Chapter 123: Traveling with a Beauty (Part One)

The world of mortals is a vast, misty expanse. Seeking the Way, seeking the Way, I search for myself. A thousand miles of trekking, asking who is worthy; the road in the wind is my future. The sand is sharp as a blade, the wind howls in a frenzy, forcing one to frown and bow the head. I plunge into the endless path, relying solely on my will, unleashing my soaring stride. With long strides, I look ahead, walking the righteous path, determined to find it.

Time flows like water, years drift by, passing in a blink of an eye. Before one knows it, the second month of the coming year has arrived.

In the second month of the Song Dynasty, Tokyo is once again besieged by heavy snow. Flakes as large as goose feathers dance and flutter, descending from the heavens. Both inside and outside the Kaifeng prefecture, everything is blanketed in white. The glistening snow, a silver-clad landscape—a timely snow promising a bountiful year—foreshadows a harvest for the coming season.

At this moment, on an official road outside the walls of Tokyo's Kaifeng, an eighteen-year-old scholar with a handsome countenance rides a sturdy horse, moving slowly toward the south. Trailing behind the horse is a book crate along with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

As the scholar travels, he hums a song that others cannot comprehend. He appears to be in an exceptionally pleasant mood, causing passersby to cast glances in his direction.

"Under the snow, the path is hard, untouched by dust; after the rain, one sees the colors of the plum blossoms on the ridge..." Li Sanjian, perched on his horse, recites a heptasyllabic regulated verse, merely to amuse himself.

The snow is heavy and the roads difficult, but he knows that the further south he travels, the warmer the weather will become. Thinking of how he will soon behold the scenery of Lingnan again, Li Sanjian’s spirits inevitably lift.

The triennial imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty are fast approaching, and thus Li Sanjian must return to Guizhou in Guangnan West Circuit a year early to retake the preliminary examinations.

Li Sanjian is making this journey to Guizhou alone.

Shan Kui had wanted to follow him to Guizhou at all costs, but Li Sanjian was adamant in his refusal, even threatening to sever their bond.

Shan Kui is now a soldier; how could he possibly accompany Li Sanjian? Although Li Sanjian has never served in the military, he knows that military law is not a matter to be trifled with. Orders are like mountains, and military law is merciless. If Shan Kui were to take such a risk, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

What Li Sanjian does not know is that while the Song military does have its laws, written in black and white and quite harsh at that, their enforcement is often heavily discounted. If Shan Kui truly wished to accompany him, it would not have been impossible; it would merely have required some silver to bribe his superiors.

However, Li Sanjian is ignorant of the realities of the Song military, and secondly, he lacks the extra funds. Thus, he firmly rejected Shan Kui’s company.

Li Sanjian leaves for Guizhou alone, leaving behind Fu Erniang and Xiao Douya—who has now been renamed Li Nan. He has only left those two behind, and at the request of Prince Duan, Zhao Ji, he has moved his mother and Li Nan into the Prince's mansion.

On the surface, it is said to be for the sake of looking after them, but in truth, it is using them as hostages to bind Li Sanjian firmly to Zhao Ji’s chariot. Li Sanjian is well aware of this, yet he finds himself helpless.

When one is under another’s roof, one has no choice but to bow one's head.

Li Sanjian has already stepped onto a pirate ship; getting off will not be so easy. He feels a sense of vexation regarding this.

With an uncertain future, returning to Guizhou in disgrace for another attempt at the examinations, and worrying about Fu Erniang and the others—such thoughts made his departure heavy and deeply unhappy. It is only now, seeing the silver-clad world and thinking of the beautiful scenery of Lingnan, that his mood has begun to ease.

Furthermore, his situation for this trip to Guizhou is much better than before; at the very least, he has sufficient travel funds and a horse to ride, sparing him the hardship of walking.

I wonder what Professor Huang of the Qinzhou County School will think when he sees me? Will he swing a weathered fist to finish me off? And how will officials like Hu Wenhai, Yin Mochuan, and Lin Wencheng in Guizhou view me? One must know that these people once held high hopes for me, especially Hu Wenhai and Professor Huang. How could I possibly have the face to see them again?

Song officials are either promoted, demoted, or transferred every one to three years, though some do remain in their posts. Perhaps after returning to Guizhou, I will not see them at all. But if they happen to remain, I shall have nowhere to hide my shame.

As for my mentor, Su Shi, I have already been expelled from his school, and he is far away in Danzhou on Qiongzhou Island. Besides, how could I have the face to meet him anyway? In that case, I might as well be glad not to see him, Li Sanjian thinks to himself.

And then there is the little fatty, my only true friend in this world, Zeng Gongming. The distance is vast, communication is poor; I wonder how he is faring now?

And my "concubine," Wang Wen... she must have grown up by now, right? She must look quite charming, perhaps beginning to blossom into a young woman?

And my grandfather Fu Gui, my great-uncles Fu Ding and Fu Lin, and all the others—I haven't heard from them in a long time. I wonder if they are well?

