Chapter 89 : Chapter 89

Chapter 89: The Bonds of Duty

"Deal."

Two ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍words, sharp as a blade striking stone.

Outside ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Taiping Clinic, carriages and crowds flowed past.

Inside, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a thin, scrappy clinic apprentice stood behind the counter and struck a bargain with one of the most powerful feudal princes in the Ning Dynasty.

Before ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chen Ji could say more, Baili cut in, alarmed. "Chen Ji, do you have any idea how terrible exile to Lingnan is? You'd march there in shackles and chains. Fewer than three in ten convicts survive the journey."

She ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pressed on. "Six months confined to the manor is nothing for us. Don't do something foolish on our account."

The Heir chimed in. "She's right. Six months, and we'll be free men again!"

Chen Ji said nothing.

Prince Jing rolled a black stone between his fingers, watching him calmly. "Given your youth and ignorance, I'll give you a chance to take it back."

Chen Ji met his gaze, earnest and frank. "I'm not doing this only for the Heir and the Princess. I also want to find a way to earn a living for myself."

Prince Jing smiled faintly. "Born into the Chen family and you need to earn your own living? The Chen family has held high office for generations. As long as you don't defy your father, you'll never lack for food or clothing."

Chen Ji smiled. "Your Highness, the Chen family's standing is beyond my reach."

Prince Jing asked abruptly, "You're that short on money?"

Was Chen Ji short on money? Desperately.

The Mountain Lord path consumed silver like water. Lighting every furnace in his body -- hundreds of them -- would cost upwards of ten thousand taels.

The number was staggering. But then the word "cement" had surfaced in his mind.

Prince Jing saw he wouldn't answer and smiled. "Very well. Since you insist, I'll set three conditions."

"Please, Your Highness."

"Until this is finished, none of you may set foot in Red Cloth Lane or White Cloth Lane."

"Agreed."

"No drinking."

"Agreed."

"No picking fights."

"Agreed."

Chen Ji stood inside the counter. Prince Jing stood outside. Between them lay the Go board. The young apprentice met the Prince's gaze without flinching.

Prince Jing stared him down. "The military tolerates no jests. Military matters are never trivial. Remember your promise. If you fail, I will genuinely exile you to Lingnan. Don't be clever."

Chen Ji was quiet a moment. "Your Highness, rest assured. I know what I'm doing."

A tall, broad-shouldered man with a smooth, beardless face entered the clinic. His voice was soft and delicate. "Your Highness, the Liu family's Liu Gun, along with Liu Mingxian and Liu Mingli, have arrived at the manor."

Chen Ji looked up instinctively. The man was powerfully built, but his voice was gentle and refined.

Prince Jing pointed at the Heir and Baili. "Attendant Feng, have these two hand over every coin on their persons. And instruct the manor staff -- nobody gives them money for the next six months."

The siblings' faces went dark. Their father was thorough. He'd even thought to confiscate their cash.

And just like that, the pair were penniless.

Prince Jing turned and left, leaving two broke nobles behind in the clinic.

The Heir looked at Chen Ji. "Honestly, six months of house arrest isn't so bad. I'll be out before you know it, and you won't have to go to Lingnan..."

Baili was more decisive. She smoothed the creases in her clothes. "Talk is cheap. Chen Ji, what's your plan?"

Chen Ji thought. "Are there any pottery kilns near Luocheng?"

Baili and the Heir exchanged blank looks. How would they know that?

Old Man Yao drawled from behind his abacus. "Head south from the city along the main road for ten li. At the foot of Dragon Gate Mountain, there's a village called Liu Family Village with several pottery workshops. Luocheng's kilns only fire rough ceramics for common folk, though -- nothing compared to Jingdezhen."

Chen Ji considered. "That's fine. A kiln furnace should be enough."

He went to the back courtyard and found Liang Mao'er. "Brother Mao'er, could you do me a favor? Come with me for about half a month. It might be hard work."

Liang Mao'er gave his guileless smile. "No trouble at all. As long as I can be useful, I don't mind hard work."

Chen Ji turned to Baili. "Your Highness, Princess -- please return to the manor and wait for word from me. Half a month at most."

The Heir raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Friends share good times and bad. Liang Mao'er can handle hard work, and so can we. We're coming with you."

Baili agreed. "That's right. We can handle it!"

Chen Ji laughed. "Who volunteers for hardship?"

The Heir thumped his chest. "That's what brotherhood is about!"

She Dakang and Liu Quxing appeared in the hallway, looking timidly at Old Man Yao. "Master, can we go?"

Old Man Yao sneered. "Go ahead. A pack of paupers having fun together. You all leave, and I get a few days of peace and quiet. Save me some rice money too. Mao'er, drag your brother along. Otherwise that layabout will stay here and expect me to cook for him."

Liang Mao'er said sheepishly, "Yes, Physician Yao. I'll make sure he comes."

Chen Ji smiled. "Your Highness, Princess -- go home and change into work clothes. What you're wearing won't do. And everyone, pack two changes of clothes. We'll be out for ten days to half a month. Meet at the clinic door in one hour."

"Done!"

...

...

After everyone left, Chen Ji turned to Old Man Yao at his abacus. "Master, you told Liang Mao'er to bring Liang Gou'er along. Are you worried about our safety?"

