5 : The Eldest Son Of A Criminal Official Passed The Imperial Examination And Entered Officialdom

 Chapter 5

After the imperial decree of general amnesty was distributed throughout every territory under the dynasty's rule, the officials overseeing the exile settlement in Youbei Commandery compiled the list of those to be pardoned.

One by one, their criminal status was removed.

Official travel permits and civilian documents were then issued to them.

Although these people were now officially registered residents of Shuozhou and were free to settle anywhere within its three commanderies, they possessed neither land nor property.

Moreover, because they had once been convicted of such grave crimes, most of their close relatives had long since been executed or had already died.

The remaining collateral relatives generally wanted nothing to do with them.

Still, there were a few families who deeply valued kinship.

Upon learning that their relatives had been pardoned, they hurriedly purchased houses in Shuozhou's prefectural city so their family members would have somewhere to live.

Most of the newly freed people, however, found themselves little different from wandering refugees.

The world was vast...

Yet they had nowhere to call home.

Had it not been for Zhu Tong's genuine loyalty and righteousness, the Zhuo family would certainly have ended up in the same desperate situation.

After receiving Zhuo Yan's guidance and benefiting greatly from their friendship, Zhu Tong gradually transformed all the frustration from his own unfulfilled ambitions into a spirit of chivalry.

He had originally come from the military.

A bold and courageous man, he valued brotherhood above all else.

The moment he heard about the general amnesty, he immediately contacted people from his hometown and secured Zhuo Yan a position as the village teacher.

Thanks to that, the entire family was finally able to settle in Xingshan Village, within Ningshuo Commandery of Shuozhou.

The village was spacious enough, and the village head was told to quickly prepare a house and courtyard to accommodate the teacher's family.

When the village head heard there was such a wonderful opportunity, he was overjoyed.

He immediately sent word back through the messenger, saying that they had already cleared out the largest unused courtyard in the village. A mud-brick house had been built there, with the larger room reserved for the teacher's family to live in. A smaller room beside it would later serve as the classroom for the village children. The village would provide for the teacher's food and clothing, so there would be no need for him to farm or work the fields. As long as he didn't mind the village's remoteness or the children's noisiness, everything else would be taken care of.

With everything settled, Zhu Tong felt more pleased with himself than ever.

This time, he had truly earned face on both sides.

He had found a proper home for Brother Zhuo's family, brought a capable teacher back to his hometown, given the Zhuo family's eldest son a place to study and pursue an official career in the future, and helped the village children learn to read so that, at the very least, they could someday carry messages or assist officers in the army instead of remaining illiterate. Who knew? Perhaps one of them might even grow up to become someone truly outstanding.

There was a share of his credit in every one of those accomplishments.

Yet...

Song Liangyu never lived to see those better days arrive.

Zhu Tong hated seeing children suffer more than anything, so he spared no effort in helping them.

On the day the family departed, he busied himself making arrangements from beginning to end.

He even slipped a few copper coins and some dried provisions to the villager driving the cart, reminding him to be extra careful, to look after both the elderly and the children of the Zhuo family, to drive slowly, and not to simply whip the horse whenever the road became rough or full of potholes.

After finishing his instructions, he noticed that Zhuo Yan was still standing motionless where he was.

Thinking they shouldn't delay their departure and end up traveling dangerous roads after dark, Zhu Tong was just about to urge him to get moving.

At that moment, a trembling voice called out from not far away.

"Brother Yangu... is that you?"

Yangu was Zhuo Yan's courtesy name.

Hearing that voice, he seemed to awaken from a dream.

Slowly turning around, two fresh streams of tears appeared on his face, already stained with old tear tracks.

"Brother Bangning..."

A man whose temples had likewise turned completely white hurried toward Zhuo Yan.

Though his hair had whitened, his face still retained the dignified appearance of someone in his prime.

The two embraced each other tightly.

Then they both broke down in uncontrollable sobs.

Zhuo Siheng looked toward the direction the man had come from.

There, he saw a small ox cart carrying two or three luggage chests.

Beside the cart stood a frail boy about the same height as himself.

His complexion was pale, and his clothes were thin.

He looked so weak that even a layer of snow settling upon his shoulders seemed as though it would be too much for him to bear.

The boy had originally been watching Zhuo Yan.

