Three Steps: From Assassin to Empress - Chapter 9: Let Me Buy You a Pot of Green Willow Spring Tea

Chapter 9: Let Me Buy You a Pot of Green Willow Spring Tea

The glass lantern had been set down at some point, resting precisely on the location of Jiangzhou on the map, and quietly emitted a hazy yellow light. The light illuminated the entire Jiangzuo region, but the Central Plains to the north remained in darkness.

“…I understand,” Ying Xiu said. “Building the grand canal is indeed a great achievement that will benefit water transportation in Jiangzuo for generations to come.”

After saying this, the young assassin looked directly at the aristocratic retainer. His clear eyes were brighter than a sword’s gleam. “It’s fine to build the grand canal, but it’s not right to work the common people to death,” Ying Xiu’s voice was soft yet powerful, as if he was standing against something. A great achievement for all time begins with the smallest of things.

Xie Zhou had already guessed the cause of the matter. He was noncommittal, his dark, cold eyes calm and indifferent. He said warmly, “So what do you plan to do?”

Ying Xiu’s long eyelashes trembled slightly. “Jianxin is in charge of supervising the work. I will talk to him.”

Jianxin, Wang Shouzhen’s courtesy name.

The way he naturally called Wang Shouzhen by his courtesy name made Xie Zhou’s eyes look a little dangerous. He almost forgot that Ying Xiu was Wang Shouzhen’s retainer and would naturally prioritize Wang Shouzhen in all matters.

It was almost 5:00 p.m., and the sky over the foot of the mountain was already completely dark. Ying Xiu still bid farewell to Xie Zhou and hurried out of the Xie clan’s courtyard, walking into the darkness. Xie Zhou had wanted to have someone escort him back, but Ying Xiu left in such a hurry that he didn’t have a chance to speak.

Looking out from the railing, there was boundless darkness all around, with only the swaying branches on the path, a faint shadow of a young man in black robes hurrying back. On the night of the vice-governor’s banquet, Ying Xiu, who was clearly not eloquent, had stood up to speak for Wang Shouzhen. The bond between them was not that of an ordinary master and servant. In Ying Xiu’s words, they were close friends.

Emperor Zhaosu walked back into the hall. The huge map on the ground was still in its original state. The red line he had drawn at random was like a crimson longsword, and the glass lantern at the center of the red sword flickered. Outside the building, the wind and rain beat down, but the candle flame never went out.

…

In the private residence of the Wang clan of Langya, an elderly retainer repeatedly lit the candles in the corridor, adding oil to each one, pouring some out if there was too much, and adding more if there was too little.

In the room, two figures were reflected on the gauze window. A young scholar had come to visit late at night, and the eldest son personally received him. Inside the room, Wang Shouzhen looked at Ying Xiu for a long time, a helpless expression on his face, as if he were compromising. “All right,” he said. “I will talk to those families and adjust the commoners’ wages. They will only work for four hours a day, from 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. And we’ll change the number of people carrying the logs from five to seven.” He asked, “How is that? Is there anything else that’s not right?”

After asking this, Wang Shouzhen fell silent, subtly observing Ying Xiu’s reaction in the candlelight. It was just a commoner. Why was Ying Xiu so upset? He then remembered that Ying Xiu had only left the mountains and entered society in the eighth year of Yongning and had been living in the mountains before that. Could it be that he knew the deceased commoner from before? Otherwise, he couldn’t explain why Ying Xiu cared so much.

“It’s not enough,” Ying Xiu said. “We also need to arrange a proper funeral for Yu Wang, provide for his family, and settle his wife and child.”

Who is Yu Wang? Wang Shouzhen was a smart person and immediately realized that Yu Wang was the commoner’s name. He thought about it for a moment and nodded without hesitation. “Alright.”

Receiving the expected answer, Ying Xiu’s frustration instantly vanished. He picked up the cup and sipped the clear tea. It had a sweet taste he was very familiar with. It was Green Willow Spring tea, his favorite when he was in Guangling.

