Warnings for heavy violence and implied dubious consent.
What’s going on… Why was it empty?
Like ice cold water has been poured into boiling hot water, the boiling ceased, replaced with foggy steam.
Caught in this hazy fog, Mo Xi couldn’t keep his head clear:
There were customers entering his room, but there wasn’t even a single cowrie in his jar.
W-were people humiliating him, to the extent of not paying him?
-- XiHe Jun, serious, cold, self-disciplined, just like an invincible city. Nothing could stir any fire within this stronghold.
Except Gu Mang.
From long time ago, as long as it concerned Gu Mang, Mo Xi couldn’t contain himself, he became short-tempered, impulsive, irritable, making him lose control, irrational.
Later when he became General, years of hard steel and cold blood tempered him keen and fierce, but he was still unable to contain his own selfish motives. In front of Gu Mang, he was not Zhong Hua’s First General, but only an ordinary youth, slowly unable to contain himself, desperately wanting to know how was Gu Mang’s life in the past two years.
Why was Gu Mang so calm, to the point of being indifferent. Facing life’s uncertainty, favors, and humiliation, could someone truly be so calm?
“Worthless, good for nothing!”
There was a sudden furious yelling, interrupting Mo Xi’s thoughts, continued with footsteps, a loud woman entered.
“Can’t even do anything right, only knowing how to piss off customers! Hang this traitor, the sooner the better! Don’t even know why Wang Shu Jun spared this pathetic life!”
Mo Xi frowned a little.
This was the keeper of Fallen Blossom Court[1], Madam Qin.
Some time ago, Wang Shu Jun had intention to befriend Mo Xi. He ordered Madam Qin to send ten fine beauties to his armies. Back then Madam Qin persuaded him in all ways,
praises sprung from her mouth as if it were raining flowers[2], but none of the beauties stayed.
However, he did remember Madam’s Qin shrill, annoying, headache-causing voice.
“Won’t laugh, won’t cry, won’t flirt, won’t even sweet talk! Every single time someone comes out of his room, I am the one dealing with their harsh scolding! ” The woman stomped angrily, her shadow already reaching the windows. “Absolutely worthless!”
“...”
Mo Xi never thought his idea would backfire. The idea of Xi Hejun visiting a brothel is enough to shock the whole Zhong Hua, much less the fact that Xi Hejun climbed over the the walls to visit it in secret -- that would make the whole Zhong Hua’s jaw drop.
And let’s say Xi Hejun did all that secret wall climbing, to meet his arch enemy in bed, perhaps the whole Zhong Hua would explode.
Mo Xi turned Gu Mang to face him, heavy breaths hitting Gu Mang’s face, he lowered his voice: “Where can I get out?”
Gu Mang coughed and caught his breath: “If there’s a customer inside, the number plate outside changes color. She couldn’t enter.”
Mo Xi hissed, “I’m not a customer!”
Gu Mang stared in shock: “Why’d yo…”
While the two were exchanging words, Madam Qin’s shadow has reached the doorstep.
Just as she was going to enter, in the blink of an eye, Mo Xi glanced at Gu Mang “Don’t tell her I’m here.”
“...”
The door opened. Almost at the same time, Mo Xi let go of Gu Mang, and hid himself behind the folding screen[A].
Madam Qin walked inside the room, hookah pipe[B] in hand. A breath escaped her red lips, thick pungent smoke instantly filled up the room.
Gu Mang couldn’t tolerate the smell, and quietly coughed a little.
“Out of ten times I’m here, ten times you’re gonna be coughing and choking. I was hoping for you to choke to death.” Madam Qin rolled her eyes, “After all these years keeping you, you’re still not dead yet.”
“Great General Gu.” She sat down at the round table, smoked her pipe and spoke enigmatically, “Only three days left for this month. Don’t mention those thousand cowrie customer rooms. Even for the ones that are not good looking, or even ugly to say it, they still make use of their sweet mouth and their smile to earn enough for a living.”
She glanced at him.
“What can you say?”
“...no money.”
“I knew you wouldn’t have money!” Madam Qin smoked on her pipe, “Incompetent bungler. Other than that face of yours, you can’t do anything else.”
Gu Mang sneezed again.
“Oh? Pretend to be weak to earn some pity?” Madam Qing became furious, raised her voice and scoffed: “Look at yourself, what do you have inside your broken jar? I keep losing money since you came.”
“...”
“If this goes on, even if I can’t do anything to you because of Wang Shu Jun, I’ll still kill that dog you’ve been keeping in the backyard.”
Gu Mang had been quiet the whole time, but upon hearing threaten to kill the dog, he muttered: “I followed everything you said.”
“Followed your ass, you think I’m stupid?”
“They wouldn’t give me money. I am...” Gu Mang paused, and said those two words, “a traitor.”
Mo Xi heard all of it behind the folding screen. Even though he couldn’t see Gu Mang’s face, his voice sounded so calm, as if just stating an obvious fact, not a sense of guilt or embarrassment was heard. To him, the word “Traitor” was as light as a feather.
“Traitors shouldn’t be asking for money,” Gu Mang said. “They said, I’m supposed to do whatever they asked.”
Through the gap of the folding screen, Gu Mang’s figure stood lonely.
“I owe them.”
Madam Qin huffed and mocked him: “Yeah, right. You are a traitor, but this has nothing to do with me. That’s right, you owe them, but I run a brothel, not a charity. Can’t just lose money every day! Not to mention the loss, I got scolded by customers every time because of you!”
“How many times have I told you, serving those upperclassmen and noblemen, I can’t ask for money. The only way to get it is for you guys to serve them right. Doesn’t matter how much, there’s gotta be some, right? But you? Great General Gu, did you do your part?”
Gu Mang stayed silent. After a while came Madam Qin’s penetrating voice, piercing through the clouds: “What are you staring at? What’s more?”
“Kneel down!”
Mo Xi thought Gu Mang won’t kneel, at least not immediately.
But once again, things went out of his expectations. Nonchalantly, not even feeling a sense of humiliation, Gu Mang knelt down in front of the woman.
“...” Mo Xi held his hand up the cold wall, blood rushing inside his ears.
Gu Mang would actually…
Before he could finish his thoughts, a loud whip crack came through. He was a warrior who fought countless battle, yet this sound went straight into his heart. His pupils contracted, sweat crawling up his spine.
Through the gap of the folding screens, he saw Gu Mang knelt in front of Madam Qin. That shrew stood up, energy gathered at her palms. A scarlet whip appeared, followed by a series of painful whips that hit Gu Mang’s back.
That pent up anger that once had nowhere to go released all on Gu Mang in full. After twenty to thirty full blown whips, only then it stopped.
All that time, Gu Mang still remained silent, not even a groan slipped pass his lips, like he didn’t even care about the humiliation, didn’t care about the pain.
Finally satisfied, Madam Qin put away her whip and smoked on her pipe again. She calmed her breath, “You do know a traitor is even more disgusting than an enemy, right? If so, use that brain of yours and sweet talk them into paying you.”
Gu Mang repeated the word, as if trying his best to understand the word, “Sweet… talk..”
“If you don’t earn anything by next month, the customers won’t be the only one who beat you up. I won’t be easy on you! Think for yourself!”
Madam Qin stomped out angrily.
Mo Xi stepped out from the folding screen, Gu Mang back still facing him, kneeling on the ground.
His figure looked so cold. His collar opened wide, pale skin continued from the edge of the collar, the curve of his neck leading downwards, scarlet red ravaged beyond.
There’s so many questions surrounding Gu Mang, he’s too unfamiliar, too quiet, didn’t even care about life and death. There’s so many things Mo Xi wanted to ask him, but looking at the blood slowly oozing out, what came out of his lips was just a simple sentence:
“... those wounds, it’s all from her?”
“Not all.” Gu Mang stood up. “Most of the people who came here, they just want to beat me up.”
“...”
“Mostly her.”
Gu Mang didn’t spare Mo Xi a glance, and walked towards the basin.
Just as Mo Xi wanted to say something, he saw Gu Mang take off his inner clothes and put away the stained clothing. Gu Mang picked up the basin of water and splashed it all on himself.
That back figure seems to have a mystical spell, casting the invincible General Mo into a nightmare.
