Chapter 97: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 97: 

 

Hearing Liu Mian Tang’s “complaint,” Cui Xingzhou looked at her with a hint of amusement and said, “You’ve been craving sweets a lot lately. Are you sure you’re not a child?”

Liu Mian Tang, slightly worried, glanced down at her still relatively flat stomach and said, “I don’t know why, but I’ve been craving them so much lately. Even my clothes are feeling a bit tight. It seems I can’t neglect my training; I need to pick up my martial arts practice again. How about we practice together tomorrow morning?”

Liu Mian Tang had mentioned this before, and Cui Xingzhou had naturally agreed. However, the next morning, Princess Huaisang still couldn’t get out of bed despite the Prince’s efforts to wake her.

So, for now, Liu Mian Tang’s vow was merely heard by the Prince.

As the two snuggled together in the moonlit pavilion, enjoying their intimate moment, Cui Xingzhou suddenly spoke up, “The capital has sent an envoy with the Emperor’s decree. The Emperor wishes for me to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Military.”

Liu Mian Tang was taken aback and hesitated, “What does the Emperor mean by this?”

Cui Xingzhou didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he placed a jade chopstick on top of a tea cup and set a piece of cake on either side of the chopstick. He then pointed to the two pieces of cake and said, “These two pieces represent myself and Prince Sui. The Emperor is using the principle of balancing his ministers.”

Liu Mian Tang understood the situation now. With Prince Sui's entry into the capital becoming a certainty, he would undoubtedly receive support from the Empress Dowager’s faction. This would put Emperor Liu Dan, who emerged unexpectedly, in a difficult position.

So, Liu Dan was relying on Prince Huaiyang to counterbalance Prince Sui!

Liu Mian Tang took a deep breath and asked, “What is your opinion on this, Your Highness?”

Cui Xingzhou was silent for a moment before replying, “If it weren’t for the recent upheaval in Zhenzhou, I would probably have avoided the complexities of the capital and enjoyed my position as a carefree prince in Zhenzhou. But now… I must go to the capital.”

Liu Mian Tang understood his meaning. Prince Sui had ulterior motives towards Prince Huaiyang. If he succeeded in the capital, dealing with Prince Huaiyang would be a simple matter. A mere accusation of treason could tarnish the reputation of a great minister for eternity.

Cui Xingzhou’s departure to the capital was not merely a matter of engaging in a contest with Prince Sui; it was crucial to prevent the Prince from succeeding. However, Emperor Liu Dan, while seeking to use Prince Huaiyang, did not necessarily trust him. Even if Prince Sui was defeated, there was no guarantee that the Emperor would not discard Prince Huaiyang afterwards.

Liu Mian Tang suddenly felt that the battles fought on the battlefield paled in comparison to the treacherous intrigues of the court. After all, battles involve clear weapons and strategies; with the right tactics, everything can be managed. But court disputes? How could one guard against hidden threats? The capital, with its wealth and splendor, was a bottomless abyss that consumed everything and everyone.

Cui Xingzhou seemed to sense Liu Mian Tang’s concerns. This perceptive young woman understood the dangers of the journey to the capital better than many men did.

“I have already told the imperial envoy that if I am to go to the capital, then my family must remain in Zhenzhou. The defenses in Zhenzhou will remain unchanged, and heavy troops will be stationed there to provide time to respond if anything goes awry in the capital.”

Cui Xingzhou was reluctant to part with Liu Mian Tang, but he did not want her or his mother to be in danger.

Liu Mian Tang, however, shook her head resolutely and said, “If you were going to the capital for indulgence, I would not want to interfere with your pleasures. But if you are heading into a den of knives and swords, how can I stay in Zhenzhou and neglect your safety? The Old Princess Consort will remain in Zhenzhou, but I must go with you!”

Cui Xingzhou felt a rush of warmth in his heart, but his face remained stern. “No, it’s not possible! I have made up my mind. Stop being unreasonable!”

Unfortunately, Liu Mian Tang was not afraid of Cui Xingzhou’s cold demeanor. Calmly, she replied, “I am going to the capital for sure. If you won’t take me, then we won’t get married. In that case, I’ll be free, and no one can control me! If you run into trouble with the Emperor, I’ll enter the palace as a consort and use my influence to help you out.”

Her words struck a chord with Cui Xingzhou, who slowly reached out and pinched Liu Mian Tang’s chin. “Say that again!”

Liu Mian Tang looked up with her enchanting eyes and nestled into his embrace, whispering softly into his ear, “What’s the point of repeating it? If you don’t take me, I’ll show you what I mean…”

Cui Xingzhou knew well that Liu Mian Tang was not one to make empty threats. If this were the case on the Northern Street, any man hearing such provocative words would have given her a good scolding.

However, this slippery little lady couldn’t be punished easily; otherwise, she would run away. Cui Xingzhou felt he had indulged her too much, allowing her to become increasingly unruly. He decided to discipline her properly, and with that, he lifted her up in his arms and strode towards the bedroom.

Liu Mian Tang, still playful, protested, “What are you doing? My courtyard is over there. I’m not going to your room!”

Cui Xingzhou, mimicking her earlier teasing tone, whispered into her ear, “Too late. Tonight, I’m going to punish you!”

However, the planned punishment did not proceed as intended.

In the middle of the commotion, Liu Mian Tang suddenly complained of stomach pain.

Cui Xingzhou, realizing that her distress was not a pretense, saw her face turn pale with pain. He hurriedly called for the doctor.

The doctor, carrying his medicine chest, arrived quickly. After examining her, he found that Liu Mian Tang was pregnant. However, the fetus was somewhat unstable and required her to rest quietly to ensure the pregnancy’s safety.

When Cui Xingzhou learned of Liu Mian Tang’s condition, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. He recalled his recent actions with increasing horror, wishing he could slap himself for his thoughtlessness.

In the end, Cui Xingzhou held Liu Mian Tang’s hand tightly, not letting go even as she settled down after taking the medication for her pregnancy and fell into a peaceful sleep.

When the Old Princess Consort learned of Liu Mian Tang’s pregnancy, she finally found her maternal authority and gave her son a thorough scolding.

Liu Mian Tang, due to her discomfort, managed to avoid the Old Princess Consort’s reprimands. However, the Old Princess Consort, still disappointed in her future daughter-in-law, sighed heavily and lamented, “Such a clever child, yet so careless. I noticed you’ve been eating a lot lately and was considering whether to have a doctor check you out, but I never expected it to be true. And you let him act so recklessly! If this pregnancy harms you or the baby, I wonder if you’ll regret it!”

Liu Mian Tang hadn't anticipated becoming pregnant before marriage, and she felt a mix of emotions—regretful for not taking preventive measures sooner.

She had not revealed her true identity as Lu Wen to Cui Xingzhou, and she was uncertain about the future of their marriage. The prospect of a child so soon made her anxious about what would happen if their relationship didn’t last. What would become of the child?

With these thoughts, she gently touched her still-flat belly, where a fragile new life was growing.

Liu Mian Tang resolved not to reveal her true identity for now. Her physical condition was not strong enough to withstand the Prince’s wrath, and while she was not afraid for herself, she worried about the well-being of the child inside her.

Fortunately, as a man, if the Prince were to find fault with her in the future, he could simply divorce her and remarry without worrying about wasting his youth. However, if he truly could not accept her, she was prepared to leave with her child.

The Old Princess Consort had hoped that Liu Mian Tang would be so ashamed by her situation that she would confess her shortcomings, thus adding to the Old Princess Consort’s own prestige by showing leniency. It would also restore some of the elder’s dignity.

However, Liu Mian Tang remained remarkably composed, sometimes lost in thought.

The Old Princess Consort waited for a reaction but eventually lost interest. She admonished Liu Mian Tang, “Being pregnant before marriage will not only bring shame upon you but also adversely affect the child within you if word gets out…”

Cui Xingzhou, who was sitting nearby, disliked hearing this and said coldly, “She is carrying my child. How can it be shameful? If it is a boy, he will be the heir to the Prince’s title and eventually the mansion. What is there to be ashamed of?”

The Old Princess Consort was rendered speechless by her son's response and glared at him in frustration. "People's words can be fearsome! You’re marrying a legitimate wife, not a concubine! I haven’t seen any other Prince make such an outrageous move, having his fiancée become pregnant before marriage!"

At this point, Liu Mian Tang pulled out an abacus from under her pillow and began calculating, leaving the Empress Dowager stunned. “What... what are you calculating now?”

Liu Mian Tang continued to count and said, “The doctor mentioned that I am over a month pregnant. If we marry in a couple of days, by the time the child is born, we might be able to cover it up... There’s no need to worry too much, these are minor issues... If we need to move the wedding date up, it might cost a bit more. I’m just calculating whether we can balance the accounts if we simplify things.”

Cui Xingzhou interjected, “Recently, we’ve received some new funds. Don’t worry about saving; such an important event shouldn’t be handled in a way that would embarrass the Prince's household!” He then stood up and went to the desk to check the calendar. “The day after tomorrow looks good; if not, we can push it to then.”

Liu Mian Tang peered out the window and said, “It’s been cloudy these days. If it rains, the wedding dress we prepared is too thin and won’t do. It might be better to delay a few more days. The dress is specially made by a seamstress from the capital, and I really want to wear it.”

Now that Liu Mian Tang wanted something as grand as stars from the sky, Cui Xingzhou would have ordered a ladder to reach them. Hearing that Liu Mian Tang was worried about not being able to wear the beautiful dress if it rained, he immediately suggested, "How about ten days later? Generally, the weather in Zhenzhou is clear around this time of year..."

The Old Princess Consort, frustrated by their stubbornness, could no longer tolerate the conversation. She stood up and left, resigning herself to the fact that her son and future daughter-in-law had their own minds set on things, leaving her, an old woman, out of their concerns.

She needed to focus on her health and aim to live a long life.

In the following days, the manor's staff and servants were swamped with preparations.

The wedding could not be postponed any longer. Family scandals needed to be concealed, and it was crucial not to let anyone discover that the heir of the Prince's family was the child of an unmarried woman. Therefore, all the previously sent wedding invitations were canceled, and the wedding date was moved up by over a month.

At this time, the Lian family also sent word that they agreed to the proposal from Fifth Master Cui.

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