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Wang Zhi took a cloth from his sleeve and wiped the dust from his face. He longed to sit astride a horse and simply ride at a decent pace to Hetao, but that would be beneath the dignity of a newly appointed provincial governor. He would simply have to endure weeks of slow, rocking movement in his carriage with his personal servant, and be glad it was an enclosed carriage and not a cage such as Ding Rong sat in. The grit of the road still infiltrated everywhere, like a particularly skilled spy. He opened the small window and peered out at the terrain: somewhat cooler than that of the capital, but still with a road from which the oxen and horses' hooves produced an astonishing amount of dust.
"Captain Mo, will we reach lodgings by evening?"
The captain looked at him quite pityingly from atop his horse, as if he'd like to say Sorry, lad, you just go back to playing with your dolls or whatever it is you do in there.
"I regret, my lord governor, that we must needs camp out again."
Wang Zhi nodded calmly and shut the window. Away from the capital he seemed more and more a mere boy compared to the soldiers and, of course, a eunuch boy at that. He could but maintain his dignity: he needed these men. He could hardly expect anyone in Hetao to give him respect if he didn't have a retinue.
It was not too terrible to camp. He could at least leave the carriage door and window open and allow it to air out. Ding Rong was freed for a short while under escort to attend to his bodily needs, while Wang Zhi took himself to another secluded area to do likewise. He imagined the soldiers spied on Ding Rong if they had any curiosity about how eunuchs managed such things, but the captain had made it clear that he'd flay the skin from their backs if they even thought about invading his privacy or that of his young personal servant. Wang Zhi knew that he wasn't supposed to know that, that he was supposed to think the soldiers were simply good-mannered, but the captain was less quiet in voicing threats than he thought.
"When we reach Hetao," Ding Rong said quietly as Wang Zhi passed his cage, "will you set me free?"
"I will consider the matter on the way," Wang Zhi said, looking at him sidelong. It was a long way still, and a couple of months or so more in a cage wouldn't do him any harm.
Ding Rong said no more, simply closing his eyes; Wang Zhi wouldn't have believed apologies or promises of good behaviour anyway.
* * *
"There's a minor town ahead," Captain Mo said the next day. "If my lord governor wishes we can break our journey there before setting out for the city of Longshen, from where we will head directly north to the border province."
Wang Zhi nodded gravely. He should say that he would carry out his imperial duty with all speed and they would bypass the town and go straight for Longshen.
"How far is it to Longshen from here?"
Captain Mo looked thoughtful. "For cavalry, no more than three weeks. For us, maybe five. We probably wouldn't have to camp more than half of that."
"And the town you speak of?"
"Qinghe's about a day and a half away. It's a slight detour, but the animals can rest and we can provision."
"That seems wise," Wang Zhi said, nodding. There would be inns. There would be baths.
When they finally entered the town it was the afternoon of the following day, and Wang Zhi dispatched one of the servants to find them lodging in the first available inn. The man returned with a woebegone expression.
"Sir, every inn I tried is full! There's some sort of festival in the town."
"Go back," Wang Zhi said patiently, "and tell them the new military governor of Hetao and his men require lodging. We are on Imperial business."
The servant was back within half an hour, looking even more woebegone.
"I was told if we're that important we should lodge with his lordship," he said, and pointed down one of the roads leading back out of the town. "That way, sir."
Wang Zhi gave him the pleasant, calm expression that many men had seen before their deaths. "Do you have a name for this hospitable aristocrat?"
"Lord Nie, sir."
Wang Zhi couldn't think of anyone of the name who had made themselves known at court. He looked quizzically at Captain Mo, who somehow gave the impression of shrugging without moving a muscle.
"I am not familiar with every minor country family, my lord governor," he said, and turned aside to yell at his disappointed soldiers. "Mount up! This town doesn't deserve the governor's money!"
Wang Zhi got back in his carriage and stared out the window like a peasant, spitefully glad that the oxen ate some onions from a stall as they were turned about, and that the soldiers glared the outraged stall-holder into silence. He flung some coins out to her in payment. No one would say he or his retinue were thieves.
It was almost an hour before they saw what had to be the Nie residence. The family, it seemed, liked their privacy and lived away from the town. Wang Zhi forgot his dignity and gaped at the massive walls and the huge gates. This wasn't a mansion, it was a fortress. Banners emblazoned with a stylised bull's head stood to either side of the gate and two armed men in green robes stood watching them as they approached.
"My lord governor," Captain Mo said. "I'll go and announce you."
"Wait," Wang Zhi said. "This place – you haven't heard of it? What is it?"
"Perhaps it was a border fort in its time," Captain Mo said. "Perhaps this family are descended from warlords. I'll make it clear you are accompanied by imperial soldiers." He touched his heels to his horse and trotted ahead. He spoke to the men at the gate and came back.
"You are welcome," he said, inclining his head, "to the Unclean Realm. They did not explain the name, my lord governor."
"As long as it's clean enough to furnish me with a bath," Wang Zhi said, smiling gently. "Let us enter, then, Captain."
They all moved forwards, towards the men at the gate. There were more there now, staring at them curiously. As they came up, all the men in green robes bowed politely, and one, a man of middle years, stepped forwards.
"I'm Nie Gangluo," he said. "I'll show you to the guest quarters."
He walked beside the carriage, leading them to the right through the gate, some of the other men from the gate following behind. Wang Zhi peered up at the walls, and craned his head to see that they were in a passageway between the outer and a set of internal walls. This would be a killing ground if archers were stationed above them.
No arrows rained down. They were merely led along to a point where the passage narrowed enough that even a small force of defenders could easily hold it and Wang Zhi held his breath as the carriage cleared the gap and then they were through the inner walls and in a courtyard with servants rushing up to take care of the animals.
"Unload the guests' luggage!" Nie Gangluo ordered as Wang Zhi climbed out and looked around.
The tall inner walls continued to the side and he was sure there was another space between them and the outer walls, ready for defenders to slaughter any foolish enough to try to invade. Perhaps there was another entrance into this inner space but he couldn't see one from where he stood – this fortress was large.
"Come, sir," Nie Gangluo said. "We have accommodation for you and your men." He paused. "What do you want done with him?" He nodded rather abruptly at Ding Rong, who still sat in his cage. "We can leave him if you want, or he can go in our cells."
Why not? Ding Rong had been behaving himself, and it would be like a holiday for him.
"The cells, if you would."
Nie Gangluo signalled to the other men who had accompanied them from the gate and they sprang forwards, and bowed to both him and to Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi unlocked the cage and Ding Rong meekly allowed himself to be dragged out and hustled away.
"He's more dangerous than he seems," Wang Zhi said. "Don't let that mild manner fool you."
"We've had worse here," Nie Gangluo said. "Even Xue Yang didn't get out without help."
"I'm not familiar with the name," Wang Zhi said. "A local bandit, no doubt."
"Yes, sir," Nie Gangluo said. "This way."
He led the way to a quieter courtyard with a pleasant pavilion flanked by lower, longer buildings. The servants carrying the luggage hurried into the main pavilion as Nie Gangluo bowed.
"You'll be comfortable here, and your men will have ample space." He indicated the flanking buildings. "Meals will be provided here, if you wish."
"I'd prefer to dine with my host," Wang Zhi said mildly. "Is that not how things are conducted, even away from the capital?"
"Of course," Nie Gangluo said. "I thought you might be tired from travel, that's all."
"Be more courteous, man!" Captain Mo snapped. "Governor Wang travels on a commission from His Imperial Majesty!"
"We're plain spoken in Qinghe," Nie Gangluo said. "It doesn't mean we don't revere His Majesty."
"Quite so," Wang Zhi said, smiling more broadly. "I don't expect to find court manners in Hetao, Captain!"
"Hetao –" Nie Gangluo mused. "You'll look back on the Unclean Realm and think us perfumed eunuch courtiers in comparison!"
Wang Zhi gave the captain a quelling glance before he could draw his sword and turned his most polished smile on Nie Gangluo.
"One is, in fact, a perfumed eunuch courtier."
The man gaped at him and then went into a scarlet-faced deep bow. "Your pardon, sir," he said, eyes on the ground. "I didn't mean –"
"Quite so," Wang Zhi said. "I believe I will refresh myself before I am called to dine with your master."
He turned away and walked into the guest pavilion, finding it furnished in dark wood, everything of a heavy design very much out of style in the capital. Clean clothes had already been laid out when he came to the sleeping quarters, and his own young servant stood there meekly. The boy had a quick mind and in time might have risen within the staff at court. He was, however, cursed with beauty. That and youth was nothing but pain if one had no protector. Wang Zhi had had Her Highness; Guo Lian – the only son of a minor official condemned for corruption – had no one and had faced only humiliation and exploitation. Truly, as Tang Fan and Sui Zhou had teased him, Wang Zhi knew he was becoming soft-hearted. It hadn't taken much to secure permission to take Lian as a servant, and the child was slowly coming to see he had no need to fear assault. The other fear, that the men would come for him with knives once again – Wang Zhi smiled gently at the boy and sat, indicating that he should pull off his boots. What was there to say? That the dreams would last his whole life, but in time wouldn't come every night?
"Lian, you're not smiling. Remember what I told you, in the imperial service you must always smile."
"Yes, sir."
"Her Highness herself told me that when I was smaller than you."
Lian gave him a tremulous smile and put the boots away. He dithered, as if he had received no training at all, which Wang Zhi knew was impossible, then said, "Sir, there's a room for bathing, if you wish. The bath is already filled and heated! I don't know how they did it so fast, one of their servants winked at me and said they have a dragon to breath on the water –"
"Lian, it is not good to gabble," Wang Zhi said reprovingly. "It's not wrong to speak with other servants, but you shouldn't let them waste your time with silly jokes. We are obeying His Majesty, and you are a governor's servant." He sighed at the crestfallen expression. "Lian. You must school your face to shield both yourself and the world from every passing thought that crosses your mind! I'm telling you this for your own good. Now, I will bathe."
"Yes, sir," Lian whispered, looking near tears. "Should I attend you?"
"No, I will bathe alone." Wang Zhi paused. "If any man asks you to attend him in the bath, you will say I have forbidden it." He rose and walked past the boy, deciding to ignore the deeply grateful expression on his face and the heartfelt way in which he bowed. The child had been almost two years in the palace before their journey began. There were things that could not be changed; there was no point in enquiring into them.
The bath wasn't as large as those in the palace, but he could stretch his legs out almost fully and the water was steaming and scented with herbs. However they had provided so much hot water so quickly, he was happy they had. At last, towelled dry and wrapped in clean zhongyi, he went to dress properly.
"Lian, the water's still warm," Wang Zhi said, as Lian finished combing his hair. "You go and wash as well."
"Yes, sir. Thank you!"
Wang Zhi took the opportunity to re-do his hair to his liking. Lian would improve, he was sure, but for now – When they got to Hetao perhaps he'd make the boy a secretary. That would be better and would give him more opportunity. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to simply rest until he heard someone open the door of the pavilion.
"My lord governor?"
Wang Zhi stood and walked out to face Captain Mo.
"Yes, Captain?"
"A retainer has come to accompany you to dinner."
"Good. Nie Gangluo?"
The captain snorted. "No. Clearly they've sent someone with better manners."
Wang Zhi went outside and regarded the youth who bowed before him calmly. This person was definitely a household servant of some status rather than a guardsman presuming on sharing some distant ancestry with his master. He followed the youth through a set of neatly appointed courtyards and across a wide and empty space tiled with the bull's head that was clearly the family symbol. They entered what had seemed at first to be a doorway in the inner wall of the fortress, and Wang Zhi raised his eyebrows as it became clear that it was an entrance into a keep. The servant conveyed him further, the way now lit by abundant lamps, and Wang Zhi realised that this was built into the rock of a hill. How extremely primitive.
"Governor Wang," the servant murmured, stepping aside and bowing as they entered a room. "Lord Nie Huaisang."
Wang Zhi had expected a brash country aristocrat, no doubt in his sixties, who had decided to serve dinner in such a place to put a city-dweller down, to show him that honest country-folk thought little of the capital's airs and graces. He was surprised to see a man no more than a few years older than himself rise from his seat, his face wreathed with smiles, coming forwards to bow genteelly and politely.
"Governor Wang! You are so welcome in my home!"
"Lord Nie," Wang Zhi said, "I'm grateful for the hospitality."
Nie Huaisang beamed at him, gesturing to the table.
"Please, sit! You've been on the road for weeks, I've been told. You must be ready for a proper dinner."
Wang Zhi folded himself down, curiously examining his host. The man wore his hair in much the same old-fashioned style that his guardsmen did, held back by a guan and allowed to hang loose, although the sides were braided up to the crown of his head. His clothes were of good quality silk, and a fan hung from his belt. There was a callus on one finger from habitual use of a writing brush. There wasn't time for more than the most basic of observations, as servants immediately began bringing in food.
"I had hoped to stay in the town," Wang Zhi said, lifting a piece of roast pork to his lips. It was delicious. "I hope I am not imposing on your generosity."
"Of course not!" Nie Huaisang said. "All the inns will be full for days! It's the anniversary of the slaying of the monstrous bull that plagued the town – when it pawed the ground its hooves sparked uncontrollable fires, and its breath was a noxious miasma. It was very difficult to suppress."
"What a colourful local legend," Wang Zhi murmured. "Is it the source of the bull on your banners?"
"Ah, no, no, that's older," Nie Huaisang said, and busied himself eating for a while. "If you don't mind me saying," he said after a few minutes, "you're very young for a provincial governor."
"I'm glad to have pleased His Majesty at this point in my life."
"Of course! I'm sure it's well deserved – but why Hetao, for heaven's sake?"
"I had always wished to be given a military command, but it isn't the custom for a eunuch to lead troops. His Majesty has honoured me with the governorship of Hetao as a place to show my diligence."
"I'm sure you will," Nie Huaisang said earnestly, signalling to a servant to refill Wang Zhi's wine. "May your governorship be filled with every chance for good service!"
Wang Zhi drank gladly to the toast, then dedicated himself to his dinner. It was an odd occasion: he would have expected more guests, not an intimate meal with just his host, but he couldn’t fault the food and drink. Though the service was rudimentary, of course, compared to the palace. No doubt the servants were of the highest calibre one could expect, so far from the capital.
"Do you often have visitors from the capital, Lord Nie?"
"Goodness, no! You must be the first courtier in these halls in over a century – perhaps ever! We keep ourselves to ourselves out here."
"Unless the word goes out for a muster against the Oirat, of course," Wang Zhi said. "Not that that will be a problem for much longer. You'll find things have become much calmer now, and fewer of the young men of all areas will need to be conscripted."
"Oh," Nie Huaisang said vaguely. "That's good." He brightened. "I'm glad things won't come to war for you, even if you want to be a military commander! I was involved in a war when I was much your age and it was just terrible!"
Wang Zhi just smiled, wondering if Nie Huaisang had been in the same campaign that Sui Zhou had fought in. The times didn't seem to exactly match up, but what other could it be?
"I heard you brought a prisoner," Nie Huaisang went on. "Or is he a pet?"
"A prisoner," Wang Zhi said. "He was a colleague once but fell from his position." He paused. This place was far from the capital, far from Hetao. Ding Rong could live quietly. "Perhaps, if you were amenable, I could leave him here to serve you."
Nie Huaisang's eyes widened. "I'm not sure that the Unclean Realm has need of an Imperial eunuch courtier – I mean no offence, Governor Wang! We all live out in the open, and our ladies aren't tucked away. I myself am not yet married. I don't think we'd have anything for him to do."
"Our roles are more varied than you imagine," Wang Zhi said politely. "Ding Rong was in State Intelligence. He is particularly skilled in convincing prisoners to answer questions. He's also an assassin and a spy."
Nie Huaisang remembered to close his mouth. It was shamefully amusing to have astonished so rural a person. "I think those are skills that may be more useful to a governor than to a mere member of the country gentry," he said, with a little bow. "I live very quietly."
"None of your family ever come to the capital at all?" Wang Zhi said. It was too terrible to contemplate.
"We keep ourselves to ourselves. But it's so wonderful to have a guest! Perhaps tomorrow you'd like to attend the festival?"
"Thank you, but –" Wang Zhi started.
"Wonderful! There are so many local delicacies that I'm sure you'll enjoy!"
Ah. He was like Tang Fan. Wang Zhi smiled gently and inclined his head.
"Lord Nie is most hospitable."
"You must call me Nie Huaisang!"
"Thank you."
There was an expectant pause, and Wang Zhi sighed inwardly. These country people were so informal. When he reached Hetao he would insist on his rank being recognised, but at the moment, faced with this harmless young man who had opened his home to him and who wanted only to be liked –
"I have not yet reached my posting, please, call me Wang Zhi."
Nie Huaisang beamed like a bumpkin. Wang Zhi easily kept his thoughts from showing on his face.
* * *
A Nie retainer came at a not-terribly early hour, all the heavens be praised, and politely requested the presence of Governor Wang in the audience hall. Wang Zhi had finished the breakfast that had been brought to him and was doing nothing more arduous that reading over the reports on Hetao yet again so that he might be word-perfect when he arrived. He followed the retainer in some amusement at the pretension. Audience hall, indeed. Who did Nie Huaisang think he was?
He was surprised by the pavilion he was brought to, all dark, shining wood, with Nie Huaisang sitting on a massive seat at one end that looked like nothing so much as a throne. He was flanked by Nie Gangluo and another tall man in the green robes of his family, both of them carrying the heavy sabres that seemed the norm for the place, and was looking wide-eyed at a farmer bowing repeatedly before him.
" – ravaging my fields and scaring the children, my lord!" the man said. "And singing in a strange voice at the dark of the moon!"
"Yes, yes, yes," Nie Huaisang said, looking straight at Wang Zhi. "Nie Gangluo, take this man and see to his complaint! I must entertain Governor Wang!"
"Yes, Sect Lea- my lord."
Nie Huaisang positively bounced over to Wang Zhi in a manner most unbefitting a gentleman, seized his arm, and towed him away before he could so much as utter a startled greeting.
"Good morning! Did you breakfast well? Never mind, there'll be plenty to eat at the festival!"
"I ate well, thank you," Wang Zhi said as he was pulled along, like they were errant boys. "Who on earth was vandalising that man's farm, Nie Huaisang?"
"Oh, some drunken idiot, no doubt. We'll sort it out. Quick, hide!"
"Why?" Wang Zhi hissed as they flattened themselves against the wall.
"My steward always has documents for me to sign," Nie Huaisang said with loathing, peeping around the corner. "He's gone! We're free!"
Though he was determined to act with dignity, Wang Zhi found himself infected with the same gleeful insolence as they slipped into the system of courtyards and quickly made their way to where two tall horses stood, saddled and waiting. He paused then, looking around for the attendants that would surely accompany them.
