"Wife, I want to eat meat” 《娘子，我要吃肉》Chapter 78

Xia Ling Mei did not think she had anything to say to Gu Lang, she also didn’t want to see Hua Bao Xia.

That’s right, she remembered when she stayed at the Gu residence, Gu Lang mentioned this younger female cousin, at that time when she was in Zhuozhou she did not think Hua Bao Xia was the gentle and virtuous powerful and influential younger cousin Gu Lang spoke of, but a regional influential family’s daughter can at most only be connected by marriage, they were simply not powerful and influential, rather their family behind them were.

The Gu family looked up to the Hua family, the Xia family however did not find the Hua family worthy. The imperial censor Wang family, what more had no connection with other regional influential families.

Xia Ling Mei wasn’t stupid enough to create trouble for Wang Yun Feng, and would not allow her pregnant self to face unknown dangers. She had her dignity, it was not worthwhile splitting hairs with an outsider girl.

The old housekeeper received orders to step in and greet Gu Lang and Lady Hua on behalf of Xia Ling Mei, clearly reporting the information that Lord Wang had left the residence, in addition the Lady’s body is too heavy to see visitors. Afterwards he served good tea, and ordered someone to present two hundred silvers, saying it was a gift for that time when the old Lady Gu took care of her.

The old housekeeper omitted the fact that Lady Wang had once stayed at the Gu residence, and did not speak of the mistress’s thoughts on Lady Hua coming this time, he merely explained the gift was for the old Lady Gu, and cut off the relationship between Gu Lang and Lady Wang. Afterwards the old housekeeper mentioned Lord Gu had not returned home for a visit for a very long time, if it is because it’s too far, the Wang family was willing to   rent a carriage for them. As he spoke, he even intentionally moved his gaze between Gu Lang and Lady Hua bodies once, ambiguously smiling.

Waiting until Xiu Yu came out, again saying the mistress is giving a set of head ornaments to Lady Hua, considering it to be congratulations.

What congratulations? Naturally it was the fortune of newly weds.

A youthful official not having married, and a young lady of an influential far from home together outside, what was their relationship? Did they elope? Is it long ago…people said these things vaguely, in any case the gifts were delivered, no matter what they think it had nothing to do with the Wang family.

Lady Hua was flushed with anger, and used all her effort to maintain her virtuous façade, it was difficult to see her former extravagant background from her grey and old gown. She accepted the head ornaments and walked away practically walking away without turning her head back, Gu Lang moving around embarrassed yet not. However, Gu Lang too did not leave the silver, he placed the silvers in his bag, and left.

Gu Lang had only met Hua Bao Xia by chance, seeing the other person’s appearance he also vaguely guessed whether Hua Bao Xia had left home to elope, thinking about it, he didn’t want to get close to the other person. After all, a woman who had eloped was unable to be the mother of a fifth ranked official’s household, moreover a woman who had eloped would not have the blessing of the elderly woman, Gu Lang could not gain any benefits from Hua Bao Xia. He forgot the support of Hua Bao Xia’s father in the past, after leaving the Wang residence’s gate, he carefully thought about the old housekeeper’s words, feeling there was already no meaning for him to stay in the Imperial city any longer, it would be better to return home soon and plan later.

Therefore, that night after he was chased out by Wang Yun’s mother Wu Shi, confidently and at ease carrying those hundreds of silvers he left Beiding city.

The people Hei Zi sent out came back to report, Xia Ling Mei relaxed half the heart, the other half of her heart could not relax no matter what.

Wang Yun Feng had not returned!

A long, long time ago, Wang Yun Feng would leave without saying a word, but since the two of them seriously reconciled, no matter if he was leaving home or returning home, he would give prior notice to Xia Ling Mei.

This time, Wang Yun Feng brought Wang Zi Feng to watch the dragon boat competition, there was no reason for him to stay overnight and not return home.

Over on Bai Zi’s side there was also no one sending information back, Hei Zi’s people said the dragon boat competition had finished earlier. Xia Ling Mei ate dinner by herself, before the time for bed came, there was still no news of Wang Yun Feng.

She was quite tired, her pregnant body was very heavy, it was like carrying a burning coal furnace in her bosom, making her unable to sit or stand still more and more.

