The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband – Chapter 123

Translated by: Oinkoink

Chapter 123 – Prayers

This novel is only hosted on Foxaholic, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized.

 

When the golden glazed-tiles pavilion was covered with heavy frost and snow, victory news from the northwest once again arrived at Wangdu — Wei Tang had breached Lucheng and most of Qinyang Pass that was lost were seized back.

Although there were no common people in the city while provisions were also burnt by the enemy, a large number of troops still needed to defend the city to prevent the enemy from coming back. Thus, Chu Zhenghe and Wei Tang could not provide assistance to Ye Huaili. As such, the battlefront pressure on Rao City where Ye Huaili was located increased drastically since the two other cities had not completely annihilated the enemies that converged there.

However, this was also within their expectation. The last to breach the city wall would surely have the most pressure. After much deliberation, this difficult task was given to Ye Huaili. Hence, the situation so far is still within his control.

Ye Huaiyang, who was far away in Wangdu naturally didn’t know about their tactical allocation. When she thought about the converged forces in Rao City were almost double the number of Ye Huaili’s men, her heart would palpitate and she hadn’t slept well for the past several nights. So, she intended to go pray for Ye Huaili and the troops at Hu’guo Temple. After Chu Jinglan found out, he took time to accompany her.

As both of them have always been low-key and do not want to make a great deal out of it, they didn’t inform others but simply changed their clothes and left the palace with their shadow guards.

Located on the outskirts of the city, Hu’guo Temple is surrounded by mountains and rivers with abundant burning joss sticks. Since it was now the end of the year, there was an endless stream of worshippers and was even livelier than the market. Chu Jinglan and Ye Huaiyang certainly do not need to jostle with the common people in the hall. There is a place solely for the imperial family to pray to Buddha where the abbot took them once they got off the carriage.

The temple is deep and serene, while the echoes of Sanskrit chanting drifted in pace with the faintly discernible vapor that slowly scattered to every corner, as if one was in the fairyland.

Ye Huaiyang has not been in good health since the birth of Chu Xiang, so she has not gone out for a long time. Coming out here today to devoutly worship the Buddha and enlightened by the eminent monk, she felt most of her listlessness had diminished and the inner anxiety had also calmed down a lot, which helped her a lot.

In the spacious and secluded Xuanwu Hall, the three golden Buddhas that stood tall on the birch-wood high platform were amiably kind in solemnity and imperceptibly soothed the restless hearts. Two orange-colored futons were placed below the incense burner altar where Chu Jinglan knelt next to Ye Huaiyang. He was watching her kowtowing and offering the burning joss sticks, praying sincerely then sitting quietly for a while before opening her eyes. As he usually has no inhibitions, he immediately turned his head and asked, “What did you request from Bodhisattva?”

Pursing her lips and smile, Ye Huaiyang whispered softly in his ear, “I asked for Elder Brother’s safe return and for Xiang’er to grow up strong and sturdy.”

It was an expected answer.

“Do you want to know what I asked for?” Chu Jinglan fixed his eyes on her, his scorching gaze was like a bright flame.

“Prosperity for the country and peace for the people, as well as great governance throughout the land?”

“Your Husband can do that, there’s needless to ask God and worship the Buddha.” Chu Jinglan smiled proudly while traces of tenderness flashed in the depths of his dark eyes, “I only hope that you will not be bothered by indisposition in the future and spend every day in good health.”

Heart surging with bursts of warmth, Ye Huaiyang leaned her head on his shoulder and spoke softly, “I will.”

For him and Xiang’er, she will get well by all possible means.

It was almost noon when both of them came out of Xuanwu Hall, hence they had the vegetarian meals in Hu’guo Temple, such as jade bitter melon, gingered avocado and sacha arrow bamboo shoots which all tasted very good. Even Chu Jinglan, who was never interested in food, ate a lot and seemed quite satisfied.

However, Ye Huaiyang was somewhat preoccupied. The bowl of pearl-jade soup was not touched anymore after two sips. She just unconsciously pinched the porcelain spoon and stirred it around. Her mind was obviously no longer here. Seeing this, Chu Jinglan put down his silver chopsticks then turned to gather her waist and asked in a warm voice, “Why, no appetite?”

[T/N: 翡翠珍珠汤 (Fěicuì zhēnzhū tāng) – soup made with a combination of spinach (jade), tofu (white jade) and rice cracker (pearl)]

“No … “ Ye Huaiyang shook her head with a trace of worries emerging at the bottom of her eyes, “Xiang’er is teething recently. It is so uncomfortable that he doesn’t want to eat anything and I’m not there today, not knowing if he has eaten properly … “

Chu Jinglan just replied nonchalantly, “There are so many people keeping watch of him alone in the palace and if they can’t even coax him properly, I think they don’t need to stay in Taiji Palace anymore. It’s rare to get out for relaxation, so don’t think about it too much.”

“Are you really his biological father?” Ye Huaiyang glared at him full of censuring, “Just how old is he, you just reckon how many times have you smacked him this month? They ought to have even left prints on his buttocks!”

“Nonsense, I didn’t even use force.”

Ye Huaiyang smiled with annoyance by the righteous appearance of his words, “If you really use force, then you simply smack me then. See which one of us mother and son can withstand your iron palm!”

Chu Jinglan was most unable to stand her protecting Chu Xiang and snorted immediately, “Then you tell me when have I ever smacked him wrongly? Shouldn’t he be smacked for splashing around the pool when taking a bath and spattering you wet causing you to fall sick for several days? Doing his utmost spitting on the trading map that you drafted, shouldn’t that get smacked? Then crawling into the room and hindering our intimacy, doesn’t he need to be smacked?”

Ye Huaiyang immediately blushed like cooked shrimp hearing the last sentence that she punched his chest and spoke annoyingly, “It was you who was incited suddenly when the door was not locked and the bed-curtain was not lowered, so how could you have the nerve to blame him!”

“Who should I blame if not him? He’s small but mischievously shrewd who creates trouble everywhere without a moment of short breaks. Didn’t you notice that clumsy bear in the backyard hides whenever it sees him? If you continue to spoil him like this, Taiji Palace will soon be overturned by him!”

Ye Huaiyang suddenly laughed so hard that she couldn’t straighten her body.

“Xiang’er is a little mischievous, but how can he be as exaggerated as you say?”

Chu Jinglan looked askance at her coolly and mocked, “You do know he is mischievous too and all these dispositions resembles you. It appeared that everyone in the Ye family must have been tormented a lot by you back then.”

“His whole person already looks like you, is it not allowed to be a little like me? In any case, he is the flesh that came out of my belly. If you disdain him so much, it’s better you just find others to give you another!”

Unwittingly a certain person has started to act rascally like their son and even the demeanor was exactly the same too, which made Chu Jinglan not know whether to be amused or annoyed. However, he could smack the son but not his wife, so he had to adopt the roundabout tactics.

“How can I disdain the one you gave birth to?”

Ye Huaiyang snorted and clearly stated that she didn’t believe him.

“With Gods and Buddha in the front, how could I lie to you?” Wrapping his arms around to help her get up, Chu Jinglan changed the subject as they walked,”I heard that the scenery at the back of the mountain is pretty good. It’s just right for a stroll after the meals and then we will return to the palace, is this ultimately okay?”

“Okay.”

She had been bored out of her mind staying in the palace all day and it was not easy to come out once. The air was fresh and the scenery was wonderful, so it was pretty good to get some exercise too. One must know that the two of them haven’t had such leisurely time for a long time. He is busy with the government affairs while she is taking care of the kid, hence every moment they spend together is extremely precious.

The two people walked slowly along the cobblestone path, just like an ordinary couple where they would occasionally lean closer whispering to each other and letting out hearty laughter once in a while. Since it was inconvenient for Ye Huaiyang to wear the corrective contraption today, Chu Jinglan’s hand had been supporting the back of her waist without even letting go when they encountered the little novice monks or any worshippers who passed by, which clearly exhibited his wife-protective streak.

The fog had yet to totally disperse when they reached the back of the mountain. The green pines and cypresses were densely woven while a unique-shaped pavilion was located amidst them. There was also a chain-bridge that connected to the opposite mountain which swaying nearly caused dizziness at a glance.

Out of curiosity, Ye Huaiyang was about to pull Chu Jinglan over when the sound of an intermittent sobbing was unexpectedly heard. Looking up, it turned out there was a girl obstructed by a column behind the pavilion, who they didn’t see when they first arrived here. As a bodyguard, Tang Qingfeng was always vigilant and wanted to go over to drive the person away at once, but was stopped by Ye Huaiyang.

“Don’t disturb others, let’s go.”

After saying that, she pulled Chu Jinglan and turned to walk back. Unexpectedly the crying suddenly stopped as the girl from the back of the column peeked out and her eyes immediately lit up when she saw them. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she ran over in quick small steps.

She was an absolute beauty and the voice that came out of her mouth caused numbness to the bones.

“Sir, Madam, I have unknowingly got lost. Is it possible to take me along if you are going to the front courtyard? My father and brother are over there and they will definitely thank both of you!”

The tips of Ye Huaiyang’s eyebrows raised slightly. It was so fast that no one noticed it, but she didn’t reject her and merely replied lightly, “Then you just follow along.”

There was not much courtesy in those words but the girl was surprisingly happy and followed along once she thanked them. Who knew, she would suddenly stumble on the stone under her feet after taking less than two steps and the entire person instantly rushed at Chu Jinglan! Detecting the unusual sound of wind, Chu Jinglan quickly hugged Ye Huaiyang and dodged to the side in a flash when the girl grazed against the fluttering hem of his clothes and fell to the ground. Ye Huaiyang could see very clearly her momentary look of surprise.

So, this was not a coincidence.

With a hand on her waist, a trace of intolerance flashed across her face. Before she opened her mouth to ask Tang Qingfeng to deal with the person, Chu Jinglan made an unexpected move — he let go of her hand and took the initiative to go forward to help the girl up.

“Sorry for dodging out of habit. Are you okay?”

She shook her head weepingly, indicating that she was fine, yet just after taking one step, she hitched a cold gasp, as if she had sprained her foot. Seeing this, Chu Jinglan spoke out again.

“It seems that you can’t walk anymore. Why don’t you tell me where your father and brother are? I’ll have someone notify them to come get you.”

Rigid, simply an extremely rigid play-acting!

Ye Huaiyang wanted to push Chu Jinglan away to play the role herself. Regrettably, the role was limited and she was unable to exhibit her skill, hence she could only frown and watch the whole scene. Thankfully, the girl was already bewitched and infatuated by Chu Jinglan’s peerlessly handsome face that her mind had completely turned into an embroidered pillow*.

[T/N:  绣花枕头 (Xiùhuā zhěntou) – metaphor for outwardly attractive but worthless person]

“Thank you, Sir. My father and brother are in the third Buddhist worshipping hall in the West Courtyard. My humble surname is Ouyang.”

There are not many families with that surname in Wangdu and Ye Huaiyang still has some impression of it. Looking at Chu Jinglan again, his face was seeping cold and he obviously had a definite idea of what one was doing.

This kind of small prominent family also dare to reach out into his harem? Simply deceitfully audacious!

Shaking her hand off abruptly, Chu Jinglan coldly commanded, “Throw the person to the West Courtyard!”

Knowing that he was asked to go for confirmation, Tang Qingfeng picked up the stunned chick and left.

Ye Huaiyang only laughed out aloud after everyone was far away and the eyes that looked at Chu Jinglan were full of teasing, “So in their eyes, Your Majesty likes this type of woman … “

Drawing her back into his arms, Chu Jinglan kissed her then pulled out her silk handkerchief to wipe his hands, as if wanting to wipe clean the disgusting sticky impression. It took a long time before a soft snort escaped from his nose.

“We have nothing else in this life except a good foresight which We will let them experience it well once We return to the palace.”