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Political Marriage Resolution (1)
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!
Sun Fu Lin was never a quick-witted person. Having entered the palace for many years, what he relied on was being diligent with his hands and feet, and having a tight mouth, in order to become a eunuch before Empress Shen. Cien Palace’s Liu mama often wants him to be ‘smarter’, but Sun Fu Lin was unable to figure out in what way should he be ‘smart’.
For instance, facing the young miss of the An Duke Manor, how should he be ‘smart’?
Last night, the empress gave Sun Fu Lin a task, wanting him to bring together the crown prince and Miss Shen. But, during the night, the Zhennan Wang heir intruded, disrupting the entire plan, and also ruining this matter.
It would’ve been fine if it was just this, but that Miss Shen just had to be even more difficult to deal with.
Sun Fu Lin clearly remembered, last night, after that Miss Shen finished setting up a game of yezi cards, she grabbed his braid and said, “Eunuch Sun, if you make this miss unhappy, I will just tell empress auntie, saying that the heir was let in by you, and that you, Sun Fu Lin, had been tasked by Noble Consort Liu, wanting to frame the heir, then ruin my innocence. Say, when time comes, will empress auntie believe you, or believe me?”
Her eyes and brows were extremely beautiful to begin with, so when saying these words, her lofty stance was very intimidating, her eye daggers making Sun Fu Lin tremble non-stop.
When he finished listening to Shen Lan Chi’s words, he was scared witless——Empress Shen naturally will believe her own niece and not him. If he really were to make this Miss Shen upset, then afraid, he will have to face the empress’s thundering rage, and his good days will also be over!
Sun Fu Lin felt wronged, but could only promise to help Shen Lan Chi cover up, just saying that the heir came together with crown prince.
As long as the heir and the crown prince both say this, then even if Wang Gui, who was leading the way, has a thousand mouths, he still won’t be able to explain himself.
Sigh, really will have to be sorry to that Eunuch Wang Gui!
After Sun Fu Lin agreed to Shen Lan Chi’s demands, he started playing yezi cards with the three of them. When Empress Shen arrived in Xiwu Pavilion, what she saw was precisely that scene just now——-the four of them enthusiastically playing cards, nothing at all like what the empress had imagined.
Seeing the four of them playing cards, Empress Shen had a strange look, murmuring, “Pl-play what cards? It’s already this late, it’s better to nicely rest.”
“What is auntie looking for Lan’er for?” Shen Lan Chi smiled even more brightly as she asked.
“No-nothing….still remembered just now, but in the blink of an eye, just forgot.” Empress Shen pressed her forehead, saying, “Forget it, this empress will go back first. Why don’t Lan Chi nicely go rest too.”
Empress Shen was somewhat dizzy, getting supported by Liu mama as she went out. Shen Lan Chi bowed and deferentially sent off the empress. When she lifted her head again, her face no longer carried that smile. The card held in her hand was practically about to break in half.
Lu Zhao Ye had a cold look, leaving without a word.
Sun Fu Lin was scared of getting shoved a sock in his mouth by the heir again, so hurriedly grabbed a lantern and ran out after the crown prince, shouting, “Your Highness, let this humble one send you back to the Eastern Palace. This humble one really has nothing to do with this matter. Your Highness please forgive this humble one this time…….”
In merely half a cup of tea’s time, only Shen Lan Chi and Lu Qi Yang were left inside Xiwu Pavilion.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Qi Yang sat down by the table with his legs apart, holding a card between his fingers. He used the card to poke the silver pieces, slowly saying, “I also can’t stay here for long. I’ll be leaving in a bit. Although Empress Shen won’t do anything to you again tonight, it’s still better for you to keep an eye out in the future.”
“Said rather simply, but how is it that easy to accomplish.” Shen Lan Chi said, “She’s the empress, and also my paternal aunt, so how can I casually refute her words? The next time she calls me into the palace, I will still have to come, unless my father becomes resolute for once, not even willing to be the imperial in-law anymore. Only then will I be able to have relaxing days.”
Lu Qi Yang saw the faint helplessness in the bottom of her eyes, also aware that she was stuck in the middle of it, having no other choice.
Seeing her brows slightly furrowed, Lu Qi Yang felt a twinge in his heart, somewhat pitying, just wanting to smooth out the knot between her brows. Thus, he said with a smile, “When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out. There will naturally be a way in the future. If you’re unhappy…..”
After saying this, he hooked his finger towards Shen Lan Chi, motioning her to move closer.
“What?” Shen Lan Chi was a bit puzzled.
“Cheering you up.” He hooked the back of Shen Lan Chi’s neck and lightly planted a kiss on her lips, smilingly saying, “So as to make you happier.”
This kiss was unlike earlier, that long and gentle, but rather, like a dragonfly tapping the water. Yet, it nevertheless made Shen Lan Chi blank. Unknown as to why, she who was usually bold and unfettered by common conventions actually suddenly turned red, just like those girls of the boudoir that just had their first awakening of love.
Seeing the blush on her face, Lu Qi Yang’s mood instantly improved, his annoyance from others peeping at his wife also dispersing.
After smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes, he got up and walked out of Xiwu Pavilion.
Even if such a night, it still peacefully passed.
In the following two to three days, Empress Shen no longer dared to do anything, just meeting with Shen Lan Chi once on the day she will return home. The aunt and niece pair met, but also had nothing to say to one another, the atmosphere very awkward. Empress Shen’s smile that was amiable in the past, unknown as to why, also appeared a bit embarrassed.
Shen Lan Chi didn’t plan on keeping her mouth shut. Once she returned home, she immediately told her mother about this matter.
