Chapter 93: Dissident

Chapter 93: Dissident

Hai Yans Notes:

Regarding Jingruis similarity to his birth father, she says that she thought of it like this: Basically the Da Chu prince was being held as a hostage in Da Liang and living somewhere inside the palace where he wasnt allowed to see outsiders. And Princess Liyang wasnt a good little girl back then, and plus the previous Emperor was rather more lenient than the current one, so she met the hostage andstuff happened. But no one outside the palace saw the hostage much, and anyway, its been twenty years, so even though Jingrui looks more and more like his birth father (the hostage) as he grows up, not many people made the connection, and those who did were people of the palace who knew to keep their mouths shut. And actually the Liang Emperor eventually figured it out and knew it was true beyond doubt, but by that time he really liked Jingrui, and this was still his sisters son, and anyway Xie Yu hadnt said anything so he just let it go, and if anyone were to bring it up he would have just suppressed it and buried it, and definitely wouldnt have actively pursued any leads on it, cuz theres the imperial face to consider yo.

And as for the hostage Yuwen Lins current situation in Da Chu, she has this to say: He is warm and generous (Jingrui takes after him), and lives the leisurely life of a prince, and although his daughter is close to her cousin Yuwen Xuan, he himself seldom interacts with the outside world.

She says this will all come up later in the story, but shes saying it now because some clever readers are going to ask Why didnt anyone realize Jingrui looks the same as some Prince from Da Chu?

She also says theres no way to record anyones appearance, so even if Jingrui look slike his father, he looks like his father in his youth, and so even if someone saw Jingrui and saw the now-middle-aged Prince with his nice long beard, unless they knew the whole story, they wouldnt necessarily make the connection right away. Even for Nian Nian, if she wasnt standing right beside Xiao Jingrui, they probably wouldnt achieve that jaw-dropping effect.

She goes on to talk a bit more about very persistent readers who might ask why no one had discovered the similarity in all the years of Jingruis life (her answer: someone did xiao Su) and very very persistent readers who might go on to ask why was it xiao Su who discovered it and why didnt he discover it earlier (her answer: because thats how the story works).

And she basically says if you keep asking, then she will be like Yujin face to face with Xia Dong unable to resist (i.e. defend herself).

The shore of the man-made lake near Rain-Shower Hall was curved, and so its distance from the pavilion varied. Some parts of the shore were covered in willow trees, while others only harboured low-lying grass. Gazing across the lake to the shore in the dark night, one could only make out patches of black and gray, with blurred movement indicating some kind of activity, and those with poorer eyesight could not see what was going on at all.

Those are the reinforcement troops, right, theyre all running around. Yan Yujin squinted, trying to see more clearly.

There was silence in the pavilion. A good while later, Meng Zhi coughed and said, From what I can see, that looks more likeXie Yu has summoned some of the archers from the Capitol Patrol.

Xia Dong grabbed Yan Yujins cheek, and he tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to go in the tiny pavilion.

Xiao Jin, how did I not know about your night-blindness? Isnt your eyesight quite good in broad daylight? The lady Xuanjing officer teased, eyebrow raised.

Youre the one Yan Yujin was about to retort, but the sudden pain in his cheek reminded him that this was Xia Dong jiejie, and he could not resist against her, and so he only said unhappily, Its just that my eyesight gets a tiny bit worse at night, its far from night-blindness.

Xie Yu must nearly be at the end of his rope, it looks like the external pressure from outside the gates of his manor is strong indeed. But a cornered beast is most dangerous, and though this place is a little distance from the shore, from certain angles, the distance is within range of the archers, so everyone be careful, Mei Changsu advised.

Dont worry, Mister Su, Meng Zhi laughed. This is probably Xie Yus last stand. Arrows fired from this kind of distance will be considerably weakened by the time they reach us. Let the wounded and the ladies retreat to the back, and with the few of us here, we can hold them off for some time yeteh, Officer Xia, where are you going?

Didnt you tell the ladies to retreat to the back? Xia Dong widened her eyes at him. Do you mean to say I am not a lady?

