Chapter 131: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 131: 

 

Upon hearing Liu Mian Tang's question, Cui Fu let out a cold laugh. "What else could it mean? Ever since I divorced the Guo family, they have been dead set on finding someone better. However, they’ve realized that the vast Guo family is practically nothing in the capital. When trying to climb higher, others look down on them for their poor family morals, messy concubine arrangements, and their mother-in-law’s difficult personality. Yet if they want to settle for less and marry a concubine, that Duchess Guo has such high standards that she wouldn’t accept any of the lowly daughters. On top of that, my brother has been doing quite well lately, sitting firmly in his military position. So, after all that comparison, they seem to think that I’m doing well, and Guo Yi has written to me several times, hinting at wanting to reconcile…”

Liu Mian Tang raised her eyebrows and exclaimed, “Nonsense! A broken mirror can’t be put back together again. Has he taken a concubine, or did that Concubine Guo die? If either of those is still true, what’s the point of returning to that miserable place? Sister, don’t be foolish—absolutely don’t let your heart soften!”

In her anger, all the etiquette she had painstakingly learned over the years vanished, and the fierce spirit of the Lu family showed itself; she was just shy of cursing the entire lineage of Duke Qing.

Cui Fu saw her getting worked up and quickly came over to pat her back, saying, “My dear little sister, what time is it? You’re still shouting at the top of your lungs; be careful you don’t shake the baby out! Don’t worry, my life is quite comfortable now. How could I go back and suffer their nonsense? But you… you must not have any accidents. If you even scratch yourself, the world will be abuzz with rumors that my family’s Xingzhou has been abusing you!”

Liu Mian Tang calmed down and chuckled, “What? Is there still someone saying he treats me harshly?”

Cui Fu glared at her and said, “You haven’t shown yourself in public for so long, so naturally, idle people will spin tales about the Prince's residence. Some even have the audacity to prepare early for… well, forget it. It’s better not to discuss those rumors.”

For some reason, Cui Fu suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

But Liu Mian Tang was too clever; she immediately guessed what was on her mind. Looking into Cui Fu’s eyes, she asked, “What? Has someone prepared a candidate for the prince’s next wife?”

Cui Fu regretted her slip of the tongue and quickly tried to remedy the situation. “It’s just the wild imaginations of those who cling to power. Xingzhou certainly won’t pay any attention to it.”

Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but feel a bit impressed. She knew that eligible bachelors in the capital were somewhat scarce, but to start arranging for a new wife while the current one was still alive was rather excessive!

Since Cui Fu had let it slip, and Liu Mian Tang had nothing better to do, she pried deeper into who these young ladies were.

Cui Fu had been attending parties lately, where people had been recommending suitable candidates for her future sister-in-law. She had actually noted down quite a few names.

Although she hadn’t intended to share this information, Liu Mian Tang was quite skilled at drawing out conversation. Before long, Cui Fu had divulged all the details.

Once Cui Fu finished speaking, Liu Mian Tang felt a bit annoyed. However, when she heard the family backgrounds and talents of those girls, she realized they were not bad at all!

So when Cui Xingzhou returned home, Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but tease him, saying, “The Guo family treats their daughters-in-law so poorly that no one dares to marry a good girl into Duke Qing’s household. How is it that you, the one plotting against your wife, have people waiting to marry you off so early? Which family do these girls come from that they’re willing to jump into the fire pit?”

Cui Xingzhou sat cross-legged on the warm kang, eating while glancing at her. “There are plenty who are not thinking clearly. There are too many prized flowers; I can’t remember them all at once. You should also learn to appreciate your spot. If you’re not careful and decide to change your position, there will be someone ready to take your place in an instant.”

Liu Mian Tang pouted, realizing that Cui Xing Zhou was intentionally trying to provoke her. She retorted, “Then you should prepare a few more options, in case someone short comes along and nobody looks after your clothes and food!”

Though Cui Xingzhou had started the teasing, he was far from pleased when Liu Mian Tang brought up something as serious as life and death. He abruptly set down his bowl and chopsticks, saying, “Stop talking nonsense! I’ll recite some Buddhist scriptures to cleanse this bad luck!”

Liu Mian Tang leaned her face against his shoulder and replied, “Didn’t you say I’m as strong as a cow? What’s there to be afraid of?”

Cui Xing Zhou didn’t respond, simply wrapping an arm around her.

He had never really thought much about the difficulties of childbirth before. However, lately, annoying flies seemed to buzz around him, and although he had sternly reprimanded them, he still felt unsettled.

As a result, he had hired no fewer than six midwives to assist with the delivery, and several renowned gynecologists were always on standby in the residence.

He couldn’t bear to hear words like “difficult delivery” or “accident” because of that; Mian Tang often inadvertently uttered such phrases, leading him to force her to recite half a volume of the Heart Sutra.

Even without speaking, Mian Tang could sense his tension from the way he held her tightly.

According to her sister Cui Fu, women often have anxious thoughts before giving birth, leading to some nervousness.

Unexpectedly, when they arrived at her residence, the situation was quite the opposite; this man was even more anxious than the woman about to give birth.

Seeing that he remained silent, Liu Mian Tang reached out to hold his large hand, saying, “Since you’re so good, I can’t die and let you go to anyone else. I have to firmly keep hold of the most handsome man in the capital!”

Cui Xing Zhou maintained a stoic expression and replied, “Don’t you dare say the word ‘die’! Recite a few more pages of the scriptures!”

Finally, Liu Mian Tang's patience wore thin, and she said, “If you make me recite more, I’ll shave my head and become a nun! Marquis Zhao even told me that you initially wanted to use me and then send me off to a nunnery to fend for myself!”

Cui Xingzhou felt a bit guilty when she brought up old grievances, so he quickly changed the subject, easing his expression as he gently touched her round belly. “You should be a good child and not make your mother suffer. Otherwise, I’ll spank you!”

At that moment, her belly suddenly bulged in a small area, resembling a little foot.

Cui Xingzhou couldn’t help but lean in closer, encouraging their child to kick him in the face.

Liu Mian Tang couldn’t help but chuckle at his rare display of childlike enthusiasm. She was truly looking forward to holding and kissing the baby as soon as it arrived.

However, speaking of her impending delivery, Cui Xingzhou mentioned an important matter: his mother, the Old Princess Consort Chu, would also be coming to the capital.

Initially, Cui Xingzhou hadn’t wanted his mother to accompany him because his fate in the capital was uncertain.

Now, however, Prince Huaiyang had established his footing within the military, no longer arriving in the capital blind and unsure of his circumstances.

Since the Old Princess Consort Chu had been feeling somewhat melancholic in Zhenzhou from missing her son, Cui Xingzhou decided to send someone to bring her to the capital to settle down.

Liu Mian Tang was delighted upon hearing this: “That’s wonderful! If we count it right, mother will arrive just as I’m giving birth. She’s always worried about not being able to hold her grandchild, so this time she won’t have to fret.”

However, when Cui Fu learned that their mother was coming to the capital, she felt a bit troubled.

Worried that her mother might be concerned, she had kept quiet about her divorce from Guo Yi. Now that their mother was coming to the capital, it would be impossible to keep that secret any longer.

Liu Mian Tang advised her, “Since it’s all being handled by your brother, if our mother is upset, she can just scold him. Don’t worry, mothers always love their daughters. After hearing about the Guo family’s actions, how could she side with them?”

Cui Fei replied, “I’m not afraid of being scolded by our mother; I just find it bothersome to explain everything. I’m more worried that the Duke's family will stir up trouble in front of her…”

Liu Mian Tang chuckled, “Sister, you were once their daughter-in-law. We in the Prince Huayang Mansion aren’t afraid of them; why should we now be cautious about their opinions?”

Just then, a servant came to report that someone from Duke Qing's residence had arrived to fetch Jin'er. Before Cui Fu could respond, Mian Tang ordered, “Go tell the people from there that Jin'er is sick and can’t be taken out today. We will inform them when he gets better, and they can come for him then.”

Jin'er could eat and drink just fine, and he wasn’t sick at all. However, since the people from the Duke's residence had been indiscreet in their conversations with the child, it was better for them not to take him.

When the representatives from the Duke's residence returned empty-handed, they reported back, looking quite dejected.

Hearing this, the Duchess angrily threw her teacup down, exclaiming, “How unreasonable of Prince Huayang! Do they not remember that our legitimate grandson is being raised in their household? How can they refuse us the right to see him?”

Meanwhile, the Old Duke, Guo Gong, himself was somewhat more rational. He snorted coldly and said, “They used to allow visits, so why not now? You should reflect on your actions instead of causing trouble in front of that young child. How can you expect him to tell Cui Fu not to remarry? Do you think the Prince's mansion is full of fools? Jin'er has already mentioned it; they will certainly suspect you of stirring up trouble and will not feel good about it.”

Duchess Gai responded with indignation, "To put it bluntly, it’s all because Prince Huaiyang has become infatuated and married a woman from a bandit background. When Cui Fu first married into our family, everything was just fine. But after returning to her family for a visit, she was incited by that female bandit leader and caused a ruckus to divorce my son! Our family, the Guo family, has suffered grievances with no one to defend us."

The Old Duke Qing shot her a sideways glance and said, "If you hadn’t caused trouble, Cui Fu wouldn’t have had a miscarriage. You need to think carefully. Prince Huaiyang is becoming more secure in his position at the military office, and the emperor favors him. Our Duke's family wouldn’t dare act against him. If you continue to offend the Cui family, they won’t treat our family as relatives anymore. Find a day when you can meet with Cui Fu and apologize; you need to smooth over this situation."

Duchess Gai, however, was unwilling to accept the old Duke's reasoning. "There's a saying: 'A night as husband and wife leads to a hundred days of affection.' She has been married into our Guo family for so long—does she really have no attachment at all? My son is also a handsome young man, not one of those greasy, ordinary types. Perhaps she regrets being so impulsive and wants to reconcile with our son."

This time, the Old Duke Qing genuinely hoped his wife was right. 

Currently, the court was in a three-way stalemate: the former faction of the Crown Prince, the Empress Dowager supporting Prince Sui, and the faction from Zhenzhou led by Prince Huaiyang.

Unfortunately, Duke Qing's family had no affiliation with any of these factions, and his son’s future was uncertain. If they could restore the marriage ties with Prince Huaiyang’s family, it would be the best outcome.

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