Chapter 43 (1/2)

Chapter 43 Rising Wind: Statue

Due to the epidemic, few people could be seen on the streets. The light autumn drizzle and the cooling breeze shrouded Chang'an in a hazy veil. Holding the umbrella, Feng Luodi and Jiang Moyin ambled along the streets of Chang’an in the drizzle, soaking in the beauty of their surroundings. As they pa.s.sed Autumnal Ombre, Jiang Moyin couldn’t help but turn to Feng Luodi.

“Why did you close the shop? I thought you needed the money?”

“It’s just for a short while.” Feng Luodi laughed. “And I don’t need the money that urgently. I just need to have more money at my disposal, that’s all.”

“To buy the ten famous Guqin?” His eyes gleamed.

“How did you know about that?” Now Feng Luodi was surprised. As far as she could remember, she had only told Situ about it before.

“You have been spending your days between the zither shops and the Jiang household recently – how could I not have noticed? I won't let my sickness degrade my mental faculties.” Jiang Moyin was calm, giving a very reasonable explanation.

Feng Luodi nodded. From the way she was spending her free time, it wouldn't be hard for anyone to guess her true intentions. But so what if people knew what I was doing? n.o.body would ever think that I’m not from this world. They will never find out the real reason I'm tracking the Guqin – to go back to my true home.

Seeing the desolate expression on Feng Luodi’s face, Jiang Moyin lightly rapped his knuckles on her head. “Hey now, don't go crying on me! I didn’t bully you!” He joked.

Feng Luodi glared at him, but laughed. “Shall we head to the plaza by North avenue, then? It’s usually packed with people.” Feng Luodi suggested, and Jiang Moyin nodded eagerly.

The group started heading north along the avenue, but seeing the once populated street empty only served to fed everyone's uneasiness. The plaza on the North avenue was famous partly because of a huge statue that was erected in the center of it, a statue that was commissioned by the First Emperor of the Xuan Dynasty. It depicted a warrior on horseback, and symbolised how the Xuan Dynasty had started: on horseback, at war. It was the icon of the kingdom. It became a popular spot for the citizens of Chang’an, where they liked to gather and patronize the stands set up in the plaza. Tourists flocked to the plaza and the statue, and it was a spot often visited by the foreign amba.s.sadors on official business.

“There should be more people in the plaza, like it usually is.”

“Perhaps.”

They arrived at the plaza, and found it deserted, like the rest of the city. The autumn wind blew by them and onto the plaza, sending the leaves on the plaza into a mad dance.

“I guess it’s nice like this too, since we now have the entire place to ourselves.” Jiang Moyin smiled, looking satisfied.

“Mmmmm.” Feng Luodi held the umbrella as the two of them started walking towards the statue. She looked up, taking in the entire monument. “It looks so fierce, so powerful.”

“I heard that the entire statue was built by a hundred craftsmen in ten days, rushed to finish it in time for the ceremonial birth of the kingdom.”

“Wow…that is amazing.” Feng Luodi gaped in wonder at the statue. She looked closely, trying to imagine the process in which the statue was built. Suddenly, she noticed that a puddle of water tinted in red forming at the base of the statue. Shouldn’t rainwater be clear? Why is the puddle tinted in red?

Feng Luodi was perplexed, and turned to Jiang Moyin for his opinion. “Brother, is the puddle at the base of the statue red?” However, she was shocked to see Jiang Moyin much paler than he had looked previously, his lips pressed together tightly in a thin line. His hands had balled into fists, his nails cutting into his palms. Feng Luodi quickly put at arm around to support him.

“Brother, are you alright?” She quickly turned to the attendants a distance away from them. “Quickly now! Send the Grand Tutor back to the household!”

The attendants rushed over with the palanquin, and Feng Luodi’s heart leapt to her throat as she saw blood starting to ooze out from the corners of Jiang Moyin’s mouth.

“Faster! Send him back to the household now, and get the physicians immediately!” The attendants quickly followed her others and rushed back to the household.

Feng Luodi and Fei trailed behind, Fei holding the umbrella for her. Before they left, Feng Luodi turned to look at the statue. Moyin was fine before we left the house, and he was alright along the way as well. Why did he suddenly vomit blood when we reached the plaza? A inkling of a suspicion flashed through her head, but it disappeared before she could make sense of it.

When she reached the Jiang household, the physician’s diagnosis reminded her of her suspicion. “The reason for the Grand Tutor’s remission was that he was poisoned, again. It is the same poison that had been spreading throughout Chang’an the past few days.”

Something clicked in Feng Luodi’s mind, and she turned to Jiang Moyin. “Brother, I believe that the source of the poison is the statue in the North Plaza.”

Jiang Moyin lay quietly on his bed, looking more frail than ever. “That’s great to hear. Why don’t you get Situ or the Administrator to investigate it? But remind them to wear masks when approaching the statue.”

So the pathogen was transmitted through the air! Feng Luodi was now certain of her suspicion. She turned and looked at Jiang Moyin, her eyes full of self-reproach. “I’m sorry, brother. I should have never suggested going to the North Plaza.”

Jiang Moyin smiled gingerly, and tried to bargain. “Why don’t you make up for it, by not restricting my whereabouts the next time I fall sick?”

“No way.” Feng Luodi rolled her eyes, and did not budge. She had the support of the entire Jiang household on this point.

“Alright, alright. Geez.” Jiang Moyin’s smile never left his face; he didn’t want Feng Luodi to feel responsible for what had happened to him. “Get someone to examine the statue as soon as possible, Luodi. Let me know of the results once you've finished investigating.”