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 22 A disagreeable conversation
Tuoba Feng was the first to succumb to the effects of the wine. He apologized drunkenly and went to lie down on his own. Those two brothers Zhu Di and Zhu Quan had very good capacities for liquor, as they pushed the cups around and toasted one another [1]. As the timing got closer, Xu Wen took their two sons to make preparations to welcome the new year with firecrackers [2] and Zhu Quan also followed along.
At the feast, the residual strength of the wine rushed up on them, leaving Yunqi and Zhu Di muddled and completely ignorant.
“ Neidi [3]…Ge…En… makes a toast to you!” Zhu Di slurred his words as he touched his cup to Yunqi’s.
Yunqi had drunk so much that he was dizzy, one Zhu Di before him had become two. He barely managed to pat Zhu Di’s shoulder, saying, “Jiefu! Let’s not speak of anything else! After Yunqi returns…he’ll definitely…*burp*…”
“Will definitely say positive things on your behalf, what Huang Zicheng! Fang Xiaoru! They should all move aside!” Yunqi’s eyes swirled round and round in dizziness 
, as he spoke haltingly, “Who…dares falsely accuse you of rebellion! I will fucking …draw my knife! Stab his entire family! Stab his ten clans [4]!”
“Hahaha——” Read this at SassyStrawberryDOTcom
“Hahahaha——” Don’t read on aggregator sites.
Zhu Di and Yunqi downed their cups as they raised their heads to the Heavens to laugh.
Zhu Di choked on the wine and coughed several times. He asked tipsily, “What if Ge…really intends to rebel?”
Yunqi was stunned, and said, “Jiefu…”
Zhu Di’s face darkened as he pulled at Yunqi’s hand, and said, “Call me Ge.”
“Yunwen that useless thing…what’s so good about him?” Zhu Di said, “No matter how close…can he compare to your own sister?”
Yunqi instantly sobered up from his drunken stupor, and his heart thumped frantically. He didn’t know if it was prompted by the strength of the wine, or if was it due to the confirmation that he’d heard with his own ears. His brain felt like it had been struck by a stick – there was a buzzing noise in his head, and his mind was blank as he twisted and turned over those three words, repeatedly mulling over them.
What to do? Not read on aggregator sites.
Zhu Di slurred and his eyes were red, as he said, “In the future when Ge sits in that position, the Six Ministries, the Grand Secretary, the General-in-Chief, you can pick whatever you…want! Ge promises you!”
Yunqi made an effort to calm himself down, his eyes were hazy as he gazed towards Zhu Di; he did his utmost to portray an intoxicated countenance as he waved his hands and said, “No…no…can do. Jiefu…”
Zhu Di raged, “Call me Ge!”
Yunqi’s voice was confused and blurry as he said, “Jiefu kill me then…kill me…silence me…to prevent…ruining matters!”
Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and looked toward Yunqi. One hand pressed on a plate on the table, and the porcelain plate emitted a ‘cracking’ sound as a fissure appeared, breaking it into two halves.
Zhu Di’s fingertips stroked against the sharp edge of the porcelain shards, as he murmured, “How can I kill you? No, it won’t do…it won’t do.”
Yunqi’s eyes were unfocused as he gazed toward Zhu Di. Zhu Di swallowed once and shook his head.
Yunqi exhaled a mouthful of hot wine-flavored breath, and said, “It won’t do, then what do we do? !”
Zhu Di loosened Yunqi’s grip on the cup, and his other hand felt upwards from Yunqi’s arm to his face, as he touched Yunqi’s face.
Zhu Di articulated coldly, “Since you call me Jiefu, in the future… You’ll be Guo-jiu [5]-ye, but only Guo-jiu-ye.”
The killing intent disappeared in a flash. Yunqi shut both eyes and his forehead crashed to the table as he collapsed into a stupor.
Yunqi’s consciousness misted as myriad scenes hurtled and whirled through his mind.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
When he was twelve, a pack of imperial bodyguards rushed forward and crowded the then-ten-year-old Zhu Yunwen into the corner of the wall. Yunwen cried out loudly, “ Yun-ge’er, save me!”
Little Yunqi shook off Tuoba Feng’s hand, and desperately shouted, “Don’t bully Yunwen!”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
When he was sixteen, Tuoba Feng and Yunqi lay side-by-side at the Xuanwu lakeside where the peach blossoms bloomed in riotous profusion. Tuoba Feng abruptly sat up, flipped himself over, and pounced on Yunqi.
