My Husband Became the Most Powerful Minister - Chapter 11

Helan Ci no longer needed to confirm it.

Whether it was the tone of voice, the pitch, the breath, or that chilling sensation that made the hairs on her arms stand on end, everything was unmistakably the same as the person in her dreams—without a doubt, it was the Second Prince who wanted to capture and confine her.

She had never had any dealings with the Second Prince before, and there was no way she could have dreamt of him without reason.

So, this meant…

What she saw in her dreams might really come true.

Helan Ci even thought further that her father’s demotion and imprisonment might also be related to the Second Prince. After all, her father had never liked him and had written several petitions urging the Emperor to grant the Second Prince a title and send him away from the capital, but those had all been suppressed by the Emperor.

The Second Prince walked slowly past her, his footsteps rose and fell, the wide sleeves of his robe swaying, concealing the fingers beneath. Then Helan Ci felt a cold finger brush against her wrist. She was startled and almost immediately withdrew her hand.

What is he doing!!?

If it weren’t for the dream from yesterday, Helan Ci would probably think this was just an accidental touch. But once doubt crept in, she couldn’t help but wonder—he might really be trying to provoke her.

Helan Ci had never seen him, yet he might or might not ever have seen her.

And this strange summon…

The Second Prince had already approached Noble Consort Li, turning slightly to look at Helan Ci.

He was similarly dressed in luxurious attire, wrapped in a dark blue fox fur coat on this chilly third month. At his collar, a faintly golden pearl necklace peeked out, hanging down with a long emerald silver chain. His hair was adorned with a gilded crown, inlaid with dozens of priceless orbs, which made his face, resembling that of his mother, appear somewhat bleak.

To be fair, the Second Prince’s appearance is not bad; he can be described as handsome, having the grace of a phoenix and the demeanor of a dragon.

Unfortunately, when Helan Ci looks at him now, she only feels her heart racing.

Being stared at by those grayish eyes, it feels as if she is prey being watched by some cold and dangerous creature. A chill ran down her spine, she discreetly adjusted her dress.

Yao Qianxue’s assessment of this prince was that he had a capricious personality, unpredictable moods, and was extremely difficult to serve, which had deterred many noble ladies who wished to climb the social ladder.

Roughly speaking, his awkward background is inextricably linked to this situation.

Noble Consort Li was not a proper lady of the court. She was initially just the daughter of a condemned official, punished to serve at Qingquan Temple, where she unexpectedly caught the Emperor’s eye. At that time, the Emperor had just ascended the throne and was cautious in every move, afraid of making mistakes. Thus, she and her son remained at Qingquan Temple until the imperial throne was stable, and only when the second prince was already five or six years old did the Emperor bring them to the palace and formally recognize them.

There was some criticism in the court about this matter; but after all, he was of royal bl00d. So he recognised, and return to the royal family

The Emperor felt guilty and did everything he could to compensate this mother and son. However, even so, Helan Ci had heard some stories about their time at Qingquan Temple. Having a child while in a temple and with the beautiful Noble Consort Li still possessing her stunning looks; one can imagine how ugly other words could be. The Second Prince must have endured his share of humiliation as well—at that time, Helan Ci had even felt a bit of sympathy for him.

Right now, though, she felt more sympathy for herself.

After all, the vengeful Second Prince later destroyed the entire Qingquan Temple.

As Helan Ci’s thoughts raced, Noble Consort Li was tugging at the Second Prince’s sleeve, smiling beautifully: “Xun’er, the words were not deceiving. Come and see for yourself if Miss Helan is as beautiful as the rumors say. She is gorgeous, isn’t she?”

Though Helan Ci kept her head down, a perceptive palace maid approached, as if to lift her chin if she didn’t look up.

Reluctantly, she had to slightly raise her head.

For a moment, Helan Ci wished desperately that she didn’t have such a troublesome face.

The surroundings fell silent for a while.

The Second Prince looked at her, his tone slow, his voice chilly: “Indeed… extremely beautiful.”

His gray eyes slowly roamed from her face down to her body, leaving a trail of cold discomfort in their wake. Helan Ci, hiding her hand in her sleeve, couldn’t help but clench it tightly, struggling to resist the discomfort.

To her surprise, the prince actually took a step toward her.

Only the Noble Consort Li’s people were around, so he showed no restraint in the sinister look in his eyes.

“I didn’t expect that someone as old-fashioned as Helan Daren would have a daughter with such an appearance.”

Noble Consort Li looked at her as if she were an object, while the Second Prince also looked at her in a similar way. The difference being that Noble Consort Li was purely admiring such an object, while the Second Prince seemed to see her as a toy that can be played with..

Helan Ci felt a slight wave of nausea and couldn’t help but lower her head.

In the next moment, she felt a hand lightly lifting her chin, a cold thumb gently stroking across Helan Ci’s jaw, carrying an indescribable ambiguity.

Helan Ci suddenly stepped, avoiding that hand.

The second prince looked at his empty hand and chuckled, saying, “I was rude.” Yet there was not a hint of apology in his words; in fact, the two fingers that had just touched Helan Ci were still lightly rubbed together, as if savoring the sensation from moments ago.

Helan Ci felt another layer of goosebumps rise.

The Imperial Consort did not sense anything amiss; she smiled innocently, “I also wanted to touch just now to see if this face is real or not. Xun’er, you are indeed my biological child, thinking along the same lines.” She propped her chin up, her eyelashes fluttering, “What a pity, Xun’er, you are already engaged; otherwise, this palace would really want Miss Helan to be my daughter in law.”

“Speaking of it, Miss Helan, has your marriage been decided?”

What a pity? That would be a stroke of luck.

Helan Ci bit the bullet and replied, “Not yet, but… my father should be discussing it; however, I don’t know which noble family it will be.”

The Noble Consort Li whimsically suggested, “If it hasn’t been settled yet, this palace has a few nephews around your age…”

As soon as she said this, Helan Ci knew she was referring to those equally outrageous young masters from her brother, the Count of Pingjiang’s household. After Noble Consort Li gained her status, her family rose to prominence, and even her brother, who was no different from a local thug, received a title and began to act tyrannically in the capital, with several sons following his example.

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but…”

Helan Ci was left speechless, unsure of how she had offended Concubine Li, who seemed so intent on pushing her into the fire.

Fortunately, a crisp female voice timely rescued the situation.

“Consort Mother, let’s go see the Imperial Street Parade*, shall we?”

A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old young girl arrived dressed in splendid attire. She wore a robe and skirt of pinkish orange colored brocade embroidered with butterfly patterns and gold threads. Her hair was adorned with a gold hairpin featuring five phoenixes and a rising sun, and a dangling ornament of gold and jade, with fine blue-green embellishments and inlaid jade. Gold and silver tassels swayed between her locks, while her head was adorned with an array of jingling hair ornaments. On her wrists was a pair of jade bangles, so green they seemed to drip with dew, making a crisp, melodious sound as she moved. She trailed in from outside the hall, followed by a dozen palace maids. Her delicate, lovely face was brimming with unconcealed eagerness, making her look like a lively little butterfly.

It’s clear from her opulent attire that she is none other than the beloved daughter of the Noble Consort Li, Shao’an Gongzhu.

Shao’an Gongzhu almost stumbled into the embrace of Noble Consort Li.

Helan Ci let out a sigh of relief and quickly hid to the side.

Sure enough, upon seeing her precious daughter, Noble Consort Li instantly forgot about Helan Ci.

The mother and daughter were chatting warmly.

Helan Ci quietly moved aside, trying to slip away unnoticed.

“… Miss Helan, where are you going?”

The cold voice of the Second Prince suddenly sounded.

Helan Ci’s body stiffened.

Xiao Shao’an seemed to just notice Helan Ci; she turned her head for a casual glance, but was immediately taken aback. A flash of anger crossed her face, quick to vanish, and then she smiled sweetly, saying, “… I don’t know who this is?”

She smiled on the surface, but her voice had a hint of gritted teeth.

She was born after the Noble Consort Li entered the palace, and grew up being doted. She has been proud of her looks since childhood. And always wore the finest clothes and hated it most when others were more affluent or beautiful than her.

The girl before her was utterly shabby in those simple clothes; even the maid beside her was ten times more affluent.

But that face… that face…

How could someone look like that!

In an instant, she even felt an impulse to swap faces with the other person.

Just then, her brother Xiao Nanxun’s voice replied: “The daughter of Chief Censor, Miss Helan.”

Xiao Shao’an stiffened and turned to look at her brother.

Although they were siblings, to be honest, she was a bit afraid of him. The two of them had no ordinary sibling closeness, and being stared at by those dark gray eyes made her feel a bit intimidated.

Xiao Shao’an: “Ahem… Did you invite her, brother?”

Xiao Nanxun smirked and said, “Consort Mother asked her to come.”

Xiao Shao’an nodded: “Oh.”

She pondered his tone for a moment, then glanced between the two of them. Her anger subsided, and she broke into a smile: “It’s nothing, I was just asking casually…” She turned back to continue to act cute towards Noble Consort Li, she said, “Mother, mother, if you don’t hurry, it will be too late! Take me to see it!”

The so-called “Imperial Street Parade” refers to an event that takes place every three years. After the palace examination results are announced, officials from the Ministry of Rites sound the gong to clear the way, allowing the top scholars to ride on a magnificent horse, leading the successful candidates as they proudly parade down the ten-mile Imperial Street, as the poem “with the spring breeze in their favor and the horse’s hooves swift.”**

At that time, almost everyone in the city will flock to the Imperial street to watch, leaving the streets deserted.

In short, it is an extremely ostentatious affair.

Shao’an Gongzhu wanted to see it, and Noble Consort Li would certainly not stop her.

The palace maids and eunuchs were busy preparing, quickly getting ready to prepare for the two with their skirts flowing. Unfortunately, Noble Consort Li was thoughtful enough to remember to ask Helan Ci, “Miss Helan, would you like to join us, or…?”

“This one will…” Helan Ci was about to say her farewell when she caught a glimpse of the Second Prince’s piercing gaze from the corner of her eye, and instantly changed her words, “…it’s better to obey than to decline.”

The Second Prince had little interest in the officials on the imperial street, so he took his leave first.

As he was about to depart, Helan Ci respectfully lowered her hands to see him off, feeling that icy gaze lingering on her for a moment.

He slowly passed by her.

The Second Prince’s voice was cold and sibilant, like a snake, with a drawn-out tone that carried an unsettling pressure. In a volume almost only they could hear, he whispered softly.

“—Miss Helan, we will meet again.”

Helan Ci: “…?”

There’s really no need.

Following Noble Consort Li and Shao’an Gongzhu, as they exited the Yu De Palace, Helan Ci felt as if she had survived a disaster, utterly exhausted and nearly unwilling to speak.

Especially since she hadn’t slept well the night before, and the matters from her dreams remained unclear, leaving her thoughts in disarray.

While she was silently pondering, she suddenly heard the sound of palace gates opening in the distance.

Helan Ci looked up and saw in the distance that Huangji Gate, along with the Wu Gate, Duan Gate, and Chengtian Gate were all opened in succession. This scene, at first glance, is indeed quite magnificent.

Among these grand gates, aside from the emperor and empress on their wedding day, the only ones allowed to pass through are the top three scholars: the champion (zhuangyuan), the second place (bangyan), and the third place (tanhua). At this moment, the freshly crowned top scholars stepping out of the main gate of the Imperial Palace, walked along the pathout from the Supreme Hall, stepped onto the path that only the emperor usually walks, heading straight outside.

Among them, the most eye-catching is undoubtedly the Zhuangyuan standing right in the center.

Everyone else was dressed in blue, but he wore a bright red robe, cinched at the waist with a plain silver belt, adorned with a jade pendant, and topped with a silver leaf hairpin. The Zhuangyuan’s attire was as vibrant as fire, making him stand out like a crane among chickens.

From the back, this Zhuangyuan appeared quite young, with a stature as upright as a pine or cypress, a long neck, and skin as white as jade. A few strands of hair peeked out from under his hat. As long as his looks weren’t outrageously ugly, the aura of a Zhuangyuan would make anyone feel he was exceptionally talented and admirable.

Helan Ci casually glanced and then lowered her head, genuinely not in the mood to care.

However, Shao’an Gongzhu, clearly thought otherwise. The eunuch beside her understood, cleared his throat, and called out loudly, “Sir Zhuangyuan, wait a moment.”

The three in front stopped at the sound and turned to look.

The man in the center had a pair of peach blossom-like eyes, bright and full of emotion. Even without a smile, they could captivate one’s soul. At this moment, with the spring breeze in full swing, he couldn’t help but arch his brows and eyes, his thick eyelashes framing pupils that sparkled like water, his smile gentle and lingering, revealing a hint of ambiguity. The light breeze stirred the strands of hair at his temples, and his handsome features were so striking they could easily enchant anyone, making it hard for any woman to avoid blushing and having her heart race.

Helan Ci was also taken aback, mainly because she was used to seeing him dressed in gentle, soft white clothes, and was somewhat unaccustomed to seeing him in such a vividly bright red outfit.

…It even gave off a hint of fiendish aura.

He should just wear the white robe; it suits him better.

Wait… she suddenly realized, did he really just win Zhuangyuan position? Then doesn’t that mean he has achieved the highest honors three times in a row?

Since the establishment of the Great Yong Dynasty, there have been very few who have truly accomplished the triple honors.

Helan Ci was momentarily stunned, while the palace maids around her were mesmerized.

No one expected that this Zhuangyuan would look so good, overshadowing the second place candidate beside him.

The most excited one was Shao’an Gongzhu. Helan Ci turned her head and saw her tightly gripping the arm of Noble Consort Li, her big eyes sparkling with a familiar light, as if enchanted by Lu Wuyou, which could be translated into words as—“Mother, I want to marry him!”

Lu Wuyou also clearly saw Helan Ci.

In that moment of eye contact, he slightly raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled even more charmingly.

Helan Ci clearly heard Shao’an Gongzhu’s sharp scream got stuck in her throat.

“……”

She looked at Lu Wuyou with a complex expression.

Theoretically, Helan Ci should have felt some sympathy for him, after all, they were all likely to face misfortune together, but… in such a situation where she was struggling to protect herself, she couldn’t help but feel slight sense of schadenfreude.

1. 夸官 (kuā guān) literary means ‘boasting’. It refers to an event that when a scholar passes the imperial examination or an official is promoted, They parade with drums and music in the streets.
2. The sentence “春风得意马蹄疾” is a famous line from a poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao. It literally translates to “Spring breeze is kind, the horse is swift and proud.”