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The Moving Sound of the Xiao
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
This palace banquet of Tianxu year 15 was probably the most extravagant of the entire Tianxu era, also the most bizarre, the most grand, and also the most not genuinely festive.
Although it appeared as if everything was all seemingly not that different from past years, but Xuan Emperor who can be said to have greatly changed in personality after the stroke, his facial features were still stiff, his words no longer lenient and benevolent, just left with hard to predict paranoia and gloominess. Thinking of the palace banquet, the court officials all just felt dreadful. And for the titled madams at the banquet in the inner palace, the atmosphere was just even more strange and awkward.
Because, the palace banquet this time was the first and also the only time, where Empress Wen and Li Consort really seemingly very intimately helped one another, joining hands to arrange the banquet, having the intention of making it particularly grand and dazzling. Don’t know whether it’s for the sake of creating a particularly festive atmosphere in order to console Xuan Emperor who has painfully lost his son, or wanting to let the unwell and stiff body Xuan Emperor once again demonstrate to the subjects his brilliant imperial might, the prosperity, and extravagance. All in all, from the announcement of the banquet to the arrangement, then to the banquet itself, everything was all extravagant and beautiful to the extreme. The amount of noble madams and official madams invited also far surpassed the previous years.
Just, all of this extravagance and luxury was all unable to truly turn into genuine festivity and jubilation. The banquet instead, amidst this kind of strange atmosphere, carried on unprecedentedly tensely.
Practically halfway through serving the dishes, the titled madams and official madams had already managed to say a round of auspicious words for the occasion that can be said. Thus, someone just started mentioning some topics that were often discussed recently. Speaking of which, this was also considered the usual practice for idle conversation. Just, the recent topics truly were different from before. The first thing mentioned was regarding Qi Ke’s sudden disappearance.
Someone said, don’t know who harmed Qi Ke, but someone also said, many ominous matters have repeatedly happened in the capital recently, who knows, perhaps there’s some evil spirit wrecking havoc. As for the matter previously during mid-autumn connected to Qi Ke, everyone unexpectedly didn’t have the intention of avoiding too much. Although their phrasing was a bit reserved, but overall, they still started discussing.
Yu Lingxin, who was originally completely on guard, upon hearing these, instinctively glanced at Xun Ying by her side. The decree for this palace banquet this year was very clear, the womenfolk from each family that were invited were all mentioned by name. When issuing to the Xun family, there was even a eunuch that specifically came over to ask about Xun Ying’s body, whether or not she needed the imperial physician’s treatment. In other words, it was just blocking in advance the path of reporting in sick.
Actually, this was quite excessive. Yu Lingxin originally was going to bring Xun Ying over anyways, because in these past few days, Xun Ying was just increasingly thin, even her mind was somewhat in a daze. Yu Lingxin increasingly didn’t dare to leave Xun Ying alone, fearing that she might suddenly do something extreme. Moreover, letting her continue locking herself in her own little library reading those verses related to Qi Ke also wasn’t good. It was better to slightly come out for a walk and see people.
But, Yu Lingxin indeed didn’t expect that the first thing to be mentioned during the palace banquet was actually Qi Ke’s disappearance.
Xun Ying was actually still enduring as usual, having her head lowered. Even the corner of her lips were still forcibly bent, not revealing any excess emotions. Yu Lingxin was very sad, but there also wasn’t anything that can be said. She could only reach out to caress her shoulders, also lifting her eyes to look at Ming Jinrou upon the banquet seat in the distance. When their eyes met, they both somewhat sighed.
However, fortunately, the topic of Qi Ke very quickly got put down for the time being. What was brought up next was just Wei Wang Manor’s big fire. Although they’ve already investigated for more than a month, searching and arresting people, the interrogations and examinations having already been going on for a long time, but towards the true culprit behind Wei Wang Manor’s big fire, there was still no conclusion.
Everyone talked back and forth. The ones that were increasingly frank with their words still pointed towards the crown prince. Thus, on the womenfolk side of the palace banquet, their eyes naturally could only gaze in the direction of the crown princess.
Ming Jinrou recently also lost a bit of weight, but the heroic spirit in her bright eyes was still there, looking around back at them with a smile on her lips, clearly not getting affected. Seeing her expression, Yu Lingxin also slightly relaxed.
Very soon, another round of dishes were served, and the discussion regarding Wei Wang Manor’s big fire also more or less concluded. Right when Yu Lingxin thought that this topic more or less should end and change, she suddenly heard an unfamiliar madam laugh and say, “Actually, this matter, also have another saying. Although it sounds even more brilliant than the playbooks, but carefully thinking it over, it’s not unreasonable. Has anyone heard of it before?”
