Chapter 5: Love at First Sight Hinders Divorce

　　The reason Lin Jue had gone to the Zhu residence to propose marriage was purely due to a chance encounter. He had attended a Flower-Viewing and Fishing Banquet hosted by Zhu Xiyan, the Prefect of Lin’an and his current father-in-law, where he caught a passing glimpse of Zhu Shuzhen. From then on, her beauty was etched into his heart, impossible to shake off.

　　He recalled it was spring that year, with all kinds of flowers in full bloom. Zhu Xiyan had sent someone to deliver an invitation to his clan uncle, Lin Zixiao, inviting him to attend the Flower-Viewing and Fishing Banquet. Though Lin Zixiao’s poetry and paintings fell short of making a resounding name across Lin’an, he still carved out a modest niche among the city’s literary circles. And as the Prefect, Zhu Xiyan was also a man of letters who loved poetry and literature—otherwise, how could he have raised his daughter to become an accomplished female ci poet [TN: A poet specializing in the Song dynasty ci lyric form]?

　　When Lin Zixiao received the invitation, Lin Jue happened to be standing nearby. He simply asked his clan uncle to bring him along to the Flower-Viewing and Fishing Banquet for a look, to experience the literary refinements of scholars. Lin Zixiao pointed out that scholars without a reputation in Lin’an stood no chance of attending such an occasion, let alone a mere military man like Lin Jue. But since Lin Zixiao stood in high enough standing with the Prefect, bringing along an extra person or two shouldn’t pose any problem.

　　And so, Lin Jue attended the Flower-Viewing and Fishing Banquet. Beyond appreciating the flowers, fishing, tea tasting, listening to music, and feasting, the most crucial part of such banquets was composing shi and ci poetry to showcase literary talent.

　　Lin Jue idled about for a short while, but when the scholars began composing verses on the theme of “spring,” he grew entirely disinterested. It wasn’t until Zhu Shuzhen appeared that his eyes lit up. He was deeply captivated, love budding in his heart. Though he had been hopelessly inept at affecting literary airs his entire life, he actually memorized the lyric she composed, and could still recite it to this day:

　　In late spring days the gentle breeze

　　Plays with the slender willow trees;

　　Fragrance permeates the flowery pathway.

　　After the clear, bright Mourning Day,

　　How can I bear to think of bygone hours

　　Now clouds have veiled my crimson bower?

　　I wake from nap to hear the happy orioles sing.

　　Where will their songs evoke the grief of spring?

　　In willows’ shade,

　　By balustrade

　　Of the Crabapple Bower,

　　Amid apricot flowers.

　　—*) [TN: Translated by the renowned literary master Xu Yuanchong]This would likely be the only poem he ever remembered in his entire life—such was the power of love.

　　Unfortunately, after marrying Zhu Shuzhen, those once-beautiful fantasies proved fragile in the face of reality. On their wedding night, she refused to consummate the marriage, even gripping a pair of scissors as if ready to throw her life away. Because Lin Jue loved her, he backed down, figuring she just wasn’t used to it since they were newly wed. He believed she would slowly accept him in time, as they were officially husband and wife after all.

　　The reality, however, was the exact opposite. His understanding did not bring about any change in Zhu Shuzhen. Not only did she refuse to eat at the same table, she wouldn’t even speak a single word to him. She spent her days either sequestered in her room composing poetry or venturing out on excursions with friends—young men of literary renown among them.

　　Lin Jue could not bear it any longer. One day, he barged into the Zhulan Residence, forcing Zhu Shuzhen to consummate their marriage. The woman didn’t have much physical strength, but she knew perfectly well how to protect herself. She landed a kick right in Lin Jue’s groin, leaving him in agony for quite a while. In a fit of rage, he began to beat her.

　　Seeing her wretched state after the beating gave Lin Jue a rush of satisfaction and excitement; it restored his masculine pride. Thus, committing domestic violence against Zhu Shuzhen became something he did regularly—especially whenever he wanted to sleep with her. Later, he outright brought women from the qinglou home, being intimate with them right in front of her. Yet, all it earned him was Zhu Shuzhen’s ongoing indifference, an icy demeanor that only infuriated him more.

