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Carefree and Unfettered
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!
These past few days, Shen second madam’s complexion was particularly good, smiling at everyone she encounters, as if a cup of gold had entered her money pouch. Not because of anything else, but purely due to the fact that the first branch finally gave in, willing to have the crown princess position obediently handed over.
After grinding for nearly a year, the first branch finally agreed, so how could Xiao-shi not be happy?
After Shen first master came to an agreement with the second branch over this matter, he immediately entered the palace to see Empress Shen.
The candidate for the crown princess was chosen by the empress. As long as Empress Shen agrees, then this matter can be accomplished.
Between her two nieces, Empress Shen naturally favored Lan Chi more. Shen Lan Chi was prettier and also had a higher degree of magnanimity. That Shen Tong Ying although was also a young lady of the An Duke Manor, her sights were somewhat shallow, not suited to be the crown princess.
Hearing her older brother mention selecting Shen Tong Ying as the crown princess, Empress Shen was greatly shocked, asking, “Elder brother, why do you say this? If to form ties between two families, then it’s naturally the first branch’s di daughter that’s better.”
Shen Xin Gu caressed his thumb ring, calmly saying, “Your Highness may not know, Lan’er is truly naughty and mischievous in private, impulsive and muddled, always angering the crown prince. This kind of temperament truly isn’t fit to be the master of the Eastern Palace.
Empress Shen was still stunned, hurriedly saying, “Lan’er’s temperament, this empress is aware of, how is it as exaggerated as brother says? Merely just the naivety and innocence of a young girl. Once she gets engaged in the future, she naturally will become more steady.”
“There’s no need to say more.” Shen Xin Gu’s expression didn’t change, making Empress Shen unable to guess what he’s thinking inside, “Recently, father brought up the matter of ‘observing the rites and abiding by the law’ with me again. According to the ancient rites, if the elder sister doesn’t marry, then Lan Chi can’t get engaged.”
Empress Shen was slightly angered, but didn’t dare to refute again.
Even the old duke all got brought out. It can be seen her older brother has already made up his mind. Her older brother has a stubborn temperament. What he has set his mind on most likely won’t change again. If he’s unwilling to let Lan Chi marry over, then he absolutely won’t give in.
It certainly must be the matter of the Side Consort Ruan-shi, that made her older brother’s family produce animosity, thus unwilling to have Lan Chi promised to Lu Zhao Ye.
Thinking to here, Empress Shen became even more furious at that Ruan Bi Qiu who has yet to marry over. Although at present, Ruan Bi Qiu still hasn’t married in, Empress Shen already thought of several ways to torment her.
The last time Shen Lan Chi came to the palace, Empress Shen learned that all these years, the crown prince has been secretly worshipping his birth mother De Consort Ying’s memorial tablet. Empress Shen figured, perhaps the crown prince didn’t trust her, this imperial mother, and didn’t trust the Shen family behind her. To want to continue having the crown prince firmly tied to the Shen family’s boat, they must let him marry a Shen family’s daughter.
If Shen Lan Chi can’t marry, then can only make do with that Shen Tong Ying. Anything is better than nothing.
Empress Shen revealed a look of pity, saying with a sigh, “Since elder brother has already made up your mind, then this empress won’t say more. Once autumn comes, this empress will mention the crown prince’s marriage arrangement with his Majesty. This marriage arrangement has dragged out for this long. It’s about time to settle it.”
As for what the crown prince thinks, Empress Shen didn’t really care all that much. She knew that Lu Zhao Ye didn’t like Shen Lan Chi, even thinking, perhaps by switching to Shen Tong Ying, Lu Zhao Ye will come to his senses.
Shen Xin Gu nodded his head and chatted a few words with Empress Shen about the family affairs, before taking his leave and exiting the palace.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
After learning from her mother Xiao-shi’s mouth about her marriage arrangement with the crown prince, Shen Tong Ying was also happy.
But, while happy, she also didn’t feel that good inside. Others perhaps were unable to guess why Shen Lan Chi didn’t want this marriage, but she was completely clear. This second younger sister of hers has feelings for the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, actually not fancying the esteemed crown prince, deathly refusing to marry. In this way, didn’t she precisely pick up something Shen Lan Chi didn’t want?
Moreover, the crown prince will be taking in a side consort before marrying the main wife. And that side consort was even her good friend in the past, Ruan Bi Qiu. What kind of position will this put her in? Afraid, after marrying, she will get mocked and laughed at from head to toe by those women in the palace, reducing to a laughingstock.
