by La Mi Tu
Although Duanmu Qing felt that only the son she gave birth to, was the legitimate son and was qualified to inherit the throne, but these past ten years, her belly didn’t even move a little. No matter how many medicine she ate, it didn’t become better.
The emperor was now really crazy for the soft like water Murong Xue Lian. The first and fifteen of every month, he would just come to Qing Luan Palace as a routine. The other times, he was at Piao Xue palace accompanying Murong Xue Lian and youngest daughter Longze Jin Er.
Now Murong Xue Lian was four months pregnant. If she gives birth to a son, seeing how the emperor currently favors her, by that time she is afraid that her status as the empress will not be safe, let alone having the chance to give birth to the crown prince.
“Yi Yi, didn’t you say that Murong Qi Qi has Lian gongzi’s 2 Xue Fu pill? If bengong 3 orders a yizhi for her to bring Lian gongzi to cure your hand, what do you think?”
Yizhi is an imperial decree by the empress or empress dowager
Shengzhi is an imperial decree by the emperor
Even though she knew that Duanmu Yi Yi fancied Longzi Jing Tian, but Duanmu Qing would never let Yi Yi marry Longze Jing Tian.
At that time, when He Xin Er gave birth to a prince before her, it really made her heart troubled. Although He Xin Er was now dead, but Longze Jin Tian had won the empress dowager’s love and because of this, also got the emperor’s favor. These things were really difficult for Duanmu Qing to accept.
Not to mention that the emperor was in the prime of his life and she was also just 32 years old. She still had the chance to get pregnant. As long as the emperor hadn’t established the crown prince, she would give it a shot! Even if the emperor was determined but this throne should be her child’s! It’s she who is the empress!
Duanmu family, being her mother’s family, should support her, this empress, with all their strength. Whether it was Duanmu Hong Chen or Duanmu Yi Yi, their marriage should have some value.
One side being prosperous, both sides would be prosperous. One side lost, both sides would lose. Without a strong backing, setting a foothold in the palace was very difficult. For the great families, even if they had the ability and were really skillful, without anybody in the palace, it would be useless.
In her heart, Duanmu Qing had already selected a husband for Duanmu Yi Yi. Letting her marry great family Shangguan family’s Shangguan Wu Ji was the best choice. With Shangguan family’s prestige in the military, if she gives birth to a prince, then this entire empire would then be her son’s!
Duanmu Yi Yi didn’t know that her fate had long been arranged by Duanmu Qing. At this time, she only wanted to talk about Lian gongzi with Duanmu Qing.
Strange doctor Lian gongzi’s medical skills were rumored to have reached the level of gods. If Murong Qi Qi really could bring Lian gongzi, not only would her hand have hope to recover, even the empress’ inability to get pregnant will have hope to be cured.
“Aunt, if Murong Qi Qi can’t invite Lian gongzi, then what?”
“Can’t invite?”
Duanmu Qing’s lips revealed a cruel smile.
“Then bengong will strip her title of Jing wangfei4, making her become an abandoned wife even before being married!”
“Aunt……”
Duanmu Yi Yi was really happy. Aunt hadn’t forgotten her. She really would take revenge on her behalf. But just thinking about her right hand, Duanmu Yi Yi felt really contradictory. Lian gongzi was her only hope for getting her right hand cured. She didn’t want to have a crippled right hand for life.
Seeming to have guessed what Duanmu Yi Yi was thinking, Duanmu Qing gently patted her hands.
“Aunt knows your mind. Don’t worry, aunt would surely not let Murong Qi Qi become Jing wangfei! Two sisters, one becoming Imperial noble conosrt and one becoming Jing wangfei, won’t they get too prosperous by then?!”
“Aunt, you’re the best!”
Duanmu Yi Yi laughed darkly. Murong Qi Qi, before long, you’ll become an abandoned wife. I want to see how long you could still be so proud!
It didn’t take long for the empress’s yizhi to reach Murong household. The yizhi said very clearly, being sentenced to death could be escaped, but living in hardship would be difficult to escape. Murong Qi Qi must find Lian gongzi within ten days to cure Duanmu Yi Yi’s hand to make up for her mistake!
