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 20 And what’s more, they became a pair
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Beiping had just entered winter, and it was the first snowfall of the season; It snowed heavily and the Prince’s residence had shut its doors, declining all visitors. Zhu Di was no longer feigning insanity. He sat around a brazier with Xu Wen, holding a book as he read a story to his tigress [1].
Tuoba Feng came over.Read this on SassyStrawberryDOTcom
Tuoba Feng entered the room and walked up to Zhu Di, saying, “Give me a tael of silver.”
Xu Wen had been listening to the story to her heart’s content and was furious at being interrupted, she cried, “None of that. What do you want to do!”
Tuoba Feng eyed Zhu Di’s hand which had already reached in to pull out the money and didn’t respond. Xu Wen spoke again, “Tall fellow, you don’t do a lot of work, but you eat quite a lot. No wonder my Er-ge couldn’t afford to support you…”
Noticing that his humble wife [2] was displeased, Zhu Di didn’t dare take the money out. He asked, “Feng-er, what did you want to do with it? Let’s talk about it first.”
Tuoba Feng answered, “To bring Yunqi out to play, it’s to buy food.”
Xu Wen considered the matter, before acceding, “Give it to him.”
Only then did Zhu Di hand the silver to Tuoba Feng, he also pointed at the shelf, saying, “Take a scarf along with you, be careful not to fall ill due to the cold winds.”
Tuoba Feng apathetically retrieved the scarf. Xu Wen spat out, “ No manners for those above you [3], you should address him as Xiao-jiu-ye…”
Tuoba Feng muttered softly, “I’m above and he’s below [4]…”
Xu Wen instantly puffed up her fur in anger, and was just about to plant her hands on her waist to start berating him, when Zhu Di hastily declared in a loud voice, “Look at Zhao Zilong [5]’s set of silver armor…”
Now that Xu Wen’s attention was diverted, Tuoba Feng hurriedly fled with the scarf in hand.
“I obtained one tael of silver.” Tuoba Feng declared.
Yunqi was draped in a robe lined with fox fur and wore a rabbit fur hat. He’d waited at the entrance for some time, and seeing Tuoba Feng return, he asked, “ Is my Jiefu that miserly? You’ve been working in his residence for over half a year but he didn’t even give you a monthly salary.”
Tuoba Feng answered, “I owe him twelve taels, and it’s still being deducted from my monthly salary. It will be fully paid up by spring next year.”
Tuoba Feng unfolded the long scarf, and shook it out, stating, “Wait until I’ve paid it all off, and I’ll give you all my monthly salary…”
Having spoken, he put half of the scarf around himself, wound the other half around Yunqi’s neck, and tied a dead knot, nearly causing Yunqi’s eyes to pop out as he was dragged away.
The Yongding river cut through Beiping city. At end of the year, it was the idle reason for farmers. The entire city was a scene of bustling prosperity; there were people listening to storytellers in the teahouses along the road, and there were people busking with their instruments and songs under the bridge. The crowd of pedestrians was boisterous and endless. Along both sides of the Lugou Bridge [6], one of the eight scenic spots of Yanjing [7], there was a convergence of numerous traveling merchants and local peddlers.
Tuoba Feng held Yunqi’s hand, their ten fingers clasped together. The bystanders who glimpsed these two beautiful men walk hand in hand found it extremely ambiguous [8].
However, Tuoba Feng was accustomed to this, and asked Yunqi, “There’s someone making mianhou [9], do you want some?”
There was an old man with a dough sculpture stall, behind him was a bamboo shelf with a sallow-faced Dian Wei, a black-faced Zhang Fei, and a kneeling Qin Hui with a high-spirited Yue Fei – his craftsmanship was extremely lifelike.
Yunqi stood by the side and watched for a while, finding it extremely interesting, he asked, “Ai, Da-ye, can you make one based on this tall fellow…”
“Can do!” That old man chuckled and had Tuoba Feng stand still as he said, “These two xiao-ge [10] are both as handsome and graceful as jade trees in the wind [11].
Tuoba Feng blushed slightly, his expression blank as he stood unmoving for a while, before abruptly turning away and striding off.
“Ai–“ Yunqi felt the scarf around his neck tighten, nearly cutting off his air, he cried out, “Where are you going!”
Tuoba Feng said, “The silver needs change.”
“…”TranslatorSassyStrawberryTranslates
Tuoba Feng dragged Yunqi away for a moment, before hauling him back, as he tossed the copper coins at the stall, before saying, “Make two of them together.”
“…”St0len translation.
Yunqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and could only allow Tuoba Feng to lean on his shoulder as they both stood motionless. Both of them waited like idiots for half a day, their faces feeling somewhat warm. Yunqi felt the weight of countless people’s odd looks fall on them.
Once the dough sculptures were completed, Tuoba Feng stuck a small wooden stick into the brim of Yunqi’s hat, and he dragged him to and fro. After purchasing a bag of roasted chestnuts, he sat on the stone railing of the Lugou bridge, and said, “ Let’s eat, come sit on Shi-ge.”
Yunqi said, “That won’t do…there are so many people watching.”
Tuoba Feng drew Yunqi over and had him straddle his own legs. Both of them sat face-to-face as they embraced. Yunqi blushed down to his neck, and remarked, “An offense against decency…”
Tuoba Feng looped his arm around Yunqi’s waist and hugged him closer. Yunqi’s face and ears were red, but he supposed that since he wasn’t facing the street, it was Tuoba Feng’s business if other people stared at him, thus he let Tuoba Feng mess around as he pleased.
Who’d have imagined that Tuoba Feng would be even more direct; whenever someone sized them up curiously, he’d chide them, “What do you think you’re looking at.”
The passerby around them were startled and scuttled off quickly. Only then did Tuoba Feng extend his slender fingers in a satisfied manner to take out a chestnut to feed Yunqi with.
Yunqi blushed as he chewed the chestnuts. He gazed absent-mindedly at the Yongding riverside and caught sight of a fortune teller bearing a banner walking along the river bank.
Tuoba Feng angled his head and noted the trajectory of Yunqi’s gaze. He selected a chestnut and flicked it outward – the impact causing the fortune teller to stagger, as he articulated, “Come here!”
“…”Read on the original website.
Yunqi asked, “And what are you doing now?”
The fortune teller saw at a glance that Tuoba Feng was dressed in luxurious clothes and knew that he was from the Prince’s residence, thus he didn’t dare behave rashly as he quickly rushed up the Lugou bridge.
Tuoba Feng fished out two silver coins to give to that fortune-teller, and said, “I’ll give you money to say a few auspicious words.”
Yunqi completely admitted defeat.Yunqi completely admitted defeat.
The moment that the fortune teller caught sight of the scattered pieces of silver, he was instantly beside himself with joy, and hastily replied, “Xiao-ge possesses extraordinary vitality and appearance, and can be regarded as a dragon or phoenix amongst men. Truly not simple, not simple at all!”
“Oh.” Tuoba Feng queried in a respectable and earnest manner, “What about Xiao-ge’s marriage fate [12]?”
The fortune teller exclaimed, “That is a matter of course! A union made in the heavens; the man is talented and the woman is beautiful!”
Tuoba Feng tugged at Yunqi’s chin, and turned his face around to look directly at the fortune teller.”
“…”Yunqi completely admitted defeat.
That mystical charlatan [13]’s head was filled with question marks. Yunqi’s straight brows were like swords arching upwards to his temples, and his appearance was awe-inspiring and inviolable. His eyes were as bright as stars – an extraordinary countenance; He was clearly male. But since the fortune teller already started speaking in this manner, he couldn’t go back on his original words, thus he could only reluctantly brace himself and say, “This…girl is beautiful with bright eyes and graceful features…
“I’m male,” Yunqi said with a smile.
Tuoba Feng patted Yunqi’s face and said, “Female.”
“…”Read on the actual TL site SassyStrawberryD0tc0m
Yunqi gnashed his teeth as he cried, “Male!”
The fine hairs on the fortune teller stood up and he smiled obsequiously, “In this case, this lowly one will give these two gongzi a bamboo divination slip, a talisman…to guarantee you two… this… if you want a marriage fate, it will be a marriage fate, if you want financial luck then it’ll be financial luck, I, Wang-banxian [14]…”
As he spoke, he lost no time in untying the bamboo tube from the flag, took out a talisman, and passed it to Tuoba Feng. Tuoba Feng said, “En, you can leave.”
