Chapter 5: News From Old Friends

Meanwhile, in Dali, spring had rolled into early summer with the accompanying heat and humidity. It was on a particularly uncomfortable day that felt like it should rain that Ru Yi found herself trapped in the stuffy apothecary, drowning in the fumes of herbs and medicines, which were always more overwhelming in the summer. She thought she was slowly going mad from the heat and was fanning herself with a book when she heard someone enter.

"I am looking for Ai Da ren," the man, looking about in his thirties, said to her as he approached the counter.

Maybe it was the effect of the heat, but it took Ru Yi a moment to react. First off, the man's voice was much higher than normal, and he was obviously a eunuch, which meant he was probably a servant from a very wealthy family. Why on earth would anyone of such high status be looking for her father? And secondly, no one had ever called her father 'Da ren'. 'Da fu', yes, but not 'Da ren'.

"Oh, that will be my father. Just one moment, please."

Ai Qi was not surprised when Ru Yi told him someone was looking for him. People around town often looked for him to ask for medical advice. However, the person he met in the front room of the apothecary was the last person he expected.

"Xiao Deng Zi!" Ai Qi exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing the eunuch.

By habit, Xiao Deng Zi knelt down and performed a full kowtow to Ai Qi, and would have blurted out "Wu Ah Ge ji xiang" if Ai Qi did not interrupt him with a hasty cough.

"Please, stand up. Really, there's no need for all this formality," Ai Qi said pointedly as he raised Xiao Deng Zi to his feet.

"Ai Da ren," Xiao Deng Zi bowed to Ai Qi and said sheepishly.

Ai Qi was still too bewildered at Xiao Deng Zi's appearance in Dali to notice or be bothered by Ru Yi's confused expression at the exchange between them.

"What are you doing all the way here?" Ai Qi asked anxiously. Some panic was beginning to creep into his mind. What had happened in Beijing?

"Da ren, I have a letter for you from Fu Da ren about Ji Xiang Xiao jie," Xiao Deng Zi said.

A gasp from Ru Yi and an astonished stare from Ai Qi greeted Xiao Deng Zi's reply. After months of no news of Ji Xiang, it was astonishing that information should come from Er Kang in Beijing of all places! "Ji Xiang! How do you know about her? Where is she? Why is Er Kang writing to me about her?"

"Sir, I'll let the letter explain." Xiao Deng Zi handed Ai Qi an envelope.

Ai Qi turned to Ru Yi and said, "Go get your mother home." Ru Yi shot out the door immediately, and Ai Qi invited Xiao Deng Zi to sit down. He himself dropped down onto a chair nearby and tore open the envelope. However, Xiao Deng Zi remained standing.

"Xiao Deng Zi, please, take a seat," Ai Qi said, indicating another chair.

"But, sir - "

Ai Qi sighed exasperatedly. "Please, this is not the palace, and I am no longer Wu Ah Ge. I know I will never be able to persuade you to drop the 'Da ren' and call me by name, but at least, sit down."

Ai Qi looked at the letter in his hand and it took him several moments to realise that he was trying too hard to read the whole letter at once that he hadn't taken a word in. Calming himself somewhat, he forced himself to read the individual words one by one instead of staring at the whole letter.

Dear Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi,

We know Xiao Deng Zi would have told you that this letter is about Ji Xiang so we'll get to the point. Firstly, Ji Xiang is safe with us, so you can stop worrying now.

A few days ago, Ying Zhong and his brother, Ying De, went hunting. According to them, Ying Zhong was aiming to shoot a deer, but missed. You will never guess who his arrow ended up shooting instead. Honestly? We're still trying to figure out whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that Ying Zhong shot Ji Xiang by accident.

When the boys found out that Ying Zhong had shot a person by accident, they brought her home, and we had her wound treated. Her wound, though was dangerous, is healing and she should make a full recovery. You must imagine the confusion we were in and how nervous we were as we waited for Ji Xiang to wake up to be able to find out who she was, after we saw her anklet, and saw how familiar she looked.

Lao Ye was also there when the boys brought Ji Xiang home and was actually the first to verbally suggest, though we all had a suspicion, that she might, somehow, miraculously, have a relation to you. Lao Ye was also there when Ji Xiang awoke and we learnt her name. We think the three of us all knew she was your daughter even before we asked her name. She could have only gotten those pairs of eyes from one person, and she looked too much like both of you for doubt.

Needless to say, to learn that Ji Xiang was your daughter bewildered us even more as we wondered what she was doing in Beijing, and all alone. She told us that she was kidnapped on the way home from the market and brought her from Yunnan to Beijing. Her kidnappers were planning to sell her to a brothel, but she managed to escape from them in Beijing. Aside from her wound from Ying Zhong's arrow, she is perfectly unharmed.

We know that you two must have been beyond worried about her well-being, and hope that you're more assured now that she's being taken care of. She had met Lao Ye and knows our about our titles. We also told her about Xiao Yan Zi being Zi Wei's sworn sister. Other than that, we haven't told her anything else. Though, really, your daughter is a smart girl, and it's obvious she can tell there's a lot more to our relationship than just a simple friendship. We want to ask you how much you want us to tell her, because she's bound to ask questions.

Also, I don't think any of us could miss the irony of Ji Xiang and Ying Zhong meeting as they did, considering what we agreed to years ago. We don't think the engagement should be revealed to the two of them just yet, since Ji Xiang is still so young. Also, it's better to let nature takes its course anyway, since if we tell them about the engagement, it will put the two of them at awkward position with each other. They're getting on well so far, and Ji Xiang and our daughter Xuan Zhuang can be quite thick as thieves now.

Ji Xiang had told us about your situation and we're glad that you're all well and happy. We are all well here in Beijing, though I am sure you've heard about Lao Fo Ye and Ling Fei Niang Niang's passing away. Life in the City of Memories certainly is a lot more quiet and subdued without you, especially Xiao Yan Zi. Lao Ye sends his best wishes and his love.

Write back to us, and especially concerning Ji Xiang's situation. Meanwhile, stop worrying about her and rest assured that she is being treated to the best care with us. We miss you all very much and hope that we will meet again. For now, give our best to Xiao Jian and Qing Er, and take care.

All our love,

Er Kang and Zi Wei

Ai Qi looked up from the letter just as Xiao Yan Zi, Qing Er, Xiao Jian and the children rushed into the room. Xiao Deng Zi promptly sprang up from his seat and greeted them.

"Xiao Deng Zi pays respect to Ai Fu ren, Fang Da ren, Fang Fu ren!"

"Xiao Deng Zi! What are you doing here? What's the news about Ji Xiang?" Xiao Yan Zi asked frantically.

"Ji Xiang is in Beijing, she's staying at Fu residence. Xiao Deng Zi just delivered a letter from Er Kang and Zi Wei."

"Beijing?" Xiao Jian exclaimed. "What is she doing all the way in Beijing?"

"How would she even know the Fu family? Or Fu residence?" Qing Er asked, not giving Ai Qi any time to answer Xiao Jian's questions.

Xiao Yan Zi didn't even bother with the questions and upon seeing the said letter in her husband's hand, she unceremoniously snatched it from him. When the letter was over, she simply fell down onto a nearby chair and stared at it, apparently moved to speechlessness. "I know how you feel," Ai Qi murmured.

It was as if Xiao Yan Zi had realised that everyone was still around her; she pressed her fingers against her temple to push back the invading headache then gave Ai Qi a helpless and slightly incredulous look. "Someone up there is seriously having a lot of fun with us."

Her husband managed to give a crooked smile at the thought, however her brother and sister-in-law, who were as of yet clueless about the contents of the letter, demanded impatiently, "What does the letter say?" Xiao Yan Zi handed it to them.

They put their heads together to read it and fell silent too at the knowledge that the letter imparted, though it was probably safe to assume that they didn't feel the same effect as Ai Qi and Xiao Yan Zi regarding the manner in which Ji Xiang and Ying Zhong met. It was more likely that they were just shocked into relief to know that their niece was safe after months of incessant worry.

"Father?" Jian Jun finally spoke up when none of the grown-ups showed any sign of letting them know what was going on.

Ai Qi finally realised that they weren't the only ones who had been worried about Ji Xiang all this time and as unexpected a turn as this was, it was probably cruel to keep the comforting knowledge that Ji Xiang was safe from the children.

"Your sister was kidnapped and brought to Beijing, where she managed to escape from her kidnappers. She, miraculously, met the family of our old friends, the Fu family and is currently staying at their house."

Of course, he knew that there were probably thousands of questions that might occur to his children when faced with this rather simplistic explanation, but at the moment he did indeed feel too much used and manipulated by some higher forces to consider a detailed explanation which would better satisfy the children.

"Beijing? Jie jie is in Beijing?" Jian Wen exclaimed when Ai Qi didn't elaborate

"It would seem so. Well, at least she is in the safest place she could possibly be outside of home. I am thankful for that, at least," Xiao Yan Zi said. The relief was palpable in her voice, but so was the worry regarding the confusion and complication that the situation now posed.

"What shall you do?" Qing Er asked.

"Well, isn't that the question worth quite a few gold teals right now." Ai Qi was looking at Xiao Yan Zi and saw that perhaps the same idea had begun to form in her mind as well.

Xiao Yan Zi felt jumpy and couldn't curb her restless for the rest of the day until she, Ai Qi, Xiao Jian and Qing Er finally were able to come together to discuss the situation later in the evening. They had earlier gave their children a more detailed explanation of where Ji Xiang was and how she got there, but with their own emotions and thoughts in an utter mess, they still had to leave out quite a few details of who the Fu family were in relations to them. Xiao Yan Zi knew that the children were far from not seeing that there were still secrrets, and she felt guilty for keeping those secrets from them, especially when they had gone through just the same worries and heartache as she had over Ji Xiang's disappearance. At that moment, however, she didn't think she could face an explanation of their real identities to their children just yet. Still, she knew that Ji Xiang deserved an explanation which had to come from her and it had to be in person.

"I want to go back to Beijing."

Xiao Jian and Qing Er both looked at her in surprise but it was her brother who voiced the concern. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! I can't - I can't just sit here! I know she's with Er Kang and Zi Wei and she should be fine, and I shouldn't worry but I can't! I can't just not worry! Besides, now that she's there, there are explanations that had to be made and she has to hear it from us."

"She's right," Ai Qi said. "I think the time has come so that we can't avoid the truth with Ji Xiang anymore. Besides, we've had months of worry over Ji Xiang, I can't bear the thought of just leaving her there in Beijing by herself. We trust Er Kang and Zi Wei but to Ji Xiang they are still strangers. There are possible consequences of going back, but for Ji Xiang's sake, we have to."

"I don't think it would be a problem," Qing Er said, "as long as you make sure you are not seen by anyone who shouldn't see you. Then again Xue Shi Fu is a big estate, it will hide you well."

"I know it's dangerous and we'd have to make sure to not run into someone we shouldn't meet, but we can't possibly wait here for news after months of worrying about Ji Xiang," Ai Qi said.

Neither Qing Er nor Xiao Jian could or would argue with that sentiment, so he only said, "It would just be the two of you then?"

"Unless you two absolutely refuse to keep an eye on the rest of the kids for us for a while," Xiao Yan Zi smiled.

Qing Er pretended to think. "I don't know, Xiao Yan Zi. Who knows how long you will be gone for? And six kids is a huge responsibility."

"At least they don't get into trouble every other day like Xiao Yan Zi used to." He had not felt like he could joke for such a long while that the sensation felt quite strange. Still, even Xiao Yan Zi had to smile, though she made a show of being upset, first.

"I suppose we should Xiao Deng Zi ahead first to warn Er Kang and Zi Wei that we're coming. After all, we can't just appear on their doorsteps," Ai Qi said.

"I guess so. Though I suppose they'd take us even if we just appear on their doorsteps. Or at least Liu Qing and Jin Suo would," Xiao Yan Zi answered.

"Are you nervous?"

"Going back to Beijing?"

"The possibility of seeing Zhi Hua again."

Ai Qi sighed. A sigh always accompanied discussion of Zhi Hua. "To be honest, yes. And to be honest, I'd rather we didn't see Zhi Hua when we get back. It wouldn't solve anything. I know she wouldn't have believed the story that we're dead but it won't help for us to see each other again. It would open too many old wounds."

"Are you sure, then, that you want to go back?"

"Xiao Yan Zi, you know we both want to. It's not just making sure Ji Xiang is ok, either. It's also seeing everyone else - Er Kang, Zi Wei, Huang Ah Ma if we're lucky, everyone at Hui Bin Lou."

Xiao Yan Zi didn't answer but the burden of sorrow showed clearly on her expression. He took her hand and kissed it.

"Don't feel guilty, Xiao Yan Zi."

"That advice is about as useful as me telling you not to do the same."

He had to smile at that. "Point taken."

"Another thing we have to talk about, though. What are we going to tell Ji Xiang?" Xiao Yan Zi asked. "It's going to be rather complicated, wouldn't it?"

"I know. But she must know now that she's there. We probably won't be able to avoid it with the rest of the children either, but I don't think I can deal with that right now. It will have to wait until we get back. Now that Ji Xiang's been shoved into our old world like that, I think they all deserve to know the truth. It won't be easy; I dread how it would affect them and hurt them."

Half a month after he set out for Beijing again from Dali, Xiao Deng Zi arrived back in the capital, and delivered Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi's reply to Er Kang and Zi Wei.

Dear Er Kang and Zi Wei,

It's impossible to describe our relief when we read your letter. Thank Heaven that somehow Ji Xiang miraculously found her way to you. Who knows what could have happened to her if she didn't. Thank you, thank you, thank you for having found her, even if it was totally by accident.

Still, we've had three months of knowing nothing about what happened to her and despite the relief that she's safe with you, it's still hard for us to stay put in one place and wait for news of her. So we've decided to come to Beijing. We should be arriving in Beijing about three days after this letter, as we're planning to set out after Xiao Deng Zi three days. It will just be the two of us coming, as Xiao Jian and Qing Er agreed that it was better for the rest of the children to remain in Dali with them.

Hopefully we can stay at Xue Shi Fu with you? (This is Xiao Yan Zi. I don't know why Yong Qi thinks we need to ask this. Of course you'll take us, right?)

It will be great to be able to see the two of you again, as well as Huang Ah Ma. However, we know that our coming will mean that you will have to keep some secrets in Xue Shi Fu but it will be worth it, just to be able to see each other again.

As for what you should tell Ji Xiang, it's probably best that we explain to her in person, so if you could, spare her most of the details for the time being. We will have to talk to her when we get there. Hopefully we will have arrived before she starts asking too many questions and making things difficult for you. That should be the case, anyhow, as Ji Xiang, as inquisitive as she is, tends to rather shy and I don't think she'll bombard you with questions before she learns to be comfortable around you.

We'll stop at Hui Bin Lou first when we arrive in Beijing and let you know then that we've arrived in Beijing so that we won't take anyone by surprise by just turning up at Xue Shi Fu.

See you soon,

Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi

Er Kang and Zi Wei were in one of the gardens of Xue Shi Fu when they got this letter.

"Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi are coming here?"

"All right, we have to think about this. Obviously it will be wonderful to see them again, but seriously, there are a lot of implications of this," Er Kang said reasonably.

"We've got to tell Huang Ah Ma. Huang Ah Ma will want to see them again, both of them. But then, it's got to be discreet, doesn't it?"

"Exactly. This will have to be a secret visit, as we can't very well let anyone outside know that they will be here, especially anyone who can recognise them as Wu Ah Ge and Huan Zhu Ge Ge. Two people who are supposed to dead cannot just suddenly turn up at our house. But I don't think this should be too hard. We can have them stay at the south wing, it's a bit secluded from the main wings so it will be harder for them to bump into anyone unnecessarily."

"What about Zhi Hua?" Zi Wei gasped.

"What about Zhi Hua? It's not as if she comes here that often. Even then, I think Yong Qi will go out of his way to avoid Zhi Hua, if I'm reading the tone of this letter right."

"Well, I can't imagine Yong Qi overly excited about seeing Zhi Hua again, myself, either. But don't you think it will be rather awkward for us to know that they're staying with us and then maybe meet Zhi Hua in the palace and pretend everything is as normal?"

"It's not as if we could tell her, could we? What Zhi Hua doesn't know won't hurt her. It won't do any of them, any of us, any good for Zhi Hua to know that Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi will be here. After all, Wu Ah Ge is dead. It's an irrefutable fact. Zhi Hua is used to it, even if she might not believe it. Putting the fact otherwise in her face now would just bring more pain for all."

Zi Wei pondered for a moment. "Do you think Yong Qi regrets it?"

"I think he regrets marrying Zhi Hua, no matter how at the time we all knew there was no other choice. And to be honest, if we look at it, it was a disastrous marriage from the start. Given how Yong Qi was forced into it, I don't think he could ever learn to love Zhi Hua even if he wasn't so in love with Xiao Yan Zi. Though I suppose if he wasn't so in love with Xiao Yan Zi, the situation would never get to the point where he was forced to marry Zhi Hua. But anyway, I don't think he regrets leaving for Xiao Yan Zi."

"Sometimes I wonder whether we got it all wrong, whether we did the wrong thing in stopping Xiao Jian telling Xiao Yan Zi the truth from the very beginning. Did we really believe that we could have kept the truth from her forever?"

"I don't think we could have foreseen anything. There was so much at stake then, even if we told her from the beginning, who knows what could have happened? I think there would always be good and bad outcomes. If we could pick the best one, it wouldn't be life."

"You're right, I suppose," Zi Wei said. "What about Huang Ah Ma?"

"I'll go see Huang Ah Ma now and tell him about this."

"All right."

Zi Wei watched her husband leave. Then, folding the letter still in her hand, she made her way back into the house. As she stepped through an archway leading to the next courtyard, Zi Wei came face to face to with Ji Xiang, who had a tense expression on her face.

"Ji Xiang, how are you feeling? Why aren't you with Xuan Zhuang?" Zi Wei hoped that Ji Xiang had just arrived and had not heard her earlier conversation with Er Kang.

"Xuan Zhuang is inside. I - I wanted some fresh air," Ji Xiang answered, her voice a little shaky.

"You look a bit pale."

"I'm fine. But - "

She hesitated, looking at Zi Wei as if scared to ask.

"But what?"

Ji Xiang hesitated again. Then she blurted out, "Who is Zhi Hua?"

Zi Wei's heart sank and she closed her eyes for a moment. "You heard that conversation?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I really didn't. I just - "

"It's all right," Zi Wei sighed. "Curiosity is not a sin. Besides, I suppose it would be rather hard to keep things from you now that you're here anyway."

"I know…my parents don't tell me a lot of things," Ji Xiang confessed.

"It's understandable, really. But I think now I will have to tell you the whole story rather than let you speculate from what you've just heard. Come inside."

Once they have sat down inside, Zi Wei began, "Ji Xiang, what you have to understand is what I'm about to tell you can be rather shocking. Promise me you will listen to the whole story before reacting, all right?"

Ji Xiang mutely nodded.

"How much do you know about your family history?"

"Not much. I mean, just that my parents moved to Dali from Beijing when they first married."

"Do you speak Manchurian?"

"Yes. Father insisted that we learnt it. We never knew why, though."

"And you never asked why?" Zi Wei wondered.

"No, and I don't exactly know why. I think it was just one of the things that we accepted."

"Your family name, Ai, do you know where it comes from?"

Ji Xiang shook her head. Zi Wei smiled slightly.

"It comes from Ai Xin Jue Luo."

Ji Xiang stared blankly at her. "What?"

"Your father is my brother."s

"What?"

Zi Wei chuckled. "I know it's quite a surprise. Yes, Ai Xin Jue Luo Yong Qi, Wu Ah Ge, Rong Qin Wang."

"What?"

Slowly, Zi Wei proceeded to explaining to Ji Xiang everything about her parents' real identity, everything that happened between them and the reasons for their moving to Dali. She also debated to herself whether she should also tell Ji Xiang about Zhi Hua's lost baby, but decided against it for the time being. Perhaps it might help explain better Yong Qi's decision to leave, but it would only increase her niece's pain. Ji Xiang listened to Zi Wei's story in rapt silence, with an expression of pained fascination. Even after the story had finished, Ji Xiang found it hard to immediately express a reaction to it other than sitting mutely as the information turned itself over in her mind and she tried to accept it.

"I know it's a lot to take in so suddenly," Zi Wei said comfortingly.

"I don't - How could this be possible?" Ji Xiang's voice was very faint as she asked this."So to get this straight, my father actually married another woman, then left her to go to Dali with my mother?" Her voice was filled with confusion and hurt and it made Zi Wei's heart give a pain lurch. Ji Xiang definitely wouldn't be taking this news calmly, but then again, Zi Wei hardly expected her to. It wasn't the type of information that could be taken in stride. Perhaps Zi Wei would even be worried if she had taken it well. "Yes. But you have to understand, at the time, he didn't have a choice but marry Zhi Hua. It was your uncle's life at stake. There was nothing he could do to refuse."

"This can't be. It can't be possible, it just can't," Ji Xiang said, shaking her head vigorously. Tears sprang into her eyes. "I don't believe it."

Zi Wei squeezed her shoulder comfortingly, knowing there was nothing she could really do or say that would make the sudden information less painful or shocking. "I know you can't digest everything right now, and I don't want to sound patronising but it's very hard to understand the situation we were in then, if you weren't there and experiencing the dangers with us. Don't be too hasty to judge your father, my dear. I won't say it was the right decision in the long run - right and wrong is relative, by any means. But in reality, in that situation, it wasn't the right choice, it was the only choice. And your father wasn't the only one who made the decision, it was all of us."

Ji Xiang didn't answer, but simply said, "Can I just be alone for a bit?"

"All right. But, remember this, Ji Xiang, ultimately, no one among us is perfect. Don't be too harsh on your parents."

Zi Wei was about to go, before Ji Xiang called, "Aunt Zi Wei."

"Yes?"

"Are my parents really coming here?"

"Yes. We should be expecting them in a couple of days."

"Right."

With one last sympathetic look at her niece, Zi Wei exited the room and closed the door behind her.

When Er Kang returned from the palace later that day, Zi Wei told him about her conversation with Ji Xiang.

"She reacted badly then?" Er Kang asked worriedly.

"Well, she didn't really react. I mean, not in the way that Xiao Yan Zi would react. I'm sure it's a shock for her and she must be somewhat still in denial, and honestly I can't blame her. From the way she talked before, she practically idolised Yong Qi and to find out this is a rather nasty fall, I just hope it won't cause too much damage."

"So what do we do?" Er Kang asked.

"I don't see whether we can do anything, really. She'll have to learn to accept it and I don't think she will manage to accept it until she gets a chance to speak to her parents. For now I think we should just make sure she takes care of herself. What did Huang Ah Ma say?"

"He's happy that they're coming and that we'll be able to see them again. And he does understand the need for discretion."

The next two days at Xue Shi Fu was busy getting ready for Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi. Ji Xiang, on the other hand, was quiet for most of the time, still visibly upset, though she assured Er Kang and Zi Wei that she was fine.