RVW – Chapter 29

The Empress Dowager felt that if her son was a debt from a previous life, then her daughter-in-law was a debt from this life, truly a debt collector who cannot let someone feel at ease.

The Empress Dowager’s was upset, really didn’t know if this Su Wang fei is truly foolish or just pretending. Saying such words, people who heard it would definitely think it was fake, trying to deceive her. Does Ai jia really look like an idiot?

Of course The Empress Dowager was no fool, otherwise she also couldn’t have taken advantage of the situation to climb up the harem’s highest throne. So, the Empress Dowager believed that Ah Nan was purely mocking her and was furious. Thinking darkly, Ai jia previously pointing people as bed warmers¹伺候 (to serve), as in to serve Chu Baning in bed half-month into your wedding may be wrong, but Ai jia was your mother-in-law. How could you, a daughter-in-law, squeeze one’s own mother-in-law?

“Mu hou, Chen xi is also grieving about Lady Shi Qing’s matter, but the two remaining girls may be enlightened with this. Only that….” Ah Nan hesitated for a moment, said with difficulty, “They said that the Lady Shi Qing actually fell ill because she couldn’t adapt²水土不服 (literally not comfortable with the water and soil) well. Also, the remaining Lady Hua Yi and Lady Feng Ya also told Chen xi that they also felt unable to adapt and wished for Chen xi to let them become slaves or maid servants. As if….” Ah Nan put on an agonizing expression as if she couldn’t bring herself to say something, twisting her handkerchief tightly in her hand, looking at the Empress Dowager in anger and fury.

The Empress Dowager’s face immediately turned black³Meaning angry, can also be translated to gloomily but I prefer to keep this kind of expression unique to Chinese literally translated..

If Ah Nan’s “artistic” words just now made her feel choked up, then now she only felt that her authority was being challenged.

The Empress Dowager is now angry at those two beauties. What does “unable to adapt” mean? Isn’t this accusing Ai jia of sending them over to suffer? What does ”becoming slaves or maid servants” mean? Isn’t this disdaining her son? The Empress Dowager cannot tolerate her own son being despised by a lowly palace maid.

The Empress Dowager thought with extreme gloom, then looked at Ah Nan who was watching her in concern with lowered eyes. Her heart suddenly stagnated, no longer resentful. Regardless of how, if it weren’t for her being anxious and sending those three palace maids, Su Wang Mansion would not have been ridiculed by people in the capital again, and her son would not have been mocked at for the fate of “Ke Wife”.

In addition, if she were to take back those two now, wouldn’t it make those people laugh even more?

After a while, the Empress Dowager suppressed her anger and resumed her indifferent demeanor. She said to Ah Nan, “Those two were sent by Ai jia to your mansion as servants. If they aren’t obedient, just kick them out. This kind of shameless⁴没脸没皮 (literally no face no skin), used to describe someone shameless. servants, leaving them alone may also be a joke. You can take care of them yourself.”

Upon hearing, even the slow to react Ah Nan knew the Empress Dowager had abandoned those two people. Their life and death were completely in her hands, even sending them away⁵The RAW said 发配, which to my understanding, means sentencing someone (legal) by sending them away to do labour work somewhere far. is fine.

Ah Nan thought of how those two palace maids making commotions, her mood slightly sunk, thinking that such a solution is truly wonderful. Better not leave them here and make her family’s Wang ye Fu jun unhappy, it would truly be a slap in the face.

After she finished talking to the Empress Dowager for a while, Ah Nan smiled sweetly asking to be excused.

It seems that this time’s trip to the palace was not without gains. Those two palace maids’ matters are solved. No need to fear someone causing troubles in the future.

After exiting Chonghua Palace, Ah Nan looked at the sky and took Ru Lan to Shu fei’s Yongning Palace.

Upon arriving at the Yongning Palace front and had someone announce their presence, a palace maid came out to pay respect to Ah Nan.

“Song Gugu⁶姑姑 (Gu gu) is a form of address to paternal aunt, but can also be used for as a form of address for women in your parents’ age, thank you for the trouble again!” Ah Nan said with a smile. This Song Gugu was the first palace maid sent to enter Yongning Palace after her⁷as in Shu fei’s marriage marriage, and is Shu fei’s most trusted confidant.

Lady Song pursed her lips in a smile, saying, “Su Wang fei has come, our Niangniang has been waiting for you. Aiya, what a coincidence, the Imperial Chancellor Furen⁸ 夫人 (wife), I have been translating 丞相夫人 as imperial chancellor wife, but from here I would refer her as imperial chancellor’s furen when she was addressed by someone in dialogue. Referring to someone as x’s wife just doesn’t feel nice in English, in Chinese it works just like Mr and Mrs X. is also here.”

Ah Nan smiled. Her own daughter’s birthday, there’s nothing wrong with the Imperial Chancellor’s wife coming to the palace wishing to meet her daughter. Ah Nan is not surprised by her presence.

Arriving at the main hall of Yongning palace are the seated Shu fei and the Imperial Chancellor’s wife. Several beautiful palace maids were waiting on the side, talking flatteringly. For a moment, the palace is filled with joyful talk, the atmosphere light and pleasant.

“Greetings to Shu fei Niangniang.” Ah Nan saluted. After Shu fei told her to get up, she smiled and paid her respect to the Imperial Chancellor’s wife with a smile. The Imperial Chancellor’s wife also immediately greeted her in return.

Ah Nan handed her gift to Shu fei, saying with a smile, “Wishing Da jiejie a healthy body, uneroded by years and age⁹RAW: 年年有今日，岁岁有今朝 (years after years remain like today, age by age remain at the present).”

Shu fei took the gift and handed it to the nearby palace maid. The smile in her eyes couldn’t be concealed, displeasedly saying, “You have a sweet mouth.”

“Not as sweet as Da jiejie!”¹⁰及不上大姐姐 Ah Nan smiled sweetly. That warm, soft, and sweet smile on this kind of festive day could really win people’s hearts.

Although Shu fei spoke to her with a reserved tone, the genuine pleasure could not be hidden, making Ah Nan feel that perhaps there might be something worth her happiness in this affair.

The three of them talked about their family for a while. Then Shu fei waved her hand signalling the palace maids to retreat to outside the hall. She sized Ah Nan up, nodded and said, “You look quite energetic.”

Ah Nan nodded inexplicably and said, “Thanking Da Jiejie for her concern.” Since Shu fei said such sentences also put up the imposing aura of Su Wang fei, Ah Nan naturally became more careful when confronting Shu fei compared to her previous interaction with her sisters at home.

The Imperial Chancellor’s wife looked at her silly appearance and reluctantly lowered her lips, saying to her daughter, “No need to pay attention to those kind of rumors. Your Majesty is tolerant and can tolerate their nonsense, but the Empress Dowager is not easy to deal with and will use any possible means to justify punishing them. What your father said is not wrong, Ah Nan is blessed and has never suffered serious illness since childhood.”

“That’s true. Those who talk are just jealous of Su Wang’s power.” Shu fei said with a smile, “My Yongning Palace has been very popular with sisters recently. When they have nothing to do, they would come here two times to gossip. I also wondered how I became more popular than the Emperor, as it turns out the reason lies in Ah Nan’s person…” Shu fei narrowed her eyes, couldn’t help but look at Ah Nan, when recalling what happened recently, she really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Who in the palace doesn’t argue or fight? But for some reason, recently everyone has come to visit, not to fight over men, but to gossip over the Wang fei outside the palace. Because of Su Wang fei, those imperial concubines had used the rare sincere smile to welcome her, openly or discreetly inquiring about Su Wang fei’s affair. both openly and secretly. This truly made Shu fei sighed with emotion.

“……..”

Ah Nan’s face was full of black lines, finally understanding that those people were gossiping about her. Because of the death of Shi Qing, Su Wang’s Mansion had become the most popular target of gossip in the capital. And Ah Nan, the Su Wang fei, has once again attracted a lot of attention, even the nobles in the palace have followed suit. Ah Nan thought, no wonder those imperial concubines were so enthusiastic, turns out it was for this reason.

