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Chapter 192 The longing love that is not meant to be
writer:Du.xian.er      update:2022-06-28 15:23
  “Your Majesty, Your majesty……” Seeing that Ming Yue Cheng didn’t speak for a long time, Fu Er tuned his face and looked at him. He discovered that Ming Yue Cheng was frowning. The amethyst bead slowly rolled over Ming Yue Cheng’s fingertips. His mind seemed to have wandered to elsewhere.   

  “Your Majesty……”   

  Until when Fu Er called “Your Majesty” for the third time did Ming Yue Cheng’s mind come back. “Oh, it’s prime minister’s daughter. Not bad!” Ming Yue Cheng stood up and walked slowly to Gu Yun Yao. He spread her palms and placed the bead in her palm.   

  “You will be it! Zhen 1 likes your educated, well-balanced and cautious appearance. Zhen will bestow you with the letter ‘Jin’! in the future, you will be zhen’s consort Jin!”   

  Jin (瑾) means brilliance.   

  One sentence defined Gu Yun Yao’s future. There was a moment that Gu Yun Yao thought she was dreaming. Until when Gu De’s voice rang in her ears did she immediately knelt.   

  After selection of consorts only one woman rose above others, making the officials feel a sense of loss. Just when many people pined their hops on the next selection of consorts, Ming Yue Cheng issued an imperial decree to announce to the world, that in his whole life, his harem would only have one person, Gu Yun Yao.   

  This imperial decree caused a lot sensation in Nan Feng. At all times, the harem of the emperor was full.   

  The wealthy family had always had many wives and concubines not to mention an emperor of a country. However, now Ming Yue Cheng expressed that he want to leave the six palaces without consorts. This was a really shocking news.   

  Many people speculated that Ming Yue Cheng had a physical problem. More people expressed that they couldn’t understand this matter. All the treasures of this world is his. Naturally, the beauties of this world is also his. Why did Ming Yue Cheng express that he only wanted to drink one ladle worth of water from the Ruo river that is three thousand li long?   

  Ruo river is three thousand li, one only drinks one ladle worth of water from it: there are so many potential lovers to choose from, but you only pick one from among those potential lovers.   

  Li: Chinese mile: 500 meters   

  Compared to these critics, the position of Ming Yue Cheng enhanced greatly in the hearts of women.   

  No matter what era, no woman was willing to share her husband with others. This imperial decree made all those women who were married and those who were about to be married be very envious of Gu Yun Yao. Only be one pair for the whole lifetimes was only a dream for the women of this era. Now, a dignified emperor put this dream into action, making people couldn’t help but admire his courage and also envy Gu Yun Yao’s happiness.   

  However, such a thing wasn’t accepted by those officials at the court who were adherent to old ideas. The imperial family valued heirs. The emperor only had one woman. What if this woman couldn’t bear children? What if she only gives birth to daughters? Besides, if the emperor doesn’t select consorts, their interest wouldn’t be linked with that of the imperial family, leaving these people very uneasy.   

  So, not long after the imperial decree was announced, a large number of memorials were sent to Ming Yue Cheng’s imperial study. There were also officials who protested at the court. It was just, Ming Yue Cheng had already set his mind. So, naturally he didn’t accept people opposing it. After cutting the heads of those who were opposing the fiercest, the matter of Ming Yue Cheng selecting consorts was stopped. Everyone saw the methods of this young emperor. No one slammed their hot head on Ming Yue Cheng’s sword.   

  After selecting the day, the whole palace was busy preparing for Ming Yue Cheng’s wedding. Because this was the only wedding in his life, Gu De suggested to make it grand and lively. Originally, Ming Yue Cheng wanted to oppose it, but he wasn’t able to win against Gu De who directly gestured with his hand to let the people go prepare.   

  During this period, Ming Yue Cheng only saw Gu Yun Yao once. Now, Gu Yun Yao became the happiest woman in Nan Feng! When the people from both the inside and the outside of the palace were envious of her, only Gu Yun Yao knew that this marriage was fake. This was her and Ming Yue Cheng’s secret.   

  Gu Yun Yao never tried to guess the reason Ming Yue Cheng did this. To her, Ming Yue Cheng was her benefactor. Besides, he gave her such a good life. She should safeguard Ming Yue Cheng’s everything, including his reputation. So, when everyone were making indirect approach in making inquiries about her and Ming Yue Cheng’s matter, Gu Yun Yao had long prepared a pretext that allowed no one to find any flaws.   

  Time went by day after day. The wedding was also approaching.   

  The entire palace was covered with red bright lanterns. When evening came, the lanterns were lit. Looking at them from a high place, they looked like countless of fireflies fluttering in the nightly sky.   

  “Your Majesty, take some rest! Tomorrow is your wedding. You need to get up early!”   

  Fu Er stood beside Ming Yue Cheng. Until when the bell rang outside, Fu Er opened his mouth to persuade Ming Yue Cheng to rest.   

  “What time is it?”   

  “First of the five night watch periods (19:00-21:00).”   

  “Oh……Where is Feng Qi Qi?”   

  “She will arrive soon in the capital. It should be one of these two days?”   

  “Got it!”   

  Ming Yue Cheng lay on the bed and stared at the dragon and phoenix embroidery on the top of the canopy. His heart felt a bit complicated. In his heart he had an illusion, hoping that Feng Qi Qi could arrive on his wedding day and stop his wedding. Of course, this was only a dream in Ming Yue Cheng’s heart. Feng Qi Qi was with Feng Cang, plus they brought their child. This was the reality. No matter how he dreamed, he couldn’t change the fact that Feng Qi Qi and Feng Cang love each other.   

  Sleep, after sleeping everything would have gone by……Ming Yue Cheng comforted himself like this. Until when the bell of the third of the five night watch periods (23:00-01:00) rang did he fell asleep in a groggy state.   

  Early in the morning the next day, Fu Er helped Ming Yue Cheng get out of bed and prepare. Gu Yun Yao also began to dress up. The whole palace was full of joy. All of the officials who had a rank came to the palace to congratulate on the wedding.   

  Although, Ming Yue Cheng only wed Gu Yun Yao as his only woman, but he only gave her the position of consort. So, Gu Yun Yao wasn’t eligible to enjoy the treatment of an empress and also couldn’t receive the rite from the officials in the main hall together with Ming Yue Cheng. She could only wait for Ming Yue Cheng at Qingluan palace.   

  Qingluan: greenish mythical bird related to phoenix   

  The new emperor had married. The main hall was full of enthusiasm. Just when people were about to toast, someone came to report that Bei Zhou’s regents brought princess Zhen Guo, the regent’s shizi2, Xiaoyao wang3 and Xiaoyao wangfei4 to come congratulate on the wedding.   

  Hearing that Feng Qi Qi had come, Ming Yue Cheng was so excited that half of the wine in the cup fell out. Only when Fu Er handed him a clean towel to wipe his hand did Ming Yue Cheng wake up.   

  When the officials of Nan Feng heard that Bei Zhou’s regent and princess Zhen Guo came to congratulate, they all looked at the entrance of the hall. These two people, one was hailed as the most handsome man of the world; the other was hailed as the most beautiful woman of the world. The people only had heard the rumors and haven’t seen them in person. Now, this was an opportunity.   

  Not long after, they saw a few people walk in. the ones who appeared first before everyone’s eyes was Feng Cang’s family of three.   

  The man was dressed in white. From afar, he looked like an immortal. From close, he looked life half human half demon. Especially that pair of long and narrow eyes had a charm as if they could suck one’s soul, making people not daring to look at them for fear that they would fall into them.   

  Looking at the woman, she seemed like a fire from afar, making people think that she would be a passionate person. They didn’t expect that when she got closer, she was a refined woman like the fairy in heaven.   

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  The appearances of Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi alone left people in amazement. Wanyan Kang and Su Mei who appeared later also let people talk about them for a long time. although they weren’t as flashy as Feng Cang’s pair, but the man was also handsome and the woman was beautiful.   

  “Congratulations to Your Majesty!”   

  “Thank you!” Ming Yue Cheng looked at Feng Cang and then looked at Feng Qi Qi. At last, his gaze fell on Feng Xiao who was in Feng Cang’s arms.   

  “Xiao er also came?”   

  Ming Yue Cheng was Feng Xiao’s godfather. Now, when looking at Feng Xiao, he felt more cordial. He went straight down and took Feng Xiao from Feng Cang’s arms.   

  “Haven’t seen you for a while. Xiao er has become more and more cute!”   

  When the officials saw that Ming Yue Cheng was so skilful at holding a baby, they all couldn’t help but wonder. Even Gu De was surprised when seeing such a Ming Yue Cheng. However, aside from being surprised, Gu De was also very happy. It seemed that Ming Yue Cheng was very fond of children! It’s good as long as he likes children. The blood of Nan Feng was able to continue on then!   

  How would Gu De know that the reason why Ming Yue Cheng likes Feng Xiao was very simple? It was just because he is the child of Feng Qi Qi.   

  The original lively party became livelier because of the addition of these honorable guests from Bei Zhou. Especially when Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi delivered the gifts, the atmosphere of the entire hall was heightened to the highest.   

  “This is something we asked Guanghua gongzi5 to specially design for Your Majesty and consort Jin. This set of jewelry is called Peacock Flying to the Southeast and is made from tourmaline.” While Feng Qi Qi spoke, she displayed this set of jewelry to the officials. This was a rare opportunity. As a good businesswoman, Feng Qi Qi wouldn’t let go of any opportunity to promote Tong Bao Zhai and Jue Se Fang. Especially at such a place. There were so many officials and aristocrats here, naturally she had to show off!   

  “So pretty!”   

  “What a wonderful piece of work!”   

  “So beautiful!”   

  The amazing thing about Tong Bao Zhai was that both men and women would find it breathtaking after they have seen it. Moreover, the jewelry that Tong Bao Zhai produced would always retain the jewelry’s original form. On the basis of the original form, the jewelry would be molded with many natural elements to make it look stunning.   

  This set of Peacock Flying to the Southeast was entirely made of tourmaline. In particular, the peacock hairclip and feathers were all made with multicolored tourmaline. These were polished into small particles and then pieced together. It was very beautiful, making one have no choice but to love it.   

  Feng Qi Qi felt very happy when she saw the awe in everyone’s eyes. After putting down the jewelry, she took out a splendid-looking set of clothes made by Tong Bao Zhai. The jewelry would be gifted to Gu Yun Yao, but this set of clothes was personally designed by Feng Qi Qi as a gift for Ming Yue Cheng.   

  Ming Yue Cheng had always liked purple, so Feng Qi Qi has made this set of clothes with several layers of purple brocade. From the outer to the inner layers, there was a constant overlap of purple, the color went from shallow to deep, giving it a sense of prestige.   

  Everyone knew that Guanghua gongzi’s designs were invaluable. Ming Yue Cheng got married now and Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi actually managed to ask Guanghua gongzi to make such a unique design for Ming Yue Cheng and Gu Yun Yao. It was enough to prove their sincerity to congratulate the couple.   

  Of course, these people didn’t know that the famous Guanghua gongzi was actually Feng Qi Qi herself.   

  At this moment, Ming Yue Cheng felt extremely happy in his heart. This was due to nothing else but Feng Qi Qi, because she had personally made a set of clothes for him. If it wasn’t for the fact that there were many people here and that he was still at the banquet, he would have surely taken off his clothes and put on this set of purple clothes that Feng Qi Qi has made for him.   

  Wanyan Kang and Su Mei gifted the couple a pair of palm-sized jade carved lion, these were also priceless.   

  Bei Zhou’s Regent and Xiaoyao wang came in person to congratulate Ming Yue Cheng on his wedding day, this has truly shocked all the officials in Nan Feng. Although the officials knew that Ming Yue Cheng had an alliance with Bei Zhou, and that he had worked together with Bei Zhou to overthrow Xi Qi, they still didn’t expect for Ming Yue Cheng to have such a good relationship with the new power holders in Bei Zhou.   

  Dong Lu and Xi Qi became history, so Bei Zhou and Nan Feng became the only two countries coexisting on the continent. As the saying goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers. As soon as Bei Zhou had overthrown Dong Lu and Nan Feng overthrew Xi Qi, some people started to think that maybe in ten years’ time, these two big countries would start a war against each other.   

  One mountain cannot contain two tigers: in an area, there cannot be two very strong personality people leading. Just like in a mountain, there will only be one king, one leader.   

  However, now that the officials have seen their friendship, their doubt have dispelled. Truth to be told, no one was willing to go to war. Everyone hoped to live a stable and happy life. Ming Yue Cheng’s behavior after he had ascended the throne made some officials misunderstand his intentions, they thought that their sovereign had the ambition to take over the entire world. But now that they have seen their friendship with their own eyes, they could finally be at ease.   

  Fu Er already arranged a spot for Feng Cang and the rest before they arrived, he left them the most honorable seats. The music and dance started to play the moment the four of them sat down.   

  A while ago, Ming Yue Cheng took Feng Xiao and has been holding him in his arms ever since. Feng Xiao seemed to be particularly fond of him (MYC), he didn’t cry nor made any noise. When Ming Yue Cheng teased him, he would laugh and smile. That innocent laughter was spread to everyone’s ears and as a result, improved everyone’s mood.   

  “Looks like Xiao er is very fond of me!” Ming Yue Cheng waited until the song and dance had ended, before he reluctantly gave Feng Xiao back to Feng Qi Qi.   

  “You are his godfather, so he naturally likes you!”   

  Ming Yue Cheng was very satisfied with Feng Qi Qi’s answer. Although the two of them couldn’t be together in this lifetime, he could still be the godfather of her children and this relationship would let them always be in touch.   

  There were many people present, so Ming Yue Cheng didn’t chat with Feng Qi Qi for long. He returned to his dragon chair and stared at the singing and dancing on the stage instead, displaying a behavior of a newlywed emperor.   

  Gu De was the only one constantly staring at Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi sitting in front of him.   

  Gu De had already received Gu Yun Wan letter before this. In the letter, she had mentioned Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi’s matter. She also mentioned the child gu inside Feng Xiao’s body. Gu De knew that the couple came this time to cure their son’s gu. He (GD) had glanced at Feng Xiao earlier and discovered that he (FX) was really as cute and adorable as Gu Yun Wan had described. It was truly a pity for such a small child to have a gu inside his body.   

  What Gu De found surprising was the fact that Feng Xiao seemed to be a bit different. Usually, people who had the gu inside their body would show a somewhat unhealthy state. It didn’t matter if it was their complexion or their eyesight, it would look abnormal. Even adults would become like this, let alone a child.   

  Children had a weak resistance to begin with, so if someone poisoned them with the gu then their tolerance would become even worse. He had encountered children who had been poisoned with the gu before. All of them were emaciated and looked petite. Moreover, they were dispirited and downcast, and kept crying incessantly.   

  Dispirited and downcast: in low spirits   

  However, these conditions didn’t show up for Feng Xiao. Gu De had glanced at him earlier and saw that he (FX) was plump and healthy. He was very cute and adorable, was he really poisoned with the gu?   

  1. Zhen: I, used by the emperor   

  2. Shizi: heir of the crown prince/prince of first rank by the main consort   

  3. Wang/wang: the first-rank prince   

  4. Wangfei: the main consort of the first-rank prince   

  5. Gongzi: young master

  Chapter 193 (Part 1) The conditions to get rid of the gu   

  Gu De had doubts in his heart. He didn’t show his doubts as he is now at the palace banquet for Ming Yue Cheng’s wedding.   

  It was lively at the main hall. The indistinctive smile of Ming Yue Cheng looked unusually mysterious under the dazzling light. Although his eyes were watching the singing and dancing on the stage, he was actually looking at Feng Qi Qi all along.   

  After not seeing for a long time, she was more beautiful. Every frown and every smile naturally revealed nobleness. Even if she was only sitting, it was the most beautiful scenery at the scene.   

  However, there was already a man at her side. This was something that Ming Yue Cheng could never replace. It could only be a missed chance in this life!   

  Even if Ming Yue Cheng hoped in his heart that time would freeze at this moment, but the good times always passed quickly. After the banquet ended, he had to go to Qingluan Palace.   

  Before leaving, Ming Yue Cheng looked deeply at Feng Qi Qi once again as if he could engrave her smile into his heart.   

  “Arrange to go to Qingluan Palace……”   

  The voice of Fu Er came. Ming Yue Cheng seemed to hear a long sigh in the air. He looked up but he didn’t see anyone. Only a slight breeze blew past his ear. Could it be that the wind took pity on his sadness? So that was why it made such a long sigh?   

  At Qingluan Palace, Gu Yun Yao was dressed in a tangerine-red color wedding dress and quietly sat in the room.   

  Gu Yun Yao could vaguely see the furnishings in the room through the red veil. Because she was consort Jin and not the empress, she couldn’t use the bright red color. Even if she was married, she could only wear tangerine-red color. However, she was content in her heart. This marriage was originally a pretense. It was fake, so there was no need to care about those things.   

  She didn’t know for how long she had been waiting until a voice ‘the emperor had arrived’ spread to Gu Yun Yao’s ears. The palace maids inside the room quickly went to the door to kneel down and greet the emperor with long live the emperor. Ming Yue Cheng didn’t say anything unnecessary. It was just a ‘stand up’ to let them withdraw, leaving only Fu Er.   

  “Long live Your Majesty!”   

  “Hm! Take off the veil and eat something. You must be very hungry.”   

  Ming Yue Cheng didn’t take off the veil for Gu Yun Yao. Instead, he sat down directly and poured tea for himself.   

  Inside Ming Yue Cheng’s heart, he still stubbornly persisted that one heart is for one person. His heart was given to Feng Qi Qi, so it was absolutely impossible to accommodate another person. He took an imperial consort now because it was only his duty to the country. It wasn’t his wish. Moreover, he wouldn’t really do the wedding ceremony and drank the nuptial cup of wine with Gu Yun Yao. Let alone complete the wedding night.   

  After Gu Yun Yao took off the veil, she came to Ming Yue Cheng and greeted him.   

  “Sit!”   

  After Gu Yun Yao sat down, Fu Er went to the bed and picked up the white satin cloth. He pulled out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and sprinkled something on the white satin cloth.   

  Seeing Fu Er doing so, Gu Yun Yao was a bit surprised but that didn’t mean that she didn’t understand anything. Before the marriage, the palace’s maid had already taught her this aspect of knowledge. It was just seeing Fu Er doing this now, made Gu Yun Yao blush.   

  When Fu Er finished everything and retreated, Ming Yue Cheng then began to speak: “How was it? Still used to it, right!”   

  “This subject wife is doing very well. Thanks Your Majesty for your concern!”   

  When Gu Yun Yao said these words, Ming Yue Cheng knew that he had found a very suitable person. Gu Yun Yao was very clever, but her cleverness was different from other people’s showing off and many other things. She knew what couldn’t be done and what couldn’t be said.   

  Looking at this young face in front of him, Ming Yue Cheng nodded slightly. “It’s good that you like it! Zhen won’t delay you too much. After a few years, zhen1 will find the right time to arrange your fake death. At that time, you’ll be given a new identity. You can get away from the imperial palace and start a new life.”   

  What Gu Yun Yao didn’t expect was that Ming Yue Cheng had thought about every step. From the selection of consorts to the big wedding, and even her future was arranged. In this way, she only needed to follow his commands and cooperated with the actions of Ming Yue Cheng. However, Gu Yun Yao didn’t understand why Ming Yue Cheng did so! Wasn’t he an emperor? The world was his. Since he didn’t want to take an empress or consort, why couldn’t he decide this matter himself?!   

  Ming Yue Cheng seemed to see Gu Yun Yao’s perplexity and put down the teacup.   

  “Don’t know if you’ve ever heard a saying, ‘When in the jianghu2, one can’t act according to his wishes’. In fact, this kind of not being able to act according to one’s wishes wasn’t only found in the jianghu. People like zhen who stand at the top, also have many constraints. The emperor isn’t a man who does whatever he likes. Many moments, zhen has no choice but to do something that zhen doesn’t like.”   

  Speaking till here, Ming Yue Cheng thought of Feng Qi Qi. In any way, she came over today and also sent a gift which she personally made. This was already the greatest satisfaction in Ming Yue Cheng’s point of view.   

  Gu Yun Yao didn’t know what Ming Yue Cheng was thinking. At this moment, she clearly saw a smile from the lips of Ming Yue Cheng. This smile was rare to Gu Yun Yao. At least the times that she had met Ming Yue Cheng, she had never seen such an obvious smile on his face.   

  Don’t know who this smile was for?   

  After Ming Yue Cheng had said these, Gu Yun Yao had some sympathy for this young emperor in front of her. The world thought that the supreme was no one other than the emperor. However, Gu Yun Yao didn’t see the slightest joy and happiness from Ming Yue Cheng. Instead, she felt heavy responsibility and pressure.   

  Looking at his smile from just now, he must have remembered someone or something. People who were able to make Ming Yue Cheng so joyful, must occupy a very important position in the heart of Ming Yue Cheng. Gu Yun Yao didn’t understand. Since he liked her, why couldn’t they be together? Was it status or something else?   

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  Ming Yue Cheng was so smart. How couldn’t he know what Gu Yun Yao was thinking? She was only fifteen and was still at the age of innocence. He shouldn’t have let her fall into this heavy whirlpool.   

  “Let’s drink! Zhen really wants to drink today!”   

  Ming Yue Cheng made Fu Er fetch a wine jar. On this day, he suddenly wanted to get himself drunk. He didn’t wait for Gu Yun Yao to speak and immediately started to drink the wine.   

  At this moment, the atmosphere in the room became particularly weird. Gu Yun Yao sat beside Ming Yue Cheng and watched him drinking in mouthfuls, but she couldn’t say any words of comfort. She wasn’t anyone to him, nor could she solve the pain in his heart. Instead of doing so, it was better to sit quietly and look after him after he was drunk.   

  As expected, after drinking one jug of wine, Ming Yue Cheng was drunk on the table. He originally was a good drinker but didn’t know why he was so drunk today. Fu Er and Gu Yun Yao supported Ming Yue Cheng to the bed. Fu Er personally took off Ming Yue Cheng’s clothes and covered him with the quilt.   

  “Consort, His Majesty is drunk, you see……”   

  Fu Er’s expression was a bit awkward. There was only one bed in the room. Should he let Gu Yun Yao sleep on the bed? Then wouldn’t it be fake play turned into reality at that time?   

