Volume 2: Chapter 17-Twin Evil-Part 1

(T/N: I just picked up this novel…and the original translator has completed the first volume/arc, so I will continue from the second volume.. My way of translating a novel might differ from the original translator, so hopefully you will be able to accept it..I try to translate it as close to the original translator as possible…hehe)

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Teng Yuyi sank into the netherworld, pain leaving her, and her consciousness fading. She felt like she had turned into a speck of dust, drifting aimlessly.

One day, amidst her wandering, she heard noises. Someone lifted the black cloth covering her eyes, revealing the outside world.

Having been in darkness for so long, Teng Yuyi’s consciousness was still muddled when she woke up. When she could finally make out her surroundings, she realized the place was familiar.

It was a solemn and somber ancestral shrine. Several eunuchs were cleaning the hall.

“You haven’t been in Chang’an for long, so it’s no wonder you don’t know who’s enshrined here. This is the famous Duke Jin, Teng Shao, renowned for his military exploits. He was tragically killed by traitors for his efforts to suppress the rebellion. It’s been three years since he passed.”

Teng Yuyi was stunned. This was her father’s ancestral shrine, and her father had been gone for three years. Where was she?

“I heard the crown prince had already requested to marry the Duke of Jin’s daughter once her mourning period ended, but unexpectedly beautiful women suffer unhappy fates, and the Duke’s daughter was also murdered shortly after.”

(T/N: This is actually an idiom. hóng yán bó mìng, which means a woman with beautiful appearance but bad fate (usually refers to early death, widowhood, or bad husband). It comes from “Book of Han Biography of Empress Xu of Xiaocheng” and “Yuanyang Bei.”)

Teng Yuyi felt a chill throughout her body. She looked down at herself, finding nothing there. She turned to look at the altar, where several memorial tablets were placed. She approached in despair and saw the words “Duke of Jin” on one of the tablets, tears streaming down her face.

“Shh…” one eunuch said.

“The crown prince only married this year, so don’t mention this again. Be careful not to upset the crown princess.”

Another eunuch said, “Right, right. Recently, the palace has been filled with joy. After three years, the rebellious army in Huaixi has finally surrendered. The four towns in the northwest have also won victories against Tubo. The emperor and empress are overjoyed.”

One eunuch cheerfully said, “Speaking of the heir of Prince Cheng, I saw him two years ago when he went to war. He was an excellent archer and horseman, only seventeen or eighteen at the time. Now, just two years later, he can lead troops on his own.”

(T/N: Prince Cheng is actually Qinwang, or Prince of the First Rank… This title is usually given to the sons of the emperor, and the heir to Qinwang is called shizi/heir son or heir apparent, so Lin Chengyou’s title is actually heir apparent.... )

“Indeed, over the past two years, he has been relentless, killing enemy leaders, and I heard that now as long as the Tubo army sees the flags of the Shuofang Army and the Shen Ce Army, they will flee in panic.”

Teng Yuyi listened bitterly. She and her father had been dead for three years, and so much had happened during that time.

“I heard the empress and Prince Cheng’s consort are planning to arrange a marriage for the heir. Is that true?”

Someone squinted and said, “The heir contracted a strange illness in his childhood and hasn’t recovered. The crown prince is already married, but the heir is still single. He was away on the Beirong for two years and is finally coming back. Not only Prince Cheng and consort Cheng are anxious; even the Emperor and Empress are also anxious, and they’ve chosen several suitable young ladies. Let’s see if it works out this time.”

An older eunuch entered, his voice sharp and piercing, “You lazy lot! Don’t blame me for not reminding you that the emperor once said he’d visit the shrine to mourn Duke Teng once Huaixi was pacified. Now that the evil party  has retreated and the world is at peace, the Empror will come to pay tribute in the next two days. Before the Emperor arrives, you should clean up quickly. If I find a place that is not clean enough, go outside and get a stick!”

Suddenly, chaos erupted outside, and two eunuchs rushed in.

“Something terrible has happened!”

“What is it, Eunuch Liu? Why the rush?”

“Hurry, the palace is in turmoil.”

“We don’t understand. Calm down and explain, Eunuch Liu.”

“We can’t understand if you don’t explain clearly. Eunuch Liu, don’t rush, speak slowly.”

Eunuch Liu stomped his foot.

“How can I speak slowly when something serious has happened? An urgent report just came in from the military. When the heir was confronting the Tubos in Funing, tens of thousands of border troops crossed Heng Mountain and launched a surprise attack on Funan. Funan Prefecture didn’t have enough grain stored, so the heir led the army to rescue them. After barely resolving the crisis in Funan, just as they were entering the city, a soldier shot a poisoned arrow and ambushed the heir!”

The eunuchs were shocked. “An ambush? By our soldiers?”

“We don’t know who sent the assassin, but he had been hiding in the heir’s army for two years. After shooting the heir, the heir chopped the traitor off his horse on the spot. However, the traitor was prepared and immediately committed suicide by biting the poison. The arrow was very poisonous, and the heir must have known that he was in danger. When the soldier reported the news, he pretended to be fine, saying that wealth and poverty, longevity and death are common, and that parents should not be sad. He also said that Master Qingxuzi is old, and if he dies, don’t let Master Qingxuzi know.”

The eunuchs’ eyes reddened. “The heir is so young and hasn’t married yet. How will Prince Cheng and the consort bear this? Master Qingxuzi is old and won’t survive the shock.”

The first eunuch spat.

“Stop whining and get back to the palace. The heir is blessed and will be fine.”

Another said, “Prince Cheng and the crown prince have already gone to Xingping with the imperial physician Feng Yu, who is skilled in detoxification. Prince Chun’an and Master Qingxuzi have also set off together. If they can arrive in time, there may be hope.”

They seemed to think the chances were slim and hurried out. Teng Yuyi, her soul restless, followed them.

“The soldier who brought the news said that the people of Fu ward were waiting outside the tent, either sending medicine or physicians, and they would not leave no matter what. They said that the Tubo’s army had besieged the city for half a month, and they thought the city would be destroyed, but they did not expect the heir to come to rescue them. Before they had time to thank the young general, such a thing happened.”

Teng Yuyi listened in a daze.

She hadn’t liked Lin Chengyou in life, but she did not expect that this man would die a bad death like her. After listening for a while, she suddenly realized that she was wandering here; where were her grandfather and grandmother? She had been dead for three years; why could she still not see her father and mother?

She grew anxious and drifted out of the shrine.

Just as she was about to leave, an old voice called out, “Teng Yuyi!”

The voice was extraordinarily clear and resonant, echoing through the clouds.

“Teng Yuyi!”

Teng Yuyi looked around in confusion.

The old man said, “Still not willing to return?”

It felt as if someone was pulling her by the collar, causing her body to sway backward. With a splash, she seemed to fall back into a pond, but this time, she was surrounded by warm currents instead of icy water.

She floated in the warmth, gradually feeling heat entering her chest.

Shimmering water and moving shadows appeared before her eyes.

Suddenly, the voices around her grew louder, transforming into familiar tones.

“Yu’er! Yu’er!”

Her eyelids felt sticky, and she couldn’t open her eyes. She felt like a heavy stone on her body, pressing her so hard that she couldn’t move.

“My good child, what’s wrong with you?”

Someone began shaking her shoulders.

Teng Yuyi’s fingers trembled slightly.

It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest. She gasped and suddenly opened her eyes.

Before her was the anxious face of her aunt.

“Yu’er.”

Her aunt’s expression turned to joy.

“You’re awake, finally awake.”

Teng Yuyi looked around in panic.

Moving slightly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Madam Du bent down and hugged Teng Yuyi.

“Did you have a nightmare? You look so frightened.”

Still shaken, Teng Yuyi tentatively reached out to touch her aunt’s face, trembling before she could even make contact, afraid it was just another dream and she was still in the cold pond.

Madam Du had never seen Teng Yuyi like this before. She grabbed Teng Yuyi’s hand.

“What happened? Auntie is here. Don’t be afraid; don’t be afraid of anything.”

She then instructed the servant, “Yesterday, the Taoist priests Juesheng and Qizhi left talismans to calm her spirit. Quickly brew some water with them for her. She was frightened in the bamboo forest the night before last. Seeing her like this, she must have been really scared.”

Teng Yuyi couldn’t stop crying. Her aunt’s hands were warm and dry, holding hers firmly. She was grateful to be alive again, an experience beyond words.

She choked back sobs and hugged her aunt tightly.

“Auntie.”

Madam Du, both surprised and pained, said, “Quick, go to Qingyun Temple and ask the two priests to come. Tell them Yu’er is frightened and ask them to cast some spell.”

Teng Yuyi, leaning on her aunt’s shoulder, shook her head, but tears flowed even more freely.

“I’m fine. I just… I just had a very long nightmare.”

Madam Du, heartbroken, patted her gently.

“What kind of nightmare frightened you so much? Yesterday noon, you said you were going to take a nap, and you slept through the entire night.”

She took a towel from a servant and wiped Teng Yuyi’s sweat while speaking.

“This morning, Chunrong and Biluo saw that you were still not awake, so they came to ask me for advice several times. I said you were tired from traveling and the fright in the bamboo forest, so you were probably just exhausted. Who knew you wouldn’t wake up by noon? When I came to check, your face was as pale as a ghost. I panicked. If you hadn’t woken up, your uncle and I would have gone to fetch the Taoist priests.”

Teng Yuyi was still trembling, the scenes of her previous life fresh in her mind. The sound of rushing water seemed to echo in her ears whenever it was quiet.

She recalled her father’s tragic death and her own despair before dying. The sorrow in her chest wouldn’t dissipate.

Madam Du puzzled, and she noticed that Teng Yuyi was drenched and hurriedly arranged to change her clothes.

Teng Yuyi remained motionless, leaning against her aunt. Once she felt less cold, she slowly raised her head to look around.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room with light. A white porcelain vase on the table held a peach blossom with pink petals and a white core, and the air was filled with a light fragrance.

Madam Du kept talking softly. Chunrong approached with Teng Yuyi’s outer garments. As she got closer, Teng Yuyi could almost see the fine hairs on the maid’s forehead.

Everything felt so real, real enough to calm her chaotic heart. She took the clothes, slipped on her shoes, and tried to stand.

Her legs were weak. “Auntie, what time is it now?”

“It’s past noon.”

Madam Du helped Teng Yuyi put on her clothes.