The Imperial Chancellor’s wife and her eldest daughter talked for a while, and saw Ah Nan’s expression become a bit strange, saying, “Don’t mind what those people said¹¹RAW: 他们要说嘴便由得他们说 (Let them say what they want to say), just do your duties properly and manage Wang ye’s inner residence.” The imperial chancellor’s wife hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Su Wang…will soon leave the capital. You will be alone then, be careful and don’t harbour any dissatisfaction.”

“Ei?” Ah Nan was surprised. Isn’t this matter a secret? How could the Imperial Chancellor’s wife know? The emperor’s plan to send Chu Baning to escort grain and grass to the border is still under discussion, pretty sure the excerpt has yet to be sent.

Shufei just raised her eyebrows and cleverly didn’t respond.

The Imperial Chancellor’s wife is a smart¹²The word used here is 通透, meaning transparent or penetrating. Here it actually means being able to see through you. person. Although the daughters she taught have their own characters, they are at least intelligent enough to know what to say and what not to say, treating what should not be said as a passing remark.

The Imperial Chancellor’s wife somewhat hates iron for not being steel. This Shu daughter is just a silly and enthusiastic person. No wonder even if she had been married over, her husband is still constantly worried. She, as her Di mother, also had to give a few reminders all the time. It’s more exhausting and worrying than her own daughter.

“Your father is worried that you would be angry, let me explain a few things to you…” The Imperial Chancellor’s wife recalled that her husband had been irritable since he knew that Su Wang would leave the capital to escort grain and grass to the border and might not come back before the war ended. Su Wang would leave just one month after his wedding, isn’t this making the bride miserable? Newlywed brides who encounter such situations would either laugh to death or resent to death.

Ah Nan has already accepted it. Although she also blamed the emperor a little, it was something Su Wang had decided. In addition, she is actually a person without big ambition and can live leisurely every day. If there is no Su Wang, it would just be lacking a person at the dinner table and a warm blanket in bed.

As they were talking, suddenly a sharp “The Emperor has arrived~~” was heard from a distance. The three people in the palace quickly got up and walked outside to welcome him.

A man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe and a purple gold crown walked from a far, Ah Nan and Shu fei respectfully knelt down to greet him.

Emperor Chongde kindly supported Shu fei to stand, his eyes swept over the Imperial Chancellor’s wife and Ah Nan, something flashed in his eyes. He smilingly said, “Turns out the Imperial Chancellor’s Furen and Su Wang fei are also here! How has the Imperial Chancellor’s Furen been lately? We heard that the imperial chancellor’s mother, Lu Lao Furen, has come here from her hometown. Is her health alright?”

The Imperial Chancellor’s wife, who had already straightened up, bowed down again and respectfully replied, “Thank you very much for His Majesty’s concern. This woman is in good health, mother is also quite healthy.”

Emperor Chongde took Shu fei’s hands and led her into the palace hall, Ah Nan and the Imperial Chancellor’s wife followed behind them.

Emperor Chongde took Shu fei to sit on the main seat, and the palace ladies served tea and light refreshments again. The tea served is a favorite of Emperor Chongde, Wulingfeng tea. A mouthful of sweet and fresh tea could clean the spleen and lungs.

“Su Wang fei has been working hard, have you seen Mu hou?” Emperor Chongde asked in a row.

Ah Nan respectfully bowed her head and said, “This subject didn’t work hard. Thanking the Emperor for his concern. This subject just came from Mu hou’s palace before coming here.”

Emperor Chongde looked Ah Nan up and down, inwardly nodded, then after a while, permitted for the Imperial Chancellor’s wife and Ah Nan to leave.

Ah Nan glanced and saw that Shu fei had been looking at them with a smile, she naturally knew that she is extremely delighted—After all, the Emperor is busy attending to numerous state affairs and have to be reminded even of his own birthday, yet he remembered this one imperial concubine’s birthday and even clear up some time to accompany her…..It is indeed something worthy for a woman to be happy about.

Ah Nan bid farewell to the Imperial Chancellor’s wife outside the palace gate and returned to the Su Wang’s mansion in a carriage.

