A Hundred of Beautiful Lives - Chapter 001

“My lord, an envoy from the Central Plains has arrived, bearing an imperial edict from the emperor.” At a distance of ten feet, Yu Da stood respectfully. After delivering this message, he lowered his gaze and fell silent.

In the early spring breeze, tinged with the fragrance of pear blossoms, aside from the chirping of birds, there was only the crisp sound of Go stones colliding on the board echoed in the air.

The clear emerald stream winds around the thatched cottage, and beneath a pear tree in front of the cottage, its branches clustered with jade-coloured blossoms, an elder and a young man were deeply absorbed in their game of wits.

“Settle the envoy first,” Shen Du said calmly after placing his stone with measured grace, and Yu Da acknowledged the order and quietly withdrew.

Min Hao stroked his snow-white long beard and said, “Feng Zhuo’s chess skills have become increasingly refined, intricate and elusive, leaving one defenceless. I have lost yet another stone this round.”

Shen Du smiled and said, “Shall we play another game, sir?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Min Hao readily agreed.

Though the two by the stream remained engrossed in their match and showed no regard for the envoy from the Central Plains, Yu Da did not dare to delay. He immediately turned back to the residence. After all, the envoy was still a representative of the Central Plains, and the Marquisate of Xinyang could not afford to neglect proper decorum lest they invite accusations of discourtesy.

Lu Youxiang had been waiting in the side hall for some time when Yu Da hurried in.

“Lord Lu, I must apologise. The lord has gone out to visit a friend and has yet to return. I have already sent someone to summon him. In the meantime, I kindly ask you to rest here for a while. This evening, His Excellency the Chief Secretary will host a banquet at Tianyi Pavilion by the shores of Daluze to extend his welcome and wash away the dust of your travels.”

What a convenient excuse for an unspecified return. An imperial envoy from the Central Plains has come to deliver an imperial edict, yet the Marquis of Ji dares to be so arrogant. Lu Youxiang simmered inwardly, yet his expression remained perfectly composed. Instead, he smiled and said, “Thank you for your trouble, Chief Steward Yu.”

As Xinyang was the administrative centre of Jizhou, and Shen Du governed the military and civil affairs of Jizhou as the Marquis of Xinyang, people commonly referred to him as Ji Hou. However, his formal title was indeed Marquis of Xinyang.

Yu Da arranged for Lu Youxiang and his entourage to stay in the Shuijing Terrace in a separate courtyard. From the pavilion, Lu Youxiang gazed out into the distance, where he saw distant peaks and mountains shrouded in mist, pine and cypress trees luxuriantly flourishing, their natural elegance seemingly a heavenly scene. Nearby, the corridors wound around, with flying eaves, jostling roof corners, intricately carved beams and exquisitely painted rafters, all masterfully crafted. The Xinyang Hou’s residence, having been meticulously managed by generations, was solemn and boundless in elegance, rich in grandeur beyond words.

Lu Youxiang sighed, and a nearby attendant said indignantly, “My lord, this Ji Hou is too deceitful, daring to show such disrespect to the heavenly envoy.”

Lu Youxiang raised a hand to stop him, stroked his black beard, and sighed again. He observed the Xinyang Hou’s residence—everything was in perfect order, and people moved with discipline, a place thriving with vitality. In contrast, the Central Plains were in decline, like the sun setting in the west. Its once-glorious landscapes and rivers fell into ruin in a mere twenty years. Even imperial decrees no longer reached beyond the Central Plains, and all manners of barbarians encircled the empire. The ancestral temple seemed on the verge of collapse. On this journey to Jizhou, he bore imperial command, seeking assistance from others. How could he dare to put on the airs of a heavenly envoy?

He recalled how, twenty years ago, when he had accompanied Lord Zhang on a diplomatic mission to Jizhou, the old Ji Hou was exceedingly courteous. Now, he could only sigh once more.

Early the following day, Shen Du finally returned to the manor and changed his clothes with the help of his concubine, Lady Dayu, before visiting Taihe Courtyard to pay his respects to the Old Madam Lady Qi.

“Ruo Pu, what is the purpose of this envoy from the Central Province?” Grandmother Qi asked Shen Du. The two-character “Ruo Pu” was a nickname for Shen Du. When he was born, a divine monk from Jialan Temple praised him and said, This child is an unpolished jade. Since then, the old Ji Hou and his family affectionately called him Ruo Pu.

“Shi Zun of Liangzhou has rebelled. His Majesty wishes to suppress the revolt but lacks sufficient forces and fears attacks from both front and rear. This envoy from the Central Plains must be here to request my assistance in mobilising troops to quell the rebellion,” said Shen Du.

“Then what do you intend?” Grandmother Qi asked.

“We must send troops,” Shen Du replied succinctly. Seeing the look of concern on Grandmother Qi’s face, he added reassuringly, “Grandmother need not worry. I am not a reckless man. We have yet to spread our wings fully. To the north, the Xianbei and Rouran tribes eye us like tigers. It is not yet time for the world to fall into chaos. Though Central Plains’ fate has not run its course, we must restrain Liangzhou before its power grows unchecked.”

Grandmother Qi saw the calm confidence in his demeanour and could not help but feel a surge of emotion. That once unpolished jade had, through the carving of the phoenix, been transformed into the finest material. The spirit of the old marquis must now rest in peace in heaven. At that time, Elder Min chose the courtesy name Feng Zhuo for Ruo Pu. How full of meaning it had proven to be.

Grandmother Qi sighed, “Now I feel reassured. You have just annexed Youzhou, and the public sentiments have yet to settle. It is indeed not the time to be radical. The monks of Jialan Temple once divined that, though the Ziwei lies clouded by ominous stars, the imperial destiny has not yet waned.”

“I understand,” Shen Du nodded. The world teetered in chaos as heroes rose to vie for supremacy, but a rushed pursuit of success could easily lead to ruin.

After breakfast, an incense altar was set before Zhuangjing Hall at the Xinyang Marquis mansion, ready to receive the Imperial Edict. Grandmother Qi and Madam Xue, Shen Du’s mother, donned ceremonial attire and accompanied Shen Du to the hall.

Shen Du was as prophetic as a god, and Lu Youxiang presented him with a handwritten edict from the emperor. Urging him to send troops against Liang quickly. However, the contents of the edict were not what anyone had anticipated.

The foolish emperor and the treacherous empress did not play by the rules. No one could have predicted they would make such a move.

“This is simply outrageous! Our Shen family fought with their lives on the line for the Ji family’s empire, and now, barely a few adult men are there in our household. Yet they still dare to treat us like this. It is not enough that Su Jiang herself has ruined the Son of Heaven, the emperor, but she even dares to marry her daughter into our Shen family. Is her daughter unmarriageable? That she has to shove her onto others like this!”

The speaker was Shen Du’s second aunt, Lady Jiang. She had a fiery temper but was also a woman of misfortune. Her husband, Shen Du’s second uncle, had died ten years ago in a battle against the Murong clan of the Xianbei tribe. Their son, Shen Geng, ranked fourth among Shen Du’s generation; during the Battle of Pingcheng, he suffered a leg injury that left him crippled.

Although the others seated in the Taihe Courtyard were not as furious as Lady Jiang, their expressions were equally grim.

In matters of marriage, the Shen family had always exercised extreme caution. According to the family precepts, ‘A virtuous wife brings prosperity to the family, while a foolish wife causes the family to decline.’ For this reason, even two years after the death of his first wife, Lady Yun, Shen Du did not take another wife. Both Grandmother Qi and Lady Xue were meticulously selecting a future marchioness. 

Who could have foreseen a thunderbolt from the sky? Empress Su Jiang had decreed that her only daughter, Princess Anle, would be betrothed to Shen Du.

Now, as for Su Jiang, she possessed uncanny skill. Though remarried, she bewitched the emperor to the point of losing his sense of judgment. In just twenty years, she squandered the hundred-year legacy of the founding ancestors. Su Jiang herself was famed for her artful deception and seductive cunning. She flattered and manipulated the ruler, slandered the loyal and virtuous officials, and acted with ruthless cruelty. Her wickedness is beyond words, too vast to be recorded on endless bamboo slips.

Everyone looked toward Grandmother Qi. “Grandmother, you must say something,” said Lady Pei, the wife of Shen Du’s late eldest brother.

That elder brother, born of the same mother as Shen Du, was over ten years older than he and had died in the same brutal battle as their second uncle ten years ago. Since then, Lady Pei had raised their young son alone. Pei Shi was also more than ten years older than Shen Du. In ancient times, there was a saying that an older sister-in-law is like a mother. Shen Du had always respected her. Thus, Lady Pei took special care in matters concerning his marriage.

“Although Su Jiang was a calamity that brought about the fall of her kingdom, we have heard little of Princess Anle herself. Besides, she is still young, so her temperament may change,” Grandmother Qi said calmly.

