Encountering a Snake - Chapter 23

v2c23

No matter how peaceful life may be, there are always moments that stir the calm.

Shen Jue was practicing his swordplay in the courtyard, while Ji Jiu sat nearby watching, and Yi Mo leaned against his bamboo chair, dozing off. This otherwise ordinary afternoon took an unexpected turn when Shen Jue suddenly executed a flourish with his sword, then sheathed it and stepped aside.

Ji Jiu was somewhat surprised, but at that moment, the door to the courtyard was knocked. The door knocker tapped on the wooden planks, one knock after another. Ji Jiu gestured for Shen Jue to go open the door.

As the door opened, a woman walked in, and Ji Jiu was momentarily stunned. He quickly said, “Madam,” but then felt someone lean onto his legs, unwilling to stand.

Madam, Ji Liu, was holding their young daughter’s hand and accompanied by a maidservant. Standing at the door, she immediately took in the sight of the courtyard.

This small courtyard was indeed humble, with only three rooms, one of which was a kitchen. From where she stood, she could see everything clearly.

The lady looked toward the person resting beside her husband’s bamboo chair. That person had his eyes closed and didn’t even bother to look at her, continuing to lay on Ji Jiu’s legs and sleep soundly — unable to sleep at night, he had to make up for it in the daylight. The brighter the sunlight, the better he slept. The reason was simple — the intense light left him with no room to think.

Ji Jiu couldn’t tell if Yi Mo was truly asleep or faking it, but he had grown used to it, so he just let it be.

However, this time, it couldn’t go on. Ji Jiu gave Yi Mo’s head a light tap and said, “Get up.”

Yi Mo grumbled, then sat up, shaking his head and stood up, still bleary-eyed, calling out in a low voice, “Little Bao.”

Shen Jue immediately walked over, brushed off the yellow dust from Yi Mo’s black robe, and untangled his disheveled hair from his nap, even removing the leaves stuck in it.

Once Yi Mo was tidied up, he walked out of the courtyard without a care.

Ji Jiu turned to Shen Jue and instructed, “Follow him, don’t let him cause trouble.”

Shen Jue nodded and quickly caught up with Yi Mo’s retreating figure.

Ji Jiu signaled the maidservants to wait outside the courtyard and then walked up to his wife. He bent down to take their daughter into his arms, then looked at his wife and asked, “What brings you here?”

His words were calm, like still water.

However, to Madam Ji Liu, this calmness only served to stoke the fire of her frustration.

“Can’t I come?” she retorted.

Ji Jiu glanced at her, holding their frightened daughter tightly. “Madam, go have some tea and calm yourself.”

The little girl, who had never seen her mother angry before, was startled and started to cry. Ji Jiu comforted her for a long time, and though she sniffled and sobbed, the tears kept coming.

The air was filled with the fragrance of locust flowers, and even the round table by the bamboo chair had a hint of the sweet scent. Ji Jiu grabbed some snacks from the table and fed them to their daughter, who, after trying one, stopped crying. She ate eagerly, staring up at Ji Jiu with wide, watery eyes. After finishing one, she opened her mouth for another, almost biting Ji Jiu’s fingertip. This greedy little expression made Ji Jiu smile. Although the little girl didn’t understand why, she smiled along with him, her face still streaked with tears.

When Ji Jiu saw she had calmed down, he took her in his arms and walked over to his wife, offering some of the snacks. “Try some, I made them myself.”

Shen Jue had picked so many locust flowers; some were used in cooking, and the rest were boiled into locust flower jam. When making the snacks, a bit of the jam was added for fragrance.

Not long later, Madam Ji Liu had calmed down. She looked at the snacks she had taken and said, “I never knew you could make these.”

Ji Jiu smiled slightly. “It’s never too late to find out.”

She took a delicate bite, and the taste was unexpectedly good. Just as she was about to praise him, she suddenly stopped, staring at him. “Did you make these for him?”

Ji Jiu frowned slightly and replied, “I was just idle, made them for myself. What’s wrong with sharing some with him? When did you become so petty?”

Madam Ji Liu smiled bitterly and said, “All these years I’ve been married to you, you’ve never made anything for me. Not once.”

Ji Jiu replied, “That’s because I’m rarely home at this time of year.”

“Really never?” she retorted, “You were here in our first year of marriage. Have you forgotten?”

What she mentioned had long been buried in the depths of time. Ji Jiu thought for a long time before recalling it. Indeed, he had been home that year, but he had been so busy that he barely saw his new wife, let alone thought about making snacks. Making these things required leisure and peace of mind, which was something he didn’t have at that time. Without those, the flavor would be off.

When he was young and made food for his mother, how many days of effort did it take to make it right?

Ji Jiu said, “What are you trying to say?” He took the broken snack from her hand, sat back in his bamboo chair, and continued to hold the little girl. “If you have something to say, just say it. If you keep making a fuss, you’re worse than the women in the markets.”

