The Rich and Powerful Chang An Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The marriage of the prince, also the marriage sanctioned by the emperor, this wedding ceremony was very lively. Just after a long day, looking at the lonely room, Xu Chang An did not know whether to feel at ease or distressed.

It would be nice to not meet with a strange man, but if he (XQY) was so disgusted with himself, it will be difficult for him in the future.

“Young Master, Your Highness should …… you should eat something and take a rest early.” Chunyu's heart was sadden, young master had already became the prince's wife, yet the prince gave his wife an airs. But, young master was after all, a man who should have married a woman and have children. Now after being married off to a man, every day would have to completely look at the other man's face. Wang Ye¹ seemed to be a really bad south wind². What should young master do?

¹Prince/ Marquis/ King/ an address of titled prince
²have no good temperament(?)

“Let's wait a while, in case His Highness comes over and young master has fallen asleep.” Yang Momo was an old woman who had previously served Xu Chang An's mother. She was a woman who had seen the world and knew that the Imperial Family's customs alone were a lot. She naturally was being extremely careful, and she feared the gender differences would tread as fault and implicated Xu Chang An.

“Momo, give me something to eat. All of you go quickly to rest, you were also tired from the entire day.” Knowing that the First prince would not come, they didn't have to wait. Just after the words fell, Xu Chang An recalled that when they had arrived at this prince's residence, he was afraid because of not knowing where the kitchen was, how do he eat? Looking at the tea snacks on the table and thinking about its being able to fill up his belly, he directly sent away the yatous and Momo then sat down at the table.

When Xiao Qing Yan pushed open the door to enter, Xu Chang An was picking up a piece of cake to put it into his mouth. When he heard the door swinging, Xu Chang An's first reaction was 'Xiao Qing Yan has come back'. He did not panic. He put down the pastry in his hand and stood up. Neither tightly nor slow, he advanced towards Xiao Qing Yan and looked his way, then he paid that person respect: "Paying respect to His Highness."

Xiao Qing Yan looked at the calm and collected composed man in front of him, his 'correctly named and truthfully stated'³ wife. The indignant resentment and grievance in his heart could not be express. Directly disregarded the person who paid him respect, without leave went to the plank bed which was decorated for wedding event. He lied down with clothes on, closed his eyes and not issued even one brief remark.

³(idiom) perfectly legitimate

It was not yet winter, but it was already late autumn, it would be cool in the evening. Xu Chang An knew that he was unlikely be pleased with His Highness prince, there was not much disappointment in his heart. Although the person on the bed had closed his eyes, he respectfully with both hands clasped in front; bowed to the person on the bed. Then, he withdrawn from the room to go the outer room beside it.

The person inside was originally the most honourable prince of the Xiao dynasty. His birth mother was the 'green plums and a bamboo horse'⁴, Late Empress. He was both the eldest son of the emperor and the eldest son of the emperor's formal wife. In the ordinary course of event, he was the Xiao Shi Dynasty's correctly named and truthfully stated future Son of Heavenⁿ, but now had became the most distant person from succeeding the throne.

⁴(idiom) childhood sweetheart
ⁿEmperor

Since the founding of Xiao Shi Dynasty there had been a custom of impart and inherit from generation to generation. It was stated that the crown prince must have been born by the empress. Now Xiao Qing Yan married a man as his official wife, he would no longer have his own legitimate son and heir. Naturally, he would be dismissed from the throne.

Xu Chang An sighed and closed his eyes. His own destiny was even being kneaded in the hands of other people, how was he still thought to sympathize someone else.

Xu Chang An knew that he himself was not happy with his father. Since childhood, he spoke and acted cautiously, and when his mother died three years ago, he had further experienced to his utmost self the way of the world in this society. If blood relatives turned against a friend and show no mercy*, even the old servants of Zhuangzi would also scoffed at him from time to time. If it weren't for the protection of Momo also ChunYu and DongXue, these three years he could not have known how to cook a porridge. Compared to himself, Xiao Qing Yan had already been fortunate enough, what was the need to have pity on him?

ⁿ(idiom) be treacherous and ruthless

Waiting until the room became quite, the long ago asleep Xiao Qing Yan actually opened his pair of star eyes looked over outside the room. That man was well-behaved, knew to obediently leave and not hinder his eyes. If he could not tell good from bad and dared stayed, he himself certainly would make him humiliated!

On the next day, when the sky was not bright enough, the yatou came in. After Xu Chang An woke up, in the yatou's slightly sympathetic eyes, she quietly and calmly dressed him, and then went in with the yatou to wait for Xiao Qing Yan to get up.

