Side Story 6 Changed Disguise and You Can’t Recognize Anymore Part 2
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Feeling the emotional tremor of the person in his arms, Feng Tingye didn’t expose her feelings but instead tightened his grip on her hand, sharing the happiness of this moment.
Due to Zhang Sunshi’s words, not long after Xia Yuqing had finished explaining things to the people present, she couldn’t wait and immediately headed to Xu Manor with a group of people. Feng Tingye and the others needed to arrange the details of a banquet three days later and couldn’t accompany her. So, he entrusted Cui Er and Li Yuan and the rest to accompany Xia Yuqing.
Just as Zhang Sunshi had said, a year ago, upon learning of the unfortunate death of his most beloved disciple, Xu Lao had been heartbroken. He secluded himself in the workshop all day, not seeing anyone, and his temper became so irritable that those serving him were suffering endlessly.
Afternoon had passed, and a small boy entered Xu Lao’s workshop, trembling nervously. He cautiously called out, “Xu Lao…”
Xu Lao suddenly turned his head, his dark eyes glaring at the boy with a chilly intensity. He asked, “What is it?”
The timid boy almost wet himself under that sinister gaze, stuttering, “Someone is here to see Xu Lao.”
Xu Lao’s brows furrowed, his eyes showing clear impatience. “Didn’t I say that I won’t see anyone no matter who comes? Do you all treat my words as wind passing by your ears?”
The boy was frightened by Xu Lao’s quick and harsh words, but he still managed to stammer, “But… but the young lady outside said that as long as you see this thing, you’ll naturally see her.”
With a somewhat hesitant expression, the boy handed the item he was holding to Xu Lao. He felt like he was shedding tears in a river. If he could, he wouldn’t have rushed forward to stand in the line of fire. After all, not long ago, a little maid had been scolded to tears by Xu Lao. But the girls who came today brought a seal from the palace, so he couldn’t offend them and could only gamble by reporting the situation.
Xu Lao’s expression froze when he saw the item in the boy’s hand. Then, under the dumbfounded gaze of the boy, he swiftly snatched the item and carefully examined it.
Crimson wings, a goose-yellow beak, and that familiar structure. There was no mistake; the item was one of the mechanical birds that Xia Yuqing had stolen from him a year ago to conspire with Liu Yixiang.
“Is the visitor Xiang Er, the daughter of Lord Liu, who married into Xia?” Xu Lao had heard news of Liu Yixiang’s return to the Ye Kingdom. Seeing the mechanical bird, his first guess was her.
The boy hesitated before responding, “It’s not Miss Liu. It’s a girl I’ve never seen before. Moreover, she’s accompanied by those girls who were always by the side of the Empres… those ladies.”
With this revelation, Xu Lao’s expression changed once again. Those girls who were always around his little disciple had come with a visitor. Could it be that there was a connection between the visitor and his little disciple?
Thinking along these lines, Xu Lao couldn’t maintain his calm façade any longer. Pointing at the boy, he shouted loudly, “Go, bring the person in quickly!”
The boy hesitated, then realized what he needed to do and nodded before quickly turning and leaving to fetch the visitor.
Xu Lao stood in place with a stern face, recalling his disciple who had passed away a year ago. His mood was heavy, and he eagerly awaited the arrival of the visitor.
It didn’t take long before Xu Lao heard hurried footsteps approaching from the courtyard. Soon after, there was a loud bang, and the closed door was forcefully pushed open from the outside. In the next moment, a completely unfamiliar young girl appeared before the open door.
Seeing the face of the person was entirely unfamiliar, Xu Lao couldn’t hide his subtle disappointment. But before his disappointment could set in for long, the girl scanned the room and, upon seeing Xu Lao inside, became excited. She rushed towards Xu Lao with great enthusiasm, shouting loudly, “Old… Brother… Brother… Brother Xu, do you remember the little disciple by the Great Ming Lake? I’ve come back… back… back.”
“!” Xu Lao’s thoughts turned into a giant exclamation mark on top of his white-haired head. His surprise was so great that he didn’t have time to react, and the girl who had rushed towards him collided with him. Her weight was luckily not much due to Xia Yuqing having lost a lot of weight. Otherwise, his old bones might have truly been shattered.
“Xu Lao (Niang Niang)!” Both groups of people exclaimed simultaneously. They hurriedly moved forward to check on the two of them.
“Xu Lao, are you okay?” Several young boys hurriedly moved forward to help Xu Lao, whose eyes were like mosquito coils, and asked with concern and caution.
If it were any other time, Xu Lao would have been enraged by such collisions. However, at this moment, Xu Lao’s head was still buzzing, and he was only focused on one thought: “What… What did you just call me?”
“Brother Xu…” The girl, helped up by Cui Er and the others, casually said. She then looked at Xu Lao with eyes filled with surprise and resentment. “Brother Xu, how could you be like this? Back then, we admired the moonlight, watched snow and flowers, and discussed poetry, songs, and philosophy of life. When our feelings were deep, you called me your talented little disciple, saying I was brilliant and quick to understand. You said I would be your only closed-door disciple in this lifetime. Who knew that after such a short time, people change, things change, and now you can’t even recognize me with just a change of clothes. You’ve really hurt my heart. Boo hoo hoo…”
“…” Niang Niang, are you considering the Emperor’s feelings when you say such misleading things? Aren’t you unintentionally misleading him? These were the thoughts of Cui Er and the others, who were shocked by Xia Yuqing’s shocking words.
“…” Goodness gracious, this young lady is so bold. She dared to flirt with Xu Lao in front of everyone? That’s Xu Lao, Xu Lao! Trouble’s brewing! Real trouble’s brewing! These were the thoughts of the young boys, who were equally shocked and worried, fearing for their own well-being.
“…” This was Xu Lao’s response of not knowing how to react.
For the first time in many years, Xu Lao had a sinister feeling that he might end up in a compromising situation due to the words of this unexpected young girl. But her behavior, which both endeared and infuriated, was truly characteristic…
“In this world, the only person who would call me ‘Brother Xu’ is my precious little disciple. However, my little disciple had already been buried in the ground a year ago, and she doesn’t look like you at all. So, tell me, who are you…”
Fearless, Xia Yuqing maintained eye contact with Xu Lao, who was full of suspicion. After a moment, she smiled mischievously, “Brother Xu, don’t you believe me? Tsk tsk, well, there’s no helping it. I’ll have to resort to drastic measures to make you believe me.”
“Drastic measures?” Xu Lao asked, puzzled.
Suddenly, a sly smile appeared at the corner of Xia Yuqing’s lips. “Let me tell you all, my senior brother here, that is, the one right in front of you, Xu Lao, you might think he’s refined and unattainable, but in reality, he’s a shameless old pervert. You probably don’t know that. My senior brother, Xu Lao, really likes to have a little drink on moonless, windy nights. However, he’s terrible at holding his liquor. Once he starts drinking, he likes to go crazy, and when he goes crazy from drinking…”
“That’s enough!” Xu Lao’s face turned beet red. He fiercely interrupted Xia Yuqing’s words. Nevertheless, the people nearby became even more curious about how Xu Lao looked when he got drunk.
“Enough!” Xu Lao’s old face turned red with embarrassment, and he angrily interrupted Xia Yuqing’s words. However, this interruption only heightened the curiosity of the people around. What kind of appearance would Xu Lao have when he got drunk?
“Brother Xu, do you believe me?” Xia Yuqing showed no sign of annoyance at being interrupted, and with bright eyes, she looked at Xu Lao.
Xu Lao raised his eyebrows, saying with displeasure, “No, what you said, those close to me in the mansion know. It doesn’t mean you’re my unique disciple.”
“…” The boys close to Xu Lao: We don’t know anything.
The smile on Xia Yuqing’s face froze for a moment. After a moment of silence, she nodded slightly, looking at Xu Lao with a playful expression. “Brother Xu, this is your fault for forcing your disciple. Don’t blame me.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Lao’s eyebrows trembled involuntarily, and he felt a sudden bad premonition. As expected…
“Let me tell you all, Brother Xu is actually a hypocritical old lecher. He always curses his wife as a crazy woman, but under his bed is filled with things he secretly took from my master… mmm…”
Before Xia Yuqing could finish her last shout, Xu Lao, whose face turned beet red, covered her mouth.
