Fish Meat – Chapter 178
by Little PandaThe Fourth Year of Zhao Wu
Double Silk Net (13)
Wei Tingxu’s delicate hands were already red from being rubbed when they were released. She folded them on her thighs, hiding them behind the table while opening and closing them to ease the pain.
“When doing such pointless things, one must consider the consequences.” Zhen Wenjun watched as the crowd slowly drifted away following Li Yanyi’s footsteps. She lifted her wine cup for a drink, gazing forward as if speaking to the vessel itself.
As the pain gradually subsided from Wei Tingxu’s reddened palms, she heard Zhen Wenjun’s words and smiled: “Compared to Ah Xi’s beaten bottom, receiving General Zhen’s gentle massage at less than one-tenth strength seems like I got the better deal.”
Zhen Wenjun plucked a crystal-clear grape and slowly placed it in her mouth:
“Since when does the Secretariat Director only look at immediate benefits? You can have that Maritime and Terrain Commander if you want, but Cao Fei from Yanxing is truly a rare talent found once in a thousand li. Secretariat Director has wanted to recruit him for a long time, hasn’t she? Unfortunately, he despises how your Wei family slaughters the qingliu officials, having once publicly denounced the Wei family as wolves in official robes. Even if you personally visited him from thousands of li away, you’d only face a closed door. Now that he’s in my service, Secretariat Director shouldn’t be envious.”
Wei Tingxu’s smile indeed stiffened slightly at the mention of “Cao Fei.”
“So you had people following me.”
“Who could possibly track the cunning Secretariat Director? It’s just that when I returned to Runing days ago, Ah Zhu came to Ji Xue Mansion to find me, bringing local products from Yanxing, saying the mistress missed me and wanted me to visit more often. Your mother isn’t one who likes to travel far, and with Lord Wei seriously ill with family attending to him, a journey to Yanxing must have been for important business. Yanxing is most famous for the scholar Cao Fei. With the current complex central power structure, everyone wants to quickly expand their influence and strengthen their advisory team. I guessed you had your eye on Cao Fei and wanted to recruit him as a strategist. Those local products were what you brought back from Yanxing.”
“Your thinking is rather too scattered.”
“It doesn’t matter. Even if you have no interest in Cao Fei, it only proves you’re blind to talent. This man is a rare treasure, whoever can recruit him will control the situation.”
Wei Tingxu sighed: “General Zhen is truly calculating with divine precision, even guessing that I went to find Cao Fei. However, Bu Jie only departed last night. When General Zhen arrived at Yijing Garden, Bu Jie probably hadn’t even seen Cao Fei’s face yet. How can you claim he’s already in your service? Though he despises our Wei family, this man has always prided himself on his lofty principles, and even if the General eliminated the Zhuxie Cult, he wouldn’t join the General just because of Bu Jie’s silver tongue. Aren’t you afraid of tripping over such lies?”
“You’re the one who had people following me.”
“Yes, correct.” Wei Tingxu shamelessly admitted, “That’s exactly what a wolf in official robes should do.”
Zhen Wenjun hadn’t looked at Wei Tingxu the entire time, and now she could barely resist giving her a fierce glare.
The two were so absorbed in exposing and countering each other that they hadn’t even noticed when Li Yanyi left. Only when the overly boisterous laughter of a group nearly shattered the flower petals of Yijing Garden did they shift their attention from each other to the scene nearby.
After Li Yanyi’s departure, a female student from the Imperial Academy had stayed behind to seek guidance about officialdom from the ministers. However, after just a few casual exchanges and her self-introduction, the officials surrounding her found their angle for mockery.
“Oh? So you’re from Nanya? They say Nanya is close to Sudu, similar to the song-and-dance-loving Guqiang people. They can dance gracefully to any tune.”
The female student laughed awkwardly: “Not all Nanya people are skilled in song and dance, I…”
Her words were abruptly cut off. The speaker, completely disregarding what she was saying, pointed at her with a folded fan and called back to the musicians: “Play something lively, let our Imperial Academy newcomer perform for everyone!”
The female student’s face flushed red. Originally, she had been chosen by the Son of Heaven, traveling alone from Nanya to Runing to study, precisely because she had heard about the first female official in the central government. Her long-held dream of women being able to enter the Imperial Academy finally had a chance to be realized, and she was especially excited. Even though her entire family opposed it, she had overcome countless difficulties to travel thousands of li to be here. At this time when the Emperor was supporting women and humble families, she had gathered her courage to come to the unfamiliar and complex Runing with a humble heart for learning. Unexpectedly, as soon as the Emperor left, she was publicly humiliated – a harsh awakening that filled her with shame and anger, making her want to turn and flee.
Seeing the Deputy Minister of Protocol and County Magistrate joining in the commotion, the musician didn’t want to spoil the mood, lest he bring trouble upon himself. Just as he had inserted the plectrum and was about to start playing, a woman’s voice rang out clearly:
“If Minister He wants to see dancing, this humble official can bring back those songstresses from before. Why trouble a female student who came to the capital to study?”
