Chapter 35: Meting punishment, the fox exploits the tiger’s might (2/2)

“After being unconscious for so many days, his body doesn’t have enough energy. Let him rest and give him some millet congee when he wakes. He can only start taking tonics after three days, but take things step by step and don’t overdo things.”

General Mu nodded. “Many thanks to Qin Wangfei. The Mu Household won’t forget this debt of gratitude for saving a life.”

Princess Changping’s temper flared up upon witnessing this scene. “General Mu, why do you always listen to this woman? Qingwu gege was perfectly fine, but now he’s fainted again! There must be a problem!”

General Mu felt his heart raging at her words. He wished he could lash Princess Changping just like he did with his daughter, but she was a princess and beyond his authority. In the end, all he could do was endure, but he’d already come to a decision. The headstrong Princess Changping was crafty and unruly. With her here, there’d be no good days in the house. No matter what, he’d definitely forbid her from marrying into his family! He took a deep breath to calm himself down before speaking coldly.

“Your highness, for the time being Qingwu’s out of danger. I ask that you go back now.”

Princess Changping immediately shook her head. “No, I want to watch over him. If he doesn’t wake up, I won’t leave, I want to take care of him!”

“Your highness, you are the golden branch and jade leaf[2]. One word from you is enough to claim our Qingwu’s life. He couldn’t bear the weight of your care.” General Mu was the type to pour out everything on his mind. Even if he couldn’t hit the princess, he could at least say a few words.

Princess Changping was no fool and heard the sneer behind his sentences. She smoothed out her lip, feeling like she was about to cry. “Is General Mu blaming me? It’s not like I did it on purpose!”

“The princess has misunderstood, this old official doesn’t dare. I just feel that men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things[3]. If the princess stays, she’ll encourage people to gossip, so I ask again that you leave,” General Mu said coldly.

On one side, Han Yunxi was about to laugh out loud. Even she could tell that Princess Changping adored Mu Qingwu. With her status, the wedding might have be a 90 percent certainty, but after this mess it’d be strange if General Mu could even stand her. If the general didn’t agree, even the emperor and empress dowager would be hard-pressed to force him. It looked like Changping’s aspirations to marry into the Mu family would simply remain delusions.

Still, she was suffering from the results of her own actions, so Han Yunxi wouldn’t pity her.

Princess Changping knew that General Mu hadn’t approved of her marriage goals, but he’d never talked like this to her before. She wanted to speak some more, but seeing General Mu’s icy expression made her sick at heart. Turning around, she spotted Han Yunxi looking at her with a smile and felt even more infuriated. “What are you smiling for? You’ll have something to cry about sooner or later!”

After that bout of shouting, Princess Changping stomped her foot and turned to leave in a flash of tears. Han Yunxi didn’t care in the slightest, but gave a cheerful grin at her retreating form.

Princess Changping, I’d like to see how long you’ll stay stubborn. I think the poison from the prisons that day should show itself very soon. That ringworm is a modern-day toxin, so none of these ancient doctors will be able to cure you!

We’ll see who’s crying then!

Han Yunxi didn’t say much, but left a few packets of medicine and detailed instructions for General Mu to change the bandages to avoid complications. The general made sure to note down every single detail. At the door, Long Feiye didn’t bat an eyelid as he watched everything, but finally spoke after all was done. As before, there was no trace of warmth in his tone.

“Han Yunxi, isn’t it about time for you to go back?”

Ehh…

Thanks to all the excitement from before, she’d left this respectable deity hanging by the door.

“Un, I’ll go back right away,” she eagerly ran out with a smile, sensing that this fellow seemed somehow unhappy. True enough, she’d ended up in prison within a few days of their marriage so as a husband he probably had nothing to be happy about. General Mu and his men hurried out to send them off, but Long Feiye just turned and left without a word.

That was his personality: a frozen mountain wrapped in a riddle, feared by all even as he stirred their curiosity.

Han Yunxi obediently followed behind him as she recalled her warning to Princess Changping a few days before. Thinking of it now, it was rather funny that things had happened exactly as she said. This guy Long Feiye had really showed up to take her home. His legs were long and he kept a quick pace, forcing Han Yunxi to run to catch up. When they finally left the gates of the residence, she remembered something.

Gu Beiyue!

Gu Beiyue was still locked up in the justice court jailhouse. He was secretly imprisoned by the North Court Official so very little people knew. They wouldn’t subject him to torture, right? Seeing Long Feiye climb onto the carriage, Han Yunxi nervously asked, “Your highness, I…I forgot something, can you wait for me?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Han Yunxi regretted them. Long Feiye, this so-called immortal, why would he wait for her? So when she saw him opening his mouth, she hurriedly added, “Your highness, how about you go back first? I’ll come very soon.”

As it turned out, Long Feiye didn’t even spare her a glance before lowering the curtains to his carriage. His voice intoned, “I’ll hold you responsible if I don’t see you in the Hibiscus Courtyard in an hour!”

He was so indifferent that he didn’t even bother to ask her for details, but told the driver to leave as soon as he was finished. Han Yunxi was a little shocked. So cold! She shivered slightly before turning back to discuss Gu Beiyue’s life and death waiver with General Mu, then ask him to hurry to the prisons and release the doctor.

-o-

[1] the fox exploits the tiger’s might (狐假虎威) – hujiahuwei, to use powerful connections to intimidate people

[2] golden branch and jade leaf (金枝玉叶) – jinzhiyuye, description for people of imperial lineage, royalty.

[3] men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving things (那女授受不親) – nannüshoushoubuqin, a quote from Mencius that discourages familiar relations between a man and a woman.