The fiery clouds slowly faded as sounds of fires crackling and food frying came drifting in through the window, distant as ocean waves.
The girl inside the house yawned lazily with the quiet breathing of her beloved beside her, gentle and soothing. Coal embers flickered warmly in the brazier, tinging his hair a cozy gold that made her irresistibly want to ruffle it.
Warm and bright, the dancing lamplight stretched time infinitely, freezing this night in place.
Abruptly came heavy stomps with firm knocking on the yard gates, forceful yet composed.
The doors swung open as Jiang Kui turned. Tutor Ling strode in swiftly, deep purple robes flying as the night winds whipped wildly around him.
“Has he woken up?” Ling asked.
“Just fell asleep,” she replied.
“Get him up,” Ling commanded darkly. “Someone at court knows of his return. The Northern Office has acted swiftly. He must immediately join me before His Majesty pleading military action on Huai Xi. Any delay is unwise.”
The girl beside him fell silent. “His current physical state…”
“I said get him up,” Ling calmly repeated. “Huai Xi teeters on the edge. Now isn’t the time for sleep.”
“Lord Buyang,” Jiang Kui murmured. “He just woke from half a month’s coma then battled high fever for long periods only easing after an entire day’s medicine. He likely doesn’t even have the strength to walk right now.”
“That old coot Shen has ranted all this to me so I’m aware of his condition,” Ling interjected. “I asked Shen. As long as he can still move we will prop him up to immediately meet His Majesty on urgent state affairs.”
His tone brooked no dissent. “He chose this path so naturally he understands what must be done.”
“Lord Buyang—” the girl beside him whispered.
“No more, Jiang Xiaoman,” sounded a faint voice.
Xie Wuyang had awoken at some point, struggling to prop himself up in bed. Lamplight from outside outlined his profile, peaceful and bright against the flickering glow.
“Let’s go,” he murmured softly.
She turned immediately. “I’m going with you.”
Ling strode out the doors as Jiang Kui gently helped Xie Wuyang to his feet. He tilted his chin up, suppressing the pants in his breaths as he straightened inch by inch, clutching her arm while walking forward.
Outside awaited a muted jade carriage with black horses. The black-clothed youth driving silently held the reins beneath the tilted brim of his hat, face unreadable in shadow.
“You stubborn fool Ling Buyang!” Grand Court Physician Shen came stomping over in a fury. “Take a good look at your student’s condition!”
He gripped Xie Wuyang’s shoulders for Jiang Kui to support from behind, fishing in his medicine box for an extra long silver needle that he stabbed into Xie’s wrist without any gentleness.
Xie Wuyang gave a soft cough, briefly shutting his eyes as he swayed unsteadily.
“Just look at him yet you still insist on tormenting the boy!” Shen berated Ling lividly. “Freshly returned from Huai Xi after days of exhausting travel, he only just recovered from his injuries! How long has he rested? When does he ever get rest these years?” Shen raged. “He’s still human and needs actual sleep!”
“Of course I comprehend my own student,” Ling stated flatly while glancing at Xie Wuyang. “No worries.”
“Your student awaits your teachings, sir, and will shortly accompany you to court,” Xie Wuyang saluted respectfully.
He turned to Shen with another bow, sheepishly tacking on softly “Please don’t reprimand my teacher so, sir, it pains him most to act thusly… And oddly I’m rather unaccustomed to you not berating me daily.”
“Can’t bear scolding you today so your blasted tutor bears the brunt instead,” Shen snorted derisively. “Of all the wretched people in this world you two take the cake!”
He fished inside his medicine chest for a wine flask and shoved it at Jiang Kui. “Take this.”
She blinked as he glowered. “Medicinal wine. Whipped up hastily. Have him finish it in one go on the road. Bitter as hell but make sure he drinks every drop.”
Hoofbeats clattered as the carriage rolled over fallen blossoms and thin snow, turning towards the palace.
Inside, Xie Wuyang eyed Jiang Kui’s flask with a weary sigh. “When he’s in a bad mood, the medicine turns especially bitter.”
“Actually I rather not drink it,” he confessed quietly.
The girl beside him frowned deeply before uncorking the flask and handing it over. “Medicine. Now.”
