Fish Meat – Chapter 228

by Little Panda

The Second Year of Shunde

Jointly Chasing The Lost Deer (24)

Ah Zhu hadn’t expected some people could be so utterly thick-skinned; this Ah Ling actually dared to come looking for them.

“Auntie Ah Zhu, I¹ truly have urgent business with Lady Wei, I hope Auntie can accommodate me,” Ah Xiang said with considerable sincerity. Ah Zhu, however, wasn’t buying it. She grabbed a broom and rushed out, bringing it down towards Ah Xiang’s head². If not for fear of revealing she knew martial arts, Ah Xiang would have loved to strike out and knock this fierce old woman to the ground, kicking her head in.

“Auntie Ah Zhu.”

Only after Ah Zhu had swept a headful of dust onto Ah Xiang did Wei Tingxu, surrounded by her maids, emerge and gently call Ah Zhu’s name. Panting, Ah Zhu stopped and retreated to Wei Tingxu’s side.

Ah Xiang knelt on the ground and performed three kowtows³ to Wei Tingxu. Wei Tingxu asked, “Miss Ah Ling, why perform such a grand ceremony?”

Ah Xiang said, “My Lady! A thousand wrongs, ten thousand wrongs, they are all my fault. But I have seen with my own eyes General Zhen’s sincere feelings for you, My Lady, and you understand it in your heart too! She is someone whose words are harsh but whose heart is soft. After the misunderstanding that day, she often felt remorseful. But the General is thin-skinned⁴ and couldn’t overcome her pride⁵, which is why she delayed coming to see you, My Lady. In truth, she thinks of you constantly. The General wishes to see you, My Lady, to talk things over properly.”

“Oh? She clearly knows I detest you, yet she sends you to invite me.” Wei Tingxu gave two cold laughs. “Truly painstaking effort⁶.”

Those words, “painstaking effort,” struck Ah Xiang’s heart, making the tip of it tremble.

Jiejie was indeed right. That Zhen Wenjun, though valiant and skilled in battle, with a mind for making money, had obvious weaknesses. Towards women, especially those seemingly weaker, her guard was lax, easily giving others an opportunity to exploit.

But Wei Tingxu was completely different.

Before setting out, Yao Zhaoyi had specifically warned her: “Although I haven’t faced Wei Tingxu directly, judging from how she assisted Li Yanyi in ascending the throne, then personally dragged Li Yanyi down to elevate the Young Emperor and cultivate the Wei family’s influence, this person’s calculating nature is unfathomable⁷. Zhen Wenjun might possess brute courage⁸, but Wei Tingxu’s heart is as deep as the sea. Whether we can control her is the key to success or failure. Ah Xiang, although you’ve been clever since childhood, you haven’t undergone specialized spy training. I fear…”

“Rest assured, Jiejie. You know I’ve always had the most mischievous ideas⁹ since we were young. Have I ever disappointed you?”

“Being a spy isn’t like our usual playing around; your life is in danger at any moment, and one careless mistake could implicate everyone. Not just the Yao family, but it also concerns the people of Da Yu. Ah Xiang, perhaps I shouldn’t be so selfish as to let you bear such a heavy burden.”

“Jiejie, I guarantee with my life, I will absolutely not rush things. I will proceed step by step and wait for the most opportune moment before making a move. No matter how formidable this Wei Tingxu is, she’s still human. As long as she’s human, she has the seven emotions and six desires, and I am confident I can handle her.” Ah Xiang grasped Yao Zhaoyi’s hand. “I swear on my life, I will absolutely, absolutely not let Jiejie down.”

Just as Yao Zhaoyi was about to speak, Ah Xiang added, “But Ah Xiang harbors no grand ambition for the realm. Everything Ah Xiang does is solely for Jiejie.”

Enduring humiliation now was only for Yao Zhaoyi.

Ah Xiang, her voice choked with tears, said, “I know I have offended you, My Lady, in many ways since I arrived at the military camp. But I merely wanted to find a place to belong in these chaotic times, to have clothes to wear and food to eat, so that even if I die one day, I might leave an intact corpse.” At this point, Ah Xiang raised her head to look at Wei Tingxu. “As for the General, I would never dare to covet her. The General and you, My Lady, are a perfect match made in heaven, a loving couple who can stand shoulder to shoulder. You, My Lady, conspire on great matters with the General and share a bond forged through trials and tribulations. How could I dare aspire to such heights? I have merely gained some pity from the General due to her kind heart. How could I possibly compare to you, My Lady? If you dislike me, My Lady, then however far you want me to stay away from the General in the future, I will stay that far. I will follow all your commands! I only beg you, My Lady, not to remain angry with the General any longer and cause her heartache.”

