“Giddy up-“
The sky was overcast, as if the heavens were holding back a rainstorm that refused to fall.
Traveling merchants from afar, laden with baggage, led their donkeys, horses, or camels through the dusty roads, heading to and from Bianjing.
Zhou Da carefully drove the Xie family’s carriage away from Shen’s Noodle Shop, weaving through the bustling streets and alleys, passing by these weary travelers.
The carriage shafts trembled lightly, the axles creaking, and the newly replaced summer gauze curtains fluttered in the wind.
Inside, Xie Qi’s figure was faintly visible, his brows slightly furrowed as he pondered something deeply.
When the carriage stopped at the eastern side gate of the Xie residence, Xie Qi jumped down and instructed Zhou Da,
“Wait here. I might need to go out again soon.”
He then hurried into the main courtyard, heading straight for the small flower hall where Lady Xi usually conducted her affairs.
As he passed through the outer courtyard’s corridor and stepped through the arched gate, the gatekeeper, who had been waiting to announce his arrival, immediately bowed and said,
“Ninth Young Master, the Lady is busy. She instructed me to tell you to return to your own courtyard for now. She will send for you when she has time.”
Xie Qi halted, his thoughts in turmoil, feeling as though they were all stuck in his chest.
Earlier, Madam Shen had said many things that left him utterly confused.
She had spoken about supplying the border, obtaining imperial permission, and the risks of long-term cooperation.
She had even suggested setting up a “firewall company” to separate the family’s assets from the business risks.
He had tried his best to remember her words, but they tangled in his mind like a ball of yarn, feeling more difficult than writing ten policy essays in an hour.
But his mother was skilled in managing family affairs; perhaps she could understand Madam Shen’s implications!
He silently repeated the confusing words in his mind, then asked,
“How much longer will Mother be busy? Do you know which steward or estate manager is inside reporting?”
The gatekeeper shook his head, equally puzzled.
“Third Young Master arrived early this morning with a large bundle and has been waiting for the Lady to rise.”
He paused, then chuckled, “I wonder if Third Young Master has come up with some strange idea again. If you’re in a hurry, Ninth Young Master, perhaps you could stroll in the garden. The Lady might get angry and chase him out again soon.”
Xie Sanlang was known for his unreliability.
Even in his twenties, he was often scolded, something every servant in the Xie household knew.
While the servants dared not show it openly, they secretly looked down on him.
Xie Qi glanced at the sky, puzzled.
It was still early, and the Third Young Master never rose before noon when he was home.
What was going on today?
After a moment of thought, he sighed and flicked his robe.
“I’ll go pay my respects to Grandmother. If the Third Young Master comes out, call me immediately.”
“Yes, I’ll remember.”
The Xie family’s matriarch was well-known for her generosity and devotion to Buddhism and Taoism.
She lived in the northern courtyard closest to the Great Xiangguo Temple.
Xie Qi’s father, renowned in the court for his calligraphy, had personally inscribed the name “Xuancao Hall” for her residence.
Xuancao Hall was surrounded by lush pines and ancient cypresses, with the scent of incense wafting through the air all day.
Visitors often remarked that it was indeed a serene place fit for a devout person.
But as Xie Qi stepped into the tranquil courtyard, he heard his grandmother’s booming laughter, “Hu le! Hu le! Haha!”
Beneath the elegant and towering pines, there were no seekers of Zen, only a few monks and nuns and a silver-haired old lady in brocade robes, enjoying fresh fruits and cricket cakes while playing cards.
How had Grandmother moved the card table outside in just a few days?
As Xie Qi approached, the matriarch was skillfully counting coins, threading them onto a red string, laughing heartily,
“You lost again! Don’t say I, an old woman, always scheme for your incense money. Take a box of these pastries home with you; they’re made with butter… Oh, our Ninth Young Master is here.”
“Grandmother, I wish you peace.” Xie Qi stepped forward to pay his respects, then clasped his hands together and bowed to the monks and nuns before turning back to the matriarch.
“Grandmother, did you sleep well last night? Have you had breakfast yet?”
The matriarch’s eyes immediately shifted guiltily.
Her long-time maid, Yu Mama, who had never married, covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled,
“The matriarch had four egg tarts for breakfast and then complained it wasn’t enough, so she had a bowl of noodles with two more eggs.”
Xie Qi felt a headache coming on and said,
“Grandmother, have you forgotten how long you were stuck in the outhouse last time after overeating? You kept saying you wouldn’t eat so much again. And now? You’ve forgotten the pain once the wound healed.”
The monks and nuns stifled their laughter.
The Xie family’s matriarch put on a dignified front in public, but in private, she was just a gluttonous old child, always eager to try new delicacies.
This was something the nuns who frequently visited knew well.
The matriarch, however, was unbothered, defending herself,
“How old am I? If I can’t eat this or that, what’s the point of living? I might as well die early and reincarnate to enjoy life sooner!”
“I’m not saying you can’t eat, just be careful not to overeat and feel uncomfortable…”
The grandmother and grandson bickered over this trivial matter, but before they could say much more, a young maid lifted the bead curtain and announced,
“The Lady and Third Young Master are here.”
Xie Qi and the matriarch fell silent.
The nuns, who always came under the pretense of discussing Buddhist scriptures but never actually recited any, quickly chanted “Amitabha” and slipped out the back door upon hearing the Lady’s arrival.
Lady Xi strode in.
