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Treasure Tree Producing Flowers (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!
Shen Lan Chi walked farther away, the clamor in the garden gradually fading. She figured, since those junwangs and titled madams were all in the palace joining in on the excitement, then there’s no reason for someone as idle as Lu Qi Yang to not come. Thus, she started looking around, wanting to look for Lu Qi Yang.
After much effort, she finally found Lu Qi Yang.
But, where the heir was at wasn’t that common——He was sitting upon a low branch of a large tree, his two legs swaying back and forth, currently gazing at the most crowded place in the distance.
“Heir, the rules in the palace are strict. For you to climb atop the tree like this, aren’t you afraid of getting reprimanded?” Shen Lan Chi raised her head and shouted towards the tree, “Be careful, later if wangye comes over, he’ll punish you to carry water buckets again.”
Lu Qi Yang heard her voice and lowered his eyes. Seeing her fair jade-like face peeking between the branches, he raised his brow and cheerfully smiled, “Climbing up here, one will be able to clearly see that big dummy’s tree. Do you want to come up?”
Shen Lan Chi although was saying that ‘they will get reprimanded’ and such, she still wanted to see that tree. Thus, she pushed up her sleeves and said to Lu Qi Yang, “I can’t climb up there on my own. Aren’t you going to come down and help me?”
Hearing this, the heir shook his head, grumbling ‘troublesome little thing’ as he directly jumped down from the tree. After steadying himself, he clapped his hands and squatted down, saying to Shen Lan Chi, “I’ll carry you up.”
He has practiced martial arts since childhood, thus full of strength, effortlessly lifting up Shen Lan Chi.
Shen Lan Chi clung onto the tree branch and kicked her feet for a while before finally climbing on there, firmly sitting upon the branch. Lu Qi Yang was scared that she will fall, so stood under the tree branch, extending his hand to support her waist.
The girl’s silk skirt draped down, the color light and pretty, like a flower in spring. He raised his head, seeing Shen Lan Chi’s side profile gazing into the distance. Her forehead had a thin strand of hair curling between her brows. Her long lashes fluttered open and shut, like a little fan catching fireflies.
“Is it pretty?” Lu Qi Yang asked.
Shen Lan Chi fixedly stared at it, saying, “Pretty.”
At the depths of that crowd was a large tree. The tree was decorated with all kinds of gems shaped like flowers, beautiful and diverse. As the sun rose higher, the gemstones that filled the branches brightly glistened, like a treasure platform before buddha, taking one’s breath away.
“This must have cost quite a sum of money. That big dummy from Banjaro really is rather willing to spend the money.” Lu Qi Yang lightly sneered and said, “If you also like this kind of tree, then in the future, when you marry me, I’ll also get one for you.”
“What nonsense are you saying?” Shen Lan Chi was still gazing at that tree, saying, “I don’t need this kind of thing. ‘Easy to find a priceless treasure, but hard to obtain a true lover’, ever heard of this saying before?”
When Lu Qi Yang heard, he let out a laugh, but didn’t say more.
• • •
The story of Prince Ajindo creating a treasure tree for Princess Yong Chun, for a time, spread throughout the capital as a beautiful tale. Yong Chun enjoyed all the limelight and fulfilled her promise, agreeing to marry Prince Ajindo, forming the marriage alliance with Banjaro.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
She was rather happy to marry, but her birth mother Hui Consort Wang was extremely unwilling.
That Banjaro Kingdom was far away, with unfamiliar people, also having language barriers. If Yong Chun marries over, afraid she will suffer a lot of hardships. Even if having the prince’s love, but how much can a man’s love be worth? Hui Consort has been by Chu Emperor’s side for that long, having long understood that a man’s heart was susceptible to change. She wasn’t the least bit willing to let Yong Chun marry a foreigner like naive fool.
But, in front of governmental affairs, his Majesty had the intention of becoming friends with the Banjaro Kingdom, so naturally won’t go against the prince’s wishes. Seeing how the political marriage will soon finalize, Hui Consort Wang anxiously went around in circles, deciding to go to Guangxin Palace to ask for Noble Consort Liu’s help.
However, when she arrived at Guangxin Palace, she didn’t see Noble Consort Liu, just seeing the Second Prince Lu Zi Xiang. Hui Consort thought to herself, ‘This second prince is Noble Consort Liu’s son, so asking him was the same as asking Noble Consort Liu.’ As such, Hui Consort earnestly requested Lu Zi Xiang to help her, asking him to go before his Majesty to speak for her.
