Ein Bettler bereist die Welt

Kapitel 56

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 106 Turning Against Each Other

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:41:52 Word Count: 2819

Xiao Xuan stood up and said, "Sister, he is a slave. He can be a servant, but he absolutely cannot be your husband."

Just when he thought the girl was trying to help him, Xiao Hulian heard her say it was impossible and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

"Our Xiao family, let's not talk about the distant past, just look at the recent ones. Father married Mother, who was a princess of the Yan Kingdom. At that time, Father's status was not low. Mother gave birth to the three of us and arranged marriages for you, betrothing you to Prince Yansa Ge of Qi. She also arranged a marriage for my second sister to Prince Xiyin of Zhao. Which of our three daughters' husbands wasn't a prince or nobleman? Which of them didn't have extraordinary talent and ambition to govern the world? Yan Yan doesn't object to her sister remarrying, but if she's going to remarry, she should marry someone respectable, someone who can grace the palace. You want a stable boy? How can that be accepted by the people? You've already become the object of ridicule among the people of Liao, do you know that?"

"Enough!" Xiao Hunian shouted sharply, "In the end, you still believed those rumors. What kind of man I, Xiao Hunian, like is my business. Let me tell you, Xiao Yanyan, I'm not like you. When the late emperor died, you wept bitterly, preferring to suffer yourself rather than look at those around you. I, Xiao Hunian, am not that kind of hypocrite. I will have what I like, and I don't care about your rumors. I live for myself, not for others. I want my own happiness. No matter how nice others say, it can't comfort my years of bitterness. No matter how harsh others say, what does it matter to me if I'm happy! In short, I'm determined to have Dalan Abo!" Seeing Hunian's anger, Xiao Xuan wanted to persuade her, but then she saw Dalan Abo looking at Xiao Hunian with a smile. The meaning in his eyes was clear: he approved of Xiao Hunian's words, actions, and going against him. I couldn't help but feel even angrier.

The two sisters were arguing, and if Dalan Abo were more sensible, she should have taken the initiative to speak up and stop Xiao Hunian. After all, the person standing in front of her was the Empress Dowager Chengtian of the Liao Dynasty. However, Dalan Abo was just a stable boy and had never seen the ways of the world. She also lacked any sense of propriety. Seeing that Empress Dowager Xiao Hunian was arguing with the Empress Dowager because of her, she not only did not speak up to stop her, but also smiled and mocked the Empress Dowager for being rebuked by the Empress Dowager.

Who wouldn't want to handle their own family matters themselves? ...Who wants to be laughed at by outsiders? Xiaoxuan was instantly furious: I'll teach you a lesson for laughing! I'll show you what I'm made of! She thought angrily.

"Guards! Tie up Dalan Abo!"

Hearing Xiao Xuan's angry roar, Xiao Hulian finally came to his senses and hurriedly said to Xiao Xuan, "This, Yan Yan, it was my fault. I went too far with what I said to you."

Xiao Xuan didn't care about anything else and shouted at the guards who surrounded and tied up Dalan Abo, "Drag him out and beat him hard!"

"Yan Yan, Yan Yan!" Xiao Hulian grabbed Xiao Xuan's arm and cried out urgently, "Don't treat him like this!"

"Guards. Escort the Imperial Concubine back to her residence. Without my permission, she is not to leave the Prince's residence even once."

As the guards approached him, Xiao Hulian's gaze shifted from pleading to resentment.

"Good, good! You have a man now. Life is sweet. You don't care about anyone else, right?" Xiao Hulian shouted, "Xiao Yanyan, don't forget. You're still alive today thanks to me, Xiao Hulian, for saving you! The peace on the northwestern border of the Great Liao is also thanks to me, Xiao Hulian!" Seeing that Xiao Xuan still hadn't changed her orders, Xiao Hulian blurted out, "No wonder Second Sister died. I really hate her. Why didn't she poison you back then!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan glared at Xiao Hu Nian, feeling suffocated. She narrowed her eyes and roared, "Drag her out of here!"

Watching the guards lead Xiao Hu Nian, who was still cursing, out of the room, Xiao Xuan grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it on the ground! "I never thought a slave could be so infatuated with you, unable to distinguish right from wrong!"

From that day on, Xiao Xuan imprisoned Xiao Hunian in the palace, sending one or two court officials to visit her every few days, hoping she would change her mind and make plans for her future. However, Xiao Hunian was determined; she was single-minded and had her sights set on Dalan Abo. When she heard that Xiao Xuan had severely beaten Dalan Abo and banished him to the border to do hard labor, she even refused to see the people Xiao Xuan sent.

