Jinting Han people

Chapter 4: Chatting at Anle Mansion

For Zhang Ximiao, who had just become a mother, the birth of Bi Ji was a world-shattering event, but for the people of the time, the birth of Prince Anle was an insignificant matter.

After all, the fall of Shu Han had occurred several years earlier, and since Liu Chan, the Han ruler, had been granted the title of Duke of Anle County, he had been under constant surveillance by the Jin court. Many of the former Shu Han officials had been reassigned or disbanded, leaving only two or three remaining as retainers within the government. By this time, with the passing of the old Duke of Anle, Liu Chan, the new Duke of Anle, Liu Xun, seemed even more dispensable. Consequently, in the eighth year of the Taishi reign, the Duke's residence was deserted, with few visitors.

Duke Anle Liu Xun knew this very well, so after having a son, he did not feel the same genuine joy as his wife. Instead, he thought to himself: There is one more prisoner in this mansion.

This kind of thinking is extremely ominous, especially for a father to think about his own child; it's truly cruel. But on the other hand, this idea wasn't born out of thin air; it's actually a product of life experience. Liu Xun's failures over the past twenty years have taught him a lesson: when people can clearly examine their own failures, they won't keep getting hurt. Being unwilling to acknowledge one's predicament is actually a form of self-deception that is doomed to tragedy.

So when his wife went out to the White Horse Temple to fulfill her vow, he sat at home drinking with his second brother Liu Yao.

While chatting about family matters, Liu Xun tilted his head to survey the scene in the courtyard. The weather was beginning to warm, and the peach tree planted by the old Anle Lord Liu Chan himself was already bearing green, hairy peaches, emitting a faint fruity fragrance. Perhaps attracted by the aroma, the birds in the yard were particularly numerous, chirping and making him feel irritated. He couldn't help but express his thoughts:
"She's lost her mind. Our ancestors can't protect us. How can making a wish to some bodhisattva help?"

"Even if it works, will it be a blessing if the news reaches the Taiji Palace? Will His Majesty be happy and say, 'Congratulations, may your family be honored?'"

These words were self-deprecating and carried a hint of sarcasm towards the imperial court, which made Liu Xun very satisfied. So he laughed heartily at his brother, raised his glass and took a long sip, which filled his heart again.

But this self-deprecation only earned Liu Yao a blaming look. He said the two brothers were drinking together, but Liu Yao didn't touch the cup. He was a prudent man. Even though he understood his brother's distress, he really couldn't agree with this self-destructive attitude, so he said:

"Sixth brother, you have inherited the title and are the head of the family. You must pay attention to maintaining a harmonious relationship between husband and wife, loving your children, and respecting your elders."

"Besides, you are a father now. Things are very different now. You should be a role model for your children and not say certain things carelessly."

After finishing this sermon, there was no smile on Liu Xun's young and pale face. He nodded twice and then, as if waking from a dream, he suddenly revealed his anger:

"Brother, you're saying I'm heartless and ungrateful!"

"No--" Liu Yao cursed in his heart. He didn't want to hit Liu Xun's sore spot as soon as he opened his mouth. He wanted to speak to save the situation, but it was obviously too late.

"Do I want to do this?!"

Liu Xun slapped his knee hard, his expression agitated. Then he fell silent, his eyes reddening. After a long pause, his voice cracked. "I'm called the County Lord, but I hold no official position. I'm trapped in this small prefecture, and everyone avoids me. And I don't know how many people mock me behind my back for being called the Lord of Anle! I've survived this miserable existence, under house arrest. What else can I do..."

He couldn't say any more.

Liu Yao once again said: "The world is unpredictable. No matter where you are, you must have hope."

Liu Yao's voice was low, but she spoke each word with great resolve.

As mentioned above, the dilemma Liu Xun alluded to was certainly real, but upon closer examination, it's somewhat exaggerated. The imperial court did indeed dismantle Shu Han's power, but for the Sima clan, who had held power for years, the powerless and military-less Anle Mansion was little more than a mascot, posing no threat. Therefore, the emperor paid little attention to it. To suggest that they were wary of it was simply wishful thinking on Liu Xun's part.

As a court official, Liu Yao understood the emperor's intentions to some extent, so he wanted to use the opportunity of the birth of a child in the palace to comfort his brother. Unexpectedly, after just a few words, Anle Gong returned to his original decadent state, which made him feel helpless and sympathetic.

Liu Xun was still speaking angrily at this time, saying, "The others are fine, but Wen Li, as a minister of Shu, has served my family for many years. He's been an official in Luoyang these past few years, and he's never even come to see me. And Qiao Zhou and his apprentice in Shuzhong, they haven't even sent me a single letter in all these years..."

Liu Yao immediately stood up and scolded Liu Xun, "You're drunk! What nonsense are you talking about? You just said you wanted to live a life of compromise, but now don't you know that others have to avoid suspicion too?"

After the fall of Shu Han, it wasn't just Duke Anle who found himself in a difficult position; the remaining Shu officials faced the same dilemma. For example, Li Mi and Xi Zheng, forced to balance the bonds of former monarchy with the need to remain loyal and serve the new dynasty, despite their significant achievements. Despite being constantly marginalized by the other Jin officials, their official positions fluctuated between county magistrate and prefect. The other Shu officials, taking this as a lesson, refrained from associating with Duke Anle's household, a move Liu Yao considered understandable and sympathetic.

