Qian Meiniang did not struggle with it for long. Hearing her husband firmly declare he would accompany Xing Pingchun to Yongan, she gritted her teeth and nodded. “Second Brother, Jiaoniang and her husband are in difficulty now. As elder sister and brother-in-law, we ought to help them. Go to Yongan with peace of mind. Take good care of yourself, and take care of Chun-ge’er. Don’t worry about home—our parents and the children, I’ll see to them.”
Second Brother Zheng said, “Then I leave the household in your hands. You’re carrying Ping-ge’er now, don’t wear yourself out too much. If need be, I’ll hire two servant women back.”
Qian Meiniang was reluctant to spend the silver, but to ease her husband’s mind, she said, “Alright, I’ll slowly look for two honest and diligent ones to bring in.”
Hearing this, Second Brother Zheng was reassured. He took the well-fed Ping-ge’er from her arms, cradling him tenderly and rocking him gently. Qian Meiniang leaned against him, resting lightly on his shoulder.
On the window, the shadows of a warm family of three were cut out.
***
When the eunuch Zhaohui came the second time urging them to depart for Yongan, Xing Muzheng agreed that Pingchun would set out the next day.
That night, Xing Muzheng and Qian Jiaoniang called him into their room. The three spoke at length, but what was said was known only to this family of three.
When Xing Pingchun walked out of Honghu Courtyard, he was already resolved, without hesitation.
He returned to his own quarters, intending to seek out Wu Ze, who lived in the western wing. Ever since the eunuch Zhaohui and his retinue had arrived in Yuzhou, Wu Ze had disguised himself as a servant in Pingchun’s courtyard, leaving only once to meet with Imperial Physician Jia.
Just as Pingchun lifted his foot, he saw Wu Ze, dressed as a servant, come out of the wing room. Their eyes met, and both smiled faintly. Fearing there might be ears around, Pingchun only said with a smile, “Come with me.”
Wu Ze was cautious as well, lowering his head and following Pingchun into the east wing. Wu Ze’s two attendants stood watch at the west wing corridor, vigilant on all sides.
After closing the door and lowering the windows, Xing Pingchun beckoned Wu Ze into the inner room. Like performing a trick, he brought out a jar of wine, with some small dishes laid out to go with it. Wu Ze raised his brows slightly in surprise. Xing Pingchun grinned, “Duan Zhi, come, sit!”
Wu Ze obeyed and sat down. Xing Pingchun opened the wine jar and poured them each a bowl. “My tolerance is poor—sorry to have you drink this light wine with me.”
“With a confidant for company, any wine tastes the same,” Wu Ze said.
“Haha, well said! You and I should count as brothers—come, let’s drink!” Having spent much time in the camp, Xing Pingchun had picked up some of the rough-and-ready air of the soldiers.
Wu Ze, born a noble heir with a frail body, was usually treated with the utmost care and gentleness, lest anyone startle him. Only this Xing Pingchun—who once crawled through a dog hole to play with him—treated him like an ordinary boy from the street.
One with shallow tolerance, the other with a weak body—yet as soon as the bowls touched, both drained them at once.
Luckily, the fruit wine was mild, so neither was yet undone by a single bowl. Wiping the wine from his lips, Xing Pingchun shook his head, “It’s a pity you and I brothers never have the time. You just came, and now I’m about to leave.”
Wu Ze picked up the wine jar and refilled their bowls. “The days are long. In the future, there will be times when we cross swords under the moon and sing songs over wine.”
Xing Pingchun burst out laughing, “Well said! Come, another!”
The freshly poured wine was drained again. This time, Xing Pingchun poured, urging Wu Ze to eat some dishes, but Wu Ze did not. Instead, he pulled a brocade pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Pingchun.
“What’s this?” Pingchun took it with both hands, suspicious.
Wu Ze said calmly, “Inside are a few names—men you can make use of. There is also a jade pendant. If you need any of those men, just take the pendant to Four Seas Gambling House and seek Scar, the house’s real master and a trusted aide of my father’s. With this jade pendant, tell him what you need and it will be done.”
Pingchun was startled. “Something this precious, why give it to me?” He tried to return it, but Wu Ze stopped him halfway.
“Take it.” Wu Ze’s words were soft, but not to be refused.
“Duan Zhi, this isn’t right.” Xing Pingchun frowned. “I have my own people. You should keep yours for yourself!”
Wu Ze shook his head with a light smile. “I know the Dingxi Marquis Manor has no shortage of capable men. But after all, Marquis Xing has long been campaigning on the frontier and never cultivated connections in Yongan. Your return this time may look all prosperity and flowers on the surface, but in truth it’s a mountain of blades and a sea of fire. A little more strength in hand is always better.”
Hearing him put it this way, Xing Pingchun no longer refused. He tucked the item carefully into his chest. “Duan Zhi, you’re too good to me!”
Wu Ze said, “Your Dingxi Marquis Manor took me in—a fallen shizi, hunted everywhere. I’m merely returning peach for plum. And besides…” Wu Ze lifted his wine bowl, touched it to Xing Pingchun’s, and only after sipping a mouthful continued, “Besides, I have no intent toward that position. Better to lend you a hand.”
Xing Pingchun startled. “Don’t say such things carelessly. You are the shizi!”
Wu Ze’s cool features carried a faint, cloudlike smile. “So what? My father and I have always been the lowest branch of the imperial bloodline, never with such ambitions. We only wished for quiet days. Who would have thought my third uncle to be so cowardly, so afraid of death—and in doing so, destroying his own kingdom! The Wu royal house is rotten to the core, the dragon vein’s mandate nearly spent. I only pity the people of the realm—once chaos breaks out, in the end it is always they who suffer.”
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