Chapter 71: Dusty Affairs

Chapter 71 Miscellaneous Affairs

Unlike Yue Teng, who missed out on the fish head tofu soup and had to reluctantly follow the searching palace eunuchs into the palace to play Cuju with the emperor, Xi Feijing was far luckier.

As soon as he climbed over the wall, he was spotted by the Xie family servants sweeping leaves in the courtyard. The servants shouted, "Thief! How dare you, thief, not see whose house this belongs to!" and bravely charged at him with brooms.

Fortunately, Zheng Neizhi was nearby. Hearing the commotion, he quickly called other servants, grabbing whatever was at hand, and hurried over. He saw three men wrestling with the servants, who looked very familiar.

"Stop! Stop! It's a misunderstanding! This is our Uncle Xi!" Zheng Neizhi quickly threw down the door bolt he was holding, spread his arms, and went to separate them.

The servants were also shocked and quickly stopped, looking closely, they realized it was indeed the Xi family uncle who hadn't visited in many years.

Zheng Neizhi smiled wryly, "Uncle Xi, why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

Xi Feijing calmly brushed the dust off his robe from climbing the wall.

Zheng Neizhi felt a bit foolish after asking—after all, this uncle never announced his visits.

"Please, come in quickly!" Zheng Neizhi urged someone to quickly inform the master, the lady, and the matriarch, and also sent a message to the neighboring house. The house was soon bustling with servants running about.

Xi Feijing sighed slightly, "I didn't mean to cause such a fuss."

Zheng Neizhi smiled as he led Xi Feijing into the inner courtyard, "As the saying goes, among all relatives, the maternal uncle holds the highest regard. You are a distinguished guest, and today is the winter solstice; how could we not treat you properly? This is only proper."

Although the Song Dynasty was relatively liberal, after marriage, a woman's voice was often diminished. If she was mistreated by her husband's family, her maternal uncle, as the head of her natal family, became her and her children's strongest support. This uncle's authority, from royal succession disputes to family property divisions, was considerable. After all, brothers and nephews from the same clan became competitors for interests, while the uncle would always side with his sister's family.

Xi Feijing, now holding significant military power and having not returned to Bianjing (the capital) for many years, was such an uncle. His visit was so significant that some families would even open the main gate to welcome him.

As Zheng Neizhi led Xi Feijing through the second gate, Xi, upon receiving the news, hurried out to greet him. Seeing her brother's tall, familiar figure at the end of the long corridor, her eyes filled with tears.

But before she could cry, her father-in-law, rushing from the outer courtyard, was already in tears before he could speak, his cries echoing down the corridor, "Brother-in-law! It's really you, you've returned!"

Xi's tears immediately vanished.

Xi Feijing instinctively stepped back, avoiding the father-in-law's eager approach.

The father-in-law stumbled, almost falling, but Xi caught him, and he stood there sobbing, clutching her sleeve, "Brother-in-law, you must stay for a few days, I want to drink with you until we're drunk!"

Xi Feijing pulled him away, reclaiming his sister's sleeve, and without addressing him, first carefully examined Xi, then smiled with relief, "You look well, this whole ordeal hasn't shocked you, has it?"

Xi wasn't surprised that Xi Feijing seemed to know everything, but with so many people around, she simply advised, "Let's talk inside."

Once inside and the door closed, Xi smiled, "This time, it was all thanks to Ninth Geer's sharp observation. He noticed the Guo family's misfortune and immediately came back to inform us, which is why we're safe now." She then relayed Xie Qi's words to Xi Feijing, "Now that we've lost some wealth to avoid disaster, although we've lost some gold, we're not destitute. We'll just have to live more frugally. As long as we're safe, we'll manage."

Xi Feijing was surprised and then pleased to hear that the Xie family's change was related to Ninth Geer, "I didn't expect Ninth Geer, so young, to have such insight. Where is he? I haven't seen him."

The father-in-law sobbed and interjected, "Ninth Geer has gone to Louze Garden to pay respects to Mr. Xu on behalf of Third Geer."

