Lady Kelpi Translations

Chapter One Hundred and Two:
Just Then

After the punishment was completed, Ling Buyi remained silent, the Fifth Prince howled, and Shaoshang wept and wiped away her tears. The veins in the Third Prince’s forehead bulged violently, and he waved his hand to disperse all the palace eunuchs and maids.

Shaoshang scrambled to Ling Buyi’s side and cried hoarsely, “Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain? You still recognize me, right? Do you feel dizzy…? If you can’t speak, don’t say anything! Let’s go find a physician… don’t be afraid…”

The Third Prince wanted to curse, ‘Who is afraid? Even if the capital city is conquered, your man will never be afraid!’

Shaoshang looked at the shocking bloodstains on her fiancé’s shoulders. She remembered when she had been beaten, she was in excruciating pain and didn’t even bleed. Ling Buyi must be feeling even more miserable now.

So, her heart shattered into pieces and she didn’t dare touch the bloodstained wounds. She could only hold Ling Buyi’s pale and sweaty head in her arms while the Third Prince looked at her and rolled his eyes.

Didn’t this silly girl realize that Ling Buyi’s flogging was completely different from that of his Fifth Brother? Father also put in a lot of effort for Ling Buyi. Speaking of Mistress Cheng, this woman had neither talent nor family power. It seemed that her mind was not very clear today. Apart from her meager beauty, the Third Prince really couldn’t see why Ling Buyi was so interested in her.

Just as he was thinking this, the Third Prince saw Ling Buyi glancing at him from Cheng Shaoshang’s arm, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

The Third Prince raised his eyebrows. So, he did notice? Wasn’t his reaction slow?

There were actually quite a few strange aspects to this beating, but the maidservants and guards present didn’t dare to speak up. The only prince who had the chance to reveal the truth was now only concerned about his swollen buttocks, desperately wanting to go back to his mother Concubine Xu and have her hold him. He didn’t have the strength to interfere with other matters.

The Third Prince’s heart trembled. He wanted to say a few words to avoid Ling Buyi’s inexplicable question such as, ‘Why did you see blood after fighting for half a day without much pain?’ This would ruin his father’s painstaking arrangement.

Unexpectedly, Ling Buyi’s head tilted and collapsed into his fiancée’s arms, as if he went unconscious. Shaoshang thought that her fiancé had fainted from pain so, naturally, she let out a mournful cry.

The Third Prince couldn’t believe it.

By now the sky was already dark and the cold wind was howling like a beast. The cold air was piercing. The first cold wave of winter had arrived.

Ling Buyi was sent back to his old childhood residence in Changqiu Palace – a side hall on the east side of the palace. A fire was lit and Shaoshang lay beside Ling Buyi’s bed, crying. The Emperor sat beside him, watching the attendant clean and apply medicine on Ling Buyi.

The Emperor was very pleased that his plan had gone the way he wanted. “Shaoshang, all the injuries on Zisheng’s body are due to you. In the future, you should think more about Zisheng. As husband and wife, every move you make will always affect him.”

Shaoshang propped up her peach-red and swollen eyes. “Your Majesty,” she said in a mournful voice, “I have definitely learned my lesson and won’t be mischievous again.”

The Emperor was very satisfied with her answer. “That’s right. You have to take more care of yourself in the future…” He was about to add another spark to the fire when he saw the Empress’s calm expression begin to shift. He had no choice but to shut up. “Well, the Empress and I will leave first. Take care of him.”

“Take care of him?” the Empress said. “Zisheng has already reached adulthood and there are many inconveniences in the palace. Shaoshang, please come with me.” She glanced at her adopted son and inwardly cursed. Who raised him to be such a good little actor?

“Your Majesty, Master Ling hasn’t had dinner yet,” Shaoshang said, her chest heaving.

The Empress wanted to roar that she had not eaten anything, either! Instead, she took a deep breath and said with a restrained expression, “It’s getting late. Shaoshang and I will go back to have dinner. You’ve been running back and forth all day and this afternoon you weren’t able to rest because you were taking care of me. You must be very tired. Have a good night’s sleep tonight. When you wake up tomorrow morning, you can come and visit Zisheng.” She walked out the door.

Ling Buyi glanced at his adoptive father.

The Emperor really wanted to help him but the Empress was clearly in a rage. He could only rub his nose and obediently followed her out.

