Translator note : Please read this first.
It’s even longer than The Royal Princess Fox :v
(Raw chapters in average have 3,000 words per chapter ;w; – my translation is about 2,400 words, very tiring… orz)
So I’m not picking this up, but just post this one because it will be a waste not to.
Plus the ones who read the previous chapters can at least know what Ah Luo did for her test and what’s the reaction of the peeps in the Hall.
Thanks for reading and this translation was brought to you by IAmABanana Translation yo~! (0w0)/
PS : I translated the whole chapter instead of continuing from Explore’s translation because at first I thought to post whole chapter in FantasyBooks, which only full chapters were allowed to be posted.
Cheng Qing raised her head and saw a forty-something years old man, wearing a brown robe, sat on the middle seat, his square shaped face not revealing his power within.
Sitting next to him was a middle-aged woman dressed in light-colored short jacket with silver purple dress.
If it was sorted by age, then her name must be Ah Luo.
Cheng Qing carefully looked at this stranger as her father, comparing this father and her own old father, they were obviously the same kind of person.
Then, that Big Madam’s face is a bit fat and round, giving off friendly feeling but a glimpse of astute can be seen in her eyes.
As the head of the family, the middle-aged man slowly said, “Ah Lei, come here!”
Cheng Qing looked at the ten years old little girl who responded then stepped forward, and went to the middle of the hall, looking quite calm.
A pair of hands within her long sleeves can be faintly seen gripping a fist.
Wanted to laugh, Cheng Qing bowed down her head trying to prevent her smile from showing.
She really thought Ah Lei won’t be scared. No matter what, she is still a child.
The middle-aged man asked in a deep voice, “Ah Lei, what’s the best skill you have learned in these three months?”
Ah Lei replied in a fine voice, “Replying to Father, it’s the art of qin.”
[Note : 琴 – It’s either guqin or zither.]
The middle-aged man waved his hand and a servant came over with some stools, retreating after putting down the qin.
Calm and composed, Ah Lei sat down next to the qin, and struck the strings twice.
Immediately, the sound of qin was heard. The fresh and clean notes flowed around the hall uninterrupted.
The mellowness folding in three layers, like the sound of ice cubes bumping against the creek water.
Cheng Qing secretly called out ‘Good’. She heard of this guqin song ‘Plum Blossom Three Lane’ in the modern days, there was no difference with this one.
She re-examined the ten years old Ah Lei.
Ah Lei has a serene complexion, her oval shaped beautiful face giving out a faint high noble bearing.
Cheng Qing thought, just ten years old has such superb qin skills, that was really amazing.
Now that the situation has changed into this, she might as well request to learn those guqin, guzheng, flute and reed pipe.
It will be useful to have some skills to equip oneself!
Thinking of how inexplicable she suddenly transmigrated, Cheng Qing felt uncomfortable again and unconsciously clenched her hands into fists.
That pair of eyes looking like they can talk, told her that it’s all right if she don’t know (any skills), it’s nothing big.
Suddenly felt that Seventh Madam treated this daughter really well, Cheng Qing’s heart was filled with a sense of warmth.
At this moment, the ending note sounded.
Waiting until the sound faded, Ah Lei stopped and raised her little face to look at the middle-aged man.
That father nodded with a smile, “Ah Lei, why did you picked this song?”
A trace of pride flashed in Ah Lei’s eyes, she replied with a clear voice, “Ah Lei see the plum trees in the yard are sparse although it is early spring in February.”
“Recalling the days in winter when they were in full bloom in pure white fragrance, I especially like its proud characteristic against the snow and frost.”
The middle-aged man stroked the beard under his chin, “Good, my daughter should have the characteristic like the plum blossom. Go down ba, tonight father will come to the plum yard to appreciate plum blossom!”
The moment his words were out, Cheng Qing saw one of the Madam on the left who should be Ah Lei’s mother, a wisp of contentment quickly flashed through her face.
Lowering her eyes, the Madam softly replied, “Ah Lei still young and her skills still lacking, Master has over-praised.”
Cheng Qing’s eye looked around the hall.
Thinking about a crowd of women fighting over a husband, Cheng Qing thought these ancient people really find the fun in doing this.
They probably have nothing to play so they fight with people instead, endless joy in fighting with people ah.
Ah Lei retreated and stood beside her mother, then Ah Fei stepped out.
She has an oval shaped face, a pair of big and black eyes with a look of cleverness.
She didn’t tremble and loudly said, “Father, Ah Fei has learned about calligraphy these few months and has a little insights from it.”
A maidservant came forward to hold Ah Fei’s sleeves for her.
Ah Fei concentrated for a moment, then suddenly both her hands started to take the brush, writing like dragons and snakes, a row of rhyming couplet.
With a crisp voice she said, “Hope Daddy will criticize.”
Cheng Qing saw on the papers that the calligraphy was dripping wet without restraint, what a good calligraphy stroke!
There were no difference between the left and the right, thinking about her own dog paddle words, she was quite ashamed.
The middle-aged man looked carefully at the papers for a long while, then said to Ah Fei, “Fei er’s calligraphy has progressed very well but due to young age, the brush force is insufficient. Put some time in it and it will definitely be great!”
[Note – Er means son/children. Putting Er after the name is an endearment term.]
Hearing that, Ah Fei was beaming with joy and turned her head to give her mother a light smile.
Ah Fei was already this charming at young age, who knows how many people will get besotted with her when she grew up!
While she was deep in her observations, out of a sudden she heard the middle-aged man shouted, “Ah Luo, you come here!”
