Chapter 51 (1/2)
Glossary
[1] 辰 | chen | one of the ancient Chinese two-hour periods; designated for 7-9 am
时辰 | sichen | time system comprising of 12 two-hour periods of the day; one sichen is the equivalent of two modern hours
尺 | chi | a Chinese foot, about one-third of a meter
Ruan Zhu originally had the habit of lazing around in bed, and after becoming pregnant, she became even more unwilling to get up before the sun’s rays were gleaming brightly in the sky. The matter of paying respects to her mother was also naturally excused. No matter how partial Madam Ruan was, her treatment of her own daughter would of course not be like how a mother-in-law treats her daughter-in-law.
Master Ruan placed great importance on this grandchild of his that would soon enter the world and instructed the kitchen to send fresh supplements every day.
Unlike her last life, Ruan Zhu did not have to wake up early to go to class and also did not have to work herself to death during the holidays. In such a cold winter, who would be willing to get up that early? Nowadays, she was heavily pregnant and had even more reasons to dawdle in bed. When half of the time of chen[1] had passed, meaning it was a little over eight o’clock, Lu Piao Xiang supported his wife up and fed her a bowl of pigeon soup and two meat-filled soup dumplings. She afterwards pushed him away, and falling onto the bed, burrowed inside the quilts and went back to sleep again.
Lu Piao Xiang helplessly shook his head: “Just sleep a little more then!” He called for Nuan Chun to enter to tidy the room while he himself picked up a book to read in front of the bed.
While reading, he kept stealing glances at the bed; the corner of his mouth exposing a smile when he recalled last night’s affair. As he was thinking, his body unexpectedly reacted. Wrinkling his brows, he could only seriously concentrate on his book to not think about those sexual matters and after a while, the swelling at his crotch disappeared.
While Ruan Zhu was sleeping again, another half of a sichen passed. In the courtyard, Yun Shi Wei practiced two rounds of boxing, one set of rod techniques and then ran to the back garden to stroll in a large circle. Seeing that all the plum blossoms had bloomed, he broke off a few branches and handed them to Nuan Chun when he returned back to the room for the latter to keep them in a vase.
“Why is she still sleeping? It’s so late, how can she handle it. Sleeping so much, won’t she become ill?”
“How would I know?” Lu Piao Xiang bitterly smiled and put down the book in his hand. A few days earlier, Ruan Zi Xu had instructed for them to take his daughter out to the courtyard for some air every day, saying for them to make her walk more so that the childbirth would be easier.
But Ruan Zhu did not cooperate, causing them to always be reprimanded by her father and not daring to talk back.
Yun Shi Wei had muttered behind Ruan Zi Xu’s back: “It’s not like you don’t know what kind of conduct your daughter has. Always venting your anger on us, I have called you father-in-law in vain.”
Not only were these words heard by those gossip-loving servants, they also spread to Ruan Zi Xu. Absolutely disgraceful! What was wrong with his daughter? His daughter was so clever and so gentle yet he dared to slander her? This kid, Uncle will not be polite when dealing with nephews! As a result, Yun Shi Wei was banned from leaving the residence to go out hunting or to play.
Yun Shi Wei was one that loved to be active all day and night. Being forbidden from leaving the residence made him dejected and every day, he could only leisurely roam around the residence to stretch his limbs.
“Spouse, time to wake up, the sun’s gonna toast your butt[a].”
Yun Shi Wei walked to the head of the bed and struck twice at her buttocks that was covered with a quilt. He was neither light nor heavy-handed and immediately swatted Ruan Zhu awake. She looked at him, bewildered, and rubbed her eyes before giving him a lazy smile.
Lu Piao Xiang beckoned Nuan Chun to enter the bedroom with water so she could wash her face. He personally freshened her up while she brushed her teeth by using a warm and moist towel to wipe her face and hands, changed her clothes, and brushed her hair.
Being attended to like this made Ruan Zhu feel very comfortable as she had not felt this feeling ever since Yun Shi Yi left. Yun Shi Wei had brushed her hair for her before, but after he had yanked out several strands of her hair, she no longer dared to bother him.
The way Nuan Chun and Nuan Qing brushed her hair was also very nice, but it always lacked the feeling of being cherished.
She gave Lu Piao Xiang a sweet smile and smacked a kiss on his cheek, but actually ignited his enthusiasm/passion. Kicking Nuan Chun out, he pulled her over for a long kiss.
