Marriage of the Di Daughter

Chapter 67 Part 1: Yongning

Sorry for missing Sunday’s update >.<. This is somehow a particularly trying and annoying chapter to translate…

Just as Meng You De had thought, Jiang Li’s exam paper was indeed passed into the palace.

Please, read this at BloomingTranslation blog. We spend a lot of time and effort to bring you the best quality translations we can provide, so please show us respect by reading from our site instead of aggregators that steal our work.

A young man walked out from the imperial study room. Eunuch Su, who was in front of the door, bowed and sent him out. He lamented as he looked at the departing back. Just a little over 20 years old, he crawled into this position in a period of one year. It was really smooth sailing, the younger generations would surpass in the years to come.

This young man was no one else but the current assistant minister*, Shen Yurong. Emperor Hong Xiao was extremely fond of Shen Yurong at the moment and often discussed the present situation with him. So much so that someone said Emperor Hong Xiao intended to enter Shen Yurong into the cabinet to be the future chief assistant, fostering him to be Jiang Yuan Bai’s successor.

[T/L Note: Initially his post was translated as an officer in the Ministry of Rites, my apology, the proper one would be a secretariat officer/assistant minister, dealing with affairs of the state. Yep, same division as Jiang Yuan Bai] 

Nobody could say for certain about future matters, but it didn’t hinder anyone to curry favor with him at present. 

When Shen Yurong passed through the imperial garden on his way outside, he met a person in the long hallway.

Princess Yongning was taking a rest in front of a stone table in the garden. Upon seeing him, she immediately showed a charming smile: “Master Shen.”

It was summertime, the trees in the imperial garden were dense and the wind was cool. The golden lines sprinkling through the gaps between the leaves happened to illuminate half of her cheek. After all she’s honorable and beautiful, the skin was like the first-rate sheep fat jade, making people want to touch.

Obviously her eyebrows were raised and appearance was haughty, but her small meaningful gestures were tender and her greeting was dignified and courteous. 

Shen Yurong cupped his hands in obeisance: “Your highness.” 

“You just came out from imperial older brother’s place, what were you talking about?” Princess Yongning held a thin muslin fan and lightly shook it. Her lips that were applied with crimson mouth fat looked moist and plump, tender and alluring.

Shen Yurong moved his sight away and said: “You Majesty heard the examination’s red notice has come out. Your Majesty discussed the matter of the two families that occupied the top positions in the Imperial College and Ming Yi Hall’ list with this official.”

“Oh?” Princess Yongning looked at him with astonishment, her tone carrying a natural and captivating coquettishness she said: “This princess has heard about this matter as well. Heard that Ming Yi Hall’s top position was occupied by the Jiang family’s Jiang second miss. She was expelled from the Jiang family that year and stayed in the nunnery for eight years. This time she has just returned for less than a month, joined Ming Yi Hall for only ten days.  But this time she seized the top position.” She smiled sweetly, “It showed that she is indeed a talented girl and heard that her handwriting is good. This princess hasn’t seen it with her own eyes, what does Master Shen think?”

Shen Yurong was startled, then lowered his head and said: “This official hasn’t seen it either.”

“Hmm,” Princess Yongning laughed softly, “so it was for this matter. At first, this palace thought Master Shen must have gone to see, but unexpectedly Master Shen is actually not so interested. Perhaps Master Shen is already used to seeing talented girls and is more fond of women with red lip rouge?” In the last sentence, frivolous seduction was contained in the words. 

Shen Yurong took a step back and said: “Princess, speak cautiously.”

“Look at how scared you are.” A trace of annoyance flashed in Princess Yongning’s pupils but quickly disappeared. She said with a blaming tone: “My people are guarding outside, no one will be able to hear what we are talking about. Haven’t seen you these days, do you miss me?” 

Became even more wanton.

Shen Yurong lowered his head slightly, nodded invisibly.

It was precisely this light nod that immediately made Princess Yongning beaming with happiness. She even reached her hand out and caressed Shen Yurong’s hand. While smiling she said: “I know you miss me too. However, recently there were too many trifling things, it’s not good for me to look for you. Tomorrow is Ming Yi Hall’s three tests, why don’t the both of us go and watch them together. After it’s over…….” her voice faded ambiguously.

