One after another, small bright stars emerged at the horizon, illuminating the freshly fallen snow piled under the eaves that glittered on and off.
Several braziers burned in the guest room, baking the air toasty warm. Wisps of sandalwood scent spread, blending with the sharp, pleasing aroma of fresh snow along with faint traces of tea.
Zhu Zi’an took down a white porcelain tea set from the antique shelf, and dug out some tea leaves from the drawer. He sat atop the writing desk slowly brewing tea. Jiang Kui opened her bundle of undyed hemp cloth, taking out neatly packed clothes to go bathe and change into.
Somewhat weary after a full day’s travel by horse and wagon, the two attended to their own matters without exchanging words.
Jiang Kui stood holding her clean clothes about to leave when she suddenly retracted a step. Zhu Zi’an raised his eyes towards her. “What’s wrong?”
She pointed black-faced at the bathing pool behind the guest room. Zhu Zi’an took a look, his complexion also darkening slightly.
The private bathing pool for guest use had…no partition whatsoever between it and the guest room.
In other words, while someone bathed, the other would have front row seats to “spring water caressing creamy jade.”
…Just what kind of design was this?
Zhu Zi’an heaved a sigh. “…I’ll go out right away.”
He put down the tea things and under her razor-like gaze, promptly exited the room.
Silence descended. Only the crackling coal balls sounded. Jiang Kui filled the pool with piping water before stripping barefoot and entering the waters. She undid her inky long tresses, letting the soft strands billow over the surface.
Candle flames wavered upon the glittering waters, setting off the girl’s slender figure and perfect proportions. Her jade-white neck was as if carved from creamy jade.
knock knock knock — two raps sounded outside the door.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She asked guardedly, submerging herself in water.
The person outside was helpless. “Warrior lady, it’s too cold out. May I come in for some clothes?”
The muffled girl’s voice answered. “Enter with eyes closed.”
Zhu Zi’an laughed softly. “As you command.”
He shut his eyes pushing the door open. She leaned on the pool edge propping up her chin, watching him nearly crash into a clothes rack before her heart softened and she mumbled: “Go right.”
“Much obliged,” he laughed, shifting right a step.
He nearly tripped over a brazier. She sighed and ordered: “Stand still. I’ll grab them for you.”
Sploosh sploosh — amidst splashing sounds she stepped onto the soft carpet wearing only an oversized robe, barefoot.
He stood obediently by the doorsill, quietly shutting both eyes. Amidst the rustling clothes she gently draped an overcoat atop him. He caught a whiff of sweet fragrance from the freshly bathed girl, like a wisp of scented wind passing him by. His lashes lightly shuddered.
“I see you smiling,” she huffed. “No smiling allowed.”
“Understood,” he replied, still smiling.
She discontentedly knocked his head, pressing both shoulders to turn him around and shove him out the door.
“You get out now,” she shut the door behind him. “I’m bathing a while longer. Come back after a stick of incense burns out.”
“As you command, as you command,” he laughed in reply, wearing the overcoat as he went downstairs.
Below the guesthouse inn was a small rear courtyard paved in green bricks and gardened with some flower beds. An icebound tiny stream flowed beneath a wooden bridge dusted with a thin layer of snow.
Midwinter’s chill meant the yard was deserted, only an ancient cypress tree spread its deep hues over the new snow. Sometimes birds would flutter through the branches and beat off chunks of dislodged snow.
Someone’s footsteps disturbed the fresh snow as he gathered his coat tighter, reclining against the cypress gazing up at the starlit skies after snowfall.
A long while later he slowly blinked his lashes, brushing off a flake of snow. Reaching inside his coat he produced a wine jug and took a tiny sip with lowered head.
Then he put the wine away and bowed his head. He slowly shut both eyes as if dozing off peacefully under that tree.
“Your Highness.” The black-clothed youth somersaulted down from atop the wall, cupping fists in greeting.
“Speak,” said the man below the tree opening his eyes and dipping his head towards him.
“Your Highness, I’ve obtained all requested maps,” Lu Eleven took out a stack of papers from his lapel handing them to Xie Wuyan. “A sudden blizzard near Blue Pass, massive traffic congestion with convoys stalled mid journey. The General’s Estate convoy’s progress delayed because of this. They’ve only just arrived at the relay station to rest and recover.”
“Excellent.” Xie Wuyan accepted the maps and casually flipped through them before folding neatly away into his overcoat, asking again: “Any news from Ruohang’s side?”
“Princess Wen sent word that all is well, no need to worry,” Lu Eleven replied. “The Princess has agreed to manage state affairs in your stead. Though she seems somewhat displeased that Your Highness brought away Young Hero Jiang.”
Xie Wuyan chuckled. “That person is by my side now. Xie Shenbi can only accept it whether pleased or not.”
“Before Your Highness departed, Imperial Physician Shen entrusted me to remind you daily—” Lu Eleven went on. “The medicinal wine prepared can only last ten days. After that, you must return to Eastern Palace for herbal soaks, otherwise…”
“He just makes groundless threats,” Xie Wuyan cut him off with laughter. “You should know his temper by now?”
“Your Highness…” Lu Eleven said in low tones.
“Alright, message received. I’ll return in ten days time,” Xie Wuyan sighed. “You’re threatening me on her behalf again.”
He clapped Lu Eleven’s shoulder. “Go on back. Thank you for the hard work. Keep monitoring the General’s Estate side.”
Lu Eleven bowed farewell and took his leave, leaping back over the wall. Xie Wuyan bowed his head drinking another sip of wine, reclining against the tree gazing up at the boundless sea of stars, listening to the soft whispers of rolling snow.
A slender crescent moon and sparse stars
Spill down a thousand mountains in snowy hues
Inside the guest room, the wide-robed girl had long finished her bath and sprawled lazily atop the desk fiddling with the tea things used by the other person.
The door gave a creeaaak as someone entered.
“Zhu Zi’an, you were gone for so long,” Jiang Kui complained. “Where’d you run off to?”
“Oh, apologies,” Zhu Zi’an said with an easy smile. He took off the overcoat hanging it on a rack. “There’s a bathing pool downstairs that I used. Took a bit longer coming back up.”
He too had changed into loose robes with still-damp hair. Having walked outdoors, frost and snow flakes clung onto a few wet strands against his cheeks.
She beckoned him over to sit facing her, then leaned forward reaching to brush snow from his hair. Head lowered, inky locks trailing watery gleams spilled over his knuckles, carrying a faint wisp of sweet fragrance.
He curled his fingers, lightly flicking her hair strands with a fingertip. Feeling the dampness he sighed helplessly: “Let me wipe your hair dry.”
“It’ll dry itself,” she stated severely.
“We still need to head out later. It’ll freeze solid,” he laughed. “Do you dislike having your hair wiped that much?”
“Too much hassle,” she griped. “My hair’s too long.”
“It’s beautiful,” he remarked. “I like long hair.”
“So you don’t like short hair?” She retorted.
“I like it all,” he chuckled softly.
He leaned forward, rummaging out a square white kerchief from a yellow pearwood drawer. Walking behind her he sat down, pushing up his sleeves as he prepared to wipe her hair for her.
She yawned waiting for her hair to dry, listening to the crackling coal balls. He had taken off the undyed hemp cloth strips around his fingers, carefully detangling her messy locks and systematically separating out the knots. He dried it bit by bit with the kerchief.
“Why do you like wiping hair for people so much?” She asked.
“Not people. Just you,” he answered casually. “You’re my martial senior sister. According to our generational order I really ought to be serving and attending to you, pouring tea and all. Just didn’t have the chance when we were young. And now I don’t want to anymore since I have a lot of self-respect.”
“Pouring tea doesn’t injure self-respect,” she retorted. “Last time when I went asking Master to teach me spearmanship I still had to run around pouring wine for him. Felt exactly like when I was a kid.”
“I know,” he said with a smile. “I saw it happen before.”
“How could you have seen it?”
“When you were practicing spear forms in the yard I’d be on the second floor learning my techniques,” he explained. “Too difficult to grasp. Master scolded me way more times than you.”
“That just means you were dumber,” her tone grew arrogant. “Master praised me very often.”
“I know. He often boasted about you to me too, telling me to learn from you more,” his tone held laughter. “But don’t be so arrogant now okay? I feel awful about myself in comparison.”
“No problem. No need to feel awful before your senior sister,” she turned to face him. “Why were you so against meeting me back then?”
“Don’t ask anymore. Didn’t I tell you already?” He avoided her gaze. “I just don’t want to say.”
“Oh fine,” she turned away again.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
“You’re welcome,” she gave a soft huff, head still lowered.
He was thanking her for respecting his unwillingness to speak about it. If he didn’t want to say, she wouldn’t ask.
“Your hair is dry now.”
He brushed off his hands and bent to grab that red jade hairpin from the desk. Casually twisting up her hair in a loose bun, he rewrapped his fingers in undyed hemp. “Let’s go, scout around first before looking over the maps back here. Lu Eleven gathered all regional maps of this area.”
“Lu Eleven is so very capable,” she marveled.
His lips quirked up without replying. With the Crown Prince’s status, obtaining these maps was truly easy work.
The two put on their outwear, flipping out the window. They walked atop the interwoven eaves amidst the accumulated snow, observing the layout of this small town and surrounding terrain from above.
As an essential transportation junction, endless streams of merchants and travelers meant the lanterns of Three Stores Village stayed lit through the night. Myriad households with oil lamps and the sprawling stars illuminated each other under endless stretches of snowy vistas. Like a scorching ribbon of light suddenly unfurled from the silent darkness.
After circling the town once the two returned to the inn rooftop. The relay station was right next door, where exiled prisoners were detained. A few wavering lights from the station with Jiang Kui’s family members behind one window.
“We’ll meet them,” Zhu Zi’an noticed her gaze. “They only just arrived today too. Snow blocking Blue Pass, carriages and horses crammed. They’ll stay put these few days until it clears before leaving again. We’ll find the chance to visit them at the station.”
“I want to stay on the rooftop a while,” she murmured.
“I’ll keep you company.”
Flakes floated down from the skies now and then.
The two sat shoulder-to-shoulder atop the roof gazing into the faraway Milky Way.
“Jiang Xiaoman,” he suddenly said.
“Hm?”
“Can I teach you star-gazing?”
She laughed aloud. “Who doesn’t know how to count stars?”
“The stars I count are different from others,” he explained with an easy smile. “I count the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions and Twelve Earthly Branches.”
He lifted his face upwards, raising a finger that traced across the glittering sky: “Heavenly Pivot, Jade Balance, Gloriously Bright, Trembling Light, North Star…”
He counted the stars very seriously while she watched not the stars but him instead. She turned her face sideways. It was as if the sea of stars had all fallen onto his features, their flickering gleam reflected in his eyes.
A lone snow flake tumbled down from the heavens, landing on his lashes where it shimmered faintly.
She unconsciously lifted a hand, fingers brushing over his eyelids.
His lashes quivered.
A note from the author:
We’re nearing the fall from horseback, though not quite sure how many more chapters until then!
The ambiguous tension is nearing its end. Treasure these final moments dear audience.
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