The Ugly Empress

Xue Yu took back his hand without any haste, as if what he’d just done was just a casual greeting and nothing like crossing decorum.

Xue Junliang had a faint smile on his face. One couldn’t tell if he was happy or angry by his appearance.

Everyone else who saw this situation were trembling in fear in their hearts. They immediately knelt down and cried out “Long Live the Emperor”. 

Xue Junliang helped Teng Yun get up and smiled, “This Seat has been waiting for you, but I see you meet each other here. Are the both of you reminiscing about the past?”

Xue Yu, still kneeling, calmly said, “Replying to Your Majesty, Chen-di hasn’t been in the capital city for years and is moved with emotions quite a bit .”

Xue Junliang’s tone was unfathomable as he said, “Oh, really, then later, you must come to talk and catch up about the past with this Seat.”

After he finished his speech, he gestured to the crowd to stand up, and then walked towards the garden.

At the banquet, the court officials had been waiting respectfully for a long time for the honored guests to arrive.

Xue Junliang offered a few polite words before allowing the song and dance performances to start. Emperor Xue and the Empress sat at the highest seats. Xue Houyang sat at the second highest seat while Xue Yu sat below him. Xue Yu’s position in the family, as well as his official ranking, was not as high as Marquis Wannian. And just by hearing the titles granted to them, it was quite clear on who was more trusted by Emperor Xue.

Xue Yu dressed appropriately and was not too eye-catching. His conduct was refined, his manner cultured and his temperament was rather humble and kind. He always wore a faint smile on his face, but his gaze intentionally or unintentionally, often shifted towards the direction of the highest seats.

Of course, he wasn’t looking at Xue Junliang. He was looking at Teng Yun. 

The court officials were all observant about people’s body language. Naturally, they noticed Xue Yu’s line of sight but they all pretended as if they did not see anything.

Xue Junliang was especially affectionate today. His tone when he conversed with Teng Yun was smooth like the flowing water. Teng Yun did not even need to raise a hand, Xue Junliang personally picked the dishes and poured the drinks for him. Which seemed to be a good show of showering love and affection between husband and wife.

Standing behind the couple, Jiang Yu and Xiu Yao couldn’t stand watching the scene. Xiu Yao surreptitiously wiped away her sweat. Although she was happy that His Majesty treated her mistress very well, she wished he didn’t have to personally serve the Empress. Serving dishes and pouring drinks were duties of a servant. Letting His Majesty do the work himself while they stood idle, it really made all the servants feel awkward.

Teng Yun glanced at Xue Yu who was sitting not too far from him. He reckoned Xue Yu’s so- called affectionate feelings towards the original Empress were not true. Because if he really did love her, he would not accept her marrying someone else and stayed still for so long and only now come see her in the Capital city. 

Xue Junliang had stationed his troops at the borders to fight the Teng Country. Although Xue Country was victorious, the inner side of Xue Country lacked soldiers and also, the soldiers still needed time to recuperate after wars. Xue Yu coming to the capital city at this time, definitely did not hint at any good intentions.

Teng Yun didn’t want to get involved in the provocations between Xue Junliang and Xue Yu. But Teng Yun’s current identity was a Feng Country’s Grand Princess who was living under Xue Country’s roof. He was constantly dragged by either Xue Junliang and Xue Yu into their mess.

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Instantly, Teng Yun was reminded of last night. His face heated up and his hand also felt as if it was burning. After stammering a few words, he quickly retreated.

Teng Yun and Xiu Yao walked back to his residence. He drank only a bit of wine but already he felt a little drunk. Teng Yun’s alcohol tolerance used to be quite high, but his current body was so weak, the effect of the wine had started giving him a headache, making him feel uncomfortable.

Teng Yun didn’t immediately return to his residence, instead, he opted to walk around a small garden. The weather had turned cold and the blowing wind, although cool, was quite refreshing.

Xiu Yao said, “Empress, let’s go back. It’s cold here, it will be troublesome if you fall sick again.” 

