A Seductive Gentleman Chapter 47

Chapter 47: From the Flower Reflects a Picture – Part 4

For some reason, Zhao XiaoLan's hand which was holding onto Ming ChangYan's arm looked like it had been ruthlessly burned by a high temperature, firmly letting go of his hand.

"Then, then who's going to go with me?"

Jun looked at him with a face of 'this child will never learn', "Can't you go alone? Weren't you pretty confident when it came to writing her letters and giving her gifts? Why is it when you're in her presence that you suddenly become bashful?"

Zhao XiaoLan's face flushed a faint red, "It's cause I'm not daring."

Jun hated iron for not becoming steel*, "Useless!" She suddenly said, "But, does your sister not care about you getting involved with a woman from a brothel? Haha, if you actually succeed, your sister's bound to personally come to the capital and take you back for a beating!"

(TN: 恨铁不成钢; feeling resentment towards someone for failing to meet their expectations or used to describe an impatience to see improvement.)

She continued, "Besides, even if the Zhao family agreed to you to marry someone from a brothel, would mother empress agree?"

Zhao XiaoLan puzzled, "But the world's number one hero should marry the world's number one beauty!"

Jun laughed at him, "You truly have no sense of shame, Zhao XiaoLan! Yes, they're the number one beauty in the world, but what kind of number one hero are you? More like number one at visiting brothels!"

When Zhao XiaoLan heard this, his face blushed a deep red, "Well I'm going to be number one in the future!"

Jun giggled, "'In the future,' that Ming shaoxia of yours that you worship, the something gentleman. You always boasted that he became number one at the age of seventeen, you're already older than he was back then, how come you're not even in the top ten yet?!"

The more she said, the more Zhao XiaoLan's face turned red.

It looked like he either felt ashamed or wronged.

Jun continued, "Ai, don't be angry, I'm telling the truth. You should stop liking her, nothing good will come out of it, I advise you to come back to reality. Even if the world's number one beauty was to like someone, it'd be number one in the world. But the number one in the world already died! Otherwise, she'd definitely be in love with Ming shaoxia."

When Ming ChangYan heard this, he promptly stressed, "There's no such thing."

Huai Yu looked at him, "Why are you saying this to me."

Ming ChangYan, "Am I? I was saying it to Jun, you just happened to be standing next to me and heard it by coincidence. In short, children's words don't mean any harm, I don't like those sort of lofty and perfect wives."

Huai Yu asked, "What do you mean by a lofty and perfect wife?"

Ming ChangYan explained, "I mean look at her–although she looks pretty, her attitude is aloof and indifferent, if I took her as a wife and brought her home, she'd be disgusted by me."

After staying silent for a moment, Huai Yu inquired, "Then what kind do you like?"

Ming ChangYan pondered for a bit but instantly realized that: He's never really thought about it.

Ever since he'd arrived at the Central Plains, he had always done everything for Yi Yue's sake and never really thought about himself. Now that Huai Yu brought it up, he truly didn't know what type of girl he liked.

After much deliberation, he could only say, "I was always preoccupied with Yi Yue, so I never thought about it. If you really want to know, then it's only natural that I marry a beautiful one!"

Huai Yu evaluated, "Shallow."

Ming ChangYan thought about it again and thought it didn't feel right, quickly adding, "But nothing like Maiden Li Li! She's the world's number one beauty, way too pretty, I won't be at ease taking her home."

Zhao XiaoLan still hadn't finished deciding when in the cluster of flowers, Zhu Rong pushed the flowers aside and came in. Zhao XiaoLan's eyes brightened, promptly walking forward, "Zhu-xiong! Ai! You're finally here, you almost stressed me to death!"

Zhu Rong asked, "How?"

Zhao XiaoLan scratched his head, "Maiden Li Li came to the Flower Viewing Festival today. I want to say a few words to her and try to get closer to her, but no one wants to go with me and I don't have the guts to go alone."

Zhu Rong finished hearing him speak and faintly smiled.

