Chapter 54: Salvation

After dinner, since the master had not assigned any tasks, Old Wang simply retired to his own room.

The bedding and quilts were brand new, and there was even a large wardrobe said to be for his belongings. The master had also ordered a lock to be bought, and the key was handed to him.

Old Wang lay on the bed, closed his eyes in satisfaction.

Suddenly, he opened them again.

“I almost forgot. Mother, I’ve found a place where I can eat my fill. Don’t worry.”

He closed his eyes once more, his breath growing calm.

...

In the palace, the favorite consort had just come from her bath.

“Your Ladyship.”

Her confidante, Jiao Li, was waiting outside the bedchamber.

“What is it?” the consort asked lazily.

Jiao Li replied, “Earlier, the eldest young master sent someone with a message. He said that fellow Yang Xuan did save Your Ladyship, after all, and one must show loyalty—otherwise, who would be willing to help next time?”

The consort frowned. “What a scoundrel’s way of speaking. Still, that young man is not bad. Go to Chenqu for me…”

The following day, an emissary from the palace arrived in Chenqu.

“That’s mine!”

“I got it first.”

“Give it back!”

“No.”

“Will you or won’t you?”

“Ah!”

Amid cries of pain, someone said, “I hadn’t even answered before you resorted to violence.”

Cough, cough!

Jiao Li pointed to the door, and the accompanying eunuch knocked.

“Who is it! Cough, cough, cough!”

The door opened. The old rogue stared blankly outside, but in an instant his eyes came alive, so quickly that Jiao Li thought she was seeing things.

“Who are you, honored guest?” the old rogue asked in a cultured tone, though his left hand, hidden behind his back, beckoned to Old Wang.

Old Wang looked up. “Master, you have a visitor.”

Both the old rogue and Jiao Li were left stunned.

So Yang Xuan had actually hired a simpleton to work in his home—clearly, he was no man of means. Jiao Li now had a sense of things.

When Yang Xuan arrived, Jiao Li said coolly, “Everyone not involved, out!”

Once only she and Yang Xuan remained, Jiao Li said, “You saved Her Ladyship; such a great merit will not go unrewarded.”

How much was saving the precious consort’s life worth?

Impossible to calculate.

“Wherever Her Ladyship points, I’ll go; Her Ladyship…” Yang Xuan blurted, then wore an expression of utmost loyalty.

“If Her Ladyship eats duck, I’ll eat chicken…” Suzaku was muttering.

Jiao Li burst out laughing, a touch of charm in her amusement. “You should read more books. By the way, you’re only fifteen; a sudden promotion will draw attention. As marshal of the constabulary, think of a deed so notable that all will know of it, and then Her Ladyship can act.”

After Jiao Li left, Yang Xuan gathered his subordinates for discussion.

“If she doesn’t reward such merit, her reputation will suffer,” Yi Niang said knowingly of palace matters.

“A deed known to all…” Cao Ying mused.

Yi Niang suggested, “What about catching thieves?”

“What kind of merit is catching thieves?” Cao Ying shook his head.

“Then you think of something!” Yi Niang, never the strategist, grew irate at Cao Ying’s know-it-all manner. “No lunch for you.”

Cao Ying frowned. “What can the constabulary marshal do? Catch thieves—still just catching thieves.”

Yi Niang stood. “If you can’t come up with anything, your lunch will be different.”

Cao Ying asked, “What will I eat at noon?”

“Wind!”

Yi Niang left with a cold face, but quickly returned with a smile.

“Master, Assistant Zhou is here.” She shot Cao Ying a look.

Get lost!

Cao Ying reluctantly withdrew, and as he left, he saw Zhou Ning enter, her tortoiseshell spectacles perched on her nose.

This woman was a bit cold, but there was an air of untouchable sanctity about her.

“How are you?” Zhou Ning came in, her gaze sweeping over Yang Xuan’s face. “Your hand!”

Yang Xuan extended his hand.

“The right hand!”

Yang Xuan switched hands.

“Isn’t it left for men, right for women?” The green light flickered.

Zhou Ning calmly took his pulse, then after a moment, raised her hand.

“What have you eaten?”

“Wind—no, just a slice of mutton.”

She could even tell by his pulse that he’d eaten mutton? Yang Xuan was utterly astounded.

Outside, Cao Ying sighed, “It’ll be hard for our master to sneak off for a bite in the wild in future.”

“Lie down!” Zhou Ning’s voice was calm and offered no explanation that such detection by pulse was sheer nonsense.

Yi Niang raised an eyebrow. “…”

Cao Ying raised an eyebrow. “…”

“You’re mostly recovered.”

There was no hint of joy in Zhou Ning’s voice.

“What are you doing?”

“Acupuncture.”

“With such long silver needles, can’t you try another method?”

Yang Xuan was about to break down.

“All right!” Zhou Ning agreed readily.

Cao Ying praised her, “Virtuous lady!”

“There’s still some stagnant blood in your meridians; acupuncture is best, but a palm strike can also work…”

“Hold on—”

Smack!

“Ah!”

With a cry of pain, Zhou Ning slowly walked out.

“Eat lightly for a while.”

Yi Niang said with a smile, “Thank you for your trouble. Would you care to stay for a meal?”

Cao Ying chimed in, “Yes, we have stewed lamb spine.”

“No, thank you.” Zhou Ning took her leave. Yi Niang looked troubled. “A woman as fine as that—if you don’t settle things soon, won’t it be a pity?”

She glanced at Cao Ying. “Come up with an idea.”

Cao Ying stroked his beard and smiled. “In such matters… In the old days, sometimes a man and woman would have a secret affair, but if the family didn’t approve, once the woman claimed to be with child…”

“Despicable!” Yi Niang looked utterly scornful.

