Chapter 3 Tale of Two Phoenixes

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Tale of Two Phoenixes 

 Chapter 3: 

Gallant Young Man

Princess Shanyin had changed, almost as if she had become a completely different person.

Within a few days, everyone in the princess's residence had come to this new understanding.

Ever since one morning when she had dismissed all five of her bed companions, including even Rong Zhi, who was usually her most favored, Princess Shanyin had suddenly changed.

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She no longer indulged in pleasure all day long. Instead, she secluded herself in her chambers, refusing attendance from anyone but a few maidservants, led by Yu Lan, who brought her meals and attended to her needs. She wouldn't even see the male companions who had once been almost indispensable to her. Several of them had attempted to seek an audience, only to be turned away.

This continued for five straight days.

By the sixth day, one of the male companions couldn't contain himself any longer.

Liu Se was one of the male companions in Princess Shanyin's palace. He was seventeen years old, with a handsome and delicate appearance, fond of wearing clothes of a deep blue color. His eyes and features were so delicate that they exuded an unparalleled charm. On the day Chu Yu underwent her transformation, he hadn't been chosen for her service. After several unsuccessful attempts to meet with her over the past few days, his heart was filled with doubts and suspicions, so he couldn't help but seek out Rong Zhi.

Within the princess's residence, there were separate quarters for the male companions and the Marquis. Chu Yu, being the princess, resided in the East Pavilion, while the West Pavilion housed her Marquis and male companions.

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When Liu Se found Rong Zhi, he was seated beneath a parasol tree in the courtyard, engrossed in reading a scroll of bamboo slips.

Liu Se had joined later, by which time Rong Zhi had already been by Princess Shanyin's side. The princess' fondness for this young man was beyond imagination. Not only had she bestowed upon him the best courtyard in the West Pavilion, but she also had books collected from all over for him because she knew of his love for reading.

Moreover, she had even exempted Rong Zhi from all forms of etiquette, allowing him to forgo bowing to her.

In terms of appearance, Rong Zhi was not the most stunningly beautiful among the male companions, nor was he particularly deferential and cautious towards Princess Shanyin. Yet, regardless of how many more beautiful male companions came after him, Princess Shanyin's favoritism towards Rong Zhi never diminished in the slightest.

Rong Zhi's origins and identity were a mystery to the other male companions. They knew nothing about his background; they only knew that Rong Zhi held an immensely significant position in Princess Shanyin's heart. A single word from Rong Zhi could carry the weight of a hundred words from them, and he could instantly comprehend the princess's intentions with just a glance.

Princess Shanyin's sudden change in temperament over the past few days had left the male companions in the manor full of speculation, unsure of what she intended to do next. Liu Se, who came from a humble background, had become Princess Shanyin's male companion through his looks. Although this position was looked down upon by many, it had its benefits. Due to his relationship with the princess, Liu Se's elder brother had already secured a minor official position, living quite comfortably. Thus, Princess Shanyin's recent withdrawal and refusal to summon them for entertainment made Liu Se worried that he might fall out of favor.

However, with Chu Yu instructing the guards to deny entry at the door, he didn't dare to force his way in, relying solely on the little bit of affection the princess had shown him previously. He had no choice but to seek out Rong Zhi, someone he had never really liked.

As he approached the entrance of Mu Xue Garden, he was greeted by a serene and otherworldly atmosphere. Following the winding path, bypassing pavilions and towers, Liu Se finally found Rong Zhi sitting under a wutong tree.

Rong Zhi was engrossed in reading a bamboo scroll, his side profile emanating a jade-like, gentle radiance amidst the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. He appeared completely at ease, as if Princess Shanyin's refusal to see anyone had not affected him in the slightest.

Liu Se stepped onto the small stones of the flower path, making a slight noise that disrupted the quiet stillness of the garden. Rong Zhi lifted his head, paused briefly with the scroll in his hand, and then turned his head to look at Liu Se, offering a faint smile, “Is there something you need?”

Seeking help from someone he had never liked felt awkward for Liu Se, but having already accepted the role of a male companion, he couldn't afford to be overly concerned with such discomfort. After hesitating for a moment, he set aside his misgivings, “I want to ask you to check on the princess. She hasn't left her quarters these past few days and hasn't summoned us either. Don't you find that strange?”

Rong Zhi slowly stood up, holding the closed bamboo scroll in one hand. His wide, snow-white sleeve hung gently, swaying softly in the breeze like a cloud, as gentle as the moon. Liu Se watched with envy; the fabric woven from snow silkworm silk was extremely rare, with only two pieces in the entire princess's residence. Yet, simply because the name of Rong Zhi's courtyard included the character for "snow," Princess Shanyin had given all the fabric to Rong Zhi, so he could make clothes from it.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

It wasn't just because of the name; Liu Se was convinced that even if all their names included the character for "snow," Princess Shanyin wouldn't have given them a single thread of the snow silkworm silk.

If the small Western Pavilion of the princess's residence were akin to a harem, then the princess's husband would be like the empress. However, the most favored concubine, wielding real power, was Rong Zhi. The rest of them, no matter how many, were merely adornments under Rong Zhi's brilliance.

Rong Zhi placed the bamboo scroll into his wide sleeve and smiled faintly, saying, "The princess must have her reasons. Why should we disturb her and add to her troubles?"

Liu Se, enraged, couldn't help but blurt out, "You may not be worried, but we..." His words abruptly stopped.

Realizing he had voiced his inner resentment, Liu Se immediately regretted it. Although he disliked Rong Zhi, he was also aware of Rong Zhi's significant status in the residence. A single word from Rong Zhi could decide his fate... He shouldn't have lost control at this moment.

But he couldn't suppress it.

He hated Rong Zhi.

Rong Zhi's demeanor was always so elegant, like unattainable ice and snow on a mountaintop, making Liu Se feel unworthy every time he looked at him.

Why could Rong Zhi, clearly a male companion like him, appear so pure and untainted?

Rong Zhi let out a light laugh, seeming completely unfazed by Liu Se's anger, and walked unhurriedly towards the door. "Very well, I shall do as you say and go see the princess."

Walking out of the Western Pavilion, crossing the central courtyard, Rong Zhi's graceful figure arrived at the Eastern Pavilion, where Princess Shanyin's bedroom was located. Because Rong Zhi had the privilege of coming and going freely within the residence, the guards at the courtyard gate did not stop him and let him pass automatically.

Standing in front of the tightly closed bedroom door, Rong Zhi slightly raised his smooth, handsome chin, his brows knit in thought, showing a hint of hesitation.

Indeed, he was the one who understood the princess best and was undeniably her most favored. Yet, on that particular morning, when the princess screamed, he realized he suddenly could not see through this beautiful woman anymore.

Rong Zhi frowned slightly, recalling the situation that day. The moment he was startled awake by the scream, the first thing he saw was the beautiful woman's expression of fear, panic, shock, and even... something more. That look in her eyes... Rong Zhi lifted his face, took a deep breath, and a faint, bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He truly did not want to recall it.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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