< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Letter Causing a Dispute
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 red embroidered shoe with branch patterns didn’t slant or deviate, just that perfectly landing on the branch, swaying in the wind. Shen Lan Chi reached out to shake twice, but the shoe was firm and steady, not showing any signs of coming down.
Shen Lan Chi turned her eyes towards Lu Qi Yang.
Lu Qi Yang fell silent for a while and asked, “It can’t be that you want this young master to get this shoe down for you?”
“Will be troubling you.” The thickness of Shen Lan Chi’s skin was truly top notch.
“Getting an inch and wanting a foot!” He shook his head, yet still pushed up his sleeves, obediently going to climb the tree.
The tree wasn’t tall. In merely a short while, Lu Qi Yang was already sitting on top the half-person thick tree branch. While stretching his hand out to reach for the embroidered shoe at the tip of the branch, his wide sleeve swayed, and a folded piece of paper floated down from his sleeve.
Shen Lan Chi bent down to pick up, sweeping a glance in passing.
Although just a quick glance, she nevertheless saw many incredible things——such as ‘I miss Lu-liang[1], yearning painfully’, ‘the terrace of the moon toad[2] is thousands of miles away, I’m willing to follow the moonlight’, and ‘tears soak the quilt and pillow, not knowing how to wipe away, just waiting to paint the brows and wear the red makeup[3]‘.
Really a good love letter!
Lu Qi Yang got the shoe and came down from the tree. Seeing the letter in her hand, his complexion instantly became somewhat complicated.
“Lan Lan, you, listen to me explain……..” He raised up that shoe, somewhat at a loss for what to do.
“Explain what?” Shen Lan Chi’s face didn’t show any anger. The corners of her eyes and the tip of her brows were instead all smiling.
“This letter…….isn’t, isn’t written to me.” Lu Qi Yang said.
“Oh?” Shen Lan Chi’s fair hand folded, having the letter carefully folded up, bringing it under her nose for a whiff, slowly saying, “Specially fused with the scent of gurjun balsam[4], really a meticulous person. I wonder how much this young lady misses this ‘Lu-liang’ in her heart?”
Lu Qi Yang coughed, tentatively asking, “You’re angry?
“Angry about what?” She was still smiling, “There’s nothing to be angry about?”
The more gentle she was, the more uncertain Lu Qi Yang was inside. In the end, he said with certainty, “Lan Lan, I know you’re angry when you’re like this. Believe me for once, this letter really isn’t for me. And……and it’s not written by a girl! Really.”
Not written by a girl? Could it be that Lu Qi Yang wrote it himself for fun? Really don’t know what he’s trying to sell here.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Although thinking this, Shen Lan Chi knew, Lu Qi Yang most likely didn’t have the guts to go out and look for other women. But, this rare cautious look of his truly was amusing. She couldn’t help but want to tease him some more.
“Alright, then I’m angry, how will the heir make it up to me?” She smilingly asked.
“This……” Lu Qi Yang’s smile slightly stiffened, softly asking, “What do you want to do?”
“I won’t make it difficult for you! You be a bit more attentive and help this miss put on the shoe. This miss perhaps will just forgive you.” After saying this, Shen Lan Chi crossed her legs and lifted her dress as she sat upon that large rock, a look of waiting to be served.
Lu Qi Yang looked at the shoe in his hand, then looked at her swaying foot, sighing. He could only give in.
“I’ll help you put on this shoe, while you quell your anger.” Lu Qi Yang quietly grumbled, “How come you’re just unwilling to believe me? I’m wholeheartedly…….sigh, no, I’m saying, I wholeheartedly want to be a proper person.”
He got down on one knee, using one hand to hold the right foot of the girl before him.
The back of her foot was porcelain white, like scattered snow. When Lu Qi Yang touched her foot, his throat subtly rolled without being noticed. His thumb uncontrollably caressed down the arch of her foot, the silk socks sliding down along the movement, revealing a seductive and bewitching smear of red on her toes, making her nearly transparent skin appear increasingly white and lustrous.
“Itchy.” Shen Lan Chi curled her foot, her voice soft, like coquettishly complaining.
“Itchy?” He repeated after her, squeezing her foot, not letting her pull back.
“You can’t understand this miss’s words?” Shen Lan Chi tilted her head, having a trace of provocation in the bottom of her eyes, “Or could it be that……you’re purposely trying to mess with me?”
Lu Qi Yang blanked.
While he was in a daze, Shen Lan Chi had her foot pulled out from his palm. Afterwards, she slightly raised her foot, using her toes to slide across his chest. Her toes were slow, the words from her mouth also slow, “Lord heir, Lan’er has said before, if you start having naughty thoughts, Lan’er will only be even more aggressive than you.”
This kind of provocation…..
Really made one’s heartstrings easily go wild.
Just, Lu Qi Yang didn’t make a sound, like Liu Xia Hui[5], purely helping her put on her sock and then her shoe.
Firm and steady, not flustered in the slightest.
Immediately after, he stood up, his gaze slightly flickering, seemingly having a layer of a hard to understand deeper meaning, “If not on his Majesty’s territory right now, afraid you would already be out of luck.”
“Out of what kind of luck?” She soundlessly laughed, the smile on her lips full of sweetness.
“Aren’t you very clear inside?” Lu Qi Yang side-glanced at her and said, “Didn’t you long provoke me before? That time in Dengyun Pavilion. You already know, what consequences there will be.”
After saying this, Lu Qi Yang turned and left.
Shen Lan Chi endured for a long while in order to not laugh out loud.
—–Able to look, but unable to eat, presumably he’s also very uncomfortable.
• • •
Shen Lan Chi and Lu Zhao Ye had a falling out. That high and mighty crown prince naturally was unwilling to talk to her anymore.
In the remaining days, no matter how Empress Shen sighed and groaned, inviting again and again, Lu Zhao Ye was unwilling to come to Cien Palace to be angered again no matter what.
Empress Shen was ladened with worries, yet completely helpless.
The day Shen Lan Chi will leave the palace just happened to be the day when the titled madams entered the palace to pay respect to the empress. Shen first madam had the title of the Chengguo Madam, while Shen second madam held the title of Daijun Madam, so naturally all needed to enter the palace. As such, Shen first madam let someone deliver a verbal message, saying that after paying respect to Empress Shen, she will leave the palace and return to the manor together with Shen Lan Chi.
Cien Palace always had people coming and going. Shen Lan Chi disliked the noisiness, thus endured the sun and hid in the garden outside. Considering that Shen first madam still needed to come look for her, she didn’t dare to sleep, just picking up a miscellaneous book to read.
The book was called ‘Mysterious Strange Stories Told by Zhou’[6], a collection of strange events and miscellaneous stories. She’d only read a few pages when she heard small footsteps coming from in front of her, followed by a rather familiar voice, “Shen second miss?”
Lifting her head for a glance, a plainly dressed slender girl stood in front of her. Turns out it was Ruan Bi Qiu.
Then again, Madam Ruan was now a third rank Shuren[7]. For her to follow her mother into the palace, it was also normal.
“Turns out, it’s the future side consort of the crown prince, how rare, how rare.” Shen Lan Chi had the ‘Mysterious Strange Stories Told by Zhou’ placed page-down on her knees, her lips brimming with a teasing smile, “What, miss me?”
Even if knowing Shen Lan Chi’s personality, Ruan Bi Qiu still froze for a moment. She was somewhat uncomfortable, bowing and gently saying, “The previous matter, still need to thank Shen second miss.”
“Side Consort Ruan is referring to which matter?” Shen Lan Chi asked with interest.
“Naturally, it’s……the matter of Shen second miss giving spiritual pointers.” Ruan Bi Qiu said.
Shen Lan Chi nodded.
Ruan Bi Qiu although said it tactfully, Shen Lan Chi knew, what Ruan Bi Qiu wanted to thank was undoubtedly the matter that night the Ruan family met with mishap, where Lu Qi Yang killed the culprit. Ruan Bi Qiu fainted early, so didn’t know that Lu Qi Yang came. For her to only recognize Shen Lan Chi, this savior, it was also expected.
Right at this time, Shen first madam came over with her servant girl, Hong Que. Shen Lan Chi caught her mother’s figure with the corner of her eye, suddenly having an evil idea inside. Afterwards, she lifted her brow towards Ruan Bi Qiu, saying, “Does Ruan second miss remember that you still owe me a favor?”
“Naturally remember.” Ruan Bi Qiu answered, “What does Shen second miss want me to do?”
“Miss Ruan, this time will have to wrong you first.” Shen Lan Chi said.
Ruan Bi Qiu’s face revealed a confused look, but Shen Lan Chi didn’t explain, just swiftly pulling out a purple coral hairpin from her hair. Afterwards, she took out a handkerchief and hunched her shoulders, pretending to cry in front of her. In merely these few steps, her eyes unexpectedly already overflowed with large teardrops.
Have to say, her acting skills were extremely impressive.
Shen first madam just happened to come over. Witnessing this scene, she couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “What’s going on here?”
“Miss Ruan……” Shen Lan Chi, however, didn’t respond to her, just sobbingly tugging Ruan Bi Qiu’s sleeve, tearfully saying, “Lan Chi was wrong, Lan Chi will take the punishment. Merely a hairpin, if Miss Ruan likes, then just take it……please don’t go looking for his Highness the Crown Prince……”
Shen first madam was greatly shocked.
Although Shen Lan Chi spoke in fragments, she already guessed what happened. This Ruan Bi Qiu, relying on the fact that she will be the crown prince’s side consort, wanted to snatch away her precious daughter’s hairpin for no reason.
Just a mere side consort, how could she be this arrogant? It must be that the crown prince likes this girl, thus causing Ruan Bi Qiu to become arrogant with favor, having yet to marry over, yet already picking a fight!
“Lan’er!” Shen first madam’s face was covered in frost, saying, “Crying and sobbing like this, how is it proper? Merely a hairpin, there’s plenty at home, why bother arguing with someone who has never seen a head ornament before? Just give it to her.”
Once Hong Que went forward, wiping away the tears for her own family’s miss, Shen first madam didn’t say another word more, throwing behind that hairpin and taking Shen Lan Chi away with a cold face.
After the mother and daughter pair of the An Duke Manor left, Ruan Bi Qiu’s complexion turned deathly pale, finally understanding the meaning behind that line ‘will have to wrong you’ from Shen Lan Chi’s mouth.
With Shen Lan Chi crying and making a fuss like this, Shen first madam certainly will believe that it was her, Ruan Bi Qiu, that relied on the crown prince’s influence to bully others. Shen first madam was one of the top titled madams in the capital. Once she flaps her mouth, how will the other noble madams view her?
Ruan Bi Qiu retreated a few steps, her legs somewhat limp.
Although unwilling and vexed, she didn’t dare to say anything.
Shen Lan Chi knew the truth behind the Ruan family case. If she still wants to marry into the Eastern Palace, then she can’t say anything, and can only follow along Shen Lan Chi’s wishes.
Thinking to here, Ruan Bi Qiu’s complexion turned even more pale.
• • •
Returning to the An Duke Manor, Shen first madam felt all the more angry the more she thought about it.
Never mind thinking about how that Lu Zhao Ye didn’t know how to care for others, to actually even let that side consort that has yet to marry in rely on his power to bully others now, in the future, if Lan Chi marries over, how will she be able to live well? Lan Chi was the pearl she cupped in her palm, absolutely can’t let anyone bully!
Shen first madam had a stern face all day. At night, when Shen first master came to her room, she still had an unhappy look.
“Madam, what’s wrong now?” Shen first master said with a frown.
“Master, Lan’er absolutely can’t marry the crown prince.” Shen first madam answered.
“Making a fuss about this again.” Shen first master pressed his temples, calling over a servant girl to help him massage his shoulders, drowsily saying, “If Lan Chi becomes the mother of the country, she will be able to enjoy endless wealth and honor. This in itself is already of enormous fortune, and in this world, there’s no perfect matter. There will always be some unfavorable things. Furthermore, men having wives and concubines is also common.”
