Murong Yunshu initially thought the mansion would be much quieter after the concubines returned to their maiden home to visit their relatives. She did not expect that not so quite uninvited guests would arrive after only two days of peace.
How long has it been since they had seen each other? Four or five years, she believed.
Murong Yunshu remembered when they first met, he was so indifferent and inflexible, with a permanent expression of him having just lost his mother. Now that he had been conferred the title of Prime Minister and the Auxiliary Minister under the Empress Dowager's orders, why was he still the same unsmiling man?
"Long time no see, Nie Qing." Murong Yunshu said with a smile.
"Long time.......no see." Four short words, but they took a few turns in Nie Qing's throat before coming out.
"Murong, you're really not much of a friend. You didn't even notify me when you and Big Brother Chu got married. I still want to drink you two's wedding wine!" Feng Ling was still a girl who would never grow up, where she would chatter as soon as she walked through the door
Murong Yunshu laughed and was about to explain when she suddenly heard a voice from her side——
"She was calling me?" Chu Murong was tugging at Murong Yunshu's skirt and tilted his head to ask.
Feng Ling was startled by the sudden appearance of the little turnip head and exclaimed in surprise, "Who are you?"
"Chu Murong."
"Chu Murong? Chu.......Murong?" Feng Ling frowned and thought for a moment. Then it dawned on her. "Murong, how did you get such a big son?!"
"He became a member of the Murong Mansion before his father." Murong Yunshu said.
Feng Ling was stunned and astounded for a long moment before blurting out, "You.......got married after you two have a son!"
"Murong said he wanted to attend our wedding, so I gave birth to him first." Murong Yunshu was still very calm.
".......it has been so long, and you're still as verbose as ever."
Murong Yunshu just smiled without responding to her statement.
"Mom, why did I hear that I was locked in the woodshed with my acupuncture point being sealed when you two were married?"
Uh. The smile on Murong Yunshu's face stiffened for a moment before her expression quickly returned to how it was before. "Who told you that?"
"Uncle North." Chu Murong replied.
Murong Yunshu: "He talked nonsense. Mom loves you so much. How can Mom have the heart to put you in the woodshed?"
"But Uncle East and the others said the same thing."
Murong Yunshu: "They are all talking nonsense. Ask your Dad if you don't believe me."
Chu Murong complied as he looked at his father, who was smiling profoundly and asked, "Did Uncle North lie?"
"Well, they're lying. You were actually locked up in our bridal room." Chu Changge smiled brightly.
The moment he made this statement, the whole room was petrified except for Murong Yunshu. Bridal room or woodshed, what's the difference?
"Nie Qing, Feng Ling, you've come all the way from the capital. You must have been tired from the journey. So you should go and rest first." Without waiting for the two to answer, Murong Yunshu said to Chief Steward Qian again, "Prepare guest rooms for Master Nie and Miss Feng."
"Yes." Chief Steward Qian accepted the order and immediately made a 'please' gesture towards Nie Qing and Feng Ling. "Master Nie, Miss Feng, this way, please."
Feng Ling cooperated by following him. Nie Qing, on the other hand, gave Murong Yunshu a deep look before leaving.
Once the trivial people had left, Chu Changge asked with a grave expression, "Can you guess what Nie Qing has come to Jinling for?"
"He's not here for me anyway." Murong Yunshu's tone was relaxed.
"How can you tell?"
"Even my Biaoge couldn't get me to change my mind, and others are even more futile. Nie Qing has known me for so long that there's no way he isn't aware of this. Therefore, he must have something else in his mind when he comes this time. One that concerns the rise and fall of the Imperial Court." Murong Yunshu explained.
"You think the same as I do." Chu Changge said, "It's just that in this Jinling, apart from you, what other person or matter could be so important that the Auxiliary Minister would have to take part in it personally?" [T/N]
"I don't know." Murong Yunshu also had a bewildered look on her face. Although it was certain that Nie Qing wasn't coming for her, his arrival must have had something to do with the Murong Mansion. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed in. A person like Nie Qing would not harass his friends for no reason. Either he would be ungracious not to accept her invitation, or he had other plans. And since she had never invited him, there was only one possibility left——he indeed had other plans.
Nie Qing, what exactly do you want to do?
*
After a few days, the trio, South, East and West, sent to seek news, returned.
"Do you know the reason why Nie Qing came to Jinling?" Chu Changge asked.
"I don't know." East Guardian shook his head. "But we found out another strange thing."
Chu Changge: "What is it?"
South Guardian: "The Imperial Court ministers have been leaving for Jinling one after another in recent days. Some have already arrived, and some are still on their way. They are all dressed in civilian clothes and have little luggage, unlike inspectors, promotions, excursions, or fleeing from disasters. They are obviously heading straight for Jinling."
Chu Changge's sword-like eyebrows knitted slightly at his words and muttered, "Nowadays, the court is in need of people. What are the ministers doing here in Jinling instead of staying in the capital?"
