Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 6

“The eldest prince must be sick.”

 Qin residence, the northern yard.

Under the window frame, Jiang Lanyue was hanging her head to make clothes for Qin Wang.
One needle and one thread. She had never asked for others’ help for so many years.

After a while, she put down the needlework, then rubbed her eyes, and started: “Half a month has already passed, is there no other movement from Eldest Miss’ side?”

“What kind of movement can there be?” The old momo answered: “This old slave originally thought that Eldest Miss transferred He Zhu to the outer yard as a measure to guard against us, however, when I heard the few words said by He Zhu in the kitchen just now, it seems that I was thinking too much.”

Jiang Lanyue replied: “What did she say?”

The old momo said while smiling: “He Zhu said that during these few days, the eldest miss didn’t practice calligraphy nor did she learn the palace etiquette. On the contrary, she has been staying inside the room to learn to act from that female entertainer instead. Sometimes she would cry or laugh, other times, she would speak out some excessively amorous lines. If Master finds out about this, he will surely be angry or even get sick.”

Jiang Lanyue frowned: “Amorous lines? Has she gone insane?”

“Maybe she’s the same as her mother, both are insane.” The old momo lifted her hands and started massaging her shoulders: “Madam doesn’t need to worry. This time around, after Master sends that entertainer off, his thought will naturally return to Second Miss.”

“I hope so.”
Jiang Lanyue kneaded her chest.
In the past few days, she had been feeling anxious for no reason, as if something were about to happen.

She took a deep breath and softly said: “Pass these words to Zhu Ze. As long as he can add the final flame, the Zhu family’s debt will be settled.”

Qin Wang was born into a humble family. He had been promoted quite quickly when he was still a local official. However, after he arrived in the capital, influential officials from aristocratic families could be found everywhere. If he could not get promoted, one feared that he might have to sit in this grand scribe position for a lifetime.
Even though this draft was a matter of imperial decree, who did not have the thought of one’s daughter becoming a phoenix? If one said that Qin Wang had never thought of using this opportunity to fight for his future, Jiang Lanyue did not believe it.

Even if Qin Ling had many kinds of shortcomings, the two words legitimate child were real, and that good appearance was also real.
She wanted Zhu Ze to add the final flame to let the great expectations that Qin Wang had in Qin Ling burned and disappeared thoroughly.

After half a shichen, Qin Wang returned.
As usual, Jiang Lanyue stood on her tiptoes to take off the black hat on Qin Wang’s head. When she returned, she handed him a towel and Qin Wang took it. While wiping his hands, he spoke in a low voice: “I’ve entrusted someone to find a royal librarian from the palace, they’re usually in charge of scriptures, rules, and rites, they are also working by Shangyi Lu’s side, so the etiquette must be up to standard and excellent. Later on, you may also take Rong’er to the main hall.”

[Directress of the Library 籍: An official position in the palace who manages the scrolls and books in the Tang]

[Shangyi: Bureau of Ceremony. I guess after Shangyi Xu from Chapter 1 gets punished, this one surnamed Lu replaces her]

“This must not be done.” Jiang Lanyue continued: “Rong’er is just an illegitimate daughter, how can she participate in this kind of matter?”

Qin Wang said smilingly, “You’re too upright. If I tell you to go, then just go. Rong’er will also be married soon, listening to more rules and customs is always good.”

***

Under the window frame outside, the osmanthus flowers bloomed. One shrubbery linked with another, and from a distance, it looked like someone had sprinkled a handful of broken gold pieces on it.

At noon, Qin Ling and Qin Rong arrived at the main hall.
Seeing the crowd, Librarian Chen put down the teacup in her hand.

She had heard about the matters in Qin family.
To sum it up, there was no proper wife in the house, while the concubine managed the house. She had not seen a lot like this.

Librarian Chen walked to Qin Ling and Qin Rong and looked attentively at the two ladies in front of her.

In the palace, there were rules for standing and sitting, even looking at other people had its own rules.

Librarian Chen nodded her head slightly.
The two young ladies before her were clearly qualified.

Although the two daughters of the Qin family were both first-class in appearance, however, their bearings were very different.
She had never seen the daughters of Qin family before, but at a glance, she could tell which one was the eldest daughter.
Her hair was like the clouds in spring, the eyes like the ripples in autumn, and her appearance like the early sunrise in winter.
There was such a good appearance in the house, it was not surprising that Lord Qin had someone to invite her over.

