For preview purposes only; final product may differ
Author: Feng Nong
Translator: qianya
Dusk.
The sky was clear, but it was bitter cold.
Far away on the horizon, the crimson orb’s warmth could not penetrate the whistling northerly wind. The folks who could return home rushed back, trying to preserve as much heat they could behind tightly closed doors.
Li pulled his hands further up into his sleeves as he watched the deserted road in front of his inn.
Not only was the road empty, so was the inn. For the past few days, there had been a flow of travellers on their way to the Bai estate for the birthday celebration, but all the guests had probably arrived, so there was nobody else on the road. Only one customer was sitting by the brazier, rubbing his hands together, his head down the entire time.
The weather was so cold that few were willing to set foot outside, let alone stay over at the inn.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
“Oh! Customers!” The waiter immediately livened up at the sound of hooves drawing near.
The innkeeper peeked outside to see two people approaching fast on horseback against the wind and stopping in front of the inn. One of the riders was a maiden whose cheeks had been reddened by the cold.
“Hey, how do we get to the Bai estate?” her question rang brightly.
“Young miss, are you going to Master Bai’s birthday celebration?”
“Yes, which way do we need to go?”
“Turn left up ahead, and then go forward for another three miles and you will reach the outskirts of the Bais’ land. Once there, ride for another hour and you’ll be able to see their manor.”
“What! We still need to ride for another hour? Just how rich are they?” She turned to look at the young man behind her with a smile. “Shixiong, don’t you agree?”
He smiled back.
Having turned twenty this year, Zhou Rouwen had a well-proportioned face that gave the impression of a trustworthy, composed individual. He was also the most outstanding disciple of the Huashan Sect, as well as the most fitting son-in-law, in the eyes of the sect leader, who could be worthy of his beloved daughter Fang Nihong’s hand in marriage. He looked over at her, his shimei and future wife, and revealed a doting smile. “Shimei, the Bai family is one of the four great families in the Jianghu. We have come specifically to offer our respects to Master Bai Moran on his birthday, I think it would be better to speak more courteously.”
She scoffed, “The Bai family has lacked a skilled youth in recent years. Between the Feng, Bai, Sima, and Xu families, the Bais now hold the lowest influence in the Jianghu.”
Zhou Rouwen sighed as he shook his head: “Shimei…”
“That’s what my dad told me.” She stuck out her tongue and smiled sweetly. “Shixiong, I can be discreet. I definitely won’t talk like this in front of Master Bai Moran.”
“It’s getting late, let’s go! The other guests probably arrived two days ago. Tomorrow is his fiftieth birthday, it may already be perceived as disrespectful to have only arrived today.”
“What are you afraid of? It’s not like we’re late. Is it a crime to not come early?”
Fishing out some loose silver, she threw it to the innkeeper and picked up her horse whip, ready to set off, when they were halted by a stranger.
“Please wait a moment.”
The soft voice instantly caught the attention of the two riders, causing them to pause mid-action. The rhythmic cadence of the voice seemed to stir the cold air, prompting both of them to turn their heads to see the sole customer of the inn now standing at the door.
With his black hair and attire, including thick black shoes, he resembled a classic student of Confucian traditions.
“Yes?” She met a pair of shockingly beautiful eyes, her heart immediately beating faster.
Not only were his eyes indescribably beautiful, composed and expressive, one glance made her feel like she had countless words ready to rush out, yet they were left stuck in her mouth. On a second glance, she realised that the person should not be called “beautiful” as standing there was actually a handsome man, one who was more handsome than any other man she had encountered.
He had well-defined eyebrows, a straight nose, lips that made one gasp in exclamation, and an elegant and refined smile.
“Excuse me, but why have you asked us to stop?” Fang Nihong became uncharacteristically polite.
His warm smile spreading a little wider, the man in black cupped his hands in a salute. “Are you headed towards the Bai estate?”
“That’s correct,” Zhou Rouwen answered. “Our shifu has tasked us to convey our respects to Master Bai Moran on his birthday.”
“In that case, could you take me with you? I’m also headed there.”
“You?” Fang Nihong stared at him. “Don’t you have a horse?”
“I planned to go on foot, but the unexpected wind has made it too difficult to travel on.”
