Chapter 8
Chapter 8
In the inner room, the atmosphere was rather oddly stagnant .
Early this morning, Crown Prince Chengde had sent someone to invite his younger brother and sister-in-law for tea . Prince Xueya looked at his wife, and Jin Bihui also had a tacit understanding while she bit her lips: Two days had already passed . Perhaps Crown Prince Chengde would seize the opportunity to mention the matter of provisions and reinforcements .
She just sat with her husband in silence, her eyes gleaming .
“The days are growing colder and colder…” In the inner room, the secret Suoluo Incense’s fragrance lingered . Crown Prince Chengde didn’t exchange pleasantries with the husband and wife . The north wind rustled the lattice windows, and toward the sky the winter clouds chaotically churned . The Crown Prince suddenly muttered, “Wuchen woke up early this morning and said she was not feeling well and perhaps has caught a cold . ”
“The provisions should also be nearly ready . ” In the meantime, however, without waiting for him to say a second sentence, Jin Bihui knitted her brows and straightforwardly touched the heart of the matter, “I received a letter from the messenger bird yesterday . Father has persuaded Emperor Chang . At present, Yang Country has already begun recruiting troops, and the first shipment of provisions and winter clothes have been delivered from Zhencheng along the canal — It will all get better . Do not worry . ”
Hearing such words, Crown Prince Chengde did not seem to have a relieved expression . He exchanged glances with Chief Advisor Xu behind him and his eyes slightly changed . With a hint of indecision, he looked at the teacup in his hand, his face seemed to be somewhat puzzled and strange .
It was only after a long time that Chief Advisor Xu rose, and as if he were consulting the Crown Prince, he asked, “The provisions are a matter of great importance . Who should greet the merchants?”
The Crown Princess’ personally-made Yunqi Tea was dark green and completely clear, however, looking at the tea, Jin Bihui was not able to drink even half a mouthful — Likely, Zhansun Wuchen was afraid of the awkwardness of meeting them, so she simply feigned sickness . After a long time, she spoke somewhat abruptly, “I’ll go down from the north of the city along the river to meet them today . ”
“Naturally, someone will handle such matters . Sister-in-law is now the noble Imperial Concubine, so why should you personally tend to it?” Crown Prince Chengde advised .
However, Jin Bihui shook his head with a smile that also wasn’t a smile, “No, those merchants owe me a debt, and they may not accept it if someone else goes — There is no need to regard me as some Miss from an influential family . Bihui is but the famous ‘Terrifying Tigress’ . It can’t be that the Crown Prince hasn’t ever heard of this?”
Crown Prince Chengde was suddenly speechless . He did not know why the woman’s words became so harsh again and he faltered for quite a while . However, the eyes of Chief Advisor Xu beside him flashed with joy, and he blurted out, “En… This way, this way is also fine . ”
“But it is also not very wise for you to go alone . ” At last, the Prince Xueya began to speak, saying his first words of the day . His eyes were on his wife, yet the look in his eyes was somewhat complicated .
Jin Bihui glimpsed at her husband and indifferently said, “What’s not wise? I’m aware of my own business . ”
“Take some men with you . ” Prince Xueya’s voice was nevertheless gentle and calm, yet equally irrefutable, “And return earlier . ”
Jin Bihui laughed suddenly and looked at her husband: it turned out that he wasn’t at all worried about her safety, but was afraid that she would never return and renege on her promise of assistance .
“Very well, as you wish . ” Suddenly a little disheartened, she said quietly, “Regardless, I’m leaving this afternoon anyway . ”
Crown Prince Chengde had just listened the whole time — In fact, until now, he had listened entirely to Seventh Brother who helped him arrange to take care of all the important matters . Although Xueya was asked for his opinion each time, everyone knew that the Crown Prince would not have refused . And although they were born from the very same mother, the youngest seventh prince was far superior to his eldest brother whether it be martial arts or tactics .
However, this time, Crown Prince Chengde unexpectedly said, “That’s right, it’s still better to take some men with you — If Sister-in-law ever encounters some inconvenience, it can also be taken care of . ”
The Crown Prince spoke until here, paused, and then took a sip of tea as he glanced at the Chief Advisor . Xu Fuyan, however, shot a glance at Prince Xueya and interjected, “There is no braver general in the army than Seventh Brother, but Seventh Brother cannot leave arbitrarily — Since it’s like this, how about assigning Vice General Shen to keep them under control and bringing a few elite soldiers to go with your sister-in-law to obtain the provisions? This way Seventh Brother can also rest assured a little . ”
Prince Xueya was stunned for a moment — Shen Tiexin was his most trusted general that he had handpicked and promoted himself . He was indeed considerably relieved to have him follow Jin Bihui .
—Now, regardless of whether it was for Ye City or the entire army, they absolutely could not lose this woman .
After the discussion, Prince Xueya and the new concubine left the room .
The north wind was strong and blew the military flags in the camp outside fiercely . This harsh winter has always been hard to endure .
He suddenly sighed to himself: From the beginning, he hadn’t treated her normally, had he? It was all just a political deal and nothing more… He was prepared to give up his life in exchange for a promise from Uncle Jin . Yet—
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“Yes, I was born of lowly descent, unable to read or write, and bad-tempered — But do you think I don’t have a brain?……”
While absent-minded, that voice from last night resounded in his ears . Under the chilling moon, her mouth opened stubbornly, but tears gradually emerged within her eyes . She said unyieldingly, “I don’t want you anymore!”
With the shock he felt at the time still in his mind, Yan Bai couldn’t help but turn his head to look at his wife who was walking at his side . However, Jin Bihui just walked apathetically and didn’t look at him, but as if she knew he was looking at her, she suddenly said coldly, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my word,” she paused and suddenly sighed, “At least when you’ve overcome this crisis, I’ll go back to visit my parents — At that time, I’ll stay in Yang Country and never return . ”
“Thank you . ” Yan Bai’s eyes dimmed, and after a long time, he found that he could still only say those two words .
“Forget it . Now that we’re husband and wife, we must treat each other well . It’s nothing for me to help you a little . ” Jin Bihui suddenly smiled and her snow-white teeth glinted with a kind of brash beauty . “But my father is hard to deal with… You should be careful . I don’t even know what he has in mind . ”[1]
Prince Xueya felt a slight tremble within his heart . Uncle Jin — Right, Uncle Jin . Sea King Lan Jing .
With the recent internal and external difficulties, and just trying to get through the immediate crisis, he rarely even had time to consider what was going through the mind of the man behind the curtain who actually dominated the situation .
Jin Bihui let out a sigh . She then narrowed her eyes and smiled, “Look, now that everything was laid bare for discussion, we were able to calmly talk instead, right?”
She looked at the boundless sky above the Dragon Head Plains and suddenly asked, “Strange, why wasn’t there a meteor shower last night?”
The sound of the city’s southern trumpet blew incessantly, distant and resonant, all the way to the inner chambers of the army base .
“Who could have expected that the Terrifying Tigress would actually volunteer to leave the city . ” Chief Advisor Xu Fuyan stroked the grey hairs of his beard . There was a hidden smile inside his eyes, “Having her gone will make things much easier . ”
“What exactly…are your intentions?” Behind the layers of the beautiful curtain, a woman’s voice rang out urgently and feebly . The Crown Princess tried to prop up her body, but her arms were sore and powerless . She couldn’t even lift the bed curtain which was draped before her eyes, “What did you make me drink? Are you, are you planning to put me under house arrest?”
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Chief Advisor Xu didn’t even turn his head back and only sneered slightly, “Crown Princess, now you would better be concerned about yourself . Although that vixen endured and didn’t say anything about last night’s incident, do you think the Crown Prince would be unaware of it?”
Zhangsun Wuchen’s already pale face became increasingly ghastly, her arms suddenly lost all strength, and her body leaned heavily back into the beautiful mattress . And as if she had finally understood something, she whispered, “So it’s like this… I understand now . What happened last night was—”
Chief Advisor Xu suddenly chuckled as he pinched his long beard and unhurriedly said, “Crown Prince said yesterday to the Seventh Concubine: There will be a meteor shower at midnight above the Dragon Head Plains . If you get up and go wait in the garden, there will be a very fascinating spectacle . ” The thin old man suddenly narrowed his eyes and the look in his eyes was difficult to ascertain . He shook his head and sighed, “Although the Terrifying Tigress is fierce, her heart is still that of a child’s after all . ”
Chief Advisor paused, yet he seemed to shake his head in puzzlement, “No, no…if she was a child, how could she endure that humiliation? We were certain she would turn against Seventh Prince then and there . ”
“What are you all doing this for? It can’t be… you want to sabotage the current plan of having Yang Country aid us?” Although shocked, the Crown Princess is, after all, a knowledgeable woman . Within a short time, she had already calmed down .
Because she drank the tea brought in the morning, she didn’t know why she had a splitting headache, yet Crown Princess Zhangsun still calmly inquired in return, “Chengde is a sensible person . He wouldn’t jeopardize an important issue because of momentary jealousy — If we don’t receive foreign aid this time, Ye City will be overrun by Fourth Imperial Uncle’s army in a matter of days . At that time, we will be completely annihilated…”
Chief Advisor Xu suddenly let out a cold scoff as his hawk-like eyes flashed with a cold light, “Jealousy? Do you think the Crown Prince is revolting now for something small like jealousy?” With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked outside toward the bare trees in the front courtyard — It was already winter and the land was bleak, and the old man’s tone became even colder, “Crown Prince already found out about your affair two years ago! Do you both believe Chengde is a coward and a fool?”
Zhangsun Wuchen was truly stupefied and was unable to speak for a long while .
After all, the said student was taught by himself . The Chief Advisor tacitly understood and had a faint smile on the corner of his lips . He quickly turned around and looked at the Crown Princess, “He has endured it for a long time! —But Prince Xueya’s reputation and ability in the army could not be easily shaken by anyone . Chengde could only endure . But this time it’s different . If the Crown Prince still does not take the initiative, then I’m afraid the throne won’t be secured!”
“Nonsense! You mislead the Lord with your devilish whispers — Who would threaten the Crown Prince’s throne?” The Crown Princess looked coldly at the Chief Advisor — Crown Prince Chengde’s trusted aide, the wise man of the army . She retorted, “Xueya, Xueya, in order to bring help, did not hesitate to marry into the Jin Family!”
Only when Xu Fuyan heard this did he truly laugh out loud . He looked steadily at the Crown Princess and nodded slowly, “Yes! It is precisely because he married into the Jin Family! —If he hadn’t married into the Jin Family, the Crown Prince would not have been so eager to get rid of him . ”
The Crown Princess dazedly watched the Chief Advisor, momentarily speechless .
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“Prince Xueya’s marrying without notice and getting married before the battle was unmistakably because he had ulterior motives in mind . ” When Chief Advisor Xu saw that the Crown Princess was for once bewildered, he finally smiled and solemnly said, “Do you not recall how Yang Country’s Emperor Chang came to be on the present throne!? —Would the Sea King marry off his daughter for nothing? If there is a first time, then there will a second time!”
Pop, his fingers grabbed the curtain hard enough to rip all the golden hooks off the bed . The Crown Princess’ face went white and she looked at the cunning Chief Advisor in shock, “You all, you all actually view Xueya this way? Xueya has done his utmost to assist Chengde for eight years, not at all with himself in mind . You are all treating what happened as if a villain—“
“It’s better for the Crown Princess to worry about herself first right now . ” Chief Advisor Xu laughed darkly and looked at the Crown Princess, who was unable to move her entire body because of the drug, with a harsh gaze, “From today onward, you will be ‘bedridden due to illness’ — The Crown Prince has put up with you for a long time, and today it has come to an end!”
However, Zhangsun Wuchen propped herself up again and merely went to the heart of the matter, “What are you going to take Xueya… take Xueya and do?”
Xu Fuyan stroked the long beard below his chin as a cold light in his eyes flashed a few times . And after not speaking for a long time, he finally looked at the storm clouds swirling in the sky outside and said coldly, “Seventh Concubine already left the city . That’s for the best — When she comes back, she’ll discover that…”
“the Seventh Highness has been killed in battle!” His voice was as cold as ice . He paused for a moment and glanced at Zhangsun Wuchen, “Naturally, the Crown Princess was already slightly ill and succumbed to sickness because of grief… Hehe, the Seventh Concubine is well aware of the situation and won’t be surprised . It wouldn’t matter even if she knew… Yan Bai was already treating her badly, and they were an unhappy couple . ”
“This scheme I’ve planned for the Crown Prince is still rather well-hidden, isn’t it? And then—” The Chief Advisor eventually sneered and suddenly turned to look at the Crown Princess’ shocked face, “—And then, the Crown Prince would also offer the Sea King his hand in marriage, directly borrowing power to suppress the whole realm! Both in terms of status and position, the Crown Prince is a step ahead compared to Yan Bai . ”
The Chief Advisor clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely looked at the sky and lightly laughed, “No more than three days…but only two days! When that Terrifying Tigress returns to the city, there’s going to be a great change . ”
He paused and yet his eyes turned strange, “Only, we won’t know whose realm it will be then!”
Footnotes:
[1] This idiom is more like “one day husband and wife, a hundred days of kindness” . Still mainly describing since they’re husband and wife, they should treat each other with kindness and affection for a long time .