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

Chapter 41 - Not a Word Was Incorrect

Xue Junliang saw the Empress' expression turned cloudy so he asked, "What is it? Are you not feeling well? Should we call the royal physician?"

Teng Yun bit his lower lip and said, "Your Majesty, you don't have to fuss over me this much."

"Why? Why do you suddenly say so?" Xue Junliang said with a smile, "If I don't fuss over you, who else should I fuss over? Or are you uncomfortable with my fussing over you? Afraid you'll be moved?"

Teng Yun said, "To tell the truth, I really am moved, but it's because of how you treat Marquis Wannian."

Xue Junliang immediately said, "Then tell me how your beloved relatives treat you."

Teng Yun was silent for a time, recalling his past, before saying, "Since I was born, I had never felt I had relatives who loved me... The only one who loves me sincerely; the one teaching me reading and writing, is not a family member, but a marquis who'd been granted the family's surname. All my life, I've been wondering, how come my family members treat me so coldly, yet someone who is not family could treat me so kindly?"

Xue Junliang then asked lowly, "What about your younger brother?"

Teng Yun knew that Xue Junliang meant Feng Wang, the original Empress' younger brother from the same mother; but Teng Yun, too, had a younger brother from the same mother.

Just like Feng Wang who had tried to get his sister killed, Teng Yun's younger brother, too, had tried to get Teng Yun killed but failed. Later, Teng Yun's younger brother went to his vassal territory where he built his own military power. Teng Yun remembered, that time he had just returned from war in the border and was immediately sent to subdue his younger brother's rebellion.

Teng Yun didn't say anything as answer, but Xue Junliang who had also grown up in the Imperial Palace, knew exactly what the Empress was thinking. Beside Xue Houyang, Xue Junliang had many other brothers. Those brothers, just like Xue Yu, all wanted him dead. Xue Junliang had to remove all of them so he could live well and happy.

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After the day he heard Chen Yi's warnings, Xue Junliang changed all the guards around Yunfeng Palace and strengthened the protection in and around the Imperial Palace. Although he didn't doubt the three He brothers' loyalty towards the Empress, they were still too reckless for his liking, so he didn't stack all his bet entirely on them.

With only a few days of preparation, Xue Houyang and Teng Shang were ready to go. The refugees would not wait for long and Teng Xin had been mobilizing his soldiers for quite some time; they had to quickly go subdue the rebellion before it was too late.

Xue Junliang held a small farewell banquet at the Palace Gate and ordered Xue Houyang sat next to him. Teng Shang went to Yunfeng Palace's gate. When Jiao Shui noticed him standing outside the gate, she led him in and to the main room where the Empress was.

Teng Yun didn't expect Teng Shang would come to see him by himself. Perhaps Teng Shang was a bit doubtful about what Teng Yun had said the other day. Teng Yun had only said one sentence, not enough to explain anything, so Teng Shang must be coming to inquire about it.

Teng Yun allowed Teng Shang to take a seat and ordered Xiu Yao pour him tea.

"What brings Master Teng here?"

Because there were Xiu Yao, Jiao Shui and other palace maids in the room, Teng Shang could not plainly ask what he had in mind. Teng Shang paused for a second before finally saying, "I'll be leaving soon, but before leaving, I decided to come here. I heard Your Majesty is very intelligent and clever; that time, we could successfully defeat Cheng Tian's attack was all thanks to Your Majesty's planning, so I wish to ask your guidance for the success of this task."