The Dragon and the Lotus
A Pre-HZGG Fanfiction by Giant Eagle
Copyright Giant Eagle 2002
Disclaimer:
The fictional characters of Huan Zhu Ge Ge i.e. Xiao Yan Zi, Xia Yu Her, Xia Zi Wei and Fu family belongs to Qiong Yao. Qian Long, Fu Heng, Ling Fei, Yong Qi, Ji Xiao Lan and other real historic figures don't belong to anybody at all. This story is mine, mine, and MINE! To Aunty Qiong Yao and her publishers (Crown Books), please do not sue me for copyright violations. I am not making money out of this.
You are welcome to feature this story (in its entirety) on your websites but please have the courtesy to obtain my permission and give credit where it's due.
Summary:
A closer look at the events that led to Zi Wei's birth.
Rating:
In view of the occasional strong language and sexually suggestive situations in some parts, the story is rated PG-13. YOU WERE WARNED!
FOREWORD
This is my second attempt at writing a HZGG fan fiction. My English is not that good, so is my Chinese. Most of the time, I write medical reports (I'm a doctor) so do forgive me if my writing is "dry" and not "Qiong Yao" enough to you.
Note that I have footnotes at the bottom of some chapters to explain terms and phrases. However if there're some phrases you don't understand, please feel free to e-mail me with your enquiries.
Ji Nan and Shan Dong
Ji Nan is a prefecture in the province of Shan Dong and also the name of the main city of that prefecture. Yes, the prefecture and city still exists today and yes, there is really a Da Ming Hu (Great Ming Lake) in Ji Nan.
The rainy months of Shan Dong are during summer, from June to September. So Qian Long must have visited Ji Nan during summer, other wise there wouldn't be that [Bi Yu](Shelter from the Rain) episode, and of course, no [Huan Zhu Ge Ge]. Autumn (October to December) in Shan Dong is a combination of coolness and warmth which results in fog. I suppose this is what inspired the [Yan Yu Too] (Misty Rain Painting). Very little snow during winter but I read that it's pretty cold and dry.
Zi Wei
Zi Wei is crape myrtle (Lagerstromeia indica), an ornamental shrub or small tree, which belongs to the family Lythraceae. It belongs to the loosestrife family and is native to China but also found in Korea. The flowers range from snowy white to red or purple, and grows in clusters up to 25cm wide. The tree is rarely more than 9m tall. The flowers bloom in July through September (summer in China) and the peak of the bloom is during mid summer (August and September).
Real Timelines
1735-Aisin Gioro Hong Li (1710-1798) becomes the fourth Manchu Emperor of China, reign name Qian Long (1735-1795)
1741 -Qian Long goes to Mu Lan, north of Beijing during the seventh month (June). If this is true, he couldn't have been in Ji Nan (800 km South East of Beijing) and there wouldn't be Zi Wei. Still, the imperial records keeper could just change the dates and facts a little…
1741-Wu Ah Ge, Yong Qi born
1748-Spring the Hsiao Hsien Empress of the Fuca clan passes away. In history, Fuca Lan (orchid see Reference no. 13) is said to be Hong Li's one true love. She is also the sister of Fu Heng (remember the bodyguard with in HZGG I who accompanied our favourite characters on the tour). The other one and only person who is said to be Hong Li's true love is his youngest daughter, Her Xiao Princess, who wouldn't be born until 15 years after the events in HZGG.
1748-The border wars with the Miao start. It only ends in 1776. (In HZGG I, the border wars start in 1742 and ends in 1743. A historical blooper by Aunty Qiong Yao which dear readers can choose to ignore.)
HZGG Timelines
Summer 1741-Qian Long visits Ji Nan, is caught in the rain and forced to seek shelter. Well, we all know whom he met here. The foldable fan with a lotus flower painted on it was probably made around this time
Autumn 1741- Qian Long paints the [Yan Yu Too] for Yu Her
-Qian Long receives orders from the Empress Dowager to return to Beijing
Summer 1742-Zi Wei born (XYZ also born during this period)
The [Yan Yu Too] was painted during the 10th month of 6th year of Qian Long, during autumn. Zi Wei says she was born on the 2nd day, 8th month 7th year of Qian Long, "during the blooming season of crape myrtle". That means she was born sometime in August or September of 1742. Assuming Yu Her had a normal full term pregnancy which is 38-42 weeks, Zi Wei must have been conceived around November or December 1741...Errr, sorry, too much medical talk here.
Zi Wei didn't specify how long the [Xiao Zhu] (Little Stay) was but whatever the length of time, it was enough for Qian Long to seduce/fall in love with Yu Her. The way Zi Wei described her mother, Yu Her was hopelessly in love with Qian Long. Yu Her must have been very young and impressionable when she was romanced by the thirty-one year old Qian Long, a charming ladies' man. In history, Qian Long had 10 wives/concubines when he ascended the throne. By the time he passed away, he already had 40 official consorts of varying ranks, and possibly numerous undocumented "girlfriends". One could say that he was "experienced".
REFERENCES
Huan Zhu Ge Ge I by Qiong Yao (TV series and the Book)
Huan Zhu Ge Ge II by Qiong Yao (TV series and the Book)
Qian Long Huang Di Quan Zhuan (Biography of Qian Long) by Guo Cheng Kang, Cheng Zhong De et al. Published 1994 (ISBN 7-5077-0932-9/K.23)
Yong Zheng Huang Di Quan Zhuan (Biography of Yong Zheng) by Fung Er Kang et al published 1994
The Last Emperors: A Social History of Qing Imperial Institutions by Evelyn Sakakida Rawski. University of California Press ISBN: 0520212894
Emperor of China: Self Portrait of Kang-Hsi by Jonathan D. Spence published by Vintage Books; ISBN: 067972074X
T'sao Yin and the K'ang-Hsi Emperor : Bondservant and Master (Yale Historical Publication, Miscellany, No 85) by Jonathan D. Spence Yale Univ Pr; ISBN: 0300042779
If you want to know about the plant Zi Wei, go to www. crapemyrtles. com (please remove the spaces in between)
Zhong Guo Xian Qing Da Quan-Hua Dong Quan (Encyclopaedia of Chinese Counties-Volume Eastern China) published by the PRC 1993, pg 1523-41
Zhong Guo Li Shi Di Tu Ji-Qing Chao (Historical Maps of China-Qing Dynasty) pg 22-23 NB drawn during Jia Qing and Dao Guang period)
China-A Provincial Atlas Hsieh Chiao Min & Hsieh Jean Kan pg 45, 65-67 Macmillan Publishing
Zhong Guo Shan Shui Wen Hua Da Guang (Cultural History of the Water and Mountains of China) pg 249-62 re: Tai Shan, pg 286-89-Da Ming Hu
Kang Qian Hou Men: Fu Kang An Shi Jia ( The Elite Family during Kang Xi and Qian Long's reign: Fu Kang An's Family) by Zhang Ming Fu published by Ji Lin People's Publishing Works. ISBN7-206-02673-7
Science and Civilization in China Joseph Needham Oxford University press
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli (written circa 1532)
Potrait of Qian Long, painted by Italian Jesuits. www. chinapage. com /images /qianlong .jpg (get rid of the spaces)
Lunar Calendars : This site tells you how to get the years and months in Chinese calendar www. chinese-artists. net /year / (Get rid of the spaces)
" If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher
"When You Say Nothing At All" by Ronan Keating
"Just like Jesse James" by Cher
Of course, my dear readers are better informed than I am. I'm writing this fan fiction based on the information I've got at my disposal here.
(BTW, I'm not related to the midwife who delivered Zi Wei)