Desert Rhapsody - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

After Adnan passed away, Jiang Yuan sank into low spirits for a time. It did not last long, because there were still countless loose ends waiting for her to handle. Adnan had left a will dividing his two portions of property fairly in half. He had truly regarded her as his own son, leaving her a share as though she were one of his heirs. Jiang Yuan knew he had given her a small box. Inside was the pouch of gold coins she had once given him in the desert in exchange for her freedom when he was ransomed. As it turned out, he had used only one coin. Jiang Yuan put the box carefully away. It held a memory, and it represented Adnan’s final request.

“I beg you, my benefactor. If my son should ever fall on hard times, please look after him in my place.”

Abdul was none too pleased as he divided the money and family property with her. She moved out of the small house in the city and returned the servants, keeping only the papermaking workshop and the porcelain shop for herself, while Abdul took the remaining properties. To be honest, Jiang Yuan was a little worried after the house where she had once exchanged secret signals with Abal was given away. What if, one day, some blind fool from the Blood Eagle bandits still came knocking? The assets and manpower at her disposal had suddenly shrunk by a great deal, and for a while she felt constrained at every turn. But she soon adapted. In the end, life was much the same as it had been in Taif: making paper, traveling, doing business, dealing with merchants, and searching for opportunities.

Jiang Yuan had to admit that Adnan’s worries had been remarkably farsighted. When it was within her power, she would sometimes help Abdul’s shops find opportunities, but before long she watched him pour money into caravans until his expenses far exceeded his income. The city loafers latched onto him as usual, calling him brother, feasting and drinking at his expense, and spending his gold coins like running water. Jiang Yuan tried to stop him several times, but Abdul looked down on her. Soon, rumors began to circulate in their circles, nitpicking her identity and appearance-after all, she could not marry a wife to help maintain her disguise as a man. So she simply arranged her affairs and took a long trip.

By the time she returned the next year leading a caravan, news had also come back that Abdul’s fleet had sunk, been robbed, and lost everything.

Jiang Yuan counted her savings and sent Abdul one thousand gold coins to repay his creditors for him. That way, he would not need to sell his shops or houses, and with his cash flow eased, he would still have the strength to make a comeback. He learned his lesson and restrained himself somewhat, but in the fourth year, he fell into another trap and lost a large sum of money again.

By then, Jiang Yuan’s business was flourishing. She focused specifically on the route through Egypt. She and Lady Fatini exchanged letters every four or five months, and she often gathered gifts and sent people to deliver them to Lady Fatini and her husband. Jiang Yuan’s caravans transported flower nectar, porcelain, and paper from Taif, then brought grain back from Egypt. After the New Governor’s vigorous reforms, Bakum gradually became a regional granary and trade hub. It grew richer and more prosperous by the day. There was even talk that the New Governor was likely to be promoted, rising from the ruler of a small city only a few thousand paces across to an important official of that entire region. Although they had never met, nor had any direct message ever passed between them, Jiang Yuan felt they had already communicated wordlessly through their letters. Besides, her business had benefited from the back door he had opened for her. In any case, it was not as if she had never sent him money.

One day, she went to an appointment and heard her friends speaking with insinuations in their words. A dancing girl splashed fruit drink all over her in public, then cut her clothes away.

The secret that she was a woman was exposed. The men present stared at her in an uproar. Jiang Yuan wiped her dripping face and calmly swept her gaze around the room. Abdul’s sullen, venomous face flashed before her eyes. Four years-he had endured for quite long enough. Jiang Yuan smiled and said, “Please allow me to withdraw.” She rose and still bowed with a man’s etiquette before going to the rear quarters to change. The maidservants and the host’s wife excitedly and curiously brought her women’s clothing. Jiang Yuan changed into it calmly, then returned to the banquet to eat and drink. That night, she rode home in a carriage. Someone tried to rob her, but when he leaned into the carriage, Jiang Yuan twisted his arm until it snapped and kicked him out.
Abdul came to her door to call her to account, berating Jiang Yuan for showing her face in public. He intended to exercise his authority as her elder brother and, in the name of the Caliph, guide her back onto the proper path. Jiang Yuan had been prepared. Every thug he brought with him was sent flying by her. More than a few drew blood, broke legs, ended up bruised and swollen, and limped away in defeat.

At first, life did become a little difficult. Jiang Yuan had no social connections and could not go out. But the caravans continued as usual, bringing her gold coins and grain, and those people began doing business with her again. In the past, they had teased Jiang Yuan with knowing smiles, calling her Lady Fatini’s favored bedchamber guest. Now their smiles were simply even more suggestive. After that came countless suitors, ranging from those who politely came bearing gifts to those rude enough to barge in and try to carry her off as a bride. Jiang Yuan felt her days had become far more exciting than usual.

Then one day, the gatekeeper came to report, “Master, an official from the Great Tang has come to see you!” He was trembling all over, as if badly frightened. Jiang Yuan was quite surprised. She straightened her clothes and went out. The scholar stood in the hall with his back to her, hands tucked into his sleeves, head raised as he sighed over the springtime in Taif. Taif was utterly different from Baghdad-delicate, elegant, and picturesque. He turned around and chuckled twice at Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yuan was truly startled.

“Lord Li!” It was actually Li Jie.

She invited Li Jie inside and brewed tea for her guest. Jiang Yuan had once sent Li Jie a message telling him that she was going to Taif. But the journey had been turbulent, and communication on the road was impossible. After that one message, there had been no reply, no word at all. Jiang Yuan never would have imagined that Li Jie, whom she had not seen in five years, would come here, much less find her residence directly. She was overjoyed. “How long will you be staying here? You must stay with me. Please let me host you.”

Li Jie stroked his beard with a chuckle and opened his palm toward her. Lying in it was a dull gold coin. His expression was kindly, yet also like that of an old friend reunited after many years, tacit and warm. What surprised Jiang Yuan even more was the letter. It had been handled for so long that the parchment had yellowed and stiffened. The ink had been laid down by a long goose-feather quill, and the handwriting was unmistakably Adnan’s.

She picked up the letter. The writing had already grown somewhat blurred. It simply explained Jiang Yuan’s identity and the difficulties of that day. After Adnan’s death, if Abdul made things hard for her, she would be a weak woman with no support and would need a way out. Adnan had enclosed this gold coin with the letter and said that as long as Jiang Yuan saw it, she would go with him. She was a Tang person. It was only right.

Jiang Yuan stared in astonishment. She had never expected that Adnan had somehow sent a letter all the way to distant Baghdad. How long had this old acquaintance been watching over her? It had been nothing more than an old man’s worry and instructions before his death, yet Li Jie had kept it until now. Then, upon hearing that her identity as a woman had been exposed, he had traveled all this way for the sake of a single entrusted letter. Li Jie spoke solemnly. How long had he practiced this? His Great Tang pronunciation was proper and exact, no longer carrying the slightest foreign inversion.

“To fulfill an old friend’s request,” said the envoy of the Great Tang, “Lady Jiang, I have come to lead you home.”

Good, just one more chapter and the main story will be finished. Then come the extras.

A super-long extra: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Yuan Yuan and Abal’s adventures in Egypt.