Tuoba Feng smiled, and said, “What manner of plaything is this, let me have a look…”
Tuoba Feng unfolded that talisman to have a look and said, “Merely a lousy piece of paper, you have one too.”
He pointed at Yunqi’s neck and took out that little cloth bag that he wore on him, and unfolded the charm. Both pieces of paper were exactly the same, it was just that one piece was newer, and the cinnabar ink on the other one had long faded to a greyish-yellow due to the passage of time.
Unexpectedly, a resonant voice sounded from behind Yunqi, “ That piece of lousy paper is still a Buddhist talisman [15], it’s the ‘Summoning Wind and Rain Talisman’, be sure not to throw it away.”
Tuoba Feng and Yunqi frowned lightly at the same time.
Only to see a Taoist priest who was over the age of seventy who had appeared goodness-knows-when, his hair was pure white and he had ruddy cheeks.
Hearing his energetic voice filled with vigor, one could tell that this old Taoist was someone who practiced self-cultivation, and it was unknown how old he was, but he did have the look of someone who was rejuvenated and recovered his youthful vigor. This old Taoist was slovenly and unkempt, his Taoist robe was greasy-looking, and he carried a longsword at his back. He wore a Big Dipper Taoist hairpiece and smiled at Yunqi and Tuoba Feng.
Yunqi hastily pressed down on the scarf as he turned around, to ask, “ How should one address this grand elder [16]?”
The old Taoist priest clasped his hands into fists and greeted him with a Taoist form of obeisance, and smiled, “This humble Taoist is surnamed, Zhang. May I ask xiao-ge…how might I get to the Prince of Yan’s residence?”
Zhu Di’s network of friends was very extensive. The people of Beiping’s three religions and nine schools of thought [17] were aware that the Prince of Yan was courteous and valued men of talent, thus they came in droves to throw in their lot with him. The Prince of Yan’s Wang-fei, Xu Wen managed Zhu Di’s finances very strictly but was extremely generous to those guests who came to seek gratuitous financial aid. There had been a time when the Prince of Yan’s residence’s courtyard was bustling with visitors; everyone from the streets to the alleys praised Zhu Di endlessly, which was the image that Xu Wen had cultivated for him.
Were one to speak of monks and Taoists – Yao Guangxiao was one of the best examples. At the moment that the old Taoist asked for directions, Yunqi didn’t do as he’d expected, and even more so, he didn’t realize what manner of personage this Zhang Junbao was. He merely pointed out the direction and had him proceed on his own.
It was getting late, and fine, light snowflakes drifted to the ground. Tuoba Feng still embraced Yunqi and refused to let go. The two of them hugged as they sat on the bridge, quietly speaking words of love to one another. Tuoba Feng abruptly stated, “Don’t go.”
Only Yunqi understood the profound meaning behind that seemingly thoughtless sentence.
Yunqi sighed lightly and answered, “Jiang-shi is still in Nanjing, and Shi-niang saved your life in the past. Rong Qing and the rest of our brothers are still waiting – how can I just set these things down? Even if we don’t mention Yunwen, it’s fine, but I can’t just leave the rest be and not bother with them.”
Tuoba Feng answered indifferently, “You can write a letter back, and have Rong Qing become the head of the dog legs [18].”
Yunqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at this and replied, “Your way of thinking is too simple.”
If Yunqi didn’t return to Nanjing, it would be difficult to leave things be. One only feared that in the event that they pursue the matter further, the entire Jinyiwei system and perhaps even Jiang Huan would have to bear the brunt of the blame. Yunwen might even dispatch troops in a punitive expedition against Zhu Di in a fit of wrath, putting Zhu Di in an even more passive situation. Yunqi was aware that he would have to return no matter what.
As Yunqi deliberated, Tuoba Feng instead spoke quietly, “Since you intend to return, Shi-ge must reach an agreement with you on a matter.”
“We are both people with masters [19].” Tuoba Feng whispered earnestly, “The Jinyiwei have always remained in Nanjing to protect the Emperor, and need not participate in military expeditions, nor are they required to fight wars, so I’m not afraid that the clash of the two armies will injure you.”
“But in the event that Wang-ye really intends to fight…”
Yunqi’s heart jerked once, and he extended his pinky to hook against Tuoba Feng’s and tugged. Tuoba Feng smiled and said, “You mustn’t risk your life and fight desperately.”
