Chapter 271.2: Hello Chang'an
Just as the young boy was about to speak again, the study door opened from within—Grandfather stepped out.
“Grandfather!” the boy hurriedly saluted. “Father sent me to invite you to go out and see the lanterns!”
The old servant sighed inwardly—how treacherous human hearts can be!
What kind of father was this, sending his son straight to his death?
“Lanterns?” Grand Tutor Zhu glanced at the full moon of the Lantern Festival and, smiling, said, “Very well, then let’s go see them!”
The old servant gaped.
What in Heaven’s name was this?
Had the old master finally gained enlightenment through his recent Buddhist discussions?
The boy was overjoyed and hurried forward to take his grandfather’s arm.
Grand Tutor Zhu wore a smile, not minding the child’s clinginess for once.
He had only two sons. By his instruction, neither entered officialdom; instead, they passed their days in poetry and painting, gaining some renown in literary circles.
But the trouble was—they were far too idle. With nothing better to do, they kept producing children, turning the household into a veritable nest of cicadas, with nearly twenty grandchildren in total.
This one was the youngest—most mischievous, and the most prone to overstepping bounds.
Yet at this moment, Grand Tutor Zhu suddenly found his little grandson quite endearing. A child’s unruliness and innocence—perhaps there was nothing wrong with that after all.
However, just as they stepped out of the residence courtyard, Grand Tutor Zhu suddenly halted, changing his mind—he no longer wished to go.
The Lantern Festival was crowded and chaotic. At his age, if he were jostled or fell, what a calamity that would be!
Moreover, with the spring examinations approaching, the powerful noble clans were stirring again—openly and secretly plotting retaliation. Countless eyes were fixed upon him, all waiting for some “accident” to happen.
The little grandson blinked up at the suddenly hesitant elder. “Grandfather…”
“Grandfather fears death,” said Grand Tutor Zhu with a gentle chuckle, patting the boy’s head. “Grandfather wishes to live long—beyond a hundred years yet.”
The boy blinked again in astonishment.
Was this truly his grandfather—the same one who always muttered things like ‘better off dead,’ ‘life’s hardly worth the trouble,’ and ‘might as well enter the earth early and rest’?
“Enough, you all go on ahead.” Grand Tutor Zhu smiled. “When you return, bring a flower lantern back for Grandfather.”
He wished to hang a lantern in the courtyard—to honor whichever kind deity, spirit, or ghost might be watching.
He also wished to hang a lantern—to wait for his student’s return, just as he used to when she went to battle.
Now at last, he had a student to wait for again—a return to look forward to.
“This, indeed, is the greatest blessing in life…”
Hands clasped behind his back, Grand Tutor Zhu gazed at the full moon and let out a soft sigh, before suddenly raising one arm before him, striking a martial pose as seen upon the opera stage—brows arched high, stepping to the rhythm of drums: clang clang clang!
Then he began to sing in the bold tones of Qin Opera:
“Within the precious tent, the general gives command—
Soldiers great and small, heed my hand!
Tens of thousands march like a surging tide,
Pursue Liu Bei, let none abide!”
The old servant: “……?”
What on earth—he’s singing now?!
And not just any role—he’s performing a warrior’s part!
How did things suddenly become so grand and dramatic?
Seeing his master’s lively gestures and fierce “opera eyes” fixed on him, the old servant had no choice but to raise his sleeves, put on his best stage face, and respond with a trembling tune:
“Upon his horse, Liu Bei sheds his tears,
Weeping for his brother, the Prince of Jingxiang—Liu Zong so dear!”
“……”
On this festive Lantern Night, the old tutor’s courtyard was filled with the echoes of opera songs—resounding and lively.
That night, the capital too was unusually bustling.
The curfew was lifted; flower lanterns illuminated the entire city as bright as day.
In both the Eastern and Western markets, the Thousand Lantern Festivals were in full swing. Wherever one looked, brilliance dazzled the eyes. This vivid, dreamlike night of prosperity made people forget, if only for a moment, the turmoil and wars beyond the capital walls.
On this very day, Qiao Yumian came to the Chang residence to consult Physician Sun again for her eyes. As she left Xingning Ward, she happened upon Yao Xia, Wei Miaoqing, and several others—who promptly pulled her along to join the lantern festival.
Though it was supposed to be a night of leisure, a group of young ladies together could hardly avoid speaking of Chang Suining.
Qiao Yumian also shared what she knew of Ning Ning’s recent news. But being reserved by nature, she mostly listened.
Her eyes were still covered by a pale-blue silk cloth. Through it, faint lights and shadows mingled, and she could not help but lift her hand slightly, as if to touch them.
Those glimmers and colors, though blurred through the veil, were still piercingly bright.
After a few more steps forward, she faintly discerned a hazy shape rushing toward her.
Before she could make it out, the girls beside her cried out in alarm and reproach:
“You there—how careless can you be!”
“Which family’s young man is this?”
“…Cui Liu Lang?” Qiao Yumian asked tentatively.
“It’s me!” Cui Lang grinned, panting heavily. “I thought Yi Hu was lying to me—but you truly came to the lantern fair, Miss Qiao!”
Qiao Yumian smiled faintly. “Why is Sixth Young Master Cui running so fast?”
Cui Lang opened his mouth to reply—but before he could, voices sounded behind him: Qiao Yubai, Hu Yi, and others approaching.
