening to think that the Emperor was not merely doing so to cover up rumors, but that his heart had already suspected Fu Guo Gong Fu!

  After all, the Emperor of the Li Dynasty was absolutely intolerant of double-faced subjects. Whether or not Fu Guo Gong Fu had a hand in helping the current Emperor into the throne, the Emperor could not sacrifice his position for a moment of weakness. He'd rather mistakenly kill a hundred than mistakenly let go of one.

  In the current Xi Chu, those who wanted to damage the relationship of the Empress Dowager and Fu Guo Gong Fu with Emperor Yu Qian were definitely a dime a dozen. To locate the true suspect would be a long and tiring process.

  How could Ji Shu Yu not know that her own son was being wrongly accused? But at the moment, they were being put under house arrest within the fu; it would be impossible to go out and make inquiries. This added to the suffocating sense of helplessness. With nothing to do, Ji Shu Yu's brows furrowed and more worry lines deepened on her forehead.