Purely by Accident – Chapter 46
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I stood in the front courtyard. Night had fallen, and darkness hung heavy over the grounds. There was something sinister about it.
Xu Ziqi and Yi Chen had been shut up in our mountain stronghold for much too long, I decided. How could they be naive enough to make a deal with Wang Zhuoyi that was tantamount to asking a tiger to surrender his pelt?[1] If the Grand Marshal had any integrity to speak of, he would hardly be the sort of man to mount a coup against his own sovereign. If he really did manage to seize the throne, his first act would be to round all of us up, clap us in shackles and ship us off to the Emperor of Qi, probably in exchange for a few border cities. My uncle would be delighted to finally rid himself of the thorn in his side at so cheap a price.
As for Wang Zhuoyi’s promise that he would lend us troops to reclaim the throne of Qi? Not even a hot-blooded, notoriously generous soul like myself would take on such a losing proposition, and the Grand Marshal was no dimwit. No, the only dimwits here were my brothers-in-arms and the man who called himself my father. Oh, how I suffered, burdened with family and friends like these!
Then I saw the flickering light of a lantern, cutting through the darkness ahead. The princess was home.
Silly Girl walked a little way ahead of her, holding the lantern. Chu Feichen looked as serene and elegant as ever, but when she looked down briefly and gathered up her skirts to climb the steps leading into the courtyard, I thought I glimpsed just the faintest trace of weariness in her bearing.
I hurried up to her and silently slipped a supportive arm around her waist.
Chu Feichen turned to look at me, and without standing on ceremony, leaned most of her weight against my shoulder. A smile bloomed on her face. A rich heady fragrance akin to plum blossoms clung to her hair and skin.
Silly Girl stuffed the lantern into my hand and slipped away discreetly. Ever since she and Rahul began courting, she’d become much more attuned to the ways of romance.
I held the lantern a little higher and studied Chu Feichen’s face in its light. ‘Mm,’ I said, furrowing my brow exaggeratedly as I pronounced my assessment. ‘You look rather worn out after that visit to the palace.’
Reflexively, Chu Feichen reached up to massage her temples, and it was only when a chuckle escaped from me that she stopped and tugged ferociously at my ear. ‘I don’t just look worn out,’ she said. ‘I also look older. What of it, prince consort? Does that displease you?’
Oh, she was utterly adorable — saying such self-deprecating things in those imperious, self-assured tones, her expression vivid with indignation.
I leaned forward and nibbled her ear. ‘Of course not! No matter how tired you get, my lady Feichen, your beauty will still be as matchless as ever. Why, you leave all other women in the dust!’
I must be making her ticklish, because she reached up and tried to slide a hand between my face and hers. I caught hold of it easily and placed a light kiss in the centre of her palm. ‘Feichen, you should look a little older every day, so that other women can feel a little better about themselves, and a mere mortal like me can become a slightly better match for you with every passing day.’
Her hand rested peacefully in mine, and the smile she turned on me was even more tender than usual. When she spoke, her sweet voice, like the gentle pressure of her hand, fell soothingly over my heart. ‘There’s no one in this world who could be a better match for me than you. And besides, if I do age at that rate, won’t I soon stop being a good match for you?’
Chu Feichen was not in the habit of saying sweet nothings to me, but whenever she did, the way she expressed herself was always so wonderfully unexpected that it filled every bit of my heart with an unbearably sweet ache. There was nothing I could think of to say in return; all I could do was hold her close.
She put her head on my shoulder, and it was only then that she let out a long, weary sigh. She leaned her full weight against me and fell silent.
Carefully I encircled her with both arms. ‘Are you tired?’ I whispered.
Chu Feichen nodded slightly. ‘The twenty thousand troops stationed outside the city walls have been restive of late. Wang Zhuoyi must be growing impatient. I spoke to my lord father today, and he too is aware of this — he still has men who are loyal to him among those troops. But father needs to find a good pretext for stripping Wang Zhuoyi of his military command. Only then can we rest easy.’
