Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The two “brothers” slept on the ground with Lord Yuan Bao in the middle. Lord Yuan Bao was always the one with the best treatment with his own little bed. While it could not use his golden toilet any longer, the little princess had personally sewed a down feather blanket for it. Lord Yuan Bao was very satisfied—compared to Meng Fuyao, any lady was a lady.
This rabbit-like princess, Xuanyuan Yun, was still timid as a rabbit. When she first saw Meng Fuyao, she blushed, looked at Tie Cheng, blushed. Even when she saw Yuan Bao, she still blushed!
Naturally, Meng Fuyao’s appearance was different from when she was at the True Martial Arts Meet. Since she had so many human skin masks, her hobby was now to pretend to be different beautiful young men; changing one’s appearance could bring about trouble but also plenty of conveniences. Meng Fuyao was basically not afraid of any trouble, and so, naturally, she would have to plan to maximize the convenience.
The convenience it brought was apparent. At first glance, Xuanyuan Yun had taken a liking to her and especially allowed Meng Fuyao to enter the first three inner courts. But she was repeatedly instructed that the very last inner court could not be entered.
Meng Fuyao obediently promised and according to the usual schedule, brought Lord Yuan Bao in to keep her company for 2 hours every day.
This day, Lord Yuan Bao did not perform upon arrival. Rather, it grabbed Xuanyuan Yun’s hand and started to sigh. Xuanyuan Yun turned to look at Meng Fuyao in shock.
Troubled, Meng Fuyao explained, “It heard that one of its distant relatives was eaten by a wolf… it’s in the midst of grieving.”
As she explained, she closely observed Xuanyuan Yun. ‘Does she know of Zong Yue’s kidnap?’
There was nothing odd about Xuanyuan Yun’s expression, though, for some reason, she seemed to be greatly affected by Lord Yuan Bao and the corners of her eyes reddened. Sitting there, tears suddenly started to fall.
Meng Fuyao was elated. ‘Something is going on!’
Yet, her expression was one of fear as she frantically apologized, “This rabbit has caused your highness to be upset, I will bring it down to discipline it.”
“Don’t” Xuanyuan Yun quickly stopped Meng Fuyao as she wiped away her tears. “No… No… I just thought of some upsetting matters…”
Meng Fuyao kept her mouth shut as she looked at the sky blankly—she could not rush to ask her question right now. This child had been bottling up too much and would definitely spill the beans herself.
As expected, Xuanyuan Yun waited a while for Meng Fuyao to express her sympathy and regards but seeing that her reaction was as cold as others, she sighed in disappointment. Then, she hugged Lord Yuan Bao and gently commented, “You could still grieve for your own distant relatives… But I don’t even know who I should grieve for…”
Meng Fuyao continued to act like a deaf.
Xuanyuan Yun continued to ramble on without reserve. “When will Brother Yue come back… Father promised me to bring him back and return him his position. Yet, till today, there’s not a single news about it… Father said that he wouldn’t come back…”
Meng Fuyao raised her eyebrows slightly.
‘Xuanyuan Yun doesn’t know that Zong Yue is already in the hands of Xuanyuan Cheng?’
‘Xuanyuan Yun once begged Xuanyuan Cheng to return Zong Yue’s position as a royal?
‘In other words, she was the one that revealed Zong Yue’s identity and hiding place?
‘Why is this child, born in the dirtiest, darkest and unpredictable imperial family, still so childish?’
With anger, Meng Fuyao glanced at Xuanyuan Yun. This child was clothed in a pastel yellow dress. She had bright and teary eyes with exquisite, delicate features and silky smooth skin. Her cheeks were fluffy, and pink like cotton rose hibiscus, looking down at Lord Yuan Bao’s smooth fur with her slightly redden eyes. That hibiscus looked so delicate and frail as though it could not even survive the cool autumn breeze.
‘She is truly a protected, frail flower in a greenhouse, untainted by pain and sufferings of the human affairs.’
Not the Ya Lanzhu that traveled around the different countries at 12, nor the Feng Jingfan that had toured various countries in the “name of Buddha”.
Her life had no cracks; it was as bright and clear as a mirror, lighting up her life. It was always her father creating the illusion of a rosy world for her, and the biggest hardship she ever suffered was probably the night where she stayed outside Meng Fuyao’s residence all night.
No wonder her father eventually joined the True Martial Arts Meet—he was afraid of his pure daughter suffering and wanted to bring her back personally.
Meng Fuyao quietly sighed. What kind of method did Xuanyuan Yun even use to recognize Zong Yue and inform her father? That being said, it was her fault. Why did she take pity on her and let Xuanyuan Yun meet Zong Yue?
‘At this point in time, there’s no point in sighing. Since Xuanyuan Yun had no intentions to harm Zong Yue, that means that there is still hope.’
Her gaze had fixated on Xuanyuan Yun for too long. That child was after all a master of martial arts, and she quickly turned back, surprised by the intense gaze she felt. But Meng Fuyao had already kept her gaze.
She bid her goodbyes to Xuanyuan Yun and slowly made her way back to her own place. She had passed by the third inner court, she suddenly spotted a person sitting by the pond and flowers, under the pavilion.
From the back view and dressing, it seemed to be a slim man. Meng Fuyao had never seen a man’s waist so slim before, nor had she seen a man’s back view so… enchanting.
His long sleeves dangled and touched the surface of the water. The moon-white sleeves resembled a fluffy cloud, gently bringing about ripples on the surface of the water. The narrow waist and delicate fingers back-faced Meng Fuyao. It was like a flower in the blooming as his enchanting voice sang:
“Slowly, gracefully rises the moon from the sea, Cynthia the Moon Goddess flies to the east again… The goddess rises from her throne and lightens the sky… When she smiles, the world is bright… The scenery is like the Birth of Venus from the Aegean Sea…” [1. Lyrics from Beijing Opera, The Drunkened Beauty, a masterpiece by Mei Lan Fang, talking about Lady Yang Yuhuan, the Emperor’s favorite concubine that was eventually neglected him.]
Loneliness settled in the garden as the breeze swept a few blooming flowers off its branches. Under the jade, white pavilion sat a handsome, elegant man that seemed to resemble the branches of the willow.
It was actually a great voice that was filled with power but not at the expense of losing the gentleness and soothing nature of his voice. Every word of his was well-pronounced and intoxicating to its listener. He laced each word with the emotion it should have happiness, sadness, shyness. Prim and proper like an untainted celestial, yet filled allure, seducing the souls of those who love.
Meng Fuyao stood rooted to the ground. She had never watched opera before and had never understood why man like Mei Lan Fang 1 could take on the role of women and dominated it with his charm. Only personally seeing the vibrant performance of this man that she could truly understand that such beauty goes beyond gender and time, unmatched in its generation.
In her hand, Lord Yuan Bao suddenly sucked his saliva.
The slurping sound surprised that slender beauty, stopping his performance. ‘What a waste’, Meng Fuyao thought to herself when suddenly the beauty turned back and looked at her. That seductive eyes glanced at Meng Fuyao and lit up. He stood up elegantly and excitedly threw himself over.
“San Lang-”
‘San Lang…
‘I’ll be the Emperor of Tang dynasty then!’
Meng Fuyao’s mouth twitched, stumbling a step back—troubles like the ninth lady once is enough. She certainly did not want to end up being locked in a shed writing “I am dumb, I really am” again.
His alluring eyes turned to her, seducing her as his lips puckered. With eyes filled with loneliness, his slim fingers gently touched Meng Fuyao cheeks as he asked with a tone of resentment, “Could it be that His Majesty is going to the West Palace?”
‘West Palace, huh… competing for favor with Concubine Mei?’ Meng Fuyao, with a serious tone, stepped back and replied, “My Lady, His Majesty has gone to the East Palace!”
“Aiya…” The beauty covered his face and exclaimed coquettishly, “Yesterday, His Majesty ordered me to hold a banquet at my Hundred Flower Hall. Why did His Majesty suddenly go to the East Palace? Oh, it must be that b*tch’s idea! Whatever, let him be! Hmph, you can come to the banquet and serve me while I drink!”
‘What banquet even… Which damn son entered the wrong door and came to half crazy, half dumb, acting out some out “resentment” story?’
Meng Fuyao revealed a “Gao Li Shi” 2 version of a wretched smile. She casually picked up a teapot on the table and bent down to fetch a teapot of pond water. Smiling slyly, she presented the teapot to him. “My lady, here’s my toast to you.”
In the teapot, the “all-night wine” was crystal clear, reflecting the silky black hair of the beauty. He hid his lips behind his hand, and with those expressive eyes, he looked at Meng Fuyao in a manner as though as he was smiling. One could vaguely spot a moment of surprise in those eyes but had vanished completely in the charm of those eyes.
“What wine would that be?”
“All-night wine.” Meng Fuyao laughed quietly to herself. After all, she did watch Li Yu’s version of << The Drunken Beauty>> and remembered the “All-night wine” very clearly.
“Ya, ya, ya!” The beauty scowled a little, his lips pressed together. “Who would spend all night with you!”
Meng Li Shi scratched her head. ‘What’s the next line?’ She forgot.
Who would expect that the beauty remained unbothered that Meng Li Shi had forgotten the lyrics, smiling flirtatiously as he inched closer. “Since it’s named ‘All-night wine’, why don’t you and I drink… all night.”
The last two words exuded nothing but seduction. It was not something that could fall into the ears of another! Meng Fuyao held onto her forehead. ‘Ya, ya, ya! Changing the story as he pleases. This damn man is such a player!’
“What is my lady saying… How would I dare to make the emperor wear a greenhat 3 !”
The beauty bent down and swiftly leaned against Meng Fuyao, pouring the “All-night wine” down her mouth. “There are many green hats in the world, and it does not lack one from the emperor. Li Shi, let us make our way back to the Longetitivity Palace and enjoy ourselves!”
He fell into Meng Fuyao’s embrace. While pouring water down her throat, his naughty hand made its way down to a very important private part. That heavy stench of makeup and perfume suffocated Meng Fuyao, angering her. ‘You sexually deprived man, how dare you assail me with such obscene acts! And even dared to pour pond water down my throat!’
She reached out and grabbed the “lady’s” slim waist. Taking over the pot of “All-night wine”, she laughed. “Very well… I shall accompany my lady to have this 300 round battle!” And then, she dragged him to the trees around the corner.
‘Let’s go, let’s go! Let’s go back to the palace!” The beauty waved his sleeves elegantly as Meng Fuyao dragged him along. “The emperor has lied to me, let me down, destroyed my hopes! Hurray! I’ll go back to the palace with Li Shi and sleep together!”
“… Yes, let’s go back to sleep!” The edges of Meng Fuyao’s mouth twitched. ‘I’ll endure it, I’ll endure it, I’ll endure, endure, endure!’
With little effort, she dragged the beauty to the corner, and after a second, one could hear the sound of flesh against flesh. Then in another second, Meng Fuyao walked out, blowing her fists, with a calm expression.
She carried her “rabbit” and continued to walk around the third inner court, forgetting all about the “performance” she witnessed just now.
At the corner of the wall.
The beauty sprawled over the withered flowers and leaves, his hair and clothes in a mess. His face was swollen while his smooth, silky clear skin was now dirtied by the mud. Water was poured over him with his charcoal black hair stuck to his back.
He laid there unmoved, though his shoulders trembled slightly. After a while, a few guards appeared. Upon seeing him, they exclaimed, “Found him!” But then, seeing the mess he was in, they all got a shock.
