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Jiang Yanli said he had been born with a smiling face, a natural smiling fortune. (Mo Dao Zu Shi, chapter 6)

“There, there, near the bank!”

Jiang Yanli turned triumphantly to the maids who accompanied her. For days, she had been searching for a late-blooming lotus flower to give Mother as a lucky charm. Her maids had tried to talk her out of it, pointing to piles of ripe seed pods that were being peeled on the decks, where exasperated peasant girls were fighting off sneaky disciples who were trying to steal some. But Yanli would not give up, and now she had finally found it!

Yanli took off her shoes, tucked up her robes and waded into the warm shallow water. The flower was floating serenely in the shadow of tall yellowing leaves. She nearly had it in her hands when something startled her maids and they shouted out in alarm, pointing to the sky behind Yanli’s back.

Yanli turned around. Somebody was flying on a sword low over the lake. No, it was two people, one supporting the other. The flower was forgotten. Yanli scrambled out of the water and ran towards the training field as fast as her legs would carry her. She may only need the fingers of one hand to tell her age, but she was a sect leader’s daughter and she knew that if anyone was flying that way, they needed help.

The two cultivators made a wobbly landing at the gates, and Yanli realised that one of them was a tall woman wrapped in a bulky green cloak. She stepped off her sword shakily, winced and leaned on the man next to her. Her breaths were coming hard and fast as if she had been running rather than flying. 

“This is the part where we learn exactly how bad of an idea this was,” she whispered to her companion.

The man looked around the crowd of curious onlookers that was already starting to gather: the people of Lotus Pier would not miss free entertainment for anything. His eyes lingered on Jiang Yanli.

“A-Li! Or should I say Maiden Jiang? My word, you are a grown cultivator now!”

Yanli bowed politely just like Father had taught her.

“Jiang Yanli greets you, my lord…” her voice faltered. She had noticed that the newcomer had a silver Yunmeng Jiang clarity bell hanging from his belt, but his face was unfamiliar.

He gave her a wide grin:

“This one’s name is Wei Changze. My lady must have forgotten me, but I still remember a time when Jiang-guniang was about as big as a lotus pod and loved riding on my shoulders!”

The woman who was leaning on Wei Changze raised her head, tucked a wet strand of curly hair behind her ear, and gave Jiang Yanli a warm smile too. She was very pretty, but Mother would certainly have scolded her for her untidy appearance.

“Little one,” she said in a kind voice, “Would you send one of your maids to ask your parents if there is room for two uninvited guests in Lotus Pier?”

She screwed up face again as if she was chewing on a sour berry, but continued to smile at Yanli in a lopsided way. 

“Three uninvited guests, I should say! I certainly hope it’s not four, although stranger things have happened in the Jianghu…”

She suddenly bit her lip and went limp in the man’s arms. He turned to the crowd, now looking over Jiang Yanli’s head.

“Our child is coming early! Let the Sect Leader know and please find a midwife!”

The servants and the disciples all spoke at once. Some of them stayed behind to help the new arrivals, and some ran towards the main buildings of Lotus Pier. But Jiang Yanli knew her way best of all, so she made a beeline for the pavilion where Mother often sat these days. This was the place Yanli was hoping to decorate with the last of the year’s lotus flowers to bring good luck.

***

Madam Yu was just crossing a bridge that connected the pavilion with the rest of Lotus Pier. Her posture was as straight as ever, and her rich purple robes were perfect as usual. Only someone observing her very closely would notice that her belt looked more voluminous and her gait was slower and more careful than usual. Jinzhu and Yinzhu were following in her footsteps.

Yanli was in such a rush that she crashed into her mother’s legs, clutching her robes. Madam Yu stumbled and took a step back, and Yinzhu at once caught her under the elbow. The Lady of Lotus Pier brushed her servant’s hand away and straightened her robes.

“A-Li, what is this rush? It's unbecoming. Where are your maids? I knew these girls were useless! And your robes are all wet - you should know better than running around like this!”

