c61 (1/2)
Chapter 61: Palpitations
“Mistress.” When Fu Ling came back, she was just in time to see Ru Yi slightly lowering her head and standing by Qing Feng’s side obediently. Having guessed the outcome, Fu Ling’s expression was as usual her eyes expressed the clarity and cool. However it was Ru Yi that felt nervous.
“Withdraw.”
Ru Yi greeted Qing Feng and when she pa.s.sed by Fu Ling, she also bowed slightly before slowly backed out.
When Fu Ling walked to Qing Feng’s side, Qing Feng took her hand and let her sit on the couch but Fu Ling felt awkward to be seating by her Mistress and squatted beside Qing Feng before whispering, “Today in the morning court, the Emperor announce two matters. First the Northwest rebels colluded and frame Prime Minister Lou Xi Yan and Dan Yu Lan eventually broke the investigation open before the rebels’ plans succeed. Thus the case of the missing Gold is closed. The second matter is… The West Emperor Dowager would be residing in the Imperial Tombs to pray for the Yan’s ancestors’ blessings.”
Yan Hong Tian did not mention the private letters from Empress Dowager and the Liao Yue Prince, which was considered as preserving Yang Zhi Lan’s face. With no more backing from the Empress Dowager, the Yang family no longer have any capability left.
“How about Lou Xi Yan?” Remembering what Eldest Sister had said, he was ill in prison and was unsure how he was now.
“Prime Minister Lou return to the manor last night and the Emperor allowed him to rest at home for two days. He was not in court today.”
It was good that he was back in the manor. Qing Feng’s hanging heart finally felt settled after these two days. Just as she was thinking to head to bed to sleep for a bit, a shrill cry was hears from outside the courtyard, “The Emperor has arrived.”
It was just the end of the morning court, for Yan Hong Tian to come over here at such a timing, Qing Feng have a bad feeling about it. FU Ling supported Qing Fing up from the couch when Yan Hong Tian stepped into the room.
“Long live the Emperor.” Fu Ling knelt down to greet but Yan Hong Tian only gave a light ‘en’ reply. Walking to Qing Feng, he said, “Zhen will bring you to a place.”
The usually could voice had a smiling intention. It would seemed that his mood was good, Qing Feng curiously asked, “To go where?”
Yan Hong Tian did not answer her and both of them left Qing Feng Hall. He took her up the carriage and the carriage took off. After going for a long time, there were noisy voices outside the carriage. Yan Hong Tian brought her out of the Palace? Qing Feng’s heart started to palpitate. This was Qing Feng’s first time out of the palace and could roughly guess where he would bring her to but dared not keep thinking about it, fearing that she would be disappointed and hurt because of her wrong guess. Qing Feng looked towards Yan Hong Tian and saw that his cold eyes were closed like he was resting but Qing Feng knew that he was not resting but did not want her to ask.
During the period of antic.i.p.ating and fearing disappointment, the carriage finally stopped. Yan Hong Tian had opened his eyes and jumped out of the carriage. When Qing Feng opened the curtains, she saw Yan Hong Tian waiting by the side and before she could react, Yan Hong Tian grabbed her hand and used the other hand to support her waist and lightly brought her down the carriage. His expression was normal but Qing Feng’s face was red. It was because their carriage stopped in front of a residence and there were five to six servants at the door. And one of them even took a stool meant for alighting a carriage. Apparently it was not needed now…
Struggling to stand from Yan Hong Tian’s arms, Qing Feng looked up at the main door of the house in front and saw “Prime Minister Residence” three words. The servant who was waiting by the door went forward to lead the way. With Qing Feng being pregnant and her desire to see where would her Elder Sister stay at, she walked very slowly. Yan Hong Tian was really in a good mood today as he accompanied her and walked slowly.
Two of them were looking around as they walked and when they approached the reception pavilion, they heard Dan Yu Lan’s voice from it, “Is there other valuable guests coming?”
Yan Hong Tian laughed, “Zhen is not considered as valuable guest?”
The three persons in the room heard the voice and immediately stood up to greet, “Paying respects to the Emperor and Imperial Concubine Qing.”
With a pleasant smile on his face, Yan Hong Tian waved his hands and laughed, “Raise. Today it is Prime Minister Lou’s household banquet. These over-elaborate proprietaries should be avoided.”
“Yes.”
Qing Feng looked at Lou Xi Yan, other than looking somewhat worse than usual, he was considered fairly spirited. When her eyes swept the s.p.a.cious main hall, Qing Feng did not see Zhou Qing at all and naturally asked, “Older Brother-in-law, where is my Eldest Sister?”
