Fish Meat – Chapter 12

The Sixth Year of Shenchu

Separation Melody

The small boat was just a step away from the riverbank, and the hull was at a certain height. The punter was about to step down to help her aboard when he saw Alai lightly leap onto the boat, holding her padded jacket and other belongings. She landed steadily beside him. After taking an extra glance at Alai, he announced her arrival into the cabin and then led her inside.

The cabin was spacious and warm. In the middle of the small table, a red copper incense burner emitted wisps of smoke that spiraled upward. In the corner, a brazier filled with green Ruicharcoal¹ burned brightly. Beneath the charcoal, white sandalwood mingled with the incense in the burner, emitting a very pleasant fragrance. The windows on both sides of the cabin were propped open with wooden strips to allow ventilation. A plain curtain divided the cabin into two sections, and a shadowy figure could be seen behind the curtain.

It was apparent that the young man outside, who had boarded the boat, had the demeanor and appearance of someone from the military. After entering the cabin, everything Alai saw was of the finest quality. Even the green Ruicharcoal, which the Xie family could not afford, was a tribute from Hu. Alai recognized it because two years ago, Uncle Dong had brought back a few dozen pounds of it when he went to Dongchun to deliver New Year gifts to the family. She had been called to move the charcoal to the storeroom, and Uncle Dong had told her it was fine charcoal and suggested she secretly take some home, which she had refused.

Alai felt that she had been somewhat reckless in calling out to the owner, so she hastily bowed to the person behind the curtain: “I apologize for disturbing you. I was moved by the music and could not help myself. Please forgive me. May I dare to ask what instrument you are playing and the name of the piece?”

The person behind the curtain did not answer her directly. The music resumed, the melody still low but now imbued with a sense of strength and resilience, causing Alai’s heart to race. Although the solitary owner of the boat did not speak, they had responded to her with their music. Alai sat cross-legged on the cushion in front of the curtain, fully immersing herself in the unpredictable yet soul-stirring sound.

Every long night on the road to growing up was accompanied by her mother’s stories. From her mother’s mouth, it seemed as if she had traversed half of the rivers and lakes of Da Yu, walked on the peaks of ten-thousand-zhang cliffs, yet knew nothing about music. Her mother had mentioned the four-stringed, twelve-fretted ruan and the thirteen-stringed zheng, and had described the appearance of many musical instruments. Alai had a rough idea of what these instruments looked like in her mind, but because she was in the Xie family, which had no interest in music, she could not imagine how bright and clear 《Three Variations on the Plum Blossom》 could be or how grand and splendid 《Guangling San》 was.

It turns out that music has such a soul-stirring magic.

As the music flowed, Alai couldn’t help but shed tears again. Suddenly, a clear female voice sounded from behind the curtain:

“This Master asks why the lady is crying.”

Alai replied, “I am moved to tears by this piece as I think of my own life story, and cannot help but feel sorrowful.”

That person said, “This piece is called Zhongli, it is a drum music piece created by This Master.”

“Drum music…”

“Yes, young lady, have you heard the story of Gao Jianli playing the drum?”

“The wind is bleak, and the Yi River is cold. Once the warrior goes, he will never return!”

Her mother had naturally also told her the story of Jing Ke’s assassination of the King of Qin. The assassination of the King of Qin was unparalleled in its tragic heroism, leaving a deep emotional impact that made Jing Ke forever remembered by the world. If one cannot achieve great things in life, at the very least, one should uphold righteousness, be honest, and act with courage and integrity.

But why is her biological father such a despicable person like Xie Taihang?

Alai was puzzled and unwilling to accept it. She didn’t want Xie Taihang’s blood flowing through her veins.

The Zhongli melody moved Alai, making her involuntarily ponder her own origins.

Master Xie is sinister, the Xie family is not a place for her to establish herself, and she needs to leave as soon as possible. However, right now, the northern famine has not yet passed, the southern lands are still ablaze with war, and the Xie family’s influence spreads throughout the entire Suichuan. As an escaped slave without identity documents, it is easy for them to leave the Xie family, but breaking through the gates of Qixian is another matter. Moreover, Ah Xun’s kindness to her is as deep as the sea, and she hasn’t had the chance to repay it, so she is unwilling to leave just yet.

The pent-up frustration in her chest was hard to alleviate, but the melody suddenly changed, interrupting Alai’s soliloquy.

Alai suddenly came to her senses and realized that she had disturbed the master’s elegant mood with her personal matters. She quickly apologized. Alai inwardly regretted not knowing the background of the ship’s owner. How could she let her guard down just because of a piece of music? Fortunately, she didn’t mention the reputation of the Xie family or Xie Taihang’s name, otherwise, it might bring disaster upon herself if the other party had connections with Xie Taihang. Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Alai said that she already knew about the musical instrument and the name of the tune, so she didn’t want to bother any further and took her leave.

