The next day, the authorities duly posted the Imperial Edict throughout Raozhou City. Its contents largely matched the news from the night before, so Xing Yan and the others had not rejoiced in vain.
There was just one blemish in this otherwise perfect picture: the notice stated at the end that, as Raozhou's Pinecone Wine was an exceedingly precious tribute, private trade in it was forbidden, with severe penalties for offenders. Whether this provision had been part of the imperial decree or added by the Prefect of Raozhou after divining his sovereign's wishes, it poured a ladle of cold water straight over the boy, who had been spinning a delightful scheme to make a tidy profit reselling Pinecone Wine.
Still, the various taxes in cash and grain due every season had always been his family's greatest expense. To be fortunate enough to have them waived was already an immense favor.
For some reason-perhaps because he had drunk a little too much the night before-Xing Yan remained listless all day despite a full night's sleep. That lovely face from a month ago kept drifting before his eyes. He could neither cast it aside nor shake it off; even when he forced himself to forget, its memory would not fade.
As the sun gradually slanted westward, Xing Yan finally could bear it no longer. Summoning his courage, he asked Aunt Xia for the evening off, saying that his family needed him to purchase some things in Poyang County. The excuse was rather far-fetched, but his flute playing had lately approached perfection, his melodies clear and mellow, and he had generally been diligent in his work. Thus, when he made his request, Aunt Xia did not make things difficult for him and granted his leave at once.
Once outside the Flower Moon House, the boy was like a bird freed from its cage, heading straight for Poyang County.
When Xing Yan reached Poyang Lake again after a month away, the sun had already slipped behind the mountains, and the clouds in the western sky were gradually losing their colors. The moon hanging in the eastern heavens had begun spilling its gentle radiance over the shimmering lake. As he wandered along the long embankment, he listened to the waves washing against the shore beside him. Soft moonlight drew a slender shadow behind him. Before long, he saw the lakeside rock bathed in that clear glow. A month ago, the girl had leaned beside it, watching with a beaming smile as he lifted that boulder. Now the stubborn stone remained, but she was nowhere to be found.
The sight brought her back to mind, and only then did Xing Yan clearly realize how fiercely he missed Ju Ying-the river and sky, the clouds and water of that day, their carefree laughter, her... breathtaking face, with its gentle words and delicate smile.
As the verse went:
This love might someday become a memory to cherish, yet even then, we were already lost in wistfulness.
Though filled with melancholy, Xing Yan understood that he, a boy from Raozhou's rustic hills, and Ju Ying, a daughter of a great household in Luoyang, were worlds apart-one in heaven, the other on earth. Although they had opened their hearts to each other during that perilous encounter on Poyang Lake, family standing still carried great weight. For the two of them to be together was almost certainly an empty dream, a flower blooming in the void-utterly impossible. Besides, one was now south of the heavens and the other north of the waters; they might never even have another chance to meet!
After gazing for a long while at the misty waters spread across the lake, the openhearted boy gradually returned to himself. With moonlight like white silk and the bright lake like snow before him, why should he brood over such troubles on so beautiful a night? Smiling again, he unfastened the jade flute Divine Snow from his back. Beyond the shadows of the drooping willows, beside the lakeside rock, a clear, tender thread of music softly arose. The boy played beneath the moon with such absorption and feeling that what drifted from the jade flute seemed no longer a mere melody, but the voice of his heart pouring itself out.
Wispy clouds played with shadows then, and the bright moon filled the sky. Its pale, pure radiance fell gently over the vast expanse of gleaming water. The fishing families who made their homes on boats had begun lighting lamps here and there; from afar, they flickered like stars. That elusive thread of flute music danced upon the cool lake breeze, fluttering like a sprite through the silent autumn night.
The jade flute poured out its feelings, and fishing boats sang at dusk-what a limpid, ethereal painting it made!
...Unfortunately, before long, a thoroughly discordant voice shattered this beautiful scene.
