The Times Spent in Pretense

In the Hua estate, the whole family sat around a table.

Using a ladle, Hua Liuli scooped up some beef meatballs and placed them into Hua Changkong’s bowl. “Third Brother, eat these. If you do, it’ll guarantee that you passed the exam without a hitch.”

“Come have a piece of pumpkin from this pumpkin soup. Its color has good implications. May you score top marks in the imperial exam,” said Hua Yingting, scooping a large ladlefull of said pumpkin soup and placing it into Hua Changkong’s bowl.

Noticing his mother preparing to give him something to eat as well, Hua Changkong rushed to cover his bowl with his hands. “Mother, don’t be superstitious like Father and Little Sis. It’s no good to be that way.”

Somewhat regretful, Wei Mingyue laid down her chopsticks. “The results of the imperial exam will be out tomorrow. Are you nervous or not?”

“I’m not?” said Hua Changkong, before thinking it over a bit. “I’m confident in myself.”

“Mm, then that’s good.” Wei Mingyue nodded. “You are my, Wei Mingyue’s, son. So your brain shouldn’t be too bad.”

“Mother is the most intelligent woman in Great Jin. As long as Third Brother has half of your intelligence, he will pass the exam.” Hua Liuli smiled, currying favor. “Come have a taste of this dish, Mother.”

“Liuli, I heard you went out to play today?” Wei Mingyue set down her chopsticks again and looked at the Hua Liuli in question.

“Didn’t you see me come home?” replied Hua Liuli, bit of a guilty conscience looming over her.

“You played until the sky was almost dark before returning. But it’s still early; I thought you’d be coming home during the Period of Zi.” An insincere smile on her lips, Wei Mingyue looked at Hua Liuli. “You also didn’t eat much of the evening meal. Did you fill your belly outside?”

“I just ate a teensy bit too much.” Hua Liuli used her index finger and thumb to depict just how tiny of a serving she had had. “Mother, this isn’t entirely my fault. It’s just that beauties are too easy on the eyes and the food was too delicious. So I couldn’t help but to stay a little longer outside.”

“Who were you with?” asked a furious Hua Yingting. “Which family failed at teaching their son not to play with a girl and only come home when the sky is dark?”

“H-His Highness the crown prince,” said Hua Liuli, eyes shifting right and left, anywhere except straight into her father’s gaze. “It really was an accident. I will definitely return home earlier next time.”

“So it was the crown prince, huh…” Hua Yingting grew silent for a moment, before lowering his head and continuing to eat with the bowl up in his face, having given up discussing the way the imperial family taught their sons.

“I remember you saying that you didn’t hold any romantic feelings for the crown prince.”

“There’s no romantic feelings, but I can still admire him, right?” Hua Liuli grabbed the crook of Wei Mingyue’s arm, swinging it. “Mother, I find the crown prince very pitiful.”

“Oh?” Wei Mingyue could not wrap her head around how a country’s crown prince could be considered that.

Thus, Hua Liuli told her family this sort of story: A man and woman were in love yet separated by death. Said man grew in a state where, though still alive, it were as if he was dead, thoughts surrounding him every night.

“Did the crown prince tell you this?” Wei Mingyue heard many rumors regarding the crown prince, but no one had ever mentioned there being a woman he loved as much as his life.

“That he didn’t. It seems too painful to ask the crown prince about such a thing. That’s why he never mentioned it. I drew this conjecture,” said Hua Liuli, full of confidence in her findings. “I have witnessed many instances of two people in love separated by death at the border. So I could see the crown prince’s thoughts with just a glance.”

Hua Yingting and Hua Changkong fell into a daze from what they had heard. So the crown prince was actually such a romantic man, loving only one person, wholehearted in his affections?

“From his words, I caught his intention of following that woman. So how could I not be worried?” A sigh escaped Hua Liuli’s lips. “The crown prince’s identity is special. If something happens to him, there’ll be big trouble. In order to make him happy today, I worked hard. I couldn’t just watch helplessly as he grew depressed.”

“If this is true and the crown prince intends to befriend you, it’s good to talk to him more and keep him happy.” Wei Mingyue sighed. “But most importantly, you have to protect yourself.”

Mothers knew their daughters. If the crown prince wasn’t handsome, her daughter wouldn’t be this patient with him.

“I have one other conjecture. The person His Highness the crown prince had feelings for was probably a sickly young lady. He wants to get close to me because I resemble her.” At this point, Hua Liuli could not help but click her tongue. “It really is pitiful. The person he loved passed away, yet her shadow seems to appear everywhere.”

