《The Powerful Eunuch》 CH 1 Xie Yilu woke with a start. He felt like someone had stomped on him in the darkness, or perhaps a gulp of air had lodged in his chest and was preventing him from breathing evenly. Whatever it was only added to the fiery sting of alcohol in his throat. He opened his eyes to a scene of disordered revelry; the bowl of shuihua noodles1 he had ordered before passing out drunk was now cold to the touch. He covered his mouth and retched a few times ¡ª crack ¡ª a crisp sound travelled from his right hand side ¡ª crack ¡ª and another soon after. Someone was cracking sunflower seeds. ¡°Aiyah, Your Excellency Liu¡­¡± Diagonally across from him came the pinched laughter of a boy, lazy and affected. His tone was now hurried, now languid, and imbued with an air of wantoness. Shifting his gaze to the right, Xie Yilu caught a glimpse of dying candlelight in the murky grey dawn. There was an arm like a lotus root wearing a golden bangle and a pink face that seemed no larger than his palm on a head topped by an ostentatious coiffure that tilted under the weight of a great white peony. He looked at the boy, and the boy looked back with his wide eyes that resembled water ripples, his long brows like slender willow branches. Those thin lips, coated in rouge, moved to reveal a hint of a smile. ¡°Awake now?¡± His tone was not too respectful, but carried the traces of intimacy that came with familiarity. Xie Yilu nodded and asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°It should be the Fifth Watch2 soon.¡± The boy dressed as a woman spoke unhurriedly in a half-southern, half-northern Nanjing dialect. His speech was punctuated by the loud cracking of sunflower seeds. ¡°The Lord Minister3 has already gone home.¡± Fourteen or fifteen? Xie Yilu guessed. The boy was right in the height of his youth, yet here he was, dressed gaudily in reds and greens, enticing men to drink. ¡°It should be breaking up soon.¡± ¡°Breaking up?¡± the boy¡¯s brows arched to the roof as if he had heard a joke. ¡°I know these men from the Ministry of War. It¡¯ll count as ¡®soon¡¯ if they call it quits by this time tomorrow.¡± Xie Yilu followed the slight tilt of his dainty finger to take in the sight of the feast around him. Everywhere men sat slumped or collapsed; the few who were still conscious fawned over singing-boys4 in their arms with their clothes untied. They puckered their lips and pressed their faces close, calls of ¡°sweetheart¡± tumbling from their mouths. ¡°Do you have water?¡± Xie Yilu turned his face away. The boy relaxed his grip and let a handful of black sunflower seeds tumble onto the table. ¡°Look, you¡¯re out here to play. There¡¯s wine, but no water.¡± He turned to face Xie Yilu, sizing him up curiously. ¡°They say you were demoted here from Beijing.¡± Xie Yilu disdained to converse with him, so he replied, ¡°Wine is alright.¡± ¡°You offended someone?¡± The boy lifted the wine jug, pouring two shallow cups and placing them a little distance away. ¡°Play a round with me. If you win, I¡¯ll feed you.¡± Xie Yilu felt his anger stirring and stood to knock the wine over, but the boy seized the opportunity to lean into his arms, dragging him to a standstill. This was the love debt spoken of in crude conversation ¡ª something Xie Yilu failed to enjoy. Having just arrived in Nanjing, he had no wish to start trouble in the amorous realm. As such, he asked mildly, ¡°A round of what?¡± ¡°A round the Nanjing way5, you don¡¯t know how.¡± The boy had sensed his displeasure but pretended not to notice it as he draped himself bonelessly against Xie Yilu. Afraid to let him slip, Xie Yilu flipped his hand over. Yet, as soon as he did, the boy brazenly pillowed his head in his palm and rubbed back and forth with his feathery hair and soft cheek. ¡°But a round the Beijing way, I don¡¯t know how¡­¡± He fixed Xie Yilu with a pair of fiery eyes, their intensity making him feel a little helpless. ¡°Xie-mou6 is only a sixth-ranked Secretary7. What do you gain from¡­ dallying with me?¡± The boy replied softly, ¡°Is it not enough that I find you handsome?¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s face reddened immediately. While the Beijing officialdom also held such social gatherings and hired such singing-boys to their banquets, no one from the lotus hutongs8 there would be so fearless. To say he was unbridled, it would be truer to call him impudent. But to call him impudent, one could not say he was displeasing. ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± The boy burst into laughter. ¡°Dear gege9,¡± he said, as he trailed up Xie Yilu¡¯s stiff arm, ¡°Nanjing is a gold squanderers¡¯ den. There are no principles here, no rules.¡± He drew closer and closer until he was almost touching the corner of Xie Yilu¡¯s mouth. ¡°Only four words are recognised here.¡± He paused, his voice hushed, and blew hot air between Xie Yilu¡¯s lips. ¡°Wine, sex, money, power¡­¡± His face was graceful and bright, no less so than that of any beautiful young woman. Xie Yilu stared for a moment, then awkwardly pulled back his hand. Standing up unsteadily, he knocked the chair aside as he made for the doorway. The flower-carved door was tightly shut, but he pushed it open and felt the cool breeze of early spring blow into his face. The crescent moon still hung at the corner of the eaves, and the chirping of birds could be heard from the branches of a wutong tree. Xie Yilu closed the door firmly behind him. When he looked to his left, he saw the silhouette of a man sitting alone on the corridor balustrade. He took a moment to recognise the gaunt, upright figure. ¡°Your Excellency Qu?¡± The figure stood, and his round-collared dashan10 waved a little in the wind. ¡°Your Excellency Xie.¡± The other man slowly walked out from the dim corridor holding a fan. The moonlight first lit up the brand new silver belt at his waist, then the richly embroidered sixth-ranked egret buzi11 at his chest and finally his youthful and spirited face. This was Qu Feng, courtesy name Simu. He had been transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of War alongside Xie Yilu and was also a sixth-ranked Secretary. ¡°Just woke up?¡± The two of them were really not close, having spoken for the first time during the earlier banquet. As such, Xie Yilu was a little surprised to hear Qu Feng strike up a conversation with him in vernacular speech12, but he did not bother with formalities either. ¡°I don¡¯t hold my wine well.¡± Qu Feng smiled broadly, revealing two little canine teeth that lent him a childish appearance. ¡°Time to improve. Nanjing is unlike Beijing. Here, your tolerance for wine is the first skill you have to master to keep up appearances.¡± A gust of wind blew dense clouds over the moon and rustled the pine branches. Perhaps because of the wine he had downed earlier, Xie Yilu felt so casual as to border on being impetuous. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sitting inside?¡± Yet Qu Feng did not mind and curled his lips in frank contempt. ¡°That place,¡± he rolled his eyes, ¡°isn¡¯t somewhere I can stand to stay.¡± So it seemed they were cut from the same cloth. Xie Yilu stepped closer to stand by his side. ¡°From your accent, you sound like a local?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from Yingtian Prefecture13. I used to be a Secretary of the Bureau of Sacrifices14 in the Ministry of Rites. This transfer is more or less an equal one.¡± There was an air of bad habits surrounding him, something that took Xie Yilu only a few exchanges to identify ¡ª the stench of a naturally unconstrained dandy. ¡°Moving from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of War should count as a step upwards.¡± Qu Feng¡¯s eyes were very beautiful, slender and long, slanting upwards at their corners. He used them to glance mildly at Xie Yilu. ¡°From the Censorate15 in Beijing to the Nanjing Ministry of War¡­ Xie-xiong16, you¡¯ve taken a step downwards.¡± Xie Yilu was silent. ¡°I heard it¡¯s because you offended a powerful chamberlain17?¡± Xie Yilu extended his left index finger to point towards the sky. ¡°I offended the ¡®Great Ancestor¡¯, the Seal-holding Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial18.¡± Qu Feng, his interest piqued, shook his folding fan open with a swish in that early spring weather. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I received my degree in the jiashen year class19, which was handpicked by him. Everyone else went to thank him personally, but I didn¡¯t.¡± Qu Feng raised an eyebrow in great admiration, his gaze as bright as stars. ¡°Brazen indeed.¡± Xie Yilu rushed to wave him off. ¡°I¡¯m nothing compared to you Nanjingers. Even the singing-boys hired to entice people to drink are bold to the extreme.¡± ¡°Inside there?¡± Dubious, Qu Feng pointed to the flower-carved door with his fan. ¡°Which one?¡± He thought for a moment, then came to a sudden realisation ¡ª ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s the one wearing a peony?¡± Xie Yilu had not expected for him to guess right on his first try; as for Qu Feng, he had shed his easy manner of the minute before and now whispered cautiously, ¡°He¡¯s no ordinary singing-boy. He¡¯s got the one surnamed Zheng behind him.¡± Xie Yilu leaned in close: ¡°Which one surnamed Zheng?¡± Qu Feng grabbed his hand, his five icy fingers seeming to claw into Xie Yilu¡¯s heart. ¡°Beijing and Nanjing have the most castrati20 under Heaven. I don¡¯t need to tell you about Beijing, but in Nanjing¡­¡± he pulled Xie Yilu away from the building as he spoke. ¡°There are two grand chamberlains21. One is the fourth-ranked Eunuch Superintendent of the Imperial Weaving Bureau22, Liao Jixiang. The other is the sky over Nanjing itself, the Eunuch Grand Defender23, Zheng Xian.¡± Xie Yilu could not say why, but his back was suddenly drenched in cold sweat. ¡°The singing-boy that you mentioned is surnamed Guo, named Xiaozhuo. He¡¯s Zheng Xian¡¯s¡­¡± Qu Feng shook back his sleeves and raised a single pinkie, waving it meaningfully in the air, ¡°favoured one!¡± It was not unheard of in Beijing for a eunuch to toy with a singing-boy, but under the Son of Heaven¡¯s foot, few men of influence dared to take such a risk. Xie Yilu asked confusedly, ¡°If he¡¯s favoured by a eunuch, then why is he still out here¡­¡± Though it was clearly dark outside, Qu Feng still scanned their surroundings anxiously. ¡°Take everything I say from now on as drunken talk.¡± He leaned in and clung to Xie Yilu¡¯s ear as he whispered, ¡°Guo Xiaozhuo keeps an eye on things for Zheng Xian. His specialty is listening in at officials¡¯ banquets!¡± The cloying scent of anxi incense24 on Qu Feng¡¯s clothing had not dissipated, even after an entire night. Now that he was pressed so close, Xie Yilu felt a little queasy. ¡°No wonder¡­¡± He thought back to Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s ¡°I know these men from the Ministry of War¡±. It was evident he had no respect for men of rank, so what does that make of the almost explicit sexual invitation? Xie Yilu wondered if the boy had really found him ¡°handsome¡±. Qu Feng was about to speak again when the side door not far ahead began to rattle, its bar25 shifting a few times from left to right. With a creak, it was pushed open from the inside. A monk wearing a kasaya26 exited first, followed by a line of men decked in gongfu27. The pair in the lead each held one white lantern inscribed with a massive Ö¯ character28. Xie Yilu immediately recognised them as eunuchs29. Walking amongst them was someone dressed in a dark green yisan without a buzi, a long and worn sabre hanging from his waist. The other party had spotted them too, for they kept looking over repeatedly. The one in the dark green yisan bowed a very respectful farewell to the monk, then led his subordinates out onto the main road. As he walked, the jade pendants hanging from his golden belt clinked noisily. ¡°Who are they?¡± Xie Yilu asked in a small voice. ¡°They¡¯re from the Imperial Weaving Bureau.¡± Qu Feng turned his body halfway, looking rather deflated. ¡° The one in the lead is called Zhang Cai.¡± Only when they walked closer did Xie Yilu realise that this Zhang Cai, dressed in his green yisan, was truly still a child. He had phoenix eyes and a little mouth, appearing to be close in age to Guo Xiaozhuo. His chin was still rounded, giving him a chubby sort of cuteness. Under the light of the moon, one could see that his yisan was made from gold-brocaded damask silk. His head was raised in quite a haughty manner, giving him the air of a real court-appointed official. He breezed past them without once looking to the side, the clinking of his jade pendants slowly fading away with the golden-red lantern light. ¡°One of Liao Jixiang¡¯s underlings.¡± Qu Feng folded his fan, meaning that he intended to walk back. ¡°He¡¯s from Gaoli.¡± There were many castrati in Beijing who had been imported as tributes from Chaoxian, so this did not come as a surprise to Xie Yilu. On the other hand, he was curious about the monk: ¡°Why would a monk show up at a place like this?¡± ¡°This courtyard belongs to Lingfu Temple. The front rooms have been tidied up to host parties and guests. Past that door,¡± Qu Feng pointed to the side door from which Zhang Cai had just exited, ¡°are the monks¡¯ quarters.¡± Xie Yilu did not know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°This temple really knows how to run a business.¡± ¡°All that wine we drank and those dishes we ordered were prepared by men the monks hired.¡± Qu Feng laughed heartily, then seized affectionately on Xie Yilu¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Come, let¡¯s get back to drinking.¡± As soon as he heard ¡®drinking¡¯, Xie Yilu¡¯s head began to pound. ¡°I can¡¯t drink anymore.¡± He sidestepped Qu Feng¡¯s hand, twisting around and darting back several steps as if to flee. ¡°I¡¯ll leave first. Just tell them I passed out drunk.¡± ¡°Did you bring a palanquin?¡± Qu Feng found him funny to look at, and when he smiled, those two little canines that appeared gave him quite the air of mischief. ¡°Take mine. Turn left once you exit the main gate. It¡¯s the one hung with blue curtains!¡± Xie Yilu cupped his fists as he retreated. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll walk awhile in the wind to sober up!¡± The night was fine, and the moonlight too. Combined with the elegance of the garden ¡ª the strangely shaped rocks surrounding its path, its ponds and carved windows30, the rustling pines that those calm of mind could hear ¡ª his first day taking office in Nanjing faded into a dream. Under the influence of wine, moreover, the people he had met throughout the day ¡ª Qu Feng, Guo Xiaozhuo, Zhang Cai ¡ª seemed no more than characters within that dream. Leaving the courtyard led him to a long street, where early-rising hawkers were already setting up their wonton booths at the intersection. Looking back at the garden door, he really did see a stone stele with the words ¡°Lingfu Temple¡± carved faintly on its surface. It was no wonder that a small temple situated in such a bustling city would embroil itself in a few worldly trades. He strolled leisurely along the moss-covered courtyard wall. It was only by accident that he turned his head to see a narrow alley branching off from the foot of the wall, inside which a stone lantern stand had fallen into disuse. In the hollow where a lantern used to be, something waved in the wind and caught his eye with its faint white glow. Edging closer to investigate, he found what appeared to be paper stuffing the hollow full. He pulled a sheet out at random and gave it only a careless glance, yet was instantly rooted in place as if struck by lightning. The paper was marked in an exquisitely beautiful hand of calligraphy, the curves powerful as ancient and stoic pines, the downstrokes lithe as wild cranes soaring through the clouds. When the tip of the writing brush was hidden31, the lines were forceful and rhythmic. When revealed32, they became like mist and clouds ¡ª unrestrained, yet suffused with vigour at every flourish. Xie Yilu, awestruck, pulled every piece of paper out at once and unfurled them one by one to look over their contents. Most of them featured verses like ¡°plum blossoms are guests from a country gentle, pines keep faith beside me as a steadfast presence33¡± and ¡°the wind and clouds above are real as a dream, while the years on earth flow past like a stream34¡°. However, there was one piece that bore only two broad characters written with indignation and anger: ÄÑÃù. Nan ming! Something that cannot be given voice¡­ How that one flimsy piece of paper was soaked through with the bitterness of scholars. Tears rose to Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes in an instant and threatened to spill over. And just like that, a feeling of mutual understanding bloomed in his heart, and his love was set alight. He hugged the heap of papers to his chest and paced in circles like an idiot. Finally, with a stamp of his foot, he lowered his head and ran homeward. His house was situated on Santiao Alley near Xi¡¯an Gate; he had hired only one personal attendant, and Xie Yilu did not call for him as he dashed straight for his study to lay out paper and grind ink. It was only after burning through ten or twenty pages in a single breath that he finally was satisfied. On the sheet were written two characters in semi-cursive script: ÚÐÌý. Someone is listening carefully¡­ Setting his brush down, he folded the paper and tucked it with care, then ran out once again. This chapter does an amazing job establishing what Nanjing was like during mid to late Ming. As the ¡®spare capital¡¯ to Beijing, it kept the cultural and economic wealth that came with its illustrious history, but politically speaking, was relegated to a ¡®stagnant backwater¡¯. Corruption was rife, and without any real career prospects, many officials had no choice but to ally themselves with powerful eunuchs like Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang. Similarly, this chapter showcases the popularity of male prostitution during Ming, especially in the rich southern cities. This was in many ways caused by the rise of Neo-Confucianism, which heavily criticised female prostitution but more or less remained silent on similar goings-on with men. In fact, Ming officials were forbidden by law to hire female prostitutes, but male prostitutes were a legal loophole. This led to male prostitutes having a near monopoly on providing entertainment to the officialdom. For anyone interested in further reading about this topic, the short story¡¶ÇéÆæ¼Í¡·in the late Ming homoerotic anthology¡¶ÛͶøâO¡·provides great insight that is as close to ¡®first-hand¡¯ as possible. Lastly, I will attempt a brief overview of Ming eunuchs. Contrary to popular belief, Ming eunuchs never achieved the monarch-deposing power that their Han predecessors did. Sure, many powerful ones were extremely corrupt and wielded considerable influence at court, but overall, they were still servants directly answerable to the Emperor rather than to the civil officialdom. It was this distinction that resulted in eunuchs becoming the eyes and ears of the Emperor, tasked with supervising the civil government. There was considerable animosity between the civil officials and eunuchs, in which the former saw the latter as corrupt lap dogs, and the latter saw the former as pedantic and conceited. The Directorate of Ceremonial (DoC) mentioned in this chapter is the most powerful of all the eunuch agencies. Its original role was directing all Palace etiquette, but it quickly grew to become something more akin to the Emperor¡¯s personal secretaries. For example, certain eunuchs in the DoC could respond to memorials in red ink on behalf of the Emperor. This led to the leader of the DoC gaining immense political power. 1. Ë®»¬Ãæ, literally ¡°water sliding noodles¡±. A type of noodles made with water and oil. 2. Îå¸ü, the 5th watch of the 5 night watches. 03:00 ¨C 05:00. 3. ²¿ÌÃ, another term for the Minister of a Ministry. 4. С³ª, literally ¡°little song¡±. Not sure if it also refers to women but I¡¯ve always associated it with boys. 5. ÄϾ©È­, literally ¡°Nanjing fist/boxing¡±. 6. ij, literally ¡°someone¡±. Calling yourself ¡®surname + mou¡® is a self-depreciating address. 7. Ö÷ÊÂ, a lower level post found in various agencies. 8. ºúͬ, an alley or small, narrow street. A distinct feature of Beijing. 9. ¸ç¸ç, literally ¡°elder brother¡±. Can also be used in a seductive or teasing manner. 10. ´óÉÀ, literally ¡°large shirt¡±. A broad term that refers to any upper body garment that reached knee-length. A round-collared (Ô²Áì) dashan is likely synonymous with the round-collared robe (Ô²ÁìÅÛ), a mainstay of Ming men¡¯s clothing. Visual reference and here. 11. ðØ𸲹×Ó, the egret was the bird on the buzi of sixth-ranked civil officials. Visual reference. 12. °×»°, vernacular Chinese that is spoken today, as opposed to ÎÄÑÔ (literary Chinese) that was used for writing and sophisticated/formal conversations. 13. Ó¦Ì츮, another name for Nanjing. Also refers to the administrative region around Nanjing. Ó¦Ìì means ¡°to answer to Heaven¡±, compared to Beijing¡¯s equivalent, ˳Ì츮, where ˳Ìì means ¡°to follow/submit to Heaven¡±. 14. ìô¼ÀÖ÷ÊÂ, also known as ìô¼ÀÇåÀô˾Ö÷ÊÂ. 15. ¶½²ìÔ±, a central supervisory agency that was tasked with inspecting, supervising and censuring officials, imperial kinsmen and, on paper at least, the Emperor himself. 16. ÐÖ, literally ¡°elder brother¡±. ¡®Surname + xiong¡¯ is an intimate form of address between men. 17. Ȩ«š, literally ¡°powerful pendant¡±. «š was originally a word for women¡¯s earrings and the pendants hanging from the hats of eunuchs during the Han Dynasty. It later evolved to refer to eunuchs as a whole. I elected to translate «š as ¡°chamberlain¡± to separate it from other names for eunuchs. 18. ˾Àñ¼àÕÆÓ¡[Ì«¼à, head of the Directorate of Ceremonial. In charge of stamping imperial edicts with the imperial seal. 19. ¼×Éê, the 21st year of the traditional 60-year cycle. °ñ, means ¡°rank¡± or ¡°class¡± and refers to the 3 ranks of jinshi graduates when used in this context. Combining the two, we see that Xie Yilu received his jinshi degree in the year of jiashen. There is a famous group portrait of 10 Ming officials who were jinshi co-graduates in the year 1464 which was a jiashen year. 20. ÑËÈË, literally ¡°castrated person¡±. A term somewhat crude and often disdainful. 21. ´ó«š, literally ¡°big pendant¡±. A powerful eunuch. Translated as ¡°grand chamberlain¡±, also the novel¡¯s title. 22. Ìᶽ֯ÔìÌ«¼à, oversees the vast state-owned silk manufacturing industry. 23. ÕòÊØÌ«¼à, part of Nanjing¡¯s military structure. Many cities had their own Grand Defenders. 24. °²Ï¢Ïã, literally ¡°incense of rest¡±. 25. ÃÅãÅ, a bar placed behind a door to lock it. Visual reference. 26. ôÂôÄ, a patchwork outer vest worn by a Buddhist monk. A loan word from Sanskrit. 27. ¹«·þ, a system of Ming official¡¯s wear that is often confused with the similar sounding and looking ³£·þ (changfu). However, the author seems to have made a mistake by having eunuchs wear gongfu since it was only worn by court-appointed officials. 28. Ö¯ (zh¨©), literally ¡°weave¡±. A shorthand for the Imperial Weaving Bureau. The traditional character that would have actually been written is ¿—. 29. »Â¹Ù, literally ¡°eunuch official¡±. A formal and more neutral way to refer to eunuchs in Imperial service. 30. »¨´°, decorative windows that are carved from wood or stone. Visual reference. 31. ²Ø·æ, a technique in calligraphy. 32. ¶·æ, opposite technique to ²Ø·æ. 33. ÷×÷ѬÏç¿Í£¬ËÉΪ°é×÷ÈË: from ¡¶¶¬ÈÕ¼´Ê¡·by Gong Nian (¹¨éý). Note that the ¡°country¡± here doesn¡¯t mean a nation but rather a specific place that was likely the author¡¯s homeland. I haven¡¯t been able to confirm this poem for myself but I know one with the same name and by the same poet was collected in the¡¶Ê¢Ã÷°Ù¼ÒÊ«¡·anthology. Gong Nian was the ÄÚÊ̼à×óØ© during the Honzhi era, but this position doesn¡¯t match with my dictionary which has a similar ÄÚÊ̼à×ó¼àØ© position that only existed during the early Hongwu era¡­ 34. ÌìÉÏ·çÔÆÕæËÆÃΣ¬È˼äËêÔ¾¹ÈçÁ÷: from¡¶Ôù¹ËÅË¡·by Gong Nian, collected in volume 23 of ¡¶¾²Ö¾¾ÓÊ«»°¡·. CH 2 It was yet another banquet. Xie Yilu sat at a corner of the long table, staring blankly at the sumptuous spread before him. The centrepiece was a roasted goose surrounded by four large plates of tangchan sweets1 . The wine was Autumn Dew White2 from Jinan; on the side were young army fish from Xinghua, siskins from Linjiang, pufferfish from Jiangyin and bitter bamboo shoots from Jianji Temple, all of them first-rate delicacies. Since his arrival in Nanjing more than ten days ago, every night had been filled with eating and playing ¡ª playing with prostitutes3, playing with singing-boys. Seemingly, this was all the Nanjing Ministry of War ever did. When Xie Yilu let his gaze drift over these colleagues of his, it felt as though he were watching a farce play out on stage. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± From the side, Qu Feng poked at him with his elbow. ¡°The goose is quite good. Have some.¡± Xie Yilu lifted his chopsticks. They were made of silver, with caps of elephant ivory. ¡°Such extravagance,¡± he marvelled. Hearing this, Qu Feng drained his cup in one gulp and turned it out for him to see. ¡°There are cups of gold-inlaid lacquer4 too.¡± The banquet tonight was Zheng Xian¡¯s, so the showing was considerable. Yet it had been more than a shichen5 since the feasting began, and Zheng Xian himself had so far failed to appear. He was not the only one missing, either, because the Minister of War was also absent. ¡°The Lord Minister is late as well,¡± Xie Yilu muttered. Qu Feng did not even bother to look up. ¡°He won¡¯t be here tonight.¡± Saying so, he sidled over and angled his face to press up against Xie Yilu¡¯s neck. ¡°He was never invited in the first place.¡± It was the scent of that anxi incense again. Xie Yilu retreated. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Have a look for yourself. He¡¯s not the only one missing tonight.¡± Only at Qu Feng¡¯s prompting did Xie Yilu take a proper count of the guests. It was true ¡ª Vice Minister Liu, Secretary He, Director Ye ¡ª there were some people who had not come. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± ¡°Exactly so.¡± Qu Feng pressed even closer, and his voice fell softer. ¡°If it were me, I¡¯d only invite my own men too.¡± Xie Yilu was immediately overtaken with anxiety. ¡°Then what about us?¡± Qu Feng grasped his hand under the table and patted it comfortingly. ¡°We can still choose whether to join the Eunuch Faction6 or not.¡± Xie Yilu felt that he could not remain a second longer at this banquet. Qu Feng understood his impulse and flashed an easy smile at him. ¡°And that¡¯s why I say to eat quickly. Going forward, we won¡¯t have such culinary fortune again.¡± Just as he spoke, the entire table stood up with a whoosh. Xie Yilu and Qu Feng rose to bow also, thinking that Zheng Xian had arrived, but the newcomer was no eunuch at all. Rather, it was a tall man in his early thirties sporting a short, tidy moustache. He wore a Buddha-head-blue double-layered silk jacquard7 robe with zhuanghua brocade8 flying fish patterns9 across the tops of its sleeves10, as well as a martial official¡¯s futou11 . It was a Battalion Commander12 of the Brocade Uniform Guard13. ¡°Your Excellency Tu!¡± All cupped their fists in greeting. The man surnamed Tu only nodded casually. He did not even bother to take a seat before pushing up his sleeves and asking, ¡°Has the Lord Supervisor14 arrived?¡± Upon hearing ¡°no¡±, he simply walked straight through the banquet to wait in the side hall. Everyone returned to their seats once more. Xie Yilu furrowed his brow, asking, ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Tu Yue. Zheng Xian¡¯s sworn follower.¡± Qu Feng had just raised his chopsticks when he heard chaotic footsteps from outside. He sighed and set his chopsticks down. ¡°The master of the house is here.¡± Zheng Xian should have been a bloated old man, but as he came into view with a dozen or so junior eunuchs clustered around him, bearing his jade belt in his hands and walking at the slow, dignified pace of high officials, Xie Yilu was left speechless. To do that face justice using ordinary descriptors would be a challenge, but if he had to make an attempt, only the words ¡°radiant as the peach and plum¡±15 came to mind. He wore a lion tongbei16 robe of lychee-red shot silk with a douniu17 serpent buzi, his snow-white fingertips just barely peeking out from his sleeves. The room of officials from the Ministry of War, no matter their rank or status, rose solemnly in unison. They stood in waiting as a junior eunuch lifted up the hem of his robe and watched in silence as he sat askew, saying lazily, ¡°I¡¯m late.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s palms seemed to have begun sweating, and he could not tighten his fists. In a moment of distraction, a poem by Wei Zhuang surfaced in his mind: ¡°Secretly I ponder what words may describe her beauty? She is like a twig of plum blossoms frozen in the springtime snow, her fragrance a halo of the rosy dawn.¡±18 Zheng Xian pursed his redder-than-lychee lips, then stretched them into a sudden smile. He spoke in a voice of extreme softness, the kind unique to men of importance that obliged one to listen closely. ¡°I¡¯m19 in a good mood today, so I¡¯ll make a toast to everyone.¡± A junior eunuch immediately presented him with a full cup of wine, which he accepted with a lift of his hand and downed with a tilt of his neck. The two rows of officials, all standing straight as an arrow, followed him by raising their own cups and competing with each other to shout, ¡°Thank you, Lord Supervisor, for bestowing us wine!¡± ¡°Good, all of you are very good,¡± Zheng Xian nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Eat, everyone.¡± He¡¯s only twenty-seven or twenty-eight? Xie Yilu guessed, but he speaks and acts like an old veteran. Setting his cup down and raising his head, Zheng Xian just so happened to see this lowly sixth-ranked Beijing demotee staring dumbly at himself. He shifted slightly to face Xie Yilu and asked in a voice dripping with the condescension that comes with old age, ¡°Xie-tanhua20, is the Nanjing food to your liking?¡± Every pair of eyes darted towards him. Xie Yilu was startled; the fact that he was the tanhua of the jiashen class was known to all in the Ministry of War, but no one had ever brought it up because there was a world of difference between himself and them. ¡°It is.¡± He hurried to stand and bow. ¡°Thank you, Lord Supervisor, for your care.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Zheng Xian said, rising. Without another word, he extended a hand for a junior eunuch to support and leisurely made his way towards the side hall. ¡°Gentlemen, eat your fill.¡± He¡¯s going to find Tu Yue. Xie Yilu sat down slowly. As soon as he had taken his seat, Qu Feng advised, ¡°Don¡¯t let him subdue you. At the end of the day, he only has those same few phrases to repeat. He¡¯s gilded on the outside, but inside, he¡¯s got no substance.¡± ¡°What¡¯s his background?¡± Xie Yilu wiped his hands dry on his handkerchief. ¡°He had always been in the Palace. When he left, he spent his first two years supervising mines in Guangxi. Probably didn¡¯t hold back from reaping a hefty profit for himself,¡± Qu Feng mocked. ¡°Otherwise, where would he have found the silver to buy this office of Eunuch Grand Defender?¡± Dry-mouthed, Xie Yilu poured himself a cup of tea but spotted Guo Xiaozhuo in the meantime. The boy was dressed in a white ao21 shirt and, beneath, an ornate gold-embroidered skirt gathered into many narrow pleats at the waist that swayed steadily like water ripples at his every movement. He had likely arrived with Zheng Xian, but Xie Yilu had failed to notice him at all. This only seemed to prove true the old adage, ¡°When the peony blooms, who can still see the crabapple?¡± Guo Xiaozhuo smiled coquettishly as he floated between a few familiar officials. He did make for a pretty sight, as utterly brimming with liveliness as he was. Xie Yilu lowered his head to take a sip of tea, but before he had even swallowed it, someone called from behind. Turning around, he saw that it was a child eunuch hunched over respectfully. ¡°The Lord Supervisor extends his invitation.¡± Xie Yilu was wholly uninterested, so he shot a look at Qu Feng. ¡°Just me?¡± The little eunuch was very quick-witted, with a good grasp of decorum. He let his gaze drift coldly over Qu Feng, then said, ¡°Your Excellency Xie comes from Beijing. The Lord Supervisor wishes to reminisce about his homeplace with you22.¡± And with that, there was nothing more for Xie Yilu to say, so he followed the boy away. The hall was quite small and extremely dark, with only a single candle burning on a desk. Zheng Xian sat askew in the official¡¯s hat chair, leaning rather carelessly on one arm. Tu Yue stood behind him with his waist bent and his face pressed close, as if whispering secrets to him. All of a sudden, Zheng Xian gave him a push and broke into loud laughter. Tu Yue seemed to be quite pleased at having made him laugh, but when he looked up to see Xie Yilu, his expression immediately froze over. He turned his back and walked over to play with the paperweights on the desk. Zheng Xian, still trembling with laughter, raised a hand at Xie Yilu. ¡°Oh, Chunchu, come.¡± ¡°Chunchu¡± was Xie Yilu¡¯s courtesy name. He felt a little uncomfortable at hearing someone address him so familiarly. ¡°This subordinate23 dares not to.¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s demeanour shifted in the space of a second. Gone was his laughter, and neither did he continue to speak. As if angered, he only sat there in unbroken silence. Xie Yilu quickly caved under the oppressive atmosphere and hastened forward. Zheng Xian did not tell him to sit, but rather tapped gently on a corner of the desk with his finger. ¡°Is your family here too?¡± ¡°My parents died early. My humble wife stayed in Beijing.¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s lashes, long as sweet grass, batted languidly. ¡°Then you could¡¯ve brought your concubines with you.¡± Xie Yilu glanced at Tu Yue from the corner of his eye. ¡°This subordinate has no concubines.¡± This seemed to catch Zheng Xian by surprise, and he even turned his head to look directly at Xie Yilu for a moment or two. But just as he was about to speak, a junior eunuch carrying two scrolls of paintings entered the hall to report, ¡°Deng Jiong gifts two splashed-ink landscapes by Mi Fu.¡± Zheng Xian hummed his acknowledgement without sparing a glance at the paintings. He returned to questioning Xie Yilu: ¡°You like beautiful children24?¡± It was like a hard slap to the face. Xie Yilu was insulted, but he dared not let his anger show. ¡°This subordinate is slow-witted and knows only how to study, not how to indulge in pleasure.¡± Zheng Xian raised a single brow, clearly unhappy with his response. Yet even with the look of displeasure upon his face, he was still dazzling to behold. Xie Yilu glanced greedily at him ¡ª once, twice ¡ª then buried his gaze. A short while later, another eunuch came in holding two red-billed pigeons with red string tied to their feet. ¡°Wang Ziren gifts one pair of black-tailed, jade-feathered, coral-billed ¡®jue yunr¡¯25.¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to the pigeons. ¡°Quick, light the lanterns.¡± He stood up from the official¡¯s hat chair, his excitement childlike as he instructed, ¡°Note down this one surnamed Wang.¡± A eunuch through and through, Xie Yilu thought to himself. Likes pigeons, likes extravagance ¡ª might even like horse riding and cockfighting. To one side, Zheng Xian and Tu Yue took breathless turns appraising the pigeons; to their other, Xie Yilu waited in silence without joining or even regarding their exchange. Every so often, Zheng Xian would turn back to give him a glance. Seeing such an icy, unapproachable man, he thought that he had gathered as much as he needed to know about Xie Yilu¡¯s personality. ¡°Oh, Chunchu,¡± Zheng Xian put down his pigeons and walked over. ¡°I¡¯ll stop beating around the bush with you.¡± He accepted a towel from a servant and gave his hands a wipe. ¡°I want to sponsor you.¡± Xie Yilu declined: ¡°This subordinate is lacking in both virtue and talent.¡± Zheng Xian gave a cold laugh, a deadly beauty seeming to exude from out under his imperially bestowed douniu serpent robes. ¡°Back in Beijing, you would not thank the Great Ancestor for his favour. For this alone, I will sponsor you.¡± Xie Yilu could not grasp his meaning, so he summoned the courage to look straight up at Zheng Xian. Zheng Xian smiled very faintly. ¡°There is only one sun in the sky above the Forbidden City, but the clouds that sustain it are numerous. You¡¯ve already pushed away his shade, so why not come rest under mine?¡± Xie Yilu suddenly saw the light. So it appeared that the cloud above Zheng Xian¡¯s head was not the Great Ancestor¡¯s after all. Rather, he was walking a different path in Beijing. ¡°This subordinate doesn¡¯t understand the affairs of eminent men.¡± Saying as much, he still glanced rapidly at Tu Yue. The man stood beyond the reach of the candlelight, his face obscured, only visible by the vibrancy of his flying fish robe and the two male pigeons fluttering ceaselessly in his arms. If he followed this trail upstream¡­ could it be that the path they¡¯ve chosen is the Directorate of Ceremonial¡¯s Eunuch Director of the Eastern Depot26? Just as his heart was thumping in trepidation, Guo Xiaozhuo wafted into the room with his richly decorated skirt swaying to the rhythm of his footsteps. Zheng Xian had no airs to put on in his presence. Annoyed, he took his anger out freely: ¡°Why did you come in? We¡¯re discussing serious matters here!¡± But Guo Xiaozhuo did not show the slightest hint of fear. Placing his dainty white hand against Zheng Xian¡¯s chest, he pushed him down onto the chair and deposited himself onto his thigh, burrowing into the Zheng Xian¡¯s arms. He then raised his own left hand for inspection, asking, ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± Upon his middle finger was a massive white jade ring, newly acquired. Fearing that he might slip off, Zheng Xian wrapped an arm around his waist. ¡°You already have so many rings¡­¡± The rest of their conversation became inaudible as they whispered cloyingly with their mouths against each other¡¯s ears. Even as he stood nearby, Xie Yilu disdained to listen in. It was Zheng Xian who gave in first a short while later, promising, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll note him down and promote him tomorrow.¡± With that, Guo Xiaozhuo exited the hall, practically preening with self-satisfaction. If Xie Yilu had anything left to say now, Zheng Xian would no longer listen. His face was pinched with impatient exhaustion, and he waved his hand to dismiss Xie Yilu. ¡°Stew over your words for a while,¡± he said, as if in warning. ¡°Once you¡¯ve thought them over, we¡¯ll have plenty of time to talk again.¡± When Xie Yilu left the side hall, he really was in no mood to remain at the banquet. He began his journey home on foot after bidding Qu Feng farewell. On the way back, he made a detour to pick up letters from the stone lantern stand at Lingfu Temple. His correspondent was an anonymous friend who, since his presumptuous reply of ÚÐÌý27, had become like the other half that Xie Yilu never knew he was missing28. They had been exchanging letters for more than ten days now, and when he occasionally did not receive any, Xie Yilu found himself mysteriously disappointed. Only when he held the newest letter in his hand did he regain his peace of mind. Upon his return home, he immediately shut himself in his study to read the letter. It was not long, written in neat small regular script29 characters each the size of a fly¡¯s head: ¡°Last night was a cloudless eve, the wind blowing occasionally, and I thought of thee30. Thus, a poem¡¶Offerings to a Friend¡·was composed.¡± What followed was his poem ¡ª rather average, but it was his calligraphy that was truly outstanding. From those brushstrokes alone, Xie Yilu made up his mind that this person must be as clean as still waters, free from any desire for fame or wealth. For him especially, Xie Yilu had prepared jasmine paper and an artisan wocan inkstone31, and he used brushes from Huzhou to write out his painstaking reply: Clear breeze or bright moon, is no match for a word from thee. Yesterday was the Awakening of Insects32; I33, dressed in a short shirt, worked in my garden, planting one flowering peach tree below the stairs, two corn poppies, butterfly chrysanthemums34, red water immortals, exotic orchids, opium poppies and rainbow pinks innumerable, with a midget crabapple beneath the eaves. Is this to thy pleasure? When the third month days of Grain Rain35 come, all the flowers in the garden shall bloom, their beauty splendid, their scent fragrant, a scene I hope to enjoy with thee. Xie Yilu laid down his brush. He did not sign his name, but pushed the paperweights aside and lifted the page to inspect his writing from all angles. A comparison with his new friend¡¯s only left him smiling in equal parts shame and admiration. He opened his letter case and carefully stashed the one he had just received. ¡°Master,¡± his attendant called from outside, ¡°are you still heading out?¡± ¡°No, you can draw water now.¡± Xie Yilu folded his reply letter and placed it neatly on his desk. He would deliver it to the stone lantern stand on his way to the yamen36 early next morning. This chapter introduces some big names in Ming China, namely the Brocade Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. While the two are often both described as secret police or secret agents, this is not quite true to history. Firstly, the EUG has been portrayed in popular media as Ming Dynasty secret agents, but this isn¡¯t actually true. The Guard originated as an elite personal regiment of the 1st Ming emperor. Yet as the dynasty grew older, the Guard became less and less of a battle-ready unit. Eventually, the vast majority of the Guard served as sentries in the Palace, while some were tasked with city policing or involved in construction projects. Those who worked in surveillance only did so under the supervision of the Eastern Depot. The Eastern Depot was initially formed by the 3rd emperor, Yongle, to survey the EUG, but its powers gradually expanded until it overtook the Guard as the primary Ming intelligence agency. Although it was headed by eunuchs, its field personnel were members of the Guard and other military organisations. Its tasks included surveying officials, imperial clansmen and civilians, but also things like keeping stock of the price of foodstuffs. Then there is the Guard¡¯s association with ¡®flying fish¡¯ robes. Once again, popular media has given us the impression that all its members wore flying fish robes as if they were a uniform, but in reality, only very high-ranking Guard leaders could wear these robes, and only in special circumstances since flying fish robes were an imperial gift ¡ª almost analogous to the western concept of medals. Additionally, I am basing my translations of the various types of silk textiles off the publications of the China National Silk Museum. Since they translate ½õ as ¡°brocade¡±, I have chosen to translate ½õÒÂÎÀ as ¡°Brocade Uniform Guard¡± rather than the commonly used ¡°Embroidered Uniform Guard¡±. Finally, a quick note on Xie Yilu¡¯s wife. Yes, he¡¯s married. He is around 26 in the novel, so it would be almost impossible for him to be unmarried. This will be addressed later on. 1. ÌDzø, literally ¡°sugar wrap¡±. Its dictionary definition is a confectionery made mainly of sugar and fruit but I haven¡¯t succeeded in finding a photo of it. 2. Çﶰ×, a type of rice wine from Shandong (where Jinan is) that has now been lost. It would have been a milk-white colour and tasted dryish-sweet. 3. ¼ËÅ®, specifically female prostitutes. Male prostitutes were known differently. 4. ꨽ð, a technique where lacquer is carved and gold wire is pressed into the divots. Visual reference. 5. ʱ³½, tradition hour, equal to 2 modern hours. 6. Ñ˵³, literally ¡°castrated faction¡±. A derisive term that most famously refers to followers of mega-powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian during the Tianqi era (late Ming). [Back] 7. ¸Ä»ú, specially refers to silk fabrics woven by the ¸Ä»ú loom invented by Lin Hong (ÁÖºé) during the Ming Hongzhi period. 8. ×±»¨, the most complex weaving technique used in Nanjing yunjin brocade (Ôƽõ), an extremely expensive and difficult to make fabric that used gold, silver and feathers in silk weaving. This video shows the yunjin weaving process as a group of artisans from the Nanjing Yunjin Research Centre recreate a dragon robe excavated from the tomb of the Ming Wanli Emperor. 9. ·ÉÓã·þ, actually refers to the ¡°flying fish¡± design rather than a particular style of robe. This design was bestowed on people as a sign of imperial favour and has been associated with the Brocade Uniform Guards, though it WAS NOT their uniform. See next note for visual reference. 10. ͨÐä, refers to the length from one wrist to another when a robe is laid out in a T shape. When decorations are described as ͨÐä, it means that they run from one wrist to another at the upper part of their sleeves. Visual reference. 11. á¥Í·, a class of head coverings that changed drastically from dynasty to dynasty. A rough visual reference (worn by the man) of what it might look like since the novel isn¡¯t specific. 12. ǧ»§, literally ¡°[leader of] a thousand households¡±. 13. ½õÒÂÎÀ, a Ming unit that were the quasi-imperial bodyguards. 14. ¶½¹«, a respectful address to eunuchs who are the head of some agency. 15. ÑÞÈçÌÒÀî, idiom, describes a resplendent, flamboyant sort of beauty. 16. ͨ±³, not sure what this is. I¡¯ve researched extensively but still can¡¯t find anything remotely related to hanfu with this name. The author may have mistaken this for something else. 17. ¶·Å£, a serpent that appears like a dragon expect it has bull¡¯s hooves instead of dragon claws. This design, along with python and flying fish designs, were specifically bestowed on individuals as a sign of imperial favour. Visual reference for a Ming douniu buzi robe from the Wanli era. 18. °µÏëÓñÈݺÎËùËÆ£¿Ò»Ö¦´ºÑ©¶³Ã·»¨£¬ÂúÉíÏãÎí´Ø³¯Ï¼: from Tang poem¡¶ä½ÏªÉ³¡¤ã°âêÃÎÓàɽÔÂб¡·by Τׯ (Wei Zhuang). Pronoun ¡®she¡¯ was added because the original subject is female. 19. ÔÛ¼Ò, a first-person pronoun used by eunuchs. 20. ̽»¨, literally ¡°searching [for the] flower¡±. The special title conferred on the examinee who came 3rd in the final stage (µîÊÔ, ¡°palace exam¡±) of the Imperial civil service examinations. 21. °À, a woman¡¯s shirt. The combination worn likely looks similar to this: Visual Reference. 22. Äú, respectful form of ¡°you¡±. Will be denoted with an underline. 23. ϹÙ, literally ¡°lower official¡±. Humble ¡®I¡¯ used by officials in the presence of superiors. 24. æ¯Í¯, keeping children for sexual purposes was sadly very popular during that time. 25. ¾öÔƶù, literally ¡°exquisite clouds¡± or ¡°cloud-breaker¡±. Apparently a name for birds of prey that dates back to the Five Dynasties period. 26. Ìᶽ¶«³§Ì«¼à, alternate name for the leader of the Eastern Depot. The Eastern Depot was a spy agency run by eunuchs. This office was usually held by 2nd in command in the DoC, right under the ¡°Great Ancestor¡±. 27. ¡°Someone is listening carefully¡­¡±. 28. ÖªÒô, literally ¡°[someone who] knows [my] tune¡±. 29. С¿¬, literally ¡°small kai¡±. ¿¬ refers to ¿¬Êé which is a 1 of the 4 main calligraphy scripts, more or less equivalent to western ¡®print letters¡¯. Small regular script is a subset of regular script. 30. ¾ý, classical second-person pronoun. 31. ÎÔ²ÏСī, literally ¡°plump lower eyelid little ink¡±. From what I can gather, this specific name refers to a line of inkstones produced by famed early Qing ink-making master ²ÜËع¦ (Cao Sugong), but he was an successor of the style of late Ming ink master ÎâÊå´ó (Wu Shuda), see article here. 32. ¾ªÕÝ, 3rd of the 24 solar terms. Usually occurs around March 5 and ends around March 10. 33. Îá, classical first-person pronoun. 34. ò̵û¾Õ, originates from¡¶ìäÃíÊ°ÒÅÔÓÓ½¡·. The exact plant is unknown but we know it was an exotic species from Guangdong/Guangxi that eunuchs planted for the emperor to see. The next two plants, ºìË®ÏÉ and ·¬À¼, are also from¡¶ìäÃíÊ°ÒÅÔÓÓ½¡·and their exact species is unknown. 35. ¹ÈÓê, 6th of the 24 solar terms. Usually occurs around April 20 and ends around May 9. 36. ÑÃÃÅ, a government office in imperial China. A general term only that¡¯s not specific to any agency. CH 3 The sky had just begun to lighten, and Xie Yilu was still curled up in bed when he heard shouting in the streets outside. From somewhere in the distance came the sound of civilians banging on their pots and pans. He rolled out of bed in a single swift movement. ¡°Da-Tian! What¡¯s going on outside?¡± His attendant called back from the outer room with Xie Yilu¡¯s shoes in his hands, ¡°Don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll go take a look!¡± Xie Yilu rubbed his face and got up to dress himself. Just as he had finished tying his belt, his attendant ran back in and reported angrily, ¡°It looks like some person wants to cut trees. Anyone with an orchard to their name is rushing outside the city!¡±¡± ¡°What trees?¡± Xie Yilu had no time to spare for a hat1 as he hurriedly made his way outside. ¡°Pygmy pear trees.¡± The attendant by the name of Da-Tian followed closely behind to see him off. ¡°Our specialty produce here, very fragrant. A few years ago, we even offered it as imperial tribute.¡± Xie Yilu removed the door bar with a tug. Pushing the door open, he was immediately greeted by a scene of dusty confusion. All around the street were hordes of staff-wielding civilians running towards the city gates. He stepped over the doorsill without a second thought and followed in their wake. The pear orchards were located north of the city, just shy of half a li2 outside Taiping Gate. From a great distance away, one could spy the tell-tale platform with a flagpole perched on top. Its flag sported a Ö¯ character inside a massive red circle; this was the sign of the Imperial Weaving Bureau. Xie Yilu had inquired about the commotion on his way here, but seeing his official¡¯s robes3, no passerby was willing to reveal too much to him. It was only when he arrived beneath the platform that he saw who was in charge ¡ª a group of eunuchs, all dressed in matching small caps4 and coloured robes. The people who arrived earlier had already surrounded the platform and were now chanting phrases like ¡°What right do you have to cut our trees¡± and ¡°These are tribute trees¡±, but the eunuchs, too busy handing out axes to the ruffians and beggars they had hired, paid them no attention. Xie Yilu examined the orchard and saw that although the trees were not tall, their trunks were thick and had clearly been growing for some time now. The more influential of the orchard owners now hoped to use their connections to plead for their cause. Three or four few eunuchs descended the platform to negotiate with them, only to return with their heads shaking ¡ª evidently, the discussion had come to naught. Xie Yilu tried to push his way forward a number of times, but failing to do so, finally thrust his hand into the air. ¡°Where¡¯s your superior? Have your superior come out and speak!¡± The eunuchs spotted him and huddled together, pointing at his egret buzi as they whispered amongst themselves. Xie Yilu kept shouting. ¡°If someone doesn¡¯t come out soon, I¡¯m writing a memorial to Beijing!¡± With that, the entire scene lapsed into silence. The eunuchs were not the only ones staring now; even the civilians opened their eyes wide at him. Slowly, someone stepped out from the gathering of eunuchs. He was broad-shouldered and around seven chi5 in height, his massive hands draped loosely on his hips as he spoke softly and quietly: ¡°These trees are too fragrant, and their scent disrupts our Lord Supervisor¡¯s sleep. Cutting them is also for your own good.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± was a civilian¡¯s ready retort. ¡°In the hundreds of years that these trees have been growing, no one¡¯s ever heard of their fragrance causing illness. These trees have produced tributes for the Lord of Ten Thousand Years!¡± Xie Yilu was just about to challenge the eunuchs¡¯ obvious excuse when a sudden commotion stirred behind him. Seeking the source of the disturbance, he turned to see the crowd part like floodwaters a hundred or two paces away. What approached was a small contingent of people, their leader wearing a grape-coloured yisan and missing both his hat and hair net6. With his tan skin and large eyes, he looked decidedly un-Han7. This set of eunuchs were equipped with sabres and, judging from their gaits, were all battle-hardened soldiers. Their leader shoved purposefully into Xie Yilu as he walked past, sparing no force in the movement. He did not step away afterwards, either, but called out to the tall man on the platform: ¡°Yishiha, why do you waste your breath talking to an official so puny that no one would notice if he fell down and cracked into two?¡± Xie Yilu was so angry that his face almost burned purple, and he plucked up the newcomer¡¯s collar in one swipe. His opponent, however, only gazed at his hand for a moment or two before calling out from deep in his throat in an unknown language. With a hiss, a frighteningly long steel sabre emerged from behind Xie Yilu. The crowds surrounding Xie Yilu dispersed instantly. The weak dawn light flashed along the sabre¡¯s blade as it twisted subtly in a new direction. Its wielder stepped into view. His skin was likewise dark, and with his round, thickly lashed eyes, he appeared to be about the same age as the Zhang Cai Xie Yilu had encountered at Lingfu Temple. ¡°The blade¡¯s already been unsheathed. If it doesn¡¯t cut trees, it¡¯ll have to cut men instead.¡± The eunuch in the purple yisan had an air of savagery to him. Tearing Xie Yilu¡¯s hand away, he turned and shouted to the gathered civilians, ¡°Is there anyone who doesn¡¯t agree?¡± Not a sound was made in reply. ¡°Is there!¡± he called again. Xie Yilu scanned his surroundings. Despite the dense crowds that encircled the platform, a deathly silence had settled over all. ¡°No one?¡± Purple yisan nodded his head. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, line up and sign!¡± This so-called ¡°signing¡± was none other than listing down one¡¯s name, clan and the number of fruit trees under one¡¯s ownership. First in line was a small trader who, after signing, pointed a shaky finger at the registry. ¡°I reported three hundred trees, so why did you write three hundred and fifty?¡± Purple yisan crooked his head to glance at him, then remarked offhandedly, ¡°If it¡¯s written that you have three hundred and fifty, then you have three hundred and fifty. Once the trees have been cut, you¡¯ll owe us three hundred and fifty trees¡¯ worth of wood.¡± The trader was stunned. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t have the last fifty to give you?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have the trees,¡± purple yisan grinned, glancing shamelessly to his left and right, ¡°why, then, you¡¯ll have to pay up in silver. One tree, one tael of silver8.¡± This was extortion, plain and simple. Xie Yilu felt that he could not allow such sordid dealings to pass, so he pushed the crowd aside, marched up to the platform and pointed his finger in purple yisan¡¯s face. ¡°Believe it or not, I¡¯ll have you sacked!¡± One after another, the armed eunuchs flashed their weapons out into a snow-bright row. Purple yisan took a single stride towards Xie Yilu. With his forehead pressed close, his nose appeared both sharp and prominent, and his eyes were pitch-black as those belonging to a bird of prey. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯re a sixth-rank from some no-name ministry, I won¡¯t dare touch you!¡± Xie Yilu did not buy into his threat. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try!¡± The civilians all rushed up to tug on Xie Yilu¡¯s sleeves, whispering words of advice into his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t pick fights with him. This Ruan Dian isn¡¯t someone you want to provoke!¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s used to getting his way with violence!¡± ¡°These Annan9 folk are a vicious bunch. None of the other eunuchs dare to provoke them.¡± These and similar warnings filled the air, yet Xie Yilu refused to back down. Ruan Dian, too, seemed only too eager to face off with him. But just as the two sides were locked in stalemate, a palanquin creaked in lazily from the south. It was draped with red gauze and topped in jade green ¡ª a woman¡¯s palanquin10 from the red-light district. Ruan Dian¡¯s composure shifted, and with a wave of his hand, his men immediately sheathed their blades. He himself swept past Xie Yilu and hurried off obsequiously to receive the new arrival. The young prostitute standing beside the palanquin, her mouth hidden behind a handkerchief, whispered something urgently to him. ¡°Aiyaya!¡± Common people were best at guessing the contents of domestic gossip. ¡°She¡¯s come for the trees, no doubt!¡± Sure enough, the young prostitute began pointing at the woods behind the platform. Even prostitutes own orchards in Nanjing? Xie Yilu was taken by surprise. ¡°Who¡¯s this visitor?¡± The civilians winked and waggled their eyebrows. ¡°Ruan Dian¡¯s lover, a Yangzhou sister11 from the Pearl Market12!¡± Someone immediately followed up with ¡°That bastard doesn¡¯t even have balls. Why¡¯d he learn to go whoring? What a waste of silver!¡± Xie Yilu furrowed his brow. The eunuchs¡¯ behaviour was inexcusable, yes, but to discuss them so flippantly was a step out of line. Over on the other side, the young prostitute had drawn up the palanquin¡¯s curtain to reveal an empty interior. It was a clear invitation for Ruan Dian to step inside, and Xie Yilu was surprised to see him comply. With a call from the palanquin bearers, the procession turned and headed for the city. Xie Yilu, stubborn by nature, trailed mercilessly behind them. When Ruan Dian opened the palanquin window and caught sight of him following, he only barked a cold laugh and spat viciously onto the ground. The Pearl Market was located northeast of Qiandao Bridge. It was no high-class locale ¡ª the patrons here were all greeted by illegal prostitutes. After travelling through cramped paths that wound crookedly here and there, the palanquin finally stopped before a semi-new wooden building. Ruan Dian stepped down from his ride and climbed up the wooden stairs, not forgetting to glare at Xie Yilu as he disappeared inside. That left Xie Yilu standing awkwardly outside the building. The streets were nearly empty, the few passerby all patrons with lust glinting in their eyes. Suddenly, the sound of weeping drifted out from an upstairs window ¡ª weeping, which soon escalated to the crash of objects being thrown. ¡°Smash, keep smashing! See if I¡¯ll ever come here again!¡± Xie Yilu first heard Ruan Dian¡¯s voice, then a woman¡¯s feeble whining: ¡°Aren¡¯t they just a few trees? Surely it¡¯s in your power to make this decision?¡± The window clapped shut from the inside. Xie Yilu suddenly felt that something was wrong, that this whole affair did not add up. Liao Jixiang of the Imperial Weaving Bureau had been in Nanjing for more than a few years now; those pear trees had stood unharmed the entire time. Why is he so determined to cut them down this year, and not sooner or later? If it¡¯s only to extort some petty silver, why would it be so hard for Ruan Dian to spare his lover¡¯s few trees? Loud stomps echoed from the stairs, the sound of a hurried descent. With a shake of his robes, Ruan Dian appeared in the corner of the corridor. The woman upstairs could still be heard crying, but Xie Yilu only watched him in a daze, more puzzled now than enraged. Ruan Dian seemed to sense the newfound understanding in his eyes. In a complete change from his fierce and shameless attitude of this morning, he hid his face from Xie Yilu at the moment that they crossed paths. Xie Yilu, however, caught his arm and demanded, ¡°Do you have to cut the trees?¡± Ruan Dian shook his hand off without reply. But just as he was about to climb into the palanquin, he snapped back, ¡°Not a single one will be left standing!¡± Qu Feng rocked slowly along the Ministry of Revenue¡¯s street in his blue-curtained soft palanquin. Pushing the window open, he asked his attendant, ¡°What¡¯s going on today? There¡¯s such a commotion everywhere.¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s because the Imperial Weaving Bureau is cutting down the pygmy pear trees,¡± his attendant tutted, ¡°The civilians are all going crazy.¡± ¡°Pear trees?¡± Qu Feng was still hungover from the night before, and he closed his eyes to massage his temples. ¡°What a mess.¡± ¡°Either way, our household doesn¡¯t own any orchards.¡± The attendant seemed to find amusement in others¡¯ misfortune. ¡°Let them fight amongst themselves!¡± Qu Feng did not bother to respond. These trivial affairs, after all, were hardly enough for him to care about. Instead, he gazed idly at the scene of Nanjing outside the palanquin, which seemed to have grown swollen in the space of a day ¡ª at the colours and forms that blurred past, at the air of restlessness that pervaded both sides of the street. ¡°Why cut the trees?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± his attendant replied, ¡°They say it¡¯s because the pygmy pear trees are too fragrant and got in the Bureau¡¯s way.¡± What a bullshit excuse! Qu Feng gave a cold laugh, his pair of peach blossom eyes casually scanning the street outside. The roads were filled with travellers leaving the city in hordes, and as a result, the few heading in the opposite direction seemed particularly noticeable. By coincidence, his palanquin met with one such pedestrian wearing a pea-green crepe silk tieli, limping along as if he had just been injured in a fall. This was the outfit of a low-ranked eunuch. Purely out of compassion, Qu Feng tracked the pedestrian with squinted eyes. He saw that his hat and trouser legs were both muddied and that he was pausing to rest every few steps. Clearly, his fall had not been a light one. ¡°Halt.¡± He rapped the palanquin¡¯s canopy with his fan handle. ¡°In front of us, that one in green ¡ª get his attention.¡± His attendant was unimpressed. ¡°That filthy, lowly thing. Get his attention for what?¡± ¡°The Ministry of War is just ahead ¡ª I¡¯ll walk the rest of the way. Ask him where he¡¯s headed and give him a ride.¡± The attendant was unwilling, feeling greatly insulted as the household member of a court-appointed official. ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t you usually hate these rootless13 slaves the most?¡± A chill passed over Qu Feng¡¯s expression. ¡°What, I can¡¯t give you orders now?¡± The attendant mumbled a quick ¡°no,¡± then rushed off to complete his task. Stepping off the palanquin, Qu Feng started on the path with his head raised high and his hips swaying leisurely. He did not even pause as he brushed past the poor traveller, only turning a proud eye to glance at him. With just one glance, however, he was frozen in his tracks. The eunuch had a long and slender face, phoenix eyes and a high nose bridge. Seeing the small birthmark under his right eye, Qu Feng was struck with recognition ¡ª it was Liao Jixiang¡¯s right-hand man, Jin Tang from Gaoli. Jin Tang had recognised him too. Despite their lack of previous interactions, they had inevitably come across each other in the halls of government. The eunuch was lifting up the front hem of his robe, his body half-turned, looking as though he was about to step into the palanquin. However, he hesitated upon seeing that it belonged to Qu Feng. The two now stood staring each other in the eye. If Qu Feng had known it was him from the start, he would never have been so kind as to offer up his palanquin. Jin Tang was quite easily able to make out his thoughts, for at the moment that their gazes met, a sharp glimmer of disgust flashed across Qu Feng¡¯s eyes. Jin Tang bowed first in greeting, and Qu Feng returned the gesture, but neither of them spoke for quite some time. Finally, Qu Feng grit his teeth and forced out an uncomfortable ¡°excuse me¡±14. Jin Tang¡¯s face was emotionless as he mildly explained, ¡°I was out on business when the fleeing masses collided into me.¡± What were you doing that required you to dress like a low-ranking eunuch? Qu Feng left his doubts unspoken. Breaking his gaze away, he pointed reluctantly at the palanquin. ¡°Please step in.¡± He was now in a difficult position. It was one thing to help out a little fire-tender on a whim, but lending his palanquin to the henchman of a grand chamberlain was a different matter entirely. If word of this ever got out, he would never be able to explain himself. Jin Tang understood his current predicament. He was more or less grateful for Qu Feng¡¯s kindness, and yet the disgust in those eyes had also been genuine. Whether it was because of a secret grudge he now harboured against the man, or else because he wished to preserve the meagre self-respect that was all he had left as a eunuch, Jin Tang pursed his lips and refused. ¡°No need, I can walk.¡± Qu Feng was very much caught off guard, but a moment later, he understood why ¡ª Jin Tang had noticed the disgust that he thought he had hidden so well. ¡°Please, step in.¡± If they each saw so clearly through the other, then there was no need to feign civility. ¡°Limping isn¡¯t a good look.¡± Jin Tang cast him a scathing glance, then drooped his head low. His features were rather pallid, marked by the kind of fragility that did not look as if it could withstand the harshness of the elements. On a woman, they might have inspired feelings of tenderness and pity, but for a man, they were overly frail. Jin Tang shook his head very, very slowly. ¡°No thanks.¡± This person¡¯s so stubborn, Qu Feng thought, but only a genial smile showed on his face. ¡°Very well. Please proceed carefully, then, gonggong15.¡± In the gusting wind, a pair of leaves were blown swiftly to their separate ways. Qu Feng boarded his soft palanquin, drew the curtain and let himself be lifted up and carried off. The palanquin resumed its gentle, lurching rhythm as it passed Jing Tang by. Watching him drag a limping foot into the distance, Qu Feng mused to himself, ¡°Where could he have been headed?¡± ¡°Lingfu Temple,¡± his attendant offered carelessly from outside. ¡°Such an obvious cripple, I spotted him ages ago. He walked out from that side path to Lingfu Temple.¡± The plot thickens with the appearance of more of Liao Jixiang¡¯s subordinates, all of whom come from non-Han ethnic origins. One might be surprised to see such an international cast in a period novel, but this is actually quite accurate. This is because Ming China was the economic, political and cultural powerhouse of the region, and many neighbouring states were either directly conquered or became part of the imperial tributary system. For example, there was a large influx of eunuchs from Vietnam during the Yongle¡¯s reign due to his campaigns in the region. In fact, although Ruan Dian is a fictional character, there really were many imperial Ming eunuchs surnamed ¡®Ruan¡¯, the most famous of them being Ruan An (1381¨C1453), who participated in the construction of water control projects around Beijing. What¡¯s more, his courtesy name was °¢Áô (A-Liu), which I suggest the reader keep in mind, since it will be making an appearance very soon. 1. Men always wore a head covering in public so he¡¯s really in a rush. 2. Àï, 0.5 km or 0.311 mile. 3. ¹Ù·þ, the uniform that officials wore to work every day. As a sixth-ranked official, Xie Yilu would be wearing a round-collar robe with egret buzi. 4. Сñ, literally ¡°little hat¡±. A type of Ming men¡¯s soft cap, aka ÁùºÏñ. Visual reference. 5. ³ß, the exact length of a chi varied between professions and dynasties. The Ming chi was generally around 31-33 cm, which would make this man 217 ¨C 231 cm or 7¡¯4 ¨C 7¡¯7 tall. 6. Íø½í, literally ¡°net scarf¡±. A quintessential piece of Ming men¡¯s attire. It¡¯s a mesh or cloth wrap that covers the hair to keep it neat. The wearing of this was imperially decreed by the Ming founding emperor and going without one would be like not wearing underwear. Visual reference. 7. ººÈË, the Han Chinese ethnicity. 8. One tael of silver is a ridiculously large amount of money for commoners. 9. °²ÄÏ, Vietnam. 10. Å®½Î, a type of palanquin that is completely enclosed with cloth curtains. Designed so women can go about without being seen. 11. ÑïÖݽã¶ù, a prostitute. 12. ÖéÊÐ, the name of old Nanjing¡¯s red light district. 13. Refers to them being castrated. 14. ʧ¾´, literally ¡°lost manners¡±, or more fully ¡°sorry for my lapse of manners¡±. 