c13 (1/2)

I couldn’t decide who this chapter belongs to more. It ought naturally be Meng Jue, but Ling gege just about broke my heart with the last line of this chapter, so both of them get to top this post. It’s double the pretty, so no one ought to complain. For all of you asking when Yun Ge will (finally) meet her Ling gege (the real one, not the guy she thinks is her Ling gege), it would have to wait until volume 2. Yes, I know, Tong Hua is evil. But then she makes volume 1 the Meng Jue story, and his many shades of white, black, and grey are so fascinating the story just keeps on going without or without Ling gege taking center stage. This chapter is AMAZING, and ups the emotional stakes one giant step forward. That is all I have to say. We’ve got lunar rainbows, piggybacking (OMG, I swear I swooned), singing, and then all of that combined into a heady moment involving all three leads, though not necessarily crossing paths. Sigh, Yun Zhong Ge is just so lovely it takes my breath away.

Chapter 13: Lunar Rainbow Song

Meng Jue’s eyes sent off the Infante of Guang Ling until the man was completely gone from view and then he walked towards Yun Ge. He appeared casual yet he was in front of her in a blink of an eye “Hurt anywhere?” Yun Ge ignored him and turned to Liu He “Your highness, Fu Su has fainted and my leg is injured. May I please ask Your highness to send servants to accompany us back to the Princess’s residence?”

Liu He smiled towards Meng Jue and then ordered his servants to a.s.sist. Huo Cheng Jun couldn’t continue pretending she didn’t know who Liu He was, so she made an exaggerated look of shock and rushed over to curtsy “First time meeting Your highness, it is Cheng Jun’s fault for not recognizing your lofty personage, please forgive me.”

Liu He smiled and waved his sleeve “Since there is a saying that “those who don’t know cannot be at fault”, you’ve already said you don’t know, so how I can fault you. Those who know are always the ones who say they don’t, right?” Huo Cheng Jun suppressed her anger and kept her smile “Cheng Jun does not understand such deep words as Your highness speaks.”

Meng Jue wanted to check Yun Ge’s injury but she squirmed and purposely wouldn’t let him. But since she was weaker than him, she couldn’t out tussle him. Meng Jue held onto Yun Ge’s arm and checked her injury, while Yun Ge’s other arm kept hitting Meng Jue “I don’t want you to check me, I don’t want you……”

Meng Jue saw that her leg was bitten, and despite the heavy bleeding, it didn’t injure her nerves. His worried heart finally relaxed. He grabbed a cloth to help stop her bleeding. Huo Cheng Jun laughed “Yun Ge, I also fight with my brothers all the time, but it’s nothing compared to you. When your brother saw you being attacked, his face turned white and he rushed down the mountain immediately on his horse. Why are you having a temper towards him?”

Since Meng Jue appeared, he acted calm and composed, no sign that he was upset or anxious earlier. Because of what Huo Cheng Jun just said, Yun Ge noticed for the first time that his hair was mussed and there were stray leaves on his robe. He was clearly in such a rush to get down he wasn’t even concerned with where he was going. Yun Ge couldn’t describe what she felt. If he wasn’t interested then he shouldn’t come bother her, then she wouldn’t be affected by his pull close and then push away att.i.tude.

Yun Ge said “My brother is a straightforward man, totally not like him. He’s not……..” Meng Jue’s dark eyes were fixed on Yun Ge and he didn’t seem to be wanting to stop what she intended to say. Yun Ge’s heart ached. If he thought of her as a sister, then why did she need to explain? She stopped herself from continuing and just pushed Meng Jue’s hand away. She climbed on the pallet and closed her eyes, saying and seeing nothing more. Meng Jue checked Xu Ping Jun’s injury and saw it was not serious as well. He a.s.sisted her over to Yun Ge and told the servants “Walk steady along the way.”

Liu He was all eager to watch the love rivals Yun Ge and Huo Cheng Jun start a cat fight, and see how Xiao Jue handled it. Who knew Yun Ge would suddenly act like she wasn’t involved at all. Liu He shook his head and jumped on his horse “Booooring! Back to hunting!” He was off faster than his words were said, disappearing into the woods.

Xu Ping Jun whispered “Yun Ge, Meng dage had reasons for doing what he did. If a lie can save a life, you would do it as well, right? If you were captured, then Da Gong Zhi would be in trouble. You might not be an a.s.sa.s.sin, but what about Da Gong Zhi? He’s a royal, and with one misstep entire families have been killed before.” Yun Ge opened her eyes and then turned to look back.

They had already gone quite a ways, but for some reason Huo Cheng Jun and Meng Jue were still standing in the same place. Yun Ge was wondering why when suddenly she saw Huo Cheng Jun try to slap Meng Jue across the face. Meng Jue grabbed her hand and she tried to pull it out. She then quickly jumped on her horse and took off. Meng Jue didn’t chase her, still standing in the same spot.

Yun Ge didn’t understand and she stared at Meng Jue. How could he allow Huo Cheng Jun to get mad? Why didn’t he chase her? She was thinking in a daze when suddenly Meng Jue turned and looked towards Yun Ge’s direction. Despite the winding mountain roads, Yun Ge felt her heart lurch and she quickly turned around, afraid to look anymore.

When they returned to the residence, the Princess was already alerted. Fu Su’s life wasn’t in any danger but he was still unconscious. The Princess could only ask Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun what happened. Yun Ge could not kneel because her leg was bitten and the Princess allowed them to sit when responding.

Yun Ge explained what happened, that they had inadvertently run into the Infante of Guang Ling, who released his hunting hounds on them. She emphasized how loyal Fu Su was to the Princess, using his life to save them. Yun Ge finally casually explained how the Infante of Chang Yi happened to arrive and saved them.

The Princess was silent for some time, then asking “Did my royal brother know that you were here as my guests?” Yun Ge was thinking how to answer this question when Xu Ping Jun spoke up “I heard Fu Su say so to the Infante of Guang Ling when he was trying to save our lives. He was willing for the dogs to bite him if it could save our lives. But the dogs were howling and we were crying at that moment so I can’t be certain whether the Infante of Guang Ling heard it.”

The Princess gave a chilly laugh and then was quiet again. After some time, she asked “The Infante of Chang Yi saved you, so what was my royal brother’s reaction? What did they talk about.” Yun Ge quickly jumped in “We’ve never experienced something like that before and our wits were frightened out of us. We don’t even know how we were brought back here. We don’t know what they discussed.”

The Princess thought about Fu Su’s injuries, then looked at Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun all covered in blood and she sighed “It was difficult for you both. Please get well soon and then you can cook again. I will make it up to you for the pain you suffered.” She turned to the housekeeper “Order the royal physician to take good care of Fu Su. On account of how loyal he was, tell him to rest comfortably. When he’s recovered, I will send him to a new position.”

The royal physician checked Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun’s injuries and prescribed some medicine, telling them to rest and not move around much. It was night time by the time they drank the medicine. Yun Ge laid on the pallet and stared at the ceiling.

Xu Ping Jun whispered “Did you think I shouldn’t have told the Princes that?”

“No, I’m just annoyed that I didn’t bother to learn proper martial arts when I was a kid. If my daddy, my mom, my Third Brother, my Snow Sister, Ling Dang, Xiao Tao, Xiao Qian….if all of them learned that I couldn’t fight off two dogs, they will probably be so angry at me they’d all faint. Or maybe make fun of me for the rest of my life. Jiejie, we need to keep this a secret. If one day you meet my family, you can’t tell them.”

Xu Ping Jun was about to tease Yun Ge when she remembered Liu Bing Yi “Yun Ge, okay then, this is our secret. You must also never mention it.” “Sure.”

“Yun Ge, I’m a little regretful of what I said. But I was so angry back there. All we did was disrupt some hunting, one deer, yet that Infante Duke wanted all three of our lives. They don’t see human beings as people. All the morality they espouse is bulls.h.i.+t, such as loving their citizens as if they were sons! I’m sure the Emperor is this way as well.”

“Since you already said it, no need to worry about it now.” Yun Ge made a silly face at Xu Ping Jun “It’s not bulls.h.i.+t, the Emperor does love citizens like his sons, but similarly, it’s about following his rules and dictates. It’s not about loving them in all situations.”

Xu Ping Jun remembered how Emperor Wu of Han killed Crown Prince Wei and his entire family and realized it was “loving” in that sense. She smiled “Yun Ge, you are so good at twisting logic. If the Emperor knew you interpreted the saying this way, he’ll surely “love” you the same way. ” After she said it, she sighed “I’m being dragged astray by you, even making fun of the Emperor now.”

Yun Ge smiled “Jiejie, how does it feel to have experienced getting into a fight with an Infante Duke of the Han dynasty?” Xu Ping Jun remembered Liu He and burst out laughing “It feels good. But, knowing he’s an Infante Duke, I realize he’s also pretty regal. He managed to p.i.s.s off the other Infante Duke so much that the guy turned blue and white in the face. How come before we never got the sense he had it in him?”

