The Tale of Princess Song in Heian-kyo

Zhengwen first entered the Heike family

Cherry blossoms are in full bloom, their fragrance and color as beautiful as ever. It's springtime in Ren'an year. At the Rokuhara Mansion in the Gyeongsang Mountains of Ping'an, the double-flowered cherry blossoms in the courtyard are in full bloom, their petals fluttering in the air. A thick layer of pink petals has accumulated on the ground, and a gentle breeze sends them swirling and scattering in all directions—a breathtaking sight. Maids in twelve-layered kimonos are bustling through the corridors and courtyards, preparing for the upcoming cherry blossom viewing party. "I don't want to!" A girl wearing only a white short-sleeved shirt and a light pink blouse shouted as she ran out of the room, rushing towards the corridor. She accidentally bumped into one of the maids, Ayu. Seeing the incense box in her hand fall to the ground, Ayu panicked and quickly bent down, too frightened to utter a word. The girl stopped, bent down, and picked up the incense box from the ground. A soft, clear voice came from Ayu's ear: "Hmm, for you." The girl's Beijing dialect wasn't fluent and had a slight accent, but it had a unique charm. Ayu couldn't help but look up and was stunned by the girl's appearance. The girl looked no more than seven or eight years old, with long, black, silky hair that made her skin appear even whiter and more translucent, radiating a faint glow. Her pink lips were as delicate as cherry blossoms, and especially her eyes—not the usual black, but a light amber color, crystal clear, dreamlike. Could there really be such a beautiful young lady in Lord Rokuhara's mansion? Ayu was momentarily speechless. "Xiaoxue, what kind of behavior is this, running around like this? Quickly put on some light clothing." Ayu recognized the woman who followed behind; she was Lady Tokiko, Lord Rokuhara's principal wife. Although her tone was somewhat reproachful, her face was full of doting affection. The maids all bowed. "No, I don't like wearing the twelve-layered kimono, it's too much trouble," the girl said, her big eyes wide with a coquettish tone. Lady Tokiko smiled gently and said, "Xiaoxue, you can't not wear it. This is your first time appearing here, you know. Do you still want to go to the cherry blossom viewing party later?" The girl immediately put on a bitter face, and said softly with a hint of helplessness, "Alright, Mother." Watching the young lady and Lady Tokiko's departing figures, Ayu couldn't help but sigh and say to her other maid, Ajuku, "That young lady is truly beautiful. But how come I've never seen her before?" The maid named Aju smiled mysteriously and said, "Ayu, you're new here and don't know this young lady's background, do you? She's the lady's adopted daughter." Aju lowered her voice further and said, "I heard she was found on the beach a year ago. When she was found, she was dressed in Song Dynasty clothing and washed ashore. It's possible that the Song Dynasty merchant ship she was on encountered a shipwreck. The lady happened to find her and, seeing how similar she was to the recently deceased young lady, took pity on her and took her in. However, she had been living in the villa, and because she was so well-liked by the lady and Lord Rokuhara, they simply adopted her." Ayu clicked her tongue lightly and said, "That young lady is truly blessed." Aju smiled and said, "Although the young lady is a bit willful, she's also incredibly innocent and intelligent. In the past year, she's had no problem conversing with us. The lady has even started having the ladies-in-waiting teach her to write waka poems. Besides, she has such a beautiful appearance; it's easy to like her." Ayu nodded, her curiosity about the young lady growing stronger. After much effort, Xiaoxue finally put on the twelve-layered kimono, the thin peach-colored outer layer further accentuating her exceptionally beautiful features. "Our Xiaoxue will definitely be a beauty in the future," Lady Tokiko said with a gentle smile, holding a folding fan. Looking at the gentleness in her eyes, Xiaoxue's heart fluttered slightly. What a kind lady, just like her own mother. "Alright, Xiaoxue, stay here for now, I'll come back later." Lady Tokiko gracefully stood up and slowly walked out. Xiaoxue finally breathed a sigh of relief, lying back on the tatami mat, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting back to that stormy night two years ago. Everything seemed so unbelievable... She was rehearsing a dance with her classmates for the school anniversary celebration, and was clearly on her way home. How did she inexplicably end up here? Her last memory was of an advertising billboard falling in her direction, and after that, she remembered nothing. When she woke up, she found herself in the body of a seven-year-old girl from the Southern Song Dynasty. It took her a full year to recover from the shock and slowly accept her identity as the daughter of a cook on a merchant ship. Although it wasn't the royal family often depicted in novels, the year passed peacefully, and the Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty signed a thirty-year peace treaty. She thought things would continue peacefully, but a year later, a voyage at sea encountered a huge storm, and she inexplicably ended up in Heian-kyo, Japan. It was like adding insult to injury. She knew a little about Chinese history, but her understanding of Japan was limited to comics and the history of the invasion of China; she was completely ignorant of this era. It was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune, to have met such a gentle Lady Tokiko. For the past year, Lady Tokiko had been arranging for her to study Japanese, etiquette, and waka poetry at a villa in the east of the capital. Only then did she gradually learn that her adoptive father, Lord Rokuhara, Taira no Kiyomori, was a powerful and influential figure. Unlike ordinary noble families, the Taira family was a samurai family. It seemed they had defeated another samurai family, the Minamoto clan, a few years ago, and thus seized power. The Taira family's influence in Heian-kyo seemed unmatched. She had already met Taira no Kiyomori; perhaps it was fate, but Lord Rokuhara also seemed to adore her. There was no other way; since she was already here, and since there was such a powerful patron, she had to hold on tight. She still wanted to live, and when she was older, she would find a way to return to Song. After all, this wasn't her home, nor her country. She loosened her robes. Sigh, and these twelve-layered kimonos were truly unbearable… Song clothing was much more comfortable. Suddenly, she missed her freshman year at dance school—jeans, T-shirts, carefree and happy days—and then this unbelievable thing happened. If she was going to time travel, she should have done it before the college entrance exam! "Hey, who are you? Why are you in my mother's room?" The sudden voice snapped Xiaoxue back to reality. She sat up abruptly, staring unceremoniously at the uninvited guest. It turned out to be just a little boy, about eight or nine years old, wearing a light yellow shirt and with his black hair tied back. He had delicate features and a gentle demeanor. But the extremely unfriendly look in his large, black, gem-like eyes completely shattered his gentle image. "Answer me!" His tone hardened, his eyes turning fierce. An unpleasant child. Xiaoxue frowned, gave a soft snort, and decided not to lower herself to his level. The little boy was slightly taken aback when he saw her face, and for a moment he was speechless. Most of the malice in his eyes disappeared. Xiaoxue couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. Fortunately, this face was much more beautiful than her own, and it had actually managed to intimidate the child. "Then, then who exactly are you?" The little boy's tone immediately softened. He was so young and already had no resistance to beauty; he would definitely grow up to be a playboy. She stuck out her tongue and said, "Tell me who you are first." The boy nodded and said loudly, "My name is Ping Chongheng. Okay, it's your turn." She smirked mischievously and said, "I didn't say I was going to tell you. You told me yourself." The boy named Chongheng was speechless with anger, his face turning red. After a long while, he managed to stammer, "You, you broke your promise." She continued to laugh and say, "I broke my promise, ha, ha, ha, so what?" Anger flashed in Chongheng's eyes. He rushed to Xiaoxue's side in one stride, disregarding the difference between boys and girls, and grabbed her hand, asking, "You have to tell me, or I'll have my father lock you up." Although he was young, his grip was surprisingly strong, perhaps because he came from a samurai family. Xiaoxue was also a little angry. She said angrily, "Let go." "Unless you tell me your name." Chongheng's grip did not loosen at all. Xiaoxue's anger flared up. She aimed at his hand, lowered her head, and bit down hard. "Ah--------------------" A scream rang out, and a row of neat teeth marks appeared on Chongheng's wrist, along with some blood. He abruptly released his grip, his eyes misting over. Pointing at her, he winced in pain and said, "You, you bit me! I'll definitely tell Father, and he'll punish you properly!" With that, he turned and ran away without looking back. Xiaoxue shook her head. She was still just a child. She'd only suffered a little loss, yet she kept calling him "Father." What kind of samurai was she? Who did Chongheng think he was? ------------------------ Not long after, Lady Tokiko came to fetch Xiaoxue and they went to the cherry blossom viewing area in the front courtyard. Hearing that most of those present were from the main Taira clan, Xiaoxue was curious and wanted to see what kind of people they were. When they arrived at the front courtyard, the women were already waiting there. "Madam Tokiko, is this your newly adopted daughter? She's so beautiful!" A young woman in a heather-colored kimono with a red plum blossom pattern said softly, her face partially obscured by a fan. Madam Tokiko nodded gracefully. "Yes, Yukiko, please greet everyone." Yukiko could only bow slightly and recite a string of polite greetings she had recently crammed. "Oh my, oh my, what a clear and melodious voice! What a lovely girl!" Another older woman smiled and praised. Yukiko felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her body. These noblewomen's way of speaking was unbearable; Madam Tokiko was much more natural. Bored, she looked around and suddenly noticed a girl about her age, wearing a nightgown kimono, with a beautiful face and sparkling eyes. Noticing Yukiko's gaze, she turned her head and smiled faintly at her. What an elegant girl, Yukiko