Chapter 24: Drinking with Two Companions

In the following two days, Wu Rui’an seemed to have returned to his own home. He ate and lived with Di Jiang, setting aside all troubles, leading an unrestrained and carefree life.

Of course, he dined with Di Jiang and her servants under the banyan tree in the backyard and slept in Zhong Xu’s bedroom at the coffin shop. Although he had to live incognito here, being with the gentle-natured Di Jiang day and night was quite pleasant.

Every night, the routine of opening the window to say goodnight made him feel as if all the unpleasant events of the past month were just a dream. It was as if he hadn’t yet returned from the battlefield and was still the revered Divine Protection General.

Little did he know that the court had been turned upside down because of him. Since Princess Tianxiang’s murder, Empress Chen Zhao immediately dispatched Jingzhao Prefect Wen Li, Dali Temple Minister Ci Wen, and Dali Temple Vice-Minister Jiang Qionglin to investigate the case together.

At the same time, to ensure the livelihood of the people and keep them away from war, Chen Zhao ordered Right Chancellor Changsun Wugou and Minister of Rites Zhou Li to reassure the Turkic delegation and request more time to thoroughly investigate the case. After much negotiation, the Turkic delegation abandoned their immediate plans to launch an attack, ultimately agreeing on a seven-day deadline. Seven days later, they must see either the culprit alive or the body dead.

The Ministry of Rites temporarily pacified the Turks, but the investigation hit a bottleneck.

After the coroner’s examination, it was concluded that the princess died at one o’clock in the morning. There weren’t many servants in the mansion, most were sound asleep. The servants’ quarters mostly consisted of large communal beds, with at least four people per room. They all claimed not to have heard any unusual noises and confirmed that everyone was in their respective beds when they woke up, thus providing each other with alibis.

The princess’s body was found at the center of the mansion. If there had been any struggle, it would have been heard from all around. Therefore, the reason the princess didn’t call for help pointed to only one possibility: the murderer was someone she was very familiar with, and this person was highly skilled, able to decapitate an adult woman swiftly without hesitation. This speed was difficult even for the most experienced executioners outside the Meridian Gate.

All evidence pointed to Wu Rui’an, but he suddenly disappeared.

No one knew where he went, and there was no one to question him. It looked as though he had fled out of fear of punishment.

With only five days left to solve the case, Jiang Qionglin, as a newly appointed official, didn’t have much say. Even if he had doubts, no one gave him the opportunity to voice them. However, regarding Wu Rui’an’s whereabouts, he had a vague idea.

On this day after court, he didn’t even have time for lunch and directly headed to the end of South Street to Jian Su Medical Hall.

He always remembered that night when Wu Rui’an stood in the room opposite the pharmacy, his eyes filled with anger, like a pot of boiling vinegar, making one’s heart race.

But back then, he was soft-hearted. The more rude Wu Rui’an was, the more he wanted to tease him.

Ultimately, they became adversaries. When they met again in the palace, he realized that the other party was the famous Prince Wu Rui’an.

If given another chance, he would explain clearly, at least regarding Di Jiang. He was indeed sincere towards her, with no ulterior motives.

Jiang Qionglin thought along the way, feeling a headache growing until near sunset when he finally reached Jian Su Medical Hall.

He couldn’t be sure if Wu Rui’an was inside the pharmacy; it was all just a guess. Moreover, Wu Rui’an was eccentric by nature, always free-spirited and unrestrained. Since he already had a bad relationship with him, provoking him now might have the opposite effect.

Therefore, instead of rushing in, Jiang Qionglin lingered on the main road.

As dusk fell and night approached, fiery red clouds rose on the horizon, covering the sky with flames.

This was a common sight in early summer. In the past, while at Huan Yi Pavilion, he naturally had no appreciation for beautiful nights. After becoming the top scholar, he had no time to admire the scenery. Like today, stopping to look at the evening view of Taiping Prefecture was a first.

The night view of Taiping Prefecture was magnificent, with warm breezes carrying the scent of flowers that refreshed the heart and mind, making one feel unconsciously comfortable.