Yunqi responded with an ”En,” and Tuoba Feng spoke again, “I won’t risk my life and fight desperately either; If your master is defeated, you go behind the artificial rockery in the Imperial Garden to wait for Shi-ge.”
Tuoba Feng smiled and said, “Deal, if your master is defeated…You need to think of a way to protect him and my Jie…En…”
Tuoba Feng said, “I’ll bring them both to the Kherlen River to wait for you.”
Yunqi couldn’t hold back his smile at this, and said, “You really have that ability?”
Tuoba Feng nodded and replied, “Leave it to Shi-ge. You also have to strategize on how to return to the capital, it’s best if they don’t reduce the feudatories [20], but if they do, it’s no big deal. Don’t take it to heart.”
Yunqi smiled slightly, “A man should do his best…” And not read on aggregator sites.
Tuoba Feng nodded, “And leave the rest to Heaven’s will…”
At that moment, the fog wreathed around Yunqi’s mind finally dissipated and he was suddenly enlightened at the sight of the bright panorama, drifting along with the waves and following the tide. His feeling of powerlessness and lack of free will during this great era dispersed like smoke and scattered like clouds after this agreement with Tuoba Feng.
Prior to his arrival at Beiping, one might say that he’d been walking a tightrope over a bottomless chasm. But from this moment onward, he’d finally stepped onto safe ground.
Even if the Imperial Court were to be buffeted by the winds of change, and the person on the Dragon throne changed – all these could not compare to the agreement that they’d made here today, with their pinky promise; He believed in Tuoba Feng, and Tuoba Feng also believed in him. This was the tacit understanding that they’d developed with one another since childhood.
“Shi-ge, this is for you.” Yunqi removed the little cloth bag from his neck and fished out the jade pendant before passing the talisman paper to Tuoba Feng. He kept the jade pendant for himself.
Tuoba Feng smiled and said, “Lousy piece of paper. Let’s go home and eat, I’m hungry.”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
As they entered the Prince’s residence, he discovered that the old Taoist who’d asked for directions this afternoon was actually Zhu Di’s honored guest.
Xu Wen beckoned to Yunqi and performed the obeisance of the younger generation towards the Taoist. She then instructed the servants to start the banquet. During the banquet, with cups in hand, the old Taoist Zhang and Zhu Di chatted about the past events of the previous dynasty. When their conversation discussed Chen Youliang, Han Lin’er, and the other events during Zhu Yuanzhang’s military uprising, Yunqi became secretly suspicious.
How old is this old fellow actually?
Zhu Di repeatedly urged old Taoist Zhang to stay, the scruffy Taoist smiled joyfully and agreed to tarry in the Prince’s residence for several days.
Early the next morning as the cock crowed, Yunqi subconsciously rolled over and wanted to set his foot on Tuoba Feng’s waist, but the space was empty.
He rubbed his eyes as he sat up. The charcoal brazier was burning vigorously, and there was a wintersweet flower in a bottle near the bedside, suffusing the area with its exquisite fragrance. From outside the room came old Taoist Zhang’s resonant voice. “Hand strums the lute [21]！”
Tuoba Feng repeated indifferently, “Hand strums the lute…”
Xu Wen and Zhu Di also dragged out their words as they said, “Hand strums the lute- -”
Yunqi smiled and got out of bed, putting his clothes on properly before leaving the room to have a look – he staggered, nearly falling onto the snow-covered ground.
This old freak [22] Ah-h-h!!
Old Taoist Zhang’s upper body was bare, revealing his fair shoulders and back. His muscular and firm flesh was no different from that of a young man. His back was towards Yunqi, his shoulders rounded, his beard and hair fluttering as he said in a deep voice, “ The Yin and Yang give rise to the Four Symbols [23] ( Qinglong [24], Baihu [25], Zhuque [26] and Xuanwu [27]), generation after generation they move in an endless cycle [28]…”
Tuoba Feng’s upper body was bare, and the sleeves of his guard uniform were knotted around his waist – revealing his antique bronze-colored shoulders and back. Both his legs were in a horse stance [29], and his elbows were rounded as he followed old Taoist Zhang in practicing martial arts.