Qiao Yubai cast a strange glance at Cui Lang. He had just heard that Yumian had gone to the lantern fair, and yet this Sixth Young Master had outrun even her own elder brother!
Though she had seen her brother, Qiao Yumian still preferred to wander the fair with Yao Xia, Wu Chunbai, and the other girls. Qiao Yubia could only instruct her maid carefully before leaving.
Soon, Qiao Yubai was dragged off by several fellow scholars to guess riddles.
Ever since Chang Suining’s deeds had spread throughout the capital, Qiao Yubai, being “the only brother of Young Miss Chang now residing in the capital,” had risen greatly in reputation and was in high demand wherever he went.
After wandering for a while longer, Yao Xia, unable to contain herself, whispered, “Sister Qiao… why does Sixth Young Master Cui keep following us?”
Qiao Yumian was surprised, instinctively turning her head as though to look.
Seeing her “look” his way, Cui Lang—though well aware she could not truly see—still felt guilty and averted his eyes, hurriedly barking to Yi Hu beside him, “Go, buy that butterfly lantern for me!”
Yi Hu blinked. “…What does Young Master want with a butterfly lantern?”
Cui Lang flushed, giving him a swift kick. “Mind your own business!”
Yi Hu could only clutch his backside and scurry off to buy the lantern.
Qiao Yumian pressed her lips together in amusement and turned her face away.
Yao Xia’s round eyes darted mischievously. After a moment, she leaned closer to whisper in Yumian’s ear, “Sister Qiao, why do I feel like Sixth Young Master Cui might…”
Before she could finish, a voice called out—“Ah Xia!”
It was her brother, Yao Gui.
Yao Xia paused and turned toward the sound.
Yao Gui pushed through the crowd in haste, his expression anxious.
Yao Xia passed Qiao Yumian’s hand to Wei Miaoqing, then went to meet her brother. “Brother, what’s happened?”
Yao Gui was out of breath. “It’s Sister Ran…”
“Cousin?” Yao Xia’s heart tightened. “What’s wrong with her?”
The crowd was noisy all around, and Yao Gui dared not speak openly. “Come home with me quickly—I’ll explain on the way!”
Yao Xia dared not delay. After excusing herself to her friends, she hurried away with her brother.
When the siblings returned to the Yao residence, they went straight to Grandmother Yao’s quarters.
The entire family was present. Yao Yi stood beside the old lady, looking down with a complicated expression at his daughter, who was kneeling and refusing to rise.
Yao Xia, panting from the rush, quickly greeted her elders, then rushed to Yao Ran’s side, taking her hand anxiously. “Cousin—why must you become a nun?!”
Her cousin had been praying in the small family shrine for nearly a year, seemingly more at peace lately—how had she suddenly decided to leave and take vows?
“When did I ever say I wished to be a nun?” Yao Ran smiled gently. “You must have misheard. I’m not leaving to take vows—I’m leaving home.”
Yao Xia turned instinctively toward her brother.
Yao Gui scratched his head awkwardly. Their mother had sent him to fetch his sister to persuade Ran Ran, but perhaps he’d misunderstood.
Still… what did she mean by leaving home if not to become a nun?
Uneasy, Yao Xia asked, “Then where is Cousin going?”
“To seek General of Ningyuan, Young Miss Chang,” Yao Ran said clearly. “I’m going to join the army.”
Yao Xia stared in shock. “Cousin—you’re enlisting?!”
Yao Gui was equally stunned. “Sister, what suddenly made you think of joining the army today…”
Yao Ran softly interrupted him. “It wasn’t sudden. I’ve long made up my mind. It’s just that yesterday, I received a reply from Young Miss Chang.”
As she spoke, she looked toward her father, Yao Yi, who held the letter in his hand.
Yao Yi’s expression shifted uncertainly.
Earlier that year, his daughter had asked him to send a letter to that young woman. Only today did he realize—it had been a self-recommendation!
And that young woman—she dared to accept it!
Her reply contained only a few brief lines:
The army makes no distinction of birth, nor imposes restriction.
Yet life in the army is harsh, and danger to one’s life constant.
If your decision is firm, then discuss it thoroughly with your family.
There was no encouragement, no persuasion, no refusal—only the choice, returned wholly to Yao Ran and her family.
Yao Yi’s heart was a tangle of emotions.
The first one had already gone off without a word, later becoming the first female general of fifth rank in Da Sheng, even appointed Chief Instructor of the troops!
Impressive as that sounded, he had spent every day in the capital terrified, burning incense three times a day—more faithfully than he ate his meals!
And now—another one?!
He felt as though lamb after lamb was leaping from his grasp, and he could catch none of them!
“…Rather than wallowing in ignorance, confined within a narrow Buddha hall and a few worn scriptures, endlessly seeking a way to redeem my sins—I wish to go to a broader place, to do something truly meaningful, to seek the true path of salvation.”
Yao Ran kowtowed once more. “Ran’er’s resolve is firm. I beg Grandmother and Father to allow it!”
That night, none in the Yao household slept.
Three days later, a carriage quietly departed from the Yao residence’s rear gate, rolling out through the city gates of the capital—heading southward, toward lands torn by war.
At that very moment, in Jiangnan, a newly circulating battle proclamation was stirring the region into mounting unrest.
A thousand-character supplement today! Good night!
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