"Why are you still crying?" Xi Feijing frowned, thinking of the Xu family, his frown deepened, "We should avoid any involvement with the Xu family. It's not that I'm heartless, although we all know Mr. Xu died unjustly, their misfortune isn't entirely undeserved. The Xu family was too close to the Prince of Jin, which was evident even during the previous emperor's reign. I can't say much about the secrets, but we and Third Geer suffered because we didn't know the inside story. Now that the Xie family has just managed to cross the river, we shouldn't risk displeasing the emperor."

Previously, Xi Feijing didn't understand why the upright Mr. Xu's family was poisoned and why, after their deaths, the previous emperor decreed that they couldn't be buried in the ancestral temple, their bodies thrown into Louze Garden. After learning the inside story, he realized that the pitiable often have their own faults.

Mr. Xu was indeed innocently implicated. But with the clan sharing the same surname, they couldn't escape the previous emperor's wrath. After the emperor ascended the throne, he couldn't change the previous emperor's decree, so he had to let it be.

Xi sighed, "I know, but Mr. Xu was kind to Third Geer. Their graves are unmarked, and besides our family, no one knows who Ninth Geer is paying respects to... Besides, this year might be the last time."

After a pause, she solemnly shared the Xie family's current plans, "Since you're back, I'll let you in on our plans. A Chong has resigned and is now idle at home. Several of our nephews serving as officials have also resigned after receiving the news. From now on, the Xie family will have no members in the officialdom. I'm thinking of entrusting this conspicuous mansion to a broker for sale, and we'll move back to our old home in Chenzhou, where we can support each other with the Cui family."

The Cui family was also affected, with Cui Sichao's official position stripped, but like the Xie family, they received the message to "confess." For these "sensible" families, the emperor didn't completely destroy them, leaving them with some assets and dignity, so they wouldn't starve.

Xi Feijing pondered for a moment: "That's fine, but what about Ninth Brother? Doesn't he still need to continue his exams?"

Xi replied: "We'll buy him a small house in the inner city and assign a few households to look after him. He's always been independent, so there's no need to worry about him. He usually stays at the academy, so it's fine."

"That's good too. The Xie family is retreating from turbulent times, but in the future... there will still be opportunities to return to officialdom." Xi Feijing nodded in agreement, glancing at A Chong, who had just stopped sobbing. This was Xie's childhood nickname; he was a premature baby who almost didn't survive, so the family gave him a humble nickname.

"My two useless younger brothers have been making a fuss about selling the mansion and moving, even threatening to split the family. They're still dreaming of being reinstated as officials someday, constantly bickering and nearly making our mother ill." Xie wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief. The Xie family was not harmonious; external pressures and internal conflicts made things even more disheartening.

Xie was not good at handling these worldly matters, and Xi, as the eldest sister-in-law, had to argue with them, only to end up in trouble. Finally, the Xie family matriarch coldly said, "If you want to split the family, you might as well kill me first."

While parents are alive, the family should not be split. The second and third branches were reluctant to part with the mansion and the wealth they had to give up, using the threat of splitting the family as a way to curse the matriarch's early death.

The two brothers were so unfilial, even ganging up to pressure Xie, the eldest brother, leaving him full of anger. He and Xi were outnumbered, but now that Xi Feijing had arrived, it was like a divine intervention, giving Xie a sense of security and making him cry in relief.

"Brother-in-law, later you can preside over justice and scold those two unfilial sons severely." Xie said with indignation, his chest puffed out, implying: My wife's most formidable brother is here, see if you dare to talk nonsense now!

Whenever it comes to dividing family property and resolving disputes, the uncles from each brother's wife's family must be present. And Xi's brother was naturally the most formidable.

Xi, however, said calmly, "Since my brother has arrived, the servants must have informed the second and third brothers. They are hiding and dare not come, surely knowing they are in the wrong and have no justification."

After listening, Xi Feijing smiled slightly: "This matter doesn't require my intervention yet. Chun Jun and A Chong, don't bother with them. Let them make a fuss for a few more days. When the Guo and Xue families are sentenced to exile and escorted out of the capital, take them to see it. With the precedent right before their eyes, will they dare to cause more trouble? They are too short-sighted. The Xie family is a centuries-old clan. Although it's not as prosperous as before, which great clan's future isn't measured in centuries? A temporary setback is fine. After lying low for two or three generations, the world will be a different place."

