Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 8

“Since imperial examination won’t do, just take the martial examination.”

 (T/N: The raw of the title is 飙戏, which means ‘better than other actors in the same play’.)

Sunlight penetrated through the window frame, completely displaying the greenish-blue bricks.
Jiang Lanyue opened her eyes slowly and took a quick glimpse at the man by her side.
Today was Qin Wang’s day off and he would wake up later than usual.

Jiang Lanyue got up quietly and sat down by the window. She was absent-mindedly putting on the earrings in front of the mirror when Qin Wang suddenly opened his mouth: “Why are you up so early today?”

The voice barely fell, and Jiang Lanyue’s hands shook. The rouge case fell to the ground.

Jiang Lanyue turned around, and smiled: “There’s a problem with the shop at the northwestern area, I’m going to see it.”
Qin Wang sat up and kneaded his neck, replying: “What problem? Is it serious?”
Jiang Lanyue walked to his side, patted his arms, personally massaged it for him, and said in a low voice: “Don’t worry, it’s not a big matter. If this concubine can’t handle it alone, I will tell Master. Master can finally take a break with great difficulty, so you should rest well.”

Qin Wang held her palms: “You’ve worked hard for my family affairs.”
Jiang Lanyue smilingly replied: “It’s not hard at all.”

Jiang Lanyue’s feet had just stepped out of the Qin residence before Qin Suizhi’s feet stepped into Qin Wang’s study room.

Holding the pile of letters, Qin Wang’s hands shook incessantly, and shortly after, he threw the letters onto the table, “Qin Zi, are you crazy! Why can’t you both tolerate her? She has been living in this house for more than 10 years, what has she ever argued about?”
Qin Suizhi coldly looked at Qin Wang: “If Father doesn’t believe me, you should follow her to the city and personally see where she’s going today.”

[Qin Zi: Qin Suizhi’s courtesy name. Courtesy name is given to a man upon reaching adulthood, usually at 20 years old]

Qin Wang’s face was expressing “unbelievable” and replied to him: “This is extremely absurd!”

“Is it that Father can’t believe me, or is it that Father doesn’t dare to believe me?” Qin Suizhi looked at Qin Wang and continued: “If Son accuses her wrongly today, then when Father returns, I will personally apologize to her.”

Qin Wang’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his fists were clenched so tightly that they turned white.

He hit the table ruthlessly before turning around to leave.

***

At dusk, red clouds filled the whole sky. With big and small bundles in her hands, Jiang Lanyue returned to Qin residence.

The manservant serving by Qin Wang’s side, Zhang Fou, said: “Concubine, Master is waiting for you in the main hall at this moment.”
Jiang Lanyue blinked and replied: “It is almost time for dinner, why is he at the main hall?”
Zhang Fou smiled awkwardly: “This… This servant doesn’t know.”

Jiang Lanyue followed Zhang Fou and crossed through the flower-patterned door, passed by Lanxu Pavilion, and arrived at the main hall.
With raised eyebrows and anxiety in her heart, she pushed the door open.

Qin Wang was sitting on a red sandalwood armchair with a pair of fish pattern, Qin Suizhi and Qin Ling were sitting at his side. The gazes of the three people fell on her.

“What a coincidence, Eldest Miss and Eldest Young Master are both here.” Jiang Lanyue put down the food box in her hand and smiled: “This concubine has bought two sets of clothes from Miaolan Pavilion for the Eldest Miss, but doesn’t know whether it will fit or not…”

Jiang Lanyue held a set of clothes and walked to Qin Ling, “Eldest Miss, take it and give it a try. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll go back and change it immediately.”

Looking at her face, Qin Ling immediately flung the clothes to the ground with her hand.

Usually, Qin Wang would certainly bellow, “Ah Ling, don’t overdo it!”
However, today, he only grasped the armrest tightly.

