Chu Wang Fei

Chapter 3: Breaking off the engagement

Chen – another way to say ‘I’, used by government officials

Wei chen – another way to say ‘I’, used by government officials

Ya tou – another way to say ‘girl’, it’s used affectionately in this case

Di Nv – the daughter of the official wife, the ‘legitimate child’. The daughter of a concubine will be termed ‘Shu Nv’

Ben Wang – another way to say ‘I’, used by a ‘Wang’

“Okay,” unexpectedly, the Dowager Empress immediately agreed to Yun Qian Meng’s request, however when her eyes swept over Yun Qian Meng’s injuries she added, “But you must remember, you must not rashly seek your own death!”

Hearing the warning buried within the Dowager Empress’ caring words, Yun Qian Meng slightly bowed her head and steadily replied, “Yes.”

“Prime Minister Yun shall also come with ai jia, you are Meng’Er’s father!” The Dowager Empress then turned to Yun Xuan Zhi, her bright eyes blaming him for not caring for his own daughter.

Detecting the Dowager Empress’ dissatisfaction with him, Yun Xuan Zhi lifted his eyes and glanced over at Yun Qian Meng before saying respectfully, “Chen will listen to the Dowager Empress’ orders.”

The group of people led by the Dowager Empress slowly headed towards Jin Luan Dian.

The Dowager Empress took in consideration of Yun Qian Meng’s injuries and purposefully slowed down the pace thus giving Yun Qian Meng some extra time to clear her head and familiarize herself with the environment.

“Wei chen pays respect to the Dowager Empress! Oh…what exactly happened to Miss Yun? Why is she covered in blood?”

Just as Yun Qian Meng was sorting the information in her mind, a voice travelled to them from the front.

The joking tone made everybody stop in their steps.

“What is Prime Minister Chu doing here?” hearing someone make fun of Yun Qian Meng’s appearance, the Dowager Empress’ face instantly darkened, her voice containing a trace of annoyance.

Yun Xuan Zhi’s face was ashen and his firmly pressed lips revealed his anger.

Yun Qian Meng slowly raised her head, looking past the Dowager Empress and at the man standing at the entrance of the Jin Luan Dian. He had a slight smile playing on his lips and the dark purple robe revealed his status as the highest ranking official of the Imperial Court. His tall figure and orderly appearance accentuated his noble exterior. His eyebrows looked as if they were painted on by black ink, his face was like the petal of a blossom and his eyes looked like autumn ripples. The smile he used when looking at the crowd brought out his handsomeness and made him stand out even more as compared to the cold and aloof Chen Wang.

The Dowager Empress also addressed him as Prime Minister Chu so it appeared that this man was Xi Chu Kingdom’s famous Left Prime Minister, Chu Fei Yang.

“Dowager Empress, chen has affairs to consult the Emperor and coincidentally met with the Dowager Empress,” even though he replied to the Dowager Empress’ question, Chu Fei Yang’s eyes pierced through the crowd and looked straight at Yun Qian Meng.

Except when those smiling eyes scanned over Yun Qian Meng’s calm and confident demeanor Chu Fei Yang couldn’t help but be surprised. Yun Qian Meng was staring straight back at him, measuring him from head to toe…

He quickly replaced his surprise with a smile before personally opening the portiere to allow the Dowager Empress into the hall.

Although Chu Fei Yang’s actions irritated the Dowager Empress, she could do nothing but follow him as the eunuch had already reported their arrival.

“Empress Mother, why did you personally come?” Yu Gan Di was incredibly respectful towards the Dowager Empress and stood up to greet her.

When Chen Wang, who was standing on the side saw Yun Qian Meng, the disgust in his eyes suddenly flared up.

This time, Yun Qian Meng’s eyes did not redden from his hostility and she simply followed the Dowager Empress into the hall.

As they walked in, the thick smell of blood washed over them and their sights naturally rested on the red long pan column. Even though somebody had cleaned it up, there was still blood splattered on the floor around it. Even the incense couldn’t completely cover the smell.

And that Chen Wang with his cold face…when Yun Qian Meng saw how much he detested her, she too began to feel angry.

To Chen Wang, the human life must seem like nothing. Although she didn’t agree with the previous Yun Qian Meng’s actions and found her cowardly nature disdainful she accepted that she was only a pitiful young girl who had grown up without a mother in a hostile environment.

Yun Qian Meng greeted the Emperor along with everyone else and simply stood to one side, completely ignoring Chen Wang.

“I am here for Meng ya tou’s situation of course! Chen Wang, Meng ya tou is Xiang Fu’s di nv and she is ai jia’s niece. What are you not satisfied with?” (basically, Yun Qian Meng is the legitimate daughter of the Yun family and also my niece, how could you not be satisfied)

After seeing Chen Wang’s icy face, the Dowager Empress began to angrily interrogate Chen Wang.

The Dowager Empress’ words caused Yun Qian Meng to frown but she pretended to be infatuated with Chen Wang and began to murmur, “Wang Ye…”

Her behavior made the frost in Chen Wang’s eyes to completely creep up and he said without any mercy, “Ben wang has already said, I will never wed you in this life, pack up your wild wishes!”

“Is Wang Ye serious?” Yun Qian Meng asked calmly.

“Most definitely!” although he didn’t understand why Yun Qian Meng was changing faces so quickly, he replied without any hesitation as soon as he thought of her weak appearance.

“Then we can do whatever Chen Wang wishes to!”

Right after Chen Wang’s words hit the floor; Yun Qian Meng opened her mouth and said those few words. Her cold voice stunned everyone in the hall.

Even though the injuries on Yun Qian Meng’s head robbed away some of her beauty, her confidence and her neither haughty nor humble expression was something no one had ever seen before. What made them even more stupefied was that the current Yun Qian Meng looked as if she had been completely reborn and she now let off a stunning aura.

“What makes you think that ben wang would fall for your act?” The sound of Chen Wang’s mocking laughter and insult broke the peace. (He’s assuming that she’s pretending she’s doesn’t like him anymore so he’ll be interested in her)

Yun Qian Meng simply laughed in reply before bowing down in front of the Emperor, “will the Emperor please give an edict and break off the engagement between Chen Wang and I.”

Not a single person thought that Yun Qian Meng was being serious about breaking off the engagement; all of them had thought that she was only saying what she had said because she was angry but now that she was personally asking for an edict…

“Meng’Er, do not speak nonsense! Ai jia will take responsibility for you, how could you decide on something as important as this on your own?”

The Dowager Empress was the first to speak. She looked at Yun Qian Meng as if warning her and pressed down on her shoulder with a hand, indirectly telling her to shut her mouth.

“Meng’Er thanks the Dowager Empress for her consideration. However, Chen Wang does not care for me so why must I force him to do something he is unwilling to do? Even if Meng’Er marries Chen Wang we will never achieve true happiness. Since the Dowager Empress cares for Meng’Er I believe that the Dowager Empress is also unwilling to see Meng’Er unhappy.”

Yun Qian Meng pretended she did not feel the messages the Dowager Empress was trying to send to her and instead made it impossible for the Dowager Empress to immediately retaliate.

Only then did Chen Wang realize that he had been calculated by the girl. Right now, he clearly saw the calm in her eyes. There was no more infatuation and love for him in there and this made him feel displeased with the current situation. Only a few moments ago she was willing to kill herself for him but why does she not care at all now?

“Yun Qian Meng, you…” Chen Wang had just started speaking but was immediately cut off by the man beside him.

“Emperor, since both Chen Wang and Miss Yun are willing to break off the engagement then the Emperor should accept and save the world from another unhappy couple,” the silent Chu Fei Yang opened his mouth unexpectedly, instantly drawing a hateful look from Chen Wang.

How could a simple Prime Minister trifle in a Wang’s marriage? However, this engagement was something he originally did not want; if he wanted to keep Yun Qian Meng now then he may as well be slapping himself in the face.

Just as Chen Wang had his brows furrowed, Yun Qian Meng opened her mouth once again, “Will the Emperor and Dowager Empress please look upon Meng’Er’s mother’s early death and allow for Meng’Er to make this decision for herself.”

Seeing Yun Qian Meng’s determination, the Emperor exchanged a look with the Dowager Empress pondered for a moment before regretfully saying, “If it is like this then let it so be it.”

Basically, Chu Fei Yang was making fun of Yun Qian Meng in the beginning. He clearly knows of what happened in the Jin Luan Dian but thought of the events as amusing.

Yun Qian Meng makes Chen Wang reiterate his dislike for her and his intention to break off the engagement so she could personally ask the Emperor for an edict in case Chen Wang changes her mind.

The Dowager Empress doesn’t want Yun Qian Meng to break off the engagement as she wants Yun Qian Meng to marry Chen Wang is because it would increase her own standing and power within the Imperial Palace.