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Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 23: Three Emperors in the Stars
I know that Koala has temporarily paused translating and have been getting requests for translations, so I've decided to pick it up. It isn't going to be an easy project, so bear with me as I try to unravel olden Chinese and phrase them in plain English. I'll try to post a part a day (thank goodness for chapter breaks!), continuing in the post I've left off until a chapter is complete, so hopefully that will ease the wait a little.
(Update: CHAPTER COMPLETE)
This is the chapter where the ties that bind the characters are brought to light, as they meet face to face. Yun Ge realizes who Liu Bing Yi truly is, and Liu Bing Yi realizes that he can't keep running any more. Liu Fu Ling continues to be perfect and understanding as always. Seeing how kind Huo Guang can be humanizes him, which makes it even more of a pity that he didn't know/ had yet to acknowledge Yun Ge as his G.o.ddaughter. He has tender sides to him too, not just some one-dimensional moustache twirling villian.
I must say this is one of my favourite chapters, love how Liu Fu Ling and Yun Ge can communicate without words, how adorable they generally are with each other, and how she trusts him completely, implicitly. Most of the pivotal characters made an appearance in this chapter,
Liu Bing Yi carried two old hens as he pushed the door open. His voice was heard before his presence felt “Ping Jun, I’ve got two old hens for you to stew tonight.” Meng Jue sat by the cradle playing with the child, upon seeing his excitement, he said teasingly “The saying is true then – a person is complete with a son, you even speak with twice as much vigour compared to a everyone else.” Xu Ping Jun took the hens, though complaining, sweetness filled her heart “I’m done with my confinement; there’s no need to keep eating such nouris.h.i.+ng foods. If we ate like this every day, we’ll eat ourselves poor.” Liu Bing Yi noticed that although Meng Jue was smiling, there was sadness in his eyes that he just couldn’t get rid of, so he shot Ping Jun a look. Xu Ping Jun hurriedly carried the child on her back and went into the kitchen.
As Liu Bing Yi scooped water to wash his hands, he said “The market was rife with gossip about you and Huo Cheng Jun today. I heard you went to the rouge stall with her, causing a group of women to stare at both of you. What exactly are you trying to do? If you continue to a.s.sociate yourself with Huo Cheng Jun, Yun Ge would definitely ignore you even if you’ve found her. You can’t actually believe that she would be willing to be your concubine right?”
Meng Jue just looked at Liu Bing Yi quietly. Liu Bing Yi felt his blood freeze at Meng Jue’s leveled gaze, smiled as he asked “Why are you looking at me like this?” Meng Jue asked “Bing Yi, I’m going to ask you something, you must answer truthfully.” Liu Bing Yi saw Meng Jue’s solemn expression, thought for a while before saying “Ask away!”
“Have you ever accepted an embroidered shoe from a girl when you were young?”
Liu Bing Yi froze for a moment, then burst into laughter “Here I am thinking you were going to ask about the rise and fall of our dynasty and you ask me this?”
“You’re sure? You haven’t forgotten?”
Liu Bing Yi shook his head, smiling “When I was young, I was always hiding. Indeed, I travelled quite a bit, and met many people but I most certainly have not accepted a girl’s embroidered shoe.”
Meng Jue lowered his head and sighed.
Yun Ge was muddleheaded but how could he make the same mistake! How could he forget that there was someone who bore a resemblance to Liu Bing Yi. Liu Fu Ling ascended the throne when he was 8, as head of state, he created a huge stir each time he left the palace, let alone going to Xi Yu? He really couldn’t imagine him going to Xi Yu, let alone make the connection that the childhood friend Yun Ge couldn’t forget was Liu Fu Ling, not Liu Bing Yi.
Liu Bing Yi asked with some bafflement “Meng Jue, why is your expression so strange? Could it be that you really wished that I’ve had accepted some girl’s embroidered shoe?” There was a trace of bitterness in Meng Jue’s smile as he said “Indeed, I wish that the person who took the embroidered shoe was you” But, it wasn’t Liu Bing Yi but Liu Fu Ling. When Huo Cheng Jun informed him that the girl the Emperor had brought to the palace was Yun Ge, he figured the person in the carriage that night was most probably Liu Fu Ling, but he just couldn’t think of why Yun Ge would be by Liu Fu Ling’s side. Yun Ge might have been captured by Liu Fu Ling, mistaken as an a.s.sa.s.sin, or be rescued by him, but no matter what, Yun Ge wouldn’t have followed Liu Fu Ling to take up residence in the palace. It all made sense now. Yun Ge had always treated Liu Bing Yi differently, even when she mistook him for someone else; now that she actually has met the person she has been thinking of, how could she bear to see him disappointed or sad?
