The Ugly Empress

—

When Rui Xue entered Feng w.a.n.g"s bedchamber, she saw the bed curtain was down.

She walked over to the bed and gently opened the curtain, but found Feng Ming wasn"t asleep. He was lying on his side staring at the pattern on the quilt.

Rui Xue said, “Da w.a.n.g, do you want to get up? Master ordered me to bring you some ointment.”

When Feng Ming heard Rui Xue mentioning Zhao Lu, his eyes suddenly lit up, but then they dimmed just as quickly. Knowing Zhao Lu"s personality, of course it was impossible for him sending him ointments. Most probably, Rui Xue herself had gone to get it and lied.

Feng w.a.n.g didn"t make a move to get up, still lying down he said, “Teng Country"s Princess is going to enter Xue Country"s territory in a few days, isn"t she?”

“Yes, this servant also heard that this time, Xue Houyang, Marquis Wannian came to personally welcome her. Master has been busy lately because of this… Da w.a.n.g, don"t be angry because Master cannot visit you, Master says he"s upset thinking you"re upset.”

Feng Ming smiled and said, “I know.”

Just then, the servant outside announced that Minister Zuo was requesting an audience.

Rui Xue frowned, “Da w.a.n.g, if you"re feeling unwell, I"ll send Minister Zuo away.”

“No need.”

Feng Ming got up and let Rui Xue helped him freshen up and change his clothes. Then he let her took Minister Zuo to the warm room.

Minister Zuo didn"t take a seat, as soon as Feng w.a.n.g entered the room, he immediately dropped down to the floor to kowtow, “Please, Da w.a.n.g, let this old subject to resign and return to my hometown.”

Feng Ming sighed as he helped Minister Zuo off the ground, he said, “Minister, why are you saying that? Do you have dissatisfaction towards me?”

“This old subject doesn"t dare! I may brave death but I don"t dare slander Your Majesty, but if Da w.a.n.g allows this old subject to explain, many officials had filed a complain against Marquis Zhulu, and today at the morning court he"d fired a number of officials from their post…”

Tears streamed down Minister Zuo"s eyes, still kneeling he continued, “This old subject understand that Your Majesty"s relationship with Marquis Zhulu is very close, but I beg Da w.a.n.g to just let this old subject go. Let me resign and go back to my hometown.”

Finishing his pleas, Minister Zuo"s heart beat rapidly. He was unsure if his pleas would be considered offending for His Majesty. But after a very long moment of silence, he risked looking up at Da w.a.n.g.

Feng w.a.n.g had his back to Minister Zuo and was supporting himself with one hand on the table, no one knew what he was thinking about.

Then suddenly Rui Xue cried out loud as Feng Ming swayed and fell down to the ground.

Rui Xue rushed forward to catch Feng Ming, when she touched him she found he was burning up and seemed to be unconscious. His eyes were squeezed shut and there was a crease between his eyebrows; Feng Ming looked to be in a lot of pain.

—

Zhao Lu was having guests at his residence when suddenly, looking anxious and alarmed, Rui Xue rushed to him and said, “Master, will you please hurry go to the palace, Da w.a.n.g has fainted.”

Zhao Lu"s heart tightened as if someone was squeezing it. In reflex, he stood from his seat, but then stopped himself.

The ministers all tactfully excused themselves and said they"d come back later.

When all the guests left Rui Xue said again, “Master, please hurry. Just now, Minister Zuo entered the palace to complain about you, Da w.a.n.g didn"t say anything, but he might be dissatisfied with you… Maybe you should persuade Da w.a.n.g, just in case?”

Zhao Lu hesitated for a moment, then said, “Prepare my horse, I"m going to enter the palace.”

—

Because a new consort was entering the palace, half of Inner Palace"s population was displeased. But the other half only regarded the matter as a no big deal; after all Teng was a defeated country, even if the new consort was very beautiful and talented, her status wasn"t that important.

Since Xue Junliang ordered the royal physician to prescribe a medicine, Teng Yun definitely felt the pain on his face had got better. Xiu Yao was the happiest of all. Her mistress" appearance was getting prettier, added with her graceful figure, they wouldn"t need to worry even if Xue w.a.n.g was to take many new wives.

