Chapter 59. Farewell Along Ten Miles

Parting is always painful, yet life is never free of farewells. After seven days in Chang’an, the time had come to leave. People say a lifetime is but the flick of a finger; what can seven days matter? Yet Li Xi would claim that his seven days in Chang’an were full, unforgettable, a memory he would carry for life.

On the day Li Xi set out for his post, the old madam rose early, personally overseeing the kitchen as the cooks prepared breakfast for her grandson. If her eyes weren't blind, she would have rolled up her sleeves and brewed a cup of soup herself; now, she could only sit and offer a few nagging words.

Breakfast that morning was stiflingly oppressive. Everyone wore smiles, but tears lurked behind each one. The old madam’s eyes could no longer shed tears—they flowed in her heart instead. Cui Yingying’s eyes brimmed with tears, though she never stopped smiling, her two white front teeth gleaming in the morning light. Mu Yaxin’s eyes were red, partly from staying up late, partly from reluctance to leave this home in Chang’an and the one beyond these walls.

Li Xi forced himself to smile, grinning so broadly that he seemed careless and carefree. He felt he could take things as they came—since parting was inevitable, why not smile? It was just a farewell, not a final parting; there was no need for such sorrow.

Liu Motong and Cui Yudong had gone early to Li Third’s house. Last night, under the capable hands of Third Sister-in-law, Lvzhu had formally entered the Li family. The mistress bustled about, barely touching the ground, so frantic she seemed lost. The new couple felt out of place and threw themselves into the chaos. The family of three worked late into the night, tidying every corner until it gleamed.

They glanced at each other’s dust-streaked faces and smiled awkwardly. Third Sister-in-law urged the couple to perform their marital rites, but they hesitated. She grew impatient, slapped the table, her face as stern as a warrior god, frightening Li Third into kneeling. Seeing her protector fall, Lvzhu quickly knelt as well.

Third Sister-in-law was caught between laughter and tears, finally sighing as she helped Lvzhu up, then glared Li Third to his feet, happily escorting them to the bridal chamber. Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Li Third sneaked back to her room, clinging shamelessly to Liu, pouring out sweet words. The couple resolved their tensions, reconciled, and spent the night talking, laughing, crying, fussing, and stirring until neither slept well.

When Li Third left the house in the morning, his eyes were ringed with darkness; Third Sister-in-law’s were both black and red.

The six children, still young, were thrilled by their father’s promise to soon take them to Chenzhou. They complained that their mother was dawdling, grumbling, “Father and Auntie are leaving, and you’re still fussing in the house!”

Third Sister-in-law lingered until the luggage was loaded onto the carriage, Lvzhu had climbed aboard, and Li Third was about to mount his horse before she finally emerged. In her hands, she carried a bundle containing several changes of Li Third’s clothes and five strings of coins—the savings she’d scrimped and saved for emergencies, now handed over all at once.

With her eyes rimmed in black and red, she sent off her equally red-eyed husband, then returned to her little courtyard without another word or appearance. To cover his embarrassment, Li Third grumbled to Liu Motong and Cui Yudong, “Look at that woman! I’m going to serve as an official, not to the execution ground—what’s all this crying for? She’s so clueless!”

Already mounted, Liu Motong and Cui Yudong exchanged smiles and urged him on.

The procession arrived outside the Yang residence in Fengyi Quarter, where two carriages and four horses waited. One carriage was for Cui Yingying and Ruhua; the other carried Mu Yaxin, Siyu, and luggage. Li Xi, Li Thirteen, and Wangcai each rode a horse, with one spare. The mottled dog with half its tail missing was brought along, circling Mu Yaxin's carriage, but when lifted onto the carriage, it couldn't stay put and soon jumped down again.

After repeated urging, Li Xi finally appeared, his eyes red and head down—he had just left the old madam. At the last moment, she not only gave him many instructions but also pressed her private savings upon him. Li Xi refused, pushed back in every way, but could not decline, and so agreed to take it. Yet, as soon as he turned, Li Xi handed the money to Yang Fu, asking him to keep it for emergencies.

The night before, Li Xi and Cui Yingying, as master and mistress, hosted a banquet for the old servants of the Yang household, explaining matters after his departure. With Yang Fu and Old Gu aged and weary, Li Xi appointed Yang Fu’s grandson, Yang Yi, as steward of the Yang residence.

Yang Yi, only eighteen, was honest, gentle, diligent, and hardworking, with his grandfather’s support. Li Xi felt reassured leaving the household in his hands.

After sending off the tearful Cui Yingying and Mu Yaxin, Li Xi took a lingering, heartfelt look at the Yang residence’s plaque above the door, drew a deep breath, said nothing, and mounted his horse. In that moment, his feelings were heavy, complex, yet touched with a freedom he had never known.

