Chapter 38 ROTNDOAHRF

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Rebirth of the Noble Daughter of a High Ranking Family

Chapter 38:

It's Not Polite to Come and Go as You Please

As dusk fell, the guards at the gate of the Ouyang residence suddenly heard thunderous hoofbeats. They widened their eyes to see more than ten horses galloping toward them like the wind. Each rider wore a black cloak made of thin felt, and beneath it, a dark silk robe. Every horse was robust and sleek, all black, and as they drew nearer, the guards were dazzled by the gleaming sight. To their amazement, they noticed that each horse's horseshoes were made of pure gold.

As the cavalry approached, they suddenly split apart, allowing the last rider to dash through. The young man atop the horse had a handsome face with sharp, piercing eyes. He addressed the gatekeeper loudly, saying, "By the order of the Commandery Prince[1] Ming, I seek an audience with Miss Ouyang of the Ouyang household."

The moment those words were spoken, the guards at the gate were startled and hurriedly went inside to report.

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A moment later, Ouyang Zhi personally came out to greet them, with a smiling face inviting them inside the mansion. However, all of them refused to step forward, standing stiffly outside the gates. Only the leading youth held a delicate jade box in his hands as he followed Ouyang Zhi into the mansion.

Ouyang Zhi had already sent someone to summon Ouyang Nuan. Ouyang Jue happened to be in the Wenxin Pavilion and upon hearing about this peculiar occurrence, he followed along. Ouyang Zhi's unexpectedly warm smile greeted Ouyang Nuan as he addressed her with a hint of surprise, saying, "Nuan'er, this distinguished guest was sent by the Commandery Prince of Ming. He has come specifically to meet with you."

The Commandery Prince Ming was a highly esteemed figure in the capital, and how Nuan'er came to know him, Ouyang Zhi did not know. All he knew was that a dignitary whom he could never hope to be associated with had unexpectedly sent someone, which surprised him greatly and filled him with joy. Ouyang Nuan bowed to the young man and said softly, "May I ask what brings you here, esteemed guest?"

The young man seemed equally surprised to see Ouyang Nuan, noting her youthful appearance... At first glance, he couldn't help but admire her delicate features—her eyebrows like distant mountains, lips as red as crimson ling, and her attire of simple yet elegant cloud and goose patterned fabric, adorned with a wide dark blue collar and cuffs, immaculately clean and untainted by any dust. As she stood before him with a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with vitality, she resembled a blossoming green plum that had unexpectedly caught his eye, exuding a fresh and fragrant charm, captivating in its grace.

Despite being accustomed to seeing various beauties of different shapes and sizes over the years, his heart couldn't help but skip a beat. He quickly lowered his head in respect and asked, "May I ask if you are the Eldest Miss Ouyang from the Ouyang family?"

Ouyang Nuan nodded and replied, "Yes, I am."

The young man bowed again and presented the white jade box with both hands, saying, "This is a gift from His Highness the Commandery Prince. Please accept it."

A gift? From the Commandery Prince? Ouyang Nuan looked at him in utter astonishment. The Commandery Prince was the beloved son of the Prince Yan, a noble young man who captivated the hearts of the elite ladies of the capital. When did she come to know such a person? Pondering for a moment, she gestured for Ouyang Jue to step forward and take the jade box. Ouyang Jue retrieved the box and opened it, revealing a pair of milky-white wolf tails.

Ouyang Nuan glanced at them, feeling even more surprised. However, at that moment, she remembered the events of the afternoon. Could they be related? To confirm her suspicions, she solemnly took the jade box into her hands and returned the courtesy, saying, "May I ask why His Highness the Commandery Prince has bestowed such a precious gift upon me?"

The youth exclaimed, "The prince said that since the young lady was willing to part with that precious ancient book in the afternoon, he would reciprocate with an equally valuable gift." What he didn't mention was that the pair of snow-white wolf tails was obtained by the Prince of Yan during his first hunting expedition when he shot down the White Wolf King. Normally, others couldn't even see it, as it had been hanging in his study for six years. It was indeed bewildering why he suddenly decided to give such a precious gift to a young noblewoman this time.

Ouyang Zhi listened in confusion and quietly asked Ouyang Jue beside him. Ouyang Jue then explained what had happened in the afternoon. Hearing this, Ouyang Zhi deeply regretted not being present. He sighed inwardly, thinking that if he had been there, perhaps he could have had a chance to meet the Prince of Yan!

