Chapter 22

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Author: Xiao Yao

Chapter 21 – Title – Chapter 23

“You’ve worked hard, there was no need to trouble yourself.”

Su-gonggong’s complexion remained calm, and she couldn’t see if he was serious or not, but Hui Ming upon hearing this absolutely insisted: “I originally owe you for taking care of me for a long time, but I have troubled you for the sake of Wang-momo, I don’t have anything decent, merely this garment that I can show my appreciation with, so by all means do not refuse.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Fortunately, Su-gonggong perhaps was able to see her sincerity, so although he said that, after hearing this, he nevertheless nodded and took a few steps forward, he took off his hood and cloak, then immediately tried the clothes she had brought.

Seeing Su-gonggong accept, Hui Ming’s heart also relaxed, and because it was an inner garment, for it to properly fit she deliberately added a few more button knots, then as she watched Su-gonggong having an inconvenient time as he fastened them one by one, it was very natural for her to come forward and help him tie each button.

Not expecting Hui Ming to suddenly come forward, Su Jin’s movements suddenly stilled, although his fingers were still slowly moving, he still failed to fasten the button he had been tying for a while now, luckily Hui Ming’s head was lowered as she buckled each from the bottom up, but didn’t notice this for the moment.

Su Jin vigorously blinked his eyes and slightly looked down, the little girl stood in front of him with her head down to help him fasten the buttons, they were not more than half an arm apart, and their thick clothes clearly separated them, but her slender fingers seemed to directly brush his chest, and with every button, the nimbleness of the dragonfly would lightly touch the water1, leaving behind ripples, it was hot and itchy as it endlessly went on, making his heart beat like a drum, astonishing him, so much so that it somewhat worried him that she would hear this.

Consequently, when Hui Ming looked up again, she saw Su-gonggong’s tightly pursed lips, she didn’t know if she misread it, but his expression appeared especially solemn.

Hui Ming was taken aback: “What’s wrong? Is it not suitable?”

Up until Hui Ming left his chest, that’s when Su Jin imperceptibly stepped back, and owing to Hui Ming’s distance, like a drum roll the beating of his heart gradually subsided.

Seeing the worry on Hui Ming’s face, Su Jin lowered his head and coughed lightly, his voice seeming to have become hoarse: “No, it feels very comfortable”

Hui Ming carefully stared, she felt that this statement of Su-gonggong’s did not seem to be false, although it was a little indescribable, she was relieved, and explained: “I made it a bit tighter thinking that when it gets colder, Gonggong can wear it inside your robe without it appearing cumbersome, if Gonggong is uncomfortable, I will loosen it a bit more.”

“No, no need.” Su Jin felt that warmth seemed to spread all over his body from the inner garment, and heat roved everywhere filling his heart from the pit of his stomach, after a long while, the words that he could say was only a calm line: “I’ve troubled you with such thoughts.”

Hui Ming didn’t feel that this was anything special, so she just smiled and said, “Where can I, compared to your kindness in saving Wang-momo’s life, I merely made you a garment, and also used the mink fur that you sent to offer as a present, it’s really not worth mentioning.”

Having brought up Wang-momo, Su Jin’s mind seemed to be abruptly pulled away from the confusion that he was just in, then he gently stroked the ruyi on the side of his waist, and just calmly asked, “How is Wang-momo’s health?”

“I just went to see her today, she could already be considered as doing great, as for hereafter, she’s already old, so she just has to slowly recuperate.”

“I heard the female physician say that it had been delayed for quite a long time.” Su Jin walked to the table, and put down some tea cups, while Hui Ming habitually went and slowly added the tea leaves: “I haven’t seen you speak about this before, when did you become nominal kin with Wang-momo? If this had been known earlier, the situation wouldn’t have been this difficult.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

When this matter was mentioned, Hui Ming’s words became slightly frenetic: “This, it’s been a long time…”

This was impossible, Su Jin’s action of pouring the water didn’t stop, but his thoughts were like a mirror without a speck of dust, because regardless of Hui Ming’s every action in the past five years, he had observed them all, and even if he really overlooked this, with Hui Ming’s temperament, if she really recognized this nominal kinship, she would not be so careless as to only know to ask for help when this illness had already caused this Momo’s life to hang by a thread.

Su Jin turned around and slightly raised his head only to see the helplessness in her eyes, although he was fully aware that the other person was telling a lie, he actually couldn’t bear to make things difficult for her anymore, so at the moment, he just passed over this nominal kinship matter, then lifted his hand as he poured the hot water and handed it to her: “It’s not early anymore, having tea will make you sleepless, just drink a cup of hot water to warm up.”

Although it wasn’t something major, but lying to Su-gonggong still made Hui Ming feel a little uneasy and ashamed, so in response she quickly got up, took it with both hands, making use of the opportunity of bowing her head to drink the water and conceal the shameful look on her face.

