Chapter 7.2

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


Fei Cui said that the second madam haven’t gotten up from her nap. She asked them to wait in the living room and ordered the maid to bring tea and fruit.

When the servant girls went away, there were only two people left in the living room.

Zhao Xi Yue wore a blue hang silk beizi patterned with lotus flower and butterfly and light blue pleated skirt. Her jet-black hair combed in a cloud bun style adorned with gold ornaments and pearl hairpin. Her skin was as beautiful as a snow, and her face was like a blooming begonia.

Comparing with her, Pan Er really looks humble.

Zhao Xi Yue’s eyes only lingered on Pan Er for a moment, then she moved away. She had long heard that the second branch had found a thin horse in Jiangnan, and was going to send it to the palace to help the crown princess.

Looking at this kind of behavior, for her is just a joke, and no matter how beautiful it is. Don’t they know that the Crown Prince has always been disgusted with people who are [1] shēng sè quǎn mǎ and naturally won’t like this kind of woman.

Not enough to fear!

How can Pan Er not see that meaningful glance? Just look at the corner of Zhao Xi Yue’s eyes, and know how the other side thinks of her.

It’s just that she’s used to it. No, it’s the ‘Pan Er’ now who has been used to it.

Even in the past, when the Crown Prince ascended the throne. Because she was an old person in the East Palace, she first became a Guìrén (Consort), and later became Lì Fēi (Noble Consort). Only because she was the servant of the princess, even after the Crown Princess became an Empress, she still did not forget to suppress her. She could live in another palace, but Empress Chen said she was reluctant to let her go and shackled her to Kunning palace. She was obviously the master, but she was not even treated as good as a slave.

So everyone in the palace knows that she was born in a humble family. They look at her face with a smile, but in their eyes, they despise her.

Until when?

Until Yue-er (Pan Er’s first born, the third prince) grew up, the Empress still refused to let her go. She not only wanted her to be a servant for the whole life, but also wanted her son to be a servant for the crown prince. So, she fought with the Empress fiercely and made every effort to please his majesty.

Although she is nearly middle-aged, she has been with her majesty for more than twenty years, they had affection which is not a fake. The flowers have changed, bloomed and died but fortunately she can still stay by His Majesty’s side, not many are as lucky as her. In the past, she used to be evasive, she only wanted to save herself and her son. When there’s no more room for retreat she just have to risk everything.

Fortunately, His Majesty still has her in his mind. With her dedication, his majesty pampered her more and more. From Lì Fēi (Noble Consort Li) she was promoted to Lì Huáng Guìfē (Imperial Noble Consort Li) and soon this kind of disdainful look disappeared.

Until she became the Empress Dowager, all the people who once looked down on her bowed down to her.

Only for a moment, Pan Er’s mind flashed through the vicissitudes of life. When she looked up again, Zhao Xi Yue was drinking tea.

It’s the first-class jasmine tea. Pan Er can guess just by the fragrance however, there’s also another thing added.

She knows a little about pharmacology, but what she only knows is what she learned from Aunt Qing. The reason why she knows that there is something in it is because she is so familiar with this fragrant tea.

Seeing Zhao Xi Yue drinking so anxiously, she was drinking tea bit by bit, Pan Er soon takes up the tea cup, took a sip, then spits on the handkerchief while wiping her mouth with it.

The handkerchief is not made of silk. Nowadays, most of the nobles like to use silk handkerchief. They think the handkerchief is smooth and shiny. It looks decent and neat. Pan Er likes to use cotton handkerchief which is made of absorbent cotton cloth. It looks not too shiny, but it’s easy to use.

She doesn’t know how many times this cotton handkerchief saved her.

After wiping her mouth clean, she puts down the cup of tea, she softly spoke, “Madam is estimated to arrive soon, Miss Zhao should drink less tea, as not to go to [2]clean house and get things done.

Zhao Xi Yue didn’t expect Pan Er to talk to her. She glanced at her, but she took a sip of tea again.

Obviously she didn’t listen to Pan Er’s words and blame her for being meddlesome.

Pan Er sighed.

Let’s do our best.

She still felt that because she let Pei Yong Chang to stir some waves so Zhao Xi Yue would appear. She wanted to remind her of one or two sentences, but who knew that the other side would not hear it, then she could not be blamed.

At this time, a noise came behind the bead curtain on the flower-carved entryway, Fei Cui comes in first, turns around and supports the bead curtain up.

Seeing this, they got up in a hurry.

