Chapter 212: To and Fro

Joy of Life

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"Why are you laughing, Master Fan?"

This was what he had expected Haitang to ask. Fan Xian cleared his throat and beamed. "I like the way you walk, my lady."

Haitang was rather surprised, and anger flashed behind her eyes.

"If I am lying, may Heaven strike me down," said Fan Xian hurriedly.

Haitang could not help but doubt his oath, but she still did not understand it. She had been teased in the palace for the way she walked for many years; why did this young man like it? She thought back to his underhanded tactics by the edge of the northern sea, and felt even more confused.

The two of them were silent as they walked toward the palace under the dark canopy of trees that covered the mountain. Haitang was highly revered in Northern Qi, and the moment the palace eunuchs and maids heard the sound of her cloth shoes padding along, they immediately withdrew to the side under the trees, bowing reverently toward this indolent country b.u.mpkin, not daring to look directly at her.

"His Majesty is quite fond of me. I must admit I am rather terrified." Fan Xian finally spoke, carefully choosing his words to gauge her response.

"There is no need to be modest, Master Fan," replied Haitang, her face unwavering. "His Majesty is a great fan of poetry, and when the Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology came out, all the scholars in the land had a copy. His Majesty was no exception. When Zhuang Mohan returned from Qing and told His Majesty of his experience, from that day on His Majesty took great interest in you, and speaks often of you. If Northern Qi had such a poetic talent as yourself, that would be wonderful indeed. We regret that we have yet to find such talent. Now that you have returned Xiao En to the capital and our two countries stand in confrontation to one another, His Majesty naturally fears for your safety."

Fan Xian said nothing. It seemed that the young Emperor had formed quite a connection to a person - himself - that he had never once met. And yet the Emperor"s worried frown suggested that there were other things he wanted to tell him, but the walls of the palace had ears, and he did not want to talk of such things in front of Haitang - what these things were, he had no idea.

"Is that so? That is quite unexpected." Fan Xian frowned, seemingly not believing what Haitang was saying.

"Today you looked over the mountain forests of the palace and spoke of man as part of nature. I quite admired it. Once your official business is concluded, if you have time to spare, I hoped that you might give your advice. After my master read the Banxianzhai Poetry Anthology, he was silent for a long while, and then finally sighed in admiration of you, Master Fan. I was originally rather surprised, but speaking with you today, I have only now realized that your reputation is well-deserved."

"You are too kind." She spoke genuinely, and so Fan Xian replied with sincerity. "I hope that you will provide a.s.sistance regarding Yan Bingyun."

"I do not involve myself with politics," replied Haitang calmly.

Fan Xian frowned. "Then why did you travel alone to the northern sea in the hopes of killing Xiao En? Don"t tell me you didn"t know the great effect Xiao En"s death would have on this agreement."

Haitang smiled. "Before I made my move, Master Fan, it seemed that you also wanted to kill Xiao En. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"Because I was interested in the secrets that he holds." Fan Xian rubbed his slightly wet hands, and turned his head to look at the wide expanse of palace scenery.

"I tried to kill Xiao En because that secret could cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people," replied Haitang calmly.

They stood in silence under a large tree. The green leaves above them blocked out the sun, leaving them cool. Fan Xian turned his gaze to Haitang"s st.u.r.dy shoulders and suddenly spoke. "In this world, nothing can stay a secret forever."

"While Xia

o En is still alive, it"s possible that many people could die."

Fan Xian raised his eyebrows. He knew that her inexplicable melancholy seemed in many respects to be devoid of sense, but he could not change anything with mere words.

"His Majesty seemed to have something he wanted to ask of you," said Haitang.

Fan Xian was slightly taken aback. She had seen it too. He paused for a moment in thought. "Do you know what it was?" he asked earnestly.

"I don"t know either," replied Haitang. "But if it is anything to do with Si Lili, I ask that you inform me, Master Fan."

Fan Xian did not reply straight away. The thought troubled him. What help could the ruler of a nation need from him? Could it really be about Si Lili? He was powerless in Northern Qi. What could he do about it?

"Poor Lili. She"s a good person." Haitang"s hands were still in her pockets. "Please help if you can, Master Fan."

Fan Xian had all kinds of thoughts of their carriage ride north. For a moment, he was despondent, unsure of how to respond. And so the two fell silent once more, walking slowly onward, allowing the leaves above their heads and the sunlight even further above to weave in and out of each other, falling upon their bodies, on his green robes and her simple, flower-patterned clothing.

Fan Xian suddenly rushed a few steps ahead, walking side by side with Haitang. She turned her head and looked at him casually, but said nothing.

