Ode to Longevity

Chapter 5: Metamorphosis

Proofread by Yin Jing

"You!" Qinger's face turns black and blue. The soup of Pearl, Emeral and Jade is far from easy to cook. She meant to frame Qingge, but never expects this fatso should see through it. Her heart jolts and she smiles obsequiously at once, "Sister Qingge, how can you be called scapegoat? For the sake of Feng's, you..."

"That can't be done. Even if you want to send away a beggar, you have to give him some." Qingge smiles, while glancing at half a slotted ring of jade beside Qinger's waist casually. A flash of sharpness shines through her black eyes.

In the original Qingge's memory, besides the ring, this half slotted ring of jade is the only thing her mother left. Unfortunately, the original Qingge was an idiot and crap. In possession of such a treasure, she could only be oppressed.

In recent years, whatever is beautiful among her accessories has been plundered by Qinger. If the ring could be taken off her finger, it would also have suffered the disaster. In her memory, Qingge had a deep attachment to this slotted ring, so she must get it!

"I think the jade beside your waist is good. If you give it to me, I'll take the blame for you." Qingge yawns and smiles. Qinger nearly spits blood. She glares at Qingge and growls, "What did you say! This jade..." This jade is a real treasure. She once authenticated it in a jewelry store. It is worth at least a thousand taels of silver. How can she give it to this idiot!

Qingge shrugged her shoulder reluctantly and turned around, "Since you can't bear it, take your own blame."

"Missie Qinger, the emperor has arrived at the gate of the Fengs, the goodman gets worried. Are you done?" An Anxious voice comes to the backyard from outside.

Pinching the jade hard in hand, Qingge clenched her white teeth and was about to crush them. She takes the jade off her waist slowly. Her expression is like cutting off a piece of flesh from her body.

Her chin cupped in her hands, Qingge naturally nods and says, "The golden phoenix hairpin sister wears today looks nice too. You might as well give it to me together with the jade."

"Feng Qingge!"

"OK. I know it. Sister would not give it to me. That's all right. You take your own blame."

Gesturinga stop at once, Qingge hums a cold hum and is about to leave.

Qinger gets into a flap. She hurriedly stamps her feet and says, "Stop, stop, stop. I give you. I give you. Is it all right? Here. It's here." She takes the hairpin off her head quickly and hands it over with the slotted ring of jade to Qingge.

Qinger feels like her lung is going to blast out but is unable to vent. She stares at Qingge with her brass-bell-sized eyes. As long as this crap can cook Soup of Pearl, Emeral and Jade, everything will be all right.

A cunning light flashes by, Qinger stands with her fists clenched.

But the flash deep in her eyes happens to be captured by Qingge. Even if thinking with toes, Qingge knows what Qinger wants to do. Stuffing the slotted ring of jade into her bosom, Qingge claps and laughs, "Sister is indeed generous. All right. I'll make the Soup of Pearl, Emeral and Jade which the emperor will never forget throughout his life in person!"

Striding into the kitchen, Qingge glances at the messy ingredients inside and only to sneer.

Dressed in dark black overcoat again, the person on the wheelchair listens to the outside noise with his eyes slightly closed and asked calmly, "Is there any good way to change a person within a day?"

"Of course. A little girl yesterday,and a wife today. Isn't it a sudden change? I say, boss, remember to take eagle and me next time when you go out." Tapping at the folds of Cangyun's clothes, the man in red bursts out laughing. He pats the folding fan in his hand and smiles, "I heard that MissieQinger of the Fengs is divinely beautiful. I finally come here so I must get a look at her."

"Go to the backyard. I want to make sure about Qingge," Cangyun says softly, with a flash shining through his black eyes. His slender fingers brush across the wheelchair.He still cannot imagine a woman like that should have such a calm personality.

At last, when Qinger is about to break down, the door of kitchen creaks open.

Qingge holds a tray, with a small silver bowl placed above steadily. To prevent the scent from leaking and affecting the flavor, she specially covers a small silver lid, which looks quite exquisite.

Cuisine, besides the color, smell and flavor, should draw attention through the form.

Even Qinger is astonished. She takes the tray hurriedly and says with her teeth clenched, "How slow you are! The emperor has come to the main hall, and will come to the Hall of First Rank soon. You, come together with me."

"Don't hurry to uncover it, sister, in case it turns cold." Seeing that Qinger is about to raise the cover, Qingge just smiles lightly and reminds her.

Qinger would not bother to pay attention to her. She holds the tray and walks outside. It is generally acknowledged in Cloud Country that Qingge is a crap and capable of nothing. She is not expected to cook anything earthshaking.

After Qinger leaves, however, Qingge put one hand on her lip. Inside her black eyes, a bright flash shines through. She looks towards the jungle in the backyard.

"Good show has started." Since they want to act, she will endure it. With this, her fat all over the body wobbles. This domineering look is totally different from the original weak one.

But...

"Uh, anybody here? Please kick me. I seem to get stuck again."

What a keen girl!

Looking at Qingge stuck between the doors, the person hidden in the jungle pushes aside leaves before his eyes slowly and frowns a little. That girl seems not easy to deal with. Qinger may come to grief this time.

The Fengs is a family identified by the imperial court to guard the country but is not engaged in imperial government. The goodman once broke open a way through brambles and thorns and was thus thought highly of by the emperor. This Hall of First Rank is the place where the Fengs gives a banquet. To appreciate the kindness once shown by the goodman of the Fengs, the emperor visits the Fengs to celebrate the goodman's birthday every year. As time passes, Hall of First Rank becomes Hall of Food

Almost all the officials of the imperial court have arrived. The yard is fully filled but not crowded. On the huge lotus platform, dancers swing their waists while dancing to music.

The person who sits in the front of seats is in a dragon robe with gray temples and wrinkles all over his forehead. He should have been highly-spirited and vigorous but now sits on soft couch kind of wearily. Mu Cangyun sits opposite the goodman of the Fengs, FengLingyun. He sits along with the officials and doesn't have a special separate seat as a lord.

All the people of the Fengs have come here. Qingge cannot follow Qingeropen and aboveboard, so she just stands at random in the crowd. With so many people, the emperor can't see her at first sight.

"Miss, you finally arrive! Here." A soft voice comes from the side. Before Qingge reacts, a pair of small cold hands grabs her arm and pulls her to the side of disciples.

Qingge takes a closer look. This little girl before her eyes is only twelve or thirteen years old, comely and ready-witted but her complexion is kind of sallow. She looks around with fear. After seeing that nobody notices them, she breathes a deep sigh of relief.

Cuichun, her personal maid, has been looking after her from an early age. Even if she gets bullied, this little girl would get beaten for her. This year, she is eighteen years old, but looks like a child who is only around thirteen due to long-term malnutrition. The small pink cotton jacket looks too big on her.

"Miss, the prince is on temporary emergency and cannot join this banquet..." With a disappointed tone, Cuichun whispers. Who is the prince? She doesn't know why her heart trembles slightly when hearing these few words. An air of sorrow rolls in. She nearly loses control of her emotion.

In her memory, that person, who is indifferent and as cold as snow, is like a snow-capped mountain with cold atmosphere, ready to freeze everything. Even herself doesn't know what she is clinging to. In the whirling snow, she stands, and so does he.