“Miss, the empress is obviously wearing the same pair of pants as Duanmu Yi Yi!”
Su Mei cut a peach and brought it to Murong Qi Qi’s lips with a bamboo stick.
“What do you plan to do? Really going to cure her hand? By this subordinate’s meaning, she dared to point a sword at miss, that hand being crippled is not even enough!”
Murong Qi Qi ate small chunks of peach. Really sweet. She always liked sweet fruits.
No one knew that the renowned Lian gongzi was actually Murong household’s third miss. Duanmu Yi Yi and Duanmu Qing would have never thought that the person they were looking for was now comfortably eating a peach.
“Su Mei, saving one life is better than to build a seven floor pagoda. Of course I need to cure Duanmu Yi Yi’s hand. Not only will I cure her, I also will cure Duanmu Qing’s inability to get pregnant, letting her be able to get pregnant with a prince. The empress has longed for this child for a long time. After she gives birth to a legitimate son, Xi Qi country will become lively!”
Murong Qi Qi’s smile was very sweet. Her voice was soft, but Su Mei was aware of the plot behind Murong Qi Qi’s smile. This miss had a personality of wishing for the world to be in chaos. Presumably she had thought of some fun things—-Su Mei silently began to pray for the people who were being calculated by Murong Qi Qi.
The empress’ yizhi didn’t scare Murong Qi Qi. Instead, it made the imperial noble consort Murong Xue Lian at Piao Xue Palace become worried. Murong Xue Lian knew that Duamu Qing wanting to cure Duanmu Yi Yi was just an excuse. In fact, it was for herself. This woman was nearly going crazy from wanting a son! It was just how did Murong Qi Qi that rubbish got to know Lian gongzi? If Lian gongzi really cured the empress and Duanmu Qing becomes pregnant with a dragon, then what should she (MXL) do?
“No! The place of the crown prince is bengong child’s. Benggong will certainly not let go!”
Murong Xue Lian stroked her slight bulged belly, called her confidante Hu Po and said some things to her. She let her go to the prime minister’s mansion to convey her words.
“Third miss, this is the reward that imperial noble consort gifted you!”
Hu Po put a box with pearl jewelry in front of Murong Qi Qi.
“Really beautiful, ah! Are they really for me?”
Murong Qi Qi face is full of disbelief. She touched the bean sized pearls carefully. Her eyes had been attracted by them like it was the first time she saw such good things.
Seeing Murong Qi Qi’s ‘lack of knowledge’ expression, Hu Po twitched her lips and looked at her sarcastically: “It’s good that third miss likes it! How did third miss got to know Lian gongzi?”
“Oh, when I went to the mountain to get herbs, I got to know him! Lian is very nice to people!”
Seeing that the other party finally got to the real subject, Murong Qi Qi smiled like a silly person and revealed her white teeth.
“Lian?”
Seeing Murong Qi Qi call Lian gongzi so affectionately, Hu Po was surprised. But her expression was still the same.
“Then where is Lian gongzi now?”
“Don’t know.”
Murong Qi Qi shook her head. Her eyes were confused.
“It’s already been three years since I last saw him.”
Hu Po felt a little relieved. It seemed that Lian gongzi and Murong Qi Qi haven’t been in contact with each other for a long time.
“Hu Po big sister, why are you asking this? Look, does this pearl flower look good on me?”
Murong Qi Qi stood in front of the bronze mirror, put a pearl hairpin in her hair while making poses.
Once agai
n rolling her eyes, Hu Po didn’t have any more patience to bother with Murong Qi Qi.
* * *
Wang/wangye: the prince of first rank
Gongzi: young master/ also used to call an unmarried man
Bengong: this palace, I used by the females of the imeprial family
Wangfei: the main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
Chapter 19: Real, Fake Lian Gongzi
* * *
“Imperial noble consort was worried that the empress will make things difficult for third miss, so she let me come take a look. Imperial noble consort said that it doesn’t matter if you can’t find Lian gongzi1. If something happens, you still have her, she won’t let the empress bully third miss!”
Really?——Murong Qi Qi revealed a mocking smile in front of the mirror.
