“Miss, Miss!”
Ban Qin hurriedly entered the hall, so anxious that she forgot to hand the basket in her arms to the servant who came to take it.
“I know why His Highness wanted you to look after Prince Qing–”
But as she reached the veranda, her words abruptly stopped. Inside the hall sat several people; besides Cheng Jiao-niang and Fan Jianglin, there was another young man who smiled at her.
“It’s because I’m leaving the capital,” said Duke Jin’an.
Ban Qin quickly stepped forward and offered the tea.
“But how come you’re here today?” Duke Jin’an lifted his teacup and said with a smile. “What a coincidence.”
Cheng Jiao-niang returned the smile.
“It is a coincidence,” she said.
“I invited my sister to come home for a meal,” Fan Jianglin explained.
Duke Jin’an let out an “oh,” then turned to glance toward the doorway.
“Everyone’s wearing new clothes,” he remarked, looking at the servants standing by. “Is there a happy occasion in the family?”
Cheng Jiao-niang seemed a little surprised as well and looked at Fan Jianglin.
Fan Jianglin gave an awkward little laugh.
“Yes, it’s Xiaobao’s birthday,” he said.
“Young Master, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Ban Qin said. “We came empty-handed.”
Fan Jianglin chuckled.
“He’s just a little child – how could he deserve a birthday celebration? It’s just a family meal together, nothing that needs to be mentioned, nothing at all.”
Duke Jin’an laughed.
“I didn’t come empty-handed,” he said, taking something out from the scented pouch at his waist.
Fan Jianglin hurriedly bowed.
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare,” he said quickly.
“It’s nothing valuable,” Duke Jin’an said with a smile, pushing the object toward him. “I happened to buy two of these – I was going to take them back for Prince Qing to play with.”
Fan Jianglin looked up, and Ban Qin craned her neck to peek as well.
“It’s a bird whistle,” she said with a smile.
A bird whistle wasn’t worth much, but sometimes the value of a gift lay not in its price, but in the giver.
A trinket from someone like Duke Jin’an was worth more than gold.
All the more so since it had originally been bought for Prince Qing – Fan Jianglin hastily bowed again, trying to decline the gift.
“Take it,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The words of refusal on Fan Jianglin’s lips turned instead into a word of thanks.
“Ban Qin, take it to little Bao’er to play with,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“Yes, Miss,” Ban Qin replied, smiling as she took the bird whistle and went out.
Duke Jin’an also rose to his feet.
“I just came to let you know,” he said. “I’ve already spoken with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager – when the time comes, I’ll be troubling you to keep an eye on Prince Qing. You don’t have to visit often; there are plenty of attendants assigned both from the palace and the prince’s residence.”
As long as, when the moment of mortal danger came, someone could reach out to protect him – that would be enough.
Cheng Jiao-niang and Fan Jianglin stood to see him off.
“Your Highness, why not stay for a meal before you go?” Fan Jianglin blurted out.
Duke Jin’an looked at him and smiled.
“No need. I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow – I’d rather spend a bit more time with Prince Qing,” he said.
Fan Jianglin quickly bowed in acknowledgment.
“Your Highness, please wait a moment,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Both Duke Jin’an and Fan Jianglin turned to look at her.
Cheng Jiao-niang turned and went into the inner room, then came out holding a small box.
“Your Highness, please come with me,” she said.
Duke Jin’an smiled and followed her. The two of them walked toward the back courtyard. Fan Jianglin was about to step after them when Lady Huang, peeking out from a nearby room, called to him.
“Is His Highness staying for a meal?” she asked softly.
Fan Jianglin shook his head. When he looked back again, Cheng Jiao-niang and Duke Jin’an were already out of sight. He hesitated for a moment, then decided not to follow.
“Have you been well lately?” Duke Jin’an asked, looking at the lady walking a few steps ahead of him.
“Very well,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, then turned back to ask, “And Your Highness?”
“Also well,” Duke Jin’an said with a grin, raising his brows. “I’m now Commissioner for Pacification and Relief – about to lead troops north. In name I’m the commander, though most of the time I’m just a figurehead.”
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled too. When they reached the training ground, she opened the box and took something out.
“Ah – this is that…” Duke Jin’an recognized it at once.
It was the bamboo tube she had held in her hand the day Taibai crossed the sky.
He had only caught a glimpse of it then before she covered it with her sleeve, but now he could see it clearly: it wasn’t just a bamboo tube – there was a section of copper attached to the front.
What was it?
But this time, he didn’t ask.
“This is a farewell gift for you,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Duke Jin’an laughed.
So when they first spoke of parting, she hadn’t mentioned any gift.
“You’re lying,” he said teasingly. “It’s obviously a return gift for the whistle.”
“Even so, it’s still a farewell gift,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
“Because you’re giving it to me as I’m leaving?” Duke Jin’an laughed heartily.
“Yes,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, taking up the bamboo tube again and sliding a long paper packet from the box into it.
Duke Jin’an watched her movements curiously.
“What’s that? Another toy?” he asked with a laugh. “Can it make a sound?”
“It can,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, lifting her hand and aiming the object to one side. “But it’s not blown.”
“Then how does it make a sound?” Duke Jin’an asked, still smiling.
Cheng Jiao-niang took a tinder stick in her other hand and struck it alight. She looked at Duke Jin’an.
“Like this…” she said – and touched the flame to the bamboo tube.
Like this?
Duke Jin’an looked over – but before he could see clearly, there was a thunderous boom beside his ear, like a firecracker exploding right in front of him. Startled, he instinctively stepped back, his whole body trembling as his ears rang.
That was really loud!