“Mother, like mother, like daughter. Considering Su Jiang’s influence and example, how good could the Anle Princess possibly turn out under her upbringing? You should know that Su Jiang eloped with Ji Shu when she was thirteen. Later, she caused a rift between Ji Shu and his father, only to marry Shi Zun afterwards,” retorted Lady Ding, third aunt to Shen Du.

The room fell silent at these words. At thirteen years old, Su Jiang was renowned for her beauty and became famous across the land. Ji Shu, a talented and handsome young man, became her lover. Later, it became known that Su Jiang had an affair with Ji Shu’s father while living in their home. When the scandal broke, she fled. She was taken captive by Shi Zun of Liangzhou, who became utterly besotted with her. From this, one can catch a glimpse of Su Jiang’s character.

“Back when Princess Anle was a child, I did see her once. Even at such a young age, she was already a budding beauty. Now grown up, she may surpass even her mother,” said Lady Xue, Shen Du’s mother.

“How can that be a good thing? They say a wife should be virtuous. If she surpasses her mother in beauty, would she not be an even greater calamity? Her mother has already brought ruin to the Ji family’s empire. Does she intend to bring disaster upon our family too?” cried Lady Jiang.

“If only Ruo Pu’s wife had not passed away so early,” sighed Aunt Lady Ding of the third branch. The “Ruo Pu’s wife” she referred to was Shen Du’s first wife, Lady Yun.

Lady Yun was born into the Yun family of Fanyang. She was renowned for her beauty, grace, and refined demeanour. She was well-versed in literature and etiquette. After marrying into the Shen household, she diligently managed all aspects of the household, served her elders with respect, and maintained harmony among the sisters-in-law, so everyone admired her in the residence. Tragically, her life was cut short due to complications from childbirth when delivering Shen Du’s eldest son. Everyone mourned her deeply, and even Grandmother Qi shed a bowlful of tears, lamenting, “Such a worthy wife is rare indeed.”

Upon hearing Lady Ding mention Lady Yun and comparing her now to the appointed Princess Anle, the difference was as stark as heaven and earth. Leaving them all speechless.

“Ruo Pu, what do you say?” Grandmother Qi said as she looked at Shen Du.

The rare smile that typically lingered on Shen Du’s lips was now gone without a trace. He brushed invisible dust from his robe and said, “Now is not the time to fall out with Central Plains. The Son of Heaven bestows his daughter in marriage. How could I dare defy the will of the emperor?”

Shen Du spoke calmly, but anyone could see that Princess Anle was unlikely to be welcomed kindly in the coming future.

Despite Shen Du’s current composed demeanour as the Sixth Lord of the Shen family, a figure exuding noble elegance, he had been notorious as a rebellious troublemaker in his youth. His father broke countless rods enforcing family discipline, but never succeeded in making him bow his head.

The Emperor of the Central Plains tried to seal a marriage with mere parchment. There was little hope this would end without conflict. It seemed unlikely this matter would end amicably.

Shen Du’s word was enough to settle the matter, and even Lady Jiang refrained from further objections.

“Very well. Ruo Pu’s mother should start preparing for this marriage,” Grandmother Qi continued. “Build a separate Gongzhu Fu for Princess Anle, and coordinate with Central Plains regarding the wedding date.  Until the princess’s residence is fully prepared, we must ensure she receives proper treatment. It would be best to hold the wedding the year after next. I imagine Empress Su would also want to keep her only daughter with her a little longer.” If the political situation were to change, perhaps Jizhou would not need to accept this daughter of the treacherous empress.

After everyone departed, only Lady Xue and Shen Du remained.

Shen Du turned to Grandmother Qi and said, “Grandmother, delaying the wedding may not be wise. Liangzhou has just revolted, and the Central Plains relies entirely on Jizhou’s forces for stability. Since Jizhou does not border Liangzhou directly, we must pass through either Bingzhou or Zhongzhou to send reinforcements. Bingzhou’s King Ke will certainly refuse to grant passage, so the only route is through the Central Plains. Su Jiang’s move to marry off Princess Anle is likely meant to put both sides at ease.”

The Emperor of Wei must have feared that once Shen Du’s army marched through the Central Plains, he might try to seize the imperial throne on the way to the Central Plains. Thus, he resorted to offering his most beloved daughter in marriage. Presumably, he had great faith in Princess Anle’s ability to manage her husband.

Moreover, Lu Youxiang personally delivered a portrait of Anle Princess, secretly offering it to Shen Du without informing Grandmother Qi and the others. Whether a man is lecherous or not, none could likely resist the allure of such breathtaking beauty depicted in the painting.

Grandmother Qi lowered her gaze to think and said, “Ruo Pu, you may decide this matter as you see fit.”

Shen Du replied, “In my opinion, we might as well designate Beiyuan as Princess Anle’s residence instead of troubling the people and wasting resources to construct a new one. However, since the princess will be moving in, I am afraid Grandmother and Mother may be a little inconvenienced in the future. Your grandson is truly ashamed.” Shen Du replied.

After all, the emperor of the Central Plains remained the nominal sovereign acknowledged under heaven. As long as Jizhou continued to show allegiance and face south in fealty to Wei, and once Princess Anle married into the household of the Marquis of Xinyang, it meant that even Grandmother Qi would have to render her formal courtesies to the princess.

After Shen Du had left, Grandmother Qi sighed. “Why is Ruo Pu’s marriage so fraught with obstacles? Lady Yun passed away too early, and this arrangement is merely temporary. Hopefully, next time…”

Lady Xue did not see the matter in the same way as Grandmother Qi. “Mother, with Princess Anle possessing such beauty and Ruo Pu being someone who values physical appearance highly, could it be…” Lady Xue wanted to imply that Shen Du might follow in the footsteps of Emperor Wei, but, as a mother, could not bring herself to curse her son aloud, so she left the rest unsaid.

Grandmother Qi frowned and said sternly, “What nonsense are you talking about? Ruo Pu is your son. Do you not know what kind of man he is? Although he may have been a little indulgent in his youth since the deaths of his father and elder brother, have you seen him take even one misstep these past years?”

“But still…”

Lady Xue was about to continue when Grandmother Qi interrupted, “In his household, there are women like Lady Qi and Lady Liu. Both of them are peerless beauties. Yet, have you seen him indulge himself? Ruo Pu is not someone easily swayed. He trained in the martial arts from childhood, strong in body and spirit, unlike ordinary men. Even if a few more women were to come to his chambers, it is no great matter. On the contrary, it would benefit his health. I have approved all of this.”

Lady Xue, however, did not share this perspective. She might disregard the women within his household, but who could say how many more there were outside? The singers and dancers in the separate courtyard were countless, an entanglement too messy to unravel. Still, she did not wish to add further distress to Grandmother Qi, and merely said, “Mother, it is only that I care too much and have let my concern turn to worry.”

Grandmother Qi comforted her by saying, “Since we can not afford to fall out with the Central Plains, this marriage must take place, leaving no room for gossip. Your two daughters-in-law are quite capable. Let them assist you with the preparations.”

Lady Xue agreed, then got up and took her leave.

Meanwhile, the news that the Marquis of Xinyang, Shen Du, was to marry Princess Anle spread as if it had grown wings. Shortly thereafter, it had already reached every corner of the residence, high and low.

[T/N: For those who don’t know and don’t care to, go ahead and jump to the next chapter.

1. 1. 1. 1. 绿帽 (lǜ mào) – green hat (a slang term implying cuckoldry; refers to a man whose wife is unfaithful)

1. 1. 1. 1. 苏妲己 (Su Daji) – refers to a legendary figure, a concubine of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, often depicted as a nine-tailed fox spirit and responsible for the downfall of the Shang Dynasty. In English, “Su Daji” can be interpreted as a symbol of deceit, seduction, and the destructive power of a woman. 

1. 1. 1. 1. In traditional Chinese society, it’s common for a person to have multiple names throughout their life, each used in different contexts. So, Sheng Fang or Feng Zhuo (Phoenix Carving) is his courtesy name, Shen Du is his title, or even a pen name, and Ruo Pu is his nickname. 

1. 1. 1. 1. The Nine Zhou were said to be the ancient territorial divisions of China during the reign of the legendary sage king Yu the Great (大禹), who is credited with taming the floods and organizing the land into administrative regions- Zhongzhou (Central Province, referring to the imperial court), Bingzhou (or Bing province was renamed Binzhou in 1984), Jizhou (The heartland of early Chinese civilization, often associated with the Zhou royal domain), Liangzhou (It was a strategically important location on the Silk Road).

1. 1. 1. 1. Meaning- Daluze (Great Reed Marsh), Shuijing Terrace (Water Mirror Terrace), Taihe Courtyard (Court of Supreme Harmony, a traditional name often signifying a main family residence), old Ji Hou (Previous Marquis of Ji), Xianbei and Rouran (nomadic tribes), Youzhou (another province), Ziwei (Pole Star, sign of kingship), ominous stars (inauspicious star), Zhuangjing Hall (Hall of Solemn Reverence), Princess Anle (meaning “Peace and Happiness”), Princess Anle (Peace and Happiness), Gongzhu Fu (Princess Residence),  Beiyuan (The Northern Garden)]