Chapter 47: Friends (IV)

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November, after the beginning of winter.

Wu Yueling personally carried her newly restored treasured sword to the lakeside bamboo grove, where she cut a few slender bamboo stalks. She bundled them neatly with the hemp rope she had brought and was on her way back when she happened to encounter Old Master He, just as he cast his bait into the water.

Approaching, Wu Yueling gave a habitual nod to Ah Xiang, then sat down beside them, setting down her bamboo bundle and sticking her sword into it. She gazed at the tranquil lake with Old Master He.

Her heart grew as calm as the lake's surface, shimmering under the early winter sun, its light neither warm nor cold as it bathed the earth.

Old Master He, aware of Wu Yueling's arrival, greeted her as one would an old friend. He unfastened the wine gourd from his waist and tossed it to the woman in green, his cloudy, aged eyes never leaving the water, his weathered face set forward in solemn composure.

Wu Yueling said nothing, taking a few sips of the clear wine to quench her thirst. She watched the fishing rod and the line swaying gently in the breeze, savoring the tranquil leisure of a winter afternoon.

Ah Xiang, too, stared at the lake. Sometimes, out of boredom, she paced about; other times she studied Wu Yueling, convinced that this woman in green was truly the old master's dearest friend. Though their acquaintance was brief, over wine they had already disregarded age and status—such camaraderie was rare. The old gentleman had fished here for years, and, aside from catching a certain Li Bai, had never found another soul with whom he could drink and converse so freely.

What made it stranger still was that this person was a woman! Yet, Ah Xiang thought, she hardly seemed like one at all.

Her gaze fell on the bundle of bamboo at Wu Yueling's side. What was it for? Ah, it could be used to prepare dry bamboo for the New Year. When burned, it would crackle and pop—one bang and another year would pass; the old gentleman would be yet another year older.

She sighed. If not for the old master all those years ago, she, Ah Xiang, might long since have become a wandering ghost in the wild hills. Her sole purpose in life was to protect him, the reason she trained so diligently.

Wu Yueling, sensing Ah Xiang's gaze, smiled at her and tossed over the wine gourd, gesturing that she needn't stand on ceremony. Then, feeling the wind pick up, she took the old man's coat from behind and draped it over his shoulders.

"By the way, Old Master He, why do you enjoy fishing so much?" Wu Yueling asked, starting a conversation.

Old Master He’s muddled eyes sparkled with wit as he replied, "Ha! When fishing, it’s not just fish that you catch!"

Wu Yueling smiled and pressed, "Oh? Then what other unexpected things might you pull from the lake?"

"Well, sometimes you might haul up a pair of tattered straw sandals. That's novel enough," he answered, following her lead.

Wu Yueling laughed heartily, saying he had quite the sense of humor.

After a while, Yu Chao’en, unable to find the princess at the palace, had no choice but to search outside. After asking the palace guards, he learned that the princess had gone out alone, apparently to the bamboo grove.

Pausing at the palace gate, Yu Chao’en ordered the guards to transplant several bamboo stalks to the courtyard behind the palace, known as the exercise ground. He couldn’t help but worry about the princess—going out alone, unaccompanied by guards, was most improper. What if something happened?

Anxious, Yu Chao’en hurried off to find her, and discovered her chatting by the riverbank with the old fisherman—or rather, the man who was a fisherman but not a fisherman. He respectfully greeted the princess and then the old man, noting the small bundle of bamboo at her side. So, the princess had cut the bamboo herself—surely a servant could have done such a task. He voiced his 'complaint,' urging her to leave such chores to the staff in the future.

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Wu Yueling agreed to Yu Chao’en’s advice, promising not to wander off again, and sent him to fetch a few people to bring some items: a frying pan, lard, a handful of dried chili peppers, and even two sets of toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Why bring a pan and spices for an outdoor meal? Simply because Old Master He had just caught a large fish.

Originally, he thought Ah Xiang would slice it for sashimi, but Wu Yueling suggested they cook it, saying she didn't want it raw and betting that her method would taste better. Old Master He, with a childlike stubbornness, took her up on the wager—if it wasn't delicious, she’d have to drink a whole jar of wine. Wu Yueling, equally playful, accepted the challenge—at worst, she’d get thoroughly drunk!

Now, Ah Xiang had already prepared a large plate of fish sashimi, which sat on the table. Old Master He, clutching his fishing rod, stared longingly at the raw fish, unable to eat it and forced to quell his craving with wine.

In the span of a single incense stick’s burning, Old Master He had landed another big one. Yu Chao’en soon returned with several servants, carrying a pile of supplies. With everything from the kitchen at their disposal, Yu Chao’en led the effort, stacking stones to build a makeshift stove and gathering firewood.

During this time, Wu Yueling handed out the toothpaste and toothbrushes to Old Master He and Ah Xiang, explaining their use. Yu Chao’en offered to demonstrate, but Wu Yueling waved him off, giving a thorough explanation herself before letting Ah Xiang try brushing her teeth by the lake. Despite his age, Old Master He’s teeth were in fine shape, and after brushing, they shone white and bright.

Both Ah Xiang and Old Master He praised the practicality of the toothpaste and brush, lavishly approving of Wu Yueling’s ingenuity. Wu Yueling smiled contentedly, deciding to give a few boxes to her adoptive parents after further trials.

With the fire kindled, Wu Yueling set about cooking under the watchful eyes of Old Master He and Ah Xiang. This was a princess, after all, yet she rolled up her sleeves and cooked herself. Though Old Master He had seen much in his years, he had never met a princess so free-spirited, so willing to set aside her status.

Wu Yueling’s dish was called "Boiled Fish Slices." Using the fresh catch, she sliced two large plates of fish, added pickled vegetables and garlic, and brewed a pot of soup. The blanched fish slices were set aside while the fish stock was ladled into bowls.

The aroma alone made Old Master He eager for a taste; he’d never thought to prepare fish this way. Ah Xiang watched and learned from the side, marveling at the princess’s culinary skill.

Wu Yueling heated the pan, melted the lard until it bubbled, and poured it over the fish slices topped with scallions. Once cooked through, she added them to the pickled fish soup, serving everyone a bowl before they had even placed it on the table.

Suddenly, Ah Xiang drew her dagger and strode warily toward a distant tree by the lake. "Come out! No need to hide!"

Having been discovered, a small head sheepishly poked out, sniffing the air—the aroma was irresistible; this was surely the handiwork of the little lady. Next, a young lynx and a white tiger cub emerged beside Hua Chuer, one meowing, the other roaring—the smell was simply too tempting.

The lynx leapt from the tree first, scampering to Wu Yueling’s side and sniffing all around, mewing for fish.

Wu Yueling tapped the lynx gently on the head, reminding it that it was forbidden from eating meat lately, lest it become as plump as a Garfield cat.

Hua Chuer, carrying the heavy white tiger cub, climbed down and approached Ah Xiang. "Hehe, it’s just me, Sister Ah Xiang—no need to be so stern..."

Ah Xiang sighed, nodded, sheathed her dagger, and stood aside.

Hua Chuer sat beside Wu Yueling, inhaling the scent of fish from the table with greedy longing, putting on a pitiful look as if she had just survived a famine, even raising the white tiger’s paw in supplication.

The cub roared, sticking out its tongue to lick its lips.

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Wu Yueling could only sigh, but then realized that Hua Chuer had been quietly watching over her all along—such thoughtfulness could not go unacknowledged.

She asked Hua Chuer to pour the wine, while she and Old Master He began to drink. More fish were soon caught; Ah Xiang, not missing a beat, took the plump catch, sliced it, and had Wu Yueling teach her how to make boiled pickled fish slices. Ah Xiang, quick to learn, mastered it in a single try, and the flavor rivaled Wu Yueling's own.

In front of Hua Chuer, the little lady praised Ah Xiang’s cooking, but Hua Chuer would not concede. She caught a carp, released it, then caught another big fish and attempted her own dish, but it came out blackened and charred. When the plate of pickled black fish slices was placed on the table, neither Wu Yueling nor Old Master He dared to lift their chopsticks—only the lynx and white tiger cub dug in with gusto, their meows and roars consoling Hua Chuer.

That night, a bonfire blazed by the lake. Wu Yueling and Old Master He, half-drunk, gazed together at the starry winter sky.

"Princess," Old Master He suddenly asked, "how do you think the people of this land are faring?"

"The people? Only they themselves know whether their lives are good or not," Wu Yueling replied, cradling the white tiger cub and stroking its head. The leaping flames reflected in her eyes, as if the fire could burn straight from her gaze.

"Haha, yes. In the past, I always thought of doing my part for the country and its people. But now, my strength fails me," Old Master He said, half drunk, his clouded eyes still shining with wisdom.

"When one grows old, one should live out the days in peace. That’s what I once believed—and I think you are living just as you wish to now, Old Master."

"Haha! You speak straight to my heart. Yes, a man may not live a hundred years, but he lives to see it all. Princess, I hope you’ll think more often of the people. This country—can I trust you to watch over it for me?"

"Are you asking me to watch over it, or simply to keep an eye on it?"

"That depends on the princess’s heart."

"Well then, if the mood strikes me, I’ll watch over it for you, old man!"

"Heh, I knew long ago that you were no ordinary princess!"

"Old Master, enough of this talk. You’re already so old—do you have any wishes left?"

*Hiccup.* "At this age, what’s left to wish for? If I had one, it’d be to find immortality and ascend to the heavens, to see what lies up there besides the stars," Old Master He said, pointing skyward, his wrinkled face full of longing.

Wu Yueling looked up at the night sky, gave a soft laugh, and answered, whether or not Old Master He was listening.

"Up in the heavens, there’s nothing but stars... and more stars..."