TCN: Mei Gongqing

Mei Gongqing 143-146

Chapter 143: Wang Hong Makes a Timely Appearance

As soon as Chen Rong spoke, she perceived a change in the way people looked at her. They appeared exasperated, as if they were displeased that she did not know how to be accommodating.

Behind them, the prince named Sima Jing at this time peculiarly raised his voice, "Since the priestess is going into meditation to honor the Divine Founders, these worldly affairs perhaps do not concern her anymore. Twelfth brother, Auntie's sincerity has been delivered to the wrong place."

He burst into laughter after having said this.

Sima Yan's men looked none too pleased.

Nevertheless, Sima Yan remained smiling. He good-naturedly said to Chen Rong, "How heartless you are, priestess. Now I cannot go home."

Chen Rong bit her lips and thought to herself: If I keep refusing him, then it would not be very agreeable of me.

"Your Highness," she made a bow, "I can't possibly refuse your kindness."

After accepting his invitation, Chen Rong turned to bow to Sima Jing and smiled: "I've been rude for not welcoming Your Highnesses sooner into my humble temple. Please come in."

"After you, priestess."

No sooner had Chen Rong welcomed them into the temple than another drumming music rose from the foothill.

It was the sixth group of visitors.

Chen Rong's day was hence quite busy. In just a short amount of time, six aristocrats had come to her temple. She had intended to find out who was watching her every move and who did not want to leave her alone. But these people were now arriving separately, each not quite friendly with the next. How was Chen Rong to differentiate friends from foes?

This translation belongs to hamster428.

Sunset in Xishan.

The birds circled in the air as human voices gradually diminished.

Staring after the last departing carriages, Nurse Ping came to stand behind Chen Rong and quietly remarked, "What a crazy day, miss."

It was indeed a crazy day.

While Chen Rong wryly smiled, her nurse worriedly asked, "Will you really go to Prince Ying's estate tomorrow?"

Prince Ying was Sima Yan, who had come on behalf of his mother to invite her.

Chen Rong nodded with a frown. "I would have to." She suddenly turned around. "Nurse, do you think I should ask His Majesty to let me practice in my own home?"

While Nurse Ping was still searching for an answer, Chen Rong shook her head and muttered to herself, "No, even at home I cannot refuse these people if they want to cause me trouble."

She looked up at the sky ahead. As she was absently staring, a singing voice rang to them from the west side of the mountain: "Art thou rich or poor? Art thou wrong or right? No one flees from death, whether king or knight. The mulberry fields will soon be blue seas. What the Wangs and Xies have is but clemency."

This weeping voice drifted to her from a faraway place among the blowing wind and calls of birds. Against the Xishan sunset, it cast a biting desolation across the land.

Chen Rong listened to it and quietly repeated: "What the Wangs and Xies have is but clemency?" She whirled back to look at her nurse with an emptiness in her eyes before breaking into laughter. "Are they saying that the peaceful life I want has always been out of reach?"