Chapter 20

In that moment of gratitude, sorrow and joy mingled together, and even the winter sunlight seemed piercingly bright. Having lingered in grief for so long, he finally felt that perhaps the bitterness was not as unbearable as before.

Xun Rongbi’s cane-backed chair was carried to the side of Xun Xun’s corpse. Trembling, he propped himself up with his walking stick and, in a frenzy, struck Xun Xun’s body. “You rebellious son! You unfilial, unbrotherly dog! I let you imprison your aging father, I let you ambush your brother to seize power! You traitor, you traitor! I’ll beat you to death, I’ll beat you to death—”

It was not only Xie Ci whose family had been shattered; Xun Rongbi’s tears poured down his wrinkled face as he fell heavily to the ground. Xie Ci rushed forward and caught him.

Xun Rongbi, his face a river of tears, gripped Xie Ci’s hand tightly. “Uncle is sorry, uncle is so sorry!”

He trembled and sobbed, clutching at his chest, the pain making him hunch over.

Xie Ci’s eyes reddened in an instant. Choked with emotion, his chest felt as if it would burst; he tilted his head back, fighting to suppress his feelings, but tears streamed down his face in great drops.

The winter wind was bleak, dust and sand whirled chaotically across the parade ground, and the sound of hooves and clashing blades gradually faded, finally ceasing altogether.

Despite the grief, there were urgent matters yet to resolve.

Xun Rongbi, his emotions too turbulent, fainted once. After being revived with pressure to his philtrum, he forced himself to instruct the guards to fetch soft armor, managed to don it with difficulty, arranged his gray hair, and was carried in his cane-backed chair to the command platform.

The new recruits, shaken and fearful, heard Xun Rongbi’s call, and Long Shouren took up the shout: “What are you afraid of?! Are you like those unruly mutineers? As long as you strictly uphold military discipline and train diligently, you are excellent soldiers of Suzhou, and will be safe and sound. What need is there for fear?”

The recruits gradually calmed, while the veterans, weapons and armor still stained with blood, finally caught their breath and looked up at the platform.

At last, Xun Rongbi, holding Xie Ci’s hand, stood with effort and spoke in a weak but clear voice: “This is the son of my old friend, Li Tongzhen.”

He raised his voice: “In quelling this chaos, Li Tongzhen deserves the highest merit. I hereby personally appoint him as Inspector Captain, to take office immediately!”

“All others with merit will be rewarded according to the records.”

Having delivered his speech, Xun Rongbi collapsed from exhaustion.

Fortunately, Xie Ci was at his side; with strong arms, he supported Xun Rongbi, preserving his dignity as he left the platform.

...

For the rest of the aftermath, Xun Rongbi gave weak instructions and left everything else to Long Shouren.

He boarded a soft sedan and returned to the Governor’s residence that same morning.

The wind of early winter was cold. Inside the dim carriage, Xun Rongbi clung to Xie Ci’s hand, gazing at the features that resembled his father, and before he could speak, tears streamed down.

“…Little Fourth, you look more and more like your father.”

In truth, not very much; Xie Ci was far more delicate and striking, while Xie Xinzhong had a strong, square face, and it was Xie Ci’s eldest brother who most resembled their father.

But at this moment, the slight resemblance in Xie Ci’s features became their only remaining solace.

Xun Rongbi’s thin, trembling hand touched Xie Ci’s cheek, and he wept as if his soul were torn apart.

“…It’s my fault, all my fault! I was terribly wrong—why wasn’t it me who died!”

“That damned traitor, that damned traitor!”

“I hate myself for having him, I should have strangled him the day he was born—”

Beating his feet and chest, wailing in utter despair.

After returning to the Governor’s residence, Xun Rongbi leaned on Xie Ci’s hand and stood for a long time in the Red Pine Courtyard. This small courtyard was not only where Xun Xun had imprisoned him, but also where Xie Xinzhong had served as Governor of Suzhou, and where Xie Ci’s family had once stayed during visits.

The memories of a happy family, their voices and faces, seemed as fresh as yesterday. With tea, fruit wine, and two white candles, Xun Rongbi slowly placed sheets of spirit money into the brazier. Behind the offering table, uncle and nephew mourned together.

...

After holding himself together to pay respects to the Xie family father and son, and crying bitterly, Xun Rongbi began treatment.

His condition was alarming, but fortunately Suzhou had no shortage of skilled doctors. Renowned physicians gathered, and after prodigious effort, managed to stabilize Xun Rongbi’s illness.

The most skilled was the old master of the Rejuvenation Hall, a retired court physician. He put away his silver needles and said, “If you take care, you’ll get through this. But your lifespan—likely no more than five years.”

Xun Rongbi asked how much longer he might live. The old doctor, accustomed to treating the great and powerful, was frank.

Xun Rongbi was silent for a while. “Five years is enough.”

He murmured.

He tried to rally himself and asked Xie Ci, “Little Fourth, is your mother well? Where are they now?”

His voice was weak and thin; winter sunlight filtered through snowy curtains, lighting half the room while leaving the other half in shadow. Xun Rongbi’s face had the sickly pallor of illness, his eyes dull from long suffering.

All was as it should be—Xun Rongbi worried for his sister after such upheaval, quite natural, even wishing to bring the Xie family close for protection.

But Gu Wan felt a sudden tightness in her chest.

She quickly looked at Xie Ci before her.

...

The slanting sunlight cast speckled light on the three gathered by the sickbed.

Thankfully, Xie Ci paused and said, “Eldest sister-in-law wants to return to Tong’an, but second sister-in-law says it’s not suitable. Before I left, they were still moving around Sui Town, now I don’t know where. They said they’ll send word once they settle.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Whether or not Xun Rongbi believed, he nodded, sighed softly, his eyes sorrowful but quickly concealed. He forced himself to be spirited: “I’ll write a letter, you send it for me, see if they’re still at the old place?”

Xie Ci nodded at once, “Yes, uncle.”

Xie Ci took the bowl, helped Xun Rongbi take his medicine, and after Xun Rongbi wrote his letter and handed it over, he drifted into sleep.

By then the lamps had just been lit. Xie Ci and Gu Wan returned to their room; neither mentioned separation, Xie Ci simply introduced Gu Wan as of the Gu family, married since last July, so they naturally shared a room.

Back in the room, Gu Wan smiled, dismissed the servant who brought food, checked doors, windows, and roof tiles as if by chance, and returned to the table, where Xie Ci was reading the letter.

Gu Wan took the envelope, broke the wax seal and read the contents. Sincere words, a few tear stains visible, but she slipped the letter back into its sleeve and lied without blinking, “Mother and the others surely aren’t at the old place anymore. When second sister-in-law sends word, we’ll reply.”

She tucked the letter beneath the pillow.

Xie Ci nodded without hesitation. “Alright.”

Family was his last bottom line; no matter what, he could not let these matters touch them, not even a little.

...

The two washed up and ate.

Gu Wan lowered her voice, “Let’s hurry and look at the case files.”

The “Lantian Treason Case” originated in Suzhou’s jurisdiction; the Governor’s Office had a full and detailed dossier, which Xie Ci and Gu Wan needed to understand. At the time, Xie Ci had not yet joined the army and was far away in the capital, so he knew little of the details.

Whatever they intended, they had to first grasp the facts.

Xie Ci nodded, “I know.”

They exchanged a glance and quickly finished their meal.

After dinner, Xie Ci went to keep vigil for Xun Rongbi, and after some thought, Gu Wan followed. Unlike Xie Ci, she had no blood ties to Xun Rongbi, nor did her emotions run high, but she did not emphasize her presence, simply observing coolly.

Trust, for her, would not come easily.

Clearly, the same for Xie Ci.

...

Yet perhaps they worried too much.

The next day, Xun Rongbi was able to sit up. Without prompting, he had someone bring over the case files.

The three read through the files repeatedly, line by line, word by word, shocking in their contents. Several times, Xun Rongbi clutched his chest, unable to breathe, seething: “That damned beast!”

He gripped Xie Ci’s hand tightly, “Don’t worry, uncle will see this case overturned, even if it kills me! I’ll see you settled before I die.”

Xun Rongbi had been rigorously interrogating those close to Xun Xun, investigating with all his strength. Xie Ci participated personally, but those around Xun Xun were tight-lipped; few clues so far. The three focused on the files, analyzing every detail, sent out several waves of investigators, and Xun Rongbi explained to Xie Ci the tangled web of the Northwest Army’s factions, and the connections at every point.

He coughed, once even bringing up blood, and finally, at Xie Ci’s insistence, took to his bed.

During this time, Xie Ci and Gu Wan moved freely between the camp and the Governor’s residence, in and out of the city gates without hindrance.

Until November sixth.

Xun Rongbi’s health slowly improved; after all, he had been strong all his life, not yet sixty, not at the age where any disturbance becomes fatal. With careful nursing, he began to recover.

He was allowed to be exposed to the wind.

Northern winters were bleak; one night of roaring west wind left the world vast and gray. Wrapped in a thick cloak, Xun Rongbi stood under the eaves gazing at the sky for a long time, then said to Xie Ci, “Tomorrow, let’s go to the western suburbs to pay respects to your eldest cousin.”

Xun Xiao’s grave was in the western suburbs.

Tomorrow, November seventh, was Xun Xiao’s death anniversary.

Since the news of Xun Xun’s disaster, through the funeral and burial, Xun Rongbi had not attended even once.

...

That evening, as Gu Wan sorted through case files, her heart tightened at the news, knowing the final test had arrived.

Gu Wan had privately told Xie Ci never to be alone, never to go to isolated places.

Whether in the camp or at the Governor’s residence, always stay where people gathered.

Xun Rongbi had just killed a son who usurped power; he could not possibly kill, before the whole camp, another nephew whom he’d declared his old friend’s son and credited with quelling the rebellion.

Otherwise the army would be in uproar, his authority destroyed.

As a commanding governor, no one could afford to display such a face to their soldiers.

As for the residence, stay in the front courtyard, the area nearest the outer wall and most open, best for retreat if needed.

Xie Ci never let his dagger and sword out of reach, always dressed for action.

Even on the road from the residence to the camp, they walked the busiest streets.

But there are times when avoidance is impossible.

At last, it had come.

Gu Wan immediately threw down her pen.

The two discussed quietly through the night, until dawn began to creep in, and servants were heard moving outside.

Soon, a servant reported that the carriage was ready, and the master had risen.

Finally, Xie Ci said, “Yuanniang, I want to go.”

“I must go as well.”

Once the servant left and closed the door, Xie Ci leaned close and whispered.

This period was the hardest for Xie Ci; his reason and emotions seemed split in two.

On one hand, like Gu Wan, after being bitten once, he was forever wary, always tense, deeply guarded and suspicious.

After all, his father and brother had been ruined by sudden betrayal from trusted aides.

Yet with Xun Rongbi’s daily care and concern, his tireless efforts for the Xie family even at the cost of his health, Xie Ci’s emotions became increasingly unmanageable.

He knew Xun Rongbi was aware—Xie Ci was not ignorant of his family’s whereabouts, but Xun Rongbi said nothing, never asked, never made arrangements or inquiries.

Since yesterday, November sixth, Xun Rongbi hesitated for a long time before suggesting they go together.

Xun Xun was dead; nothing much to fear.

More importantly, Xun Rongbi had lost his son; with Xie Ci in Suzhou, he could hardly refuse to pay respects to his cousin’s anniversary.

...

So it passed.

More importantly, if—just if—there were trouble at the western suburbs, and he avoided it, what then?

“We can’t go on like this forever.”

The Governor’s residence was not completely safe, nor the camp; if not open violence, then poison in secret.

