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Princess Yong Chun
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 first madam wants the craftsmen to build a wall between the first branch and second branch. From here on, the people of the two branches can’t freely come and go between the two branches. Anyone that wants to go in and out of the first branch all must report to Baorong Courtyard and obtain Shen first madam’s permission first.
However, Shen Lan Chi was on good terms with Shen Ran. As such, she specially instructed the servant woman guarding the door, when encountering Shen Ran, no need to report, just directly let her in like before.
Last time, thanks to Shen Ran, Shen Lan Chi was able to learn that Xiao-shi even had her sights set on Shen Ting Yuan, this bookworm, attempting to have her distantly-related niece married over. Now, Xiao Yu Zhu has lifted the rock and smashed her own foot. That Xiao Shan Fang has become Shen second master’s concubine. This pair of aunt and niece can finally happily stay together.
In the following period, there were rumors in the capital stating that the Banjaro envoys have already passed through Qing Pass and will very soon reach the capital, entering the palace to meet the emperor.
This Banjaro Kingdom was located in the western regions, a faraway land with unfamiliar people. It’s rumored that the people of Banjaro, regardless of men or women, all have exotic features, brown hair, green eyes, and a tall stature. As such, the people of the Chu capital were all full of curiosity towards these foreign guests. Before the delegation even arrived, that Banjaro mask has already spread in popularity for quite a while, with people selling it along the streets everywhere, don’t know if it’s true or not.
Chu and Banjaro haven’t opened trades for a long time. The last time they exchanged letters was even two dynasties ago. At the time, Banjaro wasn’t even called this name, only leaving behind the name ‘foreign guest’ in the history books. Now that the Banjaro Kingdom has sent envoys, his Majesty naturally will attach great importance to it, specially ordering the Ministry of Rites to nicely receive them, so as to display the hospitality of a superior country.
Since they need to entertain, then there can’t be a lack of song, dance, and hunting. His Majesty had the intention to show off, so asked Princess Yong Chun to display her elegance in front of the Banjaro envoys.
Princess Yong Chun was merely sixteen years of age. Her birth mother was Hui Consort Wang. This Hui Consort Wang has become old, her beauty having faded, thus wasn’t favored. But, because she has been in the palace for a long time, her conduct steady, she was still considered respected. She was neither close to Empress Shen nor curried favor with Noble Consort Liu, normally just focusing on raising her daughter. Over ten plus years of careful upbringing, she had Princess Yong Chun raised more tender than a flower, even letting her possess incredible dancing skills, being the best at dancing ‘Rainbow Dress and Feathered Robes’[1].
When Princess Yong Chun learned that she needed to dance before the foreigners, she was somewhat unhappy. One must know, she’s not a dancer[2]. Even if dancing, she will only dance for those of noble and esteemed status such as his Majesty and her consort mother. For a foreign envoy to watch, she would feel that it was beneath her status.
She was unhappy inside, so wanted to drag a few people to accompany her, wanting to pick four noble daughters in the capital to practice with her and perform together. Chu Emperor only cares about showing off in front of the Banjaro envoys, so naturally wanted it to be as grand as possible, thus immediately agreed. This Princess Yong Chun wasn’t reserved either, immediately just asking the Liu, Shen, and Ji family to respectively send over a young lady. Additionally, she even specially asked for Jiangxia Junzhu Lu Zhi Ning to also come and accompany her.
Shen Lan Chi clearly remembered, in the past life, it was also these four families’ young ladies that performed together with Princess Yong Chun. At the time, she was already engaged to Lu Zhao Ye, stuck at home learning the rules all day, so the Shen family had Shen Tong Ying sent over to Princess Yong Chun’s side. Shen Tong Ying had the intention to show off and actually overshadowed Princess Yong Chun in front of the delegation, making Princess Yong Chun displeased.
Now that the one engaged to Lu Zhao Ye is Shen Tong Ying, then presumably, the one to enter the palace to accompany the princess will be her, Shen Lan Chi.
Sure enough, in the afternoon, Shen first madam had Shen Lan Chi called to her room, informing her of this matter.
