Chapter 66: Grandfather’s Regret

The second day of the new year, also known as the Day of Humankind.

After enjoying a rare chance to sleep in, on the morning of the second day, Fu Zihou rose early.

“Zihou, you’re going so far this time—on the road, you must heed Old Liu’s instructions and not act as rashly as you did before!” Madam Tao gently cautioned him as he ate his breakfast.

“I know, Mother!” Zihou nodded, biting into a millet cake, watching as his mother carefully packed his clothes for the journey. Seeing her worried expression, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Mother, it’s just a visit to Old Li. I’ll stay a few days and then come straight back to Tiao County!” he reassured her.

Because Old Li had not returned to Tiao County for the New Year, Zihou was certainly obliged to make the trip to Hu County. Originally, there was no need to hurry, but since the Li family had already avenged Third Brother, everyone wanted Old Li to know as soon as possible and to come back to pay respects at the grave.

Old Madam Li did not want Zihou to go—she hoped he would wait in Tiao County, especially since he was still injured. But Grandfather insisted, not only telling Old Madam Li that Zihou must go, but also declaring before the whole family that as long as Zihou could still draw breath, he must go personally to Hu County to see Old Li.

In Grandfather’s eyes, if Old Li were to return to Tiao County, it should be Zihou who goes to welcome him back, not simply wait at home.

“It’s your first time traveling so far—how could I not worry!” Madam Tao looked at Zihou, bundle in hand, unable to shake her unease for her son, particularly because of his wounds.

“Don’t worry! Zihou is very capable! It’s just a matter of picking someone up. With Old Liu there, what is there to fear?” Grandfather frowned as he watched his second daughter-in-law’s anxious face, folding his arms, unable to resist speaking out.

“Father, you keep saying these days how capable Zihou is—but if he’s so capable, how did he get hurt? Don’t praise him to the skies!” Zhang Shi, his sister-in-law, interjected, annoyed. As the elder sister-in-law, she knew her younger sibling by marriage, Tao Shi, was not quick with words and wouldn’t dare contradict Grandfather; as a mother herself, she understood Tao Shi’s worries.

Her last words, though addressed to Grandfather, were also a reminder to her nephew, Zihou.

“Well, I just believe Zihou will succeed!” Grandfather sighed, hearing his elder daughter-in-law’s words, then seeing his second daughter-in-law’s aggrieved expression, her hands nervously twisting together. After a moment’s hesitation, feeling stifled if he didn’t speak, he continued.

“Ever since what happened in Qinghe County, I am convinced—someday, Zihou will become a young general. Perhaps, when he’s older, he’ll even be a county magistrate, and one day, perhaps even an assistant governor. Then, our Fu family could reclaim its former glory…”

As he spoke, his expression grew wistful and regretful.

“Alas, by then, these old bones of mine will not live to see it!” Grandfather said sadly.

In his life, the thing Grandfather was most proud of was telling others that the Fu family’s ancestors had once been high officials in the prefecture, a renowned family.

“Fie! Father! What are you saying at New Year’s?” “Father, please don’t say such things!” At his words, both Zhang Shi and Tao Shi grew anxious. Even Tao Shi, usually so reserved, frowned and wanted to scold Grandfather, but seeing the tears glimmering in his aging eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Inside the house, Old Liu, Fu Rui, Fu Zhi, Tai Shi, and Fu Zihou all saw Grandfather wave his hand, his expression forlorn, and no one knew what to say.

After a while, once Zihou’s and Old Liu’s luggage was packed, Fu Rui, as a father, urged Zihou to be cautious in dealing with others while away—especially with petty men.

Zihou nodded, taking his father’s words to heart, and with Old Liu, departed from the Fu home amid the family’s farewells.

In the narrow alleyway, Old Liu walked beside Zihou, observing his silence.

“Young master, I believe you will not disappoint Grandfather!” Old Liu said with a smile. Years of acquaintance had taught him much about Zihou’s character.

In truth, like Grandfather, Old Liu had come to trust Zihou after the events in Qinghe County. Learning the details of that affair had only deepened his admiration. He was deeply curious as to how the young master could be so skilled in military matters, as if he’d read the art of war—even though everyone in the Fu family was certain Zihou had never studied such books.

“This time, with your merits in battle, I suspect you may become a brigade commander!” If it were before, Old Liu would have spoken with certainty. But since learning that months earlier the Sui Emperor Yang Guang had broken faith with the soldiers at Yanmen, Old Liu’s trust in the Sui dynasty had vanished. He was, in fact, glad that Zihou, still young, had not answered the court’s call.

“Old Liu, I hope not! Now is not a good time to become a brigade commander. The Sui court cares nothing for the people, and there will always be more rebels to fight! Better to be a local official in Tiao County than a Sui general,” Zihou said earnestly.

To Zihou, in the current chaos, nothing was more dangerous than serving as a Sui soldier. If one was lucky, one might be sent somewhere relatively stable; but if not, being stationed in a city surrounded by rebels was a death sentence.

For now, his plan was to wait at least another year before making any ambitious moves. His earlier risk in Qinghe County had been to secure the Fu family’s future, repay the Li family’s kindness, and fulfill his obligations to the Cui family.

Now, faced with uncertain rewards, Zihou could only hope nothing went awry—he must not be sent to the frontier to face the Turks, or to Jiangdu in the south.

“That’s true,” Old Liu sighed, thinking of the rebels to the north and east, and even nearby at Gaojipo. In his youth, he’d always felt his martial skills had no outlet. But now, seeing true chaos, he realized what he’d known as a young man barely counted as troubled times. Most crucially, they now faced an imperial court that cared nothing for the people, ruled by a miserly emperor.

Outside the main gate of the Li residence.

Due to the official positions of Li Shaozhi and Li Liyan, their holidays were short, and fetching them would take too much time. So the Li family decided that their second son, Li Jingjie, would accompany Zihou to Hu County.

“This time, with Zihou accompanying you, there’s no need to worry your father will treat you coldly,” Old Madam Li said to Li Jingjie as she saw Zihou and Old Liu approaching.

Hearing this, Li Jingjie forced a smile, glancing at Zihou with mixed feelings. The grudge of his wife’s family would never be avenged in his lifetime, even if his daughter married into a great family.

After the events at Qinghe, hearing Lord Dou’s words, and seeing the murderer of his younger brother brought to justice by Zihou, Li Jingjie had come to see Zihou as the perfect son-in-law.

But in the past, he and his wife had looked down on Zihou’s humble origins! Now, he only wished Zihou could become his fifth brother’s son-in-law.

At this thought, Li Jingjie glanced at his wife, Zhou Shi, noticing her regret matched his own.

How could they have let a son-in-law so handsome, sensible, brave, wise, loyal, and honorable pass into another’s hands? A lifetime teaching students, yet blinded when it came to their daughter’s marriage.

“On Zihou’s first long journey, tell him all he needs to know along the way,” Old Madam Li, as mother to Li Jingjie, could easily guess the thoughts in the hearts of her son and daughter-in-law. But at this time, she could only say in her heart: Too late!

Back when the Fu family first arrived in Tiao County and visited the Li residence, she’d hoped to restore the engagement with Li Qiong. But everyone was reluctant, and so things turned out as they did—leaving Cha’er to find herself a fine husband.

Seeing her son and daughter-in-law’s faint regret, Old Madam Li glanced at her granddaughter Li Qiong. Li Qiong, however, showed no sign of regret, her eyes remaining as cold and proud as ever.

Recalling the youthful shadow of her own husband Li Gang in Zihou, and all that had happened recently, Old Madam Li felt a premonition—someday, Li Qiong would regret her choice. But she kept this thought to herself, knowing it was useless to say, and decided to wait and see if her worries were unfounded.

Outside the Li residence.

Zihou greeted Old Madam Li, his uncles and aunts, and then bowed to Li Chengzhi and the others. Afterward, he looked at Li Cha, who met his gaze with worry and handed him a jade pendant.

Watching Li Cha wave her hand, Zihou didn’t look to his grandaunt for explanation, but watched Li Cha’s movements carefully and judged for himself.

“If I run out of money, pawn this?” he asked. Seeing Li Cha nod, he couldn’t help but laugh and cry at once. The first thing Li Cha ever gave him was for emergencies—so he could pawn it if he were broke.

“I’ll be back soon,” he said softly, reassuring her.

Then, taking up his sword, he pointed to the blade in Li Cha’s sight. The cloth she had once wrapped around it had been retied, the cut marks clearly visible. By this gesture, Zihou was telling Li Cha: no matter what happens to this sword, she must live well.

With the Li family watching, Zihou and Old Liu boarded the carriage with Uncle Li Jingjie and departed from the residence.

Watching the carriage disappear around the corner, Li Anjing and Li Anren turned to Li Le.

“Father says that, judging by past rewards, when Sixth Brother-in-law returns, he’ll likely be a brigade commander of the Eagle Commandery, leading his own troops!”

“Right! Then we can all learn swordsmanship from Sixth Brother-in-law. Father says Fourth Sister’s skills are just flowery posturing—nothing compared to his—ow!”

Li Anjing clutched his head, falling silent as he noticed Fourth Sister Li Qiong glaring at him icily.

“Idiot,” Li Zhaotian muttered, watching the carriage vanish in the distance, then turning to Li Anjing. Sometimes he thought Anjing’s mind was too straightforward. Who would criticize Fourth Sister’s martial skills right in front of her?

...

The next day.

When Guanyinbi and Zhangsun Wuji finally found time to visit the Li residence, they learned from Zhangsun Nonggui that Zihou had already left. Both were surprised.

They had hoped to meet Li Cha’s husband, their cousin by marriage, but the Li family had hurried Zihou away to meet Old Li, catching them off guard.

Still, hearing that Zihou would return after fetching Old Li, they were relieved.

“Sister, since we know that, because of Uncle’s influence, Dou Jiande won’t try to recruit Zihou, there’s no rush. We’re surrounded by Uncle’s people here in Tiao County, so let’s wait for Zihou’s return. Then we can sound him out—and if he’s ambitious, we’ll introduce him to Shimin,” Zhangsun Wuji said to his younger sister.

“Mm,” Guanyinbi nodded. Their mother wanted to stay a while longer in their hometown, so this was a good opportunity to wait.

Sitting in the pavilion, Guanyinbi saw Li Cha approach and smiled. As her elder cousin, she’d once worried Li Cha was illiterate, while Zihou was clearly a capable man, so she’d intended to teach Li Cha to read. But she soon discovered Li Cha was not only literate, but skilled in many feminine arts and crafts. The more she got to know her, the more she liked her.

In the second year of the Tianshou era (October 691 AD), Lai Junchen accused Li Anjing of refusing to join the “Revolution of Succession.” Imprisoned, Li Anjing cried out:

“I am a loyal minister of the Tang—alive, a servant of Tang; dead, a ghost of Tang. Torture or kill me, as you please!”

“If you ask about treason, I have nothing to confess.”

Since nothing more could be extracted from him, Lai Junchen petitioned Wu Zetian for his execution, and he was beheaded in the marketplace.