Tongguan is an immense checkpoint built against the side of a mountain, overlooking the Yellow River to the north. Having been built upon continuously for a millennium, it has already become the greatest city in the northwest which also acts as a natural stronghold against Xiliang. Looking out from higher ground on the last stretch of road just before reaching Tongguan, all you’ll see is the turbulent, roiling Yellow River below, with white clouds and boundless blue skies above, the southern entrance to Xichuan covered in a verdant lush green. Looking off at the other end towards Xiliang though, and nothing but bleak desolation will fill the eye.
After the last several bouts of rain, a scent of autumn has seeped into the air. Merchants from Xiyu converge on this location to exchange their merchandise with one another, each speaking their own language. There are lots of Tangut — most of them are mixed and of non-Han origin with deep set eyes and tall noses, some dressed in multicoloured long robes, some dressed in lightweight leathers and skins, wearing turbans with a single black goose feather poking out of the edge.
The rarity of the feather indicates the wearer’s position within the tribe, and you can tell whether someone is a noble or a commoner from the feather in their turban.
When Wu Du enters the Tongguan Guard Headquarters with Duan Ling in tow, Bian Lingbai acts like his biggest enemy has come to town — there are guards at every corner armed to the teeth, and Duan Ling can tell that security is tight throughout the entire compound.
As soon the two of them enter the main hall, a guard closes the door behind them, leaving Bian Lingbai drinking in the hall on his own with Helan Jie sitting nearby without a word.
“Go ahead.” Bian Lingbai sits in the main hall, saying casually, “What you say will decide whether you get out of this room alive.”
Wu Du stands beneath shadowy daylight, looking down at him from above.
“Bian Lingbai.” Wu Du says, “Surely you haven’t been a local despot for so long that you’ve forgotten how little you’re capable of? You think you can try to kill me with the number of men you’ve got?”
Helan Jie rises in anger, but Bian Lingbai shouts at him, “Sit down!”
Both sides fall quiet for a good while, and Wu Du takes several steps inside the room, pacing. “For Great Chen, General Zhao had given his life’s blood, yet he ended up the way he did anyway. During the final battle of Xichuan, you were guarding Tongguan at the time so you couldn’t have left your post without permission, thus you had no blame in it. The imperial court has also not charged you with treason. As for why though — you’re a smart man, I’m sure you don’t need me to lay it out for you.”
Bian Lingbai remains silent for a time, and meanwhile, Duan Ling is keeping his mouth shut through this entire conversation. This is part of the plan he and Wu Du cooked up on their way here; in regards to Mu Kuangda’s wish to have Bian Lingbai killed, before they left for the trip, Duan Ling had hoped by some lucky coincidence that Bian Lingbai may turn out to be innocent, but once he’s thought the whole matter through he thinks the man hasn’t any other option — Bian Lingbai must raise arms against the empire.
Why is that? Since this wretch had both taken part in the military takeover against Li Jianhong and sided with Zhao Kui during the civil war, the only reason the imperial court has made sure he’s pacified is because Great Chen needs a bulwark against Xiliang, and while it does have a military, it lacks capable commanders. And now that the capital is to be relocated, Xichuan will no longer have to face a direct threat from Xiliang. Besides, with a crown prince at court, in time he’ll want to settle the score. Bian Lingbai’s only option is to raise arms in rebellion — otherwise he’s just sitting around as death comes for him.
Bian Lingbai snorts derisively. “I regarded General Zhao as my mentor. I joined the army at fourteen, and since I began following him it has already been thirteen years. I’ve never done anything against the people nor have I ever done anything that deviated from my conscience. Even if the crown prince comes to see me today I’ll tell him the same thing!”
“The crown prince won’t come see you. And he won’t listen to your explanation. But from what I can see here, it seems I fret too much — I won’t bother you any longer. Goodbye.”
Wu Du says to Duan Ling, “Let’s go.”
But Duan Ling is watching Bian Lingbai, not moving his feet.
In the same way, Bian Lingbai is watching Duan Ling.
Wu Du looks at Duan LIng’s eyes, but Duan Ling’s attention is not on Wu Du.
“Do you know my uncle?” Duan Ling says to Bian Lingbai.
Wu Du frowns slightly; Bian Lingbai heaves a long sigh.
This is also something the two of them discussed beforehand — Duan Ling will speak once Wu Du finishes speaking. From what Duan Ling has surmised, Bian Lingbai can’t possibly sit by and ignore Zhao Kui’s nephew if he needs help. If only for the sake of his reputation, Bian Lingbai will look after him. After all, Wu Du is essentially the confidant Zhao Kui has entrusted an orphan with.
Put it another way, if Bian Lingbai really does intend to turn against the government, then driving “Zhao Rong” away would not confer him any advantage. The letter has stated the situation quite clearly — this young man named Zhao Rong was elsewhere while his family was beheaded and their property confiscated; he only came to seek shelter with Bian Lingbai because he has nowhere left to go.
“Your uncle was my mentor. Come over here. Let me take a look at you.”
Duan Ling walks over slowly, and when Bian Lingbai is taking the measure of him by the skylight, he suddenly feels a bit nervous, for fear that anything can be gleaned from his facial features.
“I’ve met your dad before. Saw him face to face briefly when I went to Shandong on business that one time.”
Duan Ling knows he really ought to break down and cry a bit, but alas without any feelings for Zhao Pu at all he can only stare at Bian Lingbai’s hand. Bian Lingbai looks at him for a while but he can’t tell anything from Duan Ling’s person. “Are you studying literature or the martial arts?”
“I learned a bit of both.”
“Can you read?”
Duan Ling gives him a nod, and Bian Lingbai says, “Stay in the compound for now, and as for you …”
“I stay with Wu Du.” Duan Ling says, “I go wherever he goes.”
The last thing Duan Ling wants is for Bian Lingbai to make Wu Du go away. That will throw his plan into disarray, and Wu Du will only be able to make his preparations in secret then. Having a Helan Jie around will also complicate things even more.
Bian Lingbai seem not to know what to do. Wu Du says, “I’m here to search for the whereabouts of that sword under Mu Kuangda’s orders.”
“There’s no use in asking me,” Bian Lingbai says frostily, “If you wanted to present the Zhenshanhe to your new master, then you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Wu Du throws the insult right back in his face, “Well naturally, it’s not like I expected for you and your inept underlings to ever manage to find the thing.”
Every single time Bian Lingbai has tried to humiliate Wu Du he has ended up with a verbal slap in the face instead, and it just fills him with fury. Wu Du adds, “I’m leaving once I make sure Zhao Rong is settled in. Otherwise the chancellor may get suspicious.”
Bian Lingbai lets out a heavy sigh, and waves a hand to let the servants know they should go get rooms ready for the two.
“Zhao Rong,” Bian Lingbai says, “Come over when it’s dinner time.”
Duan Ling knows this means Bian Lingbai has accepted him. Perhaps he’ll arrange for “Zhao Rong” to become a retainer in his estate, or perhaps out of the sentimental ties to his former mentor Zhao Kui, he may groom him. At any rate the mission has started rather smoothly — the rest is going to depend on Wu Du.
Bian Lingbai has had a guest room arranged for them, and he wanted to leave them servants as well, but Wu Du has sent them away. Their recovered clothes and things have been brought into the courtyard; presumably the Tongguan Guard has caught the mounted bandits, and they’re returning all the items they found to their rightful owners. Duan Ling wants to sort everything away as soon as they get inside, but Wu Du stops him.
“Watch out you don’t give yourself away. By rights you shouldn’t know how to do chores.”
“Zhao Rong has been living in exile,” Duan Ling says. “He avoided a fatal disaster and he was saved by you, so the relationship between you two is not as master and servant. It’s only right for him to try to do everything himself for sentimental reasons.”
That’s true, Wu Du supposes. They tidy up their new home for a bit, then Duan Ling goes inside and closes the door. But Wu Du is one step ahead of him, already lying on the bed.
“We’ll have to stay here from now on,” Wu Du says, “we may even have to stay for quite a while. I didn’t expect him to accept this so readily though — you didn’t even hand him the map yet. Think he believes you?”
“Whether he believes me or not is besides the point. He’s not that smart. When someone shows up and asks him to take them in, he’d never suspect it’s because they’re there to secretly investigate him. At most he’ll make sure to keep his guard up and not say those things he shouldn’t be saying around me. What’s more, he’s taken in even someone like Helan Jie, so what’s one more?”
“Yeah.” Wu Du lies there, looking pensive.
Duan Ling lies down to sleep next to him. Wu Du says, “Why are you going to sleep too?”
Duan Ling has no idea what he’s going on about. “Aren’t you taking an afternoon nap?”
“I’m practising my martial arts.”
“What sort of martial arts?” Duan Ling pulls quite the face. “The art of sleep?”
Wu Du ignores him, and spaces out for a bit. Duan Ling adds, “He didn’t interrogate me about Shandong at all.”
“He didn’t know Zhao Pu all that well. Take care what you say to him. Don’t let your guard down.”
Duan Ling has been reviewing all the way to Tongguan, familiarising himself with everything about Shandong, but now that he hasn’t been able to make use of any of the information, it makes him feel a bit frightened. Being left in such an unfamiliar environment leaves him somewhat anxious, and the only thing that gives him a sense of security is Wu Du.
“Hey.” Duan Ling gives Wu Du a tap, only to realise that he’s fallen asleep.
Surprised, Duan Ling stares at him silently. It looks like he really is practising the art of sleep after all. He turns his head to the side to study Wu Du’s face; Wu Du has beautiful eyebrows, good bones, well-defined features that’s a bit rugged around the edges. In deep sleep, that roguish air that circles him fades away, making him feel like a very gentle person.
Wu Du has spent the entire night before last running all over the place rescuing people one minute and chasing after bandits the next, and then last night he had to contend with Helan Jie staring at them the whole night through. Recalling these, Duan Ling thinks he must not have slept well, and so he doesn’t wake him up. He gets up quietly and checks over their things to find that nothing’s missing, but everything’s been searched. Bian Lingbai must still have suspicions about his identity.
Why is Helan Jie in Tongguan?
As Duan Ling heads towards the Bian estate at dusk to attend the banquet, he wonders if this proves that Bian Lingbai is one of the people who conspired to assassinate the late emperor. And when it comes down to it, who then was the one who advised Bian Lingbai to do so?
Wu Du is quite grumpy as he’s just woken up, and there’s a slight but persistent furrow between his brows. As they enter the main hall however, they notice that Helan Jie is actually not there but that someone else is — the young woman they rescued along the way has already dressed for the evening, and judging by her appearance she’s even younger than Duan Ling. They arrive as Bian Lingbai is speaking with the girl.
Duan Ling greets the two of them as a visitor would, and the girl suddenly blushes, falling silent.
“This is Lady Yao, from the Yao family of Huaiyin.” Bian Lingbai says to Duan Ling, “You two have already met.”
Duan Ling nods, and Bian Lingbai introduces him to the young woman, “This is my older brother’s son. His name is ‘Bian Rong’.”2
The young woman would be Yao Zheng’s younger paternal cousin, Yao Jing, and she nods at Duan Ling at the end of the introduction. An unwed young lady can’t tell people her first name; even if Bian Lingbai is a military man and doesn’t really think much of the rites, out of respect for the Yao family, he only gave them a simple introduction.
Duan Ling has already worn too many names in his lifetime. Life is like a stage, and he has been playing one role after another: Duan Ling, Li Ruo, Wang Shan, Zhao Rong, Bian Rong … one barely exits before another takes the stage, and each face he wears is like a mask. Sitting in this brightly lit dining hall, Duan Ling is vaguely beset by an empty feeling.
“Marquess Yao sent her here to Tongguan,” Bian Lingbai continues, explaining to Duan Ling, “because they’ve arranged a marriage between her and a noble family in Xiliang. Who could have known though, that it’d lead to her getting targeted by bandits along the way. Good thing you and Wu Du came to her aid.”
“Thank you very much for saving my life.” Yao Jing raises her cup, with a poise and grace that belies her age.
Duan Ling smiles at her, and says to Wu Du, “She’s drinking to you, you know.”
Having just woken up, Wu Du doesn’t feel like talking. He hums something in reply and drinks the wine without ceremony. Duan Ling then picks up his own cup and drinks it.
I do not monetise my hobby translations, but if you’d like to support my work generally or support my light novel habit, you can either buy me a coffee or commission me. This is also e that if you see this message anywhere else than on tumblr, do come to my tumblr. It’s ad-free. ↩︎
The ‘Rong’ in Bian Rong is not the same ‘Rong’ in Zhao Rong. For name meanings, check the reference page. ↩︎
Tongguan is an immense checkpoint built against the side of a mountain, overlooking the Yellow River to the north. Having been built upon continuously for a millennium, it has already become the greatest city in the northwest which also acts as a natural stronghold against Xiliang. Looking out from higher ground on the last stretch of road just before reaching Tongguan, all you’ll see is the turbulent, roiling Yellow River below, with white clouds and boundless blue skies above, the southern entrance to Xichuan covered in a verdant lush green. Looking off at the other end towards Xiliang though, and nothing but bleak desolation will fill the eye.
After the last several bouts of rain, a scent of autumn has seeped into the air. Merchants from Xiyu converge on this location to exchange their merchandise with one another, each speaking their own language. There are lots of Tangut — most of them are mixed and of non-Han origin with deep set eyes and tall noses, some dressed in multicoloured long robes, some dressed in lightweight leathers and skins, wearing turbans with a single black goose feather poking out of the edge.
The rarity of the feather indicates the wearer’s position within the tribe, and you can tell whether someone is a noble or a commoner from the feather in their turban.
When Wu Du enters the Tongguan Guard Headquarters with Duan Ling in tow, Bian Lingbai acts like his biggest enemy has come to town — there are guards at every corner armed to the teeth, and Duan Ling can tell that security is tight throughout the entire compound.
As soon the two of them enter the main hall, a guard closes the door behind them, leaving Bian Lingbai drinking in the hall on his own with Helan Jie sitting nearby without a word.
“Go ahead.” Bian Lingbai sits in the main hall, saying casually, “What you say will decide whether you get out of this room alive.”
Wu Du stands beneath shadowy daylight, looking down at him from above.
“Bian Lingbai.” Wu Du says, “Surely you haven’t been a local despot for so long that you’ve forgotten how little you’re capable of? You think you can try to kill me with the number of men you’ve got?”
Helan Jie rises in anger, but Bian Lingbai shouts at him, “Sit down!”
Both sides fall quiet for a good while, and Wu Du takes several steps inside the room, pacing. “For Great Chen, General Zhao had given his life’s blood, yet he ended up the way he did anyway. During the final battle of Xichuan, you were guarding Tongguan at the time so you couldn’t have left your post without permission, thus you had no blame in it. The imperial court has also not charged you with treason. As for why though — you’re a smart man, I’m sure you don’t need me to lay it out for you.”
Bian Lingbai remains silent for a time, and meanwhile, Duan Ling is keeping his mouth shut through this entire conversation. This is part of the plan he and Wu Du cooked up on their way here; in regards to Mu Kuangda’s wish to have Bian Lingbai killed, before they left for the trip, Duan Ling had hoped by some lucky coincidence that Bian Lingbai may turn out to be innocent, but once he’s thought the whole matter through he thinks the man hasn’t any other option — Bian Lingbai must raise arms against the empire.
Why is that? Since this wretch had both taken part in the military takeover against Li Jianhong and sided with Zhao Kui during the civil war, the only reason the imperial court has made sure he’s pacified is because Great Chen needs a bulwark against Xiliang, and while it does have a military, it lacks capable commanders. And now that the capital is to be relocated, Xichuan will no longer have to face a direct threat from Xiliang. Besides, with a crown prince at court, in time he’ll want to settle the score. Bian Lingbai’s only option is to raise arms in rebellion — otherwise he’s just sitting around as death comes for him.
Bian Lingbai snorts derisively. “I regarded General Zhao as my mentor. I joined the army at fourteen, and since I began following him it has already been thirteen years. I’ve never done anything against the people nor have I ever done anything that deviated from my conscience. Even if the crown prince comes to see me today I’ll tell him the same thing!”
“The crown prince won’t come see you. And he won’t listen to your explanation. But from what I can see here, it seems I fret too much — I won’t bother you any longer. Goodbye.”
Wu Du says to Duan Ling, “Let’s go.”
But Duan Ling is watching Bian Lingbai, not moving his feet.
In the same way, Bian Lingbai is watching Duan Ling.
Wu Du looks at Duan LIng’s eyes, but Duan Ling’s attention is not on Wu Du.
“Do you know my uncle?” Duan Ling says to Bian Lingbai.
Wu Du frowns slightly; Bian Lingbai heaves a long sigh.
