It was already rather late when the group returned from their walk.
A few people shared the Yi Household's three guest rooms, and several more rooms were cleared out for the others to share. That settled the matter of lodging.
Of course, to the Yi Household, having visitors stay overnight was perfectly normal.
For the emperor's guards, however, this had meant thoroughly surveying all of West River Village beforehand. Some had even chatted with the neighbors and villagers nearby, just as visitors from elsewhere might exchange pleasantries with the locals.
Having come to Moon Province and reached Yi Shuyuan's home, the emperor naturally could not simply eat a meal and leave. As he himself had said, the opportunity was precious, and so he treasured it all the more.
They traveled north to Broad South Mountain to admire its winter beauty, stood on a lofty peak and gazed toward distant Cang Mountain, sang mountain songs as they trod through snow, admired the green of ancient pines, and visited the Mountain God's old temple;
They boated down the West River into the E River, watched the rolling blue-green waves, listened to the curious story of lotus flowers picked in winter, and fished together on the cold river;
Perhaps what mattered most to the emperor was the chance to talk freely with Yi Shuyuan-not only about affairs of state, but everything from tales of the strange and legendary to astronomy and geography, from amusing stories of ordinary folk to the rise and fall of dynasties.
The emperor discovered that, whatever the subject, he and Mr. Yi always had a delightful conversation. He could always talk to his heart's content, and there was always something to surprise him.
Not to mention Yi Shuyuan's truly exquisite storytelling skills, his mastery of music, and his deft