Chapter 105
The Noble Womans Guide On How to Tease Ones Husband Chapter 105
Translated by: Oinkoink
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Several days after Chu Sanghuais death, Wang Ying and Wang Jian, who were imprisoned in Wangdus main prison, were also executed one after the other while the remaining officials of the Wang clan were all sentenced to exile with their family members serving as official slaves, and the once premier prominent family banished just like this.
The common people said that the Ye family had bet on the right prize and Ye Huaiyang, who made this wise decision, was rumored to be the goddess of foresight. For a while, the families of any eminence in Wangdu began to seek connections with the Ye family. Every day the queue of people who came to pay a visit at the door was several blocks away. Yet Ye Huailis way of handling was very simple Once the main door is closed, no visitor is received.
Running into dejection, everyone returned in a huff. But there was not only one newly appointed high-officials family, so someone soon switched targets and headed towards Meng mansion.
The Meng family had lived in the Northern Land for a long time. Originally, they had intention to move to Wangdu when Imperial Consort Chen was in favor but were unable to do so due to various reasons. Since Chu Jinglan has regained control of the reigns now, this is precisely the great opportunity. Therefore, during this period of time, the direct descendent of the Meng has successively come to Wangdu and Meng Qi is one of them.
This old gentleman however, is very low-profile and has not made an appearance after entering Wangdu. The internal and external affairs were all handled by his eldest son, Meng Xuan and second son, Meng Gan, hence it was difficult to meet him in person.
Perhaps it was because they were newcomers and needed to establish good relationships with the local aristocrats, the Meng family did not treat visitors like the Ye family, who locked their door and refused to see anyone. Their stances were extremely amiable. They would accept most of the invitations and always integrated quickly, whether it was the tea parties or hunting and garden events, which was commendable. But one thing about the Meng family was that they would avoid topics involving political affairs no matter where they were.
So, those who intend to curry favor with the powerful met another round of refusal again.
But no matter what, it is good as long as one can get associated. Hence, there are neverending streams of horses and carriages at the front door of Meng mansion and this has become Wangdus spectacle. Gradually talks about the Meng family having the intention to form an alliance by marriage with the imperial family to consolidate their kinship spread amongst those who had dealings with the Meng family and the person selected is naturally the youngest daughter of Meng Qi, Meng Chen, who is still unmarried.
As is known to all, there are only a few men of marriageable age in the present monarch and the Meng family is definitely not interested in such a loathsome man like Chu Luze while Chu Zhenghe is the prodigal son amongst millions clusters of flowers, so the only one left is Chu Jinglan. So to put it bluntly, they want to send Meng Chen into the palace to become an imperial concubine.
As such, the relationship between the Ye family and the Meng family was very delicate. Although Meng Xuan had strongly denied this matter while Ye Huaili had no response, the atmosphere between these two families was just indescribably tense.
While everyone was discussing this apocryphal with fervor, the two masters of King Lan mansion had quietly moved into the palace.
Although the inside and outside of Taiji Palace was completely new and most of the servants were brought over from King Lan mansion, Ye Huaiyang still felt somewhat unused to it. But there was no time to care about it now as the enthronement ceremony was drawing near.
Chu Jinglan did not attach much importance to this matter but to keep everything simple, yet she took it seriously and personally took care of everything from the internal affairs to the external rituals in order to strive for perfection. She only relaxed on the day of the ceremony and slept till the sun was directly overhead. After getting up, she stretched herself languidly and let Yueya served her some porridge without inquiring about how the event proceed. She merely thought that Chu Jinglan would still have to summon the cabinet to discuss official businesses after the ceremony and perhaps would not be free for a while.
In the afternoon, a female officer of the Superintendent of Rites brought along one thin booklet to seek her audience. Browsing through it, it turned out to be the overview drawings of each main palace.
[T/N: (S l jin) In charge of managing the eunuchs and internal affairs of the imperial palace]
This was for her to choose her own bedchamber.
After entering the palace, the matters of the royal court and the imperial harem had been so overwhelming that the two people were up to their eyes in work. So, they had ignored this matter. But according to the protocol, the Emperor and the Empress have to reside in two separate main palaces. The East Phoenix Palace was a good choice but Ye Huaiyang felt uncomfortable when she thought of the Empress face and directly vetoed it. Hence, the Superintendent of Rites had to find all the drawings of other main palaces for her scrutiny.
