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Self-Awareness
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 first madam knew, Lu Qi Yang most likely heard the news, thus came over, wanting to let her spare Shen Lan Chi from punishment.
The two times in the past when the Shen family punished Lan Chi to kneel in the ancestral hall, Lu Qi Yang also came over to plead both times. Just, at the time, the two of them were both still small children, having yet to come-of-age, so situations like this were also of no harm. But, now that the two of them have grown up, this was just a completely different scenery. Lu Qi Yang coming at this time to plead, it would just appear a bit inappropriate.
Lu Qi Yang acting this way inevitably will make Shen first madam think more.
Could it be that these two really have a love affair already?
Lu Qi Yang was a descendant of the imperial clan, his status noble. If he attempts to kneel, who would actually dare to let him kneel? Hearing him say that he can’t bear to see Shen Lan Chi kneel, Shen first madam’s thoughts already started moving.
“Heir, this is the Shen manor’s family affair, so won’t trouble heir to worry over.” Shen first madam put on a smiling face to see out the guest, “It’s rare for heir to visit. How about letting Ting Yuan accompany you to the gardens to admire the scenery?”
“It was I, Lu Qi Yang, that caused the trouble, so I won’t hide. The so-called ‘meeting in secret’ was nothing more than me taking the opportunity to go see her.” Lu Qi Yang said, “If Madam Shen wants to punish, then just punish me. If wanting to punish Lan Chi, then Qi Yang will take her place.”
His words were said resoundingly, yet the smile on Shen first madam’s lips nearly froze——–Said rather simply, what a great line of ‘just punish me’! But, who would dare to punish a descendant of the Lu family? If really punishing him, afraid the An Duke Manor’s horizontal sign board will get ordered by his Majesty to be taken down tomorrow. Perhaps, his Majesty will even issue down a crime of ‘disrespecting the imperial family’.
The An Duke Shen Rui stood the side the whole time, twirling his half-white beard. Although Shen first madam’s smile was both stiff and awkward, the Old An Duke nevertheless smiled very happily, the corner of his eyes all filling with wrinkles.
“Eldest one’s wife, you don’t need to keep busying yourself.” Finally, the An Duke spoke, “The youngsters mutually producing feelings, isn’t this a good thing? In any case, Lan girl isn’t engaged yet, so in my view, you should also consider bringing about this wonderful marriage.”
“Father, this…….” Shen first madam’s smile was increasingly stiff, having difficulties that can’t be expressed.
Lan Chi’s marriage has already been quietly decided on. Just, in front of the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, Shen first madam couldn’t directly mention this matter. Can only blame the Old An Duke who clearly was aware of this matter, yet insisted on pretending to not know, even starting to match up Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang.
“This matter will just be like this then!” Seeing Shen first madam not speak, Shen Rui waved his hand, heartily laughing, “And don’t let Lan girl continue kneeling in the ancestral hall, all go back and rest. As for Lan girl’s marriage, the Shen family naturally will properly think over in the future.”
Lu Qi Yang slightly revealed a smile, deferentially saying to Shen Rui, “Qi Yang thanks the duke.”
This old and young singing in unison just had this matter settled like this. Shen first madam was unable to insert a single word and could only helplessly worry inside. Seeing how Bi Yu already went to go help up Shen Lan Chi, Shen first madam hardened her head and said, “Father, this matter is because of Lan Chi not knowing etiquette, so still need to punish………”
At least need to put on an appearance in front of Lu Zhao Ye!
“Punish what punish!” The An Duke who’d been amiable the whole time suddenly put on a stern face, his eyes glaring with anger, mean like an old leopard, “Eldest one’s wife, is it that this old man’s words are useless now? Let Lan girl go back to rest, do you hear?!”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
This tone that suddenly turned fierce startled Shen first madam to the point where her shoulders shook.
This father-in-law of hers normally doesn’t care about anything, but when angered, it was more than enough to make the entire An Duke Manor shake. Recalling how her father-in-law’s stubborn temper in his youth could even make the previous emperor helpless, Shen first madam could only back down, saying to the servant girl, “Bi Yu, go help your young miss up.”
Pausing for a moment, Shen first madam said to Shen Lan Chi, “You indeed don’t need to kneel in the ancestral hall anymore, but you still need to properly reflect at home for a while. Prior to your grandfather’s birthday, just nicely stay in your Fulan Courtyard, not allowed to go out.”
After saying this, like as if afraid Shen Rui will refute again, Shen first madam immediately asked to excused, then turned and left.
Under the servant girl’s support, Shen Lan Chi stood up.
“Lan girl, don’t blame your mother.” Seeing Shen Lan Chi get up, Shen Rui’s fierce expression instantly changed, turning into a warm and friendly smile again, “She has a hard temper, like a wooden comb. However, only this kind of comb can smooth out the tangled hair.”
Shen Lan Chi nodded, saying to the An Duke, “Mother is also considering for this granddaughter. This granddaughter understands inside.”
Shen Rui didn’t really bother with many matters. This time, it was just accepting Lu Qi Yang’s request, coming to save his second granddaughter. Since Shen Lan Chi no longer need to kneel in the ancestral hall anymore, he thus just leisurely returned to his own courtyard.
Lu Qi Yang also left. In just this short while, he already went out two gates. Shen Lan Chi chased after with the servant girls for quite a while before finally catching up to him under the flower corridor.
“Lu Qi Yang!”
She shouted from afar. The young man that had passed through the winding flower corridor stopped. The sunlight was clear, spilling by his feet. In the lotus pond under the corridor, a few koi swam around. The koi tail that had a bit of black in the red sliced apart the water surface, causing a series of fine ripples to spread through the inverted reflection of the young man crowned in jade.
“What?” Lu Qi Yang put his hands behind his back and asked.
“How come you came over today?” Shen Lan Chi approached him, maintaining a neither far nor close distance. She’d just ran over, her breath slightly panting, a layer of light blush surfacing on her beautiful face, “I originally thought that you’d be the one that would be the happiest seeing me get punished to kneel in the ancestral hall.”
“You think that I want to come save you?” Lu Qi Yang said, “Isn’t it still because I owe you a favor, so reluctantly gave a helping hand? Letting you avoid this kneel today can also be considered paying back the debt I owe you.”
The debt he spoke of naturally was that matter where Shen Lan Chi agreed to letting him put the flower on her.
“Then the rumors in the capital……” Shen Lan Chi tentatively asked.
“I won’t take seriously.” Lu Qi Yang said.
“You really won’t take seriously?” Shen Lan Chi slightly lifted her brow, asking back.
“Won’t take seriously.” Lu Qi Yang answered, “You merely just don’t want to marry Lu Zhao Ye anymore, so had me brought out to block. You only think about your paternal aunt’s hairpin, the tofu Xi Shi[1] in the alleyway, and also the silk cicada muslin that’s worth a thousand gold a bolt all day long. You simply don’t have me in your heart. This bit of self-awareness, this young master still has. So, why should I care about those rumors and gossip?”
After saying this, Lu Qi Yang lifted his foot and walked away.
Shen Lan Chi stared at his back, inwardly thinking: ‘Pretend, you keep pretending!’
Saying things like ‘won’t take seriously’, and ‘just for the sake of paying you back’, but what he was thinking inside was probably the exact opposite. Else, in the past life, why would this guy go so far as to try taking her away on the night prior to her wedding, and after her death, reveal such a despairing look?
To keep saying it like that, it was like as if she was the fickle and heartless person!
Once Lu Qi Yang left, two mamas followed up behind Shen Lan Chi, both dowry servants[2] from Shen first madam’s place. The two of them repeatedly urged Shen Lan Chi to return to her room. Shen Lan Chi couldn’t win against these two mamas, so could only obediently return to Fulan Courtyard.
When passing by the ancestral hall, Shen Lan Chi’s eyes were sharp, catching sight of the little servant girl standing near the ancestral hall. She was thin and small, holding a pair of sewn kneepads in her hand.
“Isn’t that Zi Tan from the third miss’s side?” Lu Zhu softly whispered.
Seeing Shen Lan Chi’s party, Zi Tan came up to meet them. Leaning by Lu Zhu’s ear, she quietly whispered a few words, and with her back to the mamas, she had that pair of sewn kneepads carefully shoved into Lu Zhu’s hand before taking her leave.
Shen Lan Chi returned to her room, asking Lu Zhu, “What did Zi Tan say to you?”
“Third miss heard that madam wanted to punish you to kneel in the ancestral hall, so let Zi Tan send this pair of kneepads over.” Lu Zhu took out the kneepads, saying, “It’s said that the second madam frequently punish her to kneel for more than an hour, so she has already mastered some knowledge from kneeling, feeling that wearing this hand-sewn kneepads will make it a bit better.”
Hearing this, Shen Lan Chi felt a bit warm inside, saying, “Third younger sister has heart.”