A maid was ma.s.saging Liu He’s shoulder, another was rubbing his legs, two more were fanning him, and Hong Yi was peeling grapes for him. Right when he was luxuriating, Si Yue (April) gestured for everyone to leave except for Hong Yi. Liu He angrily grumbled “d.a.m.n you, Xiao Jue! You just don’t want me to enjoy myself, huh?”

Meng Jue walked in “Aren’t you looking for a fight today? Otherwise why keep enraging the Infante of Guang Ling?”

Liu He laughed “I heard my royal uncle’s remaining hunting hound suddenly got a weird disease and bites anyone in sight. It almost bit my royal uncle, who was so furious he killed the dog himself. Poor doggy, it must be painful to be killed by one’s owner. Poor Huo Cheng Jun as well. One moment earlier she’s a flower on display, the next moment she’s been turn into bait and has to cluelessly thank you for saving her. Ha!”

Meng Jue didn’t explain and just sat down across from Liu He. Liu He said to Hong Yi “Hong Yi, remember in the future, if we’re out walking, we must also steer clear of this fox.” Hong Yi just smiled sweetly. Meng Jue turned to her “Hong Yi, the external injury medicine the Palace gifted, are there any left?” Hong Yi nodded. “You and Si Yue go bring Yun Ge and Xu Ping Jun over. Yun Ge won’t be willing and you can’t convince her, so have Si Yue use some sleeping incense.”

Hong Yi nodded and wiped her hands before promptly leaving.

Liu He coughed and then made a serious expression “Xiao Jue, today you did two stupid things. No matter how I look at it, both appear connected with Ms. Yun Ge. But seeing our Mr. Meng is usually gentle on the outside with an icy cold heart inside, I no longer am certain whether the blood in your veins is even warm. So I’m wondering if I’m wrong this time, and there is a secret reason for what you did today but I’m just too stupid to figure it out. Can Mr. Meng enlighten me?”

Meng Jue said nothing, just taking a wine cup from Liu He and pouring himself a cup and drinking it. Liu He just grinned at Meng Jue, who silently sat there drinking.

Liu He stuck his head in front of Meng Jue’s face “You must’ve realized it already, otherwise you won’t be pulling Yun Ge close and then pus.h.i.+ng her away. That Yun Ge, if she didn’t like a guy, no one could make her marry him. You knew it was so close, yet you pushed her away! Initially it was all about making a little lady like you, who knew you would lose your heart first. Are you scared right now? Angry that she can affect you like this? So you don’t want to see her, and you treat her with coldness. One moment running off to picnic with Shang Guan Lan, another moment getting all close and comfortable with Huo Cheng Jun. But the moment you saw Yun Ge’s life in danger, our Mr. Meng suddenly realized his little heart was beating wildly and uncontrollably. Worried? Scared? Nervous?……..”

Meng Jue make a fist aimed straight for Liu He’s neck and Liu He immediately back up. Meng Jue growled “Stay far away, otherwise you won’t need to wait for the Infante of Guang Ling to kick your a.s.s.”

In Liu He’s sparring with Meng Jue, he’s always on the losing end. For the first time he’s got the advantage and he was so happy he clapped and smiled. After some time, the sounds disappeared, and then his voice spoke up “I was looking for someone to fight with. I wanted to have it down and out with the Infante of Guang Ling today, who knew you would show up and stick your foot in it.”

Meng Jue look startled and then gulped his wine. Liu He said “That guy is one to erupt with one spark, and yet he endured it today. It looks like the Infante of Yen has decided to rebel, so the Infante of Guang Ling is waiting for his brother the Infante of Yen to become Emperor before dealing with me.”

Meng Jue coldly laughed “The Infante of Yen has long plotted to rebel. His territory the Kingdom of Yen is not rich. Back then Shang Guan Jie and Huo Guang were aligned and could cut off his funds anytime, so he couldn’t do anything. Now the three Regents are fighting outright and the court has split into factions. Plus there is a someone like me, who he thinks is so desperate to become a Duke that I will provide the unlimited funds he needs to buy steel and forge weapons. If he doesn’t rebel, then he doesn’t deserve to be a member of your Liu family.”

Liu He said “Lao San, I don’t care what you do with Shang Guan Jie, but the Infante of Yen’s life belongs to me to do as I wish. It’s not enough to lock him up forever or make him a commoner.” Meng Jue smiled “Next year at this same time, he will be waiting in the court of the King of h.e.l.l.”

