The Strategy of Washing Clean a Slag Shou Chapter 26
The Prince's escaped fiancée (Arc 2-9)
One of the traditions of the people of Greater Ming, is for a newly wed bride to return to her parents' home after a full month. There were some nobles who, in order to demonstrate their solicitousness for the family of their bride, would accompany their new wives back to her parents' home.
Hence, when the Róng Qīnwáng announced that the Wángfēi niángniáng will be returning to his family tomorrow, it wasn't just the Minister of Revenue's household which was shocked. The Emperor and the Crown Prince could scarcely believe their ears, even the common masses were bowled over by the news!
Note:
Róng Qīnwáng (荣亲王) – Jing Cheng's title
Wángfēi niángniáng (王妃娘娘) – referring to Su Yang as the Prince's wife
Wasn't it already established that the Róng Qīnwáng particularly detested his Wángfēi niángniáng, to the point that there still hasn't been a ceremony to bow to Heaven and Earth till this day! Wasn't it said that the Young master of the Tao family was placed under house arrest on the very day of his wedding, and was being cruelly abused by the Róng Qīnwáng! And wasn't it known by all that the Róng Qīnwáng and the Tao family couldn't see eye to eye, and refused all dealings with each other!
In the end, they could only conclude that the rumours spread by the gossip-mongers were absolute hogwash. Although the stories sounded very reasonable and logical when they first heard it, but based on what was happening right now, there were definitely some inconsistencies somewhere!
Faced with Granny Wu and Deputy General Cao, who were both wearing expressions of equal disbelief, Su Yang opted for insouciance. He focused on nibbling his snacks, quietly enduring their stares in silence!
After climbing into the horse-drawn carriage, Granny Wu looked at his sunken cheeks in distress.
“Ai my little Master, please say something, the Róng Qīnwáng…… I mean, the Wángyé, what did he do to you? Why have you lost so much weight in such a short period of time?”
T/N : Just a quick clarification, Granny Wu switched from Róng Qīnwáng to Wángyé because the ‘stupid' Tao Ziyu supposedly only knows Jing Cheng as Fifth Wángyé. If you recall, he doesn't even know who ‘Young master Tao' is.
Lost so much weight? Thinking it over, Su Yang recalled that his recent appetite has been terrible, and it does seem that he was now thinner than before, but he was still within the limits of a normal weight range. However, the baby fat has melted from his face, making his bright eyes stand out even more.
Deputy General Cao was standing outside the carriage. His sharp ears caught Granny Wu's words and he moved a little closer, eager to eavesdrop on this rare piece of insider gossip.
Su Yang leaned back against the thick cushions, taking small bites from a flaky piece of pear-blossom tart. He mumbled, “Fūjūn treats me very well.”
Note: Fūjūn (夫君) - Husband
His tone was so sincere that Granny Wu's eyes almost fell out of her head. As for the eavesdropping Deputy General Cao, he looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Granny Wu knows that he has the mind of a child, and a child may not even understand that he has been bullied. She began to question him more closely, “Oh, how about you tell me how the Wángyé treats you well, then.”
Su Yang stuffed the half-eaten pear blossom tart into his mouth, and attempted to lick the crumbs off his fingers. Granny Wu hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands clean. Su Yang frowned as if in deep thought, before answering innocently, “Fūjūn hugs me to sleep, helps me bathe, gives me nice clothes to wear, and whatever I want to eat he will get it for me! Fūjūn is the greatest!”
Granny Wu's gaping mouth was bigger than a goose's egg. Su Yang giggled and stuffed a pastry into her mouth, inwardly praying for the questions to stop. Forget the unhappy past, forget it all! He really did not wish to recall that dark and wretched period!!
However, Granny Wu was nothing if not persistent. She quickly chewed and swallowed the pastry before moving closer to Su Yang to ask, “Wángyé really treats you well? He doesn't bully you?”
“Bully…… sometimes.” Su Yang thought for a bit, then lifted his sleeve to show her the silvery white bracelet on his wrist, “This bracelet, I don't like it at all, but he wouldn't let me take it off!”
