Chu Wang Fei chapter 57 The kick off of the birthday part 2

When Ji Shu Yu returned to Fu Guo Gong Fu, she immediately went to Rui Lin yuan where Lao Tai Jun lived.

Lao Tai Jun had been anxiously waiting from night to morning for Ji Shu Yu. Seeing that Ji Shu Yu had finally returned, she even forgot to let her (JSY) drink a gulp of tea and hastily asked about what happened last night.

When Ji Shu Yu saw that Lao Tai Jun was looking so nervous, she knew that in this elder’s heart, she must be really worried about Yun Qian Meng. So, she didn’t let Lao Tai Jun wait anymore and carefully told her what happened last night.

Lao Tai Jun’s face was red from anger after listening. The hand with a green jade bracelet slammed onto the wooden table. A big ‘bang’ sound could be heard, making all the maids in the room too afraid to speak.

“These animals that don’t have a heart! That time, I married the pearl of my palm to her (old madam) Yun Xuan Zhi, but he was obsessed with that Su clan’s Su Qing. Even more, the second day that Li er had entered the prime minister’s residence, he took Su Qing into the residence! All of these, we didn’t mention them anymore. Li er had also died for so many years. If we mention all of that, the ones who would be sad won’t be them. However, how do they treat this granddaughter of mine? Ever since she was little, she didn’t have a mom. The father is not someone decent. That grandmother is a bully only living for financial goods. In the residence, there’s also a Su Qing who has the desire to eliminate Meng er. These people, they are even so cruel to a little girl. They really aren’t better than animals! Presumably, yesterday if it wasn’t because Meng er doesn’t have any other way, she wouldn’t come look for us. This can let us see to what extent these people are forcing this granddaughter of mine.”

• the pearl of my palm: the apple of my eyes.

The more Lao Tai Jun talked, the angrier she got. The her who hasn’t cried for so many years, this moment speaking about Yun Qian Meng’s life, her eyes actually became red.

Ji Shu Yu seeing Tai Jun like that and thought about last night; the greedy look in the pair of eyes of old madam in Feng He yuan, she also couldn’t help but feel bad for Yun Qian Meng. So, she followed Lao Tai Jun who was silently weeping.

“There are still things that mother doesn’t know about! Last nigh,t that old madam said that she already brought Meng er’s uncle’s children to the prime minister’s residence. Presumably she is planning for those children. Before I came back, Meng er told me that old madam intends to take advantage of your birthday to help her second son’s daughter find a good marriage!”

‘Pa’. Lai Tai Jun broke the tea cup in her hand. Then she cursed: “She must be dreaming! She actually dared to see Fu Guo Gong Fu as her Yun family’s footboard? Did she really think that because Yun Xuan Zhi is a prime minister that she is able to do everything? That year, if it wasn’t because the relationship with Ruo Li, just relying on Yun Xuan Zhi, the new first ranked in the imperial exam, wanting to become an official in Jingdu is simply nonsense! I’d like to see how well her calculations (abacus) are! See how I’ll pluck all the beads from the abacus!”

• Jingdu is the capital

While speaking, Lao Tai Jun exuded a different aura from her normal amiable self. It was like she was another person. The whole body was immersed into a solemn atmosphere. The power of a wise madam distributed out from Lao Tai Jun’s bones.

Although, Ji Shu Yu didn’t want Lao Tai Jun to get angry, but the Yun family has gone too far. They actually put their calculations on Fu Guo Gong Fu’s head. Even for people with good temperament like Ji Shu Yu, she also couldn’t help but get angry, let alone Lao Tai Jun who was vigorous and resolute from a young age. Besides, the one who could control that old madam from Yun clan was only Lao Tai Jun. Therefore, Ji Shu Yu didn’t regret telling Lao Tai Jun all of these. Now Lao Tai Jun could give that old madam a good beating!

When Ji Shu Yu left Lai Tai Jun’s chamber, it was already noon. Originally, she wanted to go to her own yard to rest, but at the door stood an angry Qu Zhang Qing and Qu Fei Qing. Presumable, the dialogue between her and Lao Tai Jun has been heard by these two children.

Seeing that their mother has come out, they immediately rushed forward. Qu Fei Qing had a straightforward personality. At this moment, her eyes were reddened. She grabbed Ji Shu Yu’s sleeves and whimpered: “Mother, is Meng er living her days like that in the prime minister’s residence? The people there are more ferocious than the wolves on the mountain. They don’t have a heart. Fortunately, little sister Meng er is strong. If it was me, I fear that I’ll need to hide every day and cry.”

Ji Shu Yu saw that Qu Fei Qing was crying till her nose was red, she thought that it was funny. With her finger she tapped on her daughter’s nose and said: “Your life is much better than your little sister Meng er’s life. Around you there are Lao Tai Jun, your parents and brother who loves you. Ever since young, you’ve been sheltered, but Meng er has to learn how to survive ever since she was little. Over time, that child’s personality was actually stronger than what we thought. Although, that is a good thing, but it made people feel pain in her heart.”

Hearing Ji Shu Yu say that, Qu Fei Qing nodded. She sniffed and said angrily: “That prime minister’s residence really isn’t a place where people should stay! Mother, should we just let little sister come to Fu Guo Gong Fu? It’s not like our house can’t afford Meng er!”

“Sister!”

At this time, the silent Qu Zhang Qing shouted. It scared Qu Fei Qing that she hid behind her mother. While patting her chest, she complained: “Big brother, what are you doing? You scared me! If you have something to say, can’t you just say it? Why do you need to shout?!”

But this time, Ji Shu Yu took her son’s side. She pulled Qu Fei Qing who was behind her. She lightly tapped Qu Fei Qing’s head. Ji Shu Yu seriously said: “Fei er, some words shouldn’t be said! Your little sister Meng er has a father and a grandmother. How can she leave her own house and seek refuge at her maternal family? If doing that, not to mention that the outsiders will speculate, even that uncle (YXZ) of yours won’t agree with it! You know, to us it appears to be a trivial matter, but to outsiders and even the court, it can rise into an affair of the court. By that time, it’ll attract many suspicions to our Fu Guo Gong Fu!”

Qu Fei Qing who grew up in an environment full of love, where would she experience such sinister things? Hearing Ji Shu Yu analyzed like that, she felt that the door was really deep and that her way of thinking was really too simple. She felt a bit embarrassed now. She bent her head and gulped. She stood at a side and didn’t open her mouth anymore.

This time, it was Qu Zhang Qing’s time to open his mouth. His eyes were deep and calm. It was just that in those eyes shimmered concern for Yun Qian Meng.

“Is there no other way?”

Ji Shu Yu looked at the son who was her pride. She couldn’t help but sigh. Although, Zhang Qing was stable, had talent and had what it takes to be in the army, but because grew up in the barracks since he was a child, he was unfamiliar with the battles in the houses. Asking this question was like exposing his weakness.

“If it’s to live permanently it is impossible. However, visiting the relatives is still possible. Letting Meng er live for half a month isn’t a problem. It’s just that the prime minister’s residence is a special case. If Meng er leaves, I’m afraid that those people will take the opportunity to stir up trouble.”

Ji Shu Yu spoke solemnly and saw that her son and daughter were frowning. She couldn’t help but laugh. She comforted them: “There’s me and Lao Tai Jun. I believe that they won’t dare to go overboard. You two also don’t be so worried. I believe with Meng er’s intelligence, she can certainly deal it these things!”

After saying that, Ji Shu Yu changed the subject. She pulled Qu Fei Qing and asked if her female work (embroidery, painting, poems etc) had improved. Qu Fei Qing knew what to say and held her mother like a spoiled child. Mother and daughter left while smiling together. And Qu Zhang Qing who was still standing at the same place had a serious expression on. Looking at the good relation between his mother and sister and thinking about Yun Qian Meng who since she was little didn’t have a mother, he pitied the little cousin who only had everything on the surface. Qu Zhang Qing also knew some things that his little sister didn’t know. Presumably, that prime minister’s residence was more difficult than what his mother just said, otherwise Meng er wouldn’t have asked mother to ambush the killer on the road.

