by La Mi Tu
Such intimate language made Murong Qi Qi’s face become red.
Really, is it not ancient times here? Shouldn’t ancient people be abiding by the etiquettes and act reserved? This wangye actually flirted with her under the watch of such a large crowd. Fortunately, the people sitting beside her were located far away and couldn’t hear. Otherwise, she would’ve wished for the ground to create a hole and swallow her.
Seeing Murong Qi Qi blush, Feng Cang laughed out loud. A hearty laughter echoed inside Taiji Hall, making everyone look towards them.
“Wangye!”
Seeing them become the focus of attention, Murong Qi Qi lowered her head till her chest. She swore that she would never do any more stupid things like stare at him again, lest get teased by him.
The ‘sweet interaction’ between Feng Cang and Murong Qi Qi surprised the people around them.
Who here didn’t know that this wangye was temperamental? Usually he looked polite, but always kept a not far and not close distance from people. If you angered him, he would immediately fall out with that person. Everyone had seen his ruthless side, but no one had ever seen him laugh so heartily before.
Feng Cang’s laughter made Yu Shi Shi’s eyes become obsessed. How long has it been since she saw him laugh like that? It seems that it’s been fifteen years! Ever since princess Ming Yue and great general had died at Yandang Mountain, he hadn’t laughed like that again. Why is it that when he’s together with that woman, he would laugh so happily……
No longer tolerating Yu Shi Shi’s memories, Wanyan Hong once again attacked her waist.
“Ah!”
Yu Shi Shi came out of her daze in a panic. Her head heavily hit Wanyan Hong’s chest.
“If you look any longer, when we go back, do you believe that this crown prince will dig out your eyes?”
Wanyan Hong’s dense voice sounded next to Yu Shi Shi’s ear.
“Or do you want me to handle you here in this palace?”
“No, no!”
Yu Shi Shi shook her head anxiously. She understood Wanyan Hong’s personality. He’s someone who would do what he says. Besides, he would do it to the extreme. If it’s really in the palace……then she doesn’t need to live anymore.
“Hehe, since you don’t want, then this crown prince will love you dearly when we go back,” Wanyan Hong whispered in Yu Shi Shi’s ear. “Your childhood sweetheart already has a new love. Looking at them, don’t you feel very sad, ah?”
“No, no……”
Yu Shi Shi lowered her head and suppressed the sadness in her heart. Her eyes rolled a few times. She fought for a long time, but in the end, a tear still fell out.
“Zeze!”
Wanyan Hong stretched out a finger and let the tear fall onto it. He tasted it.
“If it wasn’t because he (FC) couldn’t, this crown prince would have thought that he’s Jie er’s biological father!”
Hearing Wanyan Hong question their son’s parentage, Yu Shi Shi opened her eyes. Tears were in her beautiful eyes. Inside the timidity showed strength.
“Your highness, if you still question Jie er’s parentage, chenqie6 is willing to prove it with death!”
Yu Shi Shi said it so seriously. Wanyan Hong’s hand gradually relaxed. He stared straight into her beautiful eyes. A moment later, he laughed.
“Beloved consort, benwang7 was joking with you. You take it as real! Of course, Jie er is this crown prince’s son. In the future, he will be Bei Zhou’s crown prince. How can this crown prince not believe you?! This crown prince still wants to love you for a hundred years and have many children and grandchildren. How can this crown prince be willing to let you die……”?
Not willing to let her die, but making her everyday life more painful than death! Yu Shi Shi bit her lips and remained silent.
The couple’s loving appearance sitting opposite her deeply stung her eyes. If it hadn’t gone wrong, then the one sitting next to him now would’ve been her. Why is fate playing like this with people? Why……
Feng Cang and Murong Qi Qi’s interactions made the sitting high up Wanyan Lie very happy. While he was stroking his beard, he nodded smilingly. Being able to see his nephew’s laughter, he, as an uncle, was also very happy. If Murong Qi Qi can give birth to a son or daughter for Feng Cang, then he would be even happier!
Seeing that Wanyan Lie had a good impression of Murong Qi Qi, consort De, who was sitting next to Wanyan Lie, immediately gave a lip service: “Emperor, see how good they look together! This princess Zhao Yang is someone people will love. She and Nan Lin wang really are a match made from heaven!”
