AFTER BEING MARRIED OFF TO A BLIND VILLIAN - CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8

Using recuperation as an excuse, Chi Ying stayed behind closed doors and finally enjoyed a few peaceful days.

Because of her cold, matters that should have been handled, the manor's account books, personnel and household affairs, had to be postponed. During this time, Aunt Qionglin frequently came bearing gifts from Consort Zhuang: fine silks and satins, precious medicinal materials. Chi Ying was overwhelmed by the favor and could only temporarily store them in the storeroom.

On this day when Qionglin came, she mentioned one more thing: this marriage was, after all, bestowed by Emperor Yongcheng. Once she recovered, it would be best to enter the palace with Prince Zhao to express gratitude and complete the proprieties.

This was also Consort Zhuang's intention. Though she had become estranged from Emperor Yongcheng due to her hysteria, Prince Zhao was still a prince, and she was an imperial daughter-in-law. According to protocol, they should have entered the palace to express gratitude the day after the wedding. It had only been delayed due to Prince Zhao's grave injury. The palace had been understanding of his blindness and inconvenience, sending various rewards directly to the prince's manor. But if they continued to delay expressing gratitude, it would be quite improper.

Chi Ying's heart, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.

Entering the palace to express gratitude meant she would see many people, Emperor Yongcheng, the Empress, perhaps other imperial clan members. She wasn't sure whether Chi Yingyue had met these people before, nor how she herself should respond.

Yin Shi had mentioned Chi Yingyue's several close friends to her, as well as cousins on her grandparents' side. But she couldn't match faces to all these people. Chi Yingyue had shown her face at various families' flower-viewing banquets and polo matches. Even if she dressed like her, it would be difficult to be flawless.

For several days in a row, worrying too much and tossing sleeplessly, not only did this cold not improve, it actually worsened.

After much thought, Chi Ying decided to have Xiangqin return to the Chi manor once, using visiting her mother as an excuse.

Xiangqin was born into service, her mother Mama Zheng a servant woman in Yin Shi's courtyard. Having her go back wouldn't arouse suspicion.

After returning to the manor, Xiangqin went to see Yin Shi and truthfully reported what Chi Ying had instructed.

"Third Miss is worried that once she enters the palace to pay respects, her identity might not remain hidden."

"Prince Zhao's injuries have improved, and he's gentler and more courteous than the rumors say, absolutely not the kind to kill innocents indiscriminately. So Third Miss was thinking, while she hasn't yet consummated the marriage with His Highness, could she quickly switch back with Second Miss?"

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

"Third Miss also said that as long as they switch identities back, she'll definitely take Concubine Xue far from the capital and never return to the capital again."

It must be said, Yin Shi was truly tempted.

That Prince Zhao was gravely injured beyond treatment was just outside rumor. When her daughter cried and refused to marry, she had taken the risk and switched in Chi Ying as a substitute. Her original plan was to wait for Prince Zhao to die, then make plans for her daughter, whether as Prince Zhao's widow, or after that Chi Ying was buried with him, her daughter could continue living under cover as the Chi manor's Third Miss. Anything was better than being tormented to death by Prince Zhao or buried with him!

As for cruel and violent temperament, wasn't Chi Ying fine? According to Xiangqin, she'd even applied medicine for Prince Zhao and attended to him personally, and Prince Zhao hadn't wrung her neck.

Yin Shi recalled that day the girl returned home, how imposing that Prince Zhao manor carriage was, that girl in brocade gown and dress, adorned with pearls and jade. Truly a sparrow transformed into a phoenix!

But all of this should have belonged to Yingyue.

Now there was light at the end of the tunnel, Prince Zhao was in good health. If Chi Ying continued being this consort, wouldn't she be getting an incredible bargain!

Prince Zhao was blind and would henceforth have no connection to succession, but a consort was still a consort. A lifetime of wealth and glory went without saying. With Prince Zhao blind and Consort Zhuang mad, if Yingyue went, she could manage the household and oversee the manor. In the future, with a child to rely on, that would be Emperor Yongcheng's imperial grandson!

Considering all this, how could Yin Shi not be tempted!

She immediately went to consult Earl Changyuan about this matter.

But Earl Changyuan wasn't so optimistic: "That's a princess consort! Do you think you can find someone to substitute and then switch them back whenever you want? Do you think Prince Zhao's manor is yours to command!"

Yin Shi said urgently: "Prince Zhao is blind. He's never seen what the consort looks like. Moreover, Chi Ying and Yingyue look so similar—switch them without anyone knowing, who would think of this? Even if there's suspicion, where would they get evidence?"

