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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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, 衙门, 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, 入骨针, 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, 曳撒, 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, 探花, 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, 四书五经, Four Books and Five Classics. These are the classics of Confucianism and would be tested in the Imperial Examination, Keju, 科举. 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, 童试 (children’s exam), is literally held for teenage boys every year locally. Next, Provincial examination, or Xiangshi, 乡试, is held every three years for selected candidates in provincial capitals. Then there is Metropolitan examination, Huishi, 会试, which is held every three years in the national capital. Lastly, successful candidates will be invited to Palace examination, Dianshi, 殿试, 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, 养春, Liao Jixiang’s courtesy name. 

The original word here is 老祖宗, 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 老祖宗 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, 申时, is the name of a particular time interval in ancient Chinese timekeeping. One Shichen, 时辰, is about two hours, and Shenshi is from 1500 to 1700. 

The original term here is Langzhong, 郎中, a fifth-rank position. 

Dinghuai Gate, Dinghuai Men, 定淮门, is a citywall’s gate sitting towards the west. 

The hour of You, aka Youshi, 酉时, is from 1700 to 1900. 

The original term here is Yapai, 牙牌, 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, 咏社, 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, 大珰. 珰 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, 臧芳, or Zang Yirou, 臧以柔. Yirou is his courtesy name.  

The Palace Secretary, or Zhongshu Sheren, 中书舍人, is a seventh-rank position in the central government. It originated from the department called Central Secretariat, or Zhongshu Sheng, 中书省, 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, 甘肃, 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, 诤臣, which means “an official who dares to speak honestly and remind the emperor of his wrongdoings”. 

Lingnan, 岭南, was considered by the ancient Chinese court as a tropical barbarian land that had lost contact with the Zhongyuan, 中原, 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 枷, 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, 钦犯, 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, 大理寺, 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.