Uhei Translations

　　
　　The moon was bright in the serene night, the courtyard was like a reflection of moonlight in accumulated water, the shadows of bamboo and cedar lumping to cover the ground like a criss-cross of seagrass. There was a youth practicing his swordsmanship in the courtyard by himself, in the silence there was only the sound of the blade slicing through the wind.

　　Chen Siheng’s energy was dwindling, the sword stance he’d brandished wobbling for an instant, which caused the sword to slip out of his grip and land on the ground. He reacted quickly and took a step back, only managing not to let it hit his foot. He just stared at the sword for a long while moodily, then sighed heavily. Chen Siheng stroked the dagger in the (breast of his robes)¹, bending down and couldn’t help but mumble softly:

　　”Jingshu-jiejie……I’m still unable to hate you ah……”

　　Suddenly with a zhiya (creaking) sound, the heavy doors to the residence were pushed open by someone, allowing breeze to blow through and into the courtyard. Chen Siheng grabbed his sword in one motion, sharply turning around to stare vigilantly at the approaching person, “Who’s there?!”

　　He only saw two black-clothed men pushing open the doors and then standing to the two sides, and after that two teams of black-clothed men followed them in. Their expressions were cold, and they parted in rows to the left and right.

　　This spectacle soaked Chen Siheng’s back in cold sweat in that instant. He stared fixedly at the last person to step in, not daring to move an inch.

　　The person approaching in the dark of the night had a tall and elegant bearing, lotuses embroidered on his robes like blood, there seemed to be a smile in his eyes yet also seemed not, “Why is it this sort of expression, you don’t know me anymore?”

　　Chen Siheng’s shock quickly morphed into joy: “General Chu?! You’ve come to see me?!”

　　”En,” Chu Mingyun said, “Came to see if you’ve died or not.”

　　The excitement that had filled his chest was instantly doused out, the corner of Chen Siheng’s lips twitched, and he could not reply to that.

　　Chu Mingyun considered the surroundings, and then casually asked him a bit about the his daily life, when he suddenly turned the topic of conversation, saying: “My purpose in coming this time is because I have things to ask, even if you don’t want to recall it you still have to answer me honestly, alright?”

　　Chen Siheng laughed, somewhat relieved, “It’s been so long, I’ve long come to terms with it. There’s nothing I’m unwilling to recall, you can go ahead and ask.”

　　”When the mishap happened to your family, what exactly did you hear?”

　　”I didn’t know anything,” Chen Siheng shook his head, “When Grandfather sent us away, no matter what I asked, they would only tell me it was nothing, yet that night when the (house) caught fire it was really too sudden, everything was a chaotic mess, I was completely unable to see or hear anything.” He paused, “……I only saw Jingshu-jiejie rushing in to bring me out.”

　　Chu Mingyun knitted his brow slightly, and asked: “That day in the Red Sleeve House, before I arrived what were you going to tell Su Shiyu originally?”

　　”Jingshu-jiejie told me to say the other party called themselves the Grand Marshall,” Chen Siheng looked at him, and suddenly said worriedly: “That’s right ah, General Chu, who is the Grand Marshall, could he really be the one who harmed my family?”

　　Chu Mingyun expressionlessly looked at him, “It’s me.”

　　”Ah?” Chen Siheng could not react, “But……but aren’t you a general?”

　　”When dealing with political affairs at court my designation is the Grand Marshall, on the battlefield naturally it’s as a general.” Chu Mingyun explained, the glint in his eyes becoming slightly cold, “Let me think, if it wasn’t for me coincidentally bumping into Su Shiyu that day, was she planning to then tell me the other party is the Grand Secretary?”

　　Thereby driving a wedge between the two of them, letting the Chu faction have an internal conflict with the Su faction to their mutual detriment, in order to gain the fisherman’s profit.²

　　”They truly calculated a good scheme.” He sneered a laugh, taking out the bronze seal from his sleeve, “Brat, then do you know what this is meant to be used for?”

　　Chen Siheng took it, and shook his head, then nodded after thinking carefully.

　　”En?”

　　”There’s a Gege (T/N: generic address for older brother)who frequently comes to see Jinghu-jiejie, there was once I saw that Gege give this thing to her to use, and after that quite a lot of people started listening to her orders.” Chen Siheng said, “I guess, it must be something like a token of authority or something to prove one’s status.”

　　”Then have you ever heard them mention Huainan?”

