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An Duke Manor
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Don’t……..Don’t say such nonsense. Tiger, he…….the heir, he, isn’t someone you can mess with.” While slightly startled, Shen first madam nearly had Lu Qi Yang’s baby name that has been lying in dust for ages called out again.
Lu Qi Yang was Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir. Shen first madam naturally was also very familiar with Lu Qi Yang.
The Zhennan Wangfei was Shen first madam’s close friend of the boudoir prior to marrying, their relationship pretty good to begin with. And coincidentally, after they respectively married, the An Duke Manor and the Zhennan Wang Manor just happened to be next to each other, both located in the east of the Chu capital where every inch of land was worth an inch of gold, only separated by a wall. As such, Shen first madam and Zhennan Wangfei’s relationship was still extremely close even now.
Close to what degree? Shen first madam even knew how Lu Qi Yang’s baby name ‘Tiger’ came about——-
The day Zhennan Wangfei gave birth to her son, she just came up with a name, saying, “The bright sun outside shines high above, so why not call him Jing Yang[1].”
The straightforward Zhennan Wang slapped his thigh and heartily laughed, saying, “Good name! Jing Yang Ridge is the place where Wu Song fought the tiger[2]! A fitting name for the son of the Lu family!”
This crude and unromantic explanation caused Zhennan Wangfei to immediately turn cold, changing the name for the baby Lu Jing Yang in swaddling clothes at once, using ‘Qi’ to replace ‘Jing’, thus becoming Lu Qi Yang.
Zhennan Wang endlessly pitied, thus used ‘Tiger’ as Lu Qi Yang’s baby name, randomly calling from time to time.
Chu’s customs were open, not establishing strict etiquette between men and women. As such, Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang can be considered to have grown up together. Just, the two of them although were familiar, their relationship nevertheless wasn’t that good. Whenever they were together, they would just start bickering, quarreling to no end.
Shen first madam knew, at the end of it all, it was still because of an incident that had occurred when Shen Lan Chi was seven———Lu Qi Yang had been too playful and had Shen Lan Chi pushed into the pond. Although Lu Qi Yang also had her saved back up, Shen Lan Chi nevertheless got frightened, falling seriously ill.
Even if Zhennan Wang had Lu Qi Yang beaten, also letting Lu Qi Yang personally come to the An Duke Manor on his knees to apologize, Shen Lan Chi was still unwilling to see him. Afterwards, the two of them gradually grew up and seemed to increasingly find one another unpleasant to the eyes. Whenever they were together, they would just mutually start mocking one another.
Yet now, Shen Lan Chi suddenly said that she fell in love at first sight with Lu Qi Yang?
It has been long past the first sight, what love did she fall for!?
This was practically unbelievable.
Shen first madam somewhat had a headache, quickly ordering a servant girl to bring her hot tea. Afterwards, she massaged her head as she sat down, patiently saying to her daughter, “Lan Chi, jokes also need to stop before going too far. If these words were to get passed out, how will the people of the capital view you?”
This daughter before her has always had the beautiful reputation of being the number one noble young lady of the capital, and also the pearl of her palm. Shen first madam can’t bear letting the rumors and gossips hurt her.
Hearing Shen first madam’s words, Lan Chi however just said with a laugh, “Others say what they want, what does it have to do with this daughter?”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“…….You!” Shen first madam who’d just picked up the teacup nearly choked. She shot Lan Chi a glare, saying, “Quickly change this temperament of yours soon! Really got spoiled to death at home, completely lawless and out of control! ………Forget it, you must also be tired from entering the palace, quickly go back to rest. In the future, don’t say these nonsense anymore, so as to avoid upsetting your father.”
Shen first madam although loves her daughter, she still has a sense of propriety inside and won’t overly indulge Shen Lan Chi’s fantasies. Letting the eldest di daughter of the first branch marry the Crown Prince Lu Zhao Ye was something that the Shen family had long planned on. It can’t just be changed because of Shen Lan Chi’s sudden whim.
Shen Lan Chi responded to her mother, and then took her leave.
Shen Lan Chi although exited Shen first madam’s room, she didn’t rush to return to her own room, instead heading to Songshou Courtyard where her grandfather, the An Duke, resided.
In Shen Lan Chi’s memories, her grandfather, the An Duke Shen Rui, was someone with a strong and healthy body, and an easy-going temper. Different from Shen Lan Chi’s father, Shen Xin Gu, he was indifferent towards the An Duke Manor’s prominence and power, having long let his eldest son be in charge of the household, while he himself dug a pond in the backyard and leisurely started fishing.
Shen Rui once said, if his two sons don’t let him go boating on the river and be a retired old man on a fishing boat, then he will be a nonchalant fisherman in his own courtyard. No matter who looks for him, he all won’t bother.
This kind of personality placed in any family will all appear somewhat eccentric. However, Shen Rui was extremely good to Shen Lan Chi and her older brother Shen Ting Yuan, teaching the two siblings how to read and write since childhood.
As for the grandchildren of the second branch, the An Duke had also taught before, but those few from the second branch weren’t that diligent. Following an old man that wasn’t in charge of the household didn’t have any benefits, so after learning for a few days, they didn’t come anymore. In the end, only Lan Chi and Ting Yuan persisted.
Entering Songshou Courtyard, Lan Chi saw her grandfather Shen Rui carrying an empty fish basket sitting cross-legged on the rock by the pond. A small lantern was placed by his knee. Although he was already over fifty, his waist bone was perfectly straight, his body healthy, his spirit full of vigor.
Shen Lan Chi remembered, her grandfather in the past life was also this healthy. Just, afterwards, the second branch ended up causing all those scandals, actually making grandfather collapse in anger. Even when Shen Lan Chi married, her grandfather was still bedridden, unable to come out to see her in person.
Shen Rui turned his head and saw Shen Lan Chi. Stroking his little beard, he smilingly said, “Lan girl came? Looks like you have something on your mind.”
“……..Yes.” Shen Lan Chi wasn’t surprised. She knew that her grandfather was always able to make out what she was thinking, “Lan Chi indeed has some troubles.”
“Let this old man guess.” Shen Rui put away the fishing pole that didn’t even carry any bait and poured a cup of tea, “Is it the little heir of Zhennan Wang Manor that made Lan girl angry, or old two family’s Tong girl messing with you again?”
“Grandfather guessed wrong, all not the case.” Shen Lan Che slightly lowered her head and said, “Something that Lan Chi liked in the past, now, suddenly don’t like anymore. Want to throw away, but mother won’t let me. As such, Lan Chi is very troubled.”
Shen Rui stroked his beard and said, “Lan girl is always like this, thinking of something and doing it. However, this kind of temperament is also good, very straightforward and likable, unlike your father, that bastard.”
Pausing for a moment, Shen Rui slowly shook the mud from his shoes and said, “Lan girl, this old man will just tell you one thing, in life, what one likes is the most important. Don’t be like your father, blinded by those empty reputations and superficial gain, even losing the joys in life. What you don’t like, just throw away. And what you do like, just go take.”
Shen Lan Chi smiled, and then chatted awhile with her grandfather before finally returning to her own room.
She was somewhat tired. After washing up, she just lay down to rest.
While losing consciousness, she fell into her dreams. As her consciousness drifted, she seemingly returned to that night she drank the poisoned wine in the past life. Although covered in cold sweat, she was just unable to wake up from this dream.
The red candles were burning brightly, the eyes filled with festivity.
A girl dressed in red drank the poisoned wine. The jeweled crown tilted as she collapsed in the Crown Prince Lu Zhao Ye’s arms, gradually falling silent. Lu Zhao Ye held her hand, faintly shaking. Half an incense later, he finally stopped that strange trembling.
Afterwards, Lu Zhao Ye got up, walking out of the Eastern Palace. The curtains of the night had fallen, the thick clouds pressing against the eaves. The moonlight and bright stars all hid themselves. Only the vast torches of the mortal realm still flickered with faint light.
His Majesty’s body was weak. Currently, the court from top to bottom were all managed by the crown prince, so he naturally was able to mobilize the soldiers inside and outside. At this very moment, outside the Eastern Palace, Lu Zhao Ye’s guards already had a light calvary squad surrounded. Among the ranks of the trapped group, the man in the lead on horseback, his figure was stiff, having a pair of eyes that was even darker than the night.
“Zhennan Wang heir, on the night of this crown prince’s wedding, you nevertheless mobilized your manor’s personal soldiers, what do you wish to do?” Lu Zhao Ye stood with his hands behind his back, questioning as such.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess Shen-shi is just a weak woman, nothing to do with the Shen family’s heavy crimes. Hoping that your Highness can consider on behalf the Zhennan Wang Manor and show mercy, sparing her.” Lu Qi Yang climb down from the horse. His face that would normally always carry a smile and a teasing look, at this time, no longer had that frivolity.
“Oh?” Lu Zhao Ye’s expression didn’t change, “Shen Lan Chi is someone of the Eastern Palace when alive, and even if dead, she’s still the Eastern Palace’s ghost, what does it have to do with you, Lu Qi Yang?”
“………Lu Zhao Ye!” Lu Qi Yang’s eyes had a hint of chilliness. This abnormal behavior that has never appeared on Lu Qi Yang before made Lu Zhao Ye can’t help but slightly furrow his brows.
“Let me see her.” Lu Qi Yang released the reins and said, “As long as you let me see her one more time, after inheriting the noble title, Qi Yang is willing to have Zhannan Wang Manor’s military power all offered up.”
Zhennan Wang Manor’s military power, this was quite an enticing proposition.
Lu Zhao Ye nodded his head, ordering the guards to clear a path, so as to let Lu Qi Yang enter the Eastern Palace. Lu Qi Yang untied his cloak, his lone figure charging into the colorfully decorated palace garden.
“Lan Chi——-”
He pushed open the door of the bridal chamber, yet just saw that girl in red peacefully lying on the bed, with no signs of life. Perhaps because it was warm, her face was rosy as if alive, her lips still containing a smile. This was no different from her usual beautiful appearance, as if she was just quietly sleeping.
Lu Qi Yang suddenly staggered.
He didn’t expect that he came too late.
No matter how many words there were, at this time, it was all useless. He could only slowly approach the girl on the bed, using his trembling two hands to lightly caress her cheek. After touching her, he finally realized, although her complexion was rosy like before, her skin was nevertheless stiff and cold———
“If I’d known……..”
Lu Qi Yang’s voice was shaking as he leaned against her forehead, muttering, “Last night, I should’ve done everything to take you away.”
As he said this, he quietly lowered his head, lightly kissing that already deceased person’s forehead.
His expression suddenly became blank, as if an old man with one foot in the grave, having lost all vitality. But, he was suppose to be a lively young man. He shouldn’t reveal such a hollow and dark expression.
“Lu Qi Yang, she’s the crown princess. I won’t allow you to be this impudent!” Lu Zhao Ye’s cold voice came from behind. Afterwards, he coldly sneered, “Lu Zi Xiang had racked his brains yet was unable to obtain her, so how can you, Lu Qi Yang, come compete with this prince?!”
In the dream, Shen Lan Chi suddenly felt her chest tighten.
She very much wanted to open her mouth and shout to Lu Qi Yang, ‘Quickly run, Lu Zhao Ye is a very paranoid man.’ But, she was unable to open her mouth no matter what and could only helplessly watch Lu Zhao Ye gradually approach behind Lu Qi Yang.
Afterwards, she left that dreamscape, sinking into a dark slumber.
[1] 景阳 – Jing (scenery/bright) Yang (sun), funnily enough this was actually the author’s own thought process when naming the ML. The author really was originally going to name the ML Lu Jing Yang. The reason why it got changed is the exact same reason as in the story, author suddenly recalled that was the name of the place where Wu Song fought the tiger.
[2] Refers to Wu Song from the classic Water Margin. He is one of the heroes of the novel, and one of his exploits includes killing a man-eating tiger with his bare hands. In the novel, the place where he fought the tiger is called Jing Yang Ridge. It’s a real place located in the Shandong province. One of the main tourist spots there is the Temple of Wu Song.
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Is SLC the only one who reincarnated or did LQY also reincarnate?
is Lu Zi Xiang the second prince who’d died mysteriously prior? or is he speaking about himself using a different name?
Yep, the second prince.