A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

T/N: Double update today to thank Dazz for the ko-fi support! Thank you so much

“Naturally.” Chen Wang jumped off his horse and tidied up Jiuzhu’s cloak twice: “Do you think Ben Wang is the kind of person who makes fun of little guniangs?”

 

Sun Caiyao, Zhou Xiao: That’s precisely the kind of person you are.

 

Jiuzhu thought seriously for a moment before nodding slowly: “Your Highness is indeed not like that.”

 

Sun Caiyao looked at Ming Jiuzhu in surprise. This goes against reason ah! Is Ming Jiuzhu such a gullible person?

 

Chen Wang heaved a sigh of relief. Next time he decided to tease Ming Xiaozhu, there must not be other people around him. In case this little guniang really got upset, he didn’t know how to convince her properly.

 

“Then why did Your Highness say that the sky will be sunny when I sneezed?” Jiuzhu looked at Chen Wang with curiosity: “Is there any explanation behind it?”

 

“This… is related to a legend.” Chen Wang nonchalantly concocted a story on the spot: “It is said that a lake fairy resides in the Xianlei Lake of the capital. If this fairy sheds tears1T/N: The name of the Xianlei [仙泪] Lake literally means “immortal’s tears” [仙 means immortal and 泪 means tears]., it will rain in the capital and if she sneezes, the next day will have a clear sky.”

 

Standing behind Jiuzhu, Zhou Xiao wondered: Was there such a legend about Xianlei Lake?

 

Why had she never heard of it?

 

Hearing ‘Xianlei Lake’, Sun Caiyao was lost in thought. It was at this lake that she pledged her love to His Highness Qi Wang. Wearing robes whiter than snow and standing gracefully beside the lake, he seemed as if he were a banished immortal who had descended into the mortal world that day.

 

“Do you understand what I mean now?” Chen Wang put his hands behind his back and snorted softly: “I praised you as a little fairy but you think I’m cursing you. Ming Xiaozhu, tell me yourself, are you being fair to me?”

 

Jiuzhu thought for a while, then stretched out her hand to pull Chen Wang’s sleeve: “Your Highness, I was wrong ah.” She peeked at Chen Wang, “I will never misunderstand you again.”

 

“Really?” Chen Wang turned his head: “I don’t believe you.”

 

“Really, it’s the truth.” Jiuzhu nodded: “I will believe anything Your Highness says in the future. Sanqing grandpas2T/N: Sanqing or the ‘Three Pure Ones’ [三清] actually refers to the realms where the three highest deities of the Daoist pantheon reside. Yuanshi Tianzun [元始天尊] or the ‘Heavenly Honored of the Primordial Beginning’ is the first of the three and resides in the Yuqing [玉清 – jade purity] realm. He is followed by Lingbao Tianzun [靈寳天尊] or ‘Heavenly Honored of the Numinous Treasure’ who resides in the Shangqing [上清 – highest purity] realm and last but not the least, comes Daode Tianzun [道德天尊] or ‘Heavenly Honored of the Way and the Virtue’ of the Taiqing [太清 – greatest pureness] realm. Click here for more details. Jiuzhu calls them Sanqing grandpas [三清爷爷] because they are all old men especially Daode Tianzun who has all-white hair and a beard. will bear witness to my…”

 

“Hey!” Chen Wang quickly interrupted this little guniang’s oath to the Daoist immortals: “Ben Wang is not a petty man. How could I be angry with you because of such a trivial matter? You merely need to bear in mind that Ben Wang called you a little fairy today.”

 

“Oh.” Jiuzhu nodded: “I’ll remember that.”

 

Looking at her pair of shiny eyes, Chen Wang couldn’t help but feel that this little guniang was actually quite adorable despite being a little silly. Her round eyes, little mouth, arched eyebrows, and even the hair bun on the head were much more adorable than any other family’s little guniang.

 

“Are you here to choose spices?” Chen Wang noticed the shop behind her: “There is a female official in Mother Consort’s Palace who is good at blending scents. What kind of spices do you like? I will ask her to make one for you. The raw materials needed for it are not exquisite enough outside the Imperial Palace, so the fragrance might get a bit off.”

 

Jiuzhu was afraid that he would really send off a command, so she quickly shook her head and refused: “Zhou jiejie and I were merely passing by. I’m not used to fragrance or incense, so I’m prone to sneezing at the smell.”

 

No wonder she stood at the entrance sneezing non-stop, Chen Wang thought to himself. Before Ming Xiaozhu marries into the residence, he must throw out all of those lest he had to listen to her sneezing all day long.

 

“Alright, Ben Wang is relieved to hear that.” Chen Wang seemed to have finally discovered Zhou Xiao standing behind Jiuzhu and nodded to her slightly. Without waiting for Zhou Xiao to greet him in return, he turned his gaze back to Jiuzhu and fished out the two silver banknotes: “Buy whatever you like, don’t let yourself feel wronged.”

 

Your future husband is rich.

 

Chen Wang added these words in his heart.

 

“Your Highness, I have money.” Jiuzhu patted her pouch: “The Department of the Palace delivered this month’s salary two days ago.”

 

Chen Wang put the banknotes back with some regret. It was he who forgot that Ming Xiaozhu was now a xianzhu with a monthly salary.

 

“Your Highness.” Jiuzhu still hadn’t forgotten the picture of a snowscape she wished to gift Chen Wang. She stood on tiptoes and whispered to him: “I’m about to complete painting the snowscape. I’ll bring it to you when the Ministry of Rites is on break.”

 

Chen Wang turned silent for a moment: “Alright.”

 

Jiuzhu cheered up: “Then Your Highness should hurry up and attend to your matters, don’t delay.”

 

Mounting his horse, an issue popped up in Chen Wang’s mind. What kind of methods should he use to maintain Ming Jiuzhu’s confidence in her painting skills?

 

Would it be too much to make a deer out of a horse3Make a deer out of a horse [指鹿为马] – It is an idiom that means making a deliberate misrepresentation.?

 

After Chen Wang left, Zhou Xiao pulled Jiuzhu’s arm: “Meimei can also paint?” “

 

“A little.” Jiuzhu gave her a modest smile: “It’s just that His Highness is quite fond of my paintings.”

 

“You are a member of the Ming family so it’s natural for you to be good at painting. My father once said that Assistant Minister Ming is also a good painter, but unfortunately, he paints solely for your esteemed mother. Sometimes when paintings claimed to be made by your esteemed father are spread around, he denies them wholly.” Zhou Xiao thought for a while; she was not surprised by Jiuzhu’s expertise in painting: “Seeing that His Highness Chen Wang likes your paintings so much, it appears that you have inherited your esteemed father’s talent very well, even outshining him.”

 

“Jiejie’s praise is absurd, how can my paintings compare with Father’s!” Jiuzhu sighed: “It’s a pity but Mother said that the Ming family’s paintings can only be given to family members and lovers. It will bring bad luck if we went against the ancestor’s instructions, otherwise I would have definitely drawn something for jiejie.”

 

Hearing this, Zhou Xiao also felt deeply regretful: “It’s indeed a pity but the rules set by the ancestors must not be transgressed.”

 

“It’s not like Zhou jiejie has no opportunity though. When you and sixth brother Fu…” Jiuzhu covered her mouth and giggled: “Jiejie will soon be my family.”

 

“So you were waiting for me to say this!” Flushed and annoyed, Zhou Xiao laughed, “Who taught you to be so mischievous?”

 

After speaking, she reached out to poke Jiuzhu’s cheek.

 

Jiuzhu covered her face and rushed off. Finally the two entered the carriage and sat down, giggling loudly.

 

Listening to the sound of laughter coming from the carriage, Sun Caiyao couldn’t help doubting her dream again.

 

Was Ming Jiuzhu really as shrewd and ruthless as she dreamed?

 

“Guniang, do you still want this box of secluded orchid fragrances?” An attendant came out holding a small box.

 

Sun Caiyao came back to her senses. She took the decorated wooden box containing the spices, and let her maid pay the attendant.

 

“Many thanks, guniang. Please patronize us next time too.” The attendant returned to the shop with a beam.

 

“Young Miss.” The servant girl asked carefully: “Are you certain that Ning Fei niangniang really likes the fragrance of orchids?”

 

Sun Caiyao nodded unhurriedly, and handed the spices to the servant girl: “After returning, ignite the spices, smoke the new clothes to be taken along to Qi Wang’s residence.” She remembered clearly that the Ning Fei in her dream liked orchids the most.

