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Wang Manor’s Servant Girl (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!
Anyone who has been in the palace long enough would’ve once heard of De Consort Ying’s name many years ago.
The late De Consort had the surname Ying, her given name Cai Zhi, and just like her name, she was like an iris, beautiful and pure, seemingly like an unattainable high cloud. When De Consort first entered the palace, it was precisely when the winter snow first started melting. On a momentary whim, she started playing with the water by the lakeside and got seen by the Chu Emperor. The Chu Emperor was astonished by her beauty, and from then on, extremely pampered her.
De Consort’s imperial favor never waned, causing the other beauties in the palace to be casted into the shade. The Chu Emperor had the intention of erecting her as the empress, but De Consort Ying’s birth wasn’t very high. The court officials all felt that De Consort wasn’t worthy of the empress position. Because of this, the empress position remained vacant.
Even Shen Xin Yi back then very rarely saw the emperor. Just, although De Consort was favored, she had the fate of a short-lived beauty. After giving birth to Lu Zhao Ye, she very quickly passed away. Shen Xin Yi in the past was good friends with De Consort, also having no children by her side, so had Lu Zhao Ye taken in to raise as the eldest di son.
It was also at that time, Empress Shen, because of her high and noble birth, and also among the imperial consorts, more to the Chu Emperor’s liking, became the master of the six palaces.
In the first year of De Consort’s absence, the Chu Emperor madly missed her, practically no longer showing favor to the women of the imperial harem. Seeing the situation, the Liu family selected a beauty from their clan to send into the palace. This Liu surname beauty, because of somewhat resembling De Consort, unexpectedly obtained Chu Emperor’s favor. She later became Noble Consort Liu.
Noble Consort Liu has been favored for many years in the palace, a single branch thriving alone, practically forgetting that in the past, there was also a De Consort Ying that was once deeply favored. Now, suddenly hearing this name from his Majesty’s mouth, how could Noble Consort Liu not be alarmed?
From his Majesty’s reaction, Liu Ru Hua extremely resembled that De Consort. Moreover, his Majesty even asked Liu Ru Hua’s name and birth. Then, it’s very likely that he will take her into the imperial harem!
Thinking to here, Noble Consort Liu instantly turned pale. This Liu Ru Hua was her own niece, the aunt and niece serving one husband, what will that look like to the outside? Furthermore, others coming to compete for favor, she won’t take seriously, but Liu Ru Hua resembled De Consort Ying, and also younger and prettier than her…….
Noble Consort Liu was panicking inside, immediately saying to the Chu Emperor, “Your Majesty, Hua’er is this consort’s maiden family niece. In these next two years, she will be getting engaged. This time, entering the palace, it’s also just to visit this consort. If there has been any offense, asking your Majesty to please forgive.”
Empress Shen was coldly watching on the sidelines the whole time. Seeing Noble Consort Liu hurriedly explaining, she interrupted with, “Noble Consort, ‘in these next two years, she will be getting engaged’, then doesn’t that mean that she still hasn’t gotten engaged? His Majesty just asked her birth and name, what’s wrong with that?”
When the Chu Emperor heard, he heartily laughed in delight, saying: “This emperor was just asking. Noble Consort, no need to take it to heart.”
Liu Ru Hua listened to the side in confusion, not understanding too well what these people were talking about. She just faintly sensed that his Majesty seemingly thought very highly of her, while her noble consort auntie was blocking his Majesty.
“Zhennan Wang heir, today, this emperor wants to reward you.” The Chu Emperor turned towards Lu Qi Yang who was next to him, saying with a smile, “If not for you wanting to come here, this emperor wouldn’t have been able to see such a beauty.”
The two of them chatted for a while before leaving, leaving Noble Consort Liu behind tightly gritting her teeth with an extremely vexed look.
“Auntie, Hua’er still needs to dance today.” Liu Ru Hua was completely unaware of what Noble Consort Liu was unhappy about, wholeheartedly just wanting to win that ‘Lingshan Goddess’ title.
“Dance? Perhaps another day!” Noble Consort Liu was completely not in the mood. Seeing this unique attire of Liu Ru Hua’s, she already started secretly detesting Liu Ru Hua———To specially dress like this, wasn’t it precisely for the sake of attracting his Majesty’s attention?
Her elder brother at home afraid felt that she was growing old, her beauty fading, her favor waning, so just hastily had his own daughter sent into the palace to consolidate imperial favor!
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Auntie?” Liu Ru Hua was extremely puzzled, but Noble Consort Liu had already angrily stormed off on her own.
Empress Shen revealed a gentle smile to the side, meaningfully saying to Liu Ru Hua, “Liu fourth miss, you certainly will have great fortune in the future, if you nicely seize the opportunity, perhaps you’ll be even better than your paternal aunt.”
These words made Liu Ru Hua even more confused.
After Empress Shen said this, she also left. The noble consort and the empress were both gone, so there was no one to judge this dance. Right when Liu Ru Hua was feeling vexed, Shen Lan Chi voluntarily said, “Liu fourth miss, even his Majesty praised you as outstanding. Lan Chi feels one is not as good as you, so will admit defeat. The ‘Lingshan Goddess’ is merely an empty title. It’s still Liu fourth miss that’s worthy of it.”
Liu Ru Hua was very happy. Shen Lan Chi also revealed a smile. Just, the two of them were smiling about two completely different things.
What Shen Lan Chi was smiling about was that everything was the same as the past life——-The Liu family in the past life had lost Lu Zi Xiang, but never really gave up struggling. Seeing that Noble Consort Liu no longer had imperial favor, they carefully had Liu Ru Hua sent into the palace. Liu Ru Hua originally just had the intention of climbing a high branch. Hearing that she can enter the palace, she naturally was elated, immediately agreeing.
