Chapter 22 - 1#
Pursuit - Meeting Xie Yi, Almost Caught#
The wind was sharp and the snow was heavy.
Yanzhi carried his bundle and held the “little dog” as he trekked through the mountain forests.
He didn’t dare take the main official roads, fearing the imperial guards would catch up, so he could only duck into the woods.
However, he wasn’t afraid at all.
Perhaps it was because when he was small, he often went up the mountains to gather firewood and pick mushrooms; or perhaps it was because he himself was a little swallow—entering the woods felt like coming home.
He didn’t need to use tools or look up at the sky; he had a compass in his heart that pointed accurately south, leading his way directly.
The little swallow flapped its wings, lightly skimming the treetops in the swirling snow, flying swiftly toward the south.
Even though he was a few days late, he was eventually going south for the winter.
Yanzhi didn’t dare stop for a single moment.
Not until he was deep in the forest and certain no one was pursuing him did he dare halt. He found a large rock sufficient to shield him from the wind and snow and hid behind it, clutching the “little dog.”
No, he was too tired; he truly couldn’t run anymore.
He hadn’t slept well last night, dreaming all night long. This morning he had risen early to serve His Majesty with washing and dressing, and he hadn’t eaten much breakfast.
Previously, due to agitation and excitement, he had run very fast. Now, bitten by the wind and soaked by the snow, he belatedly felt his body ache and his stomach rumble.
He had to rest for a while.
Yanzhi unwrapped the cloth from the “little dog,” placing it under his bottom so he could sit a bit more comfortably.
After catching his breath, he wiped his hands with a clean handkerchief and brought out his real bundle, pulling out a large water skin and a big meat patty.
These were the dry rations he had prepared long ago!
He wasn’t stupid! Besides clothes and silver, he had brought a water skin, three bean paste cakes, and five big, big, big—meat patties!
As long as he ate sparingly, these rations would be completely sufficient for him to travel in the mountains for five or six days.
Yanzhi lifted the cowhide water skin and shook it by his ear.
When he had filled it with water, he had used hot water. The snow hadn’t been falling for long, so the water in the skin hadn’t frozen yet.
Yanzhi pulled out the stopper, took a sip of the still-warm water, and bit into a large piece of meat patty. Leaning against the rock wall, he felt some of his strength return.
He looked down to see the “little dog” lying on his lap, its two front paws restlessly scratching at his clothes, clearly wanting some too.
Yanzhi patted its head and said seriously, “I’ve been carrying you all the way; your feet haven’t even touched the ground. You’re not allowed to eat.”
The wolf cub let out a few “wu wu” whines, looking at him expectantly.
“Alright then,” Yanzhi changed his mind immediately. “Seeing as you’ve been very good, I’ll share a bit with you.”
Yanzhi broke off a piece of the meat patty and offered it.
The wolf cub opened its mouth wide, its tongue curled, and swallowed the piece without even touching his hand.
In this way, the person and the wolf shared half a meat patty.
Yanzhi didn’t dare eat much, nor did he dare sit for long.
He feared that once he started eating, he wouldn’t be able to stop, and even more so that once he sat down, he wouldn’t want to get up.
He pulled out a thick garment from his bundle to wrap himself in and used a handkerchief to bind his lower legs.
Finally, he stood up, stood on tiptoe, and used a dagger to cut down a straight branch. With a simple carving, it became a walking stick for him to lean on as he moved forward.
Fortunately, having followed His Majesty in battles everywhere, he knew some efficient ways to travel and march.
Just as he was preparing to set off, the “little dog” in his arms suddenly struggled, rolled over, and landed on the ground with a “thump.”
“What are you doing? We need to keep going.”
Yanzhi squatted down, wanting to pick it up again.
But the “little dog” simply used its four legs to run forward a few steps.
A short distance away, it stopped, turned its head, and wagged its tail at Yanzhi.
“Eh…”
Yanzhi leaned on his stick. Just as he caught up, the “little dog” continued running forward to wait for him.