“Are you also going to attend the birthday celebration?”
“That’s correct.”
Zhou Rouwen looked at Fang Nihong, who he thought was acting oddly, before looking back at the man. Handsome, elegant and refined…
Zhou Rouwen chuckled. “So it seems we have a common destination. I am Zhou Rouwen, the most senior disciple of the Huashan Sect. This is my shimei, Fang Nihong. May I ask for your name?”
“I am Bai Shaoqing.” His voice was truly pleasant to the ears, every syllable providing an inexplicable comfort to its audience.
Fang Nihong continued gazing at Bai Shaoqing, one heartfelt sigh after another escaping her lips. “Bai? Your surname is Bai? You're a member of the Bai family?”
Bai Shaoqing seemed to be reluctant to respond. After a short pause, he chuckled sheepishly. “I’m embarrassed to say, but I am the unremarkable third son of the Bai family.”
“Oh, so it’s Master Bai Shaoqing. If so, please come up and ride with me!” Zhou Rouwen felt a little more relieved and reached out to help Bai Shaoqing up onto his horse. “Shimei, it’s getting late, let’s hurry.”
“All right! Giddy-up!”
“Thank you, Zhou-xiong.”
The three of them rode off, stirring up a cloud of dust.
The innkeeper was left at the entrance, mumbling, "Have I gone blind? Was that the Bai family's third son? Despite his shabby clothes, his appearance was indeed extraordinary. If only I’d heard him speak earlier, I think I would’ve been able to tell. Darn, I missed a great opportunity." He smacked his head a few times in regret.
While the horses galloped up the road, Fang Nihong kept glancing back at Bai Shaoqing. Her heart raced, and by the time they arrived at the Bai estate, her cheeks were flushed.
Bai Shaoqing jumped down clumsily from the horse. “Thank you, Zhou-xiong.”
“It’s nothing at all.” Zhou Rouwen cupped his hands together and smiled before turning to check out the Bai estate which was renowned throughout the Jianghu.
Amongst the four great families, the Bais were the wealthiest. Aside from the fact that their land stretched across hundreds of miles, the two solid gold lions with gemstones as eyes standing at the entrance of the estate on the shores of Lake Luoxi were enough to tell the full story.
A servant tasked with welcoming guests quickly came to the door. “Ah, esteemed guests! Please tell me your names so I can let the master know you’ve arrived,” he said smilingly to Zhou Ruowen and Fang Nihong, as if completely unaware of Bai Shaoqing’s presence.
“I am Zhou Rouwen of the Huashan Sect. My shifu is unwell so he sent my shimei, Fang Nihong, and me in his place to pay our respects to Master Bai Moran on his birthday.”
The servant was courteous and clearly well-experienced. "The heroes of the Huashan Sect, please come in. Your guestrooms are ready.” He smiled at the two of them before turning to lead the way.
“How about you?” Fang Nihong murmured, unwilling to move forward.
Bai Shaoqing's elegant and perfectly formed lips curved slightly. “I will go and see my mother. Miss Fang, take care.”
Seeing him casually turn around seemingly without the slightest reluctance to part, Fang Nihong pursed her lips. “Wait, I…”
“You’re staying for a few days, aren’t you?” Bai Shaoqing stopped walking. From the back, he looked tall and composed. “Well… I will definitely drop by to give thanks for the ride.”
Fang Nihong finally smiled, asking with timid delight, “Really?”Sneaking a glance at him, she could not resist asking, “How are you going to thank me?”
“How about I treat you to a meal?” he said in a playful yet non-frivolous manner before swiftly departing.
The sound of his gentle laugh continued to resonate in her ears.
Zhou Rouwen turned and discovered that she was still standing there in a daze. “Shimei, come on now.” Following her gaze, he already knew the answer but still asked, “Where’s Master Bai Shaoqing gone?”
“Yes, he’s gone to see his mother,” she replied with some disappointment.
“Let’s go then! The servant’s waiting to show us to our rooms! Master Bai Moran is busy today, we’ll pay our respects tomorrow.”
“All right.”
Pavilions and towers were littered throughout the estate. They were led from one covered walkway to another, following the servant for almost an hour before finally arriving at the building that had been prepared for them.
