Chapter 35
The eunuch held the imperial edict in his hand and looked at Yaoying awkwardly.
Yaoying, enveloped in the brilliant sunlight, had a calm look: “If His Majesty has summoned me, why is he avoiding me?”
The eunuch forced a smile: “His Majesty is very busy and is in the middle of discussing important matters with the ministers….”
The voice was getting lower and lower, and after a pause, it suddenly rose again, “Your Highness, please receive the decree, so that this slave can go back and report!”
Yaoying smiled. Standing in front of the steps, with her dress fluttering, she looked elegant and noble.
The eunuch was so overwhelmed by her appearance that he didn’t dare to say anything more to urge her.
The sound of smug laughter came from in front of the moon platform. Her dress made a rustling sound as it brushed against the ground and a splendidly attired Concubine Rong came over surrounded by palace attendants.
”Princess doesn’t have to wait!” Concubine Rong looked at Yaoying, a large smile on her face, not at all hiding that she was delighted at her misfortune, “The edict has been decreed. Noble Consort is crazy and foolish, so His Majesty ordered bengong to take care of the wedding arrangements for the princess. The princess is about to marry and His Majesty does not want to see the princess sad, so do not embarrass the palace attendants, Princess. Receive the decree, and obediently go back to prepare for marriage.”
She smiled charmingly.
”I almost forgot…. Princess is about to marry the Yelu tribe’s Chief as her husband. I heard that he is not so young! An older fuma will cherish you; the princess is so blessed.”
The chief historian cast an angry glare at Concubine Rong, his complexion ashen.
Concubine Rong looked askance at Yaoying, laughing so hard she swayed back and forth.
Yaoying glanced at Xie Qing behind her.
Xie Qing understood and took two steps forward, his palm swinging over to slap Concubine Rong’s face twice.
Before Concubine Rong could react, her palace maid sorrowfully screeched and pounced forward to tear at Xie Qing: “You dare!”
Xie Qing’s face was expressionless as he backhanded another two slaps.
He was a martial artist, whose strength was not light. Concubine Rong was dizzy from the hit and her well-maintained face had quickly swelled up.
The palace maids were scared out of their wits and scattered like headless chickens, their screams resounding throughout the palace hall.
The Jin Wu Wei hurriedly arrived. Not daring to question Yaoying, one drew his sword on Xie Qing and angrily reprimanded, “Wicked slave, don’t be impudent!”
Xie Qing didn’t even spare the Jin Wu Wei a glance, grabbing Concubine Rong’s wrist and making her kneel at Yaoying’s feet.
Her face was covered with blood and she struggled with all her might. The green pearls on her head fell to the ground as she cursed: “Bengong is a royal concubine! You wicked slave, how dare you be so reckless, bengong will cut off your head! Seventh Princess, bengong is your shu mother! You dare to humiliate bengong today, bengong will not take it lying down! You wait, you wait for bengong!”
The surrounding Jin Wu Wei looked at each other and boldly took two steps forward.
Yaoying shot them a glance.
The Jin Wu Wei immediately stopped.
Yaoying gestured at Xie Qing to lift Concubine Rong’s red and swollen face.
Concubine Rong knelt in front of the steps, her face bruised and swollen, angry but also afraid, trembling from head to toe.
Yaoying looked at her, “Ah Qing is the Xie family’s family general, my most loyal escort, not a domestic slave.”
Xie Qing’s back secretly straightened, and a flash of pride flashed across the perpetually cold face.
Yaoying’s words switched topics, “Your original name is Ah Rong, a servant girl of the Xie family. Back then, you climbed into your master’s bed behind my aniang’s back. My uncle knew your nature and did not destroy your slave contract. You are still a servant of the Xie family and my aniang is your longtime master. You dare to disrespect your master, these few slaps are considered a small punishment.”
Concubine Rong was so angry that she trembled: “Bengong was personally bestowed as Concubine Rong by His Majesty himself! You wait, bengong will have His Majesty properly discipline you! You have no respect. You deserve to be sent to marry!”
Yaoying smiled faintly, like a spring flower in full bloom: “The Yelu tribe wants to ask for my hand in marriage. His Majesty and the ministers in the court are expecting to exchange me for Yelu’s cavalry. Ah Rong, you share His Majesty’s pillow and should know His Majesty better than anyone else. Think about it. Right now, would His Majesty provoke me for your sake?”
Concubine Rong froze, her mouth opening and closing weakly. Her anger was gradually replaced by fear, and she trembled even more.
At that moment, the soft sound of horse hooves clattered from the bottom of the long steps.
The Jin Wu Wei followed the sound. At the sight of the person on horseback, their faces showed surprise. They sheathed their swords and greeted him respectfully.
Two eunuchs couldn’t care less to read out the marriage-granting edict, dashing into the hall to report.
”Duke Pei is here! Duke Pei is here!”
Below the palace steps, several court officials gathered around a tall and robust white horse and helped the elderly man dismount.
The old man’s head was bound in a muslin headwrap, and he wore a round-necked indigo robe. His face was aged, his hair gray, and he was quite old; he stopped to catch his breath not even after taking two steps.
”Duke Pei!”
From the front hall, from the curved corridor to the moon platform, came an enthusiastic shout. Several eunuchs, by Li De’s order, hurried out carrying a soft sedan to the elderly man.
”His Majesty is very happy that Duke Pei is here. He has brought several ministers to welcome you, inviting Duke Pei to ride the sedan and enter the hall!”
Duke Pei had already entered old age, and he looked absentminded, his eyes covered in a hazy sheen. He lifted his face, looked around, and his eyes fell on Yaoying.
Joy instantly surfaced on Concubine Rong’s face.
The Pei family of Wei County were long-time friends of the Li family. When Li De was rising in power, the entire Pei family followed. All of Duke Pei’s brothers and sons died in battle, and he himself was seriously injured trying to save Li De. Though he saved a life, his own health completely deteriorated. Since then, he had been staying in Wei County to recuperate.
Li De deeply respected Duke Pei and once said in public that Duke Pei was like his own father.
Conversely, the Pei family and the Xie family did not get along. The whole world was aware and Duke Pei has repeatedly and publicly expressed contempt for Xie Wuliang.
Concubine Rong loudly shouted: “Duke Pei! The Xie family’s daughter has no respect, beating up her shu mother! Please give this concubine justice!”
The chief historian did not expect Duke Pei, who was thousands of miles away, to suddenly appear. His forehead beaded with fine sweat. Duke Pei had a temper, daring to even scold Li De!
He blocked Yaoying: “Princess, you should take escape first.”
Yaoying shook her head and glanced at Concubine Rong: “The account is not yet settled. Just wait.”
Concubine Rong jolted.
Yaoying turned around and walked towards Duke Pei.
The chief historian was so anxious that he stamped his feet.
Yaoying walked up to Duke Pei and gave a junior salute toward him.
Duke Pei looked at her, nodded, and extended his hand.
The eunuch beside them hurriedly said, “Duke Pei, His Majesty said you are old in your years and can take the sedan chair….”
Duke Pei sneered and pushed the eunuch away. His old and withered hand gently patted Yaoying, “You have grown quite tall.”
Yaoying smiled lightly, “You are more robust than before.”
Duke Pei’s cloudy eyes flashed with a smile, “Coaxing me again.”
The crowd was dumbfounded.
In front of the long steps, Li De, the Son of Heaven who hurried over to greet Duke Pei, also had a surprised expression on his face.
Prime Minister Zheng Yu, Governor Pei and other ministers followed behind Li De and watched as Duke Pei and Li Yaoying joked and laughed as they slowly made their way up the steps, secretly bewildered in their hearts and exchanging astonished looks with each other.
Duke Pei has always loathed the Xie family. He and the Seventh Princess have never had any dealings over the years, so why were the two people getting along so well?
Governor Pei, Duke Pei’s nephew, greeted him with a smile first: “I didn’t know you had come. This nephew apologizes to uncle.”
Duke Pei coldly swept him a glance, ignored him, and walked to Li De with Yaoying’s help, then started to pay his respects.
Li De hurriedly held Duke Pei and said with a smile, “What brings you here?”
Duke Pei directly pushed away Li De’s hand, “This old and senile body is useless. This visit, I had come to ask Your Majesty for one thing.”
Li De did not say anything, eyes falling on Yaoying who was standing beside Duke Pei.
Duke Pei was supported by Yaoying’s hand and slowly said, “I am desolate at the knee, with only one great-grandson left, Yu lang. Back then, His Majesty’s golden words promised a princess to the Pei family. I see that the Seventh Princess is intelligent, gentle, and generous. I want to ask His Majesty for a favor. I wonder if His Majesty is willing to part?”
Before his words were finished, the looks on the ministers’ faces had already changed.
The eunuchs and guards had long ago retreated silently. Concubine Rong was also supported away by the palace maids. Only the sound of wind filled the corridor.
Li De was silent for a while and said with a smile: “Duke Pei, it’s not that zhen cannot bear to part with qiniang, but zhen had already agreed to the Yelu tribe’s marriage proposal.”
Duke Pei raised his eyes: “Oh? How come I heard that the princess who wanted to be married off to the Yelu tribe was Princess Fukang?”
The ministers were sweating profusely.
Li De looked at Yaoying again.
Yaoying’s eyes were lowered.
Duke Pei took a look around and saw that all the ministers had their heads bowed guiltily. His gaze fell back on Li De’s face and he said slowly, “Is Your Majesty breaking his promise to me? The court heard with their own ears what Your Majesty promised.”
The ministers looked embarrassed, not daring to answer but not daring to not answer.
Duke Pei’s descendants all died for Li De, and they were indeed present when Li De made the promise.
Li De sighed: “Duke Pei, please enter the hall. Zhen will tell Duke Pei the whole story.”
The wrinkles on Duke Pei’s face twitched twice and he didn’t move a step: “Your Majesty does not need to bother. I have already heard all the details of the matter.”
His voice rose abruptly, and his cloudy eyes surged with anger.
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