Madam Ji Liu forced herself to calm down and quickly said, “Husband, take a concubine.”

She said it quickly, as if she had prepared for it, waiting for Ji Jiu’s approval. Over the years, the man had always indulged her. Although they spent little time together, he had always given her more because of their separation. She knew Ji Jiu wouldn’t agree, but she had to say it to lead to the next words.

But she never got the chance to say them.

Ji Jiu, playing with their daughter, replied casually, “Fine.”

The lady stood frozen, as if her mind had been hollowed out in an instant, losing all thoughts.

Ji Jiu waited for a moment before raising his eyes to look at the woman, whose eyes were unknowingly moist. He spoke calmly, “Since you want to take a concubine, with my status, one house isn’t enough. I heard that in the east of the city, in Cotton Lane, there is a family with the surname Zhang, who has two beautiful daughters. Go and have a look for me. If they are as beautiful as flowers, pick a day and settle the matter.” After a pause, seeing no response, he added, “The sooner, the better. Perhaps before I go off to war, I can give my obedient daughter another brother or sister.”

As he spoke, Ji Jiu stroked his daughter’s cheek and asked, “Little one, do you want a sister?”

The little girl, though not understanding the underlying sharpness in her father’s words, smiled and nodded happily.

The lady’s face had turned as pale as paper, and she could hardly stand.

Ji Jiu waited for a moment longer, then put down his daughter, letting her play to the side, before walking up to the lady. He gently wiped away the tears on her cheek and spoke softly, “Madam, you are not as magnanimous as you think, do you understand?”

“Though I have no great talents, taking a few concubines, or keeping a few dancers, I am more than capable.” Ji Jiu said indifferently, “Even raising a few young boys in the backyard, Madam, you would have no say in the matter.”

He grasped the woman’s cold hand and pulled her to sit beside him. Slowly, he continued, “I do not take concubines, nor do I keep mistresses, not solely out of love for you.”

The lady’s hand trembled in his, like a frightened little animal.

Ji Jiu tightened his grip slightly before continuing, “I have no interest in those people, no matter how beautiful they are. Besides, I am already married, and I did not want to make you sad, and that is the reason I have not taken a concubine these years.”

Releasing her hand, Ji Jiu stared at her teary eyes and asked, “Do you think that if I took a liking to someone, would you be able to stop me?”

The woman, suppressing her sobs, shook her head.

“A few years ago, the emperor wanted to gift me several palace maids. Though I never mentioned it, I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors. It was true, but I didn’t accept them.” Ji Jiu smiled faintly and continued, “If I wanted them, Madam, you couldn’t stop me. If I didn’t want them, the emperor couldn’t force them on me either.”

He paused for a moment before speaking the final words, “If I truly had feelings for someone, would I let them suffer here in this small mountain courtyard? I would bring them openly into the General’s residence in front of the whole world. Madam, this is who I am. If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

At that moment, the little girl returned with a handful of wildflowers, happily climbing onto her mother’s lap, her soft voice calling, “Mother, look, they smell so good.” When there was no reply, the little girl looked up, and with a “plop,” a warm drop of water fell onto her forehead. She froze for a moment and then burst into tears.

The lady cried silently, while the little girl screamed loudly. In the midst of their crying, Ji Jiu sat on the bamboo chair, his face calm, neither sad nor happy, with only the wind brushing by.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the restrained and wild cries quieted down. The lady picked up the little girl, stood, and lowered her head, saying, “I understand. It’s getting late, I should return home.”

Ji Jiu stood and opened the door for her. As she reached the doorway, Ji Liu asked quietly, “If my husband has no feelings for her, why doesn’t he…”

Ji Jiu gently pushed aside the strands of hair on her forehead and said in a low voice, “Some people, if you hurt them even a little, you will feel guilty ten times over. I do not want to spend the rest of my life in guilt.”

The lady asked, “Why?”

Ji Jiu smiled but did not answer.

—Because some people are debts you owe the moment you are born.

The carriage moved slowly along the dirt road, gradually disappearing from sight. Ji Jiu stood there for a long time, watching it fade into the distance before returning to the courtyard.

Then he waited. He waited until night fell, and only then did Shen Jue return with the other person.

Ji Jiu asked, “Where have you been?”

Yi Mo did not answer but went over to embrace him. Ji Jiu patted his back and asked, “Did you drink?”

Yi Mo said nothing. Shen Jue replied, “Just a few cups, then we went into the mountains to pick fruit.”

Ji Jiu hummed and said, “I’m hungry. Who’s going to cook?”

Shen Jue put down the bundle and said, “I brought back some food.”

“Then let’s eat.” Ji Jiu pushed away the person clinging to him, grabbed his arm, and led him into the house.

The small courtyard returned to its quiet state. On the pitch-black sky, the moonlight was bright and the stars sparkled.