Chapter 143 of 223

The Princess Wei Yang Chapter 99 part1

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Chapter 99: Bursting with happiness

Guogong

furen had already reached her goal; she carried a smile on her face as she left

with her daughter-in-law, leaving an atmosphere of oddity behind amongst the crowd.

Lao furen stared at Li Chang Le long before she began to coldly smile, she said:

“Why are we still foolishly standing here, let’s disperse!”

Everyone

quickly left, Li Wei Yang and Li Chang Le came out one after the other. Li Chang

Le acted normally as she bid her farewell: “San mei, take care.”

Because

of Li Wei Yang’s brazen attitude, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by unexpected

favoritism. After the two had a fallout, this Dajie had never been this benign towards

her, and so she calmly smiled and then turned to leave.

Chang Le watched her opponent’s silhouette and revealed a pondering expression.

Even when Li Wei Yang disappeared from the corridor, her gaze still didn’t wander

elsewhere.

Since

the morning, the entire Li family had submerged in pessimism. Li Xiao Ran found

out before Lao furen that the Jiang family forcefully sent Li Chang Le back. He,

of course, wasn’t willing to see this humiliating daughter ever again, yet the household

was inseparable from matters in the court. The reason he yielded to them was because

the Jiang was offering him an even bigger benefit, but how could he explain this

to his muqin and family? He would have never known that the mood in the family would

continue into dinner and eventually explode.

Because

Jiu Yiniang and Qi Yiniang needed to take care of their children, Lao furen specifically

instructed that they don’t have to serve her during her meals. Si Yiniang and Liu

Yiniang were like bickering chickens, taunting and jeering at one another nonstop,

scheming against each other, creating pandemoniums. Seeing the two, Lao furen became

very frustrated, so she told them to eat in their yuanzi as well. Thus during dinner,

it was Luo Mama who prepared the meals for Lao furen and the one to serve her were

the yatous. From the start to end of the meal, a cough couldn’t even be heard, it

was silent to the point that it seemed like no one was there.

Xiao Ran looked at Li Chang Xiao who had her head down as she ate. He lightly coughed

and Li Chang Xiao swiftly lifted her head and saw that her father was staring at

her. She became anxious and then remembered his words, she hesitantly turned her

head and said: “Lao furen, today is the fifteenth, a night of the full moon, the

family should get together …….”

Lao

furen frowned as if she was stunned: “Say whatever you have to say, don’t speak

in bits and pieces.”

Chang Xiao gave Li Wei Yang a furtive glance and noticed that she was quiet as if

she didn’t understand her meaning. She made up her mind and said: “Everyone is here

now, except for Da jie. She is alone by herself, how pitiful, I beg for Lao furen’s

kindness---“

After

these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Er furen coldly laughed: “Si Xiaojie

is indeed benevolent, Da Xiaojie made a mistake. Lao furen had already showed mercy

allowing her to return. And you even want her to eat with us at the table, don’t

take a yard when given an inch!”

Chang Ru also smilingly said on the side: “Yes, Si Meimei, Lao furen becomes ill

whenever she sees her. It’s better for you to not speak such rubbish, eat your food!”

Unrestrained

embarrassment appeared on Li Chang Xiao’s face. She looked at Li Xiao Ran and then

looked at the expressionless Lao furen, tears were about to flow from her eyes.

Xiao Ran looked towards Li Wei Yang as if he was hoping for her to put in a word.

But Li Wei Yang didn’t even look at him and only quietly drank the winter bamboo

shoots soup without lifting her head up. Li Xiao Ran felt dissatisfied, this yatou

had always been clever, did she not understand his intentions today, she’s definitely

unworthy of such attention! To Li Xiao Ran, his children must act according to his

ideas and must not have any other thoughts or else they are impious! His expression

froze, he coughed and then turned towards Lao furen and immediately put a smile

on his face: “Lao furen, Chang Xiao is correct, the family should all get together

sooner or later.”

Lao

Furen coldly looked at him. Both of their gazes locked for a moment and in the end,

Li Xiao Ran gave in. He stared at a pan of chrysanthemum fish and earnestly said,

“Hope Lao furen will understand your son’s dilemma.”