He never thought Taiping Prefecture was beautiful, believing that human nature was only dirty and ugly. Only at this moment did he suddenly realize that it wasn’t that human hearts were ugly, but when one is deep in the mud, they negate all the beauty in the world, leaving only their magnified filth.

These reveries quietly faded after he gained fame through the imperial examinations.

He discovered that the world was still beautiful.

As long as one’s heart remained clean.

“Lord Jiang, why are you standing here?”

A woman’s voice called from behind. Jiang Qionglin turned to see Di Jiang waving at him from the street corner.

“I’m not very familiar with Taiping Prefecture. I came out looking for wine but got lost…” Jiang Qionglin shrugged, his face slightly flushed. Clearly, he wasn’t a good liar.

Di Jiang didn’t think much of it and said as she approached, “I have good wine at my place. Come drink at my shop.”

“Then I’ll gratefully accept.” Jiang Qionglin clasped his hands respectfully, appearing mild-mannered and polite.

Although he held a high position, he hadn’t yet become accustomed to the ways of the bureaucracy and was uncomfortable referring to himself as “this official.”

When he entered Jian Su Medical Hall, Shuxiang and Zhuchi had already prepared a table of food and drinks. Wen Yao was out delivering medicine and not in the shop.

Jiang Qionglin lifted the curtain to the backyard and saw a particularly striking figure at the long table.

This person was elegant and graceful, but his actions were not so refined. He was drooling over the food in front of him.

It was none other than Wu Rui’an, who had been missing for two days, dressed in plain clothes.

“Prince Wu?” Jiang Qionglin pretended to be surprised, “Why are you here?”

Wu Rui’an was also startled, then turned around as if seeing a ghost and jumped, “Why is this person here again!”

“He came for a drink,” Di Jiang covered her mouth and laughed, quickly walking to Wu Rui’an’s side to comfort him, “Visitors are guests. Don’t be so stingy. Show some host’s demeanor.” She then slapped his leg, knocking his feet off the bench.

Upon hearing Di Jiang treat him as one of her own and regard Jiang Qionglin as an outsider, Wu Rui’an felt gratified and reluctantly nodded, “Sit wherever you want, eat quickly, finish and leave. Don’t linger until curfew and use that as an excuse to stay!”

“Thank you, Prince Wu.” Jiang Qionglin bowed and sat opposite him.

“Don’t call me Prince Wu. I’m now a fugitive, and I can only find some peace hiding here,” Wu Rui’an coldly said, “If you dare report my whereabouts, watch me skin you alive!”

Jiang Qionglin chuckled, “Your Highness worries too much. Qionglin merely came for a drink, nothing more.”

“Really?” Wu Rui’an eyed him suspiciously.

“Really.” Jiang Qionglin innocently shook his head, “They already look down on me. Even though the Emperor assigned me to investigate, they don’t give me a chance. Why should I invite trouble and end up disliked by both sides?”

“You’re sensible!” Wu Rui’an nodded, picking up his chopsticks again.

Jiang Qionglin nodded, bowing his head humbly, “Previously, I failed to recognize your greatness and offended Your Highness. Please forgive me.”

“I won’t hold it against you, a mere fourth-rank official.” Wu Rui’an snorted, though his words sounded indifferent, his expression showed otherwise.

Seeing that his humility had opened the conversation between them, Jiang Qionglin pressed on, “However, I am curious. If Your Highness didn’t kill anyone, why not explain to the Emperor?”

“How do you know I didn’t kill anyone?” Wu Rui’an opened his eyes, his gaze intense.

“Based on Your Highness’s character, if you killed, you would admit it boldly. If not, you would say so honestly and wouldn’t lie.”

After Jiang Qionglin spoke, Wu Rui’an didn’t respond, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

At this moment, Di Jiang brought a bottle of aged plum wine and smiled at them, “This is fruit wine brewed three years ago, rich and fragrant. Try it.” She uncorked the bottle, and the aroma intoxicated and captivated them.

Jiang Qionglin and Wu Rui’an forgot their previous discord and focused on drinking with Di Jiang.

“Good wine!” Wu Rui’an drank it all in one gulp, wishing he could hug the wine jar.

