Mechanical Mist Array
The palace was not a place to hold prisoners, so it was empty except for Cui Gu, who was sitting on the ground with her knees in her arms, lost in thought. Her hair was a bit disheveled, but too messy.
“Why don’t you get up to greet His Majesty?” the prison chief scolded.
Cui gu looked up at Chu Yuan, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes. Earlier, Qiu Liutian had told her that he would send her to the Southwest King for interrogation, so she thought this was a prison in the Southwest Mansion, but she did not expect to meet the Emperor.
“Are you Cui gu?” Chu Yuan asked.
“Yes.” Cui gu knelt on the ground, “This common girl1 greets the emperor.”
“Rise.” Chu Yuan said, “Explain everything clearly. If you are not guilty, I will let you go. If you are guilty, as long as you are willing to cooperate, I will promise you a lighter punishment. At least you can save your life and even get to meet that little baby.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Cui Gu stood up, still lowering her head, she didn’t look like a murderer, but only a simple woman.
“First tell me your origin.” Chu Yuan said, “Are you really from Chaoya?”
“Yes.” Cui Gu nodded, “Farm girls have been living on Chaoya Island since they were born, until they were eighteen years old, and only then did they go to sea for the first time.”
“Coming to Chu?” Chu Yuan asked.
“There is not much gold2 on Chaoya Island, and it does not produce food. In order to make a living, almost every household will send their daughters to Dachu in recent years.” Cuigu said, “Although my people are not as beautiful as the women from the Central Plains, but they are born with a good voice, so they are quite popular in singing and dance houses.”
Chu Yuan said: “The rumored Chaoya Mystic Sound?”
“Only those who practice martial arts understand what Chaoya Mystic Sound is.” Cuigu said, “Most of the people on the island are just like me, they only know a few tricks, so they don’t know how to mesmerize people, and they come out to make a living just by singing few songs.”
“What is the situation on Chaoya Island now?” Chu Yuan asked again.
“I left there six years ago,” Cui Gu said. “Originally, everyone’s life was almost unbearable. The tsunami submerged most of the houses. No merchant ships came and went, which meant no food. During those days, even the elders who were sticking to the island, were beginning to waver, let alone the young people.”
“Such a difficult environment and you people still don’t want to leave.” Chu Yuan said, “Whats the reason?”
Cui Gu paused, and said: “For the rumoured treasure, the real Golden Island, not Chaoya. Our predecessors moved wealth from the Golden Island, but lost half of the navigation charts. So for many years, Chaoya people have been just sitting and eating, enjoying leisure without any work, and that’s how they ended up in today’s situation. Women can still earn a living in Chu State with their good voices, but men have no skills and are unwilling to do hard labour, so they would rather die than leave Chaoya Island. They only hope that one day they can rediscover the sea route to the Golden Island.”
Chu Yuan nodded slightly: “Continue.”
“Later, Bai Lu the leader of the Southern faction, went to the sea to seek help and brought Nanyang people.” Cui Gu said, “The three large ships were filled with grains and livestock, the best silk woven from the south of the Chu Kingdom, and the seeds of plants. And more than a dozen boxes of gold, silver and jewellery.”
For the Chaoya people at that time, this was undoubtedly a huge temptation.
“The island was originally ruled by Xuan Tian, the leader of the Northern faction. He couldn’t stand these Nanyang people, but he had to rely on them. As a result, the power of the Southern faction gradually grew. After its prestige was established, it completely conquered the Northern faction. Xuan Tian Cang Huang fled from the island, leaving only a dozen old people behind. They were able to survive because they knew some secrets related to the treasure.” Cui Gu said, “The leader of the Nanyang people married my sister and wanted to marry me too. My sister was not happy about marrying me, so I went out to sea in a fit of anger and never went back.”
“Where did that group of Nanyang people come from?” Chu Yuan continued to ask.
