Chapter 35: A Celebration for Lady Xiaojia

A fourth-rank titled lady received both a stipend and ceremonial honors; her court attire was strictly regulated. When Cai-jie was helped up by Cai Cong, she paid no attention to the silks, brocades, and gold and jade jewelry bestowed by the Empress. Instead, one hand clutched the imperial edict tightly, while the other caressed the formal court robe again and again, her tears never ceasing. She had thought she would bear the burden of disgrace for life; never did she imagine that, on this day, someone would finally restore her name.

“This is indeed a momentous and joyous occasion. I wonder if this humble official might have the honor of a cup of wine, to share in Lady Xiao Jia’s good fortune?” The head eunuch spoke with a beaming smile, but his words were meant to flatter Cai Cong, not Cai-jie. Having served beside the Empress, he was well aware of Cai Cong’s standing in the hearts of Their Majesties.

“Ahem… Please, Sir Eunuch, stay and have a drink with us. I shall arrange a feast at once,” the old master, who had been bedridden, was now brought out by Wei Guo. He smiled as he addressed the eunuch.

“You bunch of fools! Such a great event and none of you saw fit to tell me—do you think I would shield my own grandson at the expense of the clan?” The old master glared at the others, his cane thudding on the ground.

Had Cai-jie not been granted a title, the villagers would hardly have dared inform him; he might never have learned of the monstrous deeds his grandson had committed.

“Please, sir, don’t be angry. You must take care of your health…”

“How can I not be angry? To forget who fed you—such ingratitude! To forget who gave you work—such disloyalty! To even want to kill your own sister, to break your grandfather’s heart—such lack of filial piety! To have raised such a faithless, unfilial brute—I am ashamed before your grandfather!” The old man choked with sobs, and when he spoke of his elder brother, he wept all the harder. Years ago, the brothers had discussed matters through the night; in the end, his brother took all his sons to the battlefield, while he remained behind to guard the village. Truly, it should have been him to go, but his brother, so much more capable, feared for his sibling’s safety and departed quietly in the night, leaving Cai-jie all alone. That was why he cherished her as his own.

“Uncle Grandfather, don’t cry. Look, your granddaughter is now a titled lady—shall I try on the court robe for you?” Cai-jie smiled through her tears, coaxing the old man.

“Yes, yes, I want to see my girl in her court robes. This is the pride of our family. Uncle Grandfather won’t cry anymore.” The pitiful pair, weeping and laughing together, moved all who watched.

Cai Gang had gone to buy ingredients for beggar’s chicken; he was absent, so Da Tian and the others arranged the banquet. Cai-jie, now dressed in her formal robe, circled the old master like a child, making him laugh heartily, all dignity forgotten.

The Cai family village was as festive as at New Year, with even neighboring villagers arriving to offer congratulations—news had spread, somehow. Some came with eggs, others with rice as gifts.

The new village chief sat awkwardly among the crowd. At other celebrations, he would have taken the seat of honor, but today he dared not.

Seeing such joy and bustle, the old master, elated, declared that the banquet would last three days. Anyone offering a word of blessing could join the feast. The villagers, hearing this, shivered at the thought of the expense.

“Do as the old master says. His happiness is what matters,” Cai Cong decreed, unconcerned about money—it was easier for him to earn than for anyone else.

The Duke of England’s household sent a pair of jade ruyi scepters in congratulation to Lady Xiao Jia.

The Duke of Wei’s household presented her with one hundred taels of gold and a bushel of pearls.

The Duke of Zhao… The Duke of E...

The eunuch’s attendant, who had accompanied the imperial edict, now acted as gatekeeper, announcing each new tribute in ringing tones. All were astonished: so many great houses, all sending congratulations to the Cai family.

The Yan family sent a bolt of fine cloth; the Li family and Master Li Gang sent a full set of scholar’s writing implements…

As the sole man of the house, Cai Cong hurried to the front to offer thanks. The visitors were all chief stewards of noble households, polished and sociable; lively conversation ensued. The village chief, realizing he was seated too far forward, discreetly moved to a table further back.

The banquet lasted until nightfall, the clamor slowly fading. The old master, well into his cups, kept repeating that he could now face his brother with pride, before being carried away by the others. Cai-jie sat in her room gazing at the court robe, sometimes weeping, sometimes smiling.

Cai Cong sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the stars. The excitement had passed, leaving behind a solitary melancholy—this era, after all, was separated from him by a thousand years.

“My lord, it’s late. You should rest,” Meng Baolai approached and spoke quietly.

“Baolai, why do people live, do you think? I’ve seen life and death, traveled through past and present, yet I’m still lost,” Cai Cong said, bewildered.

“I’ve never thought about it! They say a bad life is better than a good death. Living is best, surely,” Meng Baolai scratched his head. He’d dreamed of striving for honor, of achieving merit in battle, but never questioned the meaning of life. Wasn’t living just... living? What else was there—death?

“Maybe so! I’ll go to bed. You all should rest early, too.” Cai Cong smiled. How could a simple man provide the answer? How idle he was, to ponder such things after living two lives already.

Everyone else was asleep, but far away, in a desolate, abandoned village miles off, Cai Tian and his four companions gnawed on sour wild fruit, each filled with terror. Now, they were like rats crossing the street, hunted everywhere. When they tried to steal food from a nearby village, they found the place in chaos—constables were searching every house with their portraits in hand, so they fled back, forced to subsist on wild fruit.

“What do we do? They really did report us. If they issue a wanted notice, we’ll be fugitives everywhere. We’ll have to hide in the mountains forever.”

“I can’t! My wife and child need me—they’ll starve without me.”

“Same here. My boy’s only a few years old. If I’m gone, my wife will probably sell him. Who said this plan was foolproof? How did it come to this?” someone cried out, suddenly hurling a wild fruit at Cai Tian in anger.

Cai Tian, lost in thought, was struck and immediately drew his knife, slashing at the man. “You dare lay a hand on me?”

“What are you doing?” The man dodged, the blade sparking against the ground.

“What am I doing? I’ve already killed—if I’m caught, I’m dead anyway. Anyone who dares challenge me, I’ll kill him, too.” Cai Tian’s eyes swept over the others, a cruel smile on his lips.

“We won’t, Brother Tian. Whatever you say, we’ll do.” All four bowed their heads, not daring to look at him. They had seen him kill before—they were deeply afraid.

“That’s better. Now sleep. We can’t stay here long. Tomorrow we’ll cross the mountains, leave Chang’an’s jurisdiction. The world is chaos—if you follow me and are ruthless enough, women and silver will be ours.”

Cai Tian had often heard tales of mountain bandits, ruling their strongholds, seizing wealth and women, feasting and drinking large bowls of wine. At such times, he’d set aside his hoe, drooling with envy.

The ruined house was heavy with frost, the night’s chill forcing the four to huddle together for warmth. Cai Tian shivered, but didn’t dare let the others approach—having killed, his paranoia had deepened, seeing threats everywhere.

At that moment, the four exchanged glances and suddenly pounced on Cai Tian. One pinned down the knife clutched to his chest, two seized his legs, and before Cai Tian could react, the last brought down a broken window frame hard on his neck. His eyes rolled back and he fell unconscious.

Only then did the four breathe easier. They took his knife, fetched rope, and bound him tightly. Their plan was clear: Cai Tian was the ringleader, the killer—they were coerced, their crimes less grave. There was no need to flee with him forever.

“Hurry, find something to make a litter. We’ll drag him to the authorities; maybe they’ll be lenient.” It wasn’t hard to accomplish. The four took turns hauling the makeshift litter, and by dawn had reached a nearby village. The constables had already left, but Li Shimin’s agents remained, and quickly apprehended all five, binding them and sending them by fast horse back to Cai family village.