The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 134

“The note went through your hands first. As a carefully-trained spy, if you couldn’t detect any abnormalities, how could Qie know more than you?” Mu Xi Yao blinked her eye cunningly. People with ulterior motives naturally couldn’t find peace of mind.

As expected, Lady Wu was smart. After a little contemplation, she immediately understood the meaning behind Mu Xi Yao’s words. Upon realizing that she had been tricked by her from the start, she was instantly filled with fury. Unable to contain herself, the blood she had been suppressing in her throat gushed out.

Mu Xi Yao was certain that she would be unable to accept the truth. Her prediction came to fruition quickly.

Your Highness, is this the woman you fancy? In the face of the enemy, even the final blow she dealt is merciless. 

Lady Wu recalled the silhouette she had been looking forward to countless times, the feeling of helplessness that stemmed from wanting to get close to that person but having had to suppress the desire. She had assumed a dull personality and sent him away with her own hands. Only sadness remained in her heart.

“His Highness…His Highness will not…will not die. This servant, this servant prepared the antidote.”

At the brink of death, will Mu’shi pass on this belated explanation to His Highness? Even a little bit of understanding from him would be good.

Upon seeing her hopeful eyes, Mu Xi Yao instantly understood the unspeakable guilt this woman felt toward Zong Zheng Lin from the bottom of her heart.

Despite being in love with him, she had to destroy his beloved woman and offspring with her own hands. This act, which would certainly incur his hatred filled her with panic and fear.

Mu Xi Yao frowned slightly, not knowing what to think. She disliked greatly this sort of tragic drama. But this woman was truly pure when it came to her feelings. In this regard, Mu Xi Yao believed she would never be able to do it.

Lady Wu’s eyes gradually dimmed, five fingers that were propped on the armrest slowly loosened, and using the last bits of strength, she took a deep look at Mu Xi Yao.

Mu Xi Yao shook her head regretfully upon seeing her die with open eyes¹. Although she never had any intention of harming Zong Zheng Lin, once that man found out her identity, he would show her no leniency because of her feelings.

Zong Zheng Lin was domineering to his core. He would get what he wanted by any means necessary. He would cast aside like pair of old shoes anyone he disliked, even if their feelings for him ran as deep as the sea. So how could Zong Zheng Lin have any pity for Lady Wu’s forlorn affection when he never paid attention to her in the first place?

“Chief Steward, handle this matter according to the rules.” Mu Xi Yao was too lazy to ask about posthumous arrangements following Lady Wu’s death. She was disgusted by this woman’s tragic life. There were many women in Great Wei who had much worse circumstances than her but still managed to work hard to survive. Why did Lady Wu resort to evil deeds to do the same? The role of this woman in leaving Zhang’shi childless for life cannot be underestimated.

“Jiejie², this matter is over. It would be inappropriate for Qie to stay here for a long.”

He Lian Min Min finally eased up after witnessing Lady Wu breathe her last. This was good news. Now that the household no longer had any people who would plot against His Highness, she could finally focus on taking care of her body and giving birth to a di son for His Highness as soon as possible.

“Meimei³ has worked hard today, be careful on your way back.”

Wan Jing Wen’s gaze followed Mu Xi Yao for a long time until she couldn’t see her figure anymore before slowly moving her eyes away. As she cast a glance at Su Lin Rou who was being carried away, her eyes were filled with intense disdain.

Both of them were Cefei, yet that one put her under pressure as heavy as Mount Tai, while the other was better to be kept under the table⁴. No wonder, even to this day, Zong Zheng Lin did not allow her to serve him.

“Tomorrow, the Principal Consort will surely enter the palace. Momo, take Cheng Qing along and show him to Her Ladyship Consort Shu. It’s been already a month since we last paid our respects. Her Ladyship must certainly miss him.”

The little bun was Consort Shu’s precious. He Lian Min Min wanted to take advantage of her inconvenient state to win over Consort Shu. How could Mu Xi Yao let that happen? Thus, after taking the blame for his mother, baby Cheng Qing was pushed out once again by Mu Xi Yao and became the most troublesome kid in He Lian Min Min’s eyes.

—-

Qi City. The front yard of the prefect’s household.

“This subject welcomes two Highnesses. This humble abode is simple and poorly furnished. If there are any shortcomings in hospitality, this subject humbly asks Your Highnesses to pardon this subject.” The prefect Wang Zhi Kui knelt down and kowtowed, pressing deeply down his back.

