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 94

Translated by: Oinkoink

Chapter 94 – Trap

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The East Phoenix Palace side flared up at once after finding out that Ye Huaiyang had moved to Liuguang Palace.

“What did you say? The Emperor ordered her to move there?”

It was noon break when the Empress who was taking a nap on the couch heard about this and swiftly lifted the gauze canopy without bothering to gather her bed clothes as she looked dumbfoundedly at Jinxiu kneeling outside. She even suspected that she had heard it wrongly but Jinxiu repeated and confirmed this inconceivable matter in a low voice.

“Niang-niang[1], it is indeed so. The Emperor has even dismissed all our people and now the ones keeping watch at Liuguang Palace are all personally arranged by him. Nubi[2] could not even enter the threshold when Nubi went over there this afternoon.”

“How could this happen all of a sudden? Did Ye Huaiyang confess?” The Empress asked repeatedly.

“Based on what Nubi knows, she did not.” Jinxiu paused yet her soft voice carried an indistinct undertone, “The people on duty last night said the Emperor went to Wutong Court during xushi (7pm-9pm) and stayed for more than an hour with lots of commotion inside. They wanted to go in and check but were stopped by the imperial guards. The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood when he came out with creases on the lower hem of his robe and cuffs … “

“Absurd!” The Empress rebuked angrily while her delicately makeup face distorted momentarily. Realizing all of a sudden that there were still many palace maids standing in the hall, she turned the spear head that was aimed at Chu Sanghuai towards Ye Huaiyang, “Indeed a seductress! She actually has ideas on the Emperor!”

Not fearing her raging temper, Jinxiu calmly put forth a suggestion, “Niang-niang, how about you ask the Queen Mother to intervene? Liuguang Palace is after all where she used to live, so it is inappropriate using it to imprison a traitor. This can also be a justification in front of the Emperor.”

“No need. Bengong[3] will personally make the trip.” Propping herself up to get off the couch, the Empress stood up slowly while supporting her round belly. Although she seemed very big and slow, the hostile aura she emitted was terrifying.

It is because it’s Liuguang Palace that she has to go. She wants to see what actually is the Emperor’s intention by placing her there!

Seeing the Empress’ censuring look, the little palace maids by the side dared not hesitate but came over and finished dressing her up in the palace clothes moments later. After the luxurious sedan chair and the yellow umbrella were ready, the grandiose crowd departed for Liuguang Palace.

As the weather was scorching hot, the Empress felt suffocated and sweat profusely a while later in the luxurious sedan chair. In addition to feeling a little giddy, her whole body began to feel unwell which made her loathed Ye Huaiyang even more that the grips of her hands unconsciously got even tighter and several deep shocking marks were left on the mahogany armrests from the precious carved embellishments on her fingers.

The distant on this segment of the road was enough for her to come up with 10,000 methods to torture Ye Huaiyang but she never expected she would actually be stopped in front of Liuguang Palace’s main entrance. Looking at those expressionless and unintimidated imperial guards, she flew into rage immediately.

“Impudent! You even dare to stop Bengong. Don’t you want your head anymore!”

The leading soldier stood steadfastly and repeated what he had just said, “Do calm down Niang-niang. This humble subordinate is here on guard under the Emperor’s order. The Emperor has made clear that no one is allowed to enter Liuguang Palace and this humble subordinate cannot defy the order. Please pardon my offence.”

No one … who else in this Imperial Palace will come here besides her? He was obviously guarding against her!

The Empress’ face turned pale with anger and her usual dignified elegance that she assumed had long gone, leaving only inexhaustible fury pounding ceaselessly on the rampart in front of her. But these soldiers seemed to be mentality prepared and completely unafraid as they stood fast in front of the only entrance of Liuguang Palace without giving way like iron pillars.

“Niang-niang, look over there.”

Jinxiu raised her chin towards the inner courtyard when the Empress looked up towards that direction and her eyes instantly shot flames — Ye Huaiyang was standing and looking at her by the flowery window on the second floor as if watching a farce with a cynical smile. Before there were any changes of the Empress’ countenance, she gracefully turned and walked away.

“It’s not like her former nature to lose her cool like this. Is it because of pregnancy? Gugu[4], you have to remind me constantly as I do not want to be like her in the future. So spiteful and scary.”

Ye Huaiyang patted her chest lightly with a startled look. In response, Qu Fang tapped her forehead and rebuked helplessly, “You ah, still in the mood to joke. Don’t you know Gugu is dying of anxiety?”

Since the news of Ye Huaiyang moving into Liuguang Palace spread out, Qu Fang was so worried that she could not sleep all night, fearing that she was forcibly used by Chu Sanghuai yet even more afraid that the Empress would wait for a chance to retaliate. So, she tried every means to get in. Fortunately, Chu Sanghuai arranged for quite a number of people to serve Ye Huaiyang and no one noticed something was amiss with her extremely ordinary face.

After the noon break, she went upstairs under the pretense of helping Ye Huaiyang change clothes as other palace maids were afraid of attracting trouble and unwilling to have too much contact with Ye Huaiyang, so they let her be.

Ye Huaiyang has actually felt much better these few days with no symptoms of the early stages of pregnancy except for occasional backache. She couldn’t help but nest on the couch after just walking back from the window side. Instead of harping on her anymore, Qu Fang quickly put down the thing in her hands and came over to knead her waist seeing this.

“Gugu’s technique is really good.” She praised with a smile.

Looking askance at her, Qu Fang spoke softly, “In the past, Imperial Consort Chen always had back aches too when she was pregnant with Wangye. There were not many female imperial physicians back then, making it inconvenient to diagnose and treat her. So, I learned a few tricks from the imperial physician which benefitted Niang-niang that she had no more back ache until she gave birth. So, my skill came from practice.”

“When all of these are over, Gugu will return to King Lan mansion to take care of me, okay?” Smilingly, Ye Huaiyang held her arm while sticking out her flat belly and spoke delicately, “Little Baby needs Gugu.”

“Silly child, do you even need to ask? Gugu will be where you and Wangye are.”

Despite saying that, Qu Fang felt a little tinge on the corners of her eyes and a constant gushing of warmth — under such a critical situation, who knows if Ye Huaiyang is still able to leave this palace wall …

Seemingly sensing her mood swings, Ye Huaiyang turned her body over to grip her hand gently and said, “Gugu, don’t tell Wangye about my pregnancy should I die.”

Qu Fang held her tears back and admonished her, “Don’t say these ill-omened words.”

Ye Huaiyang smiled and said nothing more.

Everything depends on tonight.

There is no banging of the night watch gong in the palace but replaced by the dull pounding sounds of the bell tower. After the twelfth strike, even the candle in the respect room* was extinguished that the entire palace was like a huge and daunting lion sleeping under the dark sky.

[T.N: 敬事房 (Jìng shì fáng) respect room – the unit in charge of general affairs in the palace during the Qing Dynasty which presided over by eunuchs. In fact, the ‘Respect Room’ in the Qing Dynasty was dedicated to managing the emperor’s sexual activity. Once the emperor decides to visit his harem, the respect room will take a booklet to record the year, month, day, and hour, as proof of the conception of the imperial concubines.]

The imperial guards had just passed by the front door of Liuguang Palace when a person dressed similarly sneaked into a nook whose figure was completely obscured by a vast stretch of shadow. He observed for a while before quickly climbing over the wall seeing there was no one around. He sneaked along the flower bed all the way to the eaves then conveniently lifted a window before getting in.

The room was dark and hard to see. He was practically blinded without knowing any direction when a slightly cool slender hand gripped his hand suddenly and startled him. The person then called out softly, “Xin’er.”

“Elder Sister?” A spark of joy erupted in Ye Huaixin’s heart which soon turned worrisome. Relying on his senses, he grabbed Ye Huaiyang’s shoulders and asked urgently, “How are you? Where are you hurt? Let me take a look!”

Ye Huaiyang pushed his hands away gently and said, “Didn’t Gugu tell you that I’m fine.”

“I’m afraid you would deliberately ask Gugu to hide it from me … “

A single phrase depicted a thousand worries, only because there are concerns in the heart and the days outside are not better too.

Ye Huaiyang’s lips curved up a gleam of brisk arc while her voice was laced with glee, “Have you forgotten when you felt pain in your knees after I fell down during childhood. How could you not feel it if I had really been tortured within an inch of my life by the Empress?”

Yes, they are twins who always have special bonds between them. How could he forget about this?

Only then did Ye Huaixin understand what it meant by chaos followed by caring. Releasing a deep breath, he simply rather suffered more torments as long as she was fine. However, he still understands that this is only a makeshift safety. The Imperial Palace is an oppressive place after all, as the Emperor and the Empress were eyeing covetously to tear her into pieces at any time, hence he must take her out of here as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Ye Huaixin lowered his voice and said, “Chu Sanghuai is going outside the city to worship Heaven the day after tomorrow. Most of the imperial guards will go with him, so the surveillance in the palace will surely relax somewhat. I will bring people to save you then.”

“What about home? Have you made all the arrangements?”

Hearing this, Ye Huaixin’s complexion stagnated slightly and only responded a moment later, “The clan home is too tightly watched while Tianqi House lacks the manpower to act simultaneously for both sides. Uncle asked me to save you and leave Wangdu immediately without worrying about them … “

“Won’t do!” Ye Huaiyang refused flatly and her expression became extremely solemn, “It’s all done by me, how could I implicate the family? You take them away as soon as possible and don’t worry about me anymore.”

Ye Huaixin grabbed her arm abruptly and spoke incredulously, “You know perfectly well that once the people from Ye family leave, Chu Sanghuai will realize that you are stalling for time and he will not let you go by then.”

“It’s better for me to die alone than the death of the entire family.” With eyes filled with dense fog, Ye Huaiyang looked profoundly at him while the deadly gray tint made him jittery.

“No! I disagree!”

It was not easy for him to sneak in and she had already opted to give herself up for the family before he could even lay out a detailed plan. How can he accept that?

“Xin’er, listen to me .. “

“I am not listening!”

Ye Huaixin swung his hand suddenly and accidentally hit a porcelain jar by the side. Merely a ‘pa’ sound was heard as the jar tumbled to the ground with a loud shattering sound and broke the silence of the room. Both of their faces turned pale instantly. Ye Huaiyang pushed Ye Huaixin out without demur for this was enough to attract the night guards’ arrival which he had to leave at once.

But Ye Huaixin was reluctant. After all, the chance to meet is hard to come by while they have yet to even finalize anything. Thus, he was not willing to leave just like this or even want her to spend the coming days with a mindset of surely death. So, he intended to hide in the vicinity for a while and waited for her to deal with the guards before coming out again.

As both of them had different thoughts, Ye Huaixin still did not leave after much pushing and shoving. Ye Huaiyang was so anxious that she was sweating profusely but when she looked out the window inadvertently, her whole person stiffened all of a sudden.

Something is amiss, why haven’t the guards appeared yet?

Ye Huaixin was aware of the abnormality too and quickly looked around the four corners of the room. There was no movement outside. He remembered suddenly that there seemed to be no one around when he came in earlier and could not help but to be suspicious.

This is just too strange. With Chu Sanghuai’s overly wariness, how can he possibly relax his elder sister’s surveillance?

The two of them were trapped in this suffocating darkness and it did not take long for Ye Huaiyang to raise her head abruptly with a cold stern look in her eyes like the Northern Star hanging radiantly high and poignant in the horizon.

Gripping his hand, she spoke in an extremely clear voice, “Well, everything will go according to you. When Chu Sanghuai goes to worship the Heavens, you will come save me in the palace.”

Ye Huaixin’s palm was somewhat rigid and his face seemed to tremble slightly as he whispered a word out after a short while, “Okay.”

[1]  娘娘 (Niáng niáng) – a kind of respect for women in Chinese . It is generally used to address queens, concubines, princesses and other royal and aristocratic women.

[2] 奴婢 (Núbì)  – this servant / self-address of female maidservant

[3] 本宮 (Běngōng) – the self-proclaimed master of the palace in ancient times

[4] 姑姑 (Gūgū) – the elderly unmarried maid in the palace / paternal aunt

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