Lao

Furen was stunned and stayed silent for a while.

Having

listened to the conversation, he couldn’t help but frowned. He looked at Li Wei

Yang who was sitting across from him and noticed that she shook her head yet held

back and didn’t utter a word.

Wei Yang sighed. Earlier, Li Xiao Ran was still determined but now that Jiang Dan

had returned to the capital, he gave in. No, perhaps the cunning Jiang Dan and fuqin

had reached an agreement. No matter what Li Chang Le will certainly stay and this

was an unchangeable truth even if Lao furen disapproved. If it was like this, then

why prevent it?

the end, Lao Furen let out a long sigh. According to her own conscience, the Li

family couldn’t forgive such an immoral daughter but since her son was this adamant,

she didn’t have the heart to hold her stance --- “Forget it, allow her to dine with

us.”

Momentarily,

Li Chang Le lowered her head as she approached the table and greeted Lao Furen and

Li Xiao Ran. Li Xiao Ran didn’t look at her and only said: “Sit.”

After

greeting them, Li Chang Le didn’t sit in her own seat but gently walked over and

said: “Lao furen, sun nv will help serve you.” Her voice was gentle and warm, making

others felt like they were listening to blissful music.

Luo

Mama still had the bowl in her hand, waiting for Lao furen’s response.

Lao

furen coldly said: “No need.”

layer of tears appeared in Li Chang Le’s eyes, she glanced over at Li Xiao Ran to

ask for his help. How could Li Xiao Ran not understand her meaning, if she didn’t

reestablish her position as Da Xiaojie in front of everyone, her return was equivalent

to being placed in the cold palace. He recalled Jiang Dan’s words and he bitingly

said: “Lao furen ---“

Lao

furen sighed, unwilling to make her son’s life difficult, she nodded: “Hand it to

her.”

Luo

Mama transferred the little bowl to Li Chang Le. Li Chang Le smiled and following

what Luo Mama was doing, she scooped a spoonful of winter bamboo shoot soup. The

glimmer of the soup and the snow whiteness of the bamboo was seen from the bowl,

making everyone hungry, as she placed it next to Lao furen.

Lao

Furen gave it a glimpse and said: “My body is weak, this chicken soup is too oily

that it makes one loses its appetite, no need.”

Chang Le quickly apologized: “Sun nv didn’t know Lao furen’s body hasn’t been well

recently, I beg for Lao furen’s forgiveness.”

Min De’s pair of spring watered eyes was filled with cynicism. He looked at his

beautiful Dajie, seeing her expression of being wronged, it made him felt like he

swallowed a fly, revolting.

furen coldly voiced: “Da Xiaojie, no one would blame you for wanting to fawn on

and show off your cleverness but you can’t disregard Lao furen’s health condition

and casually let her eat whatever. If she ate something that affected her health,

would you be able take full responsibility?”

Chang Le bit her lips and cried: “Lao furen, it is sun nv’s fault, it won’t happen

again.”

she spoke, she got a piece of steamed pepper bass and placed it into Lao furen’s

bowl: “Try this out.”

Lao

furen looked at her and then closed her eyes and said with disgust: “I don’t want

to eat.”

Luo

Mama smilingly said: “Da Xiaojie, recently, Lao furen wasn’t feeling well so she

has eaten less chicken, duck, and fish. You are ---“

Chang Le wasn’t discouraged and lightly said: “The food on this table is mainly

meat or fish so it wouldn’t be appetizing. If Lao furen don’t mind, sun nv had already

prepared a new meal for you and hope that you would give it a try.”

Lao

furen frowned and was about to reject but heard Li Xiao Ran urged: “Lao furen, since

Chang Le put effort into this, you should give it a try.”

Lao

furen looked at Li Xiao Ran and in the end didn’t reject.

Chang Le told Tan Xiang who was by her side: “Let them bring forth the dishes.”

Tan Xiang left and soon yatous flowed in, holding exquisite platters. Luo Mama ordered

people to remove half of the dishes on the table and placed the dishes on the platters

bought in by the yatous onto the table.

furen gave a glimpse, sneered and said: “Da Xiaojie, what is the meaning of this,

isn’t this meat, what kind of game are you playing, perhaps you think our chef’s

cooking is not satisfactory and deliberately invited a chef from the heavenly palace

to prepare meals for Lao furen?”

the table were dishes that were not much different, even though the colors were

much more vibrant and seemed more appetizing, but there were nothing special about

them.

Chang Le smilingly said: “I wouldn’t dare to deceive Lao furen,” Speaking up until

now, she took a slice of appealing and aromatic ham and placed it into Lao furen’s

bowl.

Luo

Mama frowned and was about to reject for Lao furen when Lao furen changed her mind

and had already grabbed the ham and placed it into her mouth. She didn’t open her

mouth and everyone tensely stared at her. Lao furen actually revealed a satisfied

expression and said: “Taste is really not bad.”

Lao

furen had always been picky. The chefs in the residence are master chefs hired from

around the nation yet none had been bluntly praised by her. Dishes that were able

to gain her approval could easily be counted.

After

hearing this, Li Wei Yang couldn’t help but look at the dishes on the table and

revealed curiosity.

Lao

furen spoke: “Where did the ham come from, the taste is refreshing.”

furen refused to give in and grabbed a bite and placed it into her mouth. The taste

was definitely special, this ham was thin yet appetizing, making one want to take

another bite. She frowned and deliberately said: “It is just so-so!”

Chang Le showed a smile instead of directly replying and then took the mushroom

in the dish of mushroom chicken for Lao furen and said: “Give this a try, sun nv

promise this won’t make you feel it’s oily at all.”

Lao

furen listened and then tried a bite and paused. The mushroom chicken that were

often served were clouded with the scent of chicken and oil so she always felt it

was too greasy. But today, this dish was very different, not only was it refreshing

but it was also aromatic. She couldn’t help but looked at that dish: “How was this

made? That the taste is this unique.”

Wei Yang finally opened her mouth to speak. Her voice was slow yet steadfast: “These

dishes from Dajie, are all vegetarian, right?”

Chang Le couldn’t believe that the first person to guess correctly was Li Wei Yang,

who didn’t even taste the dishes. She succumbed her astonishment and then slightly

smiled and said: “San mei has a good eye, the dishes on this table, are actually

all vegetarian.”

Lao

furen was still dubious and grabbed a few more slices and placed them into her mouth.

Without distinguishing the difference, she curiously asked: “I’ve eaten vegetarian

dishes from all around the nation but I haven’t tasted this before, how was this

made?”

Chang Le smilingly said: “The days sun nv spent on the mountaintop, besides practicing

abstinence from meat and chanting prayers, I idle away time aimlessly each day.

So after a while, I decided to learn how to prepare vegetarian meals from the cook.

The vegetarian dishes that Lao furen eats are inarguably prepared by an infamous

chef, yet it might not be as legitimate compared to those prepared by the cook who

resides deep in the mountains. In actuality, the way these vegetarian dishes are

prepared is very simple. The main ingredients are wild vegetables, mushrooms, fungus,

and various kinds of tofu, these simple things, as long as these are prepared well,

not only will we save money but the meals would be vibrant and appetizing.

“These

dishes were all prepared by you?” Lao furen glanced at the dishes on the table and

only felt incredible. Li Chang Le had always boasted her nobility and never stained

her hands with work. Making a bowl of soup once in a while in the kitchen was good

enough but she actually prepared a table of vegetarian dishes, which made everyone

couldn’t believe their eyes. Perhaps she was really a changed person, she wanted

to start anew?

“All

were prepared by sun nv but without the guidance of the temple’s Miao Xin Shifu,

sun nv wouldn’t have been able to prepare such local vegetarian dishes.” Li Chang

Le was very humble and her attitude was harmonious.

Chang Xiao couldn’t hold back her curiosity, she clamped a piece of chicken leg

and gave it a try. She then revealed a shocked expression: “Dajie, how did you make

this chicken leg? How does it still have bones?”

