Shen Zechuan smiled faintly. “It’s not some earth-shattering secret… Farewell, then.”
“Why not hear the whole story?” Xiao Chiye said, fingers adjusting the ring he had recovered, his mood unusually bright. “Since Ji Gang is your master, that makes us fellow disciples. I’m older, so calling me senior brother is only proper.”
“The Ji family has nothing to do with Li Bei,” Shen Zechuan’s mind raced through the events from five years ago, recalling the fight he and Xiao Chiye had in the snow, and the lingering sense of familiarity from that time.
“That’s not certain,” Xiao Chiye said. “Fate is unpredictable—who can say for sure?”
Shen Zechuan waved to Ge Qingqing and Little Wu, then sat back beside Xiao Chiye. “You investigated Ge Qingqing?” he asked.
“Can’t forget,” Xiao Chiye said, eyes fixed on him. “Five years ago he ran so fast, and now, five years later, he’s so close to you. So obvious, how could I not be suspicious? A little investigation, and you can uncover all his secrets.”
“What do you intend to do?” Shen Zechuan asked, smiling.
“I intend to do nothing,” Xiao Chiye said, tapping his finger near Shen Zechuan’s eyes. “No need for forced smiles. We’ve survived life and death together; showing off strength is meaningless. You’re flustered, afraid, aren’t you?”
Shen Zechuan said, “Almost.”
Xiao Chiye tapped the table rhythmically with his reversed chopsticks. “Since Ji Gang is your master, it makes sense that Ge Qingqing and the other Embroidered Guards spared your life back then.”
“You’re distrustful,” Shen Zechuan said, eyes on the layer of brown grease on the table. “One kick didn’t kill me, and you began suspecting. Testing again and again, persistent to the end.”
“My strengths are few,” Xiao Chiye said. “And I’ve saved them all for you.”
“Since we are fellow disciples,” Shen Zechuan said, “you should at least disclose your master’s name, shouldn’t you?”
Xiao Chiye lazily tossed the chopsticks back into their holder. “Call me senior brother first, then we’ll hear each other out.”
Shen Zechuan stayed silent.
“Ji Gang is a man of principle,” Xiao Chiye continued. “I sent someone to inquire in Duanzhou. Everyone thought he was burned to death—whether Xiao Fuzi was murdered.”
“He wasn’t,” Shen Zechuan said, setting the chopstick holder upright. “My master is old; he wouldn’t take a life.”
A breeze rose, yet neither of them moved.
“You seem to have done nothing, yet I feel you’ve done everything,” Xiao Chiye said.
“Whether I have or haven’t, you would never let me go,” Shen Zechuan said, leaning back on the chair, smiling softly, voice warm. “Why not do all the mischief I can, so your hatred has limits?”
The next day.
Xiao Chiye entered the palace and learned that Wei Bin had died.
Li Jianheng had changed his attire. These days of grief had left him haggard. Sitting in high office, he said, “They claim she slipped and fell into a well. Her body was only found last night.”
Such a convenient slip.
Seeing no one around, Li Jianheng whispered, “Ceyan… could it have been you…”
Xiao Chiye shook his head.
Li Jianheng seemed relieved, fidgeting in his seat. “I now live in the palace. At night, I open my eyes and see the inner eunuchs—it’s frightening. They all used to call Pan Rugui ‘Old Ancestor,’ and now the Old Ancestor is still in prison! Ceyan, do you think they’ll hate me…”
His complaints masked his fear. In the end, he had Xiao Chiye deploy the palace guards, attending first to the palace’s security needs.
Xiao Chiye did not refuse. After a while, listening to Li Jianheng say, “Li Bei sent word; the Li Bei King and your elder brother are on their way. Ceyan, soon you will see them,”
Li Jianheng seemed eager to please. Approaching the throne, he was even more timid than before, having grasped who held real power. The arrogance he once displayed had been tempered by the autumn hunt; he now understood who was truly strong.
Xiao Chiye had no intention of claiming rewards. Li Jianheng knew his wishes well. Yet even now, Li Jianheng had not spoken of letting him return to Li Bei. Xiao Chiye remained impassive, though his heart sank slightly.
Five days later, the Li Bei King entered Qu Du.
That day, autumn rain fell continuously. Xiao Chiye rode out early, standing at the pavilion where they had once sent people off. After two hours, he finally saw a few hawks fly across the horizon.
The “Fierce” on his shoulder surged with excitement. He galloped into the rain, circling with his brothers and sisters, catching up with old times.
The iron cavalry thundered through the rain, like dark ink spilling on water, sweeping to Xiao Chiye’s position. He did not wait for them to arrive, leaping from the pavilion to greet them in the rain.
“Father!”
Xiao Jiming laughed heartily from horseback. “He may look tall and strong now, but once he sees you, he shows his true form.”
Xiao Fangxu removed his hat, leaning to pat Xiao Chiye’s head. After a long look, he said, “You’ve grown taller.”
Xiao Chiye grinned. “Of course, elder brother is still half a head shorter than me!”
“Feeling proud,” Xiao Jiming said. “Ever since you grew taller than me, I mention it every year.”
Xiao Fangxu had Chaohui hold the horse. He dismounted, raised his arms, and hugged his youngest son, patting his back heavily. “Silly boy!”
