CFB Chapter 99.1

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 99.1

 

“Can you take a look at Third lady Shen’s sachet?”

Concubine Meng kept looking at Shen Zhen, her tone was very light, but it made Shen Zhen feel a chill run down her spine for some reason.

“Yes of course.”

Shen Zhen quickly took off the sachet from her waist and handed it to Meng Suxi with both hands.

Meng Suxi placed the sachet under her nose and sniffed it.

She was good at mixing perfumes and had the ability to identify people by their scent. However, when she stayed at the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion, she could not recreate the scent she smelled on the man no matter how hard she tried.

Because it was an extremely special fragrance.

She used dozens of spices, but in the end she only managed to make one that was close to it. She always felt like something was missing. Now that the third daughter of the Shen family was sitting next to her, the familiar feeling that had been there for a long time suddenly came over her…

“Did you mix this fragrance yourself?” Meng Suxi asked.

“Yes.”

Meng Suxi nodded, “This craftsmanship is really excellent.”

“Your Majesty, you over praise.” Shen Zhen bowed and responded, “If Your Majesty likes it, I will go back home and make one of the same and send it to Your Majesty later.”

Meng Suxi showed a very pleasantly surprised expression and said with a smile: “Then I’ll trouble you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Empress Xu half-closed her eyes, cupped the tea lid, slowly removed the tea leaves, raised her hand and slowly took a sip.

Right now, the other side was bustling with people playing pitch-pot[mfn] (pitch-pot game (played at a drinking party, in which the participants threw arrows into a pot))[/mfn], cuju, chuiwan([mfn]Chuiwan is an ancient Chinese ball sport, similar to modern golf.)[/mfn], and archery on horseback…

Suddenly there was a sound of gongs and drums.

The two teams entered the venue one after another.

Everyone’s eyes were instantly focused on the flags fluttering in the wind; the polo match was about to begin.

Empress Xu waved to the palace maid and whispered, “Go and find Xiao Qi for me.”

After a while, Xu Yiqing brought Wang Ru to Empress Xu.

Wang Ru sighed in a low voice, “Sure enough, the center position has the best view.”

Empress Xu smiled and said, “You child.”

Watching the young talents riding horses not far away, Princess Kangning couldn’t help but whisper, “With Marquis Changping away, there’s no suspense in this competition. It will definitely be the third brother’s team that wins first place.”

The third brother that Princess Kangning mentioned was Lu Yan.

Empress Xu’s gaze seemed to wander over Princess Jing’an, but when she saw that she didn’t look at Shen Zhen much, her slightly frowned brows slowly relaxed.

Princess Fu’an sighed sincerely: “Our Lu Yan is really a man of both civil and military talents. He is graceful and elegant, and has a bright and cheerful spirit. I wonder how my sister taught him to be so talented.”

Princess Jing’an glanced at the sanctimonious boy in the audience, and couldn’t help but curl her lips secretly, saying, “Don’t over praise him.”

Princess Fu’an teased, “Could it be that you are mad at him…because he hasn’t got married yet?”

“Speaking of which, Lu Yan is not young anymore, it’s time to discuss marriage.” Empress Xu rubbed her wrist and sighed, “But this marriage also depends on fate, so don’t be anxious, Princess.”

Princess Jing’an said, “My children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. I am not in a hurry.”

At this time, Concubine Meng started talking again: “I remember that the Seventh young lady is not engaged yet.”

Xu Yiqing’s cheeks turned slightly red and she quickly lowered her head.

This seemingly casual conversation actually contains a lot of knowledge. Lu Yan’s marriage was just mentioned, and then Xu Yiqing’s was mentioned. Everyone present could understand the hint.

After a while, when Empress Xu saw that Princess Jing’an didn’t say anything, she said, “Xu Yiqing is still young. Although I know that it’s not advisable to keep her this long, I still want her to wait until she’s seventeen before getting married.”

“Your Majesty, I am willing to stay by your side forever.” Xu Yiqing said immediately.

Empress Xu smiled.

Speaking of age, Princess Fu’an looked at Shen Zhen and said slowly, “If I remember correctly, Third Lady Shen is seventeen years old this year.”

“Princess, I just turned seventeen.”

“Have you discussed marriage yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Look at me, how could I ask such a question to a little girl like you!” Princess Fu’an looked into the distance, raised the corners of her lips and said, “An age that is like flowers.”

Princess Kangning curled her lips and muttered softly, “A flower that attracts bees and butterflies.”

Princess Jing’an frowned.

Princess Fu’an pinched her face and said, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Mother, what if I say that? If it weren’t for her, how could Brother Xu…”

“Shut up!” Princess Fu’an’s face turned stern.

Other matters would be fine, but Xu Wei’s case was decided by the Emperor himself, and from the moment the case was closed, no one else was allowed to interfere.

Seeing that her mother was really angry, Princess Kangning didn’t dare to say anything more. She glared at Shen Zhen and turned back to watch the polo match.

Polo matches in the Jin Dynasty adopted the “counting chip method”, where one ball counted as one chip. There were two teams, and the team that got twenty chips first would win.

Horses flew past, clubs collided, and painted polo balls flew in the air.

“In!”

“Another entry!”

“Sui Yu! Can you do it? If not, let me do it instead!”

After a while, Lu Yan’s horse bumped into Sui Yu’s horse, and he hit back and took the twentieth chip.

For a moment, the sounds of drums, horse hooves, and cheers almost pierced people’s ears.

Sui Yu fell off his horse, and when he stood up, he slapped his clothes and cursed: “Lu Shiyan, you didn’t even show me the slightest bit of mercy!”

Lu Yan chuckled, not knowing what Sui Yu said afterwards, Lu Yan turned around and looked at the female relatives’ side.

Those charming peach blossom eyes were filled with smiles, no longer as aloof and cold as before, instead immediately gaining a touch of romantic charm.

What was true romance?

Close your eyes and listen to the heartbeat of the wild wolves around you.

Shen Zhen’s face was adorned with a graceful smile but he sneered at least three times in her heart.

After the polo match, Empress Xu placed Shen Zhen and Xu Yiqing into the pavilion next door, and then began to vent her anger on the other concubines.

Meng Suxi smelled the lingering fragrance on her fingertips, and after hesitating for a long time, she leaned over to Empress Xu and whispered something.

Empress Xu’s eyes froze for a moment, and she subconsciously glanced at the Grand Princess, then said softly, “It’s getting a little cold, Concubine Meng, come with me to the Bamboo Vine Pavilion to add some clothes.”

Hearing this, Princess Jing’an continued to sip her tea as if nothing had happened. After Empress Xu left, she glanced at the momo beside her.

After entering the Bamboo Vine Pavilion, Meng Suxi whispered what happened last October again.

Empress Xu’s gaze remained calm and imposing, and she coldly said, “Are you sure about this matter?”

“I don’t dare to be sure.” Meng Suxi bit her lip and said, “I heard that third lady Shen has a perfume shop in the West Market. Her perfume making skills are higher than mine. It’s possible that I’m worrying too much.”

“But there is one thing I can confirm.”

“Say.”

“There was no special fragrance in the sachet of the Shen family girl just now, but the fragrance can still be vaguely smelled on her body.”

“You mean, maybe it’s her own scent?”

“I dare not confirm it.”

Empress Xu pinched the tip of her left index finger with her right hand and took a deep breath.

It was impossible to say that she wasn’t shocked.

Lu Yan, Shen Zhen.

Because the Duke Zhenguo Mansion and the Marquis Yunyang Mansion had no dealings in the past, she really didn’t think of the two of them in that way. Even if she did, it was just a fleeting thought in her mind.

But she has to admit that, if we put the two of them together and think about it again, many things will suddenly make sense.

For example, why did Lu Yan speak for Shen Wenqi at the morning court that day; why did Sun Mi get beaten with a stick in Jingzhao Prefecture; why did Chu Xun become Shen Zhen’s lawyer; why did the Grand Princess appear in Baixiang Pavilion in the West Market that day; why did Xu Wei get attacked that night; why didn’t Jingzhao Prefecture try the case…

For example, last October, she clearly did not receive any news that the Shen family’s daughter had left the city, but Shen Zhen just disappeared…

 

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