by La Mi Tu
Wanyan Lie’s words made Jing De shudder. He had seen that woman. She’s a weak beauty. The limbs of a beautiful girl being cut off and her becoming a mute, but that beautiful face was still left intact; when being thrown into the army to face those wolf and tiger like men, who had been hungry for a long time, he didn’t know how much sins she would suffer. One hundred people a day? It’s already very great if she could bear it for ten days!
“As for the other one, zhen remembers that she was the so-called young genius girl. Since she’s a genius, then break her meridians to let her unable to practice martial arts for her whole life. Also, let people beat her with a cowhide whip soaked in salt water a hundred times every day. Whip her till she’s dead!”
Jing De knew that Wanyan Lie put Murong Qi Qi’s revenge onto these two people. It seemed that in the emperor’s heart, princess Ming Yue was still the most important!
“Emperor, then what to do about princess Bao Zhu?”
“Bao Zhu…,” Wanyan Lie was silent for a while. According to the current situation, Wanyan Bao Zhu was certainly dead. Otherwise, Murong Xin Lian wouldn’t have been able to fool everyone with just a human skin mask.
Moreover, Wanyan Hong certainly knew about this! He obviously knew that his little sister had died, but he didn’t ask or take revenge. Even more, he had hooked up with the murderer of his little sister. Now, Wanyan Lie was very skeptical that Wanyan Bao Zhu’s death had nothing to do with Wanyan Hong.
“Announce the truth. Princess Bao Zhu was murdered by Murong Xin Lian!”
Just a few words ended the relation of a father and daughter. Looking at that desolate yellow back, Jing De shook his head. The most ruthless family is the imperial family. In this emperor’s heart, only the things he cared about were the most treasured. The others were just smoke to the eyes!
When inside the palace, empress Li Bing heard that her son had been deposed and was also imprisoned for life, she fainted on the spot. The palace maids of Jingde palace went forward, poured water over her and also pinched her. Only after a long while, did Li Bing slowly wake up.
“Emperor, bengong4 wants to go see the emperor!” Li Bing struggled to get up. She was supported by Chuntao. “Empress, eunuch Jing De came to announce the decree just now. He said that the emperor empathized that your body wasn’t feeling well and you needed to rest. He gave you permission to rest at Jingde palace. If the emperor doesn’t summon you, you couldn’t go out!”
“What? Does the emperor want to imprison bengong? He imprisoned the crown prince, now he wants to imprison bengong. Bengong doesn’t accept it! What did the crown prince do wrong?! What did bengong do wrong?!”
No matter what, Li Bing didn’t think that Wanyan Lie would treat her like this. They were the couple who’d tied the knot. There was a saying, a day together as husband and wife means endless devotion for the rest of your life. When Wanyan Lie wasn’t the emperor yet, she had been at his side. The two experienced many ups and downs before they got today’s status.
Although there were many women in the harem, but no matter who was favored, no one had affected her position. Now, Wanyan Lie imprisoned her and deposed Wanyan Hong’s position of crown prince with no difficulty. Could it be that his next step was to depose the empress?
Li Bing didn’t understand. She didn’t know where she had gone wrong. She also didn’t know what Wanyan Hong did wrong. Wasn’t it just that Yu Shi Shi died and that Wanyan Hong played with a few women?! Outside, everyone was gossping that Wanyan Hong had slept with Wanyan Bao Zhu. Li Bing didn’t believe this.
She had given birth to this son. Of course, she knew (him). No matter how much Wanyan Hong acted arbitrarily, regardless of the rules, it was impossible for him to have something with his imperial little sister. He still had this distinction of right and wrong.
“Chuntao, go to Jingxuan palace and beg the empress dowager! Let this elder have mercy! The emperor wouldn’t not listen to the empress dowager’s words!”
Seeing that until now, the empress was still like this, Chuntao sighed, “Empress, the emperor decreed that no one of Jingde palace, regardless of any excuses, could go out. Otherwise, she/he would be killed on the spot!”
“What?!” Li Bing was dumbfounded. “He’s breaking bengong’s way to survive, ah!”
Li Bing suffered and encountered a bitter experience. Putting it at consort De Lin Ke Xin’s, it was good news. “Bengong was pondering why bengong heard the Eurasian magpie chirp on the branches! Indeed, it was the Eurasian magpie who had come to bring the good news!”
“Congratulations, consort! Congratulation, consort!” Wet nurse Yu congratulated Lin Ke Xin. “The crown prince fell. This throne is now second highness’!”
“Wet nurse, don’t say it so quickly. It won’t be good if people hear it! Emperor, ah, only deposed the crown prince. He hasn’t established the new crown prince yet!”
Lin Ke Xin was saying that with her mouth, but her face smiled like a flower. How could wet nurse Yu not know consort De’s inner thoughts. She immediately wantonly flattered Wanyan Yi, boasting that there were only a few like him in heaven and rarely seen one like him on earth, making Lin Ke Xin laugh out loud.
Aside from her Yi er, no one else is qualified to sit on that place. Sooner or later, this world would be Wanyan Yi’s! No matter who, if they block her son’s road to become the emperor, she would certainly kill them!
At this point, inside Lin Ke Xin’s mind appeared the figures of Wanyan Kang and Murong Qi Qi. Thinking of that day in the palace, about Murong Qi Qi and Wanyan Kang’s interaction, Lin Ke Xin frowned.
If Murong Qi Qi could marry Wanyan Yi, then Wanyan Yi’s position of crown prince would be safe. Even if the emperor doesn’t bestow him the title of crown prince, sooner or later, the throne would still be his. Although, Wanyan Yi had previously suspected Murong Qi Qi and Feng Cang’s relation, but they’re biological siblings. No matter how, they wouldn’t commit such a self-destroying reputation thing like incest.
The only thing Lin Ke Xin was worried about was Wanyan Kang, this time bomb. That day, she wanted to thread a needle for Murong Qi Qi and Wanyan Yi. She didn’t expect that Murong Qi Qi would seem to ‘fancy’ Wanyan Kang more! Wanyan Kang was usually carefree. She didn’t notice that his thoughts ran so deep…
Thread a needle: to act as a go-between
Now, Feng Cang and Murong Qi Qi weren’t in the capital. Even if she wanted to match Murong Qi Qi with Wanan Yi, this thing couldn’t be done easily. What was the best thing to do?! This was something that gave Lin Ke Xin many headaches.
The crown prince being disposed was a surprise to many, but after thinking about it, it seemed reasonable. Wanyan Hong’s usual assessment was not good. So, him being disposed didn’t affect the mood of many. Everyone was now concerned about who would become the new crown prince.
The person who would sit on the throne in the end, would it be the second prince who had the reputation of being worthy and virtuous or Nan Lin wang Feng Cang who the emperor preferred? It was difficult to make a choice. The gambling dens opened a bet. In the end, the bets were evenly matched for both parties.
Half of the people supported Nan Lin wang Feng Cang. They felt that Feng Cang had been favored since young, which was seen by all. Besides, in the past, Wanyan Lie had the thought to pass the throne to Feng Cang several times. Now, Feng Cang was in command of Bei Zhou’s army. Even if Wanyan Yi became the emperor, they should also see if he can sit tightly on this position.
The people who supported Wanyan Yi felt that passing the throne to the son was human nature. No matter how much the nephew is liked, but he isn’t their own blood. In the end, there’s still a layer between them. Besides, among Wanyan Lie’s princes, Wanyan Yi performed the best. They believed that in the future, he would be a good emperor.
As for the control of the army, if Wanyan Yi truly became the emperor, there would definitely be a fierce battle between him and Feng Cang. Either, Feng Cang had to let go of the control of th
e army or seize the throne. Unless Wanyan Lie is able to solve this problem well while he’s still the emperor.
Those who supported Wanyan Yi still had a thought. That was, till now, Feng Cang still didn’t have an heir. With his ability of cursing his wives; if he couldn’t get married for life, then heirs were a big problem. In the future, how should the throne be passed down? Just this point, Wanyan Yi was a lot better. From the point of the continuation of the dynasty, it made a lot of people support Wanyan Yi.
Feng Cang and Murong Qi Qi were still living an isolated life in the small town. It was just, every day, there would be pigeons from Moyu and Fo Sheng Men coming from the capital. Although these two people weren’t in the imperial city, but they clearly knew about the things that had occurred in Yan capital.
“Which bastard pushed you to the front of the stage? Really a bastard!”
When she got to know that the gambling dens had opened a bet using Feng Cang, Murong Qi Qi got angry. This was obviously a man-made operation. They pushed Feng Cang so eagerly to the opposite of Wanyan Yi, could it be to let him become the target of a multitude of arrows? Feng Cang didn’t have any thoughts about the throne. If he was willing, he would have long grabbed this throne!
“Qing Qing, don’t waste your mood on these senseless people.” Feng Cang’s reaction to this matter wasn’t as intense as Murong Qi Qi’s. He was very satisfied with the present life. Having Murong Qi Qi’s company every day without any other things disturbing them. It was really quiet and leisurely.
This honeymoon time let Feng Cang think about a lot of things. Rather than go through challenging experiences and fighting and scheming against each other at court, he might as well live comfortably with Murong Qi Qi in the jianghu5 and become a pair of immortals.
“How can I not worry?! We want the quietness, but others want to pull us into the quarrel. The crown prince just fell, but such a gamble has already come out. Perspicacious people could see that someone was pushing the waves and add to the billows from behind!”
Pushing the waves and add to the billows: adding momentum
Seeing Murong Qi Qi’s face turn red, Feng Cang chuckled. He raised her chin. His mouth ‘tsked’ twice lightly. “Qing Qing is so beautiful even when being angry!”
“Cang, I’m talking about serious matters with you!” Murong Qi Qi nestled in Feng Cang’s arms. Her small hands played with his hair, “Talking about it, I also have shares in those gambling dens. Why don’t we also make an operation in secret? What do you think?”
“How should we do it?”
“Of course, it’s to raise second prince up! If I didn’t guess wrong, the one who set this bet was Wanyan Yi. He’s itching to get on with you. Since it’s like that, why don’t we go along with his wish; let his dream of becoming the emperor get bigger and bigger. What do you think?”
“Little monster!” Feng Cang immediately understood Murong Qi Qi’s meaning. Raise Wanyan Yi up to let him believe that the people’s heart is with him, this second prince. His inner desire would expand violently. Maybe he would then do something ‘to offend the whole society’.
It seemed that Jin Mo was right. If this woman was put in court, she would definitely be able to produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another.
Produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another: to shift one’s ground
Sure enough, not two days later; originally Feng Cang and Wanyan Yi were evenly match, bu it has now changed into Feng Cang being left behind. The people who supported Wanyan Yi in the capital became more and more. Everyone was saying that the imperial blood shouldn’t be mixed. The throne must be the second prince’s.
After Wanyan Yi got this news, he was smiling every day from ear to ear. It seemed that the eyes of the masses were sharp. Everyone knew that Feng Cang was just a wangye of a different surname. If he (FC) inherited the throne, then it’s illegitimately conferred.
* * *
Zhen: I, used by the emperor
Wang/wangye: prince of the first rank
Er: term of endearment
Bengong: this palace/ I, used by females of the imperial family
Jianghu: world of martial arts
Chapter 140: The Fight For The Crown Prince’s Position (2) Part 1
* * *
With the assessment of him getting higher and higher, Wanyan Yi became even more elated. He felt that he was already sitting tightly on the throne. He also began to speak and do things with the bureaucratic accent. He wanted to train himself, so that he could have the posture of a crown prince earlier on.
The debate about the new crown prince intensified. However, the two popular people, Feng Cang and Wanyan Yi, reacted differently.
The former directly handed a petition for a sick leave to Wanyan Lie. It said that his body felt unwell and he needed to rest. He left the capital with princess Zhen Guo almost a month ago. It seemed that nothing was important to him. As for the latter, he had been constantly wandering among officials and actively strove for their support.
The difference between the former and latter was obvious at a glance. There were people who said that if Feng Cang still doesn’t return, then the throne would be taken away. There were also others who said that Feng Cang couldn’t beat Wanyan Yi. After all, the other party was a true imperial bloodline. In short, the public opinion inclined towards Wanyan Yi as if he had already become Bei Zhou’s future emperor.
Dongfang Lan, who’s inside Jinxuan palace, after getting to know the situation outside the palace, she repeatedly praised Feng Cang’s act of leaving the capital. Now, it’s where the wind and waves are the fiercest. Standing on a wave, when it falls, the body would be torn and the bones crushed.
Where the wind and waves are the fiercest: at the heart of the struggle
Although Dongfang Lan really wanted Feng Cang to return and discuss about Feng Xie with her grandson, but now everyone’s eyes were focused on the position of the crown prince. Even if Feng Cang didn’t have those thoughts, but three men talking makes a tiger and would let him get caught into a whirlpool. He and Murong Qi Qi leaving this trouble behind them was the best choice.
Three men talking makes a tiger: repeated rumor becomes a fact
It was just, Feng Cang didn’t return, and Feng Xie also no longer appeared. The suspense in Dongfang Lan’s heart had never been solved. There was always a knot in her heart, making her sleepless. If what Feng Xie said was the truth, she couldn’t not take revenge for her daughter!
“Miss, the person is here.” Inside the temple, Qing Gu brought Chun Xing over. After nursing for about a month, Chun Xing could finally get out of bed and walk. Although her complexion was still a bit pale, but now she was full of spirit.
“Thanking empress dowager for the grace of saving this slave’s life!” The moment Chun Xing arrived, she knelt in front of Dongfang Lan and kowtowed. She knew her life had been saved by the empress dowager. If it wasn’t because of Dongfang Lan, she would’ve long become a ghost.
After seeing Chun Xing’s appearance, Dongfang Lan nodded slightly. Although her complexion was still not very good, but being alive was better than anything else.
“Girl, stand up! Don’t kneel. Your body hasn’t recovered completely yet!”
Dongfang Lan looked kind and her voice was filled with affection, making the originally nervous Chun Xing gradually calm down. She bowed once again to Dongfang Lan. Then, Chun Xing stood up.
“Girl, you said before that noble consort Yue was innocent. Then, tell aijia1 in full detail about everything that had happened in Long Autumn palace. If she truly was wronged, aijia would definitely help her wash away her grievances.”
The empress dowager’s promise set Chun Xing’s mind at ease. When she was about to talk, Chun Xing saw the painting on the wall. When she saw the appearance of the person in painting, Chun Xing couldn’t help but scream.
“What’s the matter?” Qing Gu couldn’t help but look at Chun Xing. She saw Chun Xing look with an
open mouth and in shock at the beauty in the painting. She asked Qing Gu, “Aunt, who is the person in painting?”
“It’s aijia’s daughter, Bei Zhou’s princess Ming Yue!”
Dongfang Lan’s explanation left Chun Xing dumbfounded, “But, but, princess and noble consort Yue look so much alike. They have a seventy to eighty percent of similarity!”
“Oh? Really?” Dongfang Lan didn’t expect that in this world, there was someone who looked like Wanyan Ming Yue. The moment Qing Gu heard this, she saw the problem.
“Miss, do you remember, on the night noble consort Yue tried to assassinate the emperor, this slave saw a girl who looked like princess in Long Autumn palace. This slave was just about to ask her origin, when she was killed by eunuch Jing De. This slave remembers that at that moment, that girl said someone had brought her to be an imperial noble consort!”
“Is that person imperial noble consort Yue?” Dongfang Lan looked at Chun Xing.
“No! I saw that woman’s corpse. Although she looked like imperial noble consort, but she isn’t imperial noble consort. This slave also doesn’t know why she had appeared at Long Autumn palace! This slave had never seen this person before!”
One after another mysteries plagued Dongfang Lan. If it was said that Yue Lan Zhi looked like Wanyan Ming Yue; then later, a young girl who looked like Wanyan Ming Yue entered the palace to be imperial noble consort, could it be that the young girl had come to substitute? Was it that Yue Lan Zhi had long died?
It was just, why would the emperor search for a girl who looked like Wanyan Ming Yue to be the imperial noble consort? Could it be…Thinking till here, Dongfang Lan’s complexion changed dramatically. She also thought about the rumors in the capital; crown prince Wanyan Hong and princess Wanyan Bao Zhu had committed incest. Dongfang Lan’s head suddenly exploded. She didn’t dare to think any further.