However, when she just returned to Su Wang’s Mansion and sat down, she saw the old housekeeper coming and said, “Wang fei, Wang ye will be entertaining guests in the mansion today. Please look at these menus, do you think they are alright?”

Ah Nan took the menu from the old housekeeper, looked it over as usual and then nodded. Ah Nan knew that they could manage everything properly, she just had to look over it and agree. It’s just that the amount of food in the menu didn’t seem much, and thus couldn’t help but ask, “Housekeeper Qin, how many guests will Wang ye entertain?”

“One person.” The old housekeeper’s mouth corner twitched, as if really unwilling to even talk about it, “It is the son of Zhen Guogong¹³国公 (guo gong) is a title of nobleness. It is the 3rd ranked among the noble classes, the first among the Dukes (公爵). I believe their rank is just below the lords (王), so pretty high rank there., master Wen Liang.”

Ah Nan widened her eyes upon hearing. Although Ah Nan is a boudoir lady who has not wandered around¹⁴大门不出二门不迈 (literally never got out of gate, never stepped out of door), but she also knew of Zhen Guogong’s youngest son, Wen Liang, Wen Zixiu. Wen Liang, courtesy name Zixiu, people usually refer to him as Wen Zixiu. This person is charming in nature, elegant and outstanding, who knows how many boudoir ladies have fallen for him at first sight and then insisted on not marrying after their goodbyes…… Okay, this is not something Ah Nan should be worried about. What Ah Nan is worried about is that, what if Su Wang was spread in Longyang¹⁵龙阳 is basically relating to homosexuality or gayness. It comes from 龙阳君 (gentleman Longyang) who was a boy-toy of King of Wei (魏王) during the Warring States era. gossip because of this Wen Liang, Wen Zixiu, person!

Thus, Ah Nan’s expression became as conflicted as the old housekeeper’s.

Ah Nan thought, a fly doesn’t bite a seamless egg¹⁶苍蝇不叮无缝的蛋, meaning that there is no room for others to exploit if one doesn’t have a weakness., her family’s Wang ye is undoubtedly a normal man, the one abnormal should be Wen Liang then.

Not long after noon, Chu Baning returned.

From afar, Ah Nan saw Wen Liang, Wen Zixiu, who was praised as “having the charm of a beautiful phoenix.” Some people even said that being looked at by Wen Zixiu is a blessing of three lifetimes. Ah Nan secretly sized up this man who was wearing a set of gorgeously embroidered Pao xing¹⁷袍行 or 行服袍 is a kind of robes an official wears, like this, unruly long hair similar to crow’s feathers loosely dangled over his back, his hands holding on a fan. His face was handsome, his eyes and brows as if being painted. That body, that bearing, was really graceful¹⁸ The word used here is 风流, it can mean talented/distinguished/outstanding, but can also means charmingly romantic (as in a charismatic playboy) as flowers. His pair of peach blossom eyes full of affection and hope looked over, making people feel like a sky full of stars could not compare to his pair of eyes, making one’s heart intoxicated.

Who knows if it was because her heart has already been prejudiced, no matter how handsome and outstanding Wen Zixiu is, looking left and right, Ah Nan found Wen Zixiu not pleasing to the eyes. Even if the man is as peerless and beautiful as Pan An’s reincarnation, looking at him seemingly approaching her family’s Wang ye and doing something ambiguous, Ah Nan felt angry, feeling as if her man is being coveted¹⁹The RAW was 染指, wanting to get a share of something. by another man…..

Suddenly, Ah Nan’s eyes widened—Uh, she surprisingly saw Wen Zixiu being impolitely kicked away till flying by Chu Baning.

Ah Nan’s spirit went 囧囧, looking at the always solemn like an old person Chu Baning, whose whole face expressed his disgust. With an action that cannot be described as graceful, he kicked away Wen Liang who had captivated the boudoir ladies of the capital city at first sight, until he flew away.

Wang ye ah, how could you do such a childish thing with such a solemn expression?

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Translator’s little theater:

Wen Zixiu: Hei! How could you think like that, Su Wang fei! My taste might be questionable to some but I am, undeniably, a straight man!