In the eyes of the world, Luoyang was a prosperous and opulent city, where scholars debated profound philosophies, doctors competed rare herbs, and nobles hunted for deer and antelope with their falcons and hounds. In the early spring and autumn, the city was adorned with vibrant flowers and teeming with life, as if all creatures were awakening from their slumber.
Those who could afford it would climb the city walls, enjoying the panoramic view. To the east, they would see endless fields; to the west, beautiful gardens. Behind them loomed the majestic Mang Mountain, and to the south, the mighty Luo River, which could swell during rainy seasons, washing away the fruits of many seasons in a single night.
People like Xi Yin, as fragile and fleeting as dandelion fluff, were easily intoxicated by such a seemingly prosperous yet ultimately illusory scene.
However, even the most beautiful city, after enduring wars and neglect, would inevitably bear the scars of its past. Although Luoyang had been rebuilt and rejuvenated, its underlying wounds were often concealed by its youthful appearance.
And just as cities bear the scars of their past, so too do people.
Thus, there was always someone who knew how to cover their wounds with fine clothes, and someone who felt the trembling fear as they walked on thin ice over a rushing river.
Zhang Duo had felt this loneliness for decades.
Until he met a solitary half-ghost on the street. She was both cowardly and audacious. He wanted to expose her true identity, to discover which faction she belonged to and what her intentions were. However, when he thought that torture and humiliation would easily strip away her mask and reveal her vicious nature, he was puzzled to find nothing but raw fear.
Xi Yin seemed to be just such a lowly and ignorant person. She was ignorant of poisons, clumsy with a knife, illiterate, and greedy for a few coins. She didn't know who had manipulated her or the chaos she had caused. All she wanted was to save her "brother's" life.
She didn't even know who Zhang Duo was. She knew nothing of his past or present.
But perhaps that was for the best.
Having been alone for so long, Zhang Duo now longed for someone to accompany him, to sit in a quiet room, to say nothing and think of nothing, and to simply heal each other's wounds together.
***
Five days passed. The wound on Zhang Duo's back began to scab over, itching intensely at times. Yet, he found the pain easier to bear than the itch, and he grew to depend on the stinging sensation of the medicinal powder seeping into his skin.
Xi Yin's injuries healed much more slowly. Afraid to ask him for medicine, she endured the pain silently. She could secretly lick the wound on her leg when he wasn't looking, but the one on her waist had become inflamed and swelled day by day. Fortunately, with the recent assassination attempt on the emperor, the palace was in turmoil and the inner city was in unrest. The Palace Guards, shackled and chained, searched the city day and night, their armored reflections flashing in the sunlight and firelight as they swept through the mansions of Luoyang city. Even high-ranking officials' carriages dared not pass.
For several days, no criminals had been caught, and rumors were circulating that troops would be sent to search the outer city.
The entire city was in chaos.
In such a situation, Zhang Duo, as the Zhongshujian(1), was rarely at home during the day. Xi Yin seized the opportunity to steal medicine from the chest and secretly treated her wounds in a dark corner.
With him away, no one dared to enter Quiet Study without permission, and even Jiang Ling only answered from outside.
Apart from the snow-white dog, the only other person in the outer courtyard was an old servant who would bring her food and water at regular intervals from the western window. He never spoke and never looked at her.
On the sixth day, she finally summoned the courage to call out to the old man.
"Old sir," she said.
The old man looked up and gave her a gentle smile.
Feeling disheveled, she quickly hid behind the curtain, revealing only half of her face shyly.
Seeing her embarrassment, the old man turned away. "I'll go find some clothes for you, young lady."
"Oh, may I?" she asked, then added, "I'm afraid the master won't allow it."
"The young lady must be frightened by the master," the old man said.
She felt a little embarrassed but didn't deny it. She unconsciously touched the wound on her body and nodded. "Please don't tell the master," she begged.
The old man chuckled.
The warm east wind had been blowing for several days, and swallows had returned to build nests under the eaves. The soft down of the young birds was as fragile as the woman in the room.
"You're right, young lady. In Luoyang, even the emperor is afraid of the master."
She was startled and thought of the night he had revealed his scarred back. She couldn't help but ask, "If even the emperor is afraid of the master, then who gave him such a severe whipping?"
"Have you asked the master?"
She thought for a moment, recalling his expression at that time, a hidden undercurrent that she couldn't understand, as if he didn't care but was also deeply obsessed. "The master said it was family discipline. So... was it the Sima(3)?"
She seemed to realize that she shouldn't be discussing his private matters with his servant and quickly explained, "I heard people in the city say that the Sima was very strict with the master. Everyone has something they fear, doesn't the master?"
Her voice trailed off, and the old man waited patiently for her to continue.
He didn't mind. Looking at the snow-white dog sleeping in the courtyard, he said casually, "Everyone has something they fear, but that doesn't sound like something a young woman like you would say. The master used to be afraid of dogs, but now he isn't. As for what he fears now, no one really knows."
Xi Yin lowered her eyelids. "I don't think so."
"Why?"
She recalled the scene of him having nightmares that night and couldn't help but sniffle. "I... I can't say."
The old man didn't ask further. He stood up and brushed the dust off his hands. "I'll go find some clothes for you."
"Wait, old sir. No... don't bother finding clothes. I'm afraid the master will be unhappy if he sees me. I called you because I wanted to ask you for a favor."
"And what is that?"
She hesitated for a moment and said softly, "My brother is blind, and I haven't seen him since I left home. I don't know if he has returned. I also don't know if the eunuch gave him money."
She reached out from behind the curtain with a delicate hand, holding a handkerchief wrapped around something. "I stole this incense. I don't know much about it, but I think it's... sandalwood. Could you give it to my brother and ask him if it's valuable?"
"You stole it?"
"Yes..."
She hesitated, "If we don't have any money at home, he can sell it and exchange it for some rice and vegetables."
The old man looked down at her helpless hand. "Aren't you afraid of being punished for stealing from the master?"
Her fingers trembled, and she seemed to shrink back.
"He saw it that day, but he didn't hit me..."
"Being in a situation like this, do you still have the energy to worry about people outside?"
"My brother raised me. He suffered so much for me... I'll never forget that. Without him, I wouldn't be here. Please help me..."
The old servant looked up. "You said your brother is blind?"
"Yes."
"Jiang Ling told me that a young man visited the manor today. He was wearing a white robe and a blindfold."
"Did he say anything about what was embroidered on the blindfold?"
"It was a pine pattern."
Upon hearing this, her expression brightened.
"Where is he now?"
"The master is not here, and outsiders are not allowed to stay. That's the rule. If he's looking for you, he might still be waiting outside."
As the sun began its descent behind Mang Mountain, Zhang Duo's carriage emerged from the imperial palace.
Zhao Qian rode alongside him on horseback.
The shadow of the bronze camel stretched long as they passed by the paulownia trees, their new leaves fluttering in the breeze carrying unknown seeds.
"Do you think the Prince of Jin really wants war?" Zhang Duo asked, without looking up from the document he was reading.
Zhao Qian, impatient, flipped back the carriage curtain with his sword hilt. "What are you doing cooped up in there? Come out and ride a horse."
Zhang Duo looked up, "Your wound has healed."
Zhao Qian was embarrassed. "It's been five days. I should have been out and about. Besides, who was it that beat me? They were our brothers. They were just putting on a show. You think they were really trying to kill me? You think they're all like the Sima..."
Zhang Duo paused mid-sentence.
Zhao Qian quickly shut his mouth and coughed awkwardly, retracting his sword. "Forget about it, you stay in the carriage. You can't ride a horse."
The carriage and horse moved forward, the scent of rice and meat carried by the wind, diluting the grim atmosphere of the imperial road.
Zhao Qian stroked his horse's mane and continued, "If the Emperor decides to attack the east, will you go?"
"No."
"Why? Back then, when we marched north to fight the Qiang, remember the times when how we pledged our lives for a drink of wine? Now, what's so good about Luoyang? Do you think you're so great just because you can gamble with the lives of beautiful women from wealthy families? Killing beauties and drinking wine, you're just a bunch of cultured cowards!"
He spoke with passion, but there was no response from the carriage.
"Zhang Tuihan, speak!"
"What should I say? Should I tell you about the Battle of Jinshan Pass, when you were captured and..."
"Alright, alright, I get it. Can you stop bringing up the past?"
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the sound of the horses' hooves. Then, a voice came from the carriage, filled with a strange meaning, "You're so easily embarrassed. You're no better than that woman."
"Enough!" Zhao Qian spun around abruptly. "If you're going to insult me, just do it. Don't compare me to a woman. I may not see as deep as you, and I admit to being captured and humiliated. I'll slap myself for it. Yes, without you, I might have been riddled with arrows at Jinshan Pass. I told you, if you want my head, just take it. But if you dare compare me to a woman, get down here and let's settle this right now."
"Who are you talking to?"
Zhao Qian could no longer hold back. "Who am I talking to? I'm talking to the Zhongshujian! You've reached the pinnacle of power. Don't you think you're too arrogant?"
"No, I don't think so. I haven't had enough yet. You don't have to accompany me any further."
"You..."