Chang Le warmly smiled: “Si mei, take a careful look at this chicken bone, what

is it exactly?”

After

tasting it for a while, Li Chang Xiao ultimately shook her hand. Li Chang Le comfortably

said: “I’ve boiled the winter bamboo shoots in the water, then scooped them out

and cut them into pieces to imitate the bones of a chicken. After, I add the pieces

of bamboo into the middle of the tofus, wrapped them up to create various sizes

of chicken legs. I fried them in a pot of oil until they are golden, so don’t they

look exactly like chicken legs?”

Others

continued to sample and then naturally gasped in admiration. The people all have

eaten vegetarian dishes before but they have never tasted such refreshing ones.

Even the best monk in An Guo Temple couldn’t prepare such a delicious meal.

Xiao Ran showed a rare smile: “If you had calmed your temperament, you wouldn’t

have ---“ Amidst his words, he gently sighed and said: “Since you’ve return, we

will let the past be forgotten and you should serve Lao furen well.”

modest smile appeared on Li Chang Le’s face: “Yes.”

Min De’s brows unconsciously tensed up, this Li Chang Le was entirely different

from before. Whether it was her manner of speech or behavior, she was even more

beautiful, noble, and gentle than before. If Li Chang Le was described as a beautiful,

fragranced peony, this arrogant peony had transitioned into a luring and sophisticated

orchid. And especially the type that carried a sense of gentleness and a delicate

yet weak expression, making everyone not have the heart to reject her.

Wei Yang smiled gently, usual vegetarian dishes often used vegetarian chicken, duck,

and fish cooked in vegetarian oil to imitate the shape of the chicken, duck, and

fish. It was very difficult to imitate the taste, it may look like a meat dish but

the taste was actually a vegetarian dish so some might think it’s not delicious.

But this table of dishes was elaborately prepared by Li Chang Le.

furen forced a smile: “Da Xiaojie, don’t hide away those talented cooking skills,

you should guide your Er mei more!”

Chang Ru’s smile was stiff and then she heard Li Chang Le warmly said: “If Er mei

is willing to learn, then I will certainly advise her.”

Wei Yang actually shook her head and said: “No matter how much you learn Er jie,

I’m afraid you wouldn’t learn how to.”

Chang Ru clenched her brows: “What is the meaning behind your words?! Am I not as

smart as Da jie?”

Wei Yang’s smile created a sense of discomfort: “Er jie, you’ve misunderstood, Wei

Yang’s meaning is even if Da jie taught you how to prepare these dishes, the taste

wouldn’t be the same.”

Chang Ru completely didn’t understand and her face showed confusion.

Wei Yang smilingly picked up a piece of tofu, she said: “Let’s talk about this dish,

it looks ordinary but in actuality, it requires ten and more wild chicken for the

soup base. Think about it, how could the value of these be compared to those ordinary

vegetarian dishes? I’m afraid one dish cost about one or two silvers and this is

the cheapest amongst all the dishes. Other dishes look ordinary but with further

observation, it is a waste, so how would Er Jiejie be able to prepare these?”

After

those words were out, Li Xiao Ran’s expression sank and Lao furen revealed an incredulous

expression.

Chang Le’s heart was cold yet showed a well-measured smile: “San jie has a good

eye.”

Wei Yang’s expression was very calm like the sun reflected in the lake: “Da jie

is flattering me. In actuality, your dishes look like vegetarian dishes but different

types of delicacies have been used to create the essence of the soup. Once this

is added to the vegetarian dishes, then the vegetables couldn’t be tasted at all

and instead taste like bear paws and abalones. But for a table of dishes to cost

a hundred or two silvers, then it is too wasteful.”

Chang Le’s facial expression didn’t change, she glaringly said: “San mei is exaggerating,

it’s merely a hundred or two silvers. From the Li family’s fortune, why should we

be so petty? As long as we are wholeheartedly doing it for zumu, it’s worth it to

spend even more money. If you hate to part with your money, then I am willing to

finance the ingredients used to prepare the dishes for each of her meals.” Thus, if Li Wei Yang continued to speak on, then

she is disapproving the idea of expensing for Lao furen, then it would be impiety.

Wei Yang revealed an anxious expression: “Dajie had completely misunderstood Wei

Yang’s intentions. The Li family now can, of course, bear the expenses but I am

speaking for the Li family’s fortune in the long-run. If I’ve ruined Lao furen and

fuqin’s mood, then please forgive me.”

Xiao Ran frowned: “Wei Yang, what are you trying to say?”

Wei Yang slowly spoke: “Fuqin, the Emperor had once said, out of all the officials,

you are the most upright. Ever since you were promoted in De Zhou, you only owned

three pieces of winter garments, you were served meals no more than five, and you

only had four to five small yuanzis in your residence. Such simplicity, who wouldn’t

praise your honesty and uprightness! Now that fuqin is the prime minister, the family’s

condition changed and now to fulfill our duty towards Lao furen, spending more is

natural, but ---“ As she spoke, she gave Li Chang Le a glance and continued: “If

we let the people in the capital know that a meal in the Li family cost a hundred

to two silvers, what will they say about fuqin?”

Xiao Ran was stupefied and then his expression began to change for the worse. He

looked at the table of dishes and then clenched his brows.

the end, Li Wei Yang’s pair of eyes flashed and she said: “Thinking of this being

spread around, they will call fuqin a hypocrite, pretending to be upright, my heart

would feel awful. To protect fuqin’s upright reputation, integrity, and fame, it’s

better to not consider these sweet desires and allow Lao furen to indulge in a lifetime

of honor is the most important!”

Wei Yang’s intentions were obvious. If an outsider found out that a meal in the

Li family cost about a hundred silvers, it would cause an uproar. As long as Li

Xiao Ran is in the position of prime minister, Lao furen will live through good

days. If they ruined their reputation because of these extravagant meals, the gains

cannot cover the losses and they would even become a laughingstock amongst the world!

Lao

furen, of course, understood Li Wei Yang’s meaning well. Even though she knew Li

Wei Yang and Li Chang Le were at odds, but every word that Li Wei Yang spoke was

for the Li family so Lao furen became hesitant.

trace of watered chill slowly flashed across Li Chang Le’s eyes: “Perhaps San mei

is overthinking it, it’s simply a table of dishes.”

Wei Yang sighed and said: “The Empress Dowager’s vegetarian banquet was merely eighty

silvers.”

Lao

furen suddenly became oblivious, she frowned as she looked at the dishes on the

table: “Take them all away, I can’t accept such expenditures.”

The

Da Li’s Empress Dowager only spent eighty silvers on a vegetarian banquet. The meal

of a first-ranked official furen was actually much more extravagant than the Empress

Dowager’s, it was like taking the lead to commit a crime!

Chang Le’s face revealed absolute regret and immediately said: “Lao furen, it’s

all sun nv’s fault.”

Lao

furen coldly watched her and was about to speak when Li Xiao Ran sighed and said:

“Forget it, she had good intentions.”

Chang Le’s eyes were filled with tears and looked at Lao furen with anticipation,

Lao furen calmly spoke: “So be it, in the future, let’s not have those wasteful

dishes appear on our table.”

Chang Le quickly voiced: “Yes.”

Wei Yang smiled slightly, if it was another person, they would not have the financial

resources to host such a banquet. But Li Chang Le is different, Da furen had already

furtively sent all of Li family’s most expensive valuables to her own room. To host

a banquet like this for an entire year or more was not a difficult matter but to

actually invite the real vegetarian master to teach her, she didn’t have enough

face. She was just saying how Miaoxin Dashi of the temple taught her how to prepare

these, but she was merely speaking rubbish. She was sent to reflect and Lao furen

deliberately chose the oldest and poorest temple, it was impossible that there would

be such a monk. However, Li Wei Yang didn’t want to expose her because then Li Xiao

Ran wouldn’t be able to back down with grace.

the end, Li Chang Le was able to return completely because of Li Xiao Ran’s decision.

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Translator: Erica

Editor: Pending

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