Older Brother-in-law?! Yan Hong Tian lightly raised an eyebrow. The words of Older Brother-in-law was truly warm and affectionate, she seems to have forgotten her own ident.i.ty. She called Lou Xi Yan as Older Brother-in-law, then what should he call Lou Xi Yan?
Lou Xi Yan was also surprised for a moment before he smiled and replied, “Qing Mo and her are in the room.”
Mo-er was also here! The anxious expression were undisguised on Qing Feng’s face. Lou Xi Yan faced the servants by the side and spoke, “Some one come and show Imperial Concubine Qing the way to Lan Yue Building.”
“Yes.”
Qing Feng gave a grateful smile to Lou Xi Yan and immediately followed the servant to the back courtyard.
After Qing Feng left, the remaining man in the main hall were much more at ease.
A faint wine scent was released indoors and after Yan Hong Tian smelt it, he frowned with dissatisfaction and waved his hands lightly. The disguised Imperial Guards brought seven or eight wine jars in and Yan Hong Tian smiled, “Today is a joyous occasion. Zhen specially brought Chen Nian Xi Feng. Tonight no returning without getting drunk.”
Chen Nian Xi Feng? Su Ling’s eyes brighten and was wearing an eager look but Lou Xi Yan and Dan Yu Lan had a stiff expression on and look at one another with a bitter laugh. Chen Nian Xi Feng was indeed a rare vintage wine but it was because of its potency that it was so famous. If one does not have the alcohol capacity, one small cup will be able to make one sleep the entire night, not to mention the filled jars of wine. It seemed that it was not possible not to be drunk tonight.
Qing Feng followed the servant and walked deeper into the manor. Turning to a small trail, they reached a courtyard. Qing Feng silently sighed. This cannot be called a small courtyard as there was a charming wooden building facing a large pond. Even though it was incomparable to the Palace’s lotus pond, with regards to the landscape of a courtyard, it was stunning enough.
Qing Feng was still lamenting when she heard the servant standing ourside the door and calling out softly, “Furen, Imperial Concubine Qing is here.”
In a short while the doors to the room opened and Qing Feng stood outside the door. When she saw Zhuo Qing, she immediately smiled, “Eldest Sister.”
Zhuo Qing waved her hands to the servants beside and held Qing Feng’s hands, “Come in quickly.”
“Mo-er!” Seeing Gu Yun in the room, Qing Feng excitedly went up to clasped her hands tightly and for a short period of time she was speechless. Gu Yun was also embarra.s.sed but she did not withdrew her hands and just stiffen there.
Qing Feng lightly place her hand on Gu Yun thin face as she asked with a pained heart, “Mo-er, you are thinner. Is Su Ling bullying you?”
Gu Yun felt really awkward when she was being caress on her cheek and she took a little step back before replying, “No one bullied me.” It would be good if she don’t bully others.
Qing Feng’s hand stiffen, Youngest Sister treated her that unfamiliarly? She was even unaccustomed to her touch? Slowly placing her hand down, her heart felt painful but Qing Feng still continued to question concernedly, “During these half a year, did you live well?”
Gu Yun could see the pain in Qing Feng’s eyes but for her the female in front was a stranger that was seen for the first time. She truely was unable to show any deep feelings. Lightly coughed, Gu Yun replied concisely, “I am good.”
“Mo-er, what’s… What’s with you?” Qing Feng was somewhat confused. The female in front of her had a polite yet alienating att.i.tude and her aloof brows revealed a light of determination. This was not her memory of her well-behaved and timid sister? Qing Feng’s mind panicked as she quickly said, “Did you also suffer memory loss because of that d.a.m.n knock-out drug?”
“I…” Gu Yun paused a while, this kind of irresponsible excuse, only Qing, this kind of lazy female, could think it out. Staring fiercely at the trouble maker Zhuo Qing, Gu Yun look back at Qing Feng’s worried eyes and forced a laugh, “I am fine. It is just that we have not meet for a long time and thus I got excited and had no idea what to say.”
Excitement? She did not see any excitement in Youngest Sister’s eyes at all. Mo-er and Eldest Sister’s eye contact and gestures showed familiarity and intimacy. It would seem that Younger Sister was distancing herself from her only. Never mind. Since young, Youngest Sister have been closer to Eldest Sister and since Elder Sister was taking care of her, she was also relieved.
Qing Feng expression was bleak as Zhuo Qing supported her to sit down. She smiled and said, “Sit down and talk. One must be care for the first trimester.”
