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Treasure Tree Producing Flowers (1)
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!
“Imperial father, Yong Chun is willing to marry.”
Princess Yong Chun’s one line shocked everyone present. Noble Consort Liu’s complexion turned red, then green, and in the end, she lightly snorted and turned away. The prince, on the other hand, revealed a big smile, immediately going forward and saying, “I knew you were willing to marry me.”
“Although I’m willing to marry, but for better or worse, I’m a princess of a country. I can’t just let you casually marry me.” Yong Chun lifted her dress and walked out from behind the screen behind the Chu Emperor. Her delicate face revealed a prideful look, “If you want to marry me, then you need to accomplish what I say first.”
Her tone was soft and light, like a wave of catkins. Prince Ajindo although wasn’t too proficient in the han language, he very much liked hearing her talk. Regardless of whether she was calling him a ‘dummy’, or endlessly lecturing others, her voice was always like a little bird, tickling the heart.
“In this garden, there’s a tree. I….want to see this tree fully blooming with flowers tomorrow.” Yong Chun tugged the corner of her dress and turned to the side, her slender jade fingers pointing towards a large tree in the garden. That tree was as thick as a man’s embrace, the branches reaching into the skies. Because it was currently winter, this tree was completely bare, just left with rough branches.
Want a tree to bloom with flowers in winter?
It wasn’t a plum tree, nor was it the season for plum blossom, so how can this be achieved? It was practically impossible.
When the Chu Emperor heard, he furrowed his brows in displeasure, shouting, “Yong Chun! This is a major matter of the country, not a place for your jokes! The prince is of esteemed status. You must not tease him. Quickly apologize to the prince!”
If this prince was a bit more narrow-minded, believing that Yong Chun was messing with him, then that will be troublesome.
“This isn’t a joke!” Yong Chun stated. She glanced towards Ajindo, softly saying, “Didn’t you say, for me, you’re willing to do anything? If you can’t even accomplish this bit, then no need to marry me.”
Such unreasonable words made the Chu Emperor increasingly unhappy. He was just about to open his mouth to reprimand Yong Chun when he heard Prince Ajindo say, “I’ll do it!”
Prince Ajindo completely didn’t have the annoyance of getting messed with, even having a look of excitement all over his face, eagerly wanting to try. Seeing him like this, the Chu Emperor suddenly had a thought inside: ‘If this prince really has interest in Yong Chun, then it can be considered a good thing.’
Thinking to here, the Chu Emperor said, “Prince also sees that this emperor’s daughter is usually spoiled, liking to mess with people. If prince marries her, afraid will have to endure all her shortcomings. If prince doesn’t mind, then just do as Yong Chun says.”
When Noble Consort Liu heard, she felt indignant inside, softly whispering, “Your Majesty, Yong Chun is ultimately the princess of a country. How can you bear letting her marry faraway? In this consort’s opinion, having that Shen family young miss married off is the best option.”
Empress Shen’s ears were sharp, immediately hearing Noble Consort Liu’s words. She coldly sneered and slowly said, “Noble Consort, these words of yours aren’t right. Yong Chun and the prince clearly have feelings for one another, also extremely matching. For you to this eagerly tear them apart, what are your intentions? Or, could it be that you have doubt towards his Majesty’s words.”
Empress Shen’s nonchalant words just had Noble Consort Liu’s mouth blocked. Noble Consort Liu clutched the corner of her sleeve and forcibly squeezed out, “This younger sister naturally doesn’t mean this.” But, she ultimately was a bit indignant and could only shoot a glare at Shen Lan Chi from afar.
Since Yong Chun was willing to marry, this marriage arrangement can be considered to be on its way, needless for Shen Lan Chi to worry over. After the farewell banquet, the court officials respectively took their leave, the imperial garden also gradually quieting down.
Shen Xin Gu walked to the palace gates, having the reward money handed to the palace servant leading the way. The horse carriage had already been led over, but Shen Xin Gu didn’t get on the carriage, just carrying a cold face as he stood amidst the dark of the night for a good while, listening to the sound of the wind blowing against his cloak.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Father, the wind at night is strong, so it’s better to return home early.” Shen Lan Chi said in a low voice.
