Published at 5th of October 2018 09:12:27 PM
Chapter 156
Chapter 156: Declaration
Looking at Wang Hong’s vague shadow from across the curtain, Chen Rong wanted to laugh: I guess not…
At this time, a clamor of laughter and voices interrupted them from outside .
Chen Rong peered through her curtain .
Their carriages hadn’t yet left the imperial palace; these sounds of laughter were coming from inside the palace walls, and they were getting closer and closer to Wang Hong and Chen Rong .
Before they knew it, a young girl had cried in joy, “It’s Qilang’s carriage!”
“Qilang? Qilang of which house?” asked another .
“Is there any Qilang who deserves this name other than Qilang of the Lang’ya Wang House?”
While the second girl was still unclear, a young boy pleasantly said, “Ah Yi, there are seven famous men in Jiankang . Among them are the handsome Yu Jiazi, the amorous Xie Heting, and the fairylike Wang Qilang . Wang Qilang is the one sitting in the carriage ahead . ”
As soon as he finished, several young girls simultaneously cheered .
At this moment, a girl unhappily raised her voice: “Why are you causing a ruckus inside the palace?” It was the Ninth Princess .
The clamor simultaneously stopped, replaced by the sound of turning wheels .
Shortly, Chen Rong heard the princess’s gentle voice: “Greetings from Ah Huang, Qilang… I have not seen you for days, I hope you are well . ” Her voice was soft and measured .
Wang Hong’s silky voice leisurely rang out in reply: “Thank you for asking, Your Highness . I am well . ”
She had called herself ‘Ah Huang’ but he had called her ‘Your Highness’ . Though he was soft spoken, his words revealed an alienation .
The princess slightly parted her mouth, her small face betraying unhappiness .
She looked around and noticed Chen Rong’s carriage . “Who’s inside?” she asked the Wang House’s driver .
The young aristocrats had circled them by this time . Faced with their curious eyes, the driver respectfully answered, “Your Highness, it is Priestess Hong Yunzi . ”
The commotion started again . “That peasant?” exclaimed one girl, “I heard her looks are incredibly seductive . Quick, raise the curtain so I can see her . ”
Her companion pulled on her arm in the midst of her remarks . The girl paused to steal a glance at Wang Hong and quickly closed her mouth .
The princess seemed to have been stunned .
She stared at Chen Rong’s carriage for some time before haughtily smirking with a raised chin: “Priestess, are you so supreme that you do not see the need to greet me?”
Chen Rong made no movement .
She reclined to the side and again closed her eyes . I am Wang Hong’s in name . Wang Hong himself is here so let him take care of it . I don’t need to show myself and bear people’s disdain just because some like to make jabs…
… Having seen the murdered man from the Huan House, having seen the deplorable depravity in the palace, having talked to the emperor, Chen Rong now thought: Perhaps it’s time to change my strategy .
This translation belongs to hamster428 .
The princess couldn’t help but turn red with anger when she saw no movement from the carriage, not even a fluttering curtain .
She suppressed her irritation and indignantly said to Wang Hong, “Qilang, do you see?”
Wang Hong’s voice still rang soft and light: “Princess, the priestess does not belong to our world . Hence our customs have nothing to do with her . ”
“Go,” he beckoned to the driver .
The driver responded and drove the horse forth .
They had barely went by the time the young aristocrats spread out and deliberately blocked their way .
As Wang Hong’s carriage pulled to a halt, a girl smiled at him: “The heavenly Wang Qilang? Please do not leave yet and let me admire you for a moment . ”
She unblinkingly stared at him, sending flirtatious looks his way .
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Likewise, the rest of the female congregation surrounded him and shouted affectionate teasing .
Each of these young girls wore an extravagant dress and carried an arrogant air . Seeing that they could freely come and go at the palace, yet weren’t very familiar with the people and things in Jiankang, they were most likely princesses from far-flung prefectures .
Wang Hong played along . He let them surround and stare at him . After some time, he smiled and asked, “Have you seen enough?”
A girl coyly smiled in reply . “My lord’s grace and beauty is unparalleled, how can a few short moments be enough?”
