The Times Spent in Pretense

“May Your Highness please forgive me!” said the palace maid who had tidied up the crown prince’s bed, kneeling with a panic-stricken expression.

When the crown prince stepped foot within his inner chamber, he noticed that the grass-woven butterfly had already unraveled into a clump of grass on his bed. He frowned. Stooped to pick up that lump of grass. The young girl of the Hua family really had a poor skill in grass-weaving.

 

“It’s fine. Withdraw.” He turned around and opened a wooden box. Within sat an ugly clay figurine.

He pulled it out. Placed the clump of withered grass at the bottom of the box as padding. Then he placed the clay figurine back inside. When all was said and done, this grass clump was the product of the girl’s kind feelings, so he couldn’t throw it away in passing.

Anyway, he’d have a very interesting and enjoyable time whenever he went out to play with the Hua clan’s girl. When it was necessary to speak, she’d speak. When it was necessary to stay quiet, she’d stay quiet. An intelligent and quick-witted girl.

Wiping the head of the little clay figurine, he sighed.

If that person were in front of him, then he really would stroke her head.

Jinling Center. The name sounded like a shop that sold little bells. In reality, it was one of the famous centers for dance, song, and music within the capital. Within were musicians and female dancers, etc. Some were from impoverished families and entered the business to sell their skills. Others were from families that had committed crimes and became members of the Untouchable caste.

Recently, this music center had a new musician specialized in the zither. One with an outstanding appearance. His presence drew many noble young ladies there, and they would spend money like water, causing Jinling Center to become well-known along with him.

Lately, Jiamin had not been in a good mood. Her cousin sisters knew she had feelings for Prince Ying. What a pity that he was already engaged to the daughter of the Lin family, disappointing Jiamin.

Her cousins worried that she would grow ill from overthinking, and so asked around until they found out this: Jinling Center had an extremely handsome zither musician. After that, they invited Jiamin out to come watch this beauty.

Jiamin thought that no matter how unnatural Hua Liuli was, there was no way she’d appear at Jinling Center now. As such, she agreed to go without the slightest hesitation.

The group of girls found a box with a beautiful view. They leaned against the railing in their seating, appreciating the dances and songs below.

“It’s not that amazing. The musicians and dancers in the palace are more interesting,” said Jiamin. Once she gave the performance a few looks, she lost interest in it.

“Although the musicians and dancers of the palace are better than the ones here, the latter have a rustic charm.” Young Miss Yao smiled. Pointed at a male dancer below who was swinging his hips. “Look at that. How sexy.”

Hearing the shrieking below, Jiamen cast him a glance. Just someone low-class.

Not long after, the candles all around were extinguished all of a sudden. Only the lights on the stage remained. A musician in white appeared, a mask in the image of an evil spirit hiding his face. In his hold was a zither.

“He’s here,” said one of Jiamin’s cousins, though Jiamin couldn’t tell who it had been.

The musician was cold to the extreme. Despite the fact that countless people threw jewels and hairpins toward the stage after he had sat down, he did not move to pick them up at all.

After a song, he placed a fair hand on his fiendish mask, taking it off.

The ultimate switch from horrific and ugly to beautiful caused many to gasp.

A brief while later, the stage was already full of rewards.

“Thank you,” said the musician, a faint smile on his lips as he bowed his head to pick up the hairpins by the foot of his robes. Softly, he plucked the zither. Then he raised his head as he looked at everyone with a smile.

Unconsciously, Jiamin sat up straight.

“Jiamin, I heard that as long as our bids are high enough, we can get this musician to come to our box for a private performance.”

“How interesting,” said Jiamin. She beckoned for one of the establishment’s staff and had them go downstairs and bring the musician over.

Once that musician left, the audience downstairs felt disappointed at once. The following performances seemed dull in comparison.

Jiamin and the others waited for a while, yet the musician did not appear. Frowning, she said, “What’s going on? Where is he?”

It was at this moment that the establishment’s staff returned with an ashamed expression. “Commandery Princess, that musician has already been brought away.”

“Brought away?” said Jiamin in disbelief. There weren’t many imperial princesses and commandery princesses in the entire capital. Who would dare fight over a musician whom they knew Jiamin had her eyes on?

“Who’s this shameless, actually daring to fight over someone with me?” Jiamin cut a furious figure. This wasn’t an issue about a musician; it was a matter of face.

Why didn’t that person ask around about her in public? Since young, whom had she, Yao Jiamin, ever been afraid of?

“Didn’t you people specially take care of this for us? Set aside that musician for us?” Young Miss Yao was also upset. She slapped the table. “I want to see just who has this much face.”

The establishment’s staff smiled awkwardly. “Noble Personages, the honored guest that won the auction of that musician said she was friends with you all.”

“All of us good friends are already here. Who has the nerve to pretend they’re friends with us?” Young Miss Yao knocked her arm slightly against Jiamin. “Jiamin, could it be that someone’s passing off themselves as someone important, pretending to be affiliated with us?”

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

Another young lady said in a soft voice, “I think we’re acting like those novel extras who get humiliated in a counterattack.”

