Chapter 10.1 - Beauty (2/2)

Nobody knew what had actually happened. But the lower-ranked people inside and out the Ji family were all replaced. The few close-fitting servant girls that were beside Yu Hong Ye also never appeared from then on. Ji Ming Han broke relations with the clan and since then, the Duke Su family did not have any other madam.

Ji Ming Han disappeared soon after he handled everything, leaving behind the young Ji Heng to be raised by his father, the Old General Ji. Afterwards, the previous emperor passed away and Emperor Hong Xiao ascended the throne. In his early youth, Ji Heng inherited the dukedom. He was the youngest duke at the age of fourteen.

Ji Heng’s father’s life was quite legendary. But Ji Heng was the opposite.

Letting the common people of Yan Chao discuss him enthusiastically. First of all, there was no one who could contend Ji Heng’s appearance.

As it was said, Ji Heng’s mother, Yu Hong Ye, was a famous beauty under the heaven. For the people, each smile and each frown was like a painting. Compared to paintings, it was even more moving. The words “beautiful woman” fitted her as if they were said just for her. Ji Heng’s appearance mostly inherited his mother’s good looks. He was able to make people turn stupid upon seeing him. Moreover, his temperament inherited his father’s indifference. To be called General Jin Wu, this person, he naturally had a firm determination.

Ji Heng, this person, was extremely gorgeous yet also extremely cold. It couldn’t be said that he alienated people, rather, his heart was too cruel and he was also moody. Perhaps, one second he was speaking to you softly, and in the next second, without blinking an eye, he could have you beheaded. The common people in Yanjing named him “Jade-faced Asura8”. Yet no matter how gloomy his temper was, there were still waves after waves of young ladies trying to get hold of him.

Footnotes:

1: 太仆/太僕 (tàipú): officially translated as Grand Servant, Imperial Stud, or Minister Coachman. In the political system of the Qin (秦)and Han (漢) dynasties, the central government was run by ministries, led by the high-ranking officials titled as Nine Ministers (九卿, jiǔ qīng) (the organization changed a bit between the 2 dynasties but both use the same name). The Grand Servant was in charge of the Emperor’s chariots, carriages and horses, as well as the equine-related affairs for ceremonies and also regarding the government pastures. Source: Wikipedia.:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

2: 少卿 (shaoqing ): each of the nine ministers had a vice minister to help them, they were their right-hand man. Source: .:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

2.5: 成王 (Cheng Wang), Wang is a title for prince/king, usually given to the children of the Emperor or someone very appeciated by the liege or someone with merits(e.g. brother, uncle…). There are several ranks (Junwang, Qinwang,…), some are hereditary some aren’t, it’s not specified which type of Wang it is. Cheng is the title (each Wang has a different title, usually a positive quality). The action of an official affected him, so we can assume that he is a superior of those officials .:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

3: 您 (nín), ‘you’ in a corteous way, using formal speech. Used by the servant to adress the Master. I won’t be commenting anymore in the formality degree unless it’s necessary, but since in English this nuance is lost, it would be nice if you could remember that servants use formal/respectful language towards their masters, the same with people in a lower position to their superiors. :leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

4: 嗯 (ēn). This is an affirmation sound, something like a grunt… also frequently used by ML in a low, deep, magnetic voice that makes FL’s (and this editor’s) legs go soft….:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

5: 金吾 (jin wu). This is his title as general, Jin is gold, Wu is I/myold, so if we put a bit of imagination it might be sth like ‘the general that brings methe Emperor wealth’ (by winning all battles and conquering other lands).:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

6: 庶 (shu), reminding everyone, a shu daughter is concubine-born, holds much less importance than the official or di children, and is not entered in the family genealogy.:leftwards_arrow_with_hook:

7: To marry her as the rightful wife and bring her through the front door: In ancient China, unless it’s the rightful (official) wife, the female wouldn’t be married through the (front/main) door. For example, taking a concubine, the sedan would be brought into the residence through a side door/back door instead. To illustrate, there is usually a big double door gate in the middle and two smaller doors on the right and left or at the side of the compound. The big door normally won’t be opened, unless there is a major event or someone important is coming. .:leftwards_arrow_with_hook: