CFB Chapter 125

Translator – Xiao He Lian

This is a translation hosted on KnoxT, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized. Please support the translator by reading it at KnoxT.

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Chapter 125

 

Lu Yan looked down at the peace lantern in his hand, which was in the shape of a carp.

Shen Zhen curled her eyes and whispered, “I bought it.”

Lu Yan raised his eyebrows, looked at her and asked, “You did?”

The little girl nodded, “Does it look good?”

The maid behind Shen Zhen bowed and retreated.

Lu Yan lowered his gaze to look at her red fingertips, reached out to hold them, and said to her, “Yes, it looks good.”

Being held like this in the street, Shen Zhen looked around guiltily.

Lu Yan curled up his index finger and tapped her forehead, “Everyone is busy watching the lanterns, no one is looking at you.”

No one was watching?

Of course not.

A patrol officer, who had just seen Lord Lu furious a moment ago, now stood dumbfounded, craning his neck in disbelief at the sudden change in demeanor.

A courtesan from Pingkang Lane, who had been waving her handkerchief at Lu Yan just moments ago, pouted and cursed under her breath: hypocrite.

Yang Zong, standing behind his master, sighed inwardly: The madam truly has skill.

Shen Zhen nodded and looked at the dark cloak that dragged on the ground, and said to Lu Yan: “My Lord, this is too long, I don’t think I can wear it.”

Having said that, she pretended to take it off.

Lu Yan glanced at her and asked, “Does the Third Miss want to get sick again?”

When the word “again” was mentioned, Shen Zhen couldn’t help but think of last autumn.

Last fall, they fell into the Qujiang Lake together. At that time, she didn’t think it was a big deal, but after returning home, she started to have a fever, cough, and runny nose. Every morning when she woke up, she had a dry mouth and her entire throat hurt when she talked.

It took her nearly a month to feel better.

Thinking of this, the little girl touched her throat and lowered her hand.

After finally meeting the person she wanted to see, Lu Yan naturally didn’t want to let her go right away, so he pointed to a restaurant and said, “Will you eat something with me?”

Shen Zhen asked in surprise: “My Lord, have you not eaten yet?”

“Haven’t had the chance.” Those four words sounded somewhat pitiful, making Shen Zhen frown in concern.

On this Lantern Festival night, all the restaurants were doing booming business. A waiter adjusted his headscarf and greeted them with a wide grin: “Lord Lu, right this way.” After all, there wasn’t anyone in the capital who didn’t know the Governor of the Jingzhao.

Shen Zhen was pulled into the side room by him, and Lu Yan ordered the dishes at an extremely fast speed.

The curtain of the wing room fell, Lu Yan stretched out his hand to embrace her, then lifted up her short jacket and her undershirt with ease, and placed his entire palm on the girl’s fair and tender waist. They had just entered the room from outside, and his hands were very cold. Shen Zhen subconsciously let out a “hiss”.

His lips pressed against her ear, “Is it cold?”

Shen Zhen nodded, and just as he was about to speak, Yang Zong’s voice came, “My Lord, something bad has happened.”

Lu Yan pulled his hand back and lifted the curtain, “What’s wrong?”

“A murder case.” Yang Zong said solemnly: “The barbarians caused trouble in the Buddhist temple and many people died.”

Lu Yan immediately stood up. “I’ll take men over. You send her back.”

Shen Zhen returned wearing Lord Lu’s black cloak. Seeing this, Shen Yao and Shen Shu casted teasing glances at her.

Shen Zhen sighed silently.

She had spent ages at home picking out an outfit—a plain white short jacket—and had compared six different skirts before finally choosing one. And yet? The moment that man saw her, he draped a heavy black cloak over her.

Shen Zhen gathered the cloak around her and thought: Forget it. At least I won’t catch a chill.

To be fair, it wasn’t entirely Lord Lu’s fault for being unromantic—after all, what men and women consider “romantic” has always differed.

