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Ruan Family Young Miss
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!
“Little sister Lan, last night, did someone go to your place?”
The next morning, Shen Tong Ying pretended to casually ask Shen Lan Chi.
She brought along two servant girls, slowly following behind Shen Lan Chi. Although pretending to be nonchalant, the corner of her eyes nevertheless couldn’t help but sweep towards Shen Lan Chi, her voice also penetrating with eagerness.
“Eldest tang sister probably misheard? Last night, I rested early, so don’t remember someone coming to visit.” Shen Lan Chi casually answered.
“Really?” Shen Tong Ying was very doubtful.
“If older sister Tong doesn’t believe, then just don’t believe.” Shen Lan Chi replied.
Watching Shen Lan Chi’s figure gradually move farther away, Shen Tong Ying gritted her teeth, revealing a trace of indignation in her eyes.
Last night, she clearly heard a man’s voice coming from Shen Lan Chi’s room——-Shen Lan Chi certainly must be secretly meeting with someone. Nine times out of ten, that man certainly must be Lu Qi Yang who she had dubious entanglements with during the palace banquet.
Just hate that right now she’s pretending as if nothing happened, even wanting to hide the truth. Don’t know when his Highness the Crown Prince will finally see her true colors clearly?
Shen Tong Ying although felt very indignant for Lu Zhao Ye inside, she still didn’t dare to embarrass Shen Lan Chi on the surface. Shen Tong Ying has always felt that Shen Lan Chi’s personality was a bit weird——–If Shen Tong Ying were to deliberately mock Shen Lan Chi, Shen Lan Chi won’t get angry, and instead smilingly stare at Shen Tong Ying. Sometimes, she would even reach out to touch her hair and face, occasionally adding a line of ‘big sister is really beautiful’.
Truly making one’s hair stand on its end.
The two sisters stayed in Cien Palace for two three days, and on the evening of the last day, they said their goodbyes to Empress Shen, leaving to return to An Duke Manor. Before leaving the palace, Empress Shen specially had someone go call over Lu Zhao Ye, wanting Lu Zhao Ye to show his hospitality as the host by sending off these two noble young ladies.
The Shen family sisters stayed in the palace for three days, so Lu Zhao Ye just stayed in the Eastern Palace for three days. Aside from the chance encounter with Shen Lan Chi on the first day, he didn’t set foot in Empress Shen’s Cien Palace again. When Empress Shen sent the palace maid over to invite him this time, he originally wanted to make an excuse to not go. Just, recalling Shen Lan Chi’s provoking words that day in the pavilion, he just felt a nameless fire rise up inside.
Could it be that he was even scared of Shen Lan Chi, this mere little girl?
Thinking of it like this, Lu Zhao Ye went to send them off with a cold face. Just, unfortunately, only Shen Tong Ying was waiting for him in Cien Palace. Turns out, Shen Lan Chi said that she’d left behind a bracelet in her room, so went back to look for it, asking the crown prince to go on ahead with Shen Tong Ying.
Hearing the palace maid explain, Lu Zhao Ye instantly came to realization inside: That woman was avoiding him again.
How could this not make one annoyed?
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
In the past, he didn’t like Shen Lan Chi, always feeling that her affections came too cheaply, while also having ulterior motives. But, now that Shen Lan Chi no longer pestered him, he unexpectedly felt as if he’d mistakenly lost a treasure.
Something that he originally thought was firmly grasped in his palm, and can be casually tossed around as he pleased, suddenly grew wings on its own and just flew away like this.
That feeling really wasn’t good at all.
“Then, let’s go.” Lu Zhao Ye indifferently said, “After sending Miss Shen out of the palace, this prince will return to the Eastern Palace.”
Shen Tong Ying was elated inside, and couldn’t help but inwardly say to herself, ‘That bracelet sure got lost at the right time.’
——If not for Shen Lan Chi losing her bracelet, how could she be able to have alone time with his Highness the Crown Prince?
She and Lu Zhao Ye reached the side palace gate, standing there waiting for her family’s carriage. Shen Tong Ying didn’t have her eyes on the carriage pathway, just glancing at Lu Zhao Ye. Just, unfortunately, the crown prince’s face was cold and indifferent, his thin lips tightly pressed together, unwilling to say a single word.
Shen Tong Ying’s hand tightly gripped the handkerchief, racking her brains to think of a way inside, so as to let Lu Zhao Ye look at her more.
“Your Highness…….” Finally, Shen Tong Ying opened her mouth, her eyes containing a trace of timidness, “Your Highness, Tong Ying has something to ask. Just wondering………..that Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, what kind of person is he?”
