Lady Kelpi Translations

Chapter Forty:
The Autumn Breeze Fulfills One’s Wish

A few months later, when returning to the Capital to reunite with the Sheng family, someone asked Minglan what type of person He Hongwen was.

Minglan took a long time to think about it before she answered. “He’s a good person.”

The He family belonged to a prestigious family. The family’s ancestor founded the Baishitan Academy and was considered the first scholar in the world. Although later generations weren’t as outstanding as their ancestors, they still were noble and wealthy. Madam He had married a side branch of the He family. Unfortunately, her third son passed away early and only He Hongwen remained, although he was well received by his grandparents.

He Hongwen had studied medicine since he was a child. Shortly after they set sail, he boiled herbal tea for Minglan to soothe her spleen and stomach. Although the taste was bitter, it was effective. Minglan drank only one dose before she began to feel better. However, she firmly believed that cultivating her own resistance was the best way and refused to drink any more of the tea. She felt embarrassed to refute his kindness so secretly poured it out when he brought it to her.

One day, He Hongwen visited Minglan and casually asked, “Have you taken the herbal tea I just sent?”

“I just finished,” Minglan said sternly.

At that moment, Xiaotao came back into the room with a cup, saying, “Don’t worry, Miss, no one will see…” When Xiaotao saw He Hongwen, she abruptly stopped talking.

Minglan followed He Hongwen’s gaze and saw a few drops of the familiar blue medicinal tea on the white porcelain, lotus-patterned bowl. He Hongwen quietly turned his head to look at Minglan. Minglan suppressed her nervousness and said calmly, “Xiaotao, why were you washing that bowl for so long?”

Xiaotao was stunned and could only say, “The bowl… is difficult to wash.”

“Oh, it’s hard to wash.” Minglan let out a few dry chuckles, dodging He Hongwen’s gaze.

“It’s not as convenient to do things on a ship as it is on land,” He Hongwen smiled, looking as if he had nothing else to say.

Minglan’s expression was one of exasperation. Danju, who was beside her, had to turn her head away.

The next day, He Hongwen brought a double bowl of herbal tea. In front of He Hongwen, Minglan bravely raised the bowl and drank the tea in one gulp. She then produced the empty bowl to He Hongwen for inspection.

He Hongwen smiled and nodded, as if he were a homeroom teacher praising an elementary school student who had just finished their homework.

Strictly speaking, He Hongwen was Minglan’s first real contact with someone outside of the family. Their grandmothers had holed themselves up in the cabin as they made up for decades of missed conversations. Under the care of a group of older and younger maids, Minglan and He Hongwen met several times.

When teenage boys and girls met in ancient times, their conversation typically started like this, “Little Ming, what books have you read?”

The question sounded familiar to her. Minglan had to memorize and recite “Lin Daiyu Entering the Jia Mansion” in high school. She adjusted her sleeves and said softly, “I only know a few words so I won’t be illiterate.”

She felt that she answered the question in a very ladylike way.

He Hongwen raised his eyebrows but couldn’t refute her words. He just turned his gaze to the right and looked at the pile of rice paper used for practicing calligraphy on the writing desk. The ink was stained, and it was obvious that many words had been written down. “I’ve just read ‘Women’s Principles’ and ‘The Classic of Filial Piety,’” Minglan added, feeling embarrassed.

He Hongwen remained silent, his eyes shifting over to the left. There were several old books on medicine, astrology, astronomy, and geography piled haphazardly on the bookshelf, their covers legible. They were the books that Minglan had begged Changbai and Changdong for so she could have something to read.

Minglan was caught again. She forced a laugh. “…Those are the books my eldest brother asked me to give to my cousin.”

“Your brother has an extensive collection,” He Hongwen smiled, a look of understanding in his eyes.

Minglan’s mouth twitched and she let out a few silent apologies. Brother Changbai, who only reads official books, Brother Changsong who reads only accounting books, and Brother Changwu who faints at the sight of a book – forgive her!

The kindest thing about He Hongwen was that even if he exposed Minglan on the spot, he sincerely could pretend to be simpleminded and nod, showing great conviction in all of Minglan’s horrible excuses. He was so righteous that Minglan couldn’t pretend any longer and decided to treat him with sincerity.

The weather gradually began to warm up as they approached Jinling. The last time she went north to Dengzhou, Minglan hadn’t been in this time for long. She had been weak and short of breath and had all but given up on life. She couldn’t leisurely enjoy the scenery, but it was different now. The coastal scenery was delicate and gentle. Minglan sat by the window to watch the scenery and the busy transportation boats and cargo ships. He Hongwen had seen this many times, going back and forth from north to south, so he smiled and explained things as they came up.

“Big white bird, big billed bird… sack boat!” Minglan pointed out, her words lacking.

He Hongwen was very patient as he explained with a smile, “That’s a cormorant, they’re the best at fishing… that’s a seagull… no, that’s a grain boat…”

Minglan was cheerful and playful while He Hongwen was introverted and steady. The two of them got along very well.

“My mother wants me to take the Imperial Examination and become an official. Unfortunately, I’m not very confident and only like medicinal herbs and medicine manuals,” He Hongwen said, blushing.

