Цзяннань Гайден - Глава 7
The two seemed to have found a tacit understanding in silence, and stopped asking questions.
Mu Qing and the servant caught more cicada pupae, filling the small jar to the brim with twenty or thirty. Mu Qing held her spoils, quite satisfied. Although cicada pupae are rich in protein, children shouldn't eat too many. This jar was enough for a taste! She dusted off her hands and said to the servant, "That's about enough! I should go back!"
"By the way, I caught so many for you, why don't you let me have a couple to try?"
Mu Qing scratched her head, pulled a silk handkerchief from the fish pouch at her waist, poured out a few fish from the jar, wrapped them up, and handed them to the peach-blossom-eyed servant. "Here you go! Go back and ask the old lady in the kitchen in the courtyard to make some for you!"
The boy with peach blossom eyes took the handkerchief, a handsome smile curving his lips. "Thank you! May I ask how I should address you, little sister?"
"Tang Xin!" Before the words were even out of her mouth, Mu Qing had already run off in a flash.
"Sugar Heart!" Watching the little figure disappear, its adorable appearance reminded him of his own white pug, so lively and energetic with its short arms and legs. The servant squeezed his handkerchief pouch and couldn't help but smile, his handsome features becoming even more vivid. If Mu Qing saw this, she would surely say, "Her beauty is like a spring flower, shaming all others!"
At this moment, a young man in brocade robes came from the other side gate upon hearing the noise. He saw the servant and hurriedly ran over, "Young master, you're finally back! The Chen family came to inquire about my health and take my pulse, but I couldn't keep up the act any longer, so I sneaked out to find you."
"Alright, alright! I'm back now, aren't I? Come on, let's go back inside and have someone fry this thing. Young master wants to try it!" Don't lose the handkerchief! The servant handed the handkerchief bundle to the young man in brocade robes. The young man opened it and exclaimed, "Cicada nymphs? Young master, you came back so late to catch these things?"
"Ahem, so you knew too... Looks like I really didn't pretend well!" the servant muttered, looking the young man in brocade robes up and down, then at himself, and frowned, "Go back and change your clothes quickly, this outfit... doesn't suit you..."
Chapter 16 Qianshou
Happy New Year! The competition has begun! I'm asking for pink votes and PK votes!
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On July 28th, the old lady lives a thousand years.
Outside the Chen residence, gongs and drums resounded, and two large red lanterns with yellow tassels hung at the entrance. In the front courtyard, a two-story-high frame made of bamboo and wood was erected, covered with red cloth to form a canopy, surrounded by colorful satin balls, with a platform in the center for the performances of entertainers. Madam Liu specially instructed her steward to invite entertainers from the Li family's entertainment troupe in Nanwa, Mr. Huo, a storyteller from the east of the city, and a variety show troupe from Dongwa to her home to celebrate the old lady's birthday.
From the brightly decorated tent, melodious and elegant strings of bamboo instruments wafted out, accompanied by the soft, gentle singing of the female entertainer Miao Xian'er. The clear, melodious music, sung in the soft Wu dialect, carried a special tenderness and affection. On stage, twin sisters danced to the music. Dressed in embroidered red and yellow robes, their hair styled in fairy buns, they shared the same pointed faces and narrow eyes, the same arched eyebrows and thin lips. Their eyes sparkled with life, their slender waists swayed, and their feet moved with delicate, light steps, their movements as graceful as willows swaying in the spring breeze, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Among the guests were those who enjoyed singing and dancing, swaying their heads as they listened, occasionally sighing that only a wealthy family like the Chen could afford to invite such beautiful women to entertain the guests. Some of the bolder ones lingered on the sisters, their eyes seeming to want to strip them naked.
Standing on one side of the stage, Second Master Chen Qiwen watched the crowd with a smug look on his face. Finally, someone recognized their worth! These two beautiful sisters were courtesans he'd hired from Mingyue Tower at great expense, and with the addition of the sweet voice of the entertainer Miaoxian'er, they were simply exquisite! Chen Qiwen hummed a little tune to the beat, his eyes following the crowd's discussions as he looked back at the stage. The twin sisters were posing with their arms crossed and backs bent, their slender waists and shapely hips arousing the desire in everyone present. Chen Qiwen thought that if it weren't for his mother, Yan Ci, who was above him and might offend her, and the fact that his own concubines were not to be trifled with, he would definitely have bought these sisters as concubines and indulged in some intimate relations with them.
"Ahem!" Chen Qizheng had walked up to him without him noticing. He glanced at his younger brother, who was lost in thought and had a lewd smile on his lips. He immediately guessed his philandering thoughts and shook his head, saying in a low voice, "I told you to go and invite Young Master Ma. Why did you come to the front yard? You're a man with grandchildren. How can you, the host, stare at two young ladies in public? What kind of behavior is that!"
Chen Qiwen's ears burned when his secret was exposed, and he stammered, "Brother is right. I didn't have any ulterior motives, don't misunderstand! Young Master Ma has already gone to the Central Court. I came here to see if you need any help."
"Although you invited them, you mustn't have any other thoughts on today's birthday banquet, lest you displease Mother!" Chen Qizheng put on the airs of an elder brother and said a few more words to Chen Qiwen.
Just then, Chen Nian, the eldest son, was greeting guests at the door. Seeing that it was almost time, he hurried back to the inner courtyard to offer his birthday wishes to the Old Madam. He overheard his father scolding his second uncle, the implication being that his second uncle had taken a liking to the two sisters performing on stage. Chen Nian glanced at the stage and saw a pair of charming young women. He couldn't help but spit out a curse—all talk and no action! Last time, he took his father's money to buy antiques, losing control of the Meizhou shop in the process. Now, having just heard that the Old Madam was going to allocate two shops to her son, his scheming mind was already racing again.
Chen Nian noticed her second uncle's timid and hesitant manner and took it to heart. With a quick thought, she stepped forward to defuse the situation, "Dad, the old lady is still waiting in the backyard. Let's hurry up and go!"
"Okay! Let the butler watch over things here for now. Hurry up and go to the back to wish the Old Madam a happy birthday!" Chen Qizheng strode ahead, and Chen Qiwen glanced back at the stage reluctantly before following him. Chen Nian walked at the back, looking at Chen Qiwen, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips.
...
The main hall of the courtyard was packed with people. The wives and daughters-in-law of each family, the elders of the clan, and even the concubines who rarely showed their faces were all present.
Of all the people in the room, Mu Qing was the youngest and lowest in seniority, and being petite and adorable, she inevitably got teased and pinched by the wives for quite a while. Only after the Old Madam spoke did everyone release her, and she walked back to Qian Shi's side, feeling utterly dejected. She then heard Liu Shi ask in a low voice, "Eldest brother came back last night; it's been three years since we last saw him. Second Uncle couldn't come back for the Old Madam's birthday celebration because his business was delayed for five or six months, but why isn't Third Uncle back?"
"According to Silang, in June, the breach in Huazhou caused refugees to scatter in all directions. Some even ran to Yongxing Army Road. When it came time to recruit soldiers, they became restless and caused some trouble. Third Uncle couldn't leave, so he only sent Xie'er back to deliver birthday gifts."
"Oh, I see. After all, the affairs of the court are of utmost importance, and besides, he's the only one among the grandsons who has actually become a proper official. Humph, the third son is usually favored, but look at the eldest son who just came back, does the old lady even have eyes for the other grandsons?" Liu was quite sarcastic, and she gestured for Qian to look towards the hall, where the old lady was holding Chen Xie's hand with a beaming smile, asking him all sorts of questions.