“No one knows, not even Bai Lu, the leader of the Nanyang faction. He encountered a storm when he went out to sea, and was rescued by this group of people, so they got to know each other.” Cui Gu said, “These Nanyang people are very good at laying formations. Thanks to them, some pirates who coveted Chaoya Island a few years ago were finally blocked out.”
Chu Yuan said: “Are they that capable?”
“They are very good at the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams3. They have set up more than a dozen layers of trap formations outside Chaoya Island with magic inside.” Cui Gu said, “Outsiders won’t be able to intrude, even if they do get close, they will be swallowed by a storm.”
Chu Yuan’s expression darkened instantly. In recent years, local officials along the coast have indeed sent him information saying that fishing boats often disappear mysteriously at sea. He always thought it was pirates causing trouble, and sent troops to attack more than a dozen times. The captured prisoners kept complaining, but he didn’t expect that there was such a reason.
“How is Xuan Tian, the leader of the Northern faction like in his daily life, and when was he expelled from Chaoya Island?” Chu Yuan asked.
“Xuan Tian was originally the most prestigious person on the island, with extremely high martial arts skills but also extremely brutal. He lived in Dachu for a period of time when he was young. According to the older generation, he almost killed Bai Lu’s whole family in order to return to the island. Cui Gu said, “He was expelled from the island more than ten years ago, counting his age, he should be sixty years old this year.”
“Where’s that Bai Lu?” Chu Yuan asked again.
“Compared to Xuan Tian, Bai Lu was much more shrewd, and he was also willing to hand over the power to the Nanyang people, so he lived a happy life away as a shirker.” Cui Gu said, “His father’s name was Bai Er, and he was killed by the Xuan Tian’s subordinates, so he really hated him, and also hated the Northern faction.”
Chu Yuan nodded: “Not bad.”
“Everything this common girl said is true.” Cui Gu said, “I just want to save my life.”
“I am also investigating Yu Shu’s case. He has indeed done a lot of evil behind the scenes. Killing him is not considered a capital crime.” Chu Yuan said, “Just stay in this prison for a while longer. I promise to let you go. But not now.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Cui Gu knelt down, feeling overjoyed.
Chu Yuan turned around and went out of the prison. Eunuch Sixi was waiting outside. When he saw him, he hurried up to greet him, saying that Prince Duan has finished his martial art practice and is waiting in the dining room.
Chu Yuan smiled, and after returning to the bedroom, Duan Yao was really dozing off at the dining table with his cheeks propped up, and most of the plate of dumplings in front of him had been eaten.
“I forgot to instruct the chamberlain to inform you to not wait for my return.” Sitting opposite him, Chu Yuan said, “Are you hungry?”
“No.” Duan Yao yawned, shaking his head again and again, “I’m not hungry at all.”
“You ate too much spices yesterday, so I asked the chef to prepare some light-tasting meals today.” Chu Yuan said, “Otherwise, it will be too fiery.”
Duan Yao said: “Anything is fine.” As long as you don’t ask about that south pole immortal… no, the white-browed immortal and Tianchensha, I’ll eat a ton of vegetables.
“How was your martial arts practice today?” Chu Yuan handed him the chopsticks.
“It’s still the same four moves.” Duan Yao said, “It’s not difficult, but the Fenxing Jue is really interesting.”
“After studying for so long, do you come to know the name of that old senior?” Chu Yuan asked again.
Duan Yao shook his head: “I don’t know, I didn’t ask. My brother said that everyone has a sad past, if the old man doesn’t want to mention it, it would be impolite to ask.”
“Everyone has a sad past.” Chu Yuan smiled, “Your brother really said that?”
Duan Yao: “…”
yes……
Chu Yuan asked: “Then did he say, what kind of sad past he has?”
Duan Yao nodded, almost throwing his head in the sky4: “I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Chu Yuan reminded: “You will become dizzy.”
Duan Yao paused quickly.
Chu Yuan picked up a dish for him using his chopsticks: “Forget it, next time I will ask him in person.”
Duan Yao’s heart became desolate. If you asked him personally, my brother would beat me up the same way.
There is no way, life is hard.
“I have inquired before that, that old man seems to have come to this northern palace ten years ago.” Chu Yuan said, “The manager at that time was kind, so he took him in, and gave him a small courtyard with a bowl of rice. That’s how he kept on staying here.”
“So it’s been this long.” Duan Yao said, “But his martial arts are not low, logically speaking, he shouldn’t be so downcast.”
Chu Yuan said: “This Fenxing Jue, how many days will it take to learn all of it?”
Duan Yao calculated and said, “It will take ten more days at the earliest.”
Chu Yuan nodded: “In order not to disturb your martial art practice, there are few things that I will ask that senior for advice in person after ten days.”
“What does the emperor want to ask?” Duan Yao asked, and then said cautiously, “He is in poor health, with diseases in his internal organs, and is lethargic and cannot bear major stimulation.”
Chu Yuan said: “But there are some things that I am afraid that only he knows in this world.”
Duan Yao’s eyes were blank.
“You are under sixteen years old. It is a good thing and lovable to be kind-hearted and considerate of others.” Chu Yuan touched his head, “But I am the emperor. Even if I shouldn’t do some things, I still have to be hard-hearted and do it.”
Duan Yao was silent for a moment, then said: “Yes.”
“Let’s eat.” Chu Yuan said, “The soup is getting cold.”
Duan Yao lowered his head and took a big mouthful of rice. After a while, he said again: “Can I come with you too?”
Chu Yuan nodded: “Of course.”
Duan Yao took a bite of the chicken leg, still unwilling to disturb the tranquility of the old man.
But Chu Yuan was thinking about Xuan Tian, the leader of the northern faction who fled in a hurry in Cui Gu’s confession today. Whether it is age, martial arts, experience, understanding of the Fenxing Jue chess game, and the time of coming to the North Palace, they all overlap. Maybe this really is that person.
As for the Nanyang people who followed the leader of the Southern faction, Bai Lu to the island, since they were good at the formation, the Mist Array, they were most likely from the Feimian kingdom.
A person from a Nanyang island country went to a deserted island to be the leader for no reason, and gave food and clothing to the people on the island without asking for anything in return. If it was said that it was purely out of kindness, no one would believe it.
The reason must be understood clearly.
Both of them ate with their hearts full of thoughts during this meal. Chu Yuan returned to the bedroom, leaned on the bed after washing, and lost his mind. There were still two pillows and one quilt, but he had already returned to the southwest.
Why on earth is he tossing and turning? This was not the case before. Chu Yuan glanced at his empty side, and thought besides the reunion is not indefinite. If he takes too long to heal and still doesn’t come to meet him, the worst he can do is go to the southwest himself.
After thinking wildly for a while, Chu Yuan finally closed his eyes and went to sleep. In the dream, someone was still living in the Southwest Mansion after being injured and refused to come back, saying that there was no meat in the royal city. In the end, the emperor was angry and threw the person and the tree into the cold palace, where he was grounded and ate only vegetables for half a year.
Eunuch Sixi opened the door and saw that the emperor was already asleep, so he quietly came in and blew out the candles around him. But he also wondered what he was dreaming about. In the dream, he was clutching the quilt tightly and looked very angry.
===========================================================
As usual, if there are any mistakes or errors, please contact me and I’ll rectify it. If anyone is willing to help in translation who knows Mandarin, you are more than welcome to assist. In that case as well, please email me.
==========================================================
Notes:
basically, any common person or folk girl. this is how the ancients used to greet the royalties, by speaking about their title as “this general” or “this ordinary person”, etc.. ↩︎ Money was basically gold, silver, etc. in those days. probably bronze age..?? ↩︎ Some kind of array or formation in chinese myth. ↩︎ basically shaking his head vigorously so that the head would fall off… hahaha..lol.. ↩︎
Mechanical Mist Array
The palace was not a place to hold prisoners, so it was empty except for Cui Gu, who was sitting on the ground with her knees in her arms, lost in thought. Her hair was a bit disheveled, but too messy.
