Second trial chapter of the week~ Another filler chapter I suppose. Some idiotic scene of Chu Xun trying to outsmart Mei Qian Deng (well, we know the ending for that sort of problem). And someone had finally arrived at the capital… Can you guess who is it?
Chapter 28 – Things in Pair
Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase!)
During the Summer Solstice, the Grand Princess entered the palace.
To pet.i.tion the Emperor for a peaceful divorcement.
At that time, Chu Xun was exchanging blows with Di Mu Yang.
He carefully thought before. Although in the past he couldn"t defeat Mei Qian Deng and hence didn"t dare to fight with this boor, but! That didn"t mean in the future he couldn"t defeat Mei Qian Deng! In the past, he disliked learn martial arts because he was scared of pain. However after experiencing these few months of torment including his spirit and flesh, Chu Xun deeply thought there was nothing else in the world that could topple his steadfast willpower!
"Your Highness, if Young Master Mei uses this move, you just need to use this move to stop him." Di Mu Yang demonstrated once for him.
Chu Xun tried three times before he grasped it.
Di Mu Yang was excited. My family"s Crown Prince is truly a naturally gifted one! Just by simply teaching him a move, he would master it in less than three tries. If he had practised martial arts since small, by now his martial arts would surely be above Di Mu Yang.
"Later, go and find Mei Qian Deng to have some compet.i.tion again. See if he still have any other showy moves." In most of this month, Di Mu Yang would chase after Mei Qian Deng"s b.u.t.t every day to ask her for a simple compet.i.tion. Although it was by Chu Xun"s demand, Di Mu Yang was truly willing. After all, Mei Qian Deng"s martial arts were wholly exquisite. Di Mu Yang had learnt a lot from her.
Mei Qian Deng: ……
After Xiao Jing Zi received news from the little eunuch in charge of Imperial Study, he hastily went to report to Chu Xun, "Crown Prince, Grand Princess had entered the palace."
"Imperial Eldest Sister?" Chu Xun"s eyes shone instantly. During the Anxi trip, the past between Nan Bai Cheng and Grand Princess had made the Crown Prince became extremely curious of this Imperial Eldest Sister.
He specially made some indirect inquiries only to find out that the Grand Princess did marry to that year"s zhuangyuan.
"Heard she came to pet.i.tion the Emperor for a peaceful divorcement."
Chu Xun was so shocked that the bamboo sword in his hand dropped. The Anxi matter from beginning until the end was heavily concealed. By right, the Grand Princess should be aware of nothing. Even if merely from outward appearance that Nan Bai Cheng"s wife pa.s.sed away, with the Grand Princess far away in the capital, unless she specially kept a lookout she absolutely wouldn"t know it. However, why did she came now to join in the fun too?
It was possible. This pair of once loved each other had no connection with each other. Only that one had coincidentally lost his wife while the other one wanted to divorce.
Chu Xun asked, "What else Imperial Eldest Sister said to Imperial Father?"
Xiao Jing Zi shook his head.
"Go, go and take a look." Chu Xun called for Di Mu Yang. Just as they went out of Ming Jue Palace, Chu Xun instantly saw Mei Qian Deng was standing by the palace wall waiting for them. Chu Xun was surprised. Isn"t this boor reciting Mencius inside his room?
The Grand Princess" name was Yin. Her age nearing thirty, with clear, distant look and had an immortal temperament. She was seven parts similar to Chu Xun but much cold and arrogant. After all, as the eldest princess, she too was a person who was heavily doted before Chu Xun was born.
By the time Chu Xun arrived, Chu Yin had just came out from the Imperial Study. Looking from afar, her expression was ice-cold which was out of tune with the current summer season. Chu Xun fished out a small handkerchief to wipe his sweat. "Imperial Sister……"
"Xun er." She nodded. There was no change in her countenance. She didn"t treat Chu Xun dearly. However, Chu Xun was very cold to everyone, had never treated anyone with partiality. The cold and aloof Grand Princess. That was a famous person in this world.
"It has been a long time not seeing Imperial Sister. Is Imperial Sister well?" When Chu Xun hastened over, he was very excited but now that he was facing the Grand Princess, he incessantly turned reserved. It was exactly the appearance of someone with guilty conscience.
The Grand Princess" age was almost double Chu Xun"s. If she gave birth early, Chu Xun this little uncle would not be older than his nephew. She had experienced the worldly affairs, how could she unable to see through the nosiness and probing underneath the Crown Prince"s eyes? She acted as if she didn"t know as she answered, "Not good, not bad."
"Why I don"t see fuma[1] Bai?"
The Crown Prince"s acting was self-recognised as the world"s number one. He asked with such calmness, asked until he himself didn"t think this was being nosy about Grand Princess.
The Grand Princess glanced at him. On her face, there was no anger. "Xun er today is especially solicitous."
Chu Xun was at a loss for words.
"It can"t be that you"re looking for fuma to ask for help?"
"None!"
"There"s matter in my residence. Xun er don"t have to see me out."
"Imperial Sister……!" Other than being nosy, he was actually really cared of his biological sister. He didn"t wish for Grand Princess"s peaceful divorce to have any relation with Nan Bai Cheng.
The Grand Princess indifferently smiled. The lofty imperial palace set off her freedom from this world. She was a natural n.o.ble.
"Grand Princess" fuma is Bai Qiu Qu. He is the one who plotted against Nan Bai Cheng that year."
