The Ugly Empress by Yun Guo Shi Fei / 丑娘娘 by 云过是非

Chapter 2 - A Grand Funeral

This novel's original title is 丑娘娘 (chou niang niang)'. Niangniang (娘娘) is used for palace women : queens, empresses and imperial concubines. For an Empress or Queen it could mean 'Her Majesty'. I translate 'Niangnang' directly into 'Empress'.

Here's chapter 2, enjoy!

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The maidservants waiting outside the room wishing to see some jokes were shocked by the slap and hurriedly withdrew with disappointment.

Teng Yun was exhausted. That one slap was draining all his strength. He sat on the bed and raised a hand to massaged his eyelids. When his hand grazed his swollen cheekbone, it stung painfully.

Teng Yun had no idea what was going on with this ugly empress. If she was born ugly, why would her face hurt when touched? Clearly it was some kind of wound.

But he didn't have the strength to think about it right now. In fact, he felt he'd almost broken this borrowed shell by using too much force. He sat paralyzed on the bed trying to regain his breath.

Unknowingly Teng Yun fell asleep and had a lot of strange dreams. In his dream, he saw himself appointed as a general, then he relived the ten-years battle, and eventually he was captured and killed. He also dreamed that his country was conquered by Xue Junliang, while on the inside Teng Country was also suffering civil war. And finally the country perished altogether.

Teng Yun woke up sweating. From outside his room, he could faintly hear commotion. With a frown, Teng Yun got up from the bed. As soon as he pushed the door open, the maidservant waiting outside greeted him.

The maidservant in peach-colored clothing, now sporting a swollen cheek and looking a little scared, said, "Empress... is there something you need? Xiu Yao will help you."

Teng Yun said nothing and just side-eyed her. Xiu Yao shivered, she could feel her cheek throbbing. Had she said anything wrong again? She didn't think so.

Fact was, it wasn't that Xiu Yao said anything wrong. But Teng Yun thought it was strange that a maidservant would stop an Empress when she wanted to go outside.

Teng Yun didn't know about this Ugly Empress' reputation. Xue Wang and Defei had always treated her as a joke, so Defei ordered people to spread rumors that though the Empress was a noblewoman, her manners weren't so noble she could scare people.

From then on, this sorry excuse of an Empress was put into her chamber and not allowed to go outside.

More over, the Ugly Empress felt inferior because of her appearance, so she herself didn't want to go outside.

But Teng Yun was born and raised to be a military leader, though he was a prince he wasn't pampered nor spoiled. After experiencing wars for over a decade, he wasn't to be stopped by a mere servant.

Xiu Yao didn't dare stopping the Empress. After all, His Majesty didn't especially prohibit this Empress to go outside. Also, the mistress of the Imperial Harem was still the Empress. Defei might be arrogant, but her rank was still lower.

As they stepped outside the room, Teng Yun asked, "Why is it so noisy?"

"Answering to Your Majesty," having learned her lesson, Xiu Yao respectfully answered, "Today was the day His Majesty executed the prisoner from Teng Country, so everyone gathered in the flower garden to drink in celebration."

"Oh..."

Suddenly, Teng Yun lost his voice while his heart froze; it was getting harder to maintain his calm, "Then... the prisoner's body, has it been sent back to Teng Country?"