The current emperor is in his prime and, due to the Prince of Jin incident, is extremely averse to the scholar-official class. Since the family doesn't have the ability to change the world, they can only endure, waiting for the next emperor, and the one after that. Opportunities will come.

Even the chaos of Huang Chao's rebellion was endured in the deep mountains and old forests. What's there to fear from a small confiscation? Making a fuss over nothing.

Xi had originally planned the same and nodded in agreement.

After a few more words, Xi Feijing felt reassured and returned to his usual carefree demeanor, lazily sitting in the rocking chair Xie usually used for reading, legs crossed, casually picking up a storybook to read.

Seeing him so relaxed, Xi knew her brother wouldn't be leaving today and went out with a smile to instruct the servants: "Tell Chef Fang to bake a few batches of cricket cakes from Madam Shen's shop. My brother has just arrived and must be tired from the journey. He can have some pastries to fill his stomach."

Xi Feijing couldn't reveal the secret edict and vaguely agreed. Hearing the name Madam Shen again, he turned his head curiously and asked, "How many Madam Shens are there in Bianjing? I've heard of several in the past few days: Madam Shen who grills fish, Madam Shen the Pancake Beauty, Madam Shen who's good at cooking duck, and the Madam Shen you mentioned in your letter who makes soup cakes. Why are there so many Madam Shens?"

Xi covered her mouth and laughed: "All these Madam Shens are the same person. She's skilled and clever, able to do everything. She's only been in Bianjing for less than a year but is already well-known."

So that's how it is. That makes sense.

Xi Feijing thought to himself, this Madam Shen is indeed talented, even the emperor knows about her and craves her roasted duck every day.

He was intrigued and decided he must try it for himself.

Xi wanted to have a private conversation with Xi Feijing, so she sent Xie away: "A Chong, go hurry the kitchen and tell them to prepare a good feast quickly. We'll treat my brother tonight."

"Yes, yes, it's rare for Brother-in-law to visit. I'll go right away." Xie quickly got up and left.

After Xie left, Xi asked Xi Feijing if his rheumatism had improved. Xi Feijing had long guarded the border and liked leading small teams on surprise attacks, often sleeping in the snow and drinking icy water. Before he was thirty, he developed rheumatism. He didn't like to complain and never told others, so only close relatives knew.

Xi Feijing didn't answer, just looked at Xi: "Chun Jun, what about you? Are you well?"

His sister, since childhood, had the same talent for martial arts and leading troops as he did. Xi Feijing never underestimated women. In the previous dynasty, there was Princess Pingyang Zhao, who guarded the Niangzi Pass. Why couldn't the Xi family have a Xi Erniang? He had wanted to take his sister to the battlefield, where they could fight side by side, eating, sleeping, and fighting the Liao dogs every day. What a wonderful life that would have been!

But Chun Jun had only lived in Bianjing for half a year when she followed their father back to the capital for an official report, and she was swept off her feet by that pretty boy from the Xie family!

Could he not be angry? Yue Teng had his brother to rely on, and he should have had his sister too! And Chun Jun was originally a divine weapon forged by Ou Yezi, capable of cutting through endless cliffs. How could she be sheathed like this!

Xi was startled, remembering how furious her brother had been when she decided to marry into the Xie family. She smiled: "I've been married into the Xie family for over twenty years, and you're still asking this! No matter how many times you ask, I'll always say the same: I'm fine. Brother, you always feel sorry for me, but I love A Chong. I've never regretted marrying him all these years."

Xi Feijing pouted in dissatisfaction. Hmph.

Xi Shi shook her head. Life can be lived in many ways, whether it's the iron horse and icy river or the gentle breeze. No one can live another's life or decide what's best for them.

The two continued to talk about other matters. Xi Feijing saw that it was getting late and couldn't help but feel puzzled: "Why hasn't Ninth Geer returned yet? How long can he be at Mr. Xu's memorial?" He was also missing his nephew.

Although every time this little nephew came to Youzhou, he would often fall off his horse, get food stuck in his teeth, and have to wear seventeen or eighteen amulets for safety before battle, he still adored him.

Xi Shi pondered for a moment and then smiled: "I suspect he's gone to see Shen Miao again. Today is the winter solstice, and before he left, he specifically asked Yan Shu to fetch a hanging screen with a cat embroidery pattern. I guessed he would be late today."

