Chapter 4#

The Luan’s Shadow in the Mirror#

Two days later, Jiannan Circuit’s Court Audience Envoy Feng Cheng indeed submitted a memorial to the Department of Inner Palace Service, saying that among the luggage of the commoner Li Fengbing there was an item of tribute from Jiannan from seven years ago. The matter was grave, and he did not dare treat it lightly, requesting a thorough investigation.

The Department of Inner Palace Service was utterly baffled, but in the end they sent people to investigate. They found that the bolt of Shu brocade had been bestowed by the emperor in the twenty-seventh year of Yongzhi upon Pei Dan, who was then Assistant Director of the Palace Library; Pei Dan was now a weighty chancellor. The eunuchs of the Department of Inner Palace Service gathered to discuss for a long while and decided to toss this hot potato to the Court of Judicial Review.

Although the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review was fierce, he was not stupid. This sort of matter could be great or small, and of course he would not be the rafter that sticks out. But Feng Cheng’s memorial had not been sealed, and this years-old affair spread like wildfire through the Three Departments. After agonizing for a long time, the Chief Justice decided to first sound out Chancellor Pei’s attitude.

If Chancellor Pei wanted to prosecute, he would prosecute; if Chancellor Pei was mindful of old ties, he would raise it high and let it fall lightly.

Who would have thought that after that one ruqun was submitted into the Hall of Administration as evidence, Chancellor Pei’s words were: a few days ago his residence had suffered a burglary, and several pieces of clothing had been lost; he thanked the Court of Judicial Review for helping him find them.

The Chief Justice could not fathom the nobleman’s intent, but thought that since this was so, he would follow Chancellor Pei’s meaning and give Li Fengbing a charge of theft. But what had been stolen was no longer tribute, and had no connection to the case from years ago, so the charge was greatly reduced. His mind turned again: Li Fengbing’s status was special, after all, and it would not do to use torture on him, so he sent men to bring his servant boy and gave him fifty lashes.

Chunshi limped back to the hostel, yet he was quite tough, still saying his conscience was clear. Fengbing said not a word, and made him pull down his trousers to apply medicine. Only then did Chunshi finally weaken his voice, lie prone by the head of the bed, and at last cry.

Those fifty lashes Chunshi received, he had received in place of his master.

The Court of Judicial Review was practiced in torture; the lashes did not injure the bones, but they tore the skin and drew blood, painful to the extreme. With great difficulty the bleeding was stopped, and when the medicine was applied again there was another struggle. Chunshi was in such pain that tears streamed down his face; looking at his master, he even saw double.

In the dim, faint lamplight, his master was perfectly calm, only his hands applying medicine grew gentler and gentler.

Chunshi had entered the prince’s residence at ten; this year he was eighteen. Back then he had been abducted and sold to Chang’an’s West Market, and happened to meet the newly married Fourth Prince and Top Scholar Pei—they had redeemed and bought him out; more precisely, it was the Fourth Prince. Top Scholar Pei had not been willing.

Along the way he had even heard the Fourth Prince quarreling with his own husband.

Top Scholar Pei was handsome, elegant as a jade tree, with white shoulders and red lips, and young, his eyes bright and brilliant, with a sharp, imposing manner. His words were cold too: he said there were thousands upon thousands of poor people in this world—was he going to save every one? Your princely residence is no more than half a qing; do you mean to shelter all the poor scholars under heaven as well?

Fourth Prince Fengbing bit his lip, lightly took his arm, and said warmly: But he really is pitiable.

Top Scholar Pei turned his head to look at him. After a long moment, he gave a soft snort, and said no more.

But the Fourth Prince leaned closer to him and whispered: I know you have been wronged in the princely residence…

Top Scholar Pei immediately became awkward: What are you saying?

The Fourth Prince’s eyelashes trembled, and his voice grew lower; Chunshi could not hear the rest.

Later he had pondered it: perhaps Top Scholar Pei did not like living in the Ten Princes’ Compound. He was the newly minted top scholar of the Qujiang granted banquet and the Wild Goose Pagoda inscription, only seventeen, proud and soaring; and the Ten Princes’ Compound was so small, so cramped, so noisy and filthy, unworthy of him.

Chunshi lowered his head, and suddenly, out of nowhere, said: “I saw Chancellor Pei’s new residence, my lord.”

Fengbing’s hand paused. “Hm?”

But Chunshi again said nothing for a long time.

Fengbing examined him and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Chunshi shook his head. He had long since endured punishments a thousand times crueler than this, in Chang’an’s imperial prison, in Laozhou’s workshops. Now he was still alive and kicking. He did not want his master to worry. He carefully crawled over, rested his chin against his master’s leg, and said pitifully, “I don’t hurt, and I really did not steal anything.”

“I know.” Fengbing said softly.

Chunshi still would not give up. “My lord.” He raised his head. “I also feel, I feel that Young Master Pei is softhearted.”

Fengbing frowned.

Chunshi added: “I don’t mean that you must… with him, or anything. This servant only means, after all, there was once a bond between you. He would not go so far as… to wipe you out completely. As for this report by Envoy Feng, it could have been great or small. In the end Young Master Pei did not pursue it further—wouldn’t you say? Besides, he oversees the Ministry of Rites and manages tribute from the four directions. What tribute, what court audience envoys—are they not all in the palm of his hand? If he had the intention…”

Fengbing’s hand pressed harder. Chunshi yowled: “My butt, my butt!”

Fengbing said coldly: “That we have lived until now is already great fortune. What are you still dreaming of?”

Chunshi blinked his tearful eyes. “My lord, I-I only don’t want you in Laozhou… The climate there is bitter and vile, not the slightest good for your illness.” He said softly, “This servant truly has no other thoughts, only that we have finally returned to Chang’an—even if you are but a commoner, it is fine. No need for glory or success, only to be able to properly treat your illness.”

Fengbing’s hand softened again. He spread the herbal paste on the servant’s lower back and slowly rubbed it for him. “I know you are loyal.” The dim yellow candlelight cast itself on his face, calm and blurred. “Whether we can remain in the capital depends on heaven’s will. But Pei Dan cannot represent heaven’s will.”

Chunshi muttered unwillingly a few times.

“You think he is softhearted?” Fengbing said again. “I was married to him for three years. I know very well: he merely calculates everything with great care.”

Chunshi was startled.

“That case of an old piece of clothing, in the end, is under the authority of the Department of Inner Palace Service and the Court of Judicial Review. It has nothing to do with his Ministry of Rites, and it is not convenient for him to intervene; if he asked as chancellor, it would necessarily be reported to the Sage. This matter originally damages his reputation, and might even invite the Sage’s suspicion. So Pei Dan wanted to make a great matter small: by coming forward as a victim, he let the Court of Judicial Review hurry the case to a close, giving us a slight punishment, while also appearing impartial and quite understanding of human feelings.”

Before outsiders, Fengbing could never have said so much. Now, speaking unhurriedly, his tone grew colder and more distant, as if he found all of it utterly meaningless.

Chunshi half understood, but suddenly shook his head. “How is he understanding of human feelings? His reputation in the streets is rotten. The common folk all say he schemes for the state and not for himself, that he is shameless, an ungrateful wolf!”

These words were to vent anger, and they made Fengbing laugh, smearing herbal medicine all over his face. Chunshi was furious: “You just touched my butt!” He did not realize he was already a painted face, and reached out to poke Fengbing’s armpit. Fengbing was extremely ticklish and could not help laughing as he dodged. Master and servant started fooling around, and it ended with Chunshi tripping over his own trousers. The lamplight flickered unsteadily, as if they had reconciled.

They thought this farce was over, but two days later, the Ministry of Rites sent people to inventory the tribute from the various prefectures and commanderies, to be received into the storehouses one by one. Only then did they realize the matter was not yet finished.

Because the Minister of Rites, Pei Dan, had actually come in person.

Fengbing was not an envoy and had brought no tribute. He had only come out to accompany and pay his respects. When he raised his head, he saw him.

Fengbing had not expected that most reunions after long separations in this world were careless.

Pei Dan did not enter the courtyard. He merely stood in the long corridor connecting the two courtyards, hands in his sleeves, watching the officials of the Bureau of Reception and the Office of Guest Reception bustle about, accompanied by the Director of the Bureau of Reception, who was in charge of tribute affairs. It was snowing again today. Over his official robe embroidered with five emblems, Pei Dan wore a great cloak, and fine white snow buds fell on his lapels and sleeves.

Pei Dan slightly turned his head to listen to the director speak. The snow made his skin look even whiter, his eyes cold and clear as if holding ice. He neither spoke nor smiled.

Fengbing lowered his head, completed the salute, then retreated: two steps, three steps, back into his own room, and closed the door.

Chunshi was frightened too. He shrank back from under the corridor, trembling, and said, “Th-this, how could it alarm such a noble personage?!”

Fengbing closed his eyes, wanting to take a deep breath, but instead coughed. Chunshi hurriedly brought him water, then went behind the curtain to check today’s medicine.

“Envoy Feng seems never to have found his Shu brocade,” he said.

And Fengbing, whom he had dragged in as a scapegoat, had long since extricated himself—it was Pei Dan who pulled him out.

Fengbing suddenly remembered something: “Why has Envoy Xiang still not come? The end of the year is almost here…”

Chunshi cried, “Aiyo, that’s right!” Envoy Xiang was the Laozhou Court Audience Envoy Xiang Chong. They had originally traveled together, but had become separated outside Tong Pass. Fengbing had thought that from Tong Pass to Chang’an was already very close, so he hurried ahead first, never expecting Xiang Chong to never arrive.

Fengbing’s mood was somewhat heavy. Could Xiang Chong have met danger on the road? A court audience envoy carrying a large amount of tribute to the capital indeed had to guard against the unexpected.

Before long, an old servant came to knock on Fengbing’s door.

“Master Li.” The old servant said rigidly, “Chancellor Pei summons you for questioning.”

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