May’s wind already brought heat, blowing onto people’s skin making them slightly giddy and slightly sticky.

She couldn’t help call Xiu Yu and Ying Shi to support her to the front room to sit, once that father and son returns home, she would be able to directly see through the main room’s doors to the screen wall[1], she would be the first to see their shadows. Her body which was used to sleeping early already became dazed, she half supported her head, drinking some warm tea. It was still not the time to drink iced water, the physician had also prevented strong teas, inside the so-called warm tea were only several slices of pears to diffuse the heat, not cold, not hot, a little bit sweet, a little bit tart, the flavour was too mixed, she only knitted her eyebrows together.

Not long after, someone came to report, saying Wang Yun Feng met an old friend, staying one night with his son at the other person’s home.

There was only one letter, the messenger was the carriage driver’s son, who had left together with the Wang family’s father and son, but ran back by himself.

Xia Ling Mei asked him what the surname of Wang Yun Feng’s old friend was, where did they meet, the other person shook his head in complete ignorance. Only saying when they were watching the dragon boats competition, the servants were outside the building, there were many people entering and leaving the restaurant, and did not know which one was the old friend. Only when it became night, someone came to give him a letter to deliver to the mistress.

Xia Ling Mei hearing these words, was not at ease, rather she was increasingly more impatient.

The residence was brightly lit, the path from the front room to the main entrance was shining brightly and spaciously, there wasn’t a single shadow.

Xia Ling Mei sat inside the front room, beside her were Xiu Yu and Ying Shi waiting upon her, Hei Zi was hidden on the room’s roof beam, the old housekeeper sat on a lower seat, there were also maids waiting and keeping watch outside the door, so many people, but it was bizarrely quiet. She could faintly hear the night bugs chirping.

Suddenly, there was a noise at the gatehouse outside the gates, as if someone was knocking.

Xia Ling Mei eagerly stood up, looking towards the gate.  The gatekeeper appeared to be saying something, Xia Ling Mei glanced at the water clock used to mark night watches, it was already hai shi.[2]

Suddenly, there was a cry of fear in the middle of the night, everyone in the residence who was calm and quiet almost jumped in fear. Xiu Yu and Ying Shi hurriedly supported Xia Ling Mei, some had already hurried to the gate, then, the second sound, the third sound…

There were some servants losing their heads out of fear retreat back from the shadow wall, everyone together saw a both tall and black shadow, heavy, one by one striding forward going round the shadow wall to come in.

A slim figure ducked out from behind that shadow, someone recognised her: “It’s Lady Hua!”

Before Hua Bao Xia, was evidently biting a broken arm ----- black bear!

The quiet residence, with the bright lights shining on it, numerous startled shrieks exploded suddenly, some maids immediately fainted on the spot, the young brave servants had already grabbed up things within reach one by one throwing it at the black bear. From an angle where people couldn’t see, tens of shadows noiselessly gathered around the front room.

The old housekeeper also trembling wanted to pick up his chair, for quite a while he was motionless, his old body wondered around the front room twice, finally picking up a vase he stood in front of Xia Ling Mei: “Quick, quickly help the mistress leave!”

After the initial shock, Xia Ling Mei had already stabilised her feelings. She was a person who fought on the battlefield at the risk of her own life, facing fierce pirates her expression remained unchanged, besides it was only a black bear, and a woman who appeared to almost be burned out by hatred and lacked intelligence.

Xiu Yu and Ying Shi already pulled out flexible double-edged swords, standing in attendance on Xia Ling Mei’s left and right side. They knew the mistress’s temper, the more dangerous it is the more she would not cower back.

Xia Ling Mei came out from behind everyone, arrogantly looking ahead at Hua Bao Xia not far away from her: “Lady Hua coming here so very late at night, what is the purpose?”

Hua Bao Xia chuckled, her former sweet and charming appearance had paled quite a lot, a mess of fine black hair drooped down, her clothes were still the thick garments from last winter, fluttering in the air, appearing weak and frail. She half leaned against the black bear’s side, ignoring the crunching sound of the bear chewing on a person’s arm, that mouthful of blood pattered onto the ground, very quickly there was a puddle.

“I came to see you.” She said, tilting her head to the side attentively sizing up the swollen Xia Ling Mei due to pregnancy: “too see the wonderful and frail beauty Lady Wang described by Lord Wang. At first I had thought you were a sickly person, I didn’t expect you would actually be able to produce an offspring for Lord Wang, you don’t have much good looks, how did you seduce Lord Wang to be infatuated and head over heels in love!”

Xiu Yu already couldn’t help shout loudly: “Impudent! You’re not allowed to insult my mistress.”

Hua Bao Xia laughed heartily, patting the black bear. That wild animal appeared to understand her meaning, without hesitation it threw out the broken and destroyed arm from it’s mouth, spreading his five claws he licked up the blood on it, his pair of bear eyes were already crimson in excitement by people’s blood, appearing strange and frightening.

“Little servant girl, you need to be careful what you say to me, my pet does not like any person or animal to be disrespectful against me.” She again patted the black bear, that huge wild animal lowered its head, allowing her to caress the top of its head.

Some people already couldn’t help having goose bumps all over their bodies, couldn’t help thinking about a certain recent rumour in Beiding city.

Hua Bao Xia gaze had already fallen on to Xia Ling Mei’s plump belly: “I’ve always thought, how could you possibly give birth to Lord Wang’s child? Is the child in your belly really Lord Wang’s? Shouldn’t you have been so ill since long ago? How can you stand arrogantly as the female master of the Wang family here? You betrayed him, you…ought to die!” She suddenly pulled on the bear’s back, that tall bear instantaneously stood up, brandishing both arms in the arm twice, opening wide its mouth sticky with blood, bearing two rows of sharp teeth, howling, with a few dashes it knocked over the guards guarding the front room, directly heading for Xia Ling Mei.

Numerous people screamed, the old housekeeper was old but brimming with resolution, unexpectedly at such a time he lifted the vase and shattered it against the bear heading their way, swearing while talking: “Grab it, slaughter it to supplement the mistress’s body!”

Everyone was distracted, in cold sweat.

The old housekeeper, this wasn’t the time to think about the problem of tonic? Old man can you not make a joke at such a critical moment?

The old housekeeper’s calmness and incisiveness made everyone apart from fear abruptly feel a little bit more confident, soon that black bear will break through the human wall and into the hall, the shadow guards originally gathered all around rushed over. Everyone only had time to see a huge net streak across the sky, in a flash the black bear was trapped in the middle of the net.

As it turns out that was a countless stranded lasso holding it, more than ten people at the same time tightened up the ropes, the black bear faced upwards howling, the tiles on the roof felt like it trembled. The guards gained more courage, someone had already taken a short knife stabbing it into the black bear’s body, not long after, the trapped wild animal had already been stabbed by all sorts of daggers, hairpins, knife and forks, bamboo sticks stabbed holes all over its body.

Xia Ling Mei stood where she was before, watching Hua Bao Xia standing in the courtyard looking paler than a ghost, lightly laughing: “So this black bear is the wild animal recently attacking people in the Beiding city. It was raised by Lady Hua? Not only do you use it to slaughter the innocent, but also pull it to break into people’s houses, it can’t be help but said, you are truly stupid! Should I thank Lady Hua’s greeting gift delivered to the door?” She blinked, easily laughing: “Now, you’ve seen me, I also received your present. This mistress also will not present tea to see you off, go safely, I won’t see you off.”

“You!” Hua Bao Xia with great regret, “don’t think you can gain Lord Wang’s true heart, sooner or later he will leave you, you’re already old and faded, you won’t last long…haha, that’s right, your son, he will wait for you in hell…”

Xia Ling Mei tilted her head to look at the roof beam, Hei Zi already flew down, a sword directly flying towards Hua Bao Xia’s right arm. Hei Zi deeply asked: “Speak, where is the young master?”

Hua Bao Xia whimpered biting back her painful shout, a command came from bursting forth from the depth of her throat: “Bear, kill that woman, kill her! A person I can’t have, no one can have them… all the glory, splendour, wealth and rank here, belongs to me, it’s mine!”

From everyone’s surprise, the black bear which was originally trapped motionless abruptly escaped, directly swiping towards Xia Ling Mei…

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[1] Generally, there is a screen-wall inside the gate so that outsiders cannot see directly into the courtyard.

[2] 9 – 11pm.

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T/N: That was not expected!