Love in Red Dust - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Na Jin went to the Twelfth Prince’s courtyard. Regardless of how refined and gentle the Twelfth Prince seemed, he was a prince born of military stock, and he carried a much sharper edge than their pampered Seventh Prince. The men under his command were carefully selected; even in weather that would freeze the land for a thousand miles, they stood in the wind and snow for hours with spines as straight as pine trees. Unlike the men at their own Prince Xian’s manor, who would hunch their shoulders, shrink their necks, and blow on their hands the moment it got a little cold, looking entirely pathetic.
Na Jin passed through the crowd, feeling deeply ashamed of himself. That group of men looked like Arhats in a temple, perched high above, looking down on mere mortals. To them, a short, chubby fellow like him, lacking all the right qualities, could be described by no other words than "gluttonous and slothful."
He hurried through the corridor and, reaching the bottom of the eaves, looked up to see Sha Tong. He and Sha Tong were somewhat friendly. Even though they served different masters, both had been "cleansed," so to speak, sharing a sense of mutual pity and affinity. He ducked behind a pillar and waved. "Tong-zi, come here!"
Sha Tong walked over, holding his nose. "Did you sleep in a pickle jar last night? You reek of sour feet!"
Na Jin said, "Don't ask. Little Shu dropped her work and ran off. What am I supposed to do with the two birds? If no one else does it, I have to—cleaning the cages, clearing the bird droppings. I wasn't paying attention..." He spread his five fingers and pushed them forward. "...and I got it all over my hand."
Sha Tong nearly got touched and quickly took a large step back. "Enough, enough! That’s the 'gift' your master gave you; go wash it off with soap! What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
Na Jin sheepishly moved his hands behind his back and stood on tiptoe to peek at the palace gate. "Is the Twelfth Prince up yet?"
Sha Tong frowned. "Our Master is the most disciplined person I know; he gets up earlier than the roosters every day... Why? Do you have business with him?"
"No, no." Na Jin waved his hands frantically. They were in opposing camps now; if he rashly sought out the Twelfth Prince, he would be lucky not to be slashed to pieces. He felt a lingering fear and pointed timidly toward the distance. "I’m looking for our Shu-er. The Seventh Prince summoned her; he has something to instruct her on... Tong-zi, we’re our own kind; I’ll speak to you as a confidant. Not to be rude, but what the Twelfth Prince is doing is really not very thick-skinned of him. Mu Xiaoshu is, at the very least, a person under the Seventh Prince’s banner, and she entered the Prince Xian manor openly and honestly. Her master didn't send her away, yet she chooses a 'higher branch' and refuses to return—how can that be? That’s not the rule in any banner, is it? It’s her good fortune that the Twelfth Prince took a liking to her, but he can't just toss her old master aside without a word. Whether she’s a man or a woman, one must act with integrity, wouldn't you say?"
Sha Tong crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, eyeing him sideways. "Don't prattle on in front of me. If it were you, would you dare say these things to your master? Since when is it our place as servants to question the master’s affairs? I watched the whole thing from start to finish, and in my opinion, it’s your Seventh Prince whose actions are truly lacking in integrity! A perfectly good young lady, and he tried to force himself on her—how do you think that makes her feel? He still won't let go, even now. He has to see if the girl even favors him. After what happened last time, I think it’s doubtful. You should advise him to look elsewhere; there are plenty of flowers in the world. Being so persistent only makes everyone suffer."
Blood is thicker than water; both were biased toward their own masters. Na Jin was very indignant. "That’s easy to say! Nobody knew Little Shu was a woman. Our master truly likes her. If you won't call the Seventh Prince devoted, why are you still criticizing him like this? Fine, I won't waste my breath on you. Do me the favor of passing the word to Little Shu: the Master is calling for her, so have her report for duty quickly. Things haven't been decided yet, so don't get too arrogant. The Seventh Prince has put his foot down: it doesn't matter if she doesn't come back—he’ll go to the Shuntian Prefecture and find her master, and ask him how he taught his apprentice. If the apprentice fails, the master pays. She can go enjoy her 'fortune,' but the debts she owes will be paid by her master and her senior apprentice-brother. That’s how it is!"
