Volume One: Flames at the Border Chapter Twenty-Nine: Forcing the Unwilling

Deng’er remained silent, feeling not the slightest joy at having triumphed over her rival. She knew that Lady Chen’s love for He Yu was no less than her own, and putting herself in her place, she imagined the heartbreak she would suffer if her husband ever turned away from her. “Ah, but Lady Chen is the sister of the fortress lord,” Deng’er sighed, gazing at He Yu.

Her meaning was clear. Among the wealthy families of the Eastern Jin, it was commonplace for men to take three or four wives. If a man refused to take concubines, his principal wife would be derided for being “jealous.” In fact, arranging for her husband to have additional wives was, to an extent, part of the principal wife’s duty.

Though Deng’er loved He Yu deeply, she never intended to monopolize him. With his current talents, appearance, wealth, and status, it would be perfectly normal for him to take several concubines.

Lady Chen Qingyun was an excellent choice in every respect, but she was the fortress lord’s sister, from the prestigious Chen clan of Yingchuan. Though Chen Jing lived in the north, by the standards of the Nine-Rank System prevalent in Jiangzuo, he would be at least a sixth-rank official.

With such a distinguished family background, Lady Chen could never be a concubine. Even if she agreed, neither Chen Jing nor the rest of the Chen clan would allow it.

In ancient China, the system was “one wife, many concubines.” The wife was master of the household, the concubines mere servants. To a degree, concubines were not wives, and illegitimate sons not true sons.

Though Deng’er sympathized with Lady Chen, she could never relinquish her place as principal wife, nor surrender her husband to another. It was an unsolvable dilemma; unless one party withdrew voluntarily, there was no other way.

He Yu understood Deng’er’s feelings. He gently stroked her neck and comforted her, saying, “Don’t worry, my dear. One wife is enough for me in this life. Lady Chen is admirable, but let her go her own way.”

Deng’er was deeply moved, burying her head in He Yu’s embrace. She whispered tenderly, “If so, others will laugh at me as a jealous woman. Husband, do you think I’ve become too hard-hearted these days?”

He Yu could never resist Deng’er’s delicate and aggrieved manner. His heart stirred, and he kissed her.

After He Yu’s firm words, Lady Chen Qingyun seemed transformed. Whenever she saw him, she kept her distance. Even when public business required contact, she was strictly formal. Her melancholy expression troubled He Yu, but he could not comfort her further.

One afternoon, Li Jun came to visit, inviting He Yu to a tavern for drinks. After the fall of Tianxiong Fortress, most of its lands and estates were absorbed by the Chen family stronghold. The displaced fortress folk brought their families and sought refuge with the Chen clan. With more people and land, the Chen stronghold’s power expanded rapidly, and Lord Chen Jing’s prestige soared.

The growing population made the stronghold’s commerce more vibrant, and several new taverns and restaurants opened. Li Jun invited He Yu to drink at Apricot Blossom Pavilion, a two-story establishment near the north gate, originally owned by a wealthy Tianxiong family. From its windows, one could see the spring mountains and feel the warm breeze—spring was in the air, even in the north.

Li Jun was not a man of many words, and drank in silence. Cup after cup, he consumed several large bowls. At last, he said, “Brother Yu, you are always resourceful. I have a difficult matter, and I need your help.”

He Yu was surprised. With the Li family’s influence in the stronghold, what could trouble Li Jun enough to seek his help? He replied, “Speak freely, brother. If you command, I will do my utmost.”

Li Jun raised his thumb in praise. “A true brother, straightforward! Drink this cup.” He Yu drained his wine and listened intently.

Li Jun leaned in, lowering his voice, “Brother, you know that since your sister-in-law passed, I have been without someone who cares for me. Everyone is trying to match me with Lady Chen, and the fortress lord approves, but Lady Chen herself is not enthusiastic. I wonder why?”

Before He Yu could answer, Li Jun continued, “Perhaps she finds me too old, though I’m not so aged. Or maybe she thinks I’m ugly—but what does a man need with good looks?”

In the Wei and Jin dynasties, people prized beauty, and men often judged women by the same standards. Men even wore cosmetics, showing off their looks.

The famed He Yan was delicately handsome, his skin fair and smooth. Emperor Ming of Wei, suspecting he used powder, had him eat hot soup in summer’s heat. He Yan sweated profusely, and with no handkerchief, wiped his face with his clothes. Afterward, his face was even whiter, and the emperor was convinced he wore no makeup.

He Yu mused, “Lady Chen is bold and candid, but she’s still a woman—naturally she prefers a pretty face. Li Jun is rugged and rough. With such views, it’s no wonder he can’t win Lady Chen’s favor.”

By modern standards, Li Jun’s tall, sturdy frame and strong features would mark him as a true man, not unattractive at all. But in the Eastern Jin, his looks were not advantageous.

Li Jun went on, “Actually, I suspect there’s another reason Lady Chen doesn’t care for me.”

“Brother Yu, do you know how your sister-in-law—my late wife—died?”

The question was oddly out of place, leaving He Yu bewildered. He thought, “I never met your first wife, nor heard how she died. People only said she was from a humble family, married above her station, and died suddenly one spring, leaving a son and daughter.”

