Chapter 131: An Old Man Named Fang

Empress Sun lay propped up on her couch, smiling as she watched Little Zhi Nu and Little Si Zi sprawled atop her bed, fiddling with a few wooden pieces. A wave of comfort washed over her heart.

Since falling ill, she had not once left her bed, and there was scarcely any time to play with her two children. The emperor was busy with state affairs every day; the crown prince and the Prince of Wei each had their own duties. The eldest princess, Chang Le, rarely returned to visit since her marriage. These two children, along with the youngest, Little Heng Shan, who had just learned to walk, were usually accompanied and cared for by attendants. Though they suffered no real grievances, their tender hearts inevitably harbored some unhappiness.

Whenever she saw Zhi Nu sitting by her bed, gazing at her with those pitiful eyes, Empress Sun felt an inexplicable pang of sorrow. She worried: If she were to depart from this world, what would become of her children? Not only the crown prince but also her three underage children—whom would the emperor entrust to a consort for their upbringing? And would those consorts treat her children with the same kindness she had shown to Yu Zhang?

Empress Sun dared not be certain, and so she did not wish to die.

Before, there was no solution. She could only watch helplessly and wait for the day she would truly leave this world.

But now, Liu Yitiao had given her hope—a hope to continue living.

After two days of recuperation, though her condition had not markedly improved, Empress Sun felt deeply that her body was gradually getting better. At the very least, she was beginning to gather strength. She believed that soon she would be able to leave her couch and walk on her own.

“Zhi Nu, Si Zi, come here to mother. Let mother help you assemble this puzzle,” Empress Sun beckoned softly. “Mother is curious to see what kind of house Mr. Liu has drawn for you.”

“All right, mother. Let’s piece it together. We’ll definitely complete it!” Zhi Nu stood up, nodding, and pulled Si Zi to her side.

The attendants promptly padded the table legs and gently lifted it onto Empress Sun’s bed. The three of them—mother and children—gathered around the table and began piecing it together.

“This piece is the window; it should go over here!”

“This piece is the fence, and this one, hmm, this one is the roof! Zhi Nu, you placed it wrong!”

“Si Zi, be careful! You almost damaged the chimney!”

Soon, Empress Sun found herself fully immersed with her children, and under her guidance, the puzzle gradually revealed its original form.

It was a very ordinary, yet peculiar house—not something from the Central Plains. It must belong to a foreign tribe from the borderlands.

Regarding Liu Yitiao’s brushwork, Empress Sun dared not praise it. She had seen his calligraphy before—neat, novel, refreshing to the eye—and had heard he was regarded as a great master of the art. But his painting skills were a different matter altogether: crude and careless. Ugly, even.

Yet his idea was quite innovative: cutting a complete picture into pieces and then piecing it back together. As she had just experienced during the puzzle assembly, there was an endless delight in this process. No wonder Zhi Nu and Si Zi were so captivated by it, no wonder they liked Mr. Liu so much.

At noon, Zhi Nu and Si Zi had played a game of “Stick, Tiger, Chicken,” where the stick beats the tiger, the tiger eats the chicken, the chicken eats the worms, and the worms eat the stick—a simple, entertaining game that embodied the profound truths of survival and balance.

Even the strongest has weaknesses; even the weakest has strengths. The key lies in discerning a person’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Xiao Dezi,” Empress Sun said, watching the two children cheerfully playing, “it grows cold at night. Go deliver a silk quilt to Mr. Liu, and bring along two jars of fine wine.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will attend to it at once,” Xiao Dezi bowed and left.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived!” Xiao Dezi had barely stepped out when an attendant came to report.

“Mm, let him in,” Empress Sun waved her hand, signaling the attendants to remove the table from her bed. Zhi Nu and Si Zi also climbed down.

“Mother, your son comes to pay his respects,” Li Chengqian entered the hall, bowing respectfully before Empress Sun.

“Ah, well-mannered, Qian’er. Sit,” Empress Sun nodded, motioning for Li Chengqian to take a seat nearby. Zhi Nu and Si Zi rose to pay their respects to him as well.

“Your face glows with joy, and your eyes shine with happiness. Is there good news?” Empress Sun looked at Li Chengqian, sensing his good mood, and smiled as she inquired.

Li Chengqian bowed and replied, “Mother, I do indeed have happy news to share today. I believe you will be as pleased as I am upon hearing it.”

“Oh? Could it be news about Daoist Sun?” Empress Sun sat up straighter, a trace of excitement in her voice. This was likely the only matter that could bring such joy to Li Chengqian.

“Your Majesty’s insight is sharp,” Li Chengqian said with a smile. “Just now, I received word that Daoist Sun is currently in Mount Emei, Sichuan. The emperor has already sent someone to invite him overnight. In about seven or eight days, Daoist Sun should arrive at the Governance Hall. There is hope for your recovery!”

“Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors,” Empress Sun said. “Have you informed Mr. Liu yet? When Daoist Sun reaches Chang’an, your leg ailment should also be treated by Mr. Liu. It’s best to let him prepare in advance.”

“Your concern is well-considered, Mother. I will visit Mr. Liu shortly and inform him,” Li Chengqian nodded.

“Yes,” Empress Sun agreed. “Remember to treat Mr. Liu with utmost respect. Not only did he save our lives, but his reputation in Chang’an is excellent. You should cultivate a good relationship with him. Now that Mr. Liu lives in the palace, you have the advantage of proximity. You should visit him often.”

“Mother is right, I understand,” Li Chengqian stood and bowed. “I shall now pay a visit to the Left Imperial Guards to catch up with Mr. Liu. I take my leave.”

“Go ahead,” Empress Sun waved him off, then reclined again, turning to Zhi Nu and Si Zi. “Come, let us finish assembling that picture once more, shall we?”

——

“Master Liu, please take me as your disciple!” Having just changed his guard uniform, Wang Dacheng slipped quietly into Liu Yitiao’s room, earnestly pleading, “I wish to learn your martial arts. Please, have mercy and accept me!”

“Guard Wang,” Liu Yitiao looked at him with weary resignation. This fellow was truly a persistent pest, having nagged for nearly half an hour without end. “How many times have I said? My family’s martial arts are passed down from ancestors, traditionally from father to son, never to daughters, let alone outsiders. The ancestral rules cannot be broken. Please do not trouble me further.”

Liu Yitiao had no leisure to take on disciples, especially one older than himself like Wang Dacheng.

“Master Liu, I do not expect to learn your family’s secret techniques fully. I only hope you might guide me a little in my practice. Please take me as your student!” Wang Dacheng clung on like a stubborn adhesive.

“Guard Wang, I cannot accept you as a disciple. However,” Liu Yitiao, overwhelmed, cast a shifty glance at him and said, “while I remain with the Left Imperial Guards, we can spar regularly.”

Since someone was so eager to be trained, Liu Yitiao decided to stop being polite.

“Fine! As you say, Master! Thank you!” After all this pestering, Wang Dacheng was satisfied with just this promise. Though there was a risk of being beaten, what harm was it to be bested once to improve his skills? He clasped his fists to Liu Yitiao and said, “Then I will not trouble you further. See you tomorrow, Master Liu!”

“Farewell, Guard Wang!” Liu Yitiao returned the salute, instructing Xiao Suo to see him out, feeling relieved. This Wang Dacheng had the potential to be a perfect Tang Monk—persistent to the extreme.

“Young master, Xiao Dezi from the Governance Hall is here to visit!” Xiao Suo entered quietly and whispered, “He seems to have brought quite a few things.”

“Oh? Please invite him in!” Liu Yitiao straightened his slightly rumpled clothes after Wang Dacheng’s tugging and went to greet the visitor.

“Master Liu! I pay my respects,” Xiao Dezi bowed slightly upon entering, then gestured to two attendants behind him to bring in the gifts. Smiling, he said, “Master Liu, here is a silver silk quilt and two jars of Jade Orchid wine, all graciously bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress. I have been sent to deliver them for your inspection.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. And thank you, Xiao Dezi,” Liu Yitiao said politely, clasping his hands. “Please, have a seat.”

“No need to sit. I must hurry back to report and cannot stay long. Having delivered the gifts, I will take my leave,” Xiao Dezi apologized and quickly departed with the two attendants.

After seeing Xiao Dezi out, Liu Yitiao had not yet returned indoors when a slightly portly old man entered briskly. Upon seeing Liu Yitiao, he politely cupped his hands and asked, “May I inquire, young sir, if you are from the Liu family?”