"Neigh..." As Li Sanjian is lost in these idle thoughts, his sturdy horse steps into a shallow pit hidden in the snow. It lets out a sudden whinny, its front hooves buckle, and the horse tilts forward.

"Ouch! Brother Horse, please, don't play any tricks on me!" Terrified, Li Sanjian flattens himself against the saddle, clutching the horse's neck tightly. "Brother Horse, we have no grudges from a past life, no enmity in this one, and no fate in the next. Why are you doing this? What is the point?"

Last time, it was this very date-red horse that threw him and Li Qingzhao into the stream. Is it happening again? If it trips and falls, it will surely delay his journey.

The horse seems to understand Li Sanjian’s words. It lets out a whinny, pulls its front hooves out of the snow pit, tilts its head, and snorts.

Li Sanjian promptly jumps off, walks to the front, and bows his head to inspect the horse's hooves for any injuries. If the hooves were hurt, he might have to walk the rest of the way to Guizhou.

After observing for a long while and finding no injury, he lets out a long sigh of relief. Standing before the horse’s head, he gives a thumbs-up. "Brother Horse, you truly are fit and healthy, worthy of being a leader among horses."

On this long, lonely journey, his only companion is this horse. Thus, whenever he feels bored, he talks to it, treating it like a brother.

The horse responds with a snort.

"Brother Horse, shall we be on our way?" Li Sanjian grabs the reins, intending to set off. The snow is falling heavily and has piled up quite thick; he dares not ride anymore. If there were something sharp beneath the soft snow, it would be a disaster.

But the horse seems to be fighting with him, standing perfectly still, refusing to move. Li Sanjian uses all his might to pull the horse back toward the official road, where the ground is hard and the snow is thinner, which would allow him to ride. But by then, his strength is spent, and he can no longer pull it.

Could it be that my attitude wasn't respectful enough, and I’ve angered Brother Horse? Li Sanjian wonders, then bows with great respect. "Brother Horse, I implore you to unleash your four hooves and let us gallop across the world! Brother Horse, isn't the snow beautiful? But in Lingnan, there is a unique scenery of its own—don't you want to go and see it?"

No matter how Li Sanjian tries to lure it with promises or threaten it, the horse refuses to budge, instead finding a patch of tender grass and grazing leisurely.

"Ouch, Brother Horse, what is there to eat in this roadside grass? Let us move on, find an inn, and I shall surely find you the finest fodder to feast upon! Hey, hey, at worst, I'll even find you some dancing girls or singing girls? No, wait—how about I find you some mare-girls or donkey-girls?"

As the horse refuses to move, Li Sanjian continues to ramble on and on.

"Pfft!" Just then, a woman’s soft laughter rings out from behind him. Startled, Li Sanjian turns around to see a carriage that has stopped behind him and his "brother" horse.

The carriage is small, meant for only two or three people, pulled by two sturdy horses. The sides are draped with curtains; though not lavishly decorated, it is exceptionally neat and clean, suggesting the occupant is someone of status. Two attendants on horseback flank the carriage, dressed in commoner’s clothes, yet their waists are noticeably bulging.

"Ah? It's you? Why are you here?" Li Sanjian asks, stunned, after seeing the woman inside the carriage window.

The woman inside is Cai Rongxue, who is now covering her mouth, stifling laughter at the sight of the comical man and his horse.

Although she still wears a thin veil, preventing Li Sanjian from seeing her face clearly, he recognizes her eyes and her voice.

"Young Master Li, why are you here? And what are you doing?" Cai Rongxue asks in return.

She is just as surprised to see him, and upon witnessing the ridiculous scene, she cannot help but laugh aloud.

"I am on my way to Guizhou, and Brother Horse—no, this cursed old horse refuses to move. What is one to do?" Li Sanjian replies bitterly.

"I see." After another chuckle, Cai Rongxue says to an attendant, "Go and help Young Master Li."

The attendant bows, dismounts, and walks to the side of the horse. He takes the reins, gently pats the horse's neck, and produces some beans to feed it, whispering something softly all the while.

A moment later, the attendant mounts his horse again and gently kicks the horse's flank. The horse lets out a whinny and then obediently begins to walk.

Li Sanjian is left dumbfounded. It wasn't that the horse was disobedient; it was entirely that he knew nothing about horses and his horsemanship was mediocre at best.

Saying his horsemanship is mediocre is actually being too kind to him; in reality, his riding skills are truly abysmal.

"Young Master Li, would you care to join us in the carriage for a chat?" Cai Rongxue then says, sounding somewhat hesitant.

Under normal circumstances, it is inappropriate for a man to share a carriage with a woman of status. However, Li Sanjian is a scholar, and he had become better acquainted with Cai Rongxue at the Qingyue Nunnery. Furthermore, Li Qingzhao is her childhood sister; out of respect for her, if not for him, she offers the invitation.

"At your command." Li Sanjian is not one to stand on ceremony. He leaps onto the carriage with extreme agility, as if afraid she might change her mind.