Chu Wang Fei

by Ning er

  “Cousin-in-law, my name is Xia Hou An Er! My daddy is grandpa’s first born child, Xia Hou Yong! But my daddy has to stay behind to handle the matters in our tribe, only I was allowed to come here with grandpa!” Xia Hou An Er was a vivacious young girl, seeing Yun Qian Meng cool-headed, Xia Hou An Er incessantly admired her, particularly when Yun Qian Meng was able to respond to her expressionless grandfather with ease during their very first meeting, made Xia Hou An Er admired her even more, then she pulled Yun Qian Meng’s arm very passionately, as they walked together towards the main hall of Chu Xiang Fu.

  Yun Qian Meng looked at the way Xia Hou An Er wrapped herself around her arm, a smiling expression streaked across her face, her intuition made her recognize that Xia Hou An Er must be a straightforward girl, which was completely different from the peculiarity of Jie’er, then she smiled and said “Cousin An Er, you must be travel-worn on your journey, after a moment I will let the servant girls take you to your room and rest!”

  But Xia Hou An Er didn’t even look tired, her round and bulging eyes were glancing around in every corner of Chu Xiang Fu, finally she pouted her lips and complained “Cousin-in-law, if my cousin didn’t marry you, this Chu Xiang Fu would really look like a Buddhist monk temple, even a tiny flower could not be seen in this place, the scene didn’t even seem as natural as what we have in Luo Cheng!”

  “An Er!” Hearing Xia Hou An Er talking bluntly, the Xia Hou tribe leader strictly uttered, frightening Xia Hou An Er as she immediately stuck out her tongue naughtily at Yun Qian Meng, then wrinkled her nose facing Xia Hou tribe leader’s back, however she shut her mouth then remain well-behaved.

  Watching Xia Hou An Er’s frank and sincere expression, Yun Qian Meng patted her hand, then in a gentle voice she said “In a moment if you seem to dislike your own courtyard, I will instruct the servant girls to plant some flowers and plants, don’t feel wronged!”

  Hearing Yun Qian Meng cared about her, Xia Hou An Er immediately nodded her head smiling from ear to ear, then she mouthed the words ‘Thank You’ facing Yun Qian Meng.

  Aside from the old tribe leader and Xia Hou An Er, the Xia Hou tribe also brought along more than twenty trusted aides, and three hundred guards.

  As a result of the numerous number of people, Yun Qian Meng allowed Housekeeper Hong to make arrangements for other people to the courtyard in the west side of Chu Xiang Fu, and Xia Hou tribe leader and Xia Hou An Er both resided in the rear court, then she assigned a few clever servant girls to wait upon Xia Hou An Er.

  When all the things had been settled appropriately, Yun Qian Meng sat down in front of Xia Hou An Er, lifting up the teacup she lightly took a sip of the top-quality biluochun green tea, when the fragrant tea slipped down to her stomach, she slowly spoke “Grandfather and cousin, you were already tired from a long journey, you must remain inside Xiang Fu to regain your strength for a few days, also for us to fulfill our obligations as the younger generation!”

  Hearing Yun Qian Meng spoke, the Xia Hou tribe leader’s gaze shifted from the front towards Yun Qian Meng, seeing the corner of her mouth smiling, her eyes remain tranquil, quietly sitting in a corner without looking nervous or uneasy, he felt pleased with Yun Qian Meng’s behavior, but being a tribal leader all his life, he had naturally acquired a serious looking face which couldn’t be easily changed, but his gaze looked a bit gentle, facing Yun Qian Meng he nodded his head.

  “Hahaha!” It was quiet inside the hall, when a burst of loud and clear laughter echoed from outside the door.

  Hearing this, Yun Qian Meng obviously knew that Chu Wang has arrived, immediately laid down the teacup as she stood up, her both eyes were smiling as she looked towards the curtain in door which was lifted up, facing Chu Nan Shan she saluted “Meng’er is pleased to meet you, grandpa!”

  “Quickly get up, girl, don’t stress yourself!” Chu Nan Shan strode inside the main hall taking large strides, after seeing Yun Qian Meng he was even happier, afterwhich he regretfully allowed Yun Qian Meng to stand up, to one’s surprise it made the Xia Hou tribe leader slightly knitted up his brows.

