CHAPTER 9: JADE PENDANT
Yan Luan and Emperor Qi Ling’s engagement was hastily decided two years ago by Queen Dowager Chu. At that time, the prime minister Wang Yong dominated the imperial court, and the only one who could oppose him was Marquis Huai Yin’s residence. So, for the sake of drawing Princess Yong Kang in, the Chu family used their position and betrothed Yan Luan in the middle of the court.

But everyone couldn’t foresee that the verbal engagement would attract Yan Jing’s jealousy. Not only killing Emperor Qi Ling with poison, but also making his influence grew stronger day by day, and within just a few years, he punished and killed the Emperor’s clan, moving towards the pinnacle of his life.

“Is your body alright?”

Yan Luan still felt a bit nervous facing Emperor Qi Ling’s gentle question. One was because she was seeing a live Emperor herself, the other was because of Yan Dao’s frightening eyes, looking as if he was really disdaining her and the Emperor’s talking together.

“There’s no harm anymore, there’s only some matters that I couldn’t remember clearly.”

Looking at her soft and delicate cheeks along with the virtuous and graceful bearing of Yan Luan, Emperor Qi Ling laughed as he untied the Blue Bird jade pendant from his waist. His beautiful long finger moved a little, handing over the jade pendant to Yan Luan. The retainer at his side immediately wanted to stop him but then they moved back from the Emperor’s wave of hand.

“We [T/N: Emperor’s way of calling himself] see that you’re always gazing at this jade pendant. Take it then, this is a gift for you.”

Yan Luan was stupefied looking at his picturesque young imperial countenance that was tinted with an abnormal pale colour. The gentleness in his eyes mixed with a smile while holding the jade pendant in his long and slender fingers. His movements seemed to possess a bit of delicateness mixed with a noble elegance.

“Your Majesty…”

The Northern Qi Imperial Family’s symbol was the Blue Bird, but the Blue Bird jade pendant that was carried with the Emperor had greater and heavier meaning. The government officials who were following at the left and right side of the Emperor hesitated to say something. Yan Luan realized at once that this thing wasn’t something that she could handle.

“Take it, and don’t lose it.”

The young monarch didn’t allow others to interfere and readily put the jade pendant inside Yan Luan’s hand. He was perfectly content with looking at Yan Luan’s lovely and smart appearance gazing at the pendant lovingly. When he stood up, he gave a smile towards Yan Dao at the side.

“That’s right, Marquis Huai Yin and Brother Cousin Jing’s triumphant return is in sight, Queen Mother has already prepared a banquet to celebrate.”

Hearing what he said, Yan Dao answered with a heavy tone, making Yan Luan who was playing with the pendant pale with fright. She raised her small face towards Emperor Qi Ling and asked: “Triumphant return? Big Brother is coming back?!”

……

Even after they returned to Marquis Huai’s residence, Yan Luan still hadn’t come back to her consciousness from this heavy blow. Thinking about Yan Jing’s return made her felt like she was on pins and needles, she just can’t rest or eat in peace and she continuously had nightmares when she slept.

One night, there was a silent drizzle, and as a result, it became slightly chilling at the morning, so the servants changed Yan Luan into a peach-colored gown to provide more warmth. The noble attire was imported from the country of Yan. The unlined garment was arranged in a numerous and complicated way, showing clearly the young girl’s slender waistline. Her dainty tiny waist moved slightly, arousing people’s envy.

Yan Luan looked at herself in the mirror. The unripe and lovely 13 years old body was far from the mature ones’ outstanding lingering charm, but she had her own special beauty, particularly the raven-like hair that was rolled up into a flower bun.

“Today, WengZhu is especially beautiful.” the maidservant who was putting on a jade hairpin on her hair, said this sentence with a blank and smitten look on her face.

It’s a pity that Yan Luan hadn’t come of age [T/N: 15 years old], so the maid could only decorate her hair into a low flower bun style. The pearl and jade hairpins in front of her forehead leaving two threads of neat and trimmed black hair falling down loosely under her ear, painting a pretty and quiet beauty.

“WengZhu, Second Young Master came.”

She hadn’t met Yan Dao from the day when she came back to the residence. She realized that Yan Jing would return within the next few days, so she lost her mood to play. With a bitter expression, she brought her maidservant and went to the antechamber.

