Kingdoms in Peril by Olivia Milburn

Author:Olivia Milburn
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780520380516
Publisher: University of California Press

The Lord of Chen brought his doom upon himself by wickedness and lust,

Nevertheless it was wrong of Xia Zhengshu to assassinate him.

King Zhuang’s attack came like timely rain;

Above the Si River, the feudal lords could see his pennants flying.

Less than a year after Lady Xia Ji of Chen married Sirdar Xiang Lao, her husband was sent on campaign in Bi. This allowed Lady Xia Ji to embark upon an incestuous relationship with her stepson, Heiyao. When Xiang Lao died in battle, Heiyao was so besotted with Lady Xia Ji that he did not even go and collect his father’s body for burial—this was much criticized by the people of the capital. Lady Xia Ji felt humiliated by all the gossip that this caused, so she made the excuse that she would like to go and collect her husband’s body herself, but in fact she was hoping to go home to Zheng. Qu Wu now bribed her servants to carry the following message to her: “I have heard so much about you that it has awakened my deepest interest—if you return to the state of Zheng, I will join you there as soon as I can, that we may get married.”

In addition to that, he sent a further message to Lord Xiang of Zheng: “Her Ladyship would like to return home. Would you send someone to meet her?” Lord Xiang of Zheng then did indeed send an ambassador to escort Lady Xia Ji.

King Zhuang of Chu questioned his ministers about this development: “Why should Zheng send someone to collect Lady Xia Ji?”

Qu Wu was the only person to try to answer him: “Her Ladyship has expressed the wish to collect Xiang Lao’s body for burial. Zheng must be aware of this and imagine that she will succeed, so they have sent someone to meet her.”

“The body is in Jin,” King Zhuang said in puzzlement. “What on earth has it got to do with Zheng?”

“Xun Ying is Xun Shou’s beloved son,” Qu Wu replied, “and he is at present a prisoner in Chu. His father is worried sick about him. Xun Shou has been appointed as deputy general in command of the New Central Army, and he is a close friend of Grandee Huang Shu of Zheng. Xun Shou is going to employ Huang Shu as an intermediary, to try and get Chu to release Ying from custody. He would be happy to exchange the bodies of Prince Guchen and Sirdar Xiang Lao to ensure the return of his son. Ever since the battle of Bi, the ruler of Zheng has been terrified lest Jin come and punish him. He is going to try and use this opportunity to establish a better relationship with Jin. That is what is actually going on here.”

While he was still speaking, Lady Xia Ji arrived at court to bid His Majesty farewell and report that she was going home to Zheng. Her tears fell like rain as she said, “If I cannot find my husband’s body, I swear I will never return to Chu!”

King Zhuang felt sorry for her and allowed her to leave.

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