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Testing
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 Ting Yuan absolutely didn’t expect that things would become like this.
He and Liu Ru Yan met during the old duke’s birthday banquet. Afterwards, Liu Ru Yan went behind her mother’s back and prepared a generous gift, secretly coming to thank Shen Ting Yuan. The two of them became acquainted from there. Liu Ru Yan admired his artistic talents in calligraphy and painting, while Shen Ting Yuan felt that this Liu third miss was straightforward and candid, different from others. Back and forth, they mutually developed feelings.
Shen Ting Yuan knew, the Liu family and the Shen family were like water and fire, so for the sake of Liu Ru Yan’s future, he should obediently cut ties with Liu Ru Yan. But, Liu Ru Yan was unwilling, even calling him a coward. This caused Shen Ting Yuan to become more daring, keeping the matter from his family as he continued to meet with her.
Who would’ve thought that he would actually get caught red-handed by his younger sister at the lantern festival.
Never mind that he got caught, his younger sister was even together with that Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir. This was even more serious than his affair with Liu Ru Yan———-Previously, his younger sister had said that she had feelings for the heir, thus didn’t want to marry the crown prince. Shen Ting Yuan thought that she was just joking. Looking at it now, it was actually real, so how could he not be surprised?
This heir normally never flaunt his abilities, appearing to be idle and lazy, yet silently took a fancy to Shen Lan Chi. One really shouldn’t underestimate him.
In the past, his grandfather once said, Lu Qi Yang wasn’t a fish of the pond[1]. He thought that his grandfather was getting old, no longer accurate in judging people, thus he would have a wastrel viewed as a rough diamond waiting to be polished. Looking at it now, his grandfather wasn’t wrong——When it comes to winning the heart of a maiden, the heir truly wasn’t ‘from a small pond’.
Shen Ting Yuan had Shen Lan Chi pulled aside, putting on the stance of an elder brother and lecturing, “You’re still not engaged yet. To be hugging and intimate with a man like this, how is it appropriate? Although no one saw, it’s still too improper.”
Shen Ting Yuan nagged a whole bunch, but Shen Lan Chi just used the corner of her eye to look at him. Once he finished, Shen Lan Chi teased, “Ayooo, older brother even dares to come lecture me? I thought we’re grasshoppers on the same boat right now?”
Shen Ting Yuan immediately shut his mouth.
The siblings were indeed grasshoppers of the same boat, neither of them can afford to fall off.
Seeing that he can’t convince Shen Lan Chi, Shen Ting Yuan changed to glare at Lu Qi Yang. He did his best to put on a mean look, but unfortunately, he was a weak scholar to begin with. No matter how mean-looking, he was unable to be that fierce, instead like a frustrated little wife with a red face, “Heir, this kind of behavior isn’t considered that of an upright gentleman. Lan’er grew up in the boudoir, not knowing the ways of the world. As such, she would often have some mistakes in her conduct. She has made a mistake, but how can heir just let it be?”
Lu Qi Yang let out an “oh” and said, “So what?”
Shen Ting Yuan argued, “Since it’s wrong, then should correct it. Lan’er is still young, so doesn’t understand. How can heir take it seriously?”
Lu Qi Yang said, “How do you know she doesn’t understand?”
Shen Ting Yuan replied, “How can one not know this?”
Lu Qi Yang: “I think young master Shen doesn’t know.”
Shen Ting Yuan raised his voice, “I do know!”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Qi Yang: “Eh, you know what? Don’t scholars have that saying, ‘How do you know the joy of a fish if you’re not a fish?’ How I see it, you’re even less than a fish.”
Shen Ting Yuan became even more anxious, saying with a stutter, “This…….this! All in all, heir can’t continue down the wrong path. To have dealings with an unmarried girl, it goes against etiquette……”
Lu Qi Yang revealed a confused look, “So Gentleman Shen also understands this principle? But, I feel, Liu third miss over there seemingly isn’t too happy hearing you say this.”
Shen Ting Yuan choked up, his voice becoming smaller, “I, I, I’m aware that this kind of behavior truly isn’t good, the wrong course of action…….”
Lu Qi Yang said, “So what if it’s wrong?”
Shen Ting Yuan was stifled.
