十年一品温如言 A Heartwarming Decade: Chapter 1 Introduction

Thinking about it, a few years have already passed.

At that time, Ah Heng did not meet her husband yet; at that time, Ah Heng was worried about whether or not she was born from a rock.

Every time when she carried the wooden bench to Chief Wang's house to watch Sun Wu Kong [1], which broadcast on TV every year, her eyes would become teary. This one was the same as me.

Afterwards, she lowered her head and sniffed, heading home from Chief Wang's house. Her house was far away from the school in town. After school she would head home, through this same pathway.

In those seasons, in a town with thousands of households, with boats connected to one another resembling houses, alleys nearby streams, it was impossible to distinguish between spring and summer.

At that time, it was hard to say whether or not Ah Heng was born from a rock, but she was more fortunate than Sun Wu Kong. She was raised by her parents, and she has a younger brother who was bedridden.

The younger brother was kind and well-behaved, named Yun Zai, born with a heart disease.

Yun Zai was raised by the medicine that was prepared by her. Wherever Ah Heng goes, Yun Zai would be able to guess.

During childhood, Ah Heng would often be bullied by the kids in town, being called 'bastard.' When she returned home, she would always be unhappy.

At that time, Yun Zai's illness was slowly getting a bit better, so he was able to learn words from her. She taught her younger brother words, handing him medicine while muttering: "Mother gave birth to you, but not me. Where did I come from?"

For many years, Yun Zai's lips did not show any healthy flush of colour, staring at the bowl of medicine, thinking for a while before he finally said with his colourless lips: "Sister, you are born from a rock."

Ah Heng thought of Sun Wu Kong, but then remembered that her younger brother on the bed has never watched Sun Wu Kong before. "Oh," she said, reluctantly accepting this answer.

But she did not know of the time when Yun Zai's health had improved just a little bit, he had secretly gone to Chief Wang's house to watch the first episode of Journey to the West.

The town was small, so a lot of the knowledge was obtained through biology class in junior high school.

But it’s better not to know too much because that knowledge could collide with your own beliefs.

Fine, so maybe I am not born from a rock, but what do my parents look like?

Ah Heng thought of Yun Yun [2], who had created countless characters for herself. When Ah Heng watched Little Dragon [3], she thought a goddess had given birth to her; when she watched Sinful Debt [4], she sang "My father's home, my mother's home," believing that maybe her parents were educated youths [5]?

In other words, children just worry too much.

Afterwards she was busy dealing with Yun Zai’s illness. As she slowly grew up, she gradually learned how to keep her thoughts to herself.

Father was the only doctor in town, his medical skills he learned had been passed on from generation to generation.

But he couldn't save his own son.

At the age of 13, Yun Zai was already critically ill, but they did not have the money to go see the doctor.

Yun Zai had developed a high fever, she hugged her younger brother who was thin to the bones, and awkwardly said: "Don't be afraid, I will give you half of my heart, they said after surgery you will get better. I will give you half of my heart, then we can survive together."

Yun Zai smiled, his lip showed signs of colour for the first time.

When there was almost no hope left, a very expensive car that was driven from a place farther than the capital city arrived. A man who was wearing a suit got off of the car, and said that he will bring her home.

He said he could bring Yun Zai to the capital city to see a doctor; he said, "Miss Wen, please come with me."

Who is Miss Wen?

Her surname was obviously Yun.

Ah Heng hurriedly packed her belongings, her parents were in tears.

She did not glance at Yun Zai. It would take several years before they could see each other again. At that time, she did not forget, but didn't dare.

Actually, she did not know that Yun Zai did not see her leave, he closed his eyes.

Notes:

[1] 孙悟空 Sun Wu Kong- Also known as the monkey king, this is a fictional character in the novel, Journey to the West. In the novel, Sun Wu Kong was born from a rock, so Ah Heng thought she was just like Sun Wu Kong.

[2] 云云 Yun Yun- A character from the drama, Sinful Debt.

[3] 小龙人 Little Dragon- A TV show broadcasted in 1992, it is about three kids helping little dragon find his mom.

[4] 孽债 Sinful Debt- A drama broadcasted in 1994, it is about five kids going to Shanghai to search for their parents, and their experience as educated youths

[5] 知青 Educated youths- During the cultural revolution (1950- 1970's), the government required that all youths from urban districts be sent to farms, as a way to educate them.

                                                                                                                                   Chapter 2>  

东宫 Eastern Palace: Heavy Frost Made the Cold Ceramic Roof Tiles Seem Bright (Part 4)

I knelt there, listening to my own voice say: "Your Highness suspect that it was my doing?" 

This act was really ridiculous.
 

The loyal Lu Er Lang was killed on the streets. 

My father panicked, he used great amount of effort to be able to communicate with me again. 

My father still wanted to kill the Crown Princess. I coldly said: "If it is something that will displease the Crown Prince, don't try to do it again."

I felt that the Crown Prince was becoming more and more like the Emperor, they were the type of people that would maintain one's composure, but keeping everything to themselves. 

He was someone that will become the Emperor, how could he not be like his father?

My father was unwilling to give up, trying again one last time. As a result, he lost everything.

I was expelled from the Eastern Palace and confined in a secluded palace room.

I could probably guess what the situation was at home.

My father was beheaded for the crime of conspiracy. All males in the family who were over twelve years old were in trouble, twelve years old and under were exiled to a place thousands of miles away. As for the women, how could they not be affected when they are in the same family.

When it started to rain, I stretched out my fan to catch the raindrops, which dripped on the surface of the white silk fan, soaking the fan like tears.

A'Wu said: "Don't worry your ladyship, the Crown Prince is perhaps just angry at the moment. Besides, there is also the minister's support, so it is not something your ladyship should worry about. There will be bad times, but misfortunes could turn into blessings."

I felt too lazy to talk.

A'Wu didn't know the situation outside, my whole family was already destroyed.

When will there be bad times that turn into blessings, the best time of my life have already passed.

Fortunately, this lifetime will not be long, and the remaining days will not be difficult to pass.

The rain gradually became bigger, some of the rain drifted under the eaves and fell on the lapel of my clothes, dampening the clothes and sticking to the skin.

I lowered my head and saw the red mark on my chest, it was the burn from eating crabs with the Crown Princess. Although the injury has gotten better, but it left a red scar that resembled a flower.

What was I thinking at that time, the Crown Princess was really pitiful.

However I did not expect that I would become the most pitiful person.

The sound of the rain was getting louder, the loud sound of raindrops hitting the plantain leaves could be heard. I sat in front of the window, watching the sky finally darken.

The sky was dark.

Li Cheng Yin came during the night. I thought that I would never be able to see him again in this lifetime.

However he still came, he carried a scent of cold rain.

I looked at him with a bit of sadness.

He looked calm and sat down in front of a box.

He said: "I know that you wanted to see me."

I said: "Thank you, your Highness."

That being said, I was too lazy to rise from my seat and bow to him. I no longer cared about the etiquette and respectability.

A'Wu looked at me anxiously, I waved my hand to signal her to leave.

She was very anxious, repeatedly turning around to look at me.

I hardened my heart not to look at her, but just looked at Li Cheng Yin with a smile. A'Wu perhaps felt that the arrival of the Crown Prince was an opportunity for me to beg for forgiveness, so that I could return to the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace seemed like a really remote and unfamiliar place.

The servants lifted the candles, all the candles were lit in the room. Being confined here for so many days, it seemed that it has never been so bright before.

Li Cheng Yin's face was still bright under the candlelight.

I suddenly thought of his birth mother, Consort Shu.

Within the harem, she was a woman that was like the bright moon.

What did she think about before she died?

Her son, or the favoritism she received that aroused the jealousy of the harem.

Or the huge secret that ultimately caused her death.

The servants served us food and wine. Just like the countless nights spent in the Eastern Palace, I sat opposite to him, eating the food together.

Tonight, the dishes were all my favorites.

It must be difficult for him to still be able to remember.

I held the chopsticks, ate a little, and then placed it down.
 

He asked: "You don't want to eat anymore?"

I shook my head.
 

The servants all left, the candlelight reflected on us. 

The shadows were reflected on the same spot, just like the intimacy we had before. 

I remembered many days of the past. After dinner, he would sometimes read a book, so I quietly snuggled beside him, watching the dark night outside the window, and the moon gradually rising. 

The moon was shining on the two of us, I lay quietly on his lap, it was so quiet at that time.
 

During spring when the apricot flowers beyond the curtains have blossomed, he would pick the flower and put it in my hair. During summer when I covered his face with lotus leaves, he would push them aside with a smile, using the lotus flower petals to make a fragrance for me. During autumn, we would enjoy the chrysanthemum flowers while eating crabs. When it snowed during the winter, the two of us would lean by the brazier while listening to the sound of falling snow outside the curtains. 

At that time, I wholeheartedly believed that the one in front of me was my beloved. Between heaven and earth, a pair of lovers that would never betray each other, and never forget each other for lifetimes. 

How stupid and crazy. 

Until now, I really woke up from this big dream, looking around at a loss. 

I suddenly smiled and said: "Your Highness was willing to come and see me, I'm afraid you wanted to ask about what happened to Consort Shu that year." 

After all, I know what the Zhao family has done that year. 

He faintly said: "That's not important anymore."

Yeah, that doesn't matter anymore. He has already taken revenge, no matter what the deposed Empress did, no matter what the Zhao family has done, it didn't matter anymore.

That situation in the past was just an excuse for him to kill the people he should kill, remove the forces that should be cleared, and sit firmly in the position of the Crown Prince until the future, when he could grasp the world with his hands.

I said: "Your Highness is really a cold-hearted person, I thought that your Highness have already cut off all emotions and desires. If I hadn't seen your Highness push the cat into the water with my own eyes, I would have thought that your Highness would not be this direct in showing your hatred."

He did not move despite my words, so what if he drowned Xiao Xue, besides the Crown Princess will never know.

But I know, however I will not tell her.

That stupid girl, let her live in her own stupidity.

I said: "Your Highness thought that killing the cat, she would not like General Pei anymore? If you like someone, you won't change just because you lost something."

The Crown Prince still did not say anything.

I smiled, but suddenly I felt completely disheartened.

"Your Highness has given me medicine for three years, just to prevent me from being pregnant. Your Highness is such a cold and indifferent person, but likes the Crown Princess so passionately?"

I had thought that you secretly ordered people to put medicine in my food to prevent me from being pregnant, deliberately hurting my feelings was just to protect me from being harmed by the Empress.

But it turns out that it was my own delusions.

The Crown Prince still did not say anything. Even though I had mentioned the Crown Princess, he still did not want to look at me.

I thought that there was no need to say more.

I asked him: "Is there any wine?"

I knew there was a wine bottle on top of the box, but I still asked him.

He was silent for a while, before he raised his hands and clapped.

Just like before when I was still in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince did not like too many people being around him. Every time he came, he would tell the rest of the people to leave. At that time, I felt very happy, it was only the two of us together.

Sometimes I would be thirsty in the middle of the night and wanted to drink a cup of water, he would clap his hand like that. When the servants outside the palace hall heard it, they would step forward and obey the orders.

At this very moment, I was still thinking of these irrelevant trivial matters.

The clapping sound echoed in the night, the sound of rain could be heard from outside the curtains. This summer rain, how can it be so long and sorrowful, like the autumn rain.

There were distant footsteps approaching.

Someone held a tray with the glass bottle of wine, a very fragrant wine.

That person respectfully placed the wine on the table, and then bowed before leaving.

From beginning to the end, he did not look at me.

I stretched out my hand to grab the bottle of wine, pouring myself a glass of wine.

My fingers were trembling slightly, but luckily the wine did not spill out.

I looked at the wine in my glass cup, it seemed like a good wine, the wine had an amber colour. The fine wine of Lanling had an aroma like tulips, the filled jade cup emitted an amber hue [1]. I raised my cup and drank the wine without hesitation.

The wine feels strong when it went down my throat.
 

I remembered a long, long time ago, when I first entered the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had ordered me to temporarily live in the Congyu hall, not far from the Lizheng hall where he lived. I actually liked this arrangement.
 

The Congyu hall was a good place to enjoy the rain. During a hot summer, a waterwheel was installed in the canal. When the summer was hot, the water would flow from the canal and poured on the roof tiles like a refreshing waterfall. 

What I liked most was the roof tiles on top of the Congyu Hall, each of the roof tiles was engraved with the pattern of mandarin ducks in pairs, cuddling each other. 

Each mandarin duck roof tile was washed with water from the canal, clean and spotless, like a black jade. 

What was I thinking at that time?

If the lord was the moon in the sky, then I would be the flower in the water [2].

To accompany each other, like a shadow.

But it turns out, the heavy frost made the cold ceramic roof tiles seem bright, under the cold green comfort, with whom could he spend the night [3]? 

The poison was slowly reacting, I could not see clearly anymore. I could no longer see his silhouette clearly, only seeing that he seemingly stood up, and then turned around to leave me. 

I know that in this life, I will never be able to see him again. 

This separation was long and painful. 

I was leaning on the table, blood was seeping through my nose and mouth, facing death was not sad, I felt relieved. 

There were three things that I actually wanted to say to the Crown Prince. 

I knew that he had killed the cat, but used this matter to force the Zhao family to deal with it. In the end, he expelled me from the Eastern Palace.

I knew that he have given me medicine for three years to prevent me from being pregnant, so when Xu Niang was pregnant, I was so angry that I made an unwise move. 

I knew that even so, I can't help but like him, just like a long time ago when it started. 

But the last thing, I was unable to say it out loud.

So let it be. 

The blood flowed faster, instantly soaking into my clothes. My eyes gradually couldn't see anything, I couldn't control my body, falling down and knocking the food box.

Suddenly, I thought of the Crown Princess. 

I don't know whether or not she has learned how to eat crabs yet. 

I don't know why I suddenly thought of her, perhaps because, when she heard that Xu Bao Lin had died, she was sad for a long time. I don't know if she would feel sad after I die. 

Within the Eastern Palace, if there was someone that would be sad for me, I am afraid it would be her. 

The sound of rain, I gradually could not hear it, the world finally became silent.

......................

Translator's Note: To be honest, I didn't have a good impression of Zhao Se Se when I read the main story, but when I read this side story I just pitied her. She is just like the discarded fan in the poem, she was cherished by Li Cheng Yin, but when she was no longer useful to him, he discarded/killed her. All she wanted was for that one person to love her, but was never able to receive his love.

On another note, if anyone wants to read this author's other novels, I recently found a blog that is translating two of her novels: Brittle and Siege in fog. You can click here to read it. That website has the link to the translations. It's not found on novel updates because the translator does not want aggregator sites to copy their translations, so don't link their translations on novel updates.

We will also be starting our next translation project very soon because we couldn't wait any longer. The majority voted Heartwarming Decade as our next translation project, so we will be translating that novel.

Notes:

[1] This verse is from a poem known as Journey to a Foreign Land, written by the famous poet, Li Bai. The full poem and interpretation of it can be found in this website: https://frommetertomeaning.wordpress.com

[2] This is the lyrics to a Chinese folk song called the round dance song, which describe a woman only wishing to stay forever by the lord's side, and for it to not be a short-lived moment that would disappear in a flash.

[3] This verse is from the poem, Song of Everlasting Regret. Full translation of the poem could be found in this website: http://www.musicated.com/syh/TangPoems/EverlastingRegret.htm

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东宫 Eastern Palace: Heavy Frost Made the Cold Ceramic Roof Tiles Seem Bright (Part 3)

After all she was the Crown Princess, a woman who was more deserving than I am to stand alongside him. Even though they have been married for three years, the two of them have not been intimate with each other.

 

One day the spy by the Crown Princess's side had quietly report back saying that the Crown Princess had went to sleep during the afternoon in her palace residence, and that his Highness had visited her, dismissing all the servants including that servant from Western Liang.

 

She thought it was something great, so she came to report to me.

 

I was still very calm, and laughed: "What else can it be, they were just having fun. His Highness just wanted to scare her."

During the evening, the Crown Prince came to my palace. When he has nothing to do, he would often come over and have dinner with me. I was doing my makeup in front of the makeup table, he picked up a scroll to read, a long time have passed, and he was still reading the same scroll. I glanced at him through the mirror, and pretended to ask unintentionally: "What is troubling your Highness today?"

Crown Prince was surprised and startled, smiling while asking me instead: "Why do you say so?"

I casually said: "The scroll in your Highness's hand, you have been reading it for a long time."

He lowered his head to read the scroll, then put the scroll aside, smiled and said: "Tomorrow I will be meeting up with Prince Wu to play polo, I was just thinking how I can win him."

I suddenly felt bad.

There was no wind during the afternoon, the curtains were hung in all directions, I stared at the Crown Prince from afar through the curtain.

He was sitting on the Crown Princess's bed, and did not do anything. The Crown Princess was in a deep sleep, like a baby. He sat next to her for a while, suddenly he looked around before reaching out his hand to lift up her long hair that was scattered on the pillow, he divided her long hair into several strands, then used a hairband to carefully tie her hair onto the wooden pillar that supported the curtain.

While he was doing such a thing, he snickered and laughed happily.

Like a mischievous child.

If the Crown Princess woke up and got up without noticing her hair was tied on the wooden pillar, her scalp would be in pain.

This type of mischievous prank was not something the steady Crown Prince would do.

But the Crown Princess often cause trouble, so letting her suffer a bit wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

As I was about to turn around and leave quietly, the Crown Princess who was on the bed started to move, and suddenly woke up.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the Crown Prince and was clearly shocked, she shouted and was about to sit up.

She used so much force to get up, even I was a bit startled. I am only afraid that she will pull off half of her hair. At this time, the Crown Prince seemed as though he did not expect that she would suddenly wake up, he suddenly reached out his hand to push her back onto the bed.

The Crown Princess's head had hit the wooden pillow hard, she shouted in anger: "Li Cheng Yin what are you doing?"

She was moving like a fish on the bed, the Crown Prince almost couldn't hold her down, finally he suddenly spoke in anger: "If you keep moving, I will kiss you."

The Crown Princess was so shocked that she immediately covered her mouth with her hand, and stopped struggling, looking at him with her big dark eyes. It suddenly occurred to me that her eyes were like a cat, so moist and clear that a person's reflection could be seen through her eyes.

The room became quiet, with just the two of them looking at each other. The Crown Prince leaned over, pressing onto her shoulders, and her eyes looked at him. I hid behind the screen, I could only see the side of the Crown Prince's face, so I didn't know what was his expression.

It was as if a spell was cast on them, the two people did not move even after some time have passed.

I was suddenly worried.

Right when I was feeling uneasy, the Crown Prince suddenly got up and without saying a word, untied her hair from the wooden pillar.

After the Crown Princess's hair was untied, her hair was messy like a round black cloud spread over her pillow.

The Crown Prince turned around and left.

The Crown Princess just sat there, it took a long time before she angrily said to herself: "What's so great about being so angry all day long."

She got up and tidied her clothes. She sat in front of the mirror and brushed her hair.

Her hair was very knotted, so it was very difficult to comb. While she was combing, she suddenly stopped again, rested her cheek on her hand and stared blankly at the mirror. I didn't know what she was thinking.

I quietly left.

Because I was afraid that I would be seen by others, I walked through the alley, bypassing the Qingliang palace, and going back to my own courtyard. When I got out of the small door in the alley, I saw the Crown Prince standing on the bridge alone. He doesn't seem to know what he was thinking, standing there quietly, looking at the sky.

I looked up, there was nothing in the sky, just a few white clouds.

He looked at the sky, I looked at him, a long time have passed but he did not move, I also didn't move.

I thought of the Crown Princess sitting in front of the mirror in a daze, I couldn't tell what I felt at that moment.

He didn't do anything, just silently standing there alone, this kind of feeling was worse than killing me.

I deeply regret that I had underestimated the Crown Princess, she turned out to be one of my biggest troubles.

 

I remained calm, hiding my thoughts carefully.

It wasn't until the Crown Princess was taken away that I felt the opportunity had come.

Of course I hoped that she would die outside and never return to the Eastern Palace.

Father had sent his most trusted swordsmen and assassins, as soon as the opportunity comes, they would kill the Crown princess outside of the Eastern Palace to get rid of this trouble.

Besides she was taken by the assassin, so the possibility of her surviving was low.

I thought that this disgusting and stupid woman would never show up in front of me again.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, for the first time the Crown Prince have asked me to accompany him to the Cheng Tian Gate to enjoy the lights and the night with the citizens.

I was surprised and happy.

That was the privilege of the Crown Princess.

Although the Crown Prince favors me, he has never taken me to the Cheng Tian gate, after all he has to give a bit of respect to the royal family. The rules have always had to be followed.

Although he has also never taken the Crown Princess to the Cheng Tian gate.

I was extremely happy.

I got up early and waited for the Crown Prince.

The situation of the Crown Princess being taken by the assassin was a very confidential matter, the Crown Prince did not seem to be anxious. The Emperor had caught a cold, so he could not personally come to take control of the Cheng Tian gate. However the Emperor had specially ordered the Emperor's carriage to be used by the Crown Prince. The citizens outside would not be able to tell the difference of who is inside, as long as they see the imperial banners sway, they would shout long live the Emperor.

I was in front of the Cheng Tian gate, the Crown Prince has arrived already. The servant next to him came by my side to lead the way, carefully carrying the lamp, shining it on the pathway ahead.

Step by step, I walked up the Cheng Tian gate. Although I was still wearing clothes of a Liang Di, I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous because the Crown Prince had used the Emperor's carriage and the Cheng Tian gate was surrounded by the Jin Wu army.
 

The Crown Prince stood alone on top of the Cheng Tian gate, with a few sparse shadows, looking at the sea of lights from above, not knowing what he was thinking.
 

Recently he was often like this, making me feel that the person who slept beside me for three years, who should have been intimate, was getting farther and farther away from me.

The servant was standing on the side holding a gold plate, I saw the cloak on the gold plate. I took the cloak and walked to the front of the gate tower. The light reflected my silhouette, my golden hairpin shook as I walked, cloud-like hair with an appearance that resembled the flowers. I slowly approached him from behind, helping him put on the cloak.
 

He turned his head to look at me, he did not say anything.

The alleys and streets was like a chessboard. The east wind blew the flowers and trees during the night, the stars were like rain.

 

I heard the noisy sounds of the drums, there was the dragon dance in the distance, spurting out fire. There were countless lanterns hung on the trees, like thousands of stars falling down and sinking into this world.
 

Baskets of money were carried to the front of the gate tower. The palace maids grabbed the money and sprinkled it from the top of the gate tower. Everyone was trying to grab the money. The people downstairs thought that the Emperor was at the gate tower, they suddenly shouted "Long live the Emperor" and did a worship dance.

I thought although this was the first time, the following years to come in the future will be like this year where I will be standing here with him, standing on top of this bustling city, overlooking this dreamlike Chang'an, overlooking these beautiful rivers and mountains.
 

This world belongs to him, and I will stand by his side.
 

The Crown Prince stood at the top of the gate tower for a moment, and then said to me: "I will enter the palace to see my father, you can take care of this." 

I said: "Don't worry."
 

I know there wasn't any rites that need to be performed, but I need to wave at the citizens underneath the curtains, and then order people to throw some money from time to time to add excitement to this prosperous scene.
 

The Crown Prince led some people downstairs, and the whole Jin Wu army that was surrounding the gate tower had followed him. At that moment, more than half of the people at the gate tower had left.
 

I turned around and ordered the palace maids to get some more money.

I don't know why, but as soon as the Crown Prince had left, I felt that the Cheng Tian Gate fell silent in an instant, it was terribly quiet. The bustling noises in the distance could still be heard, the citizens below were still shouting long live the Emperor. Money were thrown from the gate tower, the clanging sound echoed loudly, like a rainstorm.

But within these voices and noises, there was still a feeling of loneliness.

I suddenly wanted to drink some wine.

A’Wu had ordered a servant to bring a crystal glass cup and pour a full cup of grape wine for me. I drank a sip. When I remembered this wine was from the Western Regions, I couldn’t help but feel dispirited.

As I was about to order a servant to switch the wine to Shaochun wine, I suddenly heard the palace maids screaming within the gate tower. I don't know when it happened, but lamp oil must have been spilled. The gate tower started to burn in flames a moment after, it ignited and spread quickly.

I was still very calm. The commander went to inform the general of the Jin Wu army, but also sent someone to inform the palace. Right after that, the fire became larger and larger, and because everyone was unable to put out the fire, several places were ignited.

A'Wu supported me with her hand, wanting to go downstairs anxiously, but who knew the steps of the gate tower would be filled with smoke, causing people unable to open their eyes. Someone nearby was so scared that they cried, it was an eunuch. I scolded and said, "What are you panicking for!" Before I could hear his words, the fire suddenly grew fiercer, blocking the pathway.

The smoke grew thicker. Like a black dragon attacking everywhere, the place was surrounded by scorching flames. Everyone screamed, shouted, and ran away. I never expected for such a drastic change to happen within a moment. I watched the fire burn in front of me. When I was still standing there, suddenly someone grabbed me. As I was about to shout, I just felt my body became light. It turns out someone had actually lifted me up, he carried me with one hand, and grabbed A'Wu with the other hand, bringing us down away from the fire.

I don’t know how I got through the heavy smoke and flames. I just felt that the fire was scorching, part of my hair was burned. I tried my best to hold my breath, using my silk cloak to cover my mouth and nose. I don't know how long it took before I realized that I was already at the bottom of the Cheng Tian gate. The whole Cheng Tian Gate had been caged in the raging flames.

I was placed down, so scared that I couldn't calm down. The man who saved me anxiously called me: "Your ladyship."

The Cheng Tian gate became a huge fire, the flames lit up half of the night sky. I recognized through the light emitted by the flames that the man was the servant who was arranged by my father to be by my side. I only remember his surname was Lu, Xing Er. Everyone calls him Lu Er Lang, he was usually not very talkative.

People kept escaping from Cheng Tian Gate. The palace maids had also escaped from the fire, the thick smoke had darkened their faces. Many people cried when they saw me, especially the servants who knew me. Everyone was anxious, they had tightly surrounded A'Wu and I, like a flock of frightened birds.

Behind me was the sound of horses' footsteps. It was very chaotic on the streets. In fact, every year when it was time to watch the lights, the Capital would prepare plenty of water in case the place catches on fire, but with this kind of intensity, I am afraid the fire would not be extinguished in time.

Sure enough, an imperial edict was issued from the palace, allowing General Long Wu to personally lead the army to close all nine gates within the city while extinguishing the fire to save people.

Soon the streets resumed back to normal, and I was sent back to the Eastern Palace.

Although I have been through a difficult situation, I quickly calmed down while I was in the carriage.

Lu Er Lang had whispered a few words to A'Wu through the window. A'Wu turned around to relay his message to me, saying that the fire at the Cheng Tian gate was quite strange, and that I should be careful.

I nodded.

When I had calmed down, I also felt that the fire was ignited in a strange way. The fire came too fast and too violently, but it was Cheng Tian Gate, who would dare to set such a fire under the eyes of the Emperor.

This was basically treason.

I thought, the fire was ignited to harm the Crown Prince. After all, the Emperor was ill and nursing his health, although not many people knew about it. But even though not many people knew about it, the people who knew were not small in numbers. People within the palace had known that the Emperor did not go to the Cheng Tian gate, so the Crown Prince had went instead.

Thinking of the Crown Prince, I suddenly felt worried. Fortunately, the Crown Prince had went back to the palace early, otherwise he would be in danger.

After a long time have passed, whenever I thought of that night, I felt that I was ridiculously stupid.

Who else could put a fire at Cheng Tian Gate and immediately mobilize General Long Wu to close the nine city gates, of course there was only one person.

He could do such a thing under the eyes of his Majesty, when it was only to save the Crown Princess.

As for me, I finally figured it out. He actually wanted to burn me to death on the Cheng Tian gate.

Otherwise, why was the fire ignited in front of my eyes.

I didn't understand that he was such a cruel person until I saw that cat.

That cat was given to the Crown Princess by General Pei.

After she returned to the Eastern Palace, she was sick for a long time. Perhaps to make her happy, General Pei specially sent a cat to the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess named the the cat Xiao Xue, she loves it very much.

Even though I like cats, I did not like that cat because the cat belongs to the Crown Princess.

But I did not expect that there would be someone who would hate that cat more than me.

Xiao Xue died when it was drowned in a pond.

The Crown Princess was heartbroken.

After she returned to the Eastern Palace, she fell so ill that she was thin to the bones as if she was like a candle, a gust of wind would blow her away.

The Crown Prince then specially went out of his way to find another cat, which looked exactly like Xiao Xue, but I don't know where he bought it. I stood in the alley, watching him carefully hold the cat as if he was holding some kind of treasure. He walked in front of the palace hall, but he suddenly changed his mind, ordering someone to bring it to the Crown Princess. He waited outside the door.

I suddenly remembered that a long time ago, he was standing on the bridge like this.

I actually knew at that time he was thinking of her.

To yearn, look at one another, but not be together in the end. Because of these affections, one would stand there alone silently.

I felt that I was just a joke.

When the situation happened, I didn't actually panic.

I knew that this day would come. He had planned it a long time ago, the Crown Prince was a man who would consider the next hundred steps when he takes one step. Even though I am a bit smart, I am not his opponent.

A complete failure.

<Side Story 3 Part 2                                                                                      Side Story 3 Part 4>

东宫 Eastern Palace: Heavy Frost Made the Cold Ceramic Roof Tiles Seem Bright (Part 2)

However, the Crown Prince was not really happy, so I just accompanied him.

 

Having lived in the Eastern Palace for a while, I often hear all kinds of strange things about the Crown Princess. She was actually younger than me, childish, born in an uncivilized foreign country, and would cause trouble everyday. People would make jokes about her. 

The Crown Prince disliked her more and more.
 

My life in the Eastern Palace was very comfortable.

The Crown Prince respects and loves me. Besides not having the title of Crown Princess, I have everything else.

I know that Western Liang woman would not be able to become the Empress, the Crown Prince would depose her sooner or later and return what was supposed to be mine to me.

I will become the real Crown Princess. In the future, I will become the Empress. 

I was very sure. 

The Crown Princess was not malicious to others, and even wanted to befriend me.
 

When she came to my courtyard for the first time, as soon as she walked down the steps, she fell down embarrassingly, like a careless child. I almost laugh out loud. I hurried went to help her, after all, she has the title of Crown Princess.
 

She pretended to talk to me, and I replied to her kindly.

I felt that she was very stupid, clumsy like a puppy.

After exchanging a few words, I can see through her and know what type of person she was.

She's as simple as a glass of clear water, you can see the bottom of the glass with a glance.

Actually her thoughts weren't bad. For a while, I have played leaf card games with her every day.

When I casually praised her, she was very happy, and happily wanted to give me a pair of little boots.

I would casually praise her more and more.

Anyways the Crown Prince would hate her more, if I become more generous towards her. After all, I am already in an undefeatable position, so why not be more generous.

One time she accidentally saw the beaded rabbit and said: "Oh, I also have one of these as well, but it was made of grass seeds. When I was in Western Liang, someone..."

After she finished speaking, she stared blankly for a while, until she said in an embarrassed way: "I must have remembered it wrong. In Western Liang, we don't have such skilled craftsmen."

I just laughed, the Crown Princess did not know that it was not made by a craftsman, but was made by the Crown Prince himself.

 

For some reason, the princess fell ill that night. She had a nightmare in the middle of the night, and then developed a high fever. Because she was not used to living in the Central Plains, she would often have nightmares, followed by a high fever. When she first entered the Eastern Palace, she would be sick for a while. I was worried that if she died of illness, the Emperor would blame the Zhao family, so I ordered people to carefully take care of her, as I am afraid something bad would happen. 

Fortunately, she had recovered.

This time she got sick quickly, but also recovered quickly, within a few days she was healthy and lively again. She came to find me to play. I didn't know where she got this set of silver crab hammers and other things, which she happily brought it to show me.

I saw that she took out the crab eating tools one by one from the embroidered bag, I couldn't help but laugh: "What is your Highness doing?"
 

She was still like a puppy that was almost wagging its tail. She said, "I don’t know how to eat crabs. It's almost the Double Ninth Festival [1], so there will be a crab feast within the palace. If I make a fool out of myself, then the entire Eastern Palace would lose face. You should quickly teach me!"
 

I was just speechless, I could only order someone to tell the kitchen to steam some crabs.
 

Two palace maids had brought water. The Crown Princess and I cleaned our hands, wiped the water off our hands with a soft cloth, and then sat at the table.
 

I was worried that the Crown Princess would feel embarrassed if the palace maids were here, so I told them to withdraw.
 

Sure enough, when the Crown Princess saw that the crabs were so big, she didn't know where to start.
 

I arranged all the silver tools for eating crabs and then I took a crab to show her how to eat it.
 

First I cut the crab claws and crab legs, and then I told her: "You open it here. These are the crab gills, it can't be eaten, so we remove it."
 

I used the silver tweezer to remove the crab gills because they were too small to disassemble. In order to see clearly, she leaned over and cuddled up next to me. Her big black eyes watched my every move, her eyes were full of admiration.
 

I patiently teared apart the whole crab little by little.
 

Then the removed crab shells were piled up on the table, in the shape of a white jade coloured cat.
 

Her eyes were shining brightly as she looked at the pile of crab shells that resembled a white jade coloured cat, then she looked at me and sincerely said: "You are amazing!"

I just smiled.

I like cats, when I was not married yet, I raised a few cats. Before entering the Eastern Palace, my family had once bribed the servants who were close with the Crown Prince to ask them about the Crown Prince’s likes and dislikes. I know that the Crown Prince does not like cats, but I did not know the reason behind it. I thought maybe it could be because the Empress likes cleanliness, and doesn't like cats, so he developed this behaviour since childhood. As a result, I left all of my cats at my family’s house. After entering the Eastern Palace, I only raised a dog.

Although a dog is good, it is not a cat after all.

The Crown Princess said: "Li Cheng Yin is also very good at eating crabs, I saw that he could arrange the crab shells back to its original form after eating it. However he is not as good as you, who can rearrange it into a cat."

She always called Li Cheng Yin by his full name, which was very rude. I felt that she was pitiful, there was no one even in the Eastern Palace that could teach her how to speak properly. The Crown Prince didn’t like her, even the palace maids look down upon her, but she could still be happy everyday.

I don’t know how such a stupid person grew up this big.

