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Discussing Marriage (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!
Zhennan Wang angrily smacked him in the back of the head, saying: “Hide ourselves? Hide what you little bastard?! This old man really thought you didn’t have any abilities at all, just a little bastard who only knows to eat and drink. Who knew that you’re this capable, even daring to deceive your own old man!”
“This son was wrong.” This time, Lu Qi Yang deferentially admitted his mistake, “If royal father wants to punish me, then just punish.”
He very rarely addressed Zhennan Wang as ‘royal father’, normally just directly calling him ‘father’ like ordinary noble families, not caring about the rules of the imperial family in the slightest. If one day, he were to seriously call out ‘royal father’, it meant that he had something serious to say.
Hearing this ‘royal father’, Zhennan Wang somewhat deflated.
A while later, Zhennan Wang said, “Forget it, just let his Majesty be suspicious. In any case, I’m just a bag of old bones, and won’t live for long. This wangye position will be yours sooner or later, so long as you are aware of this inside. Since you don’t plan on pretending to be a little rascal now, then be a bit more proper and go see those hundred fifty thousand soldiers at the northern pass sooner. They although listen to my orders, you are nevetheless still young, and in the past, had that kind of reputation, so may not necessarily be able to keep them under control.”
“This son knows.” Lu Qi Yang said.
The father and son pair fell silent for a while. Zhennan Wang awkwardly turned away and said, “Also…..also, that Shen family girl, quickly have the engagement settled today. For better or worse, I was also once friends with her father. Although in the past, we didn’t see too eye to eye with one another, his daughter is still a good one. Now that she is staying at our place, we can’t let her not have any status, letting others bully her.”
When Zhennan Wangfei heard, she revealed a smile and said, “First settle the engagement, then once Tiger returns from the northern pass, let the two of them get married.”
Right at this time, the servant boy outside came to report, saying that the Ji family’s madam, Liang-shi, came to seek an audience.
Zhennan Wangfei slightly blanked and took the servant girl to go see the guest.
Liang-shi was sitting in the reception hall with a smile on her face, but that smile was somewhat weak, appearing fake. Seeing Zhennan Wangfei come, Liang-shi got up to greet her and directly stated her purpose in coming, “Truth be told, your Highness, I came here for the sake of picking up that pitiful niece of mine.”
Zhennan Wangfei’s mind went around in a circle before finally recalling that Liang-shi’s husband also had the surname Ji and was also Shen first madam, Ji Xiu Wen’s older brother. The ‘niece’ that this Liang-shi spoke of can only be Shen Lan Chi.
Liang-shi used the handkerchief to press against the corner of her eyes and said, “That poor niece of mine, at such a young age, never mind experiencing the family’s decline, she even got expelled out of the house, really a pair of ruthless parents.”
Sighing, Liang-shi continued: “The Ji family is Lan Chi’s maternal family, so more or less need to look after her a little. Heard that wangfei took her in, but Zhennan Wang Manor has no relations with her. Rather than letting her live under someone else’s roof in the Zhennan Wang Manor, it’s better to have her sent to the Ji family.”
Liang-shi repeatedly saying ‘living under someone else’s roof’ and ‘having no relation’ made Zhennan Wangfei somewhat unhappy. Zhennan Wangfei came from a military family, not at all good with being roundabout or those tricks and schemes. As soon as she opened her mouth, she just bluntly said, “Madam Ji, what ‘living under someone else’s roof’? Saying it as if I will mistreat Lan Chi. Xiu Wen and I have been friends for a few decades. Lan Chi is just like half a daughter to me, how could I mistreat her?”
Seeing Zhennan Wangfei get angry, Liang-shi was slightly startled, hurriedly consoling, “I naturally don’t mean this. I’m also aware that your Highness is kind-hearted. But, our Ji family is Lan Chi’s legitimate maternal family. Lan Chi’s maternal grandmother is also concerned about this outer granddaughter.”
Truthfully speaking, Liang-shi wasn’t too willing to take this niece back home with her.
Even if Shen first madam was a daughter of the Ji family, that Shen family was now shunned by everyone, who would dare to go near them? But, her husband insisted that they need to have this niece brought back to raise, just saying that it was the higher-up’s orders. Liang-shi tried to ask more, but Master Ji felt that Liang-shi was dilly-dallying, hindering his path to promotion.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Liang-shi inwardly contemplated. Their family was already an illustrious household in the capital, so what other higher-up can this ‘higher-up’ be? There was only the second prince and the Liu family’s side. Don’t know which noble personage took a fancy to this Shen Lan Chi, wanting to secretly raise in the Ji manor first, then in the future, legitimately have her taken into their manor.
Liang-shi thought to herself, if she’s unable to complete her husband’s instructions, afraid she won’t receive any good looks later. But, this Zhennan Wangfei refused to budge, very troublesome.
“Your Highness,” Liang-shi clenched her teeth and hardened her head, “it’s not that my words are unpleasant. You and my niece have no relations at all, yet tightly hold on to her, unwilling to have her send to her maternal family, what logic is this? If others were to hear, they will only think that your Highness has bad intentions, which won’t be good!”
These words were quite unpleasant. When Zhennan Wangefei heard, she immediately frowned, coldly snorting, “What no relations at all? Lan Chi is my future daughter-in-law. Wen Xiu and I have long arranged a marriage between the two children. Having the future daughter-in-law taken in, what’s wrong with this?”
“En-engaged?” Liang-shi blanked, hurriedly asking, “When did this happen? Wen Xiu is a daughter of our Ji family, how could the Ji family not know?”
“Why should a married daughter inform you all in advance?” Zhennan Wangfei sneered, “If you don’t believe me, just go ask Wen Xiu, whether or not there’s this matter. If she replies with ‘no’, then I will deferentially have Lan Chi send to the Ji family.”