Ye Huaiyang was bored stiff after browsing through it for a while as there was none befitting in her eyes. Seeing her lack of interest, Yueya picked some funny remarks to tease her.
Niang-niang[1], do you know one palace maid sneaked over from the Hall of Supreme Harmony just now. Wow, the inauguration was really grand. All the civil and military officials were kneeling in front of the hall and hailing Long Live to His Majesty. Wearing a purple qilin robe adorned with the goldfish pouch, the Eldest Young Master who was just standing in first row was simply valiantly heroic! Of course, the most awe-inspiring person is still His Majesty who went to sit on the Dragon Throne while those beneath immediately fell silent, which was truly impressive!
[T/N: (Jny di) an official adornment wore with the ancient official robe distinguishing the official rank]
Ye Huaiyang glanced at her amusedly and said, How come I didnt know that palace maids are allowed to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony?
Yueya stammered for quite a while before she finally couldnt withstand Ye Huaiyangs teasing gaze and confessed everything, It was Ci Yuan who told Nubi[2].
Hmm? I remember that Ci Yuan has to go patrolling at this moment, how come he has time to chat with you?
Niang-niang! Yueya blushed instantly and stomped her foot lightly, Nubi only said this seeing that you keep thinking of His Majesty. Why did you instead grab these words to make fun of Nubi?
As soon as the words faltered, a tall black shadow drifted past the window screens and trailed by a low male voice, Who kept thinking of Us[3]?
Eyes lit up suddenly, Ye Huaiyang supported her waist and walked towards the door. Just at this moment, the person appeared in front of her. Dressed in the dark ceremonial robe with red boots, his bright eyes were star-like with thin lips and lowering his head slightly. The pendant beads on his purple-gold crown dangled out loads of glory in front of her eyes and set off even more of his peerlessly handsomeness.
There seemed to be a small deer bumping wildly in her heart. She then pursed her lips and smiled sweetly while cutsied gracefully, Chenqie[4] welcomes Your Majesty.
Being mischievous again. Smiling, Chu Jinglan reprimanded her before helping her up and pulled her into his arms in passing. He then caressed the round arc under the pink satin palace dress and asked, How are you today?
Ye Huaiyang patted the round arc and replied, Alls well. He behaves really well knowing that today is Emperor Fathers big day.
Chu Jinglan smiled again and helped her to sit down beside the rosewood round table. His eyes swept over those booklets on the table and couldnt help but wavered, Why are you looking at these?
Ah, as it happens you can help me choose. Ye Huaiyang picked up the booklet and leaf through page by page for him, The people from the Superintendent of Rites asked me to choose a bedchamber. I couldnt find one to my liking after picking for the whole afternoon. Why dont you help me decide?
There was no movement on this side for a long time.
The thin-like cicadas wings papers that were fanning light breeze in front of him stopped suddenly. Putting down the booklet, Ye Huaiyang turned her head to look at him puzzlingly. Cracks began to appear on the jade-like cold handsome face which she could almost hear the sound of crumbling.
You want to live apart from me?
No, how did it come to this?
Ye Huaiyang swallowed and opened her mouth cautiously, Isnt this the palace rules moreover I am getting bigger and bigger, and cant sleep very well at night while you wake up early and sleep late at night, and its not good that my noisiness always trouble your sleep ..
So, you are going to live apart from me?
Why is there still the same sentence!
Looking at Chu Jinglans increasingly gloomy face, Ye Huaiyang dared not make any more sound. She was about to hand the booklet silently over to Yueya to be taken away when Chu Jinglans palm pressed it on the table with slightly narrowed eyes and a dangerously tone of voice.
I see your guts have grown perceptibly once youve become the Empress. I havent even said I am tired yet and you have already finished the sentence for me. This is merely because you havent chosen a suitable palace, are you just going to pack up your things and move right over there if you have picked one?
No, its not Ye Huaiyang shrunk back involuntarily but was encompassed back between Chu Jinglans iron arms.
The constant crying of leg cramps and pains at night with your continuous urging to hastily stretch your leg straight. The panicky complaint of being suppressed while lying down and saying your back pain when you lay on the side that I have to place half of my body under your back just to sleep comfortably. You tell me, even if I build you a golden house, can you sleep for a moment apart from me?
Ye Huaiyangs face turned red instantly and stammered without a word out. All the palace maids covered their mouths and the sound of their snickering made her wish she could immediately dig a hole in the ground to bore into it. Biting her lips to forbear for a moment when she finally cried out indignantly, You already know that I am troublesome, so arent I saving you the trouble!
No need. Chu Jinglan cast a sidelong glance at her and said, Anyway, there is no second person in this imperial harem, where can I use my energy if I dont use it on you?
This time even Yueya started to laugh too with a hint of ambiguity on her face.
Ye Huaiyang is usually very eloquent but the cat finally got her tongue under Chu Jinglans frenzied bombardment today. It was after a long while later before she pulled the booklet out to throw it on the ground and spoke angrily, The Superintendent of Rites is also not a good thing, deliberately using this plaything to entrap Bengong[5]!
Raising the tips of his eyebrows, Chu Jinglan asked teasingly, Not moving anymore?
Bursts of red tides surged up on Ye Huaiyangs face, which was so hot that it burnt. Ultimately, she just threw herself into his arms and buried her head before stifling her voice and acted coquettishly, Not moving. Your Majesty just let off Chenqie this time. Chenqie is wrong
Considering this is your first offence, I will let you off this time. Chu Jinglans lips curled up a sporadic smile then turned his head immediately and instructed, Tell the people of the Superintendent of Rites to avoid coming over to the Empress in the future. Let them come to Us if there are any problems.
Yes, Nubi got it.
Yueya smiled and retreated to the door to tell the little palace maid to go pass the message to the Superintendent of Rites. She then stood there and pondered.
There have been rumors in the palace recently about Meng Chen wanting to enter the Imperial Palace to serve His Majesty that people outside somewhat wished to watch a good show, yet Chu Jinglan and Ye Huaiyang treated as if they did not hear any of it. As she worried that Ye Huaiyang would feel out of sorts and also afraid that Chu Jinglan really had the intention to take an imperial concubine, she had been extremely anxious for several days. She felt relieved today seeing them fussing around with deep devotion for each other.
His Majesty loves Niang-niang so much, how could he be muddle-headed and marry that vixen?
Thinking of this, she felt flustered again. Ye Huaiayang told her and Ci Yuan to shut their mouths tightly and not to tell anyone that it was Meng Chen who had done those sinister deeds at that time. But that vixen is still alive and prancing happily outside the palace without any retribution at all. She just cant tolerate it.
Yueya took a few deep breaths to calm herself down.
Niang-niang always has profound intentions in handling her affairs, so she had better not go speculating erratically. Moreover, even if Niang-niang is willing to let Meng Chen go, Eldest Young Master and Eighth Young Master will not leave the matter at that. They will eventually make her pay the price!
While righteous indignation filled her heart, there was more small talk from inside again.
It is only the hour of shenshi (3pm-5pm), why are you back already? Is the cabinet and privy council all right?
Your reaction is becoming more and more sluggish since pregnancy. A pleasant low laughter echoed in the room with a hint of doting, Both sides are arguing over the reformation of the capital battalion without reaching any conclusions for a while, so I came back to see you.
Lying prone on his shoulder, Ye Huaiyang laughed incessantly, You just slipped out like this. The faces of those old fogeys probably are green with anger now?
Let them be green then. Chu Jinglan didnt care much and took her into his arms with the corners of his mouth raised.
The two of them stayed affectionate for a long while and seeing that the time was almost up, Chu Jinglan brushed his sleeves and got up, ready to go back to the Imperial Study Room. En route, he turned around and told her, Ive asked to prepare a family feast in the evening. You get ready as both Huaili and Huaixin will enter the palace.
Ye Huaiyang was stunned, then smiled with arched eyebrows.
Yes, Chenqie obeys with the order.
[1] (Ning ning) a kind of respect for women in Chinese . It is generally used to address queens, concubines , princesses and other royal and aristocratic women.
[2] (Nb) this servant / self-address of female maidservant
[3] (Zhn) We/Us, used by an Emperor in proclamations instead of I
[4] (Chnqi) I, your servant (self-appellation of a lower-rank female)
[5] (Bngng) the self-proclaimed master of the palace in ancient times
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