Chapter 1057: Yang and Su Return to the Capital

West of Kaifeng, along the flat straight road, rows of willows had already taken on a layer of green. A spring breeze brushed gently through the broad thoroughfare, where among the dense flow of travelers came a rather unusual procession.

Two carriages, a dozen or so attendants, yet they drove along more than a hundred fine horses. Everyone wore coarse hempen clothing, like merchants from some poor region come to Kaifeng to sell horses. However, at the front there were also several yamen runners in official garb clearing the way...

This group clearly drew the attention of many. To organize a horse train of such scale at once, all of them tall and large—though somewhat thin from loss of condition, their frames showed them to be sturdy steeds. This was rarely seen even in the Central Plains these days; ordinarily, only the great horse ranch owners and Hu barbarian caravans could manage it.

Thus, though still a considerable distance from the walls of Kaifeng, many along the way had already inquired about the situation and taken note. However, upon learning where this batch of horses was headed, they all sensibly backed off—for these horses were being presented to the Emperor of the Great Han.

This procession came from Jingyuan, and belonged to Yang Bin and Su Fengji, former chancellors who had once wielded power over the entire court and stood at the pinnacle of officialdom. Having lingered in the western frontier for over a decade, enduring bitter years of hardship, they had finally emerged from their trials.

"Almost at Xiangfu Post Station!" One of the runners clearing the way up front shouted: "Speed up—once we reach the station, we can rest!"

In one of the crude carriages behind, hearing this, Yang Bin couldn't help poking his head out, gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings, feeling the thriving atmosphere. On his rough, aged face surfaced a trace of reminiscence, and he sighed: "Over a decade since I left the capital. I never thought that within my lifetime, this old man would still have a day of return..."

"Husband!" Beside him, Lady Yang, who had been leaning against him, felt his agitation and clasped his hand to comfort him.

Feeling his wife's thin, calloused hand, noticing her graying hair and weathered face—she was now just an ordinary old woman, with none of the bearing of a chancellor's wife from years past—and recalling their years of shared hardship through thick and thin, Yang Bin's heart welled up with wave after wave of guilt: "All these years, I have wronged you, my lady!"

Lady Yang gave a serene smile and said: "A woman who marries follows her husband. Since I have enjoyed the glory and wealth my husband brought me, how could I complain for sharing hardships with him?"

Hearing this, Yang Bin's heart filled with even deeper emotion: "To have a wife like this—even if bitter days never turn sweet, this life is already complete!"

"Wenzhong!" On the other carriage, Su Fengji, whose head had been somewhat foggy, also perked up, poking his head out and calling.

Soon, a young man with a vigorous bearing and a touch of heroic spirit between his brows rode over, calling out: "Grandfather!"

Seeing his eldest grandson, Su Fengji revealed a loving smile and asked: "What were you shouting just now? Where are we?"

Su Wenzhong immediately reported: "We are about to reach Xiangfu Post Station!"

"Xiangfu Post Station?" Su Fengji murmured to himself.

Su Wenzhong explained: "The runners say it is the largest official post station in the western suburbs of Kaifeng. Once we pass Xiangfu, the capital is not far!"

"Finally back!" In Su Fengji's aged eyes, a faint glimmer actually flickered, as if tears were welling up. Then he drew a breath and instructed: "You lead the servants and watch over the horses well—make sure none startle or run wild. The Eastern Capital is not like other places!"

"Yes!"

Su Fengji was now nearly seventy, his beard and hair completely white, though his spirits were clearly still good. Compared to Yang Bin, his circumstances had been even more miserable—from the first year of Qianyou, for a full fourteen years, his entire family had been exiled and displaced, and to this day he still bore a prohibition reading "no appointment for three generations."

In truth, had Su Fengji not possessed genuine ability—refusing to abandon himself in adversity, enduring hardship, leading his family in running a horse ranch to improve their livelihood—his Su family would likely have sunk into complete ruin.

However, for Su Fengji, the bitter days had finally turned sweet. Though old in years, his mind had not dulled. From the moment he received the summons from the Eastern Capital, he knew the shackles on the Su family were about to be removed, and his years of steadfast endurance were finally being rewarded. Over these years, the Su family ranch had supplied the court with over two thousand one hundred war horses. It was still far short of the three thousand mark, but by now that was no longer a major problem.

That day, the aged Su Fengji led his family in a long bow toward the east, then sang and danced, drinking wine to his heart's content. That night, facing the Emperor's summons, he wailed and sobbed until his voice gave out entirely.

During these ten-plus years in Yuanzhou, all of Su Fengji's sons had died—some of illness, some in service on campaigns, and some due to conflicts between Han and barbarians in the region. By now, his Su family consisted basically of the old, the weak, women, and children. The one bit of fortune was that several of his grandsons had gradually grown up. Under his tutelage, his most favored eldest grandson, Su Wenzhong, had also married and was now capable of supporting the family.

For this journey to the capital, he had brought no one else from the Su family—only his eldest grandson accompanied him. Su Fengji held great hopes for him.

The procession did not stop until they reached Xiangfu Post Station. Given the station's scale, accommodating a hundred horses was more than sufficient, but they could not have all the space to themselves. Thus, under guidance, Su Fengji and Su Wenzhong drove the herd to a patch of open ground northeast of the station to settle them, camping on the spot, with Su Wenzhong and his men keeping watch.

Su Fengji, meanwhile, came over to the station itself. And before Xiangfu Post Station, a touching family reunion was unfolding. Yang Bin's eldest son, Yang Tingkan, knelt with his wife and children in the middle of the road to welcome them, his face full of agitation and grief. Flesh and blood separated for over a decade, never having met face to face, able only to learn of his old parents' condition through letters—now that they met again, surging emotion naturally burst forth.

Compared to Su Fengji, Yang Bin was fortunate in that the disaster had not reached his descendants. Though he himself had been exiled to suffer in Jingzhou, his three sons had not been greatly affected and could still serve as officials at court. In particular, his most favored eldest son, Yang Tingkan, was now a Censorate censor, a rank-five official.

"Your unfilial son Tingkan kowtows to his parents!" At this moment, Yang Tingkan knelt prostrate on the ground, caring nothing for dignity or appearance, his tone agitated, his emotions laid bare.

In earlier years, Yang Tingkan had repeatedly urged Yang Bin not to oppose Prince Zhou, the Crown Prince, or Emperor Liu, but Yang Bin had been stubborn and refused to listen. In the end, he indeed brought disaster upon himself. After being demoted to Jingzhou, Yang Tingkan had thought of going there to serve his parents, but Yang Bin had sternly refused.

Yet for these ten-plus years, Yang Tingkan's heart had remained pent-up with frustration and unease. He felt that while his parents suffered in a remote, bitter, cold land, he enjoyed comfort in Kaifeng—this was unfilial conduct. He had also several times submitted memorials to the Emperor pleading for his father, but all were rejected. Over the long years, bearing immense psychological pressure, he could hardly believe it himself—before even reaching forty, Yang Tingkan's hair was already half white. On this point alone, his feelings for his parents could not be false.

"Get up quickly!" Yang Bin, stooping his aged frame, helped his eldest son rise.

With both eyes brimming with hot tears, looking at his white-haired old mother and his father whose back could no longer straighten, Yang Tingkan said with deep feeling: "Father, Mother—your son is unfilial. You have suffered!"

Yang Bin, noticing Yang Tingkan's head of graying hair—a sign of premature aging—also let out a deep sigh: "A little hardship of the body—how could it compare to the bitterness in your heart!"

At these words, Yang Tingkan burst into another round of weeping, and only with difficulty was he calmed. Turning his attention to the three grandchildren standing behind Yang Tingkan—when he had left the capital heading west all those years ago, the eldest grandson had been an ignorant child, and now he had grown into a fresh-faced youth—meeting the strange yet curious gazes of his grandchildren, Yang Bin finally revealed a smile.

Su Fengji, watching this scene of flesh-and-blood reunion from afar, was deeply moved as well. When they had finished their greetings, he slowly stepped forward and said in his hoarse, aged voice: "Congratulations, Brother Yang! Father and son reunited, flesh and blood acknowledged—a great joy!"

Seeing Su Fengji, Yang Bin immediately instructed Yang Tingkan: "Quick, pay your respects to Lord Su!"

Yang Tingkan showed a hint of surprise—he knew that in earlier years these two had been political enemies at court, locked in a life-and-death struggle. Still, he obeyed, respectfully bowing to Su Fengji.

The two of them, Yang and Su, shared a similar plight. Having experienced the great rises and falls of life over these many years, having eaten every kind of bitterness, at their age there was no grudge left that could not be set aside.

Though one was in Jingzhou and the other in Yuanzhou, they were neighbors. In the past, Su Fengji had from time to time brought wine and meat to visit Yang Bin and his wife, drinking and conversing with them. Yang Bin lacked Su Fengji's skill at managing a household, and his days had always been poor. Whenever he could not make ends meet, it was Su Fengji who supplied grain and money to support him.

One could say that the mortal enemies of yesteryear were now, in truth, bosom friends.