The Rise of Phoenixes Novel Translation #181

When she came out after changing, her autumn colored palace style skirt was tied with a silk sash of the same color. The skirt fanned out behind her, embroidered with layers of silk flower that get less in number the higher it goes, complementing her extremely tiny waist. The maid had draped a snow-white fox fur on her. The snow-white fur around the collar made her already small chin look even more delicate and fragile. Even standing there like a jade doll with an air of innocence and gentleness in a room full of wealth could not diminish an ounce of her loveliness. 

As soon as Jin Siyu raised his head his eyes lit up. Jin Siyu silently thought to herself that she is indeed beautiful. An autumn color scheme usually looks quite harsh on young women but he has never seen a color that doesn’t look good on her. Bright colors make her look young and vibrant, while mature styles just make her appear nobler. This woman, her natural demeanor suppresses everything. 

The maids were quick with their compliments, “Seeing His Highness and miss standing like this is truly a picture of a perfect match.” 

Jin Siyu laughed and happily escorted her onto a sedan carrier to go eat in the main hall. The huge hall was brightly lit with candles. There were about a hundred exquisite dishes on the long table with maids and servants continually serving food.

He helped her to take a seat at the table, she looked around but didn’t make any move to touch the food in front of her. 

“Eat.” Jin Siyu personally put some food on her plate. 

She let out an “Oh,” but didn’t move then ask after a while “Just the two of us?”

“You don’t like it?” Jin Siyu asked her softly and put some soup in a bowl for her. 

She shook her head. Turning to look at the countless maids who stood there respectfully in silence, at the huge hall, then to the two of them that are almost buried by the incredibly long table, after a long moment, she sighed “I vaguely remember that New Year’s in the past…used to very lively…” 

Jin Siyu’s hand paused, there was a hint of confusion in his eyes for a few moments before he finally said, “Really? I don’t know…I thought New Year’s was like this. I even thought this year was quite lively because you are here.” 

“You don’t celebrate New Year with the Emperor and the Empress?”

“Adult prince leaves the palace at a very early age to live in their own manor.” Jin Siyu let out a forlorn smile, “During New Year or other holidays, we would go pay our respect with all the government officials at the great palace hall. In theory, we spent the holiday together but in truth, my parents belong to the people, to the government officials, not to me.” 

She listened on in silence.

“My father would hold banquets with hundreds of officials during the festivals and mother would be meeting with the government official wives in the back palace. New Year is when they are the busiest. As for those banquets, one would need to kneel and bow constantly, no one would be able to eat enough under those circumstances. Every year after the banquet is done then I would return back to my manor and eat an actual New Year’s feast. They were all in a hall as big as this and on a long table like this, on my own.” 

“Why can’t there be others to eat together?” Her eyes stared at him, a little confused, “Like friends, brothers, guards who are close to you.” 

Jin Siyu was taken aback. That thought had never occurred to him. Friends, a royal prince does not have friends. They only have people who work for them. Brothers, brothers are enemies they have to guard against the most. As for guards and servants, they are people that have nothing to do with him. This is something that has been drilled into him since birth. He is high in the clouds, while others are low on the ground, how can it be possible for them to sit together. 

He wanted to scold her but couldn’t bring himself to after seeing her misty eyes. She must’ve come from a very ordinary background with no sense of class differences. What wrong is there for her to long for the hustle and bustle of being among people?

“I can’t.” He stroked her hair gently and put some more food on her plate, “Eat.” 

She didn’t say anymore, just ate in silence. 

After finishing a bowl, the maid handed her another. She accepted the bowl and kept on eating in silence…

He suddenly put down his chopsticks. 

The silver chopsticks hitting the jade bowl startled her causing her to look at him with wide eyes, a grain of rice stuck to her chin. Looking at the giant cabbage and duck that almost completely hid her face, he opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. 

