Chapter 85.3: The Whole Family Harmonious?

Bastard. Saying that much, he was still brooding over this marriage. Le Cheng Emperor also regretted. Why for the sake of letting Ding Duke shut up, in addition to giving him a bit of a lesson, did he have this bastard dragged out? At the time, just what in the world was he thinking? Could it be that his days were too comfortable and needed to find himself some suffering to feel refreshed?

(T/N: Emperor sounds like a masochist sometimes—)

If possible, Le Cheng Emperor wished he could return to before issuing the decree, and burn the imperial decree, then ruthlessly give himself a punch, waking himself up, so as to avoid committing foolishness!

“Get lost for this emperor! Before marrying, you’re not allowed to reenter the palace.” Compensation and whatnot, push back to later!

“This son bids farewell.” Li Hong Yuan didn’t hesitate in the slightest and swiftly got lost.

Seeing him get lost too quickly, Le Cheng Emperor was upset again, huffing and glaring at him.

Noble Consort Su gloomily looked to Le Cheng Emperor, “This consort had wanted to leave Yuan’er for a meal. Yuan’er hasn’t eaten with this consort in several months already.”

Le Cheng Emperor stared at Noble Consort Su, while Noble Consort Su continue to gloomily look at him, even having the stance of neither moving until the seas run dry and the stones go soft[1].

Noble Consort Su turned her head and laughed with a pfft sound. “Qi-gugu[2]

, quickly go stop Jin Qinwang.” Seeing Le Cheng Emperor leisurely walking towards the main seat, she didn’t anything more either, fearing that he’ll fly into a rage out of embarrassment again. Clearly wanting to leave his son for a meal, yet he just had to be untrue to his heart. However, this awkward mood was indeed brought out by Yuan’er. Else, you let him, an Emperor, go talk nicely with his son, softly and gently have him keep his son for a meal? Then he doesn’t need to be this Emperor anymore.

Getting called to stop by Qi-gugu, Li Hong Yuan wasn’t surprised. He indeed haven’t used a meal in the palace in a very long time and thus agreed.

Li Hong Yuan had to admit, Noble Consort Su was a good consort mother. Even if he repeated his life again starting from ten, he still couldn’t deny this bit. Never mind in the inner palace, even surveying across the entire Qi Yuan Empire, you still can’t find many that treated children as well as her. Towards this foster son, she didn’t ‘push to failure by excessive criticism’, and further didn’t ‘praise in a way that puts him at a disadvantage’, raising him no different from her own biological son, sometime even better than. And this was also true and honest devotion. In his past life, he viewed her as a mother, and also exhausted his means in assisting Li Hong Ming into power. This life, his respect towards her also carried three part sincerity, but any more, there were none. No matter how good she was, it still couldn’t erase those two bad points. He’d once given her a chance. If she’d given up, he didn’t mind letting bygones be bygones, and support her in her elderly years for the rest of her life, letting her live her whole life in glory and honor. In fact, he could even pardon Li Hong Ming from death. But she still did the same thing as in the past life…..n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Returning to the conversation once more, “Imperial father has already finished handling governmental affairs at this time? The court ministers truly are hard working.” The underlying meaning was precisely ‘neglecting one’s duties and throwing it to others’.

“This emperor spends that much money on salary to raise them, so they naturally need to share the burdens for this emperor. Otherwise, what else would this emperor raise them for?” His eye daggers shot towards Li Hong Yuan. In the entire Qi Yuan, this bastard was actually the biggest vermin of only taking benefits and not working.

Li Hong Yuan naturally understood the meaning in Le Cheng Emperor’s words. However, he didn’t have any intentions of helping his father share the burdens.

Le Cheng Emperor also didn’t count on him to either, “Come over, play two matches with this emperor.”

Noble Consort Su quickly called for someone to fetch the qi set and prepare tea.

Li Hong Yuan sat across from Le Cheng Emperor, picking the black pieces out of habit, and as per usual, let Le Cheng Emperor put two pieces down first.

“Still this arrogant and conceited.” Le Cheng Emperor humphed twice, yet also didn’t insist not letting Li Hong Yuan do this.

Li Hong Yuan’s long slender fingers twirl the pieces between his fingers. The extreme color contrast made his hand appear increasingly pretty. This skin of his, not a single place could be nitpicked.

