The Slender Waist-Chapter 116 - 91: Rivers and Mountains, Beautiful Women

Chapter 116: Chapter 91: Rivers and Mountains, Beautiful Women

Qi Country.

In the eighth month of the fifth year of Jianhe, the Qi Emperor Xiao Jue issued an edict of abdication, relinquishing his imperial title.

Prince of Jingling, Xiao Cheng, ascended the throne, renaming the era Zhengchu.

All throughout Qi Country, people celebrated the accession of the new Emperor.

Within the great prison of Tai City, the burning torches illuminated a chorus of sobs.

With a new Emperor came new courtiers, and many nobles and men of merit instantly became prisoners at the foot of the throne. The deposed Emperor, now secluded in Changding Palace, was as if living in the most honorable of cages.

In Chongming Hall, where the blood-stained azure stone tiles had been cleaned, the air was now tinged with a refreshing, light fragrance, as if the deadly battle had never occurred.

Autumn had arrived, and the wind howled at night, wailing under the eaves of the palace.

Ping’an carefully bolted the doors and windows and draped a cloak over the shoulders of the new Emperor.

"Your Majesty, it’s late into the night..."

Xiao Cheng made a sound of acknowledgment.

Or rather, he seemed not to respond at all.

The young monarch sat in front of a wooden desk, his plain clothes accentuating his tall, upright figure, and his handsome features. However, Ping’an could tell that the master had lost some weight, his eyes now sunken.

A wedding night and an emperor’s coronation, either event should fill a man with pride and vigor.

Yet after his marriage, Xiao Cheng grew noticeably more melancholic.

Then came the fall of Xinzhou, like a resounding slap across the face of the new Emperor.

Ping’an felt heartache for his master.

With both parents deceased and two elder brothers who amounted to nothing, burdened with ambition but recognized for his talent in the capital, he was repeatedly oppressed by his ruling cousin, forced behind closed doors, keeping a low profile...

The marriage alliance with the Feng family was supposed to be splendid, for they were a prestigious clan.

But Feng Shi Er Niang was disappointing, causing a lot of ridiculous troubles.

Ping’an knew his master was not very pleased.

But the master never opposed the marriage.

Several times, when Feng Shi Er Niang was ridiculed and insulted by her own family, Ping’an had followed the master’s orders to secretly warn them...

After all, she was his fiancée not yet welcomed into the household, to slap Feng Shi Er Niang’s face was to slap the master’s face. Therefore, each time such an incident occurred, the master’s face would turn particularly ugly...

Ping’an was even more furious with Feng Shi Er Niang for her lack of struggle.

If she had even a little bit of ability, she would not have put the master in such an awkward situation.

Ping’an even viciously thought to himself that it would have been better if Feng Shi Er Niang had really been bullied to death, that way the master wouldn’t have to marry a girl who brought him no benefit at all out of desperation.

But Feng Shi Er Niang’s life was indeed very tough.

She just wouldn’t die.

Before he knew it, Feng Shi Er Niang had reached the age of marriage.

The marriage could not be delayed any longer. After the betrothal gifts were exchanged and the date was set, preparations for the grand wedding began. During those days, Ping’an clearly saw his master becoming more irritable and uneasy, staying up late to read and write, or pacing around the room...

Back then, the deposed Emperor was very wary of the master’s alliance with the Feng Family.

Just when Ping’an felt indignant on behalf of his master, the master suddenly entered the palace and voluntarily requested to guard the ancestral tombs...

Ping’an thought the master was truly wise.

With this excuse, he no longer had to marry that disgraceful Feng Shi Er Niang.

Who would have thought that when the war between Jin and Qi broke out, and the Beiyong Army attacked Andu, Feng Jingteng would actually present Feng Shi Er Niang to the enemy commander...

Where could the master place his face after such humiliation?

No one wanted to bear such an insult, and Ping’an could feel the master holding back his anger, but the master said nothing and calmly accepted the Feng family’s offer of their second daughter in marriage...

