Chapter 47: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 47: 

 

The pregnant woman was momentarily surprised by Mian Tang's fluent use of the frontier dialect. Clearly, Mian Tang was not from the frontier herself, but why did she speak the language so well?

Before she could ponder further, another wave of intense contractions hit her. Desperately, she grabbed Mian Tang's hand, holding it as though it were a lifeline.

Mian Tang, feeling the woman's desperation, gently held her hand and offered soothing words.

As fate would have it, Dr. Zhao Quan arrived at Cui Ji Medicine Shop soon after. True to Mian Tang's expectation, Zhao Quan, who had returned from Jin Jia Pass, was intercepted by the informant at the town's edge and promptly arrived at the shop.

Zhao Quan was skilled in dealing with complex medical issues due to his natural talent and passion for medicine. However, he had always avoided gynecological issues due to their delicacy and his own discomfort with such matters.

The situation was dire. Though Zhao Quan suspected the issue was the baby’s position, he hesitated to manipulate the pregnant woman’s abdomen directly, fearing that he might cause harm and become responsible for a grave outcome.

Seeing Zhao Quan’s reluctance and the lack of practical guidance, Mian Tang, who had grown frustrated with the situation, broke her silence and directly asked, “What should we do? Teach me, and I’ll take care of it.”

Zhao Quan, relieved that Mian Tang was finally speaking to him, quickly instructed her to feel the woman’s abdomen to determine the baby’s position. 

Mian Tang placed her hands carefully. Initially unsure, she felt the baby hiccup inside, which made the tiny head easier to locate. However, the position was indeed troublesome: the baby’s head was facing upwards.

This was Zhao Quan’s first delivery, and he faced a particularly difficult case. Determined not to disappoint Mian Tang, he resolved to use all his skills. He applied his unique acupuncture techniques, used moxibustion to stimulate the area, and instructed Mian Tang to use specific massage techniques to help turn the baby into the correct position.

After all the effort, Mian Tang was exhausted, her hands sore and weary. The pregnant woman, too, was barely holding on, but they managed to turn the baby’s head into the correct position.

The delivery was then handed over to the experienced midwives, including Li Mama. Fortunately, the baby was small, making the birth relatively smooth. However, the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, turning the little one’s face a dangerous shade of blue. If it had been delayed any longer, the outcome might have been fatal. *(Translator thoughts: This is actually not completely true. The baby wouldn't be breathing air yet and all the oxygen the baby needs comes from the placenta through the umbilical cord. As long as that is not cut/broken, the baby is still getting oxygen. Very interesting topic to research!)*

As the midwives hurried to cut the cord, Zhao Quan quickly turned the baby and gave it a firm slap on the back. The baby, finally clearing its airways, let out a loud cry.

Exhausted as if she had just given birth herself, Mian Tang collapsed onto a chair, drenched in sweat. She called for Fang Xie to bring her a cup of hot water.

The new mother, drained from childbirth and needing to avoid drafts, was settled in the back room of the pharmacy to rest.

The woman’s face was still pale, her strength not yet fully restored. However, the soft little baby slept peacefully beside her, and despite her exhaustion, she wore a satisfied, sweet smile.

As Mian Tang entered to check on her, the woman struggled to sit up and thanked her. Her Mandarin was fairly fluent, though with a slight accent.

Mian Tang handed her some sweetened water and asked, "May I ask where you are from, and who your husband is?"

The woman, feeling a sense of trust and gratitude towards her savior—especially since Mian Tang spoke the foreign language fluently—decided to be honest about her background.

She replied, “I am from the Guli tribe beyond the border, and I married a merchant from within the border. He is often away on business, so... this time, there was no one to care for me.”

As the woman spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, hinting at an unspoken sorrow. She fought back tears and turned her gaze towards the baby in the swaddling blanket.

Mian Tang, showing sensitivity, refrained from asking further questions. 

For an outsider to marry into the central region meant losing the support of her family. It was unclear what kind of man she had married, one who could abandon his pregnant wife without leaving sufficient funds for emergencies.

Mian Tang observed that the swaddling cloth for the baby was made from old blankets, indicating that the woman was so financially strained that she couldn’t afford new fabric for the baby’s arrival.

Despite the woman’s Mandarin being quite fluent and her demeanor suggesting some education—her refined speech and appearance indicated that she was not a typical nomadic person from the border—Mian Tang wondered about her life before marriage.

However, the truth came out when Lin Siyue’s old servant, Aunt Sheng, confided in Li Mama. Lin Siyue’s husband wasn’t merely away on business; he had actually driven her away from their home.

It turned out that Lin Siyue had married into the wealthy Hu family from nearby Tianqi Town. The second young master of the Hu family had met Lin Siyue while conducting business in the border regions and, charmed by her, they secretly pledged to be together. Lin Siyue defied her father’s objections and eloped with him to the central region.

However, as a runaway bride, she couldn’t win the approval of her husband’s family. The Hu family was wealthy and not in need of a wife of questionable background. The Hu family matriarch was vehemently opposed to her becoming the second young master’s official wife.

As a result, Lin Siyue was forced to accept the status of a concubine. The second young master, Hu Lian, promised that once she bore a son, he would persuade his mother to change her mind.

But when Lin Siyue became pregnant, the border conflicts erupted. The Hu matriarch used the presence of an outsider as an excuse, claiming that it would provoke the local people and endanger the family. She gave Lin Siyue twenty taels of silver and a bundle of old bedding, then forced her out of the house.

Throughout it all, the young master Hu, who had once sworn eternal love to Lin Siyue, never made an appearance.

The old servant, Sheng Mama, was about to retire to her hometown. It seems that the second young master, still holding onto old feelings, secretly gave her some money and asked her to take care of Lin Siyue during her childbirth.

Sheng Mama, being kind-hearted, agreed to the task, seeing how pitiable Lin Siyue was. Initially, the second young master sent money regularly, but eventually, he stopped sending any support. When Sheng Mama went to the rice shop to get some on credit, she discovered that the young master had married someone else.

Reluctant to abandon Lin Siyue, Sheng Mama decided to care for her through the delivery and then return to her hometown. However, she worried about the future of this abandoned woman and her newborn child.

Liu Mian Tang was taken aback by Lin Siyue’s tragic situation, feeling both anger and sympathy. It was a painful realization that Lin Siyue had made choices that led to her current plight, and there was no one else to blame. All Liu Mian Tang could do was provide for Lin Siyue and her child without asking for payment, and offer some money for her to return to her father if she wished to seek him out.

However, Lin Siyue seemed somewhat indifferent.

Even after learning the full story from Mama Sheng, she showed no signs of shame or bitterness. Instead, she simply smiled as she looked at her baby and went about her daily life. Her routine consisted of nursing the child, eating her meals, and sleeping, as if her husband had merely gone on a long trip.

Her demeanor toward Liu Mian Tang, the one who saved her, was equally detached. While she did express gratitude, it was more polite than deeply emotional. Lin Siyue behaved as if she was comfortably residing in Liu Mian Tang's home, without any overt sense of indebtedness or urgency.

Lin Siyue's indifference annoyed Bi Cao, who privately remarked to Fang Xie, "It's no wonder her husband abandoned her. She has no sense of propriety or etiquette. That's how these barbarian women are."

Upon hearing this, Liu Mian Tang frowned and reprimanded Bi Cao, saying, "Just because a woman has her shortcomings doesn't mean her husband can rightfully cast her aside. It's one thing for men to say such things, but for a woman to do so? No wonder women are often looked down upon!"

Bi Cao, taken aback, immediately bowed her head and continued grinding herbs in silence.

Liu Mian Tang didn't care whether Lin Siyue felt any obligation or gratitude. Helping her was just a small gesture, and she hadn't expected anything in return, so she had no intention of being critical of Lin Siyue's demeanor.

After treating Lin Siyue, Zhao Quan didn't rush to leave. He intended to enjoy a cup of tea before heading out. However, while sitting at the counter, he idly picked up several "exorcism talismans" and learned they were actually Liu Mian Tang's prescriptions.

The handwriting was—while Zhao Quan didn't want to be overly critical—the kind of thing that made him speechless. Upon closer examination, Zhao Quan was astounded.

Despite his years of medical study, he had never dared to prescribe medicine as boldly as Liu Mian Tang did!

Unable to contain his curiosity and concern, Zhao Quan called Liu Mian Tang over and, without hesitation, scolded her. To his surprise, Liu Mian Tang listened with great respect and humility, eager to learn from his expertise.

Zhao Quan, having gained a significant boost to his male pride from the earlier interaction, took great pleasure in demonstrating his skills. He dedicated himself to teaching Liu Mian Tang how to write prescriptions.

However, treating the same illness required different dosages depending on the patient's symptoms, and it was far from something that could be conveyed in just a few words.

After Zhao Quan successfully treated a severe case of abdominal ascites as an example, it seemed as though the entire city had fallen ill, with patients continuously flooding in.

Each time Zhao Quan skillfully treated a patient, Liu Mian Tang watched him with admiring eyes.

Despite his initial intention to leave and return to Zhenzhou, Zhao Quan found himself reluctant to depart. He stayed in the clinic, attending to the long line of patients outside the pharmacy.

Liu Mian Tang had originally feared that the pharmacy would suffer financial losses. However, with Zhao Quan's arrival, the pharmacy finally began to see a return on its investment.

When Cui Xingzhou returned to Wuning Pass, he was surprised to see that Zhao Quan, who was supposed to have left several days ago, was still there. His brows furrowed slightly.

Standing at the street corner, Cui Xingzhou hesitated before he could turn around, as the people inside the pharmacy had not yet noticed him.

Zhao Quan, dressed in a simple white robe and wearing a blue cloth headscarf, looked refined and elegant. From a distance, he and Liu Mian Tang, who was in a plain dress with a slender waist and a charming demeanor, appeared to be a well-matched couple, almost like husband and wife.

A loudmouthed woman, after getting her pulse checked and medicine dispensed, loudly thanked Liu Mian Tang: “Shopkeeper, your husband’s medical skills are truly remarkable. The people within a hundred miles are deeply grateful to both of you!”

Hearing this, Zhao Quan beamed with delight and responded loudly, “It’s nothing, nothing at all!” His cheerful response drowned out Liu Mian Tang’s hurried attempt to explain.

Cui Xingzhou, standing aside and overhearing the conversation, was filled with a sense of the harsh northern frost. He then waved his hand and called for Fan Hu: “Why was I not informed that Marquis Zhao was still here?”

Fan Hu answered cautiously, "Your Highness instructed me some days ago to stay close to Liu Mian Tang and ensure her safety unless absolutely necessary... Lord Zhao is not a bad person, so I didn't report it."

Cui Xingzhou cast a cold, disdainful glance at his honest but clueless subordinate, thinking that after the war, this batch of spies would need to be replaced from top to bottom.

Any discerning person would understand that Zhao Quan posed a greater threat to Liu Mian Tang than a tiger! Yet these subordinates still regarded the Marquis as one of their own.

Since that’s the case, when they return to Zhenzhou, they might as well be assigned to work at Marquis Zhao’s residence!

He no longer wanted to see Zhao Quan's self-satisfied pretense as a devoted husband and walked over with long strides.

Liu Mian Tang, busy with preparing medicine, was overjoyed to see her husband return with a straw hat, calling out to him eagerly and rushing to greet him.

Zhao Quan, who was enjoying the pleasures of running the pharmacy with Liu Mian Tang, was somewhat absorbed in his newfound contentment. He hadn't expected Cui Xingzhou to return from Jin Jia Pass, and his mood soured at the sight of him.

Cui Xingzhou, on the other hand, greeted his old friend with a warm tone, "Brother Zhao, why haven’t you returned yet?"

Zhao Quan, now accepting the situation, thought it through. Even if Liu Mian Tang were to grow fond of Cui Xingzhou, their relationship was still not formally recognized. At present, she wasn’t even a proper concubine, so what kind of legitimate relationship could there be between her and Cui Xingzhou?

Zhao Quan’s disadvantage was merely that he met Liu Mian Tang later, while Cui Xingzhou had gained some early advantage. If they continued to spend time together as they did in Wuning Pass, feelings would likely develop over time.

