The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 142

“So be it.” Zong Zheng Ming put away the military map and smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeves. He seemed to ask casually, “Who has offended Cefei this time?” 

Zong Zheng Lin raised his eyebrows, “How can Fifth Brother be so sure that the one the coming person faced off was Mu’shi?” 

Zong Zheng Ming smiled confidently, “Is there anyone more likely to stir trouble in your household?”  

 Zong Zheng Lin agreed with him. A smile with a hint of amusement appeared on his face, “What does Fifth Brother think of Fourth Sister?” 

The two Highnesses, who were thousands of miles away, merely laughed off the matter of the Fourth Princess seeking out Mu Xi Yao. 

——

He Lian residence in Shengjing. 

Eeryone wore grave expressions as a result of Mu Xi Yao drawing the Phoenix stick at Anguo Temple.

For the first time, Sir He Lian felt a twinge of guilt when he faced his eldest di daughter. “Min Min, the family’s decision on this matter cannot be changed, so there’s no need for you to keep dwelling on it. Instead of wasting energy trying to prevent Wei Ru from entering the household, you should think about how to work together with her to suppress Mu’shi.”  

As He Lian Min Min watched her grandfather and father sitting on seats of honor with determined expressions on their faces, she felt as if her heart had sunk into an ice cave. This was the “strong support” promised by her closest relatives when she was married off! At this point, apart from money, her clan had given her only a health-promoting momo and shu sister from different mother whom she absolutely refused to accept! 

“All because of an elusive and intangible stick interpretation, the family plans to let Wei Rui take daughter’s place?” He Lian Min Min couldn’t believe that it was such an absurd reason that had driven her to a desperate situation.

“Min Min, what out clan needs is a path to the top. Wei Rui’s purpose for entering the household is only to deal with Mu’shi and help you keep the position that the He Lian House should rightfully hold. Why do you need to think too much about it? Even if Wei Rui is favoured and has children, they would be raised under your name. This is both beneficial and harmless for you.” The old patriarch of He Lian House gently wiped the white jade snuff bottle in his hand while appeasing his obviously distressed eldest di granddaughter.

Having said that, there was no room for change. He Lian Min Min was extremely disappointed but dared not show it on her face.

“Lord Grandfather, Min Min has learnt from you.” The woman lowered her head, her bangs covering all the emotions in her eyes. 

“Remeber, prioritize the interests of the He Lian House in all matters. Don’t spoil important affairs because of personal desires. Your mother is still a standard class fourth rank court lady¹ of He Lian House.” The old patriarch’s tone was calm, but the words he spoke held deeper meaning. 

He Lian Min Min instantly clenched her hands hidden in the sleeves. She felt a strong sense of resentment in her heart that burned and caused pain in her chest and abdomen.

“Mistress.” Feng Momo looked at He Lian Min Min’s pale face with distress. As a servant, she had no right to inquire about the affairs of the mistress’s household, but seeing her absent-minded since coming out of study, she couldn’t help but worry. 

“Momo, when we go to see mother later, don’t make her worry.” Grandfather had threatened her with mother, forcing her to agree to let He Lian Wei Rui enter the household. If her mother found out about this, how sad would it be for her? 

——

“You don’t have to hide anything. After all these years, how can you mother not know what He Lian House is like?” Madam He Lian looked at her daughter’s forced smile and sneered, her eyes cold. 

“Your grandfather forced you to do this, didn’t he?”

He Lian Min Min dropped her pretense. The sorrow was especially stark on her face devoid of emotion. 

“Mother, it’s daughter’s fault for not doing well and causing trouble for you.” If she had been more capable and had a di son, her words would carry more weight, and she wouldn’t be in such an awkward situation now. 

“What nonsense is my daughter speaking? Only the two of us are related by blood in this large He Lian family. Your father, let’s not even mention him.” Madam He Lian’s heart had been long broken by He Lian Zhang. That husband of hers was cold-hearted. Everything he did was only for the sake of appearances. Apart from He Lian House, His eyes saw nothing else. Her days had long been just about muddling along, so why worry about whether she was implicated in something?

“Ming Ming, He Lian House will not give up easily on this matter. But there may still be a chance for a turning point.” 