“Second Brother.”

When he caught sight of Yan Luan, Yan Dao’s frigid eyes shone with a lustre, but it was quickly hidden by him. His kneeling posture became somewhat unnatural, with a bulge sticking out between his legs. Luckily, he’s wearing a long robe that could conceal the awkwardness.

In this dynasty, sitting in a kneeling posture while seeing each other was widely spread as a popular custom, so Yan Luan was supported to sit kneeling on the mat. When she sat down, her heart secretly complained and groaned, but when she looked at Yan Dao’s ugly expression, she unavoidably felt a bit uncertain, who’s the one making this guy angry?

Yan Dao didn’t talk and directly handed over a box to her momo, signaling her to give it to Yan Luan. Although the box was less than half a meter big, but it was so heavy.

The red winding veined lid was opened and made Yan Luan jumped in shock. Inside was placed no less than three sets of jade ornaments, each of them possessing distinct style and elegance. All of them were luxuries that the women at the present all loved to have, however, these jade pendants and hairpins were only available in small quantity. Even though Yan Luan was unable to tell good from bad, but she certainly knew that these things were truly expensive.

“Second Brother, this is?”

Yan Dao who always didn’t like to talk, swept a cold glance at Yan Luan’s waist and only stopped looking after he took a long time gazing at it. Yan Luan hesitatingly lowered her head and looked at her waist with scrutiny. She was wearing the blue bird jade pendant from Emperor Qi Ling today.

Suddenly, a frightful idea flashed through her mind…

“Thank you Second Brother, I have received your present. Wait for a while and I’ll change into it.” She immediately gave a sweet smile, her beautiful eyes curved like an obsidian moon, and only after that, she then saw that Yan Dao’s expression wasn’t conflicted like before.

“It’s good that you like it.”

His voice changed into his usual tone, lifting up the cup of tea, his sight secretly stared at Yan Luan’s beautiful pink lips, and in an instant, his ears blushed red. Luckily, Yan Luan didn’t find out about it.

Waiting until Yan Dao went away, her momo was finally unable to restrain her joy anymore.

“Second Young Master had changed a lot these days, he also know how to care and love WengZhu. If Eldest Master know about it, he would surely become elated.”

Leading a destitute life in Bei Jiang for twelve years, Yan Dao, who ate and drank like barbarians, when he finally returned to Marquis Huai Yin’s residence, he acted like a wolf cub, frightening the people who served him that they didn’t dare to even be near him. As time passed, even Princess Yong Kang felt a bit of dislike towards this cold son of hers. It was only Yan Luan alone that was able to approach him.

Picking the first-class jade from inside the box, the space between Yan Luan’s eyebrows slightly moved. Gathering these items was not easy, but looking at Yan Dao truly expended his mind into this present, it looked like this second brother of hers wasn’t an unreasonable person.

At evening meal, Yan Luan was called to the main courtyard to eat with Princess Yong Kang. Regarding this princess mother that even Marquis Huai somewhat feared, Yan Luan’s heart couldn’t help but held reverence towards her.

“Momo said that you don’t have good appetite these days, is there somewhere that you feel uncomfortable with?”

The thirty seven years old Princess Yong Kang was still astonishingly beautiful just like before. The years didn’t leave behind too many marks on her naturally graceful and elegant face that would attract anyone to look straight at her. The beautiful Princess Yong Kang loved her young daughter Yan Luan dearly, not only she personally picked vegetables for her, she also used her handkerchief to rub Yan Luan’s mouth.

“Mother, let me rub it myself. These days might be too hot, so it can’t be helped that my appetite wasn’t that good.” Taking Princess Yong Kang’s silk handkerchief, she made some excuses.

Arranging the messy hair on Yan Luan’s forehead, Princess Yong Kang smiled warmly: “Your Elder Brother will quickly return home, how come I don’t see you happy ah? You used to always stuck to him like a glue.”

Yan Luan’s back felt a bit chilly, her hand tightening itself around the ivory chopstick. If she didn’t know about the horrible history of Yan Jing dominating his own sister in the future, she would definitely like him too.

She heard that more than half of her treasures saved in Fang Hua building were all gathered by Yan Jing from various regions just to fawn on her.