Wei Mingyue stared at her daughter for a moment. “Liuli, if you read another messy novel in the future, I’ll make you copy it a hundred times.”

Not a word left Hua Liuli’s mouth.

Weren’t they just talking about the crown prince’s sad story? So why was it that in a blink of an eye, the topic changed to her not reading novels, this insignificant matter?

“Tomorrow the empress dowager will summon me into the palace to stay for a few days. Should I go?” Under the intense desire to live, Hua Liuli found a suitable topic to turn to.

“Do you want to go?” asked Hua Yingting.

“Her Majesty the empress dowager is humorous and witty. She treats me extremely well. Everytime I pay respects to her, she hates to part with me, so it seems like she wants me to accompany her.” Old Mistress Hua had died of illness long ago. When Hua Liuli was born, she did not have a living paternal grandmother. Thus, in her heart, the empress dowager was akin to one.

“Rumors outside say that the reason the crown prince is close to you is to paralyze our family,” said Hua Yingting. “What do you think?”

“Whether good or bad, I can only judge for myself. I won’t listen or believe the rumors of others.” Hua Liuli flashed Hua Yingting a smile. “Daddy, I’ve decided that I will stay in the palace for a few days.”

“Alright.” A smile also graced Hua Yingting’s lips. “You’re the daughter of me, Hua Yingting, and Wei Mingyue. Although your actions and conduct must be reasonable, you mustn’t be afraid of the slightest thing. Have your servant girls pack your luggage tonight. Play to your heart’s content in the palace; we will take care of everything outside.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” Then Hua Liuli threw herself at Wei Mingyue’s embrace, nuzzling her. “Thank you, Mother.”

Hugging her daughter, Wei Mingyue sighed, helpless. “A fifteen-year-old big girl like you still acts like a five or six-year-old child.”

Silently shoveling food into his mouth, Hua Changkong thought, Isn’t it because you guys spoiled her to this state?　

Before the sun rose, the empress dowager roused.

“Has the side palace hall been tidied up yet? Liuli, that child, has a sickly constitution. There must not be any dust in her room.”

“May Empress Dowager rest assured. The side palace hall has been completely taken care of.”

“She mustn’t lack things like clothes and jewelry too.” The empress dowager ordered the palace maids and court eunuchs around until they were frantically busy. Then she said, “This grieving one heard that Consort Xian has invited the Lin family’s daughter into the palace too?”

“The Lin family’s daughter arrived at the palace last night.”

“They’re both the daughters of officials. This grieving one cannot let Young Miss Lin be superior to Liuli.” The empress dowager worried that since Lin Wan was the future Princess Consort Ying,  Hua Liuli would be wronged when in her presence. As such, she beckoned her personal palace maid over. “From now on, as long as Liuli steps foot outside the front doors of Shoukang Palace, you will follow and look after her. You must not allow her to be wronged.”

“Rest assured, Your Majesty the empress dowager. In the entire palace, who doesn’t know that your honored self is fond of Commandery Princess Fushou? Who would dare disrespect Commandery Princess under your nose?” said the female official, smiling. “This slave will absolutely serve Commandery Princess well and will not allow her to suffer a hint of grievances.”

“This grieving one feels reassured if you are the one performing the task. This grieving one is just afraid that someone stupid would do something foolish. When that time comes, and Liuli is wronged, how could this grieving one not be sad?”

“Your Majesty the empress dowager is considerate.” The female official checked the sky for the time. “Your Majesty, the results of the spring imperial examination will be out today. Since Commandery Princess is close to Third Young Master Hua, she may be a bit late when entering the palace.”

“It’s good if children are affectionate and loyal. Later, tell the palace servants who are to receive Liuli not to rush her,” said the empress dowager. A moment of thought, and she continued, “Prepare presents. If Third Young Master Hua passes the exam, those can be congratulatory gifts. If he doesn’t, there are still chances in the future, and the presents will be me consoling him. We can’t allow other people to use this matter to ridicule him.”

“Why didn’t this slave think of that?” The female official curtsied toward the empress dowager. “This slave will go instruct the others.”

“Hurry, hurry. Don’t forget the main point.” A smile across her entire face, the empress dowager dismissed the palace maid.

When she thought of the fact that Hua Liuli would enter the palace and accompany her, joy and disappointment filled her heart. After living there for a few days, Hua Liuli would have to leave again. How good would it be if she can stay in the palace?　

