Chapter 166 Taizi is Kicked, Zi You is Rewarded
Taizi crawled out. He pretended to have lost his way because he was drunk. He went to sleep in an artificial cave and was found by a eunuch. He then went to the study in the Emperor’s Chengguang Palace Hall.
He had just walked in and the Emperor kicked him. He lowly reprimanded, “Kneel down! You beast. Say it. What is going on with Lingluo and your secret guard? Don’t tell Zhen that you don’t know who that secret guard is. Zhen gave him to you.”
Taizi pretended to lament and grieve. “Please forgive Erchen, Fuw.a.n.g. Fourth meimei and Yu Youzhong had an affair a long time ago. Erchen sent Yu Youzhong to her, but how could Erchen know…… know that fourth meimei was co muddleheaded? It was too late when Erchen found out.
“Erchen went to lecture her, but she threatened Erchen with death and wouldn’t let Erchen get rid of Yu Youzhong. Fuw.a.n.g, Erchen didn’t discipline fourth meimei and fourth meimei’s actions have blackened the imperial family’s name. Erchen is willing to be punished.”
“Then did you know that she sent someone to kill Mu Zi You?” The Emperor angrily slammed his hand down on a table.
Taizi did not admit it. “Erchen doesn’t know about this matter. Erchen likes Zi You, so how can Erchen let fourth meimei send someone to kill her?”
The Emperor’s eyes stared at Taizi, as if he wanted to see his real thoughts on his face.
Taizi was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. But he clenched his teeth, pretended to be calm, and allowed his father to scrutinize him.
The Emperor didn’t perceive anything and slowly sighed. “This time Zhen cannot protect your fourth meimei. Mu Junyuan is not a fool. Lingluo tried to harm Mu Zi You again and again. It would be strange if he has no resentment in his heart.
“The aphrodisiac that Lingluo was drugged with is probably used to harm Mu Zi You. Zhen told someone to check that wine jug. That is the Mandarin Ducks Jug. It can hold wine on two sides. One side was really added with the aphrodisiac Wild Lady. That darned yatou! She couldn’t harm someone, but ended up harming herself. How can Zhen raise such a stupid fool?!”
The Emperor probably felt better after scolding her. “Have her become a nun first to avoid this scandal. Then think of a way to get her out. Change her ident.i.ty and give her some money to marry to a faraway place.”
“Yes. Erchen obeys.” Taizi was secretly happy. He had escaped unharmed.
Just as he was about to take his leave, the Emperor suddenly asked, “Didn’t Lingluo call you away? How come you weren’t in her palace?”
Taizi’s cold sweat suddenly flowed out again. He hurriedly explained, “Erchen went, but the drug probably didn’t take affect yet. Fourth meimei only complained that she was hot. Erchen went to call the imperial doctor. Erchen felt dizzy, so Erchen went out. But Erchen was drunk……”
Taizi was guilty. The more he spoke, the softer his voice was. The Emperor thought that Taizi was feeling guilty because he had to send people to search for him everywhere and didn’t think any deeper.
Actually, even if the Emperor thought until his brain exploded, he would never think that his son and daughter were ***.
The Emperor angrily went to reprimand Yu Meilian’s father. “A prominent family’s daughter stays alone with a man and speaks nonsense. How did you teach your daughter? What did she learn from ‘Female Virtues’ and ‘Female Disciplines?’”
Minister of Revenue was scolded until his head ached. His expression was bitter as he pled, “Yes, Chen deserves to die! Please forgive Chen. Chen will strictly disciple Chen’s daughter. But Emperor said it too. Chen’s daughter’s reputation is ruined since she was alone with Shizi Ye. Please bestow Chen’s daughter to An w.a.n.g Shizi as his consort, Emperor.”
Hmm? The Emperor’s antenna immediately stood up. You want to ally with An w.a.n.g fu? You old man. You’re in control of the country’s gold, silver, and grains. How can Zhen allow you to form an alliance with An w.a.n.g fu?
Shangguan LingRan didn’t like your stupid love-struck daughter, so Zhen hadn’t worried before. But now, that dandy is suddenly interested in her. Zhen needs to ponder well.
The Emperor shook his head and said meaningfully, “You know that Zhen treats Shizi as Zhen’s own son. The Empress Dowager also loves him deep into her bones. Zhen needs to discuss his marriage with the Empress Dowager. Wait for the news.”
