I wish the author would stop using traditional terms for the bride to refer to Ji Shumo. It really messes me up because in my head I’m translating the bride terms for Xiao Wan. It would have been nice if the author just used the male equivalent terms or if none exist then just change the words, like replace “take a bride” with “take a husband” when Xiao Wan is referring to marrying Ji Shumo. I’ll start typing “bride this” and “bridegroom that” blah blah, then the author throws their names in and I realize I’m using the wrong genders and p.r.o.nouns. Then I wonder how long I’ve been doing it and start to question myself and everything I’ve translated. Then I get fed up and I walk away. Anyways that’s why it took so long to get this chapter out. If it weren’t for the fact that I enjoy the author’s descriptive style and I’m looking forward to certain people getting their comeupence, I’d drop this story. In fact I have to go back and reread chapter two so I can remind myself why I like it. 

[Translator/Editor: otwentyfirst]

[Host: justreads.net]

[Oct. 8th, 2018]

Xiao Wan’s care showed in her eyes and through the tone of her voice. It made Xie Chuchen envious and bitter at the same time. His hands were clenched inside his sleeves. He opened his eyes wide in an attempt to keep the tears from overflowing, trying his best to force them back inside. He stared at Xiao Wan with a gloomy expression, the confidence he built up completely gone. Although he was sad, although his heart felt like it just shattered, he was still unwilling to let go.

Xiao Wan didn’t expect her casual words to have such an effect on Xie Chuchen. He had such a complicated look on his face, like he was suffering from some kind of secret anguish. She didn’t understand why he had such an agonized look.

Xiao Wan’s earlier ridicule surprised everyone there; unruly, unsavory, weren’t those words an apt description of her as well?

“Someone, come and see this Young Master and his servant out. His continued presence will only breed misunderstanding.”

She avoided looking at Xie Chuchen, who was clutching his chest as though he wanted to speak, but unable to do so because of the tears threatening to overflow. Xiao Wan closed her eyes for a moment in agitation. It’s better for you to hate me. Don’t become the same foolish person from my previous life… I don’t deserve to be your dear wife.

Xiao Wan had a reputation for chasing after beautiful men, not caring if they were single or not. Had she not fallen for Ji Shumo, who knew the number of men she would have sullied. In fact her reputation as a dissolute rich Young Miss was so widespread that men would literally confine themselves indoors if they heard she was out and about. Some even purposefully bad-mouthed themselves in order to appear unappealing. It didn’t work though. The only person Xiao Wan refused to touch was Young Master Xie. The reason was because the two shared the same level of notoriety and Xiao Wan preferred her men to be both beautiful and talented, like the extremely well regarded Ji Shumo.

Yesterday changed everyone’s opinion of this long held belief. Perhaps she had loosened her criteria and even the beautiful but talentless Xie Chuchen was no longer safe from her, it was especially believable considering Xie Chuchen’s grief and indignation that day. His appearance had caused quite a stir during the wedding banquet. Unexpectedly someone actually took a liking to this foppish woman. There had to be something wrong with his eyesight… Who would have expected that it was only their second time meeting? Not only that, but to listen to Xiao Wan say it you’d think it was Xie Chuchen who threw himself into her embrace, getting into her business. Wasn’t Xiao Wan exactly that kind of person herself?! How brazenly shameless could she be to ridicule someone for doing the exact same thing she did? Seriously what the h.e.l.l?!

“I can’t endure you misunderstanding my Young Master’s intentions anymore!” Zhao-er spat on the ground. “Young Master, let’s go.” Zhao-er tried to pull Xie Chuchen but the other refused to budge even an inch.

“I don’t want to go back home. Will you really break your promise?” Xie Chuchen stubbornly refused to yield to Zhao-er’s tugs and stood his ground as though he was rooted to the spot, staring at Xiao Wan.