“Mother!” Yanli blurted, out of breath. “There is a woman… her husband is from Lotus Pier… Her baby is coming early! They say they need a room… and a mid… midwife!”

Madam Yu frowned.

“And she has the sect leader’s daughter running errands for her? Do they not have any family to help them?”

Yanli was about to burst into tears.

“But Mother… They came by sword! He knew me! He said his name was Wei Chang… Chang-ze.”

Mother made exactly the same face as the other woman, as if she was biting into a very sour fruit. She gripped the railings of the bridge as if it was about to fall apart and she was the only thing holding it in place.

“Jinzhu, go find out what’s going on. A-Li, Yinzhu will draw you a bath, you look indecent.”

***

Yanli was sent to bed early that evening, and she could not find out what had happened to the new guests. The following morning, she went to see Father as usual, to ask if her brother had arrived during the night. Father had said she would get a new playmate, and Mother had said she would have to be a big girl and take care of her little brother. But the little brother was not there yet. Yanli knew it was impolite to pester Mother, who needed rest and should not be disturbed. This is why she was hoping to find Father before he left to do his sect business.

As she approached her parents’ quarters, she heard Mother’s voice. It sounded like Yanli’s news the day before had worried her after all!

“Well, congratulations!” Mother’s voice sounded cold and sharp, not at all how you would actually congratulate someone. “Cangse Sanren would not be Cangse Sanren if she hadn't come up with some dirty little trick! The sect leader’s right-hand-man runs away to roam the woods with that rogue… whatever she is, and now here they are, trying to upstage you!”

“San-niang, please don’t get so agitated. Isn’t the birth of a new person a happy occasion? And he was born here, in Yunmeng, isn’t that a good sign?”

Yanli knew eavesdropping was bad, but she was afraid of knocking. Something inside made a clinking sound, as if somebody placed a porcelain cup on a tray with force.

“Well, I am glad it makes my lord so happy. We have everything ready, haven’t we? The crib, the swaddling clothes, the full moon gifts! Who would care about your clan’s heir when everybody is too busy gossiping about this madam falling out of the sky and popping out her firstborn in the blink of an eye. I imagine even stray cats would envy such speed!”

“My lady, please don’t say such things. Don’t forget that it is you who are carrying the heir of Lotus Pier, and no-one else.”

“The heir?! As if the astrologers were clear about that! I bet you will have another girl, just as fragile and feeble-spirited as Yanli. How will you save face when she struts out with her son in her arms, and you are hiding behind a gaggle of daughters? Or will you arrange for one of them to marry her son, to bring our happy families together once and for all?”

“San-niang!” Father’s voice went very soft and quiet, as if he was whispering in Mother’s ear. “Our child will be a blessing from heaven. I would be as happy with a gaggle of daughters as with a son.”

“Don’t waste your breath, it looks like this child is too timid to make an appearance, especially now that he is destined to be second! I can’t night-hunt, I can’t train, I can’t meditate, I can’t cultivate at all, and I shudder to think how the household is being run. How much longer must I endure this humiliation? I will be in my rooms; tell everyone I am not to be disturbed today!”

There was a sound of footsteps - Mother must have gone back to her quarters. Yanli wiped away her tears, waited a few more heartbeats and knocked.

“Daughter!” Jiang Fengmian lifted her in his arms. It did not sound like Yanli was in trouble, at least not with Father. “How did my young cultivator sleep today?”

“That’s what he said!”

Yanli found herself smiling, despite the upsetting conversation she had overheard. Wei Changze did not look at all like Father, but he was just as tall and his voice was just as kind.

“Who said it, little one?”

“The man, Wei Chang… Changze. When they came, he said I was a grown cultivator. I think he was confused and got it wrong!”

Jiang Fengmian laughed.