His fingers shifted, touching her fingertips to nudge away the extended wine. Then he chuckled softly, head cocked watching her pleadingly. “Feed me?”
Wavering lamplight shone upon the mischief and feigned innocence in his gentle gaze. She sighed, lifting the flask to his lips to slowly help him ingest the contents.
His throat bobbed as he forced it down bit by bitter bit, brows scrunching together most unhappily like a tangled knot.
“So bitter,” he grimaced, shutting his eyes.
She gave a derisive snort. “What happened to bold claims of steeling yourself to hardship?”
“Wife, I was wrong,” he laughed weakly, gazing beseechingly up at her. “I want candy.”
She drooped dejectedly. “Didn’t bring any today.”
“Then you—” she started to say just as a blast of ripe plums and white frost engulfed her senses all at once.
A palm suddenly pressed down the nape of her neck as she was yanked into a chilled embrace quickly sealed by an icy kiss against her throat.
“Sweet as sugar.” His laughter teased lowly by her ear, mollified for the moment.
The next instant he slumped heavily onto her shoulder, mumbling as if half lost in dreams already. “Still a quarter hour left… Let me nap a bit more…”
“Don’t fret.” His drowsy murmur continued. “I feel fine enough… You know the doctor exaggerates things …”
“I hate when you try pacifying me with forced nonchalance. Promise to tell me when you’re tired, okay?” She mumbled into his shoulder.
The figure in her arms stilled before eventually whispering back “Okay.”
“Jiang Xiaoman…” he uttered softly. “I’m exhausted…scared of bitterness and pain…”
His hushed words slurred wearily. “After everything concludes…I dearly wish to sleep for a very long time…”
She held him closer. “Things will improve. We walk on together. Sleep when tired, I’ll wake you each time.”
“Just like that,” she whispered by him. “For our whole lives… Alright?”
“Alright,” he drifted off against her.
Outside, flurries swirled as white petals bloomed amidst the dance of shadows beneath the plum tree, the passing fragrance clear yet faint.
The road from the marketplace to Eastern Palace stretched especially long this night. Xie Wuyang dozed the entire ride leaning into Jiang Kui. Luo Shiyi directed the horses to walk exceptionally slowly while the striding man Ling Buyang beside said not a word.
The carriage stopped outside the Eastern Palace by the lotus pond. Minister Gu held up a silk umbrella by the gates as servants came to help the slumbering Crown Prince away to the west wing hall to change into voluminous court robes.
Still more asleep than awake, dressing was practically done in dreams. Layers of luxurious fabrics enveloped him from sheer inner white robes and scarlet outer surcoat to jade sashes and vermillion waistbands, armor-like in their extravagant weight upon this boy not yet of age, molding him step by step into the exalted Crown Prince.
Jiang Kui braced him by a desk, using an antler hairpin to twist his hair up into a neat topknot. Afterwards placing the towering nine-jeweled crown over his head. In the mirror he rested limply against her, features ethereally refined even while asleep, still pulsing with youth despite the burdens.
The world saw a sage prince — gentle, humble, loving — but the Xie Wuyang she knew delighted in tea, theatre arts and sketching opera masks, adored sweets and equally feared embarrassment while stubbornly prideful, frequently turning bashful.
He hadn’t even come of age.
Yet the weight of the entire land rested upon his shoulders.
“Xie Kang,” she shook him lightly. “Time to wake.”
Adrift in restless dreams he struggled towards wakefulness at her voice.
“The carriage awaits outside. Lord Buyang is waiting for you,” she informed softly.
“Very well,” he got up. Noticing the formal hairpiece in the mirror, he paused confusedly. “Was it you who did my hair?”
“Mm,” she turned away embarrassed. “I wasn’t very good at it before. So I practiced a lot while you were unconscious.”
She explained gruffly, “Finally figured out how to do this hairstyle properly.”
He chuckled lightly with downturned eyes. “You have my gratitude, wife.”
Next, he bent down to lightly kiss her brow. “Wait for my return.”
Rising, he exited the hall. Outside stood the golden carriage for royalty as well as attendant ministers shading him with insignia-markedparasols. Beside them waited the strict and austere figure of Tutor Ling Buyang, official robes whipping about him wildly in the winds like a hawk.