15. ¹«¹«, a respectful address for eunuchs. CH 4 Xie Yilu returned home from the Ministry to a plate of bamboo shoots and a plate of tofu for dinner. While helping him wash his hands, Da-Tian bombarded him with questions about the situation outside the city that Xie Yilu could only manage a few exhausted, half-hearted responses to. Afterwards, he sulked straight into his study. Folded neatly upon the desk was a letter that he had forgotten to take with him this morning; seeing it now brought a surge of warmth to his heart. He took a peek at the sky outside, then tucked the letter into the folds of his robe with the intention of setting out for Lingfu Temple. He had just pushed the study door open when sounds of crying floated in through the window ¡ª distantly, perhaps from one or two streets away. It was the heart-rending wail of a woman. Xie Yilu sighed and made to step outside, but before he could, another person began crying in the street just ahead. As if in competition with one another, the cries that followed quickly coalesced into a single maelstrom. Xie Yilu knew, without a doubt, the reason why they cried ¡ª it was all because of those trees. Crestfallen, he retreated back into the study with the letter now weighing heavily on his chest. Drawing it out, he unfolded a corner to come face to face with the tiny, delicate characters he had all but engraved onto the paper: ¡­Is this to thy pleasure? When the third month days of Grain Rain come, all the flowers in the garden shall bloom, their beauty splendid, their scent¡­ All of a sudden, he scrunched the paper into a ball and threw it into the brazier. There were people being ruined out in the streets, and yet here he was, losing himself in the pleasures of fine correspondence. But where else could he give voice to the bitterness now trapped inside his heart? He snatched up a piece of paper at random and, large brush in hand, swept up some strong ink to write down four great characters in a single stroke: ¶ûΩÑÎ÷1. Thou art the salt and plum. The former was salty, the latter sour ¡ª with either missing, the food in one¡¯s mouth becomes tasteless. These daily letters into which he confided the innermost feelings of his heart had become, in much the same way, the only traces of flavour to Xie Yilu¡¯s life in Nanjing. He carelessly folded the paper without waiting for the ink to dry, clenching it in his hand as he pushed the door open and stepped outside. Da-Tian, who was busy sorting through wicker baskets in the courtyard, hurried to stand upon seeing him. ¡°Open the door.¡± Xie Yilu tightened his hair net. Da Tian threw down the wicker basket in his hands and sprinted in front of Xie Yilu to remove the door bar. Yet when the door swung open, there was a person in a wusha hat2 already standing outside, one hand raised in preparation to knock. Xie Yilu recognised him ¡ª it was the Manager of the General Services Office3 from the Ministry. ¡°Can I help you?¡± The Manager performed a yi salute4. ¡°Director5 Ye asks to see Your Excellency straight away.¡± So it¡¯s a work matter. Xie Yilu turned and saw that, without instruction, Da-Tian had already fetched him his official¡¯s hat6 from inside the house. He accepted it and put it on, asking as he walked alongside the Manager, ¡°Who¡¯ll be there?¡± ¡°His Excellency the Lord Minister, Vice Minister Liu and Director Ye. And finally, Your Excellency.¡± These were all big names in court ¡ª and ones that had been missing from Zheng Xian¡¯s banquet table the other night. Xie Yilu paused his footsteps. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± The Manager chuckled lightly. ¡°How is this lowly one to know?¡± Xie Yilu laughed along with him. This fellow is in on the details. ¡°Manager, where are you from?¡± ¡°This lowly one is from Qian¡¯an.¡± ¡°Qian¡¯an.¡± Xie Yilu pondered for a moment. ¡°Same country as His Excellency Ye?¡± The little bureaucrat put on a face of profound discretion. ¡°This lowly one doesn¡¯t dare claim any relationship to His Excellency.¡± After a pause, however, he broke out whispering again as if he could not resist. ¡°I live right across from the Ye household ¡ª just one street between us.¡± Xie Yilu extended his hand very ceremoniously, inviting the Manager to walk in front while he himself fell half a step behind. The Manager¡¯s face lit up instantly with a smile, and he made a very affected show of yielding the spot back to Xie Yilu. Occupied as they were with the back and forth, they reached the Ministry of War in what felt like no time at all. Xie Yilu thought that he would have to wait inside his office, but much to his surprise, the Manager led him straight to the Lord Minister¡¯s door with the simple instruction to ¡°please wait a moment¡±. His companion then slipped inside to announce their arrival. The door had just closed behind the Manager when it opened again for Director Ye, who came out rolling up his sleeves. He gazed piercingly at Xie Yilu for a moment or two, then finally spoke out loud. ¡°The Imperial Weaving Bureau cutting down trees ¡ª have you heard about it?¡± Xie Yilu bowed his head. ¡°I have.¡± Director Ye stepped closer. ¡°Suppose I were to give you five thousand men and tell you to stop them by force ¡ª would you dare to do it?¡± Xie Yilu jerked his head up, staring incredulously at his superior. Director Ye¡¯s fingertip snuck out of his robe sleeve and pointed lightly in the direction of Xie Yilu¡¯s home. ¡°Have you been deaf to the cries that fill the city?¡± Xie Yilu made no response. The Nanjing Eunuch Superintendent of the Imperial Weaving Bureau was the grand chamberlain of grand chamberlains, wielding the power of an imperially sanctioned seal of office7. To go against him was an offence punishable by death. ¡°When do I move?¡± ¡°Dawn, as soon as they start cutting.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not enough time to prepare.¡± ¡°Troops have already been mustered. They¡¯re waiting right outside Shence Gate.¡± Xie Yilu could not suppress the shiver that travelled up his spine. He understood why they had chosen him for this task; it was because he was a total newcomer, because he had lost his previous position at the hands of corrupt eunuchs, because he was desperate to establish himself in Nanjing. ¡°Director, Your Excellency!¡± The doorman came running from afar with a calling card clutched in his hand. Director Ye was visibly annoyed at his interruption, but he took up the card with his lips curled nonetheless. One glance was all it took for his expression to change immediately. Xie Yilu paid no mind to the scene that unfolded before him. He only knew that, regardless of whether he accepted the mission or not, there would be no chance of his leaving the grounds tonight. Director Ye began pacing where he stood, round and round in circles, then suddenly turned and disappeared back inside his room. After spending a long time in what was likely joint discussion, he sent out a command, ¡°Let him in!¡± The doorman went to escort the new visitor, and Xie Yilu was left standing awkwardly in the same spot. In only a few moments, however, he found that their caller had arrived. He was a young, solitary eunuch, tall enough to resemble a celestial tree from afar. He wore a turquoise-blue half-collared zhiduo8, a moon-blue tieli9 and flat-ribboned black boots. Though he cut an unassuming figure at first glance, one single look was all Xie Yilu needed to take note of the little palace fan10 in his hand, the kind that went for fifty taels of silver apiece. The Manager came out to receive the stranger, whom Xie Yilu was surprised to hear him address as ¡°Your Excellency Mei.¡± In the moment that they brushed past each other, the one surnamed Mei gave Xie Yilu quite an amiable glance; it was clear, however, that those eyes saw no need to linger on a lowly sixth-rank like himself. Having guided the visitor inside, the Manager himself exited the room to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xie Yilu. This, Xie Yilu knew, was for the express purpose of keeping an eye on him. ¡°Who was that just now?¡± The Manager, evidently, had no wish to say too much, but it was hard for him to stall the question after the two had chatted so well on the way here. ¡°I suppose you¡¯ll have to know about him sooner or later,¡± he said, tightening his voice to a whisper. ¡°That¡¯s Liao Jixiang¡¯s grand steward at the Imperial Weaving Bureau, Mei A¡¯Cha.¡± ¡°Mei¡­ A¡¯Cha?¡± Such a strange name. ¡°Some say he¡¯s Miao11 and others say he¡¯s Yi12, but at the end of the day, no one knows for sure.¡± Xie Yilu thought back to his experiences of the past few days. ¡°Why does the Imperial Weaving Bureau¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Most of its eunuchs are foreigners.¡± Before, there was that Zhang Cai of Gaoli and the Annan eunuch Ruan Dian. Now there¡¯s a Mei A¡¯Cha from the southwest, and let¡¯s not forget the tall one, Yishiha, whose name sounded Jurchen13. ¡°Is Liao Jixiang not Han?¡± ¡°He is Han,¡± the Manager replied adamantly. ¡°Before he came to Nanjing, he was stationed in Gansu14. He served for ten years as Armoury-Inspecting Eunuch15 at Jiayu Pass16. Haven¡¯t you noticed that all his subordinate eunuchs carry sabres?¡± Xie Yilu snorted. ¡°What eunuch can do battle? For all their lording over others in times of peace, they flee rather quickly at the first sight of war.¡± ¡°Ah, but Gansu is a harsh place.¡± The Manager rubbed his hands involuntarily. ¡°In winter, the snowfall is so heavy that it looks like goose feathers are falling from the sky, the weather cold enough to freeze your limbs off. And if you¡¯re unlucky enough to be there when the dazi17 raid the city at night ¡ª well, be you man or sheep, no one¡¯s safe from getting disembowelled!¡± He was just getting his story off the ground when the Lord Minister¡¯s door opened for Director Ye, who was accompanying Mei A¡¯Cha on his way out. There was something off about the pair¡¯s demeanour ¡ª particularly the Director, who had the embarrassed look of someone wanting to speak but having no place to do so. Mei A¡¯Cha did not say a single word of farewell, only cupping his fist before turning to leave the way he came. It was, ironically, Director Ye who stared after his receding figure and gave an impetuous call: ¡°Take care, Your Excellency Mei!¡± Xie Yilu was shocked to the extreme. Calling a eunuch ¡°Your Excellency¡± was already a step beyond convention, but to treat him with such courtesy and respect¡­ Director Ye turned around with a face drawn deeply in thought. Seeing Xie Yilu, he spoke mildly: ¡°You can go home now.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes went round. ¡°Your Excellency?¡± ¡°Go home,¡± the Director repeated, waving a hand in great impatience. ¡°The troops are being withdrawn from Shence Gate as we speak.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s stubborn streak reared its head. ¡°Why?¡± The Director¡¯s lips curved in amusement, setting the hairs of his moustache into motion. ¡°And why do I have to tell you?¡± Xie Yilu smiled coldly in response. ¡°That eunuch must¡¯ve come with a gift registry!¡± Director Ye was finally incensed, and with a violent toss of his sleeves, he stalked away. Mei A¡¯Cha did have a gift registry stashed in his robe, but it was not for the Ministry of War. Coming out from the street of the Six Ministries, he rode on horseback past Hongwu Gate straight for Zheng Xian¡¯s official residence on Taiping Lane. Seeing it was him, the gatekeeper did not ask any questions, only greeting him meekly as ¡°Your Excellency Mei¡± before inviting him politely inside. Zheng Xian¡¯s reception pavilion was famous throughout the Nanjing officialdom for its coloured-glaze screens, agate rockery, woven Hui18 floral rug and a pair of red Siamese parrots tied down with pure gold chains. Mei A¡¯Cha seated himself right below the parrots¡¯ perch, sipping leisurely at his tea. He had been waiting for half a shichen or so when Zheng Xian finally appeared, wrapped in an underrobe19 with his long hair let loose. ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night,¡± Zheng Xian grumbled, looking as if he were about to lose his temper. He sat down sloppily next to Mei A¡¯Cha and propped one bare foot onto the edge of his chair. ¡°What do you want, Qi-ge20?¡± Mei A¡¯Cha peered at him from the corner of his eye. He set down his tea. ¡°Sit up straight.¡± Zheng Xian did not immediately do as he said. One snow-white hand combed back and forth through his long locks, and he demanded, ¡°If you¡¯ve something to say, say it quickly. If you¡¯ve a shit to take, take it quickly.¡± But slowly, as he spoke, he put his foot down from the chair. ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± His slack, languid attitude, always hovering on the edge of anger, made the perfect picture of a grand chamberlain, but Mei A¡¯Cha had long grown used to it. He reached out to swipe lightly against the fresh bite mark on Zheng Xian¡¯s chin, still wet from whoever had just left it. ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t be sleeping either way?¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s brow twitched imperceptibly, and he smiled like a blooming jasmine. ¡°Qi-ge, is this really fun for you¡­?¡± ¡°Lend me some men,¡± Mei A¡¯Cha said abruptly. Zheng Xian froze. He straightened his posture, and with his hands stroking his hair, spoke very, very slowly. ¡°If it¡¯s for you, I can give as many as you want.¡± Then, all of a sudden, he chortled humourlessly. ¡°But if it¡¯s for anyone else¡­¡± Mei A¡¯Cha knew well whom he was referring to. He fished the gift registry out from his robe and, placing it on the table, pushed it right under Zheng Xian¡¯s nose ¡ª but to no avail. ¡°What does he need men for?¡± ¡°He¡¯s scared that the civilians might riot.¡± Mei A¡¯Cha rubbed his temples wearily. ¡°Too many people in this city own pear trees.¡± Zheng Xian was delighted to hear of that person¡¯s troubles. ¡°It¡¯s all his own fault!¡± He swept up Mei A¡¯Cha¡¯s cup of tea, but rather than drinking it, swirled it idly in his palm. ¡°Why¡¯s he cutting trees?¡± Mei A¡¯Cha was silent. Zheng Xian waited a few beats, dipping one long finger into the cup and mischievously wetting his lips with the half-drunken tea of his guest. ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to tell me.¡± He was moving to stand when Mei A¡¯Cha pulled him back down. ¡°It¡¯s because Qi Wan is coming.¡± Zheng Xian was beside him in a flash, as bright-eyed as a nosy girl. ¡°That old thing is coming to¡­ procure tributes for the Lord of Ten Thousand Years?¡± Mei A¡¯Cha nodded. Zheng Xian understood right away, and the expression in his eyes took on a different character. ¡°Then tell Liao Jixiang to get troops from the Ministry of War. Why bother with me?¡± ¡°I went,¡± Mei A¡¯Cha sighed. ¡°The Ministry of War knows about the situation, but they aren¡¯t willing to get involved.¡± ¡°Oho,¡± Zheng Xian mocked, seeming almost a little angry. ¡°When everything is smooth-sailing, they never shut up about the good of the people, but come time to really put them to use, they all fucking hide in their shells!¡± Mei A¡¯Cha replied darkly, ¡°They just don¡¯t want to have anything to do with eunuchs.¡± Then, at length, he drawled out a plea: ¡°Lao-jiu21¡­¡± ¡°Alright, Qi-ge,¡± Zheng Xian interrupted. ¡°You¡¯ll always be my brother no matter what, but Liao Jixiang¡­¡± he shook his sleeves viciously, his resolute expression carrying a touch of cold beauty. ¡°When he¡¯s riding high on success, I don¡¯t ask to share in his light. But the day his ship capsizes22¡­¡± Zheng Xian laughed. ¡°I¡¯d be the first to step on him.¡± Mei A¡¯Cha latched onto his wrist. ¡°We all came out from the Palace ¡ª what¡¯s the point in holding this grudge?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me holding a grudge against him.¡± Zheng Xian paused, then continued. ¡°It¡¯s because he looks down on me.¡± Mei A¡¯Cha was about to reply when an old maidservant came rushing out the back, murmuring something into Zheng Xian¡¯s ear and thereby giving him the opportunity to shake Mei A¡¯Cha¡¯s hand away. ¡°Enough talking. The one inside is getting impatient.¡± Mei A¡¯Cha relaxed his body and arched his spine, leaning just barely against the back of his seat. With one eyebrow raised, he accused, ¡°You¡¯re hiding from me.¡± Zheng Xian smiled like he could not care less. ¡°I was in a good mood today, so I used some drugs¡­¡± He pressed close and winked roguishly. ¡° That woman must be feeling it right about now.¡± At that, Mei A¡¯Cha had nothing more to say. He took back the gift registry, patted Zheng Xian on the shoulder and stood up to leave. ¡°Go have your fun.¡± Xie Yilu headed straight for Lingfu Temple from the Ministry of War. Having safely deposited his letter in the stone lantern stand, he gazed left and right, unable to bring himself to leave. He knew that it was just a hole in the stone, eroded by the elements, and a stranger he had met only in writing. But like a prisoner in a net, or perhaps a man possessed by a demon of the mind, he stood there murmuring to himself until the morning chill crept into his body; only then did he turn reluctantly home. Lantern in hand, he had just stepped onto the main road when the sound of hoofbeats rose up behind him. Before he could step aside for a closer look, however, the galloping horse had drawn near at the speed of a whirlwind, and on that horse was a familiar flash of turquoise-blue. Mei A¡¯Cha! Xie Yilu was certain it was him. He¡¯s headed in the direction of Jubao Gate, but why¡¯s he leaving the city so late at night? A sudden gust of wind blew up from under his feet, and the candlelight flickered to the swinging of the lantern. Just as Xie Yilu was hurrying to steady the flame, a powerful clanging ensued from halfway up the hills north of the city. The Imperial Weaving Bureau had begun cutting trees. By now, some readers might be feeling quite overwhelmed by the sheer amount of eunuch offices and agencies mentioned, so I¡¯ll give a brief crash course on the Ming eunuch system. Firstly, there were 24 eunuch yamen (agencies) based in the Palace: 12 Directorates (¼à), 4 Offices (˾) and 8 Services (¾Ö). They ranged from ones task with menial labour like ¡°The Palace Toilet Paper Service¡± to politically powerful ones like ¡°The Directorate of Ceremonial¡±, which I talked about in my first translator¡¯s note. Outside of these 24 yamen, eunuchs served as personal attendants to the emperor and his consorts, children and imperial clansmen. They could also serve in agencies based outside the Palace like the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Weaving Bureau, as well as in supervisory roles in areas like mining, trade, diplomacy, expeditions and so on. They were also involved in military matters, although not as a part of the regular military system. Take the office of the Eunuch Grand Defender for example. It oversaw the appointment of Defenders in strategically crucial areas who were responsible for coordinating with and supervising the normal military stationed there, but were not strictly within the regular military hierarchy. I haven¡¯t been able to find much about the ¡°Armoury-Inspecting Eunuch¡± mentioned in this chapter, but it appears that they were also part of the military system. 1. From¡¶¹ÅÎÄÉÐÊ顤˵Ãü¡·. This phrase is also a historical easter egg. Remember it for later. 2. ÎÚɳ, literally ¡°black gauze¡±. A shorthand for a Ming official¡¯s hat that is part of the guanfu uniform. Visual reference. 3. ˾Îñ, in charge of signing people into work, examining work delays etc 4. Ò¾, a traditional Han greeting. The version performed might be this one (if he and XYL are of the same generation), but I¡¯m not familiar with the proper protocol so I might be wrong. 5. ÀÉÖÐ, a position any of 4 bureaus in the Ministry of War, but the text doesn¡¯t specify which one. 6. ¹Ùñ, this would be the same as the wusha hat the Director is wearing. 7. ¹Ø·À, a rectangular governmental seal that originated in early Ming. 8. Ö±ñÖ, a men¡¯s straight robe. Visual reference. This entire set of clothing is taken from a late Ming/early Qing novel¡¶×íÐÑʯ¡·, which describes a eunuch to be wearing this outfit. However, I have no idea what a ¡°half-collared¡± zhiduo is after a whole year of researching Ming menswear. 9. Once again, this is directly taken from¡¶×íÐÑʯ¡·. But, I don¡¯t understand how a tieli (which is puffy) can be worn with a zhiduo (which is straight) since the tieli usually goes inside the outer robe. Combined with original context in¡¶×íÐÑʯ¡·, I feel that the eunuch¡¯s clothing was purposefully written to be very strange/even wrong to show he lack of education and taste. Overall, I¡¯d say take this tieli and zhiduo combination with a massive grain of salt. 10. ¹ÙÉÈ, a folding fan painted with scenes of palace life . Very expensive but it might be a Qing thing though. 11. Ãç, a group of linguistically related peoples living in southern China and southeast Asia. 12. ÒÍ, an ethnic group living in south-western China and Vietnam. 13. Å®Õæ, an ethnic group living in north-eastern China (aka Manchuria). They were later renamed as Manchu and founded the Qing Dynasty that followed Ming. 14. ¸ÊËà, region in northwestern China that borders the Gobi desert. 15. ¼àÇÀÌ«¼à, couldn¡¯t find this exact term in my dictionary but I found ¼àÇÀÄÚ³¼, which is pretty much a synonym. 16. ¼ÎÓø¹Ø, the 1st frontier fortress along the western end of the Ming Great Wall. Most traffic between China and Central/West Asia passed through Jiayu Pass. 1 of the 3 major passes of the Wall. 17. ÷²×Ó, a historical derogatory term for ethnic groups living in Central/Western Asia. 18. »Ø»Ø, an old term for the Hui people, an ethnic group living in north-western China. 19. Ùô°í, still uncertain if this is a full length robe or a shirt and pants set. 20. Æ߸ç, literally ¡°7th elder brother¡±. 21. ÀϾÅ, literally ¡°old nine¡±. ¡°Old¡± is added to a name to show familiarity. ¡°Nine¡± refers to Zheng Xian being the 9th brother. 22. ·­´¬, idiom for suffering failure which results in a fall from grace. CH 5 Sure enough, the city of Nanjing was turned upside down. Xie Yilu woke before sunrise the next morning to see what was happening outside the city, but before he had even made it out of Taiping Gate, he came across Qu Feng¡¯s soft palanquin headed for the same direction. The scene around them could be summed up in Qu Feng¡¯s own words as: ¡°Why the ruckus? They¡¯re just cutting some trees!¡± The road out of the city was filled by an endless stream of civilians, some headed to sign away their property, others there just to gawk at the commotion. There were even merchants taking advantage of the chaos to peddle their wares. The distance from the city gates to the pear orchards was crammed full of people setting up canopies right where they stood, baking flat cakes and hawking beverages. Together, they managed to create a bustle no different from any city market. The palanquin struggled to push through the crowd, so Qu Feng abandoned it altogether to travel on foot with Xie Yilu. AP: Stockades set up by the Imperial Weaving Bureau lined either side of the path, and at every few steps was an armed fire-tender standing guard over the traffic. Xie Yilu did not tell Qu Feng about what had happened last night; with the way things were looking now, the civilians could overpower the Imperial Weaving Bureau even without the Ministry of War to deploy troops. The one in charge atop the platform was still the same burly Jurchen, Yishiha, as last time. He was flanked by a pair of dark-skinned eunuchs from Annan, who were in charge of supervising the signatures. Xie Yilu recognised Ruan Dian immediately. He was holding his sheathed sabre in his arms, looking ready to spring into combat at any moment. He¡¯s a very interesting fellow ¡ª his likes and dislikes are all written on his face. As soon as he saw Xie Yilu, Ruan Dian shot a hate-filled glare in his direction. He¡¯s forthright. The first to sign were all ordinary people with no money, no men and no power. Xie Yilu and Qu Feng watched from the crowd as they wept while pressing their thumb prints onto the documents. Then, very slowly and a little abjectly, they reached into their money bags to take out the money that the eunuchs were extorting and placed it carefully onto the documents. ¡°Next!¡± the eunuch in charge of signatures shouted at the top of his lungs, and the innocent people who had just been robbed of their property were pushed and shoved off the platform like animals. ¡°They¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Xie Yilu wanted to call them out on the spot, but Qu Feng pulled him back by the wrist. At that exact moment, someone was struggling to push through the crowd behind them. Xie Yilu glanced absentmindedly at this newcomer ¡ª it was that Zhang Cai he had seen at Lingfu Temple. ¡°I said, come back!¡± Ruan Dian suddenly called out from atop the platform. Xie Yilu and Qu Feng looked back and saw that Yishiha had jumped off the platform and was pushing his way over against the flow of the crowd. Almost at the same time, someone dashed past Xie Yilu and blocked Zhang Cai¡¯s path. Standing as close as he was to them, Xie Yilu recognised him as the Annan child who had threatened him with his sabre last night ¡ª he remembered the outrageously long sabre. Zhang Cai halted his advance and confronted him in vigilant silence. They were both only children, yet they had the faces of adults. Xie Yilu tilted his head and asked Qu Feng, ¡°Aren¡¯t they both Liao Jixiang¡¯s subordinates?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Qu Feng did not understand either. ¡°The Imperial Weaving Bureau isn¡¯t like Zheng Xian. They¡¯re normally very discreet and don¡¯t show their true colours. Nobody can see through them.¡± ¡° Leave, A-Liu!¡± Yishiha rushed over, his large frame pushing the civilians aside as if they were made of paper. He was the strong gale, the turbulent wave, and he arrived before them in the blink of an eye to catch Zhang Cai¡¯s hand in a death grip. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhang Cai was only as tall as Yishiha¡¯s shoulder. He pressed close to him, as if to throw himself into the other¡¯s arms. ¡°I came to see you.¡± ¡°Go back quickly.¡± Yishiha held onto his hand and did not let go. ¡°This place is a mess, and if your elder brother finds out¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared that he¡¯ll find out.¡± Zhang Cai stood on tiptoe to look over Yishiha¡¯s shoulder at A-Liu. ¡°I was afraid that this troupe of Annan barbarians you¡¯re following might treat you badly.¡± In a flash, A-Liu was reaching behind himself for the sabre he carried on his back. Seeing that he was about to draw the blade, Yishiha whipped around and slammed his massive hand onto the one that A-Liu was using to grip the sabre hilt. A-Liu tried to draw his weapon but could not, so he turned his gaze towards Ruan Dian, who was still standing on the platform. By now, he had already crouched down and was staring at them as if watching a play, but he still slowly shook his head. A-Liu let go, and so did Yishiha. The long sabre slid down A-Liu immature but powerful back to hang about his waist, where it swayed back and forth a few times before coming to rest. Yishiha pulled Zhang Cai away by his hand and led him back towards the city; Xie Yilu, Qu Feng and the surrounding spectators all gave them a wide berth. Zhang Cai stared at the platform the entire time and suddenly asked, ¡°You were only meant to get their signatures. Why did you also make them pay?¡± Yishiha was silent. ¡°Yishiha!¡± Zhang Cai was enraged for an unknown reason. ¡°Why did you make them pay?¡± ¡°A-Cai¡­¡± Yishiha looked embarrassed. Zhang Cai shook off his hand. ¡°If the Lord Director heard about this¡­¡± He paused, likely knowing that some things must not be said aloud in the current setting. Xie Yilu picked up on the implication of his words ¡ª could it be that Liao Jixiang was unaware of his eunuchs¡¯ extortions? But was he not the one who ordered the trees to be cut in the first place? Zhang Cai refused to leave, instead turning back around and pushing forwards. Yishiha chased after him, shielding him as he would a precious jewel. For a man as large as he was, he had certainly fallen head first into this weak child¡¯s thrall. It was true that each eunuch supervising signatures was also charging money; the civilians they victimised were visibly furious but could only stifle their indignation. One of them was just about to place his money onto the table. He was an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, his face and hands densely wrinkled, his frame emaciated from poverty and manual labour. His skin was so tanned that it glowed under the sun, and he wore only one shoe to match his tattered clothing. Zhang Cai was separated from him by two lines of people, but he violently shoved them aside and barged through. Those who had been shoved swore loudly, and the money had already left the old man¡¯s hand, but Zhang Cai caught the copper coins in mid-air with one hand and sent all of them clattering back into the old man¡¯s grasp. ¡°Go.¡± He gave the old man a gentle push. The eunuch supervising his signature jumped to his feet. ¡°Cai-ger1!¡± Zhang Cai glared sidelong at him and sharply berated, ¡°Do you have the right to speak here?¡± Yishiha wrapped a hand around his slender wrist to tug at it from behind while Ruan Dian, cradling his sabre, walked over unhurriedly. ¡°Zhang Cai, the Lord Supervisor has assigned the task of cutting trees to me. What are you Gaoli people butting in for?¡± Zhang Cai glared daggers at him, clearly furious, but his childish face only made him look as though he was about to cry. He drew out two silver yezi2 cards from his money pouch and slammed them onto the table. ¡°Is this enough!?¡± Ruan Dian frowned as he looked at him, feeling more or less a little embarrassed. All of a sudden, he smiled and turned to face Yishiha. ¡°Oh great vajra3-wielding guardian4, what are you waiting for? Escort your living Bodhisattva5 out of here!¡± Yishiha reached out a hand, but Zhang Cai shook his arms in resistance. ¡°I can walk on my own!¡± He walked two steps, then looked behind him at Ruan Dian, who was still standing atop the platform. ¡° If you go through with this, something bad is bound to happen!¡± Ruan Dian only strode towards the platform¡¯s other end as if he had not heard a thing. Yishiha chased after Zhang Cai, trying to soothe him all the while, but Zhang Cai pushed him away again and again, his left hand clenching the sabre hanging from his waist. Then, a stone came flying out of nowhere and smacked loudly onto his forehead. He did not utter a single scream before collapsing to the ground as if someone had cut his tendons. Yishiha rushed forward like a madman, gingerly turning him over to find that his left temple had become a mangled mess that was bleeding all over the ground. High up on the platform, Ruan Dian had also witnessed the chain of events. He pulled out his sabre and threw the scabbard under his feet. ¡°Who fucking did it? Pull him out, now!¡± His subordinates sprang into action, and those armed with sabres all unsheathed their blades. Judging by the direction of the stone, it had been thrown by someone in the two rows that Zhang Cai had just shoved aside. A-Liu bounded straight towards the unruly mob that had made trouble. Seeing that the eunuchs were about to use force, the civilians picked up their own weapons, and the scene immediately descended into chaos. Xie Yilu pushed forward, hot on A-Liu¡¯s heels as he dived into the whirlpool. Jin Tang lifted his sleeve as he pushed his large brush into the white xuan6 paper and dragged, leaving a trail of dark ink in its wake. The eunuch grinding ink beside him clapped in appreciation, exclaiming, ¡°Great calligraphy, yeye. What lively and upright calligraphy!¡± Jin Tang laid down his brush and replied contentedly, ¡°It really does feel good to copy a few lines from¡¶Da Bao Zhen7¡·like the Lord Director does!¡± Jin Tang was just reaching for his decorative seal8 when a fire-tender rushed in from outside, swallowed and said, ¡°Yeye, go take a look. Someone¡¯s smashed Cai-ger¡¯s head open!¡± Jin Tang¡¯s face blanched, and his soul seemed to have fled in an instant. The hand clutching his sleeve loosened, and the wide satin sleeve dropped into the inkwell where it was stained black. Supported by eunuchs on both sides, he staggered to the door of Zhang Cai¡¯s room. When he pushed it open, Yishiha stood up from the bed. Jin Tang¡¯s expression froze as soon as he saw him, and he stretched out a hand with the palm facing upwards. A fire-tender stepped into the room and took out a feather duster from a thin-necked vase, placing it deferentially into Jin Tang¡¯s hand. Grabbing the duster by its feathered end, he rushed forward and struck Yishiha a few dozen times on end. Only after he had exhausted himself did he throw it onto the ground, yelling, ¡°Get lost!¡± Yishiha kept his head down as he muttered, ¡°The north of the city is in chaos.¡± Jin Tang¡¯s cheek twitched. ¡°Noted.¡± Yishiha turned his head away and went outside. Once he had left, Jin Tang kicked the feather duster away and shouted angrily, ¡°Never allow that Jurchen into this room again!¡± ¡°Ge9,¡± Zhang Cai woke up and called out to him softly. Jin Tang hurried over, grasping his little hand, but he could not bring himself to look up at Zhang Cai¡¯s injury; the sight of the rag wrapped around his head as a makeshift bandage and the trail of dried bloodstains almost brought tears to his eyes. ¡°I told you to not go, not go, but you just wouldn¡¯t listen to me!¡± Zhang Cai did not speak, but as his little hand traced circles on Jin Tang¡¯s palm, Jin Tang¡¯s heart softened. ¡°I just wanted to go and have a look.¡± Zhang Cai pouted like a petulant child. ¡°I was scared that they¡¯d bully him.¡± Jin Tang replied helplessly, ¡°Who can bully someone his size?¡± ¡°They make life difficult for him because we¡¯re together.¡± Jin Tang exploded in anger. ¡°What do you mean, you¡¯re ¡®together¡¯? Do you know what it means to be together?¡± Zhang Cai pursed his lips and began to cry. ¡°It means that I think of him and he thinks of me. That kind of ¡®together¡¯.¡± Jing Tang stroked his hair and wiped away his tears. Zhang Cai buried his face into the blankets. ¡°It really hurts, ge.¡± Jing Tang sighed. ¡°Just think of Gansu, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Zhang Cai closed his eyes and nodded. That was right ¡ª think of Gansu, the yellow sand that stretched into the horizon, the pools of blood, the fallen warhorses, the corpses that burned until they burst open¡­ Jin Tang knew he was remembering those things. He tightened his hold on Zhang Cai¡¯s hand. ¡°Cai-a10, Yishiha follows the Annan crowd. He isn¡¯t one of us.¡± Zhang Cai grumbled, ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to follow the Annan crowd ¡ª it¡¯s just that you don¡¯t want him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Jurchen. Why should I want him?¡± ¡°Then why does Ruan Dian want him¡­¡± Zhang Cai said quietly. ¡°They all say that¡­ Ruan Dian is more generous than you.¡± Jin Tang hated nothing more than to hear that Ruan Dian was better at something than him, and his beautifully delicate face hardened in an instant. ¡°Yishiha doesn¡¯t study and can¡¯t read; how do you expect me to think highly of him?¡± His manner had frozen over along with his voice, and he turned away angrily. ¡°His nature is only suited to fighting and killing with that Annan gang!¡± Zhang Cai tugged lightly on his clothing, but Jin Tang ignored him. Undeterred, Zhang Cai said, ¡°Ge, the Annan crowd are always looking to one-up us ¡ª I know you don¡¯t have it easy.¡± Jing Tang¡¯s gaze softened again, and he patted Zhang Cai¡¯s hand comfortingly. ¡°Remember, never, ever put your life on the line for someone else, no matter how much you care for them.¡± Zhang Cai lowered his eyes and only replied after a long while had passed ¡°Yishiha would never do that.¡± Jing Tang laughed coldly. ¡°Stupid child!¡± He stood up to leave, but Zhang Cai clung to him. ¡°Ge, Ruan Dian and his cronies made people pay.¡± Jin Tang was not surprised at all;he only nodded and said that he understood. Then, his gaze swept inadvertently over the fabric bandaging Zhang Cai¡¯s head. It was the lower hem of a man¡¯s inner robe, made of a very rough fabric that eunuchs would never use. ¡°Who bandaged your head?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± Zhang Cai replied sleepily. ¡°Yishiha said he was an official.¡± ¡°An official?¡± Jin Tang did not believe him. ¡°A minor official,¡± Zhang Cai said. ¡°Yishiha saw him before but doesn¡¯t know his name. He¡¯s new to Nanjing.¡± Jin Tang tucked him into the blanket like a gentle mother. ¡°Be good and go to sleep.¡± Xie Yilu had injured his hand, and most of his left arm and leg could not move either. The civilians held nothing back this time, even taking up their rakes and hoes, but the Imperial Weaving Bureau pulled out their shackles. Although the crowd quietened down as soon as the arrests began, Xie Yilu knew that this was only the calm before the storm; he feared that violent waves would await them in the future. Evening had fallen by the time he arrived at Lingfu Temple. The stone lantern stand appeared empty at first glance, but he reached in stubbornly and was rewarded with a small, narrow-faced and thin-handled bamboo fan. Unfurling it slowly, he saw that one face was painted with boneless11 plum blossoms in the folded paper style while the other side had four golden characters written in Liu12 calligraphy: Èê×÷ÖÛé®13. ¡°Thou art¡­the boat and oar14?¡± Shocked, Xie Yilu repeated the words aloud. This message was unlike all others of the past; it was no sentimental verse by one with too much time on their hands, but rather more like a revelation of one¡¯s true feelings. It gave Xie Yilu the impression that his pen-friend might have encountered some difficulties in life and that he had become like the boat in the lake of his heart, carrying him across the woes of Xiaoyao Ford15 and into the bliss of the joyful realm. I want to see him! Xie Yilu¡¯s thoughts had never been so torturously captivated by one person like this before, and he wanted nothing more than to see his friend at that exact moment. A verse came to his mind, but without a brush and paper, it could only linger searingly in his mind. He wanted to ask: ¡°Long have we known each other in dreams, might we meet now in the mortal dust16?¡± This chapter doesn¡¯t introduce any new agencies or titles so I¡¯ll use this opportunity to discuss the Imperial Weaving Bureau. As its name suggests, the Bureau was a state-owned textile manufacturer. The production of silk has been heavily nationalised industry for much of Imperial China and it was consistently one of China¡¯s largest export goods. During Ming, silk continued to be exported via the maritime silk road. The Imperial Weaving Bureau was therefore tasked with manufacturing the vast quantities demanded by Western buyers. Moreover, it also supplied the Imperial court with textiles, including specialty ones like those used to make dragon, serpent, douniu and flying fish robes. Thus its importance, wealth and status were much higher than its name might imply. Having said that, I am yet to find any record of a Eunuch Superintendent of the Bureau who was politically powerful and internet resources discussing the Bureau are rare. A part of me feels like the author¡¯s choice to portray the Bureau as she does is due to the influence of the TV series Ming Dynasty 1566, in which the iconic character of Yang Jinshui served as the politically shrewd and morally ambiguous Eunuch Superintendent of the Imperial Weaving Bureau in Hangzhou. As a final note, I have updated my translation of ½õÒÂÎÀ from ¡°Embroidered Uniform Guard¡± to ¡°Brocade Uniform Guard¡± to be more consistent with the silk textiles translations given by the China National Silk Museum. I have updated Chapter 2¡¯s Translator Notes to reflect this and changed all instances of the term to the new translation. 1. ¸ç¶ù, a form of respectful address for boys from noble families. 2. Ò¶×Ó, literally ¡°leaf¡±. The name for cards used in a card game called Ò¶×ÓÏ· that was very popular during Ming. 3. ½ð¸Õ, the Chinese term for Sanskrit ¡°vajra¡±. A legendary and ritual weapon in Buddhism (especially Vajrayana), Hinduism and Jainism. Symbolises the indestructibility of the diamond and the irresistible force of the lightning bolt. 4. »¤·¨, the Chinese term for Sanskrit ¡°dharmapala¡±, literally ¡°dharma protector¡±. A type of wrathful deity in Buddhism who protects the dharma (roughly can be understood as ¡®justice¡¯). [ 5. »îÆÐÈø, epithet for someone who is compassionate for the needy and suffering. [ 6. ÐûÖ½, a type of high-quality rice paper. 7. ¡¶´ó±¦óð¡·, originally an admonition presented to Emperor Taizu of Tang by Zhang Yungu (ÕÅÔ̹Å) who hoped that Taizu might accept his criticisms and become a wiser ruler. Later in Ming, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng wrote an annotated version called¡¶´ó±¦óð×¢½â¡·, which his pupil, the then 14 year-old Emperor Wanli copied to practise his calligraphy. Source. [ 8. ÏÐÕÂ, a seal usually inscribed with poetry or verse, used for artistic purposes on creative works. 9. ¸ç, elder brother. 10. The -a suffix is a familiar ending added to names in Korean. It is used by two people of the same social standing who are close to each other, or by an adult/parent to a child. I don¡¯t know Korean so this is only what I found through research. 11. ÎÞ¹Ç, a technique in Chinese painting that paints directly with coloured ink rather than first drawing an outline and then colouring inside. Visual reference. 12. ÁøÌå, the calligraphy style of Tang Dynasty calligrapher Liu Gongquan (Áø¹«È¨, 778-865). Liu was considered 1 of the 4 masters of the regular script (¿¬Êé). Visual reference. 13. From¡¶¹ÅÎÄÉÐÊ顤˵Ãü¡·. 14. Chinese has many dated or literary second-person pronouns like ¶û, Èê, ¾ý. This phrase is a callback to the earlier ¶ûΩÑÎ÷ (Thou art the salt and plumb), which uses ¶û to mean ¡®you¡¯ but here Èê is used. Since English only has ¡®thou¡¯, I have no choice but to use it every time. 15. åÐÒ£½ò, the site of a battle in 215 where Sun Quan and his Wu forces were defeated by the Wei force led by Zhang Liao and barely escaped. 16. ºì³¾, refers to the real world. CH 6 ¡°Long have we known each other in dreams, might we meet now in the mortal dust?¡± Writing on jasmine paper with his Huzhou brush and wocan ink, Xie Yilu asked as much in his next letter. Yet a full three days passed without reply; that person was like the last glint of starlight across the eastern mountaintops, flashing brightly for an instant before disappearing from sight. What sort of person could he be? Xie Yilu could not help but wonder. A scholar? A scholar-merchant1? Or¡­ an official like myself? His heart was filled with an indescribable curiosity, the kind that left one thrumming with the excitement of a groom imagining his new bride¡¯s countenance beneath her red wedding veil. But if it were so, then why was that person unwilling to meet him? Or could it be¡­ Xie Yilu flushed red in an instant. Could it be that ¡®he¡¯ is actually a woman? A young lady from a wealthy family, a beauty of the rouge and powder2? Fear crept into his heart ¡ª fear that she might be an unmarried maiden and that he might be charged with maintaining an illicit liaison with her3. Yet it seemed unlikely judging by the calligraphy, since no women of the boudoir could write with such a strong and unyielding style. Surely ¡®she¡¯ can¡¯t be¡­ a prostitute? Xie Yilu was suddenly seized with panic. He never had any private interactions with prostitutes outside of the social gatherings that were ubiquitous in the officialdom. He believed himself to be pure and upright ¡ª how could he afford to stumble now at the feet of this ¡®confidante of the fairer sex¡¯? All this talk of prostitutes reminded him of the Pearl Market north of Qiandao Bridge, of the teetering woman¡¯s palanquin and of Ruan Dian. That¡¯s right, eunuchs are frequent patrons of prostitutes. Not a single prostitute is innocent. Xie Yilu pinched himself, hard. How could he have just compared that person with eunuchs? That was nothing less than absolute slander to their character, akin to dripping foetid ink into a bowl of pure water, sullying it. ¡°Chunchu¡­ Chunchu!¡± Qu Feng called from beside him, abruptly pulling Xie Yilu¡¯s mind from the absurd images that his imagination had conjured. The incense stick he was holding had almost burned to its root so he dropped it and shook out his sleeves. The two of them were standing on the side of the road that wound up the mountain to Zhebo Chan Temple. Since it was the fifteenth, the road was bustling with even more pilgrims on their way to worship the Buddha than usual. ¡°Whatcha thinking about?¡± Qu Feng asked with a suggestive expression. ¡°You haven¡¯t been here for long and already have a lover?¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s heart twinged with guilt for no reason. ¡°What are you talking about¡­¡± He shook the hems of his official¡¯s robe and leaned in to Qu Feng. ¡°Um¡­ is there anyone in Nanjing famous for their calligraphy?¡± ¡°Yeah there are. Both Zha Yongtu from the Ministry of Rites and Liang Ke from the Youshan Academy can be considered master calligraphers.¡± Qu Feng pointed towards the mountain¡¯s summit, indicating that they should continue ascending. ¡°Why are you asking about this all of a sudden?¡± Xie Yilu followed him upwards. ¡°Ah¡­ just asking.¡± ¡°Oh right, I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s someone else,¡± Qu Feng flipped open his folding fan, looking as if he had a rare tidbit to share. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± just as he was about to speak, the pilgrims in front of them erupted in shouts and the road was blocked by people waving their fists while complaining angrily. They went up to have a look at the commotion, but the road grew more and more crowded as they walked. Once they reached the little mountain gate, they saw that it was because monks from the temple had sealed off the road, stopping everyone five hundred steps from the Main Hall4 of the temple. Xie Yilu and Qu Feng looked at each other, both recognising that this signalled the presence of someone important. They continued forwards tactfully, but had barely taken two steps before a group of people burst out from below. Their leader was stern-faced and wore a flying fish robe ¡ª it was Tu Yue. Tu Yue was no ordinary man, and he easily spotted Xie Yilu as his glaze flitted over the sea of people. Yet, he pretended not to have seen him and had two fanzi5 clear his path while he slowly walked up behind them with eyebrows raised. Seeing that the newcomer was a Brocade Uniform Guard, the monk in charge came over very respectfully. He tried to whisper an explanation into Tu Yue¡¯s ear but was pushed away by the leading fanzi, who berated ostentatiously, ¡°Battalion Commander Tu of the Brocade Uniform Guards has come to bring donations to the temple on behalf of the Grand Defender of Nanjing. Get out of our way!¡± The bustling mountain road immediately fell silent. It was only then that one could hear the sounds of chanting coming from the Main Hall as they held their Nirvana Dharma Assembly6: the Buddha said to ¨¡nanda7 that in the past, there was a golden peacock king who lived on the southern face of the snow-capped mountain, who chanted the Buddha-Mother Mahamayuri8 Dharani9 each morning¡­ It was the¡¶Peacock Sutra10¡·¡ª the common people, devout of heart, all grew solemn, but the same could not be said for Tu Yue¡¯s men, who, holding no reverence whatsoever, repeatedly tapped the stone ground with tips of their sabres: ¡°Get out of the way! Are you deaf?¡± The monk in charge neither moved nor answered. Growing impatient, Tu Yue unwound the nanmu11 prayer beads from his wrist and used it to dust off his mamian skirt12 as he asked, very lazily and indifferently, ¡°Who¡¯s inside?¡± The monk put his hands together and said, ¡°Benefactor Liao from the Imperial Weaving Bureau.¡± The hand that had been dusting Tu Yue¡¯s robe stilled and he fell silent for a moment before saying in a casual, gossipy tone, ¡°They¡¯re both fourth-ranked. Why is it that the one from the Imperial Weaving Bureau can come, but the Nanjing Grand Defender can¡¯t? What is Zhebo Chan Temple trying to say?¡± So now he¡¯s about to invent a crime to charge the monks with. Xie Yilu swallowed involuntarily. Two grand chamberlains as high-ranking as a Grand Defender and an Imperial Weaving Superintendent facing off in public was a rare sight in Beijing, let alone Nanjing. The monk had no answer to give and Tu Yue was about to cause further trouble for him when one of the doors to the Main Hall opened. Two people strolled out and closed the door behind them. Even though they were so far away, Xie Yilu immediately recognised that it was A-Liu on the left and Zhang Cai on the right. They were dressed in white yisan with lion and parrot buzi while ivory tablets13 hung from their waists. Zhang Cai took a step forward to stand at the top of the stone stairs. His head injury had yet to heal ¡ª he was wearing a sprig of haitang blooms at his temple to cover up the newly formed scar. ¡°Who is making such noise?¡± His voice was very loud as he simultaneously kicked up the hem of his yisan and pulled it up to the crook of his arm, affecting a domineering posture. Tu Yue stretched out his neck and tilted his head arrogantly. He and his subordinates were so conspicuous that Zhang Cai could not have missed them. ¡°Who is making such noise?¡± Zhang Cai asked again, stretching each word out in emphasis. Tu Yue only saw him as a child so he smiled tepidly in reply, but Zhang Cai lowered his gaze and glared sinisterly at him. A-Liu rolled his eyes and wanted to go down with his sabre, but Zhang Cai held him back with a hand against his chest. He then yelled sharply at Tu Yue, ¡°I asked, who is making such noise?¡± Tu Yue¡¯s eyes hardened and he stared back belligerently. ¡°Brocade Uniform Guard, Tu Yue!¡± Zhang Cai¡¯s smile was like that of a real child as he replied, ¡°So it¡¯s Your Excellency Tu.¡± He cupped his fists casually. ¡°Forgive my offence.¡± Tu Yue wanted to use this apology as a stepping stone to ascend the stairs himself, but the monk in charge blocked his path again. Tu Yue erupted in fury. ¡°What is the Imperial Weaving Bureau trying to do?!¡± The smile on Zhang Cai¡¯s face never waivered. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to do anything.¡± He began to circle purposefully atop the stone stairs. ¡°Our Lord Supervisor is meditating in the hall, so I must ask Your Excellency Tu to wait here awhile.¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± With a shake of Tu Yue¡¯s hand, his subordinates immediately rushed out from behind, pushing past the monk¡¯s attempts to stop them as they ran forwards. Then, a boom sounded as a group of people armed with sabres rushed out from the Ma?ju?r¨© Hall14 and Samantabhadra Hall15 on either side of the Main Hall. They were all white-dressed eunuchs and they flowed down the stone stairs like a stream of water until they stood face to face with the fanzi and the Brocade Uniform Guard. It was Liao Jixiang¡¯s Unsullied Army16! It was said that Liao Jixiang had brought back a squad of a few dozen eunuchs from Gansu, and that they had killed dazi17, spilt blood and snatched back their lives from the jaws of death. Tu Yue and his subordinates stopped moving and cautiously, even fearfully, began to retreat. A loud bang sounded from the Main Hall, startling the crowd gathered below. They all followed the source of the sound and looked up to find that it was because Ruan Dian had slammed the door open as he stepped outside. He took a look at the face-off and broke into a laugh. ¡°You¡¯ve all gotten into formation so I thought something big was happening,¡± he cackled wildly, ¡°but it turns out that it¡¯s Battalion Commander Tu!¡± He crouched down on the spot, swaying back and forth on the highest of the stone steps like a rascal. ¡°Zhang Cai, there¡¯s so few of them. Don¡¯t you feel a little¡­ ashamed to toy with them like this?¡± Though his words were directed at Zhang Cai, it was Tu Yue who was embarrassed ¡ª really, there was nothing more humiliating than this. He stepped backwards, his face blue with mortification, but just as he retreated into the crowd, someone from behind yelled loudly, ¡°Those in front, make way!¡± Turning around, he saw a group of white-dressed eunuchs coming up the path one by one. They each held a gold-inlaid bronze tray upon which silver bullions18, each weighing ten taels, were stacked into an offering tower. Their leader was Jin Tang, who tilted his head as he passed by Tue Yue, his pair of phoenix eyes sparkling with a glimmer of derision. ¡°Your Excellency Tu,¡± he shot a look at Tu Yue¡¯s empty hands, ¡°are you here to make offerings too?¡± Tu Yue¡¯s face instantly flushed red. He did not bring much with him ¡ª only five silver notes19 worth a hundred taels each. He was the one who paid Zheng Xian¡¯s annual donations and five hundred taels was the most he could offer. ¡°Weina,¡± Jin Tang called out respectfully to the monk in charge. ¡°Invite His Excellecny Tu to the meditation hall I often use. Serve him a cup of hot tea and find a few children who can make good conversation to keep him company.¡± Though his words were kind, the meaning hidden within was not. Tu Yue¡¯s face went from blue to white to blue again and, gritting his teeth, left with a shake of his sleeve. At this exact time, someone among the pilgrims shouted, ¡°It¡¯s not silver on those trays, it¡¯s the people¡¯s pygmy pear trees!¡±. Tu Yue abruptly froze, wide-eyed and tongue-tied like everyone else present. He turned around to see that everyone was staring sidelong at a tall and gentle-featured man ¡ª it was Xie Yilu from Beijing. While Xie Yilu was unperturbed, Qu Feng beside him was terrified, so much so that he did not even dare to stretch out a hand to pull on him. Atop the stone stairs, Ruan Dian¡¯s mouth was hanging open as he slowly stood up. Just as he was about to bark some harsh words, a delicate, almost ethereal voice came from inside and said coldly, ¡°Open the door.¡± The sounds of chanting stopped. A single vermillion willow-leaf lattice20 door opened. Sunlight spilt into the shadowy Main Hall, illuminating a square cun21 of ground before the Buddha. Someone was kneeling there, dressed in a white, narrow-sleeved robe. Though his body was bowed over, he had turned his head to gaze over his shoulder towards the outside. A glittering sea of golden lamps and burning incense shone above him, and higher still loomed the unmoving, benevolent face of the Shakyamuri Buddha22. Xie Yilu was struck speechless in an instant. This person had an aura to him that was wholly unlike the menacing Unsullied Army on the stone stairs or the silver stacked high atop the trays. It was not the arrogance of high station and power, but rather a serenity that had settled and accumulated in his very bones. Is this Liao Jixiang? Xie Yilu was shocked. He was so different from Zheng Xian ¡ª Zheng Xian was a worldly creature, his whole being exuding a deeply human extravagance and radiance, but he was so cold, so sombre that he could only be a ghost or an immortal. A tall figure whom Xie Yilu recognised as Yishiha bent down to hold Liao Xijiang¡¯s hand and carefully pulled him from the prayer mat. This grand chamberlain was so thin, which, combined with his upright and cultured appearance, meant that his bearing should have been like a stalk of bamboo or an unbending spear. Yet, as soon as he took the smallest of steps, it was to everyone¡¯s disappointment ¡ª he limped on one leg as he walked. Liao Jixiang was a cripple. ¡°Lord Supervisor!¡± All the white-dressed eunuchs dropped to their knees in perfect unison. Their movements were too well-trained to be appropriate for eunuchs of the Imperial Weaving Bureau ¡ª they were even better trained than the garrison army. Liao Xijiang was lame in his left leg. It appeared that he had injured his knee so he could not put any weight onto it. Yishiha hovered protectively over him as if he were shielding a delicate maiden. Xie Yilu was surprised at Liao Jixiang¡¯s stature ¡ª his waist was so slender it seemed like one hand was enough to both hold it and break it. He was wearing a qilin23 buzi and his slender, petite face was as white as snow while his features were exceedingly delicate. He was still some distance away, but Xie Yilu could already smell a faint trace of sandalwood that had been carried to him by the spring wind. A leafy fragrance was mixed into the scent, as well as, if one paid close attention to it, the sweet aroma of cow¡¯s milk. Yishiha hurriedly supported him to walk down the stairs. Liao Jixiang looked down at the crowd from his position atop the stairs, his eyes sparkling with intelligence under thin double eyelids, his lips like those oft seen on Buddha statues, not quite enough to be called ¡®beautiful¡¯ but certainly plump and smooth. He silently took in Xie Yilu and asked, ¡°Name?¡± Xie Yilu had never stared into the face of power so closely before, so he could not help but be held spellbound. ¡°What is your name?¡± Yishiha pressed. Xie Yilu¡¯s cheeks flushed and he tripped over his tongue as he replied. Liao Jixiang¡¯s indifferent face was devoid of any expressions. Jin Tang, Ruan Dian and A-Liu all stared at him unblinkingly, waiting for his orders. ¡°Ruan Dian,¡± Liao Jixiang finally turned his head to the side and chose this subordinate from Annan, ¡°have you remembered the name?¡± Oh, how to describe Ruan Dian¡¯s expression? It was like that of a vicious hound, accustomed to brawling outside, now showing its belly before its owner and wagging its tail profusely in happiness. ¡°I¡¯ve remembered it!¡± Liao Jixiang coughed and placed his hand atop Yishiha¡¯s. Seeing this, A-Liu immediately rushed down to clear the way for him, the civilians all avoiding him like the plague to leave path through the crowd. Atop the stone stairs, Yishiha had crouched down and was now carrying Liao Jixiang on his back as if he weighed no more than a feather. The eunuchs from the Imperial Weaving Bureau withdrew in small groups as the pilgrims passing through the little mountain gate mumbled their dissatisfaction. Amidst all the derision and insults, Xie Yily heard Qu Feng say, ¡°Don¡¯t leave your house for the next two days.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad,¡± he forced a smile, trying to appear unworried. ¡°The worst they can do is exile me to Liaodong24.¡± Qu Feng gave him a hard tug, his pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes staring at him angrily. ¡°It was Ruan Dian that he called!¡± Xie Yilu did not understand what he meant. Qu Feng was silent at first, but then he finally sighed: ¡°If he had called Jin Tang, you could¡¯ve escaped with your life¡­¡± Xie Yilu understood now ¡ª he would have been stupid not to. He was silent for a moment and then said, ¡°Let him come. I¡¯m waiting.¡± Hearing this, Qu Feng refrained from replying. Xie Yilu split up from Qu Feng when they returned from Zhebo Chan Temple and hurried to Lingfu Temple. Once there, he searched the stone lantern inside out but failed to find anything. The other person did not want to see him. Lifting his empty hands, he sat down dejectedly in the freshly-grown grass. Lonely and perhaps also a little disgruntled, he let his head hang heavily against his chest. When he dragged his mud-covered backside home, he dived into this study to lay out paper and grind ink. Rolling up his sleeves, he made several attempts to start writing but each time his hand stopped of its own accord. Suddenly, a teardrop fell onto the paper. Wiping hard at his eyes, he hurriedly wrote down: Life or death, honour or disgrace, can change in but a day¡¯s time. My soul misses, my dreams yearn, these are the only thoughts of mine. There¡¯s no history to discuss for this update so I¡¯ll only give a quick explanation of my translation of Buddhist terminology. I¡¯ve elected to translate every Buddhist name and term into Romanised Sanskrit rather than directly translating them from Chinese or keeping them in pinyin. This is because A) Romanised Sanskrit is the norm for Buddhist terminology in English, and B) Chinese renditions of many names and terms are very different to their original Sanskrit versions. By consistently using Romanised Sanskrit, I hope that it will be easier for anyone who might want to search up any terms and avoid confusion as much as possible. 1. ÈåÉÌ, the idealised merchant who follows the teachings of Confucius. He is virtuous, responsible, cultured and strives to improve the world through business. Very high praise coming from a society that constantly looks down on merchants. 2. ºì·Û, literally ¡°rouge and powder¡±, figuratively ¡°the fairer sex¡±. 3. ˽ͨ, a concept that is difficult to explain. Chinese society was heavily segregated by sex, so it was very taboo for an unmarried girl to have any contact with a male outside of her immediate family. Any sort of contact might be enough for both parties to be charged with ¡° having an illicit liaison¡±, which would ruin their reputations and lives. 4. ´óÐÛ±¦µî, literally ¡°Precious Hall of the Great Hero¡±. It is usually known as the ¡®Main Hall¡¯ of a Chinese Buddhist temple and it worships the Gautama Buddha. 5. ·¬×Ó, a colloquial term for civilians pressed into service with the Five Cities Wardens Office (Îå³É±øÂí˾). They often serve with the Brocade Uniform Guard, but they are not actually part of the Guard itself. 6. Äù˜„·¨»á, a Buddhist religious assembly held on Nirvana Day, which is usually celebrated on the 15th of the second lunar month. 7. °¢ÄÑÍÓ, the primary attendant of the Buddha and one of this 10 principal disciples. 8. ¿×ȸÃ÷Íõ, literally ¡°Peacock Wisdom King¡±. The Chinese name for the female Bodhisattva and Wisdom King, Mahamayuri. 9. ÍÓÂÞÄá, a type of Buddhist chant, usually a mantra consisting of Sanskrit or Pali phrases. 10. ¿×ȸ¾­, a commentary on the¡¶·ðĸ´ó¿×ȸÃ÷Íõ¾­¡·(Buddha-Mother Grand Mahamayuri Sutra) by Tang Dynasty monk Amoghavajra (²»¿Õ). 11. éªÄ¾, a very valuable wood unique to China/South Asia. Likely Machilus nanmu. 12. ÂíÃæȹ, a type of pleated wrap-around skirt in Ming womenswear. The author made a factual error by having men wear the mamian skirt. 13. ÑÀÅÆ, tablets hung from the waist are similar to badges of office, allowing to access to certain areas and serving as a proof of identity. 14. ÎÄÊâµî, a hall dedicated to the worship of ÎÄÊâÆÐÈø (Manjushri), a Bodhisattva of wisdom. 15. ÆÕÏ͵î, a hall dedicated to the worship of ÆÕÏÍÆÐÈø (Samantabhadra), a Bodhisattva of practice and meditation. Samantabhadra forms a triad with Gautama Buddha and Manjushri. 16. ¾»¾ü, literally ¡°[to] cleanse + army¡±. A military regiment composed of eunuchs. Note that the act of castration/emasculation is euphemistically referred to as ¾»Éí (cleansing the body). 17. ÷²×Ó, dated derogatory term for Mongols and other ethnic groups from the north. 18. ÎÆÒø, a type of standard silver denomination in Ming and Qing. 19. ÒøƱ, a type of paper currency in Ming that was staked on silver. 20. ÁøÒ¶¸ñ, a type of window/door lattice design, also known as ²»Á˸ñ. From Ming Wanli era text¡¶¿Í×ù׸Ó̫ʦ´°¡·by ¹ËÆðÔª (Gu Qiyuan). 21. ´ç, traditional unit of length equal to 3.333 cm or 1.312 inches. 22. ÊÍåÈIJÄá, another name for the Buddha. 23. ÷è÷ë, a mythical beast. A qilin buzi is usually restricted to gentry but I can¡¯t say for certain that a powerful eunuch wouldn¡¯t have worn it too. Visual reference. 24. Áɶ«, an old name for the region that is more or less modern Liaoning Province in far northeastern China. This heavily militarised region was frequently raided by Manchus during late Ming so it was considered a terrible frontier destination fit only for soldiers and exiles. [ CH 7 Xie Yilu received the reply the following night. It was a sparse message comprised of three lines of small regular script. The first read ¡°sh¨¨ l¨¬ z¨«, b¨¤ l¨ªng qi¨¢o¡±, the second ¡°w¨´ ji¨¡ q¨©¡±, and the third ¡°xi¨¡o l¨ª hu¨¡, l¨´o m¨¦i f¨¥ng¡±. Sarira1, Baling Bridge Hindering wedding day Vanishing pear blossoms, falling plum wind. He puzzled over the message with knitted brows for a long time, but still could not make heads or tails of it. As such, he brought it along with him when he left for the yamen at dawn. Once the mao call2 was finished, he went over to dawdle in Qu Feng¡¯s room. Qu Feng was busy with the beginning of the year¡¯s personnel inspections. He raised his head multiple times, but Xie Yilu never made a sound. This annoyed Qu Feng so much that he ended up dismissing the transcribing clerk and asked with a grimace, ¡°What is it?¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s expression was a little embarrassed. He walked over to the door and bolted it tightly then tightened it again before slowly digging out a piece of paper from his collar. ¡°I have something¡­ that I want you to have a look at for me.¡± ¡°What is it¡­¡± Qu Feng was somewhat serious at first but when he glanced at it, he snorted in laughter. Afraid that people outside might hear, Xie Yilu immediately grabbed him and made to muffle his mouth, but Qu Feng tactfully beat him to it. He propped up a little finger decorated with a white jade ring: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t have a lover?¡° ¡±It¡¯s not¡­ not a lover!¡± Xie Yilu was panicking. ¡°It¡¯s just, just a penfriend!¡± ¡°Penfriend?¡± Qu Feng drew closer and that heavy wave of anxi incense washed over again. ¡°Lying to me about this sort of thing¡­¡± he patted Xie Yilu¡¯s chest, ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d fall for it!¡± Fully panicked, Xie Yilu told him the truth: ¡°I don¡¯t even know if they¡¯re a man or a woman!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out tomorrow.¡± Qu Feng shot him a meaningful look and glanced dubiously at the letter. ¡°This is an invitation to a meeting.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s cheeks burned and he felt a nervous sense of excitement. ¡°Really?¡± he pressed extremely close, looking very eager. ¡°How do you know?¡± Qu Feng took in his naive demeanour with a smile and pointed at the three characters that read ¡°sh¨¨ l¨¬ z¨«¡±.¡° ¡°This sh¨¨ is a near homonym to sh¨ª, so it means ¡®ten¡¯.¡± He moved his finger downwards to ¡°b¨¤ l¨ªng qi¨¢o¡±. Xie Yilu copied his methodology and guessed, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ b¨¡, so it means ¡®eight¡¯? ¡°Exactly. Sh¨ª b¨¡ ¡ª that¡¯s eighteen,¡± Qu Feng said. ¡°The eighteenth, which is tomorrow.¡± The hand that Xie Yilu held the letter in was wet with sweat. ¡°Then¡­ what about ¡®w¨´ ji¨¡ q¨©¡¯? ¡®W¨´¡¯ translates to ¡®w¨³¡¯, but that does this ¡®five¡¯ mean here?¡± ¡°This column is the hour. Zi, chou, yin, mao, the fifth hour is chen3.¡± Qu Feng read onwards, ¡° ¡®Xi¨¡o l¨ª hu¨¡¡¯ translates to ¡®xi¨£o¡¯ and ¡®l¨´o m¨¦i f¨¥ng¡¯ translates to ¡®l¨£o¡¯. Xi¨£o l¨£o¡­¡± he paused momentarily in thought, ¡°Xiaolao4 Spring. It¡¯s three and a half li south of Yangman Hill west of the city.¡± Xie Yilu broke into a smile of the extremely bright and cheerful kind. Seeing this, Qu Feng did not want him to go. ¡°This¡­ is a code often used by prostitutes.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s face visibly tensed for a second. The corners of his lip pulled taut: ¡°If she has time to exchange letters with me, I suppose her business isn¡¯t doing too well.¡± ¡°With such beautiful calligraphy,¡± Qu Feng spoke frankly, ¡°she won¡¯t be an ordinary prostitute.¡± Xie Yilu took a detour to the Temple of Confucius on his way back home from the yamen. Kites were already on sale in the little stalls and opposite them, the surface of the Qinhuai River had become a field of lantern light, the melodies of string and woodwind instruments weaving together with the sounds of frolicking men and women into an unending song. Xie Yilu stood on this side of the bank; the more noise there was on the river, the lonelier he felt. Alone, he walked along the embankment towards a quieter place, kicking at stones along the way. The households living on either side of the river were lighting fires and cooking dinner and occasionally, an old lady was out beating her washing. The scent of oil and salt, of smoke and cooked food and the intermittent but loud sounds of chatting children all made him feel sorrowfully homesick. The second household from the east end of Mofang Hutong ¡ª his wife and the old scholar tree he had so often climbed as a child were all there, yet tomorrow, he would be going to see a prostitute in Nanjing, a place a thousand li from home. As he was wandering aimlessly, a person approached him from head-on. He was very tall, and as soon as Xie Yilu fixed his gaze on the newcomer, he immediately froze in his tracks. It was Yishiha, dressed in a jade coloured yisan made of suofu5 fabric and armed with a sabre. Yishiha was Ruan Dian¡¯s underling. Xie Yilu took a step backwards and even considered running. ¡°Don¡¯t leave your house for the next two days,¡± was what Qu Feng had said to him. Could it be happening, right now, and in this sort of place? Xie Yilu knew he had no hope of winning but he still adopted a fighting stance. Although he wanted to fight, it was Yishiha who skirted around him instead and continued walking. When they passed each other, Xie Yilu clearly heard him say, ¡°Go home, right now!