  “Eunuch Fu, I’ll just lean at the side! I’m afraid the emperor wants to drink water at night!”   

  Gu Yun Yao was so thoughtful that Fu Er nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that the emperor did choose a clever and quick-witted girl. He hoped that she would never change.   

  “Eunuch Fu, you sit down too!” Gu Yun Yao signaled for Fu Er to sit down and looked at the sleeping face of Ming Yue Cheng. She then started talking, “Eunuch Fu, I’ve heard that His Majesty’s capacity for liquor is very good. Why is he already drunk after only one jug of wine today?”   

  Fu Er had some difficulty answering this question. Should he tell Gu Yun Yao that Ming Yue Cheng was actually drinking away his sorrows? After thinking about it for a long time, Fu Er gave a smooth answer. “His Majesty had also drunk a lot of wine at the banquet. Moreover, it was easy to get drunk on an empty stomach.”   

  “Oh……” Gu Yun Yao wasn’t stupid. She knew that Fu Er’s answer was just half-heartedly. She admired Fu Er’s loyalty to Ming Yue Cheng.   

  “Qi Qi, don’t go……” Just at this moment, Ming Yue Cheng frowned and said Feng Qi Qi’s name, “Qi Qi, I only made one wrong step, Qi Qi……”   

  The doubts in Gu Yun Yao’s heart just now had been answered from the sleep talking of Ming Yue Cheng. Qi Qi? Could it be that she was the woman who lived in the heart of Ming Yue Cheng?   

  In one night, Ming Yue Cheng was talking nonsense while Gu Yun Yao and Fu Er were guarding the night. After the morning came, Ming Yue Cheng slowly opened his eyes. He had some headache. The sunshine through the window was unusually dazzling. After waiting for a while, Ming Yue Cheng got used to it.   

  “Your Majesty, you’re awake?” Fu Er heard the sound of the bed and quickly came to serve.   

  “Fu Er, zhen wants to take a bath!”   

  “Yes!” Fu Er immediately went to prepare. Soon afterwards, Ming Yue Cheng was lying in a warm pool. The temperature of the water was a little hot but it was the temperature that Ming Yue Cheng liked. He closed his eyes and leaned against the pool: “Zhen didn’t do anything out of character yesterday?”   

  “No. Consort Jin has been taking care of you, and this slave was also guarding at the side! However……” After saying that, Fu Er hesitated. But in the end, he (FE) told Ming Yue Cheng the matter about his sleep talking. “You have been calling Feng Qi Qi’s name.”   

  “She heard?”   

  “She heard but didn’t say anything.”   

  “Heh……Fu Er, zhen wants to stay alone for a while.”   

  After hearing this, Fu Er retreated. Ming Yue Cheng was the only one left in the large room. He dived into the pool and wrapped himself in the hot water, making him feel like he was back in the mother’s womb. Those warm waters stimulated the pores of his whole body, making him relaxed.   

  He was actually drunk and was saying the name of Feng Qi Qi…… Ming Yue Cheng closed his eyes and recalled the things that happened last night. One by one, the bubbles were spit out of his mouth. A series of bubbles flocked to the surface of the water. These bubbles exploded on the surface of the water and rippled in circles. They spread from the center of the pool, drawing circles like an annual ring and rushed to the shore.   

  “Blub blub……”   

  Ming Yue Cheng suddenly came out of the water and stood in the middle of the pool. The water which emitted hot air was till his pelvis. His hair was dripping wet and stuck on his strong back. Drops were dripping along his spine to the buttock and then into the water. Along with the waves, it spread in hot water and diffused like black algae.   

  The sunlight came through the window and fell on the water. Ming Yue Cheng wiped the water from his face. The missed water drops slid down his cheeks to the concave in the middle of his chin. They formed a droplet that was sparkling and translucent under the sunlight; refusing to drop.   

  Let go! Ming Yue Cheng! Don’t tangle anymore in those happiness that you wouldn’t be able to get! One of the two of them (MYC & FQQ) should be happy! If there was only one option, he would rather let her happy forever!   

  Ming Yue Cheng secretly said these words to himself. After finishing, he fiercely swam to the edge of the pool and went up the shore.   

  “Fu Er, get people to prepare. Zhen wants to go to the prime minister’s residence!” Ming Yue Cheng wiped off the water from his body. After changing his clothes, he left Qingluan Palace.   

  After waiting for Ming Yue Cheng to leave, the palace’s elder maids came over. They took the white satin cloth that had the blood on it and congratulated Gu Yun Yao over and over again. Then, they retreated. In a moment, everyone in the palace knew that the emperor and consort Jin had consummated their marriage. Presumably, it wouldn’t be long that a little prince or little princess would be born in the palace!   

  1. Zhen: I, used by the emperor   

  2. Jianghu: martial arts world

  Chapter 193 (part 2) The conditions to the rid of the gu   

  After Feng Cang, Feng Qi Qi, Wanyan Kang, Su Mei and Jin Mo came to the capital of Nan Feng, they stayed at the prime minister’s residence. This wasn’t the idea of Gu De, but it was the decision of Gu Yun Wan. In this regard, Gu De didn’t express any unwillingness. It was fine as long his daughter liked it.   

  “Dad, go help Feng Qi Qi!”   

  He had three days off because of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage, so he didn’t have to get up early to go to the court. Just after he got up in the morning, he was pestered by Gu Yun Wan. She wanted him to cure the gu of Feng Xiao.   

  “Brat, you’re giving me a headache!” Gu De only had this daughter and she had gone out for so long. When she came back, it wasn’t to deepen their father-daughter relationship, instead, she tried to protect the outsiders, making Gu De somewhat jealous.   

  “Dad, do you have a headache? I’ll massage it for you!”   