Jiang Qionglin was equally delighted, exclaiming, “Such wine should only exist in heaven. How often can one taste it on earth?”

Seeing their enthusiasm for wine, Di Jiang didn’t disturb them and brought three jars in succession, most of which were consumed by Wu Rui’an.

Helplessly, Di Jiang went to the firewood room to brew a pot of Qi Zi flower tea to sober them up.

Wu Rui’an refused the tea and continued to hold his wine cup. After sipping the tea, Jiang Qionglin stopped competing with Wu Rui’an for the wine and contentedly held his teacup, gazing at the moon in the sky.

“Ancient people had nine elegances: burning incense, tasting tea, listening to rain, appreciating snow, waiting for the moon, drinking wine, planting flowers, seeking solitude, and playing the zither.” After Jiang Qionglin finished, he glanced at Di Jiang and immediately received her agreement.

Di Jiang said, “Han Xizai said, ‘Flowers should accompany incense. Burning incense with flowers creates harmony. Osmanthus suits dragon brain, late spring jasmine suits aloeswood, orchids suit four senses; it’s indescribably wonderful.’ Today, my shop burns late spring jasmine incense made from roses and aloeswood shavings. The fragrance is elegant and light, unique and serene, fulfilling two of the nine elegances: planting flowers and burning incense.”

Jiang Qionglin nodded, “This Qi Zi flower tea has an endless aroma that penetrates the heart and spirit, qualifying as one of the nine elegances of tea tasting.”

“You literary scholars always show off your erudition! You think I dislike books? Isn’t it just about finding refined things? What’s so great about it? I can do it too!” Wu Rui’an cleared his throat and said, “This aged plum wine also makes one forget worries and leaves a lingering aftertaste. Would that qualify as the elegance of drinking wine?”

“Well said,” Jiang Qionglin nodded, “Thus, the three of us sit under the moonlight, burn incense, taste tea, drink wine, and admire the flowers in the garden. Whether it’s for incense or wine, in this small courtyard, it’s a rare and beautiful thing. Now we only lack rain, snow, and the zither.”

After Jiang Qionglin finished, both he and Wu Rui’an looked at Di Jiang.

“The zither can nurture emotions, but I can’t play it. I’m just a common doctor.” Di Jiang shrugged and smiled.

At this moment, both Wu Rui’an and Di Jiang instinctively looked at Jiang Qionglin, who also shrugged helplessly, saying, “I can play the zither, but there isn’t one here…”

“Who says there isn’t?” Di Jiang called upstairs, “Shuxiang—fetch my zither.”

“Isn’t Master Di unable to play?” Jiang Qionglin asked doubtfully.

“Unable doesn’t mean non-existent. Perhaps I’ve been learning for a long time but haven’t mastered it?” Di Jiang smiled leisurely. After speaking, Shuxiang placed the zither on the long table and then excused herself back into the house.

“What about this zither?” Di Jiang asked.

Jiang Qionglin placed his hands on the strings, and his eyes widened instantly, remaining silent for a long while.

His eyes never left the zither from the moment it appeared.

His expression said it all.

With a resonant “clang—” Jiang Qionglin’s surprise deepened.

“Is this the ‘Lingering Melody’ zither?” he exclaimed, “Its lingering notes last for three days, delicate and unending.”

“Lord Jiang has sharp eyes, but alas…” Di Jiang smiled and shook her head, “Unfortunately, the famed ‘Lingering Melody’ zither was destroyed centuries ago. This one is just a replica I had made.”

“It’s still extremely valuable.” Unable to contain his excitement, Jiang Qionglin quickly began to play.

His ten fingers moved unhurriedly between Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu, producing melodies that harmonized with tonight’s night scene—sometimes bright, sometimes dim, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low, allowing one to glimpse through the music the various joys and sorrows of his past.

Eventually, it brought tears to one’s eyes.

Large petals fell, scattered by the wind, floating in the air and around Jiang Qionglin. This scene even mesmerized Wu Rui’an.

At this moment, there was no Jiang Qionglin, no Di Jiang, and no Wu Rui’an.

There was only the young man playing the zither, the girl listening to the music, and the person pretending to be drunk but secretly admiring the player.