Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Project: 🐟 Jinyiwei (锦衣卫) | Author: Fei Tian Ye Xiang (非天夜翔) | Rating: Mature
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Arc 2: The Tortoiseshell Ring
Chapter 18 Feigning madness and acting like an idiot
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Yunqi examined Zhu Di curiously for a long time, after all, it was the first time that he’d encountered a real, live lunatic. It was truly worth studying; What was the mentality of a lunatic actually like?
In other words, for Zhu Di to pretend to be a lunatic, he would naturally have to comprehend the psyche of a lunatic, otherwise wouldn’t he be easily found out?
“Jiefu!” Yunqi squatted in the garden, grabbed hold of Zhu Di’s shoulder, and shook him.
At least today, Zhu Di had finally worn his princely clothes.Don’t read on aggregator sites.
The Prince of Yan clutched a reed tube and made buzzing sounds. He leaned over and scratched his thigh as he met Yunqi’s gaze.
Yunqi said, “There are no bystanders here. Let’s talk. Jiefu, don’t pretend anymore, and rest a bit.”
Zhu Di blew a saliva bubble, pushed his lips out, and tried to kiss Yunqi. Yunqi’s face reddened and he had no choice but to get up and leave.
Xu Wen, a monk, and an official passed by the garden, and noticing Yunqi, she called out angrily, “Di, come here! Don’t stay together with that lunatic! Be careful that you don’t go insane too.”
Yunqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he followed Xu Wen.
“This is your Jiefu’s good friend, Yao Guangxiao [1]–dashi [2] .” Xu Wen smiled at Yunqi as she made the introductions.
The servant girl set up the brazier as Xu Wen pulled up her sleeves in order to scoop up the tea leaves. Yao Guangxiao cupped his fist in greeting as he laughed, “Hehe. This one is the dignified Jinyiwei, Commander Xu Yunqi! Finally, I can meet you in person.”
Yunqi hastily and repeatedly demurred in a modest manner. Xu Wen smiled and said, “Hai, he’s just a little errand boy – what Commander. Yao-dashi should just address him as a junior.”
That middle-aged official was Beiping’s Military Commissioner-in-chief, Xie Gui [3]. He was already well-acquainted with Yao Guangxiao and was also aware that Yunqi was a favorite of the current Son of Heaven. Therefore. he hurriedly introduced himself and did his best to ingratiate himself and curry favor.
The four people sat at a low, carved, gold-inlaid table. Xu Wen personally brewed tea and poured it, while the servants served up exquisite pastries. The conversation at the feast was entirely centered around the discussion of Zhu Di’s mental ailment. Yunqi feared saying too much would invite more problems, and in any event, he wasn’t familiar with the affairs of the Beiping administration – so he merely responded with a few empty platitudes, and engaged in some casual small talk.
Xie Gui’s skin was delicate and fair, with a large head and big ears [4], he’d obviously been well-provided for and lived comfortably for a long time. His speech was soft and gentle, and he spoke anxiously, “The last time I came to the Prince’s residence during Mid-Autumn, Wang-ye was still fine. How is it that after he returned to Beiping, he became like this? Zhang-lao even came in person last night and witnessed it. The only strategy we have for the current situation is for Zhang-lao to personally write a letter to report the matter to the Emperor, and see what the Imperial Court says…”
Yao Guangxiao stated, “Wang-fei must not be overly grieved, causing harm to her health. In my opinion, it must be that Wang-ye suffered a chill when he returned to Beiping, or perhaps he’d contracted some other external ailment and temporarily lost his senses; this illness can be cured…”
As they conversed, Yunqi caught sight of Zhu Di approaching out from the corner of his eye.
Zhu Di held a reed tube in his mouth, buzzing merrily as he made several rounds inside the room. Xu Wen acted as if she couldn’t see it, and sighed distantly, “If it can’t be cured, it’s better that I return to the capital to live in mutual reliance and dependence [5] with Yunqi.”
None of the four people at the table dared to turn to look at Zhu Di, but Zhu Di took the initiative to come over.
Yunqi glanced at Zhu Di and noticed that Zhu Di had a reed tube in his mouth, which he jabbed at Xu Wen’s delicate face and inhaled with a sucking sound.
Xu Wen licked her lips, and said, “Di, bring your Jiefu…”
Zhu Di loosened his mouth with a “pop”, leaving a red suction mark on Xu Wen’s face.
The dinner guests’ expressions were extremely odd. Yunqi asked ignorantly, “What is Jiefu doing?”
Xu Wen said, “He’s imitating a mosquito…bring him out.”
“…”TranslatorSassyStrawberry.
Yunqi was only too eager to get away, so he hurriedly hugged Zhu Di and hauled him into the garden.
Yunqi squatted under the eaves and observed Zhu Di.Translated by SassyStrawberryDoTc0m
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
A short while later, Xu Wen finished her tea and sent Yao Guangxiao and Xie Gui out. Yunqi hurriedly got up to send off their guests. Having sent off their guests, he turned and saw Zhu Di standing in the garden like a red-crowned crane [6], balancing on one leg with one hand held aloft as it rested against his forehead.
“It’s a red-crowned crane [6] this time?” Yunqi asked curiously.
Xu Wen glanced at him, and said, “We’re going to eat lunch, don’t bother with him.”
After lunch, Yunqi again passed the garden on his way back to his room for an afternoon nap. He caught sight of Zhu Di on a tree, clinging to it with both arms, as he cried “chirp click, chirp click [7]. ”
Yunqi watched for a while, before saying in sympathy, “Jiefu, rest a while. There are no guests now, who are you putting on the act for.”
Zhu Di’s shouts of “chirp click” ceased, as he tapped both feet on the tree trunk.
“…”
Clinging onto the tree for the entire afternoon, Yunqi thought admiringly, it appears that Zhu Di is also a martial arts expert.
After taking his afternoon nap, Yunqi hurried to the garden, wanting to see what fresh antics Zhu Di was up to this time. Upon glimpsing it, he felt like he’d been struck by a series of thunderbolts [8].
“Jie!” Yunqi freaked out as he yelled, “This won’t do! Jiefu, he is eating… he’s gone mad!”
Zhu Di squatted in the garden, grabbing something from the ground of an unknown origin; it was a soft, yellow, and stringy waxy mass – he ate it happily.
Xu Wen hastily came out of the room, followed by Zhang Bing who’d come to express his concern and sincere sympathy this afternoon. Xu Wen shrieked once, and Zhang Bing immediately spun around to retch.
“Why wasn’t anyone watching Wang-ye!” Xu Wen cried out shrilly, “Attendants, come quickly!”
Zhang Bing threw up like the sky was murky over a dark and gloomy earth, and didn’t even bother taking his leave, merely fleeing as if he’d seen a ghost.
Yunqi’s hair stood on end as he hollered, “A-a-a-a-a-h! There’s no need to be this dedicated!! You can pretend to be a crane or a mosquito or a cicada and that would be enough! A-a-ah!! What are you pretending to be! Ah, Heavens! A-a-ah!”
Xu Wen poured out her endless grievances as she said, “Alright, alright. They’ve already left, be a little quieter.”
Yunqi still existed in a state of intense shock, as he watched Zhu Di eat, his entire mouth covered in…yellow goo. Yunqi’s stomach roiled tumultuously with the momentum of an avalanche.
Xu Wen said, “That’s honey mixed with wheat flour. Come, we’ll go kick the shuttlecock around, don’t bother about him.”
Yunqi’s thoughts were completely blank as he was dragged away by Xu Wen.
Zhu Di wolfed down the honey paste to fill his stomach, he had missed lunch and was undoubtedly extremely hungry.
Tuoba Feng craned his neck and peered into the garden from outside the arch. He ambled in and sniffed suspiciously before squatting down. He exchanged glances with Zhu Di for a moment.
Tuoba Feng pinched a piece to try, and smacked his lips, saying, “It’s rather tasty.”
Tuoba Feng reached out with his left hand and squeezed Zhu Di’s ears with his fingers. He used his right hand to pinch his own ear at the same time as if he was comparing whose ears were softer.
Zhu Di finally broke character [9], as he cried out angrily, “It’s you who is henpecked [10]!” Read it on SassyStrawberryd0tc0m
Having said this, he smeared the honey paste all over Tuoba Feng’s mouth, angrily lifted the skirt of his robe, and leaped onto the artificial rockery, as he began to mimic a frog in accordance with the schedule.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
After dinner, Zhu Di hopped about in the garden. Yunqi had become inured to the bewildering sights, and couldn’t be bothered to ask him what he was imitating now.
Xu Wen leaned lazily against the couch, as she flipped through a book. She casually chatted with Yunqi, before finally letting out a yawn.
“I’m so used to being on the job that now that I’m at leisure, I’m not sleepy.” Yunqi asked, “Where’s that Zhu Feng?”
Xu Wen replied, “He was sent by your Jiefu out of the city, I’m not sure what for. When he comes back in a few days, we’ll talk about it.”
Yunqi could only leave things be. Xu Wen asked again, “Jie instructed a young fellow to wait upon you. He’ll serve you tea and pour water for you. Just shout for him. “ Having spoken, she yelled, “Sanbao [11]!”
It was the young fellow who’d been sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard that morning and woke Yunqi up. Sanbao was dressed in a clean grey robe, as he stood meekly outside the hall. His age and build were rather similar to Zhu Yunwen, and his temperament was extremely respectful and submissive.
Yunqi nodded. Xu Wen spoke again, “At night you can have him stay in the outer room, it will be easier for you to order him about. Bring him back with you to the capital at the end of the year.”
How would Yunqi dare bring a boy servant back into the Imperial Palace, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “In the palace, if they’re not eunuchs then they’re guards. Carelessly bringing a boy into the palace, I’d definitely get backstabbed – stabbed to death by the Grand Tutor. With a group of men who have nothing better to do but gather together after they’ve filled their bellies, if there’s an additional young fellow, it’s unknown how they’d bully him every day.”
Xu Wen stated insouciantly, “Sanbao’s ancestral home is in Yunnan, and he was originally supposed to enter the palace. When the palace was selecting attendants, your Jiefu sent over twenty-odd people. However, Sanbao had been delayed by some incident with his family and didn’t make it, so he suffered that one…”
Yunqi responded with an “En”, knowing that Xu Wen had wanted to say: He suffered that one cut [12] for nothing…”
Xu Wen said angrily, “First you’re thinking about that Zhu Feng [13], now upon seeing Sanbao, you’re like a little monkey. It’s time to arrange a marriage for you, otherwise, you’ll spend all day without an outlet to expend your strength, merely hoping that your Jie will send a boy servant to you to quench your fire [14].”
Yunqi gnashed his teeth and clenched his fists, and cried, “Nothing like that!”
Xu Wen tittered coquettishly. Yunqi was incomparably mortified as he followed Sanbao and left.
Yunqi paused in the courtyard, and asked, “What did the Wang-fei instruct you to do?”
Sanbao was docile and meek as he answered, “Wang-fei instructed that I fulfill everything that Xiao-jiu-ye wishes, I should do whatever I’m asked to.”
Yunqi pondered for a moment, before carelessly taking out some scattered pieces of silver [15] to reward him with, and asked, “How do I get to the Lanlü Forest? You tell me about it.”
Sanbao bowed, and said, “Thank you Jiu-ye.” His tone was neither lofty nor obsequious, as he smiled faintly, “I can’t describe that place clearly, but I’ll draw a map for Jiu-ye.”
As he spoke, Sanbao entered the room and pulled out a piece of paper, sketching out the city terrain with a few strokes of his brush, before labeling the names. Yunqi said, “Yo, your writing is very beautiful, just like a girl’s. You’ve studied?”
Sanbao replied modestly, “When I was young, my father taught me a little. Upon entering the Prince’s residence, Wang-fei taught me some bits and pieces.” After speaking, he smiled, “ Does Jiu-ye want to go out for a walk tonight?”
Yunqi replied with an “En”, and said, “You mustn’t come along, and don’t tell my Jie. I’ve made an appointment with someone, and will go walk around on my own.”
Sanbao moved over a chair and watched the door. Yunqi then left.