　　It was under exactly these circumstances that he had beaten her again today. He hadn’t expected to use so much force. Mid-beating, he gave her a shove, and she slammed into a pillar, knocked out cold. Lin Jue had been genuinely worried for a good while, since killing someone meant paying with his own life. Thank heavens she eventually woke up—but she had turned into an entirely different person. Her face and figure were still Zhu Shuzhen’s, but everything else was entirely distinct.

　　Once before, after taking a beating, Zhu Shuzhen had merely suggested a mutual divorce—only for him to strike her down with a single slap. She never brought it up again. Who would have thought the Zhu Shuzhen standing before him now would actually demand that he issue a letter of divorce? Lin Jue was both bewildered and completely unwilling.

　　Lin Jue repeated that phrase once again: “You are not Zhu Shuzhen.”

　　Qianli Xun retorted, “Why do you keep emphasizing that? Do you truly want everyone to know that Zhu Shuzhen died from your domestic abuse? To have the local yamen arrest you?”

　　“The authorities won’t arrest me, because everyone can testify that you are the spitting image of Zhu Shuzhen.”

　　“Well, that settles it then. I am Zhu Shuzhen. What are you still doubting?”

　　“She wouldn’t have demanded that I divorce her.”

　　Qianli Xun found a chair and sat down. “That was the past. Her mindset has changed now.”

　　“Do you truly not know the fate of a woman discarded by her husband?”

　　“Whatever the fate, it’s bound to be better than spending my days with you.”

　　“In short, I absolutely refuse!”

　　Lin Jue’s stubborn stance stood no chance of deterring Qianli Xun. “It doesn’t matter if you refuse. I’ll just lock you in the house every single day. I won’t give you anything to eat or drink, nor will I let you use the privy [TN: an outhouse or latrine], and I certainly won’t leave a chamber pot in the room. I’ll lock you up for ten days and ten nights and see if you still refuse then.”

　　“Keep dreaming! I am a Military Training Officer. I have to drill the Lin’an soldiers every day. If I’m absent for even a single day, someone will come looking for me.”

　　“That’s easy. If it comes to that, I’ll just have a servant go to your workplace…”

　　“Workplace?”

　　[TN: Qianli Xun inadvertently lets slip a modern term—“going to work”—that has no equivalent in Song Dynasty vocabulary.]

　　Qianli Xun hurriedly corrected herself: “Go to your training grounds to request a leave of absence for you. They’ll say you’ve fallen ill, a very grave illness at that, requiring you to stay home for ten days to half a month. I doubt your commanding officer would refuse.”

　　“You vicious woman! Even so, the Lin household servants wouldn’t be casually ordered around by you!”

　　“Servants are simple to manage; spending a few taels of silver is all it takes. Money makes the mare go. Besides, those two servants from earlier were exceptionally obedient; they locked you up without me even needing to spend a dime.”

　　Lin Jue was furious. “Those two scoundrels! I’ll kick them out sooner or later!”

　　Seeing the situation, it was clear the Zhu Shuzhen before him was dead set on leaving him. Moreover, he couldn’t beat her in a fight, so he might as well yield. “We were once married, which is roughly a fate of its own. Let’s part amicably. Besides dismissing you outright, there is another way—a mutual divorce. If you leave through that route, your good name will be much better preserved to outsiders.”

　　Qianli Xun didn’t truly know Lin Jue—after all, she had only recently come to know him at all. But judging solely by the fact that he hit women, he was clearly no good. His suggestion merited careful scrutiny. “Could you be that kind?”

　　“After waking up from your faint, you’ve turned into a vicious shrew. Keeping you around would give me no peace—day or night. Settling your departure early means I can take another wife and live a comfortable life. However, a mutual divorce isn’t something the two of us can just declare. We must invite your parents and senior family figures of status. Naturally, the Lin family will also call upon our elders, and we must hire a matchmaker. In front of everyone, we need to obtain broad consent, clearly execute the division of property, sign our names and affix our thumbprints on the mutual divorce deed. Only when the matchmaker submits it to the local yamen will our marital ties officially end.”

