Little Cardamom

1.2 – Marquis’s Mansion

The taller person did not even think about it and quickly talked back: “The cousin is living in the marquis’s house; the marquis will also have a bright future; how can we not care? Perhaps after today, people will fly up to the top of the branch and move to Changyu Street.”

Because of these words, there appeared to be a sudden cold wind blowing through the busy East Garden corridor.

Everyone in the capital knows that there is only one residence on Changyu Street.

The one who lives inside is not an existence that can be mentioned by anyone at the big display.

The two Mamas, who had ignored these arguments, suddenly stopped their steps, turned around, and sternly rebuked: “What are you talking about! The one in Changyu Street is also something you can talk about? Who gave you the guts to talk nonsense here!”

The maids jumped in shock, knowing that they had said the wrong thing, and held their breath, their heads hanging down to their toes. The maid who just mentioned Changyu Street was even more frightened and pale, the sandalwood drawer in her hand was shaking and shaking.

“…… someone mentioned Changyu Street, the two mamas got very angry. After following through the East Garden, the servant girl is afraid of being discovered, and does not dare to follow anymore.”

In the Feng He courtyard, Shen Hua stood in front of the window of the main house, listening to her personal maidservant report the results of following and eavesdropping.

After listening, the corner of her lips curled upward, looking in the direction of the Zhao Shui courtyard, and a trace of contempt emerged in the bottom of her eyes that did not quite match her usual gentleness.

“So this lady is not gentle, not beautiful, not as talented as her, and she is not treating you well enough. Oh, this lady’s brother is also not as brave and good at fighting as General Shen, and his future is not good enough.”

In Zhaoshui courtyard, Ming Tan sat at the table with her chin in her hands, slowly and methodically repeating.

Yin Sheng tea’s fragrance is soft and light. It is hidden in the aroma of the breakfast spread and seems to be absent. The fair and transparent face, like jade, is hidden behind the mist risen from the boiling water to make tea, which is also somewhat unclear.

“The jerk with a broken mouth, Miss, should not take it to heart. Miss’s appearance and temperament are outstanding among the girls in the capital.”

The young girl who answered back told the whole set and now had to change the subject to remedy the situation: “By the way, Miss, the things sent by the madam, the servant girl has checked them out. This year, how about wearing these clothes to the palace?”

Lu’e specialises in clothing at the Zhaoshui courtyard, and has some knowledge of how to match clothes and jewelry. In a short while, she talked about the white fox silver satin full embroidered cloak, going from the word “Tan” deliberately engraved on the jade hairpin.

After finishing everything without seeing a response, Lu’e couldn’t help but raise her eyes and steal a glance: “Miss?” Her voice was a bit more cautious.

Su Xin, who served the meal, filled a bowl of porridge and put it in front of Ming Tan, and also helped to remind: “Miss, you have to look at the clothes.”

Ming Tan looked up and scanned the drawer in Lue’s hand: “Just this one, whatever you wear is the same.”

Then, she changed her hand holding her chin and fiddled with the porcelain spoon in the congee bowl with her free hand.

The fifth night has just begun. She is wearing a pearly white flower embroidered bedclothes, with a soft fox overcoat, and a cascade of green silk falling from her waist, with only a loose strand of hair resting uneasily on her thin cheeks.

Not knowing what she was thinking of, her raven-feather like eyelashes twitched from time to time, seemingly in response to the flickering candle flame reflected on the wall of the bowl, looking a bit like a beautiful girl with elegant charm.

Unfortunately, the appetite of the beauty is not good at this time. The heat of a bowl of white porridge dissipated but it did not even move twice.

Seeing her like this, Su Xin, who has always said little, could not help but advise: “White porridge is good for the stomach, Miss it is better to have some more, you have to go to the palace today.”

The palace banquet rules are big, not so comfortable than dining at home. Su Xin also has good intentions. But not mentioning anything is fine, but mentioning going to the palace, Ming Tang felt even more worried in her heart.

Usually, there was no palace banquet in the past. In the end, the reason for this special palace banquet is obvious to all the noble families. The palace still wanted to cover up. Even she, who has a marriage contract, must also go to the banquet.

