Rodeé con mi brazo la esbelta cintura del hombre fuerte

Capítulo 33

Miaoxia and Wang Da Niang's son fell in love and married each other last year through Danmei's arrangement. Now a mother of one, she no longer looks as naive as she did back then, but has become much plumper. She took Xiaobao's hand and invited him to stay for dinner.

Danmei smiled and shook her head, then looked at Aunt Wang and said, "I've been quite busy these days. Xiaobao has been hanging out at your place all day, causing you trouble."

Aunt Wang chuckled and said, "What you say is true, Miss Hua. It was fate that we happened to meet and were on the same boat back then. Xiao Bao doesn't mind that we don't have room to sit, that's already giving this old woman face. Don't worry about anything, my wife will be watching over you."

Just then, a young man carrying a hoe and plow entered. He had broad shoulders; it was Wang Da Niang's son returning from the fields. Miao Xia's eyes lit up. She went to greet him and whispered a few words to him. The young man smiled sheepishly, put down his things, and respectfully greeted Dan Mei. Seeing that the two of them, though married for over a year and even had a child, were still as sweet as newlyweds, Dan Mei was delighted. She smiled and responded, then took her leave and led Xiao Bao back home.

During the meal, Xiao Bao kept mentioning the grand drinking contest by West Lake that he had heard from others the next day, his eyes fixed on Danmei. Seeing that Danmei ignored him, he snuggled into Xiqing's arms, wriggling around. Xiqing, unable to bear it any longer, immediately pleaded for him. Danmei, remembering that she had been focused on the flower garden since spring and hadn't had much time to play with him, and considering that she planned to send him to a private school in the latter half of the year to learn to read early, fearing he would have even less time to play then, softened her heart and agreed. Xiao Bao was so happy that he ate half a bowl more than usual, and Xiqing was also very pleased. The group recounted the grandeur of the West Lake drinking contest from previous years, and suddenly, like Xiao Bao, they all wished the next day would come sooner.

After everything was tidied up for the evening, Danmei put Xiaobao to bed. Lying in the tent, he held her neck and whispered in her ear about the various excitements of the next day. It took a long time to finally coax the excited little guy to sleep. She pulled a blanket over his lower abdomen and pressed it down, but she herself felt no sleepiness, so she went out to the front yard to check if the gate was secure. As soon as she came out, she saw Xiqing sitting on a bamboo chair by the wooden trellis, idly fanning himself with a palm leaf fan, staring blankly at the moon in the sky, looking as if he had something on his mind.

Danmei stood for a moment, sighed softly, and gently called her name. Hearing this, Xiqing hurriedly turned around and stood up, a smile already on her face, saying, "Why isn't Madam asleep yet?"

Danmei went to her side, sat down on another chair, and shook her head, saying, "How many times have I told you, don't call me Madam anymore."

Xiqing remained silent at first, then said in a low voice after a long while, "A lady is a lady, and that will never change, no matter where she goes. I will not call her that in front of others."

Danmei gazed at her for a moment, noticing the bright features on her oval face. She was reminded of how Danmei looked when she was sixteen or seventeen. Four years had passed in the blink of an eye. She herself hadn't noticed anything, but Danmei had been delayed and had long since passed the age of youthful beauty in the eyes of the people of that time. Danmei felt a little sad and sighed, saying, "Xiqing, have you ever regretted following me back then? I misled you."

Xiqing seemed startled, staring wide-eyed at Danmei for a moment before moving away from her chair and kneeling down, saying, "Madam, please don't think like that. Since I was assigned by the master to serve you, wherever you go, I will naturally follow and serve you. How can that be a delay? Besides, you treat me like a sister, and my son calls me 'Auntie' so respectfully. This is a blessing I have accumulated in my past life. You are an extraordinary woman, and I admire you from the bottom of my heart. I would be willing to follow you even if it meant growing old together. I was just a little distracted because I remembered what my son asked me quietly yesterday..."

Danmei pulled off the festive decorations and sat back down in her chair. She then said with an "oh," and casually remarked, "He's so mischievous. What did he ask this time?"

Xiqing glanced at her furtively before whispering, "The young man asked me where his father is now and why he doesn't come to see him..."

Danmei was taken aback, and a strange feeling slowly rose in her heart. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "It's my fault for being a bit strict with him usually, which is why he's thinking about this. I'll be nicer to him from tomorrow onwards, and he'll naturally let it go."

“Madam, so many years have passed. When Prince Jing came last winter, he also mentioned you, sir. Now that the difficulties of the Chong Prince’s Mansion are long gone, why doesn’t Madam…”

Joyful tentatively whispered these words.