But even as she spoke, she was standing again, taking up a guard position at the south-eastern part of the pavilion. Yan Yujin muttered very quietly, Youve never been a lady, and stood at the front as well. Soon, the pavilion was divided into two semi-circles, the inner comprising of the defenseless Mei Changsu and the wounded Zhuo family, and the outer formed by Meng Zhi, Xia Dong, Yue Xiuze, Yan Yujin, Xiao Jingrui and Fei Liu. Yuwen Nian and Gong Yu wanted to join the outer circle as well but there was not enough room, and they were pushed back by the men. Xia Dong couldnt help chuckling. Arent you all protective of the fairer sex.

The words had scarcely left her lips when the first round of arrows fell, harder and faster than expected, and the outer circle focused on their defense, not daring to be careless. The archers on the shore were well-trained, the lines of archers switching seamlessly so that the arrows fell in unrelenting waves. Yan Yujin, who had always been on the weaker side, was soon soaked in sweat, and he missed two arrows in the next onslaught, but fortunately, Xiao Jingruis sword flashed beside him and knocked them to the ground as he shoved him to the back with his other hand. Gong Yu grabbed the sword from Yan Yujins hand and took his place.

Mei Changsu helped Yan Yujin sit down beside him, urging, Take a deep breath and gather your qi, then move it in two circuits around your body, gather it down at your navel, and hold it there for awhile. Your constitution is not strong by nature, and if you do not adjust your qi well, you will sustain harm to your body.

Yan Yujin obeyed, closing his eyes and shutting out the noise around him as he breathed slowly. At first, he was a little distracted, but soon, he was concentrating hard, blocking the chaos around him as he focused on moving the qi around his body and calming his frantic pulse before settling it around his navel, and then letting it disperse bit by bit towards the pain around the different parts of his body.

When he opened his eyes again, he jumped in surprise. The shower of arrows had stopped, and everyone was gazing soberly at a particular spot on the far shore, but when he turned to look, he couldnt see anything, and so he turned automatically and grabbed Xiao Jingrui by the sleeve, asking, Jingrui, whats going on at the shore?Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

As soon as he spoke, he suddenly remembered that Xiao Jingrui was not in an ordinary state of mind at the moment, and he turned hurriedly to see that he was indeed white as a sheet of paper, and he was about to say something comforting when Xiao Jingrui suddenly threw off his hand and plunged into the lake, swimming fast towards the shore.

Hey. Yan Yujin couldnt stop him, and stamped his foot anxiously. Xia Dong, standing beside him, sighed. Wed better go over there too.

Yuwen Nian was in the water before she had finished speaking, chasing after the ripples Xiao Jingrui had left in his wake. Everyone else helped each other into the lake and swam together to the opposite shore. Although the water in April was no longer frosty, it was still far from warm, and when they emerged soaking into the cool evening breeze, the chill from the water was inevitable. Meng Zhi kept turning back to look at Mei Changsu, and the latter knew his concern, and so said quietly, Its alright, I took medicine.

There were actually not many people on the shore by the lake. The Marquis of Nings soldiers and Prince Yus household troops were locked in a mutual stalemate, and had retreated to the other side of the winding path. Xia Chun and Yan Que had indeed come hurrying into the manor, and had arrived at the shore before the others had began their swim over from the pavilion. They were both of a rather reserved nature, and Xia Chun only glanced at his shimei, saying nothing, while Yan Que merely asked, Alright?

Alright, alright, Yan Yujin did not care that his father had said so little, and besides, by this time, he had taken in the situation around the shore, and all of his attention was being diverted elsewhere.

Xie Yu stood beside the rock gardens, his face pale as death, his normally dark eyes ashen with despair. Prince Yu stood with his arms clasped behind his back about seven or eight paces away from him, and though his expression was solemn, his face devoid of any smile, somehow, he could not hide the sense of delight he so clearly felt at the scene of misfortune before him.

Both of their gazes were fixed on the same spot.

The Grand Princess Liyang sat in the middle of the dew-riddled grass, her dark hair falling around her face, her robes wrinkled and dirtied. Clutched in one waxy hand was a long, gleaming sword, resting on the ground beside her. Her face, streaked with tears, still bore the signs of exertion, her cheeks reddened, her breath coming quickly, the veins in her neck bulging slightly. Xiao Jingrui sat beside her, supporting her as her head rested on his shoulder, patting her on the back with one hand as he gently wiped her face with his other sleeve, murmuring, AlrightIm herealright..itll be alright.

