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Lan Character Handkerchief
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 line ‘really have troubled your Highness’ made Lu Zi Xiang nearly unable to maintain that gentle and elegant smile of his.
“Turns out the heir got this bracelet with the intention of giving it to Shen second miss.” Lu Zi Xiang slightly lowered his eyes and said, “This bracelet extremely suits Shen second miss. The heir has good eyes.”
Between his words, there seemed to be a hint of endurance.
Shen Lan Chi, however, didn’t care what was hidden in Lu Zi Xiang’s words, just raising that handkerchief and asking, “Your Highness, please allow Lan Chi to ask, where did your Highness obtain this handkerchief?”
Upon hearing, Lu Zi Xiang lightly smiled and said, “You don’t remember?”
Afterwards, he slightly glanced at Lu Qi Yang and calmly said, “The day I returned to the capital, you let someone give me this handkerchief, even letting me go to the side hall, saying that you had something to say. Unfortunately, at the time, you and I didn’t meet. As things got delayed, it has dragged out until now. Today, I came to ask, that day, what did Shen second miss wanted to say?”
He seemingly completely didn’t care that Lu Qi Yang was to the side as he calmly discussed this matter that somewhat crossed the line of proper etiquette.
When Lu Zi Xiang said this, Shen Lan Chi finally recalled———-the day Lu Zi Xiang returned to the capital, she was originally going to run into Lu Zi Xiang when changing. Just, she had her rebirth. The one that saw her improperly dressed changed from Lu Zi Xiang to Lu Qi Yang.
So, which kind-hearted person gave Lu Zi Xiang this handkerchief?
All in all, if not Shen Tong Ying, then it was just Ruan Bi Qiu.
At present, these two were both in the same fire pit, so it was whatever.
“Your Highness afraid must have remembered wrong.” Shen Lan Chi raised a corner of the handkerchief, saying in seriousness, “This handkerchief isn’t mine. As such, it’s impossible for me to have called out your Highness that day to chat.”
“It’s not Shen second miss’s?” Lu Zi Xiang was a bit confused, “But, this ‘Lan(兰)’ character on it……”
“The servant girls of our An Duke Manor’s first branch all have different characters embroidered on their handkerchief, so as to show which master they serve. The servant girls serving in my Fulan Courtyard all have a handkerchief like this. Meanwhile, in my older brother’s courtyard, they all have ‘Yuan(远)’ embroidered on their handkerchief.” Pausing for a moment, Shen Lan Chi called over her two servant girls and said, “Bi Yu, Lu Zhu, take out your handkerchief.”
Bi Yu and Lu Zhu responded yes and took out their handkerchief, handing it before Shen Lan Chi. Lu Zi Xiang looked, and sure enough, it was as she’d said. Bi Yu’s and Lu Zhu’s handkerchief also had the ‘Lan’ character embroidered on there. The shape, thread color, and even the decorations were all the exact same as the one in his hand.
Lu Zi Xiang fell silent.
A good while later, he finally revealed a smile again, saying, “Since that’s the case, it’s better to give this handkerchief back to your An Duke Manor, returning it to its original owner. Presumably, the person that gave me this handkerchief back then was momentarily muddled, thus remembering wrong. Just treat it as if this had never happened………I still need to offer incense for my grandmother, so will be on my way.”
After saying this, Lu Zi Xiang turned and headed outwards.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Qi Yang caught up to him in two steps, patting Lu Zi Xiang’s shoulder and saying, “Your Highness, don’t worry, where doesn’t flowers grow in the world? How about I take you to that Flying Immortal Alley………”
When Lu Zi Xiang heard, he faintly smiled and said, “I know nothing about music, afraid will ruin heir’s mood, so it’s better to forget it.”
After saying this, he left behind Lu Qi Yang and left on his own.
After walking for a while, Lu Zi Xiang inwardly sighed, ‘That Lu Qi Yang sure is carefree.’
But, carefully thinking it over, he also felt that Lu Qi Yang being this playful and unambitious, for him, was already the best kind of circumstance. If Lu Qi Yang was an ambitious person, then based on the Zhennan Wang Manor’s relationship with the An Duke Manor, Lu Zhao Ye will gain another support. Fortunately, Lu Qi Yang was merely an idle wastrel.
The Zhennan Wang Manor in the past held military power and illustrious military accomplishments, somewhat having the sense of the high achievements becoming a threat to the ruler. At present, Zhennan Wang was gradually aging, and the heir was ignorant of military tactics, thus imperial father would be this reassured towards the Zhennan Wang Manor.
Once Lu Zi Xiang had gone far, the place by the saffron red stone steps quieted down. Chanting sounds came from afar, unknown as to which scripture was being recited. The wooden fish could vaguely be heard, endlessly echoing in the distance.
Lu Qi Yang turned and glanced at Shen Lan Chi, saying, “I told you already, this Lu Zi Xiang has feelings for you, yet you were unwilling to believe me.”
Shen Lan Chi said, “What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like Noble Consort Liu is easy to dupe. Even if his Highness wants to do something to me, he’ll still have to see whether or not the Liu family agrees. Besides, when was I unwilling to believe you?”
Lu Qi Yang lifted his brow and said, “You’re really willing to believe me at all times?”
“Of course.”
“Alright then.” Lu Qi Yang leaned against the stone bench, immediately hollering ‘aiyooo’ and saying, “This young master’s shoulders are awfully sore. If I don’t find someone to massage for me, I won’t be able to get up.”
Shen Lan Chi: ……
“Then don’t get up.” She waved her hand and left with her servant girls, “Wait for Grandmaster Yuanwu to pass by and massage your shoulders.”
“Lan Lan, you, don’t leave me behind—–”
Lu Qi Yang’s cry got tossed behind her.
• • •
Outside the Sandalwood Temple, the entire mountain was red. Shen Lan Chi didn’t walk far before encountering the servant girls from the An Duke Manor randomly running around. Turns out, her older brother Shen Ting Yuan had been looking for her for a while now.
Shen first madam and Shen first master had encountered an acquaintance, so already went to chat, just leaving behind Shen Ting Yuan to look for Shen Lan Chi who’d ran off on her own. Sandalwood Temple was just that big, with monks everywhere. Even if Shen Lan Chi walked around with her eyes closed, she still wouldn’t be able to walk out of here———This was precisely what the Shen family intended.
“Where’s older brother?” Shen Lan Chi asked the servant girl that came to look for her.
“Young master was still here just now.” That servant girl stood before a red maple tree and looked around on her tip-toes, “Strange, how come in this bit of time, he just disappeared……..”
As they spoke, Shen Lan Chi saw from the corner of her eye Shen Ting Yuan angrily walking over from behind the small dirt hill to the side, appearing to be very irritated. That look was like as if having suffered a great loss, making Shen Lan Chi feel a bit curious as to what happened. One must know, Shen Ting Yuan normally has a soft and indecisive personality, never getting angry. To be able to make him reveal this kind of look, something extremely incredible must have happened.
“Younger sister!”
Seeing Shen Lan Chi, Shen Ting Yuan flung his sleeve, pacing back and forth as he asked, “Say, what all are girls thinking about normally?”
‘???’ Shen Lan Chi nearly wanted to go feel Shen Ting Yuan’s forehead to check his temperature, seeing whether or not he was muddled from a fever. She curiously asked, “Brother, what’s wrong? I’ve never seen you mention a woman before on normal days. Now, this is wanting to learn from your younger sister how to win a girl’s heart?”
“Win what heart?!” Shen Ting Yuan’s fair and clean face turned red, saying, “This older brother……..this older brother merely……forget it.” Pausing for a moment, he calmed his emotions, asking with a sigh, “Younger sister, is this older brother a timid person?”
Shen Lan Chi was somewhat hesitant as to whether she should tell the truth or not.
It’s true that Shen Ting Yuan was indeed a bit timid. She knew that her older brother never wanted to enter officialdom, just wanting to immerse himself in books and paintings, being someone that played with ink. Just, under the pressure of the An Duke Manor, Shen Ting Yuan didn’t dare to go against their father’s orders. To put it pleasantly, this was considering for the bigger picture. But, to put it unpleasantly, this was merely Shen Ting Yuan being scared of Shen first master.
Her own older brother’s face was also important, so it was better to not say…….
