Chapter Twenty-Six: The Crown Prince of Qingjian Creek
The next morning, Liu Lingshuang was the first to awaken. After washing up, she roused Ye Sansi and the others, speaking softly, “It’s still early. Why don’t we set out now?”
The Wang couple had also woken. The burly man said, “Brave heroes, won’t you have breakfast before leaving?” His wife quickly got up and added, “Yes, I’ll make something right away. If you wait just a bit, the meal will be ready.”
As everyone got up to wash, Liu Lingshuang took the woman’s hand and said, “Dear sister, truly, there’s no need. I know your village has endured three days of disaster, and the crops must be scarce. Yesterday you already prepared such a generous meal—if winter comes, what will you do? The few of us are young and strong, missing a meal or two is nothing. Besides, we still have some dried rations; we won’t go hungry.”
The woman held Liu Lingshuang’s hand, gently caressing it. “You are such a good girl, kind at heart. Judging from your attire, you must be from a well-off family, and yet you still care for poor folk like us. I truly admire you. Are one of these two young men your husband?”
Liu Lingshuang lowered her head and smiled. “Good sister, you’re mistaken. I’m not yet married.”
The woman laughed heartily. “Why so shy, dear? Could it be that one of them is the man you care for?”
Ye Sansi and the others, having washed up, approached. The burly man joked, “Woman, are you meddling in the young heroes’ affairs now? Do you want to play matchmaker?”
“Hmph! If not for Granny Huang back in the day, you’d never have married me. So what if I want to matchmake? I just want to tie the red string. Without her, you’d have run off with that hussy from the next village, ended up with nothing, no house, no child, no peace. But look at us—this home, our son, all because of her red string.”
The man stepped close and embraced her. “All right, all right, you and our child are the best things that ever happened to me. I was foolish back then, but compared to her, you are a thousand times better. Otherwise, how could I have chosen you? I know she was a wanton woman, dallying with several men. Your virtue is clear to me. All these years, I’ve forgotten her completely. Why bring it up?”
“If you’ve forgotten, so much the better. Still, I think one child isn’t enough; I want two.”
He laughed. “Of course, I want a big family too.”
Everyone burst out laughing. Liu Lingshuang made a face, saying, “Now, now, there are outsiders here—how embarrassing! Let’s go quickly, so we don’t keep them from their lives.”
The four of them departed, while the Wang couple exchanged a warm smile.
As they walked, Li Taiyi asked Liu Lingshuang, “Lingshuang, why are you so eager to leave? Are you still worried about Uncle Liu?”
She waved her hand. “At first I was, but after what you said the other day, I’m at ease. Thinking carefully, even if trouble befell Liu Manor, what could I do alone? My father has five old retainers protecting him. All should be well. I just worry too much; there’s no need to rush home.”
“Then why…?”
She laughed. “You didn’t see yesterday’s feast. I suspect everyone brought a little something to make it possible. After the disaster, life here is already hard. I saw the table wasn’t cleared last night. If we’d stayed, they would have continued to treat us generously. Though they do it willingly, we can’t let them endanger their own survival. Don’t you agree?”
Li Taiyi looked at her with admiration. “I never would have guessed, Lingshuang, that your heart is so gentle and thoughtful.”
They left Fox Immortal Village. Lingshuang smiled, “Taiyi, don’t flatter me. I just don’t want to be a burden, nothing so noble as you make it sound.” She pointed ahead. “That way is Qingyang City, and over there is Jianzhu City. There are several villages, but if we go around, we can head straight to Jianzhu.”
Li Taiyi craned his neck to look at Lingshuang’s map, laughing, “Do you think we can fly? The distance to Jianzhu is enormous! It took us half a day just to reach Fox Immortal Village.”
“Really? Then, Taiyi, which way should we go?”
Taking the map, Taiyi pointed forward. “Wanhua Town. We can reach it by sunset.”
The four—Ye Sansi, Liu Lingshuang, Li Taiyi, Lin Nian’er—entered the merchant road. Though longer than the footpaths, it was broad and secure, the same route merchant caravans from Qingyang used. It was just the time of day when caravans left the city. After about an hour, a large merchant caravan caught up with them.