As a true child of the Jianghu, the lavish environment made Fang Nihong feel like she had stepped into another world. Rows of beautifully decorated bird cages hanging along the covered walkway further amused her, causing her to giggle incessantly.
“Shixiong, what’s this?”
Her excitement made him smile, “Shimei, come along, I want to tell you something.”
Fang Nihong threw a pebble into the lake, scaring off a school of red and white carp. She looked up and flicked back her long braid. “What is it?”
“It’d be better if we kept our distance from Bai Shaoqing.”
Fang Nihong was stunned. “What for?”
“Well… His family background is unfavourable.”
“How could the young master of the Bai family have an unfavourable background?” Fang Nihong asked in wonderment.
“Haven’t you heard of the rumours?” Zhou Rouwen sat directly on top of the railing and flicked up his sleeves: “Come, I'll tell you about it now.”
“Well, I’m all ears.”
“The love story between the current patriarch of the Bai family, Master Bai Moran, and Madam Bai, Song Xiangli, who was once known as the most beautiful woman in the Jianghu, is truly a moving tale.”
Fang Nihong pursed her lips, waving her hand. “Boring, I thought you were telling me something new! My dad’s already told me all this. Bai Moran was ambushed, and Song Xiangli sacrificed herself to save his life. Not only did she cripple her leg, but her beautiful face was also disfigured. Bai Moran swore on his sickbed that he’d never betray her, and he eventually married her. After several decades, he continues to treat her with much love and respect and is even known as the number one husband in the Jianghu.”
“Ohhh, so I guess you know everything then?” Zhou Rouwen crossed his arms. “Well, do you know who Bai Shaoqing’s mother is?”
“Huh, is it not Song Xiangli?”
“You don’t know, do you?” Zhou Rouwen nodded and said, “In fact, she isn’t. Everyone knows that Madam Bai only bore two sons. The eldest is Bai Shaoli, the second is Bai Shaoxin. As for this third son, his mother is a blind woman who lived in the mountains.”
Fang Nihong frowned. “Doesn’t that mean Bai Moran is actually a cheat?”
“No, we can’t say that.” Zhou Rouwen shook his head slowly, “A few years after Song Xiangli gave birth to her two sons, Bai Moran was ambushed again. He was thrown off a cliff and nearly eaten by the animals, but he was saved by a blind girl. The two of them were alone, with only each other for company day in and day out, who knows what else happened between them. Anyway, by the time he was rescued, that girl was already pregnant.”
“Oh! Song Xiangli must’ve been so furious.”
“Not only that, I heard shifu say…” Zhou Mouran lowered his voice and leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “she was inconsolable and heartbroken and even tried to commit suicide multiple times but was stopped by the family. The Bai family’s former patriarch was still alive then, and he was unwilling to let an offspring of the Bai family be raised elsewhere. Bai Moran was aggrieved for his beloved wife, but he also had to think about his own reputation. Under pressure, he persuaded Song Xiangli to allow the third-born son to live on the Bai estate and take him in as one of her own. Even the blind girl who saved him was taken in under the pretence that she was a distant relative, and that was how the situation was resolved.”
Having said that all in one go, he continued, “So, Bai Shaoqing is not well regarded in the Bai family, since everyone’s well aware that he’s the bastard son. Did you not see the way the servant reacted to him? Plus, he was very unsteady when he dismounted the horse, so it would seem that Master Bai Moran hadn’t passed down the family’s martial arts to him. My point is, we’re in someone else’s home, so we should avoid offending our host.”
Fang Nihong had just undone her braids and was combing her hair when she heard him say this. She flicked her hair back up into a casual bun and scoffed. “Who am I offending? Even if he isn’t Madam Bai’s son, he’s still a member of the Bai family, so why can’t I talk to him? He still has to treat me to dinner!”
Reflecting on the impolite behaviour of others towards Bai Shaoqing, she couldn't shake off her discomfort. She turned to face Zhou Rouwen and said, “Shixiong, you wouldn’t be so superficial, would you? If you’re going to look down on him just for this, then I won’t be talking to you anymore!” After uttering these words, a subtle sense of sadness unexpectedly crept up.
Unbeknownst to all, inexplicably, the emotional bonds had been woven, unable to be undone.