Chapter 51: The Fight on Nianwei Platform

  A whole sheep was being roasted over an open flame, sizzling and emitting a savory aroma that was tantalizing to the senses.

  Since last night, Qing Sang had only eaten two cold mantou and drunk a few mouthfuls of water. At this moment, smelling the fragrance, he really felt his stomach growling with hunger, salivating profusely.

  "Aren't you afraid of the smell?" Fu Xi looked at Qing Sang, staring at the roasted whole sheep with shining eyes, and said with some teasing.

  "I'm really hungry. And look at how golden brown it's roasted, just looking at it makes me know it's delicious. The roasted lamb shouldn't be gamey, right?" Qing Sang licked her lips.

  When Fu Xi heard her say she was very hungry, a heartache suddenly rose up. Whether she was the young lady of the Shangshu Ling's household or the princess in the imperial palace, she would never go hungry. From last night to now, Fu Xi knew that she had only eaten one meal at noon, but seeing how much she disliked eating mutton, it was likely that she hadn't eaten much even at noon.

  A group of 'female' slaves swam up, carrying plate after plate of unnamable dishes made from green vegetables.

  "These are potato pancakes, this is suet crumb 'meat', and these are red sugar fruit pastries." Fu Xi pointed at the dishes of food to Qing Sang.

  Qing Sang subconsciously went to find chopsticks, but suddenly saw that several people beside him were using their hands. Without thinking much, Qing Sang stretched out his hand and grabbed a potato pancake, gobbling it down hastily.

  "Slow down! Don't choke." Fu Xi hastily poured a bowl of wine, just about to hand it to Qing Sang, when he suddenly thought that Qing Sang was so hungry, probably because there was no food in her stomach, and drinking wine would be too damaging. He also wanted to pour some goat's milk for her, but then thought she might not like the smell. After thinking for a moment, he beckoned to a nearby female slave.

  "Go get some water from the pot." said Fu Xi.

  The maid went to fetch it.

  Sitting on the high platform, Ji Luo had been paying attention to Qing Sang from the moment she sat down. Before the arrival of Princess Jia Ming of Xuan Dynasty, she was the most beautiful woman in Bei Rong, even if Xuan Dynasty had sent over a dozen beauties one after another, they couldn't shake her title as the number one beauty of Bei Rong at all. However, this morning, after seeing Qing Sang, she began to get anxious and flustered, for Qing Sang's beauty was really beyond her reach.

  Looking at the others on the platform, they also kept glancing at Qing Sang. The men of Bei Rong were fond of beauty, and seeing such a stunning beauty, how could they not be lovesick? A gloomy smile appeared on Jiao Luo's face.

  "I've long heard that the Xuan dynasty is vast and rich, with a prosperous population and abundant goods. But today, looking at Princess Jia Ming, she looks like she's been starving for several days." Xia Luo said with a smile.

  Everyone present except Xú Hui and Qing Sang burst out laughing. Qing Sang swallowed the red sugar candy in his mouth, just about to retort, when he heard Gao Di's archer say: "If Princess Ruo Jia has gone hungry for several days, doesn't that mean that I, Beijun, have been a poor host? Queen Ji Luo, isn't that right?"

  Kuo Lo's face changed color with anger and he said: "Ao Ying, you are getting bolder and bolder, dare to mock me?"

  Gong Ying coldly snorted: "I don't dare, I just think that what the princess said is unreasonable."

  "Hum, you're so biased towards Xuan Chao, are you colluding with him?" Kuang Luo said angrily.

  "The princess is overthinking." Bow Eagle said coldly.

  "You're so obvious with your elbows sticking out, yet you say I'm thinking too much." Kalo said coldly.

  "Kuo Luo, since Princess Jia Ming has married into our Northern Rong tribe, we are now one family. We can't let our elbows stick out." Grand Consort Guli Ai picked up her bowl and took a sip of wine, saying calmly.

  "Guli Dafei, I knew you had a good relationship with the Yard and Gaudi tribes, but can't be so biased, right?" Jialuo said coldly, staring at Guli Ayi.

  "That's enough! Not a moment of peace!" Huo Ran shouted angrily.

  The stage fell silent instantly.

  "The princess is hungry, let's hurry. The freshly roasted mutton will be served to the princess first," said Huo Ran.

  Heed Lu's orders.

  Then, Huo Ran raised his cup, and the people on and off the stage also raised their cups in response, and the scene became lively again.

