The wooden shack was so dilapidated it was heart-wrenching. Rain leaked through the roof, and Xie Jingsheng stepped onto a stool to patch one spot. "This place won't be standing for long," he told He Anchang. "We’ll tear it down once the rain stops." No sooner had he patched one leak than another started elsewhere. He jumped down, wiped the stool clean, and said, "Sit."
He Anchang sat. Xie Jingsheng rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Want something to eat?"
"I won't trouble you." He Anchang’s anger had subsided by a few inches. Sitting on the battered bench, his rain-soaked hair dripping, he looked cold and somewhat pitiable.
Xie Jingsheng turned and shouted outside, "Bring a clean towel! Auntie Chen, bring the food here." Once the items were delivered, he dismissed everyone. He handed the clean towel to He Anchang. "Dry your hair."
He Anchang took it. He watched as Xie Jingsheng lifted the blue cloth covering the basket, revealing a dish of pickled vegetables and two steamed buns. Xie Jingsheng pressed the only pair of chopsticks into his hand and pushed the pickles forward. "Things are tight here, so there’s nothing fancy. But these pickles are quite to my liking. I have a dish every day; consider it a little taste of the countryside. Try some."
He Anchang stared at the fine scratches on Xie Jingsheng’s fingers. The tightness in his chest, which had just begun to ease, felt stifled again for some unknown reason. He took the chopsticks and began to eat.
Auntie Chen called out from outside, "Lord Xie!"
Xie Jingsheng hadn't even grabbed a bun yet. He opened the door and asked, "What is it, Auntie?"
Auntie Chen stuffed two steaming hot meat buns into his hands and whispered, "Is that the lord from the capital? Oh, you see, we can't find anything good here, but we can't let him eat cold food, can we? These buns were made by the wives of Erli Village. We’ve distributed them to everyone, but keep these two for him to try." She then muttered to herself, "Do lords from the capital even eat buns? The plays always say they eat 'Gold and Jade Soup.'"
"Thanks, Auntie." Xie Jingsheng tucked the buns away with a grin. "Am I not also from the capital? How come I’ve never tasted any Gold and Jade Soup? Alright, give my thanks to the young wives of Erli Village. Tell them Xie Jingsheng has received their gift." He added, "Hurry back now, it's pouring."
He returned to He Anchang in a few strides and revealed the buns, raising an eyebrow triumphantly. "Buns made by the local wives."
He Anchang gave a cold snort and ignored him. Seeing He Anchang reach for a cold steamed bun, Xie Jingsheng quickly intercepted him and handed over a hot one. This time, He Anchang didn't take it. Xie Jingsheng simply snatched the cold bun for himself, saying, "Stealing my food the moment you arrive?" He then held the hot bun right to He Anchang’s lips. "Eat this. Do me the honor."
He Anchang looked up at him. Just as Xie Jingsheng was about to tease him, He Anchang took a bite. It was filled with red bean paste. The bun wasn't anything extraordinary—the skin was thick and the filling was overly sweet—and it was held between fingers that might not even be clean. But He Anchang ate with determination, bite by bite. His bulging, snowy-white cheeks made Xie Jingsheng’s throat go dry as he watched.
When He Anchang finished, the last bit of warmth and his thin lips brushed against Xie Jingsheng’s fingertips, causing them to twitch. He hurriedly handed over the second bun. "Take it."
"I'm full." He Anchang frowned and turned his head away. "Eat it yourself."
"Since you're here to inspect the dam, this little bit of food won't do." Xie Jingsheng broke the last bun in half, stuffed one piece into He Anchang’s hand, and ate the other himself. "After the inspection, hurry back and report. If this rain doesn't stop, the Changhe embankment won't hold. It's not safe to stay here."
He Anchang was truly annoyed by his presumptuous attitude. He took the half-bun and bit into it, then shoved the chopsticks back. "Shut up and eat. I know how to write my report."
Xie Jingsheng devoured the rest like a whirlwind, finishing the cold bun and the pickles completely. He had been soaking in water and lifting heavy objects all day; his hands and feet were ice-cold, and even a cold bun felt like it brought some comfort to his stomach. He Anchang sat to the side, holding the still-warm bun, his mood gradually leveling out, though he felt a strange ache somewhere in his body.
