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Palace Banquet Fright (2)
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!
When Shen Lan Chi returned to the banquet, it just happened to be the Banjaro delegation’s turn to perform.
A few men successively went up, each draped in a black cloak, tightly covered from head to toe. Three muscular slaves bound with shackles on their feet carried in an enormous cage on their back, moving it into the palace hall with great difficulty.
That cage was also covered in a black cloth. When placed down, it produced a heavy sound, raising a dust cloud.
As soon as she saw these black-robe men, Shen Lan Chi’s body immediately tensed up.
The reason why these people wore black robes was because they weren’t Banjaro people, but instead people of the central plains[1], their appearance no different from the Chu people, having just snuck into the delegation a moment ago. Contained in the cage behind them was a wild beast that was falsely claimed to be a ‘qilin[2]‘. In the past life, that initially well-behaved qilin suddenly went mad, injuring Lu Zi Xiang on the spot with a bite, to the extent that Lu Zi Xiang fainted from the heavy injuries. Afterwards, during his recovery, he got killed in an assassination.
In the past life, under his Majesty’s fury, these daring assassins all got put to death by laceration. It was said that they were originally bandits from the north, their base having gotten annihilated by the second prince. As such, they harbored grudges. And for the sake of rising up again, they thus attempted to eliminate the second prince.
However, in Shen Lan Chi’s view, this wasn’t the truth. These bandits had the ability to sneak into the palace, and right before the banquet, disguise themselves as Banjaro people. They certainly must have someone giving pointers behind them. Perhaps, this was the Crown Prince Lu Zhao Ye and the An Duke Manor’s handiwork.
His Majesty may not necessarily be unaware of the truth behind this, just the assassination of second prince was a matter infighting between brothers, family drawing swords on each other, concerning the imperial family’s face, so it wasn’t good for his Majesty to explicitly say anything. Afterwards, Lu Zi Xiang passed away, only leaving behind Lu Zhao Ye, this crown prince. As such, even if unwilling to accept, his Majesty still could only have the country left to this sole remaining son, so he further won’t pursue the previous matter.
“Reporting to your Majesty, it’s said that inside this cage is the ‘sacred beast’ unique to Banjaro, like a deer but not a deer, like Suan[3] but not Suan, having the head of a tiger, eyes of a dragon, and its body covered in white fur. Not only can it speak the human language, it also understands human nature.” The ceremonial officer said, “The Kingdom of Banjaro is willing to offer this sacred beast to your Majesty, in hopes to establish friendly relations between the two countries.”
“Oh? Sacred beast?” Chu Emperor was currently standing together with a few ministers. Upon hearing this, he revealed a curious look, saying, “Like deer, like Suan, having the head of a tiger, eyes of a dragon, isn’t that just a qilin? What does it look like?”
Those men in black robes bowed and pulled away the black cloth over the cage. However, what they saw sleeping in the cage was a giant creature, covered in dirty fur, with a bloody mouth, its snore quaking the heavens, neither like a deer, nor like a lion, instead like the wild beast in the Strange Tales of the Mountains and Seas[4].
Chu Emperor was slightly shocked, retreating a step and saying, “This…….this is the sacred beast?”
“Your Majesty may not know,” that man in black robes opened his mouth, his accent strange, “this sacred beast is the ‘qilin’, able to understand humans. It can do anything you tell it to do. Although there are many creatures in the world, ones like the qilin that can understand humans are nevertheless extremely rare.” After saying this, he went to open the cage.
Hearing the rattling sounds of the chains, the court officials were all alarmed. Someone urged, “Your Majesty! Absolutely can’t let this beast out of the cage. What if it injures someone, won’t that be……..”
The man in black seemingly was long prepared, saying, “The qilin sacred beast can understand humans, so naturally won’t harm anyone.” He extended his palm towards that sacred beast. The sacred beast opened its mouth and yawned, having that paw with tangled fur stretched over. And just like a house cat, it lazily had its beast paw placed on the man in black’s arm. The man in black scratched the sacred beast’s chin, smilingly saying, “It understands human intentions, so to say it’s a ‘qilin’ isn’t wrong.”
