Chapter 5#

Fengbing also recognized that old servant — he was one of Pei Dan’s longtime attendants. When they had divorced and divided the household’s servants and assets, Pei Dan had taken very little with him, and this old servant was one of the few. However, later when the Great Treason Case erupted, everyone who had followed Fengbing except Chunshi was executed by poisoned wine. That was yet another matter of Heaven’s unfathomable designs.#

Fengbing nodded, letting Chunshi tuck a small purple-bronze hand warmer into his arms. A few medicinal herbs had been added inside, and the scent was quite soothing. Chunshi added, “Remember to take your medicine when you return, my lord.”

He didn’t spare the old servant even a single additional glance.

The old servant hunched lower still and turned to leave without a word. Fengbing patted Chunshi’s hand, then followed the old servant through the courtyard and inward, past a small garden, arriving at an official residence.

It was the living quarters of the official guarding the residence, currently occupied by Pei Dan, who sat composedly at the head of the room. The actual host sat below in an accompanying seat, and the Ministry of Rites’ Bureau of Visitors’ Director was also present to one side. Fengbing froze for a moment.

Pei Dan waved his sleeve and had tea served to Fengbing.

Fengbing sat. The teacup released a clean, elegant fragrance that clashed with the medicinal scent in his arms, and the result was unpleasant. So Fengbing merely took a small sip before setting it down.

“His Majesty is magnanimous,” Pei Dan began slowly. This opening was not far from what Fengbing had expected. “Out of regard for the bonds of brotherhood from days past, he permits Lord Li to return to the capital for audience. Such heavenly grace and vast benevolence are beyond what you or I can fathom.”

Fengbing was silent for a moment, then rose from his seat and bowed again.

He prostrated fully, his forehead pressing steadily against the rough floor tiles. “This commoner thanks His Majesty for his grace.”

Pei Dan turned slightly. “Please rise, Lord Li.”

But Fengbing insisted. “This commoner has borne guilt among the mountains and wilds, deeply regretting and sincerely reforming, feeling that ten thousand deaths would not suffice to atone. Yet to receive His Majesty’s leniency — His Majesty’s compassionate mercy, his unfathomable dignity, a virtue unmatched since the Three Dynasties — is this commoner’s great fortune, and also the great fortune of the state and its people.”

After reciting this long string of praise that even made him cringe himself, he maintained his kneeling posture with solemn propriety.

For a long while, the hall was utterly silent, as though even the sound of falling snow outside had become the grandest noise in his ears. A draft swept through the hall, and the hand warmer in Fengbing’s sleeve tilted slightly, releasing a waft of medicinal scent that made several lower officials wrinkle their noses.

Pei Dan finally spoke again — but it was a repetition: “Please rise, Lord Li.”

The tea was changed again. Pei Dan said nothing further, and the Director of the Bureau of Visitors politely inquired: “The Laozhou Court Assembly Envoy, Xiang Chong, traveling with one hundred and five staff members and followers and sixty heavy carts, has still not arrived in the capital. His Majesty is greatly concerned. We have heard that Lord Li traveled together with Envoy Xiang along the same road — do you have any leads?”

So that was what this was about. Fengbing himself was also perplexed. “We traveled together as far as outside Tong Pass. One day we lost track of time and had no choice but to camp in the open fields. But at dawn, Envoy Xiang was gone. I and his subordinates split up to search, and after searching for most of the day we still couldn’t find him… Until that evening, when I returned to the campsite, even Envoy Xong’s subordinates and their baggage trains had all vanished. I assumed they had found Envoy Xiang and gone ahead on their own, so I headed toward Chang’an too, thinking we could meet there.”

As he spoke, the Recorder on the opposite side noted everything down with flying brushstrokes. The Director of the Bureau of Visitors asked further about details of times and places, and Fengbing answered each one, his demeanor relaxed, without any fabrication. The Director studied him for a long while, then looked to Pei Dan, who slowly nodded.

The Director of the Bureau of Visitors then told Fengbing: “Actually, Envoy Xiang’s subordinates arrived in Chang’an several days ago. They first went to the Ministry of Justice to report a missing person case. Ministry of Justice clerks accompanied them to search along the road, and in the woods of Xiao Mountain outside Tong Pass they found Xiang Chong’s corpse — his face and body were already mangled beyond recognition by tigers and wolves.”

Fengbing let out an “Ah.” This was entirely unexpected. The little cry carried a trace of lingering fear. That day, he and Chunshi had searched all over Xiao Mountain for Xiang Chong, and it had never occurred to him that there might be wild beasts inside.