“Although it’s dancing with the princess, you’re just accompanying her. You absolutely mustn’t try to steal the limelight.” Shen first madam held Shen Lan Chi’s hand, carefully instructing, “That Princess Yong Chun grew up in the palace, so inevitably a bit pampered. You must yield to her a little. Thinking about how you’ve always lived a life of luxury, never once suffering any grievances before, mother is just worried that you’ll be unwilling to restrain your sharp edge and throw your temper around in front of that Princess Yong Chun……”
Shen first madam endlessly rambled on. Shen Lan Chi was slightly amused, saying, “This daughter knows and has an understanding inside. If Princess Yong Chun has a temper, then this daughter will just treat it as coaxing a little sister.”
Right at this time, the servant woman guarding the door came, saying that the second branch’s yiniang has something to request of Shen first madam.
“Which yiniang?” Shen first madam was a bit surprised, “Is it that Fang-yiniang that recently entered? If she has something, go look for their branch’s main wife, what is she coming to me for?”
“It’s Hua-yiniang, the one from third miss’s side.” The servant woman said.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Shen first madam thought for a good while before finally recalling what Hua-yiniang looked like, nonchalantly asking, “What’s the matter?”
“This one had asked, said that she’d heard that second miss will enter the palace, thus wanted to ask madam if second miss can take third miss with her, so as to let third miss also learn the bearing of a noble and broaden her insights.” The servant woman said.
“Sigh, this matter, I don’t really have a say.” Shen first madam said, “This rule of one young lady from each family was decided by Princess Yong Chun. If she wants Ran’er to enter the palace, then she will have to ask Princess Yong Chun. I don’t have that big of a face. Just reply to her like this and let her go back.”
Once that servant woman went back, Shen Lan Chi said, “It’s not impossible to take younger sister Ran into the palace. That Princess Yong Chun, I’d met once, extremely easy to talk to, her personality also straightforward.”
“Really a naive girl.” Shen first madam placed down the teacup and scraped her nose, “Hua-yiniang is normally cautious and timid, where would she have the guts to come look for me? Perhaps, there’s someone giving pointers behind her, just waiting to accuse me of ‘not abiding by the rules’. If we really have a shu-born young lady sent to the princess’s side, then that will really be making a fool of ourselves.”
After Shen first madam instructed a few words, she just ordered the servants to pack the luggage for Shen Lan Chi, sending her into the palace.
Shen Lan Chi although didn’t know how to dance,
When Shen Lan Chi entered the palace, she first went to pay her respects to Empress Shen.
Although her daughter-in-law has changed, Empress Shen was still intimate with Shen Lan Chi. Just, in Empress Shen’s eyes, there was more or less a bit of regret, even blurting out from time to time “how great would it be if Lan’er had been the one chosen”, completely disregarding Shen Tong Ying’s face.
When she arrived at Hui Consort Wang’s Zhaohua Palace, Shen Lan Chi saw the other three girls——-Jiangxia Junzhu Lu Zhi Ning, Ji family’s second di daughter Ji Fei Xia, and also the Liu family third miss Liu Ru Yan.
Carefully thinking it over, aside from Liu Ru Yan, the rest were actually all related to her in some way. Even that Liu third miss perhaps will become her future sister-in-law.
Inside Zhaohua Palace, the water clock[3] was long and flowing, the walls red with black tiles. The young ladies stood before a red sandalwood mica screen[4] carved with flowers, staring at one another. Because they were all familiar, they mutually greeted each other and just casually started chatting. Lu Zhi Ning hadn’t been in the capital for a long time. Hearing others talk about interesting stories of the capital, her eyes glowed with envy, directly grumbling that Jiangxia, that kind of rural place, really was boring to death.
The Liu family and the Shen family being at odds, this matter, everyone was aware of. As such Ji Fei Xia and Li Zhi Ning had the intention of giving Liu Ru Yan the cold shoulder, just pulling Shen Lan Chi to chat intimately. Liu Ru Yan stood to the side alone, appearing very pitiful. Shen Lan Chi, on the contrary, would actually say a few words to Liu Ru Yan from time to time.