“Xiqing, I know you mean well, thinking that a woman always needs a man to rely on to make her life secure, right? But now that I've chosen this path, why would I ever think of going back? I'm doing very well now, and so should he. Even if I went back as you think, there would still be Aunt Zhou between us. What would be the point? No matter how lowly or unworthy Aunt Zhou may seem to others, she is still Liang-ge's mother to me. You've been with me for so many years, you should know what kind of person I am. So, don't mention it in front of me again.”

Danmei looked at the festive atmosphere and spoke slowly.

Under the moonlight, Xiqing saw that although she had a smile on her face, the look in her eyes was very firm. He knew that he could not persuade her, so he sighed and stopped talking.

Chapter Seventy-Six

Danmei returned to her room and lay down on the couch next to Xiaobao. Perhaps disturbed by her conversation with Xiqing earlier, she was unable to fall asleep for a long time.

In the first few months of spring, there was more and more work to be done in the flower garden. She was tired during the day and slept very well at night. It had been a long time since she had been tossing and turning in bed like this.

Xiao Bao mumbled something under his breath, then rolled over and lay on top of her, slapping her chest with one hand.

Danmei turned him back over so he could lie on his back. In the dim moonlight filtering through the paper-covered window, she could vaguely see that he was sleeping soundly, his little mouth slightly open, pouting like a trumpet flower.

Danmei gazed at him for a moment, then couldn't resist leaning over and kissing each of his chubby cheeks before lying back down.

The arrival of this child was a complete accident. He was very well-behaved; when he was first conceived in her womb, he did not cause her any discomfort or vomiting. It wasn't until three or four months later, when she settled in this place called Meijia Village, that she realized she hadn't had her period for a long time and that her body seemed to be slowly changing. Only then did she realize that she was very likely pregnant.

She estimated the date; was she pregnant on the night she celebrated his birthday? To this day, she still remembers that night, in the soft moonlight, both of them were very relaxed. Later, it even seemed as if his delicate gums had transformed into a boat floating in the night sky, and she felt as if she were drifting in a dream.

When she first learned that a life was growing inside her, aside from a brief moment of surprise, she felt a bittersweet joy. She didn't want to dwell on whether the timing of the child's arrival was right or wrong; she only knew that since he was here, the only thing she could do was face it with equanimity.

Xiqing had been by her side for almost four years. But in her eyes, sooner or later, she would have to return to the child's father.

Danmei carefully considered what she had just said to her, and her mood became slightly heavy.

That was indeed what she thought.

But has she really let go of the man she has been separated from for almost four years, whose image and voice she can still vividly recall even with her eyes closed?

"Madam... sir, he will come looking for us one day..."

This was a sentence that Xiqing had said to her a long time ago, and she could never forget it.

A sudden unease arose in her heart. This unease was even stronger than when she left him on that snowy winter day and embarked on an unknown journey, and it even made her heart race.

She sighed, turned to the side and moved closer to Xiaobao, pressing her face against his warm forehead. Smelling his familiar scent, she gradually felt at peace and slowly closed her eyes.

The next day was a fine day. Early in the morning, Wang Da Niang's son hitched up his donkey cart and waited at the door. Xiao Bao, dressed in his best, held Danmei's hand with his left hand and Xiqing's hand with his right, and happily got on the donkey cart. Along the way, they picked up two other village women who were also going out with their children, filling the donkey cart to capacity.

Meijia Village is only a few miles from West Lake. Arriving there when the sun is barely above head height, and approaching the Duanjia Bridge area, one sees orioles singing in the fragrant trees, swallows dancing in the clear sky, and spring colors spreading across the countryside. The lakeside is covered in lush grass, with occasional tracks left by carriages. The lake is dotted with pleasure boats of all sizes; on one side, elegantly dressed courtesans play music, while on the other, scholars sing in response. Walking along the lakeside path for a while longer, one can see a long row of colorful tents ahead, teeming with people—the drinking party has begun.

Xiao Bao, always eager for excitement, went wherever there were crowds. Before long, he arrived at a brightly decorated pavilion, which was none other than the Qixia Tower wine shop.

Zhang Xiaoge spotted Danmei and the others in the crowd at a glance. He quickly squeezed through and greeted Danmei before looking at Xiqing with a grin and saying, "I've been so busy today, we're short-handed. If you'd like, sister, would you be willing to lend a hand?"

Qixia Tower was a major client of Danmei, who would come every few days to pick up seasonal flowers of all seasons. Since he had asked, Xiqing naturally agreed. Danmei then took Xiaobao and continued on their way. Along the way, they saw vendors selling all sorts of food and toys. Xiaobao clamored for some, so Danmei bought him a little of everything. With his hands full, Xiaobao happily ran ahead and sat down in a pavilion to play.