Uncle Changyuan: "What about the maids and servants attending her closely in the room? They can't recognize the difference?"

Yin Shi: "Then have Chi Ying dismiss everyone during these days of her cold, staying in bed without coming out, leaving only Baoshan and Xiangqin to attend to her. By the time she's fully recovered, it will be at least half a month later. Study the manner a bit, if the voice is different, say the cold damaged her throat. Those manor maids have only attended her a few times, who would dare insist with certainty that the consort has been switched?"

Earl Changyuan paced back and forth in the room, still not daring to decide easily.

"This matter absolutely cannot be delayed!" Yin Shi spoke urgently. "After these few days when her cold improves, they'll probably consummate the marriage. If we want to switch them then, it'll be too late! Do you want Yingyue to hide all her life, never able to show her face?"

Seeing Earl Changyuan still not responding, she pressed on: "How have you treated her mother and daughter all these years? She harbors resentment. Will she be willing to help you as her father, help her two brothers? Aren't you afraid that in the future she'll lord it over us, putting on airs as a consort, riding roughshod over us?"

Earl Changyuan's expression finally showed signs of wavering.

Switching them back now, everything would return to normal. No need to worry about the substitute marriage being exposed. Yingyue had been cherished and pampered since childhood, naturally she'd help the family. But Chi Ying... Concubine Xue had been beaten nearly to death by him. Chi Ying probably hated him as her father!

The couple made up their minds. Yin Shi immediately had someone prepare a carriage to go to the separate residence and bring Chi Yingyue back to the manor.

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

When they'd arranged for Chi Ying to substitute in marriage, Chi Yingyue naturally couldn't appear openly. Yin Shi had originally wanted her to use Chi Ying's identity and live in Chunliu Courtyard with Concubine Xue. Naturally they wouldn't stay in the same place, she'd prepare a separate side room for her, with servants attending to food and clothing. But this girl adamantly refused, saying she feared catching disease. Helpless, Yin Shi could only temporarily settle her in a secluded separate residence in the capital.

Food, clothing, and other necessities naturally weren't as lavish as before. Yin Shi had thought her daughter would suffer some hardship, but unexpectedly, not only had Chi Yingyue not lost any weight, her figure was actually fuller than before.

In comparison, Chi Ying was more slender and delicate. If not for hiring a physician last year to care for her body, trying to make her, from skin to figure—resemble a pampered young lady, calling that girl "skin and bones" wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Chi Yingyue was sitting on the bed, bored, embroidering a sachet. Seeing her mother arrive, her eyes lit up. She hastily threw the embroidery basket under the kang table, rose and asked: "Mother, why have you come? Has Prince Zhao died?"

Yin Shi glanced at her. "Prince Zhao is alive and well. Mother has come to bring you home. Tomorrow, have Chi Ying find an excuse to return to the manor. You two will switch back quickly."

"Switch... switch back?" Chi Yingyue was dumbstruck, almost doubting she'd heard wrong.

Yin Shi: "Prince Zhao being gravely injured and near death was a rumor. As for that brutal temperament, it's even more baseless gossip. While they haven't consummated the marriage, switch back early to eliminate future troubles permanently."

Chi Yingyue unconsciously gripped her sleeves tightly, stammering: "But... but that's what everyone outside says. Didn't you also think Prince Zhao's manor was a pit of fire before? What if... what if Chi Ying is lying to us?"

Compared to Chi Ying, Yin Shi trusted more that Xiangqin wouldn't lie. "Chi Ying has applied medicine for Prince Zhao multiple times, and isn't she alive and well?"

Chi Yingyue's face was full of distress, reluctant as she said: "No, Mother, I... I don't want to marry a blind man."

Yin Shi was furious. Her daughter had truly been spoiled by her to the point of lawlessness, still being willful at a time like this.

"What does it matter if he's blind? Between a blind prince and an able-bodied commoner, even your feet know which to choose."

Chi Yingyue mumbled: "How does Mother know I'll only be able to marry some commoner in the future? What if..."

"There is no 'what if,'" Yin Shi said sternly. "If you don't switch back, as long as Chi Ying remains this consort for even one day, you won't be able to show your face for one day. Do you want to hide in this separate residence for a lifetime, making the Earl's manor bear the crime of deceiving the emperor for a lifetime because of you? This position of Prince Zhao's consort belonged to you in the first place. Are you going to let that lowly concubine's daughter benefit?"