Sensing someone looking at him, he turned his gaze.

His eyes met Zhuo Siheng's.

Those pitch-black pupils were strikingly rare.

Especially when he stared at someone without any expression, they resembled an ancient, unfathomably deep well—silent...and utterly still.

"Qing'er, come quickly and greet your Uncle Zhuo!"

At his father's call, the black-eyed boy was the first to break their silent stare.

He walked over to Zhuo Yan and bowed deeply, offering the proper greeting of a younger generation to an elder.

"So this is Yongqing? I remember he's a year younger than Siheng. He's grown so much already."

The reunion with an old friend seemed to stir something in Zhuo Yan's heart besides grief.

Even his voice regained a little strength.

"Siheng, bring your younger sisters and brother over to greet your Uncle Gao."

Zhuo Siheng quickly helped his two younger sisters climb down from the ox cart, picked up Xiheng, and the four siblings together bowed respectfully to the man their father called Uncle Gao, following the proper etiquette for juniors.

"Good... good..."

Tears welled up in Uncle Gao's eyes as his thin hand gently rested on Zhuo Siheng's shoulder.

"The first time I saw you, you hadn't even finished growing your baby teeth. It's a pity the jade pendant I gave you is surely gone by now. If we ever have the chance in the future, I'll give you another one."

Naturally, Zhuo Siheng had no memory of the man before him.

But seeing how close his father was with him, he was clearly an old colleague from the imperial court.

And judging by the fact that Uncle Gao was also leaving the exile settlement with his child, it wasn't difficult to guess that he, too, had been implicated in the Crown Prince Li case.

"This is Brother Zhuo. His given name is Siheng. Your Uncle Zhuo even carried him to your one-month celebration."

Uncle Gao introduced his son to Zhuo Siheng.

"Child, this is my son, Yongqing. Your father and I were classmates in the same examination cohort and later served together in the same ministry. We've been close friends all our lives. If fate allows it, I hope you two will look after one another in the future."

Whenever adults arranged for children to get acquainted, it usually meant they wanted to talk privately.

Zhuo Siheng understood immediately.

He bowed to Gao Yongqing as an equal, received the other's return salute, then settled his younger sisters and Xiheng back into the cart, making sure they were covered with the old felt blankets to keep warm.

Afterward, he and Gao Yongqing walked several steps away.

The two fathers watched their children.

Though both boys had become frail and pitiful after years of exile, they still carried themselves with impeccable manners and gentle dignity.

Both fathers felt comforted...

and deeply guilty.

Looking at the once spirited colleague before him, now equally worn down by hardship and accompanied by only a single child, Zhuo Yan knew that Gao Bengu's experiences had likely mirrored his own.

After introducing their children, neither man spoke for a long while.

Only sighs remained.

Finally, Gao Bengu broke the silence.

"The two of us were assigned to different labor camps after our exile, so we never had the chance to meet. Being able to see each other once before we part ways at least means our friendship wasn't in vain."

"Yangu... you've aged so much."

"Brother Bangning, have you found a place to settle?" Zhuo Yan asked with concern.

Gao Bengu smiled bitterly.

"When my wife heard of my conviction back then, she caused a huge scene with her family. By then, as a married daughter, she'd already been driven out of her parents' home.

Still, her family had a distant nephew whose parents had died young and who was being raised in their household. My wife cared for him constantly before and after our marriage.

He's now serving as a Deputy Commandant guarding a frontier pass under the Xisheng Army. Back then, his military rank was too low. Although he'd been trying to find out where our family had been exiled so he could help us, no one dared tell him anything.

Only after the general amnesty, when he received another promotion, was he finally able to pull enough strings to learn about our situation...

...and also learned that your sister-in-law had already passed away. Now he wants to take me to settle near the border between Rongzhou and Shuozhou."

Thinking of how he himself had finally secured a place to live only after losing his beloved wife, Zhuo Yan once again fell into grief.

After a long silence, he finally said,

"He knows how to repay kindness. He's a fine young man."

"I've thought the same."

Gao Bengu sighed as he looked at his son's back.

"Rongzhou borders the Wuliang frontier. Although my household registration will still remain in Shuozhou, I'll actually be living near the military colonies in Rongzhou. It's a barren and miserable place. I'm afraid Qing'er's education will suffer because of it. Yangu... you don't know this, but my son truly has the makings of a scholar. I daresay he's even more talented than I was."

