Dreams of Jianghu

Chapter 94 – Qing Transmigration Tale (3)

The medicine bath continued for seven entire days. While the process was a bit difficult, the effects were clear. At least, Hong Hui’s appetite grew much bigger.

After the medicine bath, Lin Yu Tong had them clean out the training field. In reality, the establishment’s training field was very rarely used because Si Ye was not skilled in riding and shooting at all.

Lin Yu Tong was not in a hurry to teach Hong Hui to ride. She just started to have him exercise. As he trained, she taught him the meridian points of the body. To disguise her own skills, Lin Yu Tong started to train together with Hong Hui.

Each day, they would get up before the sun came up. Lin Yu Tong would lead Hong Hui to start running after a simple washing up. Then she had people bring the equipment for football ¹, and she played and ran with Hong Hui on the field with the servant girls and young eunuchs.

On the first few days, Hong Hui’s muscles hurt, so Lin Yu Tong would massage him into the night.

“Just endure it, after this time, it will not hurt. If you practice well, our Hong Hui will be a Baturu², our warrior.” Each boy had a dream of being a hero. Such words were better than any encouragement.

“A baturu like A-ma?” Hong Hui asked.

Lin Yu Tong thought, your dad really does not count as a baturu. However, thinking that a child would always have this stage where they admired their father the most, she smiled and said, “Yes! If you practice well, you will be a baturu like your a-ma.”

On this day, the old granny saw Lin Yu Tong playing football dressed in riding robes on the training field. She could not help but sigh. After Eldest A-ge‘s illness, the princess consort completely changed in personality. Look at all she had done for Eldest A-ge. She decided to sent a letter to her master. Was the princess consort fine right now?

Even the eighth princess consort could hear the roaring coming from the neighboring Fourth Beile Establishment when riding on her horse in her own establishment. She asked her servant in curiosity, “Isn’t Fourth Prince out of the capital? What is Fourth Sister-in-law doing?”

The two were separated by a wall. The training field was empty, and adding on they were playing football, when the servants had free time, they would go there to cheer.

Mother and son each led a team and played very happily.

The women in the establishment liked to watch. Hong Yun and the eldest gege were full of envy, looking at Li-shi pleadingly, wanting to go and try as well.

Li-shi looked at Hong Hui and was very shocked inside. Just a short time, and Eldest A-ge was so happy and healthy. She naturally wanted her son to be like this, but did not dare for him to run around like this.

She looked up, and saw the princess consort dressed in red robes, with a wide black belt. Her waist looked very thin and slender. She had a very big smile, her expression very relaxed. Her hair was gathered on top of her head, covered by a red handkerchief. She jumped high, and then kicked the ball. The ball passed through the opening, and then the field was covered in cheers.

“Son, you lost again.” She heard the other woman shout smugly.

Hong Hui was dressed in black robes with a red belt. His face was very flushed. He ran and directed the young eunuchs as he took the time to reply, “Again! Again! I do not believe that I cannot win.” He did not accept this. He shouted at the young eunuchs, “Pay attention. If you win, this ye will reward you. Otherwise, everyone will run three extra circles at night.”

Seeing mother and son playing happily, Song-shi asked Li-shi in a whisper, “What is with Princess Consort?”

How would I know this? Li-shi rolled her eyes.

She did not know how the other obtained the ability to ignore all the other women in the establishment.

The noise here was so loud that on this day, Eighth Princess Consort heard them.

Eighth Princess Consort asked the servants, but the servants did not know. Who did not know that the fences of Four’s establishment were the most secure? How would they be able to find out easily?

Lin Yu Tong did not care about all this. She would try everything that would help Hong Hui exercise. After persisting for a month, after Hong Hui memorized the meridian points, she slowly taught him martial arts. She pretended by taking a secret martial art manual from her pocket space. The internal method was taught verbally, and she only taught him a set of Carefree Sect sword skills.

For people like Hong Hui, riding and archery was more practical. With internal energy, he naturally had the advantage over others.

The sword skills of Carefree Sect were very light and nimble. So in the morning and evening, there were extra sword lessons.

Lin Yu Tong planned to use the excuse of learning with Hong Hui to avoid arousing any suspicion when she showed any oddity.

Si Ye was not at home so Lin Yu Tong closed the gates to guests and did not meet anyone.

When the tailors delivered the winter clothing, and Hong Hui tried them on, he found that the clothes were a size too small. She realized that the child had grown bigger and stronger, and also that Si Ye had been away from the capital for more than two months.

He went to observe the autumn flood, but why had he not returned now that they were entering winter?

Lin Yu Tong called the old granny over to ask, “How about sending people with winter clothing? He did not take along enough clothes this time.”

The old granny thought, by the time you remember, it is too late. She said, “This old servant has sent people already.”

“That is good,” Lin Yu Tong said. “Ye said that he would return before winner. But now, the freeze has come, but he is still not seen. He did not even send a letter back to say he is fine. He makes people worry.”

Worry? She truly did not see this. Si Ye was not here, and this princess consort had no one to control her. In the establishment, she was able to play so much. Of course, everyone knew she was doing this for Eldest A-ge. Otherwise, she would really think that the princess consort had become a different person.

So she said, “He likely is returning soon. Otherwise, a letter would have been sent. Maybe he feels that the letter may not arrive before he does.”

This was right.

As long as she just mentioned concern for him, it was enough.

On this day, Lin Yu Tong led Hong Hui to the stables. Inside were good horses that the establishment raised.

The eunuchs in the stables knelt on the ground. Who could have thought that Princess Consort and Eldest A-ge would come to such a dirty place.

“Rise. Are there young colts? Bring them out for viewing,” Lin Yu Tong looked at a eunuch who appeared to be in charge and said.

That eunuch hurriedly climbed up and said, “Princess Consort, there is a young mare, very gentle.”

“Then pull her out.” She casually looked around as she spoke. There was a black horse in the stall which caused her eyes to turn wet. It looked too much like her Black Whirlwind.

She walked over to carefully look at the horse. Truly too similar. She immediately went forward and untied the horse’s reins.

The eunuch on the side knelt down immediately in fright. This horse was Si Ye’s treasure. Even until now, it had not been tamed, everyone knew this was Si Ye’s treasure.

But this horse was wild and hard to train. If anything happened to the princess consort, he would not be able to pay with a thousand of his lives.

But before he could even speak, Princess Consort jumped on.

The horse immediately stomped its feet in irritation. He did not know how the princess consort squeezed with her legs, but the horse immediately settled.

Lin Yu Tong waved at Hong Hui and said, “Son, come on.”

Boys liked good horses, just like boys in the modern era liked famous cars. Hong Hui looked and then reached with his hand. Lin Yu Tong grabbed him and placed him in front of her on the horse. She hit the horse’s behind and the horse started to run forward.

The eunuch heard Lin Yu Tong say, “Bring the young mare to the training field.”

Lin Yu Tong appearing riding Si Ye’s treasure stunned a crowd of people. The training field was right ahead, and when the guards of the establishment saw her, they gasped in shock.

The advisors in the guest courtyard heard gasps, and knew that it was Princess Consort coming to the training field with Eldest A-ge again.

They asked the young eunuch who was adding coal to the brazier, “Is Princess Consort coming to play football with Eldest A-ge again?”

The eunuch shook his head. “Princess Consort is riding Ye‘s Black Whirlwind with Eldest A-ge.”

They jumped in fright and hurriedly ran to see. If this happened and they knew of it, it would be their lives on the line if anything happened to the princess consort and Eldest A-ge.

But the result was, when they reached the training field, they knew they had worried too much.

The girls of Manchu families were not like those from the Han families. They learned to ride and shoot from young.

Lin Yu Tong led Hong Hui and ran quickly, the field filled with Lin Yu Tong’s joyful laugh and Hong Hui’s excited screams.

Si Ye had rode back first with Su Pei Sheng and some guards. But, when he entered the main gates, he heard the cheers from the training field. He glanced at Su Pei Sheng and the other immediately glared at the eunuch about to announce him.

“What is going on in the establishment?” Su Pei Sheng asked.

“Princess Consort…… Princess Consort……” The young eunuch was so frightened he stammered and could not answer.

Si Ye thought of what the old granny had said in her letter and his face immediately turned black!

No sense of propriety!

He immediately walked quickly towards the training field. He saw the women of the establishment all cheering. When they saw him, they all paled, and then knelt down.

The servants discovered his arrival, and hurriedly knelt down. Then he looked over.

His princess consort’s fire red cloak was floating as Black Whirlwind ran quickly. Mother and son were laughing happily, and Hong Hui was almost hoarse.

Lawless!

When Lin Yu Tong discovered that the surroundings were quiet and stopped, she looked. Oh, all of them were kneeling, and Si Ye, dressed in black, was so furious that even his lips were trembling.

Lin Yu Tong’s heart jumped. She had gone overboard.

She truly missed the carefree days when she rode Black Whirlwind.

She rode the horse over, and then carried Hong Hui, jumping down. She pretended nothing had happened and said, “Ye has returned? Why did you not give notice ahead of time?”

Then, she pulled his hand and walked back. “Quickly, go wash up. Will Ye have to enter the palace later?”

Si Ye was shocked at being pulled, wanting to break free of her grip. But then he thought this was in public, and he could not embarrass the princess consort.

Hong Hui reached out and held Si Ye’s other hand. He said, “A-ma, will you give Black Whirlwind to me, this horse is so strong.”

His anger lowered again. He suppressed his temper and said, “You are not able to ride him now. Wait for A-ma to find a good one for you.”

“Better than Black Whirlwind?” Hong Hui asked.

“Yes! Better than Black Whirlwind.” Si Ye looked down. After just a few months, the child had grown half a head taller. He had not just grown taller, he had grown much healthier, and looked like a young ox.

His anger could not be vented now.

Li-shi and the others felt a bit jealous. They all said that the husband and wife were the best if they were the original. Now, it appeared to be the case. In any case, they would not dare to pull Ye in public.

Entering the main courtyard, Lin Yu Tong sent people to lead Hong Hui to wash up. When the two of them were left alone, Si Ye changed expression. “Ulanara-shi, you dare.”

This ye was angry. What to do? Kneel to ask for forgiveness? Then, they would truly be at a standstill.

Lin Yu Tong turned her face to her side, pretending to wipe her face with a handkerchief. In reality, she was applying medicine to her eyes. Immediately, the tears came down.

“For my son, so what if I am daring once?” Lin Yu Tong’s voice was sobbing, her tears coming down in a flood. “If anything happens to Hui’er, I will not live. I do not want my life, what do I want with my propriety? Ye, if you do not have Hui’er, you will have other people to birth sons for you. I just have this one.”

Si Ye’s face was black. “Hong Hui is Ye‘s di eldest son, how does Ye not think for him. Are you criticizing Ye?”

“You come back, and you get angry in front of so many people, not even listening to an explanation. You do not allow me to feel wronged.” Lin Yu Tong’s tears came down even stronger.

Si Ye immediately paused. It had been more than a decade, and he had never seen the princess consort cry. Even when Hong Hui had been so ill, she had never cried a tear in front of him.

His voice softened. “You speaking to Ye using ‘I’, what kind of propriety is this?”

Lin Yu Tong heard the temper disappear, and curtsied. “It is this consort’s fault. Ye, do not be angry.”

This was truly a novel experience. In ten years, how many times had they had cold battles? They had never fought like this.

Seeing Lin Yu Tong still wiping her tears with her handkerchief, he said, “Ye only said one thing about you, and you refute Ye ten times. Now, you still feel wronged?”

You think I am willing? Did I just not apply too much medicine by accident?

Hong Hui entered and saw Lin Yu Tong crying with her eyes and nose red. His expression immediately changed. “Eniang, how come you are crying?” She had been very happy just now.

Si Ye immediately became stuck. “Your eniang……”

“Eniang missed your a-ma, too much, and is too happy to see him,” Lin Yu Tong wiped her tears and said.

Si Ye immediately blushed. Su Pei Sheng heard it outside and wanted to kneel for the princess consort.

Hong Hui finally smiled and said, “So Eniang missed A-ma, I also missed A-ma.”

Si Ye awkwardly rubbed Hong Hui’s head and said, “Good. A-ma brought things back to you. Someone will bring them to you later and you can play with them in your room.”

Then he coughed and said to Lin Yu Tong, “Ye is to wash and change. Still has to enter the palace.”

Lin Yu Tong did not want to help him wash and dress so she said, “Ye can wash up. I will go to the kitchen and make something for Ye to eat so you have something in your stomach.”

Then she fled.

When Si Ye came out, he did not dare to delay. He was going straight to the palace. Lin Yu Tong handed the food box to Su Pei Sheng, “Help Ye use a bit on the way.”

Su Pei Sheng bowed a few degrees deeper to Lin Yu Tong. In his view, a fight between husband and wife occasionally was nothing. He just feared if they would not even fight.

If they fought, it meant that he was not angry. This meant that the princess consort had managed to change her fortunes.

Si Ye sat in the carriage. Su Pei Sheng opened the food box. There was a plate of bite-sized meat cakes. In the pot was warm mutton soup.

“What kind of soup?” Si Ye asked.

“Mutton soup, it has been cooked somehow it does not have any gamey taste, it is good to drive out the cold.” When entering the palace to meet the emperor, people would fear any smell. Such things should not be eaten, but this had no scent. Otherwise, Si Ye would know what kind of soup it was.

A plate of meat cakes and two bowls of soup later, he felt warm all over.

He pondered what to report to the emperor when he entered the palace. If he spoke lightly, the emperor would likely just lightly attend to it. But if he spoke severely of it, these were all people under the crown prince’s wings. It was not easy to get the proper measure.

He had called people to deliver a letter to the crown prince first. If a heavy punishment occurred, the crown prince could not blame him.

He did not hide this from the crown prince. The court still wanted to have face.

Entering the imperial study, he bowed and Kangxi said, “Four, you are thinner, you must have had a hard time.”

“It is what this son and subject should do. But the duty was not done well, and Khan A-ma will be disappointed,” Si Ye said bashfully.

“No! Zhen knows the difficulty here. You being able to accomplish the matter is very rare.” Kangxi waved his hand. “You ran around, you know how Henan truly is. Now, the memorandums from below, you have to read them.”

He did not know how to continue the discussion.

Kangxi waved his hand and asked, “How is Hong Hui now?”

Si Ye immediately had a smile and said, “Just a few months, but he is half a head taller and much stronger. It is all because of Khan A-ma‘s good fortune.”

“That is good! If you have time, see your eniang.” Kangxi sighed. “It has been several months since you seen her.”

“Yes! This son and subject is going to pay respects now.” Si Ye said and then withdrew.

Translator Ramblings: Ling Yu Tong goes deny, deflect, divert.

Table of Contents

• Grafting Life Chapter 93 – Qing Transmigration Tale (2)
• Grafting Life Chapter 95 – Qing Transmigration Tale (4)