The Ugly Empress

—

Xue Junliang was holding Teng Yun"s hand all the time, making Teng Yun feel uncomfortable. From time to time, he tried to pry his hand away but Xue Junliang was completely unaware. Xue Junliang might be too focused on showering his Empress with tenderness.

When it was time for dinner, he even personally put dishes onto Teng Yun"s plate. Xiu Yao watched this scene feeling overwhelmingly grateful for her mistress" good fortune. After dinner, Xiu Yao was sent to summon the royal physician.

The scabs on Teng Yun"s face had started to fell off, revealing the pink and tender skin underneath, but the drying scabs were itchy and the skin around them were red and dry. Teng Yun himself wasn"t bothered, but Xue Junliang looked at the scabs closely and ordered the physician to prescribe an ointment.

The royal physician promised repeatedly that after all the scabs fell off, there would be no traces left. Only after hearing that, Xue Junliang allowed the physician left.

Xue Junliang was helping applying the ointment on Teng Yun when he suddenly smiled, “Aifei is so fragrant.”

Teng Yun thought the other person must be kidding him, so he didn"t respond other than stating, “It"s the scent of the ointment.”

Xue Junliang sniffed the ointment jar and shook his head, “It"s Aifei that smelt pleasant, not the ointment.”

Then he held Teng Yun in his embrace before gently kissing his forehead.

The kiss was warm on Teng Yun"s skin. It was brief but left Teng Yun"s heart beating like drum. This simple kiss somehow felt even more terrible than time Xue Junliang kissed him pa.s.sionately. Frowning deeply, Teng Yun leaned back to put some distance between them.

[T/N : Terrible or terrible? *eyebrow wiggle wiggle*]

Xue Junliang played innocent at Teng Yun"s reaction and feigned a slight surprise, “Am I so heavy? Did I hurt you?”

Of course, Teng Yun couldn"t say the true reason. He only pursed his lips and said, “I don"t want to bother Your Majesty, I can apply the ointment myself.”

This time Xue Junliang didn"t protest, he gave the jar to Teng Yun then said, “It"s already so late, I"ll better go back. In a few days, Teng Shang will come to the Palace to pay you a formal visit. He"s going to marry into the Xue family, Aifei as the Empress must give him some directions so as not to make him be a laughingstock by other people.”

When Xue Junliang finally left, Teng Yun felt free to fret over Xue Houyang"s intentions. Based on what Xue w.a.n.g had said, was it true that Xue Houyang had feelings towards Teng Shang?

As far as Teng Yun knew, there had never been actual interactions between Teng Shang and Marquis Wannian, nor there direct confrontation on the battlefield. At the time Xue Houyang was appointed as a military general, Teng Shang had already been called back to the capital city by Teng w.a.n.g. A short time later, over a trivial matter, Teng w.a.n.g had stripped Teng Shang off his military power and restricted him against stepping a foot outside the capital city gate. Teng Shang and Marquis Wannian had never met each other, let alone having an intimate relationship.

Regarding Teng Shang agreeing to marry Xue Houyang, after thinking about it for some time, Teng Yun admitted he could somewhat understand Teng Shang"s decision. Teng Shang was fiercely loyal to Teng Country and certainly would not let himself die so soon.

In fact, as long as he was permitted by Xue Junliang, Xue Houyang could do anything as he pleased and was invincible. His intentions in marrying Teng Shang could have been made under Teng Shang"s influence.

But still, no matter how Teng Yun thought about it, he still couldn"t understand why Xue Junliang let it happen. Taking in an enemy might invite calamity; it wasn"t something Xue Junliang would possibly risk doing, regardless how much he loved his younger brother. Teng Yun reckoned Xue Junliang had some hidden plans.

—

Marquis Wannian"s wedding was considered a major event in Xue Country, therefore the occasion had to be carried out in proper and orderly manner. Added that Xue w.a.n.g would personally administer the wedding, naturally no one dared to say bad things about it.

Xue Houyang and Teng Shang entered the Imperial Palace together. Teng Shang, as a soon-to-be wife, went to the Inner Palace to pay formal visit to the Empress. Xue Houyang, on the other hand, went to chat with Xue Junliang.

Looking how pride shined all over Xue Houyang"s features, Xue Junliang couldn"t help but smile and said, “Look how proud you are of this marriage! Where is the ambitious Marquis that I know? Don"t let people think this Marquis is the type that is afraid of his own wife.”

Xue Houyang laughed giddily and said, “Your Majesty, please stop making fun of me.”

Xue Junlaing said, “Although I agree to your marriage, you must remember that Teng Shang is not a simple man. His mind is probably much deeper than even you. Whether you can control him or not, it all depends on yourself. There is nothing else I can help you with.”

Xue Houyang sighed, “To tell the truth… I have never imagined this would ever come true.”

Xue Junliang said, “I can see that the two of you get along well, at least Teng Shang is not avoiding you…” The sentence trailed off before he cleared his throat, “Houyang, let"s say there is a wife that is always avoiding her own husband, what do you think the husband should do to make her not avoid him?”

“Huh…” Xue Houyang hesitated, “Your Majesty… Chen-di has not yet married, so… still not know much about a problem like that.”

Xue Junliang waved a hand, “It"s nothing, don"t worry.”

Xue Junliang said that, but Xue Houyang somehow felt Xue Junliang meant to say something else. Wanting to offer a solution, he carelessly added, “Maybe there is another man in the wife"s heart?”

Hearing this, Xue Junliang"s face dimmed in a blink of an eye. Xue Houyang couldn"t help thinking he"d unwittingly said something he shouldn"t.

Xue Junliang pondered over this possibility and suddenly tensed. He recalled Teng Qianyi saying that the Empress and Teng Shang might be old acquaintances, and he"d just now sent Teng Shang to go see the Empress.

