Chapter Thirty-One: Return to Xingyang (3)

It was noon when Zheng Yanqing stepped out of the main gate of Copper Camel Ward.

Leading his horse, he walked slowly along the main thoroughfare between the wards. He had originally intended to stop by Pei Renji’s home to visit Pei Xingyan, but reconsidered. The rumors regarding him and Pei Cuiyun had yet to die down, and showing up at the Pei residence unannounced would only stir up new trouble.

Better to let it be.

He could not deny that he enjoyed spending time with Pei Cuiyun. After all, the company of a beautiful woman was a pleasant experience. Though he possessed the body of a ten-year-old, his mind was that of a forty-year-old man. Appreciating beauty was an inherent instinct for men, and even Zheng Yanqing was no exception.

The only drawback was that every time they met, Lady Cuiyun would expect him to compose new poetry. But in these turbulent times, such things were not so easily come by. As the saying went, "After reading three hundred Tang poems, even if one cannot write them, one can still recite them." However, verses cobbled together in such a manner could hardly be presented in polite society. Zheng Yanqing lacked the arrogance to believe that a few poems would be enough to conquer this era. He decided it was best to avoid writing poetry whenever possible. If absolutely necessary, he would just have to "borrow" a few suitable verses.

Thus, he enjoyed sitting with Pei Cuiyun, brewing tea and chatting, yet he also feared their meetings; the ink in his belly would run dry sooner or later. Once those poems were exhausted, what would he have left to offer?

The air in Luoyang was exceptionally fresh after the rain. Noting that the day was still young, Yanqing bought some wine and food in the ward, picked up two boxes of sweet cakes, and headed toward the Luoyang County jail.

Counting the days, Xiong Dahai had been imprisoned for quite a while. Zheng Yanqing visited him every few days. Fearing the boy would grow stifled in prison, he had even taught him the "Dragon-Subduing Technique" that Duo Duo had once passed down to him. Asking this dark-skinned fellow to study books was a lost cause, but he showed a keen interest in martial arts. People had their own specialties; making Xiong Dahai read was like watching a blind man try to write with a brush. But he took a deep interest in wielding blades and spears.

The guard at the county jail was still Tong Huan. Seeing Zheng Yanqing approach, Tong Huan hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Young Master Zheng, you’ve come to visit your brother again!"

"Hard work, Magistrate Tong." Zheng Yanqing handed over the food and wine. "A small token of my appreciation. My brother is inside, and I trouble you to look after him."

"Not at all, not at all!" Tong Huan’s eyes crinkled into slits. Young Master Zheng was indeed from a prominent background; even with his current status, he still treated men like them with such regard. In truth, given Zheng Yanqing's current position, he could have just sent a servant to give an order, and Tong Huan would not have dared to refuse. But the fact was, Yanqing remained the same as before, seemingly unchanged. This warmed the hearts of men like Tong Huan, who felt that Yanqing respected them and gave them face. When all was said and done, a man lived for a sense of dignity. If Yanqing offered an inch, Tong Huan would return a foot; that was how it worked.

"How has my brother been lately?" Yanqing asked in a low voice. Tong Huan’s smile faltered, looking somewhat unnatural.

"Why, has he caused you any trouble?"

"Trouble? No... but the jail has been overcrowded recently. Some short-sighted fellows took advantage of our absence to provoke Brother Dahai. To be honest, with so many people, it’s hard to manage the arrangements. I had to put a few of them in the same cell as Brother Dahai. It was my oversight—when food was delivered, those rogues saw it and started scheming... Brother Dahai has a rather fiery temper, and in a fit of rage, he fought back and injured a few of them."

"Oh?"

"But rest assured, Young Master Zheng, they were just local riff-raff. I’ve already hushed the matter up. It’s just the medical expenses for the bruises..."

Zheng Yanqing understood immediately. Without a word, he took three strings of copper coins from his robes and pressed them into Tong Huan’s hand. "Magistrate Tong, I didn’t bring much money today; consider this a bit of drinking money for you. As for the medical expenses, I will inform the Xiong family to provide them. But those riff-raff... you know my brother’s temperament is upright and violent, and his strength is quite great; conflicts are bound to cause some damage. So, I must ask you to look after him. Please try not to let this matter reach the higher-ups. You know that while Magistrate Fang and I share a bond like uncle and nephew, he is a very selfless man, and I worry he might be displeased."

*I am giving you face, but I am also warning you.* You took my money to give Xiong Dahai a private cell, yet now you use the excuse of overcrowding? I don't care about your excuses. If people get hurt, I can pay, but you will treat Xiong Dahai exactly as you should. I have ties to the Governor of Henan, Fang Yanqian; if you anger me, I will go to him to seek justice.

Although the Luoyang County jail was directly under the County Office, the County Office was under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Henan. Everyone knew of Fang Yanqian’s integrity, just as everyone knew that it was Zheng Yanqing’s "Ode to Lime" that had propelled Fang to fame and a swift rise to power. Their relationship went deeper than just uncle and nephew.

