25. The widow and stories

"Your Highness." The widow of the minister bowed, when her servant showed her into the room where her guests were waiting. "You may rise." Shuomo said and he introduced Yan and Su, telling the same story they had used before. "Did he die in the same way as my husband?" the widow asked when Shuomo told her about the man who had died in the village were his friends lived. Yan nodded and then asked: "Could you tell us about the last day of your husband?" The lady invited them to sit and a servant served tea.

"It has been some days, but I'll tell you what I remembered." She told them that the minister had been summoned to the palace unexpectedly. "He had been very busy, because the trade deal was not going the way everybody wanted. After the meeting with the emperor my husband would go to the market. There had been multiple indications something was wrong and the supervisor apparently couldn't handle the situation. When he finally returned I could see he wasn't feeling well. His clothing was stained by something. He seemed tired, unsteady and pale. But he said he just needed to eat something. It was almost dinnertime so one of our servants gave him some fruit. Then we sat down for dinner. Halfway through.." the widow swallowed heavily, Su saw her hands were shaking as well. "Take your time, madam." Su said, reaching for the shaking hands and placing her hand on top of them. The widow nodded, taking a few calming breaths: "Halfway through dinner he turned paler, he grabbed his throat. I could see panic in his eyes, so I ordered the servant to get the doctor. My husband started to convulse, he threw up and he had trouble breathing I helped him lay dawn and held his hand. Then the convulsions became even worse. He lost conscience before the doctor came. The doctor saw him and told me there was nothing he could do. Shortly after that he died. The doctor said he'd been poisoned, but he didn't know which poison." The widow was obviously very upset, so Su clasped her hands tighter in comfort.

"Thank you for telling us." Su said first, then after a moment she continued: "Were there people who wished your husband ill?" Shocked the lady looked up at Su: "Not that I know off. He didn't have enemies, though he did not like the supervisor of the market and he didn't like my husband. At court there were officials and ministers that had other views, but there was no animosity, for as far as I know." The widow fell silent for a short while and then said: "He was a good man, a good husband and a good farther. He did a good job as the minister of trade and worked hard to make the trade deal a success. He loved the empire and the emperor. You must know this Your Highness." Imploringly she looked at Shuomo, who gently said: "My father and I know this, Lady. My father was deeply shocked and grieved when he heard of the passing of the trade minister."

"Please, they told me they think a warrior from Liang did this, but my husband worked for a strong relationship with Liang. He thought that would be the best for both empires. Is it true? did someone from Liang do this?" the lady asked Shuomo who shook his head: "There are still some questions, but I will make sure the one who did this will be caught and be punished."

"Thank you." Su asked if there was anything else the lady could think of that seemed strange in the last days of her husbands life. "No, not really. He seemed a bit more interested in folklore again, but nothing really strange." The widow responded.

"How come you noticed his interest in folklore?" Su then asked.

"Oh, he had asked a servant to get some scrolls and books he had put away. He'd read them when we were younger, he used to read the legends to our children. They loved the stories of great warriors, dragon kings, and ghosts. But since our children married those books had been put in a few rooms elsewhere in the mansion and he hadn't read them again in a long time. "

"Was there a specific story he read?"

"I don't know, I don't read." The lady said. "But I think it was only because we had just heard that our son is going to be a father. I expect my husband wanted to see which stories he could read to his grandchild." Su's eyes started to shine a little bit when she asked: "Which stories did he like to tell? We're going to have a child as well, it would be nice if my husband could tell those stories as well." Lovingly Su looked up at Yan, who placed his hand of hers. For once he couldn't understand where Su was going with her question. The lady told Su all kind of legends and stories which were obviously well known in Beirong because Shuomo on several occasions added the stories of versions he'd heard during his childhood. To Yan it became clear that the interrogation was over, so he relaxed and took in the sight of his wife. Su was very interested in the stories she heard, but he also saw she was getting tired. This visit had been longer than any had intended, so when the conversation started to wind down Yan suggested they'd return to the mansion. The others readily agreed to it.

Back at the mansion Yan carried Su to their room, not listening to her protestations. "I'll have some food delivered to your rooms." Shuomo said. Just as Yan nodded Su protested again: "I'm not that tired and I feel fine. We'll join you for dinner. It's one of my favorite things we used to do together, sharing our meal together. It's something I miss." Shuomo looked at Yan, who said: "Alright, we'll join you. Please have someone get us if dinner is ready." With that he made his way to their room. Yan gently placed Su on the bed and took her shoes off, but Su didn't want to lay down, so she invited Yan to sit with her. She didn't need to ask this twice, quickly Yan sat down next to her. Leaning against one of the bedpost he took Su in his arms. Thinking back to the conversation they'd had asked: "Why were you so interested in the stories the minister used to tell or read?" When Su didn't immediately answered Yan looked down and saw her blush a little bit. "Why is it relevant to the case?" he pushed.

"It isn't. I was just interested. Hearing her talk about her husband reading to her children made me think about you telling stories to our child." Su timidly said, knowing she had led her personal feelings interfere with an investigation. But the opportunity was too good to pass up. She felt Yan tighten the hug. "I would love to tell our children about the folklores and legends of our empire. Will you stay and listen?" he felt her nod against his chest.

"Did your father ever tell you stories?" Su wondered. Yan stared into the distance, thinking about his childhood. "I believe he did, but not often. The stories the Dowager Empress told the emperor and me I remember better. I would walk to his rooms when I knew the empress would come to tell a story. He would be on her lap and she'd let me lean on her. I could never do that with the other concubines, but she'd let me." Su looked up and saw that her husband was thinking about the past. They had spoken about each other's childhood but never really much about what kind of parent their parents had been. It was interesting to hear about his childhood and how different it had been to hers. And now they would become parents themselves. Sitting up a bit, to be better able to see Yan Su asked what his favorite memory of his father was. Yan looked at her: "Actually, training with him."

"You trained with him?" Su asked surprised.

"He trained me and my brothers himself. We would also sometimes have other trainers, the generals when they were in the capital for example. But most of the training my father did himself. I think he liked it." Yan fell silent, but Su could see he would be likely to say more, so she remained silent as well. "My father once said I was most like him. He was a great warrior and he could see the same in me. When I grew older he also taught me military tactics. And when we grew older he trained me and my brothers separately. Once in a while he would have us fight each other. He was tough on us, but only because he could see we could do better. I remember a conversation I had with him. I think I was 14 or 15. He told me that I was a very good warrior, but that being a good warrior meant I would hold many lives in my hands and it was my responsibility not to kill lightly. Taking someone's live, even in battle should always be the last option, he said. But I should not shrink away if the situation demanded taking a live. It's a balance not many will understand, but it's a balance you should maintain. That's what he said. It wasn't until the first real battle that I understood what precisely my father meant. Now it's something I hold dear and guides me to this day."

"He certainly would be proud of you." Su solemnly said. "I'm very grateful he taught you so much." They remained silent for a while. Yan still had one arm around Su's shoulder, his other hand was entangled with her hand an placed on Su's stomach. Su sat up a little: "Did you know the late emperor was going to give the Tiger Tally to you?"

"During our last training, well at that time it was my training and he sat watching, he told me that if something would happen to him I would receive the Tiger Tally. He said he could only trust me with it." Yan smiled: "He told me then to live on, no matter how difficult it is."

"That's what you told me, when you saved me from those two men."

"At that moment I didn't really know what to say, it felt right to say those words."

"Those words have helped me through so many difficult times." Su nestled closer to Yan, closing her eyes. Yan saw her close her eyes and kissed head. "Rest now, my dear."