Her hair was styled in a high bun, and she wore a water-blue silk robe with wide sleeves.
Her appearance was dignified yet spirited.
Though no longer young, she exuded the poise and efficiency of someone who had managed a household for years.
“Our Chunjun is here,” the matriarch smiled and nodded at Lady Xi.
Even after so many years of marriage, the matriarch still affectionately called her by her maiden name rather than “Lady Xi,” “the eldest daughter-in-law,” or “the wife of the eldest son.”
She was immensely satisfied with this daughter-in-law.
From the moment Lady Xi entered the household, the matriarch had handed over the reins of the household, allowing herself to eat, drink, and sleep well.
Especially after the death of Xie’s grandfather, the matriarch had become even more carefree, often inviting old friends over to play cards or going out to enjoy nature, watch operas, and listen to music.
She particularly enjoyed watching burly men perform shirtless in variety shows, sometimes staying out all day.
When the city became too stifling, she would retreat to the countryside estate, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, free from the worries of daily life, truly living in bliss.
Behind Lady Xi followed another person.
The matriarch’s gaze fell on Xie Ma, who had come in after her, and she was startled.
Xie Fu resembled Lady Xi greatly.
He was more robust and agile than Ninth Young Master, but his indulgence in wine and women had ruined his good looks.
He was often seen staggering around in a drunken stupor, making people forget that he had once been the youngest military scholar since the establishment of the military examination in the seventh year of Tiansheng.
But today, he seemed transformed.
He wasn’t wearing his usual loose robes but had donned a narrow-sleeved, waist-cinching robe embroidered with gold and silver threads, a black leather belt around his waist, and black boots on his feet.
His usually disheveled hair was now neatly tied up with a hairpin.
This made the matriarch momentarily dazed, as if she were seeing Xie Si from three years ago.
The Xie children were all accomplished in both literature and martial arts.
As the eldest son, Xie Zhao had been meticulously groomed by the Xie family.
Unfortunately, fate had not been kind.
Just after he passed the palace examination and was admitted as a military scholar, his mentor, Xu Cun, was implicated in a succession dispute, and his entire family was murdered.
Using the Xu family’s tragedy as a pretext, the late emperor had wielded his sword against the powerful aristocratic families, accusing many of their children of being accomplices in the rebellion, sending them to prison one after another.
The late emperor aimed to weaken the aristocracy and promote the commoners, paving the way for the young crown prince with the blood of the noble families.
Three years ago, the succession dispute had claimed the lives of many children from prominent families.
Despite the pleas of Lady Xi and Xie’s father, Xie Zhao had relentlessly pursued the Xu family case, determined to seek justice for his mentor.
But in the end, he was ambushed and lost a hand.
His recklessness had spared his life during those turbulent times, perhaps because the late emperor remembered how Xie’s concubine had closed the palace gates and sacrificed herself to save the family.
But the boy was ruined.
For three years, Lady Xi had ignored him, allowing him to run wild, seemingly abandoning her eldest son, perhaps as a gesture of submission to the current emperor and the empress dowager.
“Brother…” Xie Qi also stood up, staring at Xie Fu for a long time, unable to snap out of it.
Xie Zhao smiled at him.
His smile was like a silver hook, all regrets dissolved in laughter.
Lady Xi had already taken her seat beside the matriarch, personally serving her a cup of hot tea, her tone calm:
“Mother, today Third Young Master came to see me and said many things”
Lady Xi began, her eyes slightly moist,
“He said he wants to leave Bianjing and go to Qinzhou to seek refuge with his maternal grandfather, to train in martial arts and prepare for next year’s mission to the Western Regions. After that, he plans to ask his grandfather to recommend him to join the mission.”
The matriarch was shocked, setting her teacup down on the table, exclaiming,
“How can this be? Qinzhou is in chaos now, full of rebellious Qiang people. Haven’t you heard? Recently, they even dared to kill a third-rank official holding the Song banner. It’s too dangerous!”
Xie Qi also turned sharply to look at Xie Zhao, who remained silent, kneeling down straight.
This act made Lady Xi burst into tears:
“Mother, let him go! Staying in Bianjing, he can do nothing but waste his life. When the Xu family incident happened, this child was determined to investigate the case. Just as he was making progress, the two night watchmen who saw someone climbing over the wall were run over and killed in the street!”
“ His own hand was nearly severed… Then there was the palace coup…”
Lady Xi wiped her tears, gritting her teeth as she continued,
“For the sake of the Xie family’s survival, we endured, not daring to act, but it has been hard on him… I thought he would remain in this daze forever, but now he has awakened.”
“Leaving Bianjing is good; away from the prying eyes of the imperial guards, who cares what his surname is?”
The matriarch also felt a pang of sadness, her eyes red, nodding heavily.
“If you, as his mother, are willing, what can I say? I just…”
Her aged eyes looked at Xie Zhao, and she bent down to pull him up, choking,
“Third Young Master, I am old. Once you leave, it might be three to five years before you return. In the future, I might not see you again? If you go, remember to send letters often, so I know you are safe!”
Xie Ma was overwhelmed with sorrow and reluctance, but soon, he steeled himself, knelt down again, and kowtowed three times to the matriarch, saying hoarsely,
“Grandmother, I have been drowning in wine, my mind muddled. But yesterday, while drunk, I stumbled into a noodle shop and was unexpectedly enlightened by a young lady.”
He then recounted the words of Xu Xiake, almost verbatim, growing more excited as he spoke,