Su Majestad

Capítulo 29

I haven't seen him smile like that in a long time.

When did Tang Qiefang stop showing that smile in front of Tang Congrong? It seems like it was the day he crippled Yue Shenlan's martial arts and waded into the Listening Water Pavilion.

Tang Congrong remembered his desperate look.

Why such despair? Was it because the person who was injured was Yue Shenhong's brother? So he compensated her doubly and treated Yue Shenhong exceptionally well?

Tang Congrong tightened his sleeves; despite it being summer, a strange chill ran through him. He didn't linger and turned to walk back. The two people inside didn't notice him come and go.

Yue Shenhong made rapid progress, changing her appearance alone in front of the mirror, while Tang Qiefang sat beside her, fiddling with one of the bottles of disguise medicine.

He found something to do, someone to pass the time... With someone by his side, his heart didn't feel so empty anymore. Being with Yue Shenhong, he felt normal.

Suddenly someone walked up to them, smiled slightly, and said, "Qiefang."

Tang Qiefang's hand trembled, and the medicine bottle almost fell from her hand.

With a gentle face and a faint smile, Tang Congrong.

Oh no, it's crimson moon.

"Brother Tang?" Yue Shenhong noticed his unusual expression. "Does my makeup look bad?"

“…He looks like him.” Tang Qiefang uttered a single word after a long pause, as if she hadn’t seen this face in a long time. Now that it suddenly appeared before her, she felt a pang of sadness and wanted to look at “him” a little longer. She took Yue Shenhong’s hand and said, “Come with me.” She quickly pulled her into the room and picked out two pieces of clothing from the wardrobe. “Change into these.” Yue Shenhong didn’t quite understand, but seeing the bright, pearly light in his eyes, she couldn’t refuse. She changed into the clothes and came out.

Tang Qiefang helped her to the mirror, removed her hairpins and ornaments, styled her hair into a man's hairstyle, and secured it with a jade hairpin.

Then remove her earrings.

Great success depends on perseverance.

Even Yue Shenhong herself, when looking in the mirror, thought she was seeing Tang Congrong.

"Brother Tang, the art of disguise is truly amazing!" she exclaimed.

"Call me Qiefang." Tang Qiefang's eyes sparkled. "You are Tang Congrong now, call me Qiefang."

"And Fang..."

“Learn his voice, Little Crimson. Disguise is not just about changing your appearance; you have to learn this person’s voice and mannerisms to be considered a true disguise.”

Moon Deep Red nodded.

Do you remember his voice?

"Although I remember it, I don't know how to imitate it."

“You’ll learn it slowly,” Tang Qiefang said. His voice changed tone, becoming soft and gentle—it was Tang Congrong’s voice.

Yue Shenhong was taken aback. "If I hadn't seen your face, I would have thought the person in front of me was the head of the family."

“We started impersonating each other a long time ago. Once, even my mother didn’t realize it,” Tang Qiefang smiled. “Have some tea.”

Chapter 56

Seeing her pick up the teacup, Tang Qiefang reminded her, "Hold the cup with your left hand calmly."

As Yue Shenhong walked, Tang Qiefang said, "Have you noticed? When she walks calmly, her shoulders don't move, and the hem of her clothes brushes the ground, just like the wind."

While Yue Shenhong was eating, Tang Qiefang said, "Hold your chopsticks calmly, and hold them a little higher up."

His eyes were very gentle all day.

Just like the gaze that Yue Shenhong saw that night.

It's like a gentle spring rain nourishing the grass and trees, or like a butterfly lightly flitting across the flower stamens.

It turns out that a person's eyes can be so gentle.

Yue Shenhong spent far more time at Fuxiao Pavilion than at the Thirteen Riders. The fact that someone from another family could learn Tang Clan martial arts was already controversial, but now this outsider was receiving more favor than a disciple of the main sect, causing resentment among the other disciples of the Thirteen Riders of the Kun Clan. Tang Yu, the head of the Transmission Hall, frequently came to Tingshui Pavilion to report this matter.

Tang Qiefang was an elder of the Qie generation and the head of the pharmacy, holding a prestigious position. The only person in the Tang Clan who could persuade him was the patriarch, Tang Congrong.

"He accompanied Yue Shenhong to the Thirteen Riders training camp, never leaving her side?"

"Exactly."

Tang Congrong remained silent. Tang Qiefang was never one to stay idle, and apart from himself, no one could keep him by his side.

Has Yue Shenhong achieved this?

"Take me to see it."

The thirteen young men practiced swordsmanship, fist techniques, and formations. Every disciple selected for the thirteenth rank possessed exceptional lineage and potential. Those in power placed their sons in the thirteenth rank to maintain a fixed position, while those not in power strived relentlessly to gain entry and advancement. The thirteenth rank were named Cong, Yu, and Kun; each generation had only thirteen members—the future of the entire Tang Clan.

Yue Shenhong practiced very diligently. As someone from another family, she naturally understood best how precious three years was.

Tang Qiefang sat under the eaves, bathed in the pale summer sunlight. He wore a blue gauze robe embroidered with plum blossoms on white silk threads, dazzling and magnificent. His hands rested on the railing, supporting his forehead, his eyes hazy and dreamy, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He recalled that when he was this age, Tang Congrong was thirteen.

Thirteen-year-old Tang Congrong, delicate and clean-cut like a girl, suddenly stormed into the ancestral hall one day, sweeping away the ancestral tablets. What a grave crime it was to disrespect one's ancestors! Tang Congrong was punished by being sent to the training room as a servant for three months. Every day, he would get up before dawn and work until midnight before he could sleep, falling asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. The people in the training room knew he was the future head of the family and dared not neglect him, but the head of the family was extremely strict, and no one dared to protect him. Only Tang Qiefang stayed by his side from beginning to end, washing clothes, cooking, sweeping, and organizing weapons... never leaving his side for a moment.

Back then, the two of them were exhausted and spent every day complaining. Looking back now, it seems that the disciples in the training room were the ones who suffered the most, since they didn't use soap when washing clothes and often cooked rice that was only half-cooked. Moreover, when tidying up their weapons, they could pick up two swords and spar. In the dim and quiet armory, their laughter was amplified and echoed clearly.

The troubles of childhood can become such warm memories as we grow up. It's incredible.

Not far away, Tang Congrong walked over, accompanied by Tang Yuchang.