  Gu Yun Wan quickly supported Gu De to sit down. She then put her small hand on Gu De’s temple and gently massaged it, “Dad, how is it? Is it comfortable?”   

  “Hm, not bad!” Gu De smilingly touched his chin while enjoying, “It’s good to have a daughter! The daughter is caring!”   

  “It’s good that dad likes it! Oh, by the way, dad, what is with Gu Yun Yao? When did you got an adopted daughter? Why didn’t I know?” Gu Yun Wan massaged while poured out all the questions that kept her confused these days.   

  After hearing this, Gu De sighed. How could he talk to others about Ming Yue Cheng’s thoughts? But looking at his daughter, Gu De had some regrets. He once wanted to play matchmaker for Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng. However, these two people didn’t feel attracted to each other. Without feelings even if he worried helplessly, it wouldn’t do.   

  “Dad, say something!”   

  “I just recently adopted her. I feel that she’s a smart child, so I accepted her as my adopted daughter.”   

  “Oh……” Gu Yun Wan lengthened her voice. Gu De thought that his daughter regretted this moment, that she began to understand about the matters of love and was a little jealous because of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage. Gu De was secretly delighted and wanted to continue to make Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng a pair but he didn’t expect that Gu Yun Wan said another thing.   

  “Dad, since you can accept a stranger as adopted daughter, why don’t you accept Feng Qi Qi as adopted daughter? In that case, if you think of Feng Qi Qi as our Qiang tribe’s people, then you can help Feng Xiao cure the gu!”   

  After listening to these words, Gu De’s inflated heart of just a moment ago was now like a deflated ball: “Brat, is Feng Qi Qi so great? Why do you always help an outsider?”   

  “Qi Qi isn’t an outsider! She’s my little sister! I have already recognized princess Ming Yue as adopted mother. Now, Feng Qi Qi is my, Gu Yun Wan’s, little sister. Since she has difficulties, of course, I have to help!”   

  Gu Yun Wan said these clearly and logically, made Gu De have a headache: “Friendship is one thing, the tribe’s rules can’t be changed! Your father is the chief of the Qiang’s tribe. If I make exceptions, what will the tribe’s people say? How will I manage the Qiang’s tribe in the future?”   

  “Dad……” Gu Yun Wan knew that Gu De was telling the truth, but she just wanted to help Feng Cang and the others as much as possible.   

  “Master, miss, His Majesty has come.”   

  At this moment, the housekeeper came hurriedly. As soon as Gu De heard that Ming Yue Cheng came over, he was somewhat puzzled. On the first day of marriage, Ming Yue Cheng didn’t keep Gu Yun Yao company in the Qingluan Palace, instead he (MYC) came here? In spite of his confusion, Gu De still immediately got up and went to the door to welcome Ming Yue Cheng. Gu Yun Wan hadn’t seen Ming Yue Cheng for a long time, so she also followed.   

  “Your Majesty……”   

  “Uncle Gu De, today there’s no majesty but only me.”   

  The words of Ming Yue Cheng made Gu De smile, “Please……” Gu De led the way while Ming Yue Cheng walked behind.   

  “Ming Yue Cheng, congratulations!” When Gu Yun Wan saw Ming Yue Cheng, she slapped on his shoulder, “Why did you run away on your newlywed days? Wouldn’t that consort Jin get angry?”   

  “Wan er1! Don’t be so impolite!” Gu De quickly scolded Gu Yun Wan, when she spoke to Ming Yue Cheng like this. But there was no reprimand in his words, instead there was strong pampering.   

  “Dad, he said that today there’s no emperor or majesty but only you and me! Right, Ming Yue Cheng?!”   

  “Right! It was indeed what I said.”   

  “Emperor, she is spoiled by this subject and doesn’t follow the rules. You must not blame her.” Seeing the ‘interaction’ between Gu Yun Wan and Ming Yue Cheng, Gu De was happy but also worried.   

  In Gu De’s point of view, Ming Yue Cheng treated Gu Yun Wan different. However, this difference was limited to the friendship between buddies and not the love between men and women. In addition, Gu Yun Wan’s personality was carefree. She wasn’t yet enlightened on the matter of love. This made him, the father, very frustrated.   

  Furthermore, the identity of Gu Yun Wan was a very awkward matter. She is the empress dowager of Nan Feng and could be regarded as Ming Yue Cheng’s empress mother. It was impossible to erase that past.   

  Even if Gu Yun Wan was still a pure and clean woman, but the title ‘empress dowager’ had already broken Gu Yun Wan’s luck in love. Whether it was following Ming Yue Cheng or marrying someone else, it wasn’t quite right. Regarding his only daughter’s happiness, Gu De was very worried. However, there was nothing to be done. He could only let nature take its course.   

  To let nature take its course: go with the flow   

  “Dad, can’t you relax a little? You two had been a ruler and a minister for so long at the court. Now you’re here, why do you still want to be like that? How awkward is it!”   

  “Uncle Gu De, Wan er is right! At the court, I’m the emperor, you’re the minister. But at the prime minister’s residence still being emperor and minister, isn’t it too tired? Could it be that uncle Gu De wants to deprive me of my only place to relax?”   

  The tone of Ming Yue Cheng made Gu De laugh. Since Ming Yue Cheng regarded the prime minister’s residence as a place that would make him relaxed, this should be his honor (GD). “Cheng er, let’s go this way!”   

  A ‘Cheng er’ reminded Ming Yue Cheng of his childhood. Gu De used to call him like that too. It seemed that after he became the emperor, he hadn’t heard that ever since. Having an elder who could call himself in such a way and his words revealed concerns was really a thing worth cherishing for anyone.   

  Since Ming Yue Cheng came over, Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi and the others were also invited over.   