Last night, the light was a little dark, more over, Xu Chang An himself did not get to scrutinize this already became his husband, His Highness Prince. Therefore, when he came in through the door later, Xiao Qing Yan's clear and tidy face was engraved in his eyes for a long time. Xu Chang An's palms were suddenly pinched tightly and his body also went stiff.

"Have seen enough?" Xiao Qing Yan's unpleasant voice sounded. Only then Xu Chang An seemed to have turned back to his normal spirit, he casted aside his eyes and quickly said, "Chen forgot his manner, plead His Highness pardon me."

"Having already married into the Imperial family, you must know decorum and understand the sense of propriety. In a little while, you also have to meet the imperial father and offer sacrifice to imperial mother. With this kind of manner, do you want to make this Highness lose face together with you?" Forget that this was a man and a son of a fourth rank petty official, a person like this had the capability to meet what aspect of society?

Looking at the helpless appearance of the person in front of him, the resentful and grievance that was difficult to press down inside the heart, completely well up in his mind. Xiao Qing Yan regardless of what also could not understand, for what reason imperial father's words kept changing? Undoubtedly, Waigongⁿ beforehand had said himself that imperial father had fixed him as the heir to the throne. In the ordinary days, father emperor treated him extremely cherished, but why suddenly everything had all changed?

ⁿmaternal grandfather

Imperial father had not only made him married a male wife and cut off his way to succeed the throne, but the family he chose for himself was a poor and humble small family, letting him had no any other means to rely on and no possibility of turning over.

The eldest prince's luxurious horse carriage was extremely spacious and comfortable. The two people sitting on either side of the coach did not say a word since getting on. Finally arrived at the imperial palace entrance after a lot of tolerating, Xiao Qing Yan with his still under control temper, impatiently said : "In a moment, pay attention to your words and deeds. If you incur whatever disaster to make me lose face, I won't ask for plead of leniency for you."

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Under the guide of the inner palace's people, Xu Chang An all the way was at a distance of half a pace following behind Xiao Qing Yan. The Empress Dowager had passed away a long time ago, then the first person they wanted to meet was the emperor. Xiao Qing Yan wanted to meet imperial father at imperial mother's place, afterwards went to the empress place as mere formality then return. Who would have known that today, the emperor was very lively here, with imperial consort, also quite a few Feipin here and among them was the Third Prince's birth mother, Zhou Guifei.

*Tai You = Empress Dowager; mother of the current emperor
*Mu Hou = imperial mother
*Di Hou = Imperial Consort Feipin = Imperial Concubine Guifei = Highest Ranking Imperial Concubine

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“Er Chen* paying respect to Imperial Father, greeting Empress Niang Niang, Guifei Niang Niang.” Xiao Qing Yan first paid respect and Xu Chang An followed after him making the same movement. Except that, he was somewhat felt surprised in his mind, why had Xiao Qing Yan not called the empress as Mu Hou rather directly used formal address of Huang Hou.

*Er Chen = self address of royal child to royal parent; your (servant) son

"Oh, our Emperor's eldest son His Highness is still the same as before ah. However the heart kept thinking about the late Empress, but also cannot disregard our Empress Niang Niang ah. No matter how many years, still continuously refused to call Imperial mother ah. Also not know what day would get along with Empress Niang Niang. Really make someone unable to understand.” Xu Chang An doubts were quickly revealed by Zhou Guifei. This Zhou Guifei, even with the emperor at the side still leaning halfway up on the seat, jokingly talking about the relationship between the Empress and Xiao Qing Yan, also not looking at the two people at all. Instead, she picked at the string of pearls chain on her wrist, seemingly engrossed playing with it.

The face was smiling brilliantly, but Zhou Guifei's heart had long been indignant incessantly. Her own son still had to call that slut with Imperial mother and could only called her consort mother. So why would that ‘had long early dead mother' and now also abandon son, the good-for-nothing prince still able to straightforwardly call empress!

“The words meimei had just said were wrong.” The empress was a little younger than Zhou Guifei, but she was the empress, she called the feipin like that even the age compared to her was large. Even if the other side was a Guifei, who was only a step away from the empress position, she also had to call her as meimei.

*meimei = younger sister
*jiejie = older sister
(T/N: in terms of ranks in the harem, the lower rank was called meimei)

After answering Zhou Guifei's words, the empress looked at Xiao Qing Yan with a loving smile, and then rather sentimental continued : "Although jiejie was gone early, when jiejie was still alive she extremely cherished first prince, how can outsider understand their mother and son deep affection? I know first prince did not consent to call me imperial mother, only had jiejie as mother in his heart. Naturally in his heart also respect me, as long as he intend to mouth anything to call also will not have any relation."