He forgot, it was impossible to reason with Lu Qi Yang, this kind of first class wastrel.
Shen Lan Chi who was to the side couldn’t bear watching Shen Ting Yuan get ridiculed like this, thus opened her mouth, “Enough, brother, you don’t need to think about those pointless things either. Didn’t you say so before, if Lan’er genuinely likes the heir, you won’t oppose?”
“That’s……that’s…..” Shen Ting Yuan’s words were unclear, stammering, “This older brother thought that younger sister was joking!”
“Who’s joking with you?” Shen Lan Chi laughed and said, “What? Only you’re allowed to go on a date with the Liu family young miss, while I’m not allowed to see the heir? What kind of logic is that? How about we both help each other out, and no one tells mother and father, each happily going about our own way, how about it?”
What can Shen Ting Yuan say? He has never been good at speaking since childhood, unable to win against this clever younger sister. In front of Shen Lan Chi, he would always be the one to suffer a loss. As such, he could only sigh, powerlessly saying, “Since younger sister has already thought of everything, this older brother can only agree.”
A moment later, Shen Ting Yuan recalled: ‘This Lu Qi Yang ultimately is someone they’ve known since childhood, so presumably won’t mistreat younger sister. Perhaps, after some time, the Zhennan Wang Manor will invite someone to the door to propose marriage.’
Thinking of it like this, it actually wasn’t a bad idea.
Compared to that crown prince who doesn’t know how to care for others, the Zhennan Wang heir who they were familiar with perhaps will be better to his younger sister.
Seeing Shen Ting Yuan give in, Lu Qi Yang raised his brows, revealing a smile, saying, “It’s good that big brother-in-law has agreed. For once the lantern festival is lively, so it’s best to not waste time. With the beauty by the side, how can big brother-in-law bear to not spend more time with her?”
Hearing him call out ‘big brother-in-law’ again and again, Shen Ting Yuan’s face turned green and red, at a loss for what to do. He wanted to get angry, but didn’t dare to get angry, very much having a guilty conscience.
Truly taking advantage of the situation, obtaining an inch and wanting a foot!
While Shen Ting Yuan was still irritated on this side, on the other side, Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang have already gone far.
The fine night was scenic, the thousand households as bright as day. The streets filled with colorful lights, reflecting upon the roof tiles above the eaves, turning it red, like burning red wax, or weeping red lotus. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, Shen Lan Chi stared at Li Qi Yang’s back, wanting to ask something, but unable to bring herself to ask.
Thinking for a moment, she put on that mask Lu Qi Yang got for her, before finally asking, “When will you be leaving the capital?”
“En?” Hearing how her voice was soft, indeed somewhat pitiful, he lowered his head. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see her face, also unable to see the reluctant expression that he’d imagined, only able to see a mask coated in gold lacquer.
“Still early. At the very least, need to wait until after your older sister marries the crown prince before I can leave the capital with peace of mind.” Lu Qi Yang answered.
Shen Lan Chi slightly relaxed a breath.
When Shen Tong Ying marries, that will already be the winter of next year, still early. Very soon, the Banjaro Kingdom will dispatch envoys to the capital to meet his Majesty. In the past life, the Second Prince Lu Zi Xiang, got attacked by assassins at this time and died. Afterwards, the country became Lu Zhao Ye’s. In this lifetime, she has already thought of a plan. Not only will she let Lu Zi Xiang live, she will further let that Lu Zi Xiang owe the Shen family a life-saving debt.
There was still so many things to do, and there was still a while before Lu Qi Yang leaves the capital, so why start worrying now?
Just…….
Why did Lu Qi Yang insist on leaving the capital only after Shen Tong Ying marries?
She’d died once, so knew that on the day of Shen Tong Ying’s wedding, perhaps there will be a disaster.
