Love in Red Dust - Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Leaving Shengjing and continuing north, the land became vast and sparsely populated. The post stations grew further and further apart, typically requiring three to five days of traveling day and night to reach the next one. The weather had turned bitterly cold, drastically different from the climate in Beijing. If one rode on horseback without wearing leg guards, the chill would seep through every stitch in the fabric, stinging the skin like needle pricks. When they couldn't find a post station, the troop had to rest, as they couldn't endure the constant travel. They would set up tents in the wilderness to spend the night. The princes' tents were topped with oxhide and covered with thick felt, making them impervious to wind and rain. The guards and protective troops had ordinary oilcloth tents; these only provided basic shelter and could not block the severe cold. Thus, they built fires everywhere. The flames stretched out and wound through the dark, pitch-black night, illuminating the very foot of the mountain.

Once shelter was settled, they had to consider food. The guards were all young, robust lads who were tired of chewing on nothing but steamed buns every day. Their mouths were practically growing bird feathers from the lack of flavor, so as soon as they set up camp, they went out to hunt. A dozen or so men would spread out in a team, much like the Emperor’s autumn hunts; some were responsible for encircling, others for the chase, and within an hour, they could return with a full haul. As for Dingyi, since she hadn't practiced riding and archery and didn't join their groups, she felt embarrassed to eat food she hadn't earned. After finishing her service to her two "ancestors," she would wander off alone. Looking here and there, she found that her slingshot skills were quite good. Aiming at birds roosting in the trees at night, she would snap a shot, and a large one would tumble down.

She carried her prize back, swaying as she walked. When the others saw it, they laughed, "It seems Xiaoshu has formed an unbreakable bond with the birds."

The Seventh Prince took it from her hand. "A big-eyed thief of a bird. Is this thing even edible?"

She hadn't eaten one before, but this owl was quite substantial—tossed aside, it looked just like a chicken. She hesitated and scratched her head. "I suppose so. Back in my village, some people even eat crows, and this has much more meat than those." She took it back. "Give it here; I’ll go clean it and roast it to eat. Heh!"

Standing in the open space before the tents was a lone figure, not mingling with the crowd, gazing quietly into the distance, his eyes like still water.

The others were busily and noisily disemboweling their prey, scooping out the organs, impaling them on tree branches, and setting them over the fire to roast. The bonfire crackled; the meat turned over the flames, and soon it emitted a savory aroma. Dingyi smelled her owl—no strange odor, it seemed quite good. Happily, she sprinkled salt on it, added a dash of cumin, and roasted it with great diligence and care.

The Seventh Prince edged over, sitting right beside her. Seeing this, she let out a sound of surprise, "Master, what kind of behavior is it to sit on the ground? Shall I lay down a kerchief for you?"

"It’s fine." The Seventh Prince gestured. "The smell seems decent."

She grinned. "You’d better stick to eating the venison. I’m not sure what mine will taste like in the end; I’d hate for you to vomit. You get sick so easily..."

The Seventh Prince knew she was alluding to the courtesan with the long fingernails dipping her wine, and he glared at her fiercely. "What are you talking about? I’m going to eat this 'big-eyed thief' today! Hurry up, when it's done, tear me off a leg."

How much leg could a bird have? Dingyi said, "You should eat this breast meat; it’s fleshy. It’ll leave some over even if you pick it between your teeth."

The Seventh Prince clicked his tongue again. "You look like such a refined person, yet you speak so disgustingly!"

Dingyi only laughed. She turned her head to glance at the large tent; it was empty outside, and the Twelfth Prince was nowhere to be seen. She turned back, feeling listless, a hollow sensation in her heart that she couldn't name. That day, when he teased her that a comb was a token of love sent by a young woman, though he spoke without intent, she had heard it with intent. She remembered it, and from then on, she often carried the rhinoceros-horn comb on her person; it was a small consolation for her ignorant, burgeoning spring-time affection.