“What mother means is to try find a way to make Imperial Noble Consort appoint Wei Rui to Eighth Prince’s residence? But father will definitely intervene and cause things to change.”  

“It’s not difficult for He Lian Wei Rui to be selected. Your mother cannot guess what your grandfather and father would do in private. But if they want to send her to the Sixth Prince’s household, they would definitely make move in the next few days. If they were too late, her name would be recorded in the Imperial Noble Consort’s register and all would be lost.”

A displeasure appeared on He Lian Min Min’s face. Did they want to take the Inner Palace route and force the person into household without His Highness’s approval? 

“You don’t need to be agitated so early. Don’t you forget that there is a formidable woman in the Sixth Prince’s residence. Would she allow He Lian Wei Rui to enter the household?” Madam He Lian had to admit that Mu’shi’s attitude was crucial to He Lian Min Min’s future. 

“Mu’shi?” He Lian Min Min would never have imagined that the “unpredictable factor” that mother said referred to Mu Xi Yao! 

“Why would she get involved for no reason? Daughter has never been on good terms with her, and how could Mu’shi let go of this opportunity?” He Lian Min Min recalled hearing about the Tang sisters before and found this matter even more absurd. 

In the past, it was Mu’shi herself who brought Tang’shi the Younger into the household and watched the brutal fight between the Tang sisters. In the end, both parties suffered, which allowed her to reap the benefits. If it weren’t for that fight, which had ousted so many women, how could the Sixth Highness’s inner yard have so many vacant seats for the current women to fill in? 

“You’re wrong about this. Time have changed. With both of them drawing Phoenix stick, one mountain cannot contain two tigers². How could Mu’shi allow He Lian Wei Rui to threaten her position?” 

He Lian Min Min had previously focused all her attention on the matter of He Lian Wei Rui entering the household. Now hearing her mother mention Mu Xi Yao’s Phoenix stick, her heart suddenly tightened. 

It was indeed like being caught between a wolf in the front and tiger in the back. Neither Mu’shi nor He Lian Wei Rui were easy to deal with. 

“But mother, Mu’shi’s stick interpretation was also Emperor’s Swallow. He Lian Wei Rui always used sinister schemes. Why don’t we put the two of them together….” 

“Foolish!” All colors drained from Madam He Lian’s face in shock. She couldn’t believe that He Lian Min Min was already distraught as to lose her reason.

“If He Lian Wei Rui enters the household, she will undoubtedly stop at nothing to eliminate Mu’shi. But, have ever considered that the biggest obstacle for the two of them, and their primary target, is none other than you, the Sixth Princess consort who occupied the position of the principal wife? If they join forces to deal with you first, pull you off the horse³ and then engage in another struggle to determine the outcome, what will you do? Do you think that with He Lian Wei Rui’s nature, she would leave you off the hook so you could watch the two of them fight to the death and then take advantage of the situation?”

He Lian Min Min’s back was drenched in cold sweat, her face pale with fright. 

If her mother could think this far, how could her grandfather and Sir He Lian not know too? 

“Mother, grandfather and father….” They were clearly aware of He Lian Wei Rui’s character and also knew  about Mu’shi’s capabilities. How could they not predict the difficulty she would find herself in if those two were put together? They knew full well she would face grim future, but still agreed to He Lian Wei Rui’s request. Was this abandoning her as if she were a discarded pawn?

Since Madam He Lian learnt of the news, she knew that her daughter was in a dangerous situation. Looking at the intense resentment in her eyes now, it was clear that she had been hurt deeply by her closest kin and harboured deep-seated hatred. 

“Min Min, be strong, don’t hurt your body.” Madam He Lain hugged He Lian Min Min’s shoulders and spoke with a hoarse voice. 

“Mother, Min Min would rather not have this kind of family background.” The rim of He Lian Min Min’s eyes were red. She buried her head in Madam He Lian’s lap and sobbed quietly. 

How long has it been? It seems that after the age of eight, she has never again indulged herself so much. 

She used to think that because grandfather and father were strict, as long as she worked twice as hard, she would gain their approval. With He Lian Wei Rui constantly pressuring her, she reminded herself at all times to uphold the pride of the di daughter and not to bring shame to her mother. But now that things have reached this stage, all her efforts were negligible in the eyes of her grandfather and father. One statement of “clan comes first” was enough to render her perseverance in past ten years useless. This content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!