Tong Huan, though not a scholar, was a man of the world. He caught the note of displeasure in Yanqing’s tone. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, "Rest assured, Young Master Zheng, I have always kept Dahai in my thoughts. Even if the cells are tight, we won't wrong Young Master Xiong. We'll just squeeze those rogues in elsewhere... Haha, Young Master Xiong is blessed to have a brother like you."

He wasn't joking—if this reached Fang Yanqian, he would be ruined. Everyone knew that when "Black-Faced Fang" frowned, it could be the end of a man. As a mere jailer, he had better be careful.

Zheng Yanqing offered a final word of warning, then cheerfully pressed the wine and food into Tong Huan’s hands. "May I go in to see my brother?"

"Yes, of course!"

Tong Huan signaled for the gate to be opened. Carrying the food box, Zheng Yanqing entered the prison. The Luoyang County jail had a courtyard like a skylight, surrounded by rows of cells. Guided by Tong Huan, they walked through a dark, gloomy corridor to the door of a cell.

Before they even reached it, they heard a series of dull, rhythmic thuds. Looking in, Yanqing saw Xiong Dahai standing before the cell door, wearing a brand-new prisoner’s uniform, practicing the moves of the Dragon-Subduing Technique. Each punch he landed on the wall made it tremble, causing dust to shower down. Three or four other prisoners cowered in a corner like frightened lambs.

Xiong Dahai had iron shackles on his feet, presumably to limit his movement. Yet, even so, he stepped back and forth, each punch accompanied by the whistle of wind.

"Dahai!"

Xiong Dahai heard him and turned around, overjoyed. "Brother, have you come to see me again?"

Tong Huan quickly shouted, "Monkey, Zhao Si, get over here and remove the shackles from Brother Dahai! And take these worthless wretches out and lock them in the main prison... Young Master Zheng, it’s not that I want to make things difficult for Brother Dahai. His strength is just too immense; if I don't restrict him, I fear those fellows will be beaten to death sooner or later."

Tong Huan hurried to explain. Fortunately, Zheng Yanqing did not dwell on it. Once the guards had taken the other prisoners away and removed Xiong Dahai’s shackles, he carried the food box inside and motioned for Xiong Dahai to sit. "Dahai, I’ve brought you your favorite sweet cakes."

Xiong Dahai was ecstatic, sitting across from Zheng Yanqing. Having been in prison for some time, the boy seemed to have grown even taller. At fifteen or sixteen, he was nearly eight feet tall. Yanqing had to look up to speak with him. He shook his head with a wry smile, watching Xiong Dahai finish the cakes before putting the box away.

"Dahai, I may be returning to Xingyang in a few days, and I won't be able to see you for a while."

"When will you be back, Brother?" Xiong Dahai asked.

"In two or three months at most, perhaps one month at the least." Zheng Yanqing had to go back to secure a voice for the Zheng family, a task that could not be achieved overnight. He said softly, "Before I return, you must behave yourself here and stop fighting with others. Practice your techniques well. When I come back, I’ll bring you more good food. If you need anything, just ask Magistrate Tong to send word to the house. Do you understand?"

Xiong Dahai looked reluctant, but nodded gently. "Brother, please come back soon. It’s so stifling here, and a few days ago, someone tried to bully me..."

"Haha, if anyone dares to bully you, beat the hell out of them."

"Understood!"

After all, most of the people locked up here had no background. Those who did were usually held in the Governor’s prison; why would a small county jail dare to try them?

Yanqing chatted with Xiong Dahai for a while longer, and before leaving, he taught him the final four forms of the Dragon-Subduing Technique. After giving him repeated instructions, Zheng Yanqing finally rose to depart.

Outside the jail, Yanqing mounted his horse, intending to cross the river via the floating bridge at Tongyuan Market and head out through Luoyang. As he passed the bridge, he suddenly pulled on his reins.

He saw a figure that looked familiar, yet strangely distant, lingering on the bank before turning toward the direction of Fengdu Market.

Four years had passed, and Zheng Yanqing’s memories were becoming blurred. Yet, he could still recognize that the back of the figure strongly resembled Mao Xiaoba, who had been missing for so long. Last year, Mao Xiaonian had told him that he had seen Mao Xiaoba in the Luoyang wards. Because of this, Mao Wang and his wife had joined the Maitreya sect, hoping to find him.

However, Mao Xiaoba had suddenly vanished again. The White Maitreya sect had also quieted down, leaving the couple’s hopes shattered. For a long time, they had been listless, unable to focus on their work. Zheng Yanqing had assumed Mao Xiaoba had fled again, but he did not expect him to still be in Luoyang. Four years could change a person's appearance, but some things could not be hidden—like Mao Xiaoba’s broken eyebrow, or the way he tapped his thigh with whatever he was holding as he walked.

Curiosity piqued, Yanqing dismounted, led his horse, and began to follow the figure of Mao Xiaoba.