The Bond of One Incense Stick
Second year of Xingping.
One year earlier than in the original history—the era of the puppet Emperor.
In Luoyang, the residence of the eunuch Cao Teng had been converted into a temporary imperial palace, where civil and military officials paid homage to the Emperor.
The Emperor, who had barely caught his breath in Luoyang, began by bestowing official posts upon those who had aided him.
"We bestow upon General of the Household Army Dong Cheng, who planned and executed Our escape from Chang'an to this place, the title of Marquis of Hejian and appoint him General of the Guards."
"This is an honor beyond measure, Your Majesty!"
The General of the Guards was the commander of the imperial bodyguard—the equivalent of a chief of security.
"Furthermore, We appoint Cao Song, the Grand Tutor who supported Us in Luoyang, and his son, Governor of Yan Province Cao Cao, as Grand General."
"This is an honor beyond measure, Your Majesty."
Thus Cao Cao became Grand General. Though the position would not last long, possessing the title of Grand General at this moment significantly bolstered his influence and the power of his subordinates.
"Next, Cao Xiu, Military Affairs Attendant of Yan Province."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After General of the Guards Dong Cheng and Grand General Cao Cao came the third name—an acknowledgment of the third-highest contributor.
"We have reached this position safely thanks to the great assistance of Yan Province's attendant Cao Xiu. Therefore, We appoint Cao Xiu as Commandant of Cavalry."
"This grace is beyond measure, Your Majesty!"
Many others received ranks and titles as well. Xun Yu was granted the post of Registrar for proposing the Emperor's enthronement to Cao Song and Cao Cao. Dian Wei, who had guarded the Emperor alongside me and carried Him down the cliff with his immense strength, was made Commandant. Xiahou Dun, who had helped raise troops in Yan Province, was officially appointed Administrator of Chenliu by imperial decree rather than through local recommendation. Xu Huang, who had broken with the White Wave Bandits Yang Feng and Han Xian and surrendered to the imperial army, received the title of Marquis of Duting along with the rank of Commandant of Cavalry.
After the many rewards were distributed, the next matter was the imperial edict to be sent to the various warlords.
"Your Majesty, your servant Grand General Cao Cao submits a memorial."
As Cao Cao had prepared, with the Emperor now in Luoyang, the warlords would be required to contribute to the reconstruction of the capital—particularly Yuan Shao, who would receive the post of Grand Assistant and be ordered to pay a special tax for the rebuilding efforts.
And as promised, I would be the one to deliver this message.
After the audience ended, I paid my respects to the Cao family at their temporary lodgings.
"So, you're heading to Hebei this time? Aman really works you hard, doesn't he? Hohoho—"
Cao Song, now Grand Tutor, stroked his white beard in his official robes and offered encouragement. Cao Cao urged me to do well, and Xiahou Dun presented me with a new horse.
"Ziyeol, what do you think of this one?"
"May I truly accept such a fine steed? Last time I went to Chang'an, I had to abandon a valuable horse on the battlefield."
"Hahaha, you fool! That's exactly why I'm giving you a new one! For a long journey, you need a proper mount."
Xiahou Dun had personally selected an excellent horse for my journey to Hebei.
"Take good care of it. It's a Xiliang mountain horse—it'll run like the wind."
"Thank you, Uncle Dun."
After Xiahou Dun, another figure stepped forward.
"Ziyeol."
"Lady Ding."
"Come here for a moment."
Lady Ding had a gift for me—a box containing new clothes and shoes.
"You'll need changes of clothing for such a long journey. And beside them are items for grooming."
Soap was an extremely rare luxury reserved for the highest nobility in this era; ordinary people washed with iris water or bean powder.
"Thank you, Lady Ding."
"You should be enjoying your new marriage, yet duty calls you away."
"It seems so."
"Tsk tsk. You married at a proper age, but when will that boy Zisu finally take a wife?"
Lady Ding was perpetually troubled by her eldest son Cao Ang's marriage prospects.
"Ziyeol—no, Xiu. It's an awkward request, but could you perhaps act as a matchmaker? I'm asking you sincerely."
"Lady Ding…"
After receiving her earnest plea, I stepped outside and encountered Cao Ang arriving just then.
"Ziyeol, you're going to Hebei?"
"Yeah, that's how it turned out."
I greeted the rest of Cao Cao's people before departing. As we walked together, Cao Ang handed me a gift.
"I received this from Lord Xun a few days ago. I want you to have it."
"Which Lord Xun…"
Opening the leather pouch revealed a stick of subtly fragrant incense.
"Lord Xun Wenruo, then."
It belonged to Xun Yu, who always enjoyed burning incense and carried a faint fragrance wherever he went. I didn't know what use I would have for it, but since it was a gift, I accepted it graciously.
"How's the work as Assistant to the Grand Tutor treating you lately?"
"I have to be careful with my conduct while serving my grandfather. By the way, Ziyeol…"
"Hm?"
"That… what does it feel like to meet a woman and live as husband and wife?"
"Have you finally found someone you like while in Luoyang?"
"N-no, that's not it."
Cao Ang resembled Cao Cao in artistic sensibility and many other traits, but never in matters of women. The fact that he was bringing up women with me for the first time felt both telling and not quite.
"Your marriage to Lady Cai… it's happy, right?"
"Of course. When we return to Yan Province, we'll hold a proper wedding ceremony and a grand feast."
"I-I see."
"Don't tell me you're interested in my wife's younger sister—in other words, your future sister-in-law?"
"W-what are you saying? Ahem, no, nothing like that."
"Really? I thought Lady Zheng might have feelings for you. I should probably tell her it's impossible—!?"
At that moment, Cao Ang suddenly grabbed my sleeve. He shook his head with a pitiful expression I had never seen on him before.