Every time Le Cheng Emperor set down a piece, he was all very solemn, and the longer into the match, the longer he contemplated. In contrast, Li Hong Yuan appeared much more disorganized. For the most part, after Le Cheng Emperor puts down a piece, he would land one right after, appearing as if he didn’t even once think it over.

Noble Consort Su quietly watched from the side. She also knew how to play, but only just that, and wasn’t at all proficient in it. Rui Qinwang, Li Hong Ming, and his younger sister, Princess Min Xiang, came in together. They knew Li Hong Yuan was in Yucui Palace, and further knew that Le Cheng Emperor was also in Yucui Palace. Just, when they entered, they didn’t expect to see these two playing qi, and not coldly glaring at each other.

The two siblings looked to one another and went forward, preparing to bow. However, Noble Consort Su instead turned around and signaled for them to be quiet.

Princess Min Xiang cheerfully rushed towards Noble Consort Su. Clearly already a fifteen year old grown young lady, but still cuddled against Noble Consort Su like a small child.

Li Hong Ming followed after, his gaze reflexively landing on the board. And when he saw clearly the state of the match on the board, his pupils instinctively shrunk. His gaze once again landed on Li Hong Yuan, appearing increasingly complicated and unrecognizable. He’d never played qi with Li Hong Yuan before. In fact, he’d never seen him play qi before either. At the moment, he vaguely recalled, back when Li Hong Yuan was a few years old, someone seemingly had praised his qi skills to be out of the ordinary. Merely just a child, even if someone were to praise to the high heavens, no one would really take seriously. Afterwards, gradually, there were no longer any more relating rumors, just seeing it as him vanishing among the masses. Turns out that wasn’t the case!

In qi, Le Cheng Emperor can’t be said to be an absolute master, but he was still upper intermediate level. Whenever Li Hong Ming played him, seven or eight times out of ten, he would lose. Of course, it was mostly because the other party was his father, and further his lord. Li Hong Ming didn’t dare to make it too obvious either. According to his estimations, if he hadn’t deliberately yielded to him, his and Le Cheng Emperor’s win-loss outcome should’ve been fifty-fifty tie.

But looking at it now, Li Hong Yuan clearly was much better than imperial father.

Le Cheng Emperor placed down another piece, while Li Hong Yuan followed immediately after, “Wait…” The ‘a ruler does not go back on his word’ Le Cheng Emperor had the piece picked back up, withdrawing his move.

Li Hong Yuan lifted his eyes and glanced at him, but didn’t say anything, only retracting his hand.

The people watching were all a bit dumbfounded. Their gaze continuously sweeping over Le Cheng Emperor. Is this really the Emperor of Qi Yuan dynasty?

Le Cheng Emperor didn’t pay them the slightest attention, wholeheartedly focusing on the chessboard. After thinking again and again, and hesitating over and over, he finally put down the piece.

“Not changing anymore?” Li Hong Yuan asked. Look how filial he was, not at all minding giving his old man another chance.

Le Cheng Emperor hesitated again, “Not changing…..” He said in uncertainty.

Li Hong Yuan lightly snorted and placed down a piece. A chunk of Le Cheng Emperor’s pieces were eaten, “Before was better.” He saw Le Cheng Emperor lift his head and glare at him, “What? Still want to take back?”

Le Cheng Emperor dropped the issue.

Despite Le Cheng Emperor repeatedly struggling against death, in the end, he was still mercilessly slaughtered by Li Hong Yuan.

Le Cheng Emperor’s eyes seemingly reddened in anger, “You bastard, don’t you know to yield a little?”

“Yield? Wouldn’t that be deceiving the Emperor? This son has always revered imperial father, so naturally have to be honest.”

“How come never see you revere this emperor normally? Again.”

Li Hong Yuan had the piece thrown back into the bowl, “Imperial father, it’s best you find someone whose skills are close to yours to play with.”

[1] Idiom meaning until the end of time.

[2] Gugu – Literally translated to paternal aunt, but in this case, it’s just used as an address for older palace maids. I think a lot about how to translate most of the addresses and anything I do leave in pinyin is mostly just things I really think it’s best left as is.