Mu Qing didn't pay attention to the rest of what was said, but she did hear clearly the few sentences about her third uncle. She finally knew that Chen Yi was serving in Yongxing Military Circuit. Considering that only one person in the last two generations of the Chen family had entered officialdom, it was as if he had fulfilled the old master's last wish for his children and grandchildren. The old lady valued her third uncle, so naturally she wouldn't care about worldly formalities. Besides, compared to a birthday celebration, matters of the court were of course more important. As for Liu Shi, it was simply because she first had a third brother, Chen Xun, and then an eldest brother, Chen Xie, while her own legitimate eldest son and grandson, Chen Che, was left out. She was feeling frustrated, so she was just jealous that someone from another branch of the family had stolen the limelight from her son.
Looking at Chen Xie beside the old lady, he was sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a gauze crown and a slightly oversized dark blue robe. His skin was slightly dark, with thick eyebrows and broad eyes. When speaking to the old lady, he wasn't as cautious as the others, but rather chatted and laughed freely. Perhaps it was because he had spent so much time in the Northwest, but he also possessed a certain boldness characteristic of someone from the military. Mu Qing liked free-spirited people, and judging from this elder brother's demeanor and temperament alone, he was far superior to her second brother, Chen Che, who was a bookworm. Naturally, Mu Qing also developed a certain fondness for Chen Che from the bottom of her heart.
Qian noticed Liu's jealousy and immediately smiled and said, "The old lady hasn't seen my eldest brother for many years. She only gets to see him once on his birthday, so naturally she should spend more time with him. Look at the grandsons of these families, your second brother is the most promising. He will be taking the provincial examination next year. He is only fifteen years old, and he will surely achieve great things in the future."
Hearing Qian praise her son, Liu felt pleased and praised Mu Qing a few more times. The sisters-in-law chatted happily.
Mu Qing glanced around and found that all the grandchildren among the younger generation, except for Chen Xie, were nowhere to be seen. Turning to the other side of the doorway, she saw Chen Xie, the third brother of the third branch, winking at Chen Xie in the main hall. Chen Xie seemed to notice, whispered a few words to the old lady, and then got up and went to the door. Seeing Chen Xie leave, Chen Che made an excuse and followed him out. Mu Qing, curious about what the brothers were going to say, took advantage of Qian Shi's cheerful conversation with another woman and secretly followed them out as well.
①Qianshou: In the Song Dynasty, the birthday of a noblewoman was called Qianshou.
Chapter Seventeen: The Chen Family Brothers
"Third brother, you've grown into a handsome young man in just a few years." Chen Xun patted Chen Xun's shoulder. "What did you call your brother out for?"
Chen Xun glanced into the room, his lips twitching. "A room full of women chattering away, doesn't it give you a headache? Grandpa and uncles aren't all here, so we can't offer birthday greetings. It's better to come out and get some fresh air. Brother, tell me about what's happening in the Northwest."
"That place is all yellow earth, nothing like the beauty of Jiangnan. What's there to talk about? Haha! You guys have been studying hard these past few years, so your knowledge is naturally superior to mine, a commoner."
"Brother, what are you saying? How can the study compare to the vast open sky outside?" Chen Xun said dismissively. "If Mother weren't so reluctant, I would be willing to go outside with you."
"Third brother, you are mistaken. The old master hopes that his children and grandchildren will study hard, enter officialdom, and make a name for themselves. How can you give up fame and fortune to travel the world?"
Chen Xun peeked behind Chen Xun and saw that Chen Che had also come out. He pursed his lips and said, "Second Brother is out too."
Chen Xie turned around and said with a smile, "One of you is going to take the provincial examination, and the other is going to enter the academy. If you pass, you will become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) and a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level examination). Third brother is still young and playful. He was just saying it casually. Second brother, please don't blame him."
Chen Che nodded. "Brother, now that you're back, there's no need to go back. Why not wait until next spring to take the provincial examination with me?"
Chen Xie shook his head. "My ambitions lie elsewhere. This generation is up to you two brothers! By the way, where are Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xun gave a disdainful look and said, "Hmph! They're probably blocking people at the entrance of Fenglan Academy right now! Let's not talk about this anymore, brother, let's go sit in that pavilion over there and have a chat."
