Un sueño de transmigración

Capítulo 2

I quickly excused myself and hurried out of the room, letting out a long sigh of relief. The atmosphere in the study had been so oppressive, as if something I didn't know was about to happen, and my ignorance made it all the more eerie. Old Man Yun's attitude was also strange. Apart from those last few seconds, his expression, attitude, and tone of voice before that—was this how a father should treat a daughter? And his attitude towards Yun Yue, and the relationship between Yun Feng and Yun Yue—all of this left me feeling uneasy, yet I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I could only take it one step at a time.

Over the next two days, accompanied by Cui'er, I gained a deeper understanding of the geographical environment and interpersonal relationships of Yunfu.

Besides the East Forest Garden where Old Master Yun resided, the South Bamboo Garden where Yun Feng lived, and the West Maple Garden where I stayed, the Yun Manor also had the North Plum Garden, reserved for overnight guests. Each garden was staffed with two maids, two guards, two servants, and one cook and one washerwoman. The maids and servants lived in their respective gardens and were only responsible for the affairs of their own gardens. Including the head steward and a few servants directly under him, the Yun Manor had relatively few servants compared to its several acres of land. The Yun Manor was filled with pavilions, terraces, lakes, waterside pavilions, exotic flowers and trees, and artificial hills and strange rocks, all showcasing the Yun family's immense wealth. With the Yun family so rich, Old Master Yun still forced his daughter to do that dangerous thing; the human heart is indeed insatiable.

I slept until late morning every day, and in the afternoon I would listen to Uncle Zhang De, the chief steward, explain the current state of the world and the court. I memorized the appearances, personalities, and temperaments of some closely related officials, as well as their relationships with the Yun family and their power and stance in the court. The more I knew and remembered, the greater my chances of survival in the future—I understood this principle. So I paid extra attention to these things, pressing for answers whenever I had questions, often leaving Zhang De looking astonished and incredulous. But I couldn't care less; my life was more important than anything else.

These past two days, besides doing my homework, I've spent the rest of my time eating, sleeping, and spacing out. No internet, no TV, no going out for a stroll, no entertainment programs, and no friends to drink and chat with. Every evening after dinner, I feel anxious and don't know what to do. In the 21st century, I'm used to sleeping after midnight, but in this crappy place, around 7 or 8 pm I can only lie in bed tossing and turning, sighing with boredom.

Sigh, these days are really hard to endure.

I'm actually quite curious about Yunfeng. In the 21st century, I have an older sister who's two years older than me, whom I call "Fatty." We don't look alike at all. I wonder if Yunyue resembles Yunfeng, and what the chances are of her being recognized at a glance if she goes to court in his place? I'm not worried about others for now, but Yunfeng used to be a fourth-rank scholar at the Chongwen Academy, rarely having the opportunity to attend court and spending all his time in the royal library. He probably didn't have many chances to get to know the ministers. But he's the prime minister appointed by the emperor; the emperor should know him, or perhaps even be quite familiar with him. Thinking about this, I feel a little uneasy.

I tried several times to enter Nanzhu Garden, where Yunfeng lived, but was stopped by the guards at the gate each time. They said it was the master's order that the young master should not be disturbed while he was recuperating. I was frustrated. What kind of reason was that? After failing to find him by both overt and covert means, I had no choice but to go to Zhang De.

Ever since Old Man Yun sent Zhang De to explain to me the rules and precautions for the morning court session, I have intuitively felt that his position in the Yun family and in front of Old Man Yun is extraordinary, far beyond that of an ordinary steward.

“Uncle De, I want to go see my brother.” Seeing Zhang De’s slightly stunned expression, I continued, “I know this is Father’s wish, but I will be going to court tomorrow, and there are some things I must ask my brother in person. I think Uncle De doesn’t want me to make any mistakes then.”

Perhaps my tone was too firm, or perhaps my request wasn't unreasonable and my reasoning was sound, but Zhang De hesitated for a moment before agreeing: "Yes, young master."

After I agreed to take my brother's place in the government, everyone in the household started calling me "Young Master," and I began to dress as a man.

To be honest, I was a little nervous the moment I pushed the door open.

The entire room was a bluish-gray, with curtains, bed curtains, and carpet, and a faint herbal scent filled the air. I walked over quietly and stood before the bed. The person on the bed was so weak that they seemed not to be breathing, their features and face, identical to mine, were deathly pale. I turned and waved to the maid who had followed me in, and the maid obediently withdrew, closing the door behind her.

"Brother!" I called out softly and hesitantly to the person on the bed with their eyes closed.

