Love in Red Dust - Chapter 26
Chapter 26
They had been away from the capital for several days, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the moon grew fuller each night. Because the inn was overcrowded and stiflingly hot, they took advantage of the beautiful moonlight and simply moved their tables and stools out into the courtyard. With lanterns hung from the eaves on all four sides, it became an open-air banquet. Drinking wine and admiring the moon—it was a small consolation for the days they had spent eating in the wind and sleeping in the open.
Those accompanying the entourage were all of military background, hardened veterans who had drifted through the ranks. They were boorish and unrefined; slamming tables and dropping bowls, they made eating a meal feel like preparing for war. Dingyi sat in a corner, focusing solely on stuffing her mouth. She wanted to get her fill and then find a quiet place to be alone and clear her head. Today had been far too frustrating; being teased by those guards was bad enough, but having to borrow someone’s room to bathe—only to nearly have her secret exposed at the last moment—had been a disaster. As a girl grew older, the places that should be prominent would naturally develop, and to disguise herself as a man, she had to bind herself so tightly every day that she could barely breathe. This was a secret that could never be revealed, even if it cost her her life. Yet, because her heart hadn't been able to settle down, she had let her guard slip. She had been holding one end of the binding ribbon, and the other end had unraveled at some point. By the time she realized it, it had already dragged quite a distance along the floor...
How humiliating. She wanted to bury her head in the sand! Satong shouldn't have seen it; he was leading the way in front and wasn't paying attention to what was behind him. As for the Twelfth Prince in the main room... She looked mournfully at the sky. The moon was bright enough, but why did she feel like a storm was coming?
She looked back; the main hall was brilliantly lit. The Prince and the senior officials didn't eat with them; those of high rank were precious individuals who had their own circles, and someone like her couldn't wedge her way in. If she couldn't get in, she might as well stay put and mind her own business! She buried her head in her bowl, shoveling down the buckwheat cat-ear noodles. This type of pasta was well-made at the post station; topped with vinegar and chili, it was appetizing and filling.
Ultimately, she was a person of the Seventh Prince’s mansion, so she was still eating with the guard unit. After the scene earlier, it was clear that no one looked upon her favorably. She had come to terms with it—if they didn't like her, so be it. She didn't feel like she owed them anything. They deserved to be punished; following their twisted logic, if a murderer was caught, would they also blame the victim for dying in an "unintelligent" way? She felt stubborn, her anger building up, and she held her neck even straighter. Why should she act like she had done something wrong? The more she let others look down on her, the more they would double their efforts to bully her.
The atmosphere at the table was awkward. Shouheng was the team leader; since such an incident occurred, it showed he couldn't control his subordinates, which made him lose face. He hadn't interacted much with this newcomer and couldn't quite gauge his temperament. He was only nominally assigned to the guard unit—his actual duty was taking care of birds—and fools like "Tall Idiot" didn't distinguish between people; they just saw someone delicate-looking and decided to mess with them.
Shouheng took a sip of wine and said, "We were busy rushing on the road the past few days, so I didn't pay much attention when you joined the guard unit. I heard your master is Wu Changgeng?"
Dingyi realized only then that Shouheng was speaking to her. She nodded. "I have been under my master’s tutelage for six years, always helping him carry his sword. Is the team leader acquainted with my master?"
"Just a nodding acquaintance; we aren't particularly close. However, your master is a man of integrity, and I have always respected him. If I had known you were his student, I would have looked after you regardless of what happened," he said, setting his bowl down. "Just now, Liao Datou and the others went to confess to his Highness, and I was there. The Prince was lying down having his legs massaged, but when he heard what happened, he flipped over and kicked the man down with one blow. This kind of thing is actually a trifle, but it doesn't look good if it reaches the ears of the higher-ups. Think about it: both are Princes, and while others manage their subordinates well, our own house is in chaos—it makes the Prince lose face. He later issued an order to dock three months of their salary and make them spend tonight in the stables. Xiaoshu, you haven't been here long and aren't familiar with them. Our guards are all rough men. Rough men love to horse around, and they don't know when to stop. Don't take it to heart. In the future, if you encounter anything, don't stir it up; just tell me, and I’ll deal with those little bastards for you. As servants, a little suffering is nothing; what matters is protecting the Prince’s reputation. I’ve heard you are on good terms with the Twelfth Prince, but now you are serving in the Wise Prince’s mansion. Once you enter a temple, you must bow to its Buddha; the Seventh Prince is our true master, understand?"
