Inside Jingxin palace, as Lin Ke Xin was thinking about how to bribe Feng Cang and let him become under her sonâs command, Murong Qi Qi was brought to the Sun and Moon lake in the palace by Wanyan Bao Zhu.
âHow is it? Here is much more beautiful than Xi Qi, donât you think?!â
Wanyan Bao Zhu raised her chin like a proud peacock and still refused to look at Murong Qi Qi with direct eyes.
Doesnât look with direct eyes means that WBZ sees MQQ as someone below her.
âEn.â
Murong Qi Qi put on a blank face. She nodded but didnât say yes nor no.
Although itâs already winter, the snow hadnât come yet. The lake was unusually deserted. It emitted a burst of coldness. Murong Qi Qi didnât know why Wanyan Bao Zhu brought her here, but looking at the expressions of those other women, she knew it was not something good. Thatâs why she had long prepared to catch her (WBZ) next move.
Seeing Murong Qi Qiâs wooden eyes, Wanyan Bao Zhu couldnât understand why Feng Cang liked Murong Qi Qi. Not only did she not understand, even Mu Yu Die and Yu Shi Shi couldnât understand why Feng Cangâs taste was so âuniqueâ.
However, the one who first opened her mouth to make things difficult for Murong Qi Qi was not Wanyan Bao Zhu, but crown princess Yu Shi Shi.
âXi Qiâs landscape must be very good. Thatâs why it could raise such a delicate person as princess. Even wangye1 treats you differently. Itâs just, thereâs a sentence bengong2 doesnât know if bengong should say it or not......â
You already opened your mouth, will I still be able to not let you fart? Murong Qi Qi was thinking in her heart, but on her face, she put up a respectful smile: âPlease enlighten me, crown princess niangniang3.â
âWangye is excellent in both literature and military. He is the famous hero of Bei Zhou; but princess, it seems like you know nothing. If this is spread around, people will feel injustice for wangye. Although women without talent are virtuous, but she still needs to know the basics. Otherwise, when men encounter new people, itâll be very easy to forget the old one.â
So, it turned out that she was talking about this? Murong Qi Qi sneered in her heart, but her face showed an even more respectful smile: âCrown princess niangniang is right. Itâs just that bengong likes embroidery and management of the household more. Bengong feels that putting oneself in someone elseâs shoes, in the end will get the other partyâs true heart. No matter how wangye treats me in the future, bengong will surely treat him wholeheartedly and will certainly not live in the wangfu4 while the heart is elsewhere; using one heart for two purposes......â
Murong Qi Qiâs words were like a strike, fiercely slapping Yu Shi Shiâs face. Immediately, Yu Shi Shiâs expression turned bad......
What does she mean? What does she mean by using one heart for two purposes? What does she know? Or has she heard something? Why does she know her inner thoughts......?
Yu Shi Shiâs face turned pale then turned red. She stood there. It wouldnât be right if she answers that; it wouldnât be right if she stood there without saying anything. She could only laugh embarrassingly.
The girls present also heard some of the rumors about Yu Shi Shi and Feng Cang. Although itâs not confirmed, but after seeing Yu Shi Shiâs performance at the banquet; no one was blind. Thatâs why when Murong Qi Qi said that, those girls covered their mouths and laughed.
Wanyan Bao Zhu laughed till she was trembling. She had long known that Yu Shi Shi was a âcunning plotâ. Itâs just that because of her identity, she couldnât say anything. Now that Murong Qi Qi embarrassed Yu Shi Shi, Wanyan Bao Zhu was naturally happy.
Everyone knew that Yu Shi Shi and Feng Cang once had an engagement. However, before the marriage, Yu Shi Shi backed off and married crown prince Wanyan Hong. Binding herself to such a big tree as the crown prince, in one single step, she became the crown princess.
Ever since Yu Shi Shi backed off from the marriage, Feng Cang had gotten bad luck. For eight, consecutive years, after the first day of marriage, the next day would be the day of mourning. The position of Nan Lin wangfei[wangfei: main wife/ consort of the prince of first rank] also seemed cursed, making it that, although these women adored Feng Cang, but they were stopped by the position of wangfei.
Many people attributed Feng Cangâs âtragic fateâ to Yu Shi Shi. Because she backed off, she broke Feng Cangâs fate, which resulted in that none of Feng Cangâs marriages were ever fulfilled. Thatâs why, every time thereâs a court meeting, no one would bother with this crown princess. In the whole upper class, her relationship with women was simply bad to the extreme.
A countryâs crown princess got humiliated by another countryâs princess and it was witnessed by so many people. The more Yu Shi Shi thought about it, the angrier she got.
But she is a crown princess, the future empress. She needs to remain virtuous and be big-hearted. So she acted like nothing had happened. Itâs just that in her heart, she hated Murong Qi Qi to death. She felt that Murong Qi Qi shouldnât expose her in public and let her become everyoneâs joke!
Although crown princess suffered defeat and many people were laughing at her, but there were also people who helped her. The one who opened her mouth next was Mu Yu Die. She was also an old woman who waited for Feng Cang till twenty years. This woman seemed quiet and gentle, but the words coming out of her mouth were filled with thorns.
âPrincess being so virtuous is wangyeâs blessing. No wonder wangye is infatuated with you and thereâs no one else in his eyes. Especially that sentence of just now, âRuo river is three thousand li, one only drinks one ladle worth of water from itâ really made the people who listened to it envious!â
Mu Yu Die coming to her rescue, crown princess couldnât help but look at her gratefully. And Mu Yu Dieâs words made the women who had just laughed at Yu Shi Shi turn to Murong Qi Qi.
Wanyan Bao Zhu laughed most brilliantly just now. Now, her expression also changed the fastest. Just now, it was the spring of March. Now, itâs the cold winter of December.
Mu Yu Die didnât feel enough with just talking. She walked to Murong Qi Qi and carefully looked at the light green cloak on Murong Qi Qi. This cloak had long before grabbed Mu Yu Dieâs attention. This time, after looking at it closely, in Mu Yu Dieâs eyes, there was not only surprise but also envy, jealousy and hate.
âThis cloak is so fine. It must be certainly from a masterâs hands!â
Murong Qi Qiâs cloak was light green. On it were four four-leaf clovers embroidered with light golden threads. This four-leaf clover was a new thing. No one had seen it before. Thatâs why everyone was surprised and the embroidery also made people praise it. The person wearing the cloak only needed to move a little bit and she would be glittering like the sun.
âThis is a new cloak from Jue Se Fang. Wangye ordered it early on.â
Murong Qi Qiâs words were to the point. Everyone understood the value of this cloak.
Jue Se Fang and Tong Bao Zhai were the most favorite places of the women of this world. Although Tong Bao Zhai already has a branch in Bei Zhou country, but Jue Se Fang did not. This meant that Feng Cang prepared this cloak when they were in Xi Qi.
âWhat is this type of leaves called? Iâve never seen it before!â
Mu Yu Die pointed at the four-leaf clover on Murong Qi Qiâs cloak.
âOh, this is a four-leaf clover and they are also called lucky clovers. From ten thousand three-leaf clovers, thereâs only one four-leaf clover. Legend has it that the person who can find a four-leaf clover will always be happy.â
Murong Qi Qiâs voice was like gurgling spring water; sweet and moving. After hearing her explanation, they had a new understanding of four-leaf clovers and felt that these four-leaf clovers are a special plant.
âWhere did princess hear this from?â
Mu Yu Die claimed to be the most talented woman. In this group, she was the most talented. Thatâs why she wouldnât accept Murong Qi Qiâs words so easily.
âItâs the shopkeeper of Jue Se Fang who told wangye. Then wangye told me.â
Mentioning Feng Cang, Murong Qi Qiâs smiling face blushed. Her eyes were filled with happiness, making Mu Yu Die who saw it feel like a knife is cutting into her heart. However, it seemed like Murong Qi Qi did it intentionally. From time to time, her eyes swept over Mu Yu Die. This made Mu Yu Dieâs heart feel even more uncomfortable, but thereâs nothing she could do.
âWangye is really good to princess!â
Mu Yu Die smiled awkwardly. She took a deep breath in her heart and also comforted herself. She (MQQ) is nothing but a slut. She should not lower herself to her (MQQ) level! She should not spur into action by her (MQQ) remarks!
âEn,â Murong Qi Qi continued to nod and act like a shy girl, making Mu Yu Die, who was self-regulating, angry till she gritted her teeth. Mu Yu Dieâs forced expression made Murong Qi Qi very happy.
She is but an old woman and she still dares to want things? Does it even matter if you had anything to do with Feng Cang before? What does your high status matter? What does your talent matter? Now, thereâs her (MQQ). She has to take care of all these small mosquitoes and flies! Not to mention such an old woman!
(Emituofo, donât attack at the case of the womanâs old age. In that era, 20 years old is already an old lady)âfrom the author
Murong Qi Qi viciously classified twenty years old Mu Yu Die as âold womanâ. If Mu Yu Die knew that in Murong Qi Qiâs heart, she, who was as beautiful as a flower, was nothing more than an old woman, she would definitely cough blood from anger......
âI heard the shopkeeper of Jue Se Fang say that they will open a few stores in Bei Zhou by the end of the year. By that time, there will be many of these beautiful cloaks.â
At this time, Murong Qi Qi did not forget to advertise for her Jue Se Fang.
Sure enough, after hearing that Jue Se Fang will open stores in Bei Zhou, these women became excited.
âDo you know when?â
Wanyan Bao Zhu grabbed Murong Qi Qiâs hand in excitement.
âPrincess, you hurt me!â
Murong Qi Qi frowned. Wanyan Bao Zhu pouted. In her heart, she felt that Murong Qi Qi was too fragile and weak. She looked down on her even more.
After Wanyan Bao Zhu let her go, Murong Qi Qi smiled softly: âI also donât know the specific date. I just heard that itâs at the end of this year. Itâll catch up with the new year.â
Say a vague time to let everybody long for it. Everyone here today are ladies and young masters of noble families. Let them spread it out, before long Jue Se Fangâs fame will spread greatly in Bei Zhou. When they finally open, she will then earn many gold and silver.
For a time, the ladies were immersed in the fantasy of Jue Se Fang.
Before, when Tong Bao Zhai opened in Bei Zhou, it was very lively. Because there were too many people, shopkeeper Fang Kui couldnât help but use the auction way to sell the jewelries. The result was that all the jewelries were quickly gone and the revenue was much higher than expected.
Those jewelries, not to mention the exquisite materials used, only the wonderful designs made people love it too much to part with it. They loved them so much that they werenât willing to put them down.
Unfortunately, on that day of the auction, one set had been bought by Feng Cang. Itâs the âAutumn flowerâ that Murong Qi Qi wore before. The set âClear moonâ was bought by Wanyan Lie. He gave it to noble consort Yue Lan Zhi.
âAutumn flowerâ. The moment she thought about âAutumn flowerâ, Wanyan Bao Zhuâs heart would have a knot.
She had just taken a fancy to that jewelry and didnât even have time to shout a price, when it was bought directly by Feng Cangâs subordinates at a high price. Later on, he gave it to Murong Qi Qi and let her shine at the banquet in Xi Qi. Really, such a good jewelry was wasted!
Thinking till here, Wanyan Bao Zhu asked Murong Qi Qi directly: âWhy didnât you wear âAutumn flowerâ today?â
The moment she asked that did the others know that the set of jewelry was at Murong Qi Qiâs. Immediately, their eyes, as they looked at her, turned into âenvy, jealousy and hateâ. Tong Bao Zhaiâs jewelries was famous throughout the world and priceless. What does she, Murong Qi Qi, has to be able to wear âAutumn flowerâ that was personally designed by Guang Hua gongzi5?
âWangye said that Autumn flower is too heavy. Wearing it too long is not good for the neck.â
Murong Qi Qi pushed everything on Feng Cang. Anyway, no one would dare to go verify with Feng Cang. No matter what she said, it wouldnât matter.
The look of Murong Qi Qi today was very fresh. Every jewelry was made by grinding furong stone (crystal); compact yet elegant. Itâs just that no one knew this furong stone. So, they didnât see it as a rarity and it also didnât get the womenâs interest.
white furong stone
If they had the foresight and knew that Tong Bao Zhou would soon launch a series of outstanding beautiful jewelries which all were made with the not eye-catching furong stone, they would most certainly take down all of Murong Qi Qiâs jewelries for themselves.
Although Murong Qi Qiâs looks were ordinary, and so was her ability, but she was still a princess that Xi Qi had sent for a marriage alliance. Moreover, she kept saying wangye this and wangye that, making the people gain some good feelings for Feng Cang. The women who had fantasies about the position of Nan Lin wangfei looked at her with even more resentment.
When all of those looks full of resentment fell on Murong Qi Qi, she remembered them all one by one. Itâs just that why hasnât anyone made a move yet? They already came to such a remote place. Presumably, there would be some women who wonât be able to hold it in any longer!
After walking some more, a stone arch bridge appeared before them. Wanyan Bao Zhu and Mu Yu Die glanced at each other. After exchanging thoughts, Wanyan Bao Zhu was the first one to stand on the stone bridge.
âKoi, in this season, thereâs actually koi! Ning er6, bring the fish food! Yong er, bring the net! Bengong wants to personally catch a few koi to hold a fish feast for giving princess Zhao Yang good luck!â
Wanyan Bao Zhu ordered everything. Mu Yu Die also helped. Before, when the two were against each other because of Feng Cang, they were rivals. Now, in order to deal with Murong Qi Qi, they became comrades.
Yu Shi Shi seemed to not have seen anything. She let people put a heater and blankets in the pavilion. She also let people prepare tea and snacks. Others seemed to have a tacit, mutual understanding and helped Wanyan Bao Zhu. Itâs as if they were waiting to see a good show of Murong Qi Qi.
âQi Qi, can bengong call you that? Come take a look. Now, there still are koi. Itâs really strange! Itâs certainly because they knew you were coming and came here to welcome you!â
Wanyan Bao Zhu pointed at the lake and gestured for Murong Qi Qi to come over.
Wanyan Bao Zhuâs âQi Qiâ, made Murong Qi Qi feel somewhat âflatteredâ. After hearing that there were fish seen in a winter season, Murong Qi Qi immediately became âexhilaratedâ and went on the stone bridge.
âWhere? Where are they?â
âHere! Princess, come quickly and take a look!â
Knowing that Wanyan Bao Zhu wanted to mess with Murong Qi Qi, the others quickly gave way to let Murong Qi Qi come on the bridge.
âWhere?â
Murong Qi Qi looked curiously, while she sneered in her heart. Where was there fish in this lake? There werenât even fish scales! They led her here, could it be that they want to throw her into the lake?
âPrincess, the fish food came!â
Just at this moment, Ning er came, holding a box with fish food. That so-called fish food turned out to be whirring and meaty worms.
However, it seemed that these women were already accustomed and didnât feel a bit afraid. Instead, they looked smilingly at Murong Qi Qi as if they were waiting for her ending.
âWo, worms.......â Murong Qi Qi covered her mouth. Seeing those worms, she almost vomited and her expression was very afraid, making those women prouder of themselves. Usually, they use worms to fish and were no longer surprised by them anymore. They didnât think that Murong Qi Qi would be so afraid of worms. What a joke!
Donât know if Ning er did it intentionally or what, when she almost reached Murong Qi Qi, she slipped. The box of fish food flew directly towards Murong Qi Qi.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âAh! No.......â
Murong Qi Qi looked very distressed as if seeing those oncoming worms was very scary. Her feet also began to slip. She just took a step back when someone put her feet behind her and wanted to make her trip. If she really fell from this stone bridge, even if she didnât sprain her legs, sheâd still get a cerebral concussion. If the direction was a bit off, then she would go directly into the water!
