Chapter 78: Wilderness and Decay

Luan Yi and Cai Yan clung to each other, locked in a passionate kiss that lasted until Cai Yan was left breathless. Luan Yi had to admit, after many nights with Diao Chan and Caiyun, he had developed quite a taste for pleasure. But really, who could blame him? Surrounded day after day by beauties of such rare allure, all devoted to him, it would be impossible for any man not to lose himself in such tender company.

Cai Yan’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her shy demeanor only further fueling the masculine vigor surging through Luan Yi. Without a word, he scooped her up and headed into the woods.

"Ah!" Cai Yan gasped, instinctively struggling, pounding on Luan Yi’s shoulder. But then she remembered that the man before her was not some lecher but her beloved, her future husband. She quieted, letting Luan Yi lay her gently upon the grass. Overwhelming shyness mingled with a deep sense of pleasure, making her every cell seem to sing with delight. Sensations from her nerves sent tremors through her body. When she finally regained her composure, she noticed Luan Yi had already shed his clothes, now fumbling with the knots and fastenings of her garments, clearly at a loss with the intricacies of women’s attire.

Smiling with gentle understanding, Cai Yan said, "Let me do it myself." Luan Yi looked on, entranced, marveling at her elegance even as she undressed. His adrenaline surged, his mouth nearly watering with anticipation. Just as he was about to proceed, Cai Yan stopped him with a bashful face, saying, "Zi Qi, wait a moment." She took a pristine white handkerchief from her embroidered pouch, laying it beneath herself, then lay down with her eyes tightly shut, gently biting her lip. "Zi Qi, come to me," she whispered tenderly.

Suddenly, Luan Yi understood—this white handkerchief was the ancient token to confirm a maiden’s chastity. In their union, Cai Yan was far more reserved than Diao Chan’s uninhibited passion; she maintained grace throughout, her gentle gasps full of restraint, which only stoked Luan Yi’s desire to conquer her heart.

Their union lasted well into the day, leaving Cai Yan too weak to rise. Luan Yi helped her dress. Reclining in his arms, covered in fragrant sweat, she sighed, "Zi Qi, you’re terrible! You’ve worn me out!" As she spoke, she picked up the handkerchief, showing Luan Yi the plum blossom stain upon it, smiling as she carefully folded it away.

"It’s soiled—why keep it?" Luan Yi asked.

"As a keepsake," Cai Yan replied, blushing. "After all, it was shed for you, Zi Qi." Resting her head on his chest, she spoke with deep affection, "Now I have given my most precious self to you. Zi Qi, you must cherish me for all our days."

"Of course!" Luan Yi replied without hesitation.

Then, arms entwined, they spoke at length—of poetry, of song, of their experiences. Unconsciously, Luan Yi confessed the difficulties he faced in his official duties: though Jinan was at peace, he lacked capable talent for the administration. His close friends could not be summoned on short notice, and he found himself at a loss.

Cai Yan smiled. "Zi Qi, you are too close to the situation to see clearly."

"What do you mean by that?" Luan Yi asked.

Cai Yan spoke at length: There are countless talented people under heaven—why, Luan Yi, are you fixated only on your few brothers-in-arms? Is there no one else in Han who can assist you? Even if the renowned scholars refuse to come to Jinan, or consider the Holy Mother’s Church too small for their greatness, surely among the less privileged scholars, some would be willing to join your cause. And if not among them, then surely among the warriors, who, though often of humble means, are eager for the chance to earn glory—bring them in, and your troubles may be eased.

"Even among warriors, there is extraordinary talent!" Luan Yi exclaimed, suddenly enlightened. "If not for your guidance, Yan’er, I would have made a great mistake. Truly, one cannot see Mount Li’s true shape while standing within its bounds!"

"One cannot see Mount Li’s true shape while standing within its bounds?" Cai Yan repeated softly. "Zi Qi, your verse is vivid—what is the line that precedes it?"

Luan Yi, his mind already occupied with other matters, gave a swift reply: "From the side, it’s a range; from the end, a peak. Far, near, high, low, no two parts alike. One cannot see Mount Li’s true shape, for one is within the mountain." He recited Su Shi’s "Inscription on the Wall of West Forest Temple," then took Cai Yan’s hand. "Come, we must hurry, there’s much to do!"

They had barely taken a few steps before Cai Yan stumbled. Luan Yi caught her just in time.

"What’s wrong, Yan’er?"

Cai Yan’s face flushed anew. "My legs... they ache..."

Luan Yi realized she was embarrassed; after her first time, she was surely in pain. Without hesitation, he lifted her onto his back and hurried down the mountain.

Back at the cathedral, Luan Yi at once summoned Mao Jie, Wu Tian, Li Zhuang, and other church elites. After a brief conversation, he entrusted them each with a mission: to seek out Zhao Yun (Zhao Zilong) in Changshan of Ji Province, Xu Chu (Xu Zhongkang) in Qiao County of Qiao State, and Taishi Ci (Taishi Ziyi) in Huang County of Donglai. Whether using the royal warrant of Jinan, the decree of the Holy Mother’s Church, or even Luan Yi’s own reputation—by any means necessary, be it persuasion, ruse, or trickery—they were to bring these three men to Jinan to serve. Additionally, he ordered the faithful across Qing, Ji, Yan, and Yu provinces to search for the famed physician Hua Tuo, and, if found, to entice him to join them in Licheng.

Mao Jie and Wu Tian were baffled, not understanding why Luan Yi was so desperate to find these obscure figures. But they trusted their leader’s judgment and set about preparing for their journeys.

With his friends dispatched, Luan Yi himself would not remain idle. Watching them depart, he returned to his chambers and instructed Cui’er to pack extra clothes and silver.

When Cui’er asked the reason, his eyes shone with anticipation. "I am going with Brother Dian to Zhuo County in You Province, and from there, south to Jing Province. There are some whom I must invite personally."

On the day he left Licheng, both Cai Yan and Diao Chan came to see him off. Amid tearful farewells, they told Luan Yi that autumn had passed, the weather was turning chill, and in a few months it would be the New Year. They could not remain long in Jinan and, after his departure, would return to Luoyang.

Luan Yi comforted them, urging them to wait in Luoyang for his return. By next October, their wedding would take place and they would be reunited for life.

Hearing this, Cai Yan and Diao Chan’s sadness softened. They watched as Luan Yi’s figure grew distant along the long pavilion road, until at last he disappeared beyond the horizon. Diao Chan wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and turned to Cai Yan. "Sister, let’s go."

Cai Yan nodded gently, but after only a few steps, she was seized by a wave of nausea and hurried to the trees to retch.

Diao Chan was startled and hurried to her side. "Sister, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?"

Cai Yan shook her head. "It's nothing serious—perhaps I ate something bad recently. My stomach has been unsettled, but it should pass in a few days."

Diao Chan exchanged glances with the maid Caiyun, both suspecting the truth. Could Cai Yan be pregnant? After all, despite Diao Chan and Caiyun’s efforts to entice Luan Yi, it was always Diao Chan who took his company at night, determined to conceive before Cai Yan. But to date, Diao Chan had felt no sign of pregnancy, and besides, she had never seen Luan Yi and Cai Yan share such intimacy—how could this be?

Diao Chan reassured herself that Cai Yan’s discomfort could not be from pregnancy; after all, she monopolized Luan Yi each night, and even during her monthly days, Caiyun took her place, with Diao Chan finishing things herself. Cai Yan simply had no opportunity—impossible!

But she did not realize that some things do not only happen at night, nor only indoors. That one wild tryst between Luan Yi and Cai Yan on Mount Li had, by chance, sown the seed of new life. As the saying goes, flowers planted with care may not bloom, but willows grow lush where none are sown.

Alas, such unintended willows are always discovered in the end. Later, after their return to Luoyang, Caiyun once saw Cai Yan purchasing herbs from an apothecary. Growing suspicious, she asked the shopkeeper what had been bought, and learned it was medicine to protect a pregnancy. Only then did Diao Chan realize that Cai Yan truly carried Luan Yi’s child.

Jealousy and resentment consumed her. In her heart, she believed she alone loved Luan Yi most in the world, that she alone was worthy to bear his children. To her, Cai Yan was nothing but a proud woman drawn to Luan Yi’s talents and position.

She knew that if Cai Yan bore this child, her status would surpass her own, both in the eyes of the world and in Luan Yi’s heart. She could not accept this. If Luan Yi was to have a garden of beauties, she was determined that his heart be filled with her alone.

Driven by her possessive love, Diao Chan resorted to wickedness. Using the money she had earned as a singing girl, she bribed a servant in the Cai household kitchen to secretly add abortifacients to Cai Yan’s medicinal soup for three days. As expected, Cai Yan miscarried, spending her days in tears.

The greatest pity was for that child, lost before ever seeing the world.

But all this was yet to come; when Luan Yi set out for You Province, the tragedy of miscarriage had not yet occurred.