NOVEL TRANSLATION: HER LADYSHIP'S SCHEME

CHAPTER 008. FORGOTTEN SORROW COURTYARD

Author : 鬼月幽靈 (Guî Yuè Yōulíng)

Translator : Helena Nasution (WhiteSky)

Image Source: google.com

The old marchioness was currently resting on her courtyard, but suddenly she woke up by Granny Wang's anxious voice.

"No, Madam Jin wants Miss Qingdai to give up Xiao Yu Courtyard. Miss Banxia's probably moving in now."

Upon hearing this, the old marchioness stood up immediately: "What, this Madam Jin is really hateful. Although it looks like it is just a trivial matter, it will become a big deal if words spread. Moreover, Banxia will get a reputation as a domineering and arrogant lady. If she is to be hated by the imperial family, how will she have a good life in the future?"

"It was Madam Jin who asked her to do so. Miss Qingdai gave it up, so it shouldn't be that serious, right?"

Grandma Wang knew in her heart that it is more than a trivial matter, but at this moment she could only comfort the old marchioness.

The old madam hurriedly walked out and said: "This person has a loose mouth. The words she says may not be the same as what actually told in the palace. Moreover, would that person in the palace believe her own sister or would she rather believe you and me?" (TL: That person here refers to Imperial Concubine Jin, the sister of Madam Jin)

Granny Wang stopped talking and hurriedly followed the old marchioness out.

As soon as they walked out of the yard, the maid who had inquired about the news came back.

"Xiangzhu, tell me what's going on?" The old marchioness couldn't help asking anxiously.

Xiangzhu patted her chest and said, "Reporting to the old madam, fifth young miss is really powerful."

"She has moved?" The old marchioness was worried.

Xiangzhu shook her head and said, "No, fifth young miss has moved to the yard where the eldest miss supposed to live after moving from Xiao Yu Courtyard."

Hearing Xiangzhu's report, the old madam finally felt relieved and was back in a good mood, she turned around and went back to her courtyard.

Granny Wang quickly said: "Old Madam, let's go and take a look."

"What are you looking at over there? That girl is full of ideas, she's better than her mother."

Granny Wang smiled, knowing that the old Madam was in a good mood, so she looked at Xiangzhu and said: "Why don't you hurry up and tell me how awesome the fifth young miss is?"

Xiangzhu chattered and quickly described vividly what Banxia had said and done in front of Xiao Yu Courtyard a while ago.

The smile on the old madam's face never diminished for a moment.

"Xiangzhu." After laughing, the old madam suddenly looked at Xiangzhu seriously.

Xiangzhu raised her eyes and looked at the old madam seriously: "Old madam, do you have instructions for this servant?"

"From today on, you will serve the fifth young miss, and you must swear to protect her with your life."

Xiangzhu knew the old madam's meaning, she was raised by the old madam since she was a child and has treated her as if her own daughter for a long time.

With a plop, Xiangzhu knelt down and said very seriously: "Old madam, Xiangzhu swears that she will use her own life to protect the fifth young miss in this life. Even if she has to die, she will definitely protect the fifth young miss." 

"Go! Go!"

The old madam waved her hand, returned to her room and secretly took out a memorial tablet from below the pillow.

The old marchioness's tears fell freely. She hugged the memorial tablet and cried like a child.

Granny Wang felt sorrow and her eyes were red. She thought to herself: "Miss, your daughter has grown up. She is very smart and has ideas and will not be bullied by anyone." (TL: The miss said by Granny Wang in this paragraph refers to the deceased mother of Banxia or rather Banxia's biological mother who had passed away)

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Yao Banxia pushed away the door as she made her way toward her new courtyard. The dusty semi-circular wooden door has three large characters embed on,  [FORGOTTEN SORROW COURTYARD], written on the top of the wooden door.

The corner of Banxia's mouth curled up coldly. Even if there was a way to be carefree and 'FORGET SORROW' in the world, she wouldn't want it. Her hatred must be clearly remembered and paid by her enemies.

(TL: Initially, I want to translate it as 'CAREFREE COURTYARD' as the original words are 忘憂小院 [Read: Wàng Yōu Xiâo Yuàn], which means 'FORGET WORRIES LITTLE YARD', which could also means 'LIFE WITHOUT WORRIES' OR 'BEING CAREFREE', but then I think it's better to use 'FORGETTING OR FORGOTTEN SORROW' to convey the message about how Yao Banxia does not want to forget her sorrow and hatred from her past life and she wants to remember them clearly to exact vengeance after her rebirth, so yeah, I then decided to translate it as 'FORGOTTEN SORROW COURTYARD')

When she opened the door, what she saw at first glance was that it was messy and desolate, and it was very unbearable to see.

Shaoyao pinched her nose in disgust: "Miss, even beggar wouldn't want to live in such a severely wrecked place."

