Chapter 108

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Chu Xun is so useless….everyone else have to help him to actually chase Mei Qian Deng.

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Chapter 108 – Way Out

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator’s hard work. Don’t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

The main gate of Ming Jue Palace was closed.

With less pair of eyes watching, the rules in the imperial family were more lax.

Chu Xun played with the rice grains in the bowl while his sight was fixed on Mei Qian Deng.

Regarding eating, Mei Qian Deng had always been very blunt. The little kitten eating style that most young misses did, in female warrior Mei’s eyes were unreasonable. If not full, how could one use martial arts! She always had a full bowl of rice and left not one rice grain after eating.

“Your Majesty, this drumstick, are you eating it or not?”

“Not eating, go ahead eat it.”

Alright. Female warrior Mei took it away and ate it with great relish yet at the same time minded her table manners.

Chu Xun raked up a mouthful of rice. He put it inside his mouth and munched while thinking about Prince Chen’s idea earlier.

“Your Majesty, when eating please don’t worry yourself with work.” Female warrior Mei was quite thoughtful of Chu Xun today. Seeing him in daze, she took the initiative to pick a piece of red braised pork and put it on Chu Xun’s rice. She even gave a cute smile to Chu Xun.

The scheming Emperor was overwhelmed by the unexpected favour.

“Xiao Mei Zi, do you have something you want to ask from zhen?”

“I don’t.”

“What have you done in the palace today? Do you feel bored since zhen made you to stay inside the Ming Jue Palace?”

Mei Qian Deng filled a bowl of soup and passed it to Chu Xun. She said, “Today, Senior Official Song came and talked to me. After Senior Official Song left, Princess Xiang Xiang came to me. That gudi of hers is about to complete. She wishes for Your Majesty to give her a chance to perform.”

When Chu Xun heard Senior Official Song’s name, he was a bit worried. Senior Official Song was just like an old man who only afraid of the world being too peaceful. To actively find Mei Qian Deng, eight out of ten it wouldn’t be something good.

“What did Senior Official Song say to you?”

Mei Qian Deng had calm look and voice, “He said recently the society is discussing about me. He reminded me not to listen to those rumours and told me to remain well-behaved as to not bring troubles for Your Majesty.”

“Just those?”

“Yes.”

Senior Official Song’s actual words were, “Little Deng, do you know you’re currently the hottest person in the capital city? Those who didn’t know said His Majesty is a gay, willing to fall out with the officials just for a eunuch. Those that knew parts of the truth said you’re a vixen, His Majesty indulged you to the point of breaking the palace rules. People like laofu who know everything are very worried for you!”

Senior Official Song didn’t seem like he was worried, it was obviously gloating over their misfortune secretly. “Little Deng, you’re a straightforward, good child. The rumours and gossips can never hurt you. However, you’re not longer that young. As an old girl, when these rumours continue to spread they will ruin your integrity in the future.”

Mei Qian Deng regarded Senior Official Song as her mentor. She always honoured the teacher and revered his teachings. She didn’t understand what Senior Official Song was talking about so she asked, “Asking Senior Official Song to point out the right way for Qian Deng.”

“Come. Laofu will explain your current situation. The secret about you’re a girl, although we don’t explicitly hide it now we don’t reveal it to everyone. Your identity is very awkward now. Laofu suppose that you’re not engaged with the Martial Alliance Leader’s son and your marriage issue is not settled yet. Isn’t it right?”

Mei Qian Deng nodded.

“Let’s move a step backward. Even if we proclaim it to the whole world that you’re a young miss, you’re no longer young and has great reputation. Let me ask you, is there anyone who dare to ask for your hand in marriage? Furthermore, Zhao family had already asked. If you annul it and reveal to everyone that you’re a girl, those prestigious scholar families will not like a daughter-in-law like you who will draw her sword when at odds. The people from jianghu fear the Alliance Leader. Who will dare to ask for Alliance Leader’s ex-future daughter-in-law, don’t you agree?”

Mei Qian Deng nodded again.

“So, you only have two ways now. The first one, seeing it’s still not too late, obediently return with that Zhao brat and marry him.”

Mei Qian Deng frowned, “What about the other way?”

Senior Official Song sighed. He weightily and earnestly advised, “As a girl, you’re raised like a boy, unrestrained appearance but introvert regarding feelings. You don’t bother about trifles and unafraid of formidable enemy. On the other hand, Little Long as a boy, is already the Emperor now. Yet, his heart still has that coy Little Girly Long. Finicky, prideful and bad temper. Laofu thinks the two of you really complement each other. Also, in this world, people who dare to marry you and still can cover for you, Little Long is the only choice.”

The old girl didn’t talk for a while.

The old man was sought by the Minister of Rites earlier. Naturally he could guess that memorandum about adding the name list of empress’ selection was already at Chu Xun’s imperial table. He also could guess the most headache-inducing problem for Chu Xun that stupid brat. He was in the end their teacher. Both of them were of equal importance to him. He still had to nag, “We who practised martial arts should understand a term. It’s called opportunity. When exchanging moves, one need to see through the foe’s weak point and grab that winning opportunity. Right now is also an opportunity. Little Long is currently selecting his empress. Laofu can see he actually don’t really like those young misses. If you don’t feel anything about him, just think of it as using each other. You as his shield while he as your backing.”

Senior Official Song didn’t voice out that Chu Xun’s well known secret intention[1]. To chase a wife up to Chu Xun’s level of depression, Senior Official Song spurned him nonstop. He wanted to see when this foolish kid would finally confess instead. This sort of matter, outsiders couldn’t help him at all.

When Senior Official Song secretly insulted Chu Xun, the Emperor who had just ordered people to watch Chu Xi Yan tightly in the Imperial Study sneezed twice too. Mei Qian Deng’s calm and indifferent voice entered Senior Official Song’s ear, “Actually, it’s fine if I don’t marry anyone.”

Bang.

Senior Official Song slapped the table. To trick Mei Qian Deng this child is so hard, she won’t jump into the pit at all. If they didn’t marry, these schemes Senior Official Song used earlier would be meaningless. Senior Official Song rarely reprimanded seriously, “What nonsense are you talking?! Do you want to be like laofu, to spend the remaining years in solitude?!”

Mei Qian Deng sensibly shut up.

The old man suddenly turned emotional, much of his feelings gushing out, “Walking alone and sitting alone, having fun alone, toasting alone and even sleeping alone. To stand still for a long time while grieving but being stroked by the slight cold……”

Before her eyes were flashes of Senior Official Song’s wrinkly, desolate face again. Mei Qian Deng softly sighed.

“Your Majesty, I’m full now.”

Chu Xun was suspicious of Mei Qian Deng’s trance but felt inappropriate to probe too much. It would make him seem very nosy like a busybody. Since he was free, he started to fiddle with that shoddy plan of his. He acted gargling and spit the tea water. Then he naturally said, “Since we’re full, let’s go and take a walk to aid digestion.”

The others understood the Emperor’s intention, no one followed. They fervently wished the Emperor and Mei gonggong the two of them to progress faster. With their current halfway relationship, seriously, everyone except the concerned parties was very anxious. Yet, while being anxious they still had more things to gossip about. They were waiting to see how the Emperor planned to handle those little misses in the palace aiming for the Empress’ seat.

As usual, Chu Xun was taking a walk with Sha Fu around the Imperial Garden. Sha Fu was raised smooth and round. When it was happy it would pounce on people. One pounced and another fell down. Its dog drool would be all over its body, its magnificent guarding figure at the bottom of Jing Yang Mountain completely lost. Today however it was slightly different. Chu Xun was taking Sha Fu for a walk, Mei Qian Deng was half a step behind him holding a small bowl of fish feed. She planned to feed the fish in the pond at the Imperial Garden yet Chu Xun wouldn’t let her wish come true. He went pass the zigzag bridge on the pond and continued to walk forward.

“Is Princess Xiang Xiang staying in that Xing Chen Palace[2] in front of us?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say she wants to perform for zhen? Let’s go, go and watch it.”

Xiang Xiang didn’t expect Chu Xun would come. Half of her arms were revealed while she drank wine and gnawed sheep ham. She was dissatisfied this sheep ham lacked cumin and didn’t roast enough when in the next moment she saw Sha Fu drooling crazily. Xiang Xiang wiped her small, oily lips, “Good fellow, you’re about the same size as the yak at our prairie. What sort of animal are you? Dog face with cattle body and heavy fur……”

After that, from behind Sha Fu’s huge body, she saw Chu Xun with his lips twitching and Mei Qian Deng with her head tilting while holding her forehead.

“Eiyo my mom!” Xiang Xiang was so shocked she threw away the sheep ham which accurately taken away by Sha Fu. Xiang Xiang rushed over. Her oily hands were about to touch Chu Xun’s shoulders when they got scared away by Chu Xun’s mighty look. Xiang Xiang awkwardly laughed, “Emperor Chu, why are you here? Do you want to eat roasted sheep ham together? Ah, why don’t you let the servants to prepare the ingredients, I will roast one for you on the spot in the house. I guarantee it will be far tastier than the one from the Imperial Kitchen!”

Chu Xun pursed his lips. He felt a bit regret coming to Xiang Xiang’s place for a stimulation.

Mei Qian Deng kindly reminded from his back, “His Majesty heard nucai mentioned Your Highness’ gudi is done now and so decided to come see Your Highness’ performance. Your Highness, don’t you need to go to the back palace to prepare?”

“O-o-oh, I’ll go prepare right away. Emperor Chu, please wait for me……” By the time she said the last word, Princess Xiang Xiang already ran so far away. She even turned her head around to give a flying kiss to Chu Xun.

Chu Xun had the impulse to scram on the spot. Seeing Mei Qian Deng whose sight was fixed on Xiang Xiang while feeling worried, he pushed down that impulse. He really disliked the smell inside that palace so he stood up and waited outside. Mei Qian Deng wanted to carry over a stool for him to sit but Chu Xun stopped her, “There are so many servants, there is no need for you to do it yourself. Just stay beside zhen.”

The whole group of eunuchs and palace maids turned rushed and disordered.

By the time Xiang Xiang had prepared and returned, she saw Chu Xun reclining on the teapoy, beside his hand was a pot of wine. He was supporting his chin with one hand while staring at the wine cup in daze. The clear, cold moonlight shone on his body. With the added pale halo effect around him, he really seemed like an immortal descending down to the mortal world to sightseeing.

Xiang Xiang gulped. She properly went there and gave a greeting.

Chu Xun flapped his sleeves, his handsome face was sluggish, “Begin then.”

That lively gudi sound was special. Xiang Xiang beat it with great force and adding with the fact it was quiet at night, almost the whole imperial palace could hear Xiang Xiang’s gudi.

The small news in the palace travelled at great speed. In less than two hours, people in the palace already knew the Emperor used an excuse aiding digestion after eating and pushed aside all his attendants and guards to visit Princess Xiang Xiang’s place to watch the beauty’s performance.

Zhao Shu Ran had no reaction upon hearing it. Instead it was the little eunuch who passed the news to her got nervous, “Young Miss, Young Master asked you to work harder!”

Zhao Shu Ran laughed off, “My brother now is so useless, chasing big sister-in-law to the point of relying on his little sister to seduce his love rival?”

(Zhao Mo Ran raised his hands. The love rival is too shameless, what other way do Big Brother have?)

After Qian Qian heard it, her face looked unhappy, “That Xiang Xiang is such a crude tomboy. I don’t believe His Majesty will like her.”

The Po Ye female prince calmly glanced at Qian Qian, “Princess Xiang Xiang is very innocent, the best to be used. His Majesty is obviously doing this for the gonggong beside him to watch. On the other hand, Young Miss Qian has such bad eyes, to never realise that manager of your father’s is actually a girl.”

Qian Qian’s face darkened.

The scheming Emperor praised for a while before preparing to return to the palace. Princess Xiang Xiang who tried her best to make him happy chased over while sweating crazily. It was really not Chu Xun being disgusted but the sweat smell from the princess was mixed with body odour. Chu Xun held his breath and retreated as if preparing against a mortal enemy.

“Emperor Chu!”

The suffocated Chu Xun’s voice was slightly shrill, he still forced a smiling face, “What’s the matter, Princess?”

“Tomorrow at night, I’ll roast a whole sheep. Emperor Chu, will you come and eat it too?”

Chu Xun clenched his teeth as he said, “Alright.”

[1] It’s actually an idiom in the raw but I just can’t match it with the sentence so I put the meaning instead. The idiom is actually everyone on the street knew what was in Sima Zhao’s mind.

[2] Literally, Stars Palace.

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator’s hard work. Don’t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

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