03. Royal Family (2)

However, she’s finally in the position where she had to deal with her father’s concubine, she felt that she was a bit ostentatious.

Yu Qingjia’s current mood is both defensive and curious, as if she had been a small beast whose territory had been invaded, and now she’s trying to demonstrate her might to the invaders with her little milk teeth opened.

Yu Qingjia continued to ask, “Father, did you have a safe journey? I heard from the servants who went out of the house to pick up supplies, that the inspections on the road have been very strict these days, they even set up a lot of checkpoints outside and in to the city. That’s the reason why most of the food and vegetables we got from the east market these days are not fresh anymore.”

The court suddenly tightened the security, and it was obvious that they were looking for ‘That Person‘. Fortunately, Guangling is located in a remote area, Yu Wenjun is also the governor, and Murong Yan had disguised himself as a woman, so he passed the checkpoints smoothly. Yu Wenjun made a serious expression, and told her, “Jiajia, it’s not peaceful outside these days, you can’t go out of the house again casually.”

She obediently nodded. Although she was currently staying in a remote county, which was far away from the center of power, she had heard rumors about the current emperor. It is said that his mood is unpredictable, and he kills innocent people indiscriminately. The people of Night City are now in fear and are hiding themselves behind closed doors during the day. Ever since the Chinese New Year, the other counties were starting to get affected by the matter concerning Prince Langya. Human life is the least valuable in troubled times, how could she go out at such a time?

However, Yu Wenjun seemed to be aroused by indignation. He could not help but put down his chopsticks and sighed with emotion.

“The world is getting worse and worse. What about Beauty? When the late emperor was around, he believed in slander and killed his subjects at every turn, he even treated human life like nothing. I heard that the current emperor is the same, he would often leave the Northern palace, mingle with the common folks for entertainment, and if someone offended him, he would be cut down immediately. If he saw a beautiful woman, she will be plundered back to the palace. Even the more important courtiers’ wives and daughters are not spared. Zichen1 is dim, and Taibai2 plunders its master, if this continues our country will no longer be a country.”

(T/N: I think what he meant by this was that, the Emperor was being muddle-headed and greatly affected by woman and his desires.)

There were no outsiders in the dining room, the only few servants were trusted family servants, So Yu Wenjun dared to express his thoughts. Yu Qingjia knew that the royal family was absurd, but she did not expect it to be this absurd. Now this emperor, the former Prince of Changshan, actually ran to the people from time to time, play and plunder, and a slightest displeasure will cause him to cut down the people on the street?

Yu Qingjia couldn’t help asking, “Did he do it himself?”

Yu Wenjun nodded with a solemn expression. Lately these emperors, no one knows what’s wrong with them, they seemed to be obsessed with seeing blood. The previous emperor went crazy at every turn, one second they were talking about court affairs, but the next moment they might pull out their sword and chase after the ministers and slash at them. The prime minister could not help but replace the palace guards with death row prisoners and play the killing game with the emperor every time he suddenly got excited. He promised to acquit the death row prisoners as long as they can live pass three months. Thanks to the Prime Minister’s solution, the court ministers were able to pick up their lives.

The deposed prince had clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with the late emperor’s behavior, and we all saw what happened to him after that. Unexpectedly, after changing to the new emperor, things got even worse. He didn’t like to play in the palace, but liked to go to the common folk to have fun.

No wonder Yu Wenjun is worried. Which country can sustain such extravagance, In the long run? Even the foundation laid by the gods can not withstand such consumption.

When Yu Wenjun was explaining to Yu Qingjia in a low voice, Murong Yan was eating slowly beside him, with elegant movements and a noble demeanor. No matter what Yu Wenjun’s purpose for saying these words in front of him, Murong Yan did not fluctuate, as if he was listening to the story of an unrelated person.