As he flashed back to the Princess’ residence, the scene where Liu Fu Ling tasted her dishes, Meng Jue felt a rush of cold air through his heart. He got up to leave. Liu Bing Yi said “Meng Jue, you haven’t answered me. What exactly are you trying to do? If you don’t draw the lines of your relations.h.i.+p with Huo Cheng Jun clearly, I’m not going to help with your search for Yun Ge any longer.” Meng Jue didn’t even look back as he answered “I’ve already found her; you can stop your search. As for my dealings with Huo Guang, you'll have your answer within the next few days.” Liu Bing Yi, surprised, asked “You found her? Where?” Meng Jue didn’t give him an answer, merely opened the door and left.
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A few months ago, the name Meng Jue might not have rung a bell; after today, Meng Jue’s name will be like Huo Guang’s, known amongst all. A month ago, Huo Guang recommended Meng Jue for a court position and beseeched the Emperor for a t.i.tle, submitting a few vacant official t.i.tles for consideration, but the Emperor gave Meng Jue the t.i.tle of Jianyi Dafu (advisory counsellor), an t.i.tle that wasn’t even included in the first hundred official positions. Everyone felt this sense of malicious joy, knowing that this Meng gentleman was close to Miss Huo; just imagining Huo Guang’s anger at the Emperor’s action was more than enough. As for the wise officials that have met Meng Jue, they lamented at how this man’s talent is now condemned to be wasted at his new position all because of a power struggle between the Emperor and his subject.
Unexpectedly, at court today, it was this advisory counsellor, an official excluded from the first hundred official positions, the person Huo Guang personally recommended – Meng Jue who grandly listed 20 charges against Huo Guang:
As a high ranking official, although he has acted with restraint, he hasn’t managed to control his family- that was charge number one.
A servant of the Huo’s- Feng Zi- used the Huo name to bully others, raping a Hu woman who was a wine seller – that was charge number two.
Mistress Huo’s relatives relied on the Huo’s power to force the prices of rice up, buying at low prices and reselling at high ones, oppressing others to seek higher profits – that was charge number three.
Housekeeper w.a.n.g fought for the right of way with court officials, not only flouting the edict that commoners were to give way to officials, but also instigating his subordinates to beat up court officials on the very street. That was charge number four.
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The important thing was: these were charges that even court officials couldn’t remember once the dust had settled; maybe if they thought harder, everyone could come up with one or two charges; but while it was trivial to them, the commoners lapped it all up and felt each charge keenly.
What were the commoners scared of? They didn’t care who was to be a Grand Marshal or a General, they were only afraid of officials abusing their power for their own gains, to bully and deceive them. Meng Jue’s image of working for the best interest of the common folk, not bowing to power, and his uprightness, coupled together with his impeachment of Huo Guang at court spread his name far beyond the boundaries of the court, and onto the streets of Chang An. Everyone rejoiced, for finally here is a truly righteous official, a just judge addressing their grievances.
Wine seller Hu regained her freedom, and started to sell wine again. There were long queues at her shop, not only to buy her wine, but also to hear her tale. One was a pretty widow from a foreign land, the other a bully who relied on the Grand Marshal’s power to bully others; the tale was said to be vividly painted. Someone penned her story into poetry, driven to inspiration under the influence of wine, and soon it was sung all over various tea and wine houses across the city.
“General Huo of high fame
He had a slave called Feng Zi Du by name
Relying on the general's full power
Feng ogled a Hunnish maiden, wine house flower
The Hunnish maiden was only fifteen;
Alone she served out wine when spring was green
Her long gown girt with double girdle by the side
Her vest adorned with lovebirds and sleeves wide,
Jade from the Blue Field in her hair did appear;
A pair of Roman pearls behind her ear
Her two tresses were so charming and fair
That in the world they stood without compare.
One tress was worth five million coins even then;
Two of them worth much more than ten.
”Who would have thought a captain of the guard
Would drop in and pay me his high regard!
His silver saddle has a dazzling sheen;
His carriage waits with a canopy green.
He comes forward to ask me for clear wine
I raise jade winepot by the silken cord fine.
He asks me then for delicious dish;
I offer him on a golden plate sliced fish.
He gives me a bronze mirror of renown
And tries it to tie it to my red silk gown.
But I would rather have my red silk torn
Than let him stain my body humbly born.
A man would always love a second wife;
A woman should love her husband through life.” [1]
Those who have seen Meng Jue would then sing praises of Meng Jue’s words and manners after a retelling of the Hu maiden’s humiliation – it was his uprightness that bought her freedom while others remembered Meng Jue’s wit and elegance at the banquet thrown at the Huo’s residence. Who else was as distinguished as him? Meng Jue’s exceedingly good looks, impeccable speech and manner, righteous disdain for wealth and power made him the ideal man of countless maidens across Chang An.