At that time, Ping’an actually breathed a sigh of relief for the master.

The second daughter of the Feng family, Feng Ying, had long harbored affection for the master.

That girl often visited the royal residence under the pretext of seeing Princess Hanzhang, but in truth, it was to catch a few more glances at the master. Every time she saw him, her eyes would be filled with unabashed admiration. She was also charming and well-liked; everyone was happy to see their union come to fruition.

As long as it was not the calamitous Feng Shi Er Niang, they were all happy for the master...

Yet unexpectedly, the master suddenly had a change of heart about the agreed marriage.

One morning, the master wrote an impassioned letter to the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, stating that the primary wife designated by his deceased mother should not be rejected in favor of another woman.

The wedding arrangements of the Feng family were all ready, and the invitations had been sent out. Upon receiving the letter, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat flew into a rage, stormed into the Jingling Royal Residence, and a fierce argument ensued.

With major affairs at hand, if the master went back on his word after years of careful effort, everything could be ruined in an instant. The head of the Feng family, Feng Jingyao, had the weight of influence in the court, full of calculations and schemes...

Actually, both were daughters of the Feng Family, and Ping’an did not understand why the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was so furious.

Perhaps it was just because Feng Shi Er Niang was unlikable, wasn’t it?

Otherwise, why would her own uncle despise her so?

Eventually, both sides made concessions, and they came up with a solution that satisfied both: the master married Feng Ying with the status of a secondary wife.

Everyone knew Feng Shi Er Niang could not return.

A woman who had served an enemy commander, how could she become the master’s wife again?

Everyone thought the master was simply maintaining his dignity and honoring his parents’ wishes.

But later, Ping’an was surprised to discover that the master had not given up...

He sent forces known as Jin Ge and Tie Ma to Andu.

Moreover, using the war between the two countries as a pretext that the wedding did not need to be a grand affair, he hastily welcomed Feng Thirteen Niang into the Jingling Royal Residence, thus providing her with the proper status.

Furthermore, the master did not wait even an extra day.

On his wedding night, while the guests were not yet dispersed, the wedding veil still not lifted, and the bridal chamber unentered, he led his troops directly to a palace coup, besieging the deposed Emperor for seven days and seven nights until Xiao Jue, exhausted of water and food, had no choice but to agree to abdicate and wrote the edict of abdication...

The whole process was thrilling and fervent. Ping’an accompanied the master throughout, until he saw the master, clad in armor, enter Chongming Hall, and witnessed the deposed Emperor pointing his trembling finger at the master, cursing vehemently.

He cursed the master for regicide and usurpation, like a thieving cur.

He cursed the master for harming his brothers and bringing shame to their ancestors.

The young master said nothing.

Royal dynasties change, and it is all too common for kin to turn against each other, for siblings to spill each other’s blood.

He watched the deposed emperor for a long time, watched him gasp for air with his mouth wide open, in a state of disarray like a dog, curled up on that majestic Dragon Throne, before finally issuing an order.

"Take His Majesty to Changding Palace."

The young master donned the imperial robe and ascended to that supreme imperial seat.

From then on, Ping’an could no longer call him the young master.

He must be addressed as Your Majesty.

The dragon robe looked extraordinarily handsome on the new Emperor. Ping’an watched excitedly as his master rewarded his loyal servants, dismissed Xiao Jue’s harem, and implemented eight new policies.

He was the very image of awe-inspiring authority...

After years of longing, Ping’an could imagine the new Emperor’s joy at achieving his goals.

However...

In the great hall, Ping’an watched as the new Emperor almost tearfully told his ministers.

"My consort has been captured by the enemy forces, a humiliation and great disgrace that must be avenged with blood for blood, with violence for violence, to erase the previous shame!"

For more than a hundred years, the South and the North have been at war with each other, yet intertwined through marriage — grievances and emotions too tangled to unravel even after days and nights of discussion.