 

“Ning Fei niangniang is gentle and kind. Why does Young Miss need to change the fragrance you are used to, for such a trivial matter?” The maid continued in a low voice: “Young Miss is wronged too much by this.”

 

“What wronged? A married couple is not different; they are one and the same.”

 

Sun Caiyao looked at the box of spices in the maid’s hand: “When I marry into Qi Wang’s residence, I will naturally become Qi Wangfei. If I can win my mother-in-law’s favor, I will be able to manage the residence like a tiger that has grown wings.”

 

It was tough to be a female member of the Imperial family but as the daughter of the Sun family, she would surely give her utmost to become the best Wangfei.

 

Chen Wang came to the Ministry of Works not for getting some important document or anything of that sort, but for prompting the workers. The end of the year was approaching and the entrance of the Ministry of Rites had not yet been repainted. The dried-up and dead flowers and plants also needed to be replaced. Bearing the hopes of all the officials of the Ministry of Rites, he stepped into the Ministry of Works.

 

Hearing the arrival of Chen Wang, the Minister of Works’ head began to ache: “This official is feeling somewhat unwell today, so have Assistant Minister Wu go and greet His Highness Chen Wang.”

 

“Lord.” An official reminded in a low voice: “Assistant Minister Wu left the capital for providing disaster relief the day before yesterday.”

 

The Minister of Works rubbed his temples and stood up: “He cannot be slighted, welcome him properly. I’ll be there right away.”

 

Wu Mian was Huai Wang’s father-in-law so being closely related to the imperial family, he was the perfect candidate to welcome Chen Wang. But unfortunately, this most suitable candidate had gone outside the capital for disaster relief.

 

Could it be that his arrival today was the purpose behind Chen Wang’s recommendation of Wu Mian for disaster relief?

 

Thinking of this, the Minister of Works suddenly realized: no wonder Chen Wang would take the initiative to fight in favor of Huai Wang’s father-in-law. It was actually to take advantage of the Ministry of Works more easily!

 

He should have understood long ago that even the tips of the imperial family’s hearts were dark and sinister; they had no intention of doing good to others.

 

“Good day ah, Lords.” Chen Wang wasn’t familiar with the officials of the Ministry of Works, so he exempted them from the salutations, and directly took out the blueprint for the renovation of the Ministry of Rites. He spread it in front of the officials and said: “Ben Wang came here to discuss the renovation plan of the Ministry of Rites with everyone. Lords, come and take a look at the blueprint.”

 

Discuss?

 

The officials of the Ministry of Works looked at the blueprint and were suddenly left speechless. Everything was specified in the blueprint, including what flowers were to be planted and the number of flower pots required. Even the sizes of the flower pots were clearly noted.

 

Could this be called a mere discussion anymore? 

 

The Minister of Works took a look at the blueprint and said with a smile: “Your Highness, didn’t the Ministry of Rites just receive a new batch of tables, chairs and windows a few days ago?”

 

“Ben Wang remembers that. So there is no mention of tables, chairs and windows in this blueprint.” Chen Wang leaned back in his chair, and said righteously: “Look carefully, is it there?”

 

The Minister of Works: “……”

 

Then, did he have to thank this prince for his simplicity and frugality?

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1T/N: The name of the Xianlei [仙泪] Lake literally means “immortal’s tears” [仙 means immortal and 泪 means tears].2T/N: Sanqing or the ‘Three Pure Ones’ [三清] actually refers to the realms where the three highest deities of the Daoist pantheon reside. Yuanshi Tianzun [元始天尊] or the ‘Heavenly Honored of the Primordial Beginning’ is the first of the three and resides in the Yuqing [玉清 – jade purity] realm. He is followed by Lingbao Tianzun [靈寳天尊] or ‘Heavenly Honored of the Numinous Treasure’ who resides in the Shangqing [上清 – highest purity] realm and last but not the least, comes Daode Tianzun [道德天尊] or ‘Heavenly Honored of the Way and the Virtue’ of the Taiqing [太清 – greatest pureness] realm. Click here for more details. Jiuzhu calls them Sanqing grandpas [三清爷爷] because they are all old men especially Daode Tianzun who has all-white hair and a beard. 3Make a deer out of a horse [指鹿为马] – It is an idiom that means making a deliberate misrepresentation.