A Crane Cries in Huating - 8.3

Don’t boast that you can see the whole world,

Consort Xu only wears makeup on half of her face.

Seeing that Dingquan was still silent after everything he said, he spoke again. “In light of His Majesty’s actions a few days ago, Your Highness strongly suspects that His Majesty abandoned you after using you. However, Your Highness needs to understand what is going through His Majesty’s heart at the moment. What His Majesty dreads the most is Your Highness forming a clique in court while Lord Li is in prison. Regardless of how much Your Highness suffers, regardless of whether His Majesty knew beforehand or not, he had to frame you meticulously through harsh means. If the courtiers behave like this when the imperial father is still alive, how can a ruler not be apprehensive?

“Who can guarantee that there won’t be similar disputes in the future? In the long run, the estrangement between father and son will inevitably become deeper and deeper. At first, it was just a scab, and eventually, it turned into an ulcer deep down in the heart. This time, the reorganisation of the Household Administration was a warning to Your Highness and a message to the world, but let’s leave it at that for now. I merely implore Your Highness to reconsider his attitude toward His Majesty and his ministers in the future.

“I have five words to offer Your Highness: never linger and never forsake. This should be the attitude of Your Highness and his courtiers.

“Be gentle and agreeable, perfect in every way. This is the attitude that Your Highness should possess toward His Majesty.”

Seeing Dingquan’s face darken, the man sneered and said, “I know that Your Highness doesn’t hesitate whatsoever. Even if we changed places, I wouldn’t have hesitated, but please hear me out first, Your Highness. 

“His Majesty is a father, but it is unfilial for a son to disobey his father. His Majesty is a ruler, but it is disloyal for a courtier to disobey his ruler. If Your Highness were to ultimately inherit the throne, rule the world, and write our country’s history with his own hands, this would be just a trivial matter in the end. But at the moment, the country still belongs to His Majesty, and he isn’t afraid of charging Your Highness with disloyalty and unfilial conduct, not to mention the humiliation afterward. After a hundred generations, will there be anyone to understand the situation of the day, someone who will know about Your Highness’s side of the story, and know His Majesty’s intentions were also ambiguous?”

Dingquan shook his head slightly, and said with a rather self-deprecating smile, “The emperor is brilliant.”

Xu Changping saw the tremor in his eyes and said, “Whether His Majesty believes it or not, it’s up to him, and whether Your Highness does or not is also up to you. It doesn’t matter what I say. Your Highness has worked so hard to get to this point I cannot even fathom how tough and challenging it must’ve been. Since Your Highness has humoured me thus far, please excuse my frankness.”

Dingquan nodded his head. “If you have anything else to say, just say it, Registrar Xu.”

Xu Changping was quiet for a long time, then suddenly bowed deeply with his hands before his forehead and said, “If I may, it is about fratricide^[1]族灭 – to execute all of the relatives. I couldn’t find a suitable meaning. — One day, the war up north will be over, and the Grand Marshal’s great achievements will be considered a crime. Even though the world is a vast place, where can we avoid such a thing? If Your Highness’s illustrious uncle cannot be spared, how can Your Highness be at ease? This point, surely Your Highness must be aware of it and His Majesty is perceptive as well. Your Highness has only three or four years at most. Changzhou is too far away while the capital has a total of thirty-six guards for the public office. I am afraid that Your Highness has to start worrying about preparing for the rainy days.”

Dingquan gloomily stared at the person in front of him. His heart was pounding inside his chest, but his words were calm when they left his mouth, “I heard nothing today and I believe no one has heard your words either, correct?”

Xu Changping said, “This is exactly what I’m getting to next. I am well aware that Your Highness’s old courtiers are in all the six ministries, but Your Highness must stay vigilant from now on. Don’t trust anybody. Your Highness must meticulously investigate everything and carefully consider them. Even what I said today, Your Highness, please think about it carefully before deciding to accept it. Even though there is no water pavilion in the West Garden, there must be a pond — don’t let any wind or rain in, and don’t let the waves out.”

Dingquan was still reticent and asked rather nonchalantly, “I didn’t hear anything today nor did anybody else, so what are you asking for, Registrar Xu?”

Xu Changping said, “I’m a rotten piece of wood and a poor horse, I can’t carry the load far. Fortunately, my job is convenient and it’s close to the crown prince. If I can serve as Your Highness’ dog, then I may be up for the task.”

Dingquan smiled at him. “That’s one aspect of it — I’m asking, what do you really want?”

Xu Changping clasped his hands and said, “A rotten piece of wood and poor horse cannot dare to dream too high, nor seek a legacy. All I wish for is that I can ride with a crane^[2]伴鹤驾: 伴驾 – means to accompany the emperor; 鹤驾 – means chariot of an immortal. Later the Crown Prince’s chariot was called crane ride. in the future and gaze at the moon from high above.”

Dingquan burst out laughing and said, “People’s hearts aren’t so simple and neither is the world’s situation. Registrar Xu, put yourself in my shoes and you’ll understand why I’m so sceptical. If you aren’t honest with me, how could I wholeheartedly rely on you? How about we have a heart-to-heart and you open up about why you’ve given up on your career?”

Xu Changping raised his eyes to look at Dingquan. He saw that a corner of his lips was pulled into a grin while his murky pupils remained ice-cold. Half of his face was painted blood-red by the setting sun outside the window, but the other half was shrouded by the shadows of the room. A smiling face like that would normally feel like the spring breeze, but looking at it now, it was like looking at a ghost. It sent a chill straight down to the heart. If he was an idle royal, he could play with beauties, write poems, and entertain guests; if he was an ordinary official, he could go for a walk or ride in the spring, or go around making friends; if he was commoner, he could get together with the village folks and play silly games. But he happened to be born into the imperial family. He was not even twenty, but all he could do was stand alone in the setting sun in the enclosed courtyard, cautiously and prudently watching out for everyone around him as he honed a fake smile.

What heart, what sincerity? If you don’t show weakness, how can you fulfil your selfish desires?

Xu Changping finally let out a sigh and asked in a low voice, “Did Your Highness have a sister whose posthumous name is Xianning, given name, Rou, and nicknamed A-Heng?”

Those words fell into Dingquan’s ears like a clash of thunderbolts. Dingquan felt his hands and feet grow cold instantaneously. After a long while, he raised his trembling hand, pointed it at Xu Changping, and asked, “How do you know? Who the hell are you?”

Translator: turtleneck

Editor: idlemousse

Let me know if my footnotes are too much.