The Aloof Prince Pampers His Wild First Rate Consort-Chapter 23
The Aloof Prince Chapter 23 - To be Calm
After she listened to Mu Xiarou's intention Mu Yun Jin bewilderingly smiled. She cast a sidelong glance to Mu Xiarou:
“Fifth sister, you are only fourteen years old. There are still two years before you reach your marriageable age, don't be anxious.”
Mu Xiarou immediately got impatient. Refusing to change her stance in front of Mu Yun Jin, she exclaimed.
“Right now those princes are already looking for a wife, maybe this time they will take a young lady from another household as a wife. If I don’t take action, I fear that by the time I reach my marriageable age, I won't be able to marry a prince.”
“Why would you insist to marry a prince?”
Mu Yun Jin was unable to make head or tail of this matter. These women, each and every one of them wishes to enter the Imperial household doors. Certainly, the Imperial Household life can be very good.
“Third sister, take me with you to the palace. I promise to be good. I will not hinder you.”
Mu Xiarou gave a pleading look to Mu Yun Jin. Ever since birth, her mother the Third Madam, always told her that she is the Prime Minister residence's concubine born woman, yet she is also this family`s daughter. In this residence with numerous children, she absolutely won't receive love and attention. In the future she can only rely on herself, and work hard to marry into the Imperial household. By then nobody would look down upon her.
Originally, Mu Yun Jin wasn’t favored in this family, so naturally she would not fawn on her. But now is not the same, even father couldn't help but cancel Mu Yun Jin's confinement, so she set her heart on earning her favor, especially because of the impending marriage between Mu Yun Jin and the Sixth Prince. Apparently it is already a final matter. If right now she did not curry favor on Mu Yun Jin, who will she curry favor with?
On her side, Mu Yun Jin already had seen through Mu Xiarou's thoughts. She massaged her wrist, and thought that if this girl wants to go then she will just take her along. It just happens that she might be able to help shift some attention.
“Then today you will go with me. Remember the people in the palace are complicated, don't make irresponsible remarks.”
Mu Yun Jin directed. Mu Xiarou secretly sniggered at Mu Yun Jin, only meeting Imperial Concubine Qin for several times now she is actually beginning to lecture her. Just wait, she too will marry a prince without a hitch, she will not fawn on Mu Yun Jin again.
..........
Upon entering the Palace, Mu Yun Jin wasn’t brought to the Imperial concubine Qin's residence in Fragrant Harmony Palace, but she was brought to the frequently used Hall for Palace feasts in the Qing Huan Palace. She had just set foot inside the Qing Huan Palace, when she heard a lot of talking and laughing inside. At this moment in Qing Huan Palace hall there already were a lot of people sitting inside. Mu Yun Jin skimmed a look; she was able to see many people wearing robes, until she caught sight of Yan Ling Chang and Wen Ru Han. It was clear that Imperial Concubine Qin invited her today to participate in the banquet.
Mu Xiarou saw this huge spectacle, and she realized that now that she is here, she must make use of her time. After Mu Yun Jin entered the door, all eyes gathered on her. Many of the people present have not met her in person. They sighed; this daughter indeed is born with good looks. All the invited daughters possess detailed adornment befitting a noble's daughter.
“Third Miss Mu, your seat is along with the Prime Minister.”
A young palace eunuch went to Mu Yun Jin's side, and she received the seat near the Prime Minister's seat. Mu Xiang unhurriedly passed through Mu Yun Jin at the door, he noticed that although recently this daughter has somewhat changed, however, his girl still has a bad reputation. His belly suffered no ink stick, today to bring her to this kind of event, he still felt ashamed. Mu Ling Zhu sat at the side. After seeing Mu Yun Jin arrive, within her eyes appear a burst of gloom and anger.
“Father,”
Mu Yun Jin faced Mu Xiang to ask for a place. She sat at one side, both eyes completely calm. Mu Lingzhu saw her and also cast a glance at Mu Xiarou following Mu Yun Jin, with a cold voice she said:
“Xiarou, why did you come?”
“I begged third sister to take me to appear in society.”
Mu Xiarou was especially excited, her line of sight settled across the empty seats. Their own father is the prime minister, therefore at the numerous government official seats they are to sit in the first place. Those who sit at the opposite side are precisely the princes and princesses. These thoughts made Mu Xiarou excited.
Not long after near the door a commotion started, Mu Yun Jin followed everyone line of sight to look. At the doorway of the Qing Huan Palace hall, several figures walked inside. First was a purple clothed figure, his appearance clear and cold and his gait elegant, as he slowly walked to the front. Chu Li took a seat and swept his lazy eyes directly across facing Mu Yun Jin. She was startled. Two people gazed at the sky after coming into contact once moving their eyes away in mutual coordination. One cold and detached and the other was striving to be calm. When Mu Yun Jin lowered her head a shadow appeared in front, blocking her light, she looked up again, only to see Chu Qing's laugh and his face reflecting an evil and unrestrained image.
“Pleased to meet the third prince.”
Mu Yun Jin indifferently muttered, she did not even get up to stand on ceremony. Chu Qing actually did not get angry, merely turned to look at Chu Li, then looked at Mu Yun Jin,
“What can I say to make you look at this prince face to face? This prince entered the door but Third Miss only looked at my sixth younger brother, perhaps you mean to ignore this prince?”
To the side, Mu Xiang heard Mu Qing and seemed to be under the impression that Chu Qing finds Mu Yun Jin annoying, he started to worry and felt like he needs to talk to help her out of the embarrassment, but Mu Ling Zhu took hold of this situation to talk. She looked at the prince and shook her head.
“Elder sister nowadays is difficult to deal with.”
Mu Ling Zhu grumbled, Mu Yun Jin looked at Chu Qing, and squeezed out a smile, taken aback she opened her mouth to speak,
“Who let the sixth prince wear purple clothing and walk at the front? That way he is too eye-catching!”
Chu Qing listened and looked down to see himself wearing silver white colored brocade clothes, although the color wasn’t as good as the bright colored purple, silver white can brightly lit a candle flame, it is unlikely to resemble Mu Yun Jin`s explanation that it is unremarkable. Thus, he merely said:
“This prince has forgotten, this sentence, beauty is in the eyes of the lover.”
“Then does the third prince mean that I am the lover, and sixth prince is the beauty?”
Mu Yun Jin leaned against the chair, her heart secretly mocked, her and Chu Li are what sort of beauty and lover? Her wrist hurt, so to be able to endure it as she speaks can actually already be considered pretty good. Chu Qing and Mu Yun Jin's dialogue was heard by many people seated near them, some who were curious of Mu Yunjin's identity, this time understood everything. So this woman is the legendary third miss Mu Yun Jin. Didn't rumors say that she was cowardly timid and does not know scholarly things? They just saw her speak to Chu Qing in a graceful manner, and not in the least awkward and nowhere near what the rumors say. It was clear: rumors are just rumors. It was truly unexpected; Mu Xiang actually has good fortune to give birth to such a good daughter.
“Xiarou is pleased to meet the third prince,”
Mu Xiarou earlier had thought to say something to attract the third prince's attention, but he seemed to only talk to Mu Yun Jin so there was no chance to speak. From the third prince and Mu Yunjin's conversation, the third prince must be a good person to interact, moreover his appearance is also very outstanding, the sharpness of his outline is like an elaborate carving of a general, his pair of frivolous red phoenix eyes are his ultimate charm, his whole body thoroughly exudes imperial aura. How could she not be emotionally affected? Mu Xiarou intimately called on Chu Qing, waiting for his reply, who would have thought that Chu Qing only indifferently waved his hands, and turn around to go to his seat. Mu Xiarou's face immediately collapsed. Once Chu Qing took a seat, Mu Yunjin raised her eyes to look across the prince's seats, after a glance at Chu Li who was seating beside Chu Qing, her wrist ached once more.
..........
“The Emperor has arrived--.”
“The Empress has arrived--.”
“The Empress Dowager Mother has arrived--.”
“The Imperial Concubine Mother has arrived--.”
The shout sounded at the doorway of the main hall, so everyone heard the announcement. One by one they stood up and looked towards the door. Mu Yun Jin also stood up, with a faint frown and looked at a bright yellow flash at the door. She curled up her lips at all the VIP present. They waited for everyone to find their places. On the master position on the top Emperor Xi Ming's voice sounded:
“My loyal subjects, you are all excused.”
Mu Yun Jin sat down. She carefully looked at the emperor and empress. The Emperor Xi Ming and the Empress seem to both be in their fifties; the corners of their eyes were already wrinkled. The Empress Dowager Zheng and the Imperial Concubine Qin were also seated, they were at of the Emperor and Empress side's. Today they were dressed in red, their hair worn in dignified buns, not one fell behind the other.
“Today is the usual family feast, my loyal subjects do not need to excessively stand on ceremony, need not hesitate."
Emperor Xi Ming raised his cup of wine as he faced everyone. Everybody raised their wine cups and spoke in unison.
“Thanking his Imperial Majesty.”
Then rows of palace maids and eunuchs entered from the outside and they started to pour wine and food for each table, which was not a moment's effort. Soon each table was filled with good wine and fine delicacies. Mu Yunjin looked at all of the dishes in front of her. She was just about to pick up her chopsticks when she remembered her swollen wrist. Holding chopsticks would be difficult. However, Chu Li, who was sitting across, unavoidably would think of it as suspicious. Mu Yun Jin simply gave up and used her left hand to pick up a spoon and start to drink from the small bowl of soup in front of her. At the hall, the Empress Dowager Zheng and Imperial Concubine Qin looked at the situation below, their eyes moved towards the Emperor and unexpectedly they spoke at the same time,
“Emperor”
“Emperor”
Everyone heard the two voices and couldn't help but stare blankly as they looked at the people on the top of the palace hall. Emperor Xi Ming heard them both and also stared blankly, soon after he looked at his own biological mother.
“Imperial Concubine Mother, please speak.”
Seeing the situation, Imperial Concubine Qin cast a provocative look at the Empress Dowager Zheng.
“Emperor Son, today, taking advantage of the fact that everyone is present, I would like to announce a happy occasion.”
Imperial Concubine Qin smiled. She glanced at Mu Yunjin and Chu Li. Mu Yun Jin caught the look of Imperial Concubine Qin and suddenly had a bad premonition.
“Oh? What happy occasion? Imperial Concubine Mother please share it with us.”
Emperor Xi Ming suddenly became interested on the Imperial Concubine's happy occasion.
“Emperor Son, originally the Prime Minister's old madam and I had a verbal agreement to form a marriage. This matter you are aware of, right?”
Imperial Concubine Qin replied. Emperor Xi Ming listened closely. His originally relaxed brows all of a sudden raised into a slight wrinkle, his face became somewhat gloomy.
“Now the Mu Family's Yun Jin is almost already at marriageable age and I would like to take advantage of today's lively dinner to ask Emperor Son to bestow a marriage decree to increase the cheerful atmosphere, what do you think?”
After the Imperial Concubine's speech, everyone immediately looked at Chu Li and Mu Yun Jin. Everyone thought that these two outstanding people are extremely well matched. But who is the Sixth prince? Among the other princes he is the one who earned the deep trust of the Emperor, someday he might become the crown prince. And so even though Third Miss Mu is awesome, but in the previous years she had rumors everywhere and had ruined her reputation. Because of that she truly does not fit the Sixth Prince.
