The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Episode 13: Fragrant Courtyard(13)
Not long after Xue Qingyang left, Jiang Hai came to invite Xue Yange to dine at Yangxin Hall. Xue Yange declined, saying, "I won't go. I'm tired today and need to rest early. We'll talk about it in a few days. Gui Xi, see Eunuch Jiang out."
The Emperor and Empress usually make up after a quarrel, but this was the first time they had argued for so long. What's worse is that neither of them was willing to compromise. This time, the Emperor offered a way out, but the Empress didn't appreciate it and rejected it for several days in a row. The mental pressure was immense, and Jiang Hai even lost some hair. "Miss Gui Xi, could you please say a few words to comfort Her Majesty? Even just coming to Yangxin Hall for a cup of tea would be fine." "Perhaps His Majesty could come to Chang Le Palace... Sigh... This..."
Gui Xi felt a chill run down her spine the moment she saw Jiang Hai, thinking of Li Chenyuan. She scratched the back of her neck, looking troubled. "Eunuch Jiang, this... this servant can't... After all... Eunuch Jiang, why don't you try to persuade His Majesty to negotiate peace? Perhaps His Majesty will soften her heart out of consideration for the past."
Gui Xi's words frightened Jiang Hai so much that his legs went weak, and he hunched over. "Miss Gui Xi, be careful what you say! What do you mean by 'considerate of the past'? If others hear this, they might think the Emperor and Empress..."
"Even Eunuch Jiang couldn't dissuade her, and this lowly servant has no power to do anything about it."
Jiang Hai dared not linger any longer, fearing he might overhear some shocking words and accidentally let them slip, bringing misfortune upon himself again. Before leaving, he repeatedly instructed, "Miss Guixi, you must tell the Empress that the Emperor has feelings for you, and that you are irreplaceable."
Guixi relayed the message truthfully. Xue Yange remained noncommittal. "Nonsense, anyone can say that. Come with me out of the palace tomorrow."
The next day, Xue Yange had already changed into her palace maid's attire. Gui Xi was handed the bamboo basket. "If the gatekeeper asks, just say the Empress suddenly wants to eat mutton from Mingyue Tower. If he asks again, just say it's Bishui, a new palace maid from Chang Le Palace. Understand?"
Gui Xi nodded. The gatekeeper knew she was the Empress's personal maid, but he didn't let her off easy during the interrogation. He even asked for both of their name tags. These tags were made by the Imperial Household Department using copper molds, recording the palace maid's name and affixed with the place's unique anti-counterfeiting mark. Xue Yange liked jade, so the palace maid tags for Chang Le Palace were made of jade.
Just as Gui Xi was worrying that the Empress didn't have a name tag, she saw the Empress take off a piece of emerald green jade from her waist. Gui Xi passed this hurdle without incident.
On the street, Xue Yange twirled the jade pendant, smugly pleased with her cleverness. "Last time, the dog hole I used to sneak out of the palace was blocked by Li Chenyuan, so I asked Lan Jun to make me a fake identity. Now I can leave the palace openly and legitimately; who can stop me?"
Gui Xi choked, "Uh... Mother... Miss... clever..."
Seeing Xue Yange's beaming smile, Gui Xi relaxed a little. But when they reached the back wall of the Prime Minister's residence, Gui Xi's smile vanished. She saw her mistress had taken off her palace maid's clothes, revealing a maid's outfit underneath. A pile of clothes was shoved into Gui Xi's hands. Taking the bamboo basket, she skillfully broke off a few pieces from the corner of the wall and quickly made a dog hole. "I'm going to visit Xie Yan in his illness. We'll meet at Mingyue Tower later."
Xue Yange tossed out a few silver ingots, reminding him, "Eat as much as you like. If you need more silver, just put it on my tab."
Xue Yange, like a thief, weaved left and right, avoiding the crowd, and arrived at Xie Yan's courtyard. Several pine and cypress trees were planted on a wooden frame in the outer courtyard, and the osmanthus tree in the courtyard was in full bloom, with fallen petals filling the courtyard with fragrance. Perhaps because it had been neglected for several days, the stone table under the tree was covered with osmanthus blossoms. Occasionally, a few birds chirped. The green tiles and white walls exuded a touch of desolate poetry.
When Xie Yan was at home, he preferred quiet and only left servants to attend to him. The servants could only clean the house when Xie Yan was out. Since Xie Yan had been ill and staying at home for several days, the servants dared not enter the courtyard rashly, for fear of disturbing their young master's rest.
Xue Yange tiptoed into the house, circling around several times but still couldn't find him. Finally, she went to his bedroom. His brows were furrowed, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and an unnatural blush appeared on his face. Xue Yange initially thought he was deliberately avoiding her, but she never imagined he was truly ill.
Xue Yange stepped on something strange and looked down to find several pieces of paper on the ground. Curious, she picked up a few pieces containing the characters "廿," "女," "口匕," and "艮," and gathered all the pieces together, piecing them back together along the tears. The result was her maiden name:
Yan Niang.
Xue Yange felt that Xie Yan hated her intensely, which was why he had torn her name to pieces.
It didn't matter; let him hate her if he wanted. She couldn't have a good life, and she had no reason to let these people live happily. How could the children of the Xue family admit defeat like stray dogs?
She picked up the pieces of paper and examined them, finding ink stains on the back. She flipped them over and pieced them back together. A few strokes outlined a woman's graceful figure. The woman had no facial features and was unclothed. The strangest thing was a mole on her thigh.
Xue Yange knew her body perfectly well; the person in the painting was herself. Without pondering why Xie Yan had painted it, she focused her clever eyes on devising a scheme before pocketing the scraps of paper.
She opened the bamboo basket, took out bird's nest and white fungus soup, and used a spoon to wake him. "Xie Yan, I've come to visit you."
Xie Yan had been delirious with fever for the past few days. It wasn't a serious illness, just years of overwork and accumulated worries that had flared up. The rain a few days ago had triggered the illness.
Xie Yan opened his eyes blankly, immediately seeing the source of the nightmare that had plagued him for days. A dizzy, lightheaded feeling washed over him. He thought he was still dreaming and wished he could close his eyes and faint again. He turned his head away, ignoring the nightmare.
In his dream, she was a far cry from her usual gentle self. Her wicked grin, brimming with malicious intent, seemed all the more real. Her red lips parted slightly, "Xie Yan, I brought you bird's nest and white fungus soup. Open your mouth."
Xie Yan was half-forced to eat it. The sweet taste spread, and his dry, cracked throat felt like it was being washed clean, regaining its vitality. Perhaps it was a dream, but the taste was dreamlike and beautiful.
She smiled brightly, her flamboyant red lips opening and closing, "Is it good? I added some rock sugar and licorice."
At this moment, Xie Yan was unaware that he was falling deeper and deeper into her trap.
--- The entire
book, 300,000 words long, is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Welcome to read it at the following website:
[Link to the book: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter]
...
Chapter 14: Pan Jinlian (The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP))(14)
Xie Yan didn't want to respond to this nightmare, but her fiery passion was hard to ignore. Looking at the person in front of him, his memory was somewhat confused. He thought of that bowl of brown sugar ginger soup, those soft breasts, the almost suffocating moment under her skirt, and the black mole on her thigh.
The brown sugar ginger soup she gave him was sickeningly sweet, but it was his favorite flavor.
Although the Xie family was a wealthy family, their diet was light and simple. Their ancestral family precepts said that they should not be biased and should know how to be moderate. This applies to their diet as well as their personal conduct, which is also a way of self-discipline and propriety.
When the Xue siblings came to the Xie family for the first time, Xue Yange did not call it shabby at all. Her tone was not discriminatory at all. She simply stated that it was too bland and even more shabby than what the servants in the Xue family ate.
Xue Yange always thought he was too thin. The little girl grabbed his hand and took him to the Xue family without saying a word. She was full of energy and looked like a little gazelle.
At first, Xie Yan resisted the sight of the lavish feast on the table, always remembering his father's oft-repeated saying, "Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie." Every grain of rice was hard-earned, made entirely from the people's hard-earned money.
Under Xue Yange's coaxing, he bit into a piece of sweet and sour pork, coated in a refreshing, tangy sauce that made him unconsciously take another bite. Bit by
bit, Xie Yan grew to love this decadent flavor. Later, the Xie family distanced themselves from the Xue family to avoid suspicion, and Xie Yan obeyed his parents' orders to stop visiting. Just when Xie Yan thought his connection with the Xue siblings was severed, Xue Yange, covered in dust, crawled in through a dog hole. She mysteriously pulled something from her bosom—a large, slightly broken piece of osmanthus cake—and tipped it to feed him. Her bright eyes and mischievous smile, revealing a missing front tooth, made it hard to refuse. Xie Yan noticed her hands were covered in dust, but still obediently bent down and ate it.
Xie Yan's life had always been one of repression and constraint, suffocating him. He had never seen a girl who could laugh so freely and unrestrainedly as Xue Yange. At the time, he thought perhaps she was just a child, lacking worldly worries. But as she grew older, she remained the same woman who would laugh heartily over the smallest things, only that smile no longer belonged to him.
Her bright, sparkling eyes were fixed solely on Li Chenyuan, and all her passion was dedicated to that uninvited guest. She chose Li Chenyuan without hesitation or reservation, with a simple, honest courage.
At that time, Xie Yan was still a powerless youth. As the eldest son of the Xie family, he bore too many responsibilities and could not possibly rebel against his family. Therefore, he could not live recklessly. Moreover, there was already a shackle between Xue Yange and Li Chenyuan, a shackle called an imperial decree.
But in reality, Xie Yan felt immense envy and jealousy towards Li Chenyuan.
Xie Yan suppressed his unspoken emotions even deeper, self-destructively stifling them. He packaged himself as the Xie family had hoped for, retreating behind the scenes. Wasn't it better to be an observer? He comforted himself with this thought.
He coldly watched Xue Yange's setbacks after entering the palace, subtly sabotaging the ministers who spoke ill of her behind her back. When they were preoccupied with other matters, they naturally had no energy to care about whether the Empress was dignified and virtuous.
However, his intentions were still noticed. Behind the jeweled crown and beaded curtain, her deep eyes glared at him for a long time. Later, the newly enthroned emperor executed dozens of corrupt officials.
Xie Yan didn't actually want to advise Xue Yange, nor did he want any more contact with her. However, due to the pressure at court and public opinion, as the Prime Minister Xie, who was on good terms with the Xue family, he was naturally thrust into this position—a position responsible for offering advice.
Rationally speaking, Xie Yan's thoughts were similar to Li Chenyuan's. Emotionally, the moment she shed her first tear, Xie Yan felt an impulse, but he quickly suppressed it. He had too many responsibilities, and besides, he had a fiancée who had waited for him for five years. It wasn't about love, but about fundamental human decency; he couldn't be an unfaithful beast.
"Xie Yan."
Another voice called out. Xie Yan struggled to escape, remembering how Pan Jinlian fed Wu Dalang medicine; the sweet and refreshing soup tasted like deadly poison, making him fearful. He
swallowed a bowl of soup.
Then he saw her pick up a piece of scrap paper and question, "Xie Yan, why did you draw me?"
Even in his dreams, Xie Yan refused to acknowledge this filthy and shameful desire.
Unexpectedly, a hand slipped into the gap of the quilt, tracing down his abdomen, lifting his underpants, and grasping his erect penis. Xie Yan's breath hitched, and he gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse: "Let go!"
Suddenly, the voice of the servant Li Quan came from outside, "Young Master, the medicine is ready."
Xie Yan suddenly realized this was not a dream. He immediately grabbed Xue Yange's wrist and said to the door, "Come back later."
Xue Yange tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and slowly untied the fingers from his wrist. His movements became bolder. He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed. Xue Yange touched his chapped lips, "Why didn't you call for help, Lord Xie?"
Xie Yan, who used to be a powerful figure in the court, was a civil official, but he had mastered all six arts of a gentleman. His body looked thin but felt substantial to the touch. At this moment, he was so weak that even Xue Yange couldn't break free. He must be very ill.
Xue Yange not only didn't pity Xie Yan, but felt it was a stroke of luck. It was best that Xie Yan couldn't resist her; it would be easier to take advantage of him while he was ill.
Xie Yan tried to resist, but Xue Yange held him down firmly. Finally, he could only suppress his anger and ask, "What do you want to do?"
"What does Lord Xie think?" After saying this, Xue Yange pulled down her trousers and grasped her erect penis, letting out suppressed, painful gasps through her teeth.
"Lord Xie, you've been wise all your life. How could a mere illness make you so weak?"
The anger flashing in his eyes greatly pleased Xue Yange. She thoughtfully added, "I put some muscle-relaxing powder in your soup." ---
The entire
book is 300,000 words long and is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Welcome to read it at the following website:
...
The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 15: The Taste of Womanhood (Mild H)(15)
"After the imperial edict was sent out, I thought about it over and over again, but nothing seemed right. How could you all be satisfied while I got nothing? It's unreasonable! You received favors, but I suffered injustice."
Seeing that he couldn't break free, Xie Yan covered his eyes with his hand and compromised, saying, "Your Majesty's meaning is clear to me. I will explain to the Emperor myself."
That day, Xie Yan returned from the palace and soon received the imperial edict. He unfolded it and saw that it was an edict for selecting concubines. Xie Yan couldn't tell if she had come to her senses or was deliberately being stubborn, so he held onto the edict and didn't hand it over for a long time. Now he thought it was the latter, otherwise she wouldn't have made such a fuss.
Unexpectedly, Xie Yan guessed wrong. Xue Yange's actions became bolder and bolder. Xie Yan was like meat on a chopping board, at her mercy. Her fingertips slid across his burning chest, the punishment like a pinch on his nipple. "What do you understand? You don't understand at all!"
"Hiss..."
Xue Yange's expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book. The next moment, she nestled against his chest and whispered tenderly, like a cat that would usually bristle and hiss when approached, but one day, she limped and took the initiative to get close to him. Her vulnerable and pleading appearance made people both love and hate her. "You all got what you wanted. I was lonely in the deep palace and just wanted to find someone to comfort me. You know I had a falling out with my family. I'm impulsive and don't have many friends. The only person I can rely on is you, Xie Yan. I only have you left. Are you still going to be so cruel as to push me away?"
Xue Yange spoke with sorrow, but there was no sadness in her eyes. Sensing that Xie Yan was wavering, she pressed her advantage. "Xie Yan, I'm very sad. I've tried so hard but I still don't get recognition. They say I don't deserve the position of Empress. Actually, I never wanted to be Empress. I just wanted to find a strong and reliable husband who would make me feel safe."
"Offspring... As for offspring... I can't help it..." Xue Yange became more and more anxious, scratching Xie Yan incessantly. "If he really loves me, why can't he go to a collateral branch to adopt a qualified child? Why does he have to find Li Shuangshuang to disgust people?"
"Xie Yan." Xue Yange looked at his chin, her eyes full of innocence. "Am I just a worthless person who deserves to be bullied by you?"
Xie Yan wanted to answer no. He was so smart, how could he not understand what Xue Yange meant? He could help Xue Yange withstand the pressure of taking a concubine, but this kind of immoral and unrighteous thing was absolutely unacceptable.
"Your Majesty... our statuses are different." He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, swallowing hard. He seemed truly desperate, fearing Xue Yange might do something foolish again. His voice was gentle and even pleading. "You are the Empress, and I am but a subject. If word gets out... the Xue and Xie families will be doomed. As the head of the Xie family, I have a duty to protect them. Please spare me. If General Xue knew this in the afterlife, he would surely not find peace."
If Xue Yange hadn't met her brother, she would probably have felt guilty and backed down upon hearing this. But after meeting her brother, she had the strength to fight back. She remembered the saying, "The victor is king." As long as she won, even if the process was despicable, she was still a winner. As for the loser, there was no point in arguing; after all, history is written by the winners.
"I understand." Xue Yange was very disappointed to hear Xie Yan's explanation. She lowered her head regretfully. Just when Xie Yan thought that Xue Yange was going to let him go, he saw her lift her beautiful, watery eyes and say with a wicked smile, "Has Lord Xie ever tasted the flavor of a woman?"
Xue Yange was determined to drag Xie Yan down to hell with her. There were many benefits to having Xie Yan as a companion. First, she could disgust Lin Yanran. Second, as the prime minister, he held the power of the seed. This power was different from military power. It was a good thing that could kill people invisibly.
Xue Yange skillfully undressed Xie Yan, saying confidently, "You've never tried it before, otherwise why would crawling under a skirt make you want to draw a nude picture? It's a pity you've kept yourself pure for so many years, let me let you experience the taste. After you've tasted it, even your fiancée probably won't be able to satisfy you."
Based on her years of knowing Xie Yan, since gentle methods were useless, she could only force him. Force him until he got used to it, just like the first time hunting. Xie Yan didn't like killing, but he couldn't resist her request to eat wild game. After one or two times, he became more and more skilled at killing and bleeding, and he was immersed in the pleasure of controlling life and death.
Xue Yange only manipulated him slightly, and his genitals released semen. Xie Yan gasped for breath, his head thrown back as if drowning. The usually cold and restrained man was a different kind of charm when he was in the heat of passion. Xue Yange chuckled a few times and said a few dirty words.
"They say men are like floods and beasts, and it's true! Xie Yan, you look so refined, but what you hide in your pocket is so ferocious. How have you managed to resist using it all these years? Such a beauty paired with such a celibate master, what a pity."
The vulgar words were unbearable to hear, and Xie Yan heard them all. At this moment, his body and reason completely separated. He desperately pleaded, trying to reason with her, "Hiss... Yan Niang, don't do this. From childhood to adulthood, when have I not helped you? When have I ever refused you? So... stop, I will help you... please stop... hiss..."
Xue Yange didn't appreciate it, instead tightening her grip on the glans, her swollen genitals... Somewhat menacing, but not as ferocious as Xue Yange's expression, she said, "Yanniang, you still know to call me Yanniang. All those 'help' you speak of are irrelevant matters. The only crucial time was when you didn't stop me. Xie Yan, you love to talk about 'responsibility,' let me explain. If Lin Yanran hadn't brought Li Shuangshuang and Li Chenyuan together, there wouldn't have been this ridiculous concubine-taking. If you hadn't advised against it, I wouldn't feel so helpless and pathetic. If you had offered me even a word of comfort in Chang Le Palace, we wouldn't be where we are today. Now, Xie Yan, you also bear some responsibility." ---
The entire
book, 300,000 words long, is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Please visit the website below to read
: [Link to book]
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 016: Forced Takeover (H) (16)
"I'm not a bad person. I've given you many chances, but you never seized them. You keep provoking me. So, Xie Yan, you're destined to go through this with me." Xue Yange pressed her thumb against the urethra and poked it repeatedly. "You brought this on yourself. I can afford to go down with you. Xie Yan, can you play along?"
The usually refined and indifferent Xie Yan was furious, his eyes red with lust. He wanted to tear the woman in front of him to pieces, but he was ashamed of his uncontrollable lust. He gritted his teeth and shouted to stop. So Xue Yange really stopped. She untied her belt, and the two halves of her lake-green clothes slid down. The fragrance of a hundred flowers wafted over her. Her white and jade-like bronze body was admirable.
Since her falling out with Li Chenyuan, they hadn't shared a bed. Even when Li Chenyuan was busy, he would always make time to be intimate with Xue Yange at night. She had been alone in her room for over three months, and with Lan Jun's recent instigation, she felt particularly empty and restless. Driven by a mix of revenge and lust, Xue Yange pressed her mons pubis against his burning hot penis, rubbing it against him. Her juices soaked the shaft. Seeing his agonizingly pleasured expression, she, a true gentleman, turned away and feigned a cry, "Yan Niang, no."
Her flower-like opening swallowed the tip of his penis, then slipped away halfway, shifting its position to find the most comfortable spot, swaying her hips to obtain pleasure. Xue Yange leaned down, pretending not to understand, listening intently, her dark hair slipping down like spiderwebs. Entangled with Xie Yan,
she said, "Don't do anything, Xie Yan, you know better." Without waiting for a response, she pressed herself against Xie Yan, and unlike her previous light touches, she bit his lower lip fiercely. When he released his mouth in pain, her delicate tongue entwined with his. The taste wasn't very good; her mouth was full of the bitter taste of medicine. Thinking that this old-fashioned scholar probably had never kissed a woman before, Xue Yange naturally took on the role of his mentor. She clung to Xie Yan's shoulders, lowered her waist, and sat up a little higher, pressing her waist against his abs to make it easier to kiss. With a conquering force, she hooked her tongue around his thick tongue, sucking and kissing to steal each other's breath. Xie Yan initially resisted, but gradually succumbed. Just as he was about to fall into the abyss, he pulled back his senses and bit her with all his might.
"Ugh!" Xue Yange was furious. A faint metallic taste lingered on her tongue. These ungrateful bastards had actually bitten her. They were all like despicable dogs. The mention of dogs only fueled her anger. She moved down to his chest, licking along the muscle lines with her tongue before biting his right breast. Seeing only a muffled groan and a mild reaction, she bit down on the nipple that had been pinched red, eliciting a painful groan from the man.
Xue Yange cupped his face, finding his ferocious appearance irresistible. Following the wrinkles on his face, she gently warned, "If you dare bite me again, I'll bite your left breast to make it symmetrical."
Then Xue Yange kissed Xie Yan again. Perhaps the warning had worked, for this time Xie Yan dared not act rashly, but he also dared not take the initiative, passively enduring Xue Yange's teasing.
While kissing him, Xue Yange touched his penis, slowly taking the tip into her vagina. Three months without intercourse had made her vagina tight, even swallowing the tip was difficult, yet the emptiness and desire constantly urged her to hurry, to quickly insert the hot thing into her belly and devour it completely.
Fortunately, Xie Yan was currently unable to move, so she wasn't worried about him suddenly turning over and forcing himself on her. There was plenty of time to adjust. Xue Yange was enjoying herself while Xie Yan was in pain. He panted heavily, weakly holding her slender waist, trying to push her onto his penis, but he was powerless. He remained stubborn, his body behaving as he spoke, his words full of insincerity.
Xue Yange, however, enjoyed hearing his insincere words. Each sentence, coupled with the scene and his actions, made him seem like a hypocritical, self-condemning novel.
Once caught up in the scheme, who wouldn't feel guilty? She didn't believe anyone in the world could remain completely honest and without a single sin for their entire life. Considering Xie Yan's current state, Xue Yange hadn't intended to force him today. However, she discovered the nude painting, and upon entering, she glimpsed several peony paintings with beautiful women under the bookshelf. The women were all faceless, but Xue Yange clearly recognized them as her. After all,
peonies were her favorite flower, and with that nude painting, even if Xue Yange wasn't a genius, she could deduce that Xie Yan actually harbored romantic feelings for her. That made him even more despicable. He clearly had feelings for her, yet he helped outsiders seduce her, deliberately wanting to see her suffer—that was unforgivable.
As Xue Yange predicted, Xie Yan experienced unimaginable pleasure. Illness, dizziness, suffocation from lack of oxygen, the muscular dystrophy, and Xue Yange's threats—one thing after another piled up, making it difficult for Xie Yan to maintain his rationality.
Xue Yange, supporting herself on Xie Yan's chest, arched her back in a graceful pose. She sighed as she swallowed his genitals; the hot, burning penis filled her emptiness, an incomparable pleasure. The thrill of adultery surged again; she had indeed committed adultery. She swayed her hips passionately, deriving pleasure from Xie Yan. Despite being a beautiful woman, he was easily overwhelmed and ejaculated quickly.
Xue Yange forgave him for the first time, lifting her hips to take his limp penis in. Xie Yan was still immersed in the post-ejaculation bliss when his penis was swallowed back into her tight opening. After a few strokes, his limp penis was forcibly awakened. Xie Yan was weak from his illness and disliked this forced feeling, but he was powerless to resist, only able to gasp and pant in painful pleasure. ---
The entire
book is 300,000 words long and complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Please visit the website below to read them.
The Cornerer: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter
.....
The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 017: Retreating to Advance(17)
Gui Xi sat in the private room of Mingyue Tower, unable to eat the delicious food before her. How could she possibly find the Empress in the crowded streets? Even so, she kept peeking out, her body crawling with insects, pacing restlessly in the room. She thought today was really unwise. The Empress had taken guards with her when she left the palace last time, and she was kidnapped by thieves. This time she left the palace without saying a word. What if something happened...? Gui Xi felt a chill run down her spine.
Hearing the familiar call, Gui Xi breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that her head was safe again. Looking at the Empress's full and gluttonous expression, she looked like a dissolute woman from a brothel. Gui Xi really dared not imagine what the Empress had done with Lord Xie. It was a capital offense. Xue
Yange picked up a pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of mutton, and dipped it in sauce.
