A Mistaken Marriage Match: Mysteries in the Imperial Harem - chapter-87

Mysteries in the Imperial Harem: Chapter 87
Chapter 87: Stirring (Part 3)

“Your Ladyship, Beauty Yu is here.”

What was she doing here? She did not have any interaction with her at
all. Qing Feng let Shen Yao carry the baby into the inner chambers before
ordering Fu Ling to bring the person in.

“May Imperial Concubine Qing have innumerable fortune and safety.” Yu Yue
Ying was clad in a light yellow robe and her soft voice sounded somewhat
sheepishly. The appearance of a female that entered the Inner Palace
would naturally not be bad but it was a pity that her demeanour was
somewhat petty. Qing Feng smiled and replied, “Don’t stand on ceremony.
Do sit.”

Yu Yue Ying was seated a chair by the side and the palace maids served
refreshments. Qing Feng only cared drinking and did not speak. Yu Yue
Ying nervously took a wooden box from her waiting maid and gently opened
it. There was a red satin pouch sitting in it. Yu Yue Ying got up and
took a step forward before softly saying, “This is Yue Ying’s
self-embroidered sachet for the Little Prince. Hoping that heavens would
bless the Prince with peace and fortune.”

Ru Yi went forward to take the wooden box and brought it to Qing Feng.
Qing Feng took a glance at it, the fabric was the most expensive red
satin and the embroidery was not bad. Qing Feng slightly nodded, “Thank
you.” Both were little pouch but this did not have the luck of being of
Qing Feng’s liking. She only slightly waved her hands and Ru Yi closed
the wooden box and withdraw.

The living room suddenly quieten down. If it was before, Qing Feng still
had the leisure to play with the concubines in the Inner Palace but now
she only want to accompany her son. As Yu Yue Ying almost tore her
handkerchief by wringing it but still did not say a single word, Qing
Feng patience finally ran out, “Is there something the matter for Beauty
Yu to come here today?”

Yu Yue Ying’s shoulders shook a bit and it would seem that she was scared
of Qing Feng. Qing Feng slightly frowned and was about to call someone to
send her away when Yu Yue Ying finally spoke, “Yue Ying is here today to
disturb your Ladyship to seek a request.”

“There is no harm in saying what one thinks.” Qing Feng also wanted to
know why she had come over.

“Imperial Concubine Hui…” After Yu Yue Ying said those words, she felt
that it was inappropriate and only continued after some thoughts, “Yue
Ying knows that Chen Zhen had made mistakes that the Emperor punished her
to reflect in the Cold Palace. But she is after all my older cousin and
had taken care of me previously. Now seeing her suffer, I really want to
help her but during the times that I had gone to the Cold Palace, I was
being blocked by Wu-er at the door, saying that the concubines in the
Inner Palace cannot go near to the Cold Palace and scared that it would
implicate me. Yue Ying is not afraid of being implicated and only hope to
see her. For the period that she is in the Cold Palace, there was no news
of her at all. I am truly afraid that something would have happened to
her.” Saying that, Yu Yue Ying suddenly ‘thump’ down on the floors
kneeling and tears that were welling flowed out, “Begging Imperial
Concubine Qing to allow Yue Ying to visit her. Begging of you!”

The person kneeling on the ground spoke sincerely and was like a pear
blossom bathed in the rain (aka weeping beauty) but Qing Feng’s
expression got darker and her originally warm voice became cold, “Bengong
and Chen Zhen initially had some friendly relations but when she perform
witchcraft the last time, it almost implicated Bengong to be
misunderstood by other and now you come to beg Bengong. If Bengong
permitted it, won’t others think that Bengong is still involved with Chen
Zhen. Not only that, issues regarding the Inner Palace should naturally
be decided by the Empress. Bengong will not help you in this matter, go
and beg the Empress.”

“But…” Yu Yue Ying wanted to beg her but Qing Feng had already gotten
up and said coldly, “Ru Yi, send the guest out.”

Ru Yi, who was standing by the door, walked up to Yu Yue Ning. She was
not as polite as Fu Ling and just pulled Yu Yue Ying up and said, “Beauty
Yu, please.”

In the time where they were pulling and dragging, Qing Feng had already
went in to the inner chambers. Yu Yue Ying quietly stared at the cold
back and her tears fell after a long time before she bowed and left the
living room.

When Ru Yi came back from sending the person out, she saw Qing Feng
coming out from the inner chambers again and was standing by the wide
open window with the cold wind blowing till her hair were dancing. The
bright eyes had seen the long withered begonia. Ever since her delivery,
she had never seen that cold look return on her face. Ru Yu shivered
unconsciously and that made her recover to her senses. She quickly went
over to close the window and urgently said, “Your Ladyship is still in
confinement thus health is still weak and mustn’t have wind blowing.”