Seeing this sacred beast incomparably obedient, letting itself be manipulated, Chu Emperor also gradually relaxed. He let the eunuchs place a row of vertical railings in front, having the sacred beast separated from him as he asked with his hands behind his back, “What else can this sacred beast do?”
“It also knows how to write and draw divinations, incomparably intelligent.” The man in black smilingly said as he beckoned that sacred beast out of the cage, and then placed a brush between its paw, letting it write and draw. That sacred beast was indeed smart, actually really drawing out an ink mark for unknown reason.
“It’s good luck.” The man in black shook that sheet of paper and displayed it to everyone in the surrounding, “This, in the Kingdom of Banjaro, means ‘great fortune and prosperity’.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
At this time, the drunk Prince Ajindo suddenly woke with a start. He quickly stood up, pointing at that man in black and loudly shouting, “He’s not from Banjaro! Be careful!”
A loud shout, the echo resounding, instantly startling the entire hall of guests. Seeing the situation become unfavorable, the man in black, without a second word, threw out a bamboo arrow. The bamboo arrow was as swift as lightning, tearing through the air and piercing into Prince Ajindo’s shoulder. Prince Ajindo staggered and fell to the ground with a thud.
This sudden turn of events startled the others. In an instant, the interior of the great hall was in an uproar, as if the pot had exploded.
“There’s assassins! Guards!”
“Someone come! Protect his Majesty!”
However, that ‘sacred beast’ roared, bellowing towards the sky. This roar made people extremely terrified. Before anyone could react, the sacred beast’s eyes revealed a vicious glint, directly pouncing towards a certain place upon the banquet, lifting its claw and ruthlessly clawing, its throat producing a light rumbling sound, as if extremely starved.
A heart-wrenching scream sounded. Turns out, the one sitting there was Shen Tong Ying!
The sacred beast’s claw scratched up her cheeks, leaving behind several bloody marks. After randomly clawing for a while, that sacred beast, like as if finally finding what it wanted, ripped apart her sleeve, using its mouth to pick up a hairpin, and disregarding what it was, it opened its mouth and started chewing.
The hairpin was sharp, tearing the inside of the sacred beast’s mouth till it was bloody. But, the sacred beast didn’t care, actually having the chewed up hairpin made of gold and pearls swallowed.
The unexpected turn of events was sudden. Shen Tong Ying’s eyes were staring blankly, like falling through the clouds. In the next moment, she covered her face and miserably screamed, very pitiful.
“My…..my face!”
That sacred beast chewed a little, then like as if not full, sniffed around again. Following the scent, it pounced towards another direction. Although its body was enormous, its movements were as swift as lightning. Those guards had swords, yet all didn’t dare to approach. They could only watch from afar, fearing that they will also become the sacred beast’s meal.
“It’s his Highness the Second Prince!”
Suddenly, someone exclaimed.
Turns out, the direction the sacred beast was charging towards was precisely Lu Zi Xiang’s seat. Even if Lu Zi Xiang was skilled and experienced, suddenly seeing a giant beast charging towards him with its mouth wide open, his body would still freeze a little, unable to move. His hand hovered over his waist, seemingly about to draw the sword, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
“Lu Zi Xiang, look out!”
In the face of imminent peril, Lu Zi Xiang heard someone shout this. Lifting his head, he saw the bottom of an embroidered shoe directly flying towards him. In the next moment, he felt a sudden pain on the bridge of his nose——-Turns out, Shen Lan Chi had kicked him in the face.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the peerlessly noble and well-favored Second Prince Lu Zi Xiang got sent flying by Shen Lan Chi’s kick. On his nose bridge there was a circle of dust from the bottom of her shoe. But, it was also precisely this kick that saved Lu Zi Xiang’s life. That sacred beast rammed right into the pillar behind Lu Zi Xiang, dizzily collapsing onto the ground.
Lu Zi Xiang got kicked aside, his nose warming, actually dripping with a nosebleed. He covered his nose, enduring the pain as he crawled up, hurriedly moving before Shen Lan Chi on his knees, anxiously saying, “How can you be this stupid? What are you rushing over for? What if that beast had injured you?”
Before he could say more, the blood from his nose flowed out even more profusely between his fingers, appearing to be in a very sorry state.
