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Crown Prince’s Side Consort (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!
The next day, Shen family second branch.
Inside Ninglu Residence where the main wife Xiao-shi resided, the grass and trees were covered in fragrance, the new leaves like hanging jade. The bluestone path got swept smooth without dust. Beside the two lacquered doors carved with eight flowing clouds were two servant women standing guard. Additionally, there were a few noisy servant girls currently gathered under the eaves, whispering to one another.
Although just a few second rank servant girls in charge of sweeping and watering, but these few all had brand new clothes, not the least bit inferior compared to those daughters of small merchant households.
“Did you hear? Chun Xi from the eldest young master’s room…….”
“Don’t know how many this is already!”
“Who let her act promiscuous and suggestive all day? Serves her right to be……
As the little servant girls were quietly whispering and snickering, the servant woman guarding by the door shot them a glare and said, “Madam is still inside! What are you making noise for?”
Immediately, those little servant girls shut their mouths and didn’t speak anymore.
One must know, the monthly salary in the second branch was higher than other places’. The second madam although was mean and harsh, she was never willing to lose her prestige. The reward money she gave was always the most impressive, giving her the most face. As such, these servant girls all wanted to stay in this Ninglu Residence for all their life.
Separated by a door, the second branch’s shu daughter, Shen Ran, was currently sitting before Xiao-shi’s cool couch, carefully massaging her di mother’s legs.
Inside Ninglu Residence, the fragrance of treasure permeated the air. Xiao-shi’s servant girls all stood to the side, not making a sound.
Xiao-shi occasionally lowered her head. Seeing that section of Shen Ran’s tender and slim neck, she would subconsciously think of Shen Ran’s similarly weak and delicate yiniang, immediately igniting with a nameless anger inside.
“Are you made from mud?” Xiao-shi angrily said, “How come your hand strength is that weak! If mentioned outside, others will even think that I, this di mother, had mistreated you, not giving you enough to eat and drink.”
Whenever Xiao-shi saw Shen Ran, she was just extremely angry. To think, she, Xiao Yu Zhu, who has been dominant her whole life, n less than two years after marrying, accidentally let a servant girl crawl onto her husband’s bed, even smoothly giving birth to Shen Ran, this disgraceful thing. After becoming a yiniang(official concubine), that lowly slave further acted coquettishly and flirtatiously all day, attracting Shen second master to rest in her room from time to time, so how could it not make her annoyed?
That yiniang had the second master shielding, so she was unable to torment, but a puny little shu daughter Shen Ran, she should be able to deal with, right?
Shen Ran got nitpicked a few words by her di mother, yet timidly didn’t dare to say more, just massaging her leg even more carefully.
Seeing her like a stuffed gourd, unable to even beat a sound out of her, Xiao-shi felt somewhat bored, thus raised her hand and impatiently said, “Fine, you go back and rest, stop swaying around in front of me, making people feel irritated for no reason.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Shen Ran slightly bent her back, replying with a ‘yes’ as she retreated out in small steps.
Right at this time, Xiao-shi’s first rank servant girl Lan Tian returned from outside. She leaned in by Xiao-shi’s ear and whispered something. Xiao-shi listened and said with a frown, “Isn’t it just a servant girl? With rough hands and feet, how precious and delicate can she be? Since she’s injured, just let her recuperate.”
Pausing for a moment, Xiao-shi felt somewhat uneasy again, muttering to herself, “This won’t do. Currently, it’s the crucial moment for the selection of Ting Kang’s official post, can’t let there be any mishap.” She beckoned her hand, letting Lan Tian lean even closer, whispering to her own personal servant girl for a while.
Lan Tian listened, received the order, and went out again.
Xiao-shi let another servant girl help fix up her hairpins for her, then slowly went out of Ninglu Residence, and headed towards Shen second master’s study. After knocking on the door, she entered the study, greeting with a smiling face and asking, “Master, Ting Kang’s matter……..”
When Shen second master Shen Xin Shu heard, he slightly furrowed his brow and said, “Talk about it later! Elder brother right now is still angry, so for the time being, he’s unwilling to go handle this matter.”
Xiao-shi was furious, clutching her handkerchief and resentfully saying, “What’s wrong with elder brother lately? In the past, he has always remembered your favor, but now, how come he’s become that ungrateful person! It’ll soon be the crown princess selection in the seventh month, but never mind that Tong’er’s matter still hasn’t been settled, how come now he won’t even select an official post for Ting Kang?”
Xiao-shi originally was hoping that Shen second master would help her, but Shen second master heavily slammed the desk instead, startling Xiao-shi to the point of nearly jumping.
