The Wastrel and The Pearl Chapter 22

< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >

Mutually Despising

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 went to rest in Cien Palace.

Getting up the next morning, Shen Lan Chi sat before her dressing case, doing her hair and makeup.

In the past, she loved being adorned in gold and jade the most, dressing up in a luxurious and elegant style. As such, inside this dressing case in Cien Palace, it was also overflowing with sparkling red and lustrous green hairpins and jewelry. But, ever since her rebirth, she only likes dressing plainly now. Sometimes, she’s even too lazy to do her hair and makeup, and simply just goes out with a bare face, giving it the name ‘lotus flower emerging out of clear water’. In any case, whether or not she applies rouge and powder, Lu Qi Yang all can’t tell.

Shen Lan Chi combed up a simple hair bun, picked a pearl flower^[1] to put into her hair, then decided to go pay her respects to Empress Shen.

However, at this time, she heard the palace maid come to report, saying that Empress Shen has come.

“Paternal aunt has come?” Shen Lan Chi was a bit astonished, quickly getting up.

This early in the morning, what did she want?

The pearl curtains got lifted by the palace maid, revealing Empress Shen’s graceful figure. She gazed towards Shen Lan Chi who was before the bronze mirror, pretending to complain, “You’re still so young, yet how come like to dress this plainly?”

Shen Lan Chi pressed her lips into a smile and said, “Since bestowed by empress auntie, how could Lan Chi bear to use? Naturally, it’s letting Li mama nicely store away.

“Only your mouth is sweet.” Empress Shen got amused by her, covering her mouth and laughing for a while, then said, “Fortunately, paternal aunt brought clothes for you. Quickly go try it on and let paternal aunt have a look.”

After this was said, the palace maid behind Empress Shen brought up a thin silk dress.

On this lake green silk dress, there were branch patterns meticulously woven in silver. Additionally, the cuffs were looped with beautiful clusters of pearls in a flower design, extremely exquisite. At a glance, one could tell that the cost was extraordinary. Placed together in the brocade case was a pair of red shoes embroidered with winding branch patterns and lotus green inner lining. Set at the head was a small bright pearl. This pearl, although can’t compare with the one set on her shoe when she married in the past life, it nevertheless was also an extremely rare one.

Shen Lan Chi turned it down twice, but couldn’t help that Empress Shen was particularly enthusiastic today, so she could only obediently put it on. Once she finished changing, Empress Shen pulled out a ruby-inlaid hairpin with curled tendrils and bent wings from her own hair and inserted it into her hair, saying in satisfaction, “As expected of a daughter of the An Duke Manor.”

Empress Shen gave some advice to keep in mind, then let the palace maid arrange the morning meal here at Shen Lan Chi’s place, the two of them taking the meal together. During the meal, whatever Empress Shen asked, Shen Lan Chi answered, appearing extremely obedient.

But, in a corner where Empress Shen couldn’t see, Shen Lan Chi would use her heel to knock against the leg of the stool——-this pair of shoes that Empress Shen gave seemingly was a bit too small. Perhaps after walking a few dozen steps, it will fit a bit better .

After the meal, just as the palace maids cleared the table, Shen Lan Chi heard someone deferentially say in a low voice, “Your Highness, his Highness the Crown Prince has come to Cien Palace to pay his respects to you.”

“Let the crown prince come over to this side and see his younger cousin while he’s here.” Empress Shen said.

“……” Shen Lan Chi slightly sighed inside.

TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!

No wonder Empress Shen rushed to dress her up. Turns out, Lu Zhao Ye was coming to pay his respects today. Empress Shen was rushing to have the two of them pushed together, so as to create an opportunity for them to interact alone.

As she was thinking this, a figure dressed in black already gradually entered the slightly swaying pearl curtains.

“This son greets imperial mother.”

Lu Zhao Ye slightly lowered his head. Revealed under the pearl curtain was a patch of the continuous decorative grass and flower^[2] patterns embroidered in gold on the hem of his clothes, like floating golden clouds.

“Quickly rise.” Empress Shen gently lifted her hand, her beautiful eyes studying Lu Zhao Ye’s expression while containing a deeper meaning inside. Seeing his expression still as indifferent as before, she returned to smiling again, saying, “Today, your younger cousin Lan’er is also present. Why don’t crown prince spend some more time with your younger cousin.”