Startled, Gui Xi quickly stopped her, "Your Majesty, it's cold now. Eating cold food might harm your health, so..."
Xue Yange was starving, but seeing Gui Xi's mournful face, she reluctantly put down her chopsticks and had the food reheated.
"Your Majesty, why not order a fresh portion? These are all from your servant..."
"Just eat them. It's a waste to throw them away." Xue Yange placed a piece of meat in Gui Xi's bowl. "You eat too. This isn't the palace; there aren't so many rules. Also, don't call me Your Majesty. Call me Miss when we're out of the palace. Who wants to be that unlucky Your Majesty!"
"Miss..." Gui Xi looked helplessly at Xue Yange, but couldn't bring herself to refuse. It was rare to see Xue Yange with an appetite, so she couldn't refuse. Back then, Xue Yange had kindly invited Gui Xi and Xing An to eat together, and the reputation of mistress and servant eating at the same table spread, which was considered a lack of manners. At that time, Her Majesty didn't understand the unspoken rules of the palace and often made a fool of herself. Later, as Her Majesty grew up, her brows furrowed deeper, filled with worries, only relaxing when she saw the Emperor.
Gui Xi grew up alongside Xue Yange, and she knew better than anyone that Xue Yange loved freedom. The only reason the Empress could keep her confined in the deep palace was the Emperor; the Empress was deeply in love with him.
But now, with the Emperor and Empress at odds, the Empress's only pillar of support in the palace had collapsed. She struggled hysterically in agony, and others thought she had gone mad, but no one knew how much pain she was enduring. She had given her best years to her lover, only to have someone try to destroy them. The Empress was simply trying to protect her dignity.
Gui Xi was twenty-nine years old this year. People say that those who die young are destined for misfortune, and Gui Xi felt this was indeed true.
Long ago, Xue Yange asked Gui Xi if she wanted to marry into a good family. Xue Yange, who had fallen in love and lost herself, was the best negative example for Gui Xi, so she immediately declined. Gui Xi wanted to be a clear-headed person and didn't want to spend her whole life as a wife and mother to a man, working like a beast of burden without a monthly salary. Being the Empress's head maid was much more glamorous, with money and respect. There was no better job in the world, so Gui happy decided to be Xue Yange's personal maid for life.
Of course, the most important thing was that Xue Yange treated her like family. Gui Xi picked up the piece of mutton and smiled shyly, "Thank you, Miss."
It was already dark, and the two rushed back to the palace before the curfew. Before leaving the palace, Xue Yange asked Lan Jun to guard the gate. It must be said that Lan Jun was very good at guarding the gate. For three days in a row, she persuaded Li Chenyuan, who wanted to visit, to turn back. Whether it was the tacit understanding between husband and wife or something else, Li Chenyuan, who was usually so busy that he was overwhelmed, actually had the leisure to wait for "her".
As soon as Xue Yange returned to Chang Le Palace, she saw Li Chenyuan sitting in the main seat of the hall, dressed in a black casual robe with a gold dragon pattern. He glanced at her, then continued reading the memorial in his hand, saying, "The Empress's excessive sleepiness is getting worse."
Gui Xi immediately bowed deeply upon seeing the dragon boots. Xue Yange, still in her maid's uniform, wasn't nervous about being caught, and calmly replied with a smile, "Yes, Your Majesty is wise. I don't know if it's from worry or something else, but the pressure on me is so great that I even sleepwalked to the Bright Moon Tower outside the city. Isn't that interesting?"
Upon hearing the words "from worry," Li Chenyuan's aura froze to an icy point. Jiang Hai, who was serving beside him, resignedly knelt down next to Lan Jun, looking at her with a resentful expression, wanting to vent his frustration, but Lan Jun was kneeling on the ground, her mind completely focused.
Xie Yan's reason for requesting leave included the phrase "from worry," but the source of this worry remained unknown.
Xue Yange's mention of "illness due to worry" in person truly angered Li Chenyuan. He had foolishly listened to Jiang Hai's advice and waited here for so long, only to find out he wasn't throwing a tantrum and refusing to see anyone, but instead secretly leaving the palace for pleasure. Now he was the laughingstock, slamming his memorials on the table with a loud thud, a mountain of memorials sliding to the floor, accompanied by cries of "Your Majesty,
please calm down!" "Xue Yange, how long are you going to keep this up?"
Seven years had honed her, and even in her palace maid's attire, her noble bearing was undeniable. Looking at the man she once deeply loved, her heart ached. Her wrist, empty beneath her sleeve, held the note she had removed as proof of their past love.
"I wasn't making a scene. I was just feeling down and came out of the palace to clear my head." She sighed almost imperceptibly, her heart surprisingly calm. Perhaps this was a case of utter despair, a death of the heart, which was why she felt no pain. "
That's enough. A lose-lose situation wouldn't look good. She doesn't want to be a stray dog, a laughingstock. Her father said, 'Retreat is a strategic advance.' Now she's merely making a temporary truce, not admitting defeat.
" "I've figured out what Your Majesty said a few days ago. The imperial decree for the concubine's selection has been drafted and will be sent to the Ministry of Rites in a few days. Therefore, I'm so depressed that I can't stay in the palace for a moment longer. Is this explanation satisfactory, Your Majesty?" Xue Yange approached and saw drops of blood on the ground. She knelt down and brushed aside Lan Jun's hair. There was a scabbed wound on her scalp, the blood already dried. She gently stroked it twice, her beautiful face cold as ice. In a voice only they could hear, she said, "Li Chenyuan, if you have any grievances, you can come at me. Why act like a petty person, venting your anger and seeking revenge? Are you just unhappy that I smashed the chess box at you that day?" ---
The entire
book is 300,000 words long and is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Please visit the website below to read them.
The Cornerer: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 018: Osmanthus Fragrance(18)
"Your Majesty could have easily dodged, so why did you stand there like an idiot and get hit? And then you'd be unhappy afterward." Xue Yange helped Lan Jun up and ordered him to go find the imperial physician. She turned around and put on a virtuous demeanor, picked up the memorials from the ground and piled them back on the table. She straightened Li Chenyuan's clothes and touched the wound on his right forehead. "Since Your Majesty is a wise ruler who listens to advice, then I will also offer my advice. Don't blame me for being blunt, but this is your own fault, and you can't blame anyone else. Does Your Majesty understand?"
"Your Majesty knows best how stubborn I am. Now that Your Majesty has gotten what you wanted, it's my turn to make demands. If Your Majesty doesn't agree, Li Shuangshuang will suffer in the palace."
She quickly changed the subject, so fast that Li Chenyuan didn't even have time to build up his anger. He looked at Xue Yange with a sinister gaze, waiting for her to speak. It wasn't that he was compromising, but rather that he felt indebted to her.
"Please speak, Your Majesty."
Xue Yan smiled, her eyes empty and devoid of any joy, as if she were looking at a dead object, not a person. She traced the scar on his forehead downwards, tracing his features, trying to figure out what she saw in him. The sad thing was, even now, though she hated him to the core, she still found him pleasing to the eye. It was like when she was a child, she received a piece of imperial green jade pendant, which she cherished dearly. When the jade fell into a latrine, she retrieved it with a tearful face, the stench unforgettable. Later,
she gave that jade to Li Chenyuan. A latrine-worthy woman was a good match for him.
"Li Chenyuan, let's get a divorce. You can divorce me, or use any grounds for divorce, like childlessness or jealousy. We've been married for seven years; let's part amicably."
Li Chenyuan preferred to believe that Xie Yan had married a prostitute rather than believe her nonsense. Subconsciously, he felt she wanted to express her dissatisfaction in an even more drastic way.
"Why must Your Majesty provoke me in this way?"
"No, Your Majesty, I did not intend to provoke you. I simply understand that Your Majesty has your own difficulties, and Your Majesty is benevolent and cares for all people. I understand. However, I feel that our marriage is nearing its end."
Xue Yange performed a courtly bow with neither arrogance nor servility, serving him a cup of tea, appearing as if discussing matters, but inwardly mocking her bleeding heart.
Some people, you simply don't meet them; but once you've seen them, you feel you'll never find such a dazzling man favored by heaven again, and no one else can catch your eye.
Xue Yange also had her own principles; what didn't belong to her, she disdained to fight or snatch.
"Your Majesty is not a qualified husband. I have often made excuses for you, but now I can't find any to convince myself, so it's time to part ways. I have no grand ambitions to accomplish, nor any aspirations. Treating the Empress's position as a game is truly inappropriate. You should find a woman worthy of you. As for this woman, I am indeed unsuitable. She has a bad temper, is jealous, narrow-minded, reckless, and short-sighted—she is unsuitable in every way."
She bowed deeply to Li Chenyuan for the first time, her tone resolute and calm, just as she had when she left home years ago. "Over the years, I have never asked Your Majesty for anything, only for the title of husband and wife." "Let's part amicably and not make a scene, giving others something to laugh at. Perhaps Your Majesty doesn't care, but my heart is particularly fragile. Any rumors are like sharp blades in my eyes, cutting me all over. Even after the wounds heal, they leave countless unsightly scars. This is what I've gained from the past seven years with Your Majesty." After
performing the grand ceremony, ending their earthly ties, she straightened up, a tear sliding down her cheek. Pointing to her heart, she said, "This is where the wound is deepest. Does Your Majesty understand?"
If Li Chenyuan had even half a word of gentleness in his dictionary, he would have already helped his wife up and whispered words of comfort. However, this man was born cold-hearted, and it was difficult to see any emotion other than anger in him.
It's hard to say that the couple hadn't influenced each other during their seven years together. For example, Li Chenyuan used to live a more repressed life than Xie Yan, so repressed that he would even be grateful and thank him when he was called to eat dog food. After entering the General's Mansion, he constantly packaged himself to maintain a virtuous and upright appearance, but his heart was filled with all sorts of dark and twisted evil thoughts.
Unfortunately, the Xue family members were all sharp-eyed, seeing through his inherent wickedness. Xue Yange didn't hesitate to tear away his disguise, even teaching him how to be righteously angry.
As for Xue Yange, she was originally simple-minded, but after spending time with Li Chenyuan, she had learned some techniques for manipulating people's hearts. Without using any swords, a little effort was enough to make people devoted.
But in front of Li Chenyuan, she was still showing off her limited skills. He pulled Xue Yange into his arms, his strong arms holding her waist, his straight nose gliding over her neck, his rough hands wiping away the tear stains on her cheeks.
Fortunately, Xue Yange had washed up beforehand, otherwise, if Li Chenyuan smelled her, it would be difficult to explain.
"The Empress smells of osmanthus; she must have gone to more than just Mingyue Tower today."
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise. I also brought some white fungus soup to catch up with Lord Xie. Lord Xie is reasonable; even in his serious illness, he could still spare the time to comfort me. His words were like a wake-up call; I understood and naturally stopped worrying. I have no reason to throw a tantrum at Your Majesty anymore." Xue
Yange tried to untie Li Chenyuan's arm, but it wouldn't budge. She had been crying earlier, but now she forced a smile. "Your Majesty, let go. Don't make things so ugly. Even if you're shameless, I still have some dignity. After all, I'm easily offended by rumors." ---
The entire
book is 300,000 words long and is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Please visit the website below to read it.
[Link to book: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter]
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 019: Coughing Up Blood(19)
"The Empress has gone to great lengths to put on this melodramatic show. If I do nothing, wouldn't I be a good husband?"
In the end, Li Chenyuan was too confident. Even now, he still thought Xue Yange was playing hard to get with him. Now that he realized he had really hurt her, his tone softened considerably. He kissed the back of her white neck. "I understand. Let's postpone the matter of taking a concubine for a while. When you're in a better mood, we can welcome Li Shuangshuang into the palace."
Xue Yange's mention of divorce was half true and half false. She wanted to leave Li Chenyuan, but she didn't want to leave in such a miserable way. At the very least, she had to get her revenge.
She mentioned divorce, knowing in her heart that Li Chenyuan would never agree. No matter what, she had the General's Mansion behind her. Even if she didn't need this wife, she desperately needed this ally.
He was suspicious and domineering, perhaps due to his background. Once a penniless concubine's son, even now in a high position, he couldn't shake his inherent flaws. Once he set his sights on something, he would hold onto it tightly, refusing to let go no matter how much he was scolded or beaten. Pushing him too far would inevitably lead to mutual destruction.
Similarly, in his world, he couldn't tolerate the slightest betrayal from those close to him. Rather than letting Li Chenyuan guess, it was better to fabricate a reason first, since Xie Yan was still useful to her, extremely useful.
After all, Xue Yange had experienced his suspicious and neurotic period. During that time, she would tell Li Chenyuan "I love you" every day to prove her feelings. If she didn't, he would throw a tantrum, clinging to her tightly and refusing to let her go anywhere.
What used to be a bit of fun now felt disgusting. She didn't even want to see that slut's face, so she had to pretend to be in love for the time being. She pushed away Li Chenyuan's lips and asked coquettishly, "What if I'm in a bad mood?"
Perhaps Xue Yange's coquettishness had worked, because Li Chenyuan's expression relaxed considerably, and his long-standing agitation finally calmed down. "Then let's wait until the Empress is in a better mood."
Xue Yange knew this was just a polite remark, so she immediately seized the opportunity, turned around, put her arm around Li Chenyuan's shoulder, and laughed, "Then I'm afraid I'll never be in a better mood."
Xue Yange saw Li Chenyuan slightly stunned, and inwardly scoffed at his hypocrisy. She frowned and said, "The palace is too stifling. I miss home and want to go back for a few days to calm down. Maybe then I'll feel better."
After a moment of silence, Li Chenyuan tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "There's still the autumn hunt. The Empress can go back in winter. It's too cold to train soldiers after winter."
With this back and forth, she achieved her goal, and Xue Yange readily accepted.
Li Chenyuan wanted to stay, but Xue Yange subtly declined his invitation. Upon returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he sensed something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it; it was like a fine thorn stuck in his heart
, causing him discomfort. The Emperor and Empress had reconciled, and the palace servants were overjoyed, wishing they could set off a hundred strings of firecrackers to celebrate. Unfortunately, this reconciliation was merely superficial. Most of the time, it was Xue Yange who initiated visits to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Since the last "reconciliation," she hadn't set foot there once. Jiang Hai had tried to invite her, but each time he was turned away, given excuses like the cold weather and her frail health, or that she was in a bad mood and shouldn't travel far. Now, it was Li Chenyuan who was visiting every day.
Xue Yange saw Li Chenyuan shamelessly come to Chang Le Palace. Jiang Hai, holding a snow-white mink cloak, bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty, greetings! The weather is getting colder, and His Majesty specially prepared this cloak for you to keep warm."
Xue Yange was lying on the chaise longue, engrossed in reading a military treatise. Glancing at the newcomer, she forced a smile, not even bothering to say a word of thanks. "His Majesty can have his servants do such things; there's no need for you to travel all this way."
This year, the celestial phenomena were unusual... Autumn soon brought a sudden drop in temperature. When Li Chenyuan arrived, it was snowing lightly. He took off his cloak and stood by the fireplace to warm himself before moving to the couch. He touched his ankles from under the white fleece blanket; they were icy cold. He covered them with his large hand and rubbed them repeatedly. "It's time to find a new doctor. It's time to let Mr. Sun retire and return to his hometown."
Xue Yange had fallen into the water as a child, which damaged her constitution and left her with a chronic illness that made it difficult for her to conceive. Only a few people knew about Xue Yange's fall into the water, and even fewer knew about the severe damage to her constitution.
She was only a little over ten years old when she fell into the water in the dead of winter. Her father was away fighting, and her mother was by her side. The Xue family relatives lived far away, and the matter was also related to the royal family, so the news was quickly and maliciously suppressed by the royal family. At that time, only Xue Yange and her brother, Xie Yan, Gui Xi, and the steward, Old Zhang, lived in the Xue household.
Mr. Sun, whose real name is Sun Hegui, is a renowned physician with an eccentric personality. No amount of money could persuade him to come. However, when Xue Yange was young and on the verge of death, he suddenly appeared at General Xue's mansion, claiming to repay a favor. Thus, she unwittingly settled in the general's residence. Mr. Sun is extremely slow in both speech and movement; so slow that you might hear dozens of sentences before he slowly replies with a smile and a nod.
