Chapter 74: Freezing cold like knives
云姬 – yun ji, yun is the surname, which means cloud, and ji is a title for a mistress
Prime Minister’s Residence
Da furen quickly rushed back to the prime minister’s residence and couldn’t even be concerned with monitoring Li Wei Yang. This was because Li Xiao Ran left for three days and actually bought back a new concubine. What was different was that this time, Li Xiao Ran didn’t let Da furen know beforehand.
This meant that Li Xiao Ran didn’t respect her as he used to. Thinking about this, since the voodoo incident, he hadn’t visited her once. Usually, Da furen was able to bear with it but this time, she couldn’t withstand anymore. She hurriedly returned with Li Chang Le and found out Li Xiao Ran bought his new beauty out to a banquet and wasn’t home. Anger turned into repression to the point of Anger turned into repression to the point of gritting her teeth until blood could be tasted. She tossed and turned throughout the night and even forgot to ask about Li Wei Yang’s whereabouts. The next morning, she was still feeling restless and immediately sent people to summon the newly arrived beauty Yun Ji.
Da furen held the teacup in her hands and stared at Concubine Yun who was in front of her.
This woman had a snow white complexion and the shape of her nose and face looked like they were attentively carved from a jade stone. Standing here, she was young like flowers and trees amidst a blizzard. Even though her beauty couldn’t rival against her beautiful daughter but she was absolutely a beauty that makes it difficult for people to direct their attention elsewhere. She strolled forth like a light breeze and elegantly greeted.
Seeing her youthful face, Da furen lost her mind for a moment, it was as if that woman then had returned. Soon, a flame began to form in her heart, so Lao Ye had never forgotten that woman! But since she had been in the residence long enough, even though she despised Yun Ji, she didn’t express. She smiled slightly as she walked forth and called her to hold out her hand and took a look. Yun Ji’s fingers were like spring onions, fine and long, her palm was also beautiful. Da furen also asked for her age and where was her home.
Yun Ji said: “Nubi is called Yun Mei, sixteen years old, Changzhou native.”
Her voice was as melodious as orioles, her teeth was fine like jade. Da furen angrily hated: This was a face of pity, no wonder even though Li Xiao Ran had countless new concubines, he still took her in.
Yun Ji didn’t dare to look at Da furen’s stare because even though this mistress of the house had on a face of smile, her gaze was deep; it seemed like she would swallow her or take something out from her body.
“Oh.” Da furen realized she was not acting properly and put on a more gentle and elegant smile: “You don’t have to be afraid. It’s just that seeing how beautiful you look, I feel happy for Lao ye.” She slightly set her gaze and thought: “It’s just that the name Mei er is too vulgar. I will give you a new name, how about simply be called Yun Ruo. It shows that you’re elegant and generous, what do you think?”
Yun Ji lowered her head, her lips curved down, she was obviously unhappy.
Da furen couldn’t believe that this girl seemed young but was actually very stubborn deep down. She was a bit annoyed but didn’t know why, after being disfavored, she was easily irritated but she didn’t express it. To deal with this bitch, there were many ways. Her eyes looked around and then astonishingly changed her idea: “Scrap that, it seems like this name is not as good. You should temporarily be called Yun Mei. Let’s wait until Lao ye is free, then we’ll give you a new name!”
Yun Ji saluted again and she became alerted that Da furen was very good at observing others.
Right at this time, a maidservant came to report the arrival of Lao ye.
Da furen slowly lifted her head, her gaze staring at Li Xiao Ran as he strolled in --- although she didn’t want to reveal a bitter expression but she couldn’t help it.
This time, he didn’t consult with her and bought someone home, it was just too humiliating to her.
Li Xiao Ran saw Yun Ji and her face seemed to show she was being wronged. His face immediately showed unpleasantness. But he after all had a sense of propriety so he only calmly said: “You should leave first, I have something to speak with Furen.”
Just in the middle of this conversation, Lin Mama suddenly walked in abruptly and whispered a few words to Da furen. Da furen’s expression changed and asked: “Is it true?”