When he came to his senses and looked at Cheng Jiao-niang, she was standing calmly, still holding the bamboo tube pointed in the same direction.
“This toy is really…” he began with a laugh, following the line of the tube with his eyes -and then froze.
A hundred and fifty paces away, the straw target that had been standing upright was now shattered and toppled to the ground. The straw was blown apart, black smoke curling up as flames began to lick through it.
A hundred and fifty paces…
Completely destroyed…
“…Terrifying,” Duke Jin’an murmured.
This “toy” was truly terrifying.
“Yes,” Cheng Jiao-niang said softly. “It is a little frightening. But if you ever have to face violent men head-on, startling them like this might give you a slight chance of survival.”
Duke Jin’an looked at her, and suddenly his eyes stung with emotion.
She… knew.
She knew that what awaited him was not only rebellion and unrest among the refugees, but also assassination and persecution.
He hadn’t said it. She hadn’t asked. She hadn’t even offered the usual polite words of concern – yet what she gave him… what she gave him was something he never could have imagined.
Cheng Jiao-niang was puzzled to see the man before her suddenly go blank.
“Did it scare you?” she asked, giving the bamboo tube in her hand a little shake. “This–”
Before she could finish, the young man before her took a sudden step forward and pulled her into his arms.
A strange scent enveloped her at once.
She had never liked anyone getting too close. Even in washing or dressing, she allowed only Ban Qin to assist her – and even then, the maid’s hands touched no more than her shoulders, helping her into her robe and smoothing the sleeves.
And now, someone was holding her.
A man.
A stranger’s solid, unyielding warmth and breath.
Cheng Jiao-niang’s body went rigid in an instant.
A short, sharp cry pierced the courtyard.
Ban Qin clapped her hand tightly over her mouth.
She mustn’t shout – she mustn’t! If she called out and others saw, her mistress’s reputation would be ruined beyond repair…
That brief cry was enough to snap Duke Jin’an back to his senses.
He seemed suddenly to realize what he had just done, and, startled himself, he let go and stumbled back in confusion.
“I—I—I just… just…” he stammered, “wanted to thank you…”
By then, Ban Qin had already turned pale and was hurrying over.
Thank her?
What kind of thanks was that?
These days, even scoundrels came up with the most absurd excuses!
Cheng Jiao-niang let out a quiet “oh.”
“No need to thank me,” she said. “I told you – it’s just a return gift.”
Pale-faced, Ban Qin stumbled a little in her step.
Don’t blame the scoundrel for his flimsy excuse – what was truly strange was how calmly the young lady accepted being taken advantage of.
The air had turned undeniably awkward; a long silence fell.
Duke Jin’an gave a faint “oh,” raised a hand, and rubbed his nose.
“One little whistle, and in return I get something this amazing…” he stammered. “Then… then…”
He had meant to say a few more things, but somehow his mind was a blur – perhaps because of the faint fragrance still lingering in the air, or that strange softness he had just felt…
No! He couldn’t let his thoughts wander like that!
Duke Jin’an quickly shook his head, trying to banish the thought, and the only word that stuck in his mind was “whistle.”
Instinctively, he reached into his scented pouch and pulled out the other one.
“Then… here, I’ll give you this one too,” he said.
Ban Qin felt as if she were going mad, staring blankly at the two people before her.
Cheng Jiao-niang reached out to take the whistle, placing the bamboo tube back into the box.
“There are four more cartridges here,” she said. “When you use it, place one of them inside the tube like this.”
As she spoke, she demonstrated carefully with her own hands. “Then… the tinder stick -light it here…”
She looked up mid-sentence and saw Duke Jin’an still standing there dazed and absentminded.
“Be careful,” she said. “If you mishandle this toy, you could end up hurting yourself.”
Duke Jin’an quickly straightened his expression and stepped forward.
“Please, show me again,” he said earnestly.
Watching the young lady lower her head to demonstrate, and the young man standing close beside her, listening and watching intently, Ban Qin slowly stepped back a few paces in a daze.
Perhaps… what she had just seen – the impropriety – had only been her imagination?
Later, Fan Jianglin and his family respectfully saw Duke Jin’an off. When he turned back, he caught sight of Ban Qin.
“Ban Qin, what’s the matter?” he asked. “You look rather strange.”
Ban Qin forced a small smile.
I don’t know what’s the matter either.
“Perhaps I just didn’t sleep well,” she murmured absently.
Fan Jianglin sighed.
“Second Master and his wife really are…” he said, shaking his head.
How could anyone not be vexed, dealing with people like that?
A clear, bright birdcall rang out in the courtyard, drawing everyone’s attention. They saw little Bao’er in Lady Huang’s arms, puffing his cheeks as he blew the bird whistle. Encouraged by everyone’s smiles, Bao’er burst into laughter, and the others couldn’t help laughing along.
For a while, scattered long and short chirps echoed through the courtyard.
“All right, all right – time for dinner. You can blow it again afterward,” Lady Huang coaxed the child.
Everyone started walking toward the house. They had only taken a few steps when another birdcall suddenly sounded, startling them all.
“Bao’er!” Lady Huang said reproachfully, turning back.
But the child, cradled in his nursemaid’s arms, had empty hands and an empty mouth, looking around in confusion.
“Mine! Mine!” he cried anxiously, thinking someone had taken his whistle, and reached out his hands, trying to find it.
One of the maids quickly handed the bird whistle back to him.
So… it wasn’t him blowing it?
Lady Huang froze in surprise. Just then, another birdcall sounded.
At the back of the group, under everyone’s gaze, Cheng Jiao-niang lowered a bird whistle from her lips.
“I have one too,” she said, giving the whistle in her hand a playful wave toward little Bao’er, and smiled faintly.