  “An Er is pleased to meet you, Grandpa Chu Wang!” Although Xia Hou An Er was a bit more energetic, yet she still knew how to comprehend with the necessary etiquette, particularly that Chu Wang being her cousin’s grandpa, naturally her heart felt a bit closer to Chu Wang.

  “Young girl, didn’t expect that you would come here together with your grandpa! Tomorrow grandpa will act as a host and hold a welcoming dinner for you!” Seeing Xia Hou An Er making her salutations, Chu Nan Shan immediately responded out of courtesy, but his eyes were still focused on the Xia Hou tribe leader who was sitting on the head seat “Old brother, you have finally came! I have finally longed for your arrival!”

  While speaking, before Chu Nan Shan could go ahead and embrace the Xia Hou tribe leader, he was being avoided by the Xia Hou tribe leader.

  “After a month of not seeing each other, Wang Ye, you have actually seemed more amiable and approachable!” Secretly mocking Chu Nan Shan’s behavior earlier, the Xia Hou tribe leader was back to his head seat, as he coldly remarked.

  Chu Nan Shan didn’t seem to mind him as he sat beside the Xia Hou tribe leader, lifting up the tea offered by the servant girls he straightly took a sip, then he started to speak “I always behave that way, contrariwise, old brother, you seemed to be increasingly more courageous!”

  Hearing Chu Nan Shan’s indifferent response, the Xia Hou tribe leader took back the pointed thorns that had puffed up all over his body earlier, with a bit of sad tone he said “Getting older each day, how can I be more courageous! Entering the capital this time, apart from the thing that you’ve mentioned, I also wanted to hand over my position as the tribe leader to the younger generation, from now on, I also wanted to be just like Wang Ye and live a simple life! But, before I return back, I wanted to go and see my Ying’er, so many years had passed, yet as her father, I never went to see her, not even for once!”

  In the end, the Xia Hou tribe leader still remained unsettled! During that time he permitted his most beloved daughter to marry Chu Pei, yet ultimately Xia Hou Ying died from a difficult birth, as a result his daughter had died before him, ever since Chu Fei Yang was small he got left behind without the guidance of a mother, this made the Xia Hou tribe leader felt distressed, which was why his attitude towards Chu Wang remained indifferent, the anger included among these only those persons involved will be able to understand.

  And his words had caused the smiling expression on Chu Wang’s face faded away, then immersed himself in the remorseful feeling, most of it, contained the guilty conscience, thinking about the things that his own son had done, Chu Wang’s heart also felt ashamed and resentful.

  “I’ve heard Chu Pei had came back to the capital with his second wife during the past few days!” The Xia Hou tribe leader had specially mentioned the second wife, although in his heart he surely hated to see Chu Pei, but it didn’t hinder him from gathering the news and information about the other person involved.

  “Yes!” For someone who had done something wrong, he always seemed to agree at everything, even if this person was Chu Wang, when faced with the Xia Hou tribe leader to whom he felt utterly ashamed, he could only manage to lower down his head and respond with a word.

  “Most likely he had never went to see Ying’er!” Seeing Chu Wang behaved like that, the Xia Hou tribe leader understood, yet he still couldn’t bear the pain he felt in his heart.

  “It will be sufficient for me alone to visit my mother, there’s no need to trouble any other person not involved, to disturb the peaceful rest of my mother!” During this time, the hanging screen in the door of the hall was being lifted up, Chu Fei Yang walked inside bearing a cold air in his body, when he saw Xia Hou tribe leader, he immediately knelt down on one knee and said in a clear voice “Grandson is pleased to see you, waizufu”

  “Good, good, stand up now!” Seeing his daughter’s only child, the Xia Hou tribe leader definitely felt de
lighted, he immediately stood up and supported Chu Fei Yang, carefully observed him all around, he then nodded his head feeling satisfied “Fei Yang is right, why should we allow those houseflies to keep pestering your mother’s peaceful rest, I presume your mother would like to see them put on a play!”

  Chu Fei Yang respectfully supported the old Xia Hou tribe leader up to his seat, being rarely obedient as he followed the Xia Hou tribe leader’s words as he spoke “Waizufu, you’ve said it right!”

