Editor: NU

Chapter 7 Heartless man (2)

Mo Xiang could not bear it. “Furen, why don’t you tell His Excellency that you are pregnant, so those slaves dare not look down upon you! Besides, Furen, you are still the daughter of the Nie’s Clan and the proper wife of His Excellency. What about that lowly Shen Rumei? How dare she compete with you?”

Nie Wushuang wiped the tears from her eyes, shook her head with a sneer: “You can see from his action that new love is better than the old, the main wife cannot compare to the spoiled concubine. Even if I have a child, what should I do? At this time, it’s just a drop of water splashed on his head. I will wait for the time being and choose the best time to tell him about it!”

She touched her flat abdomen and wondered, maybe he was just confused for a while…

But It’s not the time yet to changed her husband’s mind. Instead, the showed off and slandered by Shen Rumei.

After a dozen days went by very smoothly, one day, Nie Wushuang got up early, after washed and dressed, suddenly she heard a report from the servant. “Furen, Shen guniang asked for an audience.”

“She is not receiving any guest!” Mo Xiang shouted angrily.

Nie Wushuang carefully stick in a golden flower ornament (10) on her forehead, then turns back, “Okay, let her in”.

“Furen, you…” Mo Xiang was puzzling.

Nie Wushuang looked at the women in the mirror, snow white and shiny skin, dark eyebrows without drawing, lips without any added colour, dressing a little she was always better than countless other women. Naturally, she knew how beautiful she was. Nie Wushuang, when she was a maiden, was the number one beauty in the capital of Qi State.

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Playing Qin, playing chess, writing calligraphy and paintings, she was very proficient, and more the “Jing Hong” dancing (11) on the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet was amazing. Her beauty was better than an unspeakable momentum. If the ethereal spirit was a rare orchid, but with an indescribable extravagance, others will not imitate it.

Although Shen Rumei was beautiful, it was just beautiful by a piece of pearl powder. Compared with her, it was not even worth mentioning.

It was painful to think, even if the heart hurts when her husband was being unfaithful to her, but she will never allow her future children to have a hard time because she was not favoured.

Nie Wushuang smiled coldly in her heart: “If she wants to come how can you stop her, this kind of things will happen one day.”

During the conversation, Shen Rumei was already strolled in with the maidservant supporting her. When she saw Nie Wushuang in orderly clothes, she couldn’t help feeling inferior. She knew Nie Wushuang’s unparalleled reputation.

In the brothel, didn’t know how many women were envious with gnashed teeth whenever they talked about her. Not to mention that Nie Wushuang was born in the Nie’s clan, the largest clan in the capital. Her father Nie Weicheng was one of three powerful chancellors in the court. However, she never has any intention towards the noble sons, instead choose Gu Qinghong, who was still a poor scholar at that time.

Remember the day after when Gu Qinghong passed the Imperial Examination and riding a horse around the street, his handsome and elegant face surprised the old and young ones in the capital. No one has ever seen such a young and handsome Zhuang Yuan before, until then all people were impressed with Nie Wushuang’s choices.

This is a talented man and a peerless woman, such a match made in heaven (12).

“Rumei paid respect to furen.” Shen Rumei concealed her envious heart, pretend to kneel with pitiful looking.

Nie Wushuang did not help her up, just let her kneel, while smiling she lightly said, “Shen guniang, you can let go of the rituals. How are you adapting to the fu?”

“Very well, His Excellency is very kind to Rumei.” Shen Rumei looked up with a triumphant smile in her eyes.

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(10) Women in Tang Dynasty like to decorate their forehead by drawing or used golden ornaments if you decorated with gold it called 金钿 (jīn diàn), draw small dot on dimples called 妆靥 (zhuāng yè) or 面靥 (miàn yè), later dimples make up developed into another shape, draw oval shape like almond called 杏靥 (xìng yè), flowers shape called 花靥 (huā yè) even draw circle that have hole in the middle called 钱点 (qián diǎn). If you draw a dot on your cheek, called 靥钿 (yè diàn).

(11) 惊鸿舞 (Jīnghóngwǔ) Jinghong Dancing that is one of the well-known dance in Tang Dynasty. You can watch below.

(12) 天作之合 (tiān zuò zhī hé) a heaven-made match; a union made by heaven

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Chapter 6 Heartless man (1)

Mo Xiang quickly picked up and looked at the white-faced Nie Wushuang muttered comforting words “Furen, maybe its not…”

“It’s all right. I’ll see to it.” Nie Wushuang forced a smile, lifted her skirt and went outside.

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In the parlour, she saw her husband  who had had been ‘busy with a myriad of state affairs every day’ (8) fujun was holding a beautiful woman in his arms and muttering something…

“Xianggong, this is…” Her heart felt like a melting glacier…she barely smiled, but her eyes could not help staring at his slender hands holding the beauty.

