Chapter 2: Fleeting Years
The initial ten years, spring harmony and bright scenery.
On the misty West Lake amid the drizzle, ripples dotted the surface. This fine rain of mid-spring only heightened the touring enthusiasm of talented scholars and beautiful women. On the lake, they either played the zither or flute, or sang loudly, delighting in it while secretly competing.
Among these cruise boats, the most dazzling was a two-story painted boat. With vermilion lacquer railings, flying eaves and colorful paintings, it was far more ornate than the other boats. But what truly drew the surrounding boats flocking was the peerless beautiful woman on board.
When zither music rang out from the upper deck of the painted boat, within the guqin platform veiled in light gauze, the West Lake instantly fell silent. Listening to that immortal music like pearls falling on a jade plate, people seemed transported to a pure and beautiful world, their minds thoroughly cleansed by the zither music. Everyone forgot intrigues, grudges, and enmities, knowing only peace and joy, wishing only to drink and chat happily amid the hazy beauty of lake and mountains…
The heavenly zither music reached the lakeshore, where passersby stopped one after another, gazing entranced at the graceful silhouette in the painted boat. Endless weeping willows lined the lakeside, their silk ribbons lightly brushing the tender green water surface; the entire West Lake seemed intoxicated by the zither music.
A pair of elder sister and younger brother held an umbrella, strolling along the West Lake amid the fine misty rain and intoxicating zither music. The youth was about fifteen or sixteen, tall and slender, with jade-like fair skin and incomparably handsome features. He wore white robes, one hand carrying a bamboo basket, the other holding the umbrella to shield his sister from the rain, appearing so gentle and compliant.
It was just that no one noticed the icy coldness and killing intent in his gaze toward the lake, emotions unfit for his age, a stark contrast to his appearance.
The girl was sixteen or seventeen, with the popular hanging bun hairstyle of Jiangnan, wearing a well-fitted goose-yellow dress that made her stand tall and graceful like an orchid. Her brows and eyes were picturesque, her skin fairer than snow. A dot of plum blossom makeup adorned her tender white forehead, with two strands of black hair hanging by her temples, making her appear all the more delicate, fresh, pure, and enchanting.
In such misty rainy weather, it was perfect for a girl to feel sentimental. Along the way, she recalled the ten years as guests in Yuhang, saying her northern official dialect had been replaced by the soft Wu accent; if she returned to the capital, she’d be laughed at by those misses. She also lamented that she had always been taller than the youth, but now unwittingly only reached his eyebrows.
As the girl spoke, she turned, raising her soft boneless little hand to compare her top of the head with her younger brother’s eyebrows, to verify the height difference. But she saw the youth gazing at the lake in a daze.
The girl followed his gaze and saw the painted boat surrounded by all like stars around the moon, her brows lightly furrowing before she smiled and said: “Younger brother has truly grown up…”
The youth was stunned upon hearing this, and when he turned back, his gaze became gentle and warm, without a trace of killing intent. His cheeks flushed slightly as he protested: “Elder sister, what nonsense are you saying.”
“Shy, shy, little Yun’er has truly come of age.” Seeing him embarrassed, the girl giggled delicately. She laughed so freely and lightly that the youth could only helplessly hold the oil-paper umbrella as much as possible over his sister’s top of the head, lest the rain wet her dress.
When the girl laughed herself out, she placed her hand on her younger brother’s arm. Once she caught her breath, she gazed somewhat longingly at the painted boat and whispered: “Her zither playing is too good; how wonderful it would be to take her as a master.”
As the elder sister and younger brother spoke, another boat carrying several frivolous young masters drew near the painted boat. The young masters then cupped fists and called out loudly: “This melody should only exist in heaven; how many times can it be heard in the mortal world. The four young masters of Qiantang have come admiring your fame; we earnestly request Miss Qianqian to grant us an audience to fulfill our lifelong wish.”
Hearing this, the youth looked at the girl and said: “If Father hears you say that, Elder sister won’t be able to go out this year.”
“Such a sour old man!” The girl stuck out her tiny lilac tongue, winking at the youth: “Liu Qianqian is Jiangnan’s foremost zither master, and you at your young age already have such prejudice.”
“Whether it’s prejudice or not, I don’t know.” The youth raised the bamboo basket in his hand: “I only know if we don’t head back soon, there’ll be no dinner.”
“Ah, indeed.” The girl then realized they had lingered outside too long. She hurriedly lifted the hem of her skirt and quickened her steps along the wet slippery bluestone path by the lake.
“Elder sister, we came to the lakeshore to pick willow branches.” Seeing the rash girl completely forget the purpose of the trip, the youth had to remind her.
“Oh oh.” The girl patted her forehead, making a funny face: “Right away.” She stopped, examining the lakeside weeping willows, but saw the raindrop-laden branches all so delicate and endearing that she couldn’t bear to harm them. Her spring onion-like fingers poked her chin, hesitating a long while without making a move.
The youth didn’t urge her, focusing on holding the umbrella for her, quietly watching his sister.
The girl looked to the youth for help, but he slightly raised the items in his hands, signaling he was helpless.
The girl pouted, then resolutely reached out. To slightly revenge the youth, as she broke a willow branch, she subtly tugged the tree branch. The accumulated water droplets on the willow branch then splashed down, all landing on the youth’s head.
The youth helplessly watched the giggling girl run off, concernedly warning: “Watch your step.” He paused, then said somewhat angrily: “And… no more calling me little Yun’er from now on.”
“Got it, little Yun’er.” The girl nodded, twirling the willow branch, hopping and skipping along the stone slab path. Though her steps were light and joyful, her footfalls were extremely steady, clearly the youth had worried needlessly.
The youth helplessly shook his head, following unhurriedly behind her. The elder sister and younger brother chatted and laughed, disappearing into the misty rainy scenery.
.
The Great Xuan Dynasty unified north and south, dividing the under heaven into thirty-one provinces; Yuhang County where West Lake lay belonged to Wu Commandery in Yangzhou. Besides the county office in the city, there was the prefectural governor’s office.
The prefectural governor’s office and county office were both situated at the foot of Jade Emperor Mountain, by the West Lake. This area naturally became a gathering place for dignitaries and nobles. Half a li from the prefectural governor’s office, inside Qingbo Gate, was Lu Official Alley. The long blue stone-paved alley was quaint and serene, and at its deepest end was the courtyard house of Wu Commandery Lieutenant Lu Xin.
The elder sister and younger brother entered the alley, seeing that neighbors’ doorways already had willow branches inserted to ward off evil and pray for blessings. The girl somewhat embarrassedly reached out, touching her pretty little nose, and solemnly said to the youth: “Willow branches are still best when grown by the West Lake.”
The youth nodded deeply in agreement, cooperating: “Especially efficacious.”
“Such a good boy…” The girl nodded, but couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
The two laughing and talking arrived at the Lu Residence doorway, where the gatekeeping old servant hurried up, taking the bamboo basket from the youth’s hand while respectfully saying: “Miss, Young Master, you’re back.”
“Uncle Zhong, we didn’t delay Aunt Zhong preparing dinner, did we?” The girl sweetly smiled at the old servant, somewhat apologetically: “It took some time to pick the willow branches.”
“No no, Cold Food Festival doesn’t require fire, it’s quick.” Old Zhong smilingly took the bamboo basket and hurriedly sent it to his wife in the east kitchen. The elder sister and younger brother then inserted the willow branches at the doorway.
It was getting late, so Old Zhong also helped his wife in the kitchen prepare. They took out the bought sweetened millet porridge and spring wine from the bamboo basket, and portioned the previously made millet rice and green rice balls into four sets of tableware. While preparing the meal, Aunt Zhong sighed: “I don’t know what Master is thinking; others with smaller offices have seven or eight servants. He, on the other hand, just uses our two old arms and legs, even making Young Master and Miss help buy things.”
“What do you know, Master is an upright official.” Old Zhong rolled his eyes at his wife: “Before, there wasn’t even a single servant in the residence. Master took pity on us two old folks and took us in.”
“Ah, but it’s hard on Young Master and Miss…” Aunt Zhong sighed: “Look at the young masters and misses in other houses…”
“Young Master and Miss are learned and reasonable, kind to people, much better than those young masters.” Old Zhong brewed fresh tea, then carried trays with his wife to set the table in the front hall.
.
Lu Xin’s residence was provided by the prefectural governor’s office; as Wu Commandery’s third-in-command, his courtyard house was naturally not small. But with his family plus the Old Zhong couple, only six people in total, occupying half the courtyard, it still felt empty.
Old Zhong couple carried trays to the front hall entrance, removed shoes and knelt in. Lu Xin’s family of four was already seated in the hall; Lu Xin’s appearance hadn’t changed much from ten years ago, just grown a short mustache, his gaze even more calm and profound.
Madam Lu was different; she was gaunt and sallow-faced, her eyes lifeless, kneeling by the low table like a lifeless stone statue. Seeing the elder sister and younger brother kneeling by the low table still secretly winking, a trace of anger rose on Madam Lu’s face.
Lu Yun hurriedly signaled Lu Ying to stop, and Lu Ying saw her mother’s expression, coquettishly saying: “Mother, it’s a festival today…”
“Hehe…” Madam Lu seemed even more annoyed, but with Old Zhong couple present, she couldn’t flare up.
After Old Zhong couple set the dishes and withdrew, Lu Xin raised his wine cup, gesturing to his wife and children: “It’s a festival today; everyone have an exceptional cup of spring wine to celebrate.”
Lu Yun and Lu Ying also raised their wine cups, all three looking toward the motionless Madam Lu.
“Madam…” Lu Xin called.
“Hehe, celebrate…” Madam Lu still didn’t raise her cup, only coldly asking: “Celebrate what festival?”
“Cold Food Festival?” Lu Ying unwittingly answered: “The day to insert willows and eat sweetened millet porridge…”
“How did this festival come about?” Madam Lu’s ashen gaze swept over the three.
“Duke Wen of Jin to commemorate Jie Zitui.” Lu Yun and Lu Xin stayed silent, so Lu Ying had to answer.
“Why did he commemorate Jie Zitui?” Madam Lu’s expression grew increasingly strange.
“Duke Wen of Jin restored his state but forgot to reward Jie Zitui, who then hid in the deep mountains with his mother. Duke Wen of Jin set fire to the mountain to force him out, but ended up burning the mother and son alive…” At this point, Lu Ying’s heart skipped a beat, seeing Lu Xin and Lu Yun both set down their wine cups, faces turning very ugly.
“Haha…” Madam Lu laughed hoarsely, her laughter more unpleasant than crying, her expression twisted as she pointed at Lu Yun: “My son was also burned to death, handed to your mother by his own father! Letting her burn him alive!”
Lu Yun’s hands on his knees clenched tightly into fists. Lu Ying’s face paled, tears welling up.
‘Pa!’ Lu Xin finally slammed the table, angrily shouting: “Enough! The matter from ten years ago is not to be mentioned again!”
“I insist on mentioning it!” Madam Lu straightened up, coldly meeting Lu Xin’s gaze: “You all can pretend to forget, but I never will!” With that, she rose, flung her sleeves, and left the table: “You continue celebrating; I’ve lost my appetite, it’s disgusting!”