thought to herself. "The Lord has arrived," Lady Tokiko said softly, and all the women bowed to welcome Lord Rokuhara. From afar, Lord Rokuhara approached with a group of Taira clan gentlemen. Koyuki glanced at them and quickly followed suit, bowing as well. As they took their seats, Koyuki couldn't resist raising her head slightly, only to meet a pair of angry eyes. Oh no! Wasn't that Taira no Shigehira from earlier? He was right opposite her! What a small world! "Alright, everyone, no need for formalities," Lord Rokuhara, Taira no Kiyomori, said calmly. Only then did the women raise their heads, still holding folding fans to partially cover their faces. Koyuki took this opportunity to look around. From a distance, the Taira clan gentlemen all seemed quite elegant. If only she could get a closer look... "Xiaoxue, you've come too." "Xiaoxue—" Lady Tokiko covered her face and repeated, "The master is asking you a question." Ah, Xiaoxue quickly withdrew her lecherous gaze. Luckily, she was only eight years old; no one would think of lust, she thought to herself, amused. "Yes, Father," Xiaoxue quickly replied. Taira no Kiyomori smiled and nodded to everyone, saying, "This is my and Tokiko's adopted daughter, Xuezi." He then turned to the young men around him and said, "Shigemori, from now on she will be your sister. Please take good care of her." "Father, we will definitely treat her as our own sister," the man at the head, named Shigemori, dressed in a brown robe and wearing a tall black hat, respectfully replied to Taira no Kiyomori. He looked to be in his twenties, with an elegant and gentle demeanor—a typical nobleman. After speaking, he nodded to her and then pointed to the men around him, saying, "Xiaoxue, these are your brothers, Munemori, Tomomori, and Shigehira." What? This Ping Chongheng was actually her brother? Xiaoxue stared at him in astonishment, and at the same time, she saw Chongheng show the same astonished expression. The cherry blossom viewing party that followed practically became a glare-gathering session between Xiaoxue and Chongheng. Chongheng kept staring at her, and she didn't back down either, responding to his attacks and even glaring back. Chongsheng, watching from the side, had a slight smile on his lips. He had long heard about this new sister from Song, and now that he had finally met her, she was indeed quite interesting. Suddenly having so many handsome brothers, Xiaoxue was still immersed in excitement until nightfall. Besides Chongheng, there were several other boys who seemed to be around her age, but she was too busy sparring with that annoying child Chongheng at the cherry blossom viewing party to get a good look at the other brothers. Oh well, there's plenty of time in the future. My eyes are so sore, I should go to sleep early. I wonder if Chongheng's eyes are as sore as hers... Meanwhile, the Taira clan's sons continued to gather in the courtyard, discussing amongst themselves. "Big brother, our new little sister is as beautiful as cherry blossoms!" The youngest son, Taira Atsumori, only six years old, made no attempt to hide his affection for his new sister. "Third brother, don't you think so?" Atsumori turned to the third son, Taira Munemori, who, though only twelve, wore an expression far beyond his years. He ignored the falling cherry blossoms and remained silent. "Even if she's beautiful, she's not part of the Taira clan. She's just a Song woman. I really don't understand how Father and Mother could adopt a Song woman of unknown origin as their goddaughter," the fourth son, Taira Tomomori, seemed to dislike Koyuki and harbored considerable resentment towards the matter. Shigemori frowned slightly and said softly, "Chimori, don't think like that. Since Father and Mother have made their decision, we, as the younger generation, must not go against their wishes. Besides, Yuki is innocent and adorable. You should get along well with her from now on, understand?" Shigemori's tone was gentle, yet carried a hint of authority. As the eldest son, he held the important position of Minister of the Interior, and his conduct was impeccable. He could be considered the pillar of the Taira clan, and his younger brothers both loved and respected him. "Shigehira, why are you so quiet today? You're usually the most talkative one." Chimori suddenly turned the conversation to Shigehira, who was lost in thought. Today, his younger brother seemed a bit strange, unusually quiet. Shigehira snapped out of his reverie and quickly said, "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired today." As he spoke, he brushed his hair aside. "Fifth Brother, your hand..." The sharp-eyed Dunsheng immediately noticed the wound on his hand. Chongheng reflexively put his hand behind his back and stammered, "I...I need to rest. Goodbye." "Chongheng," Chongsheng smiled gently, "You should rest. Your eyes must be tired today." Chongheng blushed deeply, quickly stood up, and hurried away. How did his elder brother notice? In his room, Chongheng looked at the wound on his hand. The row of teeth marks was still clearly visible. That rude woman had actually become his sister. He should have told his father about her biting him, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Her glaring eyes even had a certain cuteness about them. Xiaoxue—when Chongheng was nine years old, he remembered a girl's name for the first time.

