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Older Cousin Coming to Visit (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!
A few days later, the Shen family first branch received guests.
Shen first madam came from the influential and noble Ji family. The Ji family has been illustrious for generations, their daughters naturally all marrying pretty well. Shen first madam’s eldest sister married Jiangxia Wang as his main wife. After marrying, she followed Jiangxia Wang to his fief, only following her husband back to the capital every year in late autumn and returning again to the fief after the new year.
As soon as she returned to the capital, Jiangxia Wangfei was determined to visit all of her younger sisters that have married into the various families. Shen first madam was the first one she visited. Every year, it was like this, not shaken by thunder[1]. This time, when Jiangxia Wangfei came to visit, aside from bringing the local specialities from Jiangxia, she even brought along Shen Lan Chi’s older cousin, Lu Zhi Ning.
This Lu Zhi Ning although was Shen Lan Chi’s older cousin, the two of them nevertheless weren’t that familiar. On one hand, it was because Lu Zhi Ning stayed in Jiangxia all year round, the two of them barely seeing one another in a year. And on the other hand, this Lu Zhi Ning had the status of a junzhu. The ones together with her normally were also all daughters of the Lu clan, the imperial family’s bloodline, so it wasn’t Shen Lan Chi’s place to be cozy with her.
Learning that Lu Zhi Ning will also come, Shen first madam specially ordered Shen Lan Chi to carefully receive her, keeping this junzhu older cousin happy.
The day Jiangxia Wangfei came to visit, Shen Lan Chi met this mother and daughter pair in her mother’s Baorong Courtyard.
The wangfei, naturally needless to mention, was covered all over in a wealthy and noble air. Seeing her younger sister, Shen first madam, she enthusiastically started talking, her brows radiating with delight, not allowing others to interrupt. That Lu Zhi Ning just lifted her little face, sitting proper and upright upon the embroidered stool inlaid with rosewood.
“Why don’t junzhu go out for a stroll together with Lan Chi?” Shen Lan Chi asked Lu Zhi Ning.
The little junzhu was wearing consort pink[2] pleated dress with scattered flowers. At the center of her hair was a blueish-green jade flower cluster, her facial features delicate and upright. She wasn’t the quiet and gentle type. Her feet that were wearing embroidered shoes swayed back and forth above the ground, drawing little triangles. Hearing Shen Lan Chi say this, Lu Zhi Ning’s two eyes immediately lit up.
But, considering her own status, she didn’t dare to show excitement, just haughtily nodding her head and saying, “Why don’t Shen second miss lead the way then.”
Although Lu Zhi Ning put on a lofty appearance on the surface, she was actually very happy inside. Among the homes of her many female cousins, it was precisely this An Duke Manor that was the most luxurious and grand, even getting renovated every year into a different look. She was extremely bored staying in Jiangxia, so just hoped to nicely play around during this period of time in the capital.
Shen Lan Chi took Lu Zhi Ning to her room to sit for a while, then took her to stroll around in the garden. When they strolled to Bishui Lake, they just happened to see two people in the pavilion by the lakeside.
The one sitting was her older brother, Shen Ting Yuan, while the one standing was an unfamiliar girl with a round face and thin brows. That girl was wearing an unlined kesi[3] upper garment with a pipa lapel[4], revealing a toothy smile from time to time. Whenever she smiled, her body would bounce up and down, a rather unrefined look, as if a village peasant woman watching the street plays at the harbor in the countryside.
Shen Lan Chi walked closer a few steps and carefully looked, finally recalling who that girl was————This girl’s name was Xiao Shan Fang, one of the poor relatives that Xiao-shi took in.
Speaking of which, these poor relatives ate and lived off of Xiao-shi in the second branch, completely enjoying themselves. Unfortunately, an unexpected disaster befell upon the second branch, with Shen Ting Zhu getting into trouble, so Xiao-shi naturally didn’t have the energy to think about them.
Shen Ting Kang long found these poor relatives unpleasant to the eyes, wanting to drive them out. But, unknown as to why, Xiao-shi earnestly begged to let them stay. Not only so, Xiao-shi was particularly good to this distantly-related niece, Xiao Shan Fang. This Xiao Shan Fang’s food and clothing were actually even better than the second branch’s shu daughter, Shen Ran.
Because of this, Shen Ting Kang felt uncomfortable all over, hiding outside for several days in a row, unwilling to come home, fearing that his mother would suddenly do something stupid and want to have that Xiao Shan Fang shoved to him as a concubine.