An emperor can have four consorts: Gui (noble), Xian (virtuous), Shu (kind and gentle) and De (moral). They are ranked in the fourth place below the empress, the imperial noble consort (huangguifei) and the noble consorts (guifei).
“Right, right, what beloved consort said is right! Zhen8 also feels that princess Zhao Yang is very kind looking!”
Wanyan Lie and Lin Ke Xin’s dialogue went into the empress Li Bing’s ears. She couldn’t help herself from humphing coldly: “Consort De said she is so good, but she must also have the blessing to survive the wedding night!”
“Big sister, what you said is not right. We all are hoping for Nan Lin wang’s well-being. How come your words don’t seem right, ah?! Can it be that big sister doesn’t wish for your niece-in-law to be well and to continue Feng family’s line?”
Consort De wasn’t scared of the empress’s provocation. The other party had a crown prince, but she not only had second prince Wanyan Yi but also had fifth prince Wanyan Kang. Although the other party’s son was the crown prince, but her Yi er’s reputation was very good outside.
It’s well known that the crown prince didn’t have any talent or virtues. Half of the old court officials supported second prince Wanyan Yi. In whose hands this throne will fall to is not known yet!
Lin Ke Xin’s cynicism made Li Bing so angry that she gritted her teeth. It happened that what she had just said was also heard by Wanyan Lie. Now Wanyan Lie was looking at her with dissatisfied eyes.
No matter how strong Li Bing was, in order to live and survive well in this palace, getting the emperor’s favor was the most important thing.
In recent years, those foxes hooked Wanyan Lie’s heart. Although she’s the empress, but that was in name only. Wanyan Lie hadn’t come at her place for half a year already. Today, if she made Wanyan Lie angry, not only would she lose the emperor’s heart, she’s afraid that she would also lose her position of empress and Wanyan Hong’s position of crown prince.
“Emperor, chenqie doesn’t dare! Chenqie didn’t mean it like that! Chenqie is only worried that what had happened previously would happen again. Just now, chenqie looked at this princess Zhao Yang’s appearance. She is indeed someone with much blessings. It seems that chenqie worried too much. There’s a saying, ‘heaven helps the worthy’. Princess Zhao Yang is a fortunate person!”
Wanyan Lie liked hearing these words. He felt that they were exceptionally comfortable to the ears.
“What empress said is very well. Zhen saw that Cang er also seems to love this Murong Qi Qi very much. Zhen has never seen such affection from him before. As long as Cang er is happy, nothing matters anymore!”
“Emperor is right!”
The son of heaven has spoken. Li Bing and Lin Ke Xin immediately answered in unison.
“Hahaha!”
Seeing the empress and consort De get along so well, Wanyan Lie was very happy. He couldn’t help but pull the two beauties’ hands and put them together.
“Zhen is most pleased to see you two being so harmonious!”
Humph! Although Li Bing and Lin Ke Xin may be smiling, but their eyes, full of dissatisfaction, couldn’t deceive each other.
Just at this moment, a shout came: “Empress dowager has arrived!”
Two beautiful women escorted a white-haired woman.
Wanyan Lie personally went to receive Dongfang Lan.
“Emp
ress mother, why did you come?”
“Aijia heard that Cang er has returned and specifically come to see him!”
Dongfang Lan’s appearance attracted the attention of Murong Qi Qi. This empress dowager was dressed in a black gold phoenix robe. In her hand was a dragon head walking stick. Her white hair was towering with a silver phoenix hairpin. On the phoenix feathers were soy bean sized rubies. It’s gorgeous but also didn’t lose dignity.
There were many rumors about this empress dowager. Most of them said that she had never lost to a man. When she was younger, she rode a horse with a sword in her hands, accompanying Wanyan Zhi on wars from the north to the south. But now, she got old and became the empress dowager. She had retired into the palace and slowly faded from the public.
It’s said that year when the three families split up Qin dynasty, the first one to come forward with the idea and put it into action was the founding emperor of Bei Zhou, Wanyan Zhi. And the one who had fueled and induced the will for this great general to rebel was the woman behind him, now the empress dowager Dongfang Lan.
