Chapter Ninety-Six: The Tail

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The night passed without incident. The next morning, Chen Jianchen was awakened by a clear, lilting birdcall. In the dead of winter, a bird singing was itself a rare thing. He lifted his head toward the window and saw, on the branch of a mottled bamboo outside, a strange bird perched there.

It was only the size of a fist, its body feathered in a mingling of emerald hues, its tail so long it was nearly as long as its whole body. A crest rose from the top of its head, bright red as a tongue of flame. Above its two tiny eyes, like those of a thrush, were two long white brows.

What a lovely little bird.

Chen Jianchen could not help looking at it a few extra times. He had never seen such a creature before, and had no idea what it was called.

Chirp, chirp.

The little bird called at him with a startlingly human air, then gave a beat of its wings and fluttered away.

Chen Jianchen rose, washed up, and dressed. Across the way, in the western wing, Lu Xiyue had also risen early. Seeing him, she smiled radiantly.

The morning air was bitter with cold, and every breath came out as a puff of white mist.

After washing, Master Huangfu sent word that they should come for breakfast.

The Huangfu household’s breakfast was lavish beyond measure, with all manner of pastries, rice, porridge, and six delicate cold dishes. Naturally, Chen Jianchen ate with Master Huangfu, while Lu Xiyue took breakfast in the inner hall together with Master Huangfu’s daughter, Huangfu Jiaona.

After the meal, Chen Jianchen produced a letter and asked Master Huangfu to send someone to the Welcoming Inn in Suzhou to deliver it to Wang Fu, and to bring his book chest and luggage back along with them.

Master Huangfu immediately dispatched a clever servant with the letter, then led Chen Jianchen to his daughter’s private study, which would from then on serve as the place where Chen Jianchen gave Jiaona her lessons.

The study was spacious, kept in excellent order, and spotless. At first glance, it did not look like the study of a spoiled and willful young lady.

Seeing Chen Jianchen’s confusion, Master Huangfu coughed and said, “Though this is my daughter’s study, she rarely comes here.”

So that was it.

Chen Jianchen understood at once and stood with hands clasped behind his back, looking around.

After a while, the maid Xiaoju came to report. “Master, after breakfast the young lady wanted to go out for some exercise, so she went mountain climbing.”

Hu Manor lay beneath the foot of East Mountain, and the mountain was not far off, so climbing it was convenient enough. But to go climbing at a time like this, of course, was not so simple.

At this, Master Huangfu’s expression darkened. “Nonsense. Go at once and fetch her back! Does she mean to keep the master waiting? Truly, she has no respect for her elders or betters.”

Chen Jianchen merely gave a silent, cold laugh to himself. This Jiaona certainly had character. He had not even seen her yet, and already he had heard of her, then seen her behavior. Next would he have to hear her voice before meeting her in person? This was plainly her way of giving him a show of force and warning him to know his place, to take himself somewhere cooler and stay there.

After Xiaoju had gone out, Master Huangfu stamped a foot and said to Chen Jianchen, “You see this, Liu Xian... Alas, it is all this old man’s fault for failing to discipline her properly.”

Chen Jianchen smiled. “There is no need for you to be angry, sir. I was prepared for this already.”

Master Huangfu said, “Liu Xian has such an open and generous nature. I truly did not misjudge you. Hmm, today I have other matters to attend to, so I must go out for a while and cannot remain at the manor. When my daughter returns, you may instruct her as you please, without worrying about sparing this old man’s face.”

Chen Jianchen hurriedly said, “Please go about your business, sir. I know how to conduct myself.”

With that, Master Huangfu cupped his hands and left the study.

Chen Jianchen sat inside and idly took a book from the shelf to read. After more than ten pages, Xiaoju returned and said with her head lowered, “Master Liu Xian, the young lady says she has not had enough fun yet, so she will not come back for now. She says you need not wait any longer, and should come to the study again this afternoon.”

Chen Jianchen raised his brows. The result was much as he had expected, so he said casually, “I understand.” Then he said nothing more and continued reading.

His calm response left Xiaoju staring in surprise; she had expected Chen Jianchen to fly into a rage. After all, for many teachers, disrespect from a pupil was a line that could not be crossed. Yet this young scholar, though still young, seemed steadier and more dignified than many older men of learning. She ought to tell the young lady of this first.

Xiaoju took her leave and hurried toward the back hill.

A faint, cold smile touched Chen Jianchen’s lips. To him, Jiaona’s conduct was no more than the mischief of a child, a little playacting and nothing more. Such trifles could hardly disturb his mind.

After reading more than thirty pages, he put the book back in its place and left the study. He did not return to the eastern room of the courtyard, but instead wandered about a little, wanting to see the layout and scale of Hu Manor.

By his rough estimate, the estate covered nearly ten mu, with several successive courtyards and compounds. Corridors wound back and forth, and rockeries with flowing water appeared everywhere, arranged with exquisite care.

Anyone inside would easily lose their way if they did not know it well.

Chen Jianchen did not dare go too far. He merely strolled nearby to enjoy the scenery.

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

At that moment, he heard the call of the beautiful strange bird again. Following the sound, he saw it perched atop a rockery, looking down from above and using the still surface of the lake below as a mirror, preening its feathers with its pointed beak.