  “Feng Cang, long time no see! Ah Kang, I heard you got married, congratulations!” Seeing these friends from Bei Zhou, Ming Yue Cheng was in a good mood. Wanyan Kang smilingly came over and punched Ming Yue Cheng lightly. “You’re not bad too! You’ve also got a beautiful woman! Today is your first day of marriage, why did you leave your beauty and came here? Is it because you want to see us?”   

  The thoughtless words of Wanyan Kang made Ming Yue Cheng didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry, “There are friends coming from afar, that’s a joy! You guys have come all the way to my wedding. Of course, I have to act as the host!”   

  “Great!” Wanyan Kang pulled Su Mei to the front of Ming Yue Cheng and gave him an introduction. “This is my wifey!”   

  ‘Wifey’ was the folk’s way of addressing the wife. Didn’t expect that Wanyan Kang, a wangye2 actually used this word to describe Su Mei. Seeing this lovey-dovey couple, Ming Yue Cheng was truly happy for Wanyan Kang. Beside happy, he was a bit sad too. Everyone was paired up and only he was alone. Was fate playing against him?   

  “Woo……” The child in Feng Qi Qi’s arms was ‘babbling’ now. He seemed to be particularly happy when he saw Ming Yue Cheng. The small hands waved and the chubby little fingers were like mature beans.   

  “Feng Xiao is still the smartest, knowing that adopted father is coming! Let adopted father hold you!”   

  Ming Yue Cheng went to Feng Qi Qi and reached out his hands, but his eyes kept looking at Feng Qi Qi’s face. There wasn’t much difference. She was still beautiful like morning dew, pure and clean. Childbearing didn’t change her. Instead, it gave Feng Qi Qi a more maternal brilliance, making people indulge in her more.   

  “Yaya……” As soon as Feng Xiao started ‘talking’ in Ming Yue Cheng’s arms, Ming Yue Cheng lowered his head. Feng Xiao’s beautiful big eyes had been wandering around this adopted father’s face and his eyes were full of curiosity. Ming Yue Cheng originally had no special feelings for children, but Feng Xiao was different from ordinary children.   

  First, Feng Xiao was really cute and lovely. He looked beautiful, didn’t cry, and was always cheerful. Watching him was a joy; the second and the most important reason was that Feng Xiao was the son of his beloved woman. Ming Yue Cheng could see Feng Qi Qi’s shadow from Feng Xiao.   

  \r   \r   \r   

  “Is Xiao er talking to adopted father? Does Xiao er like adopted father?   

  “Wo……keke……” Feng Xiao grabbed the dangled hair of Ming Yue Cheng and twisted the hair in his white finger. He let Ming Yue Cheng directly know with his actions that he (MYC) looked very pleasing to his (FX) eyes.   

  Feng Xiao’s performance made Feng Cang, the father, eat a full jar of vinegar. Usually, he didn’t see this brat like him or anything, but how could Feng Xiao smile so happy when he sees Ming Yue Cheng? He was really someone eating inside while wanting to go outside!   

  Eating inside while wanting to go outside: live on somebody while helping others secretly/ to bite the hands that feed you   

  Gu De had been standing at the side. Only when he saw how Ming Yue Cheng looked at Feng Qi Qi, did Gu De suddenly realized. It turned out he (MYC) did it for her?!   

  This judgement made Gu De distracted for a full ten seconds before recovering. He was really too surprised! It turned out that the woman Ming Yue Cheng admired was Feng Qi Qi?! A married woman, the wangfei3 of Bei Zhou’s Regent? How was this news not shocking?!   

  No wonder that Ming Yue Cheng would create a Gu Yun Yao to let him recognize her as daughter and announced there would be no harem. Could it be that these were diversionary tactics? He did all that because of Feng Qi Qi?   

  For a moment, Gu De had some difficulty accepting this result.   

  Tracing back the source of this ill-fated relationship, it should be at the time in Xi Qi before Feng Qi Qi got married. No wonder that soon after the ascension to the throne Ming Yue Cheng went to Bei Zhou. No wonder he would send troops to Xi Qi when Bei Zhou was attacked from three sides. He must know that Nan Feng wasn’t stable at that time and sending troops took great risks. In case of defeat, it would be the danger of destroying the country. Even though the final result was that they won.   

  Gu De didn’t know how to describe his feelings at the moment. He simply dragged Gu Yun Wan to a remote area and grabbed her for questioning.   

  “Did you know?”   

  “Dad, know what?”   

  “The matter about His Majesty liking Feng Qi Qi.”   

  “I know!” Gu Yun Wan looked at Gu De in a puzzled way, “Is there anything wrong? Feng Qi Qi is so beautiful and so nice. If I were a man, I would also like her!”   

  “Foolish!”   

  Gu De pointed to Gu Yun Wan and his fingers trembled. He sighed at last and dropped his hands. “What happened, dad?” Gu Yun Wan didn’t understand why Gu De was so excited.   

  “Ay, you don’t understand! The people of Miao are famous for their faithfulness. The Miao family is a big family in the Qiang tribe, but the population isn’t so prosperous. The reason is that the Miao family has produced devoted people for generations. All Miao people have only one partner and are loyal to their partners for the rest of their lives.”   

  “His Majesty’s mother, Miao Chu Yun, it was exactly because she fell in love with the emperor that she came to the imperial palace. In the end, what she got was deceit and betrayal. Ming Yue Cheng inherited his infatuation from his mother. He will stick to loving only one person. If Ming Yue Cheng is an ordinary man, it’s alright. However, he’s the emperor of the country. This won’t do!”   

  Gu De said so. Gu Yun Wan gradually understood her father’s worries. “Dad, it’s not such a wicked thing as you say! Ming Yue Cheng is also the descendant of the previous emperor. The previous emperor was really a promiscuous person……”   

  “He won’t. Ming Yue Cheng is not such a person.”   

  The thought of Ming Yue Cheng’s marriage with Gu Yun Yao was merely a ‘cover-up’ that deceived the people of the whole country, made Gu De repent. If he had known this earlier, he wouldn’t be so eager to force Ming Yue Cheng to select consorts. Now, it was really turning cleverness into stupidity. Ming Yue Cheng’s stubborn temper was very similar to Miao Chu Yun’s. It seemed that this matter had to be considered at length.   

  Turn cleverness into stupidity: shoot oneself in the foot/ to overreach oneself   

  When Gu De and Gu Yun Wan came back, Ming Yue Cheng was still holding Feng Xiao. From the perspective of Gu De, Ming Yue Cheng was like a loving father holding a child. As if the child wasn’t of Feng Qi Qi and Feng Cang, but his and Feng Qi Qi’s child.   

  Seeing such a scene, Gu De sighed. It seemed that Ming Yue Cheng was already deep in love. But continuing like this, wouldn’t Nan Feng have no successor?   

  “Uncle Gu De, come see my adopted son, Feng Xiao!” Ming Yue Cheng let Gu De come over and carefully placed Feng Xiao in Gu De’s arms. “Isn’t my adopted son very cute?”   

  “Keke……yiya……”   

  Seeing the person who held him changed, Feng Xiao rolled his big eyes. He stared at Gu De’s face and waved his small hands as if he was greeting Gu De.   

  This child was so cute that Gu De’s face finally showed a smile: “He’s indeed very cute!”   

  “It’s just that such a lovely child has a child gu in his body and will be tortured by the gu poison in the future. Uncle Gu De, don’t you think this is a very cruel thing?” Ming Yue Cheng put his finger into Feng’s Xiao’s little hand. Feng Xiao then grabbed his (MYC) finger and put it into his mouth.   

  “Dirty, you can’t eat!” Ming Yue Cheng took out his finger and held Feng Xiao’s little hand. “Xiao er, this is grandpa Gu! Let’s say hello to grandpa Gu!”   

  Feng Xiao looked at Ming Yue Cheng and turned to Gu De again, then a ‘woeh……’ came from his mouth. After hearing that, Ming Yue Cheng laughed hard. “Look, Xiao er is calling you!”   

  “Hehe……” Gu De laughing at this moment wasn’t right but not laughing was also not right.   

  After confirming that Ming Yue Cheng’s beloved was Feng Qi Qi, Gu De was able to see all this clearly. Ming Yue Cheng was trying so hard now, was nothing more than hoping that he would cure Feng Xiao’s gu. This man was really infatuated to the extreme! Obviously, that woman was married to other. He actually still tried to help her child with all his heart and soul. Ay, he really didn’t know if Ming Yue Cheng doing so was worth it.   

  “Prime minister Gu, I’m Feng Cang!”   

  Feng Cang, who was quiet for a while, came with Feng Qi Qi to the front of Gu De. “If you can help our child to get rid of its gu poison, as long as this I can do, even if it’s the stars in the sky, I will pick it for you!”   

  Gu De had previously learned about Feng Cang. He knew that this man was a dragon among the people, and was equally matched as Ming Yue Cheng. After seeing the real person, although Gu De favored Ming Yue Cheng in his heart, but he had to admit that Feng Cang was even better.   

  This man’s spirit was very strong and you could feel that aura just by standing beside him.   

  “The regent has come all the way to get rid of little shizi’s4 gu. This old man had already heard from Wan er. However, Qiang tribe had its own rules. I can’t ignore the tribe’s rules because of personal feelings. Regent, please don’t make things difficult for this old man.”   

  Gu De said it very clear that no matter who Feng Cang was, regardless of how the feelings between Feng Qi Qi and Gu Yun Wan was, or even how much Ming Yue Cheng wanted to help, rules were rules and shouldn’t be changed because of the ways of people.   

  Feng Cang and Feng Qi Qi could understand this point very well: “Prime minister, I’m not letting you break the tribe’s rules. I just want to find a solution. Miss little Wan mentioned to us the conditions of Qiang tribe to cure the gu. We must go through three tests: mount the mountains of daggers, go through the sea of flames and enter the dragon pool. As long as you can cure Xiao er, let alone three tests, even if it was ten tests, I, Feng Cang, will never frown!”   

  Feng Cang’s words were loud and very manly. Gu De had to admire this devilish beautiful man. Even if Feng Cang looked very young, Gu De believed that he was that kind of person who kept his promise. How could a man who was all-powerful and famous in the world be a cowardly rat?!   

  “Good! The regent is so straightforward that this old man also won’t conceal anything from you. The world knows that we, the Qiang people are good at using gu. Since the beginning of history, the Qiang tribe’s people began to raise gu. As long as it’s gu poison, you can find solutions in the Qiang tribe. However, we also have our own rules.”   

  “Because raising gu is never divulged to outsiders, so the world’s gu poisons are done by our Qiang people. Out of respect for the people of the tribe, we won’t easily help outsiders cure the poison. To cure the poison, you must go through three tests. That is, as you just said mount the mountains of daggers, go through the sea of flames and enter the dragon pool.   

  “Only passing the three tests and find the millennium sturgeon in the dragon pool will we help people cure the gu. For hundreds of years, only a handful of people have passed the three tests. A lot of people are buried in the dragon pool in the end. If the regent wants to cure the gu for little shizi, then please think clearly. Life isn’t child’s play!”   

  1. Er: term of endearment   

  2. Wangye/wang: the first-rank prince   

  3. Wangfei: main consort of the first-rank prince   

  4. Shizi: heir of the first-rank prince/crown prince