An older girl behind her, who seemed to be more daring, laughed out loud as she interjected, “How I wish to take this man home and admire him from dawn to dusk . ”
Laughter rose around them in response to her words .
In the meanwhile, the ninth princess had been staring at Chen Rong’s carriage . She stepped forth and lifted her curtain .
Chen Rong in her Daoist robe instantly appeared to the crowd .
The young aristocrats had been sneaking glances her way from time to time, seemingly very curious about her . Now that her face appeared, they all surrounded Chen Rong .
Wang Hong also moved closer to Chen Rong when this happened .
Different from their gawking at Wang Hong, their gawking at Chen Rong was unrestrained . The daring girl gave Wang Hong a final glance and then suddenly called: “You’re beautiful, come home with me . ”
She was talking to Chen Rong .
Chen Rong merely bowed her head and woodenly replied, “Hong Yunzi is a nun . ”
“I know you’re a nun,” the girl interrupted her, “And? You don’t want to?”
Those were contentious words .
Chen Rong looked up at her .
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When she did, the young aristocrats lit up at the sight of her . They could not peel their eyes away .
Chen Rong quietly met her stare, smiled and turned back at Wang Hong .
She looked at Wang Hong and said nothing, but waves undulated in her eyes and that was more than words could say .
Wang Hong had been leaning against the carriage wall, lazily watching the scene . His lips was always curved into a faint, detached smile .
However, he couldn’t help but be startled by the look she had now sent him .
Almost automatically, he lifted his eyes to meet her gaze .
Whether they had heard anything or not, the young audience had to understand by now when they saw them locking eyes like this .
The bold girl watched the two of them and said to Chen Rong, “Priestess, you think you are above us!”
Chen Rong ignored her .
The Ninth Princess was the next to speak . She stared at Chen Rong with fire in her eyes and gave a laugh . “It is said that Daoists are the most uninhibited . Seeing your figure and appearance, you must be proficient in couple cultivation, am I right?”
Her word were not only hostile, but they were also crude .
Chen Rong looked up .
She glanced at the princess’s pretty and haughty face, and then back at Wang Hong . Her eyes were again filled with grievances .
Then, with everyone watching, she reached for the curtain and pulled it down .
Disregarded yet again, the princess was black with ire .
As she was huffing and puffing, the youngsters laughed while Wang Hong spoke up . “Princess, please watch your words!”
When he did not smile, there was an arrogance that exuded from within him . It was the arrogance that had been linked to his bloodline over the centuries, one that even overshadowed the Sima House’s .
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Moreover, Wang Hong was being uncommonly cold and alienating .
The princess shuddered despite herself, and so did the other youngsters . They traded glances and involuntarily retreated to give way .
The princess had admired Wang Hong for many years . She had seen him laugh, she had seen him smile, and the Wang Qilang in her impression had always been gentle, calm, and kind .
… She had said worse things in the past but he had never rebuked her .
She momentarily sat stock still .
By the time her eyes were brimming with tears, Wang Hong and Chen Rong’s carriages had driven past .
Only until they had gone far away did the princess raise her sleeves over her face and burst into tears . “Q-Qilang hates me,” she cried, fearful and in panic .
Chen Rong glanced back when she heard these cries . The Sima princess’s conduct is even poorer than that of maidservants from the Wang House .
She had thought that she did not possess the elegance and temperament of an aristocrat due to her lowly background . But now it seemed that a Sima princess was no better .
“Those were some pointed gazes you sent my way right in front of everyone, darling,” Wang Hong’s amused voice sounded .
He lifted the curtain . His glassy eyes were quietly watching her . “You’re getting bold . ”
Chen Rong knew why he was looking at her that way… it could be said that she had made a declaration and forced him to speak up for her . She would not have done this in the past out of consideration for him .
She lifted her gaze and smiled charmingly, “Qilang, you’ve been nice for too long… That won’t do, you can’t protect me if this goes on . ” It was more of a statement than an accusation .
Wang Hong again froze at her words .
He gradually smiled . “I guess you’re right . ” Without turning his head, he said, “Let it be known that the Ninth Princess is vulgar in her speech, and has been scorned by Wang Qi . ”
“Aye,” a man behind him answered .
When the man left, Wang Hong turned to Chen Rong again .