Mu Qing hid behind the door and heard Chen Xun anxiously pulling Chen Xun away to ask about the Northwest. She thought she should go and listen too.
She couldn't help but look up at the sky above, thinking that although she had moved from Meizhou to Hangzhou, she hadn't truly stepped outside the courtyard walls to see the outside world; she had only moved from a small courtyard to a large garden. Mu Qing, after all, possessed the soul of a modern person, and her ingrained beliefs were not easily changed. Being confined to the courtyard for the rest of her life was not her wish; she still wanted to go outside. Mu Qing firmly believed that even if she didn't have the opportunity to go out now, she would in the future, so she didn't want to miss any chance to learn about the local customs and culture.
Recalling the eager looks from the wives earlier, Mu Qing shuddered, slipped out the door, and followed the three Chen brothers, calling out, "Brothers, wait for me!"
The three turned around at the sound and were startled to see their little sister toddling over. Once she was close, Chen Xun chuckled and asked, "You little rascal, why aren't you keeping your mother company? What are you doing out here?!"
Mu Qing looked at Chen Xun with a teasing expression and pouted, "Third Brother's words are so unreasonable. Only the older brothers are allowed to come out, but Qing'er can't? Besides, Qing'er isn't looking for you; Qing'er is looking for the eldest brother."
Chen Che chimed in with a straight face, "You're still young, and a girl at that. How can you run around like this? Go back quickly. Tomorrow, your fourth aunt will have to teach you 'Rules for Women' and 'Admonitions for Women'."
Mu Qing didn't take it to heart. She glared at Chen Che and Chen Xun. One was acting like a little adult, and the other was a pedantic bookworm! She knew her two older brothers' personalities. They wouldn't be as nosy as the women in the courtyard and would complain. They must be deliberately trying to scare her.
Mu Qing ignored him and turned to Chen Xie, who was smiling at her silently, saying, "I once heard Father say that our Great Song Dynasty is very large, with Liao and Xia to the north. Father also said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Qing'er knows that as a girl, even when I grow up, I can only stay in the courtyard and cannot be as free as my brothers, who can go out and see the world as they please. I just overheard Mother and Aunt chatting and heard that my eldest brother came back from the Northwest, so Qing'er came along to ask him to tell her about what's happening outside."
The three men were secretly amazed when they heard Mu Qing's request. After all, most children her age were preoccupied with playing and rarely cared about what was happening outside. Yet, their little sister, though young, spoke clearly and logically, without any affectation or fear of others. Then they thought about it again; Mu Qing kept calling him "father," and her manner of speaking must be a testament to their fourth uncle's good upbringing. Their fourth uncle was also a scholar, but disliked a career in government. Since he only had one daughter, he naturally cared for her more than most families' daughters. Therefore, they no longer found Mu Qing particularly unusual.
Mu Qing's almond-shaped eyes widened, her gaze filled with a thirst for knowledge as she stared at Chen Xie. He couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to let her follow. The four of them sat idly in a pavilion in a corner of the courtyard. Chen Xu invited the maids to serve fragrant tea while listening to Chen Xie recount his experiences on the Yongzhou military route.
From geography and local customs, Chen Xie spoke eloquently, while Chen Xun, needless to say, kept asking questions, almost as if he wanted to rush out of the courtyard and head straight for the northwest. As for Chen Che, with his scholarly demeanor, Mu Qing could tell that although he was listening, he lacked interest and couldn't leave out of respect for his elder brother.
Mu Qing held her teacup, taking sips now and then, listening intently and secretly admiring Chen Xie's extensive knowledge. Initially, she only knew that Yongxing Army Road was in the northwest, but now, after hearing Chen Xie's explanation, she understood. It turned out that Yongxing Army Road was roughly located in modern-day Shaanxi, bordering the Western Xia. At that time, the ruler of Western Xia was Li Deming, the military governor of Dingnan Army, who had established his capital in Xingzhou the previous year. Mu Qing recalled her vague historical knowledge: Western Xia was only established and proclaimed emperor by Li Yuanhao during the reign of Emperor Renzong. At this moment, this ambitious father and son should be in a period of preparation.
