Chapter 95: Relief
Author: White Pear Flower
Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/
Translated by Pill Bug
Edited by Gumihou
Turning around quickly, Prince Rong saw Jin Fengju leisurely seated in a chair, pouring himself a cup of tea from the teapot. The Young Marquis drawled, “The water is not hot enough, still, it is not bad considering the weather.”
“You…. how did you get here?” Prince Rong plopped himself down before Jin Fengju, fairly puffing with anger as he glared at him.
“I heard that Brother-in-law was unwell and came to visit the sick, ah,” Jin Fengju was still slowly sipping at his tea, the corners of his eyes turning up as a wisp of a smile played about his lips.
“Humph, no need to play-act anymore. If you wish to savour tea, I do believe that Eighth Brother is more than happy to welcome you. He clearly has more valuable tea, so why don’t you go and have a taste?” Prince Rong snorted coldly and turned his face away.
“I had heard that people’s minds usually become clear after experiencing a brisk wind. Who would have thought that after standing in the wind for half a day, your brain has gotten even more muddled instead.” Jin Fengju placed the teacup on the table and said leisurely, “If I were to visit Prince Lie’s palace for tea, I’m sure I could obtain as much tea as I like. I could probably also obtain even more famous and precious teas from him. Were I to ask for all the good tea from Brother-in-law’s Eighth Brother, I believe he would be more than willing to hand everything to me. Do you believe it?”
When Prince Rong heard this, anger bubbled up even more. He slapped the table and snapped, “Then go, ah. Why run to my place? Let me tell you, my Eighth Brother is the most paranoid and suspicious person. If you run over to my place again, he might never invite you for tea anymore.”
“So it appears that even my Brother-in-law knows that Prince Lie is the suspicious and cunning sort.” Jin Fengju picked up the teacup again and let the little cup roll across his knuckles like a coin. Neither rushing nor drawing matters out, he said, “Does Brother-in-law believe that I am so stupid as to set aside my supportive Brother-in-law for such a cunning and suspicious person? Has my brain been soaked in too much water or has my soul flown off that I would make such a ridiculous choice?
Or, does Brother-inn-law believe that I, this younger brother-in-law of yours, am stupid enough to believe that if I were to assist Prince Lie to the throne, I would be rewarded with endless riches and glory instead of a cup of poisoned wine and count myself blessed to die with an intact corpse? Brother-in-law, that is your own younger brother, what kind of person do you think he is?”
“If you know all this, then why are you still so friendly with him?” Prince Rong felt each line pierce his heart and slapped the table again, “The things he could offer you, are there any that I could not give? Leaving aside future matters, your elder blood sister from the same womb is this prince’s consort. Prince Lie has nothing to do with you… you, you say it now, how could you court his friendship?”
Jin Feng lifted his teacup and sneered, “Brother-in-law has always praised me for my peerless wisdom. It is now my turn to ask the questions. Point out one reason for my defection to Prince Lie. You only need to provide one reason. So long as you can speak it, I shall consider you my superior and be your servant for life.”
“H-how would I know? There is absolutely no reason at all,” Prince Rong howled. Then, his younger brother-in-law stood up and roared back, “Since there is absolutely no reason, then why are you so sure I have defected to him? You based all your assumptions on that one day he forcefully dragged me away to go drinking? Have you not noticed the expression on my face?”
“You…. if you are here to talk, why- why are you yelling?” Prince Rong’s eyes blinked rapidly. “Why… why are you just like your fierce sister?”
Jin Fengju watched as Prince Rong sat down and downed another drink. He knew that he had gotten through to his brother-in-law. Calming down, he said cooly, “Brother-in-law, I do not mean to criticise, but how could you suspect me? You cannot even provide a single reason why I would defect to the other side. You even know that my blood sister is your princess consort. You… how could you fall for Prince Lie’s instigation?”
“Then… then why did you not explain matters properly to me? When I tested you, why did you brush me off with a few perfunctory words?” Prince Rong huffed and puffed.
Seated opposite him, Jin Fengju’s expression turned ugly. After a while, he said slowly, “I see, if I do not inform you of this matter you will most likely not believe me. Very well, I shall reveal the matter to you.”
He then launched into an explanation of the day’s events in detail and went through Prince Lie’s motives once again. Prince of Rong listened to it, dumbfounded, and murmured, “Is… is that so? Is that actually what happened?”
Jin Fengju muttered bad-temperedly, “Of course, as the saying goes, dirty laundry should not be aired in public. Moreover, I was afraid if my sister knew, she would fly into a rage. That was why I did not tell you. Also, that good Eighth Brother of yours planned matters very well and knew me well enough to scheme against me so boldly.
Prince Lie’s military achievements aside, I had not known that his ability to scheme would be so great. Such a mind is quite rare. Brother-in-law, when you exited the Imperial Hall of Diligence that day, was that when you saw him hanging off my shoulders and us walking out of the palace together like close friends? Is this the crux of your suspicion?”
Prince Rong nodded and Jin Fengju continued, “From this alone, we can see just how terrifying his mind works. Even with the excuse of having just returned from the army, for him to behave with so little restraint right in front of the palace gates, even with the Emperor’s indulgence, there should be no reason for him to behave like a marketplace scoundrel. I had my suspicions at that time, but did not see through the important points of his behaviour. However, now we know.
He must have known that the emperor wished to speak to you and somehow also knew that the conversation would not last long. Thus, he purposefully acted in that manner all to deceive your eyes. Once doubts are planted in your mind, you would eventually distance yourself from me. In the future, when I perceived this eventual alienation, would I dare to give my all in assisting you? Take a look, he merely spent a single bottle of wine to break our relationship apart. Just what kind of scheme is this? What a pity, ah, such a pity that though he is clever for a lifetime, in a moment’s confusion, he had miscalculated one thing.”
“What did he miscalculate?” Prince Rong latched onto Jin Fengju’s analysis as though he was hearing an exciting story. His entire body broke out in cold sweat as Jin Fengju paused at a crucial moment and he could not help but prompt his brother-in-law to continue.
“He miscalculated your nature.” Jin Fengju said unhappily. “He believed that you are just like him, that even if you’re not as clever as him, you should at least be somewhat similar to him. To at least be eight or nine points similar to him in attitude, and would quietly alienate me without showing anything on the surface.
What he had not expected was that his Sixth Brother would be the type who could not hide his feelings. Like a little child playing house, once you’re angry at someone, you would immediately turn away and refuse to meet until you die of old age. Because of this unique attitude of yours, I quickly found out his scheme and the effort he had put into his plan is all wasted.”
Prince Rong’s face reddened, he coughed and said, “Well, he cannot be completely blamed. Before others, I can still maintain a facade and get away with a few lies. However, this is… the relationship between us is too unusual. When I felt betrayed, I was too angry to react properly. How did that saying go again? The deeper the love the sharper the betrayal?”
“PUUUU!!”
When this fantastic idiom left Prince Rong’s lips, the tea in Jin Fengju’s mouth sprayed out in a rather colourful manner. Jin Fengju looked at his head-scratching brother-in-law and said in exasperation, “If you don’t know how to use your words, you should at least take care not to use them carelessly! Can such sayings be used under these circumstances?”
“I did not use my words carelessly. It’s… it’s an analogy. It gives a similar meaning,” Prince Rong giggled. Suddenly, he fell silent. As he looked out from the pavilion at the pine and cypress trees, he said gloomily, “Fengju, ah. I had always believed that although my qualifications are not good, they are not bad either. That, if I am benevolent to the people, I have the qualification to compete for that seat. However, after listening to you, I realised that Eighth Brother’s mind is very deep and complex. Tell me, am I… am I too stupid? Do I even have the qualifications to compete with him?”