“No matter what is Empress righteousness reason, this imperial harem I hand over to you and I can be rest assured.” The emperor had been quiet, but still appreciated the empress's words and glancing at the empress, then facing towards Zhou Guifei, at once wrinkled his eyebrows.

The empress partly guessed the emperor's mind and on the face was not displayed but in heart was proud.

This Zhou General, only played with sword and fool with spear boorish fellow, nevertheless had raised this 'pointed tooth sharped mouth and used to fetter people in gathering' daughter. That vulgar woman just now although blamed the first prince, but continued ever so, was not directed to criticize oneself?

Herself after all knew how to treat the first prince, just to let him for how many years not consent to open his mouth to called her imperial mother. The empress's heart knew that the emperor had always loved the First prince, and now he had no choice but to abandon his beloved son because of the situation. The first prince's heart was in remorseful and uneasy period, how could there be a reason for other's talked insultingly at him. Humph! A daughter who was raised by a plain soldier, what more beautiful and more favored, still was not an idiot!

The empress was proud of herself, Zhou Guifei under the emperor's face, heart felt annoyed, immediately became ill and left. The emperor looked at the pair of new people who had stood still in silence and finally began to ask questions. Xiao Qing Yan was first skipped by him and began to ask Xu Chang An carefully.

"Answering to imperial father, Chen three years ago was really fortunate to have pass the imperial examinations at the provincial level. My mother had only Chen as her child. Mother's nurture had not yet been repaid, she soon gave up her hand and went to the west paradise. Chen's heart is in remorse and uneasy. Father's benevolent and love gave Chen filial sentiments, therefore arranged Chen to guard mother's grave for three years." Xu Chang An was only fifteen years old and also in succession of the JieYuan and HuiYuan. There were only two cases in the history of the Xiao Dynasty. Such a young genius was delayed because of his mother for three years. Might if continued to take part in the imperial examination also sure to be a great gain. But now however could only be trapped in the imperial residence, this life would not have a successful career.

Knowing the words just now was oversimplified, in fact secretly a tide was surging. Xu Chang An was extremely careful with every sentences and every expressions. He was afraid that he would say something wrong, and made Xiao Qing Yan lost his face.

Looking at the clear features, outstanding talent, slim and graceful body, Xu Chang An however still had carried a little shadow of youth. The emperor's heart suddenly felt a little trace of guilt. This child was a victim of the power game, only hoped that he would be safe and sound in the future for all his life.

“Chang An have a courtesy name?”

“Answering to imperial father, not have,” said Xu Chang An, who was always placid on the surface, due to the emperor's questioning finally gave him an indifferent face, he was a bit surprised. Men's courtesy name was usually given after coming of age, chosen by close kin elder family member or respected teachers. Xu Chang An at present was not like by his father, and his age still not reached coming of age, so naturally still not had a courtesy name.

"Zhen* looking at Chang An whole person was like a silk bamboo and wild crane, Zhen really like it. Now that you're married to my son, Zhen regard you as my son too. Today Zhen will give you a courtesy name as a gift, Qing Yun. Qing Yun happy?"

*I/ We/ Imperial I

“Your Majesty?” It's unexpectedly ‘Qing' character, this was the same rank as a prince's surname. The empress's heart was astonished that she could not hide her emotions and called out her doubt to the emperor's face.

“Thank Imperial Father for the courtesy name, Er Chen is very happy.” The emperor had already called out directly, making known his mind was already decided. Xu Chang An naturally would not go against His Imperial Majesty's intention.

“Alright, alright, Zhen have some discomfort today. You must have been tired all day long yesterday. My imperial son, bring Qing Yun to go meet your imperial mother. Then go return to your residence.” The Emperor did not take notice of the still 'speak one's mind' empress. Also did not take notice, at his own 'had not been for many years shown a face of grievance in front of him' First Prince. The Emperor rose from his seat and left.

“Imperial Father.” Gave a gift of a courtesy name to the daughter-in-law, but to his own son, did not even ask a question.

“Your Highness, we should also leave.” The emperor left, the empress also followed, and the just now crowd of feipin were naturally also left.

Without the masters and the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace, the people who had just filled the room was only left with Xu Chang An and Xiao Qing Yan.

Only wanted to remind that person that they should go, but Xiao Qing Yan nevertheless thrown an unknown meaningful eye glance over him. Xu Chang An only smiled back.

How could he not know what Xiao Qing Yan felt at this time; be disgusted and abandoned by his relatives. Without personal experience one could not understand.

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Chapter end