The sisters' relationship had reached a stalemate, which made Xiaoxuan feel extremely desolate.

It was all well-intentioned; Xiao Xuan, already over forty, wanted to find her sister a reliable and trustworthy man, someone who would treat her as well as Han Derang had treated her, ensuring Xiao Hulian's happy and stable later life. Looking into Dalan Abo's eyes, she knew he was no good man. She'd seen many men, and as for status, she didn't really care. But his attitude angered her. She thought Xiao Hulian was simply infatuated with Dalan Abo and would wake up soon, but Xiao Hulian's attitude was resolute; she declared she would marry no one but Dalan Abo. The relationship between the two sisters remained deadlocked.

Dalan Abo, who was banished to a distant place, harbored resentment towards Xiaoxuan. Overnight, he went from being a slave to a guest of honor of the Empress Dowager. In the same day, he was first beaten and then demoted, becoming a slave again.

The happiness he had just gained was cruelly snatched away by the Empress Dowager; how could he not hate her? He wanted a woman. As a slave, he could only watch women fawn over other men; he longed to hold a woman in his own arms. Xiao Hulian was old, but he was willing, because she was the Empress Dowager. With her, he could become a person of high status. After Xiao Hulian died, what kind of woman couldn't he find? During his time with Xiao Hulian, he flattered and fawned over her in every way, driving Xiao Hulian, who hadn't experienced intimacy for decades, completely infatuated. That wasn't enough; he also imitated the romantic gestures of scholars, making vows of eternal love with Xiao Hulian, firmly controlling the woman, who was over thirty years his senior and already caught in the whirlpool of love. Unfortunately, he was no match for Xiao Xuan. Over the years, whether it was governing the court, handling prison cases, or fighting wars, Xiao Xuan had seen all kinds of men. How could she not see through this cunning slave?

If it were him, he would definitely face himself, confess his love for the Empress Dowager, and ask himself to agree to the marriage with the Empress Dowager.

If Han Derang were him, he would never allow Xiao Hunian to act so recklessly. He would even keep this matter to himself and not allow Xiao Hunian to leak it out, so as not to ruin her reputation as the Empress Dowager.

But he was just himself, a slave who grew up on the frontier. He had never had any expectations in his life, but after meeting Xiao Hu Nian, his life goals changed.

She is the Imperial Concubine Dowager! I am her man, so I should enjoy the preferential treatment due to the Imperial Uncle.

Isn't that what happened to Han Derang? He was just a minister, and his current glory was only achieved because he curried favor with the Empress Dowager. He secretly plotted against her, and his hatred for Xiao Xuan, who had completely destroyed his newly acquired happiness, only intensified. He would rather endlessly compare himself to Han Derang than actually consider that Han Derang's high position was not only due to his family's three generations of high-ranking officials in the Liao Dynasty, but also because Han Derang was capable and had made countless contributions to the Liao Dynasty. This was something he, a mere stable boy, could never compare to.

Far away on the frontier, he cursed Xiao Xuan in his heart every day, hoping that the Empress Dowager, who was infatuated with him, would rescue him from this filthy and hateful place. He wanted to eat meat, but here he could only drink soup. He wanted to wear fine clothes, but here he only had clothes covered in mud and riddled with holes. He wanted to point fingers at others and enjoy the power of giving orders, but here he only got scolded and beaten. Watching those leaders eating meat and drinking wine with gusto, Dalan Abo waited for his Xiao Hu carriage to come and take him back.

During the first month, he shouted at the guards and the crowd that he was the Empress Dowager's lover and that she would come to pick him up sooner or later. He threatened to teach anyone who dared to cause him trouble a lesson. Everyone knew that he and the Empress Dowager did indeed have such an affair, and seeing how confident he was, no one dared to provoke him, which made him even more arrogant.

The following month, the Empress Dowager still did not come to see him, and the crowd began to ridicule and mock him. He shouted that the Empress Dowager would come sooner or later, and that she was probably delayed by something. So everyone waited for another month to pass.

By the third month, no matter what he said, no one believed him anymore. They treated him with either scolding or beatings, beating and scolding this dreamy slave in order to bring him to his senses sooner.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 107 Fulfillment

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:42:21 Word Count: 2848

Half a year has passed, and he has returned to the treatment he received as a slave. No one takes him seriously, and his boast that the Empress Dowager would definitely appear here has long become a joke among the people.

