Chapter 11
Let The Fight Gets Even Fiercer!
I suffer from Feng Zhao Wen's heartless oppression in Zhong Hua Palace. My life is similar to that of a slave's; I couldn't even escape that virile man's advances. I have been depressed for days now.
Perhaps Feng Zhao Wen pities me for being bullied so miserably and thought that my will to fight isn't that vigorous anymore; he treats me exceedingly well these past few days. My three meals each day are sumptuous as hell.
I keep myself busy, gorging myself in food to make up for the three years of hunger. Only when I am full can I try to recharge myself.
Today, after Feng Zhao Wen left for his court meeting, a palace maid comes and tells me that the empress dowager summoned me. From my experience of growing up in the palace, people with really high positions are usually those who are up to no good, especially those like the empress dowager or the empress. Their actions cannot be measured based on common sense; just like Feng Zhao Wen that animal.
An empress is a little better, to be an emperor's partner, she ought to be a little peaceful inside. They can be pretty virtuous if they choose to. As for an empress dowager, it didn't matter if they have children or not, they are still widows. The better half of their life was spent in blood; fighting over everything in the harem. Even if they are old and like to practice Buddhist teaching, they may not necessarily be willing to put down their knife.
As I follow that female official to the empress dowager's Yi Ning Palace, I try to pry some info out of her using flattering words. That female official is full of praises. "The empress dowager is someone who adheres to Buddhist teaching. She is benevolent and kind, Miss does not have to worry."
Aiya, the fact that she practices Buddhist teaching scare me even more!
I secretly sigh. The female official is so dim-witted. In order to be able to sit in the esteemed position of an empress dowager, she must have committed a lot of atrocities in her younger days. That is why she has been practicing Buddhist lifestyle, to put her heart at ease.
Seems like this empress dowager is not someone you can view lightly. I glance at the four huge maids following me. I laugh, "Jiejie is someone who is close to the empress dowager; hearing you saying that, I am relieved."
I am stupid if I am truly relieved!
Once we reach Yi Ning Palace, a middle aged lady that appears to be around forty sit on the master's seat. A young lady of around fourteen or fifteen sits close to her. Her phoenix eyes are clear and her face resembles Feng Zhao Wen; this young lady must be the empress dowager's princess. Six or seven beauties sit underneath the empress dowager, Qin Yu Zheng sitting on the very first seat on the left. The first one on the right is an almond eyed beauty with peach-red cheeks. All those beauties arere Feng Zhao Wen's concubines; I sweep my eyes through that crowd and fail to spot anyone wearing the empress' dress.
"An Yi greets the empress dowager." As I get up, I receive a scolding, "A preposterous slave!"
I blank out and look at the direction of the voice. It is the almond-eyed beauty.
The empress dowager unhappily reproaches me, "An Yi, you have not received any title. Why didn't you greet Consort De and Consort Yu?"
I secretly laughed: Feng Zhao Wen ah, Feng Zhao Wen! Your harem has been peaceful for far too long, let's make it a little merrier this time! I lift my head and arrogantly say, "His Majesty allowed me to forgo formality when it comes to his concubines." He indeed decreed so, but with the haughty way I spoke, I don't believe I didn't anger those concubines this time.
As expected, that almond-eyed pretty girl immediately jump up and stomp her feet in displeasure, "Auntie, see how rude this servant is!"
Oh…. So that girl is the empress dowager's niece?
Nice! Angering this Consort De meant that I am threatening the peace in the harem. Other than placing me in the prison, the only other option for him is to set me free. I glares at Consort De even more imposingly than she does, "Consort De, the emperor spends time with me every single day. The affection between the both of us runs deep. Even he does not want to force me to bow in front of his concubines, don't tell me you dares to!"
After I finish saying that, even the empress dowager stiffens. As Consort De rushes down to give my face a slap, I can see a flash of delight in Qin Yu Zheng's face. Even the little princess who sits next to the empress dowager stands up in anticipation.
————— This is a love conflict ah!
Two of the maids behind me steps up and blocks Consort De, "Your Ladyship, please be careful."
Heh, these two jiejies are even more arrogant than me!
I am so happy, seems like even the empress dowager will not let this matter rest.
"Preposterous, all of you actually dares to act prudishly in Yi Ning Palace!" As expected, the empress dowager is upset!
Those two maids bow respectfully, "Informing Your Ladyship, His Majesty indeed allowed Miss An Yi to forgo formality towards the concubines in his harem." Their hands continue to block Consort De as they say that.
Consort De violently kicks the two maids using her two feet. She takes advantage of their pain and breaks free from their hold; gifting them with a slap to the face each. The two people's faces immediately swell up. Judging by the strength of her blow, she is an experienced striker!
I feel like I finally found the one; I finally found my match!
Even though the Great Qi has been around for hundreds of years, it has only been a couple of years since the unification. Because of that, it is normal for young maidens from esteemed family to learn martial arts to protect themselves.
Consort De manage to fend of the two maids, she jumps like a gust of wind and within three steps, she already makes her way towards me. I retreats a few steps and yells out in fear, "Oh! Oh! Consort De is hitting people!"
My voice is very sharp. Qin Yu Zheng who is sitting on her seat looks at me in surprise. She cannot understand why a general that has gone to war like me is being intimidated by a consort.
I am very happy! I turn around to run out of the hall while screaming, "Consort De is hitting people!"
Consort De goes after me in exasperation. Two of my maids behind me hold me back, "Do not worry, Miss. We will not allow Consort De to hit you!"
These two idiots! I push them away and accidentally lock eyes with Qin Yu Zheng who is staring at me in astonishment. I blink twice. If I'm guessing correctly, me being called over today has something to do with her.
She cannot sit still in her seat; she gets up and cries out, "Consort De….. Consort De….."
Unfortunately, Consort De has lost all of her senses from anger; she glares at me murderously. She didn't even seem to notice that I had pushed away the two maids that was blocking me.
"Bengong must teach this little servant a lesson today! Don't ever think you can show off in front of bengong just because the emperor favors you!"
My feet have already stepped out of Yi Ning Palace when the empress dowager speaks out, "Stop Miss An from leaving Yi Ning Palace."
If we drag this outside, things will naturally turns even uglier.
She probably thinks I am running out to search for Feng Zhao Wen and complain about them. The truth is, I just want to find an empty place to settle everything with Consort De. After all, the empress dowager's palace is full of precious treasures. If we accidentally break something, I don't think I will be able to afford it ah!
I can feel something behind me and before I know it, I am already rolling on the floor after being rammed by Consort De from behind. The guards who were inside the hall make their way outside.
Hmm, the scenery outside Yi Ning Palace is really good. Warm wind blows into your face as you admire thousands of blooming flowers. What a perfect setting to fight with others!
By the time Feng Zhao Wen rushes over, I am lying on the ground, receiving a beating while being restrained by the palace's guards. My four maids are dueling with the guards, other than them, nobody else steps up to save me. I totally underestimated the abilities of the guards in the empress dowager's place; serve me right, seriously.
Consort De is busy shouting on the sideline, "Hit that lowly servant to death! Hit her to death!" After that, she joins the fun and gives me a few kick.
Her head gear is in a mess, her hair are scattered around. She looks battered and exhausted; her entire face is red. Her eyes twinkle like pearls and had we been in any other situation, my heart would have ache for her.
I suddenly hear the fierce voice of someone, "Stop! What on earth are you doing?"
The feet that are kicking me immediately stops. Consort De kneels in the ground with a thump, tears staining her entire face as she speaks in a voice full of grief, "Your Majesty, she- she bullies chenqie!"
En, what a smart answer!
I laugh as I lay on the ground. If getting beaten means I get to leave the Great Qi's Imperial Palace; then by all means, hit me. It is a fair trade.
I actually studied a couple of moves years ago, but I didn't exert enough effort to learn them; I had little perseverance. Those guards from the empress dowager's palace on the other hand are so proficient in martial arts. The techniques I learnt back then were all immediate and straightforward; those that were taught to soldiers.
I only wanted to stir things up, I didn't really want to spill blood in Yi Ning Palace; but before I get to do anything, I was already surrounded by all these people.
Feng Zhao Wen harrumphs coldly, "Then why does it look like you are the one bullying her rather than her bullying you?" He takes large strides towards me before pulling me up.
"You're pulling the wrong person! You're pulling the wrong person!" I points at the weeping Consort De. "Such a fragile beauty crying pitifully like that; don't you pity her, Your Majesty?"
