The Guzheng of The Moon

XXIV

...

"Isn't that right, Miss Ah Mei?" Xiaoli stared intently at the girl who was walking behind her. It seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Why don't you explain it to us? Who was actually engaged to the Emperor?"

Yue was completely confused by his current situation. Whatdoes thatmean?

That was when Gu Zheng approached Ah Mei. Not close enough, but all pairs of eyes that are there can see it. Both the Emperor and the invitees waited for Ah Mei's explanation.

Ah Mei reached into her pocket and while taking out her hand, she grasped something. A golden clasp. Which of course the clasp was very recognizable by Yue.

Yue subconsciously descended from the altar and stood beside Gu Zheng. "Ah Mei-a, you said the flops were gone."

Like a foolish girl, Yue was also looking forward to an explanation from Ah Mei. But that's when he realized, everyone he knew turned weird. Not only was Gu Zheng acting coldly towards her but also Ah Mei.

"You remember this golden clasp, Your Majesty?" Ah Mei thrust her palm at Gu Zheng. "I was the one wearing this clip at the time. When you take an oath before the previous Emperor. I'm your real fiance."

Just as Ah Mei ended her explanation, everyone present there became boisterous. Empress Dowager Jia too. The old woman did not even hesitate to pull Ah Mei's hand violently.

"What do you mean, Miss?" ask the old woman.

Ah Mei with a frightened face prostrated in front of everyone. "I should be the adopted son of the Hwang family. But I gave it to my friend."

"W-what did you say?!"

"Sa-I feel sorry for her. She kept crying, worried about not getting a decent and good family. So .. so I gave up my place."

"Who? Who's your friend?!" mother Suri Jia asked in a high tone. "Who has dared to accept your place?"

With trembling hands Ah Mei raised her hand. Even so he did not even hesitate to point towards Yue. Of course it made all those present more boisterous. Some of them were angry and embarrassed.

"Ah Mei-a, I didn't do that," Yue denied. "I gave you ...."

"Is that true?" sahut An Cheng Li's. "Tell me is that true?!"

The question was not aimed at Yue but at Ah Mei. "Yue Bi, so you're Yue Bi?"

Ah Mei's frightened face turned confused as Emperor An asked her. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"Your Majesty, it was I who gave the golden clasp, as a sign of the bond between the Shicuan Kingdom and An. As well as being a symbol that I had proposed to the youngest daughter of Shicuan Kingdom thirteen years ago."

Empress Dowager Jia grew even more shocked upon hearing Emperor An's explanation. The old woman almost fell to the floor. Lucky Gu Zheng swiftly propped up his grandmother's body.

"What do you mean, brother?" Xiaoli who was originally fiery, was also made gawking by An Cheng Li. "But the girl died thirteen years ago."

"S-I don't remember because .. because of memory loss. At that time I was injured probably because of that," Ah Mei said quickly.

"That's not true! I ...," said Yue.

"So you ... fake?" gu Zheng asked with the coldest eyes Yue had ever seen. "You took someone else's place."

"I ...."

"Guards! Take this miss away from here, if you need to throw her in jail," exclaimed Gu Zheng.

How not? Marriage is a symbol that an Emperor has full power over his palace and country. If the Emperor's marriage was delayed it meant that Gu Zheng had not been fully entitled to power within the palace nor outside the palace.

Many of them smiled happily and cynically over this complicated situation.

******

Still wearing her red wedding dress, Yue knelt before the two Emperors with her hands tied. He is now a prisoner. Unlike the case with Ah Mei who was sitting next to Empress Mother Jia while crying bitterly.

"Your Majesty, please. My friend is innocent, I am guilty, "sob Ah Mei.

"Omong empty! He should have known his place. You've been kind enough to help her. But what did your friend do?!" Empress Dowager Jia looked extremely angry. "He ... he has humiliated the kingdom of Yuhan!"

"I will bring my woman back to An Kingdom" Cheng Li said.

"Your lady?! He was also Gu Zheng's fiancee!" hardik Suri Jia's.

As for Empress Dowager Han, just quietly listen to the debate. The woman did not know that this would be the case. Gu Han Er had no idea that Ah Mei was actually Gu Zheng's fiancee. The fact that his son was intent on playing the real Princess Shicuan was not accomplished. His son even ruined one girl.

"Is that why you work as a lady in the palace?" ask Han Er.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I did it to get close to the Emperor. I think he will remember me. I seem to be too naive. Then came the day the Emperor announced that he would be editing a girl as his queen. And the Emperor's choice fell on the Hwang family. My family should. And what is clear is that I am her real fiance."

"Why didn't you say this from the beginning?"

"Because I'm afraid."

"really? What are you afraid of?" gu Zheng asked with narrowed eyes. Then smiled faintly before even hearing Ah Mei's reply.

"I'm afraid, you don't like me anymore." With complete confidence Ah Mei said it as if challenging Gu Zheng.

And again Gu Zheng only smiled. No one realized it, just an Ah Mei.

******

Gu Zheng enjoyed this game. Even more than he expected. Whichever side he stands on, he will come out victorious. Yeah, only she knows who Ah Mei really is. Even her mother who had minions everywhere did not know of this. It was because Gu Zheng had indeed deliberately covered the tracks of Ah Mei and Yue.

He weighed many times about what to do next. And it was easy, Gu Zheng only needed to see An Cheng Li's reaction.

If Emperor An considers Shicuan's daughter to be Ah Mei, then he will stand by Ah Mei's side. And even if Cheng Li knew who Yue was who was clearly his fiancee, then Gu Zheng would stand by Yue's side. Unfortunately, it's too late. Yes, he was the first man to touch Yue's body instead of Cheng Li.

That automatic of any choice would destroy An Cheng Li as well as be a victory for Gu Zheng.

The idea of having Yue before the wedding ceremony was a very brilliant idea. Just imagine if he did not do it, then Cheng Li dragged the girl to An Kingdom. Of course it would make Gu Zheng lose a landslide.

Both Gu Zheng, Ah Mei, Xiaoli and Cheng Li were now on the same boat. Both have gold pawns that must be guarded. Even if Fang Wei wanted to participate, wouldn't it be getting lively?

Gu Zheng glanced at the face of the bowed Yue. And at that very moment his heart was in pain ....

Tbc....