by La Mi Tu
“Did you know?”
“Dad, know what?”
“The matter about His Majesty liking Feng Qi Qi.”
“I know!” Gu Yun Wan looked at Gu De in a puzzled way, “Is there anything wrong? Feng Qi Qi is so beautiful and so nice. If I were a man, I would also like her!”
“Foolish!”
Gu De pointed to Gu Yun Wan and his fingers trembled. He sighed at last and dropped his hands. “What happened, dad?” Gu Yun Wan didn’t understand why Gu De was so excited.
“Ay, you don’t understand! The people of Miao are famous for their faithfulness. The Miao family is a big family in the Qiang tribe, but the population isn’t so prosperous. The reason is that the Miao family has produced devoted people for generations. All Miao people have only one partner and are loyal to their partners for the rest of their lives.”
“His Majesty’s mother, Miao Chu Yun, it was exactly because she fell in love with the emperor that she came to the imperial palace. In the end, what she got was deceit and betrayal. Ming Yue Cheng inherited his infatuation from his mother. He will stick to loving only one person. If Ming Yue Cheng is an ordinary man, it’s alright. However, he’s the emperor of the country. This won’t do!”
Gu De said so. Gu Yun Wan gradually understood her father’s worries. “Dad, it’s not such a wicked thing as you say! Ming Yue Cheng is also the descendant of the previous emperor. The previous emperor was really a promiscuous person….”
“He won’t. Ming Yue Cheng is not such a person.”
The thought of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage with Gu Yun Yao was merely a ‘cover-up’ that deceived the people of the whole country, made Gu De repent. If he had known this earlier, he wouldn’t be so eager to force Ming Yue Cheng to select consorts. Now, it was really turning cleverness into stupidity. Ming Yue Cheng’s stubborn temper was very similar to Miao Chu Yun’s. It seemed that this matter had to be considered at length.
Turn cleverness into stupidity: shoot oneself in the foot/ to overreach oneself
When Gu De and Gu Yun Wan came back, Ming Yue Cheng was still holding Feng Xiao. From the perspective of Gu De, Ming Yue Cheng was like a loving father holding a child. As if the child wasn’t of Feng Qi Qi and Feng Cang, but his and Feng Qi Qi’s child.
Seeing such a scene, Gu De sighed. It seemed that Ming Yue Cheng was already deep in love. But continuing like this, wouldn’t Nan Feng have no successor?
“Uncle Gu De, come see my adopted son, Feng Xiao!” Ming Yue Cheng let Gu De come over and carefully placed Feng Xiao in Gu De’s arms. “Isn’t my adopted son very cute?”
“Keke…yiya….”
Seeing the person who held him changed, Feng Xiao rolled his big eyes. He stared at Gu De’s face and waved his small hands as if he was greeting Gu De.
This child was so cute that Gu De’s face finally showed a smile: “He’s indeed very cute!”
“It’s just that such a lovely child has a child gu in his body and will be tortured by the gu poison in the future. Uncle Gu De, don’t you think this is a very cruel thing?” Ming Yue Cheng put his finger into Feng’s Xiao’s little hand. Feng Xiao then grabbed his (MYC) finger and put it into his mouth.
“Dirty, you can’t eat!” Ming Yue Cheng took out his finger and held Feng Xiao’s little hand. “Xiao er, this is grandpa Gu! Let’s say hello to grandpa Gu!”
Feng Xiao looked at Ming Yue Cheng and turned to Gu De again, then a ‘woeh….’ came from his mouth. After hearing that, Ming Yue Cheng laughed hard. “Look, Xiao er is calling you!”
“Hehe….” Gu De laughing at this moment wasn’t right but not laughing was also not right.
After confirming that Ming Yue Cheng’s beloved was Feng Qi Qi, Gu De was able to see all this clearly. Ming Yue Cheng was trying so hard now, was nothing more than hoping that he would cure Feng Xiao’s gu. This man was really infatuated to the extreme! Obviously, that woman was married to other. He actually still tried to help her child with all his heart and soul. Ay, he really didn’t know if Ming Yue Cheng doing so was worth it.
“Prime minister Gu, I’m Feng Cang!”
Feng Cang, who was quiet for a while, came with Feng Qi Qi to the front of Gu De. “If you can help our child to get rid of its gu poison, as long as this I can do, even if it’s the stars in the sky, I will pick it for you!”
