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maree-go-round · 2 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 50

Chapter 50 : I’ll make you see Hanhai Commandery as your true home.

The weather had cleared, and the grain shop in the city opened its door as usual to welcome customers. After sending off a few patrons, the shopkeeper suddenly noticed a group of people escorting a carriage to the entrance.

He took a careful look, then instructed his assistants to clear away idle onlookers. Then, he stood respectfully and waited by the door

Moments later, Qiushuang, who frequently came to deliver messages, walked in.

As usual, Qiushuang was dressed in a round-collared robe, disguising herself in men's attire. Upon entering, she glanced at the shopkeeper, then turned her head, folded her hands, and stepped back two paces.

Qichi walked in under a veiled hat. Her sleeves lifted slightly to reveal a green jade token.

The shopkeeper immediately stepped forward. "Master."

Qichi nodded and slowly walked around the shop, inspecting the front and back. After completing her circuit, she returned and said, "Let me see the account books."

The shopkeeper hurriedly fetched it, presenting it with both hands.

Qichi took the books, flipping through them briefly before closing them. Handing them back, she suddenly asked, "What is your name?"

The shopkeeper was stunned, surprised. "Master has never asked for my name all these years. Why suddenly..."

Qiushuang interrupted him, "Since you've been asked, just answer."

The shopkeeper quickly replied, "My name is Xie Jiu."

Qichi noted his name and said, "You did well at the tea house the other day, and your previous work has been commendable. From now on, when I'm not here, I will entrust the businesses in northern lands to your care."

Xie Jiu couldn't help but feel puzzled. "But Master, you are clearly still in the northern lands. Why do you say such things?"

"No need to ask further," she replied. "Just do as I say."

He quickly responded, "Yes, I will remember."

Qichi has inspected several large shops along the way, and this one is the last one.

She glanced around the shop one more time, organizing her thoughts before speaking slowly, "The livelihood of the people in the northern lands is just beginning to improve. Most of them are still poor. From now on, if it is related to agricultural tools or medicinal supplies, allow them to buy on credit and grant an extra ten percent discount."

Xie Jiu lowered his head. "I will follow Master’s instructions."

"Everything should proceed as usual. Do what you need to do. If anything arises that is difficult to decide, send a message to me, and I will handle it personally."

"Yes."

Qichi paused at the door, unable to think of anything else to say. She then turned and left.

Once back in the carriage, Qiushuang followed her inside, unable to resist asking, "Master, have you truly made your decision?"

Qichi removed her veiled hat, leaned back in the carriage, and gently hummed in response.

Seeing her expression, Qiushuang said no more.

"Has he gone to the military camp?" Qichi asked suddenly.

Qiushuang replied, "Yes, the Grand Protector has taken Young Lord Cui to the camp."

She nodded. "That’s good, then."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The carriage returned to the Protectorate.

The residence was busy with servants coming and going.

Qichi walked back to the main house, where the scene was equally busy.

Xinlu was carefully organizing the account books, stacking them neatly one by one and wrapping them up.

Sitting to the side was Li Yan, dressed in a snow-white silk robe, watching Xinlu's movements intently. When he saw Qichi enter, he glanced at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Qichi walked over, sat down beside him, and smiled. "Do you have something to say?"

Li Yan looked at her smiling face and finally spoke. "Aunt, are you truly happy?"

That faint smile remained on her face. "Why do you ask?"

Li Yan reached out and tugged at her sleeve. "Aunt, for all these years, you've never thought of yourself because of me. Now that you’ve finally reunited with Uncle, is there really no way out of this?"

As a member of the imperial family secretly involved in commerce, the sight of his aunt that night had made him realize the severity of the situation. He had been quietly worried for a long time.

Qichi patted the back of his hand. "Don't worry. At the very least, you still have a rich aunt. I've told you before, money is a good thing."

Li Yan frowned, unsure of what to say.

Qichi reassured him, "Alright, off you go now. You have the most to prepare. Go get ready and don't let yourself be delayed."

After speaking, she glanced at Qiushuang.

Qiushuang understood and stepped forward to help. "Young Lord, I’ll assist you in packing."

Li Yan had no choice but to get up. As he walked out, he turned back to glance at his aunt.

Qichi sat there, her gaze falling on a corner of the room, unmoving, lost in thought.

He touched the dagger at his waist.

This was given to him by his uncle, who had taught him to be a man and never hide behind women when facing challenges.

As he walked along the way, he called out to Qiushuang, "I must inform my teacher. If my aunt asks for me, please tell her to wait."

Qiushuang acknowledged, "Then, Young Lord, please be quick. Don’t miss the appointed time."

Li Yan agreed and continued to walk forward. However, instead of heading to the study where he usually took lessons, he turned and walked out.

The wind swept through the military camp as the sun began to set.

Fu Ting walked outside the training grounds. Luo Xiaoyi followed behind him, one hand rubbed at an injury that hadn’t fully healed, while the other gestured behind him, inviting the people behind to follow.

Cui Mingdu, accompanied by several officials, trailed after them.

Inside the training grounds, the soldiers were going through their drills, but there was little energy in their movements.

While others might not notice, Luo Xiaoyi knew it very well. The soldiers were merely putting on a show, an ordinary display with nothing impressive to see.

His elder brother had explained that this marquis’ heir was here in the northern lands under false pretenses, so there was no need to show him any real combat prowess. They had no reason to bring out the elite troops of Hanhai Commandery for someone from the Cui family, with whom they never had any contact with.

After surveying the grounds, Cui Mingdu turned to Fu Ting and offered his thanks. "I’ve already imposed upon the city by my presence. I am grateful that Grand Protector Fu has allowed me into the military camp to witness the soldiers' prowess."

Fu Ting gave him a glance and said, "The Protectorate is rather dull. I guess Young Lord Cui likely had no one to talk to, so why not come to the military camp?"

Hearing this, Cui Mingdu’s expression shifted slightly. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some hidden meaning behind the words and glanced at him.

Fu Ting's dark eyes swept over him briefly before turning away.

The Protectorate was under his control; nothing within its grounds could escape his notice.

Even under the trees after the rain, when Cui Mingdu had stood with Li Qichi for just a brief moment, he had already noticed. He hadn’t gone over to listen or expose them. After all, it was part of Li Qichi’s past, and it was only right that she handled it herself.

But that didn’t mean he was unaware.

Cui Mingdu looked out at the training grounds, offering polite praise. "No wonder these soldiers are strong enough to defend against the Turks."

He deliberately steered the conversation away.

Fu Ting didn’t respond.

Luo Xiaoyi rubbed his waist as he smiled and said, "You flatter us, Young Lord Cui."

He thought to himself, these stuffy scholarly types really know how to compliment even the most mundane things.

Suddenly, the sound of a horse's neigh broke the air. Fu Ting turned swiftly, his sharp gaze sweeping into the distance.

A rider had seemingly just arrived on horseback, tugging on the reins to slow the horse.

Fu Ting’s keen eyes recognized the rider immediately. Without waiting for a report from the guards, he strode over.

Luo Xiaoyi, noticing Fu Ting’s sudden departure, squinted in the direction he was headed. The young noble dressed in a snow-white silk robe—wasn't he the little princely heir? Why would he come all the way to the military camp?

Li Yan had been here once before, so he still remembered the way. But that last time, his uncle had accompanied him; this time, he had come alone, and it took quite some effort.

The military camp was heavily guarded, and before he could even get close, patrolling soldiers had stopped him for questioning. It wasn’t until one of his uncle’s personal guards recognized him that he was allowed to pass.

When he saw his uncle approaching from afar, Li Yan quickly dismounted.

Fu Ting stopped before him, looking him up and down. "What are you doing in the camp?"

Li Yan, still catching his breath from the ride, replied obediently, "I came specifically to find you, Uncle."

"Is something wrong?" Fu Ting asked.

Li Yan hesitated for a moment, glancing around.

Fu Ting turned and said, "Come to my tent."

Li Yan quickly followed.

Inside the tent, Fu Ting walked straight to the map stand before turning around and standing still. "Speak."

Li Yan's hand instinctively went to the dagger his uncle had given him at his waist. Summoning his courage, he asked, "Uncle, I want to ask if you despise my aunt."

Fu Ting frowned. "What?"

Li Yan lowered his head briefly before looking up again, his voice low. "I know merchants have always been looked down upon. My aunt is of noble birth, yet she chose this path. People must think she has degraded her status. I just don't know if you turned a cold shoulder to her because of this."

He only wanted to know if his uncle couldn’t tolerate his aunt because of this matter.

If that were truly the case, then there was no need for him to say anything more.

Fu Ting replied, "No."

The answer was firm, without a trace of hesitation.

Li Yan's eyes lit up immediately. "Really?"

Fu Ting nodded.

As a man who had worked his way up to where he is today step by step, the last thing he cared about was social status.

What was wrong with being a merchant? At least they didn’t have to worry about making a living. He, on the other hand, had struggled through times when even food and clothes were hard to come by. How could he possibly look down on merchants?

As for the matters between him and Li Qichi, how could he explain those to this half-grown boy? All he said was, "If you came just to ask me this, then rest assured, you can go back now."

With that, he made his way to leave the tent.

Li Yan quickly called after him. "Uncle, wait! There’s more."

Fu Ting paused, turning to look at him.

Li Yan clenched his fists, steeling himself before blurting out the truth: "My aunt… she’s leaving."

She had already asked Xinlu to count the people she had brought from Guang Prefecture, packed up her belongings, and checked on the shops in the city. All the preparations were nearly complete.

She was ready to leave.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Luo Xiaoyi was accompanying Cui Mingdu as they exited the training grounds when he suddenly noticed the large tent's curtain lift from a distance, and his third brother strode out.

Curious, Luo Xiaoyi saw Li Yan follow behind, standing there somewhat uneasy.

"Is that the princely heir of the Prince of Guang?" Cui Mingdu asked. He had seen him briefly in Gaolan Prefecture and had a slight impression of him. It was also because Li Yan’s features bore a slight resemblance to Qichi’s. Cui Mingdu wondered aloud, “He came here to find Grand Protector Fu. Could it be that the Princess of Qingliu has something to do?”

At the mention of his sister-in-law, Luo Xiaoyi laughed lightly, thinking that his third brother's relationship with his sister-in-law wasn't quite resolved yet. He didn't want another party getting involved, so he responded vaguely, "How could it be? The young lord has been practicing martial arts with me, so he’s likely here to see me."

With that, he walked toward them.

Upon arriving, he patted Li Yan’s shoulder and asked, “What’s the matter?”

Li Yan glanced around cautiously before leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

Hearing this, Luo Xiaoyi's expression changed dramatically. He quickly searched for his third brother, but all he heard was the long neigh of a warhorse. By then, the man had already galloped off on horseback and was quickly disappearing from sight.

Meanwhile, Qichi sat before her dressing table, adjusting her appearance before rising from her seat.

Xinlu approached and said, “Master, everything is ready. However, the young lord is still bidding farewell to his teacher, so there might be a slight delay.”

Qichi nodded. “Urge him to hurry. It's getting late, and we need to leave before the city gates close.”

Xinlu left to carry out the order.

Qichi stepped outside.

The corridors were quiet, with most of the servants having already completed their tasks and withdrawn.

She walked out of the rear courtyard, walking along the corridor. As she neared toward the residence gate, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.

In the fading light, a man stood at the end of the corridor.

She froze for a moment, not expecting him to return so suddenly.

Dressed in his tight military attire, Fu Ting stood tall and imposing just a few steps away from her. His eyes scanned her from head to toe.

Qichi’s hair was intricately styled, and she wore a flowing moon-white silk cloak, a clear sign that she was prepared to leave.

He had seen everything when he returned just now. The carriages were already prepared outside, and the attendants she had brought from Guang Prefecture awaited her with hands at their sides.

Li Yan hadn’t been lying, she was indeed leaving.

His voice was low and heavy as he spoke, "Were you planning to leave without saying goodbye?"

Qichi’s gaze shifted slightly. Realizing that he had already seen everything, she clasped her hands together gently and said, “I didn’t want you to think I was using my departure to pressure you."

Especially with Cui Mingdu still present, there was no need to make this matter public.

He stared at her. “So you were planning to leave quietly.”

Qichi’s lashes fluttered slightly as she lowered her gaze and responded in a faint voice, “If there was a slight possibility, I wouldn’t have chosen to leave. But we’ve reached this point because I’ve pushed too hard. Perhaps our fate as husband and wife is weak. I won’t force it anymore.”

Fu Ting’s expression darkened instantly. “Say that again.”

These words struck Qichi like a blow, and her heart seemed to shatter along with them. She lifted her head. “Our fate as husband and wife is weak. I won’t force it anymore.”

Fu Ting’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression cold and stern, his dark eyes locked on her face.

She looked at him, pondering countless possibilities, but knowing none could be true. She walked forward to the residence gate.

As she walked past him, he remained still.

Once outside, she gracefully lifted the hem of her clothes and began to board the carriage. Just as her hand reached for the curtain, all the attendants lowered their heads in silence.

Suddenly, there was the sound of hurried footsteps behind her. A hand grabbed her arm.

She turned back, and her eyes met the man's face.

Standing on the carriage step, she was finally at eye level with him.

Fu Ting looked at her, then extended his arm and pulled her by the waist.

Startled, Qichi found herself hoisted onto his shoulder.

None of the attendants dared to look as he carried her directly back inside.

Qichi had never experienced such a situation before. With her body draped over his shoulder, she clung to his military attire. She wanted to struggle free herself, but his grip on her legs was unyielding. She was carried all the way back into the room.

He kicked the door shut behind them and pushed her down onto a chair.

As if the world were spinning around her, she sat down slightly out of breath, meeting his gaze.

"Our fate as husband and wife is weak?" He spat the words as if through gritted teeth. "Then with whom do you share a stronger fate?"

She couldn’t find the words. She stood, intending to leave.

Fu Ting grabbed her, sneering. “Leaving? You don’t want the debts I owe you anymore?”

“No, I don’t want anything anymore,” she replied with feigned indifference. As she turned to leave, her cloak slipped from her shoulders, but she didn’t care.

Fu Ting grabbed her hand with force.

He wrapped his arm around her waist from behind and pulled her close, he whispered in her ear, “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

Her heart skipped a beat as his hand unfastened her belt.

Qichi held the Hu chair with both hands. Her back was exposed, and she shivered at the sudden coolness.

For a moment, her entire body suddenly tensed.

Fu Ting’s lips landed on her back.

Her face and body heated rapidly as his hands explored her.

She clung to the armrest of the Hu chair with both hands, biting her lip.

The buckle of the military belt behind her clicked open, and in the next moment, their bodies pressed together.

His hands and mouth were all tormenting her.

Her body was soft as water, allowing him to do as he pleased.

After some time, she tensed up to bear his entrance, and her fingers grasped the armrest tightly.

Suddenly, Fu Ting reached out, turning her face toward him. He leaned in, capturing her lips with his own.

Qichi froze for a moment, her heart racing wildly.

He kissed her fiercely, tracing every inch of her lips before his tongue slipped between her teeth.

A soft moan escaped her as her mind went blank.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The room remained unlit, and the darkness outside deepened.

Fu Ting continued to hold her from behind, firm and unyielding.

Qichi’s body swayed like a willow as he turned her face toward him again and again to kiss her.

She was weak and powerless, forgetting why she had wanted to leave.

Until that moment when she thought she could not endure it any longer and almost collapsed, he held her tightly in his arms.

He turned her around to face him, holding her tightly with one hand, and lifting her chin with the other hand. He said in a low and hoarse voice, “One day, I’ll make you see Hanhai Commandery as your true home.”

Qichi's gaze slowly focused on his face, landing within those dark eyes. It seemed as if she had returned to her senses, yet also as if she had become more entranced than ever before. Her voice was soft and faint as she murmured, “I’ll wait…”

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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dreamingsushi · 4 years ago

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Let’s get crazy on live - Episode 2

So let’s jump again in the world of the medias with the second episode of Let’s go crazy on live. Last episode, You Yuan Le made a bet with his company’s star, Cindy, that sweet and quiet Lin An An can gain followers than her within three months. Unfortunately, Lin An An refused the offer as she wants to become a civil servant and has no will to gain fame.

The episode starts with Cindy coming to Lin An An’s work place. She says she wants to thank her for giving her an opportunity to add a new condition to her contract with Lang Direct. Lin An An is like... okay, I just want to live peacefully, I never wanted to be part of that competition in the first place. Then, Cindy shows her true self and is extremely rude to Lin An An which makes her friend angry. When Cindy leaves, Luosha is mad at herself for not filming the whole scene. So they try to check the convenience store’s footage, but they can’t use it as she was smiling all along.

You Yuan Le goes to the convenience store looking for An An, but she already left. When he asks about Cindy, Meili gets super upset, she used to look up to her so much and the company was advertising something fake and she spent so much money... But Yuan Le stops her ranting by giving her a business card and saying she will get her money back with customer service. He just wants to know where Lin An An is.

She went to pick up her grandfather. He works in the street selling sweet potatoes. With the next stall lady, they eat expired meals from the convenience store. MeiLi gave a little more to An An to comfort her. Yuan Le spies from behind and follows her and her grandad on their way home. He only shows himself to help them move the stall at a difficult moment and goes all the way home with them. He was worried about An An, but she seems to be doing fine and he tells her that he thought she was a coward, but her way of thinking isn’t bad either. Right when he’s about to leave, An An screams. Seems like the grandad got ill.

So grandad’s condition is stable, but he has a heart problem and needs surgery. The price is extremely high, but Luosha says to An An not to worry, she has the money for it. An An promises to repay her as soon as possible.

Cindy goes to Ren Hao’s place to look for Yuan Le, but he’s not there. Ren Hao tells her to maybe try to change her attitude in front of Yuan Le, because being agressive obviously doesn’t work here.

An An decides to go to Lang Direct and accept the challenge. However she still hesitate to overcome her shyness. In the end, she leaves it all in the ends of fate. If the can of sprite she found lands in the garbage when she throws it, then she will do it. It does. So goes to Yuan Le. At first the team isn’t convinced she can do it, but then they decided to help her and she gets a cute make over!

Yuan Le takes An An away and she feels like people are laughing at her when they look at her. But Yuan Le explains to her again that there are many reasons why people would smile looking at her and she needs to gain more confidence. Then she starts glowing a little and takes him to the hospital to see her grandad.

They have some trouble to find a theme for An An’s streams, but they end up choosing on making her into a food vlogger. She learns her script by heart through lots of efforts. But when it comes to finally start her first broadcast... she can’t start to speak, she has stage fright and remembers similar occasions in the past where she was too shy to speak in public. Yuan Le orders to stop the stream, An An runs away, because she feels useless that she can’t overcome her fear.

So the stream was a total disaster and the team needs to find an idea to solve An An’s problem. But there’s nothing coming up to their mind so they decided to leave Yuan Le to solve the problem, since he caused it.

Cindy tries to lure Yuan Le to have dinner with her and she manages to do so. While eating, she tells him about an experiment on how if you compliment a girl 50 days, her aura will change. So he thanks her, buy the dinner and leaves in a hurry.

And it is how the episode ends! I am really eager to see some character development, especially for Lin An An, because I used to be a shy girl too, well I am still shy, but I learnt how to hide that. I believe this shall be interesting and I hope grandad is okay!

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maree-go-round · 2 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 49

Chapter 49 : Moving up to kiss hiss chin.

The sky was grim, shrouded in dark clouds.

Outside the Protectorate, five or six officials, neatly dressed in their official robes, waited in silence.

u Ting walked out, followed closely by Cui Mingdu.

The officials immediately stepped forward, greeting Cui Mingdu and inviting him to inspect the inner and outer areas of the Hanhai Commandery.

This arrangement was made by Fu Ting.

Since Cui Mingdu claimed to be there on behalf of the Emperor to observe the people’s livelihood of the northern lands, Fu Ting naturally had to fulfill his wish.

A servant brought Fu Ting’s horse over. Just as he took the reins, Cui Mingdu suddenly asked, "Why doesn't Grand Protector Fu invite Princess of Qingliu to join us?"

He turned to look at him. "Does Young Lord Cui wish for my wife to accompany us?"

Cui Mingdu responded, "It's just that, back in Gaolan Prefecture, I often saw the two of you coming and going together. I assumed your relationship was close, so I thought to ask."

Fu Ting's tone grew slightly colder. "Young Lord, it seems you have taken quite an interest in our married life."

Cui Mingdu was caught off guard, then smiled. "The Princess spent thousands of gold back then, everyone present couldn’t help but pay attention to it. Naturally, I paid some attention as well."

From these words, it seemed not bringing Li Qichi along would raise suspicions.

Fu Ting's gaze swept over him, deliberately ignoring the subtle insinuation. He then commanded a servant, "Go invite Madam to join us."

Cui Mingdu offered a polite gesture. "I apologize for my impertinence."

Fu Ting gripped his whip without saying another word.

He was well aware that Cui Mingdu’s courtesy was far from genuine.

Moments later, Qichi emerged from the residence gate.

Cui Mingdu's eyes immediately turned to her.

She wore a veiled hat, her long skirt trailed on the ground, her arms draped in a flowing shawl, making it difficult to see her expression.

Cui Mingdu couldn’t tell if she was still as pale as she had been when standing at the study door.

Her two maids, Xinlu and Qiushuang, followed closely behind her. Their heads lowered out of deference to the Grand Protector, neither dared to raise their heads. They moved swiftly to put the stool in front of the carriage and then turned back to assist their master get on the carriage.

Qichi stopped in front of Fu Ting.

Xinlu and Qiushuang then withdrew.

She lifted the veil from her hat slightly and looked at him. Glancing briefly at Cui Mingdu in the distance, she spoke quietly, “If you do not wish me to go, just say so. I will stay behind.”

Still holding the reins, Fu Ting swung himself onto his horse. "I never said you couldn’t go."

Qichi lowered her gaze. When she had heard the servant come to invite her earlier, she hadn’t expected Fu Ting to take the initiative. Curious, she had asked the servant why. The servant said it was at the esteemed guest’s request, and only then did she realize it was Cui Mingdu’s doing.

Without saying another word, she stepped onto the stool and climbed into the carriage.

Fu Ting raised his leg, stepped on the stirrup and got on the horse, stealing a glance toward Cui Mingdu.

Sure enough, Cui Mingdu was watching them again.

He couldn't help sneaking a glance at the carriage. Even though he had spent years stationed in the northern lands, he was well aware of the Emperor’s favor toward the Cui family.

If Li Qichi had married Cui Mingdu instead, would she have showered him with the same affection she once showed Fu Ting? Would she have said all the words she’d once spoken to Fu Ting, but this time to Cui Mingdu?

The thought made his lips curl slightly, and he tightened his grip on the reins.

There were no "ifs".

Li Qichi has already married him.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The group set out on the road, first traveling to the outskirts of the city to inspect the newly cultivated farmland, then making their way back toward the city.

The officials accompanying them introduced the current situation to Cui Mingdu along the way.

The Grand Protector had instructed them to make the inspection a mere formality, and so their explanations were nothing more than superficial talk.

Cui Mingdu didn’t seem particularly interested in listening. Riding on horseback, he occasionally glanced toward the carriage or ahead to Fu Ting, who was leading the way.

At one point, the carriage curtains lifted briefly, and he caught sight of Qichi’s hand gripping the fabric before she let it fall once more.

By the time they returned to the city, the dark clouds had descended even lower.

Within half an hour, rain began to fall from the sky.

Fu Ting ordered the group to seek shelter nearby.

The officials found a nearby shop and ushered the esteemed guest inside to take shelter from the rain.

Due to the rain, the shop was mostly empty, and it was soon cleared out entirely to accommodate the officials.

As Fu Ting stepped inside, his eyes were drawn to the fish-shaped trademark of the merchant house on the wall.

His gaze shifted to Qichi, who had entered shortly after. She stood facing him, hands tucked into her sleeves.

Upon reaching her shop again, no one could find anything to say.

The spring rain in the northern lands was often sudden and sharp, arriving suddenly and splattering noisily from the eaves to the ground below.

The officials accompanied Cui Mingdu to sit aside. The shop’s employees came forth to serve tea.

Cui Mingdu cast a glance toward the side room, where he could vaguely make out Qichi’s silhouette sitting quietly. His eyes drifted back toward the door, where Fu Ting stood tall without stepping into the side room.

Cui Mingdu cast another glance toward the side room.

Throughout the entire journey, the couple had exchanged barely a handful of words. Especially Qichi, who had barely spoken, just following Fu Ting silently.

He recalled the scene at the Buddhist temple and to Qichi’s pale face by the study door, the image replaying over and over in his mind.

"Young Lord Cui?" An official called him.

Cui Mingdu returned to his senses, smiling courteously. After a moment, his eyes strayed again toward the side room.

By the time the rain stopped, Fu Ting still hadn’t entered the room.

Everyone was about to leave.

Before leaving, Cui Mingdu glanced around and said to Fu Ting, "I hadn’t expected the northern lands to have such a prosperous shop. It seems trade flows smoothly here."

He had noticed earlier that the shop mostly sold goods transported from the south, which were hard to come by in the north. Without sufficient financial resources and manpower, it would be difficult to transport them from thousands of miles away.

Fu Ting said nothing, merely casting a glance at Qichi as she stepped out from the side room.

How could he know that the owner of this prosperous shop was standing right in front of him?

By the time they returned to the Protectorate, the sky was already dark.

Xinlu and Qiushuang were waiting by the carriage. Qichi removed her veil and handed it to them.

As she entered the residence, she noticed that the front courtyard, which was rarely opened, was still filled with officials.

Fu Ting must still be there.

She thought back to the journey, they had barely spoken a word.

As she walked along the corridor, making her way to the rear courtyard, a servant hurried over and bowed before her. "My lord humbly requests the Princess of Qingliu to come. He has an imperial message from the Emperor to deliver to you."

She instantly understood. "Your lord is Young Lord Cui?"

"Yes."

How could the Emperor possibly have a message for her? It was obvious that he had never paid her, a member of the imperial family, much attention.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she followed the servant.

At the corner of the front porch, there was a cluster of trees, with branches stretched out.

As she approached, she heard a soft voice call out, "Princess."

Qichi stopped, but did not look clearly at the person. She asked, "What is the Emperor’s message?"

"My apologies, Princess." Cui Mingdu stood on the other side of the trees, his gaze fixed on her vague figure. "I know you are cautious of impropriety, so I had no choice but to take this approach. I only wanted to say a few words to you."

Qichi turned slightly toward him. "There is nothing we should have to say in private."

He seemed somewhat anxious. "Please, Princess, allow me to speak just one sentence."

She remained silent.

Several slender branches of green leaves extended before Cui Mingdu, their leaves half-concealing the delicate figure of a woman dressed in light attire and coiffed hair, as if forming a barrier between them.

He looked at her profile and spoke in a low voice, "Actually, I am not yet married."

Qichi lowered her eyes, her expression unchanging.

She recalled that back in Gaolan Prefecture, she seemed to have heard the governor mention that he went to the horse field alone every year. At that time, she assumed he was unhappy in his marriage. It turned out he had never married at all.

"Why does the Young Lord need to tell me this?"

Cui Mingdu took a step closer and whispered, "Princess, you should know what I mean. I want to tell you the truth. It wasn’t my intention to break off the engagement. I have never taken a liking to anyone else. I knew it was improper and I argued with my family for three months, but..."

But the outcome was already clear; there was no need to say more.

Qichi's tone was calm. "Then I suppose the Marquis of Heluo’s household found the declining Prince of Guang's household unsuitable."

Cui Mingdu’s voice lowered, "The reason cannot be explained in one or two sentences. I only want you to know that breaking off the engagement was not my intention."

Qichi clutched the hem of her clothing, her heart clear as a mirror.

To fabricate a reason to break off the engagement, it could only be because of the Prince of Guang household’s declining status.

When the engagement was first arranged, her parents were still alive, and her elder brother was young and outstanding. The Prince of Guang's household had a vast network of connections.

Later, her parents passed away, her sister-in-law died in childbirth, and her elder brother refused to remarry. After that, he was severely injured and bedridden, leaving only a young child, too young to take on responsibilities.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; wise people know where to place their bets.

Perhaps the Marquis of Heluo fabricated the reason of his son liking someone else more suitable as a way to preserve the Prince of Guang household’s dignity.

"Thank you for telling me, Young Lord," she said, "But it no longer matters. It is nothing but a thing of the past."

She should be grateful for the broken engagement. She didn’t need a husband who couldn’t make his own decisions, nor a family that looked down on her family’s status.

She turned away without sparing him another glance, ready to leave.

Cui Mingdu took a step forward, calling out, "Princess!"

Qichi had her back to him, but did not turn around.

He recalled everything that had happened before and finally couldn't help but say, "Princess, it’s clear you are not doing well. If the Grand Protector of the North treats you poorly, it’s all my fault. I am willing to bear the responsibility."

Qichi almost thought she had heard wrong. She turned her head slowly. "Young Lord, do you know what you are saying?"

Cui Mingdu finally saw her face clearly. It was a remote place, and the lights had not been lit, but he could see clearly in the twilight. Her eyebrows were delicate as if painted, and her red lips were lightly pressed together.

A face like that should only wear a smile, not tears.

He looked at her figure, and suddenly a thought flashed in his mind: This woman should have been his wife.

He seemed startled by his own thoughts. After a long while, he finally said, "I know."

Qichi’s eyes were indifferent, her tone equally so. "The engagement is broken. I have no further ties with the Marquis of Heluo’s household anymore. There is no need for you to concern yourself with my well-being."

Even Cui Mingdu himself hadn’t expected those words to come out of his mouth.

Perhaps it was guilt, or perhaps it was regret, or perhaps, he had never forgotten that brief encounter at the horse field.

When he saw her again, there was only her pale face streaked with tears.

He asked, "Is it because of the Marquis's household that you are so resolute?"

Qichi turned her head back, "Even without the Marquis's household, it would be the same. My husband has never wronged me, so I cannot betray him. This is the most basic principle of morality. I hope you can let me be."

He frowned, "You two don’t seem to be doing well."

Her voice suddenly softened, "That is because I have let him down."

Cui Mingdu was stunned, unsure if it was true or not.

"Young Lord, don’t forget where you are and who you’re speaking to. I will pretend I didn’t hear any of these words."

Cui Mingdu seemed to come to his senses. This was the Protectorate General to Pacify the North, and the person speaking to him was the wife of the Grand Protector.

He could no longer utter another word.

Qichi's figure was no longer in sight.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi walked very fast.

She didn’t want to linger for even a moment.

The corridor was damp, and she was moving too fast. She suddenly stepped on a wet spot and nearly slipped.

But then something pressed against her waist, steadying her.

There was a man’s hand around her waist, his sleeve tightly bound with a sash. She looked up and saw Fu Ting’s face.

He had come from behind her, his military attire stained with rain, dampening half of his shoulder.

Seeing that she had regained her balance, he withdrew his hand.

Qichi suddenly reached out and grabbed his hand, pressing it back against her waist, pulling herself against him.

The damp part of his attire brushed against her cheek.

She paid it no mind. She wrapped her arm around him, pulling him backwards.

Fu Ting, held tightly by her, had to bend his head and accommodate her as they walked several steps back.

Entwined, the two of them stumbled into the doorway.

The door slammed shut, and Qichi, with some inexplicable strength, held onto him with one hand tugging at his belt and the other slipping into his lapel.

Fu Ting’s face tightened. "What are you doing?"

Qichi’s heart pounded. She couldn’t explain it either.

In that moment when he tried to pull back his hand, she felt as though she were losing an opportunity.

If she didn’t seize it, she might never get another chance.

She stood on tiptoe, lifting her head to kiss his neck, moving up to his chin.

She wanted to kiss his lips, but he didn’t lower his head.

She couldn’t untie his belt, and as her hand slipped inside his lapel to his chest, he grabbed it.

His voice seemed to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth, low and hoarse, "I asked you, what are you doing!"

She looked up at him, her face flushed, panting lightly.

Not long ago, another man had shown his affection to her, but now she was only showing affection to him.

She looked at his face, his dark eyes, and her lifted foot slowly came back down. She softly said, "Yes, I forgot that you are the one who decides this matter."

Fu Ting gritted his teeth. The woman in his arms was limp against him, his hand still on her waist.

He didn’t lower his head, lest he meet her eyes or her lips.

Qichi let go of him and lowered her gaze. After a long moment, she raised her head and said, "I really wanted to live as a good husband and wife with you, whether you believe it or not."

She stepped back, smoothed her wrinkled clothing. Shewalked past him, pulling open the door and stepping out.

Fu Ting stood there for a long time before he lifted his hand to tuck in his loosened lapel.

Outside the door, Qichi felt a strange calmness.

Since she had already taken a wrong step, she would not lack the courage to bear the consequences.

Now that things have come to this point, she must look forward.

Perhaps some things were simply not meant to be.

At the entrance of the main house, Xinlu and Qiushuang were waiting.

She walked over, tidied her hair, and her rapid heartbeat gradually calmed. She softly said, "Count all the people who were brought here from Guang Prefecture with me."

Maree's corner: NOOO!! WHYY??? T___T

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 3 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 44

Chapter 44 : Sanlang.

Life in the temple was dull and monotonous.

In the hall where the sutras were lectured, the abbot's voice was slow and serene. The monks sat quietly on their prayer cushions below, utterly silent.

At the very front, Qichi knelt with proper posture, listening attentively alongside them.

After the lecture ended, the abbot closed the sutra with reverence and asked, "Madam, I wonder what insights have you gained from what you have heard?"

Qichi, however, had not come to listen to the sutras in earnest. She was merely trying to maintain the appearance of a guest on a brief stay at the temple. She hadn’t paid attention to a single verse.

She pressed her palms together in a gesture of respect and returned the question, her voice gentle, "I would be grateful if the abbot would enlighten me."

The abbot recited a Buddhist phrase and said, "Buddha teaches that all the four elements are vanity[1]. With an open mind, one can transcend the mundane world."

Qichi asked, "How can one achieve such emptiness and attain an open mind?"

The abbot replied, "By letting go of attachments, one can be free of desires and demands."

Hearing this, Qichi couldn't help but smile. How many people in this world can truly let go of their attachments?

She had come all the way from Guang Prefecture, burdened by the heaviest of all attachments.

She said, "I have desires and demands, so I am but a mere human and cannot become a Buddha."

The abbot, facing this response, was at a loss for words. She was, after all, the wife of the Grand Protector of the North. He could not continue to press further with any Buddhist teachings. He simply pressed his hands together and chanted another Buddhist phrase, and said no more.

Xinlu stood by the door, peeking inside.

Seeing her, Qichi rose, bid farewell to the abbot, and left the hall.

Upon exiting the lecture hall, she led Xinlu to the Hall of Great Strength. Inside, the air was thick with incense smoke, and there were few worshippers, some of whom were kneeling in front of the Buddha statue.

Qiushuang was kneeling on a prayer cushion nearby. After a few bows, she rose as the person next to her departed. This person was one of the shopkeepers from the shop under Qichi’s name.

Qiushuang approached and whispered, "Master, General Luo has arranged for the shop to send the official letter via an eight-hundred-li courier[2]. Even though we claimed the owner is far away, they are expecting a reply soon."

Qichi felt even more certain that Fu Ting was determined to meet with her.

"As a merchant, there is no reason to refuse the official summons, especially when it comes from the Grand Protector of the North," she murmured with a light sigh.

She was still uncertain of Fu Ting's intentions, and thus dared not easily find someone to impersonate her. If things went awry, the consequences would be disastrous.

While she was deep in thought, Luo Xiaoyi strode into the hall.

Seeing him, Qichi instinctively glanced behind him, looking for Fu Ting, but he was not there.

Luo Xiaoyi entered alone, still clad in armor, casually stepping into the temple.

Unexpectedly, Luo Xiaoyi was also there to find Fu Ting. Upon seeing her, he asked, "Sister-in-law, has Third Brother come by?"

Qichi shook her head and, after a moment's thought, said, "If he isn't in the military camp, then he may have returned to the residence. He doesn’t necessarily stay at the mountain temple every day."

"How could that be?" Luo Xiaoyi laughed, "Since Sister-in-law is here, how could Third Brother not come?"

Qichi was amused by this comment and her gaze flickered, feeling as if he was implying that Fu Ting was circling around her.

Luo Xiaoyi glanced around the hall, not noticing her expression, and took a couple of steps closer. "I should go to the residence to find Third Brother. One cannot drink wine in a temple, and there’s nothing else to do here."

Qichi smiled, "You must show more respect. How can you still think about drinking in a temple?"

"You wrong me, Sister-in-law. I’m not just thinking about drinking." He said, "It’s just that the third month is about to pass, and I still haven’t had the chance to drink a birthday wine."

She asked, "What birthday wine?"

Luo Xiaoyi looked at her and suddenly slapped his forehead, "Oh, that’s right. Sister-in-law probably doesn’t know yet."

She couldn’t help but be curious, "Know what?"

Luo Xiaoyi extended his hand, indicating that she should step aside for a private word.

Xinlu and Qiushuang stepped back, waiting on the side.

Qichi followed him a few steps, standing beside the Buddha statue, "What is it?"

Luo Xiaoyi chuckled, speaking with a hint of mystery, "Sister-in-law truly doesn’t know? Third Brother's birthday falls in the third month."

Qichi was taken aback, having not expected him to say such a thing.

"Really?"

Seeing her disbelief, Luo Xiaoyi asked, "Sister-in-law, do you remember what Third Brother's childhood nickname was?"

Fu Ting's childhood nickname...

"Sanlang," she said.

She had only heard Luo Xiaoyi mention it once, but she had remembered.

"Exactly," Luo Xiaoyi nodded. "Third Brother was given that name because he was born in the third month."

So that's why.

Just a moment ago, Qichi had been pondering her next move, but now she was unexpectedly caught off guard by this news.

"Is it today?" she asked.

Luo Xiaoyi smiled awkwardly, "Not exactly. Third Brother's parents passed away early, and he never cared about such things, so of course he wouldn't remember his birth date. Only because I served with him in the military for many years did I know about it. Every year, I find a day in the third month to drag him out for a drink, so that I could celebrate it that way."

At this point, his eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at her, "Ah yes, now that Sister-in-law is here, it should be you who celebrates with him this year!"

Qichi was stunned, momentarily speechless.

She didn’t know what to say.

Logically speaking, as his wife, she should have known about this, but it took Luo Xiaoyi’s reminder for her to find out.

Luo Xiaoyi, thinking she was too shy to speak, chuckled twice, "Well then, I’m leaving. I won’t go looking for Third Brother anymore. I’ll leave this matter in your hands, Sister-in-law."

He thought that in previous years, when his third brother had no one by his side, it was natural for him to keep him company as a brother. Now, of course, it was best for the couple to spend time together.

And with that, he quickly took his leave.

Qichi stood in silence for a moment, recalling the past few days. Fu Ting had been acting as usual; he carried on with his duties, showing no signs of anything out of the ordinary.

If Luo Xiaoyi hadn’t mentioned it just now, who would have guessed that this was actually his birth month?

She turned around and called for Xinlu and Qiushuang, heading towards the meditation room at the back together.

Qiushuang followed, thinking that her master and General Luo had been discussing the pressing matter at hand for so long. But to her surprise, Qichi suddenly asked, "When celebrating someone's birthday, what sort of gifts should one give?"

Qiushuang couldn’t help but glance at Xinlu.

Xinlu was quicker to react and replied with a smile, "With Master’s wealth, choosing a gift should be an easy task."

Qichi thought to herself, it might be easy, but it may not be appropriate. Otherwise, why would she even ask?

If she could divert his attention away from her business, then even arranging a grand celebration for him for three or five days would be no issue.

But this was Fu Ting they were talking about—it was clearly impossible.

As dusk began to fall, Fu Ting tied his horse outside the temple and entered through the mountain gate.

There were no outsiders in the temple by now; the monks were reciting their evening prayers, their chanting resonating through the air.

He walked straight to the meditation room.

Upon reaching the door, he glanced to the side. The door of the adjacent meditation room was closed.

He assumed Qichi had gone to rest early. He pushed open the door to his own meditation room and walked in, only to see the vague figure of a woman.

Qichi was standing by the window, wearing a ruqun that trailed the floor, her arm draped with a silk shawl. She was closing the window, and as it shut, she turned her head to look at him.

"Your room seems smaller than mine," she said, glancing around.

The meditation rooms in the temple naturally couldn't compare to those of the Protectorate. There wasn’t even any furniture—just a bed in the corner, a wooden rack for a basin by the door, and a small table for vegetarian meals that had been specially added for their visit.

She felt that her room was somewhat more bright and spacious than this one.

Fu Ting stood his sword by the door and threw his horsewhip to the ground, saying, "I think they’re about the same."

Qichi asked casually, "Were you busy with the merchant matters today? I thought you wouldn’t come."

He replied, "Not just that—there were many things to do."

Busy until this late hour, he had rushed here just before the city gate closed.

She asked no further questions.

Fu Ting looked at her and asked, "Why are you waiting here?"

She replied, "Xiaoyi came looking for you. He said the third month is almost over."

"Hm." He responded indifferently, "So what?"

If Luo Xiaoyi hadn’t spoken so earnestly, Qichi would have doubted whether there was any truth to it, given how casually Fu Ting was talking now.

"Xiaoyi said," she began slowly, staring at his face, "that your birthday is in the third month."

Fu Ting's eyes lingered on her for a moment before he curled his lips into a smile. "I have long forgotten."

Qichi nodded. "Xiaoyi also said that you don’t even know the exact date of your own birthday."

Fu Ting walked over to the basin, scooped up some water to wash his face, wiped away the water off his face with one hand, and straightened the collar of his military attire without saying a word.

His parents had passed away when he was just over ten years old. Growing up in poverty, he never really celebrated his birthday, and later on, there was no one left to tell him. Over the years, he naturally forgot about it.

She leaned against the window and said, "What a pity. As the Grand Protector of the North, if you celebrated your birthday every year, the gift money alone would be quite a considerable income."

He glanced at her, almost laughing. "With the North in its current state, you still expect me to extort wealth this way."

Qichi knew he wouldn’t do such a thing, she only mentioned it to tease him. After a brief laugh, she changed the topic. "After this birthday, how old will you be this year?"

He looked at her, seemingly amused. "I thought you would have known when we got married."

Qichi’s eyes flickered. The Emperor had granted their marriage, and it had been rushed. She hadn’t paid attention to such details. At that time, her mind had been preoccupied with thoughts of her brother. She could only say, "I can’t quite remember."

He said, "In two more years, I’ll be thirty."

She listened, thinking he probably didn’t remember her age either, and seized the opportunity to ask, "Then do you know how old I am?"

Fu Ting only thought for a moment before replying, "Four years younger than me."

He had seen her age when they married and still remembered it.

When they got married, they had both passed the age at which most people married.

He had been delayed for years due to the responsibilities in the North, leaving no time to think about marriage.

As for Li Qichi, he guessed it was because of her engagement to the Marquis of Heluo’s household that she hadn’t been able to marry earlier.

Qichi had nothing more to say.

She hadn’t expected him to actually know.

She looked at him, thinking that few could achieve such a high position at his age. But for most men of his age, they would have more than one child by now.

She stopped thinking about it, pointed to the small table, and changed the subject. "That’s for you."

Fu Ting glanced over and saw a lacquer box painted with colorful designs on the table.

"What is it?"

"A birthday gift for you," she said.

He barely gave it a glance before saying, "I’ve never celebrated my birthday."

Qichi left the window, walked to the small table, and knelt down behind it. She reached out to open the lacquer box. "Why don’t you take a look first?"

Fu Ting glanced at her twice before moving closer and sitting down across from her. His gaze fell on the lacquer box.

Inside the box was a bowl of noodles, still steaming with warmth.

He raised his gaze to meet hers.

Qichi held his gaze and said, "I know you don’t like it when I spend money on you, and there’s not much to spend on in this temple anyway. It’s just a simple bowl of longevity noodles. Surely you wouldn’t refuse even this, would you?"

Fu Ting pursed his lips, his eyes shifting from her face to the bowl of noodles. It was a long time before he spoke, "Did you prepare this specially?"

Qichi recalled that it was Luo Xiaoyi who had reminded her to celebrate his birthday, so it couldn’t really be considered something she had specially prepared. She chose to skirt around the issue and softly replied, "I did help make the noodles."

Fu Ting glanced at her hands—slender, fair, and delicate, likely never having touched coarse work[3].

A warmth stirred in his heart. He reached out and picked up the bowl of noodles.

Qichi watched as he took the chopsticks, lowered his head, silently scooped the noodles into his mouth.

He ate very quickly, without any hesitation.

Longevity noodles are meant to be symbolic, so there wasn’t much to begin with. He finished them in a few bites.

Qichi watched as he set down the bowl and chopsticks, studying his expression before asking softly, "How was it?"

Fu Ting pursed his lips tightly. His throat moved, his face tense. After a moment, he said, "Too salty."

She frowned. "Impossible."

She had clearly watched Xinlu make it and had added the salt herself, according to Xinlu’s instructions.

Because the temple was poor and couldn’t afford expensive fine salt, she had even asked Qiushuang to specially buy it.

She glanced at the empty bowl and said, "You obviously finished it all."

She felt that he was doing it on purpose again.

Fu Ting’s eyes shifted back to her face, tracing her features and slowly settling on her lips.

He rested one hand on the table, leaned forward, and said in a deep voice, "Open your mouth."

"Hm?" Qichi looked at him.

His other hand cupped her chin, and in an instant, he lowered his head, pressing his lips firmly against hers.

Qichi was taken aback, not expecting him to kiss her suddenly.

She almost thought he would never kiss her again.

Her lips were forced open, and she felt his tongue touch hers, which startled her. His hand touched and pressed her firmly at the back of her neck.

His eyes remained open, staring into her face as he kneaded her lips, rubbing them thoroughly.

Under the gaze of those dark eyes, her heart raced wildly, leaving her breathless.

Finally, Fu Ting fiercely sucked her lips before pulling back. "Salty?"

Breathless in front of him, Qichi pursed her lips and nodded. "Salty."

In truth, she wasn’t sure. It seemed like she had tasted it, but it seemed that he had only tangled his tongue.

He looked at her face, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and almost laughed at himself.

He had deliberately held back from kissing her for so long, only to give in now over a bowl of noodles.

A voice chanting out Buddha’s name interrupted from outside. It seemed to be a young novice monk, asking, "Where is Madam? Should I bring the vegetarian meal now?"

Xinlu replied, "In a moment."

Qichi suddenly remembered that they were still in the temple.

She glanced at him and then stood up. "I’ll go first."

Her voice was still a bit breathless as she spoke.

Fu Ting merely nodded, saying nothing.

She lifted the hem of her clothes with one hand and walked to the door. Pausing there, she looked back at him, and tentatively called out softly, "Sanlang?"

Fu Ting’s body stiffened, and he turned to look at her. "What did you call me?"

She lifted the hair by her ear with her fingers, pursing her slightly numb lips. Her gaze lowered, then lifted again to meet his. "Can’t I call you that?"

Fu Ting stared at her, his throat moving again, and he nodded. "You can."

Of course, she can.

No one had called him by that name in years, so long that he had almost forgotten it himself.

Apart from her, it seemed that no one else in the world had the right to call him by that name.

Notes: [1] 四大皆空 (Sìdà jiēkōng): A Buddhist concept meaning "the four elements (earth, water, fire, and air of which the world is made) are all empty," emphasizes the emptiness and impermanence of the physical world, leading to the liberation of the mind. [2] 八百里 (Bābǎilǐ): Refers to an express courier service capable of traveling eight hundred li (approximately 400 kilometers) in one day. [3] The sentence 沾阳春水 was likely from the sentence 十指不沾阳春水 (shí zhǐ bù zhān yángchūn shuǐ) which literally meant “One's fingers have never touched the water from a spring day”; to have never touched coarse work; to have no need to fend for oneself; to lead a pampered life.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 3 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 43

Chapter 43 : Third Brother, you truly dote on Sister-in-law.

Li Yan was practicing a set of moves that Luo Xiaoyi had taught him in the courtyard.

After executing the final move, he looked to the side and shyly asked, "Aunt, how did I do?"

Qichi had specifically come today to check on his studies. When she inquired about his martial arts training, he decided to demonstrate a set of moves for her.

She stood at the side with her hands folded, watching him with a smile. "I can't say whether it's good or bad, but you do seem stronger than before. That’s always a good thing."

Li Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled, feeling that this was already high praise.

As he walked over to her, he happened to see Qiushuang rushing into the courtyard from outside, running in a small jog. He couldn’t help but wonder, "What’s going on?"

Qichi glanced at her briefly. Those around her were usually so orderly, seldom rushing about in such a manner.

Qiushuang ran up to them and said, "Master, there’s an urgent matter."

Noticing something off about her expression, Qichi immediately asked, "What happened?"

Qiushuang whispered, "The Protectorate sent a letter, saying that the Grand Protector wishes to see the owner."

Qichi was taken aback, not immediately comprehending the situation. She even asked, "Which owner?"

Qiushuang said anxiously, "The owner of our merchant house, of course. That’s you, Master!"

Qichi’s expression stiffened as she carefully processed the information.

Why would Fu Ting want to meet with the owner of the merchant house?

"Are you sure?" She still found it hard to believe.

Qiushuang nodded repeatedly. "It's absolutely true. General Luo personally delivered the letter to our shop and ordered that it be sent to you as quickly as possible. He said the Grand Protector himself issued the order, and there must be no delay."

After the initial shock, Qichi quickly regained her composure and pondered, "Did they mention the reason?"

"They didn’t," Qiushuang replied. "They only said that the owner is summoned to meet him."

She fell silent, organizing her thoughts.

Li Yan had heard everything but hadn’t fully grasped the situation.

His aunt was the owner of the merchant house, but now his uncle wanted to meet the owner, which meant, in a roundabout way, he wanted to meet his aunt?

He knew that merchants had been looked down upon since ancient times, and he had never dared to speak of his aunt’s secret business dealings. Now, he couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. He looked at Qichi and quietly asked, "Aunt, is this serious?"

Qichi thought for a moment, then smiled at him. "Don't worry. Just keep doing what you're supposed to do. I’ll handle this matter."

Li Yan had always believed his aunt, so he obediently nodded. "I can at least keep my mouth shut for you, Aunt."

"Hm, that will suffice." After she finished speaking, she glanced at Qiushuang and began walking out of the courtyard.

Qiushuang understood and followed closely behind.

Once they were outside the courtyard, Qichi finally spoke, "We don’t know the reason yet, so let’s not panic."

At present, only Qiushuang, Xinlu, and Li Yan were aware that she had this identity in the Protectorate.

It was still unclear why Fu Ting wanted to meet her, but she couldn’t afford to lose her composure.

She thought to herself: It’s best to wait until he returns to find out more.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

At 4:45 in the afternoon, Qichi carefully put away the ledgers one by one and locked them securely in the cabinet.

Just as she sat down before her dressing table, she heard the sound of footsteps outside.

She immediately rose to her feet, and as she stepped out, she nearly collided with the figure of a man standing in the doorway.

Fu Ting halted in his tracks and looked at her. "Were you about to go out?"

"No." She stepped back to let him in.

Fu Ting glanced at her briefly before entering the room. He tossed his horsewhip aside, then turned around to take a teacup from the table.

Qichi observed him closely. He seemed to be busy again, as there was dust clinging to his Hu boots.

Seeing him lift the pitcher of cool water to pour himself a drink, she quickly walked over and poured out a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, offering it to him. "Drink this instead."

Fu Ting was about to take a sip of the cool water when he noticed the tea she was handing him. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he set the cool water down and took the cup of tea from her, taking a sip.

Though the tea was of high quality, it was heavily flavored and didn't quite quench his thirst.

After taking a sip, he still picked up the cool water and drank a mouthful. He glanced at her again, somewhat pleased with her gesture.

Noticing his expression, Qichi asked, "I heard that the trade negotiations with the Hu tribes have been progressing well?"

Fu Ting hummed, taking another sip of the cool water before setting it down.

"Are those merchants reliable?" she continued.

Fu Ting’s thoughts naturally drifted to the Yuxing Merchant House. "They're acceptable."

He glanced at her and asked, "Why do you ask?"

Qichi explained, "Qiushuang went out shopping today and saw Xiaoyi leaving the Yuxing Merchant House’s shop. It looked like he had issued some kind of order, and when she returned, she told me about it. I thought there might be some issues with the negotiations, so I decided to ask." As she spoke, she slowly steered the conversation toward what she really wanted to know. "Did Xiaoyi indeed issue any orders?"

Fu Ting didn’t hide the truth from her. "Nothing significant. I just wanted to meet the owner of that merchant house."

"Why?" She finally asked the question she had been holding back.

Fu Ting looked at her once more.

She discreetly clenched her hands, saying, "I’m just curious why, as the Grand Protector, you would want to meet a mere merchant."

Fu Ting replied, "To probe his intentions."

He walked behind the screen to change his clothes.

Luo Xiaoyi had asked him the same question earlier—why he insisted on meeting the owner of a merchant house.

His answer had been: When something unusual happens, there’s always a reason behind it.

This merchant house had been assisting the Protectorate without regard for loss or gain. Once, he could attribute it to righteousness; twice, however, made him suspicious.

The owner of that merchant house wasn’t even from the northern lands and had never set foot there, yet he repeatedly abandoned the profit-driven nature of a merchant to assist the Protectorate and the people of the northern lands. It was rather strange.

Over the past few years, other Protectorates had come forward, claiming they would speak on his behalf before the Emperor, detailing the hardships of the northern lands to garner attention from the court.

He had been wary and did not say much.

In the end, it turned out they were only interested in obtaining fine horses and elite soldiers in exchange.

When they failed to get what they wanted, those Protectorates only spoke sweet words to him, without ever advocating for his Protectorate General to Pacify the North. Instead, they competed to secure funds from the court.

He has risen to his position today through his own efforts, never believing that there will be good things in the world without reason.

The court itself prioritized interests, and merchants, who were inherently profit-driven, were no different.

A merchant house that already possessed vast resources, now flourishing in the northern lands, had ties to the Protectorate, and had even integrated into the livelihood of the people.

With the northern lands finally showing signs of improvement after years of hardship, he had no choice but to be cautious.

Qichi still stood by the small table, pondering his words.

She couldn’t ask for too many details and didn’t know what exactly he was trying to uncover. This left her feeling even more uncertain.

She glanced toward the screen, noticing that Fu Ting hadn’t fully stepped behind it. Half of his body was blocked. The half of his military attire he had just unbuttoned was hanging on him as he lowered his head to loosened his sleeves.

Sensing her gaze, he turned to look at her, but his hands did not pause. He stared into her eyes. "Is there something else you want to ask?"

Qichi hesitated to inquire further about this matter, as it would be too obvious. She chose another topic instead. “Is there anywhere worth visiting in the Hanhai Commandery?”

Fu Ting, hearing this unexpected question, swept his gaze over her once more, wondering what had gotten into her today, asking such irrelevant questions.

Nevertheless, he replied, “There are many places one could visit, but the most convenient would probably be the temple.”

"What temple?" she asked.

He replied, "You’ve been there before."

Qichi recalled it—the only temple she had visited was the one outside the city. After a moment of thought, she suggested, "Why don’t we stay at the temple for a few days?"

Fu Ting looked over and asked, "Why?"

Qichi softly replied, "There’s no sense of spring here in the residence. I thought it might be better outside."

This was an excuse she made up on the spot, uncertain if he would agree.

Fu Ting pursed his lips together as he removed his military attire, thinking that this was likely the first time she had ever made a request.

Qichi was looking at him, waiting for his response.

He looked at her face and nodded. "I’ll have Xiaoyi make the arrangements."

"Alright," Qichi replied, sitting down slowly by the table, surprised that he had agreed so readily. She stole a glance at him again.

Thinking: They say he’s a brute man, but it seems this man only shows his brute nature in bed. His mind is clearly quite deep; otherwise, how would he have taken this sudden step?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

On the morning of the second day, Luo Xiaoyi received orders from his third brother and made the necessary arrangements before rushing to the Protectorate.

A group of servants had already prepared the carriage.

He waited at the entrance for a moment until he saw his third brother emerge. He quickly approached him. “Third Brother, everything has been arranged at the temple,” Luo Xiaoyi said.

By ‘arranged’, he meant that two selected teams of soldiers, dressed in plain clothes, would be stationed outside the temple. This was Fu Ting’s order. This way, worshipers could enter without hindrance while ensuring their safety.

After he finished speaking, Luo Xiaoyi added, "But why does Sister-in-law suddenly want to stay at the temple?"

Fu Ting replied, "If she wants to go, then we go."

Luo Xiaoyi chuckled, "Third Brother, you truly dote on Sister-in-law."

He shot him a look. "Lead the way."

Luo Xiaoyi, still smiling, went ahead and mounted his horse.

Qichi stepped out of the residence, draped in a lake-blue silk cloak, and looked at Fu Ting. "I’m ready."

Fu Ting nodded, reached out to tug the reins, and mounted his horse.

Xinlu and Qiushuang, one lifting the curtain and the other setting the stool, assisted Qichi as she stepped up into the carriage.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

In the morning, the temple grounds were still quiet, with no one burning incense.

The mountain gate stood wide open, and the monks were already lined up in waiting. Upon hearing that the Grand Protector and his wife were planning a short stay at the temple, the abbot had gathered the monks to greet them at the gate.

After waiting for about half an hour, the group finally arrived at the mountain. The abbot hurried forward to greet them.

"Grand Protector, Madam, please—"

Fu Ting walked ahead, with Qichi following behind as they entered the temple alongside the abbot.

She noticed that today, he had donned a black military attire and carried a sword at his side, giving him an even more imposing and cold demeanor than usual. As they approached the main hall, she couldn’t help but tug gently at his sleeve.

Fu Ting turned around, noticing her gaze briefly land on his waist, and he understood her concern.

She was reminding him not to frighten the monks in the temple.

He unclasped his sword and tossed it to a nearby guard before continuing to follow the abbot inside.

The abbot continued to lead them, stopping in front of two meditation rooms in the rear courtyard. After reciting a Buddhist prayer, he paused and said, "Knowing that the Grand Protector and Madam would be visiting, we have specially prepared the best two meditation chambers in the temple. However, since the temple is a place for meditation, we must respectfully request that the Grand Protector and Madam stay in separate rooms."

Qichi felt somewhat uneasy at these words, glancing subconsciously at Fu Ting.

His gaze remained calm, as usual. "I understand."

The abbot thanked them and excused himself.

At that moment, he turned to look at her. "What are you looking at?"

So, he had noticed all along.

Qichi’s eyes flickered, and she averted her gaze. "Nothing."

He had a good guess of what was on her mind, and couldn’t help but suppress a smile. He then turned to inspect the meditation rooms. The two rooms were adjacent, nearly identical, except that the left one faced south, allowing in more light.

He entered the north-facing room first.

Seeing him go in, Qichi entered the one facing south.

Xinlu and Qiushuang followed her inside, quickly tidying up the room for her.

After a short while, Qiushuang quietly approached her. "Master, did you arrange to stay at the temple on purpose?"

Qichi nodded.

It wasn’t about enjoying the spring scenery. She knew Fu Ting was serious about something this time. Arranging matters within the Protectorate might be inconvenient for her, but here, it would be much easier.

Qiushuang then asked in a low voice, "Master, do you have any plans?"

She furrowed her brow and gently shook her head. "The official documents should take some time to be delivered, so let's take it one step at a time."

Qiushuang turned her head and exchanged a glance with Xinlu, neither saying another word, pretending they had come here merely to enjoy the spring.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi stayed in the meditation room for a while, and when she stepped out, the sun had just risen.

The rear courtyard had a few flowers and trees planted, but since spring arrived late in the northern lands, the so-called spring scenery was less impressive than that in the Protectorate. A single branch of peach blossoms stuck out, the branch itself still bare, with only a few buds beginning to form.

She stood under the tree, not truly focused on the blossoms, but rather lost in thought over the troublesome situation she faced.

Fu Ting, who was about to leave the temple, paused as he passed by.

Qichi stood sideways to him under the tree. Perhaps because she was visiting the temple, today she wore her hair in a dignified cloud bun, adorned with no expensive jewelry. Her face bare of adornment, which made her complexion appear even fairer.

She seemed so deep in thought that she didn’t notice his presence.

He didn't say anything either, watching as a branch of peach blossoms brushed against her hair. He then looked at her again, seeing that she was still deep in thought.

He reached out and broke off the branch. He glanced at her again, holding the branch up to her hair. The thin branch adorned with budding flowers seemed like a simple ornament against her dark hair.

After looking at it for a while, he took it off.

He had no intention of teasing her, realizing that as the Grand Protector, with no extra wealth at his disposal, he couldn’t let his wife wear just a peach blossom branch as a hair ornament.

Qichi felt something brush against her hair and finally returned to her senses. She turned her head and saw him standing there, holding his horsewhip in one hand and a peach blossom branch in the other. She asked, "What’s that?"

He casually tossed it aside. "Just something I picked."

With that, he turned to leave.

"To the military camp?" she asked.

"Hm." He walked further away.

Qichi thought to herself that it was a good thing that he was going to the military camp. As she watched him leave, she suddenly felt something on her hair. She reached up to touch it and found a flower bud.

She rolled it between her fingers and examined it, wondering when it had gotten there.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 3 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 40

Chapter 40 : How did you get this injury?

Time swiftly flew by, and the third month was already halfway through.

The spring sun was growing increasingly intense, and the breeze carried a hint of warmth as it brushed against one’s face.

In the military camp, a group of people were playing jiju[1].

Among them were several Hu people from the Pugu tribe and a few new soldiers from the military, competing against each other. Both sides, mounted on horseback, vied for control of the ball with their sticks.

The horses’ hooves flew, dirt splattered, and neither side gave an inch.

Pugu Jing and Pugu Xinyun watched from the sidelines, occasionally clapping and laughing at the exciting moments.

Their tribe, originally descended from the Turks, was a warrior people who particularly enjoyed spending time in the military.

After nearly half a month in the Hanhai Commandery, they had just settled the livestock trade in the past two days, putting a major concern to rest. Thus, they often accompanied Fu Ting into the military camp.

After watching for a while, Pugu Xinyun realized they had arrived earlier today but had not yet seen the Grand Protector.

Just then, the sound of horses and carriages drew her attention. Turning to look, she saw a convoy of guards escorting a carriage.

The Grand Protector was riding beside the carriage, accompanied by General Luo and a young man Pugu Xinyun had met once at the Grand Protectorate Residence.

With a glance, she knew who was coming.

Qiushuang lifted the carriage curtain, and Qichi descended from the carriage. Xinlu immediately draped a thin cloak over her shoulders.

Qichi glanced around; the camp stretched as far as the eye could see, stretching into the distance like clusters of white flowers blooming in the northern land.

Having stayed in the residence for more than half a month, this was her first time visiting Fu Ting's military camp.

Li Yan dismounted from his horse and sighed, "Uncle’s military camp is truly vast."

She smiled when she heard it, as if she would be awed every time she saw this man's soldiers.

Fu Ting loosened the reins and looked over, "Follow me."

She followed him, "Why did you bring me here today?"

Without breaking stride, he replied, "I feared you’d get bored and run off again, needing me to rescue you once more."

She cast a sidelong glance at his back, recalling the incident when she was captured by the Turkic women, feeling a silent irritation.

After finished speaking, Fu Ting glanced back at her expression, finding it amusing.

At the central military tent, he stood at the entrance and lifted the curtain.

Oichi walked in.

The tent was simply furnished, with weapon racks and map racks on either side.

At the far end was an old daybed covered with his clothes.

At a glance, it was hard to tell this was the tent of a grand protector

Outside the tent, Luo Xiaoyi called out, “Third Brother”, and Fu Ting stepped out.

In the field, the match was intense with shouts and neighing horses.

As soon as Pugu Jing and his granddaughter saw him, they came forward to offer their greetings.

Something flew towards them; Fu Ting raised his hand and caught it—it was the jiju ball. He threw it back and clapped his hands twice.

Pugu Jing said, "Grand Protector, why don’t you join us and show your skills? This is, after all, a military exercise."

"Grandfather is right," Pugu Xinyun echoed.

Jiju was originally a training exercise for soldiers. Fu Ting was quite skilled at them, though he rarely played these days.

Just as he was about to decline, Luo Xiaoyi chimed in, "Third Brother, why not play a match? I see the young lord is eager to try."

Li Yan, who had been watching the field intently, blushed at the remark, "Uncle Xiaoyi, don’t tease me. I’m just observing the rules."

Fu Ting looked over and saw that Li Yan's brows and eyes bore a resemblance to Qichi, especially when he blushed, his expression strikingly similar. Fu Ting thought to himself that they were really a pair of aunt and nephew.

He asked, "Do you want to play?"

Li Yan replied, "I’ve never played before."

"Do you want to, or not?"

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded, "I do."

Fu Ting tightened his sleeves, "Then let’s have a match."

Luo Xiaoyi pulled out a ribbon to tie Li Yan’s sleeves, smiling, "Your uncle cares for you, doesn’t he?"

Li Yan hummed in agreement, remembering his aunt’s words to be good to his uncle so his uncle would be good to him.

Yet he felt he hadn’t done much for his uncle, and still, his uncle never treated him poorly.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi sat in the tent for a while, listening to the cheers from outside before she decided to step out.

Xinlu and Qiushuang were standing on either side of the entrance, recounting the recent events to her.

"Master, the young lord has joined the jiju game."

"He was led by the Grand Protector."

Qichi walked to the edge of the field and indeed saw them in the midst of the game.

Li Yan held the jiju stick, his face flushed from the wind, cautiously dodging left and right.

Fu Ting was right behind him, his robe tucked into his belt, wielding his stick to block an opponent, then striking the ball with a swift swing.

The crowd erupted in cheers again.

Qichi found herself captivated by the scene.

Jiju was also a popular sport among the nobles. If her brother were still alive, he would certainly have started teaching Li Yan by now. But in the end, Li Yan had learned to ride a horse only in the northern lands.

She hadn’t expected Fu Ting to take him under his wing, especially after knowing about that incident. Yet, he was still willing to take him with him.

She rarely saw this side of Fu Ting—relaxed and carefree, astride a horse as if he were on solid ground, with a jiju stick in his hand, as if he wielded the weight of a thousand jun[2].

It wasn’t until she heard the sound of the girl’s voice that she snapped out of her reverie.

Qichi looked around and noticed Pugu Xinyun also on the field; she too had joined the game.

Luo Xiaoyi stood at the edge of the field, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting to her, "Xinyun, come back! Don’t you see who you're up against today? Don’t cry if you lose!"

Everyone laughed.

She galloped her horse while swinging her stick, retorted angrily, "I’m not the sort to be so easily beaten."

Luo Xiaoyi, fearing he might truly make the little girl cry, waved his hands repeatedly, "Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Just focus on the game."

Fu Ting spurred his horse forward, leaned over, his arm swinging as he struck the ball with precision.

"Li Yan!"

Everyone thought Li Yan might miss the shot, but he reacted quickly, maneuvering his horse to the side and striking the ball with his stick.

Fu Ting intercepted the ball and sent it flying into the goal.

The crowd cheered once more.

He reined in his horse and looked at Li Yan, "Well done. Your martial training has paid off."

Li Yan, having received his first compliment from his uncle, beamed. "Thank you, Uncle."

Fu Ting turned his horse and saw Qichi outside the field.

She stood in the wind, her cloak fluttering, her eyes fell on him with a faint smile on her face.

It was a smile he was familiar with; she had smiled the same way when he taught Li Yan to ride a horse.

He lowered his head and smiled, then turned his head to call out, "Xiaoyi."

The game paused, and Luo Xiaoyi entered the field.

He tossed him his stick, "You take over."

Luo Xiaoyi caught it, "Alright, I'll take over for Third Brother."

Pugu Xinyun asked, "Grand Protector, are you not playing anymore?"

Fu Ting nodded and rode off the field.

From a distance, Qichi couldn't hear what they were saying, only noticing the pause in the game and Fu Ting leaving the field.

Suddenly, a scream rang out in the field. Pugu Xinyun’s horse suddenly raised its hoof, and she was thrown off the horse's back.

Fu Ting, closest to her, swiftly dismounted and caught her.

Others rushed to steady the horse, with Luo Xiaoyi extending a hand from his mount and even Li Yan coming to help.

Pugu Xinyun clung tightly to Fu Ting’s robe.

Fu Ting set her down, "Someone, come."

Members of the Pugu tribe hurried over.

He instructed, "Help her out."

Pugu Xinyun was stunned. He let go of her too easily, not even sparing her a glance. Her hand slowly released its grip on his robe.

Qichi watched the scene, raising an eyebrow when Fu Ting caught her, but then she turned her gaze away as he quickly let go.

Pugu Xinyun was helped away. Pugu Jing, visibly shaken, muttered a string of nonsense in Hu language, scolding her harshly for quite some time.

Fu Ting walked out of the field, taking a cloth to wipe his hands.

Qichi approached and asked, "Why did you stop playing?"

Wiping the back of his hand, he looked at her, "I couldn’t play with you watching me."

"So it's my fault?" She sighed, "I was going to say you played quite well."

Fu Ting wasn't sure if she was being sincere, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Qichi noticed his hand, "Your reflexes are impressive."

Fu Ting raised his eyes, "I was saving someone."

After saying that, he felt like he was making excuses.

She smiled, "That’s exactly what I meant."

With that, she walked past him.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

She stopped for a moment, "We’re here to entertain the Pugu tribe. Since their young lady fell off her horse, I must go check on her."

Fu Ting said nothing, watching her walk away.

Pugu Xinyun was resting on a small stool outside the tent, her eyes fixed on Fu Ting and Qichi.

Suddenly, Qichi approached her.

"Here, wipe your face. It's dirty," Qichi offered her handkerchief.

She was a little confused, taking it, "Madam, you came to see me?"

Qichi nodded.

Pugu Xinyun was silent for a moment before she whispered, "I thought Madam would be angry."

Qichi asked in return, "Why would I be angry?"

"Because… the Grand Protector just caught me."

Qichi found it amusing, "I am not so unreasonable that I can’t distinguish right from wrong. If he were close enough to save you but chose not to, disregarding the Pugu tribe and shirking his responsibility as a man, I would look down on him instead."

Pugu Xinyun was left speechless.

Earlier, in her panic as she saw the Grand Protector leaving, she had accidentally jabbed her stick somewhere, startling her horse and causing herself to fall.

She quickly decided not to pull the reins, knowing the Grand Protector was closest to her.

Sure enough, the Grand Protector saved her, and she had thought the madam would be angry with her.

But it seemed she didn’t take it seriously at all, reminding her that it was merely an act of rescue.

"Madam must dislike me," she recalled the words she had said earlier.

She had thought no one was worthy of the Grand Protector, including the madam herself.

Qichi suddenly asked, "How old are you this year?"

"Fourteen."

"Then you’re just three years older than my nephew," she said. "I see you as I see him, just a child."

Pugu Xinyun glanced at the young man on the field, silently wiped her face, and returned the handkerchief to her.

"Thank you, Madam, but I have grown up."

Qichi took it back, "When you can confidently pursue someone you want without deceiving yourself or belittling yourself, only then will you truly have grown up."

As if she had touched her sore spot, Pugu Xinyun frowned and fell silent.

Qichi had already guessed her little feelings; after all, a little girl’s thoughts were easy to read.

She tucked the handkerchief into her sleeve and said, "Just this once. I hope you don’t fall off your horse again."

Pugu Xinyun's face stiffened and she remained silent.

It was as if all her little thoughts had been exposed under her eyes.

Qichi had already turned and left.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

By dusk, they settled down in the military camp.

Due to Pugu Xinyun's fall, the Pugu tribe had delayed their departure and had to stay the night.

Pugu Jing thanked Fu Ting several times before finally going to check on his granddaughter.

In the main tent, the lights were lit.

Qichi sat there holding chopsticks, slowly eating the simple military meal before her. The food was ordinary but included some meat, showing where Fu Ting’s money was spent.

After finishing, Xinlu brought water for her to wash. "Is A’Yan settled?" she asked.

Xinlu said, "Qiushuang is with him. The young lord wants to stay with General Luo tonight to discuss martial arts."

She nodded. Thinking of Pugu Xinyun, she said, "Go and assist the little girl. Consider it a courtesy from the Grand Protector’s residence."

Xinlu accepted the order and left.

Qichi lit up the light, sat on the old daybed[3], and looked at the maps on the rack, calculating where her caravan might be.

According to the dates, they should be nearing the border.

Fu Ting lowered his head and entered the tent, wearing only his inner garments, with water droplets still clinging to his face and neck.

Qichi, seeing he had just bathed, couldn’t help but glance at the old daybed beneath her. "Sleeping here tonight?"

Seeing her sitting there upright, Fu Ting wiped his wet neck, "Where else would I sleep?"

She whispered, "It’s unusual for a Grand Protector to stay in the camp with his wife."

He smiled, "Today is an exception."

With that, he walked over, sitting on the edge of the daybed to remove his inner garment and put on a clean one.

Qichi noticed the two scars on his back, crossing each other, visible under the light. She couldn’t help but ask, "How did you get this injury?"

He pulled on a sleeve and turned to look at her, "What?"

Qi Chi stretched out a finger, touched his back, and traced down along the scar pattern: "I'm talking about this."

Her hand was grabbed by him.

"From a knife, a machete used by the Turks."

She thought about how deep and long these wounds were; how much they must have hurt at the time.

He held her hand and stared into her eyes, his gaze darkened.

Qichi's eyes could not help but wander when he looked at her like this.

He let go of her hand, amused, "Let’s sleep."

Then he added, "People outside can hear."

Understanding his meaning, her face flushed as she lay down on the inner side of the daybed.

Notes: [1] Jiju (击鞠) is a sport which uses a stick to hit balls while riding on a horse, pretty similar to modern polo. [2] Jun (钧) is a Chinese unit of mass equivalent to 30 catties or 15 kg. So, a thousand jun would be 15,000 kg. [3] Daybed (榻) is a sitting platform used both for sitting and reclining, even sleeping on special occasions. It has no rails and side panels, it is almost exactly like a stool or kang table except for a much larger size. An end table was usually placed in the middle, so the host and guest could sit one person on each side. Image below.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #english translation #chinese novel #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 3 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 38

Chapter 38 : Does it bother you or not?

When the banquet ended, it was already late at night.

Fu Ting emerged from the hall, followed closely by Luo Xiaoyi.

"Third Brother, do you have a plan for the Hu tribe's matter?"

He nodded.

Luo Xiaoyi turned and smiled at Pugu Jing, who had followed them to the door. "I told you, Third Brother already has a plan. Leader of the Pugu tribe, you can rest assured. When it comes to the livelihood of the people in the north, Third Brother will never ignore it."

Pugu Jing hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Luo Xiaoyi noticed Pugu Xinyun behind them still glancing their way and teased, "What is little Xinyun looking at? Go and rest with your grandfather."

Embarrassed by Luo Xiaoyi's words, Pugu Xinyun lowered her head. When she looked up again, the Grand Protector's figure was already out of sight.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Fu Ting walked into the main house.

The room was still lit. He thought Qichi might still be awake. Entering the room, he saw her lying on the bed, already laid down. He took off his belt with one hand and gently pressed it on the table.

Approaching the bedside, he noticed her lying on her side, her breathing even and her cheeks slightly red—a picture of drunkenness.

He reached out and brushed aside her collar, noticing the blood spots on her neck left by the Turkic woman's iron hook had faded.

Perhaps feeling disturbed, she stirred slightly.

Fu Ting grinned, loosened his grip, and turned to wash up.

After drinking, Qichi felt uncomfortable and had been attended to by Xinlu and Qiushuang back to the room before resting.

Suddenly, she woke up slowly, feeling thirsty. Without opening her eyes, she called out, "Xinlu, water."

Footsteps approached the bed, and a hand lifted the back of her neck as a cup was pressed to her lips. She took a few sips and opened her eyes to see a man sitting on the edge of the bed.

Fu Ting turned to put the cup down, but his arm was grabbed.

"Let go," he said, turning around.

Qichi, still drunk and couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality, reached out without thinking. When she heard him say let go, she frowned, abruptly got off the bed, and walked toward him.

Fu Ting saw the haziness in her eyes, indicating she was still half asleep, clearly not yet sober. As expected, she stumbled forward a step.

With one hand still holding the cup, he used the other to steady her. "What are you doing?"

Her arm hooked around his neck as if she hadn't heard his question. "Why do you want me to let go?"

Fu Ting found it amusing. Everyone has their drunken behaviors, and this was the first time he saw Li Qichi's drunken behavior.

He simply tightened his arm, half-carrying, half-dragging her to the table where he finally set the cup down.

With her waist leaned against the edge of the table and was hugged by his arm, Qichi clung to his neck tightly, refusing to give in, "Why do you want me to let go? Just because of that little girl?"

Fu Ting paused, realizing who she meant. "You mean little Xinyun?"

Her drunken face frowned slightly. "What did you call her?"

He stared at the redness on her cheeks, lowered his head and leaned closer. "Does it bother you?"

Qichi narrowed her eyes as if thinking, then shook her head gently, loosened her hand.

Fu Ting's expression darkened, then he clasped her arms and lifted her up, pressing her against the table. In a low voice, he asked, "Does it bother you or not?"

Qichi, now sitting on the table, almost wrapped her legs around his waist, subconsciously hooking her arms around him again. The man held her firmly, pressing his body against her. Feeling restrained, she lifted her pointed chin and said, "She’s not easy to deal with."

Fu Ting's eyes grew even darker.

All that mattered to her was whether the girl was easy to deal with or not.

In Qichi's eyes, the man's face remained blurry. She felt sleepy again and pushed him away. "You’re pressing me too hard."

Fu Ting pressed his body against her, clenched his jaws as he sniffed at the faint scent of alcohol lingering on her.

The next moment, the arms hooked around his neck suddenly loosened. Her eyes were closed and her head tilted to one side as she fell asleep again.

Holding her soft body, he relaxed his jaw, tugging the corner of his mouth.

She didn't seem to mind.

Upon waking after a bout of drunkenness, she seemed to remember nothing.

Qichi stood by the window, looking out at the faint spring sun. She rubbed her temple with her fingers, always feeling like she had forgotten something.

There was only a vague impression left behind, as if Fu Ting had pinned her against the table.

She glanced back at the table, thinking about the scene, and couldn’t help but feel a bit hot in the ears.

"Master." Qiushuang approached, whispering in her ear.

After listening, Qichi was surprised. "Really?"

Qiushuang nodded, taking a letter from her sleeve. "I heard about it when I went out to the shop today. It's an official document from the Protectorate."

Qichi took it.

Last night at the banquet, she heard Pugu Jing mention that the Hu tribe needed a large number of young livestock but had no way to trade for them. She hadn't expected the Protectorate to issue an order today, allowing private merchants to handle it.

The northern lands lacked sufficient young livestock, but in such a vast world, other places had them, even beyond the borders. With private merchants involved, circulation in various places would be much faster.

That man was more resourceful than she thought, decisively involving private merchants.

She opened the letter, it was a document from the Protectorate inviting the owners of major businesses under its jurisdiction to negotiate prices.

It bore the seal of the Protectorate, personally approved by Fu Ting himself.

Qiushuang whispered, "Master, it's inconvenient for you to come. Our shop had stated that the owner is not in the north anyway, maybe we should just ignore it."

Qichi pondered for a while. "This is no small business; there's much profit to be had. Besides, the Protectorate inviting people to negotiate prices is to stabilize prices and take care of the various Hu tribes, which concerns the people’s livelihood in the north. We can't just ignore it."

Qiushuang understood that if private merchants accepted such business without supervision, they would surely each set their own prices, raising them up with the tide. The various Hu tribes would definitely not be able to afford it, so the Protectorate would negotiate prices in advance.

It seemed her master intended to use the business in her hands to help stabilize prices.

"Then let's send someone from the shop to come."

Qichi handed her the letter, nodding. "Proceed as usual."

Qiushuang agreed.

"By the way," Qichi asked again, "When did he leave today?"

Qiushuang replied, "The Grand Protector left before dawn, likely for this matter. He’s now taking the Pugu tribe to the military camp. I think he will return after the merchants come."

Qichi thought, surely Pugu Xinyun went with him as well.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The gate of the Grand Protectorate Residence stood wide open.

A group of people returned from the military camp.

"Third Brother, you certainly are bold. How dare you use private merchants? Didn’t you say before that merchants are driven by profit?" Luo Xiaoyi dismounted from his horse and looked at his brother with admiration.

Fu Ting had just dismounted and threw his horse’s reins. "If it’s for the livelihood of the people, what is there that we cannot use? I’m leveraging their profit-driven nature for our benefit."

Luo Xiaoyi clicked his tongue, glancing inside. "I suppose everyone must have arrived by now."

He assumed that with the summons from the Protectorate, no merchant would dare delay.

Within and around the city, all the nearby merchants who had received the letters were capable of handling large transactions. Their numbers were limited, so naturally, they responded promptly to the summons.

Once the main merchants were stabilized, the rest of the merchants in the north wishing to engage in this trade would have to follow the established rules, alleviating any concerns.

Just as Fu Ting was about to enter the gate, he suddenly heard a horse neigh. Turning back, he saw Pugu Xinyun timidly retracting her hand from his horse’s back.

The young girl, who was about ten years old, had her hair in Hu braids and wore a patterned Hu robe. She stood barely taller than his horse. If the horse had raised its hoof, it could have hurt her.

He warned her, "Don’t touch it. No one but my wife and I can handle it."

With that, he walked through the gate.

Pugu Xinyun was stunned, but his words were clear. She hadn’t misheard.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

In the front courtyard, an open-air seating area was set up as a place for discussion.

A dozen merchants were led into the garden and seated in an orderly manner.

Soldiers guarded every entrance, making everyone anxious, no one dared to say much.

Qichi stood behind a rockery, watching the scene.

Qiushuang followed behind her, whispering, "Only these people were invited. Although those merchants are wealthy, they only do local business in the north, unlike you who have businesses all over the country. In terms of financial resources and materials, they are not as good as you."

Qichi responded with a soft ‘hm’, just as she saw Fu Ting striding over, followed by Luo Xiaoyi and the people from the Pugu tribe.

The merchants all rose to greet him, not daring to be negligent.

After everyone was seated, Luo Xiaoyi formally read aloud a letter from the Protectorate.

The main point was that this matter concerned the livelihood of the people in the north, and that's why the Protectorate allowed private merchants to be involved. They were asked to consider the bigger picture and not just focus on small profits in front of them. The Protectorate would also pay more attention to business matters.

Qichi looked at Fu Ting. He remained standing, dressed in Hu attire tight around his body, with his sword hanging diagonally against his leg. She worried he might notice her, so she stepped back a bit.

She glanced at Pugu Xinyun, who was predictably staring at Fu Ting again.

She thought, based on looks alone, this man had the charm to captivate the young girl, not to mention their past connection.

In the courtyard, the servants brought out pens and ink, asking the merchants to write down their proposed prices.

Each person looked around but didn't discuss it, instead, they picked up the pen and started writing.

The servants collected the papers and handed them to Fu Ting for review.

He examined them one by one and then passed them to the servants, who gave them to Pugu Jing for further inspection.

After several rounds, many proposals were discarded until a few prices were selected.

Fu Ting asked Pugu Jing, "What do you think?"

Pugu Jing frowned, looking displeased. "Still too high."

Qichi felt that it would take a long time before they reached a satisfactory agreement, so she instructed Qiushuang to keep an eye on the situation while she quietly left to avoid being seen.

As she walked along the corridor, she heard shouts from the other side.

Qiushuang ran over, reporting that a Pugu tribesman was dissatisfied with the situation and almost drew his curved knife, feeling the merchants were daring to oppress their Hu tribes.

The merchants, being of low status and only chasing profits, had never seen such a display and caused a commotion.

Qichi wanted to go back and check, but as she turned the corner, she saw Fu Ting standing there, seemingly waiting for her.

"What are you doing here?"

She tucked her hands into her sleeves, glancing around. "Just walking by."

Fu Ting had noticed her behind the rockery earlier and had deliberately kept silent, only coming over when they were a commotion.

He said, "Still haven't sobered up from the wine and lost your way?"

Hearing him mention the drunken incident reminded Qichi of being pinned against the table by him. She muttered, "Sometimes you can be mean enough."

His eyes locked onto hers. "What?"

She gave him a faint look. "Mean."

To deliberately mention her drunken behavior—what else could it be but mean?

Fu Ting stared at her intently, thinking she probably had never seen real meanness.

Before he could speak, a voice interrupted, "Grand Protector."

He looked over to see Pugu Xinyun standing one zhang[1] away, with her head down, saying. "The matter has been resolved. It was my recklessness. Please return to continue the discussion, Grand Protector."

Qichi glanced at her and whispered, "She’s calling you."

He turned back, remembering her words from the previous night. He gave a deep chuckle. "I heard it."

With that, he strode away.

Pugu Xinyun followed after him.

Qichi watched them leave, suddenly remembering something.

Had she mentioned this girl when she was drunk?

Notes: [1] 丈 is a measure words unit of length equal to 3.3 meters.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 4 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 34

Chapter 34 : Try touching her if you dare.

Fu Ting stood in the training ground with a saber slung over his side, watching the new recruits in their drill. These refugees had been a hassle when they first joined, but after rigorous training, they now showed promising potential.

Luo Xiaoyi approached from outside the camp, walking up to him and saying, "Third Brother, I delivered the medicine."

Fu Ting nodded.

Luo Xiaoyi had taken a long time to return because he had encountered Cao Yulin earlier, which left him feeling complicated. To clear his mind, he had wandered around before returning to the camp.

Unable to hold back, Luo Xiaoyi muttered, "Third Brother is too good to the young lord. He's not even injured right now. It wasn't urgent, and I could have delivered it later. Why make an extra trip?"

Fu Ting shot him a glance. "When I tell you to deliver something, you deliver it."

Luo Xiaoyi forced a smile. "Yes, but I was just thinking that the young lord is pampered and has all kinds of medicine. It's not like he lacks this one."

Fu Ting's lips tightened.

Luo Xiaoyi wasn't wrong. Li Qichi, with her wealth, had no shortage of medicines.

A guard rushed over and handed a report. Fu Ting opened it to find a small slip of paper with a coded secret message. After quickly reading it, he asked, "Has Cao Yulin been here?"

Luo Xiaoyi was stunned. "How did you know, Third Brother?"

"Her message was sent along with the scouts' report." Fu Ting tossed the report to him and turned to leave. "Gather enough men and follow me."

Luo Xiaoyi caught the report with both hands, hurriedly glanced at it, and his expression changed. He quickly followed Fu Ting.

Fu Ting strode ahead, his pace quick and urgent. Suddenly, he stopped and called over a guard. "Send a message back to the residence."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi was not at the residence; she had gone to the shop. The merchant caravan had already departed, and she was there to give some final instructions for follow-up matters.

After the shopkeeper received her instructions and left, she touched her lower back. The medicine was indeed effective. Her pain had lessened before, but now it was almost gone.

Qiushuang, having collected the ledger from the shop, approached and said, "Master, we can go back now."

As Qichi turned to leave, a few people entered the shop. One of them brushed past her shoulder, almost bumping into her.

Qiushuang quickly supported her arm, scolding, "Watch where you're going!"

Qichi adjusted her veil and glanced at the person. It was a Hu man wearing a velvet hat. He cast a fierce look at Qiushuang but said nothing as he walked into the shop.

Qiushuang, being straightforward, was about to confront him again when Xinlu hurried over and stopped her.

"Master," Xinlu whispered at the door, "the Grand Protector sent a message saying you should stay indoors for the next couple of days."

Recalling that he had left for the military camp early and hadn't returned yet, likely because he was busy, Qichi nodded and said, "Let's go back then."

As they boarded the carriage, the shopkeeper hurried out but didn't speak to Qichi, instead whispering a few words to Qiushuang.

Qiushuang came over and whispered in her ear, "The shopkeeper said a few new people came to discuss business. They heard you have a merchant caravan and wanted to negotiate a big deal. He couldn't decide on his own and asked if you wanted to handle it personally."

Qichi glanced at the sun overhead. Not wanting to delay, she said, "Tell him to handle it himself. I'll listen for a moment and then leave."

Qiushuang acknowledged and returned to the shop.

In the side room, a screen was set up. Qichi sat behind it, listening as the shopkeeper brought the men in and began negotiations.

From their accents, they didn't seem like Han merchants. Peeking through the screen, she saw they were the Hu people who had just entered.

After only a few sentences, she felt they weren't genuinely interested in doing business. Their words were grandiose but empty, listing a lot of deals without providing details.

Before any agreement was reached, they asked the shopkeeper to arrange a carriage to take them out of the city. Sensing something was off, Qichi stood up and said, "Let's go back."

Xinlu and Qiushuang opened the door and followed her out.

Outside, as she boarded the carriage, she quietly instructed Qiushuang, "Tell the shopkeeper to stop the negotiations. Those men don't seem like legitimate merchants."

Qiushuang nodded and went back to relay the message.

Qichi told Xinlu to get on the carriage. Regardless of who they were, it was best to avoid them.

Before Xinlu could board, she was pulled down by someone, letting out a startled cry. Suddenly, there was a commotion, and the carriage lurched forward unexpectedly.

Qichi was jolted inside, barely managing to sit upright as the curtain was lifted by someone.

The Hu man who had bumped into her earlier was crouching at the door, removing his velvet hat and wiping his face. As he wiped away the black beard, a woman's face emerged, smiling coldly at her, with one hand gripping the curtain and the other holding an iron hook.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The sun had shifted slightly.

Amidst the wild grass and rocks, a group of people lay in ambush.

"Third Brother, if we've received the message, why not set up defenses in the city?" Luo Xiaoyi whispered, lying on the ground and glancing to his side.

He had wanted to ask this when he saw the report.

Fu Ting, half-squatting behind a rock, tightened the strap on his sleeve and whispered, "You’ve dealt with these people before. You should know what to expect."

Luo Xiaoyi fell silent. These weren't ordinary scouts; they were elite soldiers specially trained by the Turks.

With spring approaching and the hope of revival for the northern regions, the Turks were getting restless.

Fu Ting had deliberately kept the city defenses quiet to prevent any chance of their escape, planning an ambush here instead.

In the distance, a carriage approached. The group tensed, becoming utterly silent except for the rustling of the wind through the grass.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

The driver, a tall and strong Hu man with a low-brimmed hat, jumped down. The curtain lifted, and two or three Hu people followed.

The last to emerge was a woman.

Luo Xiaoyi gripped his saber tightly, recognizing her instantly—it was that goddamn Turk woman.

He sneered and whispered, "Finally, we meet again."

In the next moment, the Turk woman pulled another person out of the carriage.

Luo Xiaoyi was horrified and turned his head, "Third—"

A hand clamped down on him.

Fu Ting held him down, eyes fixed on the scene, his jaw clenched tight.

Qichi was being dragged out by the Turk woman, ripping off her veil with a hook. She stood there, facing the wind.

Why was she here?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi stood calmly, casting a glance at the woman gripping her.

The woman had a broad forehead, a hawk-like nose, and high cheekbones. Upon seeing the iron hook, Qichi immediately recognized her. Luo Xiaoyi had described her before—the Turk woman wielding an iron hook who had injured Fu Ting.

Recalling Fu Ting's earlier warning about spies being merely the vanguard, Qichi realized he had been right.

The Turk woman held her tightly, the iron hook pressed against her waist, her eyes alert as she spoke to the others in Turkic. Moments later, two more men rode in from the city, dismounted, and joined with the rest. Soon after, another one arrived.