Feng Zhao Wen gives my head a flick, "You clueless girl!" Dark waves rolls inside his phoenix eyes as he glares at those helpless guards. "All of you——- go to Yan Ping and receive your punishment!"
Those guards get up and quickly runs off to follow his order.
Feng Zhao Wen reaches out to me. I laugh foolishly and quickly wipe the blood on my face, "Your Majesty is magnificent and outstanding, An Yi is just a criminal; I wouldn't dare to stain you with my blood!" I try to struggle for a moment but I am absolutely powerless against him.
He gets even angrier, he furiously sweeps his cold eyes on everyone. Those people kneels before him. There is a complete silence. He trains his eyes back to me, "An Yi, do you trust me?"
I look up to the tall and lofty Feng Zhao Wen from the ground. I feel like I have hit rock bottom long ago. No matter how many people kicks and tramples over me, the one person who cares for me is no longer here. No matter how much I stumble and suffer, everything will bring no difference.
I laugh crudely, "Your Majesty, you and I first met when you were only the crown prince. Our two kingdoms were amiable on the outside but were secretly vindictive on the inside. Everything that Your Majesty did….. hehe, it will be hard for An Yi to trust you." Even though I can be dumb at times, I can still understand the bigger picture of things.
His expression turns ugly.
I got hit today so naturally I feel oppressed on the inside. I continue complaining without a care for anything, "The word 'trust' can only be applied to your trusted comrades, your family, your loved ones. What you and I have isn't any of those; what trust are you talking about?"
His face actually forms a smile, "One day, you will know….."
I am too lazy to ask what he is talking about. He leans down; and without a care for his dragon robe, he picks me up. I yelp in surprise, wrapping my arms around his neck. The blood in my hands is smeared on his dragon robe: "Blood…. Blood……"
He gives me a faint smile, "What are you panicking about? You are not the one in charge of washing this."
He turn to face all those people behind us, "Zhen will come another day to pay respect to imperial mother." After that, he walks away.
I look at the scene behind Feng Zhao Wen; all of those people are kneeling on the floor while kowtowing. This scene feels so grand. The crying Consort De watches this scene while weeping in astonishment. Even Qin Yu Zheng and the little princess who have just stepped out of Yi Ning Palace stands there while watching us in a daze.
———— What Feng Zhao Wen is doing really takes me by surprise.
He didn't send me to prison nor did he kick me out of the palace; instead he embraces me against his chest.
Never mind Qin Yu Zheng, I bet even he knows by now that Qin Yu Zheng has been giving him a green hat. But what about that Consort De? From the haughty way she acts, she ought to be one of those women who received his favor. Didn't he pity her?
(TN: Giving a man a green hat means you are cheating on him.)
He accidentally touch my wounds while carrying me. I purposely cry out in pain, "Aiya!" He quickly change his posture and carries me in the gentlest way possible. Despite his tender actions, the words that come out of his mouth are pretty coarse. "You wild girl! Why didn't you obediently stay in Zhong Hua Palace? Whatever did you come here for? Serve you right for getting hit!"
I glare at him. "The empress dowager called for me, how could I not come?" I can feel his body turning still for a moment before he continues carrying me with care. "She knows how to act, you must have been the one who searched for trouble."
Even though his voice is low, I can hear him just fine.
I have no interest in what he is talking about; whatever happens in this harem has nothing to do with me. This Feng Zhao Wen is really weird. Even though he usually treats me badly, the way he meticulously carries me right now is so…… Even his cold eyes have softens by a great deal.
After arriving in Zhong Hua Hall, Feng Zhao Wen ordered everyone to get out. After that, he opens my clothes and eyes those black and blue marks on my body. His eyes darkens. He angrily punches the dragon bed, "Those wretched people!"
I carefully shrinks my body, fearing that he will punch me next.
Even though I don't fear pain, broken bones are no laughing matter.
He takes the medicine and puts it on for me, softly asking, "Does it hurt?"
I shake my head. This side of Feng Zhao Wen gives me a strange, indescribable feeling.
The sly crown prince of the Great Qi that I used to know is now a cold-blooded emperor.
Translator’s Note: Chapter 11 is sponsored by Kati!