Translated by Manami
Edited by Gaby & Asaki
That night, Shen Yu slept especially well.
And after that, he regained his spirit. Shen Yu used to either be stuck in bed with ZhenBei Wang, or to be stuck in bed recovering after being laid by ZhenBei Wang. Shen Yu finally found his peace and quiet.
Shen Yu takes out a cubical dice made of white jade from inside his clothes, which contains a red bean inside.
“Red beans from the west, blossoming in spring; I wish for you to harvest, for they are my yearning.”
It was a lullaby his mother used to sing to Shen Yu when he was little. He had already learned it by heart since long ago. But he could neither understand the meaning of the lyrics nor sing it.
Every time his mother put him to sleep, she would croon these two verses.
“This is a tune from my hometown, everyone knows how to sing it,” His mother used to say.
“What’s the meaning of this song?”
Young Shen Yu would gesture, asking his mother.
“Even if I tell you now, you wouldn’t understand. You will when you grow up.”
“Where is mother’s hometown?” Shen Yu would ask again.
“A small place in Nanguo, called Yunmeng. It’s very far away,” His mother’s gaze would grow distant as she said, “I’m afraid I’ll never go back.”
Shen Yu knew then that he and his mother weren’t northern people. His mother was born in Nanguo, Dajing, and there was her hometown, Yunmeng, where people excelled at growing red beans.
There was a tradition in Yunmeng. When people reached 18, they would choose the biggest, richest red bean to be made into a Linglong dice. When one fell in love, one would carve the person’s name on it, and then the person would definitely love them back.
Yunmeng must be a beautiful place, Shen Yu thinks.
But before he turned 18, he was married off to ZhenBei Wang in the place of the lady.
So his mother made a Linglong dice with white jade beforehand and gave it to Shen Yu.
“My boy, if you are fortunate enough to leave that place alive… And meet a person worth spending your life with, carve their name on it. They are certain to become your lover.”
Shen Yu always kept the Linglong dice close, and today is the first time he took it out.
Shen Yu inspects the dice for a while. Did that toy really have such powerful magic?
Shen Yu shakes the dice and hears the red bean roll around, making subtle noises. Shen Yu picks a dagger up but hesitates.
“Mother, I don’t have to search anymore. ZhenBei Wang isn’t the bloodthirsty demon from the rumors. He is very nice and calls me Yu Er.”
Shen Yu thinks happily. He never thought ZhenBei Wang was a bad person. Even though Zhen Beiwang was so strong that he often hurt him while making love.
He was ZhenBei Wang’s in the first place. It’s a servant’s duty to serve his master.
Not to mention ZhenBei Wang provided him with everything he needed. He didn’t have to carry water nor chop wood. Compared to Zhi Mansion, the time he spent here had been more tranquil.
Especially those last few days, ZhenBei Wang had been so caring that he stole Shen Yu’s heart.
Youth who has yet to experience the cruelties of the world tends to be swayed easily.
“As long as I do things right, he will be good to me.”
Just when Shen Yu was about to start carving, the door crashed open. ZhenBei Wang enters, making an uproar.
“Yu Er, it’s snowing outside.”
ZhenBei Wang brings with him the cold. Shen Yu shivers, but still approaches him with a bright smile.
“Stay!” ZhenBei Wang stops him, “My body is too cold. Don’t get close yet, or else you will catch a cold again and have to recover for days.”
Zhen Beiwang orders the two guards behind him to set up copper bowls at two corners of the room. The fire smolders, and the room warms up after a while.
ZhenBei Wang stands by the fire. He warms his hand before holding Shen Yu’s.
This is what a linglong dice looks like:
Translated by Manami
Edited by Gaby & Asaki
That night, Shen Yu slept especially well.
And after that, he regained his spirit. Shen Yu used to either be stuck in bed with ZhenBei Wang, or to be stuck in bed recovering after being laid by ZhenBei Wang. Shen Yu finally found his peace and quiet.
Shen Yu takes out a cubical dice made of white jade from inside his clothes, which contains a red bean inside.
“Red beans from the west, blossoming in spring; I wish for you to harvest, for they are my yearning.”
It was a lullaby his mother used to sing to Shen Yu when he was little. He had already learned it by heart since long ago. But he could neither understand the meaning of the lyrics nor sing it.
Every time his mother put him to sleep, she would croon these two verses.
“This is a tune from my hometown, everyone knows how to sing it,” His mother used to say.
“What’s the meaning of this song?”
Young Shen Yu would gesture, asking his mother.
“Even if I tell you now, you wouldn’t understand. You will when you grow up.”
“Where is mother’s hometown?” Shen Yu would ask again.
“A small place in Nanguo, called Yunmeng. It’s very far away,” His mother’s gaze would grow distant as she said, “I’m afraid I’ll never go back.”
Shen Yu knew then that he and his mother weren’t northern people. His mother was born in Nanguo, Dajing, and there was her hometown, Yunmeng, where people excelled at growing red beans.
There was a tradition in Yunmeng. When people reached 18, they would choose the biggest, richest red bean to be made into a Linglong dice. When one fell in love, one would carve the person’s name on it, and then the person would definitely love them back.
Yunmeng must be a beautiful place, Shen Yu thinks.
But before he turned 18, he was married off to ZhenBei Wang in the place of the lady.
So his mother made a Linglong dice with white jade beforehand and gave it to Shen Yu.
“My boy, if you are fortunate enough to leave that place alive… And meet a person worth spending your life with, carve their name on it. They are certain to become your lover.”
Shen Yu always kept the Linglong dice close, and today is the first time he took it out.
Shen Yu inspects the dice for a while. Did that toy really have such powerful magic?
Shen Yu shakes the dice and hears the red bean roll around, making subtle noises. Shen Yu picks a dagger up but hesitates.
“Mother, I don’t have to search anymore. ZhenBei Wang isn’t the bloodthirsty demon from the rumors. He is very nice and calls me Yu Er.”
Shen Yu thinks happily. He never thought ZhenBei Wang was a bad person. Even though Zhen Beiwang was so strong that he often hurt him while making love.
He was ZhenBei Wang’s in the first place. It’s a servant’s duty to serve his master.
Not to mention ZhenBei Wang provided him with everything he needed. He didn’t have to carry water nor chop wood. Compared to Zhi Mansion, the time he spent here had been more tranquil.
Especially those last few days, ZhenBei Wang had been so caring that he stole Shen Yu’s heart.
Youth who has yet to experience the cruelties of the world tends to be swayed easily.
“As long as I do things right, he will be good to me.”
Just when Shen Yu was about to start carving, the door crashed open. ZhenBei Wang enters, making an uproar.
“Yu Er, it’s snowing outside.”
ZhenBei Wang brings with him the cold. Shen Yu shivers, but still approaches him with a bright smile.
“Stay!” ZhenBei Wang stops him, “My body is too cold. Don’t get close yet, or else you will catch a cold again and have to recover for days.”
Zhen Beiwang orders the two guards behind him to set up copper bowls at two corners of the room. The fire smolders, and the room warms up after a while.
ZhenBei Wang stands by the fire. He warms his hand before holding Shen Yu’s.
This is what a linglong dice looks like:
