The Wind Rises Again

Time flows like water, passing in the blink of an eye.

The death of Wan Wubai remained without proof or resolution. The matter was handled in a muddled, perfunctory way and eventually faded from mention. Although Wan Jing faced no consequences, he was transferred to the position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Following the incident during the autumn hunt, the Wan family exercised some restraint, and the capital remained relatively peaceful.

Yet, as the saying goes, "The trees desire stillness, but the wind does not cease." There were those unwilling to let the winds of trouble die down.

The trouble began with the Fifth Prince.

As the year drew to a close, the Fifth Prince was granted the title of Prince of Ding. Coinciding with the birthday banquet of Emperor Hehui, the two events collided, making the capital exceptionally festive. Had things proceeded smoothly and joyfully, it might have passed without incident; however, fate intervened with cruel coincidence.

On the day the Prince of Ding left the palace, Chen Haizhou happened to be waiting at the East Side Gate by imperial order. Seeing Chen as he exited, the memory of the Lushan incident surged forth. The Prince blocked Chen’s path and launched into a rambling, disgruntled tirade. The surrounding eunuchs frowned, but their attempts to tactfully remind the Prince were met with harsh rebukes, leaving no one else daring to intervene.

Chen Haizhou was a Fourth-Rank Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief; for the Prince to act this way was to hold him up to public ridicule. The Prince’s personal attendant sent a swift-footed eunuch to inform Consort Wan, but before the Consort could arrive, the situation deteriorated. Chen Haizhou stood with his head bowed in silence, an attitude that infuriated the Prince, who ordered his men to beat him. Initially, Chen only dodged, but as the Prince noticed his unsteady gait, he ordered his men to strike Chen’s not-yet-healed right leg.

Chen Haizhou evaded them with a few agile maneuvers. Enraged, the Prince lunged at Chen himself, but missed his footing and fell headlong into the mud and snow. Chen Haizhou bowed and entered the palace, leaving the Prince and his retinue wailing in the slush.

Afterwards, when Consort Wan questioned the Prince’s attendants, she discovered that the messenger eunuch had vanished without a trace. Her anxiety deepened, and a few days later, news arrived that a bloated corpse had been fished from a well in the Yong Lane; it was identified as the messenger. Consort Wan fell ill immediately and summoned the Prince to the palace to attend to her. The Emperor granted his permission, and the Prince’s departure to his fief was postponed.

Amidst the clamor, nearly a year passed. During this time, the Prince of Ding repeatedly petitioned the Emperor, citing Chen Haizhou’s alleged misconduct. He gained many supporters and earned a reputation at court as a man of bold remonstrance. Chen Haizhou, whom Consort Wan had once tried to win over, was pushed further away by the Fifth Prince’s relentless provocations. The two grew to despise each other, creating a strange, tense equilibrium at court—one where neither could be easily moved or provoked.

While the Fifth Prince rose in influence at court, Wan Jing kept a lower profile. Secretly, he searched everywhere for the missing medicinal packet, praying to the heavens for protection, unaware that Xia Yunhe had overheard their forest conspiracy and had kept the packet hidden.

...

The capital moved through the days like a revolving lantern, with various figures taking the stage and exiting, until another three hundred and sixty days had passed.

It was the tenth day of the tenth lunar month. At midnight the night before, the "Minor Snow" solar term had arrived, followed by a fresh snowfall. By the next day, the city was draped in silver, the world pure and pristine.

Inside the Xia residence, the winter sun shone lazily through the window lattice, the thin mist casting a drowsy haze over the room.

Xia Yunhe was off duty. She parted the curtains, moved a square stool to the eaves, and sat down holding a wooden box. Beside her feet was a brazier of burning charcoal. She used the heat to burn the scraps of paper in the box one by one. Once finished, a small oil-paper packet, no larger than a palm, was revealed.

Looking at the packet, she recalled the poison she had found during the autumn hunt. The questions buried in her heart grew wild again: Wolfsbane was rare even in the Northern Rong lands—how did the Wan family obtain it? What did Wan Wubai do under the command of General Shen in the Northwest? Why did he collapse at the banquet the moment he heard the Fifth Prince’s words?

The Wan family’s affairs had nothing to do with her, yet this troublesome packet had become a thorn in her side.

