"Wife, I want to eat meat” 《娘子，我要吃肉》Chapter 54

The empress put her teacup down, both hands folded over her knees, her back slowly leaned back, her expression exposing some dignity: “We are the empress, the model woman of the world. Xia Fen is a child of the Dayan, a person of this dynasty, we us the mother of the nation, naturally can judge him.” She paused a bit, her next words slightly sharper: “Xia Fen is your son, not your ancestor.”

Xia Ling Mei’s eyes widened, she only felt a sudden clap of thunder struck the top of her head, for a while she was muddled, unable to speak for a long time.

“Lord Wang feels he has failed him, because he is a child he unexpectedly gained. He unconsciously pampered and spoiled him, because he lacks confidence.”

“You as a mother, because you accidentally brought about that child’s future, you dote on him, coo over him, and indulge in him. Because you feel you’re not a good mother.”

“And the Xia family, from start to finish have mediated between you husband and wife. To Xia Fen, Xia family won’t gain from him, or lose anything because of him. Therefore, all his teaching, cannot be imposingly meddled with. Too much indulgence, that is how his temper is undisciplined and out of control. Tell me, if this child will be your blessing when he grows up, or a disaster?”

“He holds the Xia family’s name, he doesn’t respect the princes, unfilial to his parents, inadequate respect and love to the family, for what reason can he strut around Bailu academy and not be punished at all? Does the Xia family have such an arrogant and despotic child? Can the crown prince really endure someone exchanging blows with him? 

Does the emperor really only want to nurture him? Are you sure, if he continues as always, Bailu academy, Xia family, and the monarch would allow him to smoothly grow to adulthood?”

Xia Ling Mei was already deathly pale with fright, she suddenly understood, the treasure on the bottom tip of her heart, maybe it was worthless in other people’s minds.

The empress shook her head: “Xia Fen’s conducts and deeds, are all because he is completely unafraid.” And the monarch, cannot tolerate such a daring child.

Xia Ling Mei faintly already knew what the empress intended.

Xia Ling Mei and Wang Yun Feng, and even the Xia family and Wang family were unable to 

control Xia Fen. Since the crown prince was interested in training with Xia Fen, in that case, Xia Fen cannot return home for a while.

The empress’ words, also held the meaning of teaching Xia Fen on Xia Ling Mei’s behalf.

Xia Ling Mei still struggled: “Empress, I’m not an imperial concubine of the palace. You can’t keep my child in the palace.”

“We have already consulted with the emperor, allow Fen Er to be the crown prince’s companion.”

Xia Ling Mei’s lower body completely weakened, falling into the wide chair. On the table next to it, the green tea had already turned cold.

It was an enormous honour for the children of the influential families to be the companion of the princes, and the crown prince’s companion, when they grow up as long as the crown prince smoothly succeed the throne, any companion would absolutely be a member of the emperor’s inner ministerial circle, glory and favour does not necessarily last forever.

T

o Xia Fen’s cruel and uncooperative temper, being a companion can give him riches and honour, glory and splendour, and can make him dance on the edge of the sword, at any time his head could separate from his body.

Xia Ling Mei only felt a sharp pain in her heart, in her alarm she felt, maybe she shouldn’t have allowed Xia Fen to come home from the start. This sort of child, should only be allowed to move unhindered in the world, and not trapped in this gorgeous and deadly cage of Beiding city.

A the same time, the imperial court had just passed an imperial edict, the third rank senior imperial censor official Wang Yun Feng was to be degraded to fifth rank supervisor imperial censor, to leave for the flooded area to supervise the disaster relief, simultaneously accompany around ten imperial physicians, as well as fifty carts of medicinal ingredients grandiosely depart from Beiding city together.

All the way back to the residence Xia Ling Mei’s head did not clear, she was flitting between anger and calm, when she saw the main entrance of the Wang residence, again hearing the news from the old Wang housekeeper, those emotions were again buried.

She tried hard to control her shaking hands, exerting all her strength she blinked, forcing back her grieving tears.

