The Princess Wei Yang Chapter 66 part2

Translated by Chau :) Last part of Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Digging Your

Own Grave - Part 2

Niang

niang -

honorific for the Empress and imperial concubines

Da sao - sao is an honorific

for sister-in-law (in this case), children also use it to refer to the wife of

a paternal uncle

Dimei - honorific for a

sister-in-law who is the wife of a younger brother

Huibing - how servants/nubi

address others of higher status

Zhang nu - eldest daughter of a

household

Sinister aura - the harmful or evil distinctive

atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person,

thing, or place

法師 Fǎshī - can be

translated to Taoist master; in many dramas and novels, their job is to:

identify evil spirits in people’s homes, perform rituals, and hopefully banish

them

厌胜之术 Yàn

shèng zhī shù - ancient witchcraft involving curses; if a family was cursed,

they might be homeless, physically injured, die, or even lose their home and

family

Convent - a monastery but specifically an

institution of female monastics (nuns) only

Lao Furen frowned: “What?”

Luo mama hesitated for a bit, glancing at Da

Furen’s tense expression, and said: “Huibing Lao Furen, it is tu.”

“Tu?” Li Xiao Ran was a Prime Minister and had

yet to come across this plant that grew in countryside fields, “What is that?”

Li Wei Yang’s lips slowly lifted. Shock appeared

on Li Chang Xi’s face, how could that be?

Luo mama went up and carefully cut the clumped

meat open. Everyone saw there was something indigo inside. Li Xiao Ran frowned:

“Well, what is it?”

”This is a type of poisonous grass. If it grows

near crops, nothing can be harvested, therefore it is called tu.” Luo mama’s

expressions were rather solemn. She had lived many years in the residence but

had yet to see these filthy things. She had thought something like this could

not possibly appear in the Li family…

“Why would it be here?” A bit of suspicion

appeared on Li Xiao Ran’s face, “What is it used for?”

Li Chang Le hastily said: “This placenta here

was what Wumei had given me—— ”

Li Chang Xi saw that something was not right and

quickly responded, “Dajie, I did not put this inside the placenta…”

Li Chang Le shot her a hostile glare. Li Chang

Xi truly did not put those things in, but because she could not stand the smell

of the placenta, she secretly sought out Physician Song. He said she only

needed to add some herbs to suppress the smell, that was all, so she said: “It

was Physician Song who suggested I put herbs inside to take away the stench.”

“Father, tu is not an herb but a harmful,

poisonous weed. When I was at Ping Cheng, I had heard of it, that ten years of

drought, nine years of flooding, if rice is stored there and tu grows in the

yard, the whole family can only eat dirt! You see, isn’t this a lethal type of

poison?” Li Wei Yang suddenly said.

Li Xiao Ran could not believe his own ears: “The

destructive potential of this poisonous grass is even more terrifying than

floods and droughts?”

Li Wei Yang nodded, “Indeed, it is much more

terrifying. For that reason, commoners despise these things. Furthermore, it

does not have the ability to take away odors. Dajie, has Dajie misunderstood

then?”

Da Furen suddenly realized something was not

right. Her face grew solemn: “Wei Yang, do not speak carelessly!”

“Silence!” Li Xiao Ran motioned to her, then he

frowned, “Chang Le, why would you bring this into the residence?”

“I… I… I only took Physician Song’s advice and

wanted to take away the smell of the placenta. How would I know it had other

uses?” A hint of panic appeared in Li Chang Le’s lovely eyes.

“Dajie, last time, didn’t you insist that you

were knowledgeable and read medicinal texts? How could you not know tu can be

used to harm others and not an herb to take away odors?” Li Min De’s cold voice

rang out inside the hall.

Li Min Feng frowned: “Sandi, there are hundreds

and thousands of herbs out there. Your Dajie cannot possibly know everything!

To find out, we only need to invite Physician Song here!”

Physician Song was a physician that frequently

examined the sick in the Li family for thirty years. No one would dare to

suspect his words.

Li Xiao Ran immediately ordered someone to find

Physician Song but received news that Physician Song’s health was not well and

had retired.

Si Yiniang had a blank, cold smile from the

beginning to the end. Physician Song examined the sick in the Li family and

took payment for examination every time. This time, San Xiaojie had generously

given him two thousand taels of imperial gold. It would be enough to last this

lifetime to the next. The old man would obviously claim to be ill and quietly

withdraw.

This time, San Xiaojie had dealt a heavy hand.

