The snow stopped, clouds soaring about and mutating in their mult.i.tudes, and a clear, cold moon bored through the layer of cloud onto the big river, shrouding a small boat.

On the prow stood a tall man in white robes playing a transverse bamboo flute, notes slipping out velvety from that high-quality mottled bamboo instrument.

Song Yuming was at the bank watching with his hands clasped behind his back the man the Son of Heaven called the “White-Clad Martial Celestial”. He sighed and called out, “You"re here. Year in and year out, don"t you get tired of it?”

White-Clad Martial Celestial Chen Xichui lowered his flute and looked at the fisherman with his hands behind his back over on the bank. “A lot of people hope you will return,” he said softly.

Song Yuming smiled and shook his head. “Even if a hundred thousand people wanted me to go back, as long as the one on the dragon throne does not wish it, I won"t go.”

Chen Xichui frowned. “The wind is up with many changes in the capital. The crown prince longs for the throne and their are factions formed not at court. His Majesty is in poor health and though the high consort has no heir, she has still become entangled with the crown prince"s contention for the throne. Third Prince seeks higher up support, so…”

Song Yuming waved it away and cut him off. “Such a pestilent atmosphere is no match for the peaceful scenery here. I have no interest in stepping into those muddy waters… General Chen, you should go.”

Chen Xichui had more to say, but he saw the calm look on Song Yuming"s face and knew he had already set aside many things, including concern for that woman. Whatever else he might say would do no good. He heaved a sigh. “I never really hoped to be able to persuade you to leave retirement… I"m happy you can live reely in such a nice secluded place… I won"t come anymore.”

He took out a l.u.s.trous jade pendant and tossed it to Song Yuming, a bitter smile on his face. “After all, it was my younger sister, Baozhuang, who let you down the most. I"m returning this to its rightful owner.”

Song Yuming s.n.a.t.c.hed the jade ornament out of the air and looked at it. It was a bare semi-circular disc with bamboo and plum carvings.[1]

How to tie the knot of affection? With a beautiful jade hung from a silken sash.[2]

Song Yuming smiling self-mockingly. The beautiful jade was now without silken sash, and the beauty called Chen Baozhuang was now elevated to position of high consort.

Chen Xichui sculled his boat away, leaving him alone on the riverbank. Song Yuming watched the lone boat recede into the distance along the surface of the water and he said to himself, “The wind is up.”

Hardly had his voice faded away when a biting gust of winter wind blew past and disturbed the stray black hairs at his temples. His coa.r.s.e hemp clothes rustled.

He turned and left, step by step back to his little house. Inside the thatched cottage, a woman was already sound asleep. Song Yuming gazed at his wife tucked snugly under the covers and his lips curled up into a thin smile.

He took the other quilt and slept along the outer edge of the bed. He could smell the delicate scent of his woman beside him. He peacefully shut his eyes.

Early morning sunlight streamed through the window and onto the bed, s.h.i.+ning on Xue Dongting"s face. She opened eyes, her groggy, drowsy seductive eyes. Her mind was blank for a time. She turned to her side. The fisherman had not woken yet, lightly snoring as if he slept soundly.

Xue Dongting didn"t know who her husband had went to see last night, or what was said between them. She dressed and lightly padded off the bed. She combed her hair and washed her face, then went to the kitchen to cook.

Song Yuming had woken while she was dressing. He heard her busy footsteps and quickly dressed and got up and went to the kitchen doorway and watched his wife busy cooking, a gentle smile on his face.

Xue Dongting wore a plain, light yellow jacket, a silver hairpin carelessly keeping her hair drawn up in a bun. She looked demure and gentle.

She was naturally pretty and not cold and aloof like some celestial maiden. The curling smoke from the stove only added to her many womanly charms.

Song Yuming stood in the doorway and watched his wife. He couldn"t help but be a bit out of sorts.

[1] This is an example of the kind of jade ornament described in the text. Bamboo and plum are symbols of childhood sweethearts.

[2] This line is a quote from a Han dynasty poem. It refers to ancient times when a girl would wear a colored sash around her waist to signify that she was betrothed. A person of high status could add a jade pendant. The jade returned to him bare and no sash means the betrothal is off.