  Watching the grandfather and grandson talking happily, Chu Wang’s face turned darker, his mind recalled his every situation that he had encountered every time he met Chu Fei Yang, aside from howling at him, he would also drive him away, he could never be kneeling down before him like what he did when he saw his maternal grandfather, this made him feel sad, he even doubted if the decision he made at that time was right or not, if he had known earlier he wouldn’t have let this guy from Xia Hou to enter the capital, making his heart feel even more suffocating.

  “Wang Ye, Lao Ye has arrived!” And during this time, Jiao Da who had been guarding in the doorway entered the main hall.

  Having heard what was said, the smiling expression in his face immediately faded away from the corner of his mouth, Chu Fei Yang took a glimpse at Yun Qian Meng, then he saw Yun Qian Meng smiled as she stood up, then saluted Chu Wang and the Xiao Hou tribe leader, as she plainly spoke “Grandpa, waizufu, granddaughter-in-law will now accompany cousin back to her room to take a rest.”

  While speaking, Yun Qian Meng approached beside Xia Hou An Er, with a shallow smile she held Xia Hou An Er’s hand up, leading her as they walked out of the rear door of the main hall.

  And at the same time, Chu Pei walked inside the main hall striding his heavy steps, seeing his father-in-law whom he had never met for more than twenty years, he stooped down and saluted “Your son-in-law is here to see you, my father-in-law!”

  “So it’s actually Governor Chu, I’m unworthy of such courtesy from Governor Chu, there’s no need to make such huge courtesy!” The Xia Hou tribe leader coldly groaned, after speaking these words he immediately stood up, without glancing at Chu Pei he walked out of the main hall.

  Seeing this situation, Chu Fei Yang immediately allowed Steward Hong to follow after him, instructing his to lead his own maternal grandfather to his room to take his rest.

  “What do you mean by this?” When Xia Hou tribe leader left, Chu Pei stood up straight, his both gloomy eyes were staring at Chu Wang who was sitting upright in a corner sipping his tea, as he asked in a cold tone.

  “What are you referring to?” Chu Wang pretended to be naive, blinking his both eyes as he looked at his own son, his heart was trying hard to restrain the hot anger that he had obtained from the Xia Hou tribe leader earlier, his fingers gripped the teacup held in his hand even more tightly.

  “Father, aren’t you afraid that His Majesty might think that the Chu family had joined hands together with the Xia Hou tribe? When the time comes, perhaps you wouldn’t even know how the Chu family will die!” Chu Pei’s eyes strictly glanced at Chu Fei Yang who was similarly sipping his tea, seeing his brows being ninety percent similar to those of Xia Hou Ying, his heart felt a bit twisted, then he immediately shifted his focus as he glared at Chu Nan Shan.

  “Father, you have worried too much, my waizufu just came to visit his relatives, secondly he it was because of the matters concerning his tribe, when did it ever imply that Chu family is joining hands together with the Xia Hou tribe? Even if you were the emperor, you shouldn’t easily doubt your own loyal subjects! But on the contrary, I am quite curious, even if Father being the governor of the borderland, of course you were quite busy with the official businesses in You Zhou, or else Father wouldn’t go out of the capital and never came back for twenty-three years, but as for this time I am quite unaware as to how long Father had planned to stay in the capital, please do not neglect your duty for the common people of You Zhou!” Chu Fei Yang was able to see Chu Wang’s frustration earlier, being the person who had personally raised him up and had given him everything he deserved in life, his grandpa had already became a part of his life, how could Chu Fei Yang allow Chu Pei to disrespect Chu Nan Shan like that?

  Besides, Chu Pei had already left this family for more than twenty years, yet he had never shown his concern towards his own father, how could he have the right to criticize Chu Nan Shan’s way of handling things?

  “Is this the rightful attitude that you should have when talking to your own father? If you were Qing Yang, I will absolutely not allow you to be obstinate and unruly like this!” Didn’t expect his own child would criticize and interrogate him like that in public, Chu Pei’s both eyes glared at Chu Fei Yang like torches, as he said angrily.

  “Don’t tell me that you’ve already forgotten that, ever since I was small my parents were both not around to guide me, how can I be a match for my half brother, who always have his father beside him, and being personally guided by his own father?” Chu Fei Yang’s eyes seemed to be mocking as he jeered at him, not in the slightest bit being concerned with his life in the past, he wasn’t also being affected by the pain that he had suffered when other people poked him “Besides, in those years when you were young, Father, you have grown up under the love and care of my grandfather and grandmother, yet I had never seen Father honored grandpa, apparently, in this aspect, as your son I had inherited your conduct and manner!”