“The Ministry of Justice examined the body. Envoy Xiang was not killed by wild beasts,” the Director continued, watching his expression. “His throat was strangled first, and then his body was thrown into the wilderness.”

Fengbing’s face changed completely.

He suddenly understood why Pei Dan had summoned him here.

Pei Dan suspected him.

Fengbing’s expression turned grief-stricken. “I… I traveled with Envoy Xiang for nearly three months, and he showed me great care and concern. Without him, how could I have safely passed through such a perilous journey? Who would have thought he would…” He sank to his knees again. “I beg you, honored officials, to investigate this case thoroughly and find the true culprit. I am willing to escort Envoy Xiang’s spirit coffin and return him to his hometown.”

“Xiang Chong is the tribute envoy of Laozhou, an honored guest of the capital. Even without your saying so, His Majesty will naturally investigate with utmost clarity.” Pei Dan spoke abruptly.

He cut Fengbing’s appeal — half sincere, half performative — short.

Fengbing kept his head down, unable to see Pei Dan’s face, able only to stare at his boots. They were a pair of black six-section boots embroidered with subtle cloud patterns, fastened with boot straps set with red gems, but half-concealed beneath the hem of his robe, revealing only a cold, pointed toe.

Fengbing knew that Pei Dan had always favored things that were rich and showy. His hair crown had to be set with bright pearls, his riding whip had to be wound with gold thread, and he possessed a jade belt of emerald green that wrapped strikingly around his lean, taut waist.

Among all Pei Dan’s treasures, however, the most old-fashioned and inconspicuous one was his ex-husband, Li Fengbing.

Watching Fengbing’s gradually dimming complexion, Pei Dan’s grip on his teacup tightened until his fingers grew hot.

“All of that is a matter for later,” Pei Dan said. “What is most pressing now is that the Laozhou Court Assembly Envoy is absent, and the ceremony at the grand tribute audience cannot lose its proper order.”

Fengbing was somewhat confused and didn’t dare to respond casually.

“His Majesty’s wish is that you should also attend the court audience,” Pei Dan said. “But you hold no official rank or title, and the Ministry of Rites did not know how to arrange it. After deliberation among the Three Departments, it was decided that rather than anyone else, you should fill Envoy Xiang’s position — standing in his place during the audience before the throne. This has received His Majesty’s gracious approval.”

Fengbing nearly failed to understand his meaning. Was this asking him to replace Xiang Chong and attend the court audience in the capacity of Laozhou Court Assembly Envoy? But it seemed not quite that either — he had received no promotion; he was merely to occupy a place in the vast sea of officials at the audience, so that the grand ceremony would not fall into disorder.

Pei Dan glanced at his subordinate, and the Director of the Bureau of Visitors hurriedly added: “Attending the court audience is no small matter. There are entrance ceremonies before the audience, and a great banquet afterward. Lord Li, this is all a blessing of grace from heaven — you must take it seriously.”

Fengbing had no choice but to rise from his seat and, not knowing how many times he had now performed the full ceremonial bow, kowtowed in thanks, accepting this inexplicable duty.

But Pei Dan suddenly smiled.

As though he found Fengbing’s awkwardness thoroughly amusing, his eyes curved into crescents, the cold light in their depths receding, replaced entirely by harmless teasing. The Director of the Bureau of Visitors stared blankly at the sight, but Fengbing, who was bowing low below, did not see this smile.

Otherwise, he would have found it very familiar.

Pei Dan was, after all, only twenty-five. In his younger years, he could have made that smile rounder and more endearing.

The Director of the Bureau of Visitors continued fussing with instructions until Fengbing began to cough.

The moment he coughed, Pei Dan’s brow furrowed.

Fengbing had originally wanted to hold it in, but he had not taken his medicine all day. His throat was parched, and blood and qi surged upward. The more he tried to suppress the cough, the more impossible it became. It was terribly impolite — he turned sideways and bowed, wanting to apologize, but his voice was swallowed by the coughing. He pressed a handkerchief desperately over his mouth, craning his neck like a dying bird.

Pei Dan stood up. “Let us leave it here for today. If there is anything else to discuss, we can address it when it comes to mind.” With that, he left his seat and walked straight out.

Strangely, the moment Pei Dan departed, Fengbing’s cough stopped.

He looked down at the silk handkerchief in his palm and felt it was absurdly ridiculous. The medicine, the coughing, the kneeling and kowtowing — everything made it seem as though he were deliberately putting on a pitiful display before his ex-husband. All these coincidences had been confirmed by Pei Dan’s complete indifference.

He sighed.

Didn’t expect this, did you? An extra update!

There will be no change of gong. Those hoping for a change of gong will be furious — I suggest you hurry up and click the little ✕.