< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Winding Honeysuckles (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!
Noble Consort Liu secretly glanced at that hairpin she was previously wearing, seeing that the decorative grass pattern was indeed a three-petal honeysuckle pattern! Didn’t this precisely coincide with Hong Wu’s prophecy of ‘the bearer of the winding honeysuckle being the soaring dragon’?
“Your, your Majesty!” Noble Consort Liu’s complexion was deathly pale. She immediately knelt down on the ground, saying, “This consort knows nothing about this hairpin! Just happening to wear it……”
“What a perfect ‘coincidence’!” Despite seeing Noble Consort Liu distraught and in a sorry state, the Chu Emperor didn’t have any of his former sympathies.
He originally thought that ‘Nan Wang’ was related to Zhennan Wang, but looking at it now, this Liu family also has big ambitions!
Noble Consort Liu moved on her knees, her tears streaming down, anxiously begging, “Your Majesty, this consort doesn’t know! This consort is just a woman of the imperial harem, so how can one become that ‘soaring dragon’? Your Majesty! Your Majesty…..”
Noble Consort Liu anxiously called out, yet the Chu Emperor was unmoved.
Yes, Noble Consort Liu, a mere woman of the imperial harem, indeed can’t become a dragon, but it isn’t impossible for the Liu family behind her.
He indeed once favored Noble Consort Liu, but that was because of Ying Cai Zhi. Now that there was Liu Ru Hua in the palace, this Liu Nan Feng wasn’t that needed anymore. Furthermore, in the future, when Xiang’er ascends the throne, the first thing he needs to eliminate for Xiang’er is precisely his maternal family, the Liu family.
“Noble Consort Liu is inauspicious, so shouldn’t hold the noble consort title!” The Chu Emperor swung his sleeve and said, “On this very day, she will be removed from the noble consort position and move to the south palace!”
Once the order came down, Noble Consort Liu immediately turned deathly pale. She was unwilling to give up, saying, “Your Majesty, could it be that you’re not going to consider old sentiments in the slightest?” She moved forward on her knees, pulling the Che Emperor’s robes and saying, “This consort’s feelings towards your Majesty are genuine, your Majesty also once said that you’re willing to spend this life with this consort!”
Recalling the old vows, the Chu Emperor’s expression didn’t ease in the slightest.
The one he wanted to spend his life with has always just been Ying Cai Zhi. This Consort Liu was merely benefiting from Cai Zhi’s glory, so what right does she have to say this kind of thing?
Seeing the Chu Emperor’s expression not changing, still an angry look, Noble Consort Liu was heartbroken to the extreme. She wanted to turn to Lu Zi Xiang for help, but suddenly recalled that Lu Zi Xiang was currently serving in the sacred palace halfway up the mountain, simply unable to come to the mountaintop. As for the Liu family, they simply didn’t dare to say anything, fearing that the fire will burn onto the entire Liu family.
She merely picked a hairpin, how could she have known that this decorative grass pattern would run into trouble?
Noble Consort’s body swayed, but thinking again, she instantly understood the Chu Emperor’s intentions——He was afraid that after Zi Xiang ascends the throne, the maternal family will block his path, thus decided to take action now!
As soon as she figured out the key points, Noble Consort Liu’s heart turned to ashes, actually directly passing out. Because of the emperor’s raging fury, no one dared to go support that Noble Consort Liu. The once glorious favored consort in this moment actually collapsed onto the ground, in a very sorry state.
It was still Lu Qi Yang who was to the side that was benevolent, saying, “Her Highness has passed out, quickly go find the imperial physician.”
Seeing the situation, Hong Wu couldn’t help but wring his hands and sigh. However, although the money that Lu Zhao Ye promised has flown away, for better or worse, he didn’t lose face. There was ultimately a ‘bearer of winding honeysuckles’ here. It can also be considered doing something for Lu Zhao Ye. Presumably, that crown prince will still generously reward some money.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Hong Wu, since you say that we shouldn’t present a dance, then this time, we’ll do as you say.” The Chu Emperor waved his hand and said with a sigh, “Just hope that the gods can bless my Great Chu with good weather for good harvest!”