When Shen Zhen stood outside in the wind, Lu Yan would naturally worry about whether she was cold. But if they were on the bed, he probably wouldn’t even tolerate a single piece of fabric.

They were preparing to return home, and Shen Shu was about to get on the carriage when Miao Li suddenly asked, “Miss, when did this lantern get here?”

Shen Shu looked at it in confusion and slowly walked over. 

The lantern turned and two words were written on it – Peace and Safety..

Shen Shu’s gaze froze as she gradually fell into a daze…

She knew that brushstroke all too well.

The complaint against the Li family was written by him personally.

“Miss?” Miao Li asked again.

Shen Shu took a deep breath, rubbed her forehead, and said, “Maybe someone dropped it here.”

Miao Li, finding the lantern quite exquisite, suggested, “Then… should we hang it here?”

After a long silence, Shen Shu said softly, “Send her to the Taoist temple next door.”

Miao Li reached out and took it off, nodded and said, “I will go right away.”

But as soon as Miao Li turned around, Shen Shu called her again, “Forget it, just give it to me.”

Looking at the lantern in her hand, Shen Shu couldn’t help but recall the last time she had seen him. Truth be told, she had been rather ruthless that day.

But if he had truly wanted her—if he had just said the word—she would have gone to see him in the end.

But he didn’t.

She was thankful that he didn’t.

Shen Shu lowered her head and smiled.

Just one word—“peace”—yet she shouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

 

　　——

On the seventh day of the third month, a drizzle fell from the sky. This day was the anniversary of Madam Shen’s death.

Thinking back to last year, when Shen Wenqi was still in prison, Shen Zhen had to curry favor with Lu Yan to get the incense money. And now, looking at today, the solemn and majestic Da Ci’en Temple with its yellow walls and gray tiles was closed again for the Shen family.

Shen Wenqi followed Master Yuanchen into the hall to chant scriptures.

Shen Shu, Shen Yao, Shen Zhen and Shen Hong were led into the temple’s main hall by the guest-welcoming monk.

They bowed to the “Three Sages of Avatamsaka[mfn](The Three Holy Ones of Huayan , also known as the Three Buddhas of Sakyamuni , refer to the three Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Tibetan world in the Huayan Sutra of Buddhism .)[/mfn]” and then knelt on the cushions with their hands clasped together.

Shen Shu silently prayed: Mother, your daughters are all doing well. You needn’t worry anymore. That youngest daughter you fretted over the most will be married in eight days—to the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo. A fine match, a graceful life partner. Standing beside Zhen’er, they are quite suited.

Shen Yaosilently prayed: Mother, though I’ve married far from home, I’m taking good care of myself, so please don’t worry. Oh, and our little girl is getting married soon. I get to see her off with my own eyes—that alone makes this life worthwhile.

Shen Zhen silently prayed: Mother, your daughter is getting married—to the third son of the Lu family, Lu Yan. I will remember all that you and Grandmother taught me. I’ll strive to be self-disciplined, respectful, to be a good wife and mother. As for Father… he still refuses to remarry. I’ve seen the silver at his temples. If you still care for him, perhaps… visit him in a dream?

Shen Hong trying to act solemn, closed his eyes and prayed: Mother, I’m the youngest, Hong’er.

Third Sister found me a tutor—Lord Chu. He’s been teaching me calligraphy and the Thousand Character Classic since last year. In a few months, I’ll begin reading The Spring and Autumn of Grain. Lord Chu even said I should take the imperial exam early. He says if your son makes the honors list, he can protect his sisters.

An hour later, Shen Wenqi came into the hall to call them.

The four of them stood up, the wind chimes under the eaves rang in the wind, and the Shen family’s journey began again.

Ordinary days sometimes pass by very quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it is sixteenth of the third month..

At hai shi[mfn](the period of the day from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m)[/mfn], Shen Shu and Shen Yao pushed open Shen Zhen’s door and asked with a smile, “Can’t sleep?”