　　”Never did.” This, Chen Siheng could answer resolutely and without hesitation³.

　　Chu Mingyu nodded and took back the bronze seal, seeming pensive.

　　Seeing that he’d finished his line of questioning, Chen Siheng looked at those black-clothed men, and could not help but ask: “General Chu, are those people your subordinates?”

　　Chu Mingyun turned his head back to glance, “Shadow guards.”

　　Chen Siheng’s eyes lit up, carefully sizing up his expression, and drumming up the courage to say: “Then do you think……I could also become your shadow guard?”

　　Chu Mingyun suddenly laughed out loud upon hearing those words, “Do you know what the shadow guards signify?”

　　”……The owner’s shadow?” He guessed.

　　”Correct,” Chu Mingyun unhurriedly sized him up, “So you think, why would I agree to want such a short shadow?”

　　Chen Siheng: “……”

　　Chu Mingyun smiled, turning to walk outside, casually waving his hand, “Suppress your breath and compose your spirit, (if) you can hold tight to your sword then we’ll talk, when I have a use for you I’ll naturally call on you.”

　　Chen Siheng yelled in delighted surprise: “Really?”
　　Nobody replied, in the span of a blink the shadow guards had brought the doors closed once again, the courtyard returning to its quiet, without any evident traces, as though no one had ever come by.
　　
　　Taking the steed on a stroll and trotting slowly along the old roads in the direction of returning to the capital, the horse stepped on the fresh grass soundlessly. The shadow guards accompanying from behind were also wordless in their silence. Chu Mingyun seemed to be deep in his own thoughts about something, the light in his eyes seeming adrift. He suddenly reined in his horse and halted, raising his hand to prevent the shadow guards from asking questions, and slightly leaned his head to listen carefully.

　　There was an extremely thin and delicate stream of the qin being played, a quiet and desolate melody faintly discernible from it. It had a faint melancholy to it, but was also as plain as a spring-fed stream’s flow over rocks, gently sloping without audible peaks.

　　Chu Mingyun was engrossed in listening to it for a moment, then dismounted his horse to stand, tossing the reins to a shadow guard behind him, “You guys go back first.” After he said this he left without unceremoniously⁴.

　　He followed the sound of the qin, walking as delicately as the parting of flowers and flicking of willows. After pushing aside a branch that flourished with peach blossoms in his line of sight, he was suddenly enlightened. He had a brief unconscious jolt of panic, crushing the red petals beneath his fingers, splotching his fingers with a bit of fragrance that soaked into his nails.

　　The torrential flow of the Ba River accompanied the pavilion of parting, the moonlight was like a layer of frosting, landing on the desolate figure of the white-robed youth in the pavilion. The youth sat on a mat within the pavilion, his back leaning on vermilion pillars of the pavillion. A paulownia wood qin was placed on his knees, he lowered his head as he pressed sounds from the silk strings; his long hair leaning in front of him with his movements, and on his white robes patterned with silver cloud embroidery, they seemed like deep meanders of ink on white parchment. Those lowered brows and eyes were familiarly handsome and good-looking.

　　The common people indeed didn’t have a bad eye, in this land apart from him there were few others who deserved (the title of) being gentle and kind-hearted as jade. Hearing footsteps Su Shiyu raised his head and looked over, the sounds of the qin waving as they lingered. He looked at the person who walked right up to him, “How are you here?”

　　”I wanted to ask you that instead.” Chu Mingyun looked around him once, realising that he (Su Shiyu) was by his lonesome, “Heard qin sounds while on the road, I even thought it was some musician or songstress. But after seeking it out, unexpectedly it was Master Su here. (You’re) truly refined and leisurely.”

　　Su Shiyu said blandly: “Sorry to disappoint Master Chu that (I’m) not a musician or songstress, if you leave now it’s not too late.”

　　”Master Su still hurrying me off?” Chu Mingyun raised his brows slightly. “You don’t want to see me, s’that it?” (T/N: colloquial structure used here)

　　”How could that be.” Su shiyu laughed lightly.

　　”Was it a mourning song that you were playing just now?” Chu Mingyun squatted in front of him, slightly slanting his head and staring at him, “You’re actually reminiscing about an old departed acquaintance⁵?”

　　”So what,” Su Shiyu laughed, “Is Master Chu planning to comfort me?”

　　Chu Mingyun let out a laugh, “You are able to not bat an eyelid even when your blood-related uncle dies in front of you, why would you even need me to comfort you.”

