CH 27

As the foliage on the trees thinned, the winter wind blew north.

Not long after, Du Yue walked up to the doorway in a dallying manner as expected. He was apprehensive, and after seeing Qin Zhao avoid his gaze he grew even more perturbed, and after trying haltingly to speak for a while, said insipidly: “I’ve come back.”

Qin Zhao leaned his head slightly such that his expression could not be clearly seen, and didn’t speak a word.

Chu Mingyun responded to him in an expression of his great compassion, “Yo, you actually remember to return? You’re not going to stay at your cousin’s place for a few more days?”

“I also wanted to ah,” Du Yue thickened his face and walked in to sit down, “But it seems like I’m kind of getting in the way of things over there, Su Bai runs errands even faster than me.”

(T/N: Seems to be some sort of wordplay, to ‘run’ 跑 but 跑腿 = errand boy, so 连跑(,)腿都比我快 could literally mean Du Yue saying SB’s legs are faster than his, even though Su Shiyu probably means SB is running errands for him)

There are some people, take Du Yue for example, you really don’t know whether it’s his head that’s not working well or his heart is too honest.

Chu Mingyun ate his kumquat, appreciating Qin Zhao’s expression which had become even worse after being depressed for more than a month.

Du Yue also followed his gaze and gave Qin Zhao several glances, and finally drummed up the courage to speak: “Qin Zhao, I……I’ve come back.”

Chu Mingyun’s words from that day still felt as if they were pricking his heart, Qin Zhao was bad at expressing himself from the start, and now it was even more like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat, and it took a long while before he said hoarsely: “En.” After thinking for a bit, he added, “It’s good you’ve come back.”

Du Yue looked embarrassed, and also didn’t know what to say; he turned his head and saw Chu Mingyun wiping his hands, rising to leave, dressed clearly in a purple brocade robe. He (Du Yue) was suddenly curious, “Aiy, when I came out I also saw my cousin like this.”

”En.” Chu Mingyun fixed his lapel, “Today is the Winter Solstice1, the head of the literary officials also wears the same ceremonial garments.”

”Ah?” Du Yue was stunned, “Eating a dumpling in Chang’an is also so grand?”

Chu Mingyun’s hand stilled, and he held himself back from giving Du Yue a look of disdain, “……The Rite of Offering Sacrifice (祭天大典).”

Offering a sacrifice to heaven during the Winter Solstice, praying for moderate winds and timely rain, praying for the mountains and rivers to flourish (stability of the empire).

The ceremonial music filled the halls of the Weiyang palace, drums signalled the flags in the air, the hundred officials stood in rows, with Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu leading them, they bowed and kowtowed in greeting.

The styling of the Xia dynasty favored black, Li Yanzhen wore his pure-black imperial robes, went up to the Emperor’s place at the altar, offered up the jade objects and silk fabrics, singing the phrase, Coming harmoniously, ending with paying solemn respects**, an eight-row dance1 was offered in blessing below the alter.

Chu Mingyun squinted over there, seeing a whole group all solemn and respectful, and inexplicably thought of what Su Xing had said. This splendour and harmony, was it perhaps really just like the reflection of flowers and the moon over water, unable to withstand a strike.

The ceremony ended, and the officials gathered for the banquet. In the vast halls of the palace, musician and dancer ladies stepped across embroidered rugs in a single file, music blew from reed pipes, fluttering in a graceful dance. Li Yanzhen waved a hand from above declaring they enjoy themselves to the fullest today, and the gathered officials intertwined with wine cups and gaming chips (T/N: refers to having a large lively party, no actual gambling chips should be there), and the atmosphere became lively at once.

Chu Mingyun propped up his cheek with one hand, disinterestedly sipping at his wine, sitting alone at the head of the left side, and because of his antisocial behaviour not many went forth to offer toasts, and compared to Su Shiyu on the opposite side who was continually pestered by others, he was rather enjoying his peace.

It’s just that midway through the banquet there was a person who decided to disturb his peace. The palace maid bowed in salute, and said softly: “My mistress (niangniang) has put forth an invitation, hoping Your Honor will visit on her account.”

Chu Mingyun lowered his eyes to look at her, and simply ditched the polite address since there was no one around, “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard that I like men now?”

Jiang Yuan lowered her head slightly, “Of course I’ve heard, it’s just that feelings of attraction are not so easily wiped away.”

Chu Mingyun laughed, gripping Jiang Yuan’s chin and lifted her face up, and lowered his voice to ask, “Then you intend to have sex with me or else?”

He didn’t miss the flash of panic that passed through Jiang Yuan’s eyes. Her nails sank into his palm, forcing herself to meet those eyes calmly, “Your Honor……”

“I indeed had some pretty ladies in my residence previously, but they’re not like you.” Chu Mingyun interrupted her words, loosening his hand.

Jiang Yuan quickly lowered her head, and gathered her wits before asking, “How are they not alike?”

”They –” Chu Mingyun swept his gaze over her, “All had chests.”

“……” Jiang Yuan was stunned, then imperceptibly sucked in a deep breath, so as to calm down.

Chu Mingyun completed his greeting with a placid expression, “This humble subject bids his leave.”

Jiang Yuan was shocked when she heard those words, and could no longer care about much, hastily grabbing onto him, “Wait, Your Honor!”

Chu Mingyun turned his body to look at her, and Jiang Yuan released her hand, taking out a scented pouch from her her sleeve, and stuffing it into his hand, “Coming forward today, was actually just to give this scented pouch to Your Honor.”

”Can I not want it?” Chu Mingyun asked.

The author has something to say:

Coming harmoniously, ending with paying solemn respects (有来雍雍，至止肃肃)：《Shijing· Ode to Zhou· Yong》, the song sung during the Zhou emperor’s rites of ancestral worship.

Taiye pond: The Taiye pond of the Han period was not in the Weiyang (outer palace) but in the Jianzhong (middle palace), the plot required me to move it over =v=

Tianlu Pavillion: The national archive building during the Han period.

Others→_→

Chu Mingyun：Don’t worry, I love even your flat chest.

Su Shiyu：…………Should I be moved?

Chu Mingyun：You can take initiative.

Su Shiyu：You think too much.

(T/N: Attention, attention, there was a double update tonight so make sure you’ve read Chapter 26 before this. After next chapter, I will take a break from translating this to do the extras for Luan Shi Wei Wang.)

1. 八佾 – eight-row dance (of sixty-four dancers, the highest rank dance only performed for kings)

2.昭仪 – If this is set during the Northern and Southern dynasties period, this rank is the rank among the concubines, and only the Empress is superior to this rank.