•  When YQM went to get old madam from their hometown, SQ prepared this killer for YQM. YQM guessed that something will happen on the road, so she asked her aunt to send her some people. But she never guessed that her uncle would send his heir, her cousin QZQ.

 If it wasn’t because he had heard her mother talking about this matter, he feared that Meng er would’ve long been murdered by Su Qing. Since when has their people of Fu Guo Gong Fu received such grievances? (They see YQM as their child not as the prime minister’s child)

Qu Zhang Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly. A hint of danger could be seen. He didn’t even know that his hands under his long sleeves had turned into fists……
—
At this time, a shrill cry came from Feng He yuan. Yun Ruo Xue’s two hands were gripping the armrest of the chair. Two maids were pressing her body down. Wei doctor was holding a blade and carefully cut the already crusted wound open and released the yellow pus inside.

Xi Chu country did have anesthetic, but Yun Ruo Xue’s wound looked like it was an outside wound and it happened to be on the forehead. It lets Wei doctor not to dare to use the anesthetic that could make people lose consciousness. So, Yun Ruo Xue could only suffer this pain.

Su Qing was standing beside Wei doctor and said to Wei doctor to carefully remove the yellow pus. Until red blood was flowing again, did she feel relieved. But at this time, Yun Ruo Xue couldn’t cope with the pain anymore and fainted.

Wei doctor carefully put new medicine on her wound and guided the maid to wrap the gauze. After that did Su Qing let some maids carry Yun Ruo Xue to the bed to rest.

After that was done, Su Qing guided Wei doctor to a side room. She asked in a small voice: “How is it? How many days will it take for the injury on my child’s forehead to heal?”

Wei doctor glanced anxiously at Su Qing. In his heart, he weighted about what to say. After that did he respectfully answer: “Answering Su concubine, the injury on miss cannot be treated careless anymore, otherwise, the scar will worsen.”

Su Qing hearing Wei doctor said that, her face paled. Her body relied on the small table. Feebly, she asked: “What is called worsen? Can it be that the scar won’t go away?”

Seeing her like that, Wei doctor knew that Su Qing couldn’t accept this reality. However, he also couldn’t lie to Su Qing. Otherwise, if in the future the scar wasn’t gone, he feared that the prime minister would take his small life then. So, he could only walk on the dangerous path and say: “Su concubine, originally, if miss listened to this old one’s words, removing the scar wouldn’t have been difficult. But why didn’t miss use this old one’s medicine? I don’t know what other medicine she has used and accelerated the healing of the wound. But the blood that was inside hasn’t been removed and slowly turned into yellow pus. Now, cutting the wound to release the yellow pus is the same as sustaining a second injury. I fear that in the future, it’ll leave a faint scar.”

Hearing that, Su Qing’s heart sank. She passed the Ningzhi cream in her sleeves to Wang mama to let her pass it to Wei doctor to let him check if it was this Ningzhi cream that had a problem.

Wei doctor received the cream, opened it and smelled its fragrance. Then he took out a little on a piece of paper and tested it for a long time. Then, he cautiously replied: “This is a really good medicine! But, this medicine can only be used after the scab is off. If it’s used boldly, I fear that it will have the opposite effect. Looking at what is left in the bottle, presumably the amount that second miss smeared daily wasn’t small. I fear that because of this, the wound missed the best time to heal!”

Su Qing carefully listened to Wei doctor’s explanation. The hand resting on the table was already red from anger. She feebly told Wei doctor: “Miss’s injury will depend on you. Use your best ability to cure it; otherwise, it’ll be difficult to explain to prime minister. Also, beside us three, I don’t want a fourth person to know about this!”

