The Blessed (Book 5)

513. Palace banquet (11)-An Argument with Her Empress Dowager

Translator: Guy Gone Bad

All right, all right, all in all, we are family. Today is a big day for celebrating the generals and soldiers' triumphant return. So, we should stop arguing here. Jingxuan, you'd better take a step back, after all she is a senior. You have no relatives and friends here and not familiar with the rules here, Isn't Old Lady Zheng teaching you? And you, Wanrong. That's Crown Princess Sheng's family affairs, how could you get a word in it? If you say something pleasant to his ears, it might be nothing. But if you say something unpleasant to his ears, who knows what he'd say about you behind the back?"

Sitting high up there, Her Empress Dowager 'acted' as the peacemaker, but in and out of her eyes, it felt like she was blaming Ling Jingxuan not to know chalk from cheese. As shrewd as Old Lady Zheng was, of course she knew the meaning, "What Your Empress Dowager said is absolute reasonable. Sorry, Crown Princess Sheng, hope you don't put it on your mind."

Clearly she and her sister-in-law were working together to be sarcastic of him. A lot of people were waiting to see a drama. But Ling Jingxuan only said as he waved his hand, "It's fine. Like Her Empress Dowager just said, we are family, so we are just having some little chats, of course I won't put it in my heart. But Old Lady Zheng, don't blame me for being long-tongued. I suggest you don't nose into other' things in the backyard from now on. If it's some sensible ones, they'd know your good intention and only reply on your seniority to lesson us. But if it's someone who doesn't how to think thing, wouldn't they say you are putting your finger in another's pie? And by then, not only you, I guess even the Imperial Duke would lose face with you."

Apparently he was implying that she was being nosy relying on her seniority!

Hearing his words, everyone on spot couldn't help complaining in the heart. Except him, who else would think it that way? And how dare think it that way? Apparently he was on purpose! Old Lady Zheng was so mad that she was trembling all over, but couldn't find any words to argue back. It was true that she started all this, but how would she ever expect him to be so straightforward? If it were someone else, who would dare say that in her face?

"Yes, yes, yes, what you said is absolutely reasonable."

Except that, she also didn't know what else to say. Ling Jingxuan's words always got you so helpless and you'd find it reasonable. So, even they had tons of words and hundreds of little tricks in their heart, they weren't just applicable here.

Her Empress Dowager took everything under her eyes. Although Ling Jingxuan didn't show any face to someone from her family, in front of so many people, she shouldn't act partial too obviously, but could only say some sarcastic words at most. In her heart, actually she only wished that she could ask the guards to drag him out and behead him!

Actually, Ling Jingxuan also didn't use too smart moves, but only played dumb there. He'd just understand what he wasn't supposed to understand, but didn't understand what he was supposed to understand, and by the way, kind of straightforward. One of the most important reasons that those harem fight masters who acted as hectors usually were not his match was that they all cherished their feathers too much and didn't want to get them stained a little bit, while for Ling Jingxuan, he had already gotten his reputation ruined as early as before he arrived at the capital. So, rather than trying to clear his name, he'd rather act they wished him to be. As the saying goes, when a human is shameless enough, even a ghost is afraid of him.

"That's enough! You are giving me a headache!"

Since she could do nothing with that silly and straightforward farmer, Her Empress Dowager directly pretended she was having a headache. And Chu Yunhan who had stayed silent all the way opened his mouth then, "Since mother empress dowager has a headache, get them dismissed."

You'd better behave! How could you ever be Jingxuan's rival?

"I'm not that delicate."

Ruthlessly throwing a hard stare at the meddlesome empress, Her Empress Dowager no longer dare act as having a headache. As her eyes swept around at people down there, finally she still fixed them on Ling Jingxuan, "Shengrui has rendered such meritorious service this time. A few days ago, the envoy of the north nomads has already signed the peace agreement with us and promised they'd pay their tributes to us every year. We can say it's all Shengrui's credits. So, Jingxuan, I can let it go as he has been away all these years. But now, there are no more wars at the boarders, I'm considering maybe it's time for those mansions to have some regulations. Otherwise, even the civilians will laugh at us. Do you know what I mean?"

How would I ever know what your bullsh*t means? Ling Jingxuan rolled his eyes in his heart. She was not expressing herself explicitly. How would he ever understand?

"Probably...I guess. You are trying to say that we shouldn't let others laugh at us, right? Your Empress Dowager, you can rest assured. Who dare laugh at my lord?"

Pretending to be at a loss for a moment, Ling Jingxuan wore the 'I understand' appearance. Since she said half of her words, he'd only understand half of it.

The disdain in Her Empress Dowager's heart was growing denser and denser. Seeing that he always understood the superficial meaning of her words, Her Empress Dowager directly made it clear, "Of course I know no one dares laugh at you in your face. But what about behind your back? Crown Princess Sheng, to say it bluntly, a farmer becoming the first wife of a prince itself is a huge joke. Don't you feel sorry for Shengrui?"

Hearing that, not only Ling Jingxuan, even those concubines and secondary concubines all threw their strange look at Her Empress Dowager. She really didn't show His Highness Sheng any face! However many mistakes Crown Princess Sheng had made, His Highness Sheng was still there. As the noblest woman of the whole kingdom, Her Empress Dowager really shouldn't say such words. Where did she put His Highness Sheng who had insisted on marrying him disregarding everyone's opposition?

However, thinking of Ling Jingxuan stupidity, they felt relieved. If Her Empress Dowager didn't say it straightforwardly, he wouldn't understand. Poor Highness Sheng! Why married such a person as his crown princess?

"So you mean my farmer's background is an insult to Shengrui as well as your imperial family?"

Note:

Next post will be 5 chapters per post from now on. So please be patient if I don't post everyday because I don't have enough points now and I'm broke to be able to buy points.