Chapter 5 Scarlet Heart

 FlamingoBees 

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Scarlet Heart 

 Chapter 5: 

 

Although I was extremely depressed, the days still passed one by one. These days, Jie Jie was very busy. Although the Prince didn't need to be too anxious, with more than a dozen princes and the Crown Prince, how could he not be anxious? I couldn't help much, so I ended up with a lot of free time. Because of my troubled mind, I didn't want to go anywhere, just stayed in my room all day, lost in my thoughts. I sighed for Jie Jie, then sighed for myself. What kind of path awaited me as a selected maid? Although I knew the general trend of history, my personal fate was still in the hands of others. I had no control over it at all.

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Dongyun brought in a bowl of white fungus soup and laughed, "When you were sick, you ran around all day and couldn't be stopped. Now that you're healthy, you just laze around all day." I got up, sat at the table, and started drinking the soup. Wasn't it said that drowning sorrow in food was a way to cope? Dongyun watched me drink the soup and said, "Tomorrow night is the Tenth Prince's birthday. Miss, have you prepared a gift?" 

I stopped for a moment, realizing I had forgotten about this. I started to ponder, what should I give as a gift? Jie Jie saw my distressed expression and laughed, saying, "I've already prepared it for you." I thought to myself, how could that count?

But it was good to have something to think about. At least I wasn't so troubled anymore, and I started to look forward to tomorrow's banquet. Just think, how many famous historical figures would be there! And all gathered together!

・・・

On the second day, I got up early and instructed Dongyun to make me look as beautiful as possible! Then, we went through sets of clothes and jewelry, one by one, rejecting each until we finally settled on one. The room was filled with items spread out on the table. Jie Jie said I was crazy. But I thought if I didn't act this carefree, I might really go crazy.

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After Jie Jie had lunch, she went off to attend to her tasks. Dongyun and I continued to work from early morning until afternoon to complete the full beauty routine. Dongyun paid attention to every detail, even my eyelashes and eyelids, and was almost going crazy herself. Because compared to when I used to work, often wearing light makeup, the amount of makeup here was like child's play, especially considering the array of makeup tools I used to have. However, through my persistent communication and guidance, Dongyun's skilled touch, combined with the natural beauty of the Manchu-Ruo Er Tai. 

Ruoxi, resulted in an elegant appearance, a woman who could fit both ancient and modern styles. When Qiaohui saw me, she looked at me for a while and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness! Miss, you look so beautiful!" 

I smiled shyly and coyly, tilting my head down, and then lifted it up again, winking at her and asked, "What do you think?" Qiaohui laughed and said, "Now I see!"

As the day progressed towards evening, I was fully prepared. The eunuch sent by my sister to escort us had arrived just in time. Then, with the eunuch leading the way and two maidservants accompanying us, we made our way gracefully.

It was already late summer, still a bit warm during the day but just right in the evening. Jie Jie chose a spot by the lake for the evening banquet. A stage was set up on the lake, and by the lakeside, there were a few trees planted with golden osmanthus, emitting a faint fragrance when the breeze blew across the lake.

When I arrived, Jie Jie was sitting in the lakeside pavilion, looking at the playbill. As she lifted her head and saw me, she was momentarily stunned. Without saying a word, she looked me up and down with her eyes, and finally chuckled, "You're even more beautiful than the person in the painting!" 

I laughed and said, "Is Jie Jie praising me or herself? After all, we share six points of resemblance!" 

Jie Jie laughed and scolded me, "You talk too much!"

I asked, "Have the guests not arrived yet?" 

© 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.

Jie Jie replied, "A servant just came to inform us that the master and the Ninth Prince are on their way. They should be here soon." Before she could finish her sentence, we saw a group of people approaching from afar. Jie Jie quickly stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and waited in front. I followed her and stood behind her. As she looked ahead, she said, "The two you haven't met before are the Eleventh Prince and the Twelfth Prince." 

Just as she said that, the group of people had arrived. Jie Jie stepped forward to greet them, and I followed suit. As I rose, I noticed that the Eighth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Tenth Prince were all momentarily stunned, while the Eleventh Prince and the Twelfth Prince, whom I had not met before, glanced at me briefly but remained composed.

As everyone settled into the pavilion, I stood beside Jie Jie. Eight Prince chuckled and said, "Tonight, let's just have some fun, no need for too many formalities. Take a seat!" Only then did I sit down behind Jie Jie. 

Eleventh Prince joked, "Last time during the drinking session, Thirteenth Brother slipped away. Can't let him get away this time!" Tenth Prince eagerly chimed in, "We've been waiting for him!" Eighth Prince teased, "You can't outdrink that 'Desperate Thirteenth'." Laughter filled the room.

After listening to the merriment for a while, Jie Jie noticed a eunuch stretching his neck to peek inside from outside. She stood up and said, "The ladies have arrived, I'll go and make arrangements." Leading me out of the pavilion, I couldn't catch what they were discussing, only hearing the boisterous voices of the princes and the laughter echoing behind me. Listening to them, I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing; if I could choose, I'd prefer to be blissfully ignorant like them.

© 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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