Jiang Lanyue bowed to gather the clothes. She bit her lower lips and with reddened eyes, spoke: “Is it that you don’t like the pattern or the style? Or is it the color? It’s all because I ask in advance…”
Speaking up here, Jiang Lanyue slowly breathed, waiting for Qin Wang to speak.

However, today, the quiet room made people anxious.

After a long while, Qin Wang started: “Where have you been today?”

Jiang Lanyue did not expect that he would abruptly ask this question, uneasiness flashed through her eyes, but her voice was still soft: “This concubine first went to Changqing Street, after buying several things, I thought that since Eldest Young Master rarely returns home, I went to buy his favorite crab, autumn crabs are fat, it is a good time to eat.”
This was the talent of Jiang Lanyue.
Her lies were always mixed with some truth, which was hard to distinguish.

Qin Wang looked at her eyes and grasped the jade ring in his thumb: “Then why did you withdraw 100.000 taels from the shop at Changqing Street today?”

Jiang Lanyue had already known that she would not be able to conceal this 100.000 taels, so she had already prepared the reason.
She hurriedly replied: “This concubine thought that Eldest Miss is a matchless beauty. She’s good-looking and intelligent, surely she will be selected to enter the palace. However, the inner palace is different from home, one will need to bribe here and there, so this concubine and the treasurer of Jinyu Pavilion ordered some Southern Sea pearls…”

“Enough!”
Qin Wang glared at her, his finger pointing at the indigo-colored bundle at Jiang Lanyue’s side: “What Southern Sea pearls! You tell me, what is that!”

Jiang Lanyue’s body went rigid as if a huge boulder had smashed upon her.
However, she remained reluctant to admit it: “This is some rouge that this concubine has purchased.”

Qin Wang raised his head and let out a “ah” sound. This sound, he did not know whether to cry or laugh.
Rouge. Good. Truly good.
Today, when he boarded the fast carriage, he was still telling himself that it was all a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. However in a blink of an eye, he saw her with Zhu Ze.

She gave Zhu Ze 100.000 taels, Zhu Ze gave her this indigo bundle.

Upon seeing this scene, Qin Wang exploded.

The person next to his pillow for more than 10 years, he was actually unable to understand her.

Qin Wang quickly approached her side and opened the bundle. With a crash, all 38 letters fell out.
These 38 letters could kill his daughter.

With a shaky hand, Qin Wang pointed at those letters and spoke: “What else do you have to say?”

Jiang Lanyue was suddenly enlightened.
No wonder that today, Zhu Ze had injuries in his face, no wonder that today, he kept stammering, totally unlike his greedy self in the past.

As it turned out, today’s event was a Hongmen Feast.

[Hongmen Feast (鸿门宴): Banquet set up with the aim of murdering a guest; refers to a famous episode in 206 BC when future Han emperor Liu Bang, escaped attempted murder by his rival Xiang Yu.]

At this moment, Jiang Lanyue thought, since it had come to this, should she vent her discontentment and acted insane or should she yield and ask for forgiveness?

After weighing the options, she chose the latter.
In her final analysis, Qin Wang was a person who was amenable to coaxing but not coercion.

Before she had even spoken, Jiang Lanyue’s tears ran down first and sorrowfully said: “Master, all of this is this concubine’s fault.”

Qin Wang repeatedly retreated. It seemed like he did not dare to believe the tears of the person before his eyes again.
The things from more than 10 years past flashed by one by one.

“Brother-in-law, I just thought of my sister, did you thought of her too? If Elder Sister is still alive, it must be great.”
“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. Madam’s kindness towards me is like a mountain, this concubine will surely respect her.”
“Master, since Madam can’t tolerate me, why don’t I just leave.”
“Master, this is our child, Rong’er.”
“Rong’er, be obedient. Don’t argue with your elder sister. Don’t make things difficult for your dad.”

Qin Wang took a deep breath and muttered: I’ve never slighted you, so why do you…

Jiang Lanyue cried and said: “This concubine has never thought of harming the Qin family. This concubine has originally planned to bring these letters for Master to see, I was merely striving for Rong’er. Rong’er was not born of the first wife and does not have an elder brother who loves her dearly, this concubine is afraid that she will be bullied later, so I’ve become possessed.”

Jiang Lanyue looked up at Qin Wang: “Master, if Elder Sister sees me like this, will she be utterly disappointed?”

After speaking, Jiang Lanyue got up and bumped herself against the red sandalwood square table. Because of the strength, blood tickled to the ground.

Qin Wang frowned and looked at her, saying: “What are you doing!”

Seeing this scene, even Qing Ling could not help admiring this little Jiang shi.

When something bad happened, she first admitted her mistakes before she mentioned Qin Rong, suggesting that every crime she had committed was because of the differences between the legitimate and illegitimate lines.
Ultimately, she mentioned Qin Wang’s unforgettable first wife, Jiang Mingyue.

Under her tearful word after word, Qin Wang’s cold and ruthless eyes obviously softened.

Jiang Lanyue precisely seemed like a hopeless woman who had no one to rely on.

Upon seeing this, Qin Suizhi angrily hit the table.
With a face like crown jade and ice-cold eyes, he calmly said word by word: “From this day onward, you’re no longer a concubine of Qin family. Because you’re the birth mother of Sister Rong, I will not ask for your life, but this Qin residence cannot keep you anymore. I have a villa in Qian’an, tomorrow I’ll let people escort you there.”

Jiang Lanyue’s breath halted.
Qian’an County, that was Wen Shuanghua’s hometown. If she returned to Qian’an, wouldn’t the Wen family peel off her skin?

Jiang Lanyue kneeled under Qin Wang and said: “This concubine is guilty and deserves to die a thousand death. I don’t dare to ask Master for forgiveness, but I’m asking for Eldest Miss and Eldest Young Master not to blame Rong’er. She doesn’t know anything, she is still young…”

After these words, Qin Rong immediately rushed in, “Mother, what are you doing! Quickly get up ah!”

Qin Suizhi said towards the manservant at his side: “Hurry up and pull Second Miss away, what are you waiting for!”

Qin Rong also kneeled down and leaned against Qin Wang’s leg: “Father, don’t drive Mother away, okay? Rong’er can’t live without a mother…”

Qin Wang who was over 40 years old, looked at everything in front of him. His heart seemed to tremble.

Qin Rong was raised by him and Jiang Lanyue had served him for more than 10 years.
He really could not bear to.

At this exact moment, Qin Ling got up. Her fingertips stroke the corner of her eyes and her jade-like nose was slightly red, noiselessly weeping.

She lowered her head and looked at Qin Rong, then slowly said: “You can’t live without a mother, then do you think I can live without a mother?”

Qin Rong raised her eyes and looked at Qin Ling. She collapsed and cried loudly, “Eldest Sister, Mother made a mistake, Rong’er also made a mistake. Eldest Sister, just hit me.”

“Hit you?” Qin Ling turned her head and said towards Qin Wang: “Father, if not because of her, my mother wouldn’t have died. If my mother is still alive, Big Brother also wouldn’t have vowed that oath.”

Big pearl-like teardrops slid down Qin Ling’s cheeks, “The first two days when the imperial exam results were posted on the notice board, everywhere was filled with the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus flower. Father, do you know how long did Big Brother stand there?”

“What am I doesn’t matter, just the eldest daughter of the Qin family who is disrespectful, talentless, lacking in knowledge, arrogant, and unruly.” These words were all said by Qin Wang while pointing his finger at Qin Ling’s nose whenever he scolded her.

“But my elder brother is different. He’s outstandingly intelligent since childhood. In this life he can’t enter the officialdom, will it be useful even if I hit her?”

They could pierce into Qin Wang’s heart, did they think she can’t?
Qin Suizhi not being able to enter officialdom, was Qin Wang’s deepest pain in this lifetime.

