Chaotic World Book
Chapter 401 - 392: Rollover Asura

Chapter 401: Chapter 392: Rollover Asura

Just earlier, Tang Wanju, who had criticized Zhao Changhe for his "act above the beam" and wanted to punish him, now found herself climbing over the wall...

What was slightly better this time was that she no longer displayed any agitated emotions. With her clothes fluttering elegantly, it was evident that after some cooling off, she had indeed managed to detach herself a lot from the dazed state of infatuation of the past few days, regaining her composure.

The reason she used was also serious and legitimate, "As an Imperial Concubine, how can you commit such a shameless act!"

"And what about it?" Huangfu Qing wasn’t there because she couldn’t endure longing. She knew very well that coming over for a secret rendezvous would inevitably lead to being caught by Tang Wanju, with no possibility of real intimacy with the young man, yet she still deliberately came just to see Tang Wanju’s frantic and frustrated expression. Unfortunately, she didn’t see that; how come this person had calmed down again, making her even more infuriated...

Feeling somewhat regretful inside, she still scoffed, "When I entered the palace, who was the woman who stopped me privately and seriously questioned my intentions?"

"It was me," Tang Wanju said calmly. "You Huangfu Qing and I have known each other for over a decade. I understand better than anyone how proud and lofty you are; you wouldn’t willingly enter the palace to be a mere concubine, you must have had an ulterior motive."

"Thanks for the recognition, then," Huangfu Qing, with her arms folded, languidly said. "At that time, you suspected I might be from the Four Symbols Sect, didn’t you? You even questioned if I was the Vermilion Bird Venerable. It was only after the Vermilion Bird Venerable massacred the Fire Demon Lord in Lingnan and ascended to fourth on the Earth List, and His Majesty personally attested that I was in the palace at that time, that you had to give up this suspicion."

She had entered the palace based on an agreement with the impersonating Xia Longyuan; the faker would naturally cover for her. At that time, she wasn’t in the damn palace at all, she was in Lingnan killing people. That battle was breathtaking... With the "Emperor" personally providing false testimony, even the shrewdest head of the Demon Suppression Department had no choice but to abandon the suspicion.

Whether she actually gave up on this suspicion wasn’t yet clear, as the powerful Vermilion Bird wouldn’t appear out of nowhere. It was probably just hidden away, not to be mentioned again without new evidence.

For Huangfu Qing, entering the palace back then, the most troublesome thing was how to deceive Tang Wanju. This woman, previously so shrewd, appeared almost like a completely different person these days.

Tang Wanju said indifferently, "Even if you are not the Vermilion Bird, the fact that you belong to the Four Symbols Sect has been thoroughly proven."

"So, I am the Winged Fire Snake of the Four Symbols Sect and I indeed entered the palace with an agenda, My Highness, you guessed it right," Huangfu Qing said smilingly. "Since you know I entered the palace with an agenda and not really to be a concubine, then what’s so strange about me sneaking out to see a man? Are you trying to restrain me with this? Ha..."

At that moment, the impromptu identity of the Winged Fire Snake she had assumed proved unexpectedly useful and should have been adopted earlier! Huangfu Qing felt exhilaratingly triumphant inside. As for being bullied by Chichi, it counted for nothing as she had plenty of ways to make her cry without tears.

Tang Wanju stated, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose you to His Majesty?"

"The Demon Suppression Department, no matter how trusted, is still an external official. Suggestions regarding the harem should be limited... Of course, if my highness insists on exposing me, please do as you wish. Let’s see if His Majesty even cares... Ah, maybe he has a cuckolding fetish and likes to see his concubines find other men? Does my highness really want to ask?"

Tang Wanju: "..."

Huangfu Qing still smiling: "By the way, a personal suggestion, my highness, you might also not want to use moral arguments against my man. First, I entered the palace for other purposes, not as a real concubine; second, whether Changhe is a Prince is still up for debate. Even if he really is, he has always refused to acknowledge it, isn’t it because he resents His Majesty’s abandonment? Stealing a nominal concubine hardly counts as meaningful revenge, what reason do you have to stop it?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Tang Wanju glanced at him but said nothing.

It was very likely that Zhao Changhe wasn’t a Prince, and she was clearer on this than anyone else since she created that pretense for him. Since he wasn’t a Prince, there was essentially no ethical issue, and she couldn’t argue this point. Yet personally, she felt disappointed because it proved Zhao Changhe truly didn’t want to be a Prince, otherwise, he would avoid such matters.

She sighed and merely said, "This woman entered the palace with ulterior motives, so why can’t her approach to you also have ulterior motives? Why do you indulge in this beauty, unable to see through this?"

Just as Zhao Changhe was about to speak, Huangfu Qing preempted him, "Why else would I approach him?"

Tang Wanju coolly said, "Still the same point, you aren’t someone who would throw herself at men... I understand you too well."

"You are wrong, Tang Wanju..." Huangfu Qing put away her smile, replying word by word, "I like him."

Tang Wanju’s eyes widened in shock.

Even Zhao Changhe was somewhat surprised; he didn’t expect Huangfu Qing to say something so straightforward.

"Entering the palace was merely a Sect duty, but personally, I like him. Why can’t I face it, why can’t I approach him?" Huangfu Qing spoke calmly, "Huangfu Qing comes from a military family, was schooled in the Demon Sect, and dares to love and hate. Why should I be bound by mere status? Unlike certain noble ladies, who are so pretentious, obviously extremely jealous, yet hiding behind the pretext of Imperial business, how boring and hypocritical."

Tang Wanju stuttered somewhat, "Who, who said I’m jealous..."

"If you would clearly state that you’re competing with me out of jealousy, I would still respect you as a rival. Since it’s not the case... a couple long parted reunites, what concern is it to my highness? That wall isn’t high; wherever you came from, please return there, and take your time, no need to hurry!"

While saying these things, Huangfu Qing was still bound by her status to some extent, for instance, she wouldn’t dare to reveal her identity as the Vermilion Bird, and there was a slight guilty conscience as she spoke. But having said the entire phrase, even deceiving herself in the process, felt utterly refreshing. For the first time in over a decade of fierce rivalry with Tang Wanju, which had always been like fire and water, she had never won so delightfully and felt as exhilarated as if intoxicated by rich wine.

At this moment, Tang Wanju indeed appeared dismally defeated. In fact, she wasn’t being artificially pretentious; Zhao Changhe’s analysis was right, as she hadn’t sorted out her own feelings at all, how could she cope with such straightforward remarks?

Right then, a small head peeked over from the opposite side of the wall.

Cui Yuanyang had been eavesdropping for a long time...

Originally, he just couldn’t help but want to sneak over the wall to find Brother Zhao, but then he saw...

Imperial Concubine, Your Highness, you just criticized and threatened me, saying His Majesty is watching, so it turns out you were fighting over a man?

How can this be, taking advantage of my youth?

As Tang Wanzhuang seemed unable to parry any longer, Cui Yuanyang, who had initially approached her with great caution, now actually breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like Head Tang and Brother Zhao didn’t have much to do with each other after all; maybe he had been thinking too much... However, this Imperial Concubine who abruptly appeared was the real enchantress!

Cui Yuanyang immediately treated Tang Wanzhuang as a good friend and began his rescue operation, "Yo, Your Highness, what are you doing here..."

Huangfu Qing’s expression stiffened.

It was too enjoyable here, and he had forgotten to keep an eye on others climbing over the wall...

With both elbows propped on the wall, Cui Yuanyang cupped his chin, "Someone just lectured me not to randomly hang onto men, considering the Cui Family’s reputation... It seems the Huangfu Family isn’t much better, hmm? Married and still stealing affairs."

Huangfu Qing: "..."

He had gotten careless, just as pleasurable as he had tricked people earlier, now it was just as socially disastrous.

"Looks like everyone’s family integrity isn’t great, yet I still fare a bit better than some. At least I don’t mind if Brother Zhao takes a few concubines or keeps a mistress." Cui Yuanyang continued cupping his chin, "Unlike some, bound by their parents’ commands and matchmakers’ words, who trick people away for a while, it’s all in vain..."

Huangfu Qing gritted his teeth, "What kind of matchmaker are you talking about again?"

Tang Wanzhuang slowly chimed in, "That would be me."

Huangfu Qing then remembered his prior analogy involving Cao Wei was extremely ominous.

At the most triumphant moment, there came Red Cliffs... Are you two really teaming up now?

She actually had a comeback... like "If we’re talking about the primary wife, it should be our Holy Daughter. When is it your turn?"

But she would rather die than say such words herself, just thinking of Xia Chichi’s smug look was infuriating.

She had made too many enemies... enemies everywhere.

Zhao Changhe, who never knew how to handle chaotic scenes, fumbled for a while and finally found a way to smooth things over, "Um... the Vermilion Bird Venerable sent you to inquire about the Night Emperor Token... shall we talk?"

Indeed, sticking to the main point was the best way to shift attention. Huangfu Qing breathed out, "Indeed, I have real matters to discuss with you, unlike others who are leisurely."

Look at that guilty and faint-hearted tough talking, Tang Wanzhuang, who had been rather passive, finally smiled, leisurely saying, "Yuan Yang."

"Ah, Head."

"Join me in my courtyard for a few cups of tea? Let’s give them some space, don’t be too stingy." Tang Wanzhuang walked towards the door, muttering, "Some people are actually quite pitiable; sent back and forth over long distances for a small concern, and they might even have to warm a bed afterwards... Look like an Imperial Concubine, but actually a maid, next time let Bao Qin talk to her..."

Huangfu Qing was livid.

Being a Winged Fire Snake was not easy! This inequality!

"Alright... Wanzhuang was just provoking a reaction from you, testing if you might be the Vermilion Bird Venerable," Zhao Changhe sighed, "After all, the Venerable making you run around isn’t so bad, what fun is there in the palace? You’ve always liked carefree adventures in the Worldly Society. Besides..."

Huangfu Qing sternly asked, "Besides what?"

"I wanted to see you."

"People leave, and then you start sweet-talking, couldn’t you have spoken earlier?"

"One, I really didn’t know how to speak in that situation, and two... I felt like neither of you wanted me to speak."

Huangfu Qing paused, reflecting that it made some sense. At least earlier when he had wanted to speak, she had cut him off herself. At that time, she really didn’t want him to say anything supportive, even if it was for her.

It boiled down to, it wasn’t just about fighting over a man...

Although both possessed possessiveness, fundamentally, it was these prideful and high-minded women changing battlefields. It’s less about wrestling over a man than about infuriating the other to death.

Otherwise, she should have tried everything to make Tang Wanzhuang give up this man, rather than say, "If you openly demonstrate jealousy and competition, I still respect you as a rival." That was practically assisting her.

Seeing Tang Wanzhuang’s final demeanor, not sure if she was ready to enter the fray. Seemed like there might be some interest...

Huangfu Qing looked at Zhao Changhe with a mind full of ellipses. I’m tearing apart with her, and in the end, you benefit? He seems silent, but actually, he’s making a killing... Look at how he finally used official business to defuse the situation, so precise.

"Cough." Zhao Changhe became serious, "Shall we go inside and talk? This token, I must explain it to you thoroughly, up and down..."

"Ow~ why hit me~"

"For your flirting, for your fickle heart, for making a silent fortune, aren’t you pleased with yourself? Explain the token, does it even matter! I don’t care if you’re a descendant of Emperor Ye, if it were Emperor Ye himself, I’d still beat you up!"

In the night, a man’s suppressed scream echoed, two peeking heads emerged over the garden wall, glancing at each other for a long while, and both said, "It seems this should have been the correct response all along, our past errors not withstanding."