Wei Tingxu’s guardedness and disdain from her earlier sarcasm loosened slightly after Ah Xiang’s active self-deprecation. Ah Xiang looked up intently, partly to show sincerity, and partly to better observe Wei Tingxu’s expression.

Finally, she saw the woman’s guard relax.

This woman, accustomed to winning, liked the subservient posture of others bowing and scraping¹⁰ before her.

Ah Xiang smiled inwardly and continued:

“The General asked me to come in her stead to invite you, My Lady, to the camp for a meeting. This both preserves the General’s dignity¹¹ and can alleviate the General’s pain of longing for you day and night. The General has also specially prepared food and wine to apologize to you, My Lady. Please, My Lady, do not betray the General’s earnest efforts¹².”

Given Ah Zhu’s age, how could she not see that although this Ah Ling claimed repeatedly¹³ to be thinking of the Lady and the Madam, implicitly¹⁴, every single word was driving a wedge between the two? She could see it, but feared her Lady was blinded by her involvement¹⁵.

She and the maids all looked at Wei Tingxu. Based on her understanding of her Lady, she wouldn’t cool down this quickly; she would need to vent her anger several more times, and Zhen Wenjun would have to personally coax her eight hundred times before she might temporarily suppress her temper.

Indeed, Wei Tingxu paid her no further attention and walked past her, heading outside.

Ah Xiang, still kneeling, turned her head and called out, “My Lady, does this mean you agree?! The General will send someone to fetch you tonight!”

Ah Xiang returned from the city to the main camp and found Zhen Wenjun. She reported that she had knelt outside Wei Tingxu’s courtyard gate in the city for a long time, being beaten and scolded by her maids, and in the end, Wei Tingxu gave no clear answer.

“Those maids also said… also said…” Ah Xiang hesitated.

“What did they say?” Zhen Wenjun pressed.

“They also said unless the General personally pours tea¹⁶ and kowtows to Lady Wei to admit fault, forget Lady Wei, even they wouldn’t easily forgive the General…”

Zhen Wenjun burst into laughter upon hearing this, then promptly crushed the wine cup in her hand. “Kowtow and admit fault? What fault do I have? Simply laughable! Who does she think she is? A bunch of ignorant village…¹⁷ relying on their master’s power to bully others¹⁸!” She had intended to say “village women” but stopped herself.

Ah Xiang knew Zhen Wenjun was being considerate of her status, afraid the term “village woman” might inadvertently offend her.

Ah Xiang gave a soft smile, gathered the shards from the ground, and tidied up. “General, you promised Ah Ling you wouldn’t get angry anymore tonight, no matter what. Making up with Lady Wei is what matters. Although Ah Ling is foolish, she knows the General still needs to cooperate side-by-side with Lady Wei right now. Even if Ah Ling suffers more grievances or even physical pain¹⁹, she doesn’t want to make things difficult for the General. As long as the General knows what Ah Ling has done for her, Ah Ling’s death would be worthwhile.”

Zhen Wenjun said, “You have truly been wronged.”

Ah Xiang helped prepare a full table of dishes, bustling about, and even scalded her hand. Zhen Wenjun sent people to fetch Wei Tingxu, but after waiting a long time, no one returned. She sent more people to hurry them, and only when all the food had grown cold did Wei Tingxu and her entourage finally arrive late.

When they entered the tent, Zhen Wenjun stared irritably at Wei Tingxu. Wei Tingxu didn’t look at her the entire time, seating herself at the table.

Ah Xiang busily forced smiles, saying the food was cold and she would heat it up immediately, very quickly.

Ah Xiang bustled back and forth while Zhen Wenjun and Wei Tingxu sat opposite each other, looking at one another.

Ah Zhu stood beside Wei Tingxu without moving an inch, not daring to lose focus for a second. She didn’t know how much bewitching soup²⁰ that vile creature²¹ had fed Zhen Wenjun, making her act so senselessly! How could her gaze be so sharp and resentful towards the Lady? What did this mean? She herself was flirting²² indiscreetly with that foxy slut²³, and our Lady hasn’t felt wronged, yet she feels wronged? Ah Zhu hid a rolling pin behind her back. If Zhen Wenjun dared to act foolishly, she would definitely not be polite; she would risk her old life to make Zhen Wenjun understand that the Wei family’s way had never been to compromise for peace²⁴.

