The Ugly Empress Volume 1 Chapter 27

[T/N : Happy Chinese New Year! I just finished this chapter and decided to post it right away just to join in the celebration and festivities. Enjoy!]

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Marquis Zhenjiang, Xue Yu had already arrived at the army camp, but the day was already late, so he decided to stay a night at the army camp and enter the capital city the next day.

Life in the Imperial Palace proceed like any other day, nothing changed just because of the arrival of Xue Yu. Only, it was surprisingly quiet in Yunfeng Palace as Teng Qianyi no longer came visiting.

Teng Yun was reading a book when Jiang Yu came in bringing a wooden tray covered with a cloth.

Jiang Yu said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Da w.a.n.g invites you as his bed partner, also gifts you a new set of clothes.”

Teng Yun's heart jumped in his chest. Putting his book down, he reached a hand and picked the cloth covering the tray, on it was a set of thin silk garment.

Teng Yun's face was unreadable as he picked the very thin garment. Jiang Yu thought Her Majesty looked unhappy. Xue w.a.n.g had never gifted such explicit clothes to anyone, and though it was embarra.s.sing, it was still a favor to receive a gift. He thought maybe Her Majesty looked unhappy because she was shy and the garment was too thin.

Jiang Yu called Xiu Yao to help Her Majesty bathe and change her clothes. Xiu Yao thoughtfully found a fur cloak for her mistress because the garment would not protect her from the cold on her way to Xue w.a.n.g's residence.

Teng Yun took his time bathing and refused anyone to attend to him. Xiu Yao waited for more than a half-s.h.i.+chen before she had to come inside to check because she was worried her mistress had drowned.

The mood was solemn as they helped Her Majesty unto her phoenix carriage.

At Xue w.a.n.g's residence, Xue Junliang was sitting on a large chair, leaning at one end with his elbow resting on one arm of the chair.

He tilted his head sideways as Teng Yun entered. Chuckling, he said, “Come here.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yu and Xiu Yao silently withdrew, not wanting to disturb Xue w.a.n.g's good mood.

Teng Yun's clothes was so thin that, even wearing a fur cloak, he was still cold. Without even lifting his head, Teng Yun walked in closer and then stood by the bookcase.

Xue Junliang stood and walked up to Teng Yun. Gripping his wrist, he easily dragged and pushed Teng Yun onto the bed despite Teng Yun's resistance.

Xue Junliang leaned down on top of Teng Yun, one hand next to Teng Yun's ear and the other on Teng Yun's waist, caressing him through the thin garment.

Teng Yun was so alarmed he almost cried out, eyes glaring daggers at Xue Junliang. Then suddenly, Teng Yun squeezed his eyes and lips shut, and gripped the quilt in his fists; seemingly bracing himself.

Looking at Teng Yun's expression, Xue Junliang wanted to laugh out loud. A wife sleeping with her husband looking like she was about to be executed.

Xue Junliang, of course, had heard about the recent rumor. Xue Yu did indeed go to Feng Country once, but Xue Junliang didn't know if he'd met the Empress or if he'd fallen in love with her at the first sight. The Late King had also had thoughts about persuading Feng w.a.n.g to form a marriage alliance, but he never acted on this plan.

Xue Junliang didn't easily believe in rumors, but he did want to tease the Empress. Therefore, he sent her a new set of clothes. As expected, the other person looked utterly ashamed of the clothes. How interesting.

But he didn't expect that the Empress wearing the clothes would look so enticing. Added with the half-afraid half-determined expression on her face, she made Xue Junliang feel so tempted.

His mood to tease had yet subsided, Xue Junliang found that the other person was very sensitive to touch. When he caressed the Empress' waist, she trembled slightly and bit her lips. Xue Junliang wondered, if she wasn't biting her lips, would she let out those kinds of lovely noises?

He leaned down to gently kiss the other person's lips. Unexpectedly, the other person opened her eyes. She looked shocked and a bit humiliated. Xue Junliang didn't expect that.

Releasing his hold of Teng Yun, Xue Junliang rose to stand by the bed. He removed his own clothing and then lay back down on the bed. Taking the other person back into his arms, Xue Junliang noted the other person's pale face. Smiling, he said, “I'm not about to execute you. Why are you so scared?”

