Novel Boss
Chapter 112
The Noble Womans Guide On How to Tease Ones Husband Chapter 112
Translated by: Oinkoink
[T/N: (Zh xn) expose or criticize peoples thoughts or intentions]
This novel is only hosted on Foxaholic, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized.
An imperial decree arrived at Meng Mansion two days later.
It was Zhuo Jin who went to proclaim the decree and saw all the Meng clansmen who knelt prostrated on the ground in the courtyard revealed looks of shock. He handed the imperial decree to Meng Qi without haste before gathering up his sleeves and returning to his original spot.
Lord Meng, Nucai[1] will return to the palace.
After all, Meng Qi was someone who has weathered many storms. Without batting an eyelid, he had someone handed a heavy pouch of silver before saying, Trouble Gonggong[2] to make this trip.
Assuming his usual smile, Zhuo Jin said, Its nothing, Your Excellency. This is Nucais duty.
He bowed to Meng Qi after saying that and led a number of the imperial guards to leave. The moment the Meng mansions gate was closed, the junior clansmen behind him swarmed around in unison, especially Meng Qian who opened his mouth and spoke bluntly.
Father, why did His Majesty suddenly grant Chener a marriage? And its even to that crappy Zhizi*. Who doesnt know that the relationship between Chu Country and Qiuzi is very tense now? He is obviously harming Chener!
[T/N: (Zhz) a prince sent to be held in a neighboring state as a hostage in ancient China]
Presumptuous!
Meng Qi shouted, his loud voice shuddered the surrounding people to retreat a few steps back. When he swept his gaze over, everyone immediately understood and rushed out successively that the previous crowded courtyard became deserted at once and left only three of the Meng family members, father and daughter. Meng Qi turned to look at his daughter, who was still kneeling on the ground and unable to accept the facts, with mixed emotions in his heart.
Go help your sister up.
Meng Gan also realized that he just had a slip of the tongue, hence putting his query aside momentarily, he turned to pull Meng Chen up. Meng Chen stood up wobbly and was still in a trance, and her eyes filled with tears that were about to trickle down.
Chener, go back to your room first and let Father think about how to deal with this marriage.
Father, is thinking still needed? Allow this Son to go to the palace with you and request His Majesty to retract the decree!
You are really muddled! Flaring up with anger again, Meng Qi raised his voice and angrily rebuked, How can he retract the decree that he personally made? What we need to do is to find out clearly the ins and outs of it!
Meng Gan came to realization too after he pointed this out. As the relationship between Chu JInglan and the Meng family was good, how could he push Meng Chen into this fiery pit? After much pondering, he felt there was only one possibility and that was the pillow talk Ye Huaiyang had out of anger after hearing about Meng Chen going to enter the palace to be an imperial concubine.
Father, it must be Ye Huaiyangs nasty trick. Those are just rumors outside, Chener will not enter the palace at all. She is too scheming to play this kind of trick!
Meng Qi looked profoundly at him and asked pointedly, When have you ever seen His Majesty swayed by others opinions?
The implication was that this was Chu Jinglans own decision.
Meng Gan was shocked to hear those words that his chest seemed to split a gap with cold air gushing out Then then why did His Majesty do this? He has always treated Chener well!
This was precisely Meng Qis bafflement too. Frowning with deep thought for a long while, this felt more and more like a punishment. Perhaps he had missed something significant. With this thought in mind, he raised his eyes slightly and his complexion changed abruptly Meng Chen who was still standing here just now had unexpectedly gone missing!
The Meng mansion was then tossed into chaos as everyone immediately looked for the person all over the courtyard but no one knew that she left quietly during the conversation just now and rushed straight to the Forbidden Palace with a belly full of anger.
Heavy rain was imminent with dark clouds shrouding the sun and the muffled thunder rumbling across the sky of the terrifyingly quiet Taiji Palace,
With no one guarding the door, Meng Chen got into the covered corridor like a needle. Allowing her skirt to flutter along the wind and unkempt hair on her temples, she made a turn without stopping for a moment when the upturned double-eaved roof suddenly appeared in front of her eyes. Looking down below the layers of glazed tiles and the carved beasts on the roof ridges, the open space in front of the palace was full of kneeling palace maids and eunuchs.
No wonder no one was outside.
Meng Chen was about to lift her foot to barge in when Yueyas voice was heard all of a sudden, Your Majesty, Niang-niang[3] is unable to stand for too long as her back is unwell. Please forgive Niang-niang this time for the sake of His Little Highness!
What kind of play is this?
Meng Chen was a little uncertain, but it sounded like Chu Jinglan and Ye Huaiyang were at odds. And this knowledge delighted her, so she stood behind the wall and continued to listen.