The two locked gazes for a long moment before Wei Tingxu lightly shifted her eyes away, avoiding the resentment opposite her.

“So much has happened recently, I was indeed partly wrong. But are you saying you bear no fault at all?” Zhen Wenjun was getting agitated, her tone becoming harsh and unrestrained.

Wei Tingxu still didn’t look at her.

“You…” Just as Zhen Wenjun was about to speak again, Ah Zhu slammed the rolling pin down—Thump!—on the table, startling her.

“General Zhen, our Lady coming to the military camp tonight already gives you great face. Don’t bully our Lady just because you have some strength²⁵. Even if I²⁶ don’t know martial arts, I will risk this old life to protect the Lady completely. May I ask, General, do you still care even a little for our Lady? Is the life and death experienced with our Lady in the past less important in your eyes than some wild thing²⁷ of unknown origin? How has the Lady treated you, General? Ask your own conscience²⁸! How much has the Lady done for you over the years, and how much suffering has she endured! Yet you dare to argue right and wrong with our Lady? It seems faithlessness and ingratitude²⁹ are not exclusive to men; it is truly disheartening³⁰!”

Seeing Ah Zhu speak these words, Zhen Wenjun’s mouth twitched violently. She lowered her head, hiding her face.

“Hmph.” Seeing she still knew grief and remorse, Ah Zhu didn’t press her advantage³¹ and temporarily retracted the rolling pin.

“Coming, coming, sorry to keep you all waiting.” Ah Xiang quickly reheated all the dishes and brought them back to the table. She sat down beside Zhen Wenjun and began introducing each dish to Wei Tingxu, her chopsticks never stopping as she continuously placed food into Wei Tingxu’s bowl, piling it into a small mountain. Yet Wei Tingxu didn’t lift her own chopsticks once.

Wei Tingxu maintained a sullen expression³² from beginning to end, making the atmosphere in the tent incredibly awkward.

Ah Xiang smiled until her cheek muscles ached, urging her countless times, but Wei Tingxu remained like a stone statue—not looking, not acknowledging, not eating, not speaking.

“Since you came, yet you neither eat nor speak, why did you come at all!” Zhen Wenjun, who had been looking down, lost in thought, suddenly exploded with sky-high anger. General Zhen, usually gentle most of the time, was terrifying enough when enraged to make those around her tremble.

“Hey, hey, General!” Ah Xiang tugged at her sleeve under the table, whispering, “You promised me you’d make up with Lady Wei! Why are you throwing a tantrum again? For Ah Ling’s sake, endure it!”

Zhen Wenjun held back her anger and said no more.

Ah Xiang filled a bowl with hot soup, stood up, and personally offered it to Wei Tingxu. “Perhaps the dishes aren’t to your liking, My Lady. Then how about drinking some soup to warm yourself? Although the weather is warming, it’s still a bit cool. Ah Ling knows you are sensitive to cold, My Lady, so I specially prepared this soup for you. Please drink some.”

Wei Tingxu still didn’t move.

“My Lady…” Ah Xiang, her face plastered with a smile, forcefully pushed the bowl forward. Unexpectedly, Wei Tingxu raised her hand and flipped it, knocking the scalding soup all over Ah Xiang. Ah Xiang cried out, “Ah!” stumbling backward, her wrist instantly turning red from the burn.

“General… General!” Ah Xiang sobbed, tears blurring her vision as she burrowed into Zhen Wenjun’s embrace. Before Zhen Wenjun could speak, Ah Xiang grabbed her hand and shoved her own scalded arm in front of Zhen Wenjun. “Don’t blame Lady Wei, she didn’t mean it!”

Wei Tingxu: “I did mean it.”

Zhen Wenjun: “Whatever anger you have, direct it at me! What skill is there in venting your anger on Ah Ling, who lacks the strength even to tie up a chicken!”

Wei Tingxu: “Speaking of lacking the strength to tie up a chicken, who here doesn’t?”

Zhen Wenjun pointed at her, a vein popping on her forehead. “Wei Zizhuo, even if you can’t lift with your hands or carry with your shoulders, with a malicious heart like yours, you’re more formidable than anyone!”

Ah Zhu: “What did you say!”

“You heard what I said, unless you’re deaf.”

Ah Zhu: “Zhen Wenjun! You know our Lady never eats food prepared outside!”

