The Rich and Powerful Chang An Chapter 14

I did some changes, if you notice. Nothing major, just the pronouns…

Chapter 14

After Xiao Qing Yan's two Cefei walked away, Xu Chang An called his two imperial bodyguards out to practice riding. Meanwhile in the Inner Palace, Xiao Qing Yan was called to Chang Sheng Palace¹ by the emperor for no reason.

¹长生殿 = Longevity Palace

Chang Sheng Palace was a consecrated palace for the late Empress's spirit tablet. He was called here by the emperor, but the emperor himself had never appeared. Xiao Qing Yan really could not figure out what his Imperial father wanted to do.

The emperor never appeared. Xiao Qing Yan could not leave without permission. He could only left abruptly to his late mother's spirit tablet, kneeling there, mouth whispering all the memories from childhood to reminisce with his mother.

Meanwhile, the emperor inside Taiji Palace², his whole person was draped in the imperial yellow robe directly facing the pile of memorials in worries. This year could be said to be the year his Xiao Family's Dynasty be dogged with bad luck. From the beginning of the year, the northern side began the chaos war, the national treasury began to be in short supply. As it happened, there was a great drought in Jiangnan³. The grain production was reduced by 30%. If the battle continued next year, the days of the people…….

²太极殿 = Supreme Ultimate Palace
³江南 = South River

“Reporting to Your Imperial Majesty, His Highness XianWang is still in Chang Sheng Palace, and now kneeling in front of Huiren⁴ Empress's bier.”

⁴慧仁 = bright//benevolence

“Yesterday Xian Wang received imperial concubines, and this is the second day. When it's 4th earthly branch period (5-7 a.m) you go to Chang Sheng Palace, let Xian Wang return home.” Xian Wang truly stayed in the imperial palace per his instruction, the emperor did not forget this. He was only…….only this son was making him a little disappointed, that's all.

“Right, Xian Wang two Cefei's fathers are senior officials of the imperial government. In a moment, you personally go to Xian Wang Residence, Zhen have a reward to bestow the two Cefei. You accompany Xian Wang return home together to pass over the imperial decree.”

“Your humble slave obey Your Imperial Majesty's command.”

The matter of Xiao Qing Yan being left out cold without a rhyme or reason by the emperor in Chang Sheng Palace very quickly already spread to the succeeding Empress's place. Nowadays, the Empress had another matter to worry about, as a matter of fact she did not have leisure to fuss about this small matter.

“Father, what do you think of His Majesty's meaning? Bestowed Xian Wang a male wife, yet again brought the minister's and deputy minister's daughters to even become that youngster's Cefei. Though a long time ago the two Daren crossed over to father's side, but their daughters are now Xian Wang Cefei. You say… Will they still have a complete devotion to Second Prince?” The Empress's fear was far more than that. Although her Second Prince had not yet of age, but Xiao Qing Yan had attending the imperial court assembly at sixteen. Now Second Prince was already nineteen, but yet the emperor did not reason the coming of age, sent him away to the unnoticeable corner, even imperial court did not needed to attend.

“Why do Niangniang need to worry? Anyway, Xian Wang already had no qualification to succeed the throne, not be worth to fear. Now Niangniang ought to worry about not Xian Wang, rather Zhou Guifei who is against you in this imperial harem, also Jing Wang who has constantly established outstanding military service —it's only right ah." Since the emperor bestowed Xiao Qing Yan a male wife, Duke Lin Guo had long since not caring about Xiao Qing Yan. At present, he was most worried about was Jing Wang. Now the imperial court had already divided into two major factions; supporting Jing Wang's hereditary house of military general and his own meritorious noble family which supported Second Prince. As for the uncontaminated group faction… Humph! Xian Wang whom they supported had been detested and rejected by the emperor. Now each and everyone was indecisive, just like a person who goes whichever way the wind blows! Humph!

∆HISTORY = uncontaminated group —scholars who were concerned with politics but held themselves aloof from those in power (e.g. members of the Donglin Clique (东林党) in the late Ming Dynasty)

“But I always feel that His Majesty's decision is a bit strange. This whole is without a sign ah.” The emperor groomed First Prince completely liked Imperial House grooming for future Son of Heaven's method. Which was why most people thought that Xiao Qing Yan was a candidate for the Crown Prince's position. However, the emperor's sudden decision not only allowed the people in the imperial court, but the Empress herself was absolutely unable to find a reason. Her heart was naturally happy, but there was distinctly a little of worries.

