Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 390: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

How could she arrive at the same time as us when she’s coming from the capital?

Huangfu Qing must have deliberately timed it. She’s trying to show off her power!

Tang Wanzhuang took several deep breaths, maintaining a calm demeanor. “So she’s a member of the Four Idols Cult. She used to hide it a little, but now she doesn’t even bother to do so. She comes just because Vermillion Bird asked her to come. What an excellent imperial noble consort...”

At this point, she shook her head. So what? Can I even arrest her? Am I supposed to go to His Majesty and report her?

She wondered why Vermillion Bird was so willing to blatantly reveal such an important piece in the palace. However, since she dared to reveal such a card, it was apparent that they were not afraid of her making a fuss about it.

Too arrogant, these demonic cult rebels are getting too arrogant...

Honestly, Tang Wanzhuang’s anger and unease over this matter exceeded her jealousy. She frowned tightly all the way into Hongnong.

Beside her, Zhao Changhe was also scratching his head. Huangfu Qing really was here, and Vermillion Bird definitely intended to approve of him and Huangfu Qing being together. Even if that may not have been the case before, it definitely was the case now.

He used to think his level when it came to dealing with women was almost at the level of the Ranking of Heaven, but now he realized that he was still a novice. At the very least, he was helpless in the face of this love triangle. He was completely clueless on what to do, left with nothing but a bitter expression on his face.

The two of them silently arrived at the guest houses arranged by the Yang Clan under the guidance of some Yang Clan members.

Of course, they did not stay together. Tang Wanzhuang and Zhao Changhe were both “single.” In Xiangyang, they could shamelessly hide in the prefectural governor’s mansion, and it was no problem when they were traveling together on the road, but in Hongnong, they had to be careful to keep their distance.

The wealthy Yang Clan of Hongnong had prepared separate courtyard residences for all its distinguished guests. However, intentionally or not, Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang’s accommodations were next to each other, close enough for them to sneak over the wall into the other’s house.

Huangfu Qing’s guest house was not adjacent to theirs, however. Instead... it was directly across from theirs.

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So after Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang each moved in, they stood like rural old folks at their doors, watching the fanfare of the procession welcoming the imperial noble consort. A convoy escorted a carriage that leisurely stopped across the street.

The curtain of the carriage was slightly lifted, revealing Huangfu Qing’s face, a mix of heroic spirit and allure.

Her beautiful eyes glanced over at the old folks with a smile that was not quite a smile, her gaze conveying different meanings to each of the two.

Toward Tang Wanzhuang, it was a mocking provocation.

Toward Zhao Changhe, it was a mix of resentment and affection.

They had countless words to say to each other, yet they tacitly chose not to express them in front of outsiders. Even though Huangfu Qing and Tang Wanzhuang had been at odds for over a decade, they both maintained decorum in public.

So the old folks simply watched as the imperial noble consort alighted the carriage and entered the guest house with the Yang Clan’s entourage.

“Big brother Zhao! Big brother Zhao!”

A young girl suddenly jumped out from the guest house adjacent to Zhao Changhe’s and clung to him, refusing to let go. “When did you arrive? I didn’t know you were here already. I came out to see the imperial noble consort and unexpectedly saw you!”

Tang Wanzhuang: “?”

Huangfu Qing: “?”

The heated atmosphere between the two women suddenly froze over.

They were holding themselves back, waiting for the crowd to disperse before they even began making their moves, yet someone had suddenly made their move before them.

Obviously, that someone was Cui Yuanyang.

The Yang Clan members present glanced over with some amusement before turning their eyes away. The whole world knew about the three-year agreement between Zhao Changhe and the Cui Clan, and now that Zhao Changhe had made it onto the Ranking of Man, it was basically equivalent to being engaged to Cui Yuanyang. Seeing the young girl so delighted, many in the Yang Clan smiled kindly.

Tang Wanzhuang’s expression became rather awkward.

It seemed like she had dug this hole for herself. She was the one who had sent Cui Yuanyang to Beimang, after all, intending to make her and Zhao Changhe a couple.

Huangfu Qing had already entered the gate of her courtyard residence across the street but turned back to give Tang Wanzhuang a vicious glare, as if to say, “Look at what you’ve done.”

Tang Wanzhuang, unwilling to back down, returned the glare fiercely, as if to say, “What business is it of yours, married woman? Do you think you’re even entitled to comment on this?”

Soon after, the crowd separated them and they could no longer see each other.

The exchange was fleeting. Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe was awkwardly holding Cui Yuanyang, who was clinging to him. “Hey, hey, there are so many people here...”

“So what?” Cui Yuanyang said joyfully. “The three-year agreement has been fulfilled, and you’re pretty much already the Cui Clan’s son-in-law! It’s all fair and perfectly justified! No old witch can interfere with us!”

