The end of the year, New Year’s Eve.
Since Prince An is not going back to the Capital for New Year, the manor has been decorated extravagantly for all the festivities. Even the leafless trees are wrapped in colorful silks, with cut-out green silks for leaves. Melon-shaped palace lanterns with jade beads hung in the air, reflecting the snow-capped grounds.
Jin Siyu originally could’ve returned to the capital for the New Year, but he had informed the Emperor that due to the winter snow crisis that caused much suffering among the people, he is willing to stay in the Northern land to oversee the disaster relief efforts. Quite moved by Jin Siyu’s declaration he could not sit idly in the Capital as long as there is one person that might still be suffering from hunger by the time of spring, the Emperor immediately lavished praises on Prince An and gave him a generous reward.
It is certainly an anomaly for a royal prince who suffered defeat on the battlefield to be so favored. In a great mood, Jin Siyu had all the palace rewards carried into Shao Yao’s place, causing all of her servants and maids to rejoice– everyone knows that after the New Year, Miss Shao Yao will officially be His Highness’ concubine.
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, all the outer guards of the manor took turns taking time off and will all come back on duty that night. Being a newlywed, Liu Sanhu was naturally also on the list to take a leave of absence but after going home for a bit he rushed back to the manor again. According to Liu Sanhu, he figured since everyone is busy today then everyone might as well just take the time off and he alone can stay since he had already taken time off a few days ago. Besides, His Highness is not even in the manor today but has gone to the big military camp outside of the city.
The guards naturally all happily agreed to Liu Sanhu’s suggestion so only Liu Sanhu and a few grounds servants were left in the front manor. Liu Sanhu ordered the grounds servants all over. He would one second say the door is a bit tilted and another second say there is a bunch of paper confetti on the ground. His attitude was especially bad towards one particular sweeper servant and force the guy to sweep a courtyard seven times. (That would be Ning Cheng Helian is picking on.)
- With Helian not home, then Jiarong also went into the manor to visit her friends. Upon entering the sewing room, Jiarong discovered the place in chaos. Apparently, a cat had got into the sewing room and destroyed a belt that Jin Siyu was supposed to wear that night. One of the maids suddenly remembered a new belt Jiarong had made for Liu Sanhu and convinced Jiarong to let them take that belt to use that night. The other maid also convinced Jiarong to not go home but to stay at the manor for the night festivities. Despite remembering the fact that Liu Sanhu had reminded her to stay at home that night, Jiarong was eventually persuaded by her friends to stay at the manor.
Over in the front manor, Liu Sanhu is still unaware that Jiarong ended up staying. Tonight, other than a few people that were left to watch over his dilapidated house in the town, all the rest of his men are stationed along the escape route they have mapped out.
Come afternoon, the famous opera troupe of Da Yue entered the manor and many people rushed to see them. Physician Ruan’s apprentice Xiao Diao (Gu Nan Yi) was also part of the crowd that went and even collided with a sweeper servant (Ning Cheng) from the outer manor.
In the back, the butler was directing the servants hanging lantern riddles on the trees, and of course, Qiu Shu, the study boy was his trusted right-hand man.
In the outer manor, Liu Sanhu circled round and round until he had covered every single inch of the outer manor.
Because it’s New Year, all the city gates have been shut with heavy guards. Moreover, due to the recent heavy snow, the sky is bright, and the road is slippery. It is certain that any sane person would not choose this day to make trouble so this would be a peaceful New Year.
Therefore, things at the manor are quite relaxed, filled with laughter.
Time passed bit by bit.
Jin Siyu came back just when the sky is about to darken. All the guards are back in their posts as usual, with no sign of the fact that they suck away during the day.
He headed straight for Shao Yao’s place the moment he got back. The curtain parted, causing the golden bells on it to rattle loudly. His voice bright with joy came floating in “Shao Yao Er, look what I brought you?”
The woman leaning on a soft pillow reading a book turned around with a smile, “It’s rare seeing you in such high spirit, what good stuff? It’s an eight gem hairpin or a flying phoenix emerald jade hairpin? I told you, I already have a lot…”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her eyes sparkling bright.
Across from her, a man in a white robe with silver fur draped on his shoulder excitedly holds up a branch of blooming plum blossom. The plum blossom bloomed very well, brown branches dotted with large bright crimson five-petal plums. The dazzling blossoms against the man’s snowy robe and handsome face look like a scene right out of a painting.