One spring can create ten thousand leaves, and one leaf can foretell a new spring.

“This is not a big deal,” Wang Shouzhen’s handsome and refined face had a gentle smile. He called Ying Xiu by his courtesy name in a warm voice, “Fuwei, if you ever need anything in the future, just tell me. I’ll do my best to get it done for you.”

People in the world said that the eldest son of the Wang clan of Langya was upright and benevolent. Having spent four years with him, Ying Xiu knew that the rumors were true.

The night was vast, and the young man left. Wang Shouzhen saw him to the door and then slowly walked back. He saw the old retainer who had been lighting the lamps in the corridor just now. The young aristocrat stopped and looked at the old retainer, sighing. “Since you are loyal to my father, I will have someone send you back to Guangling.” As for what would happen after he returned, that was none of his business.

The lamp oil in the old retainer’s hand suddenly fell to the ground. He knelt down and begged for mercy. “Eldest son, the vice-governor of Jiangzhou told me to keep an eye on Young Master Ying. He said that the master told him there shouldn’t be any disobedient servants around the eldest son.”

Wang Shouzhen’s eyebrows furrowed slowly. “Wang Yu would even interfere in my affairs?”

…

Seven days later, Yu Wang’s funeral was held in Jianxiafang. Because of the funeral, the muddy paths were paved with white stone bricks overnight, and the black puddles were filled. The entire Jianxiafang was given a new look.

Inside the thatched cottage, which was now covered with prayer flags, a Taoist priest in a robe was chanting scriptures, reciting incantations to help the deceased be reborn. Among the crowds of people, many were famous scholars and officials from the northern gentry who, upon hearing that the eldest son of the Wang clan of Langya had organized the funeral, rushed to pay their respects. The Taoist priest was busy chanting, the scholars were busy writing poems and essays about Wang Shouzhen’s good deeds, and the commoners of Jianxiafang were busy eating the food from the ritual.

Clang, clang. The place was bustling with noise.

Ying Xiu stood alone in front of the simple funeral hall. The young man was dressed in white mourning clothes, looking pure and ethereal. Someone walked up behind him. Their shadow fell on his feet, long and thin. It was the little girl named Chang’an.

Ying Xiu remembered that the old capital of the Central Plains on the map Xie Zhou showed him was also called Chang’an. It was said to be a very prosperous place, the capital of the heavenly dynasty, with a dense population and abundant goods, a world of flowers and brocade, countless bright lanterns, towering buildings, and endless streams of water and people.

Chang’an recognized the young man who had saved her and also knew that he was the assassin who had killed the Lord of Jiangzhou that night. She walked forward, gently took Ying Xiu’s pale robe, and timidly said, “Thank you.”

Little Chang’an said that she not only wanted to thank him for helping her and her mother but also for killing the bad guy. The Lord of Jiangzhou was a bad guy, and she thanked him for killing him.

Ying Xiu’s body went rigid when he heard this. He couldn’t tell the handsome retainer he had just met about this. His close friend Jianxin saw it as a minor matter and didn’t understand why he cared so much. Only the little girl, who shared the same name as the old capital of the Central Plains, understood what was on his mind and told him not to feel guilty.

Two hours later, the Taoist priest took his silver and left. The scholars returned with their poems and essays, and the commoners finished the food and went back to their livelihoods. People came and went, leaving behind only a ground full of yellow paper that fluttered in the wind.

After the funeral, Yu Wang’s wife and daughter were settled in the upper city and were cared for by the Wang clan of Langya’s retainers. From then on, they would have enough to eat and a place to live.

A carriage rolled over the new white stone slabs of Jianxiafang, carrying Chang’an and her mother away. On both sides of the road, the dusty commoners still stood in front of their doors, watching. Unlike the numbness they had shown when the cart carrying the body returned, their pale, gray faces now showed a hint of envy.