Qichi understood—they were waiting for their group to gather. The cold wind cut through her, and now there were six or seven of them. The Turk woman gave Qichi a sharp tug and said something, causing everyone to turn their attention to her. She seemed to be the leader, as the others, all men, obediently following her commands.

What the Turk woman said was: this is the one we caught from that shop we raided last time.

She had seen Qichi enter the side room and assumed she was a family member of the merchant, not believing a woman in the Central Plains could be a business owner. Since they took their people, how could they let it go easily? Today, they went to that shop to take revenge.

Qichi, not understanding Turkic, felt the words were directed at her. The Turk woman then hooked Qichi’s money pouch with the iron hook and tossed it to another person. She began searching Qichi's waist for other valuables, finding nothing else, she pressed the hook against her wrist, reaching into her sleeve.

Inside Qichi's sleeve was a fish-shaped green jade pendant, a token of her identity as the owner of the merchant business, rarely shown to others. She was doing business secretly without showing her true identity, and this was her only credential, which was extremely important. The Turk woman, thinking it was a precious jade, smiled smugly and pocketed it.

Qichi frowned, watching them divide her belongings, sensing they were about to leave. If they left, she knew her chances of survival would diminish.

As expected, the Turk woman's gaze grew fiercer, and the men around her began to grin. Summoning her courage, Qichi spoke loudly, "Is there someone who can translate? Ask her how much money she wants to let me go." She knew they saw her as a merchant and hoped to buy some time.

Nobody responded, only laughter. Suddenly, a voice in Turkic cut through the air, startling Qichi. She turned to see where it came from. It was Fu Ting's voice. Though she couldn't see him, she knew it was his.

Everyone tensed, hands on their weapons, eyes scanning their surroundings. The Turk woman tightened her grip on Qichi, the iron hook pressing against her throat, her eyes darting as she shouted something. Fu Ting's voice responded, cold as a blade, seemingly coming from a different direction each time.

The more unpredictable his location, the more fearful they became, as if he could appear at any moment. Qichi, not understanding their exchange, felt the Turk woman's grip tighten, her movements suggesting an intent to flee. The iron hook pressed closer, forcing Qichi to lift her head.

Another calm, powerful command came from Fu Ting, causing the Turk woman's breath to quicken. She abruptly removed the iron hook and dragged Qichi into the carriage.

As the carriage moved again, Qichi realized the Turk woman intended to escape with her. By nightfall, Qichi was pulled from the carriage. Under the cold, pale moonlight, she was forced to sit beneath a tree. The Turk woman vigilantly guards her, not bothering to tie her up, assuming her to be weak.

The men gathered briefly, listening to the woman’s orders, then dispersed into the darkness, leaving Qichi alone with the Turk woman under the moonlight.

Qichi pondered the absence of Fu Ting’s voice since their departure, wondering if what she had heard earlier was a hallucination. Even so, she trusted that Xinlu and Qiushuang had sought help; delaying would give her a slight advantage.

The moonlight dimmed as time passed. Despite the cold, the Turk woman avoided lighting a fire, wary of attracting pursuers.

She sat opposite Qichi, the iron hook aimed at her ankle. Qichi braced her spirit, waiting for the woman to sleep. But with the woman's vigilance, any movement could provoke her, so Qichi can only wait patiently for the right moment.

After an unknown amount of time, Qichi’s legs grew numb. She glanced at the sky; the moon was fading and dawn was approaching.

Perhaps in two hours, it would be daylight.

She thought to herself: The residence might be in chaos by now, and A’Yan must be worried sick.

Suddenly, the figure in front of her moved and stood abruptly. Qichi watched her warily as she rose. The Turk woman pulled her up, took a few steps, and muttered something like a curse under her breath.

Qichi realized that none of the men who had gone out earlier had returned. After cursing, the Turk woman let out a low growl, seeming to go mad.

Qichi felt the cold touch of the iron hook against her neck, hearing the woman speak urgently and quickly, gesturing with the hook near her neck. Several times, Qichi feared the hook would strike, but each time the woman held back.

"Who are you to him?" The Turk woman suddenly asked her threateningly.

It took Qichi a moment to realize that she could speak Chinese.

She didn't show any expression, and replied after a while, "Who?"

"The one surnamed Fu!"

"I don't know anyone surnamed Fu," she replied in a low voice. "I'm just a merchant."

The Turk woman gritted her teeth, "You better be telling the truth. If not for your potential usefulness…" She trailed off with a cold laugh.

Qichi said, "I am useful. The northern region is developing people's livelihood, supporting merchants like me. My family is wealthy and influential. If you kill me, my peers will support the Protectorate General to Pacify the North even more. What good will that do for you?"

In the dim light, the Turk woman seemed to consider this, cursing in Turkic.

Qichi remained silent, knowing further provocation could be dangerous.

The Turk woman took a deep breath and glanced around, realizing her men were not returning.

She stopped lingering and yanked Qichi up, dragging her forward. Stumbling and bumping, Qichi lost her bearings and she did not know where she was.

When she noticed a hint of light, she found that the sky was already turning white. The Turk woman dragged her into a dense, barren forest. Overgrown weeds and scattered stones, the trees were bare and had not yet grown new leaves. They looked like jagged and mottled monsters in the sky.

The Turk woman halted, muttered to herself, and seemed to curse again.

Qichi guessed she was lost. She was lost, too.

For no reason at all, memories of her last perilous encounter surfaced.

She asked Fu Ting, what should one do if they got lost?

He said to follow him.

She thought, but where is he and how would she follow him?

Suddenly, a sound echoed from the distance. The Turk woman instantly tightened her grip on Qichi. It was Fu Ting's voice.

Qichi's eyes flickered, still unable to discern his location.

Her heart, however, gradually tightened.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Fu Ting leaned against a tree, knowing his men had encircled the area. His eyes were cold and steady as he watched the fleeting shadows in the forest. He quietly slid his blood-stained saber back into its sheath—the blood of the other spies.

After days of waiting, the fish were finally in the net, but his original plan had been disrupted. Qichi had been taken hostage, forcing Fu Ting to proceed with extreme caution.

Luo Xiaoyi, hiding behind another tree, stole a glance at Fu Ting's stoic profile, thinking how his third brother remained so composed, as if orchestrating a battle strategy against these Turk dogs.

As dawn lightened the sky, Qichi felt the Turk woman’s grip on the hook loosen slightly. Just as she guessed the woman was growing weary, the grip tightened again. The Turk woman muttered something in Turkic and then sneered. Realizing she could no longer afford to delay, she dragged Qichi forcefully in one direction.

Having neither food nor water all night, Qichi was parched and weak. The Turk woman wasn’t faring much better, gasping for breath after only a few steps. She couldn't understand why every time she entered Hanhai Commandery, she was relentlessly hunted down. What kind of skill did that man surnamed Fu possess to guard so tightly every time? Eventually, she vowed to put him to death sooner or later.

Footsteps trailed intermittently behind them. The Turk woman's breath became more erratic as she dragged Qichi deeper into the forest to avoid detection. Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent—they had reached an open clearing. Realizing too late, a sharp whistling sound split the air. An arrow flew past, barely missing Qichi’s ear, brushing past her hair.

Another arrow followed swiftly, striking the Turk woman’s arm that held the iron hook. Qichi felt the weight lift off her as the Turkic woman fell silently to the ground. Qichi immediately bolted forward but was quickly grabbed by someone.

She looked up and instinctively grasped his sleeve as she saw his face. Fu Ting, with one hand holding a bow and the other steadying her, glanced at the fallen Turk woman and said, “Let’s go.”

She followed him closely until they exited the forest. Finally stopping, he asked in a stern voice, "Didn’t I tell you not to leave the residence?"

Qichi had no good excuse, unable to say she had gone out for business. She pursed her lip and softly said, “I was wrong.”

Seeing her disheveled hair, dirty clothes, and pale face, Fu Ting couldn’t bring himself to scold her further. His grip on her hand loosened slightly. Qichi brushed her hair back, looked at him, and said, “If your arrow had missed by half an inch, I’d be dead.”

“With me here, you won’t die,” he said, leading her to his horse. He handed her a waterskin from beneath the saddle. Qichi drank two mouthfuls, feeling somewhat better.

Fu Ting took the waterskin back and helped her stand by the saddle. His eyes bore into hers. “Do you know who those people were?”

She swallowed and nodded. “Yes, the Turk woman who injured you.”

“Weren’t you afraid?” he asked.

“I told you, I will get used to it.”

Fu Ting remembered her saying this by the frozen lake. She caught a faint scent of blood from him and saw his array of weapons on the horse, indicating he had been prepared for this. “You were waiting for them?”

He didn’t reply, which was an answer in itself. She had thought he came specifically to save her, but it turned out to be a coincidence.

“If I were in trouble again, would you come to save me?” she asked.

Fu Ting frowned. “Do you really want to get into trouble?”

Qichi thought, of course not.

She looked at him again and asked, "How do you know Turkic?"

“To guard against the enemy,” he replied, standing straighter and meeting her gaze, realizing she was trying to prolong the conversation to recover her strength.

“What did you say to the Turk woman yesterday?” Qichi asked, recalling the moment the woman had decided to take her and flee.

Fu Ting’s dark eyes flickered. “Just a threat.”

He turned to check on his men in the forest. Thinking back, it was indeed just a threat: Try touching her if you dare.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 33

Chapter 33 : From now on, I have the final say on such matters.

As the sun set in the west, the military camp stood in stern order.

Luo Xiaoyi hurriedly followed in Fu Ting's footsteps out of the tent.

"Third Brother, you seem a bit off today."

Fu Ting continued walking, fastening his sword to his waist without turning his head. "What seems off?"

"When you joined the camp today, I clearly saw you douse yourself with three buckets of cold water. How is that not off?" Luo Xiaoyi had been dying to ask. Early that morning, before dawn had fully broken, he had seen his third brother standing outside the tent, bare-chested, pouring water over himself.

He almost thought he was seeing things, as it was the coldest time of the day, and just watching made his teeth chatter. Only his third brother could withstand such cold.

He had held back his question all day, only now daring to ask as they were leaving the camp.

Fu Ting took the reins handed to him by a guard, mounted his horse, and replied impassively, "Just taking a cold bath."

Luo Xiaoyi quickly untied his own horse and mounted, scrutinizing his brother from behind but finding nothing unusual. He thought to himself, could it really be just a bath? Why bathe here in the military camp instead of comfortably in the residence?

Upon closer inspection, he noticed Fu Ting's attire was somewhat different. Though similar to his previous one, this attire was clearly brand new. He asked curiously, "Third Brother, you're wearing a new attire. I didn't notice earlier. Did Sister-in-law make it for you?"

"Stop talking nonsense," Fu Ting snapped, spurring his horse forward and swiftly leaving the camp.

Luo Xiaoyi, taken aback but used to such retorts, didn't mind and hurriedly followed. They galloped back at a fast pace.

Luo Xiaoyi trailed behind Fu Ting back to the residence, to continue teaching Li Yan martial arts. He first headed to the courtyard where the young lord resided.

Relieved to be alone, Fu Ting entered the rear courtyard, where a servant reported that a merchant had delivered documents for approval, now placed in the study hall.

Fu Ting remembered the merchant, whose shop had previously helped capture the spies, requesting a permit to conduct business outside the borders. He turned towards the study hall.

Pushing the door open, he saw the documents laid out on the desk. He picked them up, not yet processed, first glanced around the room. He had lived in this study hall for a long time, and it was filled with his belongings.

He called out, "Someone, come here."

Two maidservants quickly entered to take orders.

"Move everything to the main house," he instructed, then left the study hall with the documents in hand.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi changed into a gaoyao ruqun[1], the belt loosely tied by Xinlu to avoid causing her discomfort. Everyone had retreated from the room.

Feeling somewhat fatigued, she reclined on the daybed, sipping the freshly brewed tea prepared by Xinlu, her gaze fixed on the window.

A small branch poking out revealed signs of new green, reminding her how long she had been in the northern lands and how it felt as if she had only just begun her life as a wife with that man.

She set down the teacup when she suddenly heard the voices of Li Yan and Luo Xiaoyi.

"How have you been practicing the moves I taught you yesterday? Come on, show me in the back courtyard," said Li Yan.

Qichi stirred and slowly sat up, hearing footsteps entering the room. Turning her head, she saw two maidservants carrying items, who greeted her before placing the things neatly in the room and leaving. She recognized them as Fu Ting's belongings.

Shortly after, another figure entered. She turned to see Fu Ting walking in. With a sharp clank, he unfastened his sword and placed it on the table, holding a document in his other hand, his eyes sweeping over her.

Their gazes met, and she quickly looked away, feeling unexpectedly uneasy. From the corner of her eye, she noticed his gaze lingering on her face, surprisingly calm and unabashed.

Xinlu hurried in to attend to him. "I didn't know the Grand Protector had returned. Should I call the servants for dinner?"

He nodded, casually taking a seat behind the table with the document on his hand, still in his Hu military attire, even with his Hu boots on. Watching this man who was as steady as a mountain, Qichi clenched her hands discreetly. Anyone unaware might think he was in the main house every day, leaving all the unease to her alone.

Xinlu soon led others in, setting the table and serving dishes, while also offering water for handwashing. Qichi stood up and walked over, kneeling beside him, noticing the document in his hand.

As Fu Ting spread out the document, he didn't stop her from looking. Only when he saw the household registration of the merchant written on the document did his gaze shift to her.

"From Qingliu County," Qichi noted with a glance. "What a coincidence, he’s from my fief."

She maintained a flawless cover for her secret business dealings, leaving no loose ends, thus she remained unflustered.

Fu Ting glanced at the document again. "Are all people from Qingliu County this wealthy?"

She was taken aback. "What?"

"Otherwise, how else would you be so rich?" Nobles received income from their fiefs, and though he didn’t question her private funds, he assumed they came from her lands.

Qichi's eyes darted, then she nodded lightly. "Perhaps."

"Brush," Fu Ting extended his hand.

Xinlu quickly fetched a brush from the table, dipped it in ink, and presented it to him with both hands. He took it and signed the document with decisive strokes.

Trading outside the border was risky, but this merchant had contributed significantly, making it unreasonable to deny the request.

Seeing this, Qichi felt reassured and even picked up her chopsticks to serve him food. Fu Ting glanced at her hand, noticing the slight bruising on her fingertips—either from him or elsewhere. He had realized how harsh he had been the previous night, and seeing the marks made him feel he had gone too far.

After finishing their meal, the sky was already dark. With lamps lit inside the room, Xinlu and Qiushuang came in to prepare for the night.

After washing up, Qichi turned to see Fu Ting emerging from behind the screen, now in casual attire, standing by the bed adjusting his sleeves, her face heating up again.

The attendants withdrew, closing the door.

Fu Ting had noticed her expressions since he entered, thinking to himself how bold she was yesterday and now suddenly shy. He lifted the hem of his clothes and sat by the bed.

Qichi walked over and sat beside him. The lamplight highlighted his profile, and as her gaze shifted over him, she couldn't help but think of the wildness of the previous night. Her heart raced uncontrollably as she reached out to help him undress.

Fu Ting grabbed her hand and said in a low voice, "Not tonight."

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. She had thought his moving in was due to his longing for its savour grows after tasting the marrow[2], but his words suggested otherwise. Uncertain of his intentions, she deliberately asked, "Too tired from last night?"

Fu Ting almost laughed. Such boldness was akin to outright provocation. To subdue her would be challenging; this woman always dared.

He pulled her close, saying, "Do you think I got to where I am today by luck? The same tricks won’t work on me twice."

She needed to understand that he wouldn’t let her lead him around by the nose. Qichi, now face-to-face with him, supported herself on his shoulder with one hand. She found herself in a clearly ambiguous position yet was restrained by him, unable to move.

She was momentarily speechless, reflecting on his words. If he were easily provoked, he would have fallen to the Turkic army long ago and never risen to Grand Protector.

Fu Ting’s hand reached behind her waist, his voice a deep murmur in her ear, "From now on, I have the final say on such matters."

His breath brushed her ear, making her heart leap, followed by a sudden pain behind her waist, nearly making her gasp. It was his hand pressed firmly against it, even rubbing it heavily twice.

She frowned, clutching his lapel, unable to stifle a soft whimper, "You're hurting me."

Fu Ting stared at her frowning brows, and only after he could hear a sentence that sounded like a plea for mercy, did he let go of her, "Go to sleep."

Qichi, reminded of the lingering pain behind her waist, bit her lip and got into bed. She lay down on the inner side, too weary to argue, turning her back on him and ignored him.

Fu Ting watched her back, thinking she was clearly still in pain, yet still trying to act tough. Did she think that by capturing his body, she could also capture his heart? Even so, it would still be under his control.

He lay down beside her. Her body is considered petite compared to his, her back pressed against his arm.

Unlike last night, tonight he truly felt the presence of a woman by his side.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

"The Grand Protector has gone to the military camp early this morning again," Xinlu reported as she combed Qichi’s hair.

Qichi responded with a soft "Hmm," gently touching her lower back. The pain seemed to have subsided somewhat. She felt relieved that Fu Ting hadn’t touched her again; had he repeated his rough treatment, she doubted she would have recovered so quickly.

As Xinlu finished styling Qichi’s hair, she said, "General Cao is here. She has been waiting for a while."

Qichi remembered the permit had been issued, and Cao Yulin must have come to bid farewell before joining the merchant caravan. She stood up, saying, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Fearing Qichi might still be in pain, Xinlu quickly reached out to support her.

Cao Yulin was sitting in the pavilion in the garden of the Grand Protector Residence. Upon hearing from Qiushuang that the Grand Protector had just left the main house, she didn’t disturb Qichi, assuming the couple was fine.

As light footsteps approached, Cao Yulin looked over and stood, clasping her fists in greeting. "Sister-in-law."

Qichi stepped into the pavilion and asked, "Are you leaving today?"

Cao Yulin nodded. "Yes, thanks to your advice, I plan to travel with the merchant caravan. Since I’m here at Hanhai Commandery, I thought I should visit you first."

Straightforward by nature, Cao Yulin had admired and felt a kinship with Qichi since their meeting at the tavern, appreciating that she didn’t look down on others and willing to help.

Qichi gestured for her to sit, while Xinlu and Qiushuang placed lacquered trays filled with rare fruits and snacks that were hard to find in the north on the stone table. The assortment included many items Cao Yulin had never seen before.

Noticing Qichi’s generosity, Cao Yulin couldn’t help but think of Fu Ting’s hardships over the years. Comparing the two, she wondered if their past disagreements were due to such contrasts, but she knew her third brother wasn't a stingy man.

She looked towards Qichi who sat down on the opposite side of the table, examined that face for a while, and couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law, you seem different."

Dressed in a ruqun that trailed the floor, with a white fox fur collar around her neck and a silk shawl draped over her arm, Qichi smiled and asked, "How so?"

"I can’t quite say," Cao Yulin pondered. "You seem more... womanly."

Qichi’s mind wandered at this, and she asked teasingly, "Are you implying I didn't seem womanly before?"

Cao Yulin was speechless for a moment, and explained, "Not at all. It’s just that you seem more at ease now, likely because things are better with my third brother."

She had always thought Qichi was beautiful, but now, with her relaxed demeanor, her natural charm was even more evident, making her seem more womanly. Realizing she struggled to articulate this well, Cao Yulin nearly fell silent.

Qichi, merely teasing, smiled. "Sort of."

She pushed the tray of snacks forward. "As a young lady about to embark on a long journey, shouldn't you eat something good a little? Don't hesitate, eat."

Cao Yulin was momentarily stunned, though her face remained unchanged, felt a warmth in her heart. Raised in the military, she had forgotten she was a woman, but today, she felt like she truly had a sister-in-law speaking to her in such a manner.

However, accustomed to frugality, she hesitated to touch the precious snacks. She intended to say a few words and then take her leave, her hand hesitant to reach out.

Just then, footsteps approached from the corridor. "Sister-in-law," a voice called.

As the person reached the pavilion, the voice stopped. Luo Xiaoyi, clad in armor, stood at the steps of the pavilion, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Qichi glanced at him, then at Cao Yulin, pretending to be unaware. "Is everything settled in the military?" she asked.

Luo Xiaoyi snapped back to reality with a dry laugh. "Not really. I came to deliver something."

Only after saying this did he look at Cao Yulin, holding that little smile, saying, "It's been a long time."

Cao Yulin nodded. "Yes, it has."

He asked, "Are you fully recovered?"

She nodded again. "Yes, I've long recovered."

Luo Xiaoyi, seemingly at a loss for words, gave an awkward "Oh."

Cao Yulin clasped her fists towards Qichi. "Since I’ve seen you, I’ll take my leave."

Qichi nodded, advising, "Be careful outside."

Cao Yulin thanked her, stood up, and left the pavilion, passing Luo Xiaoyi without a glance.

Luo Xiaoyi remained at the steps, not watching Cao Yulin leave.

Qichi glanced back, seeing Xinlu and Qiushuang had retreated, she finally said, "If you have feelings for her, why do you avoid her?"

Luo Xiaoyi, knowing whom she referred to, widened his eyes, then laughed awkwardly. "To be honest, my relationship with A’Chan is over. There’s nothing more to say, and I’m not deliberately avoiding her."

"A’Chan?" Qichi questioned, thinking she had misheard.

Luo Xiaoyi explained, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Cao Yulin was raised by Hu people and used to have a Hu name, Yulin Chan. After joining the military, she thought it lacked impact and reverted to her Han surname, hence the name Cao Yulin."

Qichi laughed. "What a pleasant name to hear."

Luo Xiaoyi, embarrassed by her remark, forced a smile and said, "I should get back to the military camp now."

He hurried away without further explanation.

Qichi didn't pursue the matter further. It was their personal matter, after all. It was not good for her to intervene more.

Xinlu soon returned, holding a box. "Master, it’s a coincidence. General Luo just gave this to me, saying that the young lord might get hurt while practicing martial arts. It’s military ointment, not for general use but very effective for bruises and injuries. I thought, since the young lord doesn’t need it now, you might use it for your back."

Qichi was surprised.

Did he make a special trip just to deliver this?

Notes: [1] 高腰襦裙 (gāoyāo rúqún): A high-waisted ruqun. The look could vary, depending on the collar type and style, but all of it the same—the skirt position is below the chest and above the waist. [2] 食髓知味 (shí suǐ zhī wèi): Same like having a bite of the apple makes one yearn for more, meaning to have tasted something and crave it again, usually in a context of desire or indulgence.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 32

Chapter 32 : Consummation of marriage.

When Li Yan returned to see Qichi, he had regained his usual composure. He stood by the window, listening to the commotion outside. It seemed the soldiers who had been dealing with the landslide were returning, their orderly steps echoing in the courtyard.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure everything has been handled,” Qichi remarked from her seat.

Li Yan glanced back at his aunt before sitting down across from her. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked, “Aunt, how have you and Uncle been lately?”

Qichi was sitting in a chair, reviewing the ledgers. She looked up briefly and replied, “We’re fine. Didn’t we both go searching for you together?”

Li Yan hesitated for a moment, then said, “But I haven’t seen you together much lately.”

Except, of course, when they were looking for him.

Qichi continued flipping through the pages, even smiling slightly. “There’s nothing wrong. And if there were, it wouldn’t concern you.”

Her words stopped his wandering thoughts in their tracks.

Li Yan placed his hands on his knees and watched her. Sensing his gaze, Qichi looked up. “Is there something else?”

He nodded and said, “I want to send my wet nurse back to Guang Prefecture.”

“Why?” she asked.

His wet nurse, Nurse Wang, had always been responsible for his care. Sending her back would leave him without anyone to attend to his needs.

“Since coming to the North, her health has been poor. Besides, I no longer need someone to take care of me,” Li Yan said earnestly.

He thought of his uncle, the Grand Protector, and Uncle Xiaoyi, a general, who didn’t have servants attending them constantly. He didn’t want to become a pampered and helpless person who was always surrounded by servants.

Qichi understood his desire to be independent. It was a good thing. She nodded, “Very well. I will ask Xinlu to make proper arrangements for Nurse Wang’s return to Guang Prefecture.”

Li Yan rubbed his hands on his knees and then added, “I also want to learn martial arts.”

Noticing the dagger at his waist, a gift from Fu Ting, she asked, “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes,” Li Yan replied firmly, his expression more resolute than before.

She thought for a moment and then said, “Alright, but remember, this is the path you’ve chosen. You must walk it yourself. If you face difficulties, I may not be able to help you.”

Learning martial arts was not like learning to ride a horse; she felt the need to remind him.

“I understand,” Li Yan said, his determination unwavering. He had carefully considered this before coming to her.

Having said what he needed, he then stood up, “Aunt, you must be busy. I’ll take my leave.”

Qichi watched him walk out of the room. She couldn’t help but feel that he had truly matured from this experience, his features increasingly resembling her brother’s.

Her thoughts drifted back to his question: How have you and Uncle been lately?

She closed the ledger, recalling the situation upon their return that night. Whether things were good or not, perhaps only that man truly knew.

Xinlu entered from outside, greeting her respectfully with a garment in hand, which she placed on the table.

Qichi glanced at the garment, her eyes shifting slightly. “Wait outside,” she instructed.

Xinlu complied and left the room.

Now alone, Qichi put away the ledger and rose, walking over to her dressing table where she knelt. The copper mirror reflected her face as she ran her fingers through her hair, contemplating recent events. Quietly, she said to her reflection, “Let’s try again.”

With that, she picked up a brush and meticulously began to apply her makeup.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

As dusk fell, Fu Ting led his horse out of the stable, with Luo Xiaoyi following closely behind. Both men were covered in dust, having just finished supervising the reclamation of new land.

"Third Brother, everything's been taken care of. Do you still need to review those land registers?" Luo Xiaoyi asked.

Fu Ting recalled the registers he had reviewed earlier. Half of them were meticulously documented by Qichi, clear and detailed, leaving nothing to be questioned. "No need."

Luo Xiaoyi sighed, thinking about how the landslide area would need to be re-measured, though it wasn’t a major issue. Instead, he said, "With all this newly reclaimed land, when autumn comes, the harvest and subsequent taxes will surely be much higher than before."

"Let's focus on the present," Fu Ting replied. He never counted his chickens before they hatched[1]; that was merely daydreaming.

Luo Xiaoyi, however, remained optimistic. Just as he was smiling, he saw Li Yan approaching.

"Uncle Xiaoyi, could you teach me martial arts?"

Luo Xiaoyi was taken aback and instinctively glanced at his third brother.

Fu Ting studied Li Yan. The boy's fair face showed no sign of fear. He didn’t seem to be joking.

Fu Ting nudged Luo Xiaoyi with his foot. "Didn't you hear him?"

Realizing Fu Ting's approval, Luo Xiaoyi grinned, "Why not? As long as you can endure the hardships, I have no objections."

He stepped forward and casually placed a hand on Li Yan's shoulder, disregarding formalities. "Not to boast, but if you train with me, I guarantee you'll become the second-best fighter in the North."

Li Yan looked up. "Second?"

"Of course. The first will always be your uncle," Luo Xiaoyi said, patting him twice. "Come on, let's start with a few moves."

Fu Ting watched them walk away before heading towards the rear courtyard. As he stepped into the corridor, respectful maidservants stood by with their hands hanging down.

Xinlu greeted him, "Master requests your presence in the main house after you return."

Fu Ting paused, glanced towards the main house, and said nothing.

Xinlu kept her head bowed, not daring to speak further. She feared the Grand Protector wouldn't go, as he hadn't visited the main house in a long time. Just when she thought her task might fail, she saw the Grand Protector move towards the main house, and she quietly breathed a sigh of relief as she followed him.

Fu Ting lifted the curtain and entered the main house. He discarded his sword and whip casually by the door, which closed behind him with a click. He glanced back, seeming to understand something, and then turned to see the silhouette of a woman behind the screen.

Qichi stepped out from behind the screen and looked at him. "I almost thought you wouldn't come."

As soon as he saw her, a smirk tugged at Fu Ting’s lips. She was wearing a tanling shanqun[2], a low-cut upper garment with a skirt tied just below the chest. The upper garment was made of thin, sheer fabric, revealing her fair chest and slender arms, her neckline elegantly defined.

He tilted his head, pretending not to notice. "What's the matter?"

"I saw your military attire was torn, so I made you a new one," she said, pointing to the new clothes on the table. She approached him and began to undo his sleeve ties and waistband.

For once, the usually tight belt came undone easily. She drew it away, lifted his collar, and pulled his clothes off. Fu Ting let her take off his military attire, watching as she brought the new clothes and held them out.

"Try it on," she said after unfolded it, walking behind him.

Without a word, he stretched out his arms and slipped into the new clothes.

Qichi circled back, adjusted the collar and tied it, her fingers tracing his shoulders to ensure a perfect fit. "It fits perfectly," she said.

The thick black brocade Hu military attire closely resembled his previous one, a deliberate choice on her part. Having seen him in similar attire daily, she had gotten his measurements just right by heart.

Fu Ting tugged at the collar and said, "It's done."

He knew that she hadn't called him here just to try on clothes. Especially not when she was dressed like this.

Qichi's fingers trailed slowly across his shoulders. Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "I've also prepared some wine."

She glanced to the side, and Fu Ting followed her gaze to see a small table set with wine and dishes.

"It’s nuptial wine," she added.

Since their wedding, they had never drunk the nuptial wine[2] together.

At this point, the meaning was obvious.

Fu Ting's gaze returned to her. Her face, meticulously touched up with black eyebrows and red lips, was as radiant as the autumn moon. Her sheer sleeves had slipped down, revealing her arms like pale lotus stems, bare.

He noticed the slight blush at the tips of her ears and the flicker of her eyes. His throat slightly moved as he pursed his lips together.

Qichi saw his reaction and, seizing the moment, placed her hand on his neck. Her fingers gently traced the shallow scar from a healed wound.

Fu Ting's gaze remained fixed on her, not moving a muscle, as if testing her resolve.

Seeing his unwavering gaze and with no other reaction from him, her expression gradually dulled, and her heart sank. Today, she had put herself to break the cauldrons and sink the boats[4], yet he was merely watching.

Can't help but feel a little discouraged, she withdrew the arms resting on his shoulders and bit her lip. "Stone," she muttered.

Fu Ting frowned his brows and murmured. "What?"

He had heard her. She shifted her eyes, feeling a surge of emotion from days of casting aside her dignity in front of him.

"Why, am I wrong? You, Fu Ting, are nothing but a stone that can't be warmed up."

No, not just a stone. Even a stone could be warmed or softened. But not him. No warmth, no movement. What more could she do?

Her arm was suddenly grabbed.

Fu Ting grabbed her and pulled her close.

Qichi bumped into his chest, frowning as she tried to push him away, turning her face aside.

His face remained stern, and suddenly he grabbed her waist and lifted her up.

"You see whether I'm hot or not." he said, striding towards the bed.

She had brought this on herself.

(🔞 scene, skip if you're underage.)

Qichi gasped as he pressed her onto the bed. He guided her hand and placed it on his waist, leaning in close to her ear and speaking in a low husky voice, "Take it off the way you put it on just now."

Her heart suddenly races. She had gotten what she wanted, yet it caught her off guard. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled with the belt, her cheeks flushing hotly.

Fu Ting watched her struggle, then finally reached down, swiftly undoing it himself with one hand while pulling off her shanqun with the other.

Instinctively, she tried to draw her legs back, but he held her firmly in place.

The soft sound of fabric tearing was followed by a sudden chill as her clothes were pulled away, leaving her skin exposed.

Pinned beneath him, Qichi's breathing quickened as she lowered her gaze.

Fu Ting lifted her chin. "Look at me."

Qichi's heart tightened as she clutched her palms, thinking to herself: Why panic? Without capturing his body, how could she ever capture his heart?

Resolving herself, she lifted her gaze to meet his.

In Fu Ting's eyes, she appeared as flawless as white jade. He stared at her face, his jaw clenched and his hands moved like battering rams.

She trembled lightly, the blush spreading across her face and blending with her makeup, her brows knitting and relaxing intermittently.

Suddenly, her brows knit tightly and her lashes fluttered incessantly. She bit her lip fiercely, suppressing a stifled moan that nearly escaped.

Her body felt like a light boat tossed in turbulent waves, buffeted mercilessly. In such moments, the man seemed to have absolute control, while she could only be maneuvered. Having nowhere to put her hands, she grasped the cashmere beneath her.

Fu Ting suddenly seized her hand, placing it on his body. Her palm felt as though it touched hot iron, and she squeezed hard, venting her emotions. He let out a deep chuckle, becoming even more ferocious.

For a fleeting moment, Qichi even regretted it.

To think that a man and a woman could be so close, so deeply entwined, inseparable.

She tilted her head, breathing rapidly, feeling no longer cold but rather a thin sheen of sweat forming on her skin.

"Will you dare next time?" she heard him whisper in her ear after a long while.

She turned her head with effort, pressing her lips to his ear as she panted softly, "I don't know."

This answer did not surprise Fu Ting anymore. He chuckled again, gritting his teeth, determined to conquer this woman completely.

It wasn't clear how much time had passed before Qichi felt him release her briefly. She moved slightly, only to have him catch her foot again.

Fu Ting grabbed her, his dark eyes bore into hers like those of a wolf or an eagle. "Where are you going?"

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

It wasn't over; it wouldn't be over until he said so.

(🔞 scenes over.)

When the morning light shone on her face, Qichi slowly awoke. As she opened her eyes, memories of the previous night rushed back, causing her face to flush deeply. She glanced sideways, finding the space beside her empty.

She let out a small sigh of relief, placing one hand on her cheek and the other on the thick quilt on her chest as she slowly sat up.

The sun was already high in the sky.

Her clothes were draped over the edge of the bed, the skirt torn from the waist down. She recalled it being tossed to the ground last night; he must have picked it up before leaving. It couldn't be worn, either. She wondered if he had left it there deliberately to embarrass her.

Reflecting on her bold actions from the previous night, she couldn't help but admire her own audacity. She cleared her throat, finding it somewhat hoarse.

The door opened, and Xinlu and Qiushuang entered, closing it behind them. They looked at her with a half-hidden smile. "Master, you’re awake. We have prepared a hot bath for you."

Qichi pulled the quilt higher and coughed gently, prompting them to stifle their laughter.

She glanced around. "Where is he?"

Xinlu replied, "The Grand Protector got up early and went to the military camp as usual."

She nodded as if nothing had happened, but her face grew even hotter. She thought to herself: how could this man not be tired, tossing her around like that last night and still managing to rise early.

Xinlu and Qiushuang did not linger, turning to prepare her bath.

Wrapping herself in silk, Qichi walked behind the screen and sank into the bath. Her whole body ached indescribably.

Was this truly how painful it could be?

Her arms draped over the edge of the tub, her strength not yet fully returned, leaving her feeling utterly drained.

Xinlu, using a soft cloth, began to gently wash Qichi's shoulders, unintentionally sweeping onto her waist. She was surprised and said, "Master, you have a large bruise on the back of your waist!"

Qichi reached to feel it, frowning and murmuring, "Leave me."

Such intimate moments were not for others to see.

Xinlu stifled a laugh mixed with pity and withdrew behind the screen.

Qichi's hand traced the bruise, recalling the man on her body last night. She had tried to endure, biting her lip in silence, until finally, he had pried her lips open, whispering in her ear, "If you need to scream, do so. I'm just afraid you'll cry."

She slid deeper into the water, submerging her neck and covering her rapidly beating heart. Staring at her reflection, her flushed face mirrored in the water. After a long time, she muttered softly, "Brute."

Notes: [1] Never counted his chickens before they hatched: A proverb, means don't rely too much on something that hasn't actually happened yet. The Chinese raw actually don’t use proverb on this one, but I think this way is more suited in the translation. [2] 坦领衫裙 (tǎnlǐng shānqún): 坦领 mean U-shaped neckline upper garment. 衫 could mean an unlined upper garment, upper garment over skirt, low-cut upper garment, or upper garment with a single layer. In this style of clothing, I suppose it means the low-cut upper garment. While 裙 mean skirt. The image of tanling shanqun is below. [3] Nuptial Wine 合衾酒 (hé qīn jiǔ): A traditional wine shared by newlyweds drank by interlinking and crossing their arms to sip the wine from two separated cup, symbolizing their union. [4] To break the cauldrons and sink the boats 破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu): An idiom, means committing everything toward a set goal and not allowing retreat to be an option.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 : Lucky to have you today.

Qichi had never ridden a horse this fast before.

Galloping through the uneven fields, she reached the base of the mountain, but still saw no trace of Li Yan. The veil on her hat had been blown away by the wind, but she paid it no mind.

Turning her head, she scanned her surroundings, only to see that the mountain was obscured by a thick cloud of dust from a recent landslide, rendering visibility nearly impossible.

People were fleeing in panic, running in the opposite direction, while she alone went against the flow, calling repeatedly, "A’Yan!"

A horse galloped swiftly towards her from behind. As she turned her head, Fu Ting seized her wrist.

"Get down," he said, his eyes sternly fixed on her.

Catching her breath, Qichi replied, "I can't let anything happen to A’Yan. He's my only family left."

His eyes narrowed further, his jaw clenched. She could see his resolve and reached out with her other hand to grasp the one holding her wrist. "I know it's reckless, but let me search nearby. He was entrusted to me by my brother on his deathbed. I can't fail him."

Her words were urgent, her tone soft, almost pleading. Fu Ting looked at her pale face, her hair disheveled by the wind. At this moment, she seemed utterly lost and desperate, reminiscent of the time when she wept silently with closed eyes at the death of Prince of Guang.

He tightened his lips, swung his leg over and dismounted. With a firm tug, he pulled her off her horse, cradling her in his arms.

Qichi hadn't expected such forcefulness from him. Startled, she struggled and pushed against him. "Can’t I even search for my own nephew?"

Fu Ting tightened his embrace. "I'll help you find him!"

Unable to move within his strong hold, Qichi looked up at his determined face. He spoke with a deep resolve, "I will help you find him. Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will definitely find him for you."

His words were as firm as iron. Qichi's eyes flickered, and she nodded, perhaps finding reassurance in his tone.

Fu Ting released her, but to prevent her from running off again, he grabbed her hand, his fingers clasped tightly around hers. "Let's go."

Qichi was pulled along as they moved forward. Most of the villagers had fled, sensing the impending danger. The area at the mountain's base was a mess, scattered with plows, farming tools, and even muddy, broken shoes. Fallen soil and rocks had buried the fields, blocking part of the mountain path.

Fu Ting’s guards quickly gathered around him, having already searched the vicinity. One of them reported, "Grand Protector, there are injuries but no fatalities."

Hearing this, Fu Ting glanced at Qichi. "Find the son of Prince of Guang."

The guards dispersed to continue their search. Qichi's expression eased a bit. As long as Li Yan was alive, everything else could be dealt with. But she still feared receiving bad news, her brows furrowed in anxiety.

Rocks continued to tumble down the mountain, landing near their feet and kicking up more dust. Fu Ting held her tightly, keeping her shielded, each of his steps deliberate and steady. Dust covered his shoulders, but Qichi remained relatively unscathed by the flying debris.

Though she didn’t notice, her mind entirely focused on her nephew. Her eyes never stopped scanning the surroundings. "How long have we been searching?"

"Not long enough to lose hope," he responded bluntly, not wanting her to worry excessively.

Qichi nodded unconsciously. For some reason, having a man by her side at a time like this saying such unquestionable words instead called her heart at ease.

Before long, Luo Xiaoyi approached with two men. "Sister-in-law, Xinlu is back!"

Qichi tugged Fu Ting to a stop. Xinlu had returned safely and explained that she had been with Li Yan and hadn't gone near the mountain, but suddenly lost sight of him, prompting her to return and inform her master.

Luo Xiaoyi, having heard this, came immediately to report. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he asked Fu Ting, "Third Brother, this is strange. If the young lord is safe, why can't we find him?"

Qichi pondered. Li Yan was usually very obedient. If anything happened, he would come to her first. It was unlike him to disappear without a trace and cause others to worry.

She glanced at the collapsed mountain and murmured, "Could it be..."

Could it be related to past events?

Her hand was pulled, and Fu Ting led her away from the mountain’s base.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

The soldiers from Hanhai Commandery arrived, busily managing the aftermath of the landslide, neither too large nor too small in scale. The sky had already begun to darken.

Under a low, ancient tree, Li Yan sat hugging his knees. This was the scene that greeted Fu Ting upon arrival.

He released Qichi’s hand, gripping a saber in his other hand. Its blade was stained with the thorns and dirt he had cut through during his search. After wiping the back of the saber, he sheathed it at his waist and glanced at Qichi.

She stood behind him, her hair still disheveled but her face now calm. Yet, she did not move forward, only watching.

Fu Ting then turned his gaze to Li Yan.

Seeming to hear the commotion, Li Yan suddenly looked up, "Father!"

Fu Ting furrowed his brows, observing the young face. In the dim sky, Li Yan's tear-streaked face showed sorrow and helplessness, resembling a frightened sparrow.

Fu Ting recalled the ‘father’ Li Yan had called for. He had met Prince of Guang only once, on the day of his wedding, a fleeting glance at his last moments. The memory was of a pale man lying on a daybed, his features strikingly similar to Qichi’s. If not for the illness, he would have been a gentle and handsome man.

Later, urgent news from the North had forced Fu Ting to leave hastily. He heard that Prince of Guang had passed away a few hours later while en route. To him, Prince of Guang was just a fleeting impression, but to Qichi and Li Yan, he clearly meant much more.

“Stand up,” Fu Ting commanded, looking at Li Yan. He almost wanted to add that his father was long gone, but restrained himself out of pity for the boy's grief.

Sitting here wallowing in sorrow was pointless; Prince of Guang would not return.

Li Yan, hearing the stern voice, stiffened as he regained his senses. "Uncle," he called out in a low voice.

Then he saw his aunt standing behind his uncle. Li Yan immediately stood up, running to her. "Aunt, I..."

He had remembered the landslide from afar earlier, bringing back memories of his father protecting him during a disaster. If not for that protection, he might not be alive today. This thought had overwhelmed him, leaving him huddled under the tree for a long time.

It wasn't until his uncle's voice jolted him back to reality. Seeing his aunt now, he realized how worried he must have made her. Feeling a wave of shame and guilt, he was unable to speak.

Qichi remained still, looking at him coolly. “Have I taught you nothing?” she said.

Li Yan felt even more ashamed. His aunt had always taught him not to dwell on the past but to look forward. But he had done none of that, hanging his head and sniffling again.

“If it happens again…” Qichi began.

“There won’t be,” he quickly interjected, raising his head quickly. “Aunt, I promise, it won’t happen again.”

Qichi then reached her hand out from her sleeve and placed it on his shoulder. She understood his pain, feeling a mix of sorrow and helplessness. But at this point, the Prince of Guang Residence didn’t need a weak heir; it needed a man who could uphold the title of the Prince of Guang.

Li Yan wiped his eyes with his sleeve, standing straight beside his aunt. “There won’t be a next time,” he repeated, his voice low but determined, as if he had grown up in an instant.

Qichi nodded, sensing his newfound resolve.

Fu Ting, standing a few steps away, had been watching them the entire time.

Luo Xiaoyi approached him quietly, holding a torch. “Third Brother, what are you looking at?” He thought it was a false alarm, seeing his sister-in-law and the young lord both needing comfort. He wondered why Fu Ting just stood there watching.

Fu Ting didn’t respond.

In his view, the torchlight illuminated Qichi's lowered eyes and the thin figure of Li Yan beside her. He saw a pair of relatives relying on each other. He noticed many things he had previously overlooked.

At this moment, who would have thought these were a prince’s son and a princess?

Without saying anything, Fu Ting adjusted his saber into his belt and turned away. “Let’s go back,” he said.

Luo Xiaoyi, obeying the order, went to invite Qichi and the young lord.

Qichi finally turned to look for the man’s figure. He was already walking away, blending into the dim evening light, a long solitary silhouette.

She lowered her head, rubbed her wrist and then pinched her fingers twice, realizing how tightly he had gripped her earlier.

By the time they returned to the Grand Protector Residence, it was night. Fu Ting personally escorted the carriage, using his authority to open the city gate, ensuring a smooth arrival at the residence.

The others remained at the site to manage the aftermath throughout the night.

Li Yan did not ride a horse back but sat with his aunt in the carriage. Qichi talked to him the entire way, making sure he had recovered from the earlier scare.

As he got out of the carriage, he saw his uncle, who had just dismounted. Remembering how his uncle had also searched for him, he felt a pang of guilt for causing trouble and decided he should speak to him.

Qichi, stepping out behind him, saw Li Yan standing by the gate of the residence, respectfully saying something to Fu Ting.

Fu Ting, holding a horsewhip, brushed off some dust and replied to him. Li Yan seemed taken aback, standing still for a long moment before nodding and entering the residence, heading to his own courtyard.

Qichi walked over and asked, “What did you say to him just now?”

Fu Ting paused and replied, “Nothing.”

How could it be nothing, she had seen it all. "What exactly did you say?" She wanted to know.

He walked into the residence, replying, “It’s really nothing.”

Earlier, Li Yan was ashamed in front of him and said, “I won’t cause you any more trouble, Uncle.”

Fu Ting had responded, “If you see yourself as a trouble, then you’ll always be one.”

That left Li Yan speechless for a while, making him walk away silently.

Fu Ting didn't want to say it because he felt the words might have been harsh, but the lesson was necessary. In these troubled times in the North, if everyone wallowed in the past, they would never rise again.

Qichi, unable to get more out of him, simply followed his steps.

Passing through the corridor, under the dim lantern light, she noticed his military attire was covered in dust from shoulder to arm, with a part of the shoulder even worn out. She couldn’t recall where it happened but remembered him tightly holding her during the search.

Her lips moved, wanting to say thank you but feeling it was too distant. They are husband and wife; she wished for more closeness, not distance.

So instead, she said, “Lucky to have you today.”

In the dim light, his steps seemed to slow for a moment.

Qichi watched as he switched the whip from his left hand to his right and tucked it into his waist. Only then did she hear his low, “Hmm.”

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 : She would only act this way in front of her husband.

Fu Ting hadn't visited the main house for a long time.

As Qichi pondered this, she watched Xinlu carry the brazier out of the room. In a blink, the weather had warmed considerably. She pushed open the window and paced slowly around the room.

She recalled how Li Yan had mentioned that Fu Ting had asked him about a letter from Prince of Yong. The man was deeply astute; something in that letter must have tipped him off. Prince of Yong again. She made a mental note of it.

Qiushuang entered the room and reported, "Master, the person has arrived."

Qichi snapped back to attention and sat down in the chair just as someone followed Qiushuang into the room. The visitor was dressed in black, with a heroic look on her face, and saluted her with a fist to the palm. "Sister-in-law."

It was Cao Yulin.

Qichi smiled. "It's been a while."

Cao Yulin nodded and took out a rolled sheepskin[1] from her sleeve. "Sister-in-law, the matter you asked for has been completed. It's all here."

Qiushuang took the sheepskin and handed it to Qichi. She unrolled it to find detailed notes on foreign goods and the general conditions of various places.

She had learned in the tavern that Cao Yulin was skilled at gathering intelligence and had requested her assistance in nws an eye on foreign matters.

Initially, it was more to reassure her about accepting the capital she had given her and to have a backup plan. Unexpectedly, this information had come at the perfect time, just as she needed it to expand her business.

She put it away and reached into her sleeve.

Seeing this, Cao Yulin quickly said, "Sister-in-law, there's no need to give more money. This was done with the money you already provided."

Qichi withdrew her hand, accepting her sincerity. "How is your business going now?"

Cao Yulin replied, "Thanks to your guidance and the capital you provided, it's much better."

"Speaking of which," Qichi pondered for a moment before continuing, "would you be willing to travel with a merchant caravan?"

"A merchant caravan?"

She nodded. "Since you need to travel to gather information, it would be more convenient if you accompanied a merchant caravan. Qiushuang knows some merchants and can introduce you to them."

She was referring to her own merchant caravan. She thought that since Cao Yulin had military training and needed to conceal her identity while gathering information, and since she herself needed reliable people, it would be mutually beneficial.

Qiushuang, catching the cue, immediately chimed in, "Indeed. If General Cao agrees, just nod, and I'll make the arrangements."

Cao Yulin, after a brief consideration, agreed and clasped her fist to thank her. "Sister-in-law has thought this through. This will indeed be very convenient."

At this point, she thought of Fu Ting and glanced outside. "I wonder when Third Brother will return. Since I'm here, I should pay a visit to him."

When Qichi heard her mention that man, she remembered their current situation and shook her head. "If you want to see him, you won't find him here. You'll have to go look for him yourself."

Cao Yulin was taken aback, not quite believing it. This was their marital home, how could she not find him here? But seeing Qichi's serious expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, have you and Third Brother had a disagreement?"

Qichi raised her hand, signaling Xinlu and Qiushuang to leave, then smiled and said, "It's nothing, don't overthink it."

Matters between husband and wife, she didn't want too many people to know.

Cao Yulin didn't say anything further, but she felt something wasn't right. Back in the tavern, she had seen how much Fu Ting cared for his wife. If there was nothing wrong, how could this be happening?

Not one for flowery words, she could only comfort Qichi based on her understanding of Fu Ting. "Third Brother is not like other men. He’s like a lone wolf, saying little but doing much. I imagine you must be feeling aggrieved, but he is a deeply loyal man. Since he married you, he won't treat you badly."

These were her honest thoughts. She had witnessed Fu Ting's rise, step by step, to his current position. He was a dedicated soldier, willing to take blows for others, but likely not adept at sweet-talking a delicate wife.

Qichi smiled at her, nodding to show she understood. She knew that man treated her well, even now acting as her protector. But what she wanted was more than just well treatment. She wanted him to cherish her, love her, and hold her dear. Only then would he be wholly devoted to her.

Perhaps she was being too greedy.

She turned her gaze to a branch protruding outside the window, her smile gradually fading. She thought to herself, things couldn't continue like this.

　　　　　　　　　　　　※

After leaving the main house, Cao Yulin waited patiently in the front courtyard of the Grand Protector Residence. She had considerable patience, waiting nearly two hours before someone arrived.

Fu Ting strode in from the residence gate, his steps purposeful.

She quickly approached him, clasping her hands in greeting. "Third Brother."

Fu Ting stopped, his brows furrowing upon seeing her. "What's the matter?"

She wouldn't have come to Hanhai Commandery without reason.

Cao Yulin hurriedly explained, "It's nothing major. I came to deliver some information and also to visit Sister-in-law."

Only then did Fu Ting's expression soften.

He glanced towards the rear courtyard, silent for a moment before asking, "How is she?"

Cao Yulin paused, realizing he was asking about Qichi, which confirmed her suspicions. She said, "Why don't you go see her yourself, Third Brother?"

Fu Ting's lips curved slightly, twirling the whip in his hand, "Busy."

Cao Yulin noticed the dust on his boots, a clear sign of his recent hard work outside, and realized he wasn’t just spinning tales.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, “As your subordinate, I shouldn't meddle in your personal affairs, Third Brother. But having followed you for years, I understand the hardships you face alone in the North. It's time you had a family of your own.”

She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small pouch, tipping its contents into her hand. Fu Ting took a look and saw a mix of different seeds fall out.

Cao Yulin continued, “The last time we were at the tavern, Sister-in-law heard me talking about your efforts to improve the lives of the people here. She suggested I find some easy-to-grow flower and fruit seeds to sell and also gave me other useful ideas. She’s clearly no ordinary noblewoman but a clever and capable one. Since you care about her, you should treat her well.”

Fu Ting glanced at the seeds and said, “I will.”

Of course, he would treat her well. She was the benefactor of this northern land; how could he not?

He still owed her a great debt.

Seeing his decisive answer, Cao Yulin refrained from saying more. She pulled a small rolled paper from her sleeve and handed it to him. Though it's nothing major, you should stay vigilant about the city's recent situation."

Fu Ting took the paper, nodded, and Cao Yulin clasped her fists in salute before leaving the residence.

He read the message on the paper, then calmly tore it up and walked into the rear courtyard. When he reached the study hall, he saw the door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open to find a woman reclining on the daybed.

Qichi was sitting there, her long clothes cascading over the edge. She had her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought, and only looked up when she heard the door open.

Before Fu Ting could speak, she said, “Since you won’t come to see me, I have to come to see you.”

He closed the door, glanced at her, and started to untie his belt, changing out of his military attire into plain white inner clothes, as usual, reaching for a casual robe on the rack. It struck him that it had indeed been a long time since he had visited the main house.

He casually tied his belt and walked over to sit beside her.

“Look at me,” he said, letting her gaze upon him as he looked at her.

Qichi had her legs stretched out, and when he sat, he brushed against her. Her foot touched the hem of the robe, right against the side of his thigh, and she reflexively pulled back.

But he remained seated, his chiseled cheeks slightly gaunt from recent busyness, his eyes steady and calm as they looked at her, as if nothing had happened.

She recalled why she had come. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she rubbed her foot lightly against his leg. His leg muscles tensed under her touch, hard and firm.

Fu Ting’s gaze dropped, noticing her foot pressed against his leg. He looked up at her, voice deepening, “What do you want to do?”

There was no need for her to please him anymore. He owed her and was meant to be her and her nephew’s support, so why should she still try so hard?

Meeting his gaze, Qichi clenched her fists to muster courage. After a long pause, she finally whispered, “You tell me, what do you think I want to do?”

Such blatant behavior; she didn't believe he couldn't see her intentions. A woman would only act this way in front of her husband. Her eyes lingered on his lips, recalling the way he had kissed her, unable to believe he was completely indifferent.

She wanted to go back to the time when he was willing to get close to her.

There was a steep sinking on her feet, and she was startled when her foot was grabbed by the man's hand.

Fu Ting sat still, one hand firmly holding her foot. Qichi tried to pull away, but couldn’t. Even through her sock, his touch warmed her skin.

Fu Ting had seen her toes and knew that she had a pair of beautiful feet. Now, with her foot in his hand, his jaw tightened.

He noticed her averted gaze and the blush on her ears. He had always wondered how someone of her background could muster such courage before him. Now he knew.

He almost asked her how far she was willing to go for her nephew’s sake, but then he smiled and said, “But I don’t want to yet.”

Qichi frowned and looked at him. He sat there steadily, no other expression except that faint smile on his lips. Only his hand held her foot firmly, preventing any movement.

She stayed still, and so did he, until her foot began to hurt. She shifted and said, “Let go.”

Fu Ting released her foot.

Qichi sat upright, letting her legs dangle off the daybed and silently putting her shoes back on. She glanced at him one last time, seeing him still watching her.

She stood up. Finding nothing more to say, she pursed her lips and walked to the door. Her clothes lifted as she turned, brushing against his legs.

Fu Ting watched her open the door and leave, only relaxing once she was gone.

Fu Ting watched her open the door and leave, only relaxing his body and jaw once she was gone.

He reached into his clothes, instinctively searching for his wine pouch but found nothing. He remembered he had changed clothes and the wine pouch wasn't with him.

Thinking of that woman, the corners of his mouth lifted a little, and then pursed tightly.

　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Qichi walked a long way before stopping under the corridor. She touched her ears, feeling the lingering heat finally dissipate. But the resolve in her heart remained unwavering.

Leaning against a pillar, she looked back at the study hall, clenching her fingers. She wondered, was he really that composed, or did he truly not want her?

Now, this man was becoming increasingly difficult to read.

Notes:

[1] 羊皮 (Yángpí): Sheepskin, used in ancient times as a parchment.

#under the heng gate #衡门之下 #chinese novel #english translation #maree voyage translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 : Only when he met a woman can he be considered a real man.

A squad of guards swiftly cleared the surroundings, leaving no trace of the earlier chaos. Luo Xiaoyi had finished sharing some casual life advice with Li Yan, while Xinlu and Qiushuang had finally recovered enough and disembarked from the carriage. However, neither the Grand Protector nor his wife were in sight. With no way to search for them, the group had no choice but to wait.

After a long while, they saw the two approaching, one behind the other. Luo Xiaoyi immediately joked, "Third Brother must have taken great care to comfort Sister-in-law."

Li Yan, remembering how his aunt had been frightened for his sake, hurriedly went to meet them. Qichi walked ahead, her eyes downcast, focusing on the road. When Li Yan reached her, he noticed her face was flushed red, even her lips were a vivid scarlet, yet there was a faint smile at the corners of her mouth. Confused, he asked, "Aunt, why are you smiling after such danger?"

Qichi looked up, as if just coming back to her senses, and shook her head. "It's nothing. You're still young; don't ask too much."

Li Yan protested, "But Uncle said I’m already a man." He was eager to show her the dagger he had received.

Qichi smiled, thinking only when he met a woman can he be considered a real man. She glanced back discreetly.

Fu Ting was sheathing his sword, holding the reins of his horse, and looking over at her. The sight of him reminded her of the earlier moments, of his intense gaze while pressing his lips against hers. She felt that this man's lips were as fierce as he was. There was a lingering numbness on her lips and she couldn’t help but pursed her lips.

Before today, she never knew a man’s lips could be so hot. She had finally regained her breath by the ice lake and stood up only because he had helped her. He had asked if she could walk. How could she not? So she hurried back on her own.

She turned her gaze away and climbed back into the carriage. Fu Ting watched her board, a smile tugging at his lips. He looked down and adjusted his collar, which was wrinkled from her grip. He wondered if he had been too rough.

Luo Xiaoyi’s face suddenly appeared beside him. “Third Brother, how did your lip get hurt?” He had assumed it was from the fight, but after a closer look, muttered, “This doesn’t look like a weapon wound.”

Fu Ting, with a stern face, glanced at him and commanded, “Move out.”

Cut off by these two words, Luo Xiaoyi knew that he didn't want to say more, so he had to stop asking. After the encounter with the bandits, there were no more interruptions. A day later, the convoy entered Hanhai Commandery. As they traveled through the main street, they paused before reaching the Grand Protector's residence.

Fu Ting reined in his horse and instructed the others to escort the carriages home, while he and Luo Xiaoyi headed directly to the military camp to prepare for a thorough sweep of the northern regions, ensuring even the last bandit was eradicated for the sake of the the lives of the common people. Even if only one bandit remained, they would root him out.

Luo Xiaoyi, knowing Fu Ting’s decisive nature, accepted the order without hesitation and prepared to depart. But Fu Ting did not move immediately; he first glanced at the carriage. The curtain was half-lifted, revealing Qichi’s face as she looked at him.

Luo Xiaoyi, noticing this, chuckled knowingly and rode ahead. “I’ll wait for you up front, Third Brother.”

Qichi raised the curtain fully and looked out. Finally having a chance to speak to him, she asked softly, “Are you leaving like this?” She then pointed to her own lips, indicating his lower lip where she had bitten him, which now had a small scab. She hadn't expected to bite him so hard.

Fu Ting stared at her, pressed his thumb to his lip, and said, “It’s nothing.”

With strict discipline in his camp, no one would dare gossip. Qichi glanced at him and spoke quietly. Her voice was too soft for him to hear, so he asked, “What?”

She signaled for him to come closer with her eyes. After a quick look around, he leaned down from his horse to hear her clearly.

She said, “I didn’t mean to bite you. You kissed me so hard I couldn’t breathe.”

Her words made him recall the moment vividly. He couldn’t help but glance at her lips, thinking he should perhaps be gentler next time.

Qichi saw his silence and the way he stared at her, she instinctively pursed her lips. Fu Ting pressed his thumb to his lips again, stifled a smile, and turned his horse around. “Let’s go.”

Qichi leaned lightly against the window frame, watching him ride away, her fingers gripping the edge of her sleeve. She wondered if she had succeeded in pleasing him.

When the carriage moved again and he was out of sight, she returned to herself, dropped the curtain and called out to Qiushuang.

Qiushuang entered, and Qichi gave her a few detailed instructions, asking her to keep an ear out for news about the military's bandit-clearing operations.

Qiushuang was puzzled. “Why are you concerned with this, Master?”

Qichi smiled, “I see a good opportunity for business.”

The encounter with the bandits made her realize Fu Ting’s determination to protect merchants. The northern regions in dire need of recovery, and this was a golden opportunity for any merchant. With the advantage of being his wife, she had the edge and could not let it slip away.

Qiushuang, realizing her plan, exclaimed, “Are you planning to expand our business in the northern regions?”

Qichi shook her head. More than that, she had been thinking about this since she was in Gaolan Prefecture. The northern region bordered foreign countries, perhaps there was potential for even greater expansion.

　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Returning to the residence, everything was as it had been before. The main hall, which had been cold for some time, now radiated warmth from the newly lit charcoal fire.

Qichi finally could remove her heavy cloak. Outside, the sky had already darkened into twilight. She sat upright and drank a bowl of medicine, then popped a segment of orange into her mouth to chase away the bitterness. Next, she spread a map out on the small table beside her and examined it carefully.

Xinlu entered to add more light and advised, “Master, you’re not yet well. You should rest more.”

Qichi waved her hand, signaling her to leave. Xinlu had no choice but to retreat.

A moment later, the room’s light dimmed as someone lifted the door curtain. Qichi thought it was still Xinlu, but when she looked up, she saw that it was Fu Ting stepping inside. His tall figure cast a shadow, darkening the room slightly.

Fu Ting unfastened his horsewhip and sword from his waist, placing them by the door. Then he loosened the tie on his sleeve and rolled up his cuffs before glancing her way.

Qichi looked at him, thought for a moment, and asked, “Just got back?”

“Mm.” He looked around the room.

Suddenly, he remembered the last time he had come to this room on his own accord was to question her about some money. This time, he came back straight here after returning with no particular reason.

Hearing that he had come straight here to see her, Qichi couldn’t help but smile. She pondered whether, as a wife, she should now dutifully serve her husband, help him change, and prepare tea for him. Yet, she simply sat there, smiling at him.

Fu Ting walked over and first noticed the map on the table. “What are you looking at this for?”

Qichi composed herself and replied honestly, “I’m studying the trade routes in the northern regions.” Though she had business dealings in the north, she had never personally traversed these trade routes.

His gaze shifted to her face. “Why are you interested in the trade routes?”

She heard the curiosity in his tone, while studying the map, she said thoughtfully, “Seeing you so busy improving the north, as the wife of the Grand Protector, I ought to know more and see how I can assist you.”

Fu Ting looked at her silently for a moment, feeling pleased by her words, which showed her support for him.

Qichi glanced at him quietly, seeing his inquisitiveness fade. She stood up, reached out, and gently hooked his hand hanging by his side with a finger. “Can you help me look?”

She wanted him to point out the routes for her. Fu Ting glanced at her restless hand, smirked, and walked to the arhat bed[1]. He sat down, lifted the hem of his clothes to make himself comfortable and said, “Come here.”

The arhat bed was low. Unlike Qichi’s proper kneeling posture, he sat with one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee with his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms. He looked at her, waiting for her to approach.

Qichi walked closer and saw him reach out and trace a line on the map. She realized he was willing to help her and followed his hand. “Here?” she asked, touching the map.

Her hand was then grasped, Fu Ting’s palm covering the back of her hand, guiding her finger from one end of the route to the other.

“This route is the one we took on our way back,” he said.

She understood—it was the one where they encountered the bandits. Seeing a lake marked on the map, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was the same icy lake where he had kissed her. She felt his hand holding hers grow warmer.

Fu Ting continued guiding her hand along a few more routes. Standing so close, it felt as if he was holding her in his arms, an unexpectedly intimate position. She focused on memorizing the routes, telling herself not to get distracted.

Fu Ting, sensing her proximity and smelling the familiar floral scent of her hair mixed with the medicinal aroma, glanced up. He considered asking what flower it was but decided it didn’t matter—it was just her scent.

“Did you memorize it all?” he asked, releasing her hand.

Qichi nodded, her eyes shifting from the map to his exposed forearm. A faint scar peeked from under his sleeve.

Seeing her gaze, Fu Ting lowered his arm and pulled down his sleeve, not wanting her to see the scar, fearing she might find it gruesome.

Qichi, however, had already seen it and asked, “How many scars do you have?”

Fu Ting was indifferent. As a soldier, having a few scars was normal. He didn’t say how many, instead asking, “Do you want to see?”

Realizing the suggestiveness of his words, a hint of a playful smile tugged at his lips.

Qichi pressed her lips together, not replying, her eyes sweeping over the man in front of her.

Fu Ting, feeling her gaze, held his jaw steady, his eyes falling on her. She wore a jiaoling ruqun[2], tied high at the waist with a silk ribbon, accentuating her slender figure. If he reached out, he could easily pull her into his arms.

He looked up at her face, halting the thought, seeing the lingering flush on her cheeks and smelling the medicinal scent.

Knowing she wasn’t fully recovered, he recalled earlier when he had used ice water to wash her face, possibly worsening her condition.

“Take good care of yourself,” he said abruptly.

Qichi’s gaze shifted, thinking that his words following the previous question added a different connotation. She almost thought he did it on purpose.

Outside, Xinlu’s voice called, “Grand Protector, General Luo is here to see you.”

Fu Ting stood up, retying his sleeves. Qichi realized he had only come home briefly.

She stood there, watching him gather his sword and horsewhip, and asked softly, “When will you come back?”

Fu Ting looked back, a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Anytime.”

This was his residence, and she was his wife; of course, he could come anytime.

Qichi realized she had asked unnecessarily and responded with a soft hum, with a faint smile on her lips.

He glanced at her smile, wondering what clever thoughts she was having, before lifting the curtain and leaving.

Outside the residence, Luo Xiaoyi was waiting. “Third Brother, did something urgent happen that you had to come home midway?” He was there to escort Fu Ting to the troop assembly, everything ready to go.

Fu Ting replied, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Luo Xiaoyi quickly realized what could have delayed him at home other than his sister-in-law. He chuckled to himself, saying nothing more, just noting that he had never seen his third brother like this before.

Notes: [1] Actually, the literal translation of this one is table woven mat (案席), but I couldn’t find out what that is based on the hanzi. After several encounters with this word, I assume that this is some kind of wide seat usually covered with woven mat with a removable small table in the middle. In earlier chapters, I translated this as table mat, but I’ve come across furniture called arhat bed and it’s exactly like what I imagined (the picture below). So from now, I’ll translate this as arhat bed.

[2] Jiaoling 交领 means cross-collared, Ru (襦) is a short jacket, while Qun (裙) is a long skirt. It’s a set of attire which consists of a separated cross-collared upper garment and a wrap-around lower skirt. Jiaoling ruqun can be used by both men and women. I’m unfamiliar with its differences through different dynasties, but based on wikipedia, people in Tang dynasty wore it with a low-cut upper garment and high-waist skirt, some skirts had accordion pleats on it.

#Under The Heng Gate #衡门之下 #Chinese Novel #English Translation #Maree Voyage Translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

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Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 24

Chapter 24 : Then follow me.

Due to Qichi's illness, their return journey was very slow. They lingered for two days at the relay station and frequently paused to rest after traveling for a few hours.

Now, they had stopped once more along a deserted road, flanked by barren slopes and wasteland with no village or inn in sight. If it weren't for the need to rest, this was certainly not a place suitable for halting.

Luo Xiaoyi sat on the withered grass, grinning at the side. “Third Brother, you really dote on Sister-in-law. Normally, we would have completed the round trip by now."

He was mulling over the past events, confident that all had been resolved. Bringing his sister-in-law along this time had indeed been a good decision.

Fu Ting sat nearby, tilting his head back for a swig of wine. As he plugged the bottle, he glanced at Luo Xiaoyi. “Mind your own business.”

Luo Xiaoyi’s smile froze. He knew what his Third Brother was referring to and sheepishly rubbed his nose, falling silent. Fu Ting rarely discussed such matters of romance and personal affairs as they are all men, but today was an exception. Having delivered his reprimand, Fu Ting rose and walked away.

Qichi had just emerged from the carriage, followed by Qiushuang and Xinlu. Li Yan quickly approached her.

"Aunt, you still haven't fully recovered. The northern weather is too harsh," he said, worriedly looking at her pale face, moving closer to her side.

Qichi tightened her cloak around her, gently patting his head. She feels the lingering weakness in her body. Gazing at the vast expanse before her, she couldn't help but recall Fu Ting’s words: "Do you now understand the severity of the northern lands?"

With a sigh, she murmured, “Had I known, I wouldn’t have come here.”

“Then why did you come?” A voice responded suddenly.

Qichi turned her head and saw Fu Ting. Li Yan retreated at his approach, as did Xinlu and Qiushuang. It was just a whine in the midst of her illness, yet he had overheard it. She had weighed her decision thoroughly before coming; a minor illness would not deter her resolve.

Averting her gaze, she muttered, “Just whining.”