“Why do Niangniang have to think so much? You just need to know that Xian Wang is not enough for us to be afraid of now. As for the Cefei given by His Majesty… Xian Wang is the eldest son whom he doted on, maybe… it is a compensation for Xian Wang.” Including the title of Xian Wang, His Majesty could not granted him the land under the heaven, so granted him high position and great wealth. His Majesty treated Xian Wang with what was humanly possible to help.

The Empress's fear in her heart was doused by her father, soon afterwards she was relieved. The only thing that should be worried now was Jing Wang.

……

Xu Chang An went directly to the open space in the suburbs of the capital city with his own bodyguards, that was the Zhuangzi where he had lived before. There was a large expense of woodland behind Zhuangzi, and the front terrain was relatively flat. It was the best place to learn horse riding.

The two imperial bodyguards who followed Xu Chang An happened to be two brothers. One was called Wu Ren, and the other was Wu Yi. Their father was a seventh rank petty official. Although now they were the imperial bodyguards of Wang Residence, but the official rank nevertheless was higher than their own father.

“I have never been in contact with horses since I was a child. I may have been slow to learn. I'll have to trouble you two.” Knowing that he didn't have the skills, Xu Chang An also specifically asked them to find a gentle little horse, so that he could learn easier.

Although Xu Chang An became Wang Fei but there was not a bit of woman's gentle and demure manner on him; he was easygoing. Moreover, after the event in the clothing store, the two Wu brothers actually sympathized with Xu Chang An, so they wholeheartedly wanted to lend a hand to him. Xu Chang An was Wang Fei, and they were the imperial bodyguards that Wang Ye appointed to him. If there was anything, Xu Chang An only had to command, they heeded. Now Xu Chang An was polite like this, the two Wu brothers felt embarrassed, quickly said: “Subordinates are Wang Fei's bodyguards. Wang Fei's matter is also the matter of us two brothers. If Wang Fei has something on mind, then instruct us. We (Humble general) do not dare disobeyed.” The two men received the position of military generals, only it was an inferior military general. However, they were now already regarded as Xu Chang An's people. Therefore, they naturally proclaimed themselves to Xu Chang An as a subordinate.

“Then hereafter, you two will have to give many advice.” The reason Xu Chang An chose this place, except because of the flat terrain, he wanted to go outside to visit his mother. In heart, there was also a wicked though; he was going to intimidate the servants that had bullied him before. Normally, those people should have been mother's people, but yet in order to curry favour with Liu Shi, each and everyone played up to those in power, made things difficult for him for no reason. No matter what, he wanted to let them tasted the fruits they had planted.

For those who can't ride horses, in addition to the gentle horses at the beginning, the comfort of the saddle is also very important. Xu Chang An had explained to them before, and the two men prepared things completely. Helping Xu Chang An to sit on the horse, Wu Ren walked in front of the horse, and Wu Yi said some things at the back of Xu Chang An. For example, how to hold the rein, when the horse is fast and slow, what kind of posture should the body keep? If you can't control the horse, what kind of posture will be used to cause the least damage to yourself.

It was already late autumn, there were traces of autumn everywhere. The grain in the not distant farmland had already been harvested. As the eyes could see, the leaves of the mountain forest had been dyed with color; it was no longer a greenery glimpse, there were all suffused with yellow and red.

Xu Chang An looked over toward the direction of that farm where he had lived for three years. He sighed inwardly, took a breath and said to Wu Ren ahead: “I want to try riding by myself. We can stop here for time being today and continue tomorrow. Today I want to visit my mother.”

"Yes, Wang Fei."

Wang Fei's form of address was actually a bit of a slap, but Xu Chang An knew that he was able to live due to this form of address. If it was not because of this form of address, he would still be living in Zhuangzi, not knowing what day his little life would be returning to the Western Paradise (die).

Did not know whether he was too talented or the horse that the Wu brothers gave was too docile, after Xu Chang An made Wu Ren let go of the horse's rein, he rode for a long time and nothing happened. Moreover, according to the command of the two brothers, he was able to manipulate the rein and let the good horsy under him followed the direction he was going.