Ten miles west of Chang’an stood Shili Pavilion, beside a north-south postal road. This road led north to Tiande Garrison, then stretched on toward the desert and grasslands, while its southern end reached far to the lush lands where winter rarely saw snow—a place Li Xi saw as the path of his life.

Farewell wine had been laid out outside the pavilion. To Li Xi’s surprise, Li De Yu, Wei Mo, and Zhao Xiao were all there, along with two unfamiliar young men: one a quiet youth of fourteen or fifteen, the other a fair-faced, shrewd young eunuch.

Li Xi hurriedly dismounted and greeted them. Li De Yu offered a cup of wine, saying, “Let me urge you to finish another cup—beyond the southern mountains, you have no old friends.” Li Xi thanked him and drank. Li De Yu raised a second cup, “Master Wu You heard you were leaving the capital today and asked me to offer you this wine.”

Li Xi was startled, thinking, “She still remembers me—what does that mean?” He wore a look of delighted surprise and said, “It’s rare that the master remembers Yang; I am truly honored.”

Li De Yu laughed, “Of course she remembers. Master Wu You never does what she dislikes—she has no clever stewards to arrange things for her. Feeling honored is appropriate. Think of her proud, solitary nature—when has she ever cared for worldly etiquette? I’ve known her for years, seen her countless times, yet when I left the capital, she never gave me even a cup of wine. Compared to you, I’m jealous.”

After the Qujiang poetry gathering, Li De Yu regarded Li Xi as one of his own. For Li Xi’s wedding, he sent three hundred strings of coins, more than a tenth of all gifts received, and personally invited several colleagues to attend, giving Li Xi great honor.

Li Xi believed Li De Yu’s words came from the heart—perhaps he really was jealous.

Li Xi smiled and quickly drank the cup offered on Guo Wu You’s behalf. He couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased—how could he, Li Xi, have the favor of even the emperor’s sister-in-law? How was he to bear such honor?

Lost in thought, he approached Wei Mo.

Wei Mo held his cup, his gaze lofty, half looking at Li Xi, half at the sky. “The skies over Chu are vast. I wish you a flight of the great roc, and that one day you return home in glory.”

Li Xi replied, “I wish you soon find your ideal bride.”

Wei Mo laughed, “Marriage is a matter of fate—search as I might, I cannot find it.” He drank, then took Li Xi’s arm, pointing to the quiet youth beside him, “This is the one you sought—Du Mu, styled Mu Zhi.”

Li Xi was startled, quickly bowing in greeting. Du Mu returned the salute and smiled, “I wonder why Invincible Brother insisted on meeting me? I am but a humble scholar, with neither literary talent nor martial virtue worth mentioning. As for family, after my grandfather passed, we’ve been like the family whose New Year gets worse each year.”

Li Xi grinned, “Brother Mu Zhi may not know, but I, Yang Zan, was once guided by an immortal and learned a bit of face-reading. Though you are yet unknown today, one day your literary talent will make you famous throughout the land. Since our acquaintance is shallow, perhaps we should warm the stove now and mark the ledger, so when you are renowned, I can bask in your glory.”

Du Mu laughed, raised his hand in thanks, “I appreciate your kind words. If I ever gain fame, I will never forget your blessing today.”

This drew laughter from all.

Zhao Xiao stepped forward with a cup, saying, “Yang Invincible, you surely didn’t expect me to come. On your wedding day you didn’t send me an invitation. I pondered whether to attend, and finally didn’t. I hope you’re not offended?”

Li Xi replied, “You were busy, so it’s fine. But why didn’t you send a present either? Because we’re brothers, I’ll give you a chance to make amends—did you bring something today?”

With a smile, he drew a brocade box from his sleeve and offered it, “A token of respect for your wedding, brother.” Without waiting for Li Xi, he opened it himself—inside was a jade bracelet of the purest green. Li Xi, though no expert in jade, could see from Zhao’s showmanship it was no common piece. He hurried to decline, “I was only joking. There’s no need for this, really. You serve the Prince of E, and have your own difficulties. I know you couldn’t break away, but coming so far to see me shows your friendship. My earlier words were only in jest—don’t take them to heart.”

Zhao Xiao said, “Not accepting? Do you look down on me?”

Li Xi was alarmed and quickly replied, “I wouldn’t dare.” He accepted the bracelet and handed it to Wangcai. Only then did Zhao Xiao smile, pulling Li Xi aside to whisper in his ear. Li Xi nodded repeatedly, finally thumping his chest, “Leave it to me, it’s a small matter.”

Zhao Xiao pouted, displeased, “Don’t treat it as a small matter—nothing is small in the imperial family.”

Li Xi quickly corrected himself, “You’re right. Matters of the imperial family are always great. I’ll handle it with utmost care.”

End of text.