Chapter 07: When Cherry Petals fall in Spring

Beijing – The Capital – May 1624


The first Spring Market in May lured people of all geographic directions into town and as soon as the gates got opened in the wee hours of the morning, traders and visitors, travellers and peasants, officials and curious onlookers populated the lanes and places and the taverns which had opened already with sunrise on this very special day.

Colourful banners waved with the slight morning breeze and murmur and chattering mixed with laughter and song and with sounds and scents of all kinds. Here the air got filled with the sound of a skillfully played Guzheng, there some acrobats showed their mastery and round the next corner the calm hand of an artist drew the most beautiful portraits, while some eager gamblers were busy disburdening those who dared to take the risk of their money.

Whatever was able to catch the attention of the curious visitors, it would to be found and there was barely a desire that would not find its fulfilment on a day like this.

"That will do! From now on, I'll get ahead on my own!"

The young man handed a piece of silver over to the merchant who had picked him up a couple of miles afore and grabbed his belongings when they had to stop in front of the gate as nothing moved neither back nor forth due to the amount of people crowding the street.

He was due to jump off the chart, but the old man held him back: "This is too much! I cannot take it."

"You can", the young one smiled: "Take it as a little something for your kindness."

Saying so, he vanished amidst the crowd before the still baffled merchant was able to talk back again and pushed past the other visitors to the market, marvelling at the sight the spectacle offered to him and still slightly unsure what would wait for him.

For the time being, though, his fascination outweighed his worries.

It was not for the first time that he went to the capital, but it was for the first time that he went to the capital all on his own and not accompanied by his father or by his elder brothers, when Ouyang Nian passed the gate. Actually, he rather got pushed through it by those who followed him, when he forgot about moving along, staring at the goings-on in awe and still amazed by the sight the town provided him with.

Against all doubts he might have had before, a smile enlightened his face and his eyes brightened up when he allowed the crowd to push him forward.

It didn't matter to him, where he would end up; he was too curious and too excited for to care about such negligibilities and he had only a few days to explore the town, the market and what else these days would have in store for him unburdened and lighthearted, before he would have to fulfil the duty which was the real reason for him to stay within the buzzing centre of the Empire.

He turned round again, eager this time to find out where that confusingly cozen scent came from he just had inhaled, when he bumped into an elderly woman and her daughters. Blushing up to his ears, he excused several times, until they finally went on, still giggling over his bearishness.

It was just when he wanted to head on as well, when he heard another silent giggle from somewhere high above him. Having a look around his gaze finally caught the balcony of the nearby tavern and with it the three young beauties, who, obviously, enjoyed watching him.

"He's cute", one of them said.

"And he's so shy", the second stated.

"I could cuddle him to pieces", the third added.

"Aww, look", the first went on: "he's even blushing..."

"Don't be bashful, young one", the second addressed him: "it's nothing awkward to keep us company."

Blushing even more, he raised his hands to greet the lovely trio, but when he found that this tavern was not just a tavern, but one of the town's rather noble brothels, he turned on his heels and took flight as quickly as possible; at least that quickly, that the young ladies would not take it for an insult.

The scent still tickling his nose and the giggling still ringing in his ears, he decided that it couldn't be wrong to search for a real inn to have something for breakfast and to ask for a chamber to stay at, before he'd go on with this adventure of his.

Of course, his mother had stuffed his bag with anything she thought he'd need during his journey, but nothing would ever taste as delicious as a cup of wine and some fresh made sweet rice cookies, while watching the crowd passing by.

He thanked the waiter when he placed the wine and the plate of cookies in front of him and his eyes darkened as soon as he got lost in thoughts again.

All too willingly would he have liked to forget that this visit in town would not only serve the purpose for him to have some pleasant days to be spent at the spring market, but that it would first and foremost mean to him to fulfil an order of his father, who wanted him to serve the High Eunuch Wei Zhongxian at the Eastern Agency. It was not his wish to become part of the dreaded secret police, neither was it his desire to serve as a member of the court as he had learned enough stories of what happened to young men like him when they joined Lord Wei's services, but although his family did not suffer from poorness and although his father was the Governor of the city of Changzhou, they were neither out of reach nor safe if the Eastern Agency reached its hand out for them.

