Chapter 7 — Lord Bai Jiu
Kou Pei Feng took a small handful of soybeans from his pocket and handed them to Xie Jing.
“Here, take these to eat. I still have some in my pocket. Those horses belong to the noble guests — they even mix soybeans into the feed.”
Xie Jing took them and weighed them lightly in his hand — the beans were plump and heavy, newly harvested this year. The household indeed treated the residents of the East Courtyard well; even their horses received the best feed.
Seeing Xie Jing silent, Kou Pei Feng covered his pocket and mumbled, “I looked for a long time and only found this handful — really can’t give you more.”
Xie Jing said, “It’s fine. I’ll go take a look.”
“It’s close to the night guards over there. Be careful!”
“I know.”
Xie Jing slipped away like a cat. Before Kou Pei Feng could even blink, he had already darted across to the opposite stable. Over there, every horse was pure white. A carriage stood at the entrance, its panels gleaming as though freshly polished, waiting for its owner.
Xie Jing pretended to rummage through the feed trough, then turned his attention to the carriage.
The saddles had been removed from the horses — no identifying marks in sight. The carriage, however, bore a family crest. In the faint moonlight, he could see the carved characters — the insignia of the Bai family of the provincial capital. But whose carriage it was, he couldn’t tell. He circled around, unwilling to leave.
Across the way, Kou Pei Feng was frantically waving, even throwing a pebble to get his attention. Only then did Xie Jing slip back.
Kou Pei Feng hissed in alarm, “How dare you get so close to the carriage? Do you have a death wish?”
Instead of answering, Xie Jing asked, “Do you know who came this time?”
“Who doesn’t know? It’s a high lord from the provincial capital — came to check our master’s accounts,” Kou Pei Feng said, munching on soybeans as he sat on a pile of hay.
“I heard from the other apprentices that someone went to greet him in the East Courtyard. The scene was grand — like the emperor touring in disguise! Everything they used looked precious — even a teacup no bigger than a thumb was rimmed with gold and silver!”
“Did you see what he looks like?”
“No, but I heard he’s an elder — gray beard, quite old. Even our master helped support him when he walked.” Kou Pei Feng gestured to his chest. “Eyebrows long as a god of longevity’s, down to here!”
Xie Jing thought hard but couldn’t recall anyone like that in the Bai family.
He vaguely remembered that Lord Bai Jiu once had an adviser named Master Diao. During the wars, he had fled south with the rest of them and got lost along the way. The beard fit the description, but the eyebrows and age didn’t match. After pondering for a while, he gave up.
Dawn was breaking. Xie Jing and Kou Pei Feng parted ways, and he quietly slipped back.
When he returned to the woodshed, the door was just as he’d left it — loosely latched. No one had been there. He went in, locked it again, tucked the thin wire close to his body, and slept till noon.
By midday, someone came pounding on the door and shouting, “Kou Pei Feng!”
Xie Jing half-opened his eyes, answering hoarsely, “Here.”
“Come out — young master sent me to fetch you!”
The man outside was a servant from Bai Mingyu’s courtyard. He unlocked the door and took Xie Jing back. Xie Jing didn’t hesitate — anything was better than sleeping in a woodshed.
Bai Mingyu was still lying in bed recovering. When he saw Xie Jing, guilt flickered across his face, but he quickly straightened up and, for the sake of pride, ordered the maid beside him, “Open the second drawer on the right. Take ten silver dollars from the cash box.”
The maid hesitated slightly. Bai Mingyu snapped, “What are you dawdling for? Get moving! Has the young master lost all authority lying here?!”
The maid brought the coins carefully. Bai Mingyu didn’t even touch them. “Give it to him,” he said coolly. “A reward — for suffering on my behalf yesterday.”
Xie Jing accepted the coins. Bai Mingyu watched him with a self-satisfied look, clearly expecting thanks. Only then did Xie Jing bow slightly and thank him.
Feeling his dignity restored, Bai Mingyu waved his hand, “Forget it. You can go. Stay out of my father and brother’s sight — they don’t know I let you out yet.”
Xie Jing: “…”
So that huge commotion at noon wasn’t about an imperial decree — it was just Bai Mingyu sneaking him out.
Still, Xie Jing was happy to stay quietly in the house for a few days.
Two days later, Kou Pei Feng brought him a letter. The envelope bore a single character — “Kou.”
As an apprentice, Kou Pei Feng could occasionally leave the manor to visit home, unlike Xie Jing, who was confined to the inner courtyard. Since their soybean adventure, the two had grown closer.
Xie Jing opened the letter and quickly read it. It was from Grandma Kou. Illiterate herself, she had asked a scholar at the street corner to write it for her. She said she missed him dearly and would come every other day to wait by the east corner gate, just to catch a glimpse of him.
Without delay, Xie Jing headed for the east corner gate.
Unfortunately, he ran into Steward Zhou on the way. The steward frowned at the sight of a servant boy wandering around. “Where are you going? Didn’t you hear you’re not allowed near the East Courtyard?”
