Human Life
There was someone in the trees behind them, or rather it could be said that they were not in the trees, rather they were on the small path that they had just come from. Feng Yu Heng’s group of three knew martial arts and that person was not actually sneaking around. The footsteps sounded very steady, and the time between each step was the same. It should be a very particular person. It was just when they heard the sound, they found that the person had stopped part way and did not move to go back or hide. They just stood there and did not move, which caused some doubts to appear in her heart.
Was this not eavesdropping from behind the corner? Although there were no walls, just standing behind them without making a sound and without leaving while listening to three girls talk, what was the meaning of this? But those steady and orderly footsteps caused Feng Yu Heng’s heart to move. A glint of light also flashed through her eyes, as she quickly turned around and happily called out: “Seventh brother!”
Hearing her call out like this, Wang Chuan and Huang Quan also reacted. But of course, to be able to walk like this while standing in the back without feeling any improperness, it would definitely be His Highness the seventh prince. Thus the two happily turned around. As a result, however, they were stunned along with Feng Yu heng.
“Uh… that…” Feng Yu Heng scratched her head, “So it was sixth brother!”
The two servants quickly saluted, saying: “Your Highness the sixth prince.”
The person that had come was the sixth prince, Xuan Tian Feng. At this time, he also felt a bit embarrassed; however, he also came out when he saw Feng Yu Heng leave with a strange look. When he came out, old ninth was being held by their drunk Father Emperor to chat. It was just that he did not want to meet with her in such an awkward way. Instead, he hoped to appear openly and greet them. Unfortunately, the people ahead had hearing that was much too keen. He was thinking about getting closer before speaking up; however, he had been discovered. Xuan Tian Feng excused the salute from the two servants before saying to Feng Yu Heng: “Younger sister do not blame me. I did not intend to follow behind you and originally planned to come and greet you, but I did not think that your hearing would be so sharp.” In the end, he did know some martial arts, but his meager amount was just enough to strengthen his body. It was completely unable to compete.
Feng Yu Heng saw that it was the sixth prince and was a bit surprised; however, she definitely did not believe that he had some sort of evil plot. She had said earlier that he was sneaking around and using those sorts of words to describe this person was truly lacking in manners, thus she apologized: “I’m sorry, sixth brother. I didn’t know it was you.”
Xuan Tian Feng shook his head, “It’s fine. Younger sister only thought that I was seventh brother. Thinking about it, seventh brother usually interacts with younger sister quite often.” As he spoke, he walked over. A modest gentleman, he was not quite as aloof as Xuan Tian Hua; however, he also had a refined appearance that could not be neglected.
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “That’s right, seventh brother was raised by Imperial Concubine Mother Yun. He is close with His Highness the ninth prince, so it’s natural that we would interact a bit more.” She smiled at Xuan Tian Feng. Seeing him approach, she turned back around, and the two faced the lake together. On this night, the entire palace was decorated with lanterns, and there were lanterns hanging all around the large lake. There were two pavilions in the middle, and the decorations there were even prettier. Feng Yu Heng said: “Thinking about it, sixth brother also couldn’t tolerate that play and came out for a breath of air, right?”
Xuan Tian Feng nodded. Although it was the truth, he still felt a bit guilty. After all, he could still endure it a bit longer. If he had not seen Feng Yu Heng come out, he would not have also exited; however, he would never admit such a thing. He just chose a different topic to cover it up.
Feng Yu Heng was fine with chatting about anything. Either way, they were both people that did not enjoy watching plays. Coming out to admire the lake was fine. She was not a daughter of a rich family that was overly bashful. She had never felt that there was anything wrong with standing beside a man. Even Huang Quan and Wang Chuan, the two servants, were not stupidly superstitious about such things. Also, the feelings that Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Ming shared could not be torn apart by others so easily. The two servants just stood to the side and took a few steps back. They could still clearly hear what the two masters were talking about. They heard the sixth prince talk about his new year’s customs and his contributions to Da Shun by compiling books. Their young miss also looked to like listening to this and would occasionally give some advice on the compiling of books, which received quite a bit of praise from the sixth prince. They could not help but feel proud of their young miss, as Huang Quan even quietly said: “Our young miss really is an all-around talent. She knows how to do everything.”
In regards to this, Wang Chuan believed that this was correct; however, she said: “The sixth prince is such a good person. I just don’t know which family’s young miss will be fortunate enough to enter the Xian Palace’s gates.” While she spoke, she pondered, “I feel that the young miss of the first wife of General Ping Nan’s manor would be quite good.”
“But General Ping Nan already requested a decree from His Majesty, saying that his daughter would not marry a prince.”
“That’s right! But don’t you feel that the pairing a scholar with someone with a military background is very good?”
With Wang Chuan saying this, Huang Quan also felt that this was indeed very good. That young miss, Ren Xi Feng, got along very well with their own young miss. She was also a decent girl and looked very good. She was very suited to the sixth prince. “But how could what we say count?!” Huang Quan shrugged. It was nothing more than idle gossip. The marriage between a prince and a young miss would not need their concern.
While the two servants were chatting idly, the conversation between the two masters was currently going in a more serious direction. It was Feng Yu Heng that took the initiative to ask Xuan Tian Feng: “Sixth brother, there is something I must ask, but do not get upset.”
Xuan Tian Feng nodded, “Go ahead and ask.”
She said: “Does Noble Lady Li really know witchcraft? In regards to the witchcraft that the Miao people use, I know a little bit about it. Based on what I know, Noble Lady Li is not someone that was raised by the Miao.”
Once this question came out, Xuan Tian Feng laughed a bitter laugh. It was a very helpless and bitter laugh. He told Feng Yu Heng: “How could she know any witchcraft? It all came from some hearsay about being able to harm others by stabbing a little figure with a name written on it.” As he spoke, another layer of bitterness appeared on his face, “In truth, my mother is a very cowardly person with a weak personality. When she first entered the imperial palace, she was always bullied. You also know that the inner palace is much like a battlefield. She could not beat anyone openly and could only hold it in her heart to think of ways to secretly vent her anger. Who could have known she would be discovered and would nearly lose her life. Later on, the matter was only dropped because it was discovered that she was pregnant with me. But nothing really happened to the person that was stabbed. Even last time at the hunting ground, did anything happen to you after that little figure was stabbed?”
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, “Nothing happened.”
Xuan Tian Feng spread his hands, “Don’t be scared and don’t take it to heart. That person is just like that. That’s just her way of venting her frustrations. In truth, she doesn’t know anything about witchcraft. It’s all just her messing around.” After he finished speaking, he was worried that she would not believe it and continued: “I only heard about the earlier matter after growing up, and I secretly investigated it. I even asked her about it, and it is indeed just for her to vent. She doesn’t know how. She really does not.”
Feng Yu Heng trusted Xuan Tian Feng. She had also interacted with Noble Lady Li. If she really knew how to use witchcraft, she should not have given up her hand so easily. Also, she had never succeeded in so many years. But she still remembered seeing Noble Lady Li running away from Winter Moon Palace, thus she had to remind him: “Currently, Noble Lady Li has been confined to Jing Si Palace. Father Emperor still has not said that she could be let out, but sixth brother going to visit her is fine. Sixth brother, advise noble lady a bit more. One extra matter is worse than one less matter. Taking care of your own health is most important. She must not disobey Father Emperor’s intentions because she could not figure things out.”
Xuan Tian Feng nodded and agreed. The two chatted about something else for a while. Standing outside, it had become a bit cold. Only then did the two return to Ming Zhi Palace.
At this time, a new play was on stage. The play was about a large house celebrating the new year. It was very lively and did not have much of a plot. It was just about the celebration and to improve the atmosphere. After she sat down, she looked toward Xuan Tian Ming’s side and saw that he was chatting with the Emperor, but he cast a look in her direction at the moment she sat down. The two smiled at each other, and this was worth a thousand words.
The Emperor had drank a bit much, and the Empress could not say much from the side. She could only smile and eat seeds with the imperial concubines. As for the little exchange of glances between Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng, it was clearly seen by the Emperor, as he very unhappily said: “Look, you little brat, you’re exchanging flirtatious glances with your wife. You also know that your heart will be flustered when you won’t be able to see her. Can’t you think about your old man a bit? I also want to see my wife!”
These words were said a bit loudly, as both the Empress and Imperial Concubine Gu Xian heard them clearly. The two helplessly let out a bitter laugh, as Imperial Concubine Gu Xian said: “Thinking about it now, I really don’t know how we slept together at that time.”
The Empress also said: “You’re much better off than this One. In any case, you have a son. Although Qi’er does not pay attention to the battles in court, the imperial treasury was taken care of by him. He is the most stable child, and you have someone to rely on. This One really has it hard.”
Imperial Concubine Gu Xian understood what she meant. She had the position of Empress, but it was an empty position. She was without son or daughter, and it really was difficult for her to have survived for such a long time. “In any case, you are the central palace.” Imperial Concubine Gu Xian could only console her using these words, “To all of the princes, you are their mother. In the future, regardless of who ascends the throne, you will be the proper empress dowager. You will not suffer in this lifetime.”
The Empress smiled bitterly, “This One knows. Even if I am without child, it’s fine. Otherwise, this position would never have come to me. Thinking back to when I assumed the position of empress, so many people watched with red eyes but in secret, they placed all manners of fetters; however, there weren’t many that could see as clearly as you, Imperial Concubine Xian.”
The two quietly chatted while feeling incredibly bitter. Back at the Emperor’s side, he continued to hold onto Xuan Tian Ming and refused to let him go. He just continued to say: “As long as you can get your Imperial Concubine Mother out of Winter Moon Palace, or if you can send Us into Winter Moon Palace, Ming’er, We will give you anything that you want. Even if you want this country, We will cup Our hands and give it to you.”
The Empress and Imperial Concubine Gu Xian were the ones closest and could hear these words. The two smiled bitterly once more, as Imperial Concubine Gu Xian said: “The things said after getting drunk are the deftest, but these years, if he really had any intention of announcing a crown prince, he would have done it long ago.”
The Empress also said: “That’s right! He looks foolish, but he’s clearer than anyone else. He is not someone that would give up the country just for some personal feelings. In his heart are Da Shun and the many successive generations of ancestors. He also wants to choose the best. Even if it’s not what that person desires, as long as they are worthy of Da Shun, that would be the one he places his hopes in the most.”
These same words were being said by Xuan Tian Ming to the Emperor, openly seeing through his intentions. He even said: “Don’t you just want to see who is most able to support this country between me and eighth brother? Forget it, I also want to see if he is capable. If he is, I won’t fight to take this country. If he isn’t, I will take care of this for you.”
As the father and child spoke about the grand matters of the country, Zhang Yuan had been called to the side by a eunuch that had come with news from the outside. The eunuch whispered: “Eunuch Yuan, it’s not good. Something happened in the palace. Two young misses were killed!”