Maybe the Western Liang people lack minds in such a way.

The Crown Princess talked as she took a crab from the steamer, wanting to learn how to tear the crab apart, just like the way I did. I did not expect she would be so clumsy, she pricked her hand with the silver chisel as soon as she opened the crab shell. The moment her hand was pricked, the crab flew out and landed on my chest.

 

The crabs were just steamed, so it was very hot, I couldn't help but scream. The Crown Princess also jumped up in shock. She suddenly saw a basin of water soaked with chrysanthemum leaves next to her. She quickly picked up the silver basin of water and splashed it on me. 

My whole body was splashed with water, but it was not very hot. 

The Crown Princess looked at me timidly: "Ah, there's a blister."
 

I looked at my chest, there was a clear blister that had formed, and a few chrysanthemum leaves that were stuck on my dress, the silk cloak was dripping water, it was very embarrassing.

I said: "It's okay, I just need to change my clothes." I didn't call anyone, so I just opened the door and went inside to change my clothes.
 

The Crown Princess was unable to sit still, so she ran inside to help me.
 

These clothes were very complicated, if no one was there to serve you, they are actually not easy to wear, so I did not stop her.
 

She was careful not to touch the blister, gathered the clothes for me, and asked: "Does it hurt?"
 

It actually hurts a bit, but I shook my head.

She was very apologetic and said: "Sorry, I am so stupid."
 

For some reason, there was a strange feeling in my heart. Last time on my birthday, she sent someone to bring a bowl of longevity noodles. Of course, I didn't eat a bite. However I took the opportunity to be angry. His Highness naturally believed in me and reprimanded her for her actions.
 

Seeing her being so ignorant, even if she won't be deposed in the future, I'm afraid she won't be able to survive to become the Empress.

Compared to the Imperial Palace, the Eastern Palace was more dangerous.

Whether it's the Imperial Palace or the Eastern Palace, the women in the palace, who is easy to get along with?

If it weren't for the fear of the Emperor, she would have died dozens of times.

However she didn't notice anything, only feeling dejected: "Now Li Cheng Yin will not allow me to come and play with you."

The Crown Prince has never liked her, he even said several times, telling me not to interact with her.

I generously said: "I won't tell his Highness."

The servants around me were the Crown Prince's people, even if I don't say anything, he would naturally know.

She said: "Such a big blister, Li Cheng Yin will definitely see it when he comes back later."

The Crown Prince has been living with me everyday. There was no resentment in her words, as if the Crown Prince was not her husband.

I said: "It doesn't matter."

I took a piece of flower facial decoration [2] from the makeup table, placed it on my lips to open it, and then stuck it onto my chest to cover the blister.

I smiled and said: "Look, now you can't see it."

The Crown Princess anxiously left. After going through all that, she still did not learn how to eat crabs.

At night, the palace maids went out to light up the lamps. I was alone inside my room dressing up, I turned around and suddenly saw that there was a box on the windowsill.

No one was around, I wondered how this thing suddenly appeared. I picked it up and opened it. Inside was a box of ointment and a letter. The handwriting was crooked, like a child who had started to learn how to write, I can't bear to read it. 

"This is the best ointment for burns that I got from outside. I told A'Du to send it to you for you to try and see if it works." The signature was 'Xiao Feng'.

This was the name of the Crown Princess, I don't know why she has such a strange name. It was said that the first words she had learned in Central Plains language was her name 'Xiao Feng,' as if someone had taught her before.
 

How can I use the ointment she sent, so I just placed it back in the box under the makeup table. 

The Crown Prince still knew about me being scalded. Although I stuck a flower decoration on my chest in the afternoon, and the palace maids were dismissed while the Crown Princess and I were eating crabs, within the Eastern Palace, there was no such thing as big or small matters. So how could I hide this matter from the Crown Prince? I only said that I had accidentally scalded myself. He laughed and said, "You are still protecting that Western Liang woman."
 

I felt angry, no matter how bad she was, she was also an upright Crown Princess, the wife you should be close with could not be compared with a lowly servant, who had seduced the lord.

The Crown Prince knew that I was talking about Xu Niang, which was his heart sickness. When I mentioned her, he immediately did not speak.

I knew that the Crown Prince treated Xu Niang differently, I don't know why he fell in love with her.

 

Obviously Xu Niang's looks were not outstanding, and she was also a timid person. The Crown Prince have always had self control, and not fool around with other women. This was also something that I have always been proud of. Although there was also the Crown Princess, but he always treats me wholeheartedly.

Unexpectedly this Xu Niang suddenly appeared. I don't know why he favors her, the way he looks at her will always be a little different, as if he feel lost, but also doesn't know why.

I thought maybe he does not like her, but for some reason he was attracted to her. One time, I saw him unconsciously staring at Xu Niang's back, unexpectedly there was a sort of indescribable longing and yearning, like looking at a long-lost treasure.

I could not stand this. Although I don't argue with him, but whenever I mentioned Xu Niang, my tone of voice would change.

I know I should be more generous, since I will become the Empress in the future, who will be in charge of the harem.

I have always treated the Crown Princess with generosity.

But I just felt angry.

I don't know why.

Probably because I know he has never looked at me that way.

This thought was like a poisonous snake, biting me from time to time.

Sometimes I felt that living like the Crown Princess was actually good, she has no troubles at all and enjoys herself all day long. She doesn't care about anyone who mistreats her, she also doesn't even care about how the Crown Prince treats her. However sometimes she would cry because of homesickness.

Her home was too far away, and there was no reason for the Crown Princess to visit her parents. Even until death, she would never be able to go back to Western Liang.

I pitied her when I thought about this.

I never expected that Xu Niang would be pregnant, after all Li Cheng Yin had vowed that he would treat me wholeheartedly.

But in the blink of an eye, he has forgotten this oath.

I was so angry that I refused to see Li Cheng Yin.

Li Cheng Yin was very embarrassed, I was determined to teach him a lesson.

Sure enough, Xu Niang was sent to the palace to nourish the fetus. With the Empress around, I knew that this child would never be born.

I gradually calmed down. A man was like a fierce horse, you can't use a dagger to deal with it, instead you should cleverly put the bridle on him so that things would take its natural course.

The Empress took advantage of Xu Niang's miscarriage, I was demoted to the status of a commoner and confined in the Eastern Palace.

Even though Li Cheng Yin tried his best to protect me in front of the Empress, he couldn't visit me.

I didn't panic at all, because I knew I would be back soon.

Sure enough, because the Crown Prince was injured due to the assassination attempt, the Empress’s scheme was quickly exposed. The Emperor even began to trace the cause of the death of Consort Shu, which happened more than ten years ago.

The Empress was eventually deposed, the positions in court have changed. I knew that the Crown Prince had been waiting for this day to happen for a long time.

But I carefully concealed the joy in my heart.

Keeping one's emotions to themselves, planning before making a move, this is what the Crown Prince should be like.

It was just that things have changed slightly. I don't know when the Crown Prince started to change, suddenly his attitude towards the Crown Princess have changed.

One time when I walked down the corridor, I saw the two of them talking, he suddenly reached out and patted her head. The Crown Princess unhappily covered her head with both hands and ran away.

I looked at the Crown Prince's smile from a distance. His eyes were full of smiles, as if he had done something particularly happy, when in fact, he just patted her on the head.

 

I placed a spy next to the Crown Princess. At first I didn't think that this person would be of any use, but for some reason, now I felt the situation was very suspicious, so I couldn't help but to order the spy to do some things for me, to observe the Crown Princess's every move.
 

Although the Crown Princess was like a child, I felt that she was more terrifying than Xu Niang.
 

Because even though she still did not go to visit the Crown Prince at all, the Crown Prince would unknowingly always find all kinds of excuses to go to her place.

I was still fairly calm.

Notes:

[1] 重九 Double Ninth Festival - This festival is on the ninth day of the ninth month, which it is named double ninth. Nine is a yang number and double nine would mean there is too much yang (negative energy), so it was a dangerous day. In order to lower the yang, people would climb the mountains and drink chrysanthemum wine. It was said that this day was originated from a myth where a devil showed up at ruhe river and people that lived near there had plague and died. A man by the name of Huan Jing, had almost died from plague, but decided to find an immortal to defeat the devil. When he found the immortal, the immortal taught him how to kill the devil. The devil would always come on this day. The method to defeat the devil was to use zhuyu leaves and chrysanthemum wine. When the devil smells the scent of the wine, it would get dizzy and Huan Jing would take this opportunity to stab it with the sword and kill it. Now this day is known as senior's day. Traditions of this day would be drinking chrysanthemum wine, climbing mountains and eating chongyang cake (it has nuts and jujube).

[2] 花钿 Flower Facial Decoration - It's a makeup technique in ancient times. It's sort of like a sticker/temporary tattoo things, but this is usually for the forehead. See the pictures above for examples.