Fan Xian slowly began to relax, copying the young woman"s country walk. He lifted his chin slightly, a slight laziness in his eyes as he looked around. His green robes had no pockets, so he had nothing to stick his hands in, and could only hold them behind his back like some old scholar. He shifted his hips forward and relaxed all the muscles of this body, allowing his seemingly heavy feet to drag his seemingly exhausted body along the stone road, lazily strolling on.

Haitang turned her head to look at him again, seemingly unsure of why he had decided to copy the way she had walked ever since she was a child. She looked a little confused.

There was a warm smile on Fan Xian"s face, as if he hadn"t noticed her looking at him as he walked leisurely alongside her. Haitang didn"t feel like paying any more attention to that rascal, and she rolled her neck slightly. She seemed very comfortable. Fan Xian also stretched and yawned.

By that point the sun had reached the midpoint of the sky, and its warm light shone down.

The sounds of their footsteps slowly merged into one, making them feel inexplicably sleepy. And so they dragged their feet back to the palace, looking like a pair of married farmers heading from the fields back home to sleep.

A bead of sweat dripped from Haitang"s nose. Her ordinary-looking face had a strange charm.

"That antidote you gave me... the orange peel was too strong. It tasted rather bitter." Haitang seemed to be reveling in the sunshine.

Fan Xian laughed, knowing that she had already seen through the tricks he had used that day. "I am a commissioner of the Overwatch Council, not some sage seeking harmony with nature. It makes my methods somewhat coa.r.s.e. I hope you don"t mind. Of course, if you do mind, you could give me... that drug."

His words were somewhat frivolous, but Haitang did not blush like any ordinary girl. "If I had the chance, I would use it," she replied casually.

Fan Xian broke out in a sweat. "You are a commissioner of the Overwatch Council," she continued, "someone who walks in the shadows. Why did you draw so much attention to yourself after leaving Danzhou for the capital? It seems that now you walk in the light."

"The dark night has given me black eyes, but I use them to search for light." [1]

Fan Xian continued to use the wonderful words of a poet from that world, even though that b.a.s.t.a.r.d had died in such a stupid and cowardly way. Sure enough, Haitang was surprised. She turned her head and looked at him. Surely something had imperceptibly shifted in her view of him.

Fan Xian laughed and continued. "Of course, the dark night has given me black eyes, and I have more opportunities to use them... to roll my eyes at this world."

Haitang finally laughed. She really was "smiling sweetly between the bamboo fence". Haitang had been coa.r.s.e all the way along the mountain. If the palace walls were a bamboo fence, then what did she have to fear of what people thought vulgar? [2]

Leaving through the palace, he said a few words to the worried-looking w.a.n.g Qinian and the Tiger Guards. Escorted by the Northern Qi Imperial Guard, Fan Xian the southern official sat in his carriage and rode back to his lodging. Exiting his carriage, he was greeted by a chaotic scene, and could not help but feel somewhat surprised.

Once he had taken a few steps toward the gate, and saw clearly what was going on, he was completely shocked.

In front of the gate were a number of Northern Qi officials and guards, crouched on the floor picking up things. Every man dragged a sack behind him, and they would pick up an object from time to time and place it inside. From the way they carried it, it seems that the objects were heavy. Fan Xian was very curious. "What"s going on?" he asked w.a.n.g Qinian, who was standing next to him.

w.a.n.g Qinian was also puzzled.

As they walked further, they realized that on the floor in a large s.p.a.ce in front of the courtyard gate were all sorts of swords. Some had scabbards decorated with beryl, some were plain and unadorned, some were modern, and of course, many of them were the curved sabers beloved by the people of Northern Qi.

Fan Xian sucked in a breath of cold air. "Go and grab those bags. Since they fell in front of their door, even if they"re only good for sc.r.a.p, some of their value should be ours." Having appreciated the palace scenery, chatted, and imitated that country girl"s walk, he felt quite at ease, so he smiled as he spoke, seeming a little bit like Fan Sizhe.

w.a.n.g Qinian forced a smile. "You must be in high spirits, sir, to make such jokes."

Fan Xian couldn"t help but laugh bitterly. "And if not, then what? Don"t tell me we"re picking up every single blade?" Ever since he had almost taken a blade to the face, courtesy of Ye Ling"er back in the capital, Fan Xian was clear on the customs of combat in this world - throw your blade at your opponent"s feet, and if they accept the challenge, then pick up your sword.

"But they"ve had all day. What"s causing all this trouble?" he asked with a frown.

[1] A quote from "A Generation" by the modern poet Gu Cheng (1956-1993). Gu killed himself after killing his wife with an axe.

[2] A reference to Song poet Su Shi"s poem; "Lodging East of the Dinghui Courtyard, Many Flowers Cover The Mountain, And There Is A Flowering Apple Tree Whose Worth The Locals Do Not Know". One line in the poem is "smiling sweetly between a bamboo fence, the peach and plum trees coa.r.s.ely cover the mountain".

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