Chapter 3.6: Crow Boy

Chariot was preparing a ledger for Chang'an when Hun Chengde slid the door back. "May this unworthy one impose on your afternoon, Minister Chariot?"

Chariot nodded and put the finishing strokes on a last character. Washing his brush, he gestured Chengde to a chair. "You are adopting Yan Xiangling's custom, I see."

"The better to get closer to her heart."

"I remember a certain Crow Boy."

"That is good; it is evidence that your mind is not yet failing you."

"Yet?"

"My master pretends it is the eventual fate of all mento slip first into infirmity and then into insanity, that the mind will follow the body's autumn."

Chariot stroked his beard and nodded his head, which made the wings on his minister's cap bob crazily. Leopard Sword was stifling a giggle when he pronounced, "All things must submit to change."

"A question haunts my thoughts."

"Well then, by all means exorcise it."

"Who is Crow Boy?"

"She is the youngest of the Yan amazons, of course."

Chengde noted the minister's casual disparaging with pleasure. "I have not had the pleasure to meet her."

"Naturally not."

"How, naturally?"

"She is cloistered as a Buddhist nun at Guangdong. Therefore, it would be most unnatural for you to encounter her here, unless she has learned the kung fu which allows her to be in two places at once!"

"That would be unnatural indeed."

"Though she would have the honour of being the youngest master of Seperated Butterfly martial arts."

"Are you so certain?"

"Falling-from-a-Great-Height only takes disciples after their thirteenth year. I would be most deeply impressed to see Crow Boy practice a technique five years prior to having learned it."

"How, a nun at the age of eight?"

"Exactly."

"You must think that I am a fool."

"I may and I may not, but I have no reason to lie to you."

"Why has Crow Boy entered the clergy at such a tender age?"

Chariot looked away briefly. "The family does not discuss it."

"When I mentioned closeness to Xiangling's heart, you named Crow Boy," Chengde backpedalled.

"You are perspicacious."

"I wonder why this is."

"It is not a complicated reason." It was at this point that a maid arrived, carrying a tray of sweetmeats and little savouries, enough for two. By a system of concealed signals, Chariot had been able to inform her to prepare the afternoon meal with a guest taken into account.

"Oh?"

"Not even slightly."

"I remain baffled."

"Simply put, Crow Boy's methodology was identical to yours. Its results were comparably successful."

"I am not sure," Chengde noted, "whether to interpret that as advice or mockery."

"She sees your desire, but thinks it's for another."

"How can that be? She is the only eligible woman of Niaochao."

"There is Vermillion Sparrow."

"Juanyun's face is darkened with the sun; her hands are scarred like a man's."

"You think she is beautiful."

"But less so."

"It must not be this way, if you desire Ceramic Dove. She must be the only object of your esteem, or she will not accept it."

"She is selfish."

"She is the eldest."

"Does that make it right?"

The minister did not say whether it was or not, but, "It is proper."

Leopard Sword didn't bother closing the door behind him.