Humph! Really good calculation! Murong Qi Qi, without a trace of politeness, stepped on the other partyâs foot. After a âkachaâ sound, Mu Yu Dieâs scream could be heard. And Murong Qi Qi conveniently fell in the opposite direction, just in time to open a way. All those worms flew toward Wanyan Ba Zhu and Mu Yu Die.
It happened that while the worms were flying towards them, Mu Yu Dieâs mouth was open, which caused her to swallow five or six worms.
âOu.......â
At this time, Mu Yu Die has forgotten about the pain on her foot. She immediately went to a side of the stone bridge and began vomiting. And when she turned, just at the right time she happened to bump into Wanyan Bao Zhu.
Not waiting for the people to understand, Wanyan Bao Zhu was bumped into the lake by Mu Yu Die.
âAh! Princess, princess! Servants! Quickly come! Princess has fallen into the lake!â
Ning er was the first one to react. She quickly began to shout.
The moment Mu Yu Die saw that she had bumped into the princess, making her fall into the lake, she was so afraid that she forgot to vomit. She also forgot about the worms she had swallowed and even ignored the pain on her foot. She immediately reached out, wanting to pull Wanyan Bao Zhu up: âPrincess, grab my hand! Grab my hand!â
The moment Mu Yu Die shouted, everyone became anxious. Falling into the water in this weather, not to mention the fact that Wanyan Bao Zhu couldnât swim, even if she could swim, she wouldâve been frozen terribly.
âSave me! I donât know how to swim! Save me!â
Wanyan Bao Zhu splashed about in the cold lake water. The bone-piercing cold made her whole body hurt.
When she saw Mu Yu Die reach over, Wanyan Bao Zhu did her best to extend her hands, wanting to grab onto Mu Yu Dieâs hands. However, she didnât expect that just when she almost grabbed the hands, she would lose strength and fall back. A few mouthfuls of cold water repeatedly went into her stomach.
Damn! She certainly did it intentionally!
The moment the thought of Mu Yu Die bumping her into the water hit her, Wanyan Bao Zhu felt immense hatred for the Mu Yu Die who kept shouting âprincess, grab my handâ. For who is she acting? Itâs obviously you who made me fall into the lake, now you are acting like that. Really didnât think that you are the most underhanded person!
When Mu Yu Die once again reached out her hand, Wanyan Bao Zhu took a deep breath and in a momentum, strove to grab Mu Yu Dieâs hand.
âI caught the princess! Come help quickly!â
Mu Yu Die was very happy. She reached out her other hand to pull Wanyan Bao Zhu, but unexpectedly when everyone came over, they touched her injured foot. At that point, Mu Yu Dieâs foot felt immense pain. So painful that her face changed color. She couldnât help but relinquish her grip.
Seeing that Mu Yu Die still wanted to âplayâ with her, Wanyan Bao Zhu couldnât take it anymore. She tightly grasped Mu Yu Dieâs hand and then pulled her into the lake with her.
âLet you trick me!â
Wanyan Bao Zhu fell into the lake before Mu Yu Die. Now, she had almost adapted to the coldness of the water. Only Mu Yu Die, who had just fallen in, became numb because of the cold water. Taking advantage that Mu Yu Die was still adapting, Wanyan Bao Zhu put her arms around Mu Yu Dieâs neck, pressing Mu Yu Die in the water.
âLet you trick me, bitch! Dare to trick bengong!â
Mu Yu Die didnât understood the situation yet, as she had already been pressed into the water by Wanyan Bao Zhu and drank a few mouthfuls of water. When she came to understand that the other party was ârepaying kindness with hatredâ, Mu Yu Die also got angry. She grabbed Wanyan Bao Zhuâs hair and began to fight with her in the water.
At this point, the scene became more chaotic. And Murong Qi Qi, who nearly fell onto the ground after being pushed off the stone bridge by people, was saved by someone. Itâs a man? Just as she sniffed the ambergris fragrance on the other partyâs body, Murong Qi Qi had already fallen into the arms of the other party.