  With every path being sealed off by Chu Fei Yang, Chu Pei could only angrily glare at his son whom he had never get along with even for more than a day, yet Chu Fei Yang had really stabbed the sore spot in Chu Pei’s heart.

  “Fei Yang, you go ahead and take care of Meng’er, I need to speak a few words with your father!” This time, Chu Nan Shan slowly spoke, he who had remained quiet earlier wasn’t really being emotionless, the smiling expression which was usually seen on his face instantly faded away during the moment when Chu Pei was rebuking Chu Fei Yang, during this time his on the surface he seemed to be as calm as the boundless surface of the sea, just like the sunlight reflecting on the mirror-like surface of the sea, bearing the enchanted brightness that caused people’s heart to tremble, not knowing what sort of huge waves it will upsurge from the deepest part of the sea.

  Chu Fei Yang glanced at Chu Wang feeling worried, seeing him giving a meaningful glance hinting him to leave, he laid down the teacup that was held in his hand, without looking at Chu Pei again, he walked out of the main hall striding huge steps.

  “Pei’er, you have no rights to rebuke Fei Yang! His way of handling things, his nature and character, no one knows him any better that me, as his grandfather! When you were rebuking Fei Yang, did you ever go back and take a look at the pain that he had suffered? Because you were unable to bear your pain, you have applied all your anguish on other people, is this your elegance and aspiration? You have managed the You Zhou for so many years, achieved your praise from the common people, received commendation from His Majesty the emperor, why are you able to consider all the common people as sons and daughters, but as for your very own son, you were cold and detached towards him like that?” Sending Fei Yang away, this will be the little dignity that Chu Nan Shan had preserved for Chu Pei for the sake of being a father. But he would never allow any person to criticize his most beloved grandson!

  “Then at that time when you forced me to marry Xia Hou Ying, why didn’t you think about my position? In your eyes, you have considered all the common people of Xi Chu as your children, then did you think that your son’s fate can be easily sacrificed because of those people?” Yet unexpectedly, Chu Nan Shan’s words had caused Chu Pei to answer back with a rhetorical question, his eyes appeared to be mocking, but after the mockery, Chu Pei had nevertheless regained his usual respectful composure, his face looked indifferent as he said “Those things in the past, there is no need for us to look into them again! Father, you must know about the cherished desire that I have, for this desire I had already made my preparations for m
ore than twenty years, I hope that Father will lend me a helping hand!”

  But Chu Nan Shan sneered and rejected as he said “Do you think it is possible? Have you forgotten about our Chu family’s standpoint?”

  “The standpoint can always be altered based on the person, it can be based on the consideration in Father’s heart!” At this time, under the solemn and respectful eyes of Chu Pei, the wildest scheme concealed deep within them began to stir, after keeping those unhappy past events under control, the things being mentioned will concern their plan for the future.

  Yet Chu Wang just firmly shook his head “It seemed like you will be bound to receive nothing during your return to the capital this time!”

  Having heard what was said, Chu Pei didn’t seem to get angry, exposing a cold smile on his face, he asked back “I don’t think so!”

  During this time, the personal bodyguard of Chu Pei walked in taking quick steps, whispering a few words in his ears, Chu Pei’s facial expression suddenly turned grave, glancing at Chu Nan Shan once again, he immediately turned around and left Chu Xiang Fu.

  “Xiaojie, that Miss Xia Hou is really pretty, her looks somewhat resembles Xiang Ye!” Settling down Xia Hou An Er, Yun Qian Meng returned back to Meng Xin Xiao Zhu, in her heart she was guessing what must have happened inside the main hall between the three generations.

  “They were really cousins, having that resemblance wasn’t anything peculiar!” Without choice she shooked her head and laughed, oh Mu Chun, she was always curious about everything!

  “But, xiaojie, aren’t you curious about the furen’s physical appearance? Miss Xia Hou is already very pretty, surely the furen must be an exceptionally beautiful woman!” Pouring a cup of tea for Yun Qian Meng who was reading a book, Mu Chun slightly frowned as she got lost in her wild and fanciful thoughts.