Love in Red Dust - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

If you are going to size me up, I naturally have to size you up as well. The man stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over me from head to toe.

This place belongs to the borderlands, where the population is sparse, and outsiders account for half of it. The locals, in the end, have a certain stubborn streak. Many of those who remained here were originally prisoners of war; the imperial court treated them favorably, granting them land and livestock, and they lived like local despots. As for the man in front of me, there was no need to ask to know he was not a mere mortal. Do not assume one can judge a person by their clothing; what matters is that certain aura. When a person stands before you, a single glance or a single movement is enough for eyes that have seen countless people to determine their class and quality—there is often no need to overthink it.

The boss walked up and cupped his hands in greeting. "This master wants to 'procure people,' what kind of people?"

Hongce replied, "I need sturdy ones. Not only must they be able to work the fields, but they must also be capable of escorting carts and guarding shipments. I had a business deal that happened to bring me here, and hearing there was a human market by the Suifen River, I rushed over specifically to take a look. Boss, do not go digging for more—I have no contacts here, and I rely entirely on myself for my comings and goings. If we can make a deal, consider it making a friend."

Upon hearing this, the man’s mouth pulled into a faint, detached smile. "It is good that you have no contacts; things are straightforward, and a deal is a deal." He bowed again. "My humble surname is Yue, Yue Kundu. May I ask for your name?"

"My surname is Alatan, which the Han translate as 'Jin' (Gold)." This was not entirely a lie; if he gave the Aisin Gioro surname, the business would be impossible to conduct. His mother was Mongol, and her old surname was Alatan; there was no harm in using it for the occasion.

Yue Kundu nodded and gestured behind him. "All the Aha (slaves) for today are here. Master Jin, feel free to pick and choose; we can discuss the price after you have made your selection."

Hongce only glanced over them briefly. "The people I need are not among these; none of them meet the conditions I mentioned earlier. Master Yue, do not hide the good goods out of reluctance to let them go. As long as the quality is up to par, the price is negotiable."

In this line of business, while caution is essential, profit is the primary objective. Kundu crossed his arms and turned his head with a vague smile. "I run a small-scale operation, and all my stock is here. I have no reason to hide good stock and not sell it—I cannot afford to hoard it for my own use. Although I cannot provide them myself, I do know a few big players. They have plenty of stock, and between a few of them, they can surely let Master Jin choose to his heart's content. How many do you need? Give me a number, and I will see to it. Once I have finished, I will come find you, and we can discuss the details."

He had gained some insight; since the conversation had reached this point, the matter seemed to have some potential. He extended his hand, gestured once, then gestured again, and smiled, "I am just passing through and will not be staying long. I am spending this New Year here in Suifen and must set off on the second day of the new year. Master Yue, if you are interested, please act quickly."

"Then it is settled," Kundu said. "Where is Master Jin staying? I will bring people over tonight. I will not take the lion's share, just a small middleman's fee for the turnover. However, I must state in advance that goods are not displayed until the deal is struck; if I promise you they exist, they definitely exist. Our trade has rules: you set the deposit, then I take you to see and pick up the goods. If there are too many, we filter them; if too few, we add more. Do you think that will work?"

He toyed with his jade prayer beads and nodded. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That is only proper. In that case, I will trouble Master Yue. I have just arrived and have not yet found a place to stay; I will be at the largest post station in Suifen. Look for Jin Yangxian there; I will certainly be present." He cupped his hands, "Then it is settled. I will await your honorable arrival tonight."

"You are too kind; I will come to disturb you at nightfall." Yue Kundu gestured, "Safe travels, Master."

Jin Yangxian departed gracefully. Behind him, the pockmarked man leaned in and whispered, "Master, this guy appeared out of nowhere and couldn't even give a proper background—why did you agree so readily? Yuwen Dongqi has been making life impossible for the last half-year. What if this is a disguised imperial hound? If we fall into a trap, the consequences will be dire."

Yue Kundu plucked a withered blade of grass and put it in his mouth, chewing it thoroughly before suddenly letting out a sharp laugh. "A bastard is a fool who won't take money when it's right in front of him. As for whether I have people in hand, Master has plenty; I just don't like to show them. That long-legged grasshopper Solongtu is blinded by money; let him scramble about. If he makes money, we all share it; if something goes wrong, he bears the brunt—who told him his brother-in-law is the Commander-in-Chief?"

Everyone had their own calculations. To outmaneuver others is your skill; if you cannot, you deserve to be slaughtered and enslaved. It is the same everywhere.

A deal concluded in just a few words—it was so smooth it made one uneasy. Hongce reached the tavern and mulled it over, his fingers tapping a rhythmic "tap-tap" on the tabletop. After thinking it through, he instructed Hagang, "We cannot just sit and wait. Go and watch the movements of the one surnamed Yue. See where he goes after the market closes and who he meets."

Hagang accepted the order and left. The group went to find an inn. The largest one in Suifen was on the riverbank, with a name that sounded quite Han: "Guest Follows the Clouds." They registered and collected their room keys. There were only three rooms left. Six people for three rooms was technically sufficient; Dingyi was a woman, so she would have one, the Twelfth Prince was the master and required one, and the four guards would have to squeeze into the last one. It was a bit cramped, but they could manage. They assumed it was settled, but the Twelfth Prince said, "Two to a room, just as if it were all planned out." This carried an implication. Dingyi was shocked, the guards remained indifferent; saying nothing, they each took their keys, offered a salute, and slipped into their rooms.

She stood there, stunned, "This... what does that mean?"

He said lazily, "I'm tired, go inside and rest!" Seeing her dazed, he reached out and gave her a tug, "It’s not the first time we’ve stayed in a room together; what is there to be shy about!"

Dingyi felt a mixture of embarrassment and resignation. She thought, Fine, I’ve made myself out to be something special, but the others aren't even interested in 'sautéing me as a scallion'! The Twelfth Prince was also doing this to make sure everyone had space; four grown men in one room was indeed too crowded.

So, she entered the room. Since she had no luggage, there was nothing to organize. The inn room was already spotless, so she had no need to do anything. With nothing to do, she stood around feeling a bit helpless, so she found two chairs and sat down. When the inn clerk entered to bring tea, he looked up to see the two of them sitting upright and grew puzzled. Shrinking his neck, he set the items down and hurriedly retreated.

Dingyi looked around and finally found a topic, "How come there is only one kang (heated brick bed)? They really know how to save on firewood."

The Twelfth Prince was very direct: "This is a single room. The other two rooms have two kangs each, and since those men are large, I let them have those. Among these people, only you are small, and I am not fat either. The two of us can make do. I am a man who loves his soldiers like his own children."

Dingyi was dumbfounded. This logic... it wasn't that it didn't make sense, you couldn't pick fault with it. But saying it made sense? She was a woman—how could they just "make do" like this! When she turned the thought over in her mind, she suddenly felt those guards were truly unprincipled. They were so quick-witted, shamelessly currying favor with their master, and not a single one of them had cared that she was a woman.

She swallowed her saliva, "I... I will ask them to add a sleeping mat."

"Why?" Hongce refilled a cup of tea, blew on it gently to scatter the steam, and sipped it slowly while holding it. "In the depths of winter, it is warmer for two people to huddle together. If you cannot sleep at night, I can keep you company and chat."

Was this still the Twelfth Prince? He had suddenly become enlightened just by talking? She gnawed on her finger, "I... I'm afraid people will laugh."

"Who would laugh?" He turned his eyes toward her, his expression entirely serious. "The pure are pure; why fear what others whisper behind your back? Besides, who here knows you? You are dressed in men's clothing; no one would suspect otherwise. As for the people around me... they know about us, and from now on, they will only value you more."

Dingyi was left speechless. His reasoning was so sound she had no argument.

He cast a light glance at her, stood up, and pushed open the window to look outside. The river outside was frozen solid, and there were pedestrians and horses moving on the ice—it had become a white street. He rubbed his hands together and sighed, "When I was in Khalkha, I rode on an ice sled a couple of times. Later, when I returned to Beijing, I stopped. I passed by Shichahai a few times and lifted the curtain of my palanquin to look out, seeing many adults and children playing on the ice. I was actually quite envious. It’s a pity; once a person is an adult, they have the three-eyed peacock feather pinned to the back of their head. I wanted to play, but I was afraid of being seen. My heart felt as if it were being scratched by a cat."

