The Cry of the Phoenix Which Reached the Ninth Heaven-Volume 1 Chapter 61-62
Chapter 61: The Plot, Ruined
Huan Caier was silently standing at the side calmly. She had been like that from the moment Huan Heng walked into Pure Flowers Palace. Yao Mowan knew that dependence like that was born from trust. They were both fathers – Yao Mowan looked at the one on this side – but she didn’t dare to imagine what would happen if she wholeheartedly depended on Yao Zhenting. If she had, she probably would have already died thousands of times.
“Audacious! Is ben gong‘s resting place someplace you can casually search? Does General Huan no longer feel need to respect His Majesty and ben gong just because you grasp strong military power!?” Yao Suluan intentionally raised her voice to remind Ye Hongyi.
“General Huan, zhen hopes that you’ll think more clearly. Zhen has yet to decide on a new Empress so Imperial Noble Consort currently holds the most honor in the Inner Palace. This Pure Flowers Palace isn’t something you can do with as you wish!” Ye Hongyi seemed to realize that he had been silent too long and looked toward Huan Heng coldly.
“Your Majesty, this subject is willing to use this subject’s military seal as collateral. If this subject does not find saffron in Imperial Noble Consort’s resting place, then this subject will return the military seal to Your Majesty and leave politics with this subject’s wife and children.” Huan Heng’s words were exactly what Ye Hongyi wanted so he didn’t even think before he agreed to the request.
Yao Suluan also felt much more at ease once she heard this. She knew her palace best; there has never been any saffron in here.
“Imperial Noble Consort, excuse this humble subject for this offense!” When Huan Heng obtained Ye Hongyi’s nod, he started searching all around. Although he had gotten the information, he didn’t immediately head towards the bed and properly put on a convincing act.
In reality, Huan Heng was extremely uneasy as well. This news had come from Yao Mowan, that imbecile, so it was hard to tell if it was true or not. However, things have already gotten to this point so he no longer had any roads of retreat. In addition, he knew that this incident was actually targeting him. His Majesty had started suspecting him of harboring disloyalty!
After about half an incense stick’s worth of time, Huan Heng slowly walked to the bed. He bowed with his hands cupped and said, “This subject apologizes for the offense!”
Following that, he climbed under the bed. When Yao Suluan saw that Huan Heng seemed confident as if he had a card up his sleeve, she couldn’t help but look towards Ye Hongyi who was sitting next to the bed. However, she found that his gaze was completely fixed on Yao Mowan and filled with gentleness.
Right at this moment, a creaking sound suddenly came from the bed. When Huan Heng came out from under the bed, he was grasping a bunch of blood-colored saffron.
“How does Imperial Noble Consort plan to explain this!?” Huan Heng looked towards Yao Suluan with his stern eyes.
“How… how is that possible? Those do not belong to ben gong! Ben gong‘s palace does not contain saffron! You’re framing ben gong! Your Majesty!” When Yao Suluan saw the saffron in Huan Heng’s hands, her eyes widened with terror.
“Where did General Huan find this saffron?” Ye Hongyi’s expression turned slightly frosty as he asked in a cold voice. He slowly directed his eyes towards Yao Suluan. Her carelessness had messed up his carefully-made plan. She really deserved to die!
Yao Mowan coldly enjoyed this drama from within Ye Hongyi’s arms. She could sense the heartbeat of the man beside her speeding up. She couldn’t help but think with a sigh, pair of imbeciles! There were plenty of methods to deal with Huan Heng, yet they just had to choose the stupidest one. The Inner Palace was a place where incidents and misunderstandings easily occured. Even if she hadn’t gotten involved, Huan Heng would have naturally found a scapegoat to use!
“Replying Your Majesty, this humble subject found it in the hidden drawer beneath Imperial Noble Consort’s bed!” Huan Heng’s expression was grim. Ye Hongyi looked to the side towards Imperial Physician Zheng. Imperial Physician Zheng naturally understood and took the saffron.
“No… Your Majesty! This consort doesn’t have any hidden drawers beneath the bed!” At this time, Yao Suluan already couldn’t be bothered to care about dignity and drove under the bed. What was tragic was, she indeed did see a hidden drawer about the size of a palm beneath her bed, and it still contained some saffron powder inside.
“Niang niang! You must be careful of your health! Please get up!” Cai Ying didn’t expect that the situation would suddenly turn on them and for a moment didn’t know what to do. She could only bend down and pull Yao Suluan out.
Yao Mowan saw that Cai Ying’s face was pale as paper when she got back up, and knew that Yao Suluan had found someone to shoulder the blame for her. The fact that Yao Suluan had been able to react in such a short time showed that Yao Suluan also wasn’t dumb. It was good. She really didn’t want Yao Suluan fall this quickly, she hadn’t play enough yet!
“Well?” Ye Hongyi was breathing hard and his thin lips were tightly pursed as he coldly spat out this word.
“Your Majesty, this consort is wrongly accused! Huan Heng had probably prepared this saffron in advance to frame ben gong!” Yao Suluan shouted angrily. She couldn’t bring herself to abandon Cai Ying, this chess piece, without trying until the last moment. This personal servant had already served her for seven years after all, Yao Suluan couldn’t help but feel a bit reluctant to part.
“I believe the imperial physician would be able to tell whether it was prepared by Huan Heng!” Huan Heng inwardly sighed in relief as he turned to look towards Imperial Physician Zheng.
“Reporting, Your Majesty. The saffron inside the palace’s Imperial Medical Institute are carefully ground by the imperial doctors and definitely cannot be found outside of the palace. This humble subject has inspected it. This saffron had come from the Imperial Medical Institute,” reported Imperial Physician Zheng factually.
Imperial Physician Zheng’s voice had just faded when there was the sound of a hard slap. A shockingly clear handprint appeared on Cai Ying’s face and blood seeped out from the corner of her mouth.
“You lowly servant! Ben gong treated you quite well, why did you frame ben gong?” Yao Suluan hardened her heart and pushed Cai Ying to the ground.
“Niang niang, please have mercy. This servant… knows her wrong!” Cai Ying cried like a fountain and her thin body quivered uncontrollably. Yao Mowan inwardly sucked in a breath, feeling a bit of pity for Cai Ying.
However, there was a sentence that put it well. The people who were pitiful also had parts to be hated for. Based on the position Cai Ying held in Yao Suluan’s heart, she definitely had a part in those past utterly heartless schemes.
“Since this matter has nothing to do with this consort, this consort shall withdraw.” Huan Caier who hadn’t made a sound for a while lifted her eyebrows as she glanced at Yao Suluan, before turning around to curtsy towards Ye Hongyi.
“Zhen has wronged Consort Chen. Zhen will definitely give Consort Chen a satisfactory explanation for this matter.” Ye Hongyi’s voice was low and didn’t have a trace of warmth. His entire body emitted a dense killing aura. Yao Mowan had a sense of deja vu when she felt this murderous intent. Once Huan Caier left, Huan Heng also bowed and withdrew from Pure Flowers Palace.
“Your Majesty… Wan er‘s scared…” Yao Mowan shrank into Ye Hongyi’s arms as she looked fearfully in Yao Suluan’s direction.
“Zhen will walk you back to the palace.” Ye Hongyi didn’t even bother to glance at Yao Suluan before he got up and left with Yao Mowan. Yao Zhenting who was standing at the side shook his head, then withdrew silently. The entire Pure Flowers Palace immediately turned chillingly quiet.
Within Guan Osprey Palace, Yao Mowan languidly stroke Fluffy. Her lively eyes were as pure as a clear spring. She would blink from time to time, which added more charm to those eyes.
The incident in which the dragon fetus had been poisoned to death had been resolved. Before Ye Hongyi even gave a punishment, Cai Ying drank a jar of poison wine. Like this, at least she could avoid the fate of being beaten to death. For the sake of appeasing Huan Heng, Ye Hongyi demoted Yao Suluan and she fell from the rank of Imperial Noble Consort to simply being Consort. That rank was lower than her own by two levels. Originally, Ye Hongyi had the intention of making Huan Caier Imperial Noble Consort, but Huan Caier had respectfully declined. Yao Mowan knew that it was due to Huan Heng’s instructions. From the looks of it, this matter had caused some disloyalty to arise in Huan Heng’s heart!
“Yin Xue.” Yao Mowan exhaled, then softly called for Ying Xue.
“Master, please give your instructions.” Yao Mowan had felt the urge to ask Yin Xue where she hid many times, and she had also paid careful attention each time, but could never figure it out.
“Tell Ben Lei to find a person to get close to Huan Heng with the identity of a secret envoy from the nation of Shu. Also have him send someone to secretly monitor the general’s residence and stop the true envoy of Shu from infiltrating. Chu Mobei, that person… Haa!” In their past exchanges, she hadn’t been able to get any cheap benefits. However, the good thing was that she also didn’t end up suffering any losses.
“This subordinate will get to it right now!” Having obtained instructions, Yin Xue immediately left. Her movements were light as a snowflake; it was to the point that Fluffy, who was in Yao Mowan’s arms, didn’t react at all.
“You’re seriously becoming more and more lazy!” Yao Mowan gently stroked Fluffy and affectionately tugged on her ear.
“Meow!” Fluffy cooperatively cried out before falling back asleep.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
[Chiyomira’s Corner]
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Chapter 62: Discovered by the Prince!
As of now, lunch has already been prepared. Ting Yue walked slowly to Yao Mowan’s side, lifted Fluffy from her knee, and carried her over to the chaise lounge before helping Yao Mowan towards the table.
“You’ve delivered the Esteemed Prince’s portion?” It had been two days since she last saw Ye Junqing, since the day she told him not to appear in front of her again while wearing white.
“Replying niang niang, I’ve sent it over,” reported Ting Yue.
“I got it. You can withdraw.” Sometimes Yao Mowan would recall what Yan Nansheng said. Had she really overdone it?
“Niang niang!” Ting Yue turned around to leave and saw that Ye Junqing was standing at the palace doors in an azure garment.
In that instant, Yao Mowan seemed to see the past Ye Junqing once again. His azure garment dazzled beneath the sunlight and framed his well-built figure well. This was the color that complemented Ye Junqing’s grace and pride the most. At this current moment, Ye Junqing’s handsome face radiated with health and vigor. The listlessness from before was nowhere to be seen.
Ting Yue, with great difficulty, shifted her gaze away from Ye Junqing. Intuition told her that she shouldn’t harbor any other emotions towards this man except for respect.
Yao Mowan only retrieved her gaze after Ting Yue left. She walked slowly to the table without saying a word.
“Ahem… There’s something I want to ask you, but you can’t get angry.” Although Ye Junqing felt a little awkward when Yao Mowan ignored his gesture of sincerity, he still walked over and sat down next to Yao Mowan.
“Try saying it.” Yao Mowan lifted the chopsticks with a calm expression. When Ye Junqing saw that Yao Mowan was being so agreeable, he thought that she was in a very good mood today and felt a little less nervous.
“What happened to the Imperial Noble Consort… was your doing, wasn’t it?” Ye Junqing watched Yao Mowan closely, only to see her suddenly put down her chopsticks and lift her bright flickering eyes to look towards him.
“You feel heartache for her?” Yao Mowan lifted her brows. It was hard to tell between the darkness and light in her eyes.
“As if. However, I think it probably wasn’t you. She’s your older sister and you three sisters have such a close relationship, so I think you probably wouldn’t hurt her!” Ye Junqing repeated the words he used to persuade himself in front of Yao Mowan.
“I wasn’t the one who put the saffron there.” Yao Mowan once again picked up her chopsticks as she spoke in an indifferent tone. Yes, it was true ah. She had once also thought that they were very close as sisters, but Yao Suluan had taught her the meaning of ‘wishful thinking,’ of ‘naively imagining that one’s affection was reciprocated’!
When Yao Mowan saw Ye Junqing involuntarily sigh in relief, she supplemented a sentence as the punchline.
“But, I was the one who told Yin Xue to put it there.” Right after Yao Mowan finished speaking, Ye Junqing abruptly stood up and looked at her angrily.
“Why did you frame the Imperial Noble Consort? She’s your older sister!” Ye Junqing could find a thousand reasons to explain why Yao Mowan would incite disharmony between Ye Hongyi and Huan Heng, but he couldn’t think of any reason why she would frame Yao Suluan. Moxin had once said that she loved her younger sister, Suluan, a lot.
“And you’re still saying that you don’t feel heartache for her?” Yao Mowan seemed completely unconcerned as she picked up a piece of fish and sampled it.
“Yao Mowan! This prince asked you a question!” Ye Junqing hated this unperturbed and carefree attitude of Yao Mowan the most.
“Yin Xue, it’s really noisy.” Yao Mowan’s willow brows creased slightly as she remarked in annoyance.
“Prince, if you will!” Yin Xue instantly dropped out of nowhere like a ghost and appeared in front of Ye Junqing. There was not a trace of emotion on her beautiful face which was cold as ice.
“Yao Mowan! This prince won’t tolerate you hurting Moxin’s younger sister! This prince will head to His Majesty’s place right now to expose your actions! You vicious poisonous woman!” Ye Junqing had fought Yin Xue before, so he knew very clearly that he wasn’t a match for her at all. Rather than being thrown out, it would be better to walk out himself in order to preserve some dignity.
“Yin Xue, withdraw!” Yao Mowan’s voice had turned frosty as she abruptly put down her chopsticks again. When Yin Xue left, she slowly got up and walked towards Ye Junqing without any emotion on her face.
“You… what do you plan to do?” Ye Junqing swallowed hard. He had never seen such a serious expression on Yao Mowan’s face before.
“Go ah! Go tell His Majesty that this consort was the one who put the saffron below Yao Suluan’s bed! Mowan doesn’t dare to guarantee this about other people, but Mowan definitely will not stop you if you want to expose Mowan! So go!” Her clear and cold voice was filled with unsuppressable sorrow and indignation. Waves of rage surged in Yao Mowan’s eyes and they glited with light that stabbed Ye Junqing’s heart like a sharp blade, causing him to feel baffling pain.
“You… Don’t force me…” With each step that Yao Mowan took, Ye Junqing’s confidence dwindled as he retreated until he was backed against a wall. However, Yao Mowan still showed no intention to stop. The two’s position made people’s imaginations run wild.
“It’s not like this prince said that this prince will definitely go…” For some unknown reason, though he had never felt any fear while overlooking the world in battle, when he was in front of Yao Mowan he would feel shorter by a chunk. At the same time, he would subconsciously indulge and pamper her. That feeling came from the depths of his heart, perhaps he himself hadn’t even become aware of it.
“You definitely have to go ah! Mowan would like to see how happy and relieved you would look once you betray Mowan!” Yao Mowan’s clear voice was filled with indignance and her eyes billowed with waves. The ripples visible in her eyes cause Ye Junqing’s heart to sink slightly, as if something was pressing on his chest uncomfortably.
“I just wanted to remind you… No matter what, Yao Suluan is your…”
“There’s no need for Prince to remind me what kind of thing she is. Prince probably knows the way to the Imperial Study? If you can’t find it, Mowan can take you there!”
Yao Mowan was close to Ye Junqing to the point Ye Junqing could count how many eyelashes were on each of her eyes. It was to the point he could feel the breath from Yao Mowan’s lips. Ye Junqing swallowed hard and suppressed his urge to just storm away.
“Ahem… This Prince can give you a chance.” Ye Junqing cleared his throat and tried to take a step back only to realize that he was already pressed against the wall. Hence he could only shift his body a little to make the position less filled with ambiguous meanings.
“Prince can come with Mowan to see His Majesty right now to reveal everything about Mowan.” As Yao Mowan spoke, she glanced back towards Fluffy who was sleeping on the chaise lounge. When she turned back around, a trace of mischievousness was in her eyes. “Or Prince can hold Fluffy and properly rest a little in Guan Osprey Palace to clear your head. Prince, choose for yourself!”
“You! You bully too intolerably!” Upon hearing this, Ye Junqing immediately glowered at her.
“Mowan has always been very reasonable. From the looks of it, Prince has already made a decision. Let’s go!” Yao Mowan shifted her cold gaze away from Ye Junqing, then turned and started heading towards the palace doors.
She only turned around when she was outside of the palace. When she looked back, Ye Junqing was still standing in his original spot, seething. After a few moments, he stomped towards the chaise lounge and unwillingly picked Fluffy up before sitting down. Then he shot Yao Mowan a fierce glower.
The image was beautiful and filled with warmth. A man that looked gentle as jade and beautiful as a celestial was holding a white-furred cat in his lap. It was an incredibly harmonious scene.
“This prince doesn’t like Fluffy!” Ye Junqing’s complaint-filled voice destroyed the harmonious moment.
“Then I’ll have to ask Prince to break away from his narrow-mindedness and learn to love without boundaries,” said Yao Mowan unhurriedly as she continued walking out of Guan Osprey Palace. A faint trace of warmth streaked through her heart. This warmth was like the refreshing wind after the rain; it gently caressed Yao Mowan’s ice-cold heart.
“This prince has already done as you asked, so where are you going now?” When Ye Junqing saw that Yao Mowan was leaving, he nervously questioned her.
“Shhh! Fluffy is a pregnant cat, Prince shouldn’t disturb the little kittens in her belly.” Yao Mowan placed a finger in front of her lips, then peeked at Fluffy carefully. Seeing that she was fine, she exhorted Ye Junqing a little before turning away and leaving.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
[Chiyomira’s Corner]
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