This man was a Provincial Administrative Commissioner, a secondary second-rank official—only a step below a Commandery Prince or a Marquis. He had a dog-like temperament; in the capital, no one wanted to be near him. The Leftist faction often mocked him behind his back as a "dog-tail grass" who had climbed to power by clinging to Bai Jiu’s Embroidered Uniform Guard lineage. He had no family name of standing, perhaps no home at all, and he loved to speak with a romantic, shameless air.
Such a scoundrel.
...And yet, such a scoundrel cared more about the people's livelihood than anyone in the central government. He promoted water conservancy, reclaimed fertile land, opened canals, and stayed close to the people's will. After leaving Qingping, he had been cursed and pointed at for who knows how long, but once he entered Qingping, he rolled in the mud and did real work. He hadn't stood idly by during the He Jingli murder case; though he claimed to be just playing along, he had taken all the "dirty water" upon himself. Then he turned away, wanting neither fame nor credit, wishing only to hide far away where he would never be seen again.
"Scoundrel," He Anchang suddenly said coldly.
Xie Jingsheng was innocent. There was only one bench, so the two of them had to squeeze together. Although he was having flights of fancy about this cold, elegant man in his heart, he hadn't shown it on his face. Bewildered by the insult, he only rubbed his nose and smiled.
"Your temper has grown again after just a few days apart, Lord He."
He Anchang stood up. "Let's go. I want to see the canal."
"Don't be so restless." Xie Jingsheng stretched his shoulders and leaned against the wall. "Let me sit for a moment."
He expected a cold snort, but to his surprise, He Anchang actually sat back down. Xie Jingsheng was teased by the scent of the man so close to him. He let out a long sigh and turned his head to rest against the wooden boards, mentally telling himself to sober up. After a long silence, he couldn't help but turn back. He saw He Anchang sitting perfectly upright, shoulders level and back straight. That waist... Xie Jingsheng licked his lips, truly not intending to look away. Unfortunately, before the rogue could start anything, there was another knock at the door. Xie Jingsheng shifted his gaze, too lazy to move. "Your clothes are here. Bring them in and change. Once you're done, we’ll head to the canal."
When the door opened, it was indeed a bundle of clean clothes. They felt thick to the touch, and there was even a heavy cloak. He Anchang rummaged through them and frowned. "Where are yours?"
"I'm not changing," Xie Jingsheng said lazily. "After I show you around, I have to go back into the water. The floating boards aren't finished yet. You have to change, though. You're from the capital, after all; we can't let—" A wet outer garment was suddenly thrown over his face. Xie Jingsheng laughed. He didn't close his eyes, but he didn't take the garment off either. Through the fabric infused with a cold fragrance, he watched the blurred silhouette of the man as he shed his clothes one by one.
Shoulders were lean, waist was narrow, legs were long. He was thin—at least, he felt thin to Xie Jingsheng’s touch. His legs were so long and straight they made Xie Jingsheng’s throat tighten and his belly burn. Xie Jingsheng was startled to find he wasn't thinking of anything particularly foul; simply watching this man through the hazy fragrance was enough to create an uncontrollable impulse. This feeling of maintaining a gentlemanly facade in the face of such a trial was akin to self-torture. Xie Jingsheng tilted his head back slightly, his nose brushing against the garment, letting out a silent, helpless sigh of endurance.
He had clearly hidden so far away, so why couldn't he escape? He clearly understood the situation, so why didn't he dare to make a move? This man, in a flash, had become the moonlight on the tip of his heart, yet his palms still itched with desire and the urge to possess. What should he do? Snatch him away? Could he? Could He Anchang? The He family was a towering pillar; could he really drag He Anchang down the path of a "broken sleeve," causing him to be abandoned by his kin? He was a scoundrel, but He Anchang was not. This man was a noble son of a high house, with a flat and glorious future ahead of him, and parents and elders to answer to.
In one's life, one is bound to meet such a karmic obstacle—unavoidable, inescapable, binding oneself within it, a mixture of bitterness and sweetness.
The light suddenly returned as He Anchang looked down at him. "Let's go."
Xie Jingsheng’s Adam's apple bobbed hard. He grabbed He Anchang’s wrist and used the leverage to stand up. He pressed the swaying He Anchang against his chest for a brief second before immediately switching to a steadying hold. He chuckled, "Let's go."
The terrain of Jiangtang was high, and the canal had been built on the elevated land to the south, which was a deed of great merit. Because Jiangtang sat upstream, both Qingping and Wuhan relied on this canal for irrigation. When the Changhe’s rise was well-regulated, the silty water fertilized the fields, benefiting the three regions of Jiangtang, Qingping, and Wuhan. Consequently, these three areas were collectively known as the granary of Great Lan. But this critical location was the place that could least afford negligence. The embankment was vital, and annual inspections and repairs were a duty. However, King Tang had been acting muddled in recent years; he kept repairing it privately without any results.
He Anchang inspected it thoroughly. The imperial court would have to allocate funds immediately, and the amount would not be small. He had to be clear on the accounts so that he wouldn't be brushed off with a pittance when he returned.
"If the funds still aren't allocated this year, what will you do?" He Anchang faced the surging waves of the Changhe. The water had already reached the third marking on the canal wall. The rain continued unabated. The small breach in the Jiangtang embankment could not be sealed properly as it was; they could only pray the rain would stop and that a total collapse would not occur.
"Then there will be no way." Xie Jingsheng brushed back the stray hairs on his forehead, revealing eyes filled with a sharp edge. "King Tang has been unable to fix it for so long; I fear he simply doesn't *want* to fix it. If the Jiangtang embankment breaks, Qingping and Wuhan will immediately suffer a flood. The granaries of both regions will be lost, cutting off Great Lan’s winter food supply. A flood cannot be dealt with quickly; with no grain in the stores, the people's hearts will be unsettled, and there will be the troubles of post-disaster resettlement and plagues. With chaos in the court and those with ill intentions causing friction, our two factions will surely turn on each other first. By then, even if the Emperor wishes to repair the embankment, it will be difficult to achieve in the short term. If the water disaster isn't resolved and the flood kills people, and if the commoners aren't settled properly, the wavering of the people's hearts will be no small matter." Xie Jingsheng placed a hand on He Anchang’s shoulder, turning him to face the other way. "Look at Jiangtang again. King Tang has a secure granary and actual military power. The Crown Prince has yet to return from abroad, Beiyang is far away, and King Yan is gone. The remaining provincial troops rely on orders from the capital to move, and they are few in number and a mixed bag. Only the thirty thousand Capital Guards are capable of a fight. In such a scenario, who in Great Lan could compete with him?"
He Anchang raised a hand and pointed. "He would be relying on a flood and human lives, but in the end, it is not righteous. Forcing a palace coup amidst chaos is also not legitimate. Without righteousness or a smooth succession, how would he dare? If he dared, he wouldn't have stayed hidden for so long."
"Then he’ll find a way to make it 'smooth.'" Xie Jingsheng exhaled a breath of cold air. "You spend all your time in the capital; you don't know the filth of the provinces. If a high-ranking regional official has such gall, what about a Prince of the Realm? You forgot one thing: the Great Yuan."
He Anchang turned to look at him.
Xie Jingsheng said solemnly, "The Great Yuan is waiting for an opportunity. Without the deterrence of Beiyang, entering and exiting the northern border is like child's play. If things don't get chaotic, fine; but once they do, the Lion King of the Great Yuan is still watching like a tiger, and his blade is not yet old. At that point, we will only have one King Tang who is capable of taking command. In that situation, who could afford not to beg for his help?"
He Anchang was silent for a long while before he suddenly said, "It must have been hard for you to submit petitions year after year."
Xie Jingsheng laughed and led him back. The two walked under a single umbrella until they reached the shack. Xie Jingsheng said, "Wait inside. A carriage will come for you later."
"What for?"
"To take you away."
He Anchang froze. The words "I'm not leaving" were almost out of his mouth. But Xie Jingsheng suddenly raised a hand, his palm—chilled by the rain—cupping He Anchang’s cheek, making him forget what he was going to say.