That very night the Crown Prince took the golden carriage from the palace towards Taiji Palace to petition military action on Huai Xi before His Majesty.
And thus began the Huai Xi Pacification Campaign, spring of the 9th year of Jing De reign.
Deep into the night in a side hall up north, the palace eunuch Regent Yu Zhao’en stood with hands inside sleeves.
With a sharp crack, Third Prince Xie Kuan slammed a copper coin onto the table, sneering coldly. “They acted faster than us. Father is dead set on invading so we had no time to interfere.”
“Things have already progressed this far. I transmitted orders to Huai Zhou to prepare early,” Lord Yu stated heavily. “But no need to worry excessively. We can heavily bribe the military overseers to encourage hoarding troops at the borders. Prolonged standoffs yield no results so His Majesty will naturally call off the attack.”
“Understood.” Xie Kuan nodded, flipping the coin idly. “There is one other matter… Does Lord Yu still recall that ‘Gentleman of Willows and Reeds’ broker fellow?”
“Of course. Busy with national affairs, but I will deal with him once I have time,” Lord Yu said frostily.
Xie Kuan laughed softly. “Might be an acquaintance.”
“Oh?”
“The Crown Prince’s secret trip was by imperial decree. We were unaware then,” Xie Kuan toyed with the copper coin. “Interestingly enough, my agents ran into the Willow and Reeds Gentleman near the granary town outskirts shortly before spotting the Crown Prince at Huai Prefecture the very next day.”
Lord Yu looked up sharply.
“What are the odds…” Xie Kuan drawled lazily while stretching. “That this famous martial world broker might just be my esteemed royal brother instead?”
The faint dawn light filtered gently into the study inside the west wing hall.
Having not slept all night, the girl by the window finally lifted her head from the desk piled with documents and official scrolls she’d been reviewing. Hearing carriage sounds outside she set down her brush and hurriedly went towards the gates to receive its occupant.
Xie Wuyang exited the carriage slowly wearing a scarlet surcoat over a fox fur wrap, holding a silver hand warmer. He gave a faint smile to the surrounding ministers, exchanging parting greetings politely before lightly taking Jiang Kui’s arm as support heading into a side hall.
As the doors sealed he gave a muffled cough, nearly collapsing into her outstretched arms.
“Some good news…and some not so,” he wheezed weakly against her shoulder.
Supporting him to the recliner she turned and fetched a bowl of medicinal broth, patiently feeding him every spoonful. He coughed harshly while swallowing it down between sentences.
“Father remains resolute on attacking Huai Xi…so your relatives will soon be recalled from their posts.”
“But…” He shut his eyes briefly. “They will depart for the battlefront thereafter.”
“The Jiang House of Bai Ling commanded victories for generations. Campaigning brings honor,” she shook her head. “You needn’t feel responsible.”
“There is happy news you’d wish to know. Your eldest brother has entered court service,” he added.
Her hand stirring the medicine bowl stilled as he slowly elaborated. “This was arranged by Rongheng and the Empress Dowager together. Shortly after we left Chang’an, your brother performed ancient music at a banquet so stirringly even the audience wept.”
“I can imagine so,” she chuckled while lowering her head. “What happened next?”
Seeing her brighten he also smiled. “His Majesty was greatly impressed and asked of his origins.”
Pausing contemplatively he pictured the scene. “He…stated ‘This peasant goes by the name Bai, courtesy name Duanshan, hailing from Bai Ling’.”
“His Majesty first asked of music theory before questioning his literary knowledge and testing his classics and history,” his tone grew animated. “Finally appointing him as Editorial Secretary of the Hall of Erudition.”
“A decent start at least,” she agreed with a nod.
He pondered briefly, “Not a very grand position but climbing bit by bit he may become Chancellor someday.”
Head cocked towards her he asked “Does it please you?”
“Yes!” She nodded vigorously, hugging him again. “You’ve spoken enough. Sleep now…you didn’t rest all night.”
“One final important matter,” he insisted tiredly, words slightly slurring between pants signaling his lagging strength. “We will investigate White Head’s identity during next month’s spring hunt…”
She frowned pensively. “You don’t believe it to be Lord Yu?”
“No. I reflected deeply…” His gaze chilled faintly. “I suspect someone entirely unexpected.”
Leave a Reply