“I absolutely can’t bear having Yong Chun marry faraway. Yong Chun is also your Highness’s younger sister, so presumably, your Highness also can’t bear to see her go.” Hui Consort used the handkerchief to wipe the tear in the corner of her eye, tearfully saying, “Hope that your Highness can help put in a few more words for Yong Chun.”
When Lu Zi Xiang heard, he consoled, “Hui Consort, no need to fret, Zi Xiang is willing to speak in front of imperial father. Just, whether or not imperial father, will accept Zi Xiang’s words, it’s hard to say.”
Hui Consort wiped away her tears, the large rock over her heart lifting halfway, “Your Highness is this favored, his Majesty certainly will consider your words. With your Highness’s promise here, I feel much more relieved.”
After saying this, Hui Consort Wang left.
Lu Zi Xiang watched her leave, the gentle smile on his lips gradually fading, the dark color in his eyes growing darker.
If Yong Chun doesn’t marry, then the person that will marry will be Shen Lan Chi
Shen Lan Chi can’t leave the palm of his hand.
So……
The candidate for the political marriage can only be Yong Chun.
Thinking this, Lu Zi Xiang went to the Chu Emperor’s study. In merely a single incense stick’s time, Yong Chun’s marriage was finalized, just waiting for the new year to have the princess sent over from Chu. The next day, when Hui Consort learned of this matter, her heart unbearably ached. But, the timber has already been built into a boat. She was unable to say anything more.
After staying for a period in the Chu capital, the Banjaro delegation finally left this prosperous capital.
Once this matter concluded, Shen Lan Chi’s heart slightly settled down.
Lu Zi Xiang didn’t end up unconscious in bed and won’t easily die from an assassination attempt later on. Looks like, she at least can nicely spend this new year. At present, the color of winter was gradually deepening, the weather getting colder by the day. Inside the An Duke Manor, they’ve already started preparing for the new year. The thick winter clothes were also long cut and sewn. Once the first snow falls, it will finally be put to use.
…….Should be able to smoothly get by this new year, right?
Shen Lan Chi thought wrong.
When getting up in the morning, she heard a loud noise coming from somewhere.
Although she was lazy in winter, feeling very sleepy, she still got disturbed by the quarreling noise, unable to continue sleeping, so could only get up. After washing up, she called over her servant girls and asked about the situation outside.
Bi Yu and Lü Zhu looked to one another in dismay, softly saying, “It’s the second madam. She came to make a fuss again. This time, she even the brought along the clan leader from the ancestral branch, saying that she wants to let the clan leader judge and determine who should inherit the family, already going before the duke.”
When Shen Lan Chi heard, she was slight shocked.
Their An Duke Manor’s branch of the Shen family was a branch family of a branch family. Because several generations ago, this branch of theirs rose to prominence, becoming a duke, they thus became a very important household in the entire clan. The so-called ‘ancestral branch’, at present, also need to rely on the An Duke Manor’s support to get by. Precisely by relying on Shen first master’s help, the ancestral branch was able to become one of the most powerful families in Qingshan Town that was near the capital.
For the sake of seizing power, Xiao-shi actually convinced someone of the ancestral branch to come to the capital. This really was extremely impressive.
Although this move was considered ‘a surprise attack’, Shen Lan Chi nevertheless felt that Xiao-shi was somewhat stupid. That clan leader’s whole family all relied on her father Shen first master in order to eat, so how could they go against the An Duke Manor? Moreover, the eldest di son inheriting the family was the proper course, what does second uncle have to compete with?
“Come on, let’s go have a look.” Shen Lan Chi put on a cloak, led along her servant girl, and just headed for her grandfather’s Shousong Courtyard.
When she arrived in Shousong Courtyard, she immediately saw Xiao-shi standing in the courtyard with an angry look, arguing about something with a sharp voice. Standing next to her was a short old man who was also slightly fat. This was the ancestral branch’s clan leader, Shen Qing.
She didn’t see Shen Xin Shu, so perhaps this time, Xiao-shi kept this matter from him and secretly came on her own.
“Clan leader afraid doesn’t know! This Shen Xin Gu simply isn’t the Shen family’s eldest di son, nor that Madam Wu’s biological child!” Xiao-shi loudly shouted, “Merely someone recorded under the main wife’s name, so how can he be the same as the real di son? This An Duke Manor originally should be inherited by my master!”