He angrily said, “Why don’t you ask yourself what you’ve done! I although saved elder brother twice, but this favor can’t withstand such squandering. You let niece lose face in front of the imperial family, also letting her fall in the water, could it be that you really think elder brother doesn’t know anything at all! For him to block sister-in-law from taking the opportunity to punish you, that is already being particularly merciful towards you.”
Xiao-shi recalled when she’d just married into the Shen family, her sister-in-law Shen first madam’s thunderous means. She couldn’t help but shrink back a little. Afterwards, she immediately had the handkerchief pressed against the corner of her eye and pretentiously started crying, “Aiyooo, my master, wasn’t this for Tong’er’s sake? Elder brother still won’t give a definite answer even now. As the mother, I can only clench my teeth and pave the path for Tong’er myself!”
Thinking of the crown princess matter, Shen second master was also rather irritated.
The An Duke Manor just needs to pick one daughter to marry the crown prince. If not Lan Chi, then it was just Tong Ying. Shen second master had long planned for this, using the life-saving favor back then to let Shen first master agree to letting Shen Tong Ying marry the crown prince.
Just, this matter, he’d mentioned for almost a year, yet still didn’t see Shen first master agreeing. Recently, there were even rumors in the capital saying that the An Duke Manor was going to have the first branch’s di daughter married to the Zhennan Wang Manor, making Shen second master extremely perplexed.
Don’t know what elder brother is trying to do…..
What they were afraid of the most was just……
“Just afraid that the first branch has changed their mind, not planning on following the crown prince anymore.” Shen second master thought of that matter with the Ruan family and filled with confusion inside.
Shen Xin Shu has been exchanging letters with the Jiangbei bandits for a long time.
Some dirty matters that can’t be known by others he would let these bandits go handle, then pin with the crime of ‘theft’, easily getting covered up. He and Ruan Ying had accumulated grudges in officialdom. He originally wanted to inform the roaming bandit he was familiar with, letting Ruan Ying get taught a lesson. But, that bandit that was picked mysteriously died that night, and even that forged letter of the second prince’s also disappeared.
To be able to have this kind of ability, afraid there was just that elder brother of his, Shen Xin Gu, who knew him like the back of his hand.
The crown prince was the An Duke Manor’s future hope. The crown prince and the Shen family have always been tied together. If this rope were to come loose one day, then it can only be because the crown prince learned of that matter…………..
Shen Xin Shu suddenly wasn’t sure inside.
. . .
A few days later, a rumor faintly spread in the capital all of a sudden, saying that Hejian Wang had gotten into an argument with Ruan Ying, and after getting drunk, started injuring people with a dagger-axe, to the extent where the Ruan family suffered many casualties. This news originally got vigorously pressed down, the commoners not aware of it in the slightest. But, someone, unknown as to who, leaked out some news, and the rumors instantly spread all over the capital. Everyone in the streets and alleys were all discussing it.
It would’ve been fine if that Hejian Wang had came out and said something, clearing up his name, but the imperial family just had to be evasive towards this matter, never once mentioning. Hejian Wang also shut his doors and refused guests, claiming to be ill, just treating it like this never happened.
In this way, this matter instead aroused the indignation of the people. The more they concealed, the more it was like so. Furthermore, Ruan Ying came from a humble birth. His ability in handling cases and managing affairs, as well as his official reputation, were all rather good, so very much loved by the people.
The inside of the imperial palace was naturally chaotic.
And unknown as to what happened, another half a month passed. When the clamor of the rumors finally rose to its peak, Ruan Ying actually appeared in person, saying that the rumors in the capital were all complete nonsense. This matter was merely the roaming bandits retaliation. Previously, he was heavily injured, thus burdening Hejian Wang’s clean reputation, feeling very guilty, and so on.
When the commoners heard, the complaints gradually reduced.
In the same month, Chu Emperor promoted Ruan Ying’s eldest son, Ruan Tao, and also selected Ruan Bi Qiu as the Crown Prince Lu Zhao Ye’s side consort, all as compensation. Such act of benevolence immediately turned around the disgruntled sounds in court. The capital from top to bottom all started praising Chu Emperor’s compassion and generosity.
When Lu Zhao Ye learned of this matter, it was already the next day when the dust had settled.
Inside the Eastern Palace’s library, thin smoke swirled around the golden incense burner. The scent of camphor and agarwood mixed with the scent of the scrolls and ink. The series of books in the collection were all meticulously arranged, not having a speck of dust. It can be seen just how much the owner cherished them. On the wall among the bookshelves hung a scroll of a landscape painting, depicting a lonely island of reed flowers.