“Send someone to follow her.” Chen Zhen had block her at the door, it did
not matter it was out of mistrust or protection of Yu Yue Ying, Qing Feng
did not want to investigate or guess. The most important thing to her was
not to let anyone know of the existence of the child in the Cold Palace!
Once the matter was leak out, she would be burnt by it.

After the low voice sounded from her back, Ru Yi’s heard trembled a
little and she immediately replied. “Yes.” These matters were used to be
managed by Fu Ling. She knew that she would never replace Fu Ling in her
Ladyship’s heart but if there was a chance to climb, she would not let it
go.

*****

The residence of the Senior Imperial Censor Xin Sui, needless to say,
covered a large area. Each of the sons of the Xin family had that own
courtyard and usually would not interact with one another. This day, Xin
Yi Heng was in the study room reading when a large roar sounded from
outside the door.

“Xin Yi Heng!”

As the roar faded, Xin Fu Cheng sturdy figure appeared in his study and
there was a light intention to attack in his sneer.

Xin Yi Heng raised his head slightly and glance at him, “Second elder
brother is here. What a rare guest.” He then lowered his head to continue
reading, excluding an wave of arrogance.

Seeing himself being ignored, Xin Fu Cheng got angry and slam his hand
down on the book that Xin Yi Heng was holding as he yelled, “Regarding
the matter with Li Ming, I said that I will follow up on it but you
insisted on showing off your ability in front of father, saying that
since I am in the Board of Punishments, it would not be ideal to directly
intervene in the matter so you will follow up instead. And what is the
result?!”

Pushing away Xin Fu Cheng’s that was pressing on the book, Xin Yi Heng
impatiently replied, “At the end he also died.”

“Dead?” Xin Fu Cheng scoffed and said in a gloating manner, “Li Ming is
not only alive and is also held in the prison where punishment is served!”

When Xin Fu Cheng finished speaking, he got his wish in seeing Xin Yi
Heng’s face turning pale. “Not possible!” He had clearly arrange the
matter properly. Li Ming was seriously injured and was not sent back to
the prison in the Board of Punishments. How… How would he still be
alive.

“Not possible? Go and check yourself.” Seeing the rarely panicked Xin Yi
Heng, Xin Fu Chen could finally blow off some steam, he proudly spoke,
“You really did a good thing. The things done are not even done
efficiently.”

Xin Fu Cheng said it with certainty so he must have check things out
before he came over. Li Ming was unexpectedly alive. If the army ration
case was investigated again, he would be the key witness. Even though he
may not know much, but it would be hard for Dan Yu Lan not to follow
on… At that time, how would he explain it to father? Xin Yi Heng really
became anxious and tugged on Xin Fu Cheng’s sleeves as he quickly asked,
“Second elder brother, Dan Yu Lan held him where punishment is served.
Does this meant that he will be reinvestigating the case?”

Xin Fu Cheng’s face was filled with disdain. A youngster was truly young.
Just a small matter and he panicked till like this. Smacking Xin Yi
Heng’s hand away, Xin Fu Cheng replied, “Panic for what. It should not be
that. Board of Punishments had not heard of anything about a retrial.”

If it was not for a retrial, why would Li Ming be locked up in the prison
where punishment was served? Why would he receive the news of Li Ming’s
death? The more he thought about it, the more it sounds fishy. Xin Yi
Heng urgently spoke, “This matter cannot be taken lightly. It would be
ideal to discuss with father before the next course of action.”

“Coward.” Xin Fu Cheng pointed at Xin Yi Heng and laughed as he scolded,
“If father is disturb by the matter, won’t you appear to be more
incompetent?” On normal days he had tolerated Xin Yi Heng’s temper, how
would he vent it out if he did not take the advantage of taunting him
today.

Xin Yi Heng’s eyes darken as he bit down his teeth. He then slam his hand
on the large desk and his face was full of remorse, “Second elder
brother’s lecture is correct! If it was not Eldest brother who let this
younger brother snatch it to do, how would I dare to

“What? It’s him?” Xin Fu Cheng, who was initially rejoicing in other’s
misfortune, immediately flew into a rage, “I should have guessed earlier
that he was the one causing it!”

Even though Xin Fu Cheng was not ranked senior among siblings but was
given birth by the legal wife and thus think too much of himself and did
not always get along with Eldest brother. Xin Yi Heng saw that he was
hooked and quickly continued, “Second elder brother, you must find a way
to help me. In the future, I will always listen to you. When this matter
is successfully concluded, you mustn’t forget to put a word for me in
front of father.”