"Do you mean for us to go by ourselves, Nie Huaisang?"
"Of course! There's nothing to worry about, not in my own town!" Nie Huaisang looked worried suddenly. "I suppose it might be different in the capital –"
"Not at all," Wang Zhi said at once. "It is a city of perfect order, and I was quite accustomed to travel by myself. I just thought you would like to keep the state you are entitled to."
"We're more informal here," Nie Huaisang said, grinning widely, and swung himself up into the saddle, showing that he was proficient in riding, if not in acting like a gentleman in other ways. "Assist Governor Wang," he said to the grooms, one of whom bent to make a step from his joined hands for Wang Zhi's foot.
It was an easy ride into the town, which Wang Zhi was grateful for, as he was more used to travel in carriages than on horseback, for all his fantasies of galloping all the way to Hetao. Nie Huaisang kept up a running commentary on the countryside they passed through, his favourite artists – he fancied himself, it seemed, a painter – and local fairy tales.
"What of the bull whose slaying the festival commemorates?" Wang Zhi said. "Surely that must be a striking local legend."
"It was the property of a most disagreeable landlord," Nie Huaisang said. "When he died his resentful spirit entered the animal and mixed with its own essence – it broke free and roamed about for quite some time causing havoc! Eventually it started charging up and down the roads of the town, and sparks from its hooves flew up and set the roofs alight. It also lurked in wait for those who had owed the landlord debts and breathed poison on them so that they wasted and died. And its hideous lusts! I'm sure I don't have to tell someone from the capital anything about that."
Wang Zhi stared at him in astonishment, wondering exactly how offended he should be. Nie Huaisang went blithely on.
"So many calves were born with bad tempers and very sharp hooves! And not a few odd-looking foals to rather embarrassed mares too. There was a mighty hunt with all the clan called out and eventually the dratted thing was run to ground; it came to a duel in the end – these things often do, you know – and my grandfather chopped its head off."
"Your grandfather?" Wang Zhi said, who had expected a story set in the nebulous past with heroes with purely symbolic ties to the region.
"Yes," Nie Huaisang said innocently. "Chopping heads off was his signature move, I'm told. I never knew him, he died before I was born. Of . . . a stroke."
"My condolences," Wang Zhi murmured automatically.
"It runs in the family," Nie Huaisang sighed. "My father died in the same way: an apoplectic fit that was induced by an enemy. You can be assured he was avenged. And then my elder brother –" He looked aside. "It's been over fifteen years since my elder brother died," he said quietly. "As I say, it runs in the family."
Over fifteen years?
"You were a child, then, when you became family head, Nie Huaisang?"
No wonder he acted without thought. No one had guided him properly. Nie Huaisang looked at him a little owlishly, and then clamped his lips together, as if he were trying not to laugh at a guest.
"A child?" he said. "No, I was a man, though young, I'll grant you. I'm in my forty-second year, Wang Zhi."
"Your pardon," Wang Zhi said, feeling foolish. It was not a feeling he was familiar with. "I mistook –"
"I'm well-preserved, I know!" A slight giggle escaped Nie Huaisang's lips. "It’s like magic! Ah, look! Aren't the festival banners cheerful?"
Wang Zhi was glad for the tactful change of subject and felt pleased by the charmingly colourful banners and decorations that greeted them as they rode into town. They were naïve and simple compared to the capital, of course, but delightful nonetheless. A young boy and girl ran up as Nie Huaisang dismounted.
"Lord Nie, Lord Nie! Thank you for coming! May we take your horses to be curried and watered?"
"Take them to the stables run by the Serene Vista inn," Nie Huaisang said. "My guest and I will eat there later." He passed a few coins to the boy as Wang Zhi slid less elegantly to the ground, and the youngsters bowed and led the animals away.
"Is that wise?" Wang Zhi said. "Those young people seem a little – "
"Oh, I've seen them before," Nie Huaisang said carelessly. "They're simply from a family where the father prefers to drink than to work, they're not thieves." He smiled sidelong at Wang Zhi. "The people may be less formal with me than you're used to, Wang Zhi, but they're not so foolish as to actually brazenly rob me. Those youngsters have potential, don't you think? One shouldn't hold their origins against them."
Wang Zhi inclined his head politely. What a bizarre sentiment. If his origins had not been held against him - he couldn't actually imagine what his life would have been. An irrelevant fancy. He turned his attention to the town, enjoying the scenes of happy people milling about, children being bought small toys by their parents and entertainers juggling and singing. A duo of young women ran lightly along a tightrope suspended between poles, somersaulting higher than Wang Zhi had ever seen and landing as light as feathers back on the rope again. They finished their act when one flung an armful of folded papers up that spun and glided above the laughing crowd's heads so agilely that they might almost have been the flying birds they seemed to be. He applauded, allowing himself to smile at the display: who would have thought to find such skill in a provincial town? Beside him Nie Huaisang laughed with pleasure and then actually pulled at his arm like an impetuous child, tugging him further up the street before he could catch one of the paper birds.
"Let me see if you enjoy the sweets Qinghe has to offer!"
Wang Zhi accepted a couple of small sesame seed coated cakes Nie Huaisang bought from a stall, finding them crispy and filled with a sweet bean paste. Nice, but nothing unusual. He'd have to find something more interesting to write to Tang Fan about.
"Try this too," Nie Huaisang said, pulling a small bag from his sleeve. He took out a cloth-wrapped parcel that seemed too large to have fit in the bag, but before Wang Zhi could ascertain this, the bag had vanished up his sleeve once more. "This is candied lotus root that a friend brought me from Yunmeng. Honestly, he always brings so much I'm never sure how I can get through it –"
It was a sweet and pleasant snack, the delicate flavour of the lotus not overpowered by the sugar.
"Your friend visits frequently? What a distance to come!"
"Oh, when he's in the area he drops by," Nie Huaisang said vaguely, waving a hand as they walked along. As they crossed the bottom of another street there was a sudden shriek and he stood there for a moment, looking around in confusion. "What – oh no -"
A heavy cart careened down the street towards them, people scattering from in front of it. Wang Zhi grabbed Nie Huaisang, ready to pull the idiot to safety, then at the last moment the cart veered slightly and missed both them and a little girl who had fallen right in front of them. It would have been regrettable for it to have run over her, of course, but more regrettable for one of His Majesty's subjects of quality to have been flattened. It slowed and came to a stop as if the wheels had simply decided to stop turning as Nie Huaisang murmured to himself.
