Published at 5th of October 2018 09:13:53 PM
Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Near the Yellow River
Chen Rong fell silent .
Sun Yan turned his head and solemnly watched her, suddenly asking, “How old are you?”
“Not yet fifteen,” she replied after a moment of stupefaction .
“You’re younger than me . ” Then he looked at her and said matter-of-factly: “Call me gege (older brother), then . ”
Chen Rong looked up at him in surprise .
Under the moonlight, her stunned expression apparently pleased Sun Yan . He smiled a smile that swept away the desolation on his face .
Chen Rong glared at him and retorted: “Hmph, it’s not for sure you’re older than I . ”
Sun Yan smiled again . It was apparent he had often smiled in the past . When he smiled, his whole face came aglow .
He gave Chen Rong a once over, nodded and said, “Yes, but if you didn’t say, nobody could’ve guessed you’re only fifteen . Tsk, you’re clearly just a little girl, but you already have the comportment of a woman . ”
Chen Rong’s small face at once flushed . She drew a deep breath to suppress her anger, but since she had a quick temper, she needed several more before she could move her lips to respond: “That’s still better than your quacking voice!”
Sun Yan burst out laughing .
He laughed and laughed . When his mirth finally subsided, he tilted his head and continued to look at the silver water running in front of them, murmuring: “Your eyes are like those of wolves… I like them . ”
Chen Rong snapped her head up . She wanted to refute but couldn’t get her words out .
Turning her head, she followed his lead in watching the rippling waves, quietly thinking to herself: I keep telling myself to forget the past, but it seems I’m not doing enough . It’s not acceptable to be like this . I have to make myself truly at peace, so that even if I see that person again, I will not let it affect me .
The two stood side by side, both wordless .
But perhaps because they were in the same boat and felt to be kindred spirits, they did not need to speak in order to enjoy each other’s company .
With campfire aglow, sounds of laughter unceasingly rang in the distance . Contrastingly, the two shadows by the river bank seemed to dissolve among heaven and earth, as if they had been standing there since time immemorial and would continue for eternity more .
This translation belongs to hamster428 .
Time flew by . In the blink of an eye, three days had passed .
Wang Hong and Yu Zhi had been swarmed by the young ladies in these three days . When they occasionally met, all they could do was smile at each other, having no opportunity to speak .
Sun Yan stuck to Chen Rong’s side since that night . He used the Chen estate’s driver, ate the Chen estate’s food, and naturally formed a small group with Chen Rong .
By this time, the cavalcade was getting closer to the Yellow River .
Major noble clans all around the state were turning up from time to time . In the far distance, one could see the large road covered with flying dust and a clamorous din .
“Miss, we’ll soon reach the Yellow River! After the Yellow River would be Luo’yang . Miss, we’re almost there!” After the Yellow River would be Luo’yang . If nothing unexpected happened, they would be settling down in Luo’yang .
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Nurse Ping went up beside the carriage and called out in joy . Her small eyes stretched into lines when she smiled . Nearby, everyone else also beamed .
“Luo’yang?”
Chen Rong showed no joy on her face .
She looked up and stared out ahead . At the end of the blue sky were puffs of white clouds . Blocked by the mountain range, she could not see the city’s many ornate houses .
Thinking that the Yellow River was less than forty miles away, the exuberant group did not want to take a rest . One after another, the carriages hastened forward .
After dashing for twenty miles, they found the road packed with other groups . And it wasn’t just the road; even barren fields on either side were full of guards on horseback .
Chen Rong turned to look . All around her were people and carriages . Even if two people leaned in close, they’d have to shout to be heard .
“Miss, there are so many people . ” Nurse Ping looked left and right while gasping .
Chen Rong didn’t answer . There was a faraway look in her eyes, her lips drawn into a tight line .
Twilight soon descended .
They were now only about ten miles away from the Yellow River .
After they finished dinner, Chen Rong, who had been in a daze up until now, suddenly walked ahead . Sun Yan had just placed his utensils down by the time he saw her unusual behavior . “Ah Rong, the Wang house is still dining,” he spoke in his raspy voice, frowning at the same time .
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In accordance with aristocratic etiquette, meals were not times to talk, much less times to visit .
Chen Rong paused and turned to look at Sun Yan . She watched him with her vacant eyes for a while before murmuring: “Only now have I thought it through . Even if my life is already destined to turn out that way, I still have to try my luck . ”
Her words had no rhyme or reason, so how could Sun Yan know what she was talking about? He blinked and looked at her quizzically .
Chen Rong withdrew her gaze, walked on, and again said, “The house of Wang takes an hour each time they dine . I cannot wait that long . ”
Sun Yan frowningly stared after her for a while, then sprang to his feet and followed her out .
On the wild plains, the Wang house had laid damask mats into two lines and placed tables on top of them . Fragrant meat and wine filled these tables .
The nobles kept quiet when they dined . From her position, she could see Wang Hong and Yu Zhi to the left of Wang Zhuo .
When Chen Rong arrived, people would look up at her from time to time . The Wangs couldn’t help themselves from staring when they saw her walking straight to Wang Zhuo .
She curtsied to him from the distance .
Wang Zhuo, Wang Hong, and Yu Zhi all looked up, appraising the beautiful girl who stood under the sunset glow .
Before Wang Hong could speak, Chen Rong had said in her crystalline voice: “Sir Wang, Luo’yang has always been a battleground since the time of yore . At present, the five Hu tribes are invading the Central Plains . I don’t think they will let go of Luo’yang . ” (1)
The five Hu tribes are Xiongnu, Jie, Xianbei, Di, and Qiang, but the term actually includes all nomadic non-Han tribes in northern China and was often used with a negative connotation to mean barbarians .
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She was commenting on the state’s affairs . Including Wang Hong, everybody stared at her in surprise .
The contemporary literati did not like to discuss politics .
Ever since scholars were killed one by one for talking about politics, philosophy and merriment became the only two subjects they discussed . They had not talked of politics in a long time .
For that reason, even Yu Zhi was frowning this time to hear Chen Rong, a female, talk about “battlegrounds” and similar such .
As though she didn’t see anything, Chen Rong directed her attention solely on Wang Zhuo and solemnly added: “In my humble opinion, the city of Luo’yang is no longer safe for settlement . If we went there, I fear we would fall into the traps the tribesmen had laid . ”
“Traps?” Wang Zhuo finally placed his chopsticks down and asked, “You’re saying those barbarians have captured Luo’yang?” Chen Rong had twice displayed her prowess . He had begun to take this girl’s words seriously .
Chen Rong shook her head . “The city of Luo’yang is too strong to be attacked that easily . I only meant I am afraid they have planted their soldiers in the vicinity of Luo’yang and the Yellow River banks, just waiting for us to walk into their trap . ”
Wang Zhuo ruminated before turning his head to look at Wang Hong . “Qilang, what do you think?”
Wang Hong was regarding Chen Rong with eyes that called to mind the reflection of an autumn sky . He had heard that the girl before him had twice prophesied like a god – she was a young lady entirely different from other girls .
He quietly watched Chen Rong for a moment before asking: “Then in Ah Rong’s opinion, which Hu tribes will be there?”
“I do not know,” Chen Rong shook her head with a wry smile . “I’ve come to ask Sir Wang to allow me to separate . ”
Separate?
Everyone simultaneously looked up at Chen Rong in shock .