Yao Banxia disagreed: "Is it wrecked? Is there a brick or a tile missing?"

Shaoyao was choked by the young miss's question and was at a loss for words. She could only say in disgust: "Young miss, you see this place is so messy, old and far away from the main entrance. It would take a long time to walk and reach outside."

Yao Banxia just smiled and said nothing. This girl will know the benefits of living here in the future.

"Lets go in and take a look."

After Banxia said that, she walked directly along the path and walked into the house.

Opening the door, it's like a completely different world inside, with antiques, calligraphy and paintings placed in an orderly manner.

The exquisite screen is embroidered with beautiful landscape pictures.

Walking behind the screen, she looked around at the tables and chairs carved from fine sandalwood, which were meticulously carved with different patterns, everywhere in the house were conveying the delicate and gentle feeling of longing and affection to one's daughter.

Light sandalwood surrounds both of them, and tiny bits of sunlight shine through the hollow carved windows.

Walking into the bedroom, through the blush of the sun, one can see the layers of purple tulle, which was really beautiful, and the exquisite carved decoration was very extraordinary.

Shaoyao was shocked and said excitedly: "Miss, this place from outside looked deserted, dilapidated, dirty and overgrown with weeds. I didn't expect that the interior of this house is so exquisitely and elegantly decorated." 

Yao Banxia just nodded slightly without much expression. Her heart turned cold.

This was originally prepared for Qingdai, so how could it be ordinary. (TL: So, this was the courtyard that was prepared for Qingdai if she moved from Xiao Yu Courtyard, but now, it belongs to Banxia)

Everything outside is just an illusion to confuse the world. They just wanted to make Banxia becomes the target of public criticism to highlight Qingdai's kindness and spread it outside in a high profile manner.

Yao Banxia's heart turned cold. How could Madam Jin bear her biological daughter to live in grievance? Only the fool would believe in the outer appearance of this courtyard.

Could it be the Marquis Yao's Mansion is so poor that it doesn't even have a good courtyard for their daughter to live in? Can't they even see such an obvious scheme?

"Miss, actually it's better if we tidy up the outlook on the outside."

"Don't move."

Yao Banxia stopped Shaoyao who was about to take action to tidy up the outside. Shaoyao was puzzled: "Young miss?"

"At least we can't make a move for a few days, don't worry, free labor will come to work to tidy them up."

Shaoyao was confused, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions. The young miss would tell her if she had the intention to.

"Young miss, why are you always looking outside of the window?" Shaoyao arranged everything, but found that Banxia was still looking out of the window.

Banxia frowned slightly. In her previous life, she lived in Qingdai's Xiao Yu Courtyard, and her grandmother came over angrily and scolded her severely.

At that time, she was stupid and didn't understand. She thought her grandmother dislike and even hate her, so she felt annoyed.

Because of that incident, she was so angry with her grandmother that she even refused to go to pay her respects.

Now that she understood her grandmother’s meaning, she won’t be angry with her anymore, right? But, why hasn’t her grandmother come over yet?

While Banxia was thinking, she heard Granny Wang speaking outside: "Fifth young miss."

Banxia retracted her thoughts. She walked out quickly, opened the door, and saw Granny Wang leading a young maid along the mess and dirty path, full of wild grass.

Banxia immediately smiled: "Granny Wang."

With a kind smile on her face, Granny Wang said: "Fifth young miss has just returned. She probably doesn't know the rules in this house yet, so the old madam specially gave Xiangzhu to serve fifth young miss. If fifth young miss has anything to do, you can directly give her orders."

Xiangzhu stepped forward, knelt on the ground and said seriously: "I hope that fifth young miss will accept Xiangzhu. Xiangzhu will do her best to serve you."

Xiangzhu?

The moment Banxia saw her, there were some tears in Banxia's eyes.

Because she was not close to her grandmother and was instigated by Madam Jin, she always thought that Xiangzhu was a villain placed by her grandmother to her side to spy on her because grandmother disliked her very much.

Until something happened to his eldest brother, and she went to rescue him. Not only did she fail to rescue her eldest brother, Xiangzhu was defiled by several men in order to save him, and even lost her life.

"Miss young miss, what's wrong with you?"

Granny Wang saw that Banxia's expression was not right, so she asked.

Banxia immediately came to her senses, calmed down her somewhat agitated mood, and quickly helped Xiangzhu up.

"Just stay with me from now on, but you are not allowed to kneel down at all times. I don't have such a rule here."

Xiangzhu heard others say before that the fifth young miss is particularly tricky and difficult to serve, and she is also a bit stupid. She didn't expect that she was actually such an easygoing character.

Next Chapter: 

CHAPTER 009. SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THIRD BROTHER

Previous Chapter: CHAPTER 007. MADAM JIN'S PLAN