c60 (1/2)

Chapter 60: Loyalty

The number of high ranks officials and dignitaries were as plentiful as perch (type of fish) in the river and there were many numerous wealthy residences around. But there was one residence which apart from the rest, other than the Imperial Residences outside the capital, it was the largest estate which was owned by the Imperial Censor Xin Sui. It was not because the rank of the Imperial Censor was high but it was because the Xin family had been supporting the Emperor since the founding of the Yan family founded the nation. That year of the founding, the Qiong Yue’s Emperor bestowed this piece of Imperial Land to the Xin Family which showed the unimaginable importance. Even though the Xin family was incomparable from then and now, but all three generations were a.s.sisting the Imperial family and Xin Sui’s daughter was the mother of the nation. The Xin family was known to everybody in this Imperial City.

The Xin manor was the most unique. In the middle of the compound, there stood and individual house which was three stories tall. Other than the first story that was used for work discussions, the other stories were all filled with books. This could be seen that the ancestors of the Xin family were literary personnels. Zis.h.i.+ (11 pm – 1 am) had long pa.s.sed but the room still remained bright. Behind the mahogany study table, there sat a sixty over years old man who was holding a cup of hot tea with a hidden sharp look in his eyes but a normal expression on his face, as if he was appreciating the sweet mellow taste of the tea. Two male stood by each side of the study table, one was over thirty over years old with a jittery face of displeasure, the other was a twenty five or six but had a calm appearance.

Xin Cu Cheng could not help but ask Xin Sui, who was as settled as a monk, “Father what is the Emperor thinking exactly?” The Emperor had summoned Lou Xi Yan, Su Ling and Dan Yu Lan to the Imperial Study tonight. That was not unusual but the unusual thing was that Qing Ling also went and finally, even the Empress Dowager went there. No one knew what was said but Lou Xi Yan was released. The Empress Dowager had spent so much effort to imprison Lou Xi Yan but she did not resist at all today. This was not like style.

Standing infront of the young man and laughing lowly while saying, “Think of why the Emperor gave the sisters of the Qing family to Lou Xi Yan and Su Ling and no one else. Think of the two of them, why did they accept such a gift and think of why the Emperor only favour her and allow her to be pregnant?”

The sisters of the Qing family? Xin Fu Cheng was surprise as he urgently said, “The Emperor want to make use of the three sisters of the Qing family to align the Lou family and Su family together and be the Emperor’s force in court!”

Xin Sui gently blew the tea leaves on the rim of the teacup and sighed, “The West Empress Dowager lost her cool. It seems that the Yang family is finished.” Three years ago it was because of Prince Hao and now it was because of Princess Chao Yun. A woman would always be implicated by her children and would not amount to anything big.

Xin Fu Cheng nodded his head and scolded, “Talking about Prince Hao, he was also Lord without any patience. If we have known the temperament of both mother and son, our family would not have collaborated with them that year. The gold was s.h.i.+pped by them but they failed to do so and now was found by the Emperor.” And almost dragged their family into it.

Xin Yi Heng sneered, second older brother was really stupid. Father on one hand gave support secretly to the Empress Dowager and Prince Hao and on the other hand helped the Emperor through Ning-er. No matter who won at the end, the Xin family would not fail at all. The people who knew what happened that year were a few and now other than the Empress Dowager, they were all dead and would no longer be able to implicate Xin family. Xin Yi Heng was concern on another matter and after thinking for a moment, Xin Yi Heng whispered, “Father, the Yang family have already fallen to misfortune. The Emperor would definitely want to weaken our Xin family power next. What should we respond?”

Xin Sui took a sip of tea and leisurely replied, “The Xin family is at it’s peak for three generations and have deep roots, else the Emperor would not need this afraid. It will not be that easy to get rid of the Xin family. Yan Hong Tian is not an impatient person so he will not act rashly. Furthermore he definitely did not expect that the sisters of the Qing family were this capable, to be able to bewitch Lou Xi Yan and Su Ling that much and left them with the official wife positions.” Xin Sui was the only person in the entire court to call the Emperor by his name and no one else dared to do so, even when it was done secretly.

Xin Yi Heng’s eyes lighten up as it seems that he had realised something. He laughed, “One a Prime Minister and the other a Great General. The Emperor must be afraid that both of them would unite and go against the Imperial might! That is why the Emperor dote and favour Qing Feng this much, it is to use her to win over the Qing sisters and control Lou Xi Yan and Su Ling.”

Looking at his youngest son with praise, Xin Sui conceitedly replied, “The Yang family is no longer standing and the court needs the ability to influence and control, thus he would not touch the Xin family in a short moment in time.”

Seeing that father and younger brother echoing one another, Xin Fu Cheng did not want to be left out and quickly said, “Father, if so then it must not be taken lightly. Qing Feng must not be allowed to bring this child to birth, else the Crown Prince position would end up in another family hands and we, the Xin family, would not see the light of day.”

“There will be ample time for that later.” That child would not be born immediately and even if it was born, it would not grow up immediately. So why so anxious?

“How is Ning-er?”

Hearing the anger from father, Xin Fu Cheng cautiously replied, “Still angry but Sui Xin is watching over her so there should not be any trouble.”

Xin Sui’s expression slightly cleared and he coolly replied, “En, let her maintain her calm and don’t get excited.”

“Yes.” Xin Fu Cheng’s heart was crying out with bitterness. Ning-er entered the Palace at the age of fourteen and was conferred as the Empress at the age of eighteen. Yan Hong Tian did not control her as she had the Xin family as backing, thus she was spoilt and would not listen to him. He was really afraid she would stir up trouble.

Xin Sui put down the teacup and picked up a book at the side to read. The two brothers withdrew from the study room understandingly. Just when they reached the courtyard, Xin Yi Heng lightly greeted Xin Fu Cheng and strode off. Staring at that back of that high-spirited figure, Xin Fu Cheng’s eyes was filled with hatred. Xin Yi Heng relied on his father’s favour and did not take anyone up to his eyes.

*****

“Ahh!”

Originally Qing Feng was not able to sleep peacefully and was suddenly picked up, making her shout before she could wake up. Her frighten eyes met with a pair of smiling black eyes. Qing Feng froze for a moment and in that short period of time, Yan Hong Tian had carried her onto the bed.

Qing Feng’s chaotic mind gradually got clearer. Thinking back on the night before, after she said that she did not know, she saw disappointment in Yan Hong Tian’s eyes. At that moment she felt happy and Yan Hong Tian did not bother with her any more and fell asleep leaning against the edge of the bed. She initially wanted to let him sleep like that the entire night but was also afraid that he would throw a temper when he wake up in the morning, so she called Gao Jing to carry him onto the bed. Naturally it was not possible for her to sleep beside a person covered with alcohol smell. She could only sleep on the lounge chair.

“Beloved Imperial Concubine woke up so early in the morning to look at Zhen. Zhen is afraid that there is no more mood to attend the morning court.”

With a teasing tone, a smile that did not reached his eyes and the slightly narrowed dark eyes, the person in front was indeed that domineering and sometimes demonic Yan Hong Tin, with no traces of his disappointment and sorrow that he displayed last night.

“Emperor? It is time for the morning court.” An eunuch voice came from outside so Yan Hong Tian let go of her and said, “Come in.”

Like how the previous morning went, the eunuch helped him to dress up and he strode off without looking back.

Qing Feng felt confused, if she was not sleeping on the lounge chair and when Yan Hong Tian carried her, she could smell the faint scent of alcohol, she would have thought that whatever had happen last night was a dream. Yan Hong Tian just left and Fu Ling immediately ran in. When she saw Qing Feng lying on the bed, she urgently spoke, “Is Mistress all right?”

“All right.” Qing Feng slowly sat up. She slept the entire night on the lounge couch and her waist was a little painful.

Seeing that her expression was not well, Fu Ling took her pulse to determine that Qing Feng was truly all right. Fu Ling then could calm down and support her to sit down so that she can wash up.

Looking through the half opened window, once can see the begonia being lit by the morning sun, making them charming and enchanting. Qing Feng looked at the palace maid who was seriously and carefully tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the flowers in the flowerbed and gently asked, “That should be Lan Fang.”