This explanation didn’t convince Shen first madam. On the contrary, Shen first madam recalled the previous few times Shen first master sided with the second branch, the resentment in her heart deepening even more. She didn’t treat her husband in a gentle manner like usual, instead coldly sneering and saying, “These words, this wife will put here. Lan’er absolutely can’t marry the crown prince. If master insists on going your own way, then write a divorce letter and let this wife return to the maiden home!”
Those disagreements she had with Shen first master previously all got vented out in these words.
A line of ‘write a divorce letter’ startled Shen first master who was about to fall asleep to immediately sober up.
“Divorce, divorce letter?” Shen first master waved away the servant girl and said in frustration, “Madam, why would you go this far!?”
“Master, I know you have gone great lengths, wanting to let Lan’er be superior to others. But, master must know, when a woman marries, finding a good husband is the most important. That crown prince has yet to take a wife, but already had an affair with that Ruan-shi. Today, that Ruan-shi even relied on the crown prince’s power and started bullying Lan’er! If she marries over, how will it be good?” Shen first madam’s words were aggressive. Recalling how Lan Chi shedded tears today, her heart just ached, saying, “Master didn’t see, Lan’er actually shedded tears in front of an outsider today. As the mother, how can I feel well inside?”
Shen first master slightly blanked, muttering, “Lan’er cried?”
Shen first master naturally understood this daughter of his——-She has been raised in luxury since childhood, her personality extremely prideful. In front of other noble daughters, she has never lowered her head, always the one high above. This Ruan-shi was actually able to make Lan Chi shed tears…….
Really can’t be underestimated.
Shen first master’s eyes were somewhat anxious.
He repeatedly paced back and forth for a while in front of the lacquered windows. Shen first madam on the other side, however, was angrily sulking, tugging the quilt and lying down on the inside, not having the inside area left for her husband.
A good while later, Shen first master gazed towards Fulan Courtyard’s direction, muttering to himself, “Madam, perhaps what you’re saying is right.”
Shen first madam didn’t move, seemingly asleep.
Shen first master walked to the bedside, lifting the jade hook on the curtain, having a letter handed before Shen first madam, calmly saying, “Yesterday, someone had this letter and a jade hairpin delivered to my desk. If this matter is true……his Highness the Crown Prince doing something like this……..afraid it’s not having my An Duke Manor taken seriously.”
After saying this, he let out a long sigh and didn’t speak anymore.
• • •
The next day.
Not long after the afternoon meal, Shen first madam let the servant girl have Shen Lan Chi invited to her room.
Shen Lan Chi was just about to take a nap, her face carrying a sleepy look, also dressed extremely casually. Just, landing in Shen first madam’s eyes, even if Shen Lan Chi wore a hemp sack, it can also be praised into a flower. This delicate and soft appearance right now further made her feel tender.
“Lan’er, come sit here.” Shen first madam waved her hand, calling Shen Lan Chi to sit together in the lounge[8].
“Mother, what’s the matter?” Shen Lan Chi rubbed her sleepy eyes.
“Lan’er, have you made up your mind, don’t want to marry that crown prince anymore?” Shen first madam asked.
Shen Lan Chi instantly woke up. She nodded and said, “Lan’er doesn’t want to marry.”
“Alright.” Shen first madam was composed, revealing a carefree smile and saying, “Mother has talked with your father, Lan’er doesn’t need to marry over anymore.”
“Eh?” Shen Lan Chi slightly blanked and said, “Fa…..father, he, he actually agreed?”
In Shen Lan Chi’s heart, what was the most important for Shen first master was this An Duke Manor’s horizontal inscription board. The Shen family was the most important. For the sake of letting the Shen family prosper with glory, he can have his children all given away.
Her father that was that stubborn actually……..agreed?
“This marriage tie naturally needs to be formed, just you don’t need to marry over anymore.” Shen first madam said, “Isn’t there still your older tang sister in the second branch? Since she has been thinking day and night on becoming the crown princess, then let’s just grant her wish.”
Shen Lan Chi widened her eyes, extremely shocked, asking, “How did father agree?”