Cheng Qing stunned for a moment, Seventh Madam gave her a worried glance and softly said, “San er, your father is calling you.”
In her heart, she panicked a bit. She almost forgot that this Ah Luo also needed to participate in the test.
Not even knowing what dynasty was this or where was this place.
Biting the bullet, Cheng Qing went to stand at the center of the hall.
That father asked her, “Both of your sisters, one is good in playing qin, the other is good in calligraphy.”
“Ah Luo, three months ago you cannot hand over your homework, your mother vouched for you and put ten strokes of board down in the record (as future punishment), saying that three months later you will definitely pick up a skill. What did you learned in these three months?”
Cheng Qing has no other way than to recite the ancient poetry that she have learned, just that she was afraid that the people here will be familiar with it.
If they never heard of it, then she will say it’s an exclusive skill of hers.
Raising her head, she said, “Learned poetry, can I recite one?”
The middle-aged man opened his eyes widely, staring at Cheng Qing in disbelief.
The Seventh Madam secretly frowned, then this old father laughed, “Good, good, our third Miss can actually recite poems, recite one then.”
Low snickers sounded in the hall.
Secretly releasing a breath, she recited :
“Windy every day at the solitary court in February,
Spring cold not frightening the common park.
Begonia full of the color of rouge,
Independent in the misty rain. ”
This is the Song Dynasty poet Chen Yiyi’s ‘Spring Cold’.
Changing two words in the poem, Cheng Qing used the tender voice which doesn’t belongs to her to finish reciting the poem.
Surprised, amazed, envy, all sorts of emotions on their face.
[Note – The words changed was 巴陵, Cheng Qing used the word solitary court instead]
Thinking to herself, even I surprised myself with this child’s voice reciting the poem.
It’s obviously coming out from her mouth but it felt like listening to other people talking.
The middle-aged man blanked out for some time, then gave Seventh Madam a meaningful glance.
Cheng Qing turned her head to the back and saw that Seventh Madam’s eyes were misty, a hint of hurt within the soft tender look.
Cheng Qing felt relieved, this is not Song Dynasty.
Seemed like they never heard of this poem verse before.
That father gave a laugh and said, “Hehe, good. Ah Luo only six years old but managed to recite such poem, your mother has put in a lot of efforts.”
“No need for board punishment. Father will come to Tang Courtyard another day to listen to your poem recitation.”
As soon as he finished his words, numerous sharp and meaningful glances were shooting around the hall.
Cheng Qing bowed down her head, trying to ponder the heavy words this father has said, ‘Your mother has put in a lot of efforts’.
Since it’s strange for someone who can’t submit her homework three months ago and nearly suffer board punishment to be able to recite such poem suddenly.
Didn’t Seventh Madam also said this Ah Luo didn’t like poetry and didn’t study well enough?
Retreating back to the side of Seventh Madam, Cheng Qing stood there silently pondering.
When they go back to their room, she must immediately look for opportunity to dispel the Seventh Madam's doubts.
That father then said, “Our Li family can be considered one of the high-ranked family in Ning Country, a scholarly family.”
“After this, everyone must be more diligent so not to be the joke of the public!”
At this point, his tone became harsh.
The crowd make their promise and slowly dispersed back to their own residence.
Holding on Cheng Qing’s hand, the Seventh Madam let other Madam to leave first, then finally start heading out towards Tang Courtyard.
Cheng Qing felt that the Seventh’s Madam is quite agitated now.
It seemed that the poem inadvertently spoke of her state of mind.
Summing up the words the Seventh Madam has told her earlier and also the result of the test, the Seventh Madam is clearly not favored.
Cheng Qing looked around while they were walking back, the interesting and appealing ancient design of winding corridor and pavilion, Ning Country?
The unknown world?
There are those Madams who were hostile to Seventh Madam, then there’s the Father which you can tell is an old cunning fox in one glance.
What should I do ah!
Reading all those transmigration novels, can I be like those people too, flapping their sleeve and have fun in this world?
[Note – 袖舞乾坤 : Open for suggestion, I have no idea how to translate this one]
Will I die in young age? Or will I wake up tomorrow and be returned back to the modern days?
Thinking back, this Ah Luo must be an introvert and most probably don’t say much.
Otherwise, even this beautiful mother will be gone and wouldn’t she be starved to death in the age of six?
It’s nothing to die of starvation, but a big matter to lose one’s chastity.
If she somehow gotten kidnapped and sold to brothel, she will have to suicide.
Cheng Qing looked at the Seventh Madam.
Her complexion has returned to normal and didn’t seemed to be aware of anything wrong with Ah Luo.
Since Cheng Qing inexplicably gotten into this situation, she thought maybe it is the will of God.
Good thing Ah Luo is just only six years old, if she was older, Cheng Qing might have to fake an amnesia.
On their way back, Cheng Qing slowly looked around.
This is certainly a very big family, the land was large.
That father of hers must have a very strict house management, because all the servants who met them immediately greeted them, not even dared to raise their eyes.
To be honest, to join a rich family or a poor family, which one is better?
They don’t have enough food to eat or enough clothes to keep warm.
If they encountered a tyrannical landlord or a year of famine, who knew they might just get sold with a root of grass on their head.
[Note – In ancient time, sticking a root of grass on an item means the item is up for sale.]
Although rich people have to fight against schemes and conspiracy, at least her own parents were government officials.
It is most probably the same in ancient times, human hearts were still the one that is fighting.
At the moment, she held on Seventh Madam’s hand, let’s return home!