Though her mind was a swirl of thoughts, she couldn't let anyone see it. Whether it was her coworkers, the Seventh Prince, or especially the Twelfth Prince, she dared not show even half a hint. If she were discovered, what would people think? Would they curse her as corrupt and shameless—a man wanting to seduce another man?

She felt a bit helpless. She knew her situation and had no qualifications to ponder such things. But now that she couldn't get close to him, she knew that once she returned to being Wen Dingyi, such opportunities would never come again. She lowered her head, feeling desolate; the distance between them was too vast, and he had his own glorious life. As for her, she had to worry about her brothers first. In the future, when she was truly old, she would find a hunter or a fruit farmer, marry and get by, just scraping together enough for a full stomach.

She had been quite happy, but suddenly she became melancholy. The Seventh Prince had been observing her from the side for a long time, and he followed her gaze, looking back. There was nothing there. The Twelfth Prince was aloof and did not share his trait of descending from his noble status to enjoy life with the people. Seeing that Xiaoshu was unhappy because she couldn't see him, the Seventh Prince suddenly tasted a hint of sourness. He cleared his throat and said, "Shu, I want to eat fish. Shall we go spear fish in the pond tomorrow?"

Dingyi murmured, "You want to eat fish? You have to catch fish during the day, but we have to be on the move! Why don't you bear with it, and when we reach the next post station, I'll have them make you a bowl of spicy fish head."

The Seventh Prince found this very dull. He was listless and poked at the ground with a stick. "A short delay wouldn't matter..."

"With over a hundred people waiting for us to catch fish?" That didn't seem very feasible! Then she remembered he was the Master; why was she worrying so much? She tilted her head and said, "Anyway, I’ll listen to you; whatever you say, we’ll do... Hey, the bird is done!" The meat sizzled and dripped oil; she blew off the ashes, scrambled to tear off a piece of meat, and handed it to him. "Have a taste; don't curse me if it’s not good."

How could he? The Seventh Prince had no temper left for her now. He took it and chewed slowly, nodding as he did. "It’s like pigeon meat; it’s not bad, though it was roasted too long and is a bit tough."

Hearing this, she tasted a piece herself and laughed. "It really is. That was my negligence; I treated it like a chicken."

Just then, Na Jin arrived with rabbit and venison. The Seventh Prince picked out two pieces and stuffed them into her hand, saying, "Stop eating that; you can’t chew it. Come, eat the venison; look how fresh and tender they’ve roasted it."

She offered her thanks, set the owl aside, and placed the square piece of meat on her lap. Finding a pancake from her pouch to act as a plate, she tore the meat into strips and tucked them carefully into the pancake, folding it over with care.

"What’s this for? A meat pancake?" The Seventh Prince laughed. "You lad are really sensible—you have an eye for things and know how to show filial respect to your master." Without waiting for her to speak, he took the pancake directly.

Dingyi sighed silently. She had prepared that pancake for the Twelfth Prince. The Twelfth Prince was not as leisurely as the Seventh Prince; he carried a heavy burden on his shoulders and had no time to run out and wander about. It was also strange—why did the Seventh Prince keep hovering near her? If she couldn't afford to offend him, she could at least avoid him. She laughed and said, "I was just giving you a change of taste so you wouldn't keep thinking about fish... Master, you sit, and I’ll go check on the birds. I just hung them near the fire; I shouldn't let them get burned." Saying this, she took her meat and pouch and rose to go to her small tent.

Preparing everything again, she tore the meat into fine pieces, wrapped them all up, and quietly slipped into the Twelfth Prince’s oxhide tent. He was the only one inside; Sha Tong had likely gone to fetch food. The Twelfth Prince sat under the lamp, threading a needle by the candlelight.

She was startled. "You are... mending your clothes?"

The Twelfth Prince grunted, signaling her to look at the large cloak on his lap. "It caught on a branch while passing through the forest earlier and tore a large hole."

It was indeed inconvenient while traveling, but Sha Tong wasn't serving him properly—how could he let the Master mend his own clothes?

