The hour of hai[1]. The Palace. Sixth prince’s study.
Zhongzheng Lin finished writing the memorial. He slowly walked toward the window to watch the mottled shadows of threes and the far-away sky, which appeared to be gloomy due to the coming rain. There were no stars shining, only large and dark clouds. The air also felt stuffy.
Very good. It matched well with the scenery. A storm was approaching……
In a place nearby table, Wei Zhen was quietly giving a report about information gathered by secret agents[2]. His gaze laid upon his Highness who was standing there upright, with hands behind his back. As his Highness didn’t interrupt him nor ask questions he knew his Highness has already made up his mind.
Zhongzheng Lin listened to Wei Zhen’s reports while musing about the situation in imperial court. He felt a strong necessity to fall ill after this case with the provincial governor of Qingzhou was completely finished, to avoid the coming storm. It didn’t make sense to do all crown prince’s work and then rush to him to act as his shield.
Even though the crown prince overpowered the first prince in Qingzhou’s case, but none of them were doormats. The first prince suffered a defeat this time simply because he was framed. Any perceptive person could see who was standing behind Zhongzheng Lin’s back.
Based on the first prince Zhong Zheng Chun’s temper, he will certainly use any possible means to exact revenge later on. Crown prince had too many suspicious private matters. It was impossible to cover them all and get away with it.
Zhongzheng Lin didn’t fear the intimidation of others. If the first prince, in the heat of the moment, stopped by to make a fuss, even better. It would just make Yuanchen emperor see, how much was his obedient son wronged for running crown prince’s errand.
However, it was necessary to instruct the spies planted in each residence to cease their actions for a while and just monitor.
After finishing matters in the study, chief steward respectfully asked, “Would you like to take a rest in the inner yard, your highness?”
He certainly wasn’t fond of controlling his highness’s inner yard affairs. His Highness left for half a month. Upon arrival, he has rested in the study for two consecutive days. Her ladyship consort Shu has already revealed her dissatisfaction. She was speculating, whether those two concubines were of liking to her son or not.
When she recalled about those two, consort Shu thought that she had exclusively selected them for her son.
Lady Kong was pretty and also physically attractive. Young men loved beauties. They were more willing to be intimate with women possessing an enticing figure. As a consort-mother, she would naturally be glad to see that happen. At this moment, consort Shu wasn’t the tiniest bit worried that her youngest son would indulge himself in lustful desires as Zhongzheng Lin had shown an admirable self-discipline and restraint since he was a child.
On contrary, lady Wu was well-behaved and dutiful. She had a voluptuous figure, ideal for producing children. As a weak-willed person, it was unlikely for her to compete with lady Kong, which would then result in committing misconducts in the inner yard. Such arrangements couldn’t be wrong. Yet, it seemed that things didn’t go the way consort Shu planned. It made her puzzled. Was it possible that…….her son’s taste changed?
Alright, your ladyship. You’re a bright person to start worrying about your son’s preferences so soon. If that person wasn’t special, your son wouldn’t happen to get fooled by demoness Mu Xi Yao. Of course, these were all after stories.
But consort Shu didn’t know. She was still contemplating. With her son’s temperament, she won’t be able to get anything from him. Eventually, she was at her wit’s end. Now, she only looked forward to having a sweet pillow-talk with the emperor, asking him to grace her son with two good-looking maidens from good families. With the increased number of people, there will be naturally someone to attract Zhongzheng Lin’s eyes.
After entering the palace several times to pay a visit, it was inevitable for someone as sharp as Zhongzheng Lin to detect consort Shu’s intention.
Consort Shu of Tian clan was favored. Although she had two sons, due to her eldest son’s ears condition, his future prospects were ruined. Most of the time she felt guilty about the fourth prince. Therefore, she showered him with great care and watched over him all the time. She spoilt and indulged him terribly as a way of compensation.
In the end, consort Shu knew that all of her hopes had to fall on to her younger son’s shoulders. As a result, she placed an extraordinary importance on him. She was affectionate with him as well as being very strict. When Zhongzheng Lin reached the age of six, according to palace protocols, he had to move into the prince’s quarter. Since then, any wind blow and grass stirring[3] would get consort Shu alarmed.
Next year, Zhongzheng Lin was going to hold a coming of age ceremony. His marriage wasn’t far away. After that, he will have to move into his official residence outside the palace. However, his current temper was a tad bit too cold. He had no interest in inner yard. Since he was still residing in the palace, there was consort Shu to make arrangements behind the shadows, so he would once in a while settle in his concubine’s chamber. When he will move out of the palace and establish his own estate, she won’t be able to do anything. As this residence will have its righteous princess consort, consort Shu won’t be able to freely meddle with her son’s inner courtyard’s affairs. By that time, if princess consort wouldn’t be able to attain her son’s favor and furthermore let him stay disinterested, what was she to do then?
The imperial family put a great importance into producing offsprings, so much that…….the more consort Shu thought, the more anxious she became. She even started to seriously scheme about her son’s marriage. Back then, when the fourth prince was getting married, she has asked him about his wishes beforehand and then bestowed him the marriage with the one he was fond of.
Now, it was sixth prince’s turn to pick consort. She must be carefully selected. This extraordinary woman must not become his hindrance. Consort Shu began to attentively recollect which maidens from prestigious and aristocratic families in the capital could still catch up with the next selection.
Listening to Tian Fushan’s deliberate mention of inner yard, Zhongzheng Lin assumed that it was consort Shu’s idea. In the end, he was a filial son. Moreover, he hasn’t entered the inner yard for a month. He couldn’t say that he was without any urges. After a moment of silence, he raised his foot and walked in the direction of the inner yard.
His steps were steady. Whenever he thought about going to the concubine’s chamber, he felt a lack of interest. Then, recalling about the usual manners of those two concubines of his, even that little urge he had gradually faded away.
Lady Kong’s powder scent was too heavy, making her extremely vulgar. Although her body was enticing, as soon as she opened her mouth, she became very unlikable. Moreover, her pretentiousness offended his eyes.
The other concubine, lady Wu, was even worse. Zhongzheng Ling felt irritated just by seeing her. Even if someone was to beat her, she was unlikely to utter a word. She resembled a wooden pole when she stuck in her chamber. Furthermore, her personality was timid and fearful. Zhongzheng Lin who was already indifferent, being put in the same room with lady Wu, even more, didn’t feel like talking.
Wei Zhen, who was following him, noticed the sudden cold air emitting from his highness. It took him a moment to realize why. By the second gateway, he excused himself and retired. Just based on his highness’s complexion, Wei Zhen was able to guess that his highness was unhappy.
Later on, when his master demanded water, Wei Zhen would need to return and prepare it. He assigned two guards by the doorway, to carry on their night duties. After his highness was finished, they were to light the lamps.
In the end, Zhongzheng Lin still entered lady Kong’s quarter.
The man’s face darkened after seeing the people that came out to make greetings. The enticing figure of lady Kong was wasted on her. Her basis was too poor, incapable of sustaining that gracefulness and allure. Watching the woman, who was shaking like a leaf, appear before him to bow and pay him a respect, made Zhongzheng Lin feel annoyed.
Suddenly, he recalled one graceful silhouette. Soon after he felt it was absurd and suppressed this strange feeling.
After entering the chamber, Zhongzheng Lin directly ordered: “Settle.”
He may as well not give lady Kong any opportunity to annoy him.
“Yes, your highness.” Lady Kong raised the pitch of her voice, replying in seven twists and eight turns[4].
Zhongzheng Lin was displeased. For the first time ever, he frowned.
Lady Kong felt wronged. Any sensible man ought to know that she was showing a discreet gentleness and extreme shyness! Yet, his sixth highness was as steady as Mount Tai, not reacting to her moves at all.
Ever since being bestowed to sixth prince’s inner yard, this was the first time lady Kong saw his highness explicitly expressing his mood, a frown nonetheless! It scared her to the extent that her legs went limp. She quickly returned her voice to normal, not daring to speak again. She merely went over and carefully assisted him with freshening up.
Lady Kong was aware that she wasn’t favored. She was already holding back a lot. Moreover, she was still unclear of his highness’s likes. She also felt mad!
There were only two women in the inner yard. She wasn’t favored, that lady Wu was even more so. There was no way to vie for a favor at all. If one was to vie for the favor, there needed to be some competition, right? But, where did his highness’s “love” lie? Without any example and also ways to inquire, lady Kong had no other choice as to carefully serve his highness and secretly take note of his moods.
Lady Kong knew how to be tactful and engage in small talks, but the opposite party was of high rank and too powerful, making people fearful of him.
Zhongzheng Lin’s whole body gave off a cold aura. No matter how many tricks had Lady Kong had up her sleeve, she didn’t have the courage to use them. After both of them undressed, lady Kong turned completely prim, not daring to move. Zhongzheng Lin, with a rigid face, turned to look at the women’s body beneath him. There was no tenderness, only lust in his eyes. He then started to move, satiating his needs.
After slaking his lust, Zhongzheng Lin felt that it wasn’t as satisfying as when he got himself off. Lovemaking between men and women was unnecessary. As per usual, he exited the chamber without using any water. He marched straight to his quarters in the front yard.
If Mu Xiyao knew what Zhongzheng Lin was currently thinking, she would certainly cry with a bitter: “Darn you, beast! Great Boss chooses his dish according to the one who was serving it. He particularly liked to ravish her body with his insatiable appetite.
The following month Zhongzheng Lin reluctantly visited lady Wu’s quarters once. Afterward, he had not entered the inner yard again.
Chief-steward Tian Fushan was bewildered as for how to give a report to consort Shu.
It was impossible for him to tell her that his highness was indifferent in nature and that in this matter he was also indifferent. Usually, the ones attending to his sixth highness were all manservants. The only women that had served him closely were only those two new concubines. His Highness was used to having manservants as he wasn’t fond of maids. Consort Shu also didn’t force him on this matter. To this day, Zhongzheng Lin’s resting quarters were cleaned up daily by Tian Fushan himself. Therefore, those dirty underpants obviously meant that his master would rather relieve his needs by himself than have someone else attending to him.
This was a complicated matter. It was either his highness didn’t like women or that the women in the estate were not to his highness’s liking?
[1] The hour of hai is cca 09-11 PM
#this content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!!!!! May ill omen (like stepping every day on dog poo, losing a wallet every time one goes out, choking by mere water and forever staying as a lonely dog) befall those content stealing jerks. Amen and Peace!
#if possible, please support the original translators by reading the translations from the original source. Thanks
[2] Secret agents are the guards, that were oftentimes selected from orphans (as they don’t have any families). They underwent secret training after which they become responsible for the safety of their master, performs the assassination, surveillance and other tasks under orders of their master
[3] Wind blow and grass stirring means a sign of disturbance or problem
[4] In seven twists and eight turns means in an improper manner
The hour of hai[1]. The Palace. Sixth prince’s study.
Zhongzheng Lin finished writing the memorial. He slowly walked toward the window to watch the mottled shadows of threes and the far-away sky, which appeared to be gloomy due to the coming rain. There were no stars shining, only large and dark clouds. The air also felt stuffy.
Very good. It matched well with the scenery. A storm was approaching……
In a place nearby table, Wei Zhen was quietly giving a report about information gathered by secret agents[2]. His gaze laid upon his Highness who was standing there upright, with hands behind his back. As his Highness didn’t interrupt him nor ask questions he knew his Highness has already made up his mind.
Zhongzheng Lin listened to Wei Zhen’s reports while musing about the situation in imperial court. He felt a strong necessity to fall ill after this case with the provincial governor of Qingzhou was completely finished, to avoid the coming storm. It didn’t make sense to do all crown prince’s work and then rush to him to act as his shield.
Even though the crown prince overpowered the first prince in Qingzhou’s case, but none of them were doormats. The first prince suffered a defeat this time simply because he was framed. Any perceptive person could see who was standing behind Zhongzheng Lin’s back.
Based on the first prince Zhong Zheng Chun’s temper, he will certainly use any possible means to exact revenge later on. Crown prince had too many suspicious private matters. It was impossible to cover them all and get away with it.
Zhongzheng Lin didn’t fear the intimidation of others. If the first prince, in the heat of the moment, stopped by to make a fuss, even better. It would just make Yuanchen emperor see, how much was his obedient son wronged for running crown prince’s errand.
However, it was necessary to instruct the spies planted in each residence to cease their actions for a while and just monitor.
After finishing matters in the study, chief steward respectfully asked, “Would you like to take a rest in the inner yard, your highness?”
He certainly wasn’t fond of controlling his highness’s inner yard affairs. His Highness left for half a month. Upon arrival, he has rested in the study for two consecutive days. Her ladyship consort Shu has already revealed her dissatisfaction. She was speculating, whether those two concubines were of liking to her son or not.
When she recalled about those two, consort Shu thought that she had exclusively selected them for her son.
Lady Kong was pretty and also physically attractive. Young men loved beauties. They were more willing to be intimate with women possessing an enticing figure. As a consort-mother, she would naturally be glad to see that happen. At this moment, consort Shu wasn’t the tiniest bit worried that her youngest son would indulge himself in lustful desires as Zhongzheng Lin had shown an admirable self-discipline and restraint since he was a child.
On contrary, lady Wu was well-behaved and dutiful. She had a voluptuous figure, ideal for producing children. As a weak-willed person, it was unlikely for her to compete with lady Kong, which would then result in committing misconducts in the inner yard. Such arrangements couldn’t be wrong. Yet, it seemed that things didn’t go the way consort Shu planned. It made her puzzled. Was it possible that…….her son’s taste changed?
Alright, your ladyship. You’re a bright person to start worrying about your son’s preferences so soon. If that person wasn’t special, your son wouldn’t happen to get fooled by demoness Mu Xi Yao. Of course, these were all after stories.
But consort Shu didn’t know. She was still contemplating. With her son’s temperament, she won’t be able to get anything from him. Eventually, she was at her wit’s end. Now, she only looked forward to having a sweet pillow-talk with the emperor, asking him to grace her son with two good-looking maidens from good families. With the increased number of people, there will be naturally someone to attract Zhongzheng Lin’s eyes.
After entering the palace several times to pay a visit, it was inevitable for someone as sharp as Zhongzheng Lin to detect consort Shu’s intention.
Consort Shu of Tian clan was favored. Although she had two sons, due to her eldest son’s ears condition, his future prospects were ruined. Most of the time she felt guilty about the fourth prince. Therefore, she showered him with great care and watched over him all the time. She spoilt and indulged him terribly as a way of compensation.
In the end, consort Shu knew that all of her hopes had to fall on to her younger son’s shoulders. As a result, she placed an extraordinary importance on him. She was affectionate with him as well as being very strict. When Zhongzheng Lin reached the age of six, according to palace protocols, he had to move into the prince’s quarter. Since then, any wind blow and grass stirring[3] would get consort Shu alarmed.
Next year, Zhongzheng Lin was going to hold a coming of age ceremony. His marriage wasn’t far away. After that, he will have to move into his official residence outside the palace. However, his current temper was a tad bit too cold. He had no interest in inner yard. Since he was still residing in the palace, there was consort Shu to make arrangements behind the shadows, so he would once in a while settle in his concubine’s chamber. When he will move out of the palace and establish his own estate, she won’t be able to do anything. As this residence will have its righteous princess consort, consort Shu won’t be able to freely meddle with her son’s inner courtyard’s affairs. By that time, if princess consort wouldn’t be able to attain her son’s favor and furthermore let him stay disinterested, what was she to do then?
The imperial family put a great importance into producing offsprings, so much that…….the more consort Shu thought, the more anxious she became. She even started to seriously scheme about her son’s marriage. Back then, when the fourth prince was getting married, she has asked him about his wishes beforehand and then bestowed him the marriage with the one he was fond of.
Now, it was sixth prince’s turn to pick consort. She must be carefully selected. This extraordinary woman must not become his hindrance. Consort Shu began to attentively recollect which maidens from prestigious and aristocratic families in the capital could still catch up with the next selection.
Listening to Tian Fushan’s deliberate mention of inner yard, Zhongzheng Lin assumed that it was consort Shu’s idea. In the end, he was a filial son. Moreover, he hasn’t entered the inner yard for a month. He couldn’t say that he was without any urges. After a moment of silence, he raised his foot and walked in the direction of the inner yard.
His steps were steady. Whenever he thought about going to the concubine’s chamber, he felt a lack of interest. Then, recalling about the usual manners of those two concubines of his, even that little urge he had gradually faded away.
Lady Kong’s powder scent was too heavy, making her extremely vulgar. Although her body was enticing, as soon as she opened her mouth, she became very unlikable. Moreover, her pretentiousness offended his eyes.
The other concubine, lady Wu, was even worse. Zhongzheng Ling felt irritated just by seeing her. Even if someone was to beat her, she was unlikely to utter a word. She resembled a wooden pole when she stuck in her chamber. Furthermore, her personality was timid and fearful. Zhongzheng Lin who was already indifferent, being put in the same room with lady Wu, even more, didn’t feel like talking.
Wei Zhen, who was following him, noticed the sudden cold air emitting from his highness. It took him a moment to realize why. By the second gateway, he excused himself and retired. Just based on his highness’s complexion, Wei Zhen was able to guess that his highness was unhappy.
