The Princess Wei Yang Chapter 74 Part2
Chapter 74: Freezing cold like knives
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Li Wei Yang noticed but acted like she was
moved and hurriedly replied: “Mother, Wei Yang made you worried.”
“Wei Yang ah, not only was I worried, Mother was
dying with fear, afraid that you would encounter danger!” Da furen’s mouth
showed a trace of coldness and the venom from her eyes gradually vanished. It
was fine if Li Wei Yang came back alive or without harm, it was inevitable to
escape death for staying out overnight!
Li Wei Yang was startled and she slightly
frowned. With her cleverness, she had already sensed the implied meaning from
her words. But she actually stayed naïve and said without any defense: “Mother
is so nice to me, Wei Yang thinking about me, feels sleepless at nights!”
She originally thought she would panic but
didn’t think she wouldn’t reveal a trace! Da furen bit her teeth and sneered:
“Servants said the guards that were with you all died, you were also captured
by someone, come let Mother see if you’ve been injured?”
Li Wei Yang gently smiled and said: “Mother,
Wei Yang was not injured, look.” After she finished speaking, she turned around
and smilingly said to Li Xiao Ran, “Father, Wei Yang is impious, for making you
worried too.”
Da furen thought she was pretending to stay
calm so she coldly continued to rub salt on her wounds: “Wei Yang, if you have
any grievances, don’t endure them by yourself, tell Mother, Mother will
definitely do something for you.”
Grievances? Li Wei Yang coldly smiled. She
stared at Da furen’s repulsive face and felt that there was nothing much to say
to this beastly woman. She spat out coldly: “Mother’s anxiousness is unfounded;
Wei Yang was not injured.”
Da furen peered into her eyes and wanted to continue
to attack but she realized her eyes were coldly staring at her. It felt like an
invisible chill as if a figure being worshipped in a temple of the wilderness,
making one terrified. At this moment, Li Wei Yang suddenly smiled, making Da
furen feel that her laughter was flowing towards her heart like icy water. She
involuntarily hit back and the momentum weakened.
“Wei Yang, are you really okay? Then, how did you
come back?” It couldn’t be that the kidnappers let you come back, Li Xiao Ran
couldn’t help but ask. He didn’t want to hear Da furen continuously say those
words, he must know the ins and outs of this matter so that he could make the
most appropriate arrangements!
Li Wei Yang understood Li Xiao Ran’s meaning
but she didn’t immediately respond. She only lightly smiled and suddenly acted
as if she thought of something: “Oh yes, Father, today, I have to trouble you
to prepare a gift on behalf of Wei Yang to greatly thank Seventh Prince and
Princess Yongning. If it weren’t for both of their Highnesses, Wei Yang
wouldn’t be able to return!”
Da furen’s expression changed and she quickly
said: “What did you say?”
Li Xiao Ran also suddenly stood up, his face
revealed astonishment.
Li Wei Yang raised her brows and innocently
said: “How does Father not know? Ai-ya, look at me who only talked with Mother
after surviving from an attack, I actually forgot to talk about the important
matters. Yesterday, we didn’t know where this group of people came from that
came to s.n.a.t.c.h our carriage. The guards desperately protected Min De and me but
we were outnumbered. Seventh Prince coincidentally pa.s.sed by and lend us a
hand, he was very heroic! After forcing the criminals to retreat, Seventh
Prince seeing that Min De was injured, he deliberately sent us back to Princess
Yongning’s residence to tend to his injury. The princess allowed us to stay
overnight and even sent a physician to Min De. I was fortunate to encounter my
lucky stars, if it weren’t for both of their help, Wei Yang wouldn’t be able to
return home safe and sound!”
Hearing this, Li Xiao Ran was suddenly
overjoyed: “Seventh Prince saved you?”
Li Wei Yang nodded.
“And Princess Yongning took you in?”
Li Wei Yang continued to nod.
“All of this is true?”
Li Wei Yang smiled: “Father, what is wrong, I
came home in Princess Yongning’s carriage!” Speaking this, she sweetly smiled
at Da furen: “Luckily I survived, if I was really captured by bandits, how
would Wei Yang dare to come back, I would have ended my life to keep my
innocence, Mother, I’ve came home safe and sound, why is it that you don’t look
too happy?”
“No, this is impossible! You must be lying, how
could it be that you disappear for a night yet nothing happened!” Da furen
said, losing her demeanor.
People often say, the greater the hope is, the
greater the disappointment will be. Da furen thought that she could take this
opportunity to get rid of Li Wei Yang completely yet she didn’t think she was
still able to return with any harm. She was too lucky that it was difficult for
people to accept!
Li Xiao Ran’s face suddenly changed color:
“What are you saying! Shut up!”
Da furen was stunned and her expression turned
white. She realized she had lost her demeanor.
Li Xiao Ran was anxious after he became furious but
now it had all turned to joy. Seventh Prince saved Li Wei Yang and she stayed
at the princess’ residence overnight, the impact of these two pieces of news
greatly exceeded the news of Li Wei Yang’s disappearance.
But he still had his doubts because everything
changed too quickly, making others not know what to do.
Li Wei Yang seemed to know what he was thinking and
smilingly said: “Yes, the princess said it was because of the banquet that I
encountered such frightful event so she gifted be this silver hairpin
specifically to console me.” Saying this, she pointed to the valuable hairpin.
This time, Li Xiao Ran gave a long sigh of relief.
This was real --- it was very astonishing! Afterwards, he glared at Da furen.
Da furen was surprised and the mysterious fog
had disappeared from her eyes, she forcefully smiled: “Wei Yang, you are really
--- fortunate.”
Li Xiao Ran also smiled and tranquilly said:
“Wei Yang, your Mother was just too happy.”
Da furen must be very disappointed that she wouldn’t
let go of any opportunities to send her to her death. Her heart was as venomous
as snakes, she was very vicious! However, Li Wei Yang smiled, wasn’t she also
like that?
“Yes, Wei Yang, Mother was too happy, forgive me.”
It was as if cotton were stuffed into Da furen’s throat, her words were
unnatural.
“Mother, you don’t have to be like this, this was
luck bestowed to me by the old Heavens, no one can stop this.” Although Li Wei
Yang was saying it modestly, her words still carried thorns.
Li Wei Yang’s eyes were as dark as the water in the
well as she looked at Da furen. It was like the ghost stream of the Death
Valley haunted by blue flames.
“Of course, this matter, I was fortunate to
live. If Seventh Prince didn’t pa.s.s by last night ---“ Li Wei Yang calmly said:
“I’m afraid I would have died in the wild and feasted upon by dogs.”
Hearing Li Wei Yang’s words, Li Xiao Ran felt that
this was the truth. To be honest, he originally felt that Li Wei Yang’s death
would affect the family’s reputation and felt that she was bad luck. But now,
she was simply very lucky. Pondering upon this, his facial expressions changed
and this was all noticed by Li Wei Yang.
Li Xiao Ran didn’t forget to ask: “Where is
Lao furen?”
“Father, rest a.s.sure, Wei Yang will report to
Lao furen immediately.”
Li Xiao Ran nodded his head as he watched Li Wei
Yang leave. Afterwards, he turned his body and glared at his wife. He couldn’t
believe that she was this intolerant and was being a vicious woman. She was
obviously the mother of the residence yet she always seeked ways to trouble the
children of his concubines. Li Xiao Ran didn’t demand her to treat his other
children as if her own but at least pretend to on the outside. Seeing her
express her resentment made him felt chills down his back. No matter how Li Wei
Yang was, she was still his very own flesh. Da furen actually wished that
something would happen to her and tried to use this opportunity to get rid of
her, this absolutely made one felt bitterly disappointed. He cudgeled his own
brains in the court so that he wouldn’t reveal his true intentions yet he would
have never thought that his virtuous wife was secretly wrecking his reputation
behind his back, it was utterly disappointing!
He coldly made a humph and without waiting for
Da furen to explain, he flapped his sleeves and directly left! Walking up to
the door, he suddenly stopped: “Don’t forget to prepare a gift!”
Da furen was stunned and her face was filled
with resentment yet she helplessly said: “Yes.”
Li Wei Yang first went over to Lao furen’s
residence to pay her respects and told her what had happened. After, she
returned to her own residence and Bai Zhi finally relaxed: “Xiao jie, luckily
you are clever, you first went to Seventh Prince’s residence and asked for his
help in arranging everything.”
“Da furen would certainly not let go of this
opportunity, so how could I let her get her way.” Now Li Wei Yang had confirmed
that helping Tuoba Yu out earlier was the right move. He was one who would
return favors to those who helped him and additionally, the results were
instantaneous. Before returning, she washed and dressed herself and even
thoroughly prepared so it was difficult to spot anything unusual.
“Da furen was basically trying to rob during a
fire ……”
“She was always this kind of person ……”
At this time, Mo Zhe suddenly reported: “Xiao
jie, Qi Yiniang came!”
Li Wei Yang was stunned.
“Mother ……”
“Wei Yang ……” Qi Yiniang rushed over, tightly
embraced Li Wei Yang and burst into tear.
Li Wei Yang couldn’t cry nor laugh as she
watched her weak mother. She didn’t know what to do for a moment. Bai Zhi who
was on the side busily rushed over to hold onto Qi Yiniang and carefully said:
“Yiniang, don’t worry, didn’t Xiao jie returned safe and sound?”
Qi Yiniang’s eyes were swollen, revealing how
worried she was. Once she heard of this, she immediately rushed over.
Li Wei Yang gently explained to her of what happened
and the version she told her was similar to the version she told Li Xiao Ran
since she didn’t want her very own mother to worry.
“So that’s what happened……” Hearing that it was
because she stayed overnight at the princess’ residence, Qi Yiniang let out a
sigh of relief.
She originally thought Li Wei Yang was
suffering from grievances……
“Originally, Xiao jie was determined to return ……”
Bai Zhi smilingly said.
“But it was difficult to turn down such generosity
from the princess……” Mo Zhu added.
Li Wei Yang only laughed: “It’s actually
nothing much, it’s just that the princess felt that it was because of attending
her banquet that I encountered a traumatizing experience, she felt bad……”
“I originally wanted to send someone home to
report this but it was already getting late. Instead, I was afraid it would
startle Lao furen and others ……” Li Wei Yang said as she watched the sadness
that still remained on Qi Yiniang’s face and felt a bit guilty, “It’s my fault,
I’ve made mother worried.”
Qi Yiniang had tears in her eyes, she nodded
and smiled. She let out a sigh after expressing joy. Watching the streaks of
blood in Li Wei Yang’s eyes, she felt uneasy: “It’s because Mother is useless,
I’m unable to protect you.”
A hint of warmth flow through Li Wei Yang’s heart.
Frankly speaking, she always had this alienated
feeling towards Qi Yiniang. Even though she was her birth mother, she pa.s.sed
away early in her previous life. She was also not raised by her side so their
affections weren’t deep. In this lifetime, she actually didn’t know how
interact with her so she didn’t know what to do. But today, seeing that she
sincerely cried for her, Li Wei Yang felt ashamed of her alienation towards
her.
Her expression was warm like jade yet it was bright
like stars.
“Mother, I’ve told you this, I will protect
you from now on.”
Qi Yiniang watched her daughter, her emotions
were intensified: “Wei Yang, don’t go against Da furen, she will harm you.”
Tan shi was a weak woman, she wished for nothing
more now but for her daughter to stay safe and marry into a good family. Da
furen was ruthless and she didn’t want anything to happen to Wei Yang.
“Mother, as long as one lives, one will encounter
countless twists and turns. No one knows what would happen the next day. I’ve
chosen this path, no matter what hardships I encounter, or even danger, I would
never step back. Since I’ve already prepared thoroughly, you don’t have to
worry. Moreover, even if I want to retreat, others won’t allow me to retreat!
To live openly and heartily, there is nothing to be afraid of…...” She wasn’t
afraid of living nor dying but Da furen was different, which was why she would
definitely be the winner.
Qi Yiniang was absent-minded and suddenly thought
that Wei Yang’s stubbornness and determination exceeded what she thought of
her.
“Wei Yang……” She had decided, “Mother would
definitely support you.”
To hear such words coming from the weak Qi Yiniang……
Li Wei Yang couldn’t help but smile and felt delighted, this feeling of having
family by the side was wonderful.
The news of Li Wei Yang encountering an attack and
was saved by Seventh Prince was spread throughout the capital, making the
aristocratic ladies jealous. Everyone was saying Anping Xianzhu was very lucky;
a carriage being attacked was very rare, she was even saved by the Emperor’s
beloved prince. Of course, there were other rumors, even to the point where
people felt suspicious about the unexplained appearance of the bandits. Even
more, all of the bandits died so they thought Li Wei Yang deliberately plotted
this to get closer to Seventh Princess. These rumors spread everywhere yet the
Li family wasn’t too concerned about them because after all, compared to a
woman losing her chast.i.ty, this was simple matter. No matter how violent the
storm was, the involved parties, Tuoba Yu and Li Wei Yang didn’t respond. The
two didn’t even interact since that day, this matter was popular for a while
before it became old news.
After hearing about this, Li Chang Le originally
thought Li Wei Yang was doomed yet she never imagined that she was able to turn
calamities into blessings. She was very furious yet was helpless and couldn’t
help but feel unhappy.
