A Crane Cries in Huating

Dingquan took the chariot to the eastern gate of the Forbidden City, Donghua Gate. After entering through the gate, he headed straight north and turned into the front courtyard to cross the Central Court of the Yong’an Gate. He saw two people walking by in purple robes, wearing black gauze and guan. The older one looked about twenty-three or four years old; there was some sort of gallant air surrounding his countenance. On his waist, he had a black leather belt with square jades, and from it hung a fish-shaped jade ornament. He was Dingquan’s older half-brother, Xiao Dingtang, Prince of Qi. Accompanying him was the fifth son of the emperor, Dingkai, who wore a gold belt according to the prince’s uniform. The youthfulness of his eyes had not yet disappeared, yet he was already conferred the title of Prince of Zhao this year. Moreover, he was also given birth by the current empress. 

When the three brothers saluted, Dingtang smiled and asked, “Is Your Highness going to greet His Majesty?” 

Dingquan replied with a smile, “Yes. Since I ran into Second Brother and Fifth Brother, might we as well go together?” 

Dingtang nodded saying, “That would be ideal.” 

Along the way, Dingquan and Dingtang talked and laughed in a low voice, while Dingkai followed them. They indeed looked like brothers.

When they arrived outside the Yan’an Palace where the emperor resided, the three of them stood under the eaves in a dignified respectful manner. After a short while, a court eunuch came out of the hall and said that the emperor summoned all three men into the warm pavilion. Because the winter solstice had just ended, a ten-day break was given, and since no morning court was being held for the past seven days, the emperor woke up a little late than usual. He would be having his breakfast around this time. Seeing Dingquan and the others entering to greet him, he smiled and said, “I assume you three haven’t eaten breakfast yet. Come eat with me.” 

The busy palace maids came to deliver the table amenities: cloth and chopsticks to the dining hall, setting up a table under the throne for three people. After thanking the emperor, they all sat down. But before they could raise the chopsticks, they suddenly heard the curtains tinkle and saw a fragrant robe. 

From inside the pavilion, smiling, a beautiful older lady came in. She wore a crimson brief coat, a jade cheong sam with gold work, and a double skirt hung down to the ground. Her high bun was not crowned, but rather adorned with a dozen golden flower hairpins inserted on just one side, while her forehead and cheeks were adorned by real pearls. She was surrounded by five or six maids in brocade uniforms. The woman entered the warm pavilion and looked around, only to feel that she overdid the makeup, however, still kept a proud expression. 

The three princes hurriedly got up again to greet her, and recited, “Hail, Your Highness, the Empress.” 

The emperor did not move, just looked at her and smiled, “You are finally ready. Any later and we wouldn’t have waited for you.”

Empress Zhao glanced askance at the emperor, her clever eyes clear and bright as ever, as if reflecting the splendour and magnificence she had in her primes. Going straight to the emperor’s table, she made a virtual obeisance to him, and smiled: “I have grown old, yet I have to serve my lord, so I do not indulge myself with makeup in fear that I might ruin Your Majesty’s blessed eyes.” 

The emperor smiled, “Come again, how is my darling old?” 

The empress blushed slightly and said annoyedly, “Your Majesty, the kids are here.” 

The emperor grinned, “My dear wife, I just began teasing and you’re already mad.” 

The three of them waited for the empress to take a seat with him and then sat down again. Dingquan, seeing this scene, realised that the empress stayed the night at Yan’an Palace last night. For some reason, he felt faintly disgusted in his heart.

After sitting down, the empress glanced at him quietly and asked with a smile, “The crown prince came here after visiting Empress Mother so early in the morning, you must surely be exhausted.” 

Dingquan bowed in accordance and replied, “Your praises are wasted on me.” 

The empress then turned to the other Princes of Qi and Zhao and said: “You too. It is hard to get up so early in the morning, moreover in this freezing cold weather. Have some more. Second Brother likes Reeve’s shad, right? And lucky for you, your Dad just happens to have it here today as well. Just be careful of its thorns.” 

Then, she turned to Dingkai, “What does Fifth Brother like? Let your father reward you.” 

Dingkai smiled, “I will have the same as Second Brother then.”

The emperor looked at Dingkai, who had dismissed the maid and slowly nibbled the served fish while picking at its thorns. He smiled and said, “There is no court today. You could just wear your regular clothes, why wear these cumbersome clothes?” 

Dingkai put aside his chopstick and answered, “I didn’t know I would be eating with Your Majesty, so I didn’t have time to change my clothes.” 

Dingtang looked at Dingquan’s seat, and said with a smile, “We know that we must wear official uniforms before Your Majesty, so we dare not make any mistake.” 

At his words, the emperor’s eyes swept slightly at Dingquan’s figure, no more mentioning the topic. Instead, he asked Dingtang about his trip to the southern outskirts as he awarded the army the day before yesterday. Then, asked Dingkai about his recent studies.

Dingquan saw that that pair of husband and wife, father and sons, were always harmonious and amicable, casting him aside alone like a foreigner. It made him feel like he was a fishbone lodged in one’s throat. He took a few mouthfuls at random, but felt like chewing wax, not feeling any taste. 

The empress smiled and glanced at his table, and ordered the maids, “The crown prince likes sweet food, so I shall send him some plum ginger and carved honey candy[1], and ask him to taste them.” 

Dingquan stood up and said: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress, for your grace.” 

The emperor’s face could not help sinking, and he said sarcastically, “Since you came here in court uniform, and use your mother’s official title for such a trivial matter, why not go all the way and make it more solemn?”

Dingquan was silent for a moment, then left the seat and knelt down, and thanked again, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress, for your grace.” 

Seeing the emperor’s unsightly face, the empress hurriedly smiled and persuaded, “Now there, Your Majesty cherishes his sons, why are you scaring them?” Then she said to Dingquan, “Third Brother, get up quickly. Your dad thinks you are too courteous. He wants a private family moment but feels estranged due to awkwardness. Child, you are too well-behaved, but still do not understand.” 

The emperor acted as if he didn’t hear it; he stared coldly at Dingquan for a moment before slamming the golden chopsticks in his hand with a bang on the food table and said, “If you aren’t hungry, you may leave.” 

Dingquan bowed and replied respectfully, “Excuse me.” After which he turned around and walked out of the hall.

The rest of the people looked at each other in dismay. After a while, the empress called the maids to bring a new pair of chopsticks. She put them in the hands of the emperor, and persuaded in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the crown prince didn’t mean that.” 

The emperor said angrily, “You don’t need to speak for him. He certainly did it intentionally to show me. Just look at his face, he looks as if everyone in the world owes him. Am I still something in his eyes?” 

The empress sighed and did not try to appease him any more. The four of them continued to eat. For a while, the atmosphere was awkward and silent. However, Dingtang and Dingkai furtively glanced at each other for some time before putting a shad in their mouth again.

Translator: turtleneck

Editor: Noir

TN Notes

TN Notes↲1雕花蜜煎 Ancient food from Tang Dynasty. Before the fruit is preserved with honey, it is first carved with a knife, and then made into candied fruit for people to eat.