Chapter Seventy: The New Year Has Arrived

The city of Liangzhou was in utter chaos. Physicians worked on the front lines treating the wounded, while Gan Sui was so anxious it felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, yet he could do nothing. Shan Zhi, who knew a little about medicine, deduced that Banxia had overexerted herself and caused a disturbance in her pregnancy. She hurried to the pharmacy to prepare a calming decoction, which she administered right away.

Banxia awoke the following morning to find Gan Sui dozing off by her side. He hadn’t slept for days and had only managed to rest briefly at dawn. When Banxia tried to cover him with a blanket, she moved just slightly and he instantly woke.

“What’s wrong?” Gan Sui’s startled eyes opened, red with fatigue. “You’re awake—are you thirsty? Hungry? Do you need—?”

Banxia took his hand and pressed it to her cheek. “I’m fine, really. The baby and I are both well.”

Gan Sui bent closer, his face near hers, and said softly, “I’m sorry…” I wasn’t by your side when you needed me most.

“Then you must treat me and the baby extra well from now on.”

“I promise. Pinky swear?” Gan Sui said solemnly.

Banxia hooked her finger with his. “Then I suppose I’ll forgive you, just this once.”

“You must be hungry. Let’s have breakfast together.” Gan Sui helped her sit up, propping her comfortably. “I’ve already sent Hanshui to wait for the physician outside. As soon as he returns, he’ll check your pulse.” He clearly didn’t trust Shan Zhi’s medical skills entirely.

“How are things outside?” Banxia asked.

“It’s grim. But Lin’s army has driven the Keler out of Ding County, and now over ten thousand men are guarding Ling County.”

“Have you seen Lin Tianyu?” she pressed.

“I caught a glimpse from afar when he stormed the city, but it wasn’t clear.”

“I wonder how he’s faring. Anzi used to speak of him often.”

“He’ll have to come by sooner or later—you’ll see him then.”

“What do you think His Majesty is planning? Mobei and Liangzhou are so far apart, yet he summoned Lin’s army from there. If he’d just mobilized troops from the nearer Sui Prefecture, things wouldn’t be as dire now.”

As he ladled porridge for her, Gan Sui replied, “I suspect His Majesty is paving the way for Anzi and Lin’s army.”

“What do you mean?”

“Three years ago, Lin’s army took a fortune in gold and silver to Mobei for training. Not a word of news has leaked since. Now, presumably, they are a formidable force. His Majesty intends to make them the most indispensable troops in the Liang Kingdom. Just watch—after this bloody battle, Lin’s army will push forward, perhaps even into the Keler’s homeland.”

“But isn’t it said not to pursue a desperate foe? That’s a tough nut to crack.”

“Anzi will be ten next year. There’s growing talk at court of naming the crown prince. His Majesty must be restraining himself, but that’s not a long-term solution. I suspect the plan is to let Lin’s army make its name, become Anzi’s strongest support, and then, under the Lin family’s banner, bring Anzi back to the palace with full legitimacy.”

“So you believe Anzi will return to the palace soon?”

“I’ve discussed this with him before; he understands. Having wandered the world as a child, Anzi is more mature than most. He knows his responsibilities.”

“No matter what he thinks, I still feel he’s so young…”

“Brother-in-law… may I come in?” Suddenly, Anzi’s voice sounded from outside. Their conversation ceased. Banxia glanced at him—his expression was calm, so he must not have heard much.

“What is it?”

“Shan Zhi says you should take your medicine, Sister.”

“Every medicine has its side effects. I’m not feeling unwell; maybe I can skip it?” It was curious how every concoction was especially bitter, each with its own unique taste. Every time Banxia drank one, she felt as if she might ascend to immortality, her scalp tingling with numbness.

“That won’t do. This is the last dose—you must finish it.”

Banxia braced herself and swallowed the bitter brew, rinsing her mouth several times before feeling better.

“Have you seen your uncle yet?”

“He’s truly busy, but the New Year is near—he’ll probably come then.”

Indeed, in another half month, it would be the New Year, but the cheerful atmosphere on the streets had been swept away by war. Once she felt better, Banxia went out with Xiangyu to prepare for the celebrations. Xiangyu was a newly bought young maid—just fourteen or fifteen, quick and capable in all she did. Her entire family had perished in the war, so she’d sold herself into service at their household. Banxia had been a little uneasy ordering her about at first, but she was slowly getting used to it.

Gan Sui looked after Banxia for two days at first, but seeing she was well, he hurried back to the county office. The work was more demanding than ever. General Mu had fled, leaving his residence behind, and after the battle, the situation inside was tragic. Several young maids, unwilling to suffer dishonor, tried to take their lives daily. Gan Sui was indifferent to such matters; he sent a clerk to comfort them, being a married man who must distance himself from any hint of impropriety.

The greatest challenge was the post-war reconstruction. Ding County had suffered the highest casualties; even the county office had been burned down and there was no magistrate. The deputy was indecisive, coming to Gan Sui with every problem. In Liangzhou City, buildings were damaged, casualties tallied, and Gan Sui worked himself dizzy, returning home only at midnight. Banxia was always sound asleep, except for their little daughter, who would sometimes kick to greet him when he placed his hand on Banxia’s belly.

