Chapter 29

Note: The names are retained in traditional Chinese characters as the RAWs I’m translating from are in traditional Chinese and it also makes it easier for me when I’m translating. The new vocabulary terms on the other hand are in simplified Chinese.Characters Shown / Mentioned in this Chapter:

葉璃璃兒 – Ye LiLi er – Main Female Protagonist – first di daughter of the Ye family, but the third child in the family.

清霜 – Qing Shuang – Ye Li‘s yatou

Ye Family Members:

葉文華 葉尚書尚書大人 葉老爺 – Ye Wen Hua Ye Shangshu Shangshu daren Ye laoye – Ye Li‘s father who has the t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence / Minister of Revenue

徐氏 – Xu shi – Ye Li‘s mother

王氏 – w.a.n.g shi – the current main wife of Ye Shangshu and current zhumu of the household

(葉夫人 – Ye furen – can refer to either Xu shi or w.a.n.g shi)

趙姨娘 – Zhao yiniang – the new, favoured concubine of Ye Shangshu

葉昭儀 (大小姐) 葉玥 – Ye zhaoyi (da xiaojie)Ye Yue – Ye Li‘s eldest sister

葉瑩瑩兒 – Ye Ying Ying er – 4th daughter in the family

葉容容少爺容哥兒  – Ye RongRong shaoye Rong ge er – Ye Li‘s younger brotherson of w.a.n.g shi

Others:

秦箏 – Qin Zheng – second daughter of Qin YushiYe Li‘s new friend

慕容婷 – Murong Ting – General Yang Wei‘s daughterYe Li‘s new friend

華天香 – Hua Tianxiang – young miss of the Hua Guo Gong fuYe Li‘s new friend

Bold - Names of people, placesItalic - Chinese terms in pinyinUnderline - Unknown

Fu Imperial Capital

Chapter 29: Taking a Stroll in the Street

Zhao yiniang[1] was indeed a smart person, not at all needing Ye Li‘s a.s.sistance and reminder; on the second day in the fu[2], news that Zhao yiniang was pregnant had spread. Moreover, it was said to be a male foetus. w.a.n.g shi[3] pretty much immediately forgot about the matter of looking for Ye Li to make trouble, switching around to begin thinking of every possible way to deal with Zhao yiniang.

Her foundation in the Ye home was already stable; if one were to really say she was worried about Ye Li this one young lady who was soon to be married off in treating her in what way, that would be a joke. The reason why she was targeting Ye Li was plainly still because of that jealousy and resentment that was difficult to say out loud that she had towards Ye Li‘s birth mother.

Now with the matter concerning her treasured only son’s position in the fu, w.a.n.g shi naturally put other matters aside without the slightest hesitation.

With w.a.n.g shi not coming to pick a quarrel and Ye Ying‘s vitality being sapped due to the frustration over the Hundred Flowers’ Event, Ye Li just so happens to end up free. With her display of her ability for the first time at the Hundred Flowers’ Event, it also allowed Ye Li to gradually enter the social circle of the unmarried n.o.ble daughters of the capital. Other than the matter of continuing to prepare her dowry, when she had the leisure, she could still make an appointment with Qin Zheng, Hua Tianxiang, and Murong Ting to have fun together. On the third day after the Hundred Flowers’ Event, that xiaojie[4] who was originally in first place for poetry and had later been surpa.s.sed by Ye Li and who was also surnamed Qin and was actually the capital’s magistrate Qin Mu daren‘s[5] own younger sister, Qin Yu Ling had also sent Ye Li an invitation. Although she didn’t have any sort of contact with her before, Ye Li‘s impression towards this iron-faced (upright and selfless) magistrate’s younger sister was rather good; after sending letters back and forth several times, there was also an added bit of camaraderie.

Ye Li who was in a good mood also didn’t particularly mind Zhao yiniang coming over to her own Qing Yi Xuan from time to time to say whatever. Zhao yiniang‘s thoughts were something she naturally knew; as long as she knew her place and complied with one’s own commitment, Ye Li also wouldn’t go back on her word and would naturally ensure letting her reach Yun prefecture safe and sound to give birth to her child.

On this day, Ye Li had agreed to Qin Zheng‘s invitation to go out and take a stroll in the streets. Ye Li these days had become idle and was also preparing to purchase some books for herself; these years when she had nothing to do, she had read almost all of the books left behind by her mother. However, Ye Li was also clear on the inside that she herself had a couple of jin/catty and a couple of taels (one’s own value, ident.i.ty, weight that their name carries); even if she were to have a highly retentive memory and learned all the books in the world by heart, she would never be able to become like Qin Zheng that kind of talented girl who was proficient in all kind of arts like zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song. To put it bluntly, she didn’t have that innate skill even though her mother had once been the capital’s number one talented lady.

What’s even more important was that, for her who had retained her previous life’s memories, her line of thought and insight had already long been fixed. Even after so many years, she still was unable to comprehend the artistic mood and ideology of the people from ancient times.