All of you retreat.
The brisk words of Ye Huaiyang compelled everyone to be invisible. Having no choice, Yueya could only lead everyone to retreat for the time being. Once they were all out of sight, Chu Jinglans sulking voice reverberated instantly amongst the square.
Still not knowing your mistake?
Lowering her eyes, the brightness in Ye Huaiyangs eyes were like misty vapor that shrouded the grey brick between the two of them when she only spoke out faintly after a long time, Chenqie[4] doesnt know, requesting Your Majesty to explain clearly.
You colluded with Ye Huaixin to tamper with the imperial decree without authorization. This is audacious to the extreme and still think that you are not wrong?
These words exploded so loudly in Meng Chens head that she abruptly clenched her five fingers, leaving deep long scratches on the wall with white chips dropped all over the ground.
She just knew it! It was all Ye Huaiyangs nasty trick! How could her Cousin be so heartless as to let her marry a Zhizi from a small country?
Amidst her burning wrath, she heard Ye Huaiyang spoke lightly, Requesting Your Majesty to punish Chenqie then.
Chu Jinglans expression sank abruptly. He strode over suddenly to grab her wrist and pulled her into his arms. His sweeping ice-cold gaze almost chilled one to the bone, yet she didnt dodge nor dread; instead she seized the chance to relax her legs and leaned over softly, saddling most of her bodys weight on him.
This was indeed untenable.
Sensing the heavy frail body in his arms and seeing that slightly pale small face, Chu Jinglan was seriously angry and distressed, wishing he could hold her down over his knees and smack her butt firmly. But in the end, he still forcibly suppressed the rapidly rising flame in his heart and spoke bitterly, I will inevitably be infuriated to death by you one day!
Saying that, the iron arms still wrapped firmly around her. With her back supported, the burden immediately decreased a lot. Comfortably, she sighed softly then reached out to cover his chest and felt his erratically surging heartbeats on her palm. She knew that he was really angry this time, hence she no longer talked back but spoke gently, I admit my mistake, punish me then.
Chu Jinglan laughed out of anger, Didnt you stubbornly refuse to admit your mistake just now. Okay, Ill listen to what mistake you have made.
I shouldnt have been ungrateful for your sentiment. Ye Huaiyang hung her head while her delicate soft voice drifted into his ears like the tidal wave, You were trying to vent out my anger for me, I know that.
Knowing that and you still switched the imperial decree secretly?
Looking at him, Ye Huaiyang said softly, Meng clan is your closest relative. You cant let one Meng Chen cause all of you to turn against each other.
Only you and the imperial son are the ones closest to me. Chu Jinglan corrected her sternly while his anger had yet to dissipate, She has harmed you to this extent. I have to seek justice for you no matter what.
Then there is no need to kill her, this will do for now.
As soon as her voice faltered, a soft noise came abruptly from the long corridor. Chu Jinglan turned his head to look around alertly. Just as he was about to ferret that person out, she staggered swiftly and appeared on her own.
Cousin, you want to kill me?
Seeing that it was her, Chu Jinglan instantly looked grim with his sharp cold gaze glinted all about and almost stabbed her bloodied across midair. Meng Chen saw it clearly and her face turned all the more ghastly as she strode step by step towards them. Chu Jinglan immediately placed Ye Huaiyang behind him to protect her firmly. This move undoubtedly stabbed Meng Chens heart once again.
What is so good about her that you like her so much?
She is not easily tempted to harm others.
Stopping in front of him, Meng Chen stroked her chest and sobbed uncontrollably, What about me? Who had I harmed during your six years in Northern Land? I even treat you better than she does, why dont you like me?
Chu Jinglan replied woodenly, Because We[5] and you are not the same kind of person at all.
No! Thats not true!
Meng Chen shouted out of control and reached out to grab Chu Jinglans lapel, he, however, took a step back to avoid her touch and said, You can resort to treachery easily for your own selfish desires, not mentioning Us, where is a second person like you in the entire Meng family?
If you hadnt insisted on not marrying me, how would I be forced to this point?
Hearing this, Chu Jinglans hostility soared to the point that he wanted to palm-strike her but was pulled tenaciously by Ye Huaiyang. Afraid of hurting her accidentally, he restrained his force and turned to stare at Meng Chen. The harshness in his eyes almost tore her to pieces.
What a good about being forced! In that case, the cause of death of Our elders, wife and child as well as over a hundred Xie familys people by you were all counted on Our head too?
Meng Chen has never seen Chu Jinglan like this before so she shrunk back with momentary fear. Seeing that Chu Jinglan had stopped his action due to Ye Huaiyangs hindrance, she immediately gritted her teeth with resentment, You actually wanted to kill me for her and even wanted to go against the Meng family, what bewitching soup she had actually given you!