"Dalan Abo, how does the Empress Dowager's cooking taste?"

"Dalan Abo, how are you serving him?"

Faced with such remarks, he would always respond with a laugh or embellish his story with Hu Nian. He knew that the people here also needed humor to brighten their lives, and only by currying favor with them could he avoid being beaten.

A year later, Dalan Abo, who was carrying a heavy stone, was told that someone was looking for him. He was still wondering who wanted to make fun of him this time when he saw Xiao Hu Nian riding in a horse with his guards, looking in his direction.

Dalan Abo quickly walked to Xiao Hulian's side, knelt down, and cried out, "Imperial Consort, Imperial Consort."

Xiao Hunian felt a pang of sadness and quickly dismounted. He helped Dalan Abo up and said, "Don't cry, I've come to take you back. The Empress Dowager has allowed us to be together."

Upon hearing this, Dalan Abo was secretly delighted, but feigned surprise and said, "Really? Is it true? Your Majesty, you can't lie to Abo!"

"Of course it's true. Come back with me first, and we'll talk about it slowly when we get back."

After Xiao Hulian finished speaking, he ignored the strange looks from those around him and took Dalan Abo's hand to get into the carriage.

Once seated in the carriage, A-Bo immediately embraced Xiao Hu-Nian and kissed him passionately. Xiao Hu-Nian reciprocated his kiss; the lovers, separated for a year, were finally reunited.

"A-Nian, tell me quickly, is this true?" Da-Lan-A-Bo stopped his passionate kissing and asked Xiao-H-Nian.

"Yes, I went to ask my sister, and she agreed. She told me to take you back first. Remember, you have to beg her properly this time, so that we can continue to be together."

After hearing Xiao Hu Nian's words, Da Lan A Bo was overjoyed. It seemed that his dream of becoming the Imperial Uncle was not far off. He immediately embraced Hu Nian even tighter and kissed him even more passionately.

The two were very affectionate and loving, and a few days later they returned to the capital to see Xiao Xuan.

Looking at Dalan Abo kneeling before her, Xiaoxuan felt a mix of emotions. She didn't want to hand her sister over to him, but the thought of her elderly sister kneeling before her, pleading with her to let her be with Dalan Abo, made her want to cry. She had thought that a year, a year of confinement, would sever her longing, but she hadn't expected her to remain so devoted.

Sister. In the Xiao family, you and Jixian are the only two close relatives I have left. No matter what, I don't want you to continue being sad, lonely, and isolated. Let me be your guardian angel, and protect this love for you. If Dalan Abo dares to harbor any disloyalty towards you, I will kill him. Let him die to atone for your love.

“Dalan Abo. I did not want you to be with the Empress Dowager, but she is deeply in love with you and her devotion will never change. I could not bear to see her troubled by love, so I ordered her to bring you back.”

"Thank you, Empress Dowager! Thank you, Empress Dowager!" Dalan Abo said, kowtowing repeatedly.

"But the Empress Dowager cannot simply follow you. Although I allow the two of you to be together, I have not agreed to your marriage to the Empress Dowager."

Upon hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Xiao Hu Nian and Da Lan A Bo's feelings shifted from excitement to resentment.

"The Empress Dowager is high above, and you are but a slave. How can you expect to win over the people if you are to be paired with her? I intend to order you to lead troops westward to conquer the Tatars, so that you may bring glory to the country and silence the critics. Are you willing?"

"I'm willing! Dalan Abo is willing!" Dalan Abo said, kowtowing repeatedly. Holding onto that old woman Xiao Hulian was definitely the right decision; this power came so easily! Hahaha, from this day forward, I, Dalan Abo, am also a man with military power!

Hearing his sister say this, Xiao Hulian was delighted. It was kind of his sister to have thought of such things for him. He couldn't help but thank Xiao Xuan along with Dalan Abo.

With a sigh, Xiao Xuan waved her hand, signaling the two to leave. Watching them depart in high spirits, Xiao Xuan thought to herself: "Dalan Abo, don't let my efforts go to waste. Eldest sister, Yan Yan can only pave this far for you. Your future depends on yourselves; after all, the people of Liao value true ability."

