Empress with no Virtue Chapter 9

Today is the ninth day of the ninth month, not only today is the Chong Yang Festival, it was also Ji Wu Jiu’s birthday, After today, he will turn 20.

Normally for men at the age of 20 they have a coming of age ceremony, but as an Emperor with huge responsibilities, he already had his ceremony a few years back. Therefore this year for his birthday, the celebration is not as grand. During the day, to have a family gathering at the inner palace and at night to celebrate with the minister, that would be all.

The family gathering would of course be organized by Ye Zhen Zhen.

The birthday celebration reminds Ji Wu Jiu of the present he received from Ye Zhen Zhen, it was a own made gun. Ji Wu Jiu also tested it with real gun powder, it was quite nice to use.

Of Ji Wu Jiu would know what was Ye Zhen Zhen’s intention; See, you didn’t let me reference the other drafts you have, I still can create a gun, now you will know what is called super clever and intelligent.

He is at the point where he knows what sort of expression will appear on Ye Zhen Zhen when she says this sentence. Laughing coldly, gunpower is something that can kill, she really dared to gift something like this to me as a birthday present…really.. really…. Sigh..

Besides the gun he received from Ye Zhen Zhen, he also received various gifts from his other small wives, there were some self made embroidery, drawings, antiques, and etc. Xian Concubine, gave him a piece of jade accessory, which was initially made to be a pair of dragon and phoenix, Xian Concubine gave the dragon shaped one to Ji Wu Jiu and kept the Phoenix one for herself. Of Course Ji Wu Jiu would have understood what she meant, but it was such a cheesy gift, in the end he just gave it to Feng You De to be kept, and didn’t not wear it. His romantic side will only come out when there is something important, for an example, before any intimate “business”.

After hearing about it, Ye Zhen Zhen only thought Xian Concubine was stingy, only giving half of the item.

Actually, what Xian Concubine did was not right, if they were normal citizens using the dragon and phoenix jades as a couple gift was fine, but in the palace the emperor is the dragon and the phoenix would be the empress, and at this moment she is still far from being the empress. Although many others thought that Ye Zhen Zhen will surely sooner or later drop from the empress position, however she is still in that position so it seems that Xian Concubine can’t wait to be the phoenix. Although what she meant for it was just to remind Ji Wu Jiu of their love…. After much thought Xian Concubine also let out a cold sweat, scolding herself for being reckless. Luckily Ye Zhen Zhen did not take this matter seriously.

His favourite gift that was still the one he gave himself. A few days ago the head of the main 3 army camp, Ye Lei Ting did a little mistake, so Ji Wu Jiu used a “not competent” fault and sent him far away to Ning Xia to be a lieutenant there. Although there was an increase in rank, to most people it was still a severe punishment. The 3 main army camps are elite forces and have a few hundred thousand army, it definitely cannot be compared to the Ning Xia army camp.

Why did Ji Wu Jiu want to find fault with Ye Lei Ting?

This Ye Lei Ting originally comes from a family that produces good general, also he was capable, strong in martial arts, strict army ruling and held a high position at a young age. But it was too bad that he has family ties with Ye Xiu Ming, although during his father’s generation there did not really had a good relations.h.i.+p with Ye Xiu Ming, but it changed with Ye Lei Ting.

Really, looking for punishment.

That’s why Ji Wu Jiu punished him. Initially Ye Xiu Ming wanted to help Ye Lei Ting, but it was Ye Lei Ting who personally asked to be transferred to Ning Xia, ending his own career. So, Ye Xiu Ming couldn’t do anything and can only curse Ji Wu Jiu for being foxy.

After Ye Lei Ting left, the new person he choose was Fang Xiu Qing’s brother in law.

That’s why Ji Wu Jiu slept very well for the past few days, feeling revitalized. When he saw Ye Xiu Ming, he was able to have small chats with him, and was very happy when he saw Ye Xiu Ming being unhappy.

Back to topic, about the family gathering.

The weather was great, with blue skies. The summer’s humidity is gone, the autumn’s air surrounding the atmosphere, one of the most comfortable weathers in the year. Initially Ye Zhen Zhen wanted to held the banquet inside Yan Chun Ge, but since the weather was good she got her people to take everything outside to Tai Ye Pond to enjoy the breeze and scenery.

All the ladies from the inner palace payed extra attention to their dressings and appearance, happily greet the emperor with prosperous words. Ji Wu Jiu was in a good mood, and let out a seldom seen smile, making the atmosphere even better.

Autumn is when the chrysanthemums blooms best,  Ye Zhen Zhen ordered people to place them around the banquet, also added some green peony, and many other types of flower varieties. Ji Wu Jiu took a sip of chrysanthemums wine, and happily asked his wives to make poems with flower as a topic. The consorts happily agree, and especially those with high talent. Thinking that in a little while, they would get the attention of the emperor.

Between them, w.a.n.g Zhao Yi stood up, looking at the pot of green peony, looking a far in deep thoughts made her look attractive. w.a.n.g Zhao Yi entered the palace when she was 13, although Ji Wu Jiu has a wide chest and accepts most types of woman, but towards a child he just couldn’t do it, that’s why she was only allowed to serve the emperor 2 years later. It was only recently that she was promoted from the fifth grade Mei Ren to forth grade Zhao Yi.  Although she was not as pretty as Li Concubine, but she is very talented in the arts and literature field, so Ji Wu Jiu will occasionally change his taste and dote on this talented girl.

Suddenly with a glimmer in her eyes, it seems that w.a.n.g Zhao Yi got something and took the brush to write out the words.

After that, Ji Wu Jiu looked at Ye Zhen Zhen at his side, and only saw her frowning and drawing nonsense on her paper. His mouth curved up a little, showing a smile that was not easily detected.