<Side Story 3 Part 1                                                                                      Side Story 3 Part 3>

东宫 Eastern Palace: Heavy Frost Made the Cold Ceramic Roof Tiles Seem Bright (Part 1)

The title of this side story also comes from the poem, Song of Everlasting Regret, which I mentioned before in side story 1.

...................

There was no lamp lit in the evening, the sky was dark and gloomy. There were dragonflies in the courtyard, flying very low. The Tuberose flowers by the stairs have blossomed, when a dragonfly landed on the stem of the flower, only the leaves were shaking.

There seemed to be a thunderstorm within the heat.

Sitting in the hallway would cause one to sweat quietly.

A'Wu was afraid that I was depressed, so she quietly sat next to me, waving the fan for me.

I couldn't help but think back to the times when I was seven or eight years old, I was still a carefree child, as well as A'Wu, who always sits next to me, waving her fan and watching me learn how to read and write.

The summer days were long. Because I saw the white silk fan in A'Wu's hand, I wrote a poem about the fan on the thin silk fan itself. 

"Made into a fan for joyous trysts, round as the bright moon. In and out of my lord's cherished sleeve, waved back and forth to make a light breeze [1]."

The poem was only written based on the fan, I did not expect that when A'Wu saw it, her expression would change dramatically, she said to me, "Your ladyship cannot write this poem anymore."

I couldn't help, but look at A'Wu.

A'Wu said: "This poem is inauspicious."

I then remembered the remaining second half of that poem: Often I fear the arrival of the autumn season, cool winds overcoming the summer heat. Discarded into a box, affection cut off before fulfillment [1].
 

It was the poem 'A Discarded Fan' by the former Han Dynasty's Ban Jie Yu, who was a famous and talented woman. She was also a well known Consort Xian, however her life did not end well. When she was in favor, she was afraid of being in the same carriage with the Emperor so she would refuse. After falling out of favour, she had lived in seclusion in the Chang Xin Palace with only scrolls that had a few words, which allows people to imagine that there would be such a woman that had lived before, who had written poems.

I actually didn't really care.

Because I am going to be the Empress.

Being the Empress is naturally different from being a consort.

Being an unfavored consort means you would have nothing, so you would worry about the gains and losses. However, the Empress is the wife that will be side by side with the supreme Emperor.

Not just me, my father is also quite expectant.

We are the noble Zhao clan, so of course we are qualified to enter the harem.

When I was thirteen years old, I first met Li Cheng Yin, Prince Jin.

     

Among the many sons of the Emperor, he is the most special one.

His birth mother died young and he was raised in the central palace since childhood, he is the adopted son of the Empress.

My father once privately said: "It's a pity that he is not the Empress's own son, in the end there is still a distance in their relationship."

The Emperor also has some outstanding sons, I know that Prince Jin was not very much loved by the Emperor.

Consort Shu was the birth mother of Prince Jin, a secret legend in the palace. People would quietly talk about her because she was once only one step away from the position of Empress. There was no children in the Central Palace, Consort Shu was a wise person, people who have seen her before would praise her for being smart. She was able to guess the Emperor’s thoughts every time. It was rumored that the Emperor had once sent her a blank piece of paper, on which she calmly drew or wrote on the original paper, sealed it and then handed over to the envoy to send back, all of which satisfied the Emperor.

At that time, she was like a bright moon, shining brightly within the harem. Although not as bright as the sun, but when the moon was in the sky, the stars were dim in comparison. 

If she had a few more years, she would have definitely taken the position of Empress instead.
 

But she died.
 

In the harem, smart people don't always live long.
 

Especially very ambitious smart people.
 

Therefore, sometimes hiding a weakness is also a kind of real intelligence.
 

Prince Jin is this type of smart person.
 

He was not brilliant, nor did the Emperor have high expectations of him. Being stuck between his brothers, he was not outstanding.
 

But I know that he is really a smart person.
 

When my father was still hesitating between Prince Jin and Prince Zhu, I said I want to marry Prince Jin.
 

My father asked me: "Have you thought it through?"

I nodded. 

Actually my father didn't know that I had met Prince Jin once.
 

Not deliberately, but my brother and I went out to watch willow shooting [2], they said that it was Prince Jin, so I immediately looked back while on my horse.
 

He also rode his horse, while grasping onto his bow. He was smiling and talking to person beside him. 

I recognized the person next to him, it was the young master of the Pei family.
 

Pei Zhao has always been known as a jade-like person, because he was born with elegant and refined looks that excel others. There were some of his achievements listed in the chamber.

Unexpectedly, they treated each other equally as if they were the same status. The two walked side by side, like two newly made lotus arrows in the summer, reflecting each other. Suddenly, it occurred to me that if his Majesty was born with such a handsome appearance, and Consort Shu was a famous beauty, it was natural that Prince Jin would be this handsome. 

The drums had sounded again, it was Prince Jin's turn to shoot the willow. I couldn't help but stop my horse and deliberately take a look at his attempt to shoot.

Prince Jin rode his horse while holding onto his bow, as if accidentally, he shot an arrow.
 

That arrow was not extremely exceptional, but it was impartial, it hit the gourd tied to the willow branch, the gourd fell down to the ground, and the little siskin [3] inside the gourd flew into the sky, countless people applauded. Prince Jin covered his forehead with his hand, raised his head to looked at the siskin that was flying higher and higher. The sunlight reflected on his cheeks, there were sweat droplets on his face that was as clear and sparkling as dew droplets on a jade plate.

I watched him look into the sky, but for some reason I felt that he was very far away from me, like an unattainable dream. He was definitely just a few feet away from me. I refused to accept this, because ever since I was young, there was nothing that was unattainable.

I don’t know why I was bothered by this thought, maybe it was because the sun was scorching that day, but the pride in the young man's eyes, it was as if it was inadvertently hidden in his expression. I still remember that day he wore a brown non-Han clothing. The gold thread on the collar was shining brightly under the sunlight, his whole person seemed to be shining brightly.

 

I thought, it must be him.

The historians have described Emperor Taizong as someone that was talented with the appearance of the dragon and phoenix.

I couldn't figure out what that was like until I saw Prince Jin. 

I was determined to marry him.

My father hesitated a bit, I calmly said that if Prince Jin was the Crown Prince, then I would be the Crown Princess.

I know that my family was still hesitant, but fortunately on the bright side, because he is the adopted son raised in the central palace, he is the closest one to the position of Crown Prince.

All I need is for my family to help push him to that position when the opportunity comes. 

My father was still hesitating. As a result Prince Jin was smarter than I thought, without waiting for my family to help him, he calmly sat in the position of Crown Prince.

Of course it was because Prince Wei had made a big mistake.

Prince Wei was just too impatient, the Emperor was still alive, but Prince Wei impatiently stretched out his hand, and even attempted to entrap his own brother, how could the Emperor tolerate him?

The brothers competed against each other for the position, but it was Prince Jin who easily won and became the biggest winner.

For a moment, everyone in court was shocked.

I secretly admired my own foresight. I knew that my father had expressed goodwill to Prince Jin several times. Prince Jin, actually no, now the Crown Prince, he also was quite interested in marrying the Zhao family's daughter.

I didn't expect that the Empress would be the one who complicated the situation.

She was probably very reluctant to see me become the Crown Princess, but she secretly instructed the ministers to persuade the Emperor to allow the Crown Prince to pacify the Western Regions, and then she planned out the political marriage.

I really could not calm down, I privately sent someone to inform the Crown Prince that I will meet up with him.

I knew that the Crown Prince would come, sure enough, he came on time.

In fact, this was the first time that we have really met each other. In order not to be seen by others, I was wearing a veiled hat that covered my face. I saw him standing near the jade railing in front of the courtyard well, smiling at me.

He smiled very beautifully, as if the sun that day was reflected on his face, his face that was like white jade, clear and bright.

I couldn't think of anything to say to him, the apricot blossom tree near the corner of the courtyard had grew very well, there was a siskin on one of the tree branches, pecking at the flower petals, the golden bell used to protect the tree that was blown by the wind had sounded. The siskin flew up, circled around and landed, still pecking flower petals.

I suddenly thought of that day of the willow shooting, that siskin, I don't know where it flew, could it be the one in front of me?

I swear I had the courage, and I had thought of a lot of things to say to him before the meeting, so I don’t know why when I got to meet him in person, I suddenly felt that there was no need to say anything.

Sure enough, he understood what I was thinking.

He snapped the tree branch and then gave me an apricot blossom, said, "Please rest assured."

I took the branch of apricot blossom, elegant and fragrant, that flower also symbolizes luck. I finally said: "I only hope that your Highness succeed, and return shortly after.”

