Chapter 24: A Proper Inquiry for Young Master Li

At the Flower Pavilion, Li Cheng sat in a chair, leaning against the sun-drenched, sheltered wall. He looked languid and exceptionally bored.

He had lost count of how many times he had missed his smartphone and computer. He had been in this world for nearly two months now, yet he still found himself thinking of them constantly. On one hand, mobile phones and computers had long since become deeply integrated into modern life, making them an indispensable part of his daily existence. On the other hand, the days spent in this Flower Pavilion were simply too dull.

The eunuch Qian Cheng had been beaten to death, and the four imperial guards who replaced him, acting under Zhao Kuangyin’s orders, did not display the same hypocrisy or mistreatment as their predecessor. Whatever Li Cheng requested, they provided. Yet, they were all as mute as stone statues, rarely speaking a word to him. Zhao Kuangyin and his son, Zhao Dezhao, had not visited since their last encounter. While the days were leisurely, for Li Cheng, they were agonizingly boring.

He was now only hoping that Zhao Kuangyin would soon receive news of Qian Chu ceding the prefectures of Changzhou and Runzhou. Once that happened, even a man as cautious as Zhao Kuangyin would surely believe that he was indeed a traveler from a millennium in the future. Then, he would have the opportunity to tell Zhao Kuangyin more about the "shadows of candles and sounds of axes"—to give the old emperor something truly stimulating.

The warm sunlight beat down on him, making him feel drowsy. With nothing to do, Li Cheng drifted off to sleep while lost in his own wandering thoughts.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Princess."

The imperial guards saluted in turn, and the Princess of Chu signaled for them to stand down. Her gaze fell upon the young man lying in the chair, covered by a thin cotton quilt, his head tilted back as he snored softly. She frowned slightly. It was not that she disliked his lazy appearance; rather, she felt she might be disappointed this time. On such a beautiful day, to be sleeping instead of reading or writing suggested he lacked any true talent. She feared the two lines of poetry she had heard were merely a fluke and that what followed would be a poor imitation, ruining the beauty of the original.

She had been on the verge of turning away, wanting to avoid hearing a lackluster follow-up that would tarnish those exquisite verses. Yet, having anticipated this for so long, she felt reluctant to leave without hearing the rest. As she stood there, caught in hesitation, Li Cheng was stirred awake. He blinked, dazed, and saw who had come.

It was the "Sister Lin" he had imagined? Then he remembered—today was the tenth day of their agreement. She had come for the rest of the poem.

"Your Highness, you have arrived? The winter sun is warm and the weather is fine; I couldn't help but drift off." Li Cheng bowed, feeling that his greeting was quite polite. To the palace attendants, however, his behavior still seemed frivolous. Mother Hua was about to speak up, but a slight shake of the head from the Princess of Chu silenced her. The Princess did not feel offended; instead, she was curious about the young man's attitude. Ever since she could remember, her father had been the Emperor. As a princess, everyone had always been reverent and fearful in her presence. To encounter a youth who faced her with such casual, almost equal ease was a refreshing novelty. But that was all.

"The poem..."

"The poem is ready; I would not dare forget," Li Cheng said with a smile. The poetry of Su Dongpo was truly enchanting; even just two lines could linger in one's mind. His own crisis had largely been averted, so he didn't need this as a bargaining chip, but since she had come as agreed, he had no intention of keeping her in suspense.

Upon hearing his affirmation, the Princess of Chu felt a surge of joy, followed by anxiety. She was happy that he had kept his word, yet worried that the opening lines were so masterful that whatever followed would inevitably pale in comparison.

Amidst her conflicting emotions, Li Cheng began: "On the mud, a footprint remains by chance; the wild goose flies, never to count the east or west. The old monk has died, becoming a new pagoda; there is no way to see the old inscription on the crumbling wall. Do you still remember the rugged paths of the past? The road was long, the traveler weary, and the tired donkey brayed."

As his clear voice resonated, the Princess's worries vanished. Her large eyes brightened, as if light were blooming within them. She was completely captivated by the poem! It was a marvelous surprise. Not only had he not ruined the opening, but he had elevated it!

