The Times Spent in Pretense

All of a sudden, a racket came from outside the door. Dressed in brocade robes and hair bound in a jade crown, the crown prince entered the room in large strides. “Sir Du, I did not have them announce my arrival until now. Please forgive me, everyone.”

“Your Highness.” No one in the Du family had expected the crown prince to make a personal trip over. In succession, they saluted him.

“There’s no need to salute.” The crown prince quickly made his way to the bedside. One look at Du Songwen’s complexion and he knew he wasn’t well.

“Grand Preceptor Du.” The crown prince took a step back. Performed a salute toward Du Songwen, the type the younger generation would do so for their elders. “After Imperial Father heard that Grand Preceptor had fallen ill, he grew extremely worried. Because he cannot leave the palace easily, he had me specially take a trip to visit you.”

“This humble official thanks His Majesty for the grand grace.” Du Songwen attempted to return the salute, but the crown prince stopped him from doing so.

“Sir, you are Imperial Father’s greatly respected teacher,” said the crown prince. “I am of the younger generation, so ought to give you a salute. Rest well. Don’t worry about anything else.”

Then the crown prince asked the Du family how Grand Preceptor Du had fallen ill and what medicine he was taking. Once the Du family had answered him, the crown prince said, “I brought some yuyis and medicinal ingredients on my trip here. If you all do not mind, I will have the yuyis examine Grand Preceptor Du’s pulse.”

The Du family grew overjoyed at those words, promptly thanking the crown prince for the favor.

After a yuyi took Du Songwen’s pulse, he cast a glance at the crown prince. To which the crown prince placed Du Songwen’s hand underneath the covers and helped him adjust said covers properly. “Grand Preceptor Du, I’m going to observe how the yuyi writes the prescription. I’ll return in a short while.”

Du Songwen watched as the crown prince got up and left, faint tears glistening in his eyes.

When the crown prince left the room, he noticed that the yuyi’s expression wasn’t good. In a soft voice, he asked, “How is Grand Preceptor Du’s pulse?”

“Grand Preceptor… is already at his last moments,” said the yuyi in a helpless manner. “May Your Highness please forgive us. There’s nothing we officials can do.”

A moment of silence. “Does this type of pulse reading always point to such a fate?”

“Unless Grand Preceptor is changing his pulse with the help of neigong… But the people of the world typically practice regular martial arts. Practically no one studies the art of breathing from neigong.”

This basically meant Du Songwen could not be saved.

Footsteps rang behind him. The crown prince glanced back. And he caught sight of Sir Du and his daughter.

“Your Highness, this humble official has heard what the yuyis have said.” Sir Du’s eyes held tears. He bowed toward the yuyis with his hands held front. “It’s enough if you sirs try your best in providing critical care. If he’s unable to be saved, then… just alleviate my father’s pain.”

The yuyis returned his salute. “Rest assured, Sir Du. We humble officials will strive our best.”

The crown prince returned to the bedroom. Du Songwen called for him, and he made his way to the side of the bed.

“Your Highness, this old official fears the end is near,” said Du Songwen, expending much effort to do so. “May Your Highness learn the path of an emperor from His Majesty. Do not slack off.”

“Don’t worry, Grand Preceptor. I will do as you say.” The crown prince noticed that Du Songwen extended his hand. And so, he lightly held that aged hand.

“These past years, this old official has criticized Your Highness quite harshly. This old official has done wrong by you.” Du Songwen looked at the crown prince’s young and strong hand. “This old official believes that Your Highness will have great prospects for the future.”

“I know Grand Preceptor loves me deeply, and as such is strict with me,” said the crown prince in a gentle tone. “Imperial Father has frequently told me that back then, Consort Xiao had seized control of the imperial harem and excoriated Imperial Father. Yet, Grand Preceptor was unwilling to follow the bad example of others, and persevered in teaching Imperial Father every day, even gathering supporters in the court for him. Imperial Father remembers these matters well. I have also kept them in mind.”

“That was merely this old official’s duty.”

The crown prince saw that Du Songwen was tired, so said a few words of comfort to him. It wasn’t until Du Songwen had fallen asleep that he finally released his hand.

The members of the Du family were aware that Du Songwen had been critical toward the crown prince for the past few years. However, the crown prince returned good for evil: Not only did he carefully inquire about the elderly man’s reaction to the medicine, he also accompanied said elderly man and chatted with him for so long.

How many people could be this forgiving?

Even if the crown prince had some shortcomings, they were trivial and harmless. They basically had no influence on his character.

The one whose emotions proved the most complicated at this moment was Du Xiuying. After she followed her parents in respectfully seeing off the crown prince to the door, she heard her elders praise the crown prince to high heaven. Thus, she started to reflect upon herself. Had I been too dogmatic while evaluating that person?　　

After the conclusion of the spring exam, Hua Changkong spent two days in total idleness, sleeping after eating and eating after sleeping. Once he heard that the crown prince had caught his younger sister red-handed playing at a performance center while he was taking the exam, he suddenly no longer had the mood to catch up on sleep. He looked for Hua Liuli, who was sunbathing in the garden, and asked, “Little Sis, was the performance center fun?”

Hua Liuli said in a sickly manner, “Merely commonplace.”

“Your standards are too high.” Hua Changkong had servants move a chair over, so that he could sit near Hua Liuli. “How could a place like a performance center have pure and truly beautiful people? It would be better to raise two cultured and fair-skinned scholars who fell into dire straits. They would already know things like tone and mood, while also lacking a seductive aura.”

Hua Liuli waved. “Not interested.”

“What? You don’t want to raise handsome male pets? You want to do something else?” Hua Changkong reached out and poked Hua Liuli, who was not in the mood to budge. “Tell Third Brother. What sorts of interests do you have lately?”

“Nothing.” A sigh. “These past few days, each performance center and restaurant have been more boring than the last. In the past, I watched dances and listened to music, but now, to my surprise, they actually played games where people had to recite verses from poems. If I wanted to do things like this, I would rather play with the young nobles and young misses of the capital. At least they’d be more skilled in poem recitals than those people at the performance centers.”

“Soon, the state banquet with countless foreign nations will commence. It’s good to tidy up the capital. If the emissaries dare commit crimes on our land, we can’t give them trouble,” said Hua Changkong. “Otherwise, if people say things like ‘your own citizens of Great Jin do this, so why can’t we,’ wouldn’t this be smacking ourselves in the face?”

Hua Liuli snorted. Then she grabbed a piece of gauze and covered her face with it. So that her skin wouldn’t grow dark from too much sun.

“Isn’t it the Birthday of the Flowers tomorrow?” said Hua Changkong. “I’ve made plans with a few of the other exam candidates to go hiking in the outskirts. Do you want to come along, or would you rather spend the day with the other young misses?”

“I’ll go look for Jiamin. I won’t come along with you.” What’s fun about dull and straightforward boys? Bullying girls is more interesting.

“Alright.” Hua Changkong did not force her. “There’ll be many people tomorrow. You’re still not too familiar with the capital’s roads, so don’t wander off with the other girls. Remember to bring Yuanwei and Yurong with you.”

“Yes.” Hua Liuli nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t get lost that easily.”

Smiling, he caressed her head without a word.

The captive from Jinpo Country, Second Prince A’Wa, discovered he had a neighbor. Lately, he hadn’t shouted that he’d go on a hunger strike or wanted to see Hua Liuli. At long last, he ate his fill and drank excessively as he passed his days. Add the fact that he didn’t move around in his cell every day, and he grew a whole size plumper.

However, the cells to his left and right had been vacant. The Imperial Court of Judicial Review’s jailors did not speak with him, causing him to nearly grow insane.

It wasn’t easy for a neighbor to arrive. A’Wa cast aside his identity as a noble prince, taking the initiative to say, “Brother, what crime did you commit to be brought here?”

Yunhan glanced at the man with a double chin and unkempt beard. He straightened out his wide-sleeve robe, not sparing that man any attention.

“Are you mute?”

Yunhan did not so much as twitch.

“Are you deaf?”

Yunhan did not bother with him.

“A fool?”

Unable to endure it any longer, Yunhan said, “Be quiet.”

“A lowly prisoner like you is actually this disrespectful?” Although A’Wa dared not provoke the people of the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, he still felt a lot of superiority toward other prisoners. He had taken the initiative to speak to Yunhan because he had no place to show his superiority.

To be a person was to take happiness from attacking others.

Yunhan started at A’Wa as if the latter were a fool. We’re both prisoners, so who’s more noble than whom?　　

“Do you know who I am?” A’Wa felt around in a corner of his cell for a moldy steamed bun, which had been sitting there for who knew how long. And he threw it through the gaps in the bars at Yunhan. “Be careful how you look at me.”

Translated by Sleepchaser at https://sleepchaser.wordpress.com/ If you read it anywhere else besides Sleepchaser’s wordpress, that copy was stolen.

With the moldy steamed bun smacking against his cheek then dropping on his clothes, Yunhan’s expression darkened. “Get lost. Move farther away from me.”

Pah. Another moldy steamed bun hit Yunhan’s face.

But this time, it hadn’t been by A’Wa’s hand. Rather, another prisoner from a cell at the side had thrown it.

“Newcomers don’t understand the rules. Listen properly to what your seniors say. If you don’t understand the rules, us brothers will teach you when the jailor lets us go out for exercise,” said that prisoner, sitting cross-legged on the ground with a superior appearance.

“That’s right, that’s right, that’s right. You all need to teach him well,” said A’Wa with a huge grin as he slapped his leg. “What I, your father, cannot stand the most are those pretty boys who put on airs.”

“Shut up,” said a different prisoner to the side of A’Wa, the picture of disdain. “A shitty prisoner-of-war from the loser Jinpo Country is not fit to speak to Great Jin’s people.”

A’Wa was speechless.

There’s nothing good about Great Jin. Not only are the officials hateful, but even the prisoners are terrible too.

He was so angry that he dug up some mud and threw it at that prisoner. But their cells were one cell apart, so how could he hit his target? In the end, the mud hit Yunhan’s head.

“Brothers, this Jinpo Country dog actually dares to be so arrogant. Let’s teach him a lesson!”

“Beat him up!”

In a flash, a rotten steamed bun, dead rat, and worn-out shoes were sent flying from all directions. What a pity that A’Wa’s cell was too far away; most of the items fell into Yunhan’s cell.

Yunhan took in the hideous mess all around him. His clothes were filthy, and he had a breakdown.

These vulgar and hideous people actually dare to treat me this way!　

When I get out of here, I’ll definitely have that guy dead!　　

Pah.

A stinky shoe stuck to Yunhan’s forehead before falling off. He couldn’t hold back any longer, covering his mouth with his lips as he dry heaved.

“Shut up. If you keep making a racket, then today’s noon meal serving will be cut in half.” The moment the jailor had said these words, the whole prison grew silent. The prisoners who had spewed obscenities just a moment ago sat more wellbehaved than the next.

Those sitting in the prison belonging to the Imperial Court of Judicial Review were all implicated in significant cases, yet were temporarily kept alive. As such, they knew better than most people when to quit while ahead.

“You, what did you do? Clean up your cell.” The chief of the prison struck the door to Yunhan’s cell with a rod. Then he turned to ask the jailor behind him, “This person just arrived. Who brought him here? What crime did he commit?”

“Deputy Head Pei personally brought him here. There are many issues with his identity, and there’s a possibility that he is involved with those few large cases from earlier,” blurted the jailor. “Deputy Head Pei said that before the cases have been ascertained, we must keep a good watch on him.”

As someone from the Imperial Court of Judicial Review, the prison chief naturally knew what those large cases were. In a critical manner, he looked at Yunhan and said, “What an improper appearance. One look, and it’s clear he’s not an honorable man. Isn’t the quarry over there lacking people? Send him over.

“Don’t forget to have him change into coarse hemp garments.” The prison chief glanced at Yunhan’s face. “When you bring him to the quarry tomorrow, remember not to let him come into contact with anyone of high status. Just in case he pretends to be pitiful and seduces a noble young lady to come to his aid. That would bring us trouble.”

The prison chief had worked at this post for many years; he had seen all sorts of prisoners. In order to get out of punishment, they’d try to use their beauty to seduce their way out of things. All sorts of schemes.

It was better to be vigilant.

In the afternoon, the crown prince sat at a desk using scented paper to compose a few invitation cards. But no matter what, he was unsatisfied with his work. Some were too reserved in tone, while some were too outgoing. No matter what, there was something missing.

He even changed the way of address several times.

“Hua family’s girl” seemed too much like an older brother speaking to his younger sister. Directly addressing her as “Commandery Princess” seemed too polite. If he addressed her as “Liuli,” it would be too impetuous.

“Nevermind.” The crown prince set down his writing brush. Turned around to leave.

“Your Highness, your outer robe,” said his personal attendant rushing after him.

After leaving the palace, he made straight for the Hua family estate. The crown prince rode on horseback, staring at the guardian lion statues by the Hua estate’s gates for no less than thirty minutes.

The guards on duty as gatekeepers did not recognize him. However, when they noticed his uncommon attire and the people behind him dressed as court eunuchs, they carefully approached and said, “Excuse us, but who is Noble Personage looking for?”

“I heard that your third young master has finished taking the spring exam, and wanted to come have a look.”

“So it turned out to be Your Highness the crown prince.” The gatekeepers performed salutes in succession. “Please come in, Your Highness. Third Young Master is inside.” As the guards notified the masters of the crown prince’ arrival, they invited the crown prince inside in a deferential manner.

When Hua Changkong caught word that the crown prince had specially come for him, surprise sprang in his heart. When did he and the crown prince develop such a deep friendship? He simply participated in the spring exam. Was that worth the crown prince personally visiting him?

His parents had left the estate today, so Hua Changkong welcomed the crown prince in person. The two exchanged conventional greetings for a moment, when Hua Changkong noticed the other party looking outside again and again. Thus, he came to the conclusion that the crown prince was waiting for his parents, and explained, “Four hours ago, Father said Grand Preceptor Du had fallen gravely ill, and he and my mother went to pay him a visit. We did not know Your Highness would visit today, so please excuse them for not coming to meet you. Please forgive us, Your Highness.”

“It was I who came here unannounced. Changkong has done nothing wrong.” The crown prince turned the teacup in his hand.  “Is Commandery Princess here in the estate? I brought some snacks she likes.”

“May Your Highness wait a short moment. This humble subject will have someone summon my silly sister.”

“There’s no need to do so much work. It’d be bad if we disturb Commandery Princess’ rest,” said the crown prince in an insincere air.

“Since Your Highness has arrived here in person, then my silly sister must come greet you.” Hua Changkong arranged for a servant to call over Hua Liuli. “Your Highness is good friends with my silly sister. She cannot be spoiled like this.”

G-good friends?

The crown prince had a guilty conscience. Could it be that Hua Changkong saw right through me?　

“That girl is so childish. The more you indulge her, the more unpresentable she becomes. Even if you regard her as your real little sister, she still ought to follow rules and etiquette.”

A faint sigh from the crown prince. If it weren’t for the fact that he had no other alternatives, who would want to be the big brother of the person he liked?

Author’s Note:

Crown Prince: If one could be a beast, who would rather be a big brother?

Yunhan: Just because I’m VIllain A, I don’t get any respect?