SPRING RIVER FLOWERS AND MOON - CHAPTER 5 PART 2
SPRING RIVER FLOWERS AND MOON - CHAPTER 5 PART 2
Translations by: Lily of the Valley
Chapter 5 Part 2: The Fifteenth Year of Xingping, It Seemed Fated to Be a Busy Autumn
Flowing clear waters surrounded them, and by the riverbank, they washed their feet. Laughter and joy filled the air continuously.
That carefree scene from that day remained vivid in her memory, as if it had happened just yesterday.
However, not long after, the surrounding events began to cause worry one after another.
First, news arrived that the Xiongnu in the north, led by the Xia Kingdom, were eyeing the south, preparing their forces to march southward and conquer Jiangnan. Since the latter half of the previous year, her uncle Gao Yun, who served as the Inspector of Xuzhou, had gone north to Guangling to recruit troops and prepare for war.
The possibility of a North-South conflict loomed.
Troubles did not stop there. Around the same time, the Prince of Linchuan, a relative of the imperial family, had rebelled the previous autumn. The rebel forces had temporarily taken control of the entire Gan River basin.
The Xu family, who were in-laws, with Lady Xu being the current empress's father, Xu Bi, were dispatched to suppress the rebellion.
The campaign to suppress the rebellion was not progressing smoothly, and it had been nearly half a year now.
And that's not all. In the southwesternmost region of Jiaozhou, there was unrest as well.
The Lin Yi Kingdom, which had been a vassal of the Great Yu, experienced internal turmoil, and the King of Lin Yi fled to Jiaozhou, seeking help from Lady Luo's Emperor uncle, Emperor Xingping.
With the vassal state in chaos, the Great Yu, as the suzerain state, could not ignore the situation. Emperor Xingping dispatched a military force to assist the King of Lin Yi in restoring order.
As of now, that military force had not yet returned.
The fifteenth year of Xingping seemed destined to be a turbulent autumn.
The Great Yu was facing unrest in the north, center, and south simultaneously. Her father, who held the position of Minister of the Central Secretariat, was overseeing the central administration, managing and coordinating affairs, and dealing with issues from all three directions. His mental and physical efforts were truly exhausting.
Lady Luo had seen the lights in her father's study burn late into the night on more than one occasion. Sometimes, he even spent the night there and attended court meetings without changing his clothes.
She felt deeply for him, but there was nothing she could do. She could only hope that the detestable conflicts among those men would end sooner.
She wished for her father to have some peace, like in her childhood memories when he used to sit and chat with a few friends, sipping wine and enjoying their leisure time. He would be elegant and carefree, well-known throughout the land. Instead of what it was now, with him being exhausted day in and day out by state affairs.
How long had it been since Lady Luo had seen her father smile with ease?
That's why, a couple of days ago, after her fall, she had insisted that her attendants not inform her father. She didn't want him to worry unnecessarily.
"Madam, we've reached the ferry crossing," Uncle Qi's voice rang out.
The carriage door was opened, and Uncle Qi's affectionate smile appeared at the carriage door.
Only then did Lady Luo realize that the bullock cart had come to a stop.
Uncle Qi personally set up a small stool for her to step on.
The two maids, Qiongshu and Yingtao, came over without needing instructions.
Qiongshu assisted Lady Luo.
Yingtao crouched down, supporting the small stool.
In truth, Lady Luo could have disembarked on her own. She could have even jumped down without using the stool, landing safely.
However, Uncle Qi wouldn't give her such an opportunity, especially after her recent slip from the swing a couple of days ago.
So, with Qiongshu and Yingtao supporting her—one above and one below—Lady Luo stepped down from the carriage.
A colorful ferry was waiting at the crossing.
Lady Luo boarded the boat, heading towards White Egret Island.
That carefree scene from that day remained vivid in her memory, as if it had happened just yesterday.
However, not long after, the surrounding events began to cause worry one after another.
First, news arrived that the Xiongnu in the north, led by the Xia Kingdom, were eyeing the south, preparing their forces to march southward and conquer Jiangnan. Since the latter half of the previous year, her uncle Gao Yun, who served as the Inspector of Xuzhou, had gone north to Guangling to recruit troops and prepare for war.
The possibility of a North-South conflict loomed.
Troubles did not stop there. Around the same time, the Prince of Linchuan, a relative of the imperial family, had rebelled the previous autumn. The rebel forces had temporarily taken control of the entire Gan River basin.
The Xu family, who were in-laws, with Lady Xu being the current empress's father, Xu Bi, were dispatched to suppress the rebellion.
The campaign to suppress the rebellion was not progressing smoothly, and it had been nearly half a year now.
And that's not all. In the southwesternmost region of Jiaozhou, there was unrest as well.
The Lin Yi Kingdom, which had been a vassal of the Great Yu, experienced internal turmoil, and the King of Lin Yi fled to Jiaozhou, seeking help from Lady Luo's Emperor uncle, Emperor Xingping.
With the vassal state in chaos, the Great Yu, as the suzerain state, could not ignore the situation. Emperor Xingping dispatched a military force to assist the King of Lin Yi in restoring order.
As of now, that military force had not yet returned.
The fifteenth year of Xingping seemed destined to be a turbulent autumn.
The Great Yu was facing unrest in the north, center, and south simultaneously. Her father, who held the position of Minister of the Central Secretariat, was overseeing the central administration, managing and coordinating affairs, and dealing with issues from all three directions. His mental and physical efforts were truly exhausting.
Lady Luo had seen the lights in her father's study burn late into the night on more than one occasion. Sometimes, he even spent the night there and attended court meetings without changing his clothes.
She felt deeply for him, but there was nothing she could do. She could only hope that the detestable conflicts among those men would end sooner.
She wished for her father to have some peace, like in her childhood memories when he used to sit and chat with a few friends, sipping wine and enjoying their leisure time. He would be elegant and carefree, well-known throughout the land. Instead of what it was now, with him being exhausted day in and day out by state affairs.
How long had it been since Lady Luo had seen her father smile with ease?
That's why, a couple of days ago, after her fall, she had insisted that her attendants not inform her father. She didn't want him to worry unnecessarily.
"Madam, we've reached the ferry crossing," Uncle Qi's voice rang out.
The carriage door was opened, and Uncle Qi's affectionate smile appeared at the carriage door.
Only then did Lady Luo realize that the bullock cart had come to a stop.
Uncle Qi personally set up a small stool for her to step on.
The two maids, Qiongshu and Yingtao, came over without needing instructions.
Qiongshu assisted Lady Luo.
Yingtao crouched down, supporting the small stool.
In truth, Lady Luo could have disembarked on her own. She could have even jumped down without using the stool, landing safely.
However, Uncle Qi wouldn't give her such an opportunity, especially after her recent slip from the swing a couple of days ago.
So, with Qiongshu and Yingtao supporting her—one above and one below—Lady Luo stepped down from the carriage.
A colorful ferry was waiting at the crossing.
Lady Luo boarded the boat, heading towards White Egret Island.
Translations by: Lily of the Valley
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