Chapter 52 Parting at the Market Town Was Not Easy
Wang Yuying immediately pictured the boy sitting kneeling beside her, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, but his words were clear and unambiguous: "What you've said makes me want to pay homage to General Wei!"
"You can go and offer sacrifices; isn't it near your royal court?"
"That's a cenotaph—"
A century ago, the relationship between our dynasty and the Northern Barbarians was not as harmonious as it is now. When the Barbarian cavalry invaded our borders, the renowned general Wei Yucheng was appointed to lead the expedition, recovering our lost territories and even marching our army to the capital to strike at the heart of the enemy.
Unexpectedly, treacherous officials framed him, falsely accusing him of treason and surrender. The emperor believed the slander and not only cut off reinforcements but also executed the entire Wei clan who remained in the capital.
Wei Yucheng was besieged in the wilderness of the royal court. His arrows were exhausted and his sword was broken, yet he still fought fiercely. The Di king admired his bravery and personally went to persuade him to surrender, but Wei Yucheng said, "The country may abandon me, but I will not compromise my principles."
Having said that, he took the broken sword and plunged it into his heart.
The Di people admired his loyalty and bravery, and built a tomb for him on the spot.
Two or three decades later, after repeated battles, the Northern Di submitted to the emperor, and Wei Yucheng's old case was also cleared. His remains were brought back to Jingzhao and buried on Niuyang Mountain, the highest mountain in the north of the city. The Northern Di's tomb became a cenotaph.
Back in the northern frontier, whenever they talked about the past and present after drinking, Wang Yuying would always mention Wei Yucheng. Hugu Xumi, having heard it so many times, started saying he wanted to visit Wei Yucheng's tomb: "If I ever get to the capital, I will definitely do this!" He said, his eyes still blurry with drunkenness: "Brother, sister-in-law, you know the capital well. When I come to visit you, you must be my hosts! Don't pretend you don't know me!"
"I can't promise you that." Wang Yuying was drunk and spoke her mind without restraint. "Maybe by the time you go to the capital, your brother and I will still be in the northern frontier."
She noticed Xu Heng's brows furrowed, lips pursed, and eyes flashing with displeasure; he was clearly turning his back on her. But she was drunk at the time, so she only glanced at him and didn't pay him any mind.
Actually, he had that kind of expression once before when he was in the northern frontier.
Upon receiving the news of her father's passing, she collapsed into Xu Heng's arms, weeping. He tried to comfort her, his voice filled with grief though he didn't cry. For a fleeting moment, she unconsciously turned her head and noticed his face was unusually somber.
She thought he was sad and grieving.
“I said that if I ever reach the capital, I will definitely visit General Wei’s tomb,” Hugu Xumi said.
Wang Yuying thought that Hugu was a really good person. He only said that he had something to do and did not ask if she remembered, so as to avoid embarrassing her because she had forgotten.
He waited for a long time, but when she didn't respond, he assumed she had really forgotten, so he gently spoke up himself.
Therefore, she should not dwell on certain unpleasant people and events, as it would spoil the enjoyment of Hugu Qingxing and prevent her from having a good time with her old friends.
Wang Yuying looked up and told Hugu Xumi, "I haven't forgotten about this."
Then he asked, "How long do you plan to stay in Beijing this time?"
Hugu smiled: "It can be long or short."
"I will not be on leave for five days. If it is convenient, you can wait for me to worship together. I will be your host and show you around. If it is inconvenient to wait, you can go ahead on your own. I hope you will forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Hugu Xumi said softly, "When have we ever been so polite to each other?"
Before Wang Yuying could speak again, Hugu Xumi said first, "I have an audience with His Majesty tomorrow. After the ceremony, there will likely be a banquet, and many things will be in order. Five days is just right."
Wang Yuying nodded: "Then let's go together. Should I go to Sifangguan to find you, or should you come to my place? Or should we arrange a place?"
Hugu smiled and said, "You're the host, you decide."
"Then let's meet at the foot of Niuyang Mountain at half past Chenshi (7:30 AM)."
"It's a deal." Hugu Xumi took the initiative to raise his teacup, and Wang Yuying followed suit, clinking their cups together again.
It was nearly dusk, and Juanxue and Chuying were already busy in the kitchen. A rich aroma of soup wafted over, and Wang Yuying, smelling it, said to Xumi, "Why don't we stay for dinner?"
Ask them to order a few more dishes.
Hugu refused: "Never mind, since we've already made plans, I should take my leave."
"No, please! You've come all this way, and we haven't seen each other for so many years. I have to throw you a welcome dinner, otherwise it would be too impolite!"
Hugu stood up, his tone resolute: "The sun is about to set, I have to go."
His words forced Wang Yuying to recall that when Hugu came to visit them in the northern frontier, Xu Heng would always see him off before sunset. Since it got dark early in the northern frontier, Hugu had never eaten dinner at home.
Wang Yuying couldn't help but criticize: "They've come all this way, it takes at least three days to get here from the Northern Di royal court. What's wrong with you offering them a meal? My husband has always been reasonable, how can he be so heartless in this matter? Hugu is a good person, he may not say it to your face, but he must think we're being cold to you. Don't dampen their enthusiasm."
