Chapter 32 - Capability of making a show of power

Getting out of Mian Fu Palace, Yun Fenghuang thought that Noble Consort Shu would call her to stop, but Noble Consort Shu didn’t even look at her. She hurriedly stepped on her sedan and ordered to return to Tong Xia Palace.

She did not even ask Yun Qingman to be back with her.

“Fenghuang, let’s go together.” Yun Qingman sighed when she saw it, and turned to look for Yun Fenghuang, but she only saw that Yun Fenghuang had come to Wei Hengyan.

She was in a blank, and then she went over in a hurry, for fear that the two would fight in front of the palace of Queen Mother of Honor. When she walked beside them, she heard that Yun Fenghuang said to Wei Hengyan, “…The outcome is definitely settled. There is no use to blame me. The most important thing now is to calm Queen Mother of Honor’s anger, rather than continue to argue who should be blamed!”

Wei Hengyan said angrily, “It’s easy for you to say that. If you have the ability to calm her anger, you will not just kneel on the ground like me and hardly dare to speak anything.”

But Wei Hengyan was afraid of punishment. She thought that although Yun Fenghuang was arrogant, she was safe after making trouble for Consort Yue. It could show that she was intelligent… No, it could show that she was cunning. So, Wei Hengyan asked with a little hope, “What are you going to do?”

“Queen Mother Ji was about to punish us. At that moment, Princess Minghui came in and said something. Then Queen Mother Ji immediately ignored us.” Yun Fenghuang looked around and found that there was nobody beside them. It was definitely because of Empress Ji. Palace hostesses, like Noble Consort Shu, had already left quickly. Other concubines wanted to come over and listen to what they were talking about, but they had just been scolded in Yan Fu Palace. So, they did not want to be involved in again.

Therefore, no one came when noticing that they were talking together. When seeing Yun Fenghuang was looking around, those concubines who were not far away from them lifted their skirts and trotted to get out of her sight.

Yun Fenghuang said the plan without any worries, “If we can share Queen Mother Ji’s cares and burdens on this matter…”

“Are you crazy? If you want to die, just do it. I won’t go crazy with you!” Wei Hengyan heard what Yun Fenghuang said and then she was immediately gloomy. She walked away, whispering, “I thought you would have some good ideas. It turns out that you are heading for your doom.”

Seeing Yun Qingman on the side, she said, “Mei Ren Yun, you have heard what she said. She has no sense of propriety. If you don’t want Duke Yi’s Mansion to be involved by her, you should report what she said to Noble Consort Shu as soon as possible!”

She kept sneering at Yun Fenghuang.

Yun Qingman was also in a dilemma, pulling Yun Fenghuang’s sleeve and whispering, “Fenghuang, be careful of what you say! This is really not what we can be involved in.”

Yun Fenghuang asked why.

“Why?” Wei Hengyan planned to leave quickly, but Yun Fenghuang and Yun Qingman followed her, and she was worried to be reported that she was impolite. So, she dared not run. At this moment, she could not help but sarcastically said, “You ask why. I’m afraid that you don’t know the cousins and Mr. Lingshan said by Princess Minghui. How dare you plan to get involved in! You know nothing at all!”

Yun Fenghuang thought to herself, “If I knew, I wouldn’t talk in a roundabout way to let you tell me.”

As for why she didn’t ask Yun Qingman directly? Of course because she did not want to come to an open break in friendship with Yun Qingman now and she did not trust Yun Qingman so much… Otherwise, she would not make Wei Hengyan cry deliberately just now. She just did not want to give Yun Qingman the opportunity to ask her for details.

If she only asked Yun Qingman about the identities of the cousins of Princess Minghui and Mr. Lingshan, she perhaps would be misled.

“No, I don’t know.” Yun Fenghuang thought and admitted generously that she was ignorant. She changed the subject, “But as for the news that Princess Minghui happily said, is it so terrible?”

Wei Hengyan just sneered, “You know nothing for your low social status. Prince Regent had a well-known affection with his wife Consort Yuan a few years ago. However, they had been married for many years and did not have a child. Finally, they had a Shizi after several years. He is the elder male cousin of Princess Minghui. Eight years ago, the formal Emperor died, and His Majesty was not yet in power. Consort Yuan suddenly died of illness and left her young son. Therefore, some aides and staff advised Prince Regent to remarry Ms. Lu, the adoptive daughter of Marquess Qingping and the cousin of Jie Yu Lu, the hostess of Bao Hui Palace… In two years, after Ms. Lu was married to Prince Regent, she gave birth to the next child who is the Cousin Zhen mentioned by Princess Minghui…”

Yun Fenghuang yelled, “Isn’t this extremely usual?”