After several repetitions, Yanzhi belatedly realized and scratched his head.
“Oh, I forgot, you can walk on your own.”
“Ao-wu—”
“Then let’s keep going!”
No longer needing to carry it, Yanzhi felt much lighter and found his strength again.
The wolf cub scouted the path ahead, and Yanzhi followed behind.
Person and wolf, one after the other, crossed a small mountain like this.
Yanzhi stood on a high rock, looking back toward Liang City.
From a distance, the once magnificent and majestic capital was covered in snow, reduced to a tiny dot, not to mention the Daliang Palace.
He raised his hand and used his thumb and index finger to “pinch” the Daliang Palace from afar.
Yanzhi turned his head back and softly called out: “Tanggao.”
The wolf cub seemed to hear; its ears twitched, and it looked back at him.
It was likely confused.
Yanzhi hadn’t called it by that name for a long time; it had almost forgotten it.
Why was he calling it that now?
Yanzhi gave it an innocent and frank smile, calling out repeatedly: “Tanggao, Tanggao, Tanggao!”
“Ao-wu—” The wolf cub gave a cry and ran back to his side, circling around his trouser legs.
Yanzhi stood on the high ground, raised his walking stick, and stubbornly announced at the top of his voice: “I’m going to call you ‘Tanggao’! Pitch-black brown sugar Tanggao! Even His Majesty cannot change your name!”
“Let’s go! Tanggao, let’s keep going! To a place where I can call you ‘Tanggao’ openly! Cough, cough…”
A sudden cold wind struck Yanzhi’s wide-open mouth, making him cough uncontrollably.
The snow was falling harder, and the sky was growing darker.
Yanzhi jumped off the rock, making up his mind not to delay any longer. He had to find a place to stay before nightfall.
Going to a hunter’s farmstead to stay overnight would be best. If not, a cave would do.
*
The sky grew darker and darker.
Deep in the wind and snow, a warm yellow light faintly appeared.
Fearing Tanggao would get lost, Yanzhi specifically took out a prepared leather collar, put it on its neck, and led it along.
Person and wolf walked toward the light for nearly half an hour before finally arriving at the gate of a farmstead.
The farmstead was not large, with stone walls and a wooden gate.
A lantern hung under the eaves, swaying in the wind. The candlelight shone through the lantern paper, where one could faintly see plum blossoms and a poem inscribed.
Clearly, the owner was educated, able to write poetry and paint; this was no ordinary farm household.
Yanzhi stood still at the gate, smoothed his hair, adjusted his collar, and finally picked up Tanggao.
“I’ll knock on the door and do the talking. You’re not allowed to cry out; don’t scare the master of the house. Understand?”
Tanggao nudged his chest, indicating it understood.
Only then did Yanzhi knock.
Duo duo—
Perhaps the wind and snow were too loud; no one inside heard.
Yanzhi waited for a while. Seeing no one come out, he increased his force and pounded harder.
Kuang kuang—
This time, someone finally answered.
“Who is it? Coming! Coming!”
The wooden door opened a crack from the inside. An old man in his fifties or sixties peered out through the crack, his gaze wary.
Yanzhi stood outside, showing eight small white teeth, smiling politely and respectfully, even calling out obediently: “Grandfather, good evening.”
Seeing it was a young master around seventeen or eighteen, the wariness on the old man’s face dissipated slightly, and his tone naturally softened: “Young Master, what is your business?”
“I am passing through this place on my way to the south to travel, but I didn’t expect the heavy snow and got stranded in the mountains. I saw the light here and followed it. I wonder if Grandfather could allow me to stay for a night?”
Yanzhi added hastily, “Grandfather, rest assured, I can pay.”
The old man looked him up and down twice. Yanzhi stood even straighter, not afraid of being scrutinized.
—Rest assured! I am a good person!
“I am not the master of the house and cannot make the decision,” the old man said. “Young Master, please wait outside for a moment. I will go in and ask the master.”