The next morning, Xiao Xuan summoned Dalan Abo to the palace and appointed him as a general, ordering him to lead the Empress Dowager's former troops on a western expedition against the Tatars. Dalan Abo accepted the decree amidst the suspicious gazes of the crowd, and then left the capital together with the Empress Dowager Xiao Hu Nian. Whether due to their excessive excitement or their eagerness to achieve merit, they forgot to go to the palace to say goodbye to Xiao Xuan.

Sitting in the backyard of the palace, Xiao Xuan had been waiting for the two to come and express their gratitude, but she overheard a servant reporting that the Empress Dowager and General Abo had departed from the capital a short while ago. Standing up, Xiao Xuan slowly walked out of the palace, boarded the carriage, and ordered it to be pulled all the way to the city gate.

After getting off the bus, Xiao Xuan stood there blankly, staring at the deserted road. "Sister, you left in such a hurry, I came to see you off. I hope Dalan Abo won't let you down and will treat you well."

Standing alone at the city gate, gazing into the distance, she didn't know how long she had been standing there until a large cloak was draped over her shoulders, bringing her back to her senses. Turning around, she saw Han Derang.

"Wear more clothes so you don't catch a cold."

Nodding, Xiaoxuan continued to look into the distance.

Aren't you worried?

“If that Dalan Abo is like you, I won’t be worried.”

"The person is already gone, so there's no use worrying anymore. Relax, and I believe Hu Nian himself will understand."

“I’m just afraid that my sister is confused. She has fallen for this person. She has no sense of proportion. I’m afraid that she will be blinded by her feelings and deceived by that Dalan Abo.”

After thinking for a moment, Han Derang said, "You've been standing here for half a day. Come back with me first. Even if you're still worried and concerned, the person is already gone. Why not go back and write a few more letters and send them to us to express your longing?"

Xiao Xuan nodded, glanced into the distance again, then returned to the carriage and got in, accompanied by Han Derang all the way back to the palace.

"Yan Yan, I'm begging you. When have I ever begged you? Why do you still torment me? You already have Han Derang, you can be happy, so why can't I be happy too? I only want to be with Dalan Abo, I ask for nothing more. If you think he's not good enough for me, or that what I'm doing is beneath the dignity of the royal family, then you can remove my title of Imperial Concubine Dowager, and that will be fine. I just want to be an ordinary person, to be with the person I love. Can't you even grant me this simple request? We grew up together since we were little, and whenever there was something good, I always gave it to you. Think about it."

Recalling Xiao Hu Nian's kneeling and pleading words, tears welled up in her eyes. She felt a large hand gently wiping her face, erasing all her tears.

Her face flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

"Wait two years, until everyone has forgotten about this, then we can call them back," Han Derang said gently, and Xiao Xuan nodded quickly.

After Xiao Hu Nian left, Xiao Xuan felt she had done her sister a favor, yet she also felt a distance from her sister, who had always been close to her. In her sister's heart, she no longer felt as close as before. This matter had only just been resolved, and she hadn't had time to reconnect with Xiao Hu Nian. Meanwhile, her three daughters were experiencing health problems, which greatly worried her as their mother. Her youngest daughter, the Third Princess Yan Shou Nu, had given birth to a grandson, which should have been a joyous occasion, but Yan Shou Nu had fallen ill from childbirth and was bedridden.

Xiao Xuan was extremely worried and wanted to rush to the Prince Consort's residence to visit her daughter and stay by her side. However, she was dissuaded by everyone, who said that the daughter had not yet left the confinement ward and it would be unlucky to enter it at this time. Hearing this, Xiao Xuan had no choice but to suppress her love for her daughter and sent her young maid, Xian Shi, to the Prince Consort's residence to take care of her daughter personally.

Although she was a loving mother, she could not save her daughter's life. Less than two weeks after being sent to the Prince Consort's residence, the sage brought the devastating news that the Third Princess had died.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 108 Son-in-law

Updated: 2008-09-23 16:42:38 Word Count: 2819

When the devastating news arrived, Xiaoxuan sat in the study, weeping and angrily rebuking the imperial physician.

"A bunch of useless trash. I trusted you so much, yet you couldn't even save the princess's life. What's the point of my Great Liao paying for the Imperial Hospital's staff every year?"

The imperial physicians knelt on the ground, silently enduring the scolding. They didn't want to say anything, but upon hearing Xiao Xuan's words, they felt a surge of anger. The Third Princess had died of anger, and the Empress Dowager, unaware of the truth, assumed that the Imperial Medical Academy had failed in its duties. This wouldn't do; they had to get to the Empress Dowager to clarify the matter.