After an incense stick time, it was time to submit their work. After checking them Ji Wu Jiu decided w.a.n.g Zhao Yi wrote the best, and the last person was naturally Ye Zhen Zhen, though luckily what she submitted wasn’t the drawings that she was doing earlier. Ye Zhen Zhen was never a talent girl, even when she was at home and her father tried to turn her into one, it didn’t work. Ye Zhen Zhen also told her father “As a girl, without talent means she is benevolent” Ye Kang Le couldn’t help but laughed, “so everyday ignoring your duty as a lady and playing with swords and guns means that you are benevolent?” Ye Kang Le was frustrated, their family was all into the arts and literature, and never produced any strong generals, but why did this girl turn out to be Mu Lan? Ye Zhen Zhen didn’t really bother as she was pampered by Ye Xiu Ming, naturally what she wanted to do, she will, what she didn’t want to do, she won’t.

Ji Wu Jiu loudly read out Ye Zhen Zhen’s work, all the ladies was trying their best to not laugh. He also commented “ My Empress’s knowledge, on literature I am afraid did not grow after the age of 7”

Ye Zhen Zhen has a thick face, without any change in her expression “ It was said that too much literature only brings trouble, it might not necessary be good” thinking a little it sounded like she scolded her own family as well, added “but of course not those that really uses it for the country and people”

This time Li Concubine agrees with Ye Zhen Zhen, because if not for her, she would have been the worst. She hated making poems the most. Looking at w.a.n.g Zhao Yi, she could not help but to keep repeating in her heart ”b.i.t.c.h..”

After that, they started another round of games which was for one to say a sentence with regards to flower and according to the word count, following how they sit, the next person would have to drink a cup of wine and continue with the game if the last word falls on them. w.a.n.g Zhao Yi got twice, and each time her sentence would end at Ji Wu Jiu, and when he drinks his eyes will look at her and making her go all shy, both of them exchanging glances was so intense that it seems that sparkles will ignite soon.

Li Concubine was not happy, even Xian Concubine was not in a good mood anymore.

The other ladies followed as well to try to end the sentence at Ji Wu Jiu, and in the end made the birthday boy drank a lot of wine, but what made Ye Zhen Zhen angry was, everytime Ji Wu Jiu finished drinking, he will always make sure that the sentence ends at her. Therefore after a few rounds, how many cups of wine Ji Wu Jiu drank, that was how many cups of wine Ye Zhen Zhen had to drink.

Li Concubine was starting to get bored and hurriedly catch an opportunity “ Today, it is your majesty’s birthday, I would like to play a song to celebrate”

Although Li Concubine might not be strong in literature, she is very good with the Zither, to the point where even Ji Wu Jiu was shocked. She has the ability to make people drunk with her skills.

That’s why Ji Wu Jiu gestured for them to stop the game and to listen to Li Concubine play.

This time, Xi Consort smiled “If only Li Concubine playing the Zither is too simple, I am willing to sing along to her song”

Ji Wu Jiu allowed as well, because Xi Consort was good at singing too.

Then, Ye Zhen Zhen added “ There is music, there is song, if there will be someone dancing, that would be best”

Xian Concubine was happy, she has a good body to dance and when she dances it was very beautiful, she dances Ling Bo Xian the best, even JI Wu Jiu praised her previously. “I…”

“That’s why I have already prepared” Ye Zhen Zhen stopped Xian Concubine. “A few days ago I found a very pretty dancer, today would be just right to let the emperor enjoy””. While saying she gestured, and a dancer walked towards the pre prepared dance floor, and started dancing along to the music.

Whether this dancer was pretty or not, JI Wu Jiu still couldn’t tell, because all his attention was given to the hair style.

Ye Zhen Zhen saw Ji Wu Jiu turning purple, and explained with a smile, “I asked the dancer to combed this 18 circle style, thinking it should be able to brighten up the atmosphere some more. What do you think of it your majesty?”

“It was hard on you to prepare this, although I am not sure how does 18 circle hair style looks like, but I think it shouldn’t have been simply tying 18 circles on the head” while looking at her. He starts to be astonished by her, this woman really has the wits to attract/diminish his appet.i.te. (this part is abit hard to translate, I am not sure if he meant, she was getting more attractive or she was able to make the pretty dancer not attractive to him..sorry)

On the dance floor, the dancer was dancing with 18 circles on her head, and was under a lot of stress, she was afraid if she angered the emperor, her head will be gone.

Actually this hairstyle is not ugly, just very funny.. The dancer was wearing a yellow chiffon dress, with graceful dancing skills, and great body. It is just that the hairstyle made it looked very weird with the combination.

Most of the people were trying to cover their mouth, trying to stop laughing, but once they saw the black faced Ji Wu Jiu, they didn’t dare to laugh, and it was suffering to stop laughter.

Ye Zhen Zhen saw that Ji Wu Jiu was finally going to be unhappy, was then only she became happier. Towards this emperor, her feelings towards him was very complicated, although she dislikes him, she also don’t dare to do anything that is too over so she only occasionally do small things to make him angry. The life in the inner palace was too boring, she needed to find something to put her thoughts on.

Howevere, Ji Wu Jiu ‘s feelings towards Ye Zhen Zhen was also very complicated, always gritting his teeth on matters regarding to her, but also in the same time couldn’t do anything about it. At first he thought that she was stupid, but actually she was very “super clever”; he was also afraid that she will do or plan anything behind his back, but she always place her “clever” at the front, very honestly, showing everyone. Actually this is something that surpa.s.ses clever.

Now, both of them was in their thoughts, and suddenly their eyes met, and then both turn their eyes away again….

Note: This chapter there was alot of parts that were very difficult to translate word by word, so some parts i turn them into summary instead, like the wine drinking game… and some others.. but the story line flow remains ~ hehe