The musician looked up to see that female general who had suppressed the bandits standing before the Imperial Academy student. Though her face bore a smile and her tone was peaceful, her protective stance toward the student was absolutely firm.
As Minister He glanced at Zhen Wenjun, contemplating how to respond, Vanguard Commander Cang Yu, who stood a head taller than Zhen Wenjun, stepped forward with a thunderous voice:
“Ah! General Zhen’s words are such a mood killer. Today is your victory celebration feast, let’s not talk about studying and such trifling matters – we’re here for everyone’s enjoyment! Men and women each have their strengths! To be happy, we should display our respective talents! We men just demonstrated our brilliant poetry composition, and you women, well, you’re good at singing and dancing. Usually when young ladies gather, they sing and dance merrily – why put on such strange airs of propriety today?”
Cang Yu’s words clearly carried provocative intentions. Zhen Wenjun had long known there were those in court who couldn’t stand female officials. Even in this fourth year of Zhao Wu, they still believed women serving as officials was an upheaval of natural order. Yet they lacked the courage to speak directly, only daring to make such roundabout insults once the Emperor had left.
Zhen Wenjun remained calm and composed: “Since Commander Cang enjoys liveliness so much, how dare we disappoint? Rather than dancing and singing, why not engage in some sword play for entertainment?”
Cang Yu laughed heartily: “Is General Zhen suggesting a duel with me? General shouldn’t underestimate me. Though I’m just a mere commander, I trained under renowned masters and have fought countless battles, a hardened warrior with many victories. This commander’s rank was earned with my life on the battlefield. Unlike those bandit rabble from the Zhuxie Cult. Blades show no mercy – what if General Zhen gets hurt…”
Before Cang Yu could finish speaking, two gleaming swords came flying toward them. Startled, he hurriedly caught one. As Zhen Wenjun gripped her sword, she glanced back to see it was Wei Tingxu who had thrown them.
Wei Tingxu, having taken swords from Yijing Garden’s guards, said: “If we want excitement, let’s go all out. Though my wife may not have trained under renowned masters like the Commander, she is still a general personally appointed by Her Majesty. Commander, please don’t hold back – show us your finest skills, let us all enjoy the spectacle.” Without waiting for Cang Yu’s response, she turned to Minister He: “But a sword match alone might be too plain. Minister He, shall we each wager one thousand liang [ε © | liang β 50g silver]? Regardless of who wins, the stakes will be donated to disaster victims in the northwest.”
Just as Minister He raised his fan to speak, Wei Tingxu exclaimed as if suddenly realizing something: “Ah yes, what can two thousand liang accomplish? The amount is probably too small for the Minister’s taste. Let’s raise it to five thousand liang then – at least that can ensure half a county’s disaster victims have hot soup to drink.”
Cang Yu turned to look at Minister He, hesitation visible on both their faces.
“Commander, watch my sword!” Before Zhen Wenjun’s words faded, her sharp blade was already pointing at Cang Yu’s face. He hastily raised his sword to block. With a loud “clang”, sword light scattered as Cang Yu was forced to stumble backward by Zhen Wenjun’s merciless strike, nearly falling over. Minister He and the others hurriedly scattered to avoid being knocked down.
The tiger’s mouth of Cang Yu’s sword hand was numbed by that strike – how could he have imagined a woman would possess such strength!
While still shocked, Zhen Wenjun delivered two lightning-fast cuts to his upper arm, a position neither too high nor too low that was most difficult to defend. Cang Yu barely managed to block them, but Zhen Wenjun changed her technique again, thrusting her sword upward toward his chin. Cang Yu, pale with fright, fell onto his bottom as his sword was sent flying high, landing with a “hong” just an inch from Minister He’s toes. Minister He was scared white as paper, his folded fan clattering to the ground.
Within three moves, Cang Yu’s weapon had been dispatched, suffering an utterly humiliating defeat. Zhen Wenjun, neither flushed nor breathless, as if nothing had happened, quietly brought her sword behind her back while extending her other hand toward Cang Yu:
“I appreciate your yielding.”
Having been so easily defeated, Cang Yu’s face was already on the ground – any further outburst would only make him appear more pathetic.
He didn’t take Zhen Wenjun’s hand, instead standing up on his own and cupping his hands in respect: “General Zhen truly lives up to her reputation. This humble official accepts defeat wholeheartedly.”
Having suffered such a loss, Minister He, Cang Yu, and their group had no face to continue causing trouble and wanted to leave quickly. Wei Tingxu called after them:
“Minister He, shall we put those five thousand liang in writing? Tomorrow this official will send someone to your residence to collect it?”
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, having started this himself, Minister He could only accept his bitter loss. He hastily wrote out the agreement, threw down his brush, and left in anger.
Other officials came forward to toast Zhen Wenjun, praising her martial prowess as the glory of Da Yu.
