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Noble Title Dispute (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!
The weather was already cold. Baorong Courtyard had lost its greenery from the spring and summer, yet it was still extravagant and beautiful. The underground furnace had the lounge warmed up nicely. As soon as the door curtain was lifted, the warm air just directly rushed out from the inside. Shen first madam was sitting together the servants, calculating the matters for the new year. Hearing Hong Que say, “the young miss has come”, Shen first madam put away the brush and paper, turning around with a smile.
“Lan Chi came? Just wanted to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
Shen first madam waved away the servants, telling Shen Lan Chi to sit by her side, “That Song family’s daughter, called Song Yu Rong, how’s your relationship with her?”
Hearing the name ‘Song Yu Rong’, Shen Lan Chi suddenly recalled this person’s identity——-Song Yan De and Song Yan Li’s di-related younger sister, the young lady of the military household Song family, and also her older sister-in-law in the past life, Shen Ting Yuan’s wife.
Shen Lan Chi immediately rang with alarm bells inside.
In the past life, Shen Ting Yuan obeyed his parents’ orders, marrying Song Yu Rong as his wife. The two of them had never spoken before prior to marrying, and after marrying, they also appeared rather ordinary and indifferent, not considered loving. Shen Ting Yuan liked literature and art, having no big aspirations in officialdom, but that Song Yu Rong was someone that was eager to excel, always hoping that her husband can be more ambitious. Because the couple’s interest didn’t align, they weren’t able to get along that well.
At the time, Shen Lan Chi was already close to marrying. She originally hoped that after she marries, Song Yu Rong can become half a daughter in her place and continue to take care of her mother. But, after marrying in, that Song Yu Rong always carried a gloomy appearance, pulling a long face all day. Never mind taking care of Shen first madam, things were far from what Shen Lan Chi had thought.
Song Yu Rong and Shen Ting Yuan perhaps weren’t suited to be forced together.
Furthermore, the Song family had very high prestige in the military, so they also weren’t suited to form marriage ties with the current Shen family.
“That Miss Song, I’ve met before. She always says she wants to marry a good man that can save the world and harbor the world in his heart.” Shen Lan Chi answered, “Don’t know how many in the capital can meet this requirement of hers?”
Shen first madam listened and nodded her head in contemplation.
What she’d heard at the various banquets was also this kind of information. Regardless of how Madam Song has her daughter boasted into the skies, Shen first madam always held a bit of doubt.
The Song family although matched in terms of status, but if the person that marries over isn’t to Shen Ting Yuan’s liking, then it will be the gains not making up for the loss.
“Oh, is mother looking for a sister-in-law for Lan’er?” Shen Lan Chi tugged her mother’s sleeve and asked.
“Just a young lady of the boudoir, yet even starting to stick your nose in your elder brother’s marriage arrangement?” Shen first madam lightly tapped her forehead, saying with a smile, “Aren’t I doing this for you? If your older brother doesn’t get married, how will you get married? Yet, your brother just has to be a difficult one. Every time calling him over to have a look, he would always reject, really not scared of his younger sister becoming an old maid.”
Hearing this, Shen Lan Chi’s heart skipped a beat again.
How can he not reject?! Of course he would reject! The person in her brother’s heart was an unmentionable existence!
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Your mother, I, keep thinking whether or not Shen Ting Yuan, this brat, has someone he likes? But, if he does, why won’t he honestly tell me?” Shen first madam sighed, saying with puzzlement, “Aside from those few from the Liu family, all the girls of throughout the capital city, who can’t our Ting Yuan marry? As for those Liu family girls, forget it, not a single one a good thing.”
Shen Lan Chi: ……
Oh mother, is this mouth of yours blessed with foresight?
To want to let her brother successfully get married, looks like she will still need to work hard for a while…..
The path in front was difficult.
Shen first madam didn’t really think that much, still continuing to nag, “If your brother can’t find a wife, then you can’t marry either. What will we do if that Zhennan Wang heir runs away? Such a good man, perhaps there’s already people in the capital eyeing him.”
Shen Lan Chi was slightly shocked inside, shocked by her mother’s straight-forwardness.
Her mother who’d been lecturing her, telling her “not to mess with the heir” during the spring, now already has Lu Qi Yang viewed as her future son-in-law. The disparity before and after was quite big.
Speaking of marriage, Shen Lan Chi suddenly thought of someone.
“Mother, there’s something this daughter wants to ask you to help with.” Shen Lan Chi said, “That second branch’s shu daughter, Shen Ran, has helped this daughter a few times. I figured that her life isn’t easy living under second aunt-in-law, so asking if mother can help out and let her marry a bit better?”
Shen Ran was from the second branch after all. It wasn’t convenient for Shen first madam to extend her hand into the second branch. But, if the first branch were to step in, they more or less can let Shen Ran marry a bit better, which can also be considered helping her escape from the second branch, this fire pit. This, for the first branch, was merely like lifting a finger, and in this way, they can also repay Shen Ran for saving Shen Lan Chi.
“I can, but she’s still young. No matter what still need to wait another two years before it’s her turn to marry.” Shen first madam also remembered the times Shen Ran had helped Shen Lan Chi, so happily agreed.
Shen Lan Chi chatted with her mother for another while before leaving Baorong Courtyard.
She carefully calculated the days and discovered that Lu Qi Yang’s birthday was almost here, precisely fifteen days before the end of the year. In the past life, she gave Lu Qi Yang a jar of fine wine. That jar of wine had been prepared since spring. Right now, it was still sitting in the storeroom. But, in this life, if she were to use that wine as a present again…….
