Chapter 27: Boyang
The entirety of Boyang was being broiled under the scorching sun; on Qin Anhe's journey there, she'd seen withered crops, listless and drooping, even the riverbed showing, cracked into pieces. On the road, dust flying about, the commoners were emaciated and gaunt, even their eyes sunken in. The more she saw, the more she grew flustered.
Yet in Boyang's prefectural office, it was an entirely other sight; the back court's pale flagstones seemed to have been washed every day with water, shining bright. The pine and cypress planted along the sides grew verdant and lush as well, exceptionally vital.
The Prefectural Magistrate of Boyang, Lan Dexiang, reclined the soft cushion that had been placed on the taishi chair, the cup of tea before him giving off a fragrance. He picked up the cup, sipping a small mouthful, and said faintly, "This tea isn't found often."
The master behind him appeared flattered. "Of course, this tea was brought back specially from Honghailou in the capital by this subordinate; this liang is worth five liang of silver."
Suddenly, the guard outside came to make a report, saying that there was someone carrying the Minister of Revenue's Vice-Minister Shen's personal letter, asking for an audience, having come to help manage Boyang's drought. Lan Dexiang's brows furrowed for a moment; these past few days, every few days, someone from the court would come; when one wave retreated, another would come in, causing him quite a hassle. But, because of the official's hat he wore on his head, he was forced to brace himself and entertain them. After all, the more people came, the lighter his responsibilities became. But when he saw the guest, he felt that he'd had a trick played on him.
Lan Dexiang looked at Qin Anhe before him, and said, with disdain below contempt, "Where did this child come from? Don't you know that this is a matter that'll cause heads to role? Hurry up and chase her away."
The guard at one side let out an affirmative, and with great steps, headed for Qin Anhe. But before he could even get close to her, he felt his legs weaken, and with a "pu-tong", he fell to his knees. All the guards within the prefectural office were all in the same state, and for a moment, the "pu-tong, pu-tong" sounds unexpectedly fell without ceasing.
Lan Dexing immediately broke out into a cold sweat, apologising as he welcomed Qin Anhe in personally. That master looked even weaker, kneeling with his entire body and unceasingly knocking his head against the ground.
By the time Qin Anhe had entirely settled into the residence, the sun was already setting in the mountains. Lan Dexiang naturally didn't dare to slight Qin Anhe, and so all of her necessities were supplied to the highest standard. Even the place she was staying wasn't an average in, but the residence which Lan Dexiang had built especially to entertain all sorts of nobility. But Qin Anhe, within this sort of environment, felt only bewildered. After all, from the moment she'd stepped through the door of Boyang's prefectural office, nothing she'd seen or heard indicated that this was a place that severely lacked water. Contrarily, whether itt was Boyang's prefectural office or this residence, in some ways, it was even more lavish than living in the capital.
Lan Dexiang furtively told her to rest, and that all matters could wait until the next day to speak of. But Qin Anhe was someone who couldn't rest; she simply went around the guards at the residence's door, and looked for a slightly lower wall, and slipped out alone. Only then did she see the true Boyang.
Zichang was the most flourishing of the divisions under the Boyang prefecture, and the area most affected by drought, according to Lan Dexiang's memorial. But at this moment, Zichang's streets wereso empty sparrows could be netted at the door, and even walking ten metres, one couldn't catch sight of a single person.
When Qin Anhe had arrived, it had been early morning; the heavens had just begun to brighten, and at that time, Zichang's great streets and alleys had been just as empty; she'd merely assumed it was because it was too early in the day, and as a result, hadn't thought much of it. But, not having seen anyone now, even if she were more of a fool, she'd be able to sense the strangeness as well.
Only after aimlessly rambling under the scorching sun for a good while did Qin Anhe run into the first person. It was an old woman, so gaunt not a trace of fat remained. The old woman's eyes were lifeless, and her lips were cracked and split; she sat stiffly in the shadows at the foot of a wall. Yet, seeing Qin Anhe approach, she called out to her with a croaky, hoarse voice, "Young daozhang, please, please help."
Qin Anhe simply thought she was thirsty, and pulled out the water flask on her and passed it over. To her surprise, though, that old woman beckoned her; those hands were also as dry as Boyang's air, seemingly only the skin stuck to the bones remaining. These emaciated hands tugged at the corner of Qin Anhe's clothes. "Please, I'm begging, save my granddaughter."
Only at this did Qin Anhe become aware of the lump of worn out grass mats by the old woman's side. Just then, her attention had been entirely on the woman, and so, she'd merely assumed that it was some items of little value; only now, looking closely, did she realise that, under those woven mats, there was actually bundled a little girl. The girl's stature was barely more than a metre, and she was gaunt and tiny, her entire body curled up, hidden under the grass mats. The old woman also guessed at Qin Anhe's doubt, and explained, "The sun's beating down, so I covered her up."
"How about you drink first, and then help the girl drink a little bit. Take a look at me; I'm as lively as a dragon and as animated as a tiger; I don't lack water to drink," Qin Anhe said, her eyes darkening, determined to give the water flask to the old woman.
The old woman hesitated for a moment, and only then took it. But despite this, she wasn't willing to drink much, only taking a mouthful and then pulling aside the mats, dribbling some water and wiping it on the little girl's lips. However, that little girl seemed to still be sleeping, not moving a muscle.
Qin Anhe blinked, and felt that there was something not too right. But she still recalled her duty, and asked, "Popo,[1] I'm a stranger passing by, and there are some things I'm puzzling over; I wanted to ask, how come there isn't anyone on this street?"
"The day's hot and there's no water; everyone's hiding inside, so of course there's no one on the streets." The old woman drank some water, and her voice actually became a bit better than before.
Qin Anhe continued pressing. "But just now, I passed by the prefectural office; it doesn't appear to be lacking water at all?"
The old woman's tone was uncharitable. "The prefectural office, even if the heavens collapsed, it would go on like that. How could those with means lack water to drink? It seemed as if she'd taken Qin Anhe to be in the same category as those in the prefectural office, and wasn't willing to speak more with her, tugging her granddaughter and about to leave.
Yet how could Qin Anhe let someone she'd had so much trouble finding? She hurriedly indicated that she and those in the prefectural office truly had no relation, and remembered to press on, asking, "But with the weather this hot, why are you—"
"If I were to hide inside as well, where would I find someone who could save my granddaughter's life?" The old woman's cracked lips struggled greatly to pull into a smile so her appearance wasn't quite that frightening. But she didn't have that strength, and could only drop it, and say, "If you're looking for people, then take a left at the next intersection; there, there's an aid stand set up by the Princess Yu."[2]
The Princess Yu? Qin Anhe blinked; it seemed as if she hadn't hard of this title of Prince Yu. In the past, she'd followed at Feng Puzhi's side, free and unbounded all along, and never taken note of the titles of the aristocrats and nobility; now, suddenly hearing it, her entire mind was muddled.
The old woman swallowed a sudden mouthful of saliva, her gaze unconsciously glancing at Qin Anhe's bulging water pouch. Only after struggling for a long time with herself did she say, "Young daozhang, why don't you give me a bit more water to drink. I'll explain it to you."
Hearing this, Qin Anhe grew pleased, the corners of her mouth unconsciously rising, and she hurriedly pressed the water pouch into the old woman's hands. The old woman slowly and conscientiously drank a few mouthfuls, and only then explained to her.
Originally, the late emperor had had intentions to give the prefecture of Boyang to Prince Yu as an enfeoffment, but before he could give the imperial decree, Prince Yu perished. But the Princess Yu he left behind took the prefecture of Boyang and treated it as her own territory, and the commoners of Boyang as her children; to hear it said, in Boyang's drought, she'd sent medicine and alms, fearing that too many people would lose their lives as a result.
"Go a little further, and it's the aid stand set up by the court; the people there—" The old woman seemed to not be accustomed to speaking this much, and before she could finish, she began coughing fiercely. Qin Anhe hurriedly extended a hand to support her shoulder, and only after a while did the old woman slowly calm down.
But she still didn't understand. "But if the court and the Princess Yu have all already set up aid stands, why are you bothering to take this little girl and wait for passersby on this street to treat her illness?"
The old woman sighed, her eyes flushed, yet she couldn't cry a single tear. "They don't care."
Translator's notes:
[1]: 婆婆, an address for an older woman.
[2]: 王妃 (wang fei), in this case specifically indicating that she married Prince Yu and received the title by marriage rather than through inheritance.
Thank you for translating this!
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