This was clearly something she’d yearned for a long time, yet Shen Tong Ying wasn’t the least bit pleased inside. She had the intention of going to look for her younger tang sister to show off, but Shen first master had issued an order, demanding Shen Tong Ying to not set foot out of her room prior to the engagement coming down. Xiao-shi also specially hired two mamas that once served in the palace before to come teach Shen Tong Ying how to walk, sit, stand, and smile. At present, Shen Tong Ying can only stay trapped in her room.
The two mamas that Xiao-shi spent a hefty price to invite were already over forty, carrying a stern and solemn look all day, constantly ready to use the small ruler to strike her palm. It would’ve been fine if she was learning well, but Shen Tong Ying had been spoiled in the past, so unable to take it in all that well now. Every time, it was always sitting without a proper form, standing without a proper form, thereby earning her palm another strike.
Shen Tong Ying has never lived such fearful days before, always scared that these two mamas will ruin her delicate and tender skin.
She dully sat staring at a cup of tea for an hour, her waist extremely sore, but can’t reveal an impatient look in the slightest and must face those two mamas with a smile, as if this cup of tea was some rare and priceless treasure.
“Shen first miss, straighten the waist some more!
“This weak and limp, how is it appropriate?”
Shen Tong Ying wished to cry but had no tears and could only continue clenching her teeth, warning herself inside that this was all for the sake of grandly marrying Lu Zhao Ye in the future.
After finally getting through an entire day of practicing etiquette, Shen Tong Ying listlessly asked her servant girl, “What is that good younger tang sister of mine doing these days? If she’s crying all day because of losing this marriage, then I, this older sister, should still go see her.”
Hong Xiu had her head lowered, answering in a low voice, “The second miss went out to listen to opera.”
“Listen, listen to opera?” Shen Tong Yong’s face nearly distorted from anger, “While I’m here learning etiquette, she runs out to listen to opera!?”
Capital city, Dengyun Pavilion.
Four strips of satin hung down from the sky well[1] in the building, half new and not old, covered with a bit of dust. The performing troupe has yet to open the stage, but below the stage, it was already full of people. Amidst the clamor, the waiter ran around carrying a large iron teapot with a two-inch long spout, pouring a cup of two tael tea here, serving a dish of lotus flower crisp there. On the second floor, inside a private room carved with the sign ‘Heaven and Earth’, the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir sat with his foot propped upon his knee, casually peeling the gingko nuts.
A short while later, the bamboo screen of ‘Heaven and Earth’ got lifted, revealing a figure.
“Sorry for the long wait, lord heir.” The incomer said.
Lu Qi Yang lifted his head, but got astonished by the scene before him.
The incomer was Shen Lan Chi, but today, she was dressed in men’s clothes—–wearing a perfectly straight crow’s black[2] jacquard robe. Her black hair was combed to shine, with a buddha head blue[3] hair crown pressed on top, actually having the charm of a romantic young gentleman. Just, that bulging chest of hers couldn’t be hidden. Anyone could tell at a glance that she was a girl.
“What is this look of yours?” Lu Qi Yang crushed the nut shell in his hand, saying with a frown, “This young master of yours can’t withstand being frightened.”
“Occasionally have a change of taste, can’t I?” Shen Lan Chi placed down the bamboo screen behind her, smilingly sitting down across from him, “Tell me, what did you call me out for today?”
Lu Qi Yang had the gingko nut shells that he’d painstakingly peeled for more than a hour swept aside, revealing a plate of smooth and round gingko nuts underneath. “Weren’t you angry previously? Angry at that letter.” Afterwards, he had that plate of gingko nuts pushed before Shen Lan Chi, slowly saying, “Then, I invite Shen second miss to quell your anger.”
Shen Lan Chi helplessly laughed and said, “Your way of quelling my anger is peeling gingko nuts for me?”
“It’s the gingko nuts your young master personally peeled. Having something to eat is already not bad, to even dare to be picky.” Lu Qi Yang leaned towards the window-side and said.
Shen Lan Chi didn’t touch that plate of gingko nuts, instead changing the topic and saying, “Your Boss Lan doesn’t need to marry Lu Zhao Ye, that bastard, anymore, so very happy, coming out to have fun. Aren’t you very familiar with the opera singers and entertainers in the capital? How about taking this miss to that Fragrant Jade Haven or Lotus Courtyard to broaden one’s horizons? That way, it won’t be a waste to have spent this much time dressing up.”
Lu Zhao Ye changing to marrying Shen Tong Ying, while she, Shen Lan Chi, got rid of this marriage arrangement, this was an enormous happy matter worth celebrating over.
