A Different World - Chapter 8: Former Subordinates

“You’re awake. Are you feeling unwell today? Did you take your medicine?” Ye Chang’an asked hurriedly, reaching out to tidy Ye Yin’s cloak. It still felt too thin, so he took off his own cape and draped it over him, fastening the collar to keep him warm.

Ye Yin hadn’t felt cold at all, but the moment Chang’an’s cape covered him, he couldn’t bring himself to take it off. With a light cough, he lazily said, “I’ve been sleeping longer these past few nights. I feel much more refreshed when I wake up. As for the medicine—”

“Stop right there!” Ye Chang’an didn’t wait for Ye Yin to finish explaining. He could already guess what he wanted to say. “Skipping the medicine is out of the question. I brought you something sweet from the foot of the mountain. Judging by the time, the kitchen should have finished brewing the medicine by now. I’ll go fetch it for you.”

Ye Yin looked down at the candied hawthorn wrapped in glutinous rice paper that Chang’an had stuffed into his hand. Both exasperated and amused, he said, “Chang’an, slow down. Don’t trip.”

Four years had passed in the blink of an eye. Chang’an was now twelve, and his height had shot up to nearly match his. Over the years, Ye Yin had kept a close eye on his martial training. The boy was advancing rapidly; on the steep terrain of Qiong Mountain, he moved as effortlessly as if on flat ground, impossible to stop even by calling out to him.

“Master.”

Hearing the voice, Ye Yin turned around to see Jiang Yunxiu returning as well. He asked, “How did it go?”

Zheyuelou occupied Qiong Mountain, listening to every corner of the world. Ye Yin had already heard whispers about the movements in the Jian and Yue provinces down the mountain. He had sent Jiang Yunxiu to investigate further. Since Chang’an was constantly by his side practicing martial arts, leading a life as dull as an adult’s, Ye Yin had let him accompany Yunxiu down the mountain for a change of pace.

Jiang Yunxiu glanced outside at Chang’an’s retreating figure and reported honestly, “Chang’an went to a teahouse to listen to stories. Rest assured, Master, our people are following him in secret. No one has noticed anything.”

His voice, muffled by the mask, was somber. Within Zheyuelou, apart from Ye Yin, no one knew what Jiang Yunxiu had looked like before.

He had once been a centurion under the command of the General of National Defense, Lu Hancang. Following General Lu, he had been dispatched to reinforce the Jian and Yue provinces. When suspicions of unrest arose in the northern frontier, General Lu had left a portion of his troops to assist the provincial generals after repelling part of the Ryudao invaders, while he himself led the main force north to investigate.

Later, the coastal garrison successfully drove the invaders two hundred nautical miles offshore. Just as they thought they could report back to General Lu with honor, they discovered that some of the garrison troops had secretly abandoned their posts.

To avoid alarming the enemy, they decided to remain in the camp for further observation while secretly dispatching a courier to deliver a classified report to General Lu.

Unexpectedly, news soon arrived of a rebellion in the capital. General Lu had died protecting the late emperor. They rushed back, but before reaching the capital, they were labeled as “remnants of the former dynasty” and relentlessly hunted by government troops.

During their escape, they heard that Young General Lu had fled with the Ninth Prince. Knowing that the young master might also be in danger, they tried to locate him while evading capture. But the government forces pursued them relentlessly, and Jiang Yunxiu watched helplessly as his comrades dwindled day by day.

By the time they reached Kongshan Temple, their 500-strong force had been reduced to just him. It was then that Jiang Yunxiu learned that the young master and the Ninth Prince had perished in a great fire behind the temple. Overcome with grief, he prepared to draw his sword and take his own life in atonement.

A Daoist suddenly appeared, pulling him into a hidden spot. After confirming that he was indeed a subordinate of the General of National Defense, the Daoist whispered that the young master was still alive, though his whereabouts were unknown.

This glimmer of hope stayed Jiang Yunxiu’s hand. He resolved to live and continue searching for the young master.

Reasoning that if the young master was alive, he was most likely heading south, Jiang Yunxiu disfigured himself to avoid being recognized and disguised himself as a beggar.

However, even after searching all the way to the southern coast, he found no trace of the young master.

When Jiang Yunxiu was on the verge of despair, a man appeared, wearing a straw hat and a heavy cloak, exuding the smell of medicine. If not for the man’s voice, Jiang Yunxiu might not have recognized this once high-spirited youth, adept at horseback archery, as his young master.

Shortly after Ye Yin settled in Zheyuelou, he heard that the imperial court was hunting down remnants of the General of National Defense’s household. Though suspicious of a trap, he couldn’t ignore the possibility. With Chang’an, he secretly followed to investigate.

Although he couldn’t immediately identify the disfigured man before him, Ye Yin’s eyes fell on the military banner of the General of National Defense, clutched tightly in the man’s arms.

Over the years, many martial heroes had sought refuge in Zheyuelou, but Ye Yin fully trusted only two people: Chang’an and Jiang Yunxiu.

Ye Yin’s health was fragile, and Chang’an was still young, so Jiang Yunxiu took the initiative to manage the operations of Zheyuelou. This relieved Ye Yin of many burdens.

With full confidence in Jiang Yunxiu, Ye Yin smiled faintly and asked, “What of the matter concerning the Xu River?”

Jiang Yunxiu lowered his head slightly at the words and recounted the situation from the foot of the mountain: “As you predicted, court officials have already arrived in Jianzhou, and the timber and stone materials are en route. The repairs on the Xu River will begin soon.”

“The Xu River is the lifeblood of Great Qi. Jian and Yue provinces are where the river and sea converge. Whoever controls this river holds half of Great Qi in their hands. Those people won’t let this opportunity slip by.” Ye Yin’s tone was full of certainty. Though he was far from the capital, he could surmise most of what was happening.

During the reign of the late emperor, there had already been proposals for this project. The late emperor had shown interest but never approved it due to various reasons. Now, in the fourth year of Yongchang, the court’s situation had stabilized, and the war in the East Sea had subsided. It was the right time for those people to revisit the matter.

Jiang Yunxiu asked, “Master, do we need to place people there?”

Ye Yin thought for a moment and shook his head. “No need. Zheyuelou’s foundation is still shallow. If we intervene now, we might bring trouble upon ourselves. Let’s observe for now.”

The Xu River project had just begun, and countless eyes across Great Qi were fixated on it. For them, hiding in the shadows, premature exposure could ruin all their efforts.

“Yes!” Jiang Yunxiu nodded in understanding.

Ye Chang’an emerged from the kitchen. Seeing that Ye Yin had not returned to his room, he came looking for him and found him talking with Jiang Yunxiu. Quietly, he stood in the wind.

Jiang Yunxiu could feel Ye Chang’an’s piercing gaze, almost drilling a hole through him. Feeling guilty, he said to Ye Yin, “It was my oversight to let you stand here in the wind. Please return inside quickly, or Chang’an will storm over in anger.”

Ye Chang’an snorted indignantly. “If you catch a cold, just wait for Divine Physician Zuo to scold you!”

“I don’t need Divine Physician Zuo; just you alone is enough,” Ye Yin teased. He couldn’t hold back a few coughs. Seeing Chang’an still puffed up with anger, he relented. “Alright, Xiao Chang’an, don’t be upset anymore! I’ll go back with you to take my medicine.”

Chang’an was still fuming and muttered, “I’m not little anymore. I’ll be thirteen soon.”

Ye Yin nodded in agreement but didn’t change his wording. “Xiao Chang’an, the peach trees we planted last year should be bearing fruit soon. Let’s pick some to try another day?”

“Fine, but you need to take your medicine first,” Chang’an replied.

Ye Yin smiled. “Xiao Chang’an, I’ve heard that your swordsmanship has improved greatly lately. Show me later?”

Chang’an said, “After you finish your medicine, I’ll demonstrate.”

“Xiao Chang’an, Yunxiu told me you’ve been staying up late, sneaking books in your room. You’re still young; take care of your health,” Ye Yin added with a laugh.

Chang’an raised his voice in frustration, “Jiang Yunxiu, you tattled again!”

Jiang Yunxiu shrank back and muttered, “You’re the one who doesn’t sleep properly. How is that my fault?”

Ye Yin listened to the bickering behind him, smiling faintly as he slowly made his way up the mountain.

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading!