Fuzhu's Ballad

18

CHAPTER 18 As far as the eye reaches

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As the morning sun began to paint the sky with hues of gold and orange, Shentu Rui and his team arrived at Yingshan post station. Despite their early arrival, Shentu Rui was in no rush to depart and instead ordered his team to take a well-deserved break.

The postmaster, evidently eager to please such a distinguished guest, personally oversaw the arrangements for their lodgings. As Shentu Rui settled into his quarters, a steaming cup of tribute tea was ceremoniously presented to him. Meanwhile, from the confines of her room, Lan Dan observed the proceedings with keen interest. Her attention was soon captured by the arrival of the governor of Yingshan Prefecture, who had come to pay his respects. With a wry smile, Lan Dan watched as the governor lavished praise upon the esteemed Shentu Rui before whisking him away with a retinue of trusted guards. She sneered, knowing all too well that such gestures of respect were often nothing more than a thinly veiled excuse to indulge in the pleasures of flower wine.

Yingshan Inn was a magnificent structure that stood proudly between the bustling capital and the picturesque Summer Resort. It was a place of great importance, for it was the only post station where the imperial carriage was obliged to make a stop. As such, the inn’s construction standards were on par with those of the revered Imperial Palace, and the rank of its postmaster was two levels higher than that of other post stations.

For Lan Dan, Yingshan Inn was the only post station she had ever visited, and each time she had been there, it was a grand occasion. She would ride in a lavish carriage as part of a massive procession, and by the time they arrived at Yingshan, the sun would have already set and the darkness would have descended. While she was busy tidying up her room, the governor and his retinue had just finished paying their respects and were leaving, with a special request to take the Fifth Prince and his companions out. The palace maids informed her that they were going to drink flower wine, which was a customary gift from local officials.

Da Yan did not carry out a mass slaughter of officials from the previous dynasty, thanks in part to the contributions of Lan Huang. As a result, the atmosphere in the officialdom remained the same.

The main building of the post station was reserved for the Emperor’s use only, and the postmaster securely locked and sealed it. Even if Shentu Rui were to come, he could only stay in the main room of the east wing of the second courtyard. After dinner, Lan Dan took a walk along the corridor, slowly walking and looking at the rooftops of the pavilions and buildings in the inner courtyard through the wall. The last time she came here was two years ago. She had never been able to live in the inner courtyard. In her memory, she always loved to watch the brilliant lights and candles of the inner courtyard shining through the wall, as if most of the lights in the post station were gathered in the buildings and pavilions there. Sometimes, the sound of the zither and flute would drift out, making the several courtyards outside seem even colder, darker, and duller.

“What are you doing?”

Lan Dan shuddered, suddenly awakened from her thoughts, realizing that the person standing in front of her was Shentu Rui.

He had no attendants with him, just a lantern in hand. The wind was high at night, and there were no lights around, making the small flicker of the candlelight he brought even more brilliant.

Lan Dan sighed. Ignoring the cold, she sat on the long bench of the corridor. The dark night, the dim light, the silence, and the sound of the wind… all made people want to speak their minds in this desolate and gloomy place.

“I’m thinking about the past.”

“Oh.” Shentu Rui didn’t seem interested, but he didn’t dislike it either. He came over and sat next to her, hanging the lantern on the railing casually.