Chapter 1: Snow in Chang'an

It was winter, the eleventh month, in Chang'an.

Snowflakes were falling outside the window. In the study, bookshelves were lined with books, and on the desk lay a belt, with a silver fish bag hanging from it.

The fish token lay outside, with a raised "同" (tong) character in the center for verification, and on either side were inscribed "太子左春坊" (Left Spring Office of the Crown Prince) and "贊善大夫杜有鄰" (Counselor Du Youlin).

Du Youlin was sitting on a Hu bed, engrossed in a scroll, immersed in the wisdom of the ancients.

Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps outside the door. His second wife, Lu Fengniang, called out anxiously, "My lord," and pushed the door open directly.

Du Youlin, whose peace had been disturbed, frowned and asked, "What is it now?"

"It's bad," Lu Fengniang stammered, "Wulang was bullied outside!"

Du Youlin put down the scroll, impatiently saying, "Speak clearly."

"Liu Ji took Wulang to Pingkang Fang, and he got into a conflict with some ruffians, and... they fought."

"Rogue, how dare he go to such a place," Du Youlin scolded harshly. "Why hasn't he been brought back? Is he going to ruin the reputation of the Du family of Jingzhao?"

"My son has never been to such a place. It was your eldest son-in-law who took him there," Lu Fengniang said, her plump face full of grievance. She couldn't explain clearly and could only stomp her feet, turning to point at a servant waiting outside the study. "Quick, you come in."

"Quick, you tell," Lu Fengniang urged.

Du Youlin, seeing it was the servant from his eldest son-in-law, looked at him with disdain and turned away.

"The young master only wanted to take Du Wulang to Nanqu for tea. When Du Wulang saw the residence of the Right Chancellor on the east side of the坊楼 (fang building), he asked, 'Why does the Right Chancellor live in such a place of beauty?' Jilang overheard and started an argument. Jilang had Du Wulang taken and said he would bring him to the Chancellor's residence to apologize."

Hearing this, Du Youlin's face changed, and he asked, "Which Jilang?"

"He is the eldest son of the Jifacao family of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Du Youlin suddenly stood up, slipping on his shoes and walking out, calling, "Quanrui."

Quanrui, the household manager, was already waiting in the corridor, bowing low and stepping forward to respond, "I'm here, my lord."

"Quickly bring that rogue back!"

"I'll do it right away."

Quanrui then had the servant lead the way and hurriedly left for Pingkang Fang.

Du Youlin, looking displeased, paced back and forth a few steps but then sat down again, picking up the scroll to continue reading.

After a long while.

Lu Fengniang was pacing in the corridor when she saw the household manager Quanrui running back alone.

"Where is Wulang?"

"I couldn't find Wulang," Quanrui said, still catching his breath. He answered his mistress and knocked on the study door. "What do you mean?"

Lu Fengniang was shocked, chasing after him and asking, "What do you mean you couldn't find him?"

"Jilang didn't take Wulang to the Right Chancellor's residence, but we don't know where he took him. I've left people to search the area."

Quanrui hesitated, not knowing what to say next.

Du Youlin, hearing the commotion outside, came out of the study.

"My lord," Quanrui said in a low voice, "People around say that there was a murder in Nanqu today. It seems the matter is serious. Should my lord go to the Ji family to discuss it?"

Lu Fengniang, hearing about the murder, was so frightened that she almost fainted. She quickly said, "My lord, you must go and... beg for help..."

"Silence," Du Youlin scolded his wife and instructed, "Search again. Find Wulang first."

Quanrui wiped his forehead and said, "My lord, there are only a dozen servants in the household. Should I borrow some people from the Wei family to help search?"

Du Youlin, who appeared calm but had no real plan, asked, "Is that feasible?"

"I'll go right away."

~~

This time, Lu Fengniang waited anxiously at the side gate.

Finally, the maid Qinglan pointed and said, "Mistress, look."

Two servants in green robes were running towards them, one carrying someone on his back, shouting from a distance.

"We found him, we found Du Wulang!"

"My son!" Lu Fengniang was overjoyed, crying and rushing forward.

These two servants from the Wei family were very热心 (enthusiastic). One continued running, carrying Du Wulang into the courtyard, while the other comforted her.

"Don't worry, Mistress Du. He's alive... I thought he was dead at first, but then I checked again, and he's alive, alive."

It was clear that they were also very happy to have saved the young master of the Du family.

Finally, the unconscious youth was laid down in the corridor of the front courtyard of the Du residence.

He looked to be about fifteen years old, with a very handsome face and delicate features. Even with his eyes closed, one could sense his noble demeanor.

However, he was only wearing a single layer of clothing, and there were bruises on his neck, indicating that he had been choked.

"My son...," Lu Fengniang cried, rushing forward. But when she looked closely, her voice faltered.

She was stunned for a moment and exclaimed, "This isn't my son."

"Isn't this the young master of the Du family?"

The two servants from the Wei family looked at each other in confusion.

"How can it not be the young master of the Du family? When we found him...,"

Suddenly, there was more commotion outside the door.

Quanrui hurried back, instructing a servant to lay down the youth on his back.

"Quick, lay him down, and press the Renzhong point."

This time, the youth who was brought back soon woke up and sat up on the corridor.

He was exactly fifteen years old, with a large round face, a flat nose, and small eyes. Though not particularly handsome, he had a timid demeanor.

He seemed to have just woken from a nightmare, trembling all over and muttering something.

"My son?" Lu Fengniang pushed aside the others, looked closely, and cried, "This is my son!"

"Wulang, are you alright?"

"..."

In the crowd, a servant in green robes peeked and slapped his forehead in frustration.

"Ah, this ugly one is Du Wulang."

The Wei family's manager quickly pulled this clumsy servant aside, apologized to Lu Fengniang, and led the people away from the front courtyard of the Du residence.

"Can't you keep your mouth shut? You had to say it in front of her."

"Uncle, I carried the handsome one all the way from Pingkang Fang."

"Without knowing who it was, who's to blame? You should have first confirmed with Quanrui."

"Wasn't it to get more reward money?"

"Speaking of which, Mistress Du didn't give any reward at all."

"Stingy."

As they spoke, they stopped walking.

They saw a body wrapped in a mat lying in the alley, blood seeping through the mat and staining the snow red.

"Did someone really die?"

"The young servant of Du Wulang, named Danyan, was beaten to death by Jilang. Du Wulang fainted from shock."

The servant in green robes whispered, sighing deeply.

Being of the same low status, they couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow...

~~

In the study, Du Youlin held the fish token, his fingers gently caressing it.

Du Wulang, kneeling before him, was sobbing uncontrollably.

"I kept saying 'I'm sorry,' but Jilang wouldn't stop. I was pinned to the ground and didn't know how to make him stop. Danyan... Danyan... was beaten...,"

At this point, Du Wulang choked up, almost unable to breathe.

Du Youlin sighed deeply, sighing several times, and asked, "What else did Jilang say?"

"He asked me, 'Can you swallow this?' Grandfather, can we ask our second sister to seek justice for Danyan?"

"Rogue!" Du Youlin slammed the table and shouted, "Are you trying to cause more trouble for the Du family?"

Du Wulang was startled, his lips trembling, but he still looked up at Du Youlin with a pleading gaze.

Lu Fengniang, unable to bear seeing her son like this, wiped away her tears and said, "My lord, Wulang was bullied!"

"Enough. Did Jilang hurt Wulang? If so, we can report him to the Jingzhao Prefecture for beating a servant, and he will receive a hundred strokes and a fine of fifty thousand. Is that what you want? Go out."

"My lord," Lu Fengniang complained, stamping her feet in frustration.

Du Wulang was in tears, his lips trembling, and said, "Grandfather, Danyan has been with me since childhood...,"

Du Youlin sighed, closed his eyes, and instructed, "Quanrui, bury Danyan with the rites of a commoner to honor the master-servant bond and the righteousness of the Du family."

"Yes, my lord."

"Go now." Du Youlin pointed at Du Wulang and scolded, "You are confined to the house from today. Do not associate with Liu Ji anymore!"

"My eldest brother-in-law...,"

"You still care about that troublemaker."

Lu Fengniang didn't let Du Wulang speak further, pulling him out of the study to support him.

Leaving the study, she muttered a complaint under her breath.

"Before marriage, she was a noble lady, but now she suffers such humiliation in the Du household."

It was still snowing lightly outside the corridor, and the courtyard had become quiet as the servants returned to their posts.

Quanrui followed and whispered, "I'll arrange Danyan's funeral. A three-foot pole and nine ritual objects. What do you think, Madam?"

"Why ask me now?" Lu Fengniang knew the manager was just asking for money and said, "Ask my lord."

"My lord doesn't handle such trivial matters," Quanrui replied, looking awkward.

Du Wulang then tugged at Lu Fengniang's sleeve and cried, "Mother, please give Danyan a proper burial."

"A minor official, with such a large ancestral home, and taking care of your two elder brothers, I...,"

Lu Fengniang muttered, but seeing her son's sad expression, she finally gritted her teeth and agreed, "Respect the dead. Go ahead, and take the money from the account."

"Yes. There's one more thing. This afternoon, my eldest son-in-law said he would find friends to help. Should we inform him that Wulang has been found?"

"He thinks he has many connections," Lu Fengniang muttered, waving the manager away to handle it.

She didn't want to deal with her eldest son-in-law anymore.

"Caiyun, go to Xuandu Temple and invite a Daoist to perform a ritual to exorcise evil spirits for Wulang."

Du Wulang was still sobbing and said, "Mother, I don't need an exorcism."

"Look at you, so shaken up," Lu Fengniang patted Du Wulang's shoulder. "Go ahead, and have the Daoist help Danyan cross over too."

"Alright."

At the outer gate, Caiyun had just left the second courtyard, and Qinglan was coming from the front courtyard, saying, "Mistress, the young man has woken up."

"Support Wulang to rest," Lu Fengniang said. "I'll go see him."

Du Wulang, who had noticed the unconscious youth when he woke up, was quite concerned and insisted on going with her.

~~

In the corridor of the front courtyard, the youth was sitting up, supported by his arms.

If he had given the impression of a precious and delicate young noble when he was unconscious, his demeanor changed when he opened his eyes, exuding a maturity that seemed out of place for his age.

Strangely, this maturity was tinged with confusion.

"Little master, which family are you from?" Lu Fengniang asked. "Why were you unconscious on the road?"

The youth was looking around in confusion, hesitating for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Am I... not dead?"

He paused, as if he wasn't used to speaking.

"You're not dead," Lu Fengniang said. "You were saved by the Du family."

The youth's eyes still showed confusion, and he nodded in thanks.

"Don't be afraid. Do you have a name?"

"Xue Bai."

"Are you from the He Dong Xue family?" Lu Fengniang asked.

Xue Bai shook his head and looked at Du Wulang's temple, studying it intently, as if observing something.

Du Wulang, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, scratched his neck and looked down.

After a moment, he said to Lu Fengniang, "Mother, he seems sick. Give him a bowl of ginger soup too?"

The ginger soup was prepared for Du Wulang, so Lu Fengniang had someone bring another bowl.

During this time, Xue Bai got up and staggered to the door.

He was still weak, leaning against the wall and standing on the steps, looking outside.

Du Wulang followed, standing at the threshold and looking westward along with Xue Bai.

There was a pool of blood on the side of the alley.

In the narrow space between the Shengping Fang archway and the opposite Wei residence wall, the bustling Zhuque Street was visible.

"Where is this?" Xue Bai asked.

"Chang'an, Wannian County, Shengping Fang."

"Chang'an?"

It was still snowing lightly, and the courtyard walls opposite revealed pavilions, wooden brackets, and tiled roofs with ridge beasts standing at the eaves.

The wind blew the bells hanging from the eaves, producing a clear sound.

"Which dynasty, which year?"

"Don't you know this?" Du Wulang said. "The fifth year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty."

"The fifth year of Tianbao?"

Xue Bai sighed softly, his breath forming a white mist that dissipated in the cold wind of the Tang Dynasty's Tianbao era.

His thin clothes made his lips turn white from the cold.

"Year, not year, it's '载' (zai)," Du Wulang reminded him. "In summer, it's called '岁' (sui), in Shang it's called '祀' (si), in Zhou it's called '年' (nian), and in the Tang and Yu dynasties, it's called '载' (zai). Only the emperors Yao and Shun used '载' (zai) to mark the years, and the current sage emperor is compared to Yao and Shun, so it's called '载' (zai)."

Xue Bai looked at him, his expression puzzled, without any sign of reverence.

Du Wulang, shrinking his head, muttered, "It's fine if you don't read other books well, but you must remember this."

"Alright."

"Where is your home?"

"I can't remember," Xue Bai said. "After... fainting, I can't remember many things."

"Did someone try to kill you?" Du Wulang pointed discreetly at the bruises on Xue Bai's neck.

"I can't remember."

Du Wulang became worried and whispered to Lu Fengniang, "Mother, he's alone and pitiful. Can we take him in?"

The maid Qinglan said, "Mistress, I saw bruises from ropes on his ankles and a burn mark on the back of his neck. He was found in Pingkang Fang, so he might be an official slave who was beaten and left on the road for some mistake."

"An official slave?" Lu Fengniang murmured. "We need to buy another servant for Wulang anyway."

Qinglan, seeing her mistress didn't understand, reminded her, "This situation isn't good for formal registration. Keeping him might cause trouble, and the Du family isn't an ordinary household."

Lu Fengniang, hearing this, hesitated.

Du Wulang, worried, said, "He'll die outside if we don't. The curfew is coming soon...,"

"Wulang is kind and can't bear to see others suffer. Give him some money to help him," Lu Fengniang said.

Du Wulang really wanted to take in Xue Bai but lacked the eloquence of Qinglan, feeling at a loss for words.

But this conversation made Lu Fengniang think. Considering the need to give money to help and buy a servant, she asked Xue Bai, "Can you read?"

"I can read."

Now, a laborer in the Western Market wasn't cheap, so Lu Fengniang had an idea and asked, "My son was frightened today and needs someone to accompany him. Since you have nowhere to go, would you like to stay and be his book servant?"

Xue Bai didn't answer immediately but carefully looked around at everyone in the courtyard.

Qinglan, noticing his scrutinizing gaze, felt he was making a mental calculation before nodding.

This wasn't the behavior of a teenager, and he was of unknown origin, so Qinglan was somewhat worried.

But as a maid, she had done her duty in reminding her mistress and hoped he wouldn't bring trouble to the Du household.

The new book is released, and I will complete the contract during the day. At that time, you can vote for the monthly ticket. I'm asking for monthly tickets and to follow the book. Following the book during the new book period is very important. Thank you very much for your support.