Nine Songs - Chapter 8
That night, as soon as Zitun appeared in Fubo Palace, Fubo noticed his unusual emotions.
He dismissed all the palace servants and sat idly beside her, watching her prune the flowers, making casual, seemingly unrelated remarks.
The Empress Dowager must love Du Ruo the most, right? What a coincidence, Lord Xinyang also likes it. He has planted many of them in his mansion, and when they bloom, he carries the fragrance of Du Ruo on him.
Lord Xinyang said that when he retires from public life, he will return to Youhuang Mountain... That is the hometown of his mother, the scenery must be very beautiful. When I have time, Zitun would like to go and see it.
Yesterday, one of the palace ladies said that I looked quite similar to Lord Xinyang. I looked in the mirror and did think I did resemble him...
Today, both Lord Xinyang and Xisun said strange things to me. Lord Xinyang said that I am to him as dear as bone and blood. I rebuked him. But Xisun said that was unfilial…
"What exactly do you want to say?" Fu Bo pushed aside the flowering branches, put down the scissors, turned to face Zi Tun, and asked directly.
"Who is my father? Whose son am I?" Zitun suddenly asked, his voice and body trembling slightly, staring intently at his mother as if grasping at the last piece of driftwood for survival.
Fu Bo looked at him coldly and asked in return, "How did you become king?"
Zitun replied, "It was my father who passed the throne to me..."
“No,” Fu Bo said decisively. “He never intended to pass the throne to you. You were able to ascend the throne because he had no choice, and neither did the people of Chu. Everyone in the world knows that you are the only son of King Xuanlian of Chu.”
Zitun remained silent, lost in thought.
Fu Bo softened her tone and asked him softly, "Now, do you know the answer?"
Zitun looked up at his mother, and finally nodded solemnly.
Fu Bo smiled, took a silk handkerchief and wiped the light sweat from his forehead, saying with great affection, "You're so old now, yet you still wear your emotions on your sleeve all the time. People will just think you're a transparent, honest person. How can that be?"
Several more months passed. Lord Xinyang was still in charge of the government, and Zitun listened to his advice. The kingdom gradually prospered in a peaceful atmosphere, and everything seemed to be the same.
However, the following spring was unusual. The weather was sunny and warm, but the expected rainy season was delayed, which affected agriculture and irrigation. The ministers were worried that if the drought continued into the summer, it would turn into a severe drought. So they asked Zitun to make preparations in advance and to go out of the city to pray for rain, following the example of Lord Xinyang.
Zitun immediately agreed, but said, "This drought may be related to the two previous wars. The killings were excessive, and Heaven is surely displeased. Praying for rain as usual will probably be of no use. I intend to take a dragon boat to tour the Ming River, and offer sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, the mountain god and the river god along the way, praying for Heaven to send down sweet rain as soon as possible, and asking all the gods to bless our country with favorable weather and peace."
The ministers all agreed, but Lord Xinyang felt it was unnecessary, saying that the king should not leave the capital without permission; he could simply go outside the city to pray for rain, without needing to travel hundreds of miles. But Zitun insisted and privately pleaded with Lord Xinyang, saying, "Recently, I have been dreaming of Sangluo. She always tells me with a sorrowful expression that her soul is locked in the heart of the river, lonely all day long, unable to bear the cold of the Ming River. Therefore, I also wish to take the opportunity of offering sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth to personally go to the Ming River to pray for her, wishing that she may ascend to heaven soon and be freed from the suffering of the cold waters of the Yellow Springs. I earnestly hope that my uncle will grant my request."
Seeing his earnestness and the sorrowful look in his eyes when he mentioned Sang Luo, which moved people deeply, Lord Xinyang finally nodded in agreement.
Zi Tun immediately ordered people to prepare sacrificial offerings, build dragon boats, and choose an auspicious day. Unexpectedly, just as everything was ready and the accompanying officials and guards were preparing to depart, Zi Tun fell ill.
He was told he had caught a cold, but his condition suddenly worsened on the eve of his departure. He had a fever, a flushed face, and was so weak that he could hardly open his eyes.
On the day of the scheduled departure, Lord Xinyang entered the palace to pay his respects. He found Zitun still lying unconscious on his sickbed. He approached and touched Zitun's forehead. The burning heat startled him. He said, "Since Your Majesty is unwell, you should rest and recuperate. The matter of offering sacrifices to Heaven can be discussed later. Please order Your Majesty to issue a decree to cancel today's trip."
Zitun shook his head firmly, forced himself to sit up, and said to Lord Xinyang, "The auspicious day has been set and announced to the world long ago. If we cancel it now, I fear that it will anger the heavens and the people, and we will be punished by the heavens in the future, bringing more disasters to the country."
Lord Xinyang frowned and said, "But if Your Majesty disregards your illness and goes on a tour, the arduous journey will surely cause serious harm."
“Uncle,” Zitun suddenly grasped Xinyang Jun’s hand tightly, “Please, Uncle, offer the sacrifice to Heaven on my behalf.”
Lord Xinyang declined in surprise, but Zitun continued to plead: "Uncle is the person I am closest to and most trust. In terms of bloodline and status, who in the world can represent me better than you? In my heart, you are like a second father. Now that I am unable to go to the Heavenly Sacrifice by boat due to my illness, it is only natural for you to go in my place. Please grant my request and fulfill my wish."
After a moment's hesitation, Lord Xinyang asked him, "Do you really want your uncle to go?"
Zitun slowly nodded.
With a smile, Lord Xinyang agreed: "Very well, Your subject obeys."
As he was about to leave, Zitun suddenly called him again, struggled to get out of bed, and knelt down in front of Lord Xinyang: "Uncle...Father..." His voice sounded somewhat broken, and his unsteady breathing also revealed his restless emotions. "Uncle, your journey is arduous and far-reaching. Please accept Zitun's bow."
Lord Xinyang bent down and gently helped him up, but he still insisted on kowtowing. Lord Xinyang did not avoid him and silently accepted the bow before saying, "Your Majesty need not be so polite. It is my duty as a subject to obey your orders. Moreover, it is a great honor for me to offer sacrifices to Heaven on behalf of Your Majesty. I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
“Then…” Zitun said, “Uncle, please go and return as soon as possible… There are still many matters in the court that require your decision.”
Lord Xinyang shook his head and said gently, "If there is anything, Your Majesty, please make your own decision. Since Your Majesty was able to say these words to me today, I know that Heaven and Earth are already in Your Majesty's heart."
He bowed again to take his leave, but as he turned to leave, Zitun called out to him again. "Uncle," his eyes reddened, he sobbed, "the wind is strong on the boat, don't forget to wear more clothes."
Turning back and standing still, Shenyang Jun said nothing, only a slight smile in Zitun's eyes.
When Xi Sun came in to tell him the news, Fu Bo was checking the prescription the physician had written for Zi Tun.
“Young lady, the King has asked Lord Xinyang to perform the sacrificial ceremony on his behalf, and Lord Xinyang has agreed and has already left the palace,” Xisun told Queen Dowager Fubo.
Fu Bo gave a casual "hmm".
“There is something else…” Xi Sun hesitated, not continuing for a moment.
"Speak," Fu Bo commanded curtly.
Xi Sun handed over a small wooden box, which he opened to find some medicinal dregs inside. Fu Bo examined it closely and discovered that it was boiled aconite.
Aconite is pungent, hot, and toxic. It is a purely yang and drying substance. If a healthy person takes its decoction, he will feel hot and dry all over, just like a fever caused by wind-cold.
“This was spilled by the palace servants in the King’s bedchamber,” Xisun said.
Fu Bo opened his eyes, immediately stood up, and his hand on the table trembled slightly.
"Go!" she blurted out, instructing Xisun, "Go to the ferry to find Lord Xinyang and ask him not to set off for the time being."
Xi Sun agreed and left the palace immediately. She returned shortly afterward and reported, "The dragon boat has already set sail. I saw Lord Xinyang standing with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, so I called out to him loudly and waved to him, but he seemed completely unaware, only staring at the flowing water at his feet, lost in thought."
"Miss, let's issue a decree ordering the guards to take him back in a light boat," Xi Sun suggested.
Fu Bo remained silent for a long time before quietly sitting down, her expression returning to calm. "No need," she said.
Xi Sun was slightly surprised, as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end she kept quiet. After a long while, she sighed and said, "That dragon boat was exquisitely carved and painted... He stood in the wind, dressed in a white robe, his demeanor was like that of a god... It is a strange thing that there is such a person in the world. Whether he is successful or down on his luck, his appearance is always perfect."
Fu Bo remained silent. From that moment on, she sat by the window, gazing at the bamboo on either side, without saying a word, her posture unchanged, until the next day, when news of the ship sinking arrived.
“Last night, a sudden storm arose on the Ming River…” Xi Sun whispered behind her, recounting the news she had just received. “It was just a small storm… but the dragon boat was torn to pieces in a very short time… those who saw it said it was like a flower suddenly blooming on the water…”
"He...is dead?" Fu Bo, with his back to Xi Sun, was still looking at the bamboo branches. His voice was like a withered leaf, dry and hoarse.
Xi Sun answered softly, "Yes."
Fu Bo turned around quietly, and Xi Sun was shocked—she saw an almost unfamiliar face, old and haggard. The years of carefully preserved youth seemed to have escaped in an instant; Fu Bo aged ten years overnight.
With a slight smile, Fu Bo, her lips dry and parched, said, "I understand."
Two days later, a retainer of Lord Xinyang brought a young Du Ruo sapling to see the Queen Mother, saying that Lord Xinyang had instructed him to bring this to the palace and present it to the Queen Mother before his departure. This was a seedling that Lord Xinyang had brought back from Youhuang Mountain and cultivated.
Fu Bo accepted the gift, and Xi Sun selected a flowerbed for her to plant it in. However, Fu Bo pointed to several places but said they were not good. Finally, she walked to the pond in the garden and planted the Du Ruo herself before smiling with satisfaction.
“It must be planted by the water.” She gazed at the reflection of the *Du Ruo* in the water and said, “He thought he loved the *Du Ruo*, but he didn’t know that he only loved this aquatic flower.”
Upon hearing the tragic news of Lord Xinyang's death, Zitun wept for days and fainted several times. He later wrote a eulogy, referring to him as "Uncle," with words filled with sorrow and grief, which moved all who heard it.
Zi Tun buried Lord Xinyang with the rites due to a king. During the funeral, Zi Tun continued to weep, barely able to preside over the ceremony. Fu Bo rose and went to his side, speaking in a voice loud enough for all the surrounding officials to hear: "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. Lord Xinyang was no ordinary man; he was the reincarnation of Lord Yunzhong, who came specifically to assist Your Majesty. Now that the Kingdom of Chu is prosperous and the world is at peace, Lord Yunzhong has fulfilled his duty, and thus ascended above the Ming River, returning to the Heavenly Court to once again become the God of Clouds." After speaking, he looked at the sky and said, "Look, it's raining."
Everyone looked up and saw that rain was falling from the sky, starting as fine as hair, then gradually increasing in intensity, and soon becoming a downpour.
"Lord Yunzhong! It really is Lord Yunzhong..." Everyone exclaimed in amazement, and Jun Muyu knelt down to worship.
Zi Tun ordered that temples be built throughout the country for the cloud god, Xin Yang Jun, and that he be worshipped as the principal deity of the Chu Kingdom. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, sacrifices were offered, with spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums constantly being offered, an offering that would last for eternity.
Seventeen years later, Prince Chu Tun unified the Central Plains.
(over)