C9

The red rash on Yu Yan's face had not faded even after nine days, but this also caused the matter of Yu Tianqi being bestowed the title of Consort to be delayed. The empress dowager had the eunuchs watch over her as she recuperated from her illness, so she had to take medicine in front of the eunuchs three times a day. If she did not exit the door, she would not leave it.

The two of them decided on seven stories. Out of the twenty-eight paintings, Nian En took them and gave them to the bookseller, who took a look at them and paid the deposit of fifty silver taels. The bookseller agreed upon them, if they sold them well, he would pay another hundred silver taels.

One tael of silver could be exchanged for two hundred kilograms of rice. Not to mention Lady Xu, Yu Yan had never gotten so much money in one go. Nian En ordered some wine while Lady Xu personally cooked. The four of them observed the moon in the courtyard as they celebrated.

Yu Yan sighed in his heart. After drinking two more cups, Yu Yan's heart was burning as she went to the rear courtyard to sit on the swing and think about her own matters.

In his father's case, he had been unable to find a way to break through. He didn't even know who had framed his father … Emperor? What's the need? He had been righteous all his life, yet he had been decapitated, unable to even enter the ancestral tombs, and had even received the insults of a corrupt official … Yu Yan wavered for a moment. Should he go into the palace and directly tempt Yu Tianqi, to avenge his father?

"Swoosh …"

Suddenly, a cluster of fireworks soared into the sky. Gradually, more and more fireworks exploded in the sky.

"Tomorrow will be the fifteenth. From today onwards, there will be another lantern festival. I heard that it will be three days in a row to celebrate Princess Jing Ge's departure from the pavilion."

Nian An carried her cape and walked over, chattering non-stop as she stood behind her and looked at the moon. Nian En hurriedly ran over and hit Nian An hard on her back. Nian An realized that she had lost her voice and quickly covered her mouth as she carefully looked at Yu Yan.

Exiting the pavilion? Marry Yun Qin? Is it fifteen? Yu Yan laughed, that man had threatened her before! But so what if she didn't go? She chuckled, pulled her cloak tighter, and said softly, "Come on, let's go out for a walk."

"I'm here to watch the lantern festival." Nian An was happy again.

"The Empress is still grounded." Nian En quickly advised her.

"What do you think will happen to me if the Emperor really catches me? The princess' grand marriage will pardon the world, and you don't even understand? " She strode to the back door.

"This humble woman will also go." Lady Xu quickly followed.

Seeing that, Nian En had no choice but to follow.

The streets were bustling with activity, red lanterns were hanging everywhere, and even Princess Jing Ge's favorite ginger candy had risen in prices, selling like hotcakes. There were all sorts of riddles tied to the lanterns along the street, and it was hard for the literati to come up with new riddles for their annual lantern fairs.

As Yu Yan walked, she unknowingly arrived outside the princess' palace. She raised her head to stare at the towering Princess Mansion, her heart throbbing with pain. From then on, the marriage of a man and a woman had nothing to do with each other, right? But Yun Qin, why do I still miss you? If my father had not been wronged, had I already married into the desert and joined you? Yun Qin, Little Qing Yu does not have any more happiness left. She has lost all her happiness. I hope you're fine, don't think about me...

"Empress, let's go. Someone from the palace has arrived." Nian En, with her sharp eyes, saw that the person standing at the entrance of the Princess Mansion was a servant of the palace and quickly pulled her.

Yu Yan lowered her eyes and turned to leave. Who knew that just now, the few of them were only focused on looking in the direction of the princess' mansion? A few of them had already arrived in front of the carriage, and none of them were able to dodge in time.

"How dare you block the palanquin of our Zhao residence!"

"How dare you!" "Hurry up and kneel."

Yu Yan was the King Xiao's imperial concubine and was bestowed with the title of being the envoy of the empress dowager and the empress. Back then, in order to act as if she was the empress dowager, Yu Yan had only made the empress dowager and the future empress dowager kneel, and even some of the imperial concubines present in the palace. Although these palanquins were from officials' families, they were not qualified to receive Yu Yan's kowtow.

Nian En could endure it, but Nian An's temper was explosive. Seeing that someone was shouting and shouting at his master, he immediately blocked in front of Yu Yan and retaliated loudly.

"You guys are the ones who are more daring, daring to act so presumptuously in front of our master."

Yu Yan wanted to throw Nian An into the sky again. With her fiery temper, she would get into big trouble sooner or later!

A few small palanquins fell down at the same time, and the palanquin curtains slowly opened. Yu Yan looked at the first hand that came out, and knew that she had stirred up trouble! There was a fiery-red ring on her white finger. The gem was carved into peony flowers, and the most ingenious part was that every leaf was as thin as paper, and when it fell in and out, it was like a fire.

This was something that the Xuanleng Nation had gifted Yu Tianqi last year. He had gifted it to Imperial Concubine Rong Xin to show his affection.

