Unbridled Medical Expert Consort: Demon Prince, Be Good - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Mouth Stinks So Much

The burst of laughter on this side immediately drew the other young ladies’ interest. In but a moment, tens more girls came.

“Miss Wen, what are you guys laughing about?”

“Is there something funny happening? Tell us so we can share in the fun.”

A few girls who were familiar with Wenwan’s group inquired, their gazes sweeping over Luo Qing Luan from time to time. They evidently also recognized her.

At the feast last time, Luo Qing Luan’s tune played like the sounds of nature, stunning countless numbers of people and word spread throughout the capital. However, as far as these young girls who aspired to be the crown prince’s consort where concerned, the more outstanding Luo Qing Luan was, the more she drew people’s attention, the more she’d seize attention away from them. How could they not be hateful and envious?

Just as she intended, seeing so many people drawn over, a sneer filled Fang Mingzhu’s face as she opened her mouth. “Everyone should already know that the second Miss Luo wanted to challenge Miss Yuchi tonight to fight over the title of ‘most talented girl’. Just now, we invited her to recite a poem and honor our ears. However, Miss Luo unexpectedly said that she didn’t know how. You guys tell us, is that not funny?”

That round faced girl among the trio, the Secretary of Agriculture’s daughter, Zhuang Yulan, immediately smiled coldly. “What’s so funny. Clearly, Miss Luo looks down on us and feels we’re beneath her dignity.”

Wenwan added accordingly, pouring oil into the fire. “Naturally. Otherwise, how can Miss Luo not do us the honor and be unwilling to just recite a poem?” Having just finished speaking, she rolled her eyes and added. “Don’t tell me that Miss Luo really is unable and is really an idiot?”

“Miss Wen’s mouth stinks so much. Is it because you ate stinky tofu for lunch at home which hasn’t been digested, yet?”

Suddenly, Luo Qing Luan, who had been quiet, spoke out. She looked at Wenwan expressionlessly, with a smile that’s not a smile. “Miss Wenwan. It’s actually not good to eat too much of something like stinky tofu. Moreover, the gains don’t make up for the losses, if, on account of loving good food, such an odor on a precious young lady like you causes people to mock you, right?”

Alarmed, Wenwan blurted, “How did you know that I……”

Her voice came to an abrupt stop. She suddenly realized what she let slip, as her complexion changed from red to white. Unfortunately, there’s no longer a way to take back those words.

Her addiction to eating stinky tofu was a habit she acquired two years ago. Originally, she was merely curious what her servants were eating sneakily. Who could have imagined that after smelling the strange odor, she inexplicably could not give it up.

Her parents also once admonished her. This kind of food was something that lower class people ate, so they wouldn’t allow her to touch it again. However, it was as if she was enchanted, and simply fell in love with this special smell, to the extent that she pilfered the food from time to time.

Now that she was put on the spot by Luo Qing Luan, the aristocratic ladies around her immediately looked at her strangely. Each and every one of them kept away from her at lightning speed, afraid that her smell would rub off on them, their faces full of revulsion as they even used their hands to fan their noses.

Wenwan was both angry and embarrassed and flew into a rage out of humiliation at once. “Luo Qing Luan, you’re spouting rubbish. I haven’t eaten such things.”

“You haven’t?”

Luo Qing Luan replied unflinchingly. “Impossible. I obviously smelled this kind of smell from Miss Wen’s mouth. It clearly the smell left over from eating stinky tofu without cleaning one’s mouth afterwards, ooh……otherwise, how can Miss Wen speak such smelly words?”

“Shut up! Luo Qing Luan, you’re spouting rubbish, shut up!”

Only now did she know that she’d been swindled, but Wenwan also couldn’t figure it out. How did Luo Qing Luan guess that she ate stinky tofu so easily? Without time to ponder these things, Wenwan’s expression distorted as her face changed from white to red almost red enough to drip blood. She could no longer stand the gazes from the surrounding people, as she lifted her dress and ran.

In the midst of uproarious laughter, everyone only recovered after a long while and looked at Luo Qing Luan again, a wisp of restraining fear residing in all of their gazes.