Before the sun rose, the area surrounding where the exam results would be posted was already jam-packed. In particular, all the families with status had sent servants who were nimble, capable, strong, and literate to wait right where the posting would be.

Right now, these servants did not care which families their own families had good relationships with, guarding their spots as if their lives depended on it.

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

As everyone was crowded in and pushing against each other, two servants in grey clothes suddenly forced their way into the crowd, relaxed as they shoved the people in front of them, occupying the center location.

“Excuse me, may I ask which household you two big brothers work for?” said the servant from the Yao estate, who was shoved aside to the point where he could only stand with his body tilted to the side, nearly unable to breathe. As he gazed at those two strong servants, the desire to worm his way into friendship with them entered his heart.

If he couldn’t get friendly with them now, then other people would shove him out of his spot.

The two servants in grey noticed how his face was red from being crowded. They reached out and pulled him over like they were pulling a white radish. “Little brother, which household are you from?”

“I work in the Yao estate. My young master is the paternal nephew of Prince Consort Yao.”

“Apologies,” said one of the servants in grey clothes, cupping his hands. “Word has it that Young Master Yao is a great talent. He definitely passed the exam.”

Hearing them praise his master, the servant puffed out his chest with pride. “What about you two?”

The servants in grey shared a glance. One of them smiled. “We work for the Hua estate.”

The Hua estate?!　

The one that beat up Jinpo country until they cried for their daddy and momma? That Hua estate?　

In a flash, the puffed-up chest of the Yao family’s servant deflated. “So it turns out you big brothers are from the great general’s household. Forgive me for my impropriety.”

No wonder it seemed like they were pushing aside cotton when they were forcing their way into the crowd. So it turns out they work for Great General Hua?　　

He always felt that as long as it was someone from the Hua estate, nothing they did was strange.

After all, it was the family of the martial god who descended to the mortal realm.

To the side of the bulletin board for the exam results sat a teahouse. At this moment, it was already full of scholars, as well as family members concerned about the exam candidates’ results.

Yao Wenyin had risen at the crack of dawn and spent a lot of money to book a private room with a splendid view of the postings. Then she invited her female cousins and friends for moral support.

“Elder Sister Yao, don’t be nervous. Your big brother is a scholarly talent. He will definitely pass the imperial exam,” said Tian Shan, pouring a cup of herbal tea for Yao Wenyin. “Here, drink some to calm down.”

“I still have that kind of confidence.” Yao Wenyin picked up the teacup and took a sip. “What I’m looking forward to isn’t this.”

“Then what do you want to do?” asked Jiamin, upper half of her body lying on the table, so tired that she couldn’t even open her eyes.

“Did you know that Hua Liuli’s elder brother is also taking part in this exam?”

The moment Jiamin caught the three characters “Hua Liuli,” her exhaustion decreased by half. “What does that have to do with you?”

“I simply want Hua Liuli to understand that my elder brother is more talented than hers.” Yao Wenyin clutched her hand into a fist. “I brought you all here today so you can witness me slapping her face.”

Hesitating for a moment, and with an expression that illustrated she couldn’t hold back her words, Tian Shan said, “Elder Sister Yao, according to novels…”

“Don’t talk about novel tropes. I won’t listen, I won’t listen,” said Yao Wenyin, covering her ears. Staring at Jiamin, she said, “Jiamin, my big brother is your paternal cousin. Do you think he’s more impressive or do you think Hua Liuli’s elder brother is?”

Jiamin was speechless.

Reason dictated that she should say her cousin brother was more impressive, but her mouth refused to cooperate.

You only live once; life is this precious. I really don’t want to lose it.

“The results are in!” shouted someone outside, rescuing Jiamin from her helpless struggle.

From time to time, someone downstairs would announce the placements of the imperial exam.

“Lin Sen of Yongzhou Prefecture, seventh place…”

“Yao Songbai of the capital, fifth place!”

“He did it! He did it!” The three of them jumped in joy. “He placed fifth!”

“Elder Sister Yao, your brother is amazing!”

“That’s right. Let’s go. I’ll follow you back home to congratulate Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin Brother!” said Jiamin, elated as well. She rose to her feet, getting ready to go downstairs.

“Which family is Hua Changkong from?! He actually got first place on the spring exam!”

At that moment, the three young ladies froze, not a word escaping their lips.

Silence and distress lingered around them for a good while.

Author’s Note:

Question: Excuse me, Young Miss Yao, how are you feeling right now? Can you give us a response?

Young Miss Yao: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?