If it were usual, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to join in the fun, but now she’s full of thoughts about her fiancé and his cousin having an illegitimate child!

Although this matter is concealed tightly, and even the personal maid does not know, but the illegitimate child has already reached two years old, jumping around and calling out to his father. No matter how the marriage will end up, it will become the ironclad evidence that the little Miss Ming was abandoned by her fiancé.

The thought that this marriage, which was the envy of everyone in the past and which she was quite proud of, would most likely end in an undignified way, made Ming Tan feel that the silver coals in the charcoal pot were burning her internal organs, and that the white porridge, which had lost its heat, was freezing from the throat all the way to the bottom of her heart.

“Not eating.” She was distracted, and put down the porcelain spoon, got up and went to the inner room.

Su Xin looked at her back and sighed, and did not advise more. She instructed the maids to remove the breakfast table, which was barely touched.

“What’s wrong with Miss these days? If she thinks those maids are talking unpleasantly behind her back, she should report to the madam and have them sent away, instead of not even looking at her clothes.”

The lady of the family is most concerned about dressing up, and every time she goes out, she must be exquisite from her hair to the pattern of her shoes. No wonder Lu’e was suspicious and came close to Su Xin to whisper in her ears.

Su Xin didn’t know either: “I asked when I was on duty yesterday, but the lady didn’t say anything, maybe she just wanted to be quiet. Alright, I’ll go to the kitchen to simmer a bowl of shredded chicken porridge. Before entering the palace, the lady must pad her stomach, and you are not allowed to bother her.”

Su Xin is a little older and calm, so she is most valued by Ming Tan. Lu’e flattened her mouth, and did not dare to retort. She only twisted the silk ribbon around her waist and watched Su Xin go out.

But when Su Xin’s figure disappeared outside the door, she immediately turned back and gingerly entered the inner room.

The inner room of the Zhaoshui courtyard is elegantly and exquisitely decorated, from the large flower carved couch to the small snow and silver crochet, everything can say something about the origin, and the incense for different seasons and different weathers also has a different kind of detail.

Today there is a light pear incense smoked inside, which seems to be absent, fresh and sweet and slightly cold. Ming Tan is sitting in front of the dressing table, still half-supporting her head, a look of laziness that can not fight the energy.

“Miss, slave servant continue to comb your hair, okay?” Lu’e asked cautiously as she came forward.

When Ming Tan did not answer, she took it as a tacit acknowledgement. While holding the horn comb to comb Ming Tan’s hair, she thought she was being considerate and said, “Miss is bothered by the fact that the cousin girl is also going to the palace today? Don’t worry, Miss, what is the status of that Master, and how will he be interested in cousin girl. Even if he did, with her family background, she can barely be a side concubine, how can she compare with you? Miss, in the future, you will be the official wife of the Prince of State.”

Ming Tan: “……”

“Besides, our Prince has a good appearance and excellent literary skills, who in the whole capital city does not envy you and the Prince, a natural couple!”

This phrase Lu’e pressed extremely low, but with that proud tone, Ming Tan heard it simply like a needle in the ear.

Who wants to be paired with that shameless man? Not even worthy of her!

She was afraid that if this girl said a few more words, she would vomit blood out of anger, so she closed her eyes and raised her hand to signal to stop: “Bring the mirror.”

Lue didn’t know what she said was wrong, but her brain was quick to turn, and she quickly took down the small bronze mirror. She also changed her tune and stood aside to praise Ming Tan’s fallen geese and sunken fish beauty.

Ming Tan looked at the person in the mirror carefully, but didn’t answer. It’s just that from the corners of her lips that are gradually raised, it’s easy to see that she is very satisfied with the praise of Lu’e.

——This girl Lue’s outrageous words and deeds often pierce her heart, but there is one sentence that is right: with such a face, she can use it for a few more bowls of rice.

After looking at herself in the mirror for a while, her anger from the day also inexplicably subsided, and there was only one thought in her mind: how is this lady so beautiful!

TRANSLATOR’S CORNER:
I am not a native speaker of either Chinese or English. I basically MTL and edit the text, sometimes I also use some sites for reference. I can’t guarantee that everything here is accurate, but I try to stick to the author’s work as much as possible. Please feel to comment any mistakes