Jiyang (Part 1)
On the way to the training field, He Yan replayed Lin Shuanghe’s words in her mind.
In her hands, the snake-carved black jade was as cold as ice water. In the winter air, its coolness cleared her mind a little. Yesterday, she got drunk and snatched Xiao Jue’s jade before leaving. Since she committed such a shocking act, in the future, she could no longer drink however she wanted.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even realize she’d arrived at the training field.
Before her stood a person wearing the Southern Army’s black armor. With her head lowered, she silently got closer before hearing Xiao Jue’s cold voice. “This is the formation you arranged?”
The other was probably his Deputy Chief Commander, who was in charge of the Southern Army’s drills and formations. To others, he appeared tall and powerful, but now, in front of Xiao Jue, he was like a child who made a mistake. With a bowed head, he responded, “This subordinate was wrong. The soldiers must be unaccustomed to Liangzhou’s snowy weather . . .”
“Unaccustomed?” Second Young Master Xiao glanced at him and asked, “Do you need me to teach you how to become accustomed?”
He Yan unmistakably saw the tall and sturdy fellow tremble in fear from Xiao Jue’s words. “This subordinate will immediately continue training them!”
“Double the daily drills,” Xiao Jue ordered calmly. “If this happens again, there’ll be no need for you to remain at the Liangzhou Guard.”
“Understood!” The man then walked away. He Yan stretched her neck to look in the training field’s direction. She watched the fellow stand in front of some Southern Army soldiers and vividly curse at them before loudly continuing their formations practice.
Xiao Jue’s attitudes toward the Southern Army soldiers and the Liangzhou Guard’s new recruits were different. He rarely appeared before the Liangzhou Guard’s new recruits and was disaffectionate towards Shen Han and the others—there was also a certain level of courteousness. Only toward the Southern Army soldiers did he display his typical behavior—self-willed and hard-hearted, exactly the type of Chief Commander who’d scold them over a disagreement.
Back when she was General Fei Hong, was she also this unlikeable? He Yan silently reviewed herself.
While she pondered, Xiao Jue turned around. When he saw her, he paused and was silent for a moment. With a hint of impatience, he asked, “Why are you here again?”
He Yan smiled apologetically and stretched out her hand. The piece of black jade laid on her palm. “Chief Commander seemed to have left something behind with me last night, so I’m specially here to return it.”
“Return it?” Xiao Jue ruminated over these two words before bending down to look into her eyes. The corners of his lips curled up as he coldly said, “My good daughter is very considerate.”
He Yan was speechless.
Why does this person like to hold grudges? Besides, even if she did call him ‘father,’ it was Xiao Jue who took unfair advantage of her, so how come it sounded as if she’d committed some heinous crime when Xiao Jue said it?
He Yan did her best to maintain her composure and said, “Chief Commander sure knows how to joke. This black jade appears to be very valuable, so Chief Commander shouldn’t lose it in the future. It’s best to keep it safe.” She lifted the jade and stretched her hands out to Xiao Jue’s waist.
Xiao Jue took a step back with a vigilant expression. “What are you doing?”
“I’m fastening it for you,” He Yan replied with a face of innocence. “Isn’t this jade pendant supposed to be hung around your waist?”
In Xiao Jue’s mind, Lin Shuanghe’s words suddenly resurfaced: she likes your waist.
He Yan insisted on coming closer, but Xiao Jue raised his hand and stopped her. He glanced at her with a complicated look. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Oh.” Confused, He Yan handed back his jade pendant and watched Xiao Jue refasten it. Against his dark indigo clothing, it looked very pretty.
She looked at it earnestly, not realizing that once Xiao Jue caught her staring, he’d narrow his eyes and immediately turn around and sweep his outer robe.
Did he get bit by an insect? He Yan was puzzled.
From the training field came the voices of soldiers bellowing orders. He Yan followed him to the balcony and looked down. The Southern Army was already extremely orderly, and their morale was remarkable. Such a powerful army, yet he almost scolded their Deputy Chief Commander to tears just then. What was wrong with him? Wasn’t Xiao Jue a little too fussy?
If he’d taken over the Fu Yue Army, he wouldn’t even have enough time to eat with how much he’d have to scold the soldiers.
Watching them, He Yan spoke her mind. “They’re training well. You were too fierce just then.”
“Fierce?”
“Yes,” He Yan said. “If it were me, I’d long be dead from fear.”
Xiao Jue smiled again, a trace of mockery on his lips. “I don’t think you find me fierce.”
“That’s because I’m used to being scolded.” He Yan lowered her head and looked towards the Southern Army soldiers. “Arrow Head Formation1.”
Xiao Jue asked, “What do you think?”
“They’ve practiced very well. However, the snowy ground has been slippery recently, so the soldiers in the last row on the left can’t keep up.”
“Other than the Arrow Head Formation, what formations do you know of?” Xiao Jue asked indifferently.
“Hm, there’s a lot.” He Yan began counting with her fingers. “There’s the Scattering Star Formation2, Mandarin Duck Formation3, Fish Scale Formation, Crane Wing Formation4 . . .” She listed more than ten in one go. However, after realizing that Xiao Jue was staring at her, she unconsciously stopped and asked, “Why . . . are you looking at me?”
Xiao Jue turned around and placed both hands on the balcony’s railing. With a lazy smile, he said, “Look at how impressive you are, Female Star General.”
“. . .”
She might as well shamelessly play along. “If I’m so impressive, then why doesn’t Chief Commander consider granting me a promotion? Perhaps as your right-hand man? If we combine our swords, even Heaven and Earth won’t be our match!”
Xiao Jue sneered. “Who’s ‘we’?”
“Stop always keeping people an arm’s length away—you have to learn to be more approachable like me.”
