DDR – Chapter 65

Chapter 65: A big official?

All credit to original author: 独步云霄

Please read this at https://erzoohobbytranslating.wordpress.com. If you find this elsewhere, it has been stolen.

TN: For those of you coming from my PUGPF translation, don’t worry! I’m not giving up or putting it on hiatus, I just want to try translating a shorter story at the same time. I don’t want to get too bored, since PUGPF is so long and this one seems fun and only 180 or so chapters. For those coming from the previous DDR translations, welcome! I really enjoyed the previous translators’ work and thought it was a shame that it had been so long since an update. I intend to finish the translation, so stay tuned!

Please know that all my translations are done via google and common sense editing, so there may be some things that are wrong or accidentally left out. I hope you will still enjoy reading it and feel free to point out any typos you see, I greatly appreciate it!

---

After all, Shen Jingshu’s body was much better than it had been before. Although she was a bit cold, she did not get sick. After drinking the warm ginger soup and taking a nap, she felt refreshed. It was just that her ankle was a bit inconvenient.

Fortunately, she did not suffer a large injury and after a day of rest, Shen Jingshu went out again.

Dan Yuerong looked at her cheerful daughter and, though she wanted to stop her, didn’t say anything in the end. Instead, she said, “It’s okay to go out but you have to be careful, understand? Don’t get injured again or you will be forbidden from going out!”

“Mother, don’t worry! I will only be walking outside, I will be back soon.” Yesterday she had dug out bamboo shoots and caught a fish. It was just a little one but Shen Jingshu had felt that it was especially interesting and delicious. Perhaps it was due to the fruits of her labor.

 Smiling, she tugged and Ying Tao and Chen Xiao to go out. Despite how cold the water had been, Ying Tao was in good health and nothing had happened to her. Shen Jingshu had worried and wanted her to rest but this made Ying Tao very uncomfortable.

“Ying Tao, are there any wild vegetables around here? I heard that there are many wild plants in Zhuangzi that taste different.” Shen Jingshu was a little curious and wanted to try it but when Ying Tao heard this, she immediately shook her head.

“Miss, no! Miss, let’s just walk around and go back!” Last time, she had caused Shen Jingshu to fall and almost catch a cold. No one had punished her but she had been responsible, how dare she run around with Shen Jingshu again?

Please read this at https://erzoohobbytranslating.wordpress.com. If you find this elsewhere, it has been stolen.

“Ying Tao, you are lying to me!” Although this was the first time she had come to Zhuangzi, she was not ignorant. She had heard many people talking about the wild vegetables here.

Those plants sounded very interesting and who knew what they tasted like. Today, she had to pick some and try them for herself!

“Miss, please don’t embarrass this slave. Your ankle is not healed, if you are injured again, what should you do? Tell this slave what you want to eat and I will get it for you.”

“Ying Tao, I will go take a look. You know I am always in the inner courtyard and don’t go out often. It’s hard to be able to walk around! Will you really be so cruel to make me go back with regrets?” She gave Ying Tao a pitiful look.

Shen Jingshu was originally not the type of person who could be kept in the inner courtyard. Though she had constrained herself a lot in this life, deep in her heart she was still a child that yearned for freedom.

“Miss…” Helpless, Ying Tao turned to look at Chen Xiao, hoping that the other maid could help her. Of course, Chen Xiao was also on Ying Tao’s side.

Chen Xiao said: “Miss, the last time you went out like that, Madam was very worried, so let’s forget it, okay? Before the Madam left, she instructed you to be careful. If you are injured again, won’t it be Ying Tao that is punished? You don’t know but last time, Ying Tao was almost punished by the steward.” This was to let Shen Jingshu consider Ying Tao’s situation.

Sure enough, Shen Jingshu listened. Her smile disappeared and she asked, “Ying Tao, you will be punished?” If she caused the other girl to be implicated, she would feel very guilty!

“It’s alright miss, the Madam defended this slave and Steward Quan let me off.” In fact, Steward Quan did still fine her a month’s worth of wages and gave her more chores but Ying Tao considered Shen Jingshu’s injury to be her fault, so she did not complain.

“Alright, its fine to just walk around!” Hearing that Ying Tao had not been punished, Shen Jingshu was relieved. However, she still felt a little guilty knowing that her previous actions had not taken Ying Tao’s position into consideration. Like this, it was impossible to force Ying Tao to take her out and find the wild vegetables on their own.

Shen Jingshu had deliberately changed into an old dress today to make it easier to travel but she hadn’t expected things to turn out like this! Feeling depressed and bored, Shen Jingshu walked alone in front. Chun Xiao and Ying Tao knew that Shen Jingshu was in a bad mood, so they obediently followed behind and stopped talking.

Eventually, Shen Jingshu’s legs felt tired and she said, “Let’s go sit down!” Her ankle was not completely recovered, so it wasn’t good to walk too much.

“Miss, be careful, it’s dirty here!”

“It’s okay, you guys sit too!” Anyways, her dress was old so she didn’t care. Sitting in the grass and looking at the scenery, she felt very comfortable.

“So relaxing!” Shen Jingshu wanted to lay back on the grass but she knew that this could definitely not be done, so she sat upright, looking into the distance and watching people pass by through the green hills.

However, after sitting for a while, she quickly became bored and stood up again: “Let’s go fishing!” The fish had tasted very good last time and Shen Jingshu was eager to try it again!

“Okay, Miss! There is a stream just in front, the fish are much bigger. Let’s go and see!”

The three girls left cheerfully but soon realized the stream was too deep, there was no way for Ying Tao to go down. Fortunately, Ying Tao had an alternative idea, bringing back some nets to fish.

“Haha, over there, there are so many over there! Ying Tao, go over there!”

“Chun Xiao, were is it?”

“Quick, catch it! Haha!”

…

Because her ankle was still injured, Chun Xiao and Ying Tao agreed not to allow Shen Jingshu to make too much movement. So Shen Jingshu was forced to wait on the shore and watch the two fish without her, her heart itchy, wishing she could join in!

This ankle injury was really inconvenient!

Just as she was thinking about this, Shen Jingshu saw Ying Tao pull up a fish that was very big. Standing up happily, Shen Jingshu cried, “Haha, you caught it! Ying Tao, you are so impressive!”

“I’ve only been practicing for a short time, unlike my father! Father is much faster! Miss wants to eat fish, right? Why don’t I let Father catch you some later?”

“No, let’s catch them ourselves!” Shen Jingshu said, shaking her head. She felt that it was more interesting to catch them personally, not the mention that Ying Tao’s father was busy with farm work and she didn’t want to bother him.

“Alright, Miss, we will be fast!”

“Look, there are fish over there, pay attention!” Shen Jingshu shifted Ying Tao’s attention and the servant quickly went back to fishing. However, just as she touched one of the fish, Ying Tao felt a sudden gust of wind blowing across her face. One by one, the fish around Ying Tao suddenly were thrown to the shore in front of Shen Jingshu. Hearing someone say, “Young Lady Shen is in really good spirits!”, Ying Tao’s body shook.

“Duan— Duan Wang Shizi?” Shen Jingshu had really never expected to encounter Duan Wang Shizi here. Looking at the fish jumping in front of her and thinking about the servant’s actions just now, Shen Jingshu really had to admire it.

This martial skill was really good, she didn’t even see him move!

“I saw that Young Lady Shen was catching fish, so I asked Shuang to help. Is Young Lady Shen satisfied with these fish?”

“Satisfied, very satisfied!” Ying Tao and Chen Xiao had been fishing for so long and had only come up with a catty but when they came, they immediately increased it by threefold. Shen Jinghshu had to say that this was real strength!

Please read this at https://erzoohobbytranslating.wordpress.com. If you find this elsewhere, it has been stolen.

“Young Lady Shen likes it.” Duan Wang Shizi smiled. He had also been out for a walk and hadn’t expected to hear a familiar voice. Going over, he was surprised to see Shen Jingshu and immediately asked Shuang to help. Now that Shen Jingshu was smiling at him, Duan Wang Shizi felt very happy.

“Thank you!” She instructed Chen Xiao to collect the fish. In any case, they were a gift and it wasn’t good to let them go to waste.

Hearing her thank him, Duan Wang Shizi smiled, “I wonder if Young Lady Shen likes fish very much?”

“Fish is delicious, the taste is very good.”

“What does Young Lady Shen plan to do with these fish?”

“Go back and make stew!”

“I wonder if Young Lady Shen is also fond of grilled fish?”

“Grilled fish?”

“Yes. I saw that there are a lot of fish in this stream, why don’t we catch a few more and roast them to eat? Does Young Lady Shen like it?” Duan Wang Shizi didn’t know what was wrong with him but as soon as he saw Shen Jingshu smile, he didn’t want to go.

Wasn’t it fate that they had met here? Since they had an opportunity, he definitely couldn’t just leave like that! Duan Wang Shizi justified it to himself like this but in his heart, he was still unsure of his own thoughts.

“This is too much trouble for the young master, just forget it!” She refused directly. In all honesty, Shen Jingshu did not want to get too involved with the other party.

“It’s fine, I just wanted to eat it myself, can’t Young Lady Shen join me?”

“This…” Duan Wang Shizi’s request was a bit abrupt but Duan Wang Shizi did not give her the opportunity to reject him again. “I thought that, after last time, Young Lady Shen and I were friends? Does Young Lady Shen intend to refuse?” Hearing this, Shen Jingshu was reminded that she owed Duan Wang Shizi a favor. It was impossible to refuse him now.

“Naturally not.” She finally said.

“Then could Young Lady Shen wait a moment?”

“Of course.”

“Since Young Lady Shen has agreed, I am satisfied. Shuang, go catch more fish!”

“Yes, Young Master!” Shuang accepted his orders and left. Under the impressed gaze of Shen Jingshu, three more fish were quickly caught. Though they were not as big, only equaling a catty together, they were more suitable for grilling. When he was finished, Shuang put down the fish and began to prepare a fire.

Shen Jingshu had originally thought that Shuang was a high-class servant and he would not be able to deal with this task, but watching Shuang flexibly tidy the fish and gather firewood, it was clear he was skilled. However, it didn’t seem good to let him do it alone. Shen Jingshu ordered: “Chun Xiao, Ying Tao, hurry and help!”

“Yes, Miss!” Chun Xiao had been surprised when Duan Wang Shizi arrived and even more so when he invited Miss to eat with him. When did their young lady and Duan Wang Shizi become so familiar? Why didn’t she know about this?

Thinking about this, Chun Xiao took the dazed Ying Tao forward to help gather firewood. It was the first time this girl, Ying Tao, had ever seen such a handsome and dazzling man. She had never met such a person in her life. This big man had caused her to be completely stunned and she could only let Chun Xiao direct her. “Gods, Chun Xiao, who is that man? He looks just like an immortal, I have never seen such a high-class person, did the Miss call him the son of a prince? What is that? Is it a high official?”

“Yes, it’s a high official! Go, let’s go get more firewood!”

“Heavens, is he really an official? But is he a higher official than Master Shen? I looked at Master Shen before and thought he was very good, I didn’t expect this young master to look so impressive, I don’t dare to look at him. My god, is there really such a person? Isn’t he an immortal?” For a while, she was a little incoherent. Ying Tao had been really stimulated.

“Yes, a very big official, even higher than our master, so we have to take good care of him. Let’s go, we need to find more wood.” Chun Xiao looked at Ying Tao, feeling a little helpless, but she was also puzzled at Duan Wang Shizi’s behavior. Too busy with her own thoughts, she only answered Ying Tao’s questions absently as she led her away. She didn’t dare to go too far, just far enough that she could still see Shen Jingshu and Duan Wang Shizi.

Who knew if it was intentional or not but soon after Chun Xiao and Ying Tao left, Shuang also left. In the end, Shen Jingshu and Duan Wang Shizi were left behind. The atmosphere was a little awkward. After a moment, Shen Jingshu said, “Is there something important here for Duan Wang Shizi?”

Looking at him closely, Shen Jingshu felt that there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him, his face was just a little paler. Unknowingly, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s nothing, just came to Zhuangzi to recuperate for a few days.”

“Then Duan Wang Shizi also lives in Zhuangzi?”

“Yes, I just did not know that there was also a Shen Manor in Zhuangzi.” In fact, when Duan Wang Shizi had come through, he had instructed his people to buy a few properties, one of which was in Zhuangzi. He had not known that the Shen family also had a home in the area. He was surprised but also a little bit happy.

“What a coincidence that the Father also bought a property here!”

“It is indeed a coincidence. Master Shen’s property is just ahead, correct?”

“Yes! Where is Duan Wang Shizi’s property? Is it nearby?”

“It is some distance away, otherwise I would have known that Master Shen was here and come to visit.” It was also a coincidence that his wound was finally healed enough for him to go out and take a walk, happening to encounter Shen Jingshu. “Right now I am not prepared, so I will come visit tomorrow.”

“Duan Wang Shizi is too polite!”

“This is how it should be.”

In the end, they were not that familiar with each other and Shen Jingshu did not want to talk too much, so the two quickly fell silent. Eventually, Chun Xiao and Ying Tao returned and both people busied themselves with grilling the fish.

Shen Jingshu was not skilled at grilling fish and neither was Chun Xiao, which left Ying Tao. To Shen Jingshu’s surprise, Shuang and Duan Wang Shizi were both very skilled. When they had started, she had thought that Duan Wang Shizi would be too pampered but now she couldn’t help but look at him differently. “Unexpectedly, Duan Wang Shizi is very good at this!”

“It’s just a little practice when I’m free.” What Duan Wang Shizi did not say is that he had previously never done this before, it was just of his own experience that he often had to find food for himself to prevent starvation. Over time, he had learned to cook a few simple things and had grilled fish in the wild, so of course he was skilled.

“Is that so?” Shen Jingshu did not believe that Duan Wang Shizi would grill fish for fun but she was clever and didn’t ask, only patiently waiting on the side. Naturally she would not overstep.

Very soon, there was a burst of fragrance. They did not have any seasoning for the fish but this just made the unique smell of the cooked fish come out, which was enough to make the index finger move.

“Young Lady Shen, please eat first!” Duan Wang Shizi smiled and handed the fish in his hand to her. Seeing the bright light in Shen Jingshu’s eyes, he felt very satisfied.

After all, he was still a child. Though he looked like an adult, it was clear that he was still young.

“Duan Wang Shizi, please, I have some here.” She pointed to the side, where Ying Tao and Chun Xiao were cooking. Shen Jingshu was watching them work and taking notes, so she didn’t move for the time being.

“You eat first, taste it!” Without another word, he held the fish to Shen Jingshu until she accepted it.

“Thank you!”

“Let’s eat and see how it tastes!” Who knew if it was because of the fire but Shen Jingshu felt there was a layer of heat on Duan Wang Shizi’s face and the sight made her feel a bit dazed.

“Okay!” She said, taking a small bite. When the meat entered her mouth, it tasted great. It was fragrant but not greasy, without any fishy taste. It was indeed delicious.”

“Is it tasty?”

“It’s wonderful! Don’t you want to try some?” Shen Jingshu felt that it was not good to eat the fish by herself, so she tore off a piece and handed it to him. Seeing Shuang sitting beside him, she felt a little nervous, but unexpectedly Duan Wang Shizi nodded, “Okay!”

Shuang was a little shocked. He had long known that Duan Wang Shizi was polite to women, but he had a cold temperament and didn’t like contact with others. His young master and Young Lady Shen had only met a few times but Young Master was already treating her differently.

Was this a good thing? A bad thing?

Please read this at https://erzoohobbytranslating.wordpress.com. If you find this elsewhere, it has been stolen.

Shuang was a little uncertain but he knew better then to get involved with his young master’s affairs. He was a messenger and it was not good to intervene, so he pretended not to see the interaction between the two of them. He took the fish he had grilled for himself and began to eat.