Ruan Zhu’s kissing technique was very good from all of her previous practice. A small and sweet tongue teasingly twisted in circles inside Lu Piao Xiang’s mouth, causing the latter to be unable to control his emotions. Pressing her close to him, he kissed her for a very long while. Only when he sensed her breathing had become unstable did he let her go, the both of them panting.
“Spouse, I also want.” Yun Shi Wei moved closer.
He had just come back from exercising outside and the stench of sweat was all over his body. Smelling it made Ruan Zhu very uncomfortable. She stared at him: “Go brush your teeth first and come back after you’re clean.”
“I’ve already brushed my teeth this morning and even used mint leaves to wipe them all once. If you don’t believe me, look.” He opened his mouth for her to see and sure enough, there was a hint of a cool minty scent on his teeth. She was pulled into his arms and was like a small bird enclosed inside his wide chest.
Yun Shi Wei lowered his head and caught her tongue, sucking on it, and also inhaled away all the saliva in her mouth. His tongue continued to venture inside her mouth and even teased her throat.
This sort of kiss was very uncomfortable; she felt as if she was going to choke and frantically beat at him with all of her might.
Lu Piao Xiang stepped over and pulled Yun Shi Wei away. Ruan Zhu could breathe again and gasped for air with large breaths, her pale complexion becoming a little better. She scolded: “Are you seeking death? Where did you learn these tricks from; do you want someone’s life?”
“You don’t like it?” Yun Shi Wei scratched his head: “My group of friends said this sort of kiss would make a wife very happy. They also said……”
“Said, your ass!” Ruan Zhu looked left and right. It just so happened that Nuan Chun had been driven out by Lu Piao Xiang earlier and didn’t have time to take the chicken feather duster with him and had placed it on the table. She picked it up in passing and brandished it against the one without a brain.
“Spouse, if you wanna hit someone,well, a real man doesn’t fight with women so I’ll leave first.” Yun Shi Wei clutched his head and ran out of the room.
“Come back this instant!”
Ruan Zhu made to chase after him but was entirely wrapped up in Lu Piao Xiang’s arms. He took away the feather duster in her hands: “You also know his temperament. Why bother with this meaningless anger that could harm your body?”
Lu Piao Xiang put her shoes on, draped a fox fur cloak over her shoulders, and pulled its hood over her head. With one hand wrapped around her waist and the other supporting her arm, he coaxed: “Let’s first walk around the back garden. The plum blossoms in the courtyard have all bloomed and you should go take a proper look while I personally play the guqin for you. Didn’t you say you wanted prenatal education or something?”
Yesterday, the physician who had been invited over had said the date of delivery was getting closer and for everyone to be on the lookout. These past few days, he had also paid more attention but Yun Shi Wei was suspicious and slept like a pig every night.
Lu Piao Xiang currently slept by Ruan Zhu’s side and opened his eyes at even the slightest sound of activity. When he first heard that a woman giving birth was the same as hovering in front of the gates of hell, he had been extremely nervous. He only wanted her to be well and within his sight; he would be happy with just that.
This was Ruan Zhu’s first child and there was fear and dread in her heart. She had seen quite a few movies and TV series in her past life and would become scared just thinking of the terrible scene of childbirth.
During her college years, there was actually a female teacher that had died on the operation table during childbirth. If people could still die in her past world with its advanced medical treatment, then could her safety be guaranteed in this ancient period where the level of medical knowledge fell far behind?
“Ai, it would be good if I didn’t have to give birth.” Ruan Zhu placed her head on Lu Piao Xiang’s shoulder in distress. But if she didn’t give birth to children, what on earth would men want her for? Women were rare in this era, making carrying on the ancestral line even more precious.
“Do not worry, many women have also gone through this. In a few days, I will head to the capital and invite the most talented midwife in Tian Chu over. I remember that this individual is very experienced in delivering children. She is over sixty years old and has already delivered over a thousand children with very few mishaps.”
“There should be no need, ah. Papa has spent an enormous amount finding several good midwives and they’re all of the best caliber. Stay in the residence where there’s good food and good drinks, hmm?”
The winters in Yu Zhou were not that cold but has still reached below zero. Exiting Furong Garden, they slowly walked as they followed the small path. The sky was overcast and the air was slightly moist and cold. As they continued walking, snowflakes unexpectedly started falling.
Worried she would slip, Lu Piao Xiang put the weight of her body against him so that she was fundamentally being lugged by him to walk.
