Time Is Slow - Chapter 17
The scene from that day was still vivid in her mind. She could still remember the cold wind atop the city walls, the rough, forceful hand gripping her from behind, and the savage grins of the Tartars.
Yet, as she sat inside the carriage heading north, listening to people talk about that man once more, she found that she could not muster any hatred toward him.
It felt like just yesterday that the guards had escorted her north. Along the way, they encountered a few scattered Tartar soldiers fleeing in defeat, only three or five of them, their faces still carrying the desperation of escape. And yet, when they saw a traveling woman, they pounced like starving wolves, their eyes gleaming with a terrifying green light.
The soldiers swiftly eliminated the Tartars and rescued two women they had victimized. One of them died shortly after, while the other was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life.
She had been furious. It was then that she truly realized, the flourishing prosperity of the capital was but an illusion. Further north, or even in the coastal regions of the south, what she saw was the harsh reality of the common people’s lives.
The so-called “heavenly empire” was nothing more than a fragile veil, barely covering the countless wounds of Great Liang.
And so, she listened as the soldiers told her stories of General Shao.
They said that when General Shao first came to the northern lands, he was only fourteen. At that time, Old General Shao was gravely ill, and one military defeat after another kept being reported to the capital, each one placed before the emperor’s desk. The Emperor was furious, and the Marquis Jing’an’s residence was in grave danger.
It was then that Shao Mingyuan, the fourteen-year-old second son of Marquis Jing’an, stepped forward and volunteered to go north and take up his father’s command.
His first battle was against the Northern Qi army, who were in the middle of massacring a village.
That battle became his first major victory, and countless people later sang his praises, marveling at his talent at such a young age. But only the few survivors from that battle remembered how he had led just a few dozen men against over a hundred Northern Qi soldiers.
The soldiers of Great Liang had always been at a disadvantage against the cavalry-based Northern Qi forces. Over the years, no matter which renowned general was stationed in the north, they had always been on the defensive. By the end of that battle, General Shao was covered in blood, barely distinguishable from the slain. His trusted aides urged him to flee, but he only said one thing:
“I will not leave the image of my retreating back for the Tartars to see, nor will I let them believe that the men of Great Liang are spineless cowards who can be trampled upon at will.”
Later, “As long as the wolves live, as long as the Tartars remain, I will never return home.”
This became his lifelong creed. He only returned to marry because Old General Shao had begged the emperor for an imperial decree to summon him back.
Qiao Zhao still remembered how that vice general had cautiously tried to comfort her:
“Madam, please don’t be angry at the general. It was indeed unfair to you that he had to leave for battle on the very day of your wedding. But you don’t know… If he had been even a step late, who knows how many innocent people would have been slaughtered? How many women would have suffered the same fate as the two we just rescued? Our general… his heart is actually softer than anyone else’s.”
Throughout the journey, Qiao Zhao heard even more about him.
He had once lain in the snow for an entire day and night to rescue children the Tartars had abducted and kept as reserve food.
He had once swum under the frozen Songjiang River to assassinate a Tartar leader who used the severed heads of Great Liang citizens as wine vessels.
He had once spent all the military funds to buy clothing for women who had been violated by the Tartars, just to give them a single warm garment.
The vice general had choked back tears as he said, “The world only remembers the general’s endless glory, but we remember the countless wounds he bears. The general once said that he has given his all for his country and people, he has only ever failed one person. Once the north is secure…”
He did not finish his sentence, but Qiao Zhao understood.
How could she possibly hate such a man, one who had shed his last drop of blood and tears for the people of the north?
She was just… a little annoyed.
After hearing all these stories, why did his arrow have to be so fast?
The young woman rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window. The warm sunlight made her face appear almost translucent, highlighting her fair and delicate features. Yet, despite her fragility, there was a purity in her demeanor, a tranquility that calmed the hearts of those who looked upon her.
Divine Doctor Li stared at her for a long time, and the feeling of familiarity only grew stronger.
After a while, he finally spoke. “Lí girl, what are you thinking about?”
Qiao Zhao snapped out of her thoughts and answered honestly, “Just daydreaming.”
Divine Doctor Li’s mouth twitched.
There weren’t many people who could say “just daydreaming” so righteously.
And she was becoming more and more… alike.
Lí girl and Qiao girl were similar in so many ways. More importantly, when he first met Lí girl, he had noticed symptoms of departed soul syndrome.
And Qiao girl, she hadn’t been safely staying in the north as he had assumed. She had long since perished.
Sweat formed in Divine Doctor Li’s palms, and his heartbeat quickened.
Could it be possible…?
He knew that this idea was outrageous, something no one would dare to think about under normal circumstances.
But he was different. For years, this had been the very subject of his research.
Clearing his throat, he tentatively asked, “Lí girl, what kind of family do you have?”
Qiao Zhao was slightly surprised. Divine Doctor Li was not the type to take an interest in family matters.
She searched her mind for the information left by Li Zhao and replied, “My grandfather passed away long ago. At home, I have my grandmother, parents, and siblings.”
Divine Doctor Li rubbed his nose.
That answer was as good as saying nothing. Who didn’t have those family members? It’s not like she sprang out of a rock.
Looking at the calm expression of the young girl, Divine Doctor Li grew even more uncertain. Unwilling to give up, he probed further, “Lí girl, have you ever heard of General Shao before?”
Qiao Zhao was momentarily stunned. Thinking from the perspective of the girl Lí Zhao, she replied, “I have long heard of his great name.”
From the moment Shao Mingyuan set out on his first campaign, he had become the brightest star in Great Liang’s sky, shining for seven or eight years. Who hadn’t heard of him?
Divine Doctor Li sighed inwardly.
Perhaps he was overthinking it.
Or maybe… he simply wished too much for that intelligent and open-hearted child to still be alive.
Letting go of his probing thoughts, Divine Doctor Li grabbed a green, unripe fruit from the plate and took a bite.
“Pah! Pah! Pah! So sour it could break my teeth!”
The half-eaten fruit was promptly thrown out of the window in a clean arc, followed immediately by a miserable scream.
“Stop the carriage! Stop the carriage! Who’s the bastard throwing fruit out the window?”
Qiao Zhao let down the carriage curtain and took a quick peek outside. She saw a burly man clutching his forehead, sprinting after the carriage at full speed, drawing curious stares from passersby. Then, one of the guards leaped down from the carriage, approached the man, and explained something. The burly man soon looked satisfied and walked away.
When the guard returned, his companion whispered, “How much silver did you have to pay this time?”
The guard’s face was blank. “Don’t ask. Another two taels gone.”
The others sighed heavily, thinking that if this continued, they might have to pawn their swords just to keep up.
Their leader’s expression was grave. “Speed up. We must reach the capital by tomorrow!”
—
The next day, the spring sunshine was warm and pleasant.
A plain-looking carriage turned a corner and entered the widest official road outside the capital. But it didn’t take long before the carriage could no longer move forward.
Seeing the sea of people ahead, a guard turned to Divine Doctor Li and asked, “Sir, General Shao’s return to the capital has drawn a massive crowd. The road is completely blocked. Should we turn back for now?”