Granny Wu spared the bracelet a cursory glance. Since it was a precious gift bestowed by Jing Cheng, she had no objections to it, and continued with her line of questioning, “Apart from this, was there anything else? Poppet, please think clearly, if the Wángyé is really mistreating you, we can take this opportunity to head straight to the old General to get justice for you. The Róng Qīnwáng may have formidable military power, but our General also wields extreme authority and influence, he will not stand for any persecution from others.”
Su Yang blinked several times and said, “Granny, Yu-er does not understand what you are saying. Yu-er is sleepy, want to sleep now.”
He yawned and made to lie down on the thick tiger skins which padded the floors of the carriage. The soft and warm furs were very suitable for sleeping on.
Granny Wu would have none of it, and continued to natter in his ear, “Has the Wángyé ever lost his temper with you, or was fierce with you, or hit and shouted at you?”
Irritated beyond belief, Su Yang attempted sidestepping, “He lost his temper yesterday, when I said I wanted to go home to see Mother. He was very angry, and said I was not allowed to see anyone else besides him. In the end, he relented when he saw me crying……”
Granny Wu stared at him speechlessly with round eyes, looking on the verge of having a heart attack. Outside the carriage, Deputy General Cao's feet slipped and he fell. When he was helped back up, his legs were still shaking.
Such big news!!!
Who knew that the coldly dignified and stern-faced Wángyé had this side to him! You can't judge a person by appearances, just as you can't measure the sea with a pint pot1!
He hurriedly covered his mouth, afraid of letting something slip. If the Wángyé catches wind of this, he might decide to silence him permanently.
On the day of Su Yang's return, the entire Minister's household bustled with noise and excitement, a stark difference from its prior silence and stillness.
It wasn't surprising. After all, everybody knew that the Minister of Revenue and the Róng Qīnwáng were at loggerheads with each other. In order to curry favour from the Róng Qīnwáng, one naturally had to steer clear of the Tao family.
But now, it seems that this foolish Young master of the Tao family has somehow managed to win the Róng Qīnwáng over. Those who had eagerly fawned over them in the past now rushed back to continue their boot-licking. There were also those prudent few who had held back to see which way the wind was blowing, and were now adopting a wait-and-see attitude from the sidelines.
Su Yang was dressed in dark, luxurious robes embroidered with a pair of phoenixes2. His long, jet black hair was swept up high and held with a hairpin made of jasper and Southern pearls. The robes were closely modeled after the imperial dress befitting a Qīnwáng's imperial concubine, styled to suit a man. It was both stately and dignified, exuding the splendour of the royal family, yet also radiating a certain youthful vivacity. It perfectly complemented Su Yang's temperament.
When Jing Cheng had ordered for this robe to be sewn, he had initially done so for his own amusement, intending to admire the view himself, but ultimately ended up unwittingly benefiting others instead.
When Su Yang got down from the carriage, the crowd milling around collectively took in a sharp breath. Is this really Tao Ziyu? Didn't they say he was an idiot now!
Although the face was the same, but the eyes were looking around with bright and lively interest, the fair and tender cheeks were flushed as he smiled with childlike delight, touching the hearts of all those who were gathered. Even the crumbs around his mouth did not seem dirty, but only served to highlight his childish charm and innocence.
It was no wonder why even someone like the Róng Qīnwáng would be soft-hearted with him. This Tao Ziyu may be an idiot, but it only made him more lovable.
Su Yang paid no mind to what everyone was thinking, and rushed up to Wu Xueyan. He took her hand and placed a pastry in the hollow of her palm.
“Mother, for you! This is a pear-blossom tart made by Granny Wu, it's my favorite.”
Wu Xueyan held on to his cold little hand, the rims of her eyes faintly red. However, she knew to observe decorum and not embarrass herself in front of others. She replied smilingly, “Very well, Mother will be sure to slowly enjoy it.”
From the side, Tao Yunfeng said, “Today is a happy day, there's no need to stand rooted by the entrance, let's go inside.”
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Su Yang was led inside by Wu Xueyan.
When his two younger brothers and one younger sister born of his father's concubines saw him, their faces reflected fear and alarm. But under Tao Yunfeng's stern gaze, they had no choice but to obediently came forward to greet him.
“Welcome back, elder brother.”
Su Yang knew that the original host used to enjoy bullying these kids, but they were Tao Yunfeng's children with another woman, and so he couldn't bring himself to like them either. He said simply, “Go out and play, I want to talk with Mother.”