Old Man Yao scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I just don't want to look at him."

Chen Ji let it go.

In the silence, Old Man Yao gradually stopped clicking his abacus beads. "You understand by now that the Mountain Lord path devours two things above all: power and money. That's why you're in such a rush to earn. But know this -- those two things are precisely what lead men astray. Don't repeat the mistakes of those who came before you."

Chen Ji smiled. "Don't worry, Master."

Old Man Yao said abruptly, "That thing you made last time caused an enormous commotion. The entire province of Yuzhou is locked down -- the Ten Thousand Years Army is posted at every major road, letting people in but not out. That business isn't over yet, and now you're making something else? Don't go causing another disaster that drags me into it."

Chen Ji thought it over. "You'll see when it's done. I promise -- this time it's not dangerous."

Old Man Yao studied him, then drew six copper coins from his sleeve and cast them on the counter, muttering as he read the hexagram. "Kun... the auspicious steadiness of earth... boundless as the land... bearing all things upon its back..."

He looked up sharply. "What exactly are you making?"

Chen Ji answered with a smile. "I already told you. Something that can replace rice mortar."

Just then, footsteps sounded at the door.

He turned. Baili had changed into a coarse cloth outfit -- the kind a servant girl would wear for chores -- and had a cloth bundle slung over her shoulder. But even in rough homespun, her bearing gave her away...

Because she had a gold hairpin in her hair.

Chen Ji stared. "Princess, those clothes and that hairpin don't exactly match."

Baili hastily pulled the pin out and replaced it with a wooden one from her sleeve, twisting her hair up. "Shh! My father confiscated all my silver, so I sneaked this out while my mother wasn't looking. It's to sell for cash. Nobody noticed!"

"Consort Yun is sharp. There's no way she didn't notice. She's just letting you get away with it..."

"Really?" Baili blinked. "Well, it's already out. I figured you'd need money for whatever you're doing. Nothing gets done without it."

Chen Ji was quiet.

Baili smiled. "Come on. I've hired an ox-cart. Let's ride out of the city!"

"One moment." Chen Ji went to the apprentice quarters, pried up the loose brick under his bed, and fished out every tael he had. Only then did he head out.

But at the door, he stopped. A rider was galloping down Anxi Street -- a young man in a blue-green scholar's robe, hair streaming behind him, handsome and dashing.

Chen Ji stood still, watching the rider rein in before the clinic.

Chen Wenzong sat on horseback, slightly breathless. "Chen Ji, come home. Stop being stubborn with Father."

Chen Ji stood inside the threshold and looked up at his eldest brother on the horse. "You're mistaken. I'm not being stubborn with anyone."

Chen Wenzong's tone was earnest. "Father has already found the truth. A servant under the steward was pocketing your stipend. Mother has had the servant beaten to death as justice for you, and even the steward received ten strokes. Come home."

Chen Ji said, "How unfortunate."

Chen Wenzong frowned. "Unfortunate?"

Chen Ji smiled slightly. "I mean the servant. How unfortunate for him."

Chen Wenzong's voice rose with urgency. "Chen Ji, the sages teach that harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. Between family members, there are no grudges that can't be resolved. You've turned over a new leaf -- naturally I wish for nothing more than your return. I'll persuade Father to send you to Donglin Academy. In three years you can sit for the examinations. It's not too late to start."

Study at Donglin Academy? A science student tackling classical eight-legged essays? That would be pure torture.

But Chen Ji looked up at this eldest brother, whose sincerity seemed completely genuine -- the very picture of a jade-like Confucian gentleman.

Yet people had different paths.

Chen Ji smiled. "We're heading out of the city now. Our friends are waiting."

Chen Wenzong dismounted and spoke with solemn weight. "Chen Ji, you may not have read much, but surely you understand the bonds between father and son. There are no wrong parents under heaven. How can you keep defying your own father?"

At that moment, Baili spoke up from the cart. "One mouthful after another about bonds and duty. But does anyone in your Chen family even know that Chen Ji was attacked and nearly killed? He had his chest sliced open and his thigh stabbed through, and not one of you sent a single person to check on him."

Chen Wenzong froze. "Princess?"

He looked more carefully. Not only the Princess but the Heir as well -- both dressed in coarse cloth, squeezed onto a rickety ox-cart with his half-brother.

Baili sat cross-legged on the flatbed, back straight. "Chen Ji was wounded when we were all together at the Embroidery Building on White Cloth Lane. You were there that day. Did you ask after him even once?"

Chen Wenzong was struck silent.

Baili pressed on. "What you care about are your bonds and your duty. You came here to persuade him because your academy instructors taught you that family harmony brings prosperity, because the classics taught you the proper order of father and son. Nothing more."

Chen Ji stopped her, then turned to the driver. "Let's go. Any later and we won't reach Liu Family Village before dark."

The ox-cart creaked into motion.

Chen Wenzong stood rooted to the spot, watching Chen Ji and the others ride away on their open, ramshackle cart -- laughing, teasing, shoving one another.

In the biting cold, they didn't look like people heading off to labor. They looked like a group of friends setting out for a spring excursion, giddy with the novelty of it all.

The Heir's voice drifted back from the distance: "Ha! Did you see that? Baili just now looked like an angry little tiger. Ow -- pinch softer!"