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Authors: Zhao Rui-Yong, Zhou Su
Submitted by Bihailan, in Chinese
Source:
Wu Jing Sina Fan Club Chapter 9
5. Haining
August. Mid Autumn Festival. Flower Lanterns are being hung on every
household. Crowds who are admiring the lanterns come flooding in. The
various troupes are are performing music, walking on stilts, doing Lion
Dance and Dragon Dance.
Hongli and Zhao Hui dismount from the horses and walk on the streets,
peering around at the jubilant atmosphere of hubbub.
More often than not, there are many people who hail Hongli on seeing him,
"Mr Chen, you're back?" "It's been a long time since we
last met, Mr Chen.
Where have you been?" "Mr Chen!" "Oh, it's Mr Chen!"
Initially, Hongli is rather uneasy, but later he replies with spontaneity,
"Aye!" "Greetings!"
A servant from Chen Residence approaches him with excitement, "Sir, You're
back. We missed you so."
Hongli arbitrarily replies, "Yeah, I'm back. How do you do?"
That servant says, "Fine. Have fun for a while. I shall rush back to
inform Old Master."
Hongli, "Aye. Okay."
... ...
14. Chen Residence, Gardening Hall
Elder Chen Yuan Long sits alone tranquilly, waiting for his son's return.
His eyes are closed, causing people to feel his awe amidst serenity,
mystery amid quietness.
Then he hears his servant saying "Young master has reached home."
"Old master is waiting for you in the hall."
Hongli, with some hesitation, take a few steps towards the Gardening Hall.
Zhao Hui follows. Hongli stops, looks at the old man in the hall with
strong yearning and mulls over how he should face him. Elder Chen opens his
eyes gradually and see two shadowy figures.
Zhao Hui steps forward and exchanges glances with Hongli. He whispers,
"Try it, call him father."
Hongli nods his head. Once they have made up their mind, they enter the
Gardening Hall with no more trepidation.
Unexpectedly, Elder Chen stands up and kneels in front of Hongli, "Your
Old Minister, Chen Yuan Long, pay his respects to Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Hongli, floored by Chen Yuan Long's response, is momentarily at a loss for
words.
Zhao Hui says cunningly, "Old master, you must have been mistaken. He
is your son, it's Young Master Chen."
Hongli shouts, "Your son pays his respects to Father, " and is about to
kneel down... ...
"Hold it, Your Highness. Please don't play such a lark on Your Old
Minister." Chen Yuan Long interposes immediately.
Hongli has no choice but to straighten his half-bent knees and
makes an eye contact helplessly with Zhao Hui, sighing secretly.
Chen Yuan Long says, "Your Old Minister's eyesight may be failing and is
hard of hearing, but I can sense that you're the Crown Prince and not my
son, Bang Guo."
Hongli feels so incapacitated and touched as he helps Chen Yuan Long up,
"Elder Chen, please dispense with the formalities."
Chen Yuan Long gets up shakily, "Thanks and long live Your Highness!"
Hongli helps Chen Yuan Long to the seat.
"Your Highness, please have a seat too." says Chen Yuan Long respectfully,
"And this lord too, please sit."
Zhao Hui replies, "Thanks, Elder Chen."
The maid enters with a tray carrying three cups of tea, "Old master,
please have some tea."
Chen Yuan Long takes a cup of tea and serves it to Hongli, "Have some tea."
Hongli quickly gets up, receives the teacup, and puts it on the table. Being
unsure of how to show his gratitude, he uses the tip of his thumb to tap
thrice on the table in the manner of "phoenix nodding its head" to say
thanks.
The maid looks puzzled. Chen Yuan Long looks at the maid, "Put down
the cups of tea
and you may take your leave."
The maid obeys, places a cup of tea for Chen Yuan Long and Zhao Hui, and
goes out. Overwhelmed with curiosity, she halts by the windows and listens secretly...
Hongli deferentially articulates, "Elder Chen, you have served and
helped two generations of Emperors in state affairs, and command such
great respect. I
have since young admired you greatly. It's my great fortune to be able to
meet you."
Chen Yuan Long half closes his eyes, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the
purpose of your arrival in Haining..."
The maid who is listening outside, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince?"
And then Chen Yuan Long's voice is heard again, "... you're on Imperial Edict to
go on field inspection?"
After some thinking, the maid leaves in a hurry.
15. Chen Residence, Gardening Hall
"Elder Chen, you sound too serious." Hongli attempts to fish for
information, "Tonight is Lantern Festival. But, when I just set foot in Haining, something really odd happened. The people who were viewing the
Lanterns were all addressing me as Mr Chen, Mr Bang Guo. Is this young master
Bang Guo your son?"
Chen Yuan Long pretends to be surprised, "Oh? This matter? ... ... It's
really weird, how could they mistake the Crown Prince for my son?"
Hongli smiles slyly, "Yeah, that's right. It made me so confused. I did
not know if I should reply, I felt like being put into a very difficult
quagmire. Eventually ..."
That Chen Yuan Long's mouth is shivering, is an indication that he is
suppressing his overwhelming excitement and anticipation.
Hongli suddenly speaks in a loud voice, "Eventually, I greeted them
back."
Chen Yuan Long open his eyes widely, gaping at Hongli.
Hongli intentionally shifts a lantern nearer to himself and smiles as he
gazes at Chen Yuan Long. An indistinct image of Hongli enters Chen Yuan
Long far-sighted eyes. Zhao Hui, reading Hongli's intention, also moves
another lantern in front of Hongli.
Hongli jokes, "Elder Chen, look closely, is this Hongli or your son?"
Chen Yuan Long gradually sees clearly that the charming, radiant youth who
carries an
aristocratic air, is Hongli, and is also his son. Zhao Hui observes Chen Yuan Long
with interest, the latter of whom has lost a little of his grip.
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