Chapter 166 - Yu Mingyong’s Rashness (1/2)

Chapter 166 Yu Mingyong’s Rashness

Consort Yu had been in the palace for five or six years. While there was not much news about her in the previous years, she had won the affections of Emperor Zongwen in the past two years. The usually cold, empty Caiwei Palace became a place Emperor Zongwen frequented the most. Lady Yu quickly became Consort Yu, jumping several ranks in one go.

Being an imperial consort in Great Qin was a great dividing line. Imperial consorts could continue to stay in the palace and be supported by the new emperor even after the current emperor pa.s.ses. If they had any sons, they could leave with their sons and travel to their lands freely. Once one became an imperial consort, their path would be bright than that of a mere lady.

Consort Yu had jumped through ten ranks in two years and was very much doted on by the emperor. However, she had not managed to have any children. She was very fond of her younger brother, though, and thought of him often. As such, young master Yu Mingyong’s playboy nature was not due to his parents spoiling him, but because of his elder sister.

Yu Mingyong’s position in court was not high, but he had an elder sister who was a favorite of the emperor, and as such, he had been given an invitation to this banquet. The emperor naturally did not care about insignificant matters like this, those who worked for him knew the value of doing a favor for Consort Yu.

In truth, Yu Mingyong did not want to attend the banquet. Being around the emperor would mean all kinds of restrictions, and he’d have to be on his best behavior. But his sister had told him to go, and he couldn’t refuse. He needed her, and it wasn’t worth it to make her angry.

Yu Mingyong was given a seat with the other n.o.ble young masters. He was seated considerably forward due to his status as Consort Yu’s brother. However, some of the other young masters looked down on him, because he refused to act like a gentleman. While they wouldn’t go so far as to insult him directly, they avoided sitting or speaking with him whenever possible.

He actively sought out people to speak with but was ignored. Then he realized that being at Qingxiang House was better than being at the banquet. He could not move or eat as he wished, and he even had to pay attention to the moods of the three princes. It was very boring. He had long regretted coming here by his elder sister’s order.

As such, he started drinking alone. Yu Mingyong could usually hold his liquor well, but he had been in a bad mood and guzzled his alcohol, completely losing count of the bottles. But no matter how much he drank, no one cared about him. He was in a terrible mood. Everyone catered to him usually, and he rarely had to be subservient.

He left the island with the others after the banquet. He couldn’t go anywhere alone. Even though he saw some beauties, he knew that they were not the prost.i.tutes that he usually played with. If anything were to happen, not even his elder sister could help him. As such, he walked around and grew more and more bored.

In the end, he found a place to rest. He was feeling tipsy from the alcohol and found a couch to nap on. He planned to wake up and leave the palace after the banquet. He thought about the actress he fought for yesterday. Her skin was so smooth…

In his dreams, he was entangled with the actress; they were so pa.s.sionate, they could not bear to leave each other.

Later, Yu Mingyong had been woken as his face was doused with cold water. He sat up in shock, and a bottle was placed in his hands. He could not open his eyes, and there was a sudden pressure on his hand as he was knocked back onto the couch.

When he’d gotten up, he shook the water off his hand vigorously. He had only just opened his eyes when two people rushed in from outside and held him down.

Yu Mingyong felt angry when he recalled that. He was spoiled and always got his way. The three princes were not present here – there was no one he was afraid of!

When he saw his nemesis, Li Youmo, he pointed at him without even trying to find out what exactly was happening. The two had always been at loggerheads. If they were not fighting over an actress, they would be fighting for a courtesan. Yu Mingyong had always felt that it was intentional on Li Youmo’s part. Nine out of ten times he had any compet.i.tion for a woman, it was Li Youmo.

Without a doubt, this whole scenario had been set up by Li Youmo, as well. And it didn’t take much convincing for Yu Mingyong to unleash his anger on him.

“I’m trying to do you in secretly?” Li Youmo pointed at himself in shock as he looked at Yu Mingyong with wide, innocent eyes.. He pulled Yu Mingyong out of the room and pointed to Mo Xuemin who was lying on the ground. She had regained consciousness after being helped up by two maids who were holding her up. He said, “Young Master Yu, this is the person who framed you. I have nothing to do with what happened today. I am just here to watch the show and have not done any scheming. I am just another spectator and won’t make a difference.”

Li Youmo even winked at Yu Mingyong after he said that. It was as if he were implying that Yu Mingyong would understand his intentions.

Yu Mingyong was so angry he gritted his teeth. While he was a playboy, he knew that everyone present today were powerful people – n.o.bility, third-grade officials, and above. Furthermore, they were in the palace; he must not get into trouble today. His sister had reminded him over and over again that she would send him a few beautiful palace maids tomorrow if he behaved himself.

Even the princes would act carefully when they were in the palace. It did not matter if he bullied others and flaunted their powers outside the palace, usually. If he were to cause trouble here, he might even lose his life. As such, he glared viciously at Mo Xuemin, the cause of all this trouble. If not for this woman, he would still be sleeping soundly inside and would not have offended anyone!

Mo Xuemin got up with the help of Mo Xiu and a maid dressed in yellow whom she did not know. Mo Xiu placed a handkerchief over her forehead. The cut itself wasn’t big, but the amount of blood on her face made her injuries look serious.