The ‘third younger sister’ that Shen Lan Chi spoke of was the An Duke Manor second branch’s shu daughter, Shen Ran, ranking third in the manor, born from the concubine Hua-yiniang[3]. In the entire annoying second branch, only Shen Ran was still considered someone with clean thoughts, and also quite lovable.
In Shen Lan Chi’s memories, Shen Ran would always quietly hang her head, not liking to talk. Even when talking, it was also soft and quiet. Shen second madam Xiao-shi wasn’t a tolerant di mother. Shan Ran trying to survive under Xiao-shi’s hand wasn’t very easy. Presumably, it’s precisely because of this, Shen Ran would thus develop such a personality of always keeping her head down, not daring to look at people.
Fortunately, although getting grinded by Xiao-shi every day, Shen Ran still maintained a kind heart.
Shen Lan Chi ordered Bi Yu to go thank Shen Ran. Afterwards, she peacefully went to rest in Fulan Courtyard. Fortunately, her grandfather’s birthday just happened to be around the corner. She can take this time to prepare the birthday gift for her grandfather the An Duke. She has already thought it out, wanting to give a handwritten hundred character longevity painting, so as to wish her grandfather to live as long as the pine and cypress, evergreen and unwaning.
In these recent few days, Shen Lan Chi worked on the birthday present while carefully pondering over Lu Zhao Ye’s matter.
Shen Lan Chi knew, to want to not marry Lu Zhao Ye, the key was to convince her mother. Just as the An Duke said, Shen first madam was a wooden comb, very stiff. People like this usually accept soft approaches and not hard ones.
Through these few days of contemplation, Shen Lan Chi already thought of a plan. Just, this plan still required Ruan Bi Qiu to come stir up trouble. Once she’s freed from her confinement, she will go visit that future Side Consort Ruan. Just hope that this Ruan Bi Qiu still has exceptional means like in the past life, good at stirring up a bloody storm, able to let her mother be angered to death, and at the same time, also have Lu Zhao Ye hated altogether.
Half a month later, Shen Lan Chi was freed from confinement. The rumors in the capital previously already got pressed down by the An Duke Manor. No one dared to mention again.
Having not seen Shen Lan Chi in half a month, Empress Shen missed her very much, so asked Shen Lan Chi to stay in the palace for two to three days.
Although saying ‘Empress Shen misses Lan Chi’, but everyone all knew that this was merely an excuse to let Shen Lan Chi meet more with Lu Zhao Ye.
The day before setting out, Shen first madam specially warned Shen Lan Chi a few words, wanting her to ‘obediently behave’, ‘be gentle and well-mannered’, and don’t cause trouble in the palace again.
“This daughter certainly will well-behaved.” Shen Lan Chi promised in front of Shen first madam, “Just, this daughter entering the palace alone, truly is somewhat lonely. That’s why, this daughter has a presumptuous request………..”
Shen first madam’s heart jumped, wanting to say, ‘Could it be that it’s wanting Lu Qi Yang to enter the palace together?’
“This daughter hopes that eldest tang sister can go stay in the palace together with me for a few days.” Shen Lan Chi batted her eyes, her tone awfully pitiful, “Inside the palace, there isn’t mother and older brother. Paternal aunt is also busy. In the daytime, Lan’er truly is lonely.”
Not hearing the words ‘Lu Qi Yang’, Shen first madam just felt a rock lifting from her chest, immediately agreeing, “As long as you don’t cause trouble, anything is fine. Tong Ying is also your paternal aunt’s niece, so entering the palace for a short stay naturally isn’t a problem.”
Shen Lan Chi smiled.
Lu Zhao Ye, your Big Sister Lan has brought a surprise for you!
[1] Xi Shi – One of the four legendary beauties of ancient china. In this context, her name is used to mean a beauty, so basically Shen Lan Chi fancies the beautiful girl that sells tofu in the alleyway.
[2] For upper class wealthy and noble families, the servants were also considered property, so dowry servants refer to the servants from the maiden family that follow a woman to her husband’s family as part of her dowry.
[3] Yiniang is an address for concubines.
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the whole second branch being like this is a little upsetting to me. like I know why the heir and the one in charge of the mansion/title would not want his younger brother(s) to be decent and capable, but coddling them to the point where they’re a liability seems unwise. unless there’s really an unspeakable reason why SLC’s father (forgot his name) and SR are letting them be wayward like this. I mean it’s funny in a way, like I like seeing the chaos they’re going to inevitably cause. them being a messy bunch also means that SLC doesn’t have to go spread around her plans, her scheming cousin play into it for free. they’re good fun characters but not realistic to me. maybe that will change though!
Seriously~~
Those two are something else 😂