Chapter 12

 

Thick smoke was everywhere and flames shooting into the sky.

In this abandoned city, there was a sound more terrifying than the howling of wild animals tearing their prey. It was the sound of evil made by the rebels who had entered the city.

Although bad news had been circulating for a while, with the rebel forces gaining momentum and conquering cities in the north, but for the people living in Chang’an, the imperial capital, the notion that the barrier of East Gate could be breached was like a laughable impossibility. So, half a month ago, when the news began to spread everywhere that the official army were retreating step by step and the rebels might attack soon, no one took it seriously. What, afraid? The emperor is still sitting here, how can the sky fall? Even when another piece of news spread like wildfire that day, claiming that His Majesty the Emperor had quietly fled westward the previous night, and when the officials arrived for court in the morning, they found no one, causing everyone to scatter and the palace to be completely empty, chaos erupted throughout the city. Yet, some still clung to the hope that it wasn’t true. Chang’an is forever solid, how can it be breached?

It wasn’t until this day, when the last moment arrived, and countless refugees fled in panic to the outskirts of the city with the rebels about to kill them from behind, that these abandoned people cried out and followed their emperor on the road to escape.

When the little girl woke up in the dark and struggled to climb out of a deep ditch on the side of the road, the world she was familiar with shattered and turned into a hell on earth.

The first rebels to enter the city had finished sweeping the imperial palace and were now brazenly trooping through the main thoroughfares and neighborhoods, killing, burning, and looting everywhere.

Her head hurt as if she had been hit. She couldn’t remember anything. She didn’t know why she woke up alone in this place, let alone where her home was. The little girl stood alone in a wasteland, her eyes wide open in fear, looking at this completely unfamiliar world to her, wanting to find her mother. But she couldn’t remember where her mother was, and why she was left alone in this strange and scary place. She only remembered that she had a mother, who kissed her and went to a place, and then never came back to her. Instinctively, she took a step, crying, and headed towards the direction of the city where the fire was the brightest and almost illuminated half of the night sky.

Her mother must have gone to that place.

On the way to find her mother, she saw more and more dead people. Some of them fell at the gate of the alley, with bags cut open by knives scattered in the pool of blood. Some of them stacked on top of each other, with mothers protecting their babies in their arms, motionless and already stiff. She stumbled past them, and her initial fear turned into numbness. She fell down and got up, got up and fell down again, and kept moving forward. The skin on her delicate palms and knees had long been broken and bleeding, but she seemed to feel no pain and only wanted to find her mother.

Finally, she arrived at the place that she felt right, and the palace gate that was usually closed was wide open. She wandered outside and saw a eunuch, who had taken away the property but had no time to escape, and was chopped down outside the palace gate. He was not dead yet, holding his half-severed arm that had fallen off his body, howling miserably, and suddenly saw her, dropped his broken arm, and crawled towards her with a twisted body. She was terrified and rushed in desperately.

Guided by her instinct, she finally found the place. But where was her mother? She didn’t know. She searched everywhere like a headless fly, searching palace after palace. From time to time, she ran into outsiders who took advantage to steal things, but she never found her mother. Finally, she broke into another place. The palace was as tall as the sky, and the walls were painted with brilliant celestial beings and mountains and rivers. But there was still no mother here. She wanted to leave and look for her somewhere else, but she found that the surroundings were alight with fire. She lost her direction and couldn’t find a way out. She was forced to stop in the corner of a mural that had not been burned yet, calling for her mother and crying loudly.

The flames engulfed the celestial beings on the walls and the rivers, mountains and city they overlooked, closing in on the small figure huddled in the corner. She coughed incessantly from the smoke, and just as she was about to faint from suffocation, through her tear-blurred vision, she saw a figure emerging in the firelight, walking towards her.

She woke up next to a stranger. He had a tousled beard and didn’t look very old, but his hair was gray and his eyes were deep and gentle.

She didn’t know how he happened to be in the looted and burned palace at that time. It was he who saved her. When he led her out of Chang’an, it was daybreak and it started to rain.

