Xie Changgeng’s mother stared at her son’s stern expression for a moment, and then before her eyes rose the face of that child she had seen at the horse farm earlier in the day. All at once, her earlier suspicion seemed to have been confirmed — the more she thought about it, the more it fitted.

It suddenly all made sense to her, and she gave the side of the bed a sharp slap.

“No wonder — the moment I laid eyes on that child today, I thought him familiar, bearing some resemblance to what you looked like as a boy! I thought it was merely coincidence! So that is how it is! Why did you not tell Mother sooner!”

She was overcome with excitement, and with one scrambling motion climbed off the bed.

“I was just saying, that child is not only handsome, but also well-mannered and sensible! And all along he is my own grandson! You must go quickly! Bring my grandson here at once! Even when I return home, it will be good — I will bring my grandson back with me to raise him properly, so he is not a burden to you!”

That the old woman would believe his fabricated account had been within his expectations all along — but her reaction, saying the child resembled himself as a boy, was somewhat unexpected.

Most likely she had simply misread the resemblance, or in this moment, having taken in his words, was letting her imagination convince herself of such an impression.

Xie Changgeng had no further thoughts on the matter. Seeing his mother’s attitude entirely transformed, his own tone softened somewhat as he said, “Mother, as I just explained, circumstances back then were particular, and after the child was born, he was raised on that side. Though your son holds the position of Military Commissioner and cuts a somewhat respectable figure on the surface, within and without the court, there are countless pairs of eyes watching from all directions — I cannot afford a single misstep. It is still not convenient for me to formally acknowledge the child at this time. For the child to remain under Mu Shi’s care under the name of adopted son is, for now, better for me.”

His mother had barely begun to entertain the thought of taking her grandson home to raise before it was quashed.

Her heart was filled with disappointment, but with her son speaking this way, she dared not disregard his future prospects. She stared blankly for a moment, then said, “But what if Mu Shi holds a grudge over my past partiality and later refuses to give me my grandson? What would we do then?”

She seized her son’s sleeve.

“Changgeng, when she comes back, you speak to her, and tell her not to hold it against me…”

She paused, then muttered to herself, “Never mind, never mind — you are a man, and Mother cannot have you lowering yourself before a woman. I will speak to her myself! As long as she will raise my grandson well, and he can one day return to the family and be acknowledged, this old face of mine can be thrown away entirely!”

The anger of a short while ago had gradually dissipated. Seeing his mother in this state, knowing that she had been subdued by his earlier conduct, he inwardly sighed and helped her by the arm to sit back on the edge of the bed.

“Mother, as long as you understand the situation with Mu Shi and the child, there is no need to trouble yourself over this — your son knows how to handle it.”

He reflected for a moment, then shifted his words in a new direction.

“Your son was a bandit in his early years, with much blood on his hands. Though I have now become an official, there is still no shortage of fighting and killing — I often worry that such excess of killing and blood-debt will diminish one’s blessings. You should listen to your son and, on this trip home, your son will send someone with you to donate funds for building a temple. At home with nothing to do, engage in more acts of kindness — pray and recite sutras, and accumulate merit and ward off the weight of past sins on your son’s behalf.”

“A’Mao was raised by you, but you have found her clumsy and dull, ordered her about, and used her as a rough servant. I asked whether she wished to stay and serve the Young Princess — she said yes, but that she had not yet repaid you for raising her. From now on, treat her more kindly, and raise her as you would a daughter. She will serve you wholeheartedly. Do not be as before — muddled and deceived by others without even knowing it!”

His mother’s eyes slowly reddened. Each time he said something, she nodded along.

“Mother understands. It was all Mother’s fault for being foolish before. You have had it hard — do not worry. When I have returned home, I will do more good deeds and recite the sutras to ward off calamities for you!”

Having chosen this path, how could he truly concern himself with the so-called sin of taking lives? In this world, the strong prey upon the weak — that is simply the way of Heaven.

The reason he spoke as he did was only to give his mother something to occupy herself with upon returning home — a purpose to cling to — so that she would not idle away her days and stir up more trouble as before.

Seeing his mother so moved, he knelt down formally before her and bowed his head to the floor. “Your son is truly unfilial. Thank you, Mother, for your understanding. When I have time, I will come to see you.”

His mother hurried to help him up, and said in a low voice, “If you could bring my grandson along when you come to see me, Mother would be even happier.”

Xie Changgeng paused.

“Your son understands. Mother should rest now.”

He attended on the old woman until she settled into bed. His mother sat up and seemed to want to say something but held back. Xie Changgeng asked what the matter was.

His mother hesitated, then said, “Feng’er…”

She glanced quickly at her son and changed course.

“That Lady Qi Shi — even though she did wrong, she did after all save my life once, and back then the Qi family also looked after me when you were away from home. She is sure to reform. Changgeng, in consideration of your mother’s feelings — where it is possible to show mercy, show mercy; do not be too hard on her…”

Xie Changgeng said, “Mother, do not worry. I still regard her as the person who saved Mother’s life — I will not treat her harshly.”

The following day, the steward of the Commissioner’s residence arranged household affairs and, on Xie Changgeng’s instructions, escorted the Old Madam and her party on the road home.

Xie Changgeng traveled with them himself. Several days later, having seen them out of Hexi, he turned back — but before doing so, he gave instructions to the steward to, once they had arrived, oversee the arrangement of Lady Qi Shi’s marriage. Before his own return, reliable people were to be left behind, and if Lady Qi Shi and the Old Madam resumed frequent contact, he was to be informed promptly.

The steward committed every detail to memory, bade his farewells, and set off on the road.

Xie Changgeng watched the carriages and horses disappear into the distance, then immediately turned his horse around and rode back to Guzang.

Eunuch Yang, who had arrived a few days prior bearing gifts granted on the orders of Empress Dowager Liu, had thereafter declared that he had long heard of the magnificent scenery of Hexi and wished to take this opportunity to see it for himself. The Military Commissioner was busy and bore heavy responsibilities — no need to accompany him. Xie Changgeng could attend to his own affairs; he would simply wander about as he pleased.

Xie Changgeng naturally understood perfectly well what was going on.

The Empress Dowager Liu, far away in the capital, had dispatched a trusted confidant here under the pretext of delivering tributary gifts — to conduct a quiet inspection.

Normally, the court would periodically dispatch officials to the regions to inspect affairs and gauge local conditions and governance. Since Xie Changgeng had come here as Military Commissioner, the court had not once sent anyone specially in these several years.

Now that an envoy had finally come, what he needed to do was simply act as Eunuch Yang had said. And so over these past few days, he had not accompanied him, only ordered all areas opened — including the garrison fortifications and the barracks — for the eunuch to move about freely.

He returned to Guzang to learn that Eunuch Yang had already come back and was resting at the post house.

Xie Changgeng hurried back to the official residence, changed into his court robes, and went without delay to the post house. After an exchange of pleasantries, the eunuch said he would be departing for the capital the next day.

That evening, the Commissioner’s residence held a banquet to send off Eunuch Yang and his party. Fine dishes and good wine were laid out, and hosts and guests alike enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

When the banquet ended, Xie Changgeng personally escorted Eunuch Yang back to the post house to rest.

“The Empress Dowager was kind enough to remember me and send gifts — I am profoundly grateful. And you personally came all this way out of the capital, Eunuch Yang, after a weary journey — and without my having received you properly, you must set off again. I am truly ill at ease. I have prepared a selection of tribute gifts, and would ask the Eunuch to bring them to the Empress Dowager on my behalf. I have also prepared a small personal gift — please accept it with a smile.”

Eunuch Yang laughed. “There is no need to stand on ceremony with me, Military Commissioner. I spend all my days serving the Empress Dowager in the palace — it is rare to have a chance to come out. I will not hide it from you, Military Commissioner — this errand is something I asked for myself. These past few days of wandering about have been most worthwhile.”

He praised the landscape and splendors of Hexi for a while, then looked at Xie Changgeng with a meaningful expression.

“The other day as I was moving about, I heard that the Young Princess had arrived in Hexi not long ago. Yet tonight at the banquet, Madam was not present — could she be away from the residence?”

He lowered his voice and murmured close, “Military Commissioner, I am speaking to you as one would to a trusted friend. As you know, if the Empress Dowager were to learn of this, she would inevitably wish to inquire.”

Xie Changgeng explained the matter of the tribespeople, then said, “I thank the Eunuch for his kind word of warning. Mu Shi is at present on her way to the Tianshan Mountains to collect medicine. I will not conceal it from the Eunuch: she was sent back to the Kingdom of Changsha by me at the start of this year, and was brought here again only to serve a purpose. Shortly after her arrival, I submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager explaining the matter in full. The Empress Dowager has most likely already received the memorial by now.”

He met the two eyes Eunuch Yang had fixed on him.

“Mu Shi has some knowledge of medicine, and through a fortuitous coincidence earlier, used her medical skills to establish goodwill with the local tribespeople. My purpose in bringing her here was to utilize Mu Shi’s help in resolving the tribal matter, to serve the court’s purpose of pacifying the frontier. Since the Eunuch has come, I must trouble you — on your return, please also convey my words to the Empress Dowager on my behalf. In the matter of Mu Shi, I bear the Empress Dowager’s instructions in mind at all times and do not dare act contrary to them in the slightest.”

Eunuch Yang’s doubts cleared away, and he nodded with a smile. “I was wondering how it was that this Mu Shi had come back here again — so there was such a background to it. Making use of people’s talents — truly clever, Military Commissioner! It is all the better that you already submitted a memorial. Do not worry — when I return, I will also explain on your behalf to the Empress Dowager.”

The next day, Xie Changgeng saw off Eunuch Yang and his party once more. On the road back, snow began to drift from the sky again.

He went directly to the horse farm, brought Xi’er back to the city, and returned to the Commissioner’s residence — before he had even drawn a single breath of rest, a fast rider came with another piece of news.

The elderly chieftain’s condition had relapsed, and he had once again fallen into a coma. The situation was critical.

Xie Changgeng immediately rode out through the heavy snow to Horse River Valley. After visiting, he returned with his thoughts in turmoil. That night, upon coming back from the study, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep for a long while. He put on a snow cape, went out on horseback alone, and made his way to the western gate of the city, where he climbed up to the watchtower.

Beyond the city walls, as far as the eye could see, the post road stretched into the vast, dark expanse of open wilderness. The north wind howled. Snowflakes drifted like cotton.

The winter this year had come earlier than in previous years, and heavier too. Going by the experience of past years, heavy snowfall blocking the mountains and clogging the roads was a common occurrence.

On such a snowy night, with no military emergency, the gate guards had no idea why the Military Commissioner had come in the deep of night to stand watch on this tower. Seeing him gaze fixedly at the pitch-black post road stretching away to the west, his figure motionless, they did not dare ask, but only stood behind him, holding their breath in silence.

Xie Changgeng returned to the Commissioner’s residence and, as he was passing the door of Xi’er’s room, hesitated — then took up a candle and gently pushed the door open to enter.

The child was in bed, sleeping soundly.

His small face was turned to one side, pressed against the side of the pillow — and a sheet of paper covered in one stroke after another lay beneath his cheek.

Xie Changgeng watched for a moment, then reached out his hand. As his hand touched the paper, the child woke up, saw him, and called out “Sir Xie.”

Xie Changgeng picked up the paper.

On it, twenty-two strokes had been drawn.

“Tomorrow I can add one more!” Xi’er said, rubbing his eyes, his words blurred with drowsiness.

Xie Changgeng slowly set the paper back down and said, “Xi’er, shall I go and bring your mother back, so she can return sooner?”

Xi’er’s eyes went wide in an instant, and he scrambled out from under the covers. “Yes! Sir Xie, go quickly!”

Xie Changgeng smiled slightly and ruffled his little head.

The long winter night was at last slowly pressing toward the fifth watch. The sky overhead was still pitch black, and snow continued to fall without cease.

While the entire city still lay in the final dream of that winter night, Xie Changgeng stepped through the accumulated snow — crunching with each step — and walked out through the gates of the Commissioner’s residence.

Outside the gate, torches lit the snowy ground. A contingent of men and horses was already assembled and fully equipped, ready to set out with him on the westward road.

Xie Changgeng gave his instructions to Liu Guan and the others who had come to see him off. When he finished, they all said, “My lord, take care on the road. Go quickly and return soon!”

Xie Changgeng fastened his snow cloak and put on his snow hat, mounted his horse, and was just about to lead the party onto the road when, suddenly, from behind him came a child’s voice: “Sir Xie!”

He turned his head.

Behind the gate stood a small, small figure.

The child was bundled up so thick and full that his whole person was round and puffy. He had come running out after them and stood just behind the threshold, eyes wide open, watching without blinking.

The light of the torches was reflected in his two eyes, wavering gently.

His eyes were filled with a fervent, eager longing. He called out loudly, “Sir Xie, I have helped drive away wolves with the little horse!”

Xie Changgeng and the child looked at each other for a long moment. He dismounted and walked toward him.

The child immediately came running out, dashing to stand before him and tilting his small face up to look at him.

Xie Changgeng took his own snow hat and placed it on that little head, covering the small face entirely from view. Then he scooped the child up with one arm, set him on horseback, and called out, “Move out!”