Chapter 23

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Author: Xiao Yao

Chapter 22 – Title – Chapter 24

Having recovered, Hui Ming couldn’t help taking a deep breath, although she had earlier known about the status and honor of the Mansion of the Duke of Zhen1, she really did not expect that it was the late empress’ maternal home! Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

No, it should be said that it had never occurred to her that the previous empress’ maternal home would be searched and their possessions confiscated then sentenced to death by beheading, that in the whole family only Su Jin, Su-gonggong was left!

Hui Ming’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth opened and closed several times, but nevertheless couldn’t say anything for a while.

The first empress passed away early, at that time she was still young and didn’t know the situation, however she clearly remembered the moment when His Highness the Crown Prince died of an illness, it was three years ago, at that time the death knell echoed in the entire palace, and His Majesty ignored the political affairs in the imperial court for a month, even a little palace maid such as her who had just entered the palace needed to be in mourning clothes, weeping in memorial to the dead both morning and evening, occasionally those few ignorant palace maids that displayed a bit of happy laughter in their appearances, would all be ruthlessly lambasted by the momo-in-charge, that after being beaten, their face would be filled with sadness.

His Majesty’s deep affection and memory towards the first mother empress was clearly visible throughout the whole palace, and towards the late crown prince, His Majesty’s heart was also filled with devotion and sorrow, so as the maternal home of Empress Qi Sheng Chun, the grandparents of the late crown prince, such honorable status of being the emperor’s relatives what great sin was it that they could not be absolved? Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Such a big matter, why was it that not one person in the palace knew about it? Even though Su-gonggong, was already heavily trusted by His Majesty inside the palace at such a young age, only a few old people in the palace knew that he was an official slave, but no one mentioned that he was actually the son of Empress Qi Shi Chun’s brother, and the cousin of the late crown prince!

Su Jin could naturally see the shocked look on Hui Ming’s face, he sat quietly finishing the warm tea in his hand, the weather was cold so the tea had already gone cold, and it became colder as he drank, even though he was facing Hui Ming he was using all his effort to control himself, but it couldn’t be helped that this coldness had also caused his countenance to darken.

This kind of Su-gonggong was enough to frighten witless the servants outside, but contrarily when Hui Ming saw this, she nevertheless couldn’t help but get up and take a step forward, she steeped another cup of hot tea and gave it to him, holding back the distress that emerged in her heart, and apologized: “Pardon me, I shouldn’t have asked.”

Su Jin’s hand slightly moved and took the cup of tea, he was trying his best to stay calm, but the voice that came out when he spoke was slightly low and hoarse: “It doesn’t matter.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

After that, because Su Jin didn’t want the other person to see his mood, he just turned around and looked at the sky outside: “It’s getting late, I’ll ask Yuan Bao to send you back.”

Seeing Su-gonggong not wanting to show weakness in front of her, Hui Ming also resisted with difficulty the fluctuations in her heart, and merely shook her head as if nothing had happened: “It’s just a few steps, no need.”

Su Jin hearing this, nonetheless still insisted: “Then take the lantern, it was snowing just a moment ago, it’s unknown which portion had frozen over, carefully watch at where you’re going.”

To go as far as remember to ask her to bring a light even when he was like this? Hui Ming’s heart softened, the more she interacted with him, the more she felt that Su-gonggong was not as ruthless as what people say, so much so that he was more extraordinarily gentle and meticulous, a person such as this, what kind of stuff blinded her, that she actually thought that Su-gonggong was an evil person using his status to oppress others?

Thinking better of it, Hui Ming regretted and blamed herself, and she resolutely made up her mind again, thus did not turn it down this time, after thanking him, she took the lantern and turned away. Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Yuan Bao sent Hui Ming out the door, then once again turned back towards the room, as if perceiving that his master was in a bad mood, he lowered his head and carefully reported, “About the Hall of Calm Fragrance, this one asked about it today, they all said that they had never seen Hui Ming-gugu before, and have never heard of Wang-momo having nominal kinship inside the palace.”

Su Jin looked down and held the warm cup of tea in his hand, and said nothing.

Yuan Bao who was standing on the side originally wanted to take the initiative and ask if he wanted for him to go back and properly investigate, but in a flash, thinking of the lessons he learned from his mistakes in the past few days, he changed his mind and well-behavedly closed his mouth, just waiting for Master’s command.

Sure enough, he didn’t wait long, and he heard the master faintly speak: “Since they are nominal kin, you should just tell Zheng Ge Guang to take more care of those in the Hall of Calm Fragrance in the future.”

Su Jin slightly lowered his eyes, a gentleman’s love extended to the crows in that persons house2, yet right now he had already abandoned himself, he was an unscrupulous incomplete person, he was no longer a man of virtue, but when it came to her, only towards her, Su Jin however still hoped that he could be like as if he had not fallen, to be able to stand magnanimous, clean and dignified, without even the slightest shadow of evil thoughts.