Tan Xiang noticed her pale complexion and
urged her: “Xiao jie, since all the flowers in the garden have bloomed, why
don’t we go out and take a look?”
Li Chang Le coldly looked at her, making Tan Xiang frightened:
“Your maidservant is ---“ She had good intentions.
Li Chang Le saw lights of the spring season.
Recently, her headaches became more and more painful especially when Li Wei
Yang was strolling past her, making her even more infuriated, “Whatever, let’s
go.”
Li Chang Le bought Tan Xiang and others to the
garden and saw a beauty sitting at the distant octagonal pavilion. She couldn’t
help but frowned: “Who is that?”
Tan Xiang took a look and carefully replied:
“That is Lao Ye’s newly married Jiu Yiniang.”
Jiu Yiniang? This was Yun Ji, the woman Father
bought back without telling Mother beforehand? Li Chang Le watched from afar
and frowned. Yun Ji was a Changzhou native and she heard she was in Chinese
opera. Father actually bought back such a lowly woman, was he insane?
Li Chang Le bought Tan Xiang as she unnoticeably
walked towards Yun Ji. The maidservants on the side wanted to alert their
master but was frightened by Li Chang Le’s cold expression.
Yun Ji lifted her head and realized Da Xiaojie had
came, she quickly stood up.
Li Chang Le lightly smiled, squinted her eyes,
and smilingly looked at the thing in her hand.
In Yun Ji’s snow white hand was a small brocade
pouch. On it, a pair of twin lotus flowers were embroidered and on the side was
also small jades. Although workmanship was exquisite but from one glimpse, the
materials were cheap and it was also old.
“This small pouch is very beautiful.” Li Chang Le
lightly smiled yet she didn’t show change of emotion since she started becoming
suspicious.
Yun Ji was actually very alarmed since she
simply wanted to enjoy the scenery. Who would have known that the scenery
evoked old memories that she unconsciously took out a small pouch that she
always had with her. She thought her own maidservant would alert her but no one
told her about Da Xiao jie’s arrival! She didn’t know what Li Chang Le had seen
but ----- a small pouch didn’t mean anything! She tried her best to smile and
feigned calmness: “Yes, this is sewed by my mother, I’ve always had it with me
like a protective talisman.”
Li Chang Le was a very sensitive person, she
still felt that it was a token of love gifted by a man ----- this hypothesis
suddenly made her feel excited. She then inhibited this excitement and lightly
smiled: “You’ve already married into our family, we are family now, there is no
need to be restrained.”
Yun Ji, seeing that she wasn’t going to further
question her, quickly hid her small pouch from sight.
Li Chang Le deliberately pretended to not
notice and actually harmoniously smiled: “Jiu Yiniang, the distance from
Changzhou to here is very far, do you think of home?”
At the very young age of ten, Yun Ji had left home
and traveled around with the drama troupe. Her impression of her parents was
blurred so it was difficult for her to miss her home. As an actor, she had
always been looked down on by others. Then, she was sent to Minister Lou’s
banquet to perform and Li Xiao Ran took a fancy to her and bought her back. But
after coming to the Li residence, not one person thought highly of her; everyone
called her a lowly actor behind her back. But this Da Xiaojie was different,
she actually smiled sincerely at her. So for a second, she was amazed and didn’t
know how to respond to her.
Li Chang Le switched the topic: “But you are very
beautiful, Father would love you dearly, you will never have to sell your
performance and live scantily.”
Hearing those words, Yun Ji only
bitterly smiled, which meant she didn’t really accept her supposedly good
intentions.
Li Chang Le lightly smiled and then they continued
to converse about other topics, diverting Yun Ji’s attention.
After half an hour of conversation, Yun Ji began having
a good impression of this Da Xiaojie. When she was departing, she even set up a
time to talk with her again next time.
Watching all this, Tan Xiang felt the situation was
weird. Da Xiaojie seemed to be an amiable and easily approachable person but in
actuality, she was an arrogant person. Jiu Yiniang was of a lowly background,
Da Xiaojie actually happily chatted with her? This was really weird!
Watching Yun Ji’s silhouette disappear from
the garden, Li Chang Le lightly smiled, stood up and said: “Let’s go.”
Tan Xiang, seeing Li Chang Le smiling, couldn’t help
but lowered her head.