“Lao-Ba what are you doing! Don’t…”
“Shi-ge missed you to death!” Tuoba Feng smiled, stubbornly refusing to let go as he pressed Yunqi down and kissed him furiously.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
When he was eight years old, there were sounds of weeping in the mourning hall. The tearful noises were concentrated before Xu Da’s shiny black coffin. Zhu Di straightened his neck as he yelled loudly, “What kind of person strikes a woman – -! What kind of person strikes a woman ! ! Fuck! !”
Zhu Di fought desperately to protect Xu Wen and Yunqi, allowing Xu Da’s relatives to land punches and kicks on his own body, as he roared, “Stop! You heartless bunch! In any case, they are also General Xu’s children – – !”
Zhu Di hugged little Yunqi and Xu Wen, as he retreated whilst scolding, “A bunch of turtle eggs [6]! If you’re so capable, you and this Wang-ye…”
As he spoke, he had Xu Wen watch over little Yunqi. He smoothed down his sleeves and rushed into the fight with those two brothers, Xu Huizu [7], Xu Zengshou [8].
Xu Huizu swung a bench and mercilessly pummelled Zhu Di fiercely with it, as he hollered, “ The Zhu family are all beasts – -! Beat this young beast to death! It was because our father ate the steamed goose [9] sent by the dog Emperor…”
Xu Wen screamed, “Don’t fight anymore! Wang-ye! Let’s go!”
Zhu Di was like a homeless cur as he was thrashed without an ounce of mercy by the Xu family brothers and driven out of the residence.
Xu Wen wailed loudly. Zhu Di’s eyes were red as he turned towards Xu Wen and was about to kneel.
“Don’t think wildly, this has nothing to do with you…” Xu Wen choked with sobs as she helped Zhu Di up.
Zhu Di’s head was covered in blood. He heaved a deep sigh as the three of them quietly crouched under the wall surrounding the Xu Residence.
Little Yunqi suddenly burst into tears. Zhu Di panicked as he quickly tried to wipe off the blood from his head and angled his face away – believing that his appearance had frightened little Yunqi.
Little Yunqi cried as he reached out to tug at Zhu Di’s sleeves.
Xu Wen choked back her sobs, and sighed, “Don’t think about it anymore. Look, you’ve scared Yunqi.”
It was at this time that Zhu Di nodded, and turned back, carrying little Yunqi in his arms, as he told him, “Yunqi, when you return to Nanjing, be sure not to speak carelessly, understand?”
Steamed goose.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Yunqi abruptly sat straight up in bed and gasped several times, his entire body covered in sweat as if he’d been dredged from the river. Tuoba Feng sat by the bed and asked concernedly, “What is it?”
Yunqi lifted off the robe draped over his body and glanced at it. It was Zhu Di’s Taotie red brocade Prince’s robes. To think of it, it must have been Zhu Di who carried him back after he collapsed, and laid him on the bed.
“What time is it?” Yunqi’s head ached terribly.
Tuoba Feng had already sobered up and smiled, “Zi-shi [10], the Wang-fei and Wang-ye are setting off the firecrackers. Should Shi-ge carry you there?”
Yunqi sighed and shared a glance with Tuoba Feng. The two people’s hearts had a tacit understanding as they quietly shared a kiss, holding hands as they walked towards the front courtyard.
The trio of Zhu Quan, Xu Wen, and Zhu Di stood together. Zhu Di smiled at them as he beckoned, “Come quickly! Light the firecrackers, light the firecrackers!”
As if nothing had happened. Zhu Gaochi held a sandalwood incense stick in his hands and asked, “ Will Xiao-jiu-ye do it, or should this nephew light it?”
Xu Wen smiled, “You light it. Yunqi’s so clumsy, don’t let him explode something.”
Witnessing his family’s happy and harmonious interactions, Yunqi was overcome with emotion and laughed. Zhu Quan’s hands were still tied together, thus Zhu Di reached out and used his index fingers to plug Zhu Quan’s ears.
Xu Wen also extended her fingers to stopper up her younger son, Zhu Gaoxu’s ears. Yunqi laughed, “Is it that loud, that each of you is so afraid of it…” Before he could finish his words, Tuoba Feng’s ice-cold, slender fingers reached out and blocked Yunqi’s ears.
Tuoba Feng casually rested his arms on Yunqi’s shoulders, placing his chin beside Yunqi’s neck as he laughed, “Light it!”
Zhu Di said, “Son! Light it!”