Qin Wang coughed lightly and said towards Qin Ling and Qin Rong: “This esteemed guest is Librarian Chen from the palace. If you have any questions regarding rules and customs, you can ask for her guidance today.”

“Lord Qin is too courteous, it has only been 2 years since this old one entered the inner court. The rules in the court are strict and there are many kinds of etiquette. I, myself, do not dare to say that I’ve already known everything clearly.”

Qin Wang nodded his head and went along: “This is true.”

Librarian Chen spoke: “However, since this old one has been entrusted with this, I will teach the two ladies what I’ve already learned. But before that, I’d like to ask Lord Qin to bring over two sets of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.”

Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. This meant to look at the two people’s handwriting.

Jiang Lanyue looked delighted.
Qin Rong’s handwriting could not be said as excellent, however, compared to Qin Ling’s, she was still much better.

After Qin Ling and Qin Rong sat down, Librarian Chen slowly said: “Please write about the three generations of your family and note down each of their expertise.”

Qin Ling nodded her head and began to grind the ink.

Qin Wang saw Qin Ling’s slender and white wrist, and could not help sighing.
His eldest daughter, at a glance, looked really beautiful and intelligent. It was a pity that, firstly, one should not let her open her mouth to speak, and secondly, she could not write characters.

This half a month treaty, to be honest, Qin Wang did not hold much hope. She found an entertainer to teach her rules and customs, was this not just making a ruckus?

Qin Ling finished grinding the ink. She picked up the writing brush and dipped it in the ink.
Qin Wang, who was following her movement closely, had his heart tightened.

She is about to write.
She is going to write.
She is writing…

Qin Wang swallowed his saliva, then using his hand, rubbed his face fiercely. His regretful heart had already been raised to his throat.

On the other side, Librarian Chen was wearing a smiling expression on her face, looking at the two daughters of Qin family.

It was said that beauties looked even more beautiful under the light, this saying was indeed true. Regardless of what Qin Ling wrote in the end, just looking at her natural and unrestrained bearing and that pure white neck, it was already enough to show.

After a while, Qin Ling stopped her brush. She had finished writing.

Librarian Chen walked over and took the two pieces of paper. She looked at it for a while and said: “The two ladies’ characters are both good.”

The voice barely fell, Qin Wang, Qing Rong, and Jiang Lanyue knitted their eyebrows.
Are both good?
How could it be “both good”?

Qin Wang stepped forward and opened his eyes wide, repeatedly looking at the handwriting on the paper.
If not because he had seen it personally, he would have thought that Qin Ling had found someone to write it for her in advance.

Could it be that in the past half a month, she really…

Thinking until here, Qin Wang looked at Qin Ling’s wrist.
There were still red marks that had not faded yet on her wrist. His gaze became complicated immediately.

Librarian Chen spoke: “Today, this old one is here because she has been entrusted with a task. The time is tight, so I’ll just point out the important things.”

“This is the first draft since the emperor ascended the throne where His Majesty will choose women from the public. At present, there are already 5.000 names submitted to the Ministry of Rites. In another half a month, it’ll be the primary selection where they’ll choose the best, and only 2.000 people may pass. Following after will be the re-selection and they will have to stay at the palace. In the end, only 300 people may present themselves in front of the emperor.”

Once these words came out, the corners of Qin Ling’s mouth were slightly hooked.
She had known that the number of the participants would not be little, but she did not expect that there would be 5.000 beautiful women waiting for him to choose.

Librarian Chen continued: “… When you enter the Chuxiu Palace, you have to learn more rules. The harem is strict in hierarchy, the staffs of the palace are different, and the expenses and clothes are already determined. If you pass the re-selection, you must act even more cautiously and don’t make any mistakes.” Because once you made a mistake, your life would be gone.

Librarian Chen had been talking for a shichen. Qin Rong, this illegitimate daughter, had actually been concentrating her attention, while Qin Ling gradually became sleepier.

Until she talked about the emperor’s heir, Qin Ling suddenly pricked up her ears.

“… with the exception of the eldest prince, none of the three consorts in the palace have given birth to a child. At present, the empress dowager is in charge of all of the affairs in the Six Palaces.”

Qin Ling’s long eyebrows knitted slightly.
None of the three consorts in the palace have given birth to a child?
Nevermind Consort Xue and Consort Liu. But after 3 years, Li Yuan, whom he has always loved, still has no heirs?

After a while, Qin Ling smiled and asked softly: “Dare to ask the librarian, is the eldest prince being raised by the empress dowager?”

