I wish the author would stop using traditional terms for the bride to refer to Ji Shumo. It really messes me up because in my head Iâm translating the bride terms for Xiao Wan. It would have been nice if the author just used the male equivalent terms or if none exist then just change the words, like replace âtake a brideâ with âtake a husbandâ when Xiao Wan is referring to marrying Ji Shumo. Iâll start typing âbride thisâ and âbridegroom thatâ blah blah, then the author throws their names in and I realize Iâm using the wrong genders and pronouns. Then I wonder how long Iâve been doing it and start to question myself and everything Iâve translated. Then I get fed up and I walk away. Anyways thatâs why it took so long to get this chapter out. If it werenât for the fact that I enjoy the authorâs descriptive style and Iâm looking forward to certain people getting their comeupence, Iâd drop this story. In fact I have to go back and reread chapter two so I can remind myself why I like it.
10.26.2018 edit: corrected the title
[Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]
[Host: justreads.net]
[Oct. 8th, 2018]
...
Xiao Wanâs care showed in her eyes and through the tone of her voice. It made Xie Chuchen envious and bitter at the same time. His hands were clenched inside his sleeves. He opened his eyes wide in an attempt to keep the tears from overflowing, trying his best to force them back inside. He stared at Xiao Wan with a gloomy expression, the confidence he built up completely gone. Although he was sad, although his heart felt like it just shattered, he was still unwilling to let go.
Xiao Wan didnât expect her casual words to have such an effect on Xie Chuchen. He had such a complicated look on his face, like he was suffering from some kind of secret anguish. She didnât understand why he had such an agonized look.
Xiao Wanâs earlier ridicule surprised everyone there; unruly, unsavory, werenât those words an apt description of her as well?
âSomeone, come and see this Young Master and his servant out. His continued presence will only breed misunderstanding.â
She avoided looking at Xie Chuchen, who was clutching his chest as though he wanted to speak, but unable to do so because of the tears threatening to overflow. Xiao Wan closed her eyes for a moment in agitation. Itâs better for you to hate me. Donât become the same foolish person from my previous life⊠I donât deserve to be your dear wife.
Xiao Wan had a reputation for chasing after beautiful men, not caring if they were single or not. Had she not fallen for Ji Shumo, who knew the number of men she would have sullied. In fact her reputation as a dissolute rich Young Miss was so widespread that men would literally confine themselves indoors if they heard she was out and about. Some even purposefully bad-mouthed themselves in order to appear unappealing. It didnât work though. The only person Xiao Wan refused to touch was Young Master Xie. The reason was because the two shared the same level of notoriety and Xiao Wan preferred her men to be both beautiful and talented, like the extremely well regarded Ji Shumo.
Yesterday changed everyoneâs opinion of this long held belief. Perhaps she had loosened her criteria and even the beautiful but talentless Xie Chuchen was no longer safe from her, it was especially believable considering Xie Chuchenâs grief and indignation that day. His appearance had caused quite a stir during the wedding banquet. Unexpectedly someone actually took a liking to this foppish woman. There had to be something wrong with his eyesight⊠Who would have expected that it was only their second time meeting? Not only that, but to listen to Xiao Wan say it youâd think it was Xie Chuchen who threw himself into her embrace, getting into her business. Wasnât Xiao Wan exactly that kind of person herself?! How brazenly shameless could she be to ridicule someone for doing the exact same thing she did? Seriously what the hell?!
âI canât endure you misunderstanding my Young Masterâs intentions anymore!â Zhao-er spat on the ground. âYoung Master, letâs go.â Zhao-er tried to pull Xie Chuchen but the other refused to budge even an inch.
âI donât want to go back home. Will you really break your promise?â Xie Chuchen stubbornly refused to yield to Zhao-erâs tugs and stood his ground as though he was rooted to the spot, staring at Xiao Wan.
This only made Xiao Wan more uncomfortable and she rubbed her eyebrow trying to cover up her worry. Noting the frown of disgust on Ji Shumoâs face she reached out to hold his hand before gently saying, âShumo, letâs go. I want to see mother-in-lawâŠâ
In truth Ji Shumo didnât care who Xiao Wan got affectionate with as long as it wasnât him. He secretly hoped she would find plenty of others to dally with, this way his life would proceed smoothly without too much stress from her.
It still disgusted him that she was so fickle though. He tried to pull his hand out of her grasp in order to put some distance between them. Much to his consternation, instead of releasing his hand she yanked him over into an embrace. The grip on his hand wasnât a gentle one either. It was fierce and pinched his skin.
âShumo, about the bridal presents for your family⊠do you think your parents will be satisfied with them?â
Though the words were spoken with tenderness and affection Ji Shumo couldnât help but feel a chill, as though there were threads of coldness underlying her words.
âAre you cold Shumo? Youâre trembling.â Xiao Wan looked at Ji Shumo with worry in her eyes. She pulled him even closer and rubbed his hands with her own trying to warm him up.
Xie Chuchen stared at their public display of affection, his own head in a daze. A kind of feeling he couldnât really describe welled up inside him as a slow sour bitterness seeped into his heart. Just comparing the two of them he knew how inadequate he was. Ji Shumo was all elegant and refined in his flowing clean robe. He on the other hand was clearly a reject disheveled from head to toe.
The scornful stares of those in the Xiao House took its toll on Zhao-er and he got antsy. âYoung Master⊠letâs go back.â
âGo back, go back to where?â Xie Chuchenâs voice was rough and strained as though he was enduring a lot emotionally.
Zhao-er stamped his feet impatiently. âGo home of course! Weâve been gone for a whole night. Surely everyone will be worried!â He didnât understand why his Young Master wanted to run away from home. Why did he want to stay at the Xiao House and be insulted like this? Not only that but to want to be married to a woman like Xiao WanâŠ
Xie Chuchen wondered if he had a home to return to. He forced a smile and in a broken high pitched voice said, âOk, home. Letâs return home.â He wiped the tears off his face, not sure when he began crying. He turned and slowly limped away towards the front gates.
...
Grooms traditionally returned to their ancestral home on the third day after their wedding ceremony. If there was affection between the bride and groom, the groom would be allowed to return a day earlier than customary. In this way a husband would would reunite with his family as soon as possible and not feel heartache at missing them. On rare occasions a bride will accompany her groom and bring gifts to present to her in-laws as sign of her sincerity and deep respect.
Half an hour later Xiao Wan and Ji Shumo reached Ji Shumoâs ancestral home. They were greeted at the front gates by Ji Shumoâs parents. Ji Shumoâs mother eagerly pulled Xiao Wanâs arm, her eyes would glance at the cart full of gifts from time to time. She smiled and said, âWan-er, itâs only a visit. Youâre too polite, bringing so many presents.â
âI wasnât sure what mother and father-in-law liked, so I brought a bunch of treasures over.â
Xiao Wan looked vibrant and full of youthful energy standing there dressed in a scarlet cheongsam. Her hair, tied up in a high ponytail with a red ribbon, flowed in the breeze and gave her a dashing air. She waved her hand in a grand gesture signalling for the servants to open the boxes in the cart. Inside were a blinding array of jades and unusual treasures that sparkled brightly in the sunlight, dazing those nosy onlookers who were gawking in the streets. One box in the back even held a priceless antique calligraphy.
As soon as Ji Xiao Feng, Ji Shumoâs mother, saw the calligraphy and all the treasures within, her eyes lit up. She nearly fainted from happiness at the dazzling array of gems, antiques, and paintings.
Ji Xiao Feng worked as a fourth ranked assistant in the Ministry of Revenue and although it was a prestigious title, it paid little by way of income. As a result it was a struggle for her, who enjoyed collecting antiques and artwork, to balance the budget every month.
Xiao Wan made use of several different methods in order to win Ji Shumoâs hand in marriage. She worked especially hard on his mother. Aware she loved antiques and fine art, Xiao Wan spent a large sum to purchase antiques and calligraphy as presents to satisfy her. Xiao Wan also helped the Ji House financially by giving her two shops.
The two shops were doing really well and the Ji House had a lot of goodwill towards Xiao Wan. As a result Ji Xiao Feng proposed marriage between her and Ji Shumo, which Xiao Wan âreluctantlyâ accepted.
Xiao Wan noticed the signs of deterioration as she stood in front of the gate. Looking at it she realized it was very likely that the Ji House wanted Ji Shumo to marry someone rich, someone they could easily take advantage of, in order to revitalize their coffers. It made financial sense for Ji Shumo to enter the Xiao House. Why else would Ji Shumo do an about face and agree to marry her, the her that he had disdained for so long? She had to make sure to tell Yun Yan to investigate the matter once she got back home. Now that she saw clearly, she realized how ridiculous their play was.
Looking at Xiao Wanâs hand as she gestured toward the gifts made Ji Xiao Fengâs heartbeat speed up. Stuttering she said, âWan-er, you really⊠this is too extravagantâŠâ
Back then Xiao Wan thought Ji Xiao Fengâs reaction was just an expression of how fond the other woman was of her. Now that she paid more attention, it was easy for her to see the scorn in Ji Xiao Fengâs eyes. It was only when the other woman saw the flash of gems and jewelry behind her that Ji Xiao Fengâs eyes shown with excitement. The excitement wasnât for Xiao Wanâs arrival but for the riches behind her.
The old her would have been fooled thinking Ji Shumoâs mother loved her like a daughter. How stupidly easy to fool she was back then. Thinking that such treasures would fall into the mother of her enemyâs possession jabbed her heart with pain. Suddenly a wicked thought came to her. She watched as Ji Shumoâs mother reached her fingers toward the calligraphy as if to stroke it.
âMother-in-law, do you like Yan Zhenqingâs calligraphy? This calligraphy scroll is definitely authentic. It cost well over a thousand gold to purchase.
âWan-er, do you see mother as a stranger? You bringing Ji Shumo back personally is enough to make me happy. This child, why are you spending so much, behaving as though weâre on ceremony with each other?â Ji Xiao Feng purposefully put on an act of not caring for the gifts in front of the passersby.
âMother-in-lawâs words are wise. I was too intent on returning Ji Shumo that I didnât properly think about what gift to bring and brought too much. Now Iâve given people the wrong impression about our relationship. Iâll have my servants line up the items one by one and mother-in-law can choose one you like best. I will return everything else to the Xiao House. Mother-in-law is truly a virtuous person. This child feels very guilty. I will remember mother-in-lawâs words for the futureâŠâ
Xiao Wan had an expression of guilt and contrition on her face while she said, âYun Yan, Hua Xia, come take these things and bring them back home. Donât let their presence cause others to misunderstand the situation and think that Ji Xiao Feng is selling her son. Mother-in-law is an honest and virtuous woman. She doesnât need such ostentatious ceremony.â
Xiao Wanâs reaction threw the people of the Ji House for a loop. They had expected Xiao Wan to insist on giving the gifts, not reduce it. Ji Xiao Feng was especially caught off guard unable to do anything to stop the withdrawal. If she accepted the gifts it would look like she was selling her son. How could that be considered virtuous?
To think they shot the duck down only to have it fly away and escape. The Ji people wrung their hands in consternation as the people on the streets whispered. The solicitous and welcoming expression Ji Xiao Feng had on earlier vanished and with an unhappy voice she said, âItâs windy out here, letâs all go inside.â
Pretending not to notice Ji Xiao Fengâs dark expression and Ji Shumoâs meaningful glances, Xiao Wan said, âThank you for your concern mother-in-law,â as she swaggered empty-handed through the front gate. She hid her laugh behind her sleeves as she thought of how the gifts would be returned to the Xiao House.