Chapter 14: Meeting at the Pavilion (Part 2)
Wang Siniang glanced at Wang Yuenuang, lacking her younger sister's naivety. The Wang family's foundation paled in comparison to the Shen residence's legacy. Only through Consort Shu's palace influence could they stand among noble houses like the Shens. Yet Princess Anhe was no pushover—the Wangs lacked the strength to challenge Shen power.
Still, Wang Siniang couldn't stomach this humiliation.
"Fourth Sister, why would Shen Yuan's group dare act so rudely now? They never behaved this way before," Wang Yuenuang pressed.
Wang Siniang remained perplexed, though part of her suspected the truth. She refused to believe Shen Yuan would slight her over some distant cousin unrelated to the main family. Clearly, Shen Yuan had long nurtured grievances against her.
A cold smile twisted Wang Siniang's lips. "I thought Shen Yuan possessed greater magnanimity! All just performative grace—she's finally shown her true colors."
"If we don't retaliate, we'll become laughingstocks. Fourth Sister, do something!" Wang Yuenuang urged.
"Naturally, we must inform Her Ladyship," Wang Siniang replied. Ultimately, the Wang sisters still relied on Consort Shu to maintain appearances.
Meanwhile, Second Branch's Huang Furen admonished Shen Yuan: "I merely accompanied our ancestors to mountain prayers for days—how did you provoke such trouble? A'Yuan, you've never been this impulsive. Explain yourself."
"Some grow entitled when shown excessive courtesy. You know Wang Siniang's nature, Mother," Shen Yuan answered with rare coyness. "Moreover, constant avoidance isn't wisdom—it only fuels her audacity."
Huang Furen chuckled. "So that's your reasoning? I feared the Ji girl had addled your wits."
Shen Yuan met her mother's gaze with confident amusement. "You underestimate me. Even when disciplining a dog, one considers its master. Wang Siniang lacks basic decency—she shan't bully even our most distant relations or household servants."
Huang Furen patted her daughter's hand. "Balance softness with steel—that's true wisdom. I won't fault your actions, but having stirred this pot, you must handle its consequences."
Shen Yuan nodded. "Wang Siniang possesses scant influence beyond complaining to Consort Shu. But with Consort Shu battling her own crises, she'll hardly spare attention for this trifle."
Her prediction proved accurate—Consort Shu indeed lacked capacity to chastise the Shens. Palace rivals circled like vultures since her princeling's birth. Emperor Jianping's "abundant sowing, rich reaping" philosophy kept his harem bustling. Consort Shu herself wasn't his favorite—rumors swirled of a new beauty resembling his long-lost love.
Seizing her moment, Shen Yuan delivered a stinging slap to Wang Siniang's cheek, emerging unscathed—a complete triumph.
Only later did Ji Cheng grasp the truth. She'd overestimated her own influence, mistaking Shen Yuan's strategic need for persuasion. The advantage lay not in Shen Yuan's cleverness, but in palace intelligence channels Ji Cheng lacked.
This incident spurred Ji Cheng to establish her own networks. In the capital, ignorance of palace affairs meant vulnerability. Their sources—minor eunuchs far from power—provided sparse, stale information, but better than nothing.
With Wang Siniang's complaint thwarted, the April 24th Hundred Flowers Banquet proceeded unimpeded.
But first, Ji Cheng had unfinished business.
Never underestimate children's commitment to promises. Unaware of adult excuses, they nurse betrayals like persistent wounds.
"Must you really go, Miss? Hong'er's likely forgotten. And if they catch us with these tools..." Liu Ye'er fretted.
Truthfully, Ji Cheng didn't know why she'd promised Hong'er access to the estate's highest point. Momentary pity perhaps—harmless virtue when no conflicts arose.
At moon's zenith, Ji Cheng lounged on the familiar walltop, legs swinging. The brat hadn't appeared. She wore practical purple—open-front robe over indigo culottes, thin-soled shoes, hair tightly bound. The outfit permitted unprecedented informality.
Reclining against the sloping wall, she cradled her head in one hand, knee propped up, free fingers drumming her thigh. Perfect would be a grass stem between teeth—but not worth fetching.
When Hong finally scampered to the wall's base, finding no "peach blossom spirit," his lips trembled. He'd risked much for nothing!
Ji Cheng had spotted his approach but stayed silent, amused by his poor sight. A date pit from her pouch bonked his head.
"Ow!" Hong glared upward—then beamed through tears. "I thought you abandoned me!"
Ji Cheng beckoned. "Up here. We scale the wall to reach the Duke's mansion."
On one side of Hong Ge'er stood a tree nearly as tall as the wall—he'd climbed it to reach the rooftop. "Which part of the Duke's residence are we going to?" Hong Ge'er asked excitedly.
Ji Cheng pressed a finger to her lips. "Night patrol matrons and guards are about. Stay quiet and follow me if you don't want to get caught."
Hong Ge'er instantly fell silent, crawling after Ji Cheng along the wall.
With her sharp eyes and agile movements, Ji Cheng managed to guide Hong Ge'er safely into Qing Garden. These skills stemmed from her untamed childhood before age twelve—back when the Ji family wasn't wealthy, girls were raised as roughly as boys, and she'd often joined her second brother's mischief.