Gu Qinghong turned his head, still smiling like the dawn, and his voice was as tender as ever: “Furen, this is Shen Rumei. She was the daughter of my former father’s colleagues. She was implicated in the case and accidentally occured to a brothel, so…”

“Furen, please take Rumei in. Rumei doesn’t want to be in the brothel. Although Rumei insists on living as a performer not selling myself, that place is filthy.  Rumei is willing to be a cow and a horse (9) for furen or will pay back the great kindness in the afterlife.

Shen Rumei cried like pear blossoms in the rain, kneeling to her but still clinging to Gu Qinghong’s side, while Gu Qinghong was comforting her. Unknowingly, she thought she was a wicked wife who did not support a loving couple.

Nie Wushuang looked coldly at shen rumei who cried for a long while. Seeing her still unperturbed, Shen Rumei felt embarrassed and sorrowful then cried even harder.

“Rumei, get up first. Lai Ren (someone), bring Shen guniang to rest.” Gu Qinghong lifted her up, Shen Rumei leaned on him, grasped his hand tightly, and looked at him piteously with beautiful eyes.

“Go ahead, I’ll see you later.” Gu Qinghong laughed tenderly, Shen Rumei looked at him shyly before she went out.

The parlour was quiet again. Nie Wushuang looked at the handsome man in front of her as if he was a stranger.

Gu Qinghong did not look at her eyes and said faintly: “Whether you are willing or not, I will marry her next month, Gu’s clan must have descendants.”

After he said the words, he left..

“Wait.” Nie Wushuang stopped him. From beginning to end, the play was going on so fast, and finished even faster, so fast that she didn’t even have time to be shocked.

“Is there any other matter?” Gu Qinghong turned around indifferently. There was no warmth in his beautiful black glaze eyes, but his face was still polite and graceful, which made her heart breaking.

“Xianggong,  didn’t you swear that you and I will love eachother until our hair turns white, one pair one lifetime…” Suddenly she could not speak further..

The oath was still in her ears, she remembered clearly, but he did not seem to remember.

Gu Qinghong was silent for a moment, then he smile lightly, his eyebrows were vivid, and his handsome voice said softly as before, “Do you still believe in these pleasing words?” He turned and walked away, leaving her alone.

‘Do you still believe that words?’ His words without kindness still rings in her ears, Nie Wushuang wanted to laugh, and finally, she could not help covering her face and sobs.

That night, for the first time in three years, he did not spend his night in her room but went to another woman’s room. She cried all night… looking at the darkness of night, this is the first time she felt that the night was long and boundless.

After that night, all the people in the prime minister’s fu knew that His Excellency had a new lover, and the wind changed slightly. All the people looked at her with strange eyes, and the former reverence was invisible.

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(8)日理万机 (rì lǐ wàn jī) means dealing with a host of problems every day.

(9) 做牛做马 (zuò niú zuò mǎ) work as a cow like a horse means be a slave for somebody.

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姑娘 (gū niang) Miss/girl

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Chapter 5 Lack of Love (2)

“His Majesty asked me to draw up a decree to recruit young talents of people from poor family to attend Imperial College at the beginning of next year, so I came back late.” Gu Qinghong took off his heavy official clothes and revealed the white single clothes inside. The figure is very beautiful, symmetrical and elegant, like a good painting.

Nie Wushuang rushed forward to unbutton his neck collar. He staggered, took a towel and began to wash his face and hands. Because he came from a poor family and did everything by himself, so when he was first married to her, he was not accustomed to her close service for a long time. He gradually acquiesced in her intimacy, but now…seemed to have alienated himself from her.

Nie Wushuang suppressed the discomfort in her heart, she joked, “It seems that His Majesty thinks highly of you. Let my father speak to the emperor on another day, not to  wear out our new Prime Minister so much.”

Gu Qinghong’s hand made a slight gesture of a sudden stop and sneered, “This is a small matters,  I dare not trouble my father-in-law.”

Nie Wushuang was only trying to make a joke, and did not expect to provoke him to be unhappy, so she dare not say anything anymore. But in her heart was slightly twisted and painful. Recently, gentle fujun seems to be easily angered.

She didn’t know what she had done wrong, formerly there weren’t any cases like this.

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She held back her heart and was intending to tell him about her pregnancy, but she saw that Gu Qinghong had already gone to bed. Nie Wushuang quietly walked over and sat down on the bed and gently pushed him.

“Xianggong, I have something to say to you.” She bit her lower lip with joy and anxious in her heart.

“Let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m tired.” He turned himself inside and soon fell asleep.

Nie Wushuang was sitting at the bedside, shed tears on her placket, it took a long time to get dressed and go to bed. He laid beside her with warm breathing, but she couldn’t remember how long it had been that he didn’t embrace her to sleep.

Next morning, when she got up, her side was empty as usual. Mo Xiang brought the basin in when she saw her eyes red and swollen, she was surprised: “Furen, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“It’s all right. I didn’t sleep well last night.” Nie Wushuang sat in front of the mirror, she saw the woman in the mirror looked haggard, her eyes slightly red and swollen.

“Did Lord hear that you are pregnant, so…” Mo Xiang wanted to make fun out of her, but when she saw her gloomy face, she dared not speak.

“Furen, Furen, Lord is back!” The servant and the mistress were talking instantly the voice of butler rank from outside.

“Lord is coming back?” Nie Wushuang was slightly surprised: “How did he come back at this time?” She smiled. Wouldn’t it be better to come back earlier?

“I know. I’ll dress up and go.” Nie Wushuang urged Mo Xiang to comb her hair, put makeup on her face. It was a big surprise that he came back so early today. That means she had time to get along with him and told him that she is pregnant…Nie Wushuang blushed, a touch of bright red floating on her cheeks, as delicate as peach blossoms.

“Furen, you are so beautiful today!” Mo Xiang combed her with a floating cloud bun (7), adorned with a few beads, looked simple and generous.

“Furen, Lord brought a woman back today.” The butler outside hesitated to speak.

Nie Wushuang trembled, the comb in her hand suddenly fell and split off into two halves, a good ivory comb could not bear the impact from falling.

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(7) 流云髻 (Liú yún jì) Ancient Chinese Hairstyle, Liu Yun means floating cloud, Ji means Bun. You can see in the picture that’s what it looks like.

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夫君 (fū jūn) a form of address for one’s husband; my husband

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Chapter 4 Lack of love (1)

A month ago, at night, the moonlight melted, the courtyard was silent.

“Furen, have an early rest. The Emperor called Xingguo into the palace to discuss state affairs. I am afraid he will not come back all night.” Mo Xiang protruded her lips and persuaded the woman who was sewing and mending at the table.

The woman sewed the last stitch, turned around and smiled and shook her head. “No, xianggong said he will come back tonight.”

Faint candlelight shines on her face, and how many times she saw her face, still cannot be recovered by her beauty.

The arched eyebrows, the milky white skin, the nose was straight, especially the beautiful eyes that were always watery, like a deep pool, was fascinating.

She is Nie Wushuang, the pearl in Nie’s clan’s palm and the only di daughter of Chancellor, the powerful man of Qi State.

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Three years ago, she pushed aside numerous matchmakers to propose marriage from the sons of high-ranking officials and insisted on marrying Gu Qinghong, a poor scholar who still went to the capital to compete in Imperial Examinations (5).

At that time, how many people made critics about her choice, but it was unexpected that a year later, Gu Qinghong made renown in overnight and became the Zhung Yuan(6). From then on, the emperor was more and more respected him, and the future was unlimited. In just three years, he became the youngest Prime Minister in the history of Qi State.

“Furen, if you don’t think about yourself but think for your child…” Mo Xiang had been recovering from Nie Wushuang’s beauty for a long time, she could not help but admonished.

Before she had finished, Nie Wushuang put a white jade finger upon her lips, and her soft face showed a pure and naughty expression: “Shh, don’t say anything, if Xianggong heard it, it would be no fun.”

Mo Xiang returned to her mind and nodded. “Nu Bi knows that furen wants to surprise His Excellency.” She grinned and retreated.

Nie Wushuang smiled and shook her head, and her hand involuntarily touched the flat abdomen.

She’s happy!

If there is any regret for the couple who have been in love with Gu Qinghong for three years, it was that she had no children so far.

She wanted to have a baby for him, but… Her clear eyes darkened. She doesn’t know if she’s too thoughtful. Recently, xianggong seems to be quite indifferent to her.

If she hadn’t invited him several times, he would have slept in his study almost every night for two months in a row. Ordinarily, if the newly appointed prime minister has a lot of affairs, but it seems that this should not be the case.

“Hiss!” She had so absorbed her thought that sudden a needle stuck into her finger when she did not pay attention to tidying up the needle and thread. Suddenly, beans size of blood oozed from her fingertip.

Her heart jumped and she looked at the bright red blood, a little alarmed.

Seeing the slight of blood, it’s bad luck!

“Furen.Why aren’t you sleep yet? Suddenly there were pleasant sounds by the door.  Nie Wushuang looked up with joy and saw Gu Qinghong standing by the door.

The night was very dark. He stood in the doorway. The moonlight outside the window seemed to pour down on him. It was easy to see his godly elegant demeanour at a glance. Sword eyebrows, eyes shone like stars, temples like knives cut, overall, he looked like an ink painting, beautiful, elegant, and convincing.

He is Qi’s youngest Prime Minister and the most brilliant talent. Currently, his thin lips with an invisible smile but cannot guess what his thoughts are, quietly leaning against the door looking at Nie Wushuang in the room.

Nie Wushuang quietly wiped the blood beads from her hand and greeted him with a smile and said, “Xianggong, why do you come back so late?” Her hand reached out to him but her fingertips were empty. He had quietly avoided her hand, did not show any expression and entered the room.

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(5) 科举 (kējǔ) Chinese Imperial Examination were a civil service examination system in Imperial China to select candidates for the state bureaucracy. Although there were imperial exams as early as the Han dynasty, the system became widely utilized as the major path to office only in the mid-Tang dynasty and remained so until its abolition in 1905. (from wiki)

(6) 状元 (zhuàngyuán) (Top thesis author) Number One Scholar, a title conferred on the one who came first in the highest score in the imperial examination. the second rank conferred 榜眼 (bǎngyǎn) Eyes positioned alongside and the third rank conferred 探花 (tànhuā) Flower snatcher.

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相公 (xiàng gong) a form of address for one’s husband; young man

奴婢 (nú bì) slaves and maid-servants address themselves

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Chapter 3 Gentleness as Poison

Nie Wushuang held her palms and her eyes were red. Her heart, as if it was stabbed repeatedly by a knife, was shredded to pieces.

It’s less than half an hour from the courtyard to the study. How can they boiled this steaming bowl of the abortifacient drug that quickly?

If this was not Shen Rumei’s trick, then there was only another possibility – that was, her gentle husband, she guessed.

It turned out that he already knew she was pregnant!

It turned out he wanted to break off their relationship in the first place!

“Lai Ren (3), hold her tight, and forced feed her !” Shen Rumei  impatiently shouted at servants to hold her and poured the medicine herself.

Nie Wushuang struggled desperately. The bitter medicine kept flowing into her mouth and nose. She was choking endlessly, but her hand was clamped. Until no more medicine was left.

The servants released Nie Wushuang and she fell to the ground. The hot medicine warmed her empty stomach, but she felt like being covered in snow and ice.

“My child…” She murmured silently and burst into tears.

“See it for yourself, this is the divorce letter given to you by His Excellency. Keep it well. Maybe some other man will take pity of you and take you in as a concubine. tsk.. tsk.. otherwise it’s a pity that you have such a beautiful appearance.” Shen Rumei took the divorce letter out from her front-side garments and gently covered Nie Wushuang’s face.

When the letter fell on the floor, she looked at it blankly. The words on the divorce letter were elegant and gentle as his. She never knew that there was a poison called – gentleness. Her lower abdomen cramps, but where it hurts more was her heart.

“Ah, I forgot to tell you. Nowadays, His Excellency was dedicating his time  to investigate and handling a big case that have caused rumour in the capital. It’s related to your Nie’s Clan too. Even, I, Rumei knows nothing about state affairs, but if I were you, I would go home and have a look”. Shen Rumei laughed out loud.

What if your appearance can caused and overthrows states and cities (4)? What if you had an incomparable talent? It’s not the same as stepping stone that man used to climb up. Now Nie’s Clan is collapsing.  Nie Wushuang should obediently step down from the position of Prime Minister’s furen. Maybe she would have the chance to climb up to the position that envied by many women in the whole Qi State. Shen Rumei thought with jealousy and haughtily staring at Nie Wushuang  who was dirty, but that still can not hide her beautiful appearance.

Nie Wushuang just stayed still and listened. She seemed stupid and couldn’t understand Shen Rumei’s sarcastic words.

“Well, throw her out. I don’t want to see this wretch.” Shen Rumei saw that she had no reaction, ordered the servants like she lacks of all interests.

The servants supported Nie Wushuang, opened the side door and pushed her out.

Once again, she fell heavily to the ground, and the door behind her was shut.  Did not know how long it took for Nie Wushuang to get up slowly. It was still cold in March. She embraced herself and slowly sat on the ground at the back door of Prime Minister’s fu.

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The coldness of the outside passed into her body, the drugs starts to give reactions, and a bursts of severe pain spreads in her stomach. She read the letter in her hand again, and then carefully folded it into her bosom.

She did these many times since she first met him, and when he wrote love poems for her. Every time she received it, she read it, and after kept them carefully.

It was unexpected that one day she would receive his own written divorce letter like this!

Am I dying? She closed her eyes and felt a warm heated things slipped out of her body. Blood slowly flowed out from her lower body.If she died, she would no longer feel pain.

If she died, she would not remember that he and she had sworn that they would never betray each other and never be separated forever.

She smiled and quietly closed her eyes…

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(3) 来人 (lái rén) means everyone who is standing around that area. (that can hear the voice) Don’t specific called who. E.g. “Lai ren, catch him” means everyone (that hear me) help (me) catch him.

(4) 倾国倾城 (qīng guó qīng chéng) means One’s beauty was such as to overthrow cities and ruin states.

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