#listen...... badass changsu is fav

[presumenothing]

知否【番外 • 朝歌】

excerpt translated from original post @​ lofter

(apropos of nothing, a translation of my favourite scene of this fic because why not, really?)

(context notes: from that fic where Changsu survives the final battle but gets amnesia, emperor Jingyan goes to meet him disguised a commoner, lots of court shenanigans and plot things ensue, very good 10/10 would rec – this scene specifically is from a bonus chapter post-ending, after Changsu has been Minister of War for a couple years, and is surprise-visiting the Capitol Patrol with incognito!Jingyan, because Jingyan.)

Changzhi Alley was not far from the Capitol Patrol, and they arrived in a blink. Mei Changsu and Xiao Jingyan descended one after the other, identified themselves to the soldier standing guard at the door, who stammered hesitantly for several moments: “This… our Commander Lie isn’t here right now, Minister... do you want to come another time?”

“I’m not here to see Sir Lie.” Lie Zhanying was out of the city on business. Mei Changsu had intentionally sent him out, and so naturally knew this, “I’m only here to look around, is that a problem?”

“No, of course not,” that soldier hurriedly stepped aside and said, “Please come in.”

Mei Changsu moved forward to enter, and Xiao Jingyan quickly caught up a few steps behind, said softly: “Army men have their own rules. Be careful, don’t get yourself hurt.”

“I know.” Mei Changsu answered shortly, heading straight for the drill grounds.

Xiao Jingyan shook his head helplessly; as if this looked like he knew it at all. He had no choice but to follow closer. Further behind them both, Li Gang was already thinking about whether he should call Fei Liu over.

This person before them was Chief Mei, was Minister Mei, was Sir Su, and none of these identities would let him charge by himself into the middle of a crowd of army men. Yet there was still Young Marshal Lin, the only one you couldn’t stop even if you wanted to.

On arriving at the drill grounds, they saw a large group of Capital Patrol soldiers practicing horseback archery. Having commanded the soldiers of Jing Manor for more than a decade, Lie Zhanying really did have a way with leading men. Even though he was absent today, this daily practice of the Capitol Patrol was still not chaotic in the slightest, only giving the impression of thorough and meticulous order. Mei Changsu had led men himself to start with, and in these few years as the Minister of War, the number of armies big or small that he’d seen was far from few. And he truly hadn’t seen any with such organised training among those either; not too different from the Chiyan army, even.

“Not too different”, meaning that there was still a difference.

But Qi Meng was with the Capital Patrols today. He was an old hand from Jing Manor, and there’d already been some old offences and exchanges between them when Mei Changsu had been Su Zhe. Now, seeing Minister Mei having come alongside His Majesty, he immediately put down his bow and arrow, ran over and asked brashly: “Minister Mei, how are you free to come over today?”

He’d grown some brain in these few years, at any rate, and didn’t blurt “Sir Su” once he spoke, nor did he directly mention the identity of Xiao Jingyan, who stood behind Mei Changsu in a commoner’s clothes. His Majesty the Emperor was immeasurably relieved by this.

But Xiao Jingyan could no longer feel relief, very soon after.

Mei Changsu nodded, smiling: “The year is ending soon, I thought I’d come give the men my new year’s greetings a little earlier.”

“Oh, oh.” Qi Meng agreed, then did an idiotic thing in the next moment. He turned his head and cried loudly, “Over here, brothers, Minister Mei came to wish everyone an early new year!”

In a hubbub of sound, the previously crowded drill grounds suddenly emptied of people, all having rushed in front of Mei Changsu, fists in front of their chests as they called: “Greetings, Minister.”

Qi Meng immediately found his enthusiasm: “Come, brothers, let’s put on some good shows for the Minister!”

Xiao Jingyan’s expression turned severe on hearing this.

Possibly in Qi Meng’s mind, “a good show” was just to show off and flaunt. But he’d been messing around in the army since young, had lived together with those soldiers who ranked lowest in the army, and he naturally knew that these few shows here and there were very likely to turn into provocation.

Mei Changsu looked Qi Meng up and down briefly, said: “As you please.”

“Changsu!” Xiao Jingyan warned lowly, hardly caring about his identity any longer.

Mei Changsu only answered with a smile, turned, asked those gathered: “Which of you will start first?”

Before his voice could fade, one thin and tall soldier, apparently with the rank of centurion, had already stepped forward and said: “We’re running horseback archery manoeuvres today, so let’s start with archery. Any objections from everyone?”

“Good!” chorused the men of the Capitol Patrol.

“Then allow me to start this with my inadequate attempt.” That person bowed cupped hands at Mei Changsu, and immediately someone moved forward to hand him a longbow and quiver of arrows. Taking these, that person raised the bow and nocked an arrow, the tip pointed straight at bullseye.

Qi Meng, entirely unaware of what was about to happen, still felt quite self-satisfied as he said: “This here is the sharpshooter of we the Capital Patrol, capable of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces. Just you wait and see, Minister.”

Mei Changsu only hid his hands in his sleeves, stance rather composed despite the situation.

A metallic ting, followed by the whistle of wind right after. That person laid the bow down, bowstring still quivering lightly, but that arrow had already nailed bullseye.

The drill grounds were quiet for a moment, then a round of cheers followed. That person turned and bowed again: “There is my inadequate attempt. Please advise me, Minister.”

Mei Changsu lowered his head, lightly toying with the tassel of the warmer in his hands: “Not bad.”

“Please advise me, Minister.” That person only stared at Mei Changsu, and insisted.

He had his own ideas of the situation. Although that arrow had hit home, his actions had not been to standard, with a flaw that was neither big nor small. If Mei Changsu could not see it, he naturally wouldn’t burst out now, but having a good laugh after the matter was only necessary.

He dared bet that Mei Changsu couldn’t tell. This dynasty had always viewed restraint to be in good taste, and practising martial arts as vulgar; which high official still knew how to draw a bow, how to shoot an arrow? And moreover, this Minister of War looked both thin and weak, as if he was lacking from some illness, and not at all like he knew any martial art.

Of course, Mei Changsu did not practice martial arts, but he was not only Mei Changsu.

This was a true case of falling victim to one’s own cleverness, of essentially showing off before a true master. That person didn’t look much older than twenty at most; who even knew what he had been doing back in those years when Lin Shu had been drawing bows on the battlefield, when he had taken the rank of command over millions of army men.

“Your archery skill is very good.” Mei Changsu said slowly, “Save that when you were drawing the arrow back earlier, you only pulled it back to your nose and not to your chin. On the battlefield such a small error counts for nothing, since being able to hit the target is what matters, but when practising on the drill grounds, those rigorous standards should still matter above all.”

“Thank you for the advice, sir.” But that person did not give up: “Please demonstrate, sir.”

The entire field fell quiet at these words. Qi Meng finally understood how major an error he’d made, and hurriedly attempted to mediate: “This… this… Minister Mei is a scholar, how would he know archery? All of you back to practice, back to practice!”

This attempt was worse than nothing at all.

But that person didn’t leave, only held his hand with the bow and arrow out to Mei Changsu. There was not even the slightest emotion in his eyes, but it was more provoking than even provocation itself.

Mei Changsu sighed softly, and said to Li Gang: “Get the Vaindraw bow.”

“Yes,” answered Li Gang simply, and was about to step back when he heard that archer interrupt and say, “What manner of thing is the Vaindraw? Sir Mei, a common child’s plaything is different from a bow worthy of entering the battlefield, how can you treat them the same?”

“Sir is of high status, how can he compete with you.” Xiao Jingyan stepped forward, blocking Mei Changsu behind him, and said coldly, “If you truly want a competition of archery skill, I’ll do it with you.”

The deeply-settled power of a decade as the Emperor slowly spread, and those gathered could not help but lower their heads, not daring to meet it head-on. Even that sharpshooter was no exception. But matters having reached this point, if he backed down now, the one being laughed at would be none other than him. So he could only say, stubbornly: “I didn’t say anything about competing with Sir, merely seeking advice. And Sir does not need to hit the target either, just run through the motions as a demonstration for us.”

Mei Changsu had only been silent. On hearing this, he grasped that tassel lightly, and said calmly: “Only a demonstration, you say?”

“Yes.” That person answered hurriedly.

“Very well then.” Mei Changsu said, “Hand me the bow and arrow.”

“Xiao…” Xiao Jingyan still wanted to persuade, but in the split second when he said this name he understood completely. Yes, he was Lin Shu, Lin Shu of the silver armour and long spear, going back and forth on the battlefield with the whistle of wind. Yet on this day he had been forced into a corner by such insistent provocation over a competition of archery. How could he stop himself?

The words that had reached his lips were swallowed whole, changed into: “You be careful.”

Mei Changsu only patted his shoulder, indicating him to move aside, and answered with a look that told him to rest assured. 

Without the Poison of the Bitter Flame impeding his body in these recent years, Mei Changsu’s physical condition was much improved. Though he still feared the cold, still fell ill more often, most of it was non-life threatening. This bow was not a long-distance strong bow either; drawing it back was still an easy task.

The reason Mei Changsu had not dared to lightly agree earlier was his worry that the bow would be too strong, one that needed a little inner strength to draw back. But now he saw it to be only a soft bow for practice, and no longer worried. These hands had not held a bow in almost two decades; on touching a bow and arrow once again, the sensation was still familiar as if it had been only yesterday.

He’d really only wanted to see the others demonstrate, perhaps vicariously relive those days when he’d put on those grand displays in such occasions. But unexpectedly the reliving had become reality, without allowing for him to hesitate or retreat. He could actually make excuses to refuse, but he was unwilling. Who cared that it was only for one moment, that he might lose face; even if he could only become Lin Shu again in this moment when he drew back the bow fully, it would already be good fortune from Heaven. He could not ask for more.

After all, the loss of face was Mei Changsu’s to bear.

Lin Shu thought this rather irresponsibly, I only need to do what I should, and do it well.

Bow raised, arrow nocked, tip pointing right at that bright red dot on the target.

Let one hand go, fletched feathers catching the wind as the arrow flew. As Mei Changsu had expected, it hit bullseye dead centre.

The drill grounds were very quiet, so quiet that even the hissing sound of Mei Changsu taking out a second arrow could be clearly heard.

Drawing the bowstring fully back again, Mei Changsu smiled faintly, and the arrow tip deviated slightly.

Let go again, only to see that arrow go straight through the one shot by that sharpshooter earlier, splitting it into two before hitting bullseye once more.

The third time taking arrows, and this time Mei Changsu withdrew three.

This bow was too soft, Lin Shu frowned, who knew if it could spur three arrows.

So Mei Changsu leisurely tightened the bowstring slightly, and again nocked three arrows on it.

This motion was only most familiar to Xiao Jingyan. Xiao Shu was best at archery, able to fire up to three arrows at once, and all three arrows could split or stay together. Split, they could hit three horizontally-placed targets; together, they could all hit the same one. He himself could only manage three arrows on one target, at most, yet he had not seen someone split arrows to hit three targets for a very long time now.

He was likely the only one who could understand the expression in Mei Changsu’s eyes at this moment. Brimming with brightness, high of spirit.

That was the gleam and brilliance that Jinling had been missing for years, that was the person he had awaited for so long, now returned.

The bowstring shivered, and three arrows flew in three arcs.

Bullseye, on all three targets.

The entire field was silent for an instant. “Good!” someone called out first, and so echoing cries surged up like the tide. Mei Changsu paid it no attention, only stared blankly at the bow in his hands, stood blankly in a daze.

Xiao Jingyan moved forward, put the cloak around him, and said: “Let’s go.”

The bow Changsu asks Li Gang for or tries to, anyway is the one he uses in chapter 45 of the novel during the sneak attack at night, described per langyascribe’s glossary (though I altered the name):

Draw-in-Vain [畫不成] – the mighty crossbow made by the Ban family, currently in Mei Changsu’s possession; its name comes from the Chinese idiom, “there are many painters in this world, but they draw in vain a grieving heart”

#nirvana in fire #nif fic translation #nif #mei changsu #xiao jingyan #listen...... badass changsu is fav #also for the life of me i can't figure out how to translate 献丑 naturally lmao #today on: things i did because i felt like it #also instead of sTUDYING FOR MY FINALS #LISTEN I JUST REALLY LOVE THIS SCENE OKAY #ninja edit fixed some language effups