The empire, its people; her lord father, her younger brother. Chu Feichen was a right royal princess who had grown up within the corridors of power. Unlike me — a deposed heir who’d been allowed to run wild — she was not free to do as she pleased.
I held her even closer. ‘And what about Zhao Tingxuan?’ I asked, still in a low voice. ‘Can your father get rid of him at the same time as Wang Zhuoyi?’
‘He’s a sly old fox. All he’s done so far is undermine certain officials who don’t belong his faction, but all without overstepping his official jurisdiction. At the moment, my father has nothing that can be used against him.’
Nothing that could be used against him? Well, what about the fact that he was conspiring with his son, the commander of the imperial guard, to obtain a map of the secret passageways under the palace? Did that count?
A wind blew past, and Chu Feichen shivered a little. She looked up suddenly and cupped my cheek with one delicate hand. ‘Zisong, what are you thinking about?’ There was a hint of unease in her eyes.
I shook my head. ‘Nothing,’ I said softly. ‘It’s getting cold. Let’s go back to our room so that you can rest.’
Chu Feichen, I might not be able to hold up your sky for you single-handedly and spare you all worry for the rest of your life, I thought, but I can at least lend a supportive hand to lighten that heavy load you carry on your shoulders.
And so, later that night, I found myself sprawled over the desk in my study, sketching out a series of squiggles on the paper before me. Zheng Hao stood just to my right, his arms filled with discarded, scribbled-over sheets. He looked decidedly distressed.
I lifted my brush from the paper, took a deep breath, then held up my handiwork for his assessment. ‘And this time? What does this one look like?’
Zheng Hao’s brow wrinkled once, then again. ‘A… a pigeon?’ he asked warily.
Snap! I’d squeezed the handle of my much-abused brush so hard that it finally broke in two.
Zheng Hao looked completely at a loss. A few sheets of paper drifted to the floor from the pile he was holding. As he crouched down to retrieve them, he looked up at me and asked with some difficulty, ‘Y-young master… e-exactly what it is you’re trying to d-draw?’
I bent over, thrusting my just-completed drawing into his face. ‘Don’t you think these mysterious squiggles make it look like a treasure map?’ I prompted hopefully.
Zheng Hao’s lips twitched helplessly a few times. Likely because he was tilting his head too far back to look at the drawing, he overbalanced, fell backwards and ended up sitting heavily on the floor — almost as if he’d been overcome by the weight of the thin sheet in my hand. His face was that of a man caught in the throes of a dilemma.
All right, I give up, I thought. Your all-wise, all-powerful bandit chief was a master of all the arts — except, as it turned out, art itself. I simply lacked the ability — not to mention the affectation — to produce a drawing with my own fair hand. Heaven was both jealous and just; it could not allow me to be too perfect.
Sighing, I reached out and pulled Zheng Hao to his feet. ‘Xiao Hao, do you still remember that map you drew me — the one showing the way to the princess’ manor?’
He stared at me out of those big, guileless eyes and nodded, all innocence.
I sat Zheng Hao down in my chair and handed him a new writing-brush. ‘That was a rather good drawing,’ I said. Then I went on with a little evil chuckle, ‘Could you draw me another one just like it? Except this time, leave out the names of the streets and such — just put in the buildings and rivers and other landmarks, they’ll do as reference points.’
The look of calculation on my face was probably much too obvious. Zheng Hao shuddered visibly. He gripped the handle of the brush, then turned to look at me, still apprehensive. ‘Y-young master… e-exactly what are y-you p-planning to do?’
What was I planning to do? Why, to trap that treacherous backstabber[2] Zhao Yishu, of course!
Not that I could tell Zheng Hao that. Instead, I smiled at him again and prevaricated, ‘Oh, nothing. It’s just that you’re such a good artist — I’d like that drawing for my collection, that’s all.’
Zheng Hao’s pale, clean-cut face flushed. He put his head down and began drawing.
I patted him on the shoulder. ‘Xiao Hao, you’re a fast runner. Once you’re done with this drawing, can you take a message to Vice-Minister Zhao Tingyun’s manor? Tell them Wei Zisong requests the presence of His Highness the Third Prince Consort at Yixian Tavern, in the private room Taibai’s Residence, at the bi-hour of the rooster[3] tomorrow. I have something to discuss with him.’