She rose and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, disagreeing, "What’s wrong with that? If you are afraid of people seeing you in the capital, we can play here. We'll rent an ice sled, and I will pull you. I am the best at pulling ice sleds; I can run for three miles in one breath without even panting."

"You’ve used that as a livelihood, too?"

"That's right." She grinned, "Now that I think about it, I’ve done all sorts of things. Pulling someone for three miles would earn me three hundred copper coins; the money came quickly. I could earn on the way there and carry people back, making six hundred coins for a round trip. It was much better than pushing a wheelbarrow."

He heard this, but it didn't taste right to him. Other consorts were raised in honey pots, knowing nothing of the hardships of the world. His consort had seen the cold realities of life and knew that survival was not easy. He tugged at her hand, covering it tightly in his palm, "In the future, I will be good to you; I will not let you struggle for a living again."

She said, "I know. Princes are always quite wealthy."

His face sank, "Is the Seventh Prince showing off his wealth again? That man is so desperate to write the word 'money' on his face. Is that how one 'poaches a wall'? Fortunately, you are not greedy for wealth. His self-indulgent pining is just embarrassing."

He was clearly eaten up with jealousy. Dingyi teased him, pretending to say, "I do love money; otherwise, why would I be thinking about how to earn it the moment I open my eyes? People like us with bitter origins..."

Before she could finish, he pulled her closer. The lattice window slammed shut with a bang, and before she could react, she was pinned against the corner of the wall by him.

In the distance of an inch, his faint, fragrant scent filled her nasal cavity. She heard his rapid, uneven breathing; he sounded quite aggrieved, like a child who had been wronged. Her heart leaped into a flurry; it had been a long time since she had been this close to him. The Seventh Prince’s omnipresence was a dilemma, monitoring them, so even when they had a chance to meet, they could not be affectionate.

He was so anxious his hands were sweating, and his tone was resentful, "I have money too. But money shouldn't be on one's lips, flaunted everywhere—that makes a person vulgar. Besides, I treat you well not because I rely on having money. Even if I only had one coin in my pocket, I would buy you water with that coin; I would never think of saving even a fraction for myself. If it were him, could he do that?"

Dingyi listened to him explain himself; that composed, strategic air he usually carried had long since been tossed to the corner. She couldn't help but laugh, "What exactly is so outstanding about me that you hold me in such high regard? If you compliment me, it makes me even happier than you giving me money."

He thought about it, "You are silly, talkative, and kind-hearted."

She puffed out her cheeks, "No, I'm going to find the Seventh Prince!"

"You dare!" he muttered. He pressed himself against her, perfectly flush so she had nowhere to hide. He used a finger to scrape her cheek, whispering softly in her ear, "Wen Dingyi, it doesn't matter if you don't let me see you, but now that you've caught my eye, it’s too late to run."

She had never expected that the man who was so graceful and elegant in front of others would have such a strange transformation when alone. She still remembered the first time she saw him; he was wearing a stone-blue official robe embroidered with coiled dragons. That majesty that seemed to look down upon all living beings remained unforgettable. Later, when Summer Solstice caused trouble for the Seventh Prince’s dog, she went to him to beg for help. He was feeding fish in front of a blue-and-white porcelain tank; the brilliant light shone on his face, and at that moment, she felt there was no man in the world more beautiful than him. It was truly love at first sight; the image engraved deep in her memory could not be erased. He was like the moon in the sky, and even now, he made her feel ashamed of her own inferiority. One day, the bright moon fell into the mortal world and dropped straight into her arms. Her heart, filled with anxiety and joy, could not be described by any tone or stroke of a pen.

What could she do? Her face flushed red, yet she remained steadfast. She raised her hand to hook around his neck, pulling him down to plant a kiss on his lips, "Yuwen Hongce, we are two of a kind."

He was stunned for a moment, then began to chuckle with delight. He loved her forthright nature—not petty, daring to do whatever she thought. He pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently, left and right, as if he would never grow tired of it for a lifetime. He could not bear to separate even for a moment; a towering wave surged in his heart, leaving her dizzy.

She acted so boldly, but in the end, she was still a girl, and because of the tension, she trembled slightly against his chest. He stroked her face and laughed softly, "We are in trouble now. Since we are sleeping on the same kang tonight, I fear it might not end well."

She hummed, looking up at him, "What's wrong?"

He fidgeted, saying it was nothing, and shifted his gaze elsewhere. She shook him softly, "Half-spoken words are annoying. Are you going to say it or not?"

He looked her in the eye again, "If I ask you to share the bed with me, are you afraid?"

Afraid or not... she pursed her lips, her bright eyes slowly turning, transforming into the warming sun of a winter day, "Why would I be afraid? When I pretended to be a man before, it wasn't as if I hadn't slept on the same bed as others."

He frowned, "With whom?"

Dingyi didn't overthink it and blurted out, "My senior brother, of course. I apprenticed under my master when I was twelve. For the first two years, there weren't enough rooms, so I squeezed into one room with him. We were young back then and didn't know anything, so we lived in peace."

His voice was low, muttering to himself, "If I had known this, I shouldn't have saved him... It’s fortunate that Summer Solstice is dense. If he had discovered it earlier, I don't know what would be happening now."

His jealousy was unstoppable, even he found it inconceivable. He, who used to be so swift and decisive, now knew what it meant to have a wife; he had become incredibly tender-hearted. When he was unhappy, he had to vent—and how does one vent? By leaving a mark. With a hook and a turn, he left them both dazed and reeling. She pushed him, but he did not give up; he was as passionate as fire. Suddenly, his eyes caught the corner of the tent flap being lifted. The chaotic light of day leaked in from under the corner of the lifted flap. He turned to look and saw it was the deputy squad leader, Daiqin, who had happened to bump into the master behaving improperly, standing there in a dilemma of whether to advance or retreat.

His expression remained calm, though his tone was not very pleasant, "What kind of etiquette is this, barging in so bluntly?"

Daiqin shuddered, glancing at Dingyi. Dingyi was so ashamed she had to bite the bullet and explain for him, "Deputy Leader Dai did call out before entering... I was the one pushing you just now, and you wouldn't move!" It was too humiliating. She finished hurriedly, covered her face, and ran out.

Although the Twelfth Prince had his romantic mood disturbed, he was in a very good mood. He turned and sat back in his armchair, picked up the tea cup again, took a sip, and asked slowly, "Any progress?"

Daiqin bowed, "Reporting to the Master, that human trafficker surnamed Yue found a man named Solongtu, and they are heading toward the inn. Master Ha has already scouted it out; Solongtu is the brother-in-law of Daoqin, the deputy commander of Ningguta. Master is truly brilliant; it seems that more than half of those Aha were leaked out from the Suifen human market. It is not just Ningguta; I fear it reaches even to Changbai Mountain and Jilin Ula. Once we seize them, those demons and monsters who devour human flesh will have nowhere to hide."

He bit his lip, his fingertips resting on the fox-fur trim of his sleeve, stroking it in the direction of the fur, and said slowly, "We will talk in detail later. You must extract the information. Once confirmed, stay calm; we don't have enough manpower to use force. I will stay in Suifen to delay them for a day; you return to Ningguta, command Lu Yuan to mobilize troops, and we must sweep them up in one fell swoop."

Daiqin responded with a loud "Yes" and retreated from the room. Looking up, he saw their Consort fetching water by the well. He hurriedly greeted her, "Guard Mu, do you need my help?"

Seeing him made her feel extremely embarrassed, and she hurriedly said no, turning her back to him immediately. Daiqin touched his nose; he felt more awkward than they did, and he certainly hadn't intended to bump into them. Since his help wasn't needed, it suited his wishes perfectly, and he turned away to check on the horses at the other end of the corridor.

Looking back on it, it was truly infuriating and funny. She steadied her heart and muttered, Let them see if they want to; I have a thick enough skin to withstand their judging looks.

She poured the water into the basin; on such a cold day, the well water felt even warmer. She carried the basin toward the steps, but without paying attention, she bumped headlong into someone, splashing water all over him. She was startled, and looking up, she saw a dark, burly man with a long face, large eyes, and a small black mole the size of a needle eye on his brow ridge. A sudden shiver ran through her mind—she even forgot to help him wipe off the water—this man looked so familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.