Accompanied by the melodious voices of songstresses, through brothels full of beauties, Meng Jue’s fame spread with the song out of Chang An, and even to the desert.
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Huo residence, study.
Huo Yu couldn’t contain his exasperation: “’General Huo of high fame. He had a slave called Feng Zi Du by name. Relying on the general's full power. Feng ogled a Hunnish maiden, wine house flower’, Father would you look at this! This Meng Jue is playing with us Huos! How can this be tolerated? I bet the song sung at these wine houses is part of his ploy too; does he really believe that if he has the Emperor on his side, we will not do him harm? Humph!’
Huo Guang showed almost no expression as he read the poem, then he smiled and praised it “Proper arrangement, comfortable cadence, a good poem indeed” Huo Yu was stunned “Father?” Huo Guang looked at him, sighed and shook his head “If only you had half of Meng Jue’s intellect, I wouldn’t be in want of such a son-in-law.” Huo Yu clenched his fists, his heart full of anger, his lips unable to refute Huo Guang’s words. Huo Shan said “Uncle, your nephew has a way to quietly dispose of Meng Jue, but for sister’s….” Huo Guang cut Huo Shan off, his eyes full of derision “Get rid of Meng Jue? Are you planning to do it openly? Or secretly? If you choose to do it openly, Meng Jue is an advisory counsellor, according to the late Emperor ‘an official not included in the first hundred officals’, even the Emperor himself can’t simply decree his life or death, and even more so now that he has the Emperor backing him in secret. No matter how fast your ‘open method’ may be, if the Emperor refuses to let you make a move, what more can you do? If you choose to do it secretly, now the whole world knows that Meng Jue has offended the Huos, if he meets with a mysterious death, we Huos will be forever known as traitorous, evil court officials who murdered the good and wise. The Emperor is looking for us to make mistakes. If we first lose the hearts of the people, sinking ourselves in sin, we are ruining the very foundation of this house. If the foundation is ruined, how can the house stand?” His words shocked Huo Shan and Huo Yun, although they weren’t happy, there was nothing they could say. Huo Yu started angrily “We can’t do this, nor that, does that mean we’re to sit back and not do anything?”
Huo Guang replied sternly “Of course there are things you can do. First, make sure you each discipline your respective houses. If I hear of such ridiculous things happening again, I will punish whichever house that servant came from.”
Huo Yu, Huo Shan, Huo Yun exchanged looks, bowed their heads and answered “yes” unhappily.
“Second,” Huo Guang pointed to the poem on his desk, “Such talent resides among men; I am at fault for not noticing him earlier. Go find him, treat him well, and raise him up to an important position so that he may fully display his talents.” Huo Yu refused to speak, Huo Shan and Huo Yun replied “Your nephews will see it done.”
“Third, the next time you see Meng Jue in court, be as polite as you can. If I see any of you creating a fuss, the least you’ll be getting is being punished according to the rules of this house, in severe cases, I’ll see that you are punished according this country’s laws.” All 3 remained silent. Huo Guang let his disappointed gaze brushed across all three of them before abruptly slamming his hands on the desk, voice full of reproach as he said “Huo Yu?” Huo Yu felt his blood run cold as he met his father’s gaze, stood up immediately and replied fearfully “Your son understands.” Huo Shan and Huo Yun quickly stood as well, bowed as they said “Your nephews understand too.” Huo Guang looked at them, finally allowing his face betray to signs of fatigue; sighed and waved them away.
As the three walked out, they ran into Huo Cheng Jun. As Huo Cheng Jun bowed to her three brothers, Huo Yu harrumphed “Your good taste!”; his expression cold as he left with a flick of his sleeve. Huo Shan, Huo Yun brushed her off and hurriedly made their exit. Huo Cheng Jun’s eyes filled with tears, and bit her lips to keep them from falling.
She opened the door quietly, only to see her father with his eyes closed in a state of repose, his thin face hiding signs of fatigue. In a matter of days, her father’s white hair seemed to have multiplied, the greying hair on his temple made him look much older than he really was. Her heart filled with regret, sadness, distress, she treaded softly behind her father, and helped him ma.s.sage his temple. Huo Guang didn’t open his eyes, only smiled and called “Cheng Jun?” Cheng Jun answered “Father, if you’re tired, why don’t you just lie down for a bit?” Huo Guang smiled “Only my heart is weary. Cheng Jun, surely you’ve heard of what has happened recently. Don’t take them to heart. This only happened because Father was too careless, not settling things properly.” For the past few days, Cheng Jun had only faced her mother’s reproachful gaze, or her brothers’ cold, hurtful words; upon hearing her father’s words, she couldn’t contain her tears as they fell, drop by drop.