Most were sensible people who understood for whom today’s victory feast was held and who the protagonist was.
The female student from the Imperial Academy also came forward with a wine cup to toast Zhen Wenjun. She introduced herself as Yin, childhood name Ah Cang, from the Yin family of Nanya.
“General probably hasn’t heard of us – our Yin family isn’t even considered wealthy in Nanya. Today, having the chance to study in Runing’s central government is truly my greatest fortune in three lifetimes. Thanks to the Emperor’s blessing, and because the General and Secretariat Director pioneered the way as female officials, giving Da Yu’s women the courage to step out of their inner chambers and pursue their ideals and ambitions. I’ve long wanted to witness your bearing, and seeing you today truly proves your reputation. You two are like perfectly matched zither strings [ιΌη΄η | gu qinse | metaphor for perfect harmony], sharing hearts and minds – truly enviable! If I could become a great vessel of state like you both, and find such a close female companion, I would have no regrets in this life!”
Ah Cang’s sentiments were genuinely heartfelt, but in her excitement, she spoke so loudly it made Zhen Wenjun’s ears hurt. She smiled awkwardly and said: “It’s late, you should go rest early.”
“The General is right! Resting early means we can wake early tomorrow to study and practice writing to achieve our ambitions! Many classmates at the Imperial Academy greatly admire you both. If possible, could you come give lectures to the female students? We have so many questions we want to ask you!”
While Zhen Wenjun was still hesitating, Wei Tingxu, standing beside her, had already agreed with a beaming smile. Zhen Wenjun glanced at her, and Wei Tingxu looked quite innocent, saying softly:
“Surely you wouldn’t want to destroy a learning opportunity for future pillars of the state?”
Ah Cang left, and as Zhen Wenjun was about to leave too, Wei Tingxu called her to stand together at the entrance.
“What for?”
“What for? Naturally to receive congratulatory gifts as the officials take their leave.”
“Gifts?”
“This is the custom of Da Yu’s officialdom. Since you don’t understand, let me teach you.”
“How can we accept such gifts!”
“Why not? Do you think that tiny salary from the Emperor is enough to feed and clothe an entire household? If you feel guilty, we can split whatever we receive half and half.”
Zhen Wenjun: “…”
Zhen Wenjun didn’t care about the gifts – those currying-favor presents could all go to Wei Tingxu for all she cared. But she had already offended Minister He and his group tonight, so she couldn’t afford to slight the faces of others.
Offending Minister He didn’t cause Zhen Wenjun any regret, as she maintained a clear head.
She knew that Yin Ah Cang was someone Li Yanyi would definitely promote, likely to become the female official most favored by the Emperor in the future, and would become one of Da Yu’s core strengths.
The two stood at the entrance like a model wife-and-wife pair, bidding farewell to each official one by one, with all the congratulatory gifts being piled onto Wei Tingxu’s carriage.
After everyone had left Yijing Garden, Zhen Wenjun and Wei Tingxu, without exchanging words or even glancing at each other, turned and boarded their respective carriages, carrying their exhaustion home under the cover of night.
Sprawled in her carriage lost in thought, Zhen Wenjun noticed something amiss as the carriage rolled forward. She called out to the driver asking where they were headed.
The driver replied: “Taking the General back to Zhuo Jun Mansion.”
“Zhuo Jun Mansion? When did I order you to go to Zhuo Jun Mansion?”
“General didn’t give the order – it was the Son of Heaven.”
“…”
“The Son of Heaven has already relocated the General’s entire family to Zhuo Jun Mansion. Her Majesty said that since the General just got married and returned victorious to the capital, you must miss your wife dearly, so starting tonight you should return to Zhuo Jun Mansion.”
Li Yanyi had long advised her to play her part thoroughly, but despite Zhen Wenjun’s three months of avoidance, she couldn’t escape it.
Not wanting to trouble the driver, Zhen Wenjun waved her hand – if she had to go, so be it.
Li Yanyi had shown some consideration by having her return to Zhuo Jun Mansion rather than the newlywed residence. Although the Secretariat Director’s new marital residence was right next to Zhuo Jun Mansion, at least there was a wall between them, so she wouldn’t have to see Wei Tingxu every day.
Only when she entered Zhuo Jun Mansion did she realize how naive she’d been.
The two thick walls and the blue brick path between Zhuo Jun Mansion and the Secretariat Director’s residence had been demolished and transformed into an exquisite lotus pond. Zhen Wenjun stood dumbfounded after entering past the spirit wall [η §ε£ | zhaobi | decorative wall] at Zhuo Jun Mansion’s main gate.
Through the lotus pond, one could clearly see the dense and elegant bamboo grove of the Secretariat Director’s residence. Wei Tingxu sat by the lotus pond, fishing rod in hand, leisurely fishing in the night air.
“We meet again, General Zhen.” Wei Tingxu smiled sweetly, “What a coincidence.”
Zhen Wenjun: “…”
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