The Times Spent in Pretense

Nothing left to live for, Jiamin climbed into the carriage. Right now, in her mind, there was no longer whatever Prince Ying, whatever Lin Wan. The sole occupant was the Hua Liuli sitting by her side and humming a folk tune.

“Have you had breakfast?” Hua Liuli brought a piece of pastry the size of a pinky to Jiamin’s mouth. “Eat this. It won’t ruin your lipstick.”　　

 

Could Jiamin dare to refuse?　　

Nope, so she suffered the humuliation and ate it.　　

It was pretty delicious. She decided to suffer the humiliation a few more times.　　

Thirty minutes later, Hua Liuli and Jiamin both rested a deep plate of pastries on their laps as they sat cross-legged, having a great time snacking.　　　

“Speak, just what do you want?” said Jiamin after she had finished eating and placed the deep plate to the side, pretending that she hadn’t just snacked to her heart’s delight. “I acknowledge that I was wrong to have provoked you on purpose back then, so just what would it take for you to agree to let me off?”　　

“Did I hit you?”　　

Jiamin shook her head.　　

“Did I scold you?”　　

Jiamin shook her head again.　　　

Resting her chin on both hands, Hua Liuli smiled in a naive and innocent manner. “That’s why, you’ve just been overthinking it. I simply treat you as a friend.”

As Jiamin took in that trademark naive smile, fear sprang in her heart. It hadn’t been easy to gather her courage. Now, it was just like those closely-pack pastries that had sat upon that deep plate earlier: all gone without a trace.　　

Outside the carriage rang the sound of a horsewhip and the muffled, painful groans of someone. Hua Liuli lifted the window curtain for a look. And she saw a jailor driving away people in prisoner attire outside the city.　　　　

These prisoners wore fetters on their ankles; thus, their crimes must be serious. The prisoners seemed very well-behaved, but the one trailing at the end staggered as he marched. The jailor, who was behind said prisoner, seemed to dislike that he was walking too slowly and influencing the pace of the others. And so, he whipped him a couple times.　　

“Those prisoners are being sent to the quarry,” said Jiamin, sending them a glance in passing. “You don’t need to sympathize with them. These prisoners trafficked women and children, robbed and harmed people, all sorts of serious crimes. They deserve this kind of outcome.” 　　　　

Hua Liuli dropped the curtain. Turned to Jiamin. “Why do you know this?”　　

“Of course I would know.” Jiamin scoffed. “A year ago in the princess estate, a steward tried to molest a servant girl. After I caught wind of this, we had him flogged and sent him there.”　　　　

Hua Liuli arched a brow. “I never would have thought you were so righteous.”　　

“What do you mean, you would have never thought?” Discontent, Jiamin clicked her tongue. “If you don’t know how to talk nicely, then don’t say anything.”　　

Underneath Mount Qing, Young Miss Tian gazed into the distance from time to time. They had made plans with Jiamin to meet up at the base of the mountain, so why wasn’t Jiamin here yet?　　　　

Young Miss Yao, who was with her, wore a somewhat awkward expression. She was still a bit angry at Jiamin.　　

“Aiyah, Elder Sister Yao, you’re still unhappy?” Young Miss Tian pulled her arm and swayed it. “You’re patrilineal cousins and good friends. In front of outsiders, she would definitely be more casual with you. It’s not like you don’t know who are considered outsiders and who are considered your own people. You shouldn’t fight with Jiamin and be unhappy over such a trivial matter.”　　

“The day after that, those two went to the performance center together. Where would you find such close outsiders?” Young Miss Yao snorted. “It’s not that I’m being petty. She’s clearly the one angering me.”　　　　

Just as the two had finished speaking, they caught sight of a carriage with the Hua clan’s insignia coming their way. Young Miss Yao turned her head, disdain across her whole face.　　

But when she saw Jiamin disembarking from that same carriage, she sneered as she said to Young Miss Tian, “See? She even rode Hua Liuli’s carriage here.” 　　

“Let it be. Let it be. We’re all noble young ladies here.” Young Miss Tian feared that Young Miss Yao would make trouble for Hua Liuli again, rushing to reach out and grab her. “It’s more lively with one extra person. Isn’t that great?　　

“Elder Sister Yao, heed my advice,” said Young Miss Tian in an earnest fashion. “According to novels, if you take the initiative to make trouble for others, you’d just bring bad luck to yourself.”　　

“Tian Shanshan, I’ve said this to you many times. Don’t read novels too much. It’s not good for your brain.” Young Miss Yao clenched her teeth. “If you mention novels again, I’ll make you eat them.”　　

