Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 32.2
by Little PandaVolume 2: Power Over Court and Country
The Deposed Empress 07
Covering The Heaven With One Hand
Ling Jiu: Host, do you think those people should be forgiven?
Xin Lan: If you want to forgive, then forgive. Handle your own matters. Some are worth it, some aren’t.
Ling Jiu: What if it were you…?
Xin Lan: Would I give such a chance?
Ling Jiu: Just imagine, hypothetically.
Xin Lan: Making them suffer would be too easy. If I don’t vent my anger, I wouldn’t be called Xin.
For some reason, at home, Qu Zhi’an suddenly sneezed.
She rubbed her nose and felt a bit better.
She thought about the note she had sent and wondered if Miss Xin had received it and knew it was from her.
She should know that the note was from her, right?
Miss Xin was so smart, she should have a way to send something back to her, right?
Qu Zhiโan walked around the room a couple of times and then felt uncertain. What if the other person didn’t think it was necessary?
It’s hard to say; the feeling she got from that person was too complicated.
She wanted to get closer, but her heart didn’t have any reason to convince herself to do so.
It always felt like she was a thorny flower, and if she forced herself to get closer, she might get pricked all over her hands. She had to be careful about how close she got.
Qu Zhiโan poured herself a glass of cold tea to cool down from the summer heat. She didn’t stay in the courtyard and went out.
Even though she was now an official, her old habits remained. Whenever she arrived at a new place, she liked to figure out the lay of the land.
For example, how are the customs, how is the climate, how is the environment, what are the things that sell best, and if you want to do business, which area is best to start with.
After walking around all afternoon and coming home, Qu Zhiโan laughed at herself for falling back into her old habits.
So when night came and she saw someone knocking on her door, she was still wondering if she had walked so much in the afternoon that she was seeing things.
“Miss Xin!”
Qu Zhiโan’s voice was filled with surprise, but the next moment she realized that at this time, this person definitely shouldn’t be here.
“What? Not welcoming me?”
The visitor was Xin Lan, who had brought Ah Rou with her. To discuss things early and not disturb others’ sweet dreams, Xin Lan came out this time without waiting for the middle of the night. (In ancient China, people believed in a concept called “midnight three watch” or “ๅๅคไธๆด”, which refers to late night hours when most are asleep, often associated with secretive or quiet activities.)
Ah Rou followed behind her, looking confused. She only knew that a moment ago she was in the Biyue Palace, and suddenly she fainted, only to be just awakened by her mistress.
In an instant, she went from inside the palace to outside, and Ah Rou didn’t know how her mistress did it, but it made her more determined that following her mistress was the right choice.
Could it be that her mistress had some kind of magical powers? Otherwise, how could she have come out just like that?
In Ah Rou’s mind, that tall red wall was an insurmountable barrier, completely separating the outside world from here.
To go out, you must have a waist token. Since she entered the palace with her mistress, she had never stepped outside.
“How could I not welcome you? Please come in and sit down.”
Qu Zhiโan closed the door and looked around carefully, worried that someone might have followed Xin Lan. Xin Lan’s visit was surely a secret; no matter how you think about it, it couldn’t be done openly.
“This little courtyard of yours is quite nice.”
“It’s just a humble place, your praise is too much. Please sit; I’ll get you some tea.”
“No need to be formal. Ah Rou, you go somewhere else first. I have matters to discuss with this gentleman.”
Ah Rou didn’t let her eyes wander, nodded, and stepped out.
Only then did Qu Zhiโan notice that this maid looked familiar. Wasn’t she the palace maid who had been kneeling in front of the emperor this morning, talking about things? How was she with Xin Lan?
“What? You know her?”
Xin Lan noticed the change in Qu Zhiโan’s expression and asked specifically.
“We’ve just met once. When the morning court session ended today, she was still blocking the emperor’s way.”
“I only know a little bit vaguely.”
“Didn’t you send me a message? Thank you for thinking of me. You were asking how I’ve been recently, right? I’ll tell you, I’ve been doing quite well.”
Qu Zhiโan nodded with a smile, acting as if Xin Lan hadn’t mentioned her being a woman, and pretended not to be curious about how Xin Lan managed to get out.
