LF Chapter 65
by VolareThe time was approaching dusk, and the main hall was unlit. With the doors and windows tightly shut, the light inside was somewhat dim.
The weather in early March was not particularly warm. Ying Feng, having been caught in the act, cowered behind the screen as if she had lost her soul. A chill penetrated her heart, and she stared in bewildered terror at Jiang Yinghua, whose expression was fluctuating. Seeing the eerie smile on her lips, she felt deeply uneasy.
Jiang Yinghua, observing her embarrassment, felt a surge of inexplicable joy. This so-calledImperial Son-in-law was, in fact, a woman. The King of the East Sea’s only preciousson of the first wife turned out to be a fake after all. No wonder she was known as the “Jade-Faced Buddha”; her looks revealed a delicate and graceful air.
Seeing Jiang Yinghua close the door and lock it in one smooth motion, Ying Feng vaguely sensed that there was room for negotiation. However, Jiang Yinghua’s brazenly tearing at her clothes caused her immense shame and indignation. Recalling what this person had said last night about admiring the “mirror-grinding” love between women, she was utterly flustered, her eyes full of resistance.
“Prince…or should I say, cousin? Not going to say something?” Jiang Yinghua teasingly held up thebandeau, waving it provocatively.
“Can you give me back my clothes first, please?” Ying Feng’s face was flushed with shame. This person was truly crazy and lacked all manners. The reality was vastly different from the rumors outside.
“Feeling ashamed, feeling disgraced? Too bad. I’m not afraid of disgrace, nor do I care much for reputation or face. Would you like me to tell you how my elder sister punishes those who deceive the Emperor?” Jiang Yinghua casually tossed thecovering cloth on the ground, swaying her body slowly, her tone unhurried.
Ying Feng swiftly picked it up, hastily wrapped it around herself, and staggered off to grab theceremonial robes that the palace servants had brought earlier. Frantically, she threw on the outer robe, took a deep breath, and said, “Your Highness, I know you harbor resentment towards me because of your beloved. I deceived Your Majesty and the Emperor in this matter, marrying you. I was wrong to do so. But I have unspeakable difficulties. Now that the matter is settled and announced to the world, involving the dignity of two kingdoms, please hear my explanation before making a decision, how about it?”
“Heh, who doesn’t have their own difficulties? Just because you have difficulties, I have to listen to your whining? You sharpened your head and squeezed into the Chu palace. You should have thought clearly about the consequences before coming in. If you want to talk, kneel down and beg me. Maybe I’ll listen for a few sentences,” Jiang Yinghua said, her cold eyes fixed on Ying Feng. She hated liars the most; one after another, the people around her were deceiving her.
Ying Feng, hearing this, pursed her lips and clasped her hands tightly. She turned to look at her maid and said, “You go outside and guard the door.”
The maid vigilantly stared at Jiang Yinghua, afraid that this madwoman would harm her mistress. Only after Ying Feng repeatedly urged her did she run out.
Seeing her leave, only the two of them remained in the main hall. Ying Feng lowered her eyes, her expression hardening. She actually knelt down, her knees touching the ground. Jiang Yinghua was somewhat surprised. After all, she was the heir to a kingdom and older than her. How could she be so obedient, completely abandoning her dignity?
She quickly turned away, averting her gaze. It was supposed to be a joke at Ying Feng’s expense, but she couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Your Highness, my identity should be a good thing for you. I accept the letter of divorce from last night. We are nominally married, but in reality, we can make a deal for our mutual benefit, can’t we? You won’t lose out. If I’m in the Chu court, the East Sea will be yours. My father doesn’t know I’m a woman. If it’s exposed, my mother and I won’t survive. If my younger half-brother ascends the throne, the East Sea will definitely rebel, which will be detrimental to the Chu’s maritime borders in every way.”
Ying Feng’s voice trembled slightly; she couldn’t quite grasp Prince Zhao’s intentions. She had investigated in the East Sea as well. Jiang Yinghua’s actions were considered fairly decisive, and she was relied upon by the Chu Emperor, so she was definitely not as crazy and unruly as she appeared on the surface.
“Go on,” Jiang Yinghua said, becoming interested. A daughter and mother hiding it from the father, scheming for their own throne for nearly thirty years, was also a talent.
“Marrying the Chu Kingdom was the condition I negotiated with my father for ceding the throne. The East Sea was originally a vassal state of Chu, but it is often invaded byJapanese pirates. My younger brother is power-hungry and incapable of handling great responsibilities. I came here at risk, completely out of desperation. My mother and the Empress Dowager are close sisters. If the two countries become one, the East Sea’s taxes and wealth can be observed, which can add to the glory of Great Chu and serve as mutual shields.
If Your Highness allows me to stay here, I am willing to serve you wholeheartedly. Even if it means using the power of the East Sea to protect your beloved, it’s not impossible,” Ying Feng said earnestly, her eyes gazing expectantly at Jiang Yinghua’s back, her heart beating rapidly.
Jiang Yinghua lowered her eyes, considering. Seeing this, Ying Feng added, “Your Highness, even if you don’t care about the East Sea’s internal affairs, you can still dispatch troops and annex the East Sea in the future. But right now, my mother and I are naturally closer to Great Chu. Ready-made resources and connections can all be offered to you, which is better than reorganizing the rivers and mountains and wasting resources and money in the future. You may not care about face, but don’t you think about the face of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the people of Great Chu?”
Jiang Yinghua sneered and turned back, “Ying Feng, you’re impatient. If you hadn’t used that last sentence to threaten me, I might have softened and agreed to you. I hate threats the most; you brought it on yourself. Put on your clothes. I won’t embarrass you at tonight’s palace banquet. As for when I’ll reveal it, it depends on your performance.”
Hearing this, Ying Feng’s heart, which had been hanging in the air, temporarily settled back into her stomach. Although her words contained veiled threats, it wasn’t to the point of being exposed tonight. She stood up, clutching her clothes, and walked inside, reaching out to pull down the curtains. After much trouble, she finally managed to put on the complex, multi-layered ceremonial robes herself, walked out, and bowed, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness.”
Such a major matter was not something Jiang Yinghua could decide on her own. Her heart did not want to reveal it, as it would be a good thing for her, but she did not dare to take the risk easily before clarifying Ying Feng’s true motives.
The two of them left the main hall together and headed to the palace banquet. The attendants were clueless, only assuming that the two were in harmony, like a newlywed couple getting along well.
Jiang Yinghua and Ying Feng had delayed for a long time, and the banquet had already begun. The Empress Dowager and the King and Queen of the East Sea were all seated. The Emperor’s main seat was empty, presumably because she was still feeling unwell. Jiang Yinghua’s appearance brought joy to the faces of the two elders from the East Sea, finally saving their faces.
Jiang Yinghua entered, raised her eyes and glanced around, and bowed in greeting, “Hua’er greets the Empress Dowager, greets Aunt and Uncle, wishing you good health and boundless happiness.” Ying Feng behind her was somewhat dazed. This person did not address the Empress Dowager as “Mother,” but when addressing her own parents, she did so from the Empress Dowager’s point of view. Her words were full of twists and turns.
The King of the East Sea was also not very satisfied with her address, which inadvertently made him feel inferior, but out of consideration for face, he did not say much. Jiang Yinghua was very clever, adding, “Please forgive me, Your Highnesses. Hua’er has been unwell recently, and my manners have not been perfect. Today, I have prepared a small gift to express my apologies. I hope you will be understanding. At the evening family banquet, Hua’er will punish myself with three cups of wine as an apology.”
The Empress Dowager, listening from the head seat, was quite satisfied with Jiang Yinghua’s obedient performance, so she went along with it, saying, “This child has been spoiled terribly. In the future, I will strictly discipline her. I will certainly not allow Feng’er to suffer any grievances here.”