Of course, Wei doctor knew that this was related to the honor of a lady. Even if he was courageous, he wouldn’t tell anyone that the face of the prime minister’s daughter had been damaged. So, he immediately nodded.
Wang mama saw that in the past few days, Su Qing has been angry,  vomited blood, fainted and also did crazy things with Yun Xuan Zhi, she had some concern for Su Qing’s body. Taking advantage that Wei doctor hasn’t left yet, she let him check Su Qing’s pulse. As a result, this pulse put out the problem. At this point, that Wei doctor’s forehead was full of sweat. Even his tone was somewhat unstable: “Su concubine, you really can’t afford to get angry anymore! Otherwise, this child couldn’t be saved anymore!”

Su Qing didn’t know that Wei doctor would get such conclusion. Her whole body paralyzed in the chair. For a long time, she couldn’t speak.

Wang mama was calmer at this time. She quickly pulled the Wei doctor and asked: “What went wrong? You really need to protect this child of our madam’s, otherwise, I’ll let prime minister break your pharmacy!”

That Wei doctor has been intimated by Wang mama’s words. He swallowed and then cautiously replied: “Before, Su concubine got really angry and….and has intercourse. This is a taboo for the first trimester of pregnancy! If within the next month, she doesn’t properly carry the fetus, even if it is the Great Luo god, he also can’t save it! Also, Su concubine, please use the medication according to how this old one’s say. Must not because for a moment of greed and not care for the child!”

After saying that, that Wei doctor quickly opened his medicine chest. He personally took out a brush, paper and ink and started writing Yun Ruo Xue’s and Su Qing’s prescription.

Seeing that her child could be kept, she obediently obeyed the doctor’s words. She nodded and let Wang mama go into her room to get twenty teals for Wei doctor.

After sending Wei doctor away, Wang mama returned to the side room. Seeing that Su Qing was still sitting there, she approached Su Qing: “Madam, this coming month, you really need to be careful of your body! For the time being, let go of those little sluts. After the pregnancy is stable, it won’t be too late to deal with them, ah! You shouldn’t destroy three thousand enemies and lose ten thousand soldiers!”

Su Qing also knew the stakes. These past days, she has been thinking about how to deal with Yun Qian Meng. Besides, the issue of Lui Han Yu being in charge of the household also made her worry. Over time, she damaged her body.

Hearing Wei doctor’s serious warning today, she also knew the pros and cons. She would put up with the anger now. In the future, after she gives birth to Yun Xuan Zhi’s son, the entire prime minister’s residence would be in her hands then. Why would she fight for a moment of anger and be foolish?!

Thinking like that, Su Qing nodded. She let Wang mama escort her back into the inner chamber. Seeing Yun Ruo Xue sleeping on the bed, she couldn’t help but feel headache. Originally, she wanted to take Yun Ruo Xue’s scar as a matter to tumble Yun Qian Meng. She wanted to let Yun Xuan Zhi think that it was Yun Qian Meng who tampered with the Ningzhi cream. But thinking about it carefully; since Yun Qian Meng has the guts to give that thing to Yun Ruo Xue, it meant that she (YQM) was already prepared. By that time, the imperial physician would make a diagnosis. Perhaps, she (SQ) would even get the sin of defying the empress dowager’s benevolence. By then, she fears that even Su clan would get involved.

• The Ningzi cream is something the empress dowager gifted to Qu Ruo Li. So, if Su Qing suspects the cream will be the same as suspecting the empress dowager.

Therefore, even if Su Qing didn’t want to swallow this bitterness, she could only break her teeth and swallow it.

“Mama, the matter of Xue er changing her medicine will be handed to you. Nothing must go wrong again!”

Su Qing sat on the bed and stroked the soft face of her daughter. Seeing Yun Ruo Xue’s appearance was the same as hers and looking at the gauze wrapped around her forehead, Su Qing felt really painful in her heart. She could only order Wang mama in a low voice.