“Of course, you were tiny the last time he saw you. Wei Changze used to live with us in Lotus Pier, but then he married Cangse Sanren and became a rogue cultivator. Now they travel the world together. And it was time for their son to be born, so they’ve come to stay here for a while.”

“Did their son… come early?”

“That’s right, clever girl. Some babies come early and some take their time - everyone is born when they are meant to.”

“So their son is born already?”

“Yes, A-Li, he was born last night. Cangse Sanren is now resting - you know that having a baby is tough for the mother, and they both need time to adjust and get to know each other. So they are not allowed to go out and see other people, and nobody should disturb them. But what am I saying, you know all of this already!”

Yanli beamed. Mother, Father, Yinzhu, Jinzhu, her nanny, her maids, and even some of the disciples had been teaching her how to prepare to greet her new brother, and she couldn’t wait to show them all how well she remembered their instructions.

***

A few days later, Yanli managed to give Nanny a slip and ran off to play near one of the guest pavilions that were set aside from the main buildings. She was surprised to spot a lone figure on the pier. Yanli recognised Cangse Sanren, remembered Father’s words, and turned away quickly so that she did not disturb the new mother. But the woman called her name.

“Jiang Yanli? Please forgive this uncouth visitor her rudeness, Jiang-guniang. We did not have time for a proper introduction.”

After that, running away would be impolite, so Yanli came up to greet the woman. She was sitting in a wicker chair at the far end of the wooden pier. There was a small bundle in her lap.

“Young Lady of Lotus Pier, please let this one introduce herself. Cangse Sanren, rogue cultivator, wife of Wei Changze. Please accept my gratitude for all your help and hospitality! If it hadn’t been for you, my A-Ying would have had to come into the world atop a flying sword! Which is probably very exciting, but imagine all the trouble we’d have had fishing him out of the lake!”

The woman winked at Yanli. Her face was much paler than on the day when she fell out of the sky, as Mother had put it. But her dark eyes were sparkling with mirth.

“May this rogue cultivator crave a boon from the Lady of Lotus Pier?”

Yanli remembered hearing these words from people who came to address Father and Mother in the great hall. She straightened up and nodded, her face appropriately earnest.

“I am not the Lady of Lotus Pier, but…”

“Nonsense!” Cangse Sanren laughed. “You are here, and this is all that matters. I am begging you not to give me away!”

Yanli’s face must have betrayed her bewilderment, so Cangse Sanren laughed again, but then her face contorted in a grimace, and she clutched at her side. She moved her bundle gently from one arm to another and continued in a hoarse whisper as if she was recruiting an accomplice for some prank:

“Please don’t tell your respected healers that you saw me here! They will fuss and fuss, and I'll never hear the end of it!” She made a face that was uncannily like the expression worn by the Chief Healer of Lotus Pier.

“No leaving the bed, no going outside, A-Ying and I are sure to catch a cold, inhale a poisonous vapour, fall into the lake, or worse, be seen by someone! But I can’t be cooped up indoors any more, it will be the end of me!”

Yanli didn’t know what to say. This was exactly the opposite of what everyone has been telling her for months. But she had promised, so she would have to keep her word.

“Who is A-Ying?” Yanli asked.

“Hahaha, I’ve completely forgotten! Oh, I am so glad my respected teacher cannot see me now, she would not have the face to bear it! She tried and tried to hammer some manners into me, but alas! All in vain! I’ll never be able to show my face at the Mountain now, that’s for sure!”

Her words were serious, but her voice was full of glee, and Yanli found herself smiling.

“Young lady, please allow me to introduce an even younger Wei Ying, son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, offspring of rogue cultivators but a Yunmeng man born and bred! We were not planning to meet him so soon, but we were night-hunting near Lotus Pier, and he dug his heels in and insisted that he wanted to be born here and nowhere else. Please be kind to this stubborn one!”

Yanli did not understand all of this, but she had no time to ask, because Cangse Sanren unwrapped one end of her bundle, and Yanli met the gaze of two wide-open grey eyes.

