Chapter Thirty-Seven

Wang Pu stood up and cleared his throat, adopting a formal air as he said, “Alright, tonight I’ll sing a little tune for you all—‘Leaving for the Western Pass.’”

Brother leaves for the Western Pass,
Little sister is troubled,
When brother leaves for the Western Pass,
Ah, little sister, your tears flow long,
Brother leaves for the Western Pass,
Little sister sees him off,
Hand in hand, holding brother’s hand,
Ah, she accompanies him to the gate,
Little sister won’t let go,
Two heartfelt words remain,
Ah, little sister, keep them in your heart.

...

Wang Pu’s booming voice, coupled with the tender yet sorrowful lyrics, brought to life the desolate mood contained in the folk songs of Northern Shaanxi. Through his song, the young women seemed to glimpse the barren, bleak Loess Plateau, and the people struggling to survive upon that land.

Men, forced by the need to feed their families, had to leave their homes, while women accompanied them to the edge of the village, reluctant to part, eyes brimming with tears...

As Wang Pu sang with genuine emotion, Chen Yuanyuan could not help but gently grasp his hand, gazing at him with eyes full of soft affection. Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan were even more moved by Wang Pu’s plaintive song, tears streaming down their rosy cheeks.

The power of Shaanxi folk songs lies not only in their performance but mainly in the haunting, barren charm inherent in the music itself. Wang Pu, during his university years in Xi’an, often traveled to Northern Shaanxi and became almost fanatically devoted to its folk songs. With his expertise, moving a young woman to tears was a simple feat.

When his song ended, the room fell silent.

After a long pause, Lady Li sighed softly and asked, “General, where is this little tune from? Why does it make my heart ache so?”

Wang Pu sighed and answered gravely, “It’s a folk song from Shanxi and Shaanxi. Those are poor regions, unlike the fertile lands of the south. The people there often can’t fill their stomachs, so men must leave their homes to seek fortune beyond the pass—that’s what ‘Leaving for the Western Pass’ means.”

Wang Pu’s explanation was half true, half false. Shanxi was indeed impoverished, but at that time the custom of leaving for the western pass hadn’t actually begun, as the Ming Empire and Mongolia were still hostile, making large-scale trade impossible. Thus, there were no such stories yet.

Li Xiangjun, eyes full of compassion, asked softly, “What about the women?”

“Women stay at home,” Wang Pu replied with another sigh. “The road to the Western Pass is lined with the bones of Shanxi men. Most women, after sending off their husbands or sons, never see them again. Yet they can’t avoid letting their loved ones go, because the land simply cannot support so many people…”

“Today is meant to be a joyful day; let’s not dwell on such sad topics,” Lady Li said, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a handkerchief, her face regaining its charming vivacity. She addressed Wang Pu, “I now declare that the general has successfully passed my test. Which young lady will pose the next challenge?”

“Mama,” Bian Yuqing rose as Lady Li finished speaking. “There’s something I’d like to say, though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.”

Lady Li replied, “Speak your mind, Yuqing.”

Bian Yuqing glanced flirtatiously at Wang Pu and said with a coy smile, “Sister Yuanyuan and the general are newlyweds, inseparable at this time. We’ve had our fun today, so let’s not delay them any further. It’s better to let them retire early, don’t you think?”

Lady Li agreed, “Oh, Yuqing is right. It’s getting late, and the general and Yuanyuan must rise early for their journey tomorrow. Let’s call it a night.”

Wang Pu clasped his hands and smiled, “Thank you, ladies, for your mercy tonight.”

Li Xiangjun joked, “We’ll spare you this time, brother-in-law, but when you and Sister Yuanyuan return to the south for your wedding celebration, we’ll make sure to give you a proper challenge!”

“It’s settled then,” Wang Pu smiled. “When I return to the south with Yuanyuan for our wedding, you may try whatever tricks you like, and I’ll accept them all.”

Chen Yuanyuan rose and bid her sisters farewell. The group escorted Wang Pu and Chen Yuanyuan out of the Fragrant Pavilion, watching as Yuanyuan boarded her sedan and departed through Black Robe Alley, after which they each returned to their lodgings. Liu Rushi, staying with the Li family, accompanied Lady Li, Lady Shi, and Li Xiangjun back to the Warm Fragrance Pavilion.

[Let me speak of the Warm Fragrance Pavilion.

Originally, it was managed solely by Lady Li. At that time, she was not yet a madam, but went by the stage name Li Zhenli, famed on the Qinhuai River for her performances in southern opera. Unfortunately, as she aged, she could not find a suitable man to settle down with, so she purchased the pavilion and became its madam.

Later, her distant cousin Lady Shi lost her status due to her father’s misfortune, and Lady Li paid a large sum to redeem her. Thanks to her exceptional beauty and talent, Lady Shi quickly became a celebrity on the Qinhuai River, raising the pavilion’s reputation, and so the Warm Fragrance Pavilion became the home of the two Lis.

Two years ago, Lady Li’s adopted daughter, Li Xiangjun, turned sixteen, blossoming into a stunning beauty. Gifted in poetry and music, skilled in song and dance, she was especially admired for her petite figure and luminous, jade-like skin. Patrons gave her the elegant nickname ‘Fragrant Fan Pendant,’ and within two years, her fame had spread throughout the south.]

Lady Li, moved by her surroundings, sighed softly and said, “Ah, Yuanyuan is truly fortunate to meet such a perfect match as General Wang.”

Liu Rushi and Lady Shi, each lost in their own thoughts, remained silent.

Li Xiangjun, eyes shining with admiration, replied sweetly, “General Wang dared to venture deep into Liaodong with only a thousand men and still returned safely. He risked his life to save Sister Yuanyuan, even serving as a hostage for the pirates of Lake Tai, yet came back unscathed. He is brave and wise, passionate and loyal. Only someone as radiant as Sister Yuanyuan could be his equal.”

“That’s not all,” Lady Shi said wistfully. “They say he’s a warrior, but he can compose poetry. He seems rough, yet he speaks strange, yet sensible words. He’s not just a commander; he can sing hauntingly beautiful songs… What kind of man is he, truly?”

That night, Lady Li, Lady Shi, Liu Rushi, and Li Xiangjun all lay awake, unable to sleep.