Chapter 75: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 75: 

 

The new emperor’s sudden decision to make things difficult for Cui Xingzhou was quite unexpected. The idea of summoning a official of merit’s fiancée into the palace in such a blatant manner was somewhat inappropriate. Courtiers waited with bated breath to see how Cui Xingzhou would handle this apparent snub from the emperor.

Cui Xingzhou’s expression grew cold, and he was about to respond when Empress Shi, seated at the back and enjoying her pork leg, interjected with a smile: “Your Majesty, please don’t jest with me. I am no match for a husband’s role. Besides, Miss Liu has endured quite a bit on her journey. Upon arriving in the capital, she should enjoy herself and not be burdened with palace rules and regulations. I’ve always enjoyed lively gatherings and would love to invite the ladies to the palace. Miss Liu can take this opportunity to learn from them.”

Empress Shi, known for her down-to-earth demeanor, spoke with straightforwardness and warmth. As she placed a duck leg on the emperor’s plate, the atmosphere softened, making it seem as though the emperor’s earlier remarks were nothing more than a jest.

Liu Dan was momentarily overwhelmed by the sudden revelation, and his anger led him to demand Liu Mian Tang be brought into the palace. However, as soon as he saw Liu Mian Tang’s expression turn cold, he regretted his hasty decision. 

He knew that making her uncomfortable in public would only make her upset, and he had never been able to tolerate her displeasure before...

Fortunately, the straightforward Empress intervened just in time, stabilizing the fragile relationship between the ruler and his officials.

Moreover, as the Empress had suggested, there would be future opportunities to invite Liu Mian Tang to the palace during the Empress's banquets and tea parties. This would give him a chance to speak with her privately.

The engagement was merely a formality; as long as the formal ceremony had not yet taken place, it wasn’t considered as taking her away. He hoped Liu Mian Tang wouldn’t stay angry with him, as he was now in a position to keep her close.

Acknowledging the Empress’s wise counsel, the new emperor softened his tone and said, “The Empress speaks truly; it seems I have been thoughtless.”

With this, the atmosphere at the banquet shifted back to one of harmony. The guests resumed their convivial exchanges, and the mood became amicable once more.

Regarding Cui Xingzhou’s request, the new emperor  also agreed with pleasure. However, since they were only engaged and not yet formally married, he did not grant a decree but instead conferred the title of “Princess Huaisang”, along with land and estates, showing considerable generosity.

The title of Huaisang was chosen with a sense of nostalgia for the past, and if one were not deeply familiar with their entanglements, they might not understand this implication.

However, Cui Xingzhou was well aware and understood that Emperor Kai Xuan was using the title to stir up memories for his fiancée, hoping Liu Mian Tang would recall their past.

Unfortunately, the new emperor had miscalculated; Liu Mian Tang had suffered a head injury and had completely forgotten her past with him. She could not recall any of their former connection.

In this regard, Cui Xingzhou was quite reassured. The marriage contract was clearly written in black and white, and since Liu Mian Tang had signed it, she was bound by it. Although he had been accommodating and willing to let her go if things did not work out when they signed the marriage contract, if Liu Mian Tang truly had the audacity to break the engagement in the future, she would then understand what it means to be on a ship that cannot be turned back.

Next, the two of them became incredibly busy. Prince Huaiyang naturally had countless social obligations, while Mian Tang, as a newcomer to the capital's social scene, was also continuously engaged in social activities.

It was no longer like in Lingquan Town, where she could wear the same outfit repeatedly. Each social event required a new set of clothes, and she had to carefully remember the people she met at each banquet.

Mian Tang was busy every day, like a spinning top, with her mind filled with tasks. Sometimes she would return to the residence, wash her face, and fall asleep on the bed without even removing her hairpins.

However, Cui Xingzhou, despite being just as exhausted, would always wake her up even in the dead of night and create a commotion.

During their stay in the capital, they were temporarily residing in a residence granted by Emperor Kai Xuan.

Li Mama now resembled a tightly strung qin, producing a steady, unhurried sound in Mian Tang’s ear every day—“Miss, if the Prince Regent's residence holds a tea party in the future, during the April season, should the banquet be held at the Water Pavilion or the Mountain Villa? How should the seating arrangement be arranged?”

Old Madam Li asked with seriousness, and Mian Tang responded with equal seriousness. She had meticulously recorded the details of these banquet etiquettes in two large notebooks.

As for the decorative items and activities like polo and tea tasting, they were even more difficult for her to keep track of.

Liu Mian Tang felt that she had never worked so hard in her life before, but to be honest, these were not subjects she was passionate about.

However, after that palace banquet, Mian Tang felt that if she did not master these skills, the emperor might use it as an excuse to coerce her into the palace. Hence, she resolved to put in serious effort, completely abandoning her usual carefree attitude.

But every time Li Mama was satisfied with her performance and left, Mian Tang would collapse onto the soft couch behind her, imagining how carefree her life would be if she had not signed the marriage contract. She wouldn't have to attend so many banquets or learn these tedious rules.

Her lamentations, however, accidentally slipped out of her mouth. Unfortunately, Cui Xingzhou  returned from a banquet early today and happened to overhear her mutterings about how things would be better if she hadn’t signed the marriage contract.

In recent days, Cui Xingzhou had been attending numerous palace banquets, and he always came back with a slight smell of alcohol.

He had planned to use his drunken state as an excuse to have his fiancée’s delicate fingers massage his temples. However, upon entering the room, he heard Mian Tang grumbling about how it would have been better if she had not signed the marriage contract.

These words hit Cui Xingzhou like a dagger to the chest. His tall figure stood still at the doorway, with an icy demeanor, waiting for someone to come and placate him.

Liu Mian Tang, seeing him glaring at her, turned over and pretended not to see him as she lay on the bed.

Cui Xingzhou stood there for a while. When he saw she didn’t come out to comfort him, he strode over and grabbed her ankle, saying, “Tell me, how are you regretting it?”

Mian Tang allowed him to pull her, falling into his embrace. Smelling the slightly strong alcohol on him, she responded with a hint of concern, “Lord, you’ve been drinking. Do you need Li Mama to prepare some hangover remedy?”

Cui Xingzhou pinched her earlobe and said, “Don’t change the subject. Tell me more about what you just said.”

Mian Tang avoided his hand and replied, “A gentleman should not eavesdrop on private conversations. I haven’t even mentioned that you came into my room without announcing yourself!”

Cui Xingzhou held both her hands and placed a kiss on her rosy lips, saying, “You are mine entirely, so don’t mention anything about rooms or not!”

The once aloof and ethereal Cui Xingzhou was now completely gone, replaced by a man who was very possessive. Mian Tang blinked, finding his possessiveness somewhat unreasonable, yet she couldn’t help but feel a slight joy at his words.

So she said nothing, merely smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed another kiss on him. However, when Cui Xingzhou tried to deepen the kiss, she laughed and pulled away, saying, “You smell awful from the alcohol. Go wash up quickly!”

In reality, she was lying; Cui Xingzhou didn’t seem to have drunk much, and the alcohol he smelled of was more aromatic than overpowering. However, it was still early, and being so clingy at this hour was quite inappropriate.

Although they had not yet gone through the formal marriage rites, they were already behaving like an old married couple. Prince Huaiyang seemed to be especially enthusiastic about intimacy, and almost never had a night of rest.

At first, Liu Mian Tang  could manage, but over time, she found it increasingly difficult to cope. She subtly asked Li Mama, who had more experience, if other couples also experienced the same thing.

Old Madam Li quietly informed Mian Tang that most men did not have such boundless energy. The prince’s vigor was unmatched, and it was his affection for Mian Tang that led him to behave this way. However, if this continued, it could easily exhaust the man’s health, which was not conducive to long-term well-being.

Mian Tang remembered seeing those dissolute young men with dark circles and weakened bodies, often drained by wine and pleasure. She worried that Cui Xingzhou might end up like them in the future, and she decided she could not indulge him in this manner any longer.

So when Cui Xingzhou finished washing up and intended to return to Liu Mian Tang’s room to rest, he found that the door was barred from the inside. He could not push it open.

From inside the room, Mian Tang’s voice rang out, “It’s getting late. Your Highness, please go back to your own room to rest. I’m feeling a bit tired, so I’m going to sleep now…”

Cui Xingzhou frowned and said from outside the door, “Your little games are nothing new. Even if that’s the case, I can still hold you while you sleep. Stop playing around and open the door quickly!”

Mian Tang wanted to bury her head under the pillow, frustrated that he even remembered the timing of her "little games." What if Bi Cao and Fang Xie heard? How embarrassing!

When she signed the marriage contract, she intended to use the time before their official marriage to get to know each other well, revealing each other's shortcomings without pretense or lies.

Life on North Street had been so blissful that every time she thought about it, it felt like a dream, with their relationship resembling the loving couples portrayed on stage.

Perhaps Cui Xingzhou was so enchanted by that perfect period that he was determined to marry her. He might even have deceived himself in the process.

So now Mian Tang had completely abandoned her previous, respectful demeanor. She occasionally displayed her stubborn side, thinking that if Prince Huaiyang regretted it, they could still negotiate and dissolve the marriage contract before the official wedding.

However, to her surprise, after signing the marriage contract, there was no opportunity for the kind of adjustment she had envisioned. Or rather, any adjustment that did occur had nothing to do with aligning their personalities or temperaments!

Spending all day in such a disordered state, even Mian Tang, who was a carefree woman from the Jianghu, felt it was somewhat inappropriate!

So today, she was determined not to open the door, refusing to indulge his whims. Otherwise, the prince might soon become a shadow of his former self, and she would end up as a seductress draining his vitality!

After Cui Xingzhou knocked on the door a few times, he suddenly went silent. Liu Mian Tang cautiously poked her head out from under the covers and let out a slow sigh of relief. But as soon as she gathered her wits, she saw a tall, strong figure standing at the foot of her bed.

Cui Xingzhou had just bathed, with his long, dark hair flowing loose and his body clad in a loose, snow-white robe. He was staring coldly at her with lowered eyes!

Mian Tang, startled by his sudden appearance, jumped out of bed in shock. She prided herself on having good hearing, but she hadn't heard any noise at all. She really didn’t know how he had managed to get in.

She glanced at the window by the table and saw it had been pried open from the outside. It seemed the prince had entered like a thief through the window.

“Since we came to the capital, you’ve become increasingly disobedient. First, you talk about wanting to dissolve the marriage contract, and now you won’t even let me into your room. Liu Mian Tang, do you want to rebel?”

As he spoke, he picked her up, ready to spank her.

Mian Tang quickly pleaded for mercy, saying that they weren’t officially married yet, and spending all day in such intimacy wasn’t appropriate! Moreover, Li Mama had mentioned that men shouldn’t overindulge themselves, and even if they were married, they would still have separate rooms in the mansion.

Cui Xingzhou retorted, “Back in Lingquan Town, you told me that if we didn’t keep our bed warm, we weren’t truly a couple, and you reminded me not to neglect you. How come you’re being so hypocritical now?… Are you really regretting being with me and waiting for your Prince Zi Yu to take you back to the palace as a consort?”

Mian Tang didn’t expect him to bring up her past feelings for Prince Zi Yu again, which made her angry. She snapped, “I don’t even remember him well anymore. If you keep talking like this, I’ll really go to the palace to study etiquette with the Empress!”

Cui Xingzhou, holding the soft and warm Mian Tang in his arms, found his anger dissipating. Hearing her shout about going to the palace, he responded slowly, “Go ahead, if you really enter the palace, I’ll lead my troops into the palace right after you to bring you back!”

Mian Tang thought that Cui Xingzhou might indeed do something like that. She blinked and said, “Stop talking nonsense; if someone hears you, they might think you’re plotting a rebellion! However, the Empress really did send me an invitation to the palace tomorrow to taste some new pastries created by the palace’s pastry chef.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Cui Xingzhou replied, “Don’t go! Just tell the Empress that you’re not feeling well and are afraid of passing on a cold to her!”

Mian Tang said, “You’ve already declined for me several times, and didn’t you ask for the petition to transfer back to Zhenzhou only to be suppressed by the Emperor? It’s not good to keep stalling like this, otherwise, will you be kept here for a lifetime?”

Cui Xingzhou grunted, “What can someone supported by the Empress Dowager do to keep me here? He’s just trying to grab more power.”

At the court, the ministers were discussing how to divide the Northwest Army, using the excuse that local princes should not exceed their military limits and demanding that Cui Xingzhou relinquish his military authority.

The reason they didn’t dare to act forcefully was because the Northwest Army was just outside the capital and only responded to Cui Xingzhou’s orders.

Currently, the situation in the Sanjin region was tense. Besides the Northwest Army, there were also troops loyal to the Empress Dowager and the old bandit forces from Yangshan Mountain, all confronting Cui Xingzhou’s Northwest Army in a standoff.

Some senior officials came to visit Cui Xingzhou privately, lamenting that the current emperor’s rise was illegitimate and questioning whether he was truly of the Liu family bloodline. They hoped that Prince Huaiyang could restore the Great Yan by using his military power to drive the Emperor down from the throne.

In short, the area in front of the Prince Huaiyang’s residence in the capital was very lively. Cui Xingzhou also began to sense the distant intentions of Prince Sui.

Overthrowing a previous emperor has always been a dirty job, staining one’s hands with blood and not guaranteeing stability on the throne.

Prince Sui, addicted to playing the virtuous ruler, naturally wouldn’t do such a dirty job. Instead, he had pushed his nephew forward to take the world’s criticism.

To be honest, Liu Zi Yu’s life of exile has left him with a tainted background, and his origins are a serious blemish. Moreover, the Empress is a coarse person, not someone who can command respect.

Now, there are people urging Cui Xingzhou to step forward and restore order. If Cui Xingzhou were truly ambitious and holding significant military power, he might be tempted to act. Should he really make a move, the capital would inevitably fall into chaos.

At that time, someone might benefit from the turmoil. Prince Sui could step in to quell the unrest, assuming the role of a virtuous ruler and naturally ascending the throne as the rightful monarch of the Great Yan.

However, Cui Xingzhou has no intention of falling into such a trap. His mentor once told him that a gentleman should follow the trend but not drift with the current, in order to become a pillar of strength.

The troops under his command were forged in bloody battles, and he will never hand them over to others.

If someone wants to use him as a pawn to push Liu Zi Yu out of power, they are likely to be disappointed.

But if the Empress continues to invite Mian Tang and he persistently refuses, it could lead to a deadlock where Prince Huaiyang appears unruly and defiant against the current emperor.

So, after much consideration, Mian Tang decided she should go: “Continuing to refuse is not a solution, so when the Empress sent someone with the summons today, I accepted.”

Cui Xingzhou frowned: “Aren’t you afraid she might not let you leave?”

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