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly and said, "In that case, please convey my gratitude to your prince." Her smile was as pure as the bright moonlight, stirring admiration in those who beheld it involuntarily. The young man nodded and replied, "I will relay your message. Then, I shall take my leave."

Ouyang Zhi quickly interjected, "Please wait!" The young man halted, looking at him, and he continued with a smile, "We have received the Prince Ming's gracious gesture, so naturally, we must offer a gift in return. Please convey to the prince that we are sending a token of appreciation through you!"

The young man's expression turned even colder upon hearing this. He spoke loudly, "Minister Ouyang, there is no need. Prince Ming has instructed that no reciprocation be accepted. As long as Miss accepts his gift, it will suffice." With that, he didn't spare another glance at Ouyang Zhi and strode out of the door.

Ouyang Zhi hurriedly chased after him, leaving only the siblings in the Hua Tang.

"Sister, so it was the Prince of Yan in that carriage! What do you think he—" Just as he was speaking, Ouyang Nuan had already walked towards the inner courtyard. Ouyang Jue shouted anxiously, "Sister, why did you leave before I finished speaking?"

"Members of the royal family are not so easily approached. If you're not afraid of Father asking a lot of questions when he returns, then feel free to stay." Ouyang Nuan said softly, with a mischievous smile. Indeed, being pestered with endless questions by Father would be quite annoying. Ouyang Jue suddenly understood and quickly hurried after her.

Back in the Nuan Ting Pavilion, Hongyu held the jade box, intending to find a prominent place in the room to display it. Ouyang Nuan glanced at the jade box and calmly instructed Hongyu, "Put it away."

"Why, Miss? The gift from Prince Ming is a great honor!"

"You may think it's a good thing, but I don't necessarily see it that way. I have no acquaintance with Prince Ming, yet he sent such a gift. Isn't it just inviting trouble for no reason?" Ouyang Nuan's face took on a cold expression.

While others might believe that associating with royalty could lead to great opportunities, she wasn't so sure.

The current emperor was aging, the crown prince was often ill, and Prince Qin harbored ambitions. The situation was already complicated, and there was also the wise and intelligent imperial grandson in the Crown Prince's residence. The ultimate outcome was still uncertain.

In the previous life, even after her wrongful death, the court remained tumultuous and the power struggle continued. In this life, until the dust settled, it was impossible to know what the situation would be. In such times, Ouyang Zhi's eager attempts to curry favor with the royal family could easily entangle them in the struggle for succession. That would be truly foolish!

The lights were dim in the Furui Courtyard.

Madam Lin, who had been restricted from leaving, hadn't received any news of the envoy sent by Prince Ming.

Ouyang Ke, still shaken by the events of the day at the Shou'an Hall, was crying quietly. Lin sat beside her, initially furious, but now eerily calm.

She glanced at Ouyang Ke, then reached out and embraced her daughter, speaking softly, "It's all Mother's fault. If I hadn't overlooked Zhou Yiniang, we wouldn't have ended up in this situation, and you wouldn't have been implicated."

Ouyang Ke, with a pale face, fretted, "Father said he won't let me see Mother anymore. What should I do?"

Wang Mama brought a clean handkerchief and gently wiped away Ouyang Ke's tears. With a reassuring smile, she said, "Miss, don't worry. Master was just upset for the moment. Madam has weathered many storms over the years, and she won't capsize in this situation. The most important thing now is for you to calm down first. Stop crying; we don't want to upset Madam further."

Ouyang Ke dried her tears, her expression still uncertain. "They say Father loves me. Tomorrow, when he's calmer, I'll talk to him. I'll make sure he lets Mother out."

Madam Lin shook her head gently while embracing her, "Ke'er, you don't need to worry. Since your Father wants me to see you less, you should obey him and come here less often. Just go back with peace of mind. In less than ten days, I'll surely walk out of here openly and honorably!"

•••

[1] Commandery Prince: known as "jùnwáng" (郡王) in Chinese, was a noble title in imperial China. It was typically bestowed upon princes who were members of the imperial family and were granted authority over a commandery, which was a historical administrative division in China. Commandery Princes were granted certain privileges and responsibilities within their respective territories, and they played significant roles in local governance and administration.

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Chapter 38 ROTNDOAHRF

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