c24 (1/2)
Yun Zhong Ge Chapter 24: Whispers at Midnight
YAY! More adorable interactions in this chapter. Yun Ge and Ling gege spend the night together, though chaste, no one knows better and it causes a huge stir. Liu Bing Yi steps up, and starts to dip his toes into politics; Yun Ge continues to avoid Meng Jue, Liu Fu Ling remains wonderfully understanding.
My copy of YZG has 6 volumes, if volume 1 was the set up, volume 2 about Meng Jue and Yun Ge, then this volume 3 would be for Liu Fu Ling and Yun Ge. Volumes 4,5,6 are just angst, angst ,angst. Enjoy the happy while it lasts.
Update: CHAPTER COMPLETE. Enjoy! Ahhh, this chapter is too cute, felt it again as I was translating this chapter - probably why I managed to churn it out so quickly- they have this unspoken bond with each other, almost like some sort of ESP.
I'll be updating this everyday until the chapter is complete before creating a new post.(Think of it as Yunzhongge-a-day) This post will be updated tomorrow and I'll post a update notice. Also, anonymous comments have been screened to prevent spam comments but I have lifted that screening feature. We'll see how that goes, if this blog attracts loads of spam, I might have to add a captcha.
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Early in the morning, it was not long after Liu Bing Yi got out of bed; and was eating with Xu Ping Jun when a stranger called on them.
“May I know if Master Liu Bing Yi is at home?”
As soon as he heard those words, the string strung taut over Liu Bing Yi’s heart ever since Liu Fu Ling’s visitation sounded thunderously. The time has finally come. He quickly set aside his chopsticks and met the person in the courtyard. “I am he.”
Qi Xi smiled and bowed, Liu Bing Yi returned his bow hurriedly as he smiled “I am a mere commoner, not fit for such greetings.” Qi Xi smiled “Master Liu is astute. I have been commanded to bring you to the palace, the carriage awaits outside.” The moment Xu Ping Jun registered the words ‘bring you to the palace’, the bowl she was holding fell with a clang, breaking into pieces. Liu Bing Yi turned to Xu Ping Jun “I’ll be back in a jiffy. The water vat is almost out of water, make do with what you have first, and don’t go off trying to draw water by yourself. I’ll do it when I’m back.” Xu Ping Jun followed him out, tears glazing her eyes. It was only through sheer force of will that prevented their fall. Liu Bing Yi looked deeply into her eyes, gave her an apologetic smile before getting onto the carriage with Qi Xi.
Xu Ping Jun held the door frame as silent sobs wrecked her body, sorrow filling her heart, fearing he would be gone forever. It was as if the child in the house sensed his mother’s distress because he started wailing too. The child might be small, but his cries were loud and clear, abruptly bringing her to her senses – she couldn’t just wait around idly. She went into the house, carried the baby and hurriedly went off in search of Meng Jue. He was their only lifeline.
The carriage brought Liu Bing Yi to the restricted area in front of the palace gates. Qi Xi lifted the curtains and indicated for Liu Bing Yi to get off and walk. After Liu Bing Yi got off the carriage, he lifted his head to look at the majestic Wei Yang Palace and was struck with an urge to either cry out a song of lament or laugh uproariously. After more than ten years of drifting, he was standing humbly in front of this palace hall under a different ident.i.ty. Qi Xi was very sharp, after observing a moment of silence, he mentioned for Liu Bing Yi to follow him.
The palace walls, corridors, golden pillars, jade pillars….
Everything was familiar, yet not.
Many of these things have appeared in his nightmares; the Heavens seemed to be giving him a chance to verify today - that those shattered and scattered dreams are real, and not part of his imagination. Usually when it was an official’s first time coming into the palace, the eunuchs would introduce the halls and remind them of the protocol they’d need to follow, serving two purposes – the first to remind the official not to make mistakes, the second to curry favour through conversation, so that he would have an ally in future. Today though, Qi Xi was very quiet. Every time they pa.s.sed by a great hall, he would quietly report its name, other times he would just silently lead the way.
Just when they were about to reach Wen Quan Hall, Qi Xi slowed down “We are about to reach Wen Quan Hall. During winter, his majesty will usually meet his ministers and settle court matters here.”
Liu Bing Yi developed a sudden fondness for Qi Xi; even as he quickly said “Thank you for your reminder.”
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Wei Yang Palace, Jiao Fang Hall
Huo Guang paid his respects to the Empress Shang Guan Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei felt extremely awkward but knew this was how Huo Guang was like. No matter how he may feel, he would always behave as etiquette dictates in front of others.
She was a monarch, and he, her subject.