 

I embroidered a pair of armguards for him. I have put a bit of effort into my embroidery skills, within the chambers I have some reputation in embroidery. After all, the Empress must officiate the silkworm ceremony [4].

 

On the side of the armguards is embroidered with my name, which is Se Se these two words.

The Crown Prince was an elegant and understanding man, because the next day, he ordered someone to send me a bunch of beads. These beads were jade colour and transparent, very beautiful. I ordered someone to make a bead necklace, even my father who was accustomed to seeing expensive items would be quite shocked. After all, these beads were more expensive and luxurious than pearls, a treasure from a distant foreign country.

 

This move of the Crown Prince, he must have regarded me as someone that's as precious as pearls, my father was very satisfied.

Some people in the court deliberately made things difficult for the Crown Prince by asking him to lead the Yu Lin army to the Western Regions. These Yu Lin soldiers are from noble families in the Capital, they can fight no matter where they go. Without wrinkling his brows, he took Pei Zhao with him and led the Yu Lin army to the West.

I was in the Capital, only waiting for his news. 

The Western Regions was very far away, thousands of miles away, it will take a few months to get there. His expedition to the Western Regions, although I was worried, but I could only look into the distance at the wild geese in the sky.

People in ancient times would tie a letter onto the goose's feet and send it flying into the long distance.
 

But I cannot write to him.
 

I don't know if he was safe, and if he had pacified the Western Regions. 

Until Pei Zhao had sent someone back to the Capital.

Only then did I knew that something had happened to him in the Western Regions, he stumbled and fell from the cliff, whether he was alive or dead was unknown.

What was surprising was that I wasn't panicking. The person I like, his fate was determined by the heavens, I would not believe that he would be this unlucky.

Besides, he was with the army, how could he stumble and fall from the cliff, I didn't believe the vague words of Pei Zhao's letter. I know that there must be someone that planned on taking the Crown Prince's life.

But he has grown up safely in the deep palace, I don't believe someone had planned this. 

Sure enough, his Highness has safely returned.

However, he also brought back a woman who was said to be the Princess of Western Liang.

The court officials have their own thoughts, but the Crown Prince was a huge contributor to the suppression of the Western Regions. The officials had tried to persuade the Emperor not to bestow the title of Crown Princess to that foreign woman, someone had also came up with an idea of marrying off the Princess of Western Liang to Prince Nan. I know that my father was also thinking of something too, no one wants the position of Crown Princess to fall on the head of a foreign woman.

I am only afraid that this situation was hard to resolve, because the Emperor was unpredictable, sure enough, his Majesty quickly issued an edict for the Princess of Western Liang to be married to the Crown Prince and become the Crown Princess.

My father was very disappointed, he asked me: "Daughter, do you still want to marry the Crown Prince?"
 

I know that as long as I say one word, someone will naturally get rid of the Western Liang Princess for me. Right now she lives in the inn, where it is sparsely populated. She can’t even speak the Central Plains language, with only one servant from Western Liang by her side, who can't speak. No matter what method is used, it would be easy to make the Western Liang Princess die silently before the wedding.

I hesitated not because I pitied the Princess of Western Liang's life, but I am worried that the Emperor would feel that our Zhao family's hand were stretched too long.

The Emperor would not tolerate Prince Wei, so he would definitely not tolerate a minister who played tricks in front of him.

I persuaded my father to forget about it. As for whether or not I will marry the Crown Prince, I decided to see him and then decide. 

A year have passed, the Crown Prince seemed to have changed a lot, but it also seemed that nothing has changed. It was just that he became pale and thin. It was said that he was once seriously injured in the Western Regions, his life was almost hanging on a thread. But now, he has recovered, although he still was a bit tired.

I could faintly feel that there seems to be a further distance between us. I can't explain it, it's just a woman's intuition. Although he still treats me kindly, but I would feel that his eyes does not have me. His eyes always seemed to look pass me, looking at another place.

He still gave me a bunch of beads.

I smiled and said, "You have already given me before."

He said: "I will give these for you to string it into a rabbit to play with."

I didn't know that beads could be strung into a rabbit. Suddenly he became interested and ordered someone to bring the needles and threads, and showed me how to make it. 

The Crown Prince suddenly became serious when doing this kind of children game. The beaded rabbit seemed very realistic, using black Agate beads for the eyes made it seemed very lifelike.
 

He knotted the knot and showed me the little clear green rabbit in his hand. He smiled and said: "Look, it's done."
 

I have never heard him speak so softly, as if he had become another person. I suddenly felt happy. At this moment, he was no longer unapproachable and distant, but kind and approachable, especially his eyes, looking at me in a pulsed manner. He said, "Is it fun? I'll give you a live rabbit tomorrow, then you can compare and see if they are similar to each other."

I placed the beaded rabbit in front of the necklace, the candlelight flickered during the night, which made the bead necklace and rabbit very green. I leaned on the seat and looked at the beaded rabbit, the candlelight reflected it into a small round shadow, like a small mouse. The candlelight flickered, the shadow of it became longer, the shadows of the rabbit ears were even longer. Now the shadow looks like a rabbit and not a mouse. I thought of the way Li Cheng Yin lowered his head to string these beads, so serious and careful, every bead he string it carefully, I don't know why I suddenly felt a tenderness in my heart. In the end, I decided to marry Li Cheng Yin.

Even if I could only be a Liang Di [5], I know that the Crown Princess was only an empty title.

Sure enough, she was just a Crown Princess by title.

The Crown Prince disliked that Western Liang woman very much, never looked at her in the eye.

Instead I would persuade the Crown Prince from time to time. On the surface, I was able to tolerate it, but actually I was barely able to tolerate it.

Notes:

[1] The translation of the poem was found through this site: academia.edu by Patricia B. Welsh. If anyone wants to read the full poem and learn more about it, you can go to that website.

[2]射柳 Willow Shooting - Gourds would be hung on the willow tree. Inside each gourd, there would be a siskin, once the gourd is shot with an arrow, it will open and the siskin inside would fly out. Whoever shot the gourd with the siskin that flew the highest wins the competition.

[3]黄雀 siskin - a yellow finch

[4]亲祭蚕桑 Silkworm Ceremony - This ceremony is officiated by the Empress. The purpose of this ceremony was to encourage silkworm farming and silk production as silk generates most of the country's wealth and is considered a valuable product. The ceremony will only start after the silkworm is born. The Empress would fast two days before the ceremony. The process of the ceremony includes the Empress picking mulberry leaves and feeding the silkworm. After the silkworm cocoons are formed, the best silkworm cocoon would be chosen and presented to the Empress. On another auspicious day, the Empress and the workers would go to the weaving room for silk reeling and to dye the silk into different colours for embroidering sacrificial clothing.

[5]良娣 Liang Di - A consort of the Crown Prince, second highest in rank out of the wives of the Crown Prince.

<Side Story 2 Part 6                                                                                     Side Story 3 Part 2>

东宫 Eastern Palace: Not Believing People's Hair Could Turn White (Part 6)

The fire was flickering, and the Princess seemed to be in the middle of a dream, her expression was calm. Her long eyelashes cast a curved shadow on her snow white face, it's just that she was breathing lightly, still unconscious.

Li Cheng Yin seemed surprised, taking half a step back, and then wrinkled his eyebrows.

Pei Zhao wondered, did he remember? How can he persuade him? He had once used his life wanting to save her, not hesitating to jump off the high cliff with her, how can he persuade him to abandon this person? 

After a long time, Li Cheng Yin suddenly said: "Why did Father want me to marry her? She is so ugly!"

Pei Zhao was stunned.

Li Cheng Yin grabbed a cloth to wipe his fingers, said: "Get her a tent and move her out, I dislike seeing her!"

Pei Zhao didn’t know what to say, in the end he could only agree, bringing people here to move the Princess elsewhere.

Since then, Li Cheng Yin would show an expression of dislike whenever the Princess was mentioned, even though Pei Zhao did not understand why.

After he exited the main military tent, as he walked he kept on thinking how should he explain to the Crown Prince, how should he say, and how much should he tell him?

The Yu Lin army did not know about Li Cheng Yin and the Ninth Princess’s personal matters. The only people who knew were him and Gu Jian, but Gu Jian's whereabouts were unknown, so it could be said that only he knew.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep throughout the whole night. By dawn he was still very anxious. The kitten named Xiao Xue was by his pillow side, meowing. He reached out his finger and the kitten hugged it, snoring slightly, Pei Zhao actually fell asleep in the midst of the soft snoring sound.

He didn't sleep for long though, perhaps he only slept for the same amount of time it takes to boil a cup of tea, because he suddenly felt the presence of someone in the tent, so he woke up. It was Li Cheng Yin who had come in, he hurriedly turned around and bowed: "Your Highness......"

