The Ugly Empress by Yun Guo Shi Fei / 丑娘娘 by 云过是非

Chapter 17 - Son

---

The new consort hadn't even climbed into the dragon bed before she was thrown out of Xue Wang's residence. This news became the source of great amusement among the residents of the Imperial Harem, including the imperial consorts.

[T/N : I'm sure many of you have known, but I just wanted to remind you that dragon is the symbol for kings and emperors, while the phoenix is the symbol for the queens and empresses.]

Since Xue Junliang ascended the throne, he had only ever favored Defei. She was young, beautiful and also well-educated. Furthermore, Defei was also backed up by her older brother, the Great General Zuo. On the contrary, Teng Qianyi was only a foreigner, who was used to be pampered...

At the moment, Xiu Yao was doing Teng Yun's hair, smiling all the way, "Your Majesty, you're so lucky. His Majesty has picked your nameplate three days in a row."

Needless to say, Teng Yun was unhappy. For any other wives, being called to Da Wang's bed to serve him was a fortunate thing. But for Teng Yun, it was hell.

Xue Junliang enjoyed teasing Teng Yun, even after promising he wouldn't touch and force Teng Yun to do anything Teng Yun was unwilling to do. But in Teng Yun's mind, Xue Junliang was still Xue Junliang. Sleeping on the same bed and same pillow, let alone planning to kill the man, Teng Yun couldn't even sleep.

Teng Yun hadn't slept properly in three days and it'd started to show, so Xue Junliang had summoned the royal physician to examine Teng Yun and reminded Teng Yun to rest well before attending the morning court assembly.

The royal physician felt Teng Yun's pulse but couldn't find anything wrong. He only said that the Empress' body was fragile but it was nothing a good bed-rest could not cure. When the physician left, Teng Yun immediately led Xiu Yao hurry back to Yunfeng Palace, fearing Xue Junliang would soon come back from the morning court and wouldn't let Teng Yun go.

Xue Junliang didn't see the Empress when he came back to his residence and knew this Empress was avoiding him, not because of fear... but because she disliked him, or even thought he was not worth her time.

This made Xue Junliang, a respectable king, felt so unbearable. Therefore, Xue Junliang always deliberately teased the Empress. Looking at her expression as if she was contemplating to attack him, Xue Junliang's heart was somehow happy.

Watching Xue Junliang smiling strangely, Jiang Yu came up with a thought. He said, "Da Wang, please forgive this old servant for speaking out of turn.... Da Wang only has one son. The Empress is gentle and proper, so maybe it's time to let the royal physician make her a new prescription?"

Xue Junliang was silent for a moment before smiling, "You think I should have another son, and that son will come from the Empress?"

"This old servant doesn't intend to be presumptuous."

Xue Junliang said, "So even you think the Empress is suitable?"

This time, Jiang Yu did not speak anymore and Xue Junliang didn't ask more questions. But Jiang Yu was wrong; even if the royal physician made her a prescription, the Empress would never become pregnant, not because Xue Junliang's lack of effort, but because the Empress simply ignored Xue Junliang.

Other people's harem might have many wives and many sons, but Xue Junliang was different. All the consorts that had slept with him was given prescription by the royal physician to prevent them pregnant with a son. That was also the reason Defei was favored for so many years yet she hadn't had a single child.

Xue Junliang had his reason. That was because the fight for the throne was fierce and cruel, and he didn't want to subject his children to that. He had experienced it himself, naturally he knew the fight was full of treachery and tricks. Of course, he, too, had done many treacherous things.

Xue Junliang scrutinized a rolled parchment for a while before suddenly looking up, "If this time the Empress come back here, I'll consider giving her a child."

Jiang Yu wasn't sure what he meant. Xue Junliang threw the rolled parchment in his hand to him and said, "This was sent by the ambassador from Feng Country. Said that Feng Wang missed his sister and hoped the Empress could come visit her hometown."

"This..." Jiang Yu had no words.

Xue Junliang waved a hand while the other hand massaged his temple, "Send Marquis Wannian's summoning placate."

"Yes."

---

This few days, Xue Houyang had been taking care of Teng Shang. Teng Shang was supposed to live at the embassy, but because of his health he'd been staying at the Marquis' Residence. The people in the Marquis' Residence all treated Teng Shang kindly without discriminating his identity.

Xue Houyang didn't always come to see Teng Shang, but he'd ordered his close servant to take care of Teng Shang in his stead. Xue Houyang was afraid the other person would hate him if he showed up. After all, they were both men. Teng Shang must've wanted to maintain his dignity.

Xue Houyang gazed at Teng Shang from afar. Teng Shang was currently absorbed in a book in the pavilion. A servant girl came up from behind him giggling, "Lord Marquis, why are you acting so sneaky?"

"..."

Xue Houyang stroked his temple and said, "Lower your voice. You've been behaving more and more insolent."

"Lord Marquis, save your lecture for another time. You also don't have to worry over Master Teng. Da Wang send you a summoning placate!"

"Then I should go enter the Palace. Prepare my horse."

---

[T/N : Next chapter we're going to see some familiar names. Please, look forward to it!]