Seeing Ying Xiu, some people walked out from their dark doorways and grabbed him, shouting, “Help me! Young master! Do you know the eldest son of the Wang clan of Langya?” “Help us, please say a few good words to the eldest son for us, and let him take us with him!” “We can do anything, we’ll serve you like oxen and horses!”

The surging crowd was like moths to a flame, almost drowning the young man’s slender and straight body. Ying Xiu was forced to show his sword. The Heart-Questioning Sword gleamed like moonlight. Seeing the sharp glint of the sword, the commoners immediately retreated. They went all the way back into their dark doorways, wanting to go inside, but they hesitated, standing behind the doors and watching him in a state of anxiety.

“The eldest son can only help those with aspirations,” Ying Xiu said. “If you want to move up in the world, go to the weir to build the grand canal. With the eldest son supervising, you will work for four hours a day and earn ten zhu coins.”

As soon as he spoke, the entire Jianxiafang fell silent for a moment, and then the sound of people erupted. The commoners came out one after another, surrounding Ying Xiu at a distance. They asked questions about when to start work. After getting their answers, they hurriedly walked on the white stone slabs toward the Yuan River weir.

Ying Xiu sheathed his sword. He didn’t leave but walked around Jianxiafang. In the dark areas where the white stone slabs couldn’t reach, the ground was covered with twisted ditches, surrounded by buzzing flies. The roofs of the thatched cottages were mostly covered with layers of dried grass, which served as shelter from the wind and rain for these commoners.

If he hadn’t met the retainer, the assassin would not have stayed in Jiangzhou, and he would never have had the opportunity to come to Jianxiafang and see these low, dark thatched cottages. Since Ying Xiu had seen them, he could not turn a blind eye.

If he were to use Jianxin’s power to change Jianxiafang, wouldn’t that be a burden to Jianxin? Ying Xiu stood under the thatched cottage, lost in thought.

As expected, many commoners came to the Yuan River weir in the following days, one after another, bringing their families with them. The place was crowded every day. The weir grew taller day by day, and the embankment rose from the ground.

Ying Xiu asked Wang Shouzhen for a pot of Green Willow Spring tea and personally went to Xie Zhou’s residence to invite him to see the magnificent sight of the Yuan River weir. On the high embankment, the sky was vast, and white herons soared into the air. The shirtless commoners carried logs, their shouts unending, gradually carving out the雏形 of the grand canal. In the vast world, people used their own strength to change the world. This scene was incredibly spectacular and grand.

Atop the high embankment, Ying Xiu took a hearty sip of the Green Willow Spring tea. He was an assassin and didn’t know how to brew tea. He simply steeped the tea leaves in boiling water and then drank it. The tea brewed in this simple and rough way had a sweet, clear taste. Perhaps this was the essence of returning to nature.

Xie Zhou watched him brew the tea, drink it, and then raise his cup to invite him to drink. His sparkling eyes were fixed on him. After a moment of silence, he raised his cup and took a sip.

Ying Xiu eagerly asked, “Is it good?”

Xie Zhou replied, “…It’s good.”

Ying Xiu said, “Have another cup.”

Xie Zhou replied, “There’s no need.”

Ying Xiu had wanted to share his favorite things with Xie Zhou, but looking at Xie Zhou’s handsome, cold, and expressionless face, he couldn’t tell if he liked it or not. And he didn’t have the habit of forcing people, so he just said “Oh” and poured himself another cup of Green Willow Spring. It was so sweet!

The commoners who came and went would occasionally greet Ying Xiu, shyly and eagerly telling him how many logs they had moved that day and how many inches of the riverbed they had dug. Ying Xiu would praise them enthusiastically and treat them to cold Green Willow Spring tea after work at 3:00 p.m.

Xie Zhou stood by his side, feeling a little bewildered for a moment. Ying Xiu seemed to be happy wherever he was, and he could make the people around him happy as well. Before he met Ying Xiu, he had never seen such a peculiar person.

