Chapter 146

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

That was a peach.

This year's new peaches in Chang'an still had to wait half a month before they could truly ripen; no peach sellers were yet to be seen on the streets and lanes.

The one before her eyes, however, was an impatient peach; it must have grown in a very good garden, basked in the most ample sunlight, and escaped the birds' predation, only thus obtaining this single fruit.

Shaowei had still been thinking last night that the peaches in Taoxi Township should be ripe by now; unexpectedly, today someone secretly slipped this year's first fresh peach into her hand.

The peach had been washed in the clear water of the copper basin, looking even more fresh and tender; the peach tip was flushed red, the peach bottom still green; biting down with a crunch, it was crisp, sweet, and refreshing, with only a slight green astringency, the peach flavor already quite full.

Flavor would also become a key to memory; Shaowei ate a few bites, waiting until her mouth, throat, and belly were all filled with this flavor, and her eyes unexpectedly filled with some tears.

Zhan Zhan half-flew, half-hopped onto the table, half-spread its wings in a begging posture; this begging action of its was merely going through the motions, and without regard for whether the other party agreed to feed it, it went over on its own and pecked at the peach flesh.

The bird concentrated on eating the peach; Shaowei surveyed the tidy and elegant interior, feeling an even stronger lack of belonging; longing surged like a fierce beast, but as soon as she thought that person might be suffering hardship right now, this longing made her unable to find peace.

A single peach stirred up a thousand layers of love and resentment; Shaowei forced back those knife-light-like tears, heard someone knock on the door, and spoke in a deliberately stern tone to permit the other to enter.

Yu Si Wu walked in, seeing the young woman sitting upright behind the table, a peach held in her hand as she fed the bird; it was originally an extremely leisurely scene, only the bird-feeder's eye corners were somewhat red.

Yu Si Wu thought to herself, why did that Sixth Imperial Son have to come to their shrine and go mad; her family's Tai Puzhe was, in the end, just a young divine fox who had little worldly experience, how could he endure such verbal harassment? She only blamed herself for being unable to get away and go there just now; otherwise, with her there, she could always help block a thing or two.

Even though she had the heart to offer a few words of comfort, Yu Si Wu's greatest forte was scolding people; although she treated the flower fox with myriad reverence and doting, in the end she could not transform into gentle, soft words.

After finishing the official business, Yu Si Wu deliberately had those two loose-tongued Wu Nu summoned, which also counted as a round of comforting through action.

Shaowei was originally just momentarily emotional, and had long since suppressed it all back down; she listened seriously to the various bits of news those two Wu Nu brought, among them: "Just heard, that Prince Liang has finally arrived in the capital too; the momentum of his entry into the city was quite something."

"Speaking of this Prince Liang, his relationship with His Majesty is truly extraordinary, far from what other Vassal Kings can compare to……"

"When the Grand Ancestor Emperor ascended the throne back then, he had four sons left by his side, but only Prince Liang was the current Sage Emperor's full brother; at that time the Sage Emperor had just been established as Crown Prince, many people in all directions were still making trouble, once while outside the Sage Emperor encountered an ambush and nearly lost his life; it was Prince Liang who risked his life to block the falling rocks and pit traps rolling down from the mountain for his elder brother……"

The originally incomparably valiant Prince Liang luckily preserved his life, but thereby fell into disability; his lower body could no longer move, his speech became unclear, and his mind was no longer sharp.

The brothers' bond was originally deep, and adding this life-saving grace, after the current Emperor ascended the throne, he bestowed Liang Guo — rich in mineral resources and adjacent to the Liu family's Dragon-Rising land — upon Prince Liang.

Liang Guo is currently the most prosperous and powerful Vassal State; even though neighboring Huai Yang Guo has been in constant military turmoil, still no one dares to offend Liang Guo in the slightest; the expenses for this reconstruction of Changling were also all voluntarily offered up by Prince Liang.

