Man Man Qing Luo Chapter 03

Chapter 3 is out!

Honestly... I'm really being honest here. I actually took some references from previous translation for chapter 3 and 4 (I just realized that there's chapter 3 and 4 that had been  translated before). I thought I need to move forward to chapter 5 and so on. So for whoever that had translated chapter 3 and 4, I'm truly sorry.

That's why, to ease my guilt, I post double chapters today and not long after (hopefully), I will post chapter 5 (I'm almost done XD) 

Thank you for Eunieberry for suggesting me to put disqus on previous post, and so I did. I just hope that readers don't have any difficulty to interact here :D

By any chance, if you have any suggestion, I appreciate and consider them. I will stop my rambling here. I present you chapter 3, hope you enjoy it

Happy reading~~

Man Man Qing Luo

Chapter 03

After they went back to the Crabapple Courtyard, Seventh Madam faintly sighed while facing towards the courtyard that was filled by Crabapple blossom trees in full bloom. She ordered Mother Zhang to bring over a chair near to the corridor, so she could sit.

Crabapple Blossoms

She reached and embraced Cheng Qing in her arms and said, “San er, you treat your mother so well. I always thought that you had a cold personality since you spoke less words. After all these year, even I as your mother would only get to hear a few sentences from you. You also didn’t learn poetry. I didn’t expect you would acknowledge mother’s suffering in your heart. In this family, mother only has you as the closest relative. It has been more than a year since your father has not entered this garden for more than a year. The poem that you had recited earlier were able to express the feelings of bitterness and sorrow yet you are only six years old now. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing.”

Cheng Qing realized that as a six-year-old child, it was too suspicious that she was so capable and wanted to remedy a few words of excuse. But then she heard Seventh Madam’s tone had turned to resentment: 

“There are still few people who are not at ease. And since you rarely learned four arts (chess, zither, calligraphy, and painting), those old people didn’t make any fuss lately. Today, I was really worried that you would receive the punishment yet frustrated knowing I can’t protect you from being hit by planks. As a part of Li Family’s daughter, if you were considered useless then you couldn’t help your father. Even Xiao Yu would be considered more valuable! But you are indeed my daughter, how did you manage to understand poetry and literature!?”

Cheng Qing saw that Seventh Madam had no slightest doubts that she was indeed her daughter and was too lazy to explain. At this time, she was somewhat accustomed to being embraced by Seventh Madam. Her nice fragrant and soft embrace reminded her of her own mother’s embrace when she was a child. 

She asked a question while she was still in Seventh Lady’s embrace: “Can mother tell Ah Luo, what kind of help does father need? Why do Li’s daughters must have talents in four arts?”

After asking that question, Cheng Qing somewhat felt regret, wondering whether or not Seventh Madam has told Ah Luo. Would she get surprised by this question?

Seventh Madam replied slowly: “San er, you are still a child. I will tell you when you are a little older!”

Cheng Qing was anxious inside, she wanted to understand what kind of world she was in now. She was still confused. When she first woke up, she felt inexplicable to find out that she was in the body of a young child. Then she had to face several people and felt so scared that she didn’t know what to do most of the day. Cheng Qing heard herself speak in a delicate voice: “It’s better to know earlier than later. Maybe in the future, Ah Luo will change my temper by diligently study so that I will not get beaten (receive punishment) in the next three months!” After saying this, she sighed inwardly, she really can’t get used to with her new voice!

Seven Madam sighed and said: “The head of Li Family (father) had married seven wives for the sake of a male heir. As the last wife to enter the household, he didn’t expect that I would also gave birth to a daughter. Your father is Ning Country’s Right Minister. Since he has no heir, he was thinking of marrying his three daughters into the royal family to strengthen his power. How could he not be strict with his daughter? All his hopes were placed on to his daughters, wishing they could bring wealth and glory to this family by climbing a dragon seat (emperor) as a phoenix (empress). The Main Madam came from a prominent family, if it weren’t for the fact that she had no children, would Father continue marry more women? It looked like that her beautiful mother was married into the Li Family only to be used as a baby birthing device”.

Seventh Madam lowered her head to Cheng Qing and smiled gently: “Mother never wished for San er to excel on your studies. But if you don’t improve, you will provoke your father’s anger  and you may not getting warm meals and fitting clothes. Your personality is like mine when I was a child. Stubborn and capricious, always causing trouble for Mother Zhang and Xiao Yu and never caring about homework. Mother doesn’t blame you but San er, women are always at disadvantage in this world. If you don’t marry a good family, you will not have an easy life in the future.” The last two sentences brought tears to her eyes.

