The Ugly Empress

Teng Yun was about to nod, but then caught a glimpse of Xue Junliang’s smile. His heart suddenly jumped again and his face involuntarily began to heat up.

Xue Junliang naturally did not allow Teng Yun to refuse him, “Let’s go.” 

Jiang Yu kept silent and stood behind. Naturally, he understood what the Emperor meant. He quickly asked the Palace servants to hold the lanterns and illuminate Emperor Xue and Marquis Tengnan’s way.

Teng Yun’s hand was held by Xue Junliang all the way. He tried taking it back, but Xue Junliang held it tighter and did not let go. Teng Yun stopped trying to take back his hand and just let Xue Junliang hold it.

Xue Junliang felt that the atmosphere was just right. When he was about to take advantage of the opportunity and make some small moves on Teng Yun, he saw lanterns in front of them–-someone was coming their way.

Xue Junliang focused his sight and saw that it was the Crown Prince Xue Pei and the three He brothers. 

The three He brothers were lined up in a row, just like bandits who were about to rob, with big knives on their hands and ferocious looks on their faces. The Little Prince stood in front of them, clasping his hands and making an expression that was too old for his face.

When they saw Xue Junliang coming on their path, they began to panic. It seemed that they didn’t expect Emperor Xue to pass by.

Xue Junliang said with a smile, “Where is the Little Prince going?”

“This son… this son…”

As soon as the Little Prince was questioned, he stumbled on his step and stammered. The three He brothers behind him were befuddled as well. However, Xue Pei hesitated for a while as if he was summoning up his courage and said, “This son won’t hide from his father, this son came here to stop Marquis Tengnan!”

“Oh?”

Xue Junliang asked, “And why do you want to stop Teng Ying?”

Xue Pei coughed and seemed to be encouraging himself. Then he said loudly: “This son thinks Marquis Tengnan is not worthy enough to live in Yunfeng Palace. He is neither a Queen nor the Empress. Since ancient times, only the Queen of the King or the Empress of an Emperor have lived in Yunfeng Palace.” 

Xue Junliang just smiled ambiguously when he heard this.

Seeing this kind of smile from his father, made the Little Prince shrink down his neck.

Teng Yun knew that Xue Pei was dissatisfied with himself because Teng Ying set fire to the Yunfeng Palace. Although he was not Teng Ying, he now used this body, so it was indisputable.

As a matter of fact, the Little Prince Xue Pei was a person who valued ​​love and righteousness. Although he was a little young, his behavior was a little too extreme. 

Teng Yun was afraid that Xue Junliang would hold Xue Pei accountable and said, “This lowly subject really feels that he is immoral and incompetent. If he lives in Yunfeng Palace, I’m afraid it may lead to malicious gossip.”

“Who would dare to gossip?”

Xue Junliang didn’t give Teng Yun any room to retreat. He said with a smile, “This Seat thinks that my understanding of people is quite good. Teng Ying has a great ability to quell the rebellion. He is also a virtuous man who can endure malicious gossip and still give good advice. Why is he not worthy?”

The Little Prince stuck his neck and said, “What I heard is totally different. Teng Ying’s reputation has always been bad and only knows how to flatter to get benefits from others… My Father also taught this son. If you want to convince people, it’s not what you say with your mouth, but what you do with your strength.” 

Xue Junliang: “Then what do you want?”

Xue Pei: “This son is bravely asking Marquis Tengnan to compete with the He brothers. If he can win and convince everyone, this Son is not unreasonable and will certainly not commit mischief. He would be at the disposal of his Father and Emperor, if he wants to punish this Son, he will not go back on his words.”

“Otherwise?”

“Otherwise, this son will stand here. Even if Marquis Tengnan can enter Yunfeng Palace, he can’t block this crowd’s mouth!” 

Seeing that the Father and Son were in a stalemate, and the atmosphere becoming more and more strained, Teng Yun suddenly smiled, “The Prince wants to try this lowly subject’s Martial Arts skills. Why should he be so serious? Taking advantage of His Majesty’s interest today, it’s better for this lowly subject to have the courage to try it.”

He paused and then continued, “If this lowly subject competes with the three He brothers, the harmony would be lost between the winner and loser. How about racing and shooting?”

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Teng Yun turned to look at him and seeing Xue Junliang smiling with a dazed look on his face, Teng Yun first thought there was something wrong with him. However, seeing Xue Junliang’s gentle smile after drinking some wine, seemed to remove his usual indifference and estrangement.

He patted Teng Yun on the shoulder, “This is just right. I have never had a chance to see General Teng’s demeanor. I’ll have the chance to take a good look now. I’m sure General Teng won’t let me down.”