"Could it be that the Prince of Xiping harbors rebellious intentions?" After Chen Xun explained the situation in the Northwest, he rested his chin on his hand, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice, "The Northwest frontier is inherently unstable. My third uncle's term is coming to an end. I wonder if he can be transferred to the south?"
Chen Xie was quite surprised that his third brother had discerned all this from his few words. He then thought of his father, "The Bao'an Army, which borders Fuzheng, is building an inner city this year and recruiting local soldiers for its construction. Unexpectedly, during the recruitment, they encountered a disturbance caused by refugees from Huazhou. If this matter can be quelled, there might be an opportunity for a transfer next year; if not..."
Seeing that Chen Xun hesitated to speak, Chen Xun asked, "Why are the refugees causing trouble?"
"A life of ease with a government salary isn't something everyone can do, and naturally, some who are eliminated are resentful... But these displaced people have left their homes, and after the floodwaters recede, countless plots of land in their ancestral villages will be left uncultivated, offering no benefit to agriculture. Recruiting unruly and undisciplined men—this is the very advantage and disadvantage of the court's conscription system! If this continues, the consequences could be far-reaching..."
"What you say makes some sense, brother!"
A voice broke the silence. Mu Qing recognized the voice immediately and turned around to see her fourth brother, Chen Xing, and fifth brother, Chen Tu, standing not far from the pavilion, flanking a young man in blue. Mu Qing instantly recognized the young man who had spoken as the "servant" from Peach Blossom Courtyard whom she had met a few days ago. Now, accompanied by her fourth and fifth brothers, she knew without asking that he was the noble young master from Maple Blue Courtyard.
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, who is this?" Chen Xie didn't know who the person was, but judging from his demeanor and bearing, he was definitely not an ordinary person.
The young man in blue bowed respectfully, "I am Ma Mingyuan from Tokyo. Greetings, esteemed brothers!"
"Young Master Ma is the grandson of the current Emperor Liu's brother-in-law." As soon as Ma Mingyuan finished speaking, Chen Xing reminded him, his voice suddenly rising a notch, his expression arrogant, as if he himself were the Emperor's brother-in-law's grandson.
Mu Qing's heart skipped a beat. Could Liu Guojiu be the same person involved in the palace gossip during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, and the ex-husband of the current Empress Liu E?
(Still asking for three votes: pink vote, PK vote, and recommendation, hehe~ Remember to leave a comment if you're reading~)
Chapter Eighteen: The Gossip of the Third Wife (Second Update)
Mu Qing was sitting to Chen Xun's right. Upon seeing a familiar face, she hurriedly stood up and moved closer to Chen Xun. As Chen Xun turned around, his wide robes conveniently blocked the view of the three people outside the pavilion. She secretly considered her options. It wouldn't matter if Chen Xun and the other two exposed her sneaking into the backyard to catch cicada nymphs in front of them. But the two boys from the Zhou family were also there; who knew if they might report it to that meddlesome Zhou family matriarch?
When Chen Xun, Chen Xun, and Chen Che heard about Ma Mingyuan's background, they were only slightly taken aback, far from the fear and trepidation that Chen Xing had expected.
Chen Xun was naturally forthright and had seen much of the world during his years of travel. He treated people without much regard for social status or rank. Although surprised, he remained unmoved and bowed politely. Chen Xun coldly observed Chen Xing and Chen Tu's obsequious manners, ignoring the noble status of Young Master Ma, and symbolically waved his hand in return. Only Chen Che, because he had the impression that most nobles like Young Master Ma lacked real talent and relied solely on their family's influence to obtain a government salary, disdained them. His inherent scholarly pride surged, and after announcing his name and returning the greeting, he looked away.