Soon, the second madam, dressed in red and gold, came in with Liu Mama.

The second madam sat down in the red sandalwood luohan bed carved with plum patterns. Pan Er and Zhao Xi Yue both saluted before sitting down again under the second madam’s instructions.

“I haven’t seen you for many days. It seems that the Xi Yue has become more beautiful.”

“Thanks for the praise of second madam, but Xi Yue feels that madam is more radiant.”

It’s just a polite saying. The elder praised the younger generation. The younger generation naturally wanted praise them as well. But in the second madam’s ear, she couldn’t help thinking about the pressure from the first branch. She looked at Zhao Xi Yue as gorgeous as peaches and plums, and her dress was particularly brilliant, which added a little more hatred to her heart.

Her eyes fell on the cup of tea on the red sandalwood table, and then moved away. A smile rose on her face. She said that Zhao Xi Yue’s mouth has become sweeter.

Because no one paid attention to Pan Er, she observed more naturally, and she didn’t ignore the little movements of the second madam.

Before the beating, the rules should be established first. This refers to Pan Er, and Zhao Xi Yue must learn the second madam’s rules. Today, the second madam asked them to come here seemingly just wanting them to have tea.

Sure enough, the second lady talked to them about family customs and ordered them to treat each other as sisters to be of one heart and one mind. This words were meant for Zhao Xiyue, then the two people were ordered to go back.

Out of the gate of Yunxia courtyard, Zhao Xi Yue has a sneer on her face.

She is letting them see that this is a [3] battle of the trapped beast but in reality the second madam is only venting her resentment. Anyway, in another half month, she will enter the palace, and she can bear it for a few days.

“Sister Zhao.” Pan Er nods to Zhao Xiyue and said goodbye.

Zhao Xi Yue glanced at her and said, “Who is your sister? I don’t have one like you!” That “you” was accentuated by her. With that, she snorted coldly and left with her maid.

Qing Dai wanted to retort but was stopped by Pan Er. She patted her hand peacefully, smiled again, and allowed the servants to led her back to the guest house.

In the living room, the second madam is talking to Fei Cui.

At the instruction of Liu Mama, Fei Cui came forward and looked at the two tea cups.

“One is afraid that he will lose face in front of you if she drinks too much tea. The other is greedy for the first-class tea.” This gluttonous nature refers to Zhao Xi Yue.

After listening to Fei Cui’s words, the second madam showed a smile of complacency.

“I’m afraid that she will be crazy at this time and let her know my strength sooner or later.”, she picked up the handkerchief and pressed the corner of her mouth.

“Anyway, they think I’m doing a trapped animal fight. These days, they call them to drink tea every day.”

Liu Mama and Fei Cui were silent.

The second madam asked Zhao Xi Yue how she got along with Pan Er.

Fei Cui replied, “I heard from Yin Er that Miss Zhao seems to look down on Miss Pan Er.”

The second madam was even more pleased with her smile. “It’s good to look down on her. I’ll let Li Rongjia point her out more later, and let them fight to the death, so that my daughter can take advantage of it.”


T/N: Hmmm … I wonder what’s in the tea? ＼(o￣∇￣o)/

  • [1] [shēng sè quǎn mǎ] <声色犬马> – be addicted to the pleasures of song and women, hunting and racing; carnal pleasures; drown oneself in sex and pleasures; have every luxury; music and women, keeping dogs and riding horses — sensual pleasures
  •  [2] Jìng fang <净房> (literal English translation: clean room) similar to an ancient bathroom
  • [3] battle of the trapped beast [kùn shòu zhī dòu] <困兽之斗> fight desperately like a cornered wild beast; desperate fight

A little explanation about the consort ranks in the Imperial Harem.
Pan Er’s titles mentioned here were similar to the Qing Dynasty.

The Qing Dynasty‘s system was among one of the simpler systems in Chinese history. There were eight classes:

source: https://lifeintheforbiddencity.weebly.com/imperial-consorts.html


Zhao Xi Yue’s attire
red sandalwood luohan bed

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Published by kermille07

Reading takes me to where I can't be. It makes me experience the beautiful life of the imaginary world.

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5 thoughts on “Chapter 7.2”

  2. I’ve just binge-read all the chapters you’ve translated! Great job! The story is interesting and flows really well. I can’t wait to read more! Keep it up! Thank you!

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  3. It’s obvious the Second Madam is trying to sterilize them XD make sure they can compete for favor, but won’t birth any children (she still has hopes her daughter can have sons, she’s only being ignored for the moment).

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