10 The Appearance of the Love Rival

Feng Xia Qi’s coronation was somewhat hasty but he truly sat upon the imperial throne. Yue Bai Lian also sat firmly on the seat of Empress. None expected Feng Xia Qi to pa.s.s an edict to confer Lan You Nian as Feng Empire’s junzhu (T/N: a second-rate princess t.i.tle). Not only did she have a salary but she also received a fiefdom. This has never happened before. Not to mention the actual princesses, some t.i.tled princes didn’t even have fiefdoms.

Though many ministers were dissatisfied that a woman easily obtained a t.i.tle and fiefdom, none dared to submit a complaint. First, both the Emperor and the Empress pa.s.sed this decree. Second, behind Lan You Nian, she had, not only Lan manor as her backing, but Jing manor as well. Thirdly and the most important, Lan You Nian was now Prince Ming’s future wife. Just based on this status, the ministers didn’t dare do anything, for Prince Ming paid no heed to the laws and totally capable of slaughtering them.

When Lan You Nian received the imperial decree, she was completely stunned, but very quickly, she came to her senses and accepted the imperial decree. She stood as she accepted the imperial decree. The one to deliver the imperial decree of Eunuch Lu, the eunuch who now serves by Feng Xia Qi’s side. Meanwhile, Feng Xuan has already become the Supreme Emperor spending his days joyously in his palace.

Eunuch Lu looked at the expressionless Lan junzhu and felt a sliver of admiration. Only Prince Ming and Lan junzhu dared to stand as they received an imperial decree in Feng Empire. No wonder the two ended up together. If such people didn’t end up together, it would be a pity.

Once Lan You Nian accepted the decree, she was now Feng Empire’s only junzhu. Hua Mu Qing didn’t count since Hua Mu Qing was already married to Lan Mo Xian and given the t.i.tle of Matron of the second grade. Feng Empire only had Lan You Nian, this junzhu. There wasn’t even a princess. One can imagine Lan You Nian’s status was over the top.

After Lan You Nian accepted the imperial decree, she returned to You Nian Pavilion. She knew Feng Yi Xuan will come to You Nian Pavilion to accompany her after he was dismissed from court. No matter how busy, he would always come over to see her before going over to the military camp. This was a habit that formed over time.

Sure enough, not long after, Feng Yi Xuan came over to You Nian Pavilion. It must be mentioned that Feng Yi Xuan was very busy. Everyday, on the surface, it seemed he was returning to Prince Ming manor but once he entered Prince Ming manor, he didn’t even leave a greeting before using qinggong to race to Lan manor. Every morning at sunrise, he’d use qinggong to return to Prince Ming manor where he’d depart for court.

“You’ve received the imperial decree?” Feng Yi Xuan neatened Lan You Nian’s outfit. He was aware of the matter, that is to say, he was the one who had his imperial brother pa.s.s it.

Originally, Feng Yi Xuan didn’t think of this matter, but one day, Feng Yi Xuan heard some gossip. Those people said that Lan You Nian’s ident.i.ty as the general’s daughter wasn’t worthy of war G.o.d, Prince Ming. At that moment Feng Yi Xuan heard this, he directly killed that person with the loose tongue. For Feng Yi Xuan, between him and Nian Nian, there didn’t exist the question of worthiness. They existed for each other. But Feng Yi Xuan knew gossip was a fearful thing. He wasn’t willing to let Nian Nian get hurt, even if it was just gossip. He won’t allow for it, so he had Feng Xia Qi pa.s.s the decree to confer Nian Nian as junzhu, as well as a fiefdom. He wanted to prevent those young ladies of ministerial families from provoking Nian Nian.

“En, you did it?” Lan You Nian was surprised as she asked this. Though Feng Xia Qi them treated her well, this kind of imperial edict wouldn’t be sent down for no reason. Hence, Lan You Nian guessed that it was her man who did it. Lan You Nian was a little money h.o.a.rder, so she was able to accept it calmly.

Feng Yi Xuan carried Lan You Nian onto the carriage, and admitted without attempting to hide anything, “En, you don’t like?” Though Feng Yi Xuan did this for Lan You Nian’s own good, Feng Yi Xuan hoped Lan You Nian would be happy. If Nian Nian was unhappy, he would have imperial brother take back the imperial decree.

Lan You Nian shook her head, beaming as she said, “It’s excellent! With this ident.i.ty, a lot of things will be much simpler. I won’t need to greet those superficial young ladies of ministerial families!” While Lan You Nian’s outward appearance was that of a highly cultured and proper with a slight otherwordly air, she didn’t like to speak irrelevantly with strangers.

“Once you marry me, you’ll be Princess Consort Ming. This ident.i.ty would be even better to use!” Feng Yi Xuan thought of this with joy. He’s been waiting for Nian Nian to grow up to marry her home. This has become Feng Yi Xuan’s greatest desire.

Lan You Nian didn’t refute Feng Yi Xuan’s claims, and asked directly, “Where are we going now?” Once they settled into the carriage, she saw the carriage was heading out of the capital. Lan You Nian couldn’t remember having any plans and was naturally confused.

“There’s nothing happening in court. Let’s take a walk outside?” Feng Yi Xuan asked, though he was decided on this matter. Recently because of Feng Yi Xuan’s ascension, the court needed to be cleaned up; hence why Feng Yi Xuan was so busy. Though his care for Lan You Nian was still the same, the two of them haven’t gone out to take a stroll like this for a long time. Feng Yi Xuan knew Lan You Nian liked her freedom, so once he had time, he’ll take Lan You Nian out to sight-see.

Upon hearing they were going out to play, Lan You Nian glowed with a light only a girl her age would emit, a brilliant smile hung on her face. Lan You Nian liked being able to go play at various places without any burdens, to experience the variety of landscapes and enjoy this freedom that belonged solely to her.

They didn’t go far, for they still needed to return to the capital by nighttime, so the two of them only made a visit to a town outside the capital. The people of the capital might be able to recognize them but the people of other places only knew their name but didn’t know what they looked like, so Feng Yi Xuan walked on the streets with Lan You Nian without concealment, though Lan You Nian’s face was covered by a veil while Feng Yi Xuan also wore a small mask that covered down to his nose.

The two found an ordinary an ordinary noodle shop in the small town to eat the most simple bowl of noodles. Maybe because of the person by their side, the two ate with relish. In the afternoon, the two took a stroll in the town that didn’t have much of a crowd, observing the town’s local customs.

Neither Feng Yi Xuan and Lan You Nian expected to encounter Yue Empire’s procession for the peace marriage. Yue Empire’s procession that came to congratulate the ascension of the new emperor only had a couple hundred people, mostly just guards and palace maids. Riding a horse in the middle of the procession was the princess who came for the peace marriage, Yue Bing Yu.

Yue Bing Yu was Yue Empire’s truly favored princess. This woman was well-known in Yue Empire, not only because of Yue Bing Yu’s beautiful looks but most importantly because of this Yue Bing Yu’s intelligence and singularity. Yue Bing Yu not only was well-read, she can also ride a horse and handle a bow. Amongst women, she was considered a miracle, but that is only before Lan You Nian became known. Lan You Nian’s current reputation has spread through all four empires, for her ident.i.ty as Miss Miao Yin wasn’t to be underestimated.

Feng Yi Xuan held Lan You Nian as they stood beside the road. Though the two were persons of ident.i.ty and wouldn’t give the way to anyone, but now the two of them were secretive outside, like ordinary people, that is, if you are able to disregard their looks and bearings.

Lan You Nian leaned against Feng Yi Xuan’s chest, looking at the so-called most beautiful woman in the world. Oh, no, it should be the previous great beauty, for the t.i.tle of number one beauty has been taken by Lan You Nian, while this Yue Bing Yu has became the second.

Yue Bing Yu wore a pure white and bright b.u.t.terfly and daffodil gown. The hem was was thin as cicada wings. The golden silk brocade skirt that was merely decoration dragged on the ground. Slender arms gently pulled on soft gauze, every gesture added a sense of elegance and otherworldliness.

The beauty of the country, a beauty that could ruin a country, nothing more. Lan You Nian wanted to laugh. Having heard the rumors, Lan You Nian wished to what this most singular woman was like, for Bai Lian’s air and looks were extraordinary, but with only one glance, Lan You Nian didn’t have any interest.

