Before today, Zhuge Jingjun had never heard the name Long Renyu, nor did she know who the current Feilong General was. After today, Zhuge Jingjun knew that Long Renyu was the most esteemed military leader of the emperor and her husband - soon to be. He had made outstanding achievements in the Northern campaign against the Mongols. "As long as there is a flying general in Dragon City, the Hu horses shall not cross the Yin Mountains[1]" - these were words personally inscribed by the emperor on a golden plaque for him, and it was from this that he got the title of Feilong General.
The emperor bestowed upon him ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand acres of fertile land, and countless rare treasures. He was even given a wife as beautiful as a flower - the daughter of the minister of the Ministry of Works, a maiden most graceful and charming. He refused. He ate no more than three meals a day, slept no more than three feet, and cared more for military strategy books than for a beautiful wife. Long Renyu was a well-known weirdo in the court.
This time, the emperor bestowed him with a marriage again.
Zhuge Jingjun, the eldest daughter of Zhuge Manor, was remarkable not only for her beauty but also for the wealth and influence of Zhuge Manor behind her, which was like the emperor's second state treasury. If it hadn't been for the support of the head of Zhuge Manor during the Jingnan Campaign[2], the situation would have been difficult to resolve.
But this time, he did not refuse. Zhuge Jingjun would soon become a veritable general’s wife.
According to hearsay, the general's mansion was already bustling with preparations for the wedding, with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere, a lively scene not seen in decades.
Next month, on the second day of the second month, when Long Renyu returns to the capital, it will be the time for the wedding.
Everyone thought this was a match made in heaven, simply an ideal couple. Even the emperor was immeasurably self-satisfied, believing he had brought about an everlasting wonderful thing.
Yes, everyone thought so, except for Zhuge Jingjun.
Zhuge Manor, surrounded by mountains and rivers, with its majestic pavilions and towers, exuded an atmosphere that rivaled even the royal palaces. Tonight, with the full moon illuminating the sky, its silvery glow melted away all sharp edges, and even the pair of bronze lions at the manor entrance seemed gentler than usual. The courtyard was filled with blooming red plum blossoms, their fragrance lingering in the air. Servants and maids bustled about the manor, and Eunuch Liu, who came to announce the marriage, couldn't be said to be a noble but was a trusted confidant of the emperor, so was naturally treated with the utmost respect.
Everywhere was filled with the delightful scenery of blooming flowers and the full moon, creating a pleasant atmosphere and anticipation.
"This marriage wasn't the emperor's idea but yours, isn't that right?"
In the largest study of Zhuge Manor, candlelight danced in the icy pupils of Zhuge Jingjun as she stared hard at the man sitting at the desk, holding up a book to read.
"That is your happiness." Zhuge Jun's eyes remained fixed on the book of "Records of the Grand Historian[3]" in his hand, as if it contained his entire world. Although from a long time ago until now, he hadn't turned a single page.
"You have no right to decide my future," Zhuge Jingjun walked up to the desk, wanting to see the man's face clearly, and wanting him to see hers clearly too, "You gave me a surname, but that doesn't mean I'm an object belonging exclusively to you."
Zhuge Jun lifted his head slightly, his fingers lifting a corner of the book, and his sharply defined face was completely illuminated by the candlelight as the angle changed. At thirty-seven years old, time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to him, leaving no mark on his appearance except for a few strands of silver at his temples. His appearance was no different from when she first met him; he was still calm and sophisticated, still in the prime of his life.
"Of course you are mine," Zhuge Jun's tone was as calm as discussing the weather with a passerby.
Zhuge Jingjun's expression changed. The icy gaze she had been forcing was suddenly shaken by some force, and even her breathing stopped for a moment.
The faint fragrance of plum blossoms permeated the room, the quiet smell masking the subtle collision of emotions between them.
"Listen carefully," Zhuge Jingjun clenched her fists, forcefully leaning on the desk with a provocative stance, "My happiness has nothing to do with you!" With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The "Records of the Grand Historian" fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Zhuge Jun's brows furrowed, one hand gripping his chest, the other tightly clutching the edge of the desk, gritting his teeth. His expression of pain was totally different from his calm demeanor a moment ago.
A force seemed to surge from his chest, but he desperately tried to suppress it.
Bean-sized beads of cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and after a while, Zhuge Jun finally relaxed his brows slightly. A layer of gloomy gray gradually surfaced in his reddened eyes, minuscule yet harboring a desire to swallow up everything.
Footnotes:
[1] 但 使 龙城 飞 将 在 ， 不 教 胡 马 度 阴山: Yin mountains are in Inner Mongolia. Hu stands for non-Han people, especially from central Asia.
[2] The Jingnan campaign, or Jingnan rebellion, was a three-year civil war from 1399 to 1402 in the early years of the Ming dynasty of China. Source: Wikipedia
[3] 史记 is an important Chinese history book written by Han dynasty scholar Sima Qian.
No comments:
Post a Comment