After a bit of silence, he said to the butler standing behind him, “Invite the teachers from the study who didn’t return home for New Year over for dinner. Also, Liu Yuan (that’s Helian’s Captian Liu) has been working very hard recently. Have them come as well.” 

Seeing her joyful expression, his heart softened some more. Realizing she wouldn’t know any of those people he just mentioned, he added after hesitating for a few moments “Have Physician Ruan and his apprentice eaten yet? Invite them to come eat as well.” 

His eyes met the Butler’s who immediately caught his meaning and bowed respectfully. 

Despite the word “invite”, but of course all these people could only enter after going through numerous checks. 

She didn’t know this but she understood that this is his biggest concession– after all, these people are the only ones that can barely be regarded as “guests” in this manor. 

Not long after, those very grateful guests and guards came rushing in and sat down carefully. A bit after that, Physician Ruan came in with his apprentice. 

“Xiao Dai.” She immediately broke into a happy smile when she saw the apprentice and waved at him, “Come, sit by me…” Suddenly conscious her gesture might be improper, she turned an inquiringly eye towards Jin Siyu. Upon hearing her words, Jin Siyu had originally frowned but seeing how she had promptly known to turn around to seek his permission as if a wife asking a husband, Jin Siyu suddenly felt happy inside and smiled “Come on over.” 

Xiao Dai went over without any hesitation. Physician Ruan smiled, shook his head, and apologized to Jin Siyu. 

Jin Siyu replied “You have done your very best for Shao Yao. We have not even properly thanked you yet so there is no need to be polite.” He motioned for the butler to seat the physician across from him. 

 The long table is very large with chairs far apart. Someone could be seated “next” to you but in reality, you couldn’t reach the person next to you even if you had extended your arm. Shao Yao didn’t pay attention to others at first but poured a glass of wine and made a toast to Jin Siyu. Draining the cup in one shot, she said softly “Wishing Your Highness a long long life, and every year as happy as this day.” 

Jin Siyu looked at her snow-white fingers holding the jade up and couldn’t tell which one was whiter as it reflected under the candlelight. Her face had turned a little red after that glass of wine, with rosy cheeks, glowing like a flower reflecting on the water. Jin Siyu immediately held up his own glass of wine, feeling as if his inside is already drunk before even putting the wine to his lips.  

She sat down and used a long-handled spoon to ladle some soup for Xiao Dai “This is a scallop soup. It’s very rare to come by in this place. Xiao Dai, try it.”

The youth didn’t wait for the maid to bring the bowl over but silently took the bowl and drank it carefully, as if tasting a rare dish. 

He lowered his long eyelashes and didn’t look at anyone, only at the snow-white fresh scallops floating in the clear soup. 

A while ago when he was having dinner with Zong Chen in their room just now, they were discussing about tonight when they suddenly heard the news that they have been invited by Jin Siyu to spend New Year’s Eve together. This wasn’t part of their plan so Zong Chen was a bit surprised and was worried that some trouble would arise from it. The two of them rushed over, alarmed that something might’ve happened but as soon as they entered the door, they saw her looking up with a warm smile. 

When he met her gaze, he, who had always been confused about the inner workings of other people’s thoughts, suddenly understood her intention. 

She wanted to spend New Year with him. 

To experience with him the joy and warmth of this world. In this festive hall, she wanted him to have the first New Year where someone is truly with him. 

 In the past years, no matter how many people are around, no one could walk into his world. His lonely and blank sky has never been stained by the colorful festiveness. 

Now, this year, in the most dangerous place, surrounded on all sides by enemies, right before their rescue attempt in the most inappropriate moment, she insisted on giving him this New Year. 

Did she feel that with each passing year, with fate tossing them about, who could guess what else could happen, who knows if they would still be together in the next New Year that’s why they should cherish this moment and share it together? 

He slowly sipped the soup, not liking the unique seafood taste, but still savored it. 

She looked at him with a smile, the expression in her eyes warm, like the joy all lonely people have when they see a fellow companion. 

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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.