Chapter 2
The yamen runners unfurled the crimson celebratory exam results list, and the crowd surged forward noisily to view the results, momentarily drowning out the splashing and cries for help from someone in the river.
Even if some noticed, they were pushed ahead by the throng behind them.
On the opposite riverside, however, a lone man seated in a teahouse had spotted the drowning person early on, yet he paid no heed.
Sprawled lazily by the railing with a view of the small bridge and flowing water, he had removed his plain black cloak and draped it aside. He lifted a blue-patterned teapot, poured a cup of autumn tea, and took a sip.
Tongzhou was refined in its tastes, treating even tea-drinking as an elegant affair. Compared to the large earthen bowls of bitter tea gulped down in the northwest to quench thirst, the delicate cup in his hand, barely holding any tea, was the very picture of leisure.
The northern war had ceased in May, and the army returned to court in June. After resigning from the military, Huo Shu journeyed south in July.
Traveling at a leisurely pace, he had moved from the height of summer into autumn. Nearly two months later, he finally arrived in Tongzhou—a place praised by the world for its white walls and black tiles, clear waters, and lush mountains.
The rivers of Jiangnan meandered endlessly, threading through the city’s wide streets and narrow alleys.
Along the banks stood towering buildings and resplendent palaces, shops and inns packed tightly together like fish scales, merchants bustling like a group of fish crossing a river.
Men dressed in fine robes with jade pendants at their waists, women with jeweled hairpins adorning their buns. Whether the scenery or the people, everything dazzled the eyes of an outsider.
His comrades hadn’t lied to him, Jiangnan was prosperous and flourishing, a truly splendid place.
Huo Shu drank three cups of tea in a row, the faint fragrance lingering on his lips, finally easing his thirst. Though the relief was slow, there was a refreshing aroma to it.
Amidst such scenery in this southern city, his spirit felt adrift. As an outsider, it was hard to muster the will to move, let alone jump into the water and get soaked.
Yet when Huo Shu set down his cup, his peripheral vision caught sight of the figure in the river still flailing, unable to climb ashore, with no one coming to the rescue.
He frowned.
People from Jiangnan were born by the water, they ought to be strong swimmers. Who’d have thought there’d be such a land duck among them?
[旱鴨子 (hàn yā zi): lit. land duck; fig. someone who can’t swim]
In broad daylight, drowning in the river by the bustling prefectural yamen would be nothing short of a joke.
Seeing the person beginning to sink, Huo Shu’s eyes flickered.
Amidst the floating blossoms on the green water, a sudden splash erupted as a dark figure plunged into the river.
In the end, he couldn’t sit back and watch the spectacle unfold.
The person in the river was like a drifting weed, pushed wherever the current took them.
Huo Shu grabbed the "weed" with one hand and swiftly resurfaced.
Water streamed down as he glanced at his soaked pant legs, frowning slightly. He loosened his grip, intending to set the person down.
But instead of slipping away, the person clutched his sleeve tighter.
After struggling in the water for so long, Ji Taoyu had long exhausted his strength. Terrified and disoriented, he instinctively clung to his rescuer, still not fully recovered from the shock of nearly drowning.
Huo Shu looked down at the person glued to him and realized, it was a ger.
The ger’s soaked sleeves clung to his wrists, revealing a section of skin so pale it resembled polished jade untouched by sunlight.
With his face buried against Huo Shu’s chest, his hair dripping, and his body trembling uncontrollably, he looked like a frightened kitten huddling in a corner during the depths of winter.
Huo Shu’s chest rose and fell slightly. In the end, he didn’t simply drop the ger on the ground. Instead, he hauled him up and carried him toward the steps.
As he walked, their limbs brushed against each other, and he noticed how light and soft the ger was, like an overproofed lump of dough.
Huo Shu’s eyes flickered. His comrades hadn’t lied, Tongzhou really had ger as delicate as boneless creatures!
But now that he was actually holding something so soft, his back stiffened slightly. Accustomed to wielding weapons with an iron grip, he worried he might accidentally squeeze the breath out of him.
Focusing carefully, Huo Shu brought the ger ashore. At the top of the steps, standing at the corner of the teahouse, he finally uttered two words:
"Get down."
The words were so curt they sounded almost harsh, devoid of any warmth. Ji Taoyu, still recovering from the shock, finally regained some awareness.
His nose and throat still burned from the water. His senses were sharper than most, and the discomfort in his throat was nearly unbearable.
His chest heaved rapidly, his breathing ragged. Trembling, he lifted his head and met a pair of eyes—dark pupils smaller than most, set against whites that made them look fierce and intimidating.
The gaze alone was enough to make Ji Taoyu’s vision darken. He nearly choked on his breath, instantly snapping back to full alertness.
Huo Shu stared at the ger in his arms, his fair cheeks so delicate they looked like they’d bruise at the slightest touch. The corners of his eyes were red, his almond-shaped eyes brimming with tears.
Huo Shu froze.
…Was he crying?
Over the years, he’d encountered plenty of people begging for mercy, even those who wet themselves in fear, but only when a blade was at their throats.
This was the first time someone had burst into tears from just a few words. His arms stiffened, unsure how to react.
Huo Shu simply stared expressionlessly at the ger in his arms, who seemed to grow even more flustered. Quickly, the ger pushed against his arm, putting distance between them.
But when his feet touched the ground, his legs gave way, and he collapsed with a soft thud.
He fell flat on his backside.
"……"
Huo Shu pressed his lips together.
How could someone be this weak?
Was he trying to scam him?
But Huo Shu quickly dismissed the thought. This ger looked as pristine as white jade, his skin so delicate it seemed untouched by even the slightest chill.
An ordinary family, no matter how doting, wouldn’t have the means to raise someone so exquisitely. There was no reason for him to swindle a weathered, broke old man like Huo Shu, who looked decades older from years in the northwestern frontier.
The bustling streets were packed with people. Those who had already checked the exam results list were spreading the news of successful candidates.
Spotting two soaked figures by the river, onlookers began casting curious glances their way.
Out of the corner of his eye, Huo Shu saw another ger rushing toward them in a panic.
"Your companion’s here," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment