A Different World - Chapter 11: Burying the Wine

Ye Chang’an suddenly sat up, hurriedly letting go of Ye Yin’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize.” Ye Yin pulled his sleeve down further to cover his reddened wrist and asked softly, “Did you have a nightmare?”

Ye Chang’an pursed his lips and nodded, his gaze following Ye Yin as he got up to pour him some water, not looking away for even a moment. Taking the cup Ye Yin handed him, he asked hesitantly, “Did you come looking for me for something?”

Ye Yin pulled a stool over and sat by Ye Chang’an’s bedside. “Yunxiu told me everything that happened this afternoon. Were you troubled by what you said about Physician Zuo?”

Although he felt his thoughts were somewhat childish, Ye Chang’an was indeed bothered. After hesitating, he nodded and replied in a low voice, “I know I’ve been a burden to you. I’ll work hard to make up for it. Could you…”

If not for him, Ye Yin might not have been poisoned, wouldn’t have to endure pain, and wouldn’t need to worry about whether he would survive another day.

“I won’t abandon you,” Ye Yin said, gently ruffling Chang’an’s hair to comfort him. “The reason I only gave you a courtesy name was that I wanted you to have the right to decide your formal name yourself. As for the surname Ye, I’ve never corrected you about it, so how could I possibly mind?”

Ye Chang’an’s eyes lit up with determination as he solemnly declared, “From now on, I won’t go anywhere. I’ll stay with you, just like Yunxiu calls you Master. I’ll be obedient, train diligently in swordsmanship and martial arts every day, and protect you in the future.”

“Master?” Ye Yin was taken aback. Chang’an was, after all, the orphaned son of the late emperor, and calling him Master was inappropriate by protocol. He suggested instead, “Why not call me elder brother?”

Ye Chang’an shook his head resolutely. “Master.”

When Ye Yin took him in back then, he had been about the same age. Ye Chang’an was determined to grow up quickly until the day he could protect Ye Yin. He didn’t want to continue being a burden to Ye Yin, nor did he wish to live forever under Ye Yin’s protection.

Ye Yin still wanted to refuse. The title felt truly unsuitable. “Chang’an…”

After a good night’s sleep and receiving Ye Yin’s explanation, Ye Chang’an felt much calmer. He got up, put on his shoes, and stood, saying, “This afternoon, Yunxiu brewed some pear blossom wine. I also made two jars myself. One will be for your birthday after some aging, and the other I’ll bury under the tree. On my eighteenth birthday, we’ll drink it together.”

Ye Yin was momentarily stunned. A ripple seemed to flash through his usually calm eyes, but he soon nodded silently. “Alright.”

He watched as Chang’an efficiently rolled up his sleeves, fetched a hoe from the storage room, and began loosening the soil under the tree. Slowly, Ye Yin walked over to him.

The mountain breeze at night was chilly, disturbing the slumbering plants. Moonlight and shadows from the trees fell on the ground, overlapping with the shadows of the two figures.

Pear blossoms drifted down. One person, cloaked in a heavy white robe, smiled faintly as he watched the other bury the wine. Six years later, he hoped he could still be there to drink this wine with Chang’an.

They absolutely could not let the comfort of the present make them abandon the blood debts of countless lives. One day, they would have to bear the weight of the past again. Chang’an did need to grow up quickly, and Ye Yin would need to arrange everything in the next six years.

As these thoughts filled his mind, Ye Yin silently turned to gaze down at the foothills of Mount Qiong. Along the banks of the Xu River, lights glimmered brightly, as if something significant was about to happen.

Jianzhou City

The lights in the River Supervisory Office burned brightly. Yang Wenhui was so anxious that he couldn’t sit still or stand idle. Hearing the sound of carriages and horses outside, he quickly stepped out to the second hall’s entrance. He saw an official dressed in a neatly pressed crimson robe with a lion emblem on his chest bypass the main hall and enter through the main gate.

Upon seeing who it was, Yang Wenhui’s hopes were dashed. He straightened his official robe in disappointment, returned to the intricately carved rosewood chair, and picked up a teacup to take a sip.

It wasn’t until General Jiang Jigang of the River Defense Forces entered the second hall that Yang Wenhui stood up again, greeting him with a forced smile, “General Jiang, what brings you to the Canal Transport Office at this hour?”

Jiang Jigang had noticed Yang Wenhui’s earlier expression when he arrived outside, so he glanced at him coldly before sitting across from him. In a frosty tone, he asked, “Lord Yang, why are you still awake in the middle of the night? Who are you waiting for?”

Knowing that it was impossible to hide the matter of the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial from the River Defense Forces, Yang Wenhui replied frankly, “The Directorate of Ceremonial serves as the emperor’s right hand. With the canal reconstruction being a serious matter, they’ve sent someone to supervise. As the acting supervisor of the Canal Transport Office, I naturally have to give them a proper reception.”

Due to a dam collapse, the county magistrates of six affected counties under the Canal Transport Office were dismissed and investigated. The former Canal Transport Supervisor was also summoned back to the capital. Yang Wenhui, originally a vice minister in the Ministry of Works, had been temporarily assigned to oversee the office and had only arrived in Jianzhou a month earlier.

Jiang Jigang, previously part of the Ministry of War, had been appointed by the Ministry of Personnel as General of the River Defense Forces, arriving in Jianzhou slightly ahead of Yang Wenhui.

During the spring deliberations, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue had sought assistance from the Ministry of War, stepping on the toes of Minister Zhong Hanming in the process. As a result, Jiang Jigang had been giving Yang Wenhui the cold shoulder ever since his arrival.

Yang Wenhui also disliked Jiang Jigang’s way of doing things. However, regarding the canal, they were both in the same boat for now.

He glanced subtly toward the hall’s entrance and lowered his voice. “General Jiang, regardless of who we’re waiting for, we’re both here for the same purpose: to implement the policy of ‘canal reconstruction, relief aid, and comprehensive restoration.’ Our success or failure will determine our honor or disgrace in the future. We should advance and retreat together.”

Jiang Jigang’s face stiffened at these words. After a moment of contemplation, he recognized the necessity of collaboration and relaxed slightly. Meeting Yang Wenhui’s gaze, he nodded, choosing not to dwell on past grievances. Looking toward the door, he asked, “Do you know where Eunuch Wang is now?”

Upon entering, Jiang Jigang had noticed that the office was significantly understaffed today. Even the attendants were nowhere to be seen, most likely dispatched to receive the eunuch.

“The clerks just reported that he’s almost here,” Yang Wenhui replied, barely finishing his sentence when the sound of a guide calling out came from outside.

“This way, Eunuch Wang. Lord Yang has been awaiting your arrival.”

The two people inside the room heard this and immediately stood up to greet him. Before they saw Eunuch Wang enter, they already heard his soft and sharp voice: “I originally intended to visit tomorrow, but since Lord Yang invited me so warmly, I can’t refuse such courtesy.”

Wang Ruicheng, surrounded by the attendants, walked into the second hall. Upon seeing that Jiang Jigang was also waiting in the room, he paused for a moment. His gaze briefly swept between Yang Wenhui and Jiang Jigang, and his expression quickly returned to normal. He greeted them upon entering, “My apologies for making you wait, my lords. It started drizzling just now, and the mud spread onto the roads, which delayed me.”

“Since I knew Eunuch Wang would arrive tonight, and the post station is damp and cold, I was worried it would be inconvenient for you. So, I had someone prepare a place at the Canal Office for you to rest,” Yang Wenhui said, giving orders for hot tea to be served. Then he added, “I’ve also arranged for a residence for you, Eunuch Wang. The servants are cleaning it up, and once it’s ready, I will send someone to escort you there.”

“That won’t do,” Wang Ruicheng replied, though his eyes were full of admiration for Yang Wenhui. “I’m here to supervise the canal works on behalf of His Majesty, not for leisure.”

Yang Wenhui responded smoothly, “Eunuch Wang, you’ve misunderstood! ‘Improving the waterworks, adjusting the transport, and aiding the people’ is a policy for the country and its citizens. However, the Xu River is long, and the canals in Jian and Yue provinces are complex, with a tedious and time-consuming repair process. Eunuch Wang, as the supervisor of the canal works, is alleviating His Majesty’s concerns and working for the benefit of the people. You must be exhausted. If I knew you would be troubled, and I still let you stay at the post station, that would be my failure as an official.”

Seeing that Wang Ruicheng was clearly pleased with Yang Wenhui’s pompous rhetoric, Jiang Jigang chose not to involve himself, but neither did he disagree.

Wang Ruicheng glanced at Jiang Jigang again, and then asked Yang Wenhui, “Since I’ve come to the Canal Office tonight, I’d like to ask how the work is progressing.”

Yang Wenhui lowered his eyes for a moment in thought before answering, “The silt in the canal has mostly been cleared, and we are also persuading the families along the banks who refuse to relocate. Work should begin soon. Eunuch Wang can rest for now, and a few days later, I will have the stone merchants come for a consultation and price negotiations. At that time, I’d like to trouble you to attend and listen in.”

As he finished speaking, he noticed the doorman waiting outside and said, “The servants must have finished cleaning. Please, Eunuch Wang, let me escort you to your quarters.”

“That’s fine, I’ve traveled quite a long way and I’m indeed tired,” Wang Ruicheng said with a smile that hid his eyes. He exchanged a few more pleasantries with Yang Wenhui and Jiang Jigang before following the doorman to his carriage.

The carriage moved smoothly along, but Wang Ruicheng’s face darkened as he looked at the muddy roads, clearly no longer the friendly face he had shown earlier.

The steps leading to the residence divided the muddy ground from the clean area. The courtyard was neat and tidy, with exquisite furnishings that showed considerable effort had been put into the arrangement.

A little eunuch hurriedly came over, hands holding a name card. “Godfather, these are the name cards from the merchants’ guild and the grain transport association. They’ve arranged a welcome banquet for you.”

Wang Ruicheng took the cards, glanced at them briefly, and smiled again, saying cheerfully, “Good! Jianzhou is indeed a great place!”

Just as he had entered the residence, name cards were already arriving. It was quite amusing.

The canal works had only just begun, and yet so many people were already unable to sit still. The canal project would take a long time, and no one knew what interesting events would unfold in the future.

With the emperor far away, Wang Ruicheng genuinely wanted to see how the muddy situation in Jian and Yue provinces would be dealt with next.

Author’s Note:

Let’s introduce the new characters and their official positions in this chapter:

Yang Wenhui: Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works and Canal Transport Supervisor

Jiang Jigang: General of the River Defense Forces (previously from the Ministry of War)

Wang Ruicheng: Eunuch in charge of canal supervision (from the Directorate of Ceremonial)

The next chapter will take place six years later, and the children will have grown up!

Thanks for reading!