The Feast

Chapter 19

> > The Feast – Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Report

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On wards to the story!

Duan Mao Chuan nodded, as the shu born (illegitimate) son, he was quite similar to his cautious and timid mother. Even though he received his father's love, he never thought of himself as a young master. In this manner, he was more similar to his third uncle than his own father.

"Father, mother was bullied by someone today." Duan Mao Ming suddenly said. Compared to his brother who was younger than him by three months, this one has the characteristics of a world wrecking demon. His scoundrel-like att.i.tude was similar to his father's. One could say that if this chick is not properly brought up, he could surpa.s.s his father (in terms of evilness) one day.

"You mother was bullied?"

Duan Tingxuan couldn't help laughing. He lowered his two sons and absently knocked Duan Mao Min on the forehead: "What nonsense are you talking about? Who in this palace dares to bully your mother. Even your second aunt don't have the guts to do such a thing."

"It's not second aunt, " Duan Mao Ming rubbed his forehead. He gave his father an indignant look, and said in aggrieved tones, "Mother went somewhere, when she came back her forehead was all green colour, and she was crying."

"Are you sure?" Duan Tingxuan could see from his son's earnest expression that these were words from the heart and felt a chill. The Inner Court has always been a nest of intrigue and people jockeying for power, but regardless, they had always played within the rules.

Who on earth had decided to flaunt the rules like this? Which nasty vixen had suddenly decided to use physical force like this? Detestable! This is the An Ping palace, which upstart suddenly decided to grow hairs on their chest and flip heaven and earth?

As soon as that thought occurred, an uncontrollable anger rose against that upstart, he left his sons in the garden and entered the house. The maids quickly bobbed their greetings. Xu Ran Yun and Concubine Jiang who were seated together also stood quickly when they saw him. Xu Ran Yun's eyes were slightly swollen, tears fell before a single word was said.

She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, bravely sucked in a deep breathe before ordering the maid to prepare tea. Then, she invited Duan Tingxuan to sit on the left hand side of the Kang bed, she seated herself on the right side, Concubine Jiang, having read the situation, had already lowered herself onto a nearby stool.

Duan Tingxuan was very satisfied with Xu Ran Yun's 'dignified and composed' act. Before this, she had a tendency to cry and tell tales, which was something only a spoiled, undignified insensible little concubine would do in order to gain favour. He looked carefully over this wife of his and saw the blueish forehead.

Wrinkling his brows, he said. "When I got back I heard you want to speak with me, in the garden just now, Ming-er also said you've suffered a loss. I really can't believe this, since rules and regulations are strictly enforced in this palace. Who knows you really did have a bruised forehead, just what exactly happened here?"

Having said this, he gradually brought the teacup to his lips and took a sip. After all, he's still the successor, no matter what the situation, he still have to maintain an air of dignity and elegant atmosphere at all times.

"My lord is asking me? Then, shouldn't the lord think for a bit, aside from those in the Mei Yue Lou, who else in this palace dares to ignore the rules?" Xu Ran Yun gave a cold laugh. Deep in her heart was a roiling mess of anger, I've said my part and will not give you a chance to back away, I want to see how you deal with that shrew now.

"Puu!" the prince's air of dignity and elegance disintegrated in an instance as tea exploded from his mouth. He raised his head, stunned eyes staring at Xu Ran Yun: "You've bee to Mei Yue Lou? Why would you suddenly go to that place?"

"My lord, even if you say this, that person had been cast away by you ito that place. It's probably fine for a few days, may be even a week or two, but it has been half a year. Though I have no idea what is in my lord's heart, but I can't just watch as she suffer all alone there, right? Therefore I decided on a whim to visit her. That's not wrong, isn’t it?"

Just listening to these words on its own would make anyone feel touched by the level of generosity and kind heartedness. However, Duan Tingxuan naturally would not be fooled by this pretentious words. He lightly rotate the teacup in his hands, a well hidden sneer in his smile as he slowly said, "Didn't you just said that those people don't care for the rules? Where did this sudden concern for her health come from?"

Xu Ran Yun suddenly paused, she twisted her head away and sniffed coldly. "If she's cruel, I have no choice but be unjust."

"Stop, there's no need to put on a show in front of me." Duan Tingxuan placed the teacup on the table, with a low hehe laugh. "You think I don't know you hate her? Lay your cards on the table now, and tell me, just what is going on."

Xu Ran Yun also knew that her husband was a shrewd one. It's fine to play around with words a few times, but saying too much would turn her into a hypocrite, and her husband hated hypocrites the most.

So she pouted and said, "You're right, I do hate her, do you even know how much I've suffered under her hands? Even if your eyes did not see it, you heart knows. Therefore the day you banished her to Mei Yue Lou, I said nothing, to I say I gloated over it would be too much, but I was definitely relieved. After that, I just did not bother to think about them, and was starting to forget about her."

"It was not until this morning that Tai Tai brought them up that I remembered them. In truth, after such a long time, those were still living people, though I disliked them, do you really think I have the heart to see them starved to death? These days I really had completely forgotten about them. So, after listening to Tai Tai, I felt ashamed and quickly brought some people with me to take a look, and in the end… in the end… good intentions are paid with ill, my lord, just look at my face, and look and my body…"

Saying this, her voice choked up. Xu Ran Yun pointed at the bruise on her forehead and lifted her sleeves to reveal two more greenish bruises. She tearfully said, "This is what I got for my kindness. After so many days in Mei Yue Lou, not only did they do not reflect on their behaviour, but they have become even more destructive. I don't believe that this palace could contain them any more. My lord, you must think of a way to deal with them, otherwise who knows what will happen."

"Those women raised their hands against you?" Duan Tingxuan sucked in a cold breath. It would not surprise him to hear do this kind of things. That first time, she had kicked him over a few dumplings. He had dodged her attack, but a less martially inclined person would not have been able to avoid it.

However, he was still curious. This woman was a high born lady after all, why is it that she always ended up punching and kicking people over the smallest things? She had never been like this before, or more like, ever since she became an abandoned wife, something in her broke and her real self emerged?

"No, she did not." Xu Ran Yun did not dare to tell lies. She huffed. "They were sunning beans at the entrance, and I… I accidentally slipped on them."

Duan Tingxuan's eyes bulged a little, unsure what to say, he finally snickered. "I see, that's…ahem, Ran Yun, ah. It's not that I want to lecture you, but as a person, one can't be too proud. You like to strut around with your nose in the air most days, but sometimes it is a good idea to lower your head a little, if only to check your footing."

"My lord, please don't say good words for them." Xu Ran Yun, knew with just a look that her husband intended to smooth things over, and could not help but cast one more stone, gritted her teeth and said, "I have misspoke just now, they weren't just sunning beans. They were actually laying traps. Have you ever heard of anyone sunning beans at the entrance of a courtyard? Especially when they have a limestone balcony especially made for sunning things."

Disclaimer

The works translated here are works of fans of the novels, and are not in anyway a.s.sociated with the authors of the novels, Qidian and Qidian International. Readers are encouraged to support the author of the novels using the links in the novel page.

The Feast

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