Gu De had previously learned about Feng Cang. He knew that this man was a dragon among the people, and was equally matched as Ming Yue Cheng. After seeing the real person, although Gu De favored Ming Yue Cheng in his heart, but he had to admit that Feng Cang was even better.
This man’s spirit was very strong and you could feel that aura just by standing beside him.
“The regent has come all the way to get rid of little shizi’s4 gu. This old man had already heard from Wan er. However, Qiang tribe had its own rules. I can’t ignore the tribe’s rules because of personal feelings. Regent, please don’t make things difficult for this old man.”
Gu De said it very clear that no matter who Feng Cang was, regardless of how the feelings between Feng Qi Qi and Gu Yun Wan was, or even how much Ming Yue Cheng wanted to help, rules were rules and shouldn’t be changed because of the ways of people.
Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi could understand this point very well: “Prime minister, I’m not letting you break the tribe’s rules. I just want to find a solution. Miss little Wan mentioned to us the conditions of Qiang tribe to cure the gu. We must go through three tests: mount the mountains of daggers, go through the sea of flames and enter the dragon pool. As long as you can cure Xiao er, let alone three tests, even if it was ten tests, I, Feng Cang, will never frown!”
Feng Cang’s words were loud and very manly. Gu De had to admire this devilish beautiful man. Even if Feng Cang looked very young, Gu De believed that he was that kind of person who kept his promise. How could a man who was all-powerful and famous in the world be a cowardly rat?!
“Good! The regent is so straightforward that this old man also won’t conceal anything from you. The world knows that we, the Qiang people are good at using gu. Since the beginning of history, the Qiang tribe’s people began to raise gu. As long as it’s gu poison, you can find solutions in the Qiang tribe. However, we also have our own rules.”
“Because raising gu is never divulged to outsiders, so the world’s gu poisons are done by our Qiang people. Out of respect for the people of the tribe, we won’t easily help outsiders cure the poison. To cure the poison, you must go through three tests. That is, as you just said mount the mountains of daggers, go through the sea of flames and enter the dragon pool.
“Only passing the three tests and find the millennium sturgeon in the dragon pool will we help people cure the gu. For hundreds of years, only a handful of people have passed the three tests. A lot of people are buried in the dragon pool in the end. If the regent wants to cure the gu for little shizi, then please think clearly. Life isn’t child’s play!”
* * *
Er: term of endearment
Wangye/wang: the first-rank prince
Wangfei: main consort of the first-rank prince
Shizi: heir of the first-rank prince/crown prince
Chapter 194: The Only Immortal Cream
* * *
“No need to think about it. I came this time to cure Xiao er’s gu. I will do all these three conditions; no matter how difficult they are!”
Feng Cang said these very firmly. Gu De nodded. “Since regent is already ready, then let’s go to the White Bird mountain tomorrow!”
The White Bird mountain was the nestling place of the Qiang tribe. It’s located at the southwest of Nan Feng and it’s half a month away from the capital. There, the mountain road was rugged and very difficult to travel on. Plus, the fact, that it was spring, the rain was more abundant. The dirt road soaked with rain had became muddy. It was even more difficult to walk on. However, since Feng Cang came, Gu De still had to take them to the White Bird mountain.
“I’m also going,” Ming Yue C
heng said. His words strengthened the assessment Gu De had about him. It seemed that Ming Yue Cheng had fallen deeply in love. This matter would be troublesome.
“Your Majesty, if you go, who will take care of the affairs of the country?” From Gu De’s perspective, he didn’t want Ming Yue Cheng ‘getting too close’ to Feng Qi Qi. After all, Feng Qi Qi was a married woman. Besides, Feng Cang’s reputation was so great.
If by chance, Feng Cang got to know this and misunderstood, then what?
Nan Feng had just entered the stable stage and needs stability to develop. It couldn’t withstand the extra waves. Feng Cang is Bei Zhou’s regent and held the power of life and death. If two dragons fight for one phoenix, the result would only be that both sides would suffer. Gu De didn’t want to see such an outcome.
“It’s alright. Take it as if I’m going to try to understand the people’s sentiments. I will read the memorials on the road. It will definitely not affect anything!”
“Your Majesty…” Gu de didn’t expect that Ming Yue Cheng was so stubborn. He was about to discourage him (MYC) when he was stopped by Ming Yue Cheng. “Uncle Gu De, it’s set like this! I will now let people go prepare. Depart as soon as possible!”
A few sentences from Ming Yue Cheng blocked Gu De’s next move. He smiled helplessly. This matter could only be done according to Ming Yue Cheng’s wishes.
From the beginning to the end, Feng Qi Qi didn’t talk much. She just took Feng Xiao from Ming Yue Cheng’s arms and, quietly stood beside Feng Cang and played the role of a good wife and mother.
Feng Qi Qi’s quietness was not quite in line with her rumored image. This somewhat puzzled Gu De. At least, when Feng Cang opened new territory at Dong Lu, Feng Qi Qi played a very important role behind him. Because of her, the military grains and supplies were continuously sent to Dong Lu. That was why Feng Cang could progress so smoothly.
Especially that ‘empty city stratagem’; now this had spread across the entire continent. Feng Qi Qi used a hundred people to scare away Dong Lu’s army that was a few times more than theirs. This matter would certainly be recorded in history and even be put in the book of war.
Gu De had never imagined that such a radiance image would be linked to this beautiful and gentle woman in front of him. At this time, Feng Qi Qi sung a lullaby in a low voice to coax Feng Xiao into sleep. The brilliance of a mother emitted from her body which was completely inconsistent with her rumored image. Could it be that the rumors were false?
How would Gu De know that after becoming a mother, Feng Qi Qi restrained her radiance?
However, such a Feng Qi Qi let Gu De have a very good impression of her. because now, she had the image of a good wife and mother and couldn’t be linked with the ‘fox spirit’. Gu De wouldn’t think that it was Feng Qi Qi who seduced Ming Yue Cheng and cheated Ming Yue Cheng’s love.
Foxes are used in Chinese to describe a very beautiful and manipulative woman.
After determining the time to go to White Bird mountain, Ming Yue Cheng rushed back to the palace. Before he left, Gu De came and whispered a few words to him. Although, others couldn’t hear what Gu De said, but those close could see that Ming Yue Cheng’s expression darkened a bit.
The whole way, Ming Yue Cheng didn’t say anything. It was just, Fu Er could clearly sense that the aura on Ming Yue Cheng’s body was not right. After thinking about what Gu de said, Fu Er shook his head. Wasn’t this prime minister causing trouble by letting Ming Yue Cheng bring Gu Yun Yao along? Isn’t this creating obstacles for the emperor?!
Although, Fu Er thought so, but he understood Gu De’s meaning. Ming Yue Cheng left the ‘palace without consorts’ because of Gu Yun Yao. Now when it was still the honeymoon phase, he wanted to abandon consort Jin to go to White Bird mountain. Anyone could guess something fishy about this. If they don’t pretend and the lie was uncovered, then wouldn’t it be a waste of the previous efforts?
Gu De was also well-intentioned. What he said was right. Ming Yue Cheng was angry because of after lying once, he needed to cover that lie with countless of lies. Such a thing made him very distressed!
After returning to the palace, Ming Yue Cheng prepared everything. Then, he went to Qingluan palace.
When Gu Yun Yao heard hat Ming Yue Cheng had come, she went to receive him. Only when she saw Ming Yue Cheng, did Gu Yun Yao felt that something was wrong with him. Smart as she was, she didn’t speak. She only followed behind Ming Yue Cheng with a lowered head. From Gu Yun Yao’s point of view, silence was the best way to cope with Ming Yue Cheng’s ‘anger’.
After a long time did the anger in Ming Yue Cheng calm down. Looking at Gu Yun Yao who stood respectfully at a side with a lowered head, Ming Yue Cheng nodded to let her sit down. “In two days, zhen1 will go to White Bird mountain. You go with zhen.”
“Yes.” Gu Yun Yao knew that she wasn’t qualified to say ‘no’. Everything about her was given by Ming Yue Cheng. She could only do as asked.
“You don’t need to bring many things. Take what you need. When it’s time, zhen will let Fu Er notify you.”
After leaving these words, Ming Yue Cheng returned to the imperial study. Until the day of the departure did he show his face again. Like Ming Yue Cheng said, Gu Yun Yao only brought simply clothing and jewelry. Also, only one palace maid called Zhu Er served at her side.
“Good. Let’s go!”
Only after getting on the carriage and met with Gu De and the others outside the palace did Gu Yun Yao got to know the reason why they will go to White Bird mountain this time. It was to cure the gu for Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi’s son. Gu Yun Yao had heard about these two people, but she had never seen them in person.