To which Young Miss Tian said weakly, “Elder Sister Yao, my name is Tian Shan, not Tian Shanshan.”　　　　

“Be quiet.” As the most intelligent of this group of young ladies, Young Miss Tian often felt incomparably exhausted. 　　

When Jiamin saw her cousins waiting for her, she feared they would raise difficult questions about Hua Liuli. As such, she quickly made her way to their side and said in a soft voice, “Commandery Princess Fushou does not have any friends in the capital. On account of General Hua and General Wei, we should look after her.”

Hearing Jiamin mention the two great generals, the young ladies changed their expressions. Which of the young people in the capital did not worship those two great generals? 　　

Even if they disliked Hua Liuli, for the sake of the two generals, they wouldn’t go too far with their actions.　　

“Actually, now that I’ve thought about it more carefully, we don’t hold any large grudges against Hua Liuli.” Tian Shan sneaked a peek at Hua Liuli, who was still standing by the side of the carriage and hadn’t come over. “Prince Ying isn’t marrying her. We don’t have to target her on purpose.　　

“My elder brother sped a horse in the city center, startling her and causing her to fall seriously ill. Afterward, she and Jiamin came to my estate to offer condolences for my grandfather’s passing, causing evildoers to abduct them. His Majesty almost punished my father, but the Hua family sent a letter to His Majesty pleading for leniency for us.” Although it had already been twenty-seven days since she had started the mourning period, as a granddaughter to the one who had passed away, Tian Shan still wore white clothing. The sole comparatively colorful item was an embroidered silk brocade bag hanging from her waist.　　

“No wonder whenever we speak poorly of Hua Liuli recently, you’d act stupid and change the topic…” Young Miss Yao wanted to call Tian Shan a traitor, but if she were the one to experience these things, perhaps she would also not allow her friends to talk badly of Hua Liuli as they pleased.　　　　

Jiamin’s expression proved subtle to an immense degree. First, it was because when Prince Ying had come to her mother pleading for leniency for the Tian family, her mother scolded him and drove him away. Thus, she felt a bit awkward facing Tian Shan. Second, it was because she felt unwell after hearing the words “startling her and causing her to fall seriously ill.”　

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.　

A woman, who wasn’t even afraid to kill evildoers, fell ill from being frightened by people racing horses? She clearly swindled Tian Ruidong, that fool. Never had she expected Prince Ying to be even more foolish, taking the initiative to leap into that hole himself.　　

So why should she continue to like Prince Ying, who already had a fiancée and wasn’t that smart to boot? 　　

After her feelings for Prince Ying had gradually subsided, Jiamin discovered that his frankness became impulsiveness in her eyes, that his soldierly appearance became all brawn but no brain.　　　　

Perhaps it was because single men were more attractive than others. Once that attractive force was gone, there was nothing good about them.　　

Once the conversation of the young ladies was mostly wrapped up, Hua Liuli took her time approaching them. “Is this mountain difficult to climb?”　　　

“Since you have such a delicate constitution, allow this slave to support you, so as to avoid implicating us should anything happen,” said Young Miss Yao, tone expressing impatience. “We don’t want to shoulder the crime of bullying you.”　　

“Young Miss Yao has a blunt way of speaking but a soft heart. I will remember your good will,” said Hua Liuli, all smiles. “Then, let’s go.” 

As they hiked, everyone noticed that Hua Liuli’s shoes were especially beautiful. Even Young Miss Yao could not help but give it a few more looks.

“Commandery Princess, your shoes are truly a sight for the eyes. Which elder in your family prepared them for you?” asked Tian Shan. Many of her elders had originally prepared embroidered shoes for her, but after her paternal grandfather died, she stored them away. Today, she simply wore a pair of white shoes.　　

“Mm.” Hua Liuli purposely stuck her foot out of her skirt. “Does it really look good?”　　　　

“Yes.” Tian Shan nodded. “They really match your outfit today. There are faint patterns on the shoes’ surface that glisten from the sun. Not only are they beautiful, they are also suitable.”　　　　

“The two generals care for you deeply.” Jiamin lowered her head as she examined Hua Liuli’s shoes, a trace of envy in her heart. The other party’s shoes were a bit prettier than hers.

At the sound of those words, Hua Liuli merely smiled. In front of Jiamin, she couldn’t say it was her cousin, the crown prince, who had given her the shoes. How would that make Jiamin, his cousin, feel?　　