"Where are we going,
Thinking...Okay, I need to proofread the translated text provided and compare it with the original Chinese to ensure accuracy. Let me start by reading both texts carefully.
First, the original Chinese text has a lot of dialogue and detailed descriptions of the characters' actions and interactions. The translated text provided in the "answer" seems to capture most of the key points, but there might be areas where nuances are lost or where grammar and fluency can be improved.
Looking at the first paragraph: The original mentions 弘哥儿 climbing a tree to get onto the wall. The translation says, "He had climbed the tree to get onto the wall." That seems accurate. However, in the original, the dialogue is more direct: “我们去国公府哪里啊？” which translates to "Where are we going in the Duke's mansion?" The translation here is correct.
Next, the character names. The original uses 纪澄, which is translated as Ji Cheng. That's fine, as it's a direct transliteration. Similarly, 弘哥儿 is Hong Ge'er. The names are kept consistent, which is good.
In the second paragraph, the original mentions 巡夜的婆子 and 护院. The translation uses "night patrols and guards." 婆子 specifically refers to older female servants, so "night patrols" might be a bit generic. However, for natural English, "night patrols" is acceptable, though adding "elderly women" could specify, but the translation might have opted for simplicity.
Moving on to the part where Ji Cheng's background is explained: The original talks about her wild childhood before twelve. The translation says, "Her skills were honed from her wild childhood before she turned twelve." That's accurate. The mention of 野马一样的生活 is translated as "wild childhood," which captures the essence.
There's a part where Hong Ge'er asks, “姐姐，我们要去哪里？” translated as "Sister, where are we going?" The use of "Sister" here is correct, as 姐姐 is an affectionate term for an older female, not necessarily a sibling. The translation maintains this.
When they reach the Moon Pavilion, the original has 得月亭, which is translated as "Moon Pavilion." That's a good translation, preserving the poetic name. The description of the pavilion as "hexagonal with double eaves" is accurate from the original 重檐六角攒尖亭.
In the dialogue where Hong Ge'er expresses disappointment about going to the pavilion, the translation uses "disappointed; he had been there before." The original has a more colloquial expression: “干吗费这老牛鼻子的劲儿晚上去.” The translation simplifies it, which is acceptable for fluency, though some idiomatic nuance is lost. However, the main point is conveyed.
The part where Ji Cheng tucks her robe into her belt and climbs like a monkey is well translated. The action is clear and matches the original's vivid description.
When Hong Ge'er is pulled up with the rope, the translation mentions a hook for safety. The original specifies it's a 铁钩 (iron hook), which the translation includes as "hook," which is sufficient.
The conversation about Ji Cheng not wanting to be Hong Ge'er's stepmother is translated accurately. The social disparity and her reasons are clearly conveyed. The translation of 沈御 as "Shen Yu" isn't present in the provided answer, but in the original text, the name 沈御 appears. The answer's translation doesn't mention Shen Yu, which might be an oversight. However, the provided answer's translation ends before that part, so maybe it's truncated.
There's a section where Ji Cheng explains about people's motives, which is translated as "People may not always be sincere, but they will be loyal because they depend on you." The original's nuance about 忠心 (loyalty) and 讨好 (flattery) is maintained here.
I notice that in the provided answer's translation, some parts of the original text are missing, especially towards the end where Shen Che appears. The answer's translation stops at "...as they gazed at the moon together," but the original continues with the appearance of Shen Che and his description. This indicates that the provided translation is incomplete. However, since the user's task is to proofread the given translation, I'll focus on that part.
Looking for grammatical errors: The sentence "Ji Cheng made a shushing gesture at Hong Ge'er" could be more natural as "Ji Cheng shushed Hong Ge'er." However, the current translation is grammatically correct.
In the sentence "Her skills were honed from her wild childhood before she turned twelve," "honing from" might be better as "honed during," but both are acceptable.
"The two carefully made their way to the base of the Moon Pavilion, which was in a secluded part of Qing Garden." This is clear and accurate.
"They sat down breathlessly, and Ji Cheng handed him two dates from her pocket." The term "dates" for 枣 is correct.
In the dialogue where Hong Ge'er says, "I know many girls want to marry my father and become my stepmother," the translation captures the directness of the original.
Overall, the translation is mostly accurate and fluent. However, some minor adjustments can enhance readability and naturalness. For example, changing "Ji Cheng made a shushing gesture at Hong Ge'er" to "Ji Cheng shushed Hong Ge'er" would be more concise. Also, ensuring consistency in translating terms like 国公府 as "Duke's mansion" is good, but "Duke's residence" might be slightly more natural in some contexts.
Another point is the translation of “得月亭” as “Moon Pavilion.” While correct, using the pinyin “Deyue Pavilion” with a translation note might preserve the original name, but the current approach is acceptable for readability.
Lastly, the final sentence in the provided translation ends with "...as they gazed at the moon together." The original continues beyond this point, but since the answer's translation stops here, I'll focus on the given text.