And so she could only sit stiffly, waiting impatiently for him to finish his bow so she could quickly grant him a seat. After Huo Guang took his seat, Xiao Mei's gaze swept across the hall; all the eunuchs and palace maids tactfully left the hall.
Xiao Mei asked tenderly “How has grandfather, grandmother, uncle and aunt been? Aunt has not entered the palace in a while, I miss her dearly. If she is free, please ask her to come accompany me.” Huo Guang rose slightly “Thank you for your consideration, your majesty. All is good with your subject and his family. How does your majesty fare?”
Xiao Mei lowered her head.
First came the addition of that girl in Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, then the matter of the Huo residence being charged by someone came closely after, she had to think through her answer carefully at this critical juncture. Does her grandfather wish for her answer to be “good” or “not good”?
She chose silence as her answer, letting her grandfather draw his own conclusions.
Huo Guang sighed as he took in Xiao Mei’s silence, her head bowed as she played with her bangle “Your majesty entered the palace at a tender age, with no elder at your side to care for you. I have always been worried for you, yet I should not be worrying about such matters.”
“You are my grandfather. If you don’t care about me, I really am left with no one else to rely on in this palace.” Xiao Mei lifted her head, anxiety and distress written on her face.
Huo Guang hesitated, then changed his form of address “Xiao Mei, his majesty and you……Has his majesty……..rested.. at your place?”
Xiao Mei lowered her head, playing with her bangle as she replied nonchalantly “Emperor Da Ge comes to visit me sometimes, but he has his own residence. The décor here isn’t as pretty as that in Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, so he has never stayed here.”
Huo Guang, anxious and amused said “Why do you still behave like a child? Haven’t the old grannies in the palace educated you? His majesty should be staying at your place.”
Xiao Mei stuck out her lower lip “I don’t like listening to what they say. My own pallet is just nice for me; if two people were to lie on it, it will be a tight squeeze. Furthermore, his majesty is always so cold, just like…..” Xiao Mei glanced around furtively, then whispered “His majesty is just like a rock, I don’t like him.”
Huo Guang rose and walked over to Xiao Mei, his face stern “Xiao Mei, you are not to talk like that in future.”
Xiao Mei biting her lip, nodded humbly.
“Xiao Mei, no matter what you may think, the Emperor is the Emperor. You must respect him, and try your best to make him like you. Only if his majesty treats you well will you be then be happy here.”
Xiao Mei kept quiet, then nodded again after a while.
Huo Guang asked “Have you met the new girl the Emperor brought into the palace?”
Xiao Mei softly replied “She is a really nice Jie Jie and treats me very well. She cooks for me and even plays with me.” Huo Guang was so infuriated he could only sputter “You…..” The bloodbath within the Emperor’s harem was always comparable to a battlefield - no matter which concubine, as long as she had her family’s backing, other maidens would not be able to gain favour easily. Even more so since Xiao Mei was the Empress and he, Huo Guang wielded immense power. Great! Now that they are stuck with this childish, innocent Empress, the world would now see the strangest harem in history.
Xiao Mei looked fearfully at Huo Guang, tears misting her eyes.
Xiao Mei never really resembled her parents but at this moment, with her face so wretched, she looked like Huo Lian’er. When Huo Guang remembered how whenever a young Huo Lian’er was unhappy she would remain silent, silently shedding tears, just like this, he just softened, all his anger dissipating.
Xiao Mei entered the palace when she was six. Although she was cared for by older palace maids, they were still maids after all; there were many things they would not and dare not teach. Furthermore, there were some things he specially ordered them not to tell her, thinking it best if Xiao Mei were to remain in the dark. Xiao Mei had no friends her age, staying alone in her hall all day, idly living out her life, so there was no way she would understand the ways of the world.
Huo Guang stared at Xiao Mei, feeling extremely helpless. Then remembered there were benefits to her childishness, for if she were a ruthless, twisted Empress, would he be able to rest easy with her as the Empress? He didn’t dare entertain such thoughts, so he chose to be thankful for her ignorance instead.
He ruffled her hair, speaking tenderly “Don’t worry. Grandfather isn’t blaming you. Don’t fret about such matters from now on; I will take good care of you. You only have to do my bidding.” Xiao Mei happily grabbed Huo Guang’s sleeve, nodding vigorously. Huo Guang exited Xiao Mei’s Jiao Fang Hall, thought for a bit before accidentally-on-purpose taking the long route, pa.s.sing the Blue River en route to Wen s.h.i.+ Hall.
On the frozen Blue River.
Yun Ge, Mo Cha, Fu Yu were busily giving orders to a group of eunuchs, pointing at the sky, then to the ice. Yun Ge, wearing a pair of embroidered gloves, was deep in thought as she drew clumsily. Mo Cha and Fu Yu stood beside her, chattering as they watched her draw. Each throwing out a few comments, and arguing when their opinions differed. The lively scene belied the chill and bleakness of their surroundings. Whereas in Jiao Fang Hall, despite the careful arrangement of flowers, the hanging vines, the scent of the jade phoenix wafting in the air, the palace maids and eunuchs were dour and solemn, silently sitting by the phoenix pallet, the Empress playing by herself, the whole hall seemed like it was covered in ice.
Huo Guang stood for a while before anyone noticed him. Once he was discovered, everyone wordlessly got into position and paid their respects. His gaze swept across all of them before falling on Yun Ge. Yun Ge looked at Huo Guang, though shocked, she didn’t show her discomfort, meeting his gaze frankly as she bowed to him. Huo Guang smiled “The first time I met you I knew you were no ordinary character. And I was right.” Yun Ge only smiled, not replying. Huo Guang stared at her, perplexed.
Ever since Yun Ge’s appearance in Xuan s.h.i.+ Hall, he had ordered a thorough check on her background, but this girl seemed to have fallen from the sky. She had no birth records, let alone any form of record at all, no family, suddenly appearing in Chang An, and since the day she appeared, she had been inexplicably tied to the Huos.
First, Liu Bing Yi, forcing Huo Guang to acknowledge his existence, closely followed by Meng Jue, his daughter Cheng Jue actually had to fight with a cook for Meng Jue. This Meng Jue created much commotion within the Huo residence, and after losing so much to Meng Jue, he still felt helpless against Meng Jue.
Then in the blink of an eye, she materialized by Liu Fu Ling’s side. Although he didn’t know whether by bringing her into the palace, the Emperor was showing his favour or whether it was just a wordless statement against the Huos, whether or not she is a p.a.w.n, he could not allow someone who wasn’t a Huo to bear a prince first. Looks like there was no way he could prevent the brewing conflict between her and the Huos.
Huo Guang just felt as if the whole thing was ridiculous, the powerful, talented Huo family fighting with this lone maid? Maybe thinking of this battle as the power struggle between him and the Emperor will make this thing less ridiculous.
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Yun Ge saw that Huo Guang’s gaze was still trained on her, smiled as she called out “Your grace?” Huo Guang composed himself, smiled and bid Yun Ge goodbye.
The moment Huo Guang turned around, Yun Ge continued whatever she was doing, as if nothing happened. Once Huo Guang was some distance away, Fu Yu s.h.i.+fted to her side, started to say something, then faltered, mulling over his words. Yun Ge playfully hit his head “Stop twisting yourself in knots trying to work out his thoughts. No matter how hard you try you can't beat him anyway, so why bother? Concentrate on doing this for me - that is what you ought to be doing.”
Fu Yu scratched his head, grinned and answered “yes”, but started to be on his guard, knowing that he must be even more meticulous in future.
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Wei Yang Palace, Wen s.h.i.+ Hall.
Liu Bing Yi lightly entered the main hall with Qi Xi, his head bowed, his hands clasped. Liu Fu Ling was seated high on the dragon pallet, his authority radiating across the wide hall. Liu Bing Yi paid his respects to Liu Fu Ling “Long live your majesty.”
“You may rise.”
Liu Fu Ling contemplated him for a bit, then asked “What has been the happiest moment of your life so far? What do you most want to do?”
Liu Bing Yi froze, he ran through all the possible questions Liu Fu Ling could have asked on the way to the palace, and thought he was very prepared, but it turns out he was wrong. Liu Bing Yi stood silently; Liu Fu Ling didn’t rush him, bowing his head to read his memorials, giving Liu Bing Yi the time to think. After a long while, Liu Bing Yi answered “Nothing truly happy has happened in my life thus far, maybe with the exception of my son’s birth, but even then I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or sad for bringing him into this world.”
Liu Fu Ling looked up at his words. Liu Bing Yi laughed bitterly “What I have always wanted to do was to be a court official. Adrift since young, I have been eating, dressing, growing up like any commoner, so I know, more than anyone, how a good official can bring fortune, while a corrupt official can destroy the lives of hundreds and thousands. I have seen many evil, corrupt officials who have angered me so much I longed to kill them, but that is not the right path. The actions of youxia might be able punish the evil officials, but they won’t be able to save the common folk. Only by becoming an official, helping the Emperor to establish laws, to choose the wise, will the common folk be true beneficiaries.”