Shen Tong Ying needed to learn etiquette, so naturally didn’t have time to bother with these people. As such, they were idle all day long. Thus, this Xiao Shan Fang just appeared by the lakeside.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Seeing the people of the Xiao family, Shen Lan Chi just felt that it won’t be anything good. Without a second word, she went forward a few steps, wanting to see what this Xiao Shan Fang was up to.
A desk was set up in the little pavilion, laid with paper, brush, and colored ink. Shen Ting Yuan sat with his knees apart, the paper in front of him already having a few light sketches of lotus stalks. Once Shen Lan Chi got closer, she heard Shen Ting Yuan say, “Miss Xiao, our An Duke Manor has never had the habit of attending the lantern festival, so afraid will disappoint you. Moreover, I also have an appointment that day, so afraid I can’t help.”
For Shen Ting Yuan, who has such a slow and gentle personality, to be able to rapidly say in one breath such a straightforward and clear-cut rejection, that was practically a miracle.
Don’t know what this Xiao Shan Fang said?
When Lu Zhi Ning saw, she was also somewhat curious, asking, “This is your older brother Shen Ting Yuan, I know, but who is that girl? Is it your sister from your tang family?”
Hearing this, Xiao Shan Fang lifted her head, seeing the two young girls standing before her. The one on the left had stunningly beautiful features and a graceful figure. This was the An Duke Manor’s renowned Shen second miss. The one on the right was dressed in fancy clothes and covered in jade and pearls, her eyes and brows having a lofty look. At a glance, one could tell that she was either wealthy or noble.
Xiao Shan Fang’s mind immediately became active.
A few days ago, Xiao-shi once pointed out to her that if she wants to permanently stay in this An Duke Manor, the only way was to marry in. The An Duke Manor right now has two young masters. The first branch’s young master Shen Ting Yuan’s talents were well-known all over, and also a gentle-mannered handsome man, further making Xiao Shan Fang tempted.
But, Xiao Yu Zhu, this distantly related paternal aunt, also told Xiao Shan Fang, based on her humble birth, to want to marry in as Shen Ting Yuan’s main wife, it was absolutely impossible, needing to think of a way. This first step was just letting Shen Ting Yuan learn of Xiao Shan Fang’s existence, so that in the future, when he takes in a wife, he won’t go as far as to not even know what she looks like.
As such, Xiao Shan Fang specially picked today to come over, wanting Shen Ting Yuan to take her to that lantern festival to play. Unfortunately, she wasn’t from the Chu capital, thus didn’t know that the influential and noble families of the Chu capital never attend the lantern festival.
Xiao Shan Fang thought to herself, if she can become close with this Shan Lan Chi, then perhaps Shen Ting Yuan will be willing to get to know her more. Thus, Xiao Shan Fang squeezed out a smile, saying to Shen Lan Chi, “Turns out, it’s younger cousin Lan Chi. I just came to the capital not long ago, so haven’t seen the lantern festival before, thus wanted older cousin Ting Yuan to take me to broaden my horizons.”
Shen Lan Chi listened and asked with a superficial smile, “Who are you?”
Xiao Shan Fang’s smile remained the same and answered, “It’s only natural that younger cousin Lan Chi isn’t familiar with me. I’d just arrived in the capital not long ago. My name is Shan Fang. Younger cousin can just call me ‘older sister Fang’.”
“Oh? Where did this address of ‘older sister’ come from?” Shen Lan Chi asked again, “My surname is Shen, my mother’s surname is Ji. The daughters of the Ji family have never married into the Xiao family before.”
“This…….” Xiao Shan Fang’s smile slightly stiffened, saying, “I’m your aunt-in-law Shen second madam’s relative. She’s my paternal aunt.”
“Paternal aunt?” Shen Lan Chi pretended to have a sudden realization, nonchalantly saying, “So, you’re a daughter of the capital’s Xiao family. But, the daughters of the capital’s Xiao family, I all recognize. And there’s only three, Xiao Bao Heng, Xiao Bao Hua, and Xiao Bao Yu. Which one are you? Is ‘Shan Fang’ a courtesy name?”
Xiao Shan Fang was dumbstruck, embarrassingly smiling, her voice gradually reducing, softly saying, “I’m not from the capital’s Xiao family. I’m from Huaixi’s side. In the early years, we’ve long divided the family from them. I’d just arrived in the capital this year………”
However, she just heard Lu Zhi Ning coldly sneer and say, “The second branch’s distantly related relative also dares to claim to be cousins with Shen second miss? Among her relatives, there’s even the imperial bloodline, are you worthy?!”
Lu Zhi Ning was cousins with Shen Lan Chi. Hearing this uncouth girl from the countryside in front of her also call Shen Lan Chi ‘younger cousin’, she instantly ignited in anger inside.
