Novel Squares
Chapter 110 Philosophies of Death and Eating
Chapter 110 Philosophies of Death and Eating
Prince Sun looked annoyed at the empty dishes on the table. He had overeaten accidentally and was
overwhelmed with guilt. He reproached Yuan Qingling painfully, “I told you to prepare just three dishes
of delicacies. Why so many? Your extravagance is eating into people’s sweat and toil. You’re a
sponger!”
He grumbled and trudged home with hands holding his belly.
Yuan Qingling had never been criticized for no reason. She stared blankly at Yu Wendu’s back and
muttered, “Then why did you eat so much?”
She wasn’t the one who ate most. If she was a sponger, so was Yu Wendu!
Yuan Qingling glared at Yu Wenhao and asked, “What the hell is wrong with him?”
Yu Wenhao appeared calm. “He’s crazy. Ignore him.”
‘Fine. Never argue with a lunatic.’ Yuan Qingling thought.
Nurse Qi came to report, “Prince Wenqing and Princess Qi have been away. They told me to convey
their apology and gratitude.”
Yuan Qingling asked casually, “Is Princess Qi OK?”
Nurse Qi answered, “Yes. The court physician said her internal heat rose up high due to her anger but
she will be better after receiving good care.”
Yuan Qingling watched Yu wenhao leave the room without a expression.
She shrugged off his duplicity and turned to ask Nurse Qi to take the leftovers back to feed Dooby.
Then she played with Dooby for a while in the yard and soon saw Tang Yang come forward. He said,
“Your Highness, His Highness Prince Wenhao tells you to take a rest.” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
“No, I’m not tired.” Yuan Qingling felt hot and wiped the sweat off her brow.
“Well then,” Tang Yang said with a smile, “His Highness tells you to copy out a hundred transcripts of
the Diamond Sutra.”
Yuan Qingling put down her hands. “I mean I’m a bit tired. I’m going in for a rest and please let him
know.”
“Yes, I will.” Tang Yang snickered silently.
Yuan Qingling went inside and lay prone on the bed. She didn’t feel exhausted but the effects of
medicine made her fall asleep in no time.
Tang Yang returned to the workroom and reported to Yu Wenhao. “Her Highness is having a rest.”
“She’s so obedient. It’s not like her,” Yu Wenhao said and kept on practising calligraphy with no
pausing.
“It owes to your wise stratagem. Her Highness doesn’t prefer to transcribe the Buddhist scriptures. ”
“I knew it.” Yu Wenhao put down his brush pen, took a look at his handwriting and shook his head. “I
am full of inquietude these days and so is my handwriting.”
Tang Yang said, “Your Highness, you seem to care much about Her Highness Princess Chu.”
“She is now staying at home and recovering as the emperor ordered. How dare I oppose to the order?”
‘You’re always good at making an excuse.’ Tang Yang thought. He glanced at Yu Wenhao, hesitating in
speech. “Today, Princess Qi...”
Yu Wenhao said nonchalantly, “Don’t say her name hereafter. I am not interested in Yu Wenqing’s
private affairs.”
That was exactly what Tang Yang wanted to hear. He was much relieved. “Yes, Your Highness!” he
responded and went out.
Tang Yang quite fancied the present life. Although he used not to favor Yuan Qingling before, he could
notice her changes in attitude and behavior, no longer execrable as before.
Later this day, Queen Xian had someone send supplements which were beneficial to the body to Yuan
Qingling.
Yuan Qingling was waken up in slumber to listen to the ‘cordial greetings’ of Queen Xian conveyed by
the Nurse Leader, who implied that Yuan Qingling ought to behave herself and be careful not to
disgrace Yu Wenhao and Queen Xian.
Yuan Qingling stayed at home the next few days to recuperate, going nowhere.
Prince Sun came each day and became friends with Yuan Qingling gradually because they both were
great lovers of food.
Yuan Qingling was not fond of eating but she was an extraordinary eater with big appetite compared
with other females in that day and age. And the way she ate was unconstrained.
Prince Sun commented that many women ate like a bird and the aesthetic standard of taking thinness
as a symbol of beauty didn’t allow them to eat enough.
This day, Yuan Qingling asked the kitchen to prepare a few dishes. Prince Sun usually arrived early but
he didn’t show up yet at noon.
Yuan Qingling thought he might be sick of the dishes or he made up his mind once again to lose
weight. So she distributed the dishes to Nurse Qi, Nurse Xi and Lu Ya.
Yuan Qingling had tried enough of delicate food these days and had a poor appetite. So she only had a
bowl of porridge and then went to walk a dog.
Prince Sun didn’t come until afternoon. He walked in in low spirits while Yuan Qingling was sitting on
the stone step basking in the sun, Dooby lying at her feet. With no greetings, he sat by her on the other
side of the stone step, resting his chin in his hand and lost in thoughts.
“What’s going on?” Yuan Qingling asked, “Are you losing weight again?”
“No!”
“Are you hungry? I’ll have the kitchen cook something for you.”
“I have no appetite.”
Yuan Qingling was surprised at whatever spoiled a foodie’s appetite. It seemed that something bad had
happened.
“What’s the matter?” she patted Dooby’s head and sent it away.
Dooby went away lazily.
Prince Sun tilted his head, looking at Yuan Qingling. “Yu Wenhao didn’t tell you? Yu Wenhuai is dying.”
At that moment, Yuan Qingling remembered the poor Yu Wenhuai, who was born the same year as Yu
Wenhao but a few months younger. His mother was Queen Lu. Yu Wenhuai got sick two years before
and since he was given a mansion to live individually, he had never stepped out of his residence.
“What on earth ails him?” Yuan Qingling asked.
“Consumption!”
“What? Tuberculosis? I mean...the consumptive disease?”
“Yes!”
Yuan Qingling grinned. “It is not a killing disease. It’s curable. How can he be dying?”
Prince Sun gazed at her and said, “Are you serious? He can be cured? But even the court physicians
can do nothing about his illness.”
Yuan Qingling took a few moments to remember that tuberculosis used to be a terminal disease before
antibiotics were invented and diseased people had no choice but to wait to die.
“How bad is he?” she inquired.
Prince Sun said sorrowfully, “Father is planning for Yu Wenhuai’s funeral and I saw his coffin prepared
in Imperial Household Department. Father also sent people to construct his tomb early this year. It
should be completed recently. Then Yu Wenhuai will have to live in it and we brothers can no longer
see each other.”
Hearing Prince Sun’s words, Yuan Qingling felt it really cruel to Yu Wenhuai because he was still alive
yet people in the imperial palace were taking several months to prepare for his funeral. He might be
living in the shadow of death during the course of preparation.
Yuan Qingling noticed that Prince Sun was in a bad mood. She tried to give him some comfort. “Don’t
be so sad. You’ll reunite after death sooner or later.”
Prince Sun glared at her, “Could you show a little mercy?”
“But people will die anyway,” Yuan Qingling said gloomily. She had died once.
Prince Sun stood up. “Forget it. I...I’d like something to eat. Tell your cooks to make much meat dishes!
And don’t forget the wine.”
“But you said you have no appetite.” Yuan Qingling looked to him.
“I can force myself for a meal. You said people will die and the death is inevitable. I say people need to
eat and eating is also inescapable. ”
Yuan Qingling respected his steadfast attitude towards eating as he could relate anything in this world
to it.
And it’s the nature of Chinese to have a meal whenever something big took place.
People would eat nice food to celebrate a baby’s birth; they would have a feast when the baby's
completion of its first month of life was coming; they would have a party when it was the first birthday of
the baby; they would hold a banquet when their children were admitted to college; they would eat on
the wedding day and eat after a funeral.
Nothing wasn’t worth a meal. People would not only eat alone sometimes but also call on their relatives
and friends to eat together.
“What did the court physicians say about Yu Wenhuai?” Yuan Qingling asked.
“They’re wimps! None of them is reliable at crucial moments. Father has told them if they can’t cure Yu
Wenhuai, he will chop off their heads.”
Yuan Qingling was shocked. “What?”
“There is no need to raise a group of lame ducks.”
“But doctors are not the gods and can’t cure all the diseases definitely. It’s not their fault. Retired
Emperor was ill at that time and they didn’t know what to do either.”
“Indeed. And they should pray for their good luck as some of them should have lost their heads.”
Yuan Qingling was terrified by his words and regarded the medical service for the royals as a high-risk
job.