RVW – Chapter 34

To tell the truth, Ah Nan isn’t foolish, but she gives off a meek and gentle feeling, similar to a cute and obedient little sister. Very much in line with the gentle and obedient temperament of women in this era, as if she can be easily moulded at will.

To put it simply, it means weak and helpless¹The word used here is 弱爆 (ruo bao, literally weak and easily burst (as in it burst and then gone)), usually used to describe something that is very weak, or in gaming sometimes said that the ability is superficial..

So weak people can bully and trample her all over.

Of course, this is just what it looks like. 

Although Ah Nan is a Shu daughter, except for receiving cold looks, she really had never been bullied much from childhood to adulthood. She is a master at pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. Everytime, before others even bullied and struck her body, she would suffer grievances. Moreover, Ah Nan also had the very stupid maid Ru Cui, that maid is also a slippery²跳脱 actually means bounce back and escape, good at escaping and lucky person, she could take advantage of the situation. Everytime this master-servant pair got bullied, the people bullying them would find themselves inexplicably implicated but completely unaware that it was the trick played by a certain maidservant with unbelievable luck. In addition, Ah Nan has lived in the capital for a long time, she also didn’t receive her monthly stipend from the Lu Clan in Ningcheng. The Imperial Chancellor’s wife is also not a narrow-minded and short-sighted person, everything eaten or used are all appropriate and fair³符合规矩, means according to or in line with the established standard, upright and fair. Basically here means the Furen didn’t mistreat Ah Nan., not wronging her. And her Imperial Chancellor father is a person who loves her, from time-to-time, he would secretly give her a secret stash of money. So it can be said that Ah Nan, this Shu daughter, is actually really lucky.

Does Lu Feiting, this girl, really take her as a fool who can be bullied?

At this moment, if Ah Nan hadn’t caught Lu Feiting’s abnormal feeling towards her family’s Wang ye, she would indeed be a wooden club.

Ah Nan didn’t know when Lu Feiting took a fancy on her family’s Wang ye, but her own husband is now being obviously⁴RAW: 被人赤果果的觊觎. 赤果果 here is a slang for naked. I’m not sure if Ah Nan means Lu Feiting’s affection is too blatant or if she means Lu Feiting is lusting over Chu Baning. coveted by someone, it feels really frustrating.

Ah Nan looked at the young lady with a stern expression and spoke idly until Lu Feiting became aware of Ah Nan’s change and gradually lowered her voice, her face becoming a bit embarrassed. Not long after, she resumed her gentle and refined appearance, standing there allowing Ah Nan to look at her overall virtuous appearance.

“Qi mei, what’s wrong?” Lu Feiting asked, making herself look more natural.

“It’s nothing, it’s just that Liu jiejie have a big heart, taking care of too vast of an affair!” Ah Nan let herself show a look of superficial smile, but remembered that Ru Cui, that second-rate maid, had said that making this expression made her seem as if her face was having a nerve cramp. Ah Nan decisively abandoned it and changed into an expressionless expression.

Lu Feiting’s face showed shame, feeling extremely uncomfortable after being blocked by Ah Nan, a feeling of being humiliated rose in her heart. Lu Feiting was enraged. No one had ever dared to sneer at her like this. Ah Nan, this girl, is extremely vile. Does she think becoming a Wang fei is so amazing? She is still her older sister.

Right at this moment, Ru Cui came over and bowed to Ah Nan, saying, “Xiao jie, Housekeeper Qin said the carriage and imperial guards have been prepared and ready to set off.”

Ru Cui looked curiously at Lu Feiting’s resentful and humiliated appearance. Her gaze made Lu Feiting even more enraged, feeling that this master and servant were still so hate-provoking.

Ah Nan nodded, raising her voice to call Lu Fei’an and Lu Feiya, without even looking at Lu Feiting, and walked away with the maids and Momos smugly⁵施施然 (yi yi ran, originally 迤迤然) describes someone walking smugly, slow and composed..

Lu Feiting’s face stiffened, both hands wringing over her handkerchief. Finally, she still switched back into a gentle smiling appearance and followed along.