This time the Emperor's summons originally had no intention of making his full brother personally travel again, but Prince Liang insisted on entering the capital to pay respects to his elder brother; only because the road was not too peaceful, and due to his physical condition, his journey was slow, and only today did he smoothly arrive in Chang'an.

At this moment Prince Liang had already ridden his carriage into Weiyang Palace, and sat on a Hu Bed specially added with a backrest, carried by two eunuchs into the palace interior for an audience.

Reuniting after many years, seeing his elder brother now bearing the appearance of old age and illness, Prince Liang choked with sobs, unable to speak; he trembled and clumsily lowered his upper body to salute; the Emperor personally helped him up, jokingly saying: "You're already a grandfather, crying like this aren't you afraid of being laughed at!"

The words were spoken like that, but seeing Prince Liang's tears streaming, saliva also flowing from his slack mouth corners, the Emperor's eye rims were also slightly red; he took the towel handed by the eunuch and personally wiped his brother's face.

The officials in the palace interior were all moved; Guo Shi even wiped tears repeatedly.

Now that Prince Liang had arrived, the Emperor finally held a formal palace banquet, inviting the Liu family Royal Clan members to gather together.

At the banquet, two eunuchs attended to Prince Liang's dining. The Emperor saw this, then bestowed two court physicians, and further ordered the selection of four family retainers to attend Prince Liang on his left and right.

Since there was to be a bestowal, it could not be only for Prince Liang alone; the Emperor also bestowed two family retainers each upon the various Vassal Kings, entrusting this matter to Guo Shi to handle.

Guo Shi understood perfectly; early the next morning he went to Yong Lane to personally select people.

The palace courtyard was filled with women of varying moods; they were all young and beautiful; those Guo Shi selected were mostly clever and obedient.

Walking up to a woman who had kept her head lowered the whole time, Guo Shi had a vague impression, and asked: "What was your name again?"

The woman hurriedly answered: "This servant is Xiangzhi……"

Guo Shi examined her carefully, hesitating, when a Palace Maid brought people rushing over; this Palace Maid was in her twenties, exquisitely dressed, in the prime of youth; she was someone from the Crown Prince's Palace, and also the person Guo Shi had selected last year to be by Crown Prince Cheng's side.

The Palace Maid's name was Qiao Suo; though she held no formal title, her status was far beyond that of ordinary Palace Maids; Crown Prince Cheng was currently not in the palace, so she borrowed a pretext to come here.

The Immortal Master has spoken: this year's family retainers have none suitable to be Crown Prince's Consort, but if kept, in the future becoming a Madame or Concubine still has great hope.

Qiao Suo smiled and pulled up one of Xiangzhi's hands, seeing faint calluses on its palm, her smile growing even gentler: "I observe this younger sister has a gentle and quiet nature, and is also hardworking; going to attend by Prince Liang's side would it not be just right?"

Guo Shi smiled; this dead girl thought too highly of herself, believing the Crown Prince's nature was gentle, so he would prefer weak women even more.

But this was a trivial matter, he couldn't be bothered to oppose her; Guo Shi looked at Xiangzhi again, and smilingly said "Good."

After the selection was complete, Guo Shi smiled at those chosen family retainers and said: "Although you are going out, since you have entered through this Palace Gate, from now on no matter where you go, you are still people of this palace."

Everyone in unison saluted and responded "Yes."

Guo Shi nodded with satisfaction: "Alright, good children, all go back and pack your things."

Xiangzhi returned to her lodgings with heavy thoughts, the low whispers she had heard just now echoing in her ears.

They walked back together; some sighed, some rejoiced, some worried; they spoke softly of rumors about the various Vassal Kings, and naturally someone mentioned Prince Liang: "……If one serves well, in the future returning to Liang Guo together, becoming a Madame, would that not be falling into a golden nest?"

Among the crowd were those who had experienced relations between men and women, and some mocked: "Prince Liang is already over forty, and has a disability…… it's not like he can torment people much; one can enjoy true peace and comfort!"

