924 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

Ximen Qing was flustered by the respectfully rehearsed greeting. It wasn't as though she intended to act like a superior. It was just meant to imply, 'You're not the only one with an official position, so don't think of playing a superior role.' After all, the Inspector Eosa is a rank Seventh Grade official. Jinyiwei ranks range from as low as Seventh Grade at the lowest position, to Fifth Grade for a team leader, and Third Grade for a captain. So if you really examined the hierarchy, Qing's position was either equal to or lower than theirs. There was no need for them to treat her like some fearsome senior. Besides, they didn't seem to regard her as a princess either. In truth, a rank is merely a number. True power lies in whose strings you're connected to, the influence of the one holding those strings, and whether you're barely hanging by the end, or securely bound in a thick front line. Who holds the strings of Ximen Qing(Hua)? The role of the Twelfth Degree Inspector Eosa allows direct communication with the emperor, a position naturally bestowed upon loyal subjects of the emperor. And since the Jinyiwei are the emperor's direct military, they have no choice but to receive the new Inspector Eosa, Ximen Qing(Hua), as a superior. "There's really no need to be so tense—" R1o1RUY1V2dWdFByellBWDZwUWJGV2poRU1rR2NERXJGVjBQSkxvdTJuQWZXbUk0ZktiRVJ6aEhUekNqcjBzRw "Heavens, what's all this commotion? If you're to impose military discipline, do it where it's out of sight. What will the Jurchens think of such a lack of decorum? Clearly, this is the extent of what Jinyiwei can accomplish. Really, such lack of refinement." The sycophantic voice was characteristic of a eunuch. It's amusing for a eunuch to speak of decorum, yet the animosity between eunuchs and Jinyiwei is an age-old tradition. "Hmm? Who are you? Look here, Officer Myeon. Shouldn't you inform us if new members are joining? Are you conducting the operation alone? Even if we're allies, cooperation is important. And you, stop trying to impose discipline right away—shouldn't you first meet with the person in charge and discuss? What is this really about?" "No, I'm not with the Jinyiwei—" "Then who are you? An outsider? Officer Myeon, did you invite a lover here? Do you think this operation is a romantic outing on a flowery field? Is this how you're behaving as soon as you enter Manchuria? Come now, young lady, there's an ongoing national affair. No matter how distracting spring may be, this isn't right. Return to the Central Plains." The eunuch fired his words like a rapid-fire gun. Qing scratched her chin. "It's not that, I am actually Ximen Qing—" And then crash! Before Qing could finish, the eunuch flung himself to the ground in the classic act of obeisance. The extreme greeting, O-ch'e-tu-ji(五体投地), involves bowing with the soles of one’s feet, knees, belly, elbows, and the back of the hands touching the ground in reverence. "Your, no, Inspector Eosa, I greet you! Heav—oh wait, a hundred years—well, um—" He tried to kneel up again and lift his hands but faltered, changed his words, and re-bowed, yet felt compelled to do something, raising his arms high but feeling like saying 'heavenly years' wasn’t right, nor did 'a hundred' quite fit. He lay awkwardly on the ground, arms flailing as though he had short-circuited. Of course, his mind was scrambled. The Princess had suddenly appeared from nowhere! Hmm. Indeed, such a reaction is typical if one perceives her as a princess… Qing gave a wry smile, helping the eunuch to his feet. “You would even offer a hand to someone as lowly as me, truly kind…” "I was just passing through on my way back from Changbai after attending to some affairs. It seems like the inn is closing, so I should be leaving now. I'm not here in an official capacity as Inspector Eosa, and I have no knowledge of any ongoing events, so there's no need for such formalities." "I would never dare to be so presumptuous? It's an honor thrice in a lifetime to meet you like this…" The Jinyiwei officer watching couldn't help but feel a cold sweat trickling down his spine. The rumors that Inspector Ximen Qing was favored by the Empress seemed to hold true. Even the stern eunuch was scrambling as if at a loss. Thus, a mere Jinyiwei team leader could merely be puffed out with just a breath from such a massive figure of power. The Jinyiwei officer stood even straighter. An unexpected encounter with imperial blood! There'd been rumors of imperial travelers, but an encounter like this? Trying to evict an imperial would be terrifyingly disrespectful, extremely rude, and even horrific. However, Qing had no intention or reason to be so sensitive about it. When Qing expressed she had no intentions of turning it into a problem, the old eunuch broadly sighed and shared the background of their meeting. "Ah, the Peace Mission..." The joint Central Plains-Jurchen event's purpose was indeed the wedding procession of Princess Yeon Sul, known formally as a peace mission. And suddenly, something popped into mind. "Ah, come to think of it, what about the head of the Moyong Clan? Aren't they participating in the peace mission?" "The head of the Moyong Clan was sent back long ago. What favorable words could there be by sending someone from the Moyong Clan into Jurchen lands? Initially, Central Plains' escorts hadn't even entered Jurchen land, and our forces have completed their exchange with the Eight Banners and returned. Isn't the responsibility of escorting within Jurchen land entirely upon them?" Central Plains forces had pulled back from Manchurian soil, and instead, Jurchen military were tasked with the security. You could consider it as their land, and anything happening there was their responsibility, and they're fully accountable for ensuring security. Though at first glance it might seem like a crafty way to evade responsibility. But this was less about irresponsibility and blame-shifting and more about avoiding any awkward incidents. Long ago, during the chaotic era when the Central Plains was divided, these escort missions frequently became a pretext for surprise attacks. Those were stories from a very long time ago when being decent required great courage. Even without such context, having foreign troops or elites march up to one's capital isn't exactly delightful. Thus, such peace missions or diplomatic visits would see their escort exchanged at the border. As such, all original escorts were sent back, leaving only Yeon Sul and two maidens. --- **Notes:** 1. **Twelfth Degree Inspector Eosa(十二度監察御使)**: This title is retained in its structural form. Alternative translations could include "Inspector of the Twelfth Degree," reflecting Qing's rank and status. 2. **Peace Mission(和親行)**: Retained based on the literal translation of the characters. An alternates could be "Harmony Trip" to underline the cultural meaning, but "Peace Mission" is more widely understood. 3. **Jurchens(여진인)**: Retained to represent the historical tribal group from Northeastern Asia, modern-day Jurchen descendants are known as the Manchu. 4. **Moyong Clan**: Added context for who they are based on the translation. This relates to Yeonsul and voids confusion regarding affiliations. 5. **O-ch'e-tu-ji(五体投地)**: This traditional greeting is known as the "Five Prostrations". It is an extreme form of showing respect. 6. **Translator Notes**: The passage endeavors to capture Qing's attempt at maintaining a nonchalant disposition while handling confusion around her status. Similarly, traditional titles and customs were maintained or translated accordingly to reflect cultural and historical significance. Changes may need to occur in the list if additional context suggests varied affiliations, ranks, or descriptions per unique histories or pending new chapters. Qing was informed that a eunuch from the Inner Palace and two Jinyiwei officers were directly sent to escort the imperial decree. The six people made up the entire delegation for the peace mission. “An imperial decree?” “Yes, it is to appoint the imperial son-in-law to the rank of Grand General of the Eastern Expedition.” For those in the know, this was invaluable information that could not be ignored. Granting a nomadic border tribe the position of Grand General suggested the administration of a part of the border. Why would they entrust it to a barbarian? Perhaps it is to reallocate the stationed army elsewhere. It might indicate an incoming invasion or an expedition to some place. But Qing’s level of insight? Hearing such classified information, Qing’s thought was merely: Hmm, Grand General. The title sounds really cool, doesn't it? The ring to it is quite nice. “I sincerely wish I could escort Your Highness myself, but as I am tasked with the decree, please remember that my heart remains with you, Your Highness. Hmmph. Then rest a bit, and we will serve lunch later.” The sound of an aging man speaking in a nasally, coquettish voice was something Qing could never get used to. It sent shivers down her spine. The eunuch’s peculiar way of speaking was deliberately crafted to be off-putting, especially to deter palace maids. With that, Qing freed herself from the eunuch and threw herself back onto the bed. Her initial plan was just to leave. Having declared she would live not as Princess Yeonsul but as the martial artist Ximen Qing, it seemed shameless to meddle in governmental affairs. Of course, Qing often found herself unhesitatingly flashing her inspector’s badge when needed, feeling a bit aggrieved, because after all, it wasn't for selfish reasons but always for good causes. But truly, this time, she intended to just leave. However, the old eunuch clung to Qing’s pant leg, shedding real tears, begging not to turn noble imperial blood, not just any royal but of direct heavenly descent, into a treasonous act of abandoning the family. Hearing his plea, it seemed logical and irrefutable, thus persuasive. It certainly wasn't because of the banquet offerings promised by the top chef of the Jurchens… gulp, alright, definitely not. It was purely to preserve the dignity of a eunuch who had lived his life boasting loyalty. But then, what would be served for lunch... Hence, the plan was to leave by nightfall as initially scheduled. With intentions to eat lunch when it was served and dinner if offered, which was originally what she'd intended for while lodging at the inn, her plan was intact. Yet, plans and Qing often diverged. Ambivalent about the wait until lunch, yet too drained to stay awake, she got a hot bath to deeply soak her weary body. Finally relaxed, she thought if she slept now, she'd miss out on the banquet, so she pulled out the Xuanwu Scripture and mused over ways to comprehend the profound world of water torture—no, the ways of becoming familiar with water, lightly dozing off. And then came the awaited banquet! The promised meal was not just served but arrived with a massive table, painstakingly maneuvered by Jam Rodae and Jam Soi with strained exclamations. Packed with an array of meats, steamed meats, fish, chicken, duck, pheasant, and even vegetables? Do the Jurchens eat these vegetables? It tastes familiarly pleasant and to Qing’s liking. Normally, even if eating alone, Jam Soi would provide culinary insights, yet due to the busy peace mission, Qing had to simply savor it without context. Nevertheless, fine cuisine is delicious regardless, and the chef, the best among the Jurchens, truly justified his title to represent his people. Clap clap clap. Perhaps informed of Qing’s appetite, she feasted liberally and landed on the bed immediately after eating. What words could describe the satisfaction of lying with a full belly, sunk in post-feast contentment? This part had gone according to Qing's plan. Knock knock. A gentle rapping on the door. Upon Qing’s response, a stranger in a yellow armor entered the room, offering a light bow. Then momentarily taken aback by the emptied dishes on the once-grand table. If Qing understood the echelons of the Eight Banners, the armor’s color scheme—golden silk edged with red cloth—could clue her in on the man’s rank. It was symbolic of Daizangqi Yanghuang banner, representing the royal bodyguards, the elite of the Eight Banners. Unaware of Jurchen customs, Qing simply thought, “Wow, these guys have such vibrant colors. Do they just pick their favorite colors for their armor?” “I am Poli, head of the escort.” “Oh, are you Lord Po?” “Poli is the name, akin to how Middle-Kingdom names have a given surname and first name. However, calling it akin to surnames differs for us. It's akin to a chieftain or shaman’s name, and it’s rude for others to use it. It’d be disrespectful, unloyal? Not sure if that's the precise term. Therefore, I am referred to as Poli.” “Oh, alright. I’m Ximen Qing. So, what brings you here?” “It’s known you are close to the emperor, is that correct?” Already Qing heard about conveying such information to the Jurchen escort. A diplomatic move to avoid offense. While Inspector Eosa holds substantial power, technically being a mid-ranked official meddling in the host country’s escort protocol would appear awkward. Likewise, exposing Qing’s true identity as a princess was also impossible. To them, she was simply described as a close imperial affiliate, unexpectedly encountered but evidently untouchable, justifying their measures. When Qing denied involvement with insistence to leave, the eunuch had clung tearfully to her clothes. “Uhm, somewhat close.” “It’s also said you’re to leave quietly, touring Manchu lands coincidentally...” --- **Notes:** 1. **Imperial Decree(교지)**: Retained due to its importance in conveying sovereignty and royal decisions. 2. **Grand General of the Eastern Expedition(정동대장군)**: Illustratively translated as a prestigious military title, important for understanding political maneuvers. 3. **Eight Banners(팔기)**: A military division in the Jurchen/Manchu culture, explained for context. 4. **Daizangqi Yanghuang banner(대장기 양황기)**: Translation retained with description due to its association with elite military echelon and cultural significance. 5. **Poli(포리)**: A character flagging respect and etiquette, whose dialogue reflects cultural nuance on names and societal roles. 6. **Poli Explanation**: Translations—Poli explained using impressionism rather than literal elements for directness and respect dynamics in Jurchen society. 7. **Broader Notices**: Qing's informal attitude is juxtaposed humorously against formal protocols and cultural exchanges through food and dress. Explains her internally comedic indulgence in formalities. “Yes, I went to Changbai Mountain.” “Ah, Changbai Mountain! It’s quite a splendid place. Actually, I came here to say that there's no need for you to leave hastily. We appreciate your consideration for our escort's face—demur—well, those matters. Therefore, as a distinguished guest, you are formally invited to attend the wedding ceremony.” It felt a bit like receiving an unexpected wedding invitation. --- **Notes:** 1. **Changbai Mountain(장백산)**: Retained to maintain the reference to a notable geographical location shared by cultural significance between Korea and the Manchu. 2. **Wedding Ceremony**: Concisely translated to carry the formal context intended by the inviter, underscoring Qing’s elevated status in a socio-political setting. 3. **Cameo Explanation**: Note the shift in atmosphere to a lighter tone, indicative of unexpected formality akin to an invitation, emphasizing cultural diplomacy.