CHAPTER TWO Huangfu Jing Begets Mythical Twins (Part 1)

The story goes that when it came to the appointed fourth day, Huangfu Shaohua equipped himself. He wore a young general cap decorated with phoenix wings, and clothes made of green gauze and cloud brocade. Leading four escorts, he came towards the Meng Mansion.

Raising the whip to make the horse race^[1]
He was a handsome juvenile wearing a young general’s cap and cloud brocade robe

Beside him, four escorts followed
Holding icy bowstrings and feather arrows

One by one, they left with the tinkling of bells
Looking over, Liu was already ahead of them

Upon seeing him, the young master raised his hand:
“Brother Liu, what are you hurrying for?”

In front, Liu Kuibi heard the calling
Turning his head to see and reining in his horse

They greeted each other with hospitality
Riding alongside and chatting with each other

The young master of the Liu family took the opportunity to gladly ask:
“Later in the competition who should be the first one to shoot?

For the most part, the marriage is predestined
The one failing to get the robe—doesn’t have to feel melancholic and ashamed

It seems that it will be hard for me to hit the robe today
You will definitely be the winner”

Huangfu Shaohua expressed he wouldn’t dare and said humbly:
“Of course I should shoot after you my elder brother

Let alone my martial skills are not superior to others
Certainly, you will be the one that perform better”

After hearing this Kuibi was secretly happy:
“I wish to the heavens—please help me win the marriage with divine power

Aiding me with the methods of hitting the bull’s eye
Allowing me to get the robe and put it on my shoulders

However, I am not sure—what the young miss of the Mengs looks like
Whether she is after my own heart

If the marriage god shows mercy on me
He will precisely match Chang’e with me, the handsome youth”

Kuibi thought to himself with joy
Raising the whip to make the horse race

Together the two heroes arrived
Let’s talk about what the Minister was doing

The story goes that on this day, Minister Meng asked the kitchen staff to lay out the table early, ordered servants to tidy up the garden, and to hold the banquet at the Double Crane Pavilion. He hung the red Shu brocade robe presented by the emperor on a weeping poplar with a huge crown, with bowl-size golden coins hanging beneath. This was for a backhand shot ^[2]. All were well prepared. After the Minister father and his son finished their breakfast and drank tea, they heard the gatekeeper Meng Ning come to report, “My master, the heir of Liu and the young master of Huangfu arrived.”

Minister Meng turned his head and asked Madam Meng to hurry
Coming to Chunming^[3] Tower quickly

Through the curtain–she could observe the two men secretly

Han Suxin—beamed with happiness and agreed repeatedly
Standing to adjust her clothes tidy

She asked the maid to hurriedly ask
The young lady—whether she wanted to come to have a look on the Tower

The maid responded and took the order
Pulling her heels by the hand ^[4] to walk faster

She ran into Cangsong Hall ^[5]
Out of breath—she pulled up the curtain to walk in and said:

“My young lady, the madam has invited you. Do you want to go watch the archery competition?”

Upon hearing this, Feifeng walked in a hurry
In front of her dresser, she tidied up her hair and clothes

She called the maids to look after the house
“When I am in the garden, leaving is not allowed”

The servants and maids were anxious
The room was in chaos with their heated talk

“Today’s archery is really a great event
However, we are not allowed to watch but to look after the house

Why not lock the door and let us to follow you
So that we can happily watch the event with our own eyes”

They spoke in low voices one after another
Feifeng turned around and asked to lock the door

The maids were secretly pleased
Following their mistress and walking quickly like the wind

About to reach the room of the young miss
Lady Zhang rolled up the curtain to say:

“My mistress—the two heroes have arrived
In a while there will be an archery competition in the garden

I will come together with you
To figure out who is superior”

Miss Lijun was sitting casually
Hearing her words, she turned around her tiny waist

With a smile, she declined: “I won’t go
You could go on your own and please do not invite me”

Feifeng then turned to Su Yingxue:
“Why don’t you also go and have a look?”

The beauty agreed and walked in a hurry
She called the miss in a low voice and explained the situation ^[6]

“The young lady invited me, so I will leave for a while
Stay there for a moment, I will come back to the boudoir”

The beauty lowered her head without a response
Yingxue tidied up her clothes after standing up

She followed Feifeng in slow and deliberate paces
Lady Su—together went with them to look and have fun

The madam was already on the tall tower
Sitting facing the garden to look outward

So they sat together upstairs
Opening the screen window—the lowly-hanging curtain reflected the flowery branches

The wet nurse and Yingxue stood near the railing
A crowd of maids were leaning against the railing to look

They were waiting for the shout of “welcome”
After which they could vie to watch the archery

Let’s stop rambling about the matters of the madam in the room
Instead, let’s talk about how the Minister received the two heroes

[1] The original text is mati xuan 馬蹄旋 [to literally cause the horseshoe to spin]. It means to make the horse run quickly.

[2] The original text is zhe shi fanshou she de 這是反手射的. An arrow which is shot behind the back.

[3] Chunming 春明, the name of the tower literally means Bright Spring.

[4] The original text is shouba xiegen 手拔鞋根. It is a hyperbole portraying that the maid is in such a hurry that it is like she is dragging her heels to run.

[5] Cangsong蒼松, the name of the hall literally means Green Pine Tree.

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