Eight Treasures Trousseau
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Chapter 19
Glossary
夫人furen: mistress or madam/lady, referring to the legitimate wife 府fu: compound or estate;junw.a.n.g fu: prince’s estate/compound 郡王妃junw.a.n.g fei: the official wife of ajunw.a.n.g 氏s.h.i.+: clan/maiden name 王w.a.n.g: short forqinw.a.n.g(亲王) or first-rank prince 世子s.h.i.+zi: heir apparent to aqinw.a.n.g(first-rank prince) 世子妃s.h.i.+zi fei: the official wife of as.h.i.+zi 郡主junzhu: t.i.tle given to a daughter of aqinw.a.n.g(first-rank prince), or to a female of the Imperial Family by the Emperor’s decree [1]翁主wengzhu: t.i.tle given to a daughter of a princess [2]狀元zhuangyuan, 榜眼bangyan, 探花tanhua: literally “top thesis author,” “eyes positioned alongside” and “flower s.n.a.t.c.her”; they are respectively the graduate ranked first, second, and third overall in the triennial imperial examination 郡王junw.a.n.g: second-rank prince 太监taijian: court or palace eunuch [3]大人daren:general term of respect used to refer to those of status 本宫ben gong:lit.“this palace”; illeism for females of the Imperial Family and imperial consorts [4]表biao: relatives with a different surname. 表嫂biao sao: mother’s sibling’s (older) son’s wife (here); or father’s sister’s (older) son’s wife [5]堂tang: relatives with the same surname. 堂嫂tang sao: father’s brother’s (older) son’s wife [6]堂伯tang bo: elder male cousin on father’s side when referred to by a speaker who has married into the family (usually female). Here, Hua Xi Wan as Yan Jin Qiu’s wife is usingtang boto refer to Yan Jin Qiu’s elder male cousin on his paternal side, Yan Bo Yi.
Chapter Nineteen:King Xiang Has A Wife
Even though they were slightly far from the place that was surrounded by people from the Judicial Office, Hua Xi Wan could still hear the sobbing of ZhangFurenin the wind. Maybe it was that the loud sobs were so mournful that she couldn’t help but rub her arms. She said in a low voice, “Mu Tong, represent XianJunw.a.n.g Fuand go urge ZhangFure
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n.Tell her to not harm her body.”
“Yes.” Mu Tong knew very well that even if he went at this time to give comfort, it would be nothing in the face of grief at losing a child.Junw.a.n.g Feiwas a smart person and could not be ignorant of this. But sinceJunw.a.n.g Feihad told him to do so, then she naturally had her own intentions.
“XianJunw.a.n.g Feiis very kind.” ShengJunw.a.n.g Feiput down the curtain and said ambiguously. “She had the servant go to pour tea and hold the medicine.”
“En.” Yan Bo Yi flipped through the book in his hand and spoke without raising his head. “The Hua Family’s Second BranchFurencomes from the famed family Zhang.”
“So that is how it is.” Hous.h.i.+smiled. Seeing Yan Bo Yi’s attention was on the book, she did not speak again. She only raised the curtain and looked outside. She saw the servants from XianJunw.a.n.g Fucomforting ZhangFuren, each of them having expressions of worry and sorrow on their faces as though Master Zhang had been a member of their family.
Seeing this, Hous.h.i.+tilted her face down. The smile in her eyes faded slightly. There were not many from XianJunw.a.n.g Fuwho were simple.
After a long while, the road that had been blocked finally allowed access. ShengJunw.a.n.g Fuand XianJunw.a.n.g Fu’s carriages tried to give up the right of way for a while before ShengJunw.a.n.g Futravelled ahead. After them were Ningw.a.n.g s.h.i.+ziands.h.i.+zi Fei, and behind was Min HuaiJunzhu.
Min HuaiJunzhuusually followed Princess Rui He. It was extremely normal for her to come partic.i.p.ate at this time.
>翁主wengzhu: t.i.tle given to a daughter of a princess
When Hua Xi Wan learned that Min HuaiJunzhu’s carriage was behind them, she recalled what Princess Rui He had said on the wedding night. She said, “Min HuaiJunzhuis the daughter of Princess Shun Yi. How did she receive the t.i.tle ofjunzhu?” According to normal tradition, Min HuaiJunzhuwas the daughter of a princess and her t.i.tle should be awengzhu.[1]
“The empress likes Min HuaiJunzhuvery much, and last year, broke with tradition to decree her ajunzhuand gave her the words Min Huai as the t.i.tle. She said that she was going to raise Min Huai as her own daughter.” Yan Jin Qiu showed a complex smile. “This kind of high favor is not something the daughters of other princesses can have.”
The ranks ofwengzhuandjunzhuwere the same, and their true status depended on whether or not their family held power. Otherwise, what was the use in an empty t.i.tle? If the Empress really wanted to raise her as a daughter, she should have given the t.i.tle of princess. There was no need to make her an awkwardjunzhu, as though the Empress was wary of her.
She looked at the sardonic smile on Yan Jin Qiu’s face and did not keep asking.
The carriage was silent for a while before Yan Jin Qiu suddenly asked, “You are not concerned about Zhang’s murder case?”
“The Judicial Office will investigate this matter. What is the use in meddling in this?” Hua Xi Wan looked at Yan Jin Qiu with a burning gaze. Her lips curled as she smiled faintly. “There will be a result sooner or later. Am I not right?”
“Of course. The Judicial Office has always been serious and methodical in carrying out its cases.” Yan Jin Qiu smiled and raised the curtain to look outside. “We’re almost there.”
Hua Xi Wan raised her eyelids but did not speak.
Princess Rui He’s estate had just been finished, and it was the first time she had invited people for a visit. Yan Jin Qiu was so familiar with this place, it probably was not the first time he had come here.
Princess Rui He who had reached the estate ahead of time was not very happy when she heard the guests had encountered a fatal case on the way here. It really was inauspicious to have something like this occur when she had invited guests to her new manor.
狀元zhuangyuan, 榜眼bangyan, 探花tanhua: literally “top thesis author,” “eyes positioned alongside” and “flower s.n.a.t.c.her”; they are respectively the graduate ranked first, second, and third overall in the triennial imperial examination
“Is it that Zhang Family with the fivezhuangyuan, fourbanyanand seventanhua[2]?” Princess Rui He was not pleased inside, but she did not show it on her face. She looked at thefurensitting and accompanying her, and showed an expression of slight regret. “I hear that this Master Zhang is a very good scholar. I hadn’t imagined that he would encounter such horribleness. They have to capture the culprit. Such a person is too daring!”
This master Zhang had been missing for more than a month, and the Zhang Family had spent a lot of time and effort to search for him. The others had felt a long time ago that there would not be any good news. Now that the news had come, most people would sigh and say that it was to be expected.
There were many prestigious families in Jing. It was a prosperous place, but it was full of scheming. This Master Zhang had been famed from a young age, but he was arrogant. Relying on his birth from the Zhang Family, he looked down on the students from common families. In the last two years, he had become closer to the Crown Prince, his personality even more arrogant. Now, his tongue had been cut and one of his eyes gouged out. It must have been someone with a grudge who had delivered him such an outcome.
Those who were proud of their talents in history mostly did not have good endings. Those who were skilled but loyal to their country would leave behind a mark on history.
The people present heard the princess say this, and followed in sighing as though they had seen how outstanding Master Zhang had been.
After a wave of sighs, Princess Rui He asked, “Which families were delayed on the road?”
“Your Highness, this one heard that ShengJunw.a.n.g, XianJunw.a.n.g, Ningw.a.n.g s.h.i.+ziand Min HuaiJunzhuwere delayed. This one also heard that the officials from the Judicial Office have come to personally investigate. The Emperor… must be very angry.” Thetaijianwho responded was someone close to Princess Rui He, so he was more daring in his reply than other people.
“Did the womenfolk receive a fright?” Princess Rui He said worriedly. “The womenfolk are at such a young and blossoming age. How can they stand such a shock?”
大人daren:general term of respect used to refer to those of status
“Please, Princess, do not worry. The people from the Judicial Office will stop the carriages at a distance from the scene of the crime. The n.o.ble people did not see anything. Their emotions are steady. But XianJunw.a.n.g Feiis related by marriage to the Zhang Family and sent someone to inquire.” Thetaijianhesitated and then said, “And left some people to comfort ZhangFurenand ZhangDaren.”[3]
Princes Rui He nodded upon hearing this and indicated for thetaijianto retreat. She said to thefurensitting on the seats, “XianJunw.a.n.g Feiis an attentive person. Beautiful, of good birth, and cares for people. With her beside my cousin,ben gongdoes not feel worry.” Finis.h.i.+ng, she sighed. “Afuneeds a woman in charge of the household.”
Thefurenpresent naturally agreed. They were members of the Imperial Clan, but compared to these people, they were not worth a mention. They naturally had to flatter and prop Princess Rui He up. They also pretended not to hear how Princes Rui He’s words were complimenting XianJunw.a.n.g Feion the surface but were implying that XianJunw.a.n.g Fei’s appearance was too outstanding.
“We are at the estate?” Min HuaiJunzhustepped out holding the hand of her personal servant girl. Raising her head, she saw the carriage from XianJunw.a.n.g Fuin front of her. Yan Jin Qiu stepped on a stool and out of the carriage as she was momentarily dazed.
Min HuaiJunzhustopped in her steps. Just as she was going to speed up and go forward, a white hand came out of the carriage. And XianJunw.a.n.gwho was unparalleled in her eyes smiled and clasped that hand.
表biao: relatives with a different surname. 表嫂biao sao: mother’s sibling’s (older) son’s wife (here); or father’s sister’s (older) son’s wife
Her steps slowed. In a trance, a perfectly appropriate smile came onto her face, and she curtsied slightly to this XianJunw.a.n.g Fei.“Biao Sao,[4]greetings.”
“Min HuaiJunzhu, greetings.” Hua Xi Wan took her hand out of Yan Jin Qiu’s palm, and returned a curtsey with a smile. Then she walked side by side with Min Huai. “I have heard long ago that Min HuaiJunzhuhas both appearance and talent. Today, I know that the rumors are an underestimation.”
“Biao Saois too complimentary. It is just everyone raising me up.” Min HuaiJunzhuused this opportunity to examine Hua Xi Wan. “In front of you, how many females dare to call themselves beautiful?”
When Hua Xi Wan heard this, she smiled and shook her head. She said, half-sincerely and half-politely, “Even the most beautiful skin has a day when it will become old. Beauty is not everlasting.”
Min HuaiJunzhudid not believe it, but she smiled and responded. She turned her head and found Yan Jin Qiu silently following behind them, looking like a young master of jade with great mannerisms.
“Min HuaiJunzhu.” Hua Xi Wan suddenly put her hand on the other and said with a smile, “I heard before thatJunzhuis skilled in poetry. I wonder if I will have the good fortune to hearJunzhu’s poetic work.”
“It is just some random writing—it cannot be called a work of poetry.” Min HuaiJunzhuturned around in surprise. Maybe it was because she felt guilty inside that she felt the hand on the back of her hand was scorching hot.
“It is really rare to see two beauties on the same day.” The arrival of ShengJunw.a.n.g Feicaused the restlessness in Min HuaiJunzhu’s heart to decrease greatly. She smiled and curtsied to the other but felt bitter inside. Even though their ranks appeared the same, she knew very well that she could not compare to these two females. Her mother was honored as a princess, but because her grandmother was of a low birth and their Yuan Family was a ducalfuin decline, if she was not favored by the Empress, she would have even less to bolster her than she did now.
堂tang: relatives with the same surname. 堂嫂tang sao: father’s brother’s (older) son’s wife
“Tang Sao[5]is so beautiful and dares to laugh at us.” Hua Xi Wan and ShengJunw.a.n.g Feicurtsied at the same time to each other. It was unknown who first grasped the other’s hand, but in a flash, the two appeared to be close sisters. “I think you are purposefully saying this and waiting for us to praise you.”
“You have found me out—what to do?” Hous.h.i.+laughed, covering her mouth.
Hua Xi Wan blinked her eyes. “IfTang Saogives me a thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, I can consider sealing my mouth.”
“I do not have so much money. Why don’t I pay you with myself, and be your attendant.” Hous.h.i.+lowered her head and sighed. “I hope you will take pity on me then.”
tang bo: elder male cousin on father’s side when referred to by a speaker who has married into the family (usually female). Here, Hua Xi Wan as Yan Jin Qiu’s wife is usingtang boto refer to Yan Jin Qiu’s elder male cousin on his paternal side, Yan Bo Yi.
“Such a beauty—how can I not pity you,” Hua Xi Wan said with a smile. “ButTang Bo[6]would not bear it if the time comes, and I will become a criminal.”
Hous.h.i.+heard this. Her face flushed, and her smile became more sincere.
Min HuaiJunzhuwatched as the two people who had not conversed greatly before casually joked in front of her as though they were good sisters of many years. She smirked coldly inside. Who were they acting for? If there wasn’t His Highness the Crown Prince, these two would probably be fighting like cats and dogs.
She raised her head to imperceptibly look at XianJunw.a.n.gand ShengJunw.a.n.g. XianJunw.a.n.gwas silent with a smile, ShengJunw.a.n.gwas silent with an indifferent expression. The two walked side-by-side, but there was a distance of a pace between them.
Min HuaiJunzhumoved her gaze away. She jerked the corner of her lips and wanted to smile, but in the end, she wasn’t able to.
If she married XianJunw.a.n.g, not just taking care of his household, she would be willing to scheme on his behalf.
But it was a pity that Xiangw.a.n.g[i] had a wife, and she was just having a delusion.
[i] There is a famous poem called the “Shen Nv Fu.” It is a story describing how Xiangw.a.n.gencountered a G.o.ddess in his dreams, and how she looked. The G.o.ddess rejected Xiangw.a.n.g’s approach and then left at the end. But in this case, it is a reversal. Xiangw.a.n.ghas a wife, and the “G.o.ddess” (Min Huai) is alone.