　　Su Shiyu lowered his eyes and didn’t answer, his fingers placed over the qin strings once more.

　　Chu Mingyun also didn’t mind, lifting his robe and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Su Shiyu, raising a hand to tap him, “Change the song.”

　　”……” Su Shiyu turned his eyes to look at him, “You’re really taking me for a songstress or entertainer?”

　　”If I wanted to find a songstress or entertainer I wouldn’t want to listen to you playing.” Chu Mingyun replied matter-of-factly.

　　”That’s true,” Su Shiyu let out a laugh, “Jiangnan’s number-one female qin entertainers have all been bought over at great expense to be sent to your residence, you indeed don’t lack for someone to play the qin.”

　　Chu Mingyun turned his head to look at him, and said with unclear intent: “You seem to know quite a bit about my matters.”

　　The movements of Su Shiyu’s fingers paused slightly, and soon after he said flatly: “It was only because that Lady Ruji was of such extensive repute, even I have heard of her.” I once thought of asking her for lessons, too bad there’s no longer the opportunity. But I didn’t expect that afterward you’d dismiss them so cleanly, such that even to this day there is not even a slight trace.”

　　Chu Mingyun laughed lowly: “Isn’t this me proving my deep affections for you?”

　　Su Shiyu avoided his gaze, “Seeing as such it seems that I can only ask you, is Lady Ruji’s qin skills really as exceptional as the rumors say?”

　　Chu Mingyun thought back on it a bit, and gave a three-word assessment: “Makes me sleepy⁶.”

　　Su Shiyu couldn’t help but give him a profound look, “Given Master Chu’s extent of ability to appreciate (music), pardon me for honestly being unable to think of a reason why I would waste effort to perform for you.”

　　”All the way out in the boonies⁷ in the late in the night, I came especially to listen to Master Su playing qin instead of returning to my residence. Yet you’d unexpectedly shun me, really hurts one’s feelings ah.” Chu Mingyunlet out a faint sigh.

　　”…What do you want to listen to?”

　　Chu Mingyun thought about it, “The Prince of Lanling enters battle.”

　　Upon hearing this Su Shiyu suddenly lifted his eyes, gaze landing on his face and scrutinizing him for a moment, “Speaking of this, I’ve actually thought of a question I’ve long wanted to ask you.”

　　”The Prince of Lanling often suffered humiliation and slights on the battlefield because of his delicate beauty, and so fashioned a sinister-looking golden mask to intimidate his enemies. Then this face of yours, how did it sweep over the battlefield?” (T/N: He’s asking how he managed to domineer the army and the battlefield with such a feminine-looking face).

　　”That’s quite easy,” Chu Mingyun laughed coldly, “If there are any who are disrespectful, if among your enemies torture them to death, if among your troops punish heavily, without even two months, there was no longer anyone in the army who dared to stare at my looks head-on.”

　　”(You’re) truly strict in managing troops.” Su Shiyu said, and it was hard to distinguish if this was praise or censure, after muttering to himself for a long while he abruptly asked softly: “Frankly speaking, I think you’re not actually someone who covets glory and splendor, and even completely lack interest in many earthly things; so why did you want to enter the battlefield and rise to court after all?”

　　”Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?” Chu Mingyun looked at him.

　　”If (I) wanted to hear a lie why would I bother asking you?” Su Shiyu returned his look.
　　Chu Mingyun moved away his line of sight, gazing at the thousand-tiered silhouettes of far-off mountains⁸, the hazy greenish-blue chain of peaks and the clear silver-white flash of the river flow then entered his dark-coloured eyes. He muttered to himself for a moment before speaking up, his tone indifferent as usual, but (his words were) vociferous⁹. “If I absolutely had to voice it, what I want is to expand the territory thousands of miles, and summon respect from all directions.”

　　Su Shiyu was stunned, but quickly turned away his gaze, raising his hands to place on the qin strings, the glistening white moonlight divided evenly on his fingers.

　　The song started off sophisticated¹⁰, the sound clear and far-reaching like that of pearls dropping on a jade plate, the sound turned into the thunderous beating of battle drums, gradually slipping into the clanging strikes of the golden battle-axe, all the while the cavalry and icy rivers rolled along.

　　The tide of sound filled the vermilion pavilion, Chu Mingyun propped up his elbows on his knees, leaning over his head and supporting his cheek, and spaced out staring at Su Shiyu.

