Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Project: Phoenix Totem (凤凰图腾） | Author: Huaishang (淮上) | Rating: Mature
Trigger Warnings: Non-con, rape, underage, grooming, age gap, abuse of authority, problematic gong, harem politics, depression, suicide, murder, death.
Tags: Abusive obsessive love, Imperial Court and aristocracy, Strong x Strong characters, Jianghu grievances
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Chapter 2 The Prime Minister’s Arranged Marriage
FOR THE BEST READING EXPERIENCE, WE RECOMMEND READING THE CHAPTERS IN THE ORIGINAL FORMAT INSTEAD OF THE WORDPRESS READER.
It was early the next morning by the time Mingde returned to his home. The Palace sent people to clarify the reason for the Emperor summoning him, only saying that someone in the palace had accused him of having an illicit relationship with one of the concubines, but after the Emperor’s examination and questioning, it was confirmed to be mere slander, hence he was bestowed some fine wine to aid him in getting over the shock and alarm of this incident.
Shangguan-shilang hadn’t slept a wink the entire night. His old face was flushed red as he paced back and forth within his chambers. Upon seeing Mingde return, his words fell from him like a rainstorm pelting down,:” Niezhang [1]! Whom did you provoke that someone would trump up false charges against you?”
Mingde stood in the hall, not speaking a word.
“Disappointing and unworthy [2] thing, you only know how to be a lazy idler and can’t handle any proper business! How did my Shangguan family raise someone like you in vain? If you cause any calamities, it’s one thing to get yourself killed, but don’t encumber and bring disaster upon the hundred-odd people in our family!”
Shangguan-shilang’s fury and indignation were difficult to pacify, and he wanted to continue in his tirade, but he heard someone speak quietly outside the door,:” Laoye, Prime Minister Xia has come to call, and is currently waiting outside in the hall.”
Shangguan-shilang made an ‘Ah’ sound and moved quickly – taking two steps to cover the distance of three paces, and his expression instantly morphed into a smile, and he hurriedly said,” Why has the honoured guest arrived? Quickly invite him in, quickly invite him!”
Mingde noted that this person wouldn’t be able to call himself to mind for a time, hence he yawned and returned to his room to make up for his lost sleep. The mornings during such winter days were extremely cold, the frost hadn’t yet disappeared. The sound of laughter came from a nearby courtyard, and someone spoke fawning words of flattery,” Daye [3] is so young but his arm strength is already exceptional, I expect that in the future he would definitely be able to pierce a leaf with his arrow at a hundred paces [4], it is true that since ancient times, from the ranks of the young have emerged heroes [5]
It turns out that it was the eldest son born of the main wife [5] of the Shangguan family who was practising his archery. He rested an arrow against the bow, and with the whistling sound of the wind, the arrow pierced the bullseye in an instant. The young boy attendants and the elderly female servants by his side applauded loudly. The Shangguan family’s main furen [6] smiled and tugged at the hand of a young miss beside her, saying:” Miss Xia, you see that my little son is only focused on his archery training, and has left you aside. Don’t you think he deserves to be beaten for this?”
The young lady by her side was the Xia family’s second young miss, Xia Rubing [7], and had accompanied her father Prime Minister Xia on this visit. Everyone is aware that Prime Minister Xia is here to propose an arranged marriage, and since all of the Shangguan family’s gongzi are still unmarried, this betrothal was naturally to be proposed for the eldest son [8].
Xia Zheng has been in the position of Prime Minister for more than ten years and is a mighty figure with great power and influence that others dare not approach for fear of being burnt. His eldest daughter had married into the Imperial Palace and was quite well-favoured, hence the Xia family could be considered as one of Chang’An’s elite famous noble families. Her son being able to form a marriage alliance with such a family, Zhang-shi [9] felt that it would reflect glory upon her.
