by La Mi Tu
Don’t know who this smile was for?
After Ming Yue Cheng had said these, Gu Yun Yao had some sympathy for this young emperor in front of her. The world thought that the supreme was no one other than the emperor. However, Gu Yun Yao didn’t see the slightest joy and happiness from Ming Yue Cheng. Instead, she felt heavy responsibility and pressure.
Looking at his smile from just now, he must have remembered someone or something. People who were able to make Ming Yue Cheng so joyful, must occupy a very important position in the heart of Ming Yue Cheng. Gu Yun Yao didn’t understand. Since he liked her, why couldn’t they be together? Was it status or something else?
Ming Yue Cheng was so smart. How couldn’t he know what Gu Yun Yao was thinking? She was only fifteen and was still at the age of innocence. He shouldn’t have let her fall into this heavy whirlpool.
“Let’s drink! Zhen really wants to drink today!”
Ming Yue Cheng made Fu Er fetch a wine jar. On this day, he suddenly wanted to get himself drunk. He didn’t wait for Gu Yun Yao to speak and immediately started to drink the wine.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the room became particularly weird. Gu Yun Yao sat beside Ming Yue Cheng and watched him drinking in mouthfuls, but she couldn’t say any words of comfort. She wasn’t anyone to him, nor could she solve the pain in his heart. Instead of doing so, it was better to sit quietly and look after him after he was drunk.
As expected, after drinking one jug of wine, Ming Yue Cheng was drunk on the table. He originally was a good drinker but didn’t know why he was so drunk today. Fu Er and Gu Yun Yao supported Ming Yue Cheng to the bed. Fu Er personally took off Ming Yue Cheng’s clothes and covered him with the quilt.
“Consort, His Majesty is drunk, you see….”
Fu Er’s expression was a bit awkward. There was only one bed in the room. Should he let Gu Yun Yao sleep on the bed? Then wouldn’t it be fake play turned into reality at that time?
“Eunuch Fu, I’ll just lean at the side! I’m afraid the emperor wants to drink water at night!”
Gu Yun Yao was so thoughtful that Fu Er nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that the emperor did choose a clever and quick-witted girl. He hoped that she would never change.
“Eunuch Fu, you sit down too!” Gu Yun Yao signaled for Fu Er to sit down and looked at the sleeping face of Ming Yue Cheng. She then started talking, “Eunuch Fu, I’ve heard that His Majesty’s capacity for liquor is very good. Why is he already drunk after only one jug of wine today?”
Fu Er had some difficulty answering this question. Should he tell Gu Yun Yao that Ming Yue Cheng was actually drinking away his sorrows? After thinking about it for a long time, Fu Er gave a smooth answer. “His Majesty had also drunk a lot of wine at the banquet. Moreover, it was easy to get drunk on an empty stomach.”
“Oh….” Gu Yun Yao wasn’t stupid. She knew that Fu Er’s answer was just half-heartedly. She admired Fu Er’s loyalty to Ming Yue Cheng.
“Qi Qi, don’t go….” Just at this moment, Ming Yue Cheng frowned and said Feng Qi Qi’s name, “Qi Qi, I only made one wrong step, Qi Qi….”
The doubts in Gu Yun Yao’s heart just now had been answered from the sleep talking of Ming Yue Cheng. Qi Qi? Could it be that she was the woman who lived in the heart of Ming Yue Cheng?
In one night, Ming Yue Cheng was talking nonsense while Gu Yun Yao and Fu Er were guarding the night. After the morning came, Ming Yue Cheng slowly opened his eyes. He had some headache. The sunshine through the window was unusually dazzling. After waiting for a while, Ming Yue Cheng got used to it. “Your Majesty, you’re awake?” Fu Er heard the sound of the bed and quickly came to serve.
“Fu Er, zhen wants to take a bath!”
“Yes!” Fu Er immediately went to prepare. Soon afterwards, Ming Yue Cheng was lying in a warm pool. The temperature of the water was a little hot but it was the temperature that Ming Yue Cheng liked. He closed his eyes and leaned against the pool: “Zhen didn’t do anything out of character yesterday?”
“No. Consort Jin has been taking care of you, and this slave was also guarding at the side! However….” After saying that, Fu Er hesitated. But in the end, he (FE) told Ming Yue Cheng the matter about his sleep talking. “You have been calling Feng Qi Qi’s name.”