“Now that I’ve divided the family with your second uncle, the Liu family has started to become restless. Noble Consort Liu is intentionally targeting you. Since this scheme this time didn’t work, afraid she will come up with another scheme.” Shen Xin Gu looked towards his own daughter, not having the slightest tender look on his face, his voice extremely heavy, “If you want a permanent solution, then afraid you will have to get married.”
When Shen Lan Chi heard, she also slightly sighed inside.
She also wants to marry that person in her heart sooner, legitimately becoming his wife. But, the matters at home weren’t finished, so how can she leave? If she marries into the Zhennan Wang Manor, then she will be a member of the Lu clan first, and a daughter of the Shen family second. A married daughter absolutely can’t protect her maiden family at all times.
Not only so, the Zhennan Wang Manor also has a fated ordeal, not allowing her to mess around. Zhennan Wang held heavy military power in hand. If his heir were to marry the daughter of the current An Duke Manor, then they certainly will arouse his Majesty’s suspicions. For the Zhennan Wang Manor, it was no different from destroying their own foundation. Lu Qi Yang has been a wastrel for this many years. He shouldn’t, because of her willfulness, lose all of this.
“Father, big brother has yet to take a wife, so how can it be this daughter’s turn?” Shen Lan Chi lifted the carriage curtain for her father as she said with a smile, “Furthermore, I still want to stay by father and mother’s side longer. To block when enemies come, to use earth when water comes, whatever schemes that Noble Consort Liu has, Lan’er all won’t take seriously.”
Seeing Shen Lan Chi this optimistic, Shen Xin Gu’s brows slightly relaxed. He shook his head and suppressed the faint guilt in his heart as he got on the carriage.
Because of his indecisiveness, this daughter of his that originally should’ve grown up pampered in the palm of his hand ended up suffering quite a bit of hardships. Now that he has decided to divide the family with his younger brother, he will certainly correct his past mistakes and properly protect his wife and children.
• • •
The next day, news came from the palace, saying that Prince Ajindo really did as Princess Yong Chun said, letting that tree that didn’t even have a single leaf bloom with flowers. Such an unusual matter just made people curious. Princess Yong Chun had the intention of showing off, so specially invited many noble ladies into the palace. As a result, the imperial garden momentarily became crowded with people in the middle of winter, bringing countless imperial concubines, titled madams, and noble young ladies.
Yong Chun was pleased inside, wanting to show off, so naturally invited as many people as possible. Ji Fei Xia, Lu Zhi Ning, Liu Ru Yan, and Shen Lan Chi, she was all unwilling to let go of, insisting on letting them enter the palace to see the tree blooming with flowers in winter.
Shen Lan Chi entered the palace according to the order, but when she arrived in the imperial garden, she saw that it was full of people. The imperial concubines of his Majesty’s harem, regardless whether they were favored or not, all came to this place. The junwangs and wangfeis outside the palace also successively rushed over to spectate. The entire imperial garden was a boiling cauldron of voices, unexpectedly even more lively than the west market during the day.
Seeing a mass of bobbing heads in the imperial garden, with layer upon layer of jade sparrows and golden hairpins, Shen Lan Chi quietly stopped in her tracks.
With this many people, there’s no way she can squeeze in, so it’s better to not waste her energy.
But, she was ultimately somewhat curious as to what that tree looked like, so she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful inside. She could only stand in a pavilion at a distance, staring at the crowd with a slightly lonely look.
Right at this time, Shen Lan Chi heard a warm voice.
“Miss Shen, you’re not going to look at that tree planted by the Banjaro prince?”
Shen Lan Chi lifted her head and saw Lu Zi Xiang standing nearby. He was wearing a sky blue brocade gown with a jade belt at his waist, filled with the majestic air of the imperial family.
Discovering Shen Lan Chi gazing at him, Lu Zi Xiang smiled, slowly saying, “Heard that the Banjaro prince, for the sake of marrying Yong Chun, exhausted countless treasures overnight. As the saying goes, ‘easy to find a priceless treasure, but hard to obtain a true lover’. For a man to be able to have such a heart, it’s truly hard to come by.”