“Alright, alright, I believe you, I believe you. Stop talking, please stop!”
“Mmmm…” I won’t say anymore, but Master, could you please let go? I’m having trouble breathing here! This is murder!
“Xu Lao, please let go of Niang Niang.” Cui Er, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke up.
Xu Lao finally realized and quickly withdrew his hand that was covering Xia Yuqing’s mouth.
“Little disciple, are you okay?” Xu Lao looked at Xia Yuqing, who was coughing and gasping for air, and reached out to pat her back soothingly.
Xia Yuqing turned to look at him with teary eyes, her voice filled with lament and affection, “Brother Xu…”
Unexpectedly, before she could finish her sentence, her ear suddenly hurt. Looking again, she found that her right ear was being tightly pinched by Xu Lao’s hand.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, Brother Xu, please be gentle!”
“You even know that I care for you, you little rascal!” Xu Lao glared at Xia Yuqing, his face flushing red. “You just returned and dared to expose Brother Xu’s flaws. You’ve become more and more unruly.”
Suffering from the pain, Xia Yuqing looked at him with watery eyes and pitifully complained, “It’s clearly you who didn’t recognize me. I had to expose your flaws to make you believe me. Brother Xu, you don’t care for me anymore. Sob, sob, sob. I knew that after being away for so long, you must have found someone new and don’t want your old love anymore.”
“… ” Your Majesty, you’re saying misleading things again. If the Emperor hears about this, who knows what trouble will arise. At that time, it won’t just be you suffering, but us as well! Please spare us!
Seeing Xia Yuqing’s pitiable appearance, Xu Lao’s resolve wavered. After all, she had been a child he cared for many years. How could he truly be harsh on her? His grip lightened, but he had no intention of letting her off easily.
“You little rascal, you still know that Brother Xu cares for you. Since you know that Brother Xu cares for you, do you know how sad Brother Xu has been this past year? If you didn’t die, why didn’t you appear all this time? Are you happy to see Brother Xu sad for you?”
Xia Yuqing froze for a moment. She hadn’t noticed it earlier when she was overcome with joy and rushed over. Now, upon closer inspection, she realized that the elderly person who had always been very caring for her had become noticeably thinner and aged over the past year.
The joy of their reunion was instantly replaced by overwhelming self-blame and guilt. Choking back her emotions, Xia Yuqing’s voice trembled as she said, “It’s not like that, Brother Xu. I’m sorry.”
Xu Lao sighed and finally loosened his grip. He observed Xia Yuqing up and down for a while, his brows furrowing. “Little disciple, after not seeing you for a year, how did you end up looking like this, neither human nor ghost? No wonder I couldn’t recognize you.”
“… ” Why is everyone criticizing my appearance? Am I really that unsightly?
After getting shot in the knee once again, Xia Yuqing twitched the corner of her mouth and muttered softly, “Brother Xu, this is actually a very long story.”
“Little disciple, you can make a long story short, Brother Xu doesn’t mind.”
“…” But I do mind!
Just as the two master-disciple pairs were acting shamelessly without a care, they suddenly heard a familiar voice from outside.
“Oh dear, what’s going on? Why is it so lively over here?”
“!” This voice was… Xia Yuqing’s eyes lit up, and she quickly turned her head to see a familiar figure entering from outside.
Unfortunately, that person didn’t notice her at all. Their eyes swept around the room, and then he quickly rushed in a certain direction, exclaiming, “Oh, wife, did you come specifically to see me? I’m so delighted. Come, give me a hug!”
As a result, Xia Yuqing could only watch as someone rushed towards Cui Er like a bee finding flowers. Then, he inevitably got kicked by Cui Er and flew into a corner of the wall like a painting.
After sliding down the wall and resurrecting instantly, looked at Cui Er with a face full of grievances and complained, “Wife, your temper has really gotten bigger recently. But rest assured, no matter what kind of you, I, your husband, likes it.”
“… Ugh, after a year, Senior Brother, your shamelessness has become even more impressive.” Xia Yuqing pretended to feel nauseous and said with a perplexed expression.
Xia Yuqing’s natural sarcasm caused Su Wuduan to almost instinctively respond, “I’m flattered.”
Satisfied with himself, Su Wuduan nodded, only to suddenly realize something. He abruptly stopped nodding, raised his head, and looked at the only unfamiliar woman in the room. His eyes suddenly narrowed, and he exclaimed, “What did you just call me?”
“Senior Brother.”
Su Wuduan involuntarily shivered, then suddenly emitted a scream that was comparable to a dolphin’s high-pitched sound. “Ghost!”
…
Half an hour later, when Xia Yuqing and the others finally sat down quietly again, the small book boys had been dismissed from the room. Only the few familiar individuals remained.
“So that’s how it is.” After Xia Yuqing finished her explanation for the umpteenth time, she let out a sigh of relief.
“So, you’re really Junior Sister, and you’ve been resurrected through a borrowed body, no, not borrowed body, you’ve returned to your original appearance?” Su Wuduan covered the swollen half of his face that had been slapped against the wall by Cui Er for making noise just half an hour ago. He murmured in a low voice.
Xia Yuqing seriously doubted whether her Senior Brother had not only bumped his handsome face just now but also bumped into his nose.
“I see. So it’s because of cultivation in the later generations that people in the present world can’t possess such astonishing talent as my little disciple. Hahaha, as expected, my little disciple, who caught my attention, is truly extraordinary!”
“…” Normally, people would find this kind of thing horrifying, right? Why do I hear a hint of pride and showing off in my master’s tone? Should I say that your thought processes are quite unique, Master?
However, thanks to this unique trait, Xia Yuqing was able to somewhat ease the anxiety she had been carrying all along.
After resolving things with Xu Lao, Xia Yuqing decisively shifted her gaze to Su Wuduan. “Senior Brother, you…”
Before Xia Yuqing could finish, Su Wuduan interrupted her. He stood up, placed both hands on Xia Yuqing’s shoulders, and asked seriously, “Are you really my Junior Sister?”
Xia Yuqing was stunned, pursed her lips, and nodded firmly.
A momentary fierceness appeared on Su Wuduan’s face. Just when Xia Yuqing thought he was about to get angry, she saw him suddenly release his grip on her shoulders and pounce towards Cui Er. In the midst of this, everyone could hear his shameless shouts, “Wife, wife, did you hear that? She really is my Junior Sister. Junior Sister, she’s alive! My wife, my wife, since Junior Sister is alive, you can rest easy. Can we get married now? Ah woo, married!”
“…” Senior Brother, you scoundrel!
Thinking presumptuously, Su Wuduan’s shameless pounce ultimately ended in failure. When he was slapped and sent flying to the corner of the wall, his swollen face successfully turned from one side to both sides.
Xia Yuqing walked triumphantly to the fallen figure, poking his shoulder curiously, “Senior Brother, whether you marry Cui Er or not, what does it have to do with me? Why are you so happy?”
Su Wuduan wiped his nose to prevent the blood from the nosebleed caused by the impact from ruining his heroic image. He wore a miserable expression and said, “Since your capture and death a year ago, my wife has always felt that it was due to her inadequate protection. She was trapped in self-blame and couldn’t extricate herself. As a result…”
Su Wuduan paused here, pitifully sniffing and wiping his nose, “She can’t overcome the obstacle of accepting me and marrying me. So, your Senior Brother has been living alone in an empty room until now. It’s really pitiful.”
“Oh, how pitiful!” Xia Yuqing sympathetically patted Su Wuduan, “Senior Brother, rest assured, since I’m back, I’ll help you. I’ll definitely make sure you get the girl.”
Su Wuduan suddenly looked up, grabbed Xia Yuqing’s hand, and his eyes glistened, “Good brother, no, I mean good sister, being loyal. The happiness of Senior Brother’s later years is now entirely in the hands of my little Junior Sister. You have to work hard, Junior Sister. If things work out, Senior Brother will be grateful to you for a lifetime.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. We’re family. Why be so formal?” Xia Yuqing accepted Su Wuduan’s gratitude with a smirk, then remembered something and asked in a low voice, “By the way, Senior Brother, do you know where Second Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother are?”
Su Wuduan sniffled once again and replied, “Your Third Senior Brother is often traveling between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, more elusive than even your Second Senior Brother. I don’t know where he is now. As for your Second Senior Brother…”
Su Wuduan smirked maliciously and continued, “I heard that your ‘Great General’ managed to get the heir of the Shu Kingdom pregnant. The Emperor of Shu was furious. Your Second Senior Brother is probably busy putting out fires in the Shu Kingdom.”
“What? Xiao Xi is pregnant?!” Xia Yuqing was caught off guard and was struck dumbfounded. Her emotions were more astonished than pleased.
“You didn’t know? Well, you just got back, so it’s natural you wouldn’t. The marriage between that girl and General He was arranged three months ago, and unexpectedly, just a few months later, she’s pregnant. They moved fast… really fast.” There was a sour tone in Su Wuduan’s words, clearly a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment toward those who managed to bear fruit.
Hearing this, Xia Yuqing felt relieved. Luckily, it wasn’t an unmarried pregnancy; otherwise, her daughter-con father would’ve caused quite a scene. Since the pregnancy occurred after their marriage, Emperor Xia wouldn’t be too upset; he’d probably just sulk for a few days and then be fine.
Feeling relieved, Xia Yuqing turned her attention back to Su Wuduan, who was acting nonchalantly miserable. She probed once more, “Senior Brother, don’t you find my situation strange?”
“What’s so strange about it?” Su Wuduan furrowed his brows and looked at Xia Yuqing disapprovingly.
Xia Yuqing’s heart tightened. Before she could feel touched by Su Wuduan’s words, he added, “With your unpredictable nature, even if you turned into a pig one day, I wouldn’t find it strange at all.”
“…!” Xia Yuqing’s face immediately turned dark. She took a deep breath, stood up, and kicked Su Wuduan in the abdomen, further injuring him.
“Ouch,” Su Wuduan let out a cry of pain and looked at Xia Yuqing with a pitiful expression, “Junior Sister, why did you suddenly kick me?”
“Hmph, let’s forget about what you said earlier. You might as well go find a pig to help you out.” With that, Xia Yuqing turned and walked away, paying no attention to Su Wuduan’s plea to stay. That’s what they call reaping what you sow; there’s no saving someone who’s brought it upon themselves!
After returning from the Xu Mansion, Xia Yuqing visibly relaxed. She was relieved that all the important people to her were willing to accept her unconditionally in her current state.
In the days that followed, due to Xia Yuqing’s altered appearance, she hadn’t decided on a reason to return to Xiefang Palace. For now, she stayed at the Qianqing Palace. Since her return, Xia Muyun and the others reported to the Qianqing Palace almost daily, so it didn’t feel lonely.
On this day, when Xia Yuqing saw Liu Yixiang in the Qianqing Palace again, she finally remembered something and asked in surprise, “Yixiang, with so many things happening these past few days, I forgot to ask. Why did you return to Ye Country? Doesn’t leaving the Xia Country affect you? What about Eldest Royal Brother and the children?”
“They’re living carefree lives. They probably wish I wouldn’t return. You don’t need to worry about them,” Liu Yixiang’s face darkened when Xia Yuqing asked about Xia Mingyuan and the two children. She snorted coldly in response.
“Uh… Yixiang, you didn’t have a fight with Eldest Royal Brother and ran away from home, did you?”
Liu Yixiang’s face turned slightly red, and she lifted her neck with a touch of arrogance, not answering.
However, Xia Yuqing sensed something from this and became even more surprised, “Did you really have a fight? What outrageous thing did Eldest Royal Brother do to anger you so much that you resorted to running away from home?”
Something wasn’t right! Didn’t Eldest Royal Brother, who had already become a wife-slave, always pamper Liu Yixiang? Why would he make her so angry this time? This doesn’t make sense!
