The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 180

“Why hasn’t he arrived yet?” Mu Xi Yao got up this morning buzzing with excitement, fidgeting restlessly on Zong Zheng Lin’s lap, eagerly awaiting Wei Zhen’s report.

“Eat your meal properly!” Zong Zheng Lin scowled. This woman had been talking about another man while still in bed and hadn’t stopped since, greatly infuriating the Sixth Highness.

Turning Mu Xi Yao’s head towards him, he held her chin and warned sternly, “Behave or today Jiao Jiao will accompany Bendian in the study. You can return to the courtyard when Bendian is finished with all the official duties.”

Mu Xi Yao, belatedly realizing she had angered the big boss, quickly ceased her unruly behavior and obediently leaned in to plant a kiss on Zong Zheng Lin’s cheek. “Qie was just curious. Your Highness is so petty.” She unwittingly gave the great boss the wrong impression of a red apricot reaching over the wall¹, a thought best avoided.

“Within the residence, no, in the entire capital, only Your Highness and Qie’s father and mother treat Qie the best. Qie is very clear about that in her heart, crystal clear and lucid.

Mu Xi Yao initially intended to say something corny, ‘Qie’s heart has room for no one else’ but feared that Zong Zheng Lin would take the opportunity to press, ‘Whom does Jiao Jiao harbor in her heart?’. Wouldn’t that be like lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot?

Switching to a compliment that was both tactful and full of affection as deep as the sea, Mu Xi Yao couldn’t have looked more sincere.

Zong Zheng Lin let out a cold snort, then helped her sit up straight and brought a spoonful of meat soup to her lips. Mu Xi Yao obediently opened her mouth, had a sip, and even shot the Sixth Highness a coquettish glance.

No big deal, wait till your lordship leaves the house. Qie’ll just listen to the gossip alone and won’t share it with you. Qie’ll enjoy it all by herself!

Outside the second gate, Wei Zhen encountered his master heading to the front yard and respectfully bowed to send His Highness off. As he rose, he met his master’s icy, handsome face. Without uttering a single word and as if not seeing him, he walked past him indifferently.

Wei Zhen stood there, dazed, watching His Highness’s straight back, utterly puzzled about what could have sparked his master’s anger so early in the morning.

“Commander Wei,” Mu Xi Yao propped her elbow, her beautiful eyes roaming over the person before her. “Qie’s been looking forward to seeing you for a long while.”

Seeing Mistress Yao’s excitement, Wei Zhen instantly understood the reason behind his master’s cold demeanor. Given how much this one ‘thought’ of him, it would be strange if His Highness showed any fondness toward him.

“Mistress, just now His Highness gave this subordinate a chilling glare. This subordinate’s heart is still trembling with fear. Please show mercy. From now on, this subordinate shall unquestionably obey only your orders. Would that be satisfactory?”

Wei Zhen said with a woeful expression. Having become familiar with Mu Xi Yao, he understood her temperament and spoke more freely. From time to time, he could curry favor with her, hoping that Mistress Yao might spare him and lessen his sufferings.

“How boring. Sir Wei is so timid that Qie dares not even joke with you.”

Wei Zhen’s eyelid twitched. Your Ladyship, your jokes are deadly; who would dare respond?

“Tell, is it lively outside?” Mu Xi Yao’s little face was beaming brightly, making Wei Zhen quickly lower his head to avoid her overly intense allure.

“Mistess has divine foresight. This morning…”

This morning, just as dawn was breaking, two pieces of gossip spread throughout the streets and alleys of Shengjing, captivating everyone who listened with keen interest and providing great amusement.

Last night, the Fourth Princess visited the Shuxiang House seeking pleasure and unexpectedly encountered her prince consort there, who was mingling in a private room with a little official, engaged in scandalous acts. Upon catching the prince consort in the act, Her Highness, in her uncontrollable fury, lashed out with her whip, leaving them severely battered. It was said the little official fainted on the spot, and the prince consort, overwhelmed by humiliation and anger, escaped by jumping out of a window and has not returned to the princess’s residence since.

“He escaped by jumping out of a window?” Mu Xi Yao exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement. Yang Guo Kang was merely a scholar without the strength to even truss a chicken, and he knew no martial arts. He must have been extremely angered by Zhong Zheng Ying to dare to do such a thing.

