Chapter 43 (1/2)
Glossary
[1] 石 | dan | dry measure for grain around one hundred liters
里 | li | unit of measurement that has varied over time but has now been standardized to 500 meters (Wikipedia)
The melancholy sound of the guqin floated in the air as it narrated what was weighing the player’s mind down, playing Jian Jia from the Book of Songs: The reeds and rushes are deeply green, and the white dew is turned into hoarfrost. The man of whom I think, is somewhere about the water. I go up the stream in quest of him, but the way is difficult and long. I go down the stream in quest of him, and lo! he is right in the midst of the water. (Translation by James Legge)[a]
Because of the blistering hot summer, all the windows were completely open. Mosquito repellent incense was placed on all the window ledges and the wispy smoke billowed in the air while the soothing sound of the guqin drifted in, cleansing one’s mind.
Ruan Zhu’s mind became empty and she sat up on the bed. As the guqin’s song came to an end, she nevertheless could not help but to sing:
The green grass is flourishing and in the white fog
there is a beautiful woman across the water.
The green grass is luxuriant and indistinct in the white fog,
there is a beautiful woman in the midst of the water.
I’m willing to go against the current to nestle against her side.
Helpless against the dangerous rapids ahead, the road is once again distant and long.
I’m willing to follow the current in the direction she’s gone,
yet saw a faint silhouette like she had long been standing in the water.
The green grass is flourishing and in the white fog
there is a beautiful woman across the water……
Across the Water 在水一方 by Chiang Lei 江蕾 [b]
The mellow voice was just like a fine wine, intoxicating the mind of people. Just earlier, Yun Shi Wei had been put into a fitful sleep by the guqin but had been quickly woken by his wife’s singing. He reach out a hand to hug her: “Spouse, it is still your singing that is nice to listen to. Listening to it is very comfortable. But, that person’s guqin song is also not bad, hearing it made me want to sleep.”
This dolt, such a beautiful guqin melody had actually been regarded as a lullaby.
Ruan Zhu suddenly felt that the two parents of the Yun clan giving her their second son as a secondary husband was a wise move. If he had been arranged as the principal husband for some other female, it would be a wonder if he didn’t end up being disliked and ignored.
In the inn’s Sky Room #3, Lu Piao Xiang’s jet-black hair spilled across his shoulders and over the white robe he had draped across himself. On his angular yet distinctly handsome face, there was a hard to make out emotion as he blankly stared at the starry sky for a very long while, while murmuring to himself:
“You really are the kindred soul I have been looking for all along.”
He had only played Jian Jia to comfort himself and very quickly, a similar song had been sung. Could this be a coincidence? No, this was clearly the mysterious arrangement of the Heavens. The world had a Lu Piao Xiang that loved the guqin, and naturally, the world would also have one that understood him–his kindred soul.
Lu Piao Xiang’s tall and straight figure stood motionless in front of the window, only returning to rest in his bed after half the night had passed.
At this moment, Ruan Zhu did not yet know that the song she had sung out of a sudden impulse would entrap the young man even further.
She was currently imprisoned inside Yun Shi Wei’s embrace with his arm as her pillow and felt a bit at peace.
Pregnant women were prone to sleepiness. Just as she was about to doze off, his noisy voice sounded from next to her ear: “Spouse, after you give birth to Eldest Brother’s child, have him eat some contraceptives to let me have some children, too. I would like a boy. After he’s born and grows stronger, I’ll teach him martial arts, horseback riding, and archery.”
Ruan Zhu suddenly felt her heart becoming suffocated with panic and opened her eyes to look at him: “Don’t tell me females have to give birth nonstop their entire lifetime?”
“Who said for a lifetime? Giving birth five or six times is enough as included among those definitely will be a few pairs of twins. For one principal husband with an additional four secondary husbands, that will be enough to satisfy the important task of carrying on each male’s ancestral line. That’s it.”
“Must I have that many husbands?”
“You don’t have to have a lot. Right now, you have me and Eldest Brother, so it will be fine to accept only three more.” Yun Shi Wei yawned: “You don’t need to look favorably on those other secondary husbands, you can just bring them home and view them as half-servants. If they should be beaten or scolded, it’s whatever. However, I’m not the same, Spouse, you definitely have to treat me well.”
Must she really have five husbands?
Lu Piao Xiang’s figure flashed in her mind. If he was counted as one, it would be pretty good. But for this matter, she did not want to make the decision and wanted Yun Shi Yi’s agreement, to avoid wounding his heart.
The ancient Chinese man also needed their principal wife to give their nod of approval before the husband had the privilege of taking a concubine. Then, her accepting a secondary husband also could not be a case of thinking for oneself and acting accordingly.
Was the idea of one female paired with many males too shameless, yes or no?
Ruan Zhu’s cheeks blushed from shame at her own thoughts.
But immediately, she defended herself. It was not that she was unsatisfied, it was the dignified law and she had no choice but to comply.
Even if she collected five of them, she had to find ones that she personally liked, right?! If there were two people yet she loathed to be with either, she was better off not having them.
She thought all of this and nudged aside Yun Shi Wei’s hand on her chest, gradually falling asleep.
After more than a month, Yun Shi Yi had yet to return. A letter from the relay station said that things had become somewhat troublesome and for her to patiently wait for a little while longer.
Ruan Zhu felt somewhat reassured. It was fine as long as nothing had happened to her husband.
This year’s drought was particularly severe, especially in the South. Starting from a month earlier, several refugees had arrived at Mao Er Town from villages and other areas at the southern periphery of the country. It was said that not a single grain was reaped in many cases and farmers had no choice but to beg for food. Half of these people stayed and begged while the other half fled north. The majority of the elderly and feeble that finally reached Mao Er Town refused to go further north.
Foodstuffs became precious and prices skyrocketed. Rice rose from last month’s price of five hundred coins for one dan[1] to one thousand coins. Furthermore, the price was still rising. Even the prices of salt, oil, and other household essentials were getting higher and higher.
The local official could be considered diligent and had set up a food center on the streets. Thin porridge was ladled out twice a day, allowing the commoners that were unable to afford to eat a way to survive. There were also many youngsters with strength to work that saw this as free food and felt even more disinclined to leave.
The number of idle people in Mao Er Town had increased and troublesome events such as fights, looting, and stealing started breaking out.
Just last night, several ruffians had rushed into the inn, scaring the guests. They had snatched a few valuables and then left. If it weren’t for martial experts being present, they would most likely have stolen even more.
Ever since becoming pregnant, Ruan Zhu always slept lightly and would wake at the slightest sound of activity. When the few thieves had just noisily entered the inn, she had been startled awake.
Both the receptionist and innkeeper had hidden themselves. The first floor was the dining area and it also had several guest rooms that were of a lower quality used by poorer guests. From that area, the thieves did not have large fish to catch so they proceeded into the second floor.
Ruan Zhu heard noise from the stairs and then the sound of what seemed to be weapons smashing doors open. She thought it was strange and opened her eyes. She shook Yun Shi Wei but he was deeply asleep and did not wake.
At this moment, Lu Piao Xiang’s voice came from outside the door: “Madam Yun, don’t be afraid. I am here.”