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Authors: Zhao Rui-Yong, Zhou Su
Submitted by Bihailan, in Chinese, to
Wu Jing Sina Fan Club Chapter 9
17. Chen Residence, Gardening Hall
Chen Yuan Long finally manages to contain his inner emotions, and half
closes his eyes again, "Awwww, my son, Chen Bang-Guo, indeed looks a
little like Your Highness. How can it be so fortuitous? Had I not heard
your steps, I would have mistaken you for Bang-Guo."
Hongli and Zhao Hui exchange glances with each other.
Zhao Hui, "Isn't it even more of a tale of cock and bull that His
Highness, the Crown Prince, has never met Elder Chen before, yet you
managed to identify that it is the Crown Prince who is here, just by listening to the
footsteps?"
Chen Yuan Long chortles, "A good question, indeed! An excellent question!"
Hongli, with some degree with gratification, enterprises, "Yeah, yeah. I
am unable to find any answers to it after some deep pondering. Elder Chen, is
there any mysterious artifice to it?"
"Mysterious artifice? Hahaha. How can there be no mysterious
artifice?" Chen Yuan Long purposely tries to sound arcane, "If I am without such
a
second nature, how could I have been an important minister for two
generations of Manchurian Dynasty, eh? You're still so young, when you're
old, you'll understand. Even old trees can turn into spirits, let alone a
human being? Your Highness, don't you agree?"
Hongli gropes for the right words, "Right, Elder Chen's wisdom far transcends
everyone. You're able to miraculously predict with such uncanny accuracy,
I hold you in great esteem."
Chen Yuan Long says humbly, "Certainly, certainly, I am lagging far behind you,
the young people."
"Elder Chen, I heard that you also have a daughter who was born in Year 50 of
Kangxi Reign. Even more coincidentally, she was born at the same hour and day as I." Hongli wrinkles his brow and changes the topic abruptly, "On
that night when I was born, the two Residences set off fireworks
simultaneously, and the explosions went off continuously, shaking
half the entire capital. Wasn't it so, Elder Chen?"
Chen Yuan Long, with his eyes half-closed, seems to hark back, "Yes, yes,
indeed. Chen Residence and your Prince Yong Residence
were separated by a mere wall. There was a side door joining us together.
The people from Prince Yong Residence shouted, to what has Lady Chen
given birth? Is it a daughter? The other side replied, What about your
Residence, is it a little prince? Congratulations! Congratulations to you
too! When you were born, it quaked half the entire capital. It was so
auspicious!"
Hongli and Zhao Hui, with a sinking feeling, gaze at the sly, old fox, Chen
Yuan Long.
Chen Yuan Long seems to be on cloud nine, "Wasn't it a joyous occasion?
Your father has become today's Emperor and you are the Crown Prince. And
as his old neighbour, I also gained some glamour on his account. The Emperor issued an
Imperial Decree, exempting taxation for ten years. Basking in the grace of
the Emperor, basking in the grace of the Emperor."
Hongli meditates upon how to make him tell the truth. Chen Yuan Long
closes his eyes after finishing his speech, resting comfortably on the
chair. Zhao Hui looks helplessly at Hongli. Hongli is full of anxiety and
impatience and takes a gulp of the tea.
Hongli suddenly laughs, "Elder Chen, Elder Chen!"
Chen Yuan Long opens his eyes slightly, "I am listening. Go on, Your
Highness."
"During this incognito inspection tour, I've come specially to your house, so that I
can meet the missy who was born at the same hour, day, month and year as
Hongli." says Hongli without any haste, "Since the olden days until now,
such coincidental event happens only once in a blue moon. 'Heard that on
that night, the moon was rising high up the clear, blue sky, and it was
breezy. Then, abruptly, the rain came pouring and the thunder clapped. It
was so puzzling. I have always been thinking, if at that time...
...suppose the Baby-Delivering Bodhisattva was clouded by the rain,
alarmed by the thunder, or was perhaps a little not circumspect, went to
the wrong door, and sent Hongli over to Chen Residence instead, would Hongli
not have become your son? And would Elder Chen's daughter not have
become Prince Yong Residence's princess?"
Zhao Hui glances gleefully at Chen Yuan Long, thinking that he has been
stumped.
Chen Yuan Long smiles and speaks in a little obfuscating manner, "... ...
She is Baby-Delivering Bodhisattva, is a Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva was wrong
... ..."
Hongli, "Eh?"
With sarcasm, Chen Yuan Long says," How could it be erroneous? A
Bodhisattva is a Bodhisattva after all!"
The disappointment of Hongli and Zhao Hui is clearly imprinted on their
faces. Chen Yuan Long shuts his eyes, appearing to be dozing off.
Hongli stays the course, "Aye, aye. Right, right, right. How could
Bodhisattva make any mistake? Elder Chen, since I am here, could you
grant me an audience with your daughter? After I have seen her, I would
return by night to Hangzhou immediately."
Slowly, Chen Yuan Long opens his eyes, "Is this His Majesty's wish?"
Hongli shakes his head, "No, not really. It's my own intention."
Chen Yuan Long keeps his eyes half-shut again, "Your Highness is on
undercover field
inspection. You don't ask about agrarian problems, political affairs, whether
the magistrates are just or dishonest, about tyrannical lords, about floods
and taxation, about the well-being of the folks. You've neglected everything.
You came all the way to Haining, just to ask me about my daughter?"
Hongli and Zhao Hui are left out in the cold.
Hongli gets up urgently, "Hongli shall take heed your admonition. It
was just a random thought and I did not have any other intentions. I
beg for your forgiveness."
Unexpectedly, Chen Yuan Long begins snoring. Hongli and Zhao Hui stare at
each other blankly.
Hongli, "Elder Chen, Chen Chen!"
Zhao Hui shakes his head and says softly, "Let's go."
Hongli, "Elder Chen, I dare not impose upon you any further. Farewell."
The slippery eel, Chen Yuan Long, continues to snore. Hongli sighs and,
along with Zhao Hui, leaves quietly. Just when they step out of the
threshold, they hear a beaming voice from Lady Chen, "Your Highness, the Crown
Prince, is it you who are here?"
Chen Yuan Long is startled and snores no more.
Hongli, under the light of the lanterns, see Lady Chen rushing towards
them with bells on. Lady Chen frantically hugs Hongli, "Your Highness,
Your Highness!"
Hongli is moved, "Old Madam!"
Lady Chen is filled with both happiness and sorrow, "Lift the lanterns
higher, let me examine the Crown Prince carefully."
The maids lift the lanterns higher up.
Chen Yuan Long, who is inside the gardening hall, and shams a few coughs,
fearing that Lady Chen
may stir up trouble.
18. Chen Residence, Outside the Gardening Hall
Hongli and Lady Chen look at each other with deep passion. There are
tears in Lady Chen's eyes. There are tears in Hongli's eyes.
Lady Chen, as if being choked, says, "Yes, Yes, it's the Crown Prince who
is here to see me, to see me!"
Hongli uncontrollably kneels down, "Hongli pays his respects to Lady
Chen."
Lady Chen shakily holds him up, "This, this, how could I bear such
courtesy? Get up, get up..."
Hongli prostrates himself before Lady Chen.
Lady Chen helps Hongli up and says in excitement, "You've grown so tall,
grown so big already..."
... ...
22 Chen Residence, Bath Room
The maids proceed successively, pouring buckets of hot water into the wooden
bath-tub and then exit.
"Your Highness, please go ahead."
Hongli enters. Steam rises up above the hot water.
Hongli mutters, "Such family of great warmth! Warmer than what I have
imagined to be. I am beginning to blame fate for making fun of me. Why
sent me to a place to where I do not belong? As Cao Meng- De said, Roast me
in flames."
He disrobes...
24 Chen Residence, Bath House
Lady Chen raises the curtain, entering quietly. Hongli, sitting in the
tub of hot water with his back facing the door, scrubs his body. Lady Chen looks
with lovelorn eyes at her son whom she has never seen for twenty years.
The ascending steam elicits a dream-like feeling.
Lady Chen's heart weeps, "Son! Why can't your mother acknowledge you?
House of Ruling Family, House of Prime Minister, there are some things
that can't be compared to that of House of Commoners." As she is thinking,
she ardently calls out, "Son!"
In the wooden bath-tub, Hongli is astounded. Slowly, he turns around,
unconsciously putting the towel in front of his chest.
"Lady Chen?"
Lady Chen walks forwards in trembles, "I really wish to bathe you once. I
have never given you a bath."
"Well, well, bathe me."
Lady Chen is both surprised and elated, "You're really going to let me
bathe you, Your Highness?"
Hongli shivers his lips, "Aye."
Lady Chen inches forward in haste, and takes the wet towel...
The five blood-like moles, in the formation of a hawthorn blossom, on Hongli's chest are exposed to Lady
Chen. Lady Chen does not scrub his body. Rather, she gently touches the
familiar symbol that belongs only to him and her.
All of sudden, Lady Chen begins to sob loudly.
Hongli holds her swaying body, "Lady Chen, Lady Chen!"
Lady Chen weeps, "Twenty years, twenty years. When it see it, see it, the
bulb in my heart lights up, I do not know if it's fortune or misfortune."
Lady Chen's cries can be heard outside. The two maids are unsettled and
vacillate between going or not going in.
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