by Ning er
But, Grandpa Chu Wang’s name was still quite effective, at least after the Empress Dowager heard about Chu Wang’s name, whether the surrounding atmosphere had turned a little bit gloomy, yet she was not stuck in a difficult situation.
Turning over the words that she was supposed to say in her mind for a few times, after she was certain that they contained no mistake, Yun Qian Meng then slowly spoke “The luck of Meng’er was actually bestowed by His Majesty and Empress Dowager!”
“Humph, you are quite clever with your mouth! Alright, if you insist to return home to have your meal, then I will not force you anymore. Lan’er, leave some of my usual dishes here, as for the other dishes you may take them out now! I shall eat my meal after discussing things with Meng’er!” Yet the Empress Dowager was not feeling elated because of Yun Qian Meng’s compliment, but only plainly instructed Lan Gu Gu to take away a major number of dishes, aftewards she returned to her original spot, pointing at the lower seat she gestured Yun Qian Men to sit down, then she spoke once more “Meng’er, you are close to Fei’er. Now that your married life is going very well, have you ever think about your cousin?”
Yun Qian Meng positioned herself on the stool then slowly sat down, lowering her brows and followed as she listened to the Empress Dowager’s words, aftewards in a plain voice she remarked “Empress Dowager, cousin has my maternal grandmother, uncle and aunt, as well as her brother, such kind of life event, when will it become my turn to decide for her? And besides, ever since the ancient times marriage will be decided by the parents, or the words of the matchmaker! I am only her younger cousin, I’m not qualified to make any changes on her life event. Currently, Empress Dowager inside the palace can also make decisions for her, it will be enough for me to prepare my congratulatory gifts for her.”
Not being soft nor being rude as she responded to the Empress Dowager’s words, needless to lift up her eyes to look she already knew that the Empress Dowager was feeling quite dissatisfied, but it was really never her turn to decide for Qu Fei Qing’s life event, perhaps the Empress Dowager was not able to obtain any information from Gu Lao Tai Jun and the others, which was why she approached her, but too bad, her wishful thinking was still wrong!
“Your words were not definitely right! Since you are already married to Chu Xiang, your status is clearly different! Even if it is your cousin’s marriage, you still have the right to give your suggestions. Or maybe, Meng’er didn't wish to see Fei’er achieve a great marriage!” The Empress Dowager’s heart was already quite dissatisfied with Yun Qian Meng’s repeated rejection, but now that Yun Qian Meng has two persons like Chu Fei Yang and Chu Nan Shan as her backers, indeed it was a bit tricky. She could not go too hard or soft on her. If too soft it might seem that the royal family was not strong, if too hard perhaps it might cause them to oppose the royalty. Particularly Qu Fei Qing’s matter should only be worried by herself alone, if it was to reach Emperor Yu Qian, perhaps it will affect their relationship as mother and son.
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s threatening words, Yun Qian Meng slightly wrinkled her brows, her face seemed fairly confused and worried, then she softly spoke “Empress Dowager, you have mentioned earlier that me and my cousin’s relationship is quite good, naturally I would want her to marry a great man! How can I not wish her to have a beautiful marriage? But, in this world, there is only a few who would want to wholeheartedly devote himself, my maternal grandmother and uncle are also exceptionally anxious, they were still looking for a good man for my cousin, please give them some more time, Empress Dowager!”
Yun Qian Meng emphasized on the word ‘wholeheartedly’, which indirectly pointed out that Emperor Yu Qian had possessed three thousand beauties in the harem, how could he able to do it wholeheartedly?
The Empress Dowager just laughed upon hearing these, then she mocked “Wholeheartedly? In this world, finding a whole-hearted or devoted woodman, one day he would complete his tasks, the other days not, is such kind of person be able to make Fei’er feel happy? Meng’er, when did you become so naive? Don’t tell me that with less devoted persons, the women in this world will not be able to live anymore? I think you are overly spoiled by Chu Xiang, causing you to forget the way of things in this world, even if you yourself had committed one of the seven sins, which is ‘jealousy’, you are still unaware of it!”
