The old monk's words held a profound meaning, but Gu Shiyan didn't dwell on it. He shifted the topic to the seven-stringed qin in the cliffside rooms, casually mentioning the white-robed maiden.
The old monk's expression turned serious. "Patron Gu, you absolutely must not speak to her. This is not this old monk exaggerating to alarm you. That girl is a source of calamity."
Gu Shiyan outwardly assented, but inwardly dismissed it, thinking the old monk had reasons he didn't wish to disclose to outsiders and was using this as an excuse. He dropped the subject and chatted with the old monk only about Go and the qin.
"Has Patron ever heard the legend of the Catalpa Jade Go Board?" Old monk Kibi no Makibi suddenly asked.
"This junior has heard of it, but I do not believe it. If such a thing were true, it would be utterly unreasonable!"
The old monk smiled. "It is indeed absurd. If merely possessing the Catalpa Jade Board and the Warm-Cold Jade Stones could make one invincible, why would we bother to study Go?"
Gu Shiyan said, "There's also the rumor that this Catalpa Jade set was made from divine wood from the Eastern Sea, possessing the miraculous effect of immortality. That's even more preposterous!"
The old monk did not answer immediately. He seemed lost in thought for a long while, then suddenly said, "This old monk saw that very Go set thirty years ago in the Ryukyu royal palace."
A young novice monk came to report that a visitor had come to see Patron Gu.
Gu Shiyan asked who it was. The dim-witted little novice said he didn't know.
Gu Shiyan shook his head with a smile and followed the old monk and the novice through the plum grove to the front hall.
The person facing them was Editorial Director Zheng Hao. Gu Shiyan felt slightly surprised, but then he saw one of the three attendants behind Zheng Hao jump out. Beaming at Gu Shiyan, he said, "Hey there, Little Gu! You're fine! I heard you got stabbed. Where's the wound? Let me see."
Gu Shiyan looked closely. This plump, fair-skinned attendant was none other than Princess Wanshou! Another attendant was his own houseboy, Quan'er. Quan'er cried out with joy, "Young master! You scared us half to death!"
Because old monk Kibi no Makibi was present, Gu Shiyan couldn't formally greet the princess. He merely said, "How did you get here? It's two hundred li!"
Zheng Hao, standing nearby, seeing the princess's affectionate attitude towards Gu Shiyan, burned with jealousy but couldn't vent it. He just said coldly, "What injury could he have? He didn't even catch up to Ujie Shanluo. Getting injured was pointless."
The princess ignored what Zheng Hao said. She tilted her head, circled Gu Shiyan, and scrutinized him carefully. Seeing he had all his limbs and features intact, she asked again, "Where were you hurt?"
Gu Shiyan touched his left chest. "Stabbed here. Thanks to Master Kibi here who saved me. It's much better now."
The princess smiled sweetly. "I always thought you only knew how to play Go, like a Go-obsessed bookworm. Turns out you can handle swords too! Who taught you? Teach me." She looked eager to learn.
As dusk approached, the old monk accompanied Gu Shiyan and the others to the refectory for a vegetarian meal. He then instructed a novice to arrange accommodations for Zheng Hao and his entourage before going off alone for his evening devotions.
The princess, naturally restless, said, "Little Gu, your wound isn't too bad, right? Let's go out for a walk. It's so boring staying in this temple."
Gu Shiyan led her and Zheng Hao into the plum grove. After walking only a short distance, he faintly heard the "ding-dong" sound of a qin. His heart stirred, and he walked towards the cliffside rooms on the other side of the grove.
The mountain air was quiet, the qin music clear and distinct. Gu Shiyan recognized it as the piece "Jian Jia" he had played that afternoon. The player's fingering was extremely skillful; the music flowed with deep feeling in its repetitions. Gu Shiyan felt inferior. Could it be Master Kibi playing? That immature white-robed maiden couldn't possibly possess such skill!
The princess laughed. "The monks are quite refined, playing qin and Go. Zheng Hao, why don't you become a monk someday?"
Zheng Hao said angrily, "Why just me? Gu Xun can play qin and Go. He'd be more suitable!"
The princess clapped her hands, laughing. "Excellent! Both of you become monks! Take that old monk as your master. Zheng Hao is twenty-five, so he's the senior disciple. Little Gu is twenty-three, so he's the junior disciple. Amitabha! Haha, this is hilarious!"
Gu Shiyan glanced at Zheng Hao's angry expression and chuckled inwardly. Out loud, he said, "The Jiangdong Gu family has only me to carry on the line. 'Of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the greatest.' I still need to marry and have children; I won't become a monk. Master Zheng Hao, perhaps you have already seen through the red dust of the world and wish to become a monk."
Gu Shiyan expected Zheng Hao to be annoyed by this, but Zheng Hao merely smiled and said seriously, "Zheng Hao is favored by His Majesty. My only thought is to serve His Majesty and the state. I am not like some ungrateful people who think only of their own selfish interests."
Hearing this high-minded talk, Gu Shiyan found himself momentarily speechless.
Princess Wanshou, however, blushed and asked Gu Shiyan, "You want to marry and have children? Who do you want to marry? Is it Ujie Shanluo? No wonder you risked your life trying to find her."
By now, the three had passed through the plum grove and reached the cliff top. The qin music stopped abruptly. The three elegant rooms showed no light, silent in the dark night.
Gu Shiyan called out clearly, "Is that Master Kibi?" No one answered from within the rooms.
The princess also called, "Is anyone there?"
Seeing no movement, the princess said, "The monks are playing tricks. We clearly heard someone playing qin here just now. How could they vanish in the blink of an eye? Zheng Hao, you're the senior disciple. Go in and take a look."
Hearing this, Zheng Hao actually took a step back.
Gu Shiyan stepped forward and pushed open the ajar door. He took out a fire striker and struck it with a "hiss" to light it. He saw a candlestick on a small table to the west, holding a half-used red candle. The candle had clearly just been blown out, still emitting a faint scent of burnt wick. The seven-stringed qin still lay across the qin stand.
The princess walked over and sat cross-legged beside the qin stand. "The monk's gone. I'll play. I'll play 'Mountain Dwelling Song.' It's very beautiful."
The princess pressed her right hand and extended her left—her posture was good. Two clear "zheng zheng" notes rang out in the shang mode. Zheng Hao promptly shouted praise.
Just then, a sudden cold wind swept through the room. The wooden window overlooking the deep cliff was blown open by the wind. A clear, young girl's voice said, "Don't touch my qin." Immediately, a figure in white floated in through the window, snatched the qin, and held it protectively in her arms. Her lovely face showed faint anger, delicate brows slightly furrowed. It was the white-robed maiden.
The princess was startled at first. Seeing it was a delicate-looking young girl, her courage returned somewhat. "How was I supposed to know it was your qin! Even if it is, what's the harm in playing it a bit?"
Zheng Hao chimed in supportively, "Young lady, do you know who she is? She is a person of great importance! Under heaven, there is nothing she cannot touch!" Gu Shiyan, hearing Zheng Hao's words as somewhat bullying, feared the white-robed maiden would take offense. This girl moved like the wind; her skills were undoubtedly formidable. If angered, she might injure the princess. He quickly stepped forward, intending to explain, when he suddenly heard a cold voice from outside the door say, "Great importance! Who in this world could be nobler than our Yiyu?"
The white-robed maiden "Hmphed!", grabbed the qin, and bent it forcefully. The strings snapped with a sound like tearing silk; the qin broke in two. She threw the broken pieces at the princess's feet. "Go ahead and play!" she said, then turned and walked out.
Princess Wanshou had never been treated like this. Her stubborn nature flared; unafraid of the maiden's skills, she rushed out shouting, "I am a princess! How dare you be so rude to me!"