A man riding a horse approached and announced, “I am Wei Xikun, heir to the King of Qingjianxi.” The group looked up to see a man in splendid robes, embroidered with gold thread, no fewer than ten jade pendants at his waist, a jeweled crown upon his head, even his shoes luxurious.
Wei Xikun dismounted, signaled a servant to take his horse, and walked with them. “Where are you headed? My caravan can give you a lift. All my men are skilled guards from the royal household—your safety is assured, especially you two lovely young ladies. It wouldn’t do for you to grow weary.” As he spoke, a servant held a sunshade above him.
Liu Lingshuang considered and replied, “Very well, since Young Master Wei is so gracious, it would be impolite to refuse. In fact, I am rather tired from walking. But your caravan doesn’t look like it has any place to rest—don’t tell me we’re to sit atop crates?”
“Of course not.” With a wave of his hand, several sword-wielding guards moved the cargo to another cart and soon erected a covered carriage. Ye Sansi marveled at the contraption, while Liu Lingshuang, seeing his astonishment, pulled him toward the carriage. She turned and called, “Thank you, Young Master Wei.”
“It’s nothing at all.”
Inside the carriage, Ye Sansi curiously touched everything. Liu Lingshuang laughed, “You look like you’ve never seen the world.” Ye Sansi scratched his head, “How did a cart become a house? It’s amazing.”
She smiled. “This is just the work of skilled craftsmen, nothing compared to immortal arts. You’re meant to be a sword immortal—don’t be so amazed by mortal things.”
Li Taiyi whispered, “Lingshuang, do you know this Wei Xikun?”
“No, but I know the King of Qingjianxi. Qingyang, Jianzhu, and Xizhou are all his fiefs. Originally, Lingzhou was to be under him too, but His Majesty, seeing my father’s reputation, refused and made him King of Qingjianxi instead.”
Lin Nian’er added, “The King of Qingjianxi is an upright man. When my father executed the prime minister’s brother, and the prime minister imprisoned my father, it was the King of Qingjianxi who explained matters to the throne, winning my father’s release.”
Li Taiyi nodded, “If so, our journey should be safe enough. Still, remember: when traveling the martial world or seeking the immortal path, it’s best not to deal too closely with officials.”
Liu Lingshuang was puzzled. “Why is that?”
“That is the way of immortals…”
The four nodded. Ye Sansi said, “We haven’t told them our destination—if we pass it, that would be bad.”
“We haven’t gone far, how could we have missed it?” Liu Lingshuang lifted the curtain and called out, “Young Master Wei, how long until we reach Wanhua Town? We’ll get off there.”
Wei Xikun rode to the carriage and replied, “Miss, Wanhua Town is just ahead—about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.”
“So soon? Where is your caravan headed?”
He laughed. “Our horses are the finest, traveling a thousand miles a day is nothing. We’re bound for Qingyang City to purchase jewels and jade for the royal household.”
“The royal household? In Jianzhu City?”
“Precisely. You are familiar with our household?”
“Not really, just overheard some vegetable sellers in Qingyang mention it. Since you’re headed to Jianzhu, we’ll disembark there.”
Wei Xikun smiled awkwardly. “Very well.” He rode ahead.
Lin Nian’er nudged Liu Lingshuang. “Lingshuang, how can you talk like that? It’s rude—‘vegetable sellers’? Everyone knows the King of Qingjianxi in these parts, and everyone knows the royal household is in Jianzhu. Why feign ignorance?”
Liu Lingshuang pouted, “I just dislike these powerful officials—flaunting their wealth and status, living in decadence. Those jewels on him must be worth a fortune. I’m sure the King of Qingjianxi isn’t wholly clean either.”
Li Taiyi said, “No matter. When we get to Jianzhu, we’ll part ways. Best not entangle ourselves with officials.”
“Of course.”
