Bonus chapter. Happy Sunday!
So it turned out there are quite a few of you who came from NU and are actually nice people and really do appreciate & like my translation. Just like with so many things, there’s always a pro and con for everything. NU is good for people to check on updates but also being used to bully some of the translators if they don’t like their works. Seriously, if they don’t like my translation, they’re free not to waste their time to read mine. Duh! I should tell them to hire their own professional translators. I have emailed to ask NU to remove this novel & my other translated novel off their update listing so we’ll see if they can do this. For those of you who use NU for any updates, please know that I update this novel 3 times a week, every Mons, Weds & Fris. I occasionally update a bonus chapter on Suns
This chapter was translated by Sian for only and edited by Din2.
By Qian Lu
Chapter 44
Xuanyuan"s Manor
Xuanyuan"s manor was worthy of the general"s manor, the two sides of vermilion entrance, were bigger than an ordinary family"s house by three times. There was no fancy decoration, only two mythological animal statues stood there, that were two meters high on its left and right. They were imposing and cold, they could make people"s hair to stand up if they were looking at them for several times.
Murong Shu Qing got down from the carriage, she was actually attracted by these two mythological animal statues, they were vividly and exquisitely carved by portraying their wonderful charms. Moreover, by looking at the pattern and texture of the grain of wood, they should use a finished carving from the whole obsidian (mining) rock, with black color on the animal"s bodies, it penetrated their cold personalities, as if it was pouring into their souls.
Murong Shu Qing was just about to caress one of the animal"s body to feel its spiritual influence, but Xuanyuan manor"s vermilion entrance was slowly opened at this time. A man about 30 years of age who was wearing a blue dress, came out, the man walked in front of Murong Shu Qing and bowed to salute: "Miss Murong, Madam has been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow me."
Murong Shu Qing did not have any alternative but to withdraw her hand, she somewhat regretted it while she was looking one glance at the dignified mythological animals that were standing upright, and she followed the man to walk into the Xuanyuan"s manor.
Xuanyuan"s manor gave people a feeling of imposing atmosphere, it was rather a conspicuously cold feeling, Murong Shu Qing liked to admire the various kinds of architectural styles. But after walking not too long, the man stopped his footsteps, he said in whispers to a woman upfront who was carrying a pot of tea: "Miss (guniang) Dong Xue, Miss (xiaojie) Murong is here."
The woman turned around, Murong Shu Qing thought that the eyes that were in front of her were bright, a goose egg"s face (oval), a pair of big eyes that showed pity. A small, exquisite and charming nose, a captivating red cherry and moistened lips, a type of Jiangnan"s woman. While she was standing there, she looked like a graceful and elegant ink painting. This woman should not be Xuanyuan manor"s servant girl, she was different than the other women who were wearing blue dresses, the yellow dress that she was wearing, made her skin even more bright, delicate and pleasant to see.
When the woman looked right into Murong Shu Qing"s gaze, she just hurriedly lowered her head, and said softly: "Miss, please follow me."
Even her voice was so gentle, soft and elegant, if one had this kind of woman to accompany him by his side, he should be satisfied and cozy. Murong Shu Qing lightly smiled and said: "Thank you for your trouble."
Dong Xue who was already walking two steps, when she heard Murong Shu Qing"s relaxing and soothing voice, she unexpectedly trembled lightly, but she did not reply, and still bowing her head like before and not speaking, she led the way in front.
Murong Shu Qing was walking slowly to follow her from behind, looking at the slim silhouette upfront, she slightly hooked the corner of her lips.
Following Dong Xue to enter the inner room, Dong Xue made an announcement, and she could only hear a clear and bright voice of a woman that carried a smile, she said: "Shu Qing is here, I have prepared many delicacy things for you to eat, quickly come over."
Looking to see where the sound came from, there was a woman who was a little over 40 years old and was sitting on the master"s seat, her figure was slightly plump, there were many traces of years on her face (wrinkles), but they did not appear to take away her energy. Looking that Shu Qing had already entered, she raised her hand to wave and smiled at her.
Murong Shu Qing came to her, she slightly gave a polite gesture, and smilingly said: "Many thanks to Aunt (bomu)."
This should be Xuanyuan Yi"s mother, Song Ling Qiu, she heard it earlier that the Song family"s daughter was heroic and beautiful in those years, so many talented and handsome youths were crazy about her. In the end, she married and entered the Xuanyuan"s family, they could also be regarded as an ideal couple, and brought envy to other people. Looking at her today, the story was actually not false either.
Song Ling Qiu"s puzzlingly knitted her eyebrows, when she looked at Murong Shu Qing who was wearing a green dress, with an indifferent smile, and she smilingly said: "Is this Shu Qing?" How could that previous rude, impetuous, lovable and silly young girl change into an elegant and beautiful woman?!
Murong Shu Qing lightly smiled but did not say anything, she actually did not know how to answer it.
Looking for a moment, Song Ling Qiu nodded and said: "You are really Yue"s daughter, you are simply the same as she was 20 years ago." She always used to crack jokes in the past, Shu Qing did not have any Yue"s influence one bit, today, it looked like she really had to admit that the mother and daughter were just like mother and daughter.
Murong Shu Qing met Song Ling Qiu"s gaze that was filled with many admirations, but she still did not say anything either, and did not have any alternative but to smile and answer: "Shu Qing does not have mother"s outstanding talents."
Song Ling Qiu sighed in her heart, this Shu Qing who was in front of her, was well-mannered and modest, she had a sense of propriety, was casual, and flowing with peace and gentle spirits. She really was not the same silly little girl who used to follow and run behind Yi-er all day long. Song Ling Qiu pulled Murong Shu Qing to sit down next to her, lowly sighed and said: "Shu Qing is really different, is this the reason why you really agree to cancel the marriage agreement? My stupid son does not deserve to be with you now?"
When she listened to Pei Che that they already cancelled the marriage agreement, she almost died from anger. These two people unexpectedly did not get her agreement to cancel the wedding agreement. She originally did not believe it, but looking at this Shu Qing today, it was impossible for her not to believe it anymore.
Murong Shu Qing did not antic.i.p.ate that Song Ling Qiu would directly ask her like this, so she was somewhat startled, but she still had courtesy when she answered: "Aunt, you should not say it like that, Xuanyuan&h.e.l.lip;.. Xuanyuan dage had always disapproved this marriage agreement for so many years, he and Shu Qing are just not destined to be together, that is all."
Murong Shu Qing also did not show that she saw Dong Xue"s surprise and happy expressions when she heard that she and Xuanyuan Yi already cancelled the marriage agreement. Even though she tried to conceal it at all costs, but how could she hide the joy in her heart!
Song Ling Qiu was silent for a while, she waved her hand to people on the side and said: "You all withdraw."
Dong Xue secretly looked one glance at Murong Shu Qing, but she quickly withdrew her gaze, gave a polite gesture to salute Song Ling Qiu, and withdrew out of the door with the other servant girls. Lu Yi saw that Murong Shu Qing lightly nodded her head, saluted and also withdrew out of the door.
Song Ling Qiu lightly patted Murong Shu Qing"s hand, solemnly asked: "Shu Qing, there is no outsider now, I want to hear the truth from you, why did you agree to cancel the marriage agreement?" Originally, she would not agree to cancel the wedding no matter what, but unexpectedly, she said that she cancelled it now, how could this not make her suspicious?
Knowing that if she did not explain the truth today, this person who had a straightforward temper, would not drop the subject at this point, Murong Shu Qing could only try to explain to her: "Aunt, the matter about affection, should be agreed by both sides, Xuanyuan dage does not love me. When I fell into the water and lost my memory three years ago, I do not love him either now, is it worth the trouble with two people who do not love each other?"
Song Ling Qiu frowned her eyebrows and asked: "You do not love him? Is he not good?" But her son was Dong Yu"s ideal husband in the women"s dreams!
Helplessly forcing a smile, how could she continue this conversation? Staring at Song Ling Qiu whose look did not show any comprehension, Murong Shu Qing thought deeply for a moment, and smilingly answered: "It is not that he is not good, but the matter about affection can not be a.s.sessed by using good or not good a.s.sessment. There are so many outstanding males and females in the whole world, I am just not the woman whom he takes a fancy with and he is not the husband whom I want either."
"What kind of husband do you want?"
She directly asked like this, Murong Shu Qing could only answer directly either: "I wish for a wholehearted person."
It was not that she did not know why Xuanyuan Yi wanted to cancel the wedding with her, firstly, it was because he did not like Murong Shu Qing. Secondly, it was due to his pride, he disdained being forced into marriage. Thirdly, there were always these beautiful women who constantly accompanied by his side, she was sure that his heart was moved.
From what she (MSQ) saw, this person"s intention was not only to marry one wife, the wife should understand him, appreciate him, and support him. Two people who would be able to treat each other sincerely, a.s.sist through out one"s life, guard each other for one"s whole lifetime, but she did not need to say it for Song Ling Qiu to understand these, because she would not understand either.
Wishing for a wholehearted person? Song Ling Qiu was deeply looking one glance at Murong Shu Qing again, she unyieldingly said: "I do not agree that the two of you cancel the wedding agreement, I did not agree in the past, and I will not agree now even more."
She finally knew where Xuanyuan Yi"s overbearing personality came from, they were really mother and son, the same overbearing, the same empathic. Murong Shu Qing sighed, she was not unyielding, but she actually perseveringly smiled and said: "Aunt, we have already cancelled the wedding agreement."
Song Ling Qiu still wanted to say something, but a light sound of a knock on a door interrupted what she wanted to say. Dong Xue"s gentle voice came from the outside door: "Madam, Princess Chu Qing is here."
Listening to Dong Xue"s words, Song Ling Qiu impatiently said: "What does she want coming here?! Invite her to wait at the reception hall and drink tea." She knew that Princess Chu Qing liked Yi-er, she was watching that girl grow up. That year, she, Yue and the current Empress Dowager, Qian Yun, were best friends. But when it came to marriage, she chose to be related by marriage with Yue, she was afraid to this type of Imperial household"s customs. Who would have thought, the wind was turning in one big curve, the person whom she wanted to marry to Yi-er, did not want to marry him, but the person whom she did not want to marry him, was actually visiting and entangling all day long. It really made her feel furious.
"Yes." Dong Xue obediently answered, and withdrew out again.
She had heard for quite a long time that the most favor within the Imperial court, Princess Chu Qing adored General Xuanyuan Yi, but she did not antic.i.p.ate that this Princess would personally go to visit his family. It could be seen clearly that the Imperial Family was also happy to see this marriage, otherwise how could this grand Princess able to leave the palace. Murong Shu Qing did not want to trample on this muddy water, so she got up and said: "Aunt has a visitor, Shu Qing takes my leave first."
Looking at Murong Shu Qing who wanted to leave, Song Ling Qiu held her hand, with a somewhat angry and somewhat annoyed expressions, and she said: "I invite you to eat dinner, what are you leaving for, sit down."
Murong Shu Qing held back her smile, and lowly answered: "Yes!"
This Madam Xuanyuan Yi was indeed very interesting, she was rather old, but she still had the same fiery temper, one could imagine that when she was young, she should be a hot spicy beautiful woman. For these many years, according to these two people, mother and son"s temperaments, their lives were sure to be considerably fascinating.
Tonight"s meal was actually wonderful, one was a childhood sweetheart who was a softhearted and beautiful woman, one was the former fiancée, one was the sentimental Princess who was chasing after and admiring him for many years. Murong Shu Qing wanted Xuanyuan Yi to see the three of them who would be in front of him at the same time, his complexion would surely be wonderful.
In any case, she could not get away, so Murong Shu Qing continued to taste the fragrant tea, and chat with Song Ling Qiu, waiting for dinner to be ready and also waiting to see a good show.
Sian"s notes:
Remember that I usually translate guniang as young lady if there"s no name but when it uses name, it feels strange to translate it to young lady Dong Xue so I just use Miss in the context.
Wow, MSQ already has two compet.i.tors. Hahahaha&h.e.l.lip; Surprise, surprise, that one of the them is a Princess. Booooo&h.e.l.lip; I"m sure this princess is a typical bratty princess who thinks she shall own the world.
I think XY"s mom is a very interesting lady, isn"t she! I like her a lot. Hehehe&h.e.l.lip;