Love in Red Dust - Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Ever since their frank and open conversation, a new situation had emerged—the Seventh Prince and his small circle of associates began to lay siege to her from all sides. They were firmly committed to one purpose: they would keep her in their sight, and while everyone was welcome to gaze, no one was permitted to make a move or cozy up to her behind their backs. The Seventh Prince’s definition of "fairness" was that in an open and impartial environment, he was allowed to act spoiled and temperamental occasionally, while the Twelfth Prince was strictly forbidden from casting affectionate glances or showing her any tender concern.
Of course, this was never explicitly stated, but Dingyi tasted the bitterness of it in his every action. There were a few occasions when the Twelfth Prince came to see her, and as two people in love are wont to do, they had intended to share some private words. But just as they were about to speak, they would spot the Seventh Prince drifting by from some dark corner with a gloomy face, frightening them into silence. If they paused and tried to open their mouths again, he would pretend to be wandering by aimlessly, singing loudly: "Zhuge Liang waits at the enemy watchtower, waiting for you to come here to talk... to talk of hearts." He would sashay back and forth, even looking back at them, making it impossible for anyone to live in peace.
The Twelfth Prince was fuming. Frowning, he said, "Shatong took it upon himself to act, so I punished him by making him kneel in the snow for two hours. If I had known early on, I definitely would not have let you leave. Look at us now; we have to watch his face just to exchange a few words. It is truly suffocating."
Complaining was one thing, but they hadn't yet reached a point of irreconcilable conflict, and they both understood the situation. Dingyi smiled and said, "We have a long road ahead; don't fuss over present gains or losses. Don't blame Shatong either; a perceptive man like him is rare, and he does it all for your sake. The Seventh Prince cannot watch me twenty-four hours a day, so there will always be a moment of leisure. When I go to see you, it will be the same thing."
The two of them carried on secretly right under the Seventh Prince's nose, finding the whole affair both infuriating and ridiculous.
Even so, the Seventh Prince remained unhappy. Every time he saw the Twelfth Prince, his hackles would rise, and he felt compelled to take jabs at him within his words. When they ate together, he would stir up trouble at the dinner table. Even after Hongce ignored him and finished his meal, he would suck his teeth and goad him: "I pulled a muscle yesterday, and neither acupuncture nor cupping helped. Later, Little Shu said, 'Master, let me loosen your muscles,' and the moment she pressed onto my shoulder, hey, the relief was instantaneous. It turns out, she is my true medicine!"
The Twelfth Prince's complexion wasn't great, but he was a man of refinement and chose not to stoop to his level. Since the Seventh Prince wouldn't let it go, the Twelfth Prince simply quipped back, "Seventh Brother, why do you keep getting stiff necks? You really should be careful! Once, a man named Shi Tao from the Ministry of Works stepped on nothing while dismounting his horse and smashed his neck against a bench; he ended up paralyzed. Since you keep twisting yours, doing it too often isn't good. Shi Tao is sixty or seventy, so it doesn't matter much, but you are in your prime. Take care of your health; there is still a long road ahead."
He left immediately after finishing his sentence, leaving the Seventh Prince seething. What a foul character. The brat was indirectly cursing him; to go against his own brother just for a woman, did he have no shame at all?
The brothers continued to eye each other with mutual disgust from the Changbai Mountains all the way to Ningguta.
The climate of Ningguta was exactly as described in the documents. In the twelfth month, one could be lost just a few paces away. However, once there, they discovered that besides the harsh cold, there was also a dazzling local charm—such as the sight of golden spears and iron horses amidst the falling snow, and the ancient desolation contained within the long river under the setting sun.
The reality of the region was not as isolated as they had imagined. Before arriving, they assumed the exiles wore animal skins and the garrison troops were unrefined barbarians, but that was not the case. The idea that there were no houses in sight was a thing of the past. Ningguta was rich in ginseng and sable fur, and since the eighth month, it had engaged in trade with Hoeryong Prefecture in Korea, maintaining a very complete trade route. Walking through the streets, one could hear accents from all over the place—merchants shouting out prices and bargaining. That bustle and prosperity were not even inferior to the capital.
Wealth was merely the surface; those who came to handle official business understood perfectly well how the undercurrents surged beneath. The court had previously sent Lu Yuan from the Ministry of War to act as a vanguard more than five months ago, so the local authorities must have been very good at prevaricating. To uncover the truth, they couldn't just walk into the Commander-in-Chief’s office and announce their intentions to the world; they had to divide into two paths: one to travel the official route, and one to investigate secretly. Ningguta encouraged the Banner people to farm and trade, but once they became wealthy, who wanted to do hard labor? When the assigned fields went uncultivated, what did they do? They bought people. Imperial serfs were driven to the human markets. A strong laborer might only cost a few taels of silver or a few strings of cash. They worked harder than livestock yet were not worth half the price of a mule or horse.
However, these were unwritten rules. The Commander-in-Chief explained the sharp decline in the number of Aha (slaves) as due to illness, old age, and death. There were no loopholes in the accounts, which was precisely why this investigation was sent to get to the bottom of it. If he claimed ten thousand died, how could one prove it without evidence? There was only one笨 (clumsy) method: opening the coffins for autopsy. The Aha were generally buried in the same place; even if the flesh had rotted, the bones remained. They had brought over a dozen coroners to examine teeth and bone age—no one would be able to deceive them.
Dingyi followed them to a desolate plain. Looking at the undulating mounds of graves in the distance, she sighed, "How many Aha are buried in there? Far from home, only to die here."
"Every person has their own fate." The Seventh Prince adjusted his rabbit-fur ear muffs. "If they hadn't committed crimes, would they end up like this? Actually, death is a release. If they were sold to the Tatars, and you were forced to hold a bit in your teeth and drag an ice sled across the frozen surface... people tormenting people, they wouldn't stop until you were dead."
Her heart turned cold at the words. She turned back to look at the Twelfth Prince. He was wearing a red velvet hat embroidered with "Fortune" and "Longevity," his arrow-sleeved robe peeking out from under a purple sable cloak. He stood on the embankment, squinting; the pale sunlight reflecting off his face gave him an air of cold, distant detachment. He raised his horse whip and pointed into the distance, saying coldly, "Order men to seal off this area. Did Lu Yuan establish a foothold here? Tomorrow, send orders to him to gather men and dig one section at a time. Take the registers and verify them, and see exactly how many are missing. I know there is a human market at the Suifen River; it is hard to guarantee there aren't Aha from the imperial estates that ended up there. We cannot leave this alone; if we loosen our grip even slightly, we won't catch them in the act. Investigate this thoroughly. Since we are already here, even if the sky breaks, we must uncover the truth."
The subordinates responded with a resonant "Yes," but the Seventh Prince was unimpressed by his commanding airs, curling his lip and turning his head away.
Instead of staying at the official residence, they had to find a common inn. The group all wore travel attire, and since there were many garrison troops in Ningguta, their coming and going was unrestricted, and no one paid them much attention. They had been frozen to the bone by the wind and snow on the road, so once settled, they looked for hot water and charcoal. Dingyi had developed chilblains on her hands from pulling the reins, and they itched excruciatingly when warmed. After hanging up her birdcage, she went outside to find a corner without eaves where the sunlight was intense—just right for her needs—and silently leaned against the wall, taking out some chili peppers she had begged for to rub her chilblains.
The door beside her opened, and a hand reached out, dragging her inside. She looked up, "You are staying here?"
He hummed, snatched the chili peppers from her hand, and threw them out the window. "Who taught you that trick? The skin there is thin; rubbing something so harsh on it will just cause it to break and rot."
She said lazily, "It itches so badly."
He glanced at her, a smile touching the corners of his mouth, and took her hands to rub them patiently, saying, "We will be staying in Ningguta for a while this time. No more riding horses; be careful to stay warm, and when you have leisure, try to improve your circulation. It will be better in a while."
She let him be busy, looking down and feeling a warmth in her heart. In the past, when her monthly cycles came, the pain was so intense she had to clench her teeth and endure it. Now, even for a small chilblain, someone was there to care for her. She truly felt that this life was complete.
He pulled her to sit down. In the south-facing room, light flowed in through the lattice window, shining exactly on the blue bricks in front of them. Childishly, she scooted over and stretched her feet into that halo of light; she was happy even if she couldn't feel the warmth. She turned to look at him and whispered his name. Although he couldn't hear, he seemed to have a sixth sense—the moment she opened her mouth, he could perceive it. She said, "Are you going to the Suifen River? I have seen the human markets—a large wooden platform where people are driven like livestock to be picked by buyers. A circle of brawny thugs surrounds the bottom, ready to beat anyone who dares to cause trouble. I am worried about you going there."
He laughed, "I have seen those kinds of things plenty of times; I know what to do. Besides, princes have practiced Buku (wrestling) since they were young; I won't just stand there like a wooden stump and take a beating."
The day he came to save her, he had knocked down over a dozen of the Seventh Prince's guards, so his skills were clearly quite good. But as a woman, being overly anxious was in her nature; even if she wasn't useful herself, she felt at ease just watching.
"I'll go with you." She held his hand back, "Don't let the Seventh Prince know. Take me with you!"
He said it wouldn't work, "There are too many eyes and ears; what if something goes wrong?" He knew her thoughts. Seeing each other every day, hampered by the Seventh Prince who stood like a mountain between them, they had to hide from everyone to meet. If they could escape and be together without worry, she would be satisfied even if it were only for a day. He looked at her with tenderness; he himself wished for nothing more, but he was afraid of her getting hurt. "Be obedient. I will finish the business quickly. Once we return to the capital, everything will be fine, and we can be together every day."
She pulled her lips back helplessly, "Then can you make it back tomorrow? The day after is New Year's Eve; it’s the new year."
Only when she mentioned it did he realize the year was coming to an end. They had been rushing about so much he had forgotten the date. There was a tradition to have a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, a good omen that they would be together year after year. He calculated the time—from Ningguta to the Suifen River, a round trip in such a short time would be a rush, and that was without even doing the work! If he left her behind, would the Seventh Prince be the one organizing her New Year's dinner? Thinking of this, he was unwilling. He was truly sick of the Seventh Prince lately—haunting him like a ghost, his shadow everywhere. The man would act shamelessly, and no one could do anything about it; tearing their masks off in public wouldn't be a good look. He kept to his "gentleman's agreement," so how could he use that as a pretext to lash out? He would take her with him; at least he wouldn't let the Seventh Prince take advantage of the situation. If he wasn't there, she would likely be in more danger staying behind than coming with him to the Suifen River.
He let out a long breath, "We will set off at the fifth watch tomorrow. Don't tell anyone, or the Seventh Prince might find out and sneakily follow us."
She was overjoyed, hurriedly standing up and whispering, "Then I will go back and pack now. You wait for me."
She started to leave, but he pulled her back, "If you pack, people will notice. It's not like we are staying for a long time; we'll be back in two or three days, just bring some silver." As he spoke, he eyed her, "Look around to see if there are any women's clothes there. They say the market by the river is even bigger than the one in Ningguta... I want to see you in a dress."
Dingyi blushed. Looking at him, his eyes darted away, perhaps he felt embarrassed too? She grinned and joked, "I have always dressed like a man; are you, like the Seventh Prince, suspicious that you might be interested in the same sex?"
He thought about it seriously and nodded, saying yes. "We brothers probably all have that kind of stubbornness. Initially, I was also troubled about how to report this to the Retired Emperor and the Dowager Consort. Later, when I found out the truth, I was so happy I didn't sleep all night. I just felt that heaven had not treated me poorly; I could still have heirs after all."
That was frank enough. Although it was human nature, it was still awkward to discuss, so she hurriedly changed the subject and laughed, "I have never understood where I let the cat out of the bag. I spent over a dozen years in the markets and lived day and night with my senior brother, yet he never knew."
He cleared his throat and said, "Your senior brother is oblivious... Last time when the Seventh Prince’s bird was poisoned and we went to the bird market, on the way back, I said I wanted to hear your voice, and you took my hand and pressed it against your throat... Normal men, once they reach a certain age, always have an Adam's apple. If it's smooth, you are either a woman or a eunuch."
She suddenly realized, "I understand now. So you were doing it on purpose. Sigh, truly... like my senior brother, he is just simple-minded. We've known each other for so many years, yet he always thought I was a man."
Hongce was a bit smug, saying calmly, "Fate is determined by heaven. If people had known you were a girl early on, it probably wouldn't have been my turn."
The two of them smiled at each other, and this cold morning no longer seemed so difficult to endure. However, they had been sitting for a long time and were worried the Seventh Prince might grow suspicious, so they got up and headed out shortly after. Coincidentally, they ran straight into the Seventh Prince in the foyer. Dingyi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was lucky they had moved fast, or he would have chased them again. She braced herself to greet him, "Where are you going, Master?"
The Seventh Prince said, "I came looking for you." He pulled a hair accessory out of his sleeve pocket—a gold-inlaid jade swaying hairpin. He held it up for her to look at, then directly removed her warm hat and inserted the pin into her hair bun. He looked left and right, thinking it looked quite beautiful. "My Shu is naturally talented; how elegant she looks when dressed up! Look at those clear eyes and brows; what other woman is as magnanimous as you?" As he spoke, he looked her over. In truth, wearing a swaying hairpin with guard attire looked like a mismatch. After trying it on, he pulled it out and placed the pin in her hand, "Keep it well. Use it when you change into women's clothes. By then, I will find you a fur-lined hat, and once you stick this pin in, you will truly look like the mistress of the house."
She said she didn't want it, pushing it back, "This servant doesn't like to wear jewelry. Thank you for your kindness."
"No, you must take it, otherwise you are looking down on me." The Seventh Prince asked her happily, "How is it? Did the Twelfth Prince send you any headwear? No, right? I knew it. He would rather stay up all night without sleeping than spend money; that man is so stingy! Not only is he stingy, but he also loves to show off. Look at how smug he is today. We are both imperial envoys, so why is he the only one issuing orders? Did he ask for my opinion? If he wants to show off, let him—digging up the bones of the dead is bad for his karma! I am a kind person; since the dead are already laid to rest, I don't want to disturb them. As for the Twelfth Prince, he really is born under the Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter)—he has no taboos..." After criticizing the other man, he began to fantasize again, "The New Year is coming; we are all a year older. The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I am holding a banquet in my room and inviting only you; you must come. When you do, we can talk properly. Do you want to live in the Prince's mansion, or would you prefer a small house of your own? Shu, I have been thinking about this for days, and I can't wait until we return to the capital. I must propose marriage before the Twelfth Prince does. Always having things hanging in the balance won't do. You are my bondservant, so it is only logical for a servant to marry her master. Let’s just get married here in Ningguta. Isn't that a brilliant idea?" He felt very satisfied with himself and laughed heartily.