A Chance Encounter in the Main Text

The true fragrance of plum blossoms lingers in the sleeves. Before she knew it, more than half a month had passed at the Rokuhara residence. Xiaoxue couldn't help but lament the boredom of aristocratic women's lives. Aside from daily studies of waka poetry, her days were spent either admiring flowers and composing poems, or brewing tea and incense. This left the naturally lively Xiaoxue utterly bored. That day, Lady Tokiko and Lord Rokuhara both went to the palace. Taking advantage of the maids' inattention, Xiaoxue slipped out of her room. For over half a month, she felt she hadn't even properly explored the residence. Walking along the corridor, she heard the sounds of clashing swords coming from the rear courtyard. Xiaoxue was filled with curiosity. That's right, the Taira clan were all samurai; could they be practicing martial arts? Xiaoxue was thrilled by this discovery. She tiptoed to the outer edge of the rear courtyard and peeked inside. Sure enough, several Taira princes seemed to be practicing archery and swordsmanship there. They wore various colored robes and soft armor, wielding swords and blades with a dashing air, less refined and more heroic. She spotted Chong Heng immediately. He was still dressed in a yellow straight robe, over which he wore a soft armor made of gold-threaded Tang brocade. He carried a black quiver of eagle-feathered arrows on his back, and drew a paulownia-colored rattan bow. He fired an arrow, hitting the bullseye perfectly—quite a good shot. "Who's there!" A loud shout startled Xiao Xue, who was intently peeking. She tripped and fell to the ground, losing face. She looked at the boy who had yelled at her. He looked to be about ten years old, dressed in a tea-green straight robe, with a healthy wheat-colored complexion, a straight nose, thin lips, and a pair of bright black eyes that glared at her fiercely. Why were the eyes of the Ping family's young masters all so sharp? Upon seeing her, the boy's murderous intent lessened, replaced by disdain. He gave a soft snort and turned away. "Xiaoxue!" Another, even younger boy rushed over, beaming. "Sister Xiaoxue!" Xiaoxue was startled. Just as the boy was about to jump into her arms, he was suddenly grabbed and pulled up. "Let go of me, let go of me..." He flailed his arms and legs, looking unwilling. "Dunsheng, stop fooling around, go practice your sword properly." The person who grabbed him was actually Chongheng. Chongheng looked at Xiaoxue, who was still sitting on the ground looking bewildered, and suddenly burst into laughter. He stretched out his hand and said loudly, "Get up." Did this mean he was friendly? Xiaoxue glanced at him; his smile was still on his face. So, he actually had a pretty sunny smile. Half-believing, half-doubting, Xiaoxue also reached out her hand. He pulled her up forcefully. "Hmm, you're not angry anymore?" Xiaoxue asked him, not quite believing him, glancing at his arm; after all, that bite had been quite hard. Chongheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Hmph, I'm a man, I don't argue with a woman." A childish smile appeared on his face. "But you have to call me 'brother' obediently." She was still just a child, Xiaoxue thought to herself with amusement. She smiled sweetly and called out in a clear voice, "Brother Chongheng!" No matter what, having a brother felt nice. Let this kid have his way with the words. It's a case of "no pain, no gain." Chongheng's heart fluttered slightly. His sister's smile was so beautiful. Just as Dunsheng had said, as beautiful as cherry blossoms. "Brother Chongheng, who was that fierce-looking guy just now?" Xiaoxue pointed to the boy with a disdainful expression, who seemed like a strange child who was difficult to deal with. "That's your fourth brother, Brother Zhisheng." Chongheng mad

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