“I advise you to think carefully before yelling at me. As long as Wei Zizhuo and I haven’t formally separated, you are our family slave! Who allowed you to call my name directly! Wei Zizhuo indeed treated me well, but ask your precious Lady why she treated me well! Out of ten parts of her affection for me, were even three parts genuine? The words ‘faithless and ungrateful’—with your Lady present, how could I, Zhen Wenjun, dare accept them! Compared to your Lady, even a heart of snakes and scorpions could be considered a description of a kind person!”

The maids cried out, “General Zhen, have you gone mad!”

Wei Tingxu also raised her voice, “Let her speak, let her speak! Holding it in for so long must have been difficult for her. I know you’ve endured for a long time. Why not take tonight to settle the scores³³ between us completely? Better than harboring resentment when we part ways³⁴ later.”

“You think all the ways you schemed against me can be settled with mere words?!”

“Then what do you propose?”

Zhen Wenjun whipped a dagger from her waist and threw it—Thwack!—embedding it in the tabletop, startling everyone into taking a step back.

“What you did to me, I can disregard entirely. But I can never forgive you for harming my Ah Mu. You know full well³⁵ what you did to my Ah Mu that day.”

“Oh? Are you asking me to cut off my own finger to repay your Ah Mu?”

Zhen Wenjun sneered, “Cutting off others’ fingers is easy; cutting your own is naturally hard.”

Wei Tingxu sneered even louder and snatched up the dagger.

Zhen Wenjun and Ah Xiang’s eyes widened simultaneously. Ah Zhu cried out and lunged forward, “My Lady, don’t foolishly harm yourself!”

Ah Zhu grabbed the dagger. The maids also swarmed forward, clinging to Wei Tingxu, locking her arms and legs, nearly putting her in a chokehold, crying and shouting, “My Lady, you mustn’t! Don’t harm yourself!”

Ah Zhu seized the opportunity to wrest the dagger away. As she got a firm grip on it, she realized it was pointing directly at Zhen Wenjun.

Zhen Wenjun’s personal guards had been protecting her nearby. Seeing the blade suddenly turned towards their general, they instantly surged forward—Swish!—more than ten burly men armed with long sabers completely surrounded Ah Zhu. Ah Zhu’s face turned pale.

“Who dares act presumptuously!” In that instant, just as Ah Zhu and Wei Tingxu were surrounded, the tent roof was ripped apart—Rip!—and sixteen Wei family secret guards descended uniformly from the sky, nearly bursting the crowded tent. In the crush, someone’s blade scraped against an opponent’s arm, and instantly, fighting broke out. The scene became utterly chaotic.

Ah Xiang had finally waited for this day.

Heavens, after more than three months, nearly a hundred days of planning, Zhen and Wei had finally, thoroughly fallen out.

The fight lasted into the latter half of the night. The main army still had to set out for a long campaign tomorrow; nothing could happen tonight that might disrupt the army’s morale. Zhen Wenjun forcefully separated the two sides and left, filled with rage.

No one slept well that night. Ah Xiang, especially, was too excited to fall asleep.

Word came that Wei Tingxu had left.

Wei Tingxu led the Wei family troops out of the camp in the middle of the night. She didn’t tell Zhen Wenjun where they were going, revealed nothing, leaving completely and cleanly with the ruthless determination of a clean break, never to meet again³⁶.

When Bu Jie came to report this to Zhen Wenjun, Ah Xiang was still in her tent. Bu Jie glanced at her, but Zhen Wenjun told him to speak freely.

After hearing the report, Zhen Wenjun said, “Let her go then. I’ve had enough too. I refuse to believe that I, Zhen Wenjun, can’t survive without her.”

