Chapter 142 When the Rivals Met
As people heard the name Shangguan Yi, they immediately made way for him. Even the third level officials nervously ordered their carriage drivers to move their carriage far aside so as not to block Mr. Shangguan Yi’s way. Shangguan Yi, the founder of the Imperial College of Qi, renowned as precious by the past Emperor, was a legend in people’s minds. However, Mr. Shangguan Yi lived in the regions south of the River in the past decade. Even though many scholars went to visit him, they all failed to actually meet him. Now that they were able to contact the precious of Qi so closely, it was an honor for them.
A quaint carriage slowly came from the west side. The black Phoebe wood carriage was luxurious but low-key. Following the black carriage were two carriages with signs of the Shangguan mansion on. They must be the carriages of the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan and his daughter, Shangguan Yee.
Princess Ning immediately held Qin Yunuan’s hand and led her to the roadside to wait with the others, while saying, “This Mr. Shangguan Yi is the most knowledgeable and respected scholar of Qi, and he normally won’t leave his home. However, the Left Chancellor Shangguan Yuan had invited him to the Royal City for some unknown reason this time. I assume he’s staying for some time. It happens that your brother has moved into Prince Ning’s Mansion. I’ll send an invitation to the Shangguan Mansion tomorrow. It would be great if the two families can gather, and Mr. Shangguan Yi will have the chance to meet your brother and maybe teach him something.”
It was such sweet words. If it had been another occasion, Qin Yunuan would have been so touched. However, she merely bowed slightly. Even though Prince Ning’s Mansion and Shangguan Mansion always had a great relationship, the personal relationship between Shangguan Yee and Qin Yunuan was so complicated that it was best for them not to see each other often. Besides, the relationship between Qin Baochuan and Mr. Shangguan Yi was much closer than what people would think. Qin Yunuan didn’t need to rely on Prince Ning’s Mansion. She got her own way.
“Thank you, mother, it’s just that Mr. Shangguan Yi is so famous that he might not be willing to see Baochuan.”
Princess Ning just smiled faintly, “Not necessarily.”
The carriage came to a halt, and an old man dismounted it. He was in an off white gown, and his wide sleeves were swaying in the wind as if he was saintly. Mr. Shangguan Yi was seventy-two years old, yet he still looked full of spirits after the travel from the regions south of the River.
“Sir Shangguan.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Sir Shangguan.”
All the people around took the initiative to arch their hands and greeted Shangguan Yi extremely humbly. While Mr. Shangguan Yi just nodded and smiled all the way. However, when Qin Yunuan took a closer look, his actions and his face reminded her of her mother. Qin Yunuan had to admit that if her mother, Lady Yang’s jade pendant, with the word “Yu” carved on it, couldn’t prove her identity as the daughter of Shangguan family, now that she met Mr. Shangguan Yi, she was sure about it. They were so alike.
“You’re here too?” Shangguan Yee followed her father off the carriage and noticed Qin Yunuan who was waiting in the crowd at first glance. She quietly approached her. Behind her was a crowd surrounding Mr. Shangguan Yi, but she didn’t seem to care. In the past, she loved the bustling.
“Miss Shangguan.” Qin Yunuan greeted her, but Shangguan Yee said to her directly, “Is everything in the letter you gave me true? Qin Linfeng loves no one else but Qin Yunzhuang? This is incest!”
Princess Ning had walked away, and there were only the two trusted servant girls, Maner and Ting Xue, by Qin Yunuan’s side. It was noisy, and they couldn’t hear her conversation with Shangguan Yee.
Qin Yunuan plainly raised her sight, “What letter?” Qin Yunuan’s glance was peaceful like the water in a lake and so pure that it was as if she had known nothing about the letter.
“Huh, don’t think I don’t know.” Shangguan Yee thought that she was smart and guessed, “A few days ago, I found a note under my green bean cake when I was having snacks. It simply explained the hidden relationship between Qin Linfeng and Qin Yunzhuang. Let me ask you something. If it wasn’t you, who else is bold and capable enough? Besides, you lived with Qin Yunzhuang and Qin Linfeng, and it’s reasonable for you to know this. I’m simply asking you whether this is true or not.”
Shangguan Yee’s eyes turned red gradually. After all, she had a thing for Qin Linfeng for so long. She even bore being Qin Yunzhuang’s follower for so long in order to approach Qin Linfeng. Now that she knew that the man she loved had a special feeling for his sister, she couldn’t take it anymore, whether she was jealous or furious, or blaming herself for choosing the wrong guy.
However, Qin Yunuan failed to agree with Shangguan Yee’s statement on there couldn’t be anyone else apart from her. She knew who could do this. Or she should say that there were plenty capable of doing this. However, the only one who would really do so was…
“I’m asking you, is what’s written in the letter real or fake?”
“I didn’t give you that letter,” Qin Yunuan blinked and continued, “But the content is real indeed. Qin Linfeng loves Qin Yunzhuang, not as a sibling, but as a woman.”
