That evening, after the three men were invited to the Huai'an Clan, the clan prepared a grand banquet to express their gratitude. The Huai'an Clan Chief personally ordered wine and delicacies to be served in honor of their distinguished guests. Cups were raised repeatedly as the gathering turned lively with conversation. They discussed martial arts and the affairs of the jianghu; for heroes all shared the same breadth of spirit, and soon they were talking freely of ancient legends, present-day matters, and the changing tides of the world.
When Li Jian spoke of the upcoming Canal Brotherhood Assembly, the Huai'an Clan Chief learned that the three intended to attend the gathering as well. Delighted, he warmly invited them to travel together to the event.
After the feast ended, the clan chief instructed his servants to escort the guests to their rooms for rest. Naturally, Situ Kong shared a room with Li Jian, while Tan Wei was given a separate chamber.
Moonlit Night
Tang Dynasty — Liu Fangping
Deep into the night, moonlight falls on half the homes;The Northern Dipper slants low, the Southern Dipper tilts aside.Tonight one suddenly feels the warmth of spring;The chirping insects newly pierce the green gauze window.
The courtyard was tranquil and serene. Amidst this complicated and chaotic world, a bright moon hung silently in the heavens above.
It was now summer, and the weather was oppressively warm. After bathing and changing into fresh clothes, Li Jian walked toward a pavilion, a perfect place to escape the heat of the summer night. Admiring the flowers and plants within the garden, the scene seemed to echo the verse:
Shadows drift across the endless sky as flowers greet the moon;In the deep courtyard, the returning man finds the moon accompanying the blossoms.
A gentle breeze passed through the garden paths, cool and refreshing. As Li Jian strolled quietly along the stone walkway, he suddenly noticed a young maiden standing within the pavilion.
Steadying himself, he looked carefully at her face. She possessed delicate oval features and wore a light jade-green silk robe. Graceful and charming, she was none other than Gao Manqing.
Li Jian's eyes brightened immediately.
At that moment, Gao Manqing's star-like eyes shimmered with amusement. A faint smile curved upon her lips as she turned back toward him and said softly,
"Hall Master Li, are you here to question the moon among the flowers?"
Li Jian had not expected to encounter her there. Smiling slightly, he replied,
"Where faint fragrance lingers beneath the moon, there stands a beauty."
The words escaped naturally from his lips.
Gao Manqing smiled radiantly, her face blooming like a flower.
"Hall Master Li is truly gifted with literary talent," she praised. "You speak poetry with ease. I can only sigh in admiration."
Hearing this, Li Jian's handsome face flushed faintly red.
"You praise me too highly, Miss Gao," he said somewhat bashfully. "To be honest, I only possess a little learning. My knowledge is neither broad nor profound."
With quick wit, Gao Manqing replied,
"You are too modest. I heard you call Sister Tan 'Wei-mei.' I thought to myself—if only I could call you 'Jian-ge,' and you could call me 'Qing-mei,' how wonderful that would be. Why remain so formal and distant? Don't you agree?"
Indeed:
Where faint fragrance lingers, beneath flowers and moonlight,Such a lovely beauty—who in the world could truly match her?
Li Jian, open-hearted and cheerful by nature, laughed lightly.
"And why should that be difficult? If you do not mind, then I shall call you Qing-mei."
The moment Gao Manqing heard this, joy blossomed within her heart. Two rosy clouds instantly rose upon her cheeks. Smiling sweetly, she softly called out,
"Jian-ge."
Yet Li Jian suddenly grew serious.
"You and I shall become sworn siblings from this day onward, addressing one another as brother and sister."
Gao Manqing was perceptive enough to understand the meaning behind his words. A trace of disappointment immediately appeared upon her face. Her delicate brows knit slightly as she sighed softly.
"Is Sister Tan your beloved?"
Li Jian was young, handsome, and possessed extraordinary martial arts. Now he had become the Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty, his fame already shaking the martial world. Though the jianghu was filled with skilled fighters, few men of such youth had already attained such renown. It was only natural that many maidens would secretly give their hearts to him.
Li Jian answered calmly,
"Tan Wei is not only the woman I love—she is also my savior, and my future wife."
Gao Manqing nodded faintly.
"Sister Tan truly is a peerless beauty. Only she is worthy of you."
Unwilling to continue discussing the matter, Li Jian changed the subject.
"Qing-mei is elegant and beautiful. Surely many noble young masters pursue you. Did not the sons of two clan leaders come today to ask for your hand in marriage?"
Gao Manqing suddenly sighed softly again.
Looking at her graceful silhouette, Li Jian asked,
"Why do you sigh?"
She replied quietly,
"The two elder brothers both treat me very kindly, but their marriage proposals today only troubled my heart."
Li Jian said,
"Both young masters admire you and seek to please you. Is it difficult for you to choose between them?"
Since childhood, Gao Manqing had deeply admired her father, Gao Tai. The Huai'an Clan Chief was a true hero of the martial world, a man of genuine ability. Indeed, Gao Tai's reputation was immense throughout the jianghu. People spoke of the 'Twin Heroes of Canal Transport':
In the north stood Xu Li, Chief of the Xuzhou Clan;In the south stood Gao Tai, Chief of the Huai'an Clan.
Because of this, Gao Tai naturally held high expectations for any future son-in-law.
Gao Manqing said,
"Though the two brothers are good men, they remain unknown in the jianghu, and their martial arts are nothing exceptional. It is not that my standards are too high. My father earned the Huai'an Clan's dominance through true skill and ability. If one wishes to become the son-in-law of the Huai'an Clan Chief, he cannot be an ordinary man. What does Jian-ge think?"
Li Jian nodded.
"What Qing-mei says is true. Since ancient times, heroes are matched with beauties. I believe the two young masters simply require more experience and tempering within the jianghu. In time, both may accomplish great things. And perhaps, the victor between them will one day win Qing-mei's heart."
After all, a fine steed deserves a golden saddle.
Just then, a teasing voice suddenly rang out nearby.
"Jian'er! Meeting a beauty here beneath the moon, yet you did not invite me?"
Li Jian turned quickly and saw Situ Kong striding toward them. Instantly flustered, he hurriedly explained,
"Senior, please do not let Wei-mei hear such words! If she misunderstands, it would be terrible. After bathing, the room felt far too stuffy, so I came outside to cool off. I merely happened to meet Miss Gao near the pavilion."
Gao Manqing also hurried to clarify,
"Senior Situ, please do not let Sister Tan misunderstand. I merely came to bring cooling drinks for our three honored guests."
Yet Situ Kong only burst into hearty laughter upon hearing their explanations, leaving both Li Jian and Gao Manqing thoroughly embarrassed.
At that very moment, a voice called out from not far behind them:
"Senior Situ! Jian-ge! Are you at the pavilion?"
Tan Wei had also finished bathing and changing into clean clothes. She had left her room and was now walking toward them.
Gao Manqing immediately called back brightly,
"Sister Wei, come quickly! The three of us are all here at the pavilion. Little Sister Manqing has brought cooling drinks for everyone!"