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Shen Ran Enters the Palace
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 spring gradually warmed, the grass in the palace lush, the orioles in graceful flight.
Inside Qianfu Palace, Lu Zi Xiang was currently discussing governmental affairs with Liu Yu.
The incense clock[1] ticked, the shadow growing longer as time passed. The heavenly son dressed in a bright yellow fancy robe sat upright behind the pear blossom desk, his handsome face carrying a sullen look. His long slender fingers swept over the documents on the table, finally stopping over the report from the northern border.
Before him stood Liu Yu. Although it was already spring, Liu Yu was still in thick robes to defend against the occasional cold wind.
Lu Zi Xiang first asked about the red tide report[2], then mentioned a few words about the war at the borders. A few words in, Liu Yu suddenly said, “The matter your Majesty discussed with this subject last time…….this subject feels, your Majesty should act with cautions.”
These words although were somewhat tactful, it was nevertheless words of refusal.
Lu Zi Xiang was ultimately somewhat resentful towards the Zhennan Wang Manor. He originally wanted to use the Zhennan Wang Manor to contend against the powerful nobles in court, but Lu Qi Yang wasn’t too willing to be his blade. Because of this, Lu Zi Xiang somewhat had the desire to eliminate him.
However, to let Lu Zi Xiang come be the villain, he was nevertheless unwilling. Lu Zi Xiang always needed to be thorough in all aspects, and it must not damage his ‘virtuous and benevolent’ reputation. Thus, after thinking left and right, he thought of a middle-ground solution——-How about opening the gates and letting the Mujin people into the pass? In this way, it will be Lu Qi Yang colluding with the enemy. When time comes, he can also use this to punish Lu Qi Yang.
Since Lu Qi Yang has no crimes, then he’ll just make one up.
Great Chu is full of talented people. The Song family is filled with military generals, who can’t drive out the enemy? After eliminating Lu Qi Yang, he can just find someone else to guard the borders.
But, Liu Yu urged him to ‘act with caution’. This made Lu Zi Xiang somewhat confused.
“Minister Liu, Zhennan Wang is very cautious now. If not using this method, this emperor cannot touch him.” Lu Zi Xiang leaned against the chair with a serious look on his face.
Liu Yu said: “Even if wanting to eliminate Zhennan Wang, your Majesty still shouldn’t treat the lives of the people at the northern pass as child’s play.”
Lu Zi Xiang frowned, somewhat annoyed at Liu Yu’s stubbornness.
These words aren’t wrong, but if Liu Yu doesn’t say, and he, Lu Zi Xiang, also don’t say anything, then the court historians won’t dare to record it. Under the skies, who would know about this matter?
“Zhennan Wang driving out the Mujin people, this in itself is already a great feat. If to say that he’d colluded with the enemy, the people certainly won’t believe.” Liu Yu bowed, his words becoming increasingly earnest, “Moreover, letting the Mujin people into the borders, the commoners will endure endless hardships of homelessness. Your Majesty is a benevolent ruler, so certainly can’t bear to see families being torn apart.”
The meaning in Liu Yu’s words was already extremely obvious. Presumably, he disagreed with his decision.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Zi Xiang sighed inside and revealed a gentle smile, saying: “Minister Liu is thorough in consideration. This emperor was negligent just now and didn’t consider the commoners.” Pausing for a moment, he saw that Liu Yu’s complexion seemingly wasn’t good, so considerately said, “This emperor sees that Minister Liu has been coughing rather badly today, so why don’t you head back first to rest?”
Liu Yu responded with a yes and took his leave.
Once his thin and tall figure stepped out of the palace hall, the smile on Lu Zi Xiang’s face instantly disappeared.
In the past, Liu Yu was his right-hand man, the most capable general under him. But, now that Lu Zhao Ye, this great enemy, was gone, and he, Lu Zi Xiang, has ascended the throne, Liu Yu just became somewhat disobedient.
In the past, when Liu Yu first met him, he once said, “Yu is willing to assist your Highness in bringing peace to the world.” Looking at it now, Liu Yu may not necessarily be able to take on such a big task.
Lu Zi Xiang was in the middle of contemplating when the eunuch came to report, “Reporting to your Majesty, the Gentleman-in-Attendance[3] has arrived.”
Lu Zi Xiang thought for a good while before finally recalling who this ‘Gentleman-in-Attendance’ was——It was Shanyin Wang family’s second son, Lu Jing Hua.
Lu Jing Hua and him were tang brothers, but they weren’t that familiar.
