PLUCKING
A CHERISHED GUQIN
ACROSS THE EAST WALL
Once the Lantern Festival arrived, the whole of the colossal imperial palace was decorated with lanterns and coloured banners, the palace was filled with jubilation.
Except… for the ruined and desolated Yingxu Palace Hall.
The wooden door, creaked and groaned, and felt as if it would fall with just a push, the furnace lacked the little pitiful specks of silver coal that have been completely burnt off a long time ago, the only remaining servant had ran off on his own accord to the other palace for the Lantern Festival.
All that was left was a motionless, incessantly coughing, faded woman on the bed, and by her side, a boy mournfully and bitterly cried.
“Mother Imperial*, Mother Imperial, please wake up, okay? Don’t abandon Chengde all by himself!”
(母妃 mǔ fēi – mother imperial concubine – how in the world do you translate that into English?)
The extremely fragile woman on the bed have already closed her eyes forever.
Beside her, the candle flame undoubtedly tried to hold on, a burst of cold wind rolled in through the paper window hole, in a split second the candle extinguished, the room went dark, only the sound of the boy’s heartbreaking and lung-rending* cry was left.
(I know it’s heartrending but the author used lung)
Outside of Yingxu Palace Hall, from a distance stood a young man from Yushu Lanfang. The young man wore a golden crown and a brocade gown. Holding a folding fan in his hand, he flipped it open and snapped it close, flipped, snapped, and flipped again. After a long while, he raised his eyebrows and lazily asked the imperial bodyguard beside him, “Ameng*, who is the boy?”
(阿蒙 Ā méng)
golden crown 
brocade gown
Behind him, the tall taciturn man bowed his head, and replied solemnly and respectfully: “Your Seventh Highness, that’s His Twelveth Highness, named Chengde, he is the son of Rou Mother Imperial* who was ostracised three years ago.”
(妃 fēi – imperial concubine – same as above so I kept it the same word)
“Oh?” The young man chortled, incomparably distinguished and accomplished, his indifferent tone displayed fully, “No wonder I have never seen him in the palace before.”
…
Three years later.
The seventh prince, Li Huai’en*, became the crown prince, and the whole country celebrated.
(李懷恩 Li Huai En)
At the wine goblets and gambling chips* banquet, the crown prince stood up, his each and every move, magnificent as if they were made by the heavens.
(觥筹交错 gōng chóu jiāo cuò – idiom – to drink and gamble together in a large group/ a big (drinking) party)
He quietly knelt inside the Yu Golden Palace Hall, respectfully and refinely: “Father Emperor, your servant* is to be so bold as to* ask of Father Emperor to grant Twelveth Young Brother to attend upon crown prince, to personally accompany your son.”
(used in addressing the sovereign)
(courteous)
Above the gold imperial throne, baring fangs and brandishing claws*, a few old emperors’ eyes narrowed, after quite a while, they eventually remembered Yingxu Palace Hall, where there lived such a son who was of no interest to anyone.
(张牙舞爪 zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo – idiom – to make threatening gestures)
…
The crown prince’s bedchamber palace of gold and jade in glorious splendor*, Yuan Qing Palace Hall.
(金碧辉煌 jīn bì huī huáng – a dazzling sight (e.g. royal palace)
Li Huai’en, wore a yellow Ming Dynasty embroidered patterned gown, seated on the seat of honour, blew on his cup of tea, and softly exhaled: “Ameng, for these length of period, those who were unsatisfactory in serving the Twelveth Prince, who were the slaves?”
The man known as Ameng nodded, with great waves* but unalarmed: “Your Highness, those people are all already here.”
(fig. of a story with great momentum)
Outside of Yuan Qing Palace Hall, the quivering palace maids and eunuchs were neatly lined up in two rows, they knelt down and kowtowed one by one, each cried for mercy.
Li Huai’en lazily just set the green jade cup aside, without raising his eyes: “Take them away, everyone to be beheaded.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Ameng nodded respectfully, his face expressionless.
…
“Chengde, I am your gege*.”
(哥哥 gē gē – older brother)
Inside the crown prince’s bedchamber palace, Li Huai’en’s face was as if coated with jade, his eyebrows slightly raised, a distinguished, handsome and charming smile appeared.