After the curtain was drawn, there was a faint sound of scratching, like the sound of a stiff brush writing on bamboo slips. When the scratching stopped, a female voice rang out again:

“This Master thinks that although the lady is young, she is someone who understands reason and values both emotions and righteousness. Jing Ke’s assassination of Qin was indeed tragic, but when the Han Dynasty’s first emperor Liu Bang returned victorious after defeating Ying Bu, he sang loudly ‘A strong wind rises, the clouds soar.’ What a heroic and magnificent spirit, striking the same chords.”

Alai sighed, “One is the tragedy of departure, the other is the boldness of return, yet they can be expressed vividly with the same musical instrument.”

“This Master thinks that although the lady laments her background, she knows that one’s background is something that cannot be chosen. Instead of complaining, it is better to live in the present and follow one’s own nature on the path ahead. The person who has shown kindness may not necessarily seek immediate repayment from the lady. It is better to improve oneself first and then give better rewards in the future when one achieves success. Today’s sorrow can yield tomorrow’s joy. This is the paradox of life, and it applies to different melodies played by the same instrument.”

The eight words “人生悲喜，異曲同工” (life’s sorrows and joys, different melodies played by the same instrument) brought clarity to Alai’s mind.

“Your artistry is exquisite, and the wisdom you speak resonates like golden sounds and jade vibrations. I originally had a burden in my heart, but with the wonderful music of ‘Zhongli,’ it was dissolved. I am extremely grateful.” After saying that, Alai deeply bowed to the drawn curtain, carried her cotton clothes and other belongings, and disembarked the ship, walking back into the cold wind.

On the other side, Alai bid farewell to the solitary boat on the cold river and quietly climbed over the wall back to the Xie Residence. Meanwhile, Xie Taihang finally waited for Lord Yunmeng.

Xie Taihang had been waiting in the study since early morning, restless and constantly getting up and sitting down. A servant came to report that Lord Yunmeng had returned. He rushed out of the study, welcomed Lord Yunmeng, who was carrying a bag on his back, and after dismissing all the servants, they had a secret discussion behind closed doors.

Lord Yunmeng took out a scroll from his bag, and when Xie Taihang saw the face of the person in the painting, he couldn’t help but be amazed. It really resembled them by about ninety percent.

“This painting is from the hand of a painter from the Wei Residence. The scout who brought back the message said that Wei Zizhuo was extremely obsessed with the person in the painting. The painter spent a whole half year continuously painting, producing thousands of images, only to select the most satisfactory one. The rest, including the painter and the house where the painting was created, were all burned to ashes. The one Wei Zizhuo took away doesn’t seem to have any difference from this one. It was retrieved by my trusted person from the Wei Residence in a daring act amidst the raging fire.”

Xie Taihang noticed that the edges of the scroll were indeed slightly scorched.

“But Wei Zizhuo has always been cunning. I’m afraid there are other arrangements. The fact that no one has been able to recognize his true identity indicates his meticulous and indiscernible thoughts. Otherwise, Bochao wouldn’t have fallen victim to him.” Lord Yunmeng paused for a moment, feeling a myriad of emotions, unable to help but sigh with sadness.

Seeing his sorrow, Xie Taihang patted his shoulder to offer comfort.

Lord Yunmeng regained his composure and continued, “This matter is of great importance, and we must be cautious. We cannot afford to be careless. The Wei family has been like an impenetrable fortress all these years. We have sent countless people inside, but we have never been able to create a breach, which shows the depth of danger in the Wei family. This time, we must handle the situation meticulously and thoroughly to ensure no mistakes. If there is even the slightest mishap, it won’t only jeopardize our lives, nor just the Xie family of Suichuan, but it will be a devastating calamity for the entire Da Yu.”

Xie Taihang’s face was as stern as iron, dark and heavy.

Lord Yunmeng looked towards the southeast, where the Emperor resided, and spoke with deep concern, “Now, the faction of the Eldest Princess relies on the power of the Empress Dowager, colludes with the influential relatives, and engages in wicked and perverse behavior, seeking favor from the masses to plot against the royal house. Their hearts deserve to be executed! Loyalty is rare among the wolves and jackals in the court. The Emperor is trapped in danger. It’s not just us, but countless righteous comrades are openly and secretly finding ways to eliminate this wicked woman, support the righteous cause, and bring stability to the realm. Your willingness to join the struggle and sacrifice your family’s servants for the sake of the rightful ruler is truly a blessing for the righteous cause.”

Xie Taihang spoke firmly, “The Xie family has been receiving the imperial stipend for generations. How can we stand idly by in times of crisis? The mere household servants are insignificant. I fear she may not be clever enough or sincere in her efforts, which could implicate all of you.”

“You can rest assured, Master Xie. If this plan is feasible, I will definitely train her to be a useful asset.”

Xie Taihang bowed, “In that case, I entrust it to you.”

1. Ruicharcoal – A type of high-quality charcoal, often used in historical settings for heating and incense.