Chapter 15
Master Ice cube
"Lady, this way please," the servants of Tai Furen let her pass through the secret passage leading to Tai Furen's courtyard. Furen is waiting for her.
"Tai Shen, after three years, here is my niece. Look at you, so lady-like. I received the little note you sent," Tai Furen says, sitting gracefully in her hall, dressed in a light purple gown with a peony flower hairpin clipped in her hair.
On the table, there is a medium-sized white tea basin made of ceramic, full of green tea leaves, decorated in the middle with a pink lotus flower. She picks up a tiny ceramic teacup and a small silver dragon-designed tong. She transfers the green tea leaves to the teacup, then takes a small wooden ladle.
Tai Furen scoops the green liquid from the beautiful white tea basin and pours it into the tiny teacup. She gracefully moves the teacup in front of Tai Shen. After a while, Tai Furen shows her a paper snow, blank.
"Aunt Furen, I came because of something important," Tai Shen says, looking at her aunt, signaling her to dismiss the servants.
Tai Furen gives a hand signal, and the maidservants, understanding, retreat and close the door of the room.
"Then speak," Tai Furen says, looking directly into her eyes with perfectly arched eyebrows.
"Tai Shan is currently trailing the Green Hills courtyard."
"It is impossible to breach the Green Hills courtyard. If he does, we all know it's a one-way trip," Tai Furen says, taking a sip from her teacup.
Yueshen, unable to control herself, lets go of her tears.
"What is the matter?" Tai Furen asks. She lowers her beautiful eyebrows, her eyes full of compassion toward Tai Yue Shen.
"Tai Shan took my baby and will do his best to deliver it to Master Yuwen Hao."
Tai Furen's eyes linger a little longer than usual on Tai Yue Shen, and she suddenly asks, "Is it Qinghai's son?"
"Yes." Still crying, but soundlessly, Tai Yue Shen's skirt is slightly wet.
Tai Shan, one of the excellent sword masters, offered a dangerous escape plan to save the life of Qinghai's baby prince. Tai Furen is actually shocked. She suddenly stands up from her seat, furious, and scolds her niece. Tai Yue Shen knows what her aunt is trying to impress upon her. Maybe this will be the last chance to see her brother Tai Shan.
"What have you done?!" Tai Furen raises her brow, her eyes fierce toward her niece.
"Father advised me to do it; we were running out of time, with no options left," Tai Yue Shen says, deeply depressed.
"The moon (codename for the baby prince) will not last the night if Yuwen Hao sees him."
"Father hoped the moon's fate would be different. He is childless and desperate for an heir to the Eyes of God."
Tai Furen takes a few steps, thinking of what she can do with her limited power as the latest Lady Concubine of Yuwen Xi, and says, "We have to get the moon and hide him away, if he is still alive tonight."
Tai Yue Shen cannot help herself, letting her tears flow while Tai Furen's knees shake.
"You cannot stay here any longer. There are illegal channels in these walls. The master of the Red Hills courtyard is a beast and a hedonistic woman-eater. You may not live a day if I hide you here. I will send you to the farthest corner of the Red Hills courtyard, to a secluded place in the northwest."
"What about you, Aunt Furen?"
"I will find a way to save you and your child," Tai Furen says swiftly and gracefully, moving to open the door to her hall. She finds her servants and gives them instructions.
After a while, Tai Furen returns to her hall and goes to her closet. She changes her clothes quickly and comes back in a flowing red cotton dress, a black mask on her face, and her hair tied in a high ponytail.
"No, I cannot let you do this, Aunt Furen."
"And I also cannot sit here idly, killing time, while the moon and his star become dead meat tonight," Tai Furen says, looking fierce in her assassin's attire for the night's escape.
"We must go now. We will pass through the main inner gate at the center of the Yuwen household. It's the fastest and most direct way to the castle peak. There are a few stratagems in place, but it's better than passing through other illegal channels. My servants will distract their animalistic master for a while, and then we can sneak out of Jile Pavilion. Our goal is to pass through the area near Yuwen Hao's hall."
Tai Furen hushed and comforted her niece, saying, "I am the third concubine of the Yuwen household. Yuwen Hao will recognize me, just as you did when you presented your jade stone to come directly to me. The same will apply to Yuwen Hao; he will recognize the third-branch concubine."
Tai Yue Shen, with her hopes raised and her mind racing, suddenly dries her tears and says, "I want you to have this."
"Canhong sword?" Tai Furen says, astonished.
"Please, Aunt, take it," Tai Yue Shen said. Tai Furen took the item, and Tai Yue Shen joined her. Together, they started sneaking out of Jile Pavilion.
Master Yuwen Xi was hosting his usual nightclub at his own Jile Pavilion. Young girls were running around like crazed sheep. Some were fully exposed, their naked bodies in plain sight, while others, drunk, lay sprawled in the pool. Some were dressed in monstrous costumes with smoky makeup. Already somewhat drugged by the steamy foam rising from the T-shaped pool, Yuwen Xi sat in the center, licking the bosom of a barely conscious, almost lifeless young girl. The girl was unresponsive, staring blankly at the pool.
Tai Furen saw the scene from her hiding place, her eyes filled with disgust as she spat on the Jile Pavilion. Tai Yue Shen could hardly believe what she was witnessing, and the pungent smell of the steamy foam wafting around the pavilion made her dizzy. She closed her eyes to steady herself.
When she opened them, her gaze was caught in a dreamlike state. She struggled to distinguish whether what she was seeing was real or not. The dead-like bodies of the young girls, some laughing to death, others naked, created a nightmarish trance. Looking in the opposite direction, Tai Yue Shen saw Yuwen Xi like a monster, licking the floating bodies in the pool at Jile Pavilion. Unable to bear it any longer, she blacked out.
Tai Furen realized too late that her niece had passed out. She looked behind her and noticed that Tai Yue Shen was no longer following. "Tai Yue Shen, where are you?" she called out, but no one responded, and panic began to set in.
Meanwhile, Tai Furen removed her mask and searched for Tai Yue Shen inside Jile Pavilion. She stayed longer than she should have, and now even the Third Concubine of the Yuwen household was trapped in the hellish night at Yuwen Xi's Jile Pavilion.
The next day, Yuwen Hao's maidservant was walking down the market street. She noticed a middle-aged woman buying seven jade stones at a jewelry shop. From a distance, the maidservant thought this woman could be a perfect match for her master's request.
Judging from the woman's appearance, she seemed cold yet sturdy, like an oak tree, as she spoke. The maidservant whispered to herself, "The woman is free-spirited."
The maidservant followed the woman to a nearby restaurant and was astonished to see six children waiting for her. As the family conversed, the maidservant approached them but remained silent.
The woman noticed her and asked, "What can we do for you?"
The maidservant presented a jade stone, a rare but familiar token bearing the Yuwen family's brocade. The woman understood immediately and asked, "What can I do to serve the master?"
"I am not permitted to speak at length, but would you and your six sons accompany me to the Yuwen household today? The rewards will benefit both you and your sons, but if you refuse, you may leave with your heads still attached to your necks," the maidservant replied.
The woman thought for a moment before asking, "How can I be assured that my sons and I will be safe if we choose not to accept the task?"
The maidservant, unable to provide a clear answer, thought deeply and then handed over her tassel. The tassel served as a collateral item, symbolizing that if anything went wrong, the blame would fall upon her, risking her own neck at the Palm (the present office of Yuwen Yue, where corporal punishments were administered and justice delivered for victims, including beheadings or amputations for criminals) of Green Hills courtyard.
The woman and her six sons, along with the maidservant, left for the Yuwen household.
They arrived at Red Hills courtyard in the late afternoon, just before twilight. Before proceeding, they had to pass the guards' interrogation to enter the Green Hills courtyard.
Using her silver tongue, the maidservant deceived the guards, though they were more interested in her beauty than her words. Through her charms, they allowed her to pass safely without triggering the stratagems planted around them.
The maidservant, the woman, and her six sons eventually met Yuwen Hao, who was facing away from them when they arrived.
Without turning around, Yuwen Hao dismissed the maidservant with a nod, and she bowed before leaving. Then, Yuwen Hao turned to face the woman and her six sons.
The woman bowed deeply in the kowtow position, and her sons followed suit, mimicking her. She was dressed in neat, presentable earth-tone canvas material, wearing a Chinese-collared shirt with traditional buttons, long slits at the sides, light beige pants, and black flat shoes.
The six sons, imitating their mother, looked adorable. Although Yuwen Hao typically didn't smile, a faint beam crossed his aristocratic face at the sight of the children bowing before him, especially when one of the youngest struggled to perform the gesture.
Yuwen Hao was pleased to see so many male children entering his Green Hills courtyard. In a gentlemanly tone, Yuwen Hao said, "You may rise," and the woman and her sons stood, following his command.
Yuwen Hao pulled a string, ringing a bell in the kitchen, signaling the servants.
The kitchen staff soon served an early dinner, and the guests were led to the dining area. The woman and her six sons marveled at the spread before them, a wide variety of Chinese dishes: steamed herb chicken feet, braised beef, Cuapao (small siopao), wonton soup with Canton noodles, stir-fried seafood, steamed fish with herbs and spices, black mushrooms, delectable sauces in tiny plates, steamed siomai served in small bamboo steamers, Hainanese rice, pickled fruits like cucumber, pears, and plums, and fresh fruits such as persimmon, passion fruit, and star apples, along with fresh green tea after the meal.
After the meal, they were ushered back to Yuwen Hao's hall, but only the woman returned, leaving her sons to play outside in the courtyard. Inside, she saw Yuwen Hao holding a baby.
"Master, thank you for the best meal my sons and I have ever had," she said gratefully.
"You will have more if you accept the task," Yuwen Hao replied.
"What is the task, Master?" she asked. Then, after a pause, she added, "And if I choose not to accept it, your maidservant gave me this." She handed over the tassel. Yuwen Hao, knowing the woman was smart, acknowledged her gesture.
Looking back at the baby he regarded as his son, Yuwen Hao said, "My son is your task. Do you wish to accept?"
"It is a great honor, Master," the woman replied, "but I am not fit to care for your son. You are of noble blood, and I am not."
Impressed with her humility and intelligence, Yuwen Hao responded, "You won't directly care for my son. You will serve one of the ladies of the house in Green Hills courtyard, complementing her aristocratic side with your humble background. Do you accept?"
"What about my six sons, Master? What do you intend for them?" she asked.
"They will grow and stay here to accompany my son. I will personally oversee their training and raise them to become servants of the next master and heir of the Eyes of God. With that said, you can expect a bright future for your sons. They will grow up educated and will serve the master of Green Hills courtyard for the rest of their lives," Yuwen Hao said in a gentle voice, speaking slowly to ensure the mother understood what was at stake.
"Master, the goodness in your heart is above the heavens. May the Qians (meaning heavens) bless you," the mother replied.
"We have nowhere to go. Our household was burned down, and we've been surviving on the streets, doing small chores for people. If we don't work as slaves of slaves, my sons wouldn't even have a meal fit for dogs."
After saying this, the mother accepted the task.
Yuwen Hao, understanding her situation and seizing the opportunity, had her sign a contract.
"Do you understand what you and your sons will be doing from now on?" Yuwen Hao asked, making sure the mother fully grasped the implications.
"Yes, my Lord." The mother performed a kowtow.
"You may rise," Yuwen Hao said.
This meant she and her six sons would serve the Green Hills courtyard for the rest of their lives.
