correction : the previous Wu country, will be Wushi country from now on.
It had been 8 years since she was appointed by the Emperor to marry Ye Wuyan. However she had never got close to him. They rarely met, and even if they encountered each other by chance, it was merely an unremarkable glance. There was no deep affection nor gentle smile, but merely the calmness as water. In that case, perhaps it couldn’t be helped, because after all, this marriage wasn’t on their own volition.
Perhaps Ye Wuyan had long forgotten about this unmarried bride of his, or perhaps he did remember, but had long forgotten how she looked like.
It had been four years. He had gone to the borderland for four years. This four years of period was sufficient to cause him to fall in love with someone else.
The woman beside him was so dazzling. They were going down the street side by side, appeared perfectly match each other, causing one to be envious.
Jiang Sese turned her face away, once again staring at the teacup in front of her.
The green tea leaves in the liquid gently uncurled, swirling around. She raised the teacup, lightly drank a mouthful of tea, but unknowingly her hands were slightly trembling.
Although Mother had been telling her that according to Mother’s insight of men—the sixth imperial son, Ye Wuyan, was a man that a woman could absolutely trust her life with. However, this didn’t mean that he would be a good person toward her, Jiang Sese.
Although she had been used to the way Qing Mei called him Guye, but fortunately she hadn’t lost her heart to him.
Guye: son-in-law of the family. A form of address for a man used by the members of his wife’s family.
“Young Lady, who is that woman beside Guye? How is it possible that she… that she goes together with Guye!” Qing Mei asked while pointing her finger at the woman who was riding a burgundy pony.
Sese raised her head once again, the sight of their backs side by side had been far away from the window. Noises gradually got louder, it was the sound of those soldiers’ footsteps in uniform.
Sese lifted her eyes and said: “Qing Mei, later on, do not call him Guye.”
“Young Lady, Qing Mei know.” Qing Mei saw her Young Lady’s black eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, Young Lady’s mood was not good.
She was just about to inquire about who that woman was, the one that was with the sixth imperial son as he came back from the borderland.
But apparently, Qing Mei didn’t need to do so. As the sixth imperial son’s procession had passed by, “Linjiang Lou” started to get filled with discussions, of course most of them were only gossips about the sixth imperial son.
Linjiang Lou: literally means “the riverside building”
“Did you hear? I heard ah, that the woman who entered the city together with the sixth imperial son, she was sixth imperial son’s sweetheart. Reputedly, she once saved sixth imperial son’s life. She seems to be a princess from Qiang Clan of Southern Luguo.” At nearby table, a man in gray clothes whispered.
Ah: modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation, approval, or consent; interjection of surprise; expression of recognition
“I heard, that sixth imperial son was able to defeat Wushi Country this time, it was due to the help of Southern Luguo.” Another individual in blue clothes stated in low voice.
“I also heard, that this time, sixth imperial son wants to ask for that woman to be confer as his zhengfei!” The person in gray clothes stated in mysteriously exaggerated manner.
Zhengfei: primary, legitimate consort of a wang (prince).
“Really? Is your information really credible?” The person in blue clothes was somewhat doubtful.
“Of course, I’m a well-known inquirer.” The person in gray clothes raised his thumb, smugly stated.
“But, doesn’t sixth imperial son still had a zhengfei appointed to marry by the Emperor? Although they haven’t married, however it still is a marriage appointed by the Emperor ah. Sixth imperial son won’t be able to go against the Emperor’s decree.”
“It’s hard to say, you see, sixth imperial son daringly takes along that princess to enter the capital, moreover it’s under the watchful eyes of the people. In that case, it shows his deep affection toward that woman. He must be unafraid of going against the Emperor’s decree…” The person in gray clothes lowered his voice.
“What nonsense are you saying? What deep affection? If you don’t know, do not make a wild guess!” Qing Mei finally opened her mouth to refute after listened to those two persons’ discussion.
Sese lifted her hand up and drank the rest of her cup of tea in one gulp.
“Qing Mei, let’s go!” With a calm face, Jiang Sese stood up and gracefully went away. As if those rumours just then had nothing to do with her.
Both Jiang Sese and her maid sat in the litter all the way to the residence. Soon after, a young maid approached the litter and reported, she said that second furen, Luo shi, asked Jiang Sese to come over.