The words were still laced with blame, and she was naturally very unconvinced. But she was under another man’s roof, and they would see each other every day—besides, Shouheng was the commander; she couldn't afford to offend him too. She swallowed her indignation, bowed slightly, and said, "I understand. Everything you said is reasonable, but there is one thing I must explain to you, otherwise, I am too wronged. The Twelfth Prince and I don't have a 'friendship'; he is a Prince, and I am a tiny ant. He could crush me with a flick of his finger; you could give me ten times the courage, and I still wouldn't dare to climb the social ladder. The matter today reached this point—while regrettable, it cannot be blamed on me. It was they who were openly fooling around outside, and it just happened that the Twelfth Prince passed by; he only spoke up because he saw it was unseemly. It really has nothing to do with me. I am a person, too; who doesn't have their own boundaries? If you tell me to stand there and let them strip me, I truly cannot do that. However, I have taken every word you said to heart; you are doing this for my sake. I will be more cautious in the future. Please also convey a message to Liao and the others for me: I apologize to them. The events of today were entirely my fault—I was not 'open-minded' enough to let them play, and I have wronged them."
There was a hint of petulance in her tone at the end, and Shouheng could hear it, as could everyone else at the table. They exchanged glances and, as outsiders, tried to mediate from both sides. "No one said it was your fault. It was their own recklessness; in broad daylight, with his Highness in the courtyard, they just acted on impulse—it was indeed not a good sight. The Team Leader just meant it shouldn't be blown out of proportion; don't misunderstand him."
"I know," she sighed. "I will also state my position: I come from a humble background, have no relatives or friends, and sought refuge with my master alone. Later, when I entered the Prince’s mansion, it was only because the Prince thought highly of me. As for me, I am not clever, and I don't enjoy rowdiness. It’s normal for everyone to joke around, but please don't use your hands. I am shallow-minded and a country kid with little experience; I hope everyone will be a bit more considerate. I offer my respects to Team Leader Shou and everyone here first."
She stood up and bowed deeply, which left everyone feeling sheepish. Dingyi knew that doing this was perhaps too stubborn, but it had to be done once. Since it had already started, she took the opportunity to make things clear, which would save her a lot of trouble later. She also knew that Money-String and the others wouldn't let her off that easily; they wouldn't dare provoke her openly, but they would trip her up or give her trouble behind her back—it would be a long time of suffering. She had no other hope now; the best-case scenario would be to step foot into the Changbai Mountains. With her brothers serving as slaves, even if she had to build a shack in a mountain ravine to mend their clothes and cook their meals, at least they would be family, and she wouldn't have to be constantly on guard.
Once the meal was mostly finished, she didn't drink, so she performed one final salute and left the table.
The great moon shone upon the world, casting a silvery glow that stretched across the earth. She walked out of the inn alone, looking left and right. The path behind her was vast and wild, and the path ahead was the same. She stood on the dirt road, pondering for a moment, and remembered seeing a map spread out on the Seventh Prince’s desk when she delivered the birds. It was densely packed with small characters, showing canals and peaks; at the time, she had searched for the Changbai Mountains for a long time before finding them.
The Great Ying’s territory was truly vast. After running for ten days from the capital, they had only covered an inch on the map. As for the distance to the Changbai Mountains, it was still five or six times as far. It was currently the eighth month, and she estimated they wouldn't reach the destination until mid-tenth month. It was said that the climate in the Changbai Mountains was harsh; by the tenth month, the mountains would already be sealed by heavy snow. The labor of preparing ginseng was particularly grueling—washing, turning, and sun-drying in the ice and snow, slicing and grinding into powder day and night. The ginseng produced there was not only supplied to the Forbidden City, but they were also responsible for managing everything circulating in the market. Those who were exiled were basically no longer considered human; during the ginseng season, they were busy with their primary duties, and when it wasn't the season, they had to clear land and farm, working from the first crow of the rooster until the lamps were lit, without a moment to catch their breath.
People could endure any kind of hardship; it was only the enjoyment of life that had no end. Fortunately, Ruliang and the others were sturdy. Since they were young, they had been forced to practice martial arts. When they were teenagers, they would spar in the courtyard shirtless, and when they exerted force, the muscles on their abdomen would ripple like a washboard. In the garden, there were wooden poles specifically for them to practice routines, as well as thick iron chains for them to swing. They didn't have much interest in martial arts, but with their instructor watching, they had no choice; they practiced Tai Chi and Bagua every single day. When they saw their father coming to inspect them, they would put on a show, grunting and shouting as they practiced. They were far from being able to win a top rank in the martial examinations, but it was very useful for strengthening their health. The three brothers had never even caught a cold or a cough since they were children; with such a good foundation, they would be able to survive even if they were sent to the Changbai Mountains.
She paced slowly along the road. After nightfall, the wind carried a chill. Thinking of the past, recalling the days with her parents and brothers, she felt it had been quite good. As for her later encounters, there had been no great setbacks—or if there were, she had already forgotten them. For someone who had crawled out of suffering, if she were to dwell on the past, she would have died of grief right there on the spot.
There was just a tiny bit of unhappiness left, still due to the earlier incident. She stretched her arms out and shouted at the sky, "It’s nothing! Everything will be fine." She often did this; shouting when she was unhappy was more effective than taking medicine.
Walking further, she faintly saw a lake ahead. Illuminated by the moon, the water shimmered; it was probably the place where Liao Datou and his group planned to come to catch clams!
In such a vast wilderness, discovering a delicate spot felt particularly delightful. She didn't dare get too close to the lake; she found a flat place and sat down. She had loved playing in the water when she was a child and had been indoctrinated with many folktales about water spirits and water maidens. Later, as she grew older, her courage shrank because she began to imagine things; she feared the strong yin energy at night and didn't want to get too close to the water and become a substitute for a drowned ghost.
She picked up a pebble, intending to skip it across the water. She swung her hand, but it slipped, and the stone smashed straight behind her. Thinking there was no one around, she hadn't paid it any mind, but to her shock, there was a sharp hiss of intake of breath from behind. Her hair stood on end, and she scrambled up, hands on her hips, saying, "Who’s there playing ghosts in the dark? See if I don't kick you to death!"
It was a vague human silhouette. At first, she couldn't see clearly from a distance, but as it approached, the figure and attire were actually those of the Twelfth Prince.
She patted her chest, deeply flustered. "You scared me to death! I wondered who it was!" Remembering the stone she had thrown at him, she became anxious, looking him up and down and asking, "Why did you come out? Did I hit you? Does it hurt?"
The Twelfth Prince didn't answer her; he asked bluntly, "What were you planning to do, running out here all by yourself?"
"I wasn't planning on anything. I just felt stuffy and came out for a stroll." She was actually quite happy to see him; she had forgotten he was a high-ranking Prince. Having company in the pitch-black night was truly nice. She asked with a smile, "Are you hot? Let me fan you. There are many mosquitoes in the wild; I don't want you to get bitten."
Because of the beautiful moonlight, they could see each other’s lip movements while standing face to face. They had to be close; from any further away, she would have to guess what he was saying. He picked a rock and sat down, gesturing for her to do the same. "You sit too."
Dingyi shook her head. "I will just answer standing. Did you come out looking for me?"
Hongce pondered this. He hadn't seen him after leaving the room, and during dinner, he kept wondering why he had hidden a silk ribbon—would he be so overwhelmed by grievances that he would lose his will and hang himself?... Thinking of it this way, he was truly worried, to the point that he hadn't even eaten his meal well. He had been searching for him the whole way, his heart hanging in suspense; only now, seeing him, did he feel settled.
As for Dingyi, after the joy passed, she remembered her own shortcoming and wasn't sure if the Twelfth Prince had seen it. She felt guilty and didn't dare say too much, just standing there quietly. After a while, she remembered to make small talk and squinted her eyes. "The moonlight is beautiful today, isn't it?"
He was gracious enough to agree. He had been debating within himself for a long time; if he were to advise him directly, he feared hurting his pride, but if he didn't mention it, he feared he might really do something foolish. Ultimately, he decided to beat around the bush and said cautiously, "I mentioned it to the Seventh Prince at the dinner table, asking him to properly discipline his subordinates. I anticipate that such things will not happen again. People always encounter various setbacks in life; not only you, but even imperial relatives, and even the Emperor on the throne, cannot have everything go their way. Being brave in the face of adversity is admirable, but if one wants to end their life upon encountering a little trouble, that person is beyond saving. You are a clever person, and clever people know how to be flexible. If there is an obstacle blocking the path ahead, taking a detour is fine; there is no need to run headlong into it... Can you understand what I mean?"
Dingyi listened for a long time. "Not really... no, that’s not it. I understand the logic, but what you are saying has nothing to do with me."
Hongce grew a bit anxious. He guessed that he probably really had such intentions and was therefore pretending to be dumb. Since he was hiding it and refusing to admit it, he had no choice but to be blunt. He pointed at his body. "You are not a woman; why do you carry silk ribbon with you?"
She was choked for words. So he really had seen it! What to do? She was so flustered she didn't know which way to turn, and she brushed it off vaguely. "What silk ribbon... there isn't one. You saw wrong. Why would I carry a silk ribbon? That’s so unlucky."
She was stammering and prevaricating. Hongce couldn't see her lip movements clearly and felt even more restless. He blew on his fire-starter and held it up in front of him. In the flickering glow, he saw his pale complexion, and the dancing blue flame reflected against his deep red lips, creating a strange, bewitching allure in the dim light.