"Thank you, Uncle Pang, for escorting me home," Huang Wan expressed her gratitude to Pang Jing, who had accompanied her back, and extended an invitation. "If you have no other matters to attend to, please come inside for a short rest and have a cup of wine before you leave."
Pang Jing politely declined, saying, "There's no need for thanks. This was a task assigned by the Governor, so it was my duty to fulfill it. As for the wine, I'll have to pass. The Governor's residence has been quite busy lately, so I'll take my leave now."
"In that case, I won't insist on keeping you, Uncle Pang." Huang Wan was understanding and did not press further. She stood at the entrance of the Huang residence, watching Pang Jing depart until his carriage turned the corner of the street before finally withdrawing her gaze.
Only then did Huang Wan relax. Her nerves had been taut all day. Though it had started like any other day—shopping at the Chengdu market—the encounter with the Dongzhou soldiers harassing her and the subsequent intervention by Governor Liu of Yizhou had left her thoroughly exhausted.
Now, she had a bellyful of thoughts she wanted to share with someone. Turning to her maidservant Qinghe, who was holding the Shu brocade, she said, "Qinghe, people outside say this new Governor Liu is weak and ineffectual, but after meeting him today, it's clear the rumors are false."
Qinghe nodded in agreement. "Indeed, this Governor Liu doesn't seem weak at all. On the contrary, he carries an air of heroic vigor—rarely seen among the young masters of Chengdu."
"In my humble opinion, he's an exceptional gentleman. The rumors outside are all lies."
"But," Qinghe added with a teasing tone, slightly raising the elegant Shu brocade in her hands, "he gave you this piece of Shu brocade. I wonder what he meant by that." She and Huang Wan had grown up together, and though their relationship was nominally that of mistress and servant, in reality, they were as close as sisters, speaking without reservation.
Huang Wan understood the implication in Qinghe's words. At face value, the brocade was just a gift, but its deeper meaning was harder to ignore.
Shu was a prosperous region, largely untouched by the ravages of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. As a result, its people had developed a taste for extravagance. Weddings and funerals were grand affairs—even poor families would borrow money to host lavish ceremonies, fearing that any display of poverty would invite scorn.
This was where the value of Shu brocade came into play. It was an indispensable part of marriage ceremonies, gradually becoming a customary betrothal gift in Shu.
That was why Huang Wan had been so surprised when Liu Zhang presented her with the brocade.
Qinghe's words hinted that Liu Zhang might have taken a liking to Huang Wan.
But Huang Wan shook her head. "Governor Liu said it was an apology. There's no other meaning to it."
"Out of all the things he could have chosen to apologize with, why this particular brocade—the very one you had your eye on?"
Huang Wan fell silent. She didn't know why either. She had also wondered why he had given her Shu brocade instead of something else.
When Liu Zhang had looked at her, his eyes had been clear, devoid of any improper thoughts. This suggested he was not a lustful man and had no ulterior motives toward her.
She thought of one possibility.
"Perhaps it's because Governor Liu isn't a local and doesn't understand Shu customs. He might have just picked something at random without any deeper meaning." Not wanting to dwell on the topic, she changed the subject.
"Though Governor Liu apologized to me, in truth, he was the one who helped me today. When my elder brother returns in a few days, I'll ask him to visit Governor Liu's residence to express our gratitude."
Of course, one couldn't visit empty-handed. Huang Wan turned to Qinghe and asked, "Qinghe, what do you think would be a suitable gift to bring?"
"This servant doesn't know. Governor Liu's household probably lacks nothing," Qinghe replied, shaking her head.
"Hmm…"
After a moment of contemplation, Huang Wan thought of something—a gift she believed Liu Zhang would appreciate.
---
Night fell.
Liu Zhang and Gan Ning had not drunk much. With Liu Yan's recent passing, Liu Zhang refrained from indulging in heavy drinking with Gan Ning. After the first three cups were drained, they sipped slowly while conversing.
Once the drinking concluded, the two now lay side by side on the same bed.
Sharing a bed—Liu Zhang found this custom somewhat uncomfortable. After all, his soul was that of a modern man, and the idea of two men sleeping in the same bed was unusual in his time.
But this was the Han Dynasty, where sharing a bed was a common practice. It was a way for brothers to express closeness and affection, which eventually extended to friendships. Sleeping together signified a bond as strong as that of brothers. The most famous example was Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, who often shared a bed.
The meaning of certain behaviors varied greatly across eras. By inviting Gan Ning to share his bed, Liu Zhang was signaling that he regarded Gan Ning as a brother—the closest possible relationship.
While Liu Zhang's mind buzzed with thoughts, Gan Ning, lying beside him, was also deep in reflection. Too much had happened today, and he needed time to process it all. First, riding in the same carriage as the Governor, then pledging loyalty to Liu Zhang and being appointed as a Colonel.
And now, most remarkably, Liu Zhang had invited him to share his bed—a privilege reserved for those as close as brothers.
The day's events had been so overwhelming that Gan Ning found it impossible to sleep peacefully. It all felt like a dream, one that might vanish at the slightest touch. But when he turned his head and saw Liu Zhang beside him, the reality of it all settled in.
Gan Ning was educated, but at his core, he was a wandering knight. The figure he admired most was Yu Rang, who had gone to extreme lengths—disfiguring himself with lacquer and altering his voice by swallowing charcoal—to avenge his lord, Zhi Boyao.
As he looked at Liu Zhang, a fire unique to this era burned in his chest—A man will die for those who appreciate him. For the rest of his life, he would be loyal to the wise lord before him.
Heaven and Earth bear witness—no disloyalty shall ever taint his heart. Gan Ning made the oath of a true knight.
"Xingba, can't sleep?" Liu Zhang, who had been trying to close his eyes, noticed Gan Ning staring intently at him and spoke up.
Gan Ning responded immediately, "Reporting to my lord, too much has happened today. Ning finds it difficult to sleep."
"If you can't sleep, let's talk for a while." Liu Zhang didn't mind. Having successfully won Gan Ning's allegiance, he too was too excited to sleep.
"Xingba, why don't you tell me about your time in Ba Commandery? I've only heard bits and pieces and would like to know more," Liu Zhang requested. He had read about Gan Ning's exploits in Ba Commandery in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, but ancient texts were often terse and lacking in detail.
He wanted to learn more about the legendary "Brocade-Sailed Bandit." Having a historical figure right beside him was a rare opportunity. Listening to tales of the past in the dead of night carried a unique charm.
"If my lord wishes to know, Ning shall tell all." Gan Ning no longer had any intention of hiding his past escapades in Ba Commandery. If his lord wanted to know, as his subordinate, he would hold nothing back.
"Back then, I was only eighteen, still very young. I loved sailing on the Dangqu River with brocade sails, a bronze bell hanging from my waist, letting the boat drift wherever the currents took me. Wherever the boat landed, I would go ashore and find a wealthy household to eat and drink. If the host received me with great hospitality, I would wholeheartedly befriend him. But if anyone dared to oppose me, I would teach them the might of the Brocade-Sailed Wanderer."
The two chatted late into the night, with Gan Ning doing most of the talking while Liu Zhang occasionally interjected with questions or exclamations of surprise.
It was not until the early hours of the morning, when exhaustion finally overtook them, that they fell asleep.