She hid under the clothes he had draped over her, secretly opened her eyes, and quietly looked at the back of this stranger. He kept looking at the city. The rain had put out the raging fire, and in the distance, thick smoke was like a column, slowly rising under the dark sky full of thunderclouds.

He just stared like that for a long time. When he turned around, he saw her looking at him. He touched her head and then picked up the little girl.

“If you don’t know your name, Grandpa will give you a name.”

The drizzling rain, light and incessant, was like drifting silk threads and flying willow catkins, swaying in the wind. Yet it washed away the smoke and blood that filled the air, cleansing the dirt and bloodstains from the young girl’s face, revealing her original jade-like, delicate features.

“From now on, you will be called Xuyu, is that okay?”

He said after hesitating for a moment.

…

It rained last night, and this morning, the sparse stars were like a few tired eyes hanging in the sky. Before dawn, Ye Xuyu left the inn and continued on her way.

The place she was about to arrive to was the destination of her trip, the capital Chang’an.

She did not return to the paradise where she had lived in seclusion with her grandfather for three years, but went to the capital.

She had not lied in the letter she left behind. Although the fragments deep in her memory before she met Grandpa had not been completely reconnected, they had gradually surfaced since her serious illness three years ago.

She came from the capital.

During the three years they settled down, she knew that Grandpa had always been concerned about her future life. When the palace gate was broken, people could enter without obstruction. In addition to the looting rebels, there were also many desperate criminals who wanted to take advantage of the situation. When Grandpa met her in the corner of the mural wall, she was wearing coarse clothes and crying for her mother. Grandpa must have thought she was an ordinary child who had strayed in. When she grew up, he asked her more than once whether she still remembered where her home was and whether she wanted to go back to look for her relatives. In the past, she didn’t remember and didn’t want to go back. Later, she was unsure and didn’t dare to say.

Perhaps she should thank the young master of the Pei family who accepted her as his sister.

Now all hesitation was gone; she had made up her mind.

Don’t go back. Don’t go back.

The voice of the beauty in her dreams always echoed in her ears, reminding her not to go back.

But she still came back today. This was the knot in her heart, and also the origin of her destiny. She must come back.

When she left the County Governor Mansion that day, the reason why she chose to leave without saying goodbye was because since she had made up her mind to return, instead of following her grandfather’s arrangement to be a wife of the Pei family with a stable second half of her life, she could not have any more unnecessary involvement with the other party.

She also knew that no matter how resolute her letter was, Pei Ji would never be at ease letting her leave alone. Therefore, after setting out on her journey, she deliberately avoided the first few groups of Pei family members searching for her along the official road. She then abandoned the smooth and prosperous southern route and chose the treacherous northern route instead, making her way south. From the beginning of the year to today, on the last day of Fourth Month, she had traveled to this place.

After a few dozen miles, she would reach Kaiyuan Gate, known as the first western gate of Chang’an.

…

Pei Xiaoyuan arrived at Changlepo, east of Chang’an, at the end of Fourth Month in the 17th year of Qiande, the day before the deadline for his appointment letter.

Changlepo was only six or seven miles from the main eastern gate of the imperial city, Tonghua Gate. It was a crucial path for officials and merchants exiting Chang’an to the east, with Changle Posthouse serving as a place for receptions and farewells. When he arrived, it was already dark, and there was a rain in the evening. The raincoat could not completely block the rain. Although it was late spring, a cold snap had brought rain, and after several days of traveling day and night, including himself, everyone was utterly exhausted. At this point, the city gate had already been closed, so they stopped and planned to spend a night at Changle Posthouse and enter the city tomorrow morning. It happened to be the last day, so it was not considered a delay.

He didn’t bring many people with him, only two. Because He Jin had a position, he could not enter the capital without being summoned, so they went separately after leaving Luzhou with He Jin went back to Ganliang.

The night servant on duty at Changle Posthouse had a cold attitude and hardly looked at anyone in the eye. Only when he saw the letter from the Jinwu Guard did his attitude change a little and arranged for food and lodging.

