Volume 1: Flourishing Laughter Chapter 31

  Phoenix Concubine saw Yun Qianyue's expression as she spoke, her whole face was almost twisted. When would this dead girl also learn to pretend? Her expression was clearly one of grievance, but what did she have to be aggrieved about? From yesterday to today, she hadn't suffered a bit, and instead had hurt Xianghe and thrown him into the lake. What did she have to be aggrieved about?

  "Oh? Such a thing?" Ye Qingran was taken aback, then burst out laughing, "You're just a little girl who looks tough on the outside but is actually soft-hearted. Others not bullying you is already good enough, how could you possibly bully others?"

  "Ah, someone who understands me! Yun Shang Yue's eyes were on the verge of welling up with tears. She gazed at Ye Qing, sniffled, and said softly: "It's just that you're the only one who knows me, others don't think so." After a pause, she glanced at Wang Ye beside her and continued: "Even my own father thinks I bullied someone else. He's my biological father, yet he wants to punish me without asking for an explanation. If even he thinks this way, where can I reason with him? It just so happens that you arrived in time, I was just waiting to be punished! How can I still accompany you out?"

  Ye Qing's face suddenly turned towards Wang Ye.

  The king's face suddenly showed embarrassment and guilt. He had been out for several days and just returned to the mansion today, only to hear that his most troublesome daughter had set fire to the Wangchun Building, causing hundreds of deaths, which led to a joint petition by the ministers in the court. He was so angry that he couldn't bear it, but later heard that Xiao Wangye and Jing Shizi had jointly bailed her out, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. However, this morning, as soon as he returned to the mansion, he heard that she had crippled Xianghe's hand yesterday, making it impossible for her to play the piano again. He also saw Feng Ce Fei being pulled out of the lake, and at that moment, he was truly furious, bringing Feng Ce Fei with him to interrogate her. Where did he still care about asking for reasons? In his heart, he had indeed determined that Yun Shang Yue was wrong, but unexpectedly, after arriving, he found that this daughter had really changed.

  "Uncle Wang, how can you want to punish Yueliang without asking for the reason? I think you're really getting old and muddled. Yueliang's temper is soft and gentle. Yesterday in the imperial palace, she was bullied by someone and hid alone in the Mandarin Duck Pond, crying so much that her tears were like a river. Later, when the Crown Prince wanted to interrogate her, she didn't say a word and just waited to be caught. How could such a weak and timid person bully others? If others didn't bully her, she would have been grateful! I really don't know how those rumors outside got started, saying that Yueliang bullies people every day. From what I see, it's always others bullying her!" Ye Qianyan glared at Duke Wang.

  The king heard this and his face became even more ashamed. He said to Cloud Shallow Moon: "This matter is indeed my fault. I shouldn't have..."

  "Concubine Feng, I...I..." Concubine Feng's sobbing suddenly grew louder, interrupting the prince's words.

  "Auntie, don't be too sad! Take care of your body. You must tell us what's going on! Why was Xianghe's hand injured so badly yesterday? She's been studying the piano for ten years and plays beautifully! It's such a waste that it's ruined now. Who could be so cruel as to do such a thing?" The Crown Prince's consort said, her voice full of hatred.

  "Not yet..." Consort Feng found another opportunity.

  "Hmm, it seems I've arrived just in time today. That's good, I'll accompany you to see who said you bullied her and how you bullied her? The horse racing can be postponed for another day. Anyway, the horse racing can happen anytime, such things are rare indeed." Ye Qingran interrupted Feng Ce Fei's words, suddenly stretching out his hand to lightly beckon, a chair floated gently over and landed beside Yun Qianyue, he sat down with an air of nonchalance, very close to Yun Qianyue.

  Yun Shallow Moon exclaimed, with a light wave of her hand, the chair came over, this is comparable to the soul-absorbing technique performed on TV! I wonder if she can do it? Thinking about it, her hand involuntarily reached out to suck in the empty chair in the distance, but the chair didn't budge. She immediately lost interest, it turned out she couldn't do it after all. What a broken Phoenix True Classic, that old man really talked it up.

  "Little sister? What's with your hand?" Ye Qingran looked at her in confusion as she stretched out her hand as if to beckon something.

  Yun Qian Yue hung her head in disappointment, shook her head and lied with a straight face, "Nothing! I just sat for too long, my arms and legs are all stiff, just need to move around."

  "I see!" Ye Qingyan nodded, believing it naturally.

  Yun Lao Wangye hummed, he naturally knew what the stinky girl was thinking. What's the big deal about taking something from a distance? The Phoenix True Scripture he transmitted to her, if she cultivated it well, would be far more than just taking things from a distance. She could even move a great mountain if she wanted to! No vision! He couldn't help but scold: "Stinky girl!"

  Yun Shallow Moon secretly stuck out her tongue at Old Wang's head.

  He couldn't help but smile when he saw her charming expression. He had never seen a woman like her before, who could be calm and composed, yet also sharp and perceptive, able to read the situation and make quick judgments, and on top of that, incredibly intelligent. Just like yesterday at the palace, when she suddenly volunteered to go to the Ministry of Punishment's prison, it was clear that she knew if they really fought, with blood flowing like rivers, it wouldn't be good for her. And yet, during the horse racing yesterday, her confidence and carefree spirit, her playful and innocent joking around... all these different facets of her personality shone brightly on her face. He felt that among the countless women he had met over the years, this person by his side was the one who truly captured his heart. For a moment, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

  Yun saw Yue Hui turning back and couldn't help but exclaim, "You're already beautiful, must you smile like that too?" Smiling is one thing, but why do it while walking away? And to make matters worse, she's standing so close to him - doesn't she know her resistance to handsome men isn't very high?

  Just as he was about to speak, the Crown Prince's consort suddenly laughed and said: "The whole city is saying that Young Master Wang doesn't get close to any women, but it seems that's not true. Moon sister seems to have won Young Master Wang's heart, hasn't she? Young Master Wang has been away for seven years without returning, and as soon as he comes back, he's so close to Moon sister - did they exchange letters all these seven years?"

  Yun Shallow Moon heard the words slowly raised her head, from the night sky inclined and his concubine came in until now she looked at the two for the first time.

  Only to see that tonight, the crown prince was not wearing his usual imperial attire, but instead wore a dark-colored brocade robe. Gone were the crown prince's haughty airs and the sharp edges of his demeanor; he looked like nothing more than an ordinary young nobleman, except for the fact that his eyes seemed even more complex and difficult to read today compared to yesterday. The woman by his side was extremely beautiful, wearing a dress made of silk and satin, with pearls and jade adorning her hair, which was styled in a high bun, revealing her snowy white neck. She wore several gold and jade bangles on her wrist, exuding an air of opulence from head to toe. At this moment, she held the hand of Consort Feng, smiling as she looked at Yun Shangyue and Ye Qingran, her expression warm and intimate, conveying a meaning that was clear to everyone present.

  What does the exchange of letters between an unmarried woman and a man in ancient times imply? Especially with Yun Shangyue's identity, there is still a situation where she is entangled with Ye Tianqing, and the exchange of letters with Ye Qingran. It's easy to make people think that she is playing with two men at the same time, and maybe even Rong Jing, who saved her and took her back to the Yunwang Mansion together, will be added to the mix, making it a case of playing with three men at the same time. Otherwise, everyone would not understand why Dye Xiaowangye and Jing Shizi are so eager to help Yun Shangyue, and now they have been given an explanation.

  Even Old Master Wang's face turned gloomy at once.

  Phoenix Concubine leaned on the shoulder of the Crown Prince's concubine, revealing a sinister and complacent smile. Indeed, she was worthy of being her niece, as their thoughts were exactly the same. Today, if they couldn't get rid of Yun Shangyue, they would definitely make her bear the crime of colluding with others. Let's see how arrogant she could be now - this was far worse than being ridiculed for being a spoiled and unrefined young lady; if this got out, the spittle of the common people would be enough to drown her.

  Yun Qian Yue naturally understood the implication, thinking that as the Crown Prince's consort, a woman who could stand by Ye Tian's side was not someone to be trifled with. A single sentence had already bestowed such a grand title upon her. She didn't get angry but instead smiled faintly, saying: "The way you put it, Crown Prince's Consort, is as if you've seen it with your own eyes. If we follow your logic, then the many mistakes I've made over the years would have been punished by the Emperor, my uncle, but instead he's always protected me. Does that also mean I've been exchanging letters with the Emperor?"

  The crown prince's concubine turned pale, she didn't expect Yun Shangyue to actually bring up the emperor, even if she had the guts, she wouldn't dare say that she and the emperor exchanged letters! Suddenly, she didn't know how to speak.

  "Haha, yes! The Crown Prince's consort is indeed sharp-eyed and keen-witted! With the Emperor handling countless matters of state, you still manage to know that besides the stacks of memorials from ministers in the Imperial Study, there are also letters from Fourth Sister. Unbelievable, unbelievable!" Ye Qingran was originally about to get angry and throw this woman out, but upon hearing Yun Qianyue's words, her anger dissipated and she burst out laughing instead. She said to Ye Tianqing, "Crown Prince Imperial Brother, you're really clever to marry this consort. With her by your side, won't she be able to see through everything in the world? Even the Emperor's and the Fourth Prince's every move is clear as day to her!"

  The words spoken by Ye Qian were venomous. If Yun Shang had only lit a small spark, then he would have turned that small spark into a raging inferno. Monitoring the Fourth Prince's residence was nothing, but monitoring the Emperor's every move was a grave offense. Although Ye Tian Qing was the Crown Prince and heir to the throne, even as the Crown Prince for just one day, he couldn't bear the weight of this crime.

  As expected, Ye Tian's face suddenly turned gloomy, and he turned his head to scold the Crown Prince's concubine, "What nonsense are you talking about? I am well aware of everything that Moon Sister has done over the years. How could she have exchanged letters with Qing Ran? If I hear another word of your lies, get out of the Crown Prince's mansion!"