She had thought it through. Even if these words sounded rather impudent, Librarian Chen would still give her some kind of an answer.
It did not matter if Xiao Yun was being raised by the empress dowager. Anyone would do, as long as he was safe.

However, Librarian Chen abruptly changed her face and said: “I apologize, but this old one cannot answer regarding the matters of the eldest prince. These words shouldn’t be mentioned to anyone else either.”

“The things you can know, you can know. The things you can’t know, you shouldn’t ask.”

Qin Ling expressed regret for saying something wrong and said: “Many thanks to the librarian for the guidance.”

After the sun set, Librarian Chen left the Qin residence.
Qin Wang kept Qin Ling in the main hall for questioning: “Ah Ling, your handwriting today, as well as the rules and customs, were they all taught by that female entertainer?”

“Yes ah.” Qin Ling nodded her head, “Lady Si is good at teaching. Knowing that Daughter doesn’t like listening to rules but likes listening to operas, she made me listen to some plays set in the palace. After listening to some, naturally I can understand.”

Qin Wang was surprised: “It can be done this way?”
Qin Ling repeatedly nodded her head: “Not only that, but she also taught me to play qin and compose poems.”

Qin Wang’s gaze floated to Qin Ling’s wrists. He sighed for a while and said again: “Have you applied medicine to your wrists?”
“It’s all right. Compared to the experience I got from Lady Si, it’s not worth mentioning.” Qin Ling smiled: “Father, do you know that Lady Si did not eat for 3 days in order to act as a dying person? Isn’t she amazing?”

Looking at Qin Ling’s smile, Qin Wang was suddenly stumped, his eyes were inexplicably sour.
How many years.
He could not remember how many years had it been since Qin Ling last smiled at him.

His daughter did not seem as unbearable as he had thought. Perhaps… he had been using the wrong methods in the past.
She was this lively and cute, no different from her childhood.

Qin Wang took a deep breath, forced a smile, and said: “Amazing. This Lady Si Yue is really amazing.”
Qin Ling bit her lower lip and asked: “Then, Father won’t send her away?”
Qin Wang shook his head: “Naturally I won’t.”

Qin Ling shook her wrists and said casually: “Father, why did Librarian Chen look strange today when the eldest prince was mentioned?”
Qin Wang returned to his sense and replied: “Why are you so curious about the eldest prince?”
“En…” Qin Ling rolled her eyes, thought about it solemnly, and answered: “At first, Daughter only asked casually, but after Librarian Chen told me not to mention it to anyone else, I become even more curious.”

Hearing her words, Qin Wang could not help laughing: “Since she told you not to mention it to anyone else, why do you still ask?”

Qin Ling’s tone was dull and said matter of factly: “But Father isn’t anyone else.”

Qin Wang clenched his hands that were rested on his knees, and it was as if a warm current flowed in his heart. After calming down his emotion, he answered: “It hasn’t been long since our family came to the capital, so I’m not too clear regarding the matters of the eldest prince. However, during this half a year, I heard something from someone. He was drunk at that time and mumbled that His Majesty has been looking everywhere for genius physicians to treat the eldest prince. However, when he sobered, he refused to admit it.”

“I guess the eldest prince must be sick.” Speaking until here, Qin Wang said again: “Ah Ling, don’t mention this matter to outsiders.”

Qin Ling smilingly said: “I understand.”

After leaving the main hall, Qin Ling’s smile faded away and the whole person was in a trance. There was only one sentence left in her mind, “The eldest prince must be sick.”

 The author has something to say:

[Small Theater]
Before the child’s final exam:
Qin Wang bellowed: Si Yue’s training class cost 800 taels? This tuition fee is too high! Isn’t this swindling people!

After the child’s final exam:
Qin Wang wept: Teacher has worked hard.

Translator’s rambles:

I have to point this out by the way, as it will matter at the later part of the story. The Ling in Su Ling and Qin Ling names are different.

菱 (Sū líng) and 秦婈 (Qín líng); despite using the same pinyin (and pronunciation) they’re different. So, from this point onwards, I will be using Líng (pay attention to the i letter) for Su Líng, and normal-looking Ling for Qin Ling, as some old acquaintances will be calling her Ah Líng (her old name) rather than Ah Ling (the present name).

Confusing? Yes, I also had to brainstorm to come up with this. Just remember that we will be seeing the name Qin Ling a lot, so I will use the normal-looking i font for Qin Ling because this translator is lazy.