Xiu Yao was also a good learner; she"d began carefully supervising her mistress" meal, reminding the Empress to take and to apply the medicines. Gradually, the improvement began to be more obvious.

When it was announced that a new consort was coming, the state of the Inner Palace had become the opposite of quiet. And now, there was another news that the Ugly Empress" face was beautiful like a G.o.ddess. Many anxious consorts had been visiting the Empress, just to be able to walk pa.s.s Yunfeng Palace"s gate to investigate whether the news was true.

Her Ladyship Defei was able to stay calm and collected. Only, when she went to Yunfeng Palace, Teng Yun was not there. The Little Crown Prince, Xue Pei had dragged Teng Yun to the training ground.

Since the day Teng Yun showed his skill in archery, the Crown Prince had been secretly admiring the Empress. Xue Pei no longer thought the Empress was a mere woman pretending to be knowledgeable in theories of war.

Teng Yun didn"t want to get close to the Crown Prince. After all, he was an imperial prince of Xue, the next in line to Xue w.a.n.g"s throne. Teng and Xue had been enemies for more than a decade, their mutual resentment and hatred had grown deep. Apart from debt of life and blood, Teng Yun didn"t know what else their two countries could give to each other.

The Crown Prince, of course didn"t know about Teng Yun"s reluctance. He was determined to stay close to the Empress. He always wanted the Empress to teach him both theories and martial arts.

This reminded Teng Yun a lot of things from his past. When he was still very young, he and his brothers had all studied and practiced martial art together. Later when they"d grown up, they began to form cliques.

Perhaps it was a good thing that among Xue Junliang"s harem, there was only this one son.

When Defei arrived at the training ground, she saw the Crown Prince pestering the Ugly Empress to show him equestrian archery.

Teng Yun, a light bow in one hand, rode on a horse"s back, his posture straight. In one fluid motion, he took a long arrow from a quiver on his back, aimed the arrow and shot it. The arrow hit straight at the bull"s eye.

Defei clapped her hands and laughed, “Your Majesty the Empress is really skilled in martial arts. Everyone says that Feng Country people are all experts on horse"s back. Today, I"ve seen it for myself.”

Just as Defei finished talking, Teng Yun was urging his horse to turn around. Sure enough, the bruises on his face had disappeared, and his skin gradually revealed its true color. Seemed like the royal physician didn"t do his job by half, because Teng Yun"s skin looked as healthy as a newborn baby"s skin.

Because riding a horse needed energy, his skin was covered with a fine sheen of sweat, and his slightly exposed neckline had a touch of pink.

Defei was astonished.

Usually, Xue Junliang preferred delicate and beautiful women. Well, which king didn"t like delicate and beautiful women? Women who were good listeners and could understand a king"s heart after a tiring day at the court?

But a king"s mind could constantly change. It wasn"t impossible one day a king got tired of seeing beautiful things everyday.

When she realized no one gave her a response, Defei laughed again, acting very friendly, “Elder sister"s face has got so much better, you begin to look like a very beautiful woman. It"s no wonder His Majesty takes a liking to you.”

Noting the peculiar way Defei said things, Xue Pei immediately understood. Defei was usually the most favorite consort, she felt she was secure thinking Xue w.a.n.g would always back her up. Defei also thought that, though the Empress" face had almost healed, she was still inferior to Defei.

Also earlier she said that ‘Feng Country people are all experts on horse"s back" as if she was complimenting the Empress" skills. But if her words were listened carefully, it was clear she was implying that the Empress had a foreign country"s surname and was skilled in martial arts; having a person like the Empress in the Palace would someday bring calamity.

[T/N : ‘Yang hu wei huan‘ literally means to nurture a tiger invites calamity. Taking in something/someone who was wild and strong could be risky and dangerous.]

Xue Pei was about to reproach Defei but Teng Yun let out a cold laughter. Teng Yun gently urged his horse to walk and stop next to Defei before saying coldly, “Xue w.a.n.g takes a liking to me or not is one thing. You, a mere consort, not paying respect to an Empress is another thing entirely.”