Qin Ling saw that Qin Wang’s expression was on the verge of collapsing, she proceeded: “Father, do you still remember, that sentence my mother kept saying whenever her illness relapsed?”

Qin Wang’s pupil shrank, “Ah Ling…”

Qin Ling gave him the last strike, “She asked you, why wouldn’t you believe her.”

Qin Wang seemed like he was seeing Wen Shuanghua once again. Her face was pale, her hair disheveled. Her mouth just uttered silently: “Why doesn’t Husband believe me? I’m also your wife ah, so why?”

Qin Ling could see Qin Wang’s temperament clearly. This sentence was enough for him to feel guilty for the rest of his life.

Jiang Lanyue was completely terrified, the entire person shook like husks in threshing, but she still called out to Qin Wang: “Master… It’s not like this, not like this.”

One did not know how long had passed before Qin Wang closed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice: “Someone come. Escort the Second Miss back to her room and immediately send Jiang shi out of the residence.”

***

The sun descended and the moon ascended, the autumn breeze was slightly cold.

While carrying a lantern, Qin Suizhi moved a yellow rosewood chest to Qin Ling’s courtyard.

Qin Ling was astonished and spoke: “What is this?”
Qin Suizhi passed her the key and smiled: “Ah Ling, open it and take a look.”

Qin Ling took it.
The key entered the lock, and after shaking it twice, she lifted the chest lid.

After a look, Qin Ling was stumped for words.

Inside the chest was filled with golden leaves, first-rate goat fat jades, and Southern Sea pearls.
There was also the golden flower buyao embedded with a red pearl that she wanted.
These things were not invaluable, but it was enough to exchange for 10 shops in the best part of Dongzhimen.

Qin Suizhi said: “Although Jiang Lanyue is hateful, there are some truths in her words. Our family is not prominent, if you really enter the palace, there are many places you’ll need to bribe. Brother doesn’t have much to give you, this is originally your dowry that I’ve saved up for several years.”

Hearing this sentence, Qin Ling’s eyes suddenly reddened.
She seemed as if she was hearing Su Huai’an saying in her ears: “Ah Ling is about to get married. What do you want for your dowry, why don’t you give the list to me?”

Qin Suizhi lifted his hand and wiped her tears. He hooked the corner of his mouth and said: “Are you moved? At present, your brother is a big merchant in Henan, in the near future, our family business will expand to Suzhou. Cloth, flour, jewelry, restaurant, and there are still many more that you don’t know about. I’ve thought about it. In 2 years, I’ll board a ship and go out to the sea to see the southern part of the world…”

Qin Ling did not speak, only listened to Qin Suizhi talking about the outside world.
He talked about how awesome he was and how easy it was to earn money.

However, Qin Ling knew in her heart that Qin Suizhi only said these words because he wanted her to forget about that oath.

But she could not forget Qin Suizhi’s gaze when he looked at the top achievers’ list of the imperial examination at the Gongyuan.

Qin Suizhi spoke for half a shichen. After talking until his mouth and tongue dry, he got up for a cup of water. He barely drank a mouthful of water when he heard Qin Ling spoke: “Brother, since imperial examination won’t do, just take martial examination.”

[martial examination (武举): is a military subject in the imperial examination system of China, North Korea, and Vietnam. The purpose is to select military talents while the general imperial examination is held to select literati officials, so technically, Qin Suizhi can participate because he only vowed not to join the general imperial examination]

Qin Suizhi went rigid, “What did you say?”

“Although martial examination emphasizes more on skill and bravery, it will also test war strategies and there is an essay on current affairs that will be submitted to the emperor as policy advice.” Qin Ling looked at his back and said: “The present emperor has a military background and respects talents, he also appoints people according to their abilities. Even though the martial examination is not comparable to imperial examination, but to just enter the officialdom, it should be enough.”

The voice barely fell, Qin Suizhi turned his body and faced her.

The candle lights were bright and beautiful, and Qin Ling saw a cluster of light within the youth’s eyes.