　　No matter how much a person detested Su Shiyu they’d still have to admit one thing, that he was born with a really pretty body. There was hardly ever a dearth in slander and gossip, someone said the arc of those thin lips hooking (into a smile/smirk) could absorb a person’s soul, people said the posture he had when that fair hand stained with a bloody air held a fan was the most moving.

　　Yet Su Shiyu now suddenly realised, those eyes of his was what really made someone unable to fend off blows from. When it held a smile it was like a flooding river in spring, brimming over with (sun)light; when he was solemn and calm it was like the cold and limpid light of the moon reflected in an autumn river.

　　Abruptly flipping his fingers and stopping the stringing, one song came to an end. The tide of the music receded, leaving all of the land quiet and still¹¹ for a moment.

　　Chu Mingyun’s had yet to start moving, staring at him for a moment in silence before suddenly speaking up: “Is your face a little bit red?”

　　”……” Su Shiyu sighed soundlessly, “No matter who it is that receiving that fixed stare of yours for a long while, they’d be uncomfortable.”

　　So Chu Mingyun laughed slowly, “You’re better.”

　　”What?” Su Shiyu was slightly surprised, facing that pair of eyes gradually deepening with humor, and actually could not return to his senses for a while.

　　Chu Mingyun pointed to the qin on his knees, “Jiangnan’s number-one, is far from being your equal.”
　　”Many thanks for your praise.” Su Shiyu took back his gaze and laughed. It’s just that in these few words¹², though it was in an exhale, there was a repressed feeling that could not be clearly expressed noiselessly climbing upward, and would not appear despite being carved out.
　　Chu Mingyun turned his head back, relaxed his body to lean on the pavilion railing, “You continue playing your thing, no need to mind me.”

　　Su Shiyu responded indifferently, but he suddenly spoke up again: “Right.”

　　”What is it?”

　　”Do you eat sweets, I can split some of the pine nut brittle with you.”

　　Su Shiyu then let out a light laugh. Declining to comment, he casually started up a clear, elegant little tune.

　　Chu Mingyun no longer spoke up, closing his eyes as if he was a little fatigued. The music gently entered his ears, he seemed to feel as if the position was uncomfortable, suddenly slightly moving his figure. He tilted his body to lean on the pavilion pillar, his shoulder pressing against Su Shiyu’s, that loosed crow-colored long hair slipping downward with his slight recline, landing on Su Shiyu’s shoulder, and then was lifted by the night breeze to sweep across Su Shiyu’s lower jaw, a little ticklish feeling and numbness that was hard to describe.

　　Suddenly afflicted with inexplicable palpitations, Mulahe’s voice distinctly sounded out in his ear:
　　
　　”That’s why……”
　　”That’s why, Anyi’ruo is in love with him¹³ right?”
　　
　　Su Shiyu fingers went out of alignment, making an unsteady qin sound.

　　In that instant ten thousand butterflies suddenly flapped their wings and took flight, (his) chest filled with the beating of butterfly wings, heart thrown completely into confusion there could be no order.
　　
　　”The four generations of the Su family, is not lacking for you as a general.”

　　”I will never again bring you to the battlefield, from now on you only need learn how to become a civil official.”
　　
　　”What I want is to expand the territory thousands of miles, and summon respect from all directions.”
　　
　　——Is it love?¹⁴
　　
　　”He’s important to the country, still why do you have be so nice to him?”
　　“When Pretty Gege is around the fog disappears!”
　　
　　There’s plenty I want to guess, for example what you think of me.”
　　——Is it love?
　　
　　”Don’t you have a heart?”
　　“Heartless and desire-less, incapable of shedding blood and tears! You just go on like this, and you should have lifelong loneliness!”
　　
　　”I already said I invited you to drink in celebration, why do you still keep frowning?”
　　
　　——Is it love?
　　
　　”Would Beloved Subject Su like this type?”
　　“We’ve forgotten. There is nothing you’ve ever liked.”
　　
　　——Is it not love?
　　
　　……Then why is the sound of my heartbeat quake painfully like it’s breaking.
　　
　　Su Shiyu stopped his hands, the qin strings still vibrating, yet the song had long gone off-tune, a disorderly jumble just like his tumultuous feelings. A little nervous, a little delighted, a little bit at a loss, and also a slight pain on the tip of his heart that could not be ignored. It turns out that what they say is not all false.

　　Su Shiyu lightly raised his head and let out a long sigh, and after a long, long while, he slowly turned his head to look at Chu Mingyun beside him. He seemed to be completely unaware of everything, still resting with his eyes closed, brows calm and at ease.

　　Su Shiyu stared at him for a long while, suddenly raising his hand to slowly stretch forward, fingers extending very cautiously, wanting to touch his eyes. This simple movement took too long, great changes occurred in the time¹⁵ of one sigh, the sounds of flowing water and the wind streaked past his ear, in the end his hand paused an inch away, and as if frozen solid it was hard to get any closer.

　　Because Chu Mingyun suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the fingers in front of his eyes without a shred of expression.

　　Su Shiyu’s eyes instantly regained their tranquility, and his mental state sobered back up. His hand bent into a extremely slight curve, and as if it was just a careless pause just now, plucked off a hair from Chu Mingyun’s temple in passing, after bringing it below his eyes and earnestly looking at it, he blandly said: “It turns out I saw wrong, I thought it was a white hair.”
　　Chu Mingyun looked at him, raising his hand, rubbing at the twinge of his temple.
　　

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The author has something to say:
The person to be moved first is the one who loses.

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T/N: That was a nightmare chapter to translate, not least because it’s 50% longer than the other chapters. Next chapter is only 2.4k so hopefully I’ll get it out on schedule. Today’s is a little late for Mid-Autumn. There are so many different origin stories for this festival, who knows how it really came about. They say it was one of the Imperial family’s sacred rites, because in the Book of Rites it says “天子春潮日，秋夕月”, meaning to offer worship to the sun in spring and to the moon in autumn, and this festival was born out from the literati and common folk’s mimicry of the practices of offering worship to or celebrating the moon. As for why it is called 中秋; it doesn’t actually mark the middle of autumn, it is the 15th of the eighth lunar month, which means that it is second full moon of autumn. So it is suggested that this day is called 仲秋 (‘仲’ meaning second in order) and this got corrupted to 中秋. Anyway, whether you gather with family, simply eat mooncakes or reserve enough energy to shoot down the sun, I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn!

1. 怀里 – As with previous instances, this phrase is used to indicate placement tucked against one’s bosom rather than in one’s arms.

2. 渔翁之利 – reference to the same idiom mentioned in Chapter 22 (ref footnote 13 in that chapter)

3. 斩钉截铁 – literally ‘to chop nails and slice iron’, that’s how firm CSH’s answer was.

4. 径自 – without consulting anyone / without so much as a ‘by your leave’, though in this case he DID tell them to leave so I chose ‘unceremoniously’.

5. 故人 is one of those phrases hard to translate without enough context. The best over-arching term is ‘someone you used to know’, but whether that is an old lover or friend, whether you grew apart or lost the other person to death;; there’s like 5 meanings there. I interpreted it as an old friend that died since he was playing a ‘song of loss’, and you know, Mulahe

6. 听着困 – “listening to it (makes me feel) sleepy” but I wanted to make it literally 3 words like the original.

7. 荒郊野岭 – common phrases that fully translates to ‘desolate areas far from town, in the wilds of the mountains’

8.千叠山影 – reference to the line ‘山影酒摇千叠翠’ from Liu Yin’s poem 《高亭》.

9. 落地有声- literally ‘making sound once it hit the floor’.

10. 起弦风雅 – might be a reference to the song 华胥引

11. 万籁俱寂 – literally ‘ten thousand living things were collectively silent’.

12. 只言片语 – idiom literally meaning ‘few words and isolated phrases’

13.是喜欢着他吗 – contains the phrase ‘liking him’ but has an extra word so I took it as a colloquialism for being in love with him.

14. 喜欢吗？- these are meant to be echoes of Mulahe’s statement above, where SSY is asking himself, does he like CMY. So the most direct translation would be, “Is this like?” But then the last one would be “Is this not like?” and these just sound kind of awkward so I translated Mulahe’s words and this phrase to “love” instead. (You know they barely use the word 爱 in danmei anyway)

15. 沧海桑田 – literally ‘the blue sea turns into mulberry fields’, an idiom referring to how the world is transformed with the passage of time. This is just SSY’s internal voice being super dramatic I guess.

The full entourage of palace maids and imperial bodyguards had been dismissed from the antechamber of the Xuanshi Hall¹, yet within this astronomically large hall the air seemed considerably dense. Li Yanzhen alone sat on the seat-of-honor while Chu Mingyun, Su Shiyu and the emissaries from Loulan stood at two opposing sides.

