Chapter 6 Tale of Two Phoenixes

 FlamingoBees 

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Tale of Two Phoenixes 

 Chapter 6: 

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven... Although historical records claim that Princess Shanyin, Liu Chuyu, had a total of thirty male concubines, supposedly given to her in bulk by the emperor, Chu Yu had asked Yu Lan and discovered this wasn't entirely true. In reality, there were twenty-four male concubines in the princess's residence. While half of them were indeed bestowed by the emperor in one go, the other half were meticulously selected and gradually gathered by Princess Shanyin herself.

Among them, Rong Zhi was one of the first brought back to the residence by Princess Shanyin.

As various handsome young men appeared one after another from the courtyard entrance, Chu Yu was inwardly amazed. She once again confirmed the princess's impeccable taste—not only of a high standard but also highly diverse. There were two or three of almost every type, each with subtle differences and unique styles, making for a splendid array.

© 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.

Princess Shanyin seemed like a discerning collector, continually acquiring the missing pieces for her collection. For every style, she only kept two or three similar items, ensuring a complete and diverse assortment.

Initially, Chu Yu thought Rong Zhi's appearance was already quite remarkable. However, upon seeing the other male concubines, she realized the truth of the saying "there's always someone better." When judging purely on physical appearance and excluding demeanor, there were indeed many in the princess's residence who surpassed Rong Zhi.

These men ranged in age from their early teens to their early twenties. Chu Yu noticed a boy who appeared to be only eleven or twelve years old. He was adorably cute, with long, curled eyelashes and big, shiny black eyes. His cheeks looked so tender that they seemed like they would burst with a pinch. Chu Yu's mind buzzed with shock, but she maintained her composure and casually asked Rong Zhi, who was beside her, "By the way, how old is he?" She pointed at the boy.

"Twelve," Rong Zhi's answer made Chu Yu's head buzz again. She thought Princess Shanyin was beyond excessive—twelve years old and she dared to indulge herself with him... Although this child did indeed have a face that seemed to invite such treatment, and although Princess Shanyin herself wasn't that old, only seventeen or eighteen, twelve years old was too much. This was child abuse!

Looking at the others seated, Chu Yu noticed that most of them were quite young as well. She shook her head, realizing that Princess Shanyin clearly wasn't a fan of all age groups. In fact, she had a pronounced tendency to prefer the young and tender.

The male concubines, including Rong Zhi, totaled twenty-four. Two of them were reportedly ill, and Rong Zhi had conveyed their apologies to Chu Yu in advance. However, Chu Yu couldn't determine if they were genuinely unable to come or if there was another reason. She simply smiled to herself and made a mental note of their names. The princess's official consort, He Ji, was also not present in the residence. Chu Yu had not seen her legitimate husband since she arrived, which left her somewhat disappointed. This absence further indicated that the relationship between Princess Shanyin and He Ji was not good—unsurprisingly, given that no man would have a positive relationship with a wife who openly took other lovers in his presence.

© 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.

Poor Consort He... Chu Yu couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for the man she hadn't yet met, imagining the sheer height of the metaphorical green hat on his head, piled high with his wife's numerous affairs.

The last to arrive were two strikingly beautiful young men with charming expressions, one dressed in pale pink and the other in a vivid green that seemed almost to drip color. They approached Chu Yu just as she was sipping a small amount of fruit wine, nearly causing her to choke. She quickly swallowed and composed herself.

Licking her lips, Chu Yu lost her interest in the drink and looked at the two young men who had come closer: their dazzling beauty was captivating, and each was a remarkable sight on their own. However, she couldn't help but question the fashion sense that paired red with green.

The bewitching youth in green was Liu Se, who had specifically requested Rong Zhi for an audience with the princess. Hearing about the banquet in the apricot grove, he had meticulously groomed himself, even bathing before rushing over, resulting in his slight tardiness. Arriving a moment later was Mo Xiang, Liu Se's fierce rival for the princess's favor.

The two met on converging paths and, seeing each other immaculately dressed, exchanged hostile glares before quickening their pace to ensure they reached the banquet simultaneously.

If you were to ask Liu Se who he despised the most in the princess's residence, it wasn't Princess Shanyin's consort He Ji, nor was it the much-favored Rong Zhi. It was Mo Xiang.

He Ji was too insignificant a figure to pose any threat to them, and though Rong Zhi was deeply cherished by the princess, he was a calm and simple man who never actively sought anything. Aside from occasionally asking the princess for books, he never vied for attention or favor. Everything he had was given to him by the princess of her own accord. Liu Se's feelings toward Rong Zhi were more of hopeless jealousy, an acknowledgment of someone he could never hope to surpass, rather than pure hatred.

But Mo Xiang was a genuine threat to Liu Se's interests, someone he currently loathed the most.

Everyone in the residence knew that Princess Shanyin had a preference for unique male concubines, valuing those who stood out the most. Both Liu Se and Mo Xiang were noted for their striking beauty, but Liu Se had a slight edge in looks. However, Mo Xiang possessed a unique trait that Liu Se did not, making Mo Xiang's most valuable weapon and his greatest asset.

There were still two vacant seats at the banquet, but the two dazzling youths did not even glance at them. They simultaneously bowed to Chu Yu, then separated, walking around the table to sit beside her.

As soon as the two of them approached, Chu Yu caught a whiff of a sweet, mellow fragrance. It was different from the usual incense, lacking any smokiness, yet richer and more enduring than floral scents, with a hint of warmth.

Chu Yu pondered for a moment, then a possibility came to mind. She couldn't help but turn her head to look at Mo Xiang again. Perhaps because he had walked quickly, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead and nose. When a gentle breeze blew, a fragrant aroma wafted over.

In the Qing dynasty, there was a legendary beauty from Xinjiang known as the "Fragrant Concubine," who naturally emitted a delightful scent without using perfumes, captivating Emperor Qianlong. But Chu Yu hadn't expected that over a thousand years earlier, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there would be a male version of this "Fragrant Concubine" in Princess Shanyin's harem.

Chu Yu now had a newfound respect for Princess Shanyin. Due to the rarity of such a unique physiological trait, the number of people naturally emitting a pleasant body fragrance was extremely low. Yet, this rare individual had been acquired by Princess Shanyin, the collector of handsome men, and brought into her harem.

© 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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