His father had never been fond of the idea to let him go and with his elder brothers serving the Emperor as soldiers near the border in the north he always just wanted to know him, being his youngest son, to stay out of the danger of getting killed in one of the Emperor's endless campaigns...

Ouyang Nian sighed.

The Eastern Agency!

As alluring as it first sounded to become a part of this powerful and also kind of mysterious department, as much felt he worried about it.

It was not the Emperor, his father now wanted him to serve, it was the High Eunuch.

Why?

Was this, what he had studied for all those bygone years?

Was this, what his father had paid a teacher for him for?

Was this really, what his father wanted for him?

He doubted it.

There was more about his father's uncommon behaviour than the eye was able to reveal, but he knew, for now there would not be anything close to an explanation.

He sighed again, filled with only one wish – to be allowed to return to his studies.

His old master was a wise man and he had taught him not only the art of sword fighting, but also philosophy, history and calligraphy and whenever he had asked the elder man, how these very different lessons would be connected, he had gotten just one answer: "Son, it is not enough, to know how to lead a blade. It is important to know its history and its origin. It is important to know your history and origin and you'll find that a Swordmaster can be only this – a Swordmaster – or that he can be one with the blade he wields. But if you want to become one with your blade, you first have to become one with yourself and with everything that is you aside being one with your blade."

Thinking of the sage old man, he touched his belt and a slight smile sneaked back upon his lips. This belt was a gift from his teacher and it kept a secret he first had learned about when he had left his father's estates a couple of weeks ago.

Not sure what would wait for him in case the High Eunuch Wei Zhongxian would accept his father's reference, he made a promise to himself, that no one would ever take this secret from him and that no one would ever touch him, except...

"Give way!"

A sharp voice yelled commands and the crowd scattered to follow the order, when a group of Lord Wei's life guards escorted a heavy cart through the narrow lanes.

"Stop! Please! You must stop! My sister..."

A youthful voice addressed the captain of the guard, the words underlain with panic and despair.

"Out of our way, stripling!" The order was unmistakable.

"But my sister! She stumbled! She cannot get up! The cart will crush her!"

It took him just a split second and Ouyang Nian rushed out of the tavern, following the choked voice of the young boy who tried to stop the guards from overrunning a veiled figure, cowering in the middle of the road.

He cleaved through the crowd and did not hesitate to step in the guard's way: "Is this, how your master and lord celebrates spring market? Ignoring a young lad's plea and crushing his sister under the wheels of a cart you escort?"

The other glared at him, eyes narrowed, and replied: "Step back, fool, or we won't care about you either!"

Ignoring the order, Ouyang Nian reached his hand out for the girl and picked her up. He cocked an eyebrow and glared at the man who obviously was in charge.

"One move would have done", he hissed, not leaving any doubt on him of not being afraid of the armed escort officer.

The other stared at him barely able to restrain his fury, but he did not respond to this unexpected challenge. Instead, he ordered to push the boy, the young woman and the intractable young man aside who still stood in his way.

The scent of jasmine and a pair of tender arms gently wrapped around his neck, caused Ouyang Nian quickly to focus on something different, but the guard again, but before he could even make a try to have a glimpse behind the veil, the young boy grabbed his arm and beheld him out of wide and admiring eyes.

"You dared to challenge the High Eunuch's guard", he cheered: "Just to save my sister's life! You're a hero!"

"So did you, little tiger", Ouyang Nian replied: "You stepped in their way either and you did not even think of what could happen to you."

"That is not the same", the boy talked back frankly: "She is my sister. I'd do everything for her. But you! You are a stranger. You don't know us. You don't have to do a thing like this for us."

"I would do a thing like this for everyone who might be in need for help."

"Doesn't matter", the boy grinned: "you challenged the guard. That was...great!"

"Yang Chien-cheng, stop it!" The young woman's voice interrupted her brother. "Don't be tedious!"

The boy pouted, but she ignored him and moved her head a little.

Ouyang Nian knew she looked at him, but she still left him unable to look back at her in return: "Forgive my little brother. He's still just a child. It's not with intent that he's annoying you."

"There's nothing, you would have to excuse for, be assured, but what about you? You can walk?"

She shook her head: "I fear no..."

"Then let me take you to the nearby tavern. The innkeeper can send for a litter if you let him know whereto they shall carry you."