Dont you know clearly why We want to kill you? Chu Jinglan rolled out a wave of cold laughter before taking a step closer and spoke out word by word, Hurting her is precisely digging out Our heart. Without even having a heart, how are We to think about the good of the Meng family? And how can We let you off the hook!
As if hit by a heavy hammer and smothered for breath, Meng Chen pounded her chest and just looked steadily at Chu Jinglan. She then suddenly laughed out without warning before slowly kneeling prostrated on the ground.
This subject thanks Empress Niang-niang[6] for the grace of not killing me.
Frowning slightly, Ye Huaiyang did not know what she wanted to do again when a cold glint flashed suddenly as Meng Chen actually wormed her way towards her! With great alarm, she wanted to dodge to the side but her body was too heavy which slowed down her pace and she could only watch helplessly at the sharp weapon stabbing towards herself.Just at this moment, Chu Jinglan quickly turned sideways and inserted himself between the two of them. With the wave of his long arm, the strong inner force immediately propelled Meng Chen a few meters away.
Yanger, are you okay?
Turning around quickly, Chu Jinglan checked Ye Huaiyangs condition. She was stroking her belly with heavy breathing before shaking her head gently at him. Who knew the glance from the corner of her eyes caught a smear of bright red that she turned her head to look with eyes widened instantly.
Youre injured!
Shooting a quick glance at the wound, Chu Jinglan paid it no heed as he held her against his chest again then turned his head to see that the imperial guards had already seized Meng Chen, who kept struggling and vomiting blood all over the floor and the scene was extremely bad. Chu Jinglan immediately pressed Ye Huaiyangs head into the hollow part of his shoulder before coldly instructed, Throw her out. If We are to see her again, all will be killed on the spot!
Yes! The imperial guards answered in unison and swiftly escorted her out.
Once the front of the hall returned to silence again, Ye Huaiyang wormed her way out of Chu Jinglans embrace before grasping his hand up to look at it. Worriedly, she instructed Yueya, Quickly go get Imperial Physician Lu over.
Chu Jinglan knew that his injury was minor but he felt that he should let Lu Heng come to take a look at Ye Huaiyang lest there be complications with her pregnancy after being startled just now. Hence, he did not refuse and merely helped her to slowly walk into the inner hall.
It took about a cup of tea* to get to the Imperial Hospital. Seeing that blood kept seeping out of Chu Jinglans arm, Ye Huaiyang was so anxious that she quickly asked the palace maid to bring the medicine box over and did a basic treatment for him first. The palace maid wanted to help but she refused to let others do it. The entire sleeve was cut off after a few snips and flung to the side without even a backward glance. She then gently cleaned the bloodstain around the wound with the gauze.
[T/N: (Y zhn ch) approximately the time to drink a cup of hot tea which is about ten minutes]
The palace maid stared dumbfoundedly at the shred off sleeve, thinking that it was the imperial robe and this was too ominous but looking back, Chu Jinglan was actually expressionless. He still stared at Ye Huaiyang, who was bustling in front of him, with his dark eyes filled with flowing warmth.
Ye Huaiyang, however, had yet to recover from the fright as she harped while treating his wound, How could you charge in so recklessly? Luckily it was just a superficial wound but whats to be done if it was accidentally stabbed deep?
Thats still better than stabbing you. Chu Jinglan spoke lightly and reached out suddenly to pull her into his arms, I wont let anyone hurt you again.
Getting grabbed by him, Ye Huaiyang cried out softly and pressed down on his wound in a flurry. Her whole person calmed down after hearing these words. Leaning against his chest, she appeased him softly, Dont worry. There wont be that kind of trouble anymore. My husband is the ruler of the country and they cant even wait to flatter me, so how would they dare to have evil thoughts?
Then, thats the best. Chu Jinglan raised his eyes and smiled lightly before embracing her tightly.
As long as she can be kept safe and sound, whats the harm in using the power of the state as her armor?
[1] (Nci) bondservant, your humble servant, referring to oneself when addressing the royalty or ones master / slaves
[2] (Gnggng) form of address for a court eunuch.
[3] (Ning ning) a kind of respect for women in Chinese . It is generally used to address queens, concubines, princesses and other royal and aristocratic women.
[4] (Chnqi) I, your servant (self-appellation of a lower-rank female)
[5] (Zhn) We/Our, used by an Emperor in proclamations instead of I
[6] (Ning ning) a kind of respect for women in Chinese . It is generally used to address queens, concubines, princesses and other royal and aristocratic women.