Chapter 5: The Little Husband
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Chapter 5: Strange and Peculiar
The barbarian territories were vast, but compared to the fertile lands and mild climate of the Xia Kingdom, it fell far short. Over half the land was scrubland or desert, and a small portion consisted of high alpine tundras; only a fraction was lush, flat grassland. Yudu sat right in the heart of this prime land. To the east of the city lay a massive prairie where the commoners grazed livestock, though a portion was fenced off for the royal family’s recreation.
Few barbarians used carriages; they weren't as luxurious or convenient as those in the Xia Kingdom and were mostly used for hauling goods. Almost everyone rode horses. Men and women alike were skilled riders; children began playing on horseback as early as five or six. It was rare to find someone who couldn't ride.
And Xia Xi happened to be that someone.
In fact, before leaving the palace, he had never even seen a horse in person. There was only one stable in the capital's royal city, and as a "hidden" person, Xia Xi could never go there. His knowledge of horses came entirely from books until the journey to Yudu, where he had finally touched one's mane.
But he had never actually ridden one.
Chu Lan had ordered the most beautiful and gentle mare for him, even leading it to him personally. He looked at Xia Xi with sparkling eyes. "Do you like her?"
"I do," Xia Xi nodded. He reached out to stroke the horse's fine coat but said hesitantly, "But I don't know how to ride..."
The boy's nose wrinkled. "You don't? Are all Xia people like this? You can't even ride a horse—no wonder your military performance has gotten worse every year." He stepped into the stirrup and swung himself nimbly onto his own horse, sitting firmly in the saddle. "Like this. Do you see?"
He dismounted and gestured for Xia Xi to try. Xia Xi gritted his teeth and stepped toward the stirrup. It took several tries just to get his foot steady before he began to crawl onto the horse's back. Because he took so long, the mare—though gentle—grew impatient. She shifted her hooves and walked forward a few steps. Pale with fright, Xia Xi lost his grip and tumbled off. Chu Lan gasped and reached out to catch him, barely managing to support him so he wouldn't hit the ground.
Xia Xi was terrified. He scrambled to find his footing, instinctively wanting to kneel but restraining himself. He whispered shamefully, "I am sorry. I am useless."
The impact of Xia Xi's fall was heavy; Chu Lan was still a youth, and his arms throbbed from the weight. He snorted. "You are quite useless." He stood before Xia Xi and looked up at him. "You must learn well from now on. You have to learn, do you understand? In our land, you cannot survive without knowing how to ride. You are the Queen; you must learn most of all."
"I will keep it in my heart," Xia Xi replied.
The barbarian food was hard to stomach, the living conditions were unfamiliar, and the language was a barrier. During his first two months, Xia Xi rarely left his chambers unless Chu Lan requested it. The diet was monotonous: roasted meat, roasted potatoes, and naan bread. Xia Xi couldn't get used to it but dared not complain, forcing himself to eat just enough to stay full. He discovered a courtyard behind his palace where some maids had planted flowers. They were clearly new and ill-suited for the climate, struggling to survive. The maids had initially tended to them but seemed to have forgotten them over time. Having loved gardening back in the Xia palace, Xia Xi couldn't help himself; he took a small hoe and began tilling the soil.
As he dug, Cai Huan crouched nearby, pulling weeds. "Princess," she grumbled, "those people see you working so hard and don't even offer to help. They have no idea how to serve. If this were back in our capital, they'd have been kicked out long ago."
Xia Xi only dared to show a faint smile to this young maid. He said gently, "It’s alright. They are busy. There are so few people here and so much to do. Besides, I am just doing this to pass the time; it’s not official work."
Cai Huan pouted. "The population here is just too sparse. Back in Lady Chang’s palace, there were fifty or sixty servants, and she wasn't even the Emperor's favorite! If we were in Consort Yuan’s palace, there’d be over a hundred. I heard she has three maids just to look after her favorite dog."
"Cai Huan," Xia Xi warned. "Don't mention the old place. It’s not good if someone hears."
Cai Huan stuck her tongue out and joked, "They can't understand us anyway. Even the King’s Han language is all strange and peculiar (guli guquai). It's a miracle you can even understand him. Their language is even harder; I've been here two months and only know a few words. I bet it’s just as hard for them to learn ours. Though, that Prime Minister speaks perfectly—just like a Xia person, even if he doesn't look the part." Since becoming close to Xia Xi, she had grown increasingly talkative.
Just as the words left her mouth, a voice rang out. "Who is speaking 'strange and peculiar'?"
Both froze. They turned to see the young King standing at the courtyard gate. With his hands behind his back and his chin raised, he looked quite displeased. Cai Huan turned pale, her legs going weak as she looked at Xia Xi in a panic. Xia Xi was also startled; he quickly set down the hoe, pulled down his rolled-up sleeves, and walked toward Chu Lan. "Why have you come?" he asked softly.