¡± Go home? Xie Yilu spun around. ¡°Why are you¡­¡± Yishiha did not stop his steps. ¡°For the fabric you tore off your robe that day to bandage A-Cai¡¯s head.¡± Just as he finished speaking, someone dashed out from an alley, so unexpectedly and so terrifyingly that both Yishiha and Xie Yilu jumped in fright. Yet before they could react, that person had cut straight across the slabstone road and jumped into the river with a splash. It was a naked woman, her hair untied. She was no assassin sent by Ruan Dian, but rather a little girl who had been conned into giving up her virginity. This sort of thing was all too common on the banks of Qinhuai River. Yishiha jumped into the water in less time than it took for one to blink. It was right in the middle of the spring rise of the water level, so the river was roaring eastwards. The girl struggled desperately in the current, pulling him downwards. Xie Yilu stood on the bank in helpless worry, but Yishiha yelled at him from the river: ¡°I told you to go, are you deaf?!¡± Stamping his foot, Xie Yilu took off in the direction of the civilian houses. He found a long bamboo ladder next to the wall of a three-storeyed little building, which he carried back over and tossed onto the river while holding onto one end with both hands. The woman wanted to die so she clawed for all she was worth at anything in her way. Yishiha could only paddle towards the ladder single-handedly. When he was close enough, he first draped the woman onto it and then pushed her towards the riverbank as he swam. Xie Yilu hauled the woman onto the bank, his face and body now wet thanks to her struggling. He was just about to pull Yishiha out when two young men wearing brocade headbands6 came up behind him. They looked at the woman, then at Xie Yilu, and pulled out firewood cleavers from the back of their waists. They were hired thugs from a brothel. Xie Yilu scurried backwards until he reached the edge of the bank and had nowhere else to go. The sound of pouring water came from behind him and, upon seeing Yishiha pulling himself out of the river, the two thugs turned and fled. The woman was curled up and crying on the ground. Xie Yilu did not dare to touch her, but Yishiha seemed to be indifferent to her grief ¡ª he shrugged his shoulders and began to undress. Xie Yilu stared dumbly as he revealed his strong, scar-ridden torso. He wrung his yisan dry in two twists and draped it over the woman. Perhaps out of anger or an unwillingness to accept that she had been saved, the woman grabbed Yishia¡¯s arm and savagely bit him, her jaws clenching so tightly that even Xie Yilu felt pain on his behalf. Yishiha did not hold back and slapped her, hard, across the face. The woman toppled over and it took a while before she raised her head again, her long hair sticking to her face, obscuring her features. Yishiha was silent the entire time and did not shy away at all from her bouncing breasts and lithe body. Instead, his words were addressed to Xie Yilu: ¡°I told you to go.¡± It was indeed time for Xie Yilu to go. He turned around and ran back the way he came. The Temple of Confucius awaited before him with its endless streams of people. He had not left Yishiha¡¯s sight for long when brisk footsteps sounded from behind him. Xie Yilu panicked and in his panic, he took the wrong path. His surroundings became more and more secluded and soon, he turned into a dead end alley. He had no choice but to turn around and face whoever came. He took off his official¡¯s hat and stood on tiptoes to hang it from the tip of a branch. The sky had just darkened and the shadowy outlines of rooftop weeds rustled overhead. A person walked out from the sinister shade of a tree, short of stature and carrying a long sabre on his back ¡ª it was A-Liu. For a split second, Xie Yilu rejoiced ¡ª rejoiced that his opponent was only a child. But when A-Liu twisted his body around and pulled out the sabre on his back with practised ease, and when the moonlight illuminated the blade¡¯s surface, reflecting it into his ice-cold eyes, Xie Yilu finally realised the expression in them was not one of a child. No, they were boundless pools of black, millions of drops of blood and a glimpse into hell itself. Sure enough, the long sabre was already headed straight for Xie Yilu before he could even prepare himself. His chest, legs and cheeks were all slit open yet he did not really feel pain, only a burning sensation. Blood poured out from the hideous wounds, soaking his official¡¯s robes and dripping onto the ground by his feet which caused him to slip and fall down, His field of vision was dominated by a massive full moon and A-Liu¡¯s face, pressed in close to his. By this point, Xie Yilu was, paradoxically, no longer afraid. From this angle, A-Liu looked very beautiful, his round eyes with their thick lashes reminding him of little creatures like kittens. A-Liu crouched down, bent his elbow and aimed at Xie Yilu¡¯s face. He brought it down hard, once, twice. Blood immediately flowed from Xie Yilu¡¯s nose and he whimpered as he coughed. A-Liu turned his face this way and that, as if he were examining it. ¡°Give¡­ give me,¡± bloody froth spewed out as soon as he opened his mouth. Xie Yilu found it strange that despite bleeding so much, his wounds did not really hurt. ¡°Give me¡­ a quick end!¡± On cue, A-Liu raised his sabre and placed its thin blade against the base of Xie Yilu¡¯s throat. However, he only wrenched Xie Yilu¡¯s chin upwards and lightly swiped his neck against the blade before pulling his sabre back, standing up and leaving. Xie Yilu felt blood slowly seep out from his throat but it was not the torrential flow he had expected. Was this what death felt like? He blinked and was just about to close his eyes when A-Liu turned back, a large striped cat in hand. Xie Yilu had no sooner noted that they looked so much alike than his face was drenched in hot cat blood. It was only now that Xie Yilu felt something was off. He strained to stare at A-Liu and saw him bleed the cat dry over his body before tossing the dead animal onto a roof with a flick of his hand. ¡°You¡­¡± he reached out a hand, wanting to grab onto something. ¡°You are ¡­¡± A-Liu strode over and stepped over his face, his hands gripping onto the shoulders of his clothes and dragged him towards the main road. Xie Yilu was a little foggy from blood loss. ¡°Is this also¡­ cough cough, because of Zhang Cai?¡± He was shivering and about to faint at any moment. ¡°If you save me, how can you explain yourself when you go back¡­¡± A-Liu did not reply to him. Actually, he had not said a single word the entire night. He left Xie Yilu in the middle of the road and picked up a random stick to knock on the stone slabs. The sound he made was very muffled but Xie Yilu understood through his daze that he was trying to make enough sound to draw people over¡­. wouldn¡¯t it have been easier to yell out? Xie Yilu smiled at the child¡¯s stupidity and was just about to shout at him when he heard a massive crash ¡ª a half-storey high pile of firewood had been kicked down. Very soon, civilians carrying lanterns came shouting and running over. Xie Yilu hovered on the verge of consciousness as countless faces danced before his eyes. There were men, women, the elderly and the young, but none were willing to touch him; that was, until someone said with trepidation, ¡°He¡¯s an official. If we don¡¯t save him, we¡¯ll all suffer!¡± It was only then that people came over to lift him up. They might have been using a bamboo ladder since it creaked as it jolted and hurt his back. He passed out only to wake up again, not knowing whether he was experiencing reality or a dreamscape when he heard the uniform thumping of footsteps and saw neat armour and frigid spears. The civilians carrying him were muttering quietly, ¡°It¡¯s the Zhejiang Army7. Why¡¯d the Zhejiang Army enter the city?¡± Xie Yilu tilted his head to have a look. There was a long column of soldiers, led by a black horse. The hem of an yisan dangled down from the saddle ¡ª it was a familiar turquoise blue. His arm slipped off the bamboo ladder. He frowned and moved his mouth. Just before he succumbed to unconsciousness, the last thought that flashed across his mind was, tomorrow at the hour of chen, Xiaolao Spring beneath Liuman Hill, I¡¯m not going to make it¡­ Again, not as much history to discuss this chapter. I hope the code at the beginning of the chapter was understandable, but since it relies on Chinese homonyms, it will never fully translate into English. 1. ÉáÀû×Ó, a generic term for Buddhist relics that usually refers to pearl/crystal-like substances found in the cremated ashes of Buddhist masters. 2. µãî, refers to the counting of officials in the morning to see who has shown up for their shift. Mao refers to the hour of mao which is 5-7 am. 3. ³½Ê±, 7-9 am. 4. СÀÏ, literally ¡°old small¡±. 5. Ëö·ù, appears to be a type of textile made from bird feathers. I wasn¡¯t able to find a definition of Ëö·ù itself but it seems that this textile is known by many other names like Ëó·þ, Ëø¸¤ etc. This rendition that appears in the novel likely came from¡¶ÌìË®±ùɽ¼¡·which is a list of all the items confiscated from the property of the father and son duo of corrupt officials, Yan Song and Yan Shifan in the reign of Jiajing. 6. ²øÍ·, a decorative headband worn by entertainers in the past. 7. Õã½­¾ü, the army stationed in Zhejiang Province. Ming Zhejiang is more or less in the same place as modern Zhejiang and is just south of the Southern Direct Administration Region (ÄÏÖ±Á¥) around Nanjing. CH 8 The courtyard door creaked, announcing Da-Tian¡¯s return. Xie Yilu struggled out of his den of blankets to sit up with his back leaning straight against the headboard. Ten days had passed since his injury. He could already get out of bed and walk around. According to the doctor who had treated him, although he had bled profusely, all of his wounds were superficial. Indeed, he was cut a dozen or so times but none of them were life-threatening. The cut across his throat was even more of a joke ¡ª a pale pinkish-red line was all that remained of it now. He was unconscious for the entirety of the first two days. During that time, men from the Ministry took turns visiting him. Moreover, many of the local Nanjing gentry and civilians saw him as a hero who petitioned on behalf of the people and just like that, the name ¡®Xie Yilu¡¯ was catapulted into fame. Da-Tian pushed open the door and entered. It was raining outside so half of his upper body was wet. He shook his shirt and pulled out a piece of paper from his collar. ¡°Master, I¡¯ve retrieved it, but there¡¯s nothing written here.¡± Xie Yilu took the proffered paper and scanned over it. Sure enough, it was blank with not a single character to be seen. He sighed. Since he was the one who missed the meeting, it was understandable why his penfriend might have sent him a blank piece of paper as an insult. ¡°Brush,¡± he reached out a hand at Da-Tian, ¡°the one with the mottled bamboo handle.¡± Da-Tian went to his study but since he did not know any ¡°mottled bamboo handle¡±, he simply brought the entire brush container over along with the inkslab. Xie Yilu poured a little of the sugar water by his bedside onto the slab and dipped into the remaining ink to write two characters in running script1: Extremely ill. Da-Tian asked, ¡°Master, do I¡­ have to take this back?¡± ¡°Thanks for your trouble.¡± Blushing, Xie Yilu fanned the letter, folded it and handed it over. Da-Tian was a little unwilling. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be back as soon as possible.¡± He helped Xie Yilu lie down. ¡°You don¡¯t know, but outside¡¯s a chaotic mess crawling with soldiers. They¡¯ve arrested some people but the civilians aren¡¯t cowed and won¡¯t accept it. I¡¯m afraid they might riot.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s mind leapt into alertness. ¡°Arrested people? Why?¡± ¡°Why else if not to cut the pygmy pear trees,¡± Da-Tian said as he walked towards the door. ¡°Now, it¡¯s not the Imperial Weaving Bureau that¡¯s cutting trees but the Zhejiang Army.¡± Once he was beneath the eaves, he opened an umbrella and continued towards the courtyard gate while saying, ¡°Soldiers don¡¯t care how hard your life is. If you dare to glare at them, they¡¯ll arrest you!¡± His voice was carried adrift by the sound of the downpour and an indistinct worry began to gnaw at Xie Yilu. Not long afterwards, the sound of a voice returned. ¡°Yeah¡­ mind the water¡­¡± When Da-Tian reached the doorway, he shouted, ¡°Master, His Excellency Qu is here!¡± A beaming smile appeared on Xie Yilu¡¯s face and he struggled to push himself upright. ¡°Why are you here everyday!¡± The door opened, letting Qu Feng in. He was wearing a rather dazzling bright red, gold-embroidered gauze robe, his skin powdered and his clothes heavily scented with incense2, which cast his face in a radiant, healthy glow. ¡°I missed you so much I couldn¡¯t keep away, alright?¡± He carried himself with an air of elegance and grace as he strode over, hips swaying, and slowly sat down beside the bed. ¡°When the Bureaus gathered to receive instructions today, the Lord Minister said that the Ministry will pay for your medicines.¡± Da-Tian had left to deliver the letter as soon as he helped Xie Yilu sit up so there were only the two of them left in the room. Xie Yilu asked embarrassedly, ¡°It¡¯s because you pushed for it on my behalf, didn¡¯t you? ¡°Who cares if I pushed for it or not,¡± Qu Feng patted his thin hand soothingly. ¡°If this money isn¡¯t given to you, then they¡¯d have used it for food and drink.¡± In his gratitude, Xie Yilu inadvertently put his own hand onto Qu Feng¡¯s. The two men stared into each other¡¯s eyes, both of them feeling a little awkward. Xie Yilu interrupted: ¡°What were you doing that warranted such such magnificent dress?¡± ¡°What could I have been doing?¡± Qu Feng smiled, subtly withdrawing his hand. ¡°I accompanied my wife back to her family. It¡¯s father¡¯s birthday so they fussed around for half the day.¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot,¡± Xie Yilu asked, ¡°the Zhejiang Army arrested people?¡± He leaned his body across the bed. ¡°No one said anything in the Ministry?¡± Qu Feng also leaned in. ¡°Speaking of this, it¡¯s really quite strange.¡± He shifted the pillow a little to make it more comfortable for Xie Yilu to lean on. ¡°Zhejiang sent soldiers into Nanjing without any authorisation, yet the Ministry of War hasn¡¯t said a word about it.¡± Xie Yilu knew that this was all Mei A¡¯Cha¡¯s doing; he had informed the Lord Minister about this the night he called on the Ministry. ¡°How¡¯s the cutting progressing?¡± ¡°Almost done now. There won¡¯t be a single tree left before the end of this month.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s expression grew sombre. Qu Feng knew what was weighing heavily on his heart so he teased good-naturedly, ¡°Missed the meeting, eh?¡± He extended his little finger from his sleeve and poked Xie Yilu in the chest. ¡°Liuman Hill, Xiaolao Spring.¡± Xiie Yilu smiled very bashfully and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s better that you didn¡¯t meet,¡± Qu Feng¡¯s gaze flitted over his bruised and battered face, ¡°Women like that are all burdens you can¡¯t shake off.¡± Xie Yilu looked out of the window at the drizzling rain and did not speak. Xie Yilu received a reply by the next day: I3 am thinking of thee. The sight of those five words left him speechless for a long time. It was as if the southerly breeze of summer had picked up the scent of blooming gardenias, or if an unstoppable flood of hot blood had rushed to his heart. He immediately replied: Three day¡¯s time, beyond Liuman Hill at Xiaolao Spring. Thinking over it, he added another sentence: We shall meet, no matter what. Da-Tian was still the one to deliver the letter and the receiver quickly agreed. When the agreed day came, Xie Yilu dressed in a black crepe gauze zhiduo and brought along the ¡°Thou art the boat and oar¡± fan. Da-Tian called for a carriage and nagged on endlessly as he helped Xie Yil aboard. ¡°Going out before your body recovers properly, that place is so bloody remote, what if something happens¡­¡± Xie Yily did not know whether to laugh or cry: ¡°Why can¡¯t you wish me well?¡± Da-Tian instructed the driver to depart. The whip cracked and he stood outside the carriage shed, whispering ¡°Look at that face of yours. What woman could take a fancy to you?¡± The horse began to walk and Xie Yilu raised the carriage curtain. ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to see a woman?¡± Da-Tian mumbled to himself as he returned home, his short form slowly growing distant. Xie Yilu was angry but he could do nothing about it. Once the cloth curtain was lowered, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He forced himself to straighten his face but in the end, he still could not help but smile. The journey was not short; he left from the city east, travelling through the entirety of Nanjing until he reached the opposite side of the city, yet Liuman Hill was still further west. The driver was silent the entire journey so Xie Yilu leaned against the carriage window in apprehension. He had been travelling for about a shichen when the driver knocked on the carriage shaft: ¡°Sir4, we¡¯re here. May I trouble you to step down and walk the last leg yourself?¡± Xiaolao Spring was nestled in the depths of a patch of willow trees that the horse carriage could not enter; of course, even if it could, the driver would not. Xie Yilu strolled at a leisurely pace since his body still ached when he walked too quickly. He followed the current upstream, delighted by the mottled light spilling from the treetops and the murmuring of spring water. Suddenly, he stopped, for there was a person standing at the foot of the grassy hill before him. It was a man, and Xie Yilu could not tell if he was relieved or disappointed so he did not call out rashly. The man was wearing a simple white lanshan5 and no hat, his long hair bound casually with fashionable red string to hang and flutter behind his head6. It¡¯s him, it should be him. Xie Yilu scanned the surroundings and saw that there was no one else here. He wanted to descend the hill towards him, but just as he took the first step, the other person turned around to look in his direction. He had a snow-white face, his eyes sparkling with intelligence under thin double eyelids, his lips like those oft seen on Buddha statues, not quite enough to be called ¡®beautiful¡¯ but certainly plump and smooth. The wind picked up, blowing over a gust of sandalwood fragrance. Xie Yilu stood there in a daze, his hands clenched into motionless fists. The buzzing in his brain would not stop and even his breathing had become sluggish. Last time at Zhebo Chan Temple, Xie Yilu had looked up at him from the bottom of the stairs. This time, their situations were reversed and it was him who now looked down from the heights. Like him, Liao Jixiang was also staring up in shock, his gaze locking onto the pale pink line on Xie Yilu¡¯s neck and the ugly bruises swelling up his face in blues and greens ¡ª all the results of his behest. Neither spoke for a long time. All of sudden, Xie Yilu turned around indignantly and, gritting his teeth against the pain, sprinted away in the direction that he came in. This was a very short chapter so there¡¯s no history to discuss. Having said that, I just returned from a trip to Nanjing which was specifically for the purpose of taking photos of things and places that appear in this novel. I¡¯ll be posting these photos gradually, but I thought that I would share the pictures I took at Shence Gate (the gate that Xie Yilu was almost sent to lead troops at in Chapter 4). Shence Gate (Éñ²ßÃÅ) is situated on northern side of the Ming city wall of Nanjing. It was one of the smaller and less frequently used gates due to its remote location and its proximity to the Back Lake (now Xuanwu Lake), which was a restricted area used to store household and tax registries (called Huang Ce or Yellow Register). The gate was first built during the 9th year of Hongwu (1376) and was named ¡°Gate of Divine Strategy¡±. During the Qing Dynasty in the 16th year of Shunzhi (1659), it was renamed to Desheng Gate (µÃʤÃÅ), meaning ¡°Gate of Achieving Victory¡±. It was renamed again in 1929 during the Republic of China period to Heping Gate (ºÍƽÃÅ), meaning ¡°Gate of Peace¡±. This is the view of the inner gate from inside the city walls. Shence Gate is the only gate to have a pre-Republic era gate tower, but this dates from the Qing Dynasty. However, the bricks used to construct the gate and walls are Ming originals since they have legible inscriptions left by the brickmakers. Beyond the inner gate is a barbican. This layout is designed so that invaders can be trapped in the open area between the inner and outer gates, at which point defenders can projectiles onto them from the walls. This is the view of the outer gate from outside the barbican. Note the inscription above the gate is ¡°Heping Gate¡± since it dates to 1929. 1. ÐÐÊé, a style of calligraphy that is halfway between regular (¿¬Êé) and cursive (²ÝÊé). Can be thought of as ¡®semi-cursive¡¯. Visual reference. 2. Rather than scenting the body with perfume, incense was used to fumigate clothing to achieve the same result. 3. Îá, archaic and literary ¡°I¡±. 4. ¿Í¹Ù, a dated polite address for customers. 5. Ò[ÉÀ, a type of men¡¯s robe characterised by border trims in a different colour. It was most commonly worn and associated with scholars. Visual reference. 6. This is exceptional artistic licence from the author since it was considered extremely rude and improper for adult men to not wear a hat and to not have one¡¯s hair in a topknot. CH 9 Xie Yilu and Qu Feng were crammed together in one palanquin, their arms and legs pushing against each other¡¯s. The scent of anxi incense on Qu Feng¡¯s body was so strong that it made Xie Yilu dizzy-headed. ¡°Why can¡¯t you rent your own palanquin?¡± complained Qu Feng, yet his expression was devoid of any complaint. ¡°People will start gossiping if you keep squeezing into mine.¡± ¡°What gossip?¡± Xie Yilu was listless, his mostly swollen face cutting a sorry figure. ¡°I said I¡¯ll walk alone but you insisted that I take your palanquin.¡± ¡°Fine, fine, it¡¯s all my fault, I asked for it, alright?¡± Qu Feng nudged him with his shoulder. ¡°I say, why have you been so crestfallen since the end of last month?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Xie Yilu let out a long sigh. ¡°Hurts, feels bad.¡± Qu Feng¡¯s brow twitched: ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡­ went and saw that penfriend again?¡± Xie Yilu turned his face away in annoyance at being seen through by Qu Feng, who pressed against him as he interrogated, ¡°What, are you not to her liking?¡± The palanquin shook twice and was lowered to the ground. The attendant accompanying them outside reported, ¡°Your Excellencies, we¡¯re here.¡± Xie Yilu rushed to step out of the palanquin, closely followed by Qu Feng. They had arrived in a little alley inside the South Gate called Shawo. The entire alley was lined with official¡¯s palanquins, some coming and some leaving. Qu Feng instructed the palanquin bearers to wait for them in a neighbouring alley and then pulled Xie Yilu inside. The alley led to a courtyard and above its gate hung a rectangular plaque inscribed with the three characters for ¡°Hui Chun Yuan1¡±. A table had been placed behind the gate and a scribe was seated there with an eunuch standing next to him. Xie Yilu was about to step inside the gate when he was stopped: ¡°Money?¡± Xie Yilu frowned. ¡°What money?¡° The eunuch sneered. ¡°Of course it¡¯s welcoming money ¡ª this is a welcoming banquet for the imperially appointed Eunuch Commissioner of Acquisitions2, Qi Wan gonggong3. ¡± His eyes swept over Xie Yilu¡¯s buzi in disdain. ¡°You¡¯ll give twenty taels.¡± Such a rule did not exist in the Beijing officialdom so Xie Yilu ignored his demand. However, Qu Feng gave him a tug and pulled out fifty taels of silver to place onto the table, reported their names and pushed him inside. Aggrieved, Xie Yilu was just about to start spewing criticism when he skirted around the screen wall and raised his head to a garden scene. Green had yet to arrive in full force and the plants were daintily tinged by a hint of yellow. White walls were topped by black tiles and the roofs tapered into upturned flying eaves. If one paid attention, they would hear the gurgling of water as it flowed beneath the arched stone bridge. The two of them were led deeper into the garden, passing by Taihu rocks4, fences blooming with peonies and roseleaf raspberry trellises hung with drunkenly drooping strands of shredded tobacco leaves. Moved by the sight, Xie Yilu sighed: ¡°Well, it is Qi Wan ¡ª there¡¯s so much lavish pomp even when he¡¯s come to Nanjing.¡± Qu Feng shook open his folding fan and whispered into his ear, ¡°His host is the Imperial Weaving Bureau.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s expression changed upon hearing the words ¡°Imperial Weaving Bureau¡±, becoming a little sour, a little puckered and a little absent-minded. Qu Feng asked him, ¡°Who¡¯s this Qi Wan?¡± ¡°A fourth-ranked eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial and a favourite of the Great Ancestor. It¡¯s been many years since he last came out to plunder.¡± The two chatted as they walked. The banquet was set up in the north of the garden, with twenty or thirty tables spread around the shore of the lake. The main table was on a little sandbank that extended outwards into the water. Across from it was a pavilion featuring a theatre stage that rose from the water¡¯s surface; the Imperial Weaving Bureau had invited the Hualin Troupe5, who were by now already performing¡¶The Story of the Red Peach ¡¤ Meeting in the Pavilion6¡·. Xie Yilu and Qu Feng found a lower-ranking table to sit down at. It was a rule set in stone that the lowest ranked officials arrive first and the highest ranked ones last. As such, the tables were gradually filled by those wearing wild geese and peacock buzi7. When all of them had arrived, a man wearing a golden pheasant buzi, his hair and beard shot with white, strolled up to the two of them. He looked cautiously over Xie Yilu and said to Qu Feng in a low voice, ¡°Stand up and go sit in the front.¡± Qu Feng stood up immediately and made his way to the front without even daring to glance at Xie Yilu who, although bewildered, was unsurprised. He had figured out long ago that Qu Feng came from a powerful family ¡ª he had just not expected that his father would be a second-ranked official8. The crescent moon had already climbed atop the willow trees when Tu Yue and a group of his subordinates escorted Zheng Xian to the banquet. Today, Zheng Xian was like a dew-covered flower; he wore a bright red robe made of zhuanghua brocade, its dragon and cloud designs rolling over his shoulders, and a jade belt wound through rings of gold and silver to encircle his waist. He was already beautiful beforehand, but now, with rouge pressed onto his face, there was no need to look at anyone else beneath the moon or beside the water tonight ¡ª his was the only sight one¡¯s eyes needed. He walked around the lake shore towards the main table. All the officials along his path, no matter their rank, stood up and bowed, yet he paid no heed to any of them. Rather, he only stopped before Xie Yilu and acknowledged him as ¡°Chunchu¡±. Xie Yilu hastened to bow in return but remained silent. Zheng Xian waited for a while but Xie Yilu made no move to curry favour with him so he left with a chuckle. His colleagues around him were all whispering amongst themselves. They were jealous of Xie Yilu¡¯s fame, but they did not dare to openly make an enemy of the Imperial Weaving Bureau; they were too afraid to even say an extra word to him for fear of being implicated in the Bureau¡¯s eyes. The troupe sang one scene after another; it was only when the sky had fully darkened that the ¡®king¡¯ of the banquet finally arrived. Qi Wan was escorted here by Liao Jixiang himself, the two of them walking shoulder to shoulder, head to head, as they chatted affectionately. Qi Wan was dressed in a great robe of purple and gold that featured a sitting serpent design. Next to him, Liao Jixiang¡¯s own outfit seemed to pale in comparison ¡ª he made for a somewhat pitiful sight in his little cloud-patterned boots and gold-brocaded moonlight-blue9 yisan that fluttered weakly as he walked. They were followed by a large, prestigious entourage, every one of them dressed sumptuously. First came Mei A¡¯Cha and a trusted aide of Qi Wan¡¯s. The two of them seemed to be old acquaintances as they chatted intimately arm in arm. Behind them came Jin Tang, Ruan Dian and others, a hand laid squarely on the sabres at their waists, the serpent design on the knee bands10 of their robes reflecting the rippling waves of water, so blindingly brilliant to look at. Officials, civil and martial, all fought to greet them and Xie Yilu could not resist looking either ¡ª not at the imperially appointed Eunuch Qi, but at the thin figure of Liao Jixiang. Even now, he still struggled to accept the fact that the person he corresponded with through letters was him. How could that powerful and beautiful hand of calligraphy and those sorrowful verses like ¡°Last night was a cloudless eve, the wind blowing occasionally, and I thought of thee¡±, have come from a eunuch? It¡¯s a mistake, there must¡¯ve been a mistake somewhere! He stared keenly at Liao Jixiang, but the other did not spare him even a single glance. Xie Yilu knew perfectly well that Liao Jixiang belonged at the centre of attention, at the cold and lofty heights of power, whereas he himself was no more than a grain of sand in the mundane world of mortals. Qi Wan took his seat with Liao Jixiang to his left and Zheng Xian to his right. Anyone with power in the whole of Nanjing city made an appearance tonight. All of the food served were delicacies like sea cucumber and roast donkey11 but only the senior officials12 from each Ministry were given a place at the main table. In actuality, Qi Wan was not the detestable ¡°old thing¡± as Zheng Xian called him. He was in his forties with white skin and good looks. His only faults were that he had grown fat and that he had a nose hooked like an eagle¡¯s beak, the tip of which was burned an irritated red. After taking a few perfunctory bites of food, he raised his cup, signalling the first toast. ¡°The reason for my13 visit this time to procure tributes for the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.¡± He had a pair of smiling eyes that made him appear affable at first glance. ¡°Our Lord of Ten Thousand Years wants to drink Zhejiang tea,¡± he prattled on as if it were idle gossip. ¡°This time, I¡¯m only passing by Nanjing and I¡¯m sorry to have bothered you gentlemen. I¡¯ll drink a toast to all of you ¡ª one thousand years!¡± When officials toasted each other, they did not say ¡°cheers¡± but rather ¡°a thousand years¡±. The whole table raised their cups, all of them repeating polite and auspicious phrases as they haphazardly swallowed their wine. Placing his cup down, Qi Wan continued, ¡°I¡¯ve brought six hundred makui boats14 with me, three hundred of which are headed for Zhejiang and the other three hundred will stay here.¡± His intent would not be clearer: this was a demand for Nanjing to offer tribute. ¡°Jinling15 ah, it¡¯s a good place here¡­¡± there was a sudden change of tone as he turned to ask Liao Jixiang, ¡°isn¡¯t it, Lao-ba16? ¡°San-ge17 can rest assured,¡± Liao Jixiang responded frankly, ¡°Whatever biddings you have in Nanjing, I¡¯ll do them for you.¡± Qi Wang laughed, his large hands cradling Liao Jixiang¡¯s slender ones. ¡°This little brother of mine is well-read and well-natured. You people better not bully him!¡± Hearing this, the entire table was left speechless as they looked awkwardly at each other. However, Zheng Xian understood him perfectly ¡ª it was meant for his ears. ¡°I¡¯ll see who dares!¡± He slammed his wine goblet onto the table. ¡°If the Imperial Weaving Bureau has a need for men, I have plenty of soldiers to spare!¡± Qi Wan turned around and looked him in the eye, the first time tonight that he did so. ¡°Lao-jiu18, I won¡¯t praise you for anything else if not for your forthrightness!¡± He lifted his cup with a flourish and raised it towards the crowd. ¡°Come, two thousand years!¡± Everyone raised their cups with trepidation and fumbled as they drank their second cup of wine. Qi Wan winked at his experienced and trusted subordinate. A list of tributes was immediately delivered into the hands of the Minister of Revenue: forty-four barrels of carp, twenty-six barrels of swans, a hundred and twenty barrels of fragrant peaches chilled with ice, two hundred vats of preserved vegetables, seventy vats of candied cherries, twenty-three thousand cash worth of salted fish, two hundred thousand catties of spring tea¡­ ¡°This¡­¡± the Minister of Revenue was shocked by these numbers, but before he could form any words, Qi Wan pulled something off his belt and threw it onto the table. It was a golden tablet, with characters written by His Majesty¡¯s own hand. Silence immediately descended upon the banquet. Qi Wan lifted his chopsticks, slowing eating from the dishes as he waited. When still no one spoke, his eyes curved with a smile and he gestured towards everyone¡¯s cups: ¡°Three thousand years. Drink!¡± No one dared to disobey him; they forced down the wine that painfully burned their throats as they swallowed. The present officials then lined up by order of rank to offer their toasts. Xie Yilu was also part of that line and because he was standing closer to the main table, he saw Zheng Xian take the tribute list from the Minister of Revenue¡¯s hands and break into a smile as he scanned over it: ¡°San-ge, these Jinling pear trees¡­¡± Qi Wan was still in the dark. ¡°What about them?¡± Eyes sparkling with delight, Zheng Xian shifted his gaze to Liao Jixiang. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask the Imperial Weaving Bureau.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s frank response came before Qi Wan could ask him. ¡°I cut the trees down.¡± Qi Wan paused for a moment. ¡°How many did you cut?¡± Liao Jixiang responded, ¡°All of them.¡± Qi Wan¡¯s face froze over in an instant. He did not explode in anger ¡ª perhaps because they were both subordinates under the Great Ancestor ¡ª but the impatience in his expression clearly indicated his displeasure. He spotted Xie Yilu in the long line from the corner of his eye ¡ª that bruised and battered face of his was truly too conspicuous ¡ª and saw that he was staring over in his direction. Qi Wan studied him and realised that he was looking at Liao Jixiang. ¡°What are you looking at, you sonofabitch!¡± He casually swiped up a wine goblet from the table and flung it at Xie Yilu. The crowd scattered in a flash. There was not much wine in the cup and it only wetted the front of Xie Yilu¡¯s robe, but the countless probing gazes it invited was truly unbearable. Xie Yilu looked up anxiously and met Liao Jixiang¡¯s eyes ¡ª a pair of eyes that seemed to be filled with something that he could not express clearly with words. All Xie Yilu saw was that his Buddha-like lips quivered as he bit back whatever he wanted to say. At that moment, Zhen Xian took the initiative: ¡°No need for anger, San-ge. Come, let me recommend someone to you.¡± He was clearly trying to help Xie Yilu out of his predicament, but it was as if Xie Yilu had not heard him. His eyes remained locked on Liao Jixiang; he wanted to know if the other had something to say or if he had been mistaken. However, when Qi Wan walked over towards Zheng Xian, Liao Jixiang calmly and expressionlessly averted his eyes. It was only an accidental meeting of the eyes, yet Xie Yilu felt like his heart had been twisted into a knot. He failed to understand why he could not get over it. If Liao Jixiang had just been a prostitute, he might have forgotten about him after their first meeting, but he just had to be a eunuch, and worse, a vile and damnable grand chamberlain at that. This absurd development had all but turned Xie Yilu¡¯s world upside down and left him hooked on tight despite his ardent wishes to let go. The person Zheng Xian recommended was Tu Yue. He led a few of his subordinate platoon and squad commanders19, as well as a row of Vermillion Cavalry20, and held a sea bowl21 in his hand as he came over jovially to offer his toast. In addition to the wine, he also offered up a girl of around sixteen or seventeen years. Qi Wan¡¯s eyes lit up ¡ª this was a love of his and he had been known to spend gold like water on affairs with prostitutes back in Beijing. Tu Yue had scratched his itch perfectly. The girl¡¯s looks were soft and fair, but her most desirable feature was her pair of three cun golden lotuses22. She wore a skirt decorated with eight-treasure patterns23 and the front of her shoes barely peeked out from her skirt hem. As soon as she wobbled her way to Qi Wan¡¯s side, he immediately picked her up like one would a rare bloom: ¡°Oh, oh, oh, come and rest, my Mistress Chang¡¯e24 ¡ª you mustn¡¯t hurt those tiny feet walking!¡± He had the girl sit on his leg while he carefully held her up by her waist. As he spoke, his large hand stroked down her body until it snuck into her skirt. The girl leaned against his arm and giggled. He pulled, once, twice, and took off a shoe. The little shoe was not even a single zha25 in length and was fully embroidered with entangled lotus flowers. Zheng Xian frequently played this game as well, so he filled Qi Wan¡¯s wine goblet for him and gently placed it into the shoe. This was called a ¡°golden lotus cup¡± and it was a refined hobby of patrons of prostitutes. He gave the shoe to the girl so that she could offer it to Qi Wan. The girl squirmed and shyly refused, but anyone familiar with the trade knew that it was merely a tantalising tactic. Zheng Xian waved his hands behind him ¡ª first came a voice like a warbler¡¯s trill, then Guo Xiaozhuo, with his face painted in powders and pigments, came prancing out, hips swaying. ¡°This year¡¯s spring has stirred my heart most. High and low over painted walls, do my spring longings dance and fly. The dropping roseleaf branches have caught my skirt, as if the blooms are leading my heart to that good place¡­26¡± He was singing¡¶Pursuing the Dream27¡·, and was dressed in a verdant top and skirt with a floral headdress of glimmering crystals upon his brow. When he glanced back, it was like Du Liniang28 had stepped out of a painting scroll to walk amongst them in the flesh. Qi Wan stared at him in a trance, and though he was not fond of men, he could not help but be hypnotised by this youth. Everyone seated tonight had drunk Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s wine before, but few had ever heard his singing. With a figure like a willow branch, a throat as sweet as honey and the corners of his eyes painted in peony-pink, a shake of this sleeve beside any man¡¯s temple brought with it a gust of fragrance ¡ª he was truly a creature to die for. Guo Xiaozhuo knew that he was beautiful and enjoyed having men covet him. Tilting his head, he saw a dark-skinned boy with a sabre upon his back, staring at him in infatuation. The girl, seeing that Qi Wan¡¯s soul seemed to have been enticed away by this fake woman, hurried to seductively bring the golden lotus cup to his lips. Qi Wan swallowed the wine in large gulps, then ordered her to refill it and to serve it to Liao Jixiang. In the eyes of others, this was an act of favour, but in Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes, it was filthy and obscene. As he watched that prostitute¡¯s shoe be placed up against Liao Jixiang¡¯s lips, his mind flashed back to his poems: ¡°Plum blossoms are guests from my homeland gentle; pines are the companions constant beside me¡± and ¡°The wind and clouds above are real as a dream, while the years on earth flow past like a stream¡±, as well as that indignant and grief-stricken sigh of ¡°Nan ming29¡±¡­ how could someone like this bear such humiliation at the hands of a prostitute! Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand moved, and, contrary to Xie Yilu¡¯s expectation, he accepted the shoe, lifting it with a small smile. ¡°San-ge,¡± he placed the shoe beside Qi Wan¡¯s mouth as he spoke drily: ¡°A toast to my guest I hold in this cup, may the dew of lotuses water his lips30. Your younger brother offers a toast to you.¡± For a moment, the whole table fell into stunned silence at both his modesty and ingenuity, as well as his ability to compose verses on the spot. Xie Yilu felt like someone had punched him in the chest ¡ª it was him, no doubt about it. With his spirit and literary bearing, it could not be anyone else but him. Xie Yilu had drunk so much wine tonight that he was unsteady on his feet as he staggered into the grass and passed out. When he awoke, the banquet had long since ended and from a distance came the vague sounds of talking. Initially, he paid it no mind as he smoothed out his robes to leave, but suddenly, a call of ¡°San-ge¡± floated into his ear from that direction. It was Liao Jixiang. ¡°Lao-ba, you¡¯re damning me!¡± came Qi Wan¡¯s voice. Tiptoeing over, Xie Yilu peered at them under the moonlight and saw that the pair were in the lake-centre pavilion. Liao Jixiang was seated while Qi Wan paced back and forth in irritation. The wind rose and fell repeatedly so Xie Yilu only heard snippets of their conversation. ¡°¡­ pears, but since there aren¡¯t any pears at this time of year, Nanjing will have to pay me in silver¡­¡± They¡¯re talking about the pygmy pear trees. Xie Yilu hid behind the decorative rock mountain as Qi Wan¡¯s voice grew higher and higher. ¡°It¡¯s written as clear as can be on the tribute list ¡ª it¡¯s pears that the Lord of Ten Thousand Years wants! How many pears can a single tree produce!¡± This was extortion using the same tactic as Ruan Dian. ¡°Two taels of silver per pear, I¡¯m not asking for too much, am I? A single tree is then worth hundreds of taels!¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s mouth gaped open in shock. Two taels of silver per pear works out to a minimum of a hundred taels per tree. He had seen the pear orchards growing on the mountains behind the city; there are likely tens of thousands of trees there. Qi Wan was set to reap millions of taels with a single swoop, and the various yamen involved were sure to take their cuts on top of that. This was not just taking civilians¡¯ life savings of civilians ¡ª this was driving them to certain death31! ¡°¡­ why did I go out of my way to come to Nanjing? Oh, Jixiang, if I leave two tenths of the silver to you when I leave, you would¡¯ve had enough filial money32 for the whole year ahead!¡± Xie Yilu was drenched in sweat, terrified by the revelation of Qi Wan¡¯s greed and despicable methods. ¡°¡­ The Lord of Ten Thousand Years is already unhappy. If it weren¡¯t for the Great Ancestor¡­ without silver, you won¡¯t be staying as Weaving Superintendent for much longer!¡± Xie Yilu could not hear any sound coming from Liao Jixiang. He had remained silent, as if he were mute. ¡°¡­ and Zheng Xian ¡ª don¡¯t compete with him over everything. What did the Great Ancestor say? He¡¯s the Grand Defender of Nanjing. He might be stationed far from the capital, but he¡¯s been stationed here as a trusted courtier by the Lord of Ten Thousand Years himself!¡± Xie Yilu did not stay to hear the rest of their conversation; he all but ran away from the scene. The hearts of eunuchs are too evil ¡ª if it weren¡¯t for Liao Jixiang pre-emptively cutting the trees, the entirety of Nanjing would¡­ wait, he slowly calmed down. Why did Liao Jixiang cut the trees? Was it really because the pygmy pear trees were so fragrant that they disturbed his sleep? The way that Ruan Dian behaved at the prostitute¡¯s place, Mei A¡¯Cha¡¯s midnight visit to the Ministry of War, the Ministry¡¯s rare silence after the Zhejiang Army entered the city, as well as the things Zhang Cai said at the pear orchards¡­ Xie Yilu felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, wiping his mind blank. After that night, he returned to Lingfu Temple nightly, but left in disappointment each time. There was no letter ¡ª how could there possibly be a letter? He laughed at his own greed; he had been the one to stride away, shaking his sleeves. Xiaolao Spring beyond Liuman Hill, that hillside gently caressed by the wind, and he who stood beneath it, scented by the fragrance of sandalwood ¡ª his leg is injured, how did he walk such a long distance back home? Even just thinking about it brought tears to Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes. IMPORTANT: I recently found this translation being uploaded onto third-party sites without my permission. This is extremely frustrating because I dedicate so much time and effort to my translations and the knowledge that someone can then reupload my posts is very disheartening. I don¡¯t want to place anything behind a password lock (since the everything I translate can be read for free in Chinese), but if this continues, I might have no option but to do that. Moving on, the power of a ¡°imperially appointed¡± official is referred to numerous times in this chapter. These officials, most often eunuchs, acted solely on the orders of the emperor and carried his personal authority with them. As such, their actions and goals were often different, if not contrary to those of the civil government. The result is that civil officials distrust them, but they also are fearful of them since they have direct access to the emperor. Another concept mentioned in this chapter is that of ¡°welcoming money¡± and ¡°filial money¡±. While these look like blatant extortion and bribery today, they were a well-established part of socialising and officialdom in Imperial China. It was almost impossible for an official back then to not participate in ¡®economic co-curricular activities¡¯ as they would offend others and doom their career. Lastly, this chapter mentions two dramatic works: ¡°The Story of the Red Peach¡± and ¡°The Peony Pavilion¡±. While I have elected to translate the term Ï·Çú as ¡°opera¡±, it is important to note that they are not the same as European operas as they also incorporate elements of plays, dance and martial arts. 1. »Ø´ºÔ°, literally ¡°Returning Spring Garden¡±. The phrase ¡°returning spring¡± is a metaphor for revitalisation. [Back] 2. ²É°ìÌ«¼à, tasked with acquiring goods to present to the emperor as imperial tribute. Although they don¡¯t have much power on paper, their status as ¡°imperially appointed¡± (ÇÕ²î) officials means that they are acting on behalf of the emperor, so they are treated with extra respect and flattery by local officials. [Back] 3. ¹«¹«, respectful address to eunuchs by non-eunuchs. [Back] 4. Ì«ºþʯ, literally ¡°Tai Lake rock¡±. They¡¯re decorative rocks from the edges of Lake Tai, prized for their unique weathered shapes. Visual reference. [Back] 5. »ªÁÖ²¿, a famous theatre troupe in Nanjing that held a high-profile competition with rival Xinghua Troupe (ÐË»¯²¿) and won. See this page for more history. [Back] 6.¡¶ºìÀæ¼Ç¡·or Story of the Red Peach is a Ming dynasty Kunqu opera by late Ming dramatist Xu Fuzuo (Ð츴ìñ). It tells of the love story between a Northern Song scholar and a prostitute. Meeting in the Pavilion (ͤ»á) is likely one of its 30 acts but I haven¡¯t been able its number. [Back] 7. Wild geese (ÔÆÑã) appear on the buzi of fourth-ranked civil officials while peacocks (¿×ȸ) appears on the buzi of third-ranked civil officials. Visual reference. [Back] 8. This is because golden pheasants (½õ¼¦) appear on the buzi of second-ranked civil officials. Visual reference. [Back] 9. Ô°×É«, although a direct translation would be ¡°moon-white colour¡±, it is actually a pale shade of blue. Visual reference. [Back] 10. Ï¥Ò[, a band of decorative designs that runs across a robe (or a skirt for women) at knee level. Visual reference. [Back] 11. ¿ÖË, a cruel dish that involved scorching a live donkey with burning oil to cook its meat in sections. [Back] 12. ÌÃÉϹÙ, literally ¡°officials of the hall¡±. Refers to 1st to 3rd ranked officials, excluding those with lower 3rd rank (´ÓÈýÆ·). [Back] 13. Qi Wan also uses the special first-person pronoun ÔÛ¼Ò that Zheng Xian uses. [Back] 14. Âí¿ì´¬, literally ¡°horse fast boat¡±. Another name for Âí´¬ (horse boat), a type of vessel that was used by the Ming fleet to carry provisions and tradable goods. Its name comes from the fact that it was originally meant to carry horses. If we take a Ming zhang (ÕÉ) to be roughly 3.11 metres, a makuai boat would be around 115 metres (~377 feet) long and 46.65 metres (~153 feet) wide. [Back] 15. ½ðÁê, an older name for Nanjing. The name ¡°Nanjing¡± which only came to refer to the city after the Ming capital was moved to Beijing (since Nanjing means ¡°southern capital¡±). [Back] 16. ÀÏ°Ë, literally ¡°old eight¡±. ¡°Old¡± is added to a name to show familiarity. ¡°Eight¡± refers to Liao Jixiang being the 8th brother. [Back] 17. Èý¸ç, literally ¡°third elder brother¡±. Refers to Qi Wan. [Back] 18. ÀϾÅ, literally ¡°old nine¡±. Refers to Zheng Xian. [Back] 19. ×ÜÆì, platoon commander, СÆì, squad commander. [Back] 20. ç¾Æï, refers to cavalrymen dressed in reddish-orange clothing who are a subsidiary of the Brocade Uniform Guard. It can also refer more generally to mounted retainers of nobles and officials who are also dressed in reddish-orange. [Back] 21. º£Íë, a type of wide-mouthed and narrowed bottomed white porcelain bowl with a blue rim. Visual reference. [Back] 22. Èý´ç½ðÁ«, refers to the ideal extremely small foot achieved by foot binding. Three cun is roughly 10 cm or 4 inches. [Back] 23. °Ë±¦, a type of traditional decorative patterns. The exact patterns that make up the ¡°eight treasures¡± can vary but a Ming example can be found here: Visual reference. [Back] 24. æ϶ð, the moon goddess who floated there after eating an elixir of immortality. [Back] 25. “’, a unit of measurement based on the diagonal distance from the tip of one¡¯s thumb to the tip of one¡¯s middle finger when one makes a ¡°L¡± shape with their hand. [Back] 26. ×îÁÃÈË´ºÉ«ÊǽñÄ꣬ÉÙʲôµÍ¾Í¸ßÀ´·Û»­Ô«£¬Ô­À´´ºÐÄÎÞ´¦²»·ÉÐü£¬ÊÇ˯ݱÞÂץסȹîÎÏߣ¬Ç¡±ãÊÇ»¨ËÆÈËÐÄÍùºÃ´¦Ç£: from Scene Twleve of the Ming Kunqu opera ¡¶Äµµ¤Í¤¡·or The Peony Pavilion by Tang Xianzu (ÌÀÏÔ×æ). The first two sentences of my translation are adapted from that of Cyril Birch, which can be found on page 57 of T¨¢ang, Hsien-tsu. Peony Pavilion: Mudan Ting (Chinese Literature in Translation). Indiana University Press, 1980. Video of this section being performed. [Back] 27. ¡¶Ñ°ÃΡ·, Scene 12 of The Peony Pavilion, as translated by Cyril Birch. [Back] 28. ¶ÅÀöÄï, the female protagonist of The Peony Pavilion who sings the previous lines. [Back] 29. ÄÑÃù, literally ¡°difficult [to] voice¡±. [Back] 30. ÊÖÖ´´Ë±­Ðп;ƣ¬Óû¿Í³Ý¼ÕÉúÁ«»¨: as quoted from the late Ming literati Xu Wan¡®s (Ðìæý) work¡¶±¾ÊÂÊ«¡·, during the reign of Longqing (1567-1573), the dramatist He Liangjun (ºÎÁ¼¿¡) took out a golden lotus shoe from his sleeve and toasted famed literati Wang Shizhen (ÍõÊÀÕê), who responded with this poem written on a fan the following day. Source. [Back] 31. ËÀÎÞÔáÉíÖ®µØ, literally ¡°die without a place for burial¡±. An idiom for leaving someone with absolutely nothing left and in the most tragic of circumstances. [Back] 32. Т¾´Ç®, refers to money paid to superiors as a ¡®sign of filial respect¡¯, but in reality were just wide scale, accepted bribery. [Back] CH 10 Jin Tang was flipping through a copy of¡¶The Ancient Eye1¡·as his palanquin swayed along the road when a Gaoli2 eunuch came running from afar. He whispered a few words to one of the accompanying attendants before drawing closer to the palanquin. Since the newcomer was his subordinate, Jin Tang pushed open the palanquin¡¯s window panel to reveal his ear without looking out. The junior chamberlain seemed a little nervous as he said in a low voice, ¡°The Lord Director called Ruan Dian in this morning.¡± Jin Tang glanced mildly at him. ¡°What was his punishment?¡± ¡°He had Ruan Dian whipped, but said he¡¯ll leave him some dignity by avoiding his face.¡± Jin Tang smiled absentmindedly and dismissed the junior chamberlain with a wave of his hand. His attendant stepped beside the palanquin to wait respectfully for orders; Jin Tang casually instructed, ¡°Reward him.¡± Closing the window, Jin Tang returned to his book. Yet before he could flip to the next page, the palanquin shook and was lowered to the ground as shouts arose from outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on in front?¡± They were close to the field headquarters that Qi Wan had set up in his temporary residence at the Ninth Young Master¡¯s Garden. The streets here were narrow so minor clashes were frequent. The attendant investigated the commotion and returned to report: ¡°Yeye3, Qi Wan has closed off the street, but a minor official didn¡¯t know and now he¡¯s being beaten up for walking through.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Jin Tang was indifferent, ¡°tell him to get the hell up and clear the way.¡± The attendant immediately went forth to drive the official away and the palanquin resumed its swaying way. The motion left Jin Tang feeling quite pleased and, perhaps was because of this good spirit, he pushed open the palanquin window. He only opened a little gap, but it was enough to see the smashed palanquin laying by the side of the street. ¡°Stop!¡± He stomped his foot hard. He pulled open the curtain and stepped out without waiting for the palanquin to come to a complete stop. Pushing aside Qi Wan¡¯s cronies, he saw that the man lying face-down was indeed Qu Feng. He was uninjured but covered in dirt and was pinned down by a foot on his shoulder. Sweeping his gaze over the scene, Jin Tang saw that those beating Qu Feng were all fire-tenders without ranks. Seeing him, they all straightened themselves before bending over at the waist. His attendant then flashed Liao Jixiang¡¯s calling card. Jin Tang walked silently towards Qu Feng and, without any pointless courtesies, pulled him up by the arms. Since Qu Feng was much taller than him, Jin Tang was forced to hug him as he hauled him up. At such a close distance, Qu Feng¡¯s face flushed red the moment he met Jin Tang¡¯s eyes; he was like a youth who had done something stupid only to be discovered by the person he least wanted to see, leaving him embarrassed and overwhelmed. ¡°Have you any idea who this is?!¡± The fury in Jin Tang¡¯s expression looked genuine as he pointed a finger at the group of fire-tenders. ¡°That¡¯s the Young Master from the Minister of Rites¡¯ household!¡± Yet even the Minister of Rites himself meant nothing to eunuchs, let alone his son. The fire-tenders looked at each other helplessly and only obediently uttered their apologies on account of Jin Tang¡¯s insistence. Qu Feng made for a sorry sight ¡ª not just because he had been beaten up, but more because Jin Tang had witnessed said beat up. Recalling the circumstances of their last meeting, he wanted to thank Jin Tang but the words of gratitude became stuck in his throat. Since he had already helped Qu Feng from his predicament, Jin Tang ought to have stepped back into his palanquin. Instead, he bent down and used his hands ¡ª that pair of meticulous and spotless hands, adorned with consecrated4 gemstone rings ¡ª to dust off the hems of Qu Feng¡¯s robes. Qu Feng could tell that he was not doing this for appearance¡¯s sake, but rather because Jin Tang wanted, from the bottom of his heart, for him to leave cleanly and with dignity. Was this just because he had stopped him out of kindness that time he injured his foot? Distracted by his thoughts, Qu Feng raised his head to find Jin Tang¡¯s subordinates staring at him in astonishment or even hostility. He remembered that a colleague had once said, ¡°The temperament of a eunuch is the hardest to grasp, but if you figure him out and get on his right side, he¡¯ll cut off his own head to give to you and will even exert his all for you.¡± Now, it seemed as though that colleague was indeed right. ¡°Many thanks,¡± Qu Feng said suddenly. The hand that had been dusting his robe stopped at the sound of his voice. Jin Tang appeared to be taken aback; he had thought that Qu Feng looked down on him and disdained to converse with him. Straightening up, palms covered in dust and dirt, he said to Qu Feng, ¡°You should take my palanquin, I¡­¡± All of a sudden, Qu Feng stuffed something into his hand. Then, lowering his head, he slinked off with his attendant and palanquin bearers in tow. Jin Tang slowly looked down at his hand. It was a little square handkerchief, snow-white and made of delicately woven dingniangzi5 cloth rather than silk. He hastily shouted for his attendant: ¡°Hurry, bring me water!¡± He had his subordinate hold the handkerchief while he washed his hands with water and dried off with a silk towel scented by white olive incense. It was only then that he took the handkerchief back, lifted the curtain and stepped into his palanquin. 1. ¡¶Ç§°ÙÄêÑÛ¡·, a Ming book by Zhang Sui (ÕÅìÝ ) that discusses Chinese history, politics, technology, economics, religion and literature throughout the ages. Its title can be roughly translated as ¡°The Ancient Eye¡± or ¡°The Eye That Looks Through the Millenia¡±. [Back] 2. ¸ßÀö, Korea. [Back] 3. Ò¯Ò¯, respectful address to powerful eunuchs, literally ¡°paternal grandfather¡±. [Back] 4. ¿ª¹â, refers to a Buddhist ritual. Objects that have been consecrated at a temple are believed to be able to extend the Buddha¡¯s blessing to its owner. [Back] 5. ¶¡Äï×Ó²¼, literally ¡°Mrs Ding¡¯s cloth¡±. A type of cotton cloth said to have been created by a late Ming woman surnamed Ding, who lived in Songjiang Prefecture (Ëɽ­¸®), modern Shanghai. [Back] 6. °Ë, literally ¡°old eight¡±. ¡°Old¡± is added to a name to show familiarity. ¡°Eight¡± refers to Liao Jixiang being the 8th brother. [Back] 7. ÀÏÆß, literally ¡°old seven¡±. ¡°Seven¡± refers to Mei A¡¯Cha being the 7th brother. [Back] 8. ÆÕÍÓɽ, a renowned Buddhist site in Zhejiang. [Back] 9. Ì«ËØÂö, an old practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine that claimed to predict people¡¯s fortunes based off changes in their pulse. It¡¯s a bit similar to physiognomy and is believed to have originated during Ming. [Back] 10. ×ÓʱÈý¿Ì, 11:45 pm. [Back] 11. ð½±ÊÏÉ, a type of folk Chinese spirit writing. It involved using a using a suspended sieve or stylus to write characters into sand, which are then interpretated. The first character ð½ is a mythical bird and may refer to the person controlling the ¡®brush¡¯. They are believed to be possessed by an immortal are referred to as Éúð½. [Back] 12. ¹Ú, refers to the hairpiece worn by men over their topknots. A common Ming-style guan looks like this: Visual reference. [Back] 13. Xie Yilu is again using the archaic first person pronoun Îá. [Back] The Ninth Young Master¡¯s Garden was not big but its scenery was beautiful, boasting of a handful of ancient millennia-old trees as well as a lilac grove. Jin Tang sat beneath the lilac pergola as waited for Qi Wan. His tea was good tea and it was well brewed; its only fault was that it was not hot. Cold tea was not a good omen, and as expected, Qi Wan did not arrive for a long time. The sun had just begun to rise in the east when Jin Tang began waiting for him and he only appeared, dressed in casualwear, when the sun had slipped ever so slightly into the western sky. The girl that Tu Yue had gifted last time trailed behind him, holding his teacup. Qi Wan did not put up any airs and sat down next to Jin Tang after plucking a sprig of flower buds on the cusp of blossoming from a nearby branch. Jin Tang sprang up and bowed reverently. Qi Wan lifted the sprig to his nose and sniffed: ¡°Sit.¡± He looked Jin Tang up and down. ¡°Your surname is¡­ Jin, right?¡± ¡°The Second Ancestor¡¯s memory is splendid!¡± ¡°What ¡®Second Ancestor¡¯? That¡¯s just what the subordinates say to flatter me,¡± Qi Wan laughed. ¡°Lao-ba6 is surrounded by good people. The whole lot of you are all very good ¡ª you, and Lao-qi7. Seizing on the friendly atmosphere, Jin Tang hurriedly pulled out a gift registry from his robe, the exact one that Mei A¡¯Cha had given to Zheng Xian. ¡°Second Ancestor, our Lord Director specifically tasked me to come apologise to you¡­¡± Qi Wan accepted the gift registry and dismissed the girl with a wave of his hand. ¡°Oh, what apology? Lao-ba is treating me as if we¡¯re total strangers.¡± He began to flip through the registry as he spoke. This came as a great surprise to Jin Tang since once most eunuchs reached his position, they would consider it too embarrassing to personally look over a gift registry. Just as he felt something was off, Qi Wan asked, ¡°Do you manage Liao Jixiang¡¯s correspondence for him?¡± Qi Wan had changed from addressing Liao Jixiang as ¡°Lao-ba¡± to calling him by his full name. Jin Tang knew that he was walking on thin ice now. ¡°I do. I manage both his official documents and personal correspondence.¡± Qi Wan peered at the gift registry as he pretended to ask offhandedly, ¡°Before I came to Nanjing¡­ did the Great Ancestor send a letter over?¡± A letter was sent, but Jin Tang was too shrewd to fall for Qi Wan¡¯s question. He immediately answered, ¡°No. Or perhaps he did, but the Lord Director didn¡¯t show it to me.¡± ¡°Huh, so he didn¡¯t know I was coming¡­¡± Qi Wan placed down the gift registry and toyed with the sprig in his hands. ¡°Oh and another thing, I heard that he¡¯s having trouble sleeping at night?¡± ¡°He¡¯s plagued by nightmares every night,¡± Jin Tang said. ¡°To tell Second Ancestor the truth, the Lord Director¡­ the time at Gansu injured him.¡± It was the current Son of Heaven who had ordered Liao Jixiang to Gansu, so Jin Tang¡¯s words had broken a taboo. Qi Wan stayed silent, leaving Jin Tang with no choice but to continue. ¡°Before New Years, he invited a great master from Mount Putuo8 to take his taisu pulse9. He even used the bones of a young hen slaughtered at three ke past the hour of zi10 to summon a brush immortal11, who said that he simply had to cut the trees. We¡­¡± ¡°Even if the divinations were right, how could he have acted like that?¡± Qi Wan suddenly slapped his palm onto the gift registry as it lay on the table. ¡°Thousands of pear trees, cut on a whim ¡ª what is he trying to do!¡± He was furious now. Jin Tang schooled his face into a frightened expression and dropped to his knees with a thud. Qi Wan did not tell him to stand up but rather snapped the twig in half with the barest of efforts. ¡°Some people are saying that he only cut the pygmy pear trees because he knew I was coming.¡± Jin Tang jerked his head up. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely unfounded!¡± He shuffled towards Qi Wan on his knees, took off his gauze hat and tossed it away. ¡°What does the Lord Director gain from cutting the trees?¡± He pulled out the silver hairpin from his topknot and threw it towards Qi Wan¡¯s feet. ¡°If the Second Ancestor has doubts, please cut off this slave¡¯s head so that this slave might prove Lord Director Liao¡¯s innocence!¡± Cutting off a slave¡¯s head was nothing to Qi Wan, and he knew that this fellow believed he would do it. As such, for him to place his neck on the line, it would mean that either Liao Jixiang was truly innocent or that this Jin fellow was loyal to the grave. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Qi Wan laughed. ¡°You¡¯re an interesting one!¡± As he laughed, he tossed the mangled twig away and rubbed his hands. ¡°Stand up and put on your guan12. Come drink some hot tea in my room!¡± Darkness had yet to descend when Xie Yilu ran anxiously to Lingfu Temple. Purplish-red light spilt down from the sky onto the white stone lantern, drenching it in a brilliant, bloody hue. He had delivered his letter the previous evening. It was intended for Liao Jixiang, but he left it unsigned like before. It began like this: ¡°Thou art a child of wealth and rank, while I am but a scholar poor. Though thou art summer flowers in my winter snow, still I ask for a meeting yet.13¡± ¡°Still I ask for a meeting yet¡±. This was the only thought burning through Xie Yilu¡¯s mind right now. He wanted to see him so that they could end this ill-fated entanglement once and for all. He was still three or four steps away when he noticed that there was something in the stone lantern stand. Walking closer, he saw that it was a letter. A single glance at the paper was enough to tell him that it was not his own. Such a quick reply ¡ª could it mean that Liao Jixiang sent someone over to check every day? Xie Yilu could not help but feel a little smug. Unrolling the paper haphazardly, or maybe even roughly, he read over the line of carefree and unrestrained characters: ¡°Wealth and power are blades against the neck; it is the poor who are woeless and free.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, old time, old place, two friends will meet.¡± Nothing to discuss this chapter. Thank you to all my readers, especially those who have bestowed upon me the great honour of a comment. CH 11 Xie Yilu arrived earlier than last time, standing apprehensively atop that grassy hill. Looking down, he saw that Liao Jixiang was already here, still dressed in that moon-white lanshan, his hair tied behind him with a red string that half hung at his shoulders. Liao Xijang was facing away from him, looking so thin and weak. Xie Yilu descended the hill lightly as if he were afraid to frighten a solitary bird. Although Liao Jixiang knew he was approaching, he did not turn around to look. When the sound of footsteps had reached him, he began to walk forwards along the flowing spring. His limp was very pronounced, and his shoulders were uneven as he walked. Xie Yilu wordlessly followed two or three steps behind him. Seeing him struggle so much to walk, a trace of pity rose in Xie Yilu¡¯s heart. They had already entered the depths of the willow forest, but Liao Jixiang still wanted to continue. Xie Yilu felt a twinge of uneasiness, but suddenly, Liao Jixiang spoke without looking back: ¡°It¡¯s a little remote but the views are good.¡± Half turning his head, the twist of his neck shifted his collar to reveal a little patch of snow-white skin. Backlit, his eyelashes appeared dense and feathery. Xie Yilu was just about to speak when their little path rounded a corner. A babbling brook flowed past his feet as the shadows of trees swayed and whirled. White sunlight peeked in through the gaps between the branches, falling onto the forest floor like thousands of scattered silver leaves. Xie Yilu was taken aback by this beautiful scene, by the lush green and the entangled branches. His eyes wandered all around before settling once again on the figure of Liao Jixiang¡¯s back. Even in such beautiful surroundings, that figure was still no less exquisite. ¡°Do you¡­ come here often?¡± he asked, eyes captivated by the ever-flowing dazzling streaks of light that dappled his back. ¡°Just by yourself?¡± Liao Jixiang did not turn to look at him. ¡°This time every year,¡± his soft voice wavered in the wind, ¡°by myself, or sometimes with someone else.¡± The faintly bitter fragrance of sandalwood wafted over once more, and Xie Yilu could not help but silently ask: who is that ¡®someone else¡¯? All of a sudden, Liao Jixiang drew to a standstill. Unprepared for his sudden stop, Xie Yilu almost walked into his back. What he did not know was that Liao Jixiang had been gnawed at by trepidation the entire walk in anticipation of this stop. He turned around slowly, casting his nimble eyes in Xie Yilu¡¯s direction. Yet as soon as they reached him, he immediately looked away again. ¡°How should I¡­ address you?¡± His voice was very quiet, like a feather tickling one¡¯s ear. Xie Yilu was a little confused. Was this the grand chamberlain who looked down on him from theheights of the stone steps at Zhebo Chan Temple? Then, his face had been as cold as ice and he had ordered Ruan Dian to take Xie Yilu¡¯s life as soon as he asked for his name. ¡°Xie¡­¡± he blurted out, then stopped ¡ª Liao Jixiang already knew his name, so why was he asking again? Silence reigned for a long time, long enough that Xie Yilu heard the sound of new branches sprouting, long enough that Xie Yilu suddenly understood his meaning. ¡°Chunchu,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Xie Chunchu.¡± It was only now that Liao Jixiang summoned his courage to look over. He was not very tall and had to look up slightly. ¡°Yangchun,¡± he pursed his lips, the rustiness and nervousness in his voice suggesting that he very rarely uttered those two characters. ¡°Liao Yangchun1.¡± With that, he turned back around and continued walking. He was still limping, but something was different this time ¡ª it seemed like they were not Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang anymore, but rather Xie Chunchu and Liao Yangchun. They were simply two people, unburdened by ties or past history, calm and at ease in each other¡¯s presence. ¡°What copybook do you use to practise calligraphy?¡± Xie Yilu asked. ¡°¡¶Da Bao Zhen¡·.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s answered very quickly, his tone coloured by a certain type of sincerity. He seemed to have seen something in the trees beside the path for he stopped and reached towards that direction. He had a pair of extremely pale and fine hands, so much so that it seemed like they would burn up in the sunlight. Xie Yilu¡¯s gaze followed those nimble fingers as they climbed up a little tree laden with red fruits, wrapped around a branch and broke it off. Holding it in his hand, he placed the nameless fruits into his mouth and crushed them with his teeth like a girl cracking sunflower seeds. ¡°You can¡¯t experience this flavour in Beijing.¡± As he spoke, he searched around the branch and broke off another one, handing it to Xie Yilu. Xie Yilu looked at the branch as fragile as a little girl and reluctantly accepted it. They walked one behind the other, no longer separated by two or three paces, but rather with Xie Yilu closely trailing Liao Jixiang¡¯s steps. He fiddled with the branch of wild fruits, turning it over as he studied it. The more he looked, the more amazement he felt ¡ª neither mentioned the situation in Nanjing. It was as if the pygmy pear tears, Qi Wan, the Great Ancestor, and all the rest of their worries had no hold over this moment. Perhaps feeling hot from walking, Liao Jixiang took out a folding fan from his robe. Xie Yilu saw from his vantage behind him that one face was painted in the style of Ni Yunlin2, while the other featured cursive calligraphy. Back in Beijing, he had seen many powerful eunuchs who accompanied the emperor. Their fans were always painted with either blue-and-green landscapes, buildings and people, or palace-style flowers and birds in golden ink3. Compared to them, Liao Jixiang was more like a scholar. As he thought, he offhandedly picked off a few red fruits and placed them into his mouth. However, as soon as he bit down, his mouth was assaulted by their sourness. He immediately slapped a hand over his chin; he might never be able to forget that sour taste in his lifetime. ¡°Sour?¡± Liao Jixiang looked over his shoulder at him and the sunlight scattered into innumerable star-like flecks that shone splendidly onto his face. Under its glow, his face seemed half-real, half-fantasy; only his peach-coloured lips appeared real as they curved into the smallest of smiles in the triangular shadow beneath his nose. Xie Yilu felt his throat becoming itchy. He sucked on the sourness in his mouth, and the sourness suddenly turned into sweetness ¡ª a vivid sweetness and a sweetness that moved him to his core. He was lost in a daze when Liao Jixiang asked him ¡°Are you twenty-five?¡± Xie Yilu did not reply. Liao Jixiang could feel the heat of the glance he cast toward himself which discomforted him. It was only when he awkwardly furled the corners of his lips that Xie Yilu realised he was acting impolitely. ¡°Ah, what did you say?¡± Liao Jixiang cautiously sized him up and after what appeared to be a moment of consideration, asked again, ¡°Are you twenty-five?¡± ¡°I¡¯m twenty-six already,¡± Xie Yilu tried to act as naturally as possible. ¡°I was born in the first month.¡± Liao Jixiang turned back around. Xie Yilu could no longer see his expression and he felt like a cat was clawing at his chest. He heard Liao Jixiang ask again, ¡°Are you married?¡± ¡°Yes. My family is in Beijing.¡± Xie Yilu appeared forlorn at the mention of Beijing. ¡°My humble household is managed by one person.¡± ¡°You should bring her over.¡± There seemed to be a deeper meaning hidden beneath Liao Jixiang¡¯s shallow words. ¡°Or you¡­¡± He began the sentence but did not finish it. Xie Yilu strode two steps forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him. Inclining his head, he gazed at Liao Jixiang like an understanding friend. ¡°Or what?¡± Liao Jixiang was very shocked. It was clear from his evasive eyes that no one had dared to walk side by side with him for too long. Perhaps it was out of fear or perhaps out of disgust, but those people would always avoid him, leaving him alone at the heights. ¡°Is your relationship alright?¡± Liao Jixiang asked. ¡°How long between each letter?¡± There¡¯re barely any letters, Xie Yilu thought. Even if there are, they¡¯re no more than a sparse few words of instruction sent back with the silver that¡¯s meant to support the family. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know how to read.¡± Liao Jixiang was silent for a moment. ¡°Northern women are more homespun. It¡¯s a bit better here. Most of them can discuss a few poems. If you¡­¡± he hesitated a little, ¡°if you want, I can have them find you someone from a good family.¡± Did Liao Jixiang want to find a concubine for him? Xie Yilu was shocked, even put off, by the offer. Was this how eunuchs interacted? They were always thinking of ways to give someone favours like they were afraid that otherwise, no one would spare a single thought for them. ¡°In your eyes,¡± he said bluntly, ¡°am I someone who is so unable to tolerate being alone?¡± He was upset ¡ª Liao Jixiang had not expected this, so he remained silent. Xie Yilu added, ¡°Do you think that I arranged to meet you because I¡¯m also after something from you?¡± For someone as used to hearing flattery as Liao Jixiang, Xie Yilu¡¯s words had crossed the line, and he could not keep from getting angry. ¡°Don¡¯t they say that men¡¯s hearts only settle down once they have a woman?¡± His face hardened. ¡°When everyone else arrives at Nanjing, the first thing they all do is buy a wife!¡± Xie Yilu hated this condescending and taken-for-granted attitude of his. As such, he impulsively shot back a mocking question that he really ought not to have: ¡°You¡¯ve been in Nanjing for a few years now. How many wives have you bought?¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s face froze in an instant. His eyebrows rose and the blood drained from his lips and cheeks, leaving only a pitiful whiteness behind. Xie Yilu realised in a split second that he was not a man ¡ª compared to men, he was missing just one little thing. He stared dumbly at Liao Jixiang, his face also blanching. ¡°I feared that you¡¯d look down on me,¡± Liao Jixiang said miserably, feeling a thousand arrows pierce his heart. His voice was so soft, so soft that it was scattered into nothingness as soon as the wind blew. ¡°It seems I was right. You do look down on me¡± Xie Yilu saw those eyes of his grow hideous as they became bloodshot beneath their lids. He knew that Liao Jixiang was furious, but his shattered expression made him look more like he was on the verge of tears. Xie Yilu felt a terrible pang of pain in his heart. ¡°No. I¡¯dont. I¡­¡± Liao Jixiang walked past him, headed back in the direction he came. His pace was hurried, which only made his limp even worse. Feeling guilty, Xie Yilu rushed to give him a helping pull, but since Liao Jixiang was already struggling to walk, a single pull was all that was needed to send him toppling down. Xie Yilu blamed his clumsy hands and leaned down to help him up. Yet not only did Liao Jixinag refuse his help, but he also slapped him across the face. Although his face flared in pain, the words Liao Jixiang had said were echoing in his heart: ¡°I feared you¡¯d look down on me. You do look down on me!¡± He understood why Liao Jixiang had refused to meet; he was afraid, afraid of being looked down upon. It dawned on him that the most pitiful thing about eunuchs was not their belittlement by others, but rather that sense of inferiority that had been branded into their very bones as a chain they were never to shake off. ¡°Come. Stand up.¡± Xie Yilu insisted on pulling him, refusing to let go of his sleeves, but Liao Jixiang was adamant about resisting. As the two of them pulled back and forth, a whistle sounded from across the stream. It came from a pair of old beggars, their bodies covered in rags as they dug for wild vegetables. One of them had tied around his belt a large iron chain so thick that one was unlikely to find another like it. He yelled, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the day! Whatcha doing?!¡± Xie Yilu got up from Liao Jixiang to see those two beggars, grinning and laughing as they gesticulated. They then shouted at Liao Jixiang, ¡°Little cripple, there¡¯s no point in fighting. He only brought you over to this kinda place to do that!¡± Those absurd and obscene words reverberated in the air. It took Xie Yilu a long time to understand what they meant ¡ª he picked up a stone without a single thought and hurled it towards the opposite bank but it missed its mark. The beggars bellowed, their shouts becoming even wilder. ¡°Don¡¯t hit us! You do you, we4 won¡¯t get in your way!¡± Xie Yilu was so furious that it felt like the top of his skull might be blown off. He ran to the stream and stepped in without hesitation, picking up pebbles one after another to throw at them. ¡°Fuck off! Fuck off!¡± Though ostensibly a stream, the current flowing through its centre was quite strong, and Xie Yilu was forced to stop when his knees were submerged. The beggars did not curse at him ¡ª they were only interested in making fun of Liao Jixiang. ¡°Little cripple, it¡¯s your first time eh? You¡¯re gonna hurt like a bitch the first time!¡± They shouted as they retreated into the forest behind them. Unable to cross over, Xie Yilu was burning up with helplessness. Looking to his side, he saw a string of large white rocks that just about formed a crossing to the other side. He had yet to act on the idea when a shout of ¡°Chunchu!¡± sounded from behind him. Xie Yilu turned around in the sound¡¯s direction. Liao Jixiang had gotten up and was standing beside the stream, the water slowly lapping against the black fabric of his shoes. Was Liao Jixiang concerned for him? Xie Yilu stared at him over the shimmering streamwater, a somewhat hard pressed-expression on his face. ¡°Come back,¡± Liao Jixiang ordered. ¡°It¡¯s just two old ruffians.¡° He was right, but Xie Yilu could not let it go. He was angry, though he was unsure whether he was angry at them for their hurtful words, or at himself for his undue remarks. In the end, he waded back and stood, dripping wet, before Liao Jixiang. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Liao Jixiang turned and left. This was a horrible meeting ¡ª it would have been better if he had been ruthless to himself and decided to not meet in the first place. He pinched his fingers inside his sleeves and a determination to learn from his painful mistake welled up in him. Suddenly, Xie Yilu yelled above the rumbling of the water: ¡°It¡¯s because I never felt you were any different!¡± It was a nonsensical thing to say ¡ª how could he talk about a reason without there ever being a question? Yet Liao Jixiang understood. He abruptly turned around and frowned as he stared at Xie Yilu. He made for a sorry sight, lifting up the soaking-wet hem of his zhiduo as he rambled insensibly. ¡°It¡¯s because I never felt you were any different. That¡¯s why I said what I said¡­ I¡¯ve never cared about those things, I¡¯ve only cared about who you are as a person.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s expression changed from this to that. Once he cycled through every emotion possible and the dust had settled, the sole survivor was a sharp smile. ¡°Hmph. You lie.¡° Xie Yily rebuked, ¡°I¡¯m speaking from the bottom of my heart!¡± Liao Jixiang did not dare to look at him. ¡°You¡¯re speaking lies.¡± He turned his back to Xie Yilu. ¡°You scholars are the best at speaking lies.¡± ¡°Look at me!¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s tone was almost like that of an order. Liao Jixiang was still too afraid to look and with a grit of his teeth, he walked straight out. As he walked, he twisted and tugged anxiously on the fan in his hand. His guess was that he wanted Xie Yilu to shout at him. Sure enough, Xie Yilu fulfilled his wish. ¡°Why did you cut the trees?!¡± Liao Jixiang stopped, but only for a second, and then dropped his head and kept walking. Xie Yilu was left behind, dripping wet and floundering desperately like a lost child. ¡°When¡¯s the next time?!¡± The next time? Liao Jixiang smiled mockingly at himself. He had never envisioned a ¡®next time¡¯. ¡°Three days. I¡¯ll wait for you here, three days from now!¡± Xie Yilu had completely forgotten that his original intention was to meet once and finally put an end to the ill-fated entanglement. Liao Jixiang angrily stomped his foot. When he looked behind at Xie Yilu, his face was no longer a blank mask, but rather filled with the deepest of emotions and gratitude. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t tell anyone that we have met.¡± Another chapter that is light on the history and heavy on the characters. I¡¯m trying to juggle Grand Chamberlain and Hairpins Beneath His Cap as best as I can, but updates will likely be weekly to fortnightly. I¡¯ve actually translated up to Chapter 15 already but I like to have a few chapters stored in case university classes destroy my translation schedule. The time it takes to finish a chapter varies greatly depending on the length and more importantly, how much research I have to do, but please do let me know if my current update speed is too slow. CH 12 Feeling drowsy, Xie Yilu supported his forehead with his hand, trying to prevent his head from drooping and falling asleep. His surroundings were filled with noise, a cacophony of intermittent shouting, cursing, and the incessant crowing of roosters. As he struggled to stay lucid and not succumb to his drowsiness, Liao Jixiang¡¯s face appeared on his mind. It was snow-white, bright and fair, with slightly parted lips and looking up at him. Occasionally, his lips thinned and the eyebrows drew together. Suddenly, a cool hand pressed hard on the back of his neck and gripped tightly. Xie Yilu jolted awake. He turned around to find Tu Yao wearing a Feiyufu1. ¡°Tanhua Xie2,¡± Tu Yao leaned close to his ear amidst the noise, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you playing?¡± Xie Yilu looked towards the centre of the crowd where a circle of bamboo fence was located, which was surrounded by many officials in informal clothes3. Any one of them there had a higher rank than him. Inside the circle were two gamecocks4, whose feathers around the neck all stood up, flapping their wings. They fought up and down with blood dripping from their claws and feathers, amidst the passionate cheers of the crowd. ¡°I don¡¯t know the game,¡± Xie Yilu replied honestly. ¡°And I don¡¯t have the money37.¡± Tu Yao smiled amiably at him and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a cheque. ¡°Take this for playing,¡± he said. Xie Yilu didn¡¯t accept it; he didn¡¯t even set eyes on it. Tu Yao observed his stubbornness and said, ¡°It¡¯s not me offering you the money, it¡¯s Dugong5 Zheng.¡± Upon hearing Zheng Xian¡¯s name, Xie Yilu stood up immediately. ¡°It¡¯s already past midnight, when will Dugong arrive?¡± There was something Xie Yilu wanted to discuss with Zheng Xian, and Tu Yao could tell. As for what exactly that something was, Tu Yao also knew more or less. It was most likely related to the last banquet at Lingfu Temple, where Zheng Xian tried to win him over to his side. Looked like Zheng Xian had failed. ¡°Tanhua Xie,¡± Tu Yao pocketed the cheque. ¡°As an official, one must be able to assess the situation. You¡¯ve been studying for half your life, so naturally you should be more shrewd than me.¡± Since they were already discussing it, Xie Yilu wanted to directly clarify his stand, but Tu Yao wouldn¡¯t let him. ¡°If you¡¯re telling me about your attitude, so be it. But don¡¯t ever mention it in front of Dugong.¡± Xie Yilu still wanted to speak, but Tu Yao coldly interrupted him with a suppressing air. ¡°Dugong doesn¡¯t possess a good temper.¡± This is a threat. Xie Yilu held back his feelings and sat down. Tu Yao patted him heavily on the shoulder and walked around the cockpit6 to place a bet. Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from the crowd ¨C a rooster had won. It jumped onto the tallest bamboo strip of the bamboo fence, flapping its wings proudly. The other rooster, however, suffered numerous open wounds, and was already laying dead in the winner¡¯s shadow. These people are nothing but a group of ghosts. Xie Yilu looked on impassively. It was already midnight, with clouds so thick that the moon was completely shielded by them. The candlelight was flickering in the wind, and among the light, Xie Yilu could observe fresh blood, dead roosters, and his colleagues, howling with obscene frenzy like beasts let loose. Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Presently, several men in servant¡¯s outfits hurried in from the moon gate7, stretching their necks, shouting, ¡°Dugong is here!¡± Zheng Xian arrived accompanied by Qi Wan. Xie Yilu and the crowd bowed in unison to pay their respects. Zheng Xian had invited Qi Wan purely on a personal level this time, so the arrangements were all made according to the style of his home. Like the clouds covering the sky, the servants and attendants8 quickly occupied the courtyard where the cockfighting was held. Some of them were offering tea, some were dusting the chairs, and some only came to stand on both sides of the courtyard, simply because they made a pretty sight. These two were the real Da Dang9, whose slightest movements would require the immediate attention of so many. Eunuchs all enjoyed cockfighting; it was known. As soon as Qi Wan saw the bloody rooster standing on top of the bamboo strip, he was fascinated, unable to make another step. ¡°This one is great, Laojiu10!¡± Zheng Xian returned a proud smile, ¡°If Sange11 likes it, take it with you!¡± While speaking, he habitually glanced across the entire scene. The moment he spotted Xie Yilu, he raised his eyebrows slightly. ¡°It¡¯s a Northwest breed, fought and won a hundred battles.¡± ¡°A gentleman does not take what¡¯s not his.¡± Qi Wan strode around the rooster, examining its comb, beak, and wattle ¨C all perfect. With his thick fingers, he absentmindedly flicked the rooster¡¯s dark, emerald-green tail feathers, ¡°But This One12 is no proper gentlemen.¡± Zheng Xian immediately ordered his men, ¡°Cover its eyes and get it ready for Mr. Qi.¡± ¡°Mr. Qi¡± and ¡°Lord Qi¡±13 differed by only one word, but their meanings were widely disparate. Qi Wan couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased, out of admiration, he assisted Zheng Xian to roll up his sleeves. ¡°Laojiu, you never played with us. What¡¯s going on¡­ today?¡± Hearing his words, Zheng Xian extended his hands, displaying one gemstone ring on each of his hands. On the left hand was an opal14 ring, and on the right hand was a ring with tourmaline15. Men typically wore no bracelets, but he went out of the norm and wore a small gold bracelet carved with crow patterns and embedded with amber. Every time he moved his arm, the bracelet shimmered in the light. ¡°Sange,¡± he held Qi Wan¡¯s hand in his, ¡°you know my temper. If I fight, I¡¯ll fight with all my strength. But if I¡¯m kind to someone¡­¡± Eagerly and sincerely, he held Qi Wan¡¯s hand and led him to the seat at the head of the table. ¡°I¡¯ll be genuinely generous.¡± As soon as they settled down, a long row of servants approached, each holding a small folding fan in their hands. If these were Zheng Xian¡¯s meeting gifts for Qi Wan, they were undoubtedly shabby, but Zheng Xian sat down confidently in his commanding officer¡¯s chair. ¡°I suppose Liao Jixiang had definitely sent you some of the most precious antiques. I don¡¯t like to follow the crowd, brother. Take a look. See if you like them.¡± The servants simultaneously unfolded the fans, all containing detailed Gongbi16 erotic paintings17 on the fan surface, which filled their sight with ample flesh. ¡°Whoa!¡± Qi Wan exclaimed, getting out of his seat out of the excitement he couldn¡¯t contain. He walked down from left to right, examining each scene ¨C one fan had a man with several women, and some had one woman with several men. Their facial expressions and movements were exquisite, not to mention that even their private parts were meticulously drawn in detail. ¡°Laojiu, how did you¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Sange,¡± Zheng Xian took a quick sip of tea. ¡°The first three paintings are Qiu Ying18¡¯s work, and the rest are Tang Yin19¡®s.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Qi Wan slapped his thigh, his eyes shining exuberantly. ¡°If I take one of these to Lianzi Lane20 to show off, it¡¯d be fantastic!¡± Absurd! Xie Yilu despised this group of people from the bottom of his heart. Then, recalling how Liao Jixiang wanted to set him up with a mistress, he found it understandable. Eunuchs cannot escape the habits of eunuchs, regardless of how proud or knowledgeable they were. A servant brought forth a bowl of steamed eggs21 to Zheng Xian. He seemed to have a habit of having late-night snacks. After taking a sip, Zheng Xian looked up and saw Xie Yilu. ¡°Get a bowl for Tanhua Xie too,¡± he instructed, and took another sip. ¡°Get him more green onions,¡± he reminded them with great care. Xie Yilu and Zheng Xian were both northerners, and it was difficult to get garlic or green onion in Nanjing22. Transporting a handful of chopped green onions from Huaibei23 to Nanjing made it not much cheaper than that bowl of eggs. Everyone could tell that Zheng Xian had a particular preference for Xie Yilu. However, the more he favoured him, the more uncomfortable Xie Yilu felt. ¡°Thank Dugong¡¯s kindness, but this one is not hungry,¡± he said. Zheng Xian made a casual joke with him. ¡°Whether you¡¯re hungry or not, This One decides!¡± Since these two were conversing, Xie Yilu wanted to take this chance to speak his mind right away, so he got up from the corner and slowly moved forward. Presently, Qi Wan¡¯s thoughts were all on the erotic fans. Just as Xie Yilu approached, he heard Zheng Xian chatting with Qi Wan in a casual manner, ¡°Sange, don¡¯t you find something odd with Liao Jixiang cutting down the trees?¡± Hearing that name made Xie Yilu¡¯s body instantly tense up. ¡°What?¡± Qi Wan was holding the fans and examining them, so he took Zheng Xian¡¯s question indifferently. This is obviously an attempt to sow discord. Xie Yilu was extremely nervous. He was very concerned for Liao Jixiang. Qi Wan was by right working under the Elder Master, yet he came to attend Zheng Xian¡¯s banquet. Could he not have any ulterior motives? Coincidentally, also unfortunately, the bowl of steamed eggs was served at this moment. Qi Wan¡¯s eyes followed the servant serving the dish and saw Xie Yilu. He spat, ¡°You lowly being. Who allowed you to come so close!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, Brother,¡± Zheng Xian acted like a parent protecting his child, pointed to Xie Yilu and said, ¡°He¡¯s with me.¡± Qi Wan let it pass when he heard that Xie Yilu was Zheng Xian¡¯s man. Obviously, he didn¡¯t recognise that this lowly sixth-rank official was exactly the miserable soul kicked out from Beijing by his Elder Master. ¡°By the way,¡± he asked Zheng Xian, ¡°You have a ¡®Yong Society24¡® here. I heard it¡¯s stirring up trouble?¡± ¡°There is such a thing,¡± Zheng Xian signalled to Xie Yilu with his eyes, indicating that there was no need to panic and he could have his steamed eggs. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the leader?¡± Zheng Xian suddenly smiled, ¡°The Minister of War, whom you saw at Liao Jixiang¡¯s banquet last time.¡± ¡°Him¡­¡± Qi Wan remembered, then asked in a foreboding tone, ¡°Who else are there?¡± ¡°Several deputy ministers and directors under him.¡± Zheng Xian asked acutely, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qi Wan paused briefly before replying, ¡°This month¡­ probably in these few days, they might cause trouble.¡± Zheng Xian laughed heartily, revealing his white teeth. He appeared slightly drunk, but that didn¡¯t make him look any less handsome. ¡°Just a bunch of scholars. What can they do?¡± ¡°To the Elder Master, to you and to me. They can compose some articles, and even submit a batch of memorials25.¡± ¡°Then we shall also write. What are we afraid of?¡± Zheng Xian propped one leg on the footstool, appearing like a man trained in kung fu. ¡°Let¡¯s not think that we have no one. If they are forming some nonsense literary society, so will we.¡± He said while pointing at Xie Yilu, ¡°Let him be the leader!¡± Xie Yilu was so scared that he couldn¡¯t even hold the spoon. He trembled with apprehension and listened to Qi Wan¡¯s reply. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that they will begin to take sides¡­¡± Qi Wan tapped the table with his strong fingers, ¡°If it gets too big, and the society becomes a political party. That won¡¯t end well.¡± ¡°Let them! Let them take their sides.¡± Zheng Xian was fearless. ¡°Well it happens that I just want to see who¡¯s with him and who¡¯s with me!¡± Passing the peak of his excitement, he calmed down. ¡°Hey, Sange, where did you get this information?¡± Qi Wan knew he was going to ask, so he smiled and gestured. Zheng Xian was surprised, ¡°The news from The Eastern Depot26? I don¡¯t even know the news from The Eastern Depot, and you know already?¡± Qi Wan leisurely took a sip of tea. ¡°Well, the information still travels faster in Beijing.¡± He whispered, as if trying to imply something, ¡°Brother, no matter which party you belong to, if you are staying in Nanjing, you would only remain on the periphery!¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s expression changed. Qi Wan smiled and stood up, and joined in the cockfighting with some smart boys. Xie Yilu hurriedly approached and called out ¡°Dugong¡±. Without a word, Zheng Xian immediately casted a fierce look towards him. Some things would always cause detrimental effects regardless of how it was phrased. Yet since he had already made up his mind, Xie Yilu was determined to tell the straightforward truth. ¡°This one has a cheap spirit, so I can¡¯t withstand Dugong¡¯s help and guidance!¡± Xie Yilu was fully prepared to suffer some sacrifices in achieving his goal. However, Zheng Xian frowned and pondered on it for a long time before he eventually understood what he meant. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me,¡± he waved his hand irritatedly, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it another day.¡± But Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He took one step closer, his shabby official¡¯s robe was already touching the hem of Zheng Xian¡¯s outfit with bullfighting Buzi27. ¡°Everyone has his own aspirations. This one begs Dugong to have mercy and not force me again!¡± Only then did Zheng Xian look at him seriously. As he studied Xie Yilu¡¯s face, he suddenly laughed. ¡°Force you? What did I force you to do?¡± Xie Yilu was left speechless. There was almost no distance between them as he stared sillily at Zheng Xian, ¡°Last time, in Lingfu Temple¡­¡± ¡°Aha,¡± Zheng Xian was contemptuous, that unique gorgeous air came back to him. He opened his fingers and pressed hard on the egret Buzi28 on Xie Yilu¡¯s chest, grabbing him by the fabric and pulling him closer. ¡°I gave you a tiny bit of power and now you think you can be the boss?!¡± Xie Yilu felt like he was trapped between the beaks of a fierce bird of prey. He had considered the potential consequences of straightforwardly turning Zheng Xian down ¨C a demotion, a penalty, or even decapitation. But he never expected to be ¡°caught¡± on the spot in this way, which was genuinely embarrassing. ¡°Du¡­Dugong,¡± he gently pulled Zheng Xian¡¯s hand. Yet the hand was surprisingly strong, and the gemstone rings it wore were cold as ice. ¡°If someone sees it¡­¡± ¡°Am I afraid of people seeing it?¡± Zheng Xian¡¯s face was just an inch away, and Xie Yilu could clearly see the wrinkles under his eyebrows from his lavish indulgent lifestyle. For some reason, he suddenly recalled Liao Jixiang¡¯s eyes, clear, cautious, with just a little bit of an ambiguous yet intimate attitude. Suddenly, Zheng Xian loosened his grip. He flicked his fingertips and pushed Xie Yilu away, and spoke as if to himself: ¡°Indeed. How can I get the best fortune after just one draw29?¡± A smile slowly formed on his face, and his long finger softly brushed against the tiny egret Buzi on Xie Yilu¡¯s chest. ¡°Even Liu Bei had to pay three humble visits to the thatched cottage for Zhuge Liang30.¡± Xie Yilu didn¡¯t understand what he meant for a moment. ¡°Best fortune¡±¡­Is he talking about me? ¡°Let¡¯s not hurry.¡± Zheng Xian looked at him half affectionately and half threateningly, ¡°Chunchu, there¡¯s a long time ahead of us.¡± A cold sweat broke out on Xie Yilu¡¯s back and chest. He didn¡¯t expect Zheng Xian to be so unreasonable. Feeling reckless, he even wanted to provoke his anger once and for all. Yet at this moment, quite a commotion was observed from a distance. In a blink of an eye, a junior eunuch hastened in ¨C he was one of Qi Wan¡¯s men. Before he could approach his master, a tall man in an elaborate robe followed closely behind the junior eunuch and entered without invitation. It was Mei Azha. Xie Yilu immediately withdrew from Zheng Xian¡¯s side and hid among cockfighters, afraid that Mei Azha would spot him here and accidentally inform Liao Jixiang of it. In fact, the one who should be hiding was Qi Wan. Liao Jixiang would definitely be unhappy if he knew about him attending Zheng Xian¡¯s banquet. If Liao Jixiang reported it to the Elder Master, the situation would prove to be awkward for Qi Wan. Yet after all, these important people had been through numerous dire circumstances. Although Qi Wan was taken aback, he maintained his calm composure. It was Zheng Xian who pinched his temple and spoke first, ¡°Qige31, I¡¯m at a loss for words. Where did you get your information?¡± Mei Azha strode straight to the front with the manner of a big man, and ordered Zheng Xian¡¯s men to add a chair next to Qi Wan. He respectfully addressed Qi Wan as ¡°Sange¡±, and lifted his robe to take a seat. ¡°How did you know that we are here?¡± Zheng Xian strained his body to look at Mei Azha out of his slitted eyes, across Qi Wan¡¯s overweight body. ¡°Well, nevermind. You will do anything for Liao Jixiang anyway!¡± Mei Azha showed no response, but presently Qi Wan spoke in a serious tone, ¡°Judging by Laoqi32¡®s capabilities, if at any time he is willing to think for himself, he could at least become a eunuch in charge of taxes33.¡± Zheng Xian, feeling frustrated by Mei Azha¡¯s loyalty towards Liao Jixiang, chimed in, ¡°How did you end up enchanted by that boy?¡± Mei Azha responded naturally. ¡°He is oblivious to what¡¯s going on outside his own household. If there are any changes, I have to keep an eye for him.¡± ¡°He¡± surely referred to Liao Jixiang, so the sentence was directed to Qi Wan, and everyone was aware. Qi Wan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into an odd chuckle, ¡°Laoqi, Sange knows you well. You have your own thoughts, but you won¡¯t stir up trouble. Amongst these young ones, you are the most sensible.¡± Now that Qi Wan had made his stand clear, Mei Azha could say nothing else. ¡°Sange, I have no other intentions. I¡¯m just dropping by for our Laoba34 to give the impression that the Weaving and Sewing Bureau is still going strong.¡± Qi Wan didn¡¯t reply. Suddenly, he slapped and exclaimed, ¡°Ah!¡± He smacked his lips and appeared to be excited, ¡°Back in the day, His Majesty loved Little Mei35¡®s somersaults and Miss Zheng36¡®s spinning dance the most. So, Laoqi,¡± his eyes casted an ominous stare towards Mei Azha, and uttered word by word, ¡°Sange wants to see your somersaults.¡± Years ago, the ¡°Little Mei¡± who performed somersaults was merely a child. Now, he was referred to as ¡°Lord Mei¡± by everyone. Qi Wan was intended to embarrass Mei Azha in public. Yet no one expected to see Mei Azha showing no hesitation at all. He stood up right away and removed his outer robe, his body stood tall and straight as a spear. On his chest he wore a leather vest with a small knife in each of his left and right pockets, an obvious look of someone seasoned on the battlefield. Upon seeing the knives, Zheng Xian and Qi Wan were both stunned. Mei Azha shrugged and said nonchalantly, ¡°Just a habit I developed in Gansu a few years back.¡± He then started to perform somersaults in an agile and dazzling manner. This discussion stands as additional content, written based on my own understanding, as well as the general consensus as discussed on the Chinese danmei forums. It is about what happened in the story up to the chapter I have translated so far, in terms of the characters, foreshadowing, parallel and lores. Skipping this section does not affect reading the novel. However, feel free to go ahead if some details of the story are a bit confusing for you. I am encouraged to create this section thanks to my dear beta reader, who has been passionately discussing the plot with me. She also made me realise that I may have overlooked some details as well, so I thought it might be fun to have a closer examination of this story. Who is the elder master? Specifically, when did the events in the prologue take place? Is it before the main story or after? A hint here is the old, weathered long knife hanging on the wall of the Elder Master¡¯s bedchamber, as well as his preference towards a Gaoli eunuch, who also had Danfengyan (long, narrow eyes with the corner of the eyes slanting up). The Elder Master changed the young eunuch¡¯s surname to Zhang, and we have a Zhang Cai in the main story. Are they the same person? It might be a bit early to speculate on this now, so if you prefer, you can look back once we finish the book. Xie Yilu attended a banquet in Nanjing. He met Guo Xiaozhuo there, who always dresses up as a girl and spies for Zheng Xian. He also met his future friend, Qu Feng. Xie Yilu told Qu Feng that he was demoted from Beijing to Nanjing because he refused to flatter the Elder Master for getting good examination results, knowing that the Elder Master was the most powerful eunuch in Beijing. This implies that Xie Yilu believes in integrity and is a very stubborn man. He despises those who work for the eunuchs. Well, good luck finding out who¡¯s gonna be your love!! In fact, looking down on eunuchs is very common in Chinese history. Eunuchs were mostly viewed as abusive and greedy for power. They could also be judged for having no offspring and being unfilial, because they have abandoned a part of their body, which was deemed as a gift from their parents. All these were the reasons why the so-called ¡°honourable¡± officials wouldn¡¯t want anything to do with the eunuchs, let alone helping them. Historically, the government officials and the eunuchs were often two separate political parties, and these two were constantly competing for the favour of the emperor. If you wish to learn more about eunuchs, you can look at my blog here, which is a foreword I created for Da Dang (The Powerful Eunuch). In another banquet, Zheng Xian reached out to Xie Yilu. Zheng Xian wanted to have Xie Yilu on his side, because Xie Yilu didn¡¯t pay his respect to the Elder Master. This implies that Zheng Xian and the Elder Master are opposing political factions. Besides, Zheng Xian also has a close relationship with Guo Xiaozhuo, and Zheng Xian has a very lavish lifestyle. The beginning of the ¡°dwarf pear tree¡± event. Ruan Dian led the men to cut the trees, and he was collecting money from the common folks. Ruan Dian and his men were mostly from southern China or even Annan, which is the archaic name of Vietnam. Ruan Dian had a mistress living in the alley of harlot houses. In addition, he is one of the right-hand men of Liao Jixiang, mainly in charge of military matters. On the other hand, Qu Feng met Jin Tang for the first time and helped him. A parallel here is that Jin Tang was limping when Qu Feng first met him, which is similar to Liao Jixiang and Xie Yilu, because Liao Jixiang was also crippled. Xie Yilu became pen pals with Liao Jixiang. The Ministry of War initially wanted Xie Yilu to stop the eunuchs from cutting down the trees, but Mei Azha convinced them with a good reason, which will be finally revealed in chapter 9. Mei Azha also went to Zheng Xian¡¯s place to borrow men, so that Liao Jixiang could cut down the trees more smoothly, but Zheng Xian refused. It¡¯s evident from this chapter that Mei Azha is very loyal to Liao Jixiang. Also, Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang seem to have a bad, or maybe complicated relationship, which will be elaborated as the story proceeds. This chapter also reveals several important eunuchs¡¯ relationships. They were all adopted by the Elder Master and likely ranked by age. Zheng Xian is known as ¡°Laojiu¡±, so he¡¯s the youngest, ninth brother. Mei Azha is ranked the seventh, slightly older than Zheng Xian. Liao Jixiang is the eighth brother. Qi Wan is the eldest among them, being called ¡°Sange¡± means he¡¯s the third oldest brother. This chapter reveals that Yishiha and Zhang Cai like each other. Also, Yishiha is Jurchen. The Jurchen people were at war with the Han people in the Ming Dynasty, and they eventually won and established the Qing Dynasty. So Yishiha was not welcomed by the Han people, which are the majority in the book. Besides, Zhang Cai and Jin Tang were from Gaoli, and Jin Tang tried to convince Zhang Cai to not get intimate with Yishiha. It¡¯s evident that Yishiha had a hard time finding a sense of belonging, because he¡¯s not accepted by the Vietnamese eunuchs, or the Han people, or the Gaoli eunuchs. Zhang Cai¡¯s words implied that Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t ask the common folks to offer money for the pear trees (it was Ruan Dian asking for money), and they had been through wars in Gansu. Xie Yilu met Liao Jixiang for the first time, although he didn¡¯t know that Liao Jixiang is his pen pal yet. Liao Jixiang and Tu Yao confronted each other, which was in effect Liao Jixiang and Zheng Xian having minor conflicts. Xie Yilu asked Liao Jixiang out as a pen pal, but he was ¡°almost murdered¡± by Aliu, another Vietnamese eunuch under Liao Jixiang. Aliu spared his life because Xie Yilu was kind to Zhang Cai. Xie Yilu found out that his pen pal is a eunuch so he ran away. Qi Wan arrived in Nanjing and asked for a huge amount of tributes for the emperor. He specifically asked for the fragrant pears in Nanjing, but Liao Jixiang already cut down the trees. Qi Wan was furious because since there were no more pear trees, he couldn¡¯t use the excuse of ¡°there are trees but no pear fruits in spring, so the common folks need to pay silver for the missing fruits¡± to get money from the tree owners. So the situation here is, Liao Jixiang is protecting the people by cutting down the trees in advance and taking over the blame. Qi Wan initially wanted to involve Liao Jixiang into the business, because being a powerful eunuch means high maintenance too. Qi Wan and Liao Jixiang were ¡°brothers¡± under the Elder Master, so they had to show filial piety by surrendering gift money to him. Also, Liao Jixiang will need money to bribe the court for keeping his position in the Weaving and Sewing Bureau. Everyone who has some say in this matter will want a share of the money, and that¡¯ll be a LOT. Besides, in this chapter, Aliu noticed Guo Xiaozhuo for the first time. Qu Feng was beaten up by Qi Wan¡¯s men, and Jin Tang helped Qu Feng as a return of favour for their first encounter in chapter 3. A foreshadowing sentence: ¡°Eunuchs have the most difficult temperament to deal with. But if you can understand their mood and accurately interpret their intentions, they can sever their own heads for you, and even die working for you.¡± Jin Tang also displayed his loyalty to Liao Jixiang by risking his life in front of Qi Wan. Their conversation also implies that while Qi Wan appears to be working under the Elder Master (Jin Tang addressed him as the Second Elder Master), he has some other plans and motives. Nothing much to see here, except that this is Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang¡¯s first date!! Woohoo!! Tu Yao (representing Zheng Xian) tried to win Xie Yilu to their side again and failed. Qi Wan informed Zheng Xian that something is going on with the ¡°Yong Society¡±, established by the officials in the Ministry of War. Since this is an official-only society, it¡¯ll likely become a political party, opposing the party of eunuchs. As Qi Wan is still mad at Liao Jixiang cutting down the trees, he tried to insult Liao Jixiang¡¯s man, Mei Azha, by asking him to perform in front of everyone. His words also revealed that Zheng Xian used to dress up as a girl to dance for the emperor, similar to Zheng Xian¡¯s toy boy, Guo Xiaozhuo. His words also pointed to the fact that Qi Wan, Liao Jixiang, Zheng Xian, Mei Azha seemed to be accompanying the emperor when he was still a young prince. Since Zheng Xian and Mei Azha kept the prince entertained, what was Liao Jixiang¡¯s task? (This will be addressed in later chapters) The eunuchs¡¯ relationship becomes clearer in this chapter. As mentioned in chapter 10, Qi Wan appeared to be working under the Elder Master, but he attended a personal party hosted by Zheng Xian. We know that Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang are in opposing political factions, so we can deduce that, I)Liao Jixiang is on the same side with the Elder Master, who informed Liao Jixiang to cut down the trees in advance to protect the people from Qi Wan; II)Zheng Xian and his men are on the opposite political faction against the Elder Master; III)Qi Wan used to work for the Elder Master, but looks like he wants to switch sides; IV)There¡¯s a Yong society that¡¯s against all the eunuchs, regardless of their political factions. Feiyufu, ·ÉÓã·þ, is a traditional Han clothing rewarded by the emperor to his loyal imperial guards, aka Jinyiwei, ½õÒÂÎÀ. Feiyu can be directly translated to ¡°flying fish¡±, although ¡°flying fish¡± refers to the Chinese dragons with four-fingered claws and a fish tail. Tanhua, ̽»¨, refers to the second place in the national Imperial Examinations. Informal clothes are also known as Changfu, ³£·þ, in Chinese, which means the clothes that aren¡¯t uniforms. A breed of rooster specially for cockfighting. Dugong, ¶½¹«, an unofficial title for powerful eunuchs. The arena for cockfighting. Moon gate, Yueliangmen, ÔÂÁÁÃÅ, the circular opening in a garden¡¯s wall. Here, servants refer to Pucong, ÆÍ´Ó, who mostly signed life-long contracts with their masters and perform less important tasks compared to Pucong. Attendants, on the other hand, are known as Changsui, ³¤Ëæ, which signed contracts by years, and were the important personal servants of the masters capable of household management tasks. Powerful eunuch, Da Dang, ´ó«š. «š originally referred to the jade earrings for females. In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs often wore gold Dang and mink tails as decorations on their hats. Hence, the term Dang was later used as an alternate name for eunuchs. Da, which means big, suggests the power and high position of the eunuchs. Hence, Da Dang means ¡°Powerful Eunuch¡±, which is also the title of the book. Laojiu, ÀϾÅ, a baby brother ranked ninth by age, refers to Zheng Xian. Sange, Èý¸ç, the third eldest brother, refers to Qi Wan. ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people other than eunuchs who try to stay humble in a conversation. The original term here is Qi Gonggong, Æݹ«¹« and Qi Gong, Æݹ«. The former is a title specific for eunuchs, the latter can be used to address a man respectfully. In Chinese opal is also known as Maoyan stone, Maoyan, èÑÛ, means cat¡¯s eye. The original term here is Dianbula, which has a similar pronunciation as tourmaline. I couldn¡¯t really find more information about what exactly is Dianbula as it only appeared in limited ancient text. However, tourmaline was used as jewellery in the Ming Dynasty. Gongbi, ¹¤±Ê, meaning ¡°meticulous¡±, uses highly detailed brushstrokes that delimit details very precisely. It is often highly coloured and usually depicts figural or narrative subjects. It is often practised by artists working for the royal court or in independent workshops. The original term here is Chungong, ´º¹¬. Qiu Ying, ³ðÓ¢, a renowned painter in the Ming Dynasty. See his erotic paintings here. Tang Yin, ÌÆÒú, a very famous painter, calligrapher and poet in the Ming Dynasty. He likes to draw erotic paintings. See his erotic paintings here. Lianzi Lane, Á«×Óºúͬ, a street of restaurants and harlot houses that Beijing officials frequently hold their parties at. Also appeared in chapter 2. This is a traditional Chinese dish, aka Jidan Geng, ¼¦µ°¸þ. Nanjing is located in southern China. Huaibei is now a prefecture-level city in northern Anhui Province, China. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. The original text here is Zhezi, ÕÛ×Ó. Zhezi or Zouzhe, ×àÕÛ, refers to the official documents that ministers send to the emperor. The emperor may write his reply on the Zouzhe. Therefore, a memorial is an official way of communication between the local government and the emperor. The Eastern Depot, or Dongchang, ¶«³§, is an intelligence centre made up of talented eunuchs. These eunuchs are trusted by the emperor and may carry out secret missions. The embroideries is known as Buzi, ²¹×Ó. Buzi is an important feature on the clothes of ancient Chinese officials. It is usually a square pattern located at the chest or the back area. Depending on the position of the person, the Buzi will be embroidered in different birds and beasts. It is common for those working in the military to have a beast Buzi, and those in other positions would have bird embroidered Buzi. A bullfighting Buzi suggests that Zheng Xian¡¯s robe is a personal gift from the emperor. Buzi with egret pattern embroidered are worn by sixth-rank officials. In Chinese temples, there are mostly 3 types of draws, although the system can get more complicated. The Shangqian, ÉÏÇ©, representing the best fortune. The Zhongqian, ÖÐÇ©, representing a mediocre fortune. The Xiaqian, ÏÂÇ©, representing the worst fortune. This is a famous story in the Romance of Three Kingdoms, where Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang 3 times to show his sincerity to recruit Zhuge Liang. Qige, the seventh older brother, used by Zheng Xian (ranked the ninth youngest among them) to refer to Mei Azha. Laoqi, ÀÏÆß, the seventh baby brother, used by Qi Wan (ranked the third oldest among them) to refer to Mei Azha. A eunuch in charge of taxes will have lots of power and chances to receive bribery, much better than Mei Azha¡¯s position now. Laoba, the eighth oldest brother, which refers to Liao Jixiang. Little Mei, or Xiaomei, С÷, a nickname of Mei Azha. Miss Zheng, Zheng Xiaojie, ֣С½ã, refers to Zheng Xian. Since Qi Wan mentioned that Miss Zheng used to dance in front of the emperor, it can be implied that Zheng Xian was good at dancing and maybe he sang operas too, doing both while dressing up as a female. The officials in the Ming Dynasty were notoriously poor, because the first emperor in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, hated corruption and executed numerous corrupted officials (estimated to be over 150,000 officials). A sixth-rank official¡¯s salary in the early Ming Dynasty was 10 dan of rice (1 dan = 90 kg rice) per month, which is 900 kg rice. Xyl lived in the late Ming Dynasty so there could be some inflation. Assuming that he earned 13 Dan rice per month, and 1 tael of silver can buy 188.8 kg rice, his monthly salary is roughly 6 taels per month. Photo credit: https://m.facaishur.com/yangji/67270.html CH 13 It was a slightly cloudy day, with a small cluster of dark clouds slowly drifting overhill. Xie Yilu walked as he looked all around anxiously, afraid that Liao Jixiang wouldn¡¯t come. Following the narrow path they had trod on last time, next to the vibrant bushes, Xie Yilu found him. Liao Jixiang was wearing a plain white robe, sitting quietly on the sandy ground and playing with some pebbles beside his hands. Upon noticing Xie Yilu, Liao Jixiang lowered his eyes and withdrew his hand from the stones, then he paused for a while before his next movement. It took him considerable effort to struggle and stand up, and Xie Yilu didn¡¯t help him, for fear of disturbing his self-esteem, fragile as shattered pottery. Liao Jixiang¡¯s legs were really uncooperative, as he staggered quite a few times while trying to get up. Struggling in front of Xie Yilu made his face and neck turn glistening red. Xie Yilu observed his embarrassment, and guessed that Liao Jixiang must have been genuinely exhausted, so he had no choice but to sit down. He walked up to Liao Jixiang, circled around to get behind him, wanting to help him brush off the sandy soil from his robe. Yet Liao Jixiang was just like a timid little creature, cautiously following Xie Yilu as he walked, turning whenever Xie Yilu turned. ¡°Your robe is covered in sand,¡± Xie Yilu explained. Liao Jixiang randomly dusted his lower body. ¡°Done,¡± he said coldly, as if he didn¡¯t care much about his appearance. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± It was still the same old creek as last time, but the scenery looked slightly different due to the overcast sky. The foliage appeared greener, and the wind felt fresher. From the back, Liao Jixiang looked somewhat ethereal and otherworldly. His figure seemed to be afloat in the wind, like a rustling pine branch, or a graceful white crane. There was an awkward silence between them ¨C neither of them knew what to say with the unpleasant atmosphere from their last parting still lingering. Suddenly, Xie Yilu spotted the same sour fruits growing by the roadside that they tasted last time, which were red and in the size of a fingernail. He immediately picked a branch, broke it off the tree and handed it over to Liao Jixiang, like a child eager to please an adult. Liao Jixiang stopped and turned his head slightly, with a branch of fruit hanging just above his shoulder. The strikingly-red fruits provided a large contrast with his face, making it appear as white as freshly landed snow. He glanced a bit nervously at Xie Yilu, then reached out to take the branch from him. Xie Yilu was very happy, and while he was happy, he blurted out, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t coming.¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t respond. Feeling awkward, Xie Yilu asked again, ¡°Last time you mentioned that sometimes two people would come together. That other person¡­ is it Mei Azha?¡± Liao Jixiang immediately turned around and gazed at him guardedly, but Xie Yilu looked straight into his eyes and said frankly, ¡°You¡¯re very close with him, aren¡¯t you?¡± He inquired softly, ¡°He¡¯s also close with Zheng Xian¡­ do you know?¡± He has gone too far. Liao Jixiang thought to himself. But he could tell the worry from his words and his tone. ¡°They call each other brothers,¡± Xie Yilu continued nagging, ¡°and dine at the same table.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Liao Jixiang asked. Xie Yilu was caught off guard. He didn¡¯t want Liao Jixiang to know that he had attended Zheng Xian¡¯s banquet, afraid that Liao Jixiang would think he was close to that person. Liao Jixiang took one step closer. ¡°Did you hear that somewhere? Or did you see for yourself?¡± Xie Yilu lowered his head and refused to speak. Liao Jixiang took another step closer. He smelled strongly of milk fragrance today, which almost overwhelmed the scent of sandalwood he wore. ¡°Whatever he does, it¡¯s for me,¡± Liao Jixiang said. Do you really trust him so? In that instant, Xie Yilu felt as if the tip of his heart had been pinched violently. He remained in stubborn silence, feeling like his words out of goodwill was taken as foolishness1, which was actually fine by him. However, what mattered more was that Liao Jixiang¡¯s words made him look like a troublemaker, trying to sow discord between him and Mei Azha. Presently, Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand reached over, fair as snow, and very tenderly brushed over his shoulder. Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes eagerly followed the hand to his shoulder, and found a small wet patch on his clothing. He looked up. The sky was still overcast, but it had not yet rained. ¡°There was indeed no rain fallen on the mountain path, yet the verdant green in the misty view moistened thy clothes2.¡± Liao Jixiang recited with a faint smile on his face. Xie Yilu felt that Liao Jixiang was trying to comfort him, like how an adult comforts a child, but his heart couldn¡¯t help but tremble with joy. He foolishly looked at Liao Jixiang, his gaze falling onto his eyes, mouth, and almost translucent earlobes. To him, Liao Jixiang was young and pure, yet he also appeared disenchanted by the world. Could he be thirty years old? At most thirty years old. Ten years of weathering in Gansu had wasted away most of his youthful days. Feeling uncomfortable from Xie Yilu¡¯s gaze, Liao Jixiang turned his face away and wanted to continue walking. ¡°Yangchun3,¡± Xie Yilu called him, pointing to the opposite bank of the stream. ¡°Have you been over there?¡± The wind blew up his wide sleeves. Following the rising white fabric of sleeves in the wind, Liao Jixiang saw the bamboo forest on the opposite side of the creek, and the rooftops of the temple peaking at them from among the trees. He shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no bridge.¡± ¡°There are stones,¡± Xie Yilu was referring to the string of large white stones that Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t let him step on last time. ¡°We can step on them to cross.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s face immediately turned pale. It took him a while to finally admit. ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t get across.¡± ¡°For one person, that might be true.¡± Xie Yilu briefly looked over Liao Jixiang¡¯s frail left leg without unsettling his feelings. ¡°But we are two.¡± Liao Jixiang was stunned, as if this was the very first time that he had ever heard such words. He was hesitating. So Xie Yilu simply took his sleeve in his hands and led him to the bank. Why didn¡¯t Xie Yilu hold his hand instead of his sleeve, it wasn¡¯t like Liao Jixiang was a young girl, unbetrothed? Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t explain it. Perhaps to him, Liao Jixiang was neither a man nor a woman. The creek was slightly deeper than three days ago, and probably due to the cloudy weather, it looked turbulent. Xie Yilu waded through the shallower waters and jumped onto one of the stones. The stones formed a continuous line, so it wasn¡¯t too difficult to cross. Within a few steps, Xie Yilu arrived at the centre of the stream, only to look back and find Liao Jixiang still remaining on the first big white stone, hesitating and caught between the dilemma of advancing or retreating. He wanted to follow Xie Yilu, but he simply couldn¡¯t keep up. Xie Yilu noticed his expression, a mixture of helplessness, confusion, embarrassment, and annoyance ¨C he had left Liao Jixiang in an impossible situation. Immediately, Xie Yilu went back to his side, and heard Liao Jixiang, whose head lowered and muttering with irritation, ¡°Nevermind abou¡­.¡± ¡°Forgive my impudence.¡± Xie Yilu bent his knee, one of his hands lifting Liao Jixiang¡¯s hip, and the other supporting his waist. Very suddenly and swiftly, he lifted Liao Jixiang with a jolt. Liao Jixiang let out a scream of surprise, a genuine scream ¨C he had never expected Xie Yilu to do this. It was a downright offence from an inferior person to his superior4. He was held up so high in the air that he had to grab Xie Yilu¡¯s shoulders tightly. Like a swaying willow branch, over half of his body was closely pressed against Xie Yilu¡¯s, as if he was hugging Xie Yilu¡¯s head and neck in his arms. Holding Liao Jixiang was equally challenging for Xie Yilu. After all, he was carrying an adult, so his legs were not as agile. Afraid of shaking Liao Jixiang in his arms, he crossed the creek very slowly this time, which gradually drained his strength. Liao Jixiang was getting heavier and heavier, slipping from his hands inch by inch. Xie Yilu lifted him up again like he was holding a baby, gasping and saying, ¡°Put your arms around me.¡± Liao Jixiang looked at him awkwardly, and didn¡¯t move. It was already late spring, so they were both dressed in thin layers of clothing. Liao Jixiang¡¯s slim waist, hips, and ribs were rubbing against Xie Yilu¡¯s sweaty palms through the thin fabrics. He was slipping even more, bringing them two almost face to face. Presently, Xie Yilu was too focused on his footing. They were reaching the other side in just one or two more stones, when Xie Yilu abruptly tilted his head and unexpectedly saw Liao Jixiang¡¯s face ¨C it was so, so close, frowning with fluttering eyelashes. Xie Yilu was struck by the beauty, lost his balance and misstepped into the water. This time, Liao Jixiang did as he was told and hugged Xie Yilu tightly. Yet Xie Yilu didn¡¯t allow it. Instead, he insisted on holding Liao Jixiang straight up, refusing to let the water wet Liao Jixiang for even a little bit, although half of his own body was already drenched in the water. Even so, Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet were soaked. His body hung on Xie Yilu¡¯s, and wiped his face with the back of his hand, which was covered by water droplets. ¡°Why was I so foolish,¡± he complained, ¡°to follow you and do something so stupid and and absurd!¡± Xie Yilu felt ridiculous too, so he, being miserably drenched, carried Liao Jixiang carefully over and placed him safely on the bank. Seeing that he was able to stand still, Xie Yilu finally let go of his wet hug. The two of them stood there for a while, facing each other speechlessly, then suddenly burst into laughter together. ¡°What about now?¡± Liao Jixiang asked. ¡°It¡¯s okay, only your shoes are wet.¡± Xie Yilu replied. Liao Jixiang had a shy expression on his face. ¡°I meant you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xie Yilu was finally looking down at himself. His clothing was completely soaked from the knee level, and having the long robe wrapped around his leg was extremely uncomfortable. As he raised his eyes, he saw the sun breaking through the clouds and had an idea, ¡°Take them off and let them dry!¡± Liao Jixiang immediately checked their surroundings. ¡°Nonsense!¡± But Xie Yilu had already taken off his shoes, ¡°It¡¯s alright, we¡¯re both men.¡± Liao Jixiang watched as he removed his socks and rolled up his pants. As he untied his outer robe, he also placed his shoes and socks on the big rock to dry. Liao Jixiang stood still, panicking, twisting his fingers in anxiety. ¡°Take off your shoes.¡± Xie Yilu approached him in his loose undergarment5, with a sincere and silly grin on his face. ¡°It¡¯ll be so comfortable.¡± Liao Jixiang was very reluctant. After pondering on it for a while, he took the effort to sit down on the ground, similar to how he struggled to stand up. Then he revealed his feet, which were in satin shoes, silk stockings, and they were not large. He started to take off his shoes. ¡°I¡¯m literally looking for trouble by coming here to meet you.¡± He softly complained like a nagging woman. ¡°Both the last time, and this time.¡± Xie Yilu heard it, but didn¡¯t swallow his pride. ¡°So do you feel happier by restraining yourself, half-dead, in the Weaving and Sewing Bureau all day long?¡± Liao Jixiang immediately raised his eyebrows and gave him a fierce glare, but Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t bother less. He sat down right next to Liao Jixiang and watched him slowly removing his socks. Liao Jixiang had a pair of fair feet, which were now wet and shiny. Under the greyish sunlight from the cloudy sky, they appeared to be made of ivory, making him want to feel them. The mere thought of ¡°feeling¡± made Xie Yilu too ashamed to keep staring. Liao Jixiang seemed to be bothered by his extremely white feet too, but because he had nowhere to hide them, he curled up his toes in embarrassment. Yet for reasons unknown to him, when the toes curled up, Xie Yilu felt that this pair of feet were even more appealing to his heart, so he couldn¡¯t help but steal glances. Liao Jixiang caught him looking and scolded him, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Although he was uttering a reproachful sentence, his voice was trembling. ¡°Are a eunuch¡¯s feet so good-looking?¡± Perhaps due to the previous incident, they had formed a deeper understanding now, so Xie Yilu wasn¡¯t very afraid of his anger. ¡°They are so white,¡± he now dared to say anything, ¡°that they look like¡­¡± A woman¡¯s. The sentence wasn¡¯t finished, but both of them saw it coming. He made the same mistake again! Xie Yilu pressed his forehead in frustration and helplessly lay back on the sand. ¡°I can¡¯t watch my mouth. My bad.¡± Liao Jixiang went silent for a moment, and he didn¡¯t get angry. He turned over to look at Xie Yilu, ¡°You haven¡¯t told anyone about our meeting, have you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Xie Yilu rested his head on his hand, lazily gazing at Liao Jixiang¡¯s back. Hearing his reply, Liao Jixiang felt relieved and turned his back towards Xie Yilu, but just as he was doing so, he heard Xie Yilu saying, ¡°I know you mean well.¡± Though he couldn¡¯t see, Xie Yilu could feel Liao Jixiang smiling. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much,¡± Liao Jixiang replied. ¡°In fact¡­I told a colleague.¡± Liao Jixiang immediately turned back, staring at him incredulously. ¡°A colleague?¡± His tone was now completely different, revealing his hidden side, which was resolute and ruthless. ¡°What a fool!¡± He was so peculiarly incensed, that even his fingertips were trembling. ¡°If he tells others about it, everyone will be convinced that you¡¯ve joined the eunuch¡¯s party6. Your entire life will be¡­¡± ¡°Finished,¡± Xie Yilu completed the sentence for him, staring at him without blinking once, a grin on his face. That was how Liao Jixiang immediately found out he was being teased, so he angrily turned his back on Xie Yilu. Xie Yilu eagerly followed to grab his sleeve, but Liao Jixiang pulled his hand away. So Xie Yilu pulled on his sleeves again, to which Liao Jixiang still remained coldly indifferent. Eventually, Xie Yilu exerted a greater force and dragged him down, making him lie next to him. Liao Jixiang lowered his eyes and refused to speak. To lighten his mood, Xie Yilu deliberately laughed softly, but at this moment, Liao Jixiang whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t let me¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t make the words out, so he leaned in. It was too close. Liao Jixiang lifted his eyes, his pure eyes filled with shallow ripples of light, and he avoided Xie Yilu restlessly. ¡°Don¡¯t let me drag you down,¡± he said, ever so cautiously and timidly. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin your own reputation.¡± Xie Yilu was almost blurting out, ¡°When you cut down the dwarf pear trees, did you ever think about your reputation?¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t expect him to bring this up. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. ¡°You always think about others, but what about yourself?¡± Xie Yilu was pressing for an answer. Liao Jixiang shifted backwards to create some space between them. ¡°What reputation do eunuchs need?¡± He said dispassionately, ¡°Eunuchs are destined to be damned in this world.¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t stand his words, so every time Liao Jixiang retreated, he advanced closer. ¡°People only curse the evil eunuchs!¡± Liao Jixiang stopped retreating and faced Xie Yilu head-on. ¡°Then tell me a good eunuch, can you?¡± It was a question that Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t answer, so their argument reached a stalemate. Liao Jixiang mocked himself, his lips quivering. ¡°Of all of you scholars, who would remember a eunuch¡¯s kindness? Just exchanging a few words with us makes you look like you¡¯re losing your life.¡± ¡°You¡±, and ¡°us.¡± They were so close to each other that their breaths were almost intertwined, but Xie Yilu was convinced that he felt an invisible line separating them brutally. ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± clenching his fists, Xie Yilu looked at Liao Jixiang, his eyes full of plea. ¡°It hurts me when you say that.¡± ¡°Remember,¡± Liao Jixiang slowly turned over, cold and distantly, he left his back to Xie Yilu. ¡°Don¡¯t ever have anything to do with eunuchs, never.¡± Xie Yilu felt as if he had a huge rock pressing against his chest ¨C he was breathing strenuously. Reaching out, he sensed the extreme urge to grab that shoulder and make him turn back. Yet, after all, he didn¡¯t really possess the courage to do so. The original term here is hao xin dang cheng lv gan fei, ºÃÐĵ±³É¿¸Î·Î, which literally means ¡°taking one¡¯s kind and good heart for some useless innard of the donkey¡±. The poem was written by poet Wang Wei in the Tang Dynasty, titled Shanzhong, ɽÖÐ. The original sentence is ɽ·ԪÎÞÓ꣬¿Õ´äʪÈËÒ¡£ Yangchun, Ñø´º, Liao Jixiang¡¯s courtesy name. Liao Jixiang is a fourth-rank eunuch, while Xie Yilu is a sixth-rank official. The undergarments here refer to ancient Chinese underwear, which is the innermost layer of shirts or long pants worn underneath the embroidered robes. Historically, the court officials and the eunuchs represented two opposing political parties. Some court officials might join the eunuchs for power, fame, or other reasons. The ¡°real men¡± who took the eunuchs¡¯ side would usually be despised and cursed. CH 14 Xie Yilu returned to the city in his wet clothes, and all the pedestrians avoided him as he walked in the street. Yet he didn¡¯t care about them at all, because his mind was completely occupied by Liao Jixiang¡¯s words. Walking while thinking about Liao Jixiang¡¯s meekness when meeting with him, he suddenly seemed to spot a familiar object in the crowd with a casual glance around ¨C an iron chain made up of thick links, dangling heavily and swaying in the air. His eyes followed the chain up, and landed on the person holding onto the chain, who was not the dishevelled old beggar. Rather, it was a teenage boy wearing a Yesa1 ¨C it was Aliu carrying a long knife on his back. Xie Yilu stood there dumbfounded, but all of a sudden, he was enlightened. That pair of old beggars had probably already become ghosts under this boy¡¯s long knife. Indeed, how could Liao Jixiang tolerate their obscene insults? His temporary forbearance was nothing but a prelude to a merciless execution. This was not his first time after all¡­ Xie Yilu¡¯s hand went to his neck, and felt for the shallow scar there, which was still not fully healed. Inadvertently, he shuddered. It was incredibly difficult to reconcile the two versions he witnessed into one man. These two figures, Liao Jixiang from the Weaving and Sewing Bureau, and Liao Yangchun from Liumanpo2, were just like two balls of mercury, one black and one white, impossible to fuse into one no matter how close they were. Aliu didn¡¯t see Xie Yilu. He was walking with Ruan Dian, who threw his arm around Aliu¡¯s shoulder as they headed towards Qiandao Bridge3 along Gaojing Avenue4. ¡°Dugong5 only prefers you little ones,¡± Ruan Dian kept his back extremely straight, as if he didn¡¯t dare to bend it for even just a little bit. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even kill Xie Yilu, but Dugong still didn¡¯t punish you!¡± Aliu blinked his big eyes, and glanced at him impassively. Ruan Dian was tired of maintaining his posture, so he slightly relaxed his back, and the moment he relaxed, the whip wounds on his back Immediately came into contact with his clothes, making him cry out in pain. ¡°Dugong is only merciless towards me!¡± Who told you to extort money from the common folks? Aliu shook the iron chain in his hand, which was his fresh spoil of war. With his other hand, he gestured6 his thoughts at Ruan Dian, who waved him off in annoyance. ¡°Fine, fine¡±, he whined. ¡°What? Can¡¯t I get some extra income? I¡¯m just a damned eunuch, what achievements do you want me to accomplish?¡± Aliu didn¡¯t care to argue with him, so he focused on playing with his chain. He had just gotten hold of it, so his attention was still drawn strongly to this new possession. When he lashed it in the air, it made a swoosh sound in the wind. Presently, there was a sudden commotion ahead of them, and it sounded like someone was arguing. Ruan Dian withdrew his arm around Aliu¡¯s shoulder and went to check on it first. Shaking his arm, Aliu wrapped the chain around his wrist, then followed him. Qiandao Bridge was a bustling place where harlots, their clients, and stall vendors all crowded together, so it could be counted as part of the busy main road. As such, there was always news happening around here. This time, it was a pair of junior eunuchs leading some soldiers, blocking the passing clients and demanding money. People in Nanjing were rational. The young and the old all crowded together, each demanding an explanation from them, ¡°Five taels of silver per person is no small amount. Won¡¯t even need that much to hire a Yangzhou7 girl!¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much?¡± The leader of the junior eunuchs was delicate-looking and spoke in a soft voice, ¡°Our Lord Qi8 is a special imperial envoy appointed by the emperor. It is the utmost honour for him to come to Nanjing. Don¡¯t say five taels,¡± he sneered, ¡°if we demand fifty taels, you¡¯ll need to surrender that money even if that means to gut yourself and take out your intestines!¡± The crowd was in an uproar, and several brave men tried to advance, but the soldiers pinned them down without warning. ¡°Look,¡± Ruan Dian showed Aliu a thumbs up. ¡°People from the capital are truly mighty!¡± And so people began to pay. Once they paid, they were left with no money to spend on prostitution, so they ended up walking back dirty and daunted. All of a sudden, someone in the crowd chanted out loud, ¡°There is infinite gold in the world, yet finite means to ascend to heaven. We advise you to be forgiving in all matters. Suppose you gather wealth and obtain power through unfair means, your sons will suffer, so will your grandsons9!¡± Where would eunuchs get sons and grandsons? Not to mention the two junior eunuchs under Qi Wan, even Ruan Dian was furious upon hearing it. Before the soldiers could react, he drew his sword and charged over, shouting, ¡°Who sang it?!¡± He aggressively pulled the common folks and demanded, ¡°Show yourself!¡± Nobody knew who it was given the messy scene. The common folks were terrified and knelt down in unison, begging for mercy. ¡°He, he ran away. He¡¯s from the Yong Society10!¡± ¡°Yong Society?¡± Ruan Dian felt like he had heard of it before, but he wasn¡¯t sure of it, so he turned to look at Aliu, who was still swaying the iron chain like he was playing. Aliu lifted his chin towards him, so Ruan Dian put away his long knife and shouted ¡°Get lost¡±, granting the common folks leave. Yong Society. Aliu had heard Mei Azha mention it before. It was a group of stinky scholars who established this shabby society, which had a sole purpose of composing lousy and sarcastic poems to mock them, the eunuchs. And Mei Azha seemed to possess a list of the members¡¯ names. ¡°Who are the members of this society, do you know?¡± Ruan Dian asked him. Aliu knew a few, so he nodded. Ruan Dian licked his lips cunningly and said, ¡°Good, we¡¯ll teach them a lesson someday!¡± They entered Zhushi11, although Qi Wan¡¯s men didn¡¯t take any money. Instead, they even chatted a bit about this and that. Ruan Dian was very good at socialising. After a while, the two junior eunuchs were addressing him as ¡°brother¡±. ¡°See that?¡± As they turned into the narrow alley of harlots¡¯ quarters, Ruan Dian told Aliu, ¡°Remember how I did it. If one day I¡¯m not around no more, you have to be able to handle it on your own.¡± The moment Aliu heard the words ¡°not around,¡± he immediately covered Ruan Dian¡¯s mouth. He had a strong grip, which hurt Ruan Dian¡¯s jaw badly, but he was happy, rubbing Aliu¡¯s head like petting a puppy. ¡°I¡¯m here, little brother. I¡¯ll always be here. We¡¯ll die together.¡± Aliu blushed and lowered his head shyly, then opened his mouth, and pointed to his throat. ¡°You can¡¯t speak, so what?¡± Ruan Dian didn¡¯t say it out loud, but deep down he was feeling even worse than Aliu. ¡°Wait for me, little brother. When I gather enough money, I¡¯ll find the best doctor for you!¡± Forget it. Aliu gestured. You surrendered all your money to that woman! He was referring to the woman residing here, where they were presently heading towards ¨C a small wooden building where she received her clients. Her name was Wang Liu¡¯er, and like most of the mediocre Nanjing prostitutes, her stage name was derived from the character of ¡°beauty¡±12. ¡°Liu¡¯er!¡± As Ruan Dian went upstairs, he shouted, using his tongue-rolling Beijing accent. The voice from upstairs soon responded, ¡°Ohhh13, so you still remember the way here!¡± Aliu didn¡¯t like the woman, nor did he like being in here. As soon as he entered the room, he squatted down by the threshold. Because of him blocking the doorway, the young harlot waiting on Wang Liu¡¯er could only serve her tea by brushing against him as she entered the door, similar to how she walked past a puppy. Upon entering her room, Ruan Dian tore his collar open and exposed half of his chest and arm like an uncouth Mongol. On his thick arm was a patch of rough and pockmarked skin, which was known as a ¡°tattoo from burning incense¡±, marking the words ¡°Wang Liu¡¯er¡±. With this tattoo, they were considered a couple. And at the moment, they were whispering sweet nothings to each other sitting by the bed. After talking for a while, Ruan Dian called out to Aliu, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you to the small room.¡± Aliu refused to go, so Ruan Dian had to pull him along. The tea-serving young harlot went past them and headed towards the small room first, but she gave Aliu a fierce glare before her figure disappeared into the room. Aliu was a little scared of her, and Ruan Dian was aware of it. ¡°Get up! You don¡¯t look like a man at all!¡± he softly scolded Aliu, ¡°Why, you don¡¯t even blink when killing someone or chopping off their hands, but a little girl like her can make you go soft?¡± Aliu reluctantly gestured to his heart with his hand and shook his index finger. I don¡¯t like her. This was the last thing Ruan Dian had patience to hear. ¡°You like Guo Xiaozhuo, but has he ever set eyes on you?¡± he cursed, ¡°Besides, what¡¯s so good about him? He has a dick, but it¡¯s useless! His behind is probably poked so many times that it¡¯s rotten!¡± Aliu stood up with a sullen face, so Ruan Dian¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Try a woman. Once you¡¯ve had a taste of her, you wouldn¡¯t like him anymore. I¡¯ve already arranged everything for you. All you need to do is take off your clothes and get in the bed!¡± With that, he patted Aliu on the shoulder, like a real big brother. ¡°Conquer her. Everyone needs to pass this test¡­¡± Aliu was pulled into the small room by him. The young harlot had already removed all her clothes and was lying naked in bed. She had a copper pipe in her hand, for smoking some Guangzhou14 tobacco. Seeing that made Aliu think to himself, that the tobacco must¡¯ve been paid for by his brother. Ruan Dian moved a chair by the door and took a seat. ¡°Go on¡±, he urged, ¡°Hurry up.¡± Aliu reluctantly removed all his clothes and climbed onto the bed, revealing his small, dark buttocks. He lifted the blankets and sillily straddled the naked young harlot. She immediately glared at him fiercely, then she looked down. Down there, Aliu¡¯s penis appeared immature, soft and flaccid ¨C even though he was about fifteen years old, his thing was like that of a seven or eight-year-old boy. In fact, when he was exactly around that age, he and several hundred other poor children all had their testicles removed15, and then they were dispatched across the Pingxiang City16. Aliu grabbed his little thing and foolishly thrust it between the young harlot¡¯s thighs. Ruan Dian was itching to teach him, ¡°Kiss her, kiss her on the lips first!¡± Aliu looked at him, then back at the young harlot. He then worked up the courage to give a messy and blunt kiss on that pair of tender, rouged lips. The young harlot put on an irritated look, but something about her seemed to be different now. Aliu couldn¡¯t tell what had changed, but he could feel her body relaxing, like a soft cloud expanding around him, somewhat affectionate too. I¡¯ve created a Discord for my translations!! Join it here and ask me anything:D Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. Liumanpo, ÁøÂúÆÂ, the location of Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang¡¯s date. Qiandao bridge, or Qiandao Qiao, ǬµÀÇÅ. First appeared in chapter 3. Gaojing Avenue, Gaojing Dajie, ¸ß¾®´ó½Ö. The original text here is Dugong, ¶½¹«, an unofficial title for powerful eunuchs. Aliu can¡¯t speak so he could only express himself using gestures. Since the Ming Dynasty, a large number of young women who were specially trained and ready to marry wealthy and powerful men as concubines appeared in Yangzhou. Back then, having a slender figure was considered pretty, so all the girls were slim and emaciated. That gave them the title of ¡°Yangzhou Shouma¡±, ÑïÖÝÊÝÂí. Shou means ¡°slender¡±, so Shouma literally means ¡°a slender horse¡±. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, ¡°breeding thin horses¡± became a profitable investment, and many specialised in this profession. The ¡°lord¡± here is not a legitimate title, as a eunuch can¡¯t inherit titles or lands. This is an excerpt of a poem written in the Yuan Dynasty. Back then, the Mongols ruled the Han people, and many suffered from their unfair laws and discrimination. This poem was written by Chen Caoan, ³Â²ÝâÖcalled Zhonglv, Shanpoyang, ÖÐÂÀ¡¤É½ÆÂÑò. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. Zhushi, ÖéÊÐ, the name of a harlot house. First visited by Ruan Dian in chapter 3. The character of beauty, or Mei, ÃÀ, can be roughly separated to the ¡°Íõ¡±, ¡°Ø¼¡±,and ¡°Ø£¡±. These can be recombined to her name, ÍõÁù¶ù. The original term here is Aiya, °¥Ñ½, an interjection in the Chinese language. Guangzhou, ¹ãÖÝ, a city in southern China. There were two types of castration in the Ming Dynasty. Quanbai, È«°×, (literal meaning is ¡°completely white¡±) means to remove both the testicles and the penis. And Banbai, °ë°×, (literal meaning is ¡°half white¡±), means to only remove the testicles. This will be discussed again by the protagonists in future chapters. If you wish to learn more about the details of the castration process, you can read my blog here. Pingxiang City, or Pingxiang Zhou, ƾÏéÖÝ, is located in Guangxi Province, China. It was a border city between ancient China and Vietnam in the Ming Dynasty. As mentioned in the previous chapters, Eunuchs such as Ruan Dian, Aliu and the junior eunuchs under them all came from Vietnam. These castrated children were the gift from the ancient Vietnam (aka Annan), to ancient China. The cover photo is taken by me, in Lijiang, Yunnan. CH 15 Jin Tang was sitting upright behind his wide rosewood1 desk, which was covered by all kinds of embroidery patterns. In front of him stood the steward eunuchs from various offices of the Weaving and Sewing Bureau, each holding their official documents and waiting for his commands. ¡°We shall not weave these forty-three types of brocades2, such as the purple brocade with embroideries of jewellery and zigzag patterns3, and the purple brocade with embroideries of water droplets, Fangsheng and magpies4,¡± Jin Tang struck these names off the list in one go, ¡°the people living near the southern coast have seen too many of them, so they¡¯re not selling well in Guangzhou5.¡± The eunuch in charge of weaving the brocades nodded continuously in agreement. ¡°Add additional twenty-nine types of damask6, like the damask embroidered with patterns of tides and ripples of water, and the one with white heron and water ripple embroideries. It¡¯s getting hotter by day, so they will be popular.¡± And so the eunuch in charge of weaving the damask noted his task. Presently, the secretary of the meeting stepped forward and said, ¡°Grandfather7, we have received yet another urgent order from the palace. All the various colours of silk, gauze8, brocade with golden threads9, glittering silk10, brocade with python embroideries11, robes with the fighting bull12 embroideries on the chest and back, the brocades with Feiyu13, Qilin14, the robes with lion embroideries on the sleeve15, robes with embroideries at the knee level16, the brocades with embroideries of flying immortals17, and the brocades with embroideries of divine deers18¡­ that were stored in the palace have all been rewarded away by his majesty. His majesty had dispatched an urgent order to us, Suzhou and Hangzhou19 to weave three to five thousand pi20 of various fabrics and to have them delivered to the capital as soon as possible.¡± The fabrics have run out again¡­Jin Tang scratched his head, feeling overwhelmed. Just then, a eunuch serving as his valet surged through the door and knelt down in front of the desk, reporting, ¡°Grandfather, Qi Wan has left. Dugong21 was there to see him off.¡± ¡°That old antique has finally left!¡± Jin Tang finally put a smile on his face, and began to joke with his confidants, ¡°Let¡¯s pray that he will never visit us on the return trip. We definitely can¡¯t afford to entertain him again!¡± ¡°All the officials above the third-rank, as well as those in military positions and those in charge of defending the city, have seen him off at the harbour.¡± The eunuch added. Jin Tang nodded in response. So the secretary of the meeting continued, ¡°Grandfather, it is now the time to reserve the looms to fulfil our yearly quota of weaving the Dragon Robes22, the Divine Bird Robes23, the Velvet24 Brocade, and the formal belts25. The Elder Master26 has also sent us official letters to urge us.¡± Jin Tang frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t they tell us last time that the plain silk27 needs to be embroidered with golden threads for the fabrics on the chest?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been changed again,¡± the eunuch in charge of weaving the silk was troubled by this tricky situation too, ¡°last month¡¯s royal decree ordered us to change the embroidery to the pattern of red cloud with tigers and leopards.¡± The patterns and designs the royals preferred were constantly changing, yet there were only so many weavers and looms in Nanjing. With only twelve Shichen28 in a day, how could they possibly take care of everyone¡¯s needs? Jin Tang was feeling anxious when the valet eunuch entered the room again, this time not kneeling in front of the desk, but approached and directly whispered in Jin Tang¡¯s ear, ¡°Manager Qu29 of the Ministry of War has left his office.¡± Hearing that, Jin Tang immediately waved to the rest in waiting, ¡°Go now. The meeting will resume tomorrow at noon.¡± He then instructed the valet eunuch, ¡°quickly, send a sedan chair to fetch him.¡± And so the soft sedan chair of the Weaving and Sewing Bureau went on the road. It ran into Qu Feng¡¯s sedan chair on Tongjimen Avenue30. With respectful salutations, the eunuchs accompanying the soft sedan chair presented Qu Feng an invitation31 from Jin Tang. ¡°Master, Gonggong Jin32 is inviting you to have a cup of tea as a gesture of gratitude.¡± Qu Feng didn¡¯t even get out of his sedan chair as he replied coldly and distantly. ¡°There¡¯s no need, I should be the one thanking him.¡± ¡°Our Gonggong insists, as there¡¯s an intimate item that he wishes to return to you in person.¡± What intimate item? It¡¯s just a handkerchief! Qu Feng was slightly annoyed. The eunuch continued, ¡°Our Gonggong has thought ahead for you. We¡¯ve brought a sedan chair with us33, and we¡¯ll escort you back after dark.¡± Qu Feng lifted the window of his sedan chair and peered outside, and indeed he saw a sedan chair. After pondering on it for a while, he ordered his servants to halt at a secluded spot by the roadside. Jin Tang¡¯s men were quick-witted too. Seeing Qu Feng¡¯s servants in action, they immediately followed up, so that they could swiftly pick Qu Feng up as soon as he exited his own sedan chair. Once Qu Feng had settled comfortably in the new sedan chair, they lowered the curtain and departed. After sitting in the sedan chair for a while, Qu Feng began to regret his earlier decision. He hesitantly enquired by tapping on the wall of the sedan chair, ¡°Your Gonggong Jin¡­¡± The question was on his lips, yet he was unsure of the phrasing, so he chewed on it for quite some time, and finally asked, ¡°does he often interact with government officials like this?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± That was a tricky question for the eunuch, and just as Qu Feng thought he wouldn¡¯t get an answer, the eunuch spoke up, ¡°not exactly. Our Gonggong finds joy in reading and calligraphy, yet he never seeks close relationships with scholars easily.¡± He paused, which made Qu Feng itchy to learn more, and he continued, ¡°He had lectured us previously, that those bearing official titles and fame wouldn¡¯t bother to make acquaintances with us, unless there¡¯s something they want from us, which will be either a dirty or an ugly deal.¡± This is insightful. Qu Feng couldn¡¯t help but agree with Jin Tang. At the moment, the eunuch outside the sedan chair added, ¡°Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± ¡°Our Gonggong said, unless the person we wish to make acquaintance with is a close confidant.¡± A close confidant? Qu Feng wasn¡¯t sure how to weigh the meaning that word carried. He felt a fleeting sense of happiness, and a simultaneous feeling of shock and dread, as if he was burning himself during his attempt to light a fire. As he assessed his gains and losses from this decision, they arrived at the Weaving and Sewing Bureau. The soft sedan chair entered through a side gate34, and after walking north for about half a ke35, they finally reached Jin Tang¡¯s office. When he first got off the sedan chair, Qu Feng was struggling to hide his embarrassment and apprehension. All he wanted was to claim his handkerchief and leave. However, the moment he saw Jin Tang smiling and looking at him at the door, not even wearing a hairnet36 and only wearing casual clothing, he sensed a sudden relief and was at peace. The tea was Baekho Silver Needle37. Jin Tang was behaving very relaxed, neither did he salute formally to Qu Feng, nor did he use any cliched small talk. He fetched the small handkerchief as soon as he approached Qu Feng, like he was an ordinary scholar with no official titles, who couldn¡¯t bother less about court etiquette. ¡°I¡¯ve washed it and perfumed it with my benzoin incense.¡± There was no one around to serve them, so Jin Tang personally poured hot water from a silver teapot into Qu Feng¡¯s cup. ¡°The scent is somewhat different from what you¡¯re using.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Qu Feng only gave him a simple response, lifted the cup to his lips and finished the tea. ¡°Why would you¡­¡± Jin Tang was hesitant about asking. Yet, perhaps the atmosphere was genuinely pleasant, with the two of them sitting by the small window and sharing tea using Tuhao38 tea cups. As the boiling spring water flowed into the cups, he finally picked up the courage to ask, ¡°why would you end up in the Ministry of War? The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites39 have always been at odds.¡± Qu Feng smiled but didn¡¯t answer. Jin Tang felt somewhat embarrassed, as if he was being too gracious towards someone who was indifferent to him. His thin lips tightened, appearing a bit sorrowful and pitiful. ¡°Last time,¡± Qu Feng finally spoke, but only uttered the simplest reply, ¡°thank you.¡± This time, it was him pouring water for Jin Tang. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I retrieve my handkerchief or not. I came here to ask this question: why did the Weaving and Sewing Bureau cut down the dwarf pear trees?¡± Many people had asked this question before, and Jin Tang always gave the same answer. But what should he say to Qu Feng? After some consideration, he eventually used the standard answer still. ¡°Our Dugong has trouble sleeping well at night, so we have consulted someone experienced, who told us that the pear tree forest is taboo.¡± Qu Feng raised his eyebrows and stared at him, slowly turning the cup of tea round and round in his hand, his burning gaze imposing. Jin Tang didn¡¯t dare to meet his eyes. Not sure if it was out of nervousness or something else, he licked his lips and admitted vaguely, ¡°Ever since we cut down the trees, our Dugong indeed sleeps better.¡± Silence. The kind of dead silence found only in the middle of night. All Jin Tang could hear was the silver teapot gurgling on the stove. A substantial period of time passed before Qu Feng finally replied, ¡°Oh.¡± That¡¯s another ¡°oh¡± from him. Qu Feng put down his cup and got up. Seeing that he was intending to leave, Jin Tang hastily said, ¡°Stay a little longer.¡± He then quickly tried to cover up his attempt to spend more time with him, ¡°It¡¯s not yet dark outside. Can¡¯t let anyone see you leaving from my place.¡± Qu Feng considered for a moment and agreed, but since he had already stood up, it felt awkward to sit back down again. So he strolled away and approached Jin Tang¡¯s desk, where he saw a small inkstone with flower carvings on the desk. It was hard to imagine that a eunuch with such power as Jin Tang would use such a crude item. He couldn¡¯t help but lean in for a closer look. Jin Tang stood up with him. As he saw Qu Feng studying the inkstone, Jin Tang felt embarrassed, ¡°I bought it at Qiyue Zhai40 next to the Tits Mansion41 when I was a child. Been using it for years.¡± He is a sentimental person, thought Qu Feng. However, what caught his interest were the other two words, ¡°The Tits Mansion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the consorts in the palace¡­¡± In Beijing, it was nothing but an informal name that everyone used, but now that Qu Feng enquired about it, Jin Tang couldn¡¯t help but feel genuinely obscene, and his face turned glistening red as he struggled to speak, ¡°it¡¯s¡­¡± he tried to explain, his voice getting softer and softer, ¡°where they select wet nurses for the consorts in the palace,¡± ¡°By the way.¡± It seemed like Qu Feng was trying to discreetly save Jin Tang from his embarrassment; he fished out a small, squarish box from his sleeves and gave it to Jin Tang, ¡°Just bought and unopened. I didn¡¯t bring anything else suitable, so consider this my thank-you gift to you.¡± It was the finest Muslim product, Jin Tang recognised its high quality at a glance ¨C it was a rouge for men. ¡°How can I deserve¡­¡± He was trying to refuse the gift. However, Qu Feng could tell that he really wanted it. What Jin Tang desired was not that box of rouge, but in fact a gift from a scholar. ¡°Take it,¡± Qu Feng insisted, stuffing the rouge into Jin Tang¡¯s hand, just as he had done with the handkerchief, his action betraying a hint of dominance. Jin Tang was so pampered that he was getting anxious as he scrambled to come up with some words to properly thank Qu Feng. At that moment, they heard a sudden commotion outside. If the sound could reach them in the office, then it must have been quite chaotic outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jin Tang demanded angrily. The young eunuch on night duty replied outside the door, ¡°Grandpa, the Ministry of War is arresting men for forced labour. They put up the notice this afternoon, stating that all families who had previously owned dwarf pear trees and had paid to the Weaving and Sewing Bureau are now recognised as part of the eunuch¡¯s party. So they¡¯re being forced and trafficked to the north of the city, to build a dam there for three months.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin Tang was furious. He grabbed his Yesa42, put it on loosely around his shoulder and was ready to go out. Yet Qu Feng pulled him aside, ¡°Don¡¯t go! It¡¯s chaos out there.¡± ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± Jin Tang glared at Qu Feng, who hesitated for quite a while before finally admitting, ¡°You know about the Yong Society43, right? After last night¡¯s meeting, they announced that anyone who doesn¡¯t join their society will hence be known as ¡®those who took the eunuch¡¯s side¡¯. There will be no room for survival for fence-sitters from this day onwards.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with the common folks?¡± Right, what does that have to do with the common folks? Certainly Qu Feng understood that as well. ¡°It is a form of intimidation. They have to use someone to set an example and warn the rest.¡± Whoa! That was a difficult chapter to translate! I was dying from adding all the footnotes. I¡¯m quite busy with my real-life commitments lately so do let me know if there¡¯s anything wrong:) You can also join my discord here!! The original term here is Huanghuali, »Æ»¨Àæ. A type of luxurious rosewood often used to make Chinese furniture. The Chinese term for brocade is Jin, ½õ. It was difficult to find the exact patterns described in the book because most of the fabrics from the past have been lost in history. These are some patterns that you can refer to for a better visualisation of what¡¯s happening in the story. The Chinese name of this brocade is Zi Bao Jiedi Jin, ×ϱ¦½×µØ½õ. The Chinese name of this brocade is Zi Xiao Dizhu Fangsheng Luanque Jin, ×ÏСµÎÖ鷽ʤð½Èµ½õ. Fangsheng is a Traditional Chinese decoration pattern, meaning auspiciousness. Guangzhou, ¹ãÖÝ, a city in southern China. The Chinese term for damask is Ling, ç±. Grandfather is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors. The original term here is Shaluo, É´ÂÞ. It is woven by a thin layer of silk. See picture here. Brocade with golden threads is also known as Zhijin Jin, Ö¯½ð½õ. See picture here. Glittering silk is also known as Shanse, ÉÁÉ«. This embroidery pattern is known as Manglong, òþÁú, (literally a ¡°python dragon¡±) in Chinese. In ancient China, a python refers to a Chinese dragon with four fingers on each of its claws. A robe made of silk with bullfighting embroidery is mostly used as a personal, special gift from the emperor to his favourite subjects. Feiyu can be directly translated to ¡°flying fish¡±, although ¡°flying fish¡± here refers to the Chinese dragons with four-fingered claws and a fish tail. Feiyufu, ·ÉÓã·þ, is a traditional Han clothing rewarded by the emperor to his loyal imperial guards, aka Jinyiwei, ½õÒÂÎÀ. See a picture of Feiyufu here. The Qilin, ÷è÷ë, is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. Long sleeved robe is known as Tongxiu, ͨÐä, in Chinese. The specific patterns of embroidery are often used to display the wearer¡¯s status. The original term here is Xilan, Ï¥Ò[, which refers to the embroideries at the knee level on the official¡¯s uniforms in Ming Dynasty. See a picture here. The original term here is Feixian, ·ÉÏÉ. The original term here is Tianlu, Ìì¹, Which literally means ¡°the divine deer that lives in heaven¡±. See a picture here. Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou are cities in southern China. These cities are famous for producing extensively embroidered silk, even until now. Pi Is a length unit in ancient China. One pi is roughly equal to 10 to 13 metres long. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for Liao Jixiang. Dragon robes, also known as longpao, ÁúÅÛ, is a form of everyday clothing which had a Chinese dragon, called long (Áú) as the main decoration; it was worn by the emperors of China. Diyi, µÔÒ (literally ¡°pheasant garment¡±), is the historical Chinese attire worn by the empresses of the Song dynasty and by the empresses and crown princesses (wife of crown prince) in the Ming Dynasty. The original term here is Rongjin, ÈÞ½õ, it is made using very complicated weaving methods, using multiple layers of threads and silk, to form a fabric with extensive patterns that have three-dimensional effects. The formal belt is known as Luandai, ð½´ø (literally a ¡°divine bird belt¡±). Such a formal belt usually has embroidery patterns such as Feiyu, pythons, bamboo or plum blossoms. It is worn for attending royal audiences or other formal occasions. The original word here is ÀÏ×æ×Ú, Laozuzong, which is literally translated to ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. This term is a reverent title towards older and powerful eunuchs. Specifically, the Elder Master here refers to the most respected old eunuch in the court. As eunuchs cannot father any biological children, it is common for young eunuchs to seek the protection of a powerful eunuch by becoming their ¡°adopted son/grandson¡±. It pleases an eunuch to have as many ¡°adopted offspring¡± as possible. Therefore, the elder eunuch is referred to as ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. Since the ¡°adopted sons/grandsons¡± still need to work for the elder eunuch and be filial to him, I took the liberty to translate ÀÏ×æ×Ú as ¡°the Elder Master¡±. The original term here is Su Zhu Si, ËØÀ‚Ë¿. Shichen, ʱ³½, a time unit in ancient China. One Shichen is roughly 2 hours. Qu Feng¡¯s position in the Ministry of War is Zhushi, Ö÷ÊÂ, which is similar to a manager. Tongjimen Avenue, ͨ¼ÃÃÅ´ó½Ö. Tongjimen means Tongji Gate. This avenue is located near the city gate named Tongji. The original term here is Mingci, Ãû´Ì, which is a short letter with the sender¡¯s name, title, as well as an invitation or a request to meet the recipient. Mingci can be sent days in advance or handed in right before a meeting. Gonggong Jin, ½ð¹«¹«. Jin, ½ð, is the surname of Jin Tang, and Gonggong, ¹«¹«, is only used to address eunuchs. By switching his own sedan chair to an unfamiliar one, Qu Feng can hide from the eyes in the street and avoid the accusation of ¡°having secret relationships with eunuchs¡± or ¡°betraying the officials¡¯ party to join the eunuch¡¯s party¡±. A side gate is used by inferiors, or when the visitor wishes to keep the meeting discreet. Ke, ¿Ì, a time unit in ancient China. One ke is equal to 15 minutes. The original term here is Wangjin, Íø½í. Wangjin was very common in the Ming Dynasty, as this hair net keeps the men¡¯s hair tidy. See an example here. Baekho Silver Needle, or Baihao Yinzhen, °×ºÁÒøÕë. Amongst white teas, this is the most expensive variety and the most prized, as only top buds (leaf shoot) of the camellia sinensis plant are used to produce the tea. Tuhao, ÍúÁ, means ¡°hare¡¯s hair¡±. The glaze surface bears yellow striations that resemble the fur of wild hares, and thus such works were referred to by the Song people as ¡°hare¡¯s fur tea cups.¡± See a picture here. Qu Feng¡¯s father is a second-rank official (so he¡¯s likely the leader of a ministry too) in the Ministry of Rites. It would make sense if his father pulled some strings to put Qu Feng in the same ministry. Qiyue Zhai, ÆëÔÂÕ«, the name of a store selling books and stationery. The original term here is Naizi Fu. Fu means ¡°mansion¡±, and Naizi, ÄÌ×Ó, is a slang word referring to breasts, so I translated it to tits. Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. CH 16 Xie Yilu was carrying Liao Jixiang in his arms extremely carefully, like he was holding a delicate golden Buddha statue. Liao Jixiang was also hugging him, remaining motionless and very obedient in Xie Yilu¡¯s arms ¨C they had known each other very well by now. Xie Yilu leaped neatly from the big white boulder in the water and gently placed Liao Jixiang on the dry sandy soil on the other side of the creek. They then tidied their clothes and headed towards the deserted temple in the bamboo forest. ¡°So, ¡± Xie Yilu picked up his unfinished sentence from a moment ago, ¡°Mei Azha pledged his loyalty to the Elder Master1 earlier than you did?¡± Liao Jixiang stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and nodded. ¡°The Elder Master has been in power for years, yet he only admitted nine of us under his name, which is very rare.¡± Judging from his words, Xie Yilu could feel his respect and sentiment for the Elder Master ¨C it was the kind of reverence towards the elders in the family. ¡°Do you have fewer people under your name compared to him?¡± Liao Jixiang suddenly looked up at him with a melancholic expression, and remained silent. Xie Yilu was pained by that look. It was frequent for Liao Jixiang to become reticent all of a sudden, as if he was preoccupied by too many things on his mind. For an instant, Xie Yilu wanted to hug him, or simply wrap his arms loosely around him, so that he could gently comfort him and persuade him to let go of those troubles. ¡°Speaking of which,¡± he changed the subject to something more relaxing, ¡°what are your requirements when selecting subordinates?¡± ¡°Smart,¡± Liao Jixiang considered for a moment, and added impassively, ¡°and pretty.¡± Xie Yilu stared at him. ¡°Pretty?¡± ¡°Selecting the castrated is just like picking kittens and puppies,¡± Liao Jixiang looked back at him with a cold, distant and even tragic expression. ¡°If you were me, would you not choose the beautiful ones?¡± He used the word ¡°castrated¡± to describe himself. It was clearly self-deprecating, yet Xie Yilu felt a piercing pain in his heart. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words came out. Liao Jixiang suddenly laughed very deliberately and forcefully. ¡°Or someone like Yishiha, who came from the trained palace guards2.¡± Indeed, Xie Yilu had never seen an ugly eunuch. From Zheng Xian to Jin Tang, from Aliu to Zhang Cai¡­ Even for someone as old as Qi Wan, it was clear that he was once handsome and charismatic. It had never come across him before, that eunuchs were merely the decorations in the hall of power, so how could they not be pleasing to the eye? ¡°Yishiha,¡± it took Xie Yilu considerable effort to restrain himself before speaking, ¡°is indeed skilled.¡± ¡°He was a man who escaped from captivity.¡± ¡°Escaped from captivity3¡± was an official term used to describe those who were captured by the Mongolian Tatars4, who managed to escape from the northwestern desert and come back to their hometown. Xie Yilu was surprised, and just as he was about to ask for more details, a farmer rushed towards them. Behind him followed a group of fellow villagers, leading a one or two-year-old grey-backed water buffalo. Xie Yilu looked in the direction they came from, and noticed a village shop at the corner of the bamboo forest. They chanted a folk song, and together, they laid the water buffalo down by the creek. One of them had a huge wooden hammer in his hand ¨C they were ready to neuter the buffalo. Liao Jixiang immediately turned to Xie Yilu, as if he wanted to throw himself into his arms, making him appear like a frightened bird. So Xie Yilu took the liberty to open his arms towards Liao Jixiang, trying his best to look sincere, ready to comfort him. However, all Liao Jixiang did was to stop in front of him. With his back to the buffalo, he trembled as he lowered his head. The buffalo seemed to comprehend its situation and let out a sorrowful howl. Xie Yilu covered Liao Jixiang¡¯s head with his wide sleeve. Suddenly, there was a loud ¡°thud¡± ¨C the hammer had struck the buffalo¡¯s head. The villagers chattered intermittently, discussing where to drive the knife. ¡°At least they will knock it out¡­¡± Liao Jixiang whispered, like he was suppressing something. Xie Yilu heard him, but didn¡¯t immediately understand. Some things needed to be comprehended. Like the long incense ashes accumulated on the burning incense stick falling down5, or, like the long icicles frozen since winter snapping abruptly in early spring, suddenly, he was enlightened, that Liao Jixiang was conscious. When he experienced those miserable, agonising torments, he was able to see, able to hear, and he was wide awake! How could one human even be so unbelievably brutal to another¡­ Xie Yilu felt the excruciating pain for Liao Jixiang for the first time, as if it was himself bearing all these intolerable occurrences and couldn¡¯t withstand anything anymore. The muscles on his face tensed up, his teeth clenched and clattering in his mouth. He heard Liao Jixiang choking as he whimpered, ¡°Only livestock are treated this way¡­¡± Xie Yilu still didn¡¯t dare to embrace him, but his hands moved, his grasp on Liao Jixiang¡¯s arm was extremely rough and tight. Probably due to the pain, Liao Jixiang looked up at him, bitter tears streaming down his face; he said, ¡°You see? You are human, whereas I am livestock.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s arm was very skinny, and his voice was hoarse. Xie Yilu grabbed his hand all of a sudden ¨C this time, their fingers entwined tightly, palms pressed against each other ¨C and dashed towards the village shop in front of them. Rain came falling from the sky, so sudden and without any warning. It was a feather-like drizzle of spring, soft and gentle as they landed on them, which felt like a pair of hands made up of water or sand, disintegrating with their slightest movement. Liao Jixiang limped along, walking unsteadily but trying his best to keep up with Xie Yilu. That business was still continuing behind their backs. It was just some light drizzles, which was nothing to hinder the villagers from driving the knife into the animal, nor did it prevent the young buffalo from losing its immature testicles. There seemed to be a temporary market today, as many people were gathered around the village shop. Xie Yilu pulled Liao Jixiang under the eaves to shelter from the rain, and walked away alone to check out the creek. Such things were a common sight in spring ¨C people neutering buffalos, horses, and pigs ¨C which would be done in a short while. Those farmers covered a worn bamboo mat on the back of the young buffalo, washed their hands in the creek and returned to the village in twos and threes. Xie Yilu turned back. He saw Liao Jixiang standing under the eaves, slightly hunched with his face turned to the side, because farmers were staring at him, their gaze betraying traces of curiosity. They meant no harm, Xie Yilu was aware of that, and he also understood their curiosity. At a glance, Liao Jixiang appeared too different from ordinary men ¨C his proud demeanour made him fit the profile of an official, but an official wouldn¡¯t possess a touch of feminine grace such as his. His frail and slim figure was similar to that of an traditional opera singer6, but one couldn¡¯t find the usual traces of makeup on his face. Then he must be a scholar, although, scholars were usually not as cold or distant. He is a eunuch! Xie Yilu¡¯s heart was throbbing in pain again. He hastily walked towards Liao Jixiang, his gait was steady, but his heart was racing. Liao Jixiang must have sensed his urgency too, as he was staring at him dazedly from under the thatched roof. Xie Yilu didn¡¯t stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Instead, he approached from the front, embracing Liao Jixiang¡¯s figure little by little into his broad shield of shadow. In the greenish grey shadows, Liao Jixiang seemed even slimmer and shorter. Xie Yilu leaned in slightly, blocking the probing gazes from the villagers. ¡°Just wait a bit. Wait another short while for the rain before we go.¡± he said, his voice ever so gentle. Liao Jixiang studied his face for quite a while, ¡°Why¡­¡± he asked timidly, as if he didn¡¯t know how to phrase his question, ¡°why are you so kind to me?¡± Xie Yilu was taken aback. Am I kind to him? He asked himself. A mere simple gesture like this is considered kind? What he offered was nothing but a glance and a back to lean on. This person in front of him was in desperate need of warmth, as he was so pitifully cold. ¡°I¡¯m a eunuch,¡± Liao Jixiang savoured the momentary bliss under the protection of Xie Yilu¡¯s shadow, yet he was still trembling with apprehension, ¡°and half a cripple. Other than my three thousand worries7 and lifelong loneliness, I¡­¡± ¡°Shhh!¡± Xie Yilu interrupted him, and tried to comfort him like he was comforting a child, ¡°Are you afraid of the rain?¡± Liao Jixiang shook his head, so Xie Yilu laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid either.¡± He suddenly grabbed Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand and held it firmly in his, ¡°Let¡¯s go, then. To worship the Buddha.¡± And so they stepped into the rain together. Liao Jixiang glared at Xie Yilu for holding his hand tightly, and out of panic or some other emotions, he tried to withdraw his hand. However, Xie Yilu didn¡¯t allow it, rather, he held Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand even tighter, like he was a pervert who didn¡¯t know better. The temple was just ahead of the village shop, less than a mile away. From across the creek, it looked like a grand Buddhist temple, but upon closer inspection, it was nothing but a deserted, unmanaged place. Shattered boulders and rocks were everywhere around the gate, which must have been the stone pagodas and tablets that the locals had smashed and utilised to enforce their own houses. ¡°What a sin!¡± Liao Jixiang exclaimed, and Xie Yilu discreetly studied his face. The devotion in his gaze appeared genuine. He remembered the lavish offerings Liao Jixiang had made at the Zhebo Buddhist Temple8, so he ingratiatingly asked ¡°Shall we enter and take a look?¡± Liao Jixiang was shocked. He shook his head without a moment of hesitation. ¡°I can¡¯t make it.¡± He was referring to the stones scattered everywhere on the ground, which were too demanding for his legs. Xie Yilu immediately squatted down halfway with his back towards Liao Jixiang, extending both of his arms backwards, indicating that he would carry him over. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Liao Jixiang felt frightened for reasons unknown to him, and in his fear, there was also a hint of shy annoyance. ¡°Get up!¡± Ignoring his words, Xie Yilu directly leaned closer to him and pulled him onto his back. ¡°Hurry up, you don¡¯t want people to see.¡± Perhaps Xie Yilu was very persuasive and Liao Jixiang was easily convinced, or perhaps due to his interest in this abandoned temple, Liao Jixiang unsteadily climbed onto Xie Yilu¡¯s back, onto the board back and shoulders that were much wider than his own. This back belonged to a true man, steaming with vitality and warmth. Xie Yilu caught his legs in his hands and jolted Liao Jixiang lightly on his back. It truly feels like how it seems, that he¡¯s light as a feather. Liao Jixiang wasn¡¯t fond of being weighed like he was cargo, so he whispered in a gentle reproach, ¡°If you want to carry me, do it properly.¡± Mumbling that, he settled down on his back, his arms wrapped tenderly and softly around Xie Yilu¡¯s neck. The fragrance of milk, sandalwood, and perhaps other indistinguishable scents came showering Xie Yilu, which made him feel extremely cosy. He remained in a daze and was deprived of other senses even long after he put Liao Jixiang down in the half-collapsed temple, after he watched Liao Jixiang kneel on the gravel ground covered in mud to recite sutras. After leaving the abandoned temple, Xie Yilu looked round and round, wanting to spot somewhere else that they could visit. He didn¡¯t want to go back like this. Not just yet. His reluctance lingered and he didn¡¯t want to part with Liao Jixiang. However, Liao Jixiang remained standing still behind him. A long time passed before he finally called out to him, ¡°Chunchu9.¡± Xie Yilu turned around, and saw him fidgeting and pursing his lips. He stammered, ¡°I need to release myself.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Xie Yilu pointed him to a tall tree not far ahead. Yet Liao Jixiang turned around embarrassed and headed towards a clump of weeds. Xie Yilu found it odd and looked at him, but then he figured it was inappropriate to keep looking. Just as he was struggling between taking a look or not, he saw Liao Jixiang squatting down in the grass. Xie Yilu heard a sudden buzz in his head, like the sound of tearing up pieces of fine silk, and his mind went completely blank. He stared intensely at that patch of weeds, and seemed to observe Liao Jixiang wiping himself down there with something, then he tidied up his robe as he stood up. Eunuchs were ¡°cleansed10¡± men. Xie Yilu had heard about it somewhere, that there were two types of eunuchs, fully cleansed11 and partially cleansed12. The partially cleansed ones only had their testicles removed, whereas the fully cleansed ones¡­ Xie Yilu¡¯s hand went to his chest, where he felt agonising pain like he was being pricked by countless needles. The pain was dense and sharp, and the world was spinning around him. Liao Jixiang approached him, his head lowered, holding a white silk handkerchief in his hand. He quickly dropped it on the ground as if he was afraid that Xie Yilu would see it. Xie Yilu tried his best to act natural, pretending to have not seen anything. He smiled and said, ¡°Are you tired? I noticed an area ahead¡­¡± ¡°I want to wash my hands.¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t look up. This sounded like a command, so Xie Yilu immediately headed towards the creek. The terrain was higher on this side of the bank, so the creek was hiding behind a small slope that Liao Jixiang couldn¡¯t climb down to. Xie Yilu went down for him. Seeing the foliage nearby, he plucked a random large leaf to scoop up some water, and carefully carried it in his hands and walked back. When Liao Jixiang saw him returning, he kept backing away, appearing to be afraid for some reason. Xie Yilu asked cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t respond, but he refused to let Xie Yilu get closer. So Xie Yilu held out the leaf to him and said, ¡°Water, for your hands.¡± The water kept dripping from the leaf, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before it completely ran out, so Liao Jixiang had to come closer despite his reluctance, and scooped up the water with both of his hands. It was at this moment that Xie Yilu detected a faint smell of urine. All he did was cast a sympathetic look at Liao Jixiang, and all it took was just that one glance to shatter Liao Jixiang¡¯s hard-built defence. Panicking, he withdrew his hands in fear, but Xie Yilu¡¯s reaction was even faster, grabbing Liao Jixiang¡¯s hands immediately. That scoop of water was now completely spilled on the ground. The two pairs of hands, drenched through and through, were held tightly together. And those fingers, which were slippery from the water, slid smoothly against each other. Several times, Liao Jixiang tried to pull his hands away, but Xie Yilu wouldn¡¯t let go, and explained pretentiously, ¡°Wash, wash them clean¡­¡± With a sudden jolt of the hand, Liao Jixiang finally managed to wrench free, and stared at Xie Yilu in shock and caution. Xie Yilu also felt himself to be unbearably indecent, so he tried to make up for it, ¡°I just wanted to help you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Liao Jixiang said firmly. This is a very emotionally demanding chapter to translate. There was simply too much sorrow in Liao Jixiang¡¯s heart. I hope I was able to convey his feelings to you via my words. If you wish to chat with me or ask me anything, join my discord here! The original word here is ÀÏ×æ×Ú, Laozuzong, which is literally translated to ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. This term is a reverent title towards older and powerful eunuchs. As eunuchs cannot father any biological children, it is common for young eunuchs to seek the protection of a powerful eunuch by becoming their ¡°adopted son/grandson¡±. It pleases an eunuch to have as many ¡°adopted offspring¡± as possible. Therefore, the elder eunuch is referred to as ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. Since the ¡°adopted sons/grandsons¡± still need to work for the elder eunuch and be filial to him, I took the liberty to translate ÀÏ×æ×Ú as ¡°the Elder Master¡±. The original term here is Neicao, ÄÚ²Ù, which means ¡°trained in the palace¡±. In the Ming Dynasty, Neicao referred to the eunuchs who wore armour and went through military training. The original term here is Luzhong Zouhui, ²ÖÐ×ß»Ø, which means ¡°to escape from captivity and walk back to one¡¯s home country¡±. Tatars, or Dazi, ÷²×Ó, Dada, ÷²÷°, is an ethnic group in north and central Asia which eventually became incorporated into the Mongol Empire. The ashes from the incense stick will drop to the table after accumulating for a while. See an example here. The opera singer here refers to the Chinese opera performers, where male performers would dress up as females. Guo Xiaozhuo is one of the opera singers, as was Zheng Xian. Three thousand worries, or Sanqian Fannao, Èýǧ·³ÄÕ, is a term in Buddhism, which suggests the countless worries and fear from living in the mortal world. The original text here is Zhebo Chan Si, ÕÛ²§ìøËÂ. Chunchu is Xie Yilu¡¯s courtesy name. The original term here is Baishen, °×Éí, which literally means ¡°white bodied¡±. Fully cleansed is known as Quan Bai, È«°×, which literally means ¡°completely white¡±. Partially cleansed is known as Ban Bai, °ë°×, which literally means ¡°half white¡±. CH 17 Ruan Dian brazenly occupied the main seat in the hall of an official¡¯s household, while the actual owner stood below the dais, only dared to be discreetly upset at Ruan Dian but not courageous enough to speak up. The owner¡¯s surname was Wen1, an insignificant figure in the Yong Society2. Ruan Dian looked down at him condescendingly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you all tough bones, you men of the Yong Society?¡± He sneered, ¡°Why are you already scared out of your wits?¡± The man remained silent, so Ruan Dian waved his hand to his men and said, ¡°C¡¯mon, remind him of his involvement in hiding the fugitive.¡± Three or four so-called ¡°witnesses¡± came forth one after another. Judging by their outfits, they were street vendors, yet they were in fact thugs hired by Ruan Dian. Their testimony all pointed towards the same thing, that they saw the fugitive, who committed thirteen murders in a southern city last year, with their own eyes, and that he had entered Wen¡¯s house in the middle of the night, around the hour of Yin3 yesterday. Obviously, Wen was harbouring a criminal, so by law, he was deemed to be equally guilty of the murderer¡¯s crime. ¡°Hand over the fugitive,¡± Ruan Dian pointed at him with no mercy, ¡°If you can¡¯t produce him, you¡¯ll come with us.¡± Wen couldn¡¯t be more familiar with the tricks of the eunuchs, ¡°How much?¡± he enquired directly, ¡°I don¡¯t have much in my pocket.¡± ¡°One thousand taels4,¡± Ruan Dian had a shameless grin on his face. ¡°For such an appalling crime, any amount lower than this won¡¯t do you justice.¡± Following that was a long period of bargaining. Clearly Wen didn¡¯t want to deal with him any longer, so he asked straightforwardly, ¡°Let¡¯s both be honest. How much do you want?¡± Ruan Dian saw that he understood the situation well, so his reply was decisive, ¡°One hundred taels, in solid silver.¡± Wen gestured to his family, and one of them immediately went to fetch the sum. Yet Ruan Dian suddenly shouted in rage. ¡°Wait!¡± He stood up from his Taishi armchair5, ¡°You all keep bragging about how eunuchs harm the people, but I think you scholars are the ones with evil hearts! To surrender one hundred taels of silver without blinking¡­ How many bones of the common folks have you chewed on!¡± Wen glared at him, but Ruan Dian sneered instead, ¡°One hundred taels is too little to ask. Buy me another hundred horses by the end of this month!¡± The silver quickly changed hands. In large strides, Ruan Dian stepped out of Wen¡¯s house. He took a few taels and distributed them to his men the moment he exited the gate. Just as he was about to tuck the rest of the silver in his chest pocket, Aliu stopped him, extending his hand towards Ruan Dian and showing off his big sparkling eyes. ¡°Why do you need money?¡± Ruan Dian didn¡¯t pay much attention. Aliu never asked him for money before, but this time he insisted, clinging onto him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, kid¡­¡± He nagged like an older brother, and then he suddenly understood, ¡°You want to give it to Guo Xiaozhuo?¡± Aliu blushed and sniffed embarrassedly. Ruan Dian¡¯s expression became distorted. ¡°You won¡¯t learn the good things from me, but you have to learn how to keep a mistress?¡± He looked extremely distressed, ¡°Have you seen what I¡¯ve become after being with that bitch6?¡± Aliu couldn¡¯t care less about what he said, and insisted by stretching out his hand. Ruan Dian tried to persuade him earnestly, ¡°Wake up from your daydream. You think you can afford him?¡± Yet as he spoke, he took out the silver, ¡°For someone like him, how would he be willing to be with you?¡± He removed fifty taels from the pouch, and weighed them in his hand, ¡°This pitiful amount is not even enough to touch his hand.¡± After a brief moment of consideration, he handed Aliu the entire pouch once and for all, ¡°You fool!¡± Aliu took the money and smiled adorably at him. Seeing how his face lit up, Ruan Dian felt both happy and concerned. He fiercely rubbed Aliu¡¯s little cat-like face7, saying, ¡°Alright, alright. Since it¡¯s the money from corrupt officials, we shall spend it whatever way we want!¡± As they walked, Ruan Dian cursed with hatred, ¡°These hounds of Yong Society. They claim to fight against the eunuchs, but they don¡¯t dare to confront us. Damn them, they only know how to torment the common folks!¡± He turned around after finishing his sentence, only to see a bustling street behind him ¨C Aliu had long disappeared. He smiled helplessly, ¡°Heartless little one!¡± Aliu was leaning against a large mulberry tree. It appeared like he had something in his chest pocket, as it was puffed up. He grabbed a handful of small stones in his left hand and flew them one by one towards the windowsill of the second floor across the street. He had lost count of how many stones he had tossed before the window suddenly opened. A tender and delicate face appeared behind it. Aliu immediately stood upright and looked at him foolishly. ¡°Are you done yet?¡± Guo Xiaozhuo looked down from the upper floor, his sharp glare felt like raining knives. ¡°You¡¯re causing trouble every day, and don¡¯t give me any money. You think you can walk away like that?¡± Although Guo Xiaozhuo spoke provocatively, Aliu wasn¡¯t angry at all. With a huge grin on his face, he fished out a hot paper package from his pocket ¨C it¡¯s the pastries and crispy biscuits from the Xiao Lin¡¯s Family Shop8. Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s face softened a little as he spotted the package. He called his servant and shouted loudly, so that Aliu could hear, ¡°Xiao Huan9, go and bring it up!¡± The moment Aliu heard this, he dropped the paper package on the ground and trampled on it, crushing the biscuits to pieces. Guo Xiaozhuo watched from upstairs, and he was furious. ¡°You little mute, don¡¯t mess with me!¡± He stomped and stormed downstairs as he spoke, and violently pushed Aliu twice. Aliu was more than willing to be pushed. Very happily, he tightened his lips to hide his smile. Guo Xiaozhuo should have just woken up, as he had not combed his hair, nor did he have any makeup on. His lustrous long, black hair hung loosely down to his waist, and his robe was fresh and clean, exuding a childlike innocence. Aliu studied Guo Xiaozhuo eagerly, as if his gaze was penetrative, which made Guo Xiaozhuo so uneasy that he glared at him, cursing him ¡°You little bastard¡±. Only then did Aliu untie the pouch of silver taels from his waist and show it to Guo Xiaozhuo. ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± Guo Xiaozhuo stopped pushing him. ¡°Did you steal it? Or extorted it?¡± Aliu tried to grab his hand, but Guo Xiaozhuo immediately shoved him away. ¡°What?¡± He was very condescending, ¡°You want to touch my hand with this poor amount of silver?¡± Aliu¡¯s hand didn¡¯t meet Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s in midair, so he awkwardly brushed his empty palm on the side of his robe. Looking at his shabby appearance, Guo Xiaozhuo sneered arrogantly. ¡°Every time you come here, you bring me either flowers or leaves. And when you finally bring some silver with you, you act like it¡¯s precious, but that¡¯s only a few dozen taels!¡± Aliu lowered his head. Guo Xiaozhuo crossed his arms on the chest and asked, ¡°Speak up. What do you want?¡± Aliu didn¡¯t lie to him and pointed to a nearby alley. As Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s eyes followed Aliu¡¯s hand, he became appalled. ¡°Oh my god! You little eunuch have a filthy mind!¡± Aliu blushed shyly and clasped both of his hands into fists, only stretching out his two thumbs. He positioned the tips of the thumbs towards each other, and was just barely joining the two thumbs10 when Guo Xiaozhuo appeared as if he was experiencing tremendous insults. He pulled Aliu¡¯s sleeve and forced him into the alley, mumbling, ¡°Let¡¯s go, you want a kiss, eh? You¡¯ll have to do it today!¡± The passersby on both sides of the street were watching. Although Aliu was taller than Guo Xiaozhuo by half a head, he was dragged into the alley like a young girl. The alley was dark, so dark that Aliu couldn¡¯t see Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s face clearly. Yet all he felt was the warm, almost burning sensation of the person grabbing him. His hot breath was sprayed across Aliu¡¯s face again and again, saying, ¡°Where do you want to kiss? Go ahead!¡± Guo Xiaozhuo leaned in close and whispered softly and dangerously in his ear, ¡°If you dare to kiss me, I¡¯ll have Zheng Xian cut off your head!¡± It was Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s expectation that Aliu wouldn¡¯t dare, believing that he was exactly like those opportunistic patrons who were adept at assessing the situation. Yet he didn¡¯t expect Aliu to suddenly hug him extremely tightly. His hug came so eagerly and fiercely, that the pouch of silver taels dropped to the ground with a clatter, spilling the contents all over the place. ¡°Hey what are you doing!¡± Guo Xiaozhuo struggled but couldn¡¯t wrench free. Only then did he realise, that the little eunuch was very strong, even stronger than those rich and powerful men. He thought Aliu would take advantage of the situation to touch him and harass him, but he didn¡¯t ¨C all he did was to hug him tightly in his arms. After remaining in his embrace for a while, even Guo Xiaozhuo softened up. He pretended to be displeased, but acted coquettishly, ¡°Hey, what are you doing¡­¡± When Yishiha entered the chamber, Mei Azha was in front of the altar and worshipping the statue of Guanyin11. He took a sideways glance at Yishiha, stood up from the praying mat and casually greeted him, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Yishiha appeared casual as well. He nodded his head and kneeled down on the praying mat, which was still warm, and muttered a Buddhism prayer in the Jurchen12 language. The altar was built for a statue of the Black Guanyin13, which was dressed in a black robe, holding a black bottle14 in her hand, and had a silver aura behind her. This type of statue was a popular choice of worship among the eunuchs in Jiangnan15. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with Qi Wan.¡± Mei Azha picked up his teacup with his prayer beads wrapped around his hand. He rested his back against the table.¡±Wait for his message¡±, he said. Yishiha was silent, as if he was still ambivalent about his choices. Mei Azha considered for a moment, ¡°You¡¯re aiming high, but have you ever thought of Zhang Cai?¡± Yishiha lowered his head and mumbled, ¡°Jin Tang doesn¡¯t like me anyway16.¡± Mei Azha¡¯s stare at him was intent, which reminded Yishiha of an elder who had been through numerous vicissitudes, or a person burdened with grievances that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to disclose. ¡°Young man, you will surely regret this.¡± ¡°As a Jurchen, what else can I do?¡± Yishiha stood up from the praying mat, adjusted the wrinkles on his Yesa17. ¡°Either I climb up, or remain mediocre and be stepped on by the others.¡± It would be unfair to claim that Mei Azha didn¡¯t understand him, rather, he may have understood Yishiha much too well. ¡°Don¡¯t be always fixated on your identity as a Jurchen. You are a human being first of all. So long as we are humans, we all inevitably have desires and emotions. There are no exceptions, even for us, eunuchs.¡± Presently, someone outside knocked on the door. ¡°Grandfather18.¡± It was Mei Azha¡¯s servant calling. ¡°There¡¯s a woman looking for Yishiha, waiting at the back door in the west.¡± Mei Azha¡¯s hand, which was counting the prayer beads, stopped, and directed his gaze towards Yishiha. Yishiha avoided his gaze nervously like he was guilty of something, and left the chamber after irritably pushing the door open. He hastened and arrived at the back door facing west. Indeed, there was a woman standing outside. She had a tall stature and a face in the shape of a melon seed. She wore her hair in an exquisite style that befit a royal maid, and was dressed in the finest palace robe ¨C the same girl Yishiha and Xie Yilu saved in the Qinhuai River19. When she saw Yishiha, her eyes lit up, but Yishiha only replied ruthlessly, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come again?¡± The radiance in her expression instantly dimmed. Her body tensed up as she invested all her strength in maintaining her composure ¨C she was clearly arrogant in her daily life. ¡°I am a registered maid of the Kaipingwang Mansion20,¡± even her voice was trembling in her effort, ¡°For you, it¡¯s not an unfair match21.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing about fairness.¡± Yishiha didn¡¯t even bother to spare her a proper glance, ¡°I have someone else in my heart.¡± She wasn¡¯t convinced, ¡°You¡¯re just¡­¡± The words were on the tip of her tongue, but with the two gatekeeping eunuchs nearby, she altered the words. ¡°Don¡¯t find faults in me only. You¡¯re also nothing but a rootless22 servant.¡± Yishiha glared at her with abhor. ¡°I should have left you to drown that day!¡± He possessed such a cold heart of stone. Upon uttering those harsh words, he didn¡¯t even bother to look at her pale expression. He flicked his sleeves and was ready to leave. Just as he turned around, he noticed someone with Danfengyan23 and an oval face standing several steps away ¡ª it was Zhang Cai. Zhang Cai looked at him, and then at the woman standing outside the gate. He asked, ¡°Who is she?¡± Yishiha was silent for a moment. The woman, unaware of their relationship, interjected in a fit of pique, ¡°I am his woman. My bite marks are on his hand!¡± Zhang Cai¡¯s face immediately turned solemn, which was followed by a fierce expression of someone eager to spill blood. He growled at the gatekeepers, ¡°Close the gate!¡± and paced back and forth anxiously. ¡°If anyone ever spots this woman again, whoever dares to open the door and take her message, I will flay his skin!¡± The door was shut right away, but the intense pounding on the door followed immediately. Amidst the noisy clamour, Yishiha approached Zhang Cai and softly explained, ¡°She came to me on her own. I didn¡¯t return her feelings.¡± Zhang Cai forced himself to not look at him, but perhaps he placed himself too low in front of Yishiha, so he couldn¡¯t resist to steal a look. He was fully planning to glare fiercely at him, even if it meant he had to pretend. However, when he lifted his eyes, the supposedly fierce glare transformed into a gaze full of sorrow and agony, which shattered Yishiha¡¯s heart. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Yishiha reached for Zhang Cai¡¯s hand, ¡°and change our clothes. We had a deal, remember? Every year on the thirtieth day of April24, we shall wear red and ride horses shoulder to shoulder through the Stone City Gate.¡± Zhang Cai didn¡¯t move. ¡°You¡¯re getting bad influences from Ruan Dian and the rest. Keeping mistresses outside¡­¡± As he spoke, he wiped his eyes with his sleeves, ashamed of his tears. ¡°Come,¡± Yishiha held him in his embrace, like a big brother, or a lover, and gently coaxed him, ¡°Get your spare change ready. If those beggars outside the city gate couldn¡¯t meet you, they would probably starve.¡± At the end of the day, Zhang Cai couldn¡¯t resist him for long, so he obediently turned around. As he did so, he stole a glance at Yishiha¡¯s left hand, and there was indeed a faint bite mark between his thumb and index finger. The Chinese character for Wen is ÎÅ. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. In ancient China, a day was divided into twelve internals. Each interval is two hours and has a special name. Starting from the first hour, the hour of Zi, which is 2300-0100, the third hour, Yin, is 0300-0500. As some of the poems mentioned in the book were written in the Wanli Emperor¡¯s reign in the Ming Dynasty, I looked up some information on how much money is one tael of silver during that period of time. One tael of silver could purchase 188.8kg rice in ancient China. Taishi armchair, Taishi Yi, ̫ʦÒÎ, is a type of carved wooden chair often found in traditional Chinese households. This is the young harlot a few chapters back. She will appear again in future. When Aliu was sent to assassinate Xie Yilu, Xie Yilu also thought that Aliu looked like a cat. Xiao Lin¡¯s Family Shop, Xiao Lin Jia Dian, СÁÖ¼Òµê, the name of a bakery. Xiao Huan, С»·, the name of Guo Xiaozhuo¡¯s servant. This action looks somewhat like this, but the thumbs should be stretched upwards, with the fists slanting towards each other so that the tip of the thumbs touch. I¡¯m not sure whether this hand gesture is universal, but when I was younger, kids would use this action to indicate ¡°kissing¡± or ¡°being in love¡±. Guanyin, ¹ÛÒô, is the East Asian representation of Avalokite?vara and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She was first given the appellation ¡°Goddess of Mercy¡± or ¡°Mercy Goddess¡± by Jesuit missionaries in China. Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin, which means ¡°[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World.¡± Jurchen, or Nvzhen, Å®Õæ, lives in northeastern China. They are East Asian Tungusic-speaking. Jurchen people are now known as Man Zu, Âú×å, and have the second largest population among the 56 ethnic groups in China. The Jurchen people were at war with the Han people in the Ming Dynasty, so it¡¯s safe to say that Yishiha was not welcomed by the majority of people in this story. Eventually, Hong Taiji won and established the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty in China with Man Zu royals. The Black Guanyin, Hei Guanyin, ºÚ¹ÛÒô, is a type of Guanyin statue that is mostly or all black. This is different from the usual colour of Guanyin statue, which can be in the copper colour or painted in multiple colours. Scroll down to see the picture of bla There is a bottle in Guanyin¡¯s left hand containing the purest water, and the right holds a willow branch. Jiangnan, ½­ÄÏ, is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of its delta. The region encompasses the city of Shanghai, the southern part of Jiangsu Province, the southeastern part of Anhui Province, the northern part of Jiangxi Province and the northern part of Zhejiang Province. Nanjing is one of the cities in Jiangnan. Jin Tang is like a big brother to Zhang Cai. Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. Grandpa is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors. In ancient China, Qinhuai River, Qinhuai He, ÇØ»´ºÓ, was known for having numerous harlot houses and other forms of entertainment. Kaipingwang Mansion, or Kai Ping Wang Fu, ¿ªÆ½Íõ¸®. Wang Fu is the residence of a prince. Kai Ping is the royal title of the prince. As mentioned in my foreword, eunuchs and palace maids can form relationships called Duishi, or Caihu. This was allowed in the Ming Dynasty, the era of our story. Root, or Gen, ¸ù, is used as a metaphor here. Just as how plants can¡¯t grow strong or reproduce without taking roots, similarly, eunuchs lacking their ¡°root¡± cannot father children or establish a family, so they¡¯re considered to be inferior to real men. Danfengyan, µ¤·ïÑÛ, an Asian eye shape describing long and narrow eyes, with the tail of the eye slanting slightly upwards. See an example here. April here refers to the fourth month of the lunar calendar. CH 18 Xie Yilu took an awkward seat in the corner, with Qu Feng on his side, continuously adding food into Xie Yilu¡¯s bowl. ¡°Have some more. Once you finish eating you can leave early.¡± Xie Yilu was very embarrassed, ¡°But it¡¯s your father¡¯s banquet. Here I am, just indulging in ¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not ¡®eating¡¯ his money anyway,¡± when mentioning his father, Qu Feng didn¡¯t show much respect, ¡°the money all came from the ministry.¡± He tore off a duck leg for Xie Yilu. ¡°Besides, with your meagre salary, how can you survive in Nanjing?