Fu Ting didn't take it to heart. He hadn't come over to discuss that. Seeing the sickly hue on her face, his tone softened. “Why did you get out of the carriage?”

Qichi looked at him, “I want to walk around. It’s stifling in there after such a long ride.”

Detecting a hint of pity in her voice, as if she had been confined rather than seated in the carriage, he couldn’t help but chuckle. He glanced around and said, “Let’s go, but not too far.”

Qichi stepped onto the brittle grass, moving slowly. Fu Ting followed closely behind.

The sun overhead cast long shadows. Seeing his shadow was cast diagonally on his side, she playfully stepped on it, aiming for his shoulders. She stifled a laugh, glanced back at him and asked, “Which direction is Hanhai Commandery?”

He pointed. Qichi followed his gesture but saw nothing but wilderness. “Are you sure?” she teased.

“This is my territory,” he replied.

Indeed, it was his territory. She had long heard that his earliest military achievements were here, where he had crushed thousands of troops in one battle, raising his prestige for ten thousand miles until he was appointed as the Grand Protector. As she walked, she thought to herself that one day, this territory would eventually be hers too.

After a short distance, he halted. “That’s enough, let’s head back.”

“I’ve barely taken a few steps,” she protested.

“There’s wind.”

She conceded. Knowing that she had already delayed their journey and it would be more troublesome if her illness got worse, she turned around and went back. As she passed him, she paused and said, “Thank you for your concern, Husband.”

Fu Ting watched her walk away, a smile playing at his lips, aware of her feigned politeness. Qichi continued back, the wind rustling the grass around her.

Suddenly, Fu Ting’s expression darkened. He stepped forward, positioning himself to listen carefully.

Qichi was about to board the carriage when she heard distant cries. Turning, she saw the guards swiftly mounting their horses. Fu Ting strode over with his brows furrowed, eyes sharp as blades. With a wave of his hand, a squad of men silently moved out. The remaining guards stayed by the carriage. Mounting his horse, he glanced at Qichi. “Wait for me here.”

Before she could respond, he had already spurred his horse forward. Xinlu and Qiushuang stood quietly behind her, too afraid to speak. Li Yan approached, his voice low. “Aunt, is something wrong?”

Qichi placed a finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet. She listened, hearing the cries again, as if someone was calling for help. In the distance, she saw a cloud of dust rising. Within it, she could vaguely make out carts and horses, laden with heavy goods, and people as small as dots were running wildly, approaching here.

Halfway, Fu Ting's troops had already rushed over.

“It’s a caravan,” she whispered, recognizing the scene.

Fu Ting urged his horse to the high ground. Before him, horses galloped furiously. Luo Xiaoyi rushed back to report. “Third Brother, it’s a group of scattered bandits attacking a group of Hu merchants. Unlucky for them to run into us.”

Fu Ting asked, “Are they armed?”

“They are.”

With a stern look, Fu Ting drew his sword from his waist. "Leave none alive."

Since the plague, bandits had emerged in the northern lands, but his forces had systematically eradicated them. He did not expect to encounter a remaining group today.

Naturally, not one could be allowed to escape.

　　　　　　　　　　　　※

On the road, Qichi lingered by the carriage for a moment, wanting to confirm the origin of the approaching caravan. She quickly discerned it wasn't hers because she overheard foreign languages—it was a group of Hu merchants.

Qiushuang whispered nearby, "Thankfully, it's not your caravan." Qichi thought to herself that it wasn't good news either way—no merchant would want to encounter such a situation.

Soon, the sounds of wind and rustling grass, interspersed with occasional terrifying noises reached them. Seeing Li Yan still standing beside her, she felt uneasy and looked towards Xinlu and Qiushuang, saying, "Get in the carriage."

Li Yan was the sole bloodline of the Prince of Guang Residence; any harm to him would leave her unable to face her deceased brother.

Xinlu and Qiushuang understood and hurriedly helped Li Yan into the carriage. As Li Yan climbed in, he lifted the curtain and urgently called, "Aunt, come in too."

Qichi was about to step into the carriage when she suddenly saw the guards drawing their swords. She realized that several men were rushing towards them. The horses panicked, causing the carriage to shake violently. Without no time to think, she forcefully pushed Li Yan inside.

"Master!" Xinlu clung to the carriage door, calling out to her.

Qichi, already weak, almost lost her balance with the exertion. She took an unconscious step back, and the gleam of swords flashed beside her, sending a chill through her heart as she retreated behind the carriage.

Suddenly, someone approached her with great strides. She rushed forward but was grabbed from behind. Her vision went dark as a hand covered her eyes, followed by a warm sensation on her face. Something fell in front of her with a heavy thud.

"Take them away," a low voice commanded above her. It was Fu Ting.

The hand covering her eyes was removed, wiping something off her face in the process. Qichi looked down and saw a large pool of blood at her feet, realizing what had just happened. She turned and saw Fu Ting holding a blood-soaked sword. His military attire was impeccable, but the sword in his hand dripped with fresh blood, and his eagle-like eyes stared intently at her.

She noticed blood on his other hand and instinctively touched her face, realizing it was from wiping her face. He had just taken a life before her eyes, and the blood had splattered onto her face.

No one expected that this moment of pause would save a merchant caravan. Luo Xiaoyi received the order and rode his horse to assure the Hu merchants who had narrowly escaped death, saying that the Grand Protector himself was overseeing the region, ensuring the safety of trade in the North. They could trade freely from now on.

Fu Ting's intent was not to flaunt his authority but to ensure the region's prosperity wouldn't be hindered.

The group prepared to set off again. Everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened. As soldiers, they were accustomed to the frequent turmoil of the northern lands.

However, those inside the carriage were still shaken. Xinlu and Qiushuang remained huddled inside, too frightened to come out. Li Yan was the first to step out of the carriage, and as soon as his feet touched the ground, something was tossed to him. He caught it with both hands and found it to be a short dagger. He looked up in surprise and saw Luo Xiaoyi returning on horseback.

"Uncle Xiaoyi, why are you giving me this?"

Luo Xiaoyi dismounted and walked over, saying, "It's not from me. Your uncle asked me to give it to you. The North is a frontier, unlike the peaceful Central Plains. This is for your protection and to remind you that you are a man. In future crises, remember not to hide behind women but to stand before them."

Li Yan stood speechless, recalling how his aunt had pushed him into the carriage earlier.

Luo Xiaoyi, knowing the boy was young and likely frightened by today's events, smiled and patted his shoulder. "Your uncle is a tough man, hence his words. Don't take it to heart. When he was your age, he was already about to join the army, so naturally, he's different."

After speaking, Luo Xiaoyi thought to himself: Honestly, his third brother is something. This son of a prince is young and have a precious body—no matter how old is he, not everyone is like him.

　　　　　　　　　　　　※

Fu Ting sat on the ground, holding a piece of coarse cloth in one hand, wiping the blood off his sword. The reflection of a woman appeared on the sword. He looked up to see Qichi standing there. She had been standing there since the incident, gently wiping her face with one hand, her expression blank.

Recalling the scene earlier, his grip on the sword tightened slightly. He thought she might have been frightened. Putting away his sword, he stood up.

Qichi had never experienced anything like this before. One moment she was strolling leisurely, and the next, she was caught in such turmoil. If it hadn't happened right before her eyes, it would have seemed like a dream. The warmth of the blood on her face still lingered, and the metallic scent clung to her nose. She could only wipe it repeatedly with her sleeve.

As she raised her hand again, it was grabbed. Fu Ting, holding his sword in one hand, grabbed her wrist with the other and started walking forward. She followed his steps, noticing bloodstains on his sleeve. She couldn’t help but think that although she was used to seeing him armed, it was the first time she saw blood on his sword.

Suddenly, he turned to face her. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Qichi glanced around. The vast wilderness stretched out with patches of withered grass and clumps of unmelted snow. Everything seemed the same. She replied softly, "I was just wondering where you're taking me. Could we get lost in this place?"

Fu Ting, without breaking his stride, pointed with his sword towards the pale sun overhead. "If we get lost, we follow the sun."

"And if it’s a snowy day?"

"Then we follow the wind."

She persisted, "What if there's no sun, no moon, no wind, no snow?"

Fu Ting stopped and looked at her. The scarlet of her cloak contrasted with her pale face, where the bloodstains were still visible and rubbed red from her futile attempts to wipe them away. She just looked at him quietly, as if genuinely curious.

After a moment's gaze, he continued walking. "Then follow me."

Qichi, still held by him, walked down a gentle slope to a frozen lake. Fu Ting stopped, pulling her down to squat, and used his sword to crack the ice. Putting the sword aside, he dipped his hand in the icy water and wiped her face.

The icy water made Qichi flinch. She watched him as his fingers rubbed her face twice. His rough fingers quickly made her face feel warm from the friction.

Removing his hand, he looked at her and suddenly said, "Don't be afraid."

Her eyes moved a little, landing into his dark eyes as he continued, "As the wife of the Grand Protector, you cannot show fear."

Qichi smiled softly. How could she forget? She was married not just to the powerful Grand Protector of the North but to a man who lived on the edge of a sword.

She turned her face away, feeling underestimated by him. After all, she had traveled through many places and wouldn't be easily intimidated by such events. Her real fear was for Li Yan’s safety, fearing she wouldn’t be able to fulfill her brother's last wish. It wasn’t death she feared, but the inability to afford death.

"I'm not afraid," she said. "I will get used to it."

Following this man, she would get used to it sooner or later.

Fu Ting looked at her, seeing her frail figure contrasting with the determined look on her downcast face as she pursed her lip. He said, "Then turn your face back."

Qichi turned back to face him, leaning closer, slowly, until their eyes were locked. She asked softly, "What? Don’t you believe me? Look closely then."

His face was so close that she could see the darkness in his eyes and was inexplicably reminded of a wolf. His nose almost touched hers, and she could feel his breath on her face.

Qichi moved slightly, finally brushing her nose against his prominent nose. In a soft voice, she asked, "Do you believe me now?"

Suddenly, her chin was grabbed. Forced to look up, she faced his stern expression. Fu Ting lowered his head abruptly, pressing his lips to hers. Her heart tightened and began to race. His lips were dry and warm, pressing hard and firmly rubbing against hers, making her breath quicken. Then his hand pressed the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

She felt weak all over, her eyes open, seeing him still staring at her as his lips moved against hers. She could even smell the blood on him, tightening her chest. She grabbed his collar, and just when she felt she couldn't breathe, she bit his lower lip.

Fu Ting paused, then his hand pressed her harder, kissing her more intensely. After what felt like an eternity, he finally let go.

Qichi was still weak, unable to speak, only able to breathe in short gasps. Fu Ting, holding her chin, licked his bitten lip and said, "I believe you."

Marée's corner: OMG!! IT'S FINALLY HERE! THE KISS!!! ><

#Under The Heng Gate #衡门之下 #Chinese Novel #English Translation #Maree Voyage Translation

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maree-go-round · 5 months ago

Text

Under the Heng Gate - Chapter 06

Chapter 6 : What kind of man is he, unable to utter a single gentle word?

As Qichi walked away, Luo Xiaoyi quickly turned and darted into the room. The warm air enveloped him in comfort, but he had no time to enjoy it. He hurried to the bed and whispered, "Third Brother, how can you be so generous? I've noticed that everything in this residence has changed. Sister-in-law's expenses are substantial. How are you going to manage this?"

Instead of answering, Fu Ting countered with a question, "Did you use military funds to give her gifts?"

Luo Xiaoyi defended himself, "What military funds? Those are your rightful taxes, which you’ve entirely allocated to military expenses. What's wrong with me setting aside some for your family?"

Fu Ting thought this was nonsense. Without military funds to fend off external enemies, they'd be dead. What family would there be to discuss? He sat silently for a while, then took out his personal seal from his robe and tossed it to Luo Xiaoyi.

Holding the seal, Luo Xiaoyi understood his brother's intent even before he spoke. His eyes widened like copper bells, "Third Brother, are you planning to use your military savings for Sister-in-law?"

Fu Ting said, "If not my money, whose money should she use?"

Luo Xiaoyi mulled it over. Knowing his third brother wasn't one to hoard money, this savings must have been for something important, so he hesitated to touch it. At that moment, Xinlu's voice came from outside, saying the charcoal brazier in his room was ready, inviting him to rest. Fu Ting said, "Get lost."

Clenching his teeth, Luo Xiaoyi thought, fine, since the money is already spent, he might as well sleep until the charcoal burns out to get the money’s worth! With that thought, he turned and left. Outside, Xinlu carefully closed the door.

Fu Ting dropped the long sword by his side to the floor, took off his military uniform and boots, and collapsed onto the bed. The bed had changed too; it was now padded with thick cashmere, soft beneath him. The pillow emitted a faint fragrance, and his fingers found a long, thin strand of hair. More signs of a woman’s presence.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

He slept straight through until nightfall. He awoke because the room had become too hot. Sitting up, he found himself covered in sweat.

He got out of bed and walked to the desk, where an exquisite tea set was placed. Lifting the lid of the kettle on the cold stove, he took a swig of cold water. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Two maids entered with bowed heads, greeting him, "Grand Protector, you are awake. By the order of the head of the house, we have prepared a hot bath for you."

With that, Xinlu went to light the lamps, and Qiushuang set up the screen.

With a dozen lamps lit, the room was bright as day. Hot water was poured into the bathtub, and the two maids left.

Fu Ting noticed how they entered as soon as he moved, clearly having been waiting. He glanced at the Hu chair, where his wife had previously sat so properly. Perhaps all royal women were this impeccable.

Undressing, he entered the bath. Beside the tub was a golden tray filled with dozens of bath beans[1], pure white like snow and fragrant. This kind of luxury was favored by aristocrats in Chang'an and Luoyang, something a soldier like him never used. Each bean was priced like gold, something even the palace might rarely enjoy. Li Qichi, it seemed, was even more pampered than he thought.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　※

When Luo Xiaoyi returned, Fu Ting had finished his bath, and the servants had just cleaned the room.

"Third Brother, this kind of luxury is like a god's life. I don’t want to leave." Luo Xiaoyi, having slept and bathed, smelled heavily of the fragrant bath beans as he used a lot of bath beans, unlike Fu Ting..

Xinlu and Qiushuang entered, suppressing smiles at his remark. They were there to serve food, so they brought the dishes directly to the Grand Protector’s room.

The table was set. Fu Ting and Luo Xiaoyi each sat at a table. Fu Ting, in his outer robe, sat with his arm resting on his knee, exuding a relaxed demeanor no one dared to stare at.

As dishes were brought out, Luo Xiaoyi's eyes widened. The saying goes that food is valued for its quality and refinement, not quantity. These dishes were ones he had never tasted, even as a general. Seeing the servants waiting outside with more dishes, he realized what he had seen before was just a glimpse of the extravagance.

Unable to hold back, he leaned over and said, "Third Brother, why don’t I talk to Sister-in-law and ask her to be more frugal?"

"Cut the crap," Fu Ting said, picking up his chopsticks, indicating that Luo Xiaoyi should either eat or get lost.

Luo Xiaoyi touched his face, thinking his third brother was an iron-blooded man, but Princess of Qingliu was a delicate woman. If this goes on, how can they live?

After finally getting through dinner, Luo Xiaoyi, having had enough, prepared to leave. At the door, he forced a smile and joked, "Third Brother, you spent too much today. You should get it back from Sister-in-law. I won't interrupt your couple's time."

Fu Ting ignored him, his mind flashing to the image of her fair toes. Luo Xiaoyi saw his brother's dark eyes glinting like a wolf’s in the lamplight as he left with a sly grin.

As he turned around the corridor, he encountered Qiushuang, who told him that her master wanted to speak with him. Luo Xiaoyi turned this over in his mind, thinking: it must be about the expenses. Could it be that she was in a hurry to get the money?

Qichi was at Li Yan's residence. While Fu Ting and Luo Xiaoyi rested and ate, she practiced calligraphy with her nephew. Hearing that Luo Xiaoyi had arrived, she stopped. Li Yan neatly put away the calligraphy books, giving Luo Xiaoyi a glance and a slight sneer, then stood by his aunt's side.

Seeing the young lord he had offended, Luo Xiaoyi awkwardly smiled and saluted, "I wonder why Sister-in-law called me?"

Qichi, sitting in the shadows, raised her hand slightly, and Xinlu brought over a wooden box. Luo Xiaoyi, puzzled, opened it. Inside was a dagger, its sheath entirely made of gold, heavy in his hand.

He looked surprised, "What is this?"

Qichi said, "To thank you for your previous gifts."

Luo Xiaoyi's heart sank. According to his third brother, he had to cover these expenses. Why did he take his third brother's things? What a mess.

He was about to find an excuse to decline when Qichi said, "I called you here to tell you that the Grand Protector doesn't have to cover my expenses. We are husband and wife. If we were to bicker over money, it would be too petty."

Luo Xiaoyi was stunned, not expecting her to be so considerate and generous. She didn't ask for money, but rather gave it to him. He tentatively said, "This is not a small expense."

Qichi laughed, "Don't worry. I managed the household of the Prince of Guang Residence for many years. If I were extravagant and wasteful, there would be no me and the prince's son before you."

Luo Xiaoyi understood. She was saying she could afford it. Mother of God, what kind of wife did his third brother marry? Were all royal women so wealthy?

In the quiet of the night, Qichi couldn't linger with a male guest for too long, sparing him little room for idle thoughts. She straightforwardly revealed the purpose of summoning him: "I simply want to know, how has the prestigious Protectorate General to Pacify the North come to its current state?"

Spending money is a small matter; she needed clarity.

As far as she knew, the major frontier protectorates were not required to pay tribute to the court. The taxes collected could be used for military purposes. Without a valid reason, such a situation should not have arisen.

With a wooden box in one hand and Fu Ting's seal in the other, Luo Xiaoyi initially hesitated out of consideration for his dignity. But upon reflection, he realized that the truth would surface sooner or later. It was better to be forthright about it. He sighed and began, "Sister-in-law, you might not be aware. But it wasn’t always like this…”

The northern lands are vast, with many tribes. In the past, taxes were never a concern. Unfortunately, a plague had swept through in recent years, causing massive losses in livestock and crops. Without taxes coming in for several years and with incursions from the Turks in the north, the situation had worsened.

Warfare consumed funds rapidly, and after a few battles, the treasury was depleted. Driving out external enemies required continuous reinforcement of military strength, leading to financial deficits over time.

If a noble family were in charge of the Protectorate General to Pacify the North, perhaps they would have their family support, but Fu Ting had started from scratch. Who could assist him?

Li Yan listened in astonishment, unconsciously clutching his aunt's sleeve. Qichi held his hand in hers and asked, “Has there been no intervention from the court?”

Luo Xiaoyi laughed bitterly, "The court did intervene, but after some initial support, other protectorates also began to claim poverty. With the six major protectorates in the empire struggling, even the Emperor would shake his head. Not to mention that our Protectorate General to Pacify the North still has a strong military presence...”

Realizing he was speaking to a member of the royal family, he quickly stopped, scratching his philtrum.

Qichi understood that while the court had vigorously promoted individuals from humble backgrounds, their growing power had sparked suspicions. The Emperor wanted to use Fu Ting but also to guard against him. Otherwise, why would there be a marriage decree involving her and him?

"Thank you for explaining," she nodded slightly and asked Xinlu to see him out.

As Luo Xiaoyi stepped outside, he remembered the gold dagger and wanted to return it, but Xinlu refused to take it. She explained that anything given by their master was not to be taken back. The implication was that the money spent on his third brother would not be taken back either?

As he walked, he pondered over his earlier words, realizing he had tried to be as gentle as possible. He wondered how the delicate princess had felt upon hearing them. Would she despise his third brother and decide to return to Guang Prefecture?

“What do you think?”

Inside the room, the group was still stunned by the revelation, and Li Yan was the first to speak.

Qichi moved to sit where the light was brighter, showing little reaction on her face. "What else can I think? Since we're here, we can't just turn back," she replied calmly.

Li Yan said earnestly, "It's a helpless situation. If we leave now, it'll make us seem heartless and ungrateful."

Qichi teased him, "You're wise beyond your years."

Seeing it was late, Xinlu stepped forward to remind them it was time to rest. As she spoke, her expression was quite subtle. Qichi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, casting two shadows below. The implication was that the Grand Protector was still waiting.

She gently stroked her chin, recalling the cold touch of his sword. This man, apart from recognizing her, didn’t seem to hold her in his heart at all. She raised her head, saying, "Go tell the Grand Protector."

Xinlu leaned in to listen, furrowing her brows and looking at her in hesitation, but ultimately complied.

Fu Ting stood by the window.

Finding the room too warm, he thought it was too troublesome to extinguish the charcoal brazier and start a new one later, so he simply opened the window to let in the cold air. He held the remaining half pouch of fiery liquor from his military uniform..

He took two swigs, feeling chilled outside but burning like fire inside his stomach. As he lifted the bottle for the third swig, he reconsidered. The strong smell of alcohol might be unpleasant to her. He wiped his mouth and corked the bottle.

In fact, he had no idea what such a delicate woman might like. If she enjoyed this lavish lifestyle, he couldn't provide it for her now.

There were footsteps coming in.

He turned his head and only saw a maid. Xinlu bowed, “My master ordered me to come to apologize to you. She was still shocked from the disturbance at the guesthouse before and is not feeling well. She has been accommodated elsewhere. Please make your own arrangements.”

Fu Ting played with the liquor pouch in his hand, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. She had shown no signs of discomfort before, even when he held her in his arms. Yet now, she brought up the old matter again. Was she deliberately retaliating now?

“Where is she?”

Xinlu was already a little trembling in front of him, and she was stunned when she heard the question.

Fu Ting said without waiting for her answer: "Please ask her to come over."

Xinlu left in a hurry.

Qichi had anticipated his reaction but hadn't expected him to ask her to come over. Did he intend to confront her directly? Calming her worried nephew, she rose and went over.

As she approached the door, she heard faint noises from within. Lifting her hem, she stepped inside to see the man dressed in his military attire with boots on, sword in hand, striding toward her. When he reached her, he halted and looked at her.

Qichi had to tilt her head to meet his gaze. His jawline was sharp like a carved blade.

“You sleep here,” he said abruptly, his eyes lingering on her before he turned and left.

Qichi watched him leave, and Xinlu followed. Soon after, Xinlu returned and whispered that the Grand Protector had gone to the study hall to sleep.

"He's as taciturn as ever..." Qichi muttered softly. Xinlu and Qiushuang whispered to each other. The Grand Protector seemed taciturn; he had barely spoken earlier. He even called General Luo to pass the message before, like a mute, indeed.

Qichi pinched her fingers lightly, casting a glance in the direction he had left. What kind of man is he, unable to utter a single gentle word?

Notes: [1] 澡豆 Bath bean: A delicate type of soap that came from ground beans or peas mixed with spices, such as cloves, eaglewood, various flowers, and even powdered jade. It is often used by aristocrats. For commoners, the bath bean is usually only made from ground peas without spices added.

#Under The Heng Gate #衡门之下 #Chinese Novel #English Translation #Maree Voyage Translation

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