“Sigh, I know younger sister must also think that I’m a coward inside!” Shen Ting Yuan shook his head and said, “Allow me to stay by myself for a while. You go to mother and father’s side first, don’t randomly run off again, making others worry for nothing.”
“Also?” Shen Lan Chi asked inquisitively, “Who else?”
Just, Shen Ting Yuan didn’t answer her, only shaking his head as he walked off. Shen Lan Chi was also helpless and could only shout towards his back figure, “I won’t be going to mother’s side and be stuck with abiding the rules. I’m going to go back to rest and wait for you all.”
Shen Ting Yuan was currently facing a tree and talking to himself, as if he didn’t hear her. Don’t know exactly what all that ‘girl’ he spoke of had said to him that actually made him this angry.
Shen Lan Chi shrugged her shoulders and started heading back. She picked a little shortcut. There wasn’t anyone on the path. A gust of wind swept by, causing the fallen maple leaves on the ground to rustle and dance. Like scattered red dots, they fluttered among the branches, unimaginably beautiful. Shen Lan Chi picked off a maple leaf that had landed on her shoulder and gazed out into the distance.
Precisely at this time, she heard a few delicate and sweet voices.
“Lord heir, don’t walk that quickly——–”
“Heard that you and the second prince came to admire the maple together, where is his Highness?”
“I also want to offer an incense for the empress dowager………….”
Shen Lan Chi’s eyelid twitched.
She turned her eyes, and sure enough, she saw Lu Qi Yang surrounded by a bunch of delicate young ladies. As for the heir, he was like a leaf passing by madly blooming flowers, not letting these girls touch him in the slightest, walking in quick long strides. Although it seemed as if he was fleeing, but as he walked, he was still grinning like a ruffian and using a slick tone.
Judging from the direction, right as Lu Qi Yang came out from the saffron red stone steps’ side, he just got surrounded by them.
“You young ladies are all this elegantly beautiful, afraid when his Highness sees, he will be troubled over who to talk to first……..His Highness is over in the main hall. If you all want to go, you should quickly go. If you don’t go now, afraid you won’t be able to catch him.”
When the young ladies heard, their faces immediately lit up, straightening the accessories in their hair and quickly running off while lifting their dress.
Lu Qi Yang slightly relaxed a breath. But, as soon as he lifted his head, his expression stiffened again——–On a small hill a few feet away stood a stunning beauty, currently staring at him with a cold look. That look was very scary, like when the noble consort caught her blue-eyed persian cat stealing food from the small kitchen.
Regardless of what it secretly ate, this persian cat will all get its claws clipped by its owner as punishment.
Lu Qi Yang composed himself, revealing what he believed to be the gentlest smile and saying, “Lan Lan, this is a misunderstanding. You also heard them. They were asking about the second prince.”
On the other side, Shen Lan Chi played with the bracelet on her wrist, her gaze sweeping over as she nonchalantly said, “Who is this gentleman? Lan Chi doesn’t remember.”
Lu Qi Yang’s smile nearly froze on his lips.
——This again!
This person always love messing with him randomly, best if she can bully him. If unable to bully, then she’ll want to at least take advantage of the situation verbally.
On the other side, after throwing out this line, Shen Lan Chi already turned and left.
How could Lu Qi Yang dared to let her leave like this? Without a second word, he just chased after her.
Earlier, he was getting chased by a bunch of girls, but now, it became him chasing a girl.
Shen Lan Chi swiftly entered the courtyard the Shen family is resting in, immediately ordering the servant girls to close the door, having the heir shut outside.
She stared at the door crack, holding back her laughter as she continued to act, “Ayoo, who are you? Following me all this way, be careful, I’ll report you to the authorities……”
“You’re even asking who’s this young master?” Outside, Lu Qi Yang was somewhat gritting his teeth.
Without waiting for Shen Lan Chi to mess with him again, she just heard a ‘boom’ sound. Turns out, the door got violently kicked open by Lu Qi Yang from the outside. Thankfully, that door was sturdy, actually not collapsing, just creakingly swaying.
In the next moment, a tall and slender figure blocked the light before Shen Lan Chi, making her only be able to see a stone-blue collar.
“Who is this young master?” Lu Qi Yang stepped in through the door, leaning down to look at her and saying with a heavy look, “This young master is your man!”
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