When Gu Yun Yao saw Feng Qi Qi, she was shocked. She had never seen such a beautiful girl. Even she as a woman was intoxicated with Feng Qi Qi’s smile.
“Hello!” Feng Qi Qi smiled at Gu Yun Yao and took the initiative to greet her.
To facilitate, the women were arranged in the carriage. The men rode horses. Because Gu Yun Yao was alone, Feng Qi Qi asked her into her (FQQ) carriage. It was lively with the women being together. Gu Yun Yao wouldn’t be alone.
Gu Yun Yao was very grateful of Feng Qi Qi taking the initiative to invite her. This amiable woman was quite to her liking, making her (GYY) like her (FQQ) from the first glance. Contrary to Feng Qi Qi, Gu Yun Wan wasn’t so enthusiastic about a sudden adoptive little sister.
After Gu De asked Gu Yun Wan about Ming Yue Cheng liking Feng Qi Qi, did Gu Yun Wan sense that something was not right. If it was really like what Gu De said that Ming Yue Cheng was an infatuated person, then, why did he marry Gu Yun Yao? Wasn’t this inconsistent?
Seeing that the way Gu Yun Wan looked at her had some ‘scrutiny’, Gu Yun Yao smiled slowly. “Is there anything wrong with me? Why is big sister looking at me like this?
“There’s nothing wrong. I’m only curious…” Because Feng Qi Qi was here, there were many things that was inconvenient to ask now. Gu Yun Wan sat at a side and didn’t speak.
These past few days, she had been wanting to find Ming Yue Cheng and ask him about Gu Yun Yao. However, every time she enters the palace, Ming Yue Cheng was busy reviewing the memorials. She felt embarrassed if she bothered him. Ming Yue Cheng’s decree ‘harem without consorts’ was real, but Gu Yun Wan believed that her father wouldn’t lie to her. Could it be that Ming Yue Cheng collaborated with Gu Yun Yao to perform a show? If it was really like this, then Ming Yue Cheng really made it hard on himself.
As an outsider, Gu Yun Wan understood Ming Yue Cheng’s love for Feng Qi Qi. She also knows that love couldn’t be forced. It was a well-known fact that Feng Qi Qi and Feng Cang loved each other very much. Ming Yue Cheng continued to be in such a bitter unrequited love; in the end, the one who would be hurt would still be him.
Feng Cang’s group just went on the journey when someone sent a letter to elder Teng Yuan on the White Bird mountain. After reading the letter, elder Teng Yuan burned it. Then, he lay on bed. There was a pipe
on his mouth.
“How is it? Does elder Teng Yuan feel a lot more comfortable?” Duyi sat next to elder Teng Yuan and lit the pipe for him. He took a paste-like substance from his pocket and added a small amount of the substance to the tobacco.
“Mm, comfortable! Very comfortable!” Elder Teng Yuan had a look of satisfaction and was immersed in his fairy-like dream. “Duyi, ah, this cream of yours is better than the medicine our shamans make! Since I started smoking it, my spirit was many times better than before. Come, come, give me some more!”
Duyi only smiled slightly at elder Teng Yuan’s request. “Elder, this Immortal cream is not a problem, but how is the matter that you promised us?”
“I knew you came for that. I just received news. Gu De came with Feng Cang’s group. Aside from Feng Qi Qi, Wanyan Kang, Su Mei and Jin Mo, even Ming Yue Cheng came with consort Jin.”
“Oh?” Duyi nodded. He turned his head to look at Longze Jing Tian and Taji Guli who sat at the other side. “It seemed that we are about to meet old friends!”
While Duyi spoke, he added some of the ‘Immortal cream’ to the tobacco of elder Teng Yuan. “Elder, smoke slowly. I’ve many Immortal cream here. I also have the secret prescription of the Immortal cream. As long as you promise us to not cure the gu for Feng Xiao and while you’re at it, help us achieve what we want, I can give you the whole prescription! In that case, you will have endless Immortal creams.”
“Not only you can use it, other people can also use it. You can also use this to do business and make a fortune. By that time, I can guarantee that you will make a lot of gold and silver. Elder Teng Yuan, what do you think?”
“Good…” Elder Teng Yuan inhaled deeply and he slowly blew the smoke out. The lingering smoke made him feel like he was in a paradise. Such a taste of happiness was something that he had never experienced before. “This Immortal cream is a really good thing! Do you know? Every time I smoke the Immortal cream, I feel like I’m like a floating immortal and wanted to ascend to heaven. So comfortable!”