A guest once remarked that the most beautiful part of my home is the garden behind the main hall.
The garden is not large, but because we both favor pinkbells, they grow in abundance there. Every spring, the eye is met with clusters of beautiful pink bells, shimmering and swaying in the gentle breeze.
In our backyard, there is a small lake filled with water lilies. When they bloom in the summer, the scenery is breathtaking. My parents are both quite fond of water lilies; even in the courtyard where they reside, there are vats upon vats of them. Those, however, are rare and precious varieties that my father prefers to keep under his own eye to tend personally. Feng Tong collected them specifically for him. I have always felt that, when he puts his mind to it, Feng Tong is a master at making himself likable.
Still, the most beautiful sight is sitting by the lake and admiring the distant snow-capped mountains.
Directly facing our back garden is Heavenly Maiden Peak, the most famous summit of Mount Xi’an. It is capped with snow year-round. When the weather is poor, a thick white mist shrouds the peak, as if casting a delicate veil over the rugged terrain. But I prefer the clear days.
Days just like today. The sky is a blue as deep as a gemstone, without a single stray cloud. Brilliant sunlight illuminates the silver peak, every line radiating a dazzling glow. From the summit downward, the color of the mountain gradually transitions from a blinding silver-white to a deep, lush green—in autumn, it transforms again into a riot of fiery reds and oranges. Looking out from different rooms, the scenery shifts accordingly, a sight that never fails to inspire awe.
One cannot help but admire the unique vision of the old Fort Master who originally chose this site for the house. According to Feng Tong, that clan leader from two hundred years ago was a man of irritable and solitary temperament. With neither wife nor child, he spent nearly the entire latter half of his life in these deep mountains and old forests.
In truth, though it is secluded, it is not far from the town at the foot of the mountain. During last year’s Lantern Festival, we even walked to town to join the festivities.
On the lawn outside the window, six-year-old Jingchi was working hard to pin down the largest dog on the grass, while tremulously extending his arm to help his little sister climb onto the dog’s back. Not yet three years old, Feicui gripped her brother with one hand and tugged at the large dog’s collar with the other. She scrambled with a short, chubby leg, kicking back and forth without actually getting up, her emerald-green eyes looking piteously at Jingchi.
Jingchi was covered in sweat, yet he heroically offered his own leg as a step for his sister.
Sitting beside me, Mrs. An could not help but let out a laugh. She is a dear friend of my little mother and lives in the town below. She had come today to chat, but unfortunately, my little mother and old father had not yet returned from the mountain temple where they had gone to pray for blessings.
“Those two children certainly get along well,” Mrs. An said with a smile and a sidelong glance at me. “The young master takes after you a bit, but the little miss is the spitting image of your husband—especially those eyes.”
I merely smiled. As we spoke, Feicui had finally managed to scramble onto the dog’s back and was now looking around with an air of great triumph.
“There are rumors in town that the Kingdom of Yantian is seeking a marriage alliance with us,” Mrs. An said cheerfully. “I heard their Emperor sent a Prince to propose. Princess Qionglin has much better luck than her elder sister; she won’t have to marry an old man—they say the Emperor of Yantian is still quite young.”
“That rumor seems to have been circulating for a long time.” I poured hot tea into her cup. “Has His Majesty truly consented?”
Mrs. An gave a conspiratorial smile. “It seems to be for real this time. They are preparing for a military campaign in the North, so they want a marriage alliance with us, likely fearing we might make some trouble behind their backs...”
My hand paused for a moment. Her words stirred something deep within my memory...
The North. The disaster-stricken, long-suffering North.
I shook my head, pushing those rising thoughts back down into my heart. “Wasn't it said that Hong Bo had taken Fengdu?”
“That was half a year ago.” Mrs. An set down her teacup and sighed with emotion. “I heard they fought all the way to White City, but were forced back by Marshal Chu. Even the fields have been redistributed.”
I remained silent.
Four years ago, after General Chu De reclaimed the North, the Emperor of Yantian issued an edict to reclaim the land. The exact details were unknown to outsiders; all that was known was that before the land could be reclaimed, people had organized the peasants to resist the government, gradually evolving into what the officials called "vagabond rebels."
The number of rebels grew steadily, and they elected a man named Hong Bo as their leader. I heard they occupied Fengdu and White City, using those two cities to engage in a long tug-of-war with Chu De...
“I heard the flax in the North is growing exceptionally well...” Mrs. An said, shaking her head. “The Northerners say it’s all thanks to that woman named Xia Wuxin... I just don’t understand. When Chu De took Chixia Pass, why didn't Hong Bo and the others come out to help? They say if they had helped then, Xia Wuxin might not have been defeated!”
