02. Concubine (2)
As expected of a member of the imperial family.
Perhaps their blood truly did run cold.
He would not even turn fifteen until autumn this year, yet he was already more rational and composed than most of the adults around him.
Thanks to Murong Yan's uncle—the current emperor—the entire realm was now covered with warrants for the Prince of Langya's arrest. The edict restoring Murong Yan's title had been personally issued by the late emperor, so the new emperor could not openly overturn it. Instead, he was using every possible means to force Murong Yan out into the open and eliminate the threat once and for all.
This meant that Murong Yan's original hiding place was becoming increasingly unsafe. He could certainly continue hiding there. He could simply remain indoors and never go outside.
But Murong Yan's identity was far too special.
His studies in history, literature, military strategy, and the art of ruling could not be neglected for even a moment. If people were constantly coming and going from his hiding place, sooner or later someone would become suspicious. After a long and secret discussion, several former retainers of the Crown Prince who were still operating underground finally made a risky decision.
They would disguise Murong Yan as a woman and send him to Guangling County under the identity of a concubine. Yu Wenjun had a wide and varied circle of acquaintances. People frequently came and went from his residence, so the presence of another woman would not attract much attention.
Guangling County was also an ideal location.
It was remote enough to escape notice, yet not so far from major cities such as Ye City that communication would become difficult. The only imperfect part of the plan was that Murong Yan would have to disguise himself as a woman—and that Yu Wenjun would have to shoulder an enormous risk.
Everyone understood what they were doing. They were practically dancing on the edge of a blade. If anything went wrong, Yu Wenjun's entire family would be killed.
And the number of people implicated in the affair would certainly not be small.
But Yu Wenjun possessed lofty political ideals.
The Prince of Changshan was cruel and tyrannical, surrounding himself with corrupt officials and sycophants. For them, the only hope of the Qi dynasty lay with this surviving son of the former Crown Prince.
As the sages had said, If one hears the Dao in the morning, one may die content by evening.
Yu Wenjun was no sage.
But if sacrificing his own life could serve the greater good of the realm, he was willing to take the risk.
The reason Yu Wenjun had been away from home this time was precisely to arrange for Murong Yan's transfer. There was no time to waste, so he had been forced to leave his daughter behind at the residence. Before parting with the others, they had already agreed upon a secret signal.
Once the situation settled down after a few days, Yu Wenjun would use the excuse of hiring tutors for his daughter and gradually bring Murong Yan's teachers in literature and martial arts into the Governor's Residence. Yu Wenjun went over everything he needed to do again and again in his mind.
Only after he had finally worked out every detail did he notice his beloved daughter storming out from the rear courtyard. Yu Qingjia's lips were slightly pursed, and there seemed to be a glimmer of light in her eyes. Her anger had somehow made her entire being even more radiant.
Men were always a little slow when it came to understanding their daughters.
Yu Wenjun noticed nothing unusual.
Instead, he smiled warmly.
“Jia-jia, what brings you out here? What did you have for lunch today? Have you eaten dinner yet?”
Yu Qingjia first bowed to her father.
Then her eyes darted around before landing casually on the carriage behind him.
“Father, I heard you brought home a beautiful concubine?”
The moment he heard that title, Yu Wenjun's heart jolted.
The person inside hated nothing more than having his appearance discussed.
Back when they were in Ye City, a high-ranking official's son had once joked,
“Prince of Langya, Murong Yan—what a face! Even women would be ashamed to compare themselves to him.”
Murong Yan had been standing nearby when he heard it.
He had said nothing.
He had simply drawn his bow and fired an arrow straight at the speaker. The group had been laughing loudly, assuming Murong Yan was joking.
They soon discovered otherwise. Murong Yan genuinely intended to kill them. They scrambled desperately to dodge. But every time they avoided one arrow, Murong Yan calmly fired another. His movements were unhurried, almost elegant.
Had one of Emperor Mingwu's attendants not intervened and pleaded for mercy, someone might very well have died that day.
Yu Wenjun wanted to warn his daughter.
But after thinking about it, he realized there was nothing technically wrong with what she had said.
At present, Murong Yan was indeed disguised as a woman.
Calling him a “beautiful concubine” was therefore perfectly reasonable.
Yu Wenjun could only offer his warning as subtly as possible.
“Jia-jia, this is your elder. You must show proper respect. Don't use such frivolous terms when addressing her.”
Yu Qingjia's brows rose in surprise.
She had always firmly believed that there had been genuine love between her father and mother. Although that love had ultimately failed to withstand the family's cruelty, that did not diminish the beauty it had once possessed. Her parents' love had formed the foundation of every youthful fantasy Yu Qingjia had about her future husband.
The man she dreamed of marrying would be like her father—upright, broad-minded, and faithful.
Yet now, the father she had always regarded as her role model had not only brought home a concubine with great fanfare, he was also displeased that she had spoken of the woman as a mere concubine. He was even reminding her to treat her with respect, as though she were an elder.
Yu Qingjia pressed her lips together.
She tried her best to suppress the anger rising inside her, but she could not completely extinguish the fire in her heart.
“Father,” she said, “where is this… lady? Since it's our first meeting, shouldn't she at least come out and greet me?”
The moment Yu Wenjun heard Yu Qingjia call the Prince of Langya “lady,” his heart jolted again.
He told himself that he would simply have to get used to it.
At the same time, he could not help feeling uneasy.
If this had happened a few years earlier, anyone who dared speak to the Prince of Langya this way would probably have been beaten to death. Yu Wenjun carefully chose his words.
“Jia-jia, she has just endured a long journey and needs to be settled in first. As for paying respects, you can meet properly another day.”
What arrogance!
Yu Qingjia was the legitimate daughter of the household.
She had personally come to the main hall to receive this newly arrived concubine.
Yet the woman dared not only to refuse to appear, but to arrogantly claim that she was tired and that the formal greeting could wait until another day.
Even without her mother, Yu Qingjia would not allow someone to humiliate her like this.
“Father!”
Yu Qingjia's voice grew heavier.
“Even if this newly arrived lady is technically my elder by half a generation, there is still a distinction between legitimate and secondary status. I personally came here to greet her, yet she refuses to show herself?”
“Jia-jia!”
Yu Wenjun hurriedly lowered his voice.
He was about to drag his foolish daughter away when a low, cold voice suddenly came from beyond the doors and windows.
“There's no need.”
Everyone in the room slowly turned toward the sound.
Beyond five folding screens painted with orchids and bamboo, a crane-shaped incense burner stood with its slender neck raised.
The blue curtains stirred gently in the evening breeze. And there, beyond them, stood a slender, graceful figure.
Yu Qingjia raised her head.
Her eyes met the other person's.
She had never been so arrogant as to believe that no one in the world could surpass her in beauty.
She knew very well that her own face was extraordinarily beautiful—almost unrivaled.
But at that moment, for the first time, Yu Qingjia was no longer so certain.
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