Mei Qian Deng suddenly said.
Chu Xun fiercely turned his head around. He felt it was truly inconceivable. Mei Qian Deng had just entered the palace a few months and yet why she knew more than him?!
"Mei Qian Deng! How do you know it?"
Mei Qian Deng didn"t reply. Actually it was Mo Biao who told her. Mo Biao this young lady was particularly enthusiastic towards Mei Qian Deng. In the beginning, it was because she admired Mei Qian Deng could distinguish the difference between Zhu Li and her. Gradually, a favourable impression grew in her heart. The more she looked at Mei Qian Deng, the more she liked Mei Qian Deng. If she could marry to Young Master Mei this sort of personage, in this life she had no wish anymore.
"Does Imperial Sister know?"
Mei Qian Deng shook her head.
Until now, the Grand Princess couldn"t understand why Nan Bai Cheng turned her down only to marry a woman from brothel. At that time, her heart was like dead ashes. Now that the Emperor had promised to decree marriage for the Grand Princess, a monarch never make joking remarks.
When the Grand Princess was leaving the palace, a horse carriage had just stopped before the palace gate. Nan Bai Cheng came down while carrying a widower"s sorrow.
The snow disaster in Anxi Prefecture until today had been two months later. The recovery works had already completely finished. Nan Bai Cheng as the Senior Provincial Officer of Anxi, naturally came to the capital to report which was submitting all the expenditures for the snow disaster to the auditing administration for audit.
Nan Bai Cheng"s appearance was fair and reasonable.
The Grand Princess sat in the imperial carriage while looking back at Nan Bai Cheng for a long time.
That year, after Nan Bai Cheng got tanhua rank for the imperial examination, he asked to be a.s.signed to outside the capital. Since then, he had never seen the Grand Princess. After so many years, she was still far above the ma.s.ses and incomparable to others. On the other hand, he was still like that year outside the palace as he gave a subject to monarch salutation.
Chu Yin had no expression as she coldly received his salute.
She was no longer that year"s little princess who was willing to lower her stance for a man. Once, she even thought of imploring, crying as she asked Nan Bai Cheng not to leave her behind, not to marry other person.
"Lord Nan, it has been hard this journey of yours."
"It is weichen"s obligation. Thanking the Grand Princess for the concern."
The Grand Princess didn"t say further as she sat inside the imperial carriage, slowly left.
Nan Bai Cheng sent her off with his eyes before standing straight before the palace gate. With a fling of his clothes, he suddenly knelt. All the guards in charge of the gate were shocked. The head guard hastily came forward to ask, "Lord Nan, what are you doing?"
Chu Xun didn"t manage to probe anything from the Grand Princess, only a word or two of news. He resentfully returned. He was not really happy and Mei Qian Deng was idling in front of him which annoyed him.
"Boor, en garde[2]!" He saw that there was no one around them hence he conveniently took out the bamboo sword and charged at Mei Qian Deng"s nape.
It was as if Mei Qian Deng had eyes grown on the back of her head as she moved nearly at the same time with Chu Xun. Her upper body leaned forward with her left leg supported on the ground and her right leg raised backward. Her right leg executed a flying kick.
"Aiyo……"
Chu Xun didn"t expect Mei Qian Deng"s foot martial arts were this excellent. He was just rotating his body to strike a pose when he suddenly felt his b.u.t.t was abruptly kicked by her traceless leg. He ruthlessly tumbled onto the ground. d.a.m.ned **, my b.u.t.t is hurt too.
b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Why is it different from what Di Mu Yang expectation?!
Xiao Jing Zi hastily came over to report for the second time, "Your Highness! Your Highness! There"s another big problem!" Entering his vision was Mei Qian Deng standing while Chu Xun laying on his stomach. The atmosphere was not really harmonious. He quickly helped Chu Xun stand up. Then, he tactfully said, "Your Highness, why are you sitting on the ground? The ground is cold."
"What happened?" Chu Xun feigned indifferent.
"Senior Provincial Officer of Anxi, Nan Bai Cheng is kneeling in front of the palace gate, wanting to accuse someone before the Emperor."
[A Mini Theatre]
After Chu Xun returned to the palace, as usual he ate with the Emperor and the Empress. At the same time, he must bring along Mei Qian Deng.
Mei Qian Deng on the dining table was basically not talkative as she only engrossed herself in eating.
At first, Chu Xun didn"t think much of it. Not talking when eating was a rule. Plus, on the dining table of the imperial family, one must not speak carelessly. Speaking wrongly, there would be only one last time and no next time. It was better not to talk.
Later, when Chu Xun returned from the trip, the Emperor and the Empress noticed something was wrong.
"Xun er, eat slowly." The Empress was worried.
Chu Xun nodded his head while simultaneously looked fiercely at Mei Qian Deng.
Mei Qian Deng ignored him.
No, he must eat more than Mei Qian Deng!
Chu Xun stretched out his chopsticks, originally wanted to pick that chicken leg inside the small plate near Mei Qian Deng.
Mei Qian Deng kept silent——without regard for others——as she struck first to gain an upper hand. Of course she was not intentional. She had always been very serious when eating, as serious as when she was sword practising.
Chu Xun: (꒪Д꒪)
[1] A t.i.tle for the Emperor"s son-in-law
[2] Literally, watch my sword.
Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase!)