Lin Mama smilingly said: “Yes, your old maidservant had verified.”
Da furen was stunned, her eyes showed an undetectable bliss. Originally, she wanted to say something to Li Xiao Ran about Yun Ji. Now that she heard about Li Wei Yang’s disappearance and didn’t return to the residence. She was very happy and was determined to put aside Yun Ji and finish off Li Wei Yang.
After Yun Ji retreated, Da furen suddenly showed a positive expression: “Lin Mama, let others leave us, I have to speak to Lao ye.” She felt this sentence was like a blade slowly removing from her mouth yet her tone was surprisingly happy.
Li Xiao Ran thought she was going to blame him for not telling her in advance about Yun Ji, a fleeting thunder flashed across his face.
Da furen knew Li Xiao Ran really well but at this moment, her face was expressionless. Her eyes hid an undetectable cunningness: “Lao ye, it is another important thing that I want to speak with you about.”
Li Xiao Ran’s face relaxed and he waved his hands to ask others to retreat.
Thinking about getting rid of Li Wei Yang, Da furen felt a surge of blood flowing to her throat, making it difficult to swallow. She walked to him and raised her head, her face revealed an expression of anxiousness: “This situation is also my responsibility, this makes me feel very guilty, but now that it has happened, I have to tell Lao ye the truth.”
Her voice was light yet each word was spoken like ice.
Li Xiao Ran frowned: “Don’t be mysterious, quickly say it.”
Da furen felt proud yet her face showed hesitant: “Yesterday, we went to Princess Yongning’s residence for her banquet. Lao furen’s friend suddenly came so she immediately returned. Coincidentally, I didn’t feel well so I returned with her. Since we were all leaving and it was difficult to justify this to the princess, we let Wei Yang and Min De stay behind at the banquet.”
In fact, Lao furen was thinking at that time to test whether Li Wei Yang was able to handle the situation alone; Da furen didn’t take her seriously.
“Afterwards?” Li Xiao Ran sensed something was wrong.
Da furen showed a guilty expression: “Afterwards, I had a very bad headache so I laid down to rest. I thought Wei Yang and Min De wouldn’t come back by themselves. Who would have known that just now someone informed me that our Li family’s carriage was discovered on the official road. There were also our guards by the side and all these people were dead. Even worse was Wei Yang and Min De disappeared……”
The carriage was attacked!
Li Xiao Ran felt a string of ice piercing into his brain and all the pores tightened. His body was motionless, his lips were stiff like wood and didn’t make any noise. He was most afraid that something would happen in the family and was even worried that this matter had more to it!
“Who has the audacity!” After that, he was greatly angered, he was like a ruthless wolf staring hard at Da furen. He grinded his teeth and fury continued to emerge, he squeezed out a few words through his teeth: “Dare to touch our family’s carriage!”
Da furen had never seen such an assertive gesture from Li Xiao Ran. She was surprised for a moment and then said: “Yes, these people are very bold, not only did they attach the carriage, but they also captured Wei Yang and Min De! What we fear now ---“
“What do you mean!” Li Xiao Ran roared, his eyes almost spitted out flame. He couldn’t believe that someone dared to touch the Li family’s carriage in the capital and even kidnapped his daughter. Even though he didn’t have deep feelings towards Li Wei Yang but he felt that this violated his authority, “Send people to look for them, immediately send people to bring Wei Yang and Min De back!”
San furen had just passed away and now they lost her adopted son. If others knew of this, they might think he coveted the third household’s assets! They had to find Min De immediately!
“Lao ye, the most important thing is not this, they had disappeared for a night!” Da furen confronted his gaze fearlessly, needle-like light had emerged from her eyes, “I’m afraid Wei Yang had already lost her chastity!”
Li Xiao Ran was stabbed by those needle-like eyes --- no, it should be said he was completely shocked. For a moment, he was just standing still, the muscles on his face began to writhed violently as if they were squeezed by an invisible hand.
Da furen noticed that the blue veins on Li Xiao Ran’s face were about to explode and was writhing like earthworms. Monstrous anger gradually flashed from his eyes, showing how furious he was, her face seemed to be more uneasy: “Lao ye, if we bring Wei Yang back, the Li family’s reputation and face would all be gone!”
A noble daughter had disappeared overnight, Li Xiao Ran couldn’t help but imagine how much humiliation would be bought upon to the Li family, how would his colleagues think of him, how would the Emperor think of him! He suddenly became calm, his face looked like it had be covered by a layer of fuzzy steeled mask, “Your words, what do they actually mean?”
This sentence touched Da furen’s deepest secretive thoughts. Usually, she would play the generous mother and wait until Lao ye thought about the consequences of the incident. Then, she would be the good person and send Li Wei Yang to the temple to spend the rest of her life. This way, it wouldn’t make Li Xiao Ran doubt her intentions and she could also maintain her usual image in front of everyone. But this time, she didn’t continue to hold back and mentioned it first. Yes, she wanted to grab ahold of this opportunity and put Li Wei Yang to death! Even though Da furen was thinking about this, but when Li Xiao Ran was doubtful, there was a trace of fear in her heart. So she immediately adjusted her emotions and her color of her face turned mournful: “Lao ye, I don’t have a shred of selfishness, I am really worried about Wei Yang, she is such a good girl and she hadn’t been engaged to someone yet. In the future, if others know of this, who would marry her?” Saying this, she took her handkerchief to hid her eyes as if to show she was speaking with sincerity.
Li Xiao Ran coldly sneered yet didn’t smile, his mouth was partly opened. Even though he thought Da furen was acting, but he couldn’t not admit what she was saying was right! He stared at her bitterly and immediately said: “Then how should we handle this matter?”
Da furen pretended to be surprised and said: “Yes, I am also concerned over this, let’s send people to bring her back, then we will discuss what we should do! I just want Lao ye to be prepared!”
Li Xiao Ran was startled, a hint of coldness flashed across his eyes. He waved his hand and loudly said: “Summon the steward!”
Footsteps were immediately heard as they left quickly.
Li Xiao Ran sat down and drank a sip of tea. He felt uneasy and he sighed: “If she come home alive, it would be huge trouble!”
Da furen slightly smiled and then hid her smile, she walked forth and said: “Lao ye, don’t worry, Wei Yang might come home alive!”
Li Xiao Ran suddenly didn’t know what to say as he sat blankly for a while. Just when he was about to stand out to think of countermeasures, someone came in to report: “San Xiaojie returned!”
Li Xiao Ran watched Li Wei Yang slowly approached and suddenly felt surprised.
Before Li Wei Yang came back, she carefully dressed herself up. A hibiscus picked from the garden was inserted into her hair. She used an eyebrow pencil to lightly draw her brows in a very light color that it was difficult for one to see. There was also a light layer of powder on her face with rouge spread across her cheeks and lip. It seemed like she had makeup yet no makeup as well, making her look fresh and beautiful. This was because if she didn’t apply makeup today, it couldn’t conceal her exhaustion from a sleepless night. However, in the eyes of others, Li Wei Yang who never applied powder on her face, was filled with youthful vitality throughout her body. Not one spot of her was not fresh or pure, like flowers that blossomed in the morning, carrying a never before seen vivacity.
Li Xiao Ran keenly noticed that Li Wei Yang had a silver hairpin on her hair. Usually, he wouldn’t notice but he didn’t know why he noticed today. This was made of the purest silver, the middle of the hairpin was cut hollow, the shape was like lifelike flowers. On it were silver flowers and buds, the heart of flowers was laid with colorful gemstones that emitted seven-colored light when shone by sunshine. Worn on the head, it was burning with beauty and added to Li Wei Yang’s beauty.
“Wei Yang, you are finally back!” Da furen eagerly greeted her yet venomous things loomed in her eyes.