Xu Lingyi laughed. “A household soldier!”
Shi’er Niang was taken aback.
Xu Lingyi drew Shi’er Niang into his arms.
“He took a cursory tour around Jiayuguan and decided he wanted to be its commander. Is the position of Jiayuguan’s commander so easily obtained? Over these past years, Jiayuguan has suffered defeat after defeat — were all those commanders truly spineless men without courage or strategy? From Jiayuguan to Hami Wei and then to Shizhou Wei, was it only the people of Jiayuguan who were displaced? He let his smile fade, his voice dropping low. “For a young man to have dreams, passion, and drive is a good thing. But dreams, passion, and drive alone are not enough to accomplish anything. One must learn to be calm, to weigh one’s options, to compromise. One must be able to find the position most advantageous to oneself in the most complex of circumstances, and then find ways to seize opportunities and make use of them — only then is success possible.” His expression grew somewhat stern. “Jin Ge’er is full of hot-blooded passion right now? Then let him go. Let him go to Jiayuguan as a household soldier. Let him eat and live alongside ordinary household soldiers, drill and patrol together, stand guard and defend the walls — let him understand what a military camp truly is. When that time comes, if he still holds to this ambition, it will not be too late to tell him what it means to be calm, what it means to weigh options, what it means to compromise.”
Shi’er Niang looked at him, the picture of confidence, and could not help throwing cold water on his plan. “Everyone in Jiayuguan, from top to bottom, knows that Jin Ge’er is the Marquis’s son, do they not?”
Xu Lingyi smiled. “It is precisely because everyone in Jiayuguan knows he is my son that I arranged for Jin Ge’er to go there.”
Shi’er Niang did not understand.
“I know as well that Jin Ge’er is still young, and I have no intention of letting go of him all at once. I only thought that since he wants to walk this path, it would be better to prepare early.” Xu Lingyi said softly. “But wanting something is one thing, and having the ability is another. Whether a creature is a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a run to know. If I were to throw him carelessly into an unfamiliar place, he is so young — what would happen if someone truly bullied him? If I place him somewhere where everyone knows his identity to serve as a common soldier, they will show consideration for the master if not for the monk — they will certainly look after him to some degree. He can use the opportunity to get a sense of what military life is truly like. Two years from now, if he still has not changed his resolve, I will move him somewhere else. Somewhere where no one knows who he is. With the experience from Jiayuguan behind him, and older in years — if he still cannot make headway in the new place, then I think it would be better for him to come home early. Study hard, sit the imperial examinations, or go to the Xishan Grand Camp, or find a way to be posted to Shandong or Shaanxi as a regional commander. He can also let go of this obsession, so he does not remain half-hearted and fail to do anything well.”
Shi’er Niang listened, her spirits lifting. “That is a fine plan, my lord!” Then she grew worried again. “But what if he still insists on becoming a household soldier? You know Jin Ge’er’s temperament — I am afraid he will bang his head against the wall and still refuse to turn back!”
“We simply lay down three conditions for him!” Xu Lingyi smiled. “First, he must not reveal his identity. Second, he must change to a new garrison every three years. Third, at each new garrison, he must secure a post through his own abilities. If he meets all three conditions, then he will have passed.”
“Is — is that not too harsh?”
“It is indeed very harsh.” Xu Lingyi’s expression was placid, carrying a steadfast certainty of one who intends to win. “But if I am harsh with him now, Heaven will be more lenient with him later, and he will have a better chance at living.”
Shi’er Niang drew a deep breath. “Then let us do as my lord says.”
The husband and wife sat side by side at the head of the bed, and for a long while neither spoke.
On the third day of the new year, Jin Ge’er muttered in front of Xu Lingyi: “Father, do you think the Grand Princess will let me into the palace?”
“Whether she lets you into the camp or not, the way you are fretting over it like this — that is no quality of a great general.” Xu Lingyi glanced at him and spread his arms, allowing Shi’er Niang to fasten his white jade belt.
“I am only like this in front of Father!” Jin Ge’er said softly, a little indignantly. “I would never say such things to anyone else.”
“That is just putting on a performance.” Xu Lingyi smiled. “That is not what a true gentleman does.”
Dejected, Jin Ge’er threw himself down on the bed.
Xu Sijie and Ying Niang came to take their leave of the two.
By custom, today was the day for visiting one’s maternal uncle’s family. Since Luo Zhensheng was not present, and this was Xu Sijie and Ying Niang’s first Spring Festival after their marriage, the Second Master of the Laojun Hall had spoken with Shi’er Niang before the new year — it would not do for Xu Sijie and Ying Niang to have no maternal family to visit. He invited them to come as guests on the third day.
Xu Lingyi called Xu Sijie over to remind him of several points of etiquette he ought to observe. Ying Niang quietly asked Jin Ge’er: “Would you like to come with us? Fourth Aunt’s three male cousins will surely be there.”
Jin Ge’er immediately sat up.
“Mother, I want to go too!”
Fourth Aunt’s Yu Qi and Jin Ge’er got along well. Last time, when Jin Ge’er’s little dog had a litter of puppies, he had even given one to Yu Qi.
“No.” Shi’er Niang said. “Your Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Elder Sister-in-law are going to visit relatives. What business would you have going along?”
“I am going to visit relatives too!” Jin Ge’er pouted.
“Mother, please let him come with us!” Ying Niang pleaded on Jin Ge’er’s behalf. “The Grand Dowager and Second Sister-in-law are at home today entertaining the Buddhist nun Ji Ning. Second Sister-in-law took Ying Ying back to her maternal family. Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt took Ting Ge’er to visit Lord Jiang. Seventh Uncle and Eighth Uncle have gone to Red Lantern Alley. You and Father will also be going out to make New Year calls shortly — please let him come with us to the Laojun Hall. We will take good care of him.”
Shi’er Niang hesitated, but Xu Lingyi had already waved his hand magnanimously: “Go. No mischief.”
Jin Ge’er leapt to his feet and embraced Shi’er Niang. “Mother, don’t worry, I will listen to Fifth Elder Brother and Fifth Elder Sister-in-law.”
Shi’er Niang saw his eager, impatient look and laughed despite herself. “Then go change your clothes!”
“Mother, you are the best!” Jin Ge’er hugged Shi’er Niang once more and happily went off.
Everyone laughed.
Deng Hua entered. “My lord, the Yong Wang household has sent a calling card.”
Everyone in the room was startled.
Xu Lingyi received the card and smiled. “Yong Wang says he is hosting a banquet on the fourth day and invites Jin Ge’er to come share a cup of wine.”
“For no apparent reason — why would he invite Jin Ge’er to a banquet?” Shi’er Niang’s brow furrowed slightly.
A thought flashed through her mind — perhaps it was the Grand Princess — but she shook her head at once.
The Grand Princess would not stir up such a fuss over a single game of football, surely?
The Grand Princess was, after all, inside the inner palace. Even if Yong Wang was the Grand Princess’s full brother, it was no easy matter for the Grand Princess to visit the Yong Wang household.
Xu Lingyi simply smiled and said nothing, only instructing Deng Hua: “Go fetch the Sixth Young Master.”
Deng Hua went at once.
Jin Ge’er came rushing in shortly after.
“Father! Yong Wang is inviting me to a banquet on the fourth?”
“Indeed!” Xu Lingyi handed the card to Jin Ge’er. “Will you go, or not?”
“Of course I will!” Jin Ge’er opened the card and glanced at it, smiling. “Yong Wang has extended an invitation — how could I not go?”
Xu Lingyi nodded with a slight smile and instructed Deng Hua: “Give the card to Steward Zhao at the accounts office. Have him send word to the Yong Wang household that the Sixth Young Master will be there without fail.”
Deng Hua answered with a “yes,” bowed, and withdrew.
Shi’er Niang asked Xu Lingyi: “Is there anything Jin Ge’er should prepare?”
“Be respectful in his conduct,” Xu Lingyi said. “As for the rest — adapt to whatever arises.”
“Right, Mother,” Jin Ge’er nodded readily. “I don’t know whether Yong Wang is inviting me because we got along so well last time, or whether the Grand Princess put him up to this as a way to arrange a football game. There’s no way to prepare for something like this — better to read the situation and act accordingly.”
Shi’er Niang saw that her son’s mind was clear and felt reassured.
Jin Ge’er ran toward the door. “I have only half-finished changing my clothes just now…” And off he went to finish changing.
Shi’er Niang could not help laughing.
The next morning at dawn, Jin Ge’er changed into a Hangzhou silk robe with an ink-green ground patterned with bamboo nodes, took Chang An and a few others, and headed to the Yong Wang household.
Shi’er Niang was somewhat concerned. “Should we not send one of the stewards from the accounts office along?”
“There is no need!” Xu Lingyi smiled. “All of those men followed me through the northwest — they are well-traveled and seasoned. Jin Ge’er will not embarrass himself with them at his side.”
Shi’er Niang had no choice but to agree. When Jin Ge’er returned, she immediately took him aside and asked: “What did Yong Wang summon you there for?”
Jin Ge’er burst out laughing. “To play football!”
“So it really was football!” Shi’er Niang could not help wiping her forehead in exasperation.
“The Grand Princess and I were partners, and we defeated the Eighth Prince and the Ninth Prince thoroughly.” Jin Ge’er smiled. “The Eighth Prince was not satisfied, so he partnered with the Eleventh Prince — and they still lost. Everyone has agreed to meet at the Yong Wang household on the fifteenth to admire the lanterns and play another match.”
“More football!”
Jin Ge’er nodded and said to Xu Lingyi: “After the new year, the Grand Princess and the others will no longer be able to leave the palace as freely as they do now. Please find me a football master, Father! I want to learn a few more moves in these coming days, so I can give them something to marvel at again.”
That way, they would remember the name Xu Sijin for a long time to come!
Xu Lingyi gave a slight nod and at once called for Deng Hua: “Go tell Steward Bai to find a football master by nightfall tomorrow.”
Jin Ge’er laughed and put his arm around Shi’er Niang. “Mother, the Yong Wang household was too formal — there were palace maids to attend to the bathing, but it wasn’t comfortable at all. I need to wash properly!”
“Off with you, then!” Shi’er Niang smiled fondly at her son, who grew more like a grown man with each passing day. “Come back once you have bathed and changed — we will eat together and go pay our respects to the Grand Dowager.”
Jin Ge’er smiled brightly and returned to Qingyin Residence with Chang An.
In the days that followed, he practiced football at home with Chang An and the others. On the fifteenth of the first month, he went to the Yong Wang household for the banquet, and once again joined forces with the Grand Princess to claim Yong Wang’s prize.
Xu Lingyi summoned his son to the study.
“The new year is over. Surely it is time to settle your mind?” He sat in the grand master’s chair inlaid with white marble behind the large lacquered black desk, gazing at Jin Ge’er with stern composure.
Jin Ge’er shifted his feet uneasily and said in a low voice: “Father, if you have instructions, please just say so. When you sit like that, I feel like I am standing on thin air!”
Those words softened the stiffness on Xu Lingyi’s face by several degrees.
“You cunning little rascal!” His tone held a trace of indulgence. “Have you not always wanted to go to Jiayuguan? I am thinking of sending you there once spring arrives. What do you think?”
“Really!” Jin Ge’er was overjoyed. “I will go! I will go!”
“But there are conditions.” Xu Lingyi looked at his gleeful son, lifted his teacup, and took an unhurried sip. “If you can meet them, I will send you.”
Jin Ge’er did not immediately agree. Instead, he reined in his smile and said carefully: “Father, tell me what the conditions are.” His eyes were bright and clear as he looked at his father, limpid and luminous.
—