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The Brothers’ Childhood (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!
After dividing the family, the second branch just started up their own furnace, thoroughly separating with the first branch. This was Xiao-shi’s first time becoming the true matriarch of the household. At first, it was still novel for the first two to three days. But, once she’d examined the account books in detail, she started worrying again.
Although when dividing the family, Shen second master had demanded some fields, shops, and storeroom treasures from the first branch, but such days were ultimately unable to compare with the past. Without the extremely wealthy An Duke Manor backing them, this branch of theirs just appeared much poorer. Those extravagant days of squandering money in the past afraid were forever gone.
Furthermore, in the estate outside of the capital, there was still the second branch’s eldest son, Shen Ting Zhu.
Shen Ting Zhu was mentally unstable, and raising such a young master that can practically be considered ‘useless’, it naturally will cost a large sum of money.
Right now, Xiao-shi even absurdly hope that the crown prince can, because of Shen Tong Ying’s disfigurement, break off the engagement——In this way, even if she can’t put together a hundred and twenty lifts of dowry, despite racking her brains, there won’t be that many people in the capital laughing at their family.
With a hundred annoyances pressing down, Xiao-shi tossed and turned at night, unable to fall asleep. But, there just had to be a Fang-yiniang that just married in not long ago next door playing the qin throughout the night, pretending to be elegant, making her even more annoyed.
On this day, there was finally a good news——Empress Shen passed on a message, saying that the crown prince pities Shen Tong Ying’s disfigurement, unable to bear breaking off the engagement, so will marry her as planned.
When this news reached the Shen family second branch, it made Xiao-shi smooth out her brows, as if a giant rock was suddenly lifted off her chest. She had the intention of going to the palace to thank Empress Shen, but Empress Shen kept using the excuse of feeling unwell to decline meeting with her. Xiao-shi entered the palace a few times, but was all unable to see Empress Shen and could only return home in disappointment.
What Xiao-shi didn’t know was that Empress Shen at present was already in a mess.
Her two older brothers have divided their family, so inevitably will gradually become estranged in the future. For Empress Shen, this matter had thousands of detriments and no benefits.
But, she has also watched the two branches come to this point, fully aware that the matter of dividing the family cannot be turned around.
Between these two branches, it was naturally her eldest brother’s branch that was more important. Now that Shen Xin Gu and Shen Xin Shu have become estranged with one another, and the crown prince marries Shen Xin Shu’s daughter, then she, as the younger sister, afraid will also get viewed as an enemy by Shen Xin Gu.
How can it be like this!?
Empress Shen hardened her heart and directly had Lu Zhao Ye invited into the palace, saying to Lu Zhao Ye, “Crown prince, this empress knows that you have feelings for Lan’er. Seeing how Lan’er’s marriage arrangement still has yet to be settled, perhaps she still has you in her heart, just feeling conflicted. You pitying Tong’er and still choosing to marry her is already considered extremely benevolent and magnanimous. If you were to marry another side consort, she certainly will understand…..”
Before Empress Shen could finish, she just heard a sneer.
She lifted her head and saw Lu Zhao Ye with the corner of his lips slightly hooked, his eyes containing a hint of contempt.
“Imperial mother, you want to let a woman like Shen Lan Chi be a concubine?” Lu Zhao Ye opened his mouth, his voice carrying faint mockery.
“This empress…..this empress doesn’t really mean it that way, just randomly mentioning. Besides, the consorts of the Eastern Palace are ultimately different from ordinary families, so how can they be considered mere ‘concubines’?” Empress Shen forced a smile, “Before your imperial father received the mandate of heaven, he’d also once took in a side consort…….”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Zhao Ye didn’t answer and just coldly stared at her.
As such, Empress Shen didn’t speak anymore.
Back then, when Lu Zhao Ye requested to marry Shen Lan Chi, he’d knelt before the emperor, earnestly begging for his Majesty’s approval. She had single-handedly raised Lu Zhao Ye, yet has never seen him this impulsive before.
But what about Shen Lan Chi?
She didn’t want this crown princess position at all, unhesitantly declining this marriage.
Empress Shen withdrew from her thoughts, lifting her eyes and seeing Lu Zhao Ye looking at her with a mocking look on his face. That pair of eyes that were like the cold snow quietly stirred up Empress Shen’s memories, having a certain someone’s face dug out from the depths of her memories.
“Older sister, those that do evil certainly will receive retribution. When one has harmed too many people, one will inevitably sever one’s fate with descendants in this lifetime, unable to leave behind a single child. Do you believe these words? Older sister…”
In the depths of her memory, there was a woman in a tall bun and fine garments that said this to Shen Xin Yi, her voice cold like a spring. That woman’s appearance was cold, her eyes like the never-melting snow of the cold peaks. It was also this pair of eyes that made his Majesty praise her as the immortal fairy of the five clouds[1], difficult to find in the secular world.
This woman’s face appearing in her mind was just like a needle stabbing into her heart. And once she saw Lu Zhao Ye’s face that was similar to that woman’s, Empress Shen just felt that needle in her heart piercing even deeper.
“Since the crown prince is unwilling, then forget it. Just pretend that this empress never mentioned this.” Empress Shen said in a dignified manner.
“Then, this son will take one’s leave.” Lu Zhao Ye said.
Lu Zhao Ye naturally understood, what Empress Shen was worried about.
With the An Duke Manor dividing the family, it has virtually reduced the support behind him.
Although said like this, but if Lu Zi Xiang dies……..
Then, he won’t need the Shen family anymore, regardless of which Shen, all won’t be needed.
Lu Zhao Ye stepped out of Cien Palace, with a trace of ruthlessness emerging on his face. However, this ruthless air very quickly dissipated, returning to his usual cold and aloof demeanor.
He didn’t know that in the Cien Palace behind him, Empress Shen was also harboring other thoughts.
That ‘qilin’ case still has yet to conclude. Because Shen Lan Chi had protected the second prince, and because Shen Tong Ying had gotten her face destroyed by the ‘qilin’, his Majesty temporarily doesn’t have the intention of thoroughly investigating the Shen family. Not only so, his Majesty was also particularly magninmous to Lu Zhao Ye, saying that he will reconsider the crown prince’s marriage with Shen Tong Ying.
Such a good opportunity, how can it be passed over?
Shen Tong Ying has ruined her face, so she was already no longer worthy of being the crown princess. The crown prince is kind, thus still willing to marry Shen Tong Ying, but she, Shen Xin Yi, is unwilling to lose this face, also not wanting to lose her eldest brother’s support.
Thinking to here, a glint of ruthlessness flash by in the bottom of Empress Shen’s eyes. Shortly after, she said to the palace maid, “Help write an invitation for this empress, letting Shen second miss……no, the An Duke Manor’s young lady come to Cien Palace for a short stay.”
• • •
The next day, Zhaohua Palace.
Princess Yong Chun sat upon the little swing, her embroidered shoes slowly sliding against the ground.
She didn’t really go sway the swing, her two hands repeatedly fiddling with the Banjaro mask on her knees. This mask was different from the popular ones in the marketplace. It was more exquisite and beautiful, even inlaid with small pieces of gems, very extravagant and luxurious.
The weather was already cold, the courtyard bare, not having any scenery to admire. However, Princess Yong Chun still swayed around on this swing for an hour. Lu Zhi Ning who was accompanying her was already yawning out of boredom.
“Did you know? Real Banjaro masks shouldn’t have those three red moles. Just, when this mask came to Chu, for the sake of making money, the Chu merchants would thus follow Chu’s customs……”
“I know, I know!” Lu Zhi Ning rubbed her sleepy eyes, drowsily saying, “You’ve already told me three times! I’m already tired of hearing it. Isn’t it just a mask? Why treat it as a treasure?!”
When Yong Chun heard, she was somewhat unhappy, saying, “How is it not a treasure? Does Jiangxia have this kind of mask?”
Lu Zhi Ning said, “How I see it, you’ve gotten bewitched by that Banjaro man. Before the delegation came, you were already making a fuss about wearing this Banjaro mask, making all the girls in the capital wear this ugly mask together with you. Now that, that dummy prince came, he just swept you off your feet with a few words!”
“What dummy prince…..he is stupid, but only I can call him stupid, what are you calling him dumb for?” Yong Chun shot a glare at Lu Zhi Ning, “He’s much more fun than the people in the capital. Imperial father and my older brothers never let me ride the horse all day outside of the city.”
“When have you ever seen a princess playing around outside of the palace all day?” Lu Zhi Ning said, “You’re the one that’s improper!”
Yong Chun was just about to speak when she saw two figures coming over from the corridor. Turns out, it was the palace maid leading over a man.
Outside men were unable to enter the inner palace. Only men of the Lu family would Hui Consort Wang allow to be let in.
Sure enough, that incomer was Princess Yong Chun’s tang brother, Lu Qi Yang.
As soon as she saw Lu Qi Yang, Yong Chun just recalled that day she ran into him at the wonton stall, immediately feeling somewhat guilty. She put away the Banjaro mask on her knees and put on a refined appearance, asking, “How come brother Qi Yang came to visit today?” She paused for a moment and said in a low voice, “Can’t be…..can’t be because I’d secretly snuck out of the palace that day?”