The Emperor did not go to discuss with the Empress Dowager. He summoned Shangguan LingRan. He pretended to look loving and smiled as he said, “Minister of Revenue, Yu daren, said that you and his daughter, Yu Meilian Xiaojie, are in love with each other. He asked Zhen to grant you a marriage. What do you think?”
Shangguan LingRan pretended to be shy as he rubbed his head. “En…… Chen did used to think that she was a love-struck fool. But now she doesn’t seem that bad. Chen will do whatever imperial uncle says.”
It seemed that Minister of Revenue really did collude with Left Prime Minister and An w.a.n.g fu. Shangguan LingRan had been adamant about not marrying this “fish without face” before, but he suddenly changed now. One had to be vigilant.
The Emperor immediately dissuaded Shangguan LingRan. “Zhen doesn’t think that this Yu Meilian is worthy of you, Ling’er. She’s not sensible or courageous. Let’s choose someone else to be the future An w.a.n.gfei. Why don’t you pick someone else? Zhen will choose a better girl for you.”
“Chen thinks that she’s very good.” Shangguan LingRan seemed to have decided on Yu Meilian and refused.
The Emperor was even more determined not to marry Yu Meilian to his nephew. You want to deceive Zhen? Do you think Zhen is a fool? Zhen will find a chance to dismiss Minister of Revenue Yu. You dare to be disloyal? Huh!
Finally, the Emperor appeased Old General Mu and Mu YingYi. “This is indeed Shangguan Lingluo’s fault. She has been spoiled by the Empress. However, there is indeed someone in the General’s Manor who tipped her off. Beloved official Mu should thoroughly investigate when you return. Of course, Zhen have to bear some responsibility. Zhen originally wanted to kill Shangguan Lingluo, but……”
“Emperor cannot. Emperor cannot.” Old General Mu had no choice but to pull out a ladder for the Emperor to get off the stage. “It’s already a very heavy punishment to relegate Fourth Gongzhu to a commoner and make her become a nun. You’er is still alive, so Emperor doesn’t need to blame yourself. Chen will immediately return and investigate this matter. Chen will not easily forgive anyone with evil intentions!”
“Yes.” The Emperor looked sad. “Your eldest daughter-in-law has to take up most of the responsibility for this matter. Shangguan Lingluo wouldn’t have succeeded without her. Yu Meilian had said that it was your daughter-in-law’s mama who had sent her a letter.”
Zi You was so angry that she almost cursed out loud. Your daughter wants to kill someone, but you can blame someone else. You want Shangguan Lingluo to live? I definitely won’t let you have your way.
Old General Mu was also extremely angry. He said coldly, “Chen will handle this matter severely when Chen returns. Please rest a.s.sured, Emperor!”
Sacrificing Shangguan Lingluo recovered the imperial family’s reputation. The Emperor warned the gongzis and xiaojies who were witnesses to Shangguan Lingluo’s scandal. Then he scolded Third w.a.n.gzi and Second Gongzhu. “Even if Lingluo is on bad terms with you, she is your sister. Something happened, but you didn’t help her hide it and actually threw stones while she was down. Are you still humans? She’s your own sister.”
“Would a sister see her jiejie in an unhappy marriage and mock her every day?” Second Gongzhu sobbed, very aggrieved.
She had thought that she would be happy marrying Teng Yixuan. But Teng Yixuan was resentful towards her because she had ruined his future.
He was so talented, so how could he be willing to live under a Gongzhu’s skirt and be a useless man?
Three months later, he got a tongfang yatou pregnant. Shangguan Yunluo was extremely angry and personally went to beat up that tongfang yatou. But she didn’t know that she herself was pregnant and thus, had a miscarriage.
That was enough to make her sad. But who knew that Shangguan Lingluo would mock her every time that she went back to the Palace? “Such bad eyes. You should resign to your fate after finding such a husband. You don’t deserve to be happy.”
She was so angry! Shangguan Lingluo didn’t want her to live well and Shangguan Yunluo wasn’t a saint. But she should still protect her?
Third w.a.n.gzi thought the same. What sister? There was only Taizi as her brother in Shangguan Lingluo’s heart. She didn’t put the rest of them in her eyes.
Such an annoying person should be kicked out of the Palace a long time ago.
Of course, these words couldn’t be spoken out loud. They both said, “Erchen will listen to Fuw.a.n.g’s guidance. We will be united and harmonious in the future.”