Xu Heng put his arm around her waist and said with a smile, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. I'll be worried if you hurt your health. I also want him to stay, but if we think about it calmly, wouldn't it mean drinking if we invite him to stay for a meal? If he drinks too much and it's dark and windy, it would be even more impolite to send him back. If we let him stay... where would we find a place to entertain a guest?"
Wang Yu was speechless. Their living space was very small. A room was divided in two by a paper screen, which served as a side room, a dining room, and a main hall.
Afterwards, Hugu would still bid farewell during the day. If he wanted to stay for two or three days, he would find an inn on his own and visit again the next day.
Later, Wang Yuying built a small hut in the courtyard, which took up almost half of the yard. Xu Heng helped a lot, but after it was built, he still saw guests off during the day, saying that the hut didn't have a kang (heated brick bed) and people would freeze to death at night, and that the walls were too thin to provide good sound insulation...
Wang Yuying looked at Hugu: "Things are different now. You're staying. You're definitely having dinner tonight!"
As Hugu Xumi sat down again, he smiled and said, "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."
Wang Yuying quickly called to Shuangtian to add more dishes.
Hugu turned to the side: "You seem to only have three maids?"
Wang Yuying nodded, and Hugu said, "Then let them go and help too."
He then instructed his attendants to go to the kitchen to help.
After preparing about ten dishes—crispy roasted lamb chops, goose wings, grilled shrimp, pork hock, kidneys…—Wang Yuying invited Hugu Xumi to sit down. Hugu Xumi, however, looked at Chu Ying and the others: “Do they usually eat together?”
Indeed, but now that Chu Ying and the others knew that the man with the heterochromatic eyes was the King of the Northern Di, they dared not sit down at the table.
"Sit down, don't change your mind for me." Hugu turned to Wang Yuying and smiled. "Besides, there's so much food, the two of us can't finish it all, don't you think?"
He was standing a little too close. Wang Yuying's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked up at Chu Ying: "Sit down."
After the women, including Hugu Xumi, had all sat down, Hugu Xumi lifted his robe and sat down, slightly parting his legs, picking up a piece of pork hock from in front of him and placing it on his rice.
Wang Yuying noticed that Hugu used to love eating shrimp, and coincidentally, the grilled shrimp on the table was placed furthest away, spanning the entire table. Hugu was polite and would never mention it if he couldn't get any.
Wang Yuying stood up and picked up the grilled shrimp: "Here, eat shrimp."
He said he was going to place the plate of shrimp next to Hugu, but Hugu refused, saying, "Delicious food should not be enjoyed alone."
He looked at the group of people at the table and said, "Everyone should have a taste."
"Then you can take some first." Wang Yuying placed the plate next to Hugu's chopsticks.
Hugu had a shrimp in his hand.
There was only one, of medium size, curled up in a hook shape.
"You're being too polite!" Wang Yuying exclaimed. "Don't be so distant with me!"
"Then I won't be polite." Hugu smiled and picked up five pieces, placing them all on his porcelain plate.
"Pick as many as you like." Wang Yuying sniffed; these shrimp, after being grilled and marinated in minced garlic, smelled delicious.
Hugu's eyebrows twitched: "Then I'll grab two more." But she couldn't stop herself and grabbed four in one go. Hugu's ears turned red, and she tried to make amends, "To make it a round number."
The boy from back then instantly returned, and Wang Yuying laughed heartily. At least for this moment, she didn't want anything else, only joy.
She put the remaining half plate of shrimp back in its place, and when she sat down, she found two more peeled shrimp on top of the rice in her bowl. Hu Gu was looking at the table and slowly peeling a third shrimp with both hands.
"I've had enough, you can eat it yourself," Wang Yuying said. "If you like shrimp, eat more."
Hugu Xumi kept his eyes on the table, gave a soft "hmm", and then peeled and ate the shrimp himself.
The Di people did not have the rule of not talking while eating. He chatted with everyone and got along well with them. He discussed martial arts with Chu Ying, making Chu Ying suddenly realize something and then eager to try it out. Hugu Xumi, however, humbly said: "I am good at talking, but I am not good at actual skills."
“You’re being modest,” Wang Yuying interjected, “His kung fu is quite good.”
Juanxue inadvertently mentioned that she was from Bingzhou, and Hugu opened his mouth and uttered a local dialect phrase.
Juanxue exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty can speak our language?"
Since no one else understood, Juanxue explained to everyone, "The king praised the dishes for being delicious tonight."
Wang Yuying glanced at Hugu, raised an eyebrow and smiled: "When did you learn Bingzhou dialect?"
"On the way," Hugu smiled gently, "I only know a couple of phrases."
Wang Yuying thought to herself that the journey from the Northern Barbarians to the capital would indeed pass through Bingzhou.
As they talked, they mentioned that Shuangtian was from the Wu region. Hugu said that he had never been to Jiangnan, so Shuangtian introduced him to the local customs and culture. Hugu smiled and said, "I will definitely go there sometime."