In this life, Liu Ru Hua afraid will still agree to entering the palace.
• • •
A few days later, the imperial palace just issued a decree, summoning the Liu family’s fourth daughter into the palace to serve.
Once this matter came out, the entire capital was in an uproar. Although aunt and niece serving one husband did exist in the previous dynasty, it ultimately was somewhat ridiculous. In fact, some even secretly started mocking the Liu family as ‘a house of prostitutes’, only doing things such as presenting beauties to the emperor, even more laughable than the Shen family. The scholars, having nothing to do, used the Liu family to write essays, their writings full of harsh sarcasm, widely circulating through the marketplace.
The Liu Manor.
On Liu Yu’s desk, there was a sheet of paper spread out, and on it was a few hastily written words, ‘No one knows the sick people of the northern counties, yet the smile of a Liu family daughter is known by the world.’
Liu Yu slowly folded up the poem and held it over the flame of the oil lamp, having it burned to ashes.
Liu Chang was watching to the side, saying, “Young master, are we really going to let fourth miss enter the palace?”
Liu Yu stared at that flickering flame, saying, “His Majesty’s decree, I can’t casually defy either. Furthermore, Hua’er seemingly wants to enter the palace very much.”
Liu Chang felt it was a pity. Having a Noble Consort Liu in the palace was already enough. The other di daughters of the Liu family were meticulously raised for the sake of marrying off to form marriage ties. Now, to send another daughter into the palace, not only was it somewhat wasteful, they even became a laughingstock.
“I heard fourth miss say, all of this was all thanks to that Shen Lan Chi!” Liu Chang said in a low voice, “Previously, her Highness the Noble Consort had schemed against her. Now, she has also become angry, so just turned the tables on the noble consort! Else, how could it be this coincidental? It just happened to be that outfit, just happened to be by the lake, and his Majesty just happened to come at that time!”
Liu Yu listened and said with a sigh, “Indeed, that Shen Lan Chi is even one with thorns.”
Right at this time, a servant boy knocked on the door of the study. Liu Chang went to answer the door. When he came back, he was endlessly grumbling, his face full of anger, “That Shen Lan Chi sure is daring! Actually sending someone to deliver a message, saying that she wants to meet with young master you! She doesn’t dare to come to the Liu manor alone, actually calling young master to the west district, that kind of place!”
Liu Yu’s eyes turned, asking, “What does she want?”
“She says she has a way to make the second prince restrain himself, just needing young master to not interfere in her matters anymore, and not think of ways to mess with her marriage.” Liu Chang snorted and said, “Thought rather beautifully. The people of the Shen family, how can they be trusted?”
As Liu Chang was making fun of Shen Lan Chi’s naivety, he heard his own young master say, “Forget it, agree to her request, but no need to meet. I’ve been coughing pretty badly these last two days, so can’t go out in the wind.”
Liu Chang blanked and asked back, “Really agreeing? What if she’s avaricious and insatiable, just doing it for the sake of being able to marry the second prince in the future…….”
“She won’t.” Liu Yu calmly said, “If she really wanted to marry his Highness, then that day at the Ji manor, she wouldn’t have fled in a hurry. If she really has the ability to sever his Highness’s thoughts, then that would be great, saving us the trouble.”
Since Liu Yu has spoken, how could Liu Chang dare to disobey? He immediately went out to report back to that servant delivering the message.
• • •
Shen Lan Chi, who was sitting in her own courtyard, very quickly received a reply.
She’d long made plans. Lu Zi Xiang coveted her beauty, but the throne obviously was even more important than Shen Lan Chi’s beauty. If Shen Lan Chi were to get in the way of Lu Zi Xiang’s path to the throne, then afraid that second prince will be the first to jump up in protest and have Shen Lan Chi crushed into the dust.
Just as Shen Lan Chi was talking to her servant girl, she heard Shen first madam’s cheery voice come from outside, “Lan’er, Lan’er! That Liu Ru Hua has entered the palace to become an imperial concubine. The one that will be dancing before the gods will be you!”
Shen Lan Chi blanked for a moment, before finally recalling this matter———Liu Ru Hua will enter the palace to serve, so no longer considered an ‘unmarried maiden’. Right now, the most suitable person to play the ‘Lingshan Goddess’, wasn’t it precisely her?
A day later, another decree came from the palace, saying that Shen Lan Chi will take Princess Yong Chun’s place in the role of the goddess. Shen first madam was very pleased, immediately inviting a slew of etiquette mamas, locking Shen Lan Chi at home and ordering her to diligently practice dancing, not allow to embarrass the An Duke Manor.
Shen Lan Chi felt unspeakably miserable.
She and Tiger still have things to do! Having her locked up at home everyday like this, how will she be able to accomplish them?
Just, those mamas truly kept a tight watch on her, not even letting her set a single foot outside her courtyard. Her resting time during the day was also short.
Having no other way, Shen Lan Chi could only turn to Lu Qi Yang for help.
Lu Qi Yang thought of a way, bringing two servant girls to the An Duke Manor. When going out, he let Shen Lan Chi change into the servant girl’s clothes and go out with her head down. Those servants, mamas, seeing this little servant girl, felt that she was extremely familiar looking, but due to Lu Qi Yang high and noble status, no one dared to go up to disturb, and could only watch them go out.
As a servant, who would dare to go up to casually chat with the heir, saying, “Your family’s servant girl looks familiar.”
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