TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 2-5

Chapter 2: The Knave

A cold and clear sky hung high beyond the silk screens. A few stars sparsely dotted its vastness, looking exceedingly lonely.

Chen Rong looked away from the bronze mirror and turned her gaze to the night sky. She watched it unblinkingly for a time before leaning back and closing her eyes as she quietly waited for time to pass.

For the past several days, she would sit until dawn each time she awakened from her nightmarish past. It wasn't because she was reminiscing nor was it because her hatred was too strong. Rather, she simply liked to sit there in quietude to watch the sky and to relish in the wonder of being reborn again.

Slowly, a mist emerged across the landscape. And slowly, a voice or two rang out in the fresh morning air.

This voice began as one or two and eventually turned rowdy when more and more gradually joined in.

Footsteps sounded. The gentle and concerned voice of the middle-aged woman from last night came to her: "Ah Rong, are you awake?"

"I am," Rong Chen replied, rising from bed.

The woman swiftly ordered: "Go in and help Ah Rong with her morning wash."

The door made a squeak and in came a maid holding a basin. The older woman went behind Chen Rong to help her comb her hair.

This woman had a round face and a pair of small eyes. Her smiling features showed kindness. She carefully regarded Chen Rong before saying: "The servants have made preparations. We can set out at any time."

Chen Rong throated a reply. Seeing her calm expression, the woman relaxed a little, continuing: "Ah Rong, this place isn't good anymore, we must move south. Compared to other major clans, the House of Chen is still much better. At least, we have clansmen in the south."

Chen Rong throated another reply.

Because she agreed so blithely, and her expression also did not seem to be absentminded as was two days ago, the woman rejoiced and added, "Do you understand now, Ah Rong? You won't have nightmares tonight?"

Chen Rong nodded.

At this time, a man's voice called to her from outside: "Ah Rong, our luggage has been prepared. When will we leave?"

Listening to this familiar voice, Chen Rong suddenly asked, "What day is today?"

Taken aback, the man then replied, "It's the day of the ox (1)."

They are using a 60-day cycle made up of stems and branches similar to the 60-year cycle. This day is called the 辛丑xin chouday, xin being the stem and chou (ox) being the branch.

The day of the ox? Chen Rong stood up. The day of the ox! That's right, on midnight three days later, she would be confronting her first calamity.

While the older woman was caught in bewilderment, she slowly sat down. "Are you Uncle Wu?"

The middle-aged man standing outside grew more surprised. He gave a loud reply: "Yes, I'm Uncle Wu. Ah Rong, what's wrong?" At his last word, he went straight toward the door and pushed it open. A thin and pale face with a few sparse whiskers on the chin appeared before Chen Rong's eyes.

Chen Rong was washing her mouth at this time. It was rather ill-mannered for a man as old as he to open her door.

She looked up at the man. Living for the second time, she could only now see the wickedness hidden behind his seemingly gentle and benevolent face.