Everyone was chatting excitedly, and no one noticed that Hugu's rice bowl was empty. It wasn't until he got up to get more that Wang Yuying suddenly stood up, making a clattering sound as she did so.
Hugu raised his hand and pressed it against her from a distance: "No need to be formal, I'll do it myself."
He then glanced at her almost empty rice bowl: "Do you want more rice?"
Wang Yuying nodded, and Hugu picked up her bowl and filled it with broth.
When it was handed back to Wang Yuying, she accepted it with both hands and said, "Thank you."
Hugu smiled and said, "No need to thank me."
She placed the steaming bowl of rice on the table, and for some reason, she remembered what Jingye had said: never thank him.
Wang Yuying picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of stir-fried kidney, and without looking closely, put it in her mouth. Suddenly, she closed her eyes, frowned, and looked uncomfortable.
Hugu's eyes widened suddenly, his lips parted slightly: "What's wrong?"
He kept staring at her.
Wang Yuying pouted: "I tasted Sichuan peppercorns."
Hugu lowered his head and smiled, raising the corners of his lips to reveal his upper white teeth.
...
By the time we finished eating and were about to leave, it was almost 7 PM.
Wang Yuying and Hugu walked side by side to the entrance of the canteen. Hugu turned around and said, "It's cold, don't come out to see me off."
Wang Yuying nodded: "See you at Niuyang Mountain in five days."
Hugu nodded: "Then I'll go." He walked towards the door. When he reached the center of the second courtyard, he suddenly seemed reluctant and looked back, meeting the gaze of Wang Yuying who was seeing him off. Wang Yuying had a sudden thought and quickly stepped over the threshold: "I'll see you to the gate of the mansion."
"It's cold." Hugu looked at her clothes.
“I’m wearing a lot of layers.” She had already put on a padded jacket.
Hugu remained silent. The two walked slowly to the street entrance before Hugu spoke again: "Then we'll meet at Niuyang Mountain in five days."
Wang Yuying nodded.
"Then I'll go."
"Um."
"Farewell." Hugu lifted his leg.
“Sigh—” Wang Yuying suddenly exclaimed.
Hokuya's raised right leg fell back down into the threshold.
“It’s cold on the road and it’s getting dark. Go straight back to Sifangguan. Do you remember the way?” Wang Yuying earnestly instructed.
Hugu smiled and said, "Remember how to get there."
"That's good." Her anxiety subsided.
Looking into her eyes, Hugu slowly said, "Then I'll go."
"Go."
"Goodbye."
"Go quickly," Wang Yuying laughed, "I feel like we've said goodbye so many times already!"
Hugu smiled, revealing his upper teeth once again. He stepped out the threshold with his right leg, but then looked back and said, "Don't come out to see me off now, or I'm afraid I won't be able to resist seeing you back when we get to the alley entrance."
"No need to see me off, I'll just stay here and watch."
Hu Gu then walked away, but turned back again as he was on his way. Wang Yuying saw him from the doorway and quickly raised her hand to wave. Hu Gu waved back, then turned around and walked to the alley entrance, looking back once more. The two said goodbye in silence again, and only then did Hu Gu turn the corner and disappear from sight.
Wang Yuying smiled as she closed the street gate and went back to her room to wash up.
A moment later, a dark figure darted out of the tavern across the street from the alley entrance, walked straight into the palace, and then removed his straw hat, revealing a pale-faced, beardless eunuch. Meanwhile, a carrier pigeon was released from the rooftop of the teahouse at the end of the alley, flying into the Zheng residence in Chongwen Alley.
The night rain began to fall in a light drizzle.
The sound gradually changes, and snowflakes replace raindrops.
Outside the city, on the outskirts of the capital, the wind howled at the gate and snow pelted the tents.
The acting registrar lifted the curtain and entered the tent, whereupon several snowflakes immediately rushed in, dancing with the sparks leaping from the charcoal brazier.
Jing Ye was sitting cross-legged on the felt rug reading a book when the acting clerk laughed and said, "Seeing that the lamp has been on all the time, I guessed you must not be asleep." The clerk took out four persimmons from his basket and said, "I roasted a few persimmons and will share them with the brothers who are still awake."
Jing Ye stared at the book without looking up: "Put it on the table."
When the acting registrar put persimmons on the table, he noticed that besides the sand table map, there were also the two characters "忠勇" (loyalty and bravery) to be traced in red ink. Much of the ink had already been filled in, with only about ten strokes left to trace.
The registrar smiled and said, "People cherish the spring breeze and the cold of winter in front of the pavilion, what are you doing?"
Jing Ye didn't explain; he was counting the days stroke by stroke. There were still ten days until his day off, after which he could go into the city to see the young lady.
"Don't bother me while I'm studying." Jing Ye chased after the registrar.
The snowflakes pattered against the tent. The registrar asked curiously, "How can you concentrate on something so noisy?"
“I can focus on it,” Jing Ye replied firmly. He had already tried it; as long as he concentrated and immersed himself in it, he couldn’t hear any external distractions.
He still has seven or eight pages left in his copy of the Classic of Filial Piety. After finishing the recommended books, he will have read the entire book. He will need to find some time to consult Master Zheng about what to study next.
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