Looking at her slight protruding stomach, Qing Feng chuckled, “It has been more than four months.”
Over four months? It was so fast.
After being with contact for a few times, in Zhuo Qing’s eyes, she was someone who cherish her loved ones and had a stubborn and strong personality but was an ill-fated female. Thinking about her situation in the Palace, Zhuo Qing worriedly asked, “Did Yan Hong Tian found out about me asking you to steal the Empress Dowager’s seal?”
Qing Feng’s eyes froze as she smiled indifferently, “I don’t know, perhaps yes. Actually he was using the fact that you were eager to save Lou Xi Yan to achieve his own ends. Each takes what they need. What is the difference between finding out or not? Everything was planned in order to weaken the power of the Yang family and we were used by him.”
The frustration and disdain from her words made Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun worried. Even though they are not Qing Ling or Qing Mo and could not understand the suffering that the Qing family went through or lived in that huge Palace before, thus unable to understand her suffering and hards.h.i.+p, they did not wish to see any misunderstanding between her and Yan Hong Tian since she still have to carry on living in the Palace.
Zhuo Qing softly explained, “That year to support Prince Hao rebellion, the Empress Dowager colluded with the rebels from the Northwest to steal the gold from the treasury. After that Prince Hao was kill during the failed rebellion attempt and the gold was held hostage by the rebels. This time Su Ling went there to retrieve the gold but who knew that because the matter with Princess Chao Yun, she was not dissatisfied with Xi Yan and thus took the opportunity to collude with the rebels and frame Xi Yan. Initially Yan Hong Tian’s plan was most likely to use the rebels to uncover all the different power that was related to the missing gold but I cannot wait for it and so I made a risky move.”
Qing Feng was rather confused, “Weren’t all these arranged by Yan Hong Tian?”
“You have misunderstood him. He only beat them at their own game and as for the Yang family and Yang Zhi Lan, he was already considered merciful.”
Qing Feng quietly listened as waves in her heart raised. The Empress Dowager actually supported Prince Hao to rebel and because of her own enmity, framed the minister of court. What kind of position did she put Yan Hong Tian in? No wonder he said that he did not understand the connection between a mother and child. No wonder he was that sorrowful and disappointed, one was his twin brother, one his birth mother. He was truly betrayed by his beloved.
It seemed that she had really misunderstood him.
Qing Feng was so immersed in her own thoughts that Zhuo Qing and Gu Yun was not able to disburb her and the room fell into silence. After a long time, Qing Feng suddenly recovered and smiled, “Today is your big day, let’s not talk about such depressing things. Let me style your hair to your previously favourite fairy styled bun.”
Pressing her shoulders, Zhuo Qing shook her head and smiled, “No need to be so troublesome.” This was not a banquet filled with guest so there was no need to be formal, she too did not like that.
Holding Zhuo Qing’s hand, Qing Feng insisted, “It was of no trouble at all.”
Pulling Zhuo Qing to the dressing table to sit, Qing Feng gently tidied her fine black hair, just like when they were home, they often comb each other hair. Most likely they would never be able to go back to those times as just a trip to see them was not easy at all.
“Eldest Sister and Mo-er. It is an unchangeable fact that we have to stay in Qiong Yue so you must be happy, all right? Your happiness is my greatest fortune.” Qing Feng carefully and attentively style her hair. Each movement was gentle and sincere and Zhou Qing could also feel her treasuring and lingering. Even though she is not her Elder Sister and did not have any common happy memories, the tenderness she felt for her increases little by little.
Her words about happiness made Zhou Qing’s heart ache. Turning around, she held Qing Feng’s hand and place it on her own stomach before advising softly, “Feng, you must make yourself happy. Perhaps Yan Hong Tian may be disappoint people but you have a baby. Because of him, you must be happy too, all right?”
“En.” Qing Feng’s hands lightly caressed her own protruding abdomen and a soft smile finally appeared on her face. Yes, she still have them and the baby in her belly.
“Furen, master invite you, Imperial Concubine Qing and Miss Qing over for dinner.”
When her hair had been styled, the servant’s voice was heard outside. Qing Feng pulled Zhuo Qing’s and Mo Yun’s hands and smiled, “Let’s go.”
Three of them just reached the reception hall when a handsome man walked over. He was dressed all in white and did not have any literary airs. Instead there was an flirty air. “Sister-in-law, this little beauty beside you…” His words were directed at Zhuo Qing but his eyes was staring intently at pet.i.te and sweat looking female.