Zhao XiaoLan, "I thought you might come, so you might as well accompany me!"

Without waiting for Zhu Rong to reply, Zhao XiaoLan had already passionately used both his hands to hold onto the other's right hand, "Zhu-xiong! The happiness during the later half of my life all depends on you!"

Zhu Rong said, "I'll go with you, your grip's too strong."

After Zhao XiaoLan finished talking, he quickly pulled him in the direction of the pavilion. After Li Li walked in, she first began by appreciating the lotuses. She was by the edge of a bridge located in the pavilion, in her hand she held a small sandalwood fan while she rested on her pavilion chair. The beauty admired flowers while everyone admired the beauty. Below the bridge, there were many young masters from influential families looking up at her.

Zhu Rong asked, "Do you want to stay down here and watch from below?"

Zhao XiaoLan said, "Only idiots stay down here and watch her! I have so much money, why don't I go up and look!"

Zhu Rong said, "They also have money."

Zhao XiaoLan, "Then it's because I'm lovable!"

Zhu Rong didn't refute. It was clear that Zhao XiaoLan's words were spoken full of vigor. Compared to the flock of males with a gaze of a tiger watching its prey, XiaoLan was much more likable, thus it was wrong not to say so.

"If you want to go up, I won't stop you, I'll only remind you. If you go up, there will be countless people staring at you, when you come down, I'm afraid that they're going to tear your stomach apart."

After Zhao XiaoLan heard this threat, he quivered. Taking back the foot he just set down.

"Zhu-xiong, you wouldn't leave me to die, right!"

Zhu Rong said, "So many people, don't tell me you want me to kill all of them?"

Zhao XiaoLan rapidly shook his head like a pellet drum when he heard this, "That won't do! That'd just be crazed cruelty. You don't have to say anything, let me think of a perfect plan."

He still hadn't thought of anything when Ming ChangYan arrived and proposed a plan to him, "I heard from Jun that by the lotus pond in the East Building, there's a stage called the Pear Garden that was originally used to sing opera. Maiden Li Li loves hearing the opera, you could swindle her to attend an opera with you. Sitting next to her is much better than what you're doing now."

When Zhao XiaoLan heard this he ruefully said, "You're right! I remembered that she liked listening to that!"

Ming ChangYan said, "What you need right now is a servant to go up and make an announcement. After a quarter of an hour go to the Pear Garden and wait for her."

Zhao XiaoLan repeatedly clapped his hands, "Amazing! Truly amazing! Yan-jiejie, thank you so much!"

After he said that, Zhao XiaoLan leaped away like a rabbit.

Zhu Rong was just about to catch up to him but was blocked by Ming ChangYan, "Wait a minute Young Master Zhu."

Zhu Rong gave him a smile, "May I help you?"

Ming ChangYan said, "I can tell that you have high cultivation, I don't know your reasons but why are you staying beside XiaoLan? If you do this, isn't this a waste of your skill?"

Zhu Rong listened and smiled, "Su He and I are friends. If you're claiming that my intentions are odd, then doesn't this mean that you, Young Master, who's dressing as a woman, is far odder?"

Ming ChangYan was surprised, Zhu Rong faintly nodded his head, saying, "I shall be taking my leave."

Huai Yu asked, "Did you make out anything about him?"

Ming ChangYan shook his head, "I don't know. Zhu Rong this person is incomprehensible, I've never noticed this sort of person appear on Jianghu's Misty Chronicles before. I can tell that his cultivation is high, and he doesn't seem to hide it either, definitely not someone who's incompetent."

Huai Yu, "There's plenty of people whose names aren't recorded on the Misty Chronicles, why are you suspicious of him."

Ming ChangYan said, "Originally, I didn't hold any suspicions towards him, it's just that he's never given me a good impression. Every time he looked at me, he'd always give me an extremely fake expression, I get angry every time I see it."

Huai Yu concluded, "So you were suspicious of him because of a personal grudge, he probably didn't show that expression to you on purpose." After thinking for a bit, he continued, "Don't you think that Li Li is a bit suspicious."