"Brush! Give me a brush!" After standing stunned for a moment, the Princess’s voice rang out with urgency. Her attendant, Xiao Die, immediately opened the book box, took out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and set them up. The young girl took the brush, dipped it in ink, and crouched down, writing stroke by stroke with intense focus. At that moment, it seemed there was nothing else in the world but this poem.

After finishing, she set the brush down, held the paper with both hands, and read it over twice, growing more enamored with each look. She was conquered by the imagery. What a magnificent poem! How could anyone conceive of such beautiful lines? It was the same language, yet someone could combine them to be so moving and filled with the philosophy of life.

Li Cheng watched from the side, taking it all in. Seeing the girl’s furrowed brows relax because of the poem, and watching the lingering sorrow between them dissipate, he felt a sense of happiness. Bathed in the soft winter sun, she looked bright and moving. This was how a young girl should look.

"Might I ask the title of this poem?"

"Impermanence." Li Cheng thought for a moment; he ultimately decided not to give the original title. The latter four lines, and even the sentiment behind them, didn't quite match his current situation. If he revealed the original title, his cover would be even more at risk.

"Impermanence?" A perfect title! It captured the essence perfectly. Life was indeed full of impermanence, much like the tracks left by a wild goose in the snow, destined to fade away quickly.

"May I ask your name?" After writing the word "Impermanence," the girl gathered the courage to ask. Having received such a wonderful poem, it would be improper not to know the author's name.

"Li Cheng—'Li' as in Li Bai, 'Cheng' as in success. May I ask how I should address you?" Li Cheng felt that since she had asked his name, it would be rude not to ask hers. Besides, he was curious: which of Zhao Kuangyin's daughters was this? Why did she not match the history he knew?

A few imperial guards standing nearby—one a young man in his early twenties—could not help but cast strange, awestruck glances at Li Cheng. This guy was truly bold! To dare ask the Princess's name in such a public setting—he was a real talent! Mother Hua and Xiao Die also looked shocked, but no one dared to rebuke him.

The thin, pale-faced girl felt a rare flush of color rise to her cheeks, spreading to the tips of her ears. The aloof, distant air she usually projected vanished instantly.

"Just... call me Chu Guo," Zhao Runniang replied after a moment of silence.

The young guard who had expected Li Cheng to be punished stared in disbelief. *That worked?!* He felt he had learned something today. *Chu Guo? The Princess of Chu?* There was no record of her in history books! Could it be... had the historians missed her?

The Princess of Chu signaled for her attendants to pack up. "You are very fond of poetry?"

Suppressing the urge to flee, the Princess nodded. By now, the blush on her face had mostly faded.

"Then you are in luck. I heard that Li Yu is arriving in the capital soon. That 'Poet Emperor' has an unparalleled mastery of verse."

"His poetry is fine, but it is mostly just moaning without an ailment," the Princess replied, shaking her head.

Li Cheng chuckled inwardly. "Don't worry, soon his poetry will no longer be mere moaning."

As they spoke, Mother Hua and Xiao Die finished packing. The Princess turned to leave.

"I happen to have a few more decent poems. If you like, you may come every five days."

The girl paused, then nodded. "Very well."

She turned and left, her steps so light that she didn't even need the support of her attendants. She still looked elegant and serene, yet there was a hint of someone fleeing in haste. Mother Hua looked at the Princess’s still-flushed ears and wore a knowing smile, though it was soon replaced by a look of sorrow.

...

"Ha! Good! Qian Chu has truly ceded the prefectures of Chang and Run!"

In the Wansui Palace, Zhao Kuangyin was overjoyed after receiving the latest report from the front lines. Even more exciting was the confirmation that Li Cheng was likely a genuine traveler from the future! Unable to contain himself, Zhao Kuangyin left the palace and headed toward the Imperial Garden. With Rixin not by his side, he could finally ask "Little Brother Li" about a few things. He expected to receive more news that would stir his heart.