Who knew if that oddball would show Jing Rong any face and share with him his last conversation with the deceased Imperial Duke. Otherwise, he would have to wait for him to bring up the matter personally, just like Liu Bei’s famed three visits to Zhuge Liang2. He could already imagine how troublesome that matter would be.
Qin Shiyu also had the same thoughts. He offered, “I had some dealings with the Old General Li in the past – I think, I should pay him a visit first to see if there is any chance of him sharing the information. If I fail, then Your Highness should go.”
Jing Rong nodded, “Sure!”
Just then, Lu Jiang came over, still hugging that red list. “Your Highness, the list is ready. Please have a look.”
Jing Rong flipped open the list. It was full of precious and expensive items; there were Nanyang gems, Southern Sea pearls, Min bottles, bamboo boats, thousand-layer curtains… the list was never-ending!
Jing Rong took a quick glance and closed the list, unsatisfied. “These are precious treasures, but are inappropriate as birthday gifts.”
Lu Jiang replied, “Your Highness, these are all rare treasures; how about offering them this year, Your Highness?”
“No!” He shot him down straight-away.
Qin Shiyu reached over from the opposite end of the table and had a look at the list. “Lu Jiang is not wrong – this year is different from the past few years. There is no need for Your Highness to be low-key this year.”
Jing Rong evidently thought otherwise. He smiled. “Even though this year is not the same as before, this Prince has no interest in either faction wars or gaining attention. Moreover, because I have been low-key all this time, if this year’s gift were to suddenly become more expensive, it would look too jarringly obvious. Lord Qin must have a good idea of what Imperial Father would think of this.”
Qin Shiyu nodded in agreement at these words. “Yes, Your Highness is wise. I have not thought this through carefully.” Qin Shiyu was ashamed at his mistake, but quickly added, “But, the more Your Highness wishes to avoid, the more you cannot.” With that, Qin Shiyu handed over the list to Lu Jiang.
Jing Rong’s smile did not fade. Intriguing.
Lu Jiang received the list, then asked Jing Rong, “Then about this year’s gift, Your Highness…”
Jing Rong’s eyes were fixed on the lotus pond in the distance. He mused at the sight of flowers blooming full of life and colour; spring had well and truly arrived! He pondered, then replied, ”There is still half a month; we need not hurry.” Jing Rong gestured his dismissal and Lu Jiang bowed before retiring.
1. The English translation doesn’t convey the full meaning of the first half of this Chinese proverb. Grand Duke Jiang fishes – those who are willing jump at the bait, which means “put one’s own head in the noose”. There is a double meaning in the Chinese raws. First, it compares how Jiang Ziya and Old General Li think outside of the box. Second, it hints at their crafty nature. The story the proverb stems from is in the next paragraph.
Jiang Ziya is a historical figure who assist the kings Wen and Wu of Zhou in overthrowing the last ruler of the Shang dynasty, King Zhou of Shang, who was a debauched tyrant which passed his days frolicking with his consort Daji. At that time, Jiang Ziya was already in his middle age and too old to gain King Wen’s thrust through years of efforts, thus in order to quickly gain King Wen’s recognition, he sat at the bank of Wei river near where King Wen hunted and used a straight hook to fish. Surprisingly, despite his odd way of fishing, he attracted a school of fishes which marveled King Wen who didn’t hesitate to recruit him. In the end, he helped destroyed the Shang dynasty, ushering them into the era of the Zhou Dynasty which last quite a few hundred years.
He was also greatly romanticised in The Investiture of the Gods, a similar fiction to Journey to the West, in which Daji is portrait as a fox demon(Hoshin Engi, anyone?). For much more information on Jiang Ziya, click here.
2. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang are historical characters during the Three Kingdoms Era but romanticised in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Liu Bei is the future ruler of Shu, one of the three states, and Zhuge Liang is his famed strategist. However, before Zhuge Liang accepted to follow Liu Bei, the latter had to visit him three times, showing his sincerity and determination.