The sun was already high in the sky. Danmei, having followed Xiaobao for quite some time, was also getting a bit hot, so she chose a stone platform in the corner of the pavilion to rest. A gentle breeze blew from the lake, and she immediately felt most of her sweat evaporate, feeling very refreshed. Turning her head, she saw that Duanjia Bridge was not far away.

This family bridge later became known as the Broken Bridge, though it hadn't yet acquired that name at this time. Back then, the Broken Bridge lay across the long embankment, constructed of bluestone with grass growing between the stones. It could only accommodate two people at a time, quite different from the later bridge made of cement. Yet, it was exactly how Danmei imagined the Broken Bridge should look.

Danmei was gazing at the bridge when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw a young woman holding the hand of a fair-skinned girl about the same age as Xiaobao. They seemed to be mother and daughter. The two entered the pavilion, presumably to rest after walking so much.

The young woman was about five or six years older than Danmei. She had a radiant complexion and was very beautiful. She nodded and smiled slightly at Danmei, then picked up the girl and sat her down on an empty stone bench. She said in a low voice, "If you don't behave and run away from your wet nurse, making it hard for people to find you, next time I will bring your brother over and you can stay in the capital to keep your grandmother company. It won't matter if your father speaks up for you!"

The little girl pouted, seemingly a little unwilling, her eyes already glistening with tears. Suddenly, she noticed the toys in front of Xiao Bao, most of which were local Hangzhou items. Her pout subsided, and she stared intently at them. Xiao Bao noticed and beckoned her over. The little girl immediately jumped off the stone bench and moved closer to Xiao Bao. The two of them started fiddling with the toys, whispering to each other.

The woman seemed somewhat helpless. Seeing Danmei watching, she smiled at her again, shook her head, and said, "My daughter has always been spoiled by her father, and she has become like this. Please forgive her."

Danmei noticed that although the woman was exquisitely dressed and possessed an air of elegance, she was not arrogant at all; on the contrary, she was quite approachable. Danmei smiled and responded with a few words. After sitting for a while, she intended to take Xiaobao back to meet the others who had come with them. However, she saw him playing very happily with the little girl. Just as she was hesitating, a man of similar age to the woman hurried over. Upon seeing him, the little girl stopped playing with Xiaobao and immediately opened her arms to the man, laughing and calling out, "Daddy, hug me!"

The man reached her in a few steps, picked up the little girl, lifted her high, and gave her a quick kiss, saying, "My sweet little girl, did you make your mother angry?"

The woman stood up and went to greet her, saying, "If you keep spoiling her like this, she might climb onto your courtroom table and cause trouble in a few days!"

The man didn't take it to heart and said with a grin, "That's good. Let everyone here see how clever and capable my Yang family's daughter is. She can take the court in place of her father at such a young age."

The woman chuckled and muttered, "Your skin is getting thicker and thicker, and you're becoming less and less capable as you get older. It's one thing for you, but be careful that your daughter isn't laughed at behind her back."

"Anyone who dares to laugh at my daughter, I'll teach them a lesson..." The man's eyes widened, but he suddenly noticed Danmei sitting in the corner of the pavilion. He then awkwardly stopped talking and whispered to the woman, "Let's go. I haven't had a moment's rest these past few days. I drank so much wine that I felt like I was pissing myself. I finally managed to get away, so I'll accompany you for a stroll. This place is truly a beautiful spot, quite different from the scenery in the capital..."

Goodbye, handsome!

The couple had just left the pavilion hand in hand when the little girl in the man's arms suddenly turned around and sweetly waved to Xiao Bao, who was still watching his back. Xiao Bao ran over, stood on tiptoe, held up a rattle drum painted with a lotus-picking fish doll, and handed it to the girl, saying, "This is for you."

The couple stopped, looked back at Xiaobao and Danmei, smiled at each other, put the little girl down, and let her take her.

"Thank you, sir."

As the girl was led away, she kept looking back.

Danmei watched the family of three cross the broken bridge, secretly surprised. Judging from the tone of their conversation, could they be the family of the new prefect that Brother Zhang had mentioned yesterday? If so, this prefect, who still seemed to have lost some of his childlike innocence, was truly unexpected. Then she saw Xiaobao still standing at the pavilion entrance, gazing blankly, a hint of envy on his little face. A thought struck her, and she said, "Xiaobao, it's time to go back."

Xiao Bao hummed in agreement, picked up the toys he had just finished playing with, and obediently walked a few steps with Danmei's hand. He looked back at the figures on the broken bridge behind him and suddenly said dejectedly, "Mom, I also want to be carried by my dad like this."

Danmei was taken aback, a bitter feeling welling up inside her. After thinking for a moment, she squatted down and picked him up, saying softly, "Is it alright for me to carry you like this?"

Xiao Bao twisted his waist and shook his head, saying, "Mom is too weak to carry me anymore. I want to be carried by my dad..."

Danmei pretended not to hear and carried him quickly for a while. Fortunately, there were many fun and delicious things along the way, and Xiaobao was soon attracted to them and stopped muttering what he had just said. Danmei breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was a little heavy. The good mood she had when she left in the morning was long gone.

***

Danmei's guess was correct; this family was indeed that of Yang Huan, the newly appointed prefect. Four years ago, he returned from the Northwest battlefield with meritorious service and held various positions in the capital region. At the beginning of the year, he was transferred to Hangzhou as the prefect. The old lady of the Grand Commandant's household couldn't bear to let Pingge come with them, so she left him in the capital. He and his wife only brought their daughter with them to their new post.

Yang Huan, holding his beloved daughter in one arm and his wife by the other, stood on the broken bridge, gazing at the tranquil lake and the distant, picturesque mountains. Overjoyed, he laughed, “Yesterday you told me the story of Xu Xian and Bai Niangzi. Were they on this bridge? I don’t think so. This bridge is so narrow, only wide enough for two people to pass at a time. If they were to occupy the bridge, so lovey-dovey and preventing others from crossing, wouldn’t the people stopped start cursing them out in their official manners? In their anger, they might even throw them both into the lake! Unless Xu Xian pays people to guard both ends of the bridge and clear the area.”

Xu Shirong glanced at him sideways, seeing that such a beautiful story had been distorted in his mouth like this, she was both amused and annoyed, and shook her head and said: "I'm afraid only you would do such a thing, right? I knew I shouldn't have told you that story, it would have ruined the atmosphere."

Yang Huan chuckled and said, "If my wife is so inclined to have a rendezvous with me at the Broken Bridge, I'll gladly pay some people to clear the area..."

Xu Shirong laughed and scolded, then turned around and saw that someone behind him was indeed blocked from passing. He seemed a little dissatisfied and hurriedly pulled his sleeve to get off the bridge. After strolling around for a few more steps, he suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and stopped in his tracks with a look of surprise.

Yang Huan followed her gaze, his expression suddenly changed, his eyes widened, and he shouted, "Isn't he an official in Huainan Road? How come he's like a ghost, following me all the way to Yuzhe Road!"

Chapter Seventy-Seven

On the long embankment, a man in a black robe was slowly walking towards the broken bridge. A few steps away, the blue waves rippled gently in the wind, a shimmering expanse before his eyes. Yet, his brows were slightly furrowed, his expression indifferent. The warm mountains and waters seemed to have no effect on softening the aloofness emanating from him.

“Even if you beat me to death, I won’t mistake him! He’s just not quite the same as before! Something seems off!” Yang Huan muttered a few words, then turned around and saw the wet nurse and servants rushing up behind him. He frowned, leaned close to Xu Shirong’s ear and said, “Since we’ve happened to run into an old friend here, it would be a disservice to me not to treat him properly. You take Qingqing back first, and I’ll have a good talk with him and find out what his purpose is in coming here.”

Xu Shirong glanced at the man again, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, "It's all in the past, don't hold a grudge and cause trouble."

Yang Huan raised an eyebrow: "Do you think I'm that petty? Don't worry, don't worry, I will never embarrass you."

Seeing that he was standing tall and speaking so seriously, and that they had already met face to face, Xu Shirong knew that although there had been some past grievances, it wasn't anything like murder or robbery. After all, they were officials in the same court, and it wouldn't be right to quietly avoid seeing him. Seeing Yang Huan nodding his head like a hen pecking at rice, as if he wished she would disappear from the spot immediately, Xu Shirong guessed his thoughts. He probably didn't want to be seen by that person. Helpless, she could only nod in agreement. She gave him a few more instructions out of concern before taking her daughter's hand and leaving with the wet nurse and servants who had rushed over.

Yang Huan watched his wife and daughter leave, then turned to see the man standing with his hands behind his back, facing the still lake. Though his back was straight, it exuded a sense of cold loneliness. Ignoring all that, Yang Huan walked straight up behind him, slapped him hard on the shoulder, and exclaimed, "Lord Xu, it's been many years! I never expected to meet you here today. How are you, my old friend?"

Xu Jinrong turned around abruptly and was stunned for a moment when he saw Yang Huan standing behind him, seemingly in disbelief. Suddenly, his brows relaxed, the hesitation on his face disappeared, and he laughed loudly.