Ah, this emotionally honest fellow. I'll see you when I return from Hebei.
After receiving even Cao Ang's gift, I finally received my wife Cai Yan's farewell and completed preparations for my departure as envoy the next morning.
"Through Guandu, across the Yellow River! We have arrived in Hebei!"
Riding Xiahou Dun's fine horse, I arrived in Hebei with a refreshed heart. Yuan Shao's domain was Ji Province, the most fertile land in Hebei.
Just as Jing Province under Liu Biao, Xu Province under Tao Qian, Yan Province under Cao Cao, Yang Province under the Sun family, and Yi Province under Liu Zhang were regions every reader of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms knew by heart, so too was Ji Province.
And Ye County, the capital of Ji Province—a place that would one day become "extremely important" to the Cao clan.
"I'll receive the energy of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace tomorrow. For now, I should find a place to stay tonight."
Before reaching Ye, night fell in a small county in Ji Province. Since I would need to enter the government office in Ye early the next morning to meet Yuan Shao, I decided to rest here for the night.
When I tried to find an inn, however, there were no vacancies anywhere in the area. If necessary, I could visit the county magistrate and announce myself as an imperial envoy bearing the Emperor's edict, which would surely bring him running barefoot, but I had no desire to do so.
Since I already knew how events would unfold and the current quest was following the same historical path, I figured I might as well explore more of Ji Province.
Just then, I heard the sound of mourning from somewhere.
"Aigoo, aigoo~"
"Hm?"
I turned my horse toward the sound of weeping. There I saw people emerging from a house.
"How tragic. How can a family suffer such successive funerals every ten years?"
"Who can say otherwise? After the magistrate passed, the eldest son followed, and now even the second son, who had been recommended as a Filial and Incorrupt official, has gone the same way."
"There must be a curse on that house. A curse."
"Hmm."
Whatever the household, their fate was truly unfortunate. From what I heard, the magistrate had been a government official, and after his death, both sons had died in succession, leading to this mourning.
Upon hearing this, I dismounted without thinking and approached the house of mourning. As expected of a funeral home, the gate stood wide open. Those dressed in mourning clothes approached me, still mounted.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a traveler seeking a place to stay for the night. The sound of mourning was so sorrowful that I came inside."
"What? What did you say?"
As the mourners stared at me in bewilderment, an elderly woman in mourning attire quietly emerged from within.
"What's all this commotion?"
"May the deceased rest in peace."
"You've come to pay respects, have you? Then we must invite you inside."
"Y-yes, my lady."
Following the elderly woman's guidance, I entered the funeral of someone whose name and face I did not know. Approaching the spirit tablet, I took something from my robe.
By chance, I had the incense stick Xun Yu had given me through Cao Ang. When I lit it and offered it, a subtle fragrance filled the mourning hall.
After bowing, I also greeted the chief mourner.
"I don't know where you're from or who you are, but thank you for praying for my child's soul."
I listened to the elderly chief mourner's lament about suddenly losing both sons.
"My fate is wretched. I sent my eldest son ahead, and now my second son has followed him."
"That is… truly unfortunate."
"You said you were looking for a place to stay. If it's acceptable, I'll have a meal prepared and show you to the guest quarters."
"Thank you."
So I ended up spending the night at a funeral. In the courtyard below the mourning hall, I was served a simple meal. I was craving Korean spicy beef stew that night, but such things didn't exist in this world.
"Please eat."
A girl dressed in mourning clothes set a table before me. Upon closer inspection, she was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman.
She appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. As a member of the deceased's family, she wore mourning clothes and had no makeup, yet her small face bore faint double eyelids, and beneath her prominent eyelashes was a teardrop mole.
Good heavens, what am I thinking at a funeral!
She placed the table down, offered a quiet bow, and withdrew. As I ate, I overheard the conversation of women in mourning clothes.
"Mother, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Since my brother passed away, his widow has been so pitiful. Even though he is gone, couldn't his wife continue to live with us as before?"
"You mean your elder brother's wife?"
"I will treat her like my own sister. I am only fourteen now, so there is still much I can learn from an elder like her."
"It's a commendable thought, but… after we hold the second son's funeral…"
The young sister-in-law had a kind heart, wanting to keep her widowed sister-in-law in the family. The circumstances were indeed pitiable.
Wasn't it just like me to be unable to ignore something like this? I rummaged through my robe and pulled out several pieces of jewelry.
A sparkling silver ring—this was the "master key that opens any city gate" Zheng Yu had given me long ago. A jade hairpin—well, it was a treasure from Lady Ding, but what use did I have for a hairpin? I'd already given Cai Yan twenty sparkling hairpins, and she'd told me to stop. Next came gold dust—too troublesome in small pieces. Pearls—how many were there again? Ah, enough!
I simply gathered everything from my pouch and approached the mourning women.
"Take this."
"W-what is this?"
"A condolence gift."
"This is too much. How could we accept such treasures…"
I handed everything directly to the elderly woman instead of the startled girl.
Then I asked for a room to stay the night.
"Please wait a moment."
It wasn't the elderly woman but her daughter, the girl, who came running toward me and bowed deeply.
"I must express my gratitude for the tremendous kindness you've shown us. I would like to know your name."
"Just remember me as Cao from Qiao County."
"Cao from Qiao County… is that all? If you insist, at least tell me your name so I may repay this debt someday."
"What's your name, young lady?"
"My family is the Jian clan of Zhongshan. My father is Jian Jia, magistrate of Shangcai County, and my name is Fu."
"Oh…?"
A girl named Fu with the surname Jian—Jian Fu!
I had thought it was a name I might hear in passing, but I never expected to encounter her so soon.