Chapter 383: with translation of chapter title

Heng Xian was a bit muddle-headed; Granny Su took action, which is understandable, but this young general wanting to take action—what the hell?

Seeing the young general's fury unstoppable, Granny Su behind him finally restrained him: 'General Ye, you cannot disrespect your superiors!'

The young general still refused to yield, his eyes slowly turning completely blood-red.

'Do you want the princess to hate you?' Granny Su snapped.

Only then did the young general's momentum wane; he clasped his fists and retreated a few steps.

Granny Su stepped forward, looking at Heng Xian and said: 'Don't think that because the princess favors you, your position as prince consort is secure; the princess's willfulness has already caused a great disaster, you lack talent and background—perhaps what awaits you is an endless abyss!'

Heng Xian blinked: 'How deep is the abyss?'

Granny Su said: 'Deep enough to make you despair!'

Heng Xian flicked his sleeve, calm and composed, asking: 'Is it as deep as your admiration for His Majesty the Emperor?'

Granny Su's body trembled: 'You... what are you saying?'

This is a secret she has buried in her heart for decades; how could this kid...

Beside them, the young general and a group of palace maids' faces changed dramatically, all lowering their heads.

Heng Xian lifted his tea, took a sip, then added: 'Or perhaps as deep as Consort Shu's colorless, tasteless abortifacient...'

'Insane, utter nonsense!'

Granny Su's face drastically changed; she flicked her sleeve and turned to leave.

The young general gave Heng Xian a deep look, then left with the group of palace maids.

Watching the group depart, Heng Xian sat down bored, once again touching the corner of his mouth.

He completely disregarded them; when dealing with people who insist on rules, one can naturally use those same rules against them.

The night passed without a word.

Early the next morning, Heng Xian woke from his meditation to find eight Tàijiān holding bathing utensils and eight palace maids holding neat scholar-officials' fine robes waiting before him.

Seeing him open his eyes, an older female attendant chuckled lightly: 'We attendants are here to serve the young master with dressing and washing!'

Heng Xian glanced around: 'Where is Steward Jia?'

The attendant replied: 'Steward Jia waited outside the young master's quarters for half an hour this morning; seeing the young master still asleep, he went to the palace.'

Heng Xian nodded, rose and raised his hands, being attended by servants—something he was accustomed to in Donglan City.

A group of palace maids and Tàijiān immediately stepped forward to serve in various ways.

'The evil feudal society!'

Heng Xian muttered, asking: 'Where is the princess?'

The attendant respectfully smiled and replied: 'His Highness rose early, personally went to the kitchen to prepare two baskets of snacks, asked five times whether the young master had risen, and if he had, would immediately go to Jiangjun Garden to have breakfast with her.'

……

The imperial city, occupying the northern third of Qijing City.

Like the coiled dragon momentum in a tiger's crouching posture, the noble, solemn palaces and pavilions form the inner palace, outer palace, and ninety-nine institutes, layered upon layered, grand and magnificent, fully displaying the imperial dignity and the supreme position under heaven.

Palace of Diligent Governance.

Hall of Nurturing the Spirit.

In the outer hall, several Central Academy scholars were busily directing a group of clerks.

In the inner hall, pearl and jade decorations adorn a cabinet of aged yellow pear wood holding myriad volumes; pearl curtains and yellow jade ornaments, the décor is weighty and splendid yet retains dignity.

A tall, burly figure sat cross-legged on the coiled dragon chair behind the pearl curtain, reviewing something.

Steward Jia knelt cautiously outside the curtain.

After a full half incense stick's time, a mellow voice came from within the curtain: 'Have you seen him?'

Steward Jia immediately replied: 'This servant has seen him!'

'How?' the person inside the curtain asked.

Steward Jia pondered: 'Appearance, heroic and handsome, lacking the vulgar rusticity of the countryside; his eyes bear a wisdom and cleverness beyond his years!'

His bearing is excellent, not inferior to the sons of nobles and aristocrats in the capital!

After a moment's silence behind the curtain, the voice asked: 'How does he compare to Geshu Daodao of the Tai Academy, Luo Xuan of the Sheji Academy, Li Jingfeng of the Shénwǔ Sī, and Wu Siwen, the Empress Dowager's nephew?'

Steward Jia replied: 'On the surface, he is not inferior to them!'

The voice from behind the curtain gained a hint of warmth: 'Little Five's eye for talent is still good!'

Steward Jia laughed: 'Those chosen by Princess Tai Ping herself naturally won't be lacking!'

'Hmm, any other matters?' the voice from behind the curtain asked.

Steward Jia pondered, then said: 'Using the art of observing aura and pulse, I stood outside this young man's gate and observed that his cultivation appears to be at the Yuan Dan Initial Realm, but...'

'But what?' the voice from behind the curtain grew stern.

Steward Jia hastily knocked his head to the ground, his tone tinged with absurdity: 'Merely the continuity of his breath, the richness of his spiritual energy, far surpass the Yuan Dan Initial Realm; even compared to this old servant, he is not lacking!'

'His cultivation method must be decent; there are plenty of experts in the Tianyuan Sect!' the voice from behind the curtain said calmly.

Steward Jia gave a wry smile: 'The key... he saw through my injury at a glance, and his description was spot on!'

Behind the curtain, silence fell.

……

Hall of Virtuous Celebration.

Pavilions and palaces alike glitter with pearls and treasures, extravagant to the extreme; even a corner or a low couch cannot exhaust the nobility and meticulousness.

At this moment, a group of brightly dressed palace maids and attendants surrounded a slender woman wearing a noble consort's rosy crown and consort's robes, seated with her back to a huge bronze mirror.

Granny Su knelt not far away: 'This servant comes to report to you, my lady!'

The consort's voice was soft and melodious, very pleasing: 'How?'

Granny Su hesitated: 'His appearance is excellent; regardless of physique or bearing, he is top-notch, and his words and deeds lack the vulgarity of a country bumpkin.'

His cultivation seems to be because he cultivated some kind of method; outsiders find it hard to see, but it should be the Primordial Dan Realm.

"How does he compare to the Crown Prince?" the Consort suddenly said.

Su Mama hesitated: "Naturally, naturally he cannot match the Crown Prince's nor the Great Zhou Heir Apparent's dignity and aura."

The Consort fell silent for a moment: "How does Ji Yaoyue feel about him?"

Su Mama gave a wry smile: "The Princess has completely given her heart to him, with not a shred of caution or defense; last night she even sneaked over for a private meeting!"

"This is totally unlike the clever and quick-witted Princess in this servant's impression!"

The Consort seemed to sigh: "Ji Yaoyue is an extremely clever child; her wit, strategy, and talent are all top-notch. If she were a man, she would surely be unmatched in Qi Capital. I have always worried that in this day and age, it is hard to find a man who could catch her eye."

I never expected she would devote herself to such a puzzling young man; I suppose… this boy must have something extraordinary.

Su Mama thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said: "Yes! This boy is very special; he even knows some extremely secret matters."

"For example?" the Consort said lightly.

Su Mama gave a deep look at the Consort's back, then replied: "For example, he knows that medicinal flavor Consort Shu used back then…"

The Consort wasn't surprised at all, and even said: "Moreover, he even knows that you deeply miss His Majesty?"

"I dare not!" Su Mama cried out hoarsely and bowed low.

The Consort tidied her hair: "Ji Yaoyue has done wrong this time; her memorial will surely be summoned, and there will likely be many—bring her here!"

"Yes!" Su Mama immediately obeyed and withdrew.

…

The Residence of Princess Taiping.

As the saying goes, a person relies on clothes, a horse on its saddle.

Heng Xian finished washing up, changed into the pale blue scholar-official's attire prepared by the palace maids, and instantly transformed from an ordinary-looking country young master into an elegant, handsome upper-class scholar-official.

A group of palace maids' eyes lit up.

A female official even dared to flatter: "The young master's appearance is outstanding, handsome and extraordinary!"

Heng Xian shook his head: "Thanks for the praise, let's go see the Princess."

The female official immediately led the way.

The two went one after the other, winding through several corridors and four or five halls, finally stopping before an elegant side hall.

Inside, a group of palace maids gathered around Ji Yaoyue, dressed in snow-white robes; she rested her chin on her hands, staring blankly at a table of breakfast, until Heng Xian arrived, whereupon she jumped up and laughed: "Come, come, try what I personally made!"

(End of chapter)