  Qing Sang had already seen that Gu Lian Ai and Jia Luo were like fire and water. Jia Luo, relying on her favored status, didn't put Gu Lian Ai in her eyes at all. As the legitimate wife, how could Gu Lian Ai not be angry? How could she not hate? Her enthusiasm for Qing Sang was probably because she wanted Qing Sang to become a sharp arrow to deal with Jia Luo. And today, letting Fu Xi and herself go to Jia Luo's residence to disturb Huo Ran and Jia Luo's peaceful dreams was precisely to add trouble for Jia Luo. What Jia Luo was most proud of was her appearance, now that someone even more beautiful had appeared, how could Jia Luo not be anxious, not resentful?

  At this thought, Qing Sang felt a chill rise up. Jiao Luo wouldn't be like the evil queen in Snow White, who would destroy anyone the magic mirror said was more beautiful than her.

  Just then, she suddenly heard the Empress Dowager Guliye speaking to her, Qing Sang hastily gathered up her scattered thoughts and perked up her ears to listen to what the Empress Dowager was saying to her.

  The queen had already heard from the several 'female' slaves who returned in the morning that the prince and princess were injured or dead, with no one to attend to them, so she suggested assigning ten people to take care of them.

  Qing Sang initially wanted to refuse, worried that the Empress or Huo Rou would take advantage of the opportunity to plant a mole beside them, which would be detrimental to her and Fu Xi's next move. But thinking again, there is no decent person available in the mansion now, can't rely on Chu Taoyi for everything, and refusing the Empress immediately would only arouse Huo Rou's suspicion. So, she exchanged a glance with Fu Xi, got up and paid respects to thank her.

  The empress happily exempted them from the ceremony, and Huo Ran beside her was also laughing loudly, saying that she wanted to choose a few capable ones for the past. Only Jiaoluo had a dark face, only drinking wine.

  The Empress was very pleased with Huo Ruo's suggestion, and then said: "Those who serve the princess must be careful and steady. In that case, I will let Ma Xi go to serve you."

  Qing Sang quietly watched the three people on the high platform, only to see Huo Rou seemingly not paying attention to these matters. Jia Luo, however, looked at Guliya with some surprise and then sneered, "Empress Guli is indeed generous."

  It seems that Ma Xi is a person trusted by the Empress, and at this time, she gave it to her. Qing Sang also hesitated, worrying that this person would interfere with her and Fu Xi. But if she refused, she was afraid it would be even more disadvantageous, so she could only take one step at a time. Qing Sang thanked her again.

  A middle-aged woman in a yellowish-brown long gown walked up to Ai, bowed and then stepped down from the high platform, and went over to Qing Sang. Apparently, this was Ma Xi.

  Ma Xi paid her respects to Fu Xi and Qing Sang, then stood beside Qing Sang waiting in attendance.

  When the mutton was served, Ma Xi saw Qing Sang staring at a large piece of mutton in a daze. She skillfully cut the mutton into small pieces and removed the fatty parts inside before giving it to Qing Sang to eat.

  Indeed a master who is good at observing words and expressions, but it also means that he is not easy to deal with. Qing Sang's face showed a hint of a smile as she cut off a piece of the food with her knife and put it in her mouth, but in her heart, she became even more vigilant.

  The fragrant and delicious roasted lamb is much better than the plain boiled lamb sent by Zhong Lu at noon, and it's not very gamey, so Qing Sang ate a few more pieces.

  "King, Princess Jia Ming has come from afar to this place. If there is any deficiency, it will be said that I, the Northern Rong, did not take good care of her!" Aga of the Mute tribe said loudly, glancing at Ao Xiong who was drinking wine. "To show my Northern Rong's concern for the princess, I suggest that Queen Xiao Luo also choose another person to serve the princess, so as to demonstrate our thick love for the princess."

  One is not enough, do you want to send another one over to supervise? Xú Hùi heard this and was somewhat unable to hold back, just about to open his mouth to speak, but was pulled by Qīng Sāng on the sleeve of his robe, indicating that he should not speak.

  Qingsang has understood Aga's meaning. It seems that the northern tribes are also at odds with each other, each harboring ulterior motives. Qieluo's brother Aga sees the empress being so enthusiastic and is deeply afraid she has some intention. So, he takes the opportunity to hint to his own sister An to 'insert' someone by her side as well.

  Qing Sang smiled coldly and had an idea in her mind.

  "Uh... Aga is absolutely right, so, Kuro, you will..." Huo Rou nodded in agreement with Aga's words and was about to ask Kuro to give someone to Qing Sang, but before she could finish speaking, Qing Sang stood up and said loudly: "Father King, Mother Queen, Kuro Mother Empress's concern for me is touching, but I have already been taken care of by Aunt Mahi beside the Queen Mother. How can I occupy another person beside Kuro Mother Empress? However, I don't want to disappoint Kuro Mother Empress's kindness, so I'll dare to ask Mother Empress for a useless person beside her. I saw that maid this morning, she is clumsy and annoying, and will irritate Mother Empress. Why not give this person to me instead, to avoid trouble?"

  Huor heard this and was very curious, laughing and asking: "Oh? I don't know who is beside the empress?"

  Xiaoluo was also somewhat perplexed. Since Qing Sang came over early in the morning, her mood had been bad, and she had scolded several female slaves. If what Qing Sang saw was true, could it be that it was a water caltrop?

  Just as Zheng thought about it, Qing Sang smiled and said: "The queen mother is kind and will not hold a grudge against the slaves who made mistakes. The child is right, it's just a water caltrop."

  It was indeed her. Jialuo looked at Qingsang with even more suspicion, not understanding what kind of trick she had up her sleeve. This water caltrop wasn't a person from Beirong, but rather a slave bought back from Duosai City. Normally quiet and taciturn, he didn't particularly please her, so when Qingsang asked for him, she sent him over without much thought. But now she felt that Qingsang's request seemed not so simple after all, and thus hesitated again.

  Karlo looked at Qing Sang and said, "This water chestnut is just a slave, not worthy of serving you. Let me have my sidekick Sang Zhuo serve you instead?"

  At that time, Qing Sang did not know the level of the Northern Rong people. It was only later that he learned that people like Zha Lu, Ma Xi, and Sang Zhuo were fundamentally different from slaves like Shui Li. Slaves were the lowest class in the Northern Rong, completely without autonomy, while Zha Lu, Ma Xi, and Sang Zhuo had their own "private" property and a much higher status than slaves.

  Qing Sang still smiled and said, "Mother Empress, are you reluctant?"

  Karlo sneered: "What is a slave reluctant about? Since you like her, let her go serve you then?"

  Qing Sang nodded her head in thanks. In fact, she didn't know why she wanted this caltrop either. Probably it was because of the two words on the earring. Although she didn't know if this caltrop was written the same way as the "caltrop" on the earring, Qing Sang thought that since she couldn't avoid being monitored anyway, it would be better to take the initiative and ask for a deeply persecuted object, so wouldn't it be easier to win them over?

  She turned her head and saw Xiu He looking at her in confusion.

  Qing Sang Chong smiled and said nothing more could be done for now, everything would have to wait until they returned to the mansion before he could explain.

  After three rounds of drinks, the people in the room started to get excited. Huo Ran was even more so, with his arms around Jiao Luo, laughing wildly. Jiao Luo climbed onto Huo Ran's lap, pouring wine into his mouth and then covering it with his own, pouring the wine back into Huo Ran's mouth. This passionate scene made everyone in the room scream out loud, cheering and shouting that echoed through the night sky.

  Qing Sang glanced at Guliya and saw that she was full of disgust, and her eyes towards Jiao Luo were filled with hatred.

  Guliya, who had been staring intently at Kalo, suddenly realized that Qing Sang was staring at her. She hastily picked up her wine cup and took a sip, and by the time she put it down, her face was calm once again.

  Qing Sang turned to look elsewhere, a cold smile in his heart: It seems that the Northern Rong not only have ulterior motives between tribes, but even the backyard of the Rong King is not peaceful. All this is truly too beneficial for oneself.

  Just then, Huo Yan suddenly shouted loudly: "The Empress has just suggested that she and Princess Jia Ming dance together to add to the excitement for everyone!"

  Everyone listened and stood up, applauding and shouting loudly.

  Xiao Luo stepped down from the leg of Huo Ran, twisting his waist and hips, with a triumphant smile full of deceitful mockery, step by step walking down the high platform, towards Qing Sang.

  Qing Sangyang's lips curled into a smile, his face was calm, but his eyes gleamed with sharpness.

  You're just looking for trouble and won't let me go! Well, we'll see about that! Qing Sang thought with a smile. (Girls, vote to cheer Qing Sang on...)