“Why don’t you get up to greet His Majesty?” the prison chief scolded.
Cui gu looked up at Chu Yuan, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes. Earlier, Qiu Liutian had told her that he would send her to the Southwest King for interrogation, so she thought this was a prison in the Southwest Mansion, but she did not expect to meet the Emperor.
“Are you Cui gu?” Chu Yuan asked.
“Yes.” Cui gu knelt on the ground, “This common girl1 greets the emperor.”
“Rise.” Chu Yuan said, “Explain everything clearly. If you are not guilty, I will let you go. If you are guilty, as long as you are willing to cooperate, I will promise you a lighter punishment. At least you can save your life and even get to meet that little baby.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Cui Gu stood up, still lowering her head, she didn’t look like a murderer, but only a simple woman.
“First tell me your origin.” Chu Yuan said, “Are you really from Chaoya?”
“Yes.” Cui Gu nodded, “Farm girls have been living on Chaoya Island since they were born, until they were eighteen years old, and only then did they go to sea for the first time.”
“Coming to Chu?” Chu Yuan asked.
“There is not much gold2 on Chaoya Island, and it does not produce food. In order to make a living, almost every household will send their daughters to Dachu in recent years.” Cuigu said, “Although my people are not as beautiful as the women from the Central Plains, but they are born with a good voice, so they are quite popular in singing and dance houses.”
Chu Yuan said: “The rumored Chaoya Mystic Sound?”
“Only those who practice martial arts understand what Chaoya Mystic Sound is.” Cuigu said, “Most of the people on the island are just like me, they only know a few tricks, so they don’t know how to mesmerize people, and they come out to make a living just by singing few songs.”
“What is the situation on Chaoya Island now?” Chu Yuan asked again.
“I left there six years ago,” Cui Gu said. “Originally, everyone’s life was almost unbearable. The tsunami submerged most of the houses. No merchant ships came and went, which meant no food. During those days, even the elders who were sticking to the island, were beginning to waver, let alone the young people.”
“Such a difficult environment and you people still don’t want to leave.” Chu Yuan said, “Whats the reason?”
Cui Gu paused, and said: “For the rumoured treasure, the real Golden Island, not Chaoya. Our predecessors moved wealth from the Golden Island, but lost half of the navigation charts. So for many years, Chaoya people have been just sitting and eating, enjoying leisure without any work, and that’s how they ended up in today’s situation. Women can still earn a living in Chu State with their good voices, but men have no skills and are unwilling to do hard labour, so they would rather die than leave Chaoya Island. They only hope that one day they can rediscover the sea route to the Golden Island.”
Chu Yuan nodded slightly: “Continue.”
“Later, Bai Lu the leader of the Southern faction, went to the sea to seek help and brought Nanyang people.” Cui Gu said, “The three large ships were filled with grains and livestock, the best silk woven from the south of the Chu Kingdom, and the seeds of plants. And more than a dozen boxes of gold, silver and jewellery.”
For the Chaoya people at that time, this was undoubtedly a huge temptation.
“The island was originally ruled by Xuan Tian, the leader of the Northern faction. He couldn’t stand these Nanyang people, but he had to rely on them. As a result, the power of the Southern faction gradually grew. After its prestige was established, it completely conquered the Northern faction. Xuan Tian Cang Huang fled from the island, leaving only a dozen old people behind. They were able to survive because they knew some secrets related to the treasure.” Cui Gu said, “The leader of the Nanyang people married my sister and wanted to marry me too. My sister was not happy about marrying me, so I went out to sea in a fit of anger and never went back.”
“Where did that group of Nanyang people come from?” Chu Yuan continued to ask.