The infant blinked at her for a bit, and then his tiny face screwed up in a grimace unlike anything she had ever seen.

“Would you look at that! Young Master Wei is a ladies’ man and is eager to smile at the best of sect sisters!” Cangse Sanren exclaimed in delight. “He was born just like that, with a smiling face! Your learned healers can tell me it’s colic or whatever, but he is my own flesh and blood and I’m the one to know when he is smiling and when he isn’t!”

***

“A-Li! A-Li!”

If it were possible to shout in a whisper, Yanli’s nanny would manage it. Yanli even forgot to bow to Cangse Sanren and ran off to Nanny as fast as she could.

“Where did you get to? You are always such a good girl for me! We’ve been looking everywhere, and Madam is not to be disturbed. Did you want her to worry about you?”

Yanli said she was very sorry and followed Nanny. She did not tell her about her encounter with Cangse Sanren and A-Ying.

***

Some more days passed. Nobody seemed to have time for Yanli. Mother would not leave her rooms although she would occasionally send Yingzhu or Jinzhu to ask after Yanli. Father was as pleased to see her as always, but he had a concerned look on his face and did not play with her as much as before.

One night, Yanli was woken by some commotion in her parents’ quarters. The windows were lit, and there were sounds of raised voices and running feet. Nanny did not allow her to see what was going on. The following morning, Father was nowhere to be found, and the door to Mother’s rooms was closed.

Now Nanny was called away on some errand. Yanli did not even notice how she ended up at the guest house near the pier where she had met Cangse Sanren. She was walking by when Wei Changze opened the door.

“My lady! Please come in. Darling, we have company! The Lady of Lotus Pier is here to see us!”

There was an exclamation from the room followed by a lot of rustling and rattling. Yanli came in and was met by a very dishevelled Cangse Sanren, who was tying up her outer robes hastily. When she saw Yanli, she stopped and wiped her forehead as if she were sweaty after some difficult task.

“Love of my life and delight of my soul, if only you had thought to tell me which Lady of Lotus Pier has come to visit, our son would not have been in danger of losing his mother so early in life! I nearly went into qi deviation!”

Then she seemed to remember Yanli and gave her a wide grin.

“Now my lady can see for herself that the hospitality of Lotus Pier is unmatched. These three unworthy cultivators are being spoiled rotten!”

She nudged a tray of lotus cakes towards Yanli and took one herself.

“Ahhh, the spices of Yunmeng! A-Ying is going to drink them in with his mother’s milk, the lucky child!”

Wei Changze sat on his heels so his face was level with Yanli’s. She was so overwhelmed by this reception that she forgot that she had already cried a few times that morning.

“What is the matter, little one? Will they be looking for you? Should we tell your maids or your parents that you are here visiting us?”

Yanli shook her head silently, but then remembered it was impolite not to say anything when somebody asked you a question.

“Mother won’t leave her room, and I can’t find Father. Everyone is running around. Nanny had to go too. I wanted to help, but they won’t let me in…”

Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze exchanged a look.

“My lady, would you be so kind as to attend to these bothersome guests? We are in dire need of your help! You see, A-Ying is being very naughty. He has just been born but he already wants to be the centre of attention! Would the Lady of Lotus Pier like to try teaching him some manners?”

“I am not…” Yanli began, but Wei Changze was already beckoning her towards the cot where little A-Ying was lying. His name suited him well, Yanli thought. This time, he was not all bundled up but was waving his little arms and legs around.

“Would you like to hold him? Your little brother or sister will be here soon, and you will be able to handle them like the best nanny!”

Yanli nodded.

Cangse Sanren took A-Ying out of his crib and gently showed Yanli how to hold him.

“You can put your arm under his head, just so! Look, he recognises you! He is smiling again!”

The baby was giving Yanli what did look a bit like a toothless grin. She smiled shyly back at him.

“Look how happy he is to see you! He knows he is in the arms of the best Shijie in the world!”

Yanli spent the whole afternoon at the guest house. When it was time for A-Ying to have his meal and nap, Cangse Sanren took him back inside. Wei Changze gave Yanli a wicker doll dressed in a green hanfu made of lotus leaves. Cangse Sanren scratched some characters on the leaves, and the doll began to wave its arms around, just like little A-Ying.

***

Wei Changze was taking Yanli back to her quarters when Yinzhu came running towards them. When she saw Yanli, her normally severe expression gave way to a broad grin, and she hoisted Yanli up in her arms.

“Today is a special day, A-Li! You now have a little brother, and Lotus Pier has a new heir!”

Yanli spent the rest of the evening with the servants and disciples, who were carrying her in their arms, laughing and pinching her cheeks. Then Father was there, smelling of wine as if there was a feast, his chin unusually prickly when he kissed Yanli. Many torches and lamps were lit all over Lotus Pier and in the town. Huge roasting pits were being prepared near the training field, and the smells of spices were wafting overhead. When it got dark, many signal flares in the shape of the Yunmeng Jiang lotus shot up into the sky. It was still a month before the official full moon feast, but nothing could stop the people of Lotus Pier from celebrating the birth of their future sect leader. 

***

The following day, Yanli went to Mother’s quarters. She knew they wouldn’t let her in, but she had finally found that elusive lotus flower! Her maids had put it in a beautiful dish where it floated like a purple candle. Yanli left the flower at the door, hoping that Yinzhu or Jinzhu would take it to Mother and the baby.

Voices could be heard from inside, but they were drowned out by an unfamiliar sound, like a cat meowing very loudly. Yanli could not understand why Mother would ask for a cat to be brought in, were there mice in her room? When she asked Nanny, she laughed and said that this was her little brother crying. Nanny said he had a very loud voice, which was befitting a great warrior and cultivator.

“He will need to have a good voice if he is to command all these naughty disciples, so he’d better start practising now,” Nanny smiled.

It sounded like the baby was practising quite a lot. The following day, Yanli came again and was surprised to see the familiar figure of Cangse Sanren next to Mother’s quarters. A-Ying was not with her. The door was ajar, and little brother’s screams could be heard from the inside. Jinzhu was on the other side, speaking to Cangse Sanren. Yanli hid behind a carved pillar so that she was not in the way.

Cangse Sanren was very quiet. She did not speak, laugh, or ask questions. She was listening to Jinzhu’s even voice:

“My lady says that she was perfectly clear the first time around, and she finds it taxing to repeat herself. Lotus Pier is not some backwater village where they pass infants around to whoever’s nearest. The clan heir will have a wet nurse, as is his due. She has been sent for, and whatever gossip has reached Lady Cangse Sanren’s ears, let me assure her that the future Sect Leader Jiang has no lack of sustenance. As for your own… difficulties, you have our best healer attending to you every day. Or you can ask around in town, in case somebody is in need of your… offerings. Please excuse me, my lady needs to rest. Good day!”

Jinzhu bowed, and the door slammed shut.

Cangse Sanren turned and walked slowly away towards her guest house. Yanli wanted to run after her, but Nanny stopped her.

“Now A-Li, are you going somewhere you shouldn’t again? Please leave our guests alone. You will be able to meet your brother soon!”

***

Yanli’s brother was called Jiang Cheng. He was a little larger than A-Ying, but his face was reddish-purple, almost like Father’s formal robes. He was screaming angrily as Mother, the wet nurse, the healer, and the midwife passed him around like a hot potato. 

They did not allow Yanli to hold her brother, but she was permitted to stroke his face gently. A-Cheng stopped crying for a moment, and then a tiny red hand reached out and gripped Yanli’s finger. The room was suddenly very quiet. A-Cheng let go of Yanli’s finger and put his whole fist into his mouth. His eyes, puffy with tears, were closed. Soon, he was sniffling gently as he fell asleep.