The carriage was already waiting in front of the Imperial Mansion, Ah Nan put her hand on Ru Cui’s to step on the low stool, boarding the carriage.

The carriage is very spacious, eight people could sit in and still have room to spare. Because the original intention of Ah Nan was to go together to Bai Ma temple to offer incense with her sisters, the servants only prepared a carriage for the masters, the smaller one at the back was for the accompanying maids and Momos to ride. Now, Ah Nan actually has some regret that the servants only prepared one carriage. Can’t she make Lu Feiting sit together with the servants at the back? Wouldn’t Lu Feiting, this great Xiao jie, hate her to death?

Lu Fei’an and Lu Feiya glanced at Lu Feiting, who was deliberately ignored by Ah Nan. The two exchanged glances, and also got into the carriage with the help of a maid. In Lu Feiting’s eyes, a flash of fury flitted by. But at this moment, in a public space with many people, she couldn’t do anything discourteous, and gracefully got on the carriage.

The Bai Ma Temple is located on the Qianjing Mountain, in the outskirts of the city. It takes about an hour from the Imperial Mansion to the Bai Ma Temple.

The carriage moved steadily forward. After leaving the city gate, Ru Cui took out some pastries and put them on the small table inside the carriage. Ah Nan took a piece of hibiscus pastry, smiled and said, “It will take about an hour to go to Bai Ma Temple from here. I assume you will be hungry later. Come and taste the little refreshments made by the cook of our Mansion. The flavor isn’t bad.”

Lu Fei’an and Lu Feiya said thank you, each of them picked their favorite refreshment to eat. Only Lu Feiting smiled reservedly, not moving her hand.

“Why does Liu jiejie not eat? Could it be that the pastries from the Imperial Mansion aren’t to your taste?” Lu Fei’an said as she smiled happily, opening her mouth only for sarcastic mockery.

Lu Feiting’s eyes darkened, inwardly cursing at this beautiful moron with no brains. On the surface, she still appeared gentle and refined, saying, “How could it be? It’s just a case of accidentally having eaten too much at lunch today and wasn’t very hungry.” With that, Lu Feiting said to Ah Nan, “My mother often tells me, these kinds of dessert should be eaten less or else it would be easy to gain weight. It’s not good for women to be too fat.”

The kind of beauty popular in this world is like Zhao Feiyan’s⁶Zhao Feiyan was an Empress of the Han dynasty. She is often compared with Yang Guifei’s beauty. Zhao Feiyan is known for her skinny, slender, slim build while Yang Guifei is known to have a larger figure and full body type (such a body was what was popular in that era among the many body types). There is a chengyu for this comparison: 环肥燕瘦; (huan fei, yan shou) or plump Huan (Yang Guifei’s name is Yang Yuhuan, her concubine title is guifei) and slender Fei. skinny and slim beauty. In the carriage there was no one except Ah Nan who is like a round watery jade pearl⁷If you are confused about the description (yeah sorry I really have no idea how to get such description across :”) ), just think of boba. Watery, soft and round, and smooth like jade., the other young ladies are all slim with a tender constitution. Even Ru Cui, who Ah Nan let remain in the carriage to serve, also has a thin and slim figure. Lu Feiting, saying such words, made the people in the carriage think distortedly

Lu Feiya, whose hand still held a piece of pastry, suddenly showed a bashful expression, softly saying, “Liu jie‘s words are not appropriate. Meimei thinks Qi jiejie’s round curves appearance is adorable. Grandmother once said that this kind of Qi jiejie has fortune.”

Lu Feiting’s face stiffened, her face quickly turned apologetic to Ah Nan, saying, “Qi mei misunderstood. Jiejie didn’t say it was about you, it’s just that appearance and figure are important to us women. Just a kind reminder……”

Ah Nan frowned inwardly. These two people can just fight if they want to fight, why pull her in? Ah Nan also knew that despite Lu Feiya’s appearing peaceful, shy, and coarse, she was skilled at inserting needles on the seams, especially stabbing on people’s sore spots several times. And the relationship between Lu Feiting and her isn’t good, maintaining herself as Lu Clan’s first branch’s Di daughter identity, she had always only put her eyes on greater things⁸眼高于顶 meaning having eyes only for the top, means that the person would only ever consider greater things and have not the slightest care except for other things above her status. and never put those Shu-born sisters in her eyes. If it wasn’t for the status of Su Wang fei, she also wouldn’t wrong herself to please her.

Lu Fei’an watched the show leisurely, wanting to see if Ah Nan would show her prestige.

 

Ru Cui poured a cup of hot tea for Ah Nan, pursing her lips in a smile and said, “What the two cousins Xiao jie said is not appropriate. Our Wang fei is heaven-sent jade. It’s just that your bodies looked so thin and frail, this slave is really worried that once we arrive at the mountain later, the blowing wind would make you float away in the sky like paper kites. You also know that the wind blows really hard up in the mountain ma~~” The last sentence was said especially sincere.

“……..”

Lu Feiting and Lu Feiya’s faces immediately turned black, being suppressed by this maid who can’t talk properly feels really uncomfortable. But she is Ah Nan’s senior confidant maid. They can’t offend Ah Nan now, only able to smile embarrassedly and say accommodating things like “You, this maid, really love to joke around…..”, and so on, feeling even more aggrieved in their hearts.

Along the way, such situations kept rising one after another.

Ah Nan sat next to the wall observing the three cousin sisters, who had once despised her, flattering herself openly and implicitly then stabbed⁹ Figuratively, like picking on or ridiculing someone. each other, then got stabbed by her family’s blunt second-rate maid, and could not retaliate. It feels like watching a house fight drama, the performance of these three women were really straight up wonderful.

At the foot of Qianjing Mountain, they got off the carriage and changed into sedan chairs to go up the mountain.

The Bai Ma Temple is built along the mountain, and the shrine is located on the mountaintop. As a millennium old ancient temple, its architecture is grand and majestic, an extremely magnificent sight. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, On Qianjing Mountain’s lush forest, a really long stairway leads to the mountaintop where the shrine is. It was said that the stairs have a total of 1999 steps. If they, these boudoir young ladies worth a thousand jin of gold, climb up on their own, they would definitely stop to rest even before they reached half of the way.

Four sedan chairs steadily climbed the mountain, several maidservants and Momos were following on both sides, and the Imperial Mansion’s guards guarding the front and back.

Arriving at the mountaintop, the maids and Momos had already gasped for breath, probably because they were usually assigned to serve young ladies, never having to climb mountains before. Extremely exhausted. On the mountaintop, many sedan chairs were parked on the vast ground¹⁰广场 is a level ground (like square) that has certain use, here as parking lot. I will be referring to it as field or ground. in front of the temple complex. It seems that the Bai Ma Temple is quite lively today.

After the four of them got off the sedan chairs, a little novice monk¹¹沙弥 (sha mi), a novice monk, still new to monkhood or had not improved their enlightment. had already come to welcome them.

Ah Nan looked around, commanding the imperial guards to look for a place to rest, then followed the little novice monk to the main hall of the Bai Ma Temple.

Although the lighted incense in the Bai Ma Temple wasn’t so prosperous, it is not a deserted place without people. Many officials, young ladies, or Furen¹²Oh yes, Furen (夫人) is madam, the legitimate/first-wife of a man with certain status. Concubines are no Furen. come here to burn incense and worship Buddha, the atmosphere was quiet and solemn. And the time they came today was also coincidental. There is a great master next door who is giving lectures¹³开坛讲经 means lecture or teaching about Buddhism and sutras, many officials and womenfolk came today to listen to the great master’s lecture.

Entering the main hall, Ah Nan bunched her skirt to kneel on the praying mat, took the incense handed by the little monk, closing her eyes to pray to the Buddha, praying towards the Buddha for the Imperial Chancellor father to be blessed with a healthy body and live a long life until 100 years, praying to the Buddha for her family’s Wang ye to be safe on his way to Tongcheng, leaving early and returning early…..

After offering incense, the four of them left the main hall, wanting to go to the temple’s backyard to see scenery.

The weather today is excellent, very suitable for a short trip. The autumn sun is comfortably warm and cozy, the weather clear and refreshing, blue sky and white clouds, making people’s mood clear.

“The air on the mountaintop is really good!” Lu Fei’an pleasedly took a deep breath and stood in a hallway, gazing into the distance from the mountaintop. The view was extraordinarily beautiful, bravely looking at the tiny crowd from the mountain giving one a sense of pride. Lu Fei’an looked around, pointing to a pavilion not far away and turned her head to the sisters and said with a smile, “There is a pavilion over there, let’s go there to rest~”

Lu Feiting and others all agreed one after another. Ah Nan, seeing the maidservants and Momos were also tired, agreed and went there with the maidservants, Momos, and five imperial guards. Ten guards came with them this time, Ah Nan let five guards wait in the field¹⁴The place where they parked the sedan chairs., only bringing five with her. Bai Ma Temple is a royal temple, with many imperial guards guarding it, so there is no need to worry of any danger.

Everyone walked to the pavilion, laughing and talking, only to find that someone had already been resting there when they got closer. It was a young man surrounded by a dozen tall guards. The man originally turned his back to them, then turned his body when he heard their sound. 

He was wearing an expensive blue brocade robe, with a jade crown on his head, and valuable jade ornaments hung around his waist. From his clothing, it can be seen that he was either wealthy or noble. That man, although quite handsome, but his complexion is a bit pale and exudes a pompous temperament. What makes them even more uncomfortable is, when that man saw them, his eyes showed undisguised evil thoughts, making people feel disgusted.

A few people looked at each other in dismay, Ah Nan felt an alarm blared on her head. She was extremely good at seeking fortune and avoiding danger, and at that moment, wanted to retreat immediately.

The man had already stood up and walked out of the pavilion. His hands shook a folding fan, and said elegantly, “Ai ya, you young ladies are polite. Ben shi zi¹⁵本世子 or this prince (literally this “child of the world”). 世子 is used by ‘prince’ descendants of ancient very high ranking nobilities, in the Ming and Qing dynasties 世子 is used by the descendants of Qin Wang (亲王). For comparison of ‘how noble,’ let’s just assume the guy is Qin Wang’s descendant. If you are not familiar with Qin Wang, it is the highest title of nobility, second only to the emperor. Qin Wang’s legitimate wife, Qin Wang fei, has the same status as the emperor’s most favored Guifei (this is the highest rank a concubine can achieve). So this guy here have extremely high status. is the AnYang Wang Shi Zi, don’t know which family are you ladies from ah?” The man arrogantly showed his identity, his eyes swept over their faces. When he saw Lu Fei’an, amazement and obsession flashed over his eyes, the whole person seemed to be in reverie.

His gaze caused Lu Fei’an to turn crimson, who knows if it is of bashfulness or fury.

Lu Feiya’s small face turned deathly pale, and Lu Feiting also lowered her face, her face relatively calm. The maidservants and Momos quickly stepped forward to stand beside their own young ladies, expressing the protectiveness of a wolf.

That man also has no manners. Seeing that they didn’t answer, he actually walked over directly. Fortunately, the five guards from the Imperial Mansion were unperturbed and stopped him, not letting him disturb the women. Quickly, several guards behind the man rushed forward, blocking the Imperial Mansion’s guards out.

The faces of the four young girls also turned black. This was clearly a naked intention of molesting¹⁶调戏 means to take advantage or take liberties with women. simply put, molesting or sexual assault. them ah.

“Slaves¹⁷yeah he referred to them as 奴才 aka female slavewho have no eyes, dare to dodge Ben Shi Zi.” AnYang Wang Shi Zi roared angrily, and soon the five imperial guards were restrained by ten out of dozen guards. Then he turned towards the women, his eyes fixed on Lu Fei’an, and then courteously said, “Meeting here must be fate. Don’t know how these ladies are addressed, which family are you from? Can Ben Shi Zi have the honour of inviting you ladies to sight-see together on this Qianjing Mountain’s scenery?” He said, reaching out to touch Lu Fei’an.