Litter: a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. Further info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litter_(vehicle)
Furen: married lady
Shi: clan/maiden name; after marriage, the women are usually called by their surname instead of their forename.
litter
If one were to say that there was a person of grand reputation in Jiang’s residence, in that case, Luo shi, Jiang Sese’s mother, must be regarded as the one.
More than twenty years ago, the then merely eighteen years old Luo shi had already been the second-in-charge pirate of the East Sea. Sese’s father, Jiang Yan at that time was pacifying the East Sea, he was also merely twenty years old. Reputedly, in a war during that time, she and Jiang Yan were immersed in fight on the sea for half a day. Within the fight, they grew to appreciate each other. Finally she led a group of pirates to enlist by receiving amnesty from the imperial court.
It was said that in those days when she hadn’t married Jiang Yang, her body was clad in delicate and beautiful red dress, riding a snow white horse, she hurtled past the bustling main street of the imperial capital, with a bit of arrogance, but not an ounce of viciousness of Jianghu. In that kind of alluring and bright beauty, that sort of sharp beauty, the people who saw her —all without exception— were left in awe. Along with Jiang Yan, she campaigned for many years, established numerous outstanding military exploits. In the end, she married into the Jiang’s residence, becoming a concubine. Although it wasn’t easy for Jiang Yan to obtain the title of Marquess of Ding’an, but half of it should be credited to her.
Jianghu: literally means “rivers and lakes”. A community of martial artists. For further info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxia#Jianghu
Nowadays, in a simple and neat courtyard at Marquess of Ding’an’s official residence, Luo shi was sitting on a reclining chair, napping. As she heard the sound of footsteps, she slowly opened her pair of clear black eyes.
The once all-powerful legendary woman, was now completely dressed in a noblewoman’s style. Every movement on her body was also completely with the bearing of a noble. Only those glance within her eyes, still have a faint trace of sharpness, causing one to recall her graceful bearing back in those days.
“Mother, look at you, your illness has not gotten better, why do you still come out to be blown by the wind!” Sese’s voice contained hidden anger. Her mother’s health was no longer like in those days. After had been campaigning for many years and repeatedly gotten injured, she was left with an incompletely cured illness. Although she had been nursed all these years, but she was still weak. A blow of the wind could easily make her lumbar and back in pain.
“Sese, have you just gone out?” Luo shi coughed twice, gasped for breath and asked.
Sese went over, formed fists with her lily-white hands, and gently massaged her mother’s back.
She said with a low voice: “Mother, Sese was wrong, later Sese will accompany Mother more often!”
Lou shi said: “You are no longer young, already eighteen years old, you cannot recklessly act according to your own temper. I heard that sixth imperial son had returned from the borderland. Your father would like to request the Emperor, to held the marriage between both of you.”
Sese’s lily-white hands paused, her fists were halted in the air. Will both of them get marry? But…
“What’s wrong?” Luo shi sensed something was amiss and asked in a low voice.
“It’s nothing!” Sese smiled, walked around to face her mother, and said: “I think, sixth imperial son has just returned to the palace and also established an outstanding military service, he must be very busy. We might as well delay this marriage, no need to act with undue haste. After waiting for four years, a few more days will not make any difference.”
Her mother lived in the inner compound of the residence, had never heard the matter about the sixth imperial son and the princess of Southern Luguo. She hadn’t properly told her mother, so as not to make her mother worry.
Luo shi lightly nodded to express her consent.
“This way is also good. Earlier, your father sent a person to inform, there will be a night feast in the palace today, you must dress well and participate.” said Luo shi affectionately as she reached out with her hand to gather the messy hair on Jiang Sese’s temples and tucked it behind the ear.
After she married into Jiang’s residence, because she was physically frail, Sese was her only child. In others’ eyes, this child was nothing special, merely one of the talented girls of the Capital. Only Luo shi knew, she had passed all of her martial art techniques to her Sese.
This was a secret between her and Sese, even Sese’s father didn’t know. Because Jiang Yan didn’t want to let Sese practise martial art. He said that woman who practised martial art would be unruly. He hoped his daughter could marry into the imperial household, no need to wield a sword.
Although sixth imperial son seemed to be a man who valued relationship, but to marry into the imperial household was both blessing and misfortune, therefore Luo shi had secretly taught Sese martial art.
