Xie Wuyang gazed earnestly at Jiang Kui, a hint of probing buried within his look.
As expected, he resembled someone recently recovered from dire illness. He had probably just awakened shortly before she administered the medicine, thus still appeared somewhat fatigued and frail. Disheveled fringe spilled over his shoulders lending a pitiable air.
“Oh. Then stay hungry.” Jiang Kui said dryly. “Now that you’ve woken up today, you ought to leave for your posting as Governor of Yongzhou.”
Xie Wuyang started coughing again.
Initially Jiang Kui firmly believed he was pretending. But the rasping breaths made her reluctantly soften. She bent over to prop him up and patted his back to help even his breath.
As she lowered her head, long hair cascaded down to brush his cheeks. Unseen by her, his head remained bowed while coughing mutedly. Yet the corners of his mouth indiscernibly quirked upwards, a glint of mischief lurking in lowered eyes.
After a spell he raised his head to peer at her. “My lady, I truly am hungry now.”
As he looked up, his long softly curled lashes lifted to shine distinct beneath the warm lamplight. An overly striking face gazed up to reveal a chiseled jawline. Lips were pressed faintly upwards as if hiding a suppressed smile.
Jiang Kui bit her lower lip, asking rather helplessly, “What do you want to eat?”
“Lotus seed cakes.” His response was perfectly deferential.
“I can’t make them anyway…” She glared at him poisonously. “You can crave all you like yet won’t get to eat any.”
“Would my lady be willing to visit Prince Ruhang’s estate on my behalf to ask for some?” Xie Wuyang ventured tentatively.
It turned out he and Xie Cheng happened to share the same palate, both partial to the confections made by their uncle Prince Wen. It seemed this capable young prince earned the favor of his niece and nephews partly through culinary skills. These Xies all enjoyed feeding others too. Perhaps a habit learned from Xie Ruhang.
Jiang Kui was slightly swayed by Xie Wuyang’s utterly sincere pleading look. But she swiftly grasped his real objective. “You’re trying to get me to leave you alone right?”
Xie Wuyang bowed his head with a sigh. “I did no such thing.”
Jiang Kui let out a loud disdainful snort before shoving the petite porcelain spoon into his hand. “Drink your medicine first. Do it yourself.”
Xie Wuyang spread open his palms limply. “Just awoke, no strength left.”
Unsure whether he told truth or lies, his complexion did seem somewhat dispirited. Slender fingers dangled weakly with icy palms. Thus with compressed lips Jiang Kui wordlessly scooped a spoonful to feed into his mouth.
He swallowed mouthful by mouthful while gazing fixedly at her. Growing somewhat flustered from his stare she barked, “Eyes closed!”
This man’s obedience frustrated endlessly. He instantly shut both eyes to let her administer the medicine. With every ceramic clink against the bowl he would open his mouth, waiting for her to tip in the next spoonful. Once she did he would obediently gulp it down. The slight bob of his adam’s apple synchronized with the faint flutter of dark lashes.
…One could nearly think he enjoyed ingesting this bitter concoction.
Indeed Xie Wuyang vastly differed from Zhu Zi’an. Actually managing to steadily down this awful decoction without a grimace.
Once he finished she perched on the bedside and solemnly asked, “Xie Wuyang, how much do you remember?”
He first whispered something she barely caught that sounded like “Why does everyone keep questioning me about this”, before promptly responding louder, “I remember everything.”
“Truly so.” Utterly sincere as he continued, “I got quite lucky this bout and retained it all.”
They discussed at length the ambush during the autumn hunt. As Jiang Kui noticed his genuine hunger she rose to summon snacks to the palace. Very soon, beautiful and colorful confections were presented on an exquisite ceramic tray — lovely frosting sprinkled over the pristine white glaze releasing a tantalizing delicate fragrance, extremely appetizing.
Jiang Kui swept her gaze over the treats before shifting icy eyes onto Xie Wuyang. “Weren’t you just gravely sick? Isn’t it bad to eat chilled sweet things?”
Xie Wuyang silently dropped his head.
Jiang Kui waved the servants away before ordering a different dish sent in — a bowl of plain congee, freshly cooked and still piping hot. Yet the thin gruel appeared rather bland.
She picked up the rice porridge and belligerently spooned it into Xie Wuyang’s mouth, ignoring his pleading looks. As she fed him Jiang Kui lectured, “After slumbering many days you can only ingest congee for now. We’ll see about the rest once you’ve recovered.”
Xie Wuyang heaved a lengthy sigh then closed both eyes to suffer her ministrations obediently.
“There is another matter.” After his complexion markedly improved she finally asked, “Do you recall those two eunuchs named Little Douzi and Little Xizi?”
“I remember.” He nodded at her. “Please go on, my lady.”
“They slipped poison into your medicine,” Jiang Kui said softly. “Unsure if they already succeeded poisoning you before my discovery.”
Unexpectedly Xie Wuyang seemed perfectly calm, merely dipping his head slightly.
“It is nothing.” He murmured gently. “Many wish me dead.”
“So you’ll just let them kill you as they please?” Jiang Kui simply could not comprehend his line of thought. “You ought to thoroughly investigate your food and medicine. More toxicity could be lurking! Before my arrival you neglected everything, chaos reigned in the Eastern Palace. Who knows what else you might have unknowingly ingested over the years.”
He smiled soundlessly. “What is there left to fear when one already has a doomed corpse?”
His attitude irritated Jiang Kui badly. She glowered at him until he supplemented, “Very well. I won’t say something like this again. I sincerely beseech my lady to aid investigating the poisoning. And inform me should any findings surface.”
“Won’t discovering if some link exists between your sickness and that venom lead to a cure?” Still very dissatisfied by his despondency she continued, “I have no wish to become a widow shortly after marriage.”
“You have my apologies. I do not wish for that outcome either.”
Somehow his response completely missed her main point. Jiang Kui stamped her foot in deep vexation to emphasize clearly, “I said, we might be able to cure you!”
“Truthfully I care little about treatment.” He lowered his gaze while slowly explaining, “All these years, I only hoped…to uncover the original poisoner’s identity.”
“My lady, you have my deepest gratitude for your assistance.” He lifted his head again. Suddenly switching to a more formal mode of address as he uttered gravely, “Kang cannot express the full depths of his appreciation.”
That unexpectedly ceremonious form of address seemed to carry an immense weight. In the fleeting silence his gaze towards her held a profound radiance — as if giving thanks across endless distant eras.
“Rest awhile longer.” After studying him briefly Jiang Kui slowly turned her face away. “Since you’ve only just awakened today, I will grant you temporary leave from assuming the Yongzhou governorship. I’ll help delay things so focus on recuperating these next few days.”
“Very well.” He shut both eyes.
After Xie Wuyang drifted asleep once more Jiang Kui left the west wing. She single-handedly managed Eastern Palace affairs, barely snatching any respite.
Only when the glittering stars ascended and winds shook leaves from branches could she finally steal some leisure to meet with Zhu Zi’an at the Eastern Pavilion bookstore.
Knocks rang out steadily before the bookshop entrance again.
“Master Pu Liu is in,” came bookkeeper Master Liu’s yawning response when he opened the door.
Jiang Kui thanked him before lightly ascending the wooden plank stairs. Throwing the carved door wide she discovered her awaited companion already seated behind the screen. He had prepared tea and was slowly pouring out a cup. Raising his eyes towards her he remarked, “Miss Jiang Xiaoman, you are quite late.”
“Busy schedule today.” She plopped down opposite him without ceremony to grab his cup for a testing sip. After a small satisfied nod she said, “You do brew fairly decent tea I suppose.”
“Only because your skills remain far too clumsy.” Zhu Zi’an’s low chuckles emerged. He poured another share for himself.
Jiang Kui glowered at him. Only then did she notice the two kettles present tonight — one holding fragrant tea for her while the other cradled strongly brewed tea for himself. Curious she asked, “Drinking robust tea again so late? No trouble sleeping afterwards?”
“Why do you fuss over me like this? Been favoring it lately, that’s all.” His brusque explanation brushed her query aside. Zhu Zi’an spread out yesterday’s drafted diagrams between them atop the short table.
That night they discussed potential rescue plans for bringing Cold White Junk out from the full moon tower in Pingkang quarter. After repeated debates a rough outline took shape. Zhu Zi’an was still sketching on paper while Jiang Kui sat near him carefully deliberating each step’s feasibility.
Zhu Zi’an set his brush down to display the densely marked draft for Jiang Kui’s perusal. Beneath the muted glow they reviewed the scheme thoroughly. Just as Zhu Zi’an was about to end discussion for the night Jiang Kui slowly brought up, “…I spotted a tremendous flaw though.”
Zhu Zi’an neatly stacked the sheets before making an inviting gesture for her to elaborate.
Jiang Kui pondered aloud, “Well…what if we encounter that rider in black again? Neither of us are his match.”
A mutual spell of quiet descended.
“I could try…” Zhu Zi’an slowly offered after a period.
“No you cannot,” Jiang Kui instantly realized what he meant to say.
Zhu Zi’an cut her off, “I’ve withstood one of his palm strikes before so this time I might also be able to—”
“You didn’t withstand anything. Nor could you ever withstand it.” Jiang Kui firmly interrupted him.
He gave a soft disgruntled snort to display his dissent. Yet Jiang Kui ignored him. After musing over a solution herself she slowly stated, “Leave that man to me. Don’t get involved. I’ll go pay someone a visit later and ask how to counter his Evil Dispersing Palm.”
“Zhu Zi’an, try to stall him for ten days more.” Her tone turned solemn. “I will confront him myself when that time comes.”
“Very well.” He pledged.
They slapped palms over the table between them. The crisp clap echoed within the tea’s rippling reflection.
Moonbeams spilled like liquid silver amidst the Eastern Pavilion streets and alleys.
Above the street corner winery, the tipsily immortal banner fluttered noisily in the night breeze. With all shops shuttered during these late hours only a single lovely silhouette noiselessly glided past the deserted lanes.
Jiang Kui hugged her spear tightly to rap against the shut winery.
The wooden door creaked open for the drowsy shopkeeper to stand blearily in the entrance. Catching sight of Jiang Kui he first gawked in surprise before beaming, “Young hero, visiting for late night revelries?”
Jiang Kui set down her polearm to sink into a deep bow. “Master.”
His bearing instantly shifted. Formerly loose and casual, his eyes sharpened keen as blades within a heartbeat.
He straightened inch by inch until his previous affable merchant mien completely vanished. Instead he resembled a tautly strung spear, standing tall beneath the moonlight with rippling robes.
“Why have you come?” His quiet question whipped through the air. “Did I not forbid you from acknowledging me after leaving tutelage?”
Jiang Kui knelt before him at length. “Master, I wish to learn the peerless spear skill Ruins Destroying Form.”
The shopkeeper mutely assessed her a short while before turning to usher them inside. He led the way into the rear courtyard and picked up her spear, fingers gently gliding over the chilling spearhead without a word.
“Jiang Xiaoman!” He suddenly barked.
“Present!” The young lady before him immediately stiffened to attention.
“My reasons for not teaching you this in the past — I feared future regrets on your part.” The shopkeeper scrutinized his former disciple profoundly. “You must understand Ruins Destroying Form severs all bonds between wielder and weapon once deployed. The cast spear can never be reclaimed.”
“This disciple comprehends fully. My spear now has people I want to protect…many people.”
“Turmoil in the jianghu?”
“Not just the martial world.” Shaking her head Jiang Kui continued, “I harbor an indistinct disquiet lately, as if someone plots greater chaos.”
Her master slanted her an inscrutable look without commenting overmuch. Casually he flipped the polearm back into her hands then said lightly, “Report here nightly henceforth to study the spear. Not a moment’s respite permitted.”
“You have this pupil’s deepest gratitude, Master.” Still clasping her weapon Jiang Kui bowed towards him again.
Her master folded both arms behind his back gazing silently as she departed before exhaling softly, “Swords kill yet spears wage war. True comprehension of the spear’s essence comes only from experiencing battlefields. I pray…such a day never arrives for you.”
Returning indoors he rapped his knuckles against the counter and uttered calmly, “You’re free to come out now.”
A graceful youth emerged from behind the doorway. Garbed in dark round-collared robes and a patterned cape, cradling a silver leaf brazier, he stepped forth deferentially one measured stride at a time.
“Master.” Zhu Zi’an sank to his knees in greetings.
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