Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C127 pt2

"Are we lovers or not?"

Wushuang hesitated and glanced at him, "Yes."

"What is it?"

She heard the eagerness in his tone and thought that he was indeed doing it on purpose, forcing her to say all sorts of shameful things.

"This concubine and Your Majesty are on intimate terms."

"Then from now on, Wushuang will only be intimate with this Emperor." 

She, however, misinterpreted it as her having to remain chaste for him from now on, and not have any involvement with Zhao Jianzhi. Her mood was extremely complex for a moment, but she still nodded and said, "From now on, this concubine will only be intimate with Your Majesty."

Ji Yang was overjoyed.

Although he didn't know what he was happy about, he just liked hearing those words.

He only understood afterward that his happiness was actually a subconscious reaction. He had, in fact, already realized that the other 'him' was somewhat off, but at the time, he had just awakened, and his mind was still dull. He hadn't thought of that at all, but his instinct was already declaring his possession at all times.

Of course, that was a story for later.

The next day, the imperial decree to bestow upon Wushuang the title of 'Lady Fengtian' was issued.

Since Wushuang was still nominally a member of the Zhao family, the imperial decree was naturally delivered to Duke Zhao's Mansion.

The sudden imperial decree left the Zhao family bewildered and frightened, thinking that the reckoning had finally come.

Generally, when an imperial decree is announced, the entire household must gather and kneel to receive it. Thus, each room and courtyard staged a scene of life and death, as if receiving the imperial decree would cost them their lives.

There were even those skilled in calculation who had already told their wives and children to pack gold and silver, hiding some on their bodies.

Because according to custom, after the imperial decree of confiscation is announced, the fierce and malevolent government runners would come to the door, not giving them a chance to pack their belongings. So, this was the last chance.

In short, the huge mansion, due to the arrival of an imperial decree, instantly became chaotic, with chickens flying and dogs jumping. In the end, even Ma Bao, who had come to announce the decree, became impatient and his expression turned cold.

In fact, the expression of the decree-announcing eunuch also reflected whether the news in the imperial decree was good or bad.

If it was good, the decree-announcing eunuch's expression would be gentle when entering the door, and he would be smiling. If it was bad, and His Majesty wanted to punish you, he would have a dark face, which also meant that there was no room for negotiation, and don't come to me to plead for mercy.

Zhao Rui was Duke Zhao, others could delay and hide, but he couldn't. Who knew that as soon as he arrived, he saw Ma Bao's cold and hard face, his legs immediately went weak, and he repeatedly said in his heart, "It's over, it's over."

He had prepared for the arrival of this day for a long time, but the sword hanging over his head was slow to fall. Sometimes, he even thought, "I'm not afraid, at worst, my head will fall off, leaving a scar the size of a bowl." But now that the real thing was upon him, he realized that no one was not afraid of death.

Before death, even a seven-foot man couldn't help but feel his legs weaken.

"Duke Zhao, this humble one isn't delivering an imperial decree for the first time, yet your family puts on quite the airs!"

Zhao Rui, his face pale, said, "Chamberlain Ma, please forgive us. There are too many people in the family. I will order someone to urge them at once."

He busily instructed someone to take care of it, but when he turned his head, he discovered Ma Bao was speaking with someone else.

"Where is the Madam?"

"The Madam was taking her midday nap and just woke up. She said she will be here shortly."

Ma Bao said with a smile, "Tell the Madam there's no need to rush. This humble one is not in a hurry."

The young Chamberlain hurried off to relay the message. He knew the way to the Duke Zhao's Mansion better than his own home, clearly one of the Chamberlains who often accompanied Little Quanzi to escort Wushuang back.

Zhao Rui's face turned even paler. He only felt that a great disaster was indeed about to befall his family; otherwise, Chamberlain Ma wouldn't be showing two different faces.

He, the dignified Duke Zhao's Mansion, a meritorious founding family, was now inferior to a woman! A myriad of feelings welled up within him. He only hated that he had interfered in the struggle for the throne back then, and also hated Emperor Qianwu for being unforgiving.

The Zhao family quickly arrived.

The enormous courtyard was completely filled with kneeling people. Some had no place to kneel and knelt outside the courtyard.

All had pale faces, waiting only for the executioner's blade to fall. Who knew that at this moment, Ma Bao was not in a hurry to announce the decree, but instead asked them to wait a little longer.

Some were impatient, others saw a clue.

Could it be that it wasn't an imperial decree to confiscate their property?