The empress dowager had arrived. Everyone immediately bowed respectfully. Even Feng Cang’s attitude towards Dongfang Lan was very respectful.
“Cang er, come here quickly. Let Aijia take a look at you!”
When she sat down, Dongfang Lan immediately waved her hands to let Feng Cang come to her side. She narrowed her eyes, looked for a very long time, before she finally nodded.
“Not bad! Didn’t lose weight, instead gained some weight! Before, Aijia was worried because the journey to Xi Qi is very far. Now it seems that it’s not that bad!”
“Grandmother, grandson is like this because of princess Zhao Yang’s diligent care during the trip.”
Seeing that Dongfang Lan was deliberately ignoring Murong Qi Qi, Feng Cang quickly put her in the spotlight.
“Oh?”
Dongfang Lan finally experienced Feng Cang’s protective side towards Murong Qi Qi. She had just ignored Murong Qi Qi for a moment and he already became protective. It seemed that Feng Cang really put Murong Qi Qi into his heart. The matter would now be difficult to handle.
Dongfang Lan calmly looked at Murong Qi Qi. Her voice revealed dignity. Her pronunciation was very clear: “This is……princess Zhao Yang Mu-rong-Qi-Qi?”
* * *
Gege: big brother
Aijia: I, used by an empress dowager
Wangye/wang: prince of first rank
Wangfei: main wife/ consort of the prince of first rank
Er: term of endearment
Chenqie: I, used by the females of the imperial family when speaking to someone of higher rank
Benwang: I, used by the prince of first rank
Zhen: I, used by an emperor
Chapter 67: The Empress Dowager’s Harsh Conditions (1)
* * *
“Wishing empress dowager good health!”
Murong Qi Qi paid her respects to Dongfang Lan according to how Feng Yu had taught her.
Murong Qi Qi could sense the hostility Dongfang Lan had against her, which was related to the grudges of the previous generation. She, more or less, had an understanding of it. So she cannot let the other party find a thorn in her etiquette!
“Mm!”
Murong Qi Qi’s etiquette was at its place. The gestures were generous without losing nobility. Dongfang Lan couldn’t pick any faults. Therefore, she nodded slightly so as to show her satisfaction.
“You are a child who knows etiquette. You’ve been trained well!”
“Thanking empress dowager!”
Although she couldn’t pick out any faults, but this didn’t mean that Dongfang Lan would let Murong Qi Qi off. However, she’s an empress dowager. If she really made matters difficult for Murong Qi Qi, not only would she offend Xi Qi, but also let people make a controversy of it and say she is small-minded. Fortunately, she prepared earlier. That’s why she brought along these two beauties.
Among these two beauties, Murong Qi Qi has seen one. It’s Wanyan Bao Zhu, Bei Zhou’s princess and Bei Zhou’s flower. The other is the prime minister’s granddaughter. People call her the most talented woman of Bei Zhou, Mu Yu Die.
The two both have good feelings towards Feng Cang. Mu Yu Die was twenty years old and hadn’t married yet. She was bent on waiting for Feng Cang. Since Dongfang Lan brought them here, it’s apparent that she didn’t want to make Murong Qi Qi look good.
“I heard that princess came from a scholarly family. Don’t know what kind of books princess usually reads?”
The one asking is Mu Yu Die. She has a white face, dignified features. Her body has a scholarly aura. Plus, the fact that she was wearing white, she looked like an orchid on a mountain stream. Very elegant.
However, relying on the fact that her grandfather is the prime minister, Mu Yu Die’s eyes has a hint of harsh aristocratic pride, ruining her overall beauty and making it her flaw.
The other party was acting so aggressive in front of so many people. The empress dowager must’ve given her permission. Murong Qi Qi didn’t know which rumors about her these people know. But in a situation where she doesn’t know the other party’s bottom line, going head to head isn’t a good idea.
Thinking till here, Murong Qi Qi answered somewhat ‘cowardly’: “Woman with no talent is virtuous. I only know a few words.”
After Murong Qi Qi’s words fell, there was laughter. The one who laughed is none other than Mu Yu Die. She had long heard that this Murong Qi Qi was a rubbish of ignorance. Originally, she wanted to embarrass her today; let her become a fool in public. She didn’t expect that she (MQQ) would admit it all on her own.
