Cry of the Midnight Jackdaw

Chapter Seventy-four,
Parting

“Xiao’Zuo? Why aren’t you asleep yet?” He Xuan brought in a body of wind and snow from the outside, he took off his fox coat and shook it, then casually hung it on the rack to the side. Xiao Zuo narrowed his eyes and leaned on a pillow on the bed, the book in his hands hadn’t been flipped through for a long time, while the candlelight on the table warmly cast an ambiguous light on the tip of his nose.

Xiao Zuo humphed, then lazily yawned. His eyes were dampened by drowsiness, he barely propped up his eyelids, and his voice did not have much energy either, seemingly all soft, “You’re finally back.”

“There are many other things to arrange for before departing, so I would be particularly busier than usual.” He Xuan stroked the messy hair on top of Xiao Zuo’s head, then sat beside him and asked, “It’s already so late, why haven’t you slept yet?”

Xiao Zuo rubbed his eyes, he used both hands to wrap around He Xuan’s strong and lean waist that was only wearing an under robe, then buried his head into his chest and rubbed, and lazily answered, “Waiting for you.”

“En?” He Xuan happily raised his eyebrows.

“Your Highness.” Xiao Zuo lifted his eyes to look at him, with something to say in his words.

“What is it?” He Xuan played with the hair hanging from his shoulder, and asked.

“Your Highness, this time when you go to Nan Liang, can your Highness promise me one thing?”

“Alright.”

Xiao Zuo froze, “Aren’t you going to ask me what it is?”

“What Li Nu says can only be obeyed, of course.” He Xuan grabbed Xiao Zuo’s fingertips, and asked, “Alright, how about Li Nu say what it is?”

“If your Highness is victorious, I hope that you don’t hurt the lives of commoners. Right now Nan Liang has a severe locust plague, there is also a great drought too, if your Highness……”

“I understand.” He Xuan lightly stroked Xiao Zuo’s hair, “If I am able to quell the rebellion, I will ask Father, and stay in Nan Liang to provide disaster relief.”

“En, and also, I want to give you a present.” Xiao Zuo pursed his lips, “Actually, a few days ago, I wanted to give it to you, but you’ve been so busy, and never had the time.”

“En, it’s all my fault.” He Xuan lightly laughed, and readily apologized, “Don’t hold it over me, Li Nu.”

Xiao Zuo did not follow up, he unnaturally moved his eyes away, lifted up the blankets and got up, then dragged his shoes and got out a small box from a cabinet on the side.

“For you.”

He Xuan took it and opened it- inside was a jade pendant, the surface of the jade pendant was engraved with the shape of a vermilion bird, warm to the touch, glistening and smooth, with the top strung with a red rope, tied with a elaborate twine, and looked to be a bit familiar.

“Our Nan Liang’s guardian deity is the vermilion bird, Mother gifted the vermilion bird pendant to me on my tenth birthday, I’ve always had it on me.” Xiao Zuo’s expression seemed to be a bit down, he dejectedly hung his head down, and said, “When I first came to Jin, I was driven in a corner, it was you who brought it back for me.”

“Big Brother Xuan.” Xiao Zuo’s tone changed, and suddenly turned serious.

“Jades have intellect to them, I hope it will protect thee.”

He Xuan froze, he hung his eyes down and gripped the jade pendant in his hands tight, and immediately, the shallow joy in his heart seemed like a surging sea, rolling around wave after wave, hitting the swaying castle in his heart to complete fragments. At fifteen, he put on a suit of armour and followed his father in an expedition to the east Gao Gou LiGoguryeo[1], and at seventeen, he led a large army to the west to ward off Tu Jue.

In these seven years, in times of pride, there were those who curried favour with the powerful, in times of loss, there were those who dropped rocks upon those who fell, yet now that he recalled, there was never anyone who was concerned if he was safe. Everyone says he is an iron-faced Shura, violent and ruthless, while Father would only ask him how likely he was to win this battle, how much rations were needed, how many days he would need to attack the city. Those under him were afraid of him, fearful of him, and never dared to say anything more to him.

After almost twenty some years, he finally had a person he could send a message to report his safety too.

The highly-built walls in his heart toppled down, He Xuan happily sunk underneath the tides of gentleness, he opened his mouth a few times wanting to say something, but in the end, only said one word, “Alright.”

❀

Tomorrow would be the day of expedition, when He Xuan came back from the palace, he went to Lan Shou Yi’s general residence for a final discussion, then when he hurried back to the residence, it was already sunset.

Ling Xiang held a not-big bundle, and said to He Xuan, “Your Highness, this servant has already prepared the items needed in the journey of the expedition, would your Highness like to look to see if there’s anything missing?”

“No need.” He Xuan glanced at that bundle, absentmindedly waved his hand, and then headed towards the inner residence.

Xiao Zuo was hugging Mr. Yin Su standing in the yard beneath that big and tall gingko tree. The fallen golden leaves rustled over his body, Mr. Yin Su in his arms reached out its front paw and curiously patted at the leaf on its head, while its snow-white tail swayed from time to time.

He Xuan subconsciously stopped in his steps, not wanting to disturb this tranquil and gentle image of gingko playing with the cat.

Xiao Zuo saw a long and narrow shadow on the ground, his hand tightened a bit, and the precious Mr. Yin Su in his arms immediately discontently meowed, transformed into a nimble white silk and jumped down, then shuttled to the rack of flowers to the side.

“Xiao’Zuo.” He Xuan took down a leaf on his head, and hung his eyes down to look at him.

“I……”

“You……”

Xiao Zuo paused, He Xuan lightly coughed, and slightly anxiously moved his eyes away, “You speak first.”

“Is your luggage packed yet?”

“En.” He Xuan nodded his head, “The expedition is light and simple, there isn’t much to bring in the first place.”

Xiao Zuo pursed his lips, the two immediately sunk into an indescribable silence. They were both of an awkward nature where they would miss [each other] yet were not willing to speak up, Xiao Zuo straightened his neck and forced himself to stare at the patterns on the tree branches and went in a daze for a while, and just when he wanted to speak up, he heard He Xuan speak with a hoarse throat.

“I will depart at Mao[2] tomorrow, will……” He Xuan paused, his right hand pinched the pitiful leaf, and said, “Will you send me off?”

“Tomorrow…… I have something in the morning……”

“It’s alright.” He Xuan interrupted Xiao Zuo’s explanation, he looked to very calmly smile, and repeated, “It’s alright, it’s alright.” After finishing, he tossed the leaf he crumpled up in his hands onto the ground, then turned to leave.

Xiao Zuo opened his mouth wanting to call out to him, but in the end, he only softly sighed.