Shen Yurong let her pull his hand and his expression eased a bit. He spoke softly: “Princess…….”

Chapter 67 Part 2: Yongning

My apology!! >.< Things popped up one after another at work and I’m dead by the end of the day. I’ll try churning extra releases on top of the usual schedule this month. Enjoy~~~

“I’ve said before, if there’s no one around, just call me Yongning.” Princess Yongning looked at his handsome appearance infatuatedly. Ever since she first laid eyes on Shen Yurong, she immediately fell in love with him. Such a handsome and talented male, knew political affairs and made such a splendid movement. Upon laying her eyes on him sitting high up on a horse and urging it to parade through the streets, her heart was lost right away and no longer able to return. 

Please, read this at BloomingTranslation blog. We spend a lot of time and effort to bring you the best quality translations we can provide, so please show us respect by reading from our site instead of aggregators that steal our work.

Unfortunately the gentleman was married. But in the end, it was not a big deal. She was a noble imperial princess while his wife was just the daughter of a minor government official. Even if she was both talented and beautiful, she was as low as an ant. 

So she killed her.

Princess Yongning knew there was Xue Fangfei in Shen Yurong’s heart. Xue Fangfei was born with a good appearance and bore the name of a talented lady. Moreover, her relationship with Shen Yurong as husband and wife had been for many years. Shen Yurong still had a lot of feelings, but Princess Yongning was unable to tolerate his heart not belonging entirely to her.  As for Xue Fangfei, she not only wanted her life; she also wanted her reputation and dignity. She wanted her to die without having anything at all, in the most disgraceful manner. 

Who let her possess things that did not belong to her?

Finally, she was the winner.

Shen Yurong didn’t stay in the imperial garden for long. After all, there were numerous eyes and ears in the palace. Although Princess Yongning’s people were guarding, he still feared that accidents might happen. Xue Fangfei had only passed away less than six months ago, if it was known outside that he had an affair with Princess Yongning, he was afraid that he won’t be able to block the numerous mouths of the crowd. 

Princess Yongning could only watch Shen Yurong’s departing back with reluctance. 

There was no one else under the shade of the tree. Princess Yongning thought, every few days she entered the palace with the excuse of chatting with Concubine Liu. In fact, it was in order to take a glimpse of her sweetheart. It’s so difficult. Xue Fangfei was already dead, yet she still couldn’t have a close relationship every day with him. Unable to be out in the open, instead it was like a couple carrying a clandestine affair. Thinking about it, she couldn’t help feeling melancholy.  

“It’s so hard to stay together ah…….” She let out a long sigh.

Suddenly recalling that she would have a short happy time with Shen Yurong after tomorrow’s examination, a layer of happiness showed on Princess Yongning. Though she was never really fond of as far as these talented girls went, that was only because it reminded her of Xue Fang Fei.  

Talking about this, Xue Fangfei’s writing was also unique in Yanjing. But Xue Fangfei’s handwriting was small and fanciful while Jiang second miss’s resembled a man’s.

A talented girl came out generation after generation, after all, Xue Fangfei was already dead.

    ……

In Fang Fei Garden, Baixue was looking at Jiang Li who was in the middle of practicing writing. She pondered for a while before she said: “Miss’s writing is really imposing.”

“Imposing” was already the most verbose word Baixue could think of. 

“Yes, yes,” Mingyue who was coming over and carrying tea swept a glance and smiled: “it’s unlike other young ladies’ handwriting.” 

Jiang Li smiled.

As Xue Fangfei, during the first half of her life in Tongxiang, her handwriting was bold, imitating Xue Zhao’s heroic spirit. In the latter half of her life when she arrived in Yanjing, she started to revise her writing to be small and fanciful. 

It’s due to no other reason but because the madams and young misses in Yanjing wrote this way. So as not to appear unconventional and able to quickly blend into the nobility circle, she abandoned what she liked, including her writing habit. 

Even Shen Yurong probably thought she was an expert in writing small fanciful characters. But times had changed, though it’s true that small and fanciful characters were beautiful, yet as a woman in this world, it went without saying that going against the current was even  more difficult than for males.  Just because people were more tolerant towards males and harsh towards females.

Since it’s this way, not relying on heaven and earth, it’s better to rely on herself. If she treated herself as a male, naturally she could take on the changeable facts.