Hui Ming did not speak, so Su-gonggong also calmly sat by the side without talking, and the room momentarily became silent, after a long while, Hui Ming couldn’t bear the awkwardness anymore, and took the initiative to open her mouth: “His Majesty is resting in Concubine Xian’s Palace, will Gonggong go to Wan Xi Palace later to accompany the emperor?”

Su-gonggong shook his head: “Having taken the task he had assigned, His Majesty ordered me not to follow him all the time, it’s much more important to concentrate on the late empress’ death anniversary, it’s already late, so I won’t go anymore, I’ll just go serve early tomorrow morning.”

Hui Ming lowered her head again when she heard this: “Leaving such an important matter to you, it can clearly be seen that His Majesty really feels assured in Gonggong’s ability…”

Su-gonggong paused when he heard this, then his voice suddenly lowered a bit, and he just modestly denied, “It’s nothing.”

Hearing Su-gonggong not wanting to speak about it in details, Hui Ming knew that she ought to hold her tongue, but thinking about how she hit the wall2 with Xu-momo two days ago, Hui Ming who had no other way paused for a while then clenched her teeth and continued to ask: “Speaking about this is also strange, it’s clear that it would be more convenient for the Masters inside the palace, why did His Majesty appoint it to you?”

After Hui Ming finished speaking, she saw Su-gonggong look up at herself after hearing her words, without saying anything, his appearance was unclear in the dim light, but that peach blossom eyes were exceptionally bright, looking at her without hiding anything.

Hui Ming’s heart panicked, and she was reminded of Xu-momo’s words “It’s about the late empress, the reason cannot be told to just anyone”, she couldn’t help tighten her palms, and just felt that Su-gonggong’s silence and gaze was aptly confirming the term “anyone.”

Indeed, who was she, how could she be this meddlesome?

“I have talked too much, hope that Gonggong doesn’t blame.” Having thought of this, Hui Ming promptly spoke, but her face was flushed with embarrassment, were it not for the several decades of face she had for support, she wouldn’t have even been able to say this.

But when Hui Ming was pondering whether it was time for her to withdraw, Su-gonggong recovered, as if he saw her embarrassed predicament, and yet again shook his head: “Why would I, this couldn’t be counted as something that cannot be mentioned, it’s merely an old matter, I’m just afraid you will find it uninteresting.”

“How is that possible? I was just afraid that I had acted in a muddle and asked something that shouldn’t be asked…” Hui Ming loosened her clenched palm, and before she could feel happy for Su-gonggong’s willingness to talk, her mind unexpectedly thought about another thing that Xu-momo said:

“If Su Jin doesn’t treat you as an outsider, he would naturally be willing to tell you.”

So… with Su-gonggong willing to tell her at this moment, does he not take her as an outsider?

No, this isn’t it. Hui Ming quickly shook her head, from her point of view, if anything, compared to being intimidated by people, the most alarming and difficult matter to bear was her own cautiousness, treating the other person with disdain and contempt for a long time, just before the person involved had settled and informed her that in fact, he had no intentions towards her at all, it was merely her own wishful thinking.

When Su-gonggong sent her away in her last life, he especially called Yuan Bao to explain to her, so much so that Hui Ming would still flush red with embarrassment and shame when she recalled it even now, and this one experience should have been enough, enough to keep her thoughts from indulging in flights of fancy, so conversely her mind turned towards this explanation.

Maybe, it’s just that Su-gonggong had a gentle temperament, because she had asked, it wasn’t good to refuse?

Only, having recognized that Song-gugu was no longer the confused and ignorant Song Hui Ming, even if she gave such an explanation to herself, a faint thought nevertheless still couldn’t help creep out:

With Su-gonggong’s status, them having only once met five years ago, does it warrant things being this way?

Because of the incessant turmoil in her heart and complicated thoughts in her mind, when Su-gonggong started to talk, Hui Ming couldn’t even manage to react to those hidden connotations, and it was not until she came back to her senses, then heard Su-gonggong’s words, that she suddenly realized the weight of it——

“The late empress is also surnamed Su, when my family hasn’t been convicted, and I… had also not yet entered the palace as a slave, I would pay a formal visit to Empress Qi Sheng Chun in private, sometimes overstepping the rule, and would call her aunt3, His Majesty ordered me to offer the sacrifice, merely viewing it as us being blood related.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES:

1. 蜻蜓点水: lit. the dragonfly touches the water lightly; idiom; superficial contact. ↩

2. 碰壁: to hit a brick wall; to hit a snag; to have the door slammed in one’s face. ↩

3. 姑母: his father’s sister or his paternal aunt. ↩

If there are any mistakes, please do not hesitate to point it out.

Chapter 21 – Title – Chapter 23

❀.(*´◡`*)❀. °˖✧°˖✧° ˖✧°˖✧° ❀.(*´◡`*)❀.

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