Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Nine

Yang Yaozong gave the Imperial Grand Heir and the Virtuous Prince a detailed and comprehensive report on his northern expedition to suppress the rebellion and aid the sovereign. Upon hearing the news of Qin Wang’s death, the two felt a deep sense of sorrow, though it was overshadowed by a surge of righteous indignation. Regarding how to reward Yang Yaozong, the Imperial Grand Heir found himself genuinely in a difficult position due to Yang Yaozong's particular social standing and status. He once again offered to help Yang Yaozong cast off his humiliating status as a matrilocal son-in-law, thereby clearing the path to confer higher official ranks and noble titles upon him, but this was politely declined by Yang Yaozong. However, when it came to the rewards of gold, silver, and precious jewels, Yang Yaozong accepted them with alacrity.

When he emerged from the imperial palace, it was already noon, so Yang Yaozong headed straight back to the Nangong Estate.

"Master Son-in-Law! You have finally returned!" Steward Hao hurried up to greet him the moment Yang Yaozong stepped into the estate.

"I have made Steward Hao worry," Yang Yaozong said with a smile.

"Hearing that you had gone to the northern frontier to suppress the rebellion truly startled this old servant, and especially Xiaohua. That girl... sigh!"

Frowning, Yang Yaozong quickly asked, "What is wrong with Xiaohua?"

"Xiaohua has been ill for quite some days now, resting continuously in her own room. Master Son-in-Law, you should go and check on her right away!"

"Did you not call for a physician to examine her? What is the diagnosis?"

"We did, and it was even Old Mu who came to examine Xiaohua. Originally, she had merely caught a chill, and though Old Mu cured her of the cold, Xiaohua still did not show much sign of improvement. Old Mu said Xiaohua is suffering from a malady of the heart, and this old servant suspects she fell ill out of constant worry for you. Especially after she heard that you were not merely staying in the capital, but had gone all the way to Shangjing to suppress the rebellion, her illness grew progressively worse."

Yang Yaozong hurriedly rushed into Xiaohua's room and found her lying on the bed, sleeping fitfully with her brows tightly knit.

"Xiaohua! Xiaohua!" Yang Yaozong sat down by the edge of the bed and called out to her softly with anxious concern.

"Master Son-in-Law! Master Son-in-Law, is that you back?" Xiaohua slowly opened her eyes. Looking at Yang Yaozong right before her, she thought she must be dreaming and even reached out a hand to touch him.

"It is me! It is your master son-in-law, and I have returned!" Yang Yaozong caught Xiaohua's outstretched little hand and pressed it against his own face, letting her feel his warmth.

"Master Son-in-Law!" Xiaohua burst into tears with a wail, sobbing continuously while calling out "Master Son-in-Law" over and over again.

Seeing Xiaohua weeping so bitterly, Yang Yaozong felt a sharp pang of sorrow in his heart. He comforted her, saying, "There, there! Do not cry anymore! Has your master son-in-law not returned now?"

After coaxing her for a long time, Xiaohua finally stopped crying. Through her sobs, she choked out, "What would you have done if you had gotten hurt while going to Shangjing to suppress the rebellion, Master Son-in-Law? How could Xiaohua ever face Young Miss if something happened to you?"

"Silly girl! Did I not return safe and sound? Do you think your master son-in-law looks like someone who was injured?" With that, Yang Yaozong casually hopped up and threw a few playful punches in the air.

Xiaohua looked at Yang Yaozong closely, then made to get out of bed, only to be gently pressed back down by him.

Yang Yaozong said in a gentle voice, "Your master son-in-law is not going anywhere today. I will stay right here in the estate to keep Xiaohua company. How does that sound?"

Xiaohua looked pleasantly surprised for a moment, but then her expression turned desolate as she shook her head and said, "If Master Son-in-Law has busy affairs to attend to, you must go take care of them. Do not let the Emperor punish you because of Xiaohua. Xiaohua's body is quite alright, so Master Son-in-Law need not worry."

Yang Yaozong tapped the tip of Xiaohua's nose affectionately and said, "Your master son-in-law has nothing else to do today, so you can rest easy. Have you eaten your midday meal yet?"

"I have. Have you eaten, Master Son-in-Law?"

"Mm, I have eaten as well. You were not a good girl while I was away! Look at how much weight you have lost. Did you fail to sleep properly and neglect your meals? No matter whether your master son-in-law is home or not, you must take good care of yourself! Otherwise, how will you be able to wait upon me?"

Xiaohua nodded gently and said with a bashful blush, "Xiaohua can get up right now to wait upon Master Son-in-Law." With that, she struggled to sit up.

Feigning anger, Yang Yaozong scolded, "Stay properly in bed and rest! I am giving you the day off today!"

This time, Xiaohua obediently settled back down. Her flushed little face peeked out as she smiled, blinking her eyes incessantly while gazing fixedly at Yang Yaozong.

"Well then... Your master son-in-law shall tell you a story. Close your eyes and go to sleep whenever you feel drowsy."

Xiaohua nodded happily.

"As the story goes, before Pangu cleaved the heavens and earth, the Three Sovereigns ruled the world and the Five Emperors established moral order. Between heaven and earth, the world was consequently divided into four great continents: namely, the East Pūrvavideha, the West Aparagodānīya, the South Jambudvīpa, and the North Uttarakuru. Beyond the seas lay a realm named the Ao-lai Country. Near the great ocean, there was a famed mountain within the sea, called the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit..."

"Hey!"

"Hmm? Master Son-in-Law?"

"You are not doing this right."

"Huh?"

Yang Yaozong took a sip of tea and said, "I have been telling this story for quite a while now, how come you are still not asleep?"

"I... Xiaohua... has been lying in bed sleeping sluggishly all these days! I truly am not sleepy right now. Besides... besides, the story Master Son-in-Law tells is so wonderfully interesting, Xiaohua loves hearing it so much! Please keep telling it, Master Son-in-Law. What happened after Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace? This time, Xiaohua will definitely listen obediently to the story and go to sleep."

Yang Yaozong shook his head, fed Xiaohua a few spoonfuls of sugar water, and said, "Close your eyes, and I will sing a song for you instead. We can continue the story another day!"

"Um... Alright then," Xiaohua said somewhat reluctantly, her mind still lingering on the affairs of Sun Wukong as she softly asked, "When Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother must have been furious. That Immortal Taibai Jinxing will help him out, right?" She blinked her eyes at Yang Yaozong, still hoping her master son-in-law would continue the tale.

Yang Yaozong gave a light cough, frowned, and said, "Go to sleep! Once you wake up from a good sleep, Xiaohua will be all better. Then your master son-in-law will continue the story for you!"

"Oh." Xiaohua pursed her lips, closed her eyes with a pitiful expression, and then smiled as she said, "Then please sing a song, Master Son-in-Law!"

"Mm! Black-awning boats dot the gauze-like lanterns, while the blue stones on the cliff quietly take on fresh grain; amid the murmuring misty rain, returning swallows wait for no man. With five fingers clasping the oars, the old man in his coir raincoat ties his rope beneath the bridge; as the spring rain lightly lifts, embroidered shoes step out to the sound of suonas..."

***********

Ever since Xiaohua fell asleep, Yang Yaozong kept watch by her side while writing down the stories intended for the storytelling performances at the Heaven and Earth on Earth Teahouse.

As the lamps were lit at dusk, Yang Yaozong looked at Xiaohua, who was still fast asleep. He had no idea what sweet dreams this little girl was having, but even in her sleep, she wore a sweet smile. Spending the afternoon accompanying Xiaohua made Yang Yaozong feel a profound peace in his heart, reminiscent of the relaxed and carefree state of mind he had when he first arrived in this world.

***********

"Master Son-in-Law! Good morning!" Xiaohua stood before Yang Yaozong with a bright smile. Although her complexion still held a trace of fatigue, she looked much better than she had yesterday.

"Xiaohua! Good morning!" Yang Yaozong said while doing his morning calisthenics.

"The sun winks at me, the birds sing for me, I am a diligent little sprite who works hard and isn't clingy at all..." Xiaohua hummed a little tune while tidying up Yang Yaozong's room.

The previous night, Yang Yaozong had stayed to eat dinner with Xiaohua and told her the story of *Journey to the West* for a long time—right up until Zhu Bajie went to take his bride, which made Xiaohua laugh so hard her eyes curved into crescents and she ended up coughing. Seeing Xiaohua so happy naturally made Yang Yaozong even happier, though he also realized that attempting to lull her to sleep by telling her *Journey to the West* was quite impossible; it only made the little girl more and more alert. In the end, he had to sing a few more songs to coax her back to sleep.

"Ah!" Xiaohua scurried out of the room in a flurry, holding a letter which she handed to Yang Yaozong with a nervous look. "Master Son-in-Law, this letter was sent to you by the Young Miss. While you were away, I helped tuck it away beneath your mattress for safekeeping, and I just remembered it when I saw it now."

Yang Yaozong took the letter, nodded, and said, "You have just recovered from your illness, so you must still pay more attention and rest well. Your master son-in-law promises you that from now on, whenever I leave the capital, I will definitely let you know. How is that?"

Xiaohua said in a soft voice, "Actually... actually, Master Son-in-Law does not need to tell Xiaohua. Xiaohua... Xiaohua will certainly take good care of herself, because Xiaohua still has to wait upon Master Son-in-Law!"

Yang Yaozong tapped the bridge of Xiaohua's little nose affectionately and said, "That's a good girl!" (To be continued.)