Chapter 3
Title : 蛇蝎太后之夫君妖娆 ( The Enchanting Empress Dowager is Really Poisonous)
Author : 我非主角 ( Wo Fei Zhu Jue)
Translator : Cubbyfox
Editor : Etereal
Proofreader : Waiting
The Imperial garden at night is brightly lit, and the flowers that bloomed beautifully in the day are stained with dark colours under the light. It was less glamorous and duller, but there was a unique atmosphere!
The wild red roses that intertwine around the pavilion was blown by the wind. A string of brilliant, red petals floated down, as if a night fairy dancing in the night.
In the middle of the Imperial garden, Long Yi, who was dressed in his dragon robes was sitting behind the Emperor’s table. On both of his sides were two delicate, beautiful and luxuriously dressed concubines. The rows below belonged to the ministers and nobles.
After three rounds of wine, most of the minister’s faces were flushed red and their eyes were also misty from being drunk. Long Yi was in a good mood today, and was too lazy to critise about the state of these ministers.
The delicate sound of silk and bamboo music instruments were heard. Cups were drank by crossing their arms with one another, and the noble and ministers were extremely joyful. This seemingly very harmonious picture was interrupted by a high pitched shout of an eunuch! (TL: Shi zu, China’s traditional music instruments, such as the zither and lute)
“The Empress Dowager has arrived”
The sound of the music instruments dissipated. The people sitting in the middle immediately parted. The ministers quickly regained their bearing and prepared to greet the Empress Dowager. Only Long Yi, who was seated above had a sullen face. The left side of his face that was slapped that day was still burning from the pain!
“Greetings, Empress Dowager Niangniang!” (TL: Pay respect to the Empress Dowager.)
Leng Jiu just came in from the door, everyone inside was already kneeling on the floor. Her eyes swept over the ministers and palace servants. The corners of her mouth curved slightly into a smile. She walked step-by-step to the high platform. She then looked at the Emperor who was glaring at her, but she did not speak. She just sat in her seat: “No need to pay your respects!”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
After they replied, everyone got up from the ground. They then tilted their face to size up Leng Jiu with a lingering gaze. The sound of countless falling cups followed. Many people looked at the women on the platform with disbelief and stunned expressions.
She sat there calmly and lazily, without any majesty of an Empress Dowager. She looked like she had an easy-going deposition, but she emitted some sort of supremacy. Overlooking the crowd with power, a gaze that sweeps through the crowd as she pleases, and lips that seem like they are smiling. For some reason, it gave people a feeling of oppression.
The most shocking thing was her face. That tender and young face of a young girl. Those dainty facial features, and seductive phoenix eyes. Is… Is this really a country’s Empress Dowager?
Leng Jiu took her wine cup and was about to take a sip, when she seem to have realized that everyone’s gaze was on her. She lifted her eyes and smiled: “Ai jia only came to join in the fun, so you are all free to do as you wish.” (TL: Ai jia is ‘I’ used by Empress Dowager)
Everyone’s thoughts were different, as they sat in their respective seats. The Shi zu continued to play, and a group of dancers ran out. Their long sleeves fluttered as they danced.
Leng Jiu drank a cup of wine, and turned to look at Long Yi. From before till now, he has been staring at her, and it is with a gaze that is extremely hateful. However, what is that trace of complex feeling at the bottom of his eyes?
Leng Jiu’s red lips slightly smiled, and her eyes were like silk: “Why is the emperor looking at Ai jia with such a gaze? Could it be that Ai jia has something inappropriate on her body?”
“Humph!” Long Yi shot her a look, then retracted his gaze and took a cup of wine to drink. He will never admit that he had just lost his soul because of her smile. Immediately, a feeling of annoyance arose. Who did she dressed up so beautifully for?
Leng Jiu retracted her gaze, and sneered in her heart: Just an easy guy. If she could not make this guy fall with her charm, then her name isn’t Leng Jiu!
Imperial concubine Li, who was sitting at the side, could clearly see that something was not right with Long Yi. She then looked at Leng Jiu’s dressing, and a dangerous feeling arose from her heart. She tightly grasped her brocade handkerchief in her hand, as she picked up a cup of wine and stood up. She looked at Leng Jiu with utmost sincerity:
“Chen qie offers a cup of wine to the Empress Dowager!”
Leng Jiu just swept her eyes over, when Long Yi’s voice was heard from the side: “You are pregnant. You cannot drink wine!”
Imperial concubine Li heard the words, and looked at Leng Jiu with some embarrassment. Her face has a sweetness that could not be ignored: “The Emperor does not allow Chen qie to drink wine. Please don’t take it as an offense to the Empress Dowager. Chen qie will drink tea instead wine to pay respect to the Empress Dowager”.
Leng Jiu looked at the sweetness and shyness on Imperial concubine Li’s face, and she immediately knew her motive.
Imperial concubine Li wanted to provoke the jealousy in her heart and make her angry in front of everyone. Then, Long Yi would hate her even more. It is unfortunate that no matter how she schemes, she would not expect that she is no longer Leng Jinghua, but Leng Jiu. To her, Long Yi is less than a fart.
Leng Jiu smiled and raised her cup, laughing as gently as imperial concubine Li: “This cup of wine, Ai Jia will treat it as the young prince paying respect to Ai Jia. Ai Jia will naturally drink it!” (TL: Ai Jia = ‘Me/I’ used by Empress Dowager)
When she said finished, she drank her cup in one gulp. At the corner of her eye, she obviously saw that imperial concubine Li’s body stiffened. Leng Jiu sneered in her heart: Want to compete with me?
As the elder miss from the underground society’s top ranked gang, in addition to fighting and killing, she has to deal with countless politicians and the respective leaders of the major gangs. She could be her ancestor generation in scheming and using underhanded tricks. Wanting to use this little trick between women to compete for Long Yi’s affection to deal with her is too soft!
Accepting this cup of wine calmly, Leng Jiu did not engage with her. She then watched the song and dance below. Without any regard for her image, she grabbed a bunch of melon seeds and cracked them.
However, this casual manner without any dignity, made Long Yi, who was watching became nervous. He scolded ‘Damn it’ silently and immediately turned his head away. He kept feeling that everything was wrong tonight!
The song and dance was very boring. Throughout the dance, the dancers only threw their sleeves. Some of the dancers could not even be seen. She only saw a bunch of sleeves flying all over the place. Was there any meaning in this?
As Leng Jiu was about to doze off, the dancers finally retreated. Then, a man dressed in a light blue plain robes walked up with a seven string Guqin in his hands. His long hair that reaches to his waist, was tied with only one ribbon at his back. His head was humbly lowered and his body was thin and weak. He looked very frail! (ED: a Guqin/ zither is a Chinese string instrument)
He slowly walked to the middle, and kneeled with both knees on the ground. His voice was light as a breeze: “Lan Ze pays respect to the Emperor, Empress Dowager and imperial concubine Li!”
After paying respect, he didn’t wait for the Emperor to ask him to rise. Someone directly carried a table over and he placed the seven string Guqin on it. He sat in a kneeling position, and a pair of thin and slender hands gently started to play the chords of the Guqin!
He is humbled and his head is lowered. Yet, those dancers just need to kneel once when they pay respect. Why does he appear to be so humbled?
Lu Chang seemed to have seen through the Empress Dowager’s doubts. He sneaked closer and whispered: “Empress Dowager may have forgotten. He is a prince from the Snow kingdom, a small country in the northern desert.
Two years ago, the Snow kingdom became part of this dynasty, and he was sent here as a hostage. It is rumoured that he has excellent Guqin playing skills, so all the palace banquets will let him play a song!”
“Then, why is he lowering his head?”
“It is all because of his face. During last year’s palace feast, a young lady who was appointed as an imperial concubine saw him, and fell in love with him at first sight. She would not marry anyone else but him. Finally, she committed suicide.
In the palace, many palace maids also fell in love with his appearance. This caused the Emperor to be furious, and he gave a decree that he was not allowed to raise his head again. Moreover, in order to humiliate him, he ordered him to kneel every time he performs!”
A touch of interest arose in Leng Jiu’s eyes: “You mean that he is very handsome?”
Lu Chang look at Leng Jiu strangely, but he still replied: “Yes! This servant has seen him before. Although he was in a bad state at the time, but his facial features were indeed excellent. The average man cannot compare to him!”
Leng Jiu did not ask further, because Lan Ze had already played finish a song. He bowed and left, but she looked at his back that was still curved and saw an unyielding arrogance. Her red lips curved with an intriguing smile: interesting!
Chapter 3
Title : 蛇蝎太后之夫君妖娆 ( The Enchanting Empress Dowager is Really Poisonous)
Author : 我非主角 ( Wo Fei Zhu Jue)
Translator : Cubbyfox
Editor : Etereal
Proofreader : Waiting
The Imperial garden at night is brightly lit, and the flowers that bloomed beautifully in the day are stained with dark colours under the light. It was less glamorous and duller, but there was a unique atmosphere!
The wild red roses that intertwine around the pavilion was blown by the wind. A string of brilliant, red petals floated down, as if a night fairy dancing in the night.
In the middle of the Imperial garden, Long Yi, who was dressed in his dragon robes was sitting behind the Emperor’s table. On both of his sides were two delicate, beautiful and luxuriously dressed concubines. The rows below belonged to the ministers and nobles.
After three rounds of wine, most of the minister’s faces were flushed red and their eyes were also misty from being drunk. Long Yi was in a good mood today, and was too lazy to critise about the state of these ministers.
The delicate sound of silk and bamboo music instruments were heard. Cups were drank by crossing their arms with one another, and the noble and ministers were extremely joyful. This seemingly very harmonious picture was interrupted by a high pitched shout of an eunuch! (TL: Shi zu, China’s traditional music instruments, such as the zither and lute)
“The Empress Dowager has arrived”
The sound of the music instruments dissipated. The people sitting in the middle immediately parted. The ministers quickly regained their bearing and prepared to greet the Empress Dowager. Only Long Yi, who was seated above had a sullen face. The left side of his face that was slapped that day was still burning from the pain!
“Greetings, Empress Dowager Niangniang!” (TL: Pay respect to the Empress Dowager.)
Leng Jiu just came in from the door, everyone inside was already kneeling on the floor. Her eyes swept over the ministers and palace servants. The corners of her mouth curved slightly into a smile. She walked step-by-step to the high platform. She then looked at the Emperor who was glaring at her, but she did not speak. She just sat in her seat: “No need to pay your respects!”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
After they replied, everyone got up from the ground. They then tilted their face to size up Leng Jiu with a lingering gaze. The sound of countless falling cups followed. Many people looked at the women on the platform with disbelief and stunned expressions.
She sat there calmly and lazily, without any majesty of an Empress Dowager. She looked like she had an easy-going deposition, but she emitted some sort of supremacy. Overlooking the crowd with power, a gaze that sweeps through the crowd as she pleases, and lips that seem like they are smiling. For some reason, it gave people a feeling of oppression.
The most shocking thing was her face. That tender and young face of a young girl. Those dainty facial features, and seductive phoenix eyes. Is… Is this really a country’s Empress Dowager?
Leng Jiu took her wine cup and was about to take a sip, when she seem to have realized that everyone’s gaze was on her. She lifted her eyes and smiled: “Ai jia only came to join in the fun, so you are all free to do as you wish.” (TL: Ai jia is ‘I’ used by Empress Dowager)
Everyone’s thoughts were different, as they sat in their respective seats. The Shi zu continued to play, and a group of dancers ran out. Their long sleeves fluttered as they danced.
Leng Jiu drank a cup of wine, and turned to look at Long Yi. From before till now, he has been staring at her, and it is with a gaze that is extremely hateful. However, what is that trace of complex feeling at the bottom of his eyes?
Leng Jiu’s red lips slightly smiled, and her eyes were like silk: “Why is the emperor looking at Ai jia with such a gaze? Could it be that Ai jia has something inappropriate on her body?”
“Humph!” Long Yi shot her a look, then retracted his gaze and took a cup of wine to drink. He will never admit that he had just lost his soul because of her smile. Immediately, a feeling of annoyance arose. Who did she dressed up so beautifully for?
Leng Jiu retracted her gaze, and sneered in her heart: Just an easy guy. If she could not make this guy fall with her charm, then her name isn’t Leng Jiu!
Imperial concubine Li, who was sitting at the side, could clearly see that something was not right with Long Yi. She then looked at Leng Jiu’s dressing, and a dangerous feeling arose from her heart. She tightly grasped her brocade handkerchief in her hand, as she picked up a cup of wine and stood up. She looked at Leng Jiu with utmost sincerity:
“Chen qie offers a cup of wine to the Empress Dowager!”
Leng Jiu just swept her eyes over, when Long Yi’s voice was heard from the side: “You are pregnant. You cannot drink wine!”
Imperial concubine Li heard the words, and looked at Leng Jiu with some embarrassment. Her face has a sweetness that could not be ignored: “The Emperor does not allow Chen qie to drink wine. Please don’t take it as an offense to the Empress Dowager. Chen qie will drink tea instead wine to pay respect to the Empress Dowager”.
Leng Jiu looked at the sweetness and shyness on Imperial concubine Li’s face, and she immediately knew her motive.
Imperial concubine Li wanted to provoke the jealousy in her heart and make her angry in front of everyone. Then, Long Yi would hate her even more. It is unfortunate that no matter how she schemes, she would not expect that she is no longer Leng Jinghua, but Leng Jiu. To her, Long Yi is less than a fart.
Leng Jiu smiled and raised her cup, laughing as gently as imperial concubine Li: “This cup of wine, Ai Jia will treat it as the young prince paying respect to Ai Jia. Ai Jia will naturally drink it!” (TL: Ai Jia = ‘Me/I’ used by Empress Dowager)
When she said finished, she drank her cup in one gulp. At the corner of her eye, she obviously saw that imperial concubine Li’s body stiffened. Leng Jiu sneered in her heart: Want to compete with me?
As the elder miss from the underground society’s top ranked gang, in addition to fighting and killing, she has to deal with countless politicians and the respective leaders of the major gangs. She could be her ancestor generation in scheming and using underhanded tricks. Wanting to use this little trick between women to compete for Long Yi’s affection to deal with her is too soft!
Accepting this cup of wine calmly, Leng Jiu did not engage with her. She then watched the song and dance below. Without any regard for her image, she grabbed a bunch of melon seeds and cracked them.
However, this casual manner without any dignity, made Long Yi, who was watching became nervous. He scolded ‘Damn it’ silently and immediately turned his head away. He kept feeling that everything was wrong tonight!
The song and dance was very boring. Throughout the dance, the dancers only threw their sleeves. Some of the dancers could not even be seen. She only saw a bunch of sleeves flying all over the place. Was there any meaning in this?
As Leng Jiu was about to doze off, the dancers finally retreated. Then, a man dressed in a light blue plain robes walked up with a seven string Guqin in his hands. His long hair that reaches to his waist, was tied with only one ribbon at his back. His head was humbly lowered and his body was thin and weak. He looked very frail! (ED: a Guqin/ zither is a Chinese string instrument)
He slowly walked to the middle, and kneeled with both knees on the ground. His voice was light as a breeze: “Lan Ze pays respect to the Emperor, Empress Dowager and imperial concubine Li!”
After paying respect, he didn’t wait for the Emperor to ask him to rise. Someone directly carried a table over and he placed the seven string Guqin on it. He sat in a kneeling position, and a pair of thin and slender hands gently started to play the chords of the Guqin!
He is humbled and his head is lowered. Yet, those dancers just need to kneel once when they pay respect. Why does he appear to be so humbled?
Lu Chang seemed to have seen through the Empress Dowager’s doubts. He sneaked closer and whispered: “Empress Dowager may have forgotten. He is a prince from the Snow kingdom, a small country in the northern desert.
Two years ago, the Snow kingdom became part of this dynasty, and he was sent here as a hostage. It is rumoured that he has excellent Guqin playing skills, so all the palace banquets will let him play a song!”
“Then, why is he lowering his head?”
“It is all because of his face. During last year’s palace feast, a young lady who was appointed as an imperial concubine saw him, and fell in love with him at first sight. She would not marry anyone else but him. Finally, she committed suicide.
In the palace, many palace maids also fell in love with his appearance. This caused the Emperor to be furious, and he gave a decree that he was not allowed to raise his head again. Moreover, in order to humiliate him, he ordered him to kneel every time he performs!”
A touch of interest arose in Leng Jiu’s eyes: “You mean that he is very handsome?”
Lu Chang look at Leng Jiu strangely, but he still replied: “Yes! This servant has seen him before. Although he was in a bad state at the time, but his facial features were indeed excellent. The average man cannot compare to him!”
Leng Jiu did not ask further, because Lan Ze had already played finish a song. He bowed and left, but she looked at his back that was still curved and saw an unyielding arrogance. Her red lips curved with an intriguing smile: interesting!
