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Chapter 96: No Different From Treason
[1] Chen qie - lit. concubine subject, essentially a form of “I” that concubines and even the Empress use in presence of higher authority, ex. Empress > concubine, Emperor > Empress
The moment she left the Imperial Garden, Li Wei Yang
heard someone approaching, neither quickly nor slowly but calmly.
Li Wei Yang slightly turned back. She saw who was
walking towards her and smiled: “So it’s San Dianxia.”
Tuoba Zhen narrowed his eyes. It was unclear at first,
but her schemes took him by surprise, one after the other. He was stunned to
discover different sides to her, but it was a pity she stood on the other side,
opposing him.
He threw out his sleeve. Ruthlessness flashed across
his eyes like that of a feral wolf. “Xianzhu knew I’d come.”
Li Wei Yang only smiled, not responding yet as she
scanned her surroundings.
Tuoba Zhen smiled thinly and spoke up: “No need to
look. I came to look for you, so those watchful eyes and ears have been dealt
with.” His words were solemn.
Li Wei Yang was well aware. Her lips curved up, but
she declined to comment.
There were many eyes and ears in the palace, but Tuoba
Zhen’s efforts over the years allowed him to escape others’ surveillance and
find time to do as he pleased. Meeting her here was risky, but his current
situation was also far from ideal. Otherwise, why would Tuoba Zhen bother to
stop her if she wasn’t the reason behind all the chaos.
The cracks were appearing in this man’s mind.
Li Wei Yang smiled inwardly, but outwardly, her face
remained calm and unchanged, free of inner turmoil, as if it did not matter if
Tuoba Zhen appeared or not.
Tuoba Zhen’s pupils dilated. His smile turned cold.
Warmth disappeared from his eyes. His voice was dangerously low: “I think
Xianzhu still owes me an explanation.”
Li Wei Yang smiled: “Dianxia is referring to the
incident that day?”
Tuoba Zhen was momentarily surprised. He thought Li
Wei Yang would beat around the bush and had not expected her to cut to the
chase. His hatred was undisguised, but as time went on, he came to respect and
appreciate her even more.
She was clever, sharp, sly, capable and did not hide
her talents. Most people were different. To survive in the palace, one must
learn to hide their true self, but Li Wei Yang confidently stood out. She did
not compromise with anyone to protect her interests. She knew precisely what
she wanted and what to do, but this brilliant girl had walked past him. If she
stayed by his side, she would greatly contribute to his endeavors!
Tuoba Zhen suppressed his thoughts and slowly began:
“I want is an explanation about what happened that day and whether you were
responsible or not.”
She chuckled softly and looked straight into his eyes.
Her eyes were bright, but there was no arrogance on her face. Stunned, Tuoba
Zhen felt as if his soul had flown away.
“Of course not.” She answered without the slightest
hint of guilt.
“You dared to do so, but you aren’t brave enough to
admit it?” Tuoba Zhen sneered. He knew the answer, but he tossed and turned at
night, unable to sleep, with only a single thought in his head: find her and
demand an explanation, as if - he wanted to lose all hope.
Li Wei Yang smiled: “You have always suspected those
begonias, perhaps out of habit, out of paranoia. You inspected those flowers,
so what is wrong with them? You think I did this to you, but did you think
about Dajie’s affections towards you? If Dajie didn’t like you, why would she
run to the guest hall? How could she cast away her future so easily? It seems
to me that Dajie is deeply in love with you. San Dianxia, you should cherish
this. Do not forsake a beauty’s affections.”
She seemed to be lamenting, or rather, mocking him.
Tuoba Zhen stiffened when he heard this, then recomposed himself before his
anger flared. Li Chang Le could be the Mother of the World in prosperous times,
but now she would only bring him trouble!
Because of Li Chang Le’s noble background and
exceptional beauty, he wanted to showcase her. Someone like her needed others
to protect and love, and remain unaware of forbidden things. If several years
later, he ascended to the throne, given Li Chang Le’s beauty and family, he
would consider marrying her.
She would obediently become a flower vase in the
palace for him to appreciate and entertain himself with but not now! Marrying
her in two years would be no different from keeping a weapon that could be used
against him. Tuoba Zhen was not a fool!
“Dajie is extraordinarily beautiful and excels in calligraphy,
chess, poetry, and painting. She is very compatible with Dianxia. Besides,
Dajie did not hesitate to destroy her reputation to follow Dianxia. If you
refuse someone like that, it will be a lifetime regret.” Li Wei Yang broke into
an innocent smile as she cheerfully said this.
Tuoba Zhen sneered and did not offer his opinion. His
nails dug into his palms.
The pain let him calm down and breathe normally again:
“Li Wei Yang, I have never given a woman this many chances.”
Tuoba Zhen did not give her time to respond and
continued: “For many years, no matter who opposed me, I would kill them without
hesitation, but even if you have lied to me and opposed me, I still want you.
Do you know why?”
“I have fallen for you, I like you and even want to
marry you.” Tuoba Zhen stared intently at Li Wei Yang, “So I gave you these
chances, one after another, do you understand!”
Li Wei Yang almost burst out laughing. She met quite a
few bastards but never thought Tuoba Zhen was just as depraved and worthy of
her disdain.
Things that were easily obtained are tossed aside like
torn shoes, and what could not be conquered was to be pursued to the ends of
the earth.
In her past life, he had to have Li Chang Le at any
cost and treated her like the moon in the sky. In this life, he could not have
her, so he wanted her. It seems he did not love anyone except himself!
His face grew even more serious: “You don’t have to doubt
my words. Every word is from the bottom of my heart and not what I would say to
just anyone.”
“I’m not doubting Dianxia’s intentions.” Li Wei Yang
furrowed her eyebrows: “It is a pity Dajie is wholeheartedly determined to
marry Dianxia. How could I destroy her hopes? There are already enough
misunderstandings between us. If Dajie knows I am here, speaking with Dianxia,
she will resent me even more, and I don’t want trouble. What is done has been
done, Dianxia should treat Dajie well. As for me, Dianxia does not need to
think of me.”
“You know, Jiang Xu will return to the Capital
tomorrow. Your situation is very unfavorable. If I join hands with the Jiang
family, will you be able to stand your ground? I’m afraid even Tuoba Yu will
have to reconsider, given the two sides that are involved. Then, when you are
no longer under his protection, how will you survive?” Tuoba Zhen emphasized
every word.
Li Wei Yang smiled. She did not think Tuoba Zhen still
had not abandoned his intentions, especially after the last incident.
This man met someone he could not have, so he was
willing to resort to despicable means. He was welcome to try, but he won’t
succeed! Her eyes shifted over to Tuoba Zhen and sadly prompted: “Why, is
Dianxia threatening me?”
Tuoba Zhen bluntly confirmed: “Indeed, I’m giving you
one last chance! If you agree, I will have a way for you to marry into the San
Huangzi residence instead of your jiejie. I can even let you be Zheng fei! You
only need to tell me whether or not you’re willing!”
Li Wei Yang was speechless. These developments
surpassed her expectations.
She harmed him to this extent, yet he still wanted to
marry her? In her past life, didn’t Tuoba Zhen like the “kind-hearted and
noble” Li Chang Le? In this life, she left him an impression of a cruel,
selfish and hostile individual. Did he suddenly change his tastes and favor
poisonous grasses like her over delicate white flowers? Even if Tuoba Zhen made
it clear, Li Wei Yang still could not understand this man’s heart.
“Dianxia doesn’t resent me?” Li Wei Yang asked.
Tuoba Zhen looked into her eyes with a trace of doubt:
“I believe that if you are with me, we will be very well off. In the future, if
you give birth to a son, I will let him inherit my position. You should
understand that I will fulfill this promise.”
He needed a capable, clever woman behind him, and his
child needed a sensible mother to protect them. It was easy to want someone’s
life, and there will be countless obstacles waiting ahead. In the end, children
of the Imperial family that want to peacefully come into the world and grow up
simply had no chance unless they had a clever Muqin.
This was a struggle for the Imperial throne. He could
gain a greater bargaining chip in the future. He had much better prospects, but
the more Li Wei Yang refused him, the more he wanted her. Like his pursuit for
the dragon throne, this strange torment unnerved him, so he did not hesitate to
offer grand promises to tempt Li Wei Yang.
Last time, he promised the lowly position of Ce fei,
which Li Wei Yang disregarded, but now she carefully consider this! He was a
Huangzi hardly anyone bothered with, but this was to be Zheng fei of a Huangzi!
At most, Tuoba Yu could only make her Ce fei! Children of a Zheng fei will be
the children of the official wife whereas the children of Ce fei will be
shu-born, this was a world of difference! If she was clever, she would know
which to choose!
Tuoba Zhen remained as handsome as the drifting clouds
in the sky, but his expressions were cold and revealed his determination!
Li Wei Yang scoffed and firmly raised her voice: “I
refuse.”
Tuoba Zhen froze as surprise and other obscure
emotions flooded into his eyes. A moment later, he solemnly reminded her: “This
is your last chance.”
Li Wei Yang’s voice remained firm: “No matter how many
chances there are, my answer will be the same!”
Tuoba Zhen sneered and fell silent. At last, the
ruthless, murderous intent appeared on his face. He wanted nothing more than to
kill her right now.
This young woman has to disappear! He must kill her
without a second thought! In the blink of an eye, he thought up of thousands of
ways to force her into a dead end!
Li Wei Yang knew what he was thinking but was not
worried. Once Tuoba Zhen had decided on something, he would not change his
mind. She opposed him, so she should prepare herself for what was to come. If
he wants to wage war, then we shall see which one of us will die at the other’s
hands!
Not too far away, a clamor rose in the Imperial
Garden.
A palace maid rushed over and whispered a few things
to Tuoba Zhen. “What?” His face changed, then his eyes shot over to Li Wei Yang
in disbelief.
The palace maid was trying to catch her breath. She
opened her mouth a couple times, but no words came out. She seemed to be in a
state of shock.
Tuoba Zhen did not anything else. He cast Li Wei Yang
one final glance, then turned and left. Li Wei Yang looked off in the direction
they were heading in and faintly smiled. She stood there, watching terrified
palace maids pass by. Her smile widened.
With no one to lead her out of the palace, should she
find her way out or stay for the show? Li Wei Yang considered it. She wanted to
see how the person who dared to offend her ended up! Perhaps it was a bit harsh
for Tuoba Yu. Just when she was about to turn and leave, someone ran into her.
That person looked up in surprise and cried out: “Wei Yang jiejie!”
Wei Yang smiled: “What happened, Jiu Gongzhu? You seem
frantic.”
Jiu Gongzhu was never as terrified nor afraid: “The Imperial
Garden… Something has happened over there!”
Li Wei Yang casually asked: “Oh, what happened?”
Afraid she would not believe it, Jiu Gongzhu nodded
firmly: “Something big happened! I have to go and see, come with me, Wei Yang
jiejie!”
Li Wei Yang shook her head: “I have to return.”
Jiu Gongzhu looked around and hurriedly said: “The
palace is in chaos right now. You can’t just wander around. If something
happens, it will be troublesome. You should come with me, I will protect you.”
Her Mufei was ill and bedridden, so she didn’t dare to go alone!
Li Wei Yang chuckled. Jiu Gongzhu only wanted her to
tag along for advice. She did not want this to be a repeat of last time, when
she helped that person out. In the end, she was still a child. Having been
warned once, she knew the punishment will not be as light the next time. Yet
some people who will never heed warnings unless they paid a terrible price!
The sound of breaking porcelain rang out in the
Imperial Garden. Jiu Gongzhu’s face paled as she pulled Li Wei Yang over. When
she saw the situation in the Imperial Garden, her soul almost flew away in
fright as her face turned stricken pale.
Li Wei Yang looked on from afar. Over there, among the
palace maids gathered, a woman stood tall and proud. She wore the garments of
an Empress, a nine-tailed phoenix crown on her head, an elegant, silk dress
with a long, sweeping train and intricate designs, especially the beautiful
embroidery of pearls and bits of gold.
In sharp contrast, her face seemed dead as a dried
leaf. Her weak and frail body seemed like it could not hold up under the heavy
garments, and her neck seemed to have shrunken. She barely managed to stand,
supported by the nu guan beside her. Of course, this was someone who was
severely ill. However, at this moment, she seemed absolutely livid.
Across from her, the formerly cold and noble Zhang De
Fei was kneeling. The Empress ordered the palace maids to pull her hair,
leaving it disheveled, which made her seem like a lotus struck by a heavy downpour.
She fearfully knelt on the ground, her face drained of color and panic in her
eyes, desperate.
“Niang niang, please don’t be too angry!” Zhang De Fei
saw that the Empress was seething with rage. Despite the countless palace maids
and eunuchs present, she remained on her knees and hastily went over to catch
the hem of the Empress’s dress, pleading: “Empress, please do not be too angry.
Chen qie would not dare to overstep my bounds, someone must have harmed…”[1]
The Empress fiercely swatted Zhang De Fei’s hand away.
The veins on her face contorted as she gritted her teeth: “I regret entrusting
you with the responsibilities in the palace. You dare to act so boldly, hoping
I die a bit sooner, so you could become Empress?! This is an act of treason!”
The Empress was always gentle and neutral, rarely as
harsh and solemn as she was now, stunning everyone. When Li Wei Yang arrived,
she humbly knelt down like many others, but a smile lingered on her face. The
Empress’s condition had not improved. Her state of mind continued to decline,
leaving her to fall victim to paranoia. Palace affairs had always been left to
Zhang De Fei and Wu Xian Fei. If anything happened to her, those two would be
greatly promoted!
Zhang De Fei hastily said: “Chen qie does not dare,
Chen qie would never!”
Wu Xian Fei beside her seemed just as terrified,
kneeling in front of the Empress, not daring to interrupt.
Even in the state they were in, the Empress was still
not appeased. She sneered and closely eyed Zhang De Fei.
Zhang De Fei’s slender face and thin, with willowy
eyebrows, bright almond-shaped eyes, and her tall nose bore resemblance to a
celestial maiden. The years that have passed seemed to have left no marks on De
Fei’s face! The Heavens were truly unfair!
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Translator: Chau
Translator: Chau
Editor: Pending
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Prev: Chapter 95 Part 2
