Volume 2, Chapter 7 – Can’t send a letter to a wild goose¹; willing to be a slave for a lifetime
Eunuch Mo frowned and said, “Master Fan.”
Intuitively, Fan Rusu actually didn’t dislike this “young man” who seemed to not know how high the heavens are. But in front of the crown prince, he didn’t dare to neglect his duties so he called on two officers to drive out the three.
He personally went in to grab the girl in green clothes. But before his hand touched her shoulder blade, he heard the voice of the crown prince from the palanquin, “Who allowed you to touch her?”
Although it is a light admonition, Fan Rusu has sweated in shock while Eunuch Mo was stunned. The two of them hastened to apologize, and in a trance, the man’s faint voice penetrated through the curtain, “Treasures, women, I have gambled on these… but I have never gambled on luck. This is also interesting so we can talk about it.”
His voice was languid, but the crowd of people was not soothed by the comfortable tone, and instead became more nervous. The crown prince will be the future dragon emperor— the son of heaven. Just looking at this, it can be said that he has the world’s biggest luck. How can this young man bet with the crown prince’s luck? How dare he? Everyone looked at the young man in front of them, to see what he was going to bet with the Crown Prince.
At this time, Wang Mang smiled and asked, “What if you lose?”
“How about being a slave all my life?” Qiao Chu coughed and replied softly.
Eunuch Mo sneered, stretched out his hand, and scolded: “Presumptuous! Can you be the servant of His Highness the Crown Prince just because you want to?”
Wang Mang frowned slightly, glanced at Qiao Chu, and then looked at the direction of the crown prince.
The curtains are unmoving, and no sound is heard for a while.
But suddenly, the curtain was raised by a corner, and half of the jade white brocade robe was gently dragged in the light and shadow. The hand holding on the curtain seems to be a little more beautiful than the piece of robe.
It is said that a beauty is like a flower across the clouds, and everyone in the world have not heard from the man in the palanquin. At this time, a tight atmosphere is of tension went down. Compared with the entrance of the talented Qiao Rong, everyone is more amazed by this man. They want to see his appearance and waited for him to walk out of the palanquin while holding their breath. But then they heard the crown prince suddenly order: “Wang Mang, you can try in behalf of this crown prince².”
Upon hearing this, everyone was puzzled and there was a burst of disappointment. Mei Ren secretlt glanced at Qiao Chu and saw that her expression remained normal, but the hand that was holding jade pendant slowly loosened. It hung on the side of her clothes before gripping very tightly again.
Wang Mang immediately responded and walked to Qiao Chu. Fan Rusu retreated to Wang Mang’s side and guarded him.
In the anxious eyes of everyone, Qiao Chu slowly took out a brocade bag³ from her arms.
Wang Mang was accustomed to seeing such scenes, but this time, he was a little curious. His eyes slightly looked at the t.
Qiao Chu smiled, and immediately pulled the black rope of the brocade bag and toss it into the air, “Mei Ren, catch.”
The crowd only felt a blur before their eyes, the light cluster reflected brightly, only to see countless coins fell from the bag.
Si Da’s spine felt a jolt, while Mei Ren understood. Her eyes condensed, hand like lightning. In an instant, she caught two copper plates.
Fan Rusu was shocked, and secretly commended: good skills. He became wary, he reached out his hand to hold the big knife around his waist, but he caught a glimpse of Mei Ren looking at him with a smile, his heart moved slightly.
Qiao Chu took the copper coin from Mei Ren and said, “Imperial Censor, of these two copper coins, one of them is an ordinary copper plate with different patterns on the front and back, and the other one is made by this lowly one for fun, with the same front and back sides.”
Wang Mang clipped his hand behind, spread his eyebrows and smiled, “But it turns out there is such a suspicious, dare to ask the little brother⁴, how do you plan to gamble?”
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Notes:
[1] The actual title is 心事无雁传 (xinshi wu yan chuan) which I believe came from ji yan chuan shu which is an idiom that translates to sending a letter to the goose. It just means sending a letter or the act of transmission of letters.
[2] He actually used the word gu (孤) to refer himself meaning lonely or solitary one. The word a crown prince uses to address himself in a crow
[3] jin nang (锦囊) a silk brocade bag, used in ancient times to hold poetry manuscripts and other precious items
[4] author used 小兄弟 (xiao xiongdi) which literally means small + brother
Kaye's Ugly Translations 