She hurried forward to take it from him. "You only need to give the word; I know needlework, too. Back home, I mended all my master’s and brother’s clothes. My craft isn't the best, but it will do." She handed him the pancake. "Have you eaten? Take this to tide you over."

He said, "What about you? You’ve been busy all day and I haven't seen you eat. Was that 'big-eyed thief' not tasty?"

So he had been watching! Dingyi was overjoyed and laughed, "I roasted it too long; it was too hard to chew. The venison is better... You eat; I’m not hungry. There’s still a piece of meat there; I’ll eat it later."

She sat down holding the cloak, lining up the torn edges. There was a technique called the "blind stitch"; by pulling the thread through, one could sew it almost invisibly.

She tied a knot in the thread under the lamp and smoothed the needle tip against her scalp; every motion was graceful and soft. Hong Ce watched from the side. She wasn't wearing a hat, and every detail of her eyebrows and temples looked beautiful. He began to worry. She was always serving by the Seventh Prince’s side; if she were discovered, what would be the result? The Seventh Prince’s recent behavior was bizarre—he was guarding her with unreasonable intensity. Could it be he had sensed something? Likely not. Given his temper, if he liked someone, he wouldn't be in such a stalemate; he would have been struggling with himself, otherwise, he would have made his move long ago.

He hesitated and asked, "Has the Seventh Prince said anything to you?"

She looked up, her face filled with confusion. "No, everything is fine." Thinking about it, the incident with returning the money had likely made him uncomfortable, and he had been keeping an eye on the Seventh Prince, feeling more and more that he was acting mysteriously. On one side was her master, on the other was her benefactor; it was hard to speak of either, and not knowing what the Twelfth Prince was asking, she probed, "What are you referring to? Are you asking if the Seventh Prince has been speaking ill of you?"

He paused slightly. "Not exactly... for instance, has he told you to keep your distance from me, or done anything inexplicable?"

He had said inexplicable things, like the "secondary wife" comment the other day, which had scared her quite a bit at the time. Fortunately, it was just reckless talk from a whim and shouldn't be taken seriously. She wouldn't spread that around; if she were a man, she would have just laughed it off. But she was a woman; no one makes such jokes about themselves.

She shook her head. "Though you are not my true master, you are still a Prince, and I am always causing you trouble. The Seventh Prince has scolded me a few times for being an eyesore, but other than that, it seems there is nothing else. The Seventh Prince isn't a stickler for details; I used to be afraid of him, but now I find him quite easy to get along with."

Hong Ce murmured, "Is that so..."

It wasn't right for him to be easy to get along with; the Seventh Prince had always been dictatorial. He himself was different; because of his superior birth and the Empress Dowager’s favor, when the princes were enfeoffed, his own older brother was only a Beile, while he was directly named a Prince of the First Rank—a special case for a prince with no notable achievements. Because his life had been smooth sailing, he was inherently more arrogant and would often beat or kill people if three words didn't sit right with him, as seen in the recent incident with the guard who poisoned the birds. That he was gentle with someone meant he had taken that person to heart. In such a position of advantage, would something go wrong?

The felt flap on the tent door was lifted, and Sha Tong brought in a whole chunk of meat. He laughed, "Ha Gang and the others hunted a deer. It’s been around for quite a few years—it’s massive. It took forever to roast it to perfection. Master, you must be hungry; eat while it’s hot."

Hong Ce stood up and gestured to her. "Put the needlework aside and join us."

Dingyi looked up, stunned. "How could a servant eat with you? I’m almost finished with this; I’ll fill my own stomach later."

Sha Tong knew how to read his master's face. Seeing his master fall silent, he hurried to take the work from Xiaoshu’s hands. "Leave this for me to do. You go; serving the Prince his meal is the same."