In this way, the King of the East Sea’s mouth was blocked. Other than saying some flattering words on the surface, he dared not pick on people’s shortcomings. Just as they were exchanging pleasantries, the Emperor arrived late, her voice preceding her, “I’m late, burdened by official duties, forgive me, forgive me.”
Jiang Yinghua secretly glanced out of the corner of her eye. The Emperor had applied heavy makeup to conceal her face, and it was impossible to see her haggard appearance from the afternoon.
The night was filled with singing, dancing, and music, with guests toasting and exchanging pleasantries. Even Jiang Yinghua, who had been confined for so long, found it difficult to cope. The person at the head seat, however, held on until the end. The next day, the group from the East Sea left the palace to return home, and Jiang Yinghua dutifully saw them off, fulfilling all the courtesies. She wanted to take this opportunity to perform well, go down the steps, and have the Emperor lift her confinement so that she could plan for the future.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the change from the crazed, mindless behavior earlier to the proper and reserved demeanor now was definitely not due to being intimidated by the Emperor spitting blood. She must have something in mind. It was rare for her to be honest, so the Emperor and the Empress Dowager did not expose her, waiting for the old fox to jump out on her own.
Another day passed, and Qingyun, who had been sent out of the Guangyuan Hall by Jiang Yinghua after being designed and humiliated, returned. Jiang Yinghua impatiently dismissed the others, leaving only her, and asked, “Where did Yan Wanzhi go?”
Qingyun replied in a low voice, “This servant received a message last night that she traveled south all the way. The Emperor gave her two attendants, and our people didn’t dare to get close. The people are already in the Huzhou territory and there is nothing unusual.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yinghua naturally expected that the Emperor would not easily let her go free, but this news was already very good, “Have people keep an eye on her, and send me a message when it’s convenient. There’s no need to deliberately approach her, and there’s no need to tell her my arrangements. Just protect her well.”
“Yes, your subordinate understands,” Qingyun bowed in affirmation, “What about you, Master? She’s not in danger for the time being, you should plan for yourself. There are still more than a dozen people in the forbidden palace, but by the master’s disposal.”
Jiang Yinghua’s eyes flickered upon hearing this. She didn’t understand the Emperor’s intention. This time, even though she had caused such a frenzy, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor didn’t seem to be ignited as usual, using both soft and hard tactics. Although it left her helpless, it didn’t really hurt her. If doing so was to smoothly marry the East Sea, where would the next step be placed? She couldn’t guess at all.
“Let’s be quiet for now, I’ll tell you when I’ve thought it over.” Jiang Yinghua waved her hand dejectedly. The despondency of the past half-month, although there was an element of acting, was mostly real. The taste of heartbreak was quite strong.
Peaceful days passed for three days. Jiang Yinghua stayed in the Guangyuan Hall and did not leave, and the guards and attendants who had been imprisoned before were not withdrawn. Jiang Yinghua was at a loss, really unable to guess what medicine the Emperor was selling in her gourd.
Early in the morning on the fourth day, an inner attendant rushed to report, sending Jiang Yinghua to the Chengming Hall to meet the Emperor.
Jiang Yinghua sneered in her heart, was this going to be the showdown? She walked lightly into the Chengming Hall, bowed, and stood with her head bowed, waiting for the Emperor to reveal the next step.
The Emperor, seeing the person arrive, sighed on the imperial throne and looked at Jiang Yinghua with a solemn expression. After a long time, she picked up a letter spread out on the table and slowly moved it in front of her, saying in a deep voice, “Hua’er, promise me first, no matter what you hear or know later, you must be calm and not act rashly.”
Jiang Yinghua frowned upon hearing this, what did this mean? She nodded blankly, raised her eyes to meet the Emperor’s somewhat lonely and complicated expression, and felt a little flustered for no reason.
The Emperor’s hand trembled slightly, handing the letter at her fingertips to Jiang Yinghua, and said as if struggling, “Stop it, read it yourself.”