“She heard?”
“She heard but didn’t say anything.”
“Heh…Fu Er, zhen wants to stay alone for a while.”
After hearing this, Fu Er retreated. Ming Yue Cheng was the only one left in the large room. He dived into the pool and wrapped himself in the hot water, making him feel like he was back in the mother’s womb. Those warm waters stimulated the pores of his whole body, making him relaxed.
He was actually drunk and was saying the name of Feng Qi Qi…. Ming Yue Cheng closed his eyes and recalled the things that happened last night. One by one, the bubbles were spit out of his mouth. A series of bubbles flocked to the surface of the water. These bubbles exploded on the surface of the water and rippled in circles. They spread from the center of the pool, drawing circles like an annual ring and rushed to the shore.
“Blub blub….”
Ming Yue Cheng suddenly came out of the water and stood in the middle of the pool. The water which emitted hot air was till his pelvis. His hair was dripping wet and stuck on his strong back. Drops were dripping along his spine to the buttock and then into the water. Along with the waves, it spread in hot water and diffused like black algae.
The sunlight came through the window and fell on the water. Ming Yue Cheng wiped the water from his face. The missed water drops slid down his cheeks to the concave in the middle of his chin. They formed a droplet that was sparkling and translucent under the sunlight; refusing to drop.
Let go! Ming Yue Cheng! Don’t tangle anymore in those happiness that you wouldn’t be able to get! One of the two of them (MYC & FQQ) should be happy! If there was only one option, he would rather let her happy forever!
Ming Yue Cheng secretly said these words to himself. After finishing, he fiercely swam to the edge of the pool and went up the shore.
“Fu Er, get people to prepare. Zhen wants to go to the prime minister’s residence!” Ming Yue Cheng wiped off the water from his body. After changing his clothes, he left Qingluan Palace.
After waiting for Ming Yue Cheng to leave, the palace’s elder maids came over. They took the white satin cloth that had the blood on it and congratulated Gu Yun Yao over and over again. Then, they retreated. In a moment, everyone in the palace knew that the emperor and consort Jin had consummated their marriage. Presumably, it wouldn’t be long that a little prince or little princess would be born in the palace!
* * *
Zhen: I, used by the emperor
Jianghu: martial arts world
Chapter 193: The Conditions To The Rid Of The Gu (2)
* * *
After Feng Cang, Feng Qi Qi, Wanyan Kang, Su Mei and Jin Mo came to the capital of Nan Feng, they stayed at the prime minister’s residence. This wasn’t the idea of Gu De, but it was the decision of Gu Yun Wan. In this regard, Gu De didn’t express any unwillingness. It was fine as long his daughter liked it.
“Dad, go help Feng Qi Qi!”
He had three days off because of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage, so he didn’t have to get up early to go to the court. Just after he got up in the morning, he was pestered by Gu Yun Wan. She wanted him to cure the gu of Feng Xiao.
“Brat, you’re giving me a headache!” Gu De only had this daughter and she had gone out for so long. When she came back, it wasn’t to deepen their father-daughter relationship, instead, she tried to protect the outsiders, making Gu De somewhat jealous.
“Dad, do you have a headache? I’ll massage it for you!”
Gu Yun Wan quickly supported Gu De to sit down. She then put her small hand on Gu De’s temple and gently massaged it, “Dad, how is it? Is it comfortable?”
“Hm, not bad!” Gu De smilingly touched his chin while enjoying, “It’s good to have a
daughter! The daughter is caring!”
“It’s good that dad likes it! Oh, by the way, dad, what is with Gu Yun Yao? When did you got an adopted daughter? Why didn’t I know?” Gu Yun Wan massaged while poured out all the questions that kept her confused these days.
After hearing this, Gu De sighed. How could he talk to others about Ming Yue Cheng’s thoughts? But looking at his daughter, Gu De had some regrets. He once wanted to play matchmaker for Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng. However, these two people didn’t feel attracted to each other. Without feelings even if he worried helplessly, it wouldn’t do.
“Dad, say something!”
“I just recently adopted her. I feel that she’s a smart child, so I accepted her as my adopted daughter.”
“Oh….” Gu Yun Wan lengthened her voice. Gu De thought that his daughter regretted this moment, that she began to understand about the matters of love and was a little jealous because of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage. Gu De was secretly delighted and wanted to continue to make Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng a pair but he didn’t expect that Gu Yun Wan said another thing.