—

Xue Junliang was reviewing court reports in the warm room when he heard someone wailing loudly outside. He sent Jiang Yu out to take a look, and when she came back inside Jiang Yu reported, “It"s Her Ladyship Defei"s personal maidservant, saying the Empress has been harboring a resentment towards Defei for a long time, and is now torturing Defei at the training ground.”

Xue Junliang didn"t react for a few seconds, then he laughed out loud. This Ugly Empress somehow always managed to surprise him.

He let the maidservant come in, and as soon as she entered the room she kowtowed on the floor and wailed, “Your Majesty, please safe Her Ladyship Defei…”

The maid sniffled, crying miserably. She wiped her tears before adding, “My mistress was just complimenting the Empress, saying the Empress was very skilled and that Feng Country people were all expert on horse"s back. But the Empress accused my mistress of speaking rudely… Your Majesty, please hurry save Defei!”

Xue Junliang, without doubt, knew that the maid was exaggerating the small bits while avoiding saying the important parts. He also knew that Defei was spoiled and arrogant. He"d never said anything about it; she didn"t really cause anything serious, so he was too lazy to take care of her.

Xue Junliang wished he could go see the excitement for himself, but if he went to the training ground, Defei would be wailing to the sky and cause his ear to bleed. Therefore, he instructed Jiang Yu to act as his messenger.

Jiang Yu leaned closer as Xue w.a.n.g whispered his message. The maidservant thought Xue w.a.n.g ordered Head Servant Jiang Yu to help Defei. She kowtowed again to thank Xue w.a.n.g, her face was alight with joy.

Thinking she"d come bearing reinforcement, the maidservant rushed to the training ground and to Defei"s side in order to stop the torture.

Defei"s bruised arrogance came back as she saw Jiang Yu. She also thought Xue w.a.n.g had sent Jiang Yu to help her, so she acted innocent and pitiful.

Teng Yun had ordered servants to bring chairs over, and he sat leisurely with the Crown Prince at the seat next to him. Behind him, Xiu Yao stood silently, not wanting to be involve in the fight. She certainly knew what kind of temper her mistress had. On the surface, her mistress could talk nicely, might seem laid-back and easy-going. But if the Empress was provoked… Just thinking about that time she received a slap on her cheek, Xiu Yao"s heart began to palpitate.

Jiang Yu greeted the Empress and Xue Pei, then said with a smile, “This old servant is sent only to pa.s.s His Majesty"s message, will immediately go after that.”

Turning to address Defei, Jiang Yu said, “His Majesty said, since the Phoenix Seal is still in the Empress" hands, then everything inside the Inner Palace is for the Empress to handle as she pleases. In the future, anyone who comes to the warm room without permission will be punished severely.”

Finished saying, Jiang Yu bowed to Teng Yun and Xue Pei, then excused herself.

Defei"s eyes widened in shock, couldn"t believe what she"d just heard.

Teng Yun also couldn"t believe he"d stooped so low as to have a petty fight with Defei. But honestly, he"d been extremely vexed by Xue Junliang"s wives lately. Every day, this consort or that concubine would come with the pretense of paying respect, but some of them actually wanted to probe him, some wanted to provoke him, some even wanted to rope him in.

Defei also had to come at this time, when early tomorrow morning Teng Shang was going to enter the capital city. Teng Yun was high-strung right now, and Defei had served as a punching bag.

In the wake of Jiang Yu"s message, many things suddenly changed inside the Inner Palace. Defei had lost Xue w.a.n.g"s favor, because apparently having a pretty face was useless. His Majesty preferred someone who had both integrity and talent; additional point if that someone was also skilled in martial art.

That evening, Jiang Yu asked Xue w.a.n.g who he"d want to sleep with tonight. Putting down his red writing brush on the table, Xue Junliang ma.s.saged his forehead. Suddenly he thought of something; with a mysterious smile on his face, he turned the Empress" nameplate.

—

[T/N : LOL! I mean, do I still have to explain about nameplates at this point? I"m sure you can deduce yourself, right?]