Zhu Gaochi ignited the lead wire, and the steward of the Prince’s residence lifted the long string of firecrackers as the sounds of explosions rang to high heaven and shook the earth. Xu Wen shrieked several times to the crowd’s loud laughter. The north wind gusted as it sent those red scraps of paper fluttering and scattering everywhere across the earth.
The sounds of the firecrackers welcoming the New Year rang out from the Prince’s residence, and immediately the thousands and tens of thousands of households in Beiping responded in succession – the earth-shaking racket of the firecrackers so deafening as to startle Heaven. The old year was gone and it was the New Year. Countless children’s joyful shouts joined together to form a mighty torrent, wafting and drifting in the skies above Beiping.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
At this time in Nanjing, Zhu Yunwen officially ascended the throne. The Emperor [11]’s Imperial Dragon robes draped over his shoulders as he proclaimed to all the lands under Heaven his reign’s era name would be 
Jianwen [12].
The advent of the 1st year of Jianwen was both within people’s expectations, yet also beyond their expectations.
The 1st year of the Jianwen era was akin to an immense vortex pulling in innumerable people and their fates; The trajectories of their respective fates were consequently intricately intertwined until the victory at the Battle of Jingnan [13].
In the future, when Yunqi recalled this night, he couldn’t help but sigh at the ingenuity of the will of Heaven, and the impermanence of life.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
The passage of time was evanescent; It was already the sixteenth day of the first month of the year. Yunqi’s familial visitation leave was over, and he must return to Nanjing.
Xu Wen instructed the servants to pack up a carriage full of goods and gifts to be delivered to his Jinyiwei colleagues in Nanjing. The entire Prince’s residence had been bustling about in circles since the early morning, with six large mule carts lugging dozens of large boxes parked in front of the main gate of the Prince’s Residence.
Yunqi stated, “Jie, that’s enough. Don’t stuff any more things into the carriage.”
Xu Wen pretended that she couldn’t hear him, instead ordering, “Be a little more careful, bind it more securely. That box is filled with cured and dried goods…”
Yunqi frowned slightly, “Alright now, bringing so much back, how will I ever finish eating them…” After he spoke, his heart jolted. He leaned closer to Xu Wen and bowed. When he raised his head again, he saw that the corner of Xu Wen’s eyes was slightly red.
Xu Wen turned her head away as she smiled, saying, “This time when you leave, it will be another five years. In a person’s life…there aren’t that many five years that we can live through.”
Yunqi was swiftly saddened by this sentence, and he embraced Xu Wen, declaring, “Once I’ve resigned from my post, I’ll return home to accompany you.”
Xu Wen lifted her sleeve to wipe away her tears, and forced a smile, “It’s better if you bring a wife home with you – if you have children, Jie will raise them for you.”
Yunqi was greatly embarrassed as he responded, “Let’s forget about that.” As he replied, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he glanced over at Tuoba Feng.
“???” Like a blockhead, Tuoba Feng stood very straight beside the carriage, his head filled with question marks.
Tuoba Feng wanted to comfort him but didn’t know what to say. After considering for a while, he said, “Don’t be sad. Mayhaps we’ll meet one another at the end of the year…” Even before he finished speaking, he was rapped sharply [13] on the head.
Zhu Di looped his arm around Tuoba Feng’s neck and dragged him to one side, gnashing his teeth as he whispered, “How can such things be said – are you afraid that people won’t know!”
At their end, Xu Wen and Yunqi still held hands, reluctant to part with one another. Xu Wen abruptly recalled something, and said, “Jie will send a boy servant to follow along…Sanbao!”
Yunqi immediately wailed mournfully, “It can’t be! Can you not? !”
Sanbao responded with a smile as he stood by the wall. He held a cloth bag and wooden box and articulated, “Wang-fei told me to return to the capital with Jiu-ye.”
Xu Wen voiced sternly, “Sanbao is a sharp one, he knows when to speak and when to keep his mouth shut. He handles things very cleanly and decisively. Your Jiefu said that the Jinyiwei Commander’s room is spacious – you can let him live in the outer room. He can take his meals together with the rest of the bodyguards.”
“Anyway, Sanbao doesn’t eat much… He only eats two bowls of rice and also doesn’t eat pork. Unlike this one who only eats but doesn’t work…” As she spoke, she used her hand to prod at Tuoba Feng. Tuoba Feng wobbled a little. Xu Wen cried out in incomparable indignation, “He eats twelve baozi for breakfast alone!”
“…” Translator SassyStrawberry
“Jie you hold on for a moment, I want to tell you…”
“Don’t speak, what’s the point of you speaking…”
“Listen to me speak…”
“That…Furen…”
“You don’t speak, don’t speak. You all don’t need to speak, listen to me speak…Sanbao can read and write, run errands, cook, wash clothes, care for horses, and steam cakes, he’s good at telling jokes and his martial arts aren’t bad, those scimitar skills are impressive. He can also cut decorative flowers for New Year…”
“Wait – – wait!”
“He’s also of the Hui people, and understands Tujue, Mongolian, and Hui Languages…”
Xu Wen kept harping on the matter, not leaving Yunqi any opportunity to interrupt. She said to Sanbao, “You keep a close watch on Xiao-jiu-ye for me; make sure he eats, and don’t let him get overly tired, understand?”
Yunqi replied dejectedly, “ You should at least ask for my opinion, Jie!”
Xu Wen said, “Kowtow!”
Sanbao knelt down neatly and kowtowed to Zhu Di and Xu Wen, as he declared in a loud voice, “Thanks to Wang-fei and Wang-ye for the grace of upbringing and nurture. Sanbao will leave now, and will never hesitate to serve Xiao-jiu-ye fearlessly, even should it be to go through a boiling cauldron or a blazing fire.”
As expected, a sharp one. Yunqi thought in his heart, even when giving thanks he knows to put the Wang-fei before the Wang-ye.
Xu Wen flicked her sleeves and said, “Leave quickly. Remember to think of Jie.” Having spoken, she pressed her sleeves in front of her nose. It turned out that she wouldn’t be sending him off either, as she turned to enter the residence.
Yunqi had no alternative but to reluctantly take Sanbao along as well.
Zhu Di said, “Neidi, take care. Jiefu won’t send you off.” Having spoken, he came forward to hug Yunqi.
Yunqi went forward to embrace Zhu Di, both hands looping around Zhu Di’s neck. Zhu Di mischievously placed both hands around Yunqi’s waist. This hug between Jiefu and Xiao-jiu-zi was particularly happy and harmonious, with the warmth of affection.
Yunqi felt a little embarrassed as he turned to push Zhu Di away, saying, “You go accompany my Jie.”
Zhu Di replied, “En, I’ll go now.”
Zhu Di’s mouth may have said “En,” but the arms around Yunqi’s waist didn’t loosen.
Yunqi gritted his teeth, “Let go…”
Zhu Di held onto Yunqi’s waist for dear life. Tuoba Feng’s expression immediately turned green. Without wasting any time, he immediately came forward and swung his fists to greet Zhu Di.
“…Feng-er!”
“Ai! What are you two doing…Shi-ge! Stop!”
“Aiya – – Aiya – –”
Sudden unforeseen events! Only to see Tuoba Feng grab onto Zhu Di’s collar and lift him up to punch him again. Zhu Di was caught unawares and bore the punch. Confused and disoriented, he shoved Tuoba Feng away. The two people twisted and wriggled around, scuffling together in a heap.
Yunqi and Sanbao were dumbfounded as they watched with their mouths agape – why did they suddenly start fighting ?!
“You fucking disloyal [14] little wolf cub. Wang-ye’s just hugging my own xiao-jiu-zi for a bit, what’s wrong with…Aiya! Aiya!”
“Monkey – -”
“…” http://sassystrawberry.com
Yunqi was at a loss for what to do. He cried out, “Stop fighting! Jie! Come quickly! You all look, my Jie is here! My Jie is here!”
Zhu Di and Tuoba Feng clashed fiercely at this time. Yunqi howled, “Sanbao! You fend off Wang-ye, I’ll ward off Shi-ge!” Yunqi steeled his resolve and rushed into the fray.
At this time, one could only hear slamming sounds and loud clangs as dust clouds swirled in the air and they tussled together. The both of them charged into the fray where Zhu Di and Tuoba Feng battled fiercely, gnashing their teeth as they tried to separate the combatants!
Sanbao also transgressed against the Heavenly Fiend and was plagued with disaster; just as he joined Yunqi he received a sound beating. Tuoba Feng and Zhu Di’s punches and kicks bypassed Yunqi, with most of them landing on Sanbao’s body. Sanbao cried out loudly as he yanked Zhu Di’s arms behind his back, continually retreating backward. Only then was Yunqi able to press down on Tuoba Feng, as he stared at this pair of adopted father and son with some lingering trepidation.
Zhu Di also performed a flying feet move, then a high kick as he cursed furiously, “I’ll kick you to death!”
“Alright, alright!” Yunqi raged, “Stop fighting!”
Tuoba Feng was held down by Yunqi, and Sanbao at the side who’d been badly battered with a bloody nose and swollen face, let go of Zhu Di.
Zhu Di grudgingly straightened the skirt of his robe, leaned in closer, and said, “You’re going back to Nanjing now…”
“En.” Yunqi found it both infuriating and laughable. Tuoba Feng also ceased fighting, declaring, “He’s mine, you’re not allowed to hug.”
As expected, while Zhu Di’s words were false, wanting to win back his dignity was real. With a flick of his sleeves, he sent another punch toward Tuoba Feng.
“Ai, Jiefu! Shameless jerk [15]!” Yunqi freaked out and yelled, “Shi-ge, you come back here!”
Tuoba Feng wouldn’t have it and stalked off in pursuit of Zhu Di.
Yunqi didn’t know whether to laugh in amusement or cry in embarrassment and declared, “Let’s go, let’s go! Don’t bother with them, Sanbao, get on the carriage.”
Ma Sanbao observed for a little while, before apprehensively getting onto the carriage.
Zhu Di fled swiftly while Tuoba Feng pursued him with vigorous long strides, streaking like a meteor. After catching up with him, he gave Zhu Di a kick, sending him flying outward; The dignified Wang-ye fell down in the courtyard and stopped moving.
“?” Tuoba Feng observed him for a moment and flipped Zhu Di over. Zhu Di’s four limbs were in the air as he sprawled on the ground. Tuoba Feng cried out, “Yunqi! Wait for me!”
As he spoke, he leaned closer to listen. After confirming that Zhu Di wasn’t dead, he got up and headed toward the horse carriage.
Zhu Di played dead for a moment before he hopped up and stomped angrily, “ You just wait and see! How unfeeling of you to side with others…”
Tuoba Feng swiveled about to pursue him again as Zhu Di escaped in a hurry.
Yunqi laughed until he was exhausted, before instructing, “Quickly drive…if you don’t drive off now, Xiao-ye’s life will end here.”
Tuoba Feng stared dully at the carriage as he took to his heels in pursuit. After he’d run a few steps, he eventually halted.
Yunqi lifted the curtains of the carriage, and glanced back, crying, “Shi-ge!”
Tuoba Feng waved his hand, and said, “Yunqi, wait for me!” He then fished out a bamboo flute and played a distant melody.
The spring sun was warm and balmy, as the strains of the flute piped through the clear skies, its music echoing sweetly and pleasantly throughout Beiping city.
Yunqi curled up in the soft chair in the carriage, one arm holding Sanbao, as he gazed out of the window into the vast blue sky.
“He’s also learned a new song.” Yunqi smiled.
Sanbao smiled as he answered, “Sanbao doesn’t know many of the Han people’s songs. Jiu-ye please instruct me.”
Yunqi answered, “When I was outside the House of Dancing Smoke [16], I heard the Ah-gu [17] sing it before.”
Sanbao teased, “Jiu-ye goes there often? So familiar?” Read on TL site.
Yunqi replied sternly, “How can one play around and make merry with the lives of such ill-fated women? I only return to have a look occasionally, sit down and listen to music, and reward them with some coins – that’s all. I’ll teach you, this song is called ‘The Withering of the West Wind’. “
Return to have a look? Sanbao acutely perceived this turn of phrase.
Tuoba Feng watched quietly as the carriage departed. The Great Capital [18] was prosperous and bustling with the tumult of humanity. That horse carriage carried the only connection to his heart in this life away from Beiping, as it sped toward Nanjing.
Yunqi sat with one leg on the windowsill, swaying as he hummed to himself,
Last night, the west wind blew as the green trees withered. I climbed the tall building alone as I gazed at the road leading to the end of the world.
I wish to send a letter to my beloved to express the thoughts and sorrows in my heart, but the mountains are continuous, the clear waters are endless and I don’t know where the person that I miss is… [19]
Arc 2: The Tortoiseshell Ring – end.
Wow. Yunqi rides back home into the unknown. Brother-in-law & lover fighting was hilarious! Even big sister complains about how much boyfriend eats.
I wonder how Huang Zicheng and the rest will treat Yunqi when he gets back… and what Yunwen is going to do about that missing ring!!
Zhu Di and Tuoba Feng are just overgrown children, I love their interactions. Big sister is complaining because 12 baozi is ridic, Tuoba Feng are you a bottomless pit???? LOL!