　　Divorcing in ancient times is so needlessly complicated, Qianli Xun thought to herself. You actually need the elders’ consent. But since I’ve already transmigrated as an ancient person, I might as well do as the Romans do.

　　“I agree, let’s proceed with a mutual divorce then.”

　　“Could you untie these ropes for me, considering I offered such an excellent idea?”

　　Qianli Xun stood up, picked up the cloth nearby, strode to the bed, and forcefully jammed it into Lin Jue’s mouth.

　　No matter how hard Lin Jue struggled, it was utterly useless.

　　Qianli Xun pointed a finger at him. “Originally, I intended to lock you up for a few days. But since you provided such a great idea, I’ll shorten the duration. I’m only locking you up for half a day and tonight, and I’ll let you out first thing tomorrow morning. Consider this your punishment for beating Zhu Shuzhen.”

　　Having said her piece, she turned and left.

　　With his mouth gagged, Lin Jue couldn’t curse her aloud, so he could only swear internally. Just you wait! Do you really think a mutual divorce is that easy? The spit from the elders will be enough to drown you, not to mention your own parents might not even agree! Hmph! You’ll soon realize that leaving the Lin family won’t be that simple!

　　Qianli Xun returned to the Zhulan Residence. Ku Qiao had exactly finished preparing the tea, which was still hot. Seeing the Miss return, she presented the teacup, “Please have some tea, Miss.”

　　Qianli Xun accepted it. Observing its bright white hue, topped with a fine, silky layer of froth, she found it entirely different from any tea she had tasted before. “Is this tea?”

　　“It is the whisked tea I just prepared for you, Miss.”

　　“Whisked tea?” Qianli Xun had heard of the practice but had never seen it before. She only knew the process was far from simple. Lifting the teacup, she downed it in one gulp. The mouthfeel was velvety and dense, with a lingering sweetness that coated the palate. “Not bad! I never expected a young maid like you to know how to whisk tea.”

　　Ku Qiao took back the teacup. “I have only learned it thanks to you, Miss. You enjoyed drinking whisked tea but didn’t always want to prepare it yourself, so you instructed me. Otherwise, as a mere servant, I wouldn’t have possessed the opportunity to learn such a refined art.”

　　“So I was the one who taught you? It looks like we’ll have to reverse the roles from now on; you’ll have to teach me.” Saying this, Qianli Xun looked around for a bed. She was exhausted and wanted to lie down for a while.

　　Setting down the teacup, Ku Qiao said, “Miss, follow me.”

　　Qianli Xun followed Ku Qiao as she turned inward, where a maiden’s bed appeared before them. Saying nothing, she immediately lay down on it.

　　Ku Qiao walked over to the bedside. “Miss, please undo your garments before sleeping.”

　　Qianli Xun sat up, preparing to take off her outer robes herself. Having just arrived in this era, she still wasn’t used to much of anything yet.

　　“Miss, please step out of bed and stand so I can help you disrobe.”

　　Qianli Xun obliged. While Ku Qiao was helping her disrobe, she asked, “Why do servants lack the opportunity to learn the art of tea whisking?”

　　As she helped the Miss undress, Ku Qiao explained, “The art of tea whisking is a requisite skill for noble daughters like yourself, as well as wealthy and prominent families. Only people of your status have the leisure and the graceful inclination to dedicate so much effort to a single cup of tea. Commoners in the marketplace, and servants like us, possess neither the leisure time nor the opportunity. I only profited from your grace, Miss.”

　　Once her outer garments were off, Qianli Xun felt a wave of relief. Clad only in her inner robes, she slipped under the covers. “I’m much too tired. I’m going to sleep before the sun even sets. When it gets dark, don’t wake me. I plan to sleep straight through until dawn.”

　　Not long after saying this, Qianli Xun drifted into dreamland.

　　Ku Qiao lowered the bed curtains, stepped out softly, and tightly closed the door behind her.