Who Liu Mian Tang truly loves in the end remained uncertain.

So when Cui Xingzhou asked, Zhao Quan responded with a noble-sounding explanation: "The border war is intense, and with doctors fleeing and the impoverished people left without medical aid, how could I bear to abandon them and return to the peace of home?"

Cui Xingzhou smiled and replied, "Zhao Quan, with your sincere concern for the people, that’s excellent... Given the shortage of good doctors in the newly recovered towns, how about I buy you a few more pharmacies there so you can make full use of your skills? What do you think?"

Cui Xingzhou's offer seemed suspicious, given the danger of marauding soldiers still threatening those newly recovered towns. Zhao Quan was about to express his anger when he noticed Liu Miantang approaching with a smile. Zhao Quan immediately shifted his tone to a more agreeable and righteous demeanor, saying, "Cui Jiu's suggestion is very considerate, but there are a few critical patients here in Wuning Pass who need continuous care. If I leave now, their lives will be at risk. As a healer, how could I abandon them midway?"

Liu Mian Tang, upon hearing Zhao Quan's words, nodded in approval.

After being reprimanded by Zhao Quan, she had gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of medical practice, realizing it was not something an outsider like herself could easily meddle in.

Since Zhao Quan's arrival in Wuning Pass, he had ceased his previous complaints and focused solely on alleviating the suffering of the people, truly addressing their urgent needs.

Initially, Liu Mian Tang had considered her husband's jealousy and was hesitant about letting Zhao Quan stay. However, as Zhao Quan pointed out, there were several critical patients who truly depended on his expertise. Sending him away would endanger their lives.

To avoid any complications, Liu Mian Tang did not have private interactions with Zhao Quan. She had even arranged a separate residence for him in town to avoid any suspicion. Once the war situation eased and she found a reliable doctor to take over, she planned to properly thank Zhao Quan and ask him to return home before her husband came back.

Liu Mian Tang found herself at a loss when her husband returned so soon and happened to run into Zhao Quan. She was unsure how to explain the situation to him.

However, her husband maintained his composure and greeted Zhao Quan with warmth, discussing matters of national concern with ease. The camaraderie between the two friends helped to ease Liu Mian Tang's anxious feelings.

Yet, upon returning to their residence, Cui Xingzhou asked with a stern face why she hadn't clarified the misunderstanding about her relationship with Zhao Quan, especially since others might think they were married.

Liu Mian Tang, who enjoyed seeing her husband’s jealous side, found his stern demeanor endearing. The usually aloof and handsome man looked even more rugged when he was jealous.

So, she draped her delicate white arms around Cui Xingzhou's neck and laughed softly, "Why didn't you bring up this misunderstanding with Zhao Quan while you were chatting? Instead, you choose to scold me. Do you think of friends as family and women as mere clothing?"

Cui Xingzhou, observing Liu Mian Tang's playful demeanor, felt that she was behaving like a street urchin, cheeky and rather shameless. His dark expression might have intimidated anyone familiar with his usual stern demeanor.

But Liu Mian Tang, unperturbed, reached out to touch his taut face and said, “Since you’ve come back, don’t look so unhappy. I have so much to tell you… By the way, husband, do you know why I can speak the barbarian language?”

Cui Xingzhou was momentarily taken aback and then asked, “How did you realize you could speak it?”

Liu Mian Tang proceeded to explain how she had helped Madam Lin, the woman cast out by her in-laws, and her experiences with the barbarian language during that time.

Cui Xingzhou responded calmly, “I don’t know why you can speak it either; perhaps it was taught to you by Young Master Zi Yu…”

This revelation was another blow to Liu Mian Tang’s spirits, making her feel that the journey from Lingquan Town had been far less challenging compared to dealing with these complications.

Liu Mian Tang, feeling despondent, let go of her own wrist and despairedly hit her head, saying, “What was I thinking back then? Learning to play chess and speak the barbarian language from him… Was he like a teacher from a girls' school? Am I just a poor student following him? I really… can’t remember anything at all…”

Cui Xingzhou, seeing her distress, quickly grasped her wrist and said, “If you can’t remember, then forget it. It’s not something important…”

Liu Mian Tang stopped hitting herself and nestled softly in Cui Xingzhou’s embrace, her voice low, “I never imagined how pitiful a woman cast out by her husband could be. But seeing Madam Lin made me realize just how tragic it can be. Husband, will you ever turn against me, forget all the good I’ve done, and cast me out like that?”

Cui Xingzhou sighed deeply, suddenly recalling that Liu Mian Tang had once been abandoned by Lu Wen, thrown into the river, and discarded. Compared to Madam Lin’s plight, her own past was even more tragic.

He realized that using the matter of Young Master Zi Yu to deflect her concerns was only bringing up painful memories for her.

Thinking of this, Cui Xingzhou could no longer keep a stern face. He lifted Liu Mian tang into his arms and said, “You said it’s not easy for me to come back, but why are you making yourself unhappy first? Since you can speak the barbarian language, it’s actually a good thing. In the future, if we capture prisoners on the battlefield and need someone to translate, you’ll come in handy…”

Cui Xingzhou was tall and sturdy, and his embrace felt safe and reassuring. The scent on him, reminiscent of sandalwood, helped Liu Mian Tang’s heart settle. After all, her husband was not like the Hu family’s second son, who deceived an innocent girl into becoming a concubine. They were legally married, and her worries seemed unfounded.

She smiled cheerfully, but Cui Xingzhou’s smile faded slightly as he continued, “Being a concubine isn’t necessarily bad. For instance, that girl should have known that with her foreign status, she couldn’t become the legitimate wife of a wealthy family in the Central Plains. But her man lacked responsibility. Even as a concubine, she should have been properly cared for. Living comfortably in a wealthy household is certainly better than enduring the hardships of a nomadic life in the northern wilderness.”

Liu Mian Tang, with wide eyes, replied, “Why settle for being a concubine when one could be a proper wife? If it were me, I’d rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a cow!”

Cui Xingzhou’s smile faded further as he looked at her directly. After a pause, he asked, “If I were to take you as a concubine, would you agree?”

Liu Mian Tang thought her husband was joking. She gazed at his handsome face, hugged him, and gave him a kiss, saying, “If you’re like this, then if we can’t be proper husband and wife, we could at least have a brief affair and enjoy your looks. If feelings fade later, we can part ways then!”

Her tone sounded much like a mountain bandit or a brothel rogue!

Cui Xingzhou was amused by her response. He held her head with his hand, gave her a passionate kiss, and then, with a slightly fierce gaze, said, “If you sleep with me, it won’t be so easy to leave!”

Liu Mian Tang had no intention of leaving. As his legitimate wife, she was committed to a lifetime together. Playfully, she twirled his long sash with her fingers and said softly, “I won’t be going anywhere until I’ve given you a son…”

Her coquettish manner was irresistible. Cui Xingzhou’s gaze grew intense, and he almost lost his self-control. He murmured to her, “Once the war is over and we return to Zhenzhou, I’ll make sure you have as many children as you want!”

However, the desire of Prince Huaiyang to have many offspring could not be fulfilled immediately.

The initial great victory at Jin Jia Pass had significantly dampened the arrogance of the barbarian troops. Although the lost territories on the border had not been fully reclaimed, the situation was no longer one of overwhelming enemy forces.

For a time, the border people no longer lived in constant fear and began to show signs of peace and contentment. Yet, Cui Xingzhou received secret reports that the barbarians had not retreated but were merely regrouping and waiting for the right opportunity.

The new Chieftain, A Gushan, was not one to rest on his laurels and would not give up so easily.

A Gushan was a born predator. Originally the adopted son of the old Chieftain, he had murdered his nominal older brother in a bloody coup to seize power, and in the barbarian tribes, he was not well-liked.

The attack on Great Yan was not universally supported by the barbarian tribes. However, A Gushan’s ruthless tactics and intimidation had forced many to follow his lead.

However, A Gushan saw himself as the savior of the barbarian tribes.

His slain brother had no sons, only a daughter whose current whereabouts were unknown. Even if his brother had not been killed, could a woman really inherit the throne?

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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