Chu Wang Fei

After a moment, Hai Tian had calmed her mind, then with a cold complexion she said, "Many thanks to taifei's good intentions, but ben junzhu is a proper xiaojie, according to the etiquette, how can I spend the night in another fu? Would that not be inviting people to criticize? Anyway, ben junzhu thanks taifei again for her good intentions!”

That being said, Hai Tian actually moved slightly sideways and unexpectedly pulled Yun Qian Meng's hand. "Ben junzhu and Yun xiaojie have some similarities. Yun xiaojie plays the guqin well, enough for ben junzhu to be very curious of Yun xiaojie's everyday life. Today, the sky is already dark, would it be possible to stay one night at Yun xiangfu?”

Yun Qian Meng lowered her head as she looked at Hai Tian who had enthusiastically grabbed onto her hands, deliberately exposing the gesture in front of everybody's eyes.

Hai Tian's round and rich golden-purple rose painted nails were so dazzling and noble, they even seemed to contain the overwhelming potential to put pressure on people.

Looking at her own slender hands that had no addition of anything, they were fair and clear of anything. It may be assumed that Hai Tian was intentionally doing so to let Chu Fei Yang draw up a comparison between the two of them and make him unequivocally more fond of her.

Her mouth held a trace of the estranged smile opposite Hai Tian's show of enthusiasm, Yun Qian Meng lifted up a smile and without any trace of fear in her eyes, as she politely declined, "Junzhu coming to Yun xiangfu in person is an honor to the xiangfu. However, xiangfu has many people at this time, I am afraid that it will offend junzhu. I request that junzhu look for another place to stay.”

"To say it like that, is Yun xiaojie not welcoming ben junzhu? You are not giving Hai wangfu any face, Yun xiaojie is only looking for a good way to decline." Hai Tian was using the opportunity to elevate her standing, so she had softly spoken the threat at Yun Qian Meng's ear.

Yun Qian Meng slightly raised her eyebrows, eyes filled with an extremely cold smile and voice equally cold that was loud enough for everyone to hear, "Junzhu intends to use her authority to pressure people? Junzhu needs to think clearly. This authority you use to pressure others with, you are also using it to pressure chennu's shoulders.”

Yun Qian Meng's words made Hai Tian suddenly tense. A dangerous glint flashed in her gaze as her snake-like eyes stared intensely at Yun Qian Meng. A sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth as she smiled, "It appears that Yun xiaojie's illustriousness is quite great. It now looks as if the person who likes to overpower others is not you, but me instead. Previously, ben junzhu admired Yun xiaojie indifference, but today Yun xiaojie has really let me down. I'm afraid that your peaceful face actually has the inner desire of thirsting for more power.”

After saying that, Hai Tian straightened up, eyes sweeping towards Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen, a surge of anger went straight to her head. Just now all men were blind that such a profane woman like Yun Qian Meng was extremely favored.

At this moment, a white horse came rushing through the long road, on it was an eunuch in striking dark blue robes.

The eunuch was hurriedly searching all sides until he came upon Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen, and immediately urged the horse rapidly to them. He did not even wait for the horse to completely stop before he urgently dismounted. In the presence of the two Imperial Court Officials, he humbly perform the courtesies and kowtowed. Then, in a shrill voice, "Nucai greets wangye and Chu xiang.”

"It's already late, the Palace has long since locked up, how did gonggong leave?" Chu Fei Yang asked the question despite already knowing the answer as his eyes purposely glanced at Jiang Mu Chen on horseback.

Jiang Mu Chen himself was aware of Chu Fei Yang watching this good show, thus he had to restrain from glaring towards Chu Fei Yang and simply watched attentively at the eunuch to wait for him to say something.

"The Emperor already heard that something had happened to the capital, he asks that wangye and Chu xiang immediately go to the Palace. The Emperor is currently at Yang Xin Hall waiting for the two of you." The eunuch had first taken a deep gulps of air to even out his laboured breathing before he opened his mouth to talk.

"Got it. Go back first to report, benwang will immediately return to the Palace." Jiang Mu Chen once more glanced at Yun Qian Meng, then instructed the imperial guard, "Go back and report to taifei, tell her to rest early and not to worry too much.”

The eunuch immediately got up on horseback to do as Chu Fei Yang and Jiang Mu Chen commanded and report that they would be going to the Palace for debriefing.

Chu Fei Yang looked at Yun Qian Meng's appearance and saw that she was capable of dealing with Hai Tian, so his heart was slightly reassured. He still gave a meaningful glance to Jiao Da who was nearby. Seeing that Jiao Da understood what he was silently asking, he got up on horseback, and he left for the Palace together with Chen wang.

"Chu xiang right now is actually still concerned about a woman. I'm afraid that in the presence of the Emperor, Chu xiang will be unable to explain why the Northern Qi's Tenth Prince was staying at Chu wangfu." Chen wang, not used to seeing Chu Fei Yang treating Yun Qian Meng as such, so he was purposely mocking him and rejoicing in the other's misfortune.

Chen wang's words were also very malicious, as he said that the Tenth Prince was “staying” in Chu wangfu rather than being imprisoned.

The word “staying” made people's imagination run wild, as it would look to the suspicious chancellors that Chu wang had the intention of cooperating with the foreign country.

As he whipped his horse's body, Chu Fei Yang's smile changed. At this moment, he and Chen wang both had cold expressions. In the face of his opponent's provocation, he did not intend to lag behind. “Wangye was quite late in deploying the guards to save and protect people, perhaps you might also have need to possess some caution. Today's fatalities number so many xiaojie and gongzi, due to wangye's slow coming. I don't want to be the one to inform the capitals noble clans and families that their lives are not within the Emperor's control, but rather in Chen wang's grasp. I'm afraid that wangye already knew for a long time now that the Tenth Prince was in the Chu wangfu, but you followed after benxiang into the forest, perhaps to force benxiang to bring out the Tenth Prince out of Chu wangfu much earlier than intended. Wangye's astute and circumspect planning is really admirable to benxiang, but maybe once in front of the Emperor, wangye would find it very difficult to give some plausible explanation. Perhaps the Emperor would be gravely angry and seize wangye's authority over the guards, would wangye still be so arrogant?”

Seeing Chu Fei Yang's horse indistinctly surpassing his own horse's speed, Chen wang immediately lashed his own so that he could surpass Chu Fei Yang's horse, just to sneer, "What basis does Chu xiang words have? Benwang had imperial orders to maintain the capital's safety, naturally I do not have any selfish motives. For Chu xiang to say this much to start rumors and create trouble, what are your intentions? Could it be that you wish to trap benwang unjustly to hide your dirty secrets?”

When Chu Fei Yang's horse saw that another horse had passed it, suddenly, it did not need Chu Fei Yang to urge it. Instead, it let itself loose and started on hoofing as if its life depended on it to run forward. In a blink of an eye it was able to exceed Chen wang's horse by have its body's length.

Chu Fei Yang leisurely sat on top, letting his warhorse work hard to not fall short. His eyes floated up into a smile as he immediately responded to the dark expression on Chen wang's face. "Even if wangye has meticulously calculated everything, there can still be some complications. Surely wangye, with your your tight defenses, had not anticipated that the Northern Qi's Crown Prince to not only rescue the Tenth Prince but also escape from the capital with his men. Wangye must be extremely annoyed right now. If benwang ever has need of the Northern Qi's Crown Prince in the future, you would need more help than what you currently possess. Especially after today as wangye has offended the Crown Prince. Since both sides have already incurred hatred, cooperation in the future would be a very difficult thing.”

Chu Fei Yang remarks caused Chen wang to immediately glare and with gnashing teeth he said, "Chu Fei Yang, you schemed against benwang. You deliberately caught the Tenth Prince and accurately calculated benwang's timing. You made use of the knowledge that benwang would not let them slip away to incite hostilities between Northern Qi's Crown Prince and I.”

Chen wang's eyes were no longer ice-cold, replaced by bright anger, he resisted drawing out the sword at his waist and have a decisive battle with Chu Fei Yang.

Chu Fei Yang still had a noncommittal smile and half a moment later, he started to talk, "How could benxiang have calculated all of it? It is just a coincidence and nothing more. Do you think you have such great luck? Tonight, a few foreigners escaped, wangye better think carefully how to explain this to the Emperor. Think very carefully, we must understand and explain this matter clearly before we bring it to the Emperor so that he will be able to believe in what anyone says.”

Chen wang's only response to Chu Fei Yang was to urge his horse with his whip, carrying on the chillness as they rushed forward.

Chu Fei Yang's horse immediately wanted to catch up but Chu Fei Yang comfortingly stroked its glossy mane and softly whispered, "What's the rush? Walk slowly, do not rush to death's door.”

The horse was actually very obedient and slowed its pace. It ran toward the palace gates at a trot.

At the river bank, Jiao Da, having received a look from Chu Fei Yang, guarded Yun Qian Meng from afar.

Yun Qian Meng gave the courtesies to Hai Tian, before immediately turning to Mu Chun who was assisting her to board the family carriage. But when she tried to leave Hai Tian tightened her grip on the hand she still held and those pointed fingernails deeply embedded themselves into Yun Qian Meng's delicate palm. With the burst of pain, the nails left behind very deep marks. Presumably, it did not seem as if she hated Yun Qian Meng, only Hai Tian was afraid that she could not catch her eye.

"Yun Qian Meng, you absolutely want to compete with me?" Hai Tian stepped forward as she spoke darkly.

As Yun Qian Meng's hand suffered the pain, her heart raged. Her right hand that was concealed in her sleave immediately shot out. In Hai Tian surprise, she lost her grip and their hands were now separated. Leaving no trace except for the slight pull, Yun Qian Meng had stabbed Hai Tian's palm using the the end of her gold hairpin, though it seemed as if Hai Tian's hand was only pushed off.

Hai Tian stumbled backward and almost fell onto the ground because of Yun Qian Meng's trick, so her eyes filled with cold frost as she said, "Chennu will take her leave.”

She then led the yatou behind her to her carriage. Jiao Da had clearly seen Hai Tian's ploy, but seeing Yun Qian Meng's unexpected boldness, he could not help but to smile and nod. Immediately riding on his horse, he followed the xiangfu's carriage to escort Yun Qian Meng to the gates of Yun xiangfu. Only after she had entered the big gates of xiangfu did he leave her.

Chu Fei Yang and Chen wang hurried to the Palace Hall. Passing by the eunuch who announced their arrival, the two men set foot into the inner hall to see Yun Xuan Zhi waiting with several officials of the imperial court who were present. Emperor Yu Qian's face was gloomy as he sat on the Imperial Throne but gave no remarks. Inside, the hall's atmosphere was so stiflingly uncomfortable that nobody dared to open their mouth. Even those court eunuchs dared not to make a sound and were like wooden stumps as they stood to the side.

Upon seeing this, the two immediately cupped their hands in a salute, "Your humble servant is here to see the Emperor. Long live the Emperor!”

"How can I live long?" Emperor Yu Qian's voice resounded in a snarl throughout the entire hall.