"It really is an old friend! Several years have passed since we last met, but Young Master's charm remains undiminished. I, Xu, am truly envious!"

Yang Huan laughed heartily, then glanced at Xu Shirong and her daughter and saw that they had already disappeared from sight. He then said with a grin, "It's alright, it's alright. What's with all this talk about elegance? My two little children at home are taller than me if they were stacked up. They don't deserve your jokes. Let's not talk about the past."

After Yang Huan finished speaking, he noticed that Xu Jinrong paused slightly and then fell silent, which seemed rather strange. He moved closer to examine him and clicked his tongue, saying, "I see that Lord Xu has lost a lot of weight compared to before, which is quite odd. Although I haven't met you in previous years, I've heard that you were doing very well as an official in Huainan Circuit, just when you were about to make great strides. Why did you end up in Hangzhou Prefecture, and why are you so unhappy?"

Xu Jinrong's eyes dimmed as he gazed at the bustling crowds on the long embankment, seemingly lost in thought.

Yang Huanqi had just seen Xu Jinrong and was immediately reminded of old grudges. Although Xu Shirong had given him some pointers, he still harbored some resentment. That was why he had deliberately tried to provoke him. Now, seeing that Xu Jinrong seemed genuinely depressed, Yang Huanqi could no longer suppress his curiosity and said, "Although I used to find you extremely displeasing, that's all in the past. It's quite a rare occasion to meet you here today. Although you have connections throughout Huainan Prefecture, Hangzhou Prefecture is my territory. If you encounter any difficulties here, just tell me."

Xu Jinrong seemed somewhat surprised, looked at him for a moment, and remained silent.

"You, Xu Jinrong, you wronged me back then. I've already let it go, so why are you still holding onto this grudge?"

Yang Huan's face turned somewhat ugly, and he said angrily.

Xu Jinrong shook his head and smiled bitterly, then turned to face the lake and recited: "Those who have abandoned me, yesterday's days cannot be retained; those who trouble my heart, today's days are full of worries. Li Bai of the former dynasty was not my confidant, yet he expressed my feelings today in a single word. If Brother Yang doesn't mind, how about joining me for a few drinks?"

When Yang Huan saw him suddenly address him as "brother," and noticed the deep depression between his brows while he himself was full of vigor, his heart warmed, and he immediately patted his chest and said, "Of course. I'm the host, let's go to the most famous Drunken Red Pavilion by the lake, and drink until we drop!"

***

That day, Danmei and Xiqing, along with Xiaobao, rode a donkey cart back home with the villagers who had come out with them that morning. When they arrived at the village entrance, it was already dusk. They saw a woman passing by and she smiled and said, "Hua Niangzi, your brother is here again. He's waiting in the yard."

Before Danmei and Xiqing could react, Xiaobao jumped up from the car and shouted, "Uncle's here! Uncle's here!"

He was so happy because his uncle would bring him all sorts of nice things every time he came over, so after he left, he would keep thinking about them for a long time before he would stop.

Danmei was somewhat surprised. Due to his leg ailment, Prince Jing would visit the old physician Huaichu every spring and summer for the past few years, and then come to visit her afterward. This had become a routine, but this year he came earlier than in previous years.

Miao Xia's husband hurried along the donkey cart and soon arrived at her house. He saw a horse tied to a tree trunk by the door, and two men in plain clothes standing beside it; they were the guards of Prince Jing.

When Danmei pushed open the half-closed wooden gate, she immediately saw that there was another person on the bench next to the wooden shed where she and Xiqing had sat the night before. He was dressed in a blue robe and was sitting leisurely brewing a pot of tea. The setting sun shone down and cast a long, narrow shadow on the ground. It was none other than Prince Jing, Zhao Yun.

When King Jing heard the noise at the door, he looked up and smiled, then beckoned to Xiao Bao.

"uncle!"

Xiao Bao had already run towards him and jumped onto his lap. King Jing caught him, and the two laughed and joked for a while. Then King Jing said, "There are some toys for you in the house. Go and see if you like them?"

Xiao Bao turned around, glanced at Danmei, and seeing that she was just smiling and silent, he cheered and ran inside. Xiqing knew that he must have something to say, so he respectfully greeted him and followed him inside.

King Jing looked up and saw Danmei standing in the sunset, a faint smile on her face, her eyes clear. After gazing at her for a moment, he smiled slightly and said, "I've come a little earlier this year because the old imperial physician recommended an old friend of his in the medical field in this city, saying that it would help my leg ailment. I was also tired of getting acupuncture every year, so I came here on his advice and also to see you and your son."