Love in Red Dust - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

They headed toward the Prince Xian residence. The Prince sat in a cool sedan chair, and since Dingyi lacked the status to steady the poles, she followed at a short distance. The official lantern with its black background and gold lettering cleared the way ahead; the dim, flickering light illuminated one side of Prince Chun’s face. She cast a secret glance at him. He was a personage both near and far, someone she had exhausted all her strength trying to cling to, yet still felt remained out of reach. The matter regarding Xiazhi had been settled, but she began to ponder the words she had heard earlier. Had Guan Zhaojing not said that Prince Chun was heading to Ningguta? She had committed her life to her master not on a whim, but with a degree of calculation. Who could have known that the situation would not develop as she had wished? It was evident that being too kind-hearted was, at times, quite troublesome.

She looked up at the sky, where a crescent moon hung, looking faint and blurry. She wanted to inquire further, but she could not get a word in with the Prince, and the eunuch Guan would not even look at her properly. It seemed that everything would have to be discussed another time.

Fortunately, the Seventh Prince was not one to retire early. By the time they arrived at Prince Xian’s residence, the performance of "The Phoenix Returns to the Nest" at the opera stage had just concluded. The head steward ushered the Twelfth Prince into the parlor, and shortly after, the Seventh Prince arrived. He was dressed in a plain, unadorned robe of Buddha-blue Hangzhou silk. The fabric was of excellent quality, and as he waved his fan, the light rippling across his attire rose and fell with his movements.

"Why have you come at this hour?" Hongtao asked. He glanced to the side and raised his eyebrows. "Ha, it’s you again, kid!"

Dingyi straightened her expression, stepped forward, and performed a respectful bow. "Mu Xiaoshu pays his respects to Your Highness."

The Prince understood without having to ask. Hongce was soft-hearted and had been persuaded to come and plead for mercy. Thinking of that dog, he found it hard to put his frustration into words. It had been a perfectly fine purebred, ruined in mere moments. Badger dogs had their own tiers of quality, and his was of the highest grade, kept purely for its beauty.

He was filled with grief and indignation. Just as Hongce was about to speak, he pressed his hand down. "Don't say it. The more you speak, the more hateful I feel. I have the urge to slaughter that little brat. You don't play with dogs, so you don't know the intricacies of selecting a badger dog. There is a saying: 'Black dogs are precise, blue dogs are fierce, tanuki-dogs are clever, and yellow dogs are steady.' My dog, the 'Slide,' is a tanuki-dog, white in color—a white tanuki is a one-in-a-decade occurrence, do you understand? Have you ever seen a white dog catch a badger in the pitch black of night? Those country bumpkins, with eyes blind as stumps, have ruined it for me." Stifled by his own chest-tightening rage, he paused and gestured outward. "Go! Bring the dogs in and let your Twelfth Brother have a look."

The eunuchs in charge of the dogs received the order, and with the jingling of chains, two dogs were led in. The tip of the ear on the dog in front had been clipped, leaving a stump that stood stiffly upright. Its tail, which had naturally curled into joints, had been shaken and chopped down several inches, resembling a spear tipped on a rack. It truly could not compare to the one behind it.

Hongtao was obsessed with his dogs, treating them better than women. Now, filled with bitter complaints, he felt that beating someone up wasn't enough to appease his anger. He pointed at the dogs. "See that? They were a pair of twins, both with squirrel tails and jade-like eyes—the best of the best. One was a beauty, and the other was ruined like this by those clods! I spent a great deal of effort to trade for this dog from the Prince of Zhi. Taking care of it was more exhausting than raising a child. The dog was playful, and that day Hongshao insisted on taking it out. Taking it out was one thing, but everyone in the city knows this dog is mine! It had been roaming freely for a long time, and no one dared touch it. Who would have thought I’d run into that blind, murdering idiot who would trample a perfectly good animal like this? You are here to plead for him; it's not that I won't give you face, but my anger is simply hard to quell." He glared at Dingyi. "What are you doing finding the Twelfth Prince? Did you get addicted to being saved by him last time? Do you think the Twelfth Prince is easy to talk to, so you pick the softest persimmon to squeeze?"

Seeing the dog, Dingyi felt nothing but shame. She stammered, "Please, do not burn with anger; getting upset in the summer months damages the liver... We truly did not know this dog belonged to you. Had we known, as you said, we wouldn't have dared to even glance at it, let alone touch it. Now that this has happened, it’s too late to say anything. My senior martial brother was young and disrespectful, but he is surely regretting it now. Please, show some mercy, take pity on us, and give him a chance to make amends... How about this: tell us how much you bought this dog for, and we will take on external debt to compensate you. How does that sound?"