That night, Yuwen Hao arranged everything. He wrote to his father, Yuwen Gao, explaining the situation. The old Yuwen Master read the final lines: "Grant this, Father, and consider it my last wish."
Unknown to anyone, Yuwen Hao was prepared to abandon his title, his nobility, and return the Eyes of God to his father if his wish was not granted. He was desperate for a son, and now that he had the baby, he would do whatever it took to secure his legacy and redirect everything toward the heir of the Eyes of God.
Yuwen Gao responded favorably that same night. The old Yuwen Master immediately informed the Lady residing at the inner temple of the Yuwen ancient palace, Yuwen Hao's grandmother and Yuwen Gao's mother.
Late that night, Yuwen Hao remembered the black silk hidden in his secret repository. Taking it out, he touched and felt the fine grade of the fabric.
Yuwen Hao closed his eyes, trying to recall where the silk had come from. Sadly, he couldn't remember. It was the most expensive silk in China, the finest of all fabrics. He untied the black silk and opened it to reveal the sole belonging of the baby who was sleeping peacefully in his bedchamber.
To Yuwen Hao's surprise, a sword was inside. He had never seen it before, but judging from its appearance, it seemed to belong to a noble or royal family.
As he removed the sword, a snow paper fell to the floor. Picking it up, Yuwen Hao saw that it was blank.
Realizing that the baby might not have been accidentally left behind by whoever had sneaked into his house the other day, Yuwen Hao took a small bottle of celadon powder and sprinkled it on the snow paper. A message appeared:
上帝眼中的主人宇文豪
这是我的儿子，我正在照顾你，因为我相信你是一个配得上我儿子血的继承人，他的名字叫悦。 剑是他的，不应该出鞘，直到他的时间来统治你的家庭来。 这是我最后的愿望。
岳神夫人
(The Master of the Eyes of God, Yuwen Hao,
This is my son. I am entrusting him to your care, believing you are a worthy heir for his noble blood. His name is Yue. The sword belongs to him and should not be unsheathed until the time comes for him to rule over your household. This is my last wish.
Lady Yue Shen)
Yuwen Hao was right: the baby he was caring for was of royal blood. However, he didn't know who Lady Yue Shen was, her background, or from which empire she came. She was not widely known.
Yuwen Hao also examined the sword's sheath but found that it couldn't be unsheathed. It appeared to have a locking mechanism. Not wanting to damage it, Yuwen Hao decided not to force it open.
A smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as he thought,I plan to give it to him on his 30th day at the Yuwen household.In their tradition, a child's 30th day marked the official 'locking' of the child to the world, where family and friends presented gifts of silver and money to support the child's upbringing.
That same night, the Lady at the temple was quietly stunned upon seeing the baby boy. Longing for a grandchild, she immediately took him from Yuwen Hao's arms and began playing with him.
The Lady, usually aristocratic, beautiful, but with a gloomy face, brightened. Her chinky eyes softened into a sunny expression as she completely ignored Yuwen Hao's instructions and brushed off the servant mother he had hired. She told Yuwen Hao, "We will call him Master Ice Cube," and chuckled as the baby beamed, their eyes locking.
Thirty days had passed, just as Yuwen Hao had planned. He introduced the child to the Yuwen family, fabricating a story to conceal the child's true past, claiming him as his son from an unknown mother. The Yuwen family barely listened to Yuwen Hao's introduction; all eyes and attention were on the child, who appeared godlike. They were mesmerized by him, momentarily forgetting their family affairs. They rejoiced and showered him with silverware and coins.
After the celebration ended, Yuwen Hao secretly bestowed the Po Yue Jian sword upon the child. He said, "You will be the master of snow, strong and cold, yet gentle on the inside. You will learn the depths and layers of being the heir and master of the Eyes of God. This sword, from your mother, I bestow upon you to defend the master code of snow and the principles that will be formed under your upbringing."
Then Yuwen Hao carefully wrapped the sword back in its black silk and placed it in a secret repository.
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