Teng Yun was least afraid of other’s toughness, because he also had a pair of iron bones. He had never suffered too much from it since childhood. However, he was afraid of others speaking softly to him, because King Teng had numerous sons and there was no shortage of him being alone.

Teng Yun was born like a child without a father, and his mother died when he was very young. No one had treated him gently and lovingly, until Teng Shang came into his life. He was the first person who was kind to him and had cared for him. When he left Teng Country and spent all his life outside on the battlefield, he had never forgotten Teng Shang and the kindness shown to him. Now the second person who was kind to him turned out to be Xue Junliang. 

Teng Yun swallowed and opened his mouth to say something but he was at a loss on what to say. Finally, he just said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your care and support. I will do my best.”

Xue Junliang ordered the Palace servants to hold the lanterns and everyone went to the Martial Arts training field. There were already lit torches every few feet away, illuminating the vast area. The fire sparks in the night seemed very spectacular. There was a solemn and stirring illusion in the vast Martial Arts field, just like a scene on the battlefield before hell breaks loose.

Jiang Yu asked some guards to bring out the horses. One for each of the three He brothers and one for Teng Yun. An archery target was placed in the distance, and two torches were set up next to it. The arrow target was illuminated but still dim under the night sky. Due to the pitch darkness and dim lighting, it was hard to see the target, let alone trying to hit the center. But these four people were aiming to shoot arrows while riding on horses, which was even more difficult.

However, this kind of riding and shooting at the same time was a small feat for the four people. When marching and fighting in the battlefield, it was inevitable that there would be sneak attacks or seizing the stronghold at night. The soldiers would practice riding and shooting in the dark. 

The three He brothers had their own bows and arrows and ordered a servant to get them. Teng Yun asked Jiang Yu to find a bow for him. Unexpectedly, Teng Yun weighed it but said with a smile: “I have to trouble Steward Jiang to find another light bow. After drinking some wine, I’m afraid I can’t pull such a strong bow.”

The Little Prince and the He brothers all sneered at what he said: He couldn’t even pull the bow. How can he shoot an arrow? The stronger the bow string was, the faster the arrow will be and the more powerful it would be. If he changed into a light bow, he would only be ridiculed as a layman.

The four people hoisted themselves and mounted their horses neatly. Teng Yun was carrying several arrows on his back, holding the reins in one hand and the light bow in the other. The three He brothers glanced at Teng Yun, looked at one another and then rode their horses in tacit understanding.

Teng Yun also shook the horse’s rein and followed. 

The bowstrings of the He brothers were strong. Naturally, they would shoot arrows at a distance. Teng Yun was not in a hurry at first. As he watched them draw their bows, he let go of the horse’s reins, took out three long arrows from his back and pulled the bowstring with both hands.

However, his arrows didn’t aim at the target. At the moment when the three He brothers shot their arrows, Teng Yun, also at that exact moment, suddenly loosened the bow string. The flight of three long arrows were mixed with the sound of the wind. Then everyone just heard three sounds of “Duo Duo Duo” and several slight sounds, as if something had fallen to the ground.

Teng Yun shot three arrows without a pause, then immediately retrieved his hand, took out the last long arrow, put it on the bow, twisted his body and released it. Without even seeing if the shot hit the target, he turned his horse’s head and came back in an instant.

Jiang Yu asked a guard to raise a torch and saw that there was only one arrow on the target. There was no doubt that the color of the arrow was Teng Yun’s. 

Jiang Yu then asked someone to find the long arrows of the He brothers. Not far away, he found Teng Yun’s three arrows stuck on the ground. Next to them were three broken long arrows.

Jiang Yu put all the arrows on a wooden plate and showed them to Xue Junliang.

Xue Junliang smiled, picked up the broken arrows and said, “Are you convinced now?”

The Little Prince Xue Pei’s face turned red and white. 

The He brothers looked at their broken arrows in amazement, and they couldn’t help feeling ashamed.

Seeing that they were speechless, Xue Junliang didn’t force them. He just said, “In that case, let’s leave. It’s getting late.”

Xue Pei couldn’t say anything. He had laughed at Teng Yun for changing into a lighter bow, but even if the other party had used the lighter bow, he could easily cut off the arrows of the He brothers.

The Little Prince could only grit his teeth, kneel down, say he was exhausted, and then ran away without a shadow of a trace. 

Xue Junliang smiled, “If the Crown Prince comes and gives you trouble in the future, you can teach him a lesson.”

Teng Yun: “Although the Crown Prince is still young, he is a person who values ​​love and righteousness, he is upright and talented, and will certainly become a skilled person in the future.”

“Oh…”

Xue Junliang suddenly smiled ambiguously and said, “Teng Ying’s evaluation of the Crown Prince seems to be pretty good, but it’s alright. This Seat’s son is naturally your son.” 

“Your Majesty…”

Teng Yun’s heart jumped in shock. Whether Xue Junliang’s previous actions and words were just ambiguous, at this time, he clearly understood the meaning of his words.

Xue Junliang said: “Let’s go. You haven’t changed your clothes yet.”

Teng Yun was thrown into panic when Xue Junliang took him to Yunfeng Palace. Today’s Yunfeng Palace was fully decorated in bright red. Even the bed curtains, bed sheets and quilts were changed into bright red by Rui Xue. There were red candles, good wine and dishes on the table, and the cups and lanterns together were very conspicuous. 

Xue Junliang asked Rui Xue to bring a clean dress. Rui Xue smiled and said, “Since the banquet is already finished, it’s better not to wear wedding clothes.”

Xue Junliang groaned, “talkative”, but he didn’t mean to blame her. He knew Teng Yun was thin skinned and couldn’t help teasing. He said again, “hurry up.”

Rui Xue smiled and retreated. After a while, she came back carrying a big red dress and then retreated, still with a smile on her face.

Only Xue Junliang and Teng Yun were left in the inner room. Teng Yun suddenly didn’t know what to do. He took his clothes and said, “I dare ask Your Majesty to excuse myself so that I can change my clothes.” 

Xue Junliang said with a smile, “Why do you need to excuse yourself? Let me help you.”

As he was saying this, his hands already reached out to untie Teng Yun’s clothes. Teng Yun stepped back as if he had stepped on fire, but he didn’t want to get near the bed, his face so red as he stopped moving.

Seeing that he could not retreat, Xue Junliang naturally continued to untie his belt, helped him take off his outer clothes, threw it on the bed, and took the clean wedding dress to put on him.

Teng Yun was used to being served by others, but he had never been served by Xue Junliang. His movements inevitably made him a little stiff, which made Xue Junliang laugh. 

Putting on Teng Yun’s clothes, Xue Junliang finally knew why Rui Xue was smiling so happily when she went out. It turned out that this wedding dress had no belt or buckle, and couldn’t be tied. It could only be opened ambiguously.

Teng Yun immediately felt that he might as well not change his clothes. A little tea stain wouldn’t matter, but he was now already dressed like this and it was not easy to change it back.

When Xue Junliang was tidying up his clothes for him, his hands deliberately lingered on his waist for a while. Teng Yun didn’t dare to move, but he felt his waist trembling. He was too familiar with this feeling. Xue Junliang always teased him when he was free, but it wasn’t too much.

This ambiguous kneading, although it had been a long time since Xue Junliang had done this to him, Teng Yun suddenly had an impression, as if Xue Junliang already knew his identity, already knew that he was Teng Yun, already knew he had been the fake Empress, and deliberately wanted to remind himself of the past. 

Teng Yun still remembered that Teng Shang reminded him that Xue Junliang might have known that he was Teng Yun, but he thought that Xue Junliang had no way to prove that he had been the Empress.

Xue Junliang was very satisfied with Teng Yun’s slight change and said with a smile, “It’s getting late. After drinking our nuptial cup of wine, why not Teng Ying accompany me to bed?”

Teng Yun pursed his lips and said nothing.

Of course Xue Junliang knew that Teng Yun was a man, and it would be impossible to break his defenses and get into his heart so easily. And also, Xue Junliang didn’t want to force him, so he just smiled and said, “Teng Ying’s face is so red. Are you thinking of something?” 

Then he reached out and gently stroked Teng Yun’s cheek and chin. The scars on his face were much shallower now, but Xue Junliang was still angry with the Imperial Physician; since it had been there a long time, he couldn’t completely eradicate it. However, Xue Junliang had also played a part in these scars being present on Teng Yun’s face, so when he thought about it, he didn’t know what he felt in his heart.

Teng Yun was tickled due to Xue Junliang’s touch. He didn’t try to avoid Xue Junliang’s hand at first.

Xue Junliang put his hand down and didn’t trouble him anymore. Then he smiled, “Do I look like such an anxious person? You must be tired today.”

After he said this, he went to get the nuptial cup on the table and handed it to Teng Yun. They both drank from it. Xue Junliang then laid on the bed with his clothes on and patted the empty space next to him. Teng Yun also had to lie down with his clothes on. 

Xue Junliang pulled the quilt over and covered both of them, and suddenly laughed. He took out a handful of longan and lotus seeds from under the sheets.

Teng Yun saw the longan and lotus seeds, and the heat that had receded from his face came back.

On every wedding night, longan and lotus seeds would be placed on the matrimonial bed, which meant full roundness and early birth of a child.

After that, neither of them spoke, nor did the candles in the room go out. Xue Junliang closed his eyes and his breathing soon became stable. Teng Yun didn’t know whether he was already asleep or not, but he couldn’t sleep. When he closed his eyes, he would think of the previous things, replaying them one after another, which made Teng Yun irritable. 

Xue Junliang naturally was not asleep. He just closed his eyes, as he was afraid that Teng Yun would be embarrassed. After waiting for a long time, he could still hear Teng Yun sighing or turning over. Xue Junliang felt that if he didn’t do something, Teng Yun would be thinking around in circles with no end in sight.

After a while, the candle light became dimmer and dimmer. After the flame struggled twice to stay lit, it finally went out.

Xue Junliang then opened his eyes and sat up.

Teng Yun heard the movements, and quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. He heard the person sitting up next to him, and then the sound of clothes rustling. The heat around him became more and more obvious, as the other party seemed to be leaning over. 

Teng Yun wondered whether to open his eyes or continue to pretend to be asleep. Suddenly, a hot breath was blown in his ear. Teng Yun almost moved in surprise.

Xue Junliang had lowered his head to kiss his earlobe, and heat poured into his ear. Teng Yun thought that fortunately the candle was out, otherwise he would definitely be seen pretending to be asleep.

Teng Yun’s ear felt feverish. He remembered that he hadn’t taken off his clothes and was covered with a brocade quilt. His whole body seemed to be hot and a thin layer of sweat came out.

The man’s lips lingered in his ears and then moved down to the corner of his mouth. 

Teng Yun’s heart beat faster and faster, and soon he would be unable to hold. He thought about when to pretend to wake up.

Xue Junliang lowered his head and kissed his lips gently. It was just a fleeting kiss and he immediately raised his head, which made Teng Yun breathe a sigh of relief.

Teng Yun dared not open his eyes even more.

Xue Junliang seemed to sigh, and with a very small voice; as if he was talking to himself, he said, “Teng Yun, do you now understand…” 

Hearing what he said, Teng Yun didn’t even dare to express his indignation. Sure enough, he knew he was Teng Yun. His hands which were hidden under the quilt pulled the corner of his clothes.

Xue Junliang’s hand continued to gently stroke his cheek and neck. He added: “If you don’t understand, maybe this is my retribution. I hated to kill you back then, and it turned out you were the only person ….. I cared about. Everything in Yunfeng Palace was rebuilt as it was, even the books in the study were the same, it was because I had my heart set on you. Even Jiang Yu could see it. But you, a wise and decisive general, couldn’t see it. It’s really a bad retribution…”

Teng Yun was even more shocked. When he mentioned Yunfeng Palace’s restoration, Teng Yun’s heart beat like a drum and was afraid that even Xue Junliang could hear it. Although the other party didn’t say it directly, it was very clear for Teng Yun, a smart man; Xue Junliang knew everything. He also knew who the Ugly Empress who once lived in Yunfeng Palace was.

Xue Junliang, after saying these things, kept silent. After a while, he sighed, lowered his head once again, kissed his eyebrows, and then lay down. 

Teng Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Xue Junliang’s steady breathing. His whole body seemed to be powerless and collapsed on the bed. His back was wet with sweat. Now he didn’t know what to think and what to do.

It turned out that Xue Junliang already knew everything from a long time ago, and what he said just now was that he was interested in himself. Teng Yun suddenly thought, wasn’t Emperor Xue so determined in taking himself into the Palace? It was actually not to ridicule himself, but…..

Teng Yun turned over and turned his back to Xue Junliang. He slowly lifted his hand and covered his lips. The scorching temperature seemed to burn his hand. Teng Yun felt that his breathing was also hot.

He stayed up all night. 

The next day Xue Junliang woke up early in the morning, and seemed to be alright. He smiled and scratched the bridge of Teng Yun’s nose and said, “Don’t be lazy in bed. Get up quickly. We have to go to Morning Court. If we are late, the ministers will beat the drums and abolish the Emperor.”

Teng Yun didn’t sleep all night and didn’t have the option to sleep on the first day after the wedding. His mind was a little dizzy and muttered, “I should go to the Morning Court?”

“Naturally, did Marquis Tengnan want to be lazy?”

Xue Junliang said, looking at Teng Yun’s disheveled clothes and disheveled hair, he couldn’t help squinting his eyes, quickly kissed his lips and said, “Get up and take a nap after the Morning Court.” 

Teng Yun opened his eyes wide, as if waking up from a dream. He quickly got up and said, “This lowly subject… this lowly subject just didn’t expect to go to Morning Court, isn’t it already…”

Xue Junliang naturally knew what he was going to say and said with a smile, “I want you by my side, not just to trap you, but also to see you show your aspirations. This is the real Teng Ying, isn’t it? ”