Chapter 81 - Mr. Wei

Nian Xuan had been much better after these days of recuperation. She could get up and walk around, but Yun Fenghuang was afraid that she would suffer from chronic diseases in the future and suggested that she should not be too tired. Therefore, Nian Xuan spent most of the time in her room.

Hearing Yun Fenghuang’s words, Nian Xuan immediately checked her body up and down, but found nothing, guessing, “Maybe the cat just likes you? How about keeping it when it comes again? Zi Quan Hall has been unoccupied for a few days. When we cleaned it up before, Chen Zhu said that he had seen mice. After all, it’s no trouble to feed the cat on leftovers.”

Yun Fenghuang knew that Nian Xuan always liked these kittens and puppies. Hearing that, she shook her head slightly and said, “We didn’t keep it before, so we don’t know its temper. Now, it behaves well, but it was fierce just now when His Majesty was there. If we keep it and it hurts others later, we will get troubles, right? What’s more, Queen Mother of Honor ordered to keep those free-range cats for the princesses not for rewarding us. If we keep it in our palace and someone reports this to Mian Fu Palace, we will get troubles.”

Seeing that Nian Xuan was a little disappointed, she comforted casually, “If you really like it, I’ll try to get one in an overboard way for you when there is a chance.”

“Let’s forget it.” Nian Xuan said instantly, “I have implicated you too much. How can I ask more? Besides, I will be fine soon and have no time to keep it.”

Yun Fenghuang said, “It doesn’t take much trouble to keep it, and I won’t get it for you right now.”

Then after they chatted for a while, Yun Fenghuang returned to the inner room.

Xi Le came in for services. Seeing that Yun Fenghuang calmed down a lot, she whispered, “His Majesty went to Ning Bi Hall just now and that one cried for a long time before she was quiet. Chen Zhu had a good relationship with a maid over there. So, he went there secretly to inquire, and he was told that one maid accidentally sprinkled the soup for miscarriage prevention out when serving Jie Yu Yue and therefore Her Lady was furious.”

She paused, “The legs of the maid have been broken, and she was thrown out.”

“Since His Majesty is willing to spoil her, we shouldn’t butt in.” Yun Fenghuang calmly said, “She is now honorable because she carries a baby. Since Empress Dowager and others can bear her and as long as she doesn’t offend us, we should ignore it.”

After all, the maid who was thrown out was not hers.

She didn’t pay any attention to the two in the main palace, but washed up and had meals. When she was taking a nap in the afternoon, Xi Le wakened her up softly, saying that Jie Yu Wei sent someone to invite her to enjoy the flowers at Yi Jia Palace.

Of course, this was just an excuse. Yun Fenghuang guessed that Jie Yu Wei would have something to say. After pondering a while, she tidied up and went there.

When she arrived at Qin De Hall, the main palace of Yi Jia Palace, Wei Hengyan personally came out to greet her. After the maids served the tea and pastries, she ordered them to go away. Then she asked directly, “Did Her Highness mention Shizi’s marriage when she let you stay for a chat today?”

“It came out so quickly?” Yun Fenghuang was a little curious, “Is there anyone of your sisters want to marry Shizi?”

Wei Hengyan smilingly said, “Shouldn’t it? After all, we are about to go to the summer resort. Empress Dowager and Queen Mother of Honor ordered to hold one meeting for blind dates before that. If we didn’t spread the news now and no one came at the meeting, it would be embarrassing, wouldn’t it?”

She did not want to marry her sister to Gongxiang Xiao, but she wanted to inquire about someone else, “You have been at Tai Chu Palace for two times, and it is said that you have seen those reading partners of His Majesty every time. Have you ever seen Deng Chengzhai? How about his deeds?”

Yun Fenghuang thought for a while, finding that she hadn’t seen Deng Chengzhai who was Cui Wan’s nephew and Consort Xin’s cousin, “I haven’t seen him… Does your family member fancy him? Then why not visit him privately?”

She hadn’t known Wei Hengyan’s family so far, but since Wei Hengyan’s original title was not low and she became a hostess quickly, even if her family was not as good as that of Consort Xin, it was not too bad. And it must have contacts with Cui’s Family. Since Deng Chengzhai studied with the emperor in the name of Cui’s Family, Deng’s Family might not be better than Cui’s Family.

“My stepmother said that he is fine, but since she comes from a common family, she might be wrong.” Wei Hengyan smiled faintly, “My biological elder brother was sent out a few years ago, and my sister-in-law accompanied him… So, I should care about my sister’s marriage, shouldn’t I?”

Well, it turned out that Wei Hengyan didn’t trust her stepmother.

The children whose natural mother died were pitiful. Even as noble as Shizi, Gongxiang Xiao felt uneasy. No wonder that Wei Hengyan had to choose an ideal person for her sister.

Yun Fenghuang figured it out, saying, “Unfortunately, last time, Empress Dowager personally ordered me not to go there, unless I am invited by the princesses, otherwise, I can have the opportunity to inquire.”

“Being in front of His Majesty, everyone dares to do nothing. So, how could you know him well?” Wei Hengyan shook her head slightly, for she didn’t expect Yun Fenghuang could figure out whether Deng Chengzhai was suitable to marry her sister or not when she was at Tai Chu Palace. Instead, she said, “Since Her Highness told you this matter alone, will she let you deal with it?”

Yun Fenghuang said with a surprise, “How could that be possible? I am a concubine. Her Highness and other high-ranked consorts can go there for running the show. Isn’t it unreasonable for me to go?”

“Why is it unreasonable?” Wei Hengyan said, “How honorable Her Highness is! How can she do everything personally? She needs someone to help her actually.”

Now, all people knew that the Empress valued Yun Fenghuang and even especially told her the meeting for blind dates. So, they guessed that Yun Fenghuang must play a role in the matter.