Na Jin left without looking back. Sha Tong stood there fuming, muttering to himself, "Like general, like soldier. 'Devoted' my foot; I’d call it 'troublesome'!" After some thought, he realized he couldn't just brush it off. The banner registration could be manipulated, but Wu Changgeng was a living person. If the Seventh Prince wanted to make life difficult for him, it would be hard to deal with.
He turned and went into the main room. The Twelfth Prince was in the side hall discussing matters with someone. An Imperial Commissioner in the field wasn't just a falcon released to fly; he had to report to the Imperial Court every few days and write "peace" reports to the Emperor and the Retired Emperor. The Twelfth Prince was out, and only Miss Wen was in the room. When he entered, she was grinding away at something. He stepped forward. "Please sit for a while; shall I have someone send over some snacks?"
Dingyi shook her head. "I just heard Na Jin’s voice. Did he come by?"
Sha Tong confirmed it, conveying the message in detail. She paused for a moment. "Disaster strikes while sitting at home. My master and senior apprentice-brother haven't gained anything from me; on the contrary, they’ve been dragged into this because of me, and they have no peace. I thought about it a lot last night. The Twelfth Prince and the Seventh Prince are brothers, after all. This Imperial mission is less than halfway done, and they have to work together. If they become irreconcilable enemies because of me, it will reflect badly on the Twelfth Prince. I’ve thought it over and over: I must return to my post. The Seventh Prince is a person who can be reasoned with if properly managed; he’s willing to listen to opinions." She turned around, took her hat from the hat stand, put it on, and smiled. "Please tell the Twelfth Prince for me: I’m going. Tell him not to worry; I can handle this myself."
That was who she was—accustomed to self-reliance. Whether a man was present or not, she always had her own backbone. Sha Tong felt a surge of admiration; this was why she was respected. She had been biting her teeth and pushing through for over a decade. It wasn't that she had become soft just because she had the Twelfth Prince—not at all. She was weighing the pros and cons; returning wasn't just for her master’s sake, but for the Twelfth Prince’s as well. The Seventh Prince had a dog’s temper—everyone could see it, but no one could touch it; he had to be made to feel satisfied. If he were simply excluded, he would rather destroy things than let them go—that was his rotten flaw. The Twelfth Prince had fallen into the red dust of the world, thinking only of eternity, while Sha Tong had been holding back many words, unable to intervene due to his status. Now, Miss Wen had figured it out on her own, which was the most appropriate outcome. This girl was righteous, didn't make people worry, and knew where the dangers lay. With that kind of heroic spirit, she was the only one worthy of their Twelfth Prince.
He called for someone to bring an umbrella and held it over her head. "It’s snowing outside; I’ll walk you over. Allow me one more word of advice: be careful when you get to the Seventh Prince’s place. If anything happens, shout loudly. I’ve placed men outside; if you raise your voice, they will certainly rush in to save you. Honestly, I think you’ve had it tough, and our Master was not wrong about you. So, take care of yourself. The Twelfth Prince is a real man who knows how to take responsibility and calculate. These current hardships don't matter; there are good days waiting for you in the future!"
Dingyi laughed. "Stop with the 'you' (honorific) stuff; it makes me uncomfortable. I see things clearly. I won't consider myself extraordinary just because of the Twelfth Prince’s favor, nor will I belittle myself because of my poor background. I am who I am, just as I was before."
Sha Tong appreciated her even more. To have such temperament meant the person was grounded and steady. He smiled and agreed, "To be honest, I’m still used to calling you 'Little Shu'; it’s such a lively name. Your real name sounds like a daughter of a great family, a name that sits perfectly alongside the Twelfth Prince’s. This nickname, though, just shows how incredibly resilient you are. Think of a little tree—defying the wind and rain, shooting upward, until one day it grows into a towering tree."
The two chatted and laughed until they reached Dingyi’s quarters. After Sha Tong left, she changed into her regular attire—a long robe and jacket—and made herself presentable before heading back to the Seventh Prince’s courtyard. She was a bird trainer, after all, and she still had to look after the two birds; otherwise, she would be of no use.
She was a little afraid in her heart. After being bullied by him yesterday, just remembering it made her shiver all over. But she couldn't avoid him. They hadn't reached Ningguta yet; how could she avoid him on this long journey? She steeled herself and walked on. As she passed the side courtyard, several guards gave her strange looks and began whispering to each other once she passed, but she didn't take it to heart. Whether it was real or fake, she had acted as a man for over a decade; she had learned the "who cares" attitude of the Beijing men to perfection.
The wind carried snow petals over the distance of three thousand miles. She lifted the curtain and entered the room, the fine snow drifting in behind her and melting instantly on the carpet inside the threshold. She didn't dare look up; the hem of the Seventh Prince’s robe was not far away. She bowed in the same way she always had, sweeping her sleeves. "Greetings, Master."
The Seventh Prince had been filled with defiance earlier, pacing back and forth inside and outside the room. He had been thinking about what attitude to take when he saw her and how to present his facts and reason. He had clearly stockpiled a basket of words, but from the moment she entered the room, he had forgotten them all. He was at a loss for words, feeling strangely ashamed and embarrassed, and didn't dare look her in the eye. Honestly, for a man to be so difficult to a woman, it was a shameful thing to have brought out into the open. He felt quite regretful; using force, ripping clothes, and pinning her to the kang—that was the behavior of a bandit. Looking back, it felt like a nightmare. How could he be such a person? He must have been possessed. He wanted to apologize, to say he was no better than a beast, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. After all, he carried the name Yuwen; if he acted like a beast, wouldn't that drag his Majesty on the Golden Throne into the muck with him? He was still relatively upright when it came to moral boundaries.
Since she was still bowing, he couldn't leave her like that. Awkwardly, he threw out a "Rise." He stole a glance at her, and she was quite composed, having already turned away to tend to the birds. He felt torn. He wanted to talk to her, but felt he couldn't open his mouth and couldn't set aside his pride. She was the one who broke the ice first. "Have you fed the birds this morning? What about their water?"
He took the opportunity to edge closer. "I gave them everything. I was afraid you wouldn't come back, and I didn't know what to do if the two birds died of hunger—they cost several hundred taels... Shu, I was reckless yesterday; I am truly sorry. Don't be angry with me. How could I have been such a jerk? That definitely wasn't me acting."
If it wasn't him, was he possessed? Dingyi looked up at him. "There are indeed many restless spirits here. People are exiled and treated like livestock, dealt with at will; does the Master find that acceptable?"
Tsk, her heart was truly good. The Seventh Prince hurriedly said, "Later, I’ll call the manor steward over. The bondsmen (aha) in the manor must be reorganized. Working day and night—they are all human beings born of parents; they shouldn't be treated like this." He gave a fawning smile. "If there’s anything else not to your liking, just say the word, and I’ll handle it for you. Just don't be annoyed with me. I’ve turned over a new leaf starting today; give me a chance, and can we start over?"
She lowered her eyes and said, "I am still serving you, just like before." She paused and added, "I thought of a few things before I came; I’d like to say them to you. Would you be willing to listen?"
The Seventh Prince’s heart jumped into his throat, like a prisoner awaiting a verdict. He didn't know if she was going to offer him rebirth or throw him into the eighteenth layer of hell. Terrified, he sat down, gesturing with his hands. "No need to ask, of course I want to listen. Sit..." Seeing she was about to open her mouth, he hurriedly stopped her. "Wait, think carefully—keep your words polite. My temper isn't good; if I get provoked, I might lose control of myself. You speak first, and I’ll speak after."
Dingyi took a breath. "Master, I stayed at the Twelfth Prince’s place last night. Did you know?"
Deliberately rubbing salt into the wound, the Seventh Prince’s chest tightened violently. "Can you bypass that? Even though you don't want me, I still admire you. It isn't very nice of you to stab a knife into my heart! Actually, I’m extremely devoted. Look, when you were a man, I liked you, and since you’ve become a woman, I like you even more. I don't care about the messy business between you and Old Twelve; I’m steadfast. I told Na Jin earlier: as long as you’re willing to turn back, we can let bygones be bygones... By the way, did anything happen last night?"
Regardless, she was a young woman, and the Seventh Prince’s lack of awareness made her red-faced and embarrassed. This question was hard to answer, and not answering it was also difficult. It was all a muddled mess, and if she kept it inside, it would fester, so she decided to be direct. "I said everything I had to say last night, and after sleeping on it, I still feel the same way. Actually, Master, I’m really nothing special. I’m just a poor girl trying to cheat and deceive my way through life to survive. The thing I’m most sorry for is hiding my identity and acting as your bodyguard. Now, my intestines are green with regret for causing you so much trouble; that was never my intention. Actually, I’ve thought about it: you only took a liking to me because there was no one else on this journey. Among a bunch of rough men, I was just the tallest among the dwarves, and so I stood out. When we return to the capital, you’ll have a world of wonders, and I won't amount to anything. So, Master, please bear with it; there will be plenty of good girls later. When you look at me again, you won't even be able to bear the sight."
The Seventh Prince felt she was wrong. "You’re not good? If you weren't good, would Hongce have thrown away his reputation to snatch you from me openly? Listen, don't say anything else. I suddenly realized just now: you girls just like to be coaxed, and you only care about immediate dazzle and excitement. Old Twelve knows how to set off lanterns—what’s so great about lanterns? I’ll buy a hundred sheep, and I’ll let you herd them. I’ll map out a pasture for you so you can shear wool and squeeze milk; you can turn around and trade it for silver—that’s much better than lanterns; that’s a real industry. I don't play with illusions; I love pragmatism. Since I can’t be the Emperor, my only hobby is making money, that’s why my family is so rich..."
As this was being said in the room, Na Jin, who was eavesdropping outside the window, couldn't stop sighing. This master is beyond saving. If you want to curry favor with a woman, you have to do what they like. Talking about pragmatism during a romantic moment—the other guy sets off lanterns, and he wants her to herd sheep? Can they even be compared? It was a pity he had so many wives in his manor—they were truly arranged marriages. He didn't want to spend the effort, so they just followed him as they were. Such an unromantic master—every word was about money; it was superficial and reeked of copper. How could he compare to the Twelfth Prince, who was as refined as a painting?
Sure enough, Little Shu still refused. "This has nothing to do with money; I value my own heart."
"Can’t I enter your heart? What’s wrong with me? I have the height and the looks. I’m only missing one thing: I’m not as good at 'acting' as Old Twelve. Don't look at him like he’s gentle water; this kid is actually calculating. I’m a great judge of people." Thinking for a moment, he decided that constantly disparaging his rival wasn't the behavior of a gentleman, so he changed his strategy. "Come with me, and I guarantee you’ll never worry about food or clothing. I won't bother your sect anymore either; I’ll even support your master so he can enjoy his old age in peace. That’s a very generous offer, isn't it?"
At the mention of this, Dingyi wasn't very happy. "I’ve already resigned from my master’s side; I don't want to drag him into my personal affairs. If you still want to use my services, don't target my master; otherwise, I will fight you to the death."
Look at that—she had hit a steel plate. Who to blame? Blame the rival for being too strong. Every condition the Seventh Prince offered was something the Twelfth Prince could also do. They were both princes, and the other guy even had two more characters in his title—why should she choose him? Little Shu had drifted in the world; she had seen her share of monsters and demons. If she was pushed to the edge, things might backfire. Now he had to compete on who was more considerate and who could better capture the beauty’s heart. The Seventh Prince was so stupid; he really was making Na Jin anxious.
Fortunately, he didn't stay anxious for more than half a cup of tea. The Seventh Prince slapped his thigh—he had it! "Fine, I won't touch your master. Starting today, I’ll just stick with Old Twelve. Don't jump to conclusions yet; let’s see who’s better! If you choose me in the end, then I won't have worried in vain. If you choose Old Twelve, then I’ll be glad I pushed him to be even better, and you’ll still have to be grateful to me. I won't force you; I won't force you from here on out—it’s all up to you. For now, stay here with me, safe and sound. Don't have your body in Cao Ying while your heart is with Han; it’s not good to covet the Shu after obtaining the Long. Keep your eyes peeled and pick a groom who cherishes you—that’s a lifelong affair. I’m doing this for your own good; I’m ten years older than you, so believe me, listening to me is never wrong, eh?"
Dingyi helplessly gave a "Yes." Since it had reached this point, there was no benefit in being stubborn. She could only prevaricate, and after a while, when the fervor faded, peace would surely return to the world.