Footnotes

妾 | qiè | A self-deprecating way for women to refer to themselves in older contexts, indicating lower status.
劈頭蓋臉 | pītóu gàiliǎn | Lit. “splitting the head and covering the face”; Describing an attack coming directly and overwhelmingly at the head and face.
叩了三個頭 | kòule sān ge tóu | The act of kneeling and touching one’s forehead to the ground three times as a sign of deep respect or supplication.
面皮薄 | miànpí bó | Lit. “face skin thin”; Easily embarrassed, sensitive about reputation or ‘face’.
抹不開面子 | mǒ bù kāi miànzi | Lit. “unable to wipe open face”; Unable to get over embarrassment or pride to do something.
用心良苦 | yòngxīn liángkǔ | Lit. “use heart, very bitter”; To put in considerable effort out of good intentions (often used ironically, as here, to imply ulterior motives).
城府深不可測 | chéngfǔ shēn bùkě cè | Lit. “city walls and government residences deep and unmeasurable”; Describes someone with deep scheming abilities, whose thoughts are impossible to fathom.
匹夫之勇 | pǐfū zhī yǒng | Lit. “courage of a common man”; Reckless bravery without strategy or wisdom.
鬼主意 | guǐ zhǔyi | Lit. “ghost ideas”; Clever tricks, mischievous or cunning plans.
卑躬屈膝 | bēi gōng qū xī | Lit. “low body, bent knees”; Bowing and scraping; describes excessive subservience or servility.
顏面 | yánmiàn | Lit. “face”; Dignity, reputation, social standing.
一片苦心 | yī piàn kǔxīn | Lit. “a slice of bitter heart”; Refers to painstaking effort made out of good intentions, often unappreciated or misunderstood.
口口聲聲 | kǒukou shēngshēng | Lit. “mouth mouth sound sound”; To say repeatedly, to claim constantly (often implying insincerity).
話裏話外 | huà lǐ huà wài | Lit. “inside words outside words”; Between the lines, implicitly.
當局者迷 | dāngjúzhě mí | Lit. “the player is confused”; The person directly involved in a situation is often unable to see it clearly (whereas旁觀者清 ‘pángguānzhě qīng’ – the bystander sees clearly).
斟茶 | zhēn chá | To pour tea; often a gesture of respect or apology.
村… | cūn… | Unfinished word. Likely intended to be 村婦 (cūnfù), meaning ‘village woman’, a derogatory term for an uncultured hick.
狗仗人勢 | gǒu zhàng rén shì | Lit. “dog relies on human’s power”; To bully others based on the power or influence of one’s backer.
皮肉之苦 | píròu zhī kǔ | Lit. “skin and flesh suffering”; Physical pain or hardship, corporal punishment.
迷魂湯 | míhúntāng | Lit. “bewitching soul soup”; Metaphor for words or actions that charm, confuse, or manipulate someone, making them lose their judgment.
賤蹄子 | jiàn tízi | Lit. “cheap/lowly hoof”; A vulgar and derogatory term for a woman, akin to ‘slut’ or ‘bitch’.
眉來眼去 | méi lái yǎn qù | Lit. “eyebrows come eyes go”; To exchange flirtatious glances.
狐媚賤蹄子 | húmèi jiàn tízi | Lit. “fox-charming cheap hoof”; Extremely vulgar insult combining ‘foxy’ (seductress) with ‘jiàn tízi’.
委曲求全 | wěiqū qiúquán | Lit. “bend grievance seek complete”; To compromise, swallow humiliation, or make concessions for the sake of preserving harmony or achieving a larger goal.
仗着自己手腳上有些力氣 | zhàngzhe zìjǐ shǒujiǎo shàng yǒuxiē lìqi | Lit. “relying on one’s own hands and feet having some strength”.
奴 | nú | Slave/servant; a self-deprecating term used by servants when addressing superiors.
來路不明的野蹄子 | láilù bùmíng de yě tízi | Lit. “wild hoof of unknown origin”; A highly derogatory term, implying Ah Xiang is uncivilized, possibly illegitimate, and of suspicious background.
扪心自問 | mén xīn zì wèn | Lit. “pat heart ask self”; To examine one’s conscience.
薄情寡恩 | bóqíng guǎ’ēn | Lit. “thin feelings, little grace”; Faithless, ungrateful, lacking affection and kindness.
寒心 | hánxīn | Lit. “chill heart”; To be bitterly disappointed, disheartened.
得理不饒人 | dé lǐ bù ráo rén | Lit. “attain reason not forgive person”; To be unforgiving even when one is in the right; pushy or aggressive when justified.
板着一張臭臉 | bǎnzhe yī zhāng chòu liǎn | Lit. “holding a stinky face”; To wear a long, sullen, or angry expression.
恩怨 | ēnyuàn | Lit. “kindness and resentment”; Favors and grudges, the sum of past interactions both good and bad; scores to settle.
分道揚镳 | fēn dào yáng biāo | Lit. “separate roads, raise carriage shafts”; To part ways, go separate directions (often due to disagreement).
心中有數 | xīn zhōng yǒu shù | Lit. “in heart have number”; To know something well, be fully aware of the situation.
一拍兩散江湖不見 | yī pāi liǎng sàn jiānghú bù jiàn | Lit. “one clap two scatter, jianghu not see”; A combination of two idioms. 一拍兩散 (yī pāi liǎng sàn) means to break up immediately/clean break. 江湖不見 (jiānghú bù jiàn) means ‘won’t meet again in the Jianghu (world/martial arts world)’, signifying a definitive parting of ways.

Footnotes

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