The young master was indeed a bit lonely, wasn’t it good for him to have someone? However, the young lady was a bit too young, could he afford to wait?

Thinking of the people in the capital who were eyeing them, Shuang couldn’t help but feel a little worried. The young master had already reached the age of marrying but was dragging his feet. This was not the only issue! The recent movements over there were more frequent now, likely at the order of the Master. How could this be good?

…

Shuang had a lot of thoughts as he quickly glanced between Duan Wang Shizi and Shen Jingshu. He felt that Shen Jingshu’s age was a headache. However, Duan Wang Shizi was not thinking as Shuang thought. At the moment, he just wanted to share a grilled fish with her.

“Can it still be eaten like this?” Shen Jingshu had been curious and wanted to grill it herself. Originally, it had seemed simple, so she thought she could handle it. Who knew that she was not able to master the heat and it would quickly become a lump of black coal.

“If you take off the outside, you can still eat it but it will be a little bitter. Don’t force yourself if you don’t like it.”

“Then I will try it!” Shen Jingshu felt that it was a pity to waste it, so she tore off a large piece of the outside layer. After tasting the inner meat, it was indeed a bit bitter but since it was made by herself, Shen Jingshu did not dislike it. “It’s okay! It seems my first time grilling fish was not a failure!”

“It’s not bad,” Duan Wang Shizi said, “the first time I grilled a fish, I wasn’t able to eat it.” Thinking of those dark days, his eyes became cold but he quickly recovered.

“Hehe, then it seems that I’m pretty good!” She smiled. It was probably just her own imagination, but Shen Jingshu felt that Duan Wang Shizi’s aura was different just now. However, his expression recovered too quickly for her to grasp and his smile now, though shallow, gave people a warm feeling.

This man rarely laughed, right? Otherwise, why was he obviously so happy but his smile so light? What a mysterious man. She didn’t know how he had managed to survive so long without the protection of his mother.

…

After they finished happily eating the grilled fish, Duan Wang Shizi sat for a while and then left. Before he moved on, he said that he would visit her house tomorrow. Shen Jingshu smiled and told him she understood. After they could no longer see him, Ying Tao and Chun Xiao, who had been restraining themselves, immediately relaxed.

“Ah, I was scared to death! Duan Wang Shizi is really a big man! This servant didn’t dare to say anything for fear that it would offend him!” Duan Wang Shizi had a cold personality. Although he had been in a good mood today, they did not know him well and were unable to tell. Ying Tao was exactly like this, and she had been sitting on pins and needles the entire time, really uncomfortable!

It seemed that in the future, she should just stay in Zhuangzi obediently. The big people outside were really scary!

“My goodness, Miss! How high up is this young master! My feet are so soft now!” Ying Tao had to hold tight to Chun Xiao or else she would fall.

“Hehe, I don’t know how high up he is, just high.” She knew that if she started to explain the imperial family to Ying Tao, she would be even more afraid, so Shen Jingshu chose to keep it to herself.

“Ah, this big official is so scary! He doesn’t laugh at all. He looks like an immortal, so why is his expression so distant?”

“Is that so?” Thinking of Duan Wang Shizi’s appearance, it really did give people a feeling of inaccessibility. If she hadn’t been observing him carefully, she probably wouldn’t have noticed the faint smile at the corner of his lips, right?

“Ahhh, really scared to death! Miss, if you visit the young master in the future, could this slave not go? It’s so frightening!” Ying Tao’s instinctive response to Duan Wang Shizi was fear. She had never seen such an important figure, how could she dare to see him again?

“Alright!” Shen Jingshu smiled and looked at Chun Xiao, who was not speaking, knowing that the other girl had doubts.

When they returned home, Sheng Jingshu told her mother about meeting Duan Wang Shizi but hid the matter of them eating fish together. Hearing that Duan Wang Shizi would come to visit tomorrow, her mother was a little surprised. “Duan Wang Shizi lives in Zhuangzi? This is really a coincidence!”

---

DDR Chapter 66