Chapter 76 (1/2)
Chapter 76
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
”Let go of me!” the little princess shrieked. She pushed the maidservants aside, knelt on the ground and crawled forward. Tears started to stream down her face. She reached out her hand to wipe the tears off of her face, staring brazenly at her father, whom she had feared since young. Her voice was shaky, but she tried hard to maintain an upright posture, uttering slowly, ”Father, please retract your order.”
”Chun'er!” Zhao Che frowned and berated, ”What are you doing? Stop it!”
There was a strange expression on everyone's faces. In the giant Fang Gui Pavilion, only the sounds of the wind could be heard.
”Seventh Brother,” the little princess, her eyes bloodshot, turned her head to look at Zhao Che, ”please help Chun'er. Chun'er does not wish to marry anymore. Please plead with Father on my behalf.”
”Seventh Prince, take your younger sister away.”
Zhao Che frowned, rooted to the spot. Ultimately, he agreed in the end, nodding his head. He grabbed Zhao Chun'er, replying deeply, ”Yes, Your Majesty.”
”Father!” Zhao Chun'er hollered. She looked up, tears flowing freely from her face. ”Please grant my request! I'd rather marry someone from the western wastelands, northern borders, or the frontier. I beg you, please retract your order!”
”Chun'er, stop your nonsense, follow Seventh Brother!”
”Father!” Zhao Chun'er pushed Zhao Che aside, kneeling on the ground stubbornly and kowtowing with force. The sounds of her head hitting the ground reverberated around the pavilion. ”Father, I beg you, please retract your order. Please, please retract your order...”
The Xia Emperor did not look at Zhao Chun'er, and instead looked sternly at Zhao Che. He declared, ”Seventh Prince!”
Zhao Che frowned. He lowered his head and picked Zhao Chun'er up from the ground, and walked towards the exit of the pavilion. Zhao Chun'er, who had suppressed her tears previously, wailed without any restrain. She pleaded, ”Father! Please retract your order. Father, Chun'er does not wish to marry anymore. Father, I beg you, please…”
Fresh blood oozed out of Zhao Chun'er's forehead, dripping onto the white carpet laid out on the floor of the pavilion. It was a shocking sight. The entire pavilion fell into dead silence. Everyone stared at the Xia Emperor from the corner of their eyes, not daring to look up.
”Chun'er is a filial child. Your Majesty need not be angry. After all, she's a girl, and she can't bear to leave home.” As Noble Consort Xuan uttered those words, the entire pavilion responded in agreement. The atmosphere livened up again. Scholar Cui, from the Book Bureau, added, ”The Princess is caring and filial. It is a rare sight. Crying during marriage is a reflection of the Princess's virtues, just like ancient sayings.”
”Your Majesty is benevolent, he showers love upon his children. As his children are leaving home, they would not be able to listen to the Emperor's wise words. Naturally, they would feel sad.”
”That's right, it must be like this.”
While the pavilion bustled with life, no one's attention was on the second side pavilion. Chu Qiao cautiously stood up, preparing to leave. As she stood up, a hand tugged at her sleeve. Zhuge Yue was looking down, sipping at his wine. As she stared at him, he looked up, residual stains of the red wine still on his lips, accentuating his evil appearance. The man puckered his lips gently, saying in a low, hoarse tone, ”Where are you going?”
Chu Qiao, half-squatting, placed her face closed to Zhuge Yue's eyes, smiling sarcastically. ”Am I close to Fourth Master? Are you overstepping your boundaries?”
Zhuge Yue inched his body closer, his nose almost touching Chu Qiao's face. ”The banquet has not ended yet. Leaving your seat midway is very rude.”
”So what?” Chu Qiao replied sarcastically, in a cold tone. ”This is the royal palace of the Xia Empire, not Qing Shan Court. Fourth Master, must you meddle in everything?” As she finished her sentence, the young lady grabbed Zhuge Yue's wrist. With a clean, swift movement, she loosened his grip on her sleeve and pressed his palm against the ground.
Zhuge Yue's jet-black eyes sparkled in the background. He smiled plainly and said, ”Coincidentally, I like to meddle in other people's affairs.” Zhuge Yue's hand, like a loach, slipped out of Chu Qiao's grip with some swift movements. He grabbed her sleeve again.
”Is it? In just a few years, Master has changed. I always thought that you were a cold-blooded, ruthless person, unmoved by anything.” Chu Qiao used two fingers to feel across his arm, pressing on his acupuncture points and suppressing the movement of his arm.
”You flatter me. In terms of being cold-blooded and ruthless, I concede defeat to you.”
The two of them exchanged blows under their seats, hidden by the long tablecloth. No one would have been able to notice them. As the main pavilion bustled with life, no one would focus their attention on the side pavilion.
”Haha, what are the two of you talking about? Both of you seem so happy. Let me hear it too.” Li Ce jumped behind the both of them, smiling brightly.