‘Mm,’ said Zheng Hao, without looking up.
I nodded, then went on, ‘Once you’ve done that, take another message, this time to His Excellency Lin Haiyuan of the Hanlin Academy. Tell him I’d like to meet him in the private room Taichong’s Residence at Yixian Tavern, on the same day, at the same time. Remember, don’t mix up the names of the rooms — these two gentlemen don’t quite get along, so it would be best to keep them from running into each other.’
Taibai’s Residence and Taichong’s Residence were next to each other, separated only by a wall. Whoever was in one room would be able to hear everything that was going on in the other. I needed a witness for the moment I sprang my cunning trap on Zhao Yishu.
The next day, the hours seemed to crawl by as I waited for the hour of my appointment to arrive. Being the artless, forthright soul that I was, I still felt very apprehensive about my scheme, even though the person I was setting out to trap was an out-and-out traitor.
The day wore on until it was more than halfway through the bi-hour of the monkey.[4] The sky was just beginning to darken. With great care, I tucked Zheng Hao’s skillfully-crafted map — together with a packet of sleeping powder, the kind used by thieves and highwaymen to put their victims into a deep and almost instant slumber[5] — beneath my robes, just under my belt. Then I stepped out of the main hall, ready to make my way to Yixian Tavern. As I walked past the osmanthus tree in the front courtyard, however, I was suddenly overtaken by an intense desire to see the princess.
This was a very bad feeling indeed. It wasn’t as if I was the legendary assassin Jing Ke, setting off on his journey to kill the Emperor of Qin. Why, then, did the first line of that famous poem about his doomed quest keep echoing tremulously through my mind? ‘Cold howls the wind over the River Yi…’[6]
But my wish to see the princess was too strong — strong enough for me to dismiss the trace of unease that was mixed in with it. I flagged down a passing maid. ‘Have you seen the princess?’ I asked.
The maid bowed smartly to me. ‘Her Highness has just returned from paying some calls. She said she was tired, and would be going back to Your Highnesses’ room to sleep.’
Oh? Going to bed while it’s still light outside, Feichen, my dear Lady Chu? How tired must you be?
I made my way to our room and opened the door gingerly. Then I tiptoed to the side of the bed and sat down. Lying there, her face turned towards me, was the woman I loved. Her sleep seemed to be restless; a little knot had formed between those lovely brows. I reached out and brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen across her cheek. Tenderness suffused my heart.
I marvelled that such a woman existed in this world — a woman who made my heart soften and melt irresistibly, a woman for whom I was willing to do anything, to bear any burden.
I had no intention of retaking the throne of Qi, or of being anyone’s crown prince. I had always been a mere unambitious outlaw. To the extent there was some part of me that hoped to become a little stronger, a little more dependable, that was all for Chu Feichen’s sake. Yes, Chu Feichen. It’s because of you that I want to be a better person, I thought. And the sooner I can help you move aside this crushing burden that’s weighing on your heart, the sooner — I hope — you’ll be able to join me in roaming the world beyond these city walls, and seeing all that it has to offer.
Through the window, I could see the shifting colours of the waning day.
I gazed long and deeply on Chu Feichen. Fearful of rousing her, I repressed the urge to give her a kiss. Instead, I only drew the covers a little higher over her, and mouthed three silent words: I love you.
I stepped out of the room. As I turned to shut the door, my eyes fell on the red candle that stood lit on the table — just in time to see a droplet of wax dripping from it. For no reason at all, a sense of panic swept over me, and two inauspicious lines of poetry flashed through my mind:
The candle’s full of woe to see us part;
For us its tears flow till the break of day.[7]
The wind rose just then, and I shivered.
When I arrived at Yixian Tavern, I hesitated outside the door to Taibai’s Residence for a few moments before finally pushing it open and stepping inside.
Zhao Yishu was already there, drinking tea. He looked up and put his cup down when he saw me. ‘Wei xiong!’ he said with a smile, cupping his hands before his chest in greeting.
