Chapter Three: The Aristocratic Zheng Clan (Part Two)

Zheng Dashi was, at the time, a General of Cavalry in the Sui Dynasty. Yet, this title was not quite the same as that of the General of Cavalry during the Eastern Han. In the Sui, the General of Cavalry was merely a chief officer in charge of a basic military bureau under the fubing system, ranked at the regular fourth grade. Zheng Dashi’s only son, Zheng Renji, held an even lesser post in the court as an Interpreter Attendant.

From this, it was clear that the Zheng clan of Xingyang had indeed declined since entering the Sui. Although the family still had the branch of Zheng Yi to support its reputation, Zheng Yi had already passed away. His descendants, clinging to the lingering prestige, could no longer compare to the grandeur of former days.

Nevertheless, the reputation of the Zheng family still carried weight at Sishui Pass, not far from Xingyang. Most notably, when the gate commander at Sishui Pass learned of Zheng Shian’s request, he didn’t hesitate and immediately sent men to investigate.

Li Jianguo himself couldn’t pinpoint the location of Yan Family Village. However, it was clearly some distance from Sishui Pass. Such a search was unlikely to yield any results. Thus, two days later, Zheng Shian received the relevant documents from the gate commander and departed with Zheng Dashi.

During the Kaihuang era, the Emperor Wen of Sui enforced strict household registration, especially concerning the hidden populations among the aristocratic clans. The Prime Minister, Gao Ying, had repeatedly ordered thorough censuses to ensure rigorous management. Of course, it was not difficult for the great families to conceal people if they chose. Yet, Zheng Shian, who had served the Zheng family for five generations, held a position and status far above that of a common servant. Thus, when he sought to adopt Li Jianguo, he naturally arranged for the proper registration. From that moment, Li Jianguo’s name on the official papers became Zheng Yanqing. Once back in Xingyang, further procedures would confer upon him a legitimate identity.

Zheng Yanqing.

Cradled in Zheng Shian’s arms, Li Jianguo silently mouthed the name again and again. He knew that from this moment on, he had truly become part of this age. Henceforth, he would be known as Zheng Yanqing.

The journey from Sishui Pass to Xingyang did not take long. As Zheng Shian was required to attend Zheng Dashi, he left Zheng Yanqing in the care of Madam Xu and her children in the carriage.

Strictly speaking, Madam Xu and her children had no right to ride in the carriage. Their presence there was solely due to the other infant inside: Zheng Hongyi, the son of Zheng Renji. Lying on a tiger-skin mat, Zheng Yanqing turned to gaze at the sleeping Zheng Hongyi, his mind far from rest as he considered what the future might hold.

If his calculations were correct, it was now the late Kaihuang era. After Kaihuang would come the four years of Renshou, followed by the reign of a dim-witted sovereign, Emperor Yang Guang of Sui. By the time Emperor Yang fell, Zheng Yanqing would be in his twenties, and he would be welcoming the dawn of a prosperous age.

How should he proceed?

Zheng Yanqing knew he needed a plan.

Unbeknownst to him, even as he pondered the road ahead, a pair of curious eyes was watching him intently.

Duoduo had already fallen asleep, curled up beside Madam Xu.

Meanwhile, Madam Xu herself gazed thoughtfully at Zheng Yanqing, her heart filled with curiosity…

He was a peculiar baby. In these past few days, he had rarely cried or fussed, always startlingly quiet. Normally, an infant’s needs are unpredictable, but this little one seemed almost sensible, never giving Madam Xu any trouble—certainly not like young master Zheng Hongyi, who needed his swaddling changed several times a day. Most often, the little boy’s dark eyes would be wide open, sometimes filled with curiosity, sometimes as though lost in thought.

In thought?

A smile touched the corner of Madam Xu’s lips. She was mocking herself—a baby, lost in thought while still in swaddling clothes?

Nevertheless, he was certainly an interesting little fellow, wasn’t he?

The Zheng family had deep roots in Xingyang. Each of the seven branches had their own residences, but only the direct line of the family head was entitled to live in the ancestral house. Though Zheng Dashi had earned merit and titles, he too could not reside in the ancestral home. His residence was called Anyuan Hall, one of the Zheng family’s most important estates in Xingyang.

The name of the hall was itself a mark of a great clan. Unlike most families, the Zhengs of Xingyang had two such halls: Zhuojing Hall, named to honor the classical scholar Zheng Xuan of the late Eastern Han, was reserved for the patriarchal line; the other, Anyuan Hall, was where Zheng Dashi’s branch lived, named after Marquis Anyuan, bestowed upon Zheng Ji for pacifying the Western Regions during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han.

These two halls, in a sense, symbolized the family’s aspirations in both civil and military affairs.

Stepping down from the carriage outside Anyuan Hall, Zheng Dashi said to Zheng Shian, “Shian, settle the child in first… Later, I’ll have someone find a wet nurse to help care for him. Once you’re finished, come and see me.”

A simple statement, yet it revealed Zheng Shian’s exceptional standing in Anyuan Hall.

At that moment, Madam Xu approached, carrying both Zheng Hongyi and Zheng Yanqing.

Zheng Dashi glanced at her, then, after a moment’s thought, said in a solemn tone, “Let Madam Xu look after them then.”

Though nearly thirty, Madam Xu still carried a graceful allure. Zheng Dashi had purchased her and her children in Luoyang after Zheng Hongyi’s mother passed away, as the child needed a wet nurse. He had, however, noticed that Zheng Renji seemed to have taken quite an interest in Madam Xu.

Zheng Dashi could not help but be cautious. Zheng Renji was in his prime and, with his wife deceased, it was time to consider a suitable match for him from a family of equal standing. Zheng Dashi had already begun to make inquiries, and he certainly didn’t want any untimely complications.

Marriages among the noble clans were highly sensitive to reputation. Should rumors arise about a liaison with a servant so soon after his wife’s death, Renji’s virtue would be called into question, and it could jeopardize any future alliances.

Yet, Zheng Yanqing felt an uneasy jolt in his heart upon hearing this. The reason was simple—a small girl, Duoduo, possessed a green-jeweled dagger and a mysterious identity, making any further entanglement dangerous. Instinctively, he tried to refuse, stretching out his little hand from the swaddling and babbling in protest.

Zheng Shian only smiled, “It seems the child is quite taken with Madam Xu. Let it be as the master says.”

Having accompanied Zheng Dashi since childhood, Zheng Shian naturally understood his master’s intentions best.

But Zheng Yanqing was uneasy; the origins of Madam Xu and her daughter were too obscure, and keeping them close felt perilous. Still, in this matter, he had no say.

As he wrestled with his thoughts, a white horse galloped towards them from the distance. A scholar sat upright in the saddle, leaped down before Anyuan Hall, and strode quickly to Zheng Dashi.

“Shanguo, what brings you here?” Zheng Dashi asked in surprise. “I was just about to wash and head to Zhuojing Hall to pay respects to our ancestors, but you’ve arrived ahead of me.”

The man, though dressed as a scholar in flowing robes and wide sleeves, was of impressive stature, exuding an air of vigor and strength. He saluted Zheng Dashi before saying, “Uncle, Duke Guichang heard of your return and asked me to bring you to him at once. There are urgent matters to discuss.”

Duke Guichang was the eldest son of Zheng Yi, known as Zheng Shanyuan.

Zheng Dashi started, instantly sensing something important had happened. “Shanguo, if the patriarch has summoned me so urgently, what has occurred?”

Though Zheng Shanguo kept his voice low, Zheng Yanqing still caught the gist of his words.

He heard the man say softly, “Uncle, news from Chang’an—ten days ago, the Imperial Consort has passed away!”

At once, Zheng Dashi’s face turned ashen…

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