　　The imperial bodyguard who delivered the message had informed Su Shiyu of the situation’s details along the way: That day Loulan had arrived at the border town according to the arrangement to receive the princess but had discovered the inn to be dead silent. In all the guestrooms upstairs, the walls and floors were dripping with blood, and the thick stench of blood assaulting one’s nose would immediately make a person feel nauseated. And Loulan’s most beloved and respected princess had fallen face-down and hair disheveled on the ground, a fair-skinned arm stained with streaks of blood outstretched to the front, seeming to have once expended all energy trying to grab hold of something.

　　The ruler of Loulan nearly fell unconscious upon receiving the news, angrily yelling out orders to dispatch the army at once, but only agreed to send emissaries after repeated and forceful persuasions from his subjects.

　　After reporting this the imperial bodyguard asked urgently, “Grand Secretary, the land has only just achieved hard-earned peace, will war break out again because of this?”

　　Su Shiyu furrowed his brow tightly, and didn’t answer. The carriage blinds flapped in the wind as it sped on. Flowers were in bloom all along the street outside the window, a painting-like scene of spring.

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　　In the hall, the Loulan emissary’s face sank, yet still made his greeting courteously, and went straight to the point: “The matter of our princess her royal Highness’ murder, (I) hope Daxia (dynasty name) will take responsibility for it!”

　　Since Li Yanzhen did not reply after a while, Chu Mingyun spoke up: “Naturally, will Your Honor, the Emissary please remain calm and not be impatient, we have already sealed the border and are searching for the suspects, if there is any news we will surely inform you.”

　　The emissary looked at Chu Mingyun, “Your Honor the Grand Marshall seems to avoid important matters and dwell on the trivial, surely speaking in such a manner isn’t too good?”

　　”Oh——?” Chu Mingyun turned to face his gaze, “What ‘avoiding important matters and dwelling on trivial’, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

　　”A great and proud country such as Daxia, yet now our princess was killed within your borders, don’t tell me it can be resolved simply with an investigation?”

　　”Otherwise, what?” Chu Mingyun said, “Cracking the case and catching the evildoer is perfectly justified², if even this is considered avoiding an important matter in favor of the trivial, then what would satisfy Your Honor the emissary’s intent?”

　　”Not being able to guarantee the safety of envoys within your country, and shirking off responsibility after something has happened, is this the way Daxia handles matters?” The emissary said, “The location of the princess’ lodgings is not something ordinary people would be able to find out. Her meeting misfortune at the hands of the wicked, is it really unrelated to your court?”

　　”You can’t say things like that ah,” Chu Mingyun said, “The whereabouts of her royal Highness the princess was not only made clear to us but also to the royal family of Loulan, since it was an ambush that occurred at the border, it’s hard to say who was the one that leaked the information.”

　　Su Shiyu who was at his side froze as he heard those words.

　　The emissary questioned coldly: “Your Honor the Grand Marshall has already spoken as such, and you still dare say you’re not shirking responsibility?!”

　　Chu Mingyun said with no inflection: “I was merely stating the possible scenarios, what are you so agitated for?”

　　”You——”

　　”Requesting Your Honor the emissary to calm down a bit,” Su Shiyu suddenly spoke up, “This is a shared pain between Daxia and Loulan, disputing is ultimately useless, and would merely add to ill-feelings. As of now, only by sincere cooperation between our two countries will the suspect be found as early as possible.”

　　The other party’s attitude was courteous and warm, such that even though the emissary still had fire in his heart (still irritated) he was ill-disposed to flare up again.

　　Chu Mingyun tilted his head to look at Su Shiyu, “Has Master Su thought of something?”

　　He indeed had thought of something. At that moment when those words of Chu Mingyun’s had sounded out, numerous and whirling disorderly thoughts abruptly stagnated and went still, and something had struggled free to surface distinctly.

　　The messenger dispatched to visit should not have been too early, Mulahe with her position as princess should not have been visiting in person.

　　It’s only……

　　——”I’ve found the person I like.”

　　—— “King father has already agreed to let us marry, (the visit) this time is also because he asked me to let you know.”

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　　”Your Honor the emissary, may I ask if Her Highness the princess was about to get married to a Han merchant?” Su Shiyu asked.

　　”Your Honor the Grand Secretary is referring to Young Master Ji Heng?”

　　”Do you happen to know where he was after the incident occurred?”