• • •
Shen Lan Chi was the ‘Goddess of Lingshan’, so arrived early in the temple, putting on the gold feathered robes, just waiting to dance before the gods. Hearing that there was a sudden change at the altar in front, she wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
That Hong Wu’s prophecy had occurred before in the past life. Just, at the time, the person wearing the ‘winding honeysuckles’ was Zhennan Wang Lu Xian. And the one wearing lotus flower patterns was instead Noble Consort Liu. His Majesty first suspected Noble Consort Liu. Then, Noble Consort Liu pushed it onto Zhennan Wang.
Because there were rumors in the capital saying that the children were chanting and singing ‘Nan Wang appears, North Chu cold’, his Majesty gradually became more suspicious of Zhennan Wang, wanting to dismiss Zhennan Wang from his military post. Zhennan Wang has always been loyal and devoted, so upon hearing this matter, he nearly fell ill from anger, voluntarily handing over half of his military power.
In this lifetime, that ‘bearer of winding honeysuckles’ became Noble Consort Liu. Letting Noble Consort Liu switch places with Zhennan Wang was also not bad.
After hearing that she doesn’t need to dance before the gods anymore, without a second word, Shen Lan Chi just started taking apart her hair. She’d just taken out a hairpin when she heard the windowsill of the wing room get knocked on, along with Lu Qi Yang’s voice coming from the outside, “Is this young master’s servant girl here?”
It was Lu Qi Yang.
Shen Lan Chi opened the window and asked, “How’s Noble Consort Liu?”
Lu Qi Yang saw her and was shocked for a moment.
For the sake of dancing before the gods, Shen Lan Chi had dressed up grandly. Lu Qi Yang just felt his eyes filled with the splendor of jade flowers, dazzling and remarkable. He turned away and said, “Noble Consort Liu presumably won’t be well. She got stripped of the noble consort title, and in the future, can only live in the cold palace[1].”
Shen Lan Chi revealed a shallow smile and said, “Wasn’t I right? This Noble Consort sure enough can’t be a noble consort anymore.”
When she sent someone to deliver that hairpin to Noble Consort Liu, she originally just had the intention of trying. She didn’t feel that Noble Consort Liu will definitely wear that hairpin. Who knew, Noble Consort Liu really just stepped straight into this trap. Presumably, the matter of Liu Ru Hua entering the palace had provoked her, making her somewhat indignant, just wanting to show off her might in front of Liu Ru Hua and surpass her.
Seeing Shen Lan Chi still smiling, Lu Qi Yang softly muttered, “What are you removing this hairpin for? Isn’t it quite pretty….”
“I….I don’t need to dance before the gods anymore, so why continue wearing this cumbersome outfit?” Shen Lan Chi said.
“After practicing so hard for that long, it’s a bit of a shame to not dance at least once. It would also be wasting the efforts of the two mamas that your mother hired.” Lu Qi Yang said.
“Where would I go to dance? I can’t just go before his Majesty.” Shen Lan Chi said.
“Then, come with me.” Lu Qi Yang beckoned with his hand outside and said, “I found a good place, blessed by the heavens, with no one else around.”
Shen Lan Chi was somewhat doubtful, yet still went out and followed him.
The sacred mountain was vast, built with three to four sacred palaces and observation towers, in addition to new and old temples of several dynasties erected in the mountain. When the Chu Emperor ascended the throne, in order to display his status as the son of heaven, he also once gave order to abandon the previous temple, and ordered the craftsmen to separately build a new temple.
Lu Qi Yang led her down a small path, before seeing the previous dynasty’s temple that has already been vacant for a long time.
Seeing the towering vermillion walls, the brightly shining glazed green tiles, the several dozen long steps leading down the mountain, the new leaves filtering through the sunlight, reflecting upon the white jade steps, it truly was breathtaking. Although this temple was luxurious and grand, it was extremely empty. It originally was supposed to be a place for worshiping the gods, yet there was a lock on the door, and even a dusty broom propped up in font.
If one day, the gods were to take a wrong turn, coming to this temple of the previous dynasty, afraid they would fly into a fury.
“Just dance here.” Lu Qi Yang pointed to the place where that broom was placed, saying, “Fitting of the scenery.” After saying this, he used his feet to sweep aside a few fallen leaves on the ground, then rolled up the hem of his gown and sat down with his legs crossed.