He sighed again.

"It's just that his health has always been poor. We originally planned to leave much earlier, but delayed our departure so he could first recover from the illnesses left behind by the years of exile. Who would've thought fate would let me meet you instead?"

He didn't even need to ask why Zhuo Yan had also delayed leaving.

Someone in the Zhuo family had either been gravely ill...

or had passed away.

Their experiences were, after all, much the same.

"It seems Qing'er will inherit your legacy and bring another top examination graduate to your family," Zhuo Yan said with sincere happiness for his old friend.

Then, after a moment's hesitation, he added,

"But since Qing'er's health is so poor, and Rongzhou lies so close to the northwestern frontier—a place that's both dry and bitterly cold—how can he possibly recover there?"

"Exactly."

Gao Bengu nodded.

"That's why I discussed it with my wife's nephew. We'll arrange a travel permit and send Qing'er to Jiangxiang Academy. He'll study and recuperate there. Qingzhou has a mild climate and beautiful scenery. Jiangxiang Academy is also home to many renowned scholars. I'm certain Qing'er won't waste the talent he's been blessed with."

Zhuo Yan froze.

Then he hurriedly asked,

"But Qingzhou and Rongzhou lie at opposite ends of the empire. If you father and son are separated by such a vast distance, when will you ever be reunited? How can you bear to let him go?"

Gao Bengu shook his head with another bitter smile.

"How could I possibly bear it? As parents, we'll worry about our children for our entire lives. But Qing'er's health truly isn't suited to staying in the north. Though I've received amnesty, I was once still a criminal official. Leaving my registered place of residence is no easy matter.

Besides, I don't want to cause my wife's nephew unnecessary trouble. His career is just beginning to flourish, and he's already done more than enough for the two of us.

How could I burden him even further?

It's better for father and son to each seek our own path. No matter how high the mountains or how long the rivers, there will surely come a day when we meet again.

...And if that day never comes... then it is simply fate. I'll accept it."

While the two fathers talked, Zhuo Siheng was struggling to figure out how to start a conversation with Gao Yongqing.

This newly acquainted boy his own age kept his lips tightly sealed.

He simply stared quietly at Zhuo Siheng with those dark eyes, as though silently declaring that he refused to answer any questions.

Still, prying into someone's private affairs wasn't exactly a good way to start a conversation.

Just by looking at him, Zhuo Siheng could already tell that Gao Yongqing's experiences were probably much the same as his own.

Why ask questions that would only reopen painful wounds?

In his previous life, Zhuo Siheng had been fairly outgoing, considerate, and well-liked.

Seeing that Gao Yongqing's clothing looked even thinner than his already frail body, he couldn't help feeling sympathetic.

Taking the initiative, he said,

"You're going to get sick before you even leave Shuozhou dressed like this. My aunt sent our family a few winter clothes. Wait here. I'll go get one for you."

After saying that, he climbed onto the cart, searched through their belongings, and returned carrying his own thick robe.

He draped it over Gao Yongqing's shoulders before casually asking,

"Where are you heading?"

"Qingzhou."

Looking down at Zhuo Siheng as he adjusted the robe around him, Gao Yongqing finally spoke.

"Has your father been teaching you to study too? I've memorized a lot, but I've never actually seen what a real book looks like."

His voice was as fragile as the fine snow falling around them.

Though tinged with the roughness left behind by illness, its original tone was still gentle and clear.

"Neither have I."

After finishing adjusting the robe, Zhuo Siheng smiled warmly.

"Study hard when you get there. When you've achieved something, let's take the imperial examinations together and return to the capital. We'll bring our fathers back together too."

Gao Yongqing's pitch-black eyes finally showed a ripple of emotion. 

As they flickered, he quickly nodded, then straightened his robes slightly and bowed to him. 

"Thank you, Elder Brother. Yongqing will never betray this promise."

"You don't have to be so formal..." 

Zhuo Siheng hurriedly waved his hands. 

"We're friends, after all. It's nice to have a promise between us—something to strive for in the future. Honestly, I've never really talked with someone my own age before. You're the first. So if I've been lacking in etiquette, Qing-di, please don't take offense."

Although Gao Yongqing still didn't smile, the expression on his face softened considerably, and he nodded obediently.

From afar, Zhuo Yan saw his son helping Gao Yongqing put on another layer of clothing. 

Seeing how generous, sincere, thoughtful, and considerate his child was filled him with comfort. 

Then he thought of how, during this period, he himself had been little more than a walking corpse. 

But wasn't the loss of his beloved wife just as much the pain of losing a mother for Siheng? Guilt instantly flooded his face.

Gao Bengu understood everything with just one look. He gently patted Zhuo Yan's shoulder and said, 

"There's no need to say anything about our family matters. Anyone can guess what happened... I've been through it too. I understand exactly how you feel. When Qing'er's mother passed away, I also wanted nothing more than to follow her and end it all... 

But if you and I can't pull ourselves together, who will take care of our children? 

If anything were to happen to them, how could their mothers rest in peace? They would never find peace, even in the underworld. 

You have to understand that... From now on, you're not just raising your children out of a father's love. You're also doing it for the bond and affection you shared as husband and wife, and so that when you and I are gone one day, these children will be able to stand firmly beneath heaven and earth. 

Yangu, remember this well—don't lose yourself in grief any longer."

The words of his elder brother, together with the image of his frail son and the weary smile on the boy's face, finally stirred Zhuo Yan's heart, which had seemed reduced to ashes. 

A spark was rekindled within it. He nodded firmly at Gao Bengu as though making a solemn promise, forcing back his tears.

In the end, they still parted with great reluctance, each heading toward their own destination. 

Zhuo Siheng also said goodbye to Gao Yongqing. To be honest, Gao Yongqing spoke very little, but during these heavy, sorrowful days, he had become the only friend of Zhuo Siheng's own age. 

The promise between them gave Zhuo Siheng a sense of purpose. Once they arrived at Xingshan Village, he resolved to study diligently and never stop writing.

As they watched the Gao father and son depart, the ox cart carrying the five members of the Zhuo family also left behind two faint tracks in the snowy ground as it slowly made its way south.

Zhuo Yan took Xiheng from his second daughter's arms. His youngest son had always been quiet and well-behaved, rarely crying or causing trouble. 

Holding the boy in his embrace, he gently asked his second daughter.

"It looks like Hui'er is wearing three or four layers of clothing. Was that your eldest brother's instruction?"

During this period, Huiheng had rarely seen her father take the initiative to speak. Though she was still grieving her mother's death, receiving such concern from her father filled her eyes with the excitement only a child who felt loved could have. 

She replied softly.

"Big Brother takes very good care of me. He won't let me wear too little and catch a chill. But I'm wearing so many layers that I can barely bend my arms anymore."

"Me too!" 

Ciheng raised her little arms to demonstrate. Seeing her father speak to them first made her even happier. 

"I didn't want to wear so many, but Big Brother kept nagging me over and over until my ears hurt!"

Seeing that both of his daughters had been so well cared for while he, as their father, had done nothing but drown in grief during this time, Zhuo Yan felt he had truly failed them. 

His gaze toward Zhuo Siheng became filled with guilt, affection, heartache, and admiration all at once. 

Finally, through a throat choked with emotion, he said the words he had wanted to say for some time.

"You've worked hard. Your father has failed you."

Zhuo Siheng felt his eyes grow warm. As long as Zhuo Yan was willing to pull himself together, he felt that every hardship had been worthwhile. 

During these days, he had mourned Song Liangyu's untimely death, but wasn't he also deeply worried about his own father being consumed by grief? 

Hearing those words now, he knew his father had finally decided to keep living properly together with them. 

So he forced a smile and said, "Father, why say something so distant? We're family. Since we're family, we're supposed to rely on one another and get through difficult times together."

Zhuo Yan nodded, holding back tears born from both sorrow and joy. A gentle, loving smile finally appeared on his prematurely aged face. One by one, he stroked his children's slightly chilled cheeks, brushing away the melting snowflakes from their temples.

Even in April, Shuozhou was still blanketed by falling snow. Though heaven and earth remained white, faint traces of green already hid within the deep forests beside the road and among the grass. Nature had suffered this unexpected spring cold, yet it still struggled with all its might, sparing no effort to reveal signs of vibrant life. 

Likewise, at this very season, the ox cart carrying the Zhuo family rumbled steadily toward Xingshan Village.

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