Murong Yunshu was also very puzzled. This series of anomalies gave her a sense that the wind had swept through the tower, heralding a rising storm in the mountains.
"Is Master Nie in the mansion?" Murong Yunshu asked Lu-er behind her.
Lu-er: "Yes. Master Nie hasn't gone out since he entered."
"Where's Feng Ling?" Murong Yunshu asked.
Lu-er: "When Master Nie doesn't go out, Miss Feng doesn't either. She has been running after Master Nie all day."
He doesn't even step outside the gate. What exactly does he want to do? Murong Yunshu's eyebrows were slightly knitted. Only after a long time did she say, "Alright. When the boat gets to the pier-head, it will go straight with the current. Let's treat him as a friend who comes to eat and drink for now. Serve him three meals a day with good wine and good food."
*
Nie Qing's heart was conflicted. Even when he knew how hopeless the outcome of this trip would be, he still came. He truly wanted to see her. So much so that he wished he could erase all the memories of her from his mind. How many midnight dreams left him with disappointment as if he had lost someone. How many times springs and autumns had come and gone, he still could not forget her. He wanted to forget, but he was unable to. He wanted to see but could not. His heart kept on feeling dejected. He didn't mind even if he was only allowed to stand in an inconspicuous corner, as long as he could see her smile.
Finally, God had the good sense to give him another chance to stand by her side confidently.
Only that, she would disagree.
Nie Qing smiled bitterly. It had been some days since he had lived in Murong Mansion, yet she hadn't come to look for him. Not to ask him how he was doing in the past few years, not even asking him why he had come to Jinling.
If she didn't ask, he couldn't open his mouth. Let's just say he was greedy for this consolation of being under the same roof as her. Now, he would wait. He would wait for everyone to be here. By then, they couldn't stop the arrow already set on the string from being discharged....…
"I heard that you are my Dad's rival in love."
Nie Qing was startled by the sudden childish voice and looked at its source, only to see a tiny boy looking up at him coldly, with an unbeatable, out-of-this-world condescension on his face.
What a familiar look, déjà vu.
Suddenly, Nie Qing remembered seeing this little boy when he returned to Murong Mansion. It seemed that he was called 'Chu Murong', the son of Murong Yunshu and Chu Changge. Thinking of this, when Nie Qing looked at him again, he almost looked like Chu Changge.
Seeing that Nie Qing didn't reply, Chu Murong's small face showed a bit of impatience as he repeated and emphasised his question, "I heard that you are my Dad's love rival?"
Without waiting for Nie Qing to reply, Feng Ling jumped out from nowhere and pinched Chu Murong's nose as she said, "Children shouldn't talk nonsense. Your Uncle Nie is mine. He has nothing to do with your Dad."
With a disgusted look, Chu Murong pulled his nose away from Feng Ling's hand and stated, "Uncle West said he was my Dad's love rival."
"They're talking nonsense!" Feng Ling immediately raised her eyebrows and then smiled incomparably kindly at Chu Murong, "Children should stay out of adults' affairs, understand?"
Chu Murong gave her a disdainful look and said coolly, "Women should stay out of men's business."
In a moment, Feng Ling choked on her own saliva and coughed until her face was red.
"You're already this old but still acting like a child." Nie Qing said as he patted her back.
Feng Ling's brows instantly raised in delight as her eyes laughed and stuck out her tongue in shame. "I was just intimidated by him." He hadn't even changed his teeth yet, and he was already calling himself a man. How did Big Brother Chu teach his son?
Nie Qing frowned a little helplessly. Then he looked at Chu Murong and asked, "Where's your father?"
"Accompany my Mom to the market." Chu Murong said.
Nie Qing: "I'm good friends with your parents, so don't go around talking like that in the future."
"You're truly not my Dad's love rival?"
"Do you even know the meaning of rival in love?"
Chu Murong was stumped by Nie Qing's question and floundered for a couple of moments before answering, "It's not a good person anyway."
"You can go pick on someone else." Nie Qing said.
After Chu Murong left, Nie Qing fell into deep thought. At the same time, Feng Ling was staring at him. [+]
After a long time, Nie Qing suddenly raised her eyes to Feng Ling and spoke earnestly, "Let's get married."
"Huh?" Feng Ling froze for a long time before she came back to her senses. "Nie, Nie Qing, did you take the wrong medicine?"
The corners of Nie Qing's mouth slightly twitched as he said with a darkened face, "Yes, I took the wrong medicine, so I suddenly wanted to marry you. These words won't count when the medicine wears off......"
"I do!" Feng Ling immediately interrupted Nie Qing's words and jumped at him while feeling pleasantly surprised. She wrapped her arms around his neck and bounced. "Nie Qing, the medicine won't pass, not even for the rest of your life. Even if it passes, I'll never let you get away from it!"
Feng Ling's happiness infected Nie Qing. The corners of his mouth curled up as he also hugged her and whispered, "When the matter in Jinling is finished, I will go and propose marriage to your brother."
"Hmm." Feng Ling nodded heavily, and the smile on her face was brighter than ever.
*
Soon, the news that Nie Qing and Feng Ling were going to be together for life reached Murong Yunshu's ears, with the messenger being Feng Ling herself.
"Murong, Murong, Nie Qing is finally willing to marry me!" As soon as Feng Ling entered the door, she exclaimed as if she had found a treasure.
Murong Yunshu smiled faintly and commented, "He's such a cold blockhead. It's his good fortune to marry you. It's him who should make it known to the world. So why are you acting like you finally got your wish by selling yourself?"
"Do you know?" Feng Ling sat down opposite Murong Yunshu and spoke glowingly, "Nie Qing is highly sought after when he was in the capital. Many dignitaries wanted to marry their daughters to him. Some are even willing to give their daughters to him as his concubines, but he sent them all back. I've been with him for so long that I've almost lost my confidence, and when he suddenly says he wants to marry me, how can I not be excited? Why don't you ask Big Brother Chu? Was he this excited when you agreed to marry him?"
Murong Yunshu raised her eyebrows and looked at Chu Changge. "Were you this excited?"
Chu Changge took a sip of hot tea and responded slowly, "Were you not very clear about whether I was excited or not?" The tone of his voice was quite ambiguous.
Murong Yunshu was baffled. How could she know? Suddenly, she thought of their wedding night where someone had tossed and turned her for the whole night......
"Hey, Murong, why is your face so red?" Feng Ling asked strangely.
"My face isn't red."
Feng Ling glared at the little turnip head that had suddenly appeared and said, "I'm talking about your mother."
"Is Mom called Murong too? But how come I've never heard Dad call her that?"
Feng Ling became interested as soon as she heard this. She asked for gossip, "Then how does your Dad call your Mom?"
"'Madam', 'Yunshu'. Oh, and sometimes he would shout in a strange tone 'pre...... "
"Chu Murong!" Murong Yunshu turned Chu Murong aside and stared at Chu Changge angrily. "It's all your fault," she scolded. "You trained him so well that he would listen to everything he shouldn't!"
"......he was born that way." Chu Changge had an innocent face, but there was a smile in his eyes from admiring Murong Yunshu, who was flushed and shy at this moment.
"Yeah, I was born that way." Chu Murong said with wide eyes and in all seriousness.
"......" Murong Yunshu didn't bother with the father and son and asked Feng Ling, "When are you planning to have the wedding?"
Feng Ling replied, "Nie Qing said he would go to Hua Tuo Mountain to propose marriage to my brother when he was done with his Jinling matter."
At these words, Murong Yunshu and Chu Changge exchanged a look; Nie Qing is indeed planning something.
Feng Ling added, "Nie Qing has no family, so he decided to wait for my big brother's approval and hold the wedding directly at Hua Tuo Mountain. By then, you must come. If you can't make it, don't forget to send someone to deliver the red envelope."
"......" It turned out that the red packet was Feng Ling's point. Murong Yunshu pursed her lips in amusement and said, "Recently, my hands are tight, and the money bank is losing a lot of money. So, I don't have money to give you guys as red envelopes. Otherwise, you guys can wait a little longer, at least for three to five years, when my business turns around. By then, I'll wrap a box of gold bars for you guys."
Feng Ling immediately corrected herself and said, "I'd rather not."
*
Almost all of the important members of the Imperial Court arrived in Jinling. The capital was now left with a not-so-solid, mere skeleton.
After hearing the report from the trio of South, East and West, Murong Yunshu could only smile and say, "It looks like we're going to have guests at our home again."
"It will be very crowded to have so many guests at one time." Chu Changge's tone was also very light.
Murong Yunshu nodded, "The officials are big, and the people are small. Why don't we vacate this place for them to live?"
"Good idea."
As they listened to the couple sing in unison, the trio South, East and West couldn't help but roll their eyes in their minds. "No one can get away. The gates will be closed as they enter the city, and kerosene will be poured on the walls. The soldiers guarding the city will each have a torch, and once someone goes over the wall, they will light the kerosene, and then the city of Jinling will be in a sea of fire."
It was going to be a fight with their back to the river! Murong Yunshu's heart was greatly shocked, and she looked at Chu Changge to see what he had in mind.
Chu Changge was also surprised. Once the officials destroyed the city, all of them would also be buried with it. What was it that made them so determined to leave them no way out? [T/N]
Noob Translator's Musing
It's weird, isn't it? With impending attack from Hua Yeli and Hua Tiansheng, will the Imperial Court satisfy having Hua Lingtian's four-year-old son takes on the helm? I know I won't. And now, all of the ministers are in Jinling. Since they won't come looking for Yunshu, who else will they come for? Of course...the next in line for the throne, who currently resides in Murong Mansion. Guess who is that person?
Tags:
Black Belly Wife