If it wasn't an imperial decree to confiscate their property, then what was it?

It wasn't until Wushuang arrived late and Ma Bao immediately went to greet her that some discerning people vaguely understood what was happening, but they dared not be certain.

"By the decree of the Emperor, who has received the Mandate of Heaven: I have heard that the Mei clan has a daughter named Wushuang, who is dignified in appearance, gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, virtuous in nature, and skilled in the inner quarters… I hereby bestow upon her the title 'Lady Fengtian,' grant her a set of first-rank headdress and robes, a set of everyday clothes, bestow upon her a mansion, an imperial estate, and grant her five thousand taels of silver. Respect this!"

"This subject thanks His Majesty."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long, long live the Emperor!"

Amidst the loud shouts, everyone performed the three kneelings and nine prostrations. After the ceremony, some felt their bodies lighten, almost collapsing to the ground.

"Congratulations, Madam," Chamberlain Ma said with a beaming smile.

Wushuang was prepared and quickly looked at Meifang, who handed a purse to Chamberlain Ma.

Chamberlain Ma did not refuse and was instead very pleased, saying, "Thank you for Madam's reward."

"You are too polite, Chamberlain."

After seeing Chamberlain Ma off, Mei Wushuang did not linger and left directly. Leaving with her were several servants who had temporarily come to help her move the Emperor-bestowed items.

Only a vast courtyard remained, filled with people kneeling on the ground.

The expressions on everyone's faces shifted between green and white, but most did not dare to utter a sound. Chen Yunshang knelt beside Zhao Jianzhi, wanting to check her husband's expression, but for some reason, she did not insist on looking.

***

After Chen shi returned, she smashed two vases. Granny Huang was now numb and did not know how to advise her.

Chen shi picked up another plum vase, wanting to smash it, but distressed that no one was stopping her, she ultimately put it down herself.

"Madam, why must you continue to be angry? Seeing that she is unstoppable, being angry with her risks offending her and only angers yourself. Madam, you should accept it. At the very least, with her here, the entire household can be preserved."

At the same time, Zhao Rui and his son, Zhao Jianqi, were also speaking.

After a silence, Zhao Rui said wearily, "What does His Majesty intend?"

There were several noteworthy points in that imperial decree. For example, on the surface, Wushuang should have been addressed as Zhao family's wife Mei shi, but the imperial decree omitted the Zhao family and directly named her.

And bestowing ceremonial robes was one thing, but to exceptionally grant an imperial estate could be seen as His Majesty's generous reward. Yet, there was also a residence. Did His Majesty intend for this woman to establish a separate household?

In truth, Zhao Rui was now somewhat obsessed. Whenever Emperor Qianwu's actions towards the Zhao family were involved, he would repeatedly ponder them, day after day, constantly pondering them even when there was nothing to ponder.

Frightening himself and affecting many people in the family.

Zhao Jianqi was also deeply annoyed by it, but he could understand why his father was like this.

Imperial favor is like thunder and rain, all heavenly grace. The most terrifying thing in this world is not a direct and straightforward death, but rather having a large blade hanging over your neck in the darkness, not knowing when it will fall. Those who have not experienced this daily fear and trepidation simply do not understand.

"Father, don't overthink it. Perhaps His Majesty is no different from men under heaven and also possesses jealousy, which is why he omitted the Zhao family and directly called her name."

"If he was jealous, why didn't he allow a separation?"

This Zhao Jianzhi really couldn't answer.

The father and son looked at each other, speechless, and ultimately, the entire afternoon was wasted. However, they were both long accustomed to it, as they often were like this.

***

Receiving the title and land grant made no difference to Mei Wushuang compared to before.

The residence next door was still being renovated, so she was temporarily residing in the Duke Zhao's Mansion.

She didn't know that because of this imperial decree, another uproar had erupted outside.

This time, not only were there frequent disturbances in the harem, but even officials in the imperial court brought it up, saying it was against reason. In the end, the matter died down because Emperor Qianwu completely ignored it.

This day, Wushuang went to the Huichun Pharmacy again.

In truth, she didn't need to go again. According to Old Doctor Chu, since she had understood the principles of meridians and acupoints, she should understand everything with one breakthrough, and all that remained was the familiarity of the technique.

But Wushuang had nothing to do at the Zhao residence and felt oppressed there. She was also used to going to the Huichun Pharmacy, so she simply treated it as a way to go out, relax, and get some fresh air.