After more than half a month of tension, things finally eased on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month. It had been an especially difficult year. After the official seals were locked away on the twenty-eighth, the office wouldn’t open again until after the New Year unless something urgent arose. Many subordinates sent invitations to pay their respects to the family, recognizing Gan Sui as a diligent official—strict but helpful, and likely to be promoted soon. But Gan Sui declined them all. His wife was seven months pregnant and needed extra care. Hosting banquets would be too taxing, so he decided to close their doors and let the family celebrate quietly.

Banxia felt increasingly uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy. Sometimes she’d wake in the night with painful cramps, gritting her teeth to endure them. Gan Sui tried not to sleep too deeply, waking at the slightest stir. Seeing his dark circles deeper than hers, Banxia felt sorry for him, but Gan Sui only teased, “These are the marks of a national treasure—very precious indeed.”

Lin Tianyu finally arrived on the night of the twenty-ninth, unshaven and in dirty armor, looking as though he hadn’t cared for himself in ages. As soon as he entered, Banxia had hot water prepared for him. Shan Zhi, upon seeing him, kept her distance, and the light in Lin Tianyu’s eyes dimmed momentarily before he collected himself. He had seen too much of life and death; such matters of love seemed pale and fragile by comparison now.

After a hot bath, Lin Tianyu eagerly devoured the food Xiangyu set before him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a hot meal—war had made proper eating a luxury, with only dry rations and hot water, and irregular meals. At first, he’d maintained the reserve of a nobleman, but soon he was wolfing down the dishes, clearing the table by himself. When he finished, he burped loudly and slumped back in the chair. “Now this is what it means to be alive.”

Exhausted, he nearly fell asleep where he sat. Banxia hurried him off to the guest room, which she had prepared in advance, airing the bedding under the sun to make it soft and fluffy. Lin Tianyu was snoring thunderously in no time. Soon, a shadow drifted in by the window, approached the bedside, and, as if afraid to wake him, gently reached out to stroke his face before silently withdrawing. Lin Tianyu seemed utterly unaware. He turned over and sank deeper into sleep, only his brows knotting as though troubled by nightmares.

He slept straight through until afternoon the next day. When he woke, Anzi was in the courtyard performing a sword dance for Banxia. Lin Tianyu straightened his clothes, vaulted out the window, and picked up a branch. “Anzi, let’s see what you’ve learned these years.”

Anzi loved sparring most and nodded eagerly. The two began in earnest. Though Anzi learned from Lu Ying, he was still young and not yet skilled enough. By the twentieth move, he began to falter, and by the thirty-fifth, Lin Tianyu knocked the wooden sword from his grasp.

“Thank you for letting me win,” Lin Tianyu said with a grin.

“My master taught me well, but I haven’t mastered the techniques yet.”

“You’re still young, and your skills are already impressive. At your age, I wasn’t half as good. Good boy—if your mother could see you now, she’d rest easy in the afterlife.”

“You must be tired. Come in and rest,” Banxia called to them, handing over towels. “Sweating in this winter cold can make you ill—dry off quickly. There’ll be silver ear soup to warm you soon.”

The floor was heated, making the room warm but dry, so Banxia had Mrs. He prepare a large pot of silver ear soup.

When the two came down, Gan Sui was already at the table with his soup.

“Why isn’t Brother Duan with you?” he asked.

“He went to visit old friends; he’ll probably come after the New Year. Magistrate Gan, I’ll be relying on your support in days to come.”

The last decree Gan Sui received before the seals were locked appointed Lin Tianyu as Grand General of Liangzhou, temporarily in charge of all military affairs there.

“General, I’ll do my best—here’s a toast with soup instead of wine,” Gan Sui said.

“Soup at New Year’s? Wine is better!” Lin Tianyu protested.

“No way—the smell would be too strong for my little girl. You wouldn’t understand, being alone, but once you’re a father, you have to be careful.”

Lin Tianyu, the perennial bachelor, found such shameless boasting deeply wounding.

“I heard that after General Mu fled to the capital, His Majesty was furious and flew into a rage at court. The head of the Wen family, sly old fox, immediately proclaimed his loyalty, demanding that his daughter and son-in-law be executed as a warning. They say when his daughter was dragged to the execution ground, she couldn’t believe her own father had given the order,” Lin Tianyu said with a click of his tongue.

“When one is obsessed with power, they’ll do anything to keep it. Not just a concubine’s child—he’d abandon even his legitimate daughter without hesitation.”

“Such men deserve their fate. Before disaster, they plunder the people and indulge themselves; when trouble comes, they abandon the commoners and flee. If we’d had a magistrate like him here, Liangzhou would have fallen long ago. The Wen family thought they’d grab military glory, but he was hopeless. Useless as a rotten stick.”

“It’s the New Year—let’s not talk of such things. Best to enjoy the holiday. I’m afraid we won’t have much peace once it’s over.”