Chapter 76: Venomous Snake (corrected typos)
Wen Yao kept her word and took Jinyun to a locust tree to dig out a wild beehive. She carried Jinyun back to the camp, and Jinyun was still thinking about the hive being pulled down by the vines and the wild bees swarming out to swarm the rabbit. It was thrilling and exciting, and she clutched tightly at the large leaf that contained a large piece of the hive.
Seeing the two of them, the servants who had been wandering outside for a long time almost burst into tears.
No one had returned for such a long time that they almost thought something had happened to the princess and that they and their nine clans would be in danger of losing their lives.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" As soon as Wen Yao landed Jinyun, a group of people immediately rushed over and squeezed her out. The palace maid who had tried to stop Jinyun from chewing grass roots grabbed Jinyun, looked her up and down, and scolded her with a bit of heartache: "It's noon now, where have you been?"
She was talking to Jinyun, but her eyes kept glancing at Wen Yao.
Wen Yao hadn't expected to stay with Jinyun for so long. If Zhao Xuanxu had gone straight back to the camp, he would have been waiting for quite some time.
"I'm sorry." She smiled and bowed, "It's my negligence. I wasn't paying attention."
"What does it have to do with you?" Jinyun pushed away the people around him and said loudly, "I know my limits and will come back whenever I want!"
Wen Yao didn't say anything, but took a step back and slipped away while the situation was in chaos. She took off a piece of wild beehive hanging from a vine at her waist and swung it over to the tent where the Feather Guards were stationed. The Feather Guards, wearing heavy armor and holding spears, spontaneously moved to the sides to make way for Wen Yao.
Wen Yao walked briskly, lifted the curtain hanging in front of the door, bent down and entered the tent.
On the opposite side, Prince Yong happened to be half-supporting Xu out of the tent of Prince Yong's mansion. Looking up, he saw Wen Yao carrying a strange-looking straw bag and walking past the Lingyu Guards into the tent.
Prince Yong was dressed in a moon-white robe with gold threads flowing around the cuffs. He looked gentle and elegant. He smiled at Wen Yao, and the small mole between his eyebrows was vivid, as if he were a banished immortal. "My third brother is really inseparable from Commander Wen."
Xu also smiled and said, "You said that just now in front of the emperor, you heard that the commander agreed to run the Wu Zhao Si with Baili Cheng?" Recently, her body and face have become thinner than before. Her brows are furrowed, showing worry.
Anyone with a discerning eye knew that Commander Wen would be the one to contribute the most. However, the Emperor's words were final, so Wen Yao could only mention the status of the official, leaving Baili Cheng to benefit in the future. Baili Cheng was a confirmed member of the Prince of Qin's faction, which made it hard not to suspect that the Prince of Yan was deliberately trying to establish a close relationship with the Prince of Qin.
"If it were someone else, that might not be the case, but if it were the Third Prince, there's no way he would stand with the Fourth Prince." Prince Yong's eyes were clear, his voice soft and relaxed, tinged with a smile. "Commander Wen is a sincere man. Perhaps he's not doing this for fame or gain, but simply to help the court."
"Prince Yan actually allowed her to do something so misleading." Xu sighed, "Even someone like Prince Yan could be so genuinely affectionate towards Miss Wen."
Following behind them was Xu's young personal maid. Since both of her masters were gentle, the maid, who was always quick-witted, actually laughed and said, "Even though Wen Yao is a skilled martial artist, she's still just a layperson, without any family influence. If Prince Yan were to marry such a woman—"
The smile on Xu's face suddenly faded. She turned back in shock and said in a low voice, "Shut up! You have no right to be so talkative!"
The maid was stunned and didn't react immediately. But then Prince Yong glanced at her, and the look inexplicably made her shudder and wake up completely.
Realizing what she had just said, her face turned pale and she immediately knelt on the ground trembling, not daring to say a word.
"My third brother has made outstanding contributions." Prince Yong smiled. "In the future, the vassal kings will rely on this bravery and wisdom to defend the border. Why should they be involved with the forces within the court?"
The maidservant didn't know what she was thinking about, and nodded tremblingly: "Yes, yes, I spoke out of turn, I spoke out of turn!"
Xu felt a little reluctant and looked at her, but she didn't say anything, just sighed softly. Prince Yong patted her hand and said, "Lunch is about to begin. You're not feeling well, so try to avoid meat. I'll make you some porridge when I get back. You two, go and serve the princess."
He casually pointed at the two people following behind him, and without even turning his head, he said lightly, "Deal with them."
The maid's eyes widened as a man emerged from behind Prince Yong, covered her mouth, and dragged her into the tent behind him. There was a slight sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh, and the air was filled with the faint smell of blood.
In the tent opposite, Wen Yao lifted the curtain and walked in.
Zhao Xuanxu was sitting on the edge of a long couch, one foot raised and placed on a low stool, concentrating on peeling something.
"What is it?" Wen Yao, holding the straw rope, came closer curiously to take a look. She saw that the plate beside him was full of Torreya nuts. "You have the patience to peel out such a troublesome thing."
"Hmm." Zhao Xuanxu slowly peeled the last bit of Torreya grandis and put it aside: "Give it to Ayao."
"Come back and eat." Wen Yao held up the wild beehive and spun it around in front of Zhao Xuanxu. Then he pulled the unfocused Prince Yan to his feet and said, "I see everyone outside has gone out. Is it time to eat?"
On such occasions, lunch was still separated for men and women. The women dined in the tent with the empress, while the emperor and his ministers feasted outside.
"Hmm." Zhao Xuanxu lowered his eyes, carelessly rubbing a Torreya nut with his fingertips and crushing it, then casually scattering it on the ground. This act of wasting food quickly earned him a light slap on the back of his hand from Wen Yao. He took the opportunity to act like a rogue, pressing his entire body on Wen Yao's shoulders: "I won't go. I'm annoyed by those unsightly things and can't eat. You don't go either."
"You said you don't want to go, so why not?" Wen Yao pinched his face, pressing her thumb into the dimple on one side of Zhao Xuanxu's cheek, squeezing it and pulling it out. She pulled him up and walked out: "Go sit at the table, even if you can't eat. At worst, we can go home and have another meal. People should be low-key and humble, not too arrogant."
His Royal Highness Prince Yan, who had been arrogant and domineering for more than ten years, bent down next to Wen Yao, not daring to say a word, and followed her out step by step.
After much persuasion, Zhao Xuanxu was finally sent to the outer banquet. Wen Yao went around the corner to the women's tent and saw that everyone was there.
The Empress sat at the head of the table, flanked by Concubine Feng and Concubine Su. As she entered, the lively atmosphere inside immediately quieted down, and the wives and daughters of the most important officials and high-ranking officials in the court all turned their gazes toward Wen Yao. Wen Yao raised her eyes and met Concubine Su's.
Concubine Su is now almost four months pregnant. Her belly is a little bulging. She is dressed beautifully and has a blanket covering her abdomen, making her look a little plumper. She looks at Wen Yao with a smile in her eyes.
"Commander Wen, no need to be so polite. Come and sit down." The empress was dressed in elegant attire. Wen Yao's late arrival was somewhat impolite, but she showed no sign of anger. She sat at the head of the table and beckoned, and the palace maid at the door immediately stepped forward to lead the way.
"Thank you, Queen."
Wen Yao followed the palace maid into the tent.
Her seat was unexpectedly placed very high up, next to several dukes' wives, across from her was the Princess of Yong, and in front of her were the three princesses. Jinyun changed her clothes and took her place. The swagger on her face vanished, her brows drooping as she fiddled with her glass of sake. Upon seeing Wen Yao, she sat up a little straighter, staring intently at her and then glancing in the direction of her gaze.
Hmm? What are you looking at?
Wen Yao understood what she meant and subconsciously looked to the side. Unexpectedly, she was met with a pair of red, swollen eyes like walnuts, which startled her. The owner of the walnut eyes was also looking at her. She was wearing a pink dress and her hair was full of pearls and jade. It was the girl who had just given Zhao Xuanxu the wristband by the stream.
Looking at Wen Yao, the little girl couldn't hold it in anymore, buried her face and sobbed again.
…Enough of that, this is such a sin.
Wen Yao withdrew her gaze and walked to her seat. Across from her, Princess Yong raised her teacup and gestured to her. Wen Yao smiled back, turning the teacup as it rested against her palm, taking a sip.
The atmosphere in the tent had been quite harmonious. But when Wen Yao came in, his attire alone was so out of place among the officials' wives, who wore loose robes and belts, that the atmosphere inevitably felt a bit cold.
The Queen's eyes were gentle as she said, "No need to be so fussy. Remove the plates and let the banquet begin."
As soon as she finished speaking, the waiting people filed in and served dishes one after another. Wen Yao didn't even need to taste them; she knew at a glance that they had been prepared and brought from the palace kitchen. They were cold, the oil and water had solidified. Zhao Xuanxu's comments were honest; if he said the food was inedible, it really was inedible.
Amidst the fiery gazes from those around her, Wen Yao calmly reached for her chopsticks to pick up some food. However, as soon as she moved her chopsticks, someone first chuckled, then a flurry of whispers erupted.
Wen Yao stopped using her chopsticks, and the palace maid behind her quickly came over and said, "My lord, let me serve you the chopsticks."
"Oh." Wen Yao understood. Although the soup was placed in front of her, she couldn't take it. She had to ask others to help her. It was truly a state banquet, high-end and grand.
She readily accepted the offer and handed over the chopsticks.
Wen Yao didn't think there was anything wrong, but Su Bin was not happy.
"Commander Wen is a heroic woman who doesn't mind trivial matters. She has repeatedly saved the emperor and has made outstanding contributions." Su Bin raised her eyebrows, the sharp armor scratching her eyebrows, but her words made many people bow their heads: "Who was so rude and rude to make such a noise just now?"
When she said this, the ministers and their families who were used to finding fault in this regard suddenly remembered that the person sitting up there was not a young lady from the boudoir, but a great contributor and a favorite of Prince Yan, who was on an equal footing with their husbands.
No one said anything else, and the few people who had been mocking and talking just now lowered their heads, their faces flushed.
"Concubine Su is quite sensible." Concubine Feng was not young, but she was well-maintained and still looked beautiful. Her eyebrows were raised, her face arrogant, and she said coldly and sarcastically, "It seems that those from humble backgrounds in Pingjiang Prefecture are the most discerning and polite."
"The corrupt party is strict, but my father's character remains unbroken. It is because he understands justice that he was rewarded by His Majesty." Supin patted her belly, her expression unchanged, her eyebrows still smiling. "He taught by words and deeds, and I will naturally keep some things in mind."
The two ladies in charge exchanged a few words, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The maidservant serving food to Wen Yao stopped. Wen Yao remained silent, taking the chopsticks from her and quietly stuffing the meat into her mouth, watching the empress in the center, sitting silently and calmly on the platform.
After a long while, the Empress finally had enough of the drama and waved her hand, saying calmly, "What are you doing? Concubine Su, you're pregnant, don't get angry. Go, bring the hot soup and give Concubine Su a bowl."
The warm soup was made by stewing various sweet millets with sweet syrup, and it was very delicious and sticky. It was brought out from the palace, wrapped in three layers of mahogany box, and the palace maids seemed to be struggling when they carried it up.
But as soon as the box was opened, before the maids could even move aside, a long green shadow leaped out, crawling along the ground and up Su Bin's sleeve. Its eyes were yellow, its purple tongue slowly spitted out, and its pale fangs were exposed.
The incident happened in a split second, and everyone was stunned. Including Supin herself and Hongshu behind her, they were stunned for a long time before they reacted.
Wen Yao swung the chopsticks in his hand, knocking the half-human-length venomous snake to the ground. Its scales were dark green, with black lines coiling around it. It writhed and struggled on the ground, its long body twisted and tangled, causing screams and flying dishes and chopsticks.