Seeing Zhennan Wangfei this confident, Liang-shi inwardly knew it wasn’t good, awkwardly smiling and saying, “Wangfei, please quell your anger. I didn’t know that there was this matter! Previously, everyone was saying that Lan Chi will marry that crown……..deposed crown prince. Who could’ve guessed that it was actually the heir that got engaged with Lan Chi.”
Since they were already engaged, then it wasn’t anything for Shen Lan Chi to reside in the Zhennan Wang Manor. Liang-shi apologized and quickly left in embarrassment.
• • •
For the past three to four days, the capital city was shrouded in fine mist and rain the whole time.
The rain occasionally fell and occasionally stopped, the sky continuously gray.
Several soliders drove a line of female prisoners in white, slowly walking forward. The great majority in this line of female prisoners were family members of those convicted in the deposed crown prince’s palace coup. Now, they were just waiting to head to the jiaofang[1], getting reduced to slaves. The crowd was filled with mournful cries.
Shen Ran had her head down as she walked among them. She was thin and small, so appeared as if buried among the crowd, making it difficult to notice her at a glance.
The female prisoners were all of outstanding appearance and beauty. After getting sent into the jiaofang, they will wait to be selected by nobles, so no one dared to touch them. Shen Ran although was dirty all over, her raven hair tanged like weed, she didn’t suffer any serious injuries.
She was already numb the crying sounds by her ear, but her eyes were very lively, constantly peeking around.
Suddenly, the corner of her eyes caught a horse carriage parked by the road. A person appeared behind that half-lifted curtain. That person was young, his eyes and brows all like a pure and innocent young man not versed in the ways of the world. It was precisely Hejian Wang family’s second son, Lu Jing Hua.
Shen Ran and Lu Jing Hua had met once not long ago.
She blanked for a moment, her mind turned, and immediately threw herself outward, pitifully shouting towards Lu Jing Hua’s direction: “My lord save me! Please save me!”
Although her voice was sorrowful, also carrying a look of expectation on her face, she didn’t hold any hope. That Lu Jing Hua didn’t like her, feeling that she self-willingly degraded herself. Shen Ran was clear of this inside her heart. For her to do this, it was nothing more than wanting those female prisoners and guards think that she and Lu Jing Hua had some sort of relationship. In this way, when wanting to bully her, they more or less will reconsider.
Sure enough, Lu Jing Hua hesitated.
“You’re…….Shen Ran?” He climbed down from the carriage and looked to the miserable female prisoners, his eyes revealing a sad look, softly whispering, “The mistakes in the political struggles, why must it implicate the innocent girls of the boudroir?”
He still remembered when meeting last time, Shen Ran’s eyes were red from crying, angrily shouting to him, “What’s wrong with wanting to climb higher?”
The deposed Crown Princess Shen Tong Ying died in a large fire. This shu daughter, Shen Ran, wasn’t any better off.
Seeing that Lu Jing Hua and Shen Ran were acquainted, the head guard blanked for a moment, then immediately squeezed out a flattering smile, “Young Master Hua and this……this Shen family young miss are acquainted? The female prisoners here will all be escorted to the jiaofang. If Young Master Hua is interested, just go to the jiaofang tomorrow. I will let them known in advance.”
Lu Jing Hua slightly gripped his hand and softly said, “I never once said this.”
His family was just a mere idle wang. If he were to casually save a daughter of the Shen family, and even Shen Xin Shu’s daughter, he can’t guarantee that it won’t bring trouble to his family.
After saying this, he began to leave.
Seeing the situation, Shen Ran was slightly disappointed, but even more so understanding.
It would be strange for him to actually save her.
Everyone in the world was the same. As long as it involved oneself, all will become selfish and self-serving.
Shen Ran resumed her numb expression and continued to follow the female prisoners forward. But, because of Lu Jing Hua, those guards started to look at her differently. In the surrounding, there was also the whispers of the other female prisoners.
“Perhaps she’ll be able to leave tomorrow……….really lucky.”
“Leave? Thought rather beautifully, who would dare to want her?”
Shen Ran reached the jiaofang and met with the head there, silently passing the night. The next day, the head of the jiaofang happily said to her, “Miss Ran, someone has paid a large sum to redeem you.” Between her words, it was filled with the joy of having made a fortune.
This jiaofang although belonged to the higher-ups, the head of the jiaofang can receive a portion of the redemption money. It’s no wonder the head was this happy.
“Who?” Shen Ran’s eyes slightly lit up.
“It’s the Wu family’s young master.”
She saw a plain-looking young man walk in from outside the door. It was precisely Wu Xiu Ding. Perhaps it was his first time coming to such a place, he was somewhat uncomfortable, his eyes darting around, unwilling to look at Shen Ran.
“Come with me.” Wu Xiu Ding said in a low voice, “In the future, I’ll be the one to take care of you.”
Wu Xiu Ding lowered his head, recalling the scene during the daytime.
Young Master Hua saw Shen Ran meet with misfortune, somewhat unable to bear in his heart, but he was unable to save her. Seeing the situation, Wu Xiu Ding said, “How about letting me be the one to do it? A mere orphaned girl, young master can just raise.”
Lu Jing Hua agreed.
After calming his mind, Wu Xiu Ding lifted his head and saw the beauty who was as beautiful as water standing before him. The black and white of her eyes were distinct, quietly looking at him, seemingly like an ink painting.
“Shen Ran greets young master.” She said.
[1] Jiaofang – It can be translated as ‘teaching mill/workshop’. Historically, it’s a place where government slaves are sent, particularly women, to be taught the rules and etiquette, as well as how to sing, dance, and play musical instruments. It’s commonly used to house the wives and children of convicted officials and nobles who have been reduced to slaves.
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