“Your father got this a few days ago.” Shen first madam’s complexion changed, becoming extremely angry. She slammed a letter on the table and said, “Don’t know who had secretly stolen it and specially delivered it to your father’s desk, even attaching one of the crown prince’s jade pendants. This person is really a scoundrel! Not daring to show their face, yet fanning the flames behind the back, most likely hoping that our An Duke Manor can defeat this Ruan family who are the new nobles! It’s thanks to this letter that your father changed his mind.”
Shen Lan Chi unfolded that letter, lifting her eyes for a glance. Written on there was a certain Ruan family daughter’s longing towards her lover, hoping that this lover can let her marry in sooner, best if able to have the lover’s future main wife’s family thrown out of the capital, so as to make room for this Ruan girl’s family.
The wording in the letter really was very familiar——such as ‘I miss Lu-liang, yearning painfully’, ‘the terrace of the moon toad is thousands of miles away, I’m willing to follow the moonlight’, and ‘tears soak the quilt and pillow, not knowing how to wipe away, just waiting to paint the brows and wear the red makeup’.
“Ayoo…..my mother…..” Shen Lan Chi held the letter in one hand, nearly unable to get up from laughing, just leaving Shen first madam filled with confusion, asking, “Lan’er, what are you laughing about?”
“Hahahaha…….just…….just so funny! Hahahaha…….”
[1] 郎 (liang) – A male suffix; usually used at the end of a name to address someone affectionately, or in a flirtatious manner.
[2] 蟾 (chan) – Refers to the three-legged toad that lives on the moon in chinese mythology. In literature, it’s often also used as a metonym for the moon.
[3] Referring to wedding/bridal makeup, since traditional chinese weddings use red.
[4] The original name was 蝉蚕香 lit. cicada silkworm fragrance. I had to do a bit of digging and from what I could find, this fragrance or incense was once given as tribute to the empire from the former southernmost province, now, northern Vietnam. It has a different name in the Tang dynasty called ‘瑞龙脑’ (rui long nao) literally ‘auspicious dragon brain’, which was a white substance made from the resin of the trees under the dipterocarpaceae family, also known in chinese as ice chips, and also a source for natural borneol. The name of the tree in chinese is just 龙脑香树 (dragon brain fragrance tree), but this actually refers to most of the trees under this family and not a specific species of trees. It was one of the top ten fragrance/incense used in ancient times.
As for the translation, I found the gurjun tree, which is one of the species under this family and under the ‘dragon brain fragrance’ genus, it’s full common name is Indian English gurjuntree, which is also found in Vietnam. Gurjun balsam is often sold as an essential oil, and it’s said to smell woody and sweet with hints of pine, patchouli, and camphor. Btw, the pictures below are both of the gurjun tree, but they are two different species.
[5] Liu Xia Hui – A historical figure that lived during the Spring and Autumn Period. His original name was Zhan Huo, and is known as the originator of the Zhan(展) and Liu(柳) surname. However, he has a very famous historical anecdote called ‘坐怀不乱’ (sitting in embrace and not falling into disorder), where he and a young girl hid into a worn down temple to avoid the rain. At night, the girl wakes up from the cold and curls into Liu Xia Hui’s embrace for warmth. And so, despite having a girl in his arms for the entire night, Liu Xia Hui didn’t have a single improper thought. There’s a few versions of this story, but roughly the same with just a few details different. Liu Xia Hui is pretty much historically known as a true gentleman that abided by the traditional values of virtue. Confucius referred to him as ‘the forgotten virtuous gentleman’, and Mencius honored him as the ‘harmonious sage’. I honestly should add this to the historical notes page, since he comes up quite often in novels.
[6] 玄怪周说 – This book is probably the in-novel version of 玄怪录 Xuan Guai Lu (Records of Mysteries and Monsters) by Niu Seng Ru written in the Tang dynasty, a collection of short stories about mysterious supernatural events, usually a normal person’s encounter with various spirits or monsters.
[7] 淑人 (Shuren) – Title for the wife or mother of high ranking officials starting from the Song dynasty. It was changed from other titles used in previous dynasties. The title literally means virtuous/elegant person.
[8] This area here.
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Discover more from Broken Jinsei
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
