After the Immortal Disappeared

Madam Ying did the same.

Then it was Hee Lingchuan's turn.

Hee Chunhua stood at the front, his expression and tone heavy. "Kowtow to your great-grandfather."

"Kowtow to your grandfather."

"Kowtow to your grandmother."

"Kowtow to your second grand-uncle."

...

Hee Lingchuan also performed thirty-six kowtows, feeling a little dizzy when he stood up. The last resounding kowtow was for his Ninth Uncle, Hee Chunhua's own younger brother, who was only six years old when he was publicly executed by being cut in half at the waist.

One hundred twenty-seven members of the main Hee Family branch, from an eighty-year-old elder to a six-year-old child, had been spared no mercy. Only Hee Chunhua had survived.

It was Hee Yue's turn.

The two brothers passed each other, and Hee Lingchuan silently mouthed, "Go easy!"

Even someone as thick-skinned as him ended up with a red and swollen forehead after the kowtows. Hee Yue, on the other hand, had delicate skin. In previous years, after the family ceremony, the Chief Steward would have to apply medicine to his wounds.

Hee Yue looked away, his face impassive.

When he knelt and kowtowed, the sound was no quieter than Hee Lingchuan's.

Hee Chunhua watched him, but his gaze was unfocused. He was surprisingly in a Trance.

Hee Lingchuan looked at his father and thought his vacant expression looked almost ferocious.

No matter how gentle and kind he appeared on the surface, the hatred and resentment in this man's heart had never faded in the slightest.

After thirty-six kowtows, Hee Yue crouched for a long while to recover before standing up to offer incense.

Sure enough, blood was trickling down his forehead again.

"Good. The Hee Family has endured a great calamity; it is time we welcomed a chance for rebirth." Hee Chunhua took a deep breath. "What have I always taught you? To clear the Hee Family's name and restore our honor—"

The Hee Brothers glanced at each other and recited in unison, "We will grind our bones to dust and die ten thousand deaths without regret!"

The ones who framed the Hee Family back then were already dead, but the Hee family members still died bearing the crime of being "accomplices." Because of the Royal Family's pride and dignity, this grave injustice has yet to be redressed.

For these past twenty years, Hee Chunhua had held this grudge, never daring to forget.

"Good. You are both good sons!" His face was flushed with emotion. He even closed his eyes for a moment, the corners glistening with what seemed to be tears. "You must remember and live by the oath you swore today!"

The brothers, of course, answered, "Yes."

Chief Steward Old Mo had long prepared an ointment and tended to Hee Yue's wound in a flash.

Once the incense had burned down, the family began to burn joss paper.

Their first ancestor worship ceremony held in a foreign land was now drawing to a close. Hee Lingchuan reminded himself to be cautious in his words and actions today. He couldn't laugh loudly, drink alcohol, or go out looking for fun.

But Hee Chunhua seemed to have vented all his frustrations during the ceremony, and the oppressive atmosphere around him was gone. He patted his two sons on the shoulders and said gently, "Alright, you must be hungry. It's time to eat."

They would eat a vegetarian meal on the day of the family ceremony.

But the atmosphere at the dinner table had already relaxed. Madam Ying was speaking to her two sons, "I'll have the tailor come to the house tomorrow to take your measurements. You'll each have at least three new sets of clothes made." Both her sons had grown taller, and their old clothes no longer fit. "Also, in a little over ten days, it will be the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third lunar month. There will be a temple fair in the west of the city, and all the young men and women will be going."

The two brothers just grunted in acknowledgment.

Hee Chunhua ate a few bites before putting down his chopsticks. He took out two letters and laid them on the table. "These are both from Minister Li. The first arrived five days ago, and the second came this morning. Yue'Er has already seen them. Chuan'Er, you take a look."

The Li Family's great backer had finally written to the new Governor of Xiazhou.

After suffering so many grievances under Hee Chunhua, it would be strange if the Li Family didn't go crying to Minister Li. Hee Lingchuan knew that one of the reasons his father hadn't acted more decisively in Dunyu was that he was, to some extent, wary of Minister Li's reaction.

After all, the man held a high position with great power and had a direct influence on the Monarch.

Just by looking at Hee Chunhua's relaxed expression, Hee Lingchuan knew Minister Li's attitude probably wasn't bad.

Minister Li's first letter was a lengthy one of several hundred words. The gist was that the descendants of the Li Family were mediocre and foolish to have provoked the Zhan Family without any proof, and Governor Hee had done a fine job disciplining them for him—

However, with Li Zhao having just died, his family was overwrought with grief, leading them to act inappropriately and make grave mistakes. Wasn't that, perhaps, understandable?

Afterward, Minister Li, in a Court Meeting, worked with various departments to gather a total of 20,000 *dan* of grain and fodder to be sent to the Northern Realm.

Hee Chunhua added, "Timing-wise, this shipment of military supplies should reach Dunyu in two days at most. It will rest here briefly before being sent on to the front line."

"His wording is so cautious." Hee Lingchuan flicked the letter, deliberately provoking, "I thought Minister Li would throw his weight around and order Dad to release Li Yu."

"He'd dare?" Hee Chunhua sneered. "A current official is no match for the one in charge on the ground. Xiazhou is my territory now, and it's one of the two fronts receiving the most attention from the Royal Court. If he dared to throw his weight around at a time like this, I could send his letter directly to the Capital City for His Majesty the King to review. That's why he has to be polite and can't give me any dirt on him."

'Rather than say Xiazhou is in the spotlight, it's more like a quagmire. The Royal Court is already swamped fighting a war on two fronts. If Dad were to just drop the ball, no one else could pick it up.'

'Does Minister Li dare to beat his chest and guarantee that a new governor he recommends for Xiazhou could do a better job than Hee Chunhua?'

That's why at a time like this, Hee Chunhua wasn't afraid of him.

Hee Yue interjected, "The Western Front is also crying for food. General Ke has been begging for grain all the way to the Capital City. For Minister Li to allocate 20,000 *dan* of grain to the Northern Realm at this time is a gesture of goodwill to you, Father. He wants you to show mercy."

Hee Lingchuan scoffed. "Old fox. So he can get his hands on grain after all." Rations were a soldier's lifeline. "Twenty thousand *dan* of grain is enough to feed Zhao Pan's entire army for a month."

This was no small gift, but what was infuriating was that Hee Chunhua still had to send it away—to the north.

"By the time it gets here, it won't be 20,000 *dan* anymore." Hee Chunhua shook his head. "But forget it. All in all, it's a good thing."

Hee Lingchuan picked up the second letter and glanced at it, barely managing to suppress a laugh.

"He sent this letter after news of our two great victories reached the Capital City, didn't he?" The timing was just right. This Minister Li was certainly flexible.

A hint of a smile also appeared in Hee Chunhua's eyes. "Yes."

The tone of Minister Li's second letter was much warmer than the first. He started by congratulating the new governor on his great victory in his first battle, then encouraged him to keep up the good work. After that, with an air of righteousness, he told him to severely punish those law-breaking, unfilial descendants of the Li Family and that there was no need to give him any face.

The masterstroke came at the end. Minister Li expressed great satisfaction, saying that after the traitor Sunx Fuping was executed, it was he who had recommended the meritorious Hee Chunhua to the Monarch for promotion to Governor of Xiazhou. It seemed, he wrote, to be an act that would bless the people of Da Yuan.

"Just like that, he takes all the credit." Hee Lingchuan said with a knowing sound. "Dad, so he was the one who recommended you?"

"It's not that simple. He was merely involved," Hee Chunhua said, shaking his head. "Taking credit for others' achievements—that's their usual trick."

'It sounds like Father knows the situation back then quite well,' Hee Lingchuan thought. 'Does he have someone in the court?'

'Of course. Dad's social skills have always been exceptional and shouldn't be underestimated.'

"What's your verdict for the brothers Li Zhi and Li Yu, Father?"

"They'll be judged as they should be judged," Hee Chunhua said coolly. "It seems Li the Sixth and Minister Li have already established a connection."

Li Zhao's two sons were done for. Minister Li was probably thinking of cutting his losses, getting rid of these two unsightly cowards who only knew how to fight amongst themselves, and then supporting the third generation of the Li Family, Li Shuang, to take control.

From a strategic perspective, this was better for the Li Family.

"This military supply shipment from the Royal Court cannot be delayed. It must be sent to the northern front as soon as possible." Hee Chunhua said to his eldest son, "Chuan'Er, you will come with me."

Hee Lingchuan was taken aback. "Dad, you're going to escort the grain shipment yourself?"

"Yes. I also want to use this opportunity to inspect the conditions in Xiazhou and meet with General Zhao Pan." Xiazhou was Zhao Pan's rear base and supply line. As the new governor, he needed to meet with Zhao Pan as soon as possible to coordinate their efforts. "Also, Zhao Qinghe told me that Rangers from Xunzhou are still roaming the Central Region of Xiazhou. This might be a chance to train the troops."

After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Hee Chunhua went into his study.

Old Mo brought someone to see him. "Master, someone from the Capital City is here." With that, he excused himself to stand guard outside, closing the study door behind him.

The man was travel-worn, looking more like an old farmer than a messenger. He took a letter and a brocade bag from his robes and presented them with both hands. "Today is the Hee Family's memorial day. My master ordered me to reach Dunyu by day's end to convey his sentiments."

"You've had a long journey." Hee Chunhua took the letter, broke the Fire Lacquer Seal, and began to read.

The signature at the end of the letter read:

Yane Lixin.

Hee Chunhua quickly scanned it, the grave expression on his face softening into a slight smile. "It seems the position of National Preceptor is already in Mr. Yane's grasp."

Previously, Marquis Songyang had spoken with him at length about the struggle for the vacant National Preceptor position left after Sunx Fuping's death. Who would have thought that this Governor Hee had already allied himself with one of the candidates.

The trip to Shihuan was not in vain.

Politics is the biggest gamble of all. As long as you pick the right side, the benefits last a lifetime.

"My master thanks you for your staunch support."

* * *

Hong Chenglu knew that with three constables dead in his home, he would soon be a wanted man. He didn't dare peek out the window as he left, for fear of being recognized. After all, the town was small, and the neighbors all knew one another.

He didn't know how Wuu Qing and the others had arranged things, or perhaps it was because the bodies in his courtyard hadn't been discovered yet, but the convoy left Bailu Town smoothly without being inspected at all.

The further north they went, the fewer people and horses there were on the main road.

After another four *li*, there was an open-air watering shed by the side of the road.

These kinds of sheds were usually built next to a well or a river. Travelers could get hot water, or sometimes hot tea, and their exhausted horses could drink from the troughs—all for a price, of course.

Besides the attendant pouring water, there were only three people in the watering shed. As soon as Wuu Qing's convoy arrived, they mounted their horses and left.

Hong Chenglu unexpectedly urged him, "Fill the waterskins quickly. We need to catch up to those three up ahead."

Wuu Qing nodded, got down to fill two waterskins with hot water, then urged the driver to hurry. They kept a steady, unhurried pace, tailing the three riders from behind.

Two *li* later, there was no one else on the road.

Hong Chenglu untied a horse for himself, mounted it, and gave chase.

The three men were discussing the capture of roving criminals when they heard urgent hoofbeats and turned around. The leader was the very same Patrol Officer, surnamed Chen, who had executed the grain-stealing boy in town earlier.