Li Min De’s dark eyes shone knowingly: “Da Bofu,

any other dafu is as capable.”

At that moment, Lao Furen spoke: “Invite my dafu

here.”

Lao Furen often relied on Physician Shen, the

Chen family had looked after her meals and life from when she was a child. This Physician Shen was already the second generation. Physician Shen came in a hurry.

Li Xiao Ran ordered tu to be given to him to examined. He frowned.

Li Xiao Ran said: “This can be used to take away

odors?”

Physician Shen naturally shook his head: “Tu is

a poisonous grass. As for an ability to take away odors, it is unheard of.”

A cold sneer flashed across Li Wei Yang’s lips,

but she feigned to be surprised and fearful, “How can that be? Why would Dajie

hide poisonous grass in the placenta?”

Physician Shen frowned, his mouth slightly moved

as if he had something he could not say.

“Does it need to be said? If it cannot be used

to remove odors, combined with fear that it would be discovered, then the

purpose was to hide it! After all, who would have thought tu would be hidden

inside the placenta?” Li Min De’s pale, handsome face, pitch black eyes and

smile all possessed a similar expression.

“Indeed, how can poisonous grass be used to

heal?! Tu is even more dangerous than arsenic! Clearly, there is no possibility

that it can save lives, since that is impossible, then…” Li Wei Yang blinked

and trailed off.

“Li Wei Yang, you must be insane! What

nonsense!” Li Min Feng furiously stood up, his hands clenched into fists.

Li Wei Yang looked to him: “Dage, is there a

need to be so tense? Does Dage not know that tu is used in witchcraft,

something Bixia has clearly forbidden!”

Li Xiao Ran stiffened and suddenly thought it

through. Tu was used in witchcraft. If the curse was light, the family may

become uneasy, injured or suffer injustices, or if worse, encounter evil, death

of a child. And in the worst case, possessions will be lost and their family

broken apart, making this a vicious curse. He raised his head and stared

disbelievingly at his Da nu er.

“Chang Le, why would you do this?!” He could not

understand why Da nu er, who was always generous and knowledgeable, kept making

these mistakes these days and now even used witchcraft. If this became known to

the public, it was a crime that would cost them their heads!

She must be insane!

San Furen sighed: “Indeed, Chang Le. The last

time your father punished you only because you were wrong. How could you resent

and curse him? Why would a girl do something like this?”

Li Chang Le suddenly became fearful and shouted:

“Father, it wasn’t me. It really wasn’t me!”

Li Min Feng knew it had become serious and ran

over and knelt before Li Xiao Ran: “Father, meimei certainly did not do this. Meimei is gentle and righteous, and your beloved nu er. Do you not believe

meimei?”

Li Xiao Ran stared intently at Li Chang Le’s

face, still lovely and vulnerable as before, making others unable to turn away

from her, but he did not know why, the longer he looked at her the more fearful

he felt. She could harm Wei Yang because she envied the favor Li Wei Yang

received and did not hesitate to steal someone’s idea for fame and glory, eat a

disgusting placenta to nourish her beauty, and even hide tu to use witchcraft

to harm him. A nu er like that could still be the intelligent and righteous

haizi who was as vulnerable as he remembered?

Li Xiao Ran had completely forgotten he was the

one who tolerated her behavior every step along the way, secretly allowing her

to do as she pleased, and let her become narrow-minded, cruel and selfish as

she was now, believing the best in the world had to belong to her, and she did

not hesitate to trample upon everyone beneath her feet.

Li Chang Le’s face reddened. She nearly

exhausted herself trying to explain: “Father, nu er did not. How could nu er

use witchcraft to harm you? How can nu er do something like this?”

In her panicked state, she was determined to

find a scapegoat. She pointed at Li Chang Xi, crying out, “It was you! It was

you who framed me! You framed me! You gave me the placenta!”

Shock appeared on Li Chang Xi’s face. She could

not hold back against an injustice and said: “Father, with the wound on nu er’s

face, dafu said placenta can be a beauty supplement to heal the scar and gave

nu er this prescription. Who would have thought Dajie would find out and say

she wanted to eat it too. This cannot be easily obtained and nu er was

reluctant to give it to Dajie, but Dajie was determined to take it. Nu er did

not have a choice but to give it to her, but when nu er brought it over, the

placenta was very clean inside, there was no tu!”

Si Yiniang wiped away her tears: “Wu Xiaojie, do

not say any more. In their hearts, everyone understands what is right and

wrong!”

These words were the truth. Si Yiniang did not

inform Li Chang Xi of her plan. If there was no tu inside when the placenta was

brought over, then the issue must be with Physician Song!

Regardless, Li Chang Le continued to blame Li

Chang Xi and went in front of Li Xiao Ran to grievously say: “Father! If it was

not Wu meimei, then it was that Physician Song. He knew that tu could be used

to harm others but still suggested it to nu er. It is a scheme to frame nu er!

There is certainly someone behind this scheme! Physician Song must have been

bribed by someone!”

Da Furen quickly ran over and knelt beside her

daughter, her tears glistening as she said: “Lao Ye, Chang Le is our zhang nu,

she is gentle and usually cannot bring herself to even step on an ant. How

could she use witchcraft? Clearly, there is someone who wants to harm her!”

Having said this, her glare was like a sharpened arrow shot in Li Wei Yang’s

direction.

From what she could gather, Si Yiniang would not

dare to harm Da Xiaojie. Physician Song had served the Li residence for many

years. To bribe him, one must need to offer a lot, and now, in the Prime

Minister’s residence, the wealthiest person who also happened to bitterly

resent her and her daughter, was none other than Li Wei Yang!

She had thought that the person to die today was

Li Wei Yang and did not expect her to have another scheme in hand!

That little bitch! The silk handkerchief in Da

Furen’s hand was crumpled until it was about to be torn into pieces, her

expression became even more resentful.

Li Min Feng lifted his head and said: “Father,

you only need to find Song Zheng, and everything will become clear!”

This performance, Li Wei Yang felt rather

pleased by it. Finally, a corner of her lips rose in a slight smile, as if

jeering, as if perfectly content, and as if she was indifferent.

Seeing his wife disregard her pride, kneeling on

the ground and pleading before everyone’s eyes. In the blink of an eye, a

flicker of hesitation appeared on Li Xiao Ran’s face.

Li Min De blinked: “Da Bofu.” His face had a

strange look that was difficult to explain, his gaze had a bit of wicked

intentions as well as a bit of childishness. - whoever it was, they could not

be angry with a child like this, as lovely as this but also as understanding.

Li Min De continued, “Da Bofu, Song Zheng is no longer in the capital. The

world is far and wide, and we do not know where he has gone, how can we find

him then? Dage clearly wants to stall for time!”

Li Min Feng’s face turned purple in rage: “San

di, what are you trying to say!” Everyone saw him with his fists clenched as he

lunged at Li Min De.

Li Min De had a frightened expression but his

eyes could not help but reveal his ridicule: “Dage, are you threatening me? In

front of Da Bofu, am I not allowed to say a word of reason?”

Li Wei Yang held Li Min De’s hand, slightly

shaking her head.

She did not want to involve an innocent Min De.

Er Furen hid her cold smile with her

handkerchief: “Half the night has passed, you could not search anyone but your

own nu er. Da sao, it is best if you proceed impartially.”

Furious, Da Furen turned around to say: “Chang

Le is not an unrighteous and corrupted child. She must have been unjustly framed

by someone else!”

Li Wei Yang calmly said: “Mother, this is

something everyone has witnessed and cannot be justified in any way. Even if

you pity Dajie, you should not cover it up for her. On the contrary, if you had admonished Dajie on a daily basis, she certainly would not have done something like

this! Using witchcraft to curse Father, first of all, is a disgrace to filial

piety. Secondly, Bixia has forbidden witchcraft and ordered that those who use

it will be exiled if it is a light offense and sentenced to death if it is

severe. Dajie is not important, but do you want to involve all of the Li

family?”

San Furen silently laughed and said: “Indeed, in

this life, how can there be a wall without winds and flames? If this becomes

known to the public, who knows how many will sneer and speak scornfully of the

Li family?”

Li Chang Le panicked, her hands shaking as she

tried to recompose herself: “Father, it really wasn’t me! Father, you must

believe me!”

In her heart, Da Furen resented these people,

but outwardly her expressions were despairing as she pleaded: “Laoye, please do

not wrongly accuse an innocent Chang Le!”

Lao Furen frowned and suddenly swept her arm

out, sending the tea set on the table to the floor, loudly clattering as the

porcelain shattered. For some time, she had felt that Li Chang Le was too beautiful,

perhaps even a calamity, but she did not expect this Yatou to do this! Furious,

her face turned ashen white and her lips purple, Luo mama rushed over to help

her clear her chest.

Everyone had never seen Lao Furen like this and

were taken aback.

Li Wei Yang saw this and took the newly poured

cup of tea from a Yatou’s hand and came before Lao Furen: “Lao Furen, please do

not be too angry, everything needs to be carefully reexamined first!”

Lao Furen waved her hand and took in deep

breaths as she said: “Absolutely not. The longer this is left to be, many more

unfortunate events will follow, this must be resolved at once!”

Lao Furen’s voice was stern and effective. Her

expressions were steeled. Li Xiao Ran stirred at the sound of her voice. People

say even righteous ministers had difficulty judging matters in the family.

Matters in the imperial court he could examine and judge impartially. If he had

a choice, he would not punish Li Chang Le, but the thought of her using such

wicked methods to curse him heightened the fear in his heart.

Li Wei Yang sighed, slightly wistful, slightly

resenting: “Father, if you cannot bear to do so, then simply have someone

dispose of those filthy things. Only, there is one thing to keep in mind and

that is to be more careful, so in the future, no one else will bring these

things into the residence.”

The meaning behind it was more like: you should

be more careful, so you would not be cursed.

Li Xiao Ran’s eyes soon hardened like ice. That

was right. Li Chang Le dared to curse him, only because he had a couple harsh

words with her. A Yatou with cruel intentions as this, could it still be his

brilliant and knowledgeable nu er? Simply put, her beauty was that of venomous

snakes!

Li Wei Yang stood still and emotionless, but her

long eyelashes gently quivered, revealing the person within, as dark as ink:

“That is right, Dajie. The placenta that is dripping with blood looks like

eating human flesh. Wu meimei has no choice but to eat it to heal her wounds.

Jie is fine though and only used it for beauty. In the future, do not touch

these things anymore.”

Li Xiao Ran’s face had become harsh and

unforgiving. This placenta, dripping with blood in a way that even he had to

look away from, but that Yatou saw it as a beauty supplement. Her mind was

truly terrifying!

Li Min De looked at Li Wei Yang. He saw her

smile from the beginning to the end. His eyes were still bright like a light

under the glass, clear and gleaming as if it could illuminate the world.

He knew the person behind what happened today

was none other than his lovely San jiejie, but so? This was the law of nature.

They hold the dagger. Those were the fish. Rather than quietly lie there and be cut

into pieces, take the knife into your own hands!

Li Xiao Ran looked straight at Li Chang Le,

deeply conflicted, and for a moment, he did not know how to discipline her.

This matter could not be said to be small, to

say it’s big….it can pierce the sky. If Bixia heard of this, then it would

implicate the entire Li family. Li Chang Le, was it worth it for the Li family

to take this risk for her? Due to her disaster relief efforts, Chang Le’s

reputation in the Imperial family, great families, even among the commoners, had

plummeted in a never-ending descent. Some even said her beauty was a calamity. Could this nu er still become Empress in the future? Who would support her? Li

Xiao Ran felt the trust he had for the past ten years collapse for the first

time.

Li Chang Le, her life seemed to be over. Li Wei

Yang recognized this and remained a step ahead, only to end her life sooner.

After all, Li Chang Le was still young and could

not think of a countermeasure. Her mind was blank, her face drained of any

color as she stared at Li Xiao Ran, not knowing if he would believe her or what

he would decide. Li Min Feng debated if he should ask his maternal family to

intervene, but his grandfather and uncle were stationed by the border. Water

from afar cannot put out a fire nearby.

Da Furen naturally knew this. After all, she was

someone who had experienced many hardships and was more level-headed than the

other two. Although her expressions were blank, she was actually thinking of a

way out from here.

Lao Furen’s voice was cold and detached, but her

face reflected a faint hostility: “When the previous Emperor was still alive,

the former Prime Minister He Ping and his daughter, Yang Ning Gongzhu, Zhu Yi

Gongzhu and even the Great General Zhou De lost their heads, and was it not

because of witchcraft? Everything linked to witchcraft is an inevitable road to

death. Now, Chang Le has found these filthy things. She cannot say who framed

her, so it must be something she did herself! No matter what, if this becomes

known to the public, the Li family will be greatly disadvantaged. You should

make your decision now.”

Having heard these words, what remained of his

hesitation crumbled. Li Xiao Ran had decided and coldly said: “Chang Le, you

have deeply disappointed me. From here on out, go to Pu Ji An. If anyone asks,

I will say that you have caught the epidemic and must recuperate.”

Pu Ji An, that was - a temple for nuns! Father

must be insane, Li Chang Le lost her self-control: “Father, you are telling me

to shave my hair and become a nun?!”

She could not believe it, could not believe any

of it. Li Xiao Ran could be this heartless.

Li Xiao Ran turned away, not caring to look at

her.

Er Furen smiled and said: “Da Xiaojie, this is

your father leaving you a path to live, to leave you to close your doors and

reflect, that is all!”

Close your doors and reflect? She could close

her doors and reflect, if not in her courtyard, then somewhere else in the Li

family. Father sent her to the temple and did not mention when she could

return, if so, Father might leave her there for the rest of her life, then

what?!

She hurriedly ran to Li Xiao Ran and held onto

his feet, desperately saying: “Father, don’t! Don’t send me to that demonic

place! Nu er has been unjustly treated! Nu er has been wronged!”

Li Xiao Ran looked at her, her extraordinarily

beautiful face like a delicate lotus. Reluctance appeared in his eyes as he

extended his hand as if wanting to stroke her hair.

Li Wei Yang coldly looked on. From the moment

she stepped foot into the residence, both mother and daughter had schemed to

harm her every step of the way. If she was harmed by those two and forced to

leave or lose face, she only feared Li Xiao Ran would not care, and yet, he was

reluctant to punish Li Chang Le.

Only… Li Chang Le had committed a grave crime

this time and could not be forgiven. Li Xiao Ran had to be resolute! She

quietly looked on, a cold light crossing her clear eyes.

Of course, Li Xiao Ran waved his hand, finally

clenched into a fist, and coldly said: “Leave.”

Li Min Feng quickly stood up, his eyes reddened:

“Father, you must be mistaken, how could you not believe her and force meimei

to go to that kind of place?!”

Lao Furen’s cold stare swept over Li Min Feng,

she had always wholeheartedly doted and loved this grandson, but he was too

foolish and ignorant, wayward and insolent, exactly like his mother. And now he even dared to say such things, he had no manners at all!

She breathed out a sigh and said: “Chang Le,

your father only wants you to live well for now. No need for further delay,

someone escort Da Xiaojie out to gather her belongings!”

Da Furen’s face froze and suddenly she stood up

from the ground: “Lao Furen, at least allow me to have some parting words with

my nu er.”

Lao Furen looked at her and frowned.

“Very well,” Li Xiao Ran saw that Da Furen was

desperately pleading and agreed. After a second thought, he ordered someone

beside him, “Those who took part in the search today, aside from those trusted,

will all——”

Li Wei Yang stood from afar and heard. She

lowered her gaze. Li Xiao Ran wanted to eliminate the nubi that knew what had happened

here, but the people in the hall were all members of the Li family. Who could

cast aside their wealth and glory to spread this, but nubi were different and

could sell their masters out at any time. Even Physician Shen was no exception.

Da Furen helped Li Chang Le stand. She pretended

to fix her daughter’s hair, but there was a sense of urgency in her eyes.

“Mother…” Li Chang Le wept.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, Chang Le…” Da Furen

tightly embraced her, “Your father only lost his temper for a moment there. He

still loves you and will welcome you home in the future. You must remember to

live well…” She could not help but begin to cry as well, sobbing as she said:

“I have told you before, you need to be careful. Do not give that lowly girl an

opportunity to scheme against you. Who would have thought you were too kind,

suffering like this today…”

Li Wei Yang coldly smiled. Da Furen ultimately

did not forget to set a trap for her.

Li Chang Le leaned against Da Furen’s shoulder,

despairingly crying. In her heart, her hatred for Li Wei Yang deepened, but she

did not dare to reveal this and was deeply disappointed by Li Xiao Ran’s

decision. This time, she was leaving without knowing when she would return. If

Father listened to Lao Furen or Li Wei Yang and did not allow her to return,

then her life would be over. Perhaps in the Capital, if she did not make an

appearance, people would quickly forget about her. Even if she had the beauty

to befall empires, what use would it be? If at all!

This matter certainly had to do with Li Wei

Yang! She could not stop cursing, if she had a knife in her hand then and

there, she would immediately choose to die with Li Wei Yang.

At that moment, Da Furen softly whispered to

Chang Le. After that, her icy stare turned to Li Wei Yang as she raised her

voice, “You should take good care of your well-being.”

Li Wei Yang noticed something was not right but

could not say what it was for sure.

Translator: Chau

Editor: Panisa

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