“No one knows, not even Bai Lu, the leader of the Nanyang faction. He encountered a storm when he went out to sea, and was rescued by this group of people, so they got to know each other.” Cui Gu said, “These Nanyang people are very good at laying formations. Thanks to them, some pirates who coveted Chaoya Island a few years ago were finally blocked out.”
Chu Yuan said: “Are they that capable?”
“They are very good at the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams3. They have set up more than a dozen layers of trap formations outside Chaoya Island with magic inside.” Cui Gu said, “Outsiders won’t be able to intrude, even if they do get close, they will be swallowed by a storm.”
Chu Yuan’s expression darkened instantly. In recent years, local officials along the coast have indeed sent him information saying that fishing boats often disappear mysteriously at sea. He always thought it was pirates causing trouble, and sent troops to attack more than a dozen times. The captured prisoners kept complaining, but he didn’t expect that there was such a reason.
“How is Xuan Tian, the leader of the Northern faction like in his daily life, and when was he expelled from Chaoya Island?” Chu Yuan asked.
“Xuan Tian was originally the most prestigious person on the island, with extremely high martial arts skills but also extremely brutal. He lived in Dachu for a period of time when he was young. According to the older generation, he almost killed Bai Lu’s whole family in order to return to the island. Cui Gu said, “He was expelled from the island more than ten years ago, counting his age, he should be sixty years old this year.”
“Where’s that Bai Lu?” Chu Yuan asked again.
“Compared to Xuan Tian, Bai Lu was much more shrewd, and he was also willing to hand over the power to the Nanyang people, so he lived a happy life away as a shirker.” Cui Gu said, “His father’s name was Bai Er, and he was killed by the Xuan Tian’s subordinates, so he really hated him, and also hated the Northern faction.”
Chu Yuan nodded: “Not bad.”
“Everything this common girl said is true.” Cui Gu said, “I just want to save my life.”
“I am also investigating Yu Shu’s case. He has indeed done a lot of evil behind the scenes. Killing him is not considered a capital crime.” Chu Yuan said, “Just stay in this prison for a while longer. I promise to let you go. But not now.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Cui Gu knelt down, feeling overjoyed.
Chu Yuan turned around and went out of the prison. Eunuch Sixi was waiting outside. When he saw him, he hurried up to greet him, saying that Prince Duan has finished his martial art practice and is waiting in the dining room.
Chu Yuan smiled, and after returning to the bedroom, Duan Yao was really dozing off at the dining table with his cheeks propped up, and most of the plate of dumplings in front of him had been eaten.
“I forgot to instruct the chamberlain to inform you to not wait for my return.” Sitting opposite him, Chu Yuan said, “Are you hungry?”
“No.” Duan Yao yawned, shaking his head again and again, “I’m not hungry at all.”
“You ate too much spices yesterday, so I asked the chef to prepare some light-tasting meals today.” Chu Yuan said, “Otherwise, it will be too fiery.”
Duan Yao said: “Anything is fine.” As long as you don’t ask about that south pole immortal… no, the white-browed immortal and Tianchensha, I’ll eat a ton of vegetables.
“How was your martial arts practice today?” Chu Yuan handed him the chopsticks.
“It’s still the same four moves.” Duan Yao said, “It’s not difficult, but the Fenxing Jue is really interesting.”
“After studying for so long, do you come to know the name of that old senior?” Chu Yuan asked again.
Duan Yao shook his head: “I don’t know, I didn’t ask. My brother said that everyone has a sad past, if the old man doesn’t want to mention it, it would be impolite to ask.”
“Everyone has a sad past.” Chu Yuan smiled, “Your brother really said that?”
Duan Yao: “…”
yes……
Chu Yuan asked: “Then did he say, what kind of sad past he has?”
Duan Yao nodded, almost throwing his head in the sky4: “I don’t know, I don’t know.”
Chu Yuan reminded: “You will become dizzy.”
Duan Yao paused quickly.
Chu Yuan picked up a dish for him using his chopsticks: “Forget it, next time I will ask him in person.”