Theyare they.. Grand Princess Liyangs eyes were closed, her voice quiet.

Some are injuredbut everyone is alive.

I was not referring to this

If you mean that year, in the past, I think.

I was not referring to that year either. Even if I cannot face you over the matter of Jingrui, even before that, could you face me?4

Something flashed in Xie Yus eyes, but he did not speak.

You really have never understood what I was thinking. Princess Liyang sighed lightly, shaking her head, and then smiled bitterly. What I mean is. a husband and wife should support and help each other, yet tonight, I have protected my three children, and protected the Zhuo family, and even indirectly protected those you had wanted to silence, but have not protected you. But youare in fact the person I should protect the mostdo you not hate me?

Xie Yu immediately shook his head. If you mean this, then I have never hated you.

Why?

Because even if you tried, you could not protect me.

Princess Liyang nodded, saying slowly, So it is true. When I saw the risks you were willing to take in silencing them by killing them, I guessed that whatever you had done, it was something from which I could not resolve you, even with my power as Grand Princess. May I ask, if you are convicted, what will happen?

Sentenced to death, and my name wiped from the earth. The inheritance and noble rank of the Xie clan will also end here.

Grand Princess Liyang looked at him, sighing lightly. If it comes to this, the spirits of your grandparents will know, the spirits of all the ancestors of the Xie clan will know, and what will they think.

Xie Yu laughed bitterly. History is written by the winners, this has been known since the time of our ancestors.

Have you truly never thought of doing all you can to keep the name of the Xie clan from falling to ruin?

This time, Xie Yu immediately understood her meaning, and there was a pain in his heart as he gritted his teeth.

The Xie clan has been lauded for its achievements for centuries, and its name honoured throughout history, how can you stand to let it be destroyed overnight like this? Grand Princess Liyang slowly held out the long sword in her hand towards her husband. This is the only thing left that I can do for you, for the Xie family. Since you have failed tonight, and there is no way out of this alive, then why not die a clean death, without losing the heroic nobility befitting a male of the Xie clan?

Xie Yus expression was wooden as he murmured, If I die, will the waves cease?

At least, I will not let everything come to the surface. Prince Yu is only a political enemy, he does not harbour true enmity towards you. He only wants to see you fall, he is not intent on destroying the Xie clan. I will beg my imperial brother to let me leave, I will abandon my past and become a nun, and take the children with me away from the capital. That way, Prince Yu will not waste any more time on us. Princess Liyangs gaze was bleak, her expression mournful. I cannot protect your life, but at least I can protect your reputation. If you are lonely in the afterlife, then, after I have settled the children, I will come to keep you company, alright?

The moonlight illuminated the tears in her eyes as they trailed along her hairline to the tips of her ears. Xie Yu suddenly reached out and drew her tightly into his arms. He kissed her cheek and said lowly, Liyang, no matter what else you think, I truly do love you.

Princess Liyang shut her eyes tightly, but could not hold back the flow of tears. In the more than twenty years of their marriage, she had never once returned her husbands affections, but now, she raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist.

But after this short embrace, Xie Yu slowly pushed her away, and pushed aside the long sword in her hand.

Xie Yu.

I am sorry, Liyang, Xie Yus face was hidden in shadow, his features blurred. I do not want to die yet, and I have not yet arrived at the end of the roadlet the waves rise. Until the very last moment, who can know who will win and who will lose? Even if I lose everything, even if I lose the name and reputation of the Zhuo clan, what of it? It is only when a person dies that he truly loses everythingeven if I die, at least, I will die without regrets!

I think it was mentioned before that YYJ survived some kind of serious childhood illness (thats actually why his dad started him on martial arts to improve his health)

shimei = apprentice [younger] sister (I better start leaving these in their phonetic form because shifu is coming up soon, and I know you all know that one)

shixiong = apprentice [older] brother

4its a little subtle, and comes out even clumsier in the translation, but in Chinese I think its pretty clear:

that year in the past = Liyangs affair with the Chu prince

the matter of Jingrui = same thing (i.e. Jingruis true origins)

even before that = Xie Yus raping Liyang on their wedding night

Translators Notes

Liyang.