Xue Houyang had started to sweat bullets before he heard Xue Junliang said, “Let"s go to Yunfeng Palace. It"s almost time for lunch, we can all have lunch together.”

—

Teng Shang was sent to see the Empress because he was about to marry into the family. But Teng Shang, after all, was a man, so he couldn"t easily see the Empress" face. Therefore, he must be separated with a bead curtain.

A manservant led Teng Shang to the main room. Xiu Yao informed him that the Empress was in the tea room, so she led him there.

The tea room was situated just next to the main room. Through the door, there was a curtain. After the curtain, there was a desk with a small bookcase and the bead curtain next to it. Inside the bead curtain, sat a beautiful woman.

Teng Shang lowered himself to the ground and respectfully said, “Teng Shang pays respect to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Through the bead curtain, Teng Yun could see Teng Shang clearly. But the other person hung his head so low, Teng Yun couldn"t see his expression.

Except when they had formed an affiliation, ministers from neighboring countries didn"t need to kneel in front of other country"s royalties. They only knelt for their own rightful king and their birth parents.

Before today, Teng Shang was only a minister escorting the new consort so he did not keel in front of Teng Yun. But this time, he was no longer a minister from Teng, but a soon-to-be wife of Marquis Wannian, Xue Houyang; he had to kneel.

Teng Yun tried his best to stay calm as he said, “Stand up. Xiu Yao, bring a seat.”

Teng Shang"s polite gestures never once wavered. He thanked the Empress before taking a seat.

The two people both happened to be the introverted type. Teng Shang didn"t know that the person in front of him was Teng Yun, naturally he had nothing to say. While Teng Yun didn"t know how to start a conversation.

Teng Shang was a man. It was impossible for Teng Yun to send all the palace maids out lest he attracted suspicions. The Imperial Harem walls had many eyes and ears, he wasn"t fool enough to create trouble. In front of these bystanders, Teng Yun couldn"t talk openly.

For a long time, both of them said nothing and the atmosphere was awkward. Xiu Yao kept her gaze to the floor respectfully but couldn"t help thinking her mistress might not like this Teng Shang. It was no wonder; a male wife was something too shocking for the society; of course the Empress didn"t like him. It would be strange if she did.

Xiu Yao discreetly went out to refill the tea pot. She came out of the tea room and was just coming into the main room when she saw Xue Junliang arrived with Xue Houyang behind him.

Xiu Yao didn"t hear the servant announcing Xue w.a.n.g"s arrival, so she was very surprised. She started to kneel, but was stopped by Xue Junliang when she was about to open her mouth.

Xue Junliang didn"t go straight to the tea room, instead asked, “Has Teng Shang come over?”

“Answering Your Majesty, he has come but haven"t left yet. He is in the tea room.”

Xue Junliang turned towards the tea room, leaving Xiu Yao bewildered.

Xue Junliang didn"t let people announce his arrival; quietly disappeared into the tea room. He was greeted by a pulled-down curtain and complete silence. When he pa.s.sed the curtain, he saw Teng Shang sat on the side while the Empress sat behind the bead curtain; nothing looked amiss or improper. Only then his heart calmed down.

When Teng Shang saw Xue Junliang, he readily stood and knelt on the floor to greet Xue Junliang. Teng Shang"s seemingly calm exterior made Xue Houyang uneasy.

He might have not met Teng Shang more than once, but their two countries had been caught in war for years. It was inevitable Xue Houyang had heard many times about Minister Shang"s character.

Seeing Teng Shang kneeling in front of Xue Country"s royalties, Xue Houyang knew Teng Shang must be harboring resentment.

Xue Junliang walked over to Teng Yun; a palace maid parted the bead curtain without being ordered. Teng Yun also stood to greet Xue Junliang.

Xue Junliang helped Teng Yun get up before addressing Teng Shang, “Master Teng Shang doesn"t need to be so courteous. Houyang, help him stand.”

Xue Houyang stepped forward to help Teng Shang off the floor. Teng Shang didn"t refuse his touch; his conduct was still calm; as if there was nothing out of ordinary.

Xue Junliang said, “Has the royal physician come here?”

Hearing Xue Junliang talking to him, Teng Yun answered, “He has.”

“Don"t forget to apply your ointment. The physician said it needs to be applied regularly to show results.” Xue Junliang reminded as if he was truly concerned; as if he didn"t care letting Teng Shang and Xue Houyang hear him.

After giving Teng Yun a lengthy reminder, Xue Junliang turned to Xue Houyang, “After Houyang"s wedding, I need you to escort the Empress as she goes visit Feng Country.”

“This subject will obey,” Xue Houyang said, “Chen-di will ensure Her Majesty returns to the Palace safely.”

Xue Junliang smiled and said, “Of course, I trust you. There is no one I trust more than you, Houyang.”

At this time, Jiang Yu came in to report, “Da w.a.n.g, there"s a secret note for you.”

Xue Junliang let her bring in the note, which she immediately did.

Xue Junliang unfolded the note. The piece of paper was small and the text on it was even smaller. It was reasonable that even if Teng Yun stood very close to Xue Junliang, he should not be able to see the text.

But Teng Yun didn"t know whether it was deliberate or not that, when Xue Junliang read the note, he tilted it slightly and Teng Yun could clearly see the small letters.

— Feng w.a.n.g has schemes.

The inscription, however, Teng Yun couldn"t read because it was covered by Xue Junliang"s thumb.

After reading the note, Xue Junliang slipped it into his wide sleeve and never mentioned it again. He ordered Jiang Yu to prepare lunch in Yunfeng Palace before inviting Xue Houyang and Teng Shang to stay and have lunch together.

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