Ch55 - Xiao Shao Jiu Cheng

“Okay!” Jing Shao was very happy to hear these words. He had prepared a famous qin in the small study, and had waited for Jun Qing to relax himself and want to play a piece of music. Unfortunately, he had never heard it, let alone the sound of the jade flute.

Mu Hanzhang glanced at the inexplicably excited Jing Shao, and smiling helplessly, he lifted the jade flute to his pale lips.

The moonlit night was quiet, and the flute seemed to whimper, bringing with it some sense of desolation through the times. It was slow, like the wind crossing forests and seas, and went up-and-down, like the moon shining down on Yangtze River.

Jing Shao didn’t know the melody very well, but that didn’t prevent him from understanding the tune, because his eyes never left the flute player. The moonlight poured over his pale blue muslin clothes, and his lustrous and slender hands pressed down on the long jade flute. Jing Shao only felt that those hands were even gentler than jade. 

The shimmering light on the crystal clear river was reflected on that incomparably beautiful face. Accompanied by the sound of the flute, Jing Shao seemed to see a blue phoenix dancing under the moon and circling the forest, before soaring up to 90,000 li…

“How come there’s no more?” The sound of the flute stopped abruptly. Jing Shao hadn’t heard enough, and was dissatisfied.

Mu Hanzhang raised his head to look at him. “What did you hear?”

“A young phoenix, soaring up into thousands of li of clouds, and then?” Jing Shao frowned; listening to only half a story was quite unbearable.

Mu Hanzhang looked at him in surprise. “You could hear so much?” This ancient song had been passed down since a very long time ago, and its content was very difficult to understand; even zither players wouldn’t be able to hear this much, let alone people who didn’t understand musicality and tuning.

Jing Shao didn’t expect that he would somehow be able to hear the meaning in it, but he smiled proudly. “The ancients said that gold is easy to obtain, but a soulmate is difficult to find; anyone who meets their soulmate, even if it is an old fisherman or woodcutter, will still be able to understand them. I don’t understand the song, but rather, the person who plays it.” As he said that, he reached out to take a lock of fine black hair in one hand and twine it around his thumb.

Mu Hanzhang lowered his gaze, and that handsome face under the moonlight was slightly red. “Then, do you know what the name of this song is?”

Jing Shao scratched his head. How would he know? So, he smiled and sat down next to his Wang Fei, pulled the man into his arms, and inched close to one ear and said, “I’m guessing it’s called ‘A Male Phoenix Seeks His Mate.’” 

“Nonsense… wu…”  Mu Hanzhang glared at him, but before he could finish speaking, his lips were blocked.

Jing Shao had simply made a half-hearted guess. After he calmed down, they slowly separated, and he reached out to touch the cheek of the person in his arms, and recited softly, “There is a beauty, once seen I shall never forget, not seeing them for a day, may drive me mad.” His magnetic voice rose and fell like a chant, and was very moving.

(The verse is from a qin song named “Feng Qiu Huang or 凤求凰” which roughly translates to “A Male Phoenix Seeks His Mate” it’s kind of like a romantic serenade hehe~ More info here: http://www.silkqin.com/02qnpu/16xltq/xl155fqh.htm)

Mu Hanzhang looked at him quietly and smiled slowly. “This song is called ‘Xiao Shao'. In ancient times, there were nine movements for ‘Xiao Shao.’ Now, there are only three movements left.” 

It turned out to be an incomplete song. Jing Shao nodded. No wonder it felt unfinished as he listened to it.

Seeing that Jing Shao still wasn’t understanding things properly, Mu Hanzhang sighed helplessly. “Today is the nineteenth day of the ninth lunar month.”

Nineteenth day of the ninth lunar month? Jing Shao’s eyes widened suddenly. Nineteenth day of the ninth lunar month, was that not his birthday?!

Since his mother’s death, he hadn’t truly celebrated his birthday properly, except for the usual bestowment of treasure in the palace. In his last life, he had been fighting in campaigns for many years. Up until now, he himself hadn’t remembered that there was such a thing as his birthday. Wang Fei had even gone to the trouble of actually remembering it, and even after getting injured, had a bowl of longevity noodles cooked for him. 

“Aec Hlcu…” Alcu Vtjb ibbxfv ja atf qfgrbc lc tlr jgwr. Kbvjs, jii xlcvr bo atlcur tjv tjqqfcfv, ktlmt lwwfvljafis mjerfv jii rbgar bo offilcur ab kfii eq lc tlr tfjga. Mbg j ktlif, tf vlvc’a xcbk ktja ab rjs.

“Tbe klii yf akfcas sfjgr biv ogbw abvjs. Qf kbc’a yf jyif ab wjxf la yjmx ab atf mjqlaji obg j mgbkclcu mfgfwbcs obg sbe…” Ze Ljchtjcu qegrfv tlr ilqr. Ktf mgbkclcu mfgfwbcs kjr nfgs lwqbgajca obg j qglcmf. Ktf ugjcvcfrr bo atf mfgfwbcs jirb vfafgwlcfv atf qgbyjylilas bo tlw remmffvlcu atf atgbcf. Lbkfnfg, Alcu Vtjb tjv jigfjvs ibra atf gluta bo remmfrrlbc. Pa vlvc’a wjaafg ktfatfg tf tjv j mgbkclcu mfgfwbcs bg cba.

“I was already crowned when I was bestowed the title of prince,” said Jing Shao. Seeing the pity in his Wang Fei’s eyes, he felt his heart fill with warmth. “But I’m still short of a courtesy name – how about you give me one?” In fact, the imperial family didn’t have courtesy names, because there was basically no one to call the imperial family by their courtesy names. Letting Jun Qing come up with one was for him to use it for fun in private.

Mu Hanzhang leaned into his arms and saw that Jing Shao didn’t seem very sad at all. He secretly thought that he had worried too much. His eyes curved as he smiled and said, “Xiao Shao Jiu Cheng, You Feng Lai Yi.  How about ‘Jiu Xiao.’” 

Note: “Xiao Shao Jiu Cheng, You Feng Lai Yi” translates to The Ninth Movement of Xiao Shao, The Phoenix Appears, author switched the first character of the movement name though O.o

“Jiu Xiao…” Jing Shao savored the words carefully.

Xiao Shao Jiu Cheng, You Feng Lai Yi. His father and his mother gave him the name “Shao” back then in the hope that he would do as the phoenix did in the divine song that was Xiao Shao, and bring peace and prosperity to the country of Da Chen, rather than be like a Jiao Long, fighting over the throne. His future, when he was born, had already been determined. Wasn’t his father conferring on him the title of Cheng Wang also a reminder? But it had been to no avail, as Jing Shao had never been able to understand.

(We learn the history behind Jing Shao’s name~ Jiao Long is a legendary dragon that controls the rain and weather. His parents essentially wanted him to play a supporting role to the next emperor to bring peace to the country rather than try to become a dragon, which is a symbol for the emperor and fight for the throne which is why they named him from the name of a flute song about phoenixes) 

“What, did I say something wrong?” Mu Hanzhang couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous when he saw the sorrow on Jing Shao’s face. He had also guessed the origin of the character in Jing Shao’s name, but didn’t know that he would truly get to the heart of the matter. If he had brought up a matter that caused Jing Shao a lot of pain, the gain wasn’t worth the loss.

“No, that’s exactly what my mother thought at that time.” Jing Shao smiled and looked up at the waning moon in the sky. If there was a departed soul in the sky that was his mother, it would definitely be extremely gratified if it could see him now.

Early autumn in the south was still as blistering hot as the middle of summer. The evening wind brushed refreshingly over their faces, carrying with it the fragrance of unknown flowers. Jing Shao took a deep breath. The person in his embrace had done so much for him; how could he not give anything in return? So, he bowed his head and smiled at the man in his arms. “In fact, I can also play the flute.”

“Can you?” Mu Hanzhang was surprised. He had never heard of the Cheng Wang being able to comprehend music. Looking at Jing Shao’s indecent smile, he said doubtfully, “You’re just shooting off your mouth, aren’t you?” 

“Whether I’m bragging or not, we’ll only know once we try it.” Jing Shao seemed very confident.

Thus, a moment later…

“En… This, how can this… wu…” Mu Hanzhang sat on the rock and was forced to lift his head as he gasped incessantly for breath.

Jing Shao lifted his head and chuckled. “How is Benwang’s flute playing?” 

“You…” Looking at the man buried between his legs, Mu Hanzhang was too shocked to speak. This kind of proud man, unexpectedly, was actually willing to bow his head and do this kind of thing that shouldn’t be done in the first place for him!

Jing Shao kissed Little Jun Qing next to his lips, picked up the person who had scarlet cheeks, and gently placed him on the grass beside the river. “If you can’t tell yet whether it’s good or not, you can judge after I finish this song.”

Mu Hanzhang’s hands slowly clutched the green grass underneath them, and only then did he realize that they were near the river! The sky was his curtain and the ground his mattress; it was truly embarrassing to do this here. “Don’t… in this place… ah…” The warmth which enveloped him suddenly tightened, immediately causing his voice to waver.

The starry sky in his eyes suddenly flashed black and white, and the sensations his body was feeling seemed heightened in the silent wilderness. Mu Hanzhang never thought that this kind of feeling could be felt so keenly. Even though he knew that they could be discovered at any time, he couldn’t help but yearn for more. 

Mu Hanzhang reached out one trembling hand to stroke the head between his legs tenderly. Tenderness and love swirled in his heart. At that moment, there was only one thought left in his mind: He wanted him, he wanted to become one with him.

“Xiao Shao…”

Hearing the gentle call from the person under him, Jing Shao stopped his movements, climbed up a bit and kissed that face, but unexpectedly, an arm hooked around his neck and pulled him down! Jun Qing… was taking the initiative?

God knew that for Jing Shao, who originally planned to hold back his desire, it was as if his soul had been ensnared by this gentle clasp. He suddenly caught those half-open lips and kissed them fiercely, but a remaining trace of reason told him that the person in his arms was still recovering from an injury, and that he wouldn’t be able to go too far. 

“The wound hurts a little. Be gentle…” Mu Hanzhang bit the ear of the person on top of him and said softly. He also didn’t know what was wrong with him. Maybe it was Jing Shao’s deep feelings tonight that made him not feel like himself. Maybe it was the chaos today that made him want to wash away the bloody memories in his mind. Maybe it was just his own heart that wanted to do it…

He was at a young and vigorous age, with the atmosphere being such a raging inferno of desire – how could he resist such intimacy?

If Jing Shao heard these words and could still resist, he wouldn’t be a man!

He took out a small box the size of a walnut from his waist and opened it, and the familiar fragrance soon spread out. 

When Mu Hanzhang saw that he had this kind of thing with him, he glared at Jing Shao with a red face.

The cool cream was slowly smeared inside. Jing Shao skillfully found that spot that made Mu Hanzhang turn extremely cute. He pressed and kneaded it, and at the same time, bent over to once again suck on the neglected Little Jun Qing. When the body beneath him seemed like it had melted into a pool of spring water, he stopped stretching his empress open and grabbed that narrow waist, thrusting in.

Mu Hanzhang bit his lip and endured the feelings of pain and pleasure. Even though the wound on his shoulder hurt and the grass under his body wasn’t as soft as a bed, he felt that this was the happiest he had felt in a long time. It was as if he had broken away from all kinds of shackles, which simply dissolved under a pure heart.

Surrounded by the fragrance of the green grass, and borrowing the moonlight, Jing Shao could see every expression of the person in his arms: his slightly furrowed brow, his teary eyes, the teeth marks on his lower lip where it had been bitten. Then there was his entire body that was flushed pink, and even the soft silk around his shoulder – it was all so beautiful that Jing Shao couldn’t help but speed up his movements. 

Only after a long time did Jing Shao snap out of his haze from this round of lovemaking, where he had been able to eat to his heart’s content. He placated the person who was still shuddering with a kiss, then slowly pulled out. Naturally, he again provoked a thin and broken string of quiet moans.

“Does the wound hurt?” After a simple wash with river water, Jing Shao sat on the grass and held the man in his arms, unraveling the soft silk around his shoulder to check.

“It’s still okay…” Mu Hanzhang was limp and completely lacked strength as he leaned lazily against Jing Shao.

“Oh no, it still started bleeding.” Jing Shao saw that the wound, which had not completely scabbed over, had started to ooze beads of blood. He immediately felt regretful, and picking up the man in his arms, carried him back to camp. 

“So I’ll use that medicine instead. Otherwise, a few days of striking camp and jostling around might crack it open.” Mu Hanzhang lay drowsily on that broad shoulder. The wound hurt, but he could still sleep. He yawned and said with a somewhat nasally sound, “Let’s go back to the military advisor’s tent, so that we won’t be discovered by everyone tomorrow.”

When Jing Shao heard this, he thought about how there was also a little furry tiger who was always in the way in the imperial tent. They certainly shouldn’t go there, so he turned to the military advisor’s tent on the side. There was also medicine in this tent. Jing Shao put the person on the bed and went to find the green jade bottle. “Apply this first in the evening; we’ll take a look at the situation again tomorrow.” He didn’t want to use that medicine on Jun Qing unless it was a last resort. How painful would it be to use that medicine when the wound was so deep?

All was quiet in the camp except for the footsteps of the patrol guards and the chirping of insects.

A dark shadow stealthily snuck into the prince’s tent. The man bent down and gently raised the lower corner of the curtain. Creeping forward silently, he approached the bed, took the dagger from his mouth, and with a sudden leap, stabbed down at the bed fiercely… Empty! The man was startled, and was about to retreat when he was suddenly scratched by something sharp. He thought he had been ambushed, and couldn’t help crying out in fear. 

“Who?!” The guard patrolling outside immediately rushed in at the sound. The torch lit up the entire tent, illuminating the assassin who had been scared witless and the little furball in the middle of the quilt.

“Wawu!” Xiao Huang was quite dissatisfied with the person who had woken it up. It rushed at him and bared its teeth, then squatted down and leisurely licked its bloody paws.

The author has something to say: In a time of river crabs, we can only do this ~ cough cough ~ even if it’s this kind of meat, we should keep a low profile ~ don’t read it out loud~ shh~~~~

I translated the uncensored version, but in the censored version on jjwxc, the author included this: 

Author’s Little Theatre:

River God: Young man, why are you crying?

Xiao Shao: My flute fell into the river and was eaten by crabs

River God: So did you drop this golden flute, silver flute or ordinary flute? 

Xiao Shao: None of them

River God: Then what kind of flute?

Xiao Shao: M- meat flute

River God: I’ve been a God for so many years, and I’ve never heard of any meat flute 

Xiao Shao: It’s a man-made flute that plays music. The man must be a stunning beauty. It’s best for them to be an officially wedded male wife, with the sky for a curtain and the ground as a mattress, beside the small river in the pitch dark

River God: Now I know

Xiao Shao: Right, you finally get it

River God: I finally know who woke me up in the middle of last night and poured sticky things into the river, polluting the environment 

Xiao Shao: !!!

About birthdays:

Because his Wang Fei had played the flute on his birthday this year, Jing Shao would always think about this flute playing on every one of his birthdays after that.

One year, Mu Hanzhang was sent to Japan as an ambassador, and so wasn’t able to come back to celebrate Jing Shao’s birthday. Brother Jing Chen thought he was quite pitiful, so called Jing Shao to the palace. He was bestowed with a lot of good food and wine, but Jing Shao was depressed and sulky, and felt that something was missing. 

Jing Chen looked at his morality and conduct and was very annoyed. “What on earth do you want?”

Jing Shao was bashful for quite a long time. “I want my Wang Fei to play the flute for me.”

What was so memorable about some flute playing? Jing Chen didn’t quite understand. Empress Gu covered his face with a fan and chuckled incessantly. He whispered two words in Jing Chen’s ear. Elder Brother became extremely angry. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

Jing Shao was baffled. He just wanted to hear Jun Qing play that “Harmonious Flute” song. What was wrong with that? Ch56 - Report of Victory