Seeing the Empress Dowager was already angered, Yun Qian Meng suddenly got scared as her face exposed the expression of fear. She immediately slipped down from her stool, kneeling down before the Empress Dowager in a trembling voice she said “I apologize. I shouldn't have boasted. But, since I am a newly married woman, and being treated very well by my husband, it was my negligence that I have overlooked these things. Today, with the teachings of the Empress Dowager, I shall certainly bear it in mind! Empress Dowager, since still at my young age, many things I still have yet to learn about them, naturally I wouldn't make useless suggestions on my cousin's marriage, please be compassionate, Empress Dowager!”
It was not easy to find fault with Yun Qian Meng, also seeing her personally admitted her own mistakes, the Empress Dowager was a bit pleased, yet unexpectedly Yun Qian Meng was actually using her mistakes as a reason to push away Qu Fei Qing’s matter, the Empress Dowager was unable to say anything further for a moment, her both eyes were only staring at Yun Qian Meng who was kneeling in the center of the hall, her hands which were holding on the railings slightly tightened, her angry eyes gradually squinted. After a long while she then spoke “Alright, get up now! To think you are actually a year younger than Fei’er, it is inevitable that you will commit mistakes. In the future you must be more cautious, do not make Fu Guo Gong Fu lose its reputation!”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager!” Yun Qian Meng was still in her respectful behavior, after all she didn't sleep the whole night last night, in addition to walking in the midst of cold wind for half day today, it was even considered to be too much even for the strongest person, and moreover, aside from the meal she had taken this morning, she did not have any other food or water since then. If it wasn’t for her meeting with the Empress Dowager in which she had to lift up her spirit to handle it, she really wanted to get back to Chu Xiang Fu to rest properly.
And this time Qu Gong Gong walked inside the side palace hall taking quicksteps, facing the Empress Dowager he knelt down, in a sad voice he reported “Empress Dowager, the old man of Wen family is gone!”
“What? When did you receive the information about this matter?” The Empress Dowager was shocked, immediately she straightened up her body and asked Qu Gong Gong standing below in a stern voice.
“We received the information just now! Just one or two hours ago he breathed his last breath! The housekeeper of Wen family had entered the palace earlier to report, the Wen family has already started to prepare for the funeral! Qu Gong Gong told everything in details, and the Empress Dowager’s face transformed from the shock earlier into her currently calm expression. fFnally it was back to her usual calmness, she simply instructed “Go to the front hall and ask Young Yu, how will His Majesty respond to this, aftewards come again to report it to me!”
“Yes!” Qu Gong Gong left carrying the order, similarly as eager as the time he came in, he also left very quickly.
“You may return home! Since Imperial Tutor Wen is gone, you should also go home to prepare for the condolences!” The Empress Dowager waved her hands facing Yun Qian Meng, allowing her retreat.
“I shall take my leave!” Even if Yun Qian Meng was greatly surprised, her face was still as calm as before, she stood up and bent her knees towards the Empress Dowager, then leading Ying Qiu and Yuan Dong as they retreated out of Feng Xiang Gong.
Chapter 137: Part 2 Unfearful Towards Empress Dowager, The Death of the Emperor's Teacher | Chu Wang Fei
This time, the mournful sound of bell resounded inside the palace, presumably Emperor Yu Qian had already issued the decree, all the people of every palace hall have all run out from their own halls and go to the fr
ont hall, probably they were all inquiring about the information.
“Your Highness, be careful!” Although there were palace lamps leading the way, but some of the dark corners still appeared to be hazy, Yun Qian Meng was about to sit inside the soft palanquin, yet by the time she passed through the side palace hall, she heard a low reminding voice.
“Stop!” In a soft voice informing to stop, Yun Qian Meng lifted up the curtain as she looked outside towards the center of a side palace hall, yet she saw two figures walking slowly inside the courtyard of the side palace hall, that location was evidently the place where Qu Fei Qing almost fell down yesterday.
“Who's there?” That person ahead evidently did not expect anyone to show up in the side palace hall during this time, the palace maid who produced a sound earlier called out again, facing Yun Qian Meng’s direction while she interrogated in a strict voice.
Yun Qian Meng looked ahead following the light of the palace lamp that Ying Qiu was holding in her hand, when she was able to see the person in front of her clearly, she immediately walked down from the soft palanquin, facing that person she saluted “Yun is pleased to meet Gui Fei Niang Niang!”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng uttered, the figure ahead slightly paused, aftewards a slightly cold voice echoed “It is actually Chu furen, please stand up!”
“Thanks, Niang Niang!” Yun Qian Meng stood up straight, this time Rong Gui Fei was already in front of her.
“Chu furen, are you going out of the palace?” Looking at the direction where the soft palanquin was headed to, Rong Gui Fei inquired in a plain voice, with coldness in between her brows, but her tone of voice was not offensive.
A simple smile exposed on Yun Qian Meng’s face, aftewards she answered respectfully “Niang Niang, I am going out of the palace. But why is Niang Niang here, it’s already late, Niang Niang only had one palace maid, it would be better to be more careful.”
Hearing Yun Qian Meng’s reminder, yet nothing changed in Rong Gui Fei’s facial expression, but the expression in her eyes was unlike the coldness she had earlier “Thanks Chu furen for your concern, I just wanted to see the winter plum flower which bloomed very well in this area, which was why I came to pluck some branches of it to put them inside my palace hall.
Following Rong Gui Fei’s words, Yun Qian Meng had actually saw a few branches of twisted and curved branches in her hands, the winter plum blossoms were producing bursts of fragrance, which exactly similar to the cold feeling that Rong Gui Fei had given the others, blooming all by themselves.
The lamp in Ying Qiu’s hands was originally used to lead their way, its height almost reached the ground, Yun Qian Meng’s both eyes slightly dropped down, looking at the spot where the lamp shone enabled her to catch a glimpse of Rong Gui Fei’s edge of her skirt, then she smiled and reminded “Such kind of things, Niang Niang you should instruct the palace maids to do it! Look at your skirt it was already messed up by the snow, after a while when you’ve reached the inner hall with burning charcoals, the snow will melt on your skirt, Niang Niang you must be careful that you might catch a cold! Fortunately it is already night time now, if someone sees you like that in the broad daylight, would it not let them secretly laugh at you?”
Yun Qian Meng’s words contained a deeper meaning, although the sky was already dark, the masters in each of the palace halls will be improbably to come out from their palace hall, but strange things usually happened inside the palace, the walls usually had numerous ears, Yun Qian Meng had naturally had chosen words that would not easily make other people misunderstand yet also being able to make Rong Gui Fei fully comprehend while she talked.
Indeed, having heard of Yun Qian Meng’s words, Rong Gui Fei immediately lowered down her eyes and looked at her own edge of skirt. Her face suddenly turned slightly pale, aftewards she lifted up her head and looked at Yun Qian Meng. Seeing her smiling warmly and respectfully at her without any malicious scheming intention, her heart could not help but feel confused.
“I shall take my leave now” And Yun Qian Meng bent her knees to bid her farewell this time, aftewards she sat inside the soft palanquin, proceeding towards the direction of gates of the inner palace.
“Xiaojie, you have been gone a long time!” By the time when Yun Qian Meng and the other two sat inside the horse carriage, the sky was already completely dark, Mu Chun immediately handed over the small warmer in Yun Qian Meng’s hand, Ying Xia took out the hot tea and the pastries that were prepared earlier and laid them down in front of Yun Qian Meng, permitting her to temporarily focus her attention to the food.
“We came across Rong Gui Fei. It’s strange, she was actually out at night picking winter plum blossoms! Within the palace not only place like the imperial garden had winter plum trees, but she had actually went around the entire palace to go to that place, that truly confused me!” Yuan Dong really was notmuch of a talker, but she was the one being very keen in observation, in addition to staying beside Yun Qian Meng for a long time, she obviously knew that her xiaojie would not say anything useless, but she truly could not understand why Rong Gui Fei would do that, and why her own xioajie would remind Rong Gui Fei those words.
Yun Qian Meng took a sip of the hot tea, feeling a bit hungry she ate one or two pieces of pastries and fruits, yet she did not clarify anything for this servant girl, although Mu Chun and three others were all close to her, but some things she just needed to keep them in her own mind.
“Xiajoie, nubi heard from the imperial guards in the palace that the old master of Wen family had already passed away. Who is that Old Master Wen?” Seeing Yun Qian Meng did not eat anything more, Mu Chun kept all the remaining pastries in the small desk inside the food box, aftewards she asked this question feeling puzzled.
Yun Qian Meng pondered, thinking about Wen family slowly in her mind, hearing the mourning sound of bells in the palace becoming farther and farther away, she then spoke “The Wen family old master was Guan Ju Imperial Tutor! He was the late Emperor Xi Jing’s teacher. He was also Emperor Xi Jing Empress Cheng Xian Wen’s father! Yet unexpectedly, he had actually passed away today!”
“But xiaojie, why do us servants rarely heard about the things concerning Wen family?” There’s no incident inside the capital that would ever escape from the people’s eyes, and as the servants of the huge influential family, they were more likely to know about these things that the common people wouldn't be able to know, but Mu Chun and the three others actually had never even heard of Wen family, that was truly strange!
“There's nothing strange about it! Since the late Empress had passed away, Wen family had gradually turned silent. Although Imperial Tutor Wen was Emperor Xi Jing’s teacher, but after the late emperor ascended to the throne he no longer needed his teacher, Imperial Tutor Wen’s position as the Imperial Tutor became just merely a title, but didn't have a real authority. All these years Imperial Tutor Wen had aged, moreover he never went out of his home, we naturally wouldn't hear anything about the Wen family!” But, in order for Emperor Xi Jing to prevent Yuan De Fei to seize the power, he had tried to win over Qu family and Ruan family. But after the Empress Dowager adopted Emperor Yu Qian, he had never bestowed the title of Empress to Empress Dowager, that was a little strange. Could it be because Emperor Xi Jing had loved Empress Cheng Xian Wen so much that he had especially reserved that position to Empress Wen? But soon after the Wen family’s silence made people unable to figure out whether Emperor Xi Jing had treated the Wen clan favorably. Truly as the saying goes that the heart of a monarch is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean, truly unpredictable!
“Xiaojie, all the officials have white lamps lighted outside their residences!” This time the horse carriage was slowly driving through the long road, Ying Xia gently lifted up the carriage curtains and looked outside, then she reported.
Having heard what was said, Yun Qian Meng nodded her head.
Imperial Tutor Wen as the teacher of the late emperor, was the role model of every scholar, his source of wisdom as
well as his rigorous family background and character, were highly respected by all the scholars, every residential place lighting up the white lamps during the new year, had also proven their respect towards this Imperial Tutor.
With this it could be clearly seen that, although the Wen family had already lost its fame for so many years, but it still had a very strong influence on the imperial court.
“Let’s head back to prepare the dresses, tomorrow we shall visit Wen family to give our condolences!” Yun Qian Meng was a bit tired as she leaned on to the soft cushion behind her, then gently instructed the servant girls, seeing Yun Qian Meng was truly tired, Yuan Dong took out a blanket from the short cabinet then put it on top of Yun Qian Meng’s legs, the four of them sat inside the horse carriage in silence, never to disturb Yun Qian Meng ever again.
“Today we shall end our journey here, I presume the Crown Prince as well as the First Prince and Tenth Prince were already tired, let's just stay in the relay station for one night, tomorrow we shall continue on to our journey!” Already hurrying along the journey for the entire day, they had finally reached the next relay station that was assigned to them, Chu Fei Yang started to speak to Qi Jing Yuan.
“Then we have to trouble Chu Xiang once again!” Qi Jing Yuan looked at the relay station which had already been prepared for them, his eyes did not seem to have any movements, but he just quickly flew down from the horseback, only taking along with him his personal bodyguard as they walked inside the inn, and had completely ignored Hai Tian.
And following closely behind them the two women respectively walked out from their own separate phoenix palanquins, Qi Ling’er being covered by a veil in her face and Hai Tian wearing a wedding dress, the two of them were both supported by the palace maids as they walked inside the inn to take their rests.
Chu Fei Yang, Jiang Mu Chen and Hai Chen Xi were assigning work to their staff. They had to make sure everything was absolutely safe, so as to avoid causing incidents.