THE QUARRY

By the time Hua Liuli and the crown prince reached the pavilion,  his servants had already put everything in order. Every two steps within the pavilion stood an imperial guard dressed in ordinary clothes. It was evident that the emperor was not at all reassured with the crown prince leaving the palace.

Spread out on and filling up the stone table were piping hot dishes that both smelled and tasted delicious. Hua Liuli rinsed clean her hands with water and could not help but say, “Although these dishes are different from the ones in the imperial palace,  they whet the appetite upon sight.”

 

“That Commandery Princess likes these dishes is the honor of these dishes.” The crown prince picked up a pair of chopsticks. “Commandery Princess, please.”

The moment Hua Liuli picked up her chopsticks, she caught sight of Prince Ying and Lin Wan coming their way. She set down the chopsticks. Rose to her feet.

“Sorry to bother you, Crown Prince.” Prince Ying handed his umbrella to one of the imperial guards standing outside the pavilion. He entered said pavilion in large strides. “The rain is growing harder and harder. Do you mind if I come in with someone to avoid the rain?”

Glancing at Prince Ying, the crown prince set down his chopsticks, a smile that did not quite touch his eyes settling on his face. “Just now, I kept sensing that there was something following behind me. I was actually thinking of having the guards have a look. Since it’s Eldest Brother, I’m no longer worried. Come, sit.”　　‌

Prince Ying frowned. Why does Ji Yuansu’s face look like he’s calling over a dog?

He stomped to get rid of the water on his feet, made his way to the crown prince’s left, and sat down. Hua Liuli cast a glance at Lin Wan, who was still standing outside the pavilion. Then she turned and sat to the crown prince’s right, leaving an empty space next to Prince Ying.

But Prince Ying seemed to not have seen Lin Wan at all; after washing his hands under the service of court eunuchs, he prepared to take his meal.

Did those two have an argument?　　　　

Hua Liuli did not want to interfere with their relationship, but she also found it awkward for Lin Wan to stand there. She said, “Young Miss Lin, although the apricot blossoms are beautiful, it’s more important to eat. Have a meal first, then slowly admire the sight.”

Lin Wan took the opportunity Hua Liuli had given her, stepping foot within the pavilion with her head lowered. She saluted the crown prince. Sat down quietly next to Prince Ying.

“This is Eight Treasures Bamboo Soup. It is made with the most tender bamboo shoots gathered in the spring that are simmered to a boil. It aids with expectoration and energizes the drinker. Does Commandery Princess want a taste?” asked the crown prince, not caring about the stiff atmosphere between Prince Ying and Lin Wan. He scooped up a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Hua Liuli. So at ease as if the other two people did not exist.

Picking up the bowl, Hua Liuli had a taste of the soup. “It’s delicious.”

“I also like this soup. The other dishes can only be considered ordinary.” The crown prince looked at the flowers and trees behind Hua Liuli. “But because there are flowers accompanying us today, such ordinary dishes are good enough to eat.”

“Mm?” Hua Liuli turned her head to look around. Petals fell gently to the ground like snowflakes, covering it in a thick carpet. By tomorrow, such petals would be crushed into the earth, no longer as beautiful as during the current day.

She stretched her hand outside the pavilion, catching a few petals that were falling softly to the ground. Placed said petals into the crown prince’s hand. “Here, let’s admire the flowers as we eat.”

Such an action caught him in a daze. Afterward, laughter spilled from his lips.

Prince Ying raised his head. Looked at her hanging jade earrings that swayed a hint. He could not help but think, With how arduous the conditions are at the border, how could the Hua family raise their daughter to be this fair?　　　　

“Your Highness,” said Lin Wan, picking up a tender bamboo shoot and placing it into Prince Ying’s bowl. “Try this.”

“Young Miss Lin, just let the servants do such things.” Prince Ying moved the tender bamboo shoot aside. “What’s more, this prince is not used to eating things other people give me.”

Complexion paling a little, Lin Wan replied, “I have committed an offense.”

She subconsciously turned to look at Hua Liuli. When she saw that the other party had not paid attention to them, she felt a lot better.

Gaze on Lin Wan, Prince Ying frowned. “This prince is talking to you, so why are you looking at someone else?”

“Your Highness.” Hua Liuli set down her bowl and chopsticks. “This official’s daughter has eaten my fill and will go out to admire the flowers.”