Xi Feijing was still confused: "What does that mean?"

Xi Shi suppressed a laugh and sighed: "A grown son is no longer tied to his mother's apron strings."

Ninth Geer had even come to request, blushing, that the small house they were buying for him had to be near the Golden Beam Bridge.

***

A mother knows her child best. Xie Qi was digging kudzu roots together with Shen Miao.

Before meeting Xie Qi, Shen Miao had joined her family in paying respects to their grandparents and parents. After that, the two families had little to talk about, and they packed up and left early.

Xiang Jieer and Ji Geer both knelt and wept in front of their parents' graves, saying many words to their parents' memorial tablets. After wiping their tears, they diligently cleared the weeds and wild grass around the graves.

As they moved to the back, Shen Miao lit three more incense sticks and poured three cups of wine onto the ground, silently wishing: "Da Jieer, may you find peace, joy, and happiness in your next life."

After that, she stood up and started pulling weeds, taking a stroll around.

The so-called hills of Claw Corner were more like 'hills of the past.' Historically, the hills and Yishan outside Bianjing's outer city had been continuously flattened by the Yellow River's floods over hundreds of years. By the Ming Dynasty, these three hills were even lower than the riverbed, but at this time, they still had some slope, though one could see the top at a glance, barely a few stories high.

Bianjing's low-lying terrain often suffered from floods. There was a local saying: "Kaifeng city, city upon city, with several cities buried underground."

The now bustling Bianjing city was built ten meters above the Tang Dynasty's Bianzhou city. The Tang Dynasty's Bianzhou had long been buried deep by the Yellow River... and the Tang Dynasty's Bianzhou was built more than ten meters above the land of the Wei Kingdom's Daliang city.

Every time the Yellow River flooded, Kaifeng's terrain would rise, and eventually, even the three hills that could once be called "mountains" disappeared. After paying her respects, Shen Miao stood on this small hill and gazed into the distance, suddenly wondering how high these three hills had been originally.

In later years, she had also been to Henan, never knowing that Kaifeng had mountains. Only now did she realize that they had long been buried deep underground along with Kaifeng's long history.

The changes of life were right before her eyes, and it felt strangely profound.

The green hills were gone, but through the long passage of time, she once again saw their outlines.

As she was lost in thought, Shen Miao wandered to the boundary between her family's graves and the Louze Garden. Suddenly, she noticed a horse's tail swishing under a tree to shoo away insects in the collapsed rotten fence of the Louze Garden.

Shen Miao leaned in for a closer look and saw the familiar RollsRoyce horse tied to a locust tree beside the Louze Garden, with no one else around.

Many families' graves were in their own fields. Besides the Shen family buried on Claw Corner, there were only the countless souls of those who died far from home in the Louze Garden.

Why had Ninth Geer come to the Louze Garden? His family should have ancestral temples.

Xie Qi was squatting alone in a corner.

He looked up as the ashes swirled in the wind, his eyes filled with melancholy.

The so-called evidence that Xie Tiao had hidden under the floor tiles of his bed had been dug up and read. The shocking details need not be repeated, but the most heartbreaking part was that after Xie Tiao's wrist was secretly severed, he had gone to collect the bodies of Mr. Xu's family.

Back then, the bodies of Mr. Xu's family of three were exposed deep in the Louze Garden, carelessly piled under an old locust tree, with no one to bury them. Even the Xu clan members, as if made an example of, dared not step forward.

Xie Tiao, with only one hand, dug for a day and night, finally creating a pit to bury them all. Mr. Xu's daughter, only in her teens, had vomited blood all over her clothes, her lips purple, her innocent round eyes wide open, unclosed even in death. Her body stiff, it took him immense effort to place her whole into the pit. After burying them, he dared not erect a tombstone, only making some marks on the locust tree with stones.

Thus, Xie Qi came here, ostensibly to pay respects to Mr. Xu's family, but in reality, he was merely burning some paper money on a patch of flat ground without even a mound, to express his sentiments.

He dared not even light a single incense stick.

After the paper money was burned, Xie Qi kicked the ashes clean and silently walked out of the Luozeyuan. Just as he reached the horse and was about to untie the reins, he met Shen Miao's clear and pure eyes.