This only made Xiao Wan more uncomfortable and she rubbed her eyebrow trying to cover up her worry. Noting the frown of disgust on Ji Shumo’s face she reached out to hold his hand before gently saying, “Shumo, let’s go. I want to see mother-in-law…”

In truth Ji Shumo didn’t care who Xiao Wan got affectionate with as long as it wasn’t him. He secretly hoped she would find plenty of others to dally with, this way his life would proceed smoothly without too much stress from her.

It still disgusted him that she was so fickle though. He tried to pull his hand out of her grasp in order to put some distance between them. Much to his consternation, instead of releasing his hand she yanked him over into an embrace. The grip on his hand wasn’t a gentle one either. It was fierce and pinched his skin.

“Shumo, about the bridal presents for your family… do you think your parents will be satisfied with them?”

Though the words were spoken with tenderness and affection Ji Shumo couldn’t help but feel a chill, as though there were threads of coldness underlying her words.

“Are you cold Shumo? You’re trembling.” Xiao Wan looked at Ji Shumo with worry in her eyes. She pulled him even closer and rubbed his hands with her own trying to warm him up.

Xie Chuchen stared at their public display of affection, his own head in a daze. A kind of feeling he couldn’t really describe welled up inside him as a slow sour bitterness seeped into his heart. Just comparing the two of them he knew how inadequate he was. Ji Shumo was all elegant and refined in his flowing clean robe. He on the other hand was clearly a reject disheveled from head to toe.

The scornful stares of those in the Xiao House took its toll on Zhao-er and he got antsy. “Young Master… let’s go back.”

“Go back, go back to where?” Xie Chuchen’s voice was rough and strained as though he was enduring a lot emotionally.

Zhao-er stamped his feet impatiently. “Go home of course! We’ve been gone for a whole night. Surely everyone will be worried!” He didn’t understand why his Young Master wanted to run away from home. Why did he want to stay at the Xiao House and be insulted like this? Not only that but to want to be married to a woman like Xiao Wan…

Xie Chuchen wondered if he had a home to return to. He forced a smile and in a broken high pitched voice said, “Ok, home. Let’s return home.” He wiped the tears off his face, not sure when he began crying. He turned and slowly limped away towards the front gates.

Grooms traditionally returned to their ancestral home on the third day after their wedding ceremony. If there was affection between the bride and groom, the groom would be allowed to return a day earlier than customary. In this way a husband would would reunite with his family as soon as possible and not feel heartache at missing them. On rare occasions a bride will accompany her groom and bring gifts to present to her in-laws as sign of her sincerity and deep respect.

Half an hour later Xiao Wan and Ji Shumo reached Ji Shumo’s ancestral home. They were greeted at the front gates by Ji Shumo’s parents. Ji Shumo’s mother eagerly pulled Xiao Wan’s arm, her eyes would glance at the cart full of gifts from time to time. She smiled and said, “Wan-er, it’s only a visit. You’re too polite, bringing so many presents.”

“I wasn’t sure what mother and father-in-law liked, so I brought a bunch of treasures over.”

Xiao Wan looked vibrant and full of youthful energy standing there dressed in a scarlet cheongsam. Her hair, tied up in a high ponytail with a red ribbon, flowed in the breeze and gave her a das.h.i.+ng air. She waved her hand in a grand gesture signalling for the servants to open the boxes in the cart. Inside were a blinding array of jades and unusual treasures that sparkled brightly in the sunlight, dazing those nosy onlookers who were gawking in the streets. One box in the back even held a priceless antique calligraphy.

As soon as Ji Xiao Feng, Ji Shumo’s mother, saw the calligraphy and all the treasures within, her eyes lit up. She nearly fainted from happiness at the dazzling array of gems, antiques, and paintings.

Ji Xiao Feng worked as the fourth ranking officer in the Ministry of Revenue and although it was a prestigious t.i.tle, it paid little by way of income. As a result it was a struggle for her, who enjoyed collecting antiques and artwork, to balance the budget every month.