“Shut up!” said Jiamin and Young Miss Yao, glaring at that girl together.

Last time, she also called themselves novel extras!

Truly ridiculous. They hailed from prestigious houses, no stranger to riches and honor from birth. How could they be extras from a novel? Could there be extras as noble and beautiful as them?

The crowd of young ladies arrived at the box belonging to the person who had stolen the musician from them. Pushed upon the door in an aggressive manner.

A young lady leaned against the back of a soft couch in an extremely lazy fashion, several pretty maidservants massaging her legs and shoulders and feeding her fruits.

“You’ve come?” said the young lady after noticing them. She lifted her tender and delicate arm. “Take a seat wherever you like. No need to be so polite.”

“Hua Liuli, so it was actually you—mph!”

Before Young Miss Yao could finish speaking, Jiamin covered her mouth and dragged her toward the entrance. “Sorry about disturbing you. Continue what you were doing.”

“Mmph mmph mmph.” With much difficulty, Young Miss Yao pulled away Jiamin’s hand. “Jiamin, what are you doing?”

“I just don’t think it’d be good if we make a big deal out of this.” A dry cough left her lips. “Anyway, if you want to fight over that musician, go ahead. But I won’t.”

Young Miss Yao recalled the little grudge she had against Hua Liuli. Immediately, she reached out for the door that Jiamin had shut.

“In any case, Hua Liuli isn’t in good health. She might faint if she’s angered.”

Such words caused Young Miss Yao to hesitate for a moment.

“And if she faints, an imperial physician might be summoned.”

Young Miss Yao’s hand paused.

“And when an imperial physician is summoned, Uncle and Aunt will know that you angered her into falling ill.”

Young Miss Yao drew back her hand.

“And once Uncle and Aunt get angry…”

“Forget it. It’s only a musician,” said Young Miss Yao, turning around to leave. “There are many handsome men in the world. I’m not going to bother with this woman.”

Seeing her cousin give up on fighting Hua Liuli over the musician, Jiamin let out a sigh of relief. Ignorance was bliss. Her cousin still didn’t know she had made a turn from the gates of hell back to the realm of the living.

Thankfully, her cousin didn’t have too much contact with Hua Liuli. They shouldn’t have too many conflicts between them.

Before the group of girls could walk away two steps, the door to the box behind them swung open. Hua Liuli stood at the doorway and beckoned to them. “Why are you people leaving? Come, let’s appreciate the performance together.”

Jiaming declined firmly in her heart, a stiff and polite smile on her face. “T-that’s not necessary…”

“How could that be? Good sisters are for a lifetime. How could we allow such a trivial matter to foster animosity between us?” Hua Liuli was all smiles as she looked at Jiamin. “Right, Elder Sister Jiamin?”

“No, it’s really not necessary. I think the view from our box is great.”

“Alright.” Hua Liuli looked down, sullen. “Since that’s the case, I won’t insist on Elder Sister Jiamin staying. I’ll invite you to play tomorrow.”

“It’s fine,” said Jiamin, scalp numb.

Lone, shapely brows furrowing a hint, Hua Liuli asked, “Does Elder Sister Jiamin not want to play with me?”

“Who wants to—”

And Jiamin covered her cousin’s mouth the quickest she had ever done so in her life. “T-then sorry to bother you.”

The young lady from before, who accompanied Jiamin and her group, sighed. “I misspoke before. We’re not novel extras. We’re the supporting characters.”

Young Miss Yao, who currently had her mouth covered by Jiamin’s hand, glared furiously at that girl. Can’t you be more useful? Why can’t we be the main characters?　　

After the group of girls returned to their box, Young Miss Yao shifted her gaze to Jiamin in a rage. The other party had not shown the least bit of a temper in front of Hua Liuli. And Young Miss Yao’s expression grew even more wrathful.

“You don’t have to say anything.” Jiamin took note of Young Miss Yao’s expression. Then she said softly into her ear, “I think being friends with Hua Liuli is a good thing.”

Because if you don’t be friends with her, you could die.

Face weathered and worn, Jiamin patted her cousin’s shoulder. “Cousin, you definitely understand me, right?”

Even Jiamin’s tone held the same flavor as Hua Liuli’s?!

Young Miss Yao stared at her in disbelief. It was like looking at a traitor.

A hateful turncoat had appeared among them!

 

Author’s Note:

Young Miss Yao: A traitor has appeared among us.

Jiamin: I saved my cousin’s life but can’t say anything about it. How painful.

sold little bells: The Ling 玲 in Jinling is the onomatopoeia for tinkling of bells/ jewels.untouchable caste: Untouchability is the practice of ostracizing a group of people regarded as ‘untouchables’, resulting in the segregation and persecutions from the people regarded as ‘higher’ caste.unnatural: 邪门. I can’t find the right word for this, but basically the feeling you get when you see a ghost or a demon. They’re… wrong and not supposed to be in this world. If anyone has a better word, let me know.Uncle and Aunt: More specifically, Jiamin’s father is the younger brother of Young Miss Yao’s father. So Jiamin and Young Miss Yao are first cousins from the male line.