Shaoshang didn’t want to leave him, but the Empress’s normally gentle tone was unusually firm. She didn’t dare to disobey and could only reluctantly follow them out.

Under the watchful eyes of Old Lady Zhai, Shaoshang finished her dinner without really tasting it. After, the Empress ordered her to wash up and go to bed. With the threat of the Fifth Princess gone, she could finally sleep in her own room tonight.

The bed curtain was made of ginger yellow velvet and thick brocade, embroidered with delicate and dense emerald birds in the treetops of a forest using gold and emerald silk threads. This had been the tribute brocade that was given at the beginning of the year. The Empress specially left it for Shaoshang before distributing it. Even ordinary officials and families would not be able to make winter coats out of this soft, thick and precious material, but it could be used to make her curtains. 

She didn’t know what type of curtain Ling Buyi’s bed had. Was it warm? Did his room even have one?

Although it was his old childhood residence, it had been deserted for many years. Even in a hurry, Shaoshang didn’t know if the moisture had been removed or if the bedding was soft and warm. It was surprisingly cold tonight and he still had injuries on his body. It wouldn’t be good if he gets sick while recuperating.

Shaoshang was both troubled and worried, rolling around in bed as if she were flipping pancakes and nearly waking up the young palace maid who was sleeping outside. She had been flipped three times and still couldn’t fall asleep. In the end, she couldn’t bear it anymore and lifted the blanket off the bed. She neatly dressed herself in a thick dress, tied her soft, long hair into a ponytail, and finally rolled up her blanket. Hugging the blanket tightly to her, she creeped out the room.

Before leaving, she hesitated for a moment by the warm stove where there was still a sweet soup for her throat that the Empress had brought. After thinking for a moment, she tried her best to reach out her fingers from the chubby blanket, wrapped her sleeves around a jar, and then tiptoed out the door.

…

Ling Buyi lay on his stomach on the couch, recuperating while Liang Qui Fei stood guard. He was muttering about how difficult it was for him to sneak in there and take care of his young master, only to be stabbed as a eunuch.

“…Stop making noise. You can lean against the wall and sleep for a while,” Ling Buyi said, closing his eyes.

Liang Qiu Fei quickly closed his mouth. He was about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard a knocking on the door.

Ling Buyi’s eyes opened. Liang Qiu Fei laughed uncertainly. “It’s cold outside so it’s probably a small animal from the garden coming to take shelter.” He went up and opened the door slightly, taking a look.

The door opened just a crack and a chill rushed towards Liang Qiu Fei. Then, a small figure holding a round object stumbled in, the scattered snow seemed like pink and white poplar flowers by the March River. Following the moonlight and cold wind, it fluttered into the room like flying flowers.

The newcomer moved away from the bedding and revealed a bright red face.

Ling Buyi suddenly propped himself up, a warm feeling rushing into his heart, like a huge current coming from the wilderness, swift and intense. “Shaoshang!” he exclaimed. “Why are you here?”

“Close the door!” Shaoshang snapped at the foolish Liang Qiu Fei. “Do you think your young master can’t die from the cold?” At the same time, she bent down and placed the jar on the floor beside her.

Liang Qiu Fei jumped and quickly turned around to close the door.

Ling Buyi sat on the edge of the bed in his thin, snow-white coat, his eyes were filled with joy. Before he could get up and greet her, Shaoshang had already rushed forward. “Don’t get up! Be careful of the injury on your back…!” She shook her arms vigorously and unfolded the thick blanket, covering Ling Buyi with it.

Ling Buyi felt like he was in a dream. He sat there dumbfounded, enveloped in the gentle and warm fragrance of a young girl.

“I knew the bedding here was still for the autumn, so thin and cold!” The girl looked at the bed with disdain. “Who knows how cold it’ll get. Here, use my blanket. Old Lady Zhai has been drying and baking it for several days… keep warm.”

Liang Qiu Fei opened his mouth and was about to comment but quickly closed it under the gaze of his young master.

Out of fear of getting used to being soft and unable to withstand the hardships of the military, the young master rarely used a stove, even in winter. As long as a drop of water didn’t turn into ice, he always had a thin, cold bed.

“…I didn’t know it was snowing outside, but when I went back to get the oilcloth, I was afraid of waking up the palace maid who was serving me, so I had to come over like this. Fortunately, it’s only fine snow and not very dense, either. I ran over to avoid the wind, and the blanket probably didn’t get much snow on it.” Shaoshang muttered to herself as her two little hands struggled to pull the blanket around him.

Unfortunately, Ling Buyi was tall and slender and, even though this blanket was large, only covered his body. Shaoshang huffed, feeling discouraged. Ling Buyi suddenly extended his slender arm, unfolded the blanket and covered the girl in his arms, lifting her up together with the blanket.

Liang Qiu Fei smacked his lips. Even though he didn’t have four beauties like his older brother, he knew when he wasn’t needed in the moment. He pushed open the door and cautiously snuck out.

Shaoshang was hugged to her heart’s content. When she pushed back, her hand opened the front of Ling Buyi’s shirt and revealed a young man’s strong chest. Ling Buyi lowered his head and smiled, “Whatever you want to do, it’s up to you.”

“It’s up to me!” Shaoshang’s face went bright red. “Let go of me! You lecher, I was kind enough to bring you a blanket and you’re trying to take liberties!”

Ling Buyi opened his arms, showing his exposed chest, and chuckled lightly. “Why don’t we call someone in to judge? Who is taking liberties with who?”

“Call someone!” Shaoshang pushed him away with all her might.

Ling Buyi furrowed his brows and let out a hiss, his body falling limp. Shaoshang panicked and hugged his tall body. “Did you pull at the wound? Does it hurt? Don’t move. Should I go find a physician…?”

Ling Buyi leaned against the girl, embracing her in his arms. He buried his face into her warm and delicate neck, gently nuzzling against it.

Shaoshang’s face flushed. She forcefully lifted her head and, with a stern expression, said, “Are you pretending? Is this a trick of injuring yourself to gain sympathy?”

“What trick?” Ling Buyi asked.

“You used methods that got you hurt to make me feel sorry for you, which achieves your goals,” Shaoshang explained.

“Why do you feel heartbroken when I’m hurt?” Ling Buyi leaned against her shoulder, a smile lighting up his eyes. “If you don’t feel heartbroken, then this strategy won’t work.”

Shaoshang, in a fit of anger, pushed him down onto the bed and stood beside it in a huff.

Ling Buyi leaned down and chuckled lightly, revealing a smiling face. He gently took the girl’s hand and whispered, “I have made Lady Shaoshang worry, this is my good fortune.”

Shaoshang pouted as she was pulled to sit on the floor, her face coming close to his.

She looked at him. Ling Buyi was lying on the bed, his face pale, and his hair as black as crow feathers glistening with tiny droplets of melting snow. His young and handsome face looked exhausted. Her heart suddenly softened into cotton wool and she melted again.

By a stroke of fate, she leaned over and pressed a kiss on his temple, gently caressing his forehead as he looked at her in disbelief.

Ling Buyi’s breath suddenly hitched. He grabbed the girl’s neck and pecked at her frozen, rosy little lips. He drew back and saw her bewildered and unresponsive expression. He smiled, feeling that she was more adorable than anything in this world, making him love her beyond measure. He kissed her again.

Shaoshang felt that the fingers clasped around her neck were long and powerful, enveloping her whole body with a fragrant and refreshing sandalwood scent. He was such a wise and intelligent person, but in this regard, he was extremely clumsy. He only knew how to lick and suck, but it made her feel incredibly gentle and loved.

After they kissed for a while, Ling Buyi pulled back, panting, and let go of her so there was a small distance between the two. His voice was husky as he spoke, “…There are some things we should be married before doing.”

“Isn’t that something I should be saying?” Shaoshang asked, giggling.

Ling Buyi stared at her flushed cheeks. “Then I’ll kiss you again and you can say it.”

“You wish!”

Shaoshang smiled and pushed him away. Ling Buyi grabbed her and easily pressed her onto the bed. For a while, the two of them laughed and frolicked like children. It was then that Shaoshang remembered how she had worked so hard to bring a jar of soup. She let the ceramic jar simmer by the stove and poured a bowl for Ling Buyi to drink.

Ling Buyi actually didn’t like eating sweet things but he still took the bowl with a smile.

The room was beginning to feel a little stuffy so Shaoshang walked over to the window and opened it slightly. She turned around to see Ling Buyi leaning against the head of the bed, draped in clothing and holding a bowl, looking dignified and beautiful. She smiled slightly and took out her small flute from inside her sleeve. “Drink slowly so you don’t burn yourself,” she said softly. “I’ll play the flute for you.”

“Is it that new song composed by your uncle and aunt?”

“Yes.”

The flute played a gentle and lonely tone, like a solitary and delicate sigh.

Before encountering Sang Shunhua, Cheng Zhi lived a happy and smooth life for more than twenty years, without having any worries. Before falling in love with Cheng Zhi, Sang Shunhua had already developed a cold heart towards love and was determined to live her life quietly and calmly. Fortunately, they were destined to meet and didn’t miss each other.

The sound of the flute slowly turned around, finally crossing mountains and rivers, loving but no need to be overjoyed, like reuniting with an old friend, holding hands and never parting again.

The sound was like a poem or a song, spreading out in a melodious manner. Even the cold wind outside the window seemed to have softened a bit. The wind traveled the sound over to the main hall, where the Emperor had pushed open the window and was listening attentively.

At first, the Empress refused to pay attention to him. But, after a moment, she couldn’t help but stand by the bed and listen quietly to the flute playing. After a long time, she smiled and said, “This song should only be heard from the sky. Hmm, it must have been composed by Shaoshang’s third uncle and his wife.”

“Good music,” she said after a pause. “It’s as clear as the mountains and streams, elegant as plum branches and snow. It’s both gentle and graceful, yet free and easy. Two hearts that know each other… like a pair of immortals.”

The sound of the flute gradually stopped and the Emperor closed the window and turned around. “That girl is actually intelligent,” he said with a sigh and a smile. “Clear and pure, but she has a bit of a rebellious temper.”

“Why don’t you praise Shaoshang to her face?” the Empress asked, smiling. “Every time you meet her, you always scold her. Now whenever she sees you, it’s like a mouse avoiding a cat.”

“She’s not Zisheng,” the Emperor said, shaking his head. “Zisheng has an old head on young shoulders, always aware of self-reflection and a sense of propriety when he is advancing or retreating. But she has some shortcomings in her character and has to be taught well. I’ll be the strict father and you be the loving mother. Let me be the villain… Who would have thought such an upright person would fall for her. Oh well, if she learns well, Zisheng will also be loved and cherished by someone who knows the cold and the heat. In the future, even in the underworld, I have the face to meet Brother Huo Chong.”

…

Once she finished the song, Shaoshang put down her flute. “How was it?” she asked proudly. “It is indeed a good piece of music. I wasn’t just bragging.”

Ling Buyi looked at her in a daze. Shaoshang felt strange and kept asking him what was wrong. He finally responded after the third time she asked, “It’s nothing. I just remembered the first time I saw you.”

Shaoshang tilted her head, thinking about their first meeting. “Well, when we first met at Uncle Wan’s house, I had a bruised nose and swollen face. I met you at such an ugly time, I’m really unlucky.”

“What are you talking about?” Ling Buyi asked, looking surprised. “Our first meeting wasn’t at the Wan Mansion, but during the Lantern Festival.”

“What did you say?” Shaoshang also had a look of surprise on her face, followed by a look of confusion. “Did I see you that night?” Anyone who saw someone like Ling Buyi would likely never forget.

The two of them stared at each other in varying states of dismay. Ling Buyi was the first one to speak. “That night at the Lantern Festival,” he said slowly, “you, along with Commander Cheng, Madam Sang, and a couple of your brothers, were watching the street performers. I was across the street and saw you.”

“Oh!” Shaoshang suddenly remembered. “You were by those rotating lanterns, right?”

“Rotating lanterns?” Ling Buyi had to think for a moment. “Oh, right, there were rotating lanterns hanging under the eaves next to me. You didn’t see me, but you were staring at me for a long time.” She even remembered the lanterns, but couldn’t remember him?

“I looked at you for a long time, but I didn’t know it was you!” Shaoshang quickly defended herself.

Ling Buyi didn’t understand.

“I mean I saw you, but I didn’t see your face clearly,” Shaoshang said. “You’re tall, and the lantern blocked your face. I didn’t even know that person was you.”

Ling Buyi felt embarrassed, his face turning green. “I’d been looking at you for a while but you weren’t curious who I was.” A young lady from an ordinary family had already walked over and started making friends with her.

“So, you were looking at me…” Shaoshang trailed off as a laugh escaped her.

“Who else could I look at besides you?”

