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

Chapter 30 - Ancestor Worship Ceremony

Teng Qianyi was so shocked she immediately stood, her whole body was shaking as she shouted, "You lowly servant, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Xue Junliang glanced at Teng Qianyi and scolded, "Impudent."

Jiang Yu was quick to give order, "Push her down."

Guards came forward and pushed Teng Qianyi back on the floor.

Jiao Shui continued as if not afraid of her own mistress, crying, "Empress, please spare this servant's life, this servant was forced into doing the crime. Teng-fei had already had a few people killed to cover the crime, accusing them of stealing. If this servant hasn't been serving Teng-fei for a long time, this servant would have already been dead, too... This servant cannot apologize enough even if this servant were to die, but this servant is willing to die to prove my innocence."

Teng Yun who had been looking down at Jiao Shui, looked up towards Teng Qianyi; his hands were shaking. Although Teng Qianyi could never know that Teng Yun had been occupying the original Empress' body, but they were still blood-relatives. He could not believe Teng Qianyi had wanted to harm him.

True that, in the Imperial Harem, it was a common thing a wife used every dirty tricks available just to climb up to the highest position, because if she succeed she would receive the greatest favor from the king, and if she didn't she would be ignored or even be banned to the Cold Palace.

But for Teng Yun, he might not be close with Teng Qianyi, but he still considered her a blood-relative; a family member in this Xue Country where he had no one he was familiar with.

Teng Yun felt his faith started to crumble. Teng Qianyi's action only create one crack, but for so many years, all of his brothers had cheated and mistreated him; his father had been harboring suspicions and envy towards him. Every betrayal created a crack, and those cracks had become a big fracture.

And to think that the ones who treat him so badly were his own relatives; not his enemy, Xue Junliang...

Teng Yun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Instead of become calmer, his heart began to beat even more rapidly. Teng Qianyi's action would be considered a huge offense, but the problem was; she wasn't just implicating her own position as a consort, but also Teng Country where she came from. Based on what he knew of Xue Junliang's cunning nature, he would definitely seize this incident as an excuse to destroy Teng Country.

Xue Junliang thought the Empress would be happy knowing she could get rid of one rival; at the very least, he thought she would be as calm and indifferent as always. But then he noticed the other person's pale face and could not understand why she looked so.

For a time, no one said anything other than Jiao Shui's cries. Not knowing what would be done about this case, Jiang Yu started to get anxious. In the end, he pulled up his courage and said, "Da Wang, it's almost time. Isn't it better to go first?"

Xue Junliang nodded, "Jiang Yu is right. For the time being, Teng Qianyi is not allowed to go anywhere. Gu will deal with you later. As for Jiao Shui... You've done good by confessing, Gu hasn't had idea to whom you'll be re-assigned, so for now you'll follow Gu."

Jiao Shui's eyes widened as she took a sharp breath. Pretending to shed one or two drops of pitiful tears, she kowtowed to thank Xue Wang.

The trip could not be delayed any longer. Marquis Zhenjiang, Xue Yu had arrived in the Palace and was waiting for Xue Wang and the Empress to be ready.

Xiu Yao supported her mistress and said, "Empress, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Teng Yun shook his head. Xue Junliang had just climbed into his carriage but he heard Xiu Yao's question. A servant was holding the curtain open, but Xue Junliang didn't enter his carriage, instead he turned and said, "Empress can ride with Gu."