Liu Yixiang picked up on Xia Yuqing’s puzzled expression and pursed her lips, somewhat annoyed, “That guy… I’ve already given him two sons, and he actually… he actually said he wants a daughter, and he asked me… asked me to give him a daughter!”
Liu Yixiang’s face flushed red, and she wasn’t sure if it was out of embarrassment or anger.
Xia Yuqing was also taken aback by this revelation. Then, she empathetically held Liu Yixiang’s hand, “Yixiang, don’t be angry. Men are all like this. They want a second child when they have one, and a third when they have two. They’re insatiable. We can’t indulge them.”
Liu Yixiang was stunned for a moment, then seemed to find an ally and held Xia Yuqing’s hand, “Exactly, exactly. Qing Jiejie, it’s just like that. Indeed, only you understand me the best. Qing Jiejie…”
“Xiang Er…”
“…”, Cui Er and a few trusted maids who had been transferred from Xiefang Palace to the Qianqing Palace watched the two people nearby, surrounded by pink bubbles drifting in the air. They wiped the sweat from their foreheads in silence. It was fortunate that His Majesty hadn’t returned from the court session today, or who knows what kind of misunderstanding might have occurred! It’s widely known that His Majesty’s possessiveness toward the Empress is frightening regardless of gender.
“Alright, let’s not talk about that person who’s affecting our mood. Actually, I didn’t just come back because of them. Another reason is that today happens to be Aunt’s birthday, right? For the past few years, due to various reasons, I couldn’t come back to celebrate with Aunt. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I can finally come back and help out.”
“What? Today is Mother Empress’s birthday? I forgot. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Ahhh, this is bad. I’m completely unprepared! Gifts, gifts! Cui Er, we need to prepare gifts quickly.” Xia Yuqing listened to Liu Yixiang’s words and was momentarily stunned. After realizing what was happening, she felt as if the sky was falling. She then yelled at Cui Er and the others nearby and rushed out in a frenzy.
Seeing this, Liu Yixiang hurriedly grabbed Xia Yuqing’s hand and said, “Qing Jiejie, you don’t need to worry about the gifts. Royal Cousin had them prepared a long time ago. What you need to prepare is something else.”
“Something else?” Xia Yuqing’s actions halted, and she asked in confusion.
“Yes, I heard… His Royal Cousin is planning to take advantage of this opportunity… to formally introduce you to the civil and military officials and even all the people of Ye Country.”
“!”
As night fell, lanterns were hung high, marking not the end of the bustling but the beginning of a thriving night. The Imperial Garden was filled with the aroma of fruits, and the air was fragrant with wine. Palace maids and eunuchs moved like flowing water, carrying various pastries and dishes, bustling around every corner of the Imperial Garden.
Though the evening banquet hadn’t officially started, the Imperial Garden was already crowded with officials. These people appeared to be engaged in casual conversations, but they all knew that they were here to catch a glimpse of the woman who had recently been in the spotlight, the one who had perplexed their Emperor.
With a sharp and clear announcement, everyone’s attention immediately turned towards the entrance of the Imperial Garden not far away.
“The Emperor arrives. The Empress Dowager arrives.” Guided by the clear palace lanterns, everyone saw a few figures dressed in luxurious clothing slowly approaching.
As they entered the Imperial Garden, Xia Yuqing suddenly halted her steps upon seeing the multitude of officials. To her left and right, Feng Tingye and Zhang Sunshi also came to a standstill.
Zhang Sunshi asked with some worry, “What’s wrong?”
Xia Yuqing bit her lip, shook her head, but Feng Tingye sensed her unease and reached out his hand slowly, whispering, “No need to worry. I’m here.”
The magnetic and gentle tone sent a shiver down Xia Yuqing’s spine. She looked at Feng Tingye, then at the hand that was so close, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Yes, with this person by her side, what was there to worry about?
Xia Yuqing smiled lightly and held out her hand towards the one offered to her. Following Feng Tingye, the two walked into the Imperial Garden with their heads held high.
The officials within the Imperial Garden had already knelt down upon hearing the announcement. As footsteps drew near, they couldn’t help but sneak glances, and then widened their eyes in astonishment as they saw the three figures walking on the crimson carpet.
One on each side, the two figures were undoubtedly the most distinguished man and woman in the entire Ye Country. However, what truly shocked everyone was the unfamiliar woman holding hands with their Emperor and Empress Dowager. With her fair and beautiful face, she might not be considered otherworldly, but she was definitely beautiful enough to captivate people’s hearts. However, they were certain that this woman was not at all similar to their late Empress. Yet, she boldly donned the attire of the current Empress, which seemed quite disrespectful, didn’t it?
The Emperor could be excused for being bewitched by beauty, but why was the Empress Dowager not saying anything and instead standing affectionately beside this woman, holding her other hand tightly? Could it be…
Unaware that her appearance had stunned the court officials, Xia Yuqing’s mind was focused on the hand held by Feng Tingye. What surprised her was that instead of leading her directly to their seats, Feng Tingye and Zhang Sunshi stopped her near the end of the red carpet.
A similar suspicion to that of the court officials suddenly arose in Xia Yuqing’s mind. Feng Tingye turned his head to her with a reassuring smile, then looked down at the officials kneeling below and declared in a loud voice, “Today marks the Empress Dowager’s birthday. I have specially arranged this feast to entertain the honorable gentlemen. Firstly, it’s to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s joyful birthday. Secondly, it’s to share a momentous piece of good news with everyone.”
Feng Tingye paused intentionally at this point, looking down at the officials who were starting to get restless below. His eyes narrowed, and he pronounced each word deliberately, “My Empress has finally returned, returned to my side. Moreover, she now stands right beside me, shoulder to shoulder.”
“!”
Feng Tingye’s words were like a stone thrown into a tranquil lake, creating ripples of shock throughout the crowd.
As expected, in just a few seconds, someone couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward, saying, “Your Majesty, I understand your deep affection for the Empress, but the Empress passed away a year ago. Furthermore, the appearance of the person before us bears no resemblance to the late Empress. I implore Your Majesty to discern the truth and not be deceived by someone’s illusion.”
Among those who watched the spectacle unfold, Yan Ran and the others raised their gazes to the person who had spoken up. They recognized him – the same person who had openly defied the Emperor in the jinluan hall not long ago.
“Isn’t this the Lord Yan who had a momentary lapse of reason last time, openly confronting the Emperor?” Yan Ran gossiped with curiosity.
Shao Zitang picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, observing the situation, “It’s said that Lord Yan has a marriageable daughter who seems quite enamored with our Emperor. She’s determined to enter the palace as a concubine or even as an Empress.”
Upon hearing Shao Zitang’s words, Yan Ran and Leng Ruofeng instantly understood the reason behind Lord Yan’s persistent pursuit.
“He’s got quite a huge appetite. Unfortunately, having such grand ambitions doesn’t guarantee a favorable outcome. Having a big heart but lacking the fortune to support it can easily bring about one’s downfall,” Yan Ran said, his folding fan against his chin as he stared at Lord Yan with a mocking gaze.
Leng Ruofeng succinctly added, “Greed can swallow even an elephant.”
Clearly recognizing the speaker this time, Feng Tingye chuckled lightly, “Lord Yan, are you implying that I can’t even distinguish between my most beloved woman’s true identity? Is that your point?”
Lord Yan, not expecting to be so openly exposed by Feng Tingye’s cold aura, shivered from head to toe. At a loss for words, he found himself speechless.
At this moment, someone hastened to come forward to intercede, “Your Majesty, Lord Yan is also concerned for your safety. After all, the Empress is the mother of our country, and her position should not be taken lightly. A year ago, the Empress suddenly passed away, a fact known throughout the nation. Now, there appears to be a woman who bears only a slight resemblance to the late Empress claiming to be her. It’s too bewildering. If Your Majesty confirms this woman as the Empress solely based on your perception, it’s difficult for us to be convinced. If this woman is truly the real Empress, then who was the person who died a year ago?”
“A substitute.”
To everyone’s surprise, the one who provided an explanation this time wasn’t Feng Tingye or the central figure of the discussion, Xia Yuqing. Instead, it was… Zhang Sunshi.