Shen Zhen’s face was filled with nervousness. She gave a soft “Mm.”

Shen Shu rubbed her hair. “Everyone’s like this.”

Shen Yao looked at the “Lu family roster” beside the bed and chuckled. “What’s this? Planning to memorize the entire thing overnight?”

Shen Zhen sighed. “The Lu family has three branches—so many people. What if I call someone by the wrong name?”

Shen Yao laughed. “For things like this, the more you think about it, the easier it is to make mistakes. Your husband will definitely tell you secretly in your ear when the time comes. Don’t think too much.”

Shen Zhen nodded. “Then I won’t look at it anymore.”

Shen Yao sat next to her and pinched her face maliciously, “Zhen Zhen, reading this is useless. Do you remember what I taught you?”

Hearing this, Shen Zhen blushed and said, “Sister… are those things really okay?”

Shen Shu also laughed, “Don’t listen to her. Lu Yan is different from the men on the grassland. I believe he will be more considerate.”

Shen Yao didn’t comment, she just whispered: “Still, sister, there’s one thing that’s always the same.”

Shen Zhen asked: “What is it?”

Shen Yao turned her head to look at Shen Zhen’s innocent eyes, suddenly becoming serious. “Zhen’er, even after you become his wife, don’t give him your entire heart. One or two years might be fine, but over time, as days repeat, things always change. Zhen’er, remember to find something you enjoy doing for yourself.”

Shen Shu pinched Shen Yao from behind.

But they all knew she was speaking the truth.

Between men and women, once the passion fades and the novelty wears off, how can things remain unchanged?

When Shen Shu was still a wife of the Li family, she often had to go out. What she heard most was either that the master of the family had taken in a new mistress, who was a hateful vixen, or or about how even the children of concubines caused resentment.

From awakening to love, to blind devotion, to heartbreak and bitterness—sometimes all it took was a single night.

Which woman hadn’t cried into her pillow in the inner chambers?

But after crying?

As long as no laws were broken and the family reputation remained intact, life would simply go on.

Even though Shen Shu clearly understood all this and no longer believed in sweet words, she didn’t want to impose her cynicism on Shen Zhen’s life.

Shen Yao was pinched hard by Shen Shu and couldn’t help but cover her arm and let out a “hissing” sound.

When Shen Shu pinched her hard, Shen Yao clutched her arm and hissed, “Ow—ow… that’s going to bruise!” She shot Shen Shu a resentful glance. “Sister, if you don’t warn her now, what? Wait for the Lu family to teach her the hard way?”

Shen Shu countered, “Well, I think our parents had a pretty good marriage.”

The Marquis of Yunyang held a high position and was charming and elegant. He had neither a concubine or mistress. Back then, the wife of the Marquis of Yunyang made many noblewomen in the capital green with envy.

Even the second aunt of the Shen family was no exception.

The Marquis’s wife gave birth to two daughters in a row. When Shen Zhen was born, the Second Lady went to the old lady to hint, saying in a veiled tone: “The issue of offspring has always been the most important. especially with a noble title to pass down.”

To put it bluntly, she just wanted Shen Wenqi to take a concubine.

She had even picked one—a distant cousin of hers, barely related.

When Shen Wenqi found out, this usually tolerant elder brother exploded, gave his younger brother a fierce scolding, and told him to keep his wife in check.

His stance was firm—if they could live under one roof, fine. If not, they could split the household.

Even with the old matriarch alive, separate courtyards were still an option.

After a moment of silence, Shen Yao nodded and smiled genuinely. “You’re right—it can’t all be judged the same way.”

Shen Shu patted Shen Zhen’s shoulder. “But if he ever bullies you, come home. Your sisters will always be here.”

At last, as dawn broke, Shen Zhen couldn’t resist the drowsiness any longer and closed her eyes.

But when she opened them again—

 

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