“Her Highness didn’t mention what I should do at that time. If there is a chance, I will pay attention to Deng Chengzhai.” For it would be not difficult, Yun Fenghuang said, “But if Her Highness doesn’t need my help, then I can do nothing for you.”

Wei Hengyan nodded gratefully. After promising something good, she asked about the matter that Yuan Songlai exposed Qi Jiulu at Tai Chu Palace, “It is said that His Majesty and Empress Dowager dealt with it together… Are you okay?”

“Since it was originally a farce, and I did nothing wrong, why should I feel depressed?” Yun Fenghuang said indifferently, “It’s really toilsome for that pregnant hostess in my palace to embarrass me.”

“It was her?” Wei Hengyan was slightly surprised, “She is too muddled! Not to mention that you were cordially invited after careful decisions and there is a powerful family behind you, would His Majesty be glorious if this kind of thing was known by everyone? She could .not consider it for you, but why not for His Majesty? It is a pity that His Majesty cherished her for so many years.”

Before Yun Fenghuang could speak, she added, “But that person is always like that, for His Majesty is good-tempered and has been obsessed with her for so many years.”

Wei Hengyan was full of jealousy and hatred, “But since she doesn’t cherish it, she would exhaust it one day. By that time, she must lose her way in the palace, right?”

Yun Fenghuang smilingly said, “Since she is pregnant now, what should she be afraid of? When I was taken to Qing Ci Palace by His Majesty that day, Empress Dowager really wanted to punish Yuan Songlai, but when His Majesty mentioned about his child, Empress Dowager gave it up.”

“Although she is pregnant…” Wei Hengyan sneered, but didn’t continue to speak after a pause. She only said meaningfully, “She was pregnant before, but the ending was not good. I really hope that she could deliver a baby for His Majesty this time.”

“I don’t want to talk more about her.” Yun Fenghuang changed the topic and asked about Wei Hengyan’s natal family.

Considering her sister’s marriage and this was not a secret. It was just unknown by Yun Fenghuang, a fake noble girl at Dijing. Or she would figure it out just by the surname of Wei. Therefore, Wei Hengyan spoke the truth out, “My family is a royal branch, and my grandmother, Great Princess of Royal Dongxing, is a half-sister of Emperor Shenzong.”

When Great Princess of Royal Dongxing got married, Wei’s Family still focused on martial arts. But since then, her husband gradually abandoned martial arts and pursued literature, and now the family was a scholarly family.

This was also the reason why Mr. Wei wanted to let Deng Chengzhai be his son-in-law. Deng Chengzhai was Cui Wan’s legitimate nephew. Although Cui Wan’s reputation in scholars was lower than that of Wei Changkong who was Liu Shou, he was actually the leader at present. The marriage could not only help Mr. Wei improve the position in scholars, but also could help him have contacts with Cui Wan, the Chief of Rituals.

Wei Hengyan’s father was now a Civil Minister. Her biological elder brother was assigned out as a provincial governor and when he was suitably qualified, he would be called back and promoted if there was no accident, for it was a typical family of which the members could always be powerful officials. And the reason why Wei Hengyan’s title was raised so quickly was that Great Princess of Royal Dongxing was still alive.

Empress Dowager did not like to be disturbed and rarely called the people of other branches into the palace to get reacquainted, but since Great Princess of Royal Dongxing was the senior after all, Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji respectfully greeted her when they met her. Therefore, her biological granddaughter was treated preferentially.

But that was the only benefit they could get, and they had no advantage at Imperial Court.

One reason was that the royal family was declining now and therefore Empress Dowager couldn’t intervene in the things in Imperial Court though she was distinguished. The second one was, “No one had expected that Shenzong would succeed to the throne. According to some words said occasionally by my grandmother, when she was young, her relationship with Emperor Shenzong and Empress Dowager was not very good.”

Well, since her granddaughter said their relationship was not very good, then it was almost terrible.

Great Princess of Royal Dongxing might even had helped other brothers to fight against Emperor Shenzong and Empress Dowager…

Yun Fenghuang was not very clear about the complicated situation of the royal family when Emperor Shenzong was a prince, but she guessed that it must be very tragic, because the dying of the main branch of Gongxiang’s Family began at that time.

The throne of Emperor Shenzong was basically paved with the bones as well as blood and tears of his brothers, sisters and even nephews.

It was a pity that the emperor died at a young age, otherwise, he would not leave Ji’s Family as a hidden trouble, for he even treated his brothers and sisters so crucially.

Great Princess of Royal Dongxing was lucky enough to escape from the control after Shenzong ascended the throne. At present, relying on her, Wei’s Family could get some benefits from the royal family superficially, and later… So, it was reasonable for them to unite other families by marriage as Wei’s Family wished when Great Princess of Royal Dongxing was alive.

But…

While thinking something, Yun Fenghuang chatted with Wei Hengyan for a while, and then said goodbye.

When she was out of Yi Jia Palace, she saw some leopard cats sitting or lying in the grass and licking their fur lazily. Finding someone watching them, they were also indifferent, as if they were knowledgeable.

It seemed that there were many cats as Queen Mother Ji ordered.

Yun Fenghuang looked at them for a while and then walked away.

However, when she returned to Hu Zhu Palace, she was surrounded by the maids who had long been at the gate of the palace. They wanted to take her to meet the Emperor and Empress, “Pin Yun! You dared to ask people to hurt the royal baby. If something bad happens to Jie Yu Yue, we will not forgive you though we are humble!”

… Yun Fenghuang was stunned for a while, and then secretly surprised at how quick her partners were. She said, “How could it be possible that Yuan Lianniang got in trouble after I went to Yi Jia Palace?”