Translator"s Notes on Chapter 2 - Fun with Bureaucracy, and pondering on Locked Chapters.
So… this chapter had a number of official t.i.tles, which is a hint about the great extent of Tang dynasty bureaucracy. Ironically this is much simplified, or at least one of the most well-known bureaucratic systems. The horrors of translating official t.i.tles are not over yet, by the way.
Also, the official raws on JJWXC has three locked chapters; because the chapters contain s.m.u.t. I am currently debating on whether or not to translate the s.m.u.t, please comment or PM your responses!
I am also raising money to buy the physical book to check, please buy me a coffee here to support this endeavour! Thank you!
- LLS
After the Crown Prince had concluded offering incense, and the long and tedious ceremony was over and done with, he changed into casual clothings and went to the Quiet Room to listen to Master Zhiyuan chant the sutras. This had been the Crown Prince"s hobby for the past few years, and it was said that on one night two years ago that he had had a dream of a gold dragon falling into Ci"en Temple, and awoke somewhat moved, henceforth he frequently left the Palace and rode to Ci"en Temple - Ci"en Temple also grew in prestige as a result, though it could not compare to the imperial temples, yet it was the most popular Buddhist temple in the capital.
As for whether the dream dragon was true, or a fabrication by the Crown Prince, this was not important. In any case dreaming of dragons, phoenixes and suns falling into had occurred since ancient times, as long as it could create influence that was fine, who could look into its veracity?
A crowd of Buddhist disciples quietly and respectfully awaited outside, when suddenly the wooden doors were pushed open with a creak, and a young novice monk1 hurried out, eyes alighting once he spotted Shan Chao: "Xin Chao-shixiong!2 I was looking for you. The master said that the Crown Prince is thirsty, and orders for you to offer up a bowl of that sour fruit soup that we offered last time, quickly!"
Although Shan Chao had no influence or background, and was a disciple who had entered halfway into a job for which he was not trained, yet by chance he was taken in as a disciple by Master Zhiyuan, and could not be counted as a nameless disciple in Ci"en Temple.
Everyone probably has such strange thoughts, and probably had a touch more concern for someone one had saved before, so despite the severe reputation of Master Zhiyuan, he did not treat Shan Chao badly, and often led him by the hand.
The Crown Prince often descended to Ci"en Temple several times in a year, and his food, drink and tribute all followed precedent, so it was hardly troubling. Shan Chao went to the small kitchen and prepared the sour fruit soup, which was an iced beverage had been prepared with fresh peaches, honey-melons, kiwis and other spices simmered together and then frozen, and after that he used a jade bowl to contain it, personally carrying it into the Quiet Room; once he entered he saw the n.o.bles in the hall in an encirclement of fragrant robes and topknots, headed by Master Zhiyuan on the left side of the main couch.
The right side was precisely the fourteen-year-old current Crown Prince Li Hong.
On Li Hong"s right side was a purple-robed middle-aged man with a round white face, though he was without a clear sign of his rank yet from his seating position he ought to be a trusted aide of the Crown Prince. And going down right next to that person, in a white brocade and light gold gown, the corners of his mouth seemingly constant in its pleasant smile, but with a silver mask across half his face - who else but the Commander Xie from last night!
Shan Chao"s breathing deepened slightly, but his face showed no change, only moving forward to bow and present the jade bowl: "Your Highness."
The Crown Prince was still young, and blurted out a question: "Who is this master? I3 have come several times, but I have never seen you before."
Master Zhiyuan took over: "Your Highness, do not blame him ― this is the disciple that this poor monk4 took in two years ago Xin Chao, because he is young and clumsy, I do not dare to order him to step forth and offend our n.o.ble guests, thus Your Highness has never seen him before."
Once the Crown Prince heard what was said he took care to take measure of Shan Chao for a moment, the eyes of his fair and clear face blinking, before he suddenly slapped the table and exclaimed: "This is strange. Master you claim that he is clumsy, yet I see that he resembles me somewhat, what do my beloved subjects think?"
When Shan Chao entered he had prudently lowered his head, and n.o.body noticed his looks, yet when the Crown Prince said this, everyone"s line of sight turned towards him.
Shan Chao"s eyebrows jumped lightly.
In fact Shan Chao"s skin colour was slightly deep, his facial features rigid and his build refined and heroic, though he wore only monk"s robes of rough cloth, he had a taciturn, self-restrained and stalwart temperament, the feeling from his whole body utterly different from the Crown Prince.
Yet if one looked only at his brow and eyes, those thick dashing eyebrows and the tall and straight nose-bridge, he did have five- of six-parts resemblance.
"―en? If Your Highness did not say it your subject would not have noticed, there is some resemblance." The purple-robed middle-aged man next to the Crown Prince commented in surprise: "Dare I ask if this Master Xin Chao is a native of the capital? Where is your ancestral hometown…"
The Crown Prince did not notice the subtleties here, still blinking in curiosity there. Yet at this time a grave and stern voice rang out, interrupting the purple-robed middle-aged man with no quarter: "Pavilion Elder Liu."5
The purple-robed man stopped.
Everyone turned their heads back, to see Xie Yun rest his hand on his lower jaw, every word distinct and ice-cold: "One can indiscriminately eat medicine, but one must not make irresponsible remarks.6 The current Crown Prince has the honour of a thousand years, what are you implying of this monk"s ancestry, such that he grows to resemble royalty?"
The Chancellery official7 Liu Xujie immediately froze, wanting to refute it but at a loss for words, choked until his complexion was ashen.
These words were simply too sharp, that n.o.body in the hall dared to speak, and only after a long while did the Crown Prince open his mouth in embarra.s.sment: "This… Commander Xie is too excessive, Pavilion Elder Liu was merely following my words to make a joke…"
Xie Yun remarked indifferently: "This sort of joke, my lord gentleman8 should refrain from."
"My lord gentleman" is the appellation used by the close attendants of the Palace to address the current Crown Prince ― what was unexpected was that not only Pavilion Elder Liu, but even the Crown Prince feared this white-clad masked Imperial Guard Commander, only daring to whisper back: "W- What Minister9 Xie said is correct, I know now."
With this the atmosphere in the hall grew unspeakably tense, the Crown Prince had an awkward expression, Liu Xujie wavered between turning green or red, and everyone else lowered their heads in embarra.s.sment, pretending that they did not exist.
Shan Chao did not expect the situation to develop like this either, and the hand holding the tray grew stiff, only after a long time did they hear Master Zhiyuan clear his throat:
"Keke… Your Highness, this sour fruit soup is made by freezing a variety of seasonal fruits, and it will turn warm after a long time, will Your Highness try it?"
The Crown Prince finally found a way to escape this situation, and immediately looked like he had received a great amnesty, immediately commanding his retainer to carry the bowl forth. Master Zhiyuan had had some experience with receiving imperial guests several times, that after the sweet soup was received he did not present it immediately to the Crown Prince, but ordered someone to bring another spoon, scooping out some of the soup to hand to Shan Chao, saying: "Xin Chao, you taste it first."
This had the meaning of ordering someone to test for poison first.
The royal clan rules, that all edibles offered up must have someone test them all equally for poison, and the tester was not randomly selected, many times it was even a sign of trust and favouritism. Hence n.o.body objected to this issue, and Shan Chao replied concisely in the affirmative, taking the spoon to swallow the sour fruit soup, only to find that it was cool when it entered the mouth, with nothing else wrong with it.
The Crown Prince silently waited for a while, and seeing that Shan Chao was behaving as normal, was he then a.s.sured to pick up the jade bowl and take two sips, smiling: "The texture upon entering the mouth is refreshing with a sweet aftertaste, this sweet soup is pretty good!"
Zhiyuan amiably replied: "To receive Your Highness" praise, is the fortune of our small temple."
Although the Crown Prince was only fourteen and not too stable in temperament, but his character was rather good-natured, his words and actions quietly exchanging a few cordial greetings with Zhiyuan, and inquired on a few questions on etiquette and the Dharma, to which Zhiyuan patiently explained each question. Buddhism had been in vogue since the Zhenguan era, and the current Emperor, and Empress Wu all venerated the Dharma, thus the gentry and influential officials took honour in listening to the sutras and speaking of the Way; everyone in the hall spoke with smiles for a long time, and the atmosphere finally relaxed, the tenseness started by Xie Yun"s berating also disappearing into thin air.
The Crown Prince occasionally glimpsed Shan Chao standing respectfully by the side, and feeling that this young monk had received an ordeal by innocence, said with a hint of apology: "Why is this Master still standing? There are no outsiders in this place and no need to stand on ceremony, men, bestow a seat."
Zhiyuan smiled: "We don"t dare, Your Highness is too kind-hearted, this poor monk"s disciple…"
"There is no harm, it is simply for the reason that when I met Master Xin Chao I was well-disposed to him." As he spoke the Crown Prince turned towards Xin Chao, beaming as he said: "Just then due to my mistake, I have made you uncomfortable. I had actually-"
Shan Chao raised his eyes to look at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince"s voice stopped, and a strangeness overcame his expression.