As the boy gave himself wholly to his music, he suddenly heard a girl's angry shout beside him:
"Aha! I've finally caught you! What a brazen thief-you even dared come flaunting yourself at my doorstep!"
Startled by the cry about a thief, the boy, who had been lost in his own music, hurriedly opened his eyes to see what scoundrel had passed by. Turning to look around, he discovered a rather pretty girl standing a short distance away in the shadows of the trees, glaring furiously at him!
"May I ask, miss, why you keep staring at me? Where is this thief?"
Seeing that the girl was not pursuing any thief but merely staring at him, Xing Yan was rather bewildered and politely asked her.
"Hmph! Stop playing dumb. You're the flute thief I've been searching for!"
As he heard these angry words, Xing Yan could distinctly sense that the girl who had suddenly appeared in the moonlit shadows seemed to grow even more indignant.
"What?! Surely you don't think this flute of mine is the one you lost? That's absolutely impossible!"
The boy swore vehemently:
"This flute is plainly mine. What makes you say otherwise? Has the dim moonlight led you to mistake it for yours?"
Xing Yan was greatly startled to hear the girl call him a "flute thief." Beyond his surprise, he also grew wary, and his tone became quite solemn. After all, this jade flute was how he earned his living, and it carried the affection of the Lord of the Clouds, who had given it to him. He treasured it dearly and could not let someone simply trick him out of it.
"What do you mean, 'plainly mine'?! That flute in your hand was stolen from me! And you still dare deny it? Give it back right now!!!"
The girl had caught this thief red-handed, yet instead of meekly presenting the stolen goods to their owner with both hands, he blithely played the fool and even questioned her with righteous confidence. She was accustomed to having the final word-how could she endure such insolence? Without waiting for the "thief" to explain, she lunged to snatch it from his hand!
Xing Yan had been speaking reasonably and had never expected this complete stranger to be so unruly! Without sorting right from wrong, she rushed over to seize his flute before his words had even faded. Even as they spoke, she had already gripped its far end tightly! Young and delicately built though she was, the force Xing Yan felt through his hand was surprisingly strong!
Though the girl moved quickly, Xing Yan was fortunately even quicker-witted and reacted at once. Almost as she grabbed the flute, he gave it a powerful tug and forcibly snatched the jade instrument back! In his urgency, he pulled too hard, sending the girl stumbling badly-straight into his arms!
"Ah!"
Neither the one tugging the flute nor the one trying to snatch it had expected this result, and both cried out almost in unison!
The girl reacted quickly, however. With a soft spit of indignation, she sprang away from Xing Yan and steadied herself. Perhaps she had never encountered such a situation before, for the headstrong girl was momentarily speechless.
After that little episode, Xing Yan was rather embarrassed as well. Though it was not his fault and he had not done it deliberately, treating a young lady in such a way was still terribly improper. Ignoring the dull ache where she had struck his chest, he hurriedly explained:
"Er... please don't be angry, miss. I accidentally pulled too hard and made you stumble. I wasn't deliberately trying to pull you into my arms..."
Hearing this apology, which only painted the matter blacker with every word, the girl who had been struggling to compose herself instantly flew into an even greater rage and shouted:
"Shut up! Aha, I never imagined you were not only a flute thief, but a despicable... lecher as well!"
Although she called him a "lecher," the girl beneath the trees plainly felt no fear at all. On the contrary, she looked rather eager to try again, apparently considering another lunge for the flute.
At this sight, Xing Yan groaned inwardly! His luck must truly have been rotten today. He had only come to Poyang Lake to play his flute and ease his mind, yet this undeserved calamity had descended upon him, saddling him with a monstrous injustice. This little she-devil, who had appeared from who knew where, had actually taken him for a flute thief. And after that last commotion, the matter was even more hopelessly tangled. Xing Yan thought to himself:
Enough, enough. As the saying goes, a good man doesn't fight with a woman. Judging by things today, nothing good can come of dragging this out. Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreat is best-I'd better make myself scarce!