When Shen first madam heard, she felt conflicted inside.
For the Shen family to be able to become an imperial in-law, Empress Shen’s contributions cannot go unnoticed. If they were to tear faces with her, then no one will get anything good out of it. Furthermore, between sister-in-laws, it was never good to say too much. If she were to rashly go whisper in her husband’s ears about Empress Shen, perhaps it will even make her husband unhappy.
“Mother knows.” Shen first madam clenched her teeth and said, “I knew it, she still has ideas towards you. In the future, when she calls you into the palace again, I’ll just say that you’re sick. Mother knows that you feel wronged inside, but the empress is ultimately of esteemed status, so we have no choice but to endure.”
Shen Lan Chi nodded and said, “This daughter understands.”
To be able to let her mother know that this empress paternal aunt isn’t a good one, and that one must be vigilant and raise one’s guard, it can also be considered to not be in vain.
• • •
The Banjaro delegation stayed in the capital for ten days before leaving to return home. During this trip to Chu, the Banjaro Kingdom not only offered up gold, silver, treasures, and foreign slaves, they further settled on thirteen treaty clauses with Chu, agreeing to open trades between Great Chu and Banjaro, so as to establish a long-lasting friendship.
Aside from this, the envoys still had one other extremely important matter—-
Several days ago, the Banjaro envoy presented a document to the Chu Emperor, stating that they wanted to ask for Princess Yong Chun, Lu Rou Yi, on behalf the Third Prince of Banjaro, Prince Ajindo, to be his wife.
Towards this matter, the Chu Emperor was rather troubled.
Letting Princess Yong Chun marry to a faraway foreign country, he more or less was somewhat reluctant inside. But, that Banjaro Kingdom was also extremely important, and must not be offended. Additionally, Prince Ajindo had gotten injured in Chu, suffering from an attack, so more or less, the Chu Emperor needed to give the Banjaro Kingdom an explanation. If he were to directly reject on the spot, it would inevitably lack the air of a superior country.
Right when the Chu Emperor was worrying on his own, unknown as to how Noble Consort Liu found out about this matter, she immediately bravely volunteered help his Majesty resolve this dilemma.
“That prince may not necessarily like Yong Chun. Perhaps, it’s merely wanting to marry a noble daughter of our Great Chu. If your Majesty is reluctant to let Yong Chun marry, then switch to an imperial clansman, or daughter of a minister, crowning with the imperial surname and having them marry over. But, that prince is of esteemed status after all, so the candidate picked for this political marriage also needs to be of extremely noble status, not losing to Princess Yong Chun.”
Noble Consort Liu carried a charming smile as she spoke to the Chu Emperor.
“Oh?” When the Chu Emperor heard, he was extremely interested, “And surveying throughout the capital, which noble daughter does beloved consort feel is suitable?”
“This….this consort isn’t sure.” Noble Consort Liu’s eyes spun, coquettishly smiling and saying, “However, this consort feels that the Shen family’s daughter is extremely good. Never mind that her status is extremely noble, her appearance is also that outstanding. If she were to marry to the Banjaro Kingdom for our country, then no matter what complaints the prince has, and no matter how much he wants to marry Yong Chun, he still won’t be able to pick out any faults. Her Shen family has already produced a crown princess, enjoying all the wealth and glory, so they should ought to let a daughter share the burdens for your Majesty.”
When the Chu Emperor heard, he inwardly laughed.
How could he not understand Noble Consort Liu’s little thoughts?
The Liu family and the Shen family have been at odds for a long time. Noble Consort Liu naturally doesn’t hope for the Shen family to be better off. That Shen Lan Chi was peerlessly beautiful, no matter who she marries, she will all be a good pawn that can rope in the other party. If this kind of meticulously raised daughter were to marry to a foreign country, then it will undoubtedly break the spirit of the Shen family.
However, so what if the Shen family’s spirit breaks?
Based on the Shen family’s avaricious and insatiable ways, no matter who this Shen Lan Chi marries, she’s all but a mere pawn. Rather than letting the Shen family benefit, it’s better to have her married off to Banjaro, letting the entire Great Chu benefit, also leaving behind a good name in the history books.
The Chu Emperor smiled and said, “Beloved consort is rather smart.” After saying this, he didn’t say more.
Seeing the Chu Emperor say this, Noble Consort Liu also relaxed.
If this Shen Lan Chi doesn’t disappear far away, then she ultimately won’t be able to relax. Although Xiang’er somehow got engaged with that Ji family second miss, but afterwards, Shen Lan Chi also ended up saving Xiang’er once, so it’s hard to guarantee that Xiang’er won’t be tempted again.
If there’s anyone to blame, then just blame this Shen Lan Chi for being born with such seductive beauty, causing Xiang’er to be seduced by her for no reason. By marrying away to Banjaro, such a faraway place, she won’t be able to seduce Xiang’er anymore!
When Noble Consort Liu exited Chu Emperor’s imperial study, she saw Lu Jing Hua and Lu Qi Yang who just happened to pass by outside. She didn’t have any good feelings towards these two, so pretended to not see them, getting on the sedan chair and returning to Guangxin Palace.
Lu Jing Hua and Lu Qi Yang happily chatted as they headed towards Hui Consort Wang’s Zhaohua Palace. Afterwards, what followed was that scene from a few days ago——
“How come brother Qi Yang came to visit today? Can’t be…..can’t be because I’d secretly snuck out of the palace that day?”
“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……..”
T/N: I’m assuming the second part of this chapter is a flashback and not in chronological order with the first part. All of this happened around the same time when Shen Lan Chi entered the palace on the first day, just we’re finally seeing this from another pov.
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