Chapter 138: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 FlamingoBees 

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Home    :    Novels

 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 138: 

 

Liu Mian Tang stared at the government seal on the notice for a while. Then she inquired about what had happened to the escort agency from the neighboring shop.

The shopkeeper shrank back, nervously saying they didn’t know anything. Since Liu Mian Tang hadn’t frequented the escort agency before, the people nearby didn’t recognize the well-known Princess Consort Huaiyang.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Mian Tang personally went to a nearby cosmetics shop, bought a dozen boxes of rouge and powder, and became familiar with the shopkeeper. She claimed that there was a distant cousin working at the escort agency, and she was anxious because she couldn’t find him.

Seeing Liu Mian Tang’s delicate appearance and the red circles under her eyes, the shopkeeper felt sympathy for her, thinking she looked like she was searching for a childhood friend. So, she softened and said, “I heard that the head of the escort agency was captured for colluding with bandits. Although he was released afterward, the next day their cargo ship was confiscated, and the brothers were chased out of the capital. When they left, they looked so miserable, like they were driven out like stray dogs. They were all shoved onto a cart and taken out of the city…”

Liu Mian Tang widened her eyes in surprise. After thanking the shopkeeper, she turned and headed straight to the office of the capital’s magistrate.

In the carriage, she asked the four maidservants if anyone from the escort agency had come looking for her in the days leading up to her delivery. The four maidservants honestly replied that there hadn’t been any visits. Liu Mian Tang pressed her lips together, feeling that it was unusual for them to be quietly chased away without trying to sneak back into the city to contact her; this wasn’t typical behavior for the four brothers.

Upon arriving at the magistrate’s office, the official, hearing that the Huaiyang Wangfei was inquiring about the situation, hurried over to greet her.

Liu Mian Tang kindly thanked the magistrate for his attention to the various shops under her name before asking what crime the escort agency had committed to warrant a seal being placed on it.

The magistrate pondered for a moment, then called for his clerk to retrieve the documents for investigation. After a long search, he finally said, “Princess Consort, the escort agency was found to be transporting contraband goods in their shipments. Although it is your agency, we must adhere to the law. I have no choice but to seal the agency…”

Liu Mian Tang listened and asked, “So, were the escorts from the agency captured by the magistrate?”

The magistrate appeared troubled, saying, “They were only fined; no one was arrested. This case has been going on for too long, and I really can’t recall the details…”

At that moment, a servant rushed in, pretending to be out of breath, and reported, “M-Magistrate, the lady is ill and needs you to return home and check on her!”

Hearing that his wife was sick, the magistrate's expression shifted to one of surprise and relief as he sighed, “I’ll head back right away!”

With that, he turned to look at Liu Mian Tang again, still wearing a troubled expression.

Liu Mian Tang had lost interest in the magistrate’s poor performance, so she politely bid him farewell and instructed her driver, “Return to the estate!”

When she got back to the Prince’s residence, Cui Xingzhou had not yet returned.

There was a banquet at the palace tonight, but since Liu Mian Tang had been nursing the baby herself and could not drink, she declined the invitation.

After changing her clothes, she spent the remaining time questioning the gatekeepers and servants of the residence.

At first, these gatekeepers stubbornly insisted that no one from the escort agency had come to find the Wangfei. However, when Liu Mian Tang’s expression hardened, radiating the ferocity of a mountain bandit, as if she were preparing to unsheathe a bone-cutting knife and skin them alive, someone finally couldn’t bear it any longer and said, “Some time ago, the former outer courtyard guard, Lu Yi, did come looking for the Princess. But the Prince ordered us not to disturb you during your pregnancy, so we reported directly to the Prince. The Prince had Lu Yi tied up and thrown out of the city…”

Liu Mian Tang finally figured it all out after her interrogation: it was indeed Prince Huaiyang who had sent people to seal the escort agency and had driven the four brothers out of the capital.

Bicao, noticing the tension in Liu Mian Tang’s expression, softly advised, “The Prince didn't tell you because he was afraid it would distract you. I see that after you met those four brothers, you were always cleaning up after them. It’s probably for the best that they left; it will save you from further troubles…”

Bicao stopped speaking when she caught Liu Mian Tang’s icy glare, frightened into silence.

Later that night, the slightly tipsy Prince Huaiyang finally returned to the estate. When he got out of the carriage, he was immediately informed about Liu Mian Tang’s inquiries regarding the escort agency.

As he entered the room, he found Little Yi’er just finishing his milk, his cheeks puffed up as he slept soundly. Liu Mian Tang, dressed in loose robes with her collar falling open and her long hair cascading down one shoulder, cradled the chubby infant in her slender arms. In the dim light, she exuded a charming and alluring aura.

Unfortunately, despite her beauty, her gaze towards him was frigid.

Prince Huaiyang calmly allowed the maid to help him out of his robe. After washing up and changing, he sat beside Liu Mian Tang. He carefully handed the sleeping child to the nurse before turning back to embrace Liu Mian Tang, saying, “I heard you had quite the confrontation today? Did you ask for lanterns? The gatekeepers were terrified; I heard some of them even wet their pants!”

Liu Mian Tang restrained her anger and asked, “May I ask, Prince, did you order the magistrate to seal the escort agency? And did you prevent the brothers from coming to find me?”

At this point, Cui Xingzhou had no choice but to admit it, nodding in acknowledgment.

“You are now the Princess Consort of this Mansion; those past affairs with Yangshan have nothing to do with you anymore. Supporting them would only bring you trouble. They are capable of supporting themselves and don’t need anyone to take care of them.”

Liu Mian Tang slowly straightened her posture and said, “Then let me ask you, Prince, have I ever interfered or made unilateral decisions regarding your matters, whether in the court or the military?”

Cui Xingzhou narrowed his eyes and asked, “What do you mean?”

“I have never meddled in your military affairs, so why should you interfere with my brothers?” 

She had thought that the past involving Yangshan was behind her. However, she didn’t expect that although Cui Xingzhou had forgiven her for being associated with Lu Wen, he still looked down on that part of her history and had unceremoniously dismissed the former members of Yangshan without consulting her.

At that moment, Liu Mian Tang was so furious that she felt as if her chest would explode, glaring directly at Cui Xingzhou.

Having had a bit to drink, Prince Huaiyang furrowed his brow and said, “You admitted you were young and ignorant when you made mistakes, so you should cut ties cleanly. Do you think I don’t know what Lu Yi’s intentions are? He’s always staring at you whenever he sees you. I let them go out of consideration for you, and that was already an act of leniency… Come, let me press your acupoint.”

Cui Xingzhou instinctively reached out to press her acupoint, but halfway through, he hesitated and withdrew his hand.

Liu Mian Tang said, “Their release was due to the emperor’s general amnesty, which absolved them of their previous crimes. There’s no need for Wangye to show mercy. Lu Yi is my brother; his gaze toward me is far more respectful than the way your close friend, Marquis Zhao, looks at me!”

Cui Xingzhou felt a pang of discomfort upon hearing her words.

To be honest, his wife’s temper had grown increasingly sharp. Back when they were in the courtyard on North Street, she had always been respectful towards him. Even after they moved to the northwest, she still upheld the virtues of a woman.

But after he had deceived her, the leverage fell into her hands, and the young lady of the Liu family began to regard him with an air of superiority.

Later on, when she concealed her past as a bandit, he used that to keep her in line, and she reverted back to the humble demeanor of a young lady from the Cui family on North Street, flattering him for a time.

Yet now, the woman glaring at him seemed less like his wife and more like the assertive leader of Yangshan demanding an explanation from him.

For trivial matters, he could indulge and pamper her all he wanted, but what was the purpose of still supporting that group of Yangshan remnants?

It was as if she kept an annulment document hidden among her accounts, preparing a contingency plan in case she wanted to divorce him and return to the mountains to rebel.

Thinking of this, Cui Xingzhou suddenly straightened up and raised his voice, “Liu Mian Tang! Look at what you’re saying! They’re just a few former bandits—are they worth you arguing with me over?”

Liu Mian Tang fell silent for a moment, her head slightly bowed, with her long hair cascading down, giving her a delicate and fragile appearance.

Seeing her look so despondent, Cui Xingzhou's heart softened. He felt he shouldn’t have raised his voice at her. Just as he was about to step forward to comfort her, Liu Mian Tang spoke up, “They are not just my former brothers; they are also a part of my lost memories... I don’t want to wait until I recall those past events only to realize I’ve treated them poorly and let down those who were good to me...”

They both had tacitly agreed not to mention that lost part of Mian Tang's memory.

But now, she brought it up. Cui Xingzhou's lips gradually tightened. “In that memory, it wasn’t just them who treated you well; it also included His Majesty. If you want to remember, do you also intend to repay your former suitor, Young Master Zi Yu, for his affections?”

Liu Mian Tang preferred not to mention the past because she feared Cui Xingzhou would get jealous. Despite appearing cold and refined, the prince’s heart was as petty as a needle's eye.

If it were any other time, Liu Mian Tang would have definitely cajoled and soothed him, stroking his ego and showering him with affection to make things right.

But today, Cui Xingzhou had truly touched Mian Tang’s sore spot. Seeing him get jealous again, she half-lifted her head as if trying hard to recall the memories shrouded in fog. After a while, she finally said, “How would I know what would happen if I remember? If not, why doesn’t the prince ask Marquis Zhao to give me some acupuncture? Who knows, a few needles and I might remember everything...”

Before she could finish her sentence, Cui Xingzhou's expression darkened. He kicked the door with a loud bang and strode out of the chamber.

Bicao and Fangxie, waiting outside, exchanged worried glances, feeling a twinge of concern as they peeked in.

Liu Mian Tang didn’t seem to care. She lay down, brushing her hair back as if nothing had happened, and instructed them, “Put out the lamp and close the door. I want to sleep.”

In the past, when the prince and princess had arguments and he stayed in the study, she would always call them to deliver soup or food to him, or at least send over some clothes and blankets.

So this time, Fangxie cautiously asked, “The kitchen is making a hangover soup. Should I take it to the prince and say the princess sent it?”

Liu Mian Tang turned slightly to look at the two maids with a calm expression and replied, “His servants and maids are not dead! My maids know better—no food should be sent over, not even a grain of rice!”

Fangxie was left in shock, simply nodding as she closed the door, still unable to believe what had just happened as she exchanged glances with Bicao.

This… didn’t she leave any room for the prince to save face? How could these two reconcile now?

In the end, Bicao, who understood the princess better, sighed helplessly and said, “The prince has really provoked the princess. She’s going to confront him head-on!”

© 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.

•••

Prev  :  TOC :  Next

https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations

https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009

Thank You For Reading <3