That change came so quickly and without warning, as if his entire person was emptied, his gaze slackened and rolled up mid-air, his lips closing for a while.
A shiver pa.s.sed Shan Chao"s heart, only to see a line of black blood, drip out from the corner of his mouth.
"… Your Highness!"
At present no one was aware of what happened, even Zhiyuan who was seated next to the Crown Prince had no inkling, only to see Shan Chao dash forward, like black lightning, and holding down the Crown Prince"s shoulders!
"What are you doing!"
"Audacious monk, why aren"t you backing down now?!"
In a split second everyone in the hall was incited, even Zhiyuan being scared out of his seat, yet Shan Chao turned a deaf ear to all sounds, only opening up the Crown Prince"s eyelid with skill to check ― yet only with this effort the Crown Prince"s whole body softened, his eyeb.a.l.l.s bloodshot, and black blood slowly effused with black blood!
Poisoned!
The current Crown Prince, the Eastern Palace10, had been poisoned by the sweet soup presented by him?!
In a flash multiple thoughts streaked across Shan Chao"s mind, he had never known that he was capable of such calm, and that his thoughts could be so fast ― and then he himself had not realised what he was doing, as if he had been taught many times, one hand clutching the Crown Prince"s throat, the other pressing against the arteries and veins on the Crown Prince"s back, and the deep and resounding energy poured out.
"Wa!"
The Crown Prince had never practised martial arts, and of course could not tolerate this dreadful pressure, and he spat out a mouthful of pitch-black poisonous blood on the spot!
If it were anyone else, or if the movements were slower, at this moment the Crown Prince would be dead.
After the poisonous blood had spurted out the Crown Prince seemed to regain consciousness, hurriedly knowing to pant. Shan Chao was just about to clear out the excess poison, when footsteps suddenly sounded beside him, and then a long cold hand reached over and grabbed his st.u.r.dy wrist.
"Let go."
Shan Chao turned his head in amazement, only to see Xie Yun"s wooden expression, as if the pink lips below the mask had frosted over.
"…what are you doing?" Shan Chao"s hand was forcibly pulled away, no matter how his muscles stretched taut, he was unable to contend with Xie Yun"s overwhelming and unquestionable power, "You… exactly…"
"The Crown Prince is poisoned." Xie Yun did not look at him at all, only glaring from above to the Crown Prince, yet his words were addressed to everyone behind him: "Encircle Ci"en Temple, seal the worship hall, send a horse-rider to fetch the Imperial Physicians, now!"
― yet even if the Imperial Physicians grew wings, there was no possibility of a timely arrival.
Not only Shan Chao knew this point, Xie Yun knew, and the Crown Prince most probably knew. As shock and clamour swept the hall, the Crown Prince gasped for breath, facing up to Xie Yun who was looking down at him, every word seeming to drip with the blood of his throat: "…Mother Empress…she couldn"t bear it anymore?…"
Shan Chao"s pupils constricted.
Yet Xie Yun had no reaction, in the silhouette of that elegant profile, there was not a single trace of superfluous feeling.
He just pressed down on Shan Chao with one hand, the other plucking out from his hair a silver hairpin. The long hair tied up with a silk string came down in torrents, but he did not notice, directly sticking the silver hairpin into the remnants of the sour fruit soup on the table.
After a moment, the silver hairpin turned black.
"…P… Poisoning…"
Pavilion Elder Liu drew a cold breath, seemingly incredulous, and then turned to address the guards in rage: "What are you being distracted for? Arrest all the monks without exception! And someone go to the secret room in my manor to retrieve the Snow Lotus handed down through generations! Quick!"
"This flower can cure all poisons, it can certainly save the Crown Prince!"
1 Refer to the word sāmaṇera.
2 ZH: 师兄 - senior brother, term of address. See for more info.
3 ZH: 本王 - first-person p.r.o.noun used by kings and princes, literally "this king"
4 ZH: 贫僧 - first-person p.r.o.noun, used by monks.
5 ZH: 阁老 - t.i.tle, refers to a member of the Central Secretariat (中书省) or the Chancellery (门下省).
6 ZH: 药可以乱吃，话不能乱说。
7 ZH: 东台舍人 - 东台 being a Tang-era name for the Chancellery, and 舍人 a t.i.tle for an official. Upper fifth rank.
8 ZH: 郎君 - also used by a wife to address her husband, but in this case a type of address used for the Crown Prince.
9 ZH: 卿 - term used by an emperor to address his ministers.
10 ZH: 东宫 - also an appellation of the Crown Prince