Duan Yao’s heart became desolate. If you asked him personally, my brother would beat me up the same way.
There is no way, life is hard.
“I have inquired before that, that old man seems to have come to this northern palace ten years ago.” Chu Yuan said, “The manager at that time was kind, so he took him in, and gave him a small courtyard with a bowl of rice. That’s how he kept on staying here.”
“So it’s been this long.” Duan Yao said, “But his martial arts are not low, logically speaking, he shouldn’t be so downcast.”
Chu Yuan said: “This Fenxing Jue, how many days will it take to learn all of it?”
Duan Yao calculated and said, “It will take ten more days at the earliest.”
Chu Yuan nodded: “In order not to disturb your martial art practice, there are few things that I will ask that senior for advice in person after ten days.”
“What does the emperor want to ask?” Duan Yao asked, and then said cautiously, “He is in poor health, with diseases in his internal organs, and is lethargic and cannot bear major stimulation.”
Chu Yuan said: “But there are some things that I am afraid that only he knows in this world.”
Duan Yao’s eyes were blank.
“You are under sixteen years old. It is a good thing and lovable to be kind-hearted and considerate of others.” Chu Yuan touched his head, “But I am the emperor. Even if I shouldn’t do some things, I still have to be hard-hearted and do it.”
Duan Yao was silent for a moment, then said: “Yes.”
“Let’s eat.” Chu Yuan said, “The soup is getting cold.”
Duan Yao lowered his head and took a big mouthful of rice. After a while, he said again: “Can I come with you too?”
Chu Yuan nodded: “Of course.”
Duan Yao took a bite of the chicken leg, still unwilling to disturb the tranquility of the old man.
But Chu Yuan was thinking about Xuan Tian, the leader of the northern faction who fled in a hurry in Cui Gu’s confession today. Whether it is age, martial arts, experience, understanding of the Fenxing Jue chess game, and the time of coming to the North Palace, they all overlap. Maybe this really is that person.
As for the Nanyang people who followed the leader of the Southern faction, Bai Lu to the island, since they were good at the formation, the Mist Array, they were most likely from the Feimian kingdom.
A person from a Nanyang island country went to a deserted island to be the leader for no reason, and gave food and clothing to the people on the island without asking for anything in return. If it was said that it was purely out of kindness, no one would believe it.
The reason must be understood clearly.
Both of them ate with their hearts full of thoughts during this meal. Chu Yuan returned to the bedroom, leaned on the bed after washing, and lost his mind. There were still two pillows and one quilt, but he had already returned to the southwest.
Why on earth is he tossing and turning? This was not the case before. Chu Yuan glanced at his empty side, and thought besides the reunion is not indefinite. If he takes too long to heal and still doesn’t come to meet him, the worst he can do is go to the southwest himself.
After thinking wildly for a while, Chu Yuan finally closed his eyes and went to sleep. In the dream, someone was still living in the Southwest Mansion after being injured and refused to come back, saying that there was no meat in the royal city. In the end, the emperor was angry and threw the person and the tree into the cold palace, where he was grounded and ate only vegetables for half a year.
Eunuch Sixi opened the door and saw that the emperor was already asleep, so he quietly came in and blew out the candles around him. But he also wondered what he was dreaming about. In the dream, he was clutching the quilt tightly and looked very angry.
===========================================================
As usual, if there are any mistakes or errors, please contact me and I’ll rectify it. If anyone is willing to help in translation who knows Mandarin, you are more than welcome to assist. In that case as well, please email me.
==========================================================
Notes:
basically, any common person or folk girl. this is how the ancients used to greet the royalties, by speaking about their title as “this general” or “this ordinary person”, etc.. ↩︎ Money was basically gold, silver, etc. in those days. probably bronze age..?? ↩︎ Some kind of array or formation in chinese myth. ↩︎ basically shaking his head vigorously so that the head would fall off… hahaha..lol.. ↩︎