In the past when the original owner of this body was framed by Murong Xin Lian, she didn’t see Murong Xue Lian, this sister of the same father and mother, come forward to speak up for her! Now, she is worried that her position will be affected, so, she wanted to use this little trick to bribe her. Did she (MXL) still think she was the Murong Qi Qi of the past?
“Mm, hearing these words of big sister, I’ll be at ease!”
Murong Qi Qi smiled sincerely.
“I was so worried and so scared. Now that I have big sister, I won’t be afraid of anything! Even if the empress comes, I won’t be afraid anymore!”
Hearing such stupid words from Murong Qi Qi, Hu Po was sure that this third miss, not only didn’t have talent and ability, she also didn’t have a brain. She said some more words and left the prime minister’s mansion in a hurry.
“Was it really like that?”
Inside Piao Xue palace, after Murong Xue Lian heard Hu Po’s words, her mood was extremely good.
“This time, bengong 2 can rest assured! By the way, is there any news from Qing Luan Palace? If Qi Qi can’t find Lian gongzi, how did the empress say she’ll punish her?”
“The empress will make it so that third miss can’t become Jing wangfei3.”
“Ha ha!”
After hearing this news, Murong Xue Lian applauded. The ruby under her earlobe also shook because of her actions.
“This is the result that bengong wishes for! Jing wang 4 is a popular candidate for the position of the crown prince. If he becomes the crown prince, then won’t Murong Qi Qi be crown princess and in the future, the empress?Bengong hasn’t even become the empress, how could she have that turn?! The crown prince’s position, bengong has already set my eyes on it. This time, the empress has helped me!”
Murong Qi Qi rested for a few days. Originally, she wanted to let Duanmu Qing and Duanmu Yi Yi wait. She didn’t expect that on the fifth day, Duanmu family would send a person to pick her up and say that Lian gongzi is at Duanmu residence. He has already cured the tendons for Duanmu Yi Yi and that Lian gongzi had asked to see her. “Miss, who is pretending to be you?”
Inside the carriage, Su Yue frowned. Lian gongzi was obviously her miss, why did another Lian gongzi appear? For what kind of purpose was the other party pretending to be miss?
Seeing Su Yue’s oval face with furrowed brows, Murong Qi Qi reached out her hand to touch her eyebrows.
“Whoever he is, counter the soldiers with arm and the water with an earth wear.”
Counter the soldiers with arm and the water with an earth wear: to adopt appropriate measures to the situation
“If Su Mei had known that someone would dare to pretend to be miss, she would surely dismember the other party!”
Hearing Murong Qi Qi say that, Su Yue laughed. A faint dimple appeared on her left cheek.
“That’s why I didn’t bring her! She is quick tempered; you are more stable. I was worried that she will smash Duanmu residence, that’s why I sent her to Tong Bao Zhai. But I’m very curious about this ‘Lian gongzi’. Really looking forward to seeing him!”
“Miss, isn’t this called the ‘showdown of real and fake Lian gongzi’?”
Su Yue began to joke around.
“This name is not bad!”
While the master and servant chatted, they arrived at Duanmu residence. Great family Duanmu’s housekeeper personally came to lead Murong Qi Qi inside. All the way, the housekeeper’s attitude towards Murong Qi Qi was very respectful. Presumably it was because of Lian gongzi, making Murong Qi Qi looking more forward to seeing this ‘Lian gongzi’.
“We’ve arrived!”
The moment Murong Qi Qi entered the room, she saw a tall slender figure.
“Lian gongzi, miss Murong has arrived!”
The housekeeper’s voice revealed his respect for this person.
“Qi Qi, you’ve come……”
After this person turned, Murong Qi Qi finally saw his face. The flowing blue clothes on this man, made him seem to be in high spirits. Sterling silver cuffs and collar buttons were perfect for calling attention. It was just that those yellow bean sized buttons must be worth a lot of money. Looking at his eyebrows, they were long like the wings of a giant bird. And that pair of slightly narrowed eyes revealed amusement but will make people unable to pry into them. High nose bridge like a towering cliff and that pair of cold thin lips are in an arc, revealing a cool thin smile.
Who was this person? The precautions in Murong Qi Qi’s heart opened. Such a handsome and cool man who didn’t have a shortage of smartness, why was he pretending to be Lian gongzi? These were the doubts in Murong Qi Qi’s mind.
Especially that full of sentiment ‘Qi Qi’, made Murong Qi Qi got goosebumps.
She was sure that she had never seen this man before. And his intimate tone full of love made everyone’s eyes focus on Murong Qi Qi. Among them, there was a thirty something woman in gorgeous clothes.
“Not having seen for three years, Qi Qi has become more attractive.”
Not waiting for Murong Qi Qi’s soul to return to her body, Lian gongzi has already come in front of Murong Qi Qi. Long slender fingers touched Murong Qi Qi’s cheek.
“That’s right, you’ve become taller and more beautiful.”
“Who are you?”
Murong Qi Qi dodged his touch and asked in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
“I’m Lian, ah. Your Lian.”
If it wasn’t because there were people still present, Murong Qi Qi would’ve surely vomit blood. When did she meet this man? And this one ‘your Lian’, if it wasn’t for the people, Murong Qi Qi would’ve punched his face and greet his eyes. (She means that the punch will land on his eyes)
“Qi Qi wants to hit me?”
Seeming to have realized the anger in Murong Qi Qi’s eyes, Lian held Murong Qi Qi’s clenched fists with a smile. The two of them stared at each other. Murong Qi Qi saw the smile in the other’s eyes.
Not waiting for Murong Qi Qi to rebel, Lian gongzi pulled her to the woman in gorgeous clothes.
“The things she promised empress, Qi Qi had already done them. Presumably empress wouldn’t make things difficult for Qi Qi anymore!”
So this person is the empress, Duanmu Qing?
Murong Qi Qi quickly freed her hands and bowed to Duanmu Qing.
“Your subject’s daughter greets the empress! Empress, long live a thousand, thousand, thousand years!”
Murong Qi Qi’s good attitude made Duanmu Qing feel good. At the palace, she had been fighting with Murong Xue Lian. Here, her little sister treated her respectfully. This greatly satisfied Duanmu Qing’s vanity.
“Stand up! Let bengong take a look!”
Duanmu Qing held Murong Qi Qi’s hand and carefully looked at her. She didn’t have Murong Xue Lian’s flirtatious look. Murong Qi Qi’s looks could only be considered ordinary. This made Duanmu Qing’s heart feel even better.
“You’re a pleasant child. No wonder Lian gongzi cares about you…….”
“Empress!”
Lian gongzi had already taken Murong Qi Qi into his embrace.
“The things I promised empress, I already did them. As
king empress to not forget what empress had promised me. I’ll take my leave……
Not waiting for Duanmu Qing to speak, Lian gongzi grabbed Murong Qi Qi and left here.
After Murong Qi Qi and Lian gongzi had left, Duanmu Lei came to Duanmu Qing’s side.
“Little sister, do you believe him?”
“Big brother, his treatment techniques that he used on Yi Yi, you also saw, it’s really unheard and unseen before. Bengong has a hunch that he will be able to cure me! Big brother, bengong tried so many medicines but they had no effect. Lian gongzi is my only hope. Bengong must give birth to a crown prince!”
“If he is won over by Imperial noble consort,then what? Murong Qi Qi is Imperial noble consort biological little sister!”
* * *
Gongzi: young master/ also used to call a famous unmarried man
Bengong: this palace, I used b the females of the imperial family
Wangfei: the main wife/consort of the prince of first rank
Wang/Wangye: the prince of first rank
Chapter 20: Meeting Longze Jing Tian Once Again
* * *
“Hehe, big brother you don’t need to worry about these. Bengong 1 has already promised him that I’ll break off the engagement of Jing wang2 and Murong Qi Qi and let him get the beauty. Such a person like him won’t play tricks.”
Talking till here, Duanmu Qing suddenly envied Murong Qi Qi. Although she didn’t have talent nor beauty, but there was such a handsome man who had fallen at her feet. The pitiful one was her. Although she was Duanmu family’s eldest miss, is the head of the six palaces, is the empress, but how was the emperor treating her……
The imperial’s grace was fleeting, so she must give birth to a crown prince! The hand in Duanmu Qing’s sleeves clenched into a fist.