Chapter 7.1

This is not a professional translation; you have been warned. ʘ‿ʘ

The incident of sending Miss Zhao and Pan Er to the palace has stirred up some waves in the Chen family, especially recently, the third and fourth madam have not given the first madam much help.

They all know that the third and fourth madam were annoyed that the eldest madam is cutting off the beard from them, and the people under the table have talked about it in private.

Taking advantage of this momentum, Pan Er instructed Xiang Pu and Qing Dai to go out and spread the words that the second madam was forced by the first madam to let her niece into the palace.

Originally, the second madam wanted to stay out of the business of instigating the third and fourth madam to fight with first madam. Now, she was willing to accept these words. She also felt the slaves hard work and rewarded many people. This made some of the Chen family’s people feel that they have guessed the mind of the master correctly. For this reason, they pass on these words which made a lot of noise.

Naturally, it spread to the ears of the first madam. The eldest madam was annoyed. On the surface, it didn’t matter. In private, she also retaliated against the second lady. They fought in full swing in the hidden arena.

It’s warmer and warmer day by day, so people in the Chen family have abandoned their thick clothes and changed into spring clothes.

Pei Yong Chang is generous master. He once mentioned buying clothes and jewelry for Pan Er, but she refused.

Although she and Pei Yong Chang have reached a private cooperation, she is in the Chen family at this time. It’s one thing to be short of. If the second madam’s eyes are attracted, Pei Yong Chang and Pan Er will be in a difficult position.

Pei Yong Chang is a man in the end. How can he understand the private things of the inner house? He just thought it was really a wise choice to buy Pan Er at the beginning.

Pan Er knew that the second madam didn’t like herself, let alone wanted to see her. She was very confused today why did the second madam summon her. She went into the room to dress up, but ordered Aunt Qing to pry some information from the maid.

Aunt Qing stuffed the girl with some silver ingots, and the other side revealed the truth.

Originally, the maid named Dan Er didn’t know what the second madam asked Pan Er to do. She only knew that she also invited Miss Zhao, the niece of the first madam.

Soon Pan Er came out.

She was dressed in a light green, unadorned beizi made of ^[1] hang silk and a darker green pleated skirt. Her hair was simply tied all together and with a simple silver hairpin.

The clothes are half new and old. They look shabby, but they are in line with Pan Er’s identity.

Before coming out, Xiang Pu said that Pan Er’s clothes were too plain, not as bright as Miss Zhao’s. These days, Pan Er doesn’t go out much, but Xiang Pu secretly goes to see Miss Zhao. She was rich and beautiful. Xiang Pu is afraid that Pan Er will be compared.

It’s just that what’s in her mind, she can’t tell her servants, so she just smiled.

Pan Er, with Qing Dai, followed Dan Er all the way to Yunxia courtyard.

On the way, two entourage came face to face.

Pan Er saw a middle-aged man with white face, long eyebrows, beautiful eyes, wearing an indigo ^[2] zhidou, on his waist a white jade ^[3] yupei was tied, he had an air full of elegance. The other one was dressed as an attendant. Obviously, the middle-aged man was a master of Chen’s family.

It seems that he didn’t expect for someone to encounter someone. The middle-aged man looked up and down on Pan Er.

Dan Er took Pan Er and her servant to the side and squats down to salute “Second Master”.

Pan Er looked past at him.

But only a glance, she noticed the other party looked straight up to her so she bowed her head.

Chen Ping Wu took back his eyes and asked, “What are you doing here?”.

Although Dan Er wondered how the second master could ask such trivial matters, she still said honestly that the second madam asked Miss Pan Er to come and talk.

Chen Ping Wu knows something recently happened in the family. These days, the second madam has also said some sour words in his ear, saying how the first madam is and how the Crown Princess is.

From Chen Ping Wu’s view, the situation in the palace is very complex. The problem of the crown princess, ^[4] one log cannot prop up a tottering building. They also cannot send another Chen daughter anymore. However, it’s a different story if it is from Zhao-shi’s maiden family (eldest madam, Chen Ping Wen’s wife), who is from Henan. Also, Chen Qing Hua, the eldest son of his big brother married the daughter of the Zhao family. Zhao Xi Yue, who is about to be taken to the east palace as a concubine, is the younger sister of Chen Qing Hua’s wife.

This kind of relationship can’t be more close, and it can avoid the emperor’s suspicion. Only the second madam and children are not sensible. They always feel that the first madam deliberately obstructs them.

It’s just that Chen Ping Wu won’t elaborate it with the second madam. Anyway, she won’t even listen to it.

The identity of Pan Er is also self-evident.

But her appearance…

The second master and Pan Er parted ways but she still felt a lingering look behind her.

As her back stiffened, she came to an understanding of something she had been thinking about for a long time.

But she can’t think about it anymore. In a blink of an eye, they’ve arrived at Yunxia courtyard. She has also met the famed Zhao Xi Yue; the name she has constantly been hearing.

There was no Zhao Xi Yue in her past life and Pan Er didn’t know if she didn’t win Pei Yong Chang’s way in the past, so she didn’t appear before. But now they seem to have an intersection, and don’t mention later when they both enter the palace. The second madam called her and Zhao Xi Yue together today, obviously not aimlessly.

T/N: I had a hard time translating this chapter. (´～`) Although this one is short and but there were many Chinese words that are hard to translate in English.

[1] hang silk – [háng chóu] – thin and soft silk fabric made in Hangzhou.
[2] zhí duō <直裰 >- everyday robe worn at home in ancient times; robe worn by priests, monks and scholars
[3] yù pèi <玉佩> – jade pendant or personal ornament hung from the waist/chest/shoulder
[4] One log cannot prop up a tottering building <独木难支> [dú mù nán zhī].; It is difficult for a person to do much single-handed.; One person alone cannot save the situation.