“Ge, ge…?” The shivering young man who was huddling in the corner looked up, a confused pair of bright crystal clear eyes.
“Yes.” Li Huai’en quietly and softly walked over, his aristocratic body stooped down, he used his top-notch natural silk sleeve to wipe the dust off the young man’s forehead, and looked into his bright yet gentle pair of eyes, “From now on, I will be your only relative in this world.”
…
Four years later.
The emperor was getting old and was incapable of managing the affairs of the nation, everything including the North Korea-China authority was given to the crown prince to shoulder.
Entering the Kun Palace, Li Huai’en’s brows furrowed slightly, and with the red ink brush, he reviewed the memorial for the emperor in his hand.
With a squeak, the door opened, a jade-chiseled red-faced* young man who held a bowl* of hot porridge in his hand, walked in cautiously and solemnly.
(粉雕玉琢 fěn diāo yù zhuó – powder/white/pink | to carve/bird of prey | jade | to cut (gems) – I think it means his face was alike a carved jade – fine exquisite pretty)
(It’s a handleless cup – goblet sounded too pretentious and cup does not sound right in my eyes >.< it looks like something above)
Li Huai’en pursed his lips, and showed a gentle and soft smile, without lifting up his head, and in a flat tone: “Chengde, I’ve mentioned it repeatedly, let the servants take care of these sort of things and that’s good enough.”
“It doesn’t matter, Chengde can do it.” Li Chengde walked to his side and carefully set the bowl down. Each minding his own business, Chengde started grinding the ink stick for Huaien.
ink stick
(I’ve just finished binge watching The Untamed Special Edition and I couldn’t resist)
He looked up, and secretly glanced at Li Huai’en’s handsome side profile, he bit his lip, and a while later, he asked softly, “Ge… you will never ever abandon Chengde, right?”
Li Huai’en’s writing slowed down, but only for a moment, so quick that people wouldn’t be able to sense it.
He continued with what he was doing, and lowered his head, his long and narrow eyes drooped slightly, his tone still serene: “Chengde, on this earth, it’s inconceivable that there will be anybody who would dare to humiliate you ever again, to deride you or to abandon you, that’s all you need to remember.”
…
Two years later.
After the death of the emperor, the crown prince ascended the throne, the era name* changed to Cheng An, the title ‘Prince Qingyuan’ was bestowed upon the twelveth prince, and Ameng became the Imperial First General.
(年号 nián hào – name for either the entire reign of an emperor or one part of it)
Winter Solstice*, winter snow fell, the stamen and pistil of the plum blossoms dropped.
(22nd December – 5th January)
Li Huai’en stood with his hands folded, quietly admiring the snow scene outside the palace hall.
Suddenly, he covered his mouth with his hand, and coughed slightly.
Not much sound was heard, but the reticent and solemn man beside him was actually taken aback, his eyebrows knitted, Ameng opened his mouth, and still spoke softly, “Your Majesty, your body is already getting worse day by day.”
Li Huai’en chuckled, still distinguished and accomplished, noble and graceful. He used his finger to wiped the wisps of blood on his lips, still in an unperturbed tone: “It seems… that the strategy must be intensified.”
…
In a flash, it has been three years since the new emperor succeeded.
The emperor was ruthless, taxation was harsh, the people had no way to make a living. In all parts of the country, uprisings have begun in succession, with the intention to overthrow the tyrannical ruler and to re-establish a new emperor.
Within the throne room where there were dragon engravings and paintings of phoenixes, Li Huai’en’s jaded face, his lips tinted with a deep shade of red, he stood with his hands folded, remarkably alike the manner of a popular, distinguished, accomplished and indulgent son of nobility all in white.
Li Chengde looked at him, his crystal clear eyes full of incredulity: “Ge… why? You’re obviously not like that!”
Li Huai’en chuckled and turned around, he walked towards Li Chengde, his fingertips caressed the other person’s fair cheek: “Chengde, the former you, would have never lose his temper with me.”
“But… ge, you have already murdered so many innocent people, why would you want to do this?” Li Chengde looked at him, his face filled with pain, his crystal clear eyes teared up.
And just like that first year, Li Huai’en stooped down, his movement still as noble and magnificent, he reached out and wiped the tears away from the corner of Li Chengde’s eyes, his words were so tender as if it would have shattered with just one touch: “I did it so… you can seat righteously on the throne*, for you to enjoy the worship from all the people, Chengde, I have said before, from here on, there will not be anybody who would dare to humiliate you, even if I were to passed away, it would still be this way.”
(江山 jiāng shān – Jiangshan county level city in Quzhou, rivers and mountains, landscape, country, state power)
…
Seven years later.
It was Winter Solstice once again.
The storyteller* rapped the wood, and with a clear and loud voice, “It is said that, in those years the emperor was tyrannical and the people were in a terrible situation. Prince Qingyuan suffered in silence accompanying the prince for approximately, no less than a period of three years. Afterwards he finally grabbed the opportunity, and he killed the tyrant in one move, he saved the common people in the midst of water and fire, it was truly indeed destiny, he was one who acquired the people’s hearts, somebody whom the common people trusted.
(说书 shuō shū – folk art consisting of storytelling to music)
Outside of Yuanqing Palace, adorning the yellow gown*, the young man with delicate features and an expressionless face, stood aside, he spoke in a light tone: “Ameng, he has departed, has it been seven years?”
(黄袍加身 huáng páo jiā shēn – idiom – fig. to be made emperor/to take the crown)
Chengde 
Ameng
“Your Majesty, it has been seven years and a day.” Behind him, stood the tall man, reticient as always, but his face had aged, the hair on his temples had thinned out and have turned white.
The young man was slightly stumped for words, a blanked expression, a while later, he eventually lowered his head, covered his face with his hands, and weeped mournfully.
It was a pity, that this time, there won’t be that somebody who would stoop down to wipe his tears away.
Li Chengde, who had never loved authority, nor sought for riches or honour, had never wanted to be the country’s ruler who looked over the whole country. The only thing he cared about… was the one who would use his sleeve to help wiped the dust off him.
That person had once said to him, that he would be his only relative on this earth, he did say, that with him around, from then on there will not be anybody who would dare to humiliate or taunt him.
He accomplished this, at the cost of… never returning.
Looking at Jiangshan, the bones of the dead in the loess*.
(江山一顧，黃土白骨 jiāng shān yī gù, huáng tǔ bái gǔ)
(jiang shan – country/throne)
(黄土 huáng tǔ – yellow sandy soil typical of north China)
Very late in the night, Mo Lan typed the last word, then sent the written manuscript to Ninth Heaven Screenplay Department’s inbox, she couldn’t help but yawned.
Rather oppressive.
With her head leaned to one side, Mo Lan started thinking a little uncertainly… this drama, should quite complement Su Qingmo and Bai Yu Luo Bo’s voices. As for Secretly Captivated, although his voice was quite versatile, but she had her own selfish reason, her personal favourite was that of his unique, distinguished and accomplished, raised-eyebrow gentle chuckle of the noble prince.
Hopefully, they would be satisfied.
Early next morning, on the way to work in the train, Mo Lan stood by the door of the carriage, she clutched the railing with her hand, everybody minded their own business, beside her, stood two girls who looked like college students.
Maybe it was because of the close distance, she heard the conversation between the two girls without missing a word.
“Hey, you know Secretly Captivated SAMA’s announcement about accepting new works right?”
“Of course I know, I refresh his Weibo several times a day.”
“I heard that the lineup of this new drama is huge, practically bringing all of the good voices in Ninth Heavens together.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it, hopefully the script is the type I like!”
Me: I finished watching The Untamed right before translating this part and boy my mind started to wonder. Who would be the Li Huaien, Chengde and Ameng in your mind?
m a e m ‘ s 
At first I thought I had clicked the wrong link, then I reasoned that maybe you had posted the wrong chapter, then I wondered if I hadn’t remembered the last part of chapter 6 correctly… In the end if was the script for the new drama (although I did guess half-way through that it might be like that). It’s strange that, even though it was more of a summary, and we never really got to know the characters, it was still pretty moving to read (or perhaps I’m just too easily affected by things? lol). I wonder what SC will think of it?
Anyway, thanks for the chapter, and stay safe!
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Hehe. Same here! Maybe it’s because the author gave just enough details so that we could just fill in the blanks.
Welcome and you too!
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Li Huaien (SC) Chengde (BYLB) and Ameng (SQM) – My guess!
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