Chapter 66: Jiang Xue (Part Two)

On the other side, a small pot began to bubble and boil, white, fragrant steam curling from beneath the wooden lid—the humble version of braised mantis shrimp was ready!

Setting a wooden board on the table, she placed a damp linen cloth atop it, then set the pot, lid and all, upon the makeshift trivet. As the lid was lifted, a billow of steam blossomed like a cloud, swirling upward and drawing forth the appetite of all present.

She next took out a sealed jar of barley ale. With a hiss, she pulled away the cloth seal. White foam frothed over, sliding down the curved side of the earthenware jar onto the richly grained tabletop, where it scattered and settled into a little puddle. The malty aroma of the ale mingled with the fragrance rising from the pot, drifting out to greet the cold air.

Outside the pavilion, the sound of a sled gliding grew steadily closer, until it stopped beside the two horses. Then came the excited barking and panting of dogs (no, not what you’re thinking).

Wuyue Ling peered through a gap in the bamboo blinds in the direction of the sled. Who could be arriving here? She remembered she hadn’t given any special instructions.

The curtain was lifted, and in stepped Wan’er, wearing an apologetic expression. The girl cradled an ancient zither in her arms. The cold wind had flushed her cheeks crimson, and as she exhaled, white breath misted before her face, vanishing almost instantly in the frigid air.

"Wan’er, you came—I thought you said it was too cold..."

"My lady, forgive my boldness for following you here unbidden!" Wan’er hugged the zither to her chest and bowed her head, preparing to kneel in apology, but was caught by Wuyue Ling.

Taking Wan’er’s icy, delicate hand, she pulled her to sit beside her at the table, urging her to warm up by the fire before anything else—this weather was truly bitter. Noticing a servant still waiting outside the pavilion, she called her in as well, inviting her to join them by the brazier and share the stew to warm themselves and stave off hunger.

Wuyue Ling had just finished peeling a shrimp when she heard horses whinnying and the sound of snow being trampled. Dipping her shrimp in a bit of sauce, she mused that today was indeed lively—one arrival after another.

A man in a white robe dismounted, leaving his horse untethered, tossing the whip aside as he strode to the pavilion’s entrance. Glancing up at the small plaque hanging above the doorway, he breathed in the enticing scent of food and spirits from within, laughed heartily, shook out his robe, swept aside the bamboo curtain, and stepped inside.

Without waiting for greetings from Wuyue Ling or Old Master He, he sat himself down, grabbed a pair of chopsticks from a bamboo holder, and began fishing things out of the simmering pot. He then lifted a warm bowl of ale, downed it in a single draught, his expression instantly transformed by the heady flavor—good wine indeed! He gulped it down, let out a loud belch, picked up a mantis shrimp, and tossed it whole into his mouth, crunching noisily.

"Pray tell, who is this guest devouring whole shrimp?" Wuyue Ling watched as he ate one mantis shrimp after another with gusto, completely oblivious to his surroundings. Who was this man, barging in and helping himself like this?

"Hahaha, this is my old friend, Li Bai," Old Master He explained with a cupped-fist salute, a little embarrassed. "Tai Bai, shouldn’t you greet the princess?"

Upon hearing this, Wuyue Ling saw the man glance at her. Before she could raise her wine bowl, he had already performed the toasting gesture with a carefree flourish, then drained the bowl with a satisfied sound.

The atmosphere in the pavilion grew a touch awkward; aside from this fellow’s noisy eating, only the bubbling of broth filled the air.

Old Master He looked at Wuyue Ling; she looked back at him. Both shared a helpless smile—this one was truly a handful.

After eating and drinking his fill, Li Bai finally stretched with his chopsticks in hand, his eyes glazed with a half-real, half-feigned drunkenness. Lazily, he asked, "Princess, I hear a white weevil has appeared in the grain stores of the treasury!"

"No, that’s a mantis shrimp!" the quick-witted Wuyue Ling replied with a jest, picking up a large, bright-red shrimp. She bit off its head, peeled away the shell, and took a juicy bite. "See? The mantis shrimp is dead—one less pest in the treasury."

With that, she picked up another and ate it the same way. "See, another one gone."

"Look, there aren’t many left in the pot. If they want to gnaw through the treasury, we’ll just boil them red, bite off their heads, peel off their shells, and eat them in a single mouthful!"

Taking up more shrimp from the pot, Wuyue Ling distributed one each to Old Master He, Li Bai, Chu’er, and Wan’er out of respect for their seniority, then declared, "Come, everyone, let’s wipe out these treasury pests together!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Amused by the princess’s wit and self-mockery, Tai Bai burst into loud laughter—clearly, there was no way to make things awkward for her. He picked up another mantis shrimp, ate it head to tail, and, picking up yet another, proclaimed, "Well said! Down with these pests!"

Everyone grinned knowingly, racing each other to finish off the pot’s contents.

When the shrimp were gone, Tai Bai clutched the wine jar, feigning drunkenness. "I’ve heard the princess bears a reputation as a talented lady in Xiang County, a claim vouched for only by Brother Chao!"

"Oh? So our young friend has such renown?" Old Master He was surprised—he hadn’t realized that this drinking companion was also famed for poetry and talent. He looked expectantly at her.

Wuyue Ling was now truly a little tipsy, having already shared a whole jar of wine with Old Master He. She laughed shyly, "I just copy things—I have no talent for verse. I’m just a game enthusiast."

"Game... enthusiast?" Li Bai was puzzled, but, hearing that her reputation was borrowed, only clutched the barley ale more tightly. "See, I said it—women without talent are virtuous!"

At this, both Wan’er and Chu’er frowned with indignation. After all that eating and drinking, shouldn’t he be more humble? Yet he grew increasingly disrespectful toward the young lady.

Only Ah Xiang understood that this wild man in white was simply of such temperament.

"What?" Wuyue Ling was about to retort sharply, but a hiccup stifled her words. With a sweep of her sleeve, she called, "Wan’er, play the zither!"

"Yes, as you command!"

Wan’er took up the zither, stepped back several paces, seated herself on the couch, and laid the instrument across her knees, plucking out a deep and stirring melody.

Moved by the powerful strains, Wuyue Ling, slightly drunk, rose with a bowl of barley ale in hand, swept aside the bamboo curtain, and strode out into the wind. Her cloak billowed behind her, her long black hair streaming like waves as she faced the biting wind.

"Li Bai, do you see this frozen lake? This snowbound land!"

Cloak and hair intertwined, creating a graceful silhouette.

Li Bai stood as well, clutching the wine jar, gazing in surprise at this petite yet unrestrained figure—clearly, this woman was no ordinary soul. Had he misjudged her?

Old Master He, witnessing the scene, stroked his white beard. This was truly the companion who had shared wine with him—he laughed in silent approval. Li Bai might be wild, but she was untamed as well, especially in her cups. Otherwise, how could she befriend an old man like himself?

"Look, the lake is covered in snow and ice, there are boats, people, and fishermen!"

The zither’s melody wound on, intimate and lingering. Wuyue Ling, embraced by the cold wind, laughed skyward, downed her ale, and, keeping time with the music, began to sing:

"From a thousand mountains, the birds have all flown away,
On ten thousand paths, not a single footprint remains!"

She turned to Old Master He, meeting his gaze. They shared a knowing smile, and clapped hands in rhythm as she continued:

"On a solitary boat, a straw-cloaked old man,
Fishes alone in the snowy river’s chill!"

The melody paused, then Wan’er played on, and suddenly a lonely, desolate tableau surged into everyone’s hearts, making even the warmest soul shudder.

Li Bai, dodging Wuyue Ling’s attempt to snatch the wine, retreated to the pavilion doorway, laughing as he joined in the song:

"From a thousand mountains, the birds have all flown away,
On ten thousand paths, not a single footprint remains!
On a solitary boat, a straw-cloaked old man,
Fishes alone in the snowy river’s chill!
Good! Good! Well done! Tai Bai is convinced!"

"Hand over the wine!" Wuyue Ling, still in her cups, reached for it.

Tai Bai dodged again, even evading Chu’er’s sneaky grab, turning mischievous. "Haha, such fine wine—how could I return it? I won’t! I won’t!"

With that, he drained the jar, and everyone in the pavilion burst into laughter and cheerful conversation.

Soon after, three generations of fishermen returned with a netful of fish. All were invited into the pavilion, offered food and warm clothing. Learning they were in the presence of the Princess Protector of the Realm and Hanlin Scholar Li, they were astonished and gave profuse thanks, presenting their catch in gratitude.

That night, at the Duke of Jin’s residence, Li Linfu reclined on his bed, two or three concubines by his side, listening to Luo Yishi’s report from beyond the screen.

"The Princess Protector is named Wuyue Ling, originally from Jingzhou, born to a humble village family—the very village slaughtered by bandits. Only the Princess survived. Your subordinate believes she must have martial skill, else how could she have saved His Majesty? She also earned renown as a talented lady in Xiang County!"

From behind the screen came the sound of dressing. Presently, an elderly man, now neatly attired, emerged and strode briskly toward the Moon Hall.

Luo Yishi followed, waiting outside, his breath curling in the cold as he awaited the prime minister’s orders. Just as he was pondering, Li Linfu’s voice issued from within:

"A talented lady? There’s no such thing. Spread the word through Manichaeism that this so-called reputation is fabricated. Let Chang’an know that Princess Protector Wuyue Ling is nothing but a village girl! Ha! Let’s see how she matches such a title. And if word reaches His Majesty, even better. Oh, and let your people stir up a little trouble for the Princess’s household as well—you know what to do!"

"Yes!"

Luo Yishi answered, then stepped out into the snow...