"Can you even afford it? You wouldn't be worth the price of this dog even if you sold yourself!" Hongtao kicked her far away. "Last time you didn't deliver the medicine, saying you didn't know it was my intention. The next day you mess with my dog and say you didn't know it was mine?" He poked her on the forehead. "Is this thing only grown for its looks? You should have asked around—is this Prince so easily fooled?"

Dingyi covered her head and dodged, but she couldn't escape the strikes, which stung her skull with sharp pain. What to do? Seeing an opportunity, she ducked behind the Twelfth Prince.

Hongce was, after all, there to smooth things over. He had to speak up to break the tension. "Seventh Brother, if you really cannot bear the loss, I will find a way to scout another one for you. The Governor of Shandong, Fei Xin, is a bondservant under my banner. I will write him a letter later. Whether you want a 'Flag' or a 'Slide,' just order him to pick the best in all of Shandong and have it sent to the capital by fast horse. It isn't worth making such a fuss over a dog. Seventh Brother, do this for me!"

Pleading for mercy has its own hierarchy. A few vague words on the lips are just a gesture, but taking full responsibility means bringing the matter under one's own jurisdiction; any further punishment would depend on the petitioner's face. Hongtao clicked his tongue. "The 'Slide' was heart-breaking to raise. Let's try something different this time. I hear the Shaanxi thin-dogs are quite good."

Hongce nodded. "I will find a way. If I can't find a phoenix, finding a dog shouldn't be difficult."

Hongtao slanted his eyes and laughed. "You are scouting the world for dogs for me—aren't you afraid your superiors will hear and blame you for letting your ambitions be dulled by trivial pastimes? You are truly putting in too much effort for someone as insignificant as this wild muddy-footed peasant! I am curious as to what kind of connection you two have that he could find his way to your door for a matter like this."

Before Hongce could speak, Dingyi interjected, "I plan to cast my lot with the Twelfth Prince in the future. I will serve as a guard for the Twelfth Prince and act as his vanguard."

Hongtao was extremely disdainful. "With your physique? Serving as a guard for the Twelfth Prince, only to have him constantly cleaning up after you? I'm telling you, don't think this dog business is just going to blow over. I'm not finished with you lot! I won't take your senior brother's life, but someone has to give me an answer. You are good at hustling—begging grandparents and ancestors for help. Since that’s the case, pay me with your leg." He raised his voice and called to the guards outside: "Come here! Pin him down and chop off his leg at the root!"

The guards responded. Two burly men entered, dragging and hauling her to pin her leg across the threshold. One unsheathed his blade with a shing sound, ready to strike. Dingyi screamed in terror, "Don't, don't..." She turned her head to look at Hongce, crying piteously, "Twelfth Prince, please save me..."

Although Hongce was usually mild-mannered, he was, after all, a martial artist. Back when he was a Beile, he would play Buku (wrestling) and could take down seven or eight men without breaking a sweat. He hadn't expected Hongtao to be so unforgiving, as chopping off a leg would mean it could never be reattached, ruining the person's life forever. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and kicked the blade from the guard's hand. The knife spun several times before embedding itself into the leg of a huanghuali wood table, the hilt still humming with vibration. He was truly a bit angry now, and with a cold face, he said, "Seventh Brother, you really don't leave this younger brother any face. If you must chop his leg, don't do it in front of me; I don't feel comfortable seeing blood." After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Seeing he was displeased, Hongtao realized he had gone too far and left the other party in an awkward position; his momentum instantly deflated by half. Brothers also had their own factions; the Third and Fifth were in one group, the Sixth, Thirteenth, and the Emperor were another. Since he did not serve in the Grand Council, he relied on the Twelfth for a lot of information, so he could not afford to fall out with him. Leaving a margin of grace now meant they could still see each other later!

He stepped up to block him, laughing, "I was just teasing him! How could I actually chop off his leg? I could ignore others' pleas, but since you stepped in, how could I not give you face?" He turned his head and gestured to the head steward. "Release that Xia surnamed boy." He pointed at the person on the ground. "And this 'hero,' don't make things difficult for him either."

Just like that, she became a hero. Dingyi climbed up, looking muddled, and bowed low. "Thank you, Prince, for your magnanimity. You are a good person, and good people are rewarded."

Hongtao was reluctant in his heart, but he couldn't act out further, though his expression remained very ugly. "Next time, don't fall into my hands. If it happens again, I'll drag you to the drill ground and tie you to the flagpole!"