Lu Zhao Ye who originally had been silent the whole time finally casted her glance, his slightly cold eyes turning, “What?”
“Your Highness also knows, that younger sister of mine and the Zhennan Wang Manor’s little heir are in love with one another. These two days in the palace, they would even meet at night. The mutual love between a man and woman admittedly can pass on as a beautiful story, but as the older sister, I more or less need to watch out for Lan Chi, see whether or not that person is a good husband…….” Shen Tong Ying pretended to be magnanimous and gentle, the bottom of her eyes slightly glowing, “I just hope that little sister Lan Chi can be well in the future.”
Lu Zhao Ye’s expression didn’t change, his gaze indifferent.
A good while later, he slowly said, “Imperial mother has always been extremely strict with the rules. After the Xu hour(7-9pm), no one can go in and out of Cien Palace, so how can the Zhennan Wang heir meet with Shen second miss?” A moment later, he slowly said with a bit of mockery in his tone, “Or could it be that Miss Shen mean that the men of the Lu family would do something as ridiculous as ‘climbing over the walls and wading through the mud’?”
Hearing Lu Zhao Ye’s words, Shen Tong Ying had an awkward look, not knowing what to do.
If insisting on saying at this time that Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang had met at night, then won’t it be like what the crown prince said, either proving that her empress paternal aunt wasn’t strict in governing, actually not shutting the gates on time, or saying that the men of the Lu family were insolent, not knowing etiquette, daring to climb over the walls to enter the yard.
Even if Lu Qi Yang was indeed that kind of person, extremely likely to have climbed over the wall to come see Shen Lan Chi, but who would dare to blatantly say that a descendant of the imperial clan didn’t know etiquette?
Shen Tong Ying felt embarrassed, saying, “Then, presumably, Tong Ying must have misheard, asking your Highness to not blame.”
“Is that so?” Lu Zhao Ye’s tone was increasingly cold, “In the future, remember to be careful with your words.”
Shen Tong Ying originally still wanted to say some more, so as to earn back her face, but her family’s horse carriage just happened to arrive at this time. Shen Tong Ying could only reluctantly climb on the carriage.
Once she sat down in the carriage, she lifted the carriage curtains, just happening to see Shen Lan Chi, who was late to arrive, slowly walking out. Shen Lan Chi didn’t really watch where she was going, unexpectedly tripping by accident. Lu Zhao Ye immediately reached out to support her, carefully saying something in front of her.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman, what a good match.
Seeing the two of them intimately walking together, Shen Tong Ying was immediately enraged inside. Just as she wanted to take a closer look, the horse carriage instead took a turn, exiting the palace, only able to see the imperial city’s vermillion walls.
“Really a little slut!” Shen Tong Ying was angered to the point of wanting to bite her handkerchief, “Don’t know what has possessed his Highness? She and Lu Qi Yang were that dubious, yet his Highness still has her treated like a treasure!”
While Shen Tong Ying was being angry on her own on this side, Shen Lan Chi was nevertheless annoyed to death on the other side.
“Your Highness, please let go.” She tried to pull back her wrist, but the man that was holding her didn’t budge in the slightest. She couldn’t help but feel somewhat annoyed.
“Since you are about to leave the palace, this prince doesn’t mind saying a few more words.” Lu Zhao Ye still didn’t let go. Lowering his eyes, he said in a cold voice, “This prince doesn’t believe that you and Lu Qi Yang are ‘mutually in love with one another’. What he is like, you and this prince are both clear. If you still want to marry into the Eastern Palace, then don’t let this prince hear these meaningless things anymore.”
It would’ve been better if Lu Zhao Ye didn’t say anything. Saying it like this, Shen Lan Chi was just somewhat angry.
“What the heir is like?” She mockingly smiled, her eyes turning, “I actually feel that the Zhennan Wang heir is pure and kind, much better than those deep in the palace that say one thing with their mouth, but do another behind the back.”
Lu Zhao Ye’s face stiffened.
Shen Lan Chi saw his expression, her mood instantly improving.
That’s right, she was precisely mocking Lu Zhao Ye, this kind of scum————Lu Zhao Ye clearly hates the Shen family deep down, yet still want to borrow the Shen family’s power to stabilize his position as the crown prince. The day he got rid of the Shen family, he repeatedly said that he was ‘eliminating the corrupted for the people’, but in the past, he nevertheless aided the Shen family in oppressing the people, covering for the Shen family don’t know how many times. The so-called ‘two-faced and three knives[1]‘ precisely referred to someone like Lu Zhao Ye.
“You!” Lu Zhao Ye was slightly angered, wanting to say something, but unfortunately, Shen Lan Chi’s horse carriage had arrived. She said her goodbyes and swiftly got on her own carriage. Lu Zhao Ye could only furrow his brows, watching the Shen family first branch’s horse carriage leave.
Sitting in the carriage, Shen Lan Chi deeply exhaled a breath, feeling a bit satisfied inside. As she lowered her head, she saw something hanging off her sash. Turns out, it was a jade pendant with a broken string getting tangled together with the sachet on her waist.
She picked up the jade pendant to carefully examine, recalling that this was Lu Zhao Ye’s belonging. Earlier, when they were arguing, that jade pendant of his whose strings were already broken got tangled up with the sachet on her waist, just happening to hook onto it.
This is a good thing.
Her eyes turned, immediately ordering Bi Yu to have this jade pendant carefully stored away and don’t let others see it.
After returning to the An Duke Manor, Shen first madam just called over Shen Lan Chi, carefully asking her how she got along with Lu Zhao Ye. Hearing that the crown prince didn’t go to Cien Palace to see Empress Shen at all these three days, Shen first madam couldn’t help but slightly sigh inside.
Lu Zhao Ye although was the crown prince, he really doesn’t know how to be considerate. If Lan Chi were to marry him in future, although able to enjoy all the wealth and honor in the world like Empress Shen, she won’t necessarily be able to experience the love and affection between an ordinary couple.
Thinking to here, Shen first madam could only console herself with ‘the days ahead are still long’. Perhaps, in another year or two, Lu Zhao Ye will know how to be loving.
“Mother, grandfather’s birthday celebration this year, can the Ruan family be invited?” Shen Lan Chi suddenly asked.
“How come you’re suddenly caring about this?” Shen first madam smiled upon hearing, “This matter is taken care of by your second aunt-in-law. The invitation name list is also being drawn up by her. You know your second aunt-in-law’s temper, your mother, I, doesn’t dare to ask too much.”
Shen second madam Xiao-shi was an ambitious and aggressive person, liking to compete with Shen first madam the most. The old Duke Shen Rui’s birthday celebration originally have always been handled by the first branch. Just, this year, Xiao-shi suddenly felt that there was much to profit in this matter, thus insisted on skipping over Shen first madam who was in charge of the household affairs, letting her branch handle it this time. Shen Xin Gu has always been indulgent towards the second branch. His younger brother Shen Xin Shu came to mention it once, and he just agreed. Shen first madam got a headache from it, so simply just let go this time, enjoying the idleness.
“She thinks this is some easy job? Being busy inside and out, this needs to be taken care of, that needs to be taken care of, so many annoying matters.” Shen first madam laughed, “Your second aunt-in-law took on this job, so perfect for your mother to rest for a while and just focus on celebrating your grandfather’s birthday.”
“Mother, this daughter has a small request to ask of you.” Shen Lan Chi said.
“What is it this time?” Shen first madam asked.
In the past life, the An Duke’s birthday celebration this time was also managed by Shen second madam Xiao-shi. Xiao-shi was more experienced and shrewd than her daughter, Shen Tong Ying, able to make out at a glance that Ruan Bi Qiu absolutely wasn’t a pure-minded person. Moreover, Xiao-shi also looked down on the Ruan family’s humble background. As such, the An Duke Manor didn’t invite the Ruan family for this birthday celebration.
But, if Ruan Bi Qiu doesn’t come, how will Shen Lan Chi carry out her plan?
She’d already thought it out, both wanting to let her grandfather comfortably celebrate this birthday, while also letting Lu Zhao Ye get stuck with a hot potato that he can’t get rid of in his hand.
“On the day of grandfather’s birthday celebration, I want to invite the Ruan family’s young lady, Ruan Bi Qiu, to the manor for a sit.” Shen Lan Chi said, her smiling eyes slightly turning as she said, “That Ruan family young lady has the grace of an immortal fairy and jade bones, beautiful and elegant, making this daughter unable to forget upon seeing, just feeling like it was as if meeting the immortal fairy from the moon palace. As such, this daughter wants to become acquainted with her.”
Shen first madam: ……….
This was actually……
Extremely like something Lan Chi would say……..
[1] This is an idiom meaning double-crossing and backstabbing.
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asking rhetorically: why is the crown prince like this? mad that she doesn’t love him? if he was gilded and bedazzled maybe he’d have a better chance. perhaps her dying words in the last life hurt more than I originally thought 🤭