However Li Cheng Yin saw the kitten on his pillow, and reached out his hands to grab it, laughing: "Ah Zhao, I didn't expect that you would raise a kitten...." He held the kitten in his arms, Xiao Xue recognized him and licked his finger affectionately. Li Cheng Yin smiled, "Look, it licked my finger......" He hadn’t finish speaking when two drops of tears suddenly fell from his eyes, dripping onto the fur of the kitten. Pei Zhao was stunned, Li Cheng Yin himself was also shocked. He reached out his hand to wipe the rims of his eyes, staring blankly at his moist fingertips, not believing that he had shed tears.

It was quiet in the tent, only Xiao Xue could be heard softly meowing.

Li Cheng Yin put down the kitten and said: "I must be so sick that the wind had caused me to tear up."

Pei Zhao did not know why he was more shocked than him, he couldn’t help but call out: "Your Highness....."

Li Cheng Yin asked: "What?"

In the end, Pei Zhao did not say anything. Li Cheng Yin had a tough personality, he has never cried before. Why did he burst into tears at this moment, even he doesn’t understand, because he has forgotten.

These two teardrops have a sense of heaviness in that they could seal everything, sealing the words that Pei Zhao had once wanted to say.

Pei Zhao thought, just let it be this way, Li Cheng Yin and the Princess being two strangers, it might not necessary be a bad thing.

Just keep this huge secret to yourself.
 
Li Cheng Yin quickly restored to being his former self, the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace who has the world in mind. As for the Princess of Western Liang, he did not care much about her. 

"Just a woman from Western Liang." He said to Pei Zhao, "Don't think I don't know what the Empress is planning."

When the Ninth Princess finally regained her consciousness, she had also forgotten everything, only remembering that she is the Ninth Princess, and had received the imperial decree to go to the Capital for a political marriage.

She was still naive and cheerful. Even though Li Cheng Yin did not like her, she remained carefree, as if nothing in this world could bother her.

Pei Zhao did not know whether it was good. He carefully raised Xiao Xue, not letting the Ninth Princess see it.

He kept raising Xiao Xue for a long time, afterwards Xiao Xue gave birth to a kitten. However the Princess and the Crown Prince would still argue with each other.
 
The Princess was already the Crown Princess, but the Crown Prince did not like her, he even hated her. More than once, Li Cheng Yin complained about her in front of him, "That barbarian woman from Western Liang," he would always refer to her in a very contemptuous way.
 
Pei Zhao did not try to dissuade him.
 
This day was the Qixi Festival [1], it was not known why the Crown Princess would make the Crown Prince angry again, but the two quarreled with each other. Li Cheng Yin had summoned Pei Zhao into the Eastern Palace to drink wine with him. The palace was filled with excitement during the Qixi Festival, however this day was only celebrated by the ladies. Within the palace, fruits and other things were only bestowed to the ladies in the Eastern Palace.
 

When Li Cheng Yin mentioned the Crown Princess, he would be angry: "That barbarian woman from Western Liang, having already spent several years in the Central Plains, still doesn't know how to wear a hairpin even on the day of the Qixi Festival. She only knows how to cause trouble everyday and everywhere, this type of festival, I don't even want to spend a single moment of it!"

 

Pei Zhao pretended to unintentionally ask: "Why doesn't your Highness like the Crown Princess?"

Maybe because he had drank some wine and loosened up, Li Cheng Yin discouragingly said: "I don't know, I feel annoyed whenever I see her."
 
He paused before he said: "It's not annoying, I can't explain, it's just that I don't want to see her."
 

Pei Zhao said: "Just like not wanting to see my cat."
 

Li Cheng Yin was stunned, but a moment later, he nodded slowly and said: "You're right, just like not wanting to see your cat."

The Pei family knows, whenever his Highness visit them, he does not like to see the cat.

Pei Zhao drank a few more cups of wine with Li Cheng Yin before leaving. Li Cheng Yin didn't know why, but he felt unhappy, maybe because Pei Zhao had mentioned his family's cat. Li Cheng Yin had always felt a great shame because there was nothing wrong with him, but why would he cry upon seeing that cat, and he also felt very painful, as if his flesh was being cut off by a sharp blade. As time passed, he was really afraid of seeing that cat.

As the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, how could he be afraid of a cat?

He felt unhappy, drank another cup of wine, then got up and left his palace residence, not allowing anyone to follow behind, only saying that he was going for a walk to ease the feeling of drunkenness.

As the moon rose, the night wind became chilly, the plants in the courtyard were sparse. He walked along the bridge for a moment and only heard the insects chirping. The pond reflected the bright moon in the sky, the reflection was vibrant and sparkling. He stood by the pond for a moment, before suddenly feeling a bit disappointed, he walked across the bridge. After passing these rooms, it would be the path back to the main palace hall.

These rooms are for palace servants. Since tonight was the night of the Qixi festival, the palace servants had went to participate in the needle threading competition [2]. The rooms were lit by candlelight, but nobody was inside.

Li Cheng Yin suddenly went inside through the window. Suddenly there was a red cloud like object thrown at the window, he couldn't help but turn his head around. Inside the room, there was a palace maid tidying her clothes, which were thin clothing. She did not turn around, instead just put those clothes onto the shelf, but because she didn't use much strength, the clothes that were like a round cloud had fallen to the floor. 

Li Cheng Yin didn't know why but he stopped his feet. That palace maid was unaware, just humming a song as she tidied up the clothes, which made Li Cheng Yin felt that this scene was quite familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere. But it was just a hazy shadow, he was unable to catch it, too faint as if it was like the past.
 
The palace maid turned around and seeing that it was him, she became very shocked, and hurriedly knelt down, stuttered: "Your Highness."

The candlelight reflected her thin figure, making Li Cheng Yin feel a sense of tenderness that he has never felt before. He unknowingly reached out his hand to hold her hand, which were cold and still shaking.

He thought, don't be afraid, it's me, it's me.

Not knowing why, he always felt that the person in front of him would be able to recognize him and would give him a happy smile, as if she has done it countless times before.

As long as she smiles, the snow on the Tian Gen mountain would melt.

He wanted to say that name many times, but he couldn't remember it. Feeling a bit discouraged, he finally asked: "What is your name?"

"This servant's name is Ah Xu [3]."

He thought this name was not good, it's not this name, no it's not right. What's her name? What should be her name? He couldn't remember it, this kind of feeling he's never felt before, he suddenly didn't want to think about it anymore, because she has her own thoughts, she would remember her name anyways.

He felt that he must be drunk, very drunk, or else why would he have a feeling of grief and tenderness.

He suddenly felt afraid, afraid of something that he didn't know of, as if that thing was like a smoke that would disappear. He couldn't help but hold her hand tightly, gently putting her finger onto his chest where there was a slight pain. Her whole body was shaking, but he happily said: "Come with me."

He felt that he was looking around for a long time, not knowing what he was looking for, but clearly knowing that it was a huge absence that terrified him. It was a dream that he had countless nights that would cause him to shake in fear. It was a feeling of regret that he didn't understand. It was a deep, bone-aching wound in his heart.

Luckily, he found it.

At this moment, he was very satisfied, just like a long time ago.

He held her hand, passing by the beautiful pavilion, the magnificent palace rooms.
 
Tonight was the night of the Qixi Festival, a good day when the weaver girl and the cowherd met each other on the magpie bridge in the golden wind and jade dew.

The pool of water reflected the bits of starlight, as if it was immersed in countless fireflies, just like a dream that could make one feel intoxicated. 

He didn't know if he would lose everything the moment he woke up the next morning.

 

He held her hand and entered his own palace residence.

On the silver folding screen, a new poem was written with wine. The wine gradually faded away and the handwriting was disappearing, just like the way fireflies disappear.

If one does not experience the feeling of grief, they would not believe people's hair could turn white as a result.

Translator's Note: I am quite surprise when Li Cheng Yin shed tears as soon as the cat licked his fingers. It is as if although his mind does not have memories of the past, but his heart still remembers. Anyways I am happy we finally finished translating this side story, because it felt like it took forever.

Notes:

[1] 七夕 Qixi Festival - This is Chinese Valentine's Day, which originated from a folk tale about the weaver girl and cowherd, in which they met once a year on this day on the magpie bridge.

[2] 穿针乞巧 Needle Threading Competition - A tradition of the Qixi Festival. They use five, seven or nine needles, which are stuck on an object. The person that threads the needle holes the fastest wins the title of skillful hands. This event also reveals a person's intelligence and wisdom as well as predicting their future based on there needle threading skills. Back in ancient times, needle threading is an important skill for young ladies, so if you have great needle threading skills then it would mean you are very intelligent and would have a good future. The picture above is an example of the tradition.

[3] 阿绪 Ah Xu - This is Xu Bao Lin.

<Side Story 2 Part 5                                                                                      Side Story 3 Part 1>