7 – Zhi Lan
After Yao had finishedforging their papers, An Qin saw the two of them off with a bundle of steamed buns.
The city was fully awake now, the streets crowded in the late afternoon. Much to her embarrassment, Zhi Lan had to grab the back of Shao Qing’s belt so she wouldn’t lose him.
Her feet grew sore after they had walked a little over halfway through the city. Luckily, they came across a generous merchant who allowed them to ride on the back of his cart in exchange for some of An Qin’s steamed buns. Zhi Lan and Shao Qing ate the rest. The buns were still warm, stuffed with cabbage and pork, and Zhi Lan savored every bite. But when dusk began to paint the horizon with its hazy purples and pinks, she grew hungry again.
“We’ll have to stop for today,” Shao Qing said.
The merchant dropped them off before a tea house in a busy street, as his path diverged with theirs. Zhi Lan watched the cart disappear regretfully.
“Are you sure we can’t make it to the gate?” Zhi Lan stood on her tiptoes in an attempt to see the city gate, though to no avail. Her view was blocked by tall buildings with upturned eaves, lit by red and yellow lanterns.
“It’s still miles away,” Shao Qing said. “We’ll get there in the morning.”
Zhi Lan sighed, wishing they had a horse drawn carriage like the wealthy folk. A journey between the neighboring cities would take half a day at most. “I hate leaving Master Dan at a time like this. He must be worried.”
With some unease, she recalled that the magistrate had given them three days to complete a duplicate painting. The first day was coming to a close. She didn’t know if a magistrate could hang anyone he pleased—therewerelaws, after all. But he was a powerful man. He was meant to enforce the law. Perhaps he could bend it too.
There was no use thinking such grim thoughts now. The faster Zhi Lan completed this errand, the faster she’d be able to give Master Dan good news.
Shao Qing tilted his head to the tea house, not bothering to appease or comfort her. Not that she expected it.
“Let’s go, then,” Zhi Lan said with a sigh.
The tea house had two levels and was bustling with city folk taking their evening meals. A server scampered up and guided them to a table on the upper level where they had a bird’s-eye view of the ground floor through an intricately carved wooden railing. They were served tea, and Zhi Lan picked out a few dishes after Shao Qing made no move to do so.
Her attention wandered as they waited for their food. On the level below, a small stage graced the center, where an elderly man was telling a dramatized tale to an enraptured audience, gesturing with his white fan.
Zhi Lan perked up when she recognized the story. It was about a snake spirit who had become human to repay her benefactor, a young man studying medicine. The two end up falling in love and marrying, despite the meddling of a self-righteous abbot.
“The Legend of the White Snake!” Zhi Lan said, delighted. It was her favorite story, one that she begged Ma to tell her over and over again when she was little. “It’s so romantic, isn’t it?”
Shao Qing took a sip of his tea. “It’s impossible for a demon to have feelings. They are heartless creatures.”
Zhi Lan arched a brow. “How would you know? People have the capacity to be heartless. There could very well be demons who possess humanity.”
“It’s impossible,” Shao Qing said.
“I disagree.”
He inclined his head and went back to his tea.
“For a stubborn man you’re not very argumentative,” Zhi Lan said.
“Why argue when we’ve each made our stances clear?”
Zhi Lan was determined to get a reaction out of him, if only to pass the time.