“Okay.” Yanzhi gave him a proper bow. “Thank you, Grandfather.”
The old man turned back. Just as he was about to close the door, there was movement in the house.
It seemed the master of the house had heard their voices and was coming out to see.
The old man hurriedly called out: “Young Master?”
Yanzhi also quickly lowered his head, tugged at his sleeves and hem, and adjusted his attire once more.
In the next moment, the door opened, and candlelight spilled out from the room.
A familiar figure appeared at the door.
Yanzhi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
In the next instant, a gentle voice spoke—
“Young Master Yanzhi?”
Seeing that the two of them knew each other, the old man hurriedly opened the door fully.
Yanzhi, clutching Tanggao, rushed in!
“Xie Yi!”
*
The room was very warm with a charcoal brazier.
Only the charcoal crackled from time to time as it burned.
Yanzhi changed out of his snow-soaked clothes, briefly wiped his body with hot water, and finally changed into the clean clothes Xie Yi gave him.
He also wanted to wipe Tanggao, but Tanggao ran to a corner, shook its head and body, and shook off the remaining snow on its fur.
Yanzhi didn’t bother with it further.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“Young Master Yanzhi, have you finished changing?”
“Yes, I’m ready!”
Yanzhi hurriedly tied his belt and jogged forward to open the door.
Xie Yi stood outside holding a wooden tray: “The mountains are cold. I had the old man boil some ginger soup for you and prepared something to eat.”
“Thank you.”
Xie Yi handed him the tray: “I can’t hold it steady; I’ll trouble Young Master to take it.”
“Okay.” Yanzhi quickly took the tray and stepped aside to let him in.
Xie Yi held onto the door frame, lifted his right leg, and with some effort, stepped over the threshold into the room.
Yanzhi lowered his head, his gaze falling on his leg.
When they first met, he had noticed it.
Xie Yi’s walk was not very steady; he was limping.
Xie Yi closed the door and looked up at him: “Young Master Yanzhi?”
“Eh!” Yanzhi regained his senses, carried the tray into the room, set the things down, and then hurriedly came back to support him.
“I’m fine,” Xie Yi smiled. “Young Master Yanzhi, do not worry.”
Yanzhi was persistent, however, helping him to sit on the couch and bringing a blanket to cover him.
Even if he didn’t say it, Yanzhi knew—
“Was it His Majesty?”
Xie Yi’s face stiffened. Under Yanzhi’s stubborn gaze, he finally nodded: “Yes.”
He explained: “At that time, His Majesty ordered me to be sent to the purification room. Fortunately, several ministers pleaded for me, so His Majesty didn’t have me castrated. He only had someone give me ten strokes of the board and then threw me out of the palace.”
Yanzhi gritted his teeth and cursed softly: “How hateful.”
Later, when he asked His Majesty, His Majesty only said he had let Xie Yi go.
He completely failed to mention that he also had Xie Yi beaten.
Truly hateful, truly excessive.
Seeing his teeth-gritting expression, Xie Yi smiled and comforted him: “It was only ten strokes; they are just flesh wounds. They are almost healed now.”
He picked up the ginger soup and handed it to Yanzhi: “Drink some ginger soup first to dispel the cold.”
“Okay.” Yanzhi cupped the bowl with both hands and took a large gulp of ginger soup. “Ha—”
So spicy!
Yanzhi opened his mouth wide and exhaled twice, then asked: “Then why are you living here now? Is your home here?”
“Naturally not,” Xie Yi said with a smile. “My father achieved military merits in the army and was promoted, receiving some rewards. I used that silver to buy some mountain estates nearby.”
“At that time, I had offended His Majesty and was injured, so I thought of coming to the estate to recover and also to hide for a while to avoid implicating my family. I’ll return to the capital once the trouble has passed.”
“I’m sorry.” Yanzhi set down the ginger soup, lowered his head, and sighed. “It’s all because I dragged you into this.”
Xie Yi said softly: “I did originally have some resentment toward Young Master Yanzhi.”