HXC Chapter6

The short tail end of spring was all that remained. After two days of spring rain, the skies finally cleared.

 

Ji Zhen was not one to sit still. The moment the sun appeared, he began preparations to go out. Recently, the most famous eating house in the capital, Ziyun Lou, has introduced new delicacies and fine wines, attracting the city’s young masters one after another. Ji Zhen was extremely particular about his food, so naturally, he wanted to join in the fun.

 

The carriage, bearing the Ji family crest, moved unimpeded as pedestrians and other vehicles made way for it. It traveled down the long, lantern-filled street and stopped with a soft clatter in half an hour.

 

Ziyun Lou was resplendent with candlelight, and carriages filled the entrance. Even at night, it was exceptionally lively.

 

Just as Ji Zhen pushed open the carved wooden door of his carriage, a waiter with a smiling face approached and said loudly, “What a wind it is today that has brought Young Master Ji here! It truly makes Ziyun Lou shine. Quickly, quickly, light the incense in Young Master Ji’s private room.”

 

Ji Zhen leaped from the carriage and casually tossed the smooth-talking waiter a couple of taels of silver.

 

He was dressed in a jade-green satin straight-cut robe, with a peacock-patterned silk sash tied around his waist, and a kingfisher-feather-inlaid jade hairpin in his dark hair. Such vivid colors, far from looking vulgar, made him appear even more precious and noble.

 

As Ji Zhen walked a few steps, Ji An whispered in his ear, “Young Master, look, the Young Marquis is here too.”

 

He raised his eyes and saw a sleek, black, tall horse tied to a post. The Young Marquis, Jiang Yunyu, disliked traveling by carriage, and that black horse was his beloved steed, named Chi Jin. Jiang Yunyu won it from a visiting barbarian at the age of seventeen.

 

The young man on the training ground was as bright and fiery as the sun. He vaulted onto the horse’s back with a single move, squeezed its flanks hard, and gripped the reins. In less than fifteen minutes, he had the famously wild and untamable horse, as the barbarian described it, bowing its head in submission. Jiang Yunyu was so fond of the horse that he immediately renamed it Chi Jin, and no one was allowed to touch it except for the stableman who fed it.

 

Ji Zhen had touched it a few times, but that was before he broke off their engagement.

 

Jiang Yunyu’s maternal aunt was the current empress, and his cousin was the crown prince, Li Muwei. He was a member of the imperial family, with an exceptionally noble status.

 

Although Ji Zhen never involved himself in court affairs, he knew that his father and elder brother supported the crown prince, and his and Jiang Yunyu’s childhood engagement had also carried a hint of political significance.

 

The two families, the Jiang and the Ji, had arranged the marriage when they were still in the womb, deciding that no matter if the child was a boy or a girl, they would be joined in marriage in the future.

 

Jiang Yunyu was a year older than him and had a terrible temper. As a child, he loved to play tricks on him, from messing up his hair or putting grasshoppers in his bookcase. When they started attending the academy, he looked down on Ji Zhen because his six arts[mfn]The Six Arts formed the basis of education in ancient Chinese culture, including rites, music, archery, chariotry, calligraphy or literature, and mathematics.[/mfn] were poor, and he was always at the bottom of the class rankings. He even stated directly that he would never acknowledge the childhood engagement arranged by their elders.

 

“I am the dignified young marquis. There are better people for me to match with. Who would want to marry an idiot who can’t tell the difference between grains and is too lazy to move his hands and feet like you?”

 

Ji Zhen was never one to let others get the upper hand, so he constantly targeted Jiang Yunyu’s appearance, the thing he was most sensitive about.

 

Jiang Yunyu was famed for his good looks, he had a feminine face. As a child, he was as beautiful as a little girl. Although his features became more heroic as he grew older, a quick glance would still reveal a certain androgynous quality.

 

He hated it the most when others teased him about his looks. When he was studying at the Imperial Academy, a young nobleman merely joked that he looked like a goddess from the heavens, and Jiang Yunyu beat him until his face was bruised and swollen. Jiang Yunyu was then confined to his home for half a month. After that incident, no one dared to provoke him again.

 

But Ji Zhen kept pushing Jiang Yunyu’s buttons.

 

Whenever Jiang Yunyu tried to play a trick on him, he would retaliate with sharp words.

 

“Young Marquis, you have the face of the moon. The day we get married, you’ll be the one wearing the veil and marrying me. Don’t worry, I’ll be very gentle with you after the wedding.”

 

He knew Jiang Yunyu was unhappy about the engagement and deliberately used it to disgust him.

 

Jiang Yunyu was so repulsed by his words that it was like he had swallowed a fly. The emotions in his phoenix-like eyes changed again and again. Just as Ji Zhen thought he was about to get a punch, Jiang Yunyu just said fiercely, “If you want to marry me, you’ll have to wait for your next life.”