Occasionally, when Old Doctor Chu's apprentice couldn't handle everything, she would help with weighing the medicine. She didn't dare to dispense the medicine herself, only helping with odd jobs.

Thus, the common people who went to the Huichun Pharmacy recently all knew that there was a beautiful woman doing odd jobs in the Huichun Pharmacy, who was a relative of Old Doctor Chu. They didn't know that this woman was the Lady Fengtian who had been much discussed in the capital recently.

When she got into the carriage, she realized that it wasn't Zhuzi driving today.

After asking, she learned that Zhuzi was sick, and someone else had replaced him today.

Wushuang didn't think much of it. The carriage quickly left the Duke Zhao's Mansion, but after the carriage had been running for a while, Wushuang noticed something was wrong. Why hadn't they arrived yet?

She lifted the curtain and looked outside. The scenery outside was unfamiliar, not like the road she usually took, and they had long since left the main street. The surroundings were extremely quiet.

Meifang also noticed something was wrong and looked at Wushuang with some unease.

"Stop the carriage."

Not only did no one pay attention, but the carriage actually ran even faster.

Meifang stood up, wanting to lift the curtain, but coincidentally, the carriage began to bump, and she lost her balance, falling onto Wushuang. Wushuang was painfully bumped. Meifang got up, and this time she was smart, holding onto the frame of the carriage as she stood up, wanting to tell the coachman to stop the carriage.

The coachman ignored her, simply whipping the horse for all he was worth, until he realized this woman possessed strength beyond the ordinary. Only then did he free a hand to grapple with Meifang.

At this point, the carriage was completely like a wild horse freed from its reins, lurching up and down, left and right. Wushuang was tossed about in the carriage until she was dizzy and aching all over, yet she was anxious about Meifang suffering a loss.

Suddenly, a sharp pain assaulted her; she had hit her head. She felt a wave of darkness before her eyes, and lost consciousness.

***

When she woke again, Wushuang had no idea how much time had passed.

She only knew that the carriage had stopped, the compartment overturned at an angle, and there was a faint sound of fighting outside.

Enduring the throbbing pain in her head and the nausea, she groped her way to the carriage door, only to see Meifang and the coachman still grappling outside the overturned carriage.

The two were locked in a tight embrace, covered in dust, indistinguishable from one another, writhing on the ground. There was a pool of blood on the ground, the traces of which flowed from beneath them, yet it was impossible to tell whose blood it was.

"Meifang..."

"Run... run!"

Wushuang tumbled out of the carriage, but she couldn't care less about the pain; she was still calling for Meifang.

"Run, you run... find someone..."

Meifang told her to find someone, but where was this place?

Wushuang looked around blankly, utterly helpless.

Looking at Meifang again, her cheeks were flushed crimson, the blood-red color that even the dust covering her face and head couldn't conceal. She was pinned beneath the man, pressed down so hard that she was clearly about to suffocate to death.

Yet the expression on the man on top of her was also one of extreme pain.

Little did Wushuang know, the coachman was going mad. He never expected that an ordinary maidservant would possess such great strength. Even with a knife in his hand, he hadn't gained the upper hand; instead, he was tightly entangled by her.

Hearing the maidservant telling someone to run, he grew anxious as well, pressing down and squeezing hard, wanting to kill this maidservant to make her let go.

"Let go! You let go!"

With a bang, the coachman turned his head to see Wushuang holding a horse stool.

His eyes were about to burst, his face contorted.

Mei Wushuang was startled and, lifting the horse stool again, struck him on the head. She watched as his scalp split open, and blood splattered everywhere.

With her eyes closed and tears streaming down her face, she struck him again, and finally, the man collapsed.

The horse stool fell to the ground.

Crying out "Meifang!" Wushuang frantically tried to push away the man who had fallen on top of Meifang.

Her whole body ached, and she had no strength, relying entirely on a surge of energy to support her. With great difficulty, she finally pushed the coachman away and pulled Meifang out.

"Meifang!"

"Mi... Miss..."

Wushuang had been crying, but suddenly her whole body stiffened, and her eyes stared blankly ahead.

She discovered with horror that the pool of blood she had seen earlier belonged to Meifang. At this moment, a dagger was plunged into Meifang's lower abdomen, so deeply that it had almost pierced through, which was why so much blood was flowing.

This also explained why the coachman's posture had been so strange. Clearly, he had stabbed Meifang with the dagger, and yet Meifang had not let go, clinging to him tightly until the very end.

"Meifang!"