The Ugly Empress

Edited by Zaki & Elanor

The new consort lived close by, but because she wasn’t yet married, it was not good to move around freely, so she sent her personal maid to pay respect to the Empress.

Teng Yun recognized this personal maid from when he still lived in Teng Country. She was favored because of her cleverness. Not only did she become Teng Qianyi’s favorite, but even King Teng also praised her, saying she was exceptionally intelligent. If not for the fact that Teng Qianyi didn’t like being served by a stranger, Teng Yun reckoned this palace maid would’ve left her branch and turned into a phoenix. 

Seeing her in this place and time, Teng Yun didn’t know what to think of her.

On the 15th day of the 8th month, Xue Junliang was very busy for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He was busy welcoming the Teng Country Princess. Only at this time, Teng Yun felt considerably free and leisurely without anyone disturbing him.

But unexpectedly the Crown Prince, Xue Pei came instead of Xue Junliang.

Xue Pei entered Yunfeng Palace. First, he let Teng Yun read what he (Xue Pei) had written, before bombarding Teng Yun with questions regarding the Art of War. 

Although Teng Yun was fond of the Crown Prince’s intellectual virtues, the Crown Prince was still Xue Junliang’s son, so Teng Yun didn’t dare to say much. Also, he still had some qualms. Should he teach the other side what he had learned in his years of military experience, only for the Crown Prince to use this learning and attack Teng Yun’s own country?

The Little Crown Prince, of course, couldn’t know what was in Teng Yun’s mind. No matter how clever and sophisticated he was, Xue Pei was still eight years old; not yet an adult.

Xue Pei saw that the other person was not very interested in their study today, so he said, “Today when practicing riding and archery, my mentor brought an amazing horse; said it was a rare breed. Do you want to see it, Mother?”

Teng Yun really loved horses, but he’d only had a leisure day today, so he wasn’t that interested. Xue Pei thought for a moment, then asked again, “I see the wounds on Mother’s face have got better, is the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physician very effective?”

Teng Yun saw the child talking cautiously; talking about one thing then another. He couldn’t help but smile. “What is it that you actually want to say?”

Having been exposed, Xue Pei was a bit embarrassed, but he trudged on, “I heard from Xiu Yao that the Empress Mother seemed unhappy these days… For the Emperor, taking a new consort is something as mundane as having a meal. This son asks Mother, please don’t be upset over it.”

Teng Yun blanked for a second, then immediately understood. The Little Crown Prince thought the Empress had been unhappy because Xue Junliang was taking a new consort. Teng Yun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Xue Pei’s absurd train of thought, yet Teng Yun was unable to refute him.

The wedding ceremony of Xue Junliang and Teng Qianyi was quite grand. The party carried on until the evening.

It was already dark and Teng Yun was having dinner when he heard a racket outside. He knew a wedding was a matter of celebration, but he didn’t think it should be this noisy. 

Xiu Yao threw open the door in her rush to get in. In a panicked voice, she said, “Empress! His Majesty is coming here!”

“What?”

Teng Yun, who was normally a level-headed person, was so surprised he didn’t react for some time. His surprise was justified. After all, the Emperor should be sharing nuptial cups of wine with his newly-married consort at said consort’s bridal chamber. Why would he run away here?

But with a little thought, it was quite easy to understand. Seemed like Xue Junliang’s power play wasn’t over yet; he was aiming to trash Teng Qianyi’s face in public. 

The newly-married bride waited in a vacant room while the Emperor actually ran away to his other wife’s chambers; wasn’t that the most shameful?

Other people might see that the Empress was the person the Emperor favored above a thousand people. But Teng Yun saw this Empress as a victim who would be targeted for public criticism.

With an indifferent expression on his face, Teng Yun greeted, “Your Majesty, welcome.”

Xue Junliang was surrounded by a flock of palace servants, his attire was new and tailored to fit him perfectly; even his tasselled crown looked more elaborate than usual. 

Xue Junliang seemed to be drunk; even with Jiang Yu’s support, his steps were unstable, swaying right and left. The jade tassels, shaking and swaying against one other noisily.

Xue Junliang was assisted into the Empress’ bedchamber and onto the phoenix-decorated bed. No one dared to say anything and quickly retreated very knowingly.

Teng Yun stood nearby, coldly looking down at the drunk Xue Junliang.

If Xue Junliang was truly drunk, Teng Yun could easily kill this all-powerful and insufferable monarch. His current body and strength might be that of a woman’s, but he was certain killing a drunk man was still within his abilities. 

But Teng Yun knew very well Xue Junliang wasn’t drunk and was just pretending.

A person who toyed and played with everyone’s heart would never be intoxicated and vulnerable in front of his so-called beloved wife, especially if this wife wasn’t from his own immediate family.

As expected, Xue Junliang wasn’t drunk because he suddenly said, “Why is Aifei standing so far away? Come here and lie down with this Seat for a while.”

Teng Yun didn’t come closer and instead said, “Today is the day when Your Majesty and the new concubine will complete their marriage. Your Majesty had better go over quickly so as not to provoke people’s criticism.” 

He was stating the obvious, but he also knew Emperor Xue was very clever. Xue Junliang would naturally understand what Teng Yun really meant; that he wanted Xue Junliang to hurry and leave and not to think that Teng Yun was a foolish little wife who didn’t know the world and only cared about competing for favor.

Xue Junliang laughed. He got up, braced his hands against the bed and reached out to grab Teng Yun’s waist. Seeing the panicked expression in the other person’s eyes, Xue Junliang wanted to tease instead.

Xue Junliang pressed Teng Yun onto the bed and leaned down. The jade tassels on Xue Junliang’s crown were cold against Teng Yung’s forehead, making him shiver invisibly. But then Teng Yun calmed down, his expression was serene and even melted into indifference. Smiling, he asked, “Your Majesty, are you going to kiss me?”

Xue Junliang was stunned for a split second as the other person confidently challenged him. 

Looking down at the Empress’ face, he noted the blue-green bruises had mostly cleared and the skin had started to show its true appearance. But the bruises had changed into scars. The Empress’ face did indeed look a lot better than before, but considering she lived in this Imperial Harem where beauties were a common sight, a face that was still scarred was something that was not usually seen in the Harem.

Xue Junliang propped himself up on one hand, thumbing Teng Yun’s earlobe and used the other hand to gently caress Teng Yun’s cheek, tracing the large and small scars and scabs on Teng Yun’s face.

Teng Yun’s skin had started to heal; when touched, it no longer felt painful, but it had also become more sensitive. Teng Yun tensed against the feeling of being touched. He wanted to turn his face away but Xue Junliang gripped his chin, preventing him from moving his head.

Xue Junliang’s fingertips stroked the Empress’ cheeks, the bridge of her nose and even the corner of her lips. He whispered, “Does it still hurt?” 

Teng Yun swallowed against a lump in his throat. Suddenly he remembered an incident, a long time ago when he was a little child, vying for his father’s praise, Teng Yun and his brothers had competed to hunt the biggest prey. Teng Yun ended up with an injury. All the people had only clamored to praise the prince that had gotten the biggest prey and how brave he was. Only Teng Shang cared about Teng Yun and came to visit him and inquire about his injury.

Since Teng Yun was sent to the battlefields and Teng Shang was so far away in the capital city, no one had ever cared enough to ask if Teng Yun was okay.

Never would have Teng Yun expected that so many years later, he’d heard this sentence from Xue Junliang’s mouth.

While Teng Yun was distracted, he felt a shadow fall upon him and something warm touched his lips. 

Actually, Teng Yun was certain that Xue Junliang would never kiss the Ugly Empress’s face that was full of scars. Even if the Ugly Empress wasn’t as ugly as before, no one would consider this face as beautiful. Especially not Emperor Xue, who was used to seeing many unusually pretty faces.

But Teng Yun miscalculated Xue Junliang’s character. The more people thought he couldn’t do something, the more Xue Junliang was determined to prove that he could. That was why, despite him not being a very powerful prince, Xue Junliang could successfully claim the throne in a relatively short time.

At first, Xue Junliang just wanted to tease Teng Yun. Then when he traced the other person’s lips with his fingertips and couldn’t move his fingers away. Those lips felt so soft and supple. Added with Teng Yun’s ‘provocation’, in the end, Xue Junliang really leaned down further and kissed those soft lips with his.

Stunned in shock, Teng Yun couldn’t react at all for a time. Xue Junliang’s lips against his were warm and wet. Xue Junliang even bit his lower lip and traced it with his tongue. 

Teng Yun’s eyes widened. He was once a Great General, but right now all he felt was his strength failing him.

When Xue Junliang pressed his hips against Teng Yun’s, Teng Yun’s waist trembled softly. Even the kissed lips shook uncontrollably.

Xue Junliang felt the person beneath him trembling and suddenly a fire surged through him. Capturing the other person’s jaw, he deepened the kiss, fiercely attacking the lips.

Xue Junliang’s other hand wasn’t idle either. He’d opened Teng Yun’s belt, sneaked a hand inside the hem of the clothes and stroked Teng Yun’s bare waistline. 

It was only then Teng Yun emerged from his daze. With a renewed effort – like a firecracker spitting violently, he pushed Xue Junliang away and recoiled back into the corner of the bed, struggling furiously to wipe his lips with his sleeves.