"That's not certain; a man even if injured and disabled may not be able to change that aspect of his nature…… perhaps he'll be even harder to serve than ordinary people."

Xiangzhi felt various different gazes looking at her, her heart extremely apprehensive.

While packing her bundle, a companion left behind in the palace said to her in a low voice: "This is the palace's decision; the Master will not blame…… even when you reach Prince Liang's Mansion, you still need to transmit news every month; in short, be careful in all matters."

That very night, Xiangzhi and the other three family retainers were sent into Prince Liang's old residence in the capital.

The four were brought into the room to kneel and salute; Prince Liang leaning on the cushion bed, however, only fixed his gaze on one person; he stretched out a hand trembling and pointed, his speech slurred: "She, she, is……"

Xiangzhi, the one pointed at, was shaken to the core, forcing herself to mask her expression.

But she heard an old servant beside Prince Liang suddenly realize: "This woman's appearance, unexpectedly has three parts resemblance to the late Queen when she was young…… her bearing is also the same virtuous tranquility!"

Prince Liang nodded with a hum, his gaze quite agitated.

Prince Liang and his wife were childhood sweethearts, but the Queen of Liang had passed away many years ago, leaving only one daughter and one son; thereafter Liang Guo had no Queen again.

"Quickly come forward!" That old servant beckoned and urged.

Xiangzhi rose and stepped forward, then knelt again before Prince Liang; Prince Liang laboriously leaned forward, reached out to touch Xiangzhi's cheek; Xiangzhi's whole body was tense and rigid, not daring to move a muscle.

The disabled man before her had tears in his eyes, and Xiangzhi couldn't help feeling a few degrees of pity for him, but what she felt more was fear; though he was disabled, he held high position and great power, while she was as insignificant as an ant, fundamentally unable to resist.

Fortunately, he merely looked at her again and again, his only request being: "Can... can you, sing..."

The old servant asked on his behalf: "What poems or songs can you sing?"

Xiangzhi dared not lie: "Crude and clumsy, unworthy of the elegant hall."

Prince Liang nevertheless gestured for her to sing for him to hear.

The woman's gentle yet tense singing voice drifted into the night: "Life spans not a hundred years, yet one constantly harbors thousand-year worries; days are short, nights bitterly long, why not hold candles and roam..."

Singing to the end, tears faintly welled in Xiangzhi's eyes.

Prince Liang also nodded with tears in his eyes, as if recalling past events, deeply moved.

At this moment someone brought in medicinal soup; Prince Liang took the medicine and was then attended to as he retired to rest.

The thing Xiangzhi feared most did not happen for the time being, but the old servant spoke up, ordering her to come daily to serve at his side.

After all matters were instructed, someone led Xiangzhi and the others to their lodgings.

On the way, passing a long corridor, Xiangzhi's gaze looked toward the outside of the corridor, only to see a well in the courtyard.

The heart demon that wanted to escape all fear continued to make mischief, giving rise to an impulse to just end it all.

Amidst fear and dejection, her left hand touched her right wrist, where a Panlian Knot, long since faded yet too precious to throw away, was looped.

Another wrist flashed before her eyes; looking up from that wrist tied with a Sparrow Head Knot, the forearm was covered in dense old scars, inevitably the remnants of extreme suffering... thus one sees that no matter how terrible the pain, it can be crossed over, right?

This one night, Xiangzhi curled into a ball on the bed, clutching that wrist with the rope knot, only thus able to fall asleep.

A similar rope knot was tied on Shaowei's wet wrist; she had finished washing up in the morning and now sat quietly on the window-side bamboo couch.

Today was a rest day at home; Shaowei had no plans to go out. Recently on the road to the Shen Ci, she had faintly noticed eyes following in the dark; Shaowei suspected they were Red Yang Sect spies. She had already instructed the household servants and Mo Li to be even more careful, both to guarantee safety and to not expose their tracks.