As to why the locals didn't help at that time, I couldn't say for certain.
Perhaps they were unwilling to invite trouble upon themselves, or perhaps they didn't realize what the consequences of standing idly by would be...
Perhaps in this world, many things can only be understood once they have been experienced. Only then does one know what they truly desire.
Or perhaps everyone simply needs more time to examine their own hearts and the world in which we dwell.
Who knows?
A thunderous cheer erupted outside, mingled with the frantic barking of dogs large and small; for a moment, it was incredibly lively.
Every time he returned home, it caused a commotion akin to the arrival of a great star.
Feicui, clutching her brother’s hem, jumped down from the large dog, and the two children ran toward their father one after the other. Naturally, several dogs followed their little masters, yapping and jumping. Feicui shouted the loudest, yet she trailed at the very back.
Feng Tong scooped up Jingchi, who had reached him first, lifting him high and settling him onto his shoulders. Then, he began expertly dodging the dogs’ attempts to show their affection. I had told him before that the more he dodged, the more the dogs thought he was playing with them. But he would always reply with an expression of long-suffering endurance: “If I don’t dodge, am I supposed to let their giant paws slap me? Last time I listened to you, I ended up with a neck full of slobber...”
He doesn't like dogs. Or rather, he likes the kind of majestic, silent, "cool" dogs. Unfortunately, any majestic, silent, cool dog that entered our home soon became enthusiastic and bubbly, losing every ounce of its "cool." Feng Tong’s conclusion was: “It’s because you all spoil them!”
By the time Mrs. An and I stepped out of the room, Feicui had already burrowed into her father’s arms and was currently vying with Jingchi for the high ground of their father’s shoulders.
After a few pleasantries, Mrs. An politely took her leave.
I took Feicui from Feng Tong’s arms. In just half a day, the children’s clothes had become wrinkled and messy, and two leaves were stuck in Feicui’s hair. Her fair little face was flushed red from the sun.
Feng Tong kissed her cheek, then turned to me with a grin. “What did you do today?”
“What else but cleaning up the messes left by these two little troublemakers?” I pinched Feicui’s tender cheek. “Tell Daddy, what mischief did you get into today?”
Feicui answered with perfect confidence, “I washed Daddy’s clothes.”
“Oh?” Feng Tong looked at her, stifling a laugh. “You washed my clothes? How impressive!”
Feicui gave me a triumphant sidelong glance. “Granny Lu said I wash cleaner than Mommy—the clothes Mommy washes still have dirty handprints on them.”
I pinched her cheek again, slightly annoyed. “Why don’t you tell Daddy whose dirty handprints those were?”
Feicui immediately hugged my neck to appease me, leaning in to kiss my face with a giggle.
Feng Tong burst into laughter.
Jingchi slid down from his shoulder into his arms and reported solemnly, “The teacher praised my recitation today.”
Feng Tong kissed his face and set him on the ground. “Good boy. Go play with your sister. I have something to say to your mother.”
The two children held hands and ran off, followed by the pack of dogs.
Feng Tong took my hand and we sat on a wooden bench in the garden, quietly watching the children play in the distance.
“What are you thinking about?” I leaned lazily into his embrace. “Didn't you have something to say?”
“I received a letter from Mr. Jie,” Feng Tong said, resting his chin near my temple. “He said the supplies sent last month have arrived. When you write back, ask him how he plans to handle the winter for so many people.”
I looked up at him. “Did my Master say anything?”
“Master Feng is in White City.” Feng Tong hesitated for a moment before adding, “Mr. Jie said she still hopes you will return. You...” His deep green eyes flickered with a trace of worry, yet he stubbornly refused to voice it. Only when he saw me shake my head did a faint smile spread across his face. “Truly not going back?”
“Hong Bo is a native of White City, and he is the leader they chose themselves. Handing the position of City Lord of Dongyao to him will be far more effective than if I were to do it...”
“After all, there are many ways to realize an ideal. I have simply stepped away from the most conspicuous position. We will stay here and continue to serve as their economic backbone—without grain and war supplies, they cannot fight their battles. If we can eventually persuade the Great King to fully support Hong Bo, then there is real hope for Northern independence...”
“I have always felt that, in a way, my ideal has already been realized.”
Because my ideal has become the ideal of many, and countless people are working alongside me toward it... The independence of the North is no longer my burden alone.
The ultimate North of my dreams should be: stable, prosperous, with a sound legal system and social security.
A place where everyone enjoys the rights of freedom and equality.
Where all are equal before the law.
——