Dingyi was pushed up by him. In the Twelfth Prince’s tent, there was a low table and a carpet on the ground. She knelt, brought over the basin and cloth for him to wipe his hands, and then knelt to the side, preparing to carve the meat. However, the knife was taken from her by him. He leaned forward to pick the most tender parts, carving the meat into thin slices and arranging them one by one before her. Seeing her stunned, he asked, "Why aren't you eating? You are always serving others; now that the food is ready, you don't know how to eat?"

She said dryly, "That really is... the Twelfth Prince treats this servant so well; I am overwhelmed by the favor."

"Once you are surprised often enough, you will get used to it." He set down the knife, washed his hands, lifted his sleeves, and poured her tea, pushing the cup toward her. "Serve the Seventh Prince carefully. If you encounter any trouble, I will say it again: come find me, no matter how late it is."

Dingyi nibbled on the meat and nodded. "I know. Even if you hadn't said it, I would have come to trouble you. With you saying it again, I have even more of a backbone." She pointed with her finger, "Twelfth Prince, you eat too. Is this Sika deer meat? It’s a bit like venison."

"They are relatives, after all. The Sika deer is the venison's maternal uncle. The venison doesn't handle fear well—too much fright and it faints dead away; the Sika deer is a bit tougher than the venison, at most it’s just stunned." He smiled at her. "You are also often 'stunned.' If you get stunned too often, you’ll end up on the dinner plate. Take care of yourself!"

Everything could somehow be tied back to her. The Twelfth Prince, who used to be so honest, when did he become so glib? Dingyi said sheepishly, "Please, stop teasing me. My brain is often not enough to handle things; if I don't get stunned, I can't turn a corner in my thoughts."

He looked at her quietly without replying, only gesturing to the corner of his mouth. "Here."

She said, "What?"

Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out and wiped a crumb from the corner of her mouth. His warm finger touched her cheek, and Dingyi’s face turned bright red at once. She mocked herself, "Sigh, my eating manners are poor; I’ve let you laugh at me, Twelfth Prince." Though she said it, her heart was trembling violently. The Twelfth Prince’s attitude was becoming increasingly difficult to decipher. Although they had dealt with each other a few times and she wasn't as constrained as she had been initially, he was, after all, a noble, possessing a dignity and majesty she couldn't compare to. She felt these princes should treat people with cold detachment; being too easy-going made one's skin crawl.

While she pondered this, Hong Ce also reflected that he seemed to have gone a bit too far, which was not good. He finally pulled himself together, lowered his head to slowly eat a few pieces of meat, paused, and sighed. "According to our current schedule, we should reach Changbai Mountain in half a month. The original plan was for mid-October, but it seems that won't happen now. We’ve been delayed too much on the road and it will be November... Once the case at Changbai Mountain is concluded, it will take at least another ten days or so. By the time we get to Ningguta, it will be around the New Year."

Hearing this, Dingyi’s mind gradually cleared. She had been taking it one step at a time, always thinking the Imperial Estate was far away, but now it turned out they would reach it in half a month. Her heart was now filled with both expectation and fear: expectation of meeting her long-lost brother and a family reunion; fear that she didn't know how her father’s case would end or if there was any possibility her brothers could be sent back to the capital. Faced with the inevitable, she had to confront it eventually. When the time came, how would she confess to the two Princes? She didn't even dare to imagine their fury once they learned the truth.

Hong Ce had been observing her expression all along. Her absent-mindedness only deepened his suspicions. Was she really headed for Changbai Mountain or for Ningguta? These two lands of bitter cold had always been places where court officials were exiled for hard labor. A girl like her, mingling with men, following them thousands of miles from the capital—was she actually the descendant of some disgraced official, braving the elements to find her family?

She had too many secrets. He could have asked for clarity, yet he kept putting it off. In truth, he was afraid—afraid the result would be unsatisfying, and he couldn't say how many more detours he would have to take.

Perhaps he would wait for her to speak for herself. If she trusted him and confessed, he would do everything in his power to protect her. But if she continued to deceive him, it would mean all his sincerity had been cast away; that she was never willing to open her heart to him would be his greatest failure.