Just to provide against a rainy day.
correction : the previous Wu country, will be Wushi country from now on.
It had been 8 years since she was appointed by the Emperor to marry Ye Wuyan. However she had never got close to him. They rarely met, and even if they encountered each other by chance, it was merely an unremarkable glance. There was no deep affection nor gentle smile, but merely the calmness as water. In that case, perhaps it couldn’t be helped, because after all, this marriage wasn’t on their own volition.
Perhaps Ye Wuyan had long forgotten about this unmarried bride of his, or perhaps he did remember, but had long forgotten how she looked like.
It had been four years. He had gone to the borderland for four years. This four years of period was sufficient to cause him to fall in love with someone else.
The woman beside him was so dazzling. They were going down the street side by side, appeared perfectly match each other, causing one to be envious.
Jiang Sese turned her face away, once again staring at the teacup in front of her.
The green tea leaves in the liquid gently uncurled, swirling around. She raised the teacup, lightly drank a mouthful of tea, but unknowingly her hands were slightly trembling.
Although Mother had been telling her that according to Mother’s insight of men—the sixth imperial son, Ye Wuyan, was a man that a woman could absolutely trust her life with. However, this didn’t mean that he would be a good person toward her, Jiang Sese.
Although she had been used to the way Qing Mei called him Guye, but fortunately she hadn’t lost her heart to him.
Guye: son-in-law of the family. A form of address for a man used by the members of his wife’s family.
“Young Lady, who is that woman beside Guye? How is it possible that she… that she goes together with Guye!” Qing Mei asked while pointing her finger at the woman who was riding a burgundy pony.
Sese raised her head once again, the sight of their backs side by side had been far away from the window. Noises gradually got louder, it was the sound of those soldiers’ footsteps in uniform.
Sese lifted her eyes and said: “Qing Mei, later on, do not call him Guye.”
“Young Lady, Qing Mei know.” Qing Mei saw her Young Lady’s black eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, Young Lady’s mood was not good.
She was just about to inquire about who that woman was, the one that was with the sixth imperial son as he came back from the borderland.
But apparently, Qing Mei didn’t need to do so. As the sixth imperial son’s procession had passed by, “Linjiang Lou” started to get filled with discussions, of course most of them were only gossips about the sixth imperial son.
Linjiang Lou: literally means “the riverside building”
“Did you hear? I heard ah, that the woman who entered the city together with the sixth imperial son, she was sixth imperial son’s sweetheart. Reputedly, she once saved sixth imperial son’s life. She seems to be a princess from Qiang Clan of Southern Luguo.” At nearby table, a man in gray clothes whispered.
Ah: modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation, approval, or consent; interjection of surprise; expression of recognition
“I heard, that sixth imperial son was able to defeat Wushi Country this time, it was due to the help of Southern Luguo.” Another individual in blue clothes stated in low voice.
“I also heard, that this time, sixth imperial son wants to ask for that woman to be confer as his zhengfei!” The person in gray clothes stated in mysteriously exaggerated manner.
Zhengfei: primary, legitimate consort of a wang (prince).
“Really? Is your information really credible?” The person in blue clothes was somewhat doubtful.
“Of course, I’m a well-known inquirer.” The person in gray clothes raised his thumb, smugly stated.
“But, doesn’t sixth imperial son still had a zhengfei appointed to marry by the Emperor? Although they haven’t married, however it still is a marriage appointed by the Emperor ah. Sixth imperial son won’t be able to go against the Emperor’s decree.”
“It’s hard to say, you see, sixth imperial son daringly takes along that princess to enter the capital, moreover it’s under the watchful eyes of the people. In that case, it shows his deep affection toward that woman. He must be unafraid of going against the Emperor’s decree…” The person in gray clothes lowered his voice.
“What nonsense are you saying? What deep affection? If you don’t know, do not make a wild guess!” Qing Mei finally opened her mouth to refute after listened to those two persons’ discussion.
Sese lifted her hand up and drank the rest of her cup of tea in one gulp.
“Qing Mei, let’s go!” With a calm face, Jiang Sese stood up and gracefully went away. As if those rumours just then had nothing to do with her.
Both Jiang Sese and her maid sat in the litter all the way to the residence. Soon after, a young maid approached the litter and reported, she said that second furen, Luo shi, asked Jiang Sese to come over.
