Dear Brother, Your Chest Wrap Has Fallen Off - Chapter 10 Part 1

The garden path was winding and secluded, with birds chirping.

Cui Jiarou followed behind the servant, trying to find out what Xue Lang had whispered to Prince Baiyin.

The servant shook his head. “This servant cannot approach the nobles while they are talking. Besides, this servant cannot understand the elegant language of the Great Sheng.”

“What were their expressions? Was the prince smiling happily when facing Xue Lang?”

The servant replied confidently, “Indeed, his smiles were very amiable. Speaking of which, Protector Xue is quite handsome, deserved to be called a handsome man from the Central Plains.”

“He’s good-looking?” Jiarou couldn’t help but feel angry. “You haven’t seen the world. Look at me, I am what you call good-looking!”

The servant, however, did not want to offend anyone, “Master Pan is also good-looking, but in a different way from Protector Xue.”

The two continued forward, the scenery changing as they walked until they reached an open area. To the east of the garden, they saw an elevated square platform facing the waterside pavilion, next to a circle of lush peony flowers on the east side of the garden. The platform was hung with crimson mist-like gauze on all four sides, which was very charming against the backdrop of flowers and trees.

The wind lifted the gauze, and Xue Lang’s face with a faint smile was occasionally seen.

Housekeeper Bai was standing at the edge of the platform. Seeing Jiarou had been brought in, he hurried forward, his voice cracking, “You’re finally here. The two countries require a translator. I have a cold and my voice is unpleasant, which would be a disgrace to Qiuci. You happen to be fluent in Tocharian and the Great Sheng elegant speech, making you the perfect fit.”

Be a translator?

So, it’s really not about taking away her job, but about honorably having her sit on the platform and serve as a translator for the prince?

She had indeed heard that when two countries met on formal occasions, even if they could understand each other’s languages, they would deliberately find two translators to do some unnecessary translation work to reflect the pomp of each country.

Although Qiuci had submitted to Great Sheng, it remained relatively independent geographically. When the princes of Qiuci met with officials from Great Sheng, they naturally had to show some respect.

Although she was from Great Sheng, it makes sense for her to stand on the side of Qiuci as she now held a job at the Bai family.

Since she was here, she would make the best of it. Whether it was being a translator or protecting her job, Cui Jiarou did not have stage fright.

She steadied herself and smoothed out the folds on her clothes, “Please!”

Housekeeper Bai went up to the platform and reported outside, and the servant girl serving inside lifted the curtain.

Jiarou took off her black boots outside, lifted her robe, and walked in steadily on the carpet.

She walked to the side of Prince Baiyin, saluted with her fists clasped, turned her head and looked up, and Xue Lang’s calm face finally fell into her eyes.

Prince Bai gave a brief introduction. She smiled broadly, her smile warm and gentle, “So this is the legendary Protector Xue. He is so exceptionally handsome, so captivating, making people fascinated.”

A slight smile appeared on Xue Lang’s face, but his eyes were as cold as the deep sea.

The meeting between the two countries officially began.

Xue Lang also brought his own translator.

No matter what Xue Lang or Prince Baiyin said, the translators on both sides would translate the words with the closest meaning and transmit it to their masters’ ears.

The venerables on both sides might not necessarily not understand each other’s language, therefore, the translators were just keeping up appearances and could not sabotage in the middle.

Xue Lang came today, sure enough with the intention of stealing Jiarou’s job.

Among the people he brought with him, there were three scholarly men ranging from thirty to fifty years old, who were to be recommended to Prince Baiyin as teachers.

Allegedly, these three men were all disciples of sages, and their reputations were well-known throughout Chang’an. In every imperial examination, at least a dozen people who ranked in the top three had studied under these three men, truly filling the court with their students.

Jiarou had also heard that a year ago, the Emperor had considered these three people when he wanted to hire a strict teacher outside the palace for the Second Prince. However, before the Emperor made a move, these three wise men immediately went on a hunger strike to demonstrate their resolve, determined not to let their reputations be shattered by the Second Prince’s frivolous behavior. The matter was then shelved.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor couldn’t invite any of them, yet Xue Lang somehow managed to invite three at once.

At this time, the first two teachers had introduced themselves one by one, and it was the third one’s turn. Jiarou also fixed her gaze on the third teacher.

This sight almost made her fall off the couch.

Isn’t this the Master Zhang who taught my uncle?

Her uncle fell ill as a child. Because his family believed in witch doctors who performed rituals to exorcise ghosts, he failed to receive timely medical treatment, ultimately leaving him unable to walk. Though heartbroken, her grandfather insisted that his uncle continue his studies, declaring that even if he didn’t pass the imperial examination, he would still be erudite and well informed, becoming a great scholar.

Sure enough, her uncle lived up to expectations and was extremely gifted at studying. Two years after he began learning, he became a disciple of Master Zhang.

Her uncle was physically disabled, but he was excellent at studying and was the most loved by Master Zhang.

Because she had been mischievous since childhood, yet had a close relationship with her uncle, her family placed high hopes on her, encouraging her to learn as much as possible. For a long time, she served as her uncle’s bookboy. Whenever her uncle went to the academy, she would accompany him, turning pages and grinding ink for him. If anyone teased her uncle about his leg disability, she would find a way to play a trick on him.

But she was naturally active and could not sit still. She often caused trouble in class, which was what Master Zhang disliked the most.

Finally, one time when Master Zhang dozed off, she came forward with a lump of propolis and stuck all of Master Zhang’s beard together. Her career as a bookboy ended when Master Zhang, holding a ruler in anger, drove her out of the academy.

Four years had passed since she last saw this teacher. He was still fair-skinned, refined, and elegant, with a distinguished demeanor. Without her causing troubles, he even had grown a beautiful beard.

If he recognized her, given his dislike for her, he would point out her identity and hurled a torrent of abuse at her. It just so happened that Xue Lang was always ready with a sack looking everywhere for her, making it an easy catch.

Thinking about how she would be escorted back to Chang’an, forced to wear wedding clothes, and sent to an unfamiliar backyard. A gap-toothed man lifted her red veil, whipped out a horsewhip, and snapped it in mid-air, grinning evilly at her, “I’m the best at training horses. Now let me train you, this fierce beautiful horse, hahahaha…..”

Her body suddenly trembled violently, as if she was hit by the whip. When she snapped out of her imagination, she was sweating profusely. She subconsciously lowered her head, not daring to make eye contact with Master Zhang.

Fortunately, Master Zhang still focused his attention on the prince and did not look at her. After the introduction, he nodded with a smile, waiting for the prince to make a final decision.

Prince Baiyin stroked his beard and praised him several times, but a hint of regret appeared on his face. He said to Xue Lang, “It’s really unfortunate, my son found a teacher three days ago.”