Liu He continued to look outside, his expression cold “Today is the anniversary of the death of our Second Brother. If you want to hit me, then go ahead. After today I will fight back. Your half-a.s.sed martial arts can’t hope to compete with me.” Meng Jue sat there quietly and kept drinking cup after cup of wine. When he saw Hong Yi poke her head in, he wordlessly got up and walked out. Liu He took the entire bottle of wine and just drank it directly from the bottle.

[The Second Brother Liu He mentioned is not Yun Ge’s Second Brother. Liu He has a sworn blood brother who is younger than him, and that sworn blood brother also has his own young sworn blood brother in Meng Jue. This makes the three of them de facto sworn blood brothers to each other. Liu He is the oldest, then comes the Second Brother who we know is dead, and finally Meng Jue. This is why Liu He calls Meng Jue “Lao San” (Number 3) at times, because Meng Jue ranks third in their sworn brotherhood.]

Yun Ge felt someone lightly touching her wound and she immediately opened her eyes. She saw Meng Jue sitting on her pallet which shocked her. She immediately tried to get up and leave “Meng Jue, do you not understand human language? I told you I didn’t want you to treat me. From now on, you go your own way, I go my own way. Stop coming to mess with me!”

“I already told Huo Cheng Jun that you’re not my sister, and I will not meet with her alone again.” Yun Ge stopped struggling “That was why she tried to slap you?” Meng Jue smiled at Yun Ge “You saw? She didn’t manage to strike me. I don’t like people touching me. But you sure hit me a lot today.”

Yun Ge lowered her head and whispered “I was injured so I didn’t have any strength, it couldn’t have hurt you.”

“Lay down, I’m putting on medicine.” Yun Ge hesitated and then laid down “Where am I? Where is Xu jiejie?”

“This is Xiao He, or Da Gong Zhi’s, residence. You guys saw him today. Hong Yi is putting medicine on Xu Ping Jun. The hunting hounds have razor sharp teeth and the medicine the royal physician gave you is good but will leave a scar. This is medicine specifically reserved for the royal family and cannot be used by outsiders.”

To allow him to put on medicine, Yun Ge’s entire calf was revealed. When Meng Jue was putting on medicine, his one hand held Yun Ge’s wrist and the other was lightly rubbing the medicine into her wound. Yun Ge tried to remind herself that he was just a doctor treating her and this is nothing. But her face still turned bright red and she didn’t have the courage to look at Meng Jue, only staring at the ceiling.

Meng Jue said “Didn’t I tell you not to cook for the Princess anymore?”, and words were chastising her but his voice was filled with worry. “She’s the Princess, I cannot disobey her command. Plus she is gentle now, but who knows what will happen if I say no. We didn’t think any trouble could come of it, plus Xu jiejie wanted to come play, so we came.”

“Why didn’t you come ask me for help.” Yun Ge was silent and then mumbled “Didn’t you just leave that day without even looking back. I didn’t you see you after that. Who knows where you went with other sisters of yours.” Meng Jue finished wrapping Yun Ge’s wound and fixed her clothes before sitting down next to her.

The two of them said nothing, but the silence between them felt warm and peaceful. “Yun Ge.” “Yes?” “You are not my sister.” “Oh.” “I like to think I’m not someone who has an incestuous interest in my sister.”

This was the first time Meng Jue has almost completely expressed his interest in Yun Ge, without his previous evasiveness. Yun Ge’s face turned bright red but she couldn’t contain her smile. After some time, she asked “Who did you come with today? The Princess? The Infante of Yen? Or…….” Yun Ge’s voice trailed off.

Meng Jue was very candid “I came with Huo Guang, not with Huo Cheng Jun.” Yun Ge smiled before turning her head “Not that I care!”

Meng Jue smiled and rubbed Yun Ge’s head softly “Yun Ge, next time the Princess asks you to cook, don’t put so much thought into it, okay? Just don’t make a mistake.” Yun Ge nodded “Okay. Was the Princess planning for me to cook for the Emperor again? Did he like my cooking last time? What did he say? If he liked my cooking then he can’t be someone like the Infante of Guang Ling like Xu jiejie worried about.”

Meng Jue didn’t answer, just furrowing his brows and softly said “The Infante of Guang Ling”. Yun Ge grabbed Meng Jue’s arm and looked at him with nervousness. Meng Jue smiled “I’m not a lunatic like that Xiao He, and I don’t have a powerful surname as my back up. I won’t do anything, so sleep!”

“I can’t sleep, probably because I slept earlier. I’m so awake right now. I can’t move about in the next few days, so sleeping will be all I can do. Are you sleepy? If not, can you talk with me, okay?”