Xie Jingsheng narrowed his eyes with the satisfaction of a fox. He pulled a grin, looking roguish. "You have to help me win this round."
"That goes without saying." He Anchang didn't move. His expression was calm, but he realized his cold demeanor had mostly dissipated.
Xie Jingsheng seemed reluctant to let go, rubbing the cheek once more. Before the other could react, he stepped out from under the umbrella. Separated by the heavy rain as if by two different worlds, he tilted his chin up and shouted, "Go inside!" He gave a wink and a grin, then turned and headed back to the canal. In the blink of an eye, he was once again lost in the mud.
But this time, He Anchang could distinguish him clearly. He knew exactly which one was Xie Jingsheng.
He Anchang returned to the capital quickly. He first presented his memorial, then turned to Zhang Taiyan to argue the necessity of repairing the embankment. Subsequently, the Leftist faction uncharacteristically stood with Bai Jiu’s faction. The silver funds were approved rapidly. With supervisors sent from both sides, the process was smooth all the way to the local level. Xie Jingsheng didn't stop for a moment; he rushed straight to Jiangtang. He didn't even enter the King Tang Estate, instead slapping the imperial decree directly onto the estate gates before turning back to the construction.
The repairs lasted until winter. The fast horses sent to invite the Crown Prince back to the capital were eventually worn down into old oxen by Xie Jingsheng’s stalling. Before finally letting the messengers go, he even plied them with wine until their legs were soft. He himself wasn't much better off; as soon as he returned to his estate, he collapsed into a deep sleep. It took a full five or six days for him to regain his vitality, having lost more than a layer of weight.
Not long after he had recovered, Xiao Yan came to see him. Seeing that his stubble had been cleaned up and he finally looked human again, she couldn't help but scold him, "You're just relying on your youth to throw your life away! You'll work yourself to death one day!"
Xie Jingsheng only laughed, once again the picture of a refined and elegant playboy. He tucked his fan into the back of his collar and smiled. "It's fine, I won't die from a bit of tossing." He leaned back against a soft cushion, stretching his legs out comfortably. "I didn't wash for ten days and I didn't even stink myself to death; it's clear my constitution is robust. Living to a hundred won't be a problem." As he spoke, he suddenly sat up and asked, "Where's the bundle I brought back?"
Xiao Yan said with disgust, "How long had those clothes been festering? I just had someone take them away to be cleaned."
Xie Jingsheng suddenly jumped up. "Oh, my dear sister!" Without even putting on his shoes, he dashed out with only one slipper on.
Xiao Yan couldn't catch him. She could only throw the other shoe at him, shouting, "Are you crazy!"
Xie Jingsheng caught it, slipped it onto his foot, and yelled back, "That's my treasure, sister!" With that, he vanished.
Xiao Yan leaned against the door in shock, pondering for a long time how this boy had managed to turn himself stupid just by fixing a dam, but she could find no answer.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 陈婶 | Auntie Chen | A local woman helping at the canal. |
| 二里村 | Erli Village | A local village near the canal. |
| 金玉汤 | Gold and Jade Soup | A metaphorical term for a luxurious, expensive soup. |
| 布政使 | Provincial Administrative Commissioner | A high-ranking civil official in charge of a province's administration. |
| 从二品 | Secondary Second Rank | A specific rank in the imperial bureaucracy. |
| 左派 | Leftist faction | A political faction in the court. |
| 锦衣卫 | Embroidered Uniform Guard | The imperial secret police/guard. |
| 狗尾巴草 | Dog-tail grass | Setaria viridis; used here as a derogatory term for someone insignificant or a sycophant. |
| 经历 | Registrar | A mid-level official title (referring to the previous case). |
| 江塘 | Jiangtang | A geographical location/region. |
| 无翰 | Wuhan | A geographical location/region (not the modern city). |
| 大岚 | Great Lan | The name of the fictional empire/dynasty. |
| 狮王 | Lion King | The title/epithet of the ruler of the Great Yuan. |
| 章太炎 | Zhang Taiyan | A high-ranking official in the capital. |
| 萧嫣 | Xiao Yan | A female character, likely a relative or close associate of Xie Jingsheng. |
