Love in Red Dust - Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The bustling streets of the capital are thick with worldly dust, but once you step inside the Changchun Garden, the atmosphere changes entirely.
As dusk approached, the princes entered the garden. Today was the birthday of the Princess Gulun, and everyone had gathered to partake in her birthday longevity noodles. Princess Gulun and the Prince Rui, Hongsun, were siblings born of the same mother. Being the youngest of the brood, they had been raised by their parents’ sides and were far more pampered than the other princesses. Among the Qi people, there is no formal coming-of-age ceremony; turning seventeen signifies adulthood, making this particular birthday especially significant. With the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager having returned from as far away as Yunnan, the brothers naturally had to come to offer their congratulations. Bonds in the imperial family are often thin, but at a time like this, one must at least feign affection. The whole family gathered around the table to chat and dine, and even the Emperor himself was no exception.
In the garden, the wind sighed through the pines, and the water sparkled in the surrounding pools. As they walked across the Lilac Embankment, the ground vibrated slightly. Looking up, one could see a large waterwheel turning tirelessly not far away. The water spray it kicked up scattered in all directions, shrouding the lake in a thin, ethereal mist. Through this haze, the rosy light of the setting sun rippled on the water, creating a truly poetic scene.
A burst of song drifted on the breeze; listening closely, it was Kunqu opera. The melody was winding and lingering, with every note echoing three times over. Hongtao stopped in his tracks and asked the eunuch beside him, "Is this the small troupe the Third Brother brought into the garden? The voices aren't bad. Bring them over later for me to see."
The young eunuch bowed, his face wrinkling into a smile as he held up a lantern to light the way. "Third Master said the Empress Dowager loves opera, so he hunted these people down from the Zhaohui Theater. The leads, the supporting roles, even the clowns—they are all beautiful teenage girls, fresh and vibrant. They specialize in delicate ballads. Once the drums start, their performance of 'The Peach Blossom Fan' is enough to make a man’s bones melt. Since the Seventh Master has given the order, I will report it to Steward Hua in a moment. You and the Twelfth Master can find a quiet place, and I will have them assigned to perform exclusively for you two."
Hongtao turned his face and frowned. "If they open their mouths to sing, their voices will carry for miles. What if the Old Master finds out? They cannot stay in the garden. Tell Peony—have her find a way to take them out and set up a private performance at my manor where we brothers can gather." As he spoke, he turned and patted the Twelfth Master’s shoulder. "Hongce, the Emperor is here today. If he asks about the Anba Lingwu affair, I won't be able to handle the questions—you will have to shoulder that burden for me."
Having acted recklessly before, he was now worried that news had reached the palace. The Anba Lingwu case had wide implications; the Emperor had brought it up specifically to make an example of officials, and he had stupidly run straight into the blade’s edge. If it hadn't been for the Twelfth Master intervening, the death of a single executioner would have been enough for those with ulterior motives to poke at him. It wouldn't have ended with just losing a few East Sea pearls from his hat.
Lacking confidence in himself, he relied entirely on this younger brother. The Twelfth Master was a dependable man who could speak well before the Emperor. He was not like Hongtao; back before his father had abdicated, Hongtao and the Sixth Master, Hongwan, had loved to meddle with the Crown Prince Dongli. Later, when the Crown Prince was stripped of his titles for treason and quietly sent away to become a monk near the Outer Eight Temples, the Second Prince—the current Emperor—had once scolded him in the Imperial Study for being a sycophant. Even though so many years had passed and the brothers had all grown up, he could never shake his unease when seeing the Emperor; this deep-seated wariness was a sickness rooted in his childhood. To say he was truly afraid was an exaggeration, but he was never comfortable. He was born with a rebellious spirit and could not endure a word of reproach. They were all from the same vine; who was supposedly nobler than the other?
As for Hongce, he was the easiest to talk to among all the brothers. The Retired Emperor had thirteen sons, and Hongce was the second to youngest. When the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been at odds for four years, the Khalkha Taiji had sent Hongce's mother to him. She entered the palace and was enfeoffed as a Noble Consort. While not possessing absolute imperial favor, she was considered a favorite before the throne. Later, when those two reconciled, the Khalkha Consort fell as hard as she had climbed, and along with several other concubines, she was left behind in the Langrun Garden. The Khalkha’s subsequent autumn tributes failed to capture the Emperor’s favor, and gradually, even the Twelfth Master lost his influence. He was sent far away, only returning to Beijing in recent years.
It was a pity about his ears; they said it was caused by the blast of a red-clothed cannon at the training grounds. A perfectly good prince had been exiled three thousand miles away under the guise of guarding the border. Hongtao did not know the specific reasons, but he felt it was a grave injustice.
Life abroad was hard, lacking the luxury and comfort of the capital, yet Hongce had no complaints. His words were mild, his smile gentle. He lacked sharp edges, yet that could not hide his inherent brilliance. It was as if a fire burned fiercely in some unseen corner—the spirit of the Yuwen family lineage was preserved most authentically in him.
He watched his lips carefully, nodding: "Seventh Brother, rest assured. I have it under control."
Hongtao felt reassured. He raised a hand to smooth his sideburns, his spirit restored. "That’s settled then. I just mentioned finding someone to perform—I’ll have Jin Lai invite you, and we’ll have a proper talk then."
To invite a deaf man to a musical performance was like asking a blind man to admire flowers. Hongtao walked ahead with his hands behind his back, while Hongce smiled self-deprecatingly, strolling slowly behind him. Looking into the distance, the twilight closed in, and lanterns were being hung on pavilions and towers far and near. The Changchun Garden was a fine place to escape the summer heat; built near water, the ground was dominated by the lake, making it very suitable for recuperation. This reminded him of his mother. Unlike other concubines of this generation, she was not allowed to return to their sons' estates and had to live in a separate garden. Because the Grand Council had been busy, he hadn't found time to visit her. Once he finished with his current tasks, he would go to Langrun Garden to pay his respects so she wouldn't keep worrying.
Just as he was planning this, someone lunged at him from behind. Under normal circumstances, he would have tossed them over his shoulder to the ground, but this was the Changchun Garden—no one would dare be so bold except for the local little tyrant.
He plucked the person off his back. "Are you granted total immunity today? Be careful, or Father will scold you if he sees this." He smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Birthday star, I wish you joy."
Princess Gulun was seventeen, but she still possessed the temperament of a child. Having traveled from north to south, she had learned few of the palace's rigid rules and was much livelier than princesses raised within strict frames. Because the age gap between them was smaller than with the other brothers and sisters, he had interacted with her often before leaving for Khalkha, and their friendship was not shallow.
She bent her knees in a bow before him. "Greetings to you, brother."
Hongtao heard this and turned back. "Sugar-ear, you call him 'brother,' but with me, you draw such a clear line and call me 'Seventh Brother'?"
The Princess rolled her eyes. "I call my Thirteenth brother 'Hongsun,' so you should be content with that!" She walked up to them as she spoke, affectionately linking her arm with Hongce's. Fearing the lantern light wouldn't reach her face, she had the eunuch Kou Hai hold it higher, and asked Hongce: "Did you bring me anything fun today? That flute you gave me last time has a cracked hole and isn't good to play anymore. When you have time, get me another one—ivory will do."
Before Hongce could answer, Hongtao began to laugh. "An ivory-carved flute? You really know how to ask. You're giving your good brother a real problem—you might as well ask him to carve a suona."
The Princess disliked him intensely and ignored him, pestering Hongce for her birthday gift instead.
Everyone pampered this little sister, knowing her personality was unique, so they had all prepared gifts in advance. Hongce said, "I had someone make a set of 'Zhong Kui Marries Off His Sister.' It took two puppet masters over a month, and I don't know if you'll like it or not."
These so-called "bristle puppets" were a unique folk craft. They used clay for the heads and bases, glued a circle of inch-long bristles to the bottom, and used sorghum stalks for the frames. After painting the masks and putting on costumes, they were placed on a copper gong. When the gong was struck, the little figures would bounce and spin, blades clashing, even more fun than the opera on stage.
The Princess didn't value expensive things; she cared more for these small trinkets. When the eunuch presented the box, she opened it to see Zhong Kui wearing a soft-winged cap, dressed in a crimson robe, with a rhinoceros horn belt at his waist and crooked boots on his feet. He was bent at the waist with his bottom stuck out—it looked incredibly realistic!
A complete set is always comprehensive; anything in the opera was included, even the dowry and the bridal sedan chair, which were exquisitely detailed. The Princess clapped in admiration. "Twelfth Brother, you are truly wonderful. This hit the mark right in my heart. I had someone put the 'fur monkey' folk craft you gave me last time into a glass frame; it was buried in a box before, but now I keep it on my desk where I can see it often. This one, too, must be treasured. When the Princess Mansion is built, I’m taking them with me."
Hongtao laughed again. "Aren't you shameless? Building a Princess Mansion—in such a rush to get married?"
"Shut your mouth. Will you die if you don't speak?" When they were alone in the dark, she didn't stand on ceremony; she hitched up her robe and kicked him. "You’d better be careful. The court wants to send people to guard the north, and when Father asked who to send, Second Brother said, 'It'll just be Sixth or Seventh.' Of all the princes, you two are the only ones idle. If they don't send you, who will they send? The north is terribly cold right now—the ice and snow are overwhelming; it's a completely different world. You can't even rub your nose once you get there, or it’ll fall right off!"
Hongtao was shocked. "They named me? Has it been decided?"
Princess Gulun turned away, replying languidly: "It hasn't been finalized yet, but it’s pretty close."
Hongtao asked Hongce in terror, "Did you hear that? The court is sending a garrison to Ningguta!"
The Grand Council had discussed this long ago; to him, there was nothing surprising about it. "I received a secret memorial the other day. It said the Deputy Lieutenant-General is corrupt, causing chaos over there. The armored soldiers and banner men are on the verge of rebellion, and someone in charge must go there to handle it."
This was no joking matter. Which of the pampered nobility in the capital had ever been to such a harsh, bitter place? If they were lucky and handled the mission well, they might receive a reward; if their luck was bad, they would either freeze to death or be killed by rebels. Even if they managed to escape back, if the mission was botched, the Emperor wouldn't give them a good outcome, and they would live in misery all the same.
Seeing the gravity of the situation, he calmed himself and went forward to pull Hongce’s arm. "Let’s go see the Emperor right now and find a way to decline."
They walked quickly toward the Yan-shuang Building. The Princess pouted, her mouth stretched high. "Is Hongtao brainless? I still had something to ask Twelfth Brother!"
Kou Hai glanced at her. "Your Highness, the Twelfth Master has no arranged marriage, nor is there any word of a sweetheart. He can’t make decisions for you regarding your business with Guard Lou. Why don't you look for the Thirteenth Master? If you tell him the truth, he might be able to help you facilitate it all the same."
"Him?" The Princess sneered. "He’s investigating a case today. He got into a fight with some street-corner usurers and is currently reflecting on his mistakes. I can't count on him." She went off in the other direction, downcast.
The sky was completely dark, and palace lanterns hung high in the water pavilion. Walking along the corridor into the Yan-shuang Building, one could see the scene inside through the silk windows, with eunuchs and palace maids coming and going. A large crowd had gathered, a room full of imperial clansmen. The Retired Emperor sat in the central seat, holding an infant—presumably the Empress’s second son. The Qi people doted on their grandchildren more than their own children; the Retired Emperor, once such a formidable figure, now showed his old age, his temples graying.
They entered, bowed respectfully, and performed the kowtow. "Son pays his respects to Imperial Father." Then, turning slightly, they saluted the Emperor on the side seat: "Subject brother pays respects to the Emperor."
The Retired Emperor smiled. "Rise. There are no outsiders here; don't be so formal." He looked at his sons one by one. "Is the Eleventh still not here?"
The Emperor replied, "He was likely delayed by something."
Hongtao sat in a round-backed chair and laughed heartily. "What could possibly delay him? He’s naturally slow. Last time at Master Gao’s birthday banquet, he didn't arrive until the guests were already leaving. The Master and Mistress were stunned, not knowing how to handle him. When he saw that most of the people were gone, he was too embarrassed to sit down; he paid his share and went to the Desheng Building alone to order a table of food. When he returned to his mansion after eating, he boasted, 'Oh, I went way too early today! People hadn't even arrived, and I waited half the day without a full table, so I got impatient and left. On the way, I met Le Min and had a meal outside.' Just as he was talking, Le Min walked in and started shouting that he was born to be a plate-licker, arriving late just to finish the scraps. Look at that—he ended up completely humiliated."
Everyone shook their heads at the story. The Retired Emperor’s sons each had their own temperament; there was nothing strange under the sun.
As everyone was chatting and laughing, one person remained detached from the world. The Emperor turned his head and saw Hongce sipping tea in the seat to his right, his eyes lowered, his fingers gently caressing the lotus-leaf teacup. The imperial porcelain was thin, covered in a pale green glaze that shimmered like jade in the lantern light. Hongce’s fingers were beautiful, slender and fair, perfectly complementing the teacup. At a glance, they possessed a mesmerizing power.