Shanyin Wang’s family has no fief and also no power. Lu Jing Hua is also a carefree and idle person. In the past, he would just follow the other wastrels around and randomly wander around the capital. A while ago, Shanyin Wang helped Lu Jing Hua asked for a ‘Gentleman-in-Attendance’ position before the emperor, letting him lead a few soldiers[4], thereby allowing Lu Jing Hua to be freed from the awkward situation of being jobless.
Lu Jing Hua followed the palace servant into Qianfu Palace and bowed to Lu Zi Xiang.
“Younger brother Jing Hua, what important matter has brought you to the palace this time?” Towards relatives, Lu Zi Xiang has always been warm and generous.
“Replying to your Majesty…..the Ministry of Appointments’ selection of officials is near at hand. This subject’s knowledge although is limited, still want to….” As Lu Jing Hua spoke, he appeared to not be very confident, “….still want to recommend someone who possesses both virtue and talent.”
When Lu Zi Xiang heard, he laughed and said, “Younger brother Jing Hua doesn’t pay attention to court affairs much, so afraid don’t know that this selection of officials emphasizes on both moral integrity and talent, thus preserved for the public. Throughout history, it has always been handled by the Ministry of Appointments. Even if this emperor is the heavenly son, still can’t appoint people based on personal connections.”
The underlying meaning was that he was unable to satisfy Lu Jing Hua’s request.
Pausing for a moment, Lu Zi Xiang said, “However, you can tell this emperor, who did you want to recommend?”
“It’s the Wu family’s Wu Xiu Ding.” Lu Jing Hua replied. After saying this, he listed out his strengths in an endless stream.
Hearing this name, Lu Zi Xiang soundlessly laughed, “Younger brother Jing Hua surprisingly has a pair of keen eyes. This Wu Xiu Ding is indeed overflowing with talent and has already been recommended by the palace scholars. If there’s no mishap, then he will certainly enter the Ministry of Appointments’ list, so no need for Jing Hua to worry about him.”
When Lu Jing Hua heard, he had an embarrassed look, saying, “Turns out, this subject was being redundant. Seeing how the Wu family’s shu son was full of talent, yet not being put to good use, I thus wanted to help him.”
Although appearing embarrassed on the surface, Lu Jing Hua wasn’t the least bit awkward inside, because he long knew that Wu Xiu Ding had already gotten recommended by others. Moreover, this matter was also brought about entirely through his own efforts. Entering the palace this time, it wasn’t for the sake of recommending Wu Xiu Ding, but for another matter.
Lu Zi Xiang was in the middle of talking to Lu Jing Hua when he suddenly detected someone seemingly peeking their head in outside the palace hall. He was somewhat displeased, saying: “Jing Hua, that mannerless person outside, is it your servant?”
Regardless of who, when meeting with the emperor, all need to dismiss their servants, letting them wait outside the hall. Ordinary attendants, when waiting outside the hall, would all behave obediently. There has never been someone like this who would stick their head out and look around.
When Lu Jing Hua heard, he nervously got up and said, “It’s precisely my servant girl. She hasn’t really entered the palace before, so don’t know the rules, asking your Majesty to please forgive.”
Hearing that it’s a servant girl, Lu Zi Xiang looked up, slightly glancing outside the door. However, this glance made him a bit stunned———-Although that girl outside the door just faintly showed half her figure, that posture extremely resembled Shen Lan Chi before she married.
Lu Zi Xiang couldn’t help but get up and walk towards the outside, muttering, “You actually let her be your servant girl? What kind of farce is this?”
Lu Jing Hua revealed a confused look, asking, “What does your Majesty mean by this?”
However, when Lu Zi Xiang got closer, he finally noticed that the girl at the door wasn’t Shen Lan Chi who has been lingering in his dreams, but rather someone else completely.
Seeing the emperor appear before her, she calmly kowtowed, having her head buried extremely low, “This servant greets your Majesty.”
Her voice was soft and slow, penetrating with elegance, extremely like how prideful Shen Lan Chi was in the past.
“It was this emperor…..it was this emperor that saw wrong.” Lu Zi Xiang suddenly woke up from his dream, turning towards Lu Jing Hua and asking, “This girl is your servant girl? What is she called?”
Lu Jing Hua hesitated for a moment, his gaze somewhat drifting.
He seemed to very much want to say that girl’s name, but his voice nevertheless faltered. After repeatedly sweeping over that girl’s figure three to four times, he finally said, “She’s called Ah Ran……..originally the descendant of a convicted official. After getting sent to the jiaofang, seeing that she’s skilled at playing the pipa, this subject had her redeemed.”
Heroically rescuing a courtesan does seem to be something a wastrel young master would do.
Lu Zi Xiang pensively nodded and said, “This emperor understands.” Afterwards, he turned towards that girl and asked, “You’re called Ah Ran? What was your surname before?”
Shen Ran’s eyes slightly flickered, calmly stating, “Before this servant was reduced to the slave class, this servant had the surname Shen, once tang sisters with Zhennan Wangfei.”
• • •
After sending Shen Ran into the palace, Shen Lan Chi felt very complicated for a time. She actually didn’t wish for Shen Ran to enter the palace——-That Lu Zi Xiang was someone with a honey-coated mouth but daggers in his stomach. Shen Ran may not be able to win against him. But, Shen Ran has already made up her mind, so she could only help push the boat.
If able to have an extra hidden pillar in the palace, for the Zhennan Wang Manor, it was also a good thing.
Lu Jing Hua had Shen Ran sent into the palace. When leaving the palace, there was no longer a servant girl disguised Shen Ran by his side.
Presumably, she has already stayed behind in the palace.
Lu Jing Hua went to the Zhennan Wang Manor to report. Seeing Lu Qi Yang, he said, “Brother Qi Yang, I’ve done as you instructed.” After saying this, he somewhat sullenly lifted his head and said, “Does Miss Shen still have the opportunity to leave the palace and get married? His Majesty said that he wanted to keep her in the palace as a court lady.”
Hearing the word ‘court lady’, Shen Lan Chi nearly laughed.
Lu Zi Xiang is unwilling to let the Ji family become suspicious, insisting on creating the illusion of the emperor and empress in a loving relationship, solely favoring the empress. If he wants a woman, he even needs to be secretive, not daring to openly take in concubines, just daring to leave her behind as a ‘court lady’, really laughable.
Lu Qi Yang patted Lu Jing Hua’s shoulder and said, “Do you want me to tell the truth or lie?”
“Naturally the truth.” Lu Jing Hua was increasingly sullen.
“Most likely won’t come out.” Lu Qi Yang said, “What, did you fall for her?”
“No.” Lu Jing Hua flatly denied, “I merely feel that his Majesty absolutely isn’t someone who’s easy to deal with. Miss Shen, a weak and feeble girl, entering the palace alone, afraid will have a very hard time in the future.”
“She wanted to go herself, what are you worrying about for nothing.” Lu Qi Yang said, “Since she is confident that she can enter the palace, then you don’t need to worry too much.
Lu Jing Hua softly said, “How will I explain to Wu Xiu Ding? I had the person tricked over from his side, saying to borrow her for a few days. Now that I’ve lost the person, who knows how mad Wu Xiu Ding will be with me……….”
Lu Qi Yang helplessly laughed, saying, “How could he dare get angry with you? If not for you promoting him and giving him recognition, how could he be where he is today?”
Lu Jing Hua argued, “Although I’d asked for Wu Xiu Ding from brother Qi Yang, but when it comes to ‘promoting and giving him recognition’, the credit still belongs to brother Qi Yang. I can’t be considered the proper master.”
Lu Qi Yang, however, corrected him with a serious look, “Nonsense, it was you that promoted Wu Xiu Ding, nothing to do with me. Understand? The credit is yours.”
The two of them chatted for a while. Lu Qi Yang then had Lu Jing Hua sent out of the manor. Lu Jing Hua had came in secret, so didn’t ride a horse carriage. Lu Qi Yang thus hired a sedan chair for him, ordering them to have Lu Jing Hua sent back to Shanyin Wang Manor.
Lu Qi Yang had just paid the money when he heard a familiar voice.
“Yo, wangye, where’s that pretty servant girl of yours?”
Lu Qi Yang looked up. Turns out, it was Zhang Hai Sheng.
Zhang Hai Sheng was the leader of the Capital City Guards, and also Lu Qi Yang’s good friend from when he was a wastrel. If not for Zhang Hai Sheng taking care of him, Lu Qi Yang would’ve long gotten punished a thousand times for breaking curfew.
“Servant girl?” Lu Qi Yang blanked for a while, finally recalling who the ‘servant girl’ Zhang Hai Sheng was referring to———–Back then, before Lu Zi Xiang ascended the throne, Shen Lan Chi had once disguised as a Zhennan Wang Manor servant girl and went out with him, getting seen by Zhang Hai Sheng.
At the time, Shen Lan Chi said that she was an ‘extremely favored servant girl’, greatly shocking Zhang Hai Sheng.
“Oh, you’re talking about her!” Lu Qi Yang hooked his lips and said with a smile, “Currently in my room. She didn’t come out to see off the guest. What’s wrong?”
When Zhang Hai Sheng heard, he was greatly shocked, saying, “Wangye, you’ve already taken a wife now, yet still have her kept in your room?” After saying this, he lowered his voice and leaned closer to Lu Qi Yang, secretly whispering, “I’m being serious here, wangye, it’s better for you to listen to my advice, quickly break it off with her!”
“Why?” Lu Qi Yang fell into deep contemplation.
“Think about it, the wangfei is of noble blood, so presumably, unable to stand being wronged. That servant girl is that pretty, placed in front of the wangfei, won’t she be an eyesore?” Zhang Hai Sheng gestured, “I’ve long heard that you mistreat the wangfei. If her Highness becomes unhappy and have that little servant girl sold off, won’t it be upsetting………”
“When have I mistreated wangfei?” Lu Qi Yang was somewhat unhappy.
“There’s rumors all over the capital, only wangye doesn’t know?” Zhang Hai Sheng said, “All say that wangye went to the northern pass back then precisely for the sake of avoiding this marriage.”
“……….” Lu Qi Yang was even more unhappy, “Nothing of the sort, don’t listen to others’ nonsense!”
“Aiya! This mouth of mine.” Zhang Hai Sheng realized he was wrong, thus lightly slapped himself, saying: “All in all, the heart of a woman is just like a needle in the bottom of the sea. If wangye wants to live in harmony with wangfei and want that little servant girl to nicely live in the future, then it’s better to quickly break it off with her.”
“She’s perfectly fine.” Lu Qi Yang lifted his brow and said, “No need for you to worry.”
While they were talking, Ah Luo came out, saying to Lu Qi Yang, “Wangye, her Highness is looking for you.”
As soon as Ah Luo finished speaking, a beautifully dressed woman came out from inside the door. She was in a glittering brocade dress, her hair shining with pearl hairpins, extremely magnificent and graceful. It was precisely Shen Lan Chi.
“Tiger, told you to send off your younger tang brother Jing Hua, but how come an entire incense stick of time has gone by, yet you still haven’t come back?” Shen Lan Chi was a bit annoyed, so very blunt with her words. When lifting her eyes, she just happened to meet with Zhang Hai Sheng’s eyes.
Zhang Hai Sheng blanked, tremblingly retreating a step, then another step, saying: “Wa-wangfei……?!”
His complexion changed again and again, his forehead dripping with large drops of cold sweat.
———This pretty of a face was extremely rare. Wasn’t this precisely that little servant girl by Lu Qi Yang’s side back then?
Who knew that her words unexpectedly came true. The servant girl really became the heir’s consort………no, became the wangfei!
“Eh?” Shen Lan Chi felt Zhang Hai Sheng was somewhat familiar-looking, momentarily unable to recall who he was.
Lu Qi Yang put his arm around Zhang Hai Sheng’s shoulders and said with a laugh, “Old Zhang, didn’t I say so? She’s perfectly fine, no need for you to worry.”
[1] Incense clocks are devices that use incense sticks to tell time. Usually, the incense sticks are marked, and where it has burned to is how much time has passed. It’s mostly used as a timer. Their devices come in different forms. A popular one is the dragon boat incense clock. The incense stick is placed on the back of the dragon, and strings with metal beads on the ends are placed over the time marks. When the incense burns the string, the beads will fall to the tray below, announcing the time. The dragon boat incense at most is used as a 2-hour timer.
[2] Red tides, as the name implies, refers to the excessive growth of algae, appearing as red water.
[3] 散骑常侍 – This was a common government position during the Wei-Jin Southern and Northern dynasties (220-589), as well as the Sui-Tang dynasties (581-907). It’s a very noble position whose role mostly functions as advisors and assistance to the emperor.
[4] I want to note that historically, this position has no military authority and purely a civil position. I believe the author might have been confused by the name, because it sounds like a military role, but it’s not. In fact, there are a lot of civil positions that have military sounding titles, particularly in the older dynasties, because military power back then was highly valued, and also probably because it sounded cooler.
This position isn’t even an obscure position as there are many records regarding it over multiple dynasties. In pretty much all the records, the position purely functions as advisors to the emperor. The author most likely got misled by the beginning part of the name 散骑, which can loosely translate to ‘casual rider/calvary’, but this part of the name is actually used as an adjective to describe as being ‘as swift as the calvary’. The second part 常侍 just means ‘frequently/commonly attends to’. In ancient times, 常侍(chang shi) was also often used as titles for high-ranking eunuchs. So, this title, if translated directly, it would be like ‘swift-footed attendant’.
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