Volume 2 Chapter 19 (1/2)
The Prince's escaped fiancée (Arc 2-2)
After Tao Yunfeng left, Granny Wu hurriedly led in a group of doctors, all of them famous physicians in Jianzhou City. Apart from the Imperial physicians, these people were the most respected authorities on medicine.
This group of white haired elders cl.u.s.tered around Su Yang, nodding and shaking their heads, taking his pulse and questioning him closely, stroking their long beards as they conversed in low voices. Su Yang looked at them with amus.e.m.e.nt, deliberately tugging on their white beards as he played the part of a simpleton.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick has pa.s.sed, they discussed their findings and came to a conclusion. One of the old men cupped his hands in a salute to Wu Xueyan, saying: ”Madame1, based on this elder's years of experience, the injury that the young master sustained is not a serious one, and will recover after a few days. As for the sudden memory loss, with the temperament reverting to that of a child, I'm afraid this may be a side effect of the head injury. There have been similar cases recorded in the ancient texts, it is not life threatening, and some people spontaneously recover after three to five days, but there are some…..”
He trailed off, hesitating. Wu Xueyan said faintly: ”It's alright, please continue.”
The doctor bowed and said bluntly: ”There are those who never recover in their lifetime. Madame, I would advise to prepare for the worst.”
Wu Xueyan went stiff upon hearing his words, her fists clenched tightly by her side, but her face remained coldly stoic: ”Perhaps this is karma, all his past misdeeds have now returned as misfortune to befall on his head.”
Granny Wu hurriedly interjected: ”My lady, don't say such things, our young master is under the protection of the Fu, Lu and Shou deities. It is common for youngsters to commit mistakes, Buddha is merciful, he will surely be forgiven.” She turned back to the white bearded elder and said anxiously: ”Physician Liang, since you say this is an illness, surely there must be a cure. You have to come up with a cure.”
Note: 福禄寿 (Fú lù shòu) – The G.o.ds of the three stars and the three qualities of Prosperity (Fu), Status (Lu), and Longevity (Shou) in Chinese religion. The term is commonly used in Chinese culture to denote the three attributes of a good life.
However, Physician Liang could only lament: ”There is no cure. A human's four limbs and internal organs are linked to the life gate. Among these, the head is the most important. Break your hands, break your legs, one can still live, but the injury of the head must be avoided at all costs. Even a miracle doctor would not dare rush forth to attempt healing, much less a sham2 like myself. Madame, please seek elsewhere for an expert.”
Note: In traditional Chinese medicine, the lifegate (命门) is the root of the original Qi which enriches the viscera, without it, the functions of the organs will fail.
Wu Xueyan closed her eyes and tiredly waved her hand. Granny Wu quickly stepped forth and saw the doctors out.
After they left, Su Yang tugged on Wu Xueyan's hand and asked curiously: ”Who were those people? Why are they leaving? What is a sham? Why did they call you Madame? Is your name Madame?”
Since this is now the reality they must face, there's aught else to do but make the best of it!
Wu Xueyan looked at him fixedly. After a long while, she suddenly smiled, her sharp eyebrows and the counters of her face softening immediately, but Su Yang felt a chill creep up his spine at the sight.
He could only listen as Wu Xueyan said faintly: ”This… is not a bad thing.” She touched Su Yang's head with uncharacteristic gentleness, as she continued slowly, ”Since you don't understand anything, you won't be sad. You won't remember that it was your parents who pushed you into the fire pit with their own hands. If fortune allows your return to us in the future, Mother will guide you, and take care that you never step off the right path again.”
Su Yang's face showed no reaction to her words, but inside, his heart felt like a lump of coal. So you're dead set on sending me off to save yourselves? Is there really no room for negotiation?
Although Jing Cheng is his target in this world, the current circ.u.mstances were not in his favour. If he was really dim-witted enough to enter the palace now, it would be no different from a lamb faced with a tiger, he will be eaten to the bones, without even a sc.r.a.p of wooly fluff left!
His only possible support was Wu Xueyan, the only daughter of Wu Xingde. Back when Wu Xingde followed the previous Emperor into the war's battlefield, laying waste to Jiangshan3 for miles, he not only held the Death Exemption plate, but also had command of tens of thousands of Imperial troops.
