A day after leaving Lanzhou, they had arrived at a port on the Grand Canal, which was where the carriage they had ridden was rented from. It had dawned on Ruidie then that she would reach Taiping earlier than expected.
A ship was on the White River. Three sets of sails resembling giant fins of a fish pointed forward.
In her cabin, Ruidie changed into a no sleeve, pale purple dress over her loose white shirt and pants. Grandma enjoyed the clothes of the southern tradition and sewn the dress for her last year when the fabric traders supplied the town stores. The thick hemp kept her warm but left her arms to feel the breeze.
Lying on the cushioned board, there was nothing to do but to take a deep breath and glare at the ceiling. Her arms and legs suddenly flayed about. Her hands grasped her hair and she repeatedly kicked the air. It didn’t change the narrow and solitary nature of the cabin.
Abruptly, Ruidie grasped the neck pillow she rested on, that, unlike a traditional white porcelain pillow, was made of black stone. It once belonged to her mother. Now, it belonged to her.
A section at the bottom of the pillow was a shade different than anywhere else. The section of stone was pried open to reveal a book and a metal plaque.
The metal plaque was a black rectangular plate with a purplish hue. Inscribed on it were the words ‘Moon-Reflecting Courtyard’. Interesting, but useless without knowing its significance.
The book was more exciting. From the red thread which intertwined the paper together, to the lazy brush strokes, it was titled Art of Insect Collecting.
Ruidie opened the first page of the book and her heart calmed. She had already memorized every word, so upon seeing the beginning text, her eyelids closed and time passed.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a dozen ants crawling on the cabin wall broke their line and began moving to form complex shapes.
…
Ruidie finished another meal alone in her cabin. She ate a bowl of porridge and carp soup until all that was left were the bones of the fish and pieces of ginger, something that she had learned from the sailors was grown on the ship to prevent sickness.
Sun Ming entered the cabin. “How are you?”
The man periodically visited her everyday day but otherwise stayed in his cabin. Although he tried to hide it, because of the thin walls, Se was sure he suffered from seasickness, yet his calm expression tried to hide it. Her perspective of the man was still someone who valued seriousness and etiquette.
She could not make any judgments on the servant named Guo Yi, simply because he had yet to speak a single word to her again after their meeting. In fact- “Is Guo Yi avoiding me?”
“He is a very formal person.” That was all Sun Ming said. Internally, Sun Ming theorized that Guo Yi needed some time to adjust so he doesn’t make any mistakes.
“Oh. ok.” Even Ruidie spoke little while on board.
Sun Ming found Teacher’s daughter more likable than the opposite. She was a curious but tempered person, so he did not imagine her causing trouble for Teacher, which in the end was what was most important. “I came to say that we have arrived. Gather on deck, because we’ll be among the first to descend.”
The ebb and flow of the water drew the ship closer to port. They had finally arrived outside Taiping.
…
At the bustling port town, where the goods on board were unloaded, Guo Yi retrieved a horse and carriage he had previously arranged to be kept.
The black walls of the capital gripped the flatlands between the nearby rocky mountains. Although they did not reach the sky as the sailors said, it was true that Ruidie could not see their ends.
“Are we going to enter Phoenix Avenue?” A smile was beginning to form.
Sun Ming shook his head. “We are entering from one of the smaller northern gates.” He pointed ahead. “But those are the walls of the palace.”
“Oh.” Ruidie lost her smile and fell back onto her seat, not responding further. She continued gazing out the curtains of the carriage.
Before the stone fortification of the lesser gate, two cries rang.
From below she saw two winged figures circling the sky. One of the hawks was Kui, however, she had never seen him interact with other birds, even when they were other hawks.
“Kui!” Ruidie called when they were near the end of the line.
“Isitin!” another voice called.
The two hawks swerved downwards in a spiral. As they neared the ground, the more apparent the similarities between the two hawks became. Their pattern of feathers, brown and white, was exactly the same. Only the larger size of Kui differentiated them.
Kui landed on top of the carriage. The other landed on the guarded arms of the travelers in front of them.
They were two youths traveling unaccompanied. The girl, who could be a year older than Ruidie, sat on top of a strong horse with her arm extended where the hawk perched. She wore a light tunic accompanied by a fur scarf. Her hair was dark brown and tied together in two long braids with the exception of bangs that reached her brows. Her skin was tanned, and her eyes were a bright blue like the clear sky.
The other taller youth dragged the reins of their horse forward. He was likely her older brother, possessing all her features except for his shorter hair gathered in a single large braid that showed the forehead.
“Ashina Shibara,” the girl said her name. Her voice held a layer of calmness, confidence, and maturity. “Is that hawk yours?” A corner of her mouth was raised.
“Hei Ruidie. It is. I can see their similarities,” Ruidie returned lightly with faux excitement from the open front of the carriage layered.
Shibara’s free finger touched her chin. Her eyes met Ruidie’s almost pouting confusion. “Isitin is named for his good hearing.”
“Kui is named for his intelligence.”
“Where did you receive him? From which tribe?”
Ruidie tilted her head. “Which tribe? I met Kui in the east of here, that is where I was born.”
Shibara frowned. “You are obviously from the Grasslands. Your eyes are hazel. Perhaps a Uyurta if not a Keruk.”
The voice of her brother spoke. “Leave it, Sister. She is obviously a person of the Plains now.” His mouth remained a thin line exuding a stoic bearing.
“Brother, a Servant of Heaven trusts her,” she nagged, referring to Kui.
“And it’s also our turn.” He pulled the horse forward.
Ruidie and her party watched as the pair sunk into the shadow of the gate.
…
Ashina Shibara and her brother arrived in front of a standing armored guard and a sitting uniformed official.
“Names and purpose,” the guard said.
“Ashina Israk and Ashina Shibara.” Ashina Israk said.
“We come seeking knowledge,” Shibara added.
The guard lighted patted the luggage carried by the horse until he raised a certain bundle of silver arrows. “These are weapons.”
Israk preferred using arrows he fletched himself. He raised an unstrung curved bow on his back. “I believe Taiping allows people to carry their weapon of choice for dueling. This is my bow and those are my arrows.”
“But these are too much. Don’t you know civilians are not allowed to trade weapons within the city? It’s a law that the Mayor’s Office takes seriously, especially with the recent rise in gang activity. How can someone even use a bow to duel in the city? You’re going to kill someone shooting an arrow.”
Shibara suddenly spoke when the guard was about to shake his head. “Here.”
The guard caught a pouch tossed to him and from the sound it made, it was a pouch of coins. His eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
“Your bribe.”
The guard coughed. “You’re not supposed to do it so openly.”
She rolled her eyes. Why do the Zhao have to make everything so complicated? “Fine. Let’s say I’m outside the city, and since you are not a civilian, I’m buying back these confiscated arrows. Now, I gift these arrows to my brother who is inside the city. No trade going on between civilians here.”
The guard glanced back at his partner who shrugged. “Fine, get going, you troublemakers.”
Israk pulled the horse forward without looking back.
“The clan housing is directly southwest of the Palace walls. Can you get there?” Shibara said.
“Do we need to even visit them? I’m sure they’ve already forgotten how to hunt. Let them drown in their luxury.”
“Speaking of hunting, we are severely late. Who knows if any of the entrance exams are still occurring. Who and what fault is this again?”
Israk’s face soured.
Shibara leaned forward and began poking his head. “Come on, Brother. Say it. Apologize.”
The youth swatted her hand away. “You ate as much of that deer as me.” He ignored her further counters and continued pulling the horse.
…
Taiping was a city where stones paved the streets and dividing walls, however wood built its buildings.
The carriage rode under a suspended bridge connecting balcony paths on the second story of buildings.
Shouts of poets and orators left the third story of famous tea houses and restaurants. Pedestrians wearing clothes of every color needled the space between moving carriages.
Ruidie noticed the many goods-holding carts led by men donning densely embroidered cloth. No doubt wealthy merchants of the western routes. The reason revealed itself when they reached the loud shouts of the West Market, where a behemoth with white horns, an elephant, tumbled. She reached her hand out and caught air.
Passing the trade space, the carriage turned east and dove into a quiet street. Guo Yi stopped the carriage upon a simple gate and led it in the yard. Ruidie and Sun Ming both stepped out.
The property was a small manor possessing an open yard at the front and two gardens at its sides.
“This is the Luo Manor,” Sun Ming said. Upon seeing Guo Yi shifting around, he sighed. “Guo Yi, go inform Teacher.”
“Right away.” Guo Yi hastily entered the manor.
Sun Ming gestured to Ruidie. “Follow me. There is a room already prepared for you. Although Teacher usually eats dinner alone, I’m sure you will see him sometime today.”
Ruidie nodded and followed the man inside.
At this silent place, they passed paper doors of unused rooms. Footsteps echoed on the floorboards.
“How many people live here?” she said.
“Only three. Guo Yi, Lo Fuzhe, and Luo Yizuan. Luo Yizuan is Teacher’s name. Besides these three, Teacher’s students, including myself, are also often around.”
She was surprised by how few people there were. “‘Lo’ and ‘Luo’ are the same in Old Script isn’t it?”
“Lo Fuzhe has been with your father since I knew him. As far as I know, they are not closely related, but perhaps they are from the same ancestral village. He takes care of the manor together with Guo Yi.”
On the west side of the building, they stopped at a room empty of all things besides bedding.
“I’ll come to get you later,” Sun Ming said.
“Alright.” Ruidie nodded.
She placed her travel bag against the wall. It was quiet in a manner that she didn’t expect. There was obviously no oppressive family full of scheming relatives. The manor was almost empty.
Sitting on the ground, all she could think about her supposed father. The girl fell onto her back and stared at the ceiling, too tired to examine the room. So, she waited.
…
The sun was setting.
There was suddenly muffled shouting heard at another part of the manor and then silence.
Ruidie sat up from her rest.
The sound of footsteps suddenly began and gradually increased until it stopped behind the door.
There was a knock.
