“A great man moves through the world without concerning himself with trifles.” If Song Chuyi went a day without cursing someone out, she’d suffocate.
Outside, the Qin soldier leading the way had already handed the reception token to the person awaiting them. Because Song Chuyi had requested secrecy, the usual ceremonial reception for envoys was skipped. The two sides had little interaction – they merely silently presented their tokens, and the convoy drove into the city.
Song Chuyi pulled the carriage window open a crack and observed the outside.
The road, contrary to the bold and unrestrained style of the northern lands, was extremely narrow, with not a single pedestrian in sight.
After traveling for about a quarter of an hour, someone with a thick Xianyang accent spoke, “You have come from afar; forgive us for not welcoming you sooner.”
Song Chuyi disembarked holding the tally of authority and saw an elderly man of over sixty, dressed solemnly in black official robes, silk shoes, and a broad-sashed cap.
The old man caught sight of Song Chuyi and paused slightly, saying in surprise, “You… are the envoy of Wey?”
“Wey is a small state with few people, so we could only send a mere youngster like me – I hope you won’t laugh at us,” Song Chuyi said, coming to a stop before him with a cupped-hand salute and a smile.
“Haha, not at all, not at all – heroes emerge from the young! I was rude just now,” the old man said, immediately shelving his astonishment and engaging Song Chuyi warmly. “I am the protocol officer responsible for receiving the honored envoy this time, Bai Ping. While you are in Qin, if you need anything at all, just tell me.”
“My thanks to Protocol Officer Bai,” Song Chuyi said with a cupped-hand salute.
Bai Ping returned the courtesy, saying repeatedly, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”
“Might I ask when I will be able to meet the Marquis of Qin?” Song Chuyi inquired.
As Bai Ping guided Song Chuyi toward the prepared courtyard, he explained, “The honored envoy has presumably heard – the late lord unfortunately passed away, the new lord has only recently ascended, and moreover there is the Lord Shang rebellion. Affairs are heavy, so please, honored envoy, wait a day or two; the lord will certainly grant an audience.”
“In that case, I’ll be relying on you for these two days,” Song Chuyi said.
“This is merely my duty. You will stay in this courtyard for now; if there is anything you need, simply instruct the servants in the courtyard,” Bai Ping said.
The two exchanged a few more inconsequential words, and then Bai Ping took his leave.
Song Chuyi surveyed the courtyard. Pavilions, terraces, and towers – nothing was lacking; it was an extremely large compound. Yet the courtyard was almost entirely taken up by a pond, leaving little open ground, with a flying bridge connecting the two sides. The pond was bordered by stone walls, and over a dozen stone-carved dragon creatures crouched at the water’s edge – rough and grand in style. The ice on the pond reflected the red plum blossoms blooming in full on the banks, lending it a soft beauty as well. It was clear that every aspect of the courtyard’s layout had been carefully designed.
Longgu Buwang had already taken a look around and remarked, “The decorations in Qin are different from those in Wey.”
In all his life, apart from this trip, the farthest Longgu Buwang had ever been was Daliang of Wei. That was one of the few great cities among the seven states. He had stayed there for over a month – Wei’s architecture was grand yet refined, looking quite imposing and exquisite. Qin, by contrast, no matter how intricate the decorations and carvings, always carried a certain rough, untamed quality.
“Someone come,” Song Chuyi called out.
A Qin serving maid in a dark red robe with trailing cloud patterns came trotting over with quick, small steps, bowed, and said, “What are the envoy’s orders?”
Song Chuyi instructed, “Prepare Qin-style clothing that will fit the several of us.”
The maid glanced up slightly at the figures of Ji Yu, Ji Huan, Longgu Buwang, and Song Chuyi, then curtsied and said, “Yes. When do you need them?”
Song Chuyi said, “The sooner the better.”
She was thinking that the Lord of Qin could not possibly summon them immediately -better to go out and look around for an hour or two first, then spend the next two days waiting here for the audience.
Song Chuyi had each of them pick a room and rest for a while. She herself went inside and had Jian go fetch Zi Zhao.
White Blade lay lazily at Song Chuyi’s feet, eyes half-closed, looking as though it wanted to sleep but hadn’t quite drifted off.
Song Chuyi leaned sideways against the backrest, took the tea a maid handed her, tilted her head back, and downed it in one gulp.
“Master,” Zi Zhao said with a bow from outside the door.
“Come in,” Song Chuyi said, setting down the teacup. “All of you, withdraw.”
The four serving maids in the room rose and withdrew with bows.
“No need for formalities. Sit.” Song Chuyi patted White Blade. “Go lie down by the door.”
Clearly Song Chuyi had expected too much of White Blade – the creature didn’t understand at all and thought it was being played with, so it gave a perfunctory flick of its tail.
“Alas,” Song Chuyi sighed, got up, grabbed White Blade’s two front paws, and with all the strength she could muster dragged it to the door.
White Blade remained lying there, unmoved.
Song Chuyi returned to the couch, knelt down on his heels, and looked Zi Zhao over. The long journey had not diminished her beauty in the least – rather, with a faint air of weariness about her, she had a delicate, pitiable charm all her own.
“I called you here – can you guess why?” Song Chuyi asked. Zi Zhao looked at her nervously. “Master… you mean to give me away to someone?”
Song Chuyi was quite pleased with her cleverness and tact, so her tone softened a little. “Do you know anything about the new Lord of Qin?”
“I do not know,” Zi Zhao answered softly. She was a woman – even with some measure of insight, how would she know anything about the newly enthroned Lord of Qin? But she understood what Song Chuyi meant: she intended to present her to the new Lord of Qin. Her heart could not help but tighten.
There was no refusing this matter. On one hand, she wanted to know about the Lord of Qin; on the other, she felt somewhat hurt. She had thought Song Chuyi had some interest in her…
“The Lord of Qin is nineteen, has not yet taken a queen, is tall and powerfully built, handsome, and decisive and ruthless in his actions.” Song Chuyi briefly described the Lord of Qin’s circumstances, then continued, “Among the rulers of the seven great states, you won’t find a better man than the Lord of Qin. If you follow him, while the queen’s position is still undecided, win a few nights of favor, bear a child, and your future will be secure.”
Zi Zhao pressed her lips together slightly. Song Chuyi was treating her quite generously – after all, from the sound of it, the new Lord of Qin was a fine man. In her circumstances, to rise to the top in a single leap was entirely thanks to Song Chuyi. But she…
“Master’s great kindness – Zhao has no way to repay it.” Zi Zhao prostrated herself on the ground, gritted her teeth, and said loudly, “Zhao is still a virgin. If Master does not disdain me, Zhao is willing to give herself to Master.”
Song Chuyi choked on her own breath and coughed for a good while before sighing. “Zi Zhao, looking at a beauty like you, I’m very excited too, but… I really have the heart but not the strength.”
Zi Zhao raised her head, beautiful eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Song Chuyi.
Song Chuyi had spoken rather vaguely, so Zi Zhao understood it as something else: he was too young and had no needs in that regard.
But… normally, a youth of fifteen or sixteen would mostly have such urges, and many had already lain with women. Zi Zhao couldn’t help but wonder if her master had some hidden ailment he found difficult to speak of openly.
Thinking this, Zi Zhao felt she had touched a sore spot and felt somewhat guilty. She bowed and said, “It shall be as Master decides.”
Grr…
At the door, White Blade suddenly rose, baring its teeth at something to the left.
With a clatter, something unknown fell to the ground, and a woman screamed, “Wolf! A wolf!”
