Qinglian Chronicles Chapter 66

[Might as well call it a field trip with all the damn kids you brought, Chuchu.

Make sure you’re reading on chichilations. Aggregators are bad, and reposts are never allowed.]

Zhou Zizhu only brought along one servant; a bald middle-aged man with a frightful scar on his neck. From the looks of the callus on his purlicue and bulging at his temples, he should be a martial arts expert or sothing. He’s a man of few words and gives us no airs, not even looking much at Jinzi, but he’s willing to take the role of a servant towards Zhou Zizhu with complete sincerity and respect.

And now, our Relief Money Embezzlent Investigation Squad has officially been established. The mbers are as follows: , Jinzi, Zhou Zizhu, Hong Feng, the three Rectitude kids, Zhou Zizhu’s no-nad servant, and my first-nad coachman.

Our ans of transportation is the biggest carriage my Residence has, pulled by those high-grade, severely-underappreciated, upper-tier-yet-still-being-used-to-pull-a-cart four piebald horses. Jinzi is riding his Xiaoshao, and I’ve brought my Hearth.

Jinzi expressed that he had no understanding of why I’m taking a heap of eye-catching horses to a secret investigation, but I ignored him. In my eyes, what matters most is speed, and acting hush-hush is second. Besides, we’re bringing along three kids; who cares about the horses? And I had thought about putting a bit of pigntation on them, or apply a bit of mud, or shear Xiaoshao’s hair down short, or so on, but Hearth was the first to not allow that so I had to let it go.

Zhou Zizhu looked agape at my group of young detectives. I smile lightly. “My students and young maidservant. Bringing a few children with will make our identities not to easy to make out.”

Bro Zhou clearly didn’t endorse my hypothesis at all, but he didn’t say much on it. Looking towards Jinzi, he cupped his hands in greeting. “Young Mister Yao.”

Jinzi indifferently returned the gesture. “Sir Zhou.” Then he turned back to and said, “Jinfeng.”

Jinfeng obediently ca forward, first making a show of raising his head to size up Zhou Zizhu before saying very slowly, “I’ve seen Sir Zhou.”

Zhou Zizhu is sowhat astonished and hesitates. “This is… Second Young Master?”

Jinzi nods. “My younger brother.”

Zhou Zizhu’s steed is a porcelain horse [1] and can be considered a good one, but his follower is riding a big spotted mule [2]. I’m quite apprehensive about that, but now is not the ti to make suggestions. I decided to wait until his servant fell behind later to bring up switching horses.

To my surprise, we’ve been making haste for more than a shichen and the mule actually hasn’t fallen too far behind. Though Hearth and Xiaoshao weren’t going at full strength and the piebalds were pulling a very big carriage, that’s strange enough for a mule.

We had already ridden out of the capital at this point, the wind loud and sky distant, green fields and plants everywhere, the surroundings spacious and empty. It’s very sensational, but it’s just a sha the sun is gradually getting fiercer and this ti period doesn’t have sunscreen. In order to protect my skin, I decide to return to the carriage and cram in with Hong Feng and the kids.

I suddenly stop my horse, and Jinzi and Zhou Zizhu rein in their own to look at . The insides of my thighs have been rubbed extrely raw, and one’s posture when dismounting is very graceless, yet they have no tact and keep on watching.

“It’s nothing. “I reluctantly smile. “I’m tired, so I’m going to use the carriage.”

Jinzi kept quiet. Zhou Zizhu spoke warmly first, “Brother Zhang has been under the weather. Quickly get inside the coach and rest, alright? It would be no fun to fall ill while touring.”

I smile at him. “Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhou,” I say as I grit my teeth and crawl off the horse’s back in a way destroys my image. I lurch over to the front of Jinzi’s horse and hand him Hearth’s reins; Hearth would have followed along without being pulled, in fact, but having Jinzi with the reins gives so assurance. He accepts them, gazes at , and asks in a low voice, “Not feeling good?”

I know where his thoughts are straying from ho he looks. Blushing, I shake my head. “Just dreading the sunlight is all.”

A turn of my head, and I catch Zhou Zizhu giving us a bit of an odd look. I recall running into gay people in modern tis and also being a little curious, yet also feeling that my curiosity doesn’t respect their subtle way of thinking; I can understand him.

Hong Feng lifted the curtain for . Xiao Zhu wanted to co help up, but got robbed by Xiao Lu and took her hand back with a reddened face. I send a polite smile her way. “Have you gotten used to it yet, Xiao Zhu? Are you uncomfortable?”

Her face gets even redder, and she can only shake her head.

The carriage is very big, but with two adults and three kids it’s still kind of cramped. Hong Feng and I are sitting on one side, the three children on the other. Jinfeng looked out the window to the side and said derisively, “Really useless, how are you still a man?! Getting tired while riding a horse!” Xiao Lu quickly pulled on his sleeve, but Jinfeng shook him off.

I’m half-amused and half-annoyed again. It’s useless to bicker with a small child, so I’ve no choice but to not make a peep. Jinfeng unexpectedly stood up and said, “It’s too crowded! And boring! I’m going out to ride with my brother!”

I don’t say anything and allow him to get off. I hate the crowding too, anyways. From the window I can see him say sothing to Jinzi, who shook his head. He pointed at Hearth, and Jinzi shook his head again. Following that, Jinzi got off his own horse and let him ride Xiaoshao, riding Hearth himself, Hearth obediently allowing him to.

Hmph. My Hearth has a big temper and it’s difficult for strangers to get close, but along with , it’s solely fearful of Jinzi. As for … it could barely be considered henpecked. What’s Hearth like? Does it adapt to circumstances?

Xiao Lu carefully observed my expression. Not finding any indication that I’m annoyed at Jinfeng, his mood rises, and he starts to ask about the East and West.

As I answered him, I noticed Xiao Zhu seed constrained. I asked her, “Xiao Zhu, are you concerned about your little brother?”

She shook her head. “Soone is looking after him, and he’s not hungry, I… this maid isn’t worried.” She wrings her hands.

I nod, not speaking further on it, Xiao Lu still asking about anything and everything. Even so, my head is getting heavy, the swaying of the coach like a cradle, and though the weather’s warm, wind is coming through the window. The sleep debt I amassed last night begins to demand my repaynt. Slowly, I lean against Hong Feng and fall asleep.

I wake up midway due to the heat, sweating, and discover myself pillowing my head on Hong Feng’s leg, her hugging my upper body. This… it’s… laying prostrate on a beauty’s knee is fantastic and all, but it’s still too hot today.

Opening my eyes, I’m t with Hong Feng’s own limpid ones fixed upon my lovingly, the look in them complicated yet gentle, inevitably dazzling . She asks if I want to eat sothing; I shake my head, mouth dry and tongue parched, and drink two mouthfuls of water with her help before going back to sleep.

The next ti I awoke, the sun was already slanting to the West. I was still using soone’s lap as a pillow, but the owner of said lap changed from Hong Feng to Jinzi. Seeing the face that warms my heart and pleases my eyes naturally puts in a good mood. Just as I was about to give him a smile that could craze all living things, he said, “Wipe your drool off first.”

I panic.

At the side, that little punk and my sworn-archenemy Yao Jinfeng childishly and deliberately laughs out loud! What an annoying brat!

It’s near evening when we finally find a county city to spend the night in having only gone 400-500 li for that whole day, and that’s with better horses. I can’t help but inwardly sigh: if this was modern tis, we wouldn’t be riding horses but driving my BMW, this bit of the road would have been done in two hours.

This city is in a considerably large county, but is of course a far cry from the bustling and splendor of the capital. Though we don’t want to flaunt ourselves, in such a small place, our things could be seen as beautiful people carrying might and prestige with our fancy carriage, fine clothes, and good horses. Since entering the city, countless people have co to watch the scene, and with children in two, there’s no also no need to ask; soone naturally points the coachman in the direction of the biggest inn.

Coming to the inn’s gate, the innkeeper had already personally co out to welco us. Xiao Lu jumped out and said, “Our family’s Young Masters have brought their won to go on an outing. If there’s a quiet, standalone courtyard, quickly put it in order!”

This kid is being so articulate makes glances at him a few tis. Only then do I recall that he had been very intelligent at the beginning, but I’d forgotten that point since every ti he saw he’d get that starry-eyed, infatuated look.

A small area’s inn having its own courtyards is uncommon, so there naturally isn’t one here, only about 5-ish high-class suites. Jinzi and I are in one, Zhou Zizhu in another, Hong Feng and Xiao Zhu in yet another, and Jinfeng and Xiao Lu in the last. Jinfeng expressed extre discontentnt with this arrangent, hooting and hollering that he wants to be with his brother; I have no objection to that, but unfortunately, his big brother very much did.

The dishes we eat are also relatively crude, only having dishes like Eight Treasure Duck, yellow river carp lips, pan fried deer’s leg. Though it tastes too much of grease, it’s a tough job to cook in this little place.

Because we were all extrely hungry, we found them all very appetizing, especially , who hadn’t eaten anything in whole day. While they had so dry goods at noon while on horseback, I didn’t get a grain of rice.

Jinzi and Zhou Zizhu are a little awkward and don’t say much. Xiao Zhu and Xiao Lu don’t sit with us, instead going to a table with the coach driver and Zhou Zizhu’s mysterious servant. Hong Feng is standing behind to serve the dishes for , but I pulled her down into a seat to eat.

Jinzi is sitting next to , Jinfeng beside him, and Zhou Zizhu opposite . Jinzi would give a dish from ti to ti, resulting in Jinfeng giving an increasingly bitter look, and retired early upon losing his appetite.

Jinzi went to look for Jinfeng after the al, probably to work on his ideological education, and told to go back to the room first. Hong Feng had an inn’s boyservant get hot water to help freshen up when we suddenly heard the sound of a xiao coming in from outside.

The notes and clear, graceful, low, and slightly lonely. Though I’m unlearned in music, my heart twists upon hearing it. “Good xiao,” Hong Feng says in a quiet voice.

I can’t stop myself from going out and searching for the sound’s source. As I expected, I see Zhou Zizhu leaned against a rock in the rear garden and blowing away with his head down, reflected in the water from the moonlight, giving the air of a fine noble son high above the world’s troubles now that he’s not in his official’s robes.

Seeing arrive, he stops the xiao and raises his head. “Sorry for disturbing you, Brother Zhang.”

I break out in a smile. “Brother Zhou is very refined. Qinglian admires it.”

He gives a humble smile. “Brother Zhang is good at rhythm. Can you play a song for ?”

I shake my head. “It’s shaful, but my rhythm doesn’t translate well to that. You will find it laughable. If you keep playing, Qinglian will just listen. You needn’t mind .”

He smiles again, and doesn’t give a firm refusal. “Pardon my disgraceful display.”

He changed the song to sothing slightly more calm and clear, like a tenderly flowing stream on this moonlit night, intoxicating as I listen. He suddenly stops playing, looking behind .

I look back to see that Jinzi had co to find at so unknown ti. “Forgive the poor playing, Brother Yao,” Zhou Zizhu says.

Jinzi coldly replies, “I’ve always heard that Sir Zhou is an expert musician, and he’s really worthy of the praise.” He then pulls on my hand. “We’re going back to the room.”

Before I went into the room I turn and see that Zhou Zizhu is staring at us in a daze with a very peculiar expression. Hey, the guy’s a proper gentleman; though the matters of catamites and homosexuality in the upper crust of ancient tis have never been few, it must still ve difficult for him to accept so plainly.

Things that make cry: Chinese has 574923 ways to refer to soone as a brother but English has a one (1) whole term

[1] The one thing I’m never sure about in this novel is the bloody horse breeds… the term used here is qinghua (青花), roughly “blue pattern”, and is typically used to refer to the blue designs on white Chinese porcelain. My searches didn’t yield any concrete breed, but I’m going to give a firm guess that it’s referring to grey horses (like this one or this one). The gray patterning on white hair would at least be fitting.

[2] Just called a “patterned mule”, which honestly leaves too much to the imagination. I’m thinking sothing like a pinto.