Liu Ru Yan wore a pink dress with scattered branches of orchid and cassia today, the contrast making her elegant face have a slight blush. She had a secret. Seeing Shen Lan Chi, she would just think of that incident during the lantern festival. As such, she would always think of a way to avoid Shen Lan Chi’s eyes. If she were to accidentally meet Shen Lan Chi’s eyes, her face would instantly turn red, unknown as to what she thought of.
This Liu third miss was always outspoken and bold normally, very rarely blushing. When Ji Fei Xiao saw, she was full of confusion, secretly muttering to Lu Zhi Ning, “Don’t know what that Liu three is thinking, continuously avoiding older sister Lan Chi, even blushing like that. It’s not like older sister Lan Chi is a man!”
Very soon, Princess Yong Chun arrived. She was about the same age as Shen Lan Chi. Although her appearance wasn’t outstanding, she succeeded in having a slender and delicate figure, charming and adorable. Seeing the four young ladies, the princess waved her hand, saying with a smile, “Zhaohua Palace is stuffy, so let’s go to the imperial gardens.”
The girls followed Princess Yong Chun to a small pavilion in the imperial gardens. The princess ordered her palace maid to set up a few pearwood low stool, then securely placed a crimson velvet beauty cushion before explaining the idea she thought of in detail.
Turns out, Princess Yong Chun had long heard that Shen Lan Chi didn’t know how to dance, only able to play the qin, If they want Shen Lan Chi to dance, then they will have to teach her from the beginning. Therefore, she smacked her forehead and had a brilliant idea, wanting the four noble young ladies to dress in men’s clothes, and like the stars cupping the moon, have her surrounded, each playing a musical instrument in the four corners.
“Majestic or not?” Princess Yong Chun was extremely excited, saying, “Really extremely majestic!”
Princess Yong Chun although was saying ‘majestic’, she nevertheless had her own little calculations inside. These noble young ladies before her, each were prettier than the last, not to mention this An Duke Manor’s second miss, who has always been known as ‘the pearl of the capital’, outshining the mass. If she were to let these people steal the limelight, then that would really be stifling. That’s why, it was better to let them all dress up as men. In this way, everyone’s eyes will only have her alone.
Since the princess has spoken, who would dared to disobey? The noble young ladies agreed and respectively went back to change.
Lu Zhi Ning and Ji Fei Xia came back the earliest. The two of them were both awkward, extremely uncomfortable, and could only randomly talk about something, bringing up the matter of marriage. Princess Yong Chun was curious and also started chatting with the two of them.
“Jiangxia Junzhu doesn’t live in the capital, so naturally don’t know how popular my older tang brother is. Similarly having the Ji surname, yet my older brother can’t even compare to a finger of his.” Ji Fei Xia tugged her sleeve and quietly said.
“I’m not even familiar with all the people in the capital!” Lu Zhi Ning said with a laugh, “However, I feel that Ruan family’s young master is an elegant and handsome young man.”
“Could it be that junzhu likes that Gentleman Ruan?” Ji Fei Xia said.
“What nonsense are you saying? My consort mother already said, I will be marrying in Jiangxia.” Lu Zhi Ning said.
After another half a cup of tea’s time, Shen Lan Chi also came out from the palace hall. She wore a yuhua brocade long robe with a straight seam[5], her black hair tied up, appearing elegant and carefree. Among the people present, she was the most like an unrestrained and easy-going young master.
“What are you all talking about?” Shen Lan Chi asked with a smile.
This smile of hers was truly like the clear moonlit sky, like brilliantly blooming flowers. The young ladies all couldn’t help but be stunned. Even Princess Yong Chun somewhat regretted letting her go change clothes.
“We’re asking junzhu if she has someone she likes.” Ji Fei Xia laughed a little and had the conversation turned towards Shen Lan Chi, asking, “What about sister Lan Chi? Do you have someone you like? We’re all good sisters, so certainly will help you keep a secret.”
“I naturally have someone.” Shen Lan Chi slowly said as she smiled towards the young ladies, “The person I like, has the surname Lu, far away in the horizon, yet near before the eyes.”
When the girls heard, they immediately blanked, their faces quietly turning red.
“Far….far, far in the horizon, yet near before the eyes?” Ji Fei Xia nervously said.
“Sur…..surname, surname Lu?” Lu Zhi Ning nervously said.
Lu Zhi Ning squeezed her sweaty palm, secretly saying to Ji Fei Xia, “No wonder that Liu third miss was staring at my younger sister with a strange look in her eyes. Turns out, my younger cousin is actually this good-looking in men’s clothes.”
Seeing the little beauties before her blushing at her, Shen Lan Chi’s old bad habit came up again. She steadily sat down and drank a cup of tea, lifting her brow as she calmly said with a smile, “This person I like, is pure and kind, deeply passionate, good at martial arts, and also extremely good-looking.”
After saying this, she hooked her lips and gazed towards Princess Yong Chun, her slender fingers using the tea lid to stroke the jade green porcelain cup[6], neither quickly nor slowly.
Princess Yong Chun slightly inhaled a breath, her heart thumping like a little deer, “Go….good….good at dancing……”
(T/N: In chinese, martial arts 武(wu) is pronounced the same as dance 舞(wu), hence the misunderstanding here, although SLC probably did it on purpose.)
The Shen second miss before her was dressed in men’s clothes and was actually even more dazzling than her two older brothers, making her unable to turn her eyes away.
Right at this time, they all heard a majestic and heavy voice come through, asking, “Yong Chun, what are you up to this time?”
On the other side of the quiet pavilion, a cut of a bright yellow robe appeared. Turns out, his Majesty had arrived. Aside from the two eunuchs leading the way in front, there was a grand party of people behind Chu Emperor. At the very front was Noble Consort Liu. She was wearing a winding pearl pattern gold zhuanghua satin luo dress[7] with a pair of pure white hairpins in her hair, extremely noble looking. Behind the noble consort stood the very popular second prince, and next to the second prince was Shanyin Wang family’s Lu Jing Hua, as well as……….
Zhennan Wang Manor’s Lu Qi Yang.
The heir was playing with the thumb ring on his hand, looking at them with a smile that was not really a smile.
At once, Shen Lan Chi directly shot up from the stool.
[1] Referring to the dance accompanying the renowned musical composition from the Tang dynasty by Emperor Xuanzong. He’s the emperor that had the love affair with Yang Guifei. This musical composition came about because he had a dream about immortal fairies. The rainbow clothes and feathered robes refer to the clothes of the immortal fairies.
[2] In this context, it’s referring to dancers in same sense as songstresses and entertainers, who in ancient times had very low status.
[3] It’s used to tell time. The inside is filled with water at the top and slowly flow out at the bottom. The bar is used to indicate time based on the water level at the bottom.
[4] See below.
[5] This is called a zhi duo, the author actually misspelled it here. It’s zhi duo (直裰), what the author wrote: 直缀. This was an outfit that came about during the Song dynasty, commonly worn by scholars or as a casual outfit at home. The name comes from the very straight vertical seam in the middle. The author although misspelled the name, the meaning of the term they used is correct 直(straight) 缀(to sew/to stitch).
[6] Added this in case someone doesn’t understand what this part means. This is normally how one would drink tea, but SLC is also playing with the lid and the cup like this.
[7] There’s a lot to unpack here, but firstly, the winding pearl pattern, I assume its like those circular patterns. The next part is the zhuanghua satin. I’m actually not that familiar with textiles, so this is just a rough explanation. Zhuanghua refers to a very specific weaving technique used to create patterns on fabric, as seen below.
This method has existed since the Han and Tang dynasty, and later became more wide-spread in the Song and Yuan dynasties. It involves using colored woof/weft(the horizontal thread in weaving) to create decorative patterns on the base. The last part is the luo dress which just refers to dresses made of light silk.
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your footnotes are always so interesting! idr if I mentioned it before when reading other stories you translated, but it’s genuinely nice to know what the author is referring to in historical novels like this. before, reading other translated works/MTL, I really didn’t understand at all. you make it very clear and concise. thank you for your hard work 🙏
I’m glad they’re helpful! As someone who loves ancient history, I’ve always felt that it’s important to explain references and share knowledge to let others understand the story better, even if it’s for some minor detail.