Zhao Qie'an also unusually did not go out today; first, he had matters to discuss with Shaowei; second, the child was rarely home, and as the head of the household he naturally had to keep her company.

In the afternoon, Xiao Yu spread a mat in the courtyard; Shaowei drank tea, the household servant drank wine; they talked while waiting for someone to arrive.

Xiao Yu diligently massaged Shaowei's shoulders and pounded her back, not disturbing the two's conversation; only after they finished discussing serious business did she find a gap to curiously ask: "Zhao Shu, when you experts face a decisive battle, do you get nervous? Do you drink strong wine in advance to bolster courage?"

She was always curious about jianghu matters; whenever she had free time she would corner the household servant and ask endlessly.

"I am never nervous, nor would I drink strong wine; tea is also not suitable for gulping down."

Xiao Yu: "Why?"

Zhao Qie'an: "Experts' decisive battles can sometimes last half a day; if halfway through one has the urge to relieve oneself, forcing oneself to endure inevitably distracts one's moves. If one has to call a halt because of that, it inevitably affects the atmosphere."

Xiao Yu was stunned by this overly practical jianghu rule, and also faintly felt that the jianghu wasn't quite the same as she imagined, unable to help wondering: "Does the jianghu ultimately have the imposing air of the tales?"

Zhao Qie'an: "With chivalry in one's heart, everywhere is the jianghu."

After answering, the household servant himself froze, only feeling that these simple words faintly revealed a peerless truth; the more he savored them the more astonishing they seemed, and when he looked up he saw Shaowei and Xiao Yu both looking at him, as if infected and moved, waiting for him to continue.

Zhao Qie'an could only improvise an extension: "Seeking someone to repay gratitude is chivalry; following each other through life and death is also chivalry."

Shaowei thought for a moment, couldn't help asking: "Then am I also a xiake?"

The First Swordsman nodded in confirmation: "You have long been one."

Xiao Yu also widened her eyes: "Then am I too?" She had long since resolved to follow the Young Master through life and death!

The First Swordsman paused, then also nodded.

Xiao Yu leaped with joy; Zhan Zhan also circled the household servant crying loudly: "Then I am too!"

Thinking of what this bird did, the First Swordsman also generously certified it.

Three people and one bird, four xiake, as the sky color grew dark, welcomed the fifth xiake.

This was one of the three wandering xiake entrusted by Zhao Qie'an to go to Ba Commandery to investigate the Red Yang Sect's details; although others had previously sent back some news, Zhao Qie'an said this person was the top-tier intelligence gatherer, formerly a spy and assassin, possessing a unique set of intelligence methods no one else could imitate.

This wandering xiake was a woman.

A woman being a wandering xiake did not surprise Shaowei; what surprised her was the other party's image was overly unique among wandering xiake.

The person was around forty, dressed in coarse cloth garments, a cloth towel bound on her head, a bundle slung over her shoulder, her features plain and amiable, making one feel she could casually throw herself into any street end or village entrance, and as long as she casually said she was some family's aunt or relative, she could immediately chat with the wives and ladies, and incidentally help shell beans, pick vegetables, and coax children.

This sense of blending in was like a drop of water merging into the river and sea, natural and traceless.

During this period, whether recruiting factions or interacting with people, Zhao Qie'an had never exposed Shaowei's existence; this time bringing someone to this courtyard clearly showed he extremely trusted the other's character.

The female wandering xiake entered the courtyard, walked straight to the mat and sat down, first pulled over one of Shaowei's hands, laughed and patted it, and said amiably: "Call me Yingniang; Old Zhao says he now has a family gate, and the family's young master is in charge at home, so I suppose you're the little head of household who tamed him?"

Shaowei, her hand held, had no time to feel awkward; she sensed the other's palm was extremely hard, indicating profound internal skill.

Shaowei treated her with curious respect, answering seriously: "Not tamed, but inherited."

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