Lanlü Forest… Yunqi looked at the map as he walked. It was just after you-shi [16] in Beiping, the colorfully decorated lanterns in the city had just lit up, and the scene was extremely bustling and prosperous. Along the roadside were several open old Beiping teahouses; with storytellers and singers who also played instruments. There were brightly colored lanterns strung up in a riot of color along the bridge, reflecting the hawkers’ tanghulu and dough figurines. Yunqi followed the map and walked for quite a distance, and was drawn towards the most prosperous section of Beiping.
There’s a forest in this area? Yunqi was perplexed as he glanced about all around.
“Da-ye [17]. Ai, may I ask you [18]…where is this Lanlü Forest…” Don’t read on aggregator sites, read it on the original translator site. SassyStrawberry.Com
The passerby old man’s face revealed some awkwardness, as he curled his lip and gestured with his chin to a distant location. Within the red lanterns and green wine amidst the feasting and revelry, there was a large plaque hanging on the building opposite, with three large characters written on it, “
.”
“…”
Yunqi gaped in surprise, but even before he could respond, suddenly the pupils of his eyes contracted, as he flipped his hand over to reveal the cicada wing blade!
A man had approached him silently and without a trace, but the moment that his breath came into contact with Yunqi’s neck, Yunqi exhaustedly let out a sigh of relief, and said, “Lao-Ba.”
One hand crossed in front of Yunqi and covered his eyes. The other arm clasped his waist as Tuoba Feng embraced Yunqi from behind. He lowered his head and placed an infatuated kiss on the side of Yunqi’s neck.
“Shi-ge…” Yunqi endured his heartache as he said, “I knew it was you.”
The fingers that covered his eyes were slender and warm, and even after so many years, Yunqi couldn’t be more familiar with them.
However, Tuoba Feng was silent, his index finger flicked backward once, and like a conjuring trick, he pulled out a strip of black cloth that he used to blindfold Yunqi.
“What do you want to do?” Yunqi had many things that he wanted to say to Tuoba Feng, unexpectedly he’d done this. Immediately after, Tuoba Feng loosened his grasp and straightened out his collar for him, one hand holding Yunqi by the waist, as he took a step and walked forward together with Yunqi.
Yunqi was blindfolded by that strip of black cloth, and couldn’t clearly determine their location. He could only hear cues that Tuoba Feng was walking towards a crowded venue.
“Shi-ge?” Yunqi asked doubtfully, “You can’t speak? Is it an aftereffect of the medicine?”
“Can.” Tuoba Feng replied rigidly. Yunqi was relieved and wanted to see what mystery game he was playing.
The music of the string and wind instruments inside the flower hall halted, as the parrot perched on the rafters squawked, “Honored guests arrived – – honored guests arrived- -”
Tuoba Feng stood firmly. Yunqi turned his face uneasily as he leaned against Tuoba Feng’s shoulder.
“Da-ye–”Readthisontheoriginalsite and not on aggregrat0rs.
“Wu.”TranslationonSassyStrawberry.com
Tuoba Feng extended an arm and pushed the xiao-guan [19] who’d come forward to welcome him onto his butt, and asked quietly, “Where’s the banquet hosted by the Adjutant?”
The arm around Yunqi’s waist tightened slightly, and Yunqi remained silent as he followed Tuoba Feng upstairs. The “ding dong, ding dong” sounds rang out from the second floor, as the xiao-guan sang in a clear and melodious voice,
“…Today, Spring has come, and the flowers will wither tomorrow.
Make haste to drink as the night comes to an end and the lights are extinguished [20].”
The final strains of the melody lingered around the rafters as they gradually faded away.
A man with a resonant voice laughed loudly.
“Yo, Zhu-xiongdi is here! Come, come, come…”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
The flower hall on the second floor had several low tea tables. Behind the tea tables were men seated on the ground. Seeing that Tuoba Feng had arrived, they greeted him loudly.
Tuoba Feng held Yunqi in his arms as he took his seat, and declared indifferently, “I’m late, I’ll punish myself by drinking 3 cups.”
A man with an honest and sincere voice laughed and said, “Zhu-xiongdi, this is too unjust, even when tarrying in the willows [21] you bring your own boy servant? You deserve to be punished!”
Yunqi sat down. Tuoba Feng still held him in his arms, refusing to let go. Yunqi unnaturally leaned against Tuoba Feng’s left side, only to hear Tuoba Feng reply, “This is the first time I’m here, so I brought Yun’er out to play and gain some experience.”
What manner of place was this? Was this Lanlü Forest? A place to go whoring with xiao-guan? Yunqi’s mind flashed like lightning and he thought of countless questions. Why did Tuoba Feng bring him here? To gather intelligence? Who were those people across him?
If his guess wasn’t wrong…3q-9n5-]q397b4u-]9q2384unb]Q#_+(%uQ#=408q2ui4\=03q*$I\=30q48\q3=05
Sure enough, there was someone at the dinner who said, “Adjutant Wang, you’ve [18] been really busy lately – receiving the Imperial Commissioner, handling official business, how’d you have time to host a drinking party [22]?”
That honest and sincere voice answered, “Mutually reciprocal assistance [23], mutually reciprocal assistance!”
The xiao-guan who’d been singing withdrew, and smoothly shut the door of the flower hall. Everyone toasted one another in succession, as they clamored between themselves. Yunqi had identified that there were eight people in the room.
Adjutant Wang opened his mouth to speak, “Zhang-lao has come all the way from the capital. The former Provincial Administration Commissioner has retired and returned to his hometown, and the new Emperor has just ascended the throne. That day when the Prince of Yan returned, he’d contracted some mental ailment, I fear that Zhang-lao is here by the orders of the Emperor. You all say, what should we do?”
As he spoke, he assessed Yunqi suspiciously, his expression faintly displeased. Clearly, he was unhappy that Tuoba Feng had brought someone with him.
Tuoba Feng lifted his wine cup and fed a mouthful to Yunqi. He then drank up the remaining wine in his cup, as he asked indifferently, “So what did Zhang-lao say?”
Someone at the dinner put down his wine cup, and said, “That day, Zhang-lao returned from the Prince’s residence, and invited Xie Gui-daren over. They spoke secretly in the room for several shichen, before going to the study and raising the brush to write a letter that is to be sent back to the capital and presented to the Emperor.”
Yunqi made a slight movement and rested himself in Tuoba Feng’s arms as if he were somewhat uneasy. Tuoba Feng raised his left hand and comfortingly stroked his head.
The gathered people gazed at Yunqi with interest for a moment. Adjutant Wang questioned the person who’d last spoken, “What did they speak about, did you hear it? That letter they wrote, did you see it ?”
Another person replied, “This humble one was preparing the tools for writing [24] by one side, and witnessed Zhang-lao tear up the letter after writing, write another and tear it up… unfortunately this humble one is illiterate…”
Yunqi heard that “illiterate’, and finally understood. The people at the dinner, from the Adjutant down to the lowest solder, were all people that Zhu Di had inserted into the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s residence, the hidden stakes under his command.
Zhu Di was feigning insanity, and it was inconvenient for him to leave the house. Tuoba Feng was the contact person sent by the Prince’s residence. Seeing how familiar and easily he navigated amongst these people, it appeared that he’d been acquainted with these people for a long time.
Yunqi’s expression was solemn, but his cheeks were tinged with a faint redness from the wine. Tuoba Feng lowered his head to gaze at Yunqi, and reached out with his fingers to pinch his cheeks, smiling subconsciously as he asked, “Has the letter been sent out?”
One person answered, “The letter was given to me, and I was told to send it back to the capital that very night…”
Yunqi’s heart shuddered, one can imagine that this person holds an important position within the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s residence.
As expected, Adjutant Wang asked that person, “Did Li-daren have a chance to see what was written on the letter?”
The man surnamed Li laughed, “Hehe.” He took a sip of wine, and replied in a slow and unperturbed manner, “The gist of the letter was: The Wang-ye has indeed gone insane. Requesting for the Emperor to adjudicate.”
Tuoba Feng pondered for a moment, before asking, “Has the courier left the city?”
Li-daren replied in a carefree and leisurely manner, “Of course, he hasn’t yet. What does Zhu-xiongdi say?”