Seeing the three men's reaction, Chen Xing was somewhat disappointed. He thought to himself, "These three must think too highly of themselves to be so cold after hearing that Young Master Ma is from a noble family. What ignorant fools!" But it was all for the best. He and his brother couldn't get along with the old lady, but today they went to Fenglan Courtyard to wait for Young Master Ma at their mother's behest. Along the way, Young Master Ma had chatted with them amiably, leaving a good impression. If they could get on Young Master Ma's good side today, they would definitely be able to hold their heads high at home in the future.
After the other party returned the greeting, Ma Mingyuan sincerely asked, "I just heard Brother Chen mention the matter of recruiting soldiers, and I have a question I would like to ask you."
Chen Xing, standing beside him, glanced at his three elder brothers in the pavilion, then smiled and said to Young Master Ma, "The talents of my brothers are nowhere near those of Young Master Ma. You are too modest!"
"Not at all! Compared to you gentlemen, my learning is far inferior."
Seeing Ma Mingyuan's humble attitude, Chen Xie nodded slightly and gestured, "Please speak, Young Master Ma!"
Ma Mingyuan put his hands behind his back and said, "As the saying goes, when Suzhou and Huzhou are prosperous, the whole country is well-fed. Chengdu, Liangzhe, and Jiangnan are all grain-producing areas. Now that the Song territory is vast, even if there are occasional refugees in the north who join the army and do not engage in production, it can only be considered a minor problem. It may affect one place but not necessarily the foundation of the country."
Chen Xie shook his head slightly. "What Young Master Ma said is very true in the current situation, but the problem is that the imperial guards and local soldiers recruited now are all paid a certain amount of rations, clothing, food, and special allowances by the court. Every year, there are many places where dikes and dams break, and the number of refugees recruited increases year by year. If this continues, the huge military expenditure will inevitably increase the burden on the local area; and if the villagers who are already burdened by this see this, I'm afraid that those who have jobs and can still cultivate their land will also find ways to quit their jobs."
Ma Mingyuan seemed to sense something, lowered his hands, raised his right hand to support his chin, pondered for a moment, and nodded, saying, "That's very true! I've learned a lot!"
"Young master is too modest!"
Chen Xing, standing to the side, flattered him with a fawning expression, saying, "Young Master Ma is diligent in his studies, humble and polite, and has none of the arrogance and extravagance of those nobles in the capital. I admire him greatly! It is truly a blessing for us brothers to befriend you!"
"Sycophant!" Mu Qing, hiding behind Chen Xun, was not very familiar with the problems of the court, but Chen Xing's flattery was too affected. Mu Qing couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "The whole family, from father to son, are all awful."
Others couldn't hear it, but Chen Xun, who was closest to her, heard it clearly and burst out laughing. Chen Xing was embarrassed and cursed Chen Xun inwardly for laughing at this moment to deliberately embarrass him. He then raised his head and asked calmly, "Third Brother, why are you laughing?"
A hint of disdain flashed in Chen Xun's eyes, and he smiled slightly, saying, "Nothing, just remembered a joke!"
"What joke?" Chen Xing interjected. "Tell us all. If it's not funny, you'll have to punish yourself with three drinks!"
Chen Xun glanced at Chen Xing and said loudly, "There was once a couple who went on a spring outing. The man saw another couple walking hand in hand and couldn't help but sigh at how that ugly man could marry such a beautiful woman! Upon hearing this, the woman laughed and said, 'My lord, you really know how to flatter!'"
Chen Xun was the first to laugh out loud; Chen Che, who was always refined, also had a smile on his face; Mu Qing hid behind Chen Xun, covering her mouth with one hand and tightly clutching the back of Chen Xun's clothes with the other, her shoulders trembling slightly. If she wasn't afraid that Ma Mingyuan would recognize her, she would definitely go out to see the expression on Chen Xing's face.
On the other side, Chen Tu was holding back his laughter out of respect for his brother, his face turning red, while Ma Mingyuan had a smile on his face but remained calm, making it seem as if he was waiting to see a good show.