Chaotic World Book
Chapter 399 - 390 The Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 399: Chapter 390 The Romance of the Three Kingdoms

What reason could there be for someone to arrive from the Capital at the exact same time as them?

Huangfu Qing definitely did this on purpose, aiming to assert her dominance from the moment she arrived!

Tang Wanzhuang took several deep breaths, maintaining a composed attitude, "She is a member of the Four Symbols Sect. She used to hide it a bit, but now she doesn’t conceal it at all. Sent by the Vermilion Bird, she really did come, such an audacious Imperial Concubine..."

As she spoke, she shook her head. What could she do about it? Could she really capture her? Or go tattling to Your Majesty?

She didn’t know why the Vermilion Bird would so brazenly leak such important arrangements within the palace to her, but since they dared to leak it, it showed they were unafraid of her spilling the beans, confident and fearless.

Such arrogance, the Demon Sect rebels acting like this...

Honestly, Tang Wanzhuang’s agitation and unease about this exceeded any feelings of jealousy, her brows were tightly knit the whole way to Hongnong.

Beside her, Zhao Changhe was equally perplexed. Huangfu Qing had really come, and the Vermilion Bird’s intention definitely seemed like tacit approval of a good relationship with Huangfu Qing. Even if it wasn’t a gift before, it certainly was now.

He had previously felt like his love life was nearly on the Heavenly List, but only now did he realize he was still a greenhorn, at least in the face of a Chaotic Scene, he was totally at a loss, frowning without any idea what to do.

The two of them, silent, followed a group from the Yang Family and settled into the guest quarters.

Of course, they didn’t stay together. Tang Wanzhuang and Zhao Changhe, both "single," could hide away shamelessly in the Governor’s Mansion in Xiangyang, or it was fine to travel together coincidentally on the road, but once in Hongnong, they had to maintain a proper distance.

The Yang Family in Hongnong was wealthy and generous, and all these honored guests were housed in separate courtyards, yet intentionally or not, the guest quarters of Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang were adjacent, the kind where one could "sneak a tryst" by hopping over the wall.

Huangfu Qing’s guest quarters weren’t next door... but opposite.

Thus, Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang, after settling into their respective quarters, leaned in their doorways like old country landowners, watching the drums and gongs welcoming the Imperial Concubine, a procession escorting a carriage which slowly stopped across the way.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing Huangfu Qing’s face, a blend of heroism and allure.

Her beautiful eyes glanced over with a suggestive smile, seemingly speaking volumes, each carrying a different message.

Challenging and ridiculing Tang Wanzhuang.

Seemingly resentful yet coquettish towards Zhao Changhe.

Both had so much to say, yet both tacitly refrained in the presence of others, even though the decade-long rift between Huangfu Qing and Tang Wanzhuang was public knowledge, they still maintained decorum in front of others.

So the old landowners watched wide-eyed as the Imperial Concubine stepped out of the palanquin and entered the guest house amidst the throng of the Yang Family, out of sight.

"Big Brother Zhao! Big Brother Zhao!"

A young girl bounced excitedly from the other side of Zhao Changhe’s quarters, hanging onto him without letting go, "When did you arrive? I had no idea, I came out to see the Imperial Concubine and unexpectedly saw you!"

Tang Wanzhuang: "?"

Huangfu Qing: "¿"

Two old ladies, amidst the heavy atmosphere like a mountain, stiffened in place.

Here we are charging up our powerful moves, waiting for the crowd to disperse before speaking, and who is this brave soul from someone’s household, daring to cause a scene in public?

Upon closer inspection, Cui Yuanyang.

No worries then, even those from the Yang Family couldn’t help but look away with a slightly amused glance, the well-known three-year engagement, this one on the Human List, pretty much equals being engaged. Seeing the young girl’s delighted manner, many from the Yang Family smiled with good intentions.

Tang Wanzhuang’s expression slowly turned awkward.

This seems to be... a pitfall she herself dug, having sent this naive young girl to Beimang. If these two had developed a relationship, one could say Tang Wanzhuang was the matchmaker. What now?

Huangfu Qing had already entered the opposite door, turning her head within the crowd to glare fiercely at Tang Wanzhuang, as if to say, look what you’ve done.

Tang Wanzhuang was not to be outdone, returning the glare fiercely, as if to say: What concern is it of a married woman like you? Do you have a say in this?

Blocked by the crowd, out of sight.

Their gazes only flashed for an instant, and Zhao Changhe, with Cui Yuanyang clinging to him, was also very embarrassed, "Hey, hey, there are so many people here..."

"What’s there to be afraid of?" Cui Yuanyang beamed with delight, "The three-year agreement has been fulfilled, the Cui Family’s son-in-law has taken his place! Righteous and justified! Even an old witch couldn’t meddle with the two of us!"