He was startled.

Shen Miao smiled first: "Happy Winter Solstice."

The heavy heart in Xie Qi's chest suddenly lightened. He curved his eyes and bowed deeply: "Lady Shen, wishing you an auspicious Winter Solstice."

Shen Miao returned the courtesy with a slight bow: "Why is Ninth Geer here?"

"To pay respects to an old friend of my brother." Xie Qi stepped forward, directly crossing the dilapidated fence wall of the Luozeyuan, and noticed the remaining incense and candles in Shen Miao's basket. "Lady Shen, are you here to pay your respects too?"

"Yes, my parents and grandparents are buried next to the Luozeyuan. Over there, that's our family's burial ground." Shen Miao didn't feel embarrassed and answered honestly.

The Shen family were originally commoners, so it was normal for their burial ground to be next to a public cemetery. Especially since the Shen family only consisted of Shen Miao and her uncle's family, with few members. The grandparents and parents of the Shen family were buried here, and perhaps they could make many ghostly friends from all over the world down there, so they shouldn't feel lonely.

Xie Qi nodded with a calm expression and said, "Since Lady Shen's family is here, meeting you is fate. I will also offer some incense."

Shen Miao was just about to go back to pick up Xiang Jieer and Ji Geer, so she took Xie Qi back with her. She watched him pick up the incense sticks and light the candles, offering three incense sticks with piety and respect. As he bent down, the wind came.

Shen Miao kept watching his clothes fluttering in the mountain breeze, slightly curling up, and her heart warmed as well.

After that, the four of them walked down Zhaoyu Hill together.

Xiang Jieer and Ji Geer were picking flowers and pulling weeds behind, arguing and playing. After seeing their parents' tombstone, they cried, and the deep longing seemed to stay on the grave, allowing them to move forward more easily.

Shen Miao and Xie Qi walked ahead, and she quietly asked him how the imperial examination went and if his family was safe.

Xie Qi said gently, "Everything is fine. This year's exam was easy, and I did better than previous years. Although my family has been a bit busy, there hasn't been any trouble. I helped out at home earlier, so I didn't come to find Lady Shen. Thank you for your concern."

Easy exam? Shen Miao blinked. After the academy exam, many students came to the shop, crying while eating soup cakes, saying it was very difficult. Could it be that Ninth Geer just happened to guess the questions right?

In any case, it's good news!

She breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy for him: "That's great! Turning bad luck into good fortune!"

Xie Qi's heart warmed, and he wanted to ask Shen Miao how she had been these days.

But Shen Miao suddenly stopped and rushed to the bushes nearby. She grabbed a vine and followed it to the slightly raised root underneath, excitedly saying, "This is kudzu root!"

Kudzu root can be used to make kudzu powder for thickening, and it can also be used to make pudding. Stir-frying kudzu root skin with cured meat is also delicious. It's a versatile good thing.

She pulled a sickle from her waist and prepared to dig. Seeing how thick the vine was, the kudzu root underneath must be quite large.

Xie Qi naturally went to help as well.

Shen Miao dug very carefully. After determining the position of the kudzu root, she used the sickle to start digging about a foot above the kudzu root plant, gently removing the surface soil and gradually approaching the kudzu root ball. This process required extra care. If the sickle directly hit the kudzu root, it could easily break it.

After digging for half an hour, they finally unearthed a large kudzu root that required both hands to hold—perfect!

The kudzu root was big and heavy, so Xie Qi naturally helped Shen Miao take it home. He also naturally took the saddlebag off the horse and pulled out a small hanging screen made from Kylin's fur and colored threads. Although it was small, the Xie family embroiderer's craftsmanship was exquisite, and it was very lifelike.

Shen Miao was surprised and almost couldn't put it down. It was so beautifully crafted. In the future, it would cost thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan.

She quickly told Xie Qi about Kylin's brave deeds of catching mice. Unexpectedly, he wasn't surprised and said gently, "In the Xie family, it not only catches mice, but it also catches moths that bump into lamps, cockroaches, crickets, and even climbs trees to teach birds that steal cherries a lesson."

Wow, so Kylin is like a three-flower police chief!