Teng Yun assented but made no move to return. His head was throbbing and only when the cool wind was blowing, the pain subsided. When he still lived in the military barracks, he never paid attention to the small inconveniences. The conditions in the barracks were often inadequate. Teng Yun lived and ate together with the soldiers. The Imperial Court was always dawdling when it came to funding the army, resulting in the army provisions being scarce. The soldiers had learned to take pleasure in something as trivial as a cool breeze.

Perhaps he was affected by the wine because, when he recalled about the past, he suddenly felt sorrowful. He was stuck in Xue Country, unintentionally caught in a battle for power and had no means to protect himself. Also, it had been more than half a month since he last saw Teng Shang. Teng Shang was a man; not allowed to enter the Inner Palace too often.

Teng Yun sighed, then he heard someone echoing his sigh. From the corner of his eye, Teng Yun saw someone wearing a light green robe standing at the other side of the garden’s pavilion; it was Xue Yu.

Xue Yu came over and smiled, “Your Majesty, why are you sighing?” 

Teng Yun didn’t turn to look at him and said, “Why isn’t Lord Marquis at the banquet?”

Xue Yu laughed. Taking a step closer, he said, “Naturally it’s because of Yun-mei.”

Xiu Yao took a sharp breath, but didn’t dare say anything. She had been serving the Empress, naturally she didn’t easily believe her mistress and the marquis knew each other. But hearing Xue Yu’s words just now, even she couldn’t help but feel a little doubtful.

Teng Yun also laughed, but his tone was neutral as he said, “I’m afraid Lord Marquis mistook me for someone else.” 

“For Yun-mei to say this…” Xue Yu was still smiling, but there was a touch of loss in his smile, and finally acceptance of the situation, he said: “for you to say this, I think there must be a deeper reason behind it.”

Teng Yun threw him a brief glance then said, “Lord Marquis should go back, the banquet is intended for you, it will be unacceptable if you’re not there.”

Xue Yu saw the other person looking indifferent, his own expression turned hostile for a moment but he recovered his smile in an instant, “Yun-mei, you forgot about our agreement…”

Teng Yun now turned to face him and said, “I remember no such thing.” 

“Is that so?” Xue Yu’s expression turned grim. He coldly laughed and said with a sneer, “I should have known…At the time what did we agree? You are really fickle. I heard recently Emperor Xue has been favoring you. It must be why you decided to forget our agreement.”

Xiu Yao saw Marquis Zhenjiang’s expression turned cold and suddenly felt a bit scared. Gathering her courage, Xiu Yao said, “Lord Marquis… please, behave yourself.”

Xue Yu threw an icy glare at Xiu Yao, deeming her unimportant before he turned his gaze back to Teng Yun. He opened his mouth to say something but then he heard footsteps coming their way.

Little Crown Prince, Xue Pei ran over and threw himself at Teng Yun’s arms; almost toppling them both to the ground. 

Xue Pei looked up at Teng Yun innocently and asked, “Mother, Mother, why haven’t you returned to your Palace? This son has been looking for you.”

Then Xue Pei turned towards Xue Yu, as if he was surprised, he said innocently, “Little Imperial Uncle is here too. Father was looking for the Imperial Uncle everywhere, and said there were many officials who wished to have a toast with you, but you weren’t there.”

Xue Yu looked down at Xue Pei’s innocent face for a long time before his advisor, Lang Jing, whispered from behind him, “Lord Marquis.”

Xue Yu retrieved his gaze then said, “I drank too much wine and was bored. I was walking around and had arrived here unknowingly.” 

After saying that, Xue Yu took Lang Jing and turned to go.

Xue Pei stared at Xue Yu’s back as he walked away, then patted his chest with his hands saying, “Mother, how come you were talking with that fox?”

Teng Yun smiled, “You’re still a kid. How can you see if a person is a fox?”

Xue Pei said, “In the future, I will be a great military commander, I’ll have to lead this country to peace and stability. Of course, I should be able to see if a person is a fox or not. Besides, I’m no longer young anymore.” 

Xue Pei was almost eight years old; though he had started studying literature and martial arts since he was six, being raised in the Imperial Palace made his views of the world even more sophisticated.