Zhao Changhe stole a glance at Tang Wanju’s frosty face and awkwardly said, "Your dad hasn’t spoken yet..."

"Hmph, guess what my dad said before he sent me here?"

"What?"

"He said that since Zhao Changhe is bound to show up at the Yang Family’s birthday celebration, the envoy sent to extend birthday wishes should be me, not my brother." Cui Yuanyang whispered, "Old Cui has thrown his pride aside. He’s sending me to hook you in so that nobody else can whisk you away, teehee."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Cui Yuanyang caught sight of Tang Wanjuang and greeted her cheerfully, "Greetings, Head Tang, I haven’t yet thanked you for sending me to Beimang back then. You were our great matchmaker! You must come for a drink of celebration, I owe our elders a toast."

Tang Wanjuang smiled faintly, truly looking like an elder offering advice, "Yangyang..."

"Ah?"

"The Head understands your excitement, but you’re not too young anymore, and we have such a crowd here. It doesn’t reflect well on the Cui Family’s household reputation. It would be best if you got off of him."

Bao Qin was standing there holding the musical instrument, looking impeccably graceful, but for reasons unknown, his face seemed to twitch as though in pain.

"Brother Zhao, Brother Zhao." Yang Bugui finally emerged from across the Imperial Concubine’s courtyard, cupping his fists in a salute toward Zhao Changhe, "Sorry for neglecting you, Brother Zhao, shall I take you somewhere fun?"

Cui Yuanyang hopped off Zhao Changhe in a huff, enraged, "Yang Bugui, dare you lead my husband to those messy places, beware I might beat you up!"

The word "husband" was particularly grating, and nearby, Tang Wanjuang and Huangfu Qing, who were casually chatting with Yang Jingxiu in the courtyard, both became expressionless.

Yang Bugui magically felt the weight of ominous clouds, as if he had stumbled into a special secret realm designed to test family pressure, and involuntary beads of cold sweat rolled down: "Well, since Brother Zhao has such lovely company, I shall not impose. I take my leave, take my leave."

Looking at the triumphant little rabbit standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, Yang Bugui silently wished her strength, fearing that she might get stewed tonight...

Ash Yang Bugui wisely retreated, Cui Yuanyang felt as if she had won a battle and snorted, "Acting all grown-up, thinking you can lead my husband astray. Humph..."

Both old women’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.

The little girl seemed to be saying something in between the lines, wasn’t she all innocent?

However, Zhao Changhe hadn’t caught whether Cui Yuanyang’s words meant to indirectly criticize someone else; seeing her so spirited and cute, he couldn’t help but ruffle her hair, "You never seem to grow up, do you?"

Cui Yuanyang pulled Zhao Changhe through the door, giggling, "Let’s see if I’ve grown up."

The door creaked shut, cutting off the Red Dust Shore.

Of course, Cui Yuanyang was speaking in metaphors. She might not know about Huangfu Qing, but she and Xia Chichi had long regarded Tang Wanjuang as an imagined enemy and treated her like a formidable opponent. She even thought Tang Wanjuang was a bigger threat than Xia Chichi, since people with such status were more likely to contend for the position of the main wife, making it less likely for Xia Chichi.

It’s as if she was really thanking the god of matchmaking, the part where she said "I owe our elders a toast" was heavily laced with thorns.

Aristocratic Family daughters are no pushovers, perhaps Zhao Changhe was the only one who thought Yangyang was naively adorable and clueless... not knowing who really was the naive one.

Bao Qin gave his mistress’s ashen face a sidelong glance, marveling inwardly; amidst the fierce confrontation between the two old women, a girl nearly his own age had barged in and become the current victor, openly speaking in metaphors with no one able to lose their temper...

Among the world’s heroes, who could be the rival? The great Tang Empire? A daughter should be like Cui Yuanyang?

Bao Qin felt like his cultural understanding had improved.

Sadly, Cui Yuanyang made the same mistake as her ally Xia Chichi, scolding one old woman and accidentally implicating another one.

Just as she was tiptoeing in the courtyard with her lips pursed, planning a sweet kiss, Huangfu Qing, who was engaged in casual conversation with Yang Jingxiu across the way, smiled and said, "Was that girl outside Cui Family’s daughter?"

"That’s right," Yang Jingxiu replied, "Cui Family’s legitimate daughter Yuanyang, the apple of Brother Wen Jing’s eye."

"I find her quite enchanting and to my liking," Huangfu Qing playfully chided, "With so many distinguished guests from all directions, why are they all crowded around here? Off you go, let the young girl keep me company with some chatter."

Just as Cui Yuanyang was puckering her little lips full of anticipation, there came a knock at the door, "The Imperial Concubine invites Miss Cui to meet."

Cui Yuanyang’s pursed lips froze in place, a look of disbelief flashing in her eyes.

How comes even the Imperial Concubine is making things difficult for me, did that old woman with the surname Tang bribe her?