Chapter 38: Parting Instructions

On the third day of the sixth lunar month, the morning mist had yet to disperse, leaving fine, delicate dew clinging to the wooden fences of the mining site. Wei Xiao stood at the entrance of the duty room, dressed in a sharp, short outfit with his long-worn hunting knife tucked at his waist. The rising sun cast a long shadow behind him.

When Shen Jifeng pushed the door open, she caught him staring up at the mountains—the silhouette of Mount Tianmeng took on a bluish-gray hue in the morning light, resembling an unfinished ink wash painting.

Shen Jifeng felt a jolt in her heart. Why had he changed back into this attire? Had he not had enough of being a hunter?

Hearing the movement, Wei Xiao turned around. His face remained impassive as he cupped his hands in a salute. "Your Highness, I have come to tender my resignation."

Shen Jifeng’s hand, gripping the door latch, tightened abruptly. She shoved the door open fully. First it was Jiang Sanlang the day before, and now Ma Yao—why was everyone leaving?

"Everything is fine, so why resign?"

Wei Xiao had already prepared his excuse. "Something has happened at home, and I must return immediately."

Shen Jifeng breathed a sigh of relief and shot him a sidelong glance. "If there is trouble at home, just go and handle it. I will grant you leave. Resign? Do you think being a guard for Princess Zhaoyang is as common as cabbage?"

Wei Xiao sensed a hint of reluctance in her tone, and his heartstrings stirred. "Your Highness, I do not wish to leave either, but the matters at home cannot be resolved quickly, and I cannot determine a date for my return."

The morning mist drifted over the wooden fence, dampening the stray locks of hair at her temples. She gazed at his chiseled profile, still flecked with lingering dew. Like the man himself, he appeared cold and rigid, yet he harbored a profound, meticulous thoughtfulness.

A sense of melancholy washed over Shen Jifeng. She could smile and offer blessings to Jiang Sanlang as he left, but facing Wei Xiao, she felt an indescribable restlessness. She asked herself, even though Jiang Sanlang was far more important to the mine than Wei Xiao, why did this departure sting more?

"Your Highness?" Wei Xiao called out to the distracted Shen Jifeng.

She pulled herself together. "Do you need my help with the family matter?"

"Thank you, Your Highness, but it is merely a trivial domestic affair. There is no need to trouble you."

Seeing that his mind was made up, Shen Jifeng did not press further. "Go to Uncle Li and collect your wages. Once your affairs are settled, you are welcome to return whenever you wish."

She turned and headed back into the duty room.

Watching her slender, retreating figure, a wave of reluctance surged in Wei Xiao’s heart. He said softly, "Your Highness, mountains and rivers may be vast, but we shall meet again."

Shen Jifeng waved her hand without looking back.

After informing Shen Jifeng of his departure, Wei Xiao did not leave immediately. The mine’s security had always had significant loopholes, and since the day he arrived, he had intended to improve them. Unfortunately, he had been constantly occupied with Shen Jifeng’s affairs and had never put his plans into action.

Now, it was time to do something for the safety of the mine.

Wei Xiao turned toward the guardhouse on the west side. Dong Yang was dozing off while hugging his long sword; he jolted awake at the sound of footsteps. Seeing it was Wei Xiao, he closed his eyes again. "So early? Where is Her Highness going today? Am I following, or are you?"

"Get up first. I have something to tell you."

Dong Yang rubbed his face vigorously and stood straight.

Wei Xiao scanned the crooked guard schedule on the wall and pointed his fingertip at the "Yin Hour" slot. "Changing shifts at this time is most prone to errors. You must stagger it by half an hour, let the previous shift watch for an extra quarter-hour, and ensure all patrol tokens are accounted for in person during the handover."

Dong Yang scratched his head. "Tokens? What tokens? Ma Yao, what kind of act are you putting on today?"

"The tokens can be secret codes or physical objects. You must ensure no outsiders infiltrate the patrol."

Wei Xiao pulled a piece of paper from his tunic, on which he had drawn a simple topographical map of the mine in charcoal. He pointed to the low slope at the southeast corner. "The fence there is the lowest. It collapsed during the heavy rain last month; although it was repaired, the foundation remains loose. You must dispatch two men to guard it every Mao hour. Have them carry hemp ropes and machetes. If any stranger approaches, do not raise the alarm yet—cut the vines under the slope so the patrol will know something is wrong when they hear the sound."

He paused and pointed toward the warehouse in the north. "There is a lot of firewood stacked there, and it is too close to the miners' dormitory. Add a man to patrol the perimeter at night to prevent arson. Also, Uncle Ma’s charcoal kiln will be lit soon. The smoke will be dense, which might attract bandits. Tell Steward Li to make a few wooden signs and post them at the entrance to the mountain, claiming that the mine has a hundred guards patrolling day and night. That should scare off those petty thieves."

Dong Yang nodded repeatedly, his charcoal pencil scratching furiously on the paper. Regardless of why Wei Xiao was suddenly saying so much, it all made sense, so he recorded every word.

Wei Xiao took the charcoal pencil and circled three points on the map. "These are the best spots for lookouts. Build wooden platforms on each, taller than the treetops. Take turns sending men up to watch—smoke by day, fire by night. If there is anything unusual, beat the gong. Remember, distinguish the beat—three short strikes for trouble in the east, two long strikes for the west. Do not mess up the protocol."

His finger pressed heavily on the "Duty Room" location on the map. "At night, two men must stand back-to-back guarding the duty room where Her Highness sleeps. Blades must be unsheathed, arrows must be nocked. Do not doze off like you are doing now."

Dong Yang blushed, folded the paper filled with notes, and tucked it into his tunic. He looked at Wei Xiao with pure admiration. "Brother, I declare you my own brother from now on. Were you really just a hunter before?"

Wei Xiao patted his shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the mine—the newly dug charcoal kiln emitted wisps of smoke, Uncle Ma was directing craftsmen to cover the kiln roof, and in the distance, miners carried pickaxes toward the tunnel. The morning light painted everything in warm gold. He suddenly felt that the kiln walls he had rammed, the mine tunnels he had entered, and even the roasted whole lamb he had shared, had all become part of this scene.

"Go on," he said, casting one last look toward Shen Jifeng’s duty room. "Guard this place well."

Only then did Dong Yang realize what was happening. "Brother, what is this? Are you leaving?"

"Yes." Wei Xiao gave the same excuse. "There is something at home that I must go back to handle."

"Hey," Dong Yang said dismissively, "I thought it was something major. Just come back when you're done. Being a guard for Her Highness is not like cabbage; people would kill for the chance."

Wei Xiao chuckled. Who you serve reflects who you are; the people in their Prince Qi’s estate spoke exactly like the Princess.

Li Leqi arrived with five taels of silver. "Guard Ma, this is your monthly wage."

"So much?" Wei Xiao asked in surprise. "Miners make fifty wen a day, and I’ve only been here for eighteen days, which is less than a thousand wen. Steward Li, you’ve miscalculated."

Li Leqi placed the silver into Wei Xiao’s hand. "Guard Ma, Her Highness gave specific instructions. You are not a miner; you are a guard. The Prince’s estate guards receive five taels a month. Even though you haven't worked a full month, you saved lives in the pit and introduced Uncle Ma. Her Highness said you deserve the full amount for your merit and hard work."

Wei Xiao took the silver, tossed it into the air, and caught it. "Did Her Highness say anything about making up the remaining twelve days when I return?"

Li Leqi couldn't help but re-examine the guard who had arrived before him. How did he know the Princess so well? He had always felt he wasn't an ordinary hunter. Looking closely today, even the coarse hemp clothing couldn't hide his sharp, piercing aura, like a pine tree standing defiant in the cold wind.

This man was definitely no ordinary person.