Receiving the confirmation from Qin Yunuan, Shangguan Yee nearly tripped. But soon, she resumed her normal state.
“I know now.” Shangguan Yee took a deep breath.
“Aren’t you afraid that I’m lying to you?’ Qin Yunuan tilted her head and asked.
Shangguan Yee raised her head and stared at Qin Yunuan for a long time and suddenly said, “I’ll make sure that they won’t be in peace.” After she finished her words, she turned and left.
“Third young Madam, Miss Shangguan is…” Seeing Shangguan Yee’s expression growing more ferocious as she left, Maner was a bit worried. She wasn’t worried about Qin Yunzhuang or Qin Yunuan, though. It was just that the Qin family was involved in the wedding today. If Shangguan Yee caused any troubles, she was afraid that it would affect Qin Yunuan.
“I heard that many famous families in the Royal City had been discussing the marriage of Shangguan Yee with the Shangguan Mansion.” Qin Yunuan smiled, “No wonder she was so irritated. She’s born to be used by others with her temperament. We only need to take care of ourselves today.”
It was a palace banquet today, and the wedding procedure was quite different from ordinary people. Apart from the vow, Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray had to offer the seniors with wine first before they return to their room.
Qin Yunzhuang was gorgeous today. Her bright red wedding dress was embroidered with peonies in golden thread, and cloud patterns on the sleeves. The red tank top had perfectly shaped her plump breasts, but not decorously. She was wearing a phoenix crown on her hair bun, and the golden leaf-shaped cloth hanged from it, covering half of Qin Yunzhuang’s face. The red lips and fine skin of hers under the golden shade had triggered people’s wildest imaginations. The guests were all saying that Prince Ray was a lucky guy indeed to marry such a belle.
However, even though the groom Sima Ray kept smiling, he didn’t seem to be genuinely happy. It seemed that his glance kept staying on Qin Yunuan, who was already someone else’s wife.
Leng Changxi wasn’t here yet, so there was an empty seat next to Qin Yunuan. This made Sima Ray even bolder when looking at Qin Yunuan today.
Her lips, her hair, her smile, everything of hers seemed to be tickling Sima Ray’s unsettled heart. However, Qin Yunuan didn’t look at him at all, as if there had been no relationship between their lives. Since she was no longer a virgin, the actions and movements of Qin Yunuan seemed to be more enchanting than before. Even Qin Yunuan herself didn’t realize that, but it made Sima Ray, who hadn’t seen Qin Yunuan for a long time, fell for her again. It was so obvious that even Qin Yunzhuang, who was next to him, could tell that he was odd.
“Ray.” Qin Yunzhuang dragged Sima Ray’s chilly fingertips under cover of her dress and said, “It’s time for the ceremony, Ray.”
Sima Ray returned to his mind and took a cold glance at Qin Yunzhuang. In his perspective, Qin Yunzhuang was a typical dumb woman with a beautiful face and a stupid brain. What he couldn’t accept more was that he actually had to marry such a dumb woman as his legal wife.
“Have I said that you could touch me?” Sima Ray still had a gentle smile on his face, but the words that came out of his mouth were extremely vicious, “Remember what I told you this morning. If you want to be my wife safely, you have a price to pay, which is to follow my orders unconditionally.”
Qin Yunzhuang’s heart trembled. Sima Ray’s words were creepy and cold, like an ice dagger stabbing into her heat. However, she didn’t fully get what Sima Ray meant. She thought Sima Ray was just talking about what he would do in bed, so she immediately blushed and lowered her head, “We are officially husband and wife after the ceremony. I’ll naturally follow your orders, Ray.”
See, a dumb woman indeed.
Sima Ray sneered and took over the giant red flower ball from the wedding master. Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray each took one side of it and carried out the vow. They vowed to the heaven, the Emperor and Empress, and then each other.
Qin Yunuan was in her seat, smiling and looking at Qin Yunzhuang and Sima Ray on the stairs, looking like a perfect match. On the other hand, she was listening to Leng Shuang’s report of her observation just now, “Prince Ray has just looked at you seven times, pursed his lips once and his glance floated three times, third young Madam.”
“Alright,” Qin Yunuan waved to dismiss Leng Shuang, then she quietly asked Maner, “Have you prepared everything yet?”
Maner nodded and said, “It’s all ready. Brother Leng is already guarding by the lotus pond to make sure no one would come near there. As for the clothes and the Guzheng, I’ve hidden them behind the rockery for you, third young Madam.”
“Brother Leng?” Qin Yunuan wanted to tease Maner for calling Leng Wu so intimately, “Such an intimate referral. When have you started calling him that? Huh? How come I didn’t know about it?”
Maner blushed immediately. She just got used to it and said it by accident, and it gave Qin Yunuan the chance to tease her.
The two were about to make fun with each other further, while Qin Yunuan saw a figure leaving with the corner of her glance. She started to get alerted, “It’s time.”