His mind made up, Xing Yan said to the girl:
"It seems you have many misunderstandings about me, miss. It isn't convenient for me to explain further today, so I shall take my leave!"
Though his words were courteous, almost as if he were politely seeking her permission, he had already begun greasing the soles of his feet. By the time his final entreaty left his lips, Xing Yan was already two zhang away beneath the girl's astonished gaze!
"Hmph! This thief really is a slippery rogue, trying to run away just like that! Hee! Think you can escape this princess? Just watch what I can do-"
Who would have guessed that this young girl who called herself a "princess" was also a spellcaster? With breath fragrant as orchids, she moved her cherry lips and cried in a clear voice:
"Ice, heart, bind, still!"
After reciting the incantation, the girl raised her slender, jade-like fingers and pointed at the "lecher" fleeing with all his might!
To her surprise, however, the immobilizing spell that had never failed her before somehow proved ineffective today. The running boy merely faltered slightly, then continued picking his way onward as though nothing had happened!
Leaving aside the girl's astonishment, Zhang Xingyan, as he hurried away, suddenly felt something trip him and nearly sent him sprawling. Fortunately, he swiftly regained his balance and avoided making a spectacle of himself. Only, at that instant, the Flowing Water within him seemed faintly to manifest again.
Ahem! This Great Splendor Dao Power I've been cultivating really is quite good! It can even keep me from falling... ah-choo!
Just as Xing Yan was feeling pleased with himself, an unexpected chill suddenly surged through him, making him sneeze.
Er, it looks like I've caught a bit of the autumn chill tonight. I'd better put on more clothes when I get back... and check the almanac while I'm at it. Today really must be inauspicious for music and long journeys!
Though countless thoughts ran through his mind, Xing Yan did not dare pause for an instant. Clutching the jade flute tightly, he shot off like a fleeing hare, racing headlong into the darkness...
The boy, intent on escaping, did not know that the young spellcaster behind him believed her failed spell had merely been a fluke. She repeated the incantation again and again, pointing over and over. Unfortunately, it seemed to have no further effect whatsoever on the boy busy running away.
"Damn it! I never imagined this fellow could run so fast. He's gone so far in the blink of an eye. Of course-he must be too far away for me to aim properly. That's why this princess's binding spell failed."
Having found a reasonable explanation, the girl thought for a moment, only to feel her anger flare anew:
"Hmph! Look at that slippery rogue, fleeing so quickly. He must have a thief's guilty conscience. But if he thinks he can escape the palm of this princess's hand, he can forget it-forget it!"
As the cool evening breeze brushed over her, the girl's thoughts settled somewhat, and she noticed something amiss:
"Huh? That slippery rogue is only an ordinary mortal. How could he have stolen my jade flute Divine Snow? Could I have misjudged him? Does he have some unusual background after all?... Hmm, surely not. This princess's discerning eyes blaze like torches. How could anything strange escape them?"
The rather confident girl turned the matter over in her mind, then suddenly thought of another possibility:
"Hmm? Could Grandfather have something to do with this again? But Divine Snow has been missing all these days, and whenever I asked him, he said he didn't know... No! Now I remember-his expression always seemed a little odd when I asked. He must have secretly taken his precious granddaughter's most beloved Divine Snow and given it to that wretched boy!"
At this thought, the headstrong girl felt her nose sting, and her little mouth puckered as though she were about to burst into tears. Just as those tears were about to fall, however, she recalled her grandfather, who had no dignity befitting his age, pretending to be hard of hearing whenever she asked him these past few days where Divine Snow had gone. His ridiculous act of playing deaf and dumb seemed to rise before her eyes, leaving her torn between laughter and tears amid her hurt and anger.
In the mournful moonlight of that autumn night, the fleeing boy had long since vanished beneath the curtain of darkness. Beneath the cold moon's clear radiance, only the girl remained, on the verge of tears, standing alone beside the shimmering waters of Poyang Lake...
Before you continue