“You’re like this yet you tell me to go out for a walk. I’m basically being carried by you!”
“You can walk by yourself when we’ve arrived at the garden. The current path is too narrow so it’s not that safe. Just let me support you!”
Ruan Zhu pointed at a plum blossom tree next to the moon gate, a hint of joy/happiness in her eyes: “Some plum blossoms in the corner of the wall grow, that bloom alone in the approaching cold. From afar, it’s known they are not snow, for there is a secret fragrance to behold.[b] What a wonderful artistic scene! How about later you play the super famous ‘Plum Blossoms Blooming Thrice’ for me to hear?”
Lu Piao Xiang looked at her in astonishment: “You really amaze me. Did you think of that poem just from seeing plum blossoms or did it already exist?”
Ruan Zhu’s face was red and she mumbled: “Not telling you.”
The male lead of New Song had transmigrated to the Song dynasty and plagiarized so many essays.[c] She was a small female and was not humiliated, okay~ The Heavens have let her transmigrate and it was obvious they had gave her all of these benefits for her to use. If she was to pretend to be a saint, then that would just be too idiotic!
Therefore, she did not plagiarize, she was precisely the poet! Ruan Zhu boasted shamelessly to herself.
It was midwinter and apart from the plum blossoms and sparse bamboo, there truly was nothing else to admire. Arriving at the pavilion, Nuan Chun spread a soft cushion on the stone bench for the two people to sit on while Nuan Qing opened Lu Piao Xiang’s guqin case and placed the guqin inside in front of him.
The guqin was three chi three inches long with alternating red and black paint along its face. Plum-blossom cracks and snake-skin cracks interweaved on its surface while the reverse side had cow-hair cracks.[d]
Even though Ruan Zhu was not any good at the violin, she nevertheless was a music lover and with nothing better to do, loved to search for information on this subject. She knew that this guqin was one of China’s ten famous guqin; its name was ‘Du You’ and it was a collector’s piece in Hunan province’s museum.
Lu Piao Xiang moved the guqin a little closer before placing his hands on top of the instrument and starting to play in a very natural manner. An ancient version of “Plum Blossoms Blooming Thrice” flew out from under his ten fingers. The cheerful melody and the gently falling snowflakes outside of the pavilion caused the most beautiful atmosphere to take shape. But it was only that the tune had somewhat of an melancholy overcast and Ruan Zhu became despondent listening to it. She slightly frowned and her expression was a little strange.
The song concluded and Lu Piao Xiang asked: “What is it; was my playing not good?”
Ruan Zhu shook her head: “This ‘Plum Blossoms Blooming Thrice’ is different from the one I previously heard.”
The song had been handed down for over a thousand years and had been produced and improved on by countless musicians, so there was nothing strange about the ancient and modern styles being different. After thinking about this, she became relieved. But Lu Piao Xiang could not understand. Music was like his soul and if things were not cleared, his heart would feel as uncomfortable as if a cat had snatched it.
“What was the one you previously listened to like?”
“I don’t know how to play the guqin so how should I tell you, hmm?” Ruan Zhu’s face was bitter. It was obvious that playing the guqin for him to hear was an absurd idea and having him read from sheet music was even more ridiculous. He had studied the ancient music notation while she knew the staffs, and the two methods were not interchangeable.[e] “That, I’ll sing it for you. As for how to play it, you can figure that out, right?”
“Plum Blossoms Blooming Thrice” was also called “Plum Blossoms Falling.” In the beginning, it was a song for a flute that was later converted into a guqin melody. From the Southern Dynasties to the Tang dynasty, the majority of the renditions expressed the worried mental state of separation. Later, the Ming and Qing dynasties added the arrogance of the cold and frosted plum blossoms and expressed their lofty and unyielding integrity and temperament.
But Ruan Zhu did not know these things and had Nuan Chun bring out ink. Using a brush, she drew out the five staffs she was used to. She considered for a moment, why not sing the lyrics of Chiung Yao’s 《Plum Blossoms Falling》in the style of a guqin?[f] While thinking of this in her head, she also filled out the lyrics.
When she had finished writing, one sichen had almost passed. But both people were invested in this and neither of them felt the passage of time.
“Could what you are writing be a music score? A circle on the left, a circle on the right, why am I not familiar with them?” Lu Piao Xiang looked at the sheets in front of her and was unable to make heads or tails of it.