Litter: a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. Further info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litter_(vehicle)
Furen: married lady
Shi: clan/maiden name; after marriage, the women are usually called by their surname instead of their forename.
litter
If one were to say that there was a person of grand reputation in Jiang’s residence, in that case, Luo shi, Jiang Sese’s mother, must be regarded as the one.
More than twenty years ago, the then merely eighteen years old Luo shi had already been the second-in-charge pirate of the East Sea. Sese’s father, Jiang Yan at that time was pacifying the East Sea, he was also merely twenty years old. Reputedly, in a war during that time, she and Jiang Yan were immersed in fight on the sea for half a day. Within the fight, they grew to appreciate each other. Finally she led a group of pirates to enlist by receiving amnesty from the imperial court.
It was said that in those days when she hadn’t married Jiang Yang, her body was clad in delicate and beautiful red dress, riding a snow white horse, she hurtled past the bustling main street of the imperial capital, with a bit of arrogance, but not an ounce of viciousness of Jianghu. In that kind of alluring and bright beauty, that sort of sharp beauty, the people who saw her —all without exception— were left in awe. Along with Jiang Yan, she campaigned for many years, established numerous outstanding military exploits. In the end, she married into the Jiang’s residence, becoming a concubine. Although it wasn’t easy for Jiang Yan to obtain the title of Marquess of Ding’an, but half of it should be credited to her.
Jianghu: literally means “rivers and lakes”. A community of martial artists. For further info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuxia#Jianghu
Nowadays, in a simple and neat courtyard at Marquess of Ding’an’s official residence, Luo shi was sitting on a reclining chair, napping. As she heard the sound of footsteps, she slowly opened her pair of clear black eyes.
The once all-powerful legendary woman, was now completely dressed in a noblewoman’s style. Every movement on her body was also completely with the bearing of a noble. Only those glance within her eyes, still have a faint trace of sharpness, causing one to recall her graceful bearing back in those days.
“Mother, look at you, your illness has not gotten better, why do you still come out to be blown by the wind!” Sese’s voice contained hidden anger. Her mother’s health was no longer like in those days. After had been campaigning for many years and repeatedly gotten injured, she was left with an incompletely cured illness. Although she had been nursed all these years, but she was still weak. A blow of the wind could easily make her lumbar and back in pain.
“Sese, have you just gone out?” Luo shi coughed twice, gasped for breath and asked.
Sese went over, formed fists with her lily-white hands, and gently massaged her mother’s back.
She said with a low voice: “Mother, Sese was wrong, later Sese will accompany Mother more often!”
Lou shi said: “You are no longer young, already eighteen years old, you cannot recklessly act according to your own temper. I heard that sixth imperial son had returned from the borderland. Your father would like to request the Emperor, to held the marriage between both of you.”
Sese’s lily-white hands paused, her fists were halted in the air. Will both of them get marry? But…
“What’s wrong?” Luo shi sensed something was amiss and asked in a low voice.
“It’s nothing!” Sese smiled, walked around to face her mother, and said: “I think, sixth imperial son has just returned to the palace and also established an outstanding military service, he must be very busy. We might as well delay this marriage, no need to act with undue haste. After waiting for four years, a few more days will not make any difference.”
Her mother lived in the inner compound of the residence, had never heard the matter about the sixth imperial son and the princess of Southern Luguo. She hadn’t properly told her mother, so as not to make her mother worry.
Luo shi lightly nodded to express her consent.
“This way is also good. Earlier, your father sent a person to inform, there will be a night feast in the palace today, you must dress well and participate.” said Luo shi affectionately as she reached out with her hand to gather the messy hair on Jiang Sese’s temples and tucked it behind the ear.
After she married into Jiang’s residence, because she was physically frail, Sese was her only child. In others’ eyes, this child was nothing special, merely one of the talented girls of the Capital. Only Luo shi knew, she had passed all of her martial art techniques to her Sese.
This was a secret between her and Sese, even Sese’s father didn’t know. Because Jiang Yan didn’t want to let Sese practise martial art. He said that woman who practised martial art would be unruly. He hoped his daughter could marry into the imperial household, no need to wield a sword.
Although sixth imperial son seemed to be a man who valued relationship, but to marry into the imperial household was both blessing and misfortune, therefore Luo shi had secretly taught Sese martial art.
Just to provide against a rainy day.