As for warnings like "next time," he remembered having given them last time, but they had no effect at all. Repeating them now, he felt he was all thunder and no rain—he had lost all his face.

With that, the matter was successfully resolved. The hour was late, and it was time for everyone to return home. Hongtao was unhappy and let out a series of yawns, signaling his guests to leave. Hongce, being sensible, laughed. "Seventh Brother is magnanimous, and this will be a fine story when it gets out. Grant me half a month; within half a month, I will surely deliver the dog to your residence. It is late tonight, so Seventh Brother should rest. Tomorrow, I invite you to visit the garden I have recently acquired; I have set up a beast arena there and collected a few novelties."

For the princes in the capital, buying land and property was a hobby—money is, after all, the source of a man's courage. Hongtao rubbed his scalp with the bones of his fan. "That is easily done. What I am worried about is that after the ninth month, the road to Shengjing will become increasingly difficult to travel. What will we do then?"

Hongce had spent over ten years in Khalkha. The climate in that place was so harsh that the princes pampered in the capital could not even imagine it. No matter how cold Beijing's winters were, the common people could still survive wearing old cotton coats. In Khalkha, it snowed every day throughout the entire winter; without fur robes, one would freeze to death. Having witnessed what true cold was, the reputation of Ningguta could no longer scare him. He dismissed it nonchalantly. "The imperial court has its own plans. It seems impossible to shift the dates, but no matter, we brothers will look after each other on the road. As men, why fear the wind and snow?"

Hearing him speak so lightly, Hongtao tilted his head and pondered for a long while, but could not quite grasp it. He could only order the steward carelessly, "Na Jin, send the Twelfth Prince off." He walked toward the back courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Dingyi followed Prince Chun out of the residence. Knowing the Seventh Prince would not make things difficult for Xiazhi, her heart finally settled, but hearing them speak of heading north, her heart could not help but flutter. She stole glances at the Twelfth Prince repeatedly, getting closer and closer, until finally, she gathered her courage and tugged at his sleeve. He noticed and looked down at her; because her ears were not functioning well, her gaze appeared extremely earnest. Dingyi met his gaze, but the words she had prepared could not escape her lips. After rolling around on her tongue, they were swallowed back down, and she murmured, "Thank you so much today. You are like a second parent to my senior brother and me."

Hongce’s favor was done. In the sweltering heat, he should have been resting under a canopy, but after all this trouble, he was exhausted and did not want to speak much. He only said, "Just don't let there be a next time." After all, helping with such nonsensical favors was best minimized. Such petty, underhanded dealings could not be seen in the light of day, and as a prince, he had to maintain his dignity and reputation.

Dingyi responded sheepishly, hesitating before probing, "I heard that Your Highness is heading to Ningguta, which is a place of bitter cold for exiled criminals. Please take care on the road... Actually, I was not lying about wanting to follow Your Highness; I am entirely sincere. You have saved me and then my senior brother; this gratitude can only be repaid by my serving you. Why not let me stay? I can lead your horse, or serve as your stirrup—anything will do."

Hongce looked her over. "Those who serve in the Prince's residence are all in the Banners. You are Han, right? It is troublesome for Han people to enter the Banners, and besides, I am not in need of servants. I accept your intent."

Guan Zhaojing seized the opportunity to mock her. "The Seventh Prince said it correctly—your frame is barely enough to serve as firewood. Letting you serve as a stirrup? You’d probably collapse under the weight of one foot. That’s enough, go home and perform your filial duties to your master. If I were your master and saw this endless stream of drama, I would have died of anger already. The Prince does one good deed a day and doesn't look for your repayment; you should thank the heavens if it doesn't happen a third time."

A few words left Dingyi red-faced and embarrassed. The Twelfth Prince saw her awkwardness and pursed his lips in a smile—a smile that was kind and possessed deep humanity. She stepped forward to respectfully see him off, and when they arrived outside the Prince Xian residence, the Prince boarded his sedan chair. As Guan Zhaojing dropped the curtain, she could not help but feel a sense of melancholy; her encounter today had come to an end, and she would have to make other plans to reach the Changbai Mountains.

A night watchman in a blue cloth robe walked over from the stone steps. As he struck his small gong, the echo rippled across the vast, empty street. Hongce looked out through the dense bamboo slats; the kid stood there, hands hanging down, looking as though she had lost something. As the sedan poles were lifted onto the shoulders, she hurriedly bowed; her thin figure looked just like that little crucian carp he had just stocked in his blue-and-white porcelain fish bowl.