For his own selfish desires, without permission he placed Hui Ming to serve in front of the emperor, she had to be cautious and solemn, with numerous worries all day long, and because of Wei-shi ordering everyone to isolate her, he already felt sorry for her. Although he didn’t know the reason, since she wanted to save Wang-momo, while he still had some influence, if he could use his strength to meet her needs then that’s good, with him supporting behind her, as long as it was not asking to exploit and defraud others, this achievement and virtue of saving a person’s life, what harm was there in helping her amass such merits? Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Yuan Bao would not have been able to guess what his master was thinking, and hearing what he had said he was merely fortunate to have had his own foresight, and did not act on his own initiative and claim to quietly investigate the facts of Hui Ming-gugu, at this time, he made up his mind even more, that regarding the future matters of Gugu, a word from him was already saying too much, and doing one thing was not doing much, he would just treat himself as an abacus bead, waiting for Master’s command to do things one step at a time, without seeking any meritorious deed, not doing anything won’t let him make any mistakes, right?

While still mulling about it, he heard Su Jin who was sitting down command: “Tomorrow go to the Palace of Eternal Longevity and supervise from the top beams to the floor tiles, every corner should be cleaned and tidied up, from today onwards, there shouldn’t be a trace of dust in the Palace of Eternal Longevity, the six offerings should be freshly enshrined every day and it is not allowed to be interrupted.”

The Palace of Eternal Longevity was the former Kunhe Palace, and also the Late Empress Qi Sheng Chun’s resting place, since the first empress passed away, His Majesty decreed for the gates of the palace to be sealed, only permitting it to be used for mourning and offering sacrifices for the ancestors, also the current name of the Palace of Eternal Longevity, it was the second empress when she was conferred afterwards that had changed it, as it was carrying an inconvenient name.

In matters that had nothing to do with Hui Ming-gugu, Yuan Bao was still fairly clever, hearing this he somewhat hesitatingly said: “It is still a month before the particular day, according to customs, the six offerings are not enshrined until seven days before the anniversary of death…” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

“It doesn’t matter.” Su Jin slightly lowered his eyes, but said very flatly: “I feel that the Palace of Eternal Longevity is too lonely, and I have already presented this to His Majesty this morning, another twenty-four palace servants will be especially assigned to enshrine them, from now on, sprinkling water and powder, also setting up the six offerings, it cannot be interrupted even for a day, I will eventually go to the Palace of Eternal Longevity to see it in person every day.”

In the past, the ritual of offering sacrifices to the late empress was presided over by the current empress and Xin-wangye, admittedly they dared not be perfunctory and slight the ceremony, many ceremonial sacrifices were done in accordance with the rules, although they were not bad at all, they were also not in the least bit in excess, and did not add any special extravagance, now that Master was involved in it, it was as if the previous empress was still inside the Palace of Eternal Longevity, dispatching palace servants to worship and sprinkle water and sweep the floor every day—

There was nothing wrong with emphasizing the importance of the previous empress’ death anniversary, but to bluntly say to His Majesty about the favored empress, that the Palace of Eternal Longevity was desolate and lonely, this was almost equivalent to glaringly hitting the face of the current empress.

Master, this is blatantly making it difficult to the current empress and Xin-wangye…

Yuan Bao somewhat fearfully shrank his neck, then submissively responded “Yes.”

Su Jin seemed to see his fear, and he merely pulled the corners of his mouth in a smile yet not a smile, the said unpredictably, “Why, are you afraid?” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

Yuan Bao panicked, facing Su Jin he didn’t dare to deceive, only knelt down and pleaded: “This small one is useless.”

“What are you afraid of?” Su Jin slowly stood up, his tone of voice was still methodical and unhurried, but like the cold winter wind, even if the doors and windows were closed, the feeling of coldness squeezed in from the small gaps: “Don’t worry, with His Majesty around, he can’t raise any waves, even if His Majesty passes away, as long as I am still here, Xin-wang will not be able to sit on the imperial throne, and it will not be his turn to settle any accounts.”

Even knowing that there were no others around, Yuan Bao couldn’t help but feel a little worried after hearing such a rebellious remark, so he first turned and looked outside the door, then when he saw that there was no one around, he closed the door tightly and bowed again, he took the tea cup in Su Jin’s hand, and he exceedingly became more respectful: “Master is right.” Please read at insidethemirror translations. DO NOT REPOST.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES:

1. 镇国公: Duke who Guards the State ↩

2. 爱屋及乌: lit. love the house and its crow (idiom); involvement with sb and everyone connected ↩

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

Chapter 22 – Title – Chapter 24

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

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