Ex-Girlfriend Blackens Every Day: Chapter 36

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ARC 3: SWAPPED EX-GIRLFRIEND (4)

The new year was drawing near. As per tradition, the emperor held a banquet in the palace hall where hundreds of ministers and their families participated.

The prince's manor had welcomed a princess not too long ago, and the newlyweds were so harmonious that countless people were teeming with jealousy.

Everyone wanted to see how much of a 'peerless beauty' Princess Wei was.

The night was deep and the lanterns in the hall shone with the brightness of day.

Prince Wei unhurriedly walked in with his wife.

At this moment, the audience's eyes all fell on Feng Sisi.

The girl was a little nervous and felt breathless. "Wei Yu, they seem to be looking at me, what should I do? My forehead is so hot, am I going to faint?! It's over, this is going to be so embarrassing!"

Wei Yu I couldn't help but laugh. "You dared to chase a thief down three streets with a butcher knife in hand, yet you're afraid ?"

"Hah, you bastard. You're actually laughing at me!"

"Aiyo, it hurts. Be gentle, dear wife."

Feng Sisi blushed like a tomato at the moniker. "Who's your wife?" she hissed, "You have no shame."

"We have bowed before heaven and earth and even exchanged a cup of wine. Will you now turn your face and deny it?"

The man wore a vermilion court dress that dazzled the eyes, and with eyebrows that flew towards his temples, he was as handsome as a jade crown.

The bright palace lanterns swayed in the wind, blurring the desolate moonlight. As this jewel-like nobleman gazed at Feng Sisi's with that smile, she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.

Fortunately, the Zhou family's arrival saved her from the dilemma.

"Mother, look, Wei Yu was bullying me!"

The girl hid behind the woman with a spoiled expression.

Madam Zhou's heart was alarmed. My goodness, how big this girl's courage to actually call the prince by his personal name? Was she not afraid of angering him?

But instead of being angry, the other party found it enjoyable. It was not known how many maidens would have fainted from his gentle smile.

Madam Zhou was moved over how much favor the little girl received.

She patted Feng Sisi's hand with such affection that the pair looked like a genuine mother and daughter. "Oh you, it's because His Highness spoils you that you act so unruly. You must converge your temper in the future. Do not create trouble for him."

"Don't worry, mother. I will listen to you." Feng Sisi promised like a smart child then turned around to give Wei Yu an adorable grimace.

"What a blissful family."

Soft exclaims followed the flowing garments of silk walking through, and the jade pendant around their waist tinkled as they moved.

Water were the ornaments and wind served as garments¹. It brought to mind the countenance of Luo Shen².

The ministers immediately bowed.

"Long live the emperor—"

"Rise."

Wei Chen raised his hand in an orderly manner, but the bowed heads did not dare look up.

There were brazen people, such as the heroine, who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth³. She strained her head to look at the imperial noble consort whose 'single glance could collapse men and nations alike'.

Madam Zhou pinched her arm, "You mustn't offend the Son of Heaven."

"Aiyo mother, I just want to see what the Her Highness looks like!"

She spoke casually with no sense of self-restraint. Not only did the surrounding people hear her, but also the protagonist in question.

Linlang hooked her lips slightly.

"Princess Wei is cute and frank."

The ethereal sound of the woman's laughter was as pure as the first snowfall.

The Zhou family was extremely embarrassed.

Although Zhou Linlang was raised in her boudoir since childhood, she was also known as the first talent in the capital. She was well versed in the four arts, never lacked in manners, and was both good-looking and intelligent, not to mention dignified and graceful.

Now she was pointed out as being 'cute and frank' and the person who spoke was the favored consort. Chancellor Zhou felt the pain on his cheeks. He immediately glared at Feng Sisi.

"Don't be angry, Your Royal Highness. I was just curious. I wasn't making fun of you!"

The heroine realized that she was in trouble. She rushed to her feet to explain herself but accidentally knocked over the melon dish and wine cup on the table. The court dress suffered quite the calamity.

"Aiyo!"

The hall was quiet.

Feng Sisi froze.

Even if she was nervous, she knew she was no better than a clown right now. It was mortifying.

The gorgeous imperial consort covered her lips and smiled.

She leaned on the man's shoulder then whispered, "Would that be the beloved who sent clivias to Your Majesty?"

Wei Chen: "..."

Is this the rhythm of settling old accounts?

He helplessly grabbed her lily-white hands and brought them to his lips for a kiss. His voice deep and affectionate as he said, "Lang'er, you clearly know Zhen's heart."

Wei Chen didn't know why he was so obsessed with Feng Sisi before.

She wasn't particularly beautiful and there was no extraordinary wittiness to be seen. But, her personality was lively and refreshing. She once dressed as a man and accosted a lady at a brothel in the style of an overbearing man.

Compared to those ordinary boudoir ladies, Feng Sisi was undoubtedly more interesting.

But who asked him to fall into Linlang's hands?

The talented imperial consort was just like the unreachable moonlight. Every frown and every smile could fascinate the mind.

He didn't want anything but to guard her and that garden of crab apple flowers.

The emperor's affection ran deep, but Linlang simply raised her lips in a light smile.

Men can be believed for a while, but not for a lifetime, especially when it came to an emperor who had three thousand beauties.

Still, this was enough.

Halfway through the banquet, Consort Shu proposed to have every maiden celebrate by showcasing a skill.

The concubine adorned with jade pearls on her head smiled as she spoke to Linlang, "This is also a festive day. Why not let the young ladies perform to add on to the joy? Would Your Highness mind?"

Ever since Linlang entered the palace, she was the only person who was favored. Within a few days, she was conferred the title of 'Imperial Noble Consort'⁴. This rate of promotion was remarkable. The empress dowager had passed years ago and so she naturally became the most highly ranked concubine in the harem, effectively suppressing everyone else.

All the palace concubines gnashed their teeth with hate.

Consort Shu's family had deep roots. She always believed that position would be hers. Unexpectedly, Cheng Yaojing was ambushed halfway⁵ and the besotted emperor only wrapped himself around a single person. It was truly hateful.

Since this was the state of affairs, then it would be better to let these fresh flowers come and kill her spirit.

Linlang naturally said it was no problem.

If it was that easy to seduce Wei Chen, she would not have received the title of a 'calamitous beauty'.

"Since Ai Fei⁶ allows it, then commence."

Wei Chen had a slight grin. The sovereign who stood above mountains was talented and handsome. Even if outsiders said that he was tyrannical, in the eyes of the 14 to 16-year-old girls, he was a fatal attraction.

Each and every one of them worked hard to impress. They performed the lute, zither, calligraphy, painting, and even dancing.

Linlang watched on with relish.

As emperor, Wei Chen these performances were commonplace. He simply rested his chin on his hand and stared at his dear consort.

The blooming cinnabar-colored crab apple flower that was drawn between her eyebrows was his work of art. Wei Chen decided to have the gardeners in the palace cultivate more varieties so he could draw a different one for Linlang every day.

While he was thinking about this, a golden bell suddenly rang off stage.

Linlang's smiling eyes deepened.

The heroine's alluring dance was about to start.

In the original plot, Feng Sisi performed a Sogdian Whirling Dance at the national banquet that stunned everyone.

The name of the First Beauty spread far and wide.

Linlang's expression was thoughtful.

This Sogdian dance originated from the Western Regions and was akin to blooming flowers in the romantic scenery of the Tang Dynasty.

The Wei Dynasty had no such dance. Feng Sisi once saw someone perform this in a popular video online. The gorgeous and sensual performance lit up a fire in her. She was drawn by the trend and ended up transmigrating when she began to learn it.

Feng Sisi wore a fiery dancer costume covered with glistening gems that revealed a slender little waist. The crisp sound of a bell was heard with every step she took.

This dazzling dress alone attracted everyone's attention.

Wei Yu's eyes were full of stunned colors.

He really picked up a treasure!

Linlang looked at the infatuated people and couldn't help but sigh. Sure enough, the heroine's aura had opened up. Even if her dance isn't very good, everyone else turns into scum.

If she recalled correctly, Concubine Shu asked for the unmarried ladies to perform, which was meant to be a draft for the emperor to receive more concubines. She was a prince's consort, what was she getting mixed in for?

But logic didn't exist in a silly sweet romance!

"Marvelous, simply marvelous!"

"This should be a celestial dance. What a chance for mortals to see it!"

At the end of the song, everyone clapped and applauded. Their faces were flushed from all the excitement.

Feng Sisi was shy when she exited.

With the extraordinary Sogdian dance, the heroine completely reversed everyone's negative impression of her from before.

Chancellor Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, some of the crushed face was recovered.

"The princess danced to her heart's content. Ben Gong⁷should also like to try." The imperial noble consort who had been watching quietly suddenly spoke.

Wei Chen was taken aback. "You can dance?"

Linlang slowly got up and smiled back at him, "Your Majesty, please appreciate the gift especially prepared by Chen Qie."

How can you be pleasantly surprised without hiding your cards?

Shua—

A silver blade was pulled out of the sheath, and its cold light glistened splendidly.

Linlang chose a sword dance.

A plain-clothed beauty wielded a double-edged blade. Her face was covered with a gauze veil that only revealed a pair of cold eyes, and the red crab apple on her forehead was ever more vivid.

Her movements were lithe, like a graceful dragon in flight.

Suddenly, the crowd only saw her fold her sleeves before the blade's silvery light streaked through the air and settled its sharp tip on Wei Yu's neck.

As long as it was pushed a little deeper, three feet of blood would splatter from Prince Wei.

Will the world collapse if she slaughtered the male lead?

Her excitement heightened the more she thought about it.

---

1. Water as ornaments, wind as garments (水佩风裳 - shuǐ pèi fēng shang)a poetic description for the leaves of a lotus that is used to describe the outfit of a beauty in written language↩︎
2. Luò Shén (洛神)translates to Goddess of the River Luo. She's an ancient deity described as the epitome of beauty and tenderness in the famous rhapsody, Luo Shen Fu from the Three Kingdoms Period↩︎
3. Not know the immensity of heaven and earth (不知天高地厚 - bù zhī tiān gāo dì hòu)idiom that means not understanding how life works or having an exaggerated opinion of one's abilities↩︎
4. Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 - huáng guì fēi)a rank just below Empress and the only other title other than the empress that can be held by a single concubine↩︎
5. Cheng Yaojing ambushes the enemy (半路杀出个程咬金 - bànlù shā chū gè chéng yǎo jīn)when someone suddenly shows up and messes up a person’s plans↩︎
6. Ài Fēi (爱妃)a form of address used by the emperor to refer to his favored consort. It literally means 'beloved consort'↩︎
7. Běn Gōng (本宫)a first-pronoun used by the empress or a high-ranking concubine when speaking to a lower-ranked audience. It translates to 'this one of the palace'↩︎

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Linlang is so bloodthirsty in this arc lol. Going forward, Linlang will be referred to as 'Her/Your Highness' instead of 'Her/Your Ladyship' to demonstrate her elevated rank (Noble Imperial Consort) that's comparable to a queen.