Xie Jing lowered his head. “Young Master Bai sent me.”
“What for?”
“He said to wait here for a man selling crickets — to listen for the chirping and pick the biggest one.”
In the dead of winter, the land was a blanket of snow — where could anyone find a man selling crickets? Even if someone had raised them in gourds since autumn, they’d cost a fortune now.
The steward guessed that Bai Mingyu had probably been duped again. He felt sorry for the wasted silver but didn’t dare interfere. Clicking his tongue, he waved Xie Jing off.
Xie Jing waited until afternoon — then saw Grandma Kou.
She had come to deliver laundry to the washhouse by the gate, carrying a large bundle. When their eyes met across the gate, both faces lit up with joy. Xie Jing hurried forward, holding her arm. “Grandma! What brings you here?”
Grandma Kou looked him over, touching his arms and legs, only relaxing when she was sure he was well. “I missed you. Took some work so I could come see you. Now that I see you’re fine, I can rest easy.”
She felt the thickness of his cotton robe.
“You eating well here? No one’s beating you?”
Xie Jing hid his palm — the ruler marks had faded. “All good. Just missed you.”
She studied his face, smiling. “Looks like you’ve gained a bit of weight — means you’re eating enough.”
“I eat three bowls of rice every day.”
“That’s good.”
He noticed her bundle and asked, “Grandma, you took laundry work? It’s too cold — don’t do that again.” He took a few coins wrapped in a handkerchief from his robe and slipped them into her sleeve. “Here — seven silver dollars. Keep them.”
Startled, she asked, “Where did you get this?”
Xie Jing replied, “I copy books for the young master — he pays me. You know how he hates studying, so I get to sit in on the lessons and even help with his homework. The teacher praised my handwriting.”
The coins were still warm from his hands. She tucked them close to her chest, her heart aching. “My boy… life in a rich man’s house isn’t easy. I’ll save this. Once I have enough, I’ll talk to the steward to get you out early. You only signed five years on the contract — no need to stay that long. You’ve never suffered like this before…”
Xie Jing smiled softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Grandma, I’ve grown up.”
She had protected him so well back then. Life was hard, but he never truly suffered. After she passed, he had fallen deep into misery — and if not for Lord Bai Jiu, he might never have climbed out.
Now, everything was different. He had someone to protect — and someone who cared for him.
They couldn’t linger by the gate. Grandma Kou reluctantly said, “I’ll come see you again in a few days.”
He shook his head. “Don’t take any more laundry work. Wait for me at home. I’ll come to you soon — I won’t stay here long. Once I’ve saved enough, we’ll leave.”
She thought for a moment. “Alright. I haven’t seen you for days — I can’t rest easy anyway. We’ll go wherever we can find food.”
“Grandma, I’ve learned a lot. I’ll take care of you.”
She laughed, straightening his hair. “You’ve only been here a few days. What could you have learned already? Just stay well — that’s enough for me.”
After a few more words, they reluctantly parted.
Just as Xie Jing was returning through the gate, people from the East Courtyard came out. He pressed himself against the wall, keeping his eyes down.
A pair of leather boots passed by. The pattern on them looked familiar — Xie Jing’s eyes trembled. He looked up.
The man was surrounded by attendants, his face half-hidden behind a fur-lined cloak, as if he were enveloped in the fox fur around his neck. Only the high bridge of his nose and deep, star-like eyes were visible. He walked swiftly past, carrying with him a faint scent — winter plum mixed with fresh snow — cold and pure.
He didn’t notice the small boy standing quietly against the wall.
Xie Jing’s gaze followed him, unblinking, until the figure disappeared from sight. Only then did he breathe again — like waking from a dream.
His nose burned; his vision blurred. He wiped at his eyes quickly, forcing clarity back.
Never had his heart felt so clear. He wanted to cry — and laugh at the same time. His lips twisted, then curved into a trembling smile.
He had found Lord Bai Jiu.
At last — he had found him.
From that moment, Xie Jing no longer thought of running away. When he returned to Bai Mingyu’s courtyard, he was dazed, mind whirling with thoughts of how to approach the East Courtyard. Lord Bai Jiu was so close now, just beyond reach — yet surrounded by people. He couldn’t simply walk up…
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice someone calling him.
“What are you thinking about? I’ve called you three times already!” Bai Mingyu snapped impatiently. He had recovered quickly — a strong body, well-trained since childhood. Despite the beating, he could now walk about, already itching for mischief again.
Xie Jing wasn’t in the mood for his games. He said absently, “Thinking about new pastry recipes.”
Bai Mingyu, oddly, wasn’t interested in pastries today — just gave a faint response.
Xie Jing looked at him thoughtfully. In the past, Bai Mingyu had always been enthusiastic — searching out rare pastries to sample and then choosing the best ones to send to Lord Bai Jiu. Such devoted filial piety — truly impressive.