He Yu shook his head, indicating he did not know.

Li Jun sighed deeply, speaking slowly, “To be honest, it was my fault. Five years ago, when my family first moved into the inner stronghold, my wife did something to displease me. I lost my temper and… Ah… Thinking back, she was a good woman.”

He shook his head, lamenting.

He Yu was so shocked he nearly jumped up. “That’s domestic violence—brutal abuse! For a man to beat a woman is the greatest shame.”

He Yu’s agitation spilled his wine across the table, and he protested for the wronged woman, “Brother Jun, how could you? It’s outrageous, without justice or law! What crime did your wife commit to deserve such a fate?”

He Yu’s astonishment was matched by Li Jun’s surprise.

Li Jun defended himself, “It was my fault, but it’s all in the past. Her family didn’t press charges—I just paid them a hundred thousand coins.”

He spoke as if it were an event unrelated to himself.

A good dog does not chase chickens, and a good man does not beat his wife.

To kill one’s wife without cause, and act so coldly—He Yu’s respect for Li Jun plummeted.

To kill a wife and settle it with money, leaving the perpetrator unpunished—is that not the mark of a tyrant? Life was as cheap as grass, and women even less so.

He Yu sat back, his righteous anger dissolving into helplessness. “What’s the use of blaming tyrants? The Li family is one, so is Chen Jing, and perhaps I am too. It’s pointless to judge past ages by modern law and morals.”

He realized his thoughts had strayed to the present, and quickly pulled himself back. He asked, “Since the matter has long been settled, how does it concern Lady Chen?”

Li Jun saw He Yu’s expression return to normal and felt somewhat reassured. He frowned, “When I struck my wife, Lady Chen happened to pass by and saw everything… Ah, my late wife was nothing compared to Lady Chen. Even if I had a hundredfold courage, I wouldn’t dare touch Lady Chen.”

“Heavens, domestic violence is never a one-time thing. Li Jun beating his wife was witnessed by Chen Qingyun—how could this marriage ever happen?”

He Yu thought, “Li Jun telling me all this out of the blue—he must want me to be his messenger, his matchmaker. This is absurd.”

Sure enough, the very thing he dreaded happened. Li Jun abruptly said, “I’ve thought it over. Lady Chen’s indifference is almost certainly because of that incident. You, brother, are eloquent and clever, and familiar with Lady Chen. Help me out—go to Lady Chen’s residence and put in a good word for me.”

He Yu was thoroughly embarrassed, feeling as if suspended in midair. A voice in his heart cried, “Lady Chen ignores you; before, perhaps it was mere indifference, but now it’s because of me—she’s fallen in love with me, He Yu, and cannot escape.”

Li Jun saw He Yu shaking his head, and a hint of disappointment flashed across his face. “I know it’s a difficult matter, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. What’s stopping you, brother?”

“Ah… No trouble, no trouble… I’ll go tonight.” He Yu forced himself to agree.

Lady Chen’s infatuation with He Yu had developed in less than a month, with few aware of the truth.

Li Jun, ignorant of the real situation, asked He Yu to convey his wishes—He Yu could neither refuse nor explain.

“Haha…”

“That’s the spirit, brother!”

Li Jun punched He Yu’s shoulder in hearty camaraderie. “If this works out, I promise to find you a suitable lady as well.”

He Yu shrank back, replying, “Your kindness is appreciated, but I am content with Deng’er as my wife, and dare not hope for more.”

Li Jun’s face showed a trace of ridicule. He criticized, “In my opinion, brother, you’re fine in every way, but you must cure this fear of your wife. You are a prominent figure in the stronghold—why not plan for your future? Deng’er is a maid; no matter how beautiful, she’s fit to be a secondary wife. You married her openly, and lost your chance to ally with powerful families. Ah, you’re still too young, and I blame myself for not advising you. But back then, we weren’t close.”

“For now, you must steel yourself, find an excuse, and divorce Deng’er. It may harm your reputation and invite gossip, but that can’t be helped.”

“You don’t realize, brother, that throughout the stronghold and beyond, everyone praises you, and my own face shines because of you. Many women would marry you—listen to my advice and don’t make another mistake…”

Liquor emboldens men; after several drinks, Li Jun became talkative, urging He Yu to divorce his wife and remarry.

How did things turn out this way? What began as Li Jun’s problem had somehow shifted to He Yu.

He Yu was both annoyed and amused, unable to tolerate Li Jun’s nonsense any longer. He paid for their meal and left. Li Jun, half drunk, leaned on the innkeeper’s shoulder and went home.

The spring breeze cleared his head. He Yu recalled Li Jun’s words, and could only describe it as a “generation gap”—a gap of sixteen centuries between them.

He Yu made a circuit of the south gate, handled some official business at his office, and saw the sun setting—it was nearly evening.

He resolved to go see Lady Chen Qingyun, though he would have to keep it from Deng’er, or she would be jealous and stir up trouble.

“Damn, what a mess—just days ago I broke her heart, and now I must go in person, persuading her to marry someone else.”