Yu Qingjia’s hair suddenly stood on end, after hearing about it. She couldn’t help hugging her trembling arm, and muttered inadvertently, “It’s been like this for generations, is it because they have a disease in their bloodline?”

Yu Wenjun deliberately said these words, of course, to hint and remind Murong Yan, but when he heard his daughter’s words, and even though it was already in the late spring weather, Yu Wenjun could not help but break out in cold sweats. He quickly glanced at Murong Yan, and turned his face to look at Yu Qingjia seriously.

“Jiajia, don’t talk nonsense!”

Yu Qingjia was taken aback, she really thought that the royal family must have a disease in their bloodline.

Which normal person would love to kill and get excited at the sight of blood?

But she did not expect her father’s reaction to be so strong. She looked at him blankly, unable to react for a moment, while Yu Wenjun was fidgeting, his eyes was constantly wandering between the two food tables on the left and right.

Yu Wenjun is the master and also the elder. He sits on top of the center position, and there are two tables on the left and right sides respectively. With the right side being the most important. Yu Qingjia used to sit directly on her father’s right hand side, but now that there was an extra person, she was moved to the left side. Which caused Yu Qingjia and Murong Yan to sit across each other. They could see each other’s face if they looked up. Now Yu Wenjun’s eyes were moving back and forth between the two, his face was stiff, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t dare to.

Murong Yan finally put down his chopsticks, looked up and swept a glance at Yu Qingjia with a smile. He tilted his head and met Yu Wenjun’s gaze. Murong Yan smiled knowingly at Yu Wenjun’s eyes that were obviously full of panic, worry and fear.

This smile seemed to carry a sharp chill, and Yu Wenjun’s heart went cold when he saw it. Looking at Murong Yan’s expression, he obviously understood what Yu Wenjun was worried about, and he also understood that what Yu Qingjia said just now was a big disrespect to the entire royal family and even his ancestors.

The people of the Murong family are the most vindictive, and Yu Wenjun felt uneasy. Those who don’t know anything are innocent, not to mention that Jiajia is just a little girl who hasn’t reached maturity yet. The majestic Prince Langya, wouldn’t care about a little girl, right?

Probably not… Then Yu Wenjun remembered the glorious “Record” that Murong Yan had done, and he wasn’t sure anymore.

Yu Qingjia Found that no one was talking in the hall, she looked around curiously, and asked, “Father, what are you talking about?”

Yu Wenjun withdrew his gaze. His heart was still anxious, but Murong Yan had already washed his hands in the copper tray next to him and slowly dried the water stains on his fingers.

“There are ears on the wall, don’t say such things in the future.”

Yu Qingjia heard her father breathe a long sigh of relief. she obviously did not understand what her father was nervous about, and asked curiously, “There are no outsiders here, and the servants are also old servants in the family, so why can’t I say it?”

“Before the deposed prince was denounced, he thought the same way.” Murong Yan took the lead and stood up. He nodded his chin vainly to the two of them and headed out, “I’m going back to rest, you guys make yourselves comfortable.”

Yu Qingjia subconsciously nodded in response, and only after the person had gone far away did she suddenly react.

It’s Not Right. She is a young lady and Jing Huan is only a Concubine, why should she be the one to instruct them?

Yu Qingjia couldn’t help but fly an eye-blade at Murong Yan’s back. Yu Wenjun stroked his beard, and looked at his daughter deeply, “My foolish daughter.”

Yu Qingjia couldn’t take it anymore.

“Father, what’s wrong with you today, not only did you side with Jing Huan in every way, but now you’re calling me a fool?”

“Forget it.” Yu Wenjun sighed, stood up and stroked his daughter’s fluffy hair, “Foolish people are blessed with foolishness, go back and rest.”

Zichen[紫宸]: This word refers to the palace, where the emperor lives. Can also mean the emperor and the throne. 

Tai Bai [太白]: Also known as The ‘Great white Golden star’ or ‘Evening Star’. Which was commonly known as Venus.