CH 61

Ye Zhao was fond of her cousin, not to mention sensitive to her uncle’s feelings. Even though she was angry at her cousin’s scheming to trap Xia Yujin, she only wished to firmly tell her off, pack her up, and send her back to the Northern Desert.

Now that the past had been dragged out — her dissolute past, her careless promise, her disregard of the lineage in her family — she remembered how well Xiyin had treated her during the war, sending her winter clothes and a handkerchief. It was the fault of her lack of education. She had laboriously learned to read a few characters under the painful guidance of Hu Qing’s father. Where could she have read and understood this matter of thread that wasn’t one? She just thought it was there to indicate that this handkerchief was very precious, so she replied that she liked it very much, but she had wronged her cousin.

Shame and guilt bubbled up in her conscience. Unable to sit, she sprung up, helped up Liu Xiyin, who was crying on the floor, and wiped her tears. Not knowing how to comfort her, she said, after giving it a lot of thought, “You’ve suffered these past years.”

Liu Xiyin threw herself in her embrace. She kept sobbing. Even now, Ye Zhao was the person who loved her most. However many mistakes she made, however willful and spoiled she was, she would be surrounded by this sense of security and unwaveringly cherished, because Ye Zhao would never give her up.

The sound of a heavily-slammed door echoed.

It was Xia Yujin, who had indignantly left, limping on his injured foot.

He was a manly man, who had, one, never had an affair with his own cousin and two, never fooled around with a married woman. The result was that he, an innocent, was cursed out as a vixen, a bitch, but his shameless, wicked wife and the loose woman were still there, in broad daylight, embracing in front of him, sharing their feelings, simply without any consideration for his dignity.

Xia Yujin was shaking from anger. Unsteady on his feet, he slipped on the doorstep outside the courtyard and ate the dust.

Servant girls hurriedly surrounded him, helping him up and supporting him by the arm. Concubine Yang, who was the most observant of them, was the first to rush over. She had some of them carry a bench over and scolded the young maids. “You’re all so clumsy! Who raised you all to be so useless?”

Meiniang nervously asked the prince, “My lord, what happened in the end? Why were you so angry with the general? Was it that she didn’t let you take her cousin in?”

Xia Yujin had scraped his hands. Hearing Meiniang’s misguided words, he became incensed. If it weren’t for his customary gentle feelings for the fair sex, he would have given her an aggrieved kick. But the fact that this beautiful woman had only been vying to become his concubine because she wanted to cheat on him with his wife was simply too embarrassing; the humiliation would follow him to the end of his days. He couldn’t say anything about it, even on the verge of death. So he exhaled deeply to calm down, and then, gnashing his teeth in anger he said, “I will not accept her younger cousin! That wretched wife of mine! It’s time to stop her!”

When Ye Zhao saw him get angry, she temporarily abandoned her cousin. Chasing him in the courtyard, she witnessed her husband’s fall and rushed over to take care of him. Unfortunately, she couldn’t pretend to be warm and tender, and although she did her best to soften the look in her eyes, her face still showed severity and rigidity. Plus, she felt guilty, and so her words came out increasingly succinct and brisk, hard like stones. They didn’t sound comforting, but rather angry. And Liu Xiyin was stealthily leaning against the door of the courtyard, only displaying half of her beautiful, red-eyed and tear-streaked face. She shyly looked at Xia Yujin, wishing to talk but interrupting herself, like a young victim who had been greatly wronged and did not dare to talk.

They all looked at the display the three of them made and immediately understood.

There it was: the prince of Nanping and the young lady found each other pleasing and wished for her to become his concubine, but Ye Zhao, with her awe-inspiring thundering authority, strictly forbade the vixen to enter the family, so the two of them had a falling out. Furious and discomfited that he couldn’t obtain the beauty, the prince barged out.

Ye Zhao followed after Xia Yujin, distressed and sorry, holding his hand and trying to fish out a few considerate words from her comrades’ advice to speak.

In that room, when Liu Xiyin saw her anxiously chasing after him, her feelings focused more on her husband than toward her, she woke up from her dream and her broken heart was crushed into pieces again. Ten years of waiting, reduced to nothing. She remembered that her parents were dead, her beloved’s feelings had changed. She was all alone in the world, but how could she live all alone? For a moment, she lost all hope and concern for her life. She silently turned around and went back to her own courtyard. Sending everyone away, she bolted the doors, found a belt, and tearfully hung it from a beam…

Fortunately, Hongying was vigilant and knew her mind. She also had good martial skills; when she perceived that something was wrong, she kicked open the door and pulled her out of danger.

When Ye Zhao heard of it, she grew alarmed.

It was because of her that Xia Yujin lay in bed, injured, and also because of her that her cousin was heart-broken and had tried to commit suicide.

She valued both equally, but if she cared for one she could not care for the other.

Xia Yujin was so angry that he focused entirely on his meal and ignored her.

Liu Xiyin, without the slightest pretense, silently gripped her quilt.

She constantly rushed between the two parties, placating each of them in turn, a greater challenge than enemies pressing down in the front and in the back, like in the past.

Concubine Yang, Meiniang, and Xuan’er also came over to visit their master. Seeing that the couple was uncomfortable, they immediately started considering the pros and cons of accepting Liu Xiyin into the family. They felt that she was only a pretty face which would take away the prince and the general’s favor, but also that the general was unwilling to let her cousin become a concubine and would not be pleased. But even if they had to lose some benefits in the future, it was better than the prince and the general’s divorcing and having to change mistresses, so they braced themselves, pushed down their jealousy, and started working on the two people with forced smiles.

“Your Highness,” Concubine Yang said, “the general was your bride first, how can you so urgently and tumultuously take a concubine? If you really like Miss Liu, have her live away first, and appease the general. You can have her come back in about a year. After all, you’re husband and wife, so why get red in the face for something as trivial as this? How bad would it be if the Empress Dowager learned about it, mhm?”