“Brother He, you’re being too humble. Reading the books of the sages is only to assist the Ming Emperor in restoring the country and to honor ancestors and descendants. Practicing medicine can also benefit people and bring glory to their families. Your grandmother’s father had excellent medical skills. You said he personally went into an epidemic area to save lives and provide assistance. When he was older, he was in charge of the Imperial Hospital and issued medical code orders. The world admires him so much!” Minglan was being very sincere. Being a doctor was truly a noble profession and, if done well, could earn someone a high income.

He Hongwen’s eyes lit up. He smiled as he looked at the girl across from him.

“My father passed away early and my mother is sick. I couldn’t follow my mother’s wishes to study and enter school. I’m an unfilial son.” He Hongwen’s melancholic expression enveloped the autumn scenery.

Minglan spread out her tender white hands which had visible pinholes in them. “I never liked embroidery. My grandmother hired several different teachers to teach me but, even now, the butterfly I embroidered still looks like a fly. That’s also unfilial.”

“You’re still young, just keep practicing every day and you’ll slowly improve. My cousin Jin’er is the best at embroidery and that’s because she practiced every day.”

“Oh?” Minglan touched her finger and casually asked, “Does she also live in Jinling?”

“No,” He Hongwen’s expression turned dim. “A few years ago, her father was convicted of the Xiao Liangshan Mining Case’ and the entire family was exiled to Liangzhou.”

Minglan remained silent. A few years ago, the Xiao Liangshan Mine had collapsed, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred miners. The owner of the mine had colluded with local officials, embezzled money for compensation, and locked up the widows and orphans who had just lost their men. Obviously, this aroused public anger and led to chaos.

The Emperor had been angered half to death when he learned about the incident. He knew that it was an aftermath of the succession dispute, but he could only punish the top officials The accomplices were all gently let go, so there were actually not many officials involved. Unfortunately, He Hongwen’s cousin and her family were one of the few families used as cannon fodder.

“Since it’s exile, it probably is not too serious of a crime. Those who have committed serious crimes have all been beheaded. Isn’t there a general amnesty and your cousin can come back?” Minglan could only comfort him like this. When the new emperor ascended the throne, there would be general unrest. As long as it wasn’t a heinous crime, exiles could generally be pardoned. And everyone knew that the old emperor’s days were numbered.

He Hongwen was very grateful for Minglan’s kindness. After a while, he said, “My uncle was also at fault back then. If he had been punished, it wouldn’t have been unjustified. If he could have been pardoned, it would have been a good thing.” He paused. “I have homemade snow clam cream for you to use on your hands. It isn’t easy to do needlework in the winter. Applying it can promote blood circulation.”

The young man had a gentle meaning and warm gaze, just like in the late autumn when the coolness began to settle in. The last touch of pale golden sunshine slowly climbed onto Minglan’s face, making her feel a little warm.

After five or six more days, the ship finally docked. Many servants and well-dressed men stood on the dock, stretching their necks to look around. Half of them were part of Sheng Wei’s group who had come to pick up Minglan and her group to Youyang. The other half all had sad expressions. They had come to pick up Old Madam He and went straight to Jinling to visit her seriously ill father.

Old Madam He held Old Madam Sheng’s hand and spoke to her for a while before letting go. He Hongwen earnestly reminded Minglan, “Sister Ming, be careful of your health. Long journeys and tiring transportation are the most likely to make her sick. After you return home, make sure you rest for a few days before doing anything.”

Minglan vigorously nodded.

Sheng Wei and his oldest son, Changsong, had come to pick them up from the docks. Minglan saw that Changsong had slightly darker skin, thick eyebrows and big eyes, loud voice, and a cool and broad demeanor. Minglan thought that he was very similar to Changwu. When he saw Minglan, he smiled at her. “So, this is our sixth cousin, Minglan. Father has been talking about you in front of my younger sister, Pinlan, for years and she is so excited to see you!”

“Sister Ming hasn’t been to Youyang yet, has she? It’s a great place. Our old mansion and ancestral hall of the Sheng family are all there, and a carriage can take you to Jinling in an hour. When I come back, I’ll take you and Pinlan out.”

“There are too many high-ranking officials and nobles in Jinling. If our family doesn’t join in the fun, it’s better to stay in our hometown. The local scenery is great and beautiful. You’re fond of fishing, right? I’ll prepare fishing gear for you later. You can even poke a fishing rod into ponds dozens of miles away!”

“The mountain forest in autumn is the best to see. Before winter arrives, you need to go and see the maple trees that cover the mountain. They are different from those in the capital. It isn’t as luxurious and there are many fallen fields.”

…

The weather was warm and clear and the autumn breeze was refreshing. Even sitting in a sedan chair didn’t feel stuffy. Sheng Wei and Old Madam Sheng were talking while Brother Changsong was riding his horse beside Minglan’s sedan chair, chatting to relieve the boredom. Minglan felt the type of joy that children feel when they go on an outing.