Zhao Changhe stole a glance at Tang Wanzhuang, who looked as cold as ice, and said awkwardly, “Your father hasn’t said anything yet...”

“Hmph, do you know what my father said before sending me here?”

“What?”

“He said that you would definitely come to the Yang Clan’s birthday banquet, so he sent me to represent the clan rather than my big brother.” Cui Yuanyang then whispered into his ear, “Old Cui doesn’t care about face anymore. He sent me here to keep you from being snatched away by someone else, hehe.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Cui Yuanyang glanced at Tang Wanzhuang and greeted her happily, “First Seat Tang, I haven’t thanked you yet for sending me to Beimang back then. You were our matchmaker! You must come for a drink at our wedding. I want to toast you as an elder.”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled slightly, genuinely like an elder advising, “Yangyang...”

“Ah?”

“I understand your excitement, but you’re not a child anymore. There are so many people here, and it would not be good for the Cui Clan’s reputation for you to continue acting in this way. You should get off of him.”

She stood there gracefully, holding Baoqin’s hand, and her demeanor was simply impeccable. Yet for some reason, Baoqin’s face seemed to twitch in pain.

“Brother Zhao, brother Zhao.” Yang Bugui finally emerged from the imperial noble consort’s residence across the street and greeted Zhao Changhe. “Sorry for neglecting you, brother Zhao. How about I take you somewhere nice for you to play?”

Cui Yuanyang jumped down from Zhao Changhe in a huff and shouted, “Yang Bugui, if you dare take my husband to any indecent places, I’ll beat you up!”

The word “husband” was too jarring. Nearby, Tang Wanzhuang, as well as Huangfu Qing who was casually socializing with Yang Jingxiu in the courtyard, turned expressionless.

Yang Bugui felt as if dark clouds had gathered above him out of nowhere, as if he had entered some special secret realm, and he could not help but sweat a little. “Well, since brother Zhao has a beautiful woman to accompany him, I won’t intrude any further. I shall take my leave, goodbye.”

Looking at the little rabbit standing before him, Yang Bugui silently wished Zhao Changhe good luck, fearing he might end up stewed tonight...

Seeing Yang Bugui retreat wisely, Cui Yuanyang acted like she had won a battle and said, “Already all grown up, yet still trying to lead my husband astray. Humph...”

The two older women’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

This little girl’s words seem to carry some hidden meanings. It looks like she isn’t as innocent as she appears.

Zhao Changhe, however, failed to catch whether Cui Yuanyang was insinuating anything. Seeing her full of energy, he could not help but rub her head. “Why do you look like you’ve barely grown any older?”

Cui Yuanyang pulled Zhao Changhe inside and said with a smile, “Why don’t you come and see if I’ve grown up?”

The door creaked shut, sealing off the world outside.

Cui Yuanyang did indeed lace her words with hidden meaning earlier. She did not know about Huangfu Qing, but she had long considered Tang Wanzhuang and Xia Chichi as her rivals. In her mind, Tang Wanzhuang was far more dangerous than Xia Chichi because, with her status, she could vie for the position of main wife, whereas Xia Chichi’s chances were lower.

Do you really think I’m grateful for you for matchmaking us?

The phrase “toasting to an elder” had been full of thorns.

Nobody from an aristocratic family was easy to deal with, especially not their young ladies. Perhaps only Zhao Changhe found Cui Yuanyang to be innocently cute and clueless. It was hard to tell who was truly clueless between them.

Baoqin glanced at her lady’s livid face, marveling at the situation. Amidst the battle between two older women, a young girl about her own age had barged in and was currently in the lead, openly insulting them without any of them being able to get angry.

Who can rival the heroes beneath the heavens? Huangfu? Tang? A young girl like Cui Yuanyang?

Baoqin felt that her cultural literacy had improved.

Unfortunately, Cui Yuanyang made the same mistake as her ally Xia Chichi, insulting one old woman and inadvertently dragging another in.

Just as she was about to tiptoe in the courtyard with Zhao Changhe, intending to plant a sweet kiss with her little lips pursed, Huangfu Qing, who was socializing with Yang Jingxiu, smiled slightly and asked, “Was that young girl outside just now a daughter of the Cui Clan?”

Yang Jingxiu said, “Yes, that was Cui Yuanyang, the apple of brother Wenjing’s eye.”

“I find her quite cute and likable. Would it be alright to have her come and chat with me?” Huangfu Qing teased him, “You all are the same, gathering guests from all over the place, so why are you all surrounding me? Go on, let that young girl come keep me company and chat with me.”

Just as Cui Yuanyang was puckering her lips with anticipation, a knock came from the door. “The imperial noble consort requests Miss Cui to meet her.”

Cui Yuanyang’s puckered lips froze, and a look of disbelief flashed in her eyes.

Why is it that even the imperial noble consort is picking on me? Was she bribed by that old woman Tang outside?