And so, she could probably write out a couple of limericks, but if she herself wanted to write a remarkable poem, that would basically be impossible. Thinking like this, Ye Li felt that her grandfather who had once forced her to memorize so many ancient books was truly, extremely wise; at least it had allowed her to be able to, under such inescapable circ.u.mstances, turn out a couple of poems from memory to make up for it.

“Qin elder sister, Tianxiang, Murong.” When Ye Li had arrived at the teahouse agreed upon, Qin Zheng and the other two had already arrived in advance and were currently drinking tea while chatting and laughing.

Qin Zheng turned to look at her and smiled, saying, “Li er[6].”

Murong Ting pulled her to sit down and said, “You managed to make it. How are things? Did that d.a.m.ned younger sister of yours make things difficult for you?”

Ye Li raised her eyebrows, “Apologies for coming late, but why would you a.s.sume that she would make things difficult for me?” In these last couple of days, not only with w.a.n.g shi, she also didn’t know what even Ye Ying had been doing. She couldn’t even see the person in question so where would she have the free time to make things difficult for her?

“It’s still better to be a bit more careful. I heard that that zhaoyi[7] niangniang[8] in the palace was in a bad mood these days.” Hua Tianxiang held a teacup, her smile reserved as well as graceful.

Ye Li blinked, understanding on the inside. Silently thanking Hua Tianxiang, Hua Tiangxiang beautiful eyebrows raised as she slightly lifted the teacup she held towards her.

Murong Ting seeing the good friends beside her left and right also couldn’t help but start laughing, “Ai, it’s with great difficulty that we got a new friend, but it’s too bad that after a short time, Ah Li will be getting married.”

“After getting married, we can still be friends ah.” Ye Li said, “Could it be that after I get married, you would denounce me as a friend?”

Murong Ting lied on the table completely lacking the temperament of an unmarried n.o.ble daughter, dispiritedly saying, “Of course not, but once you become Ding w.a.n.gfei[9], how would you ever be as free as you are now?”

Hua Tianxiang‘s lips pursed as she snickered, saying, “Once you get married, it will also be the same.”

“I definitely don’t want that!” Murong Ting shouted, her pair of lively, large, round eyes widening, “I definitely won’t marry that moron!”

Huh? Ye Li raised her line of sight in surprise, seeing the seething Murong Ting and once again turning her gaze towards Qin Zheng. Qin Zheng snickered while leaning over to Ye Li’s ear to mutter something. It was at this that Ye Li only then realized that it actually turns out that when Murong Ting had just been born, she had been betrothed to General Zhen Bei’s third son Leng Haoyu. However, compared to the older brother Leng Qingyu who was both a fine scholar and soldier, Leng Haoyu on the other hand was a dandy who liked to eat, drink, be merry and was proficient in everything.

((This translation is originally found on: h t t p : / / g u q i n t r a n s l a t i o n s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m))

As someone from a distinguished family and who was General Yang Wei’s only daughter, how could Murong Ting think highly of Leng Haoyu? The two people had even more found one another disagreeable since childhood; simply put, they would start fighting as soon as they saw each other. It just so happened that Murong Ting had thoroughly acquired General Yang Wei’s handed-down set of good martial arts’ skills and Leng Haoyu actually was still unable to defeat Murong Ting. Everytime he would be beaten to the point of being battered and exhausted, also causing Murong Ting to look down on him even more.

“Hmph! My father is precisely a stubborn blockhead, saying how a man of character needs to stand by their own words once they’re out, stubbornly unwilling to withdraw the marriage. That moron, if he dares to marry me, this xiaojie, I would beat him to the point that his father won’t be able to recognize him.” Murong Ting lifted her small chin as she lividly spoke.

Hua Tianxiang lazily supported her beautiful cheek, smiling wholeheartedly as she said, “I actually think Leng little third treats you pretty well ah. In this entire capital, have you ever seen that man be so obedient? If you make him go forward, he absolutely wouldn’t go backwards. If you make him turn left, he also would never turn right ah.”

Murong Ting humphed and humphed and didn’t answer.

Ye Li watched her reactions in amus.e.m.e.nt; girls would inevitably like men who were outstanding as well as strong. Leng third gongzi[10] who couldn’t even defeat a girl would naturally cause Murong Ting not to take him into consideration. However, it appears that Murong Ting wasn’t at all like she had a.s.sumed as really hating this fiancé. In addition…towards a man who had been taking a beating since he was little and lost everytime and yet still wouldn’t exploit the opportunity to look for a fight[a], could he really be so weak? If it was really like that, then that Leng Haoyu was actually an M (m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t) right? Ye Li was thinking like a heavenly steed soaring across the skies (bold and imaginative) in her mind, but didn’t speak up to try to persuade Murong Ting in any way; casually interfering with a friend’s choice wasn’t something she liked to do. Not to mention, she indeed didn’t understand Leng Haoyu, this person.

Murong Ting was quick to anger and was also quick to recover, very quickly throwing that annoying fiancé to the back of her mind, clapping her hands as she got up and said, “Let’s go. Let’s go take a stroll in the streets. We didn’t come out to drink tea.”

The three young ladies with the addition of one fake young lady cheerfully and lightheartedly traversed through the capital’s well-known stores, picking out their favourites among all sorts of jewelry and clothing. Very quickly, every one of them bought good things.  Ye Li looked at how the people following from behind had their hands full of big bags and small bags and amusedly followed the three people to wander around all over the place. She had no choice but to admit that no matter the era, a woman’s desire to shop was very strong. Ye Li also wasn’t idle; at the same time as following the three people in strolling down the streets, she also aimed several glances at the progress and circ.u.mstances of her own several stores that were most recently being rebuilt. Although she didn’t go inside, but looking from outside, the result nevertheless made one feel satisfied; she believed she could hurriedly open business once again in a month before the wedding. By that time, maybe she could conveniently ask eldest biaoge[11] to put up a plaque for Cang Zhen Pavilion (Ye Li’s jewelry store), Ye Li silently planned on the inside.

Dispatching the underlings who were helping in holding things to head back, the young ladies who were tired from strolling down the streets decided to find a place to have lunch. Murong Ting who was most familiar with the capital’s culinary delicacies recommended the capital’s most famous Chu Xiang Pavilion[12].

Chu Xiang Pavilion was indeed the capital’s most famous restaurant; just as they were about to step into the lobby, seeing the luxurious and soothing decorations inside the restaurant that didn’t lose the essence of a prestigious house, one could tell that this restaurant’s owner’s background was certainly not low. Although the time in which they arrived couldn’t be considered late, the Chu Xiang Pavilion’s business was much better than imagined; a waiter who was dressed neatly and appropriately respectfully apologized towards the four people and expressed that there were already no more unoccupied private rooms.

Murong Ting frequently walked around outside and also didn’t particularly care about whether there were private rooms. She straightforwardly had the waiter lead four people up to the second floor and find a place that could still be considered to be pretty good seats to sit down at. Ye Li swept a glance over the many n.o.ble men and ladies accompanying one another in twos and threes to dine inside the lobby; as a result, the four people sitting outside also didn’t at all appear to be specially eye-catching.

After ordering the food, Murong Ting contentedly smiled and said, “Chu Xiang Pavilion’s squirrel-shaped mandarin fish could be said to be a unique trademark of the capital. I came here two times but I didn’t get to eat it. I didn’t expect that by calling you all to come today that I actually will have it. Today sure enough is good luck ah.”

Ye Li curiously asked, “Murong frequently comes out to take a stroll in the streets?”

Murong Ting laughed as she said, “My father doesn’t like controlling me, I myself can’t stay still and would often come out to walk around everywhere. Furthermore, my father like to eat good food, I…I don’t have much skill towards this, so I would go around to see which places had good food to buy and then I’d bring them back home to give him to eat.” Talking until here, Murong Ting was somewhat embarra.s.sed, but anyone could see that the father and daughter relationship of General Yang Wei’s fu was different from the Shangshu[13] fu. At least, it was absolutely different from the relationship between Ye Shangshu and Ye Li.

Hua Tianxiang laughed as she said, “Therefore ah, I would generally bring Murong Ting out together when taking a stroll in the streets. There isn’t a place in the capital that she doesn’t know about.”

The four people were currently chatting happily; on the other side, the doors of a private room opened from the inside with the sound of a bang and together, a splendid red figure of a woman came rushing out. The four people simultaneously went over to see that person clearly, Murong Ting was surprised as she said, “Huh? Isn’t that…be careful!” Her voice hadn’t dropped yet when Murong Ting already stood up and very quickly leaped outside.

Glossary:Yiniang (姨娘 – normal concubine)Fu (府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together)Shi (氏 – clan name / maiden surname)Xiaojie (小姐 – Young miss / lady)Daren (大人 – adult / grownup / t.i.tle of respect toward superiors)Er (儿 – term of endearment for one’s child / child)Zhaoyi (昭仪 – a type of ancient concubine t.i.tle / 昭 – bright / clear仪 – instrument / ceremony / rites / appearance)Niangniang (娘娘 – term meaning ‘mother’ but is used when addressing the empress, imperial concubine, female royal, etc. by someone of lower rank)w.a.n.gfei (王妃 – consort princess / wife of an imperial prince or “王 – w.a.n.g“)Gongzi (公子 – son of n.o.bility / young man)Biaoge (表哥 – elder male cousin via female line)

Chu Xiang Ge (楚 – distinct / neat / orderly / clear香 – fragrant阁 – pavilion)

Shangshu (尚書 – t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence)More Info:a) I’m not entirely sure what “湊上來找揍 – coushanglaizhaozou” means here. When separated, “湊 – cou” means to take advantage / gather together / exploit opportunity / happen by chance / move close, “上來” means to come up / approach, “找 – zhao” means to find / look for, and finally “揍 – zou” means to beat up / to pummel / etc.