c18 (1/2)
We’re here, we’re here. Chapter 18 of Yun Zhong Ge marks the end of volume 1 of this rich, nuanced, and densely plotted novel. There are two more volumes to go, but we’ve come a long way since we met the girl in the green woven skirt riding a snow white camel in the desert. I may find Yun Ge somewhat annoyingly idealistic and perky, but I appreciate that she’s still young and is always growing and learning from her experiences. She never stays stagnant, and instead she faces the hard truths in life and soldiers on. I’m sorry this chapter is going to end on a ridiculously tense cliffhanger, but this is why we love it, no?
I love how this chapter finally explained things from Meng Jue’s point of view, and it hurts to realize that he’s going to go with his heart but unbeknownst to him, it’s already too late. I think its hilarious the amount of coincidences that happens on the road between Chang An and Wen Quan Palace to lead to the events that are about to unfurl. Are the Heavens leaning towards Meng Jue or Liu Fu Ling? I think neither at this point, as both men are about to find and lose Yun Ge at the same time.
Chapter 18: Inferno
Outside of Chang An, in the Lu Mountains, the Wen Quan Palace (Hot Springs Palace) was built by Qin s.h.i.+ Huang. Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che, Liu Fu Ling’s dad) also added to it. Since Liu Fu Ling ascended the throne, he did not spend any more money on Wen Quan Palace, but the splendor of the yesteryears still permeated every nook and cranny of this Palace.
At the eve of the Crown Prince Wei revolt, when Emperor Wu of Han was poisoned, he chose to come here to recover.
Because the situation was such a mess at that time, plus Liu Che’s personality had turned highly suspicious of everyone, from the Queen on down to the Princes and the court officials, he trusted no one. Thus he did not allow any guard from the Palace or Chang An to enter Wen Quan Palace. At the Palace, all the Emperor’s guards are his most trusted eunuchs.
Because of the dictates of the previous Emperor, and with Liu Fu Ling’s tacit consent, Yu An spent the last ten years diligently building up the second strongest armed forces outside of the Imperial Army, and now they were silently and stealthily sprinkled all around the Lu Mountains.
The hot springs were all inside the Palace, and all around the hot springs there were engraved carvings of lilies used to accessorize and to prevent slipping. Steps lead into the hot springs and the hot steam blanketed the entire room.
Liu Fu Ling was sitting in the hot spring just up to his shoulder, leaning back against the jade pillow as if he was asleep. He didn’t like people close to him, so only Yu An can stand outside the curtains.
An eunuch came inside and bowed to Yu An, who spoke quietly to him before the eunuch departed. Yu An couldn’t see what the situation was inside the curtain, so he didn’t know if he ought to disturb the Emperor, so he stood there clenching his hands.
Liu Fu Ling, without opening his eyes, asked “What is it?”
Yu An quickly answered “Your majesty, I am useless. That day I checked out every woman in Gan Quan Palace and to this day, I cannot find the woman singing. But I was just told something new. Remember the chef who cooked for you once, Zhu Gong Zhi? The chef was at Gan Quan Palace that day, but I had the chef kicked out. I just learned from the Princess’s eunuch Fu Su that, despite the Elegant Chef being named Zhu Gong Zhi (Gentleman Zhu), the chef is in fact a girl.”
Liu Fu Ling slowly opened his eyes “What is her name?”
“Because Fu Su was not one of the Princess’s trusted eunuchs, and all the eunuchs in the Princess’s estate are now dead, so we don’t know what her real name is. But since Zhu Gong Zhi is the chef at Qi Li Xiang in Chang An, I’ve already sent someone to investigate. We’ll find out no later than tomorrow night.”
Liu Fu Ling thought back to eating Zhu Gong Zhi’s food that day, and then the singing in Gan Quan Palace, and he suddenly stood up from the hot spring. He quickly wiped himself and dressed “Yu An, go prepare a carriage. We’re immediately returning to Chang An and going directly to Qi Li Xiang.”
Yu An kneeled and bowed “Didn’t Your majesty come to Wen Quan Palace to meet Meng Jue? Despite only meeting once, my impression of him was very memorable. I hear he’s close to Huo Cheng Jun, and that Huo Guang thinks very highly of him and treats him like a son. I don’t know why he suddenly asked for a meeting with Your majesty, but I think something is brewing there. Why don’t you wait to meet him before returning to Chang An?”