Chu Lan looked at him sullenly. "I speak 'strange and peculiar'?"
His pronunciation of the phrase itself was, indeed, strange and peculiar. But Xia Xi didn't show a hint of mockery. He said, "Cai Huan is still young and was only joking. In the Han language, that phrase isn't always bad. She... she was also praising you..." He was nervous, fearing the boy would fly into a rage. He had seen the Xia Emperor’s temper; a maid could be beheaded or exiled for a single wrong word.
At that thought, his face grew even more fearful, his eyes filled with a plea for mercy.
Chu Lan glared at him. "She was not praising me! She was praising Sang Sangmu!"
Xia Xi opened his mouth, unsure how to respond. Cai Huan finally regained her senses and hit the ground with a thud, kneeling. "Great King, spare my life!" she cried in a trembling voice.
Chu Lan looked confused. "Why is she asking for her life?"
"She is afraid you will punish her," Xia Xi whispered.
Chu Lan looked astonished. "Because she said something bad about me? She’s afraid I’ll kill her for that? Where in the world is there such a heavy punishment? Do you Xia people treat your servants like this? If your Emperor is like that, then the Xia Kingdom is doomed to fall sooner or later." He turned to Cai Huan. "I have no intention of killing you. Leave."
Cai Huan left, trembling. Xia Xi let out a quiet sigh of relief, a small smile appearing on his face. "The Great King is truly benevolent."
Chu Lan seemed delighted by the praise, his heels bouncing slightly. He craned his neck to look behind Xia Xi. "What are you doing?"
"I saw this patch of land and wanted to try growing vegetables," Xia Xi said. "I brought some seeds with me." Though the season wasn't ideal, he still wanted to try.
Chu Lan nodded with an air of mock wisdom. "Do as you wish. But," he looked at Xia Xi, "you must not overwork yourself."
Being cared for by his "little husband" like this still felt unusual to Xia Xi. Chu Lan continued, "Since you say my Han language is poor, you shall teach me every night from now on."
Xia Xi was stunned. "But do you not have a tutor?" Chu Lan had a Han scholar—an old, learned man who taught him language, writing, and geography. Xia Xi had attended a few lessons and thought the teacher was excellent.
Chu Lan grabbed his hand, stubborn and insistent. "No. You teach me."
Xia Xi nodded gently. "Alright."
He had never taught anyone before and wasn't sure where to start. Moreover, while Chu Lan’s tones were a bit off, his Han was actually quite good. Standard beginner lessons wouldn't suit him. Feeling a bit troubled, Xia Xi sat with him at the table under the lamp. He picked out a book he usually read, flipped to the first page, and pushed it toward Chu Lan. "Please read a passage for me, Great King. I want to see which characters you recognize."
Chu Lan pouted. "Xi'er, call me by my name."
Despite being corrected many times, Xia Xi still wasn't used to addressing him so familiarly. He nodded and said as calmly as possible, "Alright, Chu Lan."
Only then did Chu Lan look pleased. He lowered his head to read and, surprisingly, recognized every character except one. Xia Xi was genuinely impressed and praised him: "You are truly remarkable to know so many."
The praise made Chu Lan’s cheeks flush. His eyes, reflecting the candlelight, sparkled brilliantly. "Of course," he said. "My father hired a Han tutor for me when I was seven. He taught me the language and the classics. He said that to know one's enemy is to be victorious in a hundred battles. If our people are to conquer the Xia Kingdom in the future, we must first master everything about it."
Xia Xi wasn't surprised by this. The conflict between the two nations was ancient; the Xia wanted to wipe out the barbarians and drive them beyond the snow mountains, while the barbarians wanted to swallow the Xia and enjoy the prosperity of the capital.
Chu Lan continued, "Your Emperor looks down on us—the word 'Man' (Barbarian) isn't exactly a compliment. But it doesn't matter. I’ll let them underestimate me for a few more years. When I grow up, I’ll deal with the internal traitors first, then march all the way to the Xia capital and make them pay!"
Xia Xi pressed his lips together and remained silent. Chu Lan stared at him. "You are my wife. Will you betray me?"
Meeting the burning intensity in the boy's eyes, Xia Xi’s heart skipped a beat, shrinking in fear. He fought to keep his expression neutral. "I will not."
He wouldn't, he didn't dare, and he didn't have the power to. Carrying such a secret, he wasn't even sure if he would survive until the boy grew up. The moment his true physique was discovered might be the day he died.
Hearing this, Chu Lan seemed to relax. He grinned and reached out to grip Xia Xi’s hand tightly. "Good! Never betray me! We barbarians punish traitors most severely. You definitely wouldn't be able to endure it."
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