“Did I learn something?” Xu Chang An was afraid to come before, and the autumn hunt was coming. If he couldn't learn, what to do? He didn't expect that horse riding to be much simpler than he thought. This was an afternoon worth of work, he had learned almost everything.

Xu Chang An was inwardly happy, unconsciously cocked his mouth, the corner of the eyes and the tip of the brows carried a bit of a smiling expression. The two Wu brothers had followed Wang Fei for quite a time. They always knew that Wang Fei was good-looking, but now they saw Wang Fei's face full of smiles, they discovered that Wang Fei's smile was really nice ne. Some slightly upturned mouth make people want to be closer. Wang Fei was a bit too rigid in front of Wang Ye, always holding a face and not showing a little expression. If Wang Fei could smile more in front of Wang Ye ah, Wang Grandpa (Wang Yeye) would definitely like Wang Fei more.

“Wang Fei is an exceptionally intelligent, learning everything so fast.” The things that the two brothers had just said, Xu Chang An showed only a little bit, and also the courage was as big, so it was only natural to be a fast learner.

Although Xu Chang An had never touched horses, but he was not a young lady that was raised in a boudoir. As a man, he was naturally yearned for horses and swords. At first thought to learn to ride a horse, he was a little scared, after a while it became an excitement, naturally the learning became smoothly for him.

The three went to the farmstead not far away. At this time, a carriage was parked outside the farmstead. One man and one woman got down the carriage and they seemed to be of fifteen or sixteen years old. When Xu Chang An and Wu brothers arrived at Zhuangzi, the man and woman had entered Zhuangzi, leaving only the carriage to park at the door.

Looking at the carriage at the door, Xu Chang An intuitively thought that this was Xu Family's and thinking about that day's matter, he felt frightened and quickly ran toward his mother's grave! There was only one thought in his heart; is it because Liu Shi can't find a way to vent, so she come here to find mother to vent, now they can only bully the dead and buried mother, who can't resist.

There were more than a dozen of servants in this Zhuangzi. On the way, Xu Chang An encountered several people but he did not mind them and ran straight to his mother's grave.

Every time he thought that his mother could only be alone and solitarily lied down in this dilapidated farm, Xu Chang An's heart was endlessly sadden. His mother was the formally and legally married wife of Xu Yongnian, but after being killed by people, Xu Yongnian kept on conniving the murderer. Also did as he pleases took mother to be buried in this dilapidated farm in the suburbs of the capital city! He neither delivered mother's coffin to her hometown to be buried, nor did he looked for a place with feng shui position to build a tomb for mother. But only carelessly took mother to be buried in this dilapidated Zhuangzi.

A two-hand cupped of yellow sandy soil as cover, one block of stone tablet left one's name, the soil area was enough as mother's eternal sleep place! (T/N: This is in sarcasm)

“Xu Yongnian!” Inevitable there will be a day, I will return back all the various suffering of mother a hundredfold to you! Xu Chang An was resentful in his heart. He thought of his poor mother, his eyes were getting red, and his footsteps were moving fast. He accidentally fell down, but he was quickly protected by Wu Ren, who was behind him.

“Wang Fei be careful!”

“I'm fine, just suddenly miss my mother, I want to go visit my mother's grave.” Knowing that it was definitely Xu Family that was coming today, Xu Chang An was only worried about mother's grave and the other thing he did not care. After rushing toward his mother's grave, there was no one there. After letting go of his frantic heart, Xu Chang An let the Wu brothers waited a little farther, and he himself went to his mother's grave.

“Mother, a few days ago I had taught Liu Shi a lesson in your place. In the future, I won't let her be arrogant again. You can rest assured that your child will not be deceived by father and Liu Shi again in the future.”

Knowing that mother had always placed hope on him, yet Xu Chang An had no regret. Mother wanted him to have a good future, take a wife and have children to live a stable life. But what about it event if he did as she wished for? His own children would be a descendant of Xu family. He hated Xu Yongnian very much. What to do when he still would keep thinking about carrying on Xu family's ancestral line?

The author has something to say: It was too late to go home last night. Stacking words sleepily, I simply went to sleep. This was secretly made in the office this morning. I haven't finished writing it at noon. I am going to eat.

<

Chapter end