In the past life, while supervising the country, wielding great power in hand, Lu Zhao Ye took the opportunity to eliminate the Shen family altogether. In this life, it’s hard to guarantee that his Majesty won’t fall ill again like in the past life, and there’s no guarantee that Lu Zi Xiang can safely survive. If Lu Zhao Ye were to seize the power of the regent again, then everything will reenact. As such, she knew that the day Shen Tong Ying marries the crown prince perhaps will be a restless night. But, why would Lu Qi Yang………
Between the sparks of the flintstone, she recalled that day the second prince returned to the capital, Lu Qi Yang also went to receive the second prince. Afterwards, the Ruan family’s incident, he also came on time, everything like having help from the gods. She once let him guess, in that so-called ‘dream’ of hers, whether or not she married him, yet he just said, ‘the one she married wasn’t him’, saying with such certainty, as if personally witnessing.
Before, she’d never paid attention, but carefully thinking it over now, there was actually mysteries everywhere.
Suddenly, she had a thought, unknown as to whether it was sorrowful or laughable——-This person before her, could it be that he was the same as her, also having returned to the past?
This thought was like a flame. Once lit, it just spread all over, burning non-stop. She clenched her sleeve, her mind muddled, one moment thinking of the kiss Lu Qi Yang printed on her forehead in the past life, then in the next moment, thought of the smiling face of the person beside her, her heart in a mess, beating like thunder.
If it’s true…..
If it’s really like this……
Her heartbeat suddenly sped up, as if about to burst through her throat.
Calming her nerves, Shen Lan Chi said with a smile, “A few days ago, Lan’er heard a lost anecdote, does heir have the interest of hearing?”
“Let’s hear it.” Lu Qi Yang said.
“In the west district, lived a poverty-stricken girl. This girl, although beautiful, her family was nevertheless too poor to even afford food.” She gazed at the lanterns by the street, her voice slightly trembling, “Her parents made the decision, having her promised to a nearby wealthy family as the young madam. Just, that wealthy family’s young master wasn’t considered benevolent. In two days after having her married in through the door, he just killed her.”
“Oh?” Lu Qi Yang listened, revealing a slightly confused look, “When did this happen? I actually didn’t know that the west district had this big of a case occur. Did Ruan Ying take over it?”
“I also don’t know when this case occurred. Just, a few days ago, my older cousin came to visit and told me this story as a pastime.” Shen Lan Chi faintly smiled, “That girl had a playmate in the past, very young, seemingly a traveling peddler. When he heard that his childhood friend tragically died, he charged to their door, demanding an explanation. However, that peddler went too late, just seeing a corpse.”
“Really a pair of tragic lovebirds.” Lu Qi Yang clicked his tongue.
“Heard older cousin say, even upon her death, that girl never once knew that the peddler liked her. Turns out, that peddler was aware that his family was poor, unable to marry such a beautiful girl, thus had the word ‘like’ kept in his mouth for twenty years.” Shen Lan Chi paused for a moment, softly saying, “I feel this peddler is a good person, but my older cousin insist that he isn’t good. What does heir think?”
She pinched her fingers, pretending to be angry, saying, “If you dare to agree with my older cousin, then I won’t be through with you.”
“…….Ah? How come this fire burned onto this young master?” Lu Qi Yang furrowed his brow and said, “If I have to say, this peddler really is a downright wimp. This girl got sold to the wealthy family young master by her parents, so how can the rest of her life be good? To not stop earlier, instead waiting until it’s too late, even if rushing out and putting on a look of having deep feelings, if not a coward, then what?”
He cursed, and like as if not satisfied, he lifted his brow again, coldly saying, “The person is already gone, so what use is there rushing out and deeply regretting? A coward is just a coward, and deserves to die a miserable death, getting his corpse pecked out by the wild vultures.”
Hearing him curse this ruthlessly, Shen Lan Chi hurriedly stopped him, “Hey, why are you thinking about it that much! That guy is perfectly fine, what dying a miserable death, getting his corpse pecked out by wild vultures……what nonsense are you thinking. Afterwards, he went and lived out a good life, living to a hundred.”
Lu Qi Yang let out an ‘oh’, his eyes turning as he hooked his lips into a smile, asking, “I agreed with your older cousin, so now, are you going to be ‘not through’ with me?”
“……Right.” Shen Lan Chi grabbed his hand, squeezing it, muttering, “You actually agreed with my older cousin and not me. Now that I’m angry, I won’t let you go. First punish you…….for the entire night, have to hold my hand.”
[1] This is an idiom referring to someone who has bigger aspirations, thus not limited to just a ‘small pond’.
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