“Empress Dowager…” The senior official who had questioned Lord Yan’s earlier statement looked at Zhang Sunshi in astonishment. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Zhang Sunshi to intervene at this moment.
Zhang Sunshi, however, paid no attention to the astonished look in the eyes of the senior official. With a dignified smile, she said, “The woman who died a year ago was actually a substitute. I believe many of you have heard the story. A year ago, the Empress was kidnapped by villains, facing life and death. At that time, everyone believed she fell off a cliff. Later, her body was even found at the foot of the mountain. However, it turned out that the body was just a substitute the villains used to confuse us. The real Empress had been switched before that, and afterward, the villains disfigured her face even more to better smuggle her out of the country.”
As Zhang Sunshi continued, tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked with sorrow. Xia Yuqing, who was beside her, was dumbfounded. For the first time, she realized that her mother-in-law possessed acting skills rivaling that of an Oscar-winning actress. Look at those tears, they came out right on cue!
Pausing, Zhang Sunshi continued, feigning a tremor in her voice, “Later, the Empress managed to escape with her life, but her appearance was ruined. Fortunately, she met a divine physician who healed her injuries and gave her a new face. However, restoring her original appearance was not possible. Thus, the Empress now looks like she does.”
Zhang Sunshi subtly pinched Xia Yuqing’s arm, nearly causing her to cry out. When she saw the meaningful look Zhang Sunshi gave her, Xia Yuqing quickly leaned into Feng Tingye’s embrace, adopting a vulnerable stance.
As the Empress Dowager of Ye Country and a mother, Zhang Sunshi’s words held much more persuasive power than Feng Tingye’s. Many officials’ eyes revealed a hint of wavering.
“Can the Empress Dowager’s words… be confirmed as true?”
When Zhang Sunshi’s crying subsided, she frowned unhappily, “Do you suspect that I am deceiving you?”
“We dare not!”
Zhang Sunshi snorted coldly and continued, “The Empress suffered greatly over the past year. She finally returned to the palace after enduring so much hardship. I don’t want her to suffer any more hardships or grievances within the palace or even throughout Ye Country. Do you understand, gentlemen?”
In the past, Zhang Sunshi had accompanied the late emperor for quite some time, and many old courtiers still held a certain reverence for her. At this moment, faced with her yielding attitude, they all complied.
“We understand. Queen Mother, your presence bodes well. We sincerely congratulate Queen Mother on returning to the palace,” they respectfully said. “We understand. We extend our congratulations to the Empress return to the palace.”
With the senior officials’ approval, others naturally followed suit, and the resounding chorus of “Congratulations on the Empress return to the palace” echoed throughout the Imperial Garden. While a minority might have been unwilling, their voices were drowned out by the majority.
Feng Tingye exchanged a glance with Zhang Sunshi, a faint smile playing on his lips. He knew that this matter marked a good beginning. Though there were still skeptics among the officials, after today, no one dared to gossip about Xia Yuqing, and no one would dare to meddle in his harem again.
Having successfully eased the concerns of these ministers, Feng Tingye and Zhang Sunshi led Xia Yuqing to the prominent seats.
Despite the seemingly festive atmosphere at the evening banquet, Feng Tingye could sense an undercurrent of curiosity and scrutiny directed towards Xia Yuqing from all directions. With a slight frown, he observed the innocent appearance of Xia Yuqing, who seemed oblivious to the covert attention.
Feng Tingye twisted his brows, glanced at the numerous probing gazes directed at Xia Yuqing, and then a subtle, chilling cunning crossed his lips.
“Ai Fei…”
“Hmm?” Xia Yuqing turned to Feng Tingye in confusion upon hearing his call.
With an insidious smile, Feng Tingye, using a deep and resonant voice audible to everyone present, said, “Ai Fei, a few days ago, Royal Mother mentioned that she has missed you and your celestial music for the past year. Today, coinciding with the Royal Mother’s birthday, why don’t you personally take the stage to play a piece for her? Consider it a congratulations for the Royal Mother’s longevity.”
“!”
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