“Usual?” Wei Hengyan glared and said, “It is not surprising that Prince Regent remarried and got a son. But do you know who Mr. Lingshan is? He is the rare genius ranking 1st in all six examinations in the imperial competitive examination during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong. He resigned and was in mourning for his parent’s death, and then he had been living in his hometown. And he had got a place in the imperial court. Such a person turned out to be the first teacher of a six-year-old little lord…”

Wei Hengyan wanted to say more, but she hesitated and refrained, saying, “Forget it. You are lacking knowledge and experience. It is no use for me to talk with you. You don’t understand anything.”

“It is Wei Liushou!” Yun Fenghuang smiled and said, “I wonder who have the ability to make Queen Mother Ji astonished. It turns out that it is him.”

Wei Liushou was Wei Changkong’s nickname. His style name was Yun Liu and he was from the south. He became famous when he was young. Even to Yun Fenghuang who was in north, she had heard about him. It was said that he was clever, kind and intelligent. He had a wide range of knowledge, and he punished evildoers.

In this era, someone was required to write a note in advance when having a trip from the north to the south in case he or she would die in the middle of the trip. It could show the capability of Wei’s Family in making a show of power for Wei Changkong.

Of course, not all people in the world were fools. Wei Changkong lived in the south and was famous in his early twenties. After all, he was capable. At least, he ranked 1st in imperial examination on county level and provincial level depending on his ability. He kept ranking 1st in the metropolitan examination and the palace examination. Although the formal Emperor Xiaozong intended to declare his governance capacity at that time when he had not been enthroned for a long time, Emperor Xiaozong favored Wei Changkong. But Wei Changkong’s articles were convincing. His articles should have to reach a level similar to these of the second and third place at the palace examination. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to convince the public after publicity. Emperor Xiaozong would be shameful.

After Wei Changkong won the honor of Liushou, of course, he was put in an important position.

However, two years later, Wei Changkong was in mourning for his parent’s death. So, he entreated Emperor Xiaozong and resigned. At that time, Emperor Xiaozong was fighting with Ji’s Family fiercely and wanted to refuse him. However, Wei Changkong was filial and cried several times when he entered the palace. The intense bond between Wei Changkong and his parents really moved Emperor Xiaozong. So, Emperor Xiaozong agreed… This story was of course said and propagated by Wei’s Family.

In fact, Yun Fenghuang thought that this guy was very cunning. He saw Emperor Xiaozong was weak and was worried that after Emperor Xiaozong was defeated, Ji’s Family would transfer their anger on him because he was the Liushou appointed and was put in an important place by Emperor Xiaozong. Therefore, taking advantage of the funeral at home, he left in time to avoid ruining years of preparation.

As for the absence of being reused after the end of the filial piety period, to Wei Changkong, it was, of course, to keep a low profile and find a suitable opportunity… It could also be understood that he was waiting for the highest bid.

Wei Changkong suddenly stepped into Dijing City to be a teacher of a child in Prince Regent’s Mansion. It was really thought-provoking. It was no wonder that Queen Mother Ji was astonished and urgently discussed countermeasures with the Empress and Princess Minghui.

“The story of Liushou is so glorious that I fail to know that Wei Changkong is also called Mr. Lingshan… Well, he perhaps gets this name during his retirement from the countryside over the years. When he resigned, I am afraid that I was still learning to walk.” Yun Fenghuang pondered for a moment and saw that Wei Hengyan had already walked away at a brisk pace. She did not keep up with Wei Hengyan for she had achieved her goal. She only asked Yun Qingman nearby, “I remember Marquess Qingping was a eunuch just like General-in-chief of the Cavalry, right?”

Yun Qingman said, “Yes, and Marquess Qingping had served Emperor Xiaozong. Emperor Xiaozong gave him this title… Why are you asking it? Do you still want to be involved in this?”

Yun Qingman frowned slightly and whispered, “You’d better not… This is not a jesting matter. I think Queen Mother Ji now also has no time to punish us. Even to Her Highness, I am afraid that she also has no time. Besides, we can ask our sister, Noble Consort Shu, for help.”

“I think Noble Consort Shu is very worried now.” With a chuckle, Yun Fenghuang said, “In fact, it’s not a big problem if only Rong Hua Wei and I are going to be punished, but this time you are involved in. So, I have to do something to help us.”

“But it’s too…” When Yun Qingman was trying to advise Yun Fenghuang to give up, Wei Hengyan was talking in a low voice with a maid on the way back to Yi Jia Palace. The maid said, “My Lady, do you think whether Mei Ren Yun will…”

Wei Hengyan hesitated for a moment. She said, “Normal people will immediately avoid it after they know something about it, let alone taking the initiative to be involved in. But Yun Fenghuang… I am not certain. Her family status is not high. She entered the palace only by relying on the help of Duke Yi’s Mansion. She was titled as Bao Lin when joining the Imperial Harem. She should proceed with caution and try every means to curry favor with Noble Consort Shu and Yun Qingman in order to have a place in the palace. But look at what she has done after entering the palace. Almost everything she has done is unexpected… She… It’s hard to say.”

Then the maid was worried, “Then if she implements her plan, what should we do when she tells others the words you just told her?”

“What did I tell her?” Wei Hengyan grunted, “I just didn’t stand the provocation, so, I told her that Prince Regent remarried Marquess Qingping’s adopted daughter who gave birth to the other legitimate son after Consort Yuan died and now Wei Liushou is going to be the first teacher of Prince Regent’s little son… People like me from powerful families all know these things. Even if I had not told her, Yun Fenghuang would have turned to ask Yun Qingman. Yun Qingman will definitely tell her. Besides, I have repeatedly warned her don’t behave in such a way. What can I do if she doesn’t listen to me? Although I am one level higher than her, she is not even willing to give me a salute. It is impossible for her to listen to me this time!”

When the maid heard what Wei Hengyan said, she was relieved and smiled again. “So you just deliberately told her these things. I thought you were really angry at that time.”

“I knew she wanted to draw the secret out of me!” Wei Hengyan sneered, “Anyway, we have made Queen Mother Ji angry this time. If Yun Fenghuang really does anything to release the burden of Queen Mother Ji and Her Highness, Queen Mother Ji and Her Highness will be pleased. They will not punish me and Yun Qingman on account of our family… But if she failed, she would be punished severely. I don’t care what Yun Qingman will do to save herself. It has nothing to do with me anyway.”

So even if she knew Yun Fenghuang’s intention, Wei Hengyan pretend not to know. After telling her almost the whole story, she left.

At the moment Wei Hengyan hesitated, and said, “This issue is important. Although Yun Fenghuang was strange and changeful, it is not certain whether she will succeed or not. I have to send the message to my family that I will be punished by Queen Mother Ji… Alas, although Yun Fenghuang is very hateful, I also admire her a bit. She was so much worse than the rest of us in family status and grade. Just a few days ago, she has been given a promotion for three grades. What about me? I will be punished and my family has to worry about me because I am lack of vigilance and can hardly retain my composure, not to mention promotion.

“You are a beloved daughter in your family and are nursed in luxury. Even if your elders are always telling you what to do, it is just an armchair strategist for you.” The maid comforted her, “It is perhaps because Mei Ren Yun comes from an average family and is not favored by her parents, she has experienced a lot of attacks since she was a child. She has been used to deal with this kind of things. You have just entered the palace. You will be much better if you get used to this kind of life in the future. At that time, she will have no opportunity to compare with you. It is said that status and circumstances can change a person’s temperament. She had grown up in such a family, so, she has tricks and inappropriate means. But her outlook is not as broad as yours… In this life, she will just be a concubine by taking advantage of the power of Noble Consort Shu.”

Wei Hengyan thought about it and she agreed. She said with a chuckle, “Who can say it for sure? But at least for now she is still quite useful.”

“Let’s see what she can do for you then… She is capable, but you can just sit idle and enjoy the fruits of her work.” The maid said with a smile.

But Yun Fenghuang, who was discussed by Wei Hengyan and her maid, had just sent Yun Qingman away in a few words and was walking with Xin Qing back to the Hu Zhu Palace leisurely.

Seeing the familiar flower hedges on the roadside, Yun Fenghuang remembered that the Empress didn’t even mention Nian Xuan today.

Judging from the reaction of Queen Mother Ji to the issue that Wei Changkong became a teacher of Prince Regent’s little son, it’s estimated that Queen Mother Ji would not make an issue of it for the next period of time…

Yun Fenghuang frowned slightly, wondering if she should take another trip to Ning Bi Hall later.

When she was thinking, she had already passed through the flower hedges. But a tall figure behind the hedge blocked her way with a cold expression.