Zong Zheng Ming closed the folding fan and gently tapped the long narrow table beside him. He spoke in a very amiable tone, “Sir Wang needn’t be polite. Bendian and Sixth Brother are only passing through Qi City. We have other important business to attend to and will only stay overnight. Let’s dismiss all the pleasantries.” His words were soft but firm, and his meaning was clear.

Wang Zhi Kui understood the underlying message behind the subtle cues. The two Highnesses had no intention of participating in false flatteries in official circles, and it seemed unlikely that the dust-cleaning banquet⁵ would be held at Ju Xian Tavern in the evening. He better quickly order people to cancel it and replace it with a simple family banquet at the prefect’s residence instead.

Thus, his colleagues who had been waiting eagerly to get close to Their Highnesses and be acquainted with each other will be extremely disappointed. Fortunately, Their Highnesses were staying in the prefect’s household, which was a good thing for him. To provide hospitality to two Highnesses all by himself was a rare privilege that he couldn’t normally attain.

“This subject understands. Your Highnesses will have to be inconvenienced tonight. The residence only serves plain tea and simple food. This subject hopes Your Highnesses won’t mind. Wang Zhi Kui was now very grateful for his wife’s good cooking skills, which would help them maintain their image.

“Simple home-style meals are excellent.” Zong Zheng Lin turned around the thumb ring on his left hand and was fairly satisfied with his flexibility.

“Then this servant will go make preparations now. If the two Highnesses are tired, hot water is ready in the room.” Wang Zhi Kui was an attentive and dependable person. Arrangements made by him were very systematic.

“Fifth Brother, didi⁶ will come to seek you later after you take a bath and tidy yourself.” Zong Zheng Lin left first. Yan Cheng Zhou had already neatly laid out his usual change of clothes in the wing room.

“Your Highness, He Lian Principal Consort and Mu Cefei have sent letters.” Yan Cheng Zhou handed over the letters in his hands to Zong Zheng Lin. Just looking at the weight of these two letters, he feared that His Highness won’t be satisfied.

Sure enough, as soon as His Highness received letters, his brows furrowed.

Zong Zheng Lin swept a glance at Mu Xi Yao’s familiar handwriting and placed her letters aside. He then opened He Lian Min Min’s letter and read it carefully.

Besides detailing the situation in the household, the letter was full of inquiries about his health and well-being. In the end, it contained two mentions about the enlistment of He Lian’s household’s scions, with some embarrassment detectable between the lines.

Zong Zheng Lin neatly folded the letters, with no signs of joy or anger in his eyes. He then picked up Mu Xi Yao’s letter again. The Sixth Highness was very helpless upon seeing her mischievous scrawl.

This woman had to stand out even in her letter writing. Just from the look of the big smiling smile face in the bottom right corner, he could tell that this unruly one was in a good mood lately.

Zong Zheng Lin opened the correspondence and after a while, his face turned dark.

Mu Xi Yao had only written half a page and even dared to use his son to ‘pay off the debt’. By examining Cheng Qing’s hands and footprints, Zong Zheng Lin could imagine the scene at the time. That little kid must have had fun with his mother’s teaching. He must have enjoyed a novel experience.

Logically, as both his woman and son were happy, the Sixth Highness, as the head of the household, should also be affected by such sentiment and appreciate the appeal of a harmonious family. Unfortunately, Zong Zheng Lin was now grinding his teeth in anger, not appreciative of Mu Xi Yao’s ‘good intentions’ at all.

Nice. Before leaving, he repeatedly told her not to be lazy. She was full of deceitful tricks and tried to shirk her responsibilities. Mu Xi Yao had a clever mind, but she used it against him. It seemed that this woman has not learned enough lessons.

Anyway, was she trying to use Cheng Qing as a pretense? It was still the Sixth Highness who understood Mu Xi Yao’s temperament and made a right guess.

Zong Zheng Lin folded the letter with a dark expression and gently stroked the thumb ring on his left hand. A smile slowly appeared in his eyes.

Since the little woman dared to play games with him, then don’t blame him for revealing his hidden trump card first.

A while later, Yan Cheng Zhou arrived, took the urgent letters from His Highness, and went running errands. He muttered to himself inwardly, wondering how Mistress Yao provoked His Highness in the letters, causing him to take such a decisive move.

He held two letters in his hand. One was the family letter for He Lian principal consort and the other one, Yan Cheng Zhou was quite curious about it. It was surprisingly addressed to Mu Household in the capital and it also had His Highness’s private seal stamped on it. A letter with a private seal meant that the matter inside was of great importance and must not be neglected.

As soon as Yan Cheng Zhou turned the corner, he ran into the Fifth Highness and his entourage.

Upon seeing the letter in Yan Cheng Zhou’s hand, Zong Zheng Ming immediately spotted the words ‘Mu Household’, and unconsciously a smile formed on his face.

“Has your Cefei made trouble again?” If Mu Xi Yao hadn’t displeased the Sixth Brother, how could Zong Zheng Lin send it to ‘Mu Household’ instead of to ‘Sir Mu’?

Yan Cheng Zhou’s brows furrowed. Mistress Yao’s reputation had reached the ears of the Fifth Highness. With such a mistress, Yan Cheng Zhou truly didn’t know how to reply.

Noticing his awkwardness, Zong Zheng Ming patted the folding fan on his right hand on his palm twice while smiling candidly, “Never mind. Your Highness has important family affairs to attend to, so hurry up and carry out your errand.” He wondered what kind of expression that woman would have a few days later.

Zong Zheng Ming thought that if Mu Xi Yao felt indignant and rushed to send another family letter to ‘confront’ him, he could then laugh at Zong Zheng Lin and have some fun along the way.

It was almost the ninth month, still more than a month before her second child would be born.

It’s been years since he first met her in the selection….

“Fifth Brother is here.” Zong Zheng Lin brought Ye Kai over, but upon closer look, he noticed that Zong Zheng Lin was not right.

“I was just about to look for you.” Zong Zheng Min smiled, masking his emotions.

“Regarding Shu Zhong matters…” The two walked side by side, exchanging opinions from time to time. If not for the unavoidable antagonistic relationship of their fight for the throne, they might have gotten along well.

“Still no confession? Did you secretly take the Young Miss’s brocade fur cloak out of the residence and pawn it for money?

“Momo, please investigate. This servant has been serving Young Miss for seven years. How could this servant commit such a disgraceful act?”

The sounds of beating and scolding ahead interrupted Zong Zheng Lin’s discussion on political matters with the other person. How could there be a sobbing woman in the corridor?

“Who is there? Why are you not paying greetings to His Highness in front of him?” The Chief Steward of the prefect’s household was so frightened that he was sweating on his forehead. Who was this ignorant servant? What bad luck. How can one lose manners in front of a nobleman?

The four people in the front, upon hearing that the person who arrived was His Highness, who was being carefully attended to by their master, immediately fell down to their knees. Trembling and stammering, they greeted him and confessed their crimes.

Zong Zheng Lin was initially impatient with the trivial matters in the inner yard, but as soon as his shifted gaze, it suddenly landed on a woman with deep and inscrutable phoenix eyes.

Zong Zheng Ming’s eyes were also locked on the woman who only revealed half of her lovely face.

They hold a resemblance. A striking resemblance. The woman’s facial features were seven to eight parts similar to Mu Xi Yao’s, and aside from the too different aura in her eyes, one could easily mistake the two for each other.

“Who are you?” Surprisingly, it was the usually taciturn Sixth Highness who was the first to question her.

“His Highness is asking questions. Do you want to die? Answer quickly!” The Head Momo, who had just reprimanded her, saw that she foolishly gazed at the two Highnesses in a daze and quickly poked her arm, urging her to answer.

The woman seemed to be frightened as her voice slightly trembled. “Replying to Your Highness. This servant is the maidservant serving Third Miss.”

Zong Zheng Ming noticed she was afraid and softened his tone. “What is your surname and given name? Why are you here in such a disheveled state?” This woman’s hair was in disarray, her clothes were dirty and the rim of her eyes was slightly red. Zong Zheng Ming’s sharp gaze swept over the rest of the people and he roughly guessed what had happened.

That maidservant lowered her head and replied in a hoarse voice, “This servant’s original name was Chun Yu Yao with an ancestral home in Mobei. Due to the war, this servant was sold to Great Wei and became a maidservant. This servant was selected by the Third Miss to serve her, and this servant’s name was changed to Xiao Qiao.”

Zong Zheng Ming and Zong Zheng Lin both raised their brows upon hearing her reveal her origin.

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Translation notes:

[1] Die with open eyes is a Chinese idiom that means to die with a remaining grievance.

[2] Jiejie means elder sister. This term can be used to refer women older in age or seniority.

[3] Meimei means younger sister. This term can be used to refer women younger in age or seniority.

[4] Better kept under the table is a Chinese phrase that refers to someone who is not capable of handling a situation or lacks confidence or abilities, and is unable to make an impact.

[5] The dust-cleaning banquet is a welcoming fest held for a person upon his arrival or his return from travel.

[6] Didi means younger brother.

 

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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