The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 17

They have stayed at Bibo Pavilion for an hour before the whole party moved to the tavern by the West Lake. It was currently a mealtime. The five-storey building was practically packed with guests.

Zhong Zheng Lin and the party went directly to their box and ordered the tavern’s specialty, the very delectable fish and shrimp balls. As Mu Xi Yao ate, her eyes squinted in delight, her lips gradually coloring into the alluring shade of red. She was absolutely unaware of her charms. Zhong Zheng Lin cast a meaningful glance at the people serving around, following which they quickly bowed their heads.

At this time, someone suddenly broke into the box. It was actually a young and handsome man. He had a very wanton appearance. Along with him were three to five guards and manservants. He was, furthermore, holding a curvaceous woman. The guard behind the man came out and told them: “We would like to trouble you to cede this box. Our young master is willing to pay one hundred silver taels as compensation.”

Mu Xi Yao continued to eat the shrimp balls Zhong Zheng Lin picked for her. She paid the man no heed. His sixth Highness stuck to his usual demeanor. Irrelevant people were invisible to him.

Before Ye Kai had the guards drive them away, he heard the man say in surprised yet pleasant tone: “Unbeknownst, there would be such a beauty at this place. Very well.” Afterward, he pushed away the curvaceous woman and fixed his robe. With a swish, he opened his folding fan and then winked at Mu Xi Yao: “I wonder if it would be possible for this miss to tell me your name? In the presence of such a beautiful scenery, how about we dine together and then go to see the lanterns?”

Wei Zhen’s face twitched. Inwardly, he thought that things were going to be bad. Sure enough. Even though his Highness did not utter a word, his face has turned cold.

The man looked at Zhong Zheng Lin who was sitting beside Mu Xi Yao with disdain first and then he turned his glowing gaze at Mu Xi Yao, “Miss is so lovely and bright. Why condescend yourself so casually? How about committing to me? I will marry miss, taking you as my concubine.”

At this time, Mu Xi Yao slowly put down the chopsticks and turned her head to take a look. Her expression was that of a bewilderment. She stared at him for five-six breaths, then she started to look him up and down. Suddenly, Zhong Zheng Lin reached out his hand to turn her head toward him so that they were facing each other.

“Is he good-looking?” The tone of his voice rose.

“Quite handsome.” Mu Xi Yao seemed to be oblivious. She nodded her head and praised.

Everyone lamented inwardly. Great aunt¹, you can play any other game. Why are you playing the game of red apricot tree leaning over the wall²?

Zhong Zheng Lin’s phoenix eyes turned cold, “Do you like?” His eyes were pitch-black, expression chilly.

“Like.” Just as her voice fell, Zhong Zheng Lin lifted her chin and abruptly kissed her, completely ignoring the surrounding people.

This time, Zhong Zheng Lin’s kiss was not gentle. He did not try to hide his forcefulness at all.

“Wu, wu ～～～”, Mu Xi Yao struggled with all her might. When she finally managed to push Zhong Zheng Lin away, she saw his face darkening even more. A storm was brewing in his eyes. His displeasure for being pushed away was apparent to eyes.

“Hateful, “ Mu Xi Yao complained coyly, “It hurts.” She then pointed to her red lips.

Mu Xi Yao exhibited no fear when she looked at Zhong Zheng Lin’s face which appeared so cold it shed icicles. She extended her hands to hold his face, slowly smoothing his taut face. She charmingly rolled her eyes at him, “Beat him up! Beat him up till his mother wouldn’t be able to recognize him. I would like it the best then～”

Well, this woman, indeed, liked to give people shocks.

Zhong Zheng Lin’s face was held by her. Staring at the woman in front of him for a moment, he let out a hearty laugh.

“Wei Zhen.” His message was apparent.

After Wei Zhen dragged down the man, Zhong Zheng Lin made everyone retreat. He hugged Mu Xi Yao, continuing with the previous interrupted kiss.

This time, Mu Xi Yao was very well-behaved. She would occasionally respond by extending her tiny tongue, teasing Zhong Zheng Lin till his body went stiff. Mu Xi Yao had a great fun. She even went to wrap her hands around Zhong Zheng Lin’s neck, pressing her body ever more closely to his chest, and misbehavedly wringing her body.

Zhong Zheng Lin was at the end of his patience. He patted her small bottom. Feeling plump softness in hands, he kneaded it several more time and only then did he released the women in front of him and called people in to continue to attend them.

Wei Zhen cast a glance at Mu Xi Yao from the corner of his eyes. Seeing her throwing back the bitter vegetables Zhong Zheng Lin picked for her, and furthermore, dissatisfiedly humphing, half of his soul has been scared away.

He could not afford to offend this mistress. Before, she even dared to tease his Highness. And now, she was even more openly not polite with him. Facing usually grim-faced Highness as if it was nothing, she was simply a peculiarity among the women. His Highness had his face held by a woman, yet not only didn’t his Highness take any action, but he actually let her do whatever she wanted. Wei Zhen felt that such Mu Xi Yao could soon become a demoness.

At the hour of You³, everyone left the tavern and went to the downtown street market to pick a river lantern. Mu Xi Yao’s eyes were roaming around the market, looking at all sorts of lanterns with bright eyes. Most of her body was shielded by Zhong Zheng Lin. In the end, she chose a blooming bingdi lotus lantern⁴. She passed it to Zhong Zheng Lin with a face full of smile and then grabbed his hand, swaying it sometimes left sometimes right.

Mo Lan and Hui Lan at behind were scared witless as they watched their miss vigorously bossing around his Highness. The fright turned their faces rigid. Wei Zhen and Ye Kai, on the other hand, could not even walk properly. Their footsteps kept changing from light to heavy as they followed them. They thought that this mistress Yao was too terrifying.

Mu Xi Yao wasn’t the slightest bit worried. Inwardly, she was glowing at the moment as she has finally grasped a little Zhong Zheng Lin’s temper. To sum it up, it would be: You needn’t be polite with him. The more polite you’re with him, the more pretentious⁵ he would act. Hence, Mu Xi Yao did whatever her heart desired. And sure enough, Zhong Zheng Lin seemed to be quite enjoying himself.

Zhong Zheng Lin lightened the lantern. Mu Xi Yao softly put down the flower lantern. A little while later, they saw the bingdi lotus lantern steadily drift away with the ripples of the water.

“What did you write?” Zhong Zheng Lin looked down at the side profile of Mu Xi Yao’s face that was watching the lantern in the distance. Threads of hair brushed her face as the wind blew over their side.

Mu Xi Yao turned her head, “Later, I will tell you. But not now.” Zhong Zheng Lin revealed a tiny smile.

It was late. Mu Xi Yao voiced out that she would like to return back a bit earlier as to not make lady Yu worry. Zhong Zheng Lin assented.

As soon as she sat down inside the carriage, Zhong Zheng Lin immediately leaned over and captured her lips. When she felt that she was being suffocated by this kiss, Mu Xi Yao extended her hand to pinch the man’s waist. She used a rather resentful look to glare at man, accusing him.

“You’re more and more naughty.” Zhong Zheng Lin took her little hand to play with it. Mu Xi Yao suddenly got up and pressed a kiss on his lips. Then, she immediately moved away, smiling triumphantly. Zhong Zheng Lin indulged her in her playfulness.

After arriving to Yu House, Zhong Zheng Lin left with his people only after seeing Mu Xi Yao’s back disappearing in the distance.

Ye Kai drove the horse to the palace gate. Unexpectedly, at this time, a carriage suddenly rushed out from the alley, almost crashing into them. He quickly deviated the course of the carriage and then steadily halted. The driver opposite was not so capable. It took him a great effort to calm down the horse and settle carriage.

Zhong Zheng Lin was sitting on the couch. Having his thoughts disturbed, he was already displeased. Outside the carriage, he heard a woman’s whisper.

It was the maiden from the other carriage who has climbed down. She came to personally apologize to the owner of the carriage they had almost bumped into, but was stopped by Wei Zhen who had them wait for a little.

“Your Highness, it’s miss from Qi House.” That woman disclosed her clan name to Wei Zhen. Hence, he knew that she could also be considered as his half-mistress and that it was necessary to report it to his Highness.

“How are the matters connected?” The man’s low voice came out of the carriage.

Wei Zhen peered a glance at the miss of Qi House who stood three steps away from him. His face twitched. However, with an unchanged expression, he said, “Your Highness, miss of Qi House is the concubine his Majesty has bestowed to you. Next month, she will enter the residence.” Inwardly, he was thinking that all his Highness’s thoughts were occupied by mistress Yao.

“Uhm.”

“Miss Qi would like to come forward to pay your Highness a respect and also apologize for the incident.”

“There’s no need. We are going back to the palace.” Afterward, he spoke no more.

After receiving the orders, Wei Zhen indicated the mistress of Qi House that they were to take their leave.

Only when the sixth prince’s carriage left did the servant girl next to miss of Qi House dare to speak, “Miss, let’s go back.” That maiden subsequently turned around and climbed into the carriage to return home.

—–

Miss of Qi House inside the carriage was talking to the servant girl beside her, “Is it possible to confirm that person is indeed his Highness?”

“At the time, that gentleman was standing sideways. This servant did not dare to look closer. But this servant heard the maiden next to him call him your Highness. Moreover, the two guards behind them were exactly the ones that have stopped miss earlier.” Recalling that her master had specially waited for this opportunity for half an hour at the road that took directly to the palace, she did not dare to neglect this matter and started to tell the whole story in detail.

“Then it’s certain. He is undoubtedly his sixth Highness. Who was the woman beside his Highness? Do you know her?”

“No. His Highness had not called that woman. Furthermore, this servant thought that woman looked very unfamiliar. She doesn’t appear to be miss from Shengjing’s noble family. But……” That servant girl stumbled over her words, not knowing how to tell it to her miss.

“But what?”

“But, this servant seemed to catch sight of his Highness clutching on that woman’s waist.” After her words fell, she bowed her head, not daring to utter more.

That miss’s expression darkened. She twisted forcefully the silk handkerchief in her hands. She was perplexed. Everyone in Shengjing knew that his sixth Highness was not into women charms and that he rarely stayed in his inner yard. Yet, why was he today accompanied by a woman, releasing lanterns in West lake? Furthermore, why were they so intimate with each other? More importantly, who was that woman?

Translation notes: 

[1] Great aunt may be used to express some emotion, it’s used when you feel the female you are talking to is quite unreasonable
[2] Red apricot tree leaning over the garden wall is a Chinese idiom used to describe unfaithful behaviors of wives, e.k. a wife having an illicit lover
[3] The hour of You is 5 -7 PM
[4] Bindi lotus is a lotus that has twin lotus flowers on one stalk. They are considered a treasure among flowers because it has all the essential parts of both the leaves and lotus
[5] 矫情 Jiao Qing – describes someone that doesn’t express his/her true feelings. I didn’t find a proper translation for this word but here’s a site that well describes this word in case you’re curious (source)

List of TBIC Character

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)