The Ugly Empress

Teng Yun was invited to dine with Xue Junliang.  He was informed that Xue Junliang had ordered delicious dishes to be prepared, and was now waiting for the Empress.

Xiu Yao ensured that the Empress was especially dressed up very well, hair was combed and styled into the latest hairdo. The original Empress’ figure was actually very beautiful; her jet-black hair was thick as cloud, soft and smooth as silk; her waist was slender and graceful. Only her face looked horrific. If viewed from behind, she looked so delicate and graceful that she could stir-up the imagination and fantasies. 

Teng Yun’s head, ears, and waist were decorated with so many lavish jewels that he didn’t dare to move too much.. He was afraid if he moved too quickly, the jewels would all be shaken off. Xiu Yao on the other hand, was proud of her mistress’ beauty and kept praising her.

When Tengyun arrived at the entrance to Xue Junliang’s residence, Xiu Yao wasn’t allowed beyond the entrance of the hall. Only Xue Junliang’s personal servants were allowed to enter, including his most trusted aide, Jiang Yu.  Jiang Yu was no longer young. He had been by Xue Junliang’s side since he was still a prince, and had watched him grow up. As a Royal Prince, Xue Junliang had experienced many sufferings and tribulations before he became the Emperor

Jiang Yu escorted the Empress inside, where Xue Junliang was already waiting.

Xue Junliang saw the Empress coming from afar. From a distance, he couldn’t see the face clearly, but he found her figure was very pleasing to the eyes and he couldn’t help but smile. 

In truth, it was not known whether the Ugly Empress was originally ugly or not. When the Ugly Empress was married into the palace, Xue Junliang put up a very ostentatious and extravagant show as he wanted to borrow troops from Feng King. So he naturally wanted to please King Feng’s sister.

Just when she married over, Xue Junliang was very busy managing the court affairs as he had been recently enthroned as the Emperor. Moreover, the Imperial Harem had more than 3000 beauties, so he soon forgot about his own Empress. King Feng also didn’t seem to care too much about his sister and it was obvious the marriage was only to promote the union between the two countries. With all these reasons combined, Xue Junliang just ignored the Empress altogether.

Then, a year later, the Ugly Empress suddenly made a name for herself in the Harem; for being extremely ugly.  Everyone talked about it until eventually Xue Junliang also heard about it.

He never wondered why, after not seeing her for a year, the Empress was suddenly considered ugly. After all, in the Imperial Harem, it was not rare for the concubines to fight for Xue Junliang’s favour. Also it was obvious that King Feng and his sister were estranged and he didn’t care about her. Hence inevitably the Empress was bullied.

Xue Junliang had originally thought that the Ugly Empress was weak. Women always took good care of their appearance and yet the Empress was easily bullied and showed no resistance. But now he understood that he was mistaken about her. This Empress had forbearance and patience, but she was not weak.

When he came inside, Teng Yun inwardly gritted his teeth in anger, as he knelt down for a courtesy in front of Xue Junliang. After all, it was necessary as he was now living under this man’s roof and not paying the respect was just inviting trouble to oneself.

Xue Junliang helped Teng Yun to sit next to him, then even personally served him the dishes. Seeing this, the palace maids who were attending upon them to help serve the dishes were inwardly apprehensive.  They had all heard that Emperor Xue was going to take a new consort but it looked like the Emperor still favoured the Empress.  It seemed like the new concubine’s status wasn’t anything very special. 

Because he was inwardly trembling in apprehension, Teng Yun barely managed to eat two bites of his meal. He just couldn’t take eating in a same table with Xue Junliang, and for the life of him, couldn’t understand how Xue Junliang could be happily eating in front of Teng Yun’s ugly and unsightly face.

After the meal, Xue Junliang did not let Teng Yun go back. Jiang Yu came forward and reported, “Your Majesty, Her Ladyship Defei has come to give her regards to Your Majesty.”

Xue Junliang sneered and said, “Defei? This Seat has not summoned her, unexpectedly she called on me? You go and tell Defei, this Seat has invited the Empress to accompany and will not be going anywhere. Ask her to return back and reflect upon her actions. She is forbidden to leave her palace for a month.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jiang Yu received the order. He excused himself and silently withdrew. For a moment, the hall was extremely quiet. 

Defei was younger than the Empress, but because she was very much favored by Xue Junliang, she’d become arrogant and mean towards others. Nobody dared to say anything about it. But who would have thought the Monarch’s favor was a flimsy thing, someone could be favored at one moment then disgraced the next moment as easy as turning a page of a book.

After Xue Junliang refused Defei, he sent Jiang Yu, who had just returned back, to go and summon the Imperial physician. Teng Yun just watched coldly while Xue Junliang took out some red dates.

The Imperial  physician soon rushed over, not daring to be negligent.

Xue Junliang asked Teng Yun to sit on the long couch, then he himself sat just beside Teng Yun and waved at  the Imperial  physician to come closer before saying, “Take a look at these wounds on the Empress’ face.” 

Hearing the order, the Imperial physician trembled so hard he almost fell down on the ground. He had been asked to examine the Empress’ face countless times. Hearing Emperor Xue using the  phrase ‘the wounds on the Empress’ face’, the Imperial physician was scared witless that he would be exposed.

Because they were indeed wounds on her face, not ugly birthmarks.

The Imperial physician didn’t dare to look too closely or directly at the Empress’ face, because after all this was the Empress. And now that the Emperor had attached great importance to the Empress, one wrong look, he was afraid he’d be punished for blasphemy.

Xue Junliang watched intently as the physician examined the Empress, then he asked lightly, “How is the condition of my beloved wife? When will Her Majesty’s wounds be healed completely?” 

“This…”

The Imperial physician hesitated, trying to carefully weigh in his own words and deeds. He finally said, “Answering to Your Majesty… This lowly servant will do everything in my power to…”

He was interrupted in the middle of his words by Xue Junliang saying, “No need to speak nonsense. Say it properly!”

“Yes… Yes, it will be healed within one month.” 

“One month?” Xue Junliang mused, “That’s quite long. Turns out, this Seat’s hospital staff were extremely useless. Mere bruises would take one month to heal.”

“Your…. Your Majesty, please spare my life! Half a month… Within half a month, this lowly servant guarantees that the Empress will be fully cured.”

Xue Junliang hmm-ed in satisfaction and added, “I have told Jiang Yu to go back with you. Send back a soothing ointment for the pain.”

“Yes, Yes Your Majesty.” 

Jiang Yu was very swift and quick in following orders; before long he came back bringing an ointment jar. Knowing Xue Junliang’s nature, after presenting the jar, he sent other servants out then excused himself.

Xue Junliang opened the ointment jar’s lid and told Teng Yun to lean down on the couch, gesturing that he would be applying the ointment himself

This kind of pampering manner, if it was any other concubine, by now her heart would be over the moon. But Teng Yun was no woman, he could not understand the other person’s gentleness, instead suspected that Xue Junliang was planning something.

Maybe Xue Junliang planned to marry Teng’s Eldest Princess, all the while stabilizing the Empress in her position, then when his soldiers had recovered enough, he’d first destroy Teng Country then aim at King Feng next. 

Perhaps it was the nature of a king to expand his territories, without this, a king was not a king. Indeed, Teng Yun was not a good candidate for seizing the throne, instead he could only be a general defending his country’s borders for a lifetime.

Teng Yun’s entire body was stretched taut, leaning stiffly against the soft couch. Xue Junliang’s face was too close to his, making him extremely uncomfortable. So he simply shut his eyes firmly.

Teng Yun’s posture only made Xue Junliang laugh. Looking at his nervous appearance, Xue Junliang couldn’t help himself from wanting to tease more.

Teng Yun, braced himself as if waiting for execution, he waited for Xue Junliang to apply the medicine, wanting to just get over it. He waited a nerve-wrecking half-a-day but the other man didn’t move at all. He carefully opened his eyes and peeked. 

Xue Junliang was looking at him with a smile, bemusement dancing on his face.

Teng Yun realized he’d been played with and his face turned dark. Xue Junliang however only said warmly, “Alright, I won’t make fun of you anymore. Don’t move, I’ll apply the medicine now.”

A perfect re-enactment of an ordinary husband trying to appease his wife.

Arguably in this situation, the appeased wife would then act coquettishly, trying to butter up and enhance their affection with Emperor Xue. 

But Teng Yun was undoubtedly a man. Listening to this monarch talking to him with a gentle coaxing voice, he couldn’t stop a shiver going down his spine.