When Princess Jing Ge left the pavilion, Empress Dowager Fu Ye handed the matter to Imperial Concubine Rong Xin to handle it personally as a show of unparalleled honor. Tomorrow was the official day, so of course she would send the princess off on behalf of the empress dowager. She also had to remind her of the matters after her marriage.

At this time, she had already poked her head out of the golden silk curtain, and looked at Yu Yan who was wearing a veil with interest. Others would not be able to recognize Yu Yan, but how could she not recognize the fish play, lotus leaf brocade handkerchief that she had seen Yu Yan use at the palace that day?

"How dare you, you dare to be impudent in front of the King Xiao's Concubine? Slap!" She held the palanquin of the palace maid and showed a slight smile on his snow-white face.

Yu Yan took a glance around. All of them were Shangguan Qian Jin and the beauties that were called by the surname of the capital, probably because they were working hard for next year's Spring Festival, trying to curry favor with Zhao Ronxin, the number one concubine in the palace.

The palace maid who was just hooting just now had already knelt in front of Yu Yan, raising her hand and slapping it across her face, as though she was guilty.

This was for Yu Yan to see! Who asked her to sit on Yu Tianqi's horse, in his embrace that day? Zhao Ronxin had never been doted on like this before.

If it was in normal times, Yu Yan would have tolerated it.

But, don't provoke a woman who's a little drunk and is still in a state of heartbreak — — Yu Yan!

She only stood in the middle of a group of beautiful flowers, slowly taking down the handkerchief with her bare hands, not caring about the red rash on her face at all. Her cold eyes swept across the crowd, and she lightly said, "It's a small matter to offend this concubine, but the next day, the princess will be very happy. This is the entrance to the princess' mansion.

Her coldness and haughtiness caused Imperial Concubine Rongrong to be greatly startled, as she almost couldn't believe that the person she was looking at was the Yu Yan who had always been submissive, that good-for-nothing.

"What royal sister-in-law says is true." Imperial Concubine Rong Xin changed her form of address and showed her intimacy level. She came over to hold Yu Yan's hand and said softly, "Let's go in together."

"Little sister imperial concubine, this concubine's illness has yet to be cured. Be careful not to get infected." Yu Yan laughed, and said neither humble nor arrogant.

Rong Xin was shocked, and she quickly retreated a few steps.

Yu Yan sneered in her heart, clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and said with a face brimming with sincerity: "This consort knows that the princess is going to have a grand wedding, and only because of the illness on her body, she does not dare to enter.

Rong Xin had been in the palace for so long, but this was the first time she was being toyed with. She was not allowed to make a sound, and her face was slightly frosted over.

Several beautiful people followed closely behind her. When they passed by, a beautiful woman stopped in her tracks, sized her up, and coldly muttered:

"Hmph, being ugly like this, you still dare to come outside to scare people."

Look, without a husband, without a family, even if it was Lady Jiuzhen, she would still be unavoidably bullied by such contempt. Yu Yan smiled, purposely raised her hand to touch her face and softly said:

"Little sister, mind your own face."

The woman was so scared that she let out a low cry and started to run, as if there were roaring beasts chasing after her.

Watching them enter the princess's mansion, the smile on Yu Yan's face slowly drooped down. Goodbye, Yun Qin! Goodbye, Bamboo Horse Qingmei … She turned and walked into the night.

Nian An had already said ten thousand words that 'servant should die' at the back. She just pretended that she didn't hear it, and suddenly stopped in her tracks, looking towards the theater at the side.

"You don't want to go in, do you?" Nian An blurted out.

"Can't you? "Who made the rule that only men could watch a show?" She lightly lifted the hem of her skirt as she strode forward to enter.

Forget about that cowardly Yu Yan, she hated him too. Why couldn't she live happily? Why was she so submissive? Why did her life have to be held in someone else's hands?

"Master …" Nian En was also shocked. She knew Yu Yan was sad, but she was about to get married. Nian En doted on her from the bottom of her heart, and she was even more unwilling to see her walk into the theater and cause trouble for him.

"Nian En, let me have a good night." Yu Yan's voice trembled slightly.

She had lived too arduously. She had no one to rely on. She was timid and cautious. Was there any meaning in living such a life? Father, when can I seek justice for you? The miserable sight of her father being beaten to death by a random stick appeared before her eyes once more … Being stripped of his official's robe and pants and beaten naked in front of the crowd was the most cruel insult and the most painful torture to a scholar.

"Mistress, that won't do." Lady Xu also stopped her.

Yu Yan's gaze turned serious and she nodded her head lightly. She was the pure and chaste Lady Jiuzhen, how could she come to this kind of place in public? Heh … She only wanted to be happy. Who could accompany her after drinking so much and laughing so loudly?

She suddenly thought of that small courtyard, that wild man. He had said, if a person came naked and didn't bring anything with him, why would he pretend?

He quickly turned around and walked in that direction. Even if he was eaten by a lion, he would still be alive.

The strong wine to strengthen the courage, Yu Yan wanted to live anew! Since she was no longer afraid of implicating the Yun Family, what was there to be afraid of?