Shen Qing originally just had the face of a bodhisattva, his temperament also slow, only knowing to smooth things over. Hearing Xiao-shi being this furious, Shen Qing just squeezed out a polite smile, saying, “Aiyaa, second madam, I also know that your days are tight, but this matter, without any heads or tails, it’s better to not carelessly say.”
“What no heads or tails?” Xiao-shi shot Shen Qing a glare, shouting, “I specially had mother’s dowry servant from back then sought out, personally asking about this matter! So it can’t be fake!” After saying this, she pushed out the white-haired old woman next to her.
The ‘mother’ that Xiao-shi spoke of naturally was Shen Rui’s madam, Wu-shi. Just, Wu-shi had passed away early. When Xiao-shi married in, she already didn’t have a mother-in-law above her. As such, calling out ‘mother’ like this was extremely awkward.
“What is all the fuss about!” The door got pushed open. Shen Xin Gu walked out in large strides, shouting, “Father is still ill. For younger sister-in-law to be loudly shouting like this, how is it appropriate?”
“This An Duke Manor originally should just belong to my husband. Father having the family given to you, the child of a low class woman, what does that count as?” When Xiao-shi saw Shen first master, she completely forgot how generously this elder brother treated them in the past, her eyes and mind completely filled with rage, “Today, I’m going to seek justice for my husband!”
Zhu’er was crippled, Tong’er was disfigured, and now, this branch of theirs also got divided out from the An Duke Manor. The new grudges and old hate, let’s just all settle today!
“Justice?” Shen first master coldly sneered, “Today, second brother isn’t present. My guess is that this is your idea, secretly coming here behind second brother’s back?”
“So what!” Xiao-shi raised her voice, “It’s more upright than letting you, the cuckoo, take over the magpie’s nest!”
“You think that father only let me inherit the family because he was momentarily muddled?” Shen first master put his hands behind his back, coldly sizing up Xiao-shi, “Similarly women of the back manor, yet my wife is just much more intelligent than you! Back then, for father to decide on this marriage for second brother, it truly was a mistake.”
Hearing Shen first master mock her as such, Xiao-shi naturally was unable to swallow this breath, screaming, “If not because of being muddled, then what? You’re nothing but a lowly shu-born son, so how can you monopolize this An Duke Manor!”
“Come in, come before father’s bed.” Shen first master angrily snorted, “Didn’t you want to ask the reason? Then I will explain it to you in detail in front of father.”
When Xiao-shi heard, she was somewhat intimidated, but she still mustered up the courage and entered the room, going before Shen Rui’s sickbed.
Inside the bed curtains, Shen Rui raised his body halfway, asking, “Is it old two’s wife?”
“Father, Yu Zhu has come.” Even though very angrily inside, but in front of Shen Rui whose temper was hard to grasp, Xiao-shi still put on a docile appearance.
“You want to ask why I had the family passed on to eldest one?” Upon the sickbed, Shen Rui coughed, saying with a mocking tone, “Just afraid, after you hear, you will want to get a divorce with my son when you go back. Originally, I wanted cover up for old two, letting you two both carefreely live out this life. Who would’ve expected that you don’t want those peaceful days, insisting on breaking pot to get to the bottom of it. Then, this old man can only directly say it.”
“Father, what do you mean by this?” Xiao-shi felt a bit uneasy inside, “My husband, no matter how lacking, he’s still your biological son, that Madam Wu’s di-born son! His status is ultimately more noble than this child of a prostitute!”
“Speaking of which, it’s also my fault.” Shen Rui coldly scoffed and said, “The real Gu’er originally had already been found. That year, Gu’er was just about to return home, reuniting with his parents and brothers, but I just couldn’t hold it in, having this matter told to Shu’er……….Heh, now great, Gu’er really can’t come back anymore.”
Shen Rui’s words made Xiao-shi suddenly blank.
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Both Qiyang and Lanchi are helping this white-eyed wolf. They better let him die. I think Zhaoye is the better sibling at this point. All he ever wanted was revenge from Empress Shen, which was rightfully deserved for him tbh.
Hi Jen! I recently noticed that the font size got bigger on mobile and I wanted to ask if that was an intentional change or something else? I personally think that it’s a bit too big right now but I don’t know others’ opinions
I set the mobile font size to 14, since before it followed the web font size by default. You can check your mobile browser’s zoom settings too.
no, is LZX sick? or stupid? or both? 🤔 this god’s eye view we have of the scandals between LQY and SLC really make everyone who wants to marry SLC look real dumb.