In the ringing silence that followed, Jiang Fengmian whispered:

“He would not stop crying ever since he was born, but it turns out he was just calling for his big sister!”

After that, Yanli was allowed to visit A-Cheng every day. Although he still screamed a lot and was not very happy with his wet nurse, the whole of Lotus Pier now knew that Jiang Yanli was a baby whisperer, and that reputation stayed with her for the rest of her life.

***

Time passed. The preparations for the celebration of the young master’s full moon were underway. All the buildings in Lotus Pier were decorated with banners and flowers. Produce for the feast was coming in boats and wagons, and all the guest quarters were being scrubbed and aired.

A day before the celebration, Yanli saw Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze leaving the great hall, where Father was busy ordering servants around. Yanli noticed A-Ying tucked away snugly against Cangse Sanren’s chest, under her outer robes. At the gate, they were met by a servant holding the reins of a small grey donkey. Cangse Sanren was just about to get into the saddle when she was accosted by the Chief Healer.

Yanli ran up closer; she wanted to say hello - or was it good-bye? But she did not dare to interrupt the Chief Healer who was in full cry, threatening Cangse Sanren with all manner of horrors and heavenly punishments. But Cangse Sanren managed to raise her voice enough to make even the formidable Healer take a step back.

“This one thanks the honoured Yu-daifu for her wisdom. Please believe me when I say I know how to staunch bleeding. Heaven knows I’ve had enough experience! While I was cooped up here, I’ve had time to make heaps of protective talismans for every eventuality! As for draughts and winds, they’ll make A-Ying tough and prepare him for when it’s time to form his golden core! We are very grateful for all your care, but these rogue cultivators need to get a move on and make room for more distinguished guests!”

Leaving Chief Healer gulping like a fish out of water, Cangse Sanren climbed on the donkey’s back effortlessly, although for a moment, as she turned away from the healer, Yanli saw her face screwed up in a grimace again. Wei Changze took the reins, and they were about to start walking towards the town gates when a whole troop of cultivators in shining white robes alighted gracefully ahead of them, blocking their way.

Their leader noticed them at once and bowed very formally to both of them.

The donkey brayed in alarm and tried to rear. Cangse Sanren gave a startled squeak and nearly fell off the donkey’s back, but Wei Changze held her up by the waist. 

“Lan Qiren!” Cangse Sanren’s delighted voice carried easily even to the great hall. Yanli could see Father now standing at the entrance and watching them. “Who’d have thought we would meet again, and on such a happy occasion, too! You’ve come bearing gifts for the new heir of Lotus Pier, haven’t you? And little did you know you would also be able to greet the new member of the Wei family! Yes indeed, his full moon has already passed, and he has been showered with gifts beyond all measure! I’ve heard congratulations are in order for Gusu Lan as well? Not one, but two heirs, first Lan Huan and now Lan Zhan, there’s something to be proud of! Please give Madam Lan a thousand greetings from me. If only I had known, I would have prepared a proper gift! What an auspicious year for heirs, wouldn’t you say? They can all be friends or even sworn brothers in a few years’ time! Just imagine it, Second Master Lan: all these distinguished youths coming to study in Cloud Recesses in due course! If you accept my A-Ying, I promise I’ll send him to you as soon as he learns how to use a razor!”

Those last words sent Cangse Sanren into such a bout of laughter that the grey donkey let out a loud bray and made off determinedly towards the town at a fast trot. Wei Changze gave the newcomers a quick bow and strode off to catch up with his wife and son. At a bend in the road, they turned back, noticed Yanli and waved at her enthusiastically. Yanli waved back. 

Lan Qiren turned around to watch them go. Yanli thought he muttered something that sounded like “Shameless” under his breath. He remained standing still for some time, stroking his beard as if deep in thought. Then he seemed to remember where he was and led his companions towards the great hall. The new heir of Yunmeng Jiang was about to receive his first guests.