Gu Shiyan and Zheng Hao hurriedly followed her out. They saw the white-robed maiden standing behind a middle-aged woman.
The woman was about forty, with beautiful features, though her cheeks were thin, giving her a somewhat stern expression. Her presence, however, was imposing. Four maidservants in green held four exquisite emerald-green lanterns on either side. Behind the woman stood four male attendants in white robes with black headbands, wearing thin clothing. Gu Shiyan recognized one of them as the long-haired attendant who had swiftly killed a Hu man at the foot of the mountain that day.
The woman gave a cold laugh and said haughtily, "What princess dares to cause trouble here! Yiyu, who are these people?"
The white-robed maiden behind her whispered something. The woman frowned. "Kibi has grown senile! What business does he have keeping such irrelevant people here?" With that, she flicked her sleeve. The four green-clad maidservants turned simultaneously, lanterns leading the way, and proceeded slowly up the mountain.
This middle-aged beauty didn't raise her voice harshly, but her bearing carried an innate nobility and authority. Though Princess Wanshou was spoiled, she dared not act rashly in front of this woman. Only when their party had disappeared around the cliff did she ask softly, "Little Gu, do you know who that woman is?"
The three returned in low spirits. Just as they emerged from the plum grove, they saw old monk Kibi no Makibi hurrying towards them. He pressed his palms together and said, "Amitabha! The three of you cannot stay here tonight. You must leave the mountain quickly."
The princess cried out, "Old monk, how unreasonable! Where do you expect us to go on such a dark, snowy night?"
The old monk offered no explanation, only chanted Buddha's name.
Gu Shiyan knew it must be because of the middle-aged beauty. Though filled with questions, he didn't want to cause the old monk difficulty. He pressed his palms together respectfully and said, "Then we will not trouble you further, Master. We will leave at once."
The old monk looked ashamed. "I have been most discourteous. Patron Gu's wound is seventy to eighty percent healed. Please take good care." He fingered his prayer beads and turned away. A young novice soon arrived with a lantern, saying he would escort the honored guests down the mountain.
A'luotuo, carrying his iron staff, Quan'er, Zheng Hao's attendant, and the coachman were also all ushered out.
The princess stamped her foot in anger. All the way down the mountain, she cursed the old monk incessantly. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and laughed. "I get it! I get it!"
Naturally, Zheng Hao asked what she understood.
The princess declared, "That pretentious woman must be the old monk's lover! The monk's henpecked, so he kicked us out."
Gu Shiyan said, "Don't talk nonsense. Master Kibi is a highly cultivated monk."
Zheng Hao retorted, "What highly cultivated monk! I think that fierce white-robed girl is their illegitimate daughter! Let's ask this little novice. Hey, little novice, is that girl in white the abbot's daughter?"
The little novice, who had been keeping his head down holding the lantern, looked terrified. He shook his head violently, then suddenly turned and ran back up the mountain alone, abandoning the group.
The princess laughed and cursed. The group made their way down in the dark. Reaching the foot of the mountain, they found their carriage. Zheng Hao spoke up, "This carriage can't possibly fit all of us!"
The princess said, "Little Gu can squeeze in with us. That black charcoal [A'luotuo] shouldn't come up; he scares me."
Zheng Hao's face fell.
Gu Shiyan saw A'luotuo leading two horses he'd procured from somewhere. He said, "A'luotuo and I will ride. We can travel back to Chang'an overnight. I want to return early to search for Ujie Shanluo."
The princess came over and took Gu Shiyan's hand. "Let Zheng Hao ride the horse. You're injured; ride in the carriage with me."
Zheng Hao, standing nearby, seethed with jealousy and resentment. He suddenly snatched the reins from A'luotuo, mounted the horse, and galloped off angrily.
The princess said, "What's gotten into Zheng Hao! Get in the carriage. We'll catch up slowly."
Gu Shiyan got into the carriage and sat inside with the princess. Quan'er and Zheng Hao's attendant hunched their shoulders on the carriage shaft. The driver cracked his whip in the air. "Gee up!" he shouted. The two large carriage horses strained together, and the wheels began to rumble.
The weather in late November was bitterly cold at night. A crescent moon didn't rise above the eastern mountains until the second watch [~9-11 PM], making the road barely visible. Inside the carriage, it remained pitch black. Only after sitting for a long time could one faintly discern outlines. They had traveled four or five li when Gu Shiyan found it strange that the usually chatterbox Princess Wanshou had been silent for so long. He asked, "Princess, are you asleep?"
From the darkness came the princess's reply, "No."
Gu Shiyan asked, "Then why so quiet?"
The princess didn't answer immediately. After a pause, she said, "It's nothing. Hey, are you cold?"
Gu Shiyan replied, "A bit."
The princess asked again, "Does your chest wound still hurt?"
Gu Shiyan sensed something different in the princess's tone, as if affection was stirring. He thought being alone with a maiden in a dark carriage was highly improper. He wasn't like Zheng Hao, eager to become the emperor's son-in-law, nor did he particularly like Princess Wanshou. He changed the subject. "I wonder where Zheng Hao has gotten to? Riding a horse at night, I hope nothing happens."
His words were barely out when he heard A'luotuo outside the carriage cry out strangely. Then the attendant at the front shouted, "It's our young master! Young master! Who tied you up in the tree?"
Gu Shiyan quickly lifted the carriage curtain. Following the attendant's gesture, in the faint moonlight, he saw Zheng Hao hanging upside down from the slanting branch of a large evergreen oak tree by the roadside, hands and feet bound together behind his back.
Gu Shiyan and the princess got out of the carriage.
A'luotuo borrowed Gu Shiyan's sword. Leaping high from his horse, he swung the sword and severed the rope tied to the tree trunk. Zheng Hao immediately plummeted downwards, screaming in terror. A'luotuo caught him mid-air and gently set him down on the carriage shaft.
Zheng Hao's hair was disheveled, his cheeks swollen, as if he had gained a lot of weight in less than an hour.
The princess was furious. "Zheng Hao! Who beat you like this? You're one of my Imperial Father's ministers! Who dares be so bold?"
Zheng Hao mumbled incoherently, "I… I didn't see clearly. I was riding… suddenly I was hanging in the air… got slapped a few times… then tied up here."
The princess stamped her foot. "Honestly! You got beaten and hung up, and you don't even know who did it? Oh! Wait, could it be those Hu people who took Shanluo?"
Gu Shiyan said, "Possibly. We shouldn't linger here. Let's go."
Zheng Hao's horse had long since bolted. Zheng Hao could only climb dejectedly into the carriage to sit with Gu Shiyan. The carriage was actually quite spacious, easily holding four or five people.
Princess Wanshou had a good heart and kept comforting Zheng Hao.
Zheng Hao felt deeply humiliated. He thought about how unlucky he was to suffer such an embarrassment in front of the princess, witnessed by Gu Shiyan. Depressed, he remained silent.
At first, the princess cursed the monks and the Hu people alternately, muttering to herself and making wild guesses. Seeing Zheng Hao and Gu Shiyan unresponsive, she felt bored. Sleepiness washed over her; she struggled to keep her eyes open.
The monotonous rumble of the wheels was soporific. Gu Shiyan also felt drowsy. He could hear A'luotuo riding alongside the carriage outside. How far had they traveled? Suddenly, he caught a faint whiff of a delicate fragrance—neither orchid nor musk, elusive. Then, a warm, soft, petite body leaned into his embrace, and delicate little hands clasped his neck.
Gu Shiyan's sleepiness vanished instantly. His whole body stiffened; he didn't dare move a muscle. He groaned inwardly, This princess is truly brazen! She's feeling amorous now. My life, Gu Xun's life, is going to be ruined by her!