“Yes,” Ruidie answered.
The door slid open and a young woman peered in. She wore a plain pale blue sleeved dress. Long black hair parted from a peak to frame her contoured features.
Their eyes met and did not shift.
Time passed until Reidie’s head finally tilted.
The woman’s face formed a smile. In the next moment, she had already crouched down in front of Ruidie. “You’re just adorable!” Her arms wrapped around Ruidie.
Ruidie attempted to wriggle out of the young woman’s grasp which only caused it to tighten. She was left to make an incomprehensible sound while being muffled by cloth.
Acknowledging it, the young woman compromised and held Ruidie’s face in her hands. “What’s your name?”
“Hei Ruidie.”
“I like it. I’m Bi Tong, a former student of your father, just like Sun Ming.” She leaned closer until their foreheads touched. “From what I can tell, you are talented enough. The Four Gates will have no problem accepting you.”
Ruidie was confused. She took a breath. “Am I going to see my father now?”
Bit Tong’s expression momentarily pained. “It’s been a long journey, right? Rest for the night.” She turned towards the door and returned with a tray of food previously hidden in the hallway. “Here, I prepared it.”
There was rice, boiled egg, sausage, and stocky kale.
“Is Big Sister Bi going to eat?” Ruidie raised her head from the tray to see Bi Tong turned away.
Bi Tong clutched her chest. Teacher’s daughter called me Big Sister! I can’t take anymore. “I already ate dinner. You don’t need to worry about me. Before I return home, let’s exchange questions. I’m sure we both want to know more. I’ll start. How old are you? Ten? Eleven?”
Ruidie frowned, “I’m age twelve.”
Bi Tong expression changed to reassessment. “Have you spent all your life in Lanzhou?”
“Before I turned five, I remember being carried by Mother as she traveled. The rest I’ve spent in Lanzhou, besides visiting the neighboring counties and sometimes prefectures. I get a question now, right?”
“Ask away. I’ll do my best to answer.”
“What will I be doing every day?”
Bi Tong tucked her legs together and sat straighter. “Taiping possesses nine Palace-sponsored schools known collectively as the Capital Schools. Three are existences which began their lineages ages ago. Grand Learning Academy, Sons of the State Academy, and Four Gates Academy. Another three were formed by the previous dynasties. The Law School, Arithmetic School, and Calligraphy School. Emperor Gaozu had his first son, the Prince of Ming, re-establish and expand the system when Zhao formed. The Prince of Ming established the final three schools. Grand Heart Institute, Stargazing Institute, and Thousand Thought Institute. Sun Ming told me you can already write well, so you’ll be studying at Four Gates Academy, which is open to the children of officials and does not require an entrance examination. Satisfied?” Bi Tong smiled.
Ruidie contemplated each word. Her arms folded and her eyes closed. “To confirm, the Academies are the most prestigious and only accept the children of officials, implying the other six would either require either an exam or invitation to attend, but more importantly that Academy students are expected to become officials. I don’t know what ‘Grand Heart’ could refer to, but ‘Stargazing’ makes me think of astrology, and ‘Thousand Thought’ makes me think of philosophy. I’m guessing the Schools, such as the Arithmetic School, each teaches their namesake. ‘Sons of the State’ and the fact the Palace has four gates reaffirmed that the Academies teach Confucian governance. And that is exactly what doesn’t make sense. I don’t need to be there.”
Bi Tong’s eyes widen just a bit. “Yes, Four Gates Academy, though less strict than the other two academies because they accept children of officials of any rank and the talented common folk, is primarily a passage to the Imperial Examination. Though I wouldn’t call the other schools any less prestigious, in a way, they are even more difficult to enter. Of the many youths that come to the capital, only a sliver passes the entrance exams and gets accepted. Those that do pass, like every student of the Capital Schools, are arranged in a number of classes and courses.”
“Courses?”
“Course, or the curriculum, is the plan of what a student will be taught for the time they attend a school. Like what books they will read and what topics they will study. You will be taking the course on The Way.”
Ruidie tried to remember why that term felt somewhat familiar to her. “The Way? Do you mean those worthless advice books? I’ve read one’s Teacher He had.”
Bi Tong’s smile shifted incomprehensibly. “The Canon has more to offer. This is something Zhao has been promoting. Each of the three Institutes was established for this sole reason, and the other six schools each strengthen their existing courses.”
Grandma, they basically are sending me to a nunnery. “When do I start?”
“In a week, which is after the Lantern Festival. It’s always this time of the year, during the beginning of spring, that the Capital Schools each finish their entrance procedures and begin.
“I see.”
“Alright. I’ll need to return home. But I’ll come to visit tomorrow. Goodbye, Ruidie.”
“Goodbye, Big Sister Bi.”
When the door slid closed, Ruidie thought she heard a squeal, but she ignored it.
The room returned to having just the girl in it. She stared down at her tray of food and picked up the pair of chopsticks in silence.
Ashina Shibara
Ashina Israk
Luo Yizuan 罗毅攥
Lo Fuzhe 罗浮着
Bi Dong 畢冬