But in the eyes of the new Emperor, blood seemed almost ready to drip.

At that moment, Ping’an believed that the Emperor felt real shame, not just employing the notion that "an aggrieved army will be victorious."

Indeed!

That Feng Twelve always brought shame to the young master.

Even as Emperor, he couldn’t escape her...

In fact, Ping’an had almost forgotten what Feng Twelve looked like, but there was a portrait in the young master’s room, drawn by the young master himself after two long nights...

Ping’an was surprised, how could the young master draw Feng Twelve so vividly after not seeing her for so long?

The Emperor issued an edict to reorganize the six armies and to lead the troops personally in the imperial carriage.

Ping’an thought the new Emperor must be mad.

What he had taken over from Xiao Cheng was a mess.

After years of luxury and debauchery, Xiao Cheng had left the state of Daqi with an empty treasury and no reserve grain, a nation fraught with internal and external troubles. Even with the Emperor’s skills, it would be extremely difficult to turn around the weakened situation in a short time.

At this moment, he ought to be based in Tai City, focusing on the people’s livelihood.

Why should an Emperor need to fight on the frontlines himself?

It was probably out of a sense of competitiveness.

As an Emperor, how could he let his legitimate wife fall into the enemy’s camp, to serve the enemy general?

Thinking it over, Ping’an understood the young master.

Seeing that he was unmoved, Ping’an couldn’t help but console him.

"Your Majesty, all of Daqi is relying on you. Taking care of your dragon health is crucial, you should rest."

Xiao Cheng was silent.

Ping’an, observing his complexion, added:

"If General Wen had not betrayed and joined the enemy, Xinzhou City would not have fallen so quickly. General Wen received Your Majesty’s trust, truly failing the responsibility you entrusted to him..."

Only then did Xiao Cheng look up, his gaze coldly fixed on him.

Ping’an had served Xiao Cheng since he was twelve years old, the two of them shared a bond of growing up together.

But times had changed. Ping’an found his heart racing under that stare.

"I was out of line. I am truly concerned about Your Majesty..."

"I am fine," Xiao Cheng replied indifferently, his face showing no trace of anger.

He was always gentle with his servants, never punishing them for minor mistakes.

"You may leave."

"As you command," Ping’an stepped out.

But he quickly thought of something and turned back.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing..."

Xiao Cheng looked up, his face showing impatience as he spoke in a still measured tone, "Speak."

Ping’an, seeing the young master was not angry, bowed slightly and said, "The lady is thinking of Your Majesty and sent someone with duck stew, saying it’s Your Majesty’s favorite. Would you like it brought up for Your Majesty to taste?"

Xiao Cheng seized power and consolidated his rule, followed by the mobilization of troops — the whole process carried out swiftly, leaving no time for the formal consecration of his consorts.

Feng Ying was Xiao Cheng’s wife through proper marriage, the only lady of the palace at present. But the title of Princess of Jingling had lasted less than half a month before the servants didn’t know how else to address her.

As an Emperor, Xiao Cheng meant that Feng Ying was no longer simply a Princess.

But without an imperial decree of consecration, even a proper wife had no official status, so they could only safely address her as "the lady."

Xiao Cheng consented.

But he clearly had no desire to eat.

"You, Gongsun Jiong, Xuchi, share it among yourselves."

Again, Ping’an said, "The wife of the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat came to the palace today and inquired when Your Majesty would bestow the title of Empress upon Lady Feng... She just wept, and when the Minister’s wife left, she looked quite angry."

Xiao Cheng glanced at him indifferently.

"You don’t need to worry about these matters."

Ping’an bowed his head, "Yes. But considering Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne, if the Feng family starts causing trouble..."

Xiao Cheng sat in silence at the wooden desk, giving no reaction.

After a long while, a low, bitter laugh escaped him.

"They wouldn’t dare."