Have you seen someone dressed so grandly while riding a horse? Lan You Nian can be certain this woman must feel like riding in the carriage would cover up her limelight; hence why she showed off this way. From first glance, this woman was beautiful but Lan You Nian could still tell she was done up by heavy makeup. In an instant, Lan You Nian couldn’t compare to half of Bai Lian.

Just as Lan You Nian was about to retract her gaze with disinterest, Yue Bing Yu suddenly glanced in their direction. No, she was looking at Feng Yi Xuan. Perhaps woman were born with the sensitivity to other women coveting their man, so Lan You Nian clearly sensed Yue Bing Yu’s gaze held pa.s.sion and infatuation as she looked at Feng Yi Xuan. This feeling made Lan You Nian frown in displeasure. Feng Yi Xuan who had kept his whole attention on Lan You Nian immediately reached out a hand to smooth over Lan You Nian’s frown, until Lan You Nian’s frown smoothed out, only then did Feng Yi Xuan look at Yue Bing Yu.

When Yue Bing Yu saw the man dressed in the black brocade robes, Yue Bing Yu became bashful. Even if the man wore a mask, Yue Bing Yu still knew he was the Prince Ming Feng Yi Xuan she’s held in her thoughts for many years. Only Prince Ming had such a bearing. Yet before Yue Bing Yu could put on a shy expression, she saw the man who was like hard ice gently soften the frown of the woman beside him, his posture unspeakably tender and froze Yue Bing Yu to the core.

She knew this woman was Prince Ming’s fiance, Lan You Nian, known to the world as the most beautiful woman, Miss Miao Yin. For many years, Prince Ming didn’t approach any woman, but was extremely protective of his fiance. Yue Bing Yu knew this from her investigations but to see it with her own eyes, it was another feeling altogether, jealousy and deep unwillingness.

Feng Yi Xuan rode on the steed, staring at Yue Bing Yucoldly. It was this woman who let Nian Nian frown, so Feng Yi Xuan used his internal force to hit Yue Bing Yu’s horse. In an instant, the horse became startled and madly bucked its legs and ran. Though Yue Bing Yu was rumored to be skilled scholarly and in martial arts, but her martial arts was really just for show, so she fell joltingly from the back of the horse, becoming muddy all over her body and face. The originally beautiful clothes became crumbled.

Yue Bing Yu wanted to cry. She anxiously glanced at Feng Yi Xuan, afraid to see the disdain in Feng Yi Xuan’s eyes, but what Yue Bing Yu saw was even more depressing. Feng Yi Xuan didn’t even spare her a glance but left hugging the other woman, completely disregarding her.

“Why did you do that?” Lan You Nian sat on the carriage, asking. Though Feng Yi Xuan moved quickly, Lan You Nian could still see it with her martial arts.

“She made you frown!” Feng Yi Xuan was reluctant to let Nian Nian be unhappy and frown, yet someone else made Nian Nian unhappy, so Feng Yi Xuan must vent for Nian Nian, even if he didn’t know why Nian Nian was angry.

“Do you know her?” Lan You Nian demanded with an unhappy tone that mixed with jealousy she wasn’t aware of.

“Don’t know her but from the information about her, this woman is Yue Empire’s princess Yue Bing Yu, the one who came for the peace marriage!” Feng Yi Xuan told Lan You Nian everything he knew, very much like a loyal dog.

Lan You Nian was pleased with Feng Yi Xuan’s behavior but still felt unwell inside. She propped her chin on Feng Yi Xuan’s thigh, as she laid lazily on the carriage, fluttering her large eyes at Feng Yi Xuan, “She was looking at you. She likes you!”

Feng Yi Xuan was startled. He never pays attention to other women, so he didn’t know what Lan You Nian was talking about, but Feng Yi Xuan still showed where he stood on the matter, “I don’t like her. I only like you!”

Feng Yi Xuan’s simple words delighted Lan You Nian. If that woman dared to covet Feng Yi Xuan, she didn’t mind breaking another princess of Yue and send her back, just like Yue Qian Ling…