Ex-Girlfriend Blackens Every Day: Chapter 39
ARC 3: SWAPPED EX-GIRLFRIEND (7)
Every day he would go to the imperial court then return home to study that crab apple seed.
However, the thing had been planted for so long, yet it wouldn't sprout!
How could this be?Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
Was his method wrong?
Wei Yu looked through the manor's entire collection of books about plants and flowers. He was at his wit's end and had to lower his pride to ask some experienced gardeners.
After all that tossing, he unknowingly became a great master.
For example, when he saw the gardeners in his manor feeling helpless over a cluster of double petal peonies, Wei Yu immediately saw the crux of the issue.
Wei Yu thought to himself, if he can no longer live as a prince once day, it was more than possible to make a living from growing plants and flowers.
This darned skill was all because of that little villain!
Wei Yu absent-mindedly rubbed the edge of the flower pot.
He wonders what the villain is doing right now.
What was Linlang doing?
Naturally, she was petting her dog—uh, that's not right. She was stroking her man's hair!
The handsome emperor made an ugly face. "Prince Wang seems to have set his heart on you."
To be honest, he was regretting it. If he knew it would be like this, he would never have allowed Linlang to approach Prince Wei!
Although Wei Chen knew she could not like that guy, he was in a bad mood. He was vexed by the wolf eyeing his things!
Feeling upset, he pulled the woman and took a bite.
A deep red tooth mark was suddenly printed on her snow-white arm.
Linlang: "..."
Is he really a dog? This violent temper that bites at every turn was really bad!
Wei Chen was satisfied.
En, this woman had already been exclusively branded by him. No one can covet her.
After thinking for a while, he began to ridicule his love rival.
"They say Wei Yu goes back to trifle with that broken seed every day. He's a dignified prince, yet he does the work of a gardener?! Vulgar! Too vulgar!" His expression was disdainful.
Linlang smiled, "Is gardening so bad? In my opinion, men who know how to nurture plants and flowers are far more interesting."
"..."
10,000 critical hit.
The man was suspiciously quiet.
Then, his expression became profound as he said, "Zhen is...actually familiar with planting techniques."
En, tomorrow he will have Xiao Yuanbao collect the finest florists!
In fact, the royal family hoarded quite a number of ancient records about floriculture and agriculture. He could just move them to his imperial study!
Even if he was not familiar with the content right now, he will come to know it in the future, right?
As a result, His Majesty spoke confidently, "If there is anything you do not understand about flowers, do not hesitate to ask Zhen!"
Yo, his word was very resolute.
"Your Majesty knows how to plant flowers? You are quite knowledgeable."
Linlang smiled at him meaningfully.
Hehe, planting flowers?
Does this emperor want to become fertilizer for her flowers?
This foolish man happily ran over one day to say that he was going to water her crab apples and let them experience the 'grace of an emperor'. What was the result? The pot was flooded. She pretended to kill it then transferred the responsibility to the absent Xiao Yuanbao.
Anyway, men attached a lot of importance to face. It was better to just praise him.
"From now on, Qie's future flowers will depend on Your Majesty's care."
Linlang fiddled with his hair in a sweet manner.
The man whose head was stroked felt very happy. He wanted to continue 'denouncing', but Linlang's concise words changed the subject. Instead, he enthusiastically talked about his 'knowledge' regarding plants and flowers in order to give the impression that he was 'very experienced'.
A month passed in a flash, but the crab apple seed Wei Yu was given did not grow.
The man held the flowerpot as he stood before Linlang with his head lowered.
Today, the noble consort was wearing a poignant sapphire blue brocade skirt. Her thin earlobes were decorated with jade pendant earrings and the ashy purple tassels swayed as if a spring flower had just descended on her shoulder.
"I...I failed."
Wei Yu didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably ashamed.
Linlang admired his defeated face then spoke slowly, "It would be surprising if you really managed to grow it."
He suddenly raised his head.
"It's an ornamental flower seed; beautiful, but lifeless." She squinted her enchanting eyes at him, "If this couldn't be seen, then Brother Yu must be too stupid!"
Wei Yu: "..."
He was tricked by the little villain again, wasn't he?
That charming face suddenly leaned forward, "I say, why is Brother Yu so honest? You could have just used a crab apple plant to trick me."
After all, this male lead was the master of cunning and insidiousness!
Wei Yu held his breath.
Her pupils resembled a pair of lustrous pearls. They were as clear and limpid as ever before.
Right, why didn't he?
He could have swindled her, completed the task in advance, and gotten rid of this person who put him ill at ease.
But to his surprise, he did not.
It was like walking on the edge of a jagged cliff where a single mistake would lead to a horrid death, but the scenery was so beautiful, he was unable to look away.
Wei Yu was rarely at a loss.
Linlang sat back in a composed manner. Smiling, she said, "In light of your honesty, I will count this as the second thing."
"Many thanks for Your Highness's generosity." He smiled with some difficulty as he watched her subconsciously fiddle with her earrings. The motion resembled the innocent activity of pushing a swing, seemingly lovely and ingenuous.
"For the last thing..."
She smiled mysteriously, causing Wei Yu's heart to tighten.
So pretty.
That was his first thought.
———Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
The 15th day of the first lunar month was the first full moon after the new year. On that night, the moonlight was hazy and lanterns were hung along all the streets. Unmarried men and women walked closely together and stopped from time to time to admire performances, giving the night a charming quality.
"Husband, come take a look at this. It's so thrilling."
"Don't always squeeze through people." The man frowned, "What will I do if you fall?"
"Aiyah, I know! This is a rare sight; can't you just indulge me this once? In any case, aren't you here?" The woman blinked at him, "I know Husband will protect me, right?"
The red phoenix skirt around her waist was slim and graceful. She was holding an eight-sided carousel as she stood there against the wind, smiling at him from within the crowd. Suddenly, neither the lanterns nor the moonlight shone as brightly as her lovable smile.
Several youths passing by foolishly bumped into a stall from looking at her in a daze. Peals of laughter followed their gaffe.
He could somewhat understand that tyrant's heart.
Wei Yu's face was slightly red when he whispered, "Right."
Linlang pretended to be sick this time around. After avoiding the guards, she sneaked out of the palace with a certain someone. The two pretended to be an ordinary couple as they visited the Lantern Festival. She was not the least bit timid as she stood in front of the fireworks display and confidently called him 'husband' with such intimacy.
There was an inexplicable emotion surging in Wei Yu's heart.
When he was with Feng Sisi, he called her 'dear wife' in a desire to tease her. However, when he faced Linlang, the appellation turned solemn and he didn't dare to say it at will. He always felt that he must be more prudent.
They followed the stream of people, admired the bright lanterns, watched performances, and ate sticky rice dumplings. The pair looked like an ordinary young couple attending this universal celebration.
Linlang was perfectly contented with wearing a silver bracelet Wei Yu paid from his own pocket. She was beaming when she said, "The vendor owner is a really good person. He sold it to us for such a discounted price."
The tips of the man's ears were hot. Fortunately, they were walking under the trees where the shadows covered up his embarrassment.
The portly stall owner said they were the best match he had ever seen in his line of business and sold the item at half price off in light of their affinity. He also encouraged them to come back next time. He will have colored glass earrings in stock that would suit his wife's beauty.
"It's a pity. I would have liked to see those earrings," Linlang said remorsefully. She turned her head to ask Wei Yu, "Do you think I'm greedy? This is clearly our last time, but I still want to make unreasonable demands."
He didn't dare to think further on what she was referring to and chose to avoid her line of sight.
Is it the last time?
After this, she will return to the fortified palace and become the imperial noble consort. They will have nothing to do with one another. She said that since she promised him, she would let the real Zhou Linlang disappear forever.
Did this disappearance also include their childhood friendship?
No, there was no such wonderful thing between them. From the day he heartlessly stunned her, from the moment he watched that red sedan move further away, he had lost his right to make her stay.
"What did you wish for?" He asked softly.
An eye-catching blue river lantern slowly drifted to the distant horizon.
"I thought you would know."
The girl standing by the river turned her head. Her face was much more delicate under the lantern lights, and the expression in her luminous eyes was incredibly soft at that moment. They briefly captured the night scene like round liquid mirrors.
They captured his figure as well.
Overcome by an inexplicable impulse, he squatted down, allowing the corner of his robe to sink into the ice-cold water, and gave his 'wife' a tender kiss.
He tasted the bitterness.
They were tears, but whose were they?
———
Wei Yu returned to the mansion in a daze.
Feng Sisi stayed awake and waited for him in the lounge.
"Where have you been?"
Feng Sisi, who had been blown by the cold wind all night, couldn't help but question him.
This festival was the best occasion for couples to go have fun, but not even a shadow of his could be found! She had personally crafted her beautiful clothes to wear on the streets in hopes of awing everyone with her work.
"The study."Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
Wei Yu said this with an expression of not wishing to speak anymore, but Feng Sisi never looked at people's faces. Ever since she arrived in this world, she had been cared for by sons of nobles. Everyone especially liked her frank character, saying it was refreshing, and so she became increasingly forthright.
Feng Sisi blocked him and said coldly, "You went to the study with a carousel lantern? It looks to me that you had a date with a beauty!"
He looked at the eight-sided lantern in his hands and said nothing.
She said, 'At least commemorate this way.'
She wore that pair of bracelets while he kept the lantern.
Feng Sisi's heart dropped with a thud. Did she really guess it right?
"Slut!" She couldn't help screaming out. Her eyes were red when she shouted, "You dared to find a little three1 behind my back?!"
What is a little three?
He had no mind to decode the strange phrase she uttered.
Wei Yu was preoccupied with that memory of her standing outside the manor, watching him as he closed the gates.
In a flash, they became two worlds apart.
An infuriated Feng Sisi ran over to bite him but was flung down by the man.
She hit the ground in a stupor and gazed at him with a look of disbelief.
"Servants, escort the princess to her room."
Wei Yu shook his sleeve and left.
He didn't know what he was doing. A sheet of rice paper rolled open. As he put pen to paper, the vivid image of a woman smelling the light fragrance of plum flowers was brought to life. That gentle smile could dissipate the chill of ice and snow.
My forehead covered by my hair cut straight,
I played with flowers pluck’d before the gate.
On a hobby-horse you came on the scene,
Around the well we played with plums still green.2
Fool.
He was an utter fool.
The cited poem is written from the perspective of a merchant's wife describing the affection she has had for her husband since her childhood years to the present time as well as her longing for him when he leaves for business. The Chinese idiom, 'green plums and hobby-horse', which figuratively means 'innocent affection between children' or 'childhood sweethearts' comes from this lovely poem. I chose the English translation that rhymes because I like how it chimes（^ヮ^）
Wow, Wei Yu is so scummy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for translating!