Because You Shu vomited blood again, Xiao Weixin no longer allowed him to go out for walks, and told Luo Yao to keep him inside the tent and not go anywhere. You Shu lay on the couch helplessly, his mind filled with the scene he saw yesterday of Xia Yinxiu and Yang Nanruo together.
As a die-hard fan of the official CP, he simply cannot accept the plot collapsing like this. What about the couple that had promised to be together for a lifetime?
Is there any justice left in this world? Why is no one fixing this [disaster1I added this myself bcz I feel like it matches You “Drama Queen” Shu]?
Today is another day of worrying about the relationship between the protagonist and the female lead.
On the other side, Xiao Weixin was still conscientiously pretending to be sick and dealing with the many, many people that came to visit. As his imperial sister-in-law, Empress Xia also came to visit with some high-quality tonics, but she brought Xia Yinxiu with her, “You have a good rest here and don’t move around. If you want to eat anything, just tell the servants and I2I don’t know if this came up in previous chapters but the Empress (and all empresses) addresses herself as bengong but it translates to “this palace” and that would be awkward to read so I am keeping it as I. She is not, however, calling herself humbly as I. will send someone to bring it to you.”
Xiao Weixin nodded, reluctantly agreeing to her words. He was thinking about how all those tonics would be perfect for helping the little shadow guard recover and didn’t pay much attention to what the Empress was saying.
It happened that Xiao Weiming also came to visit him [at this time], but he didn’t say anything and just ate snacks quietly in the tent. Unlike Xiao Weixin, he had no importance in Empress Xia’s eyes. Even though he had been sitting silently for a long time, she didn’t pay any attention to him, so he also didn’t try to join the conversation.
Empress Xia talked for a while, then turned around and waved Xia Yinxiu over with a smile, took her hand and said softly: “As the eldest sister-in-law, I cannot look after3tend to a sick patient Ling Wang. So my little sister should work hard to do so in her elder sister’s stead.”
Xia Yinxiu lowered her head, her face reflecting her embarrassment, but she didn’t dare to reject her and just nodded silently. Even though she herself didn’t understand the reason, she was actually a little scared of this Ling Wang. Although he looked gentle and weak, she couldn’t bring herself to treat him as a harmless person.
Not to mention that she is aware of her sister’s hidden thoughts, this marriage is not by her choice in the first place.
Xiao Weixin was unwilling [to have Xia Yinxiu take care of him], but he also couldn’t risk offending the Empress. If he refused this time, the woman would just think of other, more annoying methods to force him to keep that [girl from the] Xia family in his room. This pair of husband and wife4Emperor and Empress were really the same kind of vile and despicable.
Empress Xia was quite happy that her goal [of making Xia Yinxiu and Xiao Weixin spend time together] had been achieved. She talked for a while longer, then stood up to leave. Xia Yinxiu wanted to see her out but she refused, smiling: “You should take good care [of him] here. That’s enough to share this sister’s worries.”
Xia Yinxiu respectfully curtsied to the Empress to see her off.
After Empress Xia left the tent, she was not in a hurry to go back. She chose to take a walk around the camp, accompanied by a few maids. As she walked, her thoughts inadvertently strayed to her youth.
That year, she had accompanied her mother into the palace for the first time. As the eldest daughter of the Xia family, she shouldered the heavy responsibility of bringing glory to her family. Her mother took her into the palace several times to ask her aunt5the Empress Dowager to find a suitable match for her. The marriage between their two families6Imperial Family and Xia Family would help Xiao Weishen ascend the throne [and bring honor to the Xia family for producing an Empress]. It was a mutually beneficial match.
But she was not favored by Xiao Weishen, because her bearing was too dignified, her behavior too perfect7Idk if anyone here has read or heard of Remarried Empress, but this seems a tad similar to Navier, doesn’t it?. Although she was beautiful and talented, she was as uninteresting and inflexible as a piece of wood. Every time he slept with her, Xiao Weishen always felt like he was making love to [an unfeeling] stone [and not a human with emotions] so he gradually began to not only dislike her but also disrespect her8He really is an asshole. That’s your wife who’s dealing with your stupid harem for you and you disrespect her because you don’t like sleeping with her? I will never understand Emperor logic, any emperor..
But only Empress Xia herself knew that she was not really uninteresting. It was just that she had already met someone so dazzling when she was young that she could no longer be attracted to anyone else9especially not someone with a poop emoji for a face (looking at you Xiao Weishit). So whenever she faced the emperor, she couldn’t bring herself to behave charmingly.
She still remembered the young man she met near the imperial garden in the palace. On that sunny day, from behind the rockery, she had secretly looked at him practicing his sword in the lakeside pavilion. The young man had a handsome and elegant appearance, dressed in flowing robes. That heroic figure with sword in hand looked like a vision of a descended immortal10I will forever be astounded by Chinese and its way of praising people bcz wow..
Only then did she understand what people meant by “love at first sight”.
