《一世真》中英翻译 CH. 15
艾玛终于有点糖渣吃了 T^T
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It's the New Years and Nihuang is still in mourning, as per decorum she should be staying at home in peace and quiet, but she needs to go thank Jingyan for having sent Nie Duo to her rescue. So she has copied Lin Shu's habit of climbing over the walls.
She's also heard that Prince Jing has changed a lot, and now they've met, she can see why.
“Thank you for sending Nie Duo to help me,” Nihuang says.
“I was not the one who came up with the strategies.”
“I already sent a thank-you letter to that Sir Su, but I still wanted to thank you for sending Nie Duo...”
“How is he now?”
“He went back to his assigned post after the battle, but he said that the discipline is rather lax in his base, there are many others who are also paid substitutes. He thinks he might be able to come every spring and autumn to help me train the navy in the South.”
Jingyan nods in agreement, pleased that everything went according to plan, “That would be the best. The Southern Chu armies are a formidable foe, but their naval capabilities are still relatively weak.”
“Enough of this official talk, how is Prince Qi's son?” Nihuang asks.
“I haven't visited since...” after his injuries were declared non-critical, Tingsheng was sent back home, but for some reason he has not woken up in those three days since, though Jingyan's information says that there are three imperial physicians constantly by the child's side.
“You haven't?” Nihuang demands, a bit surprised, “what have you been doing?”
There is a sharpness in her voice that is rather grating, yet Jingyan replies calmly, “The emperor's orders, investigating the Hua people.”
“I know those maids were despicable, and you are within your right to arrest Hua spies, but I heard that you are now extending your search to those who are commoners just like the rest of Liang people, married with a family, working normal jobs! Don't you think it's too much to demand that they relocate outside the capital?” Nihuang cannot contain her self-justified ire.
“Princess, please be wary of what you say. I am under imperial decree to do this.” points out Jingyan expressionlessly.
Outside the room, Lin Shu has heard enough. He kicks the door open, “Don't you have an obligation to oppose the decree if it's wrong?”
Jingyan shows no surprise at Lin Shu's sudden appearance in his room, “......She almost killed Brother Qi's child.”
“Punishing the entire race because of one person's crime, don't you think that's going too far, Jingyan? The spies had it coming, but what fault do those women have, those who have been married to Liang men and birthed their children? On my entire journey back, I've been hearing about how you've been so‘busy,’so you are busy expelling defenseless women and children??” Lin Shu's voice rises with agitation.
He forces himself to calm down, knowing that he has already wronged Jingyan once regarding Nie Duo, so he forcibly puts himself into the other man's shoes, trying to follow his logic. He understands why Jingyan didn't speak up against Nie Feng's dismissal, but no matter how much he thinks about it, Lin Shu cannot understand Jingyan's uncompromising and almost cruel attitude towards the Hua people.
Faced with Lin Shu's biting questions, Jingyan meets him in the eye and says coldly, “How do you know those Hua children wouldn't grow up to avenge their people?”
There is too much history and too many emotions in this single question. Jingyan's mind flashes to the poisoned arrow that pierced his chest, the manipulations suffered by Tingsheng and Consort Jing, the vicious and resentful look on Qin Banruo's face, and that bell in the secret passage, severed by his own sword...... The Hua's animosity towards them, towards the Chiyan army, will never die as long as a single Hua is still alive. Yet those things have not happened in this lifetime; even the most brilliant strategist could not have guessed at the truth, nevermind Lin Shu. And that is why Jingyan cannot explain himself.
“You said you are doing this for Brother Qi, but if he were in the capital now, he'd be the first one to oppose!” Lin Shu yells.
Only a man with the kindest heart and purest intentions can be the ruler Lin Shu has always envisioned.
How can the Divine Talent be blind when choosing a master?
Last time you had no other choice, then this time, I will give you all the freedom in the world.
Nihuang pouts exasperatedly at both men's icy expressions, “The three of us are all in different places now, it's such a rare occasion to get together, yet all you two care about is squabbling each other's heads off.”
Lin Shu cannot bear to see the girl unhappy and hurries to placate her, “I haven't had the chance to visit you yet, when are you leaving? The South is not prosperous like the capital, I'll bring you a carriage full of the latest fabrics and jewelry, and of course your favorite dough figures!”
Nihuang smiles, her face bittersweet. With the upheavals in her life during the past few years, she is no longer that innocent girl in their youth, and Lin Shu knows that well. In three years, Princess Nihuang has changed; only in front of Lin Shu would she laugh and smile as in the old days, to everyone else she is the determined military general, sharp edges lining her features.
All Lin Shu can do now is to guard those precious memories of their younger selves.
“I don't wear any jewelry. Plus, it's the New Year's, no tailor would be working. And I certainly cannot stay until the Lantern Festival for those doughfigures,” Nihuang laughs.
“If I ask, all the tailors will open their doors,” promises Lin Shu haughtily, “and what's hard about dough figures, I'll make you a whole truck full of them.”
“Since you two seem occupied, I won't keep you any longer,”says Jingyan. Watching their easy bantering makes him regret that he cannot do more to facilitate their marriage, yet that very thought somehow sends a jolt of queasiness into his stomach; he decides he's seen enough of them today.
Lin Shu misunderstands Jingyan's intentions, “Are you still upset?”
Jingyan says emotionlessly, “You said so yourself, that I am‘so busy'.”
So odd...he is well past the age of getting angry at someone's malicious insult, and it's been years since he felt hurt by others’hateful prejudice. But Lin Shu has always been his exception, just like that time at the inn outside Bianzhou. Any casual comment from him is like a dull knife that slices across his frozen heart, blood would come gushing out, heavy with the weight of memories.
He cannot even keep his expressions calm, because it hurts too much to pretend.
He stands up to escort them to the door, only to be shoved roughly back into the chair by an annoyed Lin Shu. Jingyan raises his head to look at his friend and sees fond exasperation his his eyes.
“Nihuang, you go back now, I'll come find you later,” Lin Shu says.
“Ok, then I'll see you later,” Nihuang always listens to Lin Shu, so she picks up her cape and steps out.
She reaches the back wall and is about to climb over when she pauses and decides to go back to check on them, in case they really get into a fight this time. Times have changed and they are no longer children, any word that travels back to the emperor might cause troubles.
However, when she pushes open the door, the sight that greets her almost makes her jump-- Lin Shu has pulled down half of Jingyan's clothes and has his face inches away from the other man's shoulder.
Nihuang cocks her head, amused, “What are you two doing?”
“Why are you back??” Lin Shu straightens rapidly to face her.
“I was afraid that you sent me away so you could have a fist fight with Jingyan-gege!” says the innocent Nihuang.
“Well, now you know why I sent you away?!” Lin Shu pulls out a small vial from his pocket, tosses the cork aside with a jerky motion and a herbal scent immediately perfumes the room, “I came to give him this medicated oil and almost forgot because of the argument.”
Eyes wide with understanding, Nihuang nods with agreement, “Good thinking, Lin Shu-gege, he might have lingering problems if the chill from the pond isn't properly treated in this kind of harsh weather!”
“You are the one to talk!” Lin Shu turns his attention back to Jingyan, “hurry up and strip, this needs to be massaged onto all the joints!”
“Eh...I...I've always been healthy and it's been quite a few days since…” Jingyan stutters in refusal.
“Don't argue with me! You must have forgotten to take care of yourself since you were so busy, it's no joking matter!”
Lin Shu rubs his hands with the oil and reaches for the other man's shirt when Jingyan panics, “Hey, Nihuang is here! Stop that!”
Nihuang slips out of the door at that, laughing, “Not there anymore!”