Tuoba Feng replied, “Tell him to leave the city in the middle of the night. Send a sacrificial pawn.”
Li-daren didn’t reply, he probably nodded.Please support translator sites and not aggregators who steal content.
Adjutant Wang spoke again, “What’s the news from the residence? Procrastination isn’t a long-term strategy, everything must be planned properly before taking action…”
Li-daren coughed once.
Several people came to the realization that Tuoba Feng still held a person in his embrace, and that person had nothing to do with this organization. Tuoba Feng knew that the information had been disseminated fully, so said indifferently, “The official business is over, please make merry and enjoy yourselves, daren.”
Someone said, “Wait, Zhu-xiongdi, this little brother that you brought with you, is he really your bed companion [25]?
Tuoba Feng was just about to leave the dinner whilst hugging Yunqi, and hearing these words, he laughed, “Bed companion?”
Having spoken, he narrowed his eyes, a sharp expression appearing in his gaze.
That person said coldly, “However I look at it, it doesn’t appear so. Both of you are leaving, won’t you stay a little longer?”
Tuoba Feng said indifferently, “Doesn’t look like? Just call over the xiao-guan.”
Once the doors of the flower hall were opened, several xiao-guan entered the hall and rested against the men. Li and Wang were still scrutinizing the person in Tuoba Feng’s arms, feeling that Yunqi was different from the gentle and charming young boys – in terms of both temperament and appearance.
Tuoba Feng had originally intended to leave, but upon seeing the suspicion of the crowd, he said, “Yun’er has been blind since childhood, and his parents are dead…” As he spoke, he pointed at the guqin on the mat and said, “Bring it over.”
The xiao-guan carried the guqin to the table. Tuoba Feng extended a hand to touch it.
At that moment, Yunqi and Tuoba Feng’s thoughts were linked, as they simultaneously reached out and touched the strings; one pressed down on the strings as the other plucked the strings, and the metallic “zheng” sounds of the zither rang out.
The sound of the zither rang out like shining spears and armored horses in battle, a harsh and powerful piece depicting the withered desolation of autumn!
Yunqi spoke pensively,
“ The beauty slit her throat at the banks of the Wu river. The flames of war consumed the red cliffs, and the general emptied the Jade Gate [26]…”
“The sorrow of the Qin and Han dynasties, they lived in extreme hardship! Yet the scholars can only…sigh in unison [27].”
As the sounds of the zither ended, it was like the crisp and clear sound of silk ripping. The xiao-guan were all completely stunned at this moment.
“Good!”Allthefootnotesareontheoriginalwebsite.
Adjutant Wang praised, “With such a bedside companion, everything else is merely vulgar and uncultured, tasteless. No wonder Zhu-xiongdi is loath to part with him.”
The people at the dinner gasped in admiration, as Li-daren bantered, “We haven’t seen his face, xiao-xiongdi, turn around for us to have a look?”
Tuoba Feng gently tugged at Yunqi’s face, turning it towards the light, letting everyone get a good look.
Several people gasped at the same time. Yunqi’s complexion was fair, and his eyes were covered with a black cloth. His delicate features were flushed in the lamp light, and was truly an exceedingly beautiful youth.
“It’s a pity that he has an eye affliction…”SupportoriginalTL.
Tuoba Feng replied indifferently, “Even if his looks were destroyed and he was crippled, This Ye [17]would still thoroughly cherish him. It’s just a pair of eyes, what does it matter?”
Li-daren’s suspicions had yet to be dispelled, and he suddenly questioned, “Looking at those lips, and that nose, why does he resemble Xu Wang-fei so closely?”
Tuoba Feng was silent. The gathered guests criticized and found fault everywhere. Li-daren frowned slightly and said, “I’ve heard that there’s another Imperial Commissioner in the court, the one who is the Imperial Grandson’s imperial hound, and also happens to be the Wang-fei’s youngest brother…”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Translator Note:
Our dear Sanbao will grow up to be a very famous person. I’m not going to elaborate on it, but if you’re curious why he ended up as a slave, you may want to read up on Yunnan and the Muslims in China.
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