Fine, I’ll go amuse Old Wang instead.

Yang Xuan lay there motionless, his mind spinning with plans for the future.

According to Cao Ying’s advice, he should become a local official, to lay a foundation. Yang Xuan thought of going to the frontier, ideally to Yuanzhou.

The Southern Zhou army was weak; it could be gradually eroded.

But to act freely in the provinces, he would first need to establish a base in Chang’an, or a single slander could see all their efforts ruined.

Without question, Yang Xuan’s greatest support for now was the State Academy.

But to have the Academy join him in rebellion? Ning Yanyun would probably rather become a hermit in the mountains.

As for the Wang family, that was nothing more than a fleeting, superficial alliance.

“Do you think it’s necessary?” Suzaku asked.

“Yes!” Yang Xuan nodded.

“It’s not necessary!”

Yang Xuan and Suzaku answered in unison.

In the afternoon, Liang Jing arrived.

“Hahahaha!”

With hearty laughter, the favorite consort’s brother came to the Yang household, bearing a cartload of gifts.

“How are you?” Liang Jing sat at the bedside, kindly clasping Yang Xuan’s hand. “When I heard you’d awakened, I went to the temple to pray and kept a vegetarian diet for nine days. While praying, a voice from above said… ‘This child must live!’ Hahahaha!”

His face glowed with health, but his breath reeked of lamb, and it was clearly roasted—vegetarian, indeed!

“Hahahaha!” Yang Xuan laughed along. “With such deep affection from Assistant Liang, how could I ever repay you?”

Liang Jing gripped his hand, gazing intently. “You really want to repay me?”

The usual official pleasantries—did this fellow take them seriously?

Yang Xuan nodded, “Yes, I do!”

Liang Jing patted the back of his hand. “Then hurry up and get well. I’ve prepared three beauties for you—one from Southern Zhou, one from Northern Liao, and one from Great Tang… Exotic, passionate, gentle. I’ll sit by your side and paint your portraits for posterity. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Is this Zhao the Second reborn?” Suzaku quipped.

Yang Xuan began, “Assistant Liang—”

“Call me Brother Liang.” Liang Jing glared, exuding an unmistakable air of the streets. “If you don’t, you look down on me. To look down on me is to look down on the consort, and to look down on her is to look down on His Majesty…”

“Brother Liang.”

“He’s Liang Shanbo, you’re Zhu Yingtai; he’s the pursuer, you’re his match,” Suzaku kept muttering.

“When you’re well, I’ll come fetch you!” Liang Jing swept out of the Yang house like a gust of wind.

His attendant followed him out of Chenqu. “Yang Xuan is just a minor constabulary marshal—even though he saved the consort, a reward is enough. Why are you so cordial with him, even calling him brother?”

Riding at a slow pace, Liang Jing replied, “The consort’s sudden favor has everyone in the palace watching her. The Yang family is the empress’s kin—who knows how many times they’ve tripped up the consort? This recent attempt at reconciliation was blocked. I suspect foul play—perhaps someone is stirring trouble.”

The attendant was surprised. “Who could it be?”

Liang Jing stroked his chin. “It might be the emperor himself.”

The attendant asked, “So… does that mean the emperor is dissatisfied with the Yangs?”

“What emperor is ever pleased with a clan as powerful as the Yangs? Imagine being an elder brother, but your younger sibling has more money and followers than you. Could you really be at ease?”

“A sound observation, sir. But what does this have to do with the constabulary marshal?”

“A man’s affection is as fickle as a stray dog’s obedience—this is what I learned in the pleasure districts,” Liang Jing said. “If the consort wants to secure her position, she must be seen to reward merit.”

“But isn’t the constabulary marshal too lowly?”

“Don’t forget, he’s also a State Academy student.”

“Ah, that’s it! Sir, the consort has tasked him with making some grand accomplishment…”

“It’s a test. If she promotes a mediocrity, it would be an embarrassment to challenge the Yangs.”

...

Yang Xuan lay motionless for half a day more.

The next morning, he rose early.

He studied, practiced his martial arts.

Old Wang and the old rogue squatted together to watch.

Cao Ying paced under a tree, muttering about using one’s strengths to strike at the enemy’s weakness.

His saber whistled, his form flashing, and the courtyard was filled with dazzling arcs of steel.

“How is it?” the old rogue asked.

Old Wang rubbed his belly. “I’m hungry.”

“I meant, how is our master’s saber technique?”

“Better than yours.”

The old rogue: “…”

Old Wang smiled foolishly at him. “I’ll practice with you if you like.”

What a kind young man!

The old rogue happily agreed.

Saber sheathed, his energy gradually settled. Yang Xuan exhaled deeply, then turned to see the old rogue prostrate on the ground.

“What are you doing?”

Bowing to the floor at dawn…

“He wants a red envelope,” Suzaku piped up cheerfully, as always.

Old Wang squatted nearby, looking up hopefully. “Master, I’m hungry.”

Yang Xuan’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Breakfast soon.”

At breakfast, Cao Ying and the old rogue nearly came to blows over how to achieve a notable merit.

“Enough! Stop arguing!” Even Yi Niang couldn’t keep order.

“Old rogue, have you read the military classics?”

“Hah! I’ve read more than I can count. Ladies, generals—when they’re in their coffins, they’re all just bones.”

“Ahem!” Yang Xuan set down his bowl, and the two fell silent.

Why did this all feel like a troupe of misfits?

“I’ve got a plan for that matter.”

“What plan?” Everyone but Old Wang, who was still eating, turned to Yang Xuan.

“We clean up the filth in Pingkang Ward. The operation shall be called… ‘Saving the Fallen Women’!”