Xiao Shan Fang was just a straightforward person to begin with. Getting looked down and coldly mocked by Lu Zhi Ning, she immediately retorted in anger, “So what if I’m not! Could it be that I even care for her to be my younger cousin? Really don’t know how to speak!”
After coming to the capital, Xiao Shan Fang had been staying at Xiao Yu Zhu’s place the whole time, not knowing that powerful nobles were everywhere in the Chu capital, and that she couldn’t afford to offend anyone, just knowing that this place was just like her old home, able to let her say whatever she wanted.
What kind of status did Lu Zhi Ning have? Seeing her get offended, the servant girls and mama behind Lu Zhi Ning immediately put on a stern face and started lecturing Xiao Shan Fang one after another.
“Really insolent! To actually dare offend Jiangxia Junzhu!”
“Where did this wild girl come from? To actually dare put out big words in front of the junzhu!”
Seeing the situation, Shen Ting Yuan hurriedly put down the painting brush and said, “Younger cousin Zhi Ning, I also don’t recognize this Miss Xiao, but for Miss Xiao to offend junzhu here, that is the An Duke Manor’s fault, thus Ting Yuan will apologize in her place.”
“What are you apologizing in her place for?” Shen Lan Chi said, “Whoever offended junzhu needs to bear the consequences on their own, what is a bookworm like you coming up to ask for a punishment for?”
Getting lectured by his younger sister, Shen Ting Yuan was a bit embarrassed.
When Xiao Shan Fang heard these servants say ‘junzhu’, she was already frightened to the point of losing her soul, and without a second word, just knelt down to kowtow, performing the rite of bowing to the ancestors. Her posture was extremely exaggerated like the clown role in the plays begging for forgiveness.
Seeing how she was kowtowing, Lu Zhi Ning’s servant girls all started laughing out loud. A mama said, “Junzhu, no need to be angry with this uncouth girl. Later, just inform Shen first madam, having this girl driven out of the manor.”
Lu Zhi Ning also nearly laughed. She complained to Shen Lan Chi, “How come your family invites just about anyone into the manor? Having grown this big, I’ve never seen someone this stupid before!” After saying this, she tugged Shen Lan Chi’s hand and said, “Let’s go somewhere else for a look.”
Shen Lan Chi was also somewhat helpless.
In the past life, these people of the Xiao family had long gotten thrown out by Shen Ting Kang, so where was there anything to do with Xiao Shan Fang? If not for running into Xiao Shan Fang here, she would’ve thought that it was also the same in this life. Who knows what was wrong with Xiao Yu Zhu, to actually keep these poor relatives around, don’t know what kind of scheme she was up to.
In any case, Lu Zhi Ning has already spoken. This Xiao Shan Fang will most likely get thrown out tonight, so whatever.
Shen Lan Chi softly agreed with Lu Zhi Ning, and as soon as the two of them walked a few steps, Shen Lan Chi just discovered that her older brother also quickly caught up, closely sticking behind them, leaving together in a hurry, not even putting away his painting scroll on the table, like as if avoiding some monster.
After walking for a while, Shen Ting Yuan leaned in by Shen Lan Chi’s ear and quietly asked, “Younger sister, the lantern festival that Miss Xiao spoke of, is it fun?”
“What are you asking me for?” Shen Lan Chi rolled her eyes at him, “Mother won’t let me go.”
“You can’t hide from me.” Shen Ting Yuan said, “You’ve secretly gone several times already, even going together with the heir. If you don’t obediently tell this older brother, then be careful, this older brother might have this matter told to mother.”
“Sigh, you…..” Shen Lan Chi was slightly annoyed, grumbling, “How come you suddenly want to go to that lantern festival?”
Shen Ting Yuan slowed down his steps, his fair face slightly red as he muttered, “Noth…..nothing. Merely thinking that someone……..might like this kind of lively event.”
[1] An idiom meaning something that never changes no matter what.
[2] One of the traditional chinese colors, it can also be referred to as Consort Yang pink/red, reference to Yang Guifei. Although in this novel, the author uses another name for it, which is Xiang Consort pink/red. Xiang Consort refers to the two daughters of the legendary Emperor Yao. The two of them later also became the two consorts of the Sage Emperor Shun. According to the legends, the two consorts drowned in the Xiang river, thereby becoming the goddess of the Xiang river. Also, I’d like to note that almost all records regarding them have their names written together, like they are never mentioned separately, to the point where certain legends and records referring to them may even regard them as a single person.
[3] Kesi refers to a technique in chinese silk tapestry. See the wiki page for more.
[4] Example of the pipa lapel below, the drawn diagram credits to the Classics Anew Academy.
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