Liu Fu Ling fixed his robe and walked out “When is he coming?” Yu An replied “He will try to leave Chang An tonight, so he’ll arrive in the middle of the night, or maybe tomorrow at dawn. But if he arrives in the middle of the night, he won’t bother Your majesty, so the earliest he’ll come see you is tomorrow morning.”
Liu Fu Ling thought about it “We’re heading back to Chang An through the night. If he arrives, tell him to wait for me, and I’ll see him tomorrow night at the latest.” Yu An realized how out of character Liu Fu Ling’s behavior was but the timing would work out so he said yes and went to prepare the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Liu Fu Ling leaned against the cus.h.i.+on and closed his eyes, as if he was sleeping. But his heart was unsettled. He was afraid to think about Zhu Gong Zhi being the person he was waiting for. All those years, he waited in Chang An, just silently waiting. This is the first time he’s taken the initiative and dared to reach for what he wanted……what he wanted but fate might not be willing to give him.
The wisest decision was to wait to get confirmation. If it was correct, he could make the move. If not, then he can only remain waiting. He rushed down the mountain so quickly that likely people spying on him would see his move. But he was silent and waiting for too long. He was afraid of missing this chance, he was so afraid of what might happen if he let this chance pa.s.s him by.
If Zhu Gong Zhi really was her, he had to see her as soon as possible. What if someone had been mean to her? What if she wasn’t happy? What if she wanted to leave Chang An? What if she met someone else? So much could happen in a single day, and he had long ago lost faith in the Heavens.
When he headed down the mountain, there was no wind. But the wind started to pick up, so strong that a person felt like he was being carried away.
Yu An was very unsettled and dared to say “Your majesty, it’s very windy tonight and not good for travel. Let’s go back! The latest tomorrow night we’ll receive news, Your majesty need not make this journey yourself.”
Liu Fu Ling did not open his eyes and said “You can go back.” Yu An immediately replied “Your servant I wouldn’t dare” and retreated to keep guard as they continued on their way.
………………………………..
One black horse, a body covered in a black cloak, Yun Ge rode like the wind. The sharp gusts cut into her face, but the pain only made her happier. It’s been too long since she rode with such wild abandon. Too bad her mount wasn’t Ling Dang, or a Blood Sweat Horse, then she could really enjoy riding unfettered.
Her daddy and mom might not be home. Sometimes when they traveled, it wasn’t odd for them not to come home for two or three years. Second Brother was probably off somewhere journeying. Thank G.o.d her lazy Third Brother would be at home. Thinking of Third Brother, she only felt warmth. She even missed Third Brother’s coldness towards her, always acting like he couldn’t be bothered with her.
No wonder people said a girl’s home is her maiden family. When a girl was happy, she wouldn’t miss her family. But when she was sad, the first place she wanted to go was back home.
She once believed that the person who loved her would treat her like his most precious treasure. No matter how others saw her, in his eyes she would be the smartest, the cutest, the prettiest, irreplaceable. She could not be exchanged for a thousand taels of gold in this world. But now she realized that was just a childish dream of a young romantic girl.
People are too complicated, people have too many desires and wants. Perhaps a thousand taels of gold was not enough to be exchanged, but then a million taels of gold might be enough. Or maybe a thousand and one taels of gold is all that it takes to give it up.
Yun Ge felt her eyes fill with tears but she didn’t want to cry another drop for him. She screamed loudly in the wind and the sharp wind hurt her throat so much the pain caused her to swallow her tears.
When she arrived here, Chang An was the capital city of the Han dynasty. The world’s most glamorous city, the most majestic city, and the place she’s been longing to visit since she was a child. Chang An represented her dream, it represented the happiness she thought was always hers.
But now, she never wanted to think about this place again. She wanted to forget everything that happened here.
Yun Ge urged her horse faster….faster so that she can leave all of this behind…..leave it all far far behind…………..
……………………………………………
A black horse.
The best way to conceal a black clothed person on a dark black night.
With the face covered, the only thing visible is a pair of eyes.