In summary, the translation is well done with minor areas for improvement in fluency and naturalness. Adjusting some phrases for conciseness and ensuring all terms are consistently translated would enhance the quality.
On one side of Hong Ge'er stood a tree nearly as tall as the wall. He had climbed it to reach the wall's edge. "Which part of the Duke's estate are we going to?" Hong Ge'er asked excitedly.
Ji Cheng raised a silencing finger. "Night patrol matrons and guards are about. Stay quiet and follow me if you don't want to be caught."
Hong Ge'er promptly closed his mouth, crawling along the wall behind Ji Cheng. With sharp vision and agile movements, Ji Cheng guided them safely into Qing Garden - skills honed during her untamed childhood before age twelve.
Back when the Ji family was less prosperous, girls were raised as roughly as boys. Young Ji Cheng often joined her second brother's mischief. Later, as the family gained wealth and Ji Cheng grew older, even her parents couldn't restrain her wild nature. Only after the forced marriage incident with the Zhu family did she suddenly transform into this quiet version of herself.
"Sister, where are we going?" The boy finally burst out, unable to contain his curiosity.
Ji Cheng pointed toward the hexagonal Moon Pavilion with its double-layered eaves atop Crane Hill.
"Just the pavilion?" Hong Ge'er's face fell. He'd visited this landmark countless times - why risk nighttime patrols for this?
"Not the pavilion." Ji Cheng tweaked his nose. "The roof."
"The roof? But it's so high! How?"
"Leave that to me." Ji Cheng smirked. Scaling walls and traversing rooftops had been second nature during her Ji family estate days.
They crept to the pavilion's base in Qing Garden's secluded northeast corner, where patrols rarely ventured. Beneath a nearby tree, Hong Ge'er watched Ji Cheng tuck her robe into her belt and scramble up the trunk like a squirrel, leaping effortlessly onto the pavilion's lower roof.
The boy stared, awestruck by her fluid movements.
Ji Cheng secured a rope to an ornate eave ornament. "Grab this," she instructed, lowering both rope and an iron hook. "Attach the hook to your belt as backup."
True to his lineage as the Shen family's firstborn son, Hong Ge'er's grip proved stronger than expected. Ji Cheng hauled him up effortlessly, the boy's future as a military leader already evident in his sturdy frame.
"Sister!" His eyes shone like moonlight on lakewater. "I never imagined playing on roof tiles!"
After catching their breath, Ji Cheng produced two jujubes from her pocket. Eating dried fruits atop moonlit rooftops, they discovered, tasted infinitely sweeter than on solid ground.
When their breathing stead steadied, Hong Ge'er suddenly asked: "How did you know my name?"
Ji Cheng froze. So much for children being easily fooled.
"You did know!" The boy adopted a startlingly mature tone. "All you girls want to marry Father and become my stepmother."
Ji Cheng massaged her temples. This child's perceptiveness exceeded his years.
"I'll have a stepmother eventually." Hong Ge'er squeezed her palm. "I wouldn't mind if it were you."
"I don't want that." Ji Cheng met his gaze squarely. She'd abandoned such fantasies long ago - the social gap was unbridgeable, and Shen Yu's controlling nature clashed with her marital ideals. With such a husband, she'd remain expendable.
"Then why be kind to me?" The boy's eyes mirrored starlight on water. "Second Uncle says no one acts without motive."
Your uncle teaches too well, Ji Cheng thought. After brief hesitation, she ruffled his hair. "He's right. I brought you here because..." She gazed at the moon. "I miss my mother too. Though I'll admit wanting your future favor as the Shen family's pillar."
Hong Ge'er blinked, processing this.
"Your mother's in heaven too?"
"No." The answer came too quickly. She mourned not a deceased parent, but the living mother who'd prioritized sons over daughters. The mental wound still bled, though she knew the choice had been logical.
"You lied!" The boy flopped onto the tiles, imitating her earlier posture.
"It wasn't a lie." She lay beside him. "Just... complicated."
"But not sincere!"
Children see in absolutes. Ji Cheng weighed honesty against preserving his innocence.
"Your position ensures many will serve you," she finally said. "They may lack sincerity but will remain loyal. Don't demand both - that's greedy."
"What if I want sincerity anyway?"
"Then learn to discern it."
After a long pause, the boy whispered: "You mean they'll flatter me because I'm the first grandson?"
"Not all," Ji Cheng conceded. "But accept favors only if you're willing to repay them later. That's society's contract."
The child sighed, overwhelmed. "I just want you to care."
Ji Cheng said nothing.
"Which palace holds my mother?" Hong Ge'er abruptly asked the moon.
"Unknown."
"I'll check higher!" He scrambled toward the roof's central spire.
Ji Cheng lunged after him. As they neared the pinnacle, Hong Ge'er's foot slipped. A shadow blurred past, snatching the boy mid-fall by his sash.
"Uncle!"
Ji Cheng looked up - and forgot to breathe.
Shen Che defied all expectations. Instead of the dissipated rake she'd imagined (sallow-eyed, bloated from excess), the Second Young Master embodied concentrated refinement. The Shen family's collective grace seemed distilled into this single form - beauty so arresting it paralyzed thought.
(End of Chapter)