Pei Xiaoyuan’s room was extremely small, with space for only a couch and a desk. If there was one more person, the person wouldn’t be able to turn around. The stable was also nearby, with a strong smell wafted in from time to time with the wind.

Such a level of food and accommodation was obviously of the lowest grade, and was provided for the lowest-ranking officials according to the regulations. When the servant led Pei Xiaoyuan in, he saw the two attendants looked indignant, and he himself probably felt it was inappropriate. He glanced at the face of the master and explained that since the beginning of the year, there had been an endless stream of high-ranking officials and nobles coming to the capital from all over the country. Since they arrived late tonight, there were no other vacant rooms left but this one, and it was already good enough to be able to stay here.

Pei Xiaoyuan didn’t care. Before leaving the capital due to the upheaval at home, he had also lived a life comparable to that of a noble young master. He was well aware of how prosperous and vibrant Chang’an was and had seen the fickle and superficial nature of its people. An appointment letter for a regular Jinwu Guard might have some weight in other places, but it was really nothing in Changle Posthouse, which guarded the eastern gate of the imperial capital under the feet of the emperor. Moreover, given that he and his companions were travel-worn and without any grand display, the posthouse servants, who were accustomed to the comings and goings of princes, grand chancellors, and nobles, would not take them seriously.

He remained composed, and his attendants could only follow suit. Knowing that the two who accompanied him were exhausted from the journey, Pei Xiaoyuan ordered them to rest, and he too entered his room. Just as he was changing out of his wet clothes, he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door and saw that it was the postmaster who came, followed by the posthouse servant who had just received him. However, the other party was completely different from a moment ago, and his expression was terrified. As soon as Pei Xiaoyuan showed his face, he begged for mercy: “This servant was blind and fail recognize the esteemed person, and have offended you just now. Please forgive this servant, Master Pei!”

Pei Xiaoyuan was slightly confused and looked at the postmaster.

“Excuse me, sir. Are you Pei Xiaoyuan, the Cloud Cavalry Captain serving under Pei Ji, the county governor of Weiyuan County in Ganliang Road?”

Pei Xiaoyuan said yes and asked him what was the matter.

The postmaster raised his foot and kicked the servant beside him hard, knocking him to the ground. He then turned to Pei Xiaoyuan and explained that he didn’t know he was coming, so he was negligent and disrespectful, and came here to apologize. Although the rooms were indeed full, there was still a spare upper room that was still empty tonight, so he asked him to move in.

The upper room was for high-ranking officials above the third rank. Pei Xiaoyuan smiled and said, “How dare I overstep my authority? I can stay here. It’s just for one night.”

The postmaster requested repeatedly, but Pei Xiaoyuan remained unmoved, so he had to give up and instead replaced the incense burner, candles, hot tea and water, and clean bedding for him, and then left.

Changle Posthouse was rude at first but respectful later, which was puzzling, but he was too tired from hurried travel as he was trying to catch up with the deadline, so he didn’t think too much about these things. He went to bed after cleaning up and fell asleep quickly. It’s unknown how long later, but suddenly there were a few knocks on the door. The sound was very light, but he woke up immediately and asked who is it.

“Someone from the palace is outside. Master Pei, please come out to meet him.” The voice of the postmaster sounded.

Pei Xiaoyuan slowly opened his eyes.

“Who from in the palace?”

“The supervisor of the Palace Office—”

“That’s Yuan Zhi, Supervisor Yuan.”

Afraid that he didn’t know who the other person was, the postmaster explained in a low voice.

***

The author has something to say:

Yesterday I saw a reader comment asking about the ages of several supporting characters, so here’s the explanation.

Pei Ji’s age is set to be around 67 or 68 years old.

The first chapter stated that the emperor is celebrating his 500,000 birthday, which means he is nearly 50 years old.

If Prince Jingsheng is still alive, he would be slightly older than the emperor.

The man in blue in the previous chapter is in his early 30s.

The current Crown Prince, who has not officially appeared yet, is also around 30 years old.

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