Cheng Qing looked at Seventh Madam's jade-like face that full of sorrow, and in her heart, she knew that her fate and hers had bounded together tightly. She looked at herself, the little body that she has inexplicably transcended and passed through time and space. Originally, she was a fourth-year university student with great family and bright future. Now, everything was uncertain, and after hearing Seventh Madam’s words that women here would always at disadvantageous position and suffer in this society, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

The Seventh Madam hugged her tightly: “San er, why is it so hard to be a woman? Why do you have to be a daughter of Li's family!?”

Cheng Qing cried until she fell asleep.

Seventh Madam looked lovingly at her six-year-old daughter which had the same looks as her. She didn’t even want to know how beautiful she would when she grew up. Her beauty was doomed to wither away in this Crabapple Courtyard of Li’s Family residence. She hoped that her daughter will be better than hers in the future as she was now left to watch over this garden silently while waiting for death.

Seventh Madam was in daze looking at Ah Luo for a long time before called Mother Zhang and Xiao Yu to come over. In a soft voice, she said: “Young Miss is still young and inexperienced, please accommodate her. She isn’t a weak and indifferent child but willful and stubborn.”

Mother Zhang and Xiao Yu’s eyes reddened and replied: “Madam has treated us with great kindness. We, of course, will dedication ourselves to care and put more effort to Young Miss.”

Seventh Madam sent Cheng Qing in her arms to Mother Zhang and carry her back to her room. She stayed where she was, lost in thought as she gazed towards the courtyard. She remembered the words from the poem that Ah Luo recited earlier in her trial test, and another tear rolled down on her cheek again.

Cheng Qing woke up from her nap and quickly looked down at herself, yet she was still in this little body. There was only silence around her. No sounds from car driving across the road, not even sounds from people. It seems as if that the whole world has only left for her alone. As the moonlight shined into her room, she felt the atmosphere become more deserted causing her eyes to redden while tears were pouring out. Cheng Qing was wondering, could it be that she had to remain here in Ah Luo’s body as she grew up? and marry someone else? Was this now her life? Stricken with fear and panic to the extreme, she couldn’t help but continue to burst into tears.

Outside of her bed curtain, a candlelight was lit up and brightened up the room. Xiao Yu then hurriedly lifted up the bed’s muslin veil and nervously hugged her: “Young Miss, did you have a nightmare again? Xiao Yu is here. Young Miss, please don’t be afraid.”

Cheng Qing saw Xiao Yu’s disheveled hair, rubbing her sleepy eyes. How could she as twenty-two years old woman let a child around 10-years-old to protect her? She slowly stopped her tears and said to Xiao Yu: “I can't sleep. Xiao Yu come over and lie down with me. Accompany and talk with me for a bit.”

Under candlelight, Xiao Yu looked at Ah Luo’s small face that still had a trace of wet tears, a pleading face that tugged at her heart. She couldn’t help but think, that young miss was only six years old and could invoke a pity from others. Who knew what kind of outstanding beauty she will become in the future? Xiao Yu agreed and got onto the bed, signaling Ah Luo to lay down.

Afterwards, Cheng Qing asked Xiao Yu: “Tell me, what the outside world is like! What kind of country is Ning Country?”

Xiao Yu bashfully smiled: “Xiao Yu only knows that there are five countries in the world, there are Qi Country in the west, Xia Country in the southwest, An Country in the north, Chen Country in the south, and this country is positioned in the east. Our country is the largest and most powerful country. We are currently living in the capital city of Ning Country. Feng City. Young Miss, our Feng City is spacious. Even though you rode on a horse and urged it to go as fast as you can, the time it takes to get from east side to west side would take several hours. As for the events, the most exciting festival would be The Lantern Festival. The riverside of the Ning River would have filled with lanterns. And at night, there’s also quite a number of leisure boats that looks so majestic as if fairies live there.”

What kind of place was this! Cheng Qing thought. It was as if she had entered to a different era. She would have to learn more about it later. She really need to think about it. And soon after that, she closed her eyes. Xiao Yu thought she was asleep again, and she stopped her mouth and slowly went to sleep.

