Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping - Chapter 95
"Princess, Envoy Ye... Envoy Ye Cang just... just now at the banquet proposed a marriage alliance with our country." Yan'er ran up to me, panting, not even bothering to bow.
"Then what?"
The girl finally calmed down a bit, glanced at me timidly, and whispered, "Ye Cang's envoy brought a scroll painting, and it looks like it depicts you, Princess."
My heart sank, and I couldn't help but cough a few times. This Ye Cang envoy really did come to propose marriage, and he came prepared.
"And what was the result? What did Grandfather say?" I sat up abruptly and asked anxiously.
"I rushed back to tell the princess and didn't have time to hear what the emperor said." Seeing my anxiety, she knelt down in front of my bed and answered nervously.
Oh my god, he actually rushed back at the crucial moment, which made me so worried.
"Yan'er, go and check again, but be careful." I watched Yan'er retreat before rubbing my forehead and asking in a muffled voice, "Wang An, what kind of rumors are circulating about me outside?"
I am certain that I have never had any contact with anyone from Ye Cang Kingdom. The fact that Ye Cang's envoy came to propose marriage with my painting must be because he heard something.
"Yunyue offered advice, Yue Weimian persuaded, and Xiyue fought battles; it turns out that her true identity is Princess Zuiyue of Xiuruo Kingdom."
He spoke calmly, but I was far from calm. My journey here, aside from taking my brother's place in service, is now completely public knowledge. This is not a good thing, especially given my current position and the identity I hold; it will undoubtedly bring trouble. And this trouble is not just about Ye Cang's marriage alliance.
Drunken Moon City and Princess Drunken Moon are both bait and bargaining chips.
Clouds Drunk and Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Four: A Hidden Melancholy and Resentment Arise from a Startling Discovery
Chapter word count: 4489 Update time: 08-12-24 12:56
Surprising discovery
"Wang An, I want to know about the Dragon Yao Kingdom. You have a way, right?" I looked at the man before me, speaking with absolute certainty despite the question. Whether it was related to Yun Feng or Old Man Yun, this matter shouldn't be too difficult for him.
Without hesitation, he accepted the order and withdrew.
I spent a restless night, and when I woke up this morning, I still felt dizzy and had a tightness in my chest. I had Yan'er help me with a quick wash and then followed the maid sent by the old empress to the central palace. Since they had specifically requested a marriage alliance, there was nothing I could do but stay in my Drunken Moon Palace. I might as well go and sound out the old empress. I spent the whole night thinking about how I could escape if I really was sent to Ye Cang for the marriage alliance.
"Yue'er greets the Empress Dowager." I performed a curtsy.
"Girl, get up quickly. Why do you look so pale? The imperial physicians said there's nothing seriously wrong. Let them take a closer look later."
His temples were slightly gray, and his face was kind. Like the old man, his wife always had a smile on her face, full of concern and kindness. The two of them looked quite like a married couple. She had just gotten up and finished washing up. She came out of the inner room, supported by her personal maid, Jinxiang. When she saw me bow, she quickly took my hand and looked me up and down carefully. Then she patted my hand gently with her other hand in a comforting manner. I took Jinxiang's place and helped her walk towards the dining hall.
"Grandmother, Yue'er is fine. She'll be alright after a couple of days of rest. Please don't send the imperial physicians over. You don't know how they came back yesterday sweating profusely after you gave the order. They looked like they were the ones who were sick."
Before I could finish speaking, the old empress chuckled, turned her head to look at me, shook her head slightly, and said reproachfully, "You little devil, only you can make me happy. Everything that comes to you and is said by your little mouth becomes a joy."
"That means Yue'er is doing very well now. If she were really sick and couldn't get out of bed, she wouldn't even have time to tell jokes, let alone cry and complain about her pain when she sees her grandmother."
"You get carried away when I praise you. Who doesn't curse themselves to be sick? You just don't like taking medicine. But if you still look like this tomorrow, I will definitely send a few more imperial physicians to take a closer look at you."
I first helped the old empress to sit down, then turned and dismissed the serving maids. I personally ladled a bowl of congee and brought it to her, pleading, "My dear empress, please spare me! The things you sent yesterday have almost filled my Drunken Moon Palace. If the imperial physicians see that you're sending more, I'll be lying on a lingzhi mushroom tonight and eating ginseng for every meal. How can anyone eat like this?"
The old empress laughed again, pulled me to sit down next to her, and said with a hint of helplessness, "You silly girl, if you keep talking like that, you'll make sure I don't eat."
I lowered my head, stuck out my tongue, and then obediently served the old empress breakfast. I also filled my own stomach before helping the old empress back to the main hall.
"Girl, have you heard something? I can tell you've been preoccupied all morning."
I shook my head and said with an awkward smile, "Grandma, that's not true."
"Are you worried about the marriage alliance?" She pulled my hand, held it in her palm, tightened it, then let go, gently patted my cheek, and sighed.
I looked up at her, and my vision suddenly blurred. I've been here for over a year and a month, and the person in front of me is the only female elder I'm genuinely willing to spend time with, eat, and chat with. In the Yun family mansion, it goes without saying, but in Tianqing, the women I've encountered are better left unseen.
"Grandmother, I..." I blinked hard to wipe away the tears in my eyes, but once the words were out, I didn't know what to say. I understood the fate of royal women very well; it wasn't something that could be defied simply by wanting to. Here, the only one I could recall who had successfully resisted her arranged marriage was Princess Tianqing, Tian Jinyu. She had her mother, Consort De, pleading for her, and her marriage wasn't a political alliance between two countries.
"Girl, although you are late, I truly care about you. In fact, your royal grandfather does too. You must trust him."
I lowered my head. Even if you truly care about me, you will find me a marriage that you believe is happy and fulfilling in the way you think is good for me. Besides, the fox hasn't reacted at all. If he also asks for a marriage alliance, maybe I will still have a chance to fight for my own happiness.
"Grandma, I've only just arrived and just reunited with Grandpa and you. I don't want to leave you all so soon. I can't bear to part with you."
"I'm reluctant to part with her either, but don't worry, my dear, your royal grandfather hasn't agreed yet." She patted my head and smiled reassuringly.
I smiled faintly. I should be content with what the old empress said. No matter how much she loves me, we've only known each other for a little over a month. I can't just pester her or beg her. The old man hasn't agreed to the marriage yet, so he must have other plans in mind. I still have hope.
"Grandmother, it's almost lunchtime, so Yue'er will take her leave now." I said, bowing slightly. It was getting late, and I should return to Zuiyue Palace and ask Wang An if there had been any response to the information I had asked him to gather yesterday.
“Girl, stay here with us. Your royal grandfather and your father should be here by now. Since you entered the palace, we’ve been having you keep us company, and your father hasn’t seen you much. Today is a rare occasion, so let’s have a meal together. Your father will be happy to see you.”
I was embarrassed. Hearing these words, it sounded like a loving father and daughter. It had only been a little over a month since I last saw Old Man Yun. When I was at the Yun residence, it was already good if I could see him once every three months. Besides, I didn't like him, and he didn't like me either. It was best to stay far away from him.
"Really? Then Yue'er will stay here and not leave." I said, feigning happiness. Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I should have continued to pretend to be sick today.
Sure enough, the old man and Old Man Yun arrived quickly, along with Old Man Yun's elder brother, the Crown Prince. I bowed to each of them in turn. The Crown Prince and Old Man Yun then paid their respects to the Empress. Both of them were the Empress's sons. I stood to the side, watching the deep brotherly affection between Old Man Yun and his Crown Prince brother, and felt extremely strange. I hadn't heard of any factional strife in the previous dynasty of Xiu Ruo, nor had I found any trace of discord or secret rivalry between the two brothers. Yet, Old Man Yun clearly seemed ambitious and cunning. Could it be that Old Man Yun's ambition lay in the other five kingdoms? Even if he destroyed the five kingdoms and Xiu Ruo ascended to the throne, what difference would it make? Old Man Yun, if you don't get rid of your elder brother, you'll forever remain a prince. Doesn't Old Man Yun mind that?
The five of us sat down around the table without any formalities. I sat to the left of the old empress, and to my right was Old Man Yun. From the moment we started until now, he had been looking at me with a satisfied expression, and his attitude towards me was more friendly than ever before. I had an intuition that something was wrong with him.
"I heard that Yue'er was unwell yesterday. Is she feeling better today?" Old Man Yun asked me with concern.
I obediently replied, "Thank you for your concern, Father. There's nothing wrong. It's just that Grandmother is too worried about Yue'er."
"Your complexion looks even worse than yesterday. I'll have the imperial physician come and take another look later." The old man, unusually without his signature smile, looked at me with concern and said.
"I just said the same thing to her, but this girl dismissed me with just a few words. Look at her, as soon as we talk about seeing a doctor, she starts to frown and look miserable. I'm afraid she secretly threw away all the medicine that the imperial physician prescribed for her yesterday."
The old empress was amused by the joke, but I could only lower my head and laugh awkwardly, "That medicine is even more bitter than bitter melon. Yue'er only drank a few sips, how could she have drunk it all?"