Note: Death exemption plate : 免死金牌 (Miǎn sǐ jīnpái) – a plate bestowed by the emperor to his subjects in ancient times that would exempt them from the death penalty
If there is anyone in the whole of Greater Ming who could stand up to Jing Cheng, it would be none other than the great general Wu Xingde.
However, this Wu Xingde was rather fearsome, and Wu Xueyan had truly inherited his temper. Father and daughter were both famous for their unyielding natures. Regardless if the wrongdoer was their own child or grandchild, they would see to it that no crime goes unpunished.
These days, Jing Cheng is viewed as a selfless hero with matchless courage and unshakable loyalty to the nation. As for himself, he was a treacherous wretch undeserving of pity even if he was stomped to death by Jing Cheng.
Actually, Su Yang does privately agree that the original host was somewhat of a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. His betrothed was dying in the front lines, couldn't he have at least acted the part of a fiancée a little? Even faking it a bit would have been fine. Was it really necessary to have been so callous, rus.h.i.+ng to burn bridges after he deemed the other to be worthless, and ended up stranding himself with no way out….
The Fifth prince was a child of fate, did you think it'd be so easy for him to be killed offscreen4? Fantastic, how do you expect me to worm my way into his heart after you've crushed it!
Wu Xueyan was unaware that beneath the sweetly innocent face, he was spitting with rage inside. She avoided gazing at him for too long, afraid that her heart would waver at the sight of her son who was now like an innocent babe. She got up suddenly, leaving only a single curt instruction as she left.
”Look well after him.”
The rest was left unsaid, but all who were present understood; once the young master's injury has healed, he will still be bundled off to the Fifth prince's residence as a show of apology.
This time, the proud and haughty Di son of the Minister of Revenue, is completely and utterly finished.
……
The next day, the legions from the Northern Desert5 campaign returned to court.
Be it the common people of Jianzhou city, or the entire imperial court of ministers for civil and military affairs, everyone was overjoyed. The Tatars of the North have lived in the great desert6 for generations, every man and child of the tribe was as fierce as they were fearless. In recent decades, they have been the cause of much strife in the Northern Desert, a constant thorn in the side of Greater Ming that was maddeningly aggravating.
Note : 塔挞 (Tǎ tà) – Not sure if it's a mistranslation on my part, or if the author made some weird typo again. 塔挞 (from original text) is gibberish to me. But 塔塔 (Tǎ tǎ) is the Chinese Tatars, one of the 56 ethnic groups of China.
It went without saying that a vast and proud nation such as Greater Ming wouldn't tolerate such provocation. Troops were sent successively to suppress the North, but suffered resounding losses each time.
When Jing Cheng requested to be sent on this expedition, he was laughed at for a fool. In the past ten years, how many experienced and outstanding generals have lost in the battle of the Northern Desert, how could a pampered royal upstart hope to do any better?
It was beyond anyone's expectations for him to not only return alive, but also managed to recover all the land that was lost to the North in just three short years, while driving the Tatars out a hundred miles beyond the border. Word of him struck terror in the hearts of the barbarians, to the gratification of the people and the shock of their foreign enemies.
Currently, he was astride a splendid chestnut stallion at the forefront of the procession, looking resplendent in black robes embroidered and trimmed with gold. His cold, handsome face was a picture of unruffled calm, the innate violence masked, like a quiescent blade returned to the sheath after being honed to a keen edge by a thousand days and nights of b.l.o.o.d.y battles.
Those who once mocked him as the cut-sleeve prince and an old cow grazing on young gra.s.s, now sealed their lips and trembled. No word against him was uttered even in private, the sight of him alone made their knees go soft.
Note:
Cut sleeve : 断袖 (Duàn xiù) – a chinese slang for h.o.m.os.e.xuality, based on the story of the relations.h.i.+p between Emperor Ai and Dong Xian.
Old cow grazing on young gra.s.s : 老牛吃嫩草 (Lǎo niú chī nèn cǎo) – describing a huge age gap between both parties in a relations.h.i.+p.
All the genteel, young ladies of the city had initially also turned up to welcome this valiant hero, but dared not approach him. He was no longer the cold faced Prince from three years ago, he now carried the heavy air of blood and death, bringing to mind a terrible and ferocious G.o.d of destruction.
As the procession gradually trooped away, someone said: