Daxing City, Fourteenth of the First Month, third watch of the night1.
A profound silence prevailed; the chickens slept and the horses rested.
"In such chilly and frozen weather, shut the windows and doors up tightly!"
Liu San'er's voice travelled far into the night as he shouted from a distance.
He raised a gong and Old Yang, who was walking next to him, gave it a heavy knock with a stick.
Dong!
"Old Man Yang, are we going to walk for an entire night?"
Liu San'er was patrolling in place of his father, an old night watch who passed away abruptly from a heart attack last month.
As this was his first time being a night watch, Liu San'er briefly found the job refreshing, but not long after, he realized that it was both a cold and bitter job.
Although no snow was falling, it didn't matter how thickly one wrapped themselves up in clothes, the wind would still seep in from any small openings it could find and make them beg for death.
Liu San'er had begun to miss the warm blankets of his bed in his little house.
"Naturally!" Old Yang was unimpressed with Liu San'er whining about it on his first day. He reprimanded him, "When your dad and I are on duty, this is how we do it. Tonight, you are lucky enough to be patrolling with me. During inopportune moments, you'd be the only one on duty. You should know your way around then!"
Liu San'er's face turned sourer, "There are even times when one has to be on duty alone?"
Old Yang couldn't stand to hear these words. This young lad loved things the easy way and disliked hard labour. How would he make a good enough living to marry and raise a family? So thus, he opened his mouth to reprimand him again.
Liu San'er wasn't someone with a good temper to begin with, but this time, surprisingly, he kept quiet as he endured the scolding with no intentions of rebuking.
"As a night watch for so many years, have you ever met anything strange?"
As Old Yang reprimanded him endlessly, he did not expect to be interrupted. Impatiently, he barked: "What strange incidents? Never!"
"Not even once?" Asked Liu San'er in a very eerie tone.
Old Yang furrowed his brows. "Lad, what are you trying at?!"
Liu San'er immediately looked behind him, "Then look behind you and tell me: What is that?"
Old Yang instinctively turned around.
Behind him, at a corner not too far, stood half the figure of a white-robed man.
By "half", meaning that the other half of his body was hidden behind the wall.
But most importantly, that white-robed man had no head on his neck.
His head was sitting in his hands, looking at them with a pair of bloody red eyes.
The hair all over Old Yang turned white. He rubbed his eyes, only to see the white-robed person was still there. It wasn't a dream!
"Q-Quick, run, quick! There's a ghost!"
He didn't hesitate before grabbing Liu San'er's hand and took off frantically.
As the fifty-year-old man poured out all his efforts on running, he ran as quickly as a young lad.
Both of them ran non-stop for a good while before Old Yang finally ran out of steam. He bent over to support his knees as he panted.
"Q-Quick go report to the village head. No, no wait. Go to the bureau. Report it to the officials directly. These thieves are scaring people!"
"Was it really that scary?" Liu San'er quietly said.
"Didn't you see? Such a big person, and yet there's no head…" Old Yang suddenly sensed that something about Liu San'er's tone sounded off. Then he raised his head.
This look made him freeze stiff!
Liu San'er's head was sitting in his own hands as he smiled at Old Yang, his mouth moving as he spoke.
"Am I the ghost you were talking about?"
Old Yang blacked out.
He immediately fell limp to the ground, unconscious.
...
Daxing City, Fifteenth of the First Month, dawn.
The Lantern Festival.
To the citizens of the capital, this was the first Lantern Festival since they moved into the new capital.
To the Vice Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, Song Liangchen, this was a very unusual Lantern Festival.
As one of the Vice Commanders of the Zuoyue Bureau, her martial arts were very mediocre, not comparable even to the level of a second-ranking top martial artist.
But her strength wasn't in her martial arts. It was in knowing how to handle internal affairs. With Song Liangchen in the Zuoyue Bureau, Cui Buqu was spared of the worries that concerned that area.
Hence, Song Liangchen remained in the Zuoyue Bureau in everyone's reassurance, not even leaving it at the minimum frequency of every ten days or half a month.
Even if most women adored going to jewellery and perfume stalls, she'd excused herself from these matters. She would rather drink tea and read books, chatter and play chess. Even when there was no opponent for her, she would play chess with herself. Compared to Cui Buqu who has ailing health, yet liked to run around outside, Song Liangchen was on a wholly different extremity.
And so within the court, there was a saying: The Zuoyue Bureau has three eccentrics. An ailing invalid, a woman who never showed herself, and a fake monk.
Something was different today.
The sky was painted in a pale shade of blue, almost white.
Song Liangchen rose earlier than she normally would.
She was sitting facing the great gate looking extremely serious.
As if she was waiting for some information, or waiting for a person.
By the time a few people walked in covered in dust and snow, the plum soup next to her had turned icy cold.
The one leading them was Zhangsun Bodhi.
With each time she saw Zhangsun Bodhi, Song Liangchen would ponder over a very serious question: Isn't he cold if he'd shaved all his hair in such chilly weather?
From the looks of it now, he must have been cold. Because when he took down his hat, she noticed that the inside of the hat was stuffed with a grey-coloured cloth.
Had it been on usual days, she would most certainly have teased him. But today she said nothing.
Zhangsun's expression looked more solemn than hers.
"Dead."
Song Liangchen's brows knitted tightly after hearing these words, but she didn't look surprised.
She asked: "Liu Fang?"
Zhangsun slowly nodded his head: "Liu Fang."
Song Liangchen: "Cause of death?"
Zhangsun: "Hanged himself."
Song Liangchen's expression turned stranger, as if she hadn't heard clearly and hence repeated it: "He hanged himself?"
As for Zhangsun Bodhi, the Vice Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau that never spoke too many words, he repeated her words like a parrot, placing emphasis on them: "He hanged himself."
Song Liangchen pondered over it for a while, and suddenly said, "Let me take a look."
For someone who almost never left their residence, it was akin to the world coming to an end the moment she said that she wanted to go and take a look.
Yet, Zhangsun Bodhi said: "I will go too."
As both of them left together without a discussion first, they left for the Eastern City in unison.
That was the most prosperous place within Daxing City; taverns formed forests, and the stalls were beautiful. According to the hearsays, there was nothing that could not be bought in the Eastern City, only things which a price cannot be named.
The New Year hasn't passed for very long. The crowd was thick in the first month, and on the first three days since the fifteenth of the first month, they were the only three days within a year that the Imperial Court permitted a temporary lift of curfew.
This also meant that from tonight onwards, the Eastern City as well as other places, even the entire capital, would truly be filled with fireworks, turning it into a city that never slept.
Many merchants from the Western Regions who came from afar and ran into such cold weather would all choose to spend the new year here before leaving for home.
Not only did the Imperial Court organize such festive activities to pray for blessings and join in the people's happiness, but even the marketplace would self-organize some dances, games, and tea gatherings, parties that lasted through the stretch of time. Even those merchants would grab onto the opportunity to introduce new playthings and give them names worthy of this moment. Where Zhangsun and Song Liangchen were going, they would see a smile plastered on every wandering face.
It appeared that the royalties and aristocracy would be spending all their affords to keep up with one another, trying their best to stand out today.
This year, the people could let out a breath of relief due to their rich harvests, as well as look forward to seeing their hopes fulfilled due to the new laws issued by the present Emperor on loosening their taxes.
During the night of the Lantern Festival, the curfew was lifted, and hence it made these three nights to be even rowdier than New Year's Day or New Year's Eve.
The Eastern City was already very crowded before night dawned upon the city, and a lot of people had come earlier to see the festival at the temple.
Song Liangchen was sandwiched in the crowd until she practically dropped her shoes, and Zhangsun's gauze hat2 had long fallen and lost. A clean and smooth head was quite eye-catching among the crowd.
It wasn't easy to arrive before the doors of the teahouse. Song Liangchen gave a hopeless look as if she'd just weather through a ferocious battle.
During this time, drinking tea was no longer a trend. The so-called teahouse also sold some cuisines and all kinds of beverages. Next to the teahouse was a stall that sold baked goods. With each evening when the baked pastries came out of the oven, buyers would form long queues. In reality, these two places were both stations of the Zuoyue Bureau. People that came were from varying classes, and so it was the best place to deliver information.
The employees were also people of the Zuoyue Bureau. Naturally, they recognized its two Vice Commanders. Once they entered, they were welcomed in.
It was as if there was another world inside; two sides were against walls, and two other sides were covered up with clothes. They were completely separated from the outside, yet could still hear the words of their customers clearly.
"There was another haunting incident yesterday night!" A middle-aged man spoke first, his voice loud and rough.
From his accent, Song Liangchen could guess that the other was a small merchant from the borders. He most probably entered the city to do some business and while participating in the Lantern Festival.
"I also heard of it. It's Changle District in the south of the city. According to the sayings, someone saw three headless angels in white-robes!"
"Did you know they were wearing white robes? Did you see them yourself?"
"Even the big folks are saying the same thing! Not only were they wearing white robes, but they were even wearing golden crowns. If they aren't angels, what are they? Only, according to the hearsays, their heads weren't on their shoulders. They look like those few people that were beheaded."
"Who are they?"
"Sigh, didn't you hear about the new folk song in the city? The Yang flower3 (willow) withers in defeat in drizzling rains, the good and evil will be rewarded in the end."
"Are you saying…"
"Shh!"
"Don't mention anything about ghosts! Those are all baseless theories. Which one of you have seen it?! I have even greater news here. Last night, something happened in the State Duke of Shu's manor!"
"State Duke of Shu? The Liu family?"
"Yes. The State Duke of Shu, Liu Fang died last night. It was a huge commotion that went to the ears of the palace, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicature and Revision, and other officials. All of them knew!"
"How did you know about this matter?"
"My neighbour delivers vegetables to the State Duke of Shu's manor every day. Tell me, how would I know?"
"On the third day of the first month, didn't the family of the State Duke of Shen hold a funeral as well? But according to the sayings, the State Duke of Shen passed away from illness due to old age."
"What wretched luck!"
As a few people's voices rise up one after the other, they all quickly quieten down and change into hushed whispers.
Like they were holding a treasure that cannot be seen, carefully opening it in front of others, cautious yet couldn't help showing off.
Zhangsun and Song Liangchen had nothing to say. They were quiet for a while, and only after confirming that there was nothing worth listening to in the conversation, did Song Liangchen exhale a long breath.
"Let us go back?"
Zhangsun Bodhi quietly nodded his head.
Both of them didn't even drink the tea next to them. They came in a hurry and left in a hurry.
The hearsays in the teahouse could not bring them much new information. They could only confirm their original theories.
Ghosts. Deaths. And a folk song.
A tempestuous storm was coming their way.
"When Liu Fang handed himself, he actually left behind a will." Zhangsun Bodhi suddenly said after they returned to the Zuoyue Bureau.
Song Liangchen: "Why didn't you say just now?"
Zhangsun: "You didn't ask."
Song Liangchen sighed. She was actually long used to the style of this partner of hers. Unless he was speaking to Cui Buqu, Zhangsun would only answer what he was asked in a way no different from a mute otherwise.
"Where is the will?"
"Taken away by the Ministry of Justice. It should be going into the palace." Zhangsun Bodhi said, "However, I've read it before. There was only a single line of words on it. I haven't managed to decipher it, so I didn't tell you."
Song Liangchen: "Then now you understood it?"
Zhangsun: "Liu Fang's will was the last line in that folk song: the good and evil will be rewarded in the end."
Song Liangchen's heart froze. "The Yang flower withers in defeat in drizzling rains, the good and evil will be rewarded in the end?"
Zhangsun Bodhi nodded his head.
The so-called folk song must be straightforward and simple in order for it to spread just as easily. It would provoke a chain of thoughts for a great many people once they heard of it.
'Yang' referred to the Yang family, who was also the present Royal Family of Yang in the Sui Dynasty.
'Rain' had the same pronunciation with 'Yu', referring to Yuwen, the Yuwen Royal Family from the former Dynasty.
Everything pointed to the fact that Yang Jian had usurped the throne of his own son-in-law in order to obtain the glory he had today.
And after his ascension, those from the former Royal Family could not escape the fate of death.
Every member of the Yuwen Family who posed a threat were all thoroughly beheaded.
This folk song implied that the Yang Family who had taken the throne that wasn't rightfully theirs would eventually have a comeuppance.
"On the third day of the first month, State Duke of Shen, Li Mu descended into madness and wounded his own servants, then he killed himself. In order to avoid more unsolicited gossip, the State Duke of Shen's manor reported to the Imperial Court that Li Mu had passed from an illness of old age."
"On the fourteenth of the first month, which is yesterday, the State Duke of Shu, Liu Fang hanged himself."
"Then came the incident of ghosts, and a folk song had begun to rise."
"A few days ago the Empress fell ill."
"The coincidence lied in the fact that Li Mu and Liu Fang were all officials who supported His Majesty's ascension to the throne."
As Song Liangchen finished, she turned to Zhangsun Bodhi, "Do you think that there truly are such things as the vengeance of the dead?"
Holding some Buddha beads in his hands, Zhangsun quietly said a Buddha's name in all seriousness: "The Buddha lies in one's heart, but so is the devil."
Song Liangchen: "…"
"If the Commander was here, how good would that be?!" She couldn't help sighing, "The Commander has been gone for so long, he should be back by now!"
"Are you looking forward to my return just to solve these troubles?"
Song Liangchen abruptly turned her head around!
In front of the gates in the little courtyard came a person in white robes and a large mantle, tall and thin.
When that face was expressionless, it made him look clear and pale. There was a hint of tired sickness sitting between his brows, but once he moved his mouth, all the dullness would suddenly spring to life, like a spot of red plum on a blanket of white snow, lighting up all that is within one's gaze and intolerant of anything else.
He looked thinner, yet his eyes were bright and sharp, even, like a sword unsheathed.
As long as he is here, there are no troubles that cannot be solved.
Even with a sick and broken body, he could still carry the weight of half this country on his shoulders.
====
Author's Notes:
Ps1, The Zuoyue Bureau has two Vice Commanders. One is Zhangsun, and the other is Song Liangchen. It's mentioned before, but some readers may have forgotten.
Ps2, Liu Fang and Li Mu are both historical figures and they did indeed support Yang Jian, but they didn't die in the same year as in this story.
[1] 三更: is the same as the hour of the Rat, which is 11 PM – 1 AM.
[2] 纱帽 [sha mao]: Image here.
[3] 杨花 [yang hua]: Yang is the same yang as 'Yang Jian'.
Translator's Notes:
The "First Month" mentioned here refers to the first month of the Chinese calendar.