"Moon!" The person on the bed suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing the voice. His clear, watery eyes were not dimmed by the pain. "Moon... why are you here?" There seemed to be joy in his voice. He struggled to get up, and whether it was because of the movement or what he had just said, he was a little out of breath. A faint blush appeared on his pale face.

I shook my head, gesturing for him to lie down again, then sat down on the edge of the bed. I didn't know what to say or how to face him, so I just sat there and smiled foolishly at him.

Yunfeng and Yunyue are remarkably alike. Their features are almost identical, their face shapes exactly the same. Yet, even lying sickly in bed, Yunfeng still gives me the impression of a handsome and refined young gentleman, while Yunyue, even in men's clothing, cannot conceal her gentle and pure feminine charm. I secretly glanced at Yunfeng's silhouette under the covers; he seemed quite thin, and his skin was fair, smooth, and delicate. It's truly strange.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm actually quite the natural beauty. When I first looked in the mirror, I was stunned by my own reflection. Afterwards, I wanted to burst out laughing, I was so happy! Thinking back to the 21st century, I'd only be considered cute, but in this alternate world, after thirty years of waiting, I've finally become a beauty. Look at me: skin like jade, face like a peach blossom, crescent-shaped, watery eyes full of emotion, a small, straight nose, and naturally sexy lips. While I wouldn't call myself a beauty that could topple cities with a single smile, I certainly have more than enough to be a "femme fatale." Ahem, I'm getting off-topic.

"Moon, have you... agreed to Father's request?" Yunfeng looked at me, seemingly lost in thought for a moment, and then asked with some hesitation.

I smiled and nodded. Perhaps it was a bodily intuition, but facing someone so similar to myself, I didn't feel the initial awkwardness. My previous hesitation and nervousness vanished without a trace.

"Moon, it's my fault for being useless. It's my fault that you've suffered so much and faced so much danger today." Yun Feng's face fell instantly, his eyes filled with worry, sadness, guilt, self-blame, and heartache. Such genuine emotions were displayed before me without reservation, gradually warming my heart. Although my father, Old Man Yun, didn't care about me, it seemed that my older brother, Yun Feng, did care about me quite a bit.

"Brother, it's not like you wanted to get sick. This isn't your fault." I gave Yunfeng a big smile. It wasn't his idea to take the place of his brother. The culprit is old man Yun.

Sigh, but seeing the concern and worry in his eyes, maybe next time I run away I can take him with me, so he can get rid of that cold-hearted old man Yun. Wow! It seems like only a few days have passed, and I've already found three burdens for my future escapes. Oh right, I still have something important to ask.

"Brother, does that emperor... really know you?" This is my biggest worry right now.

"Yue'er, although I've only met the Emperor a few times, you must remember that although he is young, he is a rare and wise ruler, and his ability to judge people and handle affairs is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. You must be extra careful; if he becomes suspicious of you, the Yun family will surely suffer a great calamity. Yue'er, your brother is really worried, but unfortunately, Father refuses to give up." As he finished speaking, Yun Feng's hands, which were at his sides, unconsciously clenched into fists, so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His body trembled slightly, whether from anger or from speaking too much.

"I know, brother. Yue'er is so smart, clever, and cute, she'll definitely be fine." I comforted her with a laugh, then hesitated for a moment before finally getting up and reaching out my hands, pretending to tuck Yunfeng in, but actually shaking the blanket up and down to take a closer look at Yunfeng's figure under the blanket.

Thankfully, Yunfeng's height is not much different from my body size, and he is also thin. My voice is also a bit deep now. As long as I cover my Adam's apple with my collar, I shouldn't be able to tell at a glance!

Sigh, I know in my heart that the road ahead won't be easy. Early success has already aroused jealousy among my colleagues at court, and the Yun family is a newly powerful clan with no intricate network of connections. If anything goes wrong, I'll likely be fighting alone. Now I know the emperor isn't someone to be trifled with either. My future is uncertain, and my fate is unknown.

I awkwardly twisted my neck left and right. Sigh, it seems like this little head is getting less and less reliable.

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful at the Early Morning Court

Chapter word count: 4426 Last updated: 08-12-20 15:46

Early morning

The day of my first morning court session is finally approaching, and I feel both nervous and excited, worried and happy.

I was woken up at the crack of dawn for the morning court session—truly living up to its name. Although I had gone to bed early the night before, I couldn't sleep, whether from nervousness or excitement, much like the night before every school trip as a child. I groggily got up, washed, and let them dress me. I drank some thick liquid and was then helped to an unknown place to continue my sleep. It wasn't until someone woke me again, saying we had arrived at the palace, that I was fully awake.

I can't help it, having watched too many palace dramas, I instinctively feel a sense of fear towards this place that devours people without spitting out their bones.