She more or less felt that it would be a bit lazy.
The past life’s birthday and this life’s birthday, they were two different matters. If she were to use the same present to brush him off, then she would somewhat feel guilty.
Don’t know what else that guy wants?
Might as well personally go ask him.
• • •
The military camp outside of the Chu capital was the place where the guards of the capital were usually stationed. Looking around, one could see the towering barracks, the intimidating armor, and a group of soldiers, all in strict and proper order.
Suddenly, a loud and crude shout came from the commander’s living quarters.
“Fcking bullsht!”
The soldiers all sharpened their gaze and remained silent, inwardly aware that the Zhennan Wang, Lu Xian Ren, had came again.
Zhennan Wang held heavy military power in hand, but the Capital Guards were not under his command, but rather, under the Song family’s jurisdiction. Just, Zhennan Wang had an undisciplined son. For the sake of letting this son improve, Zhennan Wang frequently had him sent here to train.
This heir of the Zhennan Wang Manor was an esteemed member of the imperial clan. Coming to Song Yan De’s place, who would dare to really grind him down? It was merely putting on an appearance, pretending to let Lu Qi Yang follow along and learn some things.
In the past, Lu Qi Yang would escape whenever he could. Song Yan De would also turn a blind eye, pretending to not see. Fortunately, the heir’s temperament had gotten better recently, actually frequently coming to the military camp.
Even so, Zhennan Wang was still dissatisfied, lecturing the heir whenever he got the chance, like now for instance.
Inside the barracks, Zhennan Wang’s intimidating face was completely scrunched, his eyes fixedly staring at Lu Qi Yang before him, shouting, “How big of a matter can you have? Just with you being idle all day, what good things can you be doing!? Let you learn, yet you’re unwilling to learn. Let you memorize some books, yet you’re even worse than a five year old little child! But when it comes to buying things others don’t want, you’re rather generous!”
Seeing the Zhennan Wang fly into a rage, Song Yan De hurriedly went up to smooth things over, saying, “Wangye quell your anger, wangye quell your anger. The heir has improved a lot lately. Those military books, he’s all able to take in. When it comes to deployment and formation, he’s also able to answer a little.”
Song Yan De looked at this father and son pair before him, having somewhat of a headache.
His second younger brother Song Yan Li worked by the Second Prince Lu Zi Xiang’s side. That second prince, unknown as to what he was thinking, actually said that he must recruit this Zhennan Wang Manor. He himself also got instructed by his father to nicely receive this father and son pair.
Lu Qi Yang was merely a wastrel, so wasn’t a problem, but this Zhennan Wang, once angered, was very difficult to deal with.
Getting lectured by his father, Lu Qi Yang was somewhat dejected. He quietly argued, “What ‘things others don’t want’? Those are all treasures. When selling in the future, one certainly will be able to make big money.”
“Make big money? Does your old man lack money?”
“Didn’t say that it will definitely be sold! Can’t I give it away as a gift to someone?”
“Give to who?” Zhennan Wang coldly snorted, “Give to those good-for-nothing wastrel friends of yours?”
Lu Qi Yang’s eyes spun, softly whispering, “That you-know-who next door……”
Zhennan Wang blanked for a moment, immediately recalling that pretty girl that came to their place last time. In the next moment, Zhennan Wang, who was originally incomparably furious, suddenly was like the clear sky after a thunderstorm, like flowers blooming in spring.
“Give to someone?! Good!” Zhennan Wang rubbed his hands, saying in excitement, “You’re right to give! Wonderful!”
Lu Qi Yang lightly relaxed a breath.
This father of his really is difficult to brush off.
Even if having lived two lifetimes, in front of his father, he was still unable to be at an advantage.
Right at this time, Zhennan Wang who was still happily smiling just now suddenly changed his expression again, shouting, “This won’t do! Nearly got duped by you! You wanted to secretly sneak out again today. Your brother Song already told me! This matter needs to be punished!” After saying this, Zhennan Wang stood up, pointing outside, saying, “Go move the army rations!”
Upon hearing this, Song Yan De who was to the side hurriedly said, “Having the mules move the rations is enough. In such freezing cold weather, why let the heir personally go? Wangye, please quell your anger.”
“Precisely need this little bastard to personally go!” Zhennan Wang said, “Today, unless the gods and deities come to save him, otherwise I absolutely won’t let this little bastard off easily!”
As soon as Zhennan Wang said this, the curtains of the barracks got lifted and a soft female voice came in from the outside.
“Is the heir here?”
Zhennan Wang lifted his head and saw standing under the curtains a stunning beauty draped in a cloak embroidered with flowers. Her fingers that were lifting the curtains were slender and fair like jade, tender and cute. Unknown as to when, it had started snowing outside. The fine snowflakes landed on her dark raven hair and shoulders, quietly blending into a darker color.
Seeing Zhennan Wang also present, she revealed an astonished look. She slightly parted her lips, asking, “Wangye is also here?” Her voice soft and gentle, extremely moving.
Zhennan Wang opened his mouth, then closed it, and then opened it again. Looking to Lu Qi Yang again, Zhennan Wang had a bad feeling.
Today, unless the gods and deities come to save this little rascal, otherwise he absolutely won’t let him off easily.
Now, a deity has come!
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Man, whether it’s the Shen Xing Gu or Zhennan Wang neither of them understand the principle of ebbing and flowing so the emperor doesn’t kill you.
If they had their way and their sons were overtly super good at politics and war respectively it would be a huge problem.