Lu Zhao Ye lifted the painting scroll, revealing the secret space hidden behind it. Set up in the secret space was a golden memorial tablet, and written upon it was ‘Memorial of Ying-shi Cai Zhi’. He was just about to pick an incense stick when he heard someone requesting an audience outside the library. As such, he restored the painting scroll and ordered the person to enter.
The incomer was Ganyi Palace’s palace servant. He secretly said a few words to Lu Zhao Ye. Lu Zhao Ye’s complexion immediately changed.
“This prince needs to take a trip to Cien Palace.” He lifted the hem of his gown and stepped out in large strides, his sharp brows tightly furrowed, “How come imperial father didn’t discuss this matter with this prince beforehand?”
That palace servant followed behind Lu Zhao Ye, not daring to make a sound. Seeing the crown prince before him completely in a hurry, he instead had another idea in mind——-
He although didn’t know exactly what happened, but for better or worse, he was also an old servant that guarded day and night in Ganyi Palace, so more or less can still guess a little. The matter concerned the imperial family’s face, Hejian Wang was also very close with his Majesty, so his Majesty naturally will do everything to cover up this matter. A crown prince’s side consort position, what did that count as?
When Lu Zhao Ye arrived in Cien Palace, without waiting for the servant girl to report, he just strode into the hall on his own. Empress Shen was currently sitting behind the short-legged small table, her face carrying a bit of worry. However, although her brows dyed with light stress, she still wore a pomegranate-colored fancy gown, with gold and jade hairpins in her hair, as luxuriously looking as usual.
“Crown prince has come?” Empress Shen lifted her head, her worried look deepening, “Imperial mother knows why you came. But, this Ruan-shi was decided by your imperial father. Imperial mother is also unable to refuse her……..”
Lu Zhao Ye walked before the lacquered window, his face like covered in frost, saying with his mouth, “Imperial mother, if this Ruan-shi were to be taken in first, afraid the Shen family won’t agree.”
——Moreover, that Shen Lan Chi…….
What kind of woman was she? How could she tolerate a side consort?
These words really struck Empress Shen’s heart. She instantly started sighing.
Don’t know what happened on Ganyi Palace’s side, to actually let his Majesty shove over a side consort for the crown prince.
In this way, how will she explain to the An Duke Manor? Taking in a side consort before marrying the main consort, if switched with any other noble daughter in the Chu capital, afraid all won’t be able to cross this lump in their heart. Taking a thousand steps back, even if Lan Chi smoothly marry over, she’ll still get mocked to the point of being unable to lift her head in the future.
That niece of hers was that prideful and haughty, so how could she be willing to endure such disgrace and humiliation?
Recalling the crown prince’s indifferent attitude towards Shen Lan Chi in the past, Empress Shen just felt her chest tighten from anger. She said, “Now you know Lan’er’s good? In the past, you were that cold and indifferent towards her. Now that this has happened, afraid Lan’er won’t be willing to marry you anymore.”
Lu Zhao Ye’s hand in his sleeve slightly clenched.
Outside the lacquered window was a quiet lake. Just, that lake surface that was like a mirror was unable to soothe the anger in his heart. Lu Zhao Ye flung his sleeve, coldly saying, “Imperial mother, could it be that this son must marry that Shen Lan Chi?”
After saying this, just like when he came, he went out with a cold look on his face.
“Crown prince……crown prince!” Empress Shen anxiously called out twice, but Lu Zhao Ye never once turned back.
She could only deeply let out a long sigh and shake her head.
Empress Shen knew, she was a bit impatient. Lu Zhao Ye was the aloof and prideful type. What he hated the most was just others telling him what to do. On the matter of taking a wife, if she were to press too tightly, it would instead produce the opposite of what was desired.
Thinking of that Side Consort Ruan that will marry over in early winter, Empress Shen just felt a headache coming.
Only by having a daughter of the Shen family married to Lu Zhao Ye can she consolidate the position of the An Duke Manor behind her, and also help her sit stably in the empress position. Although this matter was somewhat unfair to that niece of hers, but can only let her bear with it for now, and deal with the rest after marrying over.
Let her endure for a while, and in the future, after becoming the mother of the country, she will be able to enjoy endless good fortune.
“Someone come.” Empress Shen straightened the phoenix hairpin in her hair and said, “Write an invitation for this empress, letting the An Duke Manor’s second miss come to Cien Palace for a short stay.”
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