Volume 2 Chapter 14 (1/2)

Translation notes:

Classical Gardens of Suzhou: It is an UNESCO heritage site that is nearly 1000 years old The garden was designed by scholars, which incorporated ful aesthetics The landscape was made to look like natural scenery of rocks, mountains and rivers Each feature usually had a deep and poetic arden is also suspected to have ties with celestial in/wiki/Classical_Gardens_of_Suzhou

Double entendre

Doubleis in the way of Ruo Yan’s plans

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Fan Jia’s Inificent and distinctive red buildings The perirandeur

Feng Ming had led General Tong and Official Xia into the ’s palace but Li Er was required to ree due to his lowly status

By this tirounds, the floor was absolutely spotless It was obvious that the palaceevery speck of snow off the ground

Gui Sen had been awaiting Feng Ming’s arrival along thethe party arrive he scurried across to greet the Prince

‘Prince, wewith a sruntled with having his companionshi+p rejected openly the day before

The older rave voice he warned, ‘To be honest to Prince, the King’s health has not been fairing well in the past days It is likely you were suation Prince needs to be cautious around that wo and Ruo Yan’

Feng Ming was stunned for a briefaround in treachery, and now he dared to front as a friend and provoke distrust between the Third Princess and Xi Rei

What a despicable aze on the man, the corner of his lips jerked into a soft smile In a low voice he replied, ‘Thank you Royal Uncle for your warnings However, during our visit in toe heard the people on the streets discussing the state of the King It see but rather a case of poisoning Royal Uncle, you need to take care with your ownhad only intended to toy with his Uncle, it was like he had served the man a final blow All color immediately drained from Gui Sen’s face The older ained his composure He quickly asked, ‘Prince, where did you come across such news?’

‘On the streets, it’s the current talk of the town!’ Feng Ming feigned innocence and pretended to be shocked, ‘Don’t tell ht wind of this rumor?’

‘This…’ The man stuttered, ‘This…’

It was obvious that Gui Sen was harboring a guilty conscious Failing to talk coherently was a dead give away

Gui Sen clasped his hands in respect to the Prince as he dismissed himself

‘Gui Sen hasable to acco shall summon your presence soon’

The ate the word spreading aled at the thought, shortlyreturned

‘Our King is unwell and currently needs his rest It is unadvisable for a large audience to attend The Prince may proceed alone’

‘Proceed into the palace alone?’ General Tong was the first to lash out his dissatisfaction and looked for consensus fronaled to theis under direct orders fro to never leave the Prince’s side by even a step With all due respects, is it possible for Tong to acco passed the General a glance

If the regent king had laid orders for General Tong to act as a shadohy did he not bring up this spirit of loyalty when Feng Ming was asked to proceed alone into the Third Princess’s inner residence?

The attendant that was sent as adirectly, he replied dutifully, ‘That being the case, please excuse ’s coain, and returned roughly half an hour later to address the Prince

‘The King is out of sorts and is no condition to see tooto the palace alone, please consider seeking an audience two days later when the King has recovered At that tis hall where ht to hi in heaven’

Feng Ming knew that he shouldn’t delay nal with his eyes towards Official Xia The ball was in Official Xia’s court, it was up to him to decide what should happen next

The old man stroked his beard as he muttered softly, ‘Since it can’t be helped, our Prince shall pay his respects to the King of Fan Jia’

‘But…’ General Tong interjected

‘General Tong, there is no need to be concerned The Prince is wise, brave and nimble He will be safe in the palace, we can rest assured’

Feng Ming’s forehead was beading with sweat

An Xun was also had such characteristics and it was also in a si where he lost his life and his head was al’s blade

The attendant bowed to Feng Ming

‘If all is in order,stood still in ahiet a ht inwardly, perhaps Official Xia’s eagerness was a sign that everything was running as expected Most i for a Prince to wi alone Working up the courage, his hands balled into fists, he walked forwards with his chest proudly protruding and head held high

The inner sanctuary of Fan Jia’s Imperial palace stood out fro had seen so far in the country Instead of se and spacious avenue-like paths It was styled like the Classical Gardens of Suzhou fro’s world Perhaps the Fan Jia palace was also built with consideration in ardless, it was apparent that they had a great respect for natural terrain and scenery

Feng Ming continued to follow at the heels of the attendant, turning left and right on what see path It felt like forever, when they finally arrived at the botto cha staircase was composed of beautifully polished white jade The path threaded through two rock mountain displays Once you sur entrance Overall, one could sense the dignity, elegance and artistry fron was entered in a modern day architectural contest, it would be a clean sweep of the first prize

As Feng Ming occupied hirounds by a door in the opposite direction they had co turned around, his face contorted in confusion as he did not expect the King of Fan Jia to have other guests

As the men closed in, he continued to stare in their direction so he could identify them

The blood drained from his face, the proud chest he held immediately deflated as if sos

The man that in the lead was a palace attendant, however, it ho followed that set off Feng Ming’s alarm It was none other than Ruo Yan A mere look from the man would make the Prince freeze on cue

‘Prince An He, we n of acknowledgment

In fact, Ruo Yan had quickly noticed the Prince and decided to join him at the bottoinally intended to deal with matters quickly He didn’t expect that he would come face to face with the last person he wanted to see In fact, he had an urge to hide behind the attendant or bolt away safely As he contemplated his next move, in a calm and collected manner Ruo Yan shi+fted purposely blocked access to the stair case

Even if he wanted to, Feng Ming didn’t dare to push the round and s the fear clogging his throat He nodded his head in acknowledg of Li also here to pay his respects to the King of Fan Jia?’