Not far away, the governor of Jiangzhou and the vice-governor, who had come to inspect, saw this scene. Wang Yu used to be an official in the Central Secretariat in the capital, and his transfer to Jiangzhou as vice-governor was still a fourth-rank official position. In his twenty years in office, he had never had the opportunity to see the emperor’s face. When he saw Ying Xiu and Xie Zhou, he frowned slightly. He knew that Ying Xiu was a scholar on the surface but a retainer of Wang Shouzhen’s in secret. As a retainer, he should be prepared to die for his master. This Ying Xiu not only lacked that awareness but also seemed to treat the eldest son as a close friend, showing no respect or fear, and even taking advantage of him. If this continued, wouldn’t he be nurturing a tiger to be a future menace?

And who was the tall, handsome young man with a murderous aura next to him? He was chilled just by looking at him. The Southern Dynasty did not forbid homosexuality, and that sort of romance was not a big deal. But for him to be so blatant, and even socializing at the weir where the eldest son was supervising the work, was truly unbearable.

Beside him, the governor of Jiangzhou, who knew everything, felt like he was about to have a heart attack. The tyrannical and cruel Emperor Zhaosu would show such favor and tolerance to a small scholar. What was so special about this scholar?

Now that he didn’t know the emperor’s thoughts, he wouldn’t dare to act rashly even with ten thousand times the courage, and he certainly wouldn’t dare to approach that young scholar. When he suddenly saw Wang Yu lift his foot and walk in their direction, the governor of Jiangzhou’s heart almost gave out. Wang Yu, do you want to die too?!

The governor of Jiangzhou, who was over fifty years old, flew over and grabbed Wang Yu’s collar. Under the other’s surprised gaze, he calmly coughed and said earnestly, “We are here to inspect. After the inspection, we’ll go home. There’s no need to cause more trouble.”

Are you so eager to die?

Before being dragged away by the governor of Jiangzhou, Wang Yu narrowed his eyes and took one last look at the tall, handsome young man in white next to Ying Xiu. His appearance seemed a little like the current Grand Chancellor when he was young.

…Who is that person?

Ying Xiu’s intuition was incredibly sharp. Just now, two pairs of eyes were staring at them. One of them was full of scrutiny, making him feel a little uncomfortable. Xie Zhou had also noticed them. He lightly glanced at the two figures, the governor of Jiangzhou and an unknown minor official. He didn’t know what they were up to.

Ying Xiu ignored the two gazes. He looked at the vast Yuan River and said to Xie Zhou, “When the weir is completed, I’ll talk to Jianxin and see if we can build a ferry in Jianxiafang. It would be convenient for the people there to sell fish to Jingzhou and Yangzhou.”

A ferry was insignificant to Jiangzhou, at most a nice-to-have. It was even more insignificant to the grand canal. But for the people of Jianxiafang, it could change their lives. “This way, the people of Jianxiafang won’t have to live such a hard life…”

Ying Xiu’s words trailed off. He saw that Xie Zhou was looking at him with great concentration. His gaze was like someone looking at a new, beautiful object, something worth holding on to tightly. That gaze was actually very familiar. The first time he met Xie Zhou, he was standing in the cold, quiet room, looking down at him in the same way. But only now did Ying Xiu faintly understand the meaning of that look.

This made Ying Xiu a little sad, but for him, everything a beautiful person did could be forgiven. So he cautiously asked Xie Zhou, “Is what I’m doing wrong?”

Xie Zhou looked at him quietly, his warm and calm voice carrying a hint of encouragement. “You are doing the right thing.”

The innocence that the famous scholars of the Southern Dynasty sought appeared in a young assassin who killed without blinking.

Sincerity, assassin.

How strange.

Now, this strange young man had willingly fallen into his hands.

…He would cherish him. He would try to let the fragile and naive assassin live a long, long time.