Xiao Wan made use of several different methods in order to win Ji Shumo’s hand in marriage. She worked especially hard on his mother. Aware she loved antiques and fine art, Xiao Wan spent a large sum to purchase antiques and calligraphy as presents to satisfy her. Xiao Wan also helped the Ji House financially by giving her two shops.

The two shops were doing really well and the Ji House had a lot of goodwill towards Xiao Wan. As a result Ji Xiao Feng proposed marriage between her and Ji Shumo, which Xiao Wan “reluctantly” accepted.

Xiao Wan noticed the signs of deterioration as she stood in front of the gate. Looking at it she realized it was very likely that the Ji House wanted Ji Shumo to marry someone rich, someone they could easily take advantage of, in order to revitalize their coffers. It made financial sense for Ji Shumo to enter the Xiao House. Why else would Ji Shumo do an about face and agree to marry her, the her that he had disdained for so long? She had to make sure to tell Yun Yan to investigate the matter once she got back home. Now that she saw clearly, she realized how ridiculous their play was.

Looking at Xiao Wan’s hand as she gestured toward the gifts made Ji Xiao Feng’s heartbeat speed up. Stuttering she said, “Wan-er, you really… this is too extravagant…”

Back then Xiao Wan thought Ji Xiao Feng’s reaction was just an expression of how fond the other woman was of her. Now that she paid more attention, it was easy for her to see the scorn in Ji Xiao Feng’s eyes. It was only when the other woman saw the flash of gems and jewelry behind her that Ji Xiao Feng’s eyes shown with excitement. The excitement wasn’t for Xiao Wan’s arrival but for the riches behind her.

The old her would have been fooled thinking Ji Shumo’s mother loved her like a daughter. How stupidly easy to fool she was back then. Thinking that such treasures would fall into the mother of her enemy’s possession jabbed her heart with pain. Suddenly a wicked thought came to her. She watched as Ji Shumo’s mother reached her fingers toward the calligraphy as if to stroke it.

“Mother-in-law, do you like Yan Zhenqing’s calligraphy? This calligraphy scroll is definitely authentic. It cost well over a thousand gold to purchase.

“Wan-er, do you see mother as a stranger? You bringing Ji Shumo back personally is enough to make me happy. This child, why are you spending so much, behaving as though we’re on ceremony with each other?” Ji Xiao Feng purposefully put on an act of not caring for the gifts in front of the pa.s.sersby.

“Mother-in-law’s words are wise. I was too intent on returning Ji Shumo that I didn’t properly think about what gift to bring and brought too much. Now I’ve given people the wrong impression about our relations.h.i.+p. I’ll have my servants line up the items one by one and mother-in-law can choose one you like best. I will return everything else to the Xiao House. Mother-in-law is truly a virtuous person. This child feels very guilty. I will remember mother-in-law’s words for the future…”

Xiao Wan had an expression of guilt and contrition on her face while she said, “Yun Yan, Hua Xia, come take these things and bring them back home. Don’t let their presence cause others to misunderstand the situation and think that Ji Xiao Feng is selling her son. Mother-in-law is an honest and virtuous woman. She doesn’t need such ostentatious ceremony.”

Xiao Wan’s reaction threw the people of the Ji House for a loop. They had expected Xiao Wan to insist on giving the gifts, not reduce it. Ji Xiao Feng was especially caught off guard unable to do anything to stop the withdrawal. If she accepted the gifts it would look like she was selling her son. How could that be considered virtuous?

To think they shot the duck down only to have it fly away and escape. The Ji people wrung their hands in consternation as the people on the streets whispered. The solicitous and welcoming expression Ji Xiao Feng had on earlier vanished and with an unhappy voice she said, “It’s windy out here, let’s all go inside.”

Pretending not to notice Ji Xiao Feng’s dark expression and Ji Shumo’s meaningful glances, Xiao Wan said, “Thank you for your concern mother-in-law,” as she swaggered empty-handed through the front gate. She hid her laugh behind her sleeves as she thought of how the gifts would be returned to the Xiao House.