¡± And he had it right. At home, Xie Yilu only ever had salted fish and pickled vegetables, yet he could enjoy fresh fish and poultry outside. How could he possibly turn down these temptations? As Xie Yilu savoured the food discreetly, Secretary of State Qu1 entered through the gate wearing a grandiose ceremonial robe, smiling as he talked. Judging by his look, he had obviously made meticulous preparations; from his ingratiating attitude, the guest he was welcoming must be someone of high importance. Xie Yilu didn¡¯t pay much attention. Only when the people at nearby tables laid down their chopsticks and stood up in unison, did he then peek towards the door. The first thing about the guest that entered his sight was a corner of the purplish golden Yesa2, followed by a jade belt encrusted with gold, and a robe fully embroidered with lion patterns. The guest¡¯s gait betrayed his difficulties in walking, and at one glance, Xie Yilu immediately recognised him to be Liao Jixiang. Among dozens of tables, and out of hundreds of men dressed in similar robes, Liao Jixiang could still spot Xie Yilu with just a single glance. After sharing a brief moment of eye contact, they both tacitly averted their gaze. Secretary of State Qu was full of smiles as he led Liao Jixiang to the main seat. ¡°Honourable Dugong3, may thy humble servant ask for thy pity! It is this one¡¯s utmost fortune to have thee here. This one should have knelt to welcome thee, but ¡®tis true that this one¡¯s ailing legs can bend no more. This one prays for thy mercy, Honourable Dugong!¡± Xie Yilu was appalled by his flattery. A proper second-rank official, calling himself a ¡°humble servant¡±? The contrast between his imposing demeanour when they last met and his ingratiating attitude now was simply too striking. Qu Feng clearly didn¡¯t expect Liao Jixiang to be the guest his father invited. He kept his head down and couldn¡¯t bring himself to lift it up again. Xie Yilu, after taking a few more insipid bites, nudged Qu Feng¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m more or less done, so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Qu Feng immediately dropped his chopsticks. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± At the head table, Secretary of State Qu saw the two of them the moment he sat down. He spotted Qu Feng first, and incidentally noticed Xie Yilu. As soon as he saw Xie Yilu, his scalp tightened, and promptly observed Liao Jixiang¡¯s expression. Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t show any displeasure ¨C he was always like this, cold and aloof, not as approachable as Zheng Xian. So Secretary of State Qu waved his hand behind his back, and some servants immediately approached. A few instructions were soon given to have Xie Yilu removed from the venue. The servant moved inconspicuously by the side of the venue and made way towards Xie Yilu in the corner, leaning down and whispering in his ears. As the two of them were already planning to leave, they immediately stood up. Liao Jixiang, witnessing this at the head table, reacted as if one of his own had been mistreated, or his cherished precious had been looked down upon. Suddenly, he slammed his palm on the table, instantly posing a dead silence across the entire room. Secretary of State Qu was so frightened that he completely froze with his cup in his hand. Zhang Cai accompanied Liao Jixiang to the banquet today. He came forth, having the long knife ready in his grasp as he studied everyone present. He was about to speak when he spotted Xie Yilu, yet Liao Jixiang spoke first from behind with tender affection, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, stay.¡± Although it was a subtle remark intended for a friend, everyone else regarded it as a threat. Those pitiful and sympathetic looks shot out and pierced Xie Yilu like needles. Yet surprisingly, he didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. All he cared was Liao Jixiang¡¯s words, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, stay.¡± It seemed as if those words alone were more than sufficient for him. The sound of clinking wine cups appeared again. Secretary of State Qu, who was most dreadful of awkward silences, eagerly held his cup and raised it with ten times more enthusiasm than before. ¡°Honourable Dugong, thy humble servant toast to thee!¡± However, Liao Jixiang appeared different from before. His face was cold as always, but now the coldness seemed to be freezing into the bones. He didn¡¯t even bother to raise his cup in response. Secretary of State Qu¡¯s wrinkled face turned stiff and purple. Unable to maintain his composure, he anxiously said, ¡°Honourable Dugong, this one comes with the most sincere and devoted heart. Regarding the troubles among the officials caused by the Yong Society4, this one will most definitely¡­¡± Liao Jixiang truly left him no grace. He didn¡¯t even allow time for Qu to finish talking before standing up and left the banquet. Everyone was exchanging looks in confusion, except for Xie Yilu, who dropped his chopsticks and dashed outside. He actually didn¡¯t know what he could do by following Liao Jixiang out. With a large entourage surrounding Liao Jixiang, he probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to see his face. Yet being long enchanted by him, Xie Yilu just couldn¡¯t resist. Qu Feng was unaware of Xie Yilu¡¯s heart, so he chased after him, but Secretary of State Qu stopped him at the door with a growl. ¡°That¡¯s no behaviour befitting my son! You stop right there!¡± Qu Feng¡¯s fist clenched and then let go. He didn¡¯t follow Xie Yilu out after all, and watched as Xie Yilu walked further away. Liao Jixiang left in a sedan chair. As Xie Yilu didn¡¯t dare to openly tail them, he hurried to the other side of the road, and walked abreast with the Weaving and Sewing Bureau, pretending to be walking in the same direction as them. This street ran alongside the Qinhuai River5, with houses located at the riverfront on both sides. The balconies of the houses were all illuminated by red candles, and at a glance, the shiny pearl curtains on the balconies were extending as far as the eyes could see. The sounds of flutes and drums from the pleasure boats echoed as they travelled to and fro along the waterways. The weather was already getting warmer at this time of year, so the women and young girls, fresh out of the bath, all sat together outside the pavilion. As the river breeze rose, the air was suddenly pervaded with the fragrance of jasmine. Amidst this captivating, enchanting scene, Xie Yilu was led by a merchant carrying a lantern6, walking and stealing glances in Liao Jixiang¡¯s direction. Liao Jixiang pushed open the sedan chair¡¯s window, and looked back at Xie Yilu. As the sedan chair swayed ever so lightly, so were their hearts, trembling in untold emotions. The jolly laughter of young girls came jingling from the riverbank. If they listened closely, they could also hear the faint sounds from the girls cracking the melon seeds ¨C the girls should be holding their round fans7 at the moment, their hair loosely tied or elegantly decorated, engaging in playful banter. What a scene that made men enervated in the bones! Xie Yilu could also feel his bones turning weak, although not due to the women, but because of this early summer night, along with some indescribable, ambiguous feelings. He continued down the road in a daze, approaching the door of the next shop. It was a paper clothing store8. The store probably closed early, so the owner had already gone to sleep. To send off Xie Yilu, the owner had now gotten up again with his robe loosely wrapped around the shoulders, lighting a lantern as he struggled to stay awake. A considerable amount of time had passed, yet the lantern remained unlit. Xie Yilu was anxious, too anxious about losing traces of Liao Jixiang¡¯s sedan chair. The way he scratched his head and cheeks in apprehension was truly comical. ¡°Halt,¡± Liao Jixiang instructed from his side of the road. He was afraid as well, afraid that Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t keep up with him. The sedan chair immediately came to a stop. No one knew why their Dugong halted, nor did they know who he was waiting for. Yet regardless of the reasonings, who wouldn¡¯t want to linger a little longer on this quiet and tender night? Zhang Cai circled around the sedan chair, and through a small opening in the sedan chair¡¯s window, he caught sight of Liao Jixiang¡¯s eyes ¡ª they were so gentle, like the embrace of water. ¡°Grandpa9,¡± the question came unexpectedly out of his mouth, ¡°what are you looking at?¡± Perhaps the night was too gorgeous, or perhaps, Liao Jixiang was too exhausted to wear the mask of the cold and superior Da Dang10, he finally whispered, ¡°The man across the street.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so good-looking about him?¡± Zhang Cai murmured. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t look at him.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Slight laziness and amusement were found in Liao Jixiang¡¯s voice. ¡°He has died once. Yama11 refused to take him in, so he doesn¡¯t deserve to die now.¡± Liao Jixiang was stunned for a moment, but he soon realised that the child had misunderstood him. With a light chuckle, he said, as if he was a big brother teasing his baby brother, ¡°Do I look like I want to kill him again?¡± ¡°Why else would you look at him then?¡± Zhang Cai lowered his head, words came discontinuously out of his mouth in hesitance. ¡°Grandpa, shouldn¡¯t we do more good deeds? Weren¡¯t you always teaching us to worship Buddha and be kind¡­¡± To kill him again? Liao Jixiang frowned. His mood at the moment felt similar to back then, an intense urge of wanting to do something to him. Or¡­ he boldly speculated, does he actually want to do something with him? Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the lantern from the paper clothing store was lit. The lantern was plain white12, without a single character written on it. Xie Yilu went on his way, so Liao Jixiang immediately stomped his foot, ordering his men, ¡°Move!¡± After the two of them went separate ways, Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t suppress his feelings and wrote a letter for the stone lamp on that very night. Although they were supposed to meet once every three days at Xiaolao Fountain13, his restless soul couldn¡¯t possibly endure the waiting anymore. As usual, the letter mostly contained the trivial matters, but somehow, there were hints of lingering and repressed emotions in between the lines, such as: ¡°I prayed my finished painting grant me everlasting peace like the spirit of bamboo, yet the Lord of Wind and the Commander of Rain attacked and tempted my troubled soul. Though my emotions are tumultuous as storms, would you care to bring me order?14¡± Words such as ¡°tumultuous¡± and ¡°order¡± could easily startle anyone reading it. Yet such unconventional words still won Xie Yilu a reply from Liao Jixiang, which were written finely in pine soot ink15: ¡°Being carefree in the scorching summer months, I shall luxuriate in wine and chess. The unannounced advent of wind and rain knocked on my door, and left me the clusters of disturbed fresh green.¡± Xie Yilu was at a loss, and so was Liao Jixiang. Between the two of them, who was truly the one that disturbed the other? They could no longer tell. Under the full moon, Xie Yilu stood beside Lingfu Temple, next to the white stone lamp and holding the piece of paper perfumed with sandalwood scent. His heart was racing. As he lost track of time standing there, he suddenly recalled his meeting with Qu Feng at midnight, so he tucked the letter roughly in his pocket and rushed towards the Cavalry¡¯s Warehouse, south of the city. Qu Feng was already waiting for him at Cavalry¡¯s Warehouse, which was three hundred steps south of Xiyuan16. Tonight, Yong Society¡¯s opera show would take place over there. After meeting each other, the two of them walked towards Xiyuan as they talked. When they reach Xin Bridge17, they noticed a group of men led by Tu Yao, standing near the bridge under the willow branches. Tu Yao was not wearing a Feiyufu18 tonight, instead, he was clad in a set of armour with floral carvings. They were surrounding a lone eunuch in the middle, the slim and elegant figure belonged to none other than Jin Tang. ¡°Make way!¡± Jin Tang stood alone but remained dignified. Perhaps because he was not in his official attire, Tu Yao casually sat on the railing of the bridge and turned a blind eye to his men teasing Jin Tang, like how they would tease a cat. To them, Jin Tang was indeed a cat ¨C a cat standing on two legs, a slightly more noble cat. ¡°Commander19 Tu,¡± Jin Tang was well aware that one should avoid getting into troubles with annoying imps. His words were directed to Tu Yao, ¡°Yong society¡¯s ¡®play¡¯ is about to start, yet here you are, biting me.¡± ¡°Biting¡± wasn¡¯t a direct insult, but the meaning was clear. Tu Yao chuckled, ¡°The Yong Society needs to be fixed, and so is your Weaving and Sewing Bureau.¡± ¡°Then why are you ¡®fixing¡¯ me?¡± Jin Tang joined in the laugh. ¡°What am I? You should go pester our Dugong.¡± He raises his pretty eyebrows in a provocative manner. ¡°What? Are you afraid?¡± Tu Yao was known to be arrogant and conceited, so his expression changed instantly upon hearing these words. He jumped off the bridge railing, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you assume I, Tu Yao, will show mercy to you!¡± Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang¡¯s relationship had not been the most amicable, but it certainly shouldn¡¯t had been as bad. The situation now was entirely due to the constant skirmishes between their subordinates. Xie Yilu thought to himself, that he needed to intervene. Since Liao Jixiang¡¯s men are in trouble, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. Just as he was about to speak up, Qu Feng unexpectedly stepped forward and shouted, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Qu Feng had always been the one to protect his reputation wisely. Xie Yilu stared at Qu Feng¡¯s back in astonishment, watching him as he confronted Tu Yao. ¡°Uh-oh, Young Master Qu.¡± Tu Yao addressed him as ¡°Young Master¡± as sarcasm to mock his negligibly low rank. Xie Yilu followed Qu Feng to the scene. When he approached, he noticed that Jin Tang appeared somewhat different today. It looked like he had been drinking ¨C his face was not as pale as usual. Under the lantern light, the pink blush on his face brought out his gorgeousness. As there was no scent of alcohol on him, he was probably applying rouge on his cheeks and earlobes. He immediately thought of Liao Jixiang, of how much prettier he could have been if he had a touch of colour like that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scholars the most noble?¡± Tu Yao eyed Qu Feng and mocked, ¡°Why are you speaking up for a eunuch?¡± That¡¯s true. Xie Yilu also turned towards Qu Feng, who remained composed and put on the mask of a young nobleman. His reply was simple, without a trace of reproach, ¡°He is a eunuch. And isn¡¯t your master a eunuch too?¡± How should Jin Tang¡¯s expression at that moment be described? It was full of disbelief. He seemed completely astonished from being pampered. Having been ridiculed and insulted way too many times in public and private, no one had ever spoken up for him. Today, Qu Feng did. Even if it was just a few words, Jin Tang was content. Tu Yao raised his hand abruptly, ready to gesture to his men an order to arrest. Yet in the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Xie Yilu ¡ª the admirable figure in his master, Dugong20 Zheng¡¯s eyes. After pondering for a brief moment, he told his men to back off and form a line to march northeast along Xin Bridge. As he brushed past Xie Yilu, Tu Yao left him with a few words, ¡°Yong Society¡¯s ¡®play¡¯ isn¡¯t that captivating. If you want to watch some good ¡®play¡¯, you know who to look for.¡± He was gone. Xie Yilu thought Qu Feng would say something to Jin Tang, but eventually he didn¡¯t. Qu Feng didn¡¯t even spare a glance at him. Instead, he nudged Xie Yilu with his elbow and said in a hurry, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± After walking for a considerable distance, Xie Yilu looked back ¨C Jin Tang was still there, standing alone on the bridge and motionless, like a silent and awkward stone statue. To say he was made of stone, however, seemed too inaccurate, as he still possessed a faint sense of vitality, which made him appear quite pitiful. ¡°Hey, did he apply rouge?¡± Xie Yilu suddenly asked. Qu Feng¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He replied vaguely. ¡°Ah? Maybe.¡± Xie Yilu asked foolishly again, ¡°What kind of rouge? Where do I buy it?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps out of guilt, Qu Feng¡¯s voice sounded disturbed. ¡°You won¡¯t look good with it. That¡¯s a waste of money.¡± ¡°No, I don¡­¡± For a moment, Xie Yilu was stuttering. He cleared his throat and his mind, and then said again, ¡°I¡¯m buying it as a gift.¡± Qu Feng turned to look at him. ¡°It¡¯s made from the purple Osmanthus21 blossoms grown in the south. Sold in the rouge shop at the corner of Oil Mill Lane.¡± He then added, ¡°Oh, and they come in small clam shell containers. They¡¯re twenty-five taels of silver22 each.¡± The price was just appalling. Even after entering Xiyuan and settling down among the members of the Yong Society, Xie Yilu was still stunned by the number. Amidst the deafening musical instruments surrounding him, and between the singing of infatuated men and sorrowful women by pretentious young opera singers on stage, Xie Yilu could see several high-ranking officials sitting together, smoking something called ¡°tobacco leaves¡±. It was said to be extremely precious that was imported from Guangzhou23. Many of them belonged to the Ministry of War. Xie Yilu spotted Deputy Secretary Ye at one glance, who was holding a young female opera singer with heavy makeup in his arms, drinking and gambling with a group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue. This is the so-called ¡°untarnished stream¡±. Xie Yilu complained to Qu Feng, ¡°Just look at how they indulge themselves. Are they any different from the eunuchs?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all the same.¡± Qu Feng greeted a few acquaintances, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea. ¡°Yong Society, the eunuch¡¯s party, they all eat from the same bowl24. So who is more noble than whom?¡± He seemed to be long accustomed to the obscene atmosphere, and wasn¡¯t bothered by it. ¡°That¡¯s just how it is in Nanjing.¡± Qu Feng stretched his body at ease, toying a pair of walnuts in his left hand25. ¡°What matters is that you¡¯re present. Once you¡¯re here, you¡¯re not considered to be on the eunuchs¡¯ side.¡± This is a competition that forces people to take sides, and a clash of different parties. Xie Yilu understood it now. Yong Society was not opposing the eunuchs, rather, they were opposing the officials who were not part of their circle. As for the eunuchs, that was just a flag they raised as an excuse to establish a new party. ¡°Liao Jixiang¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­¡± The moment he heard this name, Xie Yilu¡¯s scalp immediately tightened. He straightened his body slightly and overheard the people behind him whispering, ¡°You know how his leg got broken? His leg was brutally broken by the common folks in Gansu!¡± Following those words were the delighted laughter of the crowd, yet Xie Yilu¡¯s hand was clenched tightly on his knee. That group of people were exuberant, talking like one¡¯s irritating, gossiping relatives. ¡°He couldn¡¯t even manage his job in Gansu, so how did he climb up to Nanjing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s of course¡­ Someone is backing him¡­¡± The ¡°yee¡± and ¡°yaa¡± of the opera lyrics made it difficult for Xie Yilu to make out their words. He leaned back further and accidentally overheard another sentence, ¡°¡­ when he was in the palace, he slept on the Elder Master¡¯s bed every night¡­¡± That was a sensational, unprecedented scandal, so the discussion suddenly intensified, ¡°It can¡¯t be true! How can a eunuch¡­¡± At this crucial point, the voices suddenly died down, ¡°Who told you this¡­¡± ¡°I heard it from Guo Xiaozhuo, who heard it from Zheng Xian. How can it possibly be fake?¡± Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang had served in the palace together. If the source was him, it undoubtedly confirmed this scandalous affair. ¡°You know, that delicate face the size of a palm¡­ surely seduces men to take care¡­¡± A wave of vulgar laughter followed. Xie Yilu turned around and saw three men in their forties or fifties, stroking their beards and winking lustfully at each other. ¡°A pity that he¡¯s too old!¡± As if the most hidden, most tender piece of his heart was forcibly exposed in the open and ruthlessly trampled upon, Xie Yilu fought hard to endure the spasms of agony in his chest, and closed his burning eyes. They remained there for an entire night, just to prove that they were not on the eunuchs¡¯ side. When the members parted ways in the early morning, Qu Feng offered to buy Xie Yilu breakfast, which he refused. Following Qu Feng¡¯s description, he went to the rouge shop at the corner of Oil Mill Lane. Perhaps because the summer was near, the price of the purple Osmanthus had increased to twenty-six taels of silver per piece. Xie Yilu gathered small pieces of silver here and there, and finally managed to make the purchase. With the rouge and the letter with the word ¡°tumultuous¡± in his pocket, he allowed himself to aimlessly wander the city. As he wandered around, he found himself getting to Xuanzhen Lane, where Liao Jixiang¡¯s private residence was located. Liao Jixiang¡¯s residence was directly opposite the largest Baijiu26 distillery in the city. He tiptoed and tried to peer into the high walls, but of course, he couldn¡¯t see anything. When Liao Jixiang was a teenager, did he really spend every night in the Elder Master¡¯s bed? Like a madman, he couldn¡¯t control himself from fantasising that scene, but he couldn¡¯t come up with any details either. Regarding the matters in between the sheets, he had always believed Liao Jixiang to be as naive as a child. Whenever Xie Yilu thought of him smiling lightly with a red fruit in his mouth, or of him shivering in the drizzle, deprived of his dignity, he couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the same Liao Jixiang had once surrendered himself in the arms of an old man. The mere thought of it made his heart and lungs pain and shatter. ¡°Who¡¯s sneaking around outside!¡± Ruan Dian happened to come out of the mansion and saw Xie Yilu, who appeared to have lost his soul. He was immediately triggered, so he rolled up his sleeves, grabbed Xie Yilu with his hands and started to beat him. Coincidentally, Jin Tang was also leaving the mansion. Seeing Ruan Dian hitting someone, he frowned and walked around them ¨C he had no interest in such businesses. Yet within a few steps, Ruan Dian pulled Xie Yilu¡¯s front collar open. A short letter and a clam shell dropped to the ground, tumbling and stopping at Jin Tang¡¯s feet. It only took Jin Tang a quick glance at the paper before he froze. He then hurriedly turned around and shouted, ¡°Ruan Dian, stop!¡± The original text here is Qu Shangshu. Qu is the surname of the man. In each ministry, there is one Shangshu, ÉÐÊé, which is a second-rank position and the head of the ministry. It is translated to the Secretary of State here. Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs, such as Liao Jixiang. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. In ancient China, Qinhuai River, Qinhuai He, ÇØ»´ºÓ, was known for having numerous harlot houses and other forms of entertainment. This is a rule in the Ming Dynasty, that every store owner needs to light a lantern and escort the officials going home from their dinner parties at night. Round fans, or Tuanshan, ÍÅÉÈ, is different from folding fan, often used by females in ancient China. A paper clothing store, or Zhiyi Dian. Dian, µê, means shop. Zhiyi, Ö½ÒÂ, is clothing made up of paper, which can be burnt during Qingming festival. It is believed that by burning, our ancestors can receive real clothes to wear in their world. Now we also burn paper castles, paper limousines, and even paper iPhones (with paper chargers sold separately and are actually more expensive than the paper iPhone lol). Grandpa is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors. Powerful eunuch, Da Dang, ´ó«š. «š originally referred to the jade earrings for females. In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs often wore gold Dang and mink tails as decorations on their hats. Hence, the term Dang was later used as an alternate name for eunuchs. Da, which means big, suggests the power and high position of the eunuchs. Hence, Da Dang means ¡°Powerful Eunuch¡±, which is also the title of the book. Yama, or King Yan, Yanwang, ÑÖÍõ is the god of death in Chinese mythology. White colour is often used in Chinese funerals and worship rituals for the family ancestors. This shop has white lanterns because it does paper clothing business, which is related to funerals. Xiaolao Fountain, СÀÏȪ, is the name of the location for Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang¡¯s date. The poem¡¯s title is¡¶Ìâ·Â÷µÀÈË·çÓêÖñ¶þÊס·, which means ¡°two poems written on the painting emulating Mei Daoren¡¯s art¡±. Mei Daoren is a famous Chinese painter in the Yuan Dynasty, and the emulating work is by Xu Ansheng, a female painter and poet in the Ming Dynasty. Liao Jixiang¡¯s reply is the first poem, which describes Xu Ansheng¡¯s joy in summer and her inspiration of the painting ¨C a sudden summer rain that disturbed the bamboo. Xie Yilu¡¯s letter is the second poem, which describes the author¡¯s restless soul even after finishing the bamboo painting (bamboo symbolises reserved, peaceful mind and a gentlemanly conduct). She wrote this poem to her friend, in the hope that he would be able to console her. Unfortunately, people in the past recorded her as being ¡°indecent¡± because her poems were too ¡°open¡± and not ladylike. The Chinese name of this ink is Songyan Mo, ËÉÑÌÄ«, which is a type of ink stick made from smoke collected from burning pine branches. Xiyuan, Î÷Ô°, literally means ¡°a garden in the west¡±. Xin Bridge, Xin Qiao, ÐÂÇÅ, the name of the bridge. Feiyu can be directly translated to ¡°flying fish¡±, although ¡°flying fish¡± here refers to the Chinese dragons with four-fingered claws and a fish tail. Feiyufu, ·ÉÓã·þ, is a traditional Han clothing rewarded by the emperor to his loyal imperial guards, aka Jinyiwei, ½õÒÂÎÀ. See a picture of Feiyufu here. The original term here is Qianhu, ǧ»§, which literally means the leader of a thousand soldiers. In the Ming Dynasty, Qianhu typically led 1120 people. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs, such as Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian. The purple Osmanthus is known as Zigeng, ×Ϲ£, in Chinese. As some of the poems mentioned in the book were written in the Wanli Emperor¡¯s reign in the Ming Dynasty, I looked up some information on how much money is one tael of silver during that period of time. One tael of silver could purchase 188.8kg rice in ancient China. The ¡°tobacco leaves¡± is in fact opium. The issue of opium became more serious in the Qing Dynasty, which led to the Opium War. It means that everyone, regardless of their party, serves the emperor and earns the salary from the court. The walnuts here are known as Wenwan Hetao, ÎÄÍæºËÌÒ. Only the walnuts with unique patterns and shapes will be selected to undergo a series of processes to become collectible walnuts. Each pair of walnuts should have a similar pattern and shape. It¡¯s common for men to swirl a pair of walnuts in their hands until the walnuts become red and polished. Here¡¯s a video of the walnuts. Baijiu, °×¾Æ, is a colourless Chinese liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume. Each type of baijiu uses its own type of q¨± (moulded grains) for fermentation to create a distinct and characteristic flavour profile. CH 19 The days were getting hotter. Liao Jixiang wore a thin muslin robe as he sat with Xie Yilu on the sandy ground under the shade of a tree. Between them was a chessboard drawn in the sand by small branches, with a few pebbles serving as chess pieces. They were competing with each other. For all this time, Xie Yilu kept stealing glances at him, his gaze lingering and distressed. How could Liao Jixiang not notice it? Yet he endured, gently flicking the pebbles with his fingertips. ¡°Your leg¡­¡± Xie Yilu finally spoke up. Not daring to look at Liao Jixiang¡¯s face, Xie Yilu could only stare at his chest. Perhaps because of how thin and fine the fabric was, the sunlight came filtered through the leaves above and shined through the Liao Jixiang¡¯s robe, revealing a patch of fair, pink skin underneath. Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t respond, waiting for him to finish his sentence. ¡°Leg¡­¡± Xie Yilu stuttered. ¡°How did it break?¡± Liao Jixiang gave him a quick glance. ¡°It¡¯s not broken. Just an injured knee.¡± He tugged at the hem of his robe to cover his disabled left leg. ¡°Who told you it was broken?¡± Xie Yilu didn¡¯t answer, and asked again, ¡°Then how did it get injured?¡± Liao Jixiang lowered his eyes. He didn¡¯t seem unhappy, rather, he looked like he was unwilling to talk. Xie Yilu swallowed hard. It appeared that what those people said was true. He could feel his heart slowly sinking, deeper and deeper. Silence. A moment later, a wind rose to rustle the treetops, bringing forth a chorus of birdsong. ¡°You¡­¡± Xie Yilu fixed his gaze at Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand, which was playing chess. It was such a slender and beautiful hand, and it must had been held countless times by the Elder Master1. ¡°Back in the palace¡­¡± Xie Yilu didn¡¯t know how to phrase the question, ¡°With the Elder Master¡­ You¡­ ¡° Liao Jixiang seemed to understand none of his words, as he looked back at Xie Yilu in confusion. Finally, Xie Yilu decided to get done with his question once and for all. ¡°Did you sleep in the same bed at night?¡± Almost instantly, Liao Jixiang¡¯s face became twisted. He was somewhat stunned. But within a blink of an eye, Liao Jixiang understood where the question came from. His expression changed several times in that moment, starting with astonishment, then anger, and finally it settled into a calmness, as still as a pool of undisturbed water. The moment Xie Yilu saw Liao Jixiang¡¯s reaction, he came to the realisation that he had mistaken everything, that what those people gossiped wasn¡¯t true. Apprehensively, he rushed for an apology, but Liao Jixiang expressionlessly withdrew his hand that was playing with the pebbles, and replied, ¡°I may be incomplete, but I¡¯m not tainted.¡± Incomplete. He wasn¡¯t referring to his leg, but rather his lower parts. How Xie Yilu wished he could slap himself violently on the face. In an immediate attempt to make amends, he reached out to Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand, whose owner responded with all his strength to avoid his touch. Xie Yilu was so desperately anxious, that he propped his body upwards on his knees, almost as if he was kneeling in front of Liao Jixiang. ¡°I misspoke. I¡¯m stupid. I deserve to die! Those people¡­ the way they discussed it made it sound true, so I¡­¡± ¡°Stay away from me!¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s leg had an injury, and his hands were tightly locked in Xie Yilu¡¯s grip, forbidding him to stand up, so all he could do was to let out his anger. ¡°It was Zheng Xian!¡± Xie Yilu pleaded subserviently. ¡°I only believed it because it was him!¡± Liao Jixiang grew even more furious upon hearing that name. ¡°So you believe him and not me?¡± Xie Yilu was taken aback. ¡°No, no¡­¡± He became increasingly unnerved, feeling that nothing he said could ever be right. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two serve in the palace together? He¡­¡± ¡°He is nothing!¡± Liao Jixiang raised his voice. ¡°He is the one relying on¡­¡± The rest of the sentence could easily be guessed by anyone, so he didn¡¯t say it out loud. Xie Yilu understood Liao Jixiang now, that he didn¡¯t care to put those words through his lips ¡ª just mentioning them would make him feel dirty. Liao Jixiang¡¯s silence emboldened Xie Yilu, so he hesitantly reached for Liao Jixiang¡¯s shoulder. Still enraged, Liao Jixiang shoved him away, and he happened to push Xie Yilu right on his left ribs. ¡°Si2¡­¡± Xie Yilu gasped in pain ¨C it was where Ruan Dian beat yesterday. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Liao Jixiang realised that something was off. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xie Yilu tried to conceal it. ¡°That¡¯s not nothing.¡± Liao Jixiang stopped avoiding Xie Yilu, instead, he leaned closer, like a cat climbing onto his lap, exuding a peculiar reclusive tenderness. Suddenly, his fingertips landed softly on Xie Yilu¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple. That warm sensation was so overwhelming that Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t even bear to take a breath. Gradually, Xie Yilu¡¯s collar was pulled wide open. Liao Jixiang was just like a gentle lover, evoking an impulse in Xie Yilu, which he shouldn¡¯t have possessed. There was a large patch of bruise under his ribs. Liao Jixiang¡¯s expression looked like he was about to commit murder. ¡°Who did this?¡± ¡°No one¡­ ¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s gaze darted uneasily. Yet Liao Jixiang could see through his thoughts. ¡°My men?¡± Xie Yilu struggled to remain silent, but how could he resist when he was under this domineering man? A single displeased look from Liao Jixiang was enough to make him confess, ¡°It was Ruan Dian¡­ Thankfully, we ran into Jin Tang, who intervened and let me go.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were with me?¡± Liao Jixiang chuckled, as if Ruan Dian had done him a favour by punishing Xie Yilu. All the previous unhappiness dissipated, like a cloudless sunny sky fresh after the rain. What Liao Jixiang said was intended as a joke, yet Xie Yilu remained tense. The word ¡°with¡± made his imagination run wild, and he stammered in shame and embarrassment, ¡°N-No. How could I? I remember what you s-said¡­ that I can¡¯t tell people.¡± After his laughter subsided, Liao Jixiang fell silent again. ¡°Zheng Xian¡­¡± His voice was soft, like he was whispering the sweet nothings. ¡°Don¡¯t you get too close to him.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes followed him from up close, as if he was observing a cloud or a drop of dew, or, perhaps, an elusive dream. He liked it when Liao Jixiang uttered things like that ¨C as if Liao Jixiang was jealous, as if he had a feeling of sourness and displeasure in his heart. ¡°Have no worries.¡± Liao Jixiang stroked the long hair hanging beside his own cheek, ¡°If you want to return to Beijing, I can make arrangements too.¡± Xie Yilu was stunned. The thought of returning to Beijing had never crossed his mind, and he had certainly never considered going back by exploiting Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian¡¯s connections. At this very moment, he didn¡¯t even want to go back at all. Yet he was too ashamed to admit it. ¡°You just need to wait a little longer,¡± Liao Jixiang lowered his head. ¡°Wait until the Elder Master is not as busy,¡± which didn¡¯t sound true at all, as it felt ever so careless and insincere. He continued, ¡°Wait until I figure out how to do¡­¡± He didn¡¯t say it out loud, that he wanted Xie Yilu¡¯s company for just a little longer, but Xie Yilu understood him too well. ¡°Suppose I¡¯m gone, what will you do?¡± he asked. Liao Jixiang lifted his head, his sudden movement betraying a hint of panic. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®what will I do¡¯?¡± He dared not make eye contact with Xie Yilu, and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve come this far over all these years. Do I look like I lack the company of you?¡± Definitely. Xie Yilu thought to himself. You definitely lack my company. ¡°Then I won¡¯t go back,¡± he asserted. Liao Jixiang seemed to shiver for a second, which was barely noticeable. ¡°Beijing is still a better choice for you. Your family is in Beijing, your future is in Beijing, and your heart is also in Bei¡­¡± ¡°My heart is here.¡± Xie Yilu interrupted, staring at him with extreme intensity, so much so that Liao Jixiang was beginning to feel uncomfortable, so he tried to start another subject, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. Regarding what happened at Yong Society3 that day¡­¡± Suddenly, Xie Yilu grabbed his hand again. This time, his movement was so particularly flustered and forceful, that Liao Jixiang was beginning to feel pain. Xie Yilu must have had his head above the clouds, as he was returning to the same old question. ¡°The Elder Master¡­ Did he really never touch you?¡± Liao Jixiang was about to get angry, yet Xie Yilu held his hand so devoutly, and he pleaded like a sincere worshipper. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry. I beg you, I beg you¡­¡± He pulled at him almost aggressively, as if trying to force something out of him. ¡°Did he ever¡­ hold you like this, or touch you on your¡­¡± ¡°Only you do this,¡± Liao Jixiang withdrew his hand feeling uneasy, and reproached, ¡°and it feels weird.¡± So he found it weird, too. Xie Yilu dared not make any further movements, and behaved like a young pupil who had just been slapped on his palm4, his head hanging low. He heard Liao Jixiang¡¯s displeased words. ¡°Don¡¯t you assume that just because I¡¯ve had a cut down there, I don¡¯t understand anything.¡± Silence ensued. A dreadfully long and awkward silence. Xie Yilu boiled in his torment of anxiety until Liao Jixiang tugged on his sleeve and said, ¡°Help me up. Let¡¯s go back.¡± On that night, Xie Yilu had a dream. An erotic dream. Hot everywhere. And there was a warm body in his arms. He saw a back under him, white as snowflakes, with lustrous long black hair soaked in sweat, sticky on that back. The hair itched Xie Yilu¡¯s chest, and became entangled in his mouth. He spat it out, and moved his waist in harder thrusts. This is a dream about Beijing. He thought. His home, and his long-parted wife. Surely this is a dream, and that¡¯s why he was plunging in so presumptuously. When he was awake, he was never such a lascivious man. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He asked. Ever since he was a teenager, he was the one with the larger hardness among his peers. He was always careful with her. Never dared to be so frantic. No response from between his arms. So he sank his lower parts in there as deep as he could, so deep that he moaned from the almost unbearable pleasure. His hand felt for her from the pelvis and went up. She was skinnier, her ribs were almost fleshless. Her waist was so tiny, and her ribs that narrow. Then he felt for her breast, and abruptly paused ¨C that region was flat, with only a pair of pointed nipples. As if trying to confirm, his hand lingered there, squeezing and rubbing, again and again. And then he went hurriedly upwards, to touch the cheek. The cheek was wet through and through, full of tears. He clasped that jaw in his hand and forced that face around. Thin double eyelids. And a Bodhisattva5-like mouth biting tightly. It was Liao Jixiang. Unable to tell whether he felt fear or ecstasy, he let out a sudden cry. His spirit almost departed from his body. Xie Yilu sat up from the bed all of a sudden, his eyes wide opened, staring blankly at the solid darkness in front of him in the middle of the night. His quilt was drenched in heavy sweat, so he threw it off his body. In between his thighs was something steaming warm, sticking wetly to his skin. Hi! Thanks again for reading my translation! I can¡¯t believe we¡¯ve already made this far:D I¡¯m soooo happy!! We¡¯re finally seeing a little smut content of Da Dang;) and please be assured that we¡¯ll see so much more of it once these two confess their feelings! There¡¯s also no need to worry about Xie Yilu¡¯s wife, as this will be addressed in a few chapters. If you enjoy the story and wish to know my updates, or discuss the plot with me, feel free to join my Discord here! The original word here is ÀÏ×æ×Ú, Laozuzong, which is literally translated to ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. This term is a reverent title towards older and powerful eunuchs. As eunuchs cannot father any biological children, it is common for young eunuchs to seek the protection of a powerful eunuch by becoming their ¡°adopted son/grandson¡±. It pleases an eunuch to have as many ¡°adopted offspring¡± as possible. Therefore, the elder eunuch is referred to as ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. Since the ¡°adopted sons/grandsons¡± still need to work for the elder eunuch and be filial to him, I took the liberty to translate ÀÏ×æ×Ú as ¡°the Elder Master¡±. Si, Ë», is an onomatopoeia, it resembles the sound people make in pain as they breath in with their mouth opened and their teeth clenched. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. In ancient China, and even some regions now, teachers would punish the disobedient pupils by slapping his palm with a ruler. Bodhisattva refers to someone who has generated bodhicitta, a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. The original Chinese term here is Pusa, ÆÐÈø. CH 20 The sedan chair landed and tilted forward. The servant waiting outside lifted the sedan chair¡¯s curtain, and Qu Feng got off the chair after dusting his robe. ¡°Why are you in such a rush? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Qu Feng asked his father¡¯s servant waiting at the gate. The servant was young, but experienced. ¡°Distinguished guest,¡± he replied succinctly. Qu Feng cast a sideways glance at the servant, shook his sleeve and walked inside. He bypassed the spirit screen1, crossed the courtyard, and directly entered the hall. His father was standing with his back hunched in front of the main seat, like an obedient servant. Qu Feng slowed down and, at a glance, recognised that the person his father was entertaining was Zheng Xian. As always, Zheng Xian had a lavish appearance. He was dressed in a hand-drawn silk robe in the colour of fresh pine tree cones, wearing a smile on his face, and attentively listening to Secretary of State Qu¡¯s cliched chatter, which was all about displaying his loyalty. Tu Yao was beside Zheng Xian, dressed in a brocade robe woven with silver threads and carrying a sword, standing upright. Qu Feng¡¯s face was completely frozen. The appalled expression on his face was vivid. He couldn¡¯t believe that Zheng Xian was actually in his home, a distinguished guest of his father. He wanted to leave, but he didn¡¯t dare to turn around just like that. When Zheng Xian noticed Qu Feng, he straightened his back in arrogance, posing an air of superiority. So Secretary of State Qu quickly gestured to him, ¡°Feng¡¯er2, come over and meet the honourable Lord Father3.¡± Every hair on Qu Feng¡¯s body was standing up. Honourable Lord Father? He glanced at his father quizzically, but Secretary of State Qu ignored him, and instead, turned to Zheng Xian to explain, ¡°Honourable Lord Father, the junior is ignorant. Pray forgive him.¡± Father! Qu Feng had heard about the ridiculous rumours of high-ranked officials in Beijing recognising the powerful eunuchs as their lord fathers, but such an embarrassing, scandalous situation was the last thing he had ever imagined to happen in his own home. ¡°Feng¡¯er!¡± Secretary of State Qu¡¯s tone became stern. ¡°Come and show your respects!¡± Qu Feng stood still in shock, motionless. Zheng Xian curled his lips slightly, ¡°Looks like the young master is unwilling.¡± He pretended to get up, but was immediately stopped by Secretary of State Qu, who pleaded urgently, ¡°Honourable Lord Father, please be calm!¡± He then unleashed his temperaments towards Qu Feng. Apprehensively, his eyes widened in rage, his two frail legs trembling unsteadily, ¡°You little beast!¡± he softly growled, ¡°You¡¯re trying to kill your father!¡± It took Qu Feng a significant amount of effort to lift his eyes and look at him. ¡°You¡¯re accepting your enemy as your father4¡­¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t accept, what else can I do?¡± From a close distance, Secretary of State Qu was clearly sweating profusely, obviously feeling helpless too. ¡°If I don¡¯t accept, he won¡¯t let me join their side!¡± Qu Feng remained obstinate and unconvinced. He stood sideways and listened to his father¡¯s reprimand. ¡°Because of that Xie Yilu of yours, Liao Jixiang is no longer accepting my invitations5. We can¡¯t afford to lose this opportunity with Zheng Xian again!¡± Qu Feng turned his head away with disgust. ¡°Why must you join the eunuchs?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see how powerful Yong Society6 has become?¡± Secretary of State Qu questioned, his wrinkled face showing a distorted ferocity. ¡°If one doesn¡¯t join Yong Society, one will be considered a member of the castrated7. If they have to identify me as a member of the castrated, I might as well truly become one of them!¡± This is madness. Qu Feng thought to himself. Yong Society has driven the officialdom of Nanjing city insane. ¡°Yong Society does not belong to the Ministry of War!¡± Qu Feng suddenly barked, and even Zheng Xian heard it. Secretary of State Qu was astonished. He stared at Qu Feng apprehensively for quite a while before finally saying, ¡°We¡¯ve been on bad terms with the Ministry of War for years8. And now that they¡¯re in power, we¡¯ll surely suffer tremendous losses, even if we didn¡¯t die!¡± His father had it right. Qu Feng wasn¡¯t so ignorant that he didn¡¯t know the rules of the game. He hesitated for a moment, inclined to walk towards Zheng Xian. At that moment, Tu Yao interjected, ¡°Dugong9, according to custom, tea should be offered when adopting a new relative10.¡± He ordered his subordinates, ¡°Come, bring us a kneeling pad11.¡± He was implying that Secretary of State Qu should kneel. As an elderly in his fifties, he was naturally reluctant to kneel in front of a younger man12. With an ingratiating face, he declined, ¡°Honourable Lord Father, your son has suffered from his ailing legs for years. ¡®Tis true that these knees really cannot bear to bend down¡­¡± Zheng Xian nodded and turned to Tu Yao, ¡°That¡¯s true, This One13 has never seen him walk properly.¡± Yet Tu Yao smiled like he sensed a breeze in spring gently caressing his face, which was exactly like how Qu Feng had smiled at him on that day at Xin Bridge14, ¡°If the son can¡¯t kneel, don¡¯t we still have a grandson?¡± Qu Feng felt as if he had been slapped in the face. His eyes immediately turned blood-shot. Without more hesitation15, he turned and walked away. Tu Yao was expecting this exact moment where Qu Feng flicked his sleeves and left. Seeing that, he immediately shouted, ¡°How dare you defy me! Take him down!¡± A group of seven or eight men dashed forward from below the dais, without drawing their knives, they caught Qu Feng by the arms, pinned him to the ground, and tied him up with ropes right away. Secretary of State Qu was so frightened that he dared not make a sound, whereas Zheng Xian frowned with annoyance. ¡°What a disappointment!¡± Zheng Xian dusted his cuff and stood up. Secretary of State Qu didn¡¯t dare to stop him, so he could only grab Zheng Xian¡¯s entourage, Tu Yao, and ask, ¡°Where¡­ where are you taking him?¡± Tu Yao pulled his hand away. ¡°To the West Yamen16.¡± The West Yamen was located in the shadow of Mount Zhong17. As Nanjing didn¡¯t have an imperial prison18, Tu Yao always liked to borrow the prison of the Ministry of Justice. Like a live pig, Qu Feng was bound by ropes, carried into the prison, and directly tossed into a dark chamber for torture. Tu Yao took care of Qu Feng personally. In fact, it shouldn¡¯t be considered ¡°personally¡± at all, as all he did was smile, leaving the instructions to ¡°wash his feet¡±, before shaking his little riding crop and leaving. The so-called ¡°wash feet¡± referred to the torture of soaking the feet alternately in ice water and boiling water. Qu Feng was tied down to a large, black wooden beam, with heavy chains all over him. He was wearing a fine robe today, but those thugs didn¡¯t care. They tore it apart, and removed all the valuable items worn on his head and hands, claiming them for themselves. It was not necessary to mention two or three rounds, as Qu Feng simply couldn¡¯t bear even the first round. The moment his feet entered the ice water, he screamed and screamed, asking the thug to call Tu Yao back. He had never experienced anything like this before. Growing up as a young master, he had never even been through a slightly stronger gust of wind. ¡°I have money! My family has been officials for three generations. I can pay as much as you want!¡± He shouted at the thugs. ¡°I give up! Go and tell Tu Yao that I gave up!¡± The thug, while boiling water, giggled and replied, ¡°I know, I know. I can tell you have the money. Those without money aren¡¯t even allowed in this room.¡± He stoked the fire to make it burn even brighter, and bubbles were seen to rise and burst on the surface of the water. ¡°Just you wait. Boiling water is on the way.¡± Qu Feng was so terrified that tears were streaming down his face. His feet were so freezing cold that he couldn¡¯t feel the pain anymore, as if they were broken. He pleaded desperately, perspiration pouring down his forehead. ¡°Please, find Tu Yao for me! I¡¯ll give him money, I¡¯ll kneel! Anything! I can do anything!¡± ¡°My young master,¡± the thug looked at him with concern, ¡°you have to go through one round at the very least. If everyone¡¯s dignity was so fragile19, then my job would be too easy.¡± Speaking, he removed the ice water, and brought forth the basin of boiling water. Qu Feng let out a scream from the depths of his throat, writhing and turning futilely on the large wooden beam, shouting repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you money!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you money!¡± The thug looked at him with contempt, grabbed his feet and pressed them hard into the boiling water. Then came a sizzling sound of skin parting from the flesh. Plenty of steam rose from the basin. The thug fanned the steam as he mocked, ¡°You guys see money as such a big deal, but our Commander Tu20 is famous for taking money as nothing. Not just money, even the opera21 singers and women don¡¯t catch his eyes.¡± Qu Feng convulsed violently. After the convulsions, he collapsed abruptly like a slow-witted paralytic, splashing his urine uncontrolled. The thug looked at him and laughed, revealing a wide gap between his two front teeth. ¡°Our Commander Tu likes to climb high and see far22. Can your family arrange that?¡± Upon finishing the sentence, he stood up, went to the ice chest to fetch more ice again. When Qu Feng heard the noise of ice cubes hitting the bottom of the basin, he truly couldn¡¯t endure any longer. Trembling, he burst into loud sobs. After going through several rounds of ¡°wash¡±, the thug ordered his men to untie Qu Feng from the wooden beam and securely bound him to a torture bed. Someone brought in two sacks of rice. The sacks were not large, each weighing about seven to eight catties23, which were stacked on top of Qu Feng¡¯s chest. This was called ¡°the pressing weight of the salary24¡°, which came in the form of ¡°heavy press¡± and ¡°light press¡±25. For most people, undergoing ¡°light press¡± for a day and a night was enough to take their last breath away26. Qu Feng didn¡¯t have much knowledge about these things. He was even relieved when he first lay down. For a grown man, he thought twenty catties of rice was nothing, which was indeed the case at the beginning. Yet the longer it pressed on, the harder it became to breathe. Time itself seemed to have acquired power. It transformed into a soft, blunt knife, gradually cutting away his vitality. The feeling was even worse than ¡°washing his feet¡±. In less than two Shichen27 of pressing, Qu Feng wailed and sobbed, ¡°Ex-excuse me¡­¡± The thug, busy with some killing tools that Qu Feng couldn¡¯t even name, replied without raising his head, ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Help me deliver a message¡­ I¡¯ll pay you.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± The thug spoke in truth, his hands still occupied at work. ¡°The Lord Commander forbids us to pay private visits to government officials¡¯ homes.¡± Qu Feng fell silent. After a ke28, he said again, ¡°One hundred taels of silver, for a trip to the Weaving and Sewing Bureau.¡± The thug put away what he was doing and stood up. ¡°For a eunuch?¡± Qu Feng nodded. ¡°I want to write a letter.¡± The thug wiped his hands, found a piece of paper and a pen, and watched Qu Feng as he wrote down a few trembling characters. He asked, ¡°To whom?¡± Qu Feng struggled to breathe into the compressed chest. ¡°Jin Tang.¡± The thug said nothing in return. He folded the letter and turned away. He left the torture room, went through the side passage and entered the rear hall, where Tu Yao was sitting on the dais, drinking with several low-ranked officials from the Ministry of Justice. The thug unfolded the letter and showed it to him. Tu Yao took a quick glance at it and nodded. Mei Azha and a few of his subordinates had been playing Madiao29 all night long without getting a good hand. As dawn was breaking, he finally had a card featuring ¡°¡®Little Li Guang¡¯ Hua Rong¡±30, but just before he played it, Jin Tang hastily pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Chief,¡± Jin Tang cut straight to the point. ¡°I have something that needs your help.¡± Jin Tang rarely acted this way. Like Liao Jixiang, he had that pride of a scholar deep in his bones31. Mei Azha dismissed his men, leaned further into his Luohan Bed32, making room for Jin Tang. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jin Tang didn¡¯t sit, instead, he fished out a crumpled piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Mei Azha. There were three words written on it: ¡°Chunchu33 save me.¡± This particular type of paper. Mei Azha took the paper in his hands and examined it from both sides. ¡°West Yamen?¡± He asked as he leaned comfortably on the cushion, clearly not taking the matter seriously. ¡°Who was arrested?¡± Jin Tang lowered his eyes. ¡°Qu Feng, of the Ministry of War.¡± Mei Azha straightened up, his back moving slightly away from the cushion. ¡°There¡¯s something between you and him?¡± Jin Tang turned his face away, as if he was afraid of Mei Azha¡¯s gaze. ¡°Just a nodding acquaintance.¡± Mei Azha leaned back again. ¡°A nodding acquaintance, and he gave you this letter?¡± He casually toyed the crumpled piece of paper in his hand and smiled at ease. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t seem right if I insist you two aren¡¯t nodding acquaintances, since he¡¯s not really asking for your help.¡± He was referring to the name ¡°Chunchu¡± on the paper. Jin Tang slowly leaned in and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°Xie Yilu, courtesy name Chunchu.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Mei Azha didn¡¯t care at all. Such insignificant characters were unworthy of his attention. ¡°Just do whatever needs to be done. Do you want to sort things out for this ¡®Chunchu¡¯, and get a favour from Qu Feng?¡± Jin Tang remained silent, looking solemn. ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool.¡± Mei Azha tossed the crumpled paper at him. ¡°He won¡¯t think highly of us. Even if you save him eighteen times, he still won¡¯t hold you in high regard.¡± ¡°This Xie Yilu¡­¡± Jin Tang suddenly spoke up. ¡°He knows Dugong.¡± All of a sudden, Mei Azha sat up from the bed, glaring at him intently. ¡°They should be¡­ very close.¡± Very close? Mei Azha narrowed his eyes. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well, they exchange letters every day, and meet once every few days¡­ it¡¯s that kind of close.¡± Jin Tang raised his head, his eyes darted briefly at Mei Azha. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that Dugong has been visiting Liumanpo34 frequently lately?¡± Mei Azha picked up the paper from Jin Tang and stared at that unfamiliar name. ¡°How long has this been?¡± ¡°About a month or two.¡± ¡°Xie Chunchu,¡± Mei Azha was struggling to comprehend the situation. ¡°Didn¡¯t Dugong want to kill him before?¡± Jin Tang shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡± He was about to say something else, but swallowed it back. For someone who was always patient, Mei Azha was so irritated that he nudged Jin Tang with his elbow. ¡°Speak up.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read their letters,¡± Jin Tang appeared too embarrassed to talk about it. ¡°The recent letters¡­¡± He blushed before he could finish his sentence, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s too inappropriate!¡± What exactly was inappropriate, Jin Tang didn¡¯t say it out loud, but Mei Azha understood the implication. He kept his mouth wide open in shock or even anger, but didn¡¯t say anything. It was at this point that Jin Tang finally voiced his doubts. ¡°Suppose I pass this letter to Xie Yilu, suppose he really goes to save Qu Feng and something happens to him¡­ Dugong will definitely take my life!¡± ¡°No, no, no,¡± Mei Azha waved his hand repeatedly. ¡°He¡¯s just an insignificant sixth-rank official. What does he have to save someone from West Yamen? Besides¡­¡± He narrowed his big round eyes, ¡°he¡¯s a scholar, and a top scoring Tanhua35. How could he genuinely want to befriend Dugong?¡± Almost instantly, Jin Tang frowned in alertness. ¡°Are you saying¡­¡± ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t come with bad intentions,¡± Mei Azha grabbed Jin Tang¡¯s wrist and held it firmly. ¡°Did you forget what happened in Gansu36?¡± Jin Tang¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. ¡°Go,¡± Mei Azha shoved him towards the door. ¡°Go, now!¡± Spirit screen, or Yingbi, Ó°±Ú, is used to shield an entrance gate in traditional Chinese architecture. Spirit screens can be positioned either on the outside or the inside of the gate they are protecting. Feng¡¯er, ·ï¶ù. Qu Feng¡¯s name is Çü·ï, so ·ï¶ù is his nickname. Honourable Lord Father, Fuzu Daren, ¸¸×æ´óÈË. This can be translated literally to ¡°the honourable Lord Father and Ancestor¡±. The original term here is Ren Zei Zuo Fu, ÈÏÔô×÷¸¸, which literally means ¡°to take a traitor/enemy as your father¡±. It¡¯s often used metaphorically to suggest that someone is willing to trade his dignity to switch to the enemy¡¯s side. The original term here is Mingci, Ãû´Ì, which is a short letter with the sender¡¯s name, title, as well as an invitation or a request to meet the recipient. Mingci can be sent days in advance or handed in right before a meeting. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials, mainly the officials of the Ministry of War. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. The castrated, refers to Yan Dang, Ñ˵³, which is the eunuchs¡¯ political party. As mentioned previously, Qu Feng¡¯s dad is the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War had been on bad terms for a long time. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs such as Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian. This is known as Jing Cha, ¾´²è. When an elder of the family recognises or adopts a young member into the household, the young needs to kneel and offer tea to the elder. This is also a tradition in Chinese weddings, where the newlyweds need to offer tea to their new in-laws. After the elder accepts the tea, he/she will gift Hongbao, ºì°ü, aka red packets containing money or a bit of gold, to the young. The Chinese term for kneeling pad is Putuan, ÆÑÍÅ. Putuan is often used in zen practice or religious worship in China. Zheng Xian is approximately 27 years old. Capitalised ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. ¡°This One¡± means Zajia, ÔÛ¼Ò, which is a humble term to eunuchs use to address oneself. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people who aren¡¯t eunuchs to display their humbleness in a conversation. Xin Bridge, Xin Qiao, ÐÂÇÅ, the name of the bridge. The original term here is Yi Bu Zuo Er Bu Xiu, Ò»²»×ö¶þ²»ÐÝ, which means one shouldn¡¯t do something if he¡¯s still hesitating, but he should finish what he wants to do once he is determined. Yamen, ÑÃÃÅ, is the Chinese term for administrative office. In this case, the West Yamen is the office and prison of the Ministry of Justice. In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Justice is in charge of judiciary matters. Although it is one of the six major ministries of the central government, the Ministry of Justice often had less power than the imperial embroidered uniform guards, Jinyiwei. Mount Zhong, or Zhongshan, ÖÓɽ, is now a tourist site in Nanjing. The imperial prison, Zhaoyu, Ú¯Óü, is used to contain prisoners who tended to be high-ranked officials. Zhaoyu is run by Jinyiwei, ½õÒÂÎÀ, or the imperial embroidered uniform guards. (Tu Yao is the commander of one thousand imperial guards.) Zhaoyu run by the imperial embroidered uniform guards was notorious for its inhumane punishments and tortures. FYI: the two large characters on the cover photo are the traditional Chinese characters for Ú¯Óü. The original phrase here could be translated to ¡°if everyone¡¯s bones were so fragile¡±, the bones here symbolises one¡¯s dignity, which is often used in Chinese literature. The original term here is Qianhu, ǧ»§, which literally means the leader of a thousand soldiers. In the Ming Dynasty, Qianhu typically led 1120 people. Hence, Tu Yao is the leader of 1120 imperial embroidered uniform guards in Nanjing. The opera singer here refers to the Chinese opera performers, where male performers would dress up as females. To climb high and see far refers to obtaining a high position in the court. One catty is about 500 grams. The original term is Ya Lu, ѹ». Ya means ¡°press¡±, and Lu means ¡°food/official¡¯s salary/reward¡±. The Chinese term for official¡¯s salary is Feng Lu, ٺ». In the Ming Dynasty, the officials¡¯ salary was calculated based on the amount of rice, or the Lu, they received. Hence, Ya Lu literally means ¡°to press one¡¯s salary on the chest¡±. The original terms here are Da Ya, ´óѹ, ¡°large press¡±, and Xiao Ya, Сѹ, ¡°small press¡±. When I was younger, I read a book about the tortures in ancient China. There were in fact so many more different inhumane tortures in the Ming Dynasty. If you wish to learn more, you can start with this link (check the section of Ming Dynasty) and use Google translate to convert it to English. I¡¯ll only talk about one of the cruellest torture in the Ming Dynasty, Lingchi, Áè³Ù. Lingchi is notorious for its inhumane and utterly brutal way of punishing the criminal. The executioner was specially trained and skilled in using a dagger, which would remove one small slice of flesh from the criminal at a time. A skilled executioner could make thousands of cuts on the criminal while keeping him alive. The highest record for the number of cuts in Lingchi was 3357 cuts over the course of three days on one man while he was kept alive. The original term here is Shichen, ʱ³½. In ancient China, a day was divided into twelve internals. Each interval is two hours and has a special name. One ke, ¿Ì, is roughly 15 minutes. Madiao, Âíµõ, also known as Yezi Xi, Ò¶×ÓÏ· (literally ¡®leaf game¡¯). It is somewhat similar to poker, where there are 40 cards of four suits. Each card was illustrated with one of the 108 Stars of Destiny of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin attributed to Shi Nai¡¯an. ¡°¡®Little Li Guang¡¯ Hua Rong¡±, СÀî¹ã»¨ÈÙ, is a fictional character in Water Margin. He ranks ninth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Similar to the metaphor of ¡°fragile bones¡± above, here, having the pride deep in his bones means Jin Tang is a very proud and dignified man. The original term here is Luohan Ta, ÂÞººé½. It¡¯s also known as Arhat Bed. Arhat, in Buddhism, means a saint of one of the highest ranks. It¡¯s believed that lying on the Luohan Bed makes one as carefree and comfortable as an Arhat. See pictures of Luohan Ta here. Chunchu, ´º³ú, is Xie Yilu¡¯s courtesy name. Liumanpo, ÁøÂúÆÂ, the location of Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang¡¯s date. Tanhua, ̽»¨, refers to the second place in the national Imperial Examinations. Gansu, ¸ÊËà, a province in north-central China, known for its deserts, as well as its cold and dry climate. Gansu was an area of military significance in ancient China as it was the northern border of the country. Photo credit: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/522343612 CH 21 ¡°Say it,¡± Xie Yilu begged Liao Jixiang. They were again standing on the narrow path by the creek. Xie Yilu pulled at Liao Jixiang¡¯s sleeve playfully and refused to let him get away. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you mine.¡± What Xie Yilu meant was his nickname, Xiao Song1. And as an exchange, he wanted to know the nickname of Liao Jixiang. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to tell me.¡± Liao Jixiang evaded the question somewhat, his expression impatient, but he didn¡¯t put up much of a fight. ¡°Even if I told you, what difference would it make?¡± Which is true. What difference would it make indeed? Yet Xie Yilu just wanted to know. ¡°If you tell me, I¡¯ll take it as you care about me.¡± Yet another inappropriate remark, and once again, Liao Jixiang had that troubled expression on his face. Slowly, he lowered his head and muttered something. Xie Yilu was extremely sensitive to his voice, so he made out what he said on the first try, ¡°Chi Xuezi2?¡± Liao Jixiang blushed immediately, anxiously explaining, ¡°It was given by the Elder Master3.¡± It was actually a rather unique and delicate nickname, but the mere mention of the Elder Master made Xie Yilu sulky and unhappy, ¡°No wonder it sounds so foolish and dull.¡± Hearing him say that, Liao Jixiang fell silent again. So Xie Yilu eagerly endeavoured to please him, asking in an intimate manner, ¡°Why don¡¯t you apply the rouge I gave you?¡± ¡°Why should I use it?¡± Liao Jixiang turned the tables and made it difficult for Xie Yilu too. ¡°I¡¯m not a woman anyway.¡± ¡°Men can use it too.¡± Xie Yilu fixed his gaze on Liao Jixiang¡¯s plump lips as if he was possessed. ¡°Jin Tang uses it.¡± Liao Jixiang noticed the way Xie Yilu stared at him, and turned away in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ve already scolded him about it. How improper and indecent of him to do so.¡± How is that considered improper¡­ Xie Yilu wondered in his heart, but dared not say it out loud. It was clear that he felt it a pity, which was so obvious that even Liao Jixiang regretted being harsh towards him. ¡°Don¡¯t buy those superficial objects next time. They¡¯re gorgeous on the outside but worthless on the inside.¡± Xie Yilu studied Liao Jixiang¡¯s face. Liao Jixiang appeared to know the price of that box of rouge. He must have entrusted someone privately to investigate. Thinking about that, Xie Yilu felt a sweet sensation rising in his heart again. Sillily, he chuckled, making way for Liao Jixiang along the path. ¡°Why are you smirking so slyly,¡± Liao Jixiang pulled away from him readily and walked ahead along the path. While walking, he didn¡¯t forget to turn his head and remind Xie Yilu, ¡°Behave yourself.¡± They walked one after the other, carrying similar troubles on their minds. April4 was exactly the right time for charming peach blossoms. Under the radiance of the golden sunlight, clusters and groups of blossoms gathered their beauty, like a pink mist covering Liao Jixiang¡¯s head. Some branches were hanging low, brushing against Liao Jixiang¡¯s shoulder like a young girl¡¯s tender hand, teasing his loose long hair. Xie Yilu watched from behind, his eyes landing on that slender back under the shade of the peach blossoms. He wanted to touch it, but didn¡¯t dare to stretch out his hand. Out of a whim, the thought on his mind that went astray accidentally slipped out of his mouth, ¡°Like waters disguised in the elusive mists, I admire its ever-changing elegance and grace. My attempt to embrace it returned futile, my effort to scoop it was but vain!5¡± Liao Jixiang heard it and knew Xie Yilu was referring to him. His heart raced in panic, and he hastily replied, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ really getting hotter every day!¡± He was hoping to divert the conversation, but Xie Yilu took him seriously. ¡°Are you thirsty? I brought a water bag.¡± Liao Jixiang wasn¡¯t thirsty; he was flustered. ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can drink all you want. I also brought a bowl with me,¡± Xie Yilu said as he reached into his sleeve6. Liao Jixiang turned around, looking at Xie Yilu somewhat confused, yet Xie Yilu grinned at him endearingly, ¡°so that you can wash your hands later.¡± As if Liao Jixiang¡¯s gaze was nailed on Xie Yilu, his eyes remained motionless, blinking only after a considerable amount of time. Then, Liao Jixiang faced his back towards Xie Yilu again ¨C it was the same shade of peach blossoms, the same slender back, but their meanings had changed. The back relaxed, as if Liao Jixiang had let down his guard. Xie Yilu reached out, positioning his palm only half an inch away from that slender back, futilely feeling for the void in between. Suppose Liao Jixiang walked just a little bit slower, he would fall into Xie Yilu¡¯s hand, fall into his grasp. ¡°Do you¡­¡± suddenly, Liao Jixiang asked, ¡°often go to the riverside?¡± He was referring to those pleasure boats7 sailing along the perfumed winds. Xie Yilu immediately withdrew his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been there for officials¡¯ gatherings,¡± he said, then added, ¡°never spent the night there.¡± Never spent the night there. Why did he bother to add that line? Liao Jixiang fell silent for a while, then softened his voice, ¡°When you¡¯re alone at night¡­ don¡¯t you feel lonely?¡± ¡°After reading and studying8 for so many years, I don¡¯t feel lonely anymore,¡± Xie Yilu was conscience-stricken when uttering those words. It was true that he had not thought about women, yet he had thought about other things. Even now, he still felt a numbing sensation all over him, his legs enervated as he recalled that dream. ¡°Why do I feel that you are lonely,¡± Liao Jixiang stammered, referring to the occasional indecent language and the inappropriate gaze of Xie Yilu. ¡°After all, you need a woman¡­¡± Xie Yilu didn¡¯t let him finish. ¡°The people in your palace,¡± he worked up his courage, ¡°aren¡¯t they lonely at night?¡± That was a taboo topic for eunuchs, but Liao Jixiang wasn¡¯t angry. ¡°What do you mean?¡± How could he not understand what Xie Yilu meant? Yet he just wanted to shame him, force him to swallow his words. However, Xie Yilu uttered something even more inappropriate as if he was possessed, ¡°You know¡­ at night.¡± Liao Jixiang stood still all of a sudden. He took a deep breath before finally speaking. ¡°Some people¡­ would find a palace maid, and some¡­¡± his voice might be recognised as peaceful, but his back was shivering, ¡°would hold each other tightly, and spend a night together.¡± ¡°How¡­¡± Xie Yilu should have stopped the topic right there, but he didn¡¯t, ¡°How¡­¡± He wanted to learn how the night was spent. Liao Jixiang bit his lip, abruptly turned around, and stared at Xie Yilu as if he had been bullied. ¡°They would take off their clothes, crawl into bed, and touch each other frantically.¡± An image of Liao Jixiang that fit the descriptions immediately appeared on Xie Yilu¡¯s mind ¡ª naked, hair dishevelled, in the pitch-black bed, touched by a pair of hands¡­ ¡°You, you too?¡± He sounded somewhat anxious, illogically anxious. Liao Jixiang had wanted to say something since a long time ago, and now in a moment of impulse, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xie Yilu was indeed thinking of something obscene, and as he was startled by the attack of the sudden question, his face betrayed his thoughts. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Liao Jixiang asked again, but with a different meaning. ¡°I, I was thinking¡­¡± Xie Yilu panicked. He wanted to make something up, but failed because he wasn¡¯t good at it. Profuse perspiration began to form on his forehead and back, and eventually Xie Yilu squatted down, covering his face once and for all, ¡°Yangchun9, I¡¯m wrong!¡± About what Xie Yilu was thinking, Liao Jixiang had some vague idea, but he didn¡¯t know what exactly was on Xie Yilu¡¯s mind. Liao Jixiang was so enraged that his face turned red. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Xie Yilu struggled to find the words, he searched and searched, and unexpectedly blurted out, ¡°I thought about you so much that I couldn¡¯t sleep!¡± Presently, if there was a crack in the ground, Liao Jixiang would most definitely squeeze and hide into it. ¡°Nonsense!¡± He was just as bewildered as Xie Yilu, and because he was the innocent one, Liao Jixiang felt somewhat scared, too. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m wrong, truly wrong!¡± Xie Yilu grabbed the hem of Liao Jixiang¡¯s robe and pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ll correct it, I¡¯ll definitely correct it!¡± The moment Xie Yilu mentioned ¡°correct it¡±, Liao Jixiang forgave him. Or perhaps, Liao Jixiang never blamed him in the first place, he was just feeling baffled and was at a loss. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to swear by the gods and Buddhas!¡± ¡°I swear!¡± Xie Yilu looked up at him so devoutly, that all he needed was to kneel down to complete the image of worship. ¡°If I ever think of you without clothes again, I¡­¡± Liao Jixiang looked at him appalled upon hearing ¡°without clothes¡±, and Xie Yilu finally realised that he had spoken his mind, panicking, he immediately covered his mouth. Dejectedly, Xie Yilu headed home. As soon as he entered the alley, he spotted a soft sedan chair parked in front of his house, which looked strangely familiar. Yet when he approached it, the attendants of the sedan chair didn¡¯t talk to him. Thinking that they were probably waiting for someone nearby, Xie Yilu paid no attention, pushed the door open and entered the courtyard. But before he could turn around to close the door, someone tailed him inside and with a loud ¡°bang¡± ¨C the visitor slammed the door shut. ¡°Jin Tang?¡± Xie Yilu was surprised. Jin Tang hesitated for a brief moment, and calling that ¡°a brief moment¡± might even be too long. From Xie Yilu¡¯s perspective, Jin Tang knelt down as soon as the door was shut with a loud ¡°plop¡±, ¡°Lord Xie10, save him!¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on, so he quickly helped Jin Tang up. ¡°Get up and talk.¡± Jin Tang refused. He reached into his chest pocket11 and fished out a piece of paper. Handing it to Xie Yilu, he said, ¡°No one ever survived longer than twelve Shichen12 after falling into Tu Yao¡¯s hands.¡± The characters on the paper were crooked and distorted. Xie Yilu examined them for a while, ¡°Is it¡­ Qu Feng?¡± Jin Tang nodded. ¡°Received it before dawn. I¡¯ve been waiting for your lordship the entire morning!¡± Xie Yilu held the paper in his hands, but didn¡¯t move. On one hand, he wondered how he should go about saving this person, and on the other hand, he wondered what would become of him once he saved Qu Feng. ¡°My lord,¡± Jin Tang seemed to have anticipated his hesitation. He held onto the hands holding the letter and said, ¡°You and Qu Simu13 are best friends. At a dire moment of life and death, you cannot calculate the gains and losses!¡± Naturally, Xie Yilu understood what he meant, but if he wanted to save Qu Feng, he had to beg for Zheng Xian¡¯s favour14. Is there anyone in this world who offers help without asking for something in return? ¡°I need to think about it,¡± he replied. ¡°Let me think.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time for thinking.¡± Jin Tang dreaded that he would weigh the pros and cons. ¡°Even if you hurry over now, there¡¯s no guarantee if he is still breathing!¡± Liao Jixiang had warned him repeatedly that he shouldn¡¯t get too close to the eunuchs, and Xie Yilu himself was aware, that there would be no turning back once he decided to go. ¡°Suppose I saved him, who will save me?¡± He spoke the truth, so true that even Jin Tang had no words left to say. Kneeling there, Jin Tang let go of his hand, his arms dropped helplessly. ¡°Go,¡± Xie Yilu suddenly called out to him, ¡°go to the entrance of the alley and rent a horse.¡± Jin Tang looked up, and Xie Yilu was already brushing past him, opening the door and leaving. ¡°Go directly to the West Yamen to collect Qu Feng. If they ask, tell them it¡¯s a direct order from Dugong15 Zheng!¡± Thanks for reading! I think now it¡¯s very clear why Tu Yao allowed Qu Feng to send the letter to Jin Tang. It¡¯s because Qu Feng¡¯s predicament can force Xie Yilu to side with Zheng Xian, exactly what they wanted since the very beginning. If you wish to discuss more about Da Dang with me, come and join my Discord here! I¡¯m truly happy to see new ratings and comments on Novel Updates! Thanks to all your support, I am getting more views for Da Dang! Da Dang is one of my favourite danmei and I truly wish more people would appreciate its beauty. Please help me rate or share Da Dang if you enjoy the book! It means the world to me!! We will also get to see Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang¡¯s love unfold! These two met as close confidants via the letters in the stone lamp, and fell in love as they learnt more about each other. In future, they will also support each other and survive in the cruel establishment of the ancient Chinese court. Stay tuned! Xiao Song, СËÉ, literally means ¡°a young pine tree¡±. Chi Xuezi, ³ÔÑ©×Ó, Chi means eat, and Xuezi can refer to snow or ice, so the nickname can be directly translated to ¡°eating snowflakes¡±. The original word here is ÀÏ×æ×Ú, Laozuzong, which is literally translated to ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. This term is a reverent title towards older and powerful eunuchs. As eunuchs cannot father any biological children, it is common for young eunuchs to seek the protection of a powerful eunuch by becoming their ¡°adopted son/grandson¡±. It pleases an eunuch to have as many ¡°adopted offspring¡± as possible. Therefore, the elder eunuch is referred to as ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. Since the ¡°adopted sons/grandsons¡± still need to work for the elder eunuch and be filial to him, I took the liberty to translate ÀÏ×æ×Ú as ¡°the Elder Master¡±. April here refers to the fourth month of the lunar calendar. The original text is Ñ̲¨ÃìÂþ£¬×Ë̬ºáÒÝ£¬À¿Ö®²»µÃ£¬ÞÚÖ®²»¾¡. It is an excerpt from the book, Qu Lv, ÇúÂÉ, which discusses the rules to writing poems, songs and operas. It is written by Wang Jide, Íõæ÷µÂ, in the Ming Dynasty. This sentence¡¯s original intention was to demonstrate the importance of choosing ideal imagery and symbolisation in a poem, that the chosen imagery should contain meanings as if hidden behind a mist, which cannot be accurately discerned but should be interpretable from multiple angles. It should also be somewhat elusive and difficult to grasp fully, yet still within reach for the audience. I¡¯m quite proud of my translation of this sentence hahaha:) There are pockets in the large sleeves and the chest area of ancient Chinese clothing. The wide sleeves, for instance, may only have a small opening, and the rest of the sleeve is sewn to form an enclosed pouch to store small objects, such as the picture here. When the upper garment is tied together around the waist, an empty space can be formed in between the two layers, which can be used as a pocket as well. The original term here is Huafang, »­ô³. It¡¯s a type of boat with extensive carvings and luxurious decorations. These boats were often booked by the rich and powerful, who would bring their harlots and performers along for entertainment as they sailed along the river. There are still Huafang along the famous rivers in China now, although they¡¯ve become more of a tourist attraction. In ancient China, boys as young as three or four years old will start to learn Chinese characters and simple passages. Their standard textbooks are collectively known as Sishu Wujing, ËÄÊéÎå¾­, Four Books and Five Classics. These are the classics of Confucianism and would be tested in the Imperial Examination, Keju, ¿Æ¾Ù. It takes tremendous effort and time to achieve the best grades in the exams. The exams usually have four stages. Entry-level examinations, or Tongshi, ͯÊÔ (children¡¯s exam), is literally held for teenage boys every year locally. Next, Provincial examination, or Xiangshi, ÏçÊÔ, is held every three years for selected candidates in provincial capitals. Then there is Metropolitan examination, Huishi, »áÊÔ, which is held every three years in the national capital. Lastly, successful candidates will be invited to Palace examination, Dianshi, µîÊÔ, which is held every three years in the imperial palace and often supervised by the emperor himself (The emperor might pick the good-looking ones and give them a better grade, or choose a future husband for his princesses. The grades in the Palace exams might also depend on the mood of the emperor). Note: these exams might be postponed due to war, astronomy, or death of an emperor. Additional rounds of exams can also be held if a new emperor takes the throne, or there are national celebrations. As a result, in most cases, it takes a man about 7 to 10 years to finish a complete round of exams, which is why we have the term Shinian Hanchuang, Ê®Ä꺮´°, (to sit by a cold window and study diligently for ten years). Yangchun, Ñø´º, Liao Jixiang¡¯s courtesy name. Although Xie Yilu doesn¡¯t have a title or land that befits a lord, Jin Tang is flattering here as he hopes Xie Yilu can help to save Qu Feng. There are pockets in the large sleeves and the chest area of ancient Chinese clothing. The wide sleeves, for instance, may only have a small opening, and the rest of the sleeve is sewn to form an enclosed pouch to store small objects, such as the picture here. When the upper garment is tied together around the waist, an empty space can be formed in between the two layers, which can be used as a pocket as well. Shichen, ʱ³½, a time unit in ancient China. One Shichen is roughly 2 hours. Simu, ˼Ľ, is Qu Feng¡¯s courtesy name. Simu means ¡°to always remember and recall with passion and yearning¡±. This is because Tu Yao works for Zheng Xian. The original text here is Dugong, ¶½¹«, an unofficial title for powerful eunuchs. CH 22 Xie Yilu lost his ¡°innocence¡± to Zheng Xian. That was the recent heated topic in the officialdom of Nanjing. Several versions of rumours regarding Qu Feng¡¯s state as he left the West Yamen1 went circulating amongst the officials ¨C some said he was beaten up so badly that his skin was raw and his flesh exposed, others claimed that he was already lifeless when he left the prison, only to be revived with acupuncture needles driven deep into his bones2 in the middle of the night, and surprisingly, there were even tales of him being carried out of the West Yamen on the back of a eunuch wearing Yesa3. Rumours knew no boundaries or limitations, but the only concrete evidence was Zheng Xian¡¯s attitude. During these days, Zheng Xian brought Xie Yilu along wherever he went, his opening line would always include, ¡°Come and see, our Tanhua4 Xie!¡± He was utterly delighted, everyone with eyes could clearly tell, and according to Zheng Xian¡¯s own words, ¡°Who else dares to say that those who pledged under This One5 are mere illiterate fighters? This One now has a scholar by my side, the top of the list, Tanhua, of the imperial examination6! Can anyone else boast of such a thing?¡± In the meantime, Xie Yilu became a walking corpse. Regardless of what Zheng Xian said or how others perceived it, he remained numb and unaffected. Yet if Xie Yilu had to name something he feared, it would be meeting Liao Jixiang. ¡°Do you treat my words as winds passing by your ear?¡± On the bank of the creek, next to the peach tree forest, Liao Jixiang said with displeasure, his face turning to the side. Raindrops landed from the sky. Not a light drizzle, but rather a rustling shower that muffled the words. Xie Yilu knew that Liao Jixiang was angry, so he obediently remained silent. ¡°I feared for your reputation, feared for your future,¡± Liao Jixiang clenched the handle of his bamboo umbrella7 tightly, so tight that his fingertips were turning pale, even bluish. ¡°Your acquaintance with me didn¡¯t do your image any harm, but you ended up ruining yourself for him!¡± ¡°Yangchun8¡­¡± rather than worrying for himself, Xie Yilu was much more concerned about Liao Jixiang. He stretched out his arm, wanting to touch Liao Jixiang¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Leave me alone!¡± At the prime of his anger, Liao Jixiang shoved Xie Yilu hard. He used considerable force, so Xie Yilu stumbled, the umbrella slipping from his hand, leaving him exposed under the pouring rain. Liao Jixiang glared at him from under the edge of the umbrella. Even though Xie Yilu was drenched and desolate from the downpour, he remained unmoved. Xie Yilu wiped his face roughly and replied helplessly, ¡°But if I didn¡¯t save him, should I just watch him die?¡± ¡°Let him die!¡± These words left Liao Jixiang¡¯s lips without hesitation. ¡°What is he? Why is he worth saving at the cost of tarnishing your own reputation?¡± Xie Yilu was startled by his coldness. ¡°If, one day, I become a burden on you, would you also leave me to die?¡± Without thinking twice, Liao Jixiang looked at Xie Yilu as if he were a fool. ¡°When you compare Qu Feng¡¯s relationship with you and your relationship with me, how could you say that these two are the same?¡± Almost instantly, something emerged and swelled from the depths of Xie Yilu¡¯s heart, burning, lingering, and his face, which was flushed pale by the rain, became steaming hot all of a sudden, ¡°So what¡¯s the difference?¡± Liao Jixiang sensed his emotions, and his expression turned somewhat uneasy. He shifted his body slightly sideways and said, ¡°If I were him, I would rather be tortured to death at the West Yamen than bring you any harm.¡± Xie Yilu felt that he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He worked up the courage, took a step forward and slipped under Liao Jixiang¡¯s umbrella. Taken aback by his action, Liao Jixiang hastily pushed Xie Yilu on the chest, his hand slender and cold. Yet Xie Yilu held onto the hand tightly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I have nothing left¡­¡± The moment he uttered these words, Liao Jixiang¡¯s heart surrendered and softened, ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, then¡­¡± he wanted to say something, but was bluntly interrupted by Xie Yilu, ¡°All I¡¯m left with is you.¡± Liao Jixiang felt as though the sound of the rain had multiplied a hundredfold and more, like a deafening explosion of something nearby. He was so nervous that the world was almost spinning around him. He repeatedly warned himself in his heart, that this young man was talking nonsense, that his words couldn¡¯t be trusted¡­ With one hand firmly in his grasp, Xie Yilu still coveted the other. He reached out, but before he could touch it, Liao Jixiang recoiled in fear. The oiled-paper umbrella fell from above them, and immediately, Xie Yilu pushed him backward, further, and further, so fast that Liao Jixiang was almost stumbling. Suddenly, Liao Jixiang¡¯s back bumped into something, and he realised that the rain was falling one step away from him. He looked up and found that they were now under the shade of a peach tree. His collar became wet, the white outer garment and inner garment became soaked through and through around the chest, the soft and thin fabric almost transparent. Xie Yilu stared at it, as if he were looking at a nearly naked woman, which unnerved Liao Jixiang. In the moist air dampened by rain, the scent of peach blossoms was especially distinct. Following the rain, the petals of the peach blossoms descended one by one, landing on Liao Jixiang¡¯s shoulders, sticking to Liao Jixiang¡¯s cheeks ¨C a breathtaking beauty. Suddenly, Xie Yilu leaned down with his hair dripping wet. It all happened too abruptly, which startled Liao Jixiang, and he turned his face to the side. Xie Yilu was stunned, as all he wanted to do was to lean closer and tease Liao Jixiang by saying something inappropriate, yet his reaction looked like¡­ he was afraid of being kissed. Kissed. The thought had never crossed Xie Yilu¡¯s mind before. However, upon merely a brief consideration, he felt his limbs trembling, too restless to stand still. Liao Jixiang tried to wrench free from his grip, but Xie Yilu wouldn¡¯t let go. He had never held onto someone so eagerly. As his other hand supported himself against the trunk of the peach tree, all he needed was a simple movement of his arm, so that he could embrace the person in front of him. Yet he didn¡¯t dare, as if that body in front of him forbade his touch. And if he truly touched it, it would be extremely appalling and outrageous. ¡°Let go¡­¡± Liao Jixiang sounded like he was almost pleading. Xie Yilu looked at him intently, leaned in closer, and then even closer. Suddenly, Liao Jixiang relaxed his arms. He shut his eyes tightly, his eyelids closing nervously as if anticipating a punch in the face. His upper and lower eyelashes intertwined and entangled, forming a charming line. Xie Yilu genuinely found him gorgeous, much more so than Zheng Xian or Guo Xiaozhuo. He swallowed hard, wanting to peck Liao Jixiang¡¯s lips lightly just like that. Presently, the wind rose, a petal of peach blossom came drifting down, and happened to land on Liao Jixiang¡¯s lips. Perhaps it was too light, so Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t notice it. Feeling captivated, Xie Yilu studied that tender petal and those delicate lips, his hand moved out of a whim, and carefully wiped the petal away with the tip of his thumb. It was nothing but a gentle touch, but Liao Jixiang shuddered, and his face suddenly turned glistening red. Xie Yilu immediately understood that he had mistaken this situation. Eagerly, he wanted to explain, yet Liao Jixiang reacted like an inexperienced young girl ¨C he pressed his lips so firmly shut, that the corner of his lips were turning pale. Xie Yilu let go of Liao Jixiang and distanced himself slightly. Still, Liao Jixiang dared not open his eyes. Instead, he squeezed his eyes shut with even more effort, his body curled up, and his trembling hands slowly went up to cover his face. He had never experienced anything like this before. For thirty years, he had remained a virgin. He wasn¡¯t Zheng Xian, who was accustomed to going out for fun. From his lips to his body, Liao Jixiang was ¡°innocent¡± through and through. Xie Yilu gently pried at his hands, saying, ¡°Yangchun¡­¡± Liao Jixiang was forced to open his eyes. Being overwhelmed with shame, he could only bring himself to open his eyes slightly. Yet, Xie Yilu could sense that behind that narrow opening, Liao Jixiang was stealing glances at him. Even the stolen glances made Liao Jixiang ever so timid, made his heart filled with embarrassment and apprehension. ¡°Yangchun¡­¡± Xie Yilu wanted to let him know, that it wasn¡¯t a kiss, but only a finger. ¡°Don¡¯t call me¡­¡± Liao Jixiang immediately evaded him. With a meek and fearful gaze, Liao Jixiang scrutinised his lips over and over again, ¡°You¡¯re shameless¡­¡± Although the words clearly formed an accusation, Liao Jixiang¡¯s tone was particularly soft. And if Xie Yilu interpreted his words with ulterior motives, he would have the impression that Liao Jixiang was being coquettish. Xie Yilu felt restless as he was unsure of what to do with Liao Jixiang. In his impulsive mind, he wanted to truly kiss Liao Jixiang, right here, right now. ¡°I¡¯ve informed the Ministry of War¡­¡± Liao Jixiang suddenly said as he pressed himself against the peach tree trunk, inching backward. ¡°They will come to you when you return to the office, and ask you to pick someone up.¡± Xie Yilu frowned, ¡°Can we not talk about that now?¡± ¡°Then what should we talk about?¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s appearance was still a disorderly mess, his eyelashes trembling, his cheeks blushing, unable to regain composure. ¡°You¡¯ve bereft me of words¡­¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xie Yilu wanted to admit that he didn¡¯t do anything, yet at the same time, he didn¡¯t want to leave Liao Jixiang the impression that they had done nothing at all. In fact, he wanted Liao Jixiang to believe that his first kiss was given by him. ¡°Who am I picking up?¡± ¡°Someone like you,¡± Liao Jixiang was half-hiding behind the tree, like he was afraid of him, ¡°who had offended the Elder Master9.¡± Xie Yilu tugged at his sleeve. ¡°An old friend?¡± Liao Jixiang glared at the hand grabbing his sleeve. ¡°Not exactly¡­¡± Yet Xie Yilu felt that Liao Jixiang wasn¡¯t telling the truth ¨C he always kept things to himself. So he asked deliberately, ¡°Then, can you tell me about why you chopped down the dwarf pear trees?¡± Xie Yilu pulled Liao Jixiang closer, who prevaricated reluctantly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say.¡± Xie Yilu began to act unlike himself. Everything he casually uttered now became a cheesy line, ¡°Whatever you are about to say, I¡¯ll find it pleasing to my ears.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s face, which had just regained the usual lofty composure, turned completely red once again. He awkwardly lowered his head, ¡°It was before the Spring Festival¡­ a letter from the Elder Master mentioned that Qi Wan10 would pay a visit here, so I had my men chop down the dwarf pear trees.¡± It was such a sensational incident, yet Liao Jixiang brushed it off with just a few words. Xie Yilu looked at him, his feeling a mixture of admiration and concern, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that Qi Wan will remember you for this?¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t answer ¨C he could be responsible for his actions. Xie Yilu, on the other hand, felt that Liao Jixiang was like a closed jar, so reserved and silent that he wanted to hold Liao Jixiang tightly in his arms and shake him. ¡°I dreamt of you again last night,¡± he pulled Liao Jixiang closer, teasing him with a bewitched and infatuated expression. ¡°In my dream, you were¡­ especially gentle.¡± Liao Jixiang put on an angry face. ¡°You¡­ Have some decency!¡± Surprisingly, Xie Yilu wasn¡¯t afraid at all. Ever since they openly talked about his feelings in their previous meeting, he had gained the courage to do anything as he pleased. ¡°You don¡¯t know about those dreams¡­ I don¡¯t even dare to recall them.¡± The mere thought of Xie Yilu mentioning ¡°without clothes¡± the last time made Liao Jixiang feel every inch of his skin and flesh burning. Disgruntled, Xie Yilu returned to the Ministry of War in a daze. The moment he entered the ministry, he could sense the indifference of the surrounding colleagues. Everyone avoided him, everyone unwilling to spare him a glance, for fear of attracting Xie Yilu¡¯s attention and starting an unwanted conversation. Around the hour of Shen11, Deputy Secretary12 Ye summoned Xie Yilu. Exactly like what Liao Jixiang had mentioned, he ordered Xie Yilu to lead fifty infantrymen to Dinghuai Gate13 and wait by the river at the hour of You14, although Xie Yilu was to ¡°intercept¡± someone, not ¡°pick him up¡±. Xie Yilu clenched the tiny official pass15 from Deputy Secretary Ye in his hand, ¡°Intercept who?¡± Deputy Secretary Ye had a rather disdainful expression on his face, ¡°Do what you¡¯re told.¡± He was holding a box of lard balm in his hands and rubbing it on his aged and wrinkled palms. ¡°At a time like this, you should be grateful for being assigned any task.¡± Xie Yilu put down the official pass, still unyielding and dignified, ¡°I won¡¯t do it if I don¡¯t know who I¡¯m intercepting.¡± Deputy Secretary Ye was taken aback. His hand, which was rubbing the lard balm, suddenly stopped. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what situation you¡¯re in?¡± Xie Yilu remained silent, so Deputy Secretary Ye stood up. ¡°To receive a task like this at your position, consider yourself lucky!¡± Xie Yilu asked directly, ¡°Who assigned it to me?¡± Deputy Secretary Ye was stunned for a moment, then he vaguely replied, ¡°Higher-ups.¡± Xie Yilu understood the situation all too well ¨C it was Liao Jixiang who indirectly arranged the task for him. These so-called ¡°righteous gentlemen of Yong Society16¡° always proclaimed about opposing the eunuch¡¯s party, but they all had deep or shallow connections with Da Dang17. ¡°Who are we intercepting?¡± Deputy Secretary Ye glared at him for quite a while before finally replied with arrogance, ¡°Zang Yirou18. Surely you know him.¡± Indeed, Xie Yilu had heard of him. Zang Fang, the former Palace Secretary19, who had made significant achievements during his earlier years in Gansu20 was known for being a righteous official21. ¡°The eunuch¡¯s party is jealous of those with virtue and talents. They found a random excuse and exiled him to Lingnan22. By intercepting him halfway, you¡¯re helping to secure a loyal and virtuous soul for the kingdom.¡± This was a fantastic opportunity that must have had numerous competing candidates. Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t believe that Liao Jixiang had gone to such lengths to save his reputation. ¡°Where did you get the news that they¡¯re arriving at the harbour at the hour of You?¡± Xie Yilu asked, ¡°Can we intercept the royal court¡¯s key fugitive just like that?¡± Deputy Secretary Ye waved his hand impatiently. ¡°Everything has been taken care of. Just go.¡± Of who took care of it and who offered the information, Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t be clearer. He picked up the official pass, didn¡¯t even bid farewell to Deputy Secretary Ye, and immediately turned and left. Although the task was described as ¡°leading the soldiers to intercepting the man¡±, it was actually quite simple. At the hour of You, Xie Yilu arrived at the harbour and saw three people crowding on the small boat coming from the opposite direction, far away from him. Two of them carrying sticks were the constables, and the one in the middle wearing white and tied in a heavy cangue23 should be Zang Fang. It seemed like they were already informed that someone would come to intercept them. When the soldiers approached, they yelled a few times, pretended to protest slightly, and then surrendered without resistance. Wearing a rain hat, Xie Yilu watched as the soldiers carried Zang Fang over. He was very young, and was a tall man just like Mei Azha. Despite being restraint in heavy cangue, he still had a distinguished, remarkable demeanour. ¡°Umbrella!¡± Xie Yilu shouted to the unattentive soldiers. Zang Fang¡¯s legs and sleeves were entirely covered in mud. Clearly, he had suffered along the way. On his feet was a pair of worn-out straw sandals, and his wrists and neck were all rubbed raw by the wooden cangue. Zang Fang soon recognised that Xie Yilu was in charge. He shook away the dishevelled hair on his forehead, his body formed a slight bow with great effort24. ¡°This one is Zang Yirou, a condemned criminal directly judged by the court25. May this one know who is this noble person helping me?¡± Xie Yilu responded in an official and distant manner. ¡°The Ministry of War in Nanjing.¡± Zang Fang appeared rather surprised, and in his surprise, there seemed to also be a hint of delight. ¡°Have we arrived in Nanjing?¡± speaking, he looked hurriedly behind Xie Yilu, as if in search of someone, ¡°Then¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, probably because he didn¡¯t see the person he was expecting in his heart. Xie Yilu found it strange but didn¡¯t inquire further. The soldiers removed the keys from the constables, and unlocked Zang Fang¡¯s cangue. The cangue weighed seven catties and seven taels26, and was sealed in the middle with the crimson stamp of the Court of Judicial Review27. Since everything regarding the interception was arranged in advance, the cangue was removed the moment they asked for it. ¡°Judging from your accent, sir, are you from Beijing?¡± Zang Fang asked Xie Yilu, perhaps trying to establish a connection. ¡°You look somewhat familiar.¡± Xie Yilu nodded, but didn¡¯t dwell on his own encounters in Beijing. ¡°I came to Nanjing earlier than you, sir.¡± He supported Zang Fang by the arms and led him onto the sedan chair. ¡°Accommodations have been arranged by the Ministry. Please settle in first.¡± Hey! I had a very hectic week and all I wanted to do was to remain in bed the entire weekend ;_; Thankfully I still managed to finish this chapter on time! Please let me know if you spot any mistakes. And please help me share Da Dang if you enjoy the story! You can also follow my Discord or Twitter for more updates! Yamen, ÑÃÃÅ, is the Chinese term for administrative office. In this case, the West Yamen is the office and prison of the Ministry of Justice. In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of Justice was in charge of judiciary matters. Although it is one of the six major ministries of the central government, the Ministry of Justice often had less power than the imperial embroidered uniform guards, Jinyiwei. The original term here is Rugu Zhen, Èë¹ÇÕë, which literally means ¡°driving needles into the bones¡±. It is recorded that driving needles into the bones impacts the yin elements of the body, and the needles in the flesh or tendons impact the yang elements. Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. Tanhua, ̽»¨, refers to the second place in the national Imperial Examinations. ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people other than eunuchs who try to stay humble in a conversation. In ancient China, boys as young as three or four years old will start to learn Chinese characters and simple passages. Their standard textbooks are collectively known as Sishu Wujing, ËÄÊéÎå¾­, Four Books and Five Classics. These are the classics of Confucianism and would be tested in the Imperial Examination, Keju, ¿Æ¾Ù. It takes tremendous effort and time to achieve the best grades in the exams. The exams usually have four stages. Entry-level examinations, or Tongshi, ͯÊÔ (children¡¯s exam), is literally held for teenage boys every year locally. Next, Provincial examination, or Xiangshi, ÏçÊÔ, is held every three years for selected candidates in provincial capitals. Then there is Metropolitan examination, Huishi, »áÊÔ, which is held every three years in the national capital. Lastly, successful candidates will be invited to Palace examination, Dianshi, µîÊÔ, which is held every three years in the imperial palace and often supervised by the emperor himself (The emperor might pick the good-looking ones and give them a better grade, or choose a future husband for his princesses. The grades in the Palace exams might also depend on the mood of the emperor). Note: these exams might be postponed due to war, astronomy, or death of an emperor. Additional rounds of exams can also be held if a new emperor takes the throne, or there are national celebrations. Ancient Chinese umbrellas are mostly made of bamboo and oil-paper, called Youzhisan. Yangchun, Ñø´º, Liao Jixiang¡¯s courtesy name. The original word here is ÀÏ×æ×Ú, Laozuzong, which is literally translated to ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. This term is a reverent title towards older and powerful eunuchs. As eunuchs cannot father any biological children, it is common for young eunuchs to seek the protection of a powerful eunuch by becoming their ¡°adopted son/grandson¡±. It pleases an eunuch to have as many ¡°adopted offspring¡± as possible. Therefore, the elder eunuch is referred to as ¡°the elder ancestor¡±. Since the ¡°adopted sons/grandsons¡± still need to work for the elder eunuch and be filial to him, I took the liberty to translate ÀÏ×æ×Ú as ¡°the Elder Master¡±. Qi Wan, a very powerful eunuch who mainly works and resides in the capital, Beijing. He came to visit Nanjing around Chapter 9. I guess I¡¯ll add him to the character sheet too! The hour of Shen, aka Shenshi, Éêʱ, is the name of a particular time interval in ancient Chinese timekeeping. One Shichen, ʱ³½, is about two hours, and Shenshi is from 1500 to 1700. The original term here is Langzhong, ÀÉÖÐ, a fifth-rank position. Dinghuai Gate, Dinghuai Men, ¶¨»´ÃÅ, is a citywall¡¯s gate sitting towards the west. The hour of You, aka Youshi, ÓÏʱ, is from 1700 to 1900. The original term here is Yapai, ÑÀÅÆ, which is an official pass made of wood, copper or ivory. It can be used as proof for one¡¯s identity or one¡¯s responsibility for a mission. See more information here. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. Powerful eunuch, Da Dang, ´ó«š. «š originally referred to the jade earrings for females. In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs often wore gold Dang and mink tails as decorations on their hats. Hence, the term Dang was later used as an alternate name for eunuchs. Da, which means big, suggests the power and high position of the eunuchs. Hence, Da Dang means ¡°Powerful Eunuch¡±, which is also the title of the book. Zang Fang, ê°·¼, or Zang Yirou, ê°ÒÔÈá. Yirou is his courtesy name. The Palace Secretary, or Zhongshu Sheren, ÖÐÊéÉáÈË, is a seventh-rank position in the central government. It originated from the department called Central Secretariat, or Zhongshu Sheng, ÖÐÊéÊ¡, a department in charge of policy-formulation and proposing and drafting all imperial decrees. This department was abolished by the first emperor in the Ming Dynasty because he grew suspicious of the power of this department, although the position of Palace Secretary was kept. Note: the story of Da Dang took place in the mid to late Ming Dynasty. Gansu, ¸ÊËà, a province in north-central China, known for its deserts, as well as its cold and dry climate. Gansu was an area of military significance in ancient China as it was the northern border of the country. The original term here is Zhengchen, Úº³¼, which means ¡°an official who dares to speak honestly and remind the emperor of his wrongdoings¡±. Lingnan, ÁëÄÏ, was considered by the ancient Chinese court as a tropical barbarian land that had lost contact with the Zhongyuan, ÖÐÔ­, which was the cultural cradle of Chinese culture. In ancient China, criminals were either exiled to Lingnan, or to the northern border, around Heilongjiang. A cangue, or ¼Ï, is a device that was used for public humiliation and corporal punishment in East Asia. A cangue can be extremely heavy, weighing up to 15 kg, making the wearer difficult to move about. The original term here is Qinfan, ÇÕ·¸, which is a criminal who had been arrested under the direct decree of the emperor. Seven catties and seven taels weigh about 3.85kg. Court of Judicial Review, or Dali Si, ´óÀíËÂ, is in charge of reviewing judicial proceedings at all administrative levels and singling out the cases for a retrial by court officials or the emperor himself. CH 23 When Xie Yilu and Tu Yao arrived at Shenban1, they ran into several officials from the Ministry of War. The two of them went upstairs via the west corridor, while those officials took the east corridor. The two groups exchanged glances at each other, yet no one uttered a word. Xie Yilu used to be part of that group. Together, they had chatted and joked, enjoying each other¡¯s company over drinks, but now, they were trodding separate paths like strangers. Tu Yao patted Xie Yilu¡¯s shoulder and pushed him into the room. ¡°Tanhua2 Xie, since you¡¯ve already made the decision, stop grieving for your losses and weighing your gains.¡± Xie Yilu felt irritated by him, as there were always traces of threats in Tu Yao¡¯s words. ¡°If you can¡¯t stand me, why bother calling me out?¡± ¡°In the future, we¡¯ll be colleagues under Dugong3,¡± Tu Yao said as he pulled a chair for Xie Yilu. ¡°We should work on our relationship.¡± Xie Yilu sat down blatantly. ¡°I already told Zheng Xian on that day, that he shouldn¡¯t count on me for anything.¡± Tu Yao summoned a young entertainer4 to serve the dishes and drinks. ¡°I know, I know,¡± he said as he wiped his hands with a wet handkerchief from the tray. ¡°Dugong had made it clear to me.¡± Xie Yilu noticed that Tu Yao was fastidious about cleanliness. As a man trained in kung fu, his attire had always been impeccable. Today, he wore a sapphire blue Yesa5 embroidered with patterns of flying cranes. No sign of wear or tear on the silk threads could be observed around the cuff ¨C it was hard to imagine someone as refined and honourable as him being at the beck and call of a eunuch. ¡°Do you have a favourite here in Shenban?¡± Tu Yao turned around and asked. The question had Xie Yilu taken aback, who then realised that Tu Yao was referring to summoning a toy boy as a drinking companion. ¡°Nevermind about it. I¡¯m not interested in this.¡± Still, Tu Yao picked two boys and had the young entertainer summon them. ¡°It¡¯s my first time hosting, so I want it to appear good.¡± After saying so, he took a seat beside Xie Yilu, flipping the cups on the table and pouring wine for Xie Yilu. His gesture betrayed no hints of ingratiation, rather, he acted as if they were old friends. Out of curiosity, Xie Yilu asked, ¡°Why do you¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his question. Tu Yao looked up at him and smiled, ¡°Why do I follow Dugong?¡± Leaning back in his chair, Tu Yao sighed profoundly, ¡°For people like us, what else can we do if we can¡¯t climb up the ladder without trading in our souls to a master?¡± He spoke the truth. The way scholars oppressed the military men6 was commonplace in both Beijing and Nanjing. Xie Yilu lifted the cup of wine that Tu Yao poured for him to his lips, ¡°Do you know how Qu Feng is doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± Tu Yao brushed it off as if it were nothing. ¡°Some mere injuries in the skin and flesh won¡¯t have him killed.¡± Although he was the one who started it all, he showed no remorse, which again brought his fierce and ruthless side out to Xie Yilu. ¡°You didn¡¯t pay him a visit?¡± ¡°With my current state,¡± Xie Yilu shook his head, ¡°it¡¯s inappropriate for me to visit his family.¡± Tu Yao let out a ¡°tsk¡± sound with his lips. Presently, the toy boys arrived ¡ª a pair of delicate beauties, young and tender as unbloomed buds. They coquettishly introduced themselves; one was called Zhang San7, and the other was Little Sweetheart8. Tu Yao asked Xie Yilu which one he wanted. Noticing that Zhang San¡¯s figure somewhat resembled Liao Jixiang¡¯s, Xie Yilu became rather embarrassed out of nowhere, lowered his head and pointed at him. ¡°You¡¯re never interested in entertainers?¡± Tu Yao caught Xie Yilu¡¯s shyness and laughed out loud teasingly. ¡°Come, come, Zhang San! Go and sit on the lap of your esteemed Tanhua, Lord Xie!¡± And so Zhang San approached, his figure swaying gracefully as he walked, and stood by Xie Yilu¡¯s side like a slender, delicate willow ¨C he was waiting for Xie Yilu to stretch out his leg. In the past, Xie Yilu would never even think of engaging in such an intimate play. Yet, for some unknown reason at that moment, he willingly extended his leg, letting the boy sit on it gently. Just like having no bones in his body, Zhang San leaned softly against him, so Xie Yilu instinctively wrapped his arm around that waist. The slender waist of the young boy made him feel like he was genuinely holding Liao Jixiang in his embrace. Thinking about that, Xie Yilu immediately flushed, appearing as if he was truly aroused. Tu Yao watched Xie Yilu like he had just witnessed something exceedingly rare, and teased him repeatedly for being pretentiously old-fashioned. Yet when Xie Yilu turned around to look, he noticed that Tu Yao and the boy in his arms also displayed a composed demeanour. Comparing to the old buggers of the Yong Society9, Tu Yao appeared much more like a proper gentleman. ¡°Tanhua Xie, why don¡¯t you pick a tune?¡± Tu Yao said as he savoured his wine, holding Little Sweetheart¡¯s hand and toying with it, like how people played with a kitten¡¯s paws. Xie Yilu pondered for a while, and chose Wang Shifu10¡®s ¡°Song in the rhythm of December and Yao Folks ¨C Feelings of Parting11¡°. With a voice especially gentle and soft, Little Sweetheart sang as he tapped his chopsticks to the edge of the table for the beat, ¡°Ever since our parting, I saw the misty mountains afar rise and fall. In distraught, I couldn¡¯t bear the distant waters glisten and shine. I watched the flurry of willow catkins flying, and indulged in the peach blossoms¡¯ charm, face blushing. From my chamber, the perfumed winds wafted through; closing the doors, the evening rain landed still¡­¡± The song reflected Xie Yilu¡¯s heart, so he listened, even became immersed in it. Suddenly, Tu Yao asked, ¡°Did you intercept Zang Fang?¡± Xie Yilu had nothing to hide, so he answered affirmatively. Tu Yao frowned and said, ¡°How could the Ministry of War send you there? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Xie Yilu tried to brush it off. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who they sent.¡± Tu Yao leaned closer to Xie Yilu¡¯s ear. ¡°That Zang Fang, he had something with the ¡®Weaving and Sewing Bureau.''¡± He wasn¡¯t referring to the Weaving and Sewing Bureau, rather, he was referring to Liao Jixiang. Xie Yilu grasped his meaning and immediately asked, ¡°What happened?¡± It was at this point when Tu Yao became evasive. ¡°Dugong mentioned it once or twice. You know, since they both came from Gansu12.¡± Hearing that, Xie Yilu¡¯s heart started to hover. He sensed a soreness around his throat, as if something was stuck in there, which he could neither spit out nor swallow. ¡°But that Liao Jixiang,¡± Tu Yao raised his cup and placed it in front of Xie Yilu, ¡°he is magnanimous.¡± Xie Yilu clinked his cup against Tu Yao¡¯s. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you side with him?¡± ¡°Liao Jixiang?¡± Tu Yao was rather amused. He glanced at Xie Yilu and replied sardonically, ¡°Won¡¯t even be able to afford my pants if I sided with him.¡± Xie Yilu grew displeased hearing that, ¡°They¡¯re both fourth-rank eunuchs. How could one be inferior to the other?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Tu Yao moved backwards, putting on a look of close examination. ¡°He cut your throat, yet you¡¯re speaking for him?¡± It was nothing but a jest, but Xie Yilu fell silent immediately. Tu Yao leaned closer again, lowering his voice. ¡°Liao Jixiang was from the Palace Academy13.¡± The words ¡°Palace Academy¡± clearly startled Xie Yilu. His eyes widened, his entire face frozen stiffly. Tu Yao was not surprised at his reaction at all. ¡°With a eunuch¡¯s body, and the temperament of a scholar, what can he achieve?¡± Xie Yilu was still incredulous at the news. ¡°He¡¯s from the Palace Academy?¡± ¡°Right,¡± Tu Yao finished his wine cup after cup. With alcohol affecting his mind, his finger pointed quite impolitely at Xie Yilu¡¯s chest. ¡°He studied all the Confucian classics14, just like you.¡± ¡°Coming from the Palace Academy¡­¡± Xie Yilu spoke in haste, ¡°he should have then entered the Bureau of Documents15 and then¡­¡± He didn¡¯t utter those words, Si Li Jian16, where the power over the entire kingdom was held. ¡°Yet His Majesty had him kicked out of the palace, and kicked him all the way to Gansu,¡± Tu Yao jeered mockingly. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the Elder Master¡¯s favour, how could a cripple like him sit in the main seat of the Nanjing¡¯s Weaving and Sewing Bureau?¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s hand clenched tightly on his knee. He loathed Tu Yao¡¯s words, yet he felt even more concerned and hurt for Liao Jixiang. No wonder he possessed such extraordinary literary talent and calligraphy. They had wronged him by leaving him wasted in Nanjing! ¡°Last time, you dared to insult him openly at the Zhebo Buddhist Temple17,¡± Tu Yao suddenly put on a horrified expression. ¡°That person had read books and written assignments for His Majesty! Leaving a cut on your throat is merely a light punishment!¡± ¡°Dreading the arrival of dusk, yet suddenly ¡¯tis dusk again; fearing the sorrow in my heart, yet my sorrows withered my soul. The new stains of tears covered the old stains, layer by layer; one anguished soul missing the other, again and again!¡± Little Sweetheart sang, his voice poignant and full of melancholy. After reaching the high notes, his voice transitioned, drifting and then floating down to the new verse, ¡°And this spring, my delicate flesh thinned even more, so was my waistband, loose by three inches more¡­¡± Xie Yilu fixed his eyes on this young entertainer. How could he understand any of the sorrow within the melody? How could he grasp the anguish and bitterness of the heartbroken? He tried and tried, but still, his eyes turned red uncontrollably. At that moment, Zhang San reached out from Xie Yilu¡¯s arms, cupping Xie Yilu¡¯s face and turning it towards him. ¡°My lord,¡± Zhang San asked seductively, ¡°you¡¯re only looking at him, and not me?¡± Xie Yilu stared at him, his eyes unfaltering. What a lovely beauty fresh and young as a new blossom, yet he¡¯ll inevitably wither with time passing fast as a river.18 When Liao Jixiang was of his age, he should have just arrived in Gansu. With nothing but yellow sand stretching as far as the eyes could see, with nothing but the freezing north winds growling in his ears. Even if he shouted hysterically with all his might, no one would ever hear¡­ Xie Yilu suddenly took the young boy in his embrace, pressing him seamlessly against his chest. Like a true patron to the pleasure house, he rubbed that delicate, slim waist back and forth in his hand. Zhang San giggled. He pressed his warm lips against Xie Yilu¡¯s ear. ¡°My lord, will you spend the night, my lord?¡± Xie Yilu stealthily dried his eyes with his sleeve. He let go of the boy, turning his head away rather embarrassed, ¡°No, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Zhang San immediately threw himself at Xie Yilu again. ¡°This one19 can tell, my lord, you haven¡¯t tasted¡­¡± He leaned closer and whispered a few words at Xie Yilu¡¯s ear, making him blush instantly. He then hugged Xie Yilu¡¯s neck and asked, ¡°My lord, do you only have one at home?¡± Indeed, Xie Yilu did not have a concubine. Zhang San trailed his hand down Xie Yilu¡¯s robe and said, ¡°If you¡¯ve never tasted the fruits grown outside a garden, how could you say you¡¯re a man¡­¡± Xie Yilu eagerly evaded his hand. ¡°You¡­ wouldn¡¯t you hurt?¡± This question came out of nowhere, and stunned this veteran of pleasure. Still astonished, Zhang San heard Xie Yilu explaining artlessly, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that if I did¡­ you hurt¡­ injured.¡± A tender shyness surfaced on Zhang San¡¯s face. ¡°If it¡¯s done properly, it won¡¯t hurt,¡± he said sweetly, his finger caressing Xie Yilu¡¯s lips, ¡°If you stay, I won¡¯t take your money.¡± Xie Yilu did think about it, wanting to explore the secrets of this deed. Yet the moment Liao Jixiang came to his mind, he firmly shook his head. Zhang San cast a reproachful glance at him. However, little did this young entertainer know, that although Xie Yilu was embracing him, his heart had long belonged to someone too lofty to be achieved. There you have it, Chapter 23! I hope the footnotes about Chinese history are informative and fun:) And finally, finally we¡¯re getting a glimpse of Liao Jixiang¡¯s past. More will be revealed in the next chapter. Please get ready for some deeply emotional moments. During my translation of Da Dang, I actually find that translating poems is particularly fun, so I¡¯ll just add a bit extra info about the poem above: ¡°Ever since our parting, I saw the misty mountains afar rise and fall. In distraught, I couldn¡¯t bear the distant waters glisten and shine. I watched the flurry of willow catkins flying, and indulged in the peach blossoms¡¯ charm, face blushing. From my chamber, the perfumed winds wafted through; closing the doors, the evening rain landed still¡­¡± This verse describes the scenes and objects the girl saw after she parted with her lover. Her eyes shifted from looking at the larger, further objects (the mountain and the river), to objects in her daily life (her chamber, the door and the rain), and at the same time, we were able to examine her feelings from the outside to the inside, and emphasise with her. ¡°Dreading the arrival of dusk, yet suddenly ¡¯tis dusk again; fearing the sorrow in my heart, yet my sorrows withered my soul. The new stains of tears covered the old stains, layer by layer; one anguished soul missing the other, again and again!¡± Like the original poem, I intentionally repeated a word or two in every sentence. The repeatedly mentioned words symbolise the intense yearning and loneliness the girl felt, bringing the emotions in the poem to a peak. ¡°And this spring, my delicate flesh thinned even more, so was my waistband, loose by three inches more¡­¡± And at last, we see what happened to the girl as she spent her days waiting for her love. She was losing weight, and her waistband now appeared loose around her waist. Perhaps it¡¯s because she couldn¡¯t sleep well, or perhaps she didn¡¯t feel like eating. Regardless, we know that she suffered immensely from parting with her love. Hopefully, her love could return to her side. Shenban, Éê°à, the name of this restaurant/brothel. Tanhua, ̽»¨, refers to the second place in the national Imperial Examinations. The original text here is Dugong, ¶½¹«, an unofficial title for powerful eunuchs such as Zheng Xian or Liao Jixiang. The original text here is Xizi, Ï·×Ó. In ancient China, singing traditional Chinese opera or dancing is considered as one of the lowest and least respected occupations. Being an opera singer in ancient China was often associated with offering sexual services too. Restaurant/brothel with fine wine, delicacies and skilled entertainers in singing and dancing was common in ancient China. These places were often equipped with private rooms for the guests to enjoy themselves. Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. Just some historical background here. The oppression of scholars and civil servants over the military men originated in the Song Dynasty. This is known as Zhong Wen Qing Wu, ÖØÎÄÇáÎä, literally ¡°placing more emphasis on the scholars and civil servants over the military men¡±. The Tang Dynasty precedes the Song Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty used to place heavy emphasis on the country¡¯s military prowess, which eventually led to multiple rebellions and brought the end of an empire. Then, after years of war and chaos, the Song Dynasty was founded. In fact, the first emperor of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, ÕÔ¿ïØ·, established the Song Dynasty by leading a rebellion himself. As a previous rebellion leader, Zhao Kuangyin couldn¡¯t be clearer about the potential threats of powerful generals with a large army. Hence, he hosted a banquet with all of his best generals, and told them of his worries. By conveying his concerns subtly to his subordinates, the generals were forced to surrender their leadership in the army, and Zhao Kuangyin rewarded his generals with bountiful money. This is also known as Bei Jiu Shi Bing Quan, ±­¾ÆÊͱøȨ, which literally means ¡°to resolve the power to lead an army over a cup of wine¡±. After this incident, the Song Dynasty mainly appointed scholars and civil servants as the leaders of an army, which greatly enforced the power of an authoritarian central government. Following the Song Dynasty¡¯s example, the Ming Dynasty used a similar approach in running the kingdom, which was shown by Tu Yao¡¯s words. Zhang San, ÕÅÈý, a very common name in Chinese society, which is also used to refer to nobody. Little Sweetheart, or Xiao Wenrou. Xiao, С, means little, and Wenrou, ÎÂÈá, refers to a gentle and loving manner, so I translated it to ¡°sweetheart¡±. Yong Society, or Yong She, Ó½Éç, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ¡®real men¡¯ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch¡¯s party. Wang Shifu, Íõʵ¸¦, a play writer of the Yuan Dynasty. After he resigned his position in the court, he spent a large amount of time in brothels. This poem was written to describe the young girls¡¯ feelings after parting with their lovers. For poem songs of the Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty, the first part of the title usually dictates which rhythms the song is using, and the second part of the title reveals the contents or feelings of the poem. The ancient poets picked a specific rhythm, so that his poem could be sung in any piece of music with the identical rhythm. In this case, Song in the rhythm of December and Yao Folks, or Shieryue Guo Yaominge ¨C Feelings of Parting, Ê®¶þÔ¹ýÒ¢Ãñ¸è¡¤±ðÇé, uses two sets of rhythms, Shieryue and Yaominge, for the first and second verse of the song. The rhythm of Shieryue, or December, requires six lines each containing seven characters, hence it goes ¡°×Ô±ðºóңɽÒþÒþ£¬¸üÄÇ¿°Ô¶Ë®ôÔôÔ£¬¼ûÑîÁø·ÉÃà¹ö¹ö£¬¶ÔÌÒ»¨×íÁ³õ¸õ¸¡£Í¸ÄÚ¸óÏã·çÕóÕó£¬ÑÚÖØÃÅĺÓê·×·×¡±. The rhythm of Yaominge, or Yao Folks, requires two sentences with eight characters, two lines with seven characters, and then a short phrase of two characters followed by two sentences with five characters each, and it goes ¡°Å»ƻèºöµØÓֻƻ裬²»Ïú»êÔõµØ²»Ïú»ê£¿ÐÂÌäºÛѹ¾ÉÌäºÛ£¬¶Ï³¦ÈËÒä¶Ï³¦ÈË¡£½ñ´º£¬Ï㼡Êݼ¸·Ö£¿Â§´ø¿íÈý´ç¡±. The translation of the whole poem will be included inside the story. Gansu, ¸ÊËà, a province in north-central China, known for its deserts, as well as its cold and dry climate. Gansu was an area of military significance in ancient China as it was the northern border of the country. Palace Academy, or Nei Shu Tang, ÄÚÊéÌÃ, which literally means ¡°a school inside the palace¡±. It was established in the mid Ming Dynasty, for the eunuchs to attend school and learn to read and write. Many famous scholars were appointed as the teachers in the Palace Academy. It is recorded that in the late Ming Dynasty (when our story took place), the eunuchs studying in the Palace Academy could also study poems and politics if they were motivated. These books are collectively known as Sishu Wujing, ËÄÊéÎå¾­, Four Books and Five Classics. These are the classics of Confucianism and would be tested in the Imperial Examination, Keju, ¿Æ¾Ù. It takes tremendous effort and time to achieve the best grades in the exams. The original term here is Wenshu Fang, ÎÄÊé·½, which is where the scholars and officials handle official documents, including the drafting, editing, and archiving of imperial decrees, edicts, and other administrative writings. The members working here should be well-versed in literature, calligraphy, and the Confucian classics, and by working in this office, they have direct access to the top-secret intelligence. Si Li Jian, ˾Àñ¼à, one of the twelve departments manned by eunuchs. The Si Li Jian is in charge of all matters regarding the royal activities, court etiquette, the law, and it manages the royal errands and hearings in the imperial city. It can be used to balance the power of ministers, and it is considered to be the leading department among the twelve. The original text here is Zhebo Chan Si, ÕÛ²§ìøËÂ. First appeared in Chapter 8. This is a poem originated from the lines of The Peony Pavilion, or Mudan Ting, ĵµ¤Í¤, a romantic tragicomedy play written by dramatist Tang Xianzu in 1598. Ruhua Meijuan Sui Shui Liu Nian, È绨ÃÀ¾ìËæË®Á÷Äê. ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people other than eunuchs who try to stay humble in a conversation. CH 24 It was the same old Xiyuan1 beside the Xin Bridge2. In the sophisticated gathering of the Yong Society, Xie Yilu took a seat in the corner. Yet despite his choice of seat, he could still hear whispers about this and that: ¡°Why is he here¡­ someone on the eunuchs¡¯ side¡­¡± ¡°Zang Fang3 invited him¡­¡± ¡°Next time, if he comes again, I will never come¡­ revolting!¡± Xie Yilu could only pretend not to hear. In fact, he didn¡¯t want to attend the meeting either. It was Zang Fang who earnestly invited him, probably to thank him for saving him at the harbour. Those gossipers¡¯ focus soon changed from Xie Yilu to Qu Feng. Upon listening closely to them, Xie Yilu learnt that Qu Feng could already stand up and walk around, but his left foot was somewhat crippled, and he needed to rely on a walking cane. It would still take him more than ten days to return to the office. Implicitly and explicitly, those men expressed deep concern for Qu Feng ¨C they even showed some admiration towards him. And judging by their conversation, they actually wanted to push him forward as the leader of the Yong Society. Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. It would be a lie if he claimed that he didn¡¯t sense any sour feelings in his heart. Just as the night fell, Zang Fang arrived accompanied by Deputy Secretary4 Ye. Today was Zang Fang¡¯s welcoming banquet, which could also be considered as a tea gathering. As usual, the members first finished a round of strong liquor. Before they could even put down their cups, a meddler spoke up eagerly, ¡°Lord Zang, you have suffered immensely from Beijing¡¯s ¡®plague of the castrated¡¯. Now that you have arrived in Nanjing, is your determination to challenge the eunuch¡¯s party still with you?¡± Zang Fang didn¡¯t reply immediately. Like a true official from Beijing, he demonstrated his imposing air to the fullest, so full that no one in the room dared to speak up again. He was distinctively different from how he appeared on the day at the harbour. Presently, he was dressed in a black muslin robe embroidered with patterns of four-clawed dragons5, wearing a hairnet6 with cloud-patterned7 embroideries and high boots. His sideburns were neatly arranged, revealing his dignified and resplendent face, which possessed a touch of ruthlessness underneath his gentle appearance, and a hint of astuteness behind his affability. ¡°Well, it depends on what kind of ¡®castrated¡¯ he is, and what kind of party he is in,¡± he said. The statement was so perplexing that for a moment, no one understood. Someone was compelled to venture, ¡°We have two leading ¡®castrated¡¯ in Nanjing, one of them being the Guarding Eunuch8, Zheng Xian, the other is Liao Jixiang of the Weaving and Sewing Bureau.¡± Xie Yilu fixed his eyes on Zang Fang¡¯s face. When hearing the words ¡°Liao Jixiang¡±, Zang Fang¡¯s eyebrows twitched noticeably. At this moment, someone from the crowd yelled, ¡°Lord Zang came from Gansu9, and so did Liao Jixiang, who made his climb up the royal court from Gansu. Perhaps you two have met before?¡± The venue fell silent for an instant, then erupted into an uproar. Xie Yilu was expecting Zang Fang to elude this question, yet he admitted openly, ¡°Indeed, we¡¯re acquainted.¡± They are acquainted. Xie Yilu was long aware of this fact, yet he still felt frustrated and wronged deep inside. Suddenly, someone next to Xie Yilu exclaimed, ¡°How did the common people beat Liao Jixiang until his leg got broken? Pray tell us, Lord Zang!¡± As if someone had stabbed Xie Yilu right on his heart, his entire chest felt spasms of agony. Xie Yilu glanced blankly at these so-called ¡°honourable gentlemen¡± ¨C they were sordid, hypocritical, and sycophantic, eager to extract pleasure for themselves from the suffering of others. ¡°Do you want to hear the truth, or the lie?¡± Zang Fang asked. They all clamoured to answer, ¡°Why, of course the truth! We are all on the same side, so there¡¯s no need for your lordship to be merciful towards those of the eunuch¡¯s party.¡± Their eyes were gleaming with thrill, each of them too restless to sit still. Excited, they waited greedily for the moment when Zang Fang tore Liao Jixiang¡¯s wounds wide apart, so that they could let out a triumphant cry. Zang Fang pondered for a moment. ¡°Then¡±, he solemnly said, ¡°as you wish.¡± Deputy Secretary Ye poured him some tea, which he thanked with a fist-and-palm salute10, and then began speaking in an articulated tone, ¡°Liao Jixiang and I became acquainted at Jiayuguan11. He was the Guard of Firearms12, and I was the local magistrate. Back then, he was still a young man. Wearing his purplish-gold copper helmet and a brocade robe with cloud embroideries, he radiated a striking elegance that was impossible to forget.¡± The crowd stealthily exchanged looks, apparently disturbed by these complimentary words. ¡°During our tenth winter to guard the border, I went to Ganzhou13 to mobilise army provisions, but I was trapped in a city on the way there because of a sudden siege by the Tatars14.¡± Zang Fang omitted the name of the city, probably because he didn¡¯t want to name the individuals involved. ¡°There were twelve thousand soldiers and horses in that city. The one who guarded the city was an appointed Army Supervisor15. According to him, the Tatars were skilled at battling in the open field, so we cannot risk leaving the city. And all we could do was to firmly guard our city walls.¡± The crowd stared at each other awkwardly. The truth turned out to be a drastic contrast from what they had expected. All they wanted initially was to hear some gossip and make some jokes. To delve into a cut deep into their flesh and bones had never crossed their minds. ¡°You have no idea what the winter in Gansu is like. To lick a mouthful of water, one could have his tongue frozen and torn on the ice. To fight for a fistful of dung16, two or three beggars could be beaten to death. Everyone was obsessed with their own meagre possessions. No one would spare a glance at another¡¯s life or death. We were trapped in the siege for a month and twenty-two days. And during midnight, not a single bleat from the sheep could be heard,¡± Zang Fang paused and took an extremely deep breath, then slowly, gradually exhaled, ¡°as we¡¯ve killed and ate them all¡­¡± The countenances of Yong Society¡¯s members were turning grim. An eerie silence pervaded and occupied the entire hall. ¡°The day was the fourteenth of the twelfth lunar month. With the besieged city as the centre, everywhere a hundred li17 from it suffered a storm with snowflakes as large as goose feathers. At dawn, the sound of hooves was suddenly heard, audible to the entire city ¡ª it was Liao Jixiang.¡± Xie Yilu¡¯s hand holding the cup clenched abruptly. The cup slipped from his hand and rolled off the table, shattering on the ground. Yet none of the members bothered to look back. ¡°He had a large army at Jiayuguan, but they were supposed to defend the border, so he couldn¡¯t bring them along. Only later did I learn that he had requested soldiers from the Guarding Eunuch stationed in Gansu, who furiously rejected and reprimanded him. And then, as it was impossible to get men from the guarding army, all he brought along was three thousand eunuch soldiers.¡± Don¡¯t, don¡¯t continue. Xie Yilu screamed silently. Everyone knew what would happen next ¡ª bloodshed, devastation, ruined villages and deaths, that was all. ¡°His men prepared for war in the northwest of the battlefield, while the enemy attacked from the southeast. You¡¯ve never witnessed a scene such as that ¡ª people weren¡¯t treated as human beings anymore, and their lives were thrown away without any regard. I watched it from the city wall, and my heart was almost shattering from agony¡­¡± Some left their seats. Those who stayed appeared petrified, their gazes stiff, blank, filled with horror. ¡°We all knew what kind of troops they were. In the city, everyone, from the commander18 to the guerrilla majors19, lieutenants20, sergeants21, even the dispatchers22¡­ all volunteered for battle. But the appointed Army Supervisor forbade them from going¡­¡± At this point, Zang Fang paused, probably choked with emotion, ¡°Over three thousand soldiers, brutally killed until only eighty-five were left. Out of the twenty-three capable eunuch leaders under Liao Jixiang, only four survived.¡± Couldn¡¯t control himself any longer, Xie Yilu felt tears swelling up in his eyes. ¡°The field warfare spanned across two days and a night, the battle front stretching for thirty li23. I didn¡¯t know when Liao Jixiang was shot by an arrow, but I was there when they removed it. The shaft was already gone during the war, but the arrowhead was lodged in his knee.¡± Zang Fang had to swallow a mouthful of tea before continuing, ¡°It was Mei Azha who pried it out using a curved knife.¡± And such was the truth about Liao Jixiang¡¯s broken leg. Told by the most truthful individual, of a tale that none found enjoyable. ¡°Alright,¡± Deputy Secretary Ye thought that the story had reached its end, and it was time to find a new subject. However, Zang Fang burst into thunderous laughter. ¡°Do you think that was all?¡± He struck the tea cup on the table, clinking it on the table repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s far from ending!¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, and closed his eyes. ¡°In that battle, over fifteen hundred Tatars were killed, more than ten leaders of various ranks captured. Liao Jixiang became famous throughout Gansu overnight, so the higher authorities had to report it to court. On the tenth day of the first lunar month, they summoned me and said, ¡®How can we credit such remarkable achievements to a eunuch?''¡± Everyone, including Xie Yilu, Deputy Secretary Ye, and all the big and small officials of the Yong Society, understood Zang Fang¡¯s words. They were all aware of such occurrences, and exactly because of their awareness, everyone¡¯s eyes darted to avoid Zang Fang¡¯s gaze, too embarrassed to lift their heads. ¡°They appointed me to intercept the credit,¡± Zang Fang slammed the table, ¡°So, that¡¯s how I took on the title for the glorious victory at Ganzhou!¡± Deputy Secretary Ye appeared extremely awkward. Such things did happen, and they were not uncommon. Yet, no one had ever discussed them openly. Zang Fang must had been insane to reveal his own wounds. ¡°After receiving the imperial decree that summoned me to the capital, I went to the provincial government of Shaanxi24 and Xuanda25 to retrieve my travel pass26. The governor there asked me if the tale was true, that there was indeed a courageous, talented eunuch at Jiayuguan. After pondering on it over and over again, I still didn¡¯t dare utter a single ¡®yes.''¡± Zang Fang gritted his teeth fiercely, ¡°For the rest of my life, I would never forgive myself for what I did to Liao Jixiang. And I won¡¯t blame Si Li Jian27 for wanting me dead. Wouldn¡¯t feel wronged even if they destroyed me a hundred times or more!¡± Xie Yilu stood up abruptly. From the back of the hall to the front, he dashed straight through it and went outside, running in haste like a madman in the pitch-black street. He ran all the way from Xin Bridge to Xuanzhen Lane28. Couldn¡¯t be bothered to tell whether it was the main gate or the side gate, Xie Yilu raised his hand and slammed on the door. The young eunuch serving as the gatekeeper didn¡¯t recognise him, so in his frantic state, Xie Yilu shouted at him, ¡°Go and tell your Dugong29, that Xie Chunchu30 is looking for him!¡± The gatekeeper was responsible enough, as he truly went to deliver the message. Soon, a response came to the door, inviting Xie Yilu inside. The paths inside the mansion were tortuous and labyrinthine. The young gatekeeper led the way, leading Xie Yilu deeper and deeper into the mansion, as if they were heading towards a secret garden. Xie Yilu followed in a daze. Out of some sudden, inexplicable instinct, he turned and looked back ¨C on the other end of the pebbled path, beneath the shadows of bluish-green plantains, he caught a distant glimpse of Liao Jixiang, who was wearing a vibrantly-coloured robe with lion embroideries on the shoulders and the back. Mei Azha, Ruan Dian and the others were all by his side, and they appeared to be strolling leisurely after dinner. Immediately, Xie Yilu turned around and ran. Shocked by his sudden action, the young gatekeeper shouted, sending Ruan Dian and Aliu alert and drawing their long knives. Contrary to everyone¡¯s expectation, Xie Yilu dashed out of the plantains and went straight towards Liao Jixiang. Perhaps everyone was caught off guard, no one went forth to stop him, so he reached out for the person in front of him, holding Liao Jixiang firmly in his arms. To say Xie Yilu held Liao Jixiang in his arms might be inaccurate, as it appeared more like a tight embrace. Yet Xie Yilu¡¯s action was actually too violent to be considered as an embrace, so it might even be interpreted as a strangle. Like holding a half-withered driftwood, Xie Yilu held onto Liao Jixiang with deadly determination. He used so much strength that it seemed like Xie Yilu was trying to break Liao Jixiang into two. Everyone present was appalled. From Ruan Dian to Yishiha, from Aliu to Zhang Cai, even Jin Tang widened his eyes. Only Mei Azha roared furiously, ¡°What are you doing? Aliu, take him down!¡± Aliu raised his long knife and was ready to strike, but suddenly, Liao Jixiang¡¯s arm moved. His palm lifted gently as if it was without bones, and softly rested on Xie Yilu¡¯s back. Was he hugging Xie Yilu back? It didn¡¯t seem like it. But, what else could it be, if it wasn¡¯t an embrace? Wow, I¡¯m truly getting the feeling that Da Dang is becoming more and more emotionally taxing (in a good way) to translate. I could literally see the battlefield, the desert, and the banquet vividly in my mind. I suppose now you know why Jin Tang told Zhang Cai to recall Gansu when he was in pain after being hit in the head by the mob. They have suffered too much for their young age and it¡¯s already a miracle for them to still be alive and well in a stable position in Nanjing. And yes, Jin Tang, Aliu, Zhang Cai, Mei Azha, Ruan Dian¡­ everyone with Liao Jixiang now are among the surviving men from the war of Gansu. Now that Xie Yilu is in Liao Jixiang¡¯s mansion in the middle of the night, what do you think will happen next:D? Xiyuan, Î÷Ô°, literally means ¡°a garden in the west¡±. Xin Bridge, Xin Qiao, ÐÂÇÅ, the name of a bridge near Yong Society¡¯s meeting. Zang Fang, ê°·¼, or Zang Yirou, ê°ÒÔÈá. Yirou is his courtesy name. The original term here is Langzhong, ÀÉÖÐ, a fifth-rank position. This embroidery pattern is known as Mang, òþ, (literally a ¡°python¡±) in Chinese. In ancient China, a python refers to a Chinese dragon with four fingers on each of its claws. The original term here is Wangjin, Íø½í. Wangjin was very common in the Ming Dynasty, as this hair net keeps the men¡¯s hair tidy. In the Ming Dynasty, the embroideries of clouds, dragons, pythons, flying fish (Chinese dragons with four-fingered claws and a fish tail), bulls, etc, cannot be used by the common people. Guarding Eunuch, or Zhenshou Taijian, ÕòÊØÌ«¼à, is the official title of Zheng Xian. A Guarding Eunuch is in charge of the local military, procurement of tributes for the royal family, as well as the management of local people. Gansu, ¸ÊËà, a province in north-central China, known for its deserts, as well as its cold and dry climate. Gansu was an area of military significance in ancient China as it was the northern border of the country. Fist-and-palm salute is the traditional way of greeting and expressing gratitude in China. Jiayuguan, ¼ÎÓø¹Ø, a city in Gansu. Jiayuguan was a city on the border of ancient China. See the picture of Jiayuguan here. According to a published literature about the guarding of border towns in the Ming Dynasty, there were over 30 major border towns from northeast China, Liaoning, to northwest China, in Jiayuguan, Gansu. In each of these towns, there would be a chief, the Guarding Eunuch, or Zhenshou, ÕòÊØ, followed by the Sub-Guarding Eunuch, Fenshou, ·ÖÊØ, then, we have Backup Guards, Shoubei, Êر¸, and lastly, Guards of Firearms, Jianqiang, ¼àǹ. The Guards of Firearms were also exclusively responsible for the access and maintenance of firearms. According to the article, it was common to only appoint two to three leading eunuchs in each town. So although Liao Jixiang appears to be the lowest rank of the four positions, he still has a say in the local military matters and was able to lead the soldiers when necessary. Ganzhou, ¸ÊÖÝ, is now known as city Zhangye in Gansu, China. Tatars, or Dazi, ÷²×Ó, Dada, ÷²÷°, is an ethnic group in north and central Asia which eventually became incorporated into the Mongol Empire. Army Supervisor, or Bingbeidao, ±ø±¸µÀ, who is in charge of supervising the army, recruiting new soldiers and checking the provisions. In the northern region of ancient China, it was common for people to burn dried faeces of animals as fuel. Li, Àï, is a length unit in ancient China. One li is 500 metres. The original text here is Canjiang, ²Î½«, a third-rank military position that leads about 1,000 men. The next few footnotes may be accurate for the Ming Dynasty only. The ranks and their respective positions were taken from here. The original text here is Youji, Óλ÷, a sub-third-rank or fourth-rank position, also the lowest position among all the ¡°generals¡± in an army, leading about a few hundred men. The original text here is Shoubei, Êر¸, a fifth-rank position, leading about 200 men. The original text here is Bazong, °Ñ×Ü, which is not ranked and can lead about fewer than 100 men. The original text here is Tidiao, Ìáµ÷. 30 li is 15 km. Shaanxi, ÉÂÎ÷, a province in China. Xuanda, Ðû´ó, a city in Shandong, ɽ¶«, also a province in China. Xuanda is another important border city of the northern border in ancient China. This is known as Luyin, ·Òý. It serves as the proof of approval for the owner to leave his hometown and travel to somewhere else. It was illegal to travel without it in ancient China. Si Li Jian, ˾Àñ¼à, one of the twelve departments manned by eunuchs. The Si Li Jian is in charge of all matters regarding the royal activities, court etiquette, the law, and it manages the royal errands and hearings in the imperial city. It can be used to balance the power of ministers, and it is considered to be the leading department among the twelve. Xuanzhen Lane, or Xuanzhen Xiang, ÐþÕæÏï, the address of Liao Jixiang¡¯s private residence. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs such as Liao Jixiang. Chunchu, ´º³ú, means ¡°a hoe in spring¡± or ¡°farming in spring¡±, is Xie Yilu¡¯s courtesy name. Photo credit: https://fashion.sina.com.cn/l/ds/2022-07-14/0409/doc-imizmscv1003591.shtml An ancient ruin of the Loulan Kingdom, west of modern Gansu Province. (The information on the website may not be accurate) CH 25 Liao Jixiang was standing by the window, his face stern and solemn. About a step or two away from him stood Xie Yilu. The two of them were in a rather large chamber, yet only two white candles were lit, casting a dim, yellowish hazy glow over the Phoebe Zhennan wood1 canopy bed2, bringing out its antique beauty. Xie Yilu said timidly with his head drooped in frustration, ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through¡­¡± Liao Jixiang ignored him. He was cradling a large tabby cat in his arms, carefully and gently massaging it. The cat was named ¡°Lord Zhang3¡°, Xie Yilu had heard Liao Jixiang calling it so when entering the chamber, and he seemed to like it very much. ¡°I won¡¯t do it next time¡­¡± Xie Yilu pleaded. ¡°You still want a ¡®next time¡¯?¡± Judging by Liao Jixiang¡¯s tone, he was rather displeased. ¡°I told them to bring you to my room and wait for me, but you just have to run out halfway, making a laughing stock of yourself!¡± ¡°As soon as I saw you, I¡­¡± now that Xie Yilu had recalled what he had done, he also became aware of his own impulsiveness. ¡°I became a fool, and all I knew was to run towards you.¡± Liao Jixiang fell silent. The atmosphere surrounding them became somewhat sticky and ambiguous. Xie Yilu shifted closer as he stole glances at Liao Jixiang. He had never been this close to Liao Jixiang when he wore a Yesa4. The silk threads of the embroideries shimmered and shone under the candlelight. The pleats of the skirt folded neatly, extending on both sides5. The radiant colours wrapped perfectly about Liao Jixiang¡¯s slender waist. Just one glance was enough to make Xie Yilu enervated in the bones. ¡°I¡¯m not going back.¡± As he said so, he reached out to grab Liao Jixiang¡¯s waist. Lord Zhang seemed to be startled by his movements, so it jumped to the floor with a ¡°meow¡± and disappeared from his sight. The fabric in Xie Yilu¡¯s palm was luxurious and heavy. Once he had grabbed hold of it, Xie Yilu was alarmed by a sense of hesitance and fear, so he became cautious about making any more reckless moves. Liao Jixiang should have pushed him away, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he turned his head to the side, evading Xie Yilu. The more he evaded, the bolder Xie Yilu became. He crumpled the folds of the skirt in his hand, just so he could pinch the flesh beneath it. ¡°Grandpa6.¡± Someone outside announced. Like a needle piercing through a swollen abscess, like a sudden gust of wind startling an erotic dream in broad daylight, Xie Yilu abruptly let go, stumbled as he retreated to the side. The eunuch on night duty entered, bowed and curiously examined the two of them. ¡°Grandpa, Lord Mei is asking¡­¡± He wanted to move closer, but Liao Jixiang stopped him, so he spoke directly, ¡°Lord Mei is asking, shall we see the guest off or prepare the guest room?¡± Just as Liao Jixiang was about to speak, Xie Yilu bluntly interjected, ¡°Well, Yangchun7¡­ I have something to discuss with you tonight¡­¡± He lowered his head perturbed, fidgeting with the objects on the desk, pretending to study the books. ¡°About Li Mu8¡®s poem, let¡¯s discuss it more.¡± Both Liao Jixiang and the young eunuch were taken aback ¨C Liao Jixiang stunned by how Xie Yilu was full of nonsense, the young eunuch appalled by his audacity. Stubbornly and apprehensively, Xie Yilu stood his ground, until Liao Jixiang finally spoke up for him, ¡°Bring in a large couch,¡± he instructed with impressive composure, ¡°and use the bedding from the west chamber9.¡± Xie Yilu closed the book he had been flipping through in his hands, the corners of his mouth lifted unknowingly. ¡°Then, come and assist Grandpa with his garments.¡± The eunuch on night duty gestured towards the outside, and two junior eunuchs entered. They brought a basin of water and a copper kettle into the chamber, and began to get busy around Liao Jixiang. Xie Yilu widened his eyes, which were full of hidden motives. He wanted to look, but dared not to, so he could only grow more and more restless as he stood near the desk alone. The hat, the hairnet10, the jade belt, and the brocade robe, all were removed one by one and placed aside. At last, it was that pair of date-red satin boots¡¯ turn. It was polished until it shone under the light, and rested neatly on the footstool. Xie Yilu¡¯s mouth was getting dry, and he had lost count of how much saliva he swallowed. Suddenly, Liao Jixiang asked him, ¡°What incense do you burn before sleep?¡± A drowsy laziness and an unguarded, vulnerable intimacy spoke in his voice. ¡°Ah?¡± Xie Yilu blinked obtusely, ¡°Ah¡­ s-sandalwood, I suppose.¡± So Liao Jixiang raised his hand, and immediately someone went to attend to it. In the face of his wealth and power, Xie Yilu appeared quite uneasy. He remarked rather foolishly, ¡°Your bed over there is unusually large¡­¡± The two young eunuchs turned their heads to glance at him one after another, probably mocking him innerly for being ignorant of the noble life. Noticing the disrespect in their eyes, Liao Jixiang¡¯s eyebrows lifted immediately and reproached them. After the eunuch on night duty led them to withdraw from the bedchamber, Xie Yilu finally dared to openly look at Liao Jixiang ¨C he was now sitting on the edge of the bed, his slender feet resting in the large copper basin gilded with gold. There were only the two of them remaining in the room now. Couldn¡¯t wait any longer, Xie Yilu impatiently and eagerly approached Liao Jixiang. The candlelight remained just as dim and yellowish. When stripped of all embellishments, Liao Jixiang became extremely slim, so slim that he looked almost frail and tiny. The collar of his undergarments loosely covered his chest, and his pants were casually rolled up, hugging his snow-white calves. Unable to control himself, Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes fixated on that pair of feet. Out of nervousness or something else, those toes curled timidly in the water basin, and on the tilted right ankle was a small mole. Xie Yilu must have borrowed immense courage from a bear or a leopard, as he even dared to suddenly reach out and remove Liao Jixiang¡¯s hairpin. The lustrous, black hair was set free from the hair bun; it swirled twice on top of Liao Jixiang¡¯s head, and then poured down like a waterfall, draping over his shoulders and covering the side of his cheeks ¨C it was so pretty, that it evoked a sense of astonishment in Xie Yilu as he faced the breathtaking gorgeousness of this perturbed beauty, Liao Jixiang. Liao Jixiang was truly taken aback and genuinely enraged. The scolding words were right on the tip of his tongue, but he didn¡¯t get to say them as he watched Xie Yilu hopping on one foot and taking off his boots. The boots were carelessly tossed away on the floor. Following which, Xie Yilu proceeded to remove his socks. ¡°You¡­ What are you doing?¡± Liao Jixiang asked. Perhaps he was feeling a bit scared, Liao Jixiang unknowingly leaned slightly backward. As for what exactly he was afraid of, he couldn¡¯t quite articulate. Xie Yilu didn¡¯t answer. He sat down impudently, his body pressing next to Liao Jixiang. Their hips were touching, and their arms were bumping against each other too. ¡°I also¡­ want to wash my feet,¡± he said. Splash ¨C it was the sound of water as Xie Yilu¡¯s feet entered the water basin. Liao Jixiang shivered. The basin was large enough for the two of them, yet Xie Yilu insisted on resting his feet on Liao Jixiang¡¯s. They were now flesh against flesh, the only thing separating them in between was the slippery, glistening ripples of water. The scent of sandalwood rose and pervaded in the air, making Xie Yilu panted somewhat indecently. Being surrounded by Liao Jixiang¡¯s scent, Xie Yilu was enchanted and emboldened with a wild passion, ¡°You¡¯ve never washed your feet with someone else like this, have you?¡± Naturally, Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t answer. So Xie Yilu crossed the line even more by gently lifting a lock of his hair on the side and carefully tucking it behind his ear. ¡°All that you haven¡¯t tasted, I want you to try,¡± he said. Which was a statement from the bottom of his heart. Xie Yilu was anguished for Liao Jixiang¡¯s sacrifices and sufferings, so was he pitying Liao Jixiang¡¯s innocence and inexperience in the matters of love and passion at the age of thirty11. And above it all, he was completely bedazzled, adoring Liao Jixiang as he was someone who should only exist in the heavens. Liao Jixiang remained silent, his expression not betraying his attitude, and he appeared like he had a constant desire to flee. Xie Yilu stared at him intently, like he couldn¡¯t bear to part his gaze from Liao Jixiang¡¯s figure. Then he bent down and slowly extended both of his hands into the water, abruptly grabbing hold of Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet. Liao Jixiang was truly trembling all over. Not because his feet were being touched, but because of the man committing it: ¡°Let¡­ let go!¡± No response came from Xie Yilu, who was meticulously washing Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet ¨C the soles, the arches, and the sensitive gaps between his toes. He kneaded them and caressed them, clearly, he loved them so much that he didn¡¯t want to let go. ¡°Alright¡­ that¡¯s enough¡­¡± Liao Jixiang anxiously tugged at Xie Yilu¡¯s sleeve. It had indeed been too long, and Xie Yilu had no choice but to let go. By then, they finally realised there was no towel nearby. ¡°Thanks to all your fuss, now I don¡¯t even have someone to bring me a towel,¡± Liao Jixiang complained unhappily. Hastily, Xie Yilu picked up his socks from the floor and wiped himself off carelessly. Next to him were a pair of sandals, which he only fitted half of his feet in. Then, he stood up and began undressing in front of Liao Jixiang. Liao Jixiang stared at him, his mind completely devoid of thoughts. He watched as Xie Yilu took off his outer robe and squatted down, neatly folding the robe on his knee, and slowly lifted one of Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet from the basin and began to dry it patiently. Although it wasn¡¯t Xie Yilu¡¯s official attire, it was still part of his outfit and demeanour. Liao Jixiang silently observed this man in front of him, and his heartstrings were faintly plucked. Xie Yilu held Liao Jixiang¡¯s ankle in an extremely precious manner, as if he was cradling the foot in his arms. As he wiped it, his gaze lingered and clinged on Liao Jixiang¡¯s foot ¡ª it was pure and white, the soft skin glistening with water as it rested vividly in his hands with warmth. The toenails were trimmed to perfection, the arch of the foot was tall, and the heel was delicate and round. Xie Yilu must have lost his mind. Swiftly, his lips gently touched the arch of Liao Jixiang¡¯s foot. Liao Jixiang saw it, and his toes suddenly curled up. Yet, probably due to the dim lighting, he couldn¡¯t be sure of what had happened. ¡°What did you do?¡± he asked apprehensively, withdrawing his feet as he spoke. ¡°What?¡± Xie Yilu feigned innocence. Going along with Liao Jixiang¡¯s force, Xie Yilu obediently cradled the foot upwards and gently pushed them towards the bed. He turned around and stammered, ¡°It¡¯s late, let¡¯s sleep.¡± Liao Jixiang stared at him in suspicion, wanting to reproach him for his audacious, unconventional behaviour, but some words were too embarrassing for him to utter. Xie Yilu struggled as he shuffled in his tiny sandals to the desk to blow out the candles. He went past the neatly arranged large couch on his way back, yet he didn¡¯t climb into it. Instead, all he did was to reach into the bedding and take a pillow. Liao Jixiang noticed and immediately questioned, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not used to sleeping on a couch.¡± What nonsense. Liao Jixiang was finally becoming stern. ¡°If you refuse to sleep on the couch, go outside!¡± Xie Yilu pretended not to hear. He shifted back and sat on the edge of the bed, imploring shyly, ¡°Can¡¯t we share the same blanket, with our heads at opposite ends?¡± With Xie Yilu¡¯s suggestion, Liao Jixiang could find no more excuse. It was, in fact, a matter that could have been easily resolved by summoning a servant, yet he compromised and spoiled this man. ¡°Pass me the wine tray,¡± he said. Xie Yilu turned around, and saw a small silver tray placed on the side board of the carved bed frame. Sitting on the tray was a small flagon of wine and a silver cup,which was turned upside down. ¡°You drink at night?¡± Xie Yilu asked. ¡°¡¯Tis a must to have milk in the morning and wine at night,¡± as Liao Jixiang replied, he crossed his good leg in a rather unruly way. He took the tray and placed it on the bed. ¡°An old habit from Gansu12.¡± Xie Yilu watched as Liao Jixiang leisurely poured and drank the wine all by himself, his neck gracefully tilted when the wine entered his mouth and flowed through his troubled heart. The angle formed by Liao Jixiang¡¯s jaw and neck was incredibly stunning. His long hair swayed with the movements of his arms and shoulders, light as a dream. Unable to resist his urge, Xie Yilu stroked his hair. Probably due to the effects of alcohol, Liao Jixiang straightforwardly pushed him away. ¡°Watch where your hand is going!¡± For some reasons unknown to Xie Yilu, these vivacious protests intoxicated Xie Yilu even more than Liao Jixiang¡¯s shy evasion from before. Out of cravings and thirst, his eyes fixated on Liao Jixiang and the cup of wine in his hand, yearning for it like a stray dog, begging for his attention. ¡°Would you like a cup?¡± Liao Jixiang asked, his pupil dilated and his gaze without focus. Xie Yilu had always detested drinking, yet now he nodded eagerly. And so Liao Jixiang poured him a cup, chuckling as he did, as if he was waiting to see Xie Yilu make a fool of himself. Only when Xie Yilu lifted the cup did he realise that his wrist was trembling, which could either be out of excitement or nervousness. He gulped down the wine in one go, and in the next instant, he was covering his mouth and coughing violently. While coughing, he arched his back in agony ¨C that cup of drink Liao Jixiang had given him was not some fine flavourful wine, but a strong liquor cutting through his throat like a dagger! Liao Jixiang burst into laughter, a rare, hearty, open laughter. When he was done laughing, he held Xie Yilu by the shoulder. Like treating a child or a younger brother, Liao Jixiang wiped away the remaining liquor from the corner of Xie Yilu¡¯s mouth using his thumb. Xie Yilu half-curled on the bed, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked up at the blurry silhouette against the candlelight. ¡°You¡¯d ruin your health drinking this,¡± he said. The laughter stopped. A moment of silence followed. Then, Liao Jixiang whispered, his voice couldn¡¯t be even softer, ¡°I¡¯d ruin my heart if I don¡¯t.¡± Like a fierce beast suddenly breaking free from its chains, roaring as it charged out of his chest, Xie Yilu grabbed Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand impulsively. He wanted to say something intimate, such as ¡°I¡¯ll warm your heart¡± or ¡°Don¡¯t drink the wine anymore, I¡¯ll stay with you,¡± yet suddenly, there was a loud ¡°meow¡± from the large couch ¨C it was Lord Zhang. ¡°The cat is here,¡± Xie Yilu was actually somewhat afraid of cats. He tugged at Liao Jixiang¡¯s hand, ¡°Ask someone to take it out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± probably slightly tipsy, Liao Jixiang allowed himself to rub against Xie Yilu¡¯s body without any hesitation or restraint. ¡°It¡¯s just upset that you¡¯re occupying its bed. I¡¯ll pamper it tomorrow with some treats.¡± ¡°It has never occurred to me that¡­¡± Xie Yilu leaned closer to Liao Jixiang, greedily sniffing the scent of alcohol near his sideburns, ¡°you¡¯d also keep a cat.¡± ¡°One is not a eunuch if he doesn¡¯t have a cat,¡± Liao Jixiang sneered again, this time in self-deprecation. Halfway through his sneer, Liao Jixiang unexpectedly blurted out a cruel statement, ¡°At night, the bed feels too cold and lonesome if I don¡¯t have a cat by my side¡­¡± Xie Yilu snatched away his wine flagon and cup, hiding them under the bed. ¡°No more drinking,¡± he said, blowing out the only remaining candle by the bed and letting the room sink into darkness. ¡°Sleep,¡± He said, and pulled the thin blanket over both of them. They were truly sleeping with their heads at opposite ends of the bed, yet, try as they may, who could fall asleep in this situation, especially Xie Yilu? ¡°Yangchun,¡± Xie Yilu called as soon as he lay down, ¡°why didn¡¯t you ask me why I came?¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t respond. Thinking that Liao Jixiang was getting sluggish from the alcohol, Xie Yilu lifted the blanket and strained his eyes in the darkness to look for Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet. He was just about to grab them stealthily when Liao Jixiang spoke up, ¡°You¡¯ve heard something from someone, is that correct?¡± His voice was steady, and more sober than ever. ¡°You people. You¡¯d like something simply because someone complimented it, and you¡¯d also dislike something because someone condemned it.¡± Xie Yilu felt like he could comprehend this statement, but after pondering over it, he felt somewhat confused too. ¡°I¡¯ll come to stay with you every night from now on. Can I?¡± Liao Jixiang turned over in bed without reply. Xie Yilu, having been extremely audacious tonight, grabbed Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet underneath the blankets. Not only did he do so, but he also pulled them towards his own embrace. Liao Jixiang struggled strenuously. He managed to wrench free his right foot, but his left foot was too frail to break free. ¡°Don¡¯t you do this!¡± Judging by his tone, Liao Jixiang sounded scared. At the peak of his fear, Liao Jixiang pleaded earnestly, ¡°Take a concubine, please. I can prepare and send the betrothal money and gifts13 on your behalf¡­¡± ¡°I have no need for a concubine.¡± Out of a whim, Xie Yilu unfastened his garments around the collar. The rustling sound of fabric came to Liao Jixiang¡¯s ears, alarming him and causing him to prop himself up on the pillow and look at Xie Yilu in horror. ¡°No¡­ No, you can¡¯t!¡± He was convinced that Xie Yilu was about to do something shameful and obscene. As for what kind of shameless or obscene act Xie Yilu was about to commit, his imagination was too limited to formulate. Purely out of ignorance about matters of intimacy, he cried in stutter and tried to hide himself in confusion and apprehension, only to find that what awaited him was nothing more than a warm embrace ¡ª all Xie Yilu intended to do was to warm his bad leg, which even the strong liquor failed to warm up, with his own bare chest. Liao Jixiang shuddered violently. For the very first time in his life, he had felt his flesh pressed against someone else¡¯s, and only after feeling the warmth of someone else, did he realise how terribly cold he had been all along. ¡°Chunchu, you¡­¡± ¡°Hush¡­¡± Xie Yilu pampered him, gently patting Liao Jixiang¡¯s foot. ¡°Let¡¯s leave all the troubles till tomorrow.¡± Mei Azha hardly slept throughout the night. Before dawn, he got out of bed and toyed his long knife for a while. By the Hour of Mao14, he got dressed and headed to Liao Jixiang¡¯s courtyard for breakfast. The door to Liao Jixiang¡¯s bedchamber was closed, with the eunuch on night duty and all the errand eunuchs standing in a row outside. ¡°He hasn¡¯t woken up yet?¡± Mei Azha frowned. The eunuchs on night duty shook his head. ¡°When did they sleep last night?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± the eunuch on night duty reported truthfully. ¡°It sounded like they were¡­ whispering to each other the whole time.¡± ¡°Open the door.¡± Mei Azha walked straight ahead, so the eunuch on night duty hurriedly pushed the door open for him. As soon as he entered the room, Mei Azha saw Xie Yilu standing in front of Liao Jixiang¡¯s bookshelf. He was neatly dressed and reading voraciously. Seeing him coming in, Xie Yilu respectfully nodded. Mei Azha didn¡¯t bother to acknowledge him. He didn¡¯t understand much about Liao Jixiang¡¯s priceless collection, although he was roughly aware that there were some very precious items, such as the work from the previous dynasty15, Zhao Mengfu16¡®s The Calligraphy of the Grand Tang Dynasty17, Cai Xiang18¡®s Poetry and Essay19, and the calligrapher of their time, Wen Zhengming20¡®s imitation of Huaisu21¡®s Autobiography22, Li Xiya23¡®s calligraphy, Zhu Zhishan24¡®s regular and cursive script25, and so on. His disdainful gaze shifted from the desk to the canopy bed. He knew Liao Jixiang was in bed ¨C he always loved to sleep in, so it was impossible for him to get up at this hour. Mei Azha¡¯s glance scanned over the large couch in the corner of the bedchamber, went in another direction, and then quickly returned. To his surprise, the blanket was neatly folded on the large couch, not even a corner was turned. His face froze, his eye sockets turning blue from shock. The servant eunuch were now streaming in, laying down cups and dishes on the table. Upon hearing the sound of the servants, Liao Jixiang sat up groggily, so Mei Azha looked in his direction in haste. He saw Liao Jixiang¡¯s waist long black hair pouring over his back like dark ink ¡ª Liao Jixiang had never slept with his hair scattered! Mei Azha sensed his lips trembling as he clenched his fist. ¡°Qige26,¡± Liao Jixiang saw him, he lazily rubbed his eyes with weariness. ¡°I won¡¯t have breakfast with you today.¡± Which was implicitly telling Mei Azha to leave. Mei Azha was a proud man, so without another word, he turned around right away and left. Coming out of the bedchamber seething with anger, he strode a dozen steps before he finally paused and thought to himself, if Liao Jixiang won¡¯t have breakfast with him, who will he have it with? That shabby sixth-rank official? Feeling reluctant to give in, Mei Azha turned around again. At that instant, someone called out from behind, ¡°Chief.¡± It was Jin Tang, wearing a newly designed robe with lotus patterns. He was smiling and bowing to Mei Azha, and just as Jin Tang was about to greet him with a word or two, a sudden quarrel broke out from Liao Jixiang¡¯s chamber. The eunuch on night duty and the servant eunuchs came out one by one, whereas Mei Azha and Jin Tang squeezed past them to enter the chamber. In the centre of the room, Xie Yilu was yelling fiercely, ¡°¡­ making people look down on you. I¡¯ve misjudged you!¡± Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t retort. His shoulders were slouched, as if avoiding Xie Yilu¡¯s aggressiveness. However, Mei Azha couldn¡¯t bear to see Liao Jixiang upset for even just the tiniest extent. In his rage, he kicked over a chair and snarled, ¡°Xie Yilu!¡± Xie Yilu understood, that he had absolutely no right to throw a tantrum in this chamber. As he had finished what he intended to say, he walked away with his head drooped. In the chamber, Mei Azha was hurrying towards Liao Jixiang, so Jin Tang looked down on the floor ¨C two iron treasure chest placed under the bookshelf had been opened, revealing the gold and silver ingots with official¡¯s stamps27; they were fresh gifts from the Imperial Inspector Chen28 of the Censorate29, who sent them in only last month. Jin Tang chased after Xie Yilu to the garden, shouting as he ran, ¡°Those yellow and white rice were accepted by us. Dugong30 was unaware!¡± ¡°Go ahead and make more excuses for him,¡± Xie Yilu suddenly turned around, glaring at him with crimson eyes, as if he was the one being castigated. ¡°He has admitted it!¡± Jin Tang could tell that Xie Yilu was genuinely placing Liao Jixiang in his heart. ¡°That¡¯s merely a few Gan of yellow rice and a few Fang of white rice, which is nothing for someone in Dugong¡¯s position.¡± What Jin Tang said was the eunuchs¡¯ secret language. ¡°Gan¡± meant ¡°a thousand¡±, and ¡°Fang¡± meant ¡°ten thousand¡±31. Xie Yilu was aware of that. ¡°He¡¯s not that kind of man,¡± Xie Yilu argued, his face turned glistening red, evidently frustrated as he stomped his feet repeatedly on the ground. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be that kind of man!¡± ¡°He is not that kind of man,¡± Jin Tang nodded in agreement. ¡°But even if he doesn¡¯t want it, the higher-up is demanding it.¡± Xie Yilu was stunned. ¡°The higher-up?¡± he asked, ¡°The Elder Master?¡± This person in front of him had saved Qu Feng¡¯s life, so Jin Tang didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°The Elder Master wouldn¡¯t even ask for a single strand of hair from our Dugong.¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t think of any other men who could possibly order Liao Jixiang around. ¡°Then who is it?¡± ¡°Not to mention our Dugong, even the Elder Master himself has to pay his respects on specific dates.¡± Could it be¡­? Xie Yilu waved his sleeve dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s absurd, I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Yet Jin Tang laughed. ¡°It¡¯s better if your lordship doesn¡¯t believe it.¡± But in fact, Xie Yilu believed it. He cautiously approached Jin Tang and whispered, ¡°He owns everything in this world. Why would he still covet ¡®the money of filial piety32¡¯ of the eunuchs?¡± ¡°He is just another human being. He also wants to build grand mansions, marry pretty concubines, and collect treasures,¡± Jin Tang shouldn¡¯t have said any of these words, but he still did, ¡°What else would you have him do? Should we tell him to ask the Ministry of Revenue, and unrightfully use the common folk¡¯s tax money? This is known by all eunuchs. Do you think the money robbed by Qi Wan33 and the like belong to them alone?¡± He shook his head, ¡°Anyone who dares to claim it all for themselves will be accused of misappropriation and be executed.¡± Xie Yilu was so appalled that he took a step back, whereas Jin Tang pressed forward. ¡°In the palace, obtaining the position of the chief of the Weaving and Sewing Bureau is also known as ¡®ascending to immortality¡¯. Lord Xie, do you think this immortality came free?¡± He gestured a ¡°please¡± to indicate that Xie Yilu should leave. ¡°Dugong is already living a difficult life. Don¡¯t push him further.¡± I hope this has been a cute chapter overall. Yes, it¡¯s probably more like bittersweet, but it¡¯s still wonderful to see Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang FINALLY sharing the same bed. I¡¯m soooo happy:D Also, I mentioned in an earlier chapter there¡¯re other reasons regarding why Qi Wan was so greedy about money. I hope it¡¯s clear now that the emperor is behind all this. Due to his desire for a lavish lifestyle, he is either knowingly or unknowingly (I guess he sort of knows, but he probably have no idea that people may actually die when he *only* wants some extra income) causing a natioinal problem of corruption. And it¡¯s simply adorable that Liao Jixiang¡¯s cat is named Lord Zhang! Although I¡¯ve already added it in the footnotes, I just want to show it here again in case you missed it, because I truly think this is worth a look. Regarding the Jinsi Nanmu, ½ðË¿éªÄ¾, literally ¡°wood woven with golden thread¡±, it is known for its unique golden glow when polished. It is one of the most expensive types of wood in China and it¡¯s now sold in grams. I¡¯ve found some videos of a Phoebe Zhennan wood bed from the Qing Dynasty (it¡¯s estimated to cost about $14 million in USD when the video was posted), and this is a modern replica of the traditional canopy bed, using Phoebe Zhennan wood on some parts. And if you want to get a closer look of how this type of wood glows, you can check out this video. Honestly speaking, I¡¯ve heard of this wood but I had no idea that it¡¯s so stunning. Just imagine Liao Jixiang and Xie Yilu making out in this bed. WOW. Lastly, just some information about what¡¯s happening next. I will be going on a three-week trip to Tibet, starting from this weekend, so I¡¯ll probably have limited access to the Internet. Have no worries though! Because I¡¯m working on another two to three chapters that can be scheduled for release while I¡¯m away. I suppose I will need to rest for a week and will only be able to translate more chapters in mid August, so, my apologies if there¡¯s no update for a week or two after my trip. I¡¯ll share more information about my translations via my Discord or Twitter, and probably share some of my photos and encounters during the trip through Discord or Twitter too. So if you¡¯re curious, feel free to connect with me through those platforms! Thanks for reading!! In Chinese, this wood is known as Jinsi Nanmu, ½ðË¿éªÄ¾, literally ¡°wood woven with golden thread¡±, which is known for its unique golden glow when polished. It is one of the most expensive types of wood in China and it¡¯s now sold in grams. I¡¯ve found some videos of a Phoebe Zhennan wood bed from the Qing Dynasty (it¡¯s estimated to cost about $14 million now), and this is a modern replica of the traditional canopy bed, using Phoebe Zhennan wood on some parts. And if you want to get a closer look of how this type of wood glows, you can check out this video. The canopy bed, or Alcove bed, is known as Babu Chuang, °Î²½´² in Chinese. It looks like this. Lord Zhang, or Zhang Daren, ÕÅ´óÈË, is the cat¡¯s name. This is so adorable:)) Yesa, Ò·Èö, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. If you¡¯re curious about how the folds look, you can check the pictures here. Grandpa is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors. Yangchun, Ñø´º, Liao Jixiang¡¯s courtesy name. It means ¡°to nurture spring¡±. Xie Yilu¡¯s courtesy name, Chunchu, ´º³ú, means ¡°a hoe in spring¡± or ¡°farming in spring¡±. Li Mu, ÀîÄÁ, a poet in the Song Dynasty. A traditional Chinese courtyard, Siheyuan, will be in the shape of a rectangle. Chambers will be built on each of the four sides, with the main gate to the courtyard located on the south wall. The main chamber, used by the most respected people of the house, sits with its back to the north and its door to the south. On each side of the main chamber, there will be east and west side chambers, which could be housing the owner¡¯s offspring. The original term here is Wangjin, Íø½í. Wangjin was very common in the Ming Dynasty, as this hair net keeps the men¡¯s hair tidy. See an example here. The original text here is Erli years (¶øÁ¢Ö®Äê), implying that Liao Jixiang is about 30 years old. Gansu, ¸ÊËà, a province in north-central China, known for its deserts, as well as its cold and dry climate. Gansu was an area of military significance in ancient China as it was the northern border of the country. In Chinese, this is known as Xiapin, ÏÂƸ, which is one of the steps in a traditional Chinese marriage, where the groom¡¯s family prepare and present betrothal money and gifts to the bride¡¯s family. Hehe, does Liao Jixiang consider Xie Yilu as his family now? The original term here is Maoshi, îʱ. In ancient China, a day was divided into twelve internals. Each interval is two hours and has a special name. The Hour of Mao is 0500 ¨C 0700. The dynasty before the Ming Dynasty is the Yuan Dynasty. Zhao Mengfu, ÕÔÃÏî\, was a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and scholar during the Yuan dynasty. The Calligraphy of the Grand Tang Dynasty, Shengtang Moji Tie, Ê¢ÌÆÄ«¼£Ìû is a compilation of Zhao Mengfu¡¯s accumulated works, reflecting his studies and exploration of Tang Dynasty calligraphy, as well as his own creative style. See his calligraphy work here. Cai Xiang, ²ÌÏå, was a Chinese calligrapher, politician, structural engineer, and poet of the Song Dynasty. Poetry and Essay, or Shi Biao Tie, Ê«±íÌû, is a calligraphy work by Cai Xiang. The full name I found online is л´ÍÓùÊéÊ«±í, which means ¡°The Essay and Poem to Express Gratitude Towards Your Majesty for Granting the Royal Calligraphy¡±. Basically, the Emperor Renzong of Song wrote down ¾ýÚÓ, Junmo, which is Cai Xiang¡¯s courtesy name, and gifted the calligraphy to him. Cai Xiang was so happy that he wrote an essay and a poem to the emperor. See his calligraphy work here. Wen Zhengming, ÎÄÕ÷Ã÷, was a Chinese painter, calligrapher, and poet during the Ming dynasty. He was regarded as one of the Four Masters of Ming painting. Huaisu, »³ËØ, courtesy name Zangzhen (²ØÕæ), was a Buddhist monk and calligrapher of the Tang dynasty, famous for his cursive calligraphy. His secular surname may have been Qian, Ç®. Huaisu¡¯s Autobiography, »³ËØ×ÔÐðÌû, is a representative Chinese calligraphy work written by the renowned Tang dynasty Chinese calligrapher Huaisu in 777 AD. It is often considered today to be one of the best written cursive script works in Chinese calligraphy. Li Dongyang, ÀÑô, was a Chinese historian, poet, and politician during the Ming dynasty. His courtesy name is Li Xiya, ÀîÎ÷ÑÄ. Zhu Yunming, ×£ÔÊÃ÷, courtesy name Zhu Zhishan, ף֦ɽ, was a Chinese calligrapher, poet, writer, and scholar-official of the Ming dynasty, known as one of the ¡°Four Talents of Wu¡±. Most admired for his accomplishment in calligraphy, he is also a popular cultural figure for his uninhibited lifestyle and iconoclastic thinking. Zhu Zhishan Zhen Cao Tie, ף֦ɽÕæ²ÝÌû. ÕæÊé, aka ¿¬Êé, Kaishu, is known as the Regular script. Caoshu, ²ÝÊé, is known as the cursive script. This is Zhu Zhishan¡¯s cursive script. Qige, Æ߸ç, the seventh brother. Mei Azha was the seventh eldest among the Elder Master¡¯s adopted eunuchs, and Liao Jixiang was the eighth. This is known as Guanyin, ¹ÙÒø. Guanyin is used for governmental storage. These ingots with official markings represent the tax and fiscal revenue of each province in ancient China. Civilians or officials, individuals or organisations are not allowed to use official silver privately. Units or individuals who obtain official silver must melt the official silver again to refine new silver ingots or silver nuggets. This is the main source of Suiyin, ËéÒø, or literally ¡°broken silver pieces from the official silver ingot¡±. So by gifting silver with official stamps, this official is committing serious crime to bribe Liao Jixiang. Imperial Inspector Chen, Chen Yushi, ³ÂÓùÊ·. Yushi are the officials who hold the responsibility of monitoring the conduct and behaviour of other government officials, including the emperor. The Censorate is Duchayuan, ¶¼²ìÔº, in Chinese. This department receives direct orders from the emperor and it gathers intelligence and sensitive information for the royalty, therefore reinforcing the autocratic reign of the emperor. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs such as Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian. In Chinese characters, Gan is ¸É, whereas ¡°a thousand¡± is Qian, ǧ. ¸É and ǧ are really similar, so Gan was used as a euphemism for a thousand taels of silver or gold. Fang is ·½, and ¡°ten thousand¡± is Íò. ·½ and Íò only differ by one stroke, so Fang was used to imply ten thousand taels. In Chinese, this is known as Xiaoshun Qian, Т˳Ǯ, which literally means to pay someone as a way to show one¡¯s filial piety towards the recipient. Qi Wan, a very powerful eunuch who mainly works and resides in the capital, Beijing. He came to visit Nanjing around Chapter 9. Check the character sheet for more information. Photo credit: https://www.sohu.com/a/346607203_658180 CH 26 Xie Yilu finished his porridge, put on his official hat and came out of the courtyard, where Da Tian1 was sitting on a small stool, bending over and washing Xie Yilu¡¯s bedding. ¡°Master,¡± he stuttered with hesitance, ¡°How about¡­ you go out and find a harlot? Lots of cheap ones down the Suozi2 Alley.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Da Tian¡¯s words scalded Xie Yilu¡¯s ears, but there was no denying that those absurd stains on the bedding were his own work indeed. With his face blushing, Xie Yilu stuttered as well, ¡°I¡­ I have had a weak constitution for the past two days. Don¡¯t you act recklessly!¡± While he remained old-fashioned and reserved, Da Tian was quite an unpolished lad: ¡°But I¡¯m washing these for you every single day! My hands are about to break!¡± Xie Yilu avoided him as he left the house. As the door was just about to close, he could still hear Da Tian saying, ¡°Moreover, you can¡¯t afford to waste away like this every night. This is for your own good!¡± Xie Yilu felt deeply troubled. Indeed, he could control his hands, yet he couldn¡¯t control his dreams. In those dreams, that same figure came and went again and again, constantly enticing Xie Yilu in all possible ways. On the night he and Liao Jixiang shared a bed, he was dreadful of doing anything absurd, so he held it in. But the more he held it in, the more unbearable his lust had become. And now, the region three inches below his abdomen was always burning and toiling, and he desperately wanted to find a place for a release. He was stunned when he reached the ministry. There was a soft sedan chair parked at the gate, with embroidered curtains and a luxurious, velvet roof ¨C it belonged to Qu Feng. Exhaltantly, Xie Yilu strode inside. He could see the lively commotion in the main hall from afar ¨C that young man was wearing a brocade robe of light greenish yellow3 and surrounded by the crowd, resembling how the stars distributed around the moon. Although his left foot was still supported by a cane, Qu Feng¡¯s complexion appeared extremely well. ¡°Simu4!¡± Xie Yilu couldn¡¯t help but approach with a smile. Almost instantaneously, the hall fell horribly silent. Everyone¡¯s eyes were scanning all over him, ever so distant and freezingly cold, that he had to stop approaching. Qu Feng was at the centre of the mass. He was rolling up his sleeves without a word, and his eyes darted evasively to give Xie Yilu a brief glance. Many things were communicated in that glance, too many for Xie Yilu to comprehend at the moment. Then, before Xie Yilu could fathom that glance, Qu Feng turned around and limped away. Following that, the crowd scattered, leaving Xie Yilu alone on the steps. For a while, he couldn¡¯t figure out what had happened. The man who should have the least reasons to despise him, the exact person who compelled him to this situation, had now become his adversary, acting wise to protect his fame. He remained standing over there for quite some time. Only after making sure that no one else would come, did Xie Yilu walk away dejectedly. In the afternoon, Minister5 Liu distributed the invitations to the ministry¡¯s banquet. Everyone was on the list, including assistants and secretaries6, except for Xie Yilu. Moments before leaving the ministry, Zheng Xian¡¯s invitation arrived, asking him to attend a banquet at Jinyi North Garden7, which was quite a coincidence, because when Xie Yilu arrived, he found that the venue was just next door to the banquet of the Ministry of War. Minister Liu arranged this banquet for Qu Feng on behalf of the Secretary of State8. This feast was organised to assuage Qu Feng¡¯s shock from those torments in prison. Xie Yilu was physically present on this side of the wall, yet his heart was on the other side. He listened to the commotions next door, of his colleagues toasting and drinking, of how they showered and bestowed many and more flattering words upon Qu Feng. The more he listened, the colder his heart became. Then, Xie Yilu turned around. Things were much quieter on this side. Zheng Xian had invited someone new today, who was dressed in a sleeveless armour9 and carrying a long knife. With Tu Yao acting as the middle-person, Xie Yilu learned that man was the newly appointed chief commander, who had previously fought against the Japanese pirates10 in Zhejiang. His name was Gong Nian11. Zhejiang. This place caught Xie Yilu¡¯s attention. When Liao Jixiang was chopping down the pear tree woods, he had borrowed the soldiers from Zhejiang12. He couldn¡¯t help but take a closer look at Gong Nian. The man was rather athletic. He had probably spent years leading the soldiers, as his complexion was quite tanned, although he was still somewhat good looking. The most astonishing feature about him, however, were his wrists, which were as thick as a mature elm tree, and he had knife scars scattered all over the back of his hands. ¡°Thank you, Dugong13, for your hospitality,¡± Gong Nian sat upright as he raised his cup to Zheng Xian. ¡°This one14 toasts to you.¡± He uttered no unnecessary words, nor was he excessively ingratiating towards a Da Dang15. Xie Yilu was quite impressed. It was extremely rare for Zheng Xian to drink a toast in such a straightforward manner. Evidently, he was interested in Gong Nian. After setting down his cup, Zheng Xian used his thumb to point behind himself. ¡°General, beyond the wall over there is the banquet of the Ministry of War. About the lad they lionised as a hero, you can ask Tu Yao,¡± he threw his arm on Tu Yao¡¯s back like they were brothers, ¡°see if he¡¯s actually a piece of scrap!¡± Gong Nian remained silent and respectfully listened to Zheng Xian, his empty cup still in his hands. ¡°When the general arrived in town, the Ministry of War failed to step out to welcome and honour you. It still has to be This One16!¡± Zheng Xian tapped his hand, which was wearing a jade ring, on the table. ¡°But This One is not sowing discord between you, no, This One is seeking justice for you!¡± Only that he was indeed sowing discord between them. Xie Yilu observed Zheng Xian with amusement. Underneath the gorgeous appearance of this fellow, there was actually a rather unrestrained, sinister soul. If Liao Jixiang was a Guqin17, then Zheng Xian was a sword ¡ª he came and went straightforwardly, and it was much easier to comprehend his mind. Except for Xie Yilu, everyone at the table belonged to the military. They drank heartily with not much heed of excessive etiquette, and the banquet ended even before midnight. As they left the venue, Xie Yilu asked Tu Yao, ¡°Why didn¡¯t we invite some entertainers to sing? Doesn¡¯t he love lively scenes?¡± The ¡°he¡± was naturally referring to Zheng Xian. Tu Yao smiled, ¡°He¡¯s afraid that Gong Nian wouldn¡¯t like it.¡± Xie Yilu was taken aback. ¡°What¡¯s his background?¡± Tu Yao waved his hand to indicate that wasn¡¯t the case. ¡°He fought against the Japanese pirates valiantly on the coastal regions, with little regard for his own life. Just take a look at the scars on his hands,¡± he said dispassionately. ¡°You don¡¯t know much about Dugong. He admires people like Gong Nian,¡± he paused, ¡°Besides, if we don¡¯t take care of these people, no one else will.¡± What Tu Yao told him might not be entirely true, but also, it was not necessarily false. What was certain, however, was that this banquet showed Xie Yilu something different, unlike every other banquet he had attended ever since his arrival in Nanjing. He went homewards on foot, and Da Tian opened the door for him. Feeling too embarrassed to face Da Tian, Xie Yilu hurriedly entered the house, yet Da Tian called from behind, ¡°Master, there¡¯s a letter for you! It¡¯s from Beijing!¡± The letter was on the table. Xie Yilu checked the signature ¨C it was her. She had never written back to him, so, with an odd feeling in his heart, Xie Yilu removed the letter from the envelope and read it while taking off his robe. After reading the first two lines, he froze: ¡°¡­ heard from the folks that you¡¯re now working for eunuchs. I ain¡¯t no scholar, but I sure care about my face18. Just send me a letter of divorce19 quickly. Let¡¯s part on good terms and be on our own ways.¡± The letter was written by a scribe. The scribes normally wouldn¡¯t use such colloquial phrases, so it was most likely that she didn¡¯t allow him to alter or refine her words. Xie Yilu crumpled the letter in his hand. This was just like her. Couldn¡¯t be bothered to light a lamp, he sat on the edge of the bed for a long time, his robe half-untied and hanging loosely over his chest. His heart churned and toiled with immense sour bitterness, as if there was a blunt knife twisting and cutting, but it was so ineffective that no blood came out. He was now truly a lonely man, with no prospects and no family. He didn¡¯t even know whom to hate for his misfortune. And when he closed his eyes, all he saw was darkness. After roughly straightening his robe, he went to Da Tian¡¯s room to fetch a lantern. Da Tian turned over on the bed bare-chested and looked at him. ¡°Master, where¡¯re you going at this hour?¡± only when the door slammed shut with a loud ¡°bang¡±, did it suddenly dawned on him to shout, ¡°Do you have enough money with you?¡± Upon exiting the courtyard, Xie Yilu had walked quite a distance before he lowered his head and realised that the lantern wasn¡¯t lit at all. Lying in front of him was a single, dark path, and he stumbled alone, his mind in a daze. After crossing Zhuque Street20 and reaching Xuanzhen Lane21, when he was just about to turn towards the back gate of the mansion, a horse approached afar from the east, carrying a lantern on its side. It stopped at the front gate of Liao Jixiang¡¯s mansion, and a man jumped off the horse. Xie Yilu recognised him. It was Gong Nian, but he was no longer dressed in the sleeveless armour that he wore just now, rather, he was in a light purple Daopao22. He must have deliberately gone back to change his attire. It was just as expected, that he had some connections with Liao Jixiang. Standing in the darkness, Xie Yilu fixed his eyes on that brightly shining lantern. In the light, Gong Nian presented an invitation and exchanged words with the gatekeeping eunuch, and without waiting, he assertively entered the mansion. Xie Yilu turned to leave. Liao Jixiang would probably be too busy to see him tonight. However, he couldn¡¯t bear to leave further after taking only a few steps. In the dense darkness, he made his way to the back gate and knocked. The gatekeeper recognised him and greeted, ¡°Master23 Xie,¡± although he didn¡¯t allow Xie Yilu inside. And so Xie Yilu waited in distress, as if his soul had departed from his body. He could hear the murmurs of the eunuchs on the night shift coming from the gate. ¡°¡­ they had an argument¡­ should we let him in or not¡­¡± One of them stuck his head out with a fake smile on his face. ¡°Please wait, Master.¡± So, Xie Yilu waited. Nearly half a Shichen24 had passed until the door finally opened from inside. Shining over the corridor was a yellow lantern, and behind the lantern stood Ruan Dian with his arms crossing on his back. He glanced at Xie Yilu under the dazzling light, then raised his head and turned around, indicating for him to follow. Xie Yilu immediately followed him. Initially, he wanted to walk behind Ruan Dian, but Ruan Dian kept making way for him and walked beside him25. As they walked, Ruan Dian also studied his face with curiosity, yet whenever Xie Yilu glanced at him, Ruan Dian would quickly avert his gaze. ¡°Do you¡­ want to say something?¡± Xie Yilu asked. Appearing rather irritated, Ruan Dian gritted his teeth and pushed the servant holding the lantern in front of them, urging him to keep some distance. Then, he fiercely said to Xie Yilu, his face still as savage and untamed, ¡°In the past¡­ my apologies for offending you!¡± This was an attempt to amend their relationship, but his attitude was far from proper. Xie Yilu nodded without uttering a word. The yellow lantern led their way. Like a full bright moon within reach, it cast a golden glow on the edges of leaves and grass, adorning them with a shade of gold. In the dizzying warmth of the yellow light, Xie Yilu suddenly blurted out, ¡°Perhaps he is tired of me.¡± Ruan Dian knew what he was referring to. He had heard about the incident on that morning from the servants. However, hearing these words coming from Xie Yilu¡¯s mouth made him feel odd no matter how he tried to interpret them. Before he could figure out where the eccentricity came from, Xie Yilu spoke again, ¡°How could they take half a Shichen to report my arrival? Did he tell you to leave me hanging?¡± He had it right. Ruan Dian froze at his question. He was about to deny it when they arrived at Liao Jixiang¡¯s main chamber. Xie Yilu didn¡¯t wait for his answer, or perhaps he didn¡¯t dare to hear it. He said ¡°Thank you¡± hastily and escaped into the chamber in a hurry. The same old white candles were still burning coldly and quietly. Liao Jixiang was not around, probably accompanying Gong Nian. Xie Yilu allowed his mind to wander for a while as he stood by the window sill, then he walked left and right aimlessly in the room until he strolled to the desk. He saw numerous letters scattering messily on the desk, and one of them had a corner peeking out, revealing the character ¡°Zang¡±. Xie Yilu was well-versed in the etiquette of respecting others¡¯ private matters, but that character was like a needle, piercing and itching his hand. So he tugged at the paper gently and revealed the signature, it was indeed ¡°Zang Fang¡±. Since he was already pulling it, he decided to take them out once and for all. It wasn¡¯t just a single letter, but rather a small pile, all of which was written by Zang Fang after he arrived in Nanjing. No matter how randomly Xie Yilu picked the segments to read, all he found was melancholic and nostalgic verses: ¡°We¡¯ve shared the parting feasts five years afore, and some of the old poems in my mind remained anew. Now we obtained a brief respite from the tumultuous fate, can the two wild ducks acquire more luck to fly south conjoint?¡± The word ¡°conjoint¡± looked inappropriate in Xie Yilu¡¯s eyes no matter how he tried, so he quickly skimmed through the letters. Yet another sentence caught his eye: ¡°Thou treated me as a confidant, yet I trampled on thy heart¡­¡± The door creaked behind him; Liao Jixiang had returned. Xie Yilu shivered, the letter slipped from his hand and fell back onto the desk. Liao Jixiang noticed that Xie Yilu was reading his letter, but he didn¡¯t say anything. In fact, he never intended to speak to Xie Yilu anyway. Liao Jixiang stood there and stretched out his hands lazily. Like an indulgent master, he had the junior eunuchs attend to his garments and washing. On the other side of the room, Xie Yilu intentionally chose the farthest chair from Liao Jixiang to sit on without looking in his direction. He remained silent even after the servants were done busying with their errands and made their leave. The two of them confronted each other in silence. It was a night with pleasant breeze, and the insects were chirping energetically. Yet the more they chirped, the quieter this chamber appeared. ¡°I need someone,¡± Liao Jixiang spoke first, but only to give instructions to the servants outside, ¡°to prepare the guest room.¡± Xie Yilu felt a sharp pain surging in his heart, and in that instant, all those matters ¡ª Qu Feng, the letter of divorce, Gong Nian, Zang Fang ¡ª jumbled and squeezed together in chaos, pressed crushingly against his chest and rushed upwards to his nose. His eyes were stinging all of a sudden, and soon they became moistened with tears. In the beginning, he kept his head down, striving to hold it back. But soon, tears came streaming down from his nose. He wiped them away with his sleeve, left sleeve and then right sleeve, again and again. Liao Jixiang noticed his movements, and at that moment, someone outside reported at the door, ¡°Dugong, the guest room is ready.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need!¡± Liao Jixiang slowly approached. Noticing that, Xie Yilu immediately covered his face with his sleeve. Liao Jixiang went to pull his arm, but he resisted, so Liao Jixiang made a few more attempts, but to no avail, as Xie Yilu pushed him away every time. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Liao Jixiang asked. He squatted down and looked up at Xie Yilu. Xie Yilu clenched his teeth and was determined to stay silent, so Liao Jixiang didn¡¯t press further. He sighed and walked away. Still covering his face, Xie Yilu stubbornly waited for Liao Jixiang to come and console him again. Soon, Liao Jixiang took a seat on the chair beside him. A simultaneous sound of ¡°plink¡± came to Xie Yilu¡¯s ears, which was the sound of fingernails plucking the strings. Xie Yilu lifted his head in surprise, and he saw Liao Jixiang, sitting upright with an old pipa26 in his hands. His fingers slid over the strings like he was caressing water, and he was ready to sing a tune for Xie Yilu. Xie Yilu thought it must be a famous verse, something like ¡°Unable to bear the yearning for my love in my dull life, I fell into drowsiness where my love paid a visit in my elusive dream27.¡± Yet to his surprise, Liao Jixiang began with, ¡°I wore the moon as my hat and the stars as my robe, fearing and dreading for him. Standing long under the muslin windows, I waited for him¡­¡± It was an erotic tune, and Liao Jixiang was well aware of it ¨C his singing betrayed subtle uneasiness. ¡°Suddenly heard the sound of footsteps outside the door, and I thought it was my cursed love,¡± At that moment, any casual glance of Liao Jixiang towards Xie Yilu seemed to be brimming with emotions and hidden intentions, his eyes ever so gentle and loving. ¡°Yet it turned out to be only the wind, rustling the tea millet28 plants¡­¡± The melody abruptly stopped, as Xie Yilu was grabbing his hand. Liao Jixiang blushed and explained, ¡°Back in the palace, I only knew how to sing this¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my own now,¡± Xie Yilu blurted out. Couldn¡¯t grasp the meaning of his words, Liao Jixiang furrowed his brow. Xie Yilu lowered his gaze, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to tell any other men about such occurrences, so he could only tell Liao Jixiang, ¡°My wife¡­ doesn¡¯t want to be with me anymore.¡± Liao Jixiang¡¯s eyebrows twitched. He leaned over the armrest of the chair, and for the first time, he reached out towards Xie Yilu, wiping away the half-dried stains of tears on Xie Yilu¡¯s nose with his warm fingertips. Being treated so tenderly at a troubled time like this, Xie Yilu¡¯s heart felt just like a tiny boat struggling afloat in a raging stream. He slid off the chair, half kneeling and half sitting at Liao Jixiang¡¯s feet. Looking up, he wrapped his arms around Liao Jixiang¡¯s leg. Although there were so many things on his mind that he could say, he only pleaded stubbornly, ¡°Will you¡­ let me kiss you? Will you?¡± Liao Jixiang was startled, then he became alarmed. ¡°Will you?¡± Xie Yilu pressed on. Liao Jixiang blinked helplessly and spoke, his voice couldn¡¯t be even softer, ¡°You¡¯ve already done it once, so why bother to ask¡­¡± He was referring to the incident in the peach blossom forest. Xie Yilu immediately grabbed his sleeve, pulling him down from the chair and bringing him onto himself. He looked at those innocent lips of Liao Jixiang, and lightly touched them with his own. After the brief contact, Liao Jixiang turned his face away. But how could such a light and short lived kiss be enough for Xie Yilu? He eagerly asked, ¡°One more time¡­ can we?¡± Liao Jixiang was reluctant, but he still allowed it. He turned his head slightly back, and waited as his eyebrows furrowed. Xie Yilu leaned in for the second time, and this time, he didn¡¯t let go after the touch. Instead, he was even emboldened to probe the tip of his tongue on Liao Jixiang¡¯s lips. Yet as soon as they made contact, Liao Jixiang shoved him away. Xie Yilu pleaded, feeling wronged, ¡°I haven¡¯t even¡­¡± Liao Jixiang covered his mouth with his hand, looking back at Xie Yilu as if he were a pervert, and rubbed his lips against the back of his own hand again and again. Xie Yilu earnestly reached out to kiss him again, but Liao Jixiang evaded his touch. With an air of seniority, Liao Jixiang said, ¡°One shouldn¡¯t indulge in anything for more than three times29!¡± Three times? Not knowing whether he was amused or aroused, suddenly, Xie Yilu pounced on Liao Jixiang and brought both of them to the floor. With a sinful lust that came out of nowhere, Xie Yilu held onto Liao Jixiang¡¯s chin, taking advantage of his innocence, and skillfully guided Liao Jixiang¡¯s tongue into his own mouth. Our man Xie Yilu is getting a divorce! Well maybe I shouldn¡¯t be this excited because he was crying like a poor baby in this chapter. But that means he can marry someone else now:) is that correct? Lots of information was mentioned in the recent chapters. I will gather them and discuss the details probably around Chapter 30. As this is the first scheduled post (there¡¯re two more), I¡¯m actually travelling in Lhasa now. I hope these scheduled chapters are free of typos or other mistakes. Please let me know if you spotted any. You can leave a message via my Discord or Twitter. I¡¯ll definitely reply when I have Internet access. Thanks for reading! Da Tian, ´óÌì, the name of Xie Yilu¡¯s servant. Suozi, Ëó×Ó, the name of the alley with harlot houses. This colour is known as Yingbei Se, ݺ±³É«, which literally means ¡°the colour of a warbler¡¯s back¡±. Simu, ˼Ľ, is Qu Feng¡¯s courtesy name. Simu means ¡°to always remember and recall with passion and yearning¡±. The original term here is Shilang, ÊÌÀÉ, a third-rank position. The secretary, or Siwu, ˾Îñ, in Chinese, is a ninth-rank official, supposedly the lowest in the ministry. Jinyi North Garden, Jinyi Beiyuan, ½õÒ±±Ô°, is an actual name of gardens in the Ming Dynasty. This name can be found in some of the poems in the Ming Dynasty. In each ministry there is one Shangshu, ÉÐÊé, which is a second-rank position and the head of the ministry. It is translated to the Secretary of State here. In Chinese, this is known as Zhaojia, ÕÖ¼×, it¡¯s a type of armour without sleeves. The original term here is Wokou, ÙÁ¿Ü, which literally means ¡°Japanese pirates¡±. Gong Nian, ¹¨éý, the name of the new general. Zhejiang, Õã½­, is a province in eastern China. Being near the sea makes Zhejiang vulnerable to the attacks of pirates. Dugong, ¶½¹«, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs such as Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian. ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people other than eunuchs who try to stay humble in a conversation. Powerful eunuch, Da Dang, ´ó«š. «š originally referred to the jade earrings for females. In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs often wore gold Dang and mink tails as decorations on their hats. Hence, the term Dang was later used as an alternate name for eunuchs. Da, which means big, suggests the power and high position of the eunuchs. Hence, Da Dang means ¡°Powerful Eunuch¡±, which is also the title of the book. ¡°This One¡± is used only by eunuchs to address themselves. When ¡°this one¡± isn¡¯t capitalised, it is used by people other than eunuchs who try to stay humble in a conversation. Guqin, ¹ÅÇÙ, or simply Qin, ÇÙ, is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. In Chinese culture, ¡°making someone lose face¡± means losing people¡¯s respect or admiration. In ancient China, a divorce paper is known as Xiushu, ÐÝÊé, which literally means ¡°letter of annulment¡±. However, traditionally, only men are allowed to write and sign a Xiushu to his wife. The opposite is extremely rare, if any at all. Zhuque Street, Zhuque, Jie, Öìȸ½Ö, is one of the main streets in the Nanjing city. Xuanzhen Lane, Xuanzhen Xiang, ÐþÕæÏï, is where Liao Jixiang¡¯s private residence is located. Daopao, µÀÅÛ. In the Ming Dynasty, it was the outer garment worn by men at home, and it could also be used as a lining robe or wedding dress for men. If you noticed, I was using ¡°master¡± and ¡°lord¡± interchangeably when the characters address Xie Yilu. I feel that ¡°master¡± is polite but not as subservient as ¡°lord¡±, so I only used ¡°Lord Xie¡± when someone, such as Jin Tang when he begged Xie Yilu to save Qu Feng, is being extremely polite and is trying to humble himself in front of Xie Yilu. This difference may also come from different Chinese terms. For instance, Laoye, ÀÏÒ¯, (the owner of a household), is translated to ¡°master¡±, whereas Daren, ´óÈË, may be translated as ¡°master¡± when people are just complying with basic social etiquette, or it can be translated to ¡°lord¡± under very polite circumstances. I hope this clarifies. Shichen, ʱ³½, a time unit in ancient China. One Shichen is roughly 2 hours. In ancient Chinese culture, walking behind someone is a way to pay respect to the person walking in front. By trying to walk side by side with Xie Yilu, Ruan Dian is implying that he is not superior and he wishes to communicate on equal terms with Xie Yilu. Pipa, ÅýÅÃ, is a traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the plucked category of instruments. The poem here is ¿ÉÄÎÇ黳£¬Óû˯ëüëÊÈëÃÎÀ´, which is a poem by Li Yu, also known as Li Houzhu (ÀîºóÖ÷, literally ¡°Last Ruler Li¡± or ¡°Last Lord Li¡±). He was the third ruler of the Southern Tang state during imperial China¡¯s Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. While he was an incompetent ruler, he was indeed a very good poet. Tea millet, aka Tumi, ݱÞÂ, is a plant that blooms in late spring. This is an idiom in China, Shi Bu Guo San, ʲ»¹ýÈý.