"What –" Wang Zhi said, staring at the now immobile cart. He blinked, sure he had seen a flash of light as it changed course.
"I was praying to Merciful Guanyin," Nie Huaisang said, his eyes wide and childish. He swooped on the screaming small girl, picking her up. "There, there! Whose is this poor child, please?"
"Lord Nie!" a woman wept running forwards. "Thank you for saving my daughter!"
"Oh, hah! What could I do?" Nie Huaisang said, and pulled Wang Zhi away as he went to poke at the cart's wheels.
"It just stopped," Wang Zhi said, looking back. "The momentum it had gathered, and the slope of the street – simple mathematics tells us that it can't have just stopped."
"I don't know," Nie Huaisang said. "That all sounds very complicated. You must have a far better education than me!"
"Surely a gentleman receives a good education in Qinghe?" Wang Zhi said, still looking back, and trying not to sound like he was saying even in Qinghe.
"My father was very insistent on me becoming a swordsman – as was my elder brother – I liked painting and poetry. I didn't ever argue with Father, of course, and I wouldn't say I argued with Elder Brother, not by our family's standards anyway, but I did manage to persuade him I could spend some time at least on the arts."
"The arts are an integral part of a gentleman's upbringing," Wang Zhi said.
Nie Huaisang stopped dead, right in the middle of the street, causing his townspeople to run into him, mutter, then blink in recognition and apologise.
"That's what I always said! If only I'd had you around when I was a boy! Oh, look, a dramatization of the slaying of the demonic bull!"
Wang Zhi hurried after him and found the story in mid-telling.
"It'll be, erm, very dramatic," Nie Huaisang said. "Don't believe everything you hear."
The actors made extravagant gestures and declaimed their lines in excited tones. The bull was a magnificent and horrible creation of light wood and paper, operated by two actors whom it became easy to ignore as they made it toss its head or strike its hooves on the ground. Wang Zhi heard of the bull's hideous onslaughts, its fierce and burning attacks on the town and watched what he assumed to be minor members of the Nie family, given their costumes, running like clowns from its wrath. Nie Huaisang laughed uproariously along with the townspeople. Then the heroic Nie Baofeng made his appearance, gliding in above the crowd, balanced on the flat of a wide sword. Everyone cheered as the actor did a backflip down from the wire, grabbing the sword before it could fall and wreck the illusion. Nie Baofeng challenged the beast to single combat and the fight was on as the crowd shrieked with excitement. After a few lucky escapes when he would surely be gored or trampled, the enormous sword was swung about and the bull's head rolled free in the dust as the victorious hero gave a very florid speech about protecting the innocent and weak of society.
"I have it on good authority that he actually said, What's for dinner?" Nie Huaisang murmured, and then applauded along with everyone else. He beckoned the actor over and pressed a tael of silver into the man's hands, exclaiming that he had done his ancestor proud.
"I never knew your grandfather could fly," Wang Zhi said in amusement as they left the area, quite feeling the spirit of the festival move him.
"Oh, we can all fly," Nie Huaisang said, and laughed at his own silliness. "Perhaps a cup of tea as the day is growing warm?"
"That would be most appreciated," Wang Zhi said, bowing slightly. And what a boon to be accompanied by this town's nobleman. No inn would turn them away.
As they strolled along there was a noise overhead, a dry, sliding sound that at first Wang Zhi couldn't place. Then he looked up, unsure whether to leap forwards or back as tiles cascaded from the roof above.
"Nie Huaisang!"
"Eek!"
They both jumped back, but it was too late. Wang Zhi felt winded as Nie Huaisang's form crashed against him, forcing him back against the wall of the building from where the tiles had fallen, the light sparkling through the dust thrown up by the tiles' impact. He took a breath, finding himself not choked on tile-dust as he'd expected, although his host was rather heavy.
"Nie Huaisang? Lord Nie?"
The man was wounded or dead. Likely dead in his attempt to protect his guest. Wang Zhi would bring all his authority and that of His Majesty –
"Ow –"
Nie Huaisang sat up, looking shocked.
"Wang Zhi! Are you all right? Oh, what a terrible accident!"
"Accident?" Wang Zhi said, clambering to his feet.
He looked at the crowd standing at a safe distance staring at them, at the broken tiles, and up at the roof. Then he slowly looked back at the tiles. They were lying in the wrong place. He could clearly see where they'd come off the roof and they should have fallen directly onto Nie Huaisang and himself, crushing them. They were all lying in a spot where no one had been standing. There had been no injuries at all, apart from those to the dignity belonging to a military governor and a country gentleman.
"That's not possible," he said flatly, and rudely shrugged off Nie Huaisang's attempts to help him straighten his sleeves. "They shouldn't be there; look where they fell from! I want this looked into!"
"Yes, yes, of course," Nie Huaisang said. "I'll find out who owns this building and order them to take proper care in maintaining the roof. Sometimes tiles come loose in dry weather; we're so lucky, Wang Zhi! Think of what might have happened to the crowd!"
"Accident?" Wang Zhi said in a low tone. "First the cart, then this –"
"Wang Zhi," Nie Huaisang said reasonably, "there are far more people in town than usual, and many people have been drinking. Accidents happen, and tiles can indeed become loose. Let us give thanks for our good fortune, and go and have some tea."
"Very well," Wang Zhi said at last. He looked back at the tiles once, and allowed himself to be brought to a pleasant inn, where he drank enough tea to restore his equilibrium, and then enough to agree to venture forth again.
"I truly wouldn't let anything happen to you," Nie Huaisang said suddenly. "I know you must think we're very light-minded here, but I'll have my family find out about the roof and the cart, don't worry. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
"Of course," Wang Zhi said, but he felt little pleasure in the day, and was glad when at last Nie Huaisang suggested that they should go and dine.
"You'll like the Serene Vista inn," Nie Huaisang said. "It has beautiful mountain views, and they'll put us in their best room. The owner paid an absolute fortune to have large windows of glass installed! What an expense! I asked Elder Brother about glass windows for the Unclean Realm once and he lectured me for hours about filial devotion to our ancestors' choice of architecture and why he wasn't made of money. How enormously boring. Now I'm the one who has to be sensible about money and that's even more boring, of course."
"Loyalty, and being boring about money, are the pillars of the empire," Wang Zhi said and was pleased to make his host laugh. "That must be the inn."
It was a tall building, and the famed glass windows – not one single large pane of course, that would be an exorbitant cost even for one of the wealthiest families of the capital - were situated high up, above balconies. He turned about and saw that there would indeed be a fine view of the mountains and had turned back to comment as much to Nie Huaisang when a movement overhead caught his eye. A figure at one of the glass windows shoved at the frame and the whole thing came free and plummeted down. Nie Huaisang looked up and gasped. Wang Zhi flung an arm up as Nie Huaisang pulled a fan from his sash as fast as a warrior drawing a sword and snapped it open above their heads, his other hand tracing characters in the air.
There was a deafening crash, the light sparkling through shards of broken glass.
No. The light was simply sparkling. Wang Zhi straightened from his appalled crouch and looked around. The glass and shattered wood lay all about them in a neat circle, as if swept there by a broom. Not one fragment had cut him or Nie Huaisang, nor – he glanced about as someone in the crowd yelled, "Well done, Lord Nie!" – any of the onlookers. None of whom, he noted, seemed very surprised. Nie Huaisang lowered his fan and looked at him somewhat sheepishly.
"What an awful acci-"
"I don't want to hear it," Wang Zhi snapped. "Get someone after the damn assassin!"
Nie Huaisang grabbed his wrist and bodily pulled him up the inn's steps and into the main room.
"A private room! Not one of the glass-fronted ones, I think! And wine, by Heaven!"
The apologies and protestations of innocence of the inn's owner were batted away and they were quickly conveyed to a quiet, discreet room. They hadn't even seated themselves when Wang Zhi decided to simply abandon polite custom altogether.
"What did you do?" he asked. "The cart, the tile, the glass? What did you do? And which of us are they trying to kill?"
"My dear Wang Zhi," Nie Huaisang said, fluttering his fan. "I'm sure I don't know, I mean, it's so warm, and we've had such a narrow escape and –" He paused and looked at Wang Zhi's expression and put the fan away. "- and you haven't had years of watching me play the fool so aren't seeing the idiot you expect to see," he said in a less fluttery tone. "A festival in honour of my ancestor, in a town filled with my grateful people? The amount of positive spiritual energy being generated – trying to assassinate me today would be a suicide attempt. They're after you."
Wang Zhi edged backwards, his hand slipping into his garments to locate his gun, and Nie Huaisang raised his eyebrows. He kept silent as a maid brought in the wine and snacks, waiting until the door was shut once more.
"I've been trying to keep you safe! I'm His Majesty's loyal subject, do you really think I'd want to harm you? As to what I did –" He shrugged. "I'm afraid I misled you a little. I'm quite good at mathematics, though I prefer to use it in areas such as musical theory, astrology and so on. I cast protective arrays to save us."
"I –" Wang Zhi said. "You – what?"
"As I say, my family prefers to cultivate the way of the sabre," Nie Huaisang said, "but I'm an indifferent swordsman at best. I've always preferred cultivating the arts." He looked askance at Wang Zhi. "His Majesty must surely have skilled cultivators at court? Everyone said you were all too modern and forward-looking in the capital to bother with traditional pursuits and we shouldn't say too much openly while you were here, but you seem like such a pleasant young man." He bowed where he sat. "I'm the leader of a sect of cultivators, the Qinghe Nie clan."
"Do you mean like in the stories?" Wang Zhi said. He wondered if a modern lead bullet would be of no use to him. "Are you immortal?"
"Me?" Nie Huaisang laughed. "I'm nowhere near as strong a cultivator as many of my friends! Hardly anyone's actually immortal, Wang Zhi."
Hardly anyone? This was ridiculous. Before Wang Zhi could make his views clear, Nie Huaisang took the small bag from his sleeve and pulled from it some paper and – to Wang Zhi's surprise – a stick of ink, an inkstone and a brush. He ground ink and wrote a few lines, then pulled a pin from one of his braids, pricked his finger and dropped a speck of blood on the paper, folding it swiftly. The paper rose up, looking like a large butterfly, and fluttered about the room before alighting on Wang Zhi's hand. He held it and felt it become inert. Cautiously he unfolded it, and read, Fly once about the room and land on Wang Zhi's right index finger.
"How –"
"It's a simple talisman. That type are often used for messages."
How useful. How useful.
"Could I learn to use such a thing?"
Nie Huaisang looked dubious. "Some talismans, certainly. Some cultivators sell them. I suppose if you had ones that were written to go to certain persons –" He paused. "Are you asking if you can learn to do other things? Like fly on a sword, or play music to heal or exorcise, or cast protections?"
"Can I?" Wang Zhi said, and for a moment felt he wanted nothing more, that he was a child again and the world was full of wonder.
Nie Huaisang looked seriously at him. "How old are you, Wang Zhi?"
"Seventeen."
"That's young – but not for starting training in cultivation. I knew someone once who learnt only a very little as a child and started his real training in his mid-teens. He was never a strong cultivator, not compared to others, though he was one of the cleverest men I ever knew. I'm not strong compared to others because I was bad at the only path offered me and only slowly grew competent at the path I preferred. And you don't have the years to dedicate to it: you have your duty in Hetao."
"Forgive me," Wang Zhi said and bowed deeply. "You are right to recall me to my duty. This day has made a young fool of me." He laughed bitterly. "What shall we do about the assassin?"
"One reason I was not concerned about us being in town by ourselves," Nie Huaisang said, taking his fan out again, this time merely to idly stir the air, "is that so many of my clan are present for the festival. We have been watched all day, Wang Zhi! I can tell you right now that they are hunting the assassin down, and if – as seems likely – he is after you, they have the advantage."
"They are on their home territory, of course," Wang Zhi said.
"There is that. I meant that you modern folk from the capital don't believe in magic, and we're all cultivators," Nie Huaisang said with a brilliant smile. "Let's leave them to work on this hot afternoon. We'll have a nice meal, and you can ask me all those questions sparkling in your eyes."
* * *
Wang Zhi strode into the guest pavilion and looked around at the sound of childish laughter. What on earth?
"Lian!"
The laughter stopped at once and Guo Lian hurried in from the room used for bathing, looking chastened. His gait was almost a sprint, most undignified.
"Lian, what is going on?"
"Sir," Lian whispered, "I'm sorry –"
A girl of about the same age came out, carrying a mop and bucket. She smiled cheerfully at them both.
