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Tong Ying’s Wedding (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!
The crown prince’s wedding was near, so the capital was naturally busy.
Although the plague in the north made people apprehensive, the northern regions were ultimately very far away. On the other hand, the Eastern Palace’s wedding ceremony was genuinely occurring before one’s eyes. Because of this, the people in the capital were all waiting to join in on the excitement, hoping to soak up some of the imperial family’s festive air.
Before the wedding, word already started spreading among the people about how that future crown princess was peerlessly beautiful, possessing a high and noble status.
The people outside were all bubbling with excitement, but the An Duke Manor wasn’t the least bit joyous.
Shen Xin Gu took his madam to his father Shen Rui’s place and carefully stated his plans, wanting to have the An Duke Manor handed over to his younger brother Shen Xin Shu to manage. And in the future, the An Duke’s title will also be given to his younger brother to inherit.
Shen Rui was squatting by the seedbed in his courtyard tending to a pot of herb. When hearing these words, he suddenly dropped the scissors in his hand and shouted, “Outrageous!”
Seeing his father flying into a rage, Shen Xin Gu slightly lowered his head, and without changing his look, he said, “Younger brother has saved my life several times. If he really wants this An Duke Manor, then I will just give it to him. It isn’t necessary to make things awkward for one another over a noble title. Furthermore, his Highness the Crown Prince will be in a tight situation in the future, precisely when he needs the An Duke Manor’s name to aid him.”
When Shen Rui heard, he laughed and said, “This old man doesn’t care about the crown prince and whatnot. If you let old two inherit the family, what will your real elder brother Xin Gu say? In the future, when this old man passes away, going to the underworld, how will I explain to him?”
As he said this, he was already somewhat furious, a look of flying into a violent rage.
Shen Xin Gu’s death ultimately left behind a thorn in his heart. Moreover, Shen Xin Gu’s passing also caused Madam Wu to suffer a heart attack, hastily passing away. This knot was unable to come apart no matter what.
When Shen Xin Gu heard, he hesitated a little. Pausing for a moment, he said, “Father, second younger brother was also a purely kind person in the past. If I were to have the family given to him, perhaps his conscience will awaken again……..”
“This grown of a person, yet still this weak and indecisive, numbskull!” Shen Rui stomped his foot. A while later, he coldly sneered, “Fine, fine, fine, since you want to have the An Duke Manor given to your younger brother, then this old man will enter the palace to meet with his Majesty today, just as you wish!”
After saying this, Shen Rui kicked over the pot of herb he’d been carefully tending to and returned to his room.
Seeing this situation, Shen Xin Gu sighed, saying to Shen first madam, “Father’s temper is hard to predict. I’m already used to it. However, if able to have the An Duke Manor given to younger brother, that is also good, so as to avoid having too much animosity between us as brothers, causing trouble for his Highness the Crown Prince in the end.”
He originally didn’t want to be in this kind of predicament with his younger brother. Even if dividing the family, that was also just for the sake of protecting his children. Who could’ve predicted that his younger brother would actually be this desperate, greatly having the intention of overturning the entire chessboard. Therefore, he might as well have this An Duke Manor given back.
In the afternoon, Shen Rui cleaned himself up and entered the palace.
After Shen Rui met with the emperor and left the palace, a news suddenly came from the palace——-Shen Rui had the An Duke Manor’s noble title returned to his Majesty!
This noble title was something that countless powerful and renowned clans in the capital dreamed of day and night, the treasure that the ancestors obtained through generations of hard work. For those that possess a noble title, they will all have sons fighting over it with all their might in their home, cupping it in the palm, hating that they can’t carefully preserve it like a pearl. If a family can have the horizontal signboard of a duke’s manor hung above the door, then it would really be bringing honor to the household.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, Shen Rui actually had this duke’s title returned, not wanting anymore!
This was practically no different from having the treasure in one’s hand given away, or throwing gold ingots worth millions into the river. No one expected that Shen Rui would actually do this kind of shocking thing.
When Shen Xin Gu learned of this, he was also very astonished, feeling extremely anxious inside.
For father to do this, it certainly must be because the grudge in his heart was too deep, rather to give up this noble title than to let his younger brother inherit it.
If his younger brother were to find out, afraid……his resentment towards their first branch will grow even deeper.
He originally wanted to repair his relationship with his brother, but who knew that things would turn out like this!
Shen Xin Gu immediately wanted to go see his younger brother, but Shen Xin Shu already learned of the news, shutting his doors and refusing to meet, directly stating that the two of them have already divided the family, so no need to maintain a brotherly relationship.
Even Lu Zhao Ye seemed to be furious——–Lately, he has been summoning his aides into the Eastern Palace daily. But, today, the eunuch that came to call them simply didn’t come to Shen Xin Gu’s place, let alone invite Shen Xin Gu to meet with the crown prince.
Thinking it over, Shen Xin Gu knew that the crown prince must have become suspicious of him———At such a critical juncture, where one would panic at the slightest movement of the wind, the An Duke Manor decided to express their goodwill towards his Majesty, returning to the noble title. Wasn’t that just waiting to leave a path of retreat, unwilling to completely stand with the crown prince?!
Shen Rui’s move of burning the jade and the stone together[1] truly had his many years of calculations all destroyed.
Shen Xin Gu was helpless. Shen first madam urged, “Master, second brother’s family clearly just wants that noble title. Now that the noble title is gone, you’re not the legitimate older brother anymore. This kind of cold-hearted person, why bother with him?”
Seeing the situation, Shen Xin Gu could only dejectedly sigh.
His father Shen Rui was still angry, also shutting the doors and refusing to see him. Shen Xin Gu thus called over his children, wanting to nicely comfort them. Who knew, Shen Ting Yuan and Shen Lan Chi both didn’t seem to care. His son Shen Ting Yuan even appeared as if relieved from a heavy burden.
Shen Xin Gu suddenly recalled that this eldest son of his never liked the imperial court, not having any aspirations in officialdom. Now that their family no longer has the An Duke title pressing down, Shen Ting Yuan also had the weight lifted off of him, so naturally felt relieved.
Just, it’ll be difficult for his daughter.
“Lan Chi.” Shen Xin Gu said to Shen Lan Chi, “Father and mother originally had found someone for you, that Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir. Just, considering that you’re unwilling to marry, also fearing that we might arouse his Majesty’s suspicions, it was thus delayed. Now that we no longer have the An Duke Manor title, afraid our family status is no longer a good match with the Zhennan Wang Manor………If this marriage is lost, don’t be heartbroken. There are thousands of good men in the Chu capital, so there will certainly be someone that’s willing to come ask for your hand in marriage.”
This marriage was entirely arranged by Shen first madam. Shen Xin Gu very rarely asked about it. Some time ago, Shen first madam said that she’d taken a fancy to the heir of the Zhennan Wang Manor’s heir, and after pestering and persuading, Shen Xin Gu finally agreed to this matter, saying that he’s willing to go sound them out.
When Shen Lan Chi heard, she was between laughter and tears, “Father, the heir isn’t the type to care for power and fame, so you can rest assured.”
Shen Xin Gu nodded, but then paused for a moment. Shen Xin Gu suddenly asked in suspicion, “How come you aren’t the least bit surprised? Could it be that your mother already told you in secret? Clearly, just a while ago, your mother came to persuade me about this matter, how come Lan’er seems to already know?”
The hall instantly fell silent. Shen Ting Yuan, Shen first madam, and Shen Lan Chi all turned away their heads in three different directions, pretending that nothing had happened.
Shen Xin Gu had a baffled look, feeling as if the sky had overturned at home. The three of them must have kept something from him, letting him, this head of the family, be the last to know about this matter.
He then recalled the rumors in the capital regarding his birth, originally wanting to console his children, but when the words reached his mouth, he was unable to say it.
Their father having a lowly birth, for them, wasn’t a good thing, so it was better to not explain.
The An Duke Manor’s horizontal signboard was taken down before nightfall. Although their family had lost the duke title, Shen Xin Gu was still a first-rank high minister of the imperial court, so their days won’t have too big of a change. Just, in other people’s eyes, whether or not there was the ‘duke’ title, that was just a world of difference, so inevitable would sigh endlessly.
Shen Lan Chi didn’t care about this duke title. She had other matters to take care of.
• • •
As soon as the morning court session ended that day, Liu Yu who was dressed in his official uniform slowly retreated out of the great hall.
The spring chill was still piercing, the cold wind slightly blowing, making his throat a bit itchy. He lightly coughed.
After exiting the palace, he sat onto his own horse carriage.
The horse carriage slowly swayed, only traveling a few streets before hearing the coachman outside say, “Young master, there’s someone blocking the way.”
Afterwards, it was just Liu Chang’s sarcastic remarks, “As a girl, running out to block the path, how is it appropriate? Shoo, shoo, shoo, our young master is very busy, no time to bother with you.”
When Liu Yu heard, he lifted the carriage curtain and softly said, “Liu Chang, don’t be rude.” Lifting his eyes, he saw Shen Lan Chi with a few servant boys, holding the horse’s reins, having his path in front tightly blocked, a look of wanting to rob him on the road.
Liu Yu slightly straightened his body, saying in a low voice, “What does Miss Shen want?”
Pausing for a moment, his line of sight landed on Shen Lan Chi’s clothes and said, “……This time, I didn’t dirty your clothes.”
Shen Lan Chi unconsciously glanced at her own clothes and said, “Don’t know if Gentleman Liu still remembers what happened during the Banjaro delegation’s reception banquet? I although have little power, I still once saved the second prince’s life.”
Liu Yu’s expression didn’t change, indifferently saying, “What about it?”
“Currently, it’s troubling times. What will soon take place, presumably Gentleman Liu is also clear inside. I shamelessly came just for the sake of ‘exploiting a favor to demand repayment’, only asking if his Highness the Second Prince can extend his hand and preserve my father and brother.”
Hearing this request of hers, Liu Chang instantly jumped up, angrily saying: “Really a bold request! Preserve your father and brother? Neither family nor friend, why should my young master protect people from your Shen family? Isn’t that just giving oneself trouble?!”
“Liu Chang.” Liu Yu lightly shouted, letting his attendant shut his mouth. Shortly after, Liu Yu pulled his coat tighter, leaning against the carriage and saying, “I although am not talented, I nevertheless don’t want his Highness to end up with a reputation of not knowing to repay a favor. Just, you although had saved his Highness, this debt isn’t deep enough, not enough to make his Highness preserve your father and brother.”
Shen Lan Chi’s heart tightened, instantly becoming a bit anxious. Her mind spun, hurriedly beginning to search her memories for events in the past life. Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.
Shen Lan Chi pulled the reins and coldly said, “I naturally know this isn’t enough weight. But, if I were to say that I can let your prince accomplish a great feat, winning the heart of the people, would you be willing to agree?”
[1] Burning the jade and stone together is an idiom meaning total destruction, or to destroy something indiscriminately.
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