Fish Meat – Chapter 264
by Little PandaLi Yanyi x Ah Xin [Welfare Extra]1
I only wish that my qingqing2 is happy year after year, not knowing sorrow.
At the end of the third year of Shenchu3, a blizzard struck the capital, and Runing was a sheet of silver-white.
Li Yanyi had been coughing for seven days and still showed no signs of getting better, and to make matters worse, it started snowing again. The more she looked at this snow scene, the more she thought of that person, and the more she thought of that person, the more vexed her heart became.
“You and I, from now on, our grace is broken and our affection is severed4.”
This was what Ah Xin had told her with her own mouth. Not only did she say it, but she also cut off a lock of her black hair5 in front of her to show her determination.
That lock of black hair Li Yanyi placed into a begonia brocade pouch6. Ah Xin said they would never see each other again from now on, but Li Yanyi insisted on keeping her hair hidden close to her body.
Full of sorrow while ill7, Li Yanyi had someone release the news that the Eldest Princess8 was gravely ill and would be difficult to cure. This rumor was delivered by 800-li express9 to the ears of Ah Xin, who was far away in Nanya.
When Ah Xin heard of this matter, her eyes didn’t even blink.
Her Li Yanyi could slay assassins even in her dreams; how could a mere common cold10 possibly take her life? It was clearly the snow in Runing that made her recall past events——back when they were still together, whenever it snowed, Ah Xin would always build a snowman for her.
Li Yanyi spread these words simply because she wanted her to go back and continue their past connection.
To act spoiled11 from a thousand li away, who would bother with this boring Eldest Princess.
What’s more, they no longer had any relationship.
On this side, Ah Xin ignored the “rumor”; on that side, Li Yanyi coughed and coughed and then got better, completely losing the chance to be dramatic, without even seeing a shadow of Ah Xin.
The Eldest Princess’s cough got better, but her temperament became even worse, like this season of melting snow, both cold and gloomy.
One early morning, when the first lunar month12 was about to end, Li Yanyi suddenly saw that a white, roundish snowman had appeared out of thin air in the rear courtyard of Huaichen Manor.
Li Yanyi was stunned for a moment, then immediately scanned her surroundings. There was no trace of Ah Xin.
Walking up to the snowman, she saw it had a lovable, simple-minded appearance, exactly the look she was most familiar with and fondest of.
On the snowman’s hands, which were made of tree branches, hung a packet of medicine—Chinese medicine13 to stop coughing.
Li Yanyi held the ice-cold Chinese medicine, only feeling that the new year was icy cold, but the old love was like fire.
She gazed at the jade-blue sky that was as if washed clean, and murmured in a low voice: “A floating life14 has how many springs, I only wish that my qingqing is happy year after year, not knowing sorrow.”
Footnotes
- 福利番外 | fúlì fānwài | Literally “welfare extra story.” In the context of web novels, this refers to a bonus chapter or side story released by an author outside of the main plot, often as a special treat or “fan service” for the readers.
- 卿卿 | qīng qīng | An intimate and affectionate term of endearment, similar to “darling” or “my dear.” Historically used between spouses or lovers of high status, it conveys deep fondness and intimacy. Its repetition (‘qing qing’) enhances the affectionate tone.
- 神初 | shén chū | Literally “Divine Beginning.” This is a fictional era name (年号 | niánhào). In imperial China, emperors proclaimed era names to designate and number years during their reign. A new era name could be declared to mark a new emperor’s ascension or a significant event.
- 恩断情绝 | ēn duàn qíng jué | A four-character idiom literally meaning “grace broken, affection severed.” It describes the complete and final termination of a relationship, where all ties of kindness (恩 | ēn) and love (情 | qíng) are cut off.
- 青丝 | qīng sī | Literally “green/blue-black silk.” A poetic term for a person’s fine, black hair, especially a young woman’s. The character 青 (qīng) can describe the color of nature, including the dark, glossy sheen of healthy black hair. In Chinese culture, hair was often seen as a symbol of life, love, and connection, and cutting it could represent a solemn vow or a severing of ties.
- 锦囊 | jǐnnáng | A small, ornate bag made of brocade (a rich, decorative shuttle-woven fabric), often embroidered with patterns. It was used to carry small personal items, talismans, or fragrant herbs, and could be given as a meaningful gift or token of affection.
- 病中多愁 | bìng zhōng duō chóu | Literally “in illness, much sorrow.” This phrase reflects a cultural and literary concept where a person’s emotions, particularly melancholy and sentimentality, are heightened when they are physically unwell.
- 长公主 | zhǎng gōngzhǔ | A title for an emperor’s eldest sister, or a particularly honored princess, such as an emperor’s aunt. It ranks higher than a regular princess (公主 | gōngzhǔ) and indicates great status and respect within the imperial family.
- 八百里加急 | bābǎi lǐ jiājí | Literally “800 li urgent.” A term for the fastest level of imperial courier service in ancient China. Messages designated as such were relayed nonstop by horse, covering vast distances at incredible speeds to deliver urgent military or state information. The term uses li, it’s value varied by dynasty but is now standardized at 500 meters (approx. 0.31 miles or 1,640 feet)
- 风寒 | fēnghán | Literally “wind-cold.” In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is a type of illness believed to occur when the body is invaded by external pathogenic cold and wind. It corresponds to what modern medicine calls the common cold or flu, with symptoms like chills, fever, headache, and a cough.
- 撒娇 | sājiāo | A culturally specific term for acting in a playful, coquettish, or childlike manner to show affection or win favor from a loved one. It is generally seen as a charming or endearing behavior within close relationships and is not necessarily negative.
- 正月 | zhēngyuè | The first month of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. It marks the beginning of the new year and contains the Spring Festival (春节 | chūnjié). The month ends with the Lantern Festival (元宵节 | yuánxiāojié).
- 中药 | zhōngyào | Traditional Chinese Medicine. A broad range of medicinal practices sharing common concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage (tui na), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy.
- 浮生 | fúshēng | Literally “floating life.” A term with Buddhist and Taoist roots that describes the transient, ephemeral, and often dream-like nature of mortal existence. It conveys a sense of life being brief and unsubstantial, like something floating on water.
And here I thought it was going to be a recount of what really happened to Li Yanyi and Ah Xin after escaping from Runing…