But later she discovered that that person was the seventh prince, Xiao Weixin, an unfavored prince with no importance. He had basically no chance of ascending the throne. It was also at that moment that she knew that there would never be a possibility for her and him, because the Xia family would not allow the next Empress to come from any family except their own.
Knowing that there was no chance, she, who was not Empress at that time, could only choose to hide her feelings.
The Xia family looks beautiful from the outside11Judging from your brother…. sorry girl but not even from the outside, but in reality, it is a disgusting mess. A selfish and cold father, an unkind mother, scheming concubines, a lustful and lascivious brother, indifference in every corner and a battle with every step. Let alone the concubines who get her mother’s cold treatment, she, as the legitimate daughter, also doesn’t get any care. Her father wanted her mother to train her to be a future Empress. She was just a pawn to show off. No one cared that this legitimate daughter was also a person [like them].
Therefore, although Empress Xia is already an empress and seems to have an incredibly noble status, her husband despises her natal family and neglects her, so she lives as an invisible person, apathetic and numb.
Fortunately, there is Yinxiu. She took care of the child and raised her carefully, carefully cultivating her in terms of both appearance and temperament. She is like another incarnation of the teenage Xia Lingwei12That’s the Empress’s actual name, one who can fulfill the dreams she was unable to.
While Empress Xia was lost in thought, Prime Minister Xia happened to pass by, and the father and daughter bumped into each other.
Prime Minister Xia first saluted her in a formal manner and then sarcastically said with an expressionless face: “Your Majesty, if you have the leisure to take a walk then why not serve the Emperor?”
“Imperial Consort Luo is already serving [him].” Queen Xia replied in a low voice. She was still used to being an obedient and silent daughter when facing her father.
Prime Minister Xia snorted coldly, feeling that she was very useless: “You have been married to the Emperor for nearly eight years, and you still have no children, not even a daughter! If that Luo Wan’er gives birth to a prince, do you think you can preserve your position in the harem?”
“I understand.” Empress Xia looked indifferent and lowered her head, distracted.
Xia Cheng was very upset with this useless daughter, so he turned around and left without even giving her a smile.
The maid next to Empress Xia was worried that she would be upset, but Empress Xia was not upset.
She didn’t care about children at all and didn’t want to give birth to any children for Xiao Weishen.
She just hopes that Yinxiu can live up to his expectations.
————
In the tent, Xia Yinxiu stood helplessly in front of the bed. She clutched her skirts nervously, completely lost on what to do. Xiao Weixin didn’t look at her at all and she couldn’t sit down without permission, so she had to keep standing.
Xiao Weiming looked at her with wide eyes and couldn’t help but ask: “Seventh Brother, why don’t you let Young Miss Xia sit?”
“Shut up.” Xiao Weixin glanced at him lightly.
He didn’t want to humiliate the young girl but he really didn’t want to let her get close to him. If his actions offended her, she would definitely cry to her sister, the Empress, and probably refuse to come here the next day, in order to avoid having to stand again and be an eyesore.
Seeing the indifferent look on his face, Xia Yinxiu decided that she would hate His Highness Ling Wang from now on. At worst, he could just kick her out. Why bother a weak girl like her?
Not even half as gentle as Sister Nanruo.
If You Shu were here, he would rush forward to drag Xiao Weixin down from the bed and forcefully push his head down to apologize to the female lead.
Is this how a person treats his future wife? I’m afraid that when you go to the crematorium13So…. I know most of you will be familiar with this trope but going to the crematorium means ml/mc regretting how they mistreated their partner and paying for it., there will be no ashes left.
Why are you so ignorant?
Xia Yinxiu stayed in Xiao Weixin’s tent for an hour before being taken away by Yang Nanruo who came looking for her. Yang Nanruo had originally made an appointment with her to go see the rabbit today, but after asking around, she discovered that she was at Ling Wang’s place. She was a warrior and didn’t know or understand Empress Xia’s plans. She thought it was simply an ordinary visit so she also went to visit Xiao Weixin and took Xia Yinxiu with her when leaving.
Seeing Xia Yinxiu follow Yang Nanruo out with a joyful face, Xiao Weixin was thoughtful.
Unlike the peaceful times here, Xiao Weishen was extremely troubled. Two assassinations one after another had set his nerves on edge. He had determined that this incident must be the doing of the Quzhou rebels. Before returning to the capital, he sent troops to lead a large-scale eradication campaign [of the remaining rebels].
Those people, who had managed to live peacefully for the past few years, were once again thrown into a bloody storm, and countless people were killed unjustly. It is said that an entire village was slaughtered because it was suspected to harbor a remnant of the Quzhou rebels, the blood colored the whole river red. For a period, everyone was in danger, whether inside the capital or outside.
Xiao Weixin sneered. Although what happened this time wasn’t his doing, it was equivalent to handing him a knife14giving him another tool or advantage… maybe because he has another piece of evidence he can use to condemn Xiao Weishen as an incapable tyrant.
Xiao Weishen’s current behavior is no different from that of a [paranoid] madman. Even that old guy Xia Mao’an can’t sit still.