Seeing Hua Liuli smile yet not speak, everyone thought she was tacitly agreeing with them. When Young Miss Yao, who had originally planned to humiliate Hua Liuli during the Birthday of the Flowers, noticed that the other party’s expression grew pale after a short period of hiking, she slowed her pace without realizing it. Then she reached into her purse and pulled out two pieces of mint candy. “Eat these. If you faint, we won’t be able to carry you.”　　　　‌

“Thank you, Young Miss Yao,” said Yuanwei, accepting the mints and casting a glance at them. Following that, she handed them over to Hua Liuli.

Hua Liuli picked up the candies and tossed them into her mouth. She smiled at Young Miss Yao. “Thank you. The candies are very sweet.”　　　　

“Hmph! You’re not afraid that I poisoned them?” Young Miss Yao turned her head, not looking at Hua Liuli.　　

“Young Miss Yao is a good person. Why would you do such a thing?” Hua Liuli’s gaze fell upon her, a gentle smile in her eyes. 　

To which Young Miss Yao snorted again, a faint blush on her cheeks.　　

Meanwhile, Jiamin watched this scene in a despairing manner. Oh no, Hua Liuli deceived another good friend of mine with that innocent appearance.

Yao Wenyin, what are you blushing for? Didn’t you find her a thorn in your eye? Weren’t you going to put her in order today?!　　

What a pity that Young Miss Yao did not hear Jiamin’s inner cries. Not only did she blush, she even awkwardly took out the pouch of mint candies and threw it at Hua Liuli. “Take it. In any case, I don’t like eating such super sweet things.”　　　　

“Thank you, Elder Sister Yao.” Hua Liuli smiled, eyes becoming crescents. In the end, after her few words, the four of them started eating sweets as they hiked for some reason.　

Hua Liuli, this woman, was truly too unnatural.　　

“Young Miss, it seems like Young Miss Yao and her friends are behind us,” said Lin Wan’s servant girl after hearing laughter and chatter to their backs. She had turned her head for a look and saw Young Miss Yao and three young ladies in luxurious clothes accompanying her. Although the servant girl did not recognize the three other people, just from the way they dressed, it was clear their identities weren’t simple.　　　

Lin Wan was different from the ignorant servant girl. One glance and she recognized the three young ladies accompanying Young Miss Yao. She also noticed many servant girls waiting upon that group from behind. Yet, she herself only had one servant girl. Embarrassment filled her expression. It was to the point where she wanted to turn around and pretend she didn’t see them. 　　

“Young Miss Lin,” called out Yao Wenyin, after catching sight of her. “Why are you out here alone?”　　　　

She and Jiamin were close friends. Previously, she approached Lin Wan simply to probe out what kind of person Lin Wan was. But after Young Miss Yao saw Jiamin seemingly having lost her feelings for Prince Ying, she no longer paid any interest to Lin Wan.　　

Her family was the type of nobles who abandoned themselves in a life of pleasure, who spent their days idly. Whereas, Lin Wan’s father was an honest and upright government official. Whenever Young Miss Yao was together with Lin Wan, she always found it somewhat awkward.　　

Lin Wan stopped in her tracks. Wore a smile as she looked at the four young ladies. Following that, she performed a grand salute. “Greetings to the two commandery princesses, Young Miss Yao, and Young Miss Tian.”　　　　　

“Today is the Birthday of the Flowers. Why is Young Miss Lin dressed so simply?” Young Miss Yao looked at the merely two silver hairpins and one glided jeweled hairpin on the other party’s head. The quality of the jewel wasn’t the best either. Without thinking it over, she added, “It looks a bit bland.” 

No wonder Yao Wenyin and Yao Jiamin shared such an intimate relationship: Both were people who spoke without thinking, traceable from the same stock.　　　　

Those who would, right after opening their mouths, comment on other people’s clothes made it really easy for people to want to hit them.　　

Just when Young Miss Yao was about to say something to ease the tension, Lin Wan laughed. “Since my childhood, Father taught me that one must be frugal and not live extravagantly. I’ve already grown used to it over the years.”

 

Author’s Note:

Crown Prince: Beautiful shoes ought to be given to a beautiful woman. Naturally, I can send myself over to her as well.

The Villain Yunhan: I’ve always thought I was a king. But after meeting them, I’ve dropped to bronze.

 Patrilineal cousins: In Chinese culture, patrilineal cousins are considered closer than matrilineal cousins since they share the same last name. Unnatural: 邪性. Like otherworldly in a way a ghost or a demon is.