I nodded to him in return, then sat down beside him and poured myself a cup of tea. It was only after I had taken a sip from it that I began in leisurely tones, ‘Zhao xiong, isn’t it strange how cold the weather still is? When do you think spring will come?’
Zhao Yishu looked at me thoughtfully. His gaze was sharp, penetrating. Suddenly he lowered his voice and said, ‘Have you brought it?’
Eh? I hadn’t expected him to be quite this impatient.
I pushed my cup aside and smiled at him. ‘You’re a genius, Zhao xiong, but I’m no fool either. If I hand the map over to you now, what guarantee do I have, no, what guarantee do we have that you’ll lend us your troops after this?’
He leaned back nonchalantly in his chair. ‘Then what would you have me do, Wei xiong?’ he said indifferently.
I went on smiling. ‘That was merely a jest, Zhao xiong. I know you’re a man of your word — of course I trust you!’
Zhao Yishu cocked a brow, a non-committal expression on his handsome face.
A most inopportune sigh of regret rose up in me. Why had a man of such outstanding ability chosen the path of treason, which could only end in death and destruction? What a pity it was.
Slowly I reached beneath my robes and brought out the map, handing it over to him with another smile. ‘From now on, Zhao xiong, we’re in the same boat. Shouldn’t we order a few flagons of wine to celebrate this happy occasion?’
My eyes still fixed on him, I reached stealthily beneath my robes again and clutched the packet of sleeping powder I’d hidden there. With my other hand, I picked up my teacup, trying to seem nonchalant.
Zhao Yishu unfolded the map and cast an eye over it. Then he looked up at me with an inscrutable smile. ‘This truly is an occasion worth celebrating. Soldiers! To me!’
Then the door was thrown open to reveal a squad of steel-armoured guards gathered outside. The room was suddenly ablaze with the light from their torches. In their midst stood a lone woman, her elegant features completely devoid of emotion. Chu Feichen.
The hand I was holding my teacup in shook.
Chu Feichen stepped into the room, flanked by the armed guards. Her eyes were fixed steadily on me. Some emotion rose and fell within them: one moment it seemed like disappointment, the next, heart-wrenching pain. Then suddenly she closed her eyes, concealing everything she might be feeling behind her lids. When she opened them again, the corners of her mouth were quirked in an enigmatic half-smile. ‘Crown Prince Wei?’ she said to me.
Her voice was soft, but it pierced straight through my heart, leaving it as cold as ice.
Somehow I managed to steady my nerves enough to meet her gaze. All I could see in it was wariness and detachment; those were the eyes of a stranger.
From that moment, I knew there was no longer a future for Chu Feichen and me.
***
Footnotes:
- In Chinese, 与虎谋皮. The chengyu means asking a (usually malevolent) person to do something which is against their own interests. It originates from the Song Dynasty encyclopedia Readings of the Taiping Era (太平御览), which was commissioned by the court during the reign of Emperor Taizong and edited by the scholar and bureaucrat Li Fang (李昉). [return to text]
- In Chinese, 吃里扒外. This means to work against the interests of someone that one derives benefits or support from. The chengyu originates from The Hurricane (暴风骤雨), a 1948 novel by the author and translator Zhou Libo (周立波). [return to text]
- In Chinese, 酉时, approximately 5pm to 7pm (see footnote 3 to Chapter 21). [return to text]
- In Chinese, 申时, approximately 3pm to 5pm (see footnote 3 to Chapter 21). [return to text]
- In Chinese, 蒙汗药. This kind of sleeping drug is a common feature in historical and wuxia stories. [return to text]
- In Chinese, 风萧萧兮易水寒 (see footnote 7 to Chapter 6). [return to text]
- In Chinese, 蜡烛有心还惜别, 替人垂泪到天明. These lines are from the shi poem ‘Farewell’ (赠别) by the Tang Dynasty poet and politician Du Mu (杜牧), which is said to reflect the narrator’s sorrow at parting from a singing girl. [return to text]
douqi 随笔 