Happy Lunar New Year everyone :)
Thanks for reading our translation with patience. After the holidays, the release will be a bit more consistent where a new chapter part will be released every 2 weeks on Sunday.
A special thanks to Caroll L. for editing our past few chapters đ
Chapter 110: The Reveal of the Evil Spirit
A warm and balmy scent of intoxication pervaded the palace court. Right in the front of the court was the Emperorâs throne and directly sitting next to the Emperor was the Empress. Seated below were Able Consort Wu, Virtuous Consort Zhang, Imperial Consort Mei, Consort Ruo, and other consorts who held high positions. Seated another row beneath were a few favored guests.
Below the main court, on the left were the male guests who were seated accordingly; first were the princes, then the royalty members, and lastly the officials who were seated according to their ranks. On the right were the female guests and they were seated the same way the male guests were seated. Even though this was just a simple banquet held by the Empress, the females of each family attended based on their ranks. So this time, Li Wei Yang was actually positioned far ahead of Li Chang Le, which made the latter feel hateful to the point of almost biting apart her teeth. She originally thought she could recapture everyoneâs attention with her face. However, these people only gazed at her for a few seconds and then fixated their gazes elsewhere. She didnât expect this from the start.
In actuality, if Li Chang Le didnât have an alluring beauty, no one would actually give her a glance. This was because her âgloriousâ achievements had been spread throughout the city. Everyone knew she first offended the Emperor and then caused the Fifth Prince to be punished by the Emperor. Theyâd also heard that she was dressed magnificently at her motherâs funeral âŠâŠ Marry a wife for her virtues for the family, but who would dare marry this woman? The Official Wife isnât a vase that can just casually be placed anywhere; she has to manage the household. If they marry the wrong wife, it will bring damage to nine generations.
As Li Chang Le continued to think of this, she became more infuriated. She faintly felt that the rotten scent from her body was overtaking the scent of the fragranced powder and couldnât help but feel fearful that others would realize.
Li Wei Yang didnât even look at Li Chang Le once. Because her position was very close to Ninth Princess, she was being asked all sorts of questions by Ninth Princess.
It had been a while; Tuoba Zhen couldnât help but fixate his gaze on Li Wei Yang. Even though he could only see her profile, he noticed the blue-colored gem on her forehead, making her look pure and fresh. Observing her from afar, he saw how half of her face showed calm radiance and shone under the lights. The gem on her black, fluffy hair was like the moon amid a misted spring night. Her complexion was white so she didnât really need to apply any powder. Today she had applied some, which made her complexion even more pure white. On top of her snow white complexion, she also had on a layer of rouge. It was like the clouds in the morning, tender and alluring, making others think that it would break with a blow. She was wearing a dress made with high-quality fabric. With one glance, it looked like it was purple but in actuality, there was a layer of thin purple yarn shrouding the dress, creating a beautiful curve. He didnât want to move and didnât even want to blink his eyes. She was even much more beautiful than before; she was only 13 years old then so her body and face hadnât become fully grown yet. In a little more than two years, she had turned into a young lady. The alluring buds in the past had bloomed. Perhaps, because of his suppressed wild ambitions, her alluring beauty had become even more fascinating in his eyes. Tuoba Zhen mindfully watched her as he thought about how it was a pity to ruin such a beautiful lady.
Right at this moment, Li Wei Yang felt his gaze. Her deep and serene eyes looked towards his direction ------ delusions suddenly appeared right in front of Tuoba Zhen; he felt that this was a beauty with a face covered with rosy clouds. But these rosy clouds quickly dispersed and Li Wei Yang reacted yet he didnât understand it. Her long brows slightly cramped up and her eyes showed cold disgust and derision. Ultimately, the emotions he felt suddenly melted away as if they had turned into taunts. Tuoba Zhen felt that his mind was suddenly blank and his heartbeat almost gone, instigating endless emotions of anger.
At this time, a smiling beauty walked over to the Emperorâs side. The Emperor actually made an exception and added a seat that was even closer to the throne than the Empressâs. The crowd curiously looked towards the beauty. Itâs alright not to look but once the crowd looked, everyone gasped in admiration, similar to adding iced water into an oiled pot.
âThis is Consort Lian!â
âIâve heard she was sent by the Heavens to aid His Majesty!â
âThatâs right, the Heavens blessed Da Li!â
Everyone was speaking rubbish. Even though everyone knew stories about the Heavens were all imaginary, so long as the Emperor believed it, then they must believe it too. As for now, the Emperorâs favoritism towards Neng You Lian wasnât typical so everyone spoke on the same page and believed she was sent by the Heavens to serve His Majesty. Listening to everyoneâs admiration, Li Wei Yang couldnât help but smile. The so-called heavenly figure was simply a deceiving act and the victim being deceived was the Emperor, with the crowd being the spectators for support. Thinking about this, Li Wei Yangâs gaze fell on Neng You Lian. She had only heard about her through Min De and hadnât seen Consort Lian in person. Carefully looking at her now, this consort was in fact unusually beautiful. She was so demurely beautiful that she made all the extravagantly dressed consorts unflatteringly dull and even more the fire in the lantern. Indeed, this was the first time Li Wei Yang saw another woman who could rival Li Chang Leâs beauty.
The only reason why Li Wei Yang could look at Consort Lian with an ordinary mind was because she wasnât one who relied on her looks to achieve what she wanted. So she didnât really care about others being much more beautiful than she was. On the other hand, Li Chang Le couldnât even maintain an ordinary mind. She furtively looked at Consort Lianâs face, inch by inch, bit by bit as she scrutinized and analyzed. She meticulously compared herself to her and became even more terrified as she compared. This Emperorâs newly favored consort was a rare beauty. Not only could her features rival hers, but also her noble disposition was like a bright moon in the night sky. Li Chang Le clenched her fist; she could only rely on her beauty but now that someoneâs beauty triumphed over hers, what else could she depend on!
âYounger Sisterâs jewelry is very intricate, the style of your outfit is also new. It doesnât seem like the work of our craftsmen?â Able Consort Wu looked at Consort Lian and warmly asked.Consort Lian was wearing a faintly red gem necklace with a pair of matching expensive earrings. Consort Lianâs appearance was out of the ordinary, her complexion like jade and her body graceful like the moon. This pair of splendid red gem jewelry and her was a perfect match. Her exquisite skin emitted a calm red as if her neck were transparent.
âOlder Sister, donât you know? This jewelry was sent as a gift by a foreign ambassador! Since the past year, His Majesty treasured this so much and he placed it in his storage. I asked for it many times but he wasnât willing to give it!â Consort Ruo, who was the birth mother of Ninth Princess and Eighth Prince, smiled and semi-genuinely said.
The bloody agate was a glorious gemstone that couldnât escape the notice of others, especially when the large red gemstone at the middle of necklace was the center of attention. Virtuous Consort Zhang looked and calmly smiled: âConsort Ruo, how can you be compared to Consort Lian. She is His Majestyâs dearest!â
The Empress looked at all the consorts from above: âConsort Lian is such an alluring beauty that I canât even remove my gaze. Do you all remember when you first entered the palace, each of you were like flowers? Look at how many years have passed. Looking at the young and beautiful Consort Lian now, I canât admit defeat. Time has passed by really quickly.â
This was why she was the Empress. With a few words, Able Consort Wuâs, Virtuous Consort Zhangâs, and Consort Ruoâs mood all turned sour. The Empress wanted to remind them that they were already old and were no longer as favored and also to remind Consort Lian that even with such a beautiful appearance, she still had nothing in hand. Age is the most powerful factor that is ever-changing. Itâs only the Empressâs throne that will never change. Besides the Empress, everyone else is nothing.
Consort Lian smiled slightly with no change to her expression as if she didnât hear the cutting remarks made by everyone. Her gaze was actually fixated towards the area below the platform and eventually landed on the Jiangs. Her expression in her eyes had slightly changed but not for long; her eyes moved away as if nothing had happened.
âThe Crown Prince has arrived!â Up until here, a door eunuch announced as the Crown Prince walked in. By his side were two magnificently-dressed beauties; one was his Crown Princess and the other was the highly-favored consort Jiang Lan. Crown Princess of the He family came from the House of Duke Wenâs. She had a tall stature, a duck egg-shaped face, short eyelashes, mid-sized eyes, slightly plump nose, and a drooping mouth. She is considered a beauty but compared to Jiang Lan on the side, it was still fairly lacking. Jiang Lan inherited the Jiangâs tall forehead and had a pair of bright eyes and a pointy-shaped face. Her appearance compared to the arrogant Main Furen and Duke Wei Furen was more gentle and elegant. She stood behind the Crown Princess and didnât appear to be too intimate with the Jiangs as she didnât even look at Jiang Xu.
Li Wei Yang thought that this Crown Princeâs consort was a figure. In her memory, the Crown Prince loved her so much that they were inseparable and even treated the Crown Princess coldly because of this. The Crown Princess had complained to the Empress multiple times but because the Empress wanted the Jiangsâ support, she also sided with Jiang Lan. Because of this, the Crown Princess became depressed and passed away two years later. If the Crown Prince did successfully inherited the throne, then Jiang Lan would have had the fate to become an empress. But whether itâs in the past life or now, the Jiangs were still indifferent towards this consort. Not only did they not help her out or even heavily back the Crown Prince, but they also didnât lend a helping hand when the Crown Prince was forced to a dead end. As for Jiang Lan, the first thing she did was abandon her husband and run back to the Jiangs âŠâŠ thinking about this, this was beyond comprehension. She had thought in the past that, witnessing the love between the Crown Prince and Jiang Lan, their marriage was perfect. However looking at the result, the Jiangs had never thought of backing the Crown Prince and even Jiang Lan was just a facade. Besides having their eyes on the throne, this whole family only paid their loyalty towards the successor of the throne. As for who becomes the successor, this really depends on that personâs capabilities.
The Empress smilingly said: âTruly worth a beating, the banquet is starting soon, you actually dare allow your Imperial Father to wait for you!â Behind these words, there was actually no intention of punishing him.
The Crown Prince turned back to coldly glare at the Crown Princess. They originally were going to arrive earlier but this Crown Princess caused a ruckus in the residence, which annoyed him. Now he appeared late in front of everyone which was a loss of etiquette! The Crown Princess coldly glared back at him, her eyes filled with taunts. You allow a consort to have preferential treatment well above that of a Crown Princess that you even brought her to welcome the foreign ambassador. Since youâve already made me lose face, then thereâs no need for you to save yourself from losing yours!
As the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince were raging at one another, Li Wei Yang watched and could only shake her head. Restlessness within the inner chambers was a shortcoming of the Crown Prince. In the upcoming battles, Tuoba Zhen took advantage of this point. These two have been glaring at one another like black-eyed chickens, did they not notice the Emperor was starting to be impatient? No matter what, the Empress ordered a young eunuch to set up a table. It wasnât until theyâd finished working in a rush that a table was set up right beneath the Emperor.
âCrown Prince Brother has always doted on Jiang Lan, the Crown Princess is very angry! Both married to the Crown Prince on the same day but in the end, the Crown Prince stayed over at Jiang Lanâs, such a deep grudge!â Ninth Princess whispered to Li Wei Yang, âIt happens that Imperial Mother always sides with Jiang Lan, which infuriates the Crown Princess. Iâve heard thereâs a small ruckus every three days and a big one every five days! The Crown Princess even broke the bed in Jiang Lanâs chamber!â
Li Wei Yang with astonishment looked at the Crown Princess, such a petite stature âŠâŠ didnât know she could be this overbearing. But, no one can be happy having to share a husband with another woman, especially a gentle one who has been monopolizing her husbandâs time. It was difficult for Li Wei Yang to see her having any blood relations with the Jiangs, looking at Jiang Lanâs feeble body and pitiful face. She didnât even look a single bit like Main Furen and Duke Wei Furen. Pondering upon this, Jiang Lan was birthed by a concubine. So, the way the Jiangsâ attitude towards her compared to the other two differed greatly. This seemed to be the answer to this unfamiliarity.
The Empress noticed Jiang Lan. With a admiring expression, she tugged her hand and praised: âLan-Er, your make-up today is very unique.â
âThanks Your Majesty for your praise.â Jiang Lan gently spoke.
The Empress and Jiang Lan began chatting while the Crown Princess was left on the side without a chance to join in, leaving her feeling suffocated.
Not long after, Jiang Lan returned to her seat. Her glance looked towards the side and then swept over Li Wei Yangâs table. They just stopped momentarily and then moved away as if nothing had happened.
âSister Wei Yang, you donât know, this Jiang Lan is formidable. She isnât that beautiful but she is able to tantalize Brother Crown Prince âŠâŠâ Ninth Princess bent over, whispering happily to Li Wei Yangâs ears, lacking the demeanor of a princess. As she spoke, she turned to look at Jiang Lan but Jiang Lan had already fixated her gaze elsewhere. On the contrary, she was looking towards General Wei Wu, Jiang Nan. Their eyes met and Ninth Princess shivered all of a sudden, feeling that she was deciphered inside-out.
âWhatâs so extraordinary âŠâŠâ Ninth Princess lowly uttered and then stopped speaking.
Of course, he was extraordinary. Nowadays, the Emperorâs highly regarded civil official hailed from the Lis while the highly regarded general hailed from the Jiangs. Although since the start of Da Li, civil officials were superior to generals. But the Jiangs were an exception, their feats had already exceeded those of an average general so that theyâre only lacking the title of a Duke. Li Wei Yangâs gaze looked past Jiang Lan and Jiang Nan and settled on Jiang Xu. He was exactly the same in her memory. He had a valiant appearance, an upright body, and his smile seemed pleasantly warm. If others didnât know, they would have thought he was a civil official and would never imagine that he was a well-known first-ranked general. She didnât understand how his appearance at the banquet would change anything! Thinking of how Jiang Nan deliberately came to provoke, Li Wei Yang already knew clearly that today there would be a mishap, and it would be directed towards herself!
Li Wei Yang slightly smiled, what should she do that would allow her to reap the most profits?
Jiang Xu, Jiang Nan, Crown Prince, Jiang Lan, Tuoba Zhen, Able Consort Wu, and the Empress âŠâŠ These people and their faces flashed across Li Wei Yangâs mind. She looked down and thought all of them just considered her an eyesore but this eyesore could possibly affect the overall situation.-----------------------*****------------------------Translator: EricaEditor: Caroll L.
-----------------------*****------------------------