The Ugly Empress by Yun Guo Shi Fei / 丑娘娘 by 云过是非

Chapter 28 - Eyeing Her? Feeling Jealous?

[T/N : Translating this chapter while suffering a splitting headache. Hope it's still readable. LOL.]

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Xue Yu casually took back his hand, as if what he'd just done was common and nothing out of the norm.

Xue Junliang had a faint smile on his face; he didn't look even slightly angry.

Every body else who saw this situation had their heart trembling in fear. They immediately knelt down and cried out Long Live the King.

Xue Junliang helped Teng Yun get up and smiled, "Gu has been waiting for you, but I see you meet each other here. Are you two reminiscing about the past?"

Xue Yu, still kneeling, calmly said, "Answering Your Majesty, Chen-di hasn't been in the capital city for years, has missed out many things."

Xue Junliang's tone was unreadable as he said, "Oh, really? Then you must come and talk about the past with Gu, later."

Then he allowed everyone to stand and turned towards the flower garden.

At the banquet, the court officials had been waiting respectfully for a long time for the honored guests to arrive.

Xue Junliang offered a short speech before allowing the song and dance performances to start. Xue Wang and the Empress sat at the highest seats. Xue Houyang sat at the second highest seat while Xue Yu sat below him. Xue Yu's position in the family, as well as his official ranking, was not as high as Marquis Wannian. And just by hearing the titles granted to them, it was even clearer who was more trusted by Xue Wang.

[T/N : Wannian (万年) means 'ten thousand years', while Zhenjiang (镇疆) means 'to subdue the border'. Naming someone Wannian sounds like a prayer or blessing, but naming someone Zhenjing is just like stating a fact.]

Xue Yu dressed appropriately and not too eye-catching. His conduct refined, his manner cultured and his temperament was rather honest and kind. He always wore a smile on his face, but his gaze too often shifted towards the direction of the highest seats.

Of course, he wasn't looking at Xue Junliang. He was looking at Teng Yun.

The court officials were all observant about people's body language. Naturally, they noticed Xue Yu's line of sight but they all pretended not to see anything.

Xue Junliang was especially affectionate today. He conversed with Teng Yun as smoothly and as flowingly as water. Teng Yun never had to raise a hand, Xue Junliang personally picked the dishes and poured the drinks for him. It was the perfect picture of a lovey-dovey couple.

Standing behind the couple, Jiang Yu and Xiu Yao couldn't stand watching it. Xiu Yao surreptitiously wiped a sweat. Although she was happy that His Majesty treated her mistress very well, she wished he didn't have to personally serve the Empress. Serving dishes and pouring drinks were all the servants' duties. Letting His Majesty did the works himself while they stood idle, it really made all the servants feel awkward.

Teng Yun glanced at Xue Yu who was sitting not too far from him. He reckoned Xue Yu's feelings towards the original Empress was not true. Because if he really did love her, he would not stay still and accept her marrying someone else for so long and only now come see her in capital city.

Xue Junliang had stationed his troops of soldiers at the borders to fight with Teng Country. Although right now Teng Country was defeated, the inner side of Xue Country lacked soldiers and also, the soldiers still needed time to recuperate after wars. Xue Yu coming to the capital city at this time, he must have unkind motives.

Teng Yun didn't want to get involved in between Xue Junliang and Xue Yu's problem. But Teng Yun's current identity was a Feng Country's Grand Princess who was living under Xue Country's roof. He was constantly dragged by either Xue Junliang and Xue Yu into their mess.