Author: Yue Xia Die Ying

NOTES:

  1. Hóu Yé – Marquis, second of the five orders of ancient Chinese nobility
  2. Hou Shizi – Viscount; Marquis’ heir
  3. Bó Yé – Count (Count is a nobleman 1 rank beneath a Marquis)
  4. Fǔ – household; official residence; mansion
  5. Yòu xiāng – Right Prime Minister
  6. Zuǒ xiāng – Left Prime Minister
  7. Xiangjun (Country Lord) – Title given to wives or daughters of high ranking noblemen
  8. Gōngzhǔ- Royal Princess; 5 ranks above Xiangjun
  9. Xiàn zhǔ – County Master; 3 ranks above Xiangjun
  10. Huafu – Chinese classical robes
  11. Fùmǎ – Emperor’s son-in-law  
  12. Wài shì (Outside room) – Mistress; Woman who lives with a married man in concubinage without going through the proper formalities
  13. Lǎoshòuxing shàngdiào – Centenarian committing suicide – I interpreted this akin to tripping yourself up just before the finish line after a marathon but decided to leave the original because I’m not sure

Chapter 3 (Part 1) – To Depend on Beauty

 Princess Anle was the  eldest daughter of the Emperor and the most beloved. Seven years ago, she had been married to the first born legitimate (di) son of an aristocratic family, surnamed Wang. The married  couple too had passed a period of time when they were stuck together like glue. Later, Wang Fuma unexpectedly went so far as to surreptitiously support a mistress outside. After learning of this, Princess Anle thrashed him with a horsewhip and drove him out of the Princess’ Palace in anger.

At that time, this incident created a sensation all over the city. It finally ended with the death of Wang Fuma by falling off a horse. Some people once said that Wang Fuma’s cause of death was suspicious, but no one could find any evidence. In addition, after the decline of the Wang family, no one dared to mention the matter again. At most, they secretly sighed behind Princess Anle’s back that she had a poisonous heart. But who asked Wang Fuma to daringly set up a mistress after marrying a Royal Princess? This is simply a centenarian committing suicide and bringing disaster upon oneself.

After Wang Fuma’s death, Princess Anle did not want to marry again. She entertained herself by going on binges and partying with a flock of actors and singers whom she raised in her villa. Otherwise, she would invite the elite girls in Beijing to ride horses and amuse themselves.

Now, Princess Anle held a chrysanthemum feast. Almost all the noble ladies who had the honor of being invited, arrived at the venue rapidly and soon the villa was bustling with excitement.

“Have you seen Ban Xiangjun?”

“No, she wouldn’t be here today.”

“Why?”

“I heard that Shen Tanhua went to Jingting Hou Fu a few days ago to break the engagement and he was beaten up by Jingting Hou. A lot of people saw it when he was beaten up. “

The noble ladies usually have nothing much to pass the time. So, they inevitably gather together to chat about each family’s gossip. Ban Hua being jilted again is now a hot topic among them.

“If I were her, I wouldn’t even have the gall to come out and join in feasts and excitement,” Xie Qilin’s sister Xie Wanyu gently patted the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief and whispered to the companion around her, “That whole family is degenerate. Whoever dares to have ties of marriage with them is simply unlucky.”

Her companion Shi Feixian was the granddaughter of the Right Minister. Not only did she look beautiful and free from the dust of earthly troubles, but she was also a famous talented girl in the capital. Even the queen mother had personally praised her.

Shi Feixian has an indifferent temperament and not many people could make good friends with her. However, Xie Wanyu was one of them. She didn’t like Ban Hua’s arrogant temper, so when she heard Xie Wanyu mention her, she frowned slightly and said:. “Well, a noble family’s daughter has had three broken engagements. This is not a good thing. Let us not talk about it.”

“Even if we don’t talk about it, others will still gossip, ” Xie Wanyu remembered her brother and twisted her kerchief viciously with both hands, ” If it weren’t for her bad fate hindering him, how could my brother’s eye be hurt? “

The Imperial court rarely had a history of employing officials with disabled eyes. Now that, her brother had a blind eye, not only would he be unable to enter the Imperial court as an official in the future, even his future marriage expectations would have to be lowered. Now, her mother is bathing her face with tears at home every day and she can only come out to breathe and escape from the  oppressive atmosphere at home.

Xie Wanyu can’t take her anger out on her loved ones and she doesn’t care whether the rumours are true or false. Anyway, she doesn’t like the arrogance of Ban Hua and she feels much better  after bad mouthing her.

Shi Feixian listened quietly, not speaking, and naturally not mentioning that Xie Qilin had been riding to give her a book of poetry on the day of his accident.

You can click the author’s name at the top of the chapter to see a list of her works in the original Chinese. If you’ve found this translation interesting, please do support the author if you can.

Here’s today’s chapter!

I honestly thought that translating this would be much easier than it is. While I was reading the book, it just flowed. But now that I’m trying to pull the meaning of the author’s words in one language onto the page in a different language, it feels so difficult. How even does the brain work? Why can I read a chapter fluently in 15 minutes but if I try to convey the meaning in a different language, it takes hours?

I do feel like I’m getting better at this though. I’ve been translating faster and some idioms and phrases are becoming more familiar.

I also need to work on wordpress skills. I want to create links to previous and next chapter on each chapter page. To any readers who’ve done this before, please teach me your tips and tricks Sensei!

Also, I hope the reading experience is comfortable for you. If you’d like changes to font size or colours, or any other improvements you’d like let me know in the comments!