After court was finished Wang Yun Feng was immediately called to discuss official business by the emperor, only informing the people at home to pack things at once, he needed to leave three days later.

Fifty carts of medicinal ingredients could not be gathered in a short time, the old housekeeper guessed Wang Yun Feng would leave first with the imperial physicians, when the horses and carts were fatigued, Wang Yun Feng’s official position would be removed, he didn’t have enough power in his hands, when he arrived people would definitely cause problems. The most important thing is of course the stricken area, the flood still overflowed the banks, the dead and injured must be falsely reported, after that it would be…an epidemic situation.

Xia Ling Mei unconsciously thought of many years ago, the empress’ father died of illness after a disaster relief, that year, the empress and the Zhao princess didn’t even go to celebrate the new year, protecting that tiny courtyard, grieving cut off from the rest of the world.

“Mistress, the master is bringing so many imperial physicians, they will definitely look after the master’s health. Don’t worry.”

“I know.” Xia Ling Mei said, in passing taking out the list of medicines in the medicine room looking over it carefully, “the imperial physicians are there to see the victims, at most one will be left by the master’s side to treat the victims in that area, the other imperial physicians will definitely be allocated to other areas, they cannot surround the master himself to treat only him. Just in case, let us get a few more physicians for this journey, and prepare some medicines from the residence to be taken with him. Whether it’s for the master, or for the victims, it would still be considered the Wang family’s good deed and charity.”

The old housekeeper nodded: “The mistress has considered this thoroughly.” Hurriedly he called for people to find physicians to explain the situation, if they were willing to go, half the reward will be paid in advance, afterwards they still needed to pack up, three days seemed long but was not.

With the bustle, Xia Ling Mei also calmed down, on one hand getting people to sort out Wang Yun Feng’s clothing and personal items, on the other hand asking the maids to also pack some of Xia Fen’s clothes to be delivered to the palace. Then getting someone to grind the ink stone, personally writing a letter, warning Xia Fen repeatedly of various things slipping it amongst the clothes before leaving.

At noon, Wang Yun Feng had still not returned, he had been an official for many years, the Wang family was also a well-known name, the news from the palace must have been spread a long time ago, not knowing why, unexpectedly not a single person dropped by to pay a visit.

The other court councillors aside, they were benefiting from it anyway, but why not even a single person from the other Wang family branches come to inquire, so much so that even the clan leader did not send someone to give a few comforting words. To know if Wang Yun Feng made a mistake, the Wang family would also not do well. Usually she only took a walk around the rear courts of the influential families, all she saw were women of influential families, she actually felt for the first time the coldness of her own front courtyard.

“Over these years the master gradually had less contact with the people in the family, he said he dreaded too many rumours, causing disaster for the family. As an imperial censor, social relationships are usually quite rare, one is to avoid ganging up for personal interest, the other is having offended too many people, on the face of things whatever the case it makes life difficult. Even if there are several colleagues, because the mistress wasn’t at the residence, the master also rarely invited them over, at most he drank a pot of tea with them in a teahouse, exchanging a few words before dispersing.”

Xia Ling Mei faintly felt strange: “From what you’ve said, why does it feel like the master is becoming more and more anti-social?”

The usually long-winded old housekeeper suddenly became silent, only a while later did he say: “Mistress, the suffering shown on the face of things may not be the real suffering.”

Xia Ling Mei couldn’t help turn her head away, bitterly laughing: “Who in this world isn’t suffering, rather it depends on whether you can endure it.”

The old housekeeper laughed heartily: “Right, didn’t the master still return with the mistress in his arms!” He moved closer, stroking his two strands of goat beard, “mistress, you need more supplements, to again add a son to the Wang family ah.”

Xia Ling Mei’s face was red, resentfully calling Xiu Yu over, prudishly asking the other person to note down the medicinal ingredients needed to be bought again, no longer listening to those indecent words from the old housekeepers.

