c55 (1/2)

Chapter 55: Thoughts In A Whirl (Part 2)

Qing Feng did not have time to ponder when that familiar bright yellow figure appeared outside her door. Qing Feng greeted with a slight bow, “Long live the Emperor.”

Yan Hong Tian entered and used one hand to support Qing Feng up. His eyes landed on her protruding abdomen and there was a trace of anxiety that flashed across his eyes but it soon faded. Holding Qing Feng’s hands and smiling, “Didn’t Zhen said before that beloved concubine do not need to perform greetings.”

Letting the servant serve the hot tea, Qing Feng asked an unintentional question, “The Emperor has time to come over today?”

Taking the teacup over for a sip, it was not done as attentive as what Xiao Yu usually did or as careful as what Fu Ling usually did. Yan Hong Tian put down the cup, “Was recently busy with the affairs of the state and thus do not have time to see you. Why? You do not wish to see Zhen?”

“Chenqie do not dare.”

Both of them said a few more words but it was all useless talk which made Qing Feng’s doubts deepen. At this time Yan Hong Tian suddenly walked to the study room facing the chambers. Even though it was a study room but actually it was just a separating area. She likes to paint so there were not many books in the study room and the bookshelves are filled with many of her artworks and eight chi (1 chi = 1 yard) table occupied almost half of the study room. The table was filled with paper and ink slabs, a few half-finished paintings and a just completed painting of an auspicious Qílín which was place in the middle.

When Yan Hong Tian entered the study room, he was apparently attracted by the painting. It was almost the height of a person with one Qilin’s foot stepping on a cloud, mist coming out of its mouth, it’s whole black body was surrounded by colourful clouds, it’s eyes were as bright as bronze bell and two tusks were basked in coldness. It was half lying down like it was resting but also looked like it has acc.u.mulated enough energy and was about to pounce out of the painting. Yan Hong Tian touched the paper and found that the ink was dried so he rolled it up and place it aside as he flip through other unfinished paintings. He quickly found out that this beloved concubine of his likes to paint landscapes. Even though it was not as ma.s.sive and grand as that painting of mountains, one could see the free and easy strokes in them.

Qing Feng stood there silently and watched and Yan Hong Tian did not asked her anything thus she did not say anything. At this time, Gao Jing brought a wooden box over and place it at the side before starting to tidy up her desk. In a short while it was tidied up. Then Gao Jing opened the wooden box and took out a dark red book and place it neatly on the right side of Yan Hong Tian. That book does not look like a report thus Qing Feng guessed that it was some memorandum on the affairs of state.

Yan Hong Tian pa.s.s the rolled up painting to Gao Jing and sat down in front of the desk and started to… Read through memorandums?

What was the meaning of these master and servant? This was not the Imperial Study. Qing Feng started to frown. Yan Hong Tian now occupy her desk and she is unable to stand long and could not leave him aside and retreat to her chambers to rest. She could only lay on the couch by the bookshelf and casually flip through a book but her heart was not on the book at all. She quietly look at Yan Hong Tian who was concentrating on evaluating the reports and Qing Feng started to be confused. Since it was dealing with affairs of the state, why did he come over to her place?

After about more than a sichen (1 sichen = 2 hours) of that, it was approaching lunchtime and Qing Feng back started to hurt as she kept laying down but Yan Hong Tian barely moved at all. Qing Feng cursed silently in her heart. Just as she stood up, Fu Ling panicked voice was heard from out the door, “Mistress, something happened!”

Pulling the curtains away, Qing Feng replied, “What went wrong?”

Running to Qing Feng’s side, just as Fu Ling was about to speak, she saw Yan Hong Tian sitting behind the desk and her knees buckled when she quickly knelt down, “Long live the Emperor.”

Yan Hong Tian continued to look down at the reports in his hands, as if he had not seen Fu Ling. Fu Ling was sweating and her heart was pounding. Prime Minister Lou just got in trouble but the Emperor was behaving like this in front of Mistress, was he las.h.i.+ng out? It does not look like it. Monitoring? It was not necessary. Fu Ling stood frozen and did not speak for a long time.

Thinking that she went to send out the wedding gifts today and came back looking like this, Qing Feng started to get anxious. Could it be… “Something happened with my Eldest Sister?”

Fu Ling shook her head.

Qing Feng hanging heart was settled down a bit. If it was not Eldest Sister that was in trouble, it was fortunate. Yan Hong Tian did not say a word thus Fu Ling dare not get up, so QIng Feng pulled Fu Ling’s hand and asked, “What exactly happened?”

Fu Ling continued to keep her head lowered and dare not speak but she quietly wrote three words, ‘Prime Minister Lou’, on Qing Feng’s palm with her finger. Just as she finish writing, Yan Hong Tian’s eyes was still on the reports but his deep voice sounded, “Your mistress ask you to speak so you should speak.”

Fu Ling thought for a while before replying, “General Su wiped out the Northwest rebels and captured the leader. The rebels confessed that they colluded with Prime Minister Lou, father and son, to steal the gold from the treasury and con…” Fu Ling hesitated and wanted to see the Emperor’s expression but she didn’t dare to do so. Qing Feng got more anxious, “Speak!”

Fu Ling bit her lips before whispering, “Conspiring against the state.”

Conspiring? Qing Feng’s heart jumped, this was an indeed large offence that can behalf on the entire clan. “How is Lou Xi Yan now?”

“Prime Minister Lou, both father and son, was arrested by Official Dan and General Su and is imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice’s prison.”

Qing Feng started to get angry, “How about the wedding? Who gave them such a courage to dare to storm into the Prime Minister manor to arrest?”

Fu Ling lowered her head and was afraid to answer. Qing Feng cursed her stupidity. Who else would give them that courage, of course it was that man behind her! Else no one in the nation would dare to arrest people in the middle of a wedding.

Secretly taking a deep breath, Qing Feng asked softly, “How is my Eldest Sister?”

“Mistress can rest a.s.sure and Lou Furen is all right.”