He was born as handsome as jade, having the dashing masculinity of a man, yet didn’t lack in the refined gentleness of a scholar. Even if placed among the Lu clan descendants where many had outstanding good looks, he was still the star that shone the brightest.
But such a handsome second prince, in Shen Lan Chi’s eyes, wasn’t considered anything at all. Whenever she saw Lu Zi Xiang, her mind would just ring an alert: ‘Noble Consort Liu found her unpleasant to the eyes, even waiting to deal with her. If she were to attract the second prince again at this time, it won’t be good.’
Thinking like this, Shen Lan Chi got up and started to head outwards, saying, “Lan Chi couldn’t squeeze into the crown, so don’t plan on joining the excitement, just about to leave the palace to return home.”
“For you to leave this early, won’t Yong Chun be disappointed?” Lu Zi Xiang softly chuckled, then gently said, “Why don’t Miss Shen go take a look? In any case, I can take Miss Shen over with me.”
Just as Lu Zi Xiang finished speaking, he heard a slightly hesitant voice come from behind him.
“Your……second Highness?”
Lu Zi Xiang followed the voice and turned around, only to see Ji Fei Xia standing outside the pavilion.
During the state banquet, Lu Zi Xiang accidentally got engaged with Ji Fei Xia. Just, the Chu Emperor only began to discuss this matter with Ji Fei Xia’s father recently, still having yet to announce their engagement before the court. As such, aside from Ji Fei Xia and Lu Zi Xiang, there actually wasn’t a third person that was aware of this matter here.
This was also Ji Fei Xia’s second time meeting Lu Zi Xiang since the state banquet.
Before that, she has never spoken to the second prince before, only hearing others say that the second prince was stunningly talented, skilled with both the sword and the brush, and also extremely favored by his Majesty. Now that such a second prince became her future husband, she more or less had a bit of a young girl’s bashfulness.
Ji Fei Xia thought to herself, in the past, she although didn’t have feelings towards the second prince, but his Highness was this great of a person, so she certainly will develop feelings towards him in the future.
“Did your Highness also come to see Princess Yong Chun’s treasure tree?” Ji Fei Xia lightly clutched the corner of her sleeve as she softly asked.
“Yes.” Seeing Ji Fei Xia come, Lu Zi Xiang shifted his line of sight, his voice increasingly gentle.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shen Lan Chi hurriedly got up and quickly took her leave, going somewhere else in the imperial garden.
She left very quickly. When Lu Zi Xiang turned back again, he could only see her figure in the distance. Recalling Shen Lan Chi’s graceful bearing while sitting in the pavilion just now, Lu Zi Xiang faintly revealed a smile, his gaze softening.
“What is your Highness smiling about?” Ji Fei Xia raised her head and mustered her courage as she asked.
“I was thinking, now, in this palace, there just happened to be a person who matches what my heart desires. Perhaps, in others’ eyes, she isn’t considered an absolute beauty, but in my eyes, she is of national grace and divine fragrance.” Lu Zi Xiang slightly closed his eyes, saying with a sigh, “Just, unfortunately, she’s close within my reach, yet like the moon reflected upon the water, unable to be touched.”
Ji Fei Xia’s face quietly turned red as she swiftly lowered her head.
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i feel like I have to ask: is LZX that unaware of his concubine-mother’s schemes against SLC? his blatant affections could literally kill the woman he’s pining over. he can’t not know that empress Shen and his mother have beef, right? it’s alright if the answers will be spoilery, this is mainly a rhetorical question atp.
He’s aware, but chooses to not care and do what he wants willfully.
He doesn’t really care about her. It’s just like as if she’s a trophy wanted to claim. Didn’t he also think that he could still have her after marrying his wife anyway? Clearly, she didn’t care about her feelings and he must really think she liked him. Lmao. Self-centered jerk. I actually think he’s way worse than the current Lu Zhaoye. At least this life’s current crown prince still thought of her feelings, not doing anything to harm her unlike this jerk. Sighs.