“I will accompany you,” said the crown prince, getting up as well. He slightly glanced at Prince Ying, received an umbrella from the hand of a guard, and held the umbrella over Hua Liuli’s head.

Hua Liuli lifted the ends of her skirt and followed the crown prince into the forest of apricot blossoms. She turned her head and looked at Prince Ying and Lin Wan, who were still seated in the pavilion. Then, in a soft voice, she said, “Prince Ying and Young Miss Lin’s relationship is… very unique.”

It was clear that Prince Ying disliked Lin Wan. What puzzled Hua Liuli was the following: Why did Lin Wan indulge his poor temperament and compromise like this?

Sometimes, men needed to be put in order. It was useless to always obey them blindly; the more you obeyed them, the more they would bully you. One must find more opportunities to put men in order, and they would naturally become well-behaved. At the very least, they would know to leave some face for you in front of other people.

She had heard from her third brother that in Sir Lin’s younger years, he had once scolded some officials during morning court, leaving them speechless. One look at him and corrupt officials would shake in their boots. So why did he raise his daughter to be this soft?

He shouldn’t have just taught her the traditional roles of a good wife and to be docile and ladylike, right?

If that’s the case, then with Prince Ying’s crappy temperament, who knows how many grievances she’d have to suffer through?　　　　

The crown prince reached out and plucked a flower, inserting it into the hair by Hua Liuli’s temple. “Everyone makes their own choices. Don’t worry because of other people’s circumstances.”

“Your Highness, one flower equals one apricot.” Hua Liuli feigned solemnity. “Now what’s to be done?”

“Then…” The crown prince plucked another flower, inserting it into the hair right next to the last one. “Have its brother accompany him, so that it won’t feel lonely.”

“A flower… can become very lonely?” Hua Liuli grew pensive. Could it be that the crown prince thought of that woman whom he loved yet had already passed away?

“That’s right,” said the crown prince, another meaning to his words. “No matter how beautiful a flower is, it would wish for another flower to accompany it. Alone… the flower would be too lonely.”

“Perhaps this flower wishes to stay on its branch and bear fruit in the future,” said Hua Liuli, fear entering her heart from his words, worried that he would grow depressed. “There are so many beautiful flowers among the trees. It’s better if they stayed there. Why must they leave their brethren?

“How great is this world?” Then Hua Liuli said consolingly, “No matter what one lets go of, one mustn’t abandon happiness. Your Highness, do you agree?”

The crown prince stuffed the umbrella into Hua Liuli’s hand. “I feel a bit cold so I’ll go get a cloak.”

“Oh?” Hua LIuli held up the umbrella, watching as he turned and made for a different direction. It really is a bit windy today.

A moment later, the crown prince had yet to return. Lin Wan made her way to Hua Liuli. Her face was expressionless, as if Pirnce Ying’s prior actions had no affect on her mood.

“Commandery Princess is truly a sight for the eyes,” said Li Wan, turning to Hua Liuli all of a sudden. “As you stand under the rain of apricot blossoms, such a sight is so beautiful that it seems straight from a painting. As I gazed upon your figure while sitting in the pavilion, I was caught in a daze.”

Although those were clearly compliments, Hua Liuli could make out a thick flavor of enmity within them. She drew back two steps. “Young Miss Lin is overpraising me.”

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

“Commandery Princess mustn’t be so modest. I’m only speaking the truth.” The corners of Lin Wan’s lips raised a hint. “When you stood there just now, everyone could not help but to look at you…”

Hua Liuli sucked in a deep breath. Why did another one have this defect?

She had already scared Yao Jiamin of such a defect, so why did this Lin Wan have it now? With Prince Ying’s appearance, he couldn’t be considered at the level of a calamitous beauty, so why did these two all look like Hua Liuli wanted to steal their man?

Why should women make things difficult for women? She had never met with Prince Ying alone, much less spoken more than a few words to him. Just where did it seem like she fancied Prince Ying?

Just because someone was unable to grab hold of her man, she blamed all the women in the world. Just what kind of logic was that?

“Young Miss Lin.” Hua Liuli smiled, the corners of her mouth rising. “I’m not a tolerant or generous person. I especially dislike when people look at me with eyes of ridicule. I hope you understand.”

Gaze cold, Lin Wan looked at Hua Liuli.

