SPRING RIVER FLOWERS AND MOON - CHAPTER 5 PART 1

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SPRING RIVER FLOWERS AND MOON - CHAPTER 5 PART 1


Translations by: Lily of the Valley


Chapter 5 Part 1: The Fifteenth Year of Xingping, It Seemed Fated to Be a Busy Autumn



In late spring, in the beautiful weather outside Jiankang city, with the grass growing tall and the birds singing, Lady Luo sat in a bullock cart, heading towards White Egret Island.

Steward Uncle Qi, accompanied by a few family members, surrounded the bullock cart, ensuring its safety from all sides.

Unless it was intentionally driven fast by skilled handlers, bullock carts typically moved at a leisurely pace. They offered a smoother ride compared to horse-drawn carriages and were favored by the well-to-do scholars and officials. This explained the prevalence of bullock carts in Jiankang city, where it was rare to see people riding horses.

Nonetheless, Uncle Qi proceeded cautiously, instructing the handlers to move even slower.

A couple of days ago, Lady Luo had slipped from a swing at home. Fortunately, she had fallen onto soft spring grass, and although she had fainted briefly, she quickly regained consciousness without any serious injuries, not even a scratch on her skin.

However, this incident had left Uncle Qi very worried.

So today, unable to dissuade Lady Luo from going out, he was extremely cautious on the road, fearing another mishap.

When she had regained consciousness after her fall, Lady Luo had felt a slight headache and dizziness, as if someone had suddenly filled her head with a lump of paste. Everything was blurry, and she remembered having had a strange dream.

But no matter how hard she tried; she couldn't recall what the dream was about.

It felt like being lost in a foggy forest, a very frustrating sensation.

She had touched her head, thought for a moment, and then dismissed it.

Because compared to this minor mishap, she had something more troubling on her mind.

The golden copper bell hanging around the neck of the bullock, jingling as the cart moved forward, produced a pleasant melody, as if reminding her of the cheerful springtime outside the carriage.

Lady Luo, however, was in no mood for such joy.

She furrowed her brow, her delicate, fair hand supporting her chin, her elbow on the window sill, gradually becoming lost in thought.

She remembered that around this time last year, to celebrate her fifteenth birthday, her mother had organized a splendid banquet at the White Egret Manor.

On that day, almost all the young noble ladies from prominent families in Jiankang city had attended.

Even her elder sister, who had married into the East Yang Prince's household several years ago, had rushed back from East Yang County for this occasion, just to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony—a pivotal moment in a girl's life, second only to her wedding.

 

Translations by: Lily of the Valley

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