I opened my eyes and looked around. It seemed I was inside a carriage, a spacious, square-shaped room. There was a thin purple carpet, purple curtains, and several cushions on the soft couches around the sides, with a small tea table in the center. I looked down at myself: a dark purple official robe embroidered with cranes, the cuffs edged with double piping of auspicious clouds in gold thread, and dark purple official boots embroidered with auspicious clouds. Goodness, this was my court attire; quite exquisite.

Comrade Yunhui, a serving guard and part-time coachman at Xifeng Garden, lifted the carriage curtain. I helped Cui'er out of the carriage; the girl was also dressed as a servant and looked quite pretty. Ahead of us, many people in official robes like myself had already entered the palace gates and headed in a certain direction. I'd never been to this place before, so following the crowd was the safest bet. Cui'er had already quietly stepped off the carriage, and I followed the flow of people ahead, keeping a safe distance.

In the distance, a grand hall came into view, with the words "Hall of Clean Governance" written in a flamboyant style on the plaque above its entrance. As I approached, I saw nearly twenty officials waiting before the hall, dressed in purple or dark blue court robes. They had divided into two groups according to the color of their robes and were chatting amongst themselves. It seems that the mutual disdain between civil and military officials is a serious problem here, given the age-old saying about civil and military officials being so disdainful of each other.

I slowly walked towards the group of people in purple. Several people turned back and nodded to me, and I smiled and nodded in return. Today was Yunfeng's first day as prime minister, so there was no need to be too overly enthusiastic with them. Just as I reached the palace gate, the doors of the Qianqing Hall creaked open. A group of people filed in, with civil officials on the left and military officials on the right, standing on either side of the hall according to their rank. Those of the third rank and above, except for those who were away on official business, were all the elite figures of the country. I estimated there were about twenty people. I slowly walked to the first person in the left row, turned my head to look to the right, and couldn't help but sigh: This general is quite young, not much older than Yunfeng. In my memory, those who held the position of general should all be burly middle-aged men. In this backward era without missiles or atomic bombs, relying only on one person and one sword, wasn't fighting and killing just physical labor? But the person in front of me had a commanding presence, and from the side, his features were handsome and upright, exuding a sunny and upright aura. Such a handsome guy, untouched by the flashing lights, went to the battlefield and killed without hesitation. I couldn't help but feel deeply sorry for him: Brother, you really were born at the wrong time.

I guessed that staring at him for so long had annoyed him, because the guy in the first seat on the right slowly turned his head. Luckily, I reacted quickly and slid my gaze past him to look behind him, avoiding eye contact.

Looking back, I was once again astonished: I had heard that the new emperor had only been on the throne for a year and preferred to use young people, and it was indeed true. Among all the civil and military officials, I and that general were the highest-ranking, but the youngest.

Just as he was pondering this, a high-pitched voice, like that of a legendary eunuch, came from the front of the hall: "His Majesty has arrived!"

The courtiers bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times.

"My beloved subjects, rise!" The voice was not loud, and seemed lazy, but it exuded an irresistible authority.

I scrambled to my feet. To be honest, it was the first time I'd ever knelt before someone, and the feeling was just so strange. Hearing that voice only fueled my anger. How could such a sleepy voice be heard during such a solemn occasion as the morning court session? If this were the 21st century, I'd be reported long ago! Ugh! I wonder what that emperor sitting on the dragon throne looks like. Whether he's handsome or not will directly impact my feelings when I kneel before him.

However, I've never seen a living emperor before. I heard he's quite young. Most emperors portrayed on TV are middle-aged or elderly men with beards. I wonder what the one sitting on the throne today looks like. He must have the best genes; he can't be too bad, right? Should I take a look? Or not at all? Hmm, what a dilemma. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it would be a loss not to see him, so I'll just sneak a peek, quietly, just for a second.

I gently raised my eyes and quickly glanced towards the dragon throne in front of me. In an instant, I froze—the emperor, high above on the throne, was actually looking directly at me. A scream went through me, and I hurriedly lowered my head and eyes. Ugh, what a bad day! Before entering the Qianqing Hall, I had resolved to be a turtle, silent and unnoticed, so my little head would be safer. But alas, I'd barely started court and already made eye contact with the emperor! 55555, curiosity kills! My only flaw is being too curious and inquisitive; I really need to work on that. Thank goodness, please, the emperor is nearsighted, and probably more than 500 degrees, and maybe even has astigmatism, so he might not have recognized me. But recalling that lukewarm look in his eyes, it didn't seem like it. So many thoughts flashed through my mind like lightning, and then a voice clearly entered my ears.

"I heard that Minister Yun was unwell a while ago. Is she much better now?"