“This is a dance for the gods!” Shen Lan Chi frowned, softly saying, “Just letting you see isn’t worthwhile at all.”
Although saying this, she still did as Lu Qi Yang said, standing before that tightly locked door. With a flick of her slender jade fingers, she picked up that broom and placed aside.
Seeing her in a fancy brocade gown holding a broom in hand was very funny, amusing Lu Qi Yang so much that he nearly laughed out loud.
However, once Shen Lan Chi placed down the broom, he didn’t dare to laugh anymore, just feeling that the girl before his eyes was like a celestial being, beyond the mortal world.
Her hair was like a pile of crows, the jeweled crown entwined with flowers. Several fine golden leaves sprouted out from the crown, like the gleaming ripples in the clear and crystalline water. The feathered clothes were light and thin, layered with muslin and silk. Whenever the gentle breeze blows, it would drift like the flowing cloud, nearly flying into the sky.
Gracefully raising her two arms, her supple body leaned back. Her slender arms slipped out from the sleeves, her palms like holding a lotus.
There was no ceremonial music in the surrounding, only the soft rustling sound of the breeze sweeping the steps. She quietly twisted her waist, her clothes softly making a rustling sound. Landing in Lu Qi Yang’s ears, he felt this sound was like the sound of the leaves quietly withering in the autumn nights, fleeting and untouchable.
This dance was originally for the gods, so didn’t have any seduction or fawning. Although her dancing posture was beautiful and graceful, her lips were tightly pressed together, not smiling at all. The vermillion gate was a deep red, the eaves full of glazed tiles. The green reflection of the mountains moved along the wind.
Lu Qi Yang stared at her, the smile on his face also gradually fading, turning into a solemn look.
When the dance ended, she folded her two hands and assumed a posture of worship, with her two knees kneeling on the ground and her head lowered.
This pious posture was originally for the gods. But, in this very moment, the one she was kneeling before was Lu Qi Yang.
Lu Qi Yang didn’t get up, accepting this kneel that originally should’ve been offered to the gods. He lifted his hand and supported her by the palm, saying, “In my view, this dance of yours shouldn’t be dedicated to the gods.”
Shen Lan Chi was bit confused, lifting her head and asking, “What does heir mean by this?”
“What I mean is……in my eyes, all the gods, buddhas, the three pure ones[1], the four sages, are all inferior to you.” Lu Qi Yang held her hand, saying in a low voice, “This dance, why don’t you dedicate it to yourself.”
The front of the temple fell silent for a good while. Shen Lan Chi didn’t say anything the whole time, seemingly repeatedly pondering over his meaning.
A while later, she who was originally holding a graceful pose suddenly went limp, directly sitting on the ground and saying, “So exhausting! Dancing such a piece, my toes are about to get worn out. Can’t believe that Princess Yong Chun actually needs to come dance every year, really not easy! Marrying off to the Banjaro Kingdom, she can finally be freed from this.”
This look of sitting on the ground with her two hands propped against the ground completely didn’t have that dignified air from a moment ago, instead appearing somewhat casual.
Hearing her chatter nonstop, Lu Qi Yang also couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Yes, yes, yes, you’re right. It was my fault, insisting on seeing you dance.”
Right at this time, he suddenly sensed that there seemingly was someone behind the tree. He furrowed his brows as he picked up a rock off the ground and threw it towards that tree branch. The tree branch got struck by the rock, lightly shaking. A few leaves flutteringly fell from the tree.
From behind that tree, a person suddenly walked out.
It was Liu Yu.
Liu Yu had his eyes lowered, indifferently saying, “I just happened to pass by here. There’s no need for heir to be this anxious.”
The Zhennan Wang heir has already been roped in by the second prince, so he won’t set himself against Lu Qi Yang.
[1] The three pure ones refer to the three highest deities in taoism, respectively Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, and Daode Tianzun.
T/N: I realized afterwards the author is a bit inconsistent with Zhennan Wang’s name. It’s either Lu Xian or Lu Xian Ren at times, and I sometimes forget to check for consistency because I just end up translating directly what’s written. At least it’s not a completely different name.
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