In her heart, though, she was as curious as a cat, really wanting to know how she got out.
Maybe it was through the Xin family’s connections. Considering she brought someone with her, she definitely didn’t come just to answer the questions on her note.
“Good to hear that you’ve been well.”
“Something did happen in the palace, but it’s not a big deal.”
Xin Lan shared the inside story of the matter with Qu Zhiโan without hesitation, though she left out the exaggerated parts.
“You live in a remote place, yet you still get the news quickly.”
Qu Zhiโan praised her, though she wasn’t really interested in the palace intrigues. What she was interested in was the implication behind the matter involving Consort Man.
At the same time, one can’t help but sigh that when people become vicious, they really are like evil spirits.
Who would have thought that such a delicate woman could do something so cruel?
What’s even more surprising is the plot she orchestrated behind the scenes.
What Qu Zhiโan couldn’t figure out was that Consort Man actually got involved with an official. Are there really such foolish people in the court?
However, her comment about being well-informed was a double entendre. It was astonishing that Xin Lan could accurately know her address even from within the deep palace, indicating her influence network was indeed very powerful.
“The main issue is that the trouble is related to me; I have no choice but to step in and resolve it.”
“Did you come for something else this time?”
“Did the emperor grant you a residence?”
“Yes, but it’s currently being renovated.”
“Then I wonder if your courtyard could accommodate someone?”
“Logically, that palace maid should have been rewarded. How could it be otherwise?”
“A royal scandal is not something others can know about, right? The emperor probably thinks that way. After all, regarding issues of his offspring, only the dead can keep secrets forever.”
Qu Zhiโan slightly frowned; she still wasn’t quite used to the methods of these powerful families.
“You don’t need to worry, sir. We’re not staying here for free. Once we find another courtyard to rent, we’ll move out.”
“Why be so polite? Given our relationship, there’s no need for that.”
“What relationship do we have?”
Xin Lan asked with a smile.
She was a bit surprised at how naturally friendly this person was.
Of course, it couldn’t really be called overly familiar, since she did kind of save her life. She just thought this person would push her away or be on guard. But the fact that this person sent a note shows she is actually very righteous, kind, and a bit chivalrous.
Setting everything else aside, she was quite an interesting person.
But after thinking about it, she realized that given the brief description in the story about this person, such a reaction wasn’t surprising.
A girl who ran away from home in this kind of environment and dared to resist such a system showed she had a lot of courage. Being exceptionally talented in business showed she had vision and brains. She could easily drop her business, take money, go out to travel, and make friends, indicating she was a straightforward and open-minded person. Having her own views on national affairs and making contributions later on was truly remarkable.
The more Xin Lan thought about Qu Zhiโan’s qualities, the more she wanted to bring her into her fold and make use of her talents.
However, figuring out how to win her over was still something she needed to consider.
“We can at least count as friends by now, right?”
After all, they shared a mutual secret and had gone through life-and-death matters together. Qu Zhiโan greatly admired Xin Lan. If she were free, she would definitely accomplish great things.
“I didn’t expect you to actually think of me as a friend. I’m really touched.”
“Are you teasing me with those words? I originally thought about leaving carefreely, but then I realized there was no need for that. Besides, even if I wanted to leave, I was afraid that person wouldn’t agree.”
Qu Zhiโan felt embarrassed and uncomfortable after saying this last part, as if she were boasting about herself, but she was honestly troubled.
“Then just become strong enough so that he can’t threaten whether you stay or leave, right?”
Xin Lan smiled faintly, and that gentle smile on her face made her look even more exquisite, like jade.
Qu Zhiโan was startled and looked steadily at Xin Lan, only to find that the faint smile had already disappeared, as if it had never been on her face.
Was this hinting at something?
Like the Xin family, becoming so powerful that even the emperor couldn’t decide their fate?
“Are you planning to keep her with you like this?”
Qu Zhiโan felt it wasn’t likely; she always thought Xin Lan must have other uses for her.
It’s not that she thought Xin Lan wouldn’t do a good deed without reason, but she didn’t think it was that simple to kindly keep a maid around.
“A maid, keeping her around isn’t a big deal. But you know, a deposed empress in the harem has no say. If she falls ill, the imperial doctors definitely won’t come. So I was thinking about whether to let this maid open a medicinal shop, hire a doctor, and learn some medicine.”
When smart people talk to each other, there’s no need to overthink or dig too deeply.
“If you want to open a shop, why not come to me? I might not be able to help with other things, but this should be no problem.”
Qu Zhiโan became energized; she had spent the whole afternoon observing these matters, and if she could help someone, it would naturally be great.
“Then thank you very much. With your help, I feel at ease, and this girl will have a place where she can stay peacefully. However, she hasn’t done business before, so I’ll need you to be patient. If you think this girl lacks talent, just tell me, and I’ll find another way.”
Whether Ah Rou has talent or not isn’t important; what matters is that Xin Lan needs a medicine shop to handle things.
“Alright, there’s no need to call me ‘sir’; it feels a bit distant.”
Actually, this was only their second meeting, but they had gone through significant events together, and their identities were quite special.
They hadn’t quite reached the level of “meeting you for the first time yet feeling like old friends,” but Qu Zhiโan felt a strong connection.
Seeing this person made her happy, allowing her to overlook all her background and peculiarities.
Even if she was a deposed empress or part of the Xin family, during their conversation, she was just Miss Xin.
“Then what should I call you? Zhiโan? If others hear that, wouldn’t they immediately guess it’s you?”
“Call me by my childhood name, Yanyan; that’s what my family calls me.”
“Yan?”
“Yan, like the smoke in ‘smoke disperses with the clouds’.” (In Chinese, “็” (yan) means smoke, and the phrase suggests something transient and ethereal.)
Qu Zhiโan curled her lips in a smile. These were the words Xin Lan used when introducing herself.
Xin Lan clearly remembered too, and as she met Qu Zhiโan’s gaze, she also smiled.
That smile spread to her eyes, making her obsidian-like eyes shine brightly. When her raven-colored eyelashes fluttered lightly, it seemed as if one could see a vast galaxy.
Qu Zhiโan suddenly recalled a line of poetry and felt as though all the stars in the sky were pressing down before her, filling her with joy and a sudden sense of her own smallness.
Drunk, unaware of the sky in the water, a boat full of clear dreams pressing down on the galaxy.
“Alright, I’ll call you Yanyan.”
Xin Lan nodded; the nickname didn’t matter at all, as long as it was this person, any name would do.
They reached an agreement on the matter of the medicinal shop.
“I might not have brought enough silver with me today; I only brought part of it. I’ll leave this with you for now, and I’ll add more tomorrow.”
“No worries, you can pay me after I’ve selected everything for you.”
Qu Zhiโan didn’t care much about money, since she was quite wealthy.
After Xin Lan had Ling Jiu scan the situation, she knew Qu Zhiโan wouldn’t fuss over the money. As long as the debt was paid, it was fine. She handed over what she had brought, placing it in Qu Zhiโan’s hand.
When their fingers touched, she inexplicably felt her heart skip a beat.
Xin Lan didn’t notice her reaction and withdrew her hand.
Qu Zhiโan’s background was actually quite complex. Although she wasn’t from a noble lineage, her family was as wealthy as a nation.
These words weren’t just said lightly; the Qu family’s business spanned the entire Wu Kingdom and even reached Da Qing.
So Qu Zhiโan was indeed very rich, exceptionally so.
Moreover, she wasn’t the type of heiress who idly squandered her wealth. Her ability to make money grow was also impressive.
Just from Qu Zhiโan’s offer to help with the medicine shop, Xin Lan knew this was a sure thing.
“Looks like you came prepared, Miss Xin.”
Qu Zhiโan accepted the silver note, and Xin Lan smiled at her without denying it.
Qu Zhiโan was waiting for Xin Lan to say, “Calling me Miss is too formal; why not call me Lan’er instead?” But after a while, she didn’t hear Xin Lan say it.
She felt a little disappointed inside, but she didn’t show it.
“What do you think, if the emperor knew we were getting along so well, would he be angry?”