Lu Fei’an’s face turned deathly pale with fear, instinctively hiding behind the nearest person to her, Ah Nan, holding onto Ah Nan and not letting go. But she is half a head taller than Ah Nan. How could Ah Nan hide her? The maidservants and Momos were all frightened stupid, no one actually went to protect the masters at this moment.

The man who claimed to be the AnYang Wang Shi Zi glanced at Ah Nan, comparing her to the extremely stunning beauty. Suddenly, he felt that the girl in front of him was really lacking in beauty and nothing special, immediately losing the heart to cherish the fairer sex. Looking down on her¹⁸居高临下, living in high place and looking down on others., he gave her a gaze filled with disdain and arrogance, saying, “Fuck off¹⁹滚开 or “Roll!” is a rude way to tell someone to go away, little lady. Be tactful and don’t block Ben shao²⁰本少 or this young master looking at beauty.”

As he spoke, he arrogantly waited for Ah Nan to know how to behave²¹识趣 refers to knowing what to do or how to behave in delicate situation and be scared away by his commands. He is used to using this kind of method, as long as he reveals his identity and adds intimidation, no ladies will not obey him.

Ah Nan’s whole face showed an expression of looking at an idiot. This girl even referred to himself as Shi Zi. How was he raised to develop such a bear²²Pretty sure you have heard of this “bear.” It means being mischievous, arrogant, irresponsible, etc. personality? Unexpectedly, he would molest women from good families in broad daylight. Could it be this girl²³reminder that Ah Nan refers to those men she finds annoying as 这丫 or this girl is so lustful he became muddle-headed, not knowing that the people who were able to come here are all officials and young ladies with some status? 

Even if you are a Shi Zi, not everyone can be casually molested.

Lu Fei’an was already terrified, clinging to Ah Nan like a dog skin plaster²⁴Dog skin plaster refers to a person who sticks to someone [who is actually bothered and annoyed by the other] tightly (because this plaster sticks so fucking strong it was really hard to peel it off), but can also be used to mean fake medicine or fake goods. In fact this medicine is pretty well known to be a really good medicine for contusions, rheumatics, etc.; it’s just that in the past, some people would sell the fakes of this well-known medicine, gradually ‘dog skin plaster’ became a derogatory term for fake goods even though the medicine itself is said to have really good effects., not letting go no matter how she was shaken. The maidservants and Momos originally wanted to call for help, but their mouths were also blocked by those imperial guards.

“Ben Shi Zi wants this beauty. Servants²⁵来人 can mean servants, messagers, or “anyone” (as in ‘anyone, please come and help’), bring her back to our residence for Ben Shi Zi.” AnYang Wang Shi Zi arrogantly pointed at Lu Fei’an and ordered, reaching out to push the blocking Ah Nan out of the way, trying to hold onto Lu Fei’an who was tightly clinging onto Ah Nan and didn’t want to let go.

She saw that hand was about to touch her, although it was just a touch, being touched by a man other than her husband is something disastrous in this era, it would be harmful to her reputation. How could Ah Nan agree to it?

In a moment of desperation, Ah Nan lifted her skirt, lifted her feminine leg and kicked towards AnYang Wang Shi Zi’s lower body——Forgot to mention, Ah Nan was someone who practiced karate in her previous life. And in this life, she was afraid that being confined in the stuffy boudoir would lead to sickness and therefore cause dying young, So she privately practised in her free time to strengthen her body’s health, and her leg strength is exceptionally good. As a result, AnYang Wang Shi Zi’s fate was tragic²⁶杯具 means cup, but sometimes people would use this word to replace 悲剧 (means tragic or tragedy) because of its homophonic pronunciation..

“Ao——”

A blood-curdling screech echoed through Qianjing Mountain, startling the birds in the mountain to flap their wings in disorder and fly away.

A group of people were stupefied as they watched AnYang Wang Shi Zi, who had just been high and mighty, bending his body down on the ground, convulsing, both hands covering a certain lower body part vulnerable to the males, wailing.

After finishing kicking someone, Ah Nan had a burst of chaotic internal shouts, If this person didn’t lie, maybe he was really AnYang Wang Shi Zi, she had kicked his little brother…..En, should she slip away first?

“Xiao jie, shouldn’t we run away quickly?” Ru Cui was decisive, immediately pulling Ah Nan to run.

But the others were already frightened stupid, not expecting such a delicate and cute woman could be so ruthless. Even Lu Feiting and the others never thought that Ah Nan would actually dare to do such a thing. Every single one of them slack-jawed, looking at her as if she was a monster.

As soon as they saw her wanting to slip away, that AnYang Wang Shi Zi’s face turned fierce. His eyes glared at Ah Nan with malicious resentment, enduring the pain, then shouted with a hoarse voice akin to that of injured beasts, “Ser-, servants! Catch her for Ben Shi Zi, Ben Shi Zi wants her to wish for death²⁷生不如死 means living is not as good as death…”

Seeing that their master was harmed, AnYang imperial mansion’s guards were in a bad mood, and quickly and impolitely rushed to stop Ah Nan. Fortunately, they also knew the status of this group of women, not daring to paw²⁸动手动脚 literally moving arms and legs, means to grope at them.

When Ru Cui saw that they actually have the dog guts²⁹Intended as an insult. Just remember that when Chinese people are adding ‘dog’ to a seemingly unrelated topic, they meant it as an insult. Here it means they are cowardly they would even lay hand on women to stop them, she immediately became angry and directly advanced forward. The guards were frightened to draw back at once. This girl also followed Ah Nan’s movement just a while ago, straightforwardly kicked towards those guards’s offspring pocket, accompanied by an extremely imposing roar:

“Whoever dares to bully my family’s Xiao jie, I’ll fight them!!”

“Ao——”

Another extremely tragic and mournful roar sounded, startling the entire Bai Ma Temple.

AnYang Wang Shi Zi’s eyes bulged open, almost falling off his eye sockets, his hands tightly covering his lower half’s harmed eggs, feeling his eggs became even more painful, “Slut³⁰贱人 can be translated as slut/cheap person, or a despicable person!! You are all really cowardly³¹狗胆 or dog gallbladder. gallblader in chinese can also be translated as ‘guts’ as in courage/bravery. So, dog guts even though it’s actually dog gallbladder! Ben Shi Zi wants you to wish for death!!!! Ben Shi Zi will throw you two sluts to the Yichun Courtyard³²怡春院 (yi chun yuan, literally harmony spring courtyard) means brothel to receive patrons. Being fucked day and night, wishing for death better than living….” AnYang Wang Shi Zi mournfully roared, his voice contained boundless sadness.

Ah Nan, hearing it, turned cold and said, “Ru Cui, go and give him a kick!”

“Yes!” Ru Cui responded with a clear voice. She stepped forward, lifted her skirt, then directly kicked AnYang Wang Shi Zi’s certain male organ once again.

This time, AnYang Wang Shi Zi was directly unable to even let out a speech.

The might of the two women scared everyone present. However, the guards of the AnYang Imperial Mansion looked at their family’s master being injured one after another, and now was also worried, immediately responded and learned cleverly to counter them. They straightforwardly drew the swords on their waist and were about to go forward and catch the two Ah Nan and Ru Cui.

Suddenly, something unexpected happened³³异变突生 (literally means the disciple has transformed) refers to unexpected change suddenly occurring. With two ‘Bang’s, the swords of the two guards were struck flying by a hidden weapon. At the same time, a black shadow passed by like smoke, and the two guards spurted out a mouthful of fresh blood, paralyzed on the ground.

Everyone was stunned, especially when they saw the two guards who were killed on the spot, scaring them even more that their hearts were about to jump out.

At this moment, a cold, firm, and chilly voice sounded, echoing in this silent ancient temple, like hammers striking their hearts, making one’s whole body tremble.

“Chu Xiaotian, you want to make Ben Wang’s Wang fei wish for death better than living? En?!”

At the moment when the voice echoed, everyone present had the illusion of winter had suddenly arrived, trembling all over from the coldness.

---

Translator’s little theater:

Ah Nan: Husband have arrived! So cool!

 

On that note, I really like Ru Cui haha. Her combo with Ah Nan is so amusing