Zhu Di’s upper body was also bare; his neck and shoulders were reddened by the cold. He looked around up and down, resembling a monkey. Seeing that old Taoist Zhang’s fist techniques were extremely slow, he held a ‘golden rooster stands on one leg’ stance as he asked happily and noisily, “ Zhenren [30], if I may be so bold to ask…if one’s movements are this slow, how do you strike someone?”
Zhang-zhenren smiled and made light of the matter.
Xu Wen also…Xu Wen’s upper body wasn’t bare, instead, she wore martial arts attire, as she smiled daintily, “ Di is already awake? Come and learn Taiji-quan [31] from Zhang-zhenren.”
Zhang-zhenren demonstrated his fist techniques; His legs shifted and the movements of his fists were as natural and free as floating clouds and flowing water, disappearing without a trace. Yunqi observed for a while before standing behind Tuoba Feng to learn.
These must be extremely profound martial arts! Yunqi had just followed the “Parting the wild horse’s mane [32].” As he executed this move, he felt the true qi in his body spin like a planet orbiting a star, vaguely agreeing with the concept that ‘All things are transformed [33].’ He immediately exercised his prodigious memory to meticulously remember each and every move of the fist techniques that Zhang-zhenren imparted to them.
“Cloud hands…” Read on TL’s site, not on aggregators.
Tuoba Feng looked pleased with himself as he clumsily followed Zhang-zhenren’s actions.
Xu Wen was the first of them to feel bored. After she’d just learned the ‘Twin peaks strike the ears [35]’, she said with some embarassment, “Laoniang [36]… I’ll go have a look at breakfast.” She then fled noiselessly and stealthily.
Zhang-zhenren narrowed his eyes but continued instructing them in the fist techniques. Zhu Di observed for a while longer before declaring, “I’ll also go…have a look at breakfast.” Having spoken he also fled.
Zhang- zhenren’s ‘Grasping the swallow’s tail’ flowed into ‘Moving to block the hammer [37]’, then finally into the ‘Needle at the bottom of the sea’ [38].
“Closing form.” All things return to the center of your palm, Heaven and Earth are right before one’s eyes. Zhang-zhenren placed his legs together as he stood firmly.
Yunqi however, was frozen in that instant, with both his hands pressed downwards. He sighed, to think that he’d come too late to catch a glimpse of the earlier moves; He’d have to get Tuoba Feng to demonstrate them once later.
But he wasn’t sure if that blockhead simpleton would be able to remember such profound and advanced martial arts – it was truly a pity.
Zhang-zhenren smiled slightly as he turned, and put his Taoist robe back on. The three of them stood in the snow yet their bodies radiated heat. Yunqi asked, “This is called Taiji-quan?”
Zhang-zhenren nodded in agreement, then smiled as he asked, “ Let me ask the two of you now, how much of it do you remember?”
Yunqi muttered to himself for a moment, then answered, “From “hand strums the lute” onwards until “crossing hands” – twenty-one stances.”
Zhang-zhenren gave a small smile but didn’t speak. He then asked, “What about Tuoba xiao-ge?”
Tuoba Feng thought dazedly before responding, “I’ve forgotten everything [39].”
Zhang-zhenren laughed. Yunqi felt incomparably embarrassed, and asked, “Would Zhenren demonstrate it again? Yunqi noted that this Taiji-quan is incredibly ingenious and exquisite…”
Zhang-zhenren patted Tuoba Feng’s shoulder and declared, “Very good, you’ve learned it.” Having spoken, he faced Yunqi and pointed at Tuoba Feng, saying, “Just ask him,” before turning to leave the courtyard.
“…”
Yunqi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, as he asked, “Didn’t you already forget everything?”
Tuoba Feng found it rather baffling, “I seem to have forgotten, yet I also seem to remember a little…”
After Zhang-zhenren left, Tuoba Feng tilted his head and thought for a long time. He then attempted to perform the Taiji-quan .
Although the movements differed from what Zhang-zhenren had taught them, much like how a bull’s head does not match the horse’s mouth – none of the moves were correct; yet the intent of his fists was vaguely consistent with the true essence of yin and yang flowing in an endless cycle.
Yunqi watched dumbfounded, and asked, “It can’t be! It can still be done this way?!”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
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