Xiao Chiye laughed outright. “Did anything happen on the road?”
Chaohui said, “The young master caught a chill at home. The prince detoured to Dengzhou to have Master Yi come examine him.”
Xiao Chiye said, “Ah Xun is sick? When did this happen? Why didn’t elder brother mention it in his letter?”
Xiao Jiming said, “Minor illness. You also have Yizhi at home to watch over him, no need to worry.”
Xiao Chiye felt a brief twinge of disappointment.
When he left Li Bei five years ago, his eldest sister-in-law was pregnant. Now little Ah Xun was four, and he had never seen him, only learning small anecdotes from letters.
He wanted to go home.
His disappointment vanished quickly. He said, “I’ve prepared a birthday gift. When elder brother returns, bring it along.”
Xiao Fangxu dusted his hat’s brim. “Before leaving, Xun’er specially drew a picture for you. Chaohui will give it to you later. This is not the place to talk—first to the palace. Tonight at the residence, father and son can converse at leisure.”
They mounted and rode together into Qu Du.
The Li Bei King had long remained out of public sight. Now, the four generals of the realm had earned formidable reputations, yet few remembered Li Bei King Xiao Fangxu.
Grand Tutor Qi, fattened in autumn, washed his feet in the rain, wiggling his toes. “Twenty years ago, the four generals of the realm were: Xiao Fangxu of Li Bei, Qi Shiyu of Qi Dong, Lu Pingyan of the frontier, and Feng Yisheng of Suo Tian Pass. Later, Feng Yisheng fell in battle, his family line ended. Now, few remember their names, but they once rode through borders, sweeping sand and enemy alike.”
“Feng Yisheng?” Ji Gang shouted from the kitchen, stirring the wok. “How can no one remember? Chuan’er! Both his sons died in battle, and the adopted son he took in later was… your master’s elder brother!”
Shen Zechuan served the rice. “My master’s elder brother?”
Ji Gang slapped his head. “I forgot to tell you!”
Grand Tutor Qi bellowed, “Is the meal ready? Ah, nothing better than being served.”
Ji Gang wiped his sweat, sitting at a small table, saying, “You mentioned Xiao Chiye claiming to share a master with us. Perhaps his master is indeed Zuo Qianqiu!”
Shen Zechuan took two bites of rice.
Ji Gang sighed. “It’s been many years since I last met him. Did you fight Xiao Chiye this time? How was it? His blade—vigorous, yes?”
Grand Tutor Qi said, “Let Lan Zhou eat first. Afterward, we can discuss. This danger just passed; nothing urgent. Rest a few days.”
“I should have known,” Ji Gang said. “Xiao Chiye carries a bone ring; the greatest archer under heaven is Zuo Qianqiu.”
“Now that Xiao Fangxu has returned to Qu Du, you may even see your elder brother,” Grand Tutor Qi said, selecting dishes. “Zuo Qianqiu fought at Tianfei Palace, stopped the border cavalry, yet lost his wife. That battle earned him the title ‘Lei Chen Yu Tai,’ but he never recovered. Rumors say he became a monk, possibly under Xiao Fangxu’s protection, teaching his son in secret.”
Ji Gang lamented, “One general’s victory leaves thousands dead. Glory means nothing. Those surviving are not happy. Zuo Qianqiu concealed his name, Xiao Fangxu hid his illness, Lu Pingyan aged—twenty years later, where are the four generals? Only waves of history, generations replaced.”
Grand Tutor Qi, slightly tipsy, watched Shen Zechuan eat. After a long pause, he said, “One life, suffering in vain. Since death is inevitable, better to die fulfilling your ambitions. Lan Zhou, come, eat another bowl!”
By nightfall, full and drunk, Grand Tutor Qi lay across the mat. Shen Zechuan sat under the eaves, wiping his feet. Ji Gang took out two outer robes, draping them over both, then squatted in a corner, smoking his pipe.
Grand Tutor Qi rested on a wooden pillow. “Lan Zhou, recount the hunt again.”
Shen Zechuan did so, step by step.
Grand Tutor Qi listened, eyes closed. When Shen Zechuan finished, he remained silent.
Rain dripped from vines in the courtyard, tapping leaves in rhythm. After countless drops, he finally said, “In this battle, Xiao Chiye seemed to take the spotlight, yet was constrained like his elders. The new emperor called him brother for five years. He hid so deeply, how could one not fear him? The new emperor still remembers the debt of life, but how long will such loyalty endure? With his patience, he could have waited, hundreds of ways to let Qi Zhuyin lead—but he chose to act himself.”
Ji Gang tapped ash in the dim light. “The wolf cub wants to go home. Even in dreams, it’s the Li Bei grasslands. He’s young; a bit of temper is only natural.”
“Small impatience can ruin great plans,” Grand Tutor Qi said. “If he endured this once, he could return home as a playboy, no harm done.”
Outside, Xiao Chiye stood before the palace gates, looking up at the shadowed palace. The red walls and flying eaves seemed heaven-sent trials. Beneath his carefree exterior, a silent, roaring beast lay in wait.
Shen Zechuan sat upright, realizing, in this moment, the meaning behind Xiao Chiye’s actions.
He wanted to go home.
He wanted to return as himself, proud and upright.