“Dad, since you can accept a stranger as adopted daughter, why don’t you accept Feng Qi Qi as adopted daughter? In that case, if you think of Feng Qi Qi as our Qiang tribe’s people, then you can help Feng Xiao cure the gu!”
After listening to these words, Gu De’s inflated heart of just a moment ago was now like a deflated ball: “Brat, is Feng Qi Qi so great? Why do you always help an outsider?”
“Qi Qi isn’t an outsider! She’s my little sister! I have already recognized princess Ming Yue as adopted mother. Now, Feng Qi Qi is my, Gu Yun Wan’s, little sister. Since she has difficulties, of course, I have to help!”
Gu Yun Wan said these clearly and logically, made Gu De have a headache: “Friendship is one thing, the tribe’s rules can’t be changed! Your father is the chief of the Qiang’s tribe. If I make exceptions, what will the tribe’s people say? How will I manage the Qiang’s tribe in the future?”
“Dad….” Gu Yun Wan knew that Gu De was telling the truth, but she just wanted to help Feng Cang and the others as much as possible.
“Master, miss, His Majesty has come.”
At this moment, the housekeeper came hurriedly. As soon as Gu De heard that Ming Yue Cheng came over, he was somewhat puzzled. On the first day of marriage, Ming Yue Cheng didn’t keep Gu Yun Yao company in the Qingluan Palace, instead he (MYC) came here? In spite of his confusion, Gu De still immediately got up and went to the door to welcome Ming Yue Cheng. Gu Yun Wan hadn’t seen Ming Yue Cheng for a long time, so she also followed.
“Your Majesty….”
“Uncle Gu De, today there’s no majesty but only me.”
The words of Ming Yue Cheng made Gu De smile, “Please….” Gu De led the way while Ming Yue Cheng walked behind.
“Ming Yue Cheng, congratulations!” When Gu Yun Wan saw Ming Yue Cheng, she slapped on his shoulder, “Why did you run away on your newlywed days? Wouldn’t that consort Jin get angry?”
“Wan er1! Don’t be so impolite!” Gu De quickly scolded Gu Yun Wan, when she spoke to Ming Yue Cheng like this. But there was no reprimand in his words, instead there was strong pampering.
“Dad, he said that today there’s no emperor or majesty but only you and me! Right, Ming Yue Cheng?!”
“Right! It was indeed what I said.”
“Emperor, she is spoiled by this subject and doesn’t follow the rules. You must not blame her.” Seeing the ‘interaction’ between Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng, Gu De was happy but also worried.
In Gu De’s point of view, Ming Yue Cheng treated Gu Yun Wan different. However, this difference was limited to the friendship between buddies and not the love between men and women. In addition, Gu Yun Wan’s personality was carefree. She wasn’t yet enlightened on the matter of love. This made him, the father, very frustrated.
Furthermore, the identity of Gu Yun Wan was a very awkward matter. She is the empress dowager of Nan Feng and could be regarded as Ming Yue Cheng’s empress mother. It was impossible to erase that past.
Even if Gu Yun Wan was still a pure and clean woman, but the title ‘empress dowager’ had already broken Gu Yun Wan’s luck in love. Whether it was following Ming Yue Cheng or marrying someone else, it wasn’t quite right. Regarding his only daughter’s happiness, Gu De was very worried. However, there was nothing to be done. He could only let nature take its course.
To let nature take its course: go with the flow
“Dad, can’t you relax a little? You two had been a ruler and a minister for so long at the court. Now you’re here, why do you still want to be like that? How awkward is it!”
“Uncle Gu De, Wan er is right! At the court, I’m the emperor, you’re the minister. But at the prime minister’s residence still being emperor and minister, isn’t it too tired? Could it be that uncle Gu De wants to deprive me of my only place to relax?”
The tone of Ming Yue Cheng made Gu De laugh. Since Ming Yue Cheng regarded the prime minister’s residence as a place that would make him relaxed, this should be his honor (GD). “Cheng er, let’s go this way!”
A ‘Cheng er’ reminded Ming Yue Cheng of his childhood. Gu De used to call him like that too. It seemed that after he became the emperor, he hadn’t heard that ever since. Having an elder who could call himself in such a way and his words revealed concerns was really a thing worth cherishing for anyone.
Since Ming Yue Cheng came over, Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi and the others were also invited over.
“Feng Cang, long time no see! Ah Kang, I heard you got married, congratulations!” Seeing these friends from Bei Zhou, Ming Yue Cheng was in a good mood. Wanyan Kang smilingly came over and punched Ming Yue Cheng lightly. “You’re not bad too! You’ve also got a beautiful woman! Today is your first day of marriage, why did you leave your beauty and came here? Is it because you want to see us?”
The thoughtless words of Wanyan Kang made Ming Yue Cheng didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry, “There are friends coming from afar, that’s a joy! You guys have come all the way to my wedding. Of course, I have to act as the host!”
“Great!” Wanyan Kang pulled Su Mei to the front of Ming Yue Cheng and gave him an introduction. “This is my wifey!”
‘Wifey’ was the folk’s way of addressing the wife. Didn’t expect that Wanyan Kang, a wangye2 actually used this word to describe Su Mei. Seeing this lovey-dovey couple, Ming Yue Cheng was truly happy for Wanyan Kang. Beside happy, he was a bit sad too. Everyone was paired up and only he was alone. Was fate playing against him?
“Woo….” The child in Feng Qi Qi’s arms was ‘babbling’ now. He seemed to be particularly happy when he saw Ming Yue Cheng. The small hands waved and the chubby little fingers were like mature beans.
“Feng Xiao is still the smartest, knowing that adopted father is coming! Let adopted father hold you!”
Ming Yue Cheng went to Feng Qi Qi and reached out his hands, but his eyes kept looking at Feng Qi Qi’s face. There wasn’t much difference. She was still beautiful like morning dew, pure and clean. Childbearing didn’t change her. Instead, it gave Feng Qi Qi a more maternal brilliance, making people indulge in her more.
“Yaya….” As soon as Feng Xiao started ‘talking’ in Ming Yue Cheng’s arms, Ming Yue Cheng lowered his head. Feng Xiao’s beautiful big eyes had been wandering around this adopted father’s face and his eyes were full of curiosity. Ming Yue Cheng originally had no special feelings for children, but Feng Xiao was different from ordinary children.
First, Feng Xiao was really cute and lovely. He looked beautiful, didn’t cry, and was always cheerful. Watching him was a joy; the second and the most important reason was that Feng Xiao was the son of his beloved woman. Ming Yue Cheng could see Feng Qi Qi’s shadow from Feng Xiao.
“Is Xiao er talking to adopted father? Does Xiao er like adopted father?
“Wo…keke….” Feng Xiao grabbed the dangled hair of Ming Yue Cheng and twisted the hair i
n his white finger. He let Ming Yue Cheng directly know with his actions that he (MYC) looked very pleasing to his (FX) eyes.
Feng Xiao’s performance made Feng Cang, the father, eat a full jar of vinegar. Usually, he didn’t see this brat like him or anything, but how could Feng Xiao smile so happy when he sees Ming Yue Cheng? He was really someone eating inside while wanting to go outside!
Eating inside while wanting to go outside: live on somebody while helping others secretly/ to bite the hands that feed you
Gu De had been standing at the side. Only when he saw how Ming Yue Cheng looked at Feng Qi Qi, did Gu De suddenly realized. It turned out he (MYC) did it for her?!
This judgement made Gu De distracted for a full ten seconds before recovering. He was really too surprised! It turned out that the woman Ming Yue Cheng admired was Feng Qi Qi?! A married woman, the wangfei3 of Bei Zhou’s Regent? How was this news not shocking?!
No wonder that Ming Yue Cheng would create a Gu Yun Yao to let him recognize her as daughter and announced there would be no harem. Could it be that these were diversionary tactics? He did all that because of Feng Qi Qi?
For a moment, Gu De had some difficulty accepting this result.
Tracing back the source of this ill-fated relationship, it should be at the time in Xi Qi before Feng Qi Qi got married. No wonder that soon after the ascension to the throne Ming Yue Cheng went to Bei Zhou. No wonder he would send troops to Xi Qi when Bei Zhou was attacked from three sides. He must know that Nan Feng wasn’t stable at that time and sending troops took great risks. In case of defeat, it would be the danger of destroying the country. Even though the final result was that they won.
Gu De didn’t know how to describe his feelings at the moment. He simply dragged Gu Yun Wan to a remote area and grabbed her for questioning.