Love in Red Dust - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Inside the wall, a swing; outside the wall, a path. Outside the wall, the Virtuous Prince brought his betrothal gifts to the door, while inside... the beauty was currently shouting abuses in the street!

What kind of woman was this? Though they hadn't met, they knew she was sharp-tongued, fierce, brave, and wild. She had stated, "I cannot defy the Imperial Decree, but that doesn't stop me from looking down on him." Listen to that! The Seventh Prince was deeply wounded. He asked Najin, "Am I really that unlovable? She looks down on me—on what grounds? I am neither crippled nor blind; I am strong and healthy, and a direct descendant of the imperial line. In what way am I unworthy of her? It’s truly strange. I, the Seventh Prince, am as elegant and refined as they come, a peerless gem of De'nei Street—why do I keep meeting people who are blind to my worth!"

Najin scratched his head and said, "This... it’s hard to say. It has nothing to do with status; what she wants is a feeling. It isn't that you are lacking anywhere, but that you haven't met someone who knows how to appreciate you. It’s like a tenon that hasn't found the right mortise; it doesn't count. Besides, this future Fujin is Mongolian. Mongolians are just like that. You’ll get used to it."

"And when will that end? If she looks down on me, then I won't bother playing along!" The Seventh Prince brushed the snowflakes off his clothes, dumped the several loads of gifts, and turned to leave. He muttered, "This time, the grudge with the Empress is well and truly set. Being a former palace maid really makes one twisted. She set me up with this sour piece of work; what was her intention? She wanted to plague me. I’ve even managed to cure her of her habit of not recognizing people—she ought to thank me."

He had just dumped the gifts and was about to run when the Khorchin Prince chased him out from the mansion gate, calling out as he ran, "Seventh Prince... wait, Seventh Prince, stay your steps!"

Seeing that his master had no intention of stopping, Najin whispered, "Please, sir, don't be like this. The father-in-law has chased you out. This is your future father-in-law; you can't be disrespectful."

The Seventh Prince pondered. What could he do? Unless he wanted to stop living in the capital, he couldn't pit his arm against a thigh. If he kept going, would the Empress find ways to fix him every few days? He stopped, the horse's reins shaking in his hand. That Khorchin Prince’s old surname was Borjigin; after Sinicization, it changed to Bao. For convenience, everyone called him Prince Bao. Prince Bao was ten arm-spans around the waist, a giant of a Mongolian man. If he were annoyed, he could kill you with a single slap. The Seventh Prince felt a sense of dread. He secretly reasoned that since the father was like this, the daughter was likely no better—not beautiful and domineering to boot. His future life was pitch black; his good days were over.

He dared not offend the man, fearing a slap. Since the decree had been issued, they were now relatives, so he still had to wear a smiling face. He hurried forward two steps, swept his sleeve, and performed a bow. "Greetings, Uncle Bao."

Prince Bao hurriedly said he dared not. They were both Princes of equal rank, but now that a marriage had been arranged, they were suddenly elder and junior. Even Prince Bao felt it was awkward. He quickly helped him up. Prince Bao knew his daughter had been cursing in the house and that someone had heard it. The man had come to deliver betrothal gifts—a guest in the house—and his daughter had intentionally made him uncomfortable. The fault lay with himself for failing to discipline her; she had been spoiled since childhood.

Prince Bao beamed, affectionately taking the Seventh Prince’s hand to lead him back inside. "We are our own family; why leave when you have arrived? Normally, it’s not permitted for a man to see a maiden before the wedding night, but that doesn't matter in our house. Mongolians don't fuss over such things. You and my daughter should meet, talk, and cultivate some affection—after all, you will be spending your lives together."

Prince Bao chuckled, while the Seventh Prince felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him. He braced himself and thought, Fine, I’ll meet her. She was likely a dark-skinned woman with a pancake face. Daughters took after their fathers; Prince Bao’s nose and eyes were a mess—high cheekbones and squinty eyes. How beautiful could the daughter be!

They entered the house. The mansion was spacious, with a large courtyard containing fish tanks and pomegranate trees. Prince Bao was fertile; the eldest daughter was about to be married, while the younger sisters were being held by their mothers, having just learned to walk. In the middle, a half-grown child was crouching in a corner of the courtyard, rotely memorizing "Mencius: King Hui of Liang, Part II," something about the king having an illness and loving valor. Prince Bao frowned as he walked past. "Stop reciting! Buzzing all day long—find something else to do!" He turned to the Seventh Prince and gestured, "Come, come, let us take our seats inside."

The Seventh Prince declined, insisting the elder take the seat of honor, while he found a place lower down.

Since he was already in, he might as well act like a suitor. He had fallen into the pit, regardless. The Seventh Prince tucked his hands into his sleeves, had his servants bring in the gifts, and smiled as he presented the gift list. "My mother was overjoyed to hear of the marriage decree. She specifically ordered someone to draft this list. Please take a look, Uncle Bao."

Prince Bao accepted it with both hands and opened the bright red paper to read. It contained flowery phrases about the house being honored and the joy overflowing the threshold. He glanced casually at the bottom: two thousand large ingots of gold, sixty ingots for the hair ornaments, plus hairpins, rings, silk scarves, hats, snacks, and seasonal vegetables. The list was extensive. In any case, nothing was as pleasing as knowing his daughter had found a home. The Empress had chosen well this time. Even if the Seventh Prince was a bit of a wastrel, he wasn't a bad person at heart, and could be reformed. Prince Bao grinned, his teeth showing. His daughter did have a bad temper, but it was because her mother had died early, leaving her to take charge of the household at a young age. She was capable and enjoyed outperforming others, which gave her that reputation. In truth, those people were short-sighted and couldn't see her strengths. Prince Bao hadn't remarried, and his concubines were not of high standing; the entire mansion depended on the eldest daughter. She was talented, and the monthly stipends for the hundred or so servants were paid to the last cent—that was true ability. Whoever married her would be marrying the backbone of the house; they just needed to wait to enjoy the blessings!

"Good, good, all good. The gifts are not the point; what matters is that your life together is blissful. I won't say anything more." He turned his head and shouted, his voice like a bell, "Invite the eldest daughter here! The marriage is settled, and before long you will be one family. There is no need for shyness. Meet, share your hearts, and lead a harmonious life together—isn't that wonderful!"

The steward acknowledged and hurried out. The Seventh Prince and Najin exchanged glances, both sweating nervously. Good heavens, it’s for real now. He didn't know if she would have three heads and six arms.

Footsteps approached. He took two deep breaths. A pair of sheepskin boots entered his field of vision—the feet were small, moderate, and the toes were curved with a small tassel on top, looking quite charming. Moving up, there was a water-green pleated skirt, a three-layered silk jacket, and a white fox-fur collar that engulfed her chin. He could only see a pair of rich, clever red lips, full like small water chestnuts... The Seventh Prince felt as if he had been struck by lightning. This was his Fujin? She wasn't ugly at all—much better than he had imagined.

He frantically looked back at Najin, who blinked, indicating that she was indeed quite good.

The Seventh Prince stood up, shuffling forward two steps. Not knowing what to say, he just said, "I am the Virtuous Prince, Hongtao..."

The eldest daughter had quite a personality. She turned her face away and threw back a line: "My name is Mantageri."

"Doesn't Mantageri mean 'small round face'?" the Seventh Prince laughed. "That name doesn't fit—it’s clearly an oval face... Four characters sound too distant; I’ll call you Xiaoman, adding 'Xiao' makes it sound cute and approachable..."

He hadn't finished when he was met with a fierce glare. "Is the Prince always like this? We are meeting for the first time—what 'cute and approachable'? Is that any way to speak?"

The Seventh Prince was met with a cold shoulder. He thought, She’s too fierce! Not even three sentences in and she’s already giving me attitude. Will I die under her thumb in the future? He stammered, "No... that’s not it. I’m usually not like this... it’s just that, well, we’re betrothed..."

The eldest daughter was prickly and demanding. In truth, the Seventh Prince wasn't bad; he had looks and imperial favor. It was just his reputation that was poor. Beyond gambling and cockfighting, he had several minor wives. When she had been selected for the palace, the girls waiting for the selection had gossiped that among the princes of this generation, only the Thirteenth and Twelfth were outstanding. As for the Seventh, he lived too extravagantly. Whether he had a Fujin made no difference to him, so who would want to be the dispensable one? Thus, when the marriage was decreed to her, it was like a bolt from the blue, and she had cried all night in anger. Now that she had met him, he was just as rumored: unrefined, lacking stature, and thick-skinned. She felt her fate was even more tragic. How could such a spoiled playboy be a worthy match!