They didn’t expect it. When they saw her last time, she smiled gently in front of the empress while speaking in a soft voice. They even thought that Luo Qing Luan was someone with a good temper. Only meeting her today did they realize that she had no qualms about speaking out at all, able to kill people with her mouth alone.

It wasn’t at all because everyone was familiar with Wenwan. Rather, Luo Qing Luan’s words just now birthed a restraining fear in their hearts that caused them to be afraid of provoking her in their own carelessness and experiencing what Wenwan just experienced. Each and every one of them couldn’t help but distance themselves a little from her.

Seeing how everyone had been scared in place by Luo Qing Luan, how could Fang Mingzhu be willing to give up?

“Miss Luo, we were talking about reciting poetry just now, why would you turn the topic towards Miss Wen?” Fang Mingzhu laughed coldly and continued maliciously, “The bright moon is overhead tonight and it’s also a once a year gathering to recite poetry. It’s merely because heard that you wanted to challenge Miss Yuchi that we wanted to hear you compose poetry. What, now that everyone has arrived, you pretend to be incapable?”
“Don’t take us all for fools, Miss Luo. Everybody is waiting for you.” Zhuang Yulan also followed after.

Honestly, Luo Qing Luan had already been very patient with these people harassing her. She finally stood up and responded indifferently. “Sorry, since everyone is here, then I’ll make a declaration in front of everybody. I have never said that I want to challenge Miss Yuchi. Moreover, I’ve never said that I want the title of ‘most talented girl’. As for who has been deliberately spreading these rumours, that has nothing to do with me.”

Seeing Luo Qing Luan deny, Fang Mingzhu and everyone were slightly stunned, then immediately laughed coldly. “You can’t say it that way. If Miss Luo truly didn’t say those things before, why has the entire capital known about it?”

Zhuang Yulan looked around, then continued. “Exactly. A few days ago, I visited Miss Yuchi’s home and personally saw the reply letter that Miss Luo wrote to Miss Yuchi. Don’t tell me that this matter doesn’t exist.”

“There was indeed a reply letter, however……”

Luo Qing Luan hadn’t finished what she was saying, when Zhuang Yulan already interrupted her and spoke with a slight ridicule. “That reply letter clearly asked Miss Yuchi to provide guidance. Wasn’t this in fact a challenge? Miss Luo, since you already spoke, and you’ve already prepared for several days, why are you using all sorts of excuses when we invited you to compose a poem?”

“She obviously looks down on us. After all, we’re not the kind of talented young lady that Miss Yuchi is, who can be a challenge for Miss Luo.” Immediately, someone spoke out sourly.

Everyone increasingly became more discontented with Luo Qing Luan’s attitude. Each and everyone of them wagging their tongues while looking at her with gazes brimming with hostility.

Luo Qing Luan still said nothing. Why would she explain the truth when these people wouldn’t believe her instead?

Was it so strange not to be able to compose poetry?

She’d never wanted to cause trouble, yet these people clearly had nothing to do after filling their stomachs, so they looked for her. Very likely, without properly slapping their faces, these people truly would take her to be alone and easy to bully.

Just at this time, a drawn out voice belonging to a palace eunuch called out loudly. “Her Highness the Empress arrives——”

The multitude of women were startled and promptly faced ahead, bowing with respect. “Greetings Your Highness the Empress.”

Tonight, as before, Empress Wang was poised and noble, smiling cheerfully, beautiful thick hair bedecked with jewels, displaying the mother of a country’s posture to the utmost, not the least bit inferior to the former empress. Her very long dress was arranged on the ground, appearing like layers upon layers of clouds, as soft as cotton. She was supported by Imperial Consort Song. A group of palace maids followed behind her as she slowly stepped towards the seat in the middle.

“Everyone, rise.”

Her gentle voice sounded as Empress Wang sat down, eyes carrying a smiling expression as she took a glance at everyone. Only after everyone returned to their original position did she speak. “Today is the Mid-autumn festival again, a night of reunion difficult to come by. His Majesty is at the Soaring Dragon Palace enjoying the night with a group of officials, so he won’t be coming here. We can play on our own. Everyone should enjoy themselves to their heart’s content tonight.”

Everyone replied extremely deferentially. “Your Highness is right.”

Empress Wang pursed her lips and smiled. “There’s no need to be so reserved. Isn’t there also a poetry gathering tonight? Has our talented young ladies arrived? I’d already heard at an earlier time that Marquis of Xuan Ping’s daughter’s talent is outstanding and is a rare beauty in our Western Chu.”

As she spoke, she looked all around. As expected, a young lady immediately gracefully stepped out and walked towards the center while paying her respects. “Yuchi Lianqing greets Your Highness.”

“Are you the duchess of Yiyang? Hurry and come over to my side. Let me take a good look at you.” Empress Wang’s eyes shined while her smile widened even more.

Everyone, including Luo Qing Luan, also simultaneously turned to look at that young lady. They only saw a fifteen to sixteen year old with a face which still revealed some childishness. However, that unruffled bearing and the tranquil elegance which was displayed on her entire body made her steadiness somewhat more impressive. An exquisite nose and small mouth, vermillion lips like delicate petals. Crystal earrings hung down and swayed gently on by the side of her face brushed with a very thin layer of cosmetics. Sparkling and translucent, their twinkling, flickering brilliance made her entire person seem even more like a goddess who descended upon the mundane world.

Indeed not bad. No wonder she carried the title of Western Chu’s number one beauty. Luo Qing Luan smiled faintly, but she just had that kind of feeling, that’s all. After all, she wasn’t a man. No matter how much more beautiful a woman was, she would still just observe them like that. It was even less likely for her to be envious of another’s person’s appearance.

It’s just that, whether this Miss Yuchi was in fact a talent like the rumours and furthermore was gentle, refined, and kindhearted was left to be seen.

Light muslin swaying gently, Yuchi Lianqing raised her head slightly and replied gently. “Yes.”

After she spoke, she walked lightly like swaying lotuses, every frown and every smile, every move permeated with an other worldly loftiness which couldn’t help but make everyone feel inferior and self-conscious. When she finally sat by Empress Wang’s side, the smiling expression on her face became even more gentle and agreeable, birthing and even more favorable impression in everyone’s hearts.

“Indeed. What a beautiful young person. I wonder if you’ve been promised already?” Imperial Consort Song also smiled as she looked upon her.

“Responding to Imperial Consort. No.” Yuchi Lianqing’s voice sounded softly, somewhat bashful.

“Then that’s wonderful!” Imperial Consort Song immediately looked at Empress Wang and said, “Elder sister is so blessed. Doesn’t His Majesty want to look for a consort for His Highness the Crown Prince? I feel that the duchess of Yiyang is very fitting! Not only is she the number one beauty, moreover, the fame of her talents spreads far and wide. She’s indeed a choice candidate for the position of Crown Prince Consort. If my Huang’er hasn’t already……sigh, I just want to strive on Older Sister’s behalf.”

Empress Wang smiled while Yuchi Lianqing was a faceful of bashfulness, lowering her head without speaking.

After chatting for a bit, Imperial Consort Song continued. “Elder Sister since everyone has arrived, how about we start tonight’s poetry meeting? I also would like to listen to all of these young ladies’ works. This year’s compositions should be even better than last year’s.”

Nodding their heads, everyone’s eyes shined with eagerness to try. Empress Wang replied. “Then good. We celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival every year. This year’s rules are also about the same as last year’s. Besides the reward that His Majesty and I will bestow upon the top three winners, each and everyone else who presents an unusually outstanding piece of writing, or a work of art that’s new and refreshing will also be rewarded.”

For the many women participating in the Full Moon Feast, their main goal was precisely to obtain this placement.

Previous years were nothing much. Although they could obtain the honor of His Majesty and Her Highness’ reward, it’s still merely some material possessions. As far as precious high born ladies like them who lacked nothing were concerned, those were merely a bit of reputation, that’s all.

However, it’s different this year. Once they entered Her Highness’ sights, or maybe His Majesty fancied their composition, then that could possibly become the position of Crown Prince Consort. In fact, this had to do with their lifetime of happiness as well as their family’s glory. Everyone was of the same mind as their spirits burned with fervor.

“For this year’s moon praising poems, I wonder who should be the first to start?”

Empress Wang had just finished speaking when she looked for something among the crowd. “That’s right. Has the second Miss Luo from the General’s Mansion arrived? Where is she?”