Later on, when his master demanded water, Wei Zhen would need to return and prepare it. He assigned two guards by the doorway, to carry on their night duties. After his highness was finished, they were to light the lamps.
In the end, Zhongzheng Lin still entered lady Kong’s quarter.
The man’s face darkened after seeing the people that came out to make greetings. The enticing figure of lady Kong was wasted on her. Her basis was too poor, incapable of sustaining that gracefulness and allure. Watching the woman, who was shaking like a leaf, appear before him to bow and pay him a respect, made Zhongzheng Lin feel annoyed.
Suddenly, he recalled one graceful silhouette. Soon after he felt it was absurd and suppressed this strange feeling.
After entering the chamber, Zhongzheng Lin directly ordered: “Settle.”
He may as well not give lady Kong any opportunity to annoy him.
“Yes, your highness.” Lady Kong raised the pitch of her voice, replying in seven twists and eight turns[4].
Zhongzheng Lin was displeased. For the first time ever, he frowned.
Lady Kong felt wronged. Any sensible man ought to know that she was showing a discreet gentleness and extreme shyness! Yet, his sixth highness was as steady as Mount Tai, not reacting to her moves at all.
Ever since being bestowed to sixth prince’s inner yard, this was the first time lady Kong saw his highness explicitly expressing his mood, a frown nonetheless! It scared her to the extent that her legs went limp. She quickly returned her voice to normal, not daring to speak again. She merely went over and carefully assisted him with freshening up.
Lady Kong was aware that she wasn’t favored. She was already holding back a lot. Moreover, she was still unclear of his highness’s likes. She also felt mad!
There were only two women in the inner yard. She wasn’t favored, that lady Wu was even more so. There was no way to vie for a favor at all. If one was to vie for the favor, there needed to be some competition, right? But, where did his highness’s “love” lie? Without any example and also ways to inquire, lady Kong had no other choice as to carefully serve his highness and secretly take note of his moods.
Lady Kong knew how to be tactful and engage in small talks, but the opposite party was of high rank and too powerful, making people fearful of him.
Zhongzheng Lin’s whole body gave off a cold aura. No matter how many tricks had Lady Kong had up her sleeve, she didn’t have the courage to use them. After both of them undressed, lady Kong turned completely prim, not daring to move. Zhongzheng Lin, with a rigid face, turned to look at the women’s body beneath him. There was no tenderness, only lust in his eyes. He then started to move, satiating his needs.
After slaking his lust, Zhongzheng Lin felt that it wasn’t as satisfying as when he got himself off. Lovemaking between men and women was unnecessary. As per usual, he exited the chamber without using any water. He marched straight to his quarters in the front yard.
If Mu Xiyao knew what Zhongzheng Lin was currently thinking, she would certainly cry with a bitter: “Darn you, beast! Great Boss chooses his dish according to the one who was serving it. He particularly liked to ravish her body with his insatiable appetite.
The following month Zhongzheng Lin reluctantly visited lady Wu’s quarters once. Afterward, he had not entered the inner yard again.
Chief-steward Tian Fushan was bewildered as for how to give a report to consort Shu.
It was impossible for him to tell her that his highness was indifferent in nature and that in this matter he was also indifferent. Usually, the ones attending to his sixth highness were all manservants. The only women that had served him closely were only those two new concubines. His Highness was used to having manservants as he wasn’t fond of maids. Consort Shu also didn’t force him on this matter. To this day, Zhongzheng Lin’s resting quarters were cleaned up daily by Tian Fushan himself. Therefore, those dirty underpants obviously meant that his master would rather relieve his needs by himself than have someone else attending to him.
This was a complicated matter. It was either his highness didn’t like women or that the women in the estate were not to his highness’s liking?
[1] The hour of hai is cca 09-11 PM
#this content belongs to thehlifestyle.com, if you see this translation elsewhere, it’s been stolen!!!!! May ill omen (like stepping every day on dog poo, losing a wallet every time one goes out, choking by mere water and forever staying as a lonely dog) befall those content stealing jerks. Amen and Peace!
#if possible, please support the original translators by reading the translations from the original source. Thanks
[2] Secret agents are the guards, that were oftentimes selected from orphans (as they don’t have any families). They underwent secret training after which they become responsible for the safety of their master, performs the assassination, surveillance and other tasks under orders of their master
[3] Wind blow and grass stirring means a sign of disturbance or problem
[4] In seven twists and eight turns means in an improper manner