Cheng Qing opened her eyes and stared at the bed ceiling. It looks like she will have to live the rest of life as Ah Luo, a daughter of the Li Family. Her earlier feelings of nervousness and fear was suppressed by her sheer will. At least, it wasn’t that bad at all, her “father” of the Li Family was a minister and there’ll be no hardship to get food and clothes. She also had some time in the future years to face other things that would rise as she got older. Maybe one day, she would wake up and found herself went back to her own original home, thinking this was after all only a dream. Her heart and mind slowly settled down.

Cheng Qing evaluated herself. At her university, she studied English which was useless here. But considering she had lived for 22 years prior, there was bound to be some knowledge that she could use here. Poetry verses could be copied, and she should be understand most of the culture of five thousand years. It doesn't matter if the poetry from Tang Dynasty or Song Dynasty were incomplete. She knew some of the popular phrases that would appeal people here. Though she couldn’t sing and always off-tune yet it didn't matter because she knew some lyric songs that may be useful. She also practiced yoga and kung fu [1]. This was what she was best at. She could settled three or five ordinary men in a short time with this skill. At least she wasn’t a defenseless woman with no strength! Cheng Qing felt relieved. It was fortunate that her parents were both worked as government officials and were quite busy all year, unable them to take care of her. So, she had decided to practice and be proficient at kung fu to protect herself. Also, since there was no one in charge to look after her, Cheng Qing learned how to cook when she was five years old. Oh right, she knew how to cook!

[1] Kung fu practices illustration.

These sequence of  thoughts made her feel like she was drifted off to a remote island at the same time. Afterward, she discovered that she had many useful skills, she couldn’t help but get excited. After thinking for half of the day, there was nothing she could think of.

Afterwards, her mind wandered off to another direction. Cheng Qing was thinking about this six-year-old Ah Luo’s fate. She heard that in the ancient era, women would have to marry once she reached the age of 13 years old. At least she had seven years to learn. She started take a note on her to learn from the beginning and will eventually learn what is there to learn in this society. Above all those, there was one important thing that was being able to live and survive was the most important.

Cheng Qing said to herself that from today she was Li Xiang Family’s third daughter, Ah Luo.

While observing her surrounding today, she noticed that none of the women here used foot bindings which made her sigh with relief greatly. She had seen her previous maternal grandmother’s foot which was wrapped in foot binding, afterwards she felt goosebumps.

Cheng Qing then recalled everyone in the hall earlier that day, and she analyzed it carefully. Her “father” Li, the head of the Li Family, and her own father were both politicians. But she didn’t know her “father” was a righteous person. In ancient times, the ministers with the most authority would never have any good endings in emperor hands. At most, they were usually killed off by the emperor. That was why, as long as he didn’t commit any major crimes, he will have a peaceful and secure life. She prayed to all the Gods countless times in hopes that her father will never incurred a punishment that will cause a downfall to all family members. When she thought of all kinds of torture in ancient times, she become frightened.

Later she thought about those seven wives that were probably afraid to fight openly but fought covertly. But, it seemed that all six wives were disliked Seventh Madam. Was it because the Seventh Madam was the youngest? Or was it because she was the most beautiful among them? Or was there another reason?

Cheng Qing knew that Father Li only had three daughters, should she strive to become his favorite? Cheng Qing thought the advantages and disadvantages. The good one was she and Seventh Madam would receive better treatment and got some privileges. The bad thing was she would attract unwanted attention. Even if she didn’t want any attention now, it would be difficult to get away from it in the future.

Paid more attention to her current environment. The Crabapple Courtyard seemed like it was located on the outer corner of the Li Family residence. To get here from the hall would take at least ten minutes to arrive. She also noted that she only had Mother Zhang Ma and Xiao Yu as her two servants. Mother Zhang had served Seventh Madam longer than Xiao Yu. And Xiao Yu was just recently started to serve closely at her side. Her living quarters had an elegant layout, even though she didn’t see anything valuable like gold and silver jewelry.

Even for today gathering, Seventh Madam only wore two jade hairpins in her hair. She was a simple flower standing in the midst of others extravagance. Thinking of Seventh Madam’s gentle and yet sorrowful expression, Cheng Qing concluded that she might had cast aside after giving birth to a daughter.

With her twenty-two-year-old wisdom in the body of six-year-old girl and possessing modern knowledge and thoughts, it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to win over her “father” favor and become his favorite. However, when she thought about how surpassing others too much could be dangerous, she decided to temporarily keep a low profile, conceal her talents and bode her time more. Once she was more familiar with her situation and had settled down for a few years then she will see.

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