Soon, they all returned to the capital, and the spring hunt ended hastily like this.
“It seems that this incident has really panicked the emperor.” Shen Qingyu sat in Xiao Weixin’s study and drank tea calmly, “This morning in court, Lord Wen from the Ministry of Industry just wrote a poem of remonstrance. He was deemed to have rebellious intentions and was stripped of his official uniform and position immediately and sent to prison.”
Xiao Weixin stayed at home after returning from spring hunting, but he was fully aware of the goings on in the court so after hearing Shen Qingyu’s words, he just laughed slightly and continued drinking tea.
“Does Your Highness really think that this incident has something to do with Xirong?” Shen Qingyu said hesitantly, “Then can Xirong’s reach really extend this far [into the imperial capital]?”
Xiao Weixin put down the tea cup and threw a letter to him to read carefully. Shen Qingyu looked solemn after reading it, “What should we do? If they persist in their evil intentions, wouldn’t we be defenseless?”
“That’s why, we have to act quickly.” Xiao Weixin said coldly, “The fact that they can attempt an assassination in the hunting ground means that they have a powerful enough support in the capital. However, it is hard to say [for certain] that this is the third prince’s doing. After all… “
He recalled Na Sutu’s half-smiling face.
After Shen Qingyu left, Xiao Weixin came out of the study, but instead of returning to his own courtyard, he walked to another side courtyard, where You Shu was recuperating.
It’s been a week since they returned from the hunting ground. You Shu was fed richly15This is probably not the best adjective but basically he ate well and drank well and lived a good and leisurely life. and was treated as a sick patient. He felt that he had been spoiled into becoming lazy and couldn’t rest anymore. So, when Xiao Weixin arrived, he found him under the tree, practicing swordsmanship.
The first lunar month has just ended and the weather has warmed up. The peach trees in the courtyard have begun to blossom and the sprinkles of pink amid the emerald green of the leaves looked pleasing. You Shu, dressed in black, is practicing his sword underneath the tree. The dead leaves that fell during the winter are stirred up into the air by the movement and his actions are as graceful yet powerful as a dragon’s flight. He looked as dazzling as a painting of a heroic warrior, breathed to life.
Xiao Weixin leaned against the door of the inner courtyard and watched for a while, reluctant to step forward to disturb the beautiful scenery. Behind him stood a dead-eyed Wang Chen, carrying a fat rabbit, with a troubled expression on his face.
Your Highness, please have mercy. This rabbit’s poop is too stinky.
After You Shu finished practicing, he turned around to wipe his sweat, but when he looked up, he saw Xiao Weixin. He was stunned for a moment, then he hurriedly ran over and saluted: “Your Highness, why are you here?”
Xiao Weixin did not answer him, but signaled Wang Chen.
So You Shu, who was unprepared, was stunned when Wang Chen forcefully stuffed a fat rabbit into his arms, and his mind went blank.
What is this?
“Like it?” Xiao Weixin pretended to be cold, but in fact, it was the complete opposite.
Last time, he vomited blood for a stupid rabbit. Now that he has a rabbit, he should be happy, right?
So, give me a smile.16Bro… he’s going to make you vomit blood instead lmaooo
At once, immediately.
“I like…it.” You Shu didn’t know how to answer, so he gave a straight man’s response: “It can fill one bowl to eat as a meal.”
Xiao Weixin: “…”
Wang Chen: “…”
Ha.
————
You Shu’s diary:
‘X day, X month, X year, Sunny’
‘Today the protagonist acted very strangely and suddenly gave me a fat rabbit.
‘Although he didn’t say it explicitly, I think he might have bought it to replenish my health. After all, my heroic and fearless behavior [at the hunting ground] moved him.
‘One [rabbit] is a bit small, not enough to eat. But it’s a matter of sincerity, and good brothers shouldn’t care about such trivial matters.
‘It’s just that when he left, he looked like he was in a bad mood and his face had a stinky expression.
‘Did he notice that it was too small for me?’
T/N: If you listen closely, you will hear the sounds of me passing away from laughter. This chapter was a joy to translate, I am so so so glad I saved the last part for the end. Don’t worry btw, the rabbit is safe and well unlike Xiao Weixin’s blood pressure. Press F for Xiao Weixin lmao. Anyway, I did not in fact get to sleep because my mom told me I need to fix my sleep schedule and not sleep at odd hours so you guys got this now instead of tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed reading it.
4 thoughts on “Chapter 31 – One Bowl To Eat For A Meal”
Lol, poor ml ಥ▽ಥ
Imagine Xiao Weixin got his hands on You Shu’s diary! XD
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but did Empress Xia not kill Xiao Weixin’s mother? I don’t understand her feelings!
Nope… that was Empress Dowager Xia, Xiao Weishen’s mother. This Empress Xia is the OG!FL’s sister and Xiao Weishen’s wife.
P.S. Spoiler Alert: He will haha.
Oh, I can’t wait for ML to get his hands on the diary!
Thanks for the chapter it was a joy to read 😀