This is also something the two of them discussed beforehand — Duan Ling will speak once Wu Du finishes speaking. From what Duan Ling has surmised, Bian Lingbai can’t possibly sit by and ignore Zhao Kui’s nephew if he needs help. If only for the sake of his reputation, Bian Lingbai will look after him. After all, Wu Du is essentially the confidant Zhao Kui has entrusted an orphan with.
Put it another way, if Bian Lingbai really does intend to turn against the government, then driving “Zhao Rong” away would not confer him any advantage. The letter has stated the situation quite clearly — this young man named Zhao Rong was elsewhere while his family was beheaded and their property confiscated; he only came to seek shelter with Bian Lingbai because he has nowhere left to go.
“Your uncle was my mentor. Come over here. Let me take a look at you.”
Duan Ling walks over slowly, and when Bian Lingbai is taking the measure of him by the skylight, he suddenly feels a bit nervous, for fear that anything can be gleaned from his facial features.
“I’ve met your dad before. Saw him face to face briefly when I went to Shandong on business that one time.”
Duan Ling knows he really ought to break down and cry a bit, but alas without any feelings for Zhao Pu at all he can only stare at Bian Lingbai’s hand. Bian Lingbai looks at him for a while but he can’t tell anything from Duan Ling’s person. “Are you studying literature or the martial arts?”
“I learned a bit of both.”
“Can you read?”
Duan Ling gives him a nod, and Bian Lingbai says, “Stay in the compound for now, and as for you …”
“I stay with Wu Du.” Duan Ling says, “I go wherever he goes.”
The last thing Duan Ling wants is for Bian Lingbai to make Wu Du go away. That will throw his plan into disarray, and Wu Du will only be able to make his preparations in secret then. Having a Helan Jie around will also complicate things even more.
Bian Lingbai seem not to know what to do. Wu Du says, “I’m here to search for the whereabouts of that sword under Mu Kuangda’s orders.”
“There’s no use in asking me,” Bian Lingbai says frostily, “If you wanted to present the Zhenshanhe to your new master, then you’ve come to the wrong place.”
Wu Du throws the insult right back in his face, “Well naturally, it’s not like I expected for you and your inept underlings to ever manage to find the thing.”
Every single time Bian Lingbai has tried to humiliate Wu Du he has ended up with a verbal slap in the face instead, and it just fills him with fury. Wu Du adds, “I’m leaving once I make sure Zhao Rong is settled in. Otherwise the chancellor may get suspicious.”
Bian Lingbai lets out a heavy sigh, and waves a hand to let the servants know they should go get rooms ready for the two.
“Zhao Rong,” Bian Lingbai says, “Come over when it’s dinner time.”
Duan Ling knows this means Bian Lingbai has accepted him. Perhaps he’ll arrange for “Zhao Rong” to become a retainer in his estate, or perhaps out of the sentimental ties to his former mentor Zhao Kui, he may groom him. At any rate the mission has started rather smoothly — the rest is going to depend on Wu Du.
Bian Lingbai has had a guest room arranged for them, and he wanted to leave them servants as well, but Wu Du has sent them away. Their recovered clothes and things have been brought into the courtyard; presumably the Tongguan Guard has caught the mounted bandits, and they’re returning all the items they found to their rightful owners. Duan Ling wants to sort everything away as soon as they get inside, but Wu Du stops him.
“Watch out you don’t give yourself away. By rights you shouldn’t know how to do chores.”
“Zhao Rong has been living in exile,” Duan Ling says. “He avoided a fatal disaster and he was saved by you, so the relationship between you two is not as master and servant. It’s only right for him to try to do everything himself for sentimental reasons.”
That’s true, Wu Du supposes. They tidy up their new home for a bit, then Duan Ling goes inside and closes the door. But Wu Du is one step ahead of him, already lying on the bed.
“We’ll have to stay here from now on,” Wu Du says, “we may even have to stay for quite a while. I didn’t expect him to accept this so readily though — you didn’t even hand him the map yet. Think he believes you?”
“Whether he believes me or not is besides the point. He’s not that smart. When someone shows up and asks him to take them in, he’d never suspect it’s because they’re there to secretly investigate him. At most he’ll make sure to keep his guard up and not say those things he shouldn’t be saying around me. What’s more, he’s taken in even someone like Helan Jie, so what’s one more?”
“Yeah.” Wu Du lies there, looking pensive.
Duan Ling lies down to sleep next to him. Wu Du says, “Why are you going to sleep too?”
Duan Ling has no idea what he’s going on about. “Aren’t you taking an afternoon nap?”
“I’m practising my martial arts.”
“What sort of martial arts?” Duan Ling pulls quite the face. “The art of sleep?”
Wu Du ignores him, and spaces out for a bit. Duan Ling adds, “He didn’t interrogate me about Shandong at all.”
“He didn’t know Zhao Pu all that well. Take care what you say to him. Don’t let your guard down.”
Duan Ling has been reviewing all the way to Tongguan, familiarising himself with everything about Shandong, but now that he hasn’t been able to make use of any of the information, it makes him feel a bit frightened. Being left in such an unfamiliar environment leaves him somewhat anxious, and the only thing that gives him a sense of security is Wu Du.
“Hey.” Duan Ling gives Wu Du a tap, only to realise that he’s fallen asleep.
Surprised, Duan Ling stares at him silently. It looks like he really is practising the art of sleep after all. He turns his head to the side to study Wu Du’s face; Wu Du has beautiful eyebrows, good bones, well-defined features that’s a bit rugged around the edges. In deep sleep, that roguish air that circles him fades away, making him feel like a very gentle person.
Wu Du has spent the entire night before last running all over the place rescuing people one minute and chasing after bandits the next, and then last night he had to contend with Helan Jie staring at them the whole night through. Recalling these, Duan Ling thinks he must not have slept well, and so he doesn’t wake him up. He gets up quietly and checks over their things to find that nothing’s missing, but everything’s been searched. Bian Lingbai must still have suspicions about his identity.
Why is Helan Jie in Tongguan?
As Duan Ling heads towards the Bian estate at dusk to attend the banquet, he wonders if this proves that Bian Lingbai is one of the people who conspired to assassinate the late emperor. And when it comes down to it, who then was the one who advised Bian Lingbai to do so?
Wu Du is quite grumpy as he’s just woken up, and there’s a slight but persistent furrow between his brows. As they enter the main hall however, they notice that Helan Jie is actually not there but that someone else is — the young woman they rescued along the way has already dressed for the evening, and judging by her appearance she’s even younger than Duan Ling. They arrive as Bian Lingbai is speaking with the girl.
Duan Ling greets the two of them as a visitor would, and the girl suddenly blushes, falling silent.
“This is Lady Yao, from the Yao family of Huaiyin.” Bian Lingbai says to Duan Ling, “You two have already met.”
Duan Ling nods, and Bian Lingbai introduces him to the young woman, “This is my older brother’s son. His name is ‘Bian Rong’.”2
The young woman would be Yao Zheng’s younger paternal cousin, Yao Jing, and she nods at Duan Ling at the end of the introduction. An unwed young lady can’t tell people her first name; even if Bian Lingbai is a military man and doesn’t really think much of the rites, out of respect for the Yao family, he only gave them a simple introduction.
Duan Ling has already worn too many names in his lifetime. Life is like a stage, and he has been playing one role after another: Duan Ling, Li Ruo, Wang Shan, Zhao Rong, Bian Rong … one barely exits before another takes the stage, and each face he wears is like a mask. Sitting in this brightly lit dining hall, Duan Ling is vaguely beset by an empty feeling.
“Marquess Yao sent her here to Tongguan,” Bian Lingbai continues, explaining to Duan Ling, “because they’ve arranged a marriage between her and a noble family in Xiliang. Who could have known though, that it’d lead to her getting targeted by bandits along the way. Good thing you and Wu Du came to her aid.”
“Thank you very much for saving my life.” Yao Jing raises her cup, with a poise and grace that belies her age.
Duan Ling smiles at her, and says to Wu Du, “She’s drinking to you, you know.”
Having just woken up, Wu Du doesn’t feel like talking. He hums something in reply and drinks the wine without ceremony. Duan Ling then picks up his own cup and drinks it.
I do not monetise my hobby translations, but if you’d like to support my work generally or support my light novel habit, you can either buy me a coffee or commission me. This is also e that if you see this message anywhere else than on tumblr, do come to my tumblr. It’s ad-free. ↩︎
The ‘Rong’ in Bian Rong is not the same ‘Rong’ in Zhao Rong. For name meanings, check the reference page. ↩︎