"Ah!" Supin seemed to have reacted. She covered her heart and stomach and retreated. After taking a few steps, her brows furrowed tightly. She sat back as if her bones were suddenly pulled out and fell on the palace maids. Her face was pale and she covered her lower abdomen and groaned in pain.
Wen Yao stood up and took a few steps to Su Bin's side, with a bad feeling rising in his heart.
"Quick!" The Queen's hair was slightly disheveled, and her breathing was also disordered. No one had expected that as soon as the box of warm soup was opened, a poisonous snake would jump out from it. The warm soup was brought by the Queen herself, and her face was naturally not good. She shouted in a rare and stern voice: "Quick, call the imperial physician!"
The palace maids and eunuchs hurried out. Soon, the movement in the women's tent alarmed the front banquet.
The emperor's interest was dampened, and at first he was dissatisfied. The eunuch who had come to deliver the message had angered the emperor, and he knelt on the ground, trembling, and said under the gaze of everyone, "Just now, Concubine Su bumped into a snake, and the dragon child in her belly... the dragon child in her belly must be in danger!"
The emperor propped himself up on his chair and said, "Snake? Where did the snake come from in the tent?"
"This... this... The Empress gave Concubine Su a bowl of warm soup, and as soon as she opened the lid, a snake came out!" This young eunuch was truly speechless. Although his few words were the truth, they took on a different meaning after he said them.
Prince Yong's face darkened, and he stopped eating with his chopsticks. The Prince of Qin across from him also frowned. Only Zhao Xuanxu continued to drink, his eyes downcast, showing no emotion at all.
The ministers around them suddenly heard about the emperor's family affairs and immediately lowered their heads. The emperor left first, followed by several princes.
Zhao Xuanxu walked last.
He stood up, his skirt hanging down like flowing water. He casually threw the wine glass in his hand, and it slammed onto the table without any courtesy. The loud noise made the eunuchs nearby kneel down in panic.
When the emperor arrived, a crowd of people surrounded Concubine Su's tent. The imperial physician had gone in, and servants were running back and forth carrying hot water and white cloths. The ministers' wives were accommodated separately. The Empress and Concubine Feng sat on chairs facing each other, neither speaking a word.
The Empress's face was solemn, a glint of impending anger etched between her brows. Concubine Feng sat opposite, her charming eyes also tinged with a hint of uncertainty as she looked back and forth at the Empress.
The eunuch saluted: "Your Majesty has arrived!"
Everyone quickly stood up and saluted.
The Queen stood up and, supported by her personal maid, walked quickly towards him: "Your Majesty!"
The emperor waved his hand hurriedly: "How is the situation? How is the child?"
The queen tightly grasped the hand of the maid behind her and exhaled: "The child... the child is gone. Concubine Su is weak, and the imperial physician is still in there, so there is no definite answer."
The emperor was furious and kicked over the table beside him. The teacup shattered, and the tea splashed everywhere. "Snake... I ask you! How could a snake appear in such a nice warm soup?"
"Your Majesty, calm down!"
The eunuchs and palace maids around shouted and knelt on the ground.
There was chaos outside the tent, and the air inside was filled with the smell of blood. Wen Yao stood aside, watching Su Bin, who had been fine just a moment ago, now pale and lying motionless in her bedding, as if she were dead.
Sweat condensed on her face, and her black hair was tangled and matted. Her face was gray, as if covered with a film, and her lips were also gray and cracked.
The two imperial physicians who came with her were both here, kneeling beside her and carefully taking Su Concubine's pulse.
Supin opened her eyes and looked straight up, her eyes red and bloodshot: "Is my child gone?"
"I am incompetent." The imperial physician knelt down, touching his forehead to the ground. "Your Majesty, I offer my condolences."
Su Bin closed her eyes.
There was a noise outside the tent, and the emperor sent for the imperial physician to come out and answer. The physician hurried away, and then Hong Shu, who had been kneeling beside her, clutching Concubine Su's wrist, stood up with a calm expression. She told the maids and the other women to leave and let Concubine Su rest.
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