“Oh, that’s how I speculated. The lantern next to you depicted a family reunion and my father, aunt, and brothers looked like a happy family together. I thought you were feeling emotional watching my family…”

“Nonsense!” Ling Buyi couldn’t help but laugh angrily. “If I wanted to be involved in that, why would I be in the marketplace? His Majesty was holding a Lantern Festival feast at the palace which I could have gone to!”

“Since you were looking at me for so long, why didn’t you come find me?” Shaoshang asked. She found this entire conversation amusing.

“At that time, I hadn’t figured out if I wanted to get married or not,” Ling Buyi whispered, a disappointed look in his eyes.

“Master Ling, it’s just a conversation,” Shaoshang couldn’t stop herself from sighing. “It’s not even a matter of whether to get married or not.” First people had to get to know each other, feel each other out, and then talk about marriage.

Ling Buyi’s gaze was crystal clear. “If not to get married, why bother to strike up a conversation? Is that what you think?”

Seeing that her fiancé’s gaze was not kind, Shaoshang quickly began to speak with righteous indignation, “You’re right. I can’t stand those men and women messing around in the same place, not talking about marriage. Do they have so much to talk about?”

“Oh, I realized that I was wrong at first,” Ling Buyi sighed, glancing at her sideways and slowly straightening up. “Alright, let’s take a good look at the past.”

Shaoshang kindly went over and sat down.

“So, the first time you saw me was at the Wan family’s mansion. When I came up to you, I helped you up onto your horse and adjusted your stirrups. Didn’t you think that was abrupt?”

“…A little.” When he held onto her calf, Shaoshang remembered feeling numb all over.

“Later on, in the outskirts of Hua County, we met again. I thought it was rare to meet you three times. Didn’t you think so as well?”

“Actually… saving lives is also fate.”

“When you were dressing my wounds, you had such sincere words and a gentle expression. I thought you had feelings for me. But it turned out that you were just being sentimental?”

Shaoshang sat in silence. He was right.

“What did you think about my engagement with A’Yao?” Shaoshang could think of some unpleasant things.

“I thought you had a different mindset,” Ling Buyi said coldly. “After being seduced by Lou Yao, you left me behind.”

Sure enough! Shaoshang’s face went dark and she pressed her lips together.

“And you were so nice to me afterward?!” Shaoshang was somewhat indignant. She had unknowingly become a fickle woman.

“Since I never expressed any intention of marriage to you, and Lou Yao proposed marriage to you first, you could naturally choose to marry him… I have never blamed you,” Ling Buyi said sorrowfully.

It was only a few months ago, but now it felt as if was from a very distant past. Shaoshang sighed. “You never mentioned it, and I didn’t know…”

“If we had known each other before, would we argue less?” Ling Buyi asked, looking at the candlelight.

Shaoshang thought about his question. “Probably not,” she said. “We are naturally like this. You and I would argue over a meal if we could.” Without the filter of saving lives and being a hero, maybe the situation would be even worse.

Ling Buyi shook his head helplessly, seeming to have also thought of that.

The couple then looked at each other and smiled.

“By the way, what did you think when you first met me?” Shaoshang was very curious.

“That night, you were dressed in a blue dress and draped in a white fox skin cloak, with twin buns on your head and a pearl on each side. You resembled a doll,” Ling Buyi said. “You were still short at that time, probably coming up to my chest.”

Looking back at that time, surrounded by colorful lights and bustling voices, the girl had stood at the corner of the street alone and stubborn, with a strange desolate feeling around her.

When she looked over at him, her large eyes were pitch black and bright, innocent and inquisitive, as if they looked straight into his soul. The colorful lanterns on the street were nowhere near as beautiful as her eyes.

He stood there just watching for a while before he left.

He had been calm and quiet ever since childhood, and everything was well-organized. He hated unexpected events the most. So, he thought it was just a random mental fluctuation at the time and didn’t think much of it.

Now, thinking about it, perhaps deep down he just liked that type of girl.

(End of Volume)

…

I loved this chapter. Third Prince’s indignation, the Empress showing some backbone and scaring the Emperor, and the scene with our couple at the end!! This next volume is really good and I’m excited for everyone to read it!

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope everyone’s 2024 is everything you want it to be! Thank you so much for all the lovely comments, likes, and donations. You guys made my 2023 so much better and I can’t wait to bring more translations your way!

Next Chapter: The Beginning