Xiao Jue no longer bothered to respond. He Yan wanted to continue, but a voice sounded from behind. “Young Master.”
It was Fei Nu.
“Young Master.” Fei Nu glanced at He Yan. “There’s movement from Lei Hou.”
Xiao Jue nodded. “Alright.” He turned around and walked downstairs, most likely to visit the dungeon—He Yan wanted to follow him but paused after a step.
Never mind. If it was truly something serious, she’d know even without Xiao Jue telling her. If she eagerly followed him now, she’d probably just be an eyesore. She should go find Chu Zhao and ask if she overstepped any boundaries while drunk last night.
If she did, she’d have to queue up and apologize.
Thinking of this, she waved at Xiao Jue. “I have a matter to deal with, so I won’t follow Chief Commander anymore. Let’s see each other later.”
The corners of Fei Nu’s lips twitched. With how intimate she acted, it was as if she’d been invited to come along.
Xiao Jue was long used to He Yan’s rascal-like behavior. He began stepping down the stairs. “Then go.”
…..
When He Yan arrived in Chu Zhao’s room, he was practicing calligraphy.
Yesterday, she’d come in haste. Moreover, it was nighttime, and she only stayed in his yard, so she didn’t take note of his living quarters and only found it not luxurious enough. Now that she was here again in the daytime, not only did she find it not luxurious enough, but it was downright shabby.
Other than a table and bed, there were only two chairs in his room—there weren’t even any decorative ornaments.
However, this Fourth Young Master Chu was quite adept at amusing himself. He’d lit incense and hung a gauze canopy, allowing the initially shabby room to appear more elegant and reclusive.
When Ying Xiang saw her, she asked with a smile, “Is Young Master He here to see our Young Master?”
“Um,” He Yan replied, “I’m . . . here to deliver some refreshments to Fourth Young Master Chu.” She raised the box in her hands; in it were some leftover scallion pancakes that Lin Shuanghe gave her. She intended on keeping them as a snack for when she felt hungry, but she felt it’d be rude to visit Chu Zhao empty-handed, hence she brought them along as a crude gift.
“Fourth Young Master Chu is currently practicing his calligraphy.” Ying Xiang smiled. “Young Master He, please follow this servant.”
He Yan followed her inside and saw Chu Zhao writing at the table.
She stood behind him and couldn’t help but read aloud.
“‘See no dust on the verdant mountain nor clouds in the clear sky. The sky hangs only one moon; the mountain stands only one man.’
“‘Now hear the sound of pines. Now hear the sound of bells. Now hear the sound of mountain streams. Now hear the sound of insects.’”
Just as the last word passed her lips, Chu Zhao finished the last stroke. When he turned around and saw it was her, he smiled and said, “Brother He is here.”
He Yan walked around the table, admiring his calligraphy. “Young Master Chu’s calligraphy is beautiful.”
Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue’s calligraphy were different. Xiao Jue’s strokes were sharp and vigorous, carrying a cold willfulness. Chu Zhao’s, on the other hand, were beautiful and tender, as if he was wearing his heart on his sleeve. His poems were just as humble and elegant. It was truly hard to believe he’d be siding with Xu Jingfu.
Admittedly, however, if He Yan and Xiao Jue weren’t as close as they were now and she took Ding Yi’s words to heart, she would’ve thought Xu Jingfu was an upright and honest senior prime minister.
“Did Brother He come to me for something?” Chu Zhao stood up and packed away his brush and paper. He invited He Yan to sit at the only desk in the room, which just so happened to have two chairs. He said to Ying Xiang, “Pour tea for Young Master He.”
Ying Xiang departed to fetch tea. He Yan said, “I’m not here to ask you for any favors. It’s just, I feel very apologetic for drinking Fourth Young Master Chu’s Chang’an Chun last night, so I came to deliver some refreshments.”
She motioned to the box she’d placed on the table but was too embarrassed to unlid it; after all, the contents looked too humble.
“Many thanks.” Chu Zhao was very considerate. “It just so happens that I’ve been wanting to try the refreshments in Liangzhou to see how they’re different from Shuojing’s. Brother He chose the perfect time to deliver some.”
He Yan sighed lightly. “I almost forgot to ask, but while I was here last night, I drank a few too many cups. Did I trouble Fourth Young Master in any way?” She scratched her head. “Whenever I’m drunk, I have the habit of speaking nonsense. If I said anything offensive, I hope Fourth Young Master won’t take it to heart.”
Chu Zhao looked at her and chuckled. “Did Brother He specially come over today just to ask me this?”
Look at him. As expected of the current Prime Minister’s most prided student—his meticulousness left her speechless.
As if noticing He Yan’s embarrassment and discomfort, Chu Zhao cheerfully said, “Don’t worry. Last night, Brother He didn’t do anything but pull me into a conversation regarding military tactics. However, I don’t understand that topic, so I couldn’t discuss it further with Brother He, causing all your efforts to go to waste.” He glanced at He Yan and sighed. “I was just surprised by how much Brother He knew.”
He Yan silently criticized herself. No longer would she call others peacocks when she herself was one during drunkenness. Each time she was intoxicated, she’d go around showing off how many books she’d read—how shameful!
Translator's Notes
- More commonly known as the ‘Hoshi Formation’
- Used by the Song Dynasty’s General Yue Fei to break through the Jin Army’s Guaizi Ma Formation during the Battle of Yancheng.
- One of the military approaches described in the New Treatise on Military Efficiency written by the Ming Dynasty’s General Qi Jiguang.
- Notably used during the Battle of Hansan Island by the Joseon Dynasty’s Admiral Yi Sun-sin to defeat the Japanese Navy at sea.