Ming ChangYan raised his eyebrow, "That's very far-fetched of you, little Huai Yu, now that's what you call a personal grudge."

Huai Yu said, "What kind of personal grudge do I have against her, I'm just telling the truth."

Ming ChangYan, "You naturally–"

Huai Yu tilted his head and gazed into his eyes, "Naturally what?"

Ming ChangYan's heartbeat quickened, his intuition making him unable to continue what he originally wanted to say. If he was asked what kind of personal grudge Huai Yu had with Li Li, then wouldn't it be the scene that happened last time under the willow at the Jade Brook? But how was that supposed to be considered a personal grudge, don't tell me that Ming ChangYan's face was so thick that he'd say the other was jealous? What would that turn into? In short, there was no way he was going to say that. As a result, he mumbled for quite a while until saying, "Alright, I'll listen to you, she's included on the list of suspicious people."

Huai Yu nodded his head then emphasized, "She's very dangerous."

Ming ChangYan, "Ok ok ok, from now on I'll stay 100 meters away from her!"

Huai Yu said, "Remember your words."

They walked a couple of steps forward when he suddenly opened his mouth again, "Kilometers is better."

Ming ChangYan, "Huai Yu!"

Huai Yu hummed and walked in the direction of the Pear Garden.

At this moment, the servant's words reached Li Li's ears. Together with the words came a letter personally written by Zhao XiaoLan. There on the fragrant letter, were tiny dried flowers.

Li Li's servant, Xiao Yu, noticed this letter the moment the servant brought it up to her, she said, "It's a letter from that Young Master Zhao! There are many young masters who write letters to you, but his letters are the only ones that are neat and fragrant, there's even a small flower on it."

Having heard what was said, Li Li delicately got up, "Bring it over for me to see."

Xiao Yu said, "I just saw him downstairs a moment ago, but he's gone now."

The letter in her hand was slowly ripped open. The contents inside were enough to blind someone, Li Li smiled and said, "It's him again, the one with the most words, just looking at it gives me a headache."

Xiao Yu said, "My lady, you always open and read Young Master Zhao's letters, if you find him interesting, there's no harm in making a friend."

Li Li propped up her head, saying, "This little young master is indeed interesting and he looks very likable. I remember that when he first wrote to me, he didn't know a few of the characters. Take a guess on what he wrote, he said that he wanted to be the world's number one hero, tell me, has there been anyone else who wrote such a thing to me before?"

Zhao XiaoLan this person wasn't a stranger in Li Li's eyes. She knew that this little young master had been admiring her from a young age and sent many rare treasures to her for her to play with. Apart from this, he never stopped sending her letters, it was just that even though Zhao XiaoLan continued writing them, Li Li couldn't read all of them. However, this little young master had a very lovable appearance and was both obedient and sensible, she truly was a bit fond of him.

Xiao Yu chuckled, "This Young Master Zhao is extremely liberal with his money, as far as I know, he's the youngest son of the Zhao family. The whole family treats him like a cherished treasure. The current empress also loves him very much, practically treating him like her own son."

Li Li laughed, "Yet I can't seem to see him that way."

She stood up and sat by the edge of the pavilion. There were countless men below the bridge, but she wasn't interested in the slightest. She merely grabbed a handful of fish feed and threw it into the pond, "If I'm going to marry, then I'm marrying the most powerful person in this world. If not, then I'd rather die."

Xiao Yu said, "Young Master Zhao invited you to watch an opera at the Pear Garden. My lady usually loves to watch the opera, even if you don't have any intentions, there's no harm in going as a way to pass time. In any case, it's better than staying here as an attraction for the men."

When Li Li heard her words, she thought they made some sense. She fanned a soft breeze onto her face before walking over to the Pear Garden.

When she arrived at the Pear Garden, the inside was already packed with close friends. Li Li was a special guest invited by Zhao XiaoLan so instead of sitting together with the people below, she sat in a theatre box.