“How can you say such things? Brother-in-law, you are as wise as you are foolish. For me to dedicate myself to helping you, do you think it is all because my sister married you as your princess consort? Naturally, that is one of the reasons, but if you have no talent for becoming an emperor, why would I put my life on the line for a man incapable of rising to the top? Or, do you believe me to be someone who would dedicate themselves to the strength of familial ties alone?”
These remarks were both treacherous and outrageous, however, instead of making Prince Rong angry, he quivered a little and whispered, “You… you’re really helping me b-because you believe I am qualified?”
Because the pavilion was set up with a raised platform with only one of his most trusted eunuchs on guard just below, there was no one else to overhear their conversation. Therefore, Prince Rong and Jin Fengju could talk more freely than usual.
“Of course you are,” Jin Fengju said without hesitation. “Even if you don’t believe in yourself, surely you can’t say that you don’t believe in your younger brother-in-law’s vision? Even His Majesty praised me for having a pair of poisonous eyes.”
Jin Fengju poured himself another cup of tea, smiled and said, “Allow me to share some heartfelt words with Brother-in-law: Brother-in-law, you are a gentleman, straight, square and not in the least foolish. That Prince Lie might have deep thoughts, however, had my sister married him as his consort, I would still choose to support Prince Rong. I do not wish to be like a good bow to be put into retirement once the birds are all shot down [1].
My brother-in-law is kind and generous, Prince Lie is cold-blooded. Therefore, even without this relationship, I shall still stand by Brother-in-law’s side. What is a single attempt to win my heart worth? Only a gentleman like Brother-in-law can create a stable country with virtuous ministers who are more engaged in creating a better country instead of playing games of deadly intrigue with each other.”
Prince Rong nodded sombrely, raised his cup of tea and said, “Good, today, the knot in my heart has been unravelled. It is this brother-in-law’s fault, I have wronged you, Younger Brother-in-law. Come, let this brother-in-law replace wine with tea and apologise to you…” he paused and shook his head, “no, no, this is too improper. It is too insincere to apologise with tea. Come, let us return to Spring Breeze Pavilion and drink our fill.”
The Princess Consort had already sent people to quietly check up on them. Discovering that her husband and her brother had finally released the knots in their hearts, she could not help but feel happy as well. She personally entered the kitchen and cooked a few of her signature dishes. Since there were no outsiders around, she sat with them and only had one or two trustworthy servants to wait on them. All the other servants had been chased away. The family joyfully drank and chatted with each other.
“Brother-in-law, if you still do not believe me, just wait a few more days. A very good show will happen then and you may finally understand just towards whom my heart leans.” Jin Fengju smiled and down a cup of wine after tossing that tidbit of information for Prince Rong and the Princess Consort.
“What’s going on?” Prince Rong’s ears pricked up when he heard that, knowing that this scheming, oh, no, this incomparably wise brother-in-law of his was certainly scheming against someone again. He unconsciously moved closer, and even the Princess Consort put down her wine cup, listening intently.
Gumihou: I find that author’s favourite words associated with JFJ include: leisurely, indifferent, laughed lightly and sneered.
Fu Qiuning is often associated with ‘indifferent’, ‘maintained’ and some smattering of words relating to ‘annoyed’. Though, she would occasionally be replaced by AR (Alternate Reality) Qiuning who ‘blushes’, ‘could not help but’-, along with various Ass Wiping remarks re JFJ’s beauty, intelligence and ‘youthful temperament’.
Speaking of which, Prince Rong is the fat and stupid foil to JFJ’s slender, elegant, beautiful cunning ML…
*cough* Gumi just vomited in her mouth a little
Pill Bug TL Notes:
[1] 飞鸟尽良弓藏 A Chinese idiom, direct translation: “When the flying birds are all gone, the good bow is hidden.” Means: “when a useful person has outlived their usefulness, they are killed, or worse.”
Gumihou: Actually, I think this idiom is better suited for poor Jiang Wanying
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