The daughter’s temper caused the Seventh Prince to lose face, which was problematic. Prince Bao hurried to smooth things over. "I happen to like this warmth of the Seventh Prince—he doesn't stand on ceremony. Our Mongolian maidens are generous and don't care for small-mindedness. You must pay attention to me."

Prince Bao intended to lecture his daughter, but she stomped her foot. "If you like him, you go live with him!" Her braids swung, and she turned and left, having shown her face for less than a cup of tea’s time.

The Seventh Prince looked blankly at Prince Bao. "Uncle Bao, the eldest daughter has no interest in me. You see, a forced marriage is no marriage. Why don't I go to the palace later and report this? Let's just cancel the decree."

Prince Bao was startled. "Don't joke! There is no such thing as withdrawing an imperial decree—it would cost us our lives! The eldest daughter is ignorant and thin-skinned; please bear with her. Once she enters your house, you can train her. We cannot defy an Imperial Decree."

The Seventh Prince had no choice, thinking there was some truth to it. He would train her well once she was married; perhaps there was still hope. As for who would end up training whom, that was a story for another day.

He had seen her, and although the encounter ended unhappily, it wasn't a wasted trip. The Seventh Prince bowed and departed from the Bao Mansion with his dozen porters.

Fine snow drifted from the sky. Not in a hurry to mount his horse, he walked along the market with Najin. "What do you think of this young lady?"

"A sense of integrity," Najin said, giving a thumb-shake. "This servant thinks she might be good at managing the household. Unlike the other masters in the mansion, she isn't into fighting over food and drink. She is the eldest daughter of the Bao Prince's mansion, her status is solid, and she can suppress those underneath her. You won't have to worry about people blocking your door in the future; with the Fujin backing you, it’s better to be scolded by one person than besieged by three or four, don't you think?"

It was true. His family rules were lax, and his several concubines didn't treat him as the master of the house. One day they wanted jewelry; the next, their brothers wanted jobs. When they needed something from him, they were all charming, but on days when everything was quiet, they treated him with indifference. They would be busy playing cards and would tell the Prince to wait until their game was finished before they could see him.

Don't even mention it; mentioning it brought tears of sorrow. The Seventh Prince weighed the matter and felt that marrying a Mongolian Fujin had its benefits—she could intimidate others. If words failed, she wouldn't hesitate to roll up her sleeves and fight. Family discipline would see a major change.

However, the Seventh Prince remained melancholic. "Although the eldest daughter is not bad, she still falls short of our 'Tree'... I wonder where she is now, and if I’ll ever find her again in this lifetime. Twelfth Brother is pretending to be ill to fool everyone, but he’s likely not sitting idle. I know he hasn't given up. Didn't the palace arrange a marriage for him? Of course they did! But that kid is clever; he found a way to decline it himself. Isn't that why it fell to me?"

Seeing his master unhappy, Najin sighed along with him. "Sir, stop obsessing over this. Although this new Fujin is a bit fierce, she is at least proper in appearance and has a good maternal family. Both the palace and the garden approve of her, so there won't be any trouble for you two. Unlike Twelfth Prince and Little Tree—even if he finds her, being together will be difficult. Just think, among other things, will the Noble Consort at Langrun Garden agree? She is counting on a good marriage alliance to hold her head high. If the Twelfth Prince brings back someone like that, she will be the first to cause trouble. Just you wait and see!"

"That’s true. Twelfth Brother’s mother is like a lotus seed-pod. Even though they don't live together, every time they meet, she’s so sharp-eyed and hostile. Life is not easy." The Seventh Prince looked up at the sky. The dome was grey and pressed low, with snow constantly sifting down. He sighed and, in the end, didn't mount his horse, walking from Guai-bang Alley back to De'nei Street.

When he arrived home, he suddenly received news that the Twelfth Prince had not been staying in Beijing at all; he had gone out. He had returned today, bringing back a young woman, and was currently busy settling her in. "Seventh Prince, you should hurry over to watch the fun!"

The Seventh Prince slapped his thigh. "So, our Tree has been found!" Ignoring everything else, he mounted his horse and headed straight for the Chun Prince's mansion.

Upon arriving at the Chun Prince's mansion, he entered and asked, "Where is your Master?" Guan Zhaojing, that old fox, stepped up to handle it, smiling. "Seventh Prince, you have come? Our master is indisposed and cannot receive guests. I told you that when you came last time—have you forgotten?"

The Seventh Prince raised his leg and kicked him in the ankle. "Indisposed my foot! Who are you trying to fool! Tell me, where is Little Tree? Is she in the Prince’s mansion? If you don't speak, I am going in to search!"

Guan Zhaojing couldn't get around him and had to hang his head. "Don't shout, sir. She is in the Wine and Vinegar Bureau Alley. I will take you there."

They followed Guan Zhaojing deep into the alley and found a courtyard. From the exterior, the house was not small—it was a three-gated complex, complete with housemaids. But the Seventh Prince didn't like the looks of it. He charged into the house to argue with Twelfth Brother. "What is the meaning of this? You intend to keep a mistress on the side! When we first discussed this, we said whoever took her would give her the title of Legal Fujin. What is your intention now? Do you not keep your word?"

The Twelfth Prince was not surprised by the Seventh Prince's arrival, only annoyed by his fussiness. He frowned and stepped aside. "Who intends to keep a mistress? This is so that people won't gossip when the official marriage is decreed later. Living in the Chun Prince's mansion without a name or standing—what kind of sense would that make?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Staying at the Virtuous Prince’s mansion would also have worked!" As he muttered, he saw someone walk over by the side courtyard gate. Every smile and gesture was graceful—was it not his "Tree"! It had been almost a year, and she had grown even more vibrant. Her brows were naturally dark, her lips naturally red; she was truly a stunning, ravishing beauty. Unfortunately, this beauty was like a flower on the clouds. He was infinitely regretful; no matter how he looked at it, she was the best. No one in the world could compare to her.

Dingyi was happy to see the Seventh Prince and went up to call out, "Master, have you been well all this time?"

"How could I be well?" The Seventh Prince’s nose turned sore. "Tree, where have you been? You really had me worried to death."

He wanted to reach out and hug her, but was blocked by the Twelfth Prince. He clung to Hongce's arm and leaned toward the young woman, saying, "No matter what happens, you will always be my Little Tree. I have always kept you in my heart!"

Seeing him wiping away tears, Dingyi felt sad and wept with him, nodding. "I am well, Master, please don't worry. You look much healthier than you were at Ningguta, and your complexion is good—I am truly happy to see it."

The Seventh Prince hurriedly said, "No, that’s just bloating. I haven't slept well at night, missing you so much... Why are you living here instead of going home? You are a member of my Bordered Feather Banner and still hold a position under my gate! Don't stay here, it’s not appropriate. Come home with me to the Virtuous Prince’s mansion!"

Hongce became impatient, unable to stand the Seventh Prince’s self-indulgent manner. He turned to Dingyi and said, "From now on, there is no need to call the Seventh Prince 'Master.' Your registration has been removed; you are no longer in the Bordered Feather Banner."

The Seventh Prince was shocked. "What do you mean, removed? How come I didn't know anything about this? What trick have you played, and how can you manage my banner?"

Hongce was indifferent. "Go back and ask the registrar of your banner. Last time the archive of the Bordered Feather Banner burned halfway; the list hasn't been completed yet!"

The Seventh Prince stepped back twice. His subordinates had made a mistake and hadn't dared to report it, intending to bury the matter, but Twelfth Brother had found out. It was even possible that he had done it. He had burned half the flag registry just to destroy the fingerprints that 'Tree' had left. He was too ruthless!

"Twelfth Brother, you’re something else! Just you wait, I’m going to the palace to file an imperial complaint!" The Seventh Prince, angered, began to walk out.

Hongce didn't stop him. "Slandering someone with nothing but words—the Emperor will ask you for proof. Can you produce it?"

The Seventh Prince stopped. That was true. If he hadn't spoken, he would still be in the dark; where was there any evidence! Now what was he to do? He had thought about having 'Tree' live at his house, but that was no longer possible—he had no justification. This move of "removing the firewood from under the cauldron" by Twelfth Brother was played well! He turned back to look at the person standing under the eaves. "Tree..."

Dingyi smiled. "Seventh Prince, don't be angry. Twelfth Prince couldn't have done such a thing—you’ve misunderstood him. Please calm your anger and come inside to have a cup of tea. I heard the palace has decreed a Fujin for you—that is good news! I haven't congratulated you yet!"

The Seventh Prince was left with nothing more to say. He was now a man with a Fujin; he no longer had the right to compete with Twelfth Brother. Fine, I’ve been running for so long and am thirsty, I’ll go inside and rest for a while! He shook his robes and stepped back onto the stairs.