Chapter: The Goal Now Is— The Capital
Kangxi[1], forty-five years. Wen Qing, the fallen wild phoenix, finally returned to the Qing Dynasty, and the capture of the Kowloon headquarters had already begun.
***
Xinghua village. Cicadas were singing and the summer breeze was refreshing. A few naughty boys were playing in the stream by the village. Suddenly, a continuous ‘clatter clatter’ sound was heard, followed by a carriage coming in from the village entrance.
A well-dressed, charming teenager jumped out of the carriage and cupped her one hand in the other in front of her chest, and asked, "Excuse me, Where does Li Changchun and Li Xiucai live?”
To the boys, this was a stranger that looked noble and respectful. They couldn't answer and pushed each other to respond.
The teenager, Wen Qing, who had just returned from overseas, smiled and grabbed a handful of sweets, gave it to the children, and asked, "Can you tell me where Li Xiucai's home is?"
The children were conquered by candy. They got bolder and showed her the way while giggling. Bringing them to Li Xiucai's doorstep, they yelled, "Grandpa, you have guests coming!" Then they ran away, giggling.
Li Xiucai's family came to open the door but saw an unknown teenager standing outside.
"You are?"
"Grandma Li, it’s me, Wenqing! Qi Wenqing. When I was a child, I lived next door to your house with my grandfather.”
The family was surprised as well as delighted. They quickly welcomed Wen Qing in. "Oh, it is really Wenqing! Your face still looks the same as when you were a child! Where have you been all these years? After your grandfather's funeral, you were gone, the villagers went searching for weeks but did not find you. They said that your grandfather couldn’t bear to leave you so he took you along. "
Wen Qing smiled. "Everyone was worried. I was carried away by a kidnapper to Guangzhou. By chance, I followed a ship to Nanyang and then I went to many places. I just came back this year. I could still vaguely remember some childhood memories. I have inquired many times before I finally found this village."
Wen Qing explained her whereabouts during the past years in a few words. After going missing for fifteen years, she had to fill in the blanks, otherwise, she would be of unknown origin.
Hearing this, the Li family lamented that the child had an ill fate, having been abducted and lived abroad. They didn't ask more questions because they were afraid she would feel aggrieved. They only told her that she should stay here in the future now that she had returned home.
Wen Qing politely declined and sent her gifts one by one. All kinds of precious stones, pocket watches, peep shows; all kinds of rare things filled the table, which made the Li family dazed. When they returned to their senses, they could tell that it was too expensive.
"Grandpa Li, take it. These are rare and priceless. When I was a child, you took care of us in many ways, this is nothing.”
The Li family could not refuse and simply accepted it. Wen Qing spent a few days in Xinghua village repairing the tomb of Old man Qi, paying money to the village to build a village school, and entrusting the Li family to complete the household registration before leaving towards the North.
This time, the goal is— the capital.
***
The early autumn drizzle brought with it some coolness. Wen Qing was wearing a trench coat, standing on a pair of boots, and holding a transparent umbrella while treading on the streets of Beijing.
Dressing as a foreigner had attracted many people's attention, inciting an assurance second glance from them. Wen Qing did not care, she was deliberately dressed like this so that people could see her “returned from overseas” identity.
Wen Qing's dress-up looked good, it could be described as beautiful enough to cause the fall of a city or a state[2]. Although she dressed strangely, she looked tall and spirited. Pedestrians on the road had their gazes fixed on her and head-bumping incidents would happen from time to time.This scene was being seen by several dignitaries on the third floor of the Hongyun building.
"Ninth Brother, is that a French woman? The dress she’s wearing is much like Zhang Cheng's tuxedo.”
"Zhang Cheng is a Caucasian with blonde hair and blue eyes, French women must be too. This woman has black hair and black eyes, she is from here. However, I am curious about the umbrella in her hand. That transparent material is unheard of!”
"Since you're curious, go down and ask her where she bought it from!"
“Tenth brother, don't be abrupt, she is a stranger. Let’s observe her for a while."
"Eighth brother, you are too careful. You don't want to ask? Wait then, I'll ask! ”
TL Notes:
[1]: The Kangxi here is the current era. The Kangxi Emperor (5 February 1654 – 20 December 1722), given name Xuanye, was the fourth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The Kangxi Emperor's reign of 61 years (from 1661 until 1722) makes him the longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history (although his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, since he ascended the throne at the age of seven, actual power was held for six years by four regents and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.
[2]: 倾国倾城 capable of causing the downfall of a city or state (idiom); fig. (of a woman) devastatingly beautiful