Sun Hegui is a mysterious figure, a renowned physician whose fame has been passed down for at least a hundred years. Even now, people don't know his age, because he needs at least ten days to half a month to think about it when asked. He can't think about it for too long, or he'll forget halfway through.
Strangely, Xue Yange and Sun Hegui get along quite well, and he's now considered half family.
"No need. What if we find some quack doctor who can't cure me, and then leaks my secret... cough cough..." Xue Yange covered her mouth and coughed a few times, spitting out a patch of bright red blood.
Li Chenyuan shouted, "Someone, summon Sun Hegui immediately!"
--- The entire
book, 300,000 words long, is complete. Chapters 62 are currently free. Please visit the website below to read them.
[Link to the book: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter]
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 020: The Fortune Teller(20)
Sun Hegui also lived in the palace. His courtyard was secluded and quiet, with fertile soil planted with a large number of medicinal herbs. Even the land in the Imperial Garden was not spared. You could always see malnourished medicinal plants in inconspicuous corners or among the flowers. It was probably because Mr. Sun had forgotten about them after planting them.
Sun Hegui walked slowly and was carried in. He stood on the ground with a hunched back, with dry white hair and a long beard. He had narrow eyes that were squinted into slits and a face full of wrinkles. He took the cane and moved forward little by little with trembling hands. His hands were shaking like a sieve. Others were afraid that he would fall apart as he walked. But this old man was not weak. After all, he could still proudly take out a ginseng from his pocket and say that it was a good product dug from the top of Kunlun Mountain.
Xue Yange seemed to be coughing up his lungs. Sun Hegui had a rule that he did not like to be disturbed when treating patients because noise would easily interrupt his thinking. So the young medicine boy quickly drove away everyone, not even Li Chenyuan.
After the person left, Xue Yange stopped coughing, wiped the blood from her mouth, and playfully stuck out her tongue. "Mr. Sun, thank you for covering for me. If it weren't for that unlucky thing, I wouldn't have troubled you to come all this way."
Recently, whenever Li Chenyuan came, Xue Yange would pretend to be sick and avoid him. This act of feigning illness would also require Sun Hegui to come. Xue Yange's frequent illnesses had led Li Chenyuan to consider changing doctors.
Sun Hegui paused for a long time, digesting Xue Yange's message word by word. After he finished analyzing it, he gave a kind and gentle smile and slowly replied, "No... trouble... I have... plenty of time... more than Yanniang..."
With Mr. Sun's help, Xue Yange was naturally too ill to see outsiders. She refused to see anyone, seeking peace and quiet, and planned to return home to reunite with her brother in the winter.
Xue Yange loved liveliness; too much quiet inevitably made her restless. She dragged Gui Xi along, using the same trick to sneak out of the palace again, this time with a different jade token. She had to commend Lan Jun for her efficiency and meticulousness, preventing Li Chenyuan from discovering anything; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to come and go so freely.
Xue Yange enjoyed this long-awaited freedom. The streets were still bustling, with even more beggars than last time she left the city, mostly victims of the strange celestial phenomena. A crowd had gathered on the street, and Xue Yange joined in the fun.
The storyteller, dressed in a blue robe and holding a folding fan, slammed it against his palm, about to shout, "Come on, come on! I know everything from astronomy to geography, from ancient times to the present, and I'll tell you my story!"
"Last time, I spoke of strange celestial phenomena, the wrath of the gods. As for why they were angry, it's rumored that the old imperial advisor said before his death..." The storyteller paused abruptly, nervously scanning the crowd, revealing a wild, menacing expression, "...that the current empress is a fox spirit reincarnated, destined to bring disaster to every dynasty."
"However!" The storyteller slammed his fan handle on the table, "That's not the truth! The old imperial advisor said that the current empress lacks the destiny of a phoenix, a false phoenix amidst a true dragon, defying nature and causing national calamities: floods in the south, droughts in the north, snow in autumn, frost and thunder—all bad omens!"
"Furthermore, if it weren't for divine punishment, how could a normal woman remain childless for seven years? She must have committed too many sins!"
The storyteller continued with his alarmist tales, each one more scathing than the last. Gui Xi turned pale, while Xue Yange clapped and cheered throughout the entire performance, until the storyteller announced, "To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment," and generously rewarded him with a silver ingot.
After the storyteller packed up, the people whispered amongst themselves.
"I think that Empress must be a reincarnated vixen."
"Yes, I think so too. The Emperor is completely bewitched by that enchanting Empress. What normal man in the world would rather have no heir than take a concubine?"
Gui Xi's face flushed red with anger, her words twitching indignant. "Miss, how could you reward that 'empty talker'..."
"What 'empty talker'? He didn't say anything wrong." A smile played on her lips, revealing no trace of anger, but rather a hint of enthusiasm. "Remember his appearance and name. Go back and have Lan Jun take them back to the palace to study. See where he heard such an interesting anecdote."
Gui Xi pouted, still angry. Xue Yange bought a string of candied hawthorns and stuffed them into her mouth. "Alright, alright, there's no point in getting angry anymore. Your reputation is already ruined; do you think you can clean it up with anger?"
Xue Yange said she was fine, but she was actually very concerned. But what could she do? She couldn't silence the world. She
came out to relax; there was no need to make herself suffer any more.
An old fortune teller at a street stall suddenly called out to her, "Madam, I see you are a destined person. Would you be interested in giving me five copper coins for a fortune telling?"
Xue Yange handed over a piece of silver, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "Go ahead."
The old man meticulously picked up a scale to weigh the silver—a three-qian piece. He opened his white purse, shook out a bag full of copper coins, and counted them one by one with a
clanging sound. Xue Yange couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Old sir, this silver is a tip for you." The old man insisted, giving Xue Yange her change, pushing stacks of coins in front of her. "Only five copper coins. Any more would incur karma, which is not good for a cultivator like me. I only did this because you seem kind and I wanted to establish a good connection."
"A good connection?"
"Yes, to cultivate good karma. Judging from your appearance, Madam, there are likely some villains causing trouble behind the scenes recently, while on the surface, you and your husband are having disagreements and arguments. What do you think?" The old man looked at Xue Yange with a knowing expression, as if to say, "Is that so?" "And let me give you a piece of advice: if you want to protect yourself, you must stay away from trouble."
Xue Yange tugged at her palace maid's uniform to prove herself. "Old sir, you must be mistaken. I am not a madam, but just a maid from the palace. How could I possibly have a husband?"
The old man picked up a feather fan in the freezing cold and fanned himself with an air of leisurely ease. He chuckled and shook his head. "How could that be? I have seen countless people. I cannot be wrong. I can tell at a glance that Madam is the most noble woman in all of history... Ahhhhhh... my beard!"
"It was you, the one who kidnapped me from the palace that day!" Xue Yange tugged at the old man's beard, pulled him closer, and examined his eyes closely, becoming even more certain that it was him.
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 021: Crane(21)
"Hey, hey, hey, let go!"
The commotion attracted a crowd of onlookers. The old man, clearly not wanting to cause trouble, waved his feather fan, and a feather fell to the ground. The old man used a trick to make the passersby ignore him. He kept shouting to let go, but Xue Yange refused. She even deliberately wrapped her beard around her hand. "Please promise me you won't leave, sir!"
Ever since she received the strange book from the old man, she had many questions. She didn't believe that just an old man about to be hit by a carriage could obtain such an opportunity. Xue Yange's face turned red with anxiety, and the old man was also so anxious that he jumped up and down, shouting, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed! Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed! Madam, please don't make things difficult for me!" "Old man, please forgive my rudeness. If you keep swaying your beard like that, don't blame me for being impolite. I'll count to three, three, two... Hey!"
Xue Yange loosened her beard at the last moment, but also seized the opportunity to snatch the old man's feather fan. She took dozens of steps back alertly. Facing the unfathomable old man, she was still afraid, but she mustered her courage and put on a show of utmost sincerity, so poignant that it would move anyone who heard it to tears. "Old sir, please forgive my rudeness. I just want to understand. I don't want to live in such ignorance."
In a short time, Xue Yange immediately determined that the feather fan was the old man's magic weapon. Each use would cause a feather to fall. She figured that the feather left over from last time was the old man's masterpiece of magic.