Xia Rubing had already blushed at this, and made a gesture to brush the words away, saying,:” What is Shangguan-furen saying? I am only here to come and play with your family’s young miss, and not here to find trouble with your family’s gongzi.”
Shangguan consecutively let fly all ten arrows in a showy display, nine of them hitting the target. Mingde stood within the thicket and watched him gloat complacently whilst amongst this crowd, and couldn’t refrain from smiling slightly at this. He then turned to leave.
Coincidentally it was just at this time that he was spotted by the senior maid Lingdang-er who was standing by Zhang-shi. That Lingdang-er didn’t expect the side house [13]’s younger gongzi to be present, and quickly greeted him in a flustered manner,:” Mingde-shaoye!”
Zhang-shi lifted her eyes and saw Mingde’s shadow flash past, and couldn’t keep her expression from sinking, and asked,:” Who is there?”
Mingde was left with no choice but to emerge from the copse of trees and enter the area, greeting Zhang-shi from a distance,” Does the Taitai [14] fare well?”
Zhang-shi noted that he was only dressed in a single robe first thing in the morning, and looked rather harried. She couldn’t help but feel disgusted, and asked the people around her,” Who dressed the shaoye in this manner? He is regardless still a master of the house, if anyone sees him like this, people might say that our family treats him stingily! Who are his attendants? Drag them out and punish them by beating!”
Mingde replied,” It has nothing to do with them. Father summoned me early in the morning, and I was in a great rush to go over.”
Zhang-shi detested him even more upon hearing this, and sneered,:” You don’t say, I know that you find your Father’s instructions tiresome. Who else is as fortunate and noble as you? Your elder brother starts his studies and practices his archery first thing in the morning, yet you are so leisurely and idle. One wonders what you do all day!”
Mingde did not make a sound at this. Zhang-shi tugged at Miss Xia’s hand and gestured at him saying,” This is our family’s honoured guest. Upon seeing her, don’t you have the slightest grasp of etiquette at all? Who raised you to be so unpresentable?”
Mingde then bowed to Xia Rubing,:” En, en, Miss Xia.”
Xia Rubing’s expression wavered between embarrassed and appalled, and she turned her face away in a flustered manner.
Although everyone said that her father intended to betroth her to the eldest son of the Shangguan family, only she was aware that, her father actually intended to betroth her to the young man of mediocre talents born of a concubine, Shangguan Mingde.
She had wept and asked her father for the reason for it. Her father only said that she was a mere female who should abide by the women’s code of ethics, and knows nothing of the world. Xia Zheng’s might and authority in the Imperial Court and within his home were the same – his words were irrefutable and could not be challenged.
Her mother couldn’t bear seeing her younger daughter make a poor marriage match, hence stubbornly attempted to persuade her husband,” Whatever the case, my daughter is still of the main house and line [15]. Even if she is to marry into a poor family, we should still at least choose a formal and dignified senior official’s offspring. This Shangguan family’s concubine’s [15] son other than having a good-looking face, has neither made great achievements nor is he entitled to a share of the family property. If we marry our daughter to him, are we leaving our daughter to be at the mercy of her future father and mother-in-law and having to live off their charity to survive?
Xia Zhang was infuriated, and said,:” What do you know! You only know how to discriminate against others for being the son of a concubine. Do you know that Shangguan Mingde was appointed as a shadow guard at the age of fifteen? Once the shadow guards become official and can act openly, he will at least be a Crimson Retinue Guard [16]. Those of the shadow guard will not have any achievements or a career, but once they leave and join the army, their future prospects will be boundless! He is young and his martial arts skills are superb. The Emperor has always greatly favoured him, and he’s certain to become someone capable of making great achievements [17].
These are the words that Xia Zheng said to his own furen, but Xia Rubing was unaware of them. Even if she did know of it, she wouldn’t understand the implications of being one of the interior palace’s shadow guards.
A person spending ten years in hardship as a scholar before being able to attain an official post in the Imperial Court, may not even be equivalent to a shadow guard’s risking his life for a year. How many descendants of the elite have silently died in this position, but those who survive can practically proclaim themselves as kings in the frontier or have joined the army, being now able to wield great military power and authority. Shangguan Mingde joined the palace shadow guards at the age of fifteen, and although he is young, in terms of experience and seniority, it is almost time for him to move out to work in the open.
Once he is transferred to the army, with his past history of being favoured by the Emperor, he would minimally be given the position of one of the Crimson Guard Retinue or perhaps a Deputy Commander position; at that time, there would be many people in the capital city who would want to marry their daughters off to him. Someone like Xia Rubing, may not even be in the running then.
Xiao Rubing only felt that her father was muddled and hence did not have a good opinion of Shangguan Mingde himself, she merely fancied his youth and good looks. Upon seeing Zhang-shi calling over Mingde to greet her, she carelessly responded by retreating behind Zhang-shi.
Zhang-shi noted Mingde’s senseless manner, and sneered again, saying,” I know that you are impatient with my teaching you. Looking at you now, you must hold much hatred within your heart. I tell you now, hurry up and focus seriously on your studies. Take the examinations and obtain some sort of scholarly title – there are a lot of them! Ignorant thing, leave now!”
Mingde only yawned quietly and turned to walk in the direction of his own little courtyard.
Having only gotten halfway there, in the distance he caught sight of one of Shangguan-shilang’s boy attendants hurriedly running over and grabbing hold of him while saying,” Xiao-shaoye！ Laoye is looking for you!
Shangguan-shilang’s temper was currently smouldering, but he didn’t dare reveal any of it in front of his superior. He could only sit in the hall and drink tea. Prime Minister Xia also wasn’t going to argue with him either, upon seeing Mingde enter the room, he smiled and asked,” Does this virtuous nephew [18] fare well?”
Mingde could tell at a glance that Prime Minister Xia had already broached the subject of an arranged marriage. Xia Zheng holds an important position within the Imperial Court, he possesses the Qianwan Emperor’s trust and is one of the few people who are aware of the existence of the shadow guard. However, Xia Zheng was not privy to the fact that he, Shangguan Mingde actually lived such a gloomy and tiresome life within his own home.
Mingde could only secretly let out a sigh in his heart and arched his hands in greeting,” Thanks for Daren [19]’s great blessings. It is just that with regards to the second Miss Xia, I am truly unworthy to aspire to this connection [20].”
Shangguan-shilang was delighted by this. His calling Mingde over was merely to hint to him to abandon the idea of an arranged wedding with the Xia family, instead giving this opportunity to increase his social standing by climbing up to the dragon and following the phoenix [21] to his eldest son.
Shangguan-shilang took this opportunity to turn towards Prime Minister Xia, saying:” Daren, you [22] see? The Shangguan family’s son [23] is still young, and isn’t yet able to rise to the occasion, and is truly unable unworthy of being matched with your honourable lovely daughter.” However, this lowly official’s family still has our eldest son, who has reached marriageable age.”
His implication was very obvious, except that Xia Zheng chose to ignore it. He looked directly at Mingde and spoke in a tactful and euphemistic manner,” Mingde-gongzi, although my family’s daughter is inferior, she is proficient in all areas of needlework and embroidery, and the fortune teller has said that she was born with noble features. This old fellow here feels that, with gongzi’s youthfulness and outstanding talent, such a match would be extremely suitable. What is gongzi’s opinion on this?”
Who’d have expected Shangguan Mingde to shake his head at this, saying,” Daren’s praise is misdirected. I am truly unworthy to aspire to[20] your[22] family’s priceless treasure, the young Miss. May we please request that you[22] return?”
Xia Zheng‘s dignity had never been so disregarded before, especially not to his face, by an ignorant child – his anger stuck in his throat. Shangguan-shilang hurriedly reprimanded him,:” Niezhang [24]! How can you speak like that? I’ve never had a son as disrespectful and lawless a Niezhang as you!”