“General,” Meiniang said, “it’s common for the imperial clan to take in concubines. Since His Highness likes her so much, don’t impede his interest. Give in to him. Besides, she’s your cousin, just a young and lonely girl, with frail health. She’s not worth your might. Once the prince has a taste of novelty, you can do whatever you want. Why bother chilling the affections of the prince just for this? How bad would it be if you two grew estranged?”

“Right, right,” Xuan’er said. “You absolutely can’t get divorced. If you get divorced, then… then what should I do…”

Ye Zhao, for the sake of Liu Xiyin’s reputation, and Xia Yujin, for the sake of his own, listened to that abundant advice. Like dumplings cooked in a teapot, they could not let out what they wanted to.

The story about the prince of Nanping being unable to get out because of his illness and Liu Xiyun’s suicide attempt because of her broken heart became the talk of town. The men all said that Ye Zhao was the most heroic wife in the country, and could outdrink the former dynasty’s tigress, Lady Changping, when it came to vinegar.[1] Xia Yujin and Miss Liu had fallen in love, vowed to each through life and death, just like the unfortunate butterfly lovers in the plays.[2] They were mandarin ducks beaten apart with a stick, suffering separation, pitiful and lamentable. The women, self-restrained and virtuous, enviously sighed that she did not deserve to be someone’s wife. Many more felt compassion.

Because of the inequality between men and women, the men’s point of view was gaining in popularity and starting to run rampant.

Even her colleagues in the army couldn’t help giving Ye Zhao some advice. “You are not an ordinary woman, General,” they said. “Don’t let something so trivial disturb your peace at home. If your husband’s affections have changed, you can’t force them back. It’d be better to help him achieve what he wants. After all, no one can take away your position as the main wife.”

Ye Zhao’s face was expressionless, the blankness of someone who was lost in thought. Her mind was full of her domestic troubles.

Hu Qing leisurely walked by her side. “You’re not in a great mood, General, aren’t you? What, haven’t killed anyone in too long? Can’t hold back anymore?”

“Your military advisor is right,” Qiu Laohu answered, slow on the uptake. “What’s so good about the capital? No one to kill — that’s hard. If this goes on, I’m going to waste away. Find a solution, General.”

Ye Zhao suddenly slammed her hand on the table, and everyone instantly stepped back ten feet away from her. No one dared give her any further advice and they all lowered their heads, slinking away by sticking to the walls, in case they were noticed. Ye Zhao, baffled, looked at all of them retreating, scratched her head, and dragged close the only one who knew the truth — Hu Qing. “My cousin likes me,” she said surreptitiously. “What should I do?”

“Let the prince take her in,” Hu Qing replied, like someone who wished to see the world burn. “Have her remain by your side and get the best of both worlds.”

“Yujin doesn’t want to,” Ye Zhao said, distressed.

“Be a little more subdued, let Miss Liu show him some softness, apologize, and feed his ego enough. Maybe he’ll come around after a while. Which man doesn’t love beautiful women? Remember the Northern Desert barracks: no need for a beautiful woman, they would have rushed over to hit on a sow! Your cousin is stunning and deep down she’s not evil. When it gets resolved, the prince will be comfortably surrounded by beautiful women, so why not do that?”

“Really?” Ye Zhao asked suspiciously. “He’ll be happy?”

Hu Qing let out a long sound of agreement in response, and smiled slyly. “Of course, of course. Or you could ask Laohu if he likes beautiful women…”

When Laohu heard the question, he immediately turned around and loudly answered, “Beautiful women? Of course I love them!”

Ye Zhao looked pensive.

Hongying had been at Liu Xiyin’s side since they were children. Though they were mistress and servant, their bond was as deep as sisters’. Knowing that her affections were not requited, Hongying felt both resentful and sad. For fear that Liu Xiyin fell too deep in her depression, she tried to comfort her. “Miss, do not despair yet.”

Liu Xiyin had lost her colors. As she lay in bed, her face was wan and sallow. “Now that the truth’s come out, the vixen won’t want me…”

“I’ve noticed that the prince is a soft-hearted man,” Hongying said. “Go find him and do your best to entreat him. Maybe his anger’s dissipated and he’ll agree now. Anyway, you’re a woman, miss. At most, you have romantic designs on another woman.[3] When did you take advantage of his wife? There’s no use lying there on the chaise.”

Liu Xiyin shook her head. “I’m no longer in Ye Zhao’s heart. She only thinks of the vixen. So what do I count for?”

“In many respects — character, talent, appearance, beauty — that vixen isn’t any better than you!” Hongying spat out disdainfully. “Be docile at first, and then, once you’ve entered the house and you’ve done away with him, I don’t believe that your closeness since childhood, coupled with warmth and gentleness, won’t be able to pull the general’s heart back to you!”

She used every argument she could think of to convince Liu Xiyin and ignited the flames of hope in her eyes.

Gritting her teeth, Liu Xiyin resolutely nodded.

Ha ha long time no see guys! Haha…

[1 ↑] This is a reference to the origin of the Chinese expression “to be jealous,” which is literally 吃醋 chīcù, “drink vinegar.” The story is that Tang dynasty Emperor Taizong tried to grant his prime minister Fang Xuanling a concubine, but Fang Xuanling’s wife refused to accept it. The emperor forced Lady Fang to choose between accepting the concubine and drinking poison; Lady Fang chose the poison, and downed the glass — which actually contained vinegar.

[2 ↑] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_Lovers

[3 ↑] Lit. 假凤虚凰 jiǎ fèng xū huáng, “fake (male) phoenix, fake (female) phoenix.” Refers to homosexuality.