Xin Fu Cheng was naturally got angry easily and seeing that Xin Yi Heng
took a lower stance, he thought that even though Xin Yi Heng was the
youngest son, he was favoured all the time. If in the future he would to
stand on his side, he would have a better chance when dealing with Xin
Ruo Zheng. As he calculated that, Xin Fu Cheng patted Xin Yi Heng’s
shoulders forcefully and laughed, “Don’t worry, I will take charge in
this. As an elder brother, I would not make things difficult for you.”

“Thanking second elder brother.” Xin Yi Cheng responded back with a bow
and smile with Xin Fu Cheng. Xin Fu Cheng had a scheme and Xin Yi Heng
was not a fool. The case of the army ration was a thorn in their father’s
heart. If this matter was screwed up, the least were to happen was a
scolding. Since Xin Fu Cheng gave himself in a silver platter, he cannot
blame him at all.

*****

In the Imperial Study, Yan Hong Tian was reviewing memorandums and Xiao
Yu was by the side brewing tea. The did not like to place braziers in the
hall thus once winter comes, the Imperial Study will be icy cold and
freshly brewed tea would cool down quickly. Xiao Yu can only wait by the
side to change his tea for him.

After changing the third cup, Yan Hong Tian did not drink a sip of it.
Xiao Yu secretly sighed. To sit like that the entire day would not be
good for the body. Xiao Yu looked up and gave Gao Jing a look. Gao Jing
quickly nodded his head and Xiao Yu rolled her eyes. As she carried a new
brew of hot tea and snacks over to Yan Hong Tian, she said softly,
“Emperor, please have some snacks.”

Yan Hong Tian nodded his head lightly and that made Xiao Yu and Gao Jing
relieved. Seeing that the Emperor was about to have snacks and wanted to
let him rest longer, Gao Jing quickly took out the thing that Fu Ling had
sent over, “Emperor, this is sent over by Miss Fu Ling.”

Yan Hong Tian took a glance and saw a painting tube. Guessing that it
should be a new painting that Qing Feng had done, Yan Hong Tian casually
said, “Open it up to see.”

“Yes.” Gao Jing took the paper out and unroll it gently…

Yan Hong Tian took a sip of tea and looked over before he was stunned for
a moment. What… Was that?

In the two Chi (1 chi = 1 foot = 1/3 meter) of paper, there was a dark
print of a pair of hand and footprints. Yan Hong Tian stared at the paper
for quite some time before speaking in a very light voice, “Bring… It
over.”

Gao Jing carefully place the paper on the table and Yan Hong Tian stared
at the small handprints for quite a while. Suddenly he stretched out his
hand and place it beside the small handprints. One large. One small. Such
a stark contrast. Yan Hong Tian could not help but laugh out. The small
little handprints were only a third of his palm.

Yan Hong Tian picked up the painting to compare and there was a trace of
smile on his lips. Xiao Yu and Gao Jing looked at one another as they
secretly admire, other than reviewing reports, there was no other matters
that could attract the attention of the Emperor for such a long time.
Imperial Concubine Qing only used a few small footprints to easily
achieve it.

Seeing the creases on the paper, Yan Hong Tian’s brows wrinkled, “Gao
Jing, get it framed up immediately.”

“Yes.â€‌

When Gao Jing place the painting into the painting tube, Yan Hong Tian
said, “Wait. Get the best technical expert to do it. Don’t spoil it.”

“Yes.â€‌

Seeing the Emperor this excited, Xiao Yu smiled, “Emperor, tonight’s
dinner should be located in…” Qing Feng Hall?

Before Xiao Yu could finish, Yan Hong Tian’s deep voice interrupted her
words, “Located in Zhen Yang Palace.”

“Yes.” Xiao Yu shrugged. It seems that she had invited a snub. Yan Hong
Tian picked up the memorandum and there was no traces of excitement. Just
as she thought that it was her illusion, Yan Hong Tian suddenly called
out lowly, “Xiao Yu.”

“This servant is here.â€‌

After waiting for a long time, Yan Hong Tian did not speak. Xiao Yu
curiously looked up and saw Yan Hong Tian’s eyes still staring at the
reports and only asked after a long time, “That… Ji Pin Liu Yue is
really that nice to drink?”

What? Xiao Yu took a while to react to it and she thought that the
Emperor was deep in concentration. Actually his heard was still thinking
about Imperial Concubine Qing. Seeing the Emperor putting on a look of
seriousness, Xiao Yu wanted to laugh but dare not laugh out. She lightly
coughed and replied, “This servant will brew a cup now. The Emperor can
try it.”

Even the blind could see Xiao Yu’s shaking shoulders and it made Yan Hong
Tian feel a little embarrassed. His voice lowered a lot, “Brew it.”

He had indeed not seen her and the child for a long time. Once the full
month feast was over, he would go visit both mother and son. Yan Hong
Tian put in great effort to concentrate on the memorandums but his eyes
unconsciously stared at his own large hands. As it turns out a child’s
hands was really so small. The next time he want to compare them.