“Min Min, after this, think more for yourself. Hurry up and give birth to a di son for His Highness. Establishing a steady foothold in the imperial family is the only proper way. He Lian House, there’s nothing worth your concern.” Madam He Lian gently stroked her hair. Every mother wished for her daughter’s safety and happiness. Wealth and status were just gilding the lily. 

After venting her emotions, He Lian Min Min calmly let Madam He Lian’s old servant attend to her with washing face and changing clothes. 

“Mother, Min Min knows what to do now. Take care of yourself and don’t let daughter worry.” He Lian Mi Min looked at herself in the bronze mirror, watching the woman there tidying her hair with no more hesitation in her eyes. 

After being treated so heartlessly and coldly by He Lian House, she no longer expected any help from them. From now on, she was just He Lian Min Min, and even if she had to rely on herself, she would live a good life in the prince’s household. She won’t give up on her position as the principal wife. If He Lian Wei Rui wants to enter the household, she would have to rely on her own abilities. 

——

In Danruo Courtyard, Mu Xi Yao was lounged on the rocking chair, leisurely watching little bun identifying pictures. 

Cheng Qing was dressed in a kitten tunic, looking very adorable. Mu Xi Yao didn’t forget to “add a finishing touch” to her son’s little bottom, attaching a fluffy little tail there. 

As Wei Zhen watched Cefei ruin the Little Master’s noble image, he could only hold back his objections, unable to bear looking at him. If His Highness knew that his son was flaunting with this appearance, he would be probably so angry that his face would be filled with displeasure. 

“Mommy, red fruity fruit.” Cheng Qing’s chubby hand grabbed the picture, held it up high and asked Mu Xi Yao for a reward. 

Mu Xi Yao was speechless. Red fruity fruit⁴? When did she teach little bun such a non-mainstream vocabulary?

Seeing the expectant look in her son’s eyes, and not wanting to dampen a little child’s enthusiasm for learning, Mu Xi Yao praised him vigorously without any principles. “Cheng Qing is really smart. When daddy comes back, mommy will have daddy hold you high and let Cheng Qing play fly-fly.” 

Wei Zhen once again heard Mistress Yao use His Highness to repay her debts out of laziness. No matter what the reward it had to ‘wait for daddy’s return’. This trick was very useful in coaxing the Little Master. 

When Mu Xi Yao caught the sight of Wei Zhen’s bad example of rolling his eyes to the sky, she immediately retaliated. 

“Wei Wei likes to eat red fruity fruit. Cheng Qing, give red fruity fruit to Wei Wei.” 

Hearing his mother give him a rare task, Cheng Qing sat up and stood steadily on his short legs. He looked around to find Wei Zhen and excitedly rushed towards him with the picture in hand.

With a stiff face, Sir Wei thanked the Little Master for his kindness. His hand that was holding the piece of paper was trembling slightly. 

When did he ever like to eat such a womanly thing? How could a grown man enjoy eating red fruity fruit? If a word of this spread out, how could his position still be secure? He would be ridiculed by his colleagues. Was it really alright for Cefei to teach the Little Master without any boundaries? 

Wei Zhen watched Mistress Yao’s bright smile with melancholy. The Little Master in his arms also laughed cheerfully. He really missed the peaceful days by His Highness’s side. No matter how aloof the Sixth Highness was, he was much easier to attend to than indolent Mistress Yao! 

Translation notes:

[1] Court Lady or Minfu refers to a title granted to wives of officials, non-imperial aristocrats and collateral clanswomen. Also, mothers of imperial consorts were granted a title of mingfu according to the rank held by her daughter as well as sisters of imperial consorts (source).

[2] One mountain cannot contain two tigers is refers to a Chinese idiom that means Two strong people are incompatible and cannot coexist in the same place.

[3] Pull off the horse refers to an idiom that means to bring someone down from a position of power or authority.

[4] Red fruity fruit 红果果 refers to a humorous rendition of 赤裸裸 (chìluǒluǒ), using synonyms (赤 and 紅 both mean “red”) and similar-looking characters (裸 ~ 果) to bypass websites’ censorship of texts containing the character 裸 (luǒ, “naked”).

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

Previous Chapter | Table of contents | Next Chapter