Lu Qi Yang stood under the eaves, saying from a distance, “You are rather smart. I precisely came for that matter. Right now, I’m going to tell her Highness Hui Consort that you and that Prince Ajindo secretly……..”
“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!” Yong Chun panicked, immediately jumping up, and charged towards Lu Qi Yang with her hands stretched out, “Keep your voice down! My consort mother is reading a book over there!”
“You want me to be quieter?” Lu Qi Yang lowered his voice and said, “Then, you need to agree to help me with something.”
“Ah?” Yong Chun’s little face slightly scrunched, somewhat unhappy, “Anything that is detrimental to this princess, this princess won’t do.”
“It’s very simple.” Lu Qi Yang said, “In another ten days, the Banjaro’s delegation will leave the capital. I…hope that princess, you…..”
“What? Ten days?” Yong Chun blanked, her brain just left with this ‘ten days’ deadline, and couldn’t hear the rest of Lu Qi Yang’s words, “How come he’ll be leaving in another ten days? It’ll be winter soon. There’ll be snow outside of the capital city, so the roads won’t be easy to travel on. Why are they in such a hurry……”
Lu Zhi Ning who was next to her couldn’t stand to keep watching, saying, “Naturally it’s because they need to leave the capital before the snow block off the roads, thus would be in such a hurry! If they miss the timing, then it will have to drag out until spring. How can the prince stay for this long?”
Yong Chun’s gaze became somewhat dejected.
“Are you going to listen to me or not?” Lu Qi Yang asked, “If you don’t agree, then I’ll immediately go tell your consort mother right now.”
“Alright.” Yong Chun felt increasingly dejected, “What does brother Qi Yang want to do?”
“The day the Banjaro delegation leave the capital, his Majesty will hold a farewell banquet in the palace. This farewell banquet won’t invite others, only five to six ministers. I’m unable to go, so hope that princess can help me go listen to what his Majesty will say, then relate back to me in detail.”
When Yong Chun heard, she found it somewhat strange.
Who can’t he look for to go eavesdrop, why come to her? It’s not like she was some impressive individual, what if she mishears something, what will she do then?
But, on second thought, even if Lu Qi Yang doesn’t tell her to go, she will still secretly go over on her own, so might as well sell Lu Qi Yang a favor here.
“I’ve agreed to help!” Yong Chun said.
Lu Qi Yang nodded his head, lifting his brow and saying, “Little sister Yong Chun, you better carefully listen to every word. Whether or not your older tang brother can obtain a wife in the future will just depend on how carefully you listen.”
Yong Chun didn’t understand Lu Qi Yang too well, but Lu Qi Yang has always been full of nonsense, so she didn’t take it too seriously either.
Not understanding was just not understanding.
It’s still more fun to play with that big dummy of hers.
• • •
Once Lu Qi Yang finished talking with Princess Yong Chun, he just exited Zhaohua Hall. Shanyin Wang family’s Lu Jing Hua has already waited for him for a long time.
“Brother Qi Yang, what did you want to talk to Yong Chun about?” Lu Jing Hua asked.
“Said some gossip and random nonsense.” Lu Qi Yang answered.
“Did you know, I saw the Shen family young miss just now, that An Duke Manor’s Miss Lan, the super pretty one, heading in the direction of Cien Palace.” Lu Jing Hua’s handsome face turned red, softly whispering, “Brother Qi Yang, say, for Miss Shen to still not be engaged yet, is it waiting for someone?”
Pausing for a moment, Lu Jing Hua started muttering to himself again, “For such a beauty like Miss Shen, her family’s doors should’ve long gotten trampled flat by the matchmakers. To still not have a marriage arrangement at this time, she certainly must be waiting for someone. To actually let Miss Shen pitifully wait, that person really is heartless!”
Lu Qi Yang:……
The Shen family had just divided the family, yet Empress Shen suddenly let Shen Lan Chi enter the palace. What is she planning?
He kept feeling that there was something off.
But, compared to this………
Lu Qi Yang side-eyed Lu Jing Hua, silently muttering—-
——–This brat, who is he calling heartless!!!
[1] This is referring to the five colored clouds, blue cloud, red cloud, white cloud, black cloud, and yellow cloud. Aside from the literary aspects, ancient people also used the cloud’s color to tell one’s fortune or the harvest.
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i mean, LQY has a super secret reason that they can’t get engaged right now (😮💨), which will of course cause all these bees and butterflies to surround SLC. isn’t this his own fault? if they had a public engagement this obviously would mean that people like the crown prince, the empress, the 2nd prince, etc., would all not try to scheme this marriage! picking up a rock and dropping it on your own foot.
Hahahahahaha. For real tho.