Chapter 7 (1/2)
Chapter 7: Fallen Gentleman – Part 6
Translated by: Ritpoppy
Edited by: An extremely tired Ren
Fun Fact of the Day: Remember how the GongGong in Li GongGong meant grandpa? Well in Ancient China, the position of Gong Gong, which only applies to males, was to serve the individuals in the Imperial Harem. To make sure that the male wouldn't do anything funny to the concubines, they all had to be castrated (AKA they got their t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es removed).
Ming ShaoXia nearly began wailing.
”You mustn't! You mustn't! Young Prime Minister, you must reconsider!!”
Yun Qing wasn't very old, yet his hand grip had the strength ten times that of an ordinary human. No matter how much Ming ChangYan jumped and rolled around, making a fuss, the right hand that was grasping his arm wouldn't move a single joint.
Ming ShaoXia was tired from jumping around, accepting his fate, he crouched down, picked up the half eaten steamed bun and stuffed it back into his chest. Yun Qing took this opportunity to grasp his left hand, until finally colliding with his fingers. Ming ChangYan's whole body trembled, his ten fingers forming two fists.
”Such a high official! Such a vicious man! You really have no face! You have no sense of shame! A single man and woman alone, you're taking advantage of my weak physique since I have no strength to fight back. Young Prime Minister, you sure have the guts!”
Yun Qing glanced at him, seeing how Ming ChangYan's dress has been ripped to shreds, his chest missing half a piece, having been rolling around on the ground, dust fluttered around him, his hair messy and disheveled, it was rather quite pitiful.
Ming ChangYan wiped his face, suddenly, he went to grab something from his chest, appearing like he was about to take out a concealed weapon, Yun Qing raised his hand to cover his face. Ming ShaoXia's leftover steamed bun smashed itself onto Yun Qing's chest. He immediately turned around and broke into a run, leaping on the roof. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared at the doorway of ChangPing Palace Hall.
Within the Listening Lotus Terrace, a window was quietly opened, a person fluttered into the room.
Ming ChangYan held the steamed bun in his hand, he chewed on it while pouring himself some tea. The feeling of being grabbed just now has dissipated, he lit a light, slowly opening up his palm. His hand was fine and slender, his fingers refined, but on each finger, there were tiny scars.
He knitted his eyebrows together, and conveniently stretched his hand to lightly touch the nape of his neck, finding that there was an uneven scar there too. Furthermore, there was a faint ache where the scar was, the skin slightly b.u.mpy, it seemed as if there was something bound up inside it.
Ming ChangYan shook his head, refres.h.i.+ng his mind, and poured a few more cups of the tea, but was still very hungry. He subconsciously touched his chest, only to discover that he had used the remainder of the steamed bun as a weapon, and thrown it at the Young Prime Minister. When Ming ShaoXia recalled that Young Prime Minister, he angrily cursed: That little b.a.s.t.a.r.d is really hateful, to have the impertinence to humiliate this ShaoXia. When I get back my cultivation, I'll definitely, definitely…
Ming ShaoXia let out a humph, and ate the fruit that had been placed for G.o.ds in the room. He laid on the bed, chewed on a pear, and once again smelled the familiar, muddled fragrance. It seemed like a moment ago, he had been too close to Yun Qing, which caused him to rub some of the perfume onto him. That little brat, although his temperament is a bit shameful, his perfume that he uses is very much to my tastes, causing Ming ShaoXia to love it so much, he doesn't want to part with it.
He sleepily thought: In the future, before I teach him a lesson, I need to ask him what kind of perfume he puts on.
Many years ago, Ming ChangYan was formerly friends with a little child with exceptional medical skills, an appealing appearance, and was like a tail, always following him around. It was extremely amusing. After he calmed down, he began to think that this Young Prime Minister looked more and more familiar. Previously, he had already begun to suspect him back at ZhaoHe court when he had just merely glanced at him. If it is truly him, then that little child has grown up to look more and more beautiful.
But this Ming ShaoXia has always been blind, it's a common occurrence for him to relate a person to another, which causes him to pull in a lot of hatred from people. In all honesty, he doesn't have much confidence in recognizing other people's faces and doesn't dare to rashly make a decision.
This fault in his had even once been written on Jianghu's daily newspaper and spread the word that: The n.o.ble Gentleman is so arrogant that he believes that no one else matters!
Completely wronged, Ming ShaoXia doesn't look down on people, rather he just can't remember anyone's face. In a single day, the number of individuals that he's fought with could match the number of carp in a river. All of them were just two eyes and a mouth to him, even if Ming ShaoXia racked his brains, he still wouldn't be able to distinguish one from another. As a result, every true hero of Greenwood*, Ming ShaoXia would use needles to examine.
(*TN: ”绿林好汉”: refers to groups of people, similar to bandits, that live in the wilderness and reject social orders and ruling cla.s.ses. They resist government power and are sort of like a ”rebel hero”. Something that's similar to this would be Robin Hood.)
If they could be disposed of with one needle, they would collectively be known as: One Needle.
If they could be disposed of with two needles, they would collectively be known as: Two Needles.
And so on. All the people who's ever fought Ming ShaoXia were awarded the t.i.tle of ”the number of needles”. So much so that everyone in Jianghu would constantly argue about this matter. For example: You've challenged the n.o.ble Gentleman, I've also challenged the n.o.ble Gentleman. You're called ”Three Needles”, I'm called ”Two Needles”. The n.o.ble Gentleman need three needles to dispose of you and used two for me. Doesn't that mean that my cultivation is lower than you? How is that okay?!
On the surface, there were people who seemed to disregard this criterion, but secretly can't help but use The Ghost Gate's Thirteen Needles as a way to measure one's cultivation. The more needles that were used on someone, the more face they had. They were admired by many in Jianghu, who all surrept.i.tiously thought: This person is actually able to make Ming ChangYan use 17 needles, this person's cultivation must be unfathomable and beyond belief. They must truly be an outstanding genius.
Ming ShaoXia slept till daybreak before he even had enough time to fully awaken, Fu Ling suddenly knocked on the door.
”Shaos.h.i.+! You must quickly wake up!”
Ming ChangYan swiftly pulled down his bed curtain, and casually put on his outer robe.
Fu Ling shouted, ”Imperial Concubine Yuan has become insane!”
Ming ChangYan paused, raising his eyebrows, he replied, ”Insane?”
He slowly put on his clothes, and fastened his belt, ”I thought it was some important matter, what business of mine is it if she's gone insane? Wasn't she just fine yesterday?”
Peony helped him comb his hair, ”But do you know how she became insane?”
Ming ChangYan answered, ”I don't know. If JieJie tells me, then I will know.”
Peony's face paled, clearly still recovering from the Imperial Concubine Yuan incident. She cleared her state of mind, and said, ”She became insane early this morning.”
Imperial Concubine Yuan's insanity was different from other cases of insanity. Earlier this morning, the emperor woke up in Zhaohe court to discover sleeping beside him was an aged and feeble, gray-haired old woman. The emperor was greatly alarmed and called upon the Imperial Bodyguards at once. But after entering the room and flipping over the elderly person to get a better look, they were able to identify through their appearance that it was indeed Imperial Concubine Yuan.
After listening to this part, Ming ChangYan paused, and indifferently replied, ”Such a mysterious occurrence, I reckon they called upon that Young Prime Minister. Did he go?”
Fu Ling explained, ”Yes, in the time it took for half an incense to burn, the Young Prime Minister had already rushed to Zhaohe court. However, when he arrived, the Imperial Concubine had already become insane.”
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For a young and pretty woman, to wake up early in the morning to find they had turned into a dying and extremely aged and wrinkled old lady, how could you not fall into madness? Imperial Concubine didn't just go crazy, after 30 minutes, she began rolling and crawling around the room in a disoriented state. She began to scratch at her neck with her sharp fingernails when all of a sudden, a needle pierced its way out her wrinkled neck.
And then another, and a third…coming from the throat all the way to the chest, all densely packed together, there were needles everywhere! The pain was intolerable for Imperial Concubine Yuan, who began to pull at the strings that were coming from her mouth. In a single pull, her five viscera and six bowels were ripped into pieces, her belly split open.
At this moment, everyone was finally aware of how Li GongGong and Aunt Chun died: They all simply died from their own Lingchi*!
(*TN: ”凌迟”; a slow and agonizing way to die. It is also known as a lingering death, or death by a thousand cuts. This method of torture/death was mostly practiced Asia, where the prisoner would be bound together while people used a knife to cut off small portions of your body until you eventually die.)
”It's needles again,” Ming ChangYan murmured.