She opened the paper and pinched a small amount of the powder. Zhenniang, seeing this, rushed over to wipe the poison from her fingertips, warning her that wolfsbane could cause hallucinations and urging her to be careful.

Xia Yunhe was surprised and asked how she knew. Zhenniang frowned, thought for a moment, then shook her head, saying she couldn't remember—perhaps she had read it in some herbal tome.

*I thought she knew something...* Xia Yunhe smiled, wrapped the packet back up, and tucked it into the box. As she pondered how to dispose of it, she felt a weight on her shoulders—a white fox-fur cloak had been draped over her. She took Zhenniang’s hand and rose.

"Young Master," Zhenniang said, "Third Master wrote a letter half a month ago saying all matters there are settled. I expect he will return any day now."

"A year and a half..." Xia Yunhe gazed at the sky, whispering to herself.

Third Master Fu had been at the frontier for a full year and a half.

She turned to Zhenniang. "Go and prepare. The Longevity Festival is in half a month; I am going to see Master Mobai to pick up some calligraphy."

Zhenniang agreed, and both went about their tasks.

...

After tidying up, Xia Yunhe tucked a hand warmer into her sleeve and opened the door, only to collide with Sanniang.

Sanniang caught her, laughing apologetically. "Look at me, I was so lost in thought about the opera that I bumped into you. I truly deserve a scolding."

Xia Yunhe smiled and brushed off her clothes. Sanniang began chattering about the play. "Oh, sister! A new troupe has arrived from Yumei with fresh lyrics I’ve never heard before. Shall we go together sometime?"

...

Once she reached the end of the deep alley, Sanniang’s voice faded, replaced by the bustle of the marketplace.

The streets were a sea of people. The cries of peddlers selling food, clothing, and various curios—lanterns, firecrackers, sugar figurines, and street performers—filled the air. At the corner, the wine shop’s banner fluttered, the fragrance of aged spirits drawing queues of people. It was a scene of absolute prosperity.

Walking to the back street of the Heifang district, Mobai Studio was as tranquil as ever. But sitting inside was not Master Mobai, but Xu Hang.

Xia Yunhe bowed and selected a stack of cotton-fiber paper and some rough-edged Xuan paper. She paused to watch Xu Hang writing couplets for the neighbors; his brushwork was vigorous yet elegantly fluid—his true style.

After a few polite exchanges, Xu Hang seemed dejected. When Xia Yunhe asked what was wrong, he sighed heavily. "Official Xia, as the years flow by, I fear I shall muddle through life as a walking corpse until I am buried."

He wiped tears with his sleeve, brushed the completed couplets aside, and took a fresh sheet of paper, writing slowly and deliberately:

*"The raging wind stirs the rain, the stillness yet to come; The fallen petals stain the dust, refusing to find rest."*

"My family was once wealthy, but after a string of unjust lawsuits, our fortunes dwindled. By sixteen, my father passed away, leaving me alone. Now, I cannot master my studies, nor can I establish a career..." Xu Hang choked up. "People see me as a ghost, living in vain. The insults from outsiders are harsh. Official Xia, I dare not tell my uncle these things, only you. If one day I should pass, at least I will have had one soul who truly knew me."

Hearing this, Xia Yunhe felt a pang of sorrow. She sighed inwardly, not daring to offer empty platitudes, and looked down at his calligraphy. "Fine work," she said softly.

Suddenly, a thunderous voice erupted from outside: "The world is vast and wide, what kind of 'soulmate' could you possibly be!"

The voice was youthful and hoarse, startling them both. Xu Hang froze, tears still hanging from his lashes, staring blankly at the doorway.

Xia Yunhe rubbed her temples, thinking, *Early winter, the Seventh Prince was named Prince of Qin and moved out of the palace. Every time I go out, I run into him—there can’t be such a coincidence.*

She looked up to see the Seventh Prince standing at the threshold, dressed in blue silk, draped in a black cloak embroidered with dark gold birds and flowers. A jade crown sat upon his head, and a white jade pendant hung at his waist. He stood tall and arrogant, lifting his robes slightly as he stepped inside, his princely aura palpable.

She hurriedly rose to salute him, as did Xu Hang, addressing him as "Prince of Qin."

Xie Yi smiled, his lips pressed tight. "I had nothing to do today and thought I would stroll about. By chance, I heard Master Xu’s high-minded talk of 'soulmates.' I was hasty and caused a disturbance; I hope you will forgive me. But to speak of soulmates—is that not reserved for the likes of Bo Ya and Ziqi, who broke his zither upon his friend’s death? Master Xu’s words seem rather flippant."

Xu Hang turned deathly pale, sweat beading on his back. He offered a strained laugh and began to flatter the Prince’s talents and grace.

Xia Yunhe wanted to ask Xu Hang about the Chen Haizhou affair, but with Xie Yi blocking the way, she could only engage in small talk about poetry before making an excuse to leave.

After parting with Xu Hang, Xia Yunhe walked toward the alley with her paper. Xie Yi followed behind, calling out "Master" with every step.

Near the alley entrance, the young man hurried to block her path. "Master!"

A thick scent of orchids rushed toward her, making Xia Yunhe retreat several steps. She looked him up and down. The boy had shot up in height and was now taller than her. In the past, she hadn't noticed, but now, looking up, he appeared so refined and dashing—nothing like the general she remembered from her past life, but rather like a pampered playboy of the capital.

She scanned the area and noticed he had no guards with him. Feeling he was becoming increasingly unruly, she asked, "Your Highness, where are your guards?"

"I didn't let them follow me when I came out," the youth said, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

Only that smile overlapped with the young general in her memories. She felt a twinge of self-reproach—to have such potential as a general and yet be raised into this state was a crime.

She straightened her expression. "Your Highness, you have been granted a title; you must not act so willfully. In my view, you should focus on your martial arts and shed this scent of rouge and powder. What kind of appearance is this?"

Without waiting for his response, she walked toward her residence.

To her surprise, Xie Yi followed her all the way, looking at her with deep grievance.

"The words you spoke to me were like knives, yet you were gentle and soft with that Xu Hang. What is the logic in that?"

Xia Yunhe glanced at him with disdain, knocked on her gate, and stepped inside.

Xie Yi was relentless and chased her into the room. "You have only met that Xu Hang two or three times! Are you truly going to be his soulmate?"

Hearing his nonsense, Xia Yunhe’s frustration flared. She set down the paper and retorted, "How long were you lurking outside the door to hear those few polite pleasantries? You are a man, yet instead of acting with dignity, every time I go out, I 'happen' to run into you. It is either 'just right' or 'by chance.' There are so many coincidences in this world, and you seem to encounter them all. What is the logic in that?"

Zhenniang and Sanniang, seeing this, quietly closed the courtyard gate and hid by the window to listen to the verbal sparring. They had never seen the Prince of Qin argue with Xia Yunhe and dared not intervene.

Inside the room, the argument continued.

"Every time you go out, you only go to Mobai Studio. Why can't it be a coincidence? Xu Hang wants to call you a soulmate, and I can't be angry? I can't be upset? If it weren't for the fact that he once gave me shelter, I would have beaten him!"

Xia Yunhe laughed in anger. "Your Highness refuses to reflect on your own faults and instead blames others—what book taught you such logic? Find it for me so I may study it as well."

Xie Yi was momentarily stunned. Xia Yunhe continued, "You are a Prince now, you are grown. I am but a person of shallow learning and dare not presume to be your master any longer. Please, leave."

"What are you saying! He is just an outsider you've met five times, yet you would sever our bond because of him..."

Zhenniang hurried into the room to pull Xie Yi away, preventing him from speaking further, and turned to persuade Xia Yunhe. "Young Master, you were fine when you left today. Why are you so worked up? There are a hundred ways to say the same thing—why must you argue like this?"

The room fell silent. Xia Yunhe calmed her heart, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "'I wish to be a frivolous youth of Wuling, living in the days of Zhenguan and Kaiyuan. I would spend my life fighting cocks and racing dogs, knowing nothing of the world's peace or peril.'"

She took a breath and added, "If Your Highness wishes to be a man who fights cocks and races dogs, living a life of ease, then you may treat me as a stranger; I have nothing left to teach you. But if you value our bond as master and pupil, then wash away this suffocating scent of vanity."