Kylin had already been returned to Shen by Aunt Gu. It was squatting in the vegetable patch urinating. Seeing Xie Qi at the door, it shook the mud off its paws and ran over, meowing. It rolled over at Xie Qi's feet, exposing its plump belly, and let him scratch it skillfully.

Shen Miao also squatted down to pet the cat, rubbing its furry belly. She turned her head and asked, "It still favors you the most. Now that everything is settled, are you going to take it back?"

Xie Qi shook his head, his eyes slightly evasive: "There are still some tasks at home, so it's better to stay at Shen Miao's house for now." He might soon be moving nearby, so why bother moving the Kylin back and forth?

After that, Xie Qi bid farewell. Although he wanted to stay for dinner at Shen's house, it was the Winter Solstice, a time for family reunion, and it wasn't appropriate for an outsider like him to stay.

But for some reason, he still felt reluctant. So, with red ears, he handed Shen Miao a rolled-up Nine-Nine Cold Dispelling Chart from his sleeve, saying softly, "I drew this the day before yesterday. When the nine nines are over, the peach blossoms will bloom. I wish you, Shen Miao, a peaceful winter and the arrival of spring."

He hadn't shown it earlier because he had drawn two, hoping to dispel the cold with Shen Miao.

But for some reason, he felt nervous and hesitated until now to take it out, gathering the courage to offer some seemingly casual blessings.

Shen Miao didn't think much of it and smiled as she accepted it, even taking out ten copper coins from her pocket: "Here, a small token."

Xie Qi was startled, then couldn't help but laugh.

He nodded, then picked up the coins one by one from Shen Miao's palm, each still warm from her touch, and clenched them tightly in his own palm.

His fingertips touched Shen Miao's palm, and the warmth of his hand merged with the residual warmth of the coins, slowly fading.

Xie Qi finally mounted his horse, but even on horseback, he kept looking back at her. When he spoke again, his voice was warm and a bit husky:

"I'm leaving."

"It's cold, Shen Miao, you should go back first."

Shen Miao nodded but still stood holding the Nine-Nine Cold Dispelling Chart for a while, wanting to quietly watch him ride away. But after he had gone a short distance, he suddenly reined in his horse and waved back at her, as if urging her to go inside.

It wasn't until Xie Qi had crossed the Golden Beam Bridge that she turned and went back into the courtyard.

In the small courtyard, Xiang Jieer was holding onto the Kylin's front paws, singing a nursery rhyme, the two of them danced and twisted around.

Ji Geer and Chen Chuan were studying the Song Penal Code again. Impressed by his dedication, Shen Miao considered arranging a day to take Chen Chuan to Deng Lawyer with a gift to formally become his apprentice.

Tang Er and Fu Xing were preparing the dinner in the kitchen, while A Tao was teaching Yu Yu how to braid her own hair. Their shadows stretched long in the light.

Shen Miao put the Nine-Nine Cold Dispelling Chart back in her room and hung the Kylin's hanging screen by her bed. Her previously plain room instantly felt much more inviting.

She clapped her hands and went into the kitchen to start cooking.

Tonight was the Winter Solstice Reunion Night. Besides eating wonton soup, how could lamb, a Song Dynasty favorite, be missing? Just as people in later times would eat dumplings on most holidays, Song people, even the poor, would cut a few ounces of lamb to show importance on most holidays.

She had ordered a small lamb. When she went out to pay respects to her parents during the day, Tang Er had already set up a large pot in the courtyard, boiling a large pot of water, and with a swift knife, slaughtered the lamb.

Shen Miao didn't see it, but as soon as she entered, Fu Xing excitedly described it to her: "Tang Er is incredible. With just a small dagger, he made one cut to the neck, another to open the belly, and began skinning the lamb. It really took less than a quarter of an hour to get a complete lamb skin. There wasn't even a drop of blood on it, and the ground was clean. He's already taken the skin to the roof to dry, and the lamb meat is all cut up, just waiting for Shen Miao to cook."

Shen Miao smiled: "This lamb is freshly slaughtered and cooked, so it doesn't need much preparation. Today, we'll follow the Hu people's way, just prepare some salt and leek flower sauce, and eat hand-torn lamb! Sip sweet rice wine!"

On the Winter Solstice Reunion Night, gathered around the stove, eating meat and drinking wine.

Absolutely delightful.