Shen Lan Chi retracted her foot, slightly calming her mind.
Seeing Lu Zi Xiang still able to bounce around, she inwardly relaxed a breath.
In the past life, Lu Zi Xiang had gotten half his arm ripped off by the sacred beast upon the hall, becoming bloody all over. At present, Lu Zi Xiang only had a little nosebleed, so it can be considered good luck. She just needed to kick once. Next, his Majesty’s guards should arrive.
As she was pondering, the growling sound of the beast grinding its teeth came from behind Shen Lan Chi. Shen Lan Chi slightly blanked, using the corner of her eye to glance behind her——-That beast had stood up again, lightly rubbing its four feet on the ground. The tangled dirty fur on its body expanded, revealing a large patch festering wounds that have started forming scabs. Just looking at it made one nauseous.
There were already titled madams and noble ladies that had escaped to the outside. At this time, they were huddled together in groups, trembling in fear, the screams rising and falling.
“Be, be careful!” Lu Zi Xiang didn’t have the leisure to continue covering his nose, just wanting to block in front of her. But, when he reached out to draw the sword from his waist, Lu Zi Xiang finally recalled that this was before the emperor. No one can carry a sword upon the hall. As such, the current him didn’t have a single weapon on hand.
As that beast opened its bloody mouth, about to pounce towards the two of them again, a figure suddenly flash before the two of them, raising his arm high and pulling out a silvery dagger from his sleeve. That dagger nimbly turned, and a silverly light sliced through the air, the end incomparably sharp.
In an instant, it cleanly cut off that sacred beast’s head, the fresh blood splattering all over the peppered palace walls.
All of this merely happened in a blink of an eye. The wild beast that was wreaking havoc a moment ago lost its head, just left with a headless and bloody body, collapsing in a pool of blood with a thud.
The palace hall that was originally bustling and lively was already empty now. Only a tall figure remained standing upon the hall, holding the beast’s head in one hand and a dagger in the other. His frost white gown was splattered with sticky blood, his entire person like an unsheathed weapon stained in blood. It was actually Lu Qi Yang.
Like waking up from a dream, the crowd finally started moving.
“The Zhennan Wang heir actually hid a dagger in his sleeve, bringing a blade upon the hall, what intentions does he have? Sure enough, he’d hidden his skills for over ten years….”
“But if not for the Zhennan Wang heir bringing a dagger into the hall, afraid it’ll be too late to save Shen second miss!”
“The guards have already prepared the archers outside. Even if without the heir, they can still save those two!”
Lu Qi Yang lifted his head and looked towards Chu Emperor who was behind the vertical railings, surrounded by heavy guards. His phoenix eyes slightly raised, deferentially saying, “Merely a leopard-eating tiger[5] with a hair disease, can’t be considered a ‘qilin’. Hope your Majesty don’t get deceived.”
[1] The central plains refers to the han ethnic group, which is the great majority of chinese people.
[2] Qilin is a mythical creature symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and virtue. It actually has many variations due to different sources having different descriptions regarding it.
[3] Suan is a mythical beast in chinese mythology, its full name is Suanni (狻猊), one of the nine sons of the dragon. It’s described as being part-lion, part-dragon.
[4] Referencing the ‘Classics of the Mountains and Seas’, a collection of descriptions and stories regarding mythical creatures and geography. The true author and origins of this has been in debate for thousands of years, because the older versions of it no longer exist. What we have now are the versions that were preserved from the later dynasties.
[5] 食豹虎 – This is translated rather literally because when I looked up the term as a whole up I got pictures of spiders.
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ooh I don’t know how SR messed with the hairpin but that was beautifully done. the origin of the hairpin was from SLC, STY grabbed it off of her head herself… nothing to do with her that her older sister got disfigured! makes me wonder why she didn’t attack in the past life. or, maybe she did and SLC didn’t know? now I’m also most suspicious of LZY; if his fiancée is disfigured will she still have to marry him? if she doesn’t marry him, isn’t there a perfectly fine beautiful legitimate young miss of the Shen family as a replacement?
There’s a hint in the previous chap. Shen Tong Ying recognized it because she saw the hairpin in her father’s study before, which was why she thought SR had stolen it.