Chapter 16: Luggage
“Chun Tao and you are the people I trust the most. You are a perfect match. Let’s find an auspicious day soon to merge our calling cards and have you move into the courtyard. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
Shi Deyu’s eyes, having shed their contemplation, turned gentle and full of human warmth.
He affectionately patted Xiao Yi’s shoulder, as if finding the matter very auspicious. He chuckled, “Don’t worry, I’ll arrange the betrothal gifts for you, and your dowry will certainly not be lacking. Chun Tao has been by my side for many years, so you will look after her from now on… Remember, if there’s any neglect, I won’t spare you.”
For anyone else, this might have felt like a stroke of luck, a good thing. But Xiao Yi felt an unprecedented sense of revulsion and disgust.
In his past life, he had witnessed too much melodramatic drama on film sets, which is why he could instantly recognize the schemes behind this “reward.”
At this juncture, Shi Deyu not allowing him to depart immediately was a sign of his overconfidence in not sensing the hidden dangers within the Shi Residence, as well as his doubts about Xiao Yi’s loyalty. Therefore, he prioritized manipulating people’s hearts.
Not to mention that Chun Tao’s primary concern would be Shi Deyu’s interests, nor that she might monitor him or become his burden, a hostage of the Shi family. Simply by marrying Chun Tao, even if he were to leave and never return, he would be indelibly marked by the Shi family, making it impossible to erase.
The favor Shi Deyu bestowed after careful consideration was clearly a form of restraint.
But just as Xiao Yi was about to refuse, he met Shi Deyu’s unyielding gaze.
He suddenly realized this was another test; refusing or readily accepting could both expose his eagerness to leave.
He needed to act just right.
“Young Master…”
“What? You don’t like Chun Tao?”
Xiao Yi hesitated, then slowly said, “Sister Chun Tao is a bit old.”
He avoided platitudes about not being worthy of Chun Tao, striving to appear sincere.
Shi Deyu stared at him and asked, “Do you think Chun Tao is not good enough for you? Or, am I not worthy to arrange this for you?”
Xiao Yi quickly replied, “Your grace is immense, and I do not wish to betray it. However, the journey to Ye Du is fraught with peril, and I fear it would delay Chun Tao. Perhaps after I return, I can ask you to officiate my wedding?”
“Haha, you…”
Shi Deyu grasped his arms as if to hold him, and spoke with an irrefutable tone.
“Winter is long, and the weather is cold. There’s no rush to go to Ye Du. If you are to do this for me, how can I treat you poorly? After you’re married, it would be best to have offspring before you leave. This is ‘establishing a family and then a career’.”
Xiao Yi grew a little anxious and said, “The situation cannot be delayed. So, I will prepare my luggage these few days, and then I will marry Chun Tao… after the wedding, I will go serve you, my lord.”
He revealed a hint of desire, and Shi Deyu finally smiled again, this time with a much gentler expression.
“Good. After you marry Chun Tao, you will know that I did it for your own good.”
“Thank you, my lord!”
Xiao Yi readily agreed, feeling much relieved. He clasped his hands in thanks, a smile on his face, and said, “I will go and speak with Chun Tao. Please also write me an order, allowing me to draw horses, bow and saber, travel expenses, and provisions.”
“Good, she will surely be delighted…”
When Xiao Yi finally took the still-wet order, and turned to leave Shi Deyu’s room, the smile on his face immediately faded, replaced by a cold, composed demeanor.
His mind raced with thoughts. He glanced at the sky, did not go to find Chun Tao, but instead went directly to the steward to collect all the necessary items.
“It’s the dead of winter, and Young Master Yi needs to travel far?”
The steward, rubbing his hands, spoke slowly in the leisurely tone characteristic of an elder, “It’s icy and snowy; the roads won’t be easy.”
Xiao Yi had to calm his emotions and replied, “Yes, I am to visit an old acquaintance on behalf of my lord. It is about five hundred li away.”
“That’s far, truly far. You must prepare thoroughly. This old man will write a list for the storeroom.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
The steward stroked his sparse beard, pondered his writing, and after a long while, opened a drawer and searched for a token. He asked, “When will you be leaving? I will arrange for someone to collect it from the storeroom.”
“Can my luggage be prepared today?”
“How can that be? Besides, the sky can turn dark in an instant, and the city gate will close soon. You won’t be able to leave.”
“Tonight?”
“Young people are too impatient. We won’t have personnel available at night.”
“I will go collect it.”
Leaving the steward’s room, Xiao Yi first went to the stable, bribed the groom with twenty coins, and asked him to help harness two good horses before dawn.
He specifically noticed and asked, “Is that bay Khitan horse not here?”
“That horse is not something Young Master Yi can ride. The Marshal has already ridden it out of the mansion.”
“Alright.”
Xiao Yi chose two other fine horses and hurried to the storeroom, presenting the list and the token to collect and verify each item.
First was a heavy bronze Shi Residence private token, which could substitute for various transit documents. He kept it close to him along with Shi Deyu’s order.