"You are too kind, but you don't have to do this. I can send Chien-cheng to inform my father. He'll send his own litter..."

"A hero always carries the lady home, right? He can take you home", the boy suggested with a broad grin.

"Chien-cheng", the young woman hissed: "you are such a pain in the neck!"

Ouyang Nian smiled at the little lad and gave him a barely noticeable wink: "I would be a poor hero in the eyes of your brother, if I would leave you now. Please, honour me, keeping me company for a while, having a cup of wine together with me and granting me a conversation while we'll wait for your father's men."

The young woman hesitated for a long second before she slowly nodded and agreed to his offer.

Back at the tavern, the innkeeper was even more eager to fulfil his young guest's wishes. He even offered a quiet niche to him and the two siblings, he was accompanied by meanwhile.

All three kept silent until the waiter left again, after he had brought more wine, rice cakes and some soup.

With a sigh, the young woman finally removed the broad straw hat and the veil it carried and she wasn't able to hide a smile when she looked at a young man of about her age who gazed at her, barely able to keep his jaw from dropping open.

"You are fine", she frowned: "Please, forgive me, but according to your puzzled expression, I must offer a terrible sight..."

"Yes", he replied: "yes, you do", then, realizing what he just had said, he shook his head, cleared his throat and replied with his gaze begging for mercy: "No, no, no! Of course, you don't! Quite the contrary! I mean, you're lovely..."

The words slipped over his lips and he bit his tongue when he found that he had spoken his mind aloud.

The young woman giggled and so did her brother whose gaze wandered from one to the other and back constantly.

Ouyang Nian felt his cheeks burn and he lowered his gaze.

What a fool he was!

At the same time he caught himself staring at her again and again whenever he thought she would not notice it.

After another while spent in silence, the young woman addressed him again: "You saved my life, but you will agree, you are still a nameless hero to admire. Will you tell me your name that my father can thank you himself for keeping his only son and daughter alive?"

"My name is Ouyang Nian", he said: "but, please, don't make such effort about me. Your father will surely have some more important business than wasting his time on me."

"Ouyang Nian?" She cocked her head when she heard his name and looked at him slightly more than just surprised.

"Son of the chief-magistrate of Changzhou..."

"Ouyang Dongfeng!"

"Yes", he replied: "how come you know?"

"My father knows."

"Who is he?"

"My father is Yang Lian, noble of the court, advisor to the Emperor..."

"...and the head of the Donglin Academy and Faction", he finished her sentence with a smile.

"Yes, that he is", she smiled back: "But for now, he's just my father and none of this means as much to him as the lives of those who matter most to him: My brother, Chien-cheng, and me, his daughter, Hui-zhen." Her smile got wider: "He'll always be indebted to you from today on and if he can ever do you a favour, he'll do so without hesitating."

His eyes widened in surprise and in astonishment and he got up, raising his hands to greet the siblings in the official way: "Ouyang Nian pays his greetings to the children of the noble Yang Lian."

He hinted a bow and lowered his gaze once more.

Of course, he remembered the honourable Yang Lian, who was in high ranks at the court, although he dared to even confront the Emperor – and who had been a guest of his father for a couple of times when he still had been little.

He also remembered that Yang Lian was known to be an opponent of the High Eunuch Wei Zhongxian and his followers...

Would he still be that grateful for him having rescued his daughter, if he'd learn that he was meant to serve his sworn enemy?

He blinked and tried to get rid of this thought.

Lifting his gaze, he beheld the young and lovely woman again and said: "If you still think your father will welcome me, even though my father sent me to the capital to serve Lord Wei Zhongxian, I won't ever dare to offend him by not following his wish."

"My father will welcome you", Yang Hui-zhen said: "It will not matter to him whether you'll serve the Emperor or the High Eunuch. You saved my brother and me. Reason enough for him to welcome you. And", she paused, looking straight into his eyes: "it will be my pleasure too, to meet you again. Just let me know where my father's messenger can find you."

"For the time being, I will stay here until I know where to find me appropriate quarters. Your father's messenger will reach me here. Just tell him to leave your father's messages and letters with the innkeeper in case I'm not in reach."


Author's Note:

The idea to this scene got partly inspired by a scene from the movie "The 18 Bronzemen".