Know only a few words? Then, doesn’t this mean that she is no different from farmers?! How can such a person be worthy of Feng Cang? She is not even worthy to clean Feng Cang’s shoes!
“What, does this lady feel that what I’m saying isn’t right?”
Seeing the sarcasm in the other party’s eyes, Murong Qi Qi acted as if she didn’t understand. Her eyes were clear and her smile was like rainbow. It’s so clean, it’s refreshing.
“Before the departure, my mother repeatedly told me that women without talent were virtuous. Instead of reading those poetry and literature, it’s better to learn how to manage the house, how to be a qualified wife and how to obey the husband and teach the children. After marrying, obey the husband. Only husband is my sky. Should listen to husband in every way. Can it be that you think this isn’t right?”
Murong Qi Qi’s words made Dongfang Lan feel very comfortable. Three obeys and four virtues are the essential qualities of a woman. Of course, women must see their husband as the sky. Why does she need to understand so much? It’s more practical and reliable to be good to the husband and teach the children! It seemed that Murong Qi Qi’s mother isn’t a befuddled person and taught her well.
Three obeys and four virtues: Confucian moral injunctions for woman. Obey three men: father, husband and son. Plus, they need to have four virtues: morality, physical charm, proper in speech and efficiency in needlework.
It’s very strange. When Dongfang Lan was young, she was a sloppy woman. She was not bound by etiquette. But now that she is old, she began to put importance on these and also asked the same from others. That’s why she was quite satisfied with Murong Qi Qi’s words. It could be considered that she passed on the virtues.
“Well said! Indeed, needs to be like that!”
Dongfang Lan nodded. Seeing Murong Qi Qi standing well-behaved there; her facial features are very common without a fox beauty, the dissatisfaction in Dongfang Lan’s heart calmed a bit.
Her looks are ordinary. She looked like she knew her place well. These are alright. If she wasn’t Murong Tai’s daughter, she might have nodded at this marriage.
Feng Cang felt somewhat surprised with Murong Qi Qi’s answer.
With his understanding of Murong Qi Qi, she wasn’t simply as someone who only knew a few words……Looking at her again, Murong Qi Qi looked humble and
full of humility. Feng Cang almost laughed out loud. He was worried that she wouldn’t pass, how could he forget that his little wangfei1 is someone who eats people?
It’s just that Mu Yu Die provoking Murong Qi Qi at such an occasion made him very unhappy.
It seemed that he needs to go have a hearty talk with prime minister Mu. A woman staying at home at such an old age, she might have forgotten the etiquette. It’s time to find a husband for her!
Dongfang Lan’s appreciation made Mu Yu Die’s heart alarmed. She was thinking of poetry and wanted to show off her talents, but she had forgotten that empress dowager was most compliant with these ‘traditional virtues’.
No wonder, the empress dowager knew that sh liked Feng Cang, but she never nodded. Could it be that this was the reason? Before, she was thinking of how to show off her literary grace and definitely suppress Murong Qi Qi. She didn’t expect that she moved a stone to stub her own feet! It seemed that she needs to hide her talent and be respectful. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to enter Nan Lin wangfu2 in this life, not to mention to be together with Feng Cang!
Moved a stone to stub her own feet: make a move which turned bad for oneself
Wanyan Bao Zhu was very happy seeing Mu Yu Die suffer defeat.
Everyone in Yanjing capital knew that she and Mu Yu Die were competitors. Both liked Feng Cang. Although she’s a princess, but Mu Yu Die was always on top of her because of her virtues and talents. This made Wanyan Bao Zhu very unhappy. She bore with it for a long time. Now she finally saw Mu Yu Die become embarrassed. Naturally, Wanyan Bao Zhu was happy.
Mu Yu Die was tactfully retorted by Murong Qi Qi, so Wanyan Bao Zhu came up with another question. She isn’t mindless as Mu Yu Die. These past few days, Wanyan Bao Zhu has been reading information about Murong Qi Qi. She thought for a long time before coming up with this question. It will surely embarrass Murong Qi Qi!
“To be able to break the rule and be bestowed the title of princess, big sister must’ve extraordinary talents. Don’t know which level of martial arts did big sister reach?”