Just as she arrived, Zhao XiaoLan's face flushed red. He either got up or sat down or poured tea, he was stumbling around while blushing with shame.

Ming ChangYan noticed that he was so occupied with pouring water that the cup was about to overflow, and repeatedly supported him up.

Zhao XiaoLan firmly set down the kettle and nervously glanced at Li Li.

In the theatre box, it was rare for people to not be talking.

Huai Yu never really liked speaking in the first place, Zhu Rong was busy watching the show by himself, which left Ming ChangYan and Zhao XiaoLan: Zhao XiaoLan was too nervous to say anything, Ming ChangYan had nothing to say.

Luckily, the awkward atmosphere didn't last for long as Jun pushed open the door and walked in. In her hands, she held two sticks of tanghulu, in Duan Min's bosom there was a huge pile of weird items. Ming ChangYan asked, "Where did you buy these?"

Jun placed a few of the items on the table, "I bought them from downstairs. There's a seller* down there in the opera seats selling stuff. I haven't tried any of these yet so I don't know which ones taste good, and I thought I might as well just buy all of them back here for a taste test!"

(TN: "着扁担"; people back then who would carry the items they were selling at the ends of a pole which they would carry on their shoulders. https://img.ltn.com.tw/Upload/ent/page/800/2015/09/07/1437147_1.jpg )

Ming ChangYan picked up an osmanthus cake from the pile and brought it in front of Huai Yu, "Isn't this your favorite snack?"

Huai Yu lifted his gaze and pushed away Ming ChangYan's hand, declining, "I don't like eating it."

Ming ChangYan let out a meaningful 'oh,' thinking that his little missy attitude flared up again. He didn't want to expose his interests in front of outsiders.

Jun sat down and picked out a few pastries that she liked eating. She'd take a bite, and if she thought it was delicious, then she would share the remaining half with Duan Min by stuffing it into his mouth.

"What opera are they singing, is there a script? I want to request Qiannu's Soul Leaves her Body!"

Zhao XiaoLan said, "You arrived late, we already finished picking the play. You can pick another one after they're done singing this one."

On the stage by the lotus pond, the heavy curtain had already been pulled open.

A young woman came in holding a child with two servants both holding onto a lash connected to black horses. They walked a circle along the sides of the stage, from the looks of it, they were in a hurry. From behind the stage, the echo of the erhu and yueqin resounded across the stage, playing, plucking, pinching, and rolling, sounding anxious.

Jun swayed her legs, asking, "What kind of opening is this, I've heard so many operas but I've never seen one like this!"

Ming ChangYan also had a passion for listening to operas, it's just that the operas in Lin'an always loved to perform opera about some princess getting married or about some romance between a scholar and young lady, etc. After hearing so many of these, he's never seen an opera where they're on their horses in a hurry!

Everyone continued to look on but saw the young woman who was holding the child follow the two servants in a hurry. Immediately afterward, ten clowns jumped up onto the stage, bare-chested and bare-armed, with broadswords in their hands. The whole scene looked like a strange phenomenon. The two servants stepped forward to tangle with the clowns, but they were no match for them. The young woman held the child and ran a few steps away before kneeling on the ground and put on an act of collapsing.

Jun commented, "I get it! This woman took her child and ran away! Look, she was originally on a carriage but now that people came to catch her, she fell down!"

Just as she said, after the young woman fell down she was circled by the clowns a few times, following which she was carried away by force. The background of the stage changed into a desolate cottage*. Ming ChangYan said, "Cottage? This play really is weird, up till now, no one even sang! If not for the accompaniment of the musical instruments, I'd think a ghost was singing."

(TN: "山寨"; a stronghold for bandits, like their hiding place/lair)

On the stage, it seemed like the woman had been locked inside a cage. Among the clowns, a clown who knew martial arts stepped out. The role the martial clown was probably playing was the cottage's boss. He grabbed the young woman causing the child in her arms to roll to the side. The martial clown was boorish, pushing the woman onto the ground while the others encircled them while they sang, danced, and scolded her. Following, one of the clowns ripped open her clothes.