Xia Zheng made haste to stop him,” Shilang should not be angered. I see that your honourable gongzi is still too young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. He is probably just embarrassed. Let’s wait for your honourable gongzi to consider the matter carefully after a few days, then I can bring my daughter over to call on you then.”
Shangguan-shilang personally escorted the honoured guests out of the house, and upon reaching the main gate by the waiting horse carriage, Xia Zheng saw that there were no other people of the Shangguan family present, hence he suddenly turned back and beckoned to Shangguan Mingde.
Mingde obediently walked over,” Daren, is something the matter?”
Xia Zheng grabbed hold of him and wanted to kneel.
Mingde supported him, and asked,” What does Daren mean by this?”
Xia Zheng said,” This old fellow has heard all about yesterday’s matter. The zhaoyi has not been in the palace for a long time and has unknowingly offended the Guifei and even implicated you, Mingde-gongzi. This old fellow is extremely ashamed by this!”
The curtain of the carriage was lifted and Xia Rubing was astonished at the sight of her own father trying to kneel before Shangguan Mingde.
Mingde looked at the Prime Minister for a long while, before replying indifferently,:” What is Daren saying? How is it that I can’t understand these words.”
He turned to leave, and was pulled back by Xia Zheng,” Mingde-gongzi! This old fellow can even disregard his old dignity and reputation, can’t it even be exchanged for a few words from gongzi?”
Mingde turned his head again to look at him, and after a long while, sighed quietly. He spoke softly,” With regards to matters of the harem, I am merely a shadow guard, how can I interfere? The Guifei’s jealousy has turned to hatred, and thus wants to kill Xia-zhaoyi – I am also at a loss…… Daren, if you truly love your daughter, prepare a fine coffin within seven days.”
Xia Zheng seemed to have been struck by heavenly thunder, his complexion like the ashes of death.
Mingde turned and took two steps away from him. He suddenly heard the ‘thump’ sound of someone falling to their knees. When he looked back, he saw the Prime Minister dragging along his second daughter, father and daughter both knelt on the ground.
“Gongzi, please help save my daughter’s life!”
“I am merely an external official, how would I have the ability to save your daughter!”
Xia Zheng moved several steps forwards on his knees, moving nearer to choke out,” If the zhaoyi falls into disgrace, my Xia family’s lives will be in danger! Gongzi, as one of the shadow guard, you have free access in and out of the palace. Since you can notify this old fellow about this confidential matter, you must know a way to save her!”
Mingde was helpless at this and wanted to use one hand each to pull up the father and daughter pair. Who’d expected that he would be able to pull Xia Rubin to her feet, but wasn’t able to get the Prime Minister up. The old man who now knew his fate insistently knelt on the ground. Anyone looking at him would feel sad at his sorry-looking figure.
Mingde threw back his hands and let out a drawn-out sigh,” You are the Prime Minister, how can you not understand how things work? If the elder sister is someone’s concubine, how can the younger sister become someone else’s main wife? If Xia-zhaoyi does not die, how will the Empress be able to recommend the younger sister to the Crown Prince as his official consort!”
Xia Rubing was left stunned and clueless. But not just her, even Xia Zheng was left completely speechless with astonishment.
Afterwards, he was able to respond, and immediately bowed down stiffly,” Everything is left in gongzi’s hands!”
Mingde pulled up the Prime Minister to his feet and looked around in all directions. Seeing that there was no one, he whispered,” I do not want your thanks. In the future when the young miss marries and becomes the Crown Prince’s consort, it will be sufficient if Daren remembers to be grateful for the Empress and Crown Prince’s guiding grace and support……”
Hi SassyStrawberry,
Thank you for the previous password to all the Yanshen translations but this new item has a new password.
Debra ________________________________
Yes, it does.
It’s a private project for now until I figure out the necessary tags/trigger warnings (and there are a lot!).
Thanks