One can guard against the obvious, not the hidden.

Might as well go out.

The dim dawn, the heated kang, Xie Ci threw off the bed curtains and jumped down. His collar was loose, exposing scars and burns on his neck and hands, new flesh over old wounds, the marks shocking.

Just like the ordeal he could never forget.

Gu Wan thought it over; Xie Ci’s logic was sound. She decided, “Then you go!”

She pulled Xie Ci to the end of the room, opened an inconspicuous chest full of items she had refitted from the camp stores.

She handed him inner armor, fastened breastplates front and back, added chain-sleeve darts and other gear.

She considered, “You go ahead, I’ll follow later.”

...

At dawn, Xie Ci helped Xun Rongbi onto the carriage and set off.

Gu Wan grew increasingly uneasy alone.

Xun Xun was dead.

She had personally checked his wounds and pulse, confirmed he was beyond saving—a professional, she was sure.

And Xun Rongbi, the scars from manacles on his hands could not be faked; his near-death state was genuine.

His treatment of Xie Ci during this time—Gu Wan admitted, if she were that nephew, she would have been just as moved.

But somehow, perhaps because it was too smooth, she felt uneasy. Maybe it was her past vocation; Gu Wan was always extra cautious in such matters. When Xun Rongbi asked about the Xie family’s whereabouts, it seemed normal, but did unsettle her.

Pen in hand, lost in thought, suddenly her mind drifted to the original novel: the male lead Li Yi’s double!

—Li Yi had a double, chosen and trained from the day he regained his princely rank.

Selected for face shape, physique, trained as he grew, until one, six-tenths similar unadorned, nearly nine-tenths made up, could be mistaken for him from afar.

When Li Yi left the capital, the double stayed at his mansion, mimicking his manner, eating the same food, living in the best rooms, servants addressing him as young master, even using the same soap and incense, behaving so naturally not a single flaw was seen.

Once, during a crisis, the double was gravely wounded as a substitute, then gradually faded from sight.

“Incense!”

Grievous injury? Substitution?

Like a bolt of lightning, Gu Wan’s tangled thoughts were split open. She started up with a gasp.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

Almost instantly, she dashed into the inner room, hurriedly strapped on the gear from the chest, steadied herself, and left the Governor’s residence.

Gu Wan went to the street pretending to shop for women’s items, keeping alert for followers.

But she had another method.

She decided to go to Zhang County, the place arranged with Xie’s second sister-in-law for exchanging letters.

Wei’s postal system was advanced; every city had inns and shops for client mail. Before leaving home, Xie Ci had arranged to send word of safety, and entrusted second sister-in-law with messages as well.

Her reply had also come to this address.

But events unfolded too quickly; upon entering the city, Xie Ci and Gu Wan, wary, had never returned to collect the letter.

After leaving the city, Gu Wan raced on horseback to Zhang County, jumped down at an inn, threw down a small ingot of silver, and slipped a letter into one of the oilcloth compartments.

She pressed her hat, turned and left.

A short distance away, she darted into an alley, ran back to the inn—and saw the letter she’d placed had vanished!

“Damn it!”

Gu Wan cursed, sprinted to the actual inn where she and second sister-in-law had agreed to exchange mail.

The clerk said, “That letter was taken. The county office started investigations days ago, took several letters, yours among them. Not our fault, think if you’ve done anything wrong…”

“Shit!”

Xie Ci and Gu Wan had been nothing if not cautious, their correspondence placed outside Suzhou in Zhang County, using pseudonyms.

Clearly, the enemy’s efforts were deep!

Damn!

Gu Wan was now certain—damn it, Xun Xun was a double!

Xie Ci had tracked them to Suzhou, his sense unusually sharp; the Xun family, given time and intent, could fool him briefly!

Aside from those few years Xie Ci spent in Suzhou, he saw Xun Xun only every two or three years!

Gu Wan, anxious, leapt onto her horse and lashed it hard.

The steed neighed and thundered away!