RVW – Chapter 36

At this moment, the father and son AnYang Wang were unaware of the Imperial Physician’s thoughts, breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing the Imperial Physician’s words.

The Imperial Physician went to insert a needle on the unconscious AnYang Wang fei, quickly waking her up. Then, seeing her pale son on the bed, she held her handkerchief and cried sobbingly, truly looking like her liver and guts had been cut to pieces¹Grief stricken. Only after the Imperial Physician repeated his explanation just now again did her tears finally stop. 

The Imperial Physician asked for papers and ink again to prescribe some medicine, then repeatedly warned them of things they should pay attention to——such as within a year he must not get close to womanly charm²Uh how do I say this, 女色 kinda means like sex appeal. Basically saying here that he shouldn’t be near women and lust after them la,  maintaining a clear mind and abstinence of desires la, abstaining from alcohol, meat, and lust la…… the whole thing is a copy of a buddhist monk’s daily activities. What the monks usually do in their daily life, AnYang Wang Shi Zi would also do it from now on.

AnYang Wang husband and wife listened quite earnestly, nodding repeatedly. AnYang Wang Shi Zi looked emaciated. He is the kind of person who couldn’t be happy without meat, and also cannot do without luxurious clothes and gourmet delicacies, everything had to be carefully crafted and exquisite. How could he endure such a clear and frugal life. When AnYang Wang fei looked at her son’s emaciated face, she started crying again, touching her son’s face, moaning ah ah from deep within her heart and liver³As in she was hurt deeply because of her son’s condition and moaned in grief. You know how the Chinese usually would be ‘internally injured’ and cough up blood when stimulated. Yeah, like that..

After the Imperial Physician finished explaining the precautions, he swayed his medicine box and walked away leisurely.

“Wu wu wu⁴The sound of sobbing… Who could be so vicious to dare to harm my son like this, isn’t it clearly showing that they want our descendants to cease?” AnYang Wang fei wiped her tears and said with hatred. She also knew what her son’s virtue was, thinking that someone out there must have loathed her son and made him like this. At that moment, she only wanted to kill the person who had hurt her son.

AnYang Wang was also furious, so furious the veins on his forehead had bulged out. “How vile, which wicked person is so fearless to dare harm my son like this?! If Ben Wang doesn’t go and abuse their nine generations, let them experience the same thing!!”

“Yes, Wang ye, we must not let go of this evil person who had harmed our Xiao’er. They even dared to harm the children of the imperial family, isn’t this outrageous⁵The word here is actually 反天 means making the heaven upside down, refers to how extremely outrageous it is.?”

“Tomorrow, Ben Wang will go find the emperor to preside over justice….. No, in a while Ben Wang will enter the palace to meet him!”

“Yes, Chen qie will also go find Mu fei⁶As in AnYang Taifei, that basically means ‘concubine mother’ and ask her to enter the palace to find the Empress Dowager…”

The husband and wife, supporting each other’s words, wanting to demand justice for their son. This kind of situation has happened a lot of times. Everytime this only son of theirs rushes to cause trouble, the AnYang Wang husband and wife would always protect this only son without admonishment like this, not caring whether their son was in the right or wrong, solely focused on using their power to suppress people in order to solve it. But this time, hearing them talk over things like they had previously done, AnYang Wang Shi Zi did not look at ease and lied down in relaxation as long as he handed over all the matters to his parents like before. He looked fearful instead, his eyes rolled over as if desperately trying to come up with a plan.

After venting their temper for a while, the two AnYang Wang husband and wife turned their heads and looked lovingly at their son in the bed, their eyes filled with heartache, saying, “Xiao’er, don’t be afraid. Tell father, who was so sinister to harm you like this?”

AnYang Wang Shi Zi‘s eyes flickered, Uh-uh-ah ah-ing not willing to speak. When the AnYang Wang husband and wife had asked anxiously, he directly closed his eyes and Ai yo Ai yo-ing in painful moans, expressing that he is currently weak and needed to rest.

AnYang Wang husband and wife naturally dared not bother their son from recuperating, agreeing eagerly to let their son rest. As soon as they went out of the door, the two  immediately lowered their faces, calling for the guards who followed the Shi Zi out today to inquire.

AnYang Wang Shi Zi still had a bit of a brain. He knows that this matter couldn’t be spoken about by him, otherwise even his father couldn’t protect him.

So, after hearing the reports from the beginning to the end from the imperial guards, AnYang Wang husband and wife looked at each other in dismay, not knowing what they should do for a moment.

After learning that the person who injured their son was that one legendary Su Wang fei, the couple was astonished. Because of the fate of Su Wang “killing wife and losing son”, no one in the imperial family had actually considered Su Wang fei as part of them——a dying person isn’t worth paying attention to. But who would know that this woman who could be “Ke killed” at any moment under public eyes, was unexpectedly extremely daring to injure their son, and in the end could still make Su Wang protect her.

AnYang Wang is well aware of Chu Baning’s character. He is strict by nature and handles things justly and fairly, he could never protect anyone like this. But now, he actually protected his own Wang fei, not even apologizing?

“If it were Seventeenth Brother…..forget it!” AnYang Wang’s spirit suddenly withered, waving his hand to let the guards withdraw.

AnYang Wang fei, upon hearing, became anxious and immediately covered her mouth and cried sobbingly, “Wang ye, how can this matter be settled? Our Xiao’er has suffered so much, but we cannot bring him justice….. Wu wu wu… Xiao’er, you are so pitiful. Mother will go to die with you…..” saying that, she stood up and rushed to her son’s room.

AnYang Wang angrily dragged her back. Seeing her crying so broken-heartedly, he felt a burst of helplessness, saying, “What do you want to do? He is Su Wang, the one person directly below the Emperor. Apart from the emperor, who does he listen to? Who dares to show their face to him⁷As in who dares to challenge him? The few brothers who are still alive, which one of them is not avoiding him? Instead, you want Ben Wang to confront him? Do you want Ben Wang to be cut off by him so that we could no longer mix⁸As in get along or live there in the capital city, only then would you be happy?”

AnYang Wang fei doesn’t care about these things. She only knew that her treasured lump⁹疙瘩 her actually means something like a pimple, some lump on the skin. Here, the “lump” refers to one that came off her body, the child she had birthed. had been injured. Even if it was the Heavenly Emperor Lao zi¹⁰Refers to the jade emperor, the ruler of heaven. It is also used as an exaggeration to refer to someone with great power., she also dared to go seek for him.

“Wu wu wu… I don’t care. Can’t even support your own son’s back, what’s the use of you being a Wang ye? It would be better if this mother go and die quickly……” as she said, she continued to weep noisily. 

AnYang Wang was really distraught by her cries, then he remembered his younger brother’s solemn face that was more fearful than an old person’s. How could he dare to seek him to argue? Speaking of this matter, it was also his own son who had offended first. AnYang Wang immediately felt angry, saying hatefully, “If it weren’t for you all spoiling Xiao’er until he has this kind of virtue, how could such a troublesome matter happen? You still have the face to cry to me! Seventeenth younger brother is right, Xiao’er’s virtue should be changed. After he recovers from this injury, Ben Wang will let him face the wall and reflect on himself, so that we won’t go out and throw Lao zi’s face again!!”

After speaking, AnYang Wang flung his sleeve and left.

AnYang Wang fei blankly stared at her husband who had just left in disbelief. This is the first time her tears were not useful since she had birthed a son. Obviously, no matter how much she cried loudly in the past, he would always let her do her way, so why didn’t it work this time?

How could this be! Her family’s Xiao’er was still suffering. She absolutely couldn’t allow that malicious short-lived Su Wang fei who had injured her son to evade retribution. 

Her husband here won’t work, AnYang Wang fei immediately wiped away her tears, went back to her room and told the maids to do her make up into a thin, haggard and sorrowful look. Then, after rubbing her eyes even redder, she kept her eyes teary, held her handkerchief and let the maids support her to go to AnYang Tai fei’s courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard AnYang Tai fei resides in, she Wu-wu-ed, bursting into tears, her voice was so grief-stricken, “Mu fei, Mu fei, you have to seek justice for Xiao’er ah…….”

AnYang Tai fei’s own surname was Yao. She was the Di young lady of the Yao Clan, a century old aristocratic family in the capital. At the age of fifteen, she entered the palace to serve¹¹As in as a concubine. The RAW was actually saying “to be enjoyed” by the Emperor, but I think it’s too crass the late Emperor and was bestowed a title Gui ren¹²贵人 (or noble lady) is a title for the Emperor’s women in harem. There are actually many versions of Imperial China concubine rankings, each dynasties varied from one to another. This story took place in Ancient china, and the ranking is more or less like this: 皇后 (empress)，皇贵妃 (huang gui fei or Imperial Noble consort)，贵妃 (gui fei/Noble consort)，夫人 (furen/madame)，昭仪 (zhao yi)、昭媛 (zhao yuan)、昭容 (zhao rong)，妃位 (feiwei)，贵嫔 (gui pin)，嫔位 (pin wei)，贵人 (gui ren)，才人 (cai ren)，黛人 (dai ren)，秀女 (xiu nu) → 1 empress, 1 huang gui fei, 2 Gui feis, 4 Feis, and 6 Pins are the composition of the Emperor’s harem. If you look, you might find the position of a gui ren in ancient china pretty low, but in other dynasties it might not be too bad. From the list I put above, the title gui ren couldn’t be said to be good, because gui ren here is akin to maids who warmed the emperor’s bed, not even concubines. The ones actually considered the Emperor’s concubines (as in they became masters who could order around), are those with the Pin title and above., she climbed up the ranks all the way from Gui ren.

AnYang Tai fei can be said to be a highly experienced concubine who had fought hard at the risk of her life in the imperial harem of the late Emperor, step by step she had gone through things until this day, smooth and steadily able to become a Tai fei who even Emperor Chongde have to respectfully call “Xian Mu fei”¹³Can be translated as Virtuous (贤) consort mother (母妃).. When the late emperor was still alive, the harem was simply a small battlefield where the power of the previous dynasty was concentrated. The various beautiful concubines made use of their beauty to compete and scheme to the extreme. It could be said that the concubines who survive in the harem were all not simple. But AnYang Tai fei not only survived, she was even able to give birth to the late Emperor’s third son. And at one point, she was once an Imperial Noble Consort¹⁴皇贵妃, ranked just right under the Empress in the palace. For a time, she was second to none.

Until today, the late Emperor did not leave many elderly concubines. Except for some young and childless ones who were moved outside the palace where the Tai fei lived¹⁵It seems like there is a residence specially for the young and childless Tai fei outside of the palace, those Tai feis with son can have their son take them out of the palace to the son’s Mansion, where they can live for the rest of their life in peace. AnYang Tai fei is one of them.

AnYang Tai fei had spent her entire life fighting among women, enjoying the days of glory, wealth, and power in her hands. She advanced step by step, careful and cautious, and finally retired behind the scenes after the tenth prince ascended the throne, smoothly and steadily becoming a Tai fei. This, for a concubine with an older prince, was actually something that can make people amazed. 

However, what no one knew was that in AnYang Tai fei’s glory throughout her life, she had suffered a heavy loss¹⁶吃闷亏 (translated as being smothered from eating loss) means being extremely angry yet unable to say anything because of unspeakable secrets (or just being angry to the point of speechlessness). under the hands of her sister from the same clan—the present Empress Dowager. To this day, whenever thinking of that one wrong step at that time, a wrong step, she couldn’t help but be resentful. If it weren’t for the Empress Dowager, perhaps it would be her son who became the Emperor now, and the person respected by the Chonghua Palace would have been her.

In the eyes of outsiders, the Empress Dowager and AnYang Tai fei are sisters of the same surname, and had once supported each other and walked through the stormy harem, being a role model for deep sisterly affections. But who knows that the two sisters once fought and framed each other for the supremacy of the throne. They hated and resented each other so much to the point of wanting to drink the other’s blood and eating the other’s meat.

However, AnYang Tai fei is also an insightful person. She knows that the current emperor is a rarely encountered wise ruler. If her son were to become the Emperor, perhaps chaos would have happened long ago——when the late emperor passed away, he left behind a large pile of terrible mess. If it weren’t for the new Emperor’s efforts to pull them from the perilous situation and clear up court order to peace, it’s likely that the Great Chu Dynasty would not have the current relatively peaceful situation. So, although the AnYang Tai fei harbored resentment towards the Empress Dowager, she did not use her power and connections she had used for half of her life in the harem to rebel. Instead, she peacefully became AnYang Mansion’s Tai fei, enjoying her life and playing with her grandchildren.

Now, upon learning that her only treasured golden grandson had almost been cut off of his descendants by the Empress Dowager’s daughter-in-law, AnYang Tai fei immediately exploded. Without saying a word, she angrily rushed to ride the carriage and directly entered the palace.

In Chonghua Palace, beautiful and elegant maids shuttled back and forth to serve tea and refreshments to AnYang Tai fei, who was said to be in a rare visit on the Empress Dowager.

Although AnYang Tai fei is over fifty years old, she took good care of herself and looked very young, like she was only in her forties. Her black hair was adorned with luxurious gold ornaments, dressed in palace attire embroidered with peonies, looking like a person of grand background who had a comfortable life. There are few wrinkles on her face, only a few relatively deep crow’s feet on the corner of her eyes made her look less youthful.

AnYang Tai fei gave people the impression of a tranquil calm like water, living simply undisturbed. Facing her was like facing a deep pool of water whose bottom couldn’t be seen. You will never know what was under the water.

While the Empress Dowager had kind brows and pleasant eyes, looking sweet and gentle, often putting on a benevolent smile like that of Maitreya Buddha, giving people a sense of closeness and amiableness.

Two women sat in the main hall of the Chonghua Palace, gracefully chatting a small talk, each and every move revealing profound meanings.

Who knows how long they probed each other, the Empress Dowager finally lost the patience to beat around the bush with her.

“Don’t know what matters caused Jiejie to come meet Ai jia today? It couldn’t be because of wanting to see Ai jia’s tea water, right? If you like it, Ai jia can ask the emperor to give you some.” The Empress Dowager said, appearing to be generous, using a handkerchief to cover her smiling mouth, inwardly saying do get choked in humiliation and die, you.

The Empress Dowager inwardly also felt puzzled, not knowing what the AnYang Tai fei is here for today and why she chose such a time that was neither too early nor too late. The empress dowager didn’t believe that AnYang Tai fei would specially come to see her and chat about sisterly affections while drinking tea. However, the surface kung fu also has to be done to avoid this old woman coming to pick on something and trip her up.

Upon hearing this, AnYang Tai fei placed the teacup in her hand on the table, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said calmly, “It’s nothing, just coming to congratulate you, Meimei, for having a good daughter-in-law! It’s really not easy for Su Wang fei to live until now without dying.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager almost collapsed in anger.

Isn’t this woman openly mocking her? Although the Empress Dowager’s entire life may not be satisfactory as she had wished, it has been smooth and steady. Since becoming the Empress Dowager, except this woman, no one had dared to speak to her in a sarcastic manner. As everyone knows, the fate of her youngest son, Chu Baning, has always been her sore spot. Now her once arch-enemy had said such a thing to her, how could she not be angry.

Quickly, the Empress Dowager switched into an indifferent smile and said, “As what Jiejie had said, the Su Wang fei that Ai jia personally chose is naturally a good one.” Saying through her gritted teeth, “Hehe, Ai jia is still waiting for her and Su Wang to give birth to a few grandchildren for Ai jia.” Compared to your Anyang Wang, who couldn’t give birth to offsprings, her Su Wang is still young, it’s possible to give her several grandchildren in the future.

How could AnYang Tai fei not be aware of her ridicule and not be angry at the moment? She picked up a small red fruit on the table and ate it, leisurely saying, “At least my Xiao’er had already been born when Anyang Wang was as old as Su Wang now.” So, do you think your son really can produce offspring? Maybe what the high monk at Bai Ma temple said ‘Killing wife and losing son’ is indeed true yo~~

“You——” The Empress Dowager was once again so angry that her liver hurt.

AnYang Tai fei saw that the right moment had arrived and all pretense of cordiality was about to be shed. She put on a heavy expression and said “Hmph, then this Jiejie  will tell Meimei clearly! Your good daughter-in-law is also a powerful one, unexpectedly harming my family’s Xiao’er, almost injuring his root lifeblood! Those who harmed my family’s Xiao’er, which one of them did not go see the Yama¹⁷As in the King of Hell. So here she means that those people are dead? Meimei, you must give me an explanation today, otherwise I can’t guarantee whether your good daughter-in-law will be ‘killed’ as quickly as the outside world said!”

“You——”

When The Empress Dowager first heard the beginning of the speech, originally she still cheered for Ah Nan inwardly, shouting to her good daughter-in-law why didn’t she directly beat that AnYang Wang Shi Zi into a cripple. But hearing the last parts of it, she only wanted to spit out blood.

She believed that AnYang Tai fei absolutely would do what she said! Don’t be fooled by the fact that AnYang Tai fei has been staying quietly in the Anyang Wang’s Mansion for years, becoming vegetarian and reciting Buddhism. Who knows if she left any connections and influence in her hands during the time she helped her son seize the throne? Although she might not be able to force the Emperor, she still has the ability to make a Wang fei die unexpectedly.

“Hehe, Jiejie, why do you need to be angry like this. You also have to let the Ai jia know how Su Wang fei injured AnYang Wang Shi Zi. If Su Wang fei was really at fault, Ai jia will definitely not shield her.” The Empress Dowager spoke on the surface.

AnYang Tai fei said unreasonably, “Anyway, my Xiao’er was indeed injured by your daughter-in-law. If you don’t give me justice, Jie jie doesn’t mind informing the imperial family about this matter. You know, those from AnShun Wang group have been worried for not having reasons to enter the capital.”

The Empress Dowager finally burst into anger, “You dare!” Who doesn’t know that AnShun Wang is an ambitious person. He had been hiding in the northwest, eyeing covetously for the chance to enter the capital and force the Emperor to abdicate. If AnShun Wang were given the opportunity to enter the capital, the capital would be turned into a chaotic mess.

AnYang Tai fei chuckled, saying, “Meimei is someone who has become the Empress Dowager, how could she be so irritable? Calm down, don’t let the palace people have a laugh!”

Go to hell!! If it weren’t for you, this bastard woman, threatening Ai jia, would Ai jia be irritable?!

The Empress Dowager thought in rage, but when her anger subsided, she could only stiff-facedly ask someone to invite Su Wang fei into the palace.

*******

After Su Wang Mansion’s carriage entered the city, Chu Baning did not directly take Ah Nan back to Su Wang’s Mansion, but instead went to the streets for a stroll.

Ah Nan lifted a corner of the carriage’s curtain, looking out at the street outside with clear bright eyes. It really has been a long time since she last had sight-seeing, feels like she had been trapped into a turtle.

Chu Baning, seeing that her eyes were almost glued to the carriage window, pursed his lips to suppress his smile. Chu Baning directly instructed the coachman to drive to a restaurant¹⁸酒楼 is a restaurant that also serves alcholic beverage as its main drinks called Yunshangju¹⁹Means a place on the cloud, and then got off with Ah Nan. Not long after, they were already sitting in a private room on the second floor of the restaurant. From the window, they could see a small river flowing through the city outside, with rippling water and weeping willows on both sides of the riverbank shook gently in the wind. People were walking unhurriedly through the arch bridge. This situation and scene was brimming with the life of the ancient, much like the life described in the ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival.’²⁰It’s one of the top ten famous paintings from Ancient China, painted by Zhang Zeduan in the Northern Song Dynasty. Like this

The clean and neatly dressed waiter quickly brought the food they ordered. Ah Nan looked at the restaurant’s signature dishes mentioned by the waiter, having beautiful color combinations, strong aroma and taste, possessing all the three main aspects of color, aroma, and taste²¹These three are usually what is demanded in Chinese cuisine. 色 (color) 香味 (aroma and taste, but can also be used to describe just aroma. The taste here also kinda includes the sense of ‘taste’ you could feel when just looking at a dish, like how you can taste sour when looking at an orange). . Ah Nan calmly smiled, not letting herself appear like a chowhound. Though, she was indeed already hungry.

After setting the dishes for the two masters, Ru Cui bowed and left.

“These are all the specialty dishes of Yunshangju. Eat and see if they are to your liking,” Chu Baning said.

Ah Nan smiled reservedly and said, “I’ve heard from Father that there is a special Heyi cake in Yunshangju that is really unique, the flavor could only be tasted on site.”

Chu Baning thought for a moment and said warmly, “That’s tea and pastries served together to aid digestion after a meal. Let them bring one later.”

Ah Nan’s heart felt sweet, so she gave him a sweet sweet smile, “Thank you, Wang ye.”

Chu Baning couldn’t help but touch her head. The young girl was smiling under the sunlight and squinting her jet-black eyes, with a sweet smile on her lips, was like an obedient and harmless little kitten, making one really want to pat and rub her.

Although Ah Nan was not used to his occasional act of touching her head, she also knew that it was his display of affection and adoration. Her heart became even sweeter, as if what had just happened in the Bai Ma Temple had never existed. Along the way, Ah Nan saw that Chu Baning didn’t bring it up, so she tactfully also didn’t speak of it. She is an expert at this field.

However, at the thought that in two days, this man would have to go far away and couldn’t be seen for a few months, her heart felt bitter again.

Translator’s note:

Ladies and Gentlemen, please do educate your children properly and don’t let them become AnYang Wang Shi Zi!