Wang mama also carefully accepted. Just thinking about the birthday banquet in a few days, she asked: “What do we do on the day of the birthday banquet? Can it be that we should let second miss go to Fu Guo gong Fu with gauze wrapped around her head? This is a big disrespect. Then eldest miss will make something out of it!”

Su Qing was also worrying about this. Her eyes were full of impatience and snapped: “If by that time, it still isn’t well, we can only let Xue er cut her hair into bangs to cover the wound!”

Hearing that, Wang mama muffled a sigh. Since there wasn’t any other way, she could only go down to boil the herbs for Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue.

—
Lunar Calendar, March 26^th was Fu Guo Gong Fu’s Lao Tai Jun’s sixty birthday. Even before dawn, the ladies from the clans began dressing up and intended to participate at Lao Tai Jun’s birthday in their best state.

At the prime minister’s residence, old madam let Yun Qian Meng and her sisters go back to their own yards early in the night. She asked everyone to rest well and to be in their best state the next day to spend the birthday with Lao Tai Jun. Old madam indeed put great importance on this birthday. After all, this was the first time since she came back to Jingdu that she could attend such an important banquet. Moreover, it was also her first step in setting foot in the high society. Therefore, the 26^th day just arrived, she let Rui mama to go to each miss’s yards and personally invite them to Bai Shun Tang.

Yun Qian Meng looked at the sisters around her. Everyone was dressed in new dresses. Everyone was more like flowers than people. It also made it obvious that they really put great importance on this birthday banquet.
However, compared to Yun Yi Yi who was backed by old madam and Yun Ruo Xue who was backed by Su Qing, although her mother is in charge of prime minister’s residence, Yun Yan’s dress was still a little behind the time.
It was evident that Liu concubine knew that today, she couldn’t let her daughter steal the limelight from Fu Guo Gong Fu’s daughter and moreover to not steal the limelight from Yun Qian Meng. All of this was to avoid from coming out now and being suppressed by people later.

Being so careful to please herself (YQM), Yun Qian Meng felt some grievance for Yun Yan. If it wasn’t because her status was a bit lower, in talent or appearance, Yun Yan wouldn’t lose to Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yi Yi.

At this time, all of old madam’s attention was on Yun Yi Yi. Seeing that the little child was still sleepy, she pinched Yun Yi Yi’s small cheek. It made the still sleeping Yun Yi Yi almost hop up. She sorted the clothes for Yun Yi Yi while she scolded lightly: “Give me more spirit! Today is an important occasion. You can’t let me lose face!”

After that being said, Yun Ruo Xue sneered in her heart. In old madam’s heart there was really only one granddaughter, Yun Yi Yi.

And the smile on Yun Qian Meng’s face remained the same. Although, she didn’t have good feelings for this grandmother, but she would not let her look bad in front of people.

Although, old madam saw that Yun Qian Meng didn’t express anything after hearing those words, she still said some warnings to these three. Then she let Rui mama straightened her hair and jewelry.

Until chen (7am-9am) hour did these five people arrived at the prime minister’’s door in sedan chairs. By this time, the carriage sent by Fu Guo Gong Fu had already waited for a full half hour.

Old madam completely boarded the carriage as the head of the prime minister’s residence. After expressing that in front of the maids of Fu Guo Gong Fu did she enter the carriage contented.

Seeing her being like a nasty person, Yun Qian Meng shook her head in her heart. It was as if she was exclaiming that she was Lai Tai Jun’s opponent. She (YQM) feared that today old madam would have good fruit to eat (she’ll not have a good day).

Yun Yi Yi was curious about everything and kept asking Yun Qian Meng questions about this and that. When the carriage had reached Fu Guo Gong Fu, that small mouth still hasn’t stopped talking.

After the carriage stopped and everyone got off did they find out that today, Fu Guo Gong Fu’s door was not the same as usual. The carriages from different clans blocked the original wide streets; it was really busy. It showed the importance of Fu Guo Gong Fu in Xi Chu country and also showed the weight it had in emperor Yu Qian’s heart.