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 127

Translated by: Oinkoink

Chapter 127 – First Birthday

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

It was finally the day of Chu Xiang’s first birthday where the palace threw a banquet, inviting the royal kinsmen and the nobility to join in the joyous feast.

While in the distance northwest, Ye Huaili and Chu Zhenghe were unable to return. Even though the war is over, there are still many loose ends that need to be tied, such as settling the refugees, setting up the frontier guard posts, etc, which all can’t be completed in a short time. Hence, they could only wish the little guy happiness and good health.

Basically almost everyone was present. Being the closest royal relatives and the highest ranked prominent family, the entire Ye family’s members were invited, followed by the Xie family with both Xie Miao and Xie Yun in the list, and even quite a few of the Meng family’s members came too. Meng Qi and Ye Xun would chat a few words from time to time, and there weren’t the slightest hints of unpleasantness amid their speech and manners.

In the early hour of wushi (11am-1pm), the Emperor and the Empress brought today’s little main star to Zichen Palace. Dressed in dragon robe and phoenix dress, the people walked hand-in-hand in front while Qu Fang followed behind with Chu Xiang in her arms all the way along the unduly long white marble aisle. Many who have never seen Chu Xiang before cast their curious gazes and the two Xie siblings were no exception too.

“Elder Brother, look. His little Highness and His Majesty are truly carved from the same mold, their features are really similar.”

“Yes.” Glancing at her, Xie Miao couldn’t help but sigh, “If you had listened to me and married that governor-general of the canal last year, you would have conceived a child by now.”

Xie Yun lowered her wing-like eyelashes and whispered, “We are attending someone else’s banquet, why are you bringing up my matter … “

Xie Miao snorted lightly, “My heart is anxious when I see other people’s so fairly cute children.”

Covering her mouth with the sleeve, Xie Yun laughed softly upon hearing this, “If you’re anxious then go back and discuss it with my sister-in-law, or do something naughty … this way I will have another nephew to carry in my arms next year.”

“I’m anxious for you!” Xie Miao was stifled with anger as he couldn’t do anything to this nonchalant younger sister, so he immediately turned his head to glare at the culprit, but who knew the culprit was staring intently at his own sister.

Both parties were seated very far apart, as if separated remotely by thousands of mountains and rivers in this spacious Zichen Palace where Lu Heng sat at the furthest end while Xie Yun sat diagonally across from him. Though he could hardly see her expression, he still stubbornly stared at her and unwilling to look away even for a second with such tenacity and yearning.

He hasn’t seen her for several months, thus being able to share the same feast has even become a luxury.

Since that day she asked him to let her think about it in Xie mansion, she had gone to Xinzhou alone. When he came at the door and couldn’t find the person, he ran to the Board of Revenue to look for Xie Miao, only to be told that she was there to meet a descendant of the family’s clan to discuss moving back to Wangdu ro revive the family business. He originally thought she would be back soon, but who knew she was gone for several months and he couldn’t see nor contact her. For a moment, he suspected that she deliberately avoided him which tormented him utmostly every day.

But now that she was finally back, yet he still didn’t even have a chance to tell her his longings on such an occasion.

Looking at Lu Heng’s dejected and non-stop drinking appearance, Xie Miao couldn’t bear to blame him anymore. Turning back to look at his younger sister, whose head was lowered and quietly eating as if she didn’t know, he couldn’t help but sigh again.

How long are these two people going to drag on? Can’t they just be forthright on whether they will reconcile or split up? He is so anxious that his hair will turn grey soon.

He was sighing inwardly when he suddenly heard the official of the Board of Ritual announced the commencement of the grabbing test ceremony. For a moment, all the royal kinsmen craned their necks to look upwards wanting to know what the young prince would pick.

Qu Fang placed Chu Xiang on the brocade mat where the little guy immediately crawled over happily. The pile of brilliant things were like novelty toys that thoroughly excited him and he was so indulged in enjoyment when he merely took one from the left and one from the right to play with it, then threw it aside, before immediately touching those at the back. His chubby body that was rolling around up there was really amusing.

The people in the audience were getting a little anxious, why hasn’t he picked one after such a long time? While his own parents actually appeared unperturbed as they stood there without urging nor shouting, as if letting him play happily.

After a lighted joss stick moment later, the meatball got tired of playing and started to move languidly. Seeing this, Ye Huaiyang guided him with a smile, “Xiang’er, is there a toy that you like, let’s pick one to bring back, okay?”

Chu Xiang actually nodded at her and turned around to crawl back to a square box. With his back facing them, he fiddled with it for a long time before using both his hands and feet all at once, seemingly pulling something that he could not pull out. Curiously, Ye Huaiyang moved closer to look when unexpectedly she saw two dragon horns radiating with golden ray being clutched firmly by Chu Xiang’s chubby hands that she was instantly taken aback.

Why was the imperial jade seal here?

Just when she turned to look at Chu Jinglan, she suddenly heard a heavy muffled sound. Chu Xiang had already released the heavy imperial jade seal. Due to the overexerted force, his whole person fell backward onto the brocade mat yet he kept giggling nonstop before turning his body over to hold up the imperial jade seal towards Ye Huaiyang and said, “Want this one!”

It was silence at the bottom since everyone probably had the same thought — who has the guts to actually dare put the imperial jade seal among the items for the grabbing test! Could it be the Empress is getting anxious seeing that the Emperor has yet to appoint the Crown Prince after so long?

They later realized that they were all wrong when Chu Jinglan stepped forward pleasingly as he held the imperial jade seal in one hand and carried Chu Xiang with the other, and laughed loudly before saying, “Good, worthy of being Our son! Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains, and all the common people will be handed to you in the future.”

Playing with the white dragon hovering on top of the imperial jade seal, Chu Xiang was laughing happily and completely unaware of the importance that had just happened when the attendees below had already knelt down in front of hall one after another and hollered out, “Long live the Emperor and His Highness Crown Prince! May Chu Country prosper and be blessed everlastingly!”

The deep resonant voices echoed and rumbled in the hall. Taking advantage of the crowd kneeling prone, Chu Jinglan raised his eyebrows at Ye Huaiyang, as if saying ‘This time no one would dare to say I don’t love my son anymore’ while Ye Huaiyang looked helpless. She then became all the more dumbfounded when she glanced askance at their son who had drooled all over the imperial jade seal.

This was really a reckless move. What if Xiang’er didn’t pick the imperial jade seal, how would he get out of this predicament?

Though she thought this way, deep inside her was still very happy and proud that her son simply has the monarchy’s aura at such a young age.

Chu Jinglan just pretended he didn’t see her expression as he rubbed Chu Xiang’s little head and praised him unprecedentedly, “You did a good job. Your Empress Mother is very happy.”

“Hee hee.” As if sensing something, Chu Xiang grinned at him then lowered his head to play on his own again.

The two of them returned to Taiji Palace after the birthday banquet.

After the whole day of tossing around today, Chu Xiang fell asleep during the banquet. Once they were back, Ye Huaiyang placed him in the bedchamber’s rocking bed and closed the door gently when she stepped out. Sitting in the outer room, Chu Jinglan was busy with something by the imperial table. Once she walked over to see, it turned out he was stamping an edict. Scanning roughly over the few rows of words, it was indeed the matter of appointing the Crown Prince.

Though it was settled during the banquet, specific documents are indispensable.

Another bright yellow scroll in the half-open drawer caught Ye Huaiyang’s gaze just as she was about to ask when he had made the decision. Out of curiosity, she took it out to see. Her movement was so fast that Chu Jinglan couldn’t stop her and just let her look at it.

“ … intelligent and bright with profound virtuousness and talent, thus is to be appointed as the Crown Princess … “ Ye Huaiyang unconsciously read it out loud with a bewildered face.

Why are there two edicts?

Chu Jinglan rarely saw her appear so stupefied that he couldn’t help laughing out loud, “What, you were so sure that you would give birth to a boy back then?”

His words roused her out of reverie when Ye Huaiyang suddenly realized — he had long prepared a decree to appoint the next Emperor whether she gave birth to a boy or a girl!

“Why … “ With trembling lips, an answer vividly emerged in her heart.

Chu Jinglan caressed her cheek tenderly and spoke softly, “I don’t want you to go through this kind of suffering anymore. One child is good enough for us.”

“But if it’s a girl … “

“I will get rid of all obstacles and personally place her on this throne where all the royal descendants, ministers of the royal court and the people of the world will kneel at her feet. She will simply be the first female Emperor of Chu Country.”

Ye Huaiyang’s eyes brimmed with dewy brightness all of a sudden.

He had spoken about it so lightly, but the difficulties he will encounter in the future are unimaginable. How much psychological inception and preparation would he have to do to face all these? There are rules laid down by the ancestors and opposition from the ministers while the whole royal court will be shaken by this, yet he would rather shoulder all this just to make her suffer less!

There is another way to go about it, but he doesn’t even want to think about it.

The corners of Ye Huaiyang’s eyes couldn’t stop tingling when two streaks of tears finally slid down her cheeks like crystal dewdrops that fused with all the inexpressible emotions.

“Why didn’t you tell me … it’s so hard to bear all these on your own … “

“I’m afraid you’ll cry like you did.” Chu Jinglan gently wiped her tears away and deliberately teased her, “But fortunately, that stinky little brat who you yearned for also saved me a lot of trouble, or it was you who nevertheless had the foresight.”

Ye Huaiyang was crying one moment and laughing the next moment while all sorts of feeling roused in her heart as she spoke, “But my debt of 100,000 armies has yet to be paid … “

“You will pay it back in your next lifetime. You owe me so much, I suppose you will also not dare to marry someone else.”

A gush of warm tide surged and surrounded her heart intensely, resulting in her tears trickling down more profusely yet the corners of her eyes were overflowing with vivid smiles, like the heartfelt sweet-scented flourishing orchid.

“Okay, I will not marry anyone else and just wait for you.”

Ye Huaiyang promised solemnly and rushed into his arms. He smiled thinly and hugged her tightly with the broad magnanimous embrace as always, as if he could hold the world which is always available only for her alone. The sufferings and partings that they had experienced have gradually become void and no longer worth mentioning. What truly precious and sufficient is to live in the present and to snuggle up to each other throughout this whole lifetime.

There was a sudden sound of extremely light footsteps behind them during their lovingly intimate moments. When both of them turned their heads, they realized that Chu Xiang had crawled out of bed at some point and was walking wobbly with his two chubby legs towards them. The two of them were overjoyed at once.

Xiang’er can walk now!

""

Ye Huaiyang hurriedly stepped forward to support him with Chu Jinglan followed in wake. Wobbly, Chu Xiang stumbled in between them. As they cuddled him, he immediately let out a series of laughter before using the most accurate enunciation to call out two clear words.

“Father, Mother!”

Ye Huaiyang was the first to react when she responded to him and hugged him, while Chu Jinglan responded hoarsely too, before he gathered both mother and son into the crooks of his arms.

Outside the window, the sheer clouds and light fog had dispersed, and the full round moon just happened to shine on the three embracing figures that were as warm as honey.