To her surprise, the old man before her had rejuvenated, possessing an exceptionally handsome appearance. This beauty was unlike any she had ever seen before; it was otherworldly, seemingly unique to the heavens. He exuded an aura of otherworldly grace, completely out of place in this bustling city. His white hair shimmered like moonlight, and this celestial being possessed a pair of captivating, alluring eyes. A touch of crimson eyeshadow softened his aloofness, making him utterly mesmerizing at first glance. A beauty mark beneath his eye added a touch of nonchalant frivolity.
Xue Yange looked at the man, feeling a sense of familiarity, yet unable to place where she had seen him before.
"Master, your disciple has come to save you..." A boy of about seven or eight years old rushed in recklessly. The exquisitely crafted boy looked nervous. He paused, saw Xue Yange holding a feather fan in front of him, and his surprise turned to joy. He tugged at his master's sleeve and chattered incessantly, "Hey, it's our benefactor, Miss Xue! Master, have you finally decided to help your benefactor escape this deadly predicament?"
The man's face was unfriendly. He glared at him and said, "Zixiang, shut your bird mouth."
Zixiang shrank back, looking very aggrieved. As if remembering something, he suddenly became very straightforward and said, "Master, Grandmaster said that our benefactor saved you, so you should repay him. Otherwise, the karma will be hard to sever, and you will be in trouble!"
Zixiang put his hands on his hips, acting like a little devil. "If you keep acting like this, I'll tell Grandmaster!"
The man seemed to be very afraid of his grandmaster. He looked displeased but stopped telling him to shut up.
As Xue Yange watched the master and apprentice work together, a huge amount of information flooded her mind, leaving her unable to react in time. Zi Xiang, being a warm-hearted person, immediately came over to explain the ins and outs to Xue Yange.
Zi Xiang took the feather fan from Xue Yange and returned it to the man, who snatched it back, furious. He fanned himself to extinguish his anger, muttering to Xue Yange, "It's all your fault for being nosy." Children
speak without thinking, and Zi Xiang showed no mercy. "How can Master blame Miss Xue? It's clearly Master's own bad luck!"
Zi Xiang trotted over to Xue Yange, his eyes crinkling, his cheeks still chubby from childhood, and greeted her with a childlike voice. "Miss Xue, don't be afraid. I'll explain this to you slowly. And to the lady beside you, I apologize. Please forget about these things. Go for a walk around the neighborhood for half an hour, and we'll meet here!"
Gui Xi's eyes gradually became vacant. "Okay."
Then Zi Xiang flicked his sleeve and led Xue Yange to a quiet courtyard, where two cups of tea were already laid out on the table.
Even though Xue Yange hadn't been given any hints, she dazedly sat down, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea was fragrant and at the perfect temperature.
This story begins when Xue Yange was ten years old. During the imperial autumn hunt, Xue's father's younger brother, who was also Xue Yange's uncle, took the two siblings to join in the fun. The autumn hunt lasted for three days.
At that time, the Xue siblings and Xie Yan were wandering around the perimeter of the hunting grounds. When they arrived at the lakeside to prepare to start a fire and roast some game, they discovered a crane trapped in a snare, struggling incessantly. The crane was as tall as a person, its down feathers stained with blood, and it kept pecking at the trap with its beak, unable to let go for a long time. When it saw people approaching, it struggled even more violently, even flapping its wings, scattering feathers all over the ground.
Having only ever seen cranes in the sky or glimpsed them from afar before, seeing them so close for the first time, the child's nature inevitably led to some curiosity and observation. Even though she knew that animals couldn't understand human speech, she still cautiously said, "Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you."
Perhaps it was that innocent look in her eyes that touched the crane, for it miraculously stopped struggling and allowed the three of them to fiddle with the snare.
Xue Qingyang tried to pry open the animal trap, his face flushed and neck bulging, panting, "I can't open it. It'll just die if I leave it like this. I might as well give it a quick death."
Xie Yan somehow got hold of a rusty iron rod and tried to pry open the tightly locked jaws of the trap, also with great effort. "Give it a cut. Its wing is injured. Even if we save it, it won't be able to survive in the wild."
"Then I'll raise it!" Xue Yange refused. She thought the crane was exceptionally beautiful at first sight, and it seemed to have a kind of intelligence and could understand human speech. At that time, Xue Yange was still an innocent and romantic child. She thought it was a crane raised by immortals, and that saving it might lead to some extraordinary adventure.
If Xie Yan and Xue Qingyang couldn't open it, how could a girl with no strength to even kill a chicken? She used a short sword to tap and slash around, sending sparks flying, but the animal trap remained unmoved. Frustrated, she threw the sword away, yelling, "Useless thing!"
It was unclear whether she was cursing the sword, the animal trap, or Xue Qingyang and Xie Yan.
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Episode 022: Saving the Crane(22)
Just as the three were still struggling with how to save the crane, a woman's voice broke in. Looking in the direction of the voice, they saw Consort Zhuang, who was currently favored by the emperor. She was sitting in a sedan chair carried by eight people, heavily made up and adorned with jingling gold and jade ornaments. What should have been vulgar looked perfectly natural on her.
To be honest, Xue Yange thought Consort Zhuang was strikingly beautiful. Who wouldn't love her gold-embroidered headdress?
Regardless of others, Xue Yange liked it very much. It was so dazzling that she would ask the steward to open the storeroom and get her a set!
She didn't care about the children and pointed directly at the crane caught in the trap. "Little Li, I need a fan. This one will do. It would also be nice to make a white feather cloud shoulder. Be careful not to hurt its feathers."
In Consort Zhuang's eyes, the crane was no longer an inanimate object, but a fine feather fan, cloud shoulder, and various ornaments.
Xiao Li snorted and bowed, "Consort Zhuang has taken a liking to this crane. I would be grateful if Young Master Xie, Young Master Xue, and Miss Xue would part with it. Consort Zhuang will surely reward you handsomely afterwards."
Xue Yange was pampered at home, so how could she understand the concept of weighing pros and cons? Seeing someone trying to snatch her treasure, she hugged the crane tightly, "No, I found it first, I...!"
As the son of General Xue, the saying goes, "Like father, like son." The inexperienced Xue Qingyang also had the nickname "Little Tyrant Xue." He rolled up his sleeves, ready to beat up this ungrateful eunuch.
Xie Yan quickly stepped in front of the Xue siblings, bowing and saying, "Eunuch Li, you misunderstand. This crane wasn't captured by us. My father entrusted us to look after it temporarily. If we were to give it to the Imperial Concubine, we fear we wouldn't be able to explain it to my father later. However, I will mention this to my father and have him personally process the crane and make it into an offering for the Imperial Concubine. Firstly, I won't break my promise to my father, and secondly, Eunuch Li can smoothly complete his task. So please convey my message."
Eunuch Li looked at Xie Yan meaningfully, then smiled obsequiously, "Of course, no problem!"
Xue Yange, watching Eunuch Li's retreating figure, was about to cry. She slapped Xie Yan, "Brother Xie Yan, how could you do this!"
His chubby little hand didn't hurt much when he hit her. Xie Yan grabbed her hand, pinched her nose, and chuckled in a low voice, "You two brutes! Imperial Concubine Zhuang only wants a feather fan and a cloud-patterned shoulder cape made of crane feathers."
"Brother Xie Yan, do you mean... move... the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains?"
"Wrong!" Xue Qingyang pretended to hit her on the back of the head, but then stopped, giving her two light pats. "It's like trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead!"
Xie Yan was speechless, shaking his head and smiling bitterly. "You're both wrong. What you meant was to use a substitution technique, a shifting of the beams and pillars."
The brother and sister said in unison, "Yes, that's it!" "
If Consort Zhuang wants it, we can find other crane feather ornaments to give her. She can't possibly refuse the opportunity for 'Prime Minister Xie' to present tribute. But..." Xie Yan hesitated, "It'll be difficult to explain to Father." After
all, Xie Yan had come up with this idea on the spot. With the reputations of the three of them, they definitely couldn't persuade Consort Zhuang. If things escalated, they would be even worse off.
Xue Yange was full of crooked and evil ideas. "Then Brother Ayan, make up another reason for Uncle Xie. That way, we can explain to both sides!"
"No, if we make up a reason to appease Father, it's intentional deception." Xie Yan flatly refused, preferring to be beaten rather than lie.
Xue Yange didn't understand, "It's okay for Consort Zhuang, but why can't Uncle Xie?"
"Because I'm not deceiving the Consort, it's just a delaying tactic. Consort Zhuang wants the 'crane feather ornament,' so we'll offer it to her."