Hearing this, the children ran out happily. Tao Yunfeng also left to receive their guests in the foyer, leaving Wu Xueyan with her son and Granny Wu.
Wu Xueyan began to delicately probe for details of his life and all its little trifles. What Su Yang could answer, he answered. What he would rather not answer, he feigned ignorance.
Wu Xueyan touched his face gently, “Have you not been eating well, why have you grown so thin?”
Su Yang answered candidly, “I didn't feel like eating a few days ago, but now I feel like eating.”
Not one to beat around the bush, Wu Xueyan immediately latched on to this piece of information, “You did not feel like eating a few days ago, was it because the Wángyé did something to you?”
How to answer this question? Tell her your son has been chained up like a dog for close to two months, and so lost his appetite? No matter what, it simply sounds ridiculous okay!
He mulled for a moment, then said, “When Fūjūn does that, it's painful, so Yu-er doesn't want to eat……” Of course, ‘that' is referring to kissing, it's not his fault if her thoughts stray to the gutter!
Of course Wu Xueyan would interpret ‘that' as that. Her face immediately twitched through several expressions, before she pushed the plate of pastries on the table towards him, “Eat first, Mother wants to talk with Granny Wu for a while.”
She tilted her head at Granny Wu, and they moved to the center of the room for a furtive discussion. Granny Wu has not even had time to settle down yet before she received another shock to her senses due to Su Yang's words
She spilled out everything that she had found out during their ride in the carriage to Wu Xueyan, then added, “Fūrén, this old servant is of the humble opinion that Róng Wáng still has a soft spot for our Young master. If you think about it, he has watched over our Young master since he was but five years old, and old feelings die hard. Not to mention how our Young master was met with this unfortunate accident, Róng Wáng must have been upset as well, how could he still bear to harm our Young master? We have misjudged him!”
Note: Fūrén (夫人) – My lady, Madame, Lady wife, Mrs, etc.
Wu Xueyan considered it carefully, and thought that Granny Wu's reasoning was sound. Her precious baby son was now too endearingly lovable, even she herself could not help feeling worried and anxious for him. It stands to reason that he would evoke pity and compassion from other people as well.
Of course, ‘My baby son is the most lovable and adorable in the word', is a common thought that most mothers share. Wu Xueyan was finally able to lay her heart's worries to rest.
Su Yang stayed in the Tao residence until evening fell, and recalled Jing Cheng's repeated warnings to be back before the sun sets. And so on their journey home, he nagged and pestered incessantly for more speed.
Driven beyond the limits of his endurance, Deputy General Cao rudely ousted the carriage driver and personally took over the reins to drive the little brat home. At last, as the rays of the sun began to fade, they arrived at the Wángyé's residence.
Before the carriage came to a halt, Su Yang had already pushed aside the hanging screen and hastily leaped out. Granny Wu couldn't pull him back in time, and was so terrified that her heart nearly stopped.
“Little master, don't—–!!”
It was at this moment when Su Yang finally remembered that his current body was pretty much equivalent to that of a handicapped person's, and could not perform any overly risky actions……
Fuck my life!!
In the next moment, he felt himself caught in a warm embrace.
Su Yang opened his eyes to see Jing Cheng's handsome face looking down at him. The coldness on his face had melted away to reveal a soft, warm smile.
He lifted an eyebrow, “Why the rush.”
Su Yang's cheeks flushed red as he stammered, “Haven't seen you for a whole day, Yu-er mis-missed Fūjūn.”
Immensely pleased by the sweet words that came out of the honey-coated mouth, he paid no heed to the people who were still present, and immediately swooped down to kiss those soft, moist lips.
Only God knew how difficult it had been for him to hold back from marching up to the Tao family to snatch this person back.
Notes:
Same meaning as, don't judge a book by its cover. Luánfèng (鸾凤) – Luan is the blue phoenix, Feng is the red phoenix. Together, they generally symbolize a harmonious couple. (There are actually five types of phoenixes, but the red one is of the highest status).
Thanks for reading. Also a big big thank you to Tsukushi, Anon, Reall and Nyurr for the ko-fi! Your support means a lot to me. 🙂