Chapter 208
Make Way (3)
Sure enough, Xie Xuanchen laughed when he heard Song Wulang’s words, then got up to go outside. When people outside noticed that Xie Xuanchen was coming out of the carriage, they all shouted: “My Lord!”
Mu Mingtang also got worried and grabbed his sleeve to stop him. Xie Xuanchen smiled at Mu Mingtang soothingly and said, “It’s ok. Don’t worry. We came out to watch fireworks today. So I won’t do such wicked things. Darling, you sit for a while, and I’ll be right back.”
Mu Mingtang was relieved when she heard Xie Xuanchen’s promise. She believed him. “Ok, remember what you promise me and I’ll wait for you.” She slowly released her hand and said with a soft smile.
Xie Xuanchen smiled at her, turned around and pushed the cart door down. After he stood on the ground, the smile he had given Mu Mingtang disappeared like a fog of frost.
When Song Wulang was acting arrogantly, Imperial Guards who followed Xie Xuanchen, got panicked because they knew about Xie Xuanchen’s temper. So when they saw him getting off the carriage, they panicked even more. Xie Xuanchen’s people clearly said it was King An’s carriage, yet Song Wulang was overwhelmed with wine and dared to go against Xie Xuanchen.
When people saw another character appear, the audience became more excited. Not only the people on the street but also children from powerful families and girls who sing in the restaurants gathered to watch the fun.
Song Wulang saw a handsome and thin young man coming down from the opposite cart, he sneered and shouted: “Tell your master to come out. I won’t talk to a Xiaobailian[1].”
When Song Wulang spoke rudely, the people watching the incident began to laugh while the palace guards broke out in a cold sweat, so they hurriedly knelt on the street and begged. “Your Highness, please calm down. This is the son of Prime Minister Song’s family. He was drunk and talking nonsense. Please forgive him.”
While guards were trying to convey Xie Xuanchen to let go of the matter, Song Wulang wanted to show off more and said in an arrogant tone: “Who do you think you are to beg on behalf of me? Do you know who my father is?”
Xie Xuanchen suddenly laughed and walked toward Song Wulang. “If your father, the prime minister, was in your place today, he would dare not say a single word. Who are you, dare to play arrogantly in front of me?”
“My lord, calm down, please!” Guards shouted again and again.
“Who are you?” Song Wulang asked.
At that time, Xie Xuanchen picked up a bamboo dragonfly from a stall on the side of the road, turned it on his finger, and flicked it towards Song Wulang.
The bamboo dragonfly was a child’s toy, made of thin bamboo, which can fly to the sky after being rubbed with the palm of your hand. However, it was such a child’s toy, suddenly with a sharp murderous intent, it slashed across Song Wulang’s head, removed his hair crown, and even shaved off a piece of hair on the top of his head.
After seeing what happened, the people in the restaurant screamed, and the people on the flat ground couldn’t see it clearly, until a thin bamboo slammed into the roadside doorpost, and they cried out in shock.
Song Wulang was so frightened that he fell to the ground directly. At that moment, he thought his head was about to fall off. He sat on the ground and touched his head while thinking about what happened.
“I’m Xie Xuanchen”
Xie Xuanchen
The noisy street suddenly became quiet, and panic broke out from upstairs and downstairs. Someone in the restaurant shouted in fear: “It’s King Qiyang, it’s King Qiyang!”
When Song Wulang heard Xie Xuanchen’s name, he felt struck by lightning and eventually became sober. Now he could remember why the title “King An” was a bit familiar. It was the new title, Xie Xuanchen received from the emperor after his marriage.
Song Wu, this bastard! Idiot! Has his brain been devoured by alcohol and worms? How dare he speak to King Qiyang like this? Oh, God! He has awoken a sleeping tiger. Something big will happen today. If he wanted to die, why involve other people.” One of the official’s sons yelled.
After the official’s child finished speaking, for fear of Xie Xuanchen’s anger, he held the railing and almost leaned out half of his body: “See Qiyang… See Prince An! The villain has eyes and does not know Mount Tai, please forgive me. Greetings to His Royal Highness Prince An!”
One after another, people bowed their heads and greeted Xie Xuanchen with fear and excitement. However, Xie Xuanchen didn’t bother to pay attention to them, and got into the carriage.
Song Wulang who became sober didn’t care whether he was a human or a dog, knelt down on the ground and kowtowed cursing himself. When he saw Xie Xuanchen didn’t pay attention to him anymore, he shouted at his servants: “Hurry up, clear the way, Prince An and Princess An are traveling, hurry up.”
Mrs. Zhu and Zhu Yuqing sat in the carriage and waited until the maid came to tell them what was happening outside. Suddenly there were screams everywhere saying, “King An forgive me”.
“Mother, who is King An? Why are so many people apologizing for him?” Zhu Yuqing asked.
Mrs. Zhu actually didn’t know, so she hadn’t spoken yet. Then she suddenly heard the anxious voice of a maid outside: “Quick Drive the carriage away, and the general personally ordered it to make way for Prince An and Princess An!”
Mrs. Zhu and Zhu Yuqing were called out of the carriage to move their carriage quickly. So when they got out, Zhu Yuign saw her always dignified father had bowed his head respectfully in a military salute and said: “This humble one Yang Hong, greet His Royal Highness, Prince An.”
When Xie Xuanchen’s carriage drove in front of them, Zhu Yuqing saw a profile of a handsome man slightly from the swaying cart curtain. However, in a flash, the man disappeared.
Mu Mingtang sat in the carriage, and sometimes, she quietly asked Xie Xuanchen: “You know the person kneeling on the roadside just now?”
“Many people are kneeling on the roadside, which one do you ask?”
“Stop pretending, what do you think? I can’t see it?” There was no maid in the car now, and Mu Mingtang didn’t hide her words. She leaned closer and asked in a low voice, “The one who greeted you loudly, seems to be surnamed Zhu.”
After Mu Mingtang finished speaking, Suddenly she felt something was wrong: “No, I’ll tell you why you pushed me to go out today. Did you really accompany me out to buy things for the New Year today or for something else?”
Xie Xuanchen looked back at Mu Mingtang, and lightly tapped her forehead: “No conscience, who wanted to come to this street? Besides, can I guess what will happen on the way?”
Mu Ming Tang touched her forehead and muttered to himself, “That’s true. Then, are we going to pick lanterns now?”
“Of course, why not?” Xie Xuanchen said it as it should be, “Your happiness is the only thing I want to see today.”
TL Notes:
1. Xiaobailian – 小白臉 – attractive young man / pretty boy / gigolo ↵