Inside Xi Hejun’s memories, Gu Mang’s back is straight, broad, and lean, as taut as a bowstring. There’s rarely any scars, if there were, it’s mostly on the front, like on the chest or the abdomen.
However right now under the dim lights, that figure which Xi Hejun knew so well had gone. Whip scars, knife wounds, mottled burn scars. Not a single place is unscarred. Those bloody wounds after all that whipping… how painful it must’ve felt.
But Gu Mang acted as if nothing happened, casually used cold water to clean up the blood, and carelessly wipe it up using a towel.
Countless thoughts and emotions filled up Mo Xi’s heart, he didn’t want to speak to much, but still, he couldn’t move his eyes away.
He thought of the Gu Mang still in the academy who helplessly sighed, “ Shidi, you’re too hard working, can you still move your leg? Come here, I’ll hold you.”
He thought of the Gu Mang on the battlefield, atop the horse, spear in defense[3]. Standing back to back, he laughed, “This wave of enemies are like rabid dogs. If we were to die here, there’s no pretty ladies to accompany us, just you and me, so hope you wouldn’t get picky.”
Memories of the past emerged, Mo Xi swallowed with his dry throat, eventually asking, “Where’s your ‘cut ointment[4]’ ”?
Gu Mang’s eyes went blank, as though he couldn’t understand what Mo Xi is saying, “Gold Piles Medicine[5]?”
“What about the bandages?”
“Bandages?”
Mo Xi at that moment, didn’t know what he felt -- anger or hatred, resentment or just pain coming from nowhere.
“You’d at least got a bottle of styptic powder.”
Gu Mang stopped his actions and looked back at him. Awhile later, he finally understood, and shook his head, “Don’t want, will recover.”
Acting as if nothing happened, he continued to wash himself clean using the cold water and carelessly wiped himself with a towel. He walked towards a small cabinet, took out a wrinkled clothes, and put it on.
Seeing him so casual, the irritation inside Mo Xi’s heart grew stronger
Mo Xi met a lot of prisoners from war, some staunch with moral integrity, some gentle and submissive, some had no will to live, and some betray their master for the sake of glory.
There’s nothing alike about those prisoners and Gu Mang. Mo Xi didn’t know what on earth was Gu Mang thinking, there’s not even a single thing on Gu Mang that Mo Xi recognises, not even one single bit of emotion.
No tears, no humility, no fear, no anger.
Seems like it didn’t even hurt.
A long time later, Mo Xi asked, “Gu Mang, what exactly are you thinking.”
He didn’t expect Gu Mang to answer, just awkward pause??????
But who could’ve thought, Gu Mang answered.
He even answered sincerely, “Want money.”
“...”
“Other people got it, I don’t. No one gives me any.”
Mo Xi looked at him, looking at his expression when he spoke, looking at him speaking the words one by one, the unusual feeling growing stronger and stronger.
“Everyone said I shouldn’t have wanted it.” Gu Mang continued, his eyes fixed on the pieces of the broken jar. He walked towards the pile of broken pieces and picked them up, laying them on top of the table. He still looked calm as before, but slowly Mo Xi realised, his gaze is blank, as if puzzled by something.
Gu Mang turned and faced him, “You’re the first one who gave me a cowrie.”
Mo Xi stayed silent for awhile, and spoke stiffly, “You should know very clear why I gave it to you.”
Gu Mang did not answer immediately. He looked up and down at Mo Xi for a few times.
This is the first time Gu Mang took the time to look carefully at Mo Xi since he came in, instead of using that cold stare to send away customers.
And then Gu Mang reached out his hand.
“You want more?” Gu Mang looked down at him, “Didn’t you want to return it just now?”
“Want.”
Mo Xi becomes irritated. To avoid talking to Gu Mang so as to not make himself even angrier, he took out another piece of cowrie.
Gu Mang didn’t thank him and received it. He looked down at the cowrie in his hands for a while, and looked at the shattered jar on the table. He paused for awhile, and walked towards his bed, rummaged under the soft mattress, and found a small pouch.
Just as he wanted to open the pouch and put the cowrie inside, Mo Xi realised something.