Lu Zhao Ye frowned as he slightly lifted his eyes, and then, got stunned.

The girl in his sight was extremely dazzling. Although properly sitting there in a dignified manner, she nevertheless was like that spring water that made one go weak, very much possessing a body of rich beauty like nature itself. Even Empress Shen all got overshadowed by her luster.

Unknown as to why, the hesitation and resistance in Lu Zhao Ye’s heart all disappeared without a trace. His originally cold and indifferent words, when it reached his throat, instead turned into, “This son understand.”

Empress Shen was studying Lu Zhao Ye the whole time. Seeing him agree, she couldn’t help but use the handkerchief to cover her mouth, revealing a slightly proud smile.

“This empress will go back first. The two of you haven’t met in a long time, so should properly catch up.” After saying this, Empress Shen led along the palace maids and slowly left.

Once Empress Shen was gone, Lu Zhao Ye couldn’t help but peek at the girl behind the curtains again.

He had to admit, this younger cousin of his in name truly was fitting of the four words ‘national grace, divine fragrance’.

Shen Lan Chi specially dressing up like this today, presumably, that was just having one goal, and that was attracting his attention, so as to marry him as his wife.

Even if he will soon take in a side consort, Ruan-shi, Shen Lan Chi is still willing to marry him.

Thinking to here, Lu Zhao Ye’s lips carried a faint mockery. The humiliation previously from getting sneered at by Shen Lan Chi all got washed away in this moment.

“Where will Shen second miss be going for a stroll today?” Lu Zhao Ye calmly asked.

But, the girl behind the curtain didn’t answer like how he’d imagined, pretending to be gentle and coy.

In fact, she didn’t even continue sitting properly and perfectly upright like when Empress Shen was present, instead suddenly getting up, charging over like a whirlwind, swiftly lifting the pearl curtains, staring at Lu Zhao Ye, and saying, “Your Highness, if you and I stay in one place, we will certainly come to mutually despise one another, so why don’t we each go our own way?”

Lu Zhao Ye’s words that have yet to come out just got lodged in his throat like that.

Certainly will come to mutually despise one another？Each go our own way?

Wasn’t she always clinging to marry him? How come now she’s started to hate him instead?

Shen Lan Chi’s words made Lu Zhao Ye a little angry inside. He said with a cold face, “This is imperial mother’s order. This prince has no choice but to obey. As for ‘coming to mutually despise one another’, this kind of nonsense, it’s better to say less of.”

Shen Lan Chi used her hand to play with the jade hook on the curtains, nonchalantly saying, “Your Highness, you will definitely be fed up with me. Rather than having a falling out at that time, making things look bad inside and out, it’s better to respectively go back now and take a nap.”

Once these words came out, Lu Zhao Ye instead felt like he was getting provoked.

He was unable to tolerate Shen Lan Chi being this wanton.

“Let’s go.” Lu Zhao Ye ignored her suggestion to ‘go back and take a nap’, and started walking out of Cien Palace, “Today’s weather is nice and sunny, so why not go for a walk in the imperial gardens. It can also be considered following imperial mother’s intentions.”

Shen Lan Chi lifted her head and glanced at the sky, clicking her tongue as she shook her head.

In a while, this sun will become very poisonous. Really quite surprising that Lu Zhao Ye is able to go out for a stroll in this hot weather.

Having not rained for a few days in a row, the green trees in the garden were wilting, listlessly drooping. The sun had just climbed up glazed tile roof, yet the sound of the cicadas in the branches were already extremely lengthy and noisy. Above Taicheng Pond stood a few already withered lotus stems, bare and naked.

Shen Lan Chi’s shoes didn’t fit her feet, so her pace was also slow. Lu Zhao Ye needed to frequently turn around so as to not lose her.

“Isn’t that the second prince?” Suddenly, the servant girl behind Shen Lan Chi blurted out.

When Lu Zhao Ye heard, he gazed over in that direction. Sure enough, he saw Lu Zi Xiang standing in Taicheng Pavilion, unknown as to what he was doing.

Shen Lan Chi who was originally yawning suddenly perked up.

“To see the second prince and not go up to greet him would be inappropriate.” Shen Lan Chi said, also disregarding Lu Zhao Ye’s complexion as she slowly approached the pavilion by Taicheng Lake^[3] on her own.

Inside the pavilion, Lu Zi Xiang was carefully examining a pair of bracelet in his hand against the sunlight, when he suddenly heard a sweet sound of “Greetings to your Second Highness” come from behind him.

Lu Zi Xiang suddenly blanked, immediately making out the incomer.

He turned his body and couldn’t help but fall in a daze.

The girl before the pavilion had a slight smile, her neck like crisp snow revealing a little under the collar, bright and shining.

“Previously, when Lan Chi returned late and got pestered by a shameless scoundrel midway, it was your Highness that came to the rescue. Lan Chi has yet to thank your Highness.” Her eyelids were half-raised. Her eyes that were like a spring pool flowed with a light smile, “Just happening to meet your Highness today, so came to say many thanks.”

Lu Zi Xiang thought for a good while before finally recalling it was the matter where Lu Qi Yang had gambled away his money, yet went to pester her.

Then again, it wasn’t surprising.

Lu Qi Yang was infamous among the Lu family descendants for being unambitious. Even if having known one another since childhood, Shen Lan Chi certainly would still somewhat look down on Lu Qi Yang. Don’t know who it was previously that wanted to ruin her pure and clean reputation, thus had her and Lu Qi Yang tied together in the rumors.

Lu Zi Xiang was about to say ‘needless to say thanks’ when he heard Lu Zhao Ye’s slightly cold voice.

“I actually didn’t know, when you two became this familiar with one another?” He had his hands behind his back as his gaze coldly swept over Lu Zi Xiang’s face.

Lu Zi Xiang was neither startled nor flustered, revealing a gentle smile, saying to Lu Zhao Ye, “This younger brother and Shen second miss merely met a few times, imperial brother doesn’t need to worry too much.”

Lu Zi Xiang although spoke graciously, Lu Zhao Ye wasn’t willing to believe him completely. Lu Zhao Ye was originally just a paranoid person by nature, let alone the fact that the person before him was Lu Zi Xiang.

“Let’s go, Shen second miss.” Lu Zhao Ye slightly closed his eyes and said to Shen Lan Chi.

“Hey…..” Shen Lan Chi, however, was unwilling to leave. Her eyes swept over that pair of bracelet in Lu Zi Xiang’s hands, slowly asking, “I see that this bracelet in your Highness’s hands is somewhat old, the style also not what’s currently popular, is it an old artifact of the previous dynasty?”

Her voice was leisurely, not the least bit in a hurry, as if she completely didn’t hear Lu Zhao Ye’s “let’s go” just now.

“Shen second miss likes it?” Lu Zi Xiang gently smiled, having that pair of bracelet held in his palm, handing it to her to look at, “This jade bracelet is indeed an old artifact of the previous dynasty, extremely translucent and smooth. Just, it wasn’t taken care of for long, and didn’t get properly cherished, this having a crack. If using gold wires to fix, it actually can be patched up a little.”

Shen Lan Chi said with a sigh, “Really a pity. This bracelet is very much to my liking.

“If Shen second miss likes, then I’ll just give it to you.” Lu Zi Xiang said, “Once the repairs are finished, I’ll have someone send it to your manor. Or, if you don’t like pinched gold wires, feeling that this crack is harmless, then you can also directly wear it.”

“This probably won’t do.” Shen Lan Chi’s eyes slightly turned, the corner of her eyes casting a glance at the figure in black behind her, “How can I accept your Highness’s valuables for nothing? Lan Chi will take one’s leave now.”

Lu Zi Xiang lightly smiled and said, “Truth be told, this bracelet was brought over by Lu Qi Yang. I was originally thinking, if Shen second miss likes, then I’ll just gift it to you first, then later, compensate Lu Qi Yang with a bit of money. Now that Shen second miss no longer fancies this bracelet, it actually helps me save money.”

“What nonsense is this?” Shen Lan Chi said with a smile.

The two of them chatted for a while longer before Shen Lan Chi finally bid Lu Zi Xiang farewell.

Leaving that Taicheng Pond, Lu Zhao Ye’s complexion was already terrifyingly dark like the approaching rain in the mountains and the wind sweeping through the tower. Just, Shen Lan Chi who had angered him completely pretended to not see anything at all, still leisurely walking along——-She’d long warned Lu Zhao Ye that she will definitely make him very angry.