Hearing that line of ‘not needing to marry Lu Zhao Ye’, Lu Qi Yang surprisingly didn’t reveal a surprised look.
“Stop joking, you a girl, how can you go see the entertainers?” Lu Qi Yang sneered.
“Money can make anything happen.” Shen Lan Chi weighed her money pouch in hand, provokingly said, “Are you looking down on your Boss Lan’s private savings?”
“Not going.” Lu Qi Yang closed his eyes, “Not a chance.”
“You won’t take me?” Shen Lan Chi calmly smiled, “Fine, then I’ll go myself.”
After saying this, she just got up, attempting to leave.
“Hey, wait.” All of a sudden, Lu Qi Yang grabbed her wrist, saying as he lifted his eyes, “Are you really going to go to those brothels by yourself?”
“Yes.” She answered bluntly.
“…….Fine.” Lu Qi Yang finally gave in, “I’ll take you to a place to listen to music. Those brothels and parlors, you can forget about it. You’re ultimately a girl. Going there will be dangerous.”
Shen Lan Chi slightly hooked the corner of her lips as she nodded her head.
She naturally won’t stupidly run to those brothels on her own. It’s not like she was suicidal. She merely said it to mess with Lu Qi Yang. She just liked seeing him getting worried.
However, for him to be willing to take her to those places to listen to music, it can also be considered a pleasant surprise.
Don’t know if that place has pretty cuties?
Lu Qi Yang paid the bill and led her out of Dengyun Pavilion.
The ‘place to listen to music’ that he spoke of was called Flying Immortal Alley, a place that raised twelve to thirteen delicate and graceful young girls, three to four of whom were good at playing the pipa and jade flute, three to four whom were good at dancing, and also a few whom were good at singing. Because they were all of the clean registry, they only played the instruments and sang, not selling their body.
“Your young master is a regular here. The girls of Flying Immortal Alley all love the money in my pocket.” When they arrived before Flying Immortal Alley’s quiet and secluded door hidden in the alleyway, Lu Qi Yang lazily said, “If in a while, you get angered again, I won’t bother with you.”
He originally thought that Shen Lan Chi would get angry, but turning his head for a glance, Shen Lan Chi was currently excitedly staring at the thirteen to fourteen year old little miss in front of Flying Immortal Alley that was welcoming the guests. That stare, like a tiger watching its prey, appeared even more dangerous than a real man.
Seeing Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang, the little girl came up to welcome, brightly saying, “These two sirs, frequent guests? Do you have a girl you’re familiar with?”
“Naturally.” Lu Qi Yang said, “Call your place’s little Mu Dan out.”
“Oh!” That little girl’s smile stiffened a little and said, “This sir afraid doesn’t come often. Little Mu Dan isn’t from our place, but from our competitor Huan Jade House across the street.”
Lu Qi Yang fell silent.
A good while later, he finally opened his mouth again, “I’m a bit muddled from having just woken up.” He calmly said, “You just lead the way in front.” After saying this, he step through Flying Immortal Alley’s gate with his arms and legs in sync.
Upon entering, Lu Qi Yang reached into his sleeve and fished out something, casually throwing it to that little girl. “This is the tip, you take it first.” After tipping, he didn’t even look back, and instead extremely nonchalantly started sizing up a large red coral decoration in the reception hall.
“My lord……” Shen Lan Chi quietly moved closer, saying, “You threw the wrong thing.”
Lu Qi Yang was slightly startled, turning his head and discovering that what he threw over actually wasn’t the reward money, but rather a small sack of gingko nuts. In this very moment, that little girl was blankly staring at the gingko nuts in hand in a daze.
Lu Qi Yang had a bit of awkwardness on his face, “I, I was momentarily confused, so grabbed the wrong thing.” After saying this, he hurriedly fished out a money pouch, saying with a cough, “This is for you, take it.”
Immediately after, he lifted his long legs and headed towards the hallway that hung crimson curtains with golden water weed patterns, casually saying, “You don’t need to lead the way here anymore, this young master recognizes the way, can’t be more familiar. This is the way to the second floor private rooms.”
“Dear patron……” The young girl wryly smiled and said, “You’re going the wrong way. That’s the way to the woodshed in the backyard.”
[1] This is a very literal translation of 天井(tian jing). It can also be translated as skylight, or atrium.
[2] One of the traditional chinese colors. It’s described as the color of a crow’s wings, black carrying a bit of purple and green.
[3] Another traditional color, the name is pretty literal. It’s said to be the color of buddha’s hair.
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