A rather interesting little bird.

Chen Jianchen was so absorbed that he did not notice the pleasant laughter that suddenly rang out beyond the wall opposite. Fresh and coquettish, it sounded as though some young woman were passing by there.

He strained to listen more clearly, but the sound gradually faded away, just as the old verse said: a traveler beyond the wall, a beauty laughing within it.

Jiaona?

Perhaps...

Chen Jianchen stood where he was for a long while.

Chirp, chirp.

The birdcall drew near. It turned out that the bird, curious, had flown back toward him and was circling above his head. After wheeling around him several times, it finally beat its wings again, calling merrily as it flew off into the distance.

When Chen Jianchen returned to the eastern wing of the courtyard, he saw Lu Xiyue standing in the yard, admiring the bamboo. He coughed lightly and said, “Miss Lu has excellent taste.”

Lu Xiyue curtsied and said, “Actually, sir need not be so formal. You may simply call me Xiyue.”

“Heh, very well. If ornate ceremony can be avoided, all the better. That is simpler.”

Hearing this, ripples stirred in Lu Xiyue’s heart. Chen Jianchen’s words made it clear that he was not a stiff and pedantic sort of man.

Chen Jianchen suddenly asked, “Xiyue, have you seen Miss Jiaona this morning?”

“Yes, I have. Why?”

She had just shared breakfast with Jiaona in the inner hall.

Chen Jianchen asked, “Oh? What is she like?”

Lu Xiyue was momentarily startled, then burst out laughing. “Miss Huangfu is about my age. She is lovely and refined in appearance, flawless really, though she is rather amusing, and very lively too... How should I put it? I think she is easy enough to get along with. Hmm, but you did promise Master Huangfu to be her teacher. You did not see Miss Huangfu just now?”

“No. She went mountain climbing.”

“At this hour?”

Lu Xiyue was quick-witted. At once she understood the implication and could not help frowning. “Miss Huangfu’s behavior is truly somewhat outrageous.”

She was, after all, standing clearly on Chen Jianchen’s side.

Chen Jianchen smiled. “Just childishness... Well, I’ll go back to my room and prepare first. The formal lesson starts this afternoon.”

“All right.”

Back in his room, the preparation Chen Jianchen referred to was calligraphy practice. Reading and writing were arts to be cultivated with steady perseverance; only then could one’s skill be refined to perfection and advance still further from a hundred-foot pole. If the process was interrupted in the middle, or neglected through laziness, it became difficult to pick up again.

The four treasures of the study arranged in the room were all of the finest quality. It might be said that Chen Jianchen had never before used such luxurious things. For a scholar, the four treasures of the study were his weapons; whether they were good or not, and whether they felt comfortable in the hand, mattered greatly. Thus, with an excellent wolf-hair brush, rich and silky ink, and smooth yet resilient paper, Chen Jianchen was in superb form. He wrote several sheets in succession, each one full of feeling, works that could easily be hung upon the walls of the Studio of Strange Tales and sold.

Time slipped by without notice. When it was who-knew-how-late, Xiaoju came to knock on the door and say that Jiaona was already waiting in the study.

So she had finally come.

Chen Jianchen smiled faintly. He had known that, because of Master Huangfu, Jiaona could not keep this up forever; sooner or later she would have to meet him.

But this meeting would not be some romantic tryst under moonlight and flowers. It would be a direct confrontation thick with the smell of gunpowder.

“Let’s see what tricks you can play.”

After a brief consideration, Chen Jianchen opened the door and followed Xiaoju out.

Lu Xiyue across the way had evidently heard the movement as well. She came out to see him off, her face showing repeated signs of wanting to speak but hesitating, as if worried about him.

When they reached the study, Xiaoju stopped and said, “Teacher Chen, the young lady is inside.”

“Mm...”

Chen Jianchen showed no fear. He pushed open the door and went in. Xiaoju, evidently under instructions, remained outside and did not follow.

The room was bright. As soon as he entered, Chen Jianchen saw a stylishly dressed young woman lying sprawled across the desk, idly toying with a writing brush.

She was still quite young, about the same age as Lu Xiyue, with a pointed oval face, brows and eyes like a painting, bright eyes and white teeth, and a lovely, delicate beauty. In particular, her large eyes were very lively, full of a sly, restless light as they flickered here and there.

“Oh, sir, you have come. Jiaona greets you, sir!”

The young woman stood up. She was tall, almost reaching Chen Jianchen’s chin.

One glance at her, and his first impression was not bad. She seemed quite proper, with no sign of mischief. Could it be that she intended to begin with courtesy before resorting to force?

Chen Jianchen remained calm and said, “You must be Miss Huangfu. There is no need for ceremony. Please sit.”

Yet Jiaona did not sit. Instead, she said respectfully, “My father has already instructed me that when teacher and student meet for the first time, the student must serve tea.”

With that, she left the desk and went to the long table at the side to brew tea for Chen Jianchen. Her walk was proper and measured, and she wore a divided silk skirt. But at that moment, Chen Jianchen clearly saw that beneath Jiaona’s skirt, a furry tail had suddenly emerged. As she walked, it bobbed up and down, uncanny and beautiful.

A fiery red tail, bright as flame.