Xue Yange still didn't understand, only vaguely aware, "A delaying tactic?"
This time Xue Qingyang truly understood, slapping his thigh and exclaiming, "Silly sister, let me tell you, a delaying tactic refers to a tactic to prolong the enemy's advance. I didn't expect Brother Xie, a scholar, to have read military books, and even use them so skillfully. Would you be interested in becoming my strategist in the future? I, the general, will never shortchange you when I win battles."
Xie Yan smirked and said modestly, "I know a little, I know a little, but I've only read one or two military books. How dare I be the strategist for Little Tyrant Xue?"
Xue Qingyang, being straightforward, slapped Xie Yan on the back with a large hand, "Then..." "Fine, you guys can hide behind me. Once I've achieved fame and success, I'll protect you. Who cares about the Xiongnu thieves or..." Xue Qingyang hooked his arms around the necks of the other two, bent down, and whispered, "That Consort Zhuang, whose face is painted like an old hag, will be killed without mercy!"
Xue Yange didn't give him any face and directly exposed him, saying coquettishly, "Brother, you're bragging again. Brother Ayan, say something, or I'll get cocky again!"
Xie Yan chuckled, "Brother Xue, be careful what you say."
Just when they thought everything had settled down, the cranes seemed to sense the danger and began to stir. The people who should have been surrounding Consort Zhuang moved forward and surrounded the three of them. Outnumbered, Xue Yange was so frightened that she hid behind Xue Qingyang, peeking out with one eye to spy on them.
No one knows what Xiao Li said to Consort Zhuang, but she was so angry that even her hairpin tilted. "Guards! I will capture that crane today! Anyone who dares to stop me is disrespectful to the Emperor!"
Perhaps the crane also felt its fate was sealed, for it let out a blood-red cry, stared intently at Xue Yange, and then collapsed, leaving itself to be dealt with by others.
Xue Yange was certain that this crane was no ordinary creature. She didn't know where she got the courage, but she screamed, "No!" She picked up the short sword she had thrown on the ground, and with a clever twist, pried open the chain connecting the trap. She kicked the crane's leg, "Go! Go now! You'll die if you don't leave! Blow your wings!"
The crane's hope was rekindled. It flapped its wings, creating a powerful gust of wind that startled everyone. It rose from the ground, circled low, and then climbed steadily into the clouds. Several people pushed and shoved to grab the crane, when suddenly a force struck, pushing Xue Yange into the water.
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The Tyrant's Unfortunate First Wife (NP) Chapter 023: Falling into the Water(23)
Xue Yange couldn't swim. The lake water was extremely cold in late autumn. She struggled and swallowed many mouthfuls of water. She was clearly trying to swim upwards, but her body sank deeper and deeper. She cried out for her brother,
"Brother, save me!"
"Yan Niang!"
Xie Yan jumped into the water without thinking. Xue Qingyang took a step forward, cursed under his breath, and then turned around and grabbed a eunuch by the back of his collar. He was furious and looked like a demon. "I saw it. It was you, you eunuch, who kicked Yan Niang down!"
The eunuch and Xiao Lizi exchanged glances, and then said in a panic, "My lord, spare me! My lord, spare me! Don't even mention kicking her. Even if you gave me a hundred lives, I wouldn't dare to touch the young master and young lady with this filthy body. I was just following the Consort's orders to catch the crane."
Xue Qingyang looked back at the lake and then at the eunuch who was spouting nonsense. He was so angry that he hit him with a knife. The punch was so powerful that it not only drew blood but also broke a front tooth. "Bullshit, I clearly saw it!"
Little Li, with his eyes crinkled, still greeted people with a smile. "Young Master Xue must have misunderstood. There are so many people here, but no one saw him kick Miss Xue into the water. It was clearly Miss Xue who lost her footing and fell in. How about this, whoever saw him kick Miss Xue into the water, please step forward and testify."
No one responded. Instead, they whispered among themselves, accusing Xue Qingyang of being cruel and hitting people without explanation. A few low laughs drifted from the crowd, seemingly mocking Xue Qingyang, or perhaps laughing at his wicked scheme succeeding. In any case, they were particularly annoying.
Xie Yan's voice echoed from the lake again, "Xue Qingyang, come quick! Yan Niang is stuck in the weeds, and I can't get her out by myself!"
Little Li added, "Hurry, Young Master Xue, the young lady can't stand this freezing weather. Besides, this place is quite far from the camp. What if something happens to her on the way..."
Knowing this, no eunuchs or maids went to her rescue. They were all servants, yet they acted like masters, clearly bullying their masters. He glanced at Consort Zhuang, who was watching the show with one hand propped on her head.
Xue Qingyang clenched his fist, veins bulging on his arm, nails digging into his flesh. He took a deep breath, "Consort Zhuang, General Xue's mansion will remember this. We'll see when Father returns!"
With that, Xue Qingyang stood up and kicked the eunuch hard, breaking two of his ribs, before plunging into the water.
Consort Zhuang, sitting in the sedan chair, instantly lost her composure. Her face
contorted with rage. "General Xue's mansion? Those two children are from General Xue's mansion? Little Li, didn't you tell me they were distant relatives from the Xie family in the countryside?" Little Li, his face pale, kowtowed and knelt on the ground, the stones piercing his forehead. "Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! This servant didn't know either. Xie Yan told this servant they were distant relatives sent by a relative to broaden their horizons. Who knew they were young masters and ladies from General Xue's mansion? Young masters and ladies from the Xue family rarely appear in the palace, so this servant didn't know. Spare me! Spare me!"
"Fool! Hurry up and save them!" Consort Zhuang was furious. Although her maternal family was powerful, they were still just merchants. Although she was favored by the emperor, she shouldn't have made enemies with the Xue family. That was a general's mansion that held considerable military power. If General Xue received the news while fighting abroad, he might immediately disobey the imperial order and return to the capital. There was no guarantee he wouldn't stage a coup and usurp the throne. In that case, she would be the first to suffer.
Therefore, that girl must not be harmed in the slightest.
At Consort Zhuang's command, the servants rushed to the lakeside, but the girl had already been rescued. Fortunately, she was still conscious, though shivering from the cold. Xue Qingyang scooped up his sister and held her protectively in his arms, shouting, "A bunch of sons of bitches, get out of my way!"
"If anything happens to Yan Niang, you'll all be in for a world of hurt." He glared at Consort Zhuang behind him, his eyes fierce and murderous. "You old hag, you're no exception!"
Xie Yan also coldly glanced at the crowd, then pulled Xue Qingyang back, "Hurry back, Yan Niang won't be able to take it."
Then they each rode away, leaving the crowd stunned and looking at each other.
"How could it be someone from the General's Mansion?"
"Don't they usually not attend these kinds of banquets?"
Even though Xue Qingyang was just a young man, he displayed a bloodthirsty aura.
Consort Zhuang was filled with lingering fear, as if she had died countless times under his gaze. Then, enraged and ashamed, she cried out, "You bunch of fools, all of you are utterly useless!"
Little Li tried to dissuade her, "Your Majesty, now that it's happened, judging from Young Master Xue's display, even if we were all beheaded, it wouldn't appease his anger. I'm afraid he..."
Consort Zhuang was furious, her tortoiseshell fingernails digging bloody holes into Little Li's flesh. "It's just a fall into the water, does he dare to take my life?" "
If he does, it's a disrespect for the imperial authority..." Consort Zhuang suddenly understood, her bright red lips curving into a sinister smile. "Yes, a disrespect for the throne! I should report them to the Emperor later."
"Your Majesty is wise." Little Li, ignoring his own pain, also smiled, the two of them appearing quite like accomplices in a scheme.
Consort Zhuang composed herself, adjusted her headdress, and resumed her haughty demeanor. "Let's go, hurry back to see the Emperor!"
The three rode back to their tent at full speed and immediately summoned the imperial physicians. Initially, the physicians were all at her side, fearing something might happen to Xue Yange. However, after a day, all the physicians in the tent withdrew, leaving only a junior physician who had only been in the Imperial Hospital for three months. When Xue Qingyang went to fetch more physicians, they said they were too busy because other noble ladies were unwell. ---
The entire
book, 300,000 words long, is complete. Free chapters up to chapter 62 are available. Please visit the website below to read it.
[Link to the book: https://www.kadokado.com.tw/book/54036#chapter]