Asking like this wasn’t it equal to not asking? But, everyone indeed wanted to hear some fresh gossip.
That madam chuckled again, unexpectedly giving an explanation. And this saying really shocked everyone————–Since the Wei Wang Manor’s fire had burned that intensely, that many bodies charred and deformed, then who can really confirm that the one that died in the main courtyard was really Wei Wang? How do we know that it’s not a substitute that’s similar in height and build to Wei Wang? Perhaps, Wei Wang just didn’t want to go to the northwest to suffer, so found himself a substitute and faked his death, then personally poured the oil and lit the fire in his own manor. In that way, outsiders naturally won’t be able to find the culprit no matter how they investigate, and the dirty water can only be randomly poured on someone else.
If previously when discussing about the fire, Li Consort was still a sorrowful and grieving look, then hearing this, it was practically changing face in an instant.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, everyone else more or less were like having suddenly come to realization. Moreover, the more they thought about it, the more they felt it made sense———–Indeed, Wei Wang perhaps has already changed his name and ran off by now, who says that he must be dead?
And at this time, don’t know who suddenly blurted out, “That Gentleman Qi who has disappeared for many days, wasn’t his figure more or less the same as Wei Wang’s?”
‘Pah!’
Xun Ying’s hand unexpectedly slipped. Although she didn’t overturn the cup, being in a sorry state to that serious of a degree, but the chopsticks ultimately did slip from her hand. Her pretty little face that was originally just somewhat pale thoroughly lost all blood, practically tremblingly gazing towards Yu Lingxin. Yu Lingxin also suddenly felt chills down her back, her entire heart feeling bitter.
She naturally had discussed with Xun Che before about whether or not Wei Wang had faked his death. Just, she didn’t feel that if Wei Wang had faked his death, it was just for the sake of personal pleasure, avoiding the cold and poor fief. Wei Wang faking his death was actually just for the sake of the current situation, framing the crown prince, letting Xuan Emperor produce suspicions towards the crown prince, as well as causing fear and chaos in the capital. All of this was for the sake of being able to secretly mobilize an army and send a general, cooperating in the possible revolt.
But, she completely didn’t consider that the substitute that was similar in stature and age with Wei Wang, that got burned to death in Wei Wang Manor’s main courtyard, might be Qi Ke!
Of course, the ones that were incomparably shocked weren’t just Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying. Suddenly linking these two matters together, the entire Yanqing Hall was all endlessly shocked. Even the empress and Li Consort both momentarily blanked. Afterwards, everyone’s discussion was practically just like a pot boiling over, very lively. Absolutely no one noticed Xun Ying’s momentary slip-up.
But, a moment later, everyone’s eyes still gradually gathered on the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s table. More accurately, it was gathering on Xun Ying.
Yu Lingxin carefully listened a little, the sweat on her back also followed layer after layer———–Someone actually mentioned, although Wei Wang indeed had raised delicate and pretty book boys before, Wei Wang overall still liked women more, especially liking Xun Ying, this kind of fair and elegant little scholar girl. Regardless of whether it was the appearance of the songstresses in the manor, or the style of the consorts and concubines after marrying, one was all able to make this out in every way. Back then, during the mid-autumn palace banquet, perhaps the one he was scheming against was precisely Xun Ying.
And Xun Ying seemingly was also acquainted with Qi Ke in the past?
For the words to be said to this degree, Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin both changed in complexion, “What does everyone mean by this? The dead should be respected. Never mind that discussing to this degree still isn’t enough, you all even want to have the living implicated too?”
But, Xun Ying’s situation indeed wasn’t too good. Someone immediately just answered back, “This shouldn’t be considered implicating? Just now, when talking about Gentleman Qi and Wei Wang’s matter, just look at your family’s young miss. This is feeling sad for which one of the two? Or both………
“Alright!” Empress Wen first opened her mouth to interrupt, “This is really daring to say anything. Miss Xun certainly won’t overstep her boundaries like this, right, Wen’an Marchioness, young madam?”
Ming Huayue, Yu Lingxin, and also Xun Ying unexpectedly got personally called on by the empress. Different from the idle chatter and arguments just now, they could only slightly get up and curtsy, “Yes.”
“However,” The empress paused. In her amiable look, there seemingly were some other implications added in, “As the saying goes, wind from an empty cave may not necessarily be soundless. Never mind that scholar of unknown origins, if the matter were to touch upon the posthumous reputation of an imperial prince, it’s still better for Miss Xun to explain clearly.”
T/N: This is a xiao, it’s a vertical flute usually made from bamboo.
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