Chi Yingyue still refused to comply, racking her brains for reasons: "If being this consort were truly so good, would Chi Ying willingly give it back to me? Why don't we... observe a bit more? Rumors don't arise from nothing. What if that Prince Zhao is just pretending to be refined and courteous, but in the bedchamber enjoys tormenting people? I've heard that defective people always have twisted proclivities. You wouldn't want me to enter the manor only to be tormented to death by him..."

Yin Shi was so angry she tapped her daughter's forehead hard.

But thinking it over, what her daughter said wasn't necessarily impossible. Being too eager and hasty might instead harm her.

Moreover, if her daughter wouldn't cooperate in the switch, even if she bound her and dragged her to the prince's manor, forcing her to be this consort, sooner or later she'd expose herself anyway.

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

Yin Shi sighed heavily, hating only that the imperial family had given Earl Changyuan's manor such honor, yet married her daughter to a blind, hopeless prince. She also hated that the lowly concubine's daughter was getting such an undeserved benefit.

For now, she could only watch for an opportunity and devise another plan.

After Yin Shi left, Chi Yingyue took out the sachet from her embroidery basket, stroking the python pattern embroidered with gold thread. Thinking of something, her gaze turned sharp, her fingers clenching tightly into fists.

His Majesty had many princes. Who said she could only marry Prince Zhao?

Let Chi Ying enjoy the fortune of being Prince Zhao's consort!

...

Xiangqin didn't return to the prince's manor until nightfall, but the news she brought back surprised Chi Ying considerably.

"You're saying Second Sister is unwilling?"

"Yes," Xiangqin nodded and simply told the truth. "The Earl and Madam originally agreed. Madam was already planning to bring Second Miss back, but Second Miss is probably still afraid in her heart and refused to return to the manor with Madam. Madam had no choice but to give up."

The light in Chi Ying's eyes dimmed, and the curve at the corners of her lips slowly faded completely.

Originally, she'd planned to tell her everything about her interactions with Prince Zhao these past days in minute detail. But now that side didn't agree, and Prince Zhao was safe and sound, when would she be able to leave the prince's manor? When would she be able to take Mother away?

Xiangqin said: "Madam asks that you deal with things for now. Delay what you can delay. If you truly can't refuse, you'll have to adapt as circumstances require. For occasions going out, you can bring Baoshan and me along. We two have attended various major banquets and gatherings in the capital with Madam and Miss. We've seen quite a few of the capital's noble ladies and young misses, and can help cover for you. As for entering the palace to express gratitude, Second Miss has never had an audience with His Majesty either. When the time comes, just follow Prince Zhao and bow with lowered head."

As for Madam saying to watch Third Miss and not let her use seductive wiles on Prince Zhao, Xiangqin thought about it and decided not to say that out loud.

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

With Third Miss's gentle, cautious temperament, fearing him wasn't enough—, how would she actively seek favor? Moreover, Prince Zhao was blind. Even if Third Miss were proactive, wouldn't that be casting flirtatious glances at a blind man...

Seeing Chi Ying's gloomy expression, Xiangqin sighed and advised: "Third Miss, just consider it for Concubine Xue's sake. Listen to Madam."

The support window had been left slightly open for air. Night wind crept in, and immediately a chill crawled up her spine. Chi Ying shivered, covering her lips with a handkerchief and coughing twice. Cold sweat beaded at her temples, and her cheeks flushed with an unhealthy tinge of red.

Mother was her only weakness. She was isolated and helpless, with no money to rely on. She still depended on the money and medicine in Yin Shi's hands to save Mother's life.

A thought even flashed through her mind, simply leave, abandon this mess that was Chi Yingyue's. Taking a few valuable pieces of jewelry from the dowry would be enough for Mother's medicine.

But thinking again, Mother was still ill. How could she evade Earl Changyuan manor's eyes and ears and quietly take her away, away from the capital? Moreover, if the prince's manor storeroom was robbed, how could she as the thief escape...

Chi Ying sighed deeply. Right now she had no choice but to let herself be manipulated.

...

Yanguī Tower.

Yuan De presented a pair of earrings selected from the storeroom. "Your Highness, what do you think of giving these to the consort?"

Yan Xuecui opened the rosewood and mother-of-pearl box, his fingertips brushing over the slender tassels, his voice tinged with amusement: "Are they beautiful?"

Yuan De described their appearance in detail: "These earrings are tribute goods from the Jiangnan weaving bureau, fashioned from gold thread into begonia flower shapes. Fine gold tassels hang down with red chalcedony pendants, delicate and exquisite yet dignified. The consort has snow-white skin and a slender neck. These would be perfect for her."

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

Yan Xuecui pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "You also think the consort is exceptionally beautiful?"

Yuan De immediately felt his spine go cold. He dropped to his knees with a thud. "Your Highness, forgive me! This servant misspoke..."

In his haste, he'd actually presumed to discuss the consort's appearance, especially with His Highness being blind.

The curve at Prince Zhao's lips didn't diminish, but the ash-gray depths of his eyes held not a trace of mirth. "Get up."

Yuan De raised his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and hastily rose to give thanks.

Prince Zhao stroked the fine, slightly cool tassels, fairly satisfied in his heart.

His consort was always very nervous before him. Even saying ordinary words could frighten her into delicate trembling. The hairpins in her hair and the tassels at her earlobes would also sway along with her—that clear, tinkling sound, like crushed gold, like rippling wavelets, carrying a lingering resonance that made one want to catch it, grasp it tightly, clutch it firmly in hand.

Wearing these earrings, she would surely tremble with a beautiful sound too.

The corners of Prince Zhao's lips lifted slightly. He closed the mother-of-pearl box and ordered: "Send them to Shuyu Pavilion. Also check if the consort's cold has improved. If she's recovered, have her accompany me to Shouchun Hall to visit Mother Consort.”

TRANSLATOR: Guys, i just realized this book is rated 18, and i cannot continue posting it on my website. i am still trying to figure out what to do when we get to those chapters.

Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/

GLOSSARY

Characters

Chi Ying (池萤) - Female protagonist; concubine-born third daughter who substitutes for her legitimate elder sister in marriage to the Prince of Zhao

Yan Xuecui / Prince of Zhao (晏雪摧 / 昭王) - Male protagonist; blind prince with a dark reputation, suffers from touch-starvation condition

Chi Yingyue (池颖月) - Chi Ying's legitimate elder sister who was originally supposed to marry the Prince of Zhao

Countess Yin / Yin-shi (殷氏)- Chi Yingyue's mother; the legitimate wife who arranged the substitute marriage

Aunt Xue / Xue Yiniang (薛姨娘) - Chi Ying's mother; a concubine in poor health

Consort Zhuang (庄妃) - The Prince of Zhao's mother

Prince Ding (定王) - The deceased elder brother of Prince of Zhao

Emperor Yongcheng (永成帝) - The current emperor

Servants & Attendants

Xiangqin (香琴) - Chi Ying's maid, originally serving Lady Yin's interests

Baoshan (宝扇) - Chi Ying's maid

Aunt Fangchun (芳春姑姑) - Senior servant managing household affairs

Steward Yuan / Yuan-de (元德) - The Prince of Zhao's chief steward

Qingzhi (青芝) & Yintiao (银翘) - Maids at the manor

Qingze (青泽) - The Prince of Zhao's attendant

Physician Lin (林院判) - The physician treating the Prince of Zhao

 Locations

Prince of Zhao's Manor (昭王府) - The prince's residence

Shuyu Pavilion (漱玉斋) - Chi Ying's residence, formerly the Prince of Zhao's chamber

Yangui Tower (雁归楼)- The Prince of Zhao's current residence with a dungeon beneath

Shouchun Hall (寿春堂)- Consort Zhuang's residence

Changyuan Earl Manor (昌远伯府)- Chi family's declining noble household

Titles & Terms

Wang/Prince (王)- Imperial prince title

Wangfei/Princess Consort (王妃) - Wife of a prince

Dianxia/Your Highness (殿下) - Formal address for a prince

Niangniang/Your Ladyship (娘娘) - Formal address for an imperial consort

Di (嫡) - Legitimate-born (from legal wife)

Shu (庶) - Concubine-born

Substitute marriage (替嫁)- Marrying in place of another

Consummation/Yuan fang (圆房) - Completing the marriage ceremony through intercourse

Returning home visit/Hui men (回门) - Traditional bride's first visit to natal home after marriage

Cultural Items

Bamboo cane/scrolls (竹杖/竹简) - The prince uses these for mobility and reading

Incense (熏香) - Various types used for ambiance

Dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤喜烛) - Wedding candles

Phoenix seal (鳳印)- Symbol of empress status

Hundred Sons and Thousand Grandsons pattern (百子千孙图) - Auspicious bedding embroidery symbolizing fertility

———–—————————————

Vote and leave a review for this series' translation here!

Appreciate the translator's hard work by Supporting us!

———–—————————————

▒ TABLE OF CONTENT

← Previous Next →

Table of Contents

Rate this translation!