15. A training session, Yu Li and another letter
The evening and night passed quietly, the next morning the Marquis took up his sword and walked the short distance from his bedchamber to the training ground. The sight that welcomed him was reassuring and surprising: on one side the wife of Xie (the marquis couldn't remember her name right away) was practicing with a short saber under the apparently excellent guidance of Xie himself. Fei Yuan had just put down a bowl of fruit on the table next to where Xie was seated. With a hand gesture and some words Xie send Fei Yuan on to the training ground to spar with his wife, Rushuang (the marquis suddenly remembered).
On the other side of the training ground to his great delight the marquis saw Yan train with the Emperor, commander Fu and Su Ci. The marquis watched them for a long time and saw Yan first spar with his brother, trading strikes and on occasion words. At times they would halt, discuss what had happened and take up their training again. After a while the Emperor stood to the side and Yan fought with the commander, again sometimes halting, speaking or laughing and then continue their training. And lastly Yan called his own wife. It was immediately clear to the marquis that Yan had trained his wife before. He knew Su would have had some combat training as an officer of the Mingjing Office, but her movements showed the influence of Yan. While their session followed the same pattern as the marquis had seen with the emperor and commander Fu, there was one aspect that differed from them and that was that Yan would often show Su movements hand in hand. Guiding her hands and stance with his own body. It was a method he had used earlier with Su apparently, because it seemed as if both were completely comfortable. "He has been training her since she had to do the promotion exam nearly two years ago." The marquis glanced to his side and saw Xie standing near him, also watching Yan and Su. "I have heard that the private soldiers of Feijun Manor are amongst the best trained soldiers of our empire. Did you train them yourself?" The marquis enquired. Xie nodded: "That is right, though the soldiers trained and under command of Prince Qi are the best. Commander Fu often requests brother Pei's assistance in the training of the Royal Guard." The two men remained silent as they continued to watch Yan and Su perform intricate combat movements. Rushuang came up to the two men and handed Xie his blade. "He'll want you next." She said, indicating Yan with a nod of her head. The marquis followed her nod and smiled: "Well, ehm not quite yet." He'd noticed Yan no longer guiding Su's hand, but stroking it. Then they turned to each other, SU then took a handkerchief from her sleeve and dried the sweat from Yan's forehead. He seemed to be amused about something, as he was laughing. He returned the gesture and wiped Su's forehead and cheek. He lingered at her cheek, caressing it and drawing Su closer, kissing her.
"They are still newly wed." Rushuang said, leaning into Xie's side. Xie put his arm around her and hugged her to her side, kissing her hair. "And half the time since their wedding has been spent travelling with us." He commented, Rushuang nodded: "They need more time alone." Slightly embarrassed by the passioned kissing, the marquis turned his gaze away and saw the emperor and commander Fu also watching Yan and Su. The Emperor seemed pensive or maybe curious and the commander seemed forlorn, maybe even sad. Someone must have said something or done something, because Yan ended their kiss, obviously reluctantly. The marquis saw how Su flicked her eyes to Xie, she gave some encouraging words and then called out: "Brother Xie!" Xie raised his blade in response and ran to the pair. In a leisurely pace Rushuang and the marquis followed him and took a seat next to a table at the side of the training ground. Fei Yuan came to place some fruits and water on the table. Su poured some water for Yan and handed it to him, after giving him on e last kiss on the cheek she said: "Show him you're still the greatest warrior of the empire." Yan merely shook his head, took his sword and turned to Xie. The fight that followed did show that Prince Qi might be a prince sitting idle, but he was still the greatest warrior. The marquis knew none of his solders would be able to defeat him. Xie Beiming was very closely matched with Prince Qi, but he lacked the strategic insight which set Yan apart from other great warriors. "It is reassuring to see that Prince Qi is keeping up with his training." The marquis said to no one in particular." Su looked at the marquis, smiling: "He trains every morning, we try to do it together. He wants to make sure he can fight when necessary, though he rather not."
"He has trained you as well." The marquis remarked. Su nodded: "When the promotion exam came he helped me with the martial arts and archery. After the exam he simply continued to train me. It gives him peace of mind knowing I can defend myself. As an detective at Mingjing Office I have had to fight, not all criminals want to come quietly." Su laughed, focusing on the fight again. After a while Yan and Xie finished, the entire group went back to their rooms to freshen up and meet up for breakfast.
With the exception of Liu Yu and the marquis everyone joined Su and Pei in their travel to the county court. The marquis had asked if they needed him, but Su had told hem they would manage. AAs always her Mingjing office badge opened the necessary doors. When they went to view the body of Yu Li, Xie, Fei Yuan and Zihou remained outside. While they waited someone from court told them several letters had arrived, so they picked those up. As they weren't paying much attention to each other Xie and Fei Yuan didn't notice Zihou quickly putting one of the letters in his pocket.
The viewing of the body didn't yield any new clues, they did find some leaves, which Rushuang quickly identified. Though the plants were of no direct help, as they were quite common, but they could help identifying the spot in which Yu Li had murdered, Su explained when the Pei Zhu asked how those plants could help them. Su and Rushuang determined Yu Li had put up a fight, but the cut that had killed her was clean and had been delivered swiftly, without hesitation, indicating the killer was likely an experienced swordsman.
The group returned to the mansion of the marquis in the late afternoon. The marquis had assembled a small group of soldiers to accompany them to some of the huts in the forest. As it was already late in the day they would visit a few closest to the mansion. The marquis had readied a more detailed maquette of the forest and mountain border. The forest ran up to the mountain border. He explained where the different cabins where and placed a marker where Yu Li's body had been found. Yan and Su both studied the maquette and agreed the cabins closest to the place where the body was found were most likely to yield possible clues. However those were too far out to check. So without much expectation the group went out to inspect the closest cabins and as expected there were no signs in those cabins that anyone had occupied them recently.
Shortly after the darkening of the day the group returned to the mansion and the staff quickly prepared the meal. After the meal everyone returned to their own rooms. Safely in his own room Zihou retrieved the letter that had been sent on from his home. The writing was familiar and he felt the same excitement he always felt when he got another letter from her. Yunchuan had initially written him to inform him that she and her brother had reached Beirong safely and she was home. He had replied, feeling joy at his friendship with Yunchuan and he had written much more then a simple letter declaring he was happy to hear of her safe return. From then on Yunchuan and he had started a long and extensive correspondence. He had expected a letter from Yunchuan, but he had not expected his family sending it on to the border where he was. He sat down and opened the letter, reading it through, smiling knowing she had written it and wanted him to know what had happened with her. And as always he felt a need to write her back immediately. He reread the letter several times as he always did, these letters were his connection to her and he was grateful for that connection and his friendship with Yunchuan. Rereading the letter he noticed that she had some concerns, she wrote her brother needed to be at court more. It was clear she wasn't really clear on why her brother was needed at court, but she wrote something in his demeanor when he returned from court which made her feel that something was troubling him. Zihou thought back to the days that Yunchuan and her brother were in the capital, it had been clear that they had a good relationship, so for her to feel something was troubling her brother could be an indicator that something was really worrying him. Deciding Yunchuan needed some reassuring words, Zihou got up to get his writing implements and started to write her. He told her he was visiting the border with Yan, Su, Rushuang and Xie, telling her they had been called there to investigate a sighting of Yu Li. It took him a long time to finish writing the letter, as always it had resulted in a much longer letter then he had intended. He reread it and then folded it, he would post it as soon as he could. He put the ink and brush away and went to sleep.