Next were defensive weapons: a standard saber and a close-quarters dagger.
He packed his luggage himself: changes of clothes, oilcloth to shield from wind and snow, ear warmers and a felt hat for horse riding in the cold; a felt blanket and a fur sleeping bag for camping; provisions included a large bag of flour, salted dried meat, Hu Bing, and a small jar of salt; a water skin for drinking; a copper pot and iron skewers as cooking utensils; flint, fire striker, and tinder wrapped in oilcloth, placed with candles and torches; trauma medicine, cold medicine, laxatives, and other drugs; a bottle of strong liquor for warmth and disinfection of wounds; also rope, a needlework kit, a bag of fine beans for feeding horses, and a map… the list was extensive.
He calmly and efficiently checked each item. Finally, he tightly fastened the bag containing two strings of copper coins, placed five taels of silver fragments in his inner pocket, wrapped two lengths of silk, and cinched the straps of the saddlebag firmly.
The entire process was carried out flawlessly, without any mistakes due to haste.
When he returned to his lodging with the heavy luggage on his back, Zhao Chong was helping Xie Hui remove the cloth wrap from his arm.
Looking up at him, Xie Hui asked in surprise, “What is this?”
“I am going on a trip on my lord’s orders.”
Xiao Yi placed his luggage in the corner of the bed, thinking that after enduring this last night, the heavens would be high and the birds would fly freely.
During this period, he had shared a room with Xie Hui and others, and had not slept soundly.
A mocking smile flickered across Xie Hui’s face. “Chun Tao came looking for you. Seeing you weren’t here, she hurried to the front courtyard in a great rush, heh.”
Zhao Chong couldn’t help but laugh as well.
Xiao Yi frowned. If Chun Tao knew he was leaving first thing tomorrow, it might cause trouble. He had to intercept her before she found the steward. It was enough to keep it hidden from Shi Deyu for one night.
He walked quickly, passing through two courtyards, and saw Chun Tao chatting and laughing with two maids at the end of the corridor.
It was dusk after the snow had cleared. They were talking about marriage, playfully nudging each other with mock scolding.
But their talk of love and affection sounded like the tragedy of bearing little servants to Xiao Yi.
“Chun…”
Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Yi suddenly froze.
He looked up. Something seemed to be flying in the distant sky.
It wasn’t a bird. Birds were rarely seen in Kaifeng in winter. It seemed to be… a kite?
Who would have the leisure to fly a kite in winter?
Li Ye.
Xiao Yi’s first thought was of the carp-shaped kite he saw the first time he met Li Ye, and he had also heard that Li Ye often flew kites for amusement in the Imperial Palace.
Just as he found it amusing, he suddenly realized it wasn’t in the direction of the Imperial Palace. Then he remembered someone had brought a kite in the carriage.
It was Liu Zhu.
Why did both Li Ye and Liu Zhu like flying kites?
When he connected this with what Yan Jinqing had said, an absurd and bold conjecture gradually formed in Xiao Yi’s mind.
Liu Zhu’s words, “The cleaver is sharp, the fat pig is here; whatever is ordered, the entire city will be minced,” who was the cleaver? Who was the fat pig?
Xiao Yi immediately turned and rushed towards the Mansion Gate.
He needed to ask the gatekeeper about Yan Jinqing’s expression when Liu Zhu took him away; it might confirm his guess.
It wasn’t dark yet. The distant kite flew higher and higher, finally snapping its string and disappearing into the sky.
The main gate and the side door to the south of the Shi Residence were tightly shut.
Xiao Yi reached the outbuilding but couldn’t find the gatekeeper. The guards and servants in the front courtyard were also gone.
He was a little puzzled. He looked around and saw that the main gate was not bolted from the inside, so he stepped forward and reached out to push it.
The gate opened an inch, and a cold wind rushed in. Outside the gap, a thick iron chain came into Xiao Yi’s sight.
“Clang!”
Xiao Yi pushed harder, but the iron chain tightened, and the gate couldn’t open another inch.
A fierce eye appeared in the gap of the gate.
It was a soldier in armor who glared at Xiao Yi and shouted, “Go back!”
“I have an urgent matter to leave the mansion…”
“You are not allowed to go out. We are under the Grand Tutor’s orders to guard the Shi Residence, and no one is permitted to enter or leave.”
Xiao Yi’s heart sank. A slight smile appeared on his face. “I am the eldest young master’s close follower. May I ask what has happened?”
“Let him in!”
As Xiao Yi was about to probe further, a saber suddenly thrust through the gate’s gap and swung at him.
He quickly retreated and dodged it.
The main gate slammed shut with a “bang,” sealing off the outside world and leaving only a stern shout.
“If you don’t want to die, get back to bed!”
The night fell faster than expected, quickly engulfing the last trace of daylight.
The Shi Residence also plunged into darkness.
All of Xiao Yi’s struggles seemed to be in vain at this moment, but only for an instant.
He took a deep breath of the biting cold wind, suppressing the chill and his stray thoughts into his chest, his eyes burning with renewed fervor.