Although Sheng meant prosperity, the family was originally not prosperous and was actually dying off. It wasn’t until Respected Ancestor Sheng seized the opportunity that came with the change of dynasties and became wealthy, attracting several high-ranking officials. The Sheng family gradually began to flourish by colluding with officials and merchants. They built ancestral temples, ancestral halls, and even the huge mansion in their hometown of Youyang. Anyone who came from a merchant background liked to follow a cultural path. The first thing the respected ancestor did after getting rich was to marry a young lady from a declining scholarly official family and have three sons.

The oldest son inherited the family business, but was greedy and lustful. He fell in love with a concubine who was a singer, and made a farce of spoiling his concubine and destroying his wife. It was said that his family property was almost destroyed when he died.

The second son was Minglan’s grandfather, a charming and carefree man. When he met the fierce daughter of the Marquis’s mansion, the couple nearly became enemies and he died of a cold before the age of thirty.

The third son was the most flamboyant. He indulged in dining, wining, whoring, and gambling and was still alive.

Minglan sighed. The attempted genetic improvement had failed and the entire army was almost completely destroyed.

A servant had already gone ahead to the old house to report their arrival. When Minglan and her group arrived, the main door of the Sheng residence was opened wide, and a row of brightly dressed women stood at the door. As Old Madam Sheng and Minglan got out of their sedan chairs, a middle-aged round-faced woman walked up and bowed to Old Madam Sheng with a smile. “Auntie has finally arrived. My old madam has been waiting for you. I haven’t seen you in years, it’s great to see you in good spirits. This makes me and my daughter-in-law happier than anything else!”

As she was speaking, she saw a lively young girl standing behind Old Madam Sheng. “Is this my niece?” she tentatively asked.

Old Madam Sheng smiled and said, “This little monkey has been raised by my side since she was a child. She can be a companion for Pinlan.”

Then she glanced at Minglan.

Minglan immediately moved forward and respectfully bowed. “Greetings to Auntie, I hope you are well.”

Madam Li’s eyes narrowed with a smile as she kept repeating ‘good child.’ She also touched Minglan’s face carefully, her eyes showing a look of approval. “This child is really good. Stay longer this time so you can teach your monkey cousin Pinlan. She is like a wild horse without a bridle.” She then pointed to a young woman beside her and said, “This is your sister-in-law. Whatever you want, just tell her.”

“Nice to meet you, Sister-in-law,” Minglan said, bowing again.

Madam Wen immediately helped Minglan up. “Don’t be so polite,” she said softly. “Let me know if you like the residence we prepared for you. If you don’t, we can change it immediately. This is my home, so don’t hesitate to ask.”

Madam Li looked friendly and wealthy yet dignified and refined. As she spoke, she had already led Old Madam Sheng and everyone inside, passing through the second door and the teahouse gate. She followed the corridor into the inner house, bypassed the wall, and entered the main hall where the Old Madam lived. Minglan went in and saw an old woman with silver hair sitting in the middle of the room. Her face was thin, weak, and dry but she had a pair of bright and energetic eyes. As soon as she saw Old Madam Sheng, she immediately stood up and opened her hands to her.

Old Madam Sheng quickly took a few steps forward, crying out, “Sister-in-law!”

Eldest Old Madam gave a warm and affectionate response. “It’s been so many years since we last met. You’re not in good health and have been accompanying Hong’er around with his various positions. I’m not always tired of you. I just wanted to see you again in my lifetime. Today I can say that my wish has been truly blessed by Buddha.”

Her voice choked up as she spoke, making Old Madam Sheng feel emotional. She also said a few friendly words, then asked Minglan to kowtow and pay her respects. The Eldest Old madam pulled Minglan over to look at her carefully, nodding with satisfaction. “This child is born well, beautiful and lucky.”

This was the second time someone had praised her beauty that day. Minglan worked very hard not to touch her face. The beauty of a twelve-year-old girl was probably a rare compliment from relatives. They couldn’t just say, ‘How come your child looks like a pumpkin?’

Changwu, who had always been straightforward, was a bit hesitant today. Since Minglan had come in and said ‘Congratulations Brother Wu,’ he looked like he wanted to hide away. After shyly replying to Old Madam Sheng’s words, he blushed and lowered his head, standing straight off to the side to cultivate the reserved temperament of the groom.

Seeing Old Madam Sheng and Eldest Old Madam talking, Madam Li pulled Minglan over and pointed to a girl standing next to her who was the same age as Minglan. “This is your cousin Pinlan. The both of you are around the same age.”

Minglan looked at the girl and saw her round face and big eyes. She looked a lot like Madam Li. She had a pair of heroic and straight eyebrows and her face was filled with vitality. She was also examining Minglan. Their eyes met and Minglan smiled. “Hello, Sister Pinlan.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Nice to meet you, Sister Minglan.”

She stole a glance at her mother as she spoke. Madam Li had gone over to serve the two older women. She winked at Minglan, who was startled and glanced around. With a playful heart, she gave a nod back and quickly pressed her lips into a line, looking obedient and honest.

Pinlan widened her eyes as they filled with a smile.

…

Next Chapter: Li Yu, Li Du, Tai Shang