After everyone had packed Wang Yun Feng’s belongings, Xia Ling Mei opened the cases 

examining one by one. Wang Yun Feng was going to disaster relief, naturally he couldn’t wear too ornate clothes, anything glamorous was basically taken out. At most only three outfits with plain inner materials remained, for him to wear when he met officials. A few more of the common cotton and hemp clothes were actually added, the weather was turning cold, some more warmer clothes had to be added, fur lined clothes of dark colours not easy to dirty were also chosen. The less respectful clothing were of cosy materials, she again chose from the several bolts of clothes conferred from the palace a green blue to make into several outfits by people rushing through the night, also with shoes and socks and hat, white jade and jasper were chosen for jade ornaments and other such things, small bags of fragrance were all changed into medicinal bags.

Wang Yun Feng this sort of scholar, had a little bit of martial arts to use to strengthen his 

body’s health, but he thought too much, repeatedly meeting assassination, his old wounds were likely to flare up, his spirit instead was even weaker than the ordinary person by half. 

Xia Ling Mei personally chose a hundred years old ginseng giving it to Juan Shu herself to pack away carefully, telling him to steep several flakes for Wang Yun Feng every day, and there were big packets and small packets of medicine to strengthen the body, when they arrived at the stricken region he must drink one once a day.

Even later on in the day, someone came to report, no physician in the city was willing to go with the master to another part of the country, they said there were too many patients in the stricken region, no one dared to go when there was no way of returning.

Xia Ling Mei hearing this almost broke her mouth of steel teeth. These flourishing people, used to living like princes, treating their lives as even more important than anything else. Not just going to the stricken regions, even going onto battlefields, there were minimal physicians, even less were medicines which could save lives.

She told people to say, if a physician was willing to go along to the stricken region to give medical treatment to the victims, they only need to nod their head, the Wang family will immediately give two hundred silvers as a gift. With this, at long last two had nodded their heads, it was assumed their medical expertise where not the most brilliant.

As she was worrying, the Xia family unexpectedly sent someone to deliver two middle aged physicians, asking cautiously, they were surprising the people who had gone with the third master to stricken regions. The physicians looked over the medicinal ingredients Xia Ling Mei had asked people to prepare, again writing a prescription to add a few more ingredients. 

Xia Ling Mei was ever more grateful, inviting them to stay or the time being.

At night, Wang Yun Feng returned to the residence completely exhausted, Xia Ling Mei restrained herself again and again, in the end she didn’t ask anything unnecessary, personally picking up food for him.

Tonight, there was no moon.

Faintly warm candle light decorated the wide wooden long hallways, with a sky full of stars replying. In the most hidden place of the courtyard the cicadas could be faintly heard, occasionally a bubble or two could be seen on the surface of the pond, everything was quiet and still.

Xia Ling Mei leaned on a wide and solid pillar, staring at the still black night without blinking.

Wang Yun Feng quietly came in, holding her ice-cold hand, softly saying: “Don’t worry.”

Xia Ling Mei sighed: “Fen Er is in the palace.”

“I know, the crown prince took him to see me today, he said he’ll look after his younger cousin. When I’m not here, go visit the palace more often, whatever Fen Er lacks you take it to him. The emperor’s thoughts are secretive, let Fen Er distance himself from him, if there’s something wrong you take responsibility first, put everything off until I return.”

Xia Ling Mei listened to him prattle on, she couldn’t help think of the empress’ saying his indulgence in Fen Er was from his own deficiency, at first she didn’t believe it. After all when they first met, Wang Yun Feng was extremely strict with Xia Fen, after returning to Beiding city, every day Xia Fen was in one place but did acknowledge him, probably to torment him. Because he doted on this child, as a result even if he wanted to scold him it always felt like there was no force behind it.

Xia Fen did not consider him to be his biological father, but Wang Yun Feng had already placed Xia Fen in his heart, it was the most important scar on his heart.

Xia Ling Mei also held his hand, she couldn’t help but move closer, biting viciously on his lips.

Wang Yun Feng was stunned, in a blink he grasped her firmly, kissing her back.

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T/N: The couple are to be apart again >_<