Chapter 16
He was tall, and with his head slightly lowered, it seemed as if he had Wen Yu trapped in that confined space.
He stood up, his steps slightly unsteady but not swaying—he didn’t appear too drunk.
Wen Yu moved aside to make way for him. The wind was strong that night, and a strand of her hair had been blown loose by the night breeze, slightly obscuring her vision. Just as she raised her hand to brush it aside, she suddenly felt a shadow fall over her, and the sharp scent of alcohol assailed her nostrils.
Wen Yu’s heart leaped violently, and she took half a step back, her entire back pressing against the door panel against the wall.
Xiao Li braced one arm against the doorframe. His tall frame, with his head slightly lowered, seemed to cage Wen Yu in that small space. The outline of his jaw was sharply defined by the firelight behind him.
The night wind rustled, causing the hems of their robes to brush against each other.
Wen Yu tensed up completely. Even in the darkness, her eyes were filled with unmistakable wariness and sharpness.
But Xiao Li merely steadied himself against the doorframe, crouched down to pick up the door bolt Wen Yu had dropped earlier, and upon looking up and seeing her bristling like a hedgehog, said, “I’ll bolt the door.”
With that, he picked up the door bolt, stepped back, and went to close the other side of the main gate.
Wen Yu’s palms were damp with a thin layer of sweat. Unconsciously, she slowed her breathing, yet she still felt she could detect a faint scent of alcohol in the air.
Almost instinctively, she retreated two more steps before saying, “Then I’ll go in first.”
After speaking, she turned and hurried into the house.
As she tidied her sewing basket, wanting to return to her room quickly, Xiao Li had already bolted the courtyard gate and entered the main hall.
He seemed to have a headache from the drinking and paid no attention to Wen Yu. Pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand, he lay down on the recliner by the fire pit. His clothes, warmed by the fire, had melted the frost and snow, leaving them damp, but he couldn’t be bothered to care.
Similarly, his slightly damp, disheveled hair, now free of snowflakes, fell over his forehead, adding a touch of wretchedness, like a stray dog, to his usual arrogance and fierceness.
Wen Yu had been about to take her sewing basket into her room, but seeing this, she hesitated.
Given her current appearance, this Rogue probably wouldn’t have any improper thoughts about her. What had just happened… must have been an accident.
Even now, he had still given up his own room for her. Leaving a half-drunk person here like this made Wen Yu feel somewhat guilty.
After a moment’s hesitation, she quietly set down the sewing basket, used the fire tongs to move the tripod Xiao Huiniang usually used for cooking over the fire, and placed a teapot on it to boil water.
Once the water was hot, Wen Yu found a clay bowl, poured some water into it, and set it on a long bench to cool. Feeling she had done all she could, she said, “I’ve boiled some water for you. You can drink it later.”
With that, she was about to take her sewing basket back to her room when the man, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. Gazing at her retreating figure, he said, “You know how to read, don’t you?”
Wen Yu’s heart tightened slightly as she pondered how to respond. But then he added, “There’s a box under the bed in your room. Inside is a book. Bring it out.”
This was no longer a question or a test—it was an instruction.
Unsure of his intentions, Wen Yu carried her sewing basket into the room and, as instructed, found the book he wanted.
It was called a book, but it no longer had a cover. Wen Yu skimmed through it briefly and realized it was a Romance about kings, nobles, and generals throughout various dynasties. The pages were worn, and the printed ink was crude and faded.Wen Yu knew that such storybooks were very popular among the common folk, and the oral storytellers had memorized the numerous tales within them until they were thoroughly familiar.
She didn't know why the rogue wanted this storybook so late at night. After a brief moment of puzzlement, she still brought the book out: "I've brought you the book, I'll leave it on the long bench..."
"Read a passage for me."
Before she could finish her sentence, he interrupted her. His voice carried a peculiar hoarseness after drinking, his long eyelashes resting beneath his eyes, and his sharp brows still appeared formidable even with his eyes closed.
It was hard to tell whether he had closed his eyes to rest or to think.
Wen Yu briefly deliberated between pretending to be ignorant and illiterate, and admitting her literacy, ultimately choosing the latter. This rogue was no fool; Wen Yu even faintly sensed that he must have already noticed her unusual background. But since he didn't probe further, they could still maintain this temporary peace.
Now that he had exposed her literacy, continuing to feign ignorance might instead lead him to uncover more about her.
Glancing at the young man still lying with closed eyes on the recliner, she measured her words: "I... only learned a few characters from my elder brother, I don't know many."
He simply said: "Just read."
So Wen Yu, by the light of the oil lamp and fire, began reading from the romance: "They say... something about the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, achievements of Xia, Shang and Zhou. Heroes... something stirring the Spring and Autumn, rise and fall passing in an instant. History records but a few names..."[1]
Pretending not to recognize the complex characters, and keeping her voice low to avoid waking Xiao Huiniang, her clear and melodious tone carried a soft huskiness, blended with a Luodu accent that added a distinctive flavor.
Outside, the snow raged and winds howled, the cold air seeping through the door cracks causing the fire in the hearth to flicker. Only the clear, pleasant reading voice continued steadily in the room, neither hurried nor slow.
After finishing the first chapter, Wen Yu looked up at Xiao Li and found him silent with closed eyes, unsure if he had fallen asleep.
She didn't ask further, but quietly placed the storybook on the long bench, added two more logs to the hearth, then turned to enter her room.
Lying on the not-so-soft but warm-enough bed, Wen Yu still pondered the content of the romance. They say history serves as a mirror to understand rise and fall - today's people laugh at past nobles, not knowing how future generations will judge today's princes and generals.
Thinking of her parents and elder brother's family trapped in Fengyang, her heart felt heavy. Throughout her journey to Southern Chen, even with her trusted aides protecting her, she had experienced several assassination attempts. After falling into misfortune and ending up in the hands of human traffickers, she hadn't slept peacefully at night.
Tonight, stirred by melancholy, she felt uncertain how long this wandering would last, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
When she turned over again to face the door, she inadvertently glimpsed the faint firelight seeping through the door crack. Remembering that the rogue was sleeping outside on the recliner, and no petty thieves would dare approach, for some reason, her heart inexplicably grew much calmer.
Regardless of what tomorrow might bring, at least for now, she could still find temporary refuge in this small corner.
At daybreak, Xiao Li woke.
The firewood in the hearth had burned out, leaving only embers glowing red amid white ashes.
Having slept rough on the recliner all night, his neck was inevitably stiff and sore. Sitting up, he rubbed his neck with his hand, the gloom from last night already gone from his face.
Only when preparing to get up did he notice the bowl of cooled water on the long bench, pausing slightly in surprise.
He remembered the reading voice from last night, settled within the sound of wind and snow.A breeze seeped through the door crack, stirring ripples across the water in the bowl.
Xiao Li stared at the bowl for a long while before rising. He reached into his lapel to retrieve the silver Boss Han had given him the previous day, intending to hand it to Xiao Huiniang, when his fingers brushed against a handkerchief.
He pulled both out and examined them. The bloodstains on the silk handkerchief were glaring, and the delicate orchid embroidered in Suzhou embroidery at one corner stood out prominently.
For a moment, he felt a flicker of uncertainty.
Just as a soft sound came from Xiao Huiniang’s door, he reflexively tucked the handkerchief back into his robe.
Seeing her son, Xiao Huiniang couldn’t help chiding, "When did you return last night? Why not sleep a little longer?"
Xiao Li brushed it off, saying, "Zheng Hu and the others asked me out for a drink. I came back a bit late."
As he spoke, he handed the money pouch to Xiao Huiniang, adding, "The proprietor gave this as New Year’s money."
Xiao Huiniang weighed the pouch in her hand and frowned. "Why so much? Huan'er, it’s one thing for you to work at the gambling house, but don’t get involved in anything else."
Xiao Li knew what she meant and grinned roguishly. "What are you thinking? I work hard for the proprietor, so naturally he values me. Now that Brother Song is gone, he even wants to promote me to take his place!"
As they spoke, the curtain of the middle room was lifted, and Wen Yu stepped out, greeting them, "Aunt, Second Master."
Xiao Huiniang coughed and said, "A Yu, you’re up too."
She instructed Xiao Li, "By the way, take A Yu to the market later. She needs to buy brushes and ink for sketching fan designs. The washerwoman, Sister Fang, said she’s fallen ill and won’t be taking any work until after the New Year. I need to strip the bedding at home and take it to the river to wash."
Knowing her health was frail, Xiao Li frowned and said, "How did she fall ill so suddenly?"
Xiao Huiniang replied, "In this freezing weather, she’s constantly doing laundry for others. She’s not made of iron—how could she not get sick?"
Xiao Li insisted, "Then just give me the bedding to wash, Mother."
Xiao Huiniang scolded him, "Didn’t I ask you to take A Yu to buy brushes and ink?"
Just then, a knock came from the courtyard gate, accompanied by Hou Xiao'an’s booming voice, "Aunt! Second Brother!"
Xiao Li suggested, "Let Xiao'an take her."
Hou Xiao'an entered, carrying a bag of steaming buns. After greeting Xiao Li and Xiao Huiniang, he eagerly turned to Wen Yu and said, "Sister A Yu, I’ve got news!"
At this, Wen Yu’s eyelashes lifted slightly.
Hou Xiao'an set the buns on the table, sat down, and blurted out, "Fengyang’s trade routes have been blocked, so no news has come out from there yet. But Luodu is in chaos! I heard that Pei Song, the military governor of Ezhou who stormed the Luodu royal palace, saw a portrait of Hanyang Princess in Shanghua Palace and was instantly smitten. Unfortunately, Hanyang Princess had already fled to Fengyang with Changlian Wang, so Pei Song ordered artists to copy her portrait and is now searching far and wide for women who resemble her."
Xiao Huiniang poured him a bowl of hot tea. After drinking it, he wiped his mouth and continued, "I heard from merchants at the market that in the prefectures that have surrendered to Pei Song, Hanyang Princess’s portrait is posted at every city gate. Any commoner who reports a girl bearing a resemblance to her will receive a ten-tael silver reward. Soldiers patrol the streets, stopping any woman wearing a veil for questioning."After saying this, he added with some disdain, "That military governor of Ezhou truly seems to be a lustful devil!"
Yet Wen Yu felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this.
Pei Song was looking for her!
He knew she had secretly gone to Southern Chen to borrow troops. If he intercepted her, her father and brothers wouldn't receive reinforcements and wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.
Perhaps noticing her extremely grim expression, Hou Xiao'an scratched the back of his head and asked somewhat confusedly, "Um... Sister A Yu, is this information useless?"
Author's note:
[1] Virtue reigned in the eras of Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, fame and achievement followed through Xia, Shang and Zhou. The five hegemons stirred the Spring and Autumn period, yet rise and fall passed through their hands in an instant. History records but a few renowned names, while countless unmarked graves cover Beimang hills. — From "Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms"
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