Xuanwu Emperor saw that his children’s att.i.tudes were good. He thought again. He couldn’t let the scandal spread out, so he summoned Zi You to the Jade Palace Hall.
A screen had been set up in the middle of the Jade Palace Hall. The Emperor said, “Mu Xiaojie, how is the training of your female medical team? Zhen wants to see the results of their training. The gongzis and xiaojies have prepared some entertainment. You can perform too. Come, come, come. Don’t be idle and join the fun.”
Zi You stood out and curtsied. She slightly smiled and said, “Then Chennu will perform a Sword Dance with the female medical team, Emperor.”
“Permitted.” The Emperor seemed to be in a bad mood.
Zi You curtsied and went to prepare. She changed into white martial attire.
She was holding her finger-wide Yinxiao Sword that was glowing silver. Rong Yunhe, Xie Changsheng, Sun Xinsheng, and Luo Weicheng wore blue military attire and held swords too. Forty-six females wearing red military attire holding swords valiantly came to the hall. The first knelt to the Emperor and then to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
The Empress Dowager knew about Shangguan Lingluo’s matter. She was so angry that her hands and feet were cold and her head pained.
So, she and the Empress were forcing smiles to give off the appearance of harmony in the imperial family.
Only Liu Guifei sitting on the Empress’s right was smiling sincerely. She was the proudest person today. She inadvertently received the right to manage half of the harem.
The forty-six female medical members soon separated into four teams under their captains’ command.
Zi You waved her hand. Two guards started moved a drum over. Zi You put down her sword and picked up the drumstick. She waved her jade-like arm and hit the drum. The pa.s.sionate and powerful drumming suddenly sounded in the Jade Palace Hall. Everyone’s spirits were roused.
The four captains led the forty-six females to wave their swords and dance with the drumbeats. They changed into a variety of formations. Although it wasn’t particularly difficult, each person was full of energy and spirit.
For a moment, everyone seemed to see a mighty army. Axes and swords were raised to the sky. Flags flown. The soldiers’ armor shone. Everyone was heroic. How spectacular and mighty this scene was! This made everyone feel the high morale and strength of this team.
The fifty slaves, other than Rong Yunhe, had never learned martial arts before. But they had the strength to pick up a sword and wave it around in just three months. This was quite difficult.
The Emperor understood this point. So, he was secretly thinking while he was watching them. He was shocked. This little yatou Mu Zi You was really capable!
She could train this group of slaves into what they were now in just three months. It must have been difficult for her.
At this time, Zi You quickly drummed. After the rapid drumbeats stopped, she arced in a beautiful curve and knocked the drumsticks twice. The team of fifty people immediately transformed into a circle.
Zi You put down the drumstick and picked up her Yinxiao Sword. She jumped in the air like a beautiful swallow taking flight into the circle.
The fifty people were on the outside and rotated, while chanting loudly. “I raised a lantern while intoxicated and looked at my sword. I dreamed of going back to the army. The battlefield of soldiers in autumn is separated by 800 miles and fifty bows. The horses moved fast. Bows were fast like thunderbolts. (Borrowed from Southern Song Dynasty Xin Qiji’s patriotic poem.)”
Zi You waved her Yinxiao Sword and danced.
For a moment, everyone could only see a dragon leaping and a phoenix swaying vividly and beautifully under the red brocade.
As everyone was sighing, Zi You swished out rings and rings of sword aura, as if it thundered and with a clear light through the sea. Finally, she flipped back in a curve. The fifty members gathered around her. Their formation turned into a swallow.
The chanting suddenly stopped. They all swished to the ground and neatly put their swords away. They quickly lined up in four rows. Zi You led them in the front. They all knelt down on one leg and loudly shouted, “Wishing Great Yan millions of years of prosperity! Wishing the Emperor boundless longevity. Wishing Great Yan……”
The Emperor looked at Zi You and asked the Empress Dowager, “What do you think, Muhou?”
Maybe because Zi You’s drumming had a rousing effect or maybe because Zi You and the fifty people’s Sword Dance boosted morale, the Empress Dowager’s spirit and head felt a lot better.
She smiled and replied, “Not bad. Not bad. Even Aijia is spirited.”
“Haha……” The Emperor laughed for the first time since Shangguan Lingluo’s matter. “Very good! You trained fifty slaves into soldiers in just three months. It’s really not easy. Female medical team commander Mu Zi You is rewarded fifty gold taels, 1,000 silver taels, a set of Yongshi armor, and a Yingxiong Sword!”