Translator: ayszhang
Editor: Marcia
Beta reader: Dairytea
Spring Once More chapter 33
(Traditional Chinese cover scanned by Dairytea)
Chapter Thirty-three
[3]
Commonly known in the English-speaking world as Dragon Boat Festival.
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Spring Once More by ayszhang is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
According to the ancients, going south to Jiangnan amidst the fireworks of the third lunar month was a jolly good time. In other words, to have a stylish and graceful experience, it is necessary to have the fireworks, in the third month, in Jiangnan.
So this trip
of mine is as far from style and grace as it can be.
It is now the
fifth lunar month, which is about June in Gregorian. It’s the time when the xiaoshu sun reaches its reddest stage.[1]
I could still manage in the manor by lounging around in a single layer robe.
Now that we’re out and about under the baking sun, the sweat keeps running like
a tap. Master Su and I have a relatively easier time; we just have to enjoy the
in-suite sauna. But too bad for Li’l Marquess and his servant riding from
morning to evening without cover. After a few days’ journey, his jade
complexion has become a waxy red. Feeling extremely sorry, I invite him to join
us in the carriage.
But who knows
what’s gotten into that head of his. He just wouldn’t get in despite my insisting.
Maybe he’s just clinging onto his face since he laughed at my mules earlier.
All the more sun for his stupid face then!
After three,
four days on the road, we reach a small town called Zhengxing in the Zhongzhou
region.[2]
As usual, Xiao-Shun and Fu Qingshu’s
servant, Moyu, set off to find the best inn and reserve four premium rooms. I,
Master Su and the young marquess each stay in one while the three servants get
the last one.
Xiao-Shun comes to me and asks for confirmation, “Shall we reserve
these rooms for two nights?”
“For what reason
would we stay two nights?” I demand.
“Your
Highness, you’ve been truly exhausted on the journey.” He flashes a meek smile.
“You must have forgotten – it’s duanwu tomorrow!”[3]
Oh goodness!
Today is the fourth day so tomorrow is the fifth day of the fifth month –
duanwu!
At night, we
hold a modest feast in the private room of the inn which also acts as a
restaurant. Excited, I bring up the subject with my fellow travellers.
“Tomorrow is
duanwu. Why don’t we stay one more night in Zhengxing and enjoy the
festivities?”
Naturally
Master Su says he is fine with whatever I wish. Li’l Marquess, however, scoffs.
“In a tiny
place like this, there wouldn’t be anything to
enjoy. It would be better to get back on the road lest we delay business. What
does Your Highness think?”
As he says
this, his expression is so serious that I feel as if I’m at a funeral. All my
enthusiasm is doused by his icy bucket of water. Fuck! This little shit is
spiting me on purpose!
I lay down my
chopsticks to steady myself.
“The young
marquess speaks wisely. The emperor sent us on official business not vacation.
It is not necessary to delay for a mere holiday like duanwu. We shall continue
on our way as planned.”
The anger
prevents me from enjoying my meal. Everyone heads to their own rooms to wash up
and get ready for bed.
The inn
attendant comes delivering tea and makes small talk, “Sir, will you be on your
way tomorrow?”
With a pang
of unwillingness, I answer in the affirmative.
“Then you won’t get to see all the festivities
tomorrow,” he says regretfully. “The annual Dragon Boat Race on the Sha River
to the west of town is always very exciting. And this year we will have a
firework show on the main street at night. They’ve already set the place up
yesterday afternoon. You should at least take a look today. There are tons of
interesting things around just around our inn.”
This
completely clears my mind. No sooner has he left than I don a clean robe and a
fan and go a-knocking on Master Su’s door.
He hasn’t
gone to bed yet and is still tidily dressed. He lets me in, but I gesture
towards the inn entrance.
“Master Su,
would you like to take a look around?”
While he
hesitates, I drag him out by the sleeve.
“Tomorrow is
a holiday after all, and if we go back on the road, we’ll probably end up in
the middle of nowhere. So tonight, we should take advantage of this and enjoy
ourselves.”
The attendant wasn’t lying. We
take a left outside the inn and come to a main road completely lit up. Stalls
line either side amidst the cacophony of food vendors hollering for business,
and the air buzzes with excitement from the pedestrians and travelling bands
entertaining for spare change.
[2]
Refers to the ancient province of Yuzhou. Its territory included modern
southern and eastern Henan, northern Anhui, and small areas in Jiangsu and
Shandong.
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Dairytea:
"...It would be better to get back on the road lest we delay business.
What does Your Highness think?"
As he says this, his expression is so serious that I feel as if I'm at a funeral.
Spring Once More by ayszhang is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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