 

To be honest, being so despised by Jiang Yunyu did make Ji Zhen feel a bit down. Although Jiang Yunyu had a wicked temper, he did protect him at the academy. Whenever he got a “C” on an exam and was mocked by the children of imperial relatives, Jiang Yunyu would narrow his eyes and scare off those rich playboys for him.

 

And he was the only one allowed to touch Chi Jin.

 

If it really came time to marry Jiang Yunyu, Ji Zhen might not have protested. It was just a shame that Jiang Yunyu didn’t like him, so he didn’t dare to have any further thoughts.

 

He thought that when Jiang Yunyu couldn’t stand it anymore, he would propose to the Ji family to break off the engagement. But no one expected that it would be Ji Zhen who broke the engagement first.

 

After Ji Zhen asked his elder brother to go to the Jiang family to dissolve the engagement, Jiang Yunyu came storming over to confront him.

 

He had never seen Jiang Yunyu so gloomy. He was a little afraid but still used Jiang Yunyu’s own words against him. “You, the dignified young marquis, have better people to match with. I, Ji Zhen, can’t tell the difference between grain and rice and am too lazy to move my hands and feet, so I’m not worthy of you.”

 

He guessed that Jiang Yunyu was so angry because he broke off the engagement first and made him lose face, so he took the initiative to humble himself. But Jiang Yunyu didn’t buy it at all and spoke viciously.

 

“Of course you’re not worthy of me, and you’re not worthy of Shen Yanqing either.”

 

“He’s a brilliant scholar who passed all three levels of the imperial exams, he’s had eight lifetimes of bad luck to be noticed by you.”

 

“Do you really think I care about our betrothal? You’re nothing but the capital’s laughingstock.”

 

“Do you know what people outside say about you, Ji Zhen?”

 

“That you’re an arrogant bully, a greedy fantasist, a destroyer of other people’s marriages, and a hindrance to other people’s futures…”

 

Ji Zhen had originally planned not to refute any of Jiang Yunyu’s nasty words, but Jiang Yunyu became more and more excessive. He couldn’t help but choke up and say, “I just like him. Even if I’m not worthy, I’ll still find a way to marry him. You and I have already broken off our engagement, and we are free to marry. It’s my business if people slander me, so on what grounds do you stand to criticize me?”

 

Jiang Yunyu fell silent for a moment and looked at him heavily. Ji Zhen remained unflinching while holding his gaze.

 

After a long pause, Jiang Yunyu gritted his teeth and asked, “I’ll ask you one last time, are you really going to break the engagement?”

 

For some reason, Ji Zhen felt a bit of sadness. With tears in his eyes, he replied firmly, “I’ve made up my mind.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Yunyu suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his shoulders, gripping so hard that it felt as if he was going to crush his shoulder blades. Just as he thought Jiang Yunyu was going to beat him to vent his anger, the other party simply pushed him heavily into a chair.

 

After Ji Zhen was seated, he looked up to see that Jiang Yunyu had already turned around, his tone as arrogant as ever. “This is for the best. I wish for nothing more than to have nothing to do with you. From now on, you and I will be strangers, and I’ll just pretend I never knew you.”

 

Ji Zhen sat in a daze. It wasn’t until Jiang Yunyu’s swift strides had carried him out of sight that he raised a hand to his face, touching the warmth of his own tears.

 

He and Jiang Yunyu had known each other for seventeen years. They had shared joy and argued, but it had all ended in this bitter parting. Even if he hadn’t had feelings for Jiang Yunyu, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.

 

Everyone, even his elder brother, who doted on him, was against his marriage to Shen Yanqing.

 

Jiang Yunyu said he wasn’t worthy of Shen Yanqing, and his elder brother, Ji Jue, had also advised him, “You two aren’t a good match. Why force it?”

 

Yet, Ji Zhen was stubbornly set on his path, willing to stake his life with a singular courage and a sincere heart, all for a glance from Shen Yanqing.

 

Past events could not be revisited. Ji Zhen was brought back to the present by the clamor of Ziyun Lou.

 

Chi Jin snorted and puffed, scaring passersby into walking around it. Ji Zhen really wanted to go up and touch the great horse again, but he and Chi Jin’s owner had already parted ways, making it impossible to ever touch it again.

 

He pursed his lips and withdrew his gaze, then stepped into the bustling Ziyun Lou.

 

Waiters streamed through the space, and the whole building was filled with fragrance. Ji Zhen’s appearance immediately drew the attention of a large table in the center.

 

He didn’t know many of the people at the table. A few were young men from official families, and others were the nephews of princes and marquises. The person in the main seat was clearly Jiang Yunyu.

 

The young marquis’s dark hair was tied up high. He wore a plain white brocade robe underneath, with tight black arm guards on his wrists, and a dark blue protective vest embroidered with round coiled snakes on top, cinched at the waist. This outfit made his shoulders look broad and his legs long, giving him a very dashing and unrestrained air. No one would mistake him for a delicate lady because of his beautiful face anymore.

 

Ji Zhen unintentionally met Jiang Yunyu’s gaze. The other party frowned, seeming very displeased to see him there.

 

The capital was vast, and he and Jiang Yunyu hadn’t seen each other in nearly three months. The last time was a brief encounter at a palace banquet, where he attended with his father and elder brother, and they sat across from each other from a distance without saying a single word to each other.

 

Naturally, there was no need for conversation today either.

 

Ji Zhen was there to taste fine food and good wine. Not wanting to cause any trouble, he was the first to look away and quicken his pace.

 

He wished to stay out of trouble, yet someone else was determined to disturb his peace.

 

Just as he stepped onto the stairs, he heard a cold sneer. “To be a man and willingly marry like a woman is a disgrace to a man’s courage. It’s an utter joke.”

 

Ji Zhen’s steps on the stairs paused slightly. He followed the sound and saw that the person who spoke was Zhang Zhen, the son of the minister of the Ministry of Rites and a well-known drunkard and layabout in the capital.

 

Jiang Yunyu just tasted his wine as if he hadn’t heard Zhang Zhen’s mockery of Ji Zhen, seemingly condoning his behavior.

 

Ji Zhen hadn’t planned to get into a conflict with anyone, but he also wouldn’t swallow the insult. Hearing the comment, he retorted, “For Lord Zhang to say that, does it mean you look down on women?”

 

Zhang Zhen scoffed, “What if I do, and what if I don’t?” He gave a sarcastic smile. “Aiyo, my apologies, I forgot that Young Master Ji married into a family, so aren’t you just the same as a woman? Look at my mouth, I’ll have to punish myself with a drink. Please, Young Master Ji, don’t take it to heart.”

 

His words were extremely flippant, and whispers and snickers spread around the table as everyone watched Ji Zhen’s humiliation.

 

Anger welled up in Ji Zhen. He took three quick steps down the stairs and approached the table. He looked at the faces of these people and said, “Do all of you here think the same as Lord Zhang?”

 

After all, his family was prominent, so few people dared to answer loudly, only saying, “Since ancient times, men have been superior to women. Of course, women are a little lower…”

 

“That’s so funny.” Ji Zhen gave two dry laughs. Everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot, but he wasn’t intimidated. He spoke up, “You think women are inferior, but I dare to ask, which one of you here didn’t come into this world from a woman’s body?”

 

Everyone’s smiling faces suddenly changed.

 

Jiang Yunyu’s hand, which was holding the wine, paused slightly, and he also looked up at Ji Zhen.

 

Ji Zhen’s eyes reflected the candlelight, shining brightly. “Lord Zhang, you compared me to a woman to humiliate me, but I don’t believe women are weaker than men. Although I’m not a very scholarly person, I know the saying that heroines are no less than heroes. Take Dou Chan from the previous dynasty, for example; if she hadn’t organized the common people to defend the city of Wa with their lives, the barbarians would have long since breached the city walls and plundered it. How could they have waited for the court to send troops to rescue them?”

 

“You’re all talking about men being superior to women today, but do you dare to say this to the women in your own homes?”

 

Ji Zhen’s voice was firm as he spoke. “When you look down on women, you are looking down on your own mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters—all the women in your households. How can a man who despises his own family be called a man of courage? You are using this opportunity to mock me, but I’m not angry. I just think you are all hopelessly ignorant, and I disdain to be associated with you.”

 

Everyone looked at each other, their faces were a mix of pale and green, and there were speechless.

 

After a long time, someone finally retorted, “The sages say that only women and unscrupulous men are hard to deal with. You get a ‘C’ on your exams every year, so it’s no wonder you don’t understand.”

 

Ji Zhen was good at arguing but had read few classics. He racked his brain for a rebuttal and finally managed to say, “Are the words of the sages always correct?”

 

“Are you saying your words are more authoritative than those of the sages?”

 

Before Ji Zhen could come up with a reply, the long-silent Jiang Yunyu finally spoke. “Everyone, be quiet.”

 

He then stood up and looked at Ji Zhen. “That’s enough. You should go.”

 

Ji Zhen held his head high. “I’m not wrong, so I’m not leaving.”

 

More than being mocked by others, what made Ji Zhen sad was that Jiang Yunyu would no longer stand up for him and even let others ridicule him.

 

Jiang Yunyu grabbed his hand, wanting to lead him away.

 

Having practiced martial arts for years, Jiang Yunyu’s grip was too strong for Ji Zhen to break free. He was being pulled forward a few steps when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them. “The words of the sages are, of course, without fault.”

 

Ji Zhen spun around in surprise and saw Shen Yanqing standing in the main hall, his expression cold as his eyes rested on Ji Zhen and Jiang Yunyu’s intertwined hands.

 

The author has something to say:

Young Marquis (gritting his teeth): I don’t like this “switching love interest” plot. Change it.

Lord Shen (smiling faintly): I like it.