Li Chang Le entered Da furen’s residence and spoke
with her for half an hour. When she came out, her face was full of smiles. As
Tan Xiang watched, she felt more terrified. Each time Da Xiaojie showed this
smile, it always meant someone was out of luck. It was just that --- who would
it be? If it was just Jiu Yiniang, it was not enough to make Da Xiaojie this
happy……
Half a month later, Da furen sent someone to
summon Li Xiao Ran over. Li Xiao Ran just returned to the residence and said he
had something urgent to do in the book room. Da furen had been waiting until
the night settled and she still hadn’t seen him yet. Da furen ordered someone
to summon again. After waiting for him for a while longer, she finally saw him
enter through the door. She personally walked forth to help him take off his
jacket. She watched his expression and smilingly said: “In two days, it will be
Jiu Yiniang’s birthday, I was thinking we should liven up things for her.”
Li Xiao Ran looked up and coldly glimpsed into Da
furen’s eyes.
Da furen felt anxious inside yet her face still had
on a delightful smile.
Li Xiao Ran couldn’t spot anything odd,
rejected Da furen’s hand, and calmly answered: “I understand, I have other
business, you should rest early.”
“Lao Ye, I’ve prepared sweets, you should try some.”
Da furen eagerly said.
Li Xiao Ran shook his head: “No.” After he was done
speaking, he turned to leave and went to Jiu Yiniang’s residence.
Lin Mama felt uneasy as she looked at Da furen. Da
furen coldly laughed and revealed a sharp smile. The goods on the table had
been left untouched for a while, now the sweetness had mixed with the air and
become cold.
On the other side, Bai Zhi whispered to Li Wei Yang
about everything that happened in the Li family in the past few days. Following
her Xiaojie’s orders, she reported matters big and small, including Da Xiaojie
and Jiu Yiniang’s friendly conversation and news that Da furen will be preparing
for Jiu Yiniang’s birthday celebration.
After Bai Zhi was done reporting, she
continued: “Xiao jie, with what’s happening, it seemed like Da furen is
starting to draw Jiu Yiniang over to her side.”
Li Wei Yang gently smiled and shook her head: “As
the family’s mother figure, if she can’t take control of her husband’s
concubines, then she would think of ways to get rid of them. Si Yiniang and Liu
Yiniang were already difficult to deal with, now that Father is favoring Jiu
Yiniang and doesn’t even care about giving her face, do you think Da furen
would let Jiu Yiniang continue to live?”
Bai Zhi was stunned and then said: “Xiaojie’s
meaning ---“
“Simply a Jiu Yiniang is certainly insufficient to
satisfy their appet.i.te. If they were able to implicate a thorn in their flesh,
then it would be perfect.” The candlelight shown on the blossoming crabapples
on the wooden window, creating a shadow on Li Wei Yang’s face, making it seem
like a veil on her face.
Lin Mama solemnly walked past the corridor as
sunlight shone on the courtyard’s walls, making them gleamed. She couldn’t help
but frowned. The maidservants on the side watch her hurried past with a few
strong Mama following behind her.
“Where did Lin Mama go? Why was she in a hurry to
leave?” The young maidservants whispered to one another.
“Don’t you know, Jiu Yiniang is celebrating
her birthday, Da furen wants to personally plan her celebration! All the
antique plates, fabric and silk ….. everything are bought out, Furen treats Jiu
Yiniang very good!”
“Yes, Si Yiniang’s face turned green, Liu
Yiniang also left her doors closed and didn’t step out! Jiu Yiniang’s treatment
had never before been seen in the Li family.”
“Who told Lao ye to favor Jiu Yiniang! You all
didn’t see but she is dearly favored, she rested in her residence for almost
half a month. After Jiu Yiniang married into the family, she is like half a
master and hasn’t touched her Chinese opera clothing. But because Lao Ye favors
her, he made a new set of opera clothing for her and she sang for Lao Ye behind
closed doors!”
“What! You didn’t know!” Another young
maidservant quietly said, “I heard from Zhou Mama from next door that Jiu
Yiniang wasn’t someone ordinary. She is young and beautiful and even know how
to pleasure men, how would you all understand!”
As Li Wei Yang walked past the garden, all the young
maidservants shut their mouths and stood there gazing at one another.
Li Wei Yang lightly smiled and said: “Disperse
this, be careful of Lin Mama hearing this and punishing you all.”
The young maidservants became joyful and quickly
dispersed. San Xiaojie was a good person, she usually wouldn’t berate the
maidservants, unlike Wu Xiaojie, who would snitch behind their backs.
Li Wei Yang watched as Lin Mama’s silhouette disappeared
from the corridor. She couldn’t help but frowned, she didn’t know this time what
Da furen was planning for organizing a large-scale celebration for Jiu Yiniang.
Perhaps,
she was thinking too much ……
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Translator: Erica
Editor: Panisa
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