This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY at the translator’s and editor’s own free times.
Chapter 144
Strange (Part 1)
“Your Majesty arrived!”
Following the voice, the palace maids who were inside the Fei Feng palace already kneeled on the ground consciously. The Empress who was holding the young prince in her hand, came to the palace gate to welcome (the Emperor). The Empress slightly bent her waist and respectfully waited for the Emperor to arrive. Even the young prince who was always happy, also appeared to sense that the atmosphere was different so he obediently stayed in his mother’s bosom.
Murong Shu Qing was somewhat laughing when she looked at this situation, (she could only see) all of the people’s heads in the room, and everyone was crawling on their feet. No wonder that the Emperor wanted to claim to be a royalty, one would really feel lonely at the top. Helplessly half-kneeling also, Murong Shu Qing was waiting to wait this ‘great’ Emperor at the same place!
The sound of a powerful footstep walked into the inside palace hall, the Empress’s gentle voice also echoed quietly: “Chenqie gives Your Majesty respects.”
Xuan Tian Cheng faintly said: “You may rise!” After he said this, Xuan Tian Cheng took the young prince from the Empress’ bosom, and said with a sweet-sounding voice that was trying to coax the child who was in (the Empress’ bosom): “Come. Hao-er, Father Emperor will hug (you).”
At this moment, he was surrounded with a halo of paternal love.
Xuan Tian Cheng was hugging the young prince, and entered the inside palace hall, with a quick glance, he saw that indigo figure and stood in front of Murong Shu Qing. He did not say anything but was just staring at the woman in front (of him). Murong Shu Qing still lowered her head and half-kneeled, and pretended that she did not sense Xuan Tian Cheng’s gaze.
Bi Xin Sui secretly observed the two people, they did not interact at all, but it seemed as if they were familiar with each other? This was a very strange type of feeling. Since that time when she found out that the Emperor was furious because of Murong Shu Qing’s portrait, she was paying attention to this Murong Shu Qing. But the Emperor granted the marriage, and also asked her to study the etiquettes, so she was actually confused whether they knew each other or not after all?!
Bi Xin Sui smiled and stood by Xuan Tian Cheng’s side, and she tried to explain: “This is Miss Murong.”
Murong Shu Qing had not lifted her head up yet, and quietly said: “Murong Shu Qing pays respect to Your Majesty.”
Xuan Tian Cheng was staring at Murong Shu Qing and then moved his gaze to the young prince, he casually said: “You may rise.” He just took the young prince to sit on the master’s seat. Then he said to the Empress who was following from behind: “Today, the Ceremony Official reminded Zhen that there are five more days before Hao-er’s birthday, how is the preparation?”
The Empress showed a happy face and smilingly said: “Answering Your Majesty, today, the Empress Dowager and all of us discussed about this, and we have already made some preparations.”
“En, then, it is good.”
Looking at the sky, the Empress asked with expectation: “Why don’t Your Majesty eat dinner here?”
Xuan Tian Cheng’s attention appeared to have been placed on the sweet smile of his young son, so he only merely and casually said the “en” sound. Murong Shu Qing could feel that the Empress’ mood was very happy, for her, eating with her own husband was actually a matter worthy of her rejoicing.
Murong Shu Qing sighed, and quietly said behind the Empress: “The Empress, Shu Qing agreed to return by noon to eat with the Empress Dowager, so I will not disturb the Emperor and the Empress.” She was not interested in accompanying the whole family to eat.
The Empress looked one glance at the Emperor, but only saw that he was still engrossed in playing with the young Hao-er, so the Empress turned around and smilingly said to Murong Shu Qing: “Alright. You have to sit with Bengong again next time.” She always wanted to know what was going on between her and the Emperor after all.
The Empress did not know, after she turned around, Xuan Tian Cheng also turned around to look at Murong Shu Qing, but (he only looked) one glance, and turned back around very quickly.
Murong Shu Qing was somewhat puzzled? Was he afraid that the Empress would know something? Then, why did he not actually refrain from the topic in front of the Empress Dowager on that day? Why was it?! Murong Shu Qing slightly bowed, and answered: “Shu Qing asks to be excused.”
After the Empress nodded her head, Murong Shu Qing turned around to leave Fei Feng palace.
The current Xuan Tian Cheng was somewhat different, she could not say that his one hurried glance was rather strange, but she could feel that there was a trace of joyfulness within his expression?! Two days ago, he was extremely angry with Xuanyuan Yi, but today, his expression was slightly pleased, was it because his young son made his mood to be better? Or because of something else?! Or because he already had another new plan?!
Murong Shu Qing was walking and stopping all the way, on one hand, she was strolling at the front courtyard, while thinking deeply about Xuan Tian Cheng. Slightly lowering her head, Murong Shu Qing walked slowly, and felt that there was another person who was walking in front of her, and she saw a pair of nice white dazzling boots. She reckoned that the person who could wear these kind of boots, and walked inside the courtyard of the Imperial palace, would not just be some small prince and had to be a close relative. Not wanting to respond to this person, she moved to one side, but that pair of white boots came over to her, and a clear male voice that showed a mocking sound, came through: “Miss Murong! Long time no see.”
This person knew her? Murong Shu Qing lifted her head up, and saw the smiling Xuan Tian Xing, his whole body was wearing a white brocade that had some golden cloud embroidery design on the edges. The garment really fitted with his valiant and formidable-looking (appearance), the purplish gold crown also revealed his honorable status undoubtedly. Murong Shu Qing could be said to be somewhat impudently looking at this person, and was just about to slowly half-kneel to salute: “Murong Shu Qing pays respect to Prince Rong Ning.”
She just slightly bent her knees, but Xuan Tian Xing already pulled the sleeve of her garment, and supported her to get up. Waiting until Murong Shu Qing stood up properly, Xuan Tian Xing also explained: “Miss does not need to be too polite.” At the Qi’s family last time, she was so sophisticated and confident, and did not stick to any custom. And today, she looked even more incompatible with the Imperial palace (atmosphere) with the simple yet elegant black clothing that was on her, it made him able to look at her from a distant away. Looking that she was kneeling to salute, his heart felt especially awkward, as it did not look like her at all!
Murong Shu Qing originally did not want to kneel to salute either, through Xian Tian Xing’s strength, she stood her body up. Lightly smoothing the sleeves of her garment, Murong Shu Qing looked at him with a smile and yet not a smile (expression), she smilingly said with a helpless appearance: “I also do not want to be too polite, but this is a place where ‘etiquettes’ are being emphasized!”
Murong Shu Qing deliberately emphasized on the etiquettes word, so it made Xuan Tian Xing realize suddenly that she originally did not want to salute him. Doing it like this, she merely wanted to tease him, and also to mock this royal family’s etiquettes!
Xuan Tian Xing forced a smile while he answered: “I almost forgot, you entered the palace to learn the etiquettes.”
Murong Shu Qing casually nodded her head, she slowly walked forward, and faintly said: “Yes ah, today can be said that I have learned it.”
When a daughter met her mother-in-law, she needed to kneel to salute, and when the wife met her husband, she also needed to bow and bend her knees, was this the so-called etiquette?
Xuan Tian Xing looked at the indigo figure who was crossing pa.s.sed him softly, the breeze was blowing so her sleeves were swirling in the air. Her thin figure seemed to be able to be carried away by the wind at any time, and her confident (appearance) did not seem to belong in this place. Xuan Tian Xing softly breathed, and said to Murong Shu Qing’s back: “I really admire you when I saw you the first time at the Qi family’s home.”
The sound of a clear man’s voice came through inside her ears softly, so Murong Shu Qing stopped her footsteps. She slightly raised the corners of her mouth, since she could feel that his so-called admiration should not be the same as a male-female affection at all. So she did not think that she would not have any good luck in love affair this year.
Murong Shu Qing softly turned her body around, and gently looked at Xuan Tian Xing up and down again, she smilingly said: “This sentence that you just said… it was not saying that you had fallen in love with me at first sight, right!”
Xuan Tian Xing looked distracted, and then he laughed out loud, he pretended to shake his head mysteriously, and approached Murong Shu Qing’s side, he said in a low voice: “Falling in love with you is exhausting, and I will also be doomed at your hand. Fortunately, I am better than Xuanyuan Yi, and more fortunate also.”
He?! On this earth, there was no sealed on the wall. Murong Shu Qing said with a somewhat helpless smile: “What you were trying to say in your heart, I should not be out of luck like this, right!”
The two people were looking one glance at each other, and could not help to laugh out loud.
Xuan Tian Xing and Murong Shu Qing we’re walking side by side, after a good while, Xuan Tian Xing quietly said: “For half a month, but this maybe the beginning of a long days.”
Murong Shu Qing stooped her steps, but it was only for a period of time, and she continued to leisurely wandered with Xuan Tian Xing among the flower paths again very quickly. She said with neither urgent nor slow: “Prince seemed to have a hidden meaning.”
Maybe, he knew what Xuan Tian Cheng wanted to do after all?!
Xuan Tian Xing looked one glance at Murong Shu Qing, as if he was walking leisurely by her side, he softly smiled and said by the side of Murong Shu Qing’s ear: “Based on what I understand about him, he maybe a magnificent, impressive, good strategist and bright monarch, but he has a habit since he was a child that he can conceal (things) better too.”
He kept his listeners in suspense, and only said it half-way, so Murong Shu Qing softly knitted her eyebrows. After thinking, she gently smiled and said: “Only when he does not want it, then he will not get it. But if he wants something, he will do anything to get it. Is that right?”
This was actually a ‘reasonable saying’ of Xuanyuan Yi’s personality, so Murong Shu Qing only felt that she could use it for Xuan Tian Cheng now, as it was not far off!
She did not think that Xuan Tian Xing was surprised and staring at her because of Murong Shu Qing’s words. Murong Shu Qing saw his expression, and just knew that even if she did not speak out about Xuan Tian Cheng’s (personality), but it did not look like it was too far off.
Funnily striking his forehead lightly, Murong Shu Qing looked at Xuan Tian Xing, who had a puzzled look, so she mockingly said: “Have you ever doubted that he and Xuanyuan Yi are really blood brothers? One is a general who is undoubtedly overbearing on the outside, and the other one has a deep thinking mind!”
Xuan Tian Xing laughed out loud, this opinion was indeed extremely insightful, luckily, she could think it out. Sighing and shaking his head, Xuan Tian Xing smilingly said: “Fortunately, I did not meet you earlier.” Otherwise, he could not guarantee that he would not give in to her smart, intelligent, confident manners, lost his heart and threw away his soul (to her).
Murong Shu Qing stopped her footsteps, and turned to face Xuan Tian Xing, she indifferently smiled and asked: “Since you informed me these (things) today, are you planning to help me or planning to watch the show properly?”
Xuan Tian Xing unfolded both of his hands, and smilingly said: “I think that you will let me watch a good show.”
When he saw her at Prime Minister Qi’s birthday that day, he just paid attention to this woman who could arise his curiosity. For a woman like her, who did not care about power, or it could be considered that he understood her. So he would take the initiate to speak to her about these today, first, because he felt that she really was not suitable to be be imprisoned, and second, he wanted to see whether or not she could be able to show her outstanding character to come out of this serious situation.
But Murong Shu Qing smiled and lightly shook her head, she pointed her index finger lazily to Xuan Tian Xing, and gently said this line of sentence: “It is too late, I will…. pull you in to the water.”
Sian’s notes:
Zhen is a self appellation for the Emperor, while Aijia is a self appellation for the Empress Dowager. Chenqie is a self appellation for the Empress & other women in the harem when they speak to the Emperor. Chenqie literally means this servant or this subject (for female). While Bengong is a self appellation for the women who were born or married into a royal family when they speak to the “lower” rank people. Bengong is used for the female royals while Benw.a.n.g is used for the male royals.
Aish…. I actually like this Xuan Tian Xing a lot better than his older brother, the evil emperor D-bag. Hehehe… he seems to be a lot nicer man. But of course, anybody who lives inside the palace, will never be 100% nice as they have to be able to scheme or they won’t be able to survive living in the palace.