　　”(I) didn’pay attention to this matter in particular, he……” The emissary’s words abruptly stopped, and his pallor changed.

　　Seeing the emissary react this way, several people present soon understood. Li Yanzhen finally opened his mouth: “Since there is a lead, then quickly dispatch orders to arrest this person.”

　　The emissary responded, several changes flitting through his expression before ultimately looking toward Su Shiyu: “But how did Your Honor the Grand Secretary come to suspect him? There was an ambush planned out by someone within the territory of Daxia, and Ji Heng is a Han merchant, I wonder if there is a link between these things?”

　　Chu Mingyun narrowed his eyes slightly, laughing coldly to himself. (They) repeatedly emphasized since the start that Daxia was responsible, and now this emissary from Loulan had finally made his true intent apparent.

　　It was impossible for the dead to return to life, instead of clinging to attachment why wouldn’t they plot to benefit from this; striking while the body was still warm to extort the last bit of value. Such was the nature of devising strategy and plotting against others, you could not blame (them) too much.

　　Su Shiyu said blandly: “Does your honor the emissary believe there is a link between these things?”

　　The emissary had yet to speak up, when Li Yanzhen raised a hand to halt their conversation, huffing a sigh, “We understand the Emissary’s intent, We will definitely order someone to investigate this clearly, yet this matter happened within our borders, Daxia indeed cannot escape blame for this.

　　The emissary turned his body, bowed his head in greeting to Li Yanzhen, “Since His Majesty the emperor has said so, this subject can be assured. However, although Loulan is a small country and its forces cannot rival Daxia’s, we still hope that His Majesty the emperor can be a bit more fair.”

　　Li Yanzhen glanced at Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu below him, and said as if considering: “That year the ruler of Loulan used three cities as dowry, then let’s use three cities as compensation, and may the ruler take it as having married the princess to Daxia.”

　　There was no way three cities of the great Desert could be compared and considered on equal ground with three cities of the Central Plains, this opening bid in compensation far exceeded expectations. The emissary was shocked into disbelief, and the joy had yet time to surface on his features before he heard Chu Mingyun say coldly:

　　”Your Majesty, please speak prudently.”

　　Su Shiyu added: “Your Majesty, the matter of the actual compensation still needs to be discussed at court before it can be set.”

　　Li Yanzhen hence stopped talking and kept quiet.

　　The emissary’s expression slightly distorted, what sort of state Daxia’s court was in, he understood; the only ones who had the power to make decisions were only these two Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu. Since as witnessed they had already spoken their opinion, the so-called court discussion was merely an excuse to buy time.

　　This person Chu Mingyun had too strong a sense of , so the emissary’s notice landed on Su Shiyu, “Grand Secretary, Your Honor, our princess sees you as an elder brother, now that she has been murdered within your borders and her corpse has yet grown cold, you still want to dispute over the matter of compensation?”

　　Su Shiyu’s eyes darkened, not saying anything for a while.

　　Chu Mingyun laughed a “Che” sound, “Doesn’t Your Honor the Emissary seem to be even more concerned about the compensation?”

　　Under the current circumstances it seemed like they were heading towards another quarrel, so Su Shiyu lightly sighed, and said: “What His Honor the Emissary has said is not false, Her Highness the princess treats me with sincerity, and for that I am ceaselessly grateful.” He paused, “And that is exactly why, I hope to have a chat with Your Honor the Emissary one-on-one.”

　　The emissary did not understand the intent for this, Su Shiyu made a greeting and asked Li Yanzhen, and after obtaining permission he raised his hand and made a posture of beckoning, “May I trouble Your Honor the Emissary to come talk with me in the side palace.”

　　The emissary was somewhat doubtful, but after hesitating still followed him out.

---

　　

　　Without Li Yanzhen observing on the side, Su Shiyu’s re-negotiation with the emissary was without constraint, but even considering he was silver-tongued and had several tricks up his sleeve, regarding Mulahe’s demise Daxia was still unable to escape from blame.

　　This round of negotiation was extremely difficult; it was only until the sun had set over a thousand households did they reach a grudging agreement, ceding some territory as compensation. The emissary’s expression was extremely displeased when he left, but after reporting back to Li Yanzhen he received approval, and now it only awaited a round of detailed discussion in court.

　　Su Shiyu stepped across the setting sun spilled across the floor (T/N: probably a reflection in rain puddles), he lowered his eyes and looked at the flowing glow of the sunset on the limestone, and it seemed like fresh blood meandering into the distance.

　　Who knows if that jade-eyed young girl also saw such a scene when she shut her eyes. Who knows what she felt when she was killed by her special person, who knows whether that wedding Su Shiyu agreed that he would definitely attend, that wedding destined for ruin.

　　That sort of silly maiden, perhaps it was her who personally told the other party of the route.

　　In fact Su Shiyu understood it clearly, with Mulahe’s position in the ruler of Loulan’s heart, unfortunately three cities would be useless to even eliminate a bit of his sorrow, but even as that may be, he could not agree to the Loulan emissary’s demands.

　　His home country came first, his personal feelings were of little importance, and were not worth mention.

　　But if Mulahe was able to sense it from beneath the Nine Springs (the underworld), and knew he was acting like this, would she also regret calling him Gege, just like……Su Xing who cursed at him bitterly in the water prison that day.

　　Thinking of this, Su Shiyu laughed lightly, and a bit of fatigue showed between his brows, disappearing in the next instant.

---

　　

　　It was not even a day later when the news arrived, Ji Heng fell into the net (was caught). He’d admitted to all of his crimes, and was currently being escorted to Chang’an from Zhenjiang.

　　After hearing this Su Shiyu only lowered his head and ordered everyone to be dismissed, not expressing much. He continued leafing through the documents one at a time, and he had picked up one leaflet when suddenly there was something that also landed onto the desk along with it.

　　A yellowed letter sealed in a red envelope, and a corner of it had been ripped open at the seal.

　　Su Shiyu silently stared at it for a while, stunned, then slowly reached out his hand. He was uncharacteristically hesitant, opening the letter bit by bit.

　　Although the letter was thick, it was exactly because Mulahe’s words were large and crooked, so the contents could not be considered long. Su Shiyu recognised word by word and read over it, and could not help smiling a little.

　　The letter did not have even a bit of the Han literati’s usual norm, it entirely seemed to be written according to Mulahe’s whims. She started off writing about what she felt was delicious and where was fun within these days she spent within the city of Chang’an, then abruptly cut in about the new and odd flowers that had bloomed a few days ago in Loulan.

　　Su Shiyu flipped over a page, and the smile at the corner of his mouth faded.

---

　　

　　”Anyi’ruo tells lies without even blushing⁴! After that I remembered the pronunciation and asked a lot of Han people, they all said that is exactly the names of you two. That day that group of people were talking bad things about you guys and you still said they weren’t!”

　　”I’d only then realised not all Han people are that good, (I) don’t know why these days I’m constantly hearing people talking bad about you, but I remembered you seemed to not be happy letting me know about it, so I held it in and didn’t go fight with them.”

　　”Have you ever heard that our Loulan women can read hearts, the Han people are all silly so they can’t see it, but I just know you’re especially especially good.”

　　”Anyi’ruo has the world’s best gentleness.”

---

　　

　　Anyi’ruo has the world’s best gentleness.

　　A phrase so senseless in meaning, perhaps only Mulahe could write it out.

　　The hand Su Shiyu gripped the letter in suddenly tightened, trembling lightly. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath extremely slowly, and then relaxed again. Su Shiyu lowered his eyes to stare at that line of words, and after a long long while, he finally let out an extremely soft embittered laugh.

　　Su Shiyu flipped to the last page, but the moment the traces of ink entered his sight⁵, he was completely stunned.

---

　　

　　”The question that Anyi’ruo didn’t reply to that day, I seem to know the answer to it already.”

　　”That’s why……”

---

T/N: Hmm, I’m sorry that it’s been(?) nearly a month(?) since the last update hahah oops =/ I’ll try to make up for the difference.

1. 宣室殿 – I’ve seen several interpretations of this name. This could either refer to a building in the ancient imperial city that serves as a discussion hall where the Emperor receives distinguished subjects for private audience (sensitive matters related to the throne or imperial family). I’ve also seen it being referred to as the front hall of the palace where the emperor stays. It is also mentioned in the Shiji under the 《贾生传》and the Tales of the Sanfu, 《三辅故事》

2.天经地义 – to follow the principles of heaven and earth; be so unquestionably moral that it is natural.

3. 千家落照时 – From the Tang Dynasty poem《题苏公林亭》

4. 说谎都不脸红 – literally ‘face does not redden even when lying’.

5. 跃入眼帘 – ‘jumping into one’s eyes’