She was dazzled for a moment before smiling “This plum blossom matches you better than I do.”
Jin Siyu smiled at her, his eyes as gentle as spring water. Putting the plume blossom into a white jade vase, Jin Siyu said “This plume blossom is more vibrant than the ordinary flowers. This is a very peculiar plum blossom we have here. It doesn’t bloom every year. It is said that it will only bloom when a beauty comes into the world so the locals call it “Duel Beauty Flower”. This flower…I think it bloomed for you.”
“Beauty…” She smiled, touched the red scar on her forehead, and said with a laugh, “You have seen a beauty like this?”
Jin Siyu eyes glanced over the scar. After Physician Ruan’s careful tending, the scar is almost light enough to be almost invisible, and it is actually not easy to find if it’s covered up by hair. Still, a trace of apology flashed across his eyes as he sat down and changed the subject, “We will eat the New Year’s Eve dinner first. After dinner, we will listen to the opera, watch the fireworks, and guess the lantern riddles. You have been cooped up too long so we will go all out tonight.”
“Alright.” She got up and smiled happily, “Do you have a red envelope for me? How about new clothes for me? I remember that a person should wear new clothes during the New Year.” (Red envelope with money in it is a Chinese New Year’s tradition.)
“How could we not have them ready?” Jin Siyu beckoned with his hand and two maids brought in two sets of clothes with autumn colors. Jin Siyu smiled “It should’ve been red, but it would be more appropriate for us to wear red in a few days.”
Naturally, she understood what he meant. In a few days, she will become his concubine so of course she would be wearing red then. Unable to hold back a smile, she lowered her eyes, her cheeks turning slightly red. Looking at her, Jin Siyu’s gaze heated up and started towards her but she turned just right then to pick up an outer robe “Time to change clothes.”
Jin Siyu smiled and loosened his robe. The maid came forward to help Jin Siyu dress but Shao Yao suddenly stepped forward and said with a smile “I’ll do it.” before personally helping him put on the outer robe. She was half a head shorter than Jin Siyu, when she lowered her head to tie his buttons, her hair rubbed against his chin. His heart swayed when he smelled the faint fragrance on her hair. From his angle looking down, he could see her long thick eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, her delicate nose, and her red lips that reminded him of that exquisite plume blossom.
As Jin Siyu looked on, his heart stirred, softened, and was dazzled. Not paying attention to what she is doing, Jin Siyu suddenly heard her laughing “Why are you in a daze?”. She gently smoothed his collar then bent down to straighten the silk sash hanging from his waist.
Watching her taking care of him so carefully, a warmth surged through his heart causing him to laugh and said “Look at us like this, aren’t we like those lovey-dovey married couples?”
She didn’t speak but gave him a smile with twinkling eyes. Jin Siyu grins and takes her dress and said “I have to be polite and reciprocate, I’ll help you dress too.”
Her face promptly turned crimson red. Snatching her dress, she dashed behind the screen to change but didn’t forget to poke her head out again to roll her eyes at him and said with a grin “No no, I couldn’t possibly be worthy.”
Jin Siyu laughed but didn’t chase after her.
He likes to be a gentleman and has always liked for the feeling to be mutual when it comes to matters between men and women. He also prides himself on being noble and sees it beneath him to use brute force to bend a woman to his will. Seeing her opening her heart to him with each passing day, he feels that it brings more joy than forceful possession.
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Liu Sanhu- Helian
Qiu Shu- Ning Yi
The outer manor servant Helian gave the map to- Ning Cheng
Physician- Zong Chen
Apprentice- Gu Nan Yi
Jiarong- the maid Helian is romancing to get information. She has a mysterious background.
Oh man! I can feel the suspense building? Is it all about to go down? (I feel slightly sorry for Jin Siyu- they’ve played him good )
I haven’t commented but I just wanted to let you know I’ve been reading along for a year now – thank you for all the work you are doing!
Hanging on every sentence. What next? In the drama NY destroys the place.will it happen here?
Till next week.
Argh, the suspense is killing me! Q.Q Will everything go right? What even is the plan? Who knows what and who’sin the dark?
Thank you so much for your translations!! <3
Thank you, Ninja. Wow, this is a good one. The rescue plan will finally come to fruition. If the rescue mission is anything like the series, then we are in for some real explosions!