Night fell before the caravan reached Jianzhu. The four had dozed in the carriage and awoke when the caravan stopped. Liu Lingshuang asked, “Have we arrived? It feels like we’ve been traveling for ages.”
Wei Xikun dismounted and approached. “We miscalculated. What should have been a day’s journey is longer with the heavy loads, and it’s nightfall now—we’ve only just reached the outskirts of Jianzhu.”
“So we’re still far from Jianzhu City? What should we do now?” asked Liu Lingshuang.
Wei Xikun replied, “We’re at a post station. Let’s rest for the night, feed the horses well, and depart at dawn.”
Li Taiyi agreed, “Since there’s a post station, that’s best. Let’s have a look.”
Ye Sansi, Liu Lingshuang, Li Taiyi, Lin Nian’er, and Wei Xikun entered the post station. A post attendant hurried to greet them. Wei Xikun waved his hand, “Summon your stationmaster.”
The stationmaster appeared, immediately recognizing Wei Xikun’s distinguished appearance, and bowed deeply, “My lord, you must be a high official; forgive any lack of hospitality.”
He quickly ordered the staff to take the horses to the stables and feed them the best fodder, preparing several rooms for the guests.
Bowing low, the stationmaster asked, “May I be so bold as to ask your official rank, my lord?” Wei Xikun seemed to have anticipated the question. He straightened and declared, “I am Wei Xikun, heir to the King of Qingjianxi.”
The stationmaster instantly knelt. “Your Highness, forgive my ignorance.” Wei Xikun laughed and ordered his attendants to help the man up. “No harm done. You may go.”
Once the stationmaster withdrew, Wei Xikun turned to Liu Lingshuang and Lin Nian’er. “I’ll take the central room. You two ladies may stay in the room next to mine. I am skilled in martial arts, and my guards are all experts. With us here, you’ll be perfectly safe.”
Li Taiyi snorted, “So we don’t need protection? If bandits come, we’re the first to die, is that it?”
Lin Nian’er nudged him, “Young Master Li, that’s no way to speak. Young Master Wei is being considerate. Isn’t that so, Young Master Ye?”
Ye Sansi pondered, “Wei Xikun? That’s your name?”
Wei Xikun bowed, “Indeed, I am Wei Xikun, heir to the King of Qingjianxi.”
“I just want to ask—”
“Please, Young Master Ye.”
“Isn’t your outfit heavy? So many stones, and that hat looks especially weighty. You’d better take it off, or you’ll never grow tall.”
To Lingshuang and the others, Ye Sansi’s words seemed perfectly ordinary, but to Wei Xikun, they were a provocation, even mockery.
Though annoyed, Wei Xikun could not show anger and simply said, “I’m a bit tired. I’ll rest now,” and went into the central room.
Liu Lingshuang laughed, “Sanshi, well done! You’ve barely left the mountain and already your words can wound.”
“Wound? I didn’t hurt anyone.”
She chuckled. “Nothing, nothing. Nian’er, I’ll sleep with you tonight. Sanshi, Taiyi, you two can stay next to Wei Xikun—put some distance between us. I don’t like being too close to him.”
Lin Nian’er shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re thinking. Young Master Wei is being generous, yet you all speak so harshly.”
Liu Lingshuang put an arm around her. “Dear Nian’er, don’t be upset. All right, I promise not to speak that way again, is that good?”
“Of course. Young Master Wei is honorable, and the King of Qingjianxi has done my family great favors. We mustn’t be rude. If word got out, my father would bear the blame of ingratitude.”
Ye Sansi sneered, “What reputation? Can’t we speak the truth? People become numb, yet still care for reputation. Uncle Shu always said: on the path of immortality, we must treat all equally. That man’s arrogance is unbearable. All I did was remark on his heavy clothes, with no malice. Nian’er, you call that harsh? Why must everyone be so mindful of his feelings? I refuse.”
“You—Young Master Ye—”
Liu Lingshuang pulled Nian’er away. “Let’s sleep, Nian’er. You know how Sanshi is—he’s blunt. Save it for the morning.” Lin Nian’er huffed, but followed Liu Lingshuang inside.