Teng Yun's eyes were still open but he refused to look at Xue Junliang. He said lowly, “Your Majesty said you would not force me.”

“Oh…” Xue Junliang pretended to search his memory before smiling, “I really forgot. When did I say that? Yun'er should remind me.”

Teng Yun wrinkled his eyebrows in disgust. He and the original Feng Country Grand Princess shared a first name with different surnames. Teng Yun remembered when he was still a child, his father often called him Yun'er.

[T/N : Calling someone's name added with ‘er is considered intimate. Used by parents to call their children, by older siblings to their younger siblings, by a husband to his wife, etc. ]

But just now, hearing Xue Junliang unintentionally called his childhood nickname, Teng Yun was somehow touched. But because the feeling was caused by his lifetime enemy, he only felt disgusted.

Xue Junliang pulled the blanket to cover both of them before saying, “Aifei is always so serious, makes people want to tease you.”

Feeling the person in his arms was still so tense, Xue Junliang retrieved his arms. He lay down on his back and gazed at the bed curtain above him. His tone was unreadable as he said, “You don't like me and I don't want to force you. But in the end, you're still my wife. So tell me, who is the person that you love? Is it Marquis Zhenjiang?”

Teng Yun's heart skipped a beat. So it was true, Xue Junliang was suspicious. No matter how open-minded and optimistic Xue Junliang acted, on the inside, he was still a king who always had suspicious mind.

Teng Yun said, “Chen-qie doesn't know Marquis Zhenjiang.”

Xue Junliang nodded, though he knew the other person couldn't see it. Smiling, he said, “Aifei is clever, always knows the perfect things to say.”

“I only say the truth.”

“Alright,” Xue Junliang turned sideways to face Teng Yun. With a smile on his face he deliberately lowered his voice as he said, “True or false doesn't matter. When will Aifei love me then?”

Seeing Xue Junliang s.h.i.+fting closer, Teng Yun started to panic before striving to stay calm. Xue Junliang hadn't tried to make a move; Xue Junliang was only teasing him by talking lowly and suggestively right in his ear.

Teng Yun snorted and said, “Your Majesty doesn't even love me sincerely, why should I?”

Xue Junliang coldly laughed. Reaching a hand, he gently touched the scar on the other person's ear. The scabs had started to fall off, revealing the new skin underneath. The new skin was slightly paler than its surrounding.

[T/N : Is it me, or is Xue Junliang obsessed with Teng Yun's ears?]

Rubbing the other person's ear, Xue Junliang said, “You're so smart, but always so severe in your opinions. Aifei grew up in an Imperial Palace, do you believe that the so-called true love might exist? Or do you think true love was just an absurd joke?”

Hearing the question, Teng Yun couldn't help sighing, “I don't believe in true love.”

Xue Junliang laughed and suddenly grabbed Teng Yun's hand and brought it to his lower body.

Teng Yun shuddered, he was so shocked he could only stammered, “You…”

Xue Junliang was rather calm as he said, “In a dark night with no candles, alone with a beautiful woman. It's only normal if I feel excited.”

Without letting go of Teng Yun's hand, Xue Junliang propped himself with an elbow and leaned down, trapping Teng Yun under him. His voice deep and low as he said, “Aifei is the one who caused this reaction. I'm not going to force you. but you should help me with this.”

Then he guided Teng Yun's hand to stroke him up and down…

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[T/N : Sorry, guys. It's a fade-out scene here. Ahaha!]

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Very late into the night, the army camp in the capital city's suburb was still brightly lit. The soldiers on night patrol didn't dare to slack off.

From one of the big tents, a person came out. He walked leisurely with hands clasped behind him as if he was only stretching his legs. The soldiers watched the man's movement with their peripheral visions but didn't stop him.

The man was wearing a light-blue robe with a crudely-made lined-jacket. He had a slightly-delicate face and a scholarly air about him. He was not very tall, didn't look very strong, but didn't look weak either.

He walked aimlessly until he arrived at a large training ground. In daylight, the training ground looked very spectacular. But tonight, only four braziers, one in each corner of the square ground, were lit; leaving the areas between the braziers dark.

The man stopped and stood right in the middle of the dark training ground; it was unclear what he was looking at. After standing there for a while, he stepped forward and went to a wooden stage set in the western side of the square. On the stage, there was a banner with the word ‘Xue' on it.

The man climbed up onto the stage and turned to look at the distance. The wooden stage was very high; standing on it, people could see things very far away. But outside the army camp, there was only darkness, so the man should not be able to see anything.

“Marquis Zhenjiang seems very peaceful.” Someone suddenly said, yet the man didn't even look startled, instead he turned to look at Xue Houyang, “Second Brother.”

Xue Houyang said, “I heard you didn't touch your dinner. I'm sorry there is nothing in this army camp that suits your taste. Tomorrow, when we enter the Palace, His Majesty has already prepared a feast to welcome you.”

“No, no,” Xue Yu said. He sounded very modest as he said, “It's not like that, it's just… I have set my heart on following Buddha's teachings, been a vegetarian for years.”

Xue Houyang nodded, “Then I'll order people to prepare vegetarian dishes for you.”

“Thank you.”

The night was peaceful, and Xue Yu was very modest and una.s.suming. Nothing about Xue Yu spelled arrogance. Yet, Xue Houyang was still in doubt because Xue Yu had come bringing a thousand soldiers. Also, Xue Yu had a personal a.s.sistant who was always accompanying him everywhere; the person was called Lang Jing.

Xue Houyang was very sure Lang Jing was well-trained in martial art. The person always spoke without any expression on his face, and it seemed like he only listened to Xue Yu's words.

The next day, escorted by Xue Houyang, Xue Yu arranged his soldiers to stay at the army camp and then he and Lang Jing entered the Imperial Palace.

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Xue Junliang got up early and saw the Empress was pretending to be dead; her back was to him and her head was buried deep under the quilt as if wanting to choke herself to death.

He called Jiang Yu in to help him freshen up and change his clothes, then purposefully said, “The Empress was very exhausted last night, don't wake her up and let her sleep longer.”

Jiang Yu complied. His action and speech turned silent and gentle for fear of waking Her Majesty the Empress.

At this time, Teng Yun was awake. Hearing Xue Junliang's words, he almost ground his teeth to powder. Last night, he was forced to help Xue Junliang find relief. He barely slept last night; his hand and heart felt like burning.

Teng Yun had kept to himself for so many years and never believed in love. He'd never met anyone who made him want to believe in it, let alone someone who wanted him help them find release. Teng Yun was an iron-fisted great general who was not afraid to die in battle, but apparently he was afraid of Xue Junliang's shamelessness…

At the morning court a.s.sembly, Xue Junliang gave Xue Yu the warmest welcome as if Xue Yu was his favorite brother. After the court a.s.sembly, Xue Junliang announced a welcoming banquet for Xue Yu and invited all the court officials present to join the banquet.

Xiu Yao helped her mistress freshen up, then she folded the clothes given by Xue w.a.n.g carefully and put them in a drawer. Giving her mistress a knowing smile, she said, “Next time, you must wear it again, Your Majesty.”

When it was almost noon, Xue Junliang sent Jiang Yu to invite the Empress to the banquet. The banquet was intended to welcoming a family member so the Empress and the Crown Prince must attend.

Jiang Yu led Teng Yun to the flower garden where the banquet was held. When they pa.s.sed through a winding corridor, they ran into Marquis Zhenjiang who was entering the flower garden from the other side.

Xue Yu, who was only followed by Lang Jing, looked stunned when he saw the Empress. Then he said, “Chen-di pays respect to Imperial Sister-in-law.”

At first, Teng Yun didn't recognize who this person was, but by his greeting, Teng Yun realized this must be Marquis Zhenjiang who had been causing such a buzz around the town.

After accepting the greeting, Teng Yun was not keen to talk any longer with the marquis. He started to walk again but was stopped by Xue Yu. Teng Yun thought Xue Yu still had something to say but he didn't expect Xue Yu to reach a hand to touch the scar on Teng Yun's ear.

Jiang Yu was shocked by Xue Yu's move. He was about to remind Marquis Zhenjiang to conduct himself properly but then he saw a group of people coming over from another side of the winding corridor. The person at the lead was wearing black official robe with gold accents and a jade-beads ta.s.sel crown.

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