Even though he knew that rus.h.i.+ng to Lu Mountain in the middle of the night he still might not see Liu Fu Ling, but he still needed to decrease the time spent on the road to avoid being detected. Thank G.o.d tonight the wind was big so there was few people on the road. Because of the cutting wind, they could also openly cover their faces when traveling.
His delay tactic was almost at a breaking point. Soon Huo Guang would start to be suspicious.
Liu Fu Ling was his only hope now. Since Liu Fu Ling agreed to secretly meet with him, he must know what he wants to say, and will probably agree.
Even though the death of his entire family wasn’t directly caused by Liu Fu Ling, but he always resisted working together with Liu Fu Ling. All he did was work towards his own goals, and watch and judge Liu Fu Ling from afar. He never expected life would push him to this point. Just like he never knew that the Liu Bing Yi he hated since childhood would one day be someone he could discuss things with.
If this happened some time ago, everything would be so simple. He would definitely choose the path that best benefitted him – he would choose to marry Huo Cheng Jun.
Huo Cheng Jun was different than Huo Lian Er. She knew what she wanted and had the power to fight for it. Huo Cheng Jun’s personality was best suited to help him achieve everything he wanted in Chang An.
What remaining use Yun Ge had to him, when compared to Huo Cheng Jun, was negligible.
When he first came to Chang An years ago, he was a simple man without money or connections. Xiao He promised to help him, but as an Infante Duke he was prohibited from using his wealth for anything in Chang An. Plus Xiao He’s power and connections was limited in Chang An. All his plans needed Uncle Feng’s money and connections. But Uncle Feng was greatly influenced by his adoptive father and stayed far away from politics. He would never agree to help him.
Except for Yun Ge. The daughter of the woman his adoptive father loved his entire life. Only she could change things. His adoptive father was like a G.o.d in the heart of Uncle Feng, and he was his adoptive father’s only heir. Yun Ge, plus his last name of Meng, could turn everything impossible into something possible.
The reality confirmed what he long suspected. Uncle Feng was enraged that day but when he saw the Gold Silver Flower pin in Yun Ge’s hair, nothing else mattered anymore. What was important was seeing a young man with the last name Meng holding the hand of the girl wearing the Gold Silver Flower hair pin. It finally resolved the sadness in Uncle Feng’s heart about what did not happen long ago.
Now Uncle Feng has handed him all his businesses in the Han dynasty. Even though his other three uncles haven’t handed him the Xi Yu businesses, but compared to the power presented by aligning with the Huo family, those other businesses no longer mattered.
He tried over and over again to convince himself. He even embraced Huo Cheng Jun, even tried to kiss her. He tried to convince himself that “it’s just a woman, if he closed his eyes they are all the same, and Huo Cheng Jun’s looks are comparable to Yun Ge.”
But it wasn’t the same. His mind told him it was the same, but his heart said that it wasn’t the same.
His mind shouted “the same, the same” as he leaned down to kiss Huo Cheng Jun. But his heart clearly told him “not the same, not the same”. And in the last second, right as he was about to kiss Huo Cheng Jun, he pushed her away.
Faced with Huo Cheng Jun’s shocked and incredulous expression, he just smiled and told her that he was overstepping his bounds and dare not do this. But his heart knew that it was because of Yun Ge. He could not let her slip through his hands. It was his little Yun Ge!
When he was at his lowest point, dirty, hopeless, and pathetic, it was Yun Ge who reached out to hold his hand without flinching.
It was Yun Ge who smiled back at him when he derided her.
It was the rich girl that he believed himself to hate for many years, but during those years he remembered every word she said to him, every smile, her green woven skirt, her name.
His three uncles would occasionally mention Yun Ge’s Sky Mountain snow camel named Ling Dang.
Every time it was because he “accidentally” mentioned something which lead to the pa.s.sing discussion. So each time he perfectly timed his “accidentally” mentioning something.
He tracked the steps of the Sky Mountain snow camel, he tried desperately to find out any information about this girl he loathed.
He found out that she went to the Mu Lake with Ling Dang. She went to the Kong Que River. He learned that Ling Dang accompanied her to the Du Ku Se Mountains, to Tibet, a trip that took three years where all traces were lost of her.
She was so free, living every moment enjoying life.