When Ming ChangYan saw this, he was slightly taken back.

In the split second when the young woman's clothes were ripped open, the spectators offstage, although they didn't know what was going on, broke out into astounding applause. It seemed like the clown didn't rip it wide enough, didn't reveal enough, didn't get it lewd enough! It wouldn't be enough until all they ripped away all her clothes! For a moment, there was only thunderous applause, countless people had joined in.

Jun looked embarrassed and said, "Too disgusting. That married woman clearly has a child already, yet is still being humiliated by these robbers. I don't want to watch anymore, change it!"

Ming ChangYan said, "Wait."

Jun glanced at him, Ming ChangYan continued, "The scene's changing."

The woman's innocence had been disgraced, her child along with her suffered beatings. The two were repeatedly humiliated by the ten clowns while playing with them. Several people from the military suddenly rushed up to the stage, the moment they came on, the two opposing sides tangled together. The clowns were no match for them and were tied up in a corner. Among the military troops, a young man slowly stepped out. From his way of dress, it could be assumed that he was a scholarly youth and different from the clowns, instead, they were a principled person. This young man helped up the young woman on the ground and stroked the side of her face, showing affection.

While he watched, Ming ChangYan would reach over to the pile of snacks and planned to eat them while watching the play, but in his line of sight, he spotted Zhu Rong sitting opposite of him. Ming ChangYan paused, Zhu Rong's gaze was fixated on the stage, the temperature inside his eyes seemed to drop below freezing. If not for the fact that he couldn't sense any murderous intent in him, he thought that Zhu Rong would've killed everyone here in a matter of seconds. He thought: Weird, is this how Zhu Rong watches operas?

At this moment, Jun abruptly said, "I understand!"

Zhao XiaoLan questioned, "What kind of extraordinary thing did you understand?"

Jun analyzed, "She wasn't running away but was on the road when she got kidnapped by village bandits! Look, the person who came to save her must be her husband. That child must be theirs!"

Zhao XiaoLan said, "So that's the case. That means that this play must be near its end, ai, if only the husband arrived a bit sooner!"

Everyone continued to watch the stage above and saw that the young man was currently whispering to the young woman. When everyone thought that it would end, the young man suddenly pulled out a sword from his chest and stabbed through the young woman's abdomen, splashing the blood three feet in front of them!

Ming ChangYan subconsciously reacted, saying, "Not good!"

He was just about to rush to the side of the stage but the audience had reacted as well, all respectively screeching and wildly trying to squeeze their way out of the theatre. The whole place was in utter chaos, making it extremely hard for him to move forward. The white powdered young man hadn't satisfied his murderous cravings, after stabbing the woman, it was like he was chopping up vegetables, thoroughly killing everyone who performed on stage.

On the face of the young man whose face was covered in white, face powder, suddenly drew out an extremely eerie smile.

"Hehehehehehehe….hehehehehe…."

The laughter that made one's blood run cold, echoed throughout the stage.

Ming ChangYan finally understood the reason that the people on stage weren't singing, it was because they were being controlled!

His heart was alarmed as he clenched his teeth, "Ugly Guanyin!"

The author has something to say: Ming shaoxia: There's no such thing! *unrelenting*

This was translated by , any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work I'm stuffing questionable amounts of snacks into your mouth.

Heeeyy, here's another chapter!! Wanna know someone cool? I sprained my neck trying to grab baby wipes and now I'm in unimaginable pain. ⊙▽⊙

My neck hurts like hell and I can barely turn my head! Hahahahaha, end my suffering.

Let us all sing together and pray that these two IDIOTS get together soon so that we don't have to lose any more brain cells.

If you see any grammatical/translation errors please notify me! As you guys can probably tell, I don't do well with grammar, English isn't my best subject.

Have a great day and remember to never try to pull out a box of baby wipes from behind a latter cause you don't know when said asshole latter might fall and completely disable your ability to maneuver like a normal person. I just wanted some baby wipes dammit.

Chapter end