Chai Sichang Secures A Marriage At The Mountain Temple Through The Five-Flower Formation; Qin Shubao Falls Into Poverty And Distress On His Journey (4)

Let us leave aside the Duke of Tang’s return to Taiyuan.

After passing through the barrier on the fifteenth, Shubao hurried to the lodging where Fan Jianwei was waiting.

Jianwei immediately asked:

“How did that affair of defending the wronged turn out?”

Shubao related everything that had happened, leaving Jianwei greatly astonished.

Early the following morning, after breakfast, they hurriedly divided their baggage. Each took charge of two prisoners, and they departed by separate roads.

Fan Jianwei headed toward Zezhou, while Qin Shubao proceeded to Luzhou.

Upon reaching the prefectural city, Shubao found an inn that served as a lodging place for those delivering official documents. Outside its entrance stood a post for tethering horses. He tied his yellow horse there and led his two prisoners inside.

The innkeeper came forward to receive him.

Shubao said:

“Innkeeper, these two prisoners are under my escort. Find a secure place where they can be locked up.”

The innkeeper replied:

“If Your Honor has any urgent business, merely instruct this humble servant. I shall take responsibility for everything.”

Qin Shubao sat down in the main hall and instructed him:

“Innkeeper, have someone bring in the baggage from my horse. Remove its saddle and bridle, but leave the soft saddlecloth in place. The horse has grown hot from traveling, so take it to the manger and give it some good-quality feed. Also prepare a clean guest room for me.”

The innkeeper made a show of explaining:

“Your Honor, among the rooms here, only one is reserved as my finest accommodation, and I seldom open it. It is kept for officials from subordinate counties who come here on government business. Since Your Honor desires a clean room, I shall open this best chamber for your rest.”

Shubao replied:

“Very well.”

The innkeeper lit a lamp, carried the baggage into the room, and served tea, hot water, wine, and food.

He attended to Shubao with every courtesy, standing beside him to pour his wine, his face covered in smiles.

“May I ask Your Honor’s distinguished surname, so that this humble servant may enter it in the accounts?”

Shubao replied:

“Are you asking me? My surname is Qin. I have come from Jinan Prefecture in Shandong on official business to submit documents to your authorities. And what is your surname, innkeeper?”

The innkeeper said:

“Lord Qin, did you not see the signboard outside my humble establishment? It reads ‘Taiyuan Wang Inn.’ My humble name is Wang Shi, the shi used in the word for proclamation.”

Qin Shubao replied:

“As host and guest, it would be improper for me to address you directly by your personal name.”

The innkeeper smiled.

“The officials who travel through here reverse my given name and call me Wang Xiao’er.”

Shubao said:

“That is the usual convention. Anyone who runs an inn is called Xiao’er, just as any woman who acts as a matchmaker is called Granny Wang. Very well, I shall call you Brother Xiao’er!

“Tell me, how many days does it ordinarily take to submit documents to Governor Cai and receive the reply?”

Xiao’er replied:

“Lord Qin need not expect any delay. Our Governor Cai is a talented gentleman. If you submit your documents at tomorrow morning’s court session, you may collect the reply at the following morning’s session.”

“Your Honor need remain at my humble inn for only two days. Of course, if Lord Qin wishes to visit friends or purchase local products and gifts, such private matters may delay you. That would have nothing to do with the government office.”

After learning these particulars, Shubao finished his evening meal, shut his door, and went to sleep.

He rose exceedingly early the next morning, washed his face, arranged his headcloth, and prepared his documents. He then went to the prefectural offices and registered the papers he had brought.

When Governor Cai took his seat in court, Shubao submitted the documents and brought the prisoners before him.

The clerks opened the papers and laid them upon the official desk.

After reading them, Governor Cai ordered the jailers to remove the prisoners’ restraints. He instructed the escorting officer to take charge of the shackles and return the following morning to collect the official acknowledgment.

Governor Cai then had the two prisoners committed to the jail.

These events took place during the morning court session on the seventeenth day of the eighth month.

Shubao took the restraints back to his lodging, ate his meal, and spent the rest of the day sightseeing among the streets, Daoist temples, and Buddhist monasteries.

Early on the morning of the eighteenth, he prepared to go into the prefectural offices to collect his documents.

But when the sun had risen three pole-lengths into the sky, and the appointed hour was already well advanced, the government office had still not opened.

Not a single person entered or departed, and the streets were unusually quiet.

The numerous large wine shops, which had been so lively the previous day, were now all closed. Their hanging shutters had not been raised, although some doors stood half open.

Shubao entered one establishment and saw several young men amusing themselves behind the counter.

Raising his hands in greeting, he asked:

“Gentlemen, why has Governor Cai not yet taken his seat in court at this late hour?”

One of the young men asked:

“Brother, you do not sound like someone from Luzhou.”

Shubao replied:

“I have come from Shandong on official business.”

The young man said:

“Then you probably do not know that His Excellency has gone away on government business.”

Shubao asked:

“Where has he gone?”

The young man replied:

“To Taiyuan in Bingzhou.”

Shubao asked:

“What business takes him to Taiyuan?”

The young man replied:

“The Duke of Tang, Lord Li, has received an imperial decree graciously permitting him to return to his native home by the imperial relay route. He has been appointed to the administrative headquarters of the Hebei Circuit, with authority over the prefectures and counties of Hebei.”

“Documents were sent out from Taiyuan to notify the leading officials of the subordinate prefectures, departments, and counties.”

“His Excellency received the news during the third watch last night and departed on official business for Taiyuan to offer his congratulations to Lord Li.”

Shubao immediately understood.

‘So it is the same Lord Li whom I rescued near Mount Lintong,’ he thought.

He asked again:

“Brother, when is His Excellency expected to return?”

The young man replied:

“Not for some time. Lord Li is a benevolent and generous nobleman. When officials of every rank go to congratulate him, he will certainly entertain them with wine.”

“Moreover, when officials who know one another gather in the same place, they will also hold drinking parties of their own.”

“The journey is long as well. He may be away for twenty days, and certainly no less than half a month.”