To which Hua Liuli returned the look with a smile.

“Commandery Princess has an awe-inspiring influence. I naturally cannot offend you.” Lin Wan sneered. “Hopefully this will continue to be so.”

Paying her no mind, Hua Liuli beckoned over Yuanwei. “Yuanwei, can you remember what Young Miss Lin just said?”

“Yes, this slave will remember it,” replied Yuanwei, smiling. “May Commandery Princess rest assured. This slave has recorded to memory each and every word.”

“It’s good if that’s the case.” Hua Liuli’s smile glittered like gold. “In a few days, we will pay a visit to Sir Lin and Mistress Lin and repeat what Young Miss Lin said. I’m sure Sir Lin will be very happy about Young Miss Lin’s way of speaking.”

“What are you trying to do?” Lin Wan’s expression changed.

“I’m going to tattle on you,” said Hua Liuli, tilting her head and grinning. “When a child doesn’t know how to talk and offends people, who would lower themselves to that child’s level? It’s only natural that you go look for her parents.”

“Hua Liuli!”

“Young Miss Lin.” Expressionless, the crown prince approached the two young ladies. “Young Miss Lin’s appetite for the noon meal must have certainly been great.”

Never had Lin Wan imagined for the crown prince to appear so suddenly. With a somewhat frantic expression, she bowed and retreated a step. “This official’s daughter… does not understand what Your Highness the crown prince means.”

“If you didn’t have a great appetite and ate a lot, how could you have had the courage to shout at a commandery princess whose title the emperor had personally conferred?” The crown prince looked at Lin Wan with indifference. Raindrops dripped from his brows and eyelids, making him resemble a cold double-edged sword that had been unsheathed, causing others to be too afraid to look straight at him.

“Sir Lin is a good official. Young Miss Lin mustn’t ruin his reputation. If a future princess consort does not have proper conduct or a proper manner of speaking, then she will not marry into the imperial clan.”

Noticing that the spring rain was growing ever more strong, and that the crown prince lacked an umbrella, Hua Liuli rushed to raise her umbrella over his head. And she discovered that there was a height difference between them. That even by standing on tiptoes, she almost blocked his line of sight.

A warm hand wrapped itself around the umbrella’s handle. “Give it to me.”

Hua Liuli hurried to release the umbrella. It was too tiring for a kindhearted and adorable girl to hold one up for a tall person.

However, the Lin Wan who was propping up an umbrella by herself felt cold all over. Her teeth chattered. She was unsure if she was actually cold or if she was afraid. She feared that Hua Liuli would truly tell on her to her parents. Feared that the crown prince would tell the emperor that she was unfit as a princess consort.

Lin Wan was unable to accept that she could not become Princess Consort Ying in the future, that in the end, she would be constrained to the fate of marrying someone poverty-stricken like her father.

Her eyes reddened. She dropped to a kneel. Said in a soft, weeping manner, “Please forgive me, Your Highness and Commandery Princess.” Her weeping proved mournful and miserable, as if she were a pitiful person who, under a force of great power exceeding hers, dared to be angry but was too afraid to say anything.

“What’s going on?” asked Prince Ying when he came over, after noticing his future princess consort kneeling before the crown prince. His expression grew somewhat unsightly. No matter how it’s put, Lin Wan was his future wife. The crown prince’s sister-in-law.

A future sister-in-law was kneeling in front of her brother-in-law. Just what the hell was this?

 

Not much to say except that I’ve been very busy lately… Trying my best to hit all my deadlines.

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Next release is Saturday, November 20, 2021 EST. 

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By the way, I have a new BL novel project, with my own summary below:

By the emperor’s decree, Fu Ming is to marry Jin Yi and become his male wife. The initial reception is cold. Can the two sort things out between them, the winter departing and the snow thawing?

Expectoration: The act of coughing up and spitting out the material produced in the respiratory tract, therefore keeping your respiratory tract clean. Sister-in-law: 嫂子. More specifically the older brother’s wife. This word cannot be used for the younger brother’s wife; there’s a different word for that.Brother-in-law: 小叔. More specifically, husband’s younger brother. There’s a different word for husband’s older brother. This sight is very ridiculous in the Chinese raws because it’s the wife of the older brother kneeling to the younger brother, which is all sorts of scandalous. Hard to see it in English.