Chapter 32: Carp Leaping Over Dragon's Gate
Icicles hung from the eaves where dripping water had frozen. Xiao Li sat by the doorway, silently carving something with a knife.
Xiao Huiniang emerged carrying bundles, coughing as she said, "You went out yesterday and only returned now. Go rest in your room. Why are you fussing with that wood carving again?"
Xiao Li continued carving steadily without looking up. "I'm not tired. The wind is strong outside, Mother. You should go back to your room and rest."
Xiao Huiniang sighed. "A Yu came to see me yesterday and said she's going to look for her family. With all the recent upheavals, I haven't had time to prepare a proper gift for her. I stayed up half the night sewing her a cloak and several pairs of silk socks. I'll take them to her now."
At this, Xiao Li's carving hand paused slightly before he responded, "Leave them on the table. I'll deliver them later. Your health is poor - if you catch cold wind, you'll surely fall ill again. A... Yu would probably feel sad to see you like that."
Xiao Huiniang's eyes already showed traces of redness. "I'm afraid of crying in front of that child and making her sad too. Since she's going to find her family, it should be a happy occasion. We really shouldn't send her off with tears. Then, Huan'er, please deliver these for me."
She placed the items on the table and added, "There's a ten-tael silver note hidden in the cloak. I originally saved it for your future marriage, but A Yu, wanting to repay kindness and fearing I wouldn't accept money, used her funds to acquire a shop and forced the deed upon me. A young woman traveling far needs money for security. Be careful not to shake the silver note loose when handling the cloak, and don't mention this to A Yu when you give it to her, or she'll certainly refuse it."
Xiao Li's tall frame blocked the doorway like a silent mountain. He listened quietly and nodded before saying, "Understood."
His carving knife continued meticulously shaving wood curls.
As Xiao Huiniang was about to enter her room, she added, "Oh, A Yu also mentioned you had back injuries and brought ointment yesterday. How did you get hurt again?"
Memories of being trapped together under the bamboo shed yesterday resurfaced - her concerned eyes and the faint fragrance from her hair seemed still palpable. Xiao Li was lost in thought for a moment before saying, "It's nothing. She probably saw me sparring with the Manor Guards after taking the position and thought I was injured when my back got bumped."
Only then did Xiao Huiniang feel relieved and entered her room.
The wind sweeping through the courtyard scattered the wood shavings from Xiao Li's carving. His calloused thumb gently stroked the carp wood carving in his hand.
Servants loaded Wen Yu's belongings into carriages one chest after another. Borrowing Zhou Jing'an's study, Wen Yu dipped her brush in dark ink and rewrote the current affairs essay condemning Pei Song.
Though her face remained calm, her brushwork could no longer maintain the neat regular script. She completed the essay in wild cursive script, the characters etched deeply into the paper.
Setting down her brush, she said, "I must trouble you to find someone to transcribe this text. As originally planned, have it posted in all major prefectures along the main routes to Southern Chen."
Now she intended not only to contact her personal guards through this method but also to let her father's scattered former troops know she was still alive and have them regroup with her in Pingzhou.Zhou Jing'an held her original handwritten letter, sighing with emotion: "Your calligraphy resembles the Prince's, my lady, and every word in your writing is a gem, revealing the vast landscape within your heart..."
His eyes suddenly reddened as he bowed to Wen Yu: "With such a ruler, how could Great Liang perish? It shall not perish!"
Wen Yu helped him rise: "Please rise quickly, Your Excellency. My journey to Southern Chen holds unknown dangers ahead, but as long as I draw breath, I shall carry on my late father's will - to execute Bandit Pei and restore our nation."
Her voice grew strained: "With my current capabilities, I cannot protect Yongzhou. If Pei Song's troops ever approach the city gates, to spare the common people from further war... Your Excellency should open the city gates and surrender."
Swallowing hard, she continued with difficulty: "All this stems from my Wen family's incompetence. First, the maternal relatives corrupted the government, widespread bribery leading to court decay and accumulated malpractices, provoking public outrage. Then the Pei hounds nurtured by those relatives seized the opportunity when my father and the maternal relatives had weakened each other to launch their rebellion, ultimately turning the entire nation into Fuel Under Boiling Cauldron. Any future humiliation you suffer from surrender is never your fault, but my Wen family's. I only hope you can bide your time under the Pei regime, and when I raise my army north of the Wei River, lend me your assistance!"
Zhou Jing'an smiled through tears, both heartbroken and comforted: "Set your mind at ease heading south, my lady. This subject will surely guard Yongzhou for you, becoming a nail embedded in the Pei regime."
Wen Yu bowed deeply to him: "This bow represents my late father and Great Liang thanking you, Your Excellency."
Zhou Jing'an's tears fell freely as he exclaimed: "Rise quickly, my liege!"
When Wen Yu stood, her eyes were red-rimmed. She picked up a letter from the desk and handed it to him: "I must also trouble you to have this letter delivered to Hengzhou with utmost urgency."
Zhou Jing'an hesitated: "This is..."
Hengzhou was not far from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, being the hometown of Changlian Wang's maternal clan.
Wen Yu's gaze was like a sheathed sword, calm yet concealing sharpness: "This is my first gift to Pei Song."
Understanding dawned on Zhou Jing'an: "This official will dispatch a messenger immediately."
A servant's voice came from outside: "Your Excellency, the Martyr from the west courtyard has come, seeking the young lady."
Only those servants accompanying her south knew Wen Yu's true identity. To maintain secrecy, they still addressed her as "young lady" in daily life.
Wen Yu looked at Zhou Jing'an: "Your Excellency, I have one more presumptuous request."
Zhou Jing'an responded promptly: "Speak freely, my lady."
Wen Yu said: "That Martyr and his mother have shown me kindness. If Yongzhou falls into chaos in the future, and if you still have capacity, please offer them some protection on my behalf."
Zhou Jing'an replied: "The Martyr surnamed Xiao has already agreed to serve in the manor. I find him steady-natured, both courageous and resourceful, and intend to cultivate his talents by having him serve beside Sui'er."
Zhou Jing'an had a son named Zhou Sui.
Having Xiao Li accompany Zhou Sui was no ordinary Manor Guard position with limited prospects.
Wen Yu said sincerely: "I thank you, Your Excellency."
Zhou Jing'an responded: "In these turbulent times, capable individuals are being recruited by every prefecture and manor. This official should be grateful for the opportunity to enlist them, rather than accepting your thanks."
He added: "That Martyr has likely come to see you off, my lady. I shall take my leave now."
When Xiao Li received the maid's summons and entered the small courtyard where Wen Yu resided, he saw through the half-opened door that many items in her room had already been cleared out.Wen Yu was seated before the dressing table, sorting through the hairpins and jewelry that Madam Zhou had given her.
Although the maids assigned to her by Madam Zhou were clever and attentive, they hadn't been with her long enough to understand her daily preferences for adornment. Since they were pressed for time and could only bring limited belongings, she preferred to select the items herself.
When Xiao Li entered, she paused her task and noticed the bundle in his hands. Understanding dawned on her as she asked, "Did Auntie send you with these?"
Xiao Li nodded. "My mother made these herself. They're just a token of her affection."
Wen Yu replied, "Auntie must have worked through the nights to finish these for me. I'll treasure them dearly. Please convey my gratitude to her."
She remained as approachable as during her stay at his home, but Xiao Li had already glimpsed the vast distance between them. Her courtesy, her composure, her generosity—all stemmed from her upbringing, nothing more.
Had others shown her kindness back then, she would have treated them with the same consideration.
It was precisely this realization that made her seem increasingly unattainable to him.
His gaze fell upon the nearly-packed dressing table, where he spotted the rouge box he'd asked Hou Xiao'an to purchase for her, now placed in a wooden case. "Are you taking that rouge along?" he inquired.
Wen Yu glanced back and explained, "I later learned about the market prices for cosmetics in the city. That particular box of rouge was likely something Xiao'an secretly added his own money to buy for me. Since it represents his heartfelt gesture, I'll bring it as a keepsake."
Xiao Li stared at the rouge for a moment before saying, "Yes, bring it along."
As Wen Yu prepared to store the cloak and silk socks he'd brought, she discovered a ten-tael silver note and a palm-sized carp wood carving inside. The carving, left unpainted, revealed fresh wood grain through its intricate grooves—apparently newly finished, yet polished to smooth perfection.
She picked them up and asked Xiao Li, "What are these?"
Xiao Li explained, "The silver note was something my mother insisted on giving you. The wood carving... I made it."
His sharp eyebrows lowered slightly as dim light cast contrasting shadows across his handsome features. "You once said your childhood name A Yu meant 'fish' as in 'a fish struggling in the net.' But I believe your mother wouldn't have given you such an ominous meaning. A Yu should be the 'fish' from 'Carp Leaping Over Dragon's Gate.' Take care on your journey to Southern Chen."
"Carp Leaping Over Dragon's Gate?" Wen Yu murmured softly.
Xiao Li smiled wryly. "I've never had formal schooling. If I'm mistaken, just treat it as a joke."
Wen Yu shook her head. "Thank you."
Her gaze remained serene as she spoke her final words to him: "Minister Zhou is a good official who thinks highly of you. Work diligently under his guidance, and take the opportunity to learn to read. I hope you and Auntie will always know peace, happiness, and freedom from sorrow."
That afternoon, when Wen Yu boarded the southbound ship, Xiao Li didn't see her off.
He shut himself in the study that Zhou Manor provided for servants, burying himself in vast collections of books.
But with his limited literacy, he often had to pester the study manager to teach him characters. Within days, the manager would detour upon seeing him, and even his fellow Manor Guards couldn't escape his relentless inquiries.
Since joining the Manor Guards, Xiao Li had moved into the duty quarters to blend in better with his colleagues—all without Zhou Jing'an's suggestion.When the other manor guards were soaking their feet and chatting idly at night, he would take a book and shove it right in front of them, his tone quite earnest: "Brother Ge, how do you pronounce this character?"
The manor guards had witnessed his exceptional martial skills during their sparring sessions with Xiao Li during the day and held him in high esteem. Even though he had asked them countless times, they still answered with a slight twitch at the corner of their smiling eyes: "Ah, this character is pronounced 'Ting,' as in thunderclap."
Xiao Li took the book and left.
The manor guards resumed their idle chatter, but before they could exchange three sentences, Xiao Li shoved the book back again: "What about these two characters?"
"Uh... that's a person's name, Helü, the ruler of the State of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period."
By the time Xiao Li returned to his own bed, the manor guards had already forgotten what they were discussing earlier.
They exchanged bewildered glances for a moment, then collectively turned to look at Xiao Li, who was reading by the oil lamp beside his bed, completely undisturbed.
One of them said: "I think we've been a bit too lax."
The person next to him nodded: "Yes, this newcomer is so diligent."
The most senior among them whispered: "We can't let him outshine us. This kid is clever—by putting on this diligent act, hasn't the master and young master often regarded him with special favor?"
A sense of urgency swept through the manor guards, and they began burning the midnight oil to study.
The next day while on duty, the manor guards all had dark circles under their eyes and couldn't stop yawning.
Zhou Jing'an thought they had grown negligent and sent his son to admonish them. After Zhou Sui learned the reason, he found it both amusing and exasperating. When he reported it to Zhou Jing'an, the latter stroked his beard and laughed: "It seems this is what the ancients meant by 'one takes the color of one's company'."
Zhou Sui said: "I observe this man to be loyal, righteous, kind, and quick-witted. Though his knowledge is still rudimentary, he is like jade in the rough wrapped in stone clothing. If polished, he will surely become a great vessel."
Zhou Jing'an nodded and said: "I originally intended to keep him to assist you. When you employ this person in the future, remember to move him with goodness, never compel him with authority."
Just as these words were spoken, the steward's urgent cry suddenly came from outside the study: "My lord! My lord! Pei... Pei Song has sent a letter demanding surrender!"
Zhou Sui's face paled in panic as he looked at Zhou Jing'an: "Father..."
But Zhou Jing'an remained remarkably composed, his expression serene as he said: "So it has come..."
As if he had been waiting for this day for a long time.
The Wei River couldn't take them directly to Pingzhou. After two days on the boat, Wen Yu switched to land travel.
While the servants were loading belongings onto the carriage, they accidentally dropped a wooden box. Wen Yu picked it up and discovered the fall had revealed a hidden compartment, from which fell a letter addressed with the four characters: "To the Honorable Princess".
The guard who had dropped the box knelt on one knee: "This subordinate was careless. I beg for your punishment."
Wen Yu had no time to deal with this. She motioned for him to rise and asked the maid who had packed the box before their departure: "What is this letter about?"
The maid knelt down: "It... it was the master who ordered me to hide the letter in this compartment. He said... if news of turmoil in Yongzhou arrived, I should take the letter and give it to you."
Looking at the handwriting on the envelope that seemed to be Zhou Jing'an's own, Wen Yu suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.Author's Note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me with special tickets or supported me with nutrient solutions between 2023-12-17 20:42:14 and 2023-12-18 23:54:32~
Special thanks to the user for throwing a hand grenade: 1 piece;
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10 bottles from墨之寒;
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