Chapter 129: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 129: 

 

For a moment, Liu Yu was filled with an indescribable sense of regret and pity.

However, Mian Tang was unaware of his thoughts. Despite receiving accolades from everyone, she did not lose her bearings. Her memory had significantly diminished during her pregnancy, and she had only managed to practice the poem with Cui Xingzhou late into the night. That's why she had relied on the drummer to cheat a little, getting the drum passed to her first. Otherwise, if it went around a few more times, she would forget most of the lines.

After reciting a poem, Mian Tang gracefully withdrew, claiming that too much talking was bad for her pregnancy and finding a quiet corner to rest.

During the remaining time Cui Fu, took charge and hosted the poetry society in her stead.

Originally, it should have been Cui Fu’s turn to shine, as Mian Tang hoped to help her embark on a new romantic journey.

Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a pleasant poetry gathering had begun to stray from its original purpose. Mian Tang felt a heavy weight in her heart as her desired suitor for her sister—Lord Li Guangcai—had yet to make an appearance.

Aside from a few eligible young men who were still unmarried, most of the attendees seemed to have come to watch her make a fool of herself. Furthermore, with the emperor himself attending the poetry society instead of hunting in the western suburbs, Mian Tang felt a sudden wave of anxiety. She worried that Cui Xingzhou might show up, leaving her with a lot to explain.

This poetry society was truly meant for finding a husband for her sister, not for drawing attention to her own potential separation!

Unfortunately, Liu Yu was not willing to let her go. He had his head eunuch find opportunities to pass notes to Mian Tang.

Mian Tang felt she couldn’t refuse to take them; otherwise, the eunuch's persistence would draw even more attention. However, she had no intention of reading them. Even without unfolding the paper, she could guess it was filled with the emperor’s usual platitudes.

So, taking advantage of a moment when she returned to the back courtyard to change, Mian Tang planned to tear the note up.

Unexpectedly, just then, a large hand reached out from the side, quickly pinching the note away from her.

Startled by the unexpected approach, Mian Tang instinctively turned to elbow the intruder.

But when she looked back, she found herself facing a handsome yet scowling prince.

Cui Xingzhou calmly opened the note and glanced at the beautifully written characters on the paper.

“I have heard that you have suffered greatly. Today, seeing you force a smile, my heart aches with you. I only wish to help you escape from this sea of suffering. Tonight, I will send a carriage to the back gate of the Prince's Residence; you may leave with it.”

Since Cui Xingzhou had read the note, Liu Mian Tang craned her neck to see it as well. However, Cui Xingzhou held it high above his head, making it impossible for her to read, which only fueled her irritation. She turned to the stern-faced Cui Xingzhou and said, "Whatever he wrote is nonsense! I didn’t provoke him at all..."

Cui Xingzhou let out a cold snort, tearing the note into pieces and tossing it into a nearby pond. Then he asked Mian Tang, "Have you suffered while being by my side?"

Mian Tang blinked, cursing Liu Yu in her heart to the eighteenth generation, before replying, "How could I be suffering? Every day is sweeter than the last!"

Cui Xingzhou looked at her with a deep gaze. "If it’s so sweet, why did you once think of divorcing me? Did you perhaps prepare a backup plan, expecting someone else to come to your aid?"

Even without seeing the note, Liu Mian Tang could guess from Cui Xingzhou's words that Liu Yu must have misunderstood her situation with Cui Xingzhou and was planning to take her away.

Mian Tang, realizing what she had implied, wrapped her arms around Cui Xingzhou's arm and shook it playfully. "I’m not going anywhere; I’m staying right by your side. Besides, if I really wanted to leave, why would I need anyone to help me? I could just have the brothers from Yangshan arrange it for me; I’d just climb over the wall at midnight and get in a carriage..."

As she said this, she noticed Cui Xingzhou's expression darkening even further.

This little woman! She was actually thinking along the same lines as Liu Yu!

If one were to think about it, that Young Master Ziyu could also be considered one of Yangshan's brothers, eagerly waiting with a carriage outside the walls of the residence for her!

In an instant, the handsome face of Prince Huaiyang soured even more.

He had urgent business to attend to today, so he had gone to inspect the military camp outside the city. Who would have thought that, after wasting half the day, a raging fire would erupt in the back courtyard of the Little West Garden?

"I'll settle this matter with you tonight," he said, his voice low and serious.

The host couldn’t be absent for too long, so Cui Xingzhou finally took Liu Mian Tang's hand and led her out to face everyone.

Just a moment ago in the back courtyard, Cui Xingzhou had changed out of his military uniform and into the attire that Mian Tang had prepared for him.

Recently, Mian Tang had taken a liking to dressing up her husband, commissioning the tailor to make several fashionable wide-sleeved long robes. While these robes were quite popular among the refined, they needed a tall figure to truly showcase their elegance.

With his naturally good physique and his unwavering practice in martial arts, Cui Xingzhou appeared even taller and more slender, his broad, muscular arms perfectly fitting the outfit.

The embroidered collar adorned with cloud patterns brushed against his Adam's apple, accentuating his striking features: bright eyes like stars and the moon, prominent brows, and a straight nose. His hair was tied with a jade crown, and his temples were neatly styled. As he walked with confidence, the flowing robe billowed around him like soft clouds, exuding an effortless charm.

When such a handsome man appeared in public, holding hands with an exquisitely beautiful woman, the visual impact was something that one could hardly appreciate unless they were present to witness it.

In an instant, the lively chatter and laughter among the crowd fell silent, all eyes fixed on the way Prince Huaiyang walked calmly, holding the wrist of his wife, Mian Tang, as they approached to pay respects to the Emperor.

Liu Yu watched with a darkening expression as Cui Xingzhou and Mian Tang made their way over, hand in hand. 

Prince Huaiyang had never been one to display affection towards women in public. Although he had often brought Mian Tang to various banquets before, his demeanor had always been warm yet respectful, without crossing the boundaries of decorum. 

However, now it seemed that he had broken the rules he had previously upheld. Not only did he hold Mian Tang's delicate hand, but he also wrapped an arm around her slender waist, as if he were cradling a porcelain doll, afraid to let it break.

Seeing the adoring look he cast at his wife, it was hard to reconcile this image with the one of him having struck her in the past.

This change did not escape the notice of some sharp-eyed ladies, who began to grasp the implication behind it, growing increasingly convinced that Prince Huaiyang was trying to hide something. 

Yet, Cui Xingzhou was indifferent to how others perceived the situation. He was clearly declaring to the one bold enough to send his wife a note that this was his wife, Mian Tang, and no one else could take her away!

Liu Yu noticed that Cui Xingzhou had also arrived and couldn't even maintain the polite smile he usually wore in public. Instead, he spoke coldly, “Aren't you supposed to be inspecting the military camp, Beloved Subject Cui? What brings you here?”

Cui Xingzhou was too indifferent to engage in pleasantries, replying coolly, “Once my official business is concluded, I can return home to rest. But shouldn't Your Majesty be out hunting in the suburbs? Why have you come to my wife's garden? I am truly honored; it seems we are not worthy of such attention.”

Prince Sui, observing the tension between them, felt a surge of delight and decided to add fuel to the fire, saying, “I heard that Princess Conosort Huaiyang was hosting a poetry society in the Little Western Garden, and the Emperor was inspired by poetry and came here. Indeed, witnessing the Princess Consort's poetic talent is unforgettable!”

Mian Tang quickly cast a glance at Prince Sui and suddenly smiled, saying, “Your Highness has piqued my interest in poetry again; I’d like to share a poem myself!”

Prince Sui raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I have managed to stir the Princess Consort's poetic inspiration? I shall gladly lend an ear.”

Mian Tang picked up the wooden mallet she had used to beat the rhythm for the poetry session and began to strike it with a series of rhythmic taps. The sound echoed like a hollow brain buzzing.

The people around turned to look, surprised by the Princess Consort's actions as she began to recite:

“A clam and a snipe,  

In a struggle so tight,  

An old man stands by,  

Calm as the night,  

Calm as the night!”

With the final beat, the talented Princess Consort Huaiyang struck the mallet once more, signaling a perfect conclusion.

Then, with a beaming smile and everyone staring in astonishment, she playfully asked Prince Sui, “Now, Your Highness, can you guess—are you the long-tongued bird, or perhaps the soft creature hiding in its shell, or the old, unyielding fisherman?”

This straightforward and pointed way of scolding someone was truly hard to find in the capital! This was essentially a poem filled with three insults! It mocked him as a gossiping bird and called him an old, useless softie!

“You…” Prince Sui was so furious that he nearly flipped the table and started a fight!

The people nearby were equally taken aback, unsure whether the Wangfei was earnestly reciting a mocking poem in front of all the talented individuals in the capital.

However, it was Lord Li Guangcai who broke the silence first, applauding and declaring, “Excellent poem! It uses the metaphor of the snipe and clam to remind us not to let two strong parties fight, allowing those with ulterior motives to take advantage. Moreover, it breaks the structure of regulated poetry, returning to simplicity and profundity; the poetic sentiment is both subtle and far-reaching!”

Mian Tang looked at Lord Li with admiration, sighing in her heart. If only he had possessed such skill in flattery and the ability to speak nonsense a few years ago, he might not have been driven out of the capital by his colleagues.

With Lord Li setting the tone, praises followed in quick succession.

After hearing Mian Tang's unconventional poem, Liu Yu fell silent for a moment.

Faced with Mian Tang's unreserved reminder, he inwardly regretted his rash decision to heed Prince Sui’s provocations and come to the Little Western Garden.

Now, the old subordinates of Yangshan, emboldened by their previous achievements, had formed their own faction, making them difficult to control. Even though he had dismissed General Sun earlier, his old allies were numerous and still tightly bound to their power, even if they were currently idle at home.

Although the Shi family had some power, it was hard for them to compete with the influence of the Empress Dowager's family. If he were to lose the support of Prince Huaiyang, he would be like the snipe and clam at the mercy of others, unable to protect Mian Tang.

Meanwhile, Cui Xingzhou casually raised a toast to the Emperor, saying, “Since Your Majesty is here, you must enjoy the fine wine of the Little Western Garden. Later, I will accompany you to the western outskirts, and we shall surely return with a bountiful catch!”

Liu Yu understood that Cui Xingzhou was giving him a way out, so he forced a smile and replied, “Without Prince Huaiyang's divine bow to assist us, the hunting trip would truly be dull. If you drink this cup with me, we will go to the hunt together as a united front.”

At that moment, the ladies gradually realized that the Emperor had come to the Little Western Garden specifically to find Prince Huaiyang to hunt with him!

Prince Huaiyang was indeed receiving great favor!

Suddenly, the tense atmosphere between the Emperor and the Prince dissipated, and they began to smile at each other, exchanging cups of wine before genuinely heading out to hunt.

Once the Emperor left, the ambiance became noticeably cooler. Cui Fu, still feeling the cold sweat on her back, quietly asked Mian Tang, “You really dare to speak like that! Did you just insult His Majesty too?”

Liu Mian Tang snorted coldly in her heart. If it weren't for the inconvenient circumstances, she wouldn't just want to scold him; she would want to give that inconsiderate Emperor a good beating!

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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