Jiang Yinghua took the letter in surprise and quickly scanned it. The hand holding the letter quickly trembled, almost unable to breathe. She retreated two steps in despair, her eyes dull, her eyebrows twisted into a knot, and she murmured, “No… impossible, absolutely impossible, you lied to me, you must still be lying to me, it’s all a game, I don’t want to believe it, liar… liar!”
She tore the letter to shreds, turned around and ran out of the hall. The young eunuch wanted to follow, but the Emperor waved her hand, “Let her make some noise, she will let it go.”
Jiang Yinghua didn’t believe it at all. The letter said that Yan Wanzhi encountered a robbery and killing by mountain bandits on the way to Ningzhou, and died under the swords of bandits along with the two attendants sent by the Emperor. When the officers and soldiers arrived, it was too late. Others didn’t know, but she herself had sent dozens of shadow guards, how could she not deal with mere mountain bandits? She eagerly went to find Qingyun, wanting to ask for a real answer.
She only wanted to know, did the Emperor steal the surveillance and destroy Yan Wanzhi, or was there another reason, making up lies to make her give up? And why was Yan Wanzhi still going south, so far away? How could this person be so cruel, to be separated from her by thousands of miles, and would not want to meet again in this life?
She ran back to the Guangyuan Hall in a panic. Such a loss of composure surprised the attendants. After entering the hall, she went straight to the tea table, took a big gulp of half a pot of tea, and called Qingyun with a strong mind. Qingyun looked suspicious, not knowing why she was full of anxiety, and did not dare to speak rashly.
“Yan Wanzhi’s news, is there any? Four days, I want the latest, the latest, go check.” Jiang Yinghua’s hand tightly clasped the edge of the table, her eyes said vacantly.
Qingyun heard the words, arched her hands and went out. She didn’t get any new news, but looking at Jiang Yinghua’s appearance, she probably knew something bad about Yan Wanzhi.
From the appearance of returning to the seat, until the evening of the second day, for a whole two days and one night, Jiang Yinghua sat in the original position and waited bitterly without moving a bit, neither eating nor sleeping, like a sculpture.
Qingyun finally came back, but she did not dare to tell Jiang Yinghua directly about the news she had found out. She hesitated for a long time, and didn’t even say a word.
Jiang Yinghua suddenly stood up, grabbed her collar and said, “Tell me quickly!”
“People, are lost.” Qingyun responded cautiously. Jiang Yinghua widened her eyes, stunned for a moment in disbelief, and said, “Explain in detail, how did you lose them, when did you lose them, are they still alive?”
“It’s the latest news this afternoon, and people were lost yesterday during the day. It is said that a group of masked men dressed aswandering swordsmen appeared. The Emperor’s men were killed, but Yan Wanzhi’s body and horses were not seen.
Two groups of people clashed and fought. Our people were careful to watch, but in the blink of an eye, the people were gone. By the way, these people of the Emperor’s are not the previous two, but a team of secret guards in plain clothes, but all of them died.” Qingyun explained in a panic, lowering her eyes and dare not looking at Jiang Yinghua’s reaction.
They were lost yesterday, the Emperor was really lying to her. But there was too much information, the Emperor let people pretend to die, and sent secret guards to protect her, where was she going to take people while hiding it from her? But why could the emperor’s plan be ambushed and intercepted by others, and where did Yan Wanzhi go?
The secret agency’s people were no match, and Yan Wanzhi had no Kung Fu, so she shouldn’t be able to live. But if she was lost and not dead, then she was either caught, or she voluntarily followed others. What kind of people were these?
She collapsed on the chair blankly, and suddenly felt that the line she was holding in her hand was lost again. Yan Wanzhi drifted away like a kite with a broken string, and she didn’t know where to look for her. “Where are they?”
“I’m already investigating thoroughly, I’m looking for clues in four ways.” Qingyun responded tremblingly, without much confidence.
That’s all I can do now… Jiang Yinghua closed her eyes weakly, and silently recited the Bodhisattva’s blessing for two days. I don’t know if this result can be regarded as God’s grace?