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Hot Potato (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!
She was the main branch clan leader Shen Qing’s granddaughter, the most beautiful of the entire main branch. In the past, the entire Shen family all relied on the capital’s An Duke Manor. Afterwards, the An Duke Manor met with mishap, and the Shen family main branch also declined along with.
Now that the Zhennan Wang whom Shen Lan Chi married will soon take over the world, this was a golden opportunity. Shen Qing wasn’t willing to pass over such an opportunity, immediately thinking of a way to have his granddaughter Shen Xi sent over, saying to leave her under Shen Lan Chi’s care.
Since the person has already come, and with the outside in the midst of chaos and war, could it be that she can even let Shen Xi, a young girl, go back on her own? Shen Lan Chi decided to leave her for a period of time, then order someone to send her back to Shen Qing’s side.
Just, unfortunately, Shen Xi’s calculations absolutely weren’t this simple.
Shen Xi had seen Lu Qi Yang once during the daytime, so at night, wanted to invite Lu Qi Yang to come teach her how to read and write. She sent two rounds of servant girls, yet all disappeared without any news. When the third servant girl went, that servant girl returned with a dejected look, saying, “Wangye said…..said, to ask miss to stop asking, wangye, he, also doesn’t know how to read.”
Shen Xi blanked.
Doesn’t…..doesn’t know how to read?
What kind of child is he fooling?
She was somewhat unwilling to give up, so decided to invite Lu Qi Yang again the next day. However, she wasn’t able to make Lu Qi Yang come. Instead, a few mamas from Shen Lan Chi’s side came, and without a second word, just had her dragged to Cien Palace.
Shen Xi entered Cien Palace and just saw Shen Lan Chi sitting in a chair, her two hands tucked in a soft rabbit-fur muff. Her face was brimming with a smile, but her eyes penetrated with a fierce glint. Her icy gaze swept over, able to make Shen Xi feel as if she’d gotten a layer of skin peeled.
With just a glance, Shen Xi determined that this older tang sister wasn’t easy to mess with.
But, so what?
If able to obtain Zhennan Wang’s favor, then afterwards, there will be boundless wealth within one’s grasp. Her tang sister’s loathing, what did that count as?
Just as Shen Xi was thinking this, Shen Lan Chi raised her brow and lazily opened her mouth, “Say, younger sister Shen Xi, you’re already this big, yet how come you’re always doing such distasteful things in the middle of the night? Today, it’s studying and practicing calligraphy; tomorrow, it’s riding horses and archery, what new antics will it be afterwards?”
Her tone was a bit overbearing, her eyes and brows filled with mockery, crushing Shen Xi to the point of somewhat suffocating. Shen Xi slightly took a few breaths, sweetly smiling and saying, “Xi’er wants to study and learn calligraphy, but doesn’t dare to bother older sister who’s pregnant, so naturally can only ask brother-in-law.”
“Oh?” Shen Lan Chi scoffed, lazily saying, “Then, I’ll just make my words clear, I don’t care whether you want to study or want to learn embroidery, all not allowed to go see wangye. Understand?”
Shen Xi blanked for a moment.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Not allow…..not allow her to see wangye?
Living in the imperial city, how can one simply not see someone?
“Older sister, isn’t this a bit too heartless!?” Shen Xi revealed a pitiful look, pleading, “I don’t have the intention of snatching from older sister. I just genuinely want to learn and study. Living under the same roof, we will constantly run into one another. Older sister is being a bit unreasonable……”
Shen Lan Chi slightly yawned, using her sleeve to cover her mouth, her voice increasingly languid, “That, I don’t care. In any case, if you want to live under my hand, then you’ll have to listen to me. If I find out that you secretly went to see my husband, then I will have you expelled from the capital, with no room for discussion.”
Between her words, she actually completely disregarded the main branch’s face.
These words were said a bit too aggressively. For a moment, Shen Xi didn’t completely understand. How can a woman bluntly block her husband from interacting with others like this?
“Older sister……” Shen Xi still wanted to struggle, saying, “Brother-in-law will be a dragon among men in the future, so inevitably will take in concubines. Why must older sister be this petty?”
Shen Lan Chi, however, appeared as if looking at a child, calmly saying, “It may not necessarily be your brother-in-law becoming that ‘dragon among men’. Isn’t there still another one with the Lu surname in this capital?”
Shen Lan Chi although appeared indifferent, these words were nevertheless very confident, as if already having personally witnessed the imperial decree. Seeing her like this, Shen Xi instantly shuddered—–
Could it be that she, Shen Xi, had bet on the wrong person?
The one that will soon inherit the throne is that Shanyin Wang family’s Lu Jing Hua, and not Zhennan Wang Lu Qi Yang?
“What does older sister mean by this?” Shen Xi anxiously wanted to find out, hurriedly asking. But, Shen Lan Chi just smiled at her and said, “If you keep making a fuss, I will have you kicked out of the capital tonight.”
Shen Xi shut her mouth.
Under oppressive power, one has no choice but to lower one’s head.
She felt somewhat wronged, inwardly feeling that this older tang sister was too heartless.
Shen Lan Chi walked a few steps, then turned back again, saying to Shen Xi, “Younger sister Shen Xi, I’d advise you to not set your sights on Lu Jing Hua either. I’m letting you stay in the palace to rest, not letting you stay here to embarrass yourself. Moreover, this is also for your own good. The person by Jing Hua’s side is a lot meaner than this older sister. Don’t go provoking them for nothing.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Xi inwardly scoffed.
Meaner than Shen Lan Chi?
How is that possible!
• • •
Shen Xi had an active mind, but the one out of luck was still Lu Qi Yang.
The pregnant Shen Lan Chi had a bad temper to begin with. Having gotten annoyed by Shen Xi, she punished Lu Qi Yang to go buy honey jujube cake for her six times.
Lu Qi Yang knew that because the power in his hand was too overwhelming, there will only be more and not less of women like Shen Xi who will offer themselves to him in the future. Therefore, he wanted to get rid of this hot potato as soon as possible.
A period of time later, after going through some discussions, Lu Qi Yang announced to the court that Lu Jing Hua will inherit the throne, the ascension ceremony temporarily set for next spring. Once this came out, the entire court was in an uproar. But, with important ministers such as Wu Xiu Ding pledging their allegiance, the court officials also gradually settled down and submitted along with.
Hearing that it was sure enough Lu Jing Hua ascending the throne, Shen Xi instantly regretted inside, feeling that she’d made the wrong bet. For the sake of not letting down her grandfather’s expectations, she immediately fixed herself up and did everything she could to go near Kunyi Palace where Lu Jing Hua temporarily resided.
Shen Xi used the same move as before—–first creating a chance encounter in the snow, then inviting Lu Jing Hua to teach her. Lu Jing Hua’s temperament was much more gentle, also willing to teach her how to read. When talking, Lu Jing Hua always could make people feel as if being bathed by the spring breeze.
Just, the good scenery didn’t last long. Five to six days later, Shen Xi just got invited over by Shen Ran.
Shen Ran was originally Lu Zi Xiang’s noble consort. Now that she has surrendered to Lu Qi Yang, she suddenly turned into the number one court lady in the palace.
When Shen Xi saw Shen Ran, she was somewhat discontent.
This Shen Ran was merely a shu daughter, yet unknown as to what favorable wind she encountered, her luck was actually this good. First becoming a noble consort for nothing, and now, with the changing of dynasty, she was even able to re-become the most influential court lady by Lu Jing Hua’s side.
“Younger sister Shen Xi came? Heard gentleman say that you’ve been mulling over books these last two days, must be very tiring.” Seeing Shen Xi come, Shen Ran said with a smile.
Shen Xi couldn’t help but compare Shen Ran with Shen Lan Chi, mumbling to herself inside: ‘Shen Lan Chi even said that Shen Ran was mean, clearly nonsense. This Shen Ran carried a smile on her face, her voice soft and gentle, can’t be more pleasant, how can she compare with Shen Lan Chi, that jealous shrew?’
“Thanking older sister Ran for the concern. Not really that tiring. When it comes to learning, how can it be considered tiring?” Shen Xi answered.
“You are right.” Shen Ran gently smiled, her pretty face filled with tenderness. She stared straight at Shen Xi, the sense of concern nearly overflowing from her vividly distinct eyes, “As your older sister, I should also……nicely take care if you.”
The words ‘take care’ were extremely soft, like the spring breeze brushing over the ears.
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