He was the one that kept sticking to her on his own, who can he blame?

Moreover, to already be this angered now, what will he do in the future? The unpleasant matters, there’s still more to come.

“Shen second miss, this prince unexpectedly didn’t know that you were also acquainted with second imperial brother.” Lu Zhao Ye looked down at her, the bottom of his eyes full of chilliness, “In the past, it was the Zhennan Wang heir. Now, it’s second imperial brother. Who else will there be in the future?”

When Shen Lan Chi heard this, she charmingly smiled at him and said, “Who I’m acquainted with, what does it have to do with your Highness?”

When she smiled, it was naturally extremely pretty, able to make those priceless jewels in her hair all suddenly lose their color. Just, the words from her mouth didn’t make one happy at all.

These words of hers inside and out clearly were trying to have her and him cleanly separated.

Thinking to here, Lu Zhao Ye felt extremely furious. He was unwilling to go think about where this irritation came from, just suddenly reaching out to grab her shoulders, heavily shouting, “SHEN LAN CHI!”

Unfortunately, Shen Lan Chi fled even quicker.

She didn’t have the appearance of a noble family young lady at all, actually lifting her dress and quickly running away.

While being angry, Lu Zhao Ye also couldn’t help but feel that it was a bit funny. He’d never seen any noble daughter that dared to run away this frantically in front of him before.

However, there was mostly still anger.

Recalling his imperial mother’s instructions, he slowly chased after her.

Shen Lan Chi walked very fast, instantly disappearing without a trace. Lu Zhao Ye looked around left and right, yet just saw a quiet bamboo forest with rockeries and houses inserted throughout it, not seeing a shadow of a figure at all.

When he finally caught sight of someone, upon careful inspection, it was instead a yawning Lu family descendant with a crooked crown and loose clothes. His handsome face was carrying a slightly tired lazy look. Turns out, it was the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, Lu Qi Yang.

He leaned against a large rock, like having just gotten abruptly awoken by someone from a romantic dream, his eyes containing a bit of displeasure.

“Zhennan Wang heir?” Lu Zhao Ye calmly asked, “What are you doing here?”

He looked at Lu Qi Yang, lightly sneering inside.

How prideful was Shen Lan Chi, how could she fall for Lu Qi Yang, this kind of unambitious and incompetent wastrel that slacks off in the daytime? Really just nonsense.

“Sleeping.” Lu Qi Yang straightforwardly answered with one hand rubbing his drowsy eyes, “This early in the morning, his Majesty just called my father into the palace, even having me called over too. So sleepy.”

“Did you happen to see the Shen family’s second young miss?” Lu Zhao Ye asked.

“Shen second miss?” Lu Qi Yang propped up his chin, looking as if he will fall asleep at any time. He drooped his eyelids, thinking for a good while, before finally pointing in a direction and saying, “Just now, I seemingly saw a girl run by, very much in a rush, but I didn’t see her face, so don’t know if it was a palace maid, imperial consort, or some family’s mama.”

Lu Zhao Ye’s eyes slightly dimmed, no longer saying more, immediately just heading in that direction.

Lu Qi Yang used his hands to build a tent over his forehead, watching the crown prince’s figure disappear in the distance before finally getting up.

He turned around and stared at the corner of a dress woven in silver threads poking out under the big rock, mockingly saying, “The person is already gone, yet still not coming out? Could it be that you’re really scared of my elder tang brother?”

That corner of the dress moved, and afterwards, Shen Lan Chi’s hesitant voice came from behind the rock

“It’s…..it’s not that your big sister Lan is scared……it’s…….”

Suddenly, there came a ‘pah-ji’ sound. An embroidered shoe set with a large pearl soared through the sky, directly hanging onto a tree branch.

“I was taking off my shoe…….” Shen Lan Chi finally supported herself against the rock as she staggeringly stood up with one leg. She looked around in the surrounding, and in the end, had her line of sight casted towards the embroidered shoe hanging on the tree branch, her expression turning serious, muttering to herself, “Crap, used too much force.”

[1] A very literal translation, but it really is just a type of accessory where the flowers are made from beads or pearl.