“The prince consort truly embodies manliness and shows remarkable bravery.” One would have thought that coward would be disciplined by the overbearing princess and dragged back home. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, when that man occasionally displayed some backbone, he could be ferocious enough to run away from home in fury. This has turned into quite the spectacle.

Wei Zhen watched as the one above him laughed brightly, feeling shivers in his heart. The Fourth Princess has likely stirred up serious trouble this time; being schemed against by the mistress like this, her reputation will definitely suffer. She will also face punishment from the Yuancheng Emperor’s side. By now, the scandal was well-known throughout Shengjing City, becoming a laughing matter over tea and meals. One could only imagine how difficult it would be for the two masters of the Fourth Princess residence to keep their heads up in front of the others.

Vicious, truly vicious. How could someone so delicate possess such a fierce temperament? Wei Zhen suddenly realized that he would rather be punished by His Highness than be subtly disciplined by Mistress Yao to the point of not knowing what to do.

“Sir Wei, what’s with that look? Qie is not a wicked person. Has sir ever heard the saying – a fly does not sting a cracklessegg²?” To catch someone’s weak spot, there had to be something to grasp, right? If Yang Guo Kang were conducting himself correctly, a dutiful and honest man, could she really force him to go to a male brothel?

“Another matter is that rumors suddenly spread troughout the streets, claiming that Miss He Lian of the He Lian House is fickle in her affections, first admiring the Sixth Highness and now enamoured with the Eighth Highness. The Imperial Noble Consort was benevolent, and unable to bear the thought of separating a pair of lovebirds, had already agreed to the Eighth Prince’s request for an imperial decree. In a few days, an imperial edict for their marriage will be issued.”

Wei Zhen smoothly relayed the news. The basic script were tips from the person above and the remaining exaggerated details were pieced together by the unruly secret guards in the residence. The channels for spreading the information were carefully chosen, with the mistress specifically instructing to spread it far and wide, mixing truth with falsehood, to evade Yuancheng Emperor’s eyes and ears. Therefore, rumors were released from both the lower strata of Shengjing and from the businesses owned by various princes.

“The choice of words is acceptable.” Mu Xi Yao nodded with satisfaction. Rumors should be exaggerated without concern for severity. Excessive caution easily exposed the concerns of the person behind it. Only rumors like these, which carry the implication of a false imperial decree, were truly decent. As for ‘separating the lovebirds,’ it was well used, very much like the language of street tales.

“Uhm, this task has been well handled. Qie will certainly put in a good word for you before His Highness and seek some commendation for you.” With the task half done, Mu Xi Yao was greatly satisfied. She shook her little head from side to side, the others just turned a blind eye to it.

Bearing, a standard etiquette in noble households, was virtually non-existent in front of their mistress.

Wei Zhen’s body quivered. Mistress, did you truly understand this subordinate’s plea just now? In seeking rewards from His Highness, might this subordinate only receive colder, more cutting glares?

“If Qie’s predictions are correct, the direction of the wind in Shengjing will shift abruptly this afternoon. When that happens… Commander Wei must take advantage of the momentum and not fall behind.”

He Lian Wei Rui, Qie took a loss last time. You have to cheer up after this. 

When Zhong Zheng Lin came back for a meal at midday, he found Mu Xi Yao in high spirits, clearly very elated.

This woman… The Sixth Highness raised an eyebrow.

He initially thought Mu Xi Yao’s scheme was to send a male lover to Zong Zheng Ying, but unexpectedly, she took a different route and fueled the trend of male-male relationships. Mu Xi Yao employed these underhanded tactics with noteworthy finesse. What set her apart was that she used such underhanded schemes and still had the audacity to flaunt it in front of him, almost asking for praise and rewards.

Just as Zhong Zheng Lin was thinking about this, the little woman beside him started to sweetly cling to him.

“Your Highness, didn’t Qie execute this move beautifully? She took advantage of your absence to assert her authority over Qie. Qie remembers this grudge well. Fortunately, Qie has a sharp mind, and now can return the favor, using her hand to whip her man—killing two birds with one stone!”

The corners of Zhong Zheng Lin’s lips, which had just lifted, suddenly froze. Mu Xi Yao was truly… beyond common sense.

Translation notes:

[1] Red apricot reaching over the wall idiom that means a wife having an affair.

[2]  A fly does not sting a crackless egg is an idiom that means it takes two to tango.

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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