Siege in Fog Chapter 18.4

Update May 2018: PLEASE DO NOT link any chapters on this site to anywhere on Novel Updates, whether it’s the page for Siege in Fog or on reading lists.

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It’s time for Master Yi to depart for a couple of chapters. What sort of fond farewell will they have? Will other events be set in motion? Today’s song is in English and should be familiar to most of you. 😊

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theresanother.wordpress.com 2017 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the translation without express and written permission from 12 is strictly prohibited.}

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Ch. 18.4

The sun was high in the sky and the windows filled with light when Qin Sang slowly awoke the next morning, wondering where she was. She closed her eyes to gather her wits and when she opened them again, had recalled that she was at the family home.

Yi Liankai was already awake.

Qin Sang saw him sitting beside the bed and couldn’t help asking, ‘Why are you up so early?’

Yi Liankai’s reply was, ‘I have something for you.’

He had been holding it in the palm of his hand and now he unclenched his fist for her to look at it. It was actually a tiny silver spoon, beautifully engraved, although tarnished. Qin Sang had seen such spoons before and knew that unlike other silverware, they came in sets and were usually used at mealtimes for the offspring of rich families. However, the one she was looking at was especially exquisite. Although an antique, the design was intricate for its bowl was shaped like a banana leaf, with bamboo leaves and stems engraved on the handle. The engravings, exquisite and refined, ended in a tiny auspicious cloud at the very tip.

Qin Sang was young but not wholly inexperienced and could tell that it was a rare item. She guessed that it must have been part of the dowry that her mother-in-law had brought over from the Yun family; the same mother-in-law who had passed away before she could meet her.

Sure enough, Yi Liankai explained, ‘This is something I had as a child. My mother didn’t leave much behind. Just the pair of bangles which were part of your betrothal gifts and this spoon which my wet nurse kept for me as a sort of remembrance. When I was young and didn’t know any better, I accidentally dropped it inside a vase. It got stuck inside and wouldn’t come out, no matter what. I forgot about it eventually. This morning I suddenly remembered it and gave the vase a shake. It was still inside but came loose by chance and fell out, only it’s all tarnished.’

By the partition doors of their room had stood a pair of lianzhu (twinned pearl) vases, one of which was now upside down. Who knew why he had suddenly taken it into his head¹ to recall a silver spoon hidden in that vase or that it would be dislodged with just one shake? Qin Sang knew what he meant but to say such things aloud first thing in the morning was, of course, extremely inauspicious.

_{¹ 心血來潮 xīnxuè-láicháo: be prompted by a sudden impulse; be seized by a whim. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.}

Her heart was wrung and she said impulsively, ‘Then I’ll keep it safe for you first and give it a cleaning later. The quality of antique silver is always good and this will probably look nice after it’s been cleaned.’

Yi Liankai did not say much more but merely nodded after hearing her reply. The servant girls waiting outside had heard the sound of their voices and thus knocked on the door for permission to enter and help them with their morning ablutions. Not long after that, one of Yi Lianyi’s stewards came with a summons.

It was a family custom to drink lotus seed soup in the mornings. Yi Liankai had just had two mouthfuls of the soup, steeped with red dates and lotus seeds, when he heard the steward stating that Eldest Master wanted to see him.

He put down his spoon leisurely and remarked, ‘What’s his hurry? The Marshal used to get up early but he’s even earlier than that. This hour has always been for marking attendance only, not for making an appearance.’

The steward knew that this Third Master had a short fuse so he only smiled apologetically.

Yi Liankai finished his lotus seed soup, rinsed his mouth again and watched as Qin Sang finished dressing. After another interval, he announced, ‘I’m leaving now.’

Qin Sang knew that everything boded ill² for this journey of his. Her heart was full but she could not bring herself to say the words. Yi Liankai himself did not seem overtly reluctant to part³ either for he did not turn back for a second glance when he left. It was the male servants who conveyed him to the main rooms in the litter.

_{² 兇多吉少 xiōngduōjíshǎo: everything bodes ill, no positive signs (idiom); inauspicious
³ 依依惜別 yīyīxībié: be reluctant to part}

Qin Sang did not know how long she sat at the table but at last she stood up slowly. She had been clutching the tiny spoon in her hand and when she finally unclenched her fist, the flowery engravings had left an impression on her palm. She stared a little blindly at the banana leaf veins, a hollow feeling in her heart.

How very different it felt being placed under house arrest twice: first by Yi Lianshen and now by Yi Lianyi. However, Yi Lianyi was more courteous and had sent two servant girls from the main rooms to wait on her since she had no one else with her.

Not long after that, Eldest Mistress came over personally.

Qin Sang had not slept very well the night before so she had lain down for a short nap. When she heard that Eldest Mistress had come, she got up immediately and straightened her clothes. She had just checked her appearance in the mirror when Eldest Mistress appeared in the doorway. The latter had not come empty-handed, having brought some fresh winter bamboo shoots. These had been sent up from the village and she wanted to let Qin Sang have a taste of the shoots.

As Eldest Mistress was completely ignorant of outside happenings, she merely assumed that Qin Sang had come back for a visit so her manner and attitude were the same as always. However, she greeted Qin Sang with some surprise.

‘You all came back late last night so I didn’t know of it. This morning, I heard that you and San Di were back so I came over to see you — now why have you lost so much weight?’

Qin Sang briefly touched her own face and forced a smile as she answered, ‘It’s probably because I haven’t slept well the past few days.’

Eldest Mistress tutted, ‘I heard that San Di had to make a trip for work. In my opinion, is it worth the trouble? Not to mention he’s still not fully recovered. Tsk… but these men will never listen to our advice about such things.’

She sat there, prattling about domestic affairs which made Qin Sang feel slightly better insensibly. Although it had rained the entire night, the skies were clear that morning. It was February after all and once the skies were clear, it would get warmer.

Besides steam pipes, the room was also being heated by coal braziers which caused Eldest Mistress to say, ‘It’s too warm to sit here any longer. Don’t coop yourself up in here either. Let’s go for a walk. Given today’s weather, the plum blossoms in the garden will likely be blooming. You’ll enjoy looking at them.’

Qin Sang was hardly in the mood for flower appreciation. However, she and this Da Sao had undergone a harrowing trial together⁴ when Fuyuan had come under siege. Yi Lianyi may have done what he did, but she did not hold anything against her sister-in-law. Unable to withstand Da Sao’s repeated urging, she changed into another outfit and went for a walk in the garden with her.

_{⁴ 患難 huànnàn: trials and tribulations; adversity; trouble. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.}

It had been a long time since she had walked here. The last time had been the feasts held in the gardens when Yi Lianshen had placed her under house arrest. The chill present in the spring air⁵ was in strong contrast to the lingering traces of autumn back then. Eldest Mistress was literate but her education had revolved around The Four Books and The Five Classics⁶ whereas Qin Sang had been educated at a Western-style school. As a result, they did not have much in common to talk about. After walking for a while in the gardens, they saw a tigerskin rock wall. Some distance beyond it was a tower partially obscured by some pine trees. Qin Sang was suddenly reminded of something.

Eldest Mistress saw her gazing at that small building and sighed involuntarily as she remarked, ‘Lao Er’s wife was too hot-tempered, but to be fair, he really let her down. His being at loggerheads with his brother wasn’t that serious a matter, but he actually abandoned her here and walked away from everything.⁷ Given her temper…’ She sighed again.

_{7 一走了之 yīzǒuliǎozhī: to avoid a problem by walking away from it.}

Qin Sang was reminded of how she had taken exception to every aspect of Yi Liankai’s conduct⁸ when Second Mistress had first taken her own life. Yet what difference was there in her present circumstances and Er Sao’s back then? She only feared that the prospects of his being able to return alive were poor, as were her own chances of survival here.

_{8 所作所為 suǒzuò-suǒwéi: one’s behaviour or conduct. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.}

Eldest Mistress was, of course, clueless about Qin Sang’s thoughts and assumed that she was only grieving for her second sister-in-law. Hence she tugged at her hand and said, ‘Her mourning hall is still there. Given our old ties, why not go and pay your respects to her?’

This suggestion struck a chord with Qin Sang and she agreed, ‘That’s a good idea. Do come with me, Da Sao.’

Eldest Mistress nodded. ‘It’s been so chaotic recently. I also want to light some incense for Er Meimei.’

They skirted the green tiled path out of the garden then circled round to the front of the small tower Second Mistress had inhabited.

The courtyard door was unlatched. There were verdantly green pines and cypresses everywhere, shadowing the yard like dark clouds, blotting out most of the sunlight. The whole yard was paved with flagstones and a handful of withered pine needles and acorns lay strewn across the ground. On one side were stone steps covered in moss while traces of last night’s rain lingered on the pavestones.

All was hushed. Hardly any sound could be heard, except for a small brass bell hanging from the eave. Occasionally stirred by the breeze, it went ding-lang… ding-lang… Qin Sang had the impression of having stepped into an old temple up in the mountains.

Eldest Mistress observed, ‘I haven’t been here for a few days but already the servants are getting lazy. The yard isn’t swept.’

Qin Sang said, ‘It’s all right if they didn’t do it. After all, pine needles are clean things.’

Being a Buddhist, Eldest Mistress nodded in agreement with this. Since she was senior, it was naturally Qin Sang who went ahead and held open the door for her. The interior was still quite clean with snow-white curtains draped everywhere. A sliver of sunlight shone through the south window as clouds of dust swirled aimlessly. In front of the memorial tablet was an offering of fruits and vegetables. Beside it was an eternal flame lamp. As they pushed open the door and entered, the tiny flame in the oil lamp flickered slightly, almost on the verge of being extinguished.

Eldest Mistress tsk-tsked. ‘These people are really too much. Not sweeping the yard is one thing but they’ve neglected the memorial tablet as well.’

She then wiped the tablet with her hand before adding some oil to the lamp. Then she picked up a joss stick which she lit and inserted into the incense burner before the tablet.

Qin Sang also picked up a joss stick and bowed silently.

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_{(Approx. 1899 words)}

🆕 🎶 A song for Master Yi’s departure. It’s in English this time. 🎶

12’s notes:
4 春寒料峭 chūnhánliàoqiào: there is a chill in the air in spring
5 四書五經 SìshūWǔjīng: Four Books (the four major Confucian classics, namely: the Great Learning 大學, the Doctrine of the Mean 中庸, the Analects of Confucius 論語, and Mencius 孟子. The Five Classics of Confucianism, namely: the Book of Songs Shījīng [詩經], the Book of History Shūjīng [書經], the Classic of Rites Lǐjì [禮記], the Book of Changes Yìjīng [易經], and the Spring and Autumn Annals Chūnqiū [春秋]

☆ Please show moral support by reading the original and free translations from hiding in plain sight. © 12 and theresanother.wordpress.com 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the above material without express and written permission from 12 is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to 12 and theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Example here.

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Translated and edited by 12

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