He stood up, a sudden cold washed through his heart.
“Wait.”
“...”
“What’s that in your hand?” Mo Xi’s voice is dangerously deep, every word he uttered was menacing, as if he will bite you off and shatter you using even the slightest force.
“Take it out.”
It was a nicely embroidered pouch. Thousands of miles of rosy clouds sewn with golden threads, ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains sewn with silver threads, with red gems and agate decorated below. At a glance, you know it is a valuable thing.
Mo Xi stared at pouch for a long time, surging rage filled his heart. Slowly, carefully, he uttered the words, “Who gave it to you.”
Author’s note:
Don’t worry don’t worry = = This is just the 9th chapter~ a lot of things are not necessarily going to be what it seems to be~ chu~
Other than that, I saw some cuties asking permission for 2ha. As long as there’s no commercial use, no character defamation, no breaking up the original couples, you can do anything to your heart’s content uwu~ simply gonna be here and disgustingly dig my toesies ~
Small theatre extra:
Mo Xi: who gave you that pouch?
Gu Mang Mang: you can take a guess at the character list~
Mo Xi: So far there’s only two revealed, how am I gonna guess!
Gu Mang Mang *antagonist face*: eheheh, mister, then you shall embrace that confusion and puzzlement, forever in lost!
P/s: In before, for some opera proses and poems that has appeared, they are not original but I forgot to mention it in author’s note = =. Anyways, for opera proses it is definitely not original! As for poems, it differs. Just wanna state it here! I’ll definitely remember to state my references for coming chapters *sob sob* ~
pp/s: I’ll introduce Fallen Blossom Court a lil bit~ not very important, so didn’t put it in the text. For anyone interested you can have a look~
Fallen Blossom Court, is owned by Wang Shu Jun, most of the war prisoners caught are kept inside (Gu Mang: *raises hand* and me!), yeah, and mister Gu Mang. The place is about 2000 square meters (around 21000 square foot), complete with all sorts of entertainment facilities inside (Mo Xi: oi oi oi! What are you doing! Advertising for Fallen Blossom Court?) … Um, anyhow, it is a very flashy building~
The place is only opened to the upperclassmen. Those without blood relationship with the upperclassmen can’t do any shit even if they got money. Due to the special status of the customers, the Madame can’t charge the customers directly. Think about it, if they charge them like a normal brothel, then maybe something like this would happen ---
(Upperclassmen A: What’s wrong with you! I come here to have fun and you stand here, blocking my way, asking for money! I’m leaving! Utter nonsense!)
So that’s why it depends on the male / female prostitutes to sweet talk for their tips / payment.
Normally, the upperclassmen will pay according to the pricing list (Wang Shu Jun: eheheh after all this is my property, wanna freeload? How about i talk to His Majesty about you?). HOwever, there’s still exceptions… just like Gu Mang Mang… = = “a traitor doesn’t deserve to get paid” rule (Gu Mang: …)
that’s about it owo~
TL note:
[1] 落梅別苑 luòméi bié yuàn: literally, fallen plum blossom court / garden
[2] 天花乱坠 tiān huā luàn zhuì : idiom, lit. flowers falling from the sky / heaven. Meaning someone speaking in such an elaborate, exaggerated way, making something very interesting and colourful.
[3] 立马横枪 lì mǎ héng qiāng: Horses in stance, holding the spears horizontally in defense. Meaning ready to give all in and fight.
[4] 金创药 jīn chuàng yào: a type of ointment/medicine specifically to treat open cut wounds.
[5] 金疮药 jīn chuāng yào: a pun on the incised wound ointment (they sound similar: chuàng and chuāng). The chuāng here means wounds like ulcer / boil / piles.
Gu Mang speaks in very simple words, so that’s why for his part, most of his sentences are weird / short. It is translated that way on purpose~
As for Meatbun’s author’s note, she uses a lot of cute Chinese internet slang so I tried to retain the feeling / mood by converting them to our internet meme equivalents.
[A] This is a folding screen
[B] Ancient chinese hookah pipes, something like water vape.
Dante's Notes: Not a very happy chapter, hm? Oh well, I'm sure it can't get any worse ;3c.
Jaye translated this chapter!