"Evening, Governor Wang! Bye, Lian!"
Wang Zhi watched her leave and turned back to see Lian looking down at the floor. He sighed. The boy had to remember he was no longer really a child. He was no longer really anything except a tool of the imperial service.
"Maque was helping me clean, sir," Lian whispered, rather than waiting until he was spoken to. It would really be a kindness to slap him. He'd remember his manners in future.
Wang Zhi sat down instead. "Don't act so lightly with the slaves and lower servants," he said.
"She's one of Lord Nie's men's daughter," Lian said and then cringed, because speaking back was certainly something he would have been whipped for in the past.
"Well," Wang Zhi said after a moment. "It is an honour to have such a young lady clean one's bathroom, I'm sure. That means she's above your station and you still shouldn't be laughing with her."
"No, sir," Lian said, downcast. "I mean, yes, sir."
Wang Zhi sighed. He'd been older than Lian when the dreams of home had faded. The child would learn to be proud of what he could achieve.
"I'm not angry," he said. "I'm simply instructing you. It's been a tiring day, Lian. I will lie down until Lord Nie's people come to bring me to dinner."
It seemed to Wang Zhi that he had hardly laid his head down before Lian was softly calling him, and he was following a steward to Nie Huaisang's private dining room once again. The food was as delicious as the previous evening, and Wang Zhi watched his host curiously, hoping for more magic.
"Might one ask why your home is called the Unclean Realm?" he said. They were, he decided past all bounds of civilised speech.
"My ancestors were butchers," Nie Huaisang said. "The name acknowledges that."
"Butchers?"
"Apparently my many-times great grandfather cultivated with an actual cleaver. Thankfully we didn't keep that up. Wang Zhi, I have some good news about today!"
"The assassin?" Wang Zhi said.
"Apprehended!" Nie Huaisang looked a little embarrassed. "I also have some bad news. He appears to be one of your own soldiers."
Wang Zhi took a breath. Was he meant to ever reach Hetao? Captain Mo had perhaps been ordered to make him disappear before he ever reached his destination. No. Why would His Majesty ever – Wang Zhi trusted His Majesty completely, and Captain Mo was an imperial officer.
"Have you means of quickly discovering the truth from him?"
"My clan doesn't really do that sort of thing," Nie Huaisang said. "Though I know who can." He paused. "Unless you mean torture? We don't do that either."
"I don't need anyone else if he's going to be put to the question."
Nie Huaisang blinked. "I see. Don't you find people just say anything to make you stop hurting them?"
"Sometimes a confession is all that's needed."
"I . . . see. Why don't we speak with this person after dinner before any torture takes place? I'm not a Wen."
"Your pardon?"
"No matter, no matter."
True to his word, after they had eaten Nie Huaisang brought Wang Zhi to the heavily barred cells, and they looked in to see the downcast form of one of the soldiers.
"He's restrained, Sect Leader," a man in the family colours said, and opened the door.
The soldier didn't seem to be chained but made no move to come close.
"Pan Jingui," Wang Zhi said sternly. "Was this your own doing? Who is behind your actions?" No answer. "I must assume all your comrades are implicated. Lord Nie, have your men take them all into custody. They will all be executed."
"Very well," Nie Huaisang said.
Pan Jingui looked up.
"My comrades are innocent," he said hoarsely. "It's all me. I went mad at the thought of you being a governor on the border. I couldn’t stand the thought of no eunuch in charge of anything military."
"Have you such a fine political mind?" Wang Zhi said. "The only indication you've ever given about thinking about eunuchs is laughing at Ding Rong when he attended to his bodily needs and making eyes at my pageboy, don't deny it, you animal." He turned to Nie Huaisang. "You may not torture prisoners, but I have equipment –"
"This may not be needed," Nie Huaisang said. "Surely his commanding officer can order him –"
"Captain Mo will strike the dog's head from his body," Wang Zhi said in anger. "After he has answered questions."
"There's no point in answering questions," Pan Jingui said. "Posh guys never want to hear the actual answers. Get the captain in here and hack my damn head off."
"I want to hear your answers," Nie Huaisang said. "You've been causing havoc in Qinghe town all day!"
"I can't believe how lucky you are," Pan Jingui muttered. "It's my sister's daughter," he said suddenly. "They said she'd be sold to the lowest brothel there is after a whole troop of household servants went through her if I didn't off you in some country shithole away from civilisation. Begging your pardon, Lord Nie. That's my sister's only child!"
"Who said?" Wang Zhi said in his most even voice, the one that many men had heard before he told Ding Rong to do his worst.
"Commander Wan Tong's men," Pan Jingui said miserably. "There, now I'm a dead man no matter what. Cut my head off."
"Who?" Nie Huaisang said, and Wang Zhi frowned. They really were far from court. He indicated they should leave the cell.
"The disgraced brother of my illustrious protector, Her Highness," he said. "He doesn't hold any rank any longer, but he's a spiteful little rag of a man. If any of that's true. I should question him –"
"Wang Zhi," Nie Huaisang said, "I can guarantee that I know someone who'll get the absolute truth out of him – and who can promise to rescue his niece and his sister too if needs be. He'll talk. It'll just take a day or two for my friend to get here."
"He can get the truth?"
"Absolutely. He's incredibly nosy." Nie Huaisang leant into the cell. "If I can promise safety to you, your niece and your sister, you'll tell Governor Wang everything, won't you?"
"You'd do that?" Pan Jingui said. "How can you promise that? Wan Tong's rich."
"So am I," Nie Huaisang said. "And my family – and my really overly-dramatic friend – love helping people in need."
"Lord Nie," Pan Jingui said, "you're not going to be able to shut me up."
* * *
The next day Captain Mo came to report with a look of deep shame on his face.
"Governor Wang, I regret that one of the men appears to have deserted. No one saw him leave his post yesterday and although I had enquiries made in town last night and this morning there seems to be no sign of him. His horse is missing from the stables."
"I see," Wang Zhi said. He paused, waiting long enough for it to seem like he was actually considering the matter. "He obviously used the distraction of the local festival to make his escape. I do not hold you responsible, Captain. He can't get far, not without the proper papers. We'll go on tomorrow with the remaining men, whether or not he's apprehended today."
"Yes, my lord," Captain Mo said, looking relieved.
Wang Zhi nodded and let him go about his business, strolling back into the inner room. Everything Pan Jingui had said had convinced him that the man had acted alone. Captain Mo was loyal. All that was required was for this friend of Nie Huaisang's to arrive and question Pan Jingui by whatever arcane method he would. By then, Wang Zhi would be on his way, and would await a message. His heart still leapt within him like a mere boy's at the thought of a paper butterfly gracefully dancing its way into his carriage. What a wonder!
"I can't," he heard in a loud whisper. "I'm not allowed to play with you any more."
"That's so mean!" a child's voice piped. "Do you really just have to stand there looking at the floor?"
"It's dignified," came the sad answer.
Wang Zhi waited to the count of twenty and then came out to find Lian alone, looking like he was trying not to cry. He nodded in approval at the boy's neat appearance and then gestured for him to bring his feet closer together.
"You mustn't stand like a farmer in a market, Lian. Go and make sure that everything is neatly packed for tomorrow. Lay your own belongings out, I've decided they shall go in another, smaller case than they are now in."
"Yes, sir," Lian said and made to hurry off.
"No! You bow, and then you go."
"Sorry, sir!"
" . . . better."
Before he could change his mind Wang Zhi walked swiftly from the pavilion across the courtyards and into the main fortress where he stopped the first servant he saw.
"Bring me to Lord Nie at once."
"Uh – yes. I mean, at once, Governor Wang."
She led him back outside and through the courtyards to a pavilion he hadn't seen before, a quite small yet pleasant dwelling with large windows admitting abundant light. She bowed and stepped in.
"My lord?" she said. "Your guest, Governor Wang –"
Nie Huaisang was sitting at a table, dressed in a comfortable faded cotton robe, his fingers liberally coated with ink, a large sheet of paper unrolled before him. Wang Zhi was surprised to see the delicacy of the flowering tree branch painted on it and the small birds flying through the scene. Hanging in the corner of the room a large cage with a loudly cheeping songbird made it clear that this was a private residence, not, perhaps one that Nie Huaisang received guests in. Wang Zhi felt embarrassed, but his host merely smiled.
"Nie Huaisang," he said, "you said that you'd find a home for that fool Pan Jingui and his kin."
"Yes," Nie Huaisang said. "Probably not here, so that you can truthfully say you have no idea where he is. And if you're sure you just want Wan Tong scared, I can assure you that my friend is very frightening when he wants to be."
"Denouncing him is pointless," Wang Zhi sighed. "He's already been almost entirely defanged, and actually killing the idiot would just make Her Highness sad." He paused, then said quickly, "You said you and other cultivators help ordinary people."
"Yes," Nie Huaisang said, putting down his paint brush. "We'd have helped you even if you weren't on a mission from His Majesty. That you are - well, it's even more our duty!"
"I have a final favour to ask of you," Wang Zhi said, watching Nie Huaisang's eyes. "You say I'm too old to learn – what you do."
"Yes," Nie Huaisang said. "I'm sorry."
"Guo Lian, my servant," Wang Zhi said, "is eight years old. He's young enough, isn't he?"
"He's not too old," Nie Huaisang said, which wasn't quite the same thing. He didn't say anything else, just waited.
"Guo Lian's father was executed for corruption," Wang Zhi said, as if he were telling the story of quite another boy's father. "His mother – one assumes, it's what's done – would have been made a prostitute. I overheard another boy taunting Lian that she had hanged herself. Lian was castrated and made a servitor in the palace when he was six." He made himself not look away from Nie Huaisang's face. "Not everyone survives the operation. Lian was lucky. One had oneself two brothers, an older and a younger. One was the only boy to survive what was done." If the man pitied him –
"Your servant was lucky indeed, then," was the only response, and Wang Zhi breathed out.
"He laughed, yesterday," Wang Zhi said. "With a little girl called Maque. I never heard him laugh before. Nie Huaisang, Lian had no one in the palace – I was protected because Her Highness is beneficent and gracious and once saw a weeping child. Lian has had no one for two years until I took him as a servant. I –" He took a breath. "I would like him to be a child again. I would like him to laugh with other children. I ask you to teach him to be one of your retainers."
"Maque is Nie Gangluo's granddaughter," Nie Huaisang said. "She's a funny little thing. Wang Zhi – might you not get in trouble if you leave an imperial eunuch behind, even a very small one?"
"Perhaps he is my representative here," Wang Zhi said, and Nie Huaisang smiled.
"Perhaps he is. When he starts causing havoc like a Nie child I'll let you know."
Wang Zhi nodded and bowed, leaving him to his bird and his painting, and walked away, the features of the Unseen Realm strangely watery in his view as he thought of another weeping boy who had not been given the option of remaining a child. He wiped his eyes and smiled serenely at the world. What a fool he had become. Life was as it was.
He was content in his service.
* * *
In the morning, Wang Zhi paid his respects for the final time to his host and was taken back to his carriage. He watched the soldiers supervise servants packing fresh provisions, and a clean and well-fed Ding Rong being shoved into his cage.
"Can I hope for roast meat this evening?" Ding Rong said cheerfully. "Prisoners are very well fed here."
"Shut up," one of the soldiers said, slamming a fist against the bars of the cage, "unless you want piss in your millet."
"Captain," Wang Zhi said.
"The prisoner is not to be mistreated," Captain Mo said reluctantly. "Mount up!"
"Wang Zhi!" Ding Rong said, and, when he was ignored, "Governor Wang!"
"What is it?" Wang Zhi said, coming closer. "I'm not letting you out so don't bother asking."
"I was just wondering where little Guo Lian is," Ding Rong said. "Never mind, I suppose he's already in your carriage. What I was really wondering is who was in the cell next to mine? I'm sure I heard a capital accent."
"All that meat clogged up your ears," Wang Zhi said in amusement. "As far as I'm aware you were the only one being held."
"Most likely," Ding Rong said, and leaned forwards. "I know your voice, Wang Zhi," he said. "Who were you speaking with? There were two other men and one was definitely from the capital." He sat back. "It doesn't matter. I just wanted to show you I'm still observant. I can be useful to you in Hetao. If you've mislaid any of your staff, say."
"Be careful, old friend," Wang Zhi said, turning away. "I still haven't decided what to do with you." He turned back. "That's not a threat, just a statement. You have all the way to Hetao still to impress me with your carefulness."
Ding Rong smiled, and respectfully inclined his head. Wang Zhi climbed into his carriage and rapped on the roof.
Step by step they grew ever closer to Hetao.