Liu Xun listened to his brother's accusations with a look of disdain on his face. Fortunately, he was really a little drunk and did not continue to dwell on this topic. Instead, he stood up, pulled Liu Yao to sit down, and then said:
"Brother, I've let it go a long time ago. There's nothing wrong with this. What I said just now was simply for the child's own good." "His mother has such high hopes, she's afraid of being disappointed in the future. It's better for him to let it go now and just be a rich man..."

As they were talking, footsteps were heard in the empty corridor. It was Xi Miao's maid, who announced, "The eldest lady is back." The two were startled and looked at each other. The brother hurriedly got up and prepared to go greet his widowed sister-in-law.

"No need to be so formal. Please sit down. This is quite good." A clear voice echoed, and Fei Xiu entered with a beaming smile. "Oh, why are you two brothers here? Where are the fourth and seventh brothers? Have you gone out to find someone for a bullfight again?" Fei Xiu was already in her thirties, but dressed in a plain, cross-collared, two-legged skirt and a ponytail bun, she still exuded a graceful demeanor. Holding the moon-old Bi Ji in her arms, Fei Xiu appeared even more dignified and loving. The fourth and seventh brothers she was referring to were Liu Zan, the fourth and seventh sons of the late Anle Duke Liu Chan, and Liu Qian, the seventh sons.

"What a beautiful day today," Fei Xiu smiled after Liu Xun nodded in agreement. She coaxed the baby in her arms and said, "When I went to accompany my sister to fulfill her vow, the pear blossoms along the way were in bloom, and I saw flocks of yellow orioles. Time flies. It's like Bi Ji was born last night."

"Come, hold the child." Fei Xiu handed Bi Ji to Liu Xun, then took out a sachet from his bosom and carefully hung it around Bi Ji's tender neck. He then said to Liu Xun, "Here is a talisman that I obtained from Zhang Zhaocheng, the Heavenly Master. It is said to be able to enlighten the child. You must take good care of it for the child."

Ever since his elder brother Liu Xuan died in the Chengdu Rebellion, Liu Xun had always held his widowed sister-in-law in high esteem. He was deeply moved by what he had heard. He asked:
"Master Zhang's talisman is worth a fortune. How did my sister-in-law get it?"

"Didn't my father leave behind a chessboard and chess pieces? I took it to Zhang Tianshi's house today and exchanged it for it."

Fei Xiu's words were lighthearted, but Liu Xun felt deeply distressed. He knew that this was the only relic left to his daughter by Fei Yi, the former great general of Shu Han. Its value could not be measured in gold or silver. He murmured,
"What a shame, why bother?"

"A chessboard and chess pieces are but inanimate objects, how can they compare to a child? You, you're still overthinking things!" Fei Xiu gently lifted up Bi Ji and laughed loudly, "Little Bi Ji, your father is still far inferior to your great-grandfather... Now that you're born in the Anle Mansion, you must become a gentleman like your great-grandfather, working hard all day and striving for self-improvement!"

After saying that, Fei Xiu put down the knife and kissed him on the smiling face.

The widowed sister-in-law's words just now coincided with those of his brother Liu Yao, making Liu Xun unbearable. However, he respected Fei Xiu and could not directly attack him as he would his brother. He could only criticize him in his heart while changing the subject and asking:

"Where's Xi Miao? Didn't my sister-in-law go out with her?"

"Xi Miao is still in the White Horse Temple. She said she wanted to pray for Pi Ji in front of Bishamonten and recite the sutra a hundred times, so she asked Pi Ji and I to return first."

Liu Xun was deeply dissatisfied with what he heard, and even felt a little jealous of his own son. Throughout his life, he had always been treated with more indifference than pampering. What merits and abilities did this child have to deserve such love? But he couldn't express it, so he could only repeat himself, "Why is this necessary?"

Fei Xiu seemed to have noticed Liu Xun's displeasure. He looked him in the eye and said, "Liu Lang, a woman's tragic fate is one that men will never understand. Life's vanity, the separations of life and death, are all like a dream. No matter what hardships a woman endures in this world, it's difficult for her to live her true self. Therefore, as a mother, she can only consider her children and hope for prosperity for generations to come."

"Sister-in-law, what do you mean...are you really hoping this child will bring honor to the family in the future?"

Fei Xiu looked at the bewildered Anle Gong and couldn't help but sigh. She didn't say anything more about the previous topic.

Some truths can never be fully articulated. In the world of many men, life is a battlefield where force is valued. Failure to succeed is failure, and failure to survive is destruction. There is no third way.

But in reality, the outcome isn't always that important. After all, in the long run, everyone dies, which means everyone fails. At this point, it's helpful to step back and rediscover your perspective on life: as long as you live your life to the fullest, without wasting time, what's the point of valuing success or failure?

All a mother hopes for is this: to let her children discover the beauty of life itself.

But at this time, she still followed Liu Xun's intention, stretched out her hand to tease Xiao Biji's chin a few times, listened to his laughter, and then said to Liu Xun:
"Who knows? Maybe in thirty years, he can become a provincial governor!"

　There will be a big chapter in the evening. I hope everyone will read it and vote for it. Your support is my motivation to update.

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(End of this chapter)