RVW – Chapter 26

“Wang ye, Wang fei, lady Shiqing is one of the three girls bestowed by the Empress Dowager. The other two ladies are called Hua Yi and Feng Ya.”

Housekeeper Qin’s words finally reminded the two of them that there are three beauties staying in the corner of Su Wang’s Mansion. At that moment, their reactions differed.

Ah Nan finally knew the names of those three beauties, tsk! Look at their bestowed name¹I think she refers to names bestowed by their ‘masters.’ Slaves or servants are usually renamed by their masters with a certain rule, for example having a certain character on their name so it will be easy to distinguish which ones are their servants. Though some masters might not do it.~~

Shi Qing (poetic), Hua Yi (picturesque), and Feng Ya (elegant). If obtaining elegance and talent isn’t enough, how about adding a popular replenishing fragrance in the sleeves²Replenishing fragrance as in aphrodisiacs for male. Here I think Ah Nan is saying that the beauties selected by empress dowager are elegant and talented (see their names). She just jokingly said the empress dowager might as well give CBN some aphrodisiacs because CBN won’t touch them.?

Anan chuckled inwardly. The Empress Dowager was really well intentioned ah. Unfortunately, these beauties have been locked in a small courtyard since they entered the mansion. They had not even visited the backyard, let alone seeing Chu Baning’s person.

Chu Baning’s face was expressionless.

Housekeeper Qin respectfully lowered his head, not speaking.

Ah Nan yy-ed for a while, and finally converted the meaning of “passed” into ancient times’ meaning. Suddenly astonished, she widened her eyes and looked at Housekeeper Qin with an incredulous expression on her face.

Wasn’t the person fine? How could she suddenly ‘passed’? Ah Nan believed that Empress Dowager would not send someone like Sister Lin³Sister Lin (林妹妹) here refers to 林黛玉 (Lin Daiyu) from Dream of the Red Chamber. She is described as someone so intelligent and talented but had cruel fate due to feudal society at that time (her personality is that of a straightforward person, daring to hate someone openly). Her end was tragic. Sister Lin type Ah Nan refers to here is the talented, intelligent, and tragic. due to her love towards Chu Baning, the beauties she chose should be both healthy and beautiful—After all, the Empress Dowager hopes that they will give birth to sons and expand the family tree⁴ The term used here was to grow branches and scatter leaves (开枝散叶来), not let them come here to be a sick Xi Shi. Thus, Ah Nan felt that surely there is something strange about their sudden “passing”.

——— This girl has not yet associated herself as ‘Ke Wife⁵Ke Qi (克妻) or Ke Wife is a belief where the wife’s fate is influenced by the man’s appearance or fate. Ah Nan here is saying that Chu Baning’s fate of killing wife and losing son (克妻绝子) should not affect her because she has yet to be Chu Baning’s woman. Moreover, as CBN’s wife Ah Nan is still fine.‘. After all, she is the concerned person’s wife now and is still living well. However, she had never thought that she was also considered a member of the “Ke” in people’s eyes!

“How could it be?” Chu Baning asked expressionlessly, Ah Nan also looked confused.

At that moment, both Housekeeper Qin and Ah Nan shivered at the same time, realizing that winter had arrived earlier.

Knowing that his Wang ye was in a bad mood now, Housekeeper Qin could only brace himself, lowering his head and say, “Wang ye, lady Shi Qing have passed at 12.30 pm this afternoon. Your esteemed self and Wang fei had already gone to the Imperial Chancellor’s Mansion, but this old slave didn’t let anyone inform you.” Housekeeper Qin saw Chu Baning’s face expressionless, continuing, “The two ladies who lived in the same courtyard as lady Shiqing said that last night had rained autumn rain and the weather turned cold. Lady Shiqing likely had accidentally caught a cold. This morning, she had a high fever. Around three quarters of Wu Shi⁶The time was 午时 (time around 11 am to 1 pm) 三刻 (three quarters), so it was around 12.30. in the afternoon, Lady Shiqing passed away.”

“Why didn’t you invite a doctor for examination if she was sick?” Ah Nan asked confusedly. The royal family is very generous to servants. Usually, if one had any slight ailments, they could just ask for Guanshi Momo⁷管事嬷嬷 are the Momos in charge of the general affairs., and she will send someone to invite a doctor⁸大夫 can mean doctors or senior official. Here referring to doctors.. Unlike some wealthy families who don’t care about the working servants’ life and death.

Right now, Housekeeper Qin also imitated his family’s Wang ye’s solemn expression, saying, “This old slave went to ask the two ladies, Hua Yi and Feng Ya. They said that it was because lady Shi Qing didn’t think it was serious and insisted on not inviting a doctor, saying she will get better with rest, so no one bothered at that time. It wasn’t until noon when the two ladies didn’t feel at ease and went to visit Shi Qing that they realized Shi Qing had already become muddled⁹muddled due to fever being too high. The doctor had not yet been invited when Shi Qing finally passed away.”

Ah Nan’s mouth went slack, muttering, “It’s too exaggerated. Isn’t it just a fever, but… are their bodies so weak?” Ah Nan still didn’t believe that the Empress Dowager would send a Sister Lin here to harm her son. Thinking about it, Ah Nan glanced at the man beside her and saw that although he had a solemn face, there was something wrong about him.

Housekeeper Qin looked at their Wang fei with some embarrassment, not knowing whether to answer or not. He also secretly complained and blamed that Shi Qing was really insensitive for choosing to die at such a time. Can’t you see that it has only been one month since Wang ye’s wedding? It should be a celebration! Their Wang fei is wholly living well, but you have died. What kind of trouble are you bringing ah?!¹⁰yeah… you read that right

For a moment, the master and servant were all speechless.

After a while, Chu Banning pursed his lips and ordered, “Housekeeper Qin, have someone send some silver to the palace maid’s family, and have someone bury the person properly.” After all, she was the palace maid given by the Empress Dowager, Chu Banning would give her some face.

Housekeeper Qin nodded in affirmation, but was muttering in hesitation to speak. In the end, he did not tell his Wang ye that what happened had frightened the remaining two palace maids. If he said it now, wouldn’t it be a stab in his Wang ye’s heart?

After the Housekeeper Qin left, Chu Baning glanced at Ah Nan’s worried expression and reached out to touch her head. He summoned the maids and Momos and instructed them to escort Ah Nan back to his room. He said, “You go back and rest first, don’t wait for me.”

As his words fell, he left with his trusted servant, Mu Yuan’er.

Ah Nan watched the man’s straight back disappear into the dim light, a sense of unease surged in her heart. For some reason, she suddenly felt that Chu Baning’s back appeared somewhat sad, making her inexplicably feel uncomfortable.

That night, Chu Baning had yet to come back even late at night.

Ah Nan was restlessly pacing around the room, hoping for someone to search for Chu Banning’s whereabouts. However, she also thought that Chu Banning’s whereabouts were beyond her authority to inquire, heart sank again. Chu Baning was a powerful man who never liked women to inquire about his whereabouts and interfere in his affairs. To him, women’s role was to assist their husbands and educate children¹¹相夫教子 along with managing the man’s residence properly, the other affairs can be left to him to solve. Chu Baning has always treated her in this way. Although Ah Nan is not clever, she has self-awareness and is extremely well versed in terms of propriety.

Ah Nan waited and waited, until midnight passed. This is the latest she has ever slept since coming to this era.

When Chu Baning returned, the night was really dark, and the maid on night duties, Ru Lan, was dozing. Chu Baning’s footsteps woke her up. Ru Lan looked at the Wang ye whose whole body was sweaty¹²I’m not sure what 一身露水 refers to. It literally translates as a whole body being dewy/ephemereal. I assume it means sweaty in panic.

“Has Wang Fei gone to rest?” Chu Baning asked.

Ru Lan nodded then shook her head. Seeing Chu Wanning frowning, she quickly said, “Wang fei had wanted to rest at first, but she said she couldn’t sleep…..”

Chu Baning ‘en’-ed, walking into the room.

In the bedroom, a bean-like lamp was lit, swaying in the night of cold breeze.

Ah Nan was sitting on the bed, bundled up in a blanket in a daze. Seeing Chu Baning come back, she couldn’t help being happy, quickly jumped out of the bed and ran to him wanting to say something, but she didn’t know what to say for a while.

After a night of entanglement, coupled with the “kind” reminder from the stupid maid¹³ 二货 (literally stupid goods), this is a playful ‘insult,’ not actually insulting, Ru Cui, Ah Nan remembered that Chu Baning had been sentenced by a senior monk as having a fate of “killing wife and losing son”. That Shi Qing’s death must have touched everyone’s nerves. Those who kept an eye on Su Wang’s mansion might not be surprised by this result, thinking that Su Wang had finally “killed¹⁴克死 (ke death) as in the ke in killing wife losing son” another woman.

He must be feeling really uncomfortable…

After all, regardless of whether it was his fault or not, the inexplicable deaths of women related to him have led more and more people to believe that he has “killed his wife and losing son”. Regardless of who could spread this sad matter, no one could be at ease.

Chu Baning looked at Ah Nan, who jumped out of bed wearing only a middle robes¹⁵ 中衣 (literally middle cloth). Honestly I don’t know how to call it in english. Basically the robes have many layers, there are inner layers, middle, and outer layer of cloth. Ah Nan is not wearing the outer robes.. His expression slightly was slightly relaxing, but he also scolded her, saying, “You should wear more clothes.”

After what happened in the Imperial Chancellor’s Mansion today, Ah Nan had already opened up his heart to him. She enjoyed his words of concern coated in a reprimanding tone, saying with a smile, “It’s okay, I’m physically strong.” Ah Nan proudly said: It’s definitely no problem knocking down a little white rabbit¹⁶??? Ah Nan why kicking rabbits ah?~~~

Chu Baning was attended by the wise and kind¹⁷The words used here is 贤惠, basically being a good (traditional) wife Ah Nan to get changed into a sleep clothes, then he lay in bed with her. Ah Nan gently leaned against his arms, wanting to tell him that “killing wife and losing son” and other things were feudal superstitions that could not be believed! Those women were just unlucky enough to have an accident at the right time, it had nothing to do with him. She can live well and leave behind disasters for a millenium….

However, Ah Nan didn’t say anything in the end. Just letting Chu Ba Ning tightly hug her in his arms, feeling the man’s increasing force, making her bones ache. Just as Ah Nan couldn’t bear the pain of the hug and wanted to remind him that he was holding her, his tight grip suddenly relaxed.

“Ah Nan, sleep!”

Chu Baning patted her back and coaxed her to sleep like a child. Ah Nan raised her face, carefully searching for his lips in the darkness to give him a good night kiss. Who knew she would kiss the tip of his nose, blushing with embarrassment. She quickly withdrew to sleep as if she had not heard someone’s suppressed laughter.

Late at night, Ah Nan was also tired and slowly fell asleep. In the middle of sleep, she seemed to hear a deep voice whispering in her ear, “… stay with me, okay…”¹⁸The words uttered by Chu Baning was 留下来陪我吧 (literally remain here and accompany me, ok?). The me here was also using 我, treating her as CBN equal and as a person, not Su Wang.

 

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The death of the palace maid bestowed by the Empress Dowager in the Su Wang’s Mansion is not a big nor small matter. Just a nameless and insignificant person—it should be said that she is only a servant, it’s fine even if the master kills her.

The bad news is that everyone knows that they were given by the Empress Dowager to “serve” Su Wang! It’s obvious that they are Su Wang’s women!

The person died, once again associating with the capital’s Su Wang’s famous legend of “killing wife and losing son”. Everyone who knows about it has an expression saying, “Look, another one has been killed!” They believe that this result is natural. What is unnatural is that Su Wang fei was unscathed, that is a confusing mishap! How would Su Wang fei die¹⁹Yeah this is the best way I can put it. The RAW was “肃王妃肿么能各种死呢”. The people were basically guessing which method of death would the Su Wang fei die in.? This is disappointing for them!

The loss of a palace maid was originally just an affair of Su Wang’s Mansion; no connection to outsiders and shouldn’t have spread so quickly. But Chu Baning issued an order for proper burial. Although this red and white funeral²⁰红白喜丧事 (literally red, white, happy, funeral). Red events are generally happy, such as marriages or birth. White funeral or white matters are for the deceased, of course. As for the 红白喜丧失, likely refers to funerals for elderly people, because they were thought to have lived enough and should be happy (because the Chinese customs are also influenced by Buddhism where life is suffering, death may be portrayed as liberation). As for why this used for that Shi Qing, I’m not very sure. was not held in the Mansion, there were many things that needed to be prepared, which naturally caught the attention of those with motives. So, in no less than a night, most people in the capital knew that Su Wang Mansion had held a funeral. Upon further inquiry, they found out that a palace maid bestowed by the Empress Dowager had passed away.

Suddenly, everyone in the capital was alarmed, the gambling houses that had been silent for a month were once again crowded.

When the news of the funeral in Su Wang’s Mansion reached the palace, the Empress Dowager was holding a pile of precious paintings from the aristocratic families, having a discussion with her son, the emperor.

The Empress Dowager was still persisting in wanting Emperor Chongde to point out a noble as her youngest son’s Ce fei²¹侧妃, a rank of concubine. A rank below Wang fei. Ce fei is still considered “wife,” but her rank is still lower than Wang fei and thus can be said as “secondary wife”, believing that only they were deserving of Chu Baning’s honorable status. Now the Empress Dowager is no longer worried that Su Wang will not be able to marry a wife. Didn’t she see that Su Wang fei is still living well? So the Empress Dowager believes that the fate of her son ‘Ke’s wife’ should have been absolved, allowing him to attract more beauties and expand the family tree.

Although Emperor Chongde smiled outwardly, in his heart he had started to sigh. If he knew in advance, he would have just slipped away citing his busy state affairs earlier. Looking at the beautifully painted picture of a beauty and listening to the Empress Dowager’s various critical comments on them, Emperor Chongde knew that his mother might be uselessly making an effort.

Emperor Chongde remembered Chu Baning’s solemn face that resembled an old person. If he knew that the Empress Dowager was preparing to choose a Ce fei for him, he might directly resist the decree and leave without hesitation. Even if you sit him down and persuade him patiently, telling him that since ancient times, men should have three wives and four concubines to expand their family tree, he will still say even more extreme things that will make your heart ache.

When Emperor Chongde remembered his imperial younger brother’s solemn expression and ridiculous²²As in make someone’s lips twitch in speechlessness words, he really couldn’t help but laugh.

Just as the Empress Dowager picked out several satisfactory pictures of beautiful women and Emperor Chongde almost his patience, an eunuch hurriedly came in to deliver news to these two most respected masters, that lady Shi Qing from Su Wang’s mansion had passed away.

The empress dowager suddenly blanked and couldn’t react. She asked foolishly, “What gone²³Please remember that the word passed away used here is 没了, literally translates to gone or no more.? How could a person who was just fine just go? Could she have the courage to run away, could it be that? How brave! Is she not afraid that the Ai jia²⁴哀家 (ai jia) is how empress dowager refers to herself. Like how Su Wang refers to himself as Ben wang. will kill nine generations of her family!”

Emperor Chongde was also a bit sluggish, but quickly remembered that he was the emperor. However, upon hearing his mother’s foolish words, Emperor Chongde went 囧²⁵Jiong (囧), usually used as an emoticon to show an embarrassed/shocked/helpless look. You can see the expression in the character..

The eunuch buried his head, wanting to pretend that he had not heard anything and did not exist. But he’s such a big person there, how can he hide? Only hoping that when the Empress Dowager comes to realization, she will not go into rage out of humiliation and kill to silence him.

The Empress Dowager also quickly caught on, too enraged at her own foolish words, and then froze.

What? The one called Lady Shi Qing passed? Didn’t the imperial physician²⁶太医, imperial physician say their bodies are very healthy and have no problem living to the age of 70 or 80?

The Empress Dowager heart thundered as ten thousand grass mud horses²⁷匹草泥马 (pi cao ni ma) is a slang for a string of curses (because China has a lot of censorship laws, they dodge it by changing the words a little bit and add on some words to make the sentence not strange. The curse was originally supposed to be 屁 (pi; fart), 肏你妈 (cao ni ma; fuck your mother). Basically the meaning here is “the empress dowager cursed ‘fart, fuck your mother’ a thousand times”. galloped pass.

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Translator’s little theatre:

Emperor Chongde: search history “How to quietly leave a stage unnoticed,” “How to distort reality and make people forget I exist,” “How to publicly deny admission to your relation to your mother without being unfilial, hurry waiting online!”

Ah Nan: As it turns out mother-in-law and I have a similarity! And I’m still smarter!