The emperor was interested in Qu Zhiโan and considered her one of his own. He especially disliked the Xin family and Xin Lan, so seeing Xin Lan and Qu Zhiโan together would definitely upset him.
“Why should I care about him?”
Qu Zhiโan pouted; the emperor had no right to interfere in her personal friendships. It was her freedom to choose her friends, and the emperor couldn’t control that.
Qu Zhiโan couldn’t say that the actions of the Xin family had nothing to do with Xin Lan; the facts were clear. It was a matter of mutual use: one kept rising in power, while the other felt overshadowed by the large tree and its shade, thinking it was only right to cut down the obstructive tree.
What he did to Xin Lan was just too much.
Qu Zhiโan couldn’t help but get angry whenever she thought about it, but being angry wouldn’t help.
“Yanyan, this makes you seem a bit charming like a young lady. How do you usually speak?”
There is a certain difference between female and male voices, although some people have voices that are hard to distinguish between male and female. Usually, only eunuchs speak with a certain softness.
Qu Zhiโan gently coughed to clear her throat.
“I usually talk like this. If I’m careful, no one will notice. It’s too inconvenient to dress as a woman outside.”
Qu Zhiโan’s voice became deeper, losing any feminine quality, making her sound like a gentle gentleman.
“Very impressive.”
Xin Lan clapped her hands, and Qu Zhiโan caught her breath and switched her voice back.
Qu Zhiโan had practiced this a lot. At first, it was easy for people to recognize her, but now they couldn’t. From her gestures to her voice, she could convincingly portray an elegant gentleman. At the very least, she could pass as a pampered young master or a fair-skinned scholar.
Xin Lan didn’t chat much more with Qu Zhiโan and went outside to talk with Ah Rou, who was standing there.
The conversation was mainly about telling her to follow and listen to Qu Zhiโan.
Ah Rou agreed to everything but still felt a bit uneasy inside.
“Master, will I be staying here? How will I send messages to you? When will I see you again?”
Ah Rou hadn’t been outside the palace for two or three years. Before Consort Liu entered the palace, she didn’t go out much either. On rare occasions when she did go to the streets, she felt extremely happy. Now, being outside alone with a stranger, she couldn’t help but feel a bit timid.
“Ah Rou, have you forgotten what I told you before?”
You need to have courage and not be afraid of things.
“I remember, I will definitely learn well, do my job well, and wait for you to come.”
Ah Rou took a deep breath and said this while looking into Xin Lan’s eyes.
“Very good. From now on, you don’t need to call yourself a servant here, so others won’t notice anything unusual.”
“Yes, this servant un… I understand.”
Ah Rou hesitated, looking at Xin Lan as if she wanted to say something but stopped.
“If there’s something, just say it.”
“Can I go back to see my lady? I don’t know when she’s being buried or where…”
“You can’t go back. If there’s news, I’ll let you know.”
“Thank you, Master,” Ah Rou said gratefully.
It was impossible for a concubine of low rank to be buried in the imperial mausoleum, and her lady had died under disgraceful circumstances… The more Ah Rou thought about it, the more hatred filled her heart.
“I’m leaving now. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Take care, Master.”
Xin Lan’s figure disappeared into the night, and Ah Rou closed the door and bolted it.
“Where will I stay, sir?”
“You can sleep in the east wing. It was cleaned beforehand, just take some bedding from the cabinet, and you can sleep.”
“Thank you, sir. Do you need me to help you get up in the morning?”
“No need.”
Ah Rou nodded and quietly returned to her room.
Before she fell into a drowsy sleep, she wondered if her lady would blame her for revealing how she was forced. That was probably the last thing her lady wanted the emperor to know.
If she did blame her, it would be good even if she came to scold her in a dream.
She woke up groggily, rubbing her forehead. Last night, her dream was about unrelated people, and she didn’t dream of her lady at all.
Outside, daylight had arrived. When she pushed the door open, she heard the young master reading.
“I am dizzy with illness today, and I dream of idle people, not of you.”
She wasn’t sick, so why did she dream of idle people too?
LP: Re-translated on December 09, 2024
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