Children of the Imperial Palaces could all recognize falsehood even before they started learning reading and writing. And not to mention, Xue Pei was an intelligent child.

Xue Pei beamed with joy as if feeling proud after doing such a good deed. He turned his head to look at Xue Junliang. The Little Crown Prince had always been fawned by everyone and he was pampered but Xue Junliang never spoiled or coddled him. Xue Junliang was always strict about rewards and punishments. Therefore, Xue Pei felt deep respect and admiration towards Xue Junliang.

Teng Yun saw Xue Pei trying to curb his joyful smile, when he followed Xue Pei’s line of sight, he saw Xue Junliang coming over, who was followed only by Jiang Yu. 

Xue Junliang patted Xue Pei’s head and asked, “How many drinks have you had?”

Xue Pei puffed his chubby cheeks, mumbling, “This son only drank two gulps…”

Accidentally he looked up at Xue Junliang’s half-smile, then he rephrased, “Just… Just two cups…”

“Alright,” Apparently Xue Junliang wasn’t about to scold the Little Crown Prince, he only asked nonchalantly. He said, “In the afternoon, go back to your study. Don’t be lazy.” 

“This son understands.” Xue Pei nodded, then excused himself and left obediently.

Xiu Yao, who was standing at the side, respectfully kept her eyes down. But she could clearly see; Emperor Xue appeared so suddenly, but his appearance was actually staged. The Little Crown Prince coming to drive Xue Yu away, was also orchestrated by Emperor Xue.

Xue Junliang said, “I’ve had a few drinks. Aifei, will you accompany me for a walk?”

Teng Yun assented, but his heart was beating rapidly. By Xue Yu’s tone just now, it seemed like Feng Country’s Grand Princess indeed had some connections with Xue Yu in the past. But he didn’t think they were lovers, because if they were, Xue Yu wouldn’t talk to her in such a threatening manner. 

Teng Yun only wished to stay alive until he could escape from Xue Country. He didn’t want to be used by Xue Junliang and didn’t want to have any relation with Xue Country. But reality was really different from expectations.

Xue Junliang said, “What did Aifei and Marquis Zhenjiang catch up on just now?”

Teng Yun narrowed his eyes and replied curtly, “Chen-qie and Marquis Zhenjiang were not talking.”

Jiang Yu and Xiu Yao heard the Empress’s harsh tone and suddenly felt nervous. But unexpectedly, Emperor Xue only laughed, “That was the perfect answer.” 

Teng Yun said, “Just telling the truth.”

“En.” Xue Junliang added, “This Seat likes those who speak plainly. Aifei really surprises this Seat more and more every time.”

He paused for a moment, then said, “Then let’s speak plainly about some things, shall we?”

Then he waved a hand, signaling Jiang Yu and Xiu Yao to retreat some distance. 

Teng Yun said, “Your Majesty, please speak.”

Only then Xue Junliang continued, “Does Aifei have Xue Yu in her heart?”

“No.”

Xue Junliang had been watching Teng Yun’s eyes and was not surprised when his question was answered so readily and quickly. He added, “I’ll also tell you the truth. Aifei’s words, this Seat only believes half of them…..this Seat has always felt Aifei is very intelligent, so this Seat wants Aifei to think of an idea to prove your words.” 

Teng Yun said nothing; only waited for Xue Junliang to unravel his calculations and schemes.

Looking at the Empress’ expression, Xue Junliang smiled. He reached out a hand to touch the scar on the other person’s ear. He thought he didn’t have any feelings towards this Empress. But as a person, he disliked other people setting eyes on his wife. And as an Emperor, he disliked those people even more for setting